The emperor's illness lingered for 100 days, and when it was completely cured, it was the season of June when the wind and lotus were light. And the queen, because of her careful service, is as graceful as ever. Ruyi was sick and sick, and the emperor was even more sorry, and I happened to hear Ruyi talk about Yihuan's intention to pray in the Baohua Hall day and night, and he loved the two even more. At first glance, there is harmony in the six palaces, and it is naturally extremely complete.

When the golden cinnamon was fragrant in September, better news came out of the Changchun Palace, and the thirty-five-year-old queen finally had a pregnancy again. This joy is not trivial, since the early death of Prince Duanhui, the emperor and queen have been looking forward to the son-in-law for many years, and now suddenly pregnant, naturally overjoyed, the palace has been singing and dancing for several days, feasting and drinking, all over the princes and nobles, toasting to congratulate.

In this way, Lian Chengen's deepest Ruyi and Yihuan are also sighing. Yi Huan was envious: "I originally knew that by serving the emperor this time, the queen would definitely be favored again, but I didn't want her to have a child so soon." ”

Ruyi stroked her flat lower abdomen, and there was a trace of hatred as deep as a blade in her sadness, but she refused to show her voice: "I think I'm twenty-eight years old, and I've never been pregnant, it's really a blessing." She paused and sighed, "The queen is pregnant, and the emperor is so happy, we have to go to congratulate Yihe." ”

Yi Huan raised his slender and charming phoenix eyes, and said coldly: "Why bother to catch up with this excitement? What does the queen have to do with me when she is pregnant, I am not really happy, so naturally I don't have to pretend to congratulate me! ”

Ruyi smiled: "Congratulations are love, not sincerity." If you don't go, you will always be suspected of being jealous that the queen is pregnant. ”

Yi Huan curled his eyebrows and said, "My sister never cared about these false feelings, but now she is also cautious." ”

Ruyi's smile was wet with the drizzle, and she was slightly cool: "After many years of ups and downs, it is natural to know that it is good to go with the flow." ”

Yi Huan was depressed for a moment: "My sister is the same, it can be seen that she is embarrassed." ”

Ruyi said in a gentle voice: "In the palace, there are many people who don't like it, but they always have to get along, and they always have to leave some leeway for each other." ”

Yi Huan groaned: "I really don't like them......"

Ruyi hurriedly covered her mouth, looked around vigilantly, shook her head solemnly, and said: "Talking about things in the palace with lust, the parrot doesn't dare to say anything." My sister is straightforward and fast-talking, but she also hurts herself. Be careful, be careful! ”

Yi Huan's lips hung like a crescent moon floating before dawn, and he whispered for a while: "Got it." ”

Ruyi looked at her with a smile and said, "Fortunately, the emperor likes his sister's temperament, but no matter how much he likes it, the emperor is not the only one in the palace." She paused slightly and said, "It's a happy event that the queen is pregnant, sister, you are still young after all, don't worry." As long as the emperor's favor is there, he will definitely have his own children soon. ”

Yi Huanyubai's face flushed with a hint of redness, and he said in a low voice with a smile: "Sister Cheng Jiyan." The emperor treats me with deep affection, since the imperial doctor Qi asked for the pulse and said that my body is weak and cold and it is not easy to get pregnant, every time I go to bed, the emperor always asks the hospital to send me fetal medicine, but I have eaten it for a few years, but there is no movement at all, probably because of my weak body. ”

Ruyi has never given birth to a child in the end, and her face is thin-skinned, how can she be willing to say this in broad daylight, so she just smiled: "How many fetal pills did the queen take in order to have a child again, isn't there good news until today?" Just be patient. That is to say, you are favored by the emperor, we have served the emperor for all these years, and we have never had the grace to drink fetal pills after bed. ”

Yi Huan's face turned redder, and the two of them laughed a few words, and that's it. At this time, he waited for the emperor's entry to come in, and said with a smile: "Say hello to Concubine Xian, please say hello to Concubine Shu." The emperor said, last night was Shu Concubine Niangniang's bed, in order to extend the emperor's descendants, Shu Concubine Niangniang was specially given a bowl of fetal medicine, please Shu Concubine Niangniang drink it while it is hot. ”

Ruyi said "ouch", couldn't help blushing and smiled: "I drank this early in the morning." That's it, I'm afraid you'll be ashamed, so I'll leave first. ”

The coral-colored flush quickly spread to the cheeks of Ruyu, and she hurriedly took the medicine and drank it until there was nothing left, before returning it to Jinbao, pulling Ruyi and saying, "Good sister, what are you making fun of me, let's talk about it again." ”

Ruyi saw that the palace people had gone out, and Fang smiled and said: "What's so difficult about that, who in the palace doesn't want to have children, but I don't know which fetal pill is better." If you have a heart, you will leave me half a bowl of fetal medicine that the emperor rewarded you, and if I have a child, thank you well. ”

When Yi Huan heard this, he blushed and smiled: "What's so difficult about that." If you don't pay attention to the next time, I'll secretly leave half a bowl for you. ”

Ruyiqi said: "What? The emperor still has to let Jinbao watch you finish drinking? ”

Yi Huan was shy: "Isn't it? I'm really sorry. Seeing her like this, Ruyi smiled and joked a few times, and then vaguely passed.

However, over there, the queen is middle-aged and pregnant, so she is extra careful, in addition to eating and drinking in the small kitchen, she also invited several of the most respected imperial doctors in Qilu and Tai Hospital to take turns to serve three times a day. At this time, Qi Lu, who was taking the pulse of the queen, did not look very good-looking, but he was just silent.

The queen's heart sank point by point, and she couldn't help but ask: "If Imperial Doctor Qi has anything to say, you might as well say it directly." ”

Qilu's face was solemn, and he said: "The queen mother is pregnant this time, which is a great joy, and from the perspective of the fetus, there is a chance that she is a prince." ”

The queen was overjoyed: "In this way, I have to thank Imperial Doctor Qi." Plain heart, look at the reward. ”

Su Xin took out a box of silver, Qi Lu got up in a panic and avoided: "Weichen doesn't dare, Weichen doesn't dare." It's just the queen mother, although your fetal image is good, but your pulse is ......" He hesitated for a moment and said, "Slippery and weak, the pulse is as thin as silk, I'm afraid it's ......"

The queen was taken aback, and hurriedly said, "The imperial doctor has something to say, you might as well say it directly." ”

Qilu kowtowed and said, "Weichen should be damned." With all due respect, the queen is no longer the best age to be pregnant, and because of the death of Prince Duanhui, she has been overly worried about it, and her mind has been working hard all these years, resulting in a weak physique. Although Wechen has been using medicine to induce you to conceive, but you have been working day and night before you are pregnant, so you are overworked, that is, the timing of pregnancy is not right, so ......"

The queen's heart tightened for a while, and her face became more and more unsightly: "So what? You only tell the palace, can you keep the prince? ”

Qilu hesitated for a moment, then hesitated: "Can is can." But the queen mother is now four months pregnant, according to Weichen's meaning, it is inevitable that the mother is weak and the fetus is not guaranteed, Weichen ......" He gritted his teeth, as if he had made up his mind, "Weichen plans to burn Ai to protect the fetus." ”

The queen felt chills all over her body, and she only felt dizzy in front of her. She is a person who has given birth, so she naturally knows that if she wants to burn Ai to protect the fetus, there must be a slippery fetus. The queen's palms were full of wet and greasy cold sweat, and she barely supported Su Xin's hand to support her body, and tried her best to hold herself: "Since you can keep the fetus, then everything is up to Dr. Lao Qi." As for the emperor, there ......"

Qilu has been serving the palace for a long time, how sleek and sleek: "Weichen will hide it for Niangniang, so that the emperor can rest assured." ”

The queen shook her head resolutely and said, "No! This palace is not to reassure the emperor, you must let the emperor know how hard and difficult it is for this palace to conceive a concubine for the emperor. Even if you want to burn Ai, you must be accompanied by the emperor in this palace. You must let the emperor see the hard work of the palace with your own eyes, and the emperor will have pity for the palace. ”

This year's New Year, before the happy event that Lu Yun gave birth to Princess Jingyan of Hejia for the emperor, it was especially lively because of the queen's pregnancy. When the concubines went to visit, they often saw the queen lying quietly on the couch, taking all kinds of fetal decoctions, and the imperial doctors looked nervous and respectful, standing aside.

On this day, when the Queen Mother returned from visiting the queen, she burned incense and sat in Cining Palace. Fujia held a copy of the Lotus Sutra for the Queen Mother to read, and the Queen Mother smiled after reading a few paragraphs: "Just looking at the queen's cautious appearance, it seems that this child is really important to her." ”

Fu Jia wore a blue satin round pattern Ruyi shoulder, with an ivory robe, and tied his hair with copper gilt plain lines, as light as a cigarette in the Queen Mother's palace. She said deferentially: "There is no child in the middle palace, which is equivalent to being helpless." The queen is thirty-five years old, and it is really not easy to get pregnant again. ”

The Queen Mother bowed her head and said, "Of course it's not easy. The mourning family privately asked Qilu if he could keep the child to term if he burned Ai like this. Qilu told the mourning family that it was a blessing to be able to survive for nine months. In the end, it is not comparable to a pure concubine, at first glance, it is a good body. ”

Fujia was a little worried: "The queen is older, if the child is less than a month, then the womb will be weak." ”

The Queen Mother stared for a moment and smiled self-deprecatingly: "In the final analysis, the emperor is not the mourning family's own son, and the queen is the nominal daughter-in-law, and she is loved by her mother's family." The mourning family should be cared for, but it is just the affection on the face. Didn't you hear that when the emperor was sick, he was groggy and called 'Eniang', do you believe that the emperor called the mourning family? ”

Fujia hesitated for a moment, added a pot of incense for the queen mother and said, "No matter what, the emperor's biological mother is already dead." The emperor hasn't mentioned this person all these years, even if he is weaker in his dreams and thinks about it a little bit, it doesn't matter. ”

The Queen Mother flicked the little stalk on the gilt enamel flower and bird hand stove, and sighed lightly: "It's not the child who came out of my belly, it's different, so the mourning family doesn't bother to mention anything about the queen." In fact, since she wants to burn Ai to protect the fetus, and to prevent others, she can not show her face, and when she is about to give birth prematurely, she can move her hands and feet to get rid of the people she wants to get rid of. It's just that she is bent on using the mercy of her sister-in-law, Emperor Bo, to be more tender in the end. ”

Fu Jia said with a smile: "The Queen Mother is far-sighted, how can the Queen Mother compare with you." What's more, the queen mother doesn't like any party to be dominant, so whether the queen is a graceful concubine or a concubine, you should turn a blind eye. In the end, our hope for the future is in Mei Concubine, Shu Concubine and Qing Changzai. ”

The Queen Mother saw that there was a cut pear on the table, so she took a slice and ate it slowly: "Qing Changzai and Concubine Mei are okay, Concubine Shu is really very favored by the emperor." ”

"The Queen Mother's thousands of chosen people, can it be bad?" Fujia hesitated slightly, "But in the past few years, Imperial Doctor Qi has always hinted, and the slaves and maids have also paid attention to it, and the emperor has taken fetal medicine every time he asks Concubine Shu to go to bed, saying that he hopes to have an heir as soon as possible, but the slave and maid feel that the medicine is not quite right." ”

The Queen Mother smiled slightly: "It doesn't matter if it's right or wrong, at most, the emperor will prevent her from being from the Yehenala clan, and no matter how bad it is, it will prevent the mourning family." ”

Fu Jia was stunned, and then said: "That's not like that." If the emperor wants to guard against the queen mother, he can't accept Qingchang and Shu Concubine, why bother with this kind of trouble. ”

The queen mother's smile was faint, like the shadow of the flowers swaying outside the window: "Our emperor, our thoughts are deep." Otherwise, the third elder brother Hongshi was the eldest son of the first emperor and the adopted son of Empress Wulanara, and his status was so valuable, how could he be defeated in the hands of our emperor. ”

Fujia lowered her eyebrows and looked at her: "That's naturally because of the Queen Mother." ”

The Queen Mother smiled and shook her head: "The mourning family can ignore everything, only one thing." Her expression slowly fell silent, with a wisp of indescribable sadness, "It's the Rou Shu of the mourning family, you don't want to be like her sister who has a bad fate and marries away from Beijing." If only Rou Shu could stay by the mourning family and marry someone who loves her, then it would be good. ”

Under the heavy sale of Jinhua's clothes, the queen mother's aging figure looks thin and overwhelmed. Fu Jia sighed with a hint of comfort, and said gently: "Don't worry, the Queen Mother will definitely be." The two men clung to each other, and the light of the sky stretched their shadows to the old elder, like a thin piece of paper hanging from the lattice, crumbling.

On this day, the wind and snow outside were set, and the emperor came in with Ruyi and Yihuan, rubbed his hands and said, "It's so cold outside, it's warm here for the queen." ”

Because the queen was resting on the bed, she just bowed and signaled: "The emperor is blessed." ”

The emperor wore a homely lake blue tuanfu pattern Tianma skin robe, a bamboo-blue dark satin pipa placket smoked mink fur horse coat on the outside, and Ruyi and Yihuan behind him wore a golden and red feather satin cloak of the same color, like two Zhaojun out of the plug, particularly delicate.

The queen ordered someone to serve refreshments, and said with a smile: "The emperor is in a good mood today, why did he bring his two younger sisters here?" ”

The emperor said: "Concubine Xian likes plum blossoms, and it just so happened that Concubine Shu was there, so I accompanied them to enjoy plum blossoms." ”

The queen smiled slightly, stroked her bulging belly and said calmly: "What Concubine Xian likes, the emperor has always been worried about." ”

Ruyi Yingran smiled: "The emperor is worried about the concubines, and the concubines are also worried about the queen's mother." She called her heart, "The green plum in the palace is rare, this bunch is the best in the plum garden selected by the concubine to send to the mother, I hope the mother smells the fragrance of the plum, and can raise the baby with peace of mind." She turned her head and smiled and said to the emperor, "Today is the 25th day of the first lunar month, and it is also the day of the death of Emperor Huixian's concubine for one year. ”

The queen's eyebrows curled slightly, and she quickly smiled: "Emperor Huixian and Concubine Xian were not very harmonious with Concubine Xian during her lifetime, and now when she sees the flowers sent by Concubine Xian, she will definitely be relieved under the Nine Springs." ”

Ruyi just smiled, Ying Ying looked at the emperor and said: "The concubine's mind is too thin, when I got up in the morning, I saw that the emperor was writing poems, you only said that you were mourning the concubine of Emperor Huixian, and now everyone is here, the concubine asks for a grace, and also wants to hear the emperor's affection for Emperor Huixian." ”

The emperor waved his hand and said, "It's just an occasional thing in your spare time." I have already ordered someone to copy it out and send it to the mother's house of Emperor Huixian's concubine. ”

Yi Huan smiled and smiled, with a bit of coquettishness, and did not give up: "The emperor is like this, it is the greatest favor to the imperial concubine and her mother's family." If you want to come to Lord Gao Bin to get this poetry book, you must also be grateful to the emperor. Why don't you read it to the emperor's concubines. ”

Yi Huan rarely loves Jiaojiao like this, sweeping away the coldness of the day, the emperor saw her like this, and said: "The light spring breeze is harmonious, and the sun is sunny and the three farmers are happy." The first reward of the vegetables is the festival, and the etiquette is from its ancient customs. The worries of the people are happy and the people are happy, and they are given to the people because of the people's trust. The bottom of the matter is confused, and he thinks about it. ”

After listening to Ruyi, she sighed gloomily: "The situation between the bottom of the matter is confused, and I think of the person who is worthy of it." Although Emperor Huixian's concubine has passed away, the emperor is still thinking about it. ”

The queen tried her best to hide the uncertain look in her eyes, and said with a slow smile: "The emperor's heart for the imperial concubine is really rare. It just so happened that the concubine and the emperor thought of going together, thinking that the imperial concubine liked to wear purses and sachets the most, and the concubine sewed one last night, and it was also sent to Xianfu Palace at noon today. ”

Su Xin said on the side: "The queen mother sewed overnight, and she always said that it was a little sister's heart, which shows the mourning." ”

The emperor nodded slightly, with a concerned expression: "The queen has a heart." It's just that you're pregnant, so leave the needlework to the next people. ”

Su Xin pursed her lips and smiled: "It's okay for the rest, the queen mother also made a flint bag for the emperor." ”

The queen glanced at Su Xin with disgust, and said a little embarrassed: "The concubine originally wanted to give it to the emperor in a hurry for the New Year, but her physical strength was exhausted, thinking that today was the day of filling the warehouse, the last festival of the first month, so she specially dedicated it to the emperor, and asked the emperor not to dislike it." ”

The emperor took it from Su Xin's hand: "Is it a flint bag containing a fire sickle?" Made of deer's tail fluff? ”

The queen looked at the emperor with some anticipation: "Last autumn, the emperor and his concubines mentioned the old customs outside the Guan, and mentioned that when the ancestors had just established the imperial industry, the clothing decorations were all made of deer tail fluff and sewn on the cuffs, rather than with gold and silver threads as in the palace today. The concubines have always advocated frugality, and they feel that the jade with gold in the palace is naturally good-looking, but it is also extravagant. ”

The emperor looked at the flint pouch in his hand, and sure enough, it was all made of deer hair, without a bit of satin, very simple, no different from the one used by Taizu, and sighed: "Nowadays, such things are rare, it is difficult for you to remember what I said." ”

The queen said: "The concubine thought that the emperor was quite longing when she talked about it that day, so she deliberately used the deer tail fluff to be kneaded into a flint sac, hoping to remind the palace that although the treasury is abundant and the world is rich and healthy, the harem should not develop too extravagant atmosphere." The more peaceful and prosperous we are, the more we should not forget the painstaking efforts of our ancestors to create a foundation! ”

There was praise in the emperor's eyes, and there was also a flash of emotion: "What the queen said is very true, I will wear the flint pouch made by the queen with me, so as to show that I will not forget the hard work of my ancestors and the roots." ”

Yi Huan watched the emperor personally put the flint pouch made by the queen on his body, and smiled faintly: "It's also a coincidence, the concubine also made a flint, but now it seems that it will not be delivered to the emperor." ”

The emperor turned his face to look at her, with a little pity and pampering: "Concubine Shu has no side, but she has a big temperament." ”

Yi Huan listened to the emperor's words, and took out a yellow ground gold pastel flint sac from his sleeve. Ruyi looked at it, and did not secretly admire, the flint sac wore a yellow rope, and the rope was decorated with rice beads and coral beads. The inside of the vessel is glazed with turquoise, and the outer wall is decorated with golden curly grass, flowers and twig patterns. There are rectangular openings on both sides of the abdomen, and the pastel-painted Western characters in the openings are "entering the treasure map", and the end is gorgeous and wonderful, and the eyes are shining.

Yi Huan said coldly: "The emperor likes the simplicity of the queen's mother, and the concubine is too extravagant, and it is expected that it will not be able to enter the emperor's eyes." She stood up, saw the water in the copper jar under the corridor, and threw it in casually, "Since the emperor won't like it, the concubines won't give it to others, so I'd rather lose it." ”

When the queen saw her like this, she was dumbfounded: "Even if the emperor doesn't use it, wouldn't it be a pity to throw it away?" Your Majesty, you really spoiled Concubine Shu. ”

Seeing the queen say this, Yi Huan was not afraid of the look of nostalgia, just sat aside and said nothing.

The emperor stroked his palms and smiled: "Concubine Shu is such a character, not pretentious. Although willful, it is also straightforward. The emperor instructed, "Li Yu, go and pick it up and put it in the study of the Heart Cultivation Hall for me." Such a delicate thing, Shu Concubine must have put a lot of thought into it, and it is good for me to come and appreciate it. ”

Yi Huan eased his face at this time: "The emperor said that if you are rewarded, you are not allowed to perfunctory concubines." ”

Seeing that the two of them were making fun, the queen felt very uncomfortable, and it was inconvenient to say more, so she changed her posture and leaned, and said with a smile: "Today, the Internal Affairs Office came to ask the concubine about something, and the concubine can't be the master, so I just asked the emperor." ”

The emperor said in a harmonious voice: "You say." ”

The queen whispered slowly: "On the third day of March, the princess, Fujin and other women will enter the palace to pay respects. The concubine remembered that when Xiyue was a concubine, the emperor asked her to accept the visit of the inner wife. Now that Concubine Xian and Concubine Chun have been canonized last year, they are righteous concubines, do they have to accept the visit of the inner wife as they did in Xiyue? ”

The emperor pondered for a moment and said slowly: "The first month of the month is a concubine, which is different from the concubine who is promoted to a concubine. Therefore, in the future, there is no need to let the inner wife visit the concubine, just you and the queen mother. ”

A hint of relief flashed in the queen's eyes, and she was more proud: "That's also as it should be, just don't care about it." ”

"Naturally not. The emperor loves the imperial concubine of Huixian, everyone in the palace knows it, how can the concubines and the pure concubines not know the reason. Ruyi got up suddenly, "It's almost dusk, if the emperor is free, the concubines want to accompany the emperor to Xianfu Palace to sit, and do their best." ”

The emperor got up, stroked the queen's shoulder, and gently instructed: "You are so resting, I will come to see you tomorrow." ”

The emperor walked outside the Changchun Palace, and Yi Huan saluted: "Your Majesty, Concubine Jia is three months pregnant, and Wan Chang invited the concubine to see her." Then he withdrew.

The emperor walked side by side with Ruyi's hand, and after a long time, he said: "I don't allow you and Concubine Chun to accept the visit of the wife, don't be careful." ”

Ruyi bowed her head lightly, grabbed the emperor's arm and said, "Your Majesty, the concubine said that she would not be too careful. ”

The emperor held her hand and said in a low voice: "Gao Bin is my important minister in the previous dynasty, even if the concubine of Emperor Huixian passes away, I can't be uneasy about the Gao family. The same is true for the queen, she was born in a famous family, her uncle Ma Qi has been in three dynasties, and her reputation is long-lasting, and there is also an old minister Zhang Tingyu who has repeatedly spoken for the queen, and I must protect the queen's face and honor. ”

The wind blows on the face, blowing the soft fine hairs on the cloak, rustling the face, and occasionally one or two brushes into the eyes, as if it is about to force tears. Ruyi closed her eyes for a moment, and said softly: "The family background of the concubine is not as good as that of the queen and the imperial concubine, and the concubine understands it." ”

The Emperor's tone was soft and deep: "This is also the reason why I can indulge in you and be comfortable. He hugged her and shielded her from the cold wind in front of her, "I have already thought about it, the queen is pregnant, and the silkworm ceremony in March this year will be carried out by you instead of the queen to the silkworm altar at the north end of the Taiye Pond in Xiyuan." ”

Ruyi seemed a little incredulous: "The Son of Heaven personally cultivates the southern suburbs, and the queen pro-silkworm northern suburbs." How can a concubine go to the silkworm ceremony? ”

He smiled, and there was a warm warmth in his eyes: "Picking mulberry and silkworms is a must for weavers in the world, and it is inconvenient for the queen to do it, and it is common for concubines to act on their behalf." I want you to go, and you're the only one who goes. ”

There was a burst of warmth in the heart, as if the sun was warmly wrapping around the body through the clouds. It's not that she doesn't understand the emperor's love for her, but she never thought that the emperor loves her so much. She didn't say a word, just took his hand and put her own hand in his palm. The emperor whispered in her ear: "I know that you still care about the queen, so today I mentioned that I wrote a poem to mourn Xiyue. But the queen is pregnant, don't be angry with her like this next time. ”

Ruyi chuckled: "The emperor insists on saying this, and the concubines should only think that their own careful thinking is seen through by the emperor." ”