The twilight sun is hanging in the west, and the thin blood is generally reflected on the palace wall. The cold wind shuttled through the corridor, hitting the face like a knife. Concubine Gao has been jealous of Qingcheng for a long time, and she usually endures humiliation and avoids concessions, and she does not dare to be disobedient. She said: "The pure concubine is favored, and when the matter reaches the emperor's ears, it is inevitable that there will be suspicions. ”

Fu Guiren lost his soul and said in a trance: "What good way does the master Gao have?" ”

Concubine Gao pointed to a vermilion lacquer corner door and said, "Behind the door is the courtyard of the back garden of Kunning Palace, and there is an ancient well in it. Wei Wan'er heard the meaning of the words, and exclaimed: "Throw it on the palace street, let's just leave it alone, why bother..." ”

Wei Wan'er knew that she was afraid, and whispered with relief: "The pure master never punishes indiscriminately, and the blessed master doesn't have to..." ”

When Fuguiren heard this, Wan'er was a little disgusted, rolled her eyes and said, "Don't think about it, hang it high, this dog will be left to you to deal with." If you don't handle it well, I'll go back to the queen and sue you. Then he said to the palace maids: "No one is allowed to talk nonsense about today's affairs, if I know that anyone is chewing the root of their tongue outside, don't think about getting out of the Forbidden City alive!" ”

All the palace people were silent, bowed down, and responded: "Yes." ”

Fu Guiren helped Concubine Gao to go, and only Wan'er and her personal palace maid were left in the corridor. The lion's leg was bloody, revealing a piece of white bone. It was half-crouched in the corner, trembling with fear. Wan'er looked at it pitifully, touched its head gently, and said, "In the palace, everyone has to protect themselves, but you shouldn't run around." ”

She slowly held the lion in her arms, and the lion did not resist, obediently licking her palm with his tongue. Wan'er took out Supa and carefully bandaged the lion's wound. The lion felt warm in her arms, snuggling into Wan'er's arms like a green orange. Wan'er was reluctant, and the palace maid persuaded softly: "Little master, you don't know the temperament of the blessed nobles. Don't lose your future for a dog. ”

Wan'er lamented: "I have also smashed it with stones before, but you see, it does not hold grudges at all. It can be seen that a person is not as good as a dog. The palace maid hurriedly said: "Little master! If you don't do it, it's too late. ”

The two of them pushed open the corner door, and went to the depths of the courtyard, and there was a well. There is a Buddhist hall in Kunning Palace, but there are no concubines to live, sparsely populated, not to mention a dead dog, even if a dead person, as long as it is well hidden, it will not be exposed for a while. The manhole cover was half-hidden, Wan'er raised the lion, hesitated for a long time, and said "loose, loosen" countless times in her heart, but her fingers were still tightly choked.

The palace maid said: "Little master, for your future..."Before the words were finished, Wan'er suddenly smiled and said: "Future, what future can she give me?!" "In winter, it gets dark early, and the palace lights are faintly lit in the distance, Wan'er can't see what is in front of her, but she can feel the warmth and softness, she knows that it is the lion who keeps licking the back of her hand and begging her to spare her life.

She was stunned and thought: Is it true, there is no other way?

The lights in the palace of nourishing the heart are brilliant, and there are two stacks of bright yellow folds on the big green jade case, and the emperor is brooding, his eyebrows are slightly frowned, and he is worried about state affairs. Wu Shulai walked into the hall and waited respectfully, without speaking. In the middle of the ring, the emperor's figure moved, and Fang said: "Long live the lord, Wei promised to ask to see." The emperor was stunned, low-level concubines, without his summons, no one dared to run to the Heart Cultivation Hall without permission to ask for a meeting. The emperor said, "I haven't turned over the cards today." ”

Wu Shulai said: "Little Master Wei is holding a lion in his hand and saying that there is an urgent matter. ”

The emperor was surprised and asked, "Lion?!" How could the lion be with her? Wu Shulai said: "The minions don't understand very well. The Emperor put down his pen and said, "Let her in." Wu Shulai said: "Yes." ”

Wei Wan'er waited under the porch for an unknown amount of time, the winter night was cold, her heels were as cold as wood, but fortunately she was holding a lion in her arms, and her hands felt warm. Finally got the summons, she respectfully entered the hall, the warm pavilion was pleasantly fragrant, hot and baking as if entering spring. When the lion saw the emperor, he struggled to jump out of Wan'er's arms, dragged a broken leg and whimpered and walked towards the emperor.

Seeing that something was wrong, the emperor bent down and picked up the lion, and rebuked, "What's the matter? Is it hurt? ”

Wan'er knelt on the ground and asked for peace, Fang said: "Emperor Qi, just now the lion collided with the high master on the palace street, and the blessed master was angry, and let the minions catch the lion and be punished..." When Wan'er entered the Yangxin Hall to ask to see, Wu Shulai ordered someone to call a veterinarian, and he had already arrived at this time, and he was busy leading into the hall.

The emperor casually pointed to the eunuch and said, "Go and tell the pure master that the lion is in the Heart Cultivation Palace." The eunuch snorted and hurried away. The emperor looked at the veterinarian and asked, "How is the injury?" The veterinarian said: "Although the wound is treated, the broken leg bone is not easy to heal." The lion was lying on the emperor's rattan chair, and four or five palace people were waiting around, and it whimpered in a low voice, like the cry of a child, and the emperor was angry and roared at Wan'er: "What the hell is going on? ”

Wan'er was so frightened that Zhang Huang was at a loss, and her little face was colorless, but she trembled and repeated the events before and after. The emperor paced left and right with a calm face, Wan'er kept kneeling, and the emperor didn't let her get up, so she kept kowtowing and kneeling. Everyone in the hall held their breath, and the self-chiming bell on the wall struck twice, almost shattering everyone's hearts.

Footsteps were heard outside, and the little eunuch passed under the corridor: "Long live the master, the pure master is here." As soon as the words fell, Qingcheng had already lifted the curtain and entered the house. The emperor then smiled and said, "It's really fast. Qingcheng bent his knees, said goodbye, and said, "What's wrong with the lion?" When the lion saw that the orange was screaming more and more cheerfully, she walked to the wicker chair a few steps, stroked the wound on its leg, and said, "Whoever is so cruel that its leg will be broken!" ”

The emperor saw that she was crying, raised his hand, motioned for everyone to retreat, and comforted in his mouth: "The veterinarian said, it's fine..." Wu Shulai bowed down and helped Wan'er, Wan'er got up, and then stepped back. As she turned, she glanced up at the Emperor. He was dressed in a wide robe with plain white engraved golden dragon patterns, standing with his back to her, one arm on the shoulder of Concubine Chun, his head bowed, and he whispered something in his ear. She always remembered the majestic man who rescued her on horseback in the Mulan paddock, brave and martial, cold and solemn. didn't know that he also had such a tender side.

If, if that tenderness, you can share a little bit of me, even if it's just a little bit...

My heart is enough.

The palace people in the imperial dining room brought fresh meat, Qingcheng put the plate on the rattan chair, and the lion ate the meat while lying down, which was quite happy. Qingcheng said: "Hearing you say this, it's hard for Wei to agree." It's hard in the palace, and I know it very well. ”

The emperor pinched her cheek affectionately and said, "What do you know?" She is the queen's person, and this time she sued Concubine Gao in front of me, which not only flattered you but also flattered the queen, which is simply a lot of win. ”

Qingcheng said: "I would like to believe that she can't bear it." After a pause, he asked again: "Will the Fu Guiren really be unfavorable to Wei's promise?" The emperor smiled and said, "Don't worry about them, just take care of yourself." They compete for favor and calculate, and I have not only seen it once or twice, now that I know about it, I will see who dares to act rashly. ”

He took her hand and said, "Anyway, don't take it lightly, don't let them use it as a target." He smiled slightly: "Can you use a late snack?" Qingcheng said: "In order to find lions, where is there time to eat snacks." ”

The emperor said, "I didn't eat either." Then he ordered the eunuch to set up the dining table and serve a pot of aged acacia wine. The two drank and gossip, half drunk and slightly drunk. After removing the dining table, Qingcheng leaned on the kang and pretended to sleep, and the emperor half-leaned on her, and said with a sigh of wine: "Do you remember, once you were drunk and asked me if I had you in my heart." ”

Qingcheng opened his eyes and looked at the intricate patterns of rosewood carvings on the ceiling, and said, "How did you answer?" ”

The Emperor raised his face, slammed his chin on her collarbone, squinted and smiled, "That is the first time that a woman dares to ask me such a question, and I wanted to answer at the time, but you slept so well that you didn't even think to listen to me." ”

Qingcheng reached out and stroked his face, he was fine, arched the button on her chest with his chin, and muttered: "Lend your hand to make it..."Qingcheng said: "As soon as you say it, I remember." You didn't tell me last time, why do you like me? ”

The emperor played tricks and said, "You unbutton yourself, and I will tell you." Qingcheng twisted his body and said, "I don't." After speaking, he got up and said, "I should go back to Yikun Palace, otherwise I will go to sleep in the middle of the night, it will be cold and hard, and I will not be used to sleeping." ”

According to the rules of the Heart Cultivation Palace, the concubines and concubines cannot spend the night on the dragon bed. The emperor was worried that Qingcheng would get up in the middle of the night and be cold, and it had been a long, long time since she had slept in the Heart Cultivation Palace. Even if he turned over the sign, he went to Yikun Palace.

The emperor rolled over and said, "I will send you." ”

Send it back, and once you send it, you don't want to come back. After getting off the sedan chair, he couldn't bear it, and carried her all the way in, only to reach the hall, he stripped off his clothes and unbuttoned them, and was shocked by the palace people who lifted the curtains, the palace people who served the water, the palace people who served the clothes, the palace people who sat in the bed, and the palace people who swept and sprinkled, furnished, and sat on the watch, and hurriedly avoided it. Yikun Palace has not yet burned the earth dragon, the house is cold, and his body is hot and hot, so that she does not feel cold, but hot and itchy. There is a huge dressing mirror in her bedroom, and the entire Forbidden City is the largest in Yikun Palace, and it costs the most. In front of the mirror, there is a pear blossom and lotus pattern armrest rattan chair, and the chair is covered with thick pillow cushions, which are soft and soft when pressed on, and will not hurt at all.

The Emperor looked at the mirror like this, feeling very fresh, and clamored for another piece.

Ashamed, Qingcheng bit him the shoulder.

The next day, the sun was shining, and a thin mist drifted through the air, moist and cold. Qingcheng took a walk in the courtyard with the sixth elder brother in his arms, and the lion dragged his lame leg lazily at his feet. Hai'an was afraid of the cold of Qingcheng, so he found a big cloak with a green forging phoenix tail pattern, draped it on Qingcheng, and said: "Master, Fugui has been waiting for a long time in Yikun Gate, although the sun is good, in the end it is cold, and it is a sin to fight the cold." ”

Qingcheng didn't seem to hear it, and gently patted the back of the sixth elder brother, still humming a little song to himself. After half a ring, he handed the sixth elder brother to the nurse and instructed: "Tell her to go back, just say that I won't care about yesterday's incident." Hai'an responded and went over to spread the word in person. Accompanying the noble people of Fu was also the noble Xiu who entered the palace together, and after listening to Hai'an's words, the two had to go home.

Xiugui said: "Think about it, since we entered the palace, when did she stay with us, but you still have to beat her dog, the future will not be easy." Fu Guiren panicked in his heart, refused to show weakness on his lips, and said: "It's just a dog, can you do this?" No wonder the tall master in front of her said that she was small-minded. Xiu Guiren glanced at Fu Guiren and said, "You are willing to listen to Master Gao's words, haven't you seen the current situation clearly?" You, I, and Rui Guiren, in this year's election, the three of us will be entitled. People say that the emperor's family is weak by nature, and likes the new and hates the old, but the three of us are not as good as a dog. I heard that Wei promised to take the dog to the Palace of Raising Hearts to invite pets, but the emperor didn't want to see it, and said the name of the lion, so the emperor let her enter the palace. ”

Fu Guiren said angrily: "Don't talk about Wei Wan'er, I will be angry when I talk about her." ”

Xiu Guiren was straightforward and said, "What's wrong with Wei agreeing, people are smart." Looking for the reason for suing the high master in front of the emperor, the queen didn't know how to reward her behind her back. After that, he shook the handkerchief in his hand and said, "Okay, anyway, if the pure master doesn't see you, you can't do it, so you can make up for it in the future." He also said: "Sister Yu asked me to go to her palace to eat plum blossom wine, and I went first." Fu Guiren said angrily: "Go, go." Then they dispersed, one to the east and the other to the west.

When Wei Wan'er's complaint reached Concubine Gao's ears, it was like thunder and thunder on a sunny day. Concubine Gao couldn't sleep comfortably when she was pregnant, and she had worries, so she tossed and turned several times a night and couldn't sleep peacefully. She freshened up and sat on the kang for breakfast, and the maid Jin Ling walked in and bent her knees: "Master, the saint has arrived at Xianfu Gate." Concubine Gao had a ghost in her heart, so she panicked and picked up the dishes and chopsticks, brushed the broken hair on her sideburns towards the bronze mirror, and helped Jin Ling out of the house to welcome her.

The emperor treated her as usual with a cordial greeting, and when she entered the house, Concubine Gao waited for the emperor to clean her hands and face, and half sat on the side of the kang and asked, "Why does the emperor have time to come to see the concubine at this time?" The emperor took the tea presented by the palace maid, looked at the broken tea leaves floating in the blue soup, and said, "I will come and say a few words to you, and then I will leave." After finishing speaking, he put down the teacup again and looked at Concubine Gao fixedly.

Concubine Gao only felt a mouthful of stuffy air in her throat, and even her fingers stiffened, and she couldn't laugh if she wanted to.

The emperor said: "Xianfu Palace opened the earth dragon early and was afraid that you would be cold, why do you still run around?" I heard about yesterday's incident, and I don't want to blame you, but the weather is getting colder, and I'm worried that something will happen to you. After a pause, he said: "Before May next year, you can stay in Xianfu Palace to raise the baby, don't run out." Besides, I'm not angry because you connived at Fu Guiren to hurt Concubine Chun's dog, I'm doing it for your own good. ”

There is no doubt about his words, and no one dares to refute them. In the end, taking care of her identity, it is fortunate that she did not issue an order to ground her on the surface. She got up and said, "The concubine knows, thank the emperor for his care." The Emperor nodded and said, "It's good that you know." You can call your body uncomfortable to the outside, don't force it on Concubine Chun and make her feel bad. Without waiting for Concubine Gao to speak, he stood up and said, "Okay, I'm leaving, and the ministers in front are still waiting." Take care of yourself, I'll be back to see you in two days. ”

Concubine Gao was so bitter, but she had to endure it, lowered her eyebrows and lowered her eyes, and said, "Congratulations to the Holy Driver." ”

After a few days, the plum blossoms in the imperial garden bloomed, and the queen ordered people to move a few green plums and red plums to the courtyard of Changchun Palace, and invited Yu Concubine, Shu Concubine, Wang Guiren, Jin Guiren, Xiu Guiren, Wei Promise and so on to eat wine and appreciate plum blossoms in the pavilion. The winter sun is shining, and the girls under the queen's order are playing shuttlecock in the yard. The concubines watched from the pavilion, bursting with laughter. Concubine Yu smiled: "It's still the queen's master who is comfortable here, and when I go to Yikun Palace, it's dull and dull, and the rules are enough." ”

Xiu Guiren smiled and said: "Sister Yu Concubine is right, last time Zifu Guiren did something wrong, I accompanied her to ask for peace, the pure master refused to even see him, and asked a palace person to pass the word to him, I don't know what the truth is." After that, he hurriedly got up again and said, "The concubine's mouth is about to be rude, please forgive the queen." The queen smiled slightly: "It's not a serious occasion, our sisters say two sincere words, and you don't have to be restrained." He raised his eyebrows again and said: "In the palace, there are the most pure concubines, and they are all princes, so they should be a little more arrogant." ”

Speaking of heirs, Concubine Yu has the support of the fifth elder brother, so she is a little proud. The queen looked at her eyes and was also silent. Everyone chatted until the sun was rising, and when they saw that the queen's face was slightly dull, they got up and retired. Concubine Yu was about to leave, but the queen said: "Concubine Yu, you wait a minute, there are two new satins from the Internal Affairs Office, you can take them to make a winter robe for the fifth elder brother." ”

The fire dragon in the house burned warmly, and the palace people put the satin on the kang, and Concubine Yu picked it up on her body and compared it, and said with a smile on her eyebrows: "It's really good material, soft and smooth." The queen smiled and said, "If you like it, take it all." Concubine Yu said politely: "That's good, this is your own material, I can take half of it, and it won't take much to make a brother's robe." ”

Shanrou presented the pastries and put them on the side of the kang, and said with a smile: "Don't shirk the master, during the Mid-Autumn Festival, the queen master saw the fifth elder brother at the banquet, and he liked it very much. As soon as the Ministry of Internal Affairs sent satin, the queen's master thought about making robes for the fifth elder brother. Concubine Yu was overjoyed, and bent her knees and said: "Thank you for the love of the queen's master, and the concubine is grateful." ”

The queen helped her own hand and sighed: "After all, I have wronged you, the pure concubine is a Han girl, but her sons are all raised by her side." And you..."Concubine Yu looked lonely, and said: "What's the way, the emperor always doesn't want to see me." The queen patted her hand and said slowly: "If you want, I want to take the fifth elder brother to live in Changchun Palace." First, no one dares to bully the fifth elder brother, and secondly, you can often come here to see him. When I have my own child, I will find a reason to let the fifth elder brother live with you, what do you think? "Concubine Yu is a smart person, so she naturally knows the queen's thoughts. In case the queen is really unable to have children, the fifth elder brother can become her support, and it is also to support the fifth elder brother and leave a way back for herself.

Concubine Yu said euphemistically: "Why don't you choose the eldest brother?" ”

The two tacitly agreed, and the queen smiled: "Big brother is old, how can he kiss me?!" Concubine Yu thought for a moment, then knelt down and said: "The queen's master loves the fifth elder brother, which is the blessing of the fifth elder brother, and the concubine is willing to listen to the queen's master." When the queen heard this, she was overjoyed, and hurriedly helped Concubine Yu up, saying, "You are as I wish today, and I will be as you wish in the future." ”

Concubine Yu mixed all kinds of flavors, and said with a smile: "In the future, I will have to take care of the queen." ”

The queen said, "Of course. ”

Back in Zhongcui Palace, Concubine Yu couldn't help but bury her head and cry, Zhiyan accompanied her to tears, and said: "Master, you didn't do anything wrong, the fifth elder brother followed the queen's mother, and there will be a big future in the future." Concubine Yu raised her face and sobbed: "I can't make any interest, for the sake of power, I even betrayed my own son." Zhiyan twisted Wen Pa to wipe her tears and said, "When the fifth elder brother grows up, he will always understand your hard work today." Concubine Yu cried harder, almost heartbreaking, she said: "Grow up... When I grew up, I didn't know... Admit it or not... I'm a mother. Zhiyan took her in her arms and said, "How can you not recognize your own mother?" Don't worry, master. Besides, the future may not be known, but now we can only take one step at a time. ”

Towards the end of the year, the emperor squeezed out his spare time to write the word "Fu", and prepared to reward the generals who could not go home for the New Year. Wherever he went, he wrote, had dinner in Yikun Palace, and took advantage of the situation of eating, so he made people spread rice paper in the study. Through a scene of emerald bead curtains, Qingcheng is preparing to make spring robes for the third elder brother, the sixth elder brother and the lion. She ordered someone to carry dozens of boxes of silk and satin from the warehouse, spread them out in the flower hall one by one, and compared and selected them hand-in-hand with the embroiderers sent by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

There is a dragon burning in the house, and there are dozens of pots of coals, which are warm, such as late spring and early summer. The emperor wrote dozens of them, and when he stretched his waist, he inadvertently looked out, but saw Qingcheng wearing a moon-white gauze skirt standing in the colorful fabric, lined with extremely pure and clear, not at all like a woman who gave birth to two children. I couldn't help but put down my pen and lifted the bead curtain to go out. Qingcheng looked at him coming, compared a piece of blue silk to the emperor's chest, and asked, "Do you like this blue color?" ”

The emperor glanced down and said, "Anyway, I won't do it." "It's like a jealous hairy boy. Qingcheng ordered Hai'an to hand over another horse, and said in his mouth: "I thought about it just now, there are too many satins in storage, so I will make two for you." I'm afraid that the dragon robe outside will not be embroidered well, so I will make you two jacket robes and bed clothes. The emperor was satisfied, and said with a smile: "That color was good just now. ”

Qingcheng threw away the material in his hand, picked up the blue silk from before, and said, "You mean this?" The emperor nodded, Qingcheng sighed, and ordered Hai'an to write it down and put it in the box next to him. Seeing that she was busy and carefully instructed by the palace people, he stopped disturbing her, turned around again, returned to the study, and picked up the imperial pen to write.

The tranquility of the days made him distracted.