The word went out in the palace, and Eshan took the stubble. He was a military attache in Beijing, serving as the commander of the Nine Gates of the Ministry of War, and he was busy with public office, so he returned to the house after finding free time. He didn't have time to drink half a mouthful of water, so he stood in the corridor and ordered: "Go, call the eighth lady." Mrs. E went out to greet her, very displeased, and said, "It's hard to go home, but let the little concubine serve first." If it was plain, the old couple would always have to mix two sentences, but now Eshan's face did not change, and said: "I want to call you too." So saying, he went inside.

Eshan was still wearing armor and did not change his clothes, and Mrs. E-e said: "Since you are back, you should rest for one night and then leave." Eshan took the tea presented by the girl, swallowed it like a cow drinking water, and said: "There are many things in the palace, and we can't relax." After a pause, he said, "Early tomorrow morning, you will take your daughters-in-law to the palace." The pure master of Yikun Palace wanted to eat sour plums, and I remember that in the spring, the Zhu family collected a lot of bayberry and froze it in the freezer, which just came in handy. ”

Mrs. E's face was embarrassed, remembering that when the Zhu family first entered the mansion, Eshan loved her in every way, afraid that she would be bored, and specially asked her granddaughter who was living away to go back to the house to accompany her. When the bayberry was frozen, he also had a big fight with Mrs. E, and the quarrel made the chickens and dogs jump in the house. The eighth lady Zhu quickly ran with her little feet, but at the age of sixteen or seventeen, she was younger than Eshan's eldest grandson.

Zhu was raised in the pear orchard, practiced kung fu in a small way, and sometimes could have two tricks with Eshan, and when he treated Mrs. E, he was not afraid at all. On a cold day, she only wore a tight cherry purple neon dress forging skirt, revealing a large white snow muscle on her chest, and Eshan was stunned when she saw it. She hooked her lips and glanced at Mrs. E, knelt straight to Eshan's feet, and said coquettishly: "You have finally returned home, but you miss me." No matter how majestic Eshan was, he couldn't resist her affection, covered her hands, and asked softly: "Just wear this, is it cold?" Don't freeze! ”

Mrs. E couldn't help but say: "In front of the people below, I have to keep some rules." E Shan glanced at Mrs. E with annoyance, and then asked Zhu with a smile: "I have something to ask you, is there still bayberry in the freezer?" Zhu smiled, as if the whole room was lit up, and she said, "Does the master want to eat?" I told someone to fetch it. ”

Eshan became more and more happy, and said, "No matter how many there are, take them all out." He pinched Zhu's small mouth again, and said with a smile: "Your gluttony has made a great achievement." Whatever reward you want, whether it's silk or furniture, just go to the storeroom and pick it up. Zhu is still a little girl, and her heart suddenly bloomed, and she thanked her again and again.

After sending Zhu away, E Shan held back his expression and said: "When you arrive in the palace, you can't see more, you can't listen more, you can't say more, when you see the pure master, you have to salute and greet the queen and the master of Xian." Be cautious in words and deeds, and be patient in no haste. ”

Mrs. E said: "When I entered the palace last year to greet the Queen Mother, I saw the one in Yikun Palace from afar. Besides, she's a Han person, no matter what, so why bother..."

Eshan blew his beard and shouted: "What do women know!" If she weren't Han, she would be sitting in the position of the master today! Frightened, Mrs. E hurriedly said, "I know." So he called his two daughters-in-law over and discussed the matter carefully. In the middle of the night that day, Mrs. E carefully put on her grade clothes and led her daughter-in-law to take a carriage to Donghua Gate to wait for the summons. The eldest daughter-in-law, Guerjia, was dignified and cautious, and said: "The first time I entered the palace, I was very panicked. The second daughter-in-law, Tong Jiashi, said with a smile: "When I was in the boudoir, I went to the palace with my mother to ask the Queen Mother Lafayette to say goodbye. ”

Mrs. E herself was also panicked, and said: "It will not be wrong to abide by the rules, not to speak at will, not to move around at will, and to act by looking at the master's face." "After waiting for most of the hour, the palace gate opened. After getting out of the carriage, a red-topped eunuch stepped forward with a tail and asked, "But is it from Lord E's family?" Mrs. E hurriedly said: "Exactly, there is Gonggong Lao leading the way." ”

Enter from the side gate of Donghua Gate, bypass the palace street, and go all the way to Yikun Palace. In the meantime, I don't know how many roads I have passed, how many temples I have passed, and the three mother-in-law and daughter-in-law are silent, with low eyebrows and lowered eyes. When he arrived at Yikun Gate, the genius was bright.

The eunuch who led the way said, "The three ladies are here for a while. Mrs. E said, "Thank you, father-in-law." "The two daughters-in-law are blessed. The eunuch who led the way didn't say much, muttered a few words in the corridor, and left.

There were two eunuchs standing at the door of Yikun, and the Guerjia clan took two gold ingots from their cuffs, and said with a smile: "The two fathers-in-law have worked hard, and they will leave the palace on another day to do things, although they will ask for tea in the Efu Mansion." As he spoke, he stuffed the gold ingots into the eunuch's hand. Unexpectedly, the eunuch said with an awe-inspiring expression: "Where is the duty of the minions, Madame does not have to be polite." He took another half step back.

The Guerjia clan was at a loss, for fear that he had done something wrong, so he hurriedly took the gold ingots back into his arms, exchanged glances with Mrs. E, and silently retreated to the back. After waiting for about two pillars of incense, a palace maid with a neat head and face came over, blessed her body, and said, "The three ladies have been waiting for a long time, please go with the slave maid." ”

Mrs. E said, "There is Miss Lao." ”

The Guerjia clan walked at the end, looking left and right, only to feel that the courtyard was deep and wide, and the momentum was extraordinary. Although it is the middle of winter, the flowers and trees are still lush and green. The palace people who walked back and forth were all dressed in gorgeous clothes, all of them booed and were quiet, and their gestures were calm and elegant. After going around for a while, in front of a temple, the palace maid paused and said, "Please wait, the slave maid will go in and pass it on." ”

Mrs. E said: "The girl is hard. ”

The palace maid lifted her skirt and went up the stairs, and it happened that Erqi stood under the corridor and waited, so she said: "There are three ladies in the Efu Mansion who have come to ask for peace, please ask Sister Erqi to pass it on." Er Qi looked into the court and said, "The master just got up, and the breakfast is useless, so let them wait." The palace maid listened, and then turned back to tell Mrs. E.

The three of them didn't know how long they had been standing, the cold winter, the cold wind, and even their toes frozen. From time to time, there are palace people walking around, going in and out of the house, in order, without the slightest mess and noise.

Mrs. E secretly smacked her tongue: The rules of this Yikun Palace are really big.

When the pale white sun rose in mid-air, a palace maid wearing a blue satin jacket came out of the curtain and said with a smile: "Mrs. E has been waiting for a long time, the master invites you to come in and talk." Mrs. E looked at her demeanor and knew that it was Concubine Chun's side, and she was stunned for a while before she reacted: "Yes." Then he led the two daughters-in-law into the house.

Hai An personally raised the curtain for them and said politely: "The master is not very comfortable, so he got up late, and it is difficult for you to stand in the courtyard for a long time." Mrs. E didn't dare to slack off, and hurriedly said, "The girl is polite." "When I entered the house, the warm fragrance came to me, like a deep spring. What I saw was a rosewood six-leaf peony flower screen made in the Kangxi period, blocking the view in the hall. Further inside, Mrs. E still felt that she had fallen into a fairy dream, full of flowers, square dings, smokers, treasure mirrors, all exquisite and luxurious, and priceless.

Qingcheng sat in the center and said gently: "Hello Mrs. E." ”

Mrs. E came back to her senses, and hurriedly led her two daughters-in-law to kneel, bowed, and said: "The concubine has seen the pure master, and may the pure master be blessed and safe." Qingcheng helped him and said, "No need to be polite, please sit." After saying a few kind words, Mrs. E glanced at the second daughter-in-law Tong Jiashi, Tong Jiashi handed the food box in her hand to Hai'an, she was young, she was capable and hot at home on weekdays, and she really encountered a big scene, and she was a little cowardly, she thought about what to say, and said: "Master Xie Chun appreciates his face." ”

Qingcheng smiled slightly and said, "Where is my face, you have a heart, and you made a special trip for my greed." He asked Hai'an to open the food box, and saw a basket full of bayberry, although it was not as fresh as in spring, but it was also red and gorgeous, which was daunting. Qingcheng nodded and asked Hai'an to put it away.

Erqi brought the refreshments and presented them, and Qingcheng asked, "Can you bring the things?" Er Qifu said: "Back to the master, I have already brought it, and it is under the corridor." Qingcheng said: "Take it in." Er Qi answered yes and went out. After a while, he led two palace maids in, each holding a tribute satin in his hand.

Qingcheng said: "The Ejia family is rich, naturally there is no shortage of silk, I am just a little careful, it should be a return gift." Mrs. E wanted to get up and kneel down to thank her, but the two daughters-in-law hurriedly followed, but Qingcheng said, "Don't kneel, just sit." ”

Mrs. E glanced at Qingcheng carefully, she was dressed casually, wearing a thin forged cotton skirt with a small group of flowers in the color of moon white and autumn fragrance, covered with a light red placket jacket, holding a double bun, hairpin glazed cuiping flower jade hairpin, wearing jade armor on her hands, her face was like a clear moon, the pear vortex was shallow, too silky and elegant, and her status was extremely incommensurate with her status.

For a while, a eunuch came in to spread the word, and Mrs. E took the tea and sipped it gently, pretending not to care, but listening carefully in her ears. The eunuch said respectfully: "Master Qiqichun, long live the lord said that there are many government affairs today, and I don't know when I will be able to go to court, so you don't have to wait for dinner in vain, don't be hungry." Qingcheng nodded and said, "If you return to the Long Live Lord, you will say that I know." ”

The eunuch snorted and retreated respectfully.

It didn't take long for Mrs. E to see that Qingcheng's face seemed to be tired, so she asked for her resignation. When they got out of the palace gate, it was already noon, and the slaves were all waiting at the Donghua Gate, rushing over, taking the tribute satin from the eunuch's hand, and helping the three ladies to get into the carriage and return to the house.

Guerjia breathed a sigh of relief and said, "It's out of the palace, and I'm so scared that my legs tremble." He added: "This pure concubine's shelf is really big enough, long live the lord can't come to eat, and I still think about whether she is hungry or not, which shows that the holy grace is rich." Mrs. E couldn't help but sigh and said, "I have never enjoyed the blessings of my husband in my life, and I thought that all men in the world were the same." ”

Tong Jiashi said: "Not necessarily, you are the mistress of the house, and no matter how favored the pure concubine is, she is also a concubine." There are three thousand harems, how can there be a hundred days of red? It's just strange, I've seen Concubine Gao and Concubine Xian, all of whom are more beautiful than pure concubines, why does the emperor love her? And she is also a Han woman. ”

Mrs. E said with a straight face: "She can get this holy grace, and she has something extraordinary. How long can a husband be a good man? You all have to learn hard, no matter how many foxes there are around your husband, don't compare them to their appearance, it is right to be dignified and graceful. ”

The mother-in-law lectured, and the two daughters-in-law hurriedly replied, "Yes." ”

Not long after the Eshan family went, several court women entered the palace to honor the bayberry. Qingcheng gradually became tired, so he ordered Hai'an to receive him in the side hall and reward him according to his rank. The Yu nobles of Xianfu Palace were born, only the lord concubine gave a bowl of longevity noodles, and she was depressed all day long, and she roasted the fire in the house, and invited Chen Guiren, who lived in the same palace, to speak, and said: "The cold day in Yikun Palace wants to eat fresh bayberry, and the minister of the court squeezed his head and sent it to the palace. My birthday here, not to mention the fanfare celebration, the emperor should always say something. Every time I think about it in the middle of the night, I want to cry bitterly. ”

Chen Guiren took pity on the same illness and said: "Isn't it, in the past, when the high master was favored, by the way, we could also meet the emperor." When you meet, you can always get one or two benefits. ”

Speaking of Concubine Gao, Yu Guiren's heart was much more balanced, and said: "I can't figure it out, we are of a low rank, and our family background is not good, so it's just that we don't have favor." But the high master-" she lowered her voice and said: "When the emperor ascended the throne, she was a noble concubine, a level higher than the virtuous master, but somehow, she collapsed, and I went to greet her, but I didn't even have the heart to freshen up and dress up, and it became more and more decadent and loose, but some--declining situation." ”

Chen Guiren smiled and said, "Although she is from a big family, she can't compare with the master Xian. After a pause, he said: "The noble Shun invited me to Qixiang Palace to appreciate the strange flowers and plants she raised, will you go?" ”

Yu Guiren tilted into the stool and said, "You don't know her temper yet, and she has to stop for a day." I don't think you'd better not go, so as not to be in vain. ”

Chen Guiren asked, "What do you mean by this?" ”

Yu Guiren smiled and said: "According to the character of Shun Guiren, if you don't say the right thing, she will be suspicious, and she will not really take you in her eyes." On the other hand, if you really get along with her, aren't you afraid of offending others? Shu Concubine, Wang Guiren, Cheng Guiren, etc. all regard her as a thorn in their eyes, why do you bother to stir up this muddy water. ”

Chen Guiren said with a smile: "It makes sense. ”

On this day, the sky was gloomy and snowy, and it was so urgent and dense that within half a while, a thin layer of white was spread on the yellow glazed tiles. The cold wind was raging, and the eunuchs walked on the palace street, all bowing their heads and walking quickly. The emperor dispersed and went to Yikun Palace in a warm sedan chair. When he entered the house, he saw Qingcheng sitting under the window and playing with needlework, so he said, "It's very dark, why don't you ask someone to light the lamp?" ”

Qingcheng suddenly heard the sound, his heart and eyes jumped, he put on the needle and thread, got up and waited for the emperor to take off the end of the Xuanhu hood, took the crown hat of the Winter Dynasty, and said: "I will sew a piece of clothing for the lion, and a few stitches will be haphazard, and it will be soon." In broad daylight, they were not asked to light the lights. Hai An took the end of the hood and the crown hat, carefully put it away, and asked, "What kind of tea do you want to drink?" ”

The emperor said, "If you don't drink it, I'll sit down and leave." ”

Qingcheng was stunned and said, "Since I came here in the snow, I used dinner and left." The emperor kicked his shoes, sat cross-legged on the kang, and said: "I am upset, so I will come to you to sit down, and I will go back to the Yangxin Palace to deal with political affairs after a while." "The harem can't interfere in politics, and he can't ask about his troubles. Qingcheng leaned behind him, gently rubbed his shoulder, and said softly: "You close your eyes and recuperate, and when the time comes, I will call you again." The emperor leaned on her, put his hands around her waist sideways, and breathed warmly into her neck, silent and silent.

The sky was dark and hazy, and the snow particles turned into snowflakes like flocculents, falling to cover the sky and the ground, and there was no daylight. The window of the side hall of Yikun Palace has already been replaced with a huge piece of glass, and the fee is hundreds, and you can sit on the kang and clearly see the scene in the court. The Emperor broke his silence and said, "The first snow of the year." His breath carried a faint fragrance of dragon's birth, lingering around her, making her feel quiet and safe.

Qingcheng said in a low voice: "Congratulations to the emperor." ”

The emperor was stunned and said, "Why are you happy?" Qingcheng said with a smile: "As the saying goes, in the year of Ruixue Zhaofeng, as long as the people have a good harvest and can live and work in peace and contentment, the emperor can save a happy heart disease, how can it not be a happy event?" After a pause, he said: "The emperor is a saint, he works day and night for the general situation of the country, and it is a blessing for the people to get this holy king." The emperor really stretched his eyebrows and said with a light smile: "Although it is flattery, I am happy to hear it." ”

Wu Shulai called softly in the outer hall and said, "Long live Lord, it's time to drive." ”

The emperor tightened his arms and cursed in a low voice: "That dog minion, I can't wait to kick him twice, if you are so dignified, you will come forward and say something frustrating." Qingcheng stroked the emperor's cheek and said like a child: "If he is not polite, you will scold him for delaying the business after a while." Okay—" She cupped his face, stared at him with her eyes, and pursed a shallow pear vortex from her lips, "Don't keep the ministers waiting, I'll ask Er Qi to prepare a few of your favorite meals, and wait for you to come and eat them in the evening." ”

After the saint left, Qingcheng took the decoction to nourish the fetus, and ordered Erqi to use the wine and food for the evening snack, and still sat back under the window to thread the needle. For a while, Wang Jinbao of the Internal Affairs Office led people to carry several boxes of various animal skins, and said respectfully: "Qiqi pure master, this is the beast skin contributed by the Mongolian prince, the emperor rewarded the master of the East and West Six Palaces to make winter clothes for the material, and the master ordered the slave to carry it for you to pick first." Master Xian also ordered, saying that there is a prince living in Yikun Palace, and there should be more examples, as long as the pure master can look at it, he can stay. He glanced at Qingcheng, and saw that her face was pale, and his heart couldn't help but rattle.

Qingcheng ordered him to open the box, took a cursory look, and said, "The clothes used by the third elder brother are from the elder brother, so you don't need to take more from here." Besides, there are a lot of people in the harem, and these boxes of things are not enough, so how can I ask for more for nothing. You carry everything back, thank the master for me, and say that I have received her wishes, but the rules in the palace cannot be broken, and my share should be as much as possible, and there is no need to take care of it. Her words were categorical, and Wang Jinbao was not allowed to say more than half a word.

Out of Yikun Palace, the little eunuch who followed him asked: "Grandpa Wang, you said that the people next to you can't ask for favors, why don't you want the pure master?" Let's carry it back as it is, and I'm afraid that the master will blame us for not doing a good job. Wang Jinbao wore a coat and a snow hat, put his hands in his sleeves, walked forward in the snow, panting and saying: "Little ghost cub, it's not good to do serious things, but I have learned to figure out the master's thoughts!" Frightened, the little eunuch hurriedly said, "Grandpa Wang has taught him a lesson." ”

Wang Jinbao smiled and said, "You are a ghost, but you are a clever person. Grandpa will advise you, don't think about it if you have nothing to do, whatever the master tells you to do, you can do it, in the palace, only those who abide by their duties can last a long time. ”

It was rare for him to put his heart into his heart and teach future generations sincerely, but the eunuch didn't appreciate it at all, and only smiled and said: "Grandpa Wang has taught him a lesson." When he arrived at Jingren Palace, Wang Jinbao replied to Qingcheng's words word for word, but Concubine Xian did not show her face and said: "In this case, you will send it to the palaces according to the old practice of previous years." He added: "I saw that there were two pieces of snow-haired fox skins, and you packed them separately and sent them to the noble people." Wang Jinbao answered "yes", but retreated.

Concubine Shun stood beside her and waited for the accounts, retreated from everyone, and said in a low voice: "There is no one in the eyes of the noble Shun, and the future is worrying, you don't have to worry about her." Concubine Xian smiled and put down the jasper teacup in her hand and said, "The emperor favors Shun nobles, and I should always take care of some holy will." I'm afraid you don't know, in the list of Jingshifang these days, except for staying in Yikun Palace, the rest of the days are all the brands of Shun nobles. If you don't really like it, the emperor won't be like this. ”

It was night, and the snow was getting heavier and heavier, and the bluestone bricks of the courtyard were already covered with a thick layer of snowflakes. Er Qi shivered with coldness, rubbed his hands and entered the house, and said: "Master, it has passed the end of the hour, long live the Lord I am afraid that he will not come, do you want to go to bed later?" Qingcheng was crooked on the kang to read, with a brocade smoky red silky quilt on his body, his head was not raised, he turned the pages of the book, and said: "Wait a little longer, if he doesn't come, I won't eat, just go to bed." ”

Er Qi agreed, and when he got to the porch, he pulled a little eunuch out of the lower room, and said, "You go to the Heart Cultivation Palace, and ask Grandpa Wu in front of the palace, when will Lord Long Live come." The little eunuch was sitting in the house to bake the fire, and was suddenly dragged outside, and it was so cold that he was swinging. He looked at the dark and endless snowy night, and his face was bitter and he didn't want to move. Erqi was angry, pointed to his nose and said: "Hey, set up a shelf in front of me, okay, okay, since I can't call you, you can go on an errand elsewhere tomorrow." Let's Yikun Palace, I don't know how many people are rushing to come. ”

As soon as he heard that he was going to be driven away, the little eunuch immediately ran down the stairs and said with a smile: "I can't move anywhere, so I'll go." Er Qi shouted behind him, "Go and come back quickly, don't delay, the master can wait for the news." The little eunuch crawled to the Heart Cultivation Hall with oil under his feet, and when he arrived at the Heart Cultivation Gate, the guards refused to let him in. There was no news, and he didn't dare to go back, so he had to stomp his feet at the foot of the palace wall to keep warm, waiting for the holy car.

Seeing that it was about to be locked, Fang saw dozens of yellow gauze palace lamps coming from afar, the little eunuch was overjoyed, and was about to hide behind to ask the palace people who were accompanying him, but he didn't want two palace maids to suddenly appear from the shadows, stopped the holy car, knelt in the snow, and said in a panic: "Long live the queen, the queen's master has a terrible stomachache, and the slaves and maids come to ask for a ride without authorization, please forgive the sins." ”

Wu Shulai leaned over outside the sedan curtain, and the emperor said: "Swing the Changchun Palace, and send someone to inform Concubine Chun." The little eunuch listened to this, and hurriedly ran back to Yikun Palace, and talked to Er Qi carefully. It didn't take long for someone from the front of the emperor to come and spread the word, Er Qi understood Qingcheng, afraid that Qingcheng would be lonely, and said with relief: "The emperor originally wanted to come to us, but the queen's master suddenly fell ill and went to Changchun Palace." Qingcheng remained silent, got up and went to the bedroom, and said: "Those late snacks prepared, you can take them to the palace people on duty at night, on a cold day, don't put out the charcoal fire all night, don't let them freeze." ”

Seeing that her face was not good, Er Qi didn't dare to say much, and said, "The slave knows." Together with Hai'an, he waited for her to wash her clothes and go to bed.