On the eighth day of December, Kangxi's forty-three years of draft was scheduled to be held in the Tiyuan Palace, and Emperor Kangxi, who had passed the Mandate of Heaven, took the highest rank in the harem, Rong Guifei, Concubine Yi, and Concubine De to select a show girl with both ability and political integrity to fill the backyard.

The Eight Banners Show Girl is full, Mongolian, and Han, respectively, and those who like it remember the name to keep it, which is the so-called brand, and those who do not like it will be given a flower and returned to the family, that is, a stack of brands.

More than 100 well-dressed show girls were finally able to keep their cards, but there were only a dozen of them, each of whom was a standout, beautiful as a flower. Those who chose were overjoyed, and those who were not selected were extremely disappointed, and a few even fainted due to excessive sadness.

After watching the last batch of show girls, it was already noon, and just when Concubine Rong and Concubine Yi, who had been carrying their hearts, looked at each other and were secretly relieved, Kangxi's words made their hearts that they had just put down rise to their throats again.

"How many show girls are there this time?" Kangxi, who was dressed in a bright yellow satin embroidered colorful cloud bat golden dragon robe with twelve chapters, twisted his eyebrows and asked Li Dequan, who was accompanying him.

Li Dequan said without thinking: "If you go back to the emperor, there are a total of 176 show girls, but only 175 show girls are participating in the election today. He had already guessed the reason why Kangxi asked this, after all, he was the only one who knew about the events of the day except Kangxi.

"Why is that, and one more?" Kangxi narrowed his slender eyes, and his face was slightly heavy.

Li Dequan cautiously glanced at Kangxi and Concubine Rong who was a little restless beside him, and waved away the show girl who was still in the hall, "Emperor Qi, when the draft roster was handed to the minions today, the minions found that someone crossed out Niu Hulu Lingruo's name from the roster, and the show girl who didn't come should be her; After that, the servant also asked Hongling, the aunt of the housekeeper of Zhong Cui Palace, and she said that this was what Rong Guifei meant, and Niu Hulu Ling Ruo was also taken away by Gonggong Lin in Rong Guifei's palace the night before, and has not returned yet. ”

Without waiting for Kangxi to ask, Concubine Rong got up from the chair and said: "If you go back to the emperor, it is indeed the meaning of the concubine, the concubine just learned last night that Niu Hulu Ling Ruo behaved misbehaving before running for election, and also had an affair with a man named Xu Rongyuan, such a woman who doesn't know self-love is really not qualified to run for election, so the concubine took it upon herself to cross out the name of this woman from the roster." ”

"And such a thing? It's just that the concubine has lived in the harem for a long time, how can she know about things outside the palace? The suspicion in Kangxi's words made Concubine Rong, who was already worried, even more panicked, she couldn't say that it was Shi who told her, otherwise her relationship with Shi would only make Kangxi more suspicious.

Just as she was thinking about how to answer, Hezhu stepped forward and knelt down on her knees and said: "Your Majesty, I accidentally heard it when the slave maid went out of the palace to visit her family a few days ago, and after returning to the palace, she talked to Niangniang about it, and Niangniang was afraid that the people in the market would chew their tongues and wronged Ling Ruo's little master, so she specially ordered the slave and maid to go out of the palace again to find out." ”

"So, is this true?" Kangxi stared at Hezhu expressionlessly, unable to see joy or anger.

Hezhu's shoulders moved slightly, he didn't dare to look directly at Kangxi, stared at his figure reflected on the gold brick and said: "Yes, as the so-called no wind and no waves, the slave maid inquired and learned that Ling Ruo's little master was indeed having an affair with a man, and he also made a private marriage alliance, and Niangniang had to cross out Ling Ruo's name in order to protect the harem Qingning. ”

"Guifei, is it really as Hezhu said?" At the beginning of the winter snow, the warm sunlight sprinkled from the clouds, illuminating the Forbidden City with red walls and yellow tiles more solemnly and gorgeously, looking at the sunset in the morning, like a fairyland on earth.

Kangxi's gentle words lifted Concubine Rong's spirits, and she hurriedly replied: "Exactly, the emperor has to work on national affairs, and every day has every opportunity, and the concubines dare not bother with the holy drive for a little thing." When the emperor allowed the concubines to be in charge of the harem, he wanted the concubines to share the worries and relieve the emperor's worries, and the concubines did not dare to forget for a moment for several years. ”

"Yes, Your Majesty, over the years, Sister Guifei has taken care of the harem in an orderly manner, and the concubine believes that everything she does is for the sake of the peace of the harem." Concubine Yi said with a smile, she also participated in the events of the day, if she pretended to be deaf and dumb at this time and did not say a word, it was difficult to guarantee that Concubine Rong would not be jealous, it was better to sell her personal favor.

Of the three concubines present, only Concubine De never said a word, but Ying Ying stood beside Kangxi, her expression was quiet and gentle. Smart as she had already found that the tranquility in the present was just the tranquility before the storm, and talking too much at this time would only bring unnecessary trouble, so she just had to stand here quietly and watch the play.

Sure enough, just when Concubine Rong thought she could cover up the past, Kangxi suddenly became difficult, his eyes were as sharp as arrows, and he stabbed Concubine Rong and Concubine Yi's hearts cold, and they hurriedly lowered their heads.

"Good one, for the sake of harem peace." Kangxi sneered: "Concubine, let me ask you, there are one hundred and seventy-six show girls selected this time, do you know the names of each show girl well?" Otherwise, why did He Zhu, who went out of the palace to visit relatives so coincidentally, know that she was the show girl who participated in the election as soon as she heard the name of Niu Hulu Ling Ruo? And you are so concerned about this matter, I don't know that I will cross your name out of the book with a single sound. Concubine, ask yourself, are you really not a little selfish? "He has been on the throne for more than 40 years, and he has been capturing and worshipping Sanfan, and I don't know how many things have gone through in it, how can he not hear a lie.

Kangxi's stormy reprimand completely shattered the last bit of luck in Concubine Rong's heart, so panicked that she quickly knelt down and said in a loud voice: "The concubine doesn't dare!" ”

She didn't understand why Kangxi would pay so much attention to the lack of a show girl, this kind of thing was not unprecedented, even if she knew the Tao in the past, she just asked, and she never held it like this time.

"Really? I see that you all dare to do it," Kangxi snorted coldly, and his gaze swept over the restless Concubine Yi, "Do you even have a part in this matter?" ”

Seeing Kangxi asking herself, Concubine Yi hurriedly cheered up and said: "The emperor said that he laughed, you don't know that the concubines are the most timid, even if they borrow the courage of the concubines, they don't dare to do anything to deceive the saints, and the concubines believe that the concubine sister doesn't dare, maybe there is any misunderstanding." ”

Concubine Yi's words made Kangxi's face pale, but when he learned that Ling Ruo had been pointed out by Concubine Rong Guifei to Sibeile Yinzhen as a Gege, he was furious, picked up the tea bowl and slammed it in front of Concubine Rong, the hot tea splashed Concubine Rong's body, and her face was cold and angry: "Ridiculous! It's ridiculous! ”

Whether it is the third concubine or Li Dequan, they are all old men who have been with them for many years, and they have never seen Kangxi get so angry, so they hurriedly knelt down and asked Kangxi to take a break from the anger of the thunder, as for Concubine Rong, she was already trembling with fear, and she didn't know how to deal with herself.

"Since the opening of the Qing Dynasty, there has never been a matter of the daughter of a four-rank court official being given to Brother Danggege, concubine, you tell me such a ridiculous thing, how do I explain to the hundred officials, you tell me!" Kangxi almost shouted out the last few sentences.

Concubine Rong was frightened, and she didn't dare to gasp, for fear of angering Kangxi even more, Concubine Yi wanted to help speak, but as soon as she opened her mouth, she was glared back by Kangxi's fierce eyes.

Chattered...... It was a title that bordered on a prostitute, and the thought of the woman who looked like her was treated so unfairly made his heart ache, and even the eyes of Concubine Rong were full of anger.

After a long time, he slightly restrained his anger and said coldly: "Concubine, you have been in the palace for more than thirty years, right?" ”

Concubine Rong didn't know what she meant, and replied tremblingly: "If you go back to the emperor, it has been thirty-four years since the concubine entered the palace. ”

He bowed his head silently, revealing a deep contemplative expression, "Thirty-four years...... That is the palace that Kangxi entered in the ninth year, and Empress Xiaochengren was still there at that time, right? ”

Concubine Rong was shocked in her heart, and replied carefully: "Yes, the concubine was fortunate to receive the queen's teachings at that time, and she was used for a lifetime, and the concubine always remembered the queen's kindness in her heart, and she did not dare to forget." ”

"I used to think so, but now I think I'm wrong." In heavy disappointment, he crossed the people kneeling on the ground, and walked towards the closed palace gate step by step, Li Dequan saw this and quickly got up from the ground and ran over to open the door, when the sunlight fell on the body Yuan Hall again, Rong Guifei heard the last words that Kangxi said to her in this life.

"Concubine, you are not young anymore, don't leave Jingren Palace if you have nothing to do in the future, concentrate on worshipping the Buddha, and leave the affairs in the palace to Concubine Yi and Concubine De to take care of." As for Hezhu, she loves to chew the root of her tongue, and it is not suitable for her to stay by your side to serve anymore, so she sent her to Xinzhiku. ”

"Don't, don't the emperor! The concubine knows that she is wrong, the emperor, if you want to punish the concubine, don't implicate Hezhu, she is almost fifty people, and now asking her to go to Xinzhiku is equivalent to asking for her life, Your Majesty! Concubine De burst into tears and knelt forward, wanting to catch the bright yellow, but in the end she could only watch Kangxi go away, leaving no room for anything.

Xiangxiu, in fact, Fang'er is no longer there, even if someone who looks exactly like her enters the palace, I will not snub you for her, after all, you have been with me for more than 30 years, after all, you have children for me; It's just that it's all late now......

From the Tiyuan Hall to the imperial study, Kangxi didn't say a word all the way, Li Dequan took the little eunuch's freshly brewed Lu'an incense tablets and held them in front of Kangxi who was sitting on the throne with his eyes closed with a tired face, "Long live, I've been tired all day, drink tea and refresh myself." ”

Li Dequan waited for a while, but he never saw Kangxi agree, so he became bold and whispered: "Actually, if you really like Ling Ruo's little master, why not summon her into the harem with a holy decree?" ”

Kangxi suddenly opened his eyes, his eyes were cold, and he sneered: "Li Dequan, you are becoming more and more productive in this errand, and you dare to instigate the woman who robbed her son!" ”

Li Dequan hurriedly picked up his clothes and knelt down, knocked his head several times, and said in fear and aggrieved: "Your Majesty, you can wrongfully kill the slave, the slave is loyal to the emperor, and the sun and the moon can be seen, don't dare to do anything sorry for the emperor, otherwise the slave will not die well, and there will be no corpse ......."

Kangxi waved his hand impatiently, "Okay, don't fix these vain things, if it weren't for your loyalty to me, I could have killed you alive with what you just said!" Get up. ”

"Thank you for the emperor's grace, thank you for the emperor's grace!" Li Dequan wiped the cold sweat that was scared and stood up, and saw Kangxi stretching out his hand and hurriedly handed over the Lu'an incense tablets.

Kangxi took the teacup and slowly blew away the heat in the cup, took a sip and said without raising his mouth: "Do you still have something to say?" Say, I don't blame you. ”

Li Dequan glanced at Kangxi quickly, and seeing that his face was quite peaceful, he swallowed his saliva and said cautiously: "Actually...... Concubine Rong only gave the little master Ling Ruo to the fourth elder brother last night, and according to the minions, the fourth elder brother still doesn't know about it, not to mention that he is fortunate to have little master Ling Ruo, even if you really summon the little master Ling Ruo into the palace, it is not a big deal. "Only when he was a young man serving beside Kangxi did he dare to say these words, and if he changed to someone else, he would never dare to say it no matter how much he thought about it, and he would never dare to say it, and he would be like a tiger - this sentence is by no means empty talk, and his head will fall to the ground if he is not careful.

Kangxi shook his head and said with a slightly wry smile: "I am not Emperor Tang Ming, so I don't dare to risk the world." If this matter spreads out, even one person and one spittle of the stars will be enough to drown me, and I still hope to be a Ming Jun. ”

"That's it, that's it." Kangxi looked up to the sky and sighed, and said with regret: "Everything is determined by heaven, you can't force it, Li Dequan, you go to Baylor Mansion later to spread my words, let the fourth elder brother treat Niu Hulu well, Mo was scornful because of her Gege's identity, and when there is a suitable opportunity in the future, she will be promoted to her position, and her position is really wronged." ”

Li Dequan bowed down and agreed, and when he saw that Kangxi had no other instructions, he quietly retreated.