Yangxin Palace was originally the emperor's bedroom, and the palace people who served were all first-class clever and cautious, seeing that there was no one in the palace, not like the past and laughing peacefully, more and more careful about three points, even the tea was tiptoeing, quietly retreating. The emperor raised his hand, and Shu Concubine hurriedly took the imperial pen and rested it on the sandalwood pen holder. After a quiet half-sound, the emperor spoke, "She confessed?" ”

Concubine Gao lowered her eyebrows and lowered her eyes, and said, "Yes." ”

Concubine Shu stood beside her, only to feel that the emperor's eyes were cold, and her eyebrows were raised, as if she wanted to swallow her life alive. Not long after she entered the palace, she was favored and accompanied by the king almost every day. The emperor has always been gentle and kind, rarely angry, and in front of her, he is even more smiling and affectionate. Seeing this today, my heart panicked, and I stood respectfully and even slowed down my breathing by half a minute.

The hall was silent, and after a long while, the emperor said, "Wu Shu is here." ”

Wu Shulai hurriedly bowed forward and asked, "What does the master command?" ”

The emperor suppressed his anger and said, "Go and summon Concubine Xian." ”

Wu Shulai snorted, retreated to the threshold, and turned around and walked quickly. The emperor asked, "Does the Empress know about this?" ”

Concubine Gao settled down and said in a panic: "The matter is very important, the concubines dare not spread it out, the torture is quite careful, and the queen does not dare to send someone to report it." The emperor nodded, showing a slight hint of approval, and said, "I need to tell Fang Hao about this matter in person." After a pause, he said, "You go back first, the matter has come to this point, and I can't control it, I will deal with it." He pouted his face at Concubine Shu and said, "You go back too." The two knelt down and retreated, tacitly acknowledging each other.

Biluogong Street, the vermilion wall is high, and there is a cluster of sedan chairs coming quickly in the distance.

Concubine Gao looked at it from afar, and couldn't help but feel a little confused, listening to the emperor's meaning just now, I was afraid that she would not be severely punished. Although Concubine Xian is not favored, her family background and rank are still there, not to mention, she is still the niece of the Queen Mother, and the emperor governs the country with filial piety - no one can say what will happen in the future.

The corners of Concubine Shu's lips smiled, and the two concubines competed, for her, it was not bad.

She said: "Master Gao, the sun is scorching, let's take a sedan chair and go quickly, don't get a tan." ”

Concubine Gao knew that Concubine Shu was proud, and looked at her as if she was looking at herself back then. At that time, he was a newcomer to the house, and he was a person in the heart of the fourth master, arrogant and arrogant, and loved to watch his predecessors compete for the wind and be jealous, and enjoy the profits.

Now, as if in a blink of an eye, he has become a "predecessor".

As the sun droops in the west, the afterglow falls on the palace wall outside the window, rising higher and higher, until it is almost out of sight, Qingcheng put down the pen and ink in his hand, and instructed Hai'an: "Go and bring water, I want to wash my hands and face." ”

Haian asked, "Do you want a snack in the kitchen?" ”

Qingcheng entered the bedroom, picked out a blue, gray and dark palace skirt from the large wooden cabinet, unbuttoned it, and said, "The second elder brother is sick and has moved into Changchun Palace, and I haven't visited yet." ”

Hai An twisted the towel and said, "I heard that the queen has no outsiders. ”

Qingcheng wiped his face, motioned to Erqi to take two sachets from the cabinet, and said, "Didn't you find some cloves and mint before?" I embroidered the medicine bag with the leftovers, wearing colored silk, wearing purple tassels, and embellishing some sequins, which looked good when worn, and also had the effect of opening the mind, awakening the mind, and dehumidifying. Although the queen doesn't like to be bothered, this medicine bag for blessing should be accepted, after all, it is good for the second elder brother. ”

Hai An smiled and said, "It's still the master's heart." ”

It was late in the middle of summer, and it was the end of the unitary hour, but it was still a sunset. The person in the straight room stopped Qingcheng outside and said, "Master Su came at a really bad time, the second elder brother just vomited, and the queen was busy and didn't have time to see guests." ”

Qingcheng glanced at the courtyard, and sure enough, it was crowded, and the palace attendants kept their hands and feet. She was concerned: "Can you tell the emperor?" ”

The humane of the straight house: "I have already gone to pass it on." ”

Qingcheng snorted and said, "In this case, I won't bother." ”

The eunuch snorted and said, "Congratulations to Master Su." As soon as he turned around, the emperor was already facing him. His face was gloomy, his demeanor was hurried, he didn't smile at all, and he was slightly stunned when he saw Qingcheng. Qingcheng knew that he was anxious, and said, "Don't worry about me, the emperor will go and see the second elder brother." ”

The Emperor nodded and walked quickly.

The cornices are warped, the flowers are thick, the green orange looks at the bright yellow figure and gradually disappears in the depths of the courtyard, as if for a moment, the world suddenly blackened, the palace lights suddenly brightened, and the green orange's heart sank for no reason. He is a king, and he is the king of others, and he is a husband and a husband of others. Even if the queen falls out of favor again, as long as the phoenix is there, as long as the child is there, the emperor will never be able to give up.

And he is a Han man. Every time I think about it, I feel unbearable.

In the middle of the night, the curtain rippled, the green orange had slept peacefully, and suddenly heard a slight sound, only to see someone sitting upright in front of the couch. She suddenly woke up from her dream, but it was the emperor who whispered, "I've woken you up." ”

Qingcheng sighed and said, "Scared me." ”

There were two candles on the high table, and the emperor looked back, and the dim light and shadow fell on her face, because she was taken aback, and there was a slight palpitation on her face. She had a loose belt, revealing her slanted shoulders, pulled his arrow sleeve sideways, and asked, "Is the second elder brother better?" ”

The emperor said, "It's better." ”

The confidence was still insufficient, Qingcheng knew that it was a big deal, so she stumbled up and personally dressed the emperor. The two of them lay on the couch, the emperor closed his eyes, but his face was tense, and he never relaxed.

Qingcheng leaned lightly against his chest and asked, "Are you asleep?" ”

The emperor didn't move, only hummed.

Qingcheng said softly and relieved: "Second elder brother Fuze protects himself, nothing will happen to him." Whose children don't have three illnesses and four pains, the old people often say that minor illnesses are often seen, and major illnesses are not committed. The emperor doesn't have to worry too much. ”

The Emperor snorted, still silent. Gradually, Qingcheng fell asleep.

Before dawn the next day, a eunuch called outside. Qingcheng got up, she waited for the emperor to wash and dress, and sent it to Yikun Gate, Fang took out the medicine bag, and said: "Changchun Palace is inconvenient to see guests, I have never had the opportunity to give it to the second elder brother, it is better for the emperor to bring it over." ”

The emperor asked, "What is this?" ”

Qingcheng said: "When I was a child, the old mother at home often embroidered medicine bags for me, saying that it could keep me safe. I put cloves and mint in it, and hung them in front of the second brother's couch to clear my heart and refresh my mind. After a while, I will go to the Buddhist hall to offer incense to the second elder brother, praying that he will get better soon, so that his emperor will not worry. The emperor was very moved when he heard that she was thinking about herself, shook her hand, and said, "You are the only person who can be so sincere by my side." ”

Qingcheng smiled and said coquettishly: "It's good that you know!" ”

The emperor dispersed and went to Shoukang Palace to ask for peace as usual, afraid that the queen mother would worry about the second elder brother, so he only picked up some nice words. The Queen Mother asked about Concubine Xian and said, "Yesterday, I heard that Concubine Xian was locked up in the cold palace, and the mourning family didn't sleep well all night. She grew up watching the mourning family since she was a child, she has a docile temperament, and she is the most obedient. When I heard that she confessed by herself, the mourning family felt like a piece of flesh and blood, and regretted it again and again, and then sent someone to ask, only to know that she was an unintentional mistake, so she was slightly better. She softened her tone and said, "It's just that after all, she is the child of our Wulanala family, the emperor doesn't look at the face of the monk and the face of the Buddha, if her mother knows underground, the mourning family will not have the face to meet people." ”

Seeing that the queen mother was grief-stricken, the emperor hurriedly said: "It's the son who mishandled it." ”

The Queen Mother said: "It has nothing to do with you, you are the emperor, everything you do is right, how can it be wrong!" He sighed again: "It's Concubine Xian who doesn't fight for herself, she has been favored for a few years, but she hasn't had a son and a half daughter, and she finally got pregnant before, but she didn't want to..."

The emperor got up, snuggled up to the Queen Mother, stroked her back, helped her to calm down, and said: "Don't worry, the emperor's mother, when Concubine Xian lives in the cold palace for a while, I will find another reason to take her out." ”

Finally stopped coughing, and the Queen Mother smiled and said, "Good boy." ”

Yonglian could not be cured for a long time, and the sacred heart was worried, and he stayed in the side hall of Changchun Palace for several days. The queen worked even harder, day and night, and waited on the edge of the collapse without undressing. The imperial doctors changed one after another, all of them with awe-inspiring expressions, for fear that there would be mistakes and omissions, and their heads would not be protected.

Seven or eight days later, Yonglian finally got rid of his fever and knew that he was hungry.

Fast forward to the beginning of September, and the weather is quite cool. The emperor listened to the lecture in the Hongde Palace, returned to the Yangxin Hall to change his clothes, wore a Molan arrow sleeve long gown, and put on a square silk hat, looking extremely handsome and handsome. He raised his face, and a woman with beautiful makeup stepped forward next to him, smiled, and said softly: "What does the Lord of Long Live want?" ”

The emperor glanced at her and stretched out his hand, and the woman hurriedly put her palm into his hand, and he smiled: "I'm tired of listening to it, you accompany me to the garden." ”

The woman was overjoyed and said, "The concubine obeys." ”

The two walked hand in hand, Jing Taogong sent to the bottom of the stairs and turned around, seeing that Wu Shulai did not go to accompany the driver, he actually sat on the edge of the tearoom and sipped melon seeds, "Oops", and said, "What?" Annoyed the emperor? ”

Wu Shulai's mouth kept chewing, and he sighed: "Now I can't afford to care." After a pause, he said, "You talk less nonsense and make me a good pot of tea." ”

Jing Tao listened to what he said, carefully soaked the pot of high-grade Biluochun, moved a small few, put it beside him, and asked, "Don't care about it, tell me about it." ”

Wu Shulai looked around, waved his hand to let the eunuch at the bottom of the pillar go away, and then muttered in a low voice: "The second elder brother in front is sick, long live the master in Changchun Palace, and fortunately the girl on the tea water - that is, Lin Changzai." ”

If he wanted to say it or not, Jing Tao was so angry that he said: "Everyone knows this, and I can't make you a word." After speaking, he turned around and wanted to leave, Wu Shulai said again: "It's none of my business, who is going to be fortunate to live the lord, where can I care." But the Queen Mother, just now announced me over and scolded me, her old man doesn't like Han people, and scolded me for not persuading the Long Live Lord.... The conscience of heaven and earth, where can I persuade us! ”

Jing Tao pouted and smiled, poked his index finger on his forehead, and said, "You deserve to be blamed!" ”

Wu Shulai looked like he was not bad at life, and said, "Why do you blame me?!" ”

Jing Tao said: "Those who can run to the emperor and show their faces, if it weren't for your permission, who would be able to pass?" The Queen Mother didn't beat you, she was polite to you! ”

Wu Shulai said aggrievedly: "At that time, people were messy, and I didn't care about it for a while..."

Jing Tao turned around and picked up the house, and said casually: "Don't be aggrieved, no matter how messy he is, he won't be able to mess up with the Lord of Long Live Heaven, otherwise, the melons in your brain will be gone!" The two of them talked about each other, and when they saw that the sun was setting in the west, and there were hidden footsteps, they knew that it was the holy car that had returned, and they were busy doing their own things and acting separately.

On this day, the autumn rain was thin, adding coolness, and the palace had to change into gray-green jackets, Er Qi received a new autumn coat from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and guarded the palace people on duty everywhere under the corridor with Qingyunzhai. Hai'an lifted the curtain and came out, shivering with cold, and said: "This year's clothes are later than in previous years, but they have been frozen for several days." ”

Er Qi said: "The queen is busy, everything is arranged by the master, and the disposal inside and outside is the first time." ”

Hai An smiled: "It's no wonder it's difficult to obey the master." When he heard that there was a call inside, he hurriedly turned around and returned, and asked, "What is the master's command?" ”

Qingcheng leaned on the kang, leaned on the brocade forging black and green pillow, rolled the book in his hand, and said in a deep voice: "I'm a little hungry, let the kitchen have a snack." Hai'an glanced at the bell and said, "It's still early, the emperor hasn't spoken yet, maybe the emperor is coming." ”

Qingcheng looked at the dark clouds rolling outside the window, the rain curtain continued, and a trace of sadness crossed his eyes, and said: "I heard that Lin Changzai has won the sacred heart, and he has been with you for days. After a pause, he looked straight at the scroll, and said lightly: "It's getting late, and I'm afraid the emperor won't come." ”

Hai An saw that her expression was decadent and her demeanor was boring, so he smiled and said, "If the master is worried, why don't you go to the Heart Cultivation Hall to take a look?" It's better to go out for a walk than to be stuffy in the house. ”

Qingcheng threw away the book and said, "The emperor doesn't want to come, so what can I do if I go?" ”

Hai An said: "Meet three points of love." ”

Qingcheng shook his head and said, "If he doesn't come, he won't come, I can't always play tricks." You ordered the kitchen to serve snacks, and on a cold day, I ate early, and lay down in the bed earlier. ”

Haian didn't dare to say too much, so he hurriedly agreed and went down to order. In the middle of the night, Qingcheng's mind was disturbed, and he slept very lightly, and as soon as there was movement outside, he woke up. The emperor was cold, and went straight into the warm nest, reached out to wrap his arms around her waist, and strangled her to his chest.

He expected her to be awake and chuckled, "Why haven't you slept yet?" ”

Qingcheng froze, closed his eyes, and pretended not to hear anything.

The emperor was stunned for a moment, propped up his head, looked at her sleeping face, and pondered carefully. After half a ring, Qingcheng couldn't help it, so he opened his eyes to look, but saw the emperor looking at him with a smile, and he couldn't help but be angry, and pulled the quilt to cover his face.

The emperor tasted with interest: "I am here, but I am not happy." Seeing that Qingcheng was bored and didn't say a word, he groped to pinch her face and said, "What a little girl." Qingcheng listened to his gentle words and smiles, thinking of Su Ri's feelings, his eyes were warm, and he couldn't help but burst into tears. She said, "I coaxed others, and they came to coax me again." ”

The emperor said, "Who have I coaxed?" ”

Qingcheng was a little scared, he didn't dare to say it directly, and his face was silently covered with tears, and his throat seemed to be wrapped in hot coals, which was hot and scorching. The emperor knew she was crying, lifted the quilt and stared at her. She was unbearably shy, her eyes closed, her eyebrows furrowed.

The emperor lost his patience and said angrily, "What the hell is wrong?!" ”

Qingcheng threw herself into his arms, pressed against his chest, and sobbed softly. The emperor was angry, his heart was soft and greasy, soft, like coaxing a child, and he whispered: "Is someone bullying you?" ”

Qingcheng sobbed and shook his head, rubbed his tears and snot on his bright yellow shirt, and said, "Lin Changzai..." Although he only said three words, the emperor had already woken up, and when he saw her crying sadly, he couldn't help laughing and said: "I was jealous." ”

But no woman has cried for jealousy.

The emperor said: "Lin Changzai was dedicated to me by the queen, the queen worked hard, and she was afraid of being left out in the cold, so she was fortunate to be her maidservant, so that she could take care of Yonglian with peace of mind." After a pause, he said: "Besides, Lin Changzai is a Han girl like you, and there are many Han girls in the palace, so the Queen Mother can't care about embarrassing you." He held her face with both hands, wiped away her tears, and smiled lightly: "Are you more comfortable?" ”

She cried so that her eyes were red, the tip of her nose shrugged slightly, and she looked sad and pitiful under the candlelight, and sobbed: "I would rather be embarrassed by the Queen Mother..." ”

Qingcheng didn't spare him, and said angrily: "There is less Lin Changzai, and Zhao Changzai, Qian Changzai, Sun Changzai, Li Changzai..."

The next morning, the holy driver got up as usual, the emperor put on his clothes, sat on the kang in the east room with a morning snack, Wu Shulai bowed to present the princes and ministers who asked to be summoned today, and the west suddenly shouted "ah", which scared him so much that he almost didn't even hold the meal card steady.

The emperor chewed the bun in his mouth, was still stunned, and asked in a loud voice, "What's the matter?" There was silence on the other end, and no one answered. The emperor was not relieved and walked over with his shoes on.

Qingcheng sat in front of the glass mirror, saw the emperor come in, hurriedly covered his face, and said, "I'm fine." ”

The emperor broke her hand, looked at it for a moment, smiled dumbly, and said, "Who told you to cry for half a night, it's good now, it's swollen like a peach." ”

Qingcheng covered his eyes with one hand to prevent him from looking, pushed him out with the other, and said, "It's dawn, go to the court." ”

The emperor smiled and didn't care, and said, "Let Hai'an find some tea leaves that were brewed yesterday, wrap them in gauze, and apply them to his eyes, but the swelling will be reduced in half a while." ”

Qingcheng said: "Which book is it, why have I never heard of it?" ”

The emperor blurted out: "Concubine Gao is used to knowing this, she told me." ”

Qingcheng's face suddenly collapsed, his eyebrows raised, and said, "Her words, the emperor really remembers them clearly." ”

The emperor pinched her nose and said with a smile: "It's almost a vinegar jar." ”

As soon as September passed, the weather was suddenly cold, and the wind was howling every day, and it was gloomy and gloomy. Lin Changzai was wearing a half-worn blue palace dress and skirt, with palace silk flowers on his sideburns, and helped the palace maid to Changchun Palace to say goodbye. The second elder brother's illness came and went, which broke the queen's heart, and in order to cover his haggard face, he could only pounce on thick rouge gouache. She was wearing a phoenix robe, covered with a bright yellow pipa corcasse with a pattern of branches, and sat on the kang with strong spirits, and said, "Sit down." ”

Lin Chang thanked him and said with concern: "Is the master's health better?" "Before she was promoted, she was a personal attendant of the queen's side, and she knew the queen's illness.

The queen said lightly: "It's still the same." ”

Lin Changzai said: "The master Su Ri has a lot of explanations for the people under him to do things, and he doesn't have to bow down to everything. ”

The queen said: "It's always uneasy to hand it over to others." After a pause, his expression changed, and he said, "The person in the respectful room said that the emperor has not summoned you for half a month, what is the matter?" ”

Lin Chang flushed his cheeks, was silent for a moment, and said in a low voice: "The emperor said that the slave is like a wooden man. Not long after she accepted the favor, she was very embarrassed to talk about the boudoir in front of outsiders. The queen knew what she meant, took the ginseng tea presented by Shanrou, took a sip, and then rested on the table, and said with a normal expression: "Otherwise, I will send two old ladies who work in the worship room to teach you?" ”

Lin Changzai became more and more ashamed, twisted the handkerchief in his hand, and responded: "Thank you, master." ”

The queen admonished: "You are a Han girl, it is good to be able to accept favor, it can be seen that the emperor still likes you." After a pause, he said: "It is up to people to plan things, and it is up to heaven to make things happen, since I introduced you to the emperor, I also see that you are sensible and courteous, and treat me loyally." As long as you follow the path I showed you, it will not be difficult to become a concubine in the future. ”

Lin Chang was busy getting up, kneeling down and kowtowing: "Slaves and maids must obey the master's teachings." ”

The queen nodded with satisfaction and said, "Get up, if I don't summon you in the future, I don't have to come over to say goodbye." If you have anything to say, I will send someone to spread it to you. ”

Lin Changzai said respectfully: "Yes, the slave obeys." ”

It rained for several days in a row, the early winter was cold, and the night wind howled like a beast howling in the deep mountains.

Wu Shulai carried a copper stove in his arms and waited under the corridor to be on duty. From a distance, I saw two people coming slowly with glass palace lamps, and after a careful look, it was Shu Concubine who had received holy grace in front of me. He took a few steps to meet him and said with a smile: "Say hello to Master Shu." ”

Concubine Shu didn't take him seriously, walked straight inside, and asked, "What is the emperor doing?" ”

Wu Shulai stood in front of her and said, "The emperor is reviewing the folds." ”

Concubine Shu was angry in her heart and said, "Seeing that I'm coming, why don't you go and spread it soon?" ”

Wu Shulai is a messenger in front of the emperor, accustomed to seeing the wind and the rudder, according to his understanding of the emperor, Shu Concubine has already been a passing eye, so he is a little more tough, and said: "When the emperor looks at the excerpts, he doesn't like to be disturbed. Since he was not summoned, he also asked Master Shu to go back. ”

Concubine Shu was angry and said: "I have to see the emperor today, if you don't go to pass the word, I will go in by myself." When the time comes, I'm going to sue you! She was arrogant and awe-inspiring, Wu Shulai was a little afraid, in the end, her family background was prominent, and she couldn't keep the emperor from thinking about it again, and after a turn of thought, she said: "Tell the truth to Master Shu, there are Su nobles waiting for you." If you go in, it will be boring and make the emperor unhappy. You say, isn't it? ”

The lights on the eaves of the porch were dim, blowing in the wind, and the figures were shaking.

Concubine Shu gritted her teeth and said, "I must see the emperor tonight, what if Guiren Su is there?" My rank is higher than hers, my status is more noble than hers, can I still let her compare? ”

Wu Shulai replied repeatedly: "Yes, you are right. He took a few steps back, quietly listened outside the curtain for a long time, Fang carefully lifted the curtain, stood on the edge of the threshold and said, "Long live the lord, Master Shu has come to greet you." ”