In the middle of the night, the snow was faintly bright, and several palace lamps were burning under the eaves, and the dim yellow candle flame was gently rippling through the tulle, reflecting a shallow halo on the woman's face. She blushed, took half a step back in a panic, and said cautiously: "The slave is rude, please forgive the emperor." ”

The emperor's hand was raised in the air, drooping to the ground, and said with a smile: "I recognize you, last time you said that I saved you in the Mulan paddock, called... What's it called? The woman became more and more embarrassed and said, "Wan'er." Shocked to realize that the emperor was out of order, he hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, the slave is called Wei Wan'er." The emperor didn't care, and remembered for no reason the first time she asked Qingcheng's name what her name was, and she was also embarrassed, for fear that she would lose her honor in front of the emperor, stiff as wood and stone, and she didn't dare to move, and she didn't dare to speak.

The cold wind outside the house, Wu Shulai took the end mask and winter hat to serve the emperor to wear, the emperor came back to his senses, glanced at Wan'er, and then turned around and went to the apse. Wu Shulai did not follow, but asked Wei Wan'er carefully, "Where is the girl on an errand?" ”

Wei Wan'er said: "The slave maid was originally serving on the side of the queen's master, and the palace people in the East Nuan Pavilion said that there was no tea, so Aunt Shanrou sent the slave maid to transfer some from the West Nuan Pavilion. Wu Shulai asked again: "The teahouse is behind, what are you doing standing here?" Not long after Wei Wan'er entered the palace, she didn't think carefully about the meaning of Wu Shulai's words, but just said 1510: "When the slave and maid passed by here, a few pieces of ice suddenly fell from the eaves, and the slave and maid were frightened, so they took two more looks. ”

Wu Shulai was skeptical, and said slowly: "Being able to be bumped into by the Long Live Lord, whether intentionally or not, is a blessing in your life." Wei Wan'er didn't understand, a pair of autumn-like smart eyes looked at Wu Shulai in a daze, and listened to him: "Since Ming'er, you are a person from Xinuan Pavilion, and you are on an errand in front of the Long Live Lord." ”

Wei Wan'er said: "But..."Wu Shulai waved his hand and said with a smile: "Miss Wan'er, this much-asked opportunity should be cherished." You don't have to worry about the others, I'll arrange it. Wei Wan'er had already had feelings for the emperor, but she kept to herself and didn't think much about the future, but just said respectfully: "The slave knows that Grandpa Xie Wu is promoted." ”

Wu Shu came to see that she understood the courtesy, nodded with satisfaction, and hurried to chase the holy car.

The genius was shining, Concubine Shun heard the news and hurried to Jingren Palace, ignoring the etiquette, so she asked, "Do you really believe the words of the noble Shun?" Concubine Xian hadn't had breakfast yet, Luo Qing presented a bowl of Qingxin tea to her, she slowly blew open the floating leaves in the soup, and said: "The human and material evidence is there, so I can't believe it." ”

Concubine Shun knew that Concubine Xian was doing things safely, so she breathed a sigh of relief, sat beside her, and said in a low voice: "You forgot what happened to Lin Caiyou a few years ago?" It was the queen who started it, and there were all the human and material evidence-but the emperor didn't pay attention to it at all! Her voice became deeper and deeper, and she said, "I'm afraid of you, eating chicken won't make rice!" ”

Concubine Xian smiled back and said, "The physical evidence this time is unusual. ”

She raised her face at Luo Qing, Luo Qing turned around and took out the Shuanglong white jade pendant from the cabinet and put it lightly on the kang table. Concubine Shun looked at Ni Duan, her eyes widened, and she said in surprise: "This is not..."Concubine Xian nodded with a smile and said, "According to the medical girl who reported it, she saw Concubine Chun give it to Xia Shenyi with her own eyes." The corners of his lips suddenly showed a hint of loneliness, and said: "I just never thought that the emperor would give her the talisman he had brought for more than ten years." Treat her like this. ”

Concubine Shun said: "I always feel that I am tired, with the wisdom of the pure concubine, I will never give the things given by the emperor at will, is it that the noble Shun has something to hide and use you as a raft?" Concubine Xian said: "Don't be afraid, I know how to get out, a little nobleman, not my opponent." Concubine Shun saw that she was bound to win, and said with a little relief: "It's good that you take precautions." ”

The snow days are short, and before noon, the evening scene is revealed. Qingcheng prepared two bowls of peanut and almond soup early, and on a whim, he helped Hai'an to slowly step on the snow to Changchun Palace. The lion thought it was too cold in the snow, so he circled around the green orange and refused to go by himself, so Haian thought of a way, wrapped him in a thin blanket, and ordered the eunuch to hold him behind him.

Haian smiled: "It's getting lazier and lazier, I prepared hot soup for him to bathe yesterday, but it broke the people who served it." He said softly: "The master is pregnant, so you have to be careful with your feet." Qingcheng Yanran smiled and said: "Don't be afraid, the ground is sprinkled with grass ash, and you support me, and it won't slip." But you, who were kicked in vain yesterday, still hurt? Hai An said: "It doesn't hurt, I want to come to Shun nobleman with how much strength she has, after all, she is a boudoir woman, and she can't hurt anything." ”

Qingcheng felt a little comforted and said, "You are the palace maid beside me, you can do things a little more freely." You and Er Qi are really a natural pair, one is doing things in a hurry, and she can't be restrained. And you, who are restrained and tolerant, can't let go even if you are told to let go. Hai'an helped Qingcheng to the shelter of the road, and said: "Being able to serve by the master's side is a blessing for the slave and maid to cultivate for several lifetimes, besides, being a slave and maid is a common thing to endure hardships and be scolded, and the master does not have to worry." ”

The two walked while talking, and it didn't take long for them to arrive at Changchun Gate. After dinner, the emperor was strolling in the courtyard to eat, and a woman wearing a pink and green embroidered bamboo leaf palace skirt was beside him, and the honor guard was waiting ten steps away. Qingcheng's eyes were sharp, and he could not help but stagnate on his feet, and after only a moment's effort, the emperor had seen her, greeted her with a smile, held her hand, and asked, "Is it cold?" ”

Qingcheng only looked at the woman next to her, obviously there was nothing, but Wei Wan'er felt empty-hearted, she fixed her look, and bent her knees and said, "The slave and maid ask for peace to the pure master." But Qingcheng didn't tell her to get up, but let her kneel half-way. The emperor saw Qingcheng's thoughts, and said with a nonchalant face: "You go down." Wan'er replied "yes" and slowly retreated.

The lion broke free and threw himself at the Emperor's feet, screaming. The emperor kicked it away, pulled the green orange and walked into the Xinuan Pavilion, and said: "Don't always run here, it's a cold day, if it's cold, the baby can't stand it." Qingcheng glanced at him, pouting and not speaking. Her little emotion, the emperor understood very well, took her in his arms, hugged her into the house, and said, "Do you think that the girl just now looks a little like you between her eyebrows and eyes?" ”

Qingcheng shook off his hand and said, "It's not enough to have me, is it difficult to find someone who is "like" me?" ”

Wu Shulai looked at the situation, glanced at the palace people in the house, and everyone retreated quietly. The emperor said: "It's not my idea, it was arranged by Wu Shu, if you don't believe it, Xuan He came to ask." He played with Laipi and pasted it on her, Qingcheng couldn't help laughing, and said: "I think Wu Shulai is a good slave, and he wants to be in front of the master in everything, but you can praise it." ”

He kissed her neck with a shy face, and a faint lotus fragrance lingered, he was familiar with this smell, it was the smell of her. Qingcheng pushed him, put Wei Wan'er's matter aside for the time being, asked Hai'an to bring the soup, looked at the emperor and ate half a bowl, and asked, "Has the cough improved?" The emperor smiled and said, "I won't cough when I see you." ”

Qingcheng secretly glared at him twice and said, "This is Changchun Palace!" ”

The emperor said, "I know. After a pause, he said: "I listened to you yesterday, and asked Mama Jiao to take the eldest princess to the Dongnuan Pavilion to eat and live, although it was a little noisy at night, the queen was also happy." In addition to taking care of the queen, he also has to worry about political affairs in the court, and as the New Year is approaching, there are too many cumbersome things for him to ask, and in just a few days, he has lost a lot of weight.

Qingcheng was very pityful, stroked his face, and said, "When the queen's illness is cured, I will prepare some good wine and food in Yikun Palace every day, and ask you to make up for it." The emperor covered her hand and said with a smile: "The huge imperial dining room is for me alone, you don't have to worry about food, just take care of yourself." The two whispered, as if there was something to say, Wei Wan'er was about to go in to serve tea, but was stopped by Wu Shulai. She stared at the splendid thick felt hanging in front of the door for a long time, as if she was stupid.

After most of the hour, the emperor sent Qingcheng out, handed her the lion in his arms, and said, "If the little thing kicks you, come and tell me." The little thing he said meant the baby in the belly of the green orange, but the outsider heard that it was a lion, and the two smiled tacitly.

Wei Wan'er saw it in her eyes, and there was an inexplicable sourness in her heart. In her heart, the emperor has always been majestic and sage, unattainable, but watching him treat the pure concubine softly, smiling and smiling, without the slightest courtesy of a monarch and minister, she couldn't help but feel stunned, and thought stupidly: If, if I were a pure concubine, it would be good.

The emperor refused to let Qingcheng go back, so he announced the warm sedan chair, and watched her enter the sedan chair with his own eyes, so he was relieved. Just out of Changchun Palace, there was a eunuch from Shoukang Palace blocking the way, and said loudly: "Pure master, the Queen Mother is summoned." "They don't speak in a good tone, not like they're calling their masters, but they're coming to tie people up. Hai An was deeply disturbed, and whispered outside the window: "Master..."

Before he could speak, Qingcheng said first: "Since it is the queen mother's summons, naturally I can't refuse." ”

When I arrived at Shoukang Palace, a palace maid with a neat head and face came out from afar, with a solemn face and no smile, so that Hai'an had no way to start pulling in, so he had to enter the palace silently, and take one step at a time. When I arrived at the hall, the Queen Mother sat in the center, and on both sides sat Concubine Gao, Concubine Shun, Concubine Xian, Concubine Jia, Concubine Shu, Concubine Yu, Jin Guiren, Lu Guiren, Wang Guiren, etc., the concubines of the three palaces and six courtyards, and the nobles and above, all arrived. If it was in the past, the concubines would definitely smile and have fun under the queen mother's knees, but now, everyone is secretly coveting the queen mother's expression with a straight face, and there is no room for the slightest presumptuousness.

Qingcheng Yingying bowed and said, "The concubine asks the Queen Mother for peace." ”

The Queen Mother's eyes were shining, and she looked at Qingcheng coldly, and said, "Do you know why the mourning family summoned you?" Qingcheng was stunned, and the thoughts in her head were stacked, but she couldn't grasp anything, she said respectfully: "The concubine doesn't know." The Queen Mother snorted coldly and said, "Of course you don't know, if you know, you should kneel and beg for mercy at this moment." After a pause, he said: "Shun noble, you tell Concubine Chun." ”

Shoukang Palace has a glass damper, and the translucent snow light is reflected in the house, illuminating everyone's face pale. Shun Guiren got up, first bent her knees towards Qingcheng, she had always been polite and docile in front of the Queen Mother, and said softly at this time: "May I ask Concubine Chun, did you summon Lord Xia from the Imperial Hospital the day before yesterday?" Qingcheng faintly felt uneasy, but couldn't guess why, overheard her mention Xia Shenyi, she was a little determined, and said calmly: "It's not a summons, it's just a normal practice, just diagnose my safe pulse." ”

A smile appeared on the corner of the nobleman's mouth, and he looked at the Queen Mother, who said sternly: "If you have anything to say, just ask." Shun Guiren replied respectfully, his eyes showed a slight pride, he looked at Qingcheng with contempt, and said, "Then you should remember what you did and said with Lord Xia that day." She raised her hand, and the palace people led the palace people in the moon-white dress into the house from outside, and Qingcheng knew that it was the medical woman who was accompanied by Xia Shenyi. The doctor bowed her head, knelt in the hall and said, "The slave and maid ask the queen mother for peace, and for the masters." ”

The Queen Mother asked, "Are you Yunling?" ”

Yun Ling kowtowed and said, "Back to the Queen Mother, the slave maid is exact." The Queen Mother said in a deep voice: "Whatever the noble man asks you, you have to answer 1510, and you are not allowed to hide anything." Yun Ling hesitated for a moment and replied, "The slave and maid will obey Yi's order. "Except for Concubine Xian and Concubine Shun, everyone else was kept in the dark, and when they saw the Queen Mother so solemn, they all looked at each other.

Concubine Xian leisurely sipped tea and stayed out of the matter.

Shun Guidao: "Yun Ling, you are the most powerful doctor girl by Lord Xia's side, but you report to me the private affair between Concubine Chun and Lord Xia, what is the purpose of being so ill-intentioned?!" Her voice was neither loud nor small, but it was like a muffled thunder that hit everyone's heart. Seeing that everyone was dumbfounded, Shun Guiren was very proud, and raised his voice again: "With the Queen Mother in charge, you don't need to be afraid of anyone, just make it clear carefully." ”

Qingcheng is not afraid of gossip, and his face does not change and stands brightly, but he is a little awe-inspiring. She was wearing a simple pink blue small chrysanthemum pattern satin jacket, without a flag head, green silk bun, pressed two jasper pearls and swayed, rippling slightly with her body. Concubine Yu recalled that back then, Qingcheng bumped into the holy driver in the Imperial Garden, and was so timid that she only knew how to avoid it. And now, in just three or four years, she has been promoted to the pure concubine of the sixth palace since she was a child, and she dares not to be humble or arrogant even in front of the queen mother. Thinking about himself, he felt even more sad and sad, and he couldn't help but feel an indefinable resentment in his heart, secretly gloating.

If there is no pure concubine in the palace, whether he is or not, can there be a glimmer of hope.

Yun Ling said half-truthfully: "The day before yesterday in Yikun Palace, after Lord Xia diagnosed the pulse of peace for Concubine Chun, she was about to retire, but Concubine Chun Niangniang stopped Lord Xia and took a jade pendant from her cuff and gave it to Lord Xia. "After that, another palace person presented the Shuanglong white jade pendant in the hall. The objects on the emperor's body were all recognized by the concubines, and Concubine Shu was shocked and said, "This... Isn't this what the emperor wears closely? How could it be in the hands of Concubine Chun? Qingcheng was still unhurried and said, "It was the emperor who rewarded me." ”

The Queen Mother was so angry that she casually touched a teapot from the desk, slammed it to the ground, and said: "Bold, dare to reward the royal gift with irrelevant men, is there any ancestral family law in this palace!" After a pause, he shouted, "Kneel!" "In the harem, with the Queen Mother as the respect, Shoukang Palace has always been full of laughter and flowers, and it has never been so severe and depressing as it is today. The palace people who were waiting inside and outside knelt down one after another, and the concubines were also so frightened that they booed and quieted, like wooden people, and they didn't even dare to move their eyes.

Concubine Xian said softly: "Don't be angry, don't be angry, be careful of causing cough." She glanced at Qingcheng lightly and said, "Let's listen to what Concubine Chun explains." Qingcheng knelt straight on the ground, and the hall was paved with bright and bright gold bricks, although it was for the earth dragon, but it was hard, and his knees hurt. She said: "Please calm the anger of the Queen Mother, and please think about it, if I really have something ulterior with Lord Xia, why don't I shy away from outsiders at all?" Furthermore, even if I am stupid, how can I give away the objects of the royal gift to others at will? It is obvious that the doctor girl Yunling deliberately concealed the truth and wanted to frame me. Please let the Queen Mother be clear. ”

Shun Guiren smiled coldly and said, "Framed? Do you dare to say that this jade pendant was not given to Lord Xia by you? ”

Qingcheng raised his eyes to look at her and said, "Since you want to frame me, you naturally put some effort into it, and I don't want to hide it." This jade pendant was originally given to me by the emperor for protection, but because my brother was seriously ill and in danger, the emperor once said that the jade pendant was worn by the lama and could ward off evil spirits and suppress shock, so I wanted Lord Xia to take it out of the palace and give it to my brother to help my brother avoid a catastrophe. Then he asked: "I don't understand, how did the jade pendant get into your hands?" ”

Shun Guiren asked, "Your brother?" Who is your brother? ”

Qingcheng replied: "My brother is Master Jian Yuheng from the Imperial Hospital. "Jian Yuheng's incident happened before the Shun nobles entered the palace, so she didn't know it. But Concubine Xian knew very well in her heart that the emperor might not believe what would reward people with jade and what would be taught privately, and he would not be able to really shake the status of the pure concubine, and the previous Lin Caiyou was a dead case.

However, every man wants to have his beloved woman completely, not to mention the emperor, he is the Ninety-Five, and his possessiveness is naturally stronger than others, he can maintain the pure concubine and protect the pure concubine, but he can't tolerate that his woman still has other men hidden in his heart, even if it is just a little bit, even if the man's life and death are worried.

The Queen Mother also knew Jian Yuheng, and was about to inquire carefully, when a hearty laugh suddenly came from outside, and said, "What's going on today, who made the Queen Mother unhappy?" "Shun Guiren is so young that when he knew that the emperor was coming, he immediately became confused, and looked at Concubine Xian in a panic. Concubine Xian glanced at her calmly, signaling that she didn't need to panic.

A clever palace man got up and opened the curtain, and the emperor entered the hall, and saw Qingcheng kneeling on the ground, walked to her side a few times, stretched out his hand to hold her arm, and reprimanded in a low voice: "Don't you know your own body?" If you want to kneel, you will kneel? The ground is very hard, and something happens, but what can I do? Qingcheng was still holding a strong breath, but as soon as the emperor came, the strength of his whole body seemed to be suddenly withdrawn, soft, unable to speak, and his eyes were red.

The queen mother was displeased, and said: "It was the mourning family who told her to kneel, no matter how distressed the emperor is, he should ask the reason for it." ”

The emperor has always respected the queen mother, and he knelt down to ask for peace, and said: "The emperor's mother said yes." The concubines wanted to get up and say goodbye, but the emperor waved his hand and said, "Sit down." He also said: "Mama, put a stool and chair for Concubine Chun, and spread the cushion under it thicker." The Queen Mother made a straight face and said: "The emperor didn't ask the mourning family what to do with her kneeling, but asked Mama to put a cushion for her, which is really strange." ”

Shun Guiren panicked and said: "Yes, yes, the emperor should ask first..."

The emperor said in a heavy tone, "I didn't ask you!" After a pause, the Empress Dowager Fang Chao smiled and said, "No matter who makes the Empress Dowager angry, I will not spare it." It's just that Concubine Chun has a body, and I'm worried about the imperial heir. If there is anything to say, it can be explained while sitting down. As soon as these words came out, even Concubine Xian couldn't bear it anymore, and said, "Why haven't the concubines heard about the emperor's heir?" ”

She suddenly felt that her wishful thinking was about to fail again. The emperor glanced at her, as if he had seen through everything, and made her panic and tremble. The emperor said indifferently: "It's what I mean, Imperial Doctor Xia said that her fetal pulse is a little unstable, and I want to wait for three months, and when the fetus is stable, I will give the queen mother a surprise." ”

Concubine Xian had a thousand words stuck in her throat, but she could only say: "Congratulations to the emperor, concubine, Concubine Chun's mouth is so tight, she can't hear the slightest rumor, otherwise the concubine will have to distribute some good things to her to nourish her body." ”

The emperor said: "I have already ordered the imperial dining room to allocate it, and the good things you have there will be kept for yourself to nourish your body." The Queen Mother eased her face, looked at Qingcheng and said, "This child, I don't say how she is pregnant." If the right person really kneels down, what is wrong, how can the mourning family deal with themselves? Qingcheng hurriedly got up and said, "The Queen Mother doesn't have to worry, my body knows by herself, and it won't be a big problem." ”

Shun Guiren's stomach was so aggrieved that it was boiling, and in the cold weather, she was so hot that she was soaking wet, and her forehead was rolling down like sweaty beans, but she could only endure it and could not do anything. When the emperor saw a piece of jade pendant resting on the kang table, he felt familiar in a trance, and was stunned. The Queen Mother said: "Your jade pendant, take it back yourself." You can't take care of your affairs, you can deal with it slowly. ”

Previously, when the eunuchs of Shoukang Palace hurriedly went to Changchun Palace to pray, they only said that Concubine Chun had made the Queen Mother angry, and the emperor did not take it seriously and did not ask in detail. He turned his face and asked, "Qingcheng, how can Yu Pei be here with the Queen Mother?" ”

But it was Concubine Xian who opened her mouth and said, "The Queen Mother was angry just now, precisely because of this jade pendant." She looked at Qingcheng and said, "Last night, a doctor from the imperial hospital reported to Shun Guiren, saying that Concubine Chun and the imperial doctor Lord Xia taught each other privately, and the concubine didn't believe it first, but she looked at the jade pendant-" She coveted the emperor's expression, and there was no joy or anger on his face, so that people couldn't guess what he was thinking.

Concubine Xian continued: "Concubine Chun said that she asked Lord Xia to transfer it to her cousin Lord Jane for the purpose of warding off evil spirits and suppressing shocks. The concubine thought that although the pure concubine was excusable, the palace rules could not be violated. ”

The emperor pondered for a while, and he had already understood most of the cause and effect, and clues. He rested on the kang table with one hand, pinched the jade pendant and played with it in the palm of his hand, sometimes making a crisp collision sound, in the quiet as a wilderness-like temple, it can tear people's eardrums.

After half a ring, the emperor said, "Concubine Chun, what do you have to say?" He didn't want to pursue the past, and he didn't want to pursue anything else, but it was the jade pendant he rewarded. The emperor's heart swayed and fell, sinking to the lowest place, cold to the bone, and even looking at her, he felt distressed and sad. Qingcheng got up, walked to the emperor's side unhurriedly, and said, "Your Majesty, I have a few words that I want to say to you alone." The Queen Mother snorted lightly and said, "Is there anything you can't say openly?" Still want to hide? ”

Qingcheng bent his knees and said, "Ask the Queen Mother to fulfill it." ”