Seeing Qingcheng get up, Hai An hurriedly knelt down to put on her shoes, and said, "The emperor is interrogating Master Qing in the house." ”

Qingcheng hurriedly put it in his shoes and said, "Why don't you wake me up?" ”

Hai An said: "The emperor doesn't allow it, and the slaves and maids don't dare to disobey orders." Qingcheng didn't care about the side, put off his shoes and ran in, the emperor was angry, saw Qingcheng enter the house, was slightly stunned, and asked, "Why did you wake up?" ”

Qingcheng was like an arrow in her heart, and suddenly saw Qing Concubine kneeling on the ground wet, with tears on her face, and she didn't know what happened, so she paused at her feet. The emperor kept her look in his eyes, and did not see her for several days, only to feel that she was much thinner.

He said, "You go and bring me a bowl of tea." The tone was still casual and normal as before, Qingcheng was not used to it for a long time, and he was stunned, so he should go out.

When he returned, the people in the house were gone, and the emperor took off his robe and sat cross-legged on the kang, his right hand touching his forehead. When I went to the teahouse just now, Qingcheng heard about the Qing concubine and knew that the emperor was worried, so he put aside the tea tray, sat next to the emperor, and said softly: "Don't worry too much, the emperor." The emperor lowered his arms, tilted his face on her shoulder, and said, "It's still quiet for you to be quiet here, it's not good for me to bring them over to annoy you." ”

Hai'an stood under the window and waited carefully, the emperor was angry just now, and he was sure that he would delay his anger on Qingcheng. Besides, the master of his own family is not a fuel-efficient lamp, and sometimes he speaks without respectful rules. She listened in horror under the window for a long time, until the voice inside gradually softened, and Fang led the palace people under the corridor to tiptoe away.

In hazy weather, the house is dark, the rain curtain is rattling, and the waves are rolling into the ears.

The emperor said: "I passed by the imperial pond just now, and the lotus flowers bloomed very well, so I remembered you. Qingcheng crossed a trace of coldness, and the corners of his eyes were covered with moisture, and said, "If it weren't for the lotus, would the emperor forget me?" ”

When the emperor saw her desolate, as if he was about to cry, he frowned between his eyebrows, and said, "I thought you were a reasonable person. ”

Qingcheng didn't let him go, and said: "Even if I understand ten thousand truths and am wronged, I will still be sad and sad." ”

The tears in the corners of her eyes rolled down, and the sorrow that had been suppressed in her heart for days was surging, like the Yellow River, and the more she cried, the more sad she became. The emperor panicked, he couldn't bear it in every way, but he didn't know how to coax her, if on weekdays, a concubine dared to complain in front of him, he would definitely be furious, but at this time, in addition to pity, he was a little helpless.

He caressed her back and kept saying, "Don't cry, don't cry..."

After Qingcheng finished venting and stopped crying, the emperor said: "I have a reason to snub you." As he spoke, he wiped away the tears on her face and said, "If you really broke into the Heart Cultivation Hall last time, what should I do with you?" Concubine Shu didn't say it, the Queen Mother couldn't explain it. After a pause, he said softer and lower: "You just followed me back from Chengde Palace, and everyone in the harem is staring at you Yikun Palace, if I still insist on going my own way, wouldn't I put you on charcoal to roast?" ”

Qingcheng is so smart, after a little thought, he knows most of it, but he refuses to give in, and turns around and says: "The emperor left in a bad mood that night, he was really angry." ”

The emperor said, "Shouldn't I be angry? Whose sign I lifted, who in the harem dares to talk more?! ”

He smiled and pulled her face and said, "I'm out of breath now, and you are out of breath too." While he was talking, he suddenly heard Wu Shulai whispering under the corridor: "Long live Lord, the lotus flower has been picked." ”

The emperor said, "Take it." He took the pastel peony pattern plate bottle and stepped forward, personally sent it to the green orange, and said, "Madam, the lotus you love." Qingcheng was amused by him, glanced at him, and took the lotus flower in Wu Shulai's hand.

Wu Shulai looked at the situation, blessed his body, and quietly retreated.

The emperor was meticulous in his work, and handed over the power of the concubine to the queen to dispose of, and the noble concubine guarded the palace of nourishing the heart every day, and the emperor always avoided it, only saying that the queen would find out and then decide.

One day and night, the green yarn palace lamp hanging high under the eaves lit up to the majestic depths.

There was a chirping conversation in the dormitory of Jingren Palace, and the voice was so low that it was almost impossible to hear. Concubine Xian was holding a white cat from Persia in her arms, and the gold-inlaid agate horns were softly brushed on the cat's back, and she said lazily: "The queen and the noble concubine have always been incompatible, and she was suddenly stabbed in the basket by Concubine Qing, but it was really a good show." ”

Concubine Shun held the porcelain bowl, gently blew away the green floating leaves, and said: "The queen is pregnant with a dragon heir, but she is worried about labor for this matter, and the emperor is staring at it again, and it is quite hard to think about it..."

Luo Qing lifted the curtain and entered the house, bent her knees on the edge of the threshold, and said, "Master Qi, Master Gao is here." ”

Concubine Xian and Concubine Shun looked at each other, and Concubine Shun had already gotten up and said, "I'll avoid it when I go to the back." Concubine Xian nodded, asked Luo Qing to clean up the tea bowl that Concubine Shun drank, and Fang put on shoes to greet her under the corridor in person, and said with a smile: "Master Gao is blessed." ”

Concubine Gao hurriedly helped Concubine Xian up and said, "Your body has always been bad, so you don't need to be polite." ”

The two entered hand in hand, and Concubine Xian's heart turned back to tens of millions, but she still couldn't guess what was going on. Concubine Gao sat down on the kang, her face was pale, and she said straight to the point: "I'm not afraid of your jokes, I just have something to ask you for." ”

Concubine Xian's heart jumped, and she said politely: "The concubine is higher in rank than me, and she is more favored than me, how can I help." After a pause, he kicked away the white cat snuggled at his feet, and sighed: "You don't know, I was pregnant last time, and until now, I haven't been turned over." ”

The noble concubine said: "The queen and Qing Concubine teamed up to murder me, and the emperor refused to believe me, and I couldn't say a few words in front of the queen mother, you are the niece of the queen mother, and what you say is worth a hundred sentences." ”

Seeing that Concubine Xian's face was not depressed, she seemed to want to push back, so she hurriedly changed her words and said, "As long as you can help me once, I will definitely remember your help in today's difficulties in the future." After a pause, his eyes lit up, and he lowered his voice and said, "When the matter is done, I will tell you who killed the dragon heir in your belly." You also know that Concubine Qing used to be my person, she put eyeliner in every palace and hall, and she will tell me what happened in the palace. ”

When Concubine Xian heard this, she felt that her chest was about to crack, and she forced her surprise and said: "Master Gao, don't laugh, the palace has been checking for so long, and I haven't found out why..." So saying, he got up and said, "Think about it yourself, I'll go first." She turned around and saw Concubine Xian sitting on the kang table, in a trance, and the corners of her mouth were imperceptibly overflowing with a smile, and she left.

Shu Concubine is small and bold, there are many new things, seeing that the sky is cool after the rain, lukewarm, so she begged the Queen Mother to fly a kite in the front yard of Shoukang Palace. The Queen Mother was bored and panicked, and some juniors thought of a way to invite pets, and they were happy, so they agreed. In addition to the queen, several high-ranking concubines, Jin Guiren, Wang Guiren, Chen Guiren, Hai Changzai and others all came together. The courtyard was lively, like a feast. The emperor went down to the court, changed his clothes, and wore a dark blue robe, surrounded by the palace people to drive Shoukang Palace.

Qingcheng waited under the porch early, and she didn't like to be noisy, so she stood quietly in the shade of the tree, watching others laugh. The emperor saw her at a glance, but smiled at Concubine Shu: "You have a lot of ghost ideas, make trouble for the queen mother." ”

The Queen Mother sat on the sandalwood hollow phoenix pattern vermilion lacquer chair, and said with a smile: "Where is the commotion, she is begging for joy in front of her, and the mourning family doesn't know how happy it is." ”

Concubine Shu laughed and said, "Empress Dowager Xie praises." He handed the thread in his hand to the emperor and said, "The emperor will try it too?" ”

The emperor has always been majestic, and rarely laughs in front of people, so he sat down on the stool and said with a smile: "If you like to play, just play by yourself, I look very good." ”

Concubine Shu pulled the emperor up and said coquettishly: "The emperor will give it a try, so that the concubines and others can also open their eyes." ”

The Queen Mother smiled: "Since the emperor is here, let's play with them." ”

Seeing the queen mother say this, the emperor had to say respectfully: "My son obeys the order." After speaking, a eunuch from the Internal Affairs Office stepped forward and whispered to the emperor how to fly a kite. It was something that was very easy to learn, not to mention that it was a wise and wise emperor, and within a few moments, the emperor would raise the kite very high.

Seeing that the emperor was having fun, everyone hurriedly picked up kites and flew them. There are many concubines who can't grasp the trick and can't always rise. The emperor flew his kite and taught them one by one. The sun is shining, like golden light reflected on the yellow glazed tiles, orange, yellow, purple and blue, very good-looking. The Queen Mother looked at the harmony of the harem and became more and more happy.

Finally, it was Qingcheng's turn, and the emperor wrapped around her from behind, covering the back of her hand with his palm, and gently pulling the silk thread in his hand. Just like the last time he taught her to practice horses, he was so patient and gentle, and said: "You have to estimate and know the direction of the wind, as well as the strength of the speed... When you feel the wind is strong enough and the kite climbs up, you can stop and slowly release the line..."

He leaned over her ear, surrounded by the faint fragrance of the dragon on his body, and the heavens and the earth seemed to be shrouded by him, and the laughter and laughter in his ears were inaudible, only his soft and mellow voice.

The emperor let go of his hand and said, "If you step back yourself, the kite will fly high." She was holding a colorful phoenix, soaring in the blue and clear sky, dazzling her. The Emperor followed her side and shouted, "Run, run back...", she followed his direction, and fell back desperately, her feet were weak, as if she had tripped over something, and she could not help but spin the world, and fell backwards.

The emperor was quick with his hands and feet, took her in his arms, and said, "Did you break your foot?" ”

Qingcheng grabbed the emperor's sleeve and said angrily: "What's so funny, it's not fun at all." ”

The emperor helped her up and said with a smile: "It's good for me to look at it, you are just too quiet." ”

Qingcheng forgot about the people around him for a while, and pouted, "I know you like to make trouble." ”

She looked up at the emperor, and the sunlight turned into wisps of golden brilliance and splashed beautifully, so strong that people couldn't see his expression clearly, and suddenly fell into a dream. The emperor tightened his arms and said, "The mouth is sour! ”

Qingcheng was ashamed, and the embroidered fist slammed into his shoulder, causing him to hum and laugh.

The two muttered in a low voice, behaving kindly, and Concubine Shu remembered the words of the emperor who warned her not to bully Su Guiren that day, and sulked. The queen should not move around, so she stayed by the side of the queen mother to serve the tea, and when the emperor came to rest, she carefully washed a bowl of Qingxin lotus seed tea and served it.

The Queen Mother asked: "Gao Yatou also loves to be lively, why don't you see her coming?" ”

The emperor ran for a long time, and was already thirsty, so he drank it all in one gulp and did not reply.

The queen looked at the emperor and said respectfully: "The noble concubine has not been in good shape recently, and the concubine has not passed on her. ”

The Queen Mother was concerned: "What is the disease?" Can there be a Xuan Taiyi watching? ”

The queen hurriedly said: "It has been announced that the imperial doctor will guard it, and it should be fine if it is only two days old." ”

Concubine Shu stepped forward to Cheng Huan and said, "Queen Mother, are you tired, let the concubine beat your legs." After speaking, he squatted down and knelt at the feet of the Queen Mother, beating lightly and heavily.

The Queen Mother was overjoyed and said with a smile: "Poor one, you don't serve in front of the emperor, but you always think about the mourning family, which is really filial piety." ”

Concubine Shu said sweetly: "Even the emperor has to honor you, and the concubine is like this, so she can naturally please the emperor." She spoke pleasantly, and was straightforward and frank, which provoked the emperor to say: "As long as you coax the queen mother well, I will definitely be rewarded." ”

Concubine Shu trembled and said: "A gentleman's words, the horse is difficult to chase, and when the time comes, the emperor will not give the concubine what he wants." He hugged the queen mother's leg again, and pouted coquettishly: "Queen Mother, you can help the concubine testify!" ”

The Queen Mother patted her back pityingly and said, "Okay, even if the emperor refuses to give it to you, the mourning family will give it to you." ”

Concubine Shu hurriedly said happily: "Empress Dowager Xie." ”

When it was getting late, the emperor drove back to the Yangxin Palace, changed his clothes, cleaned his hands and faces, and someone from the military aircraft department came to ask for a ride, and the emperor announced that he would go to the north of Longzongmen. After dealing with political affairs, it was already early days, Wu Shulai stepped forward and asked, "Is the emperor going back to the Heart Cultivation Palace today?" ”

The emperor slowly opened his eyes and said, "Go to Yikun Palace." "When he was flying a kite before, he felt that the way Qingcheng was walking was not right, and then he remembered that it was at that time that he should have broken his foot.

Seeing that the Halloween Festival was approaching, Qingcheng stayed up late for many days to prepare congratulatory gifts for the emperor. There were a few arm-thick red candles lit in the room, and two more on the kang table, so she pinched the needle and threaded it according to the lamp, her mind was quiet and silent. Someone came vaguely, she thought it was Hai'an, and she didn't care, but when she looked up, it was the emperor.

She was shocked and said, "Why are you here?" ”

The emperor said: "In the harem, there is no place where I can't go. He snatched the needle and thread from her bosom and said, "It's a big night, it's dim and bleak, don't burn your eyes for a robe, I don't lack it." ”

Qingcheng said: "The emperor sits on the world, of course there is nothing missing, but I want to do it for the emperor." After a pause, he said: "My mother's embroidery skills are no worse than embroidery, my father's clothes, from official robes to shoes and socks purses, are all handled by my mother, never let others interfere, my father said to look at my mother's needlework, and read her wherever I went." ”

Hai'an entered the house and packed up all the needlework, and brought tea again, and the emperor sat cross-legged on the kang and said with a smile: "It turns out that you still have this layer of measurement." Then he asked, "Are you getting better on your feet?" ”

Qingcheng was stunned for a moment, and then asked, "How did the emperor know?" ”

The emperor said: "Seeing that the posture of your walking is wrong, I guessed, as expected." And he said, "Can you smear the medicine?" ”

Qingcheng knew that the emperor remembered him, and he was happy, and said with a smile: "It's nothing, I rubbed some aloe vera cream." The emperor saw that her face was very good, and she didn't think it was serious, so he relieved his heart and scolded softly: "Why don't you say it in Shoukang Palace?" It's just a small injury today, but if it's a big injury, it's up to you how you can hide it. ”

Qingcheng said: "I'm afraid that nothing will alarm people." ”

The emperor knew that she was used to being cautious and cautious, and everything needed to be thought about before and after, and remembered how sincere she should have been when she dared to go to the Heart Cultivation Hall to find herself that day, and couldn't help but pity her heart, and said: "What are you afraid of, there is me, who dares to give you a face." He said in a heavy tone, "Remember, just be more publicized in the future, otherwise, you will not be bullied." ”

Qingcheng only became the emperor casually, and he didn't think about it carefully, so he smiled and said, "The emperor can have this heart, and I am also satisfied." ”

The candlelight rippled, and her eyes were like a quiet black pool, reflecting his figure, as if she could emit light, firm and flexible, tactful and viscous.

He couldn't help but slowly stretched out his hand, she walked up to him, gently put her hand into his palm, and said, "Your good life is still long, don't wronged yourself." When I find the right time, I will elevate you to your place, and let them all kneel at your knees and listen to your commands. When he said this, Qingcheng only shook his head silently and said: "I don't care about the position, as long as you are as graceful as ever, even if you are always there and an official woman, I am willing to do it." ”

The night was dark, the lights outside were getting darker, he had many women, but he had never heard such words, and every time he opened his mouth to promise, anyone could not help but be happy, and bowed down to thank him.

The emperor was emotional, got up, hugged her horizontally, and walked to the bed.

Qingcheng's cheeks flushed, and she whispered: "I haven't eaten a snack, and I haven't washed my face..." It's almost midsummer, and the couch is covered with Hunan bamboo mats, which feel slightly cool when resting on it. At this time, Qingcheng was so hot that the emperor's lips burned through her body and mind like intoxicating rice wine, and little by little they penetrated into the deepest part of her body.

Early the next morning, before Qingcheng woke up, the emperor had quietly returned to the Heart Cultivation Palace. He was diligent in government affairs, and always asked questions in person, often busy from early morning to midnight. The queen didn't dare to be harsh easily, but the matter of Concubine Qing's secret report involved the noble concubine, after all, she was the daughter of an important minister in the court, and she was the head of the concubine, so she planned to announce the sedan chair to meet her.

Shanrou said: "If the master is embarrassed, it is better to ask the queen mother, the queen mother values the heir the most, and the queen mother wanted to set up the master as the concubine that day, but let the master Gao snatch it, although the face is kind, in fact, the master Gao can't say a few words in front of the queen mother." ”

The queen groaned: "Having said that, the emperor doesn't want the queen mother to worry about the affairs of the harem, I am afraid that he will be angry." ”

Shanrou said: "When the queen mother spoke, she punished the noble concubine, whether it was to cut off the power of the assistant six palaces, or to demote the rank, when the wood was already in the boat, where would the emperor say anything." Besides, since it is the Queen Mother's decree, it has nothing to do with the master, and if you investigate it in the future, there is also a shirk..."The words are still unfinished, but a eunuch came to pay tribute and said: "Queen Mother, the Queen Mother declares that you will go to Shoukang Palace." ”

Shanrou was overjoyed and said: "It is a God-given opportunity, and the master has done a good job quietly." ”

But said that the queen mother had breakfast, and she had the habit of smoking hookah, and Concubine Xian happened to come over to talk, so she knelt on the side of the step and served herself. The room was shrouded in a thin layer of smoke, and when the dark wind blew, it dispersed lightly. The queen mother swallowed the clouds and spit out the fog, and her mood was also very kind, Concubine Xian said euphemistically: "Yesterday, I heard that the queen said that Master Gao was sick, and I made a special trip to take a look, but I didn't know that there was no illness at all, but was locked up in Jingren Palace." ”

The Queen Mother smoked a hookah comfortably, her thoughts slowed down by half a beat, and she asked lightly: "Why do you want to be confined?" ”

Concubine Xian listened to the queen mother's inquiry, and was in the middle of it, so she carefully said the matter of Concubine Qing crying in front of the emperor, giving evidence that the noble concubine framed the heir, and monitoring the harem, and said: "I don't believe it, first, the master Gao was already a side blessing at that time, but there is no need to dirty his hands for a servant." Second, she is also careless, where can she be so meticulous in everything. Besides, when Concubine Qing entered the cold palace, she begged the master to speak in front of the emperor, but she was afraid that she would also have the meaning of revenge. ”

The Queen Mother never took Master Gao, Qing Concubine and others seriously, and when it came to the dragon heir, she still disliked the life of the Ling, so she said: "You are reasonable." ”

Concubine Xian said again: "If the queen asks the emperor to punish Master Gao this time, I don't know what the idea is later." I don't have anything, I'm just afraid that the emperor will lose the master and feel distressed..."At this point, the queen mother has already understood that a few concubines are nothing, but if you dare to tease the emperor, the queen mother will never allow it, and immediately said: "Mama Yan, go and call the queen over, the mourning family has something to ask her." ”

In the evening, the emperor dispersed, he went straight to Shoukang Palace to ask the Queen Mother for peace, and went to Yikun Palace by the way. Hai'an was setting out a supper, and when he saw that the emperor was coming, he went to the kitchen to get wine happily.

Qingcheng waited for the emperor to change his clothes in the back room, washed his hands, and said: "You are in a hurry, today I asked someone to cook lotus leaf porridge, clear the lungs and reduce the fire, and nourish people." The emperor said: "I just saw Hai'an go out to get wine, and I have to serve two dishes of appetizers." ”

Qingcheng muttered: "There are often banquets in the palace, and the courtiers love to toast, so it should be forbidden." After a pause, he said solemnly: "In the future, as long as you are here with me, you are not allowed to drink alcohol or eat meat, you can only eat vegetarian." ”

The emperor didn't get angry, but smiled slightly, and jokingly said: "If you don't follow my wishes, you won't be afraid that I will go to other people's palaces?" ”

Qingcheng stood behind him, smoothed the wrinkles of his clothes, and said, "You know that I am good for you, how can you fail me?" The two walked into the hall back and forth, Hai'an had already presented wine and stepped forward, and the emperor said: "Your master is not allowed to drink alcohol, take it down." Hai'an was also startled, when he first met Su Guiren in Zhongcui Palace, he felt that she was timid and soft-spoken, and she didn't even dare to step on an ant. Now it's good, even the holy will dares to disobey.

But it's not what it used to be.