In a moment, Lilac walked in with a flat box. Both hands were handed to Shu'e. Shu E nodded to Lilac and Ju Dou, and the two smiled and bowed.

"A small courtesy, talk about your heart. I hope that Sister Lin will not dislike it. Shu E's voice was soft, and as she spoke, she opened the mahogany box in her hand.

Shang Cairen was slightly shocked, and his eyes showed a look of surprise and joy. But a moment later, he immediately reached out and covered Shu E's right hand, and with a crisp "snap", the box was already closed. Shang Cairen looked around and slowly shook his head at Shu E.

Shu E was looking at Shang Cairen with a smile on her face, seeing her with a look of surprise and a hint of joy, she knew in her heart, knowing the deep meaning of what she had chosen, Shang Cairen had already understood, and the corners of her mouth hooked up a hint of a smile. Waiting for Shang Cairen to shake his head, Shu E thought that she was worried, and hurriedly took away the joy.

"But what's wrong with my sister's gift, sister...... Angry? Shu'e asked softly.

Shang Cairen looked at the lid of the mahogany box thoughtfully. After a moment, he slowly moved his eyes to Shu E, "Sister Shu's kindness, my sister understands it." Saying that, he stood up, looked straight at the courtyard, and said leisurely: "It's just that this matter not only depends on the emperor's intentions, but also my rules, and the seal has always been because of merit and not because of favor." ”

As he spoke, he turned to look at Shu E, with a bitter smile on the corner of his mouth: "I have no children, and I am not pregnant, and I have already attracted criticism and walked on thin ice." How dare you...... Delusional ...... again"

"If Sister Lin, she has made a great contribution to the Queen Mother and the Emperor," he said, pointing to the box in his hand, "The contents of this box ......"

Shang Cairen didn't answer Shu E's words, but just turned his head away, still looking ahead. In front is the backyard of Qingshou Palace, where the green leaves of old plum trees are planted. Shaded by green trees, is the house of Changning Palace, with red walls and yellow tiles, and green paint railings.

Shu E stood behind Shang Cairen and looked at Shang Cairen's eyes, but she didn't know what she was thinking, so she had to say nothing.

"made great contributions and was promoted to a concubine, but after all, he had no face." Shang Cairen's voice seemed to be the surface of the lake blown by the autumn wind, wrinkling a pool of autumn water, with a clear chill.

Shu E's heart froze, and she followed Shang Cairen's gaze and exclaimed in a low voice: "Concubine? You mean......"

There is only one person in the palace who lives in the second concubine position, that is, Chongyi Zhu, named "Kang".

"Palace, Chongyi Zhu, Concubine Kang." Shang Cairen turned around and said word by word to Shu E.

"Why?" Shu E asked in surprise.

"It happened six years ago, and I hadn't entered the palace yet. And I heard that it was in the palace at the time, and after the people who went with them came back, they didn't say a word. I only know that after Lu Dao returned to the palace, Zhu was sealed because of his merits, and became one of the eighteen concubines in one fell swoop, from a purple xia curtain [Note 1], but since then, he has been said to have lived in Ruifu Hall for a long time. ”

"The Imperial Palace? Be...... Yuqing Palace? Shu E's voice also trembled slightly, and Yuqing Zhaoying Palace seemed to be a nightmare.

"Yuqing Palace?" Shang Cairen shook his head and smiled slightly: "You just came here, and you know a lot." It is in the Joelim Garden outside Suncheonmon Gate [Note 2]. ”

"Charging the instrument...... How ill is she? Shu E asked cautiously.

"I don't know what to do." Shang Cairen returned to the earth to be categorical, "But in the past few years, in addition to asking the Queen Mother for peace, I have never left the Ruifu Palace, and the number of times I have seen her is also very limited." As for her body......" Shang Cairen suddenly stopped. Such silence seems to be the answer.

"In the past few years, the emperor has never summoned her." Shang Cairen said lightly, but in his tone, he couldn't stop being sad.

"Each man has his own fate, and every man has his own destiny. Sister Lin should not be too sad for others. Shu E said softly.

"I've only met her a few times, and I really can't talk about friendship." Shang Cairen picked up the tea bowl, held the lid, lowered his head and gently plucked the tea, and said lightly: "Maybe it's really fate, maybe it's because the relationship is not deep, I have a very familiar feeling with her." ”

Shu E nodded secretly, thinking: The first time I saw a willow branch, I also felt this way.

"Lady Chongyi has been kind to me, so I have always been grateful to her." Shang Cairen sighed: "It's just a pity that I haven't seen her since then, and her body has always been sick, but she lives alone in the Ruifu Hall all day long." ”

Shu E said: "It's a pity that although she is in the position of a concubine, she is also so lonely. ”

Shang Cairen smiled slightly: "Being in the position of a concubine is not a very high position." Above Zhu Chongyi, there is also a Concubine Rong and a Guiyi lady. Below are the people of the four halls, and there is also a talented person, He's, who is on par with me. ”

"Guiyi?" Shu E was puzzled, "On the day of the summer solstice, when I was asking for peace in Qingshou Palace, there were two women sitting on Shun Jieyu's hand, are they Zhu Chongyi and Guiyi's wife?" I don't know what this noble lady is called? ”

Shang Cairen said: "The surname is Pan, and there is no title." Recently, they have been living in the Imperial Garden in the outer castle. It's just that I go back to the palace every month to ask the Queen Mother and the Emperor for peace, and it just so happened that you saw it last time. ”

Shu E smiled slightly: "Now in the palace, the queen is in the middle palace. Below the Zhu family, there are all the four halls. The Yan family also manages all the affairs of the harem, and is fair and decent; Zhang and Yang are two beauties, and they are pregnant or dependent on children. He Cairen...... I heard that He Cairen herself doesn't have anything, and she doesn't live in the fourth hall, so it can be seen that she is not as good as Sister Lin......"

Shang Cairen smiled: "You don't have to be afraid of me being sad. She is favored by the Queen's personal maid, and for that alone I can't match it. If it weren't for her lack of qualifications, I'm afraid that the head of the Autumn Pavilion wouldn't be my turn. ”

"I heard...... Concubine Rong Li is also about to return to the palace,...... Shu E said.

"It's just a pity that I'm ...... There are no children under his knees. My sister gave me a gift, but I don't know when I can afford it. Shang Cairen sighed faintly.

"Today in the Qingshou Palace, what the Queen Mother said, did my sister hear it?" Shu E asked with a smile.

"The Queen Mother relied on her sister, and she should have congratulated her. My sister left Anqing Hall because of someone else's words, but it was not a blessing at first. Shang Cairen replied with a smile.

"I don't mind if it's a blessing or a curse for me. However, for you, sister, it is an opportunity. Shu E looked at Shang Cairen's eyes and said with a smile, while holding the box in her hand and offering it to Shang Cairen.

Shang Cairen looked at Shu E, slowly reached out and took the box, groaned slightly, and said with a look of surprise on his face: "You mean ......?"

"As long as my sister is willing, I am afraid that the return will be far more than that." Shu E said.

Shangcai people were speechless.

"There are dozens of singers selected from all over the Changning Palace, all of whom have tactful singing voices. How could my sister find me? Shang Cairen suddenly asked.

Shu E said with a smile: "I heard that my sister was good at singing back then, and the emperor also praised it greatly...... "How did my sister know about Lu Dao...... I invited you to come because ......"

"If you want to be worthy of your sister's gift, you can't do it without some credit." Shang Cairen's smile was filled with a sigh: "I have no heirs in front of me, and the only chance is the path pointed out by my sister." ”

"It's just that my sister, how do you know that I can sing?" Shang Cairen looked outside, thought for a moment, and said with a smile: "Yes, it was Sun Huafu who told you." ”

"When Sister Lin met the emperor when she was singing, she was favored by the emperor because of her tactful singing voice, and it was also a beautiful conversation in the harem." Shu E had a smile on her face.

"A beautiful conversation...... Shang Cairen smiled faintly: "If it weren't for the fact that Sister Daoshu knows that your character is really pure, now someone says that I will be angry when I hear this." ”

Shu E immediately looked frightened, and somewhere she offended Shang Cairen.

"My sister doesn't need to panic, although I became attached to the emperor because of singing, I later caused a lot of turmoil. Yesterday's beautiful talk may be a laughing talk today. Fortunately, the emperor ......" Shang Cairen said, suddenly blushing, as if remembering the beautiful time when he got acquainted with the emperor. After a while, he said with a smile: "Why did you get distracted when you talked to your sister?" ”

Shu E said apologetically: "My sister really hasn't heard of anything else. ”

Shang Cairen nodded and sighed softly: "Although there has been a turmoil, it has long passed. In the harem, if someone is favored, someone will fall out of favor. Because the time and mind that the emperor put in the harem are also limited. ”

When Shu E heard this, she suddenly realized in her heart that the turmoil in Shangcai's mouth was probably because she was favored overnight. Thinking of the emperor's intentions for him, he was also a little sorry in his heart. Above the court, he cared about the people and vowed to become a holy king. Under the court, there are many concubines to take into account. And for himself, he still has a lot of hearts that cannot be reciprocated.

Shu E settled down and said with a smile: "So Sister Shang, you should seize this opportunity even more." ”

Shang Cairen's hand was holding the box, his fingertips touched it lightly, and his face changed, as if he was hesitating. Suddenly, as if he had figured out something, with joy in his eyes, he nodded to Shu'e.

Shu E hurriedly stood up and saluted to Shangcairen: "Shu E is here first, congratulations to Sister Lin." ”

Shang Cairen got up and returned the salute, his smile was slightly reduced, his eyes seemed to be a cold pool in autumn, and he looked at Shu E clearly and deeply: "My sister gave me such a big gift, but I don't know what to do after it is done?" ”

"I just hope that after my sister succeeds, I can give Shu'e a care." Shu E also admired herself in her heart: Shang Cairen is really a smart person. It's just that Shang Cairen agreed to himself so quickly, and it was really unbelievably happy.

"With my sister's appearance and talent, I can get everything I want. Why bother, ask for my care? Shang Cairen asked.

"The beach in the palace is dangerous and urgent, but what Shu'e wants is just a calm wave." Shu E said sincerely,

Shang Cairen looked at Shu E, stretched out his hand and patted her shoulder: "If you need to, you can come to the Autumn Pavilion to find me at any time." Anyway, it is also a well-known fact that you and I have become in-laws. ”

"What I mean is to choose another place to get together, so that outsiders don't know about it. At that time, there will be a blockbuster effect. Shu'e said.

Shang Cairen nodded and said goodbye to leave. Shu E was sent out of the harem gate, and was stopped by Shang Cairen.

Looking at the handsome figure of Shang Cairen, Shu E whispered: "Sister Lin......"

Shang Cairen turned around and smiled, and Shu E said softly: "I'm in a hurry today, and I have a lot of collisions when I speak......

Shang Cairen shook his head, signaled that Shu E didn't need to say any more, and asked with a smile: "Do you know why I agreed to you so quickly?" ”

Shu E had a slightly surprised expression on her face, "It's not because of ...... Because Wanyun? ”

"I looked at the way you were at the time, and I thought that if someone said that I was not in front of Wan Yun, she would also defend me like that." Shang Cairen bowed slightly to Shu E, "So I believe that you are a person with a true temperament." You shouldn't lie to me like this. With that, he smiled and left.

[Note 1] Zixia Veil: The veil appeared in the Northern and Southern Dynasties, and it got its name in the Sui and Tang dynasties. In the Song Dynasty, it was included in the ranks of dresses. In the Ming Dynasty, it developed into a xia curtain - because its shape is as beautiful as a colorful xia, it was named "xia curtain". In the Song Dynasty, the names of concubines such as Hongxia and Zixia were derived, and the grades were low.

[Note 2] Qionglin Garden: It was built in the second year of Qiande of Taizu of the Song Dynasty and is located outside the Shuntian Gate of Kaifeng.