The queen watched her daughter step out, as if she could no longer support it, and suddenly sat down on the carved rosewood chair, letting the tears spread wantonly. Su Xinzheng walked in with the medicine, and saw the queen gasping for breath, her face was like gold paper, she panicked, and hurriedly put down the medicine cup to stroke the queen's chest and back. After a long tudling, the queen eased her breath. Su Xin saw that the queen was better, so she hurriedly handed over the medicine cup, and persuaded with tears: "The queen mother is naturally reluctant to give up the princess, in fact, why don't you open up and tell the princess to know?" Half of this is half of it, the mother is uncomfortable, and the princess can't understand your hard work. ”

The queen slowly drank a pill with Su Xin's hand, and then she mustered up half of her strength and said: "Bengong didn't want to tell Jing Se, but she was still young, and she couldn't listen to some words, and when she heard it, she was afraid that she would refuse to marry." The queen glanced at Su Xin and looked miserable, "You have been with the palace these days, don't you know what the body of the palace is like?" ”

Su Xin was stunned, tears poured out from her eyes for a long time, she knew that crying was unlucky, and she hurriedly wiped her tears and smiled: "The queen mother is blessed for a long time, and she will definitely get better." ”

The queen stared at her for a moment, couldn't help but smile bitterly, stroked her chest and said weakly: "You don't have to coax this palace, this palace itself knows that if it weren't for Mrs. Qi's heavy medicine all the time, this palace would not even have the strength to walk out of the palace gate." One day, if the palace is gone, Jing Se is lonely, and she is so arrogant, even if she wants to marry, won't she suffer the secret losses of those people, and she will not be able to fall into a good family. It is better to take advantage of the fact that the palace still has a breath, arrange a good home for her, and also sell the queen mother's favor, so that the queen mother can be a little kind to the daughter of the palace in the future to see the painstaking efforts of the palace to protect the eldest princess Roushu today. ”

Su Xin saw that the queen was short of breath and weak even when she said these words, and she was still so exhausted, she couldn't help crying: "The queen mother usually says that she loves the two elder brothers the most, and she has never treated the princess well, in fact, you don't know how much you love the princess in your heart." ”

The queen was full of sorrow, and said sadly: "Although Jing Se is only a daughter, she was born in October when she was pregnant in this palace. The palace is not angry, and it can't keep the prince, and the foundation and prosperity of the Fucha clan in the future will be half by their own fame, and half by Jingse. After all, it is not good for the palace, Su Rili has never been attentive to Jing Se, but when she is over, she has to marry far away to preserve the glory of the Fucha clan. The more she spoke, the more sad she became, her breath was as rapid as the surging waves, she grabbed Su Xin's hand and said sadly, "Su Xin, the son of this palace can't be saved, and the daughter has to marry far away, is this the retribution of this palace, is this the wrong palace!" But this palace has done so much, just to prevent the people who should be guarded, to ask for what this palace wants, and has not killed people and set fire to the heavens, what is it for? For what? The queen was like digging out her lungs, her eyes protruding like a nucleus, staring straight at Su Xin.

Su Xin heard the words "murder and arson", her face was as white as death, and she hurriedly comforted: "Niangniang has really never done it, don't think about it too much, hurry up and rest." As if to suppress the panic that could not be concealed at this time, Su Xin's fingertips were cold for a while, where could he hold the queen's crumbling body, and shouted outward, "Lotus Heart!" Come on in! Come in and help your mother! ”

Lian Xinben waited outside the door, listening to the movement in the hall, clenching her fingers tightly, letting the sharp nails poke into the flesh to resist the unbearable memories of her past evoked in the queen's questioning.

It wasn't until Su Xin called out in a hurry that she forced herself to settle down, and hurried in as humble and respectful as before. Lianxin was about to help reach out to support the queen, but she saw that the queen's breath was weak, her body leaned steeply, and she had already fainted. Su Xin was so frightened that he was scattered, where could he take care of anything else, Yibi and Lianxin helped the queen to lie down, and Yibi ordered Zhao Yitai to call the imperial doctor.

The Queen Mother sat in the annex, holding the holy decree and looking at it many times, the smile in the corner of her eyes became thicker and thicker, like a golden chrysanthemum, splashing and blooming with infinite joy and relief. Concubine Mei knelt on the side of the red sandalwood step, took the ivory mallet and gently tapped the calf for the Queen Mother, and said with a crisp smile: "The Queen Mother has been reading this holy decree for a night, isn't it enough?" ”

Fujia came up to add tea, and said with a smile: "The Queen Mother has been hanging for many years, and she can finally let go." ”

The Queen Mother took a sip of tea with satisfaction: "Thanks to Concubine Mei and Concubine Shu's competition, I have been blowing in front of the emperor for the past few days." She pursed the corners of her lips, "Fujia, what did you add to this tea, why is it so sweet?" ”

Fu Jia smiled from ear to ear: "Isn't it just an ordinary white silver needle, where is there something?" couldn't stand the sweetness of the queen mother's heart, so the tea entrance became sweet. ”

Concubine Mei straightened the roses on her sideburns and said with a smile: "Isn't it?" The concubines have never been so happy to see the queen mother. The smile on the Queen Mother's lips shone like the lake-blue golden silk cloud crane beaded robe on her body: "Before the first emperor died, he was so sick that he couldn't make decisions about everything. In order to ensure that all the Mongolian tribes were safe after the new emperor ascended the throne, Duan Shu of the mourning family married the Dzungar department, which had the strongest military strength, in order to seek stability. Now that there is only one daughter left in the mourning family, Rou Shu, it is of course the best to marry her. ”

Fu Jia smiled and sighed: "Although the squire of the Li Fan Court is not an important official position, but in the end it is still decent, even if the forehead is an errand, the princess can always be filial piety in front of the queen mother, which is also excellent." ”

Concubine Mei raised the corners of her charming and slender eyes, and said softly: "Concubine Xian...... It's a lot of dedication. ”

The Queen Mother glanced at her and sighed comfortably: "Yes." If she hadn't thought of the benefits of retreating and marrying Mongolia, the emperor might not have listened to it, so he did the opposite. In this matter, the mourning family remembered the benefits of Xian Guifei. Naturally, the queen is also sensible. It was also thanks to Qilu to tell the queen of the mourning family that she was seriously ill, so that the mourning family could persuade the queen to accept this marriage. ”

Concubine Mei smiled coldly: "For the queen, I want the princess to have a backer for her mother-in-law." In fact, she is the most impenetrable, the Queen Mother's heart is like a mirror, and her children are by her side, which is much more important than anything else. ”

The Queen Mother sighed, stroked the jasper seven-treasure glass bracelet on her wrist and said, "The queen is still young after all."

There are many things she doesn't understand yet, but I'm afraid she won't have time to understand them in the future. Does the emperor know about her illness? ”

Concubine Mei thought for a moment and said: "Although Qilu is a person around the emperor, he has always been the most slippery and old-fashioned, and he has always been left and right. Although the queen's illness has been kept secret, I am afraid that the emperor also knows something vaguely, so the royal driver ordered that he will prepare to return to Luan tomorrow. ”

The Queen Mother was silent for a moment, looked at the wisp of cigarette smoke curling on the small table, squinted her eyes slightly, and said: "Although the outside is good, it is not as comfortable as the palace." After staying in the place all my life, I still want to return to Luan as soon as possible. By the way, Concubine Shu originally said that she was going to come with you, why hasn't she come here at this hour. ”

Fu Jia hurriedly said: "Concubine Shu has come to the place, saying that she is preparing for the bed, so she won't come." ”

The smile on Concubine Mei's lips turned into a wisp of disdain: "It's still early to bed, I can't say it at this time, and it's very perfunctory." ”

The Queen Mother smiled slightly, and was very clear about these jealous things: "When Concubine Shu was with the mourning family, she was not as long as you, so she was naturally not as filial as you." Okay, it's not too early, so you can go back first. ”

Only then did Concubine Mei get up and leave. Fujia watched her go out and said in a low voice: "Speaking of which, Concubine Mei's filial piety to the Queen Mother is more than that of Concubine Shu." ”

The smile on the corner of the Queen Mother's lips gradually faded: "You can see it too?" ”

Fujia groaned slightly: "The slave and maid looked at it coldly, Shu Concubine's heart for the emperor is much heavier than for the queen mother, such a person stays by the emperor's side, and is so favored......"

The Queen Mother flicked her nails with a smile: "The emperor's romantic talent is to attract women." Concubine Shu's heart is good in the emperor, and only with a little sincerity can she achieve things. The emperor has not been affectionate with his parents since he was a child, and he is also cold in the relationship between husband and wife, but he knows the warmth and coldness in his heart, so he sees the benefits of Shu Concubine in his heart, so he treats each other more extraordinarily. Look at Concubine Mei's grace, in the end it is not as good as Concubine Shu. ”

Fujia was still a little worried: "Then the Queen Mother is not afraid of ......"

"Afraid?" The Queen Mother sneered disdainfully, "Although the emperor loves Concubine Shu, what did he do to Concubine Shu, does he really know nothing about the mourning family?" Shu Concubine's temperament is strong, if she knows about the initiation of madness in the future, she may not know what she will do in the future. ”

The night is dark.

The night in Jinan, no matter how you look at it, is faintly blue and black, and the stars are as bright as diamonds, as if the sky is full of brightness and brilliance. Unlike the night in the capital, no matter how you look at it, it is inky black at hand, as if it will be pressed on the heavenly spirit cover at any time.

When the queen woke up, it was already the middle of the night, and several imperial doctors knelt outside the plain yarn twisted gold thread banana screen and waited, listening to the queen's awakening movement, before daring to come in and ask for a pulse. The queen was a little dazed, but when she opened her eyes, she saw that the emperor was also by her side, and hurriedly smiled and got up to say goodbye: "The emperor is blessed, why is the emperor here?" She tried her best to hide her haggard and fragmented face in her sleep, "Su Xin, what time is it?" ”

Su Xin hurriedly replied: "Back to the queen's mother, it's two o'clock in the morning." ”

The emperor hurriedly held her down and said softly: "Don't struggle to get up, you are sweating profusely." After that, he took the silk and wiped the sweat beads on the queen's forehead, "I originally announced that Shu Concubine was going to bed, but somehow, I always thought of you and Jing Se, and I felt uneasy when I thought about it, so I came to see you." Who knew that you had been groggily asleep, with words in your mouth. The Emperor's tone became softer, "What's the matter?" But what did you dream about? ”

The queen hurriedly smiled: "No wonder the concubine always feels that she is talking to someone, her mouth is dry, she is talking in her sleep." She thought about it carefully, "Actually, this dream concubine has done it several times, and the emperor also knows about it." ”

The emperor thought for a while, stroked the back of the queen's green muscles and said, "The queen dreamed of Bixia Yuanjun again?" ”

A thin layer of glow flushed appeared on the queen's pale face: "Since this eastern tour, the concubines have been dreaming that Bixia Yuanjun summoned the concubines in their sleep. Therefore, when the concubines and the emperor sacrificed Mount Tai, they deliberately made a wish to Bixia Yuanjun Temple. But now that the concubine has left Mount Tai, for some reason, Bixia Yuanjun is still repeatedly summoned in his dreams. ”

The emperor was relieved: "Folklore has that Bixia Yuanjun has great magical powers, especially so that women can give birth to children, and the mother and child are safe. I know that the queen still wants to add a prince to me, so I sincerely pray with the queen in Mount Tai, and I hope that Bixia Yuanjun will appear. Since the queen has repeatedly dreamed of the summons of Bixia Yuanjun, it seems that the wishes of me and the queen will be fulfilled. ”

Since the emperor said this, how could anyone around him not flatter, even Qi Lu couldn't help but say: "As long as the queen mother takes care of it and the phoenix body is fine, she will definitely get her wish." ”

The queen knew that she had already become a hollowed-out rotten wood, but she still looked bright on the outside, how could this wish come true? It's just in front of the emperor, and he can only force a smile: "In this case, the emperor might as well ask Qin Tianjian to take a look again, if it is possible, the concubine wants to go to the Bixia Yuanjun Temple again to beg, hoping that God will have mercy and realize the wish of the emperor and the concubine." ”

The emperor hesitated slightly: "Empress, the imperial doctor has already diagnosed and treated you, saying that you are unwell." It's also not good for me, these days I only care about cruising, which makes you tired. I have instructed us to return to Luan tomorrow afternoon, and we must also return to Beijing to discuss Jing Se's marriage. ”

The queen's heart was sour, afraid that the emperor would see her illness, and said uneasily: "Your Majesty, the concubine is fine."

Concubine ......"

The emperor folded the quilt for her and said softly: "Empress, you can lie down and rest." Lotus Heart has prepared some snacks for me in the front hall, I will use some, and then come in to see you. With that, he led the Imperial Physician to the front hall.

There are four-color delicate snacks on the table in the front hall, all of which are famous products of Shandong. The emperor had no intention of moving, so he only said gloomily: "Is the queen's body already so bad?" ”

Qilu led the imperial doctors to kneel on the ground, and did not dare to answer for a while, thinking for a long time and said: "The queen mother should be strong, and she is dedicated to tonifying and improving her qi, which is a hundred times more energetic, but ......" A imperial doctor behind him said timidly: "But the queen mother is too careful, in fact, most of it is heart disease...... The ministers were cured, but they couldn't be cured. After the doctors finished speaking, they kowtowed again and again to ask for sin: "The emperor forgives the sin, the emperor forgives the sin." ”

The emperor's face was filled with indescribable gloom. Li Yu whispered: "Your Majesty, the imperial doctors are also doing their best. Do you still remember that before the Eastern Tour left the palace, you didn't want the queen to accompany you, because Qin Tianjian once played after the death of the seventh elder brother, 'The guest star sees the palace and occupies the middle palace'. At that time, there was a 'guest star' that appeared from time to time in the six stars called the Imperial Palace, which was due to the great difference in the heavens, and Qin Tianjian thought that this indicated that the Middle Palace would be in trouble. ”

It's also a lot better. This time, there is a marriage to Mongolia, as long as you try your best to heal, the queen will definitely get better. He said that, but saw Jinzhong come in and said: "Your Majesty, the nobles heard that you were worried and sad, so they waited outside the palace and wanted to see the emperor." ”

Without thinking, the emperor said, "You all stay and take good care of the empress." Li Yu, go to the Pavilion of the Nobles. ”

After Yinwan proclaimed herself a nobleman, although the emperor was also favored, it was a little inferior to the first time she was favored, naturally for the sake of the bird's nest fine powder and the sweet white glaze that day. Although Yin Wan was worried and taught herself in every way to please the emperor, she was always a little weak-hearted. At this moment, the emperor would rather go to see her than stay in the queen's palace, Li Yu naturally knew the stakes, and hurriedly agreed to serve the emperor. The queen stood behind the screen in her clothes, seeing the emperor leaving, her body was weak, she leaned on Su Xin's arms, tears rolled down, and she said distractedly: "I have a doctor, but I can't heal my heart...... If you get a doctor, you can't ...... you're healed."

On the eighth day of the first month of March, the emperor returned to Luan with the Empress Dowager. The queen's illness has been rapid and slow, and people have also woken up from time to time.

Although he could still get up, he lost a lot of weight, and he couldn't even accompany the emperor for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

On this day, March 11, the royal drove to Texas, abandoned the car and boarded the boat, and returned to Beijing by water along the canal. The queen drove all the way to the dust, extremely difficult, suddenly arrived at the water boat, saw the light red and green on both sides of the river, more than ten miles endlessly, wiped out the soft color like smoke, faintly had a sense of spring, and there was a little joy in the heart, so she supported her body and had dinner with the emperor and the concubines.

The emperor saw that the queen could get up to eat, and his heart was very comforted, so he sent the concubines away first, and specially accompanied the queen to talk for a while before asking someone to send the queen back to the Qingque boat, and instructed Li Yu to summon Ruyi to the dragon boat to enjoy the famous painting "Double Happiness" of Cui Bai in the Song Dynasty presented by the governor of Shandong in the daytime.

The emperor's dragon boat was followed by the queen mother's Zhai Feng boat, and then the queen's green bird boat, followed by the concubines' magpie Dengmei color boat. The queen mother is happy to worship the Buddha, the concubines have a boat behind the stern of the boat to worship the Buddha statue scriptures, the queen mother carried the blessing and the boat palace people all went to burn incense and pray. The queen took Su Xin and Lianxin's hands back to the green finch boat, but when she saw the picturesque moonlight on both sides of the strait, she was also interested for a while, standing at the stern of the boat, looking at the willow green in the night, the breeze and the full moon, and it was also quite touching, so she greedily looked at it and said: "The moonlight is so good today, I haven't seen such a clear moonlight in this palace for a long time." ”

Lian Xin hurriedly persuaded: "Queen Mother, your phoenix body is just a little better, so if you catch the wind carefully, let's go in." ”

Su Xin quietly waved her hand and said, "Niangniang, this is really good." It's a bit windy here, so let's go pick up the big piece and give it to the mother. When she saw that the queen had agreed, she smiled respectfully, "Niangniang, stand here, and the slaves and maids will come quickly." ”

Lianxin also pushed the boat along the water and said, "It's okay, then let's get some hot tea." Then they hurried away.

The queen was watching the moonlight clear as promised, like a milk-colored soft yarn sliding lightly, only to hear that the boat was followed by Su Luyun's boat, and there was a faint woman on the boat who laughed like a silver bell. She recognized the voices, and when she listened closely, they were Rui Ji, Hailan, and Lu Yun.

Although the queen is not as full of poetry as Xiyue and Ruyi, she can listen to this healthy and joyful laughter, and somehow remember a poem she read by chance before: "Yulou sings in the middle of the day, and the wind sends the palace concubines to laugh and talk." The shadow of the moon hall leaked at night, and the crystal curtain rolled close to the autumn river. ”

Others laughed and laughed, but he was sick and struggling, lonely. The queen's heart became more and more tormented, and she was about to scold, but she heard Rui Ji's voice was extremely bright, and she couldn't hide as if she couldn't hide: "Before the Eastern Tour, Qin Tianjian once reported that 'the guest star sees the rich and occupies the middle wealth', thinking that it is a sign that the queen's mother will report to the Qin Tianjian before the tour that 'the guest star sees the palace and occupies a glimpse of the middle palace', thinking that it is a sign that the queen's mother will be in trouble." Now it seems that the queen mother is seriously ill, and it turns out that she responded to this celestial phenomenon. ”

Hailan's voice was low and earnest: "The queen is sick and should respond to the celestial phenomenon, but how did I hear that it was the death of the seventh elder brother of Ying Zhao." It's really pitiful, such a little child, with a pox epidemic, said he would go. ”

Lu Yun chanted the Buddha again and again: "Amitabha, fortunately, there was a pox epidemic, but one of the seven elder brothers was killed, and the other elder brothers and princesses were safe and sound, and they can be regarded as blessed by gods and Buddhas." ”

Rui Ji looked at Lu Yun, as if she was concerned, but also pitiful: "The pure concubine is too good." A few days ago, I came to talk to my sister, but I saw that the only sister sent from outside was two horses short, but my sister didn't fight or ask, and they were easy to bully. Later, Concubine Jia couldn't see it, so she took her own supplement. ”

Hailanqi said: "There is such a thing? My sister has a lot of children, so I should have been more compassionate, but who knows that it is always short. It's all because my sister is too cowardly. ”

Lu Yun was a little embarrassed: "It's just someone else, doesn't Sister Yu know about me?" As long as my brother is safe, I don't bother to pay attention to other things. Besides......" she muttered slightly, "the queen is also pitiful, she lost her beloved son, married her only daughter in her illness, where can she take care of our little things." That's it. ”

Rui Ji's smile was mysterious, and she said, "Poor? What's pitiful? Haven't the two sisters heard of a saying? ”

Lu Yun was curious: "What? ”

Concubine Mei smiled very heartily: "It's just a report and a report!" Whatever sins you have done for your mother, you will be rewarded for your child! The second elder brother and the seventh elder brother are both healthy and good children, how could they all die early! We don't know anything about the bottom line, and we only see the results of many things, but we don't see them. ”

Lu Yun's face turned slightly pale with fright, and she hurriedly stood up subconsciously and said, "Concubine Mei, you are still young, don't be so open-mouthed, if the queen mother hears it......"

Rui Ji pursed her scarlet lips and lowered her head to play with her three-inch nails like shallots: "Where did you hear this?" Isn't the queen worried about her dead son, and what is she doing with the ears of God erected here for us? ”

Hearing her say this, Hailan hurriedly laughed and said, "Concubine Mei is a cool person, what do you have to say." After that, he went to press the green yun again, "Sister Guifei is also careful." By the way, I have something to ask my sister, last time my sister said which doctor is very good at regulating gynecology, Concubine Mei is not very old, and the monthly letter always causes her to suffer, if my sister knows that it is good, please come and take a look at Sister Mei. ’

With these words, it is inevitable that Concubine Mei also felt red in her eyes, and said sadly: "Since my poor child passed away, my body has been sick, and in the past year, it has been worse than January, and now I can't serve the emperor well, although I have a concubine, my grace is not as good as before." She glanced at a burnt blue golden bee dotted with emerald rose beads on the hairpin of Hailan's sideburns, and couldn't help but be a little sour, "Sister Chun Guifei and Sister Concubine Yu both got the six pairs of bead flowers that the emperor personally appreciated on Qixi Festival last year, Sister Guifei is hydrangea, and Sister Yufei is gardenia, this is also what it should be, who called the two sisters have a brother." Now even Shu Concubine, who is much younger than me, has earned her face and got the pearl flower of the true pearl orchid, I ...... in my heart."

Lu Yun hurriedly said: "Speaking of which, I don't really like these flowers, and I don't wear them much. If you like it, I'll take two pairs and give them to you, how about it?"

Hailan knew that Rui Ji was lost, and hurriedly persuaded: "You don't know me, I am just such a fifth elder brother in this life, and some rewards are also occasionally given by the emperor." Sister Chun Guifei is also focused on the two elder brothers. You are still young, and if you take care of it properly, you will have children sooner or later. ”

Lu Yunzi has a lot of breath, and it is inevitable that his heart will be moved when he hears such words, and the three of them whisper in the boudoir secretly, which is another big talk.

In the night breeze over there, the queen was word-for-word, and all of them fell into her ears, and the five words "one report and one report" were almost like nails on her heart, and the pain was as if she was digging her lungs out of her heart. The sharp pain came over the mountains and seas, and the queen couldn't turn around in one breath, only feeling that countless faces were turning in front of her eyes, turning the heavens and the earth upside down, and she didn't know where she was.

The queen only felt that it was extremely difficult to breathe in and out of her chest, and she was about to call for help, when her feet suddenly slipped, and the bottom of the flower pot under her feet was completely uncontrollable. The boat was not as stable as the flat bottom, and the queen's body staggered, and before she had time to exclaim, she "plopped" from the stern and fell into the icy river.