CHAPTER XXXI

I looked at Concubine De in confusion: "So many secrets. Aren't you tired. Why did you choose me who you hate the most?"

Concubine De chuckled: "Maybe it's because I'm tired. That's why I want to say it. And I chose you......" She smiled self-deprecatingly, "Maybe it's because. . . So many years. I saw so many people in this house. Someone is alive. Someone died. But you're the only one. Never let me down. Although I hate you. Hate you. But yours is indeed the one I have ever met. The smartest one."

I shook my head: "If I'm really smart. How will you return to this palace. It's so cold in the four directions. Why should I live here. I can walk. will be able to go further. Go to a better place. Why struggle here?"

"No matter how big the world is. You can get away with it all. But I can't escape a love word." She's at this time. It's really a bit like eating fasting and reciting Buddha enlightenment: "Isn't it. It's good to be raw. It's better to die. You've been doing it for more than ten years. Isn't it all for the fourth?"

I nodded: "You're right. Everything I do. In the end, it's all for the fourth master."

"You're right to him. It's really a piece of infatuation. It's interesting. The emperor once said. I want to promise you to me the fourteenth."

"Oh." I really don't know.

"yes. He used to say so. He said you're such a good kid. There should always be a good home. In the blink of an eye. Leave you in the palace for more than ten years. You're also a kid from thirteen or fourteen. I've become an old girl in my twenties. Promise you to someone else. He couldn't bear it after all. But he gave it to his son. I can't make you a wife. I have wronged you. Look. The emperor to you. It's a blessing."

Favored? Perhaps...... They know there. Those 'waves' between me and Kangxi. Those toss and turn. It's just that now everyone is gone. What more can I say.

Concubine De didn't care. Continued: "You say. . . If I had said a few words to the emperor at that time. Let him promise you to Old Fourteen. Now wearing a dragon robe. Won't it be the fourth?"

I shook my head: "No. Huang Ama in his heart. In fact, it has long been determined that the fourth master has ascended the throne. Send the fourteenth brother to the front. It's just to make the fourth master in the capital more smoothly."

"What did you say?" Concubine De exclaimed.

I shook my head. Said helplessly: "Concubine De Niangniang. You've been in the palace for so many years. Can't you even figure this out? If it weren't for what I said. How could Huang Ama know that he was seriously ill. The fourteenth brother is not yet recalled. but on their own departing. Knowing that the fourteenth brother could not rush back from Xining, he issued a summoning decree."

Concubine De's lips trembled: "No...... How so...... So that's how it was...... I've been calculating all my life. In the end, he still lost to the emperor."

"You little thoughts. I'm afraid that Huang Ama already knows. Do you really think . It's up to you. Can you also calculate the emperor?"

Concubine De closed her eyes. Nodding slightly: "You're right...... Original. I'm just a pawn of him......"

"Yes. You're just a pawn."

"I'm a pawn. Actually, you're no better off in this house. In the end, there is no name. What will I do if I have children in the future?"

I scoffed, "What is fame? The queen has a name. But he didn't have any children. There is no pampering. All that's left of her life is the mess in the harem. She didn't have anything."

"You don't want your own child to be emperor."

I shook my head: "I don't want to. If not as a last resort. I don't want the fourth master to be the emperor at all. How much power do you have. How much responsibility you have to bear. No one is immune to this. During the reign of Emperor Amma. It's so hard every day. Now the fourth master is even more bitter. He's busy late at night. You have to get up before dawn. All day long. Not even a peace. What's so good about being an emperor?"

"That's the supreme honor." She sighed, "Pity my little son. I can only guard an imperial tomb in Zunhua."

"So what. Isn't Brother Fourteen 'quite' there? Stay away from the fight. Stay away from these distractions. Live peacefully and peacefully. Isn't it good. He's on the battlefield. I also suffered a lot of injuries, big and small. The hot springs in Zunhua are good. He can recuperate there in peace. Although Zunhua is not as gorgeous as the palace in the end. But there is nothing missing in the palace. Nothing less. Wouldn't that be the best?"

Concubine De was silent. It seems that I have been thinking about it for a long time. Only then did he nod: "You're right. That's fine...... I personally pushed my little son to the cusp of the 'wave'. Now. But you and the fourth child really protected him...... I'm a mother. What a failure to do. My eldest son is not close to me. My youngest son is far away from me."

I'm too lazy to coax her. Tell the truth of the facts: "It's not all your own iniquity. If it weren't for you giving 'medicine' to Empress Xiao Yiren, the little princess would have died early. Will Huang Ama pass on the fourth master to Empress Xiao Yiren? If you hadn't let the fourth master and the fourteenth brother centrifuge in the first place. Will Huang Ama arrange for Brother Fourteen to go to the front? If it weren't for the fear that the fourteenth brother would stay in Beijing. Fooled by you, there will be some kind of 'chaos'. Is the fourth master willing to let him go to Zunhua? Can't you go back to Beijing without a purpose? Defei Niangniang. You've been reading the scriptures for so many years. Don't you still understand the cycle of cause and effect? Isn't retribution unpleasant?"

Concubine De's eyes widened: "You're right. You're right. It's all my own doing."

I can't see her so depressed. lowered her eyes: "Concubine De. You can recuperate in peace. Even if it's for the fourth master and the fourteenth brother. You have to take care of yourself, too. I'll go first."

Stand up. I walked to the 'door'. Concubine De suddenly stopped me again: "You are in this palace. Will it be peaceful? Even if you have the fourth child to protect you. You will never have peace. Sooner or later. You'll pay a bigger price. I let you go. But there's always going to be someone who can't get along with you."

I look back. Laughing indifferently: "Living next to this man who loves the Xinjue Luo family. There was no peace at all. I don't need any tranquility. I just want the fourth master to be safe. Can't get along with me. Even if you don't say it. There are also people in this house. You can't get along with me if you wait." I pushed open the door and left. I don't want to dwell on her anymore.

That night. The fourth master and I just changed our clothes and lay down. Su Peisheng replied. Said that Concubine De is no longer good.

I hurried to 'serve' him and put him on his clothes. The two of them rushed to go. Concubine De is already in a dying state.

"The Emperor. Here you go. I want to talk to you." Concubine De kicked the rest of us out.

I instructed Su Peisheng: "Hurry up and send someone to Zunhua to find the Fourteenth Master. Hurry up."

"But. . . Princess. I didn't have the emperor's intention......"

Su Peisheng. You hurry up and give it to me. Otherwise, the emperor will come out. I'll let him behead you."

"Yes."

Su Peisheng hurried to deliver the message. Concubine Qi said sarcastically: "Oops. A princess with no name and no points. I dare to be such a master. False proclamation. That's a felony."

I glared at her sideways. She took a few steps back in fright. Step by step, I 'forced' to walk up to her. Stared at her: "The emperor has come out. It's definitely the same thing. Do you really have to wait for the mother to pass away? Did you recall the Fourteenth Master? When the time comes. What do you let the people of the world say about the emperor? Hmph."

Nala grabbed Concubine Qi on the side. He chuckled and said, "Princess. Don't get excited. Concubine Qi's words are not good. But it's true."

"The emperor came out. If you want to blame. I'll take care of it. I don't have to worry about me. It's a mother. Take care of the people in the harem. I don't know when to say anything. What's the use of just having status?" I flicked my sleeves. I don't want to see them anymore. Sit down on the chair Lan Yue brought.

Niu Hulu has not spoken. Just look at me. In that look. It's so complicated that I don't even have the heart to think about her mind at this time.

The fourth master talked to Concubine De for a long time inside. I was sleepy at the door, but I couldn't close my eyes with fear. When it's almost dawn. The fourth master pushed open the 'door' and walked out. The look is haggard.

"The emperor's mother, she ...... Went to ......"

I hurriedly walked over to support him: "Fourth brother......"

"'Jade'. The emperor is gone......"

"Don't be too upset."

The queens and they poured in. One by one expresses comfort. But he unconsciously scratched his head and 'made' his posture. The fourth master waved his hand in annoyance: "Empress. You settle down in the harem and '' it. I...... I'm going back to the palace first......"

The fourth master took my hand and walked back. Leaving everyone behind. Arrived at the West Warm Pavilion. He pulled me to lie on the bed. For the first time. Buried my head in my chest.

"'Jade'...... My mother is gone......"

I patted him on the back. I feel sorry for him like a poor child at this time: "Fourth brother. Don't be too uncomfortable."

"I thought I could not be sad. I thought I could be indifferent. She didn't hurt me for decades anyway. I thought I didn't care anymore."

"Where can it be so easy and don't care. She's your mother-in-law."

"I remember. Childhood. She hurts me too. She'll sing to me. Coax me to sleep. Test my homework...... But later. She doesn't want me anymore. Why should I be sad?" The fourth master choked up. Whispering in my arms.

I stroked his head: "She's your mother. Blood is thicker than water. It's connected by blood. Fourth Master. O thy heart. It's too soft. No matter who it is. You can't even give up. You can be cruel in this world. I'm afraid it's just you. Fourth brother. Don't feel bad. She's gone after all. In fact. The day I left from Huang Amma. Her heart is dead......"

"Can I let her be buried with Huang Amma?"

The fourth master asked. It's not unreasonable. After all, Concubine De could not accept the honorific title of the Queen Mother during her lifetime. The joint burial also seems to be a bit unjustifiable. But. If it is not buried together. That's even more ridiculous.

"Let's bury together. She's your mother after all. The Emperor's Mother. Even if he went before the emperor ascended the throne. is also to be posthumously crowned as the queen mother. Isn't it. Let her go to the Emperor. Love and hate. Let them settle themselves under the Nine Springs. You only do your filial piety. That's it."

The fourth master nodded. hugged me tightly: "'Jade'. It's good that I still have you......"

"I'll be with you all the time. I'll always be there for you."

"Don't leave me."

"Don't leave your ......"