Ruyi thanked her and took it. When I got closer, I saw a pair of eyelids slightly swollen and foaming under her carefully applied fat foundation, thinking that she had cried. Ruyi understood in her heart, thinking that although she was a little arrogant, she was pitiful now, so she felt a little pity: "Thank you." Seeing that it's about to rain, let's go back quickly. It's not good to get rainy. ”

Ah Ji suddenly laughed and said, "What are you afraid of when it rains, now Sister Lianxin is different from us, and some people feel distressed when it rains." ”

Ruyi said softly: "Ah Zhen, let's go back to the palace." ”

Ah Zhen took two steps, stopped and turned around and looked at Lianxin with a smile and said: "It is said that eunuchs will hurt people, looking at Sister Lianxin's dress today, it is indeed the prince's guild that hurts people." It's all the same. She leaned closer and laughed in a low voice, "But there is another benefit, my sister marries the princess, so she saves the trouble of having children and the worry of being a mother." That's a blessing that many people can't ask for. ”

Lian Xin's lips trembled with anger, and on her snow-white face, she saw a pair of bloodshot eyes staring at Ah Zhen with black and red, angry and sad, obviously angry to the extreme. After a long time, she finally spit out a sentence, and her tone was as cold as an ice pick: "This blessing is so good, I wish you to marry a father-in-law to eat, grow old, and never leave life and death." ”

Ah Jiu's eyes widened with anger, and he quickly couldn't help laughing and said: "Where can I compare with my sister, but our little lord is promoted, and he always wants to marry me to the imperial guard." I had to see my sister and my father-in-law, who had no children and no daughters, and they were together until they were old. ”

Ruyi was so angry that her chest seemed to be wrapped in a fire, and she shouted: "Ah Zhen, you shut up in this palace!" If you dare to be presumptuous, this palace will punish you severely! ”

Lianxin's eyes were full of tears, and she only gritted her teeth and endured it fiercely. Ruyi's scolding continued, only to hear the first voice behind him and said coldly: "What is going to be punished severely, if you make fun of it like this in the palace, you should be killed immediately!" ”

Ruyi heard the voice and knew that it was not good, so she hurriedly turned around, only to see Concubine Hui and Mo Xin standing by the vermilion gate wall that turned into the long street, her eyes were cold, staring at Ruyi, as if she wanted to dig out two transparent holes in her.

Ruyi hurriedly bent down and said, "Concubine Niangniang Wan'an." ”

Ah Ji couldn't help but be a little flustered, and hurriedly followed: "Concubine Niangniang Wan'an, Niangniang forgive your sins." ”

Concubine Hui snorted coldly, didn't look at her, and her tone was as cold as ice: "Forgiveness? Who is it that allows you to make a lot of noise and nonsense in the palace? To dare to say that there are no children and no daughters under the mantis gate (1) is simply a big rebellion! ”

Ruyi immediately came back to his senses, only to realize that Fang was in a hurry to avoid those gossips, and it turned out that he had turned into the Mantis Gate. The gate of the mantis was built in the palace, which was intended to take the strong fecundity of the insects, in order to pray that the royal family would have many sons and grandchildren, and the emperor would last forever. Ah Zhen is naturally rebellious to say this kind of "no children and no daughters" here, and I am even more afraid that it is poking at the mind of Concubine Hui, who has been begging for a son these days.

Ruyi hurriedly bent down and said: "Ah Ji was presumptuous for a while, his words were out of weight, and he asked the concubine Niangniang to forgive her sins." ”

Ah Ji was also really frightened, and hurriedly knelt down and said: "The noble concubine forgives her sins, and the slave is unintentional." ”

Lianxin glanced at the concubine and said in a low voice: "Wuxin can say such mean words, the slave maid is really unheard of." Everything was handed over to the concubine to dispose of, and the slave and maid retired first. ”

Mo Xin contained a hint of sarcasm and disgust: "The noble concubine Niangniang has to come to the Mantis Gate every morning and dusk to pray for the prosperity of the descendants of the Qing Dynasty, and you are too desperate!" What's more, Lianxin's marriage was approved by the emperor and queen herself, it was a marriage, it was a supreme glory, and you dared to make irresponsible remarks and ridicule? Wait for the concubine to tell the queen, and the queen will not spare you. ”

Ah Ji glanced at Ruyi as if asking for help, Ruyi shook her head helplessly, she really hated iron and steel. Ah Zhen had no choice but to kneel and kowtow in a proper manner: "The slave is so joking because she is familiar with Sister Lianxin, Niangniang forgives her sins!" ”

Concubine Hui was silent for a moment, pointed to the plaque on the door and said to Ah Zhen: "The ancestors of the Qing Dynasty are above, and the Mantis Gate is the most sacred place for the heirs in the palace. ”

The plaque with a blue background of the golden sea is written in three languages: Manchurian, Mongolian and Chinese. At this time, the sky was dark, and dark clouds rolled in from the sky, but a few lines of bright light like gold threads leaked out between the gaps in the clouds, falling on the mud gold frame of the plaque, the dazzling gold, almost fascinating people's eyes.

The concubine made a look, Shuangxi immediately understood, beckoned to take a little eunuch, and held down Ah Jiu, Mo Xin pulled out a silver hairpin on his head, and poked it into Ah Jiu's mouth without a head or face. Ah Jiu's face turned pale with fright, desperately dodging, and he kept begging for mercy. Mo Xin poked a few times but didn't get it, she was angry and hateful, and she couldn't help but put more force on her hand.

Ruyi hurriedly stopped in front of Ah Ji and said, "Stop! No matter how wrong Ah Ji is, he can't stab her like this. ”

Concubine Hui pulled her away and said contemptuously: "This palace hasn't asked you about the crime of lax discipline, and you dare to help her!" ”

Ruyi saw that Ah Ji dodged twice and didn't dodge, his lips had been pricked, and red blood was gurgling out, which looked very scary.

Ruyi hurriedly knelt down and said: "Ah Ji is at fault, but please forgive the concubine and let me take it back to the palace to discipline it slowly!" ”

Hui Guifei's carefully traced eyebrows and eyes revealed a cold cold light, which was not commensurate with her delicate and gentle face: "I just teach you and don't do it well." This palace is the position of the noble concubine, so I will discipline and discipline the subordinates for you. ”

Ruyi saw Ah Ji suffering, although she was angry that she didn't choose words to hurt Lian's heart, but she also felt sorry for the wound on her lips, and her heart became more and more anxious, so she had to bow her head and say: "No matter how Niang Niang punishes me and Ah Ji, I don't dare to complain." It's just the rules in the palace, you are not allowed to beat and scold the palace maids, and you are not allowed to hurt people without hurting your face. Ah Ji still has to be an errand in the palace, and no one looks good with injuries. Please also ask the concubine to be forgiving. ”

There was a muffled thunder in the sky, and the air was sticky like glue, like someone's hand on the chest, which made people breathless. The concubine smiled faintly, but her eyes were like broken ice: "Ah Zhen doesn't want to be embarrassed, you don't want to be embarrassed, but this palace wants it." Mo Xin, if you go back to the queen's mother, Ah Zhen is disrespectful and offended the ancestors, and the palace punishes her for thinking for six hours under the gate of the mantis, and no one is allowed to let her go until the hour! ”

Mo Xin proudly agreed, and the concubine said: "Shuangxi, stay here and watch her, and the palace will go back to rest first." ”

Shuangxi agreed loudly, and said to Ah Jiu with a smile: "Girl, now I am the only one with you." In six hours, our concubine Niangniang was already merciful. ”

The concubine glanced at her: "As for Concubine Xian, this palace will punish you to copy the "Buddha Mother Sutra" (2) a hundred times, and hand it over to the Baohua Hall to burn it before tonight to apologize." ”

Ruyi Nuonuo agreed, and only then did he get up when he saw her go away. Ah Ji came up on his knees in a panic, hugged Ruyi's leg and said, "The little master saves the slave and the maid, the little master saves the slave and the maid!" ”

The bluestone slabs and bricks on the long street are carved with auspicious patterns, where will it not hurt? To kneel there for six hours is to inflict a penalty on the knee. Ruyi was angry, hateful and distressed, her heart was as complicated as stirring the five flavors, and she didn't want to show it in front of Shuangxi, so she had to put aside her hand and said angrily: "You know now that you beg me, why do you have to make fun of people and dig up their scars when I tell you to shut up!" Now who do you want me to beg? The unscrupulous words hurt the face of the concubine, and it was the face of the queen and Wang Qin who humiliated Lian's heart, who else can save you now! Kneel down honestly. ”

Not far away, there was a faint sound of wind whirling close to the ground, and a strange smell of dust flew away in the wind. Dense rain clouds gathered and covered the sky, and with each gust of wind, large green leaves and flowers fell out of nowhere. Falling under the red wall and blue tiles, there was a faint gloomy smell.

The rain fell coldly, splashing the smell of dust and choking, Ruyi couldn't bear it even more when she looked at it, so she had to whisper to Shuangxi: "Shuangxi father-in-law, Ah Ji is kneeling here, it's just that it's going to rain, these two umbrellas will be left to you and Ah Ji, so as not to get drenched." ”

Shuangxi didn't smile and said, "Don't you dare to be." Concubine Niangniang, the slave has rough skin and thick meat, and is not afraid of rain. But Ah Zhen, since he is punished, he doesn't have to be taken care of like this. Could it be that one day her troublesome mouth dragged her to be beheaded, and you were afraid that the knife would cut her too quickly? Okay, please go back, you can't afford to be with the minions. ”

He said in a low voice: "The little master should go back, the hundred "Buddha Mother Sutras" can't be copied, I'm afraid that the concubine will blame it again." ”

In the dark sky, lightning and thunder roared, and the vigorous scorching thunder rolled almost against the scalp, and the wind with water vapor struck in gusts, blowing the corners of the skirt like wings. Ruyi was really helpless, so she had to shake her head and leave.

A cold storm violently knocked on the window lattice, and the smell of the earth, grass and trees being beaten by the rain penetrated the palace unscrupulously, and the flickering wind made the windows crackle, almost blowing out the four cloisonné enamel table lamps covered with white sarongs. Ruyi hurriedly protected the "Buddha Mother Sutra" that had already copied most of the "Buddha Mother Sutra" on the desk. I hurriedly hung up the wind hooks on the window one by one, and came over to study the ink and said: "This rain is falling in the afternoon, why is it not small at all?" ”

She saw that Ruyi was just copying with her eyebrows lowered, and said worriedly: "The slave and maid quietly went to see Ah Ji, and originally wanted to stuff two steamed buns for her." But Shuangxi took an umbrella and sat under the eaves of the palace gate to shelter from the rain, looking at her, and refused to let go at all. ”

Ruyi's pen trembled, and she wrote a crooked word, so she had to crumple it and throw it down: "You deserve it!" Several times asked her to pay attention to her mouth, but she didn't listen, she was strong, and her mouth was unforgiving. The more Ruyi said, the more hateful she became, "If you want to be top-notch in everything, you must have top-notch skills, so that you don't cover up and don't stop you, you deserve a long memory!" ”

I didn't dare to say any more, so I had to carefully add water and grind the ink. Ruyi was worried, and she was worried about Concubine Hui's instructions, knowing that she was not easy to deal with, so she had to copy carefully with her heart, for fear that she would find out a little fault. It was easy to only have a dozen times left, and she was not at ease, listening to the sound of the rain, it was like thousands of whips whipping the earth hard, pumping countless snow-white splashes. She listened attentively and sighed: "It is said that thunderstorms are easy to stop, why is this rain getting heavier and heavier?" ”

I knew that she was still worried about Ah Ji in her heart, so she said: "It's also God who loves to grind people, although it is hot in the morning, it rains but it is cold, Ah Ji kneels in the heavy rain, and I don't know what it is like when I come back?" ”

The rain knocked on the eaves tiles, startling the iron horses on the eaves, and Ruyi's heart became more and more irritable. She suppressed her worries and ordered: "My "Buddha Mother Sutra" here is almost finished, you wait and send it to Xianfu Palace to inform you, and then go to Baohua Hall to burn it." ”

He promised in his heart, knowing that Ruyi's words must not be finished, so he looked at Ruyi. Sure enough, Ruyi stared for a moment, and called into the Three Treasures: "How many hours has Ah Zhen been kneeling?" ”

Sanbao hurriedly said: "It's been more than four and almost five hours." ”

Ruyi nodded: "You go to the Tai Hospital and ask the Tai Doctor to come over, just say that I am not very relaxed." Then he was instructed to prepare some divergent medicines to dispel wind and cure cold. ”

Sanbao promised to go out quickly, and Ruyi instructed Green Mark again: "Go and boil more hot water, and Ah Zhen will come back and give her a hot bath to get rid of the cold." Then hold two thick quilts and cover her in her room. Also, ginger soup should be prepared. ”

Green Mark agreed repeatedly, and said with a smile: "The little master still feels sorry for Ah Zhen." ”

Ruyi shook her head: "She has followed me for all these years, so naturally there is no one who is not distressed." It's just that she's too uncompetitive. ”

After a while, Ruyi handed over the hundreds of "Buddha Mother Sutras" that had been written to Xinxin: "Go." When you return to Hui Guifei, I will go to do your errand. ”

After a few words of advice to the green mark and a few little palace maids, he withdrew.

Ruyi stood under the porch, watching Xin Xin go out with an umbrella, and the wet and heavy moisture around her passed through her clothes with a chill, as if she was going to soak her body together. The sky was as dark as late as night, and dozens of palace lamps in the courtyard under the corridor were fluttering in the rain, like ghost fires that flickered far and near, fluctuating. Ruyi stood in a cloak, watching the edges and corners of the palace gradually turn into dark but blurry thin silhouettes under the rain, and endless worries and confusion arose in her heart.

She was pondering when she saw a drenched man burst into the palace gate and fell to his knees in the rain from exhaustion.

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Notes: (1) Mantis Gate: Mantis Gate is the south gate of Xierchang Street, facing south and facing Baizimen in the north. The mantis is an insect that is fertile-producing and chirping. The allusion to the Mantis Gate comes from the "Book of Songs, Zhou Nan, Mantis", which describes the scene of the Mantis gathering in one place, many descendants, and the sound of insects. The street gate of the West Sixth Palace of the Imperial Palace is named Mantis, which is intended to pray for the royal family to have many sons and grandchildren, and the emperor will last forever.

(2) "Buddha Mother Sutra": also known as "Buddha Mother Great Peacock King Sutra", the content describes that Shadi Bi was broken by the public, stung by the black snake, unbearable pain, Ananda asked the Buddha for help, and the Buddha saved him by saying the curse of the Great Peacock King.