Because Yongzhang entered the eyes of the queen mother, the queen, Concubine Jia, and Concubine Yu all felt uncomfortable. The eldest daughter of the emperor lives with the queen, and when the emperor rests in Changchun Palace on the fifteenth day of the first day of each month, he is not greatly summoned. Not to mention the fourth elder brother and the fifth elder brother, living in the elder brother's house, it is rare to meet the holy driver all year round. The concubines at the bottom seized the power according to the shape, and they all used their strength to win over Qingcheng, but Qingcheng had a weak temperament and didn't pay much attention to people.

The Queen Mother likes Yongzhang, as if she suddenly fell in love with her heart, not only often preaching and leading her grandmother to take Yongzhang to Shoukang Palace to Chenghuan, but for fear that Yongzhang would smell the smell of hookah, she even smoked less. In winter, the Queen Mother was afraid of the cold, so she took Yongzhang to give herself a hot quilt. Yongzhang grew up to be three years old, and lived in Shoukang Palace for most of his life. Under the eyes of the Queen Mother, no one dared to be presumptuous, only Yongzhang dared to splash and roll, and sometimes even the emperor was helpless.

In June of the seventh year of Qianlong, the Ministry of Internal Affairs led Cheyue, the son of Ji Zengyun, a scholar of Wenge University, and Atong, the grandson of A Gui, the minister of military aircraft, into the palace, and met the emperor in the Yangxin Palace, and went to Shoukang Palace to ask the Queen Mother for peace. The two children are only six or seven years old, and they are very thoughtful, with a lofty appearance, and their manners and conversations are extraordinary. Qingcheng liked it very much, so he called Yongzhang to come and asked the two of them to give Yongzhang a big gift.

Yongzhang was puzzled, sat on Qingcheng's lap, raised his little face and asked, "What is a haha bead?" ”

Qingcheng smiled: "In the future, Cheyue and Ah Tong will be your haha beads, they enter the palace every morning to accompany you to the south study to read and practice calligraphy, and in the evening, they will go home separately." They will report your words and deeds to Huang Ama, if you dare to be naughty and don't listen to the teacher, E-Niang will not be able to help you in the future. ”

Yongzhang said: "Then will the imperial grandmother help me?" ”

Qingcheng was afraid that he would be raised for a lifetime, so he shook his head and said, "Grandma Huang can't help you either." You are a big child, you have to read and learn calligraphy, and you have to practice riding and archery martial arts, not only to be a good prince of Huang Ama, but also to be a good royal brother of the sixth elder brother, you know? ”

Yongzhang seemed to understand whether he understood or not, nodded and smiled: "I listen to Eniang, I want to be Eniang's good baby." Qingcheng put his forehead on Yongzhang's eyebrows and smiled: "Yongzhang is so good." He said, "Okay, you take Cheyue and Ah Tong to your room to play for a while, and Ming'er will see the teacher." Cheyue and Atong knelt down for Qingcheng and retreated with Yongzhang.

After taking a nap, Er Qi used a vermilion lacquer plate to present a mung bean smoothie to cool off, and Qingcheng took the delicate porcelain bowl with a green glaze lady's pattern, scooped it spoonful by spoon, ate a small half bowl, and said: "You taste very good, you send some to the third elder brother, and then there is, put less sugar, and eat more tooth worms." Er Qi responded, and Hai'an entered the house and said, "Master, do you want to go out and be idle?" Qingcheng bowed her head, and some palace people stepped forward to serve her to wash and dress, announced her shoulders, held a canopy umbrella to shade her, and walked all the way to the imperial garden.

The lion was on his side, and now he was not a puppy, but Amma, the dog of seven or eight children. He snuggled up at the green orange's feet, his eyelids drooping and yawning. Qingcheng stood in the pavilion, the summer breeze was cool, the shade of the trees was lush, she ordered Hai'an to spread rice paper on the stone table, looking at the lotus pond with blue waves not far away, and painting with a pen. Coincidentally, there were Wang Guiren, Jin Guiren and others wandering in the garden, in the early years, they bumped into Concubine Chun and dared to come forward to laugh and squeeze for a while, but now they are plainly timid and tacitly detour.

The four sides were silent, but the lion suddenly had a bunch of ears, straightened up and barked behind the rockery. Hai'an saw that something was wrong, so he shouted: "Who is sneaking around there, if you don't come out again, I will call the guards!" After a while, the woman wearing the embroidered moon orchid pattern forging palace dress walked out of the rockery, Hai An was stunned, and said with a smile: "It turned out to be a noble person, and the slave and maid are unreasonable." The noble man looked embarrassed, shook his head and said, "It's none of your business, it's me who disturbed the pure master's painting." ”

Qingcheng had already put down his pen, a shallow smile on his face, and said, "It's okay, I'll just draw two strokes to pass the time." Seeing that she stopped writing, the palace maid hurriedly presented a wet wipe, Qingcheng wiped her hands, and the nobleman had already lifted her skirt and stepped forward, bent her knees and said: "I have seen the pure master." Qingcheng excused himself and said, "Sit down." After hesitating for a moment, he suddenly knelt down in front of Qingcheng and said, "Ask the pure master to save the concubine's father!" ”

There were many people serving around him, and they all looked at each other. Qingcheng protected the face of the nobles, and said, "Hai'an, you take people to retreat outside the pavilion." Hai'an took the order and slowly retreated. Qingcheng personally helped up the nobleman and said: "Say something slowly, you are the emperor's nobleman, don't lose your sense of proportion in front of people." The nobleman hurriedly said: "The concubine has lost her honor." She wanted to cry, her eyes were red, it could be seen that she had been crying for a long time earlier, and Zhu Hai had faded, and she only had a peony on her bun, afraid that she was in a hurry.

Qingcheng knew that the father of the nobles was the secretary of the military department, Eshan, and the emperor had recently been investigating the bribery case of the military department, which involved a wide range of cases that were unprecedented. She said: "The harem concubines are not allowed to interfere in the government affairs, it is the ancestral system, and the nobles of Hubei really asked for the wrong person." ”

The nobles couldn't help but cry in their eyes, and said, "The concubine also understands, but I can't watch my family die in vain." If I want to punish the Nine Clans, I'm not worried that I will become the daughter of a criminal minister and be involved, but I'm afraid that I will live alone, so that life is worse than death. Qingcheng's heart moved slightly, but he still shirked in his mouth, and said: "The state has a national law, which is not only a law of the Qing Dynasty, but also a law." He comforted the nobles again, and said: "You can go and ask the queen master, she is the mother of the country, and her words have weight in the court." E Guidao: "I went to Changchun Palace yesterday, and the queen was sick again and was not summoned, so I thought of you." ”

Qingcheng shook his head and said, "I can't help it." ”

Back at Yikun Palace, it was already the time to hold the lamp. The emperor lifted the curtain and entered the hall, Ma Li took off his coat and shouted: "It's really hot outside, it's dark, and the heat hasn't dissipated yet." Qingcheng waited for him to change into a homely silk dragon robe, and ordered Erqi to take a cool melon and fruit drink, personally held a red sandalwood inlaid yellow bamboo palace fan, and sat beside the emperor and gently shook the wind.

The emperor ate half a bowl of ice cheese and said quietly: "The noble person of Shicai has looked for you?" ”

There is nothing in the palace that can be hidden from the emperor, it is nothing more than to see that the emperor wants to know, or he is too lazy to pay attention to it. Qingcheng said: "Please let me intercede with you." The emperor turned his head to look at her and said, "You agreed?" ”

Qingcheng glanced at him and said, "The harem concubines are not allowed to interfere in the government affairs, how dare I agree." After a pause, he said: "After all, he is the father of the nobles, and it is really cruel to punish the crimes of the nine clans." Besides, it's Eshan's own bad things, what does it have to do with the clansmen? You have always been generous and kind to your courtiers, and you are also affectionate to the nobles of Hubei. ”

The emperor thought for a while, grabbed her waist, and said, "You still don't care about the affairs of the court." Then he asked, "Yongzhang's two haha beads, what do you think?" ”

Qingcheng said: "I think it's great, but Yongzhang is only three years old, will it be too early to read and write?" ”

The emperor replied: "I have been learning Chinese characters with the emperor since I was two years old, and Yongzhang is three years old, which is not too early. Besides, the Queen Mother is always used to him, and I am afraid that he will become more and more pampered, and he will not be able to read in the future. Qingcheng said: "Okay, it's all up to you." After that, he was about to get up and summon Erqi to order a snack, but he was pulled back into his arms by the emperor, and said faintly in his ear: "I'm thirsty, and I want to drink milk again." ”

Qingcheng couldn't resist his light teasing, his cheeks turned red, and said, "I'm not your nurse, you go to Grandma Sun." "Mama Sun was the emperor's nurse when she was young, and now she has been taken back to the house by her son to enjoy her old age. The emperor stretched out his hand to her neck, twisted the brocade button, and said with a smile: "How can you be a nurse..."

The emperor finally reduced the punishment and did not punish the nine clans, but only gave Bai Aya poisonous wine alone, making him commit suicide. The nobles were very sad, but in the end, they saved the clansmen, and their mothers, uncles and sisters also lived, knowing that it was Qingcheng who spoke in front of the emperor, so they helped the palace maid to thank him. Qingcheng also didn't accept it, and said: "It's the emperor Shengming, take pity on you." ”

After a few words, he sent her away.

The change of the DPRK and the Central Committee is also involved in the harem. In the case of corruption in the picket department, Concubine Gao's brother made great efforts, one was prosperous, and the other was lost, and the emperor treated Concubine Gao, and his favor gradually increased. Concubine Gao used to be arrogant, but she was up and down in the palace for several years, and she lost her temper and became gentle and lovely. The emperor felt the novelty, and remembered the old feelings, and the more he liked it.

Coming out of the Jiaotai Palace, Concubine Xian and Concubine Shun walked leisurely, the vermilion palace wall stood high, and the clear canopy did not have a trace of clouds, so clean that it was like a light blue satin washed by pulp. The guard of honor followed ten steps away, and Concubine Shun said: "Listening to the meaning of Concubine Gao's words, the emperor is afraid that she will restore her position as a concubine." At that time, it will be on your head and mine. ”

Concubine Xian held a white silk embroidered peacock pattern lacquer handle fan in her hand, covered her chest, and said: "She is a flag lifter, her family background is prominent, and now her father's family and mother's family are all powerful in the court, if she gives birth to a prince... The consequences are unpredictable. You wait and see, there is no need for us to do it, the queen will not be able to sit still. ”

Concubine Shun looked left and right, and Fang said in a low voice: "The queen is sick and weak, Su Ai looks forward and backward, I am afraid that she will be powerless and let Concubine Gao take advantage of the loophole." Concubine Xian thought for a while, paused, and leaned into Concubine Shun's ear and said, "Didn't Wei promise to be courteous in front of you?" You just pretend to be good with her, and tell her to deal with the queen, no matter how hard we try, if something happens, we won't be able to hit us. Concubine Shun heard the reason and said with a smile: "You are still smart." ”

The two talked about Zhu Hai Huanpei again, and they chatted until the evening was over.

Autumn came early this year, the mist was misty, and the dew was cold. Qingcheng got up and walked into the courtyard, the air was fragrant, and the morning light faintly fainted orange-red on the east side of the imperial city. The Taoist Sect Leader Mama was by her side to return to Yongzhang's daily trivialities, Qingcheng listened quietly, sometimes asking a word or two, and most of the time just nodded. Teaching the grandmother not to know the master's mood and anger, she carefully considered every sentence, and became more and more cautious. When the autumn fog dissipated and the sun sprayed out, another eunuch came to invite the sedan chair to the Tai Hall for discussion.

Since Concubine Gao returned to favor, the six palaces have attracted attention, and Concubine Xian has also been polite on the bright side. It happened that the end of the month was Concubine Gao's birthday, and Concubine Xian smiled and said: "The palace has not been lively for a long time, so it is better to take advantage of Master Gao's birthday to celebrate." I told the emperor before, according to the emperor's wishes, you can set up a stage in Xianfu Palace for half a day, what do you think? ”

After carrying the emperor out, naturally no one dared to say anything bad. However, Concubine Gao said politely: "Thank you Master Xian for your concern, it's not a serious birthday, so you really don't need to alarm the Sixth Palace." Concubine Shun smiled: "Where is the alarm, everyone can't ask for it, it's delicious and lively, I don't know how festive." After a pause, he said: "Although the stage is placed in your palace, you don't need to worry, everything is taken care of by me and Master Xian, and when the time comes, you just have to eat, drink and receive gifts." ”

Concubine Gao knew that she was flattering herself, so she didn't have to be too modest, so she smiled lightly: "It's better to be respectful than to obey your fate." ”

After the discussion, Qingcheng put a sedan chair back to Yikun Palace, and went to a secluded place at the corner of Gong Street, and suddenly heard someone calling: "Pure master, please wait." Hai'an followed the prestige, and a woman wearing a dark red gold jacquard satin palace dress stood under the corner of the palace wall, she leaned over the sedan curtain, and said in a low voice: "Master, it's Concubine Shu." Qingcheng had no contact with Concubine Shu, so she couldn't guess what she meant like this, so she pondered for a moment and said, "Get off the sedan chair." When Concubine Shu saw Qingcheng's guard of honor stop, she stepped forward and bent her knees, saying, "Pure master is blessed." ”

Qingcheng sat in the sedan chair and did not move, only let Hai'an pass the word and asked, "What is Master Shu stopping the sedan chair?" ”

Concubine Shu had a look of apprehension on her face, lifted the sedan curtain by herself, and said, "Can the pure master get off the sedan chair?" I have a few words that I would like to say to you individually. Qingcheng thought about it and said with a smile: "It's okay, I'm just thinking about walking." She got out of the sedan chair and only ordered Hai'an to follow, and the others waited for a distance before asking: "Master Shu has something to say, Yongzhang is about to get out of class, and I have to ask him about dinner." Concubine Shu pursed her lips, it seemed that it was extremely difficult to speak, and she was silent for a while: "I won't tell you, I have something to ask you." She is used to flying and domineering, and she is so low-voiced, it is the first time since she entered the palace.

Qingcheng smiled and said, "I know that you have always been close to Concubine Xian, why don't you ask her for help?" ”

Shu Concubine smiled sadly: "If she can help, I'm afraid she won't help me." ”

Qingcheng said: "How do you know, I will definitely help you?" Shu Concubine said: "Of course I know, but I'm not asking you to help me for nothing." Do you remember when you were pregnant with the third elder brother, you fell on the palace street? And how did the gossip between you and Master Jane get out? Don't you want to know who is behind it? ”

Qingcheng's eyebrows jumped, she looked at her stunned for a long time, and said angrily: "You want to calculate me? ”

Shu Concubine was neither humble nor arrogant, and said, "If I want to calculate you, what are I telling you this?" She lowered her voice again and said, "Didn't you think about bringing down the queen and concubine?" As long as you help me once, I..." Qingcheng reprimanded: "Presumptuous! Concubine Shu was aggressive and said, "If you don't think about yourself, you should also think about the third and sixth elder brothers!" Qingcheng said: "What do you want, dare to say such a rebellious thing." Concubine Shu said: "Actually, what I want is very simple, as long as you persuade Lord Jian and Lord Xia to take care of my body well, and when I get pregnant, I will tell you everything!" ”

Qingcheng wondered, and said: "There are a lot of imperial doctors in the palace, why do you want Lord Jian and Master Xia, besides, you told Concubine Xian that it is difficult to re-dispatch the imperial hospital." ”

Concubine Shu shook her head and said, "The people in the palace are snobs, and so are the people in the imperial hospital." I've been favored for many years, three or four years younger than you, why can't I always get pregnant? My imperial physician has always been appointed by Concubine Xian, and now I can no longer trust her. After a pause, he said, "But you are different, Lord Jane treats you loyally, if you tell him, he will definitely do his duty to me..."

Qingcheng didn't want to listen anymore, and interrupted: "I don't want to investigate the previous things for a long time, and with my current status, no one dares to play like that again." You've found the wrong person, and I won't covet the position of the queen and concubine. You may wonder and question, but I want to tell you, do you know why the emperor likes me? ”

Shu Concubine listened to her eloquently, and her heart couldn't help but stagnate. Over the years, she really can't figure out that there are so many new and old people in the palace, and there are endless favored, disgraced, and repetitive, but no one has ever been able to shake the status of the pure concubine, but it has become stronger and stronger.

Orange understated: "Because I don't count." ”

Compute? Calculate? Who in the palace does not calculate everything, but calculates everything? What does she mean by that? Is it secretly sarcastic that he has exhausted his organs, but still asks for people? The more Shu Concubine listened, the more annoyed and embarrassed she became, and she was about to speak, but she heard the person behind her whisper: "Master, I heard that Long Live Lord is coming over here." Qingcheng heard it in his ears and didn't want to deal with her, so he said: "This road is the shortest road from the Heart Cultivation Palace to Yikun Palace, you better hurry up, lest the emperor ask, you and I will be embarrassed." ”

But after a while, sure enough, there was a high-five sound of the head eunuch, and Shu Concubine had no choice but to retreat. Qingcheng watched her go away, and sighed silently in her heart. She actually wanted to know what Concubine Shu said, but she was afraid to know. It is inevitable that she will hate and take revenge on someone when she knows it, but she doesn't want to focus on those old things. As long as Yongzhang and the sixth elder brother are safe and sound, and there is the emperor around her to block the pickled affairs outside, wouldn't it be more satisfactory to live a comfortable and comfortable life?

The guard of honor retreated to the sides, Qingcheng stood in the middle to face the wind, and the emperor's sedan chair slowly arrived from the end of the palace street. He got off the sedan chair from a distance and said loudly: "Why don't you get on the sedan chair?" Such a strong wind carefully blew the head. His voice was gentle and mellow, like a sip of rice wine in the cold winter, warm to her heart. She bent her knees and said, "The emperor is blessed." ”

The emperor took advantage of the situation and grabbed her hand and said, "The palms of your hands are cold." ”

Qingcheng said: "I came out of the Jiaotai Hall just now, and when I heard the high-fives, I stopped the sedan chair and waited for you." The emperor smiled and said, "I see that Yongzhang is not in good spirits in the morning, you call the imperial doctor to take a look, it's not that the wind is blowing and his body is uncomfortable." If it is a precursor to wind and cold, take a few pairs of decoction medicine in advance to prevent it. If he is uncomfortable, he can skip two days of morning reading. ”

The two paced slowly, followed by dozens of honor guards, and the autumn wind rolled their robes in one place, rattling. She put her palm in his hand, and listened carefully to him talk about all the things Yongzhang did in the south study, and the ups and downs of Concubine Shu gradually calmed down. The emperor saw that the hairpin on her sideburns was old, so he said: "In a few days, it will be Concubine Gao's birthday, and the Internal Affairs Office is preparing two sets of jewelry, and I will ask them to make two pieces for you by the way." What tricks do you like, send someone to tell Wang Jinbao. ”

Qingcheng answered gently, and talked about the things beside them, and they murmured in a low voice, and their voices were swept in the wind, and they scattered in all directions.

After taking a nap, the emperor said that he wanted to drink the Poria dew that Qingcheng personally brewed, but Qingcheng was too lazy to move, and pouted: "Could it be that the taste of my flush is different?" The Emperor smiled and said, "It's the same, but I just want to drink what you made yourself." Qingcheng was amused by him, and joked: "That can't be done, if you say that the food I cook is delicious in two days, will I have to become a cook?" ”

The emperor glanced at her and said, "Okay, okay, now I can't even call you!" Aren't you afraid that I'll go somewhere else to eat, and I'll never be rare again? Before Qingcheng could think about it, he opened his mouth and said, "You dare!" As soon as she finished speaking, even she herself was stunned. The emperor was not angry, pinched her cheek, and said with a smile: "It's really bold, no respect and no humility..."

As soon as Qingcheng went out, the emperor restrained his smile and said, "What did Concubine Shu say to your master?" Hai An stood beside him with his head down, and whispered Shu Concubine's words to the side. The emperor asked, "What does your master say?" Hai An said: "The pure master said that she does not covet the position of the queen's master and the master of Xian. He paused, and then secretly glanced at the emperor's face, he was still calm and unhappy, which was unpredictable. She continued: "The pure master said: Do you know why the emperor likes me? ”

The emperor's heart tightened slightly, and he asked urgently: "How does your master answer?" ”

Hai An replied: "The master said: Because I don't count. The emperor was stunned, stared at Hai'an, and asked, "What else?" Haian thought about it carefully before shaking his head and saying, "No." The emperor sighed, a little confused, and wanted to give something, but he heard the sound of the curtain outside, so he stopped talking and opened the book on the kang table. Hai'an is very good at observing words and feelings, when he didn't say anything, he didn't do anything, and when the green orange entered the house, it was also plain as usual.

On Concubine Gao's birthday, the emperor specially ordered her parents and brothers to enter the palace to visit. After greeting for two hours, after noon, Gao's parents and brothers left the palace as usual. The stage of Xianfu Palace is magnificent, dozens of tables of banquets, except for the queen mother, the palace is all present to celebrate, and the emperor gave gold hairpin jewelry, giving enough face, so that the concubine is extremely proud.

In front of all the concubines, the emperor smiled and said, "If Concubine Gao can give birth to a prince, I will restore her title as a noble concubine." What does the queen think? As soon as these words came out, not to mention the queen, even Concubine Xian was shocked.