() After getting up in the morning and dressing up, I had to go to the Kunji Hall to say goodbye as usual, and when I arrived, almost all the harem ladies had already arrived, and I swept my eyes, only Shen Jieyu had not yet arrived. In the carved and painted palace, the queen opened the golden silk curtain and came over, and was supported by the two palace maids on the left and right to sit slowly on top of Fengyi, and asked lightly: "My sister is here?" ”

Zhuang Jieyu smiled and said, "Shen Jieyu didn't know what was so she was delayed." ”

The queen was wearing a very homely and simple light purple and dark peony silver silk flower skirt, embroidered with small perilla flowers and leaves on the placket, which looked old and serious, but it did not match her own temperament.

The queen had a gentle smile on her face, and her gestures were like a spring breeze, and she gently raised her finger and pointed to the peony Qingluan colorful bird nine-day pattern wood carved chair on the near side, "Meng Zhaoyi, sit down." I pursed my lips and smiled, and sat down, Feng Shuyi and Zhuang Jieyu sat on the left and right sides in order of position, and left a space for Shen Jieyu.

After just two homely sentences, Feng Shuyi smiled and said to me: "I heard that Mrs. Rong hanged herself in my sister's Wanyi Palace yesterday?" ”

I lowered my eyes a little and said with a smile: "Feng Shuyi is so well-informed, I'm afraid that no one in the harem can compare with Feng Shuyi." ”

Feng Shuyi looked at the fine golden stitches of the acacia flowers on the cuffs, brushed the broken hair in front of her forehead with her sharp fingers, and said lightly: "I was just an idler in the harem, but I just listened to gossip when I was bored." ”

The queen's body shook slightly, "Mrs. Rong? ”

I looked at it and replied: "It's Hu's Xiangxiang, who grew up with me and Zhuang Jieyu since childhood, and has a very affectionate relationship, Your Majesty summoned Xiangxiang in a few days ago to accompany me for two days." ”

The queen let out a soft "oh", her frowning brows were like a small hill with smoke and heavy smoke in the distance, "In this case, why did Feng Shuyi say that she hanged herself in the Wanyi Palace?" ”

I saw a meaningful smile blooming at the corner of Feng Shuyi's lips, and there was a shallow anger lingering in my heart, so I slowed down and said softly: "Niangniang doesn't have to worry about this, yesterday Xiangxiang's sister just thought of her family, and suddenly felt nostalgic, feeling that as the only daughter in the family, she had never fulfilled her filial piety and married a woman, and she didn't think about it for a while, and she was extremely ashamed in her heart before she had such an accident." Thinking about Xiangxiang's younger sister, it is understandable that sometimes there will be places that she can't think of. ”

The queen nodded, and asked with concern, "Is that hurt?" ”

I shook my head and said with a smile: "That's not true, yesterday I asked the imperial doctor to help my sister take the pulse, and everything is fine." ”

The queen breathed a sigh of relief, "That's good," she thought for a moment, and continued, "Since Madame Rong is so filial, I will become her, okay?" ”

I looked at the queen, got up and thanked her, and said, "Then I will thank the queen for the grace of the queen for my sister Xiangxiang." ”

The queen smiled: "Get up, I just saw that she has such filial piety, and it is really a selfish selfishness that no one in the harem can achieve, so what's wrong with letting her take us to this filial piety?" ”

Feng Shuyi's eyes contained a cold and dark smile, "It is said that if you don't die in a catastrophe, you will have a blessing, and this is really fulfilled in Sister Xiangxiang today." ”

The queen's tone was as cold as a layer of autumn frost, but her mouth was still cordial and impartial, "Shuyi said that Mrs. Rong will not die in a catastrophe, and it must be a good thing to think about it, and Mrs. Rong will have an accident no matter what she says, if she stays in the harem again, there is always something wrong with it, and for a while, rumors spread, and it is even worse to affect Meng Zhaoyi's reputation, so she will promote Mrs. Rong to leave the palace tomorrow and return to the door for three days, in order to fulfill her filial piety, and also comfort the filial piety of everyone in the harem." ”

Feng Shuyi turned her head disapprerovingly, "Since you have married into the palace, you are a royal person in life and death, and now you will mention your mother's family, but there are no three hundred taels of silver here?" ”

I got up and smiled, my eyes swept over Feng Shuyi, "The old and the old, the young and the young, we were all given life by our fathers and mothers, we are all children first, and then we are ministers and concubines, if we can even disrespect filial piety because we marry and obey our husbands, what face does it have to exist between heaven and earth?" ”

Zhuang Jieyu stared at me, and for a while, she got up with a smile and bowed down at the feet of the queen, and said in a clear voice: "Zhaoyi Niangniang said this very well, although it is said that if you marry your husband, your husband will die and obey your son, but if you even turn your face and deny it, you think it is worse than pigs and dogs, how can you be a human being?" ”

The queen said calmly: "Yes," and looked at me with a smile again, "Meng Zhaoyi is the first person among the concubines, and she can be so sensible and filial, and listen to her words, no wonder Your Majesty loves her." ”

Feng Shuyi smiled, "Even if Sister Xiangxiang is not very wrong, in the final analysis, she can only blame her filial piety for being too strong, but are the palace people who are waiting in Meng Zhaoyi's Wanyi Palace too imprudent, and they don't even know about the master's self-hanging, if something really happens, how can they remedy it?" She raised her eyebrows and added to me: "Sister should also know how much the Queen Mother values this Mrs. Rong!" ”

I was in my seat, picked up the celadon tea cup on the table, lifted the lid and dizzy, "To put it bluntly, it's no wonder that the palace people of my Wanyi Palace, if it weren't for someone stumbling and stumbling between the laymen of Cining Palace, stabbing people's hearts, Sister Xiangxiang would not have had such a thing happen as soon as she returned to Cuizhu Hall, even I didn't expect it, most of the palace people in Wanyi Palace didn't have time to know about it, let alone stop it, no matter how capable the palace people were, they couldn't predict the future, why did Feng Shuyi bother to embarrass them?" If you have to pick someone to bear the brunt of this imprudent crime, I'm afraid I should bear the brunt, but Feng Shuyi will condemn me? ”

Feng Shuyi hid her face and smiled slightly: "My sister is just joking with my sister, Sister Zhaoyi is in a hurry?" ”

The queen asked: "Is there someone outside the Cining Palace who is aggressive?" Who is this person? "Eyes lit up," I can't spare it! ”

I glanced at Feng Shuyi with a slanted light, but she knew that I would not confess her, and with a calm face, she chuckled: "Niangniang, that person is also unintentional when he thinks about it, and probably already knows that he is wrong, and Sister Xiangxiang is not a big deal, I have persuaded her yesterday, Sister Xiangxiang is also an indifferent person, and she will not want to make a big deal about it, so there is no need to pursue it."

The queen had a dignified face and said slowly: "If everyone in the harem was as kind and virtuous as Meng Zhaoyi, there would be no such incidents." ”

I laughed and said, "The mother is really ridiculous." ”

The queen smiled, "Why are you so modest," her eyes flashed, "and I will tell you a word as well." ”

I leaned over a little and said, "Follow the teachings of my mother." ”

The queen said: "There is a saying that being too modest is hypocrisy. You are indeed kind and virtuous, just accept it, and you don't need to be too humble. ”

I nodded and said, "That's right." ”

After a long period of silence, Shen Jieyu held the hand of the palace maid and accompanied the exquisite crisp sound of countless pearls and emeralds colliding when she walked, and hurriedly stepped forward and bowed down, and said in a somewhat anxious tone: "The queen mother forgives her sins." ”

The queen smiled and said, "Shen Jieyu has been in the palace for some years, right?" How can you even remember the time of saying goodbye wrongly? ”

Shen Jieyu slowly raised her head, her face was at a loss, "The queen has a good memory, I entered the palace in the same year as Meng Zhaoyi, I didn't remember the wrong time to ask for peace, but I encountered an accident on the way here." ”

My eyes fell on her warm lotus-colored splendid emerald jacket, which was stained with mud, "It is the basic etiquette of the palace to ask for peace without dust, how can Jieyu get up in the morning to comb the laundry jacket and be stained with muddy water?" ”

She looked down and hurriedly said, "I was in too much of a hurry when I came, I really didn't notice it, and I really didn't dare to be disrespectful to the queen." ”

Zhuang Jieyu bowed her head and said: "Although she said so in her mouth, but she didn't do it in action, if you really don't dare to be disrespectful, how could you not find that your clothes are stained with mud and dust, it can be seen that Shen Jieyu is not the same," she looked Shen Jieyu up and down, "Shen Jieyu can stop the mistake of impure clothes today, even the beads and hairpins between the temples are so messy, it's been so late, I don't know how to come to say hello again?" ”

The queen shook her head, "Please ask Xi to go to Shen Jieyu's residence to re-teach her the etiquette rules for three months, you can't go out during this time, and naturally you don't have to come to Kunji Hall to ask for peace." Shen Jieyu has an anxious temperament, she likes to mess around with Your Majesty, I used to look at it in my eyes, but when I saw that Your Majesty didn't eat your set, I turned a blind eye and didn't punish you strictly, but today you have lost your manners so far, you really can't let you do anything wrong, otherwise why would you be in the harem. Shen Jieyu learned etiquette, learned to be heart-to-heart, and repeatedly set foot in Kunji Hall to say goodbye. ”

Shen Jieyu burst into tears, her lips were pursed, and her face was flushed with shame, I really felt pity, if I was a man, I would definitely not bear it when I saw it, and I don't know why her set is useless for Luo Xi, "Follow the teachings of the mother." ”

I moved my lips excitedly, "Shen Jieyu has always been good friends with Feng Shuyi, I saw that Feng Shuyi's words were a little arrogant, I don't know if it was because of Shen Jieyu's bad habits?" ”

Feng Shuyi distinguished: "Sister is too worried, I just raised doubts based on gossip, sister can't just wronged my sister because she was involved in the Wanyi Palace, the queen mother knows, I have always been timid, how dare I be as late as Shen Jieyu and still filthy?" ”

I smiled firmly, "Shuyi, don't be careful, I'm just saying it casually, and I'm just telling you to learn more rules, don't fall into the grounded field like Shen Jieyu before you know how to repent." ”

Shen Jieyu and Feng Shuyi glanced at each other secretly, with an angry look in their eyes, and soon, Shen Jieyu lowered her head again.

The queen said slowly: "If there is nothing else, I am also tired, and this is the end of today, you are scattered, and Meng Zhaoyi will stay to talk to me." ”

Zhuang Jieyu retreated silently, without saying anything. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of Shen Jieyu, who couldn't help but show a little jealousy. Feng Shuyi hurriedly walked out of the hall alone, unable to hide her worry between her eyebrows.

The sunlight that penetrates in is dazzling, the autumn chrysanthemums under the courtyard, the ink pool, the green beans, the peonies planted in thousands of strange colors, the scorching Luoyang red, the noctilucent white of the jade bone ice heart, and the dignified and beautiful Wei Zi...... The clusters of delicate varieties are like graceful nine-day fairies, with jade smiles and pearls, and they are the best among the group.

The queen smiled and took my hand into the inner hall, waved away the crowd, pulled me to sit beside her, and said, "I heard that your knees are not very comfortable lately, but they are better?" ”

I chuckled, "It's much better, it's just a small thing, don't worry about me." ”

The queen smiled lightly and exhaled a deep breath, "I still remember the day you first entered the palace, as soon as I saw you, I knew that this harem would be your world in the future," as soon as these words came out, I felt a little guilty in my heart, after all, the queen had never done anything wrong, but she had never received the emperor's favor, she smiled and sighed, "You don't have to feel guilty, it's not your fault, but I should also thank you, if it weren't for your entry into the palace, Your Majesty is afraid that he wouldn't be willing to set foot in the harem at all." ”

Seeing that I didn't speak, the queen only smiled and asked, "Aren't you curious why?" ”

I chuckled and looked at her, I wasn't curious because I knew better than anyone knew. She said: "Yes, you naturally don't feel curious, I treat you as my own sister, so you don't have to hide it from me, I already knew." ”

I asked, "What does the mother know?" ”

The queen said: "I once accidentally saw a painting in His Majesty's imperial study, which was painted by His Majesty himself, and I didn't know who the woman His Majesty painted at that time was, until you entered the palace, I didn't know that the woman on it was painted by you." When I first knew, I was naturally full of vinegar, but when I got to the back, I was slowly relieved. ”

I looked at the queen in shock, "Me? ”

The queen smiled gently: "Yes, it's you." At that time, I finally understood why His Majesty did not hesitate to advance the draft period, and why he stipulated the draft criteria so strictly and in detail, in fact, the purpose was to reduce the inclusion of harem people, and His Majesty's heart just wanted to let you enter the palace alone. Before entering the palace, you probably got acquainted with Your Majesty, right? ”

Luo Xi naturally treats me very well, but the queen doesn't know that I am not the only person in his heart, that shadow...... And the queen has always thought that Luo Xi has put his mind on me from beginning to end, and I really can't afford it.

I didn't answer, only said: "The queen is serious, Your Majesty is the emperor, it is impossible for you to love me alone, Your Majesty was a little better to me in the past, but it was just because I didn't know the rules when I first entered the palace, as for the matter of stepping into the harem, I think it's just a coincidence, I naturally hope that Your Majesty belongs to me alone, but I also know that this is impossible for the emperor." ”

The queen lowered her eyes slightly and said: "No matter how I have followed Your Majesty for more than four years, I can see more or less what Your Majesty thinks, Your Majesty has always done things only according to his own wishes, no matter how much others will evaluate him in the future, how much he wants to abolish my position as queen, how much he wants to completely dismiss everyone in the harem, and only support you as the only queen." I understand all of this. But His Majesty did not follow his own temperament after all. Do you know why? ”

I looked at her in a daze, "Why?" ”

She said: "Because Your Majesty does not want to put you in the most eye-catching place, Your Majesty wants to protect you, not to be judged by future generations, and not to be added to the annals of history to become a demon queen of the country, Your Majesty wants to leave you a piece of purity before and after." I think that's what you'd like. ”

Since I entered the palace, I only know that the queen is a good person, but I haven't looked at her carefully, how lonely she is in this deep palace, and the infinite sadness under the golden hairpin and jade. As a queen, it is a terrible and desperate thing to not get the favor of the emperor or the favor of the husband. I said, "Your Majesty will always honor you as a queen." ”

She said: "Look at you and Your Majesty, you know, what about the queen, but it's just a name for nothing, I naturally know that you won't mind this, I tell you this today, I just hope you don't worry too much about Shen Jieyu and them, you have won Your Majesty's heart, and they are poor people like me." ”

I said, "Niangniang, it's not that I have to worry about anything with them, but they have never let me go." ”

The queen smiled and said, "I naturally understand this, and I will think of ways to tell them to stop, otherwise it will not be good for them." ”

I nodded, "It would be best if it could be like this." ”

She said: "Since I saw you, I know very well in my heart that the people in this harem except you are afraid that Your Majesty will not let them have heirs under their knees, and I am the same, in the past, Your Majesty will not set foot in the harem for half a step, and in the future the palace will have you, it will not be even more, thinking about this a few days ago, I live in this Kunji Hall and am really afraid day and night, and I will chat with you today, but I am much more at ease." ”

I said, "Queen Mother," she was silent for a while, "You don't have to worry, I'm not a person who doesn't understand reason, and everything in the world is not necessarily as Niangniang expected, Niangniang really doesn't need to say this depression." ”

The queen said: "I naturally know who you are, although I have selfish intentions today to probe your tone, but I have been paying attention to you for so long, and I have always been at ease with you, but I, as the queen, am really anxious for Your Majesty's heirs, and this matter can only rely on you." ”

I thought for a while and said: "I don't have the heart to compete for favor, and I have never thought about dealing with anyone, everything I do is just to protect myself, as for the heir, Your Majesty is in the prime of life, and there are many sisters in the harem, and I am not the only one who can have an heir, and I am too worried." ”

The queen sighed, "I hope so." ”