Time flies very quickly, as if getting up in the morning to comb and draw eyebrows, reading at dusk, pillowing the dark, waiting for dawn, the old time will quickly fade, only new days remain, new faces, red lips and white teeth, delicate and fresh past. In the eighth year of Qianlong, Lu Yun gave birth to her second son, the sixth son of the emperor, Yongying. In this way, Lu Yun has become the concubine who gave birth to the most princes in the palace, even if the emperor has always been only light in his care for her, for the sake of the child, he has also warmed up a lot. Even the Queen Mother also looked at Lu Yun very differently, and she also cared for the emperors and grandchildren.

On this day, the queen also went to visit the Luyun Palace, the courtyard of the Zhongcui Palace was quiet, and the palace people were all standing with their hands down, not daring to speak. The eunuch at the head saw the queen come in, and hurriedly said, "The emperor is here, and he is accompanying the little master inside." ”

The queen bowed slightly: "The palace will also go and take a look, there is no need to pass it on." The ladies of the palace opened the curtains, and the queen walked into the hall, and through the beaded curtains, she saw the nurse holding the newborn baby wrapped in a pile of splendid embroidery, bending down to sit on the small pestle beside the bed, and carefully handing the child in her arms to the young mother who was leaning on the head of the bed. The green is still in the middle of the month, and the plump cheeks are not powdered, but they have a fresh and full flush. Her dark hair was loosely tied into a homely bun, sparsely embellished with a few stripped pearls and emerald flowers, just as graceful as her owner. Lu Yun's long, narrow and slender eyes hung down gently, and her lips were full of a quiet and beautiful smile. The Emperor was teasing the child's lovely face head to head with her, whispering from time to time, and occasionally the child's loud cry would be intermittent. It was a sonorous voice peculiar to a baby boy, and although it was immature, it had a strong foundation.

The atmosphere in the dormitory is quiet and sweet, and it is a true family delight. At this time, whoever walks in will look so abrupt and out-of-the-box.

The Queen's hands trembled slightly, like a thin struggle before the yellow leaves of late autumn were about to be carried away by the wind. She turned around silently, and after reminding the palace people that there was no need to pass through, she hurried away. The queen walked outside the door and saw Yonghuang coming in. When Yonghuang saw her, he saluted in a proper manner and said, "The emperor's mother is blessed with Jin'an." The queen didn't know anything, so she bowed her head slightly and walked away.

When the queen returned to Changchun Palace, she was a little sullen, and Lianxin thought that she was going to take a nap, so she hurriedly laid out the quilt, lit benzoin and withdrew. Seeing that Su Xin was still by her side, the queen felt depressed and sentimental: "Look at the appearance of the emperor accompanying Concubine Chun, it seems that she has returned to the palace when she was just born Yonglian." At that time, it was so good! ”

Su Xin hurriedly said: "How can Concubine Chun compare with Niangniang?" When Niangniang gave birth to the second elder brother, she was Fujin, and the pure concubine is just a concubine now, she is still from the Han Army Banner, and she is not afraid of folding her blessing if she compares her to Niangniang! ”

The queen's wry smile was tinged with a sad meaning: "What can't be compared? Concubine Chun now has two biological princes and an adopted son, and the palace is lonely, leaving only one princess. The blessing of the pure concubine is behind. ”

Su Xinda was dissatisfied: "The blessing of the pure concubine is not because of the magnanimity and protection of the mother?" Speaking of which, the mother really shouldn't have let her give birth to these children. Like Concubine Hui and Concubine Xian, how good it is to have a clean stroke. ”

The thick gloom accumulated between the queen's eyebrows, and she refused to retreat for a long time: "Concubine Chun's family background is low, she was born in the Han military banner, and she is not very favored, and her personality is also docile and timid. Compared to Concubine Xian's noble status, Concubine Hui is favored, and the palace must guard against them. ”

Su Xin said yes again and again, and said tentatively: "That Concubine Jia, the queen mother lifted her up like this?" ”

The queen's brows relaxed: "Concubine Jia is a tribute girl of the Li Dynasty, not from a Manmeng background, and if she wants to gain a firm foothold, she can only attach herself to the palace wholeheartedly." Besides, Concubine Hui is ill and weak, and if she is there in many things, she can still share Concubine Xian's grace. She's a straightforward and fast-talking, she doesn't have any scheming, and she's pretty useful. When she said that, she was a little tired.

Su Xin served her crookedly, and covered the cloud silk brocade quilt for her, and said: "Niangniang has been anxious to adjust her body all these years and wants to have another brother, but the emperor somehow came less, and it is not a way for you to be in such a hurry." According to the slave and maid, the eldest brother is not born to a pure concubine, and he is the eldest son, you can adopt him by your side, and then slowly give birth to a brother of your own after having a dependence, which is not bad. ”

The queen's displeased look was like a dark cloud covering the bright moon, overcast: "As soon as the palace saw Yonghuang, it remembered how his early death was in front of the palace and won the emperor's favor, so that when the palace married into the palace, the emperor already had such a concubine with a straight belly." And Concubine Zhe's death is unclear, and no matter how much words outside, I think that this palace can't tolerate her. Yonghuang is now older, in case he hears these gossips, where will he really recognize the emperor of the palace, it is better to stay away. ”

Su Xin half-squatted beside the queen, pinched her arm for her and said, "The queen is right." After Concubine Zhe passed away, how much gossip was directed at Niangniang. The slave is really not worth it for the mother, and there is obviously no shadow, so they are all at us! ”

The queen's eyebrows turned into dark peaks and twists: "The things in the palace are all suspicious and dark. If we have a heart, it's just that the depiction is getting darker and darker, and we will let them go. Her hand stroked the three-colored fragrant duck next to the pillow, and stroked the milky white cigarette curling in the duck's mouth, "This benzoin is so good, and the palace is much more comfortable when I smell it." She glanced at Su Xin, "This palace knows that you plan everything for this palace, but if this palace really adopts Yonghuang, he will change from the eldest son to the eldest son, and he will be much more noble." came to the Japanese palace to give birth to a prince, with such an eldest son, no matter how long it is, there is an additional obstacle, don't you ask for trouble? ”

Su Xin nodded and said, "That's too." Niangniang still asked the doctor to come, so that she could recuperate herself. Many things, Niangniang doesn't have to worry about it, naturally someone thinks about it for you one by one. ”

There was a trace of sorrow in the queen's eyes: "Although Concubine Hui is favored, it is not of much use, but fortunately, she is planning for the palace." That's all, it's just that when it comes to heirs, this palace is over thirty years old, will it be impossible to have children again? It's also to blame the imperial doctor for being useless, and the soup of the big tonic is drunk all day long, and the emperor often comes, but there is no movement at all. As the queen was talking, she suddenly felt a heat in her nose, and reached out to touch it, but saw two scarlet points on her fingers, her heart was in turmoil, and she lost her voice, "Su Xin, what's wrong with this palace?" ”

Su Xin was so anxious: "Niangniang, Niangniang, you have a nosebleed." She called out, "Imperial Doctor, pass on Imperial Doctor!" ”

When Qilu rushed to check the pulse, he also shook his head blindly: "Niangniang, you are too anxious." ”

The queen leaned on the bed, and the six gods asked uneasily, "How is the body of the main palace?" ”

Qi Lu shook his head again and again: "Niangniang's phoenix body is fine, Weichen has already prescribed you a fetal pill for pregnancy induction, have you privately taken a large number of warm supplements?" ”

Su Xin hurriedly said: "Now that it is winter, Niangniang is more anxious and has taken a lot of ejiao, ginseng, cordyceps and deer antlers. These are all good things for big supplements, is there anything wrong with them? ”

Qi Lu sighed: "Niangniang is bent on seeking a child, and Weichen knows it, so the fetal medicine prescribed is the most suitable for Niangniang's physique, not the kind that was drunk for the concubines in the palace at the beginning, just ordinary fetal pills, regardless of physique." But Niangniang took so many supplements for a while, which caused her qi and blood to rise, so she had a hot body and nosebleeds. If Niangniang doesn't listen to Weichen's persuasion and takes tonic indiscriminately, it will be difficult to remedy it when she hurts her vitality to vomit blood. ”

The queen propped herself up, put on her coat for her with Su Xin, and said hurriedly: "Imperial Doctor Qi, you are the judge of the Tai Hospital, and you have won the trust of the emperor and the palace, you tell the palace the truth, the palace is over thirty years old, can you still have children?" ”

Qi Lu hurriedly bowed down and said: "Age is not the most important thing, and Weichen has been urging the queen mother with drugs, and there will always be children." It's just that Niangniang has always been weak and worried, so please be at ease and take care of it for a while. ”

Su Xin also persuaded bitterly: "Niang Niang is relaxed." The emperor is also looking forward to his son-in-law as much as you, so he has always come to our Changchun Palace in the past two years. ”

When the queen heard this, she couldn't help but solemnly instruct: "Then everything will be entrusted to you, Imperial Doctor Qi." She closed her eyes for a moment, as if she was very concerned, "So Concubine Hui, how is it lately?" ”

Qi Lu said in a low voice: "It's the same old way, groggy all day long, and occasionally says a few nonsense." The body of the concubine can no longer be better. Now that it is winter, the physique of the concubine, the emperor is already sad if he does not visit, and if there is less charcoal supply, it will be another torture. ”

The queen stared slightly, glanced at her, and said politely: "Su Xin, do you remember everything?" ”

Su Xin was full of respect, and said: "Don't worry, the slaves and maids will be arranged." ”

This queen is anxious to be pregnant, Ruyi is also emotional, although the lotus bracelet rewarded by the queen, the tonka in the jade beads has been cleaned, she just wears a bracelet to decorate, but after all, it is suspenseful. However, she saw that the emperor was over thirty years old, and she only wanted his son-in-law wholeheartedly, so she couldn't say anything, so she just let him go to Changchun Palace every day.

On this day, Zhao Jiuxiao took turns to rest, and when he had free time, he drank with Ling Yunche in the guard's room. Jiuxiao and Yun Che are the best, Yun Che went to Kunning Palace to get a job, although he was envious, he often came and went, as before, drinking and gossiping. In the afternoon of this day, he came over with wine and side dishes, and when he saw Ling Yunche's sad face, he punched him and said: "The errand of Kunning Palace is idle and has enough money and food, what are you doing with a face all day long, and you are still thinking about your little Qingmei?" ”

Yun Che poured himself a glass and frowned: "Since Yin Wan entered Qixiang Palace, it is difficult for me to see her." A month ago, she happened to meet once, and she carried such a large bucket of clothes to the Huanyi Bureau to wash herself. She cried when I asked, saying that she had to hurry to finish washing, otherwise she wouldn't have to eat dinner. There are people in the Huanyi Bureau, she is a palace maid, why do you embarrass her like this? ”

Zhao Jiuxiao took a sip of wine, shook his head and said, "Whether it is a palace maid or a guard, even if she serves a favored master, it is the life of a slave." What more do you want? Can Concubine Jia eat and drink for her? It's good to have a life around. ”

Yun Che said sadly: "The palace maid is also a human, not a beast. Yin Wan didn't dare to talk to me more, so she said that she often didn't have enough food and clothing, and even the palace maids who served together bullied her, and she did all the rough work and tiring work! I just cry when I can't say two words, and I look at it so ......"

Jiuxiao listened pitifully: "It's really distressing for you to watch!" Then why don't you go and beg Concubine Xianniang? Anyway, when she was in the cold palace, we also helped her. ”

Yun Che thought about it, but still shook his head: "Last time, in order to let Concubine Xian take advantage of Concubine Xian, Concubine Xian was rehearsed by Concubine Jia and humiliated for no reason. Where do I still have the face to ask her for help! And Concubine Xian Niangniang does not have a son than Concubine Jia, in the end, there are two things. ”

Jiuxiao was stunned: "Even Concubine Xian Niangniang can't help it, what else can you do?" I advise you to stop thinking about it. Anyway, Yinwan has also been kind to you, and you really can't help it, so forget it. ”

Ling Yunche shook his head and said resolutely: "Since she has returned, I promised her that I will take care of her for the rest of my life." Although the days in Qixiang Palace are difficult, I have asked someone to tell her that if she wants her to survive, I will definitely find a way. ”

Zhao Jiuxiao saw that he was so resolute, so he raised his glass and said, "Then I wish you all the best of luck." It's just that you should be careful, don't always suffer in the hands of women. ”

At the end of the ninth year of Qianlong, another major event happened in the palace, that is, Xiyue, who had been sick for a long time, was terminally ill. Suffering from illness year after year, Gao Xiyue, who once favored the sixth palace, has survived until the oil runs out and the lamp is dry, like a small oil lamp lit in the wind, trying its best to burn the last fireworks, I don't know when, it will be blown away by the wind, and there is nothing left.

After the imperial doctor told him several times, the emperor finally said: "Since she is so sick, the queen is the lord of the six palaces, let the queen go and take a look." ”

And the queen was deaf and clear-sighted, and she was also carefully conditioned, so she pushed her body and refused to go out. When Ruyi learned about it, she just smiled and said to the emperor: "I haven't seen her for so many years, the queen refuses to go, and it's good for the concubines to go and see her." ”

The Emperor was depressed, rubbing only a pink coral wrench with a new tribute outside. The coral is a suitable shade of pink, like a baby's crimson face, which is very gratifying, because of the name "baby face". The emperor casually gave it to Li Yu: "This reward is appropriate for the pure concubine, go ahead." ”

Li Yu understood, so he led the people to retreat, and the emperor said lightly: "She has not been on good terms with you for a long time, why should you rush there." ”

Ruyi peeled off her shallot-like nails and said casually: "I heard that this Xianfu Palace is not very clean, and another palace maid has scabies, and I don't know what happened to the concubine?" She is a very sick person, if she gets a little bit more, the emperor will not be able to talk about it to Master Gao. ”

The emperor was noncommittal: "No one in the palace has been looking at her for a long time, but I'm afraid she won't want to see you." ”

Because it is to visit the sick, Ruyi is dressed simply, but it is a moon skirt that drags the ground, not decorated with bead embroidery, only a faint pearl luster flows, covered with a purple swirl coat, embroidered brocade around the placket is also slightly darker dark purple, and then put on a light silver white smoky butterfly fox hair shoulders, loose bun on the head, combed into a flowing cloud across the sky, embellished with a few points of jade and a mutton fat white jade phoenix hairpin.

Ruyi slowly walked into the Xianfu Palace, all the supplies in it were still the same, but the moment the curtain opened, there was no warmth like spring in the usual winter in the Xianfu Palace. Looking closely, although there are more than a dozen braziers in the palace as usual, the charcoal has been burned out, and no one has changed it, and even the heat of the earth dragon is not enough.

Ruyi was a little chilly, tightened her clothes, and secretly thought, Xiyue's physique is the most cold, but the cold in the hall is like urging her to die when she is seriously ill and weak.

In the dormitory, after the heavy bead curtains, there is still a slightly gorgeous atmosphere in the elegance of the Qing covenant, and Xiyue, who is lying in the futon, is still the only concubine who is pampered. However, there is always a little less popularity, which is the favor of the emperor on whom everyone in this palace depends.

Over the years, Xiyue was sick, and although the emperor always sent people to comfort and reward, he never set foot in Xianfu Palace again.

It's so gorgeous, but it's also lonely.

The palace people who were waiting saw Ruyi, and they were busy and respectfully greeting An, Ruyi and Gao Xiyue have been fighting for more than ten years, and the people in the two palaces have always been not harmonious, and it is really rare to see her so awe. It seems that over the years, Xianfu Palace has suffered a lot of cold reception.

Ruyi glanced at it and asked, "Why are there so few people serving the concubine?" ”

The little eunuch who was waiting outside the door hurriedly smiled and said, "The little concubine doesn't know that there are two palace maids in the palace who have a rash, and I don't know where they got it." The little master of the concubine was weak, and she was afraid of getting infected with these dirty things, so she asked someone to take it out, and even the people who lived with her were afraid that it would not be clean, so Aunt Moxin ordered it to be sent out temporarily. ”

As he spoke, Mo Xin had already greeted him. Ruyi said: "Is your little master awake?" ”

Mo Xin didn't see anyone come to visit for a long time, so she personally moved a chair and said, "Awake, the little master sits first, and the slave serves tea to someone." ”

When the tea was handed over, she knew that it was the old tea, and Ruyi didn't want to drink it anymore, so she said: "It's so cold in the palace, I'm afraid the concubine's body can't stand it, right?" ”

One sentence caused Moxin's tears to fall: "The imperial doctor always said that charcoal gas will smoke the little master, which is not conducive to the health of the jade body." The Internal Affairs Office takes care of everything, but the little master is afraid of the cold, so he refuses to take care of it. ”

Before Mo Xin finished speaking, Xiyue, who had her back turned inward, struggled to prop up her body, and said with a sneer: "It's been a long time, but you actually came to see me." ”

Mo Xin hurriedly put a goose feather cushion behind Xi Yue, and put on a thick coat for her: "Little master, get up slowly, be dizzy carefully." ”

Ruyi saw that Xiyue's eyes were deeply sunken, haggard and withered, so thin that she was out of shape, just like a withered bamboo in winter, and it would be broken with a light touch. Xiyue gasped, and the whole person was embedded in the heavy curtains, as thin as a shadow, as if she couldn't even bear the coat draped over her shoulders. Ruyi sat down on the edge of her bed and asked, "Do you feel better?" ”

Xi Yue's face froze, and she didn't want to pretend: "Since you are here, I naturally know that I can't get better." She said sadly, "I've come to this point, I just want to see the emperor, but the emperor refuses?" ”

Ruyi smiled: "The emperor is busy with state affairs. ”

Xi Yue hung her head suddenly, as if she was extremely discouraged: "This kind of thing, you just coax others, what's the point of saying this to me." If the emperor is busy, how can he still have time to pamper Concubine Jia and Concubine Shu, and have another child with Concubine Chun? It's just that he doesn't want to see me, so he prevaricates. ”

Ruyi looked at her and smiled indifferently: "You have been sick for many years and have not been out of the palace, but you have lived more and more transparently." ”

Xiyue seemed to want to laugh, but her face twitched slightly, and she couldn't squeeze out a smile for a long time: "People are dying, what else can't be seen." I know that I was born in the Han Army Banner, and I can't compare to you and the queen. Therefore, as a side Fujin, enjoying the emperor's favor, I always feel panicked in my heart. Even if the emperor raises the flag and seals the concubine, it is different in the end. I understood my identity, and I had no children to rely on, so I followed the queen wholeheartedly, before and after the saddle, and never dared to have two hearts. The queen mother was so enveloped by me, and now she is also abandoned, and she turned her head to hold Concubine Jia. She smiled suddenly, "The queen and I did so many things to deal with you back then, if you brought it to Huangquan, you would also bring it, do you want to hear it?" ”

Ruyi pursed her lips gently and stared at her for a moment: "I don't want to." If you want to say it, tell it to the people who know best. For me, these are useless. ”

Xi Yue clutched her chest and coughed repeatedly, and it took a long time to calm down, and she wondered, "You don't want to know this?" So you're coming to see what I'm doing? ”

Ruyi approached her lightly and didn't say anything: "What I tell you is naturally more important than what you want to tell me." ”

The suspicion in Xi Yue's eyes became heavier and heavier, and she waved her hand to signal the palace people to step back: "If you have anything to say, just say it." ”

Ruyi saw that on her thin wrist, the string of jade beads wrapped around the red golden lotus bracelet was quietly winding on it. The emerald color is so green, like clear water, it becomes more and more obvious that her wrists are yellow, and only the cyan tendons are high and protruding. Ruyi stretched out her hand, her fingertips falling on Xiyue's dry skin, slowly swimming over her thin wrist. Xiyuehu looked at her suspiciously and uneasily, but she didn't know what she wanted to do, and saw that the skin on her arm was full of frightened particles, but she didn't dare to retract her hand, but asked tremblingly, "What are you going to do?" ”

Ruyi smiled lightly and felt pity: "Such a good skin, everyone used to want to touch it when they saw it, no wonder you have been spoiled for so many years." But now, there is this day. As she spoke, she wanted to take off the lotus bracelet on Xi Yue's wrist, but Xi Yue was startled and hurriedly protected and puzzled: "What are you going to do?" ”

Ruyi didn't pay attention to it, took it off and shook it in her hand: "Everyone is like this, what do you do with a string of bracelets?" She reached out and took the small scissors on the dressing table, Huo Ran cut it, took off one of the jade beads, and slammed it on the ground. Where the jade shattered, a black bead the size of a small fingernail fell out. Ruyi held it up with a handkerchief, sent it to Xiyue's nose, and asked, "Is it fragrant?" ”

Xi Yue looked shocked, stared straight at the black bead and said, "What is this?" ”

"You and I have followed the emperor for many years, and I have never been pregnant, all because of such good things." Ruyi's expression was slightly cold as autumn frost, "Such a good thing, except for the queen, we don't even know it." This is the best tonka! Produced in the southwest, it can hurt people's blood and cut off the tonka that women give birth to! ”

Xi Yue was shocked and panting, she pushed away that thing in disgust, hating and doubting: "You know, why are you still wearing it?" ”

Ruyi took off her bracelet and said to the light: "I have a little better luck than you, once I accidentally broke the jade beads and fell out of the dirty things in them to find out the trick." Now the bracelet I am wearing, the tonka pills in the jade beads are all clean. She looked sad, "It's just that I still haven't had children for so long, and Anzhi has already been hurt by this thing, and he can't have children anymore." ”

Xi Yue mourned, covering her lips to suppress her almost hoarse cry: "Why? Why are you treating me like this? I have been faithful to her for so many years, I listen to her in everything, I want to do everything before her, why did she cut off the child I wanted the most? ”

Ruyi's eyes flashed with tears, and she said coldly: "She is the queen, and life and death are in her hands." And you are just a tool worthy of being used by her but unable to have children. When she gave the bracelets to the two of us, the idea had already grown. It's hard for us to drink a bowl of fetal medicine, and we always complain that the medicine stone is ineffective, how could I have thought that it was already impossible to give birth! ”

Xi Yue clutched the wrinkled brocade shirt tightly on her chest, and said sharply: "Okay, good!" Since you have made me understand my death, I will definitely not fail you! The two of us have been fighting for half our lives, fighting for favor and fame, not because we want to fight, but because anyone who reaches this position will fight. But today, the grievances between us are slowly being counted! There was a fierce light in her eyes, like a bloodthirsty female beast, "In this life, I am most looking forward to a child of my own, and whoever wants to break my mind is my enemy!" She looked up to the sky and smiled, hiding the tears on her cheeks, and remained silent.

Ruyi sighed lightly, and smiled again: "The hands and feet of the jade bracelet should be made by the queen." So guess again, why Qilu has treated you for so long, but your body is getting worse and worse? As far as I know, your physique is qi deficiency and blood stasis, but I asked people to check the prescription prescribed to you by Qi Lu, and taking the medicine according to that prescription will slow down the symptoms on the surface, but in fact, it will hurt your vitality greatly. ”

Xi Yue clutched the horn and said, "No!" That prescription has been seen by all the doctors in the Tai Hospital! ”

Ruyi chuckled: "So, who can tell Qilu to treat you more and more, and the whole hospital has diagnosed your pulse, but it is the same tongue that says the same sentence?" I don't think that person must have known that the queen would also prevent you from giving birth to a child. Otherwise, there would be no need for such effort. ”

Xi Yue's eyes widened, her gaze was almost devouring, and she stared at Ruyi: "You mean...... You mean? She shouted bitterly, "I want to see the emperor!" I want to see the emperor! ”

Ruyi put her hand on the back of her hand soothingly, and smiled gently: "I will do what you wish." ”