The flowers and trees in the Shoukang Palace are shady, and the green pines blow the eaves. The deep hall was lit with calming benzoin, and the wisps spread out. The Queen Mother sat on the pillow, and Concubine Xian half-knelt on the pedal, gently beating her legs for the Queen Mother. The queen said: "Yesterday, the concubine went to the elder brother's house to see the third elder brother, she could cry and laugh, and she was full of energy. The Queen Mother smiled and said, "Although the pure noble concubine is a Han Chinese, she has a childbearing in the end, and she is meritorious to the royal family." After a pause, he said, "You two are the most valued people in the mourning family, why don't you have any news in your stomach?" Concubine Xian said in a low voice: "The emperor is busy with government affairs, and the time to come to the harem is getting less and less. ”

The Queen Mother said: "You are a good child, you only know how to do your filial piety in Shoukang Palace every day, and the emperor wants to see you for a while, and he doesn't dare to ask for someone from the mourning family." Concubine Xian smiled: "It is a great honor for the concubine to be able to give filial piety to Lafayette." ”

The queen raised her eyebrows and smiled, and said, "It's still Concubine Xian's sweet mouth, and I can rest assured that she is serving in front of Lafayette." ”

The Queen Mother looked at the queen, sank her face, and said: "The mourning family knows that you are sad about Yonglian's affairs, but who is not sad up and down in the palace?" The emperor went to Chengde, saying that it was to distract you, but in fact he was uncomfortable. After a pause, he said: "The mourning family has looked at you carefully for a few days, and it can be seen that although you have a happy smile on your face, your heart is still not happy." The mourning family advises you, there are more and more people in the palace, if you can't please the emperor, I'm afraid the road ahead will not be easy. ”

Concubine Xian squinted at the queen, her face was impassive, and she always had a virtuous smile. The corners of the queen's lips twitched slightly, and she forcibly endured the look of grief, and said respectfully: "The queen mother's teachings are remembered by the concubines. ”

After retiring from Shoukang Palace, Shanrou saw that the queen looked lonely, and said cautiously: "Don't worry about the master, no matter how the master chews his tongue to the queen mother, it will be useless, and the master won't even look at her." ”

The queen snorted coldly and said, "Where is she for the Long Live Lord, she is staring at the phoenix position of my middle palace!" Don't you know, when she is under the Queen Mother, she dares to look at me, and when there is no one in Ming'er, she doesn't know how to cross over my head. ”

Shanrou Xing's eyes were round, and she said indignantly: "It's really bold! ”

The queen sighed, stroked her stomach and said, "I also blame myself for not being angry and not being able to give birth to a son-in-law." ”

Shanrou hurriedly smiled and said: "What the master said, everything has a chance, and what should come will come sooner or later." Besides-" She lowered her voice and said: "The slave maid went to the Jingshi Room yesterday, these emperors have only been to our Changchun Palace in addition to Yikun Palace, and the Yanxi Palace of Master Jia, the pure master is Han, and Master Jia is the Jin family of Li Dynasty, even if the two of them are favored by the emperor to the sky, their life experience is there, they are not afraid." And the master Xian, she hasn't slept for more than half a year, how can she compare with you, the master can sit back and relax. ”

Hearing this, the queen relaxed a little, and said, "Even so, it is not wrong to be cautious. Yikun Palace and Yanxi Palace, you have asked people to watch carefully, if there is any movement, we can't sit back and watch. ”

Shanrou narrowed his expression and said obediently: "Yes." ”

The emperor listened to the lecture in the Hongde Palace, returned to the Yangxin Palace, and happened to have Suzhou weaving to present this year's new tribute of silk and satin. Wu Shulai said with a smile: "It is said that this year's silkworm cocoons are extremely well raised and the yield is quite abundant. The emperor changed into an apricot yellow embroidered group badge dragon pattern robe, glanced at it lightly, and said: "Pick two boxes and send them to Changchun Palace, so that the queen can reward the masters of each palace." Wu Shulai agreed, and was about to retreat, but the emperor actually said: "Pick two more solemn horses and send them to the Queen Mother." When he was about to go out, he saw two bright lotus-blue brocade embroidery lying in a box, raised his hand, and said, "Let someone hold those two." ”

Wu Shulai wanted to ask, but the emperor was out of the threshold. The guard of honor surrounded the imperial public opinion and marched to Yikun Gate, and the emperor said: "There is no need to pass it inside." He got out of the sedan chair and only brought a few attendants, and the rest were waiting on the palace street. It wasn't until she was under the corridor that she was seen by Erqi, and she hurriedly passed inside, saying, "Master, long live the Lord is here." ”

Recently, political affairs have been smooth, and the emperor is in a good mood, so he smiled from afar: "I still want to tease your master, but you have spoiled it!" Although he smiled, Er Qi was already trembling with fright, and knelt down in a panic and said, "The slave deserves to die, please forgive me." The emperor's face froze, and he said: "Su Ri saw that you are quite bold and your mouth is not forgiving, why are you scared like this today, get up, I am not angry." Er Qi sighed, answered "yes", and Fang stood up.

The brocade curtain was lifted, and Qingcheng had already greeted him, and he bent his knees and said, "The emperor is blessed with Jin'an." The emperor suddenly stretched out his smile and said, "Look at what I brought you..."Before the words fell, another person came out of the room, wearing a white ink-colored official robe, kneeling on one knee with his sleeves and saying: "Weichen Jian Yuheng respectfully invites Long Live Lord Sheng'an." ”

The emperor was stunned for a moment, and then smiled: "You are here to ask Qingcheng for peace pulse." ”

Jian Yuheng said respectfully: "Exactly." Qingcheng saw that the emperor's face was not depressed, and he thought that Er Qi had made him unhappy before, so he didn't think much about it, and said with a smile: "What did the emperor bring me?" The emperor looked at Qingcheng, looked at her carefully for a long time, and saw that her face was ruddy, her expression was calm, and there was no trace of embarrassment, Fang relaxed slightly, raised his hand and patted it.

The two chamberlains stepped forward with brocades, Qingcheng guessed most of them, and said angrily: "The cloth in the treasury can't be loaded, it's better to use it for the master of the other palace, I can't wear it all out." The emperor grabbed her hand and walked into the house, and said, "This year's new tribute, among the dozen or so boxes, these two horses have the best color and color, and they are the colors you love, so I will keep them for you." When the emperor's figure disappeared behind the curtain, Jian Yuheng knelt down and kowtowed towards the flower hall before quietly leaving.

The case was covered with rice paper, on which were written in Juanxiu small characters with dense Diamond Sutra, and there was a stack of copies on the side, and the emperor said: "Don't be tired of yourself, just kill time, don't take it seriously." Qingcheng said: "The Queen Mother is happier than anything else when she sees the scriptures, she can please her old man, I'm tired, what's the matter." ”

The emperor pinched her cheek and said with a smile: "Good girl, I know how to please the Queen Mother." ”

Qingcheng narrowed his eyes and asked, "Why did you come earlier today?" The emperor half-hugged her, only to feel that the waist was slender and soft, Yingying held it, and suddenly remembered the scene when she and Jian Yuheng went out of the house, and his mind was slightly paused, and he said after a while: "Today's minister who lectured on "Zhou Yi" was sick and asked to rest at home, so he dispersed early. Then he asked, "You are familiar with Master Jane, but I haven't paid attention to him, how is his medical skills?" ”

Er Qi happened to be standing beside him, and when he heard the emperor talk about Jian Yuheng, he looked at Qingcheng as if he was stunned. Qingcheng said indifferently: "When I lived in Zhong Cui Palace, he diagnosed the pulse when I was sick, and I saw that it was okay, but as for the medical skills, I didn't inquire." The emperor carefully observed her expression, and her heart was open and calm.

The emperor smiled slightly, and said, "In a few days, when I have free time, I will ask him about his affairs, if his medical skills are good, it is okay to be transferred to the imperial front to serve." "Being able to diagnose the emperor's pulse, even if he doesn't upgrade the rank, is also a major event for the Glory Ancestor Yaozong. Qingcheng was happy for him, and couldn't help but smile, and said, "Although Master Jian has little qualifications, he is quite meticulous in his actions. The Emperor nodded, and said no more.

Back at the Yangxin Palace, the emperor announced Wu Shulai, and then retreated from everyone, and asked, "When did Jian Yuheng enter the palace?" Wu Shulai couldn't figure out the holy will, but after the emperor came back from Qingyunzhai, he kept a straight face and sullen. He said respectfully: "Long live the lord, when Jian Yuheng was in the Yongzheng Dynasty, he entered the palace on an errand. The emperor looked at the Western self-striking bell on the high table for a long time, and the glass frame below reflected the red candle with the thick arm in the room, and the light and flicker. He said: "You go and check who there are in his family and what they do, and then I will find out how he entered the palace and how he became the imperial doctor." ”

Wu Shulai couldn't react for a while, he had followed Hongli for a long time, and he had seen a lot of the world, but he had never done such an errand, and he was suspicious in his heart, but he looked at the emperor's face full of anger, and he didn't dare to ask more than half a sentence, but he replied: "Yes." The emperor added, "This matter must not be publicized." Wu Shulai secretly figured it out, but he really didn't have a clue, so he responded: "The slave obeys the order." ”

After a few days, the weather changed greatly, the wind and rain were bleak all day, and the courtyard was originally full of flowers, but in half a day, it became full of fallen stars, broken red water. Qingcheng sat under the porch and watched the rain, the water dragon head under the eaves gurgled and spit water, the dark clouds rolled in the sky, and the wind seemed to uproot the branches as violently, Hai'an presented warm refreshments and said: "If it weren't for this rain, I wouldn't feel that it was almost autumn." Qingcheng sipped the tea and said: "I know the autumn as soon as the leaves fall, and now it is windy and rainy, I am afraid that I will wear autumn clothes." ”

Hai An said with a smile: "It's better to let the people in the embroidery room hurry up to make two autumn robes, the master will not make new clothes, and when the autumn portion comes down, the silk cloth in our warehouse will not be able to be saved." ”

Qingcheng smiled and said, "Anyway, if you want to make clothes, you will take out two more horses and make a few for yourself and Erqi." ”

Hai An said: "If the master really loves the slave and maid, he will dress up himself." You have a favor in front of the emperor, and we also have a light on our faces, which is more important than anything else. The materials in the treasury are all first-class royal tributes, how can there be used by the palace people, even if they are done, we don't dare to wear them. Qingcheng smiled and said, "I still have so many mouths to reward you." Hai An said: "It's not that the slaves and maids are playing tricks, it's just that there are more and more masters in the harem, all of them wear red and green, and they can't wait to wear new clothes every day." It's just you, all year round, there are always a few clothes in turn, and those who don't know still think that you are the master of the cold palace who has fallen out of favor. ”

Qingcheng put down the teacup, got up, and said, "How long can Israel serve people?" If others like to wear red and green, they will wear red and green, I originally loved simplicity, the emperor liked it if he liked it, and I couldn't force it if I didn't like it. ”

The heavy rain gradually became smaller in the evening, the cold and miserable autumn rain fell with the wind, most of the people in the palace were still wearing summer clothes, and the people in the embroidery room ordered the embroidery room to make a batch of autumn jackets overnight, and rewarded the palace attendants and maidservants. The emperor sat in Changchun Palace for a long time, and the people in the Internal Affairs Office reported one thing after another, and the queen was so busy that she couldn't take care of the emperor.

At the beginning of the day, the queen was free, entered the inner hall, and saw the emperor sitting on the kang reading a book, so she smiled and said: "Is the emperor hungry, do you want to have a snack?" The emperor casually flipped the page, looked up and said gently, "I didn't know you were so busy. ”

Listening to the emperor's concern, the queen's heart warmed, and she replied: "It's not like this on weekdays, but the weather changes suddenly, and all the trivial matters big and small come out, and the concubines don't dare to let go of the internal affairs government to deal with it, so they have to ask in person before they feel appropriate." ”

The emperor put aside the book and said, "I remember that Concubine Shun used to do things quickly, so it is better to leave some small things to her to decide, and you can be more leisurely." The queen's expression changed slightly, and then she said as usual: "She doesn't live in Changchun Palace now, and it's always inconvenient to turn back." Besides, sometimes she doesn't dare to call the shots on many things, and she always has to ask her concubines, and the minions pass on the word to go, but it is easy to make mistakes and omissions. ”

On the kang table, there are two yellow gauze lamps, which are reflected in the emperor's eyes, like two burning flames. The queen's thoughts, how he didn't understand, so he smiled and said: "It's better to pick two sensible concubines and nobles below the concubine rank and put them in your palace to help with harem affairs." The queen's heart trembled, thought for a moment, and said tentatively: "The concubine thinks that the concubine is smart and can read and write, if she is willing to come to Changchun Palace to live, the concubine thinks she is a good candidate." ”

The emperor pursed his lips and smiled, even with a smile in his eyes, and said, "She is a person with solid eyes, where will she strategize." Her intelligence doesn't need to be on top - you can look at others, no matter what rank, if you think it's good, it's okay to be promoted. The queen smiled and said, "Concubine Rong pondered slowly, and then reported to the emperor in a few days." ”

She went to the back room to change her clothes, and turned her back to her, her face suddenly showed a decadent color, and the colic was greater than the palpitations, and now his doting on the pure noble concubine was undisguised in front of her.

Before dawn, Qingcheng got up and dressed, today is fifteen, when he goes to the Queen Mother's palace to say goodbye. Hai'an picked and picked up, only to find a half-old autumn jacket that was newly made last year and wore two or three times of pink placket. When I arrived at the corridor of Shoukangmen, there were already Concubine Gao, Concubine Jia, Concubine Shun, Concubine Lu, Concubine Shu and others waiting. The crowd saluted in a low voice according to their ranks, and sat in order, not daring to make a noise.

Qingcheng glanced at the crowd, but he didn't see Yu Guiren, and he secretly wondered in his heart. Quietly asked Concubine Lu and said, "Master Lu, why don't you see the sea always?" Er Qi hurriedly reminded: "Master, Hai Chang has already been promoted to Yu Noble in front of him." Qingcheng suddenly remembered and nodded. Concubine Lu knew that Qingcheng had a relationship with Yu Guiren, so she said: "Early in the morning, she asked someone to pass me a message, saying that she was not feeling well and had a terrible headache, I had already told the queen, and the imperial hospital also sent the imperial doctor over." When Qingcheng heard this, he was very uneasy, and he only thought that he would disperse, so he went to the east courtyard of Zhongcui Palace to have a look.

After a while, the palace maid in front of the Queen Mother came over and said with a smile: "Blessings to all masters, the Queen Mother Lafayette is invited." Everyone got up and walked in calmly.

The Queen Mother sat on the rosewood inlaid jade chair in the flower hall, the queen and the concubine stood on both sides, and when everyone knelt and bowed, the Queen Mother gave a seat, and the grandmother held the tea, and everyone gradually became familiar with each other and laughed. The Queen Mother said: "The weather is cold, you all have to pay attention to maintaining your body, don't blow the wind." He pouted and pointed at Concubine Shu again, and said with a smile: "Look at you dressed thinly, don't get cold." ”

Concubine Gao smiled and said, "Lafayette, you don't know, she is young and has a good physical foundation, as long as she looks good, where can she care about whether she is cold or not." Besides, if she can let the emperor take a few more looks, she thinks it's worth it if she freezes. ”

Concubine Shu was coquettish, threw herself on the queen mother's knee, sat on the pedal, and said: "Lafayette loves to make fun of me." Her face was flushed, her skin was shiny and seemed to be able to pinch out water, the Queen Mother looked at Huanxi, patted her face, and said: "Where is the mourning family making fun of you, the mourning family is distressing about you." Concubine Shu smiled and said, "The queen mother feels sorry for the concubines, and the concubines also remember the queen mother." She raised her face, and a palace maid stepped forward, she took the cotton hand covered with peony pattern and satin on a blue background, and said: "This summer is very hot, and it is estimated that it will be very cold in winter. ”

Even the queen didn't want her to have such thoughts, so she couldn't help but be impressed, she used to underestimate her. The Queen Mother put her hand into the "cotton cover", felt warm, and said with a smile: "It's hard for you to work hard, how can the mourning family dislike it." It was just interesting, and there was a loud voice from the palace people outside, saying: "The emperor has arrived." When the sound fell, the emperor had lifted the curtain and entered, and everyone got up hurriedly and said, "The concubine has seen the emperor." The emperor waved his hand, knelt down in front of the queen mother, and said, "Lafayette can be comfortable today?" ”

The Queen Mother sat down busily and said with a smile: "The mourning family is very good." Seeing that his forehead was full of beads of sweat, he said with a straight face: "It's from the Qianqing Gate, please say goodbye to the mourning family, what's in a hurry, tired and sweaty, it's easiest to blow the wind, don't do it in the future." Mama had already brought warm water, and the queen wrung a towel to wipe the emperor's face.

The emperor said respectfully: "My son has written it down." ”

Concubine Jia suddenly got up and said, "The concubine has something to tell the queen mother and the emperor." She is a foreign tributary girl, and the Queen Mother treats her very politely, and said with a smile: "Concubine Jia has nothing to say, but what is not used to in the palace?" Concubine Jia smiled and said: "Xie Lafayette cares, everything is fine with the concubines, the queen has arranged everything properly, and sent a few cooks to Yanxi Palace to cook Korean dishes, and the concubines eat well, there is nothing unaccustomed." The Queen Mother said: "The queen does things, and the mourning family is relieved." ”

The queen was suddenly flattered by this praise, and curtsied her knees: "It is the queen mother who teaches well." ”

Concubine Jia continued: "Yesterday, the concubine felt uncomfortable and vomited several times, and the concubine's girl knew a little about medical skills, and diagnosed the concubine's pulse, saying that she was pregnant. The concubines were all stunned when they heard this, and the Queen Mother smiled: "Such a big event, you should tell it early." Then he instructed Mama Yan: "Go to Imperial Doctor Xuan and take a good look at Concubine Jia." Mama agreed and went.

The emperor did not have many heirs, and when he heard it, the dragon was overjoyed and said, "If it is true, I will definitely reward you." Concubine Jia glanced at the emperor, her face flushed, and said, "The concubine thanked the emperor first." ”

The Queen Mother smiled: "I'm really happy today, Concubine Shu made a cotton hand cover for the mourning family, Concubine Jia is pregnant again, you are all very filial." As he spoke, he handed the "Mian Wuzi" to the emperor, who looked at it and praised: "Not bad." After a pause, he suddenly said: "The queen's management of the six palaces is really getting better and better, the concubines are harmonious, and they are all filial to the queen mother. Qingcheng originally sat quietly and did not interject to speak, but when he heard the emperor talking about himself, he subconsciously responded and said softly: "Yes." ”

The emperor talked about the pure noble concubine's transcription of the Diamond Sutra in front of everyone, and the Queen Mother looked at it in her eyes, although she was displeased, she couldn't refute his face, so she smiled and said: "The pure noble concubine is also a filial child, and she has asked someone to send the Diamond Sutra for a few days, and the mourning family is very pleased to see it." The emperor looked at Qingcheng through everyone, his eyes were warm, and his smile was lovely.

Qingcheng ignored him, got up and lowered his eyebrows and said, "Empress Dowager Xie praises." ”

It didn't take long for the imperial doctor to come forward, and the concubines and concubines took refuge in the apse for a while, and only came out to sit down when the imperial doctor left. The Queen Mother smiled happily and said to Concubine Jia: "Good child, you have been pregnant for more than two months, and you will be exempted from morning and dusk in the future, just take care of the fetus in the dormitory, if you want to eat or use it, even if you want it from the queen." ”

The queen chimed in: "The queen mother is right. The emperor said with concern: "But you came in a sedan chair?" Concubine Jia replied: "The concubine felt that the weather was cool and wanted to walk around, so she didn't take a sedan chair." The emperor said: "Don't walk when you go back, you are pregnant for the first time, but be cautious." When Concubine Jia first entered the harem, she had no distractions, and when she saw that the emperor was concerned, she felt very useful, so she smiled and said: "Yes." ”

It was the joy that someone outside hurriedly came to say, "Congratulations to Long Live Lord!" The Royal Hospital sent someone to report that Yu Guiren was pregnant! When the Queen Mother heard this, she couldn't help but be overjoyed and said, "Today is really a good day!" He added: "Emperor, hurry over and take a look, such a big thing, don't let Yu Guiren bear it alone." ”

The emperor hurriedly got up, blessed his body, and said, "My son has retired first." The Queen Mother waved her hand and said, "Go quickly." The emperor walked to the threshold, but he paused, turned around and said, "Qingcheng, you are close to Yu Guiren, go with me." The emperor treated her so close in front of everyone, Qingcheng felt slightly embarrassed, it was hesitation, but the emperor had stretched out his hand, she had no choice, so she got up and bowed her knees to the queen mother and said: "The concubine retires." The Queen Mother frowned, but she was not embarrassed, but said, "Go." ”

She gently put her hand in his palm and glanced at him with a complaining face. The emperor smiled slightly, squeezed her hand, and whispered, "Don't worry. "What she was thinking, he knew. The two walked hand in hand to Gong Street in full view of everyone, and Qingcheng reproached: "Why should the emperor bother? I don't want to be a thorn in someone's side. ”

The emperor led her and strode forward, and the long palace street seemed to have no end. He said: "In the past, I didn't show it in front of people, because I didn't want them to target you. But right now, there are more and more people in the harem, and I can't take care of them anyway, so it's better to hand them over to the queen, and I just take care of you. After a pause, he said, "Although you are at ease, you have my protection, see who dares to hurt you in the slightest!" ”