It was night, Ruyi stayed in the Palace of Nourishing Hearts. The emperor slept soundly, but she tossed and turned, but he took his hand and fell asleep. Oh, what a good sleep. She stared at the sleeping face of the person next to the pillow, the slightly curled arc of the corners of her mouth had a warm and seductive posture, and the new fine lines at the corners of her eyes could not hide his majestic face like a jade mountain. is really a handsome man, not disappointed by the years.

Her hands clasped tightly with him, silently sensing the passing of each other's years in his familiar palm prints. In the end, they have all changed. He is no longer a young man, but an emperor with a city; And she is no longer a pampered and willful lady, but a palace concubine who is good at scheming. But, no matter what, they are still a good match. Because of this matching, they will not be separated from each other for too long.

Ruyi thought about it attentively, and suddenly felt a little cold. She reached out and grabbed the brocade quilt tightly wrapped around her body, but at that moment she realized that it would be a better choice if she was close to a man with a warm body next to her, however, she still chose to protect herself, even if it was next to a man who had been close to her skin.

This kind of subconscious almost instantly forced her into a cold sweat. Yes, maybe in her heart, this man may not be able to protect herself. So who will it be, who will be able to protect themselves without hesitation in a dangerous situation. She pondered and searched carefully, and the only person she could think of was Ling Yunche.

The little guard, he had eyes as bright as stars in the dark sky. Even if you know, he has upward desires, but his eyes are not like the eyes of the men she has always seen, only blinded by desire and power.

Such a secret and unspeakable thought made her brave the cold in the warm and soft bedding. Suddenly, the emperor's moaning sounded in his sleep, and he whispered softly: "Lang, Lang......"

Ruyi carefully distinguished for a moment before remembering that it was the name of Empress Xiaoxian. In her memory, the emperor had never called the empress by her maiden name, he had always called her by her identity, "Fujin" or "Empress".

She watched the emperor shake his head painfully in his sleep, fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, and finally couldn't help but wake up the emperor and gently wiped the sweat for him: "Your Majesty, what's wrong with you?" ”

The Emperor sat up in shock, momentarily dazed, looking at everything that could be illuminated by the faint candlelight outside the tent, and his breath fluctuated.

Ruyi asked softly: "Your Majesty, are you having a nightmare?" ”

The emperor came to his senses, leaned on the pillow tiredly, shook his head, and said, "Ruyi, I dreamed of Empress Xiaoxian. She stood in front of my bed, and with tears on her face, she asked me who would replace her in the Changchun Palace in the future. She also kept asking me: Your Majesty, why haven't you called your concubine's maiden name for so long? Are you still suspicious of your concubines and resentful of your concubines? The Emperor bowed his head in despair, "In this case, the Empress also asked me on her deathbed." But I remembered her past mistakes and refused to call her 'Lang', so she chased after me and haunted me. ”

Ruyi looked at the emperor, her expression was light and gentle, and she had the power to calm people: "No one is perfect." Although Empress Xiaoxian has her mistakes, her heart for the emperor is irreplaceable. ”

The candle shadow shook the dark red Yeye, and the emperor's clear face was not real in the dark dormitory, and his deep eyes were like a pool of bottomless water. After a long time, the emperor breathed a long sigh of relief, called into Yuhu and said: "You go and tell Li Yu that I will pass on my will, Changchun Palace is the dormitory of Empress Xiaoxian during her lifetime, and I want to keep all the furnishings when Empress Xiaoxian lived, and all the utensils and clothes she used will be placed as they are." Then the East Pearl crown and the East Pearl Dynasty Pearl used by Empress Xiaoxian during her lifetime were enshrined in Changchun Palace. He pondered for a moment, and then said, "Wait, go and offer the portrait of Emperor Huixian's concubine there." Also, every year on the 25th day of the lunar month and the anniversary of death, I will go to pay my respects in person. Changchun Palace, I will not let other concubines live in it. ”

Yuhu agreed to retreat, Ruyi silently listened to the emperor's instructions, and her expression was quiet as usual: "If the emperor does this, Empress Xiaoxian will know and comfort her." The emperor can rest assured. ”

The emperor sighed gloomily: "I wrote a "Narrative of Sorrow" in memory of Empress Xiaoxian. In a few days, I will personally copy it and send it to the queen to be incinerated in front of the spirit, hoping that she will be able to reunite with Yonglian and Yongcong's mother and son under the nine springs, and she can be a little relieved. ”

The night breeze stirred the light veil of the hibiscus brocade tent like snow, the hollow silver thread beaded embroidery pattern on the tent was crystal clear, the red gold nine-dragon tent hook at the head of the bed made a slight noise in the shaking, and even the pearl in the dragon's mouth also emitted a cruising light. The Emperor lay down again and fell into a deep sleep. Ruyi looked at him, only to feel that there were countless threads lingering in her heart. In the end, he could only close his eyes and try to sleep.

This sleep was light, and when Ruyi woke up, the emperor was getting up and preparing to go to the court. Ruyi was no longer sleepy, so she simply got up and served the emperor, put on a dragon robe, and buttoned up the gold buttons. There was a faint inky blue under the emperor's eyes, Ruyi stood in front of him, just enough to reach his chin, only to feel that the warm breath on his cheeks between his breaths also had a sluggish meaning, and said softly: "The emperor didn't sleep well last night, and when he comes back, the concubine is waiting for the emperor with eucommia snow ginseng and red date soup." ”

The emperor said gently: "Let these things be left to the next person to do." You didn't sleep well last night, so let's go back to sleep. ”

Ruyi responded in a low voice, served the emperor and left, and then also went to the Yikun Palace in a soft sedan chair. The sky only revealed a pale white of fish belly in the distant sky in the east, and the rest of the vast sky was just a dark and dark place, which made it difficult to distinguish between gods and ghosts. Xinxin was by her side and asked quietly: "Little master, why did the emperor treat her only when Empress Xiaoxian was alive, and after she died, the emperor was so affectionate and never forgotten?" ”

Ruyi smiled faintly: "Sometimes people's affection is deep, not only for others to see, but also for themselves. If you have been in the play for too long and have been in the drama for too long, you will even believe in yourself. ”

He was a little dazed: "The little master's words, the slave and maid don't understand." ”

Ruyi took a long breath: "Why do you need to understand." You just need to know that he treats you well when you are alive, and it is really good. She stared for a moment, "Sorry, you're almost thirty, aren't you?" It is always said that you will be let out of the palace when you are twenty-five, but you are almost thirty years old. It's your birthday in September, so you can be released from the palace. ”

He smiled and said, "Yes." Life flies so fast, I could have left the palace when I was twenty-five years old, but I always felt that I couldn't do without the little master, and now I am almost thirty. ”

"When I first came out of the cold palace, you always said that you wanted to accompany me more, and now that you are thirty, you can go out of the palace and get married. Jiang Youbin is a very good candidate, I will tell the emperor and give you to marry. ”

With a flush on his face, he said sincerely: "But the slave maid still wants to serve the little master for a few more years." ”

Ruyi smiled: "Age waits for no one, a woman's good years are only a few years, don't let it down easily." If I don't marry you again, I don't know how much Jiang Youbin hates this palace behind his back. But then again, even if you get married, it doesn't hurt to enter the palace during the day and serve in class order, and leave the palace at night. I hope you get out of the palace well and live a stable life. ”

The heart was so excited that his eyes were full of tears, the two were talking, and as soon as the soft sedan car stopped, it turned out that they had arrived at the gate of Yikun Palace. Ruyi helped her hand get off the soft sedan chair, and Sanbao hurriedly greeted him and said, "The little master is back." The news delivered by Yanxi Palace, the little master of Concubine Yu entered the Queen Mother's Palace last night, and she has not come out until now. The attendant said that the little master of Concubine Yu knelt in the courtyard of Cining Palace all night, and the Queen Mother did not allow her to get up until now. ”

Ruyi's heart was cold, and she immediately asked, "Do others know about this news?" ”

Sanbao shook his head and said: "The people in Yanxi Palace are all personally trained by Concubine Yu, and they know how to measure proportions, and they only dare to hand the news to us, and no one else knows." ”

Ruyi thought for a moment and took a few steps forward: "Heart, I'm tired, go sleep for a while." ”

He promised to take over the untied Yunsi Yinluo cloak for her, and said, "Yes." The slave waited for the little master to fall asleep, and then went to ask the fifth elder brother to get up, and it was time to go to the study. ”

Ruyi took two steps, sighed slightly, and finally couldn't help but turn around: "Go to Cining Palace!" ”

When Ruyi rushed to the outside of Cining Palace, the sky was bright. The faint morning light sprinkled from the thick clouds, covering the golden and brilliant Cining Palace with an ambiguous and uncertain dusk. Ruyi stood for a moment and took a deep breath. This place, no matter how many times she came, always had an indescribable fear and reverence.

Yes, the Queen Mother once saved her and was her benefactor. But for the entire Wulanala clan, why is the Queen Mother not the enemy who single-handedly destroyed all their glory and dependence.

Enmity and enmity are intertwined, but they can't help the queen mother. That's true awe.

However, at this moment, Hailan was inside, although she didn't know what it was for, Ruyi felt faintly uneasy. Although the Queen Mother presides over the affairs of the Six Palaces, she has never interfered in small matters, and her majesty is also very gentle, and she rarely punishes kneeling overnight.

Therefore, the more she walked into Cining Palace, the heavier the anxiety in Ruyi's heart became. The little palace maids outside reported in layer by layer, and it was Fujia who came out, she was not surprised when she saw Ruyi, but said calmly as usual: "Niangniang sits slightly." The Queen Mother has already gotten up, and after dressing up, she can see her mother. ”

The Queen Mother loves seasonal flowers, and the emperor is extremely filial, so the Cining Palace is widely planted with precious flowers and trees, so that the Queen Mother smiles. Such as begonias, peonies, magnolias, spring and so on are all of the highest quality, and there is a "Yutang rich spring" good intentions. The flower room also specially allocated ten old gardeners to concentrate on taking care of the queen mother's favorite acacia flowers. Therefore, the Cining Palace is full of flowers, and the flowers will always bloom undefeated. It is also the night dew, dyed with flowers and plants, and it reveals a different kind of beauty.

Ruyi looked at the courtyard, except for the flowers and plants, only two cranes were napping under the plantains, and they were quiet, and there was no one kneeling. Ruyi became more and more worried, and asked in a low voice, "Auntie, where is Concubine Yu?" ”

Fu Jia smiled and lowered her hands and said: "Concubine Yu has a position and a child, how could the Queen Mother want her to be so embarrassed, and she will not kneel here if she wants to kneel." Otherwise, if it spreads, how else will Concubine Yu be a person? ”

Ruyi couldn't guess the Queen Mother's calculations, so she followed Fujia into the warm pavilion and sat down. Fujia pointed to a plate of lotus heart cake and a bowl of walnut cheese on the table and said: "This is the supper that the Queen Mother prepared for Niangniang last night, Niangniang didn't use it, it was already cold, the slave asked someone to withdraw, change some breakfast snacks." ”

Ruyi was surprised, but she could only smile quietly: "How does my aunt know that there is no breakfast in this palace?" ”

Fujia smiled: "How can the slave and maid know, it's just doing what the Queen Mother tells you to do." It's just that the mother didn't come last night, so it must be because she didn't know about the bedtime. If you return to the palace immediately after going to bed, then you will come when you know that this hour. Niangniang has always been like sisters with Concubine Yu, isn't it? ”

Ruyi secretly said that an aunt around the Queen Mother had become a crystal glass transparent person, not to mention the Queen Mother herself. Seeing that breakfast came up, she simply calmed down, used some milk tea and water chestnut cakes, and used a small bowl of chestnut porridge. Fujia smiled beside her and said: "The Queen Mother told her before going to bed, if Niangniang doesn't have the spirit of using things, she won't bother to talk to Niangniang." If the mother can still eat, then she can still have the heart to speak. ”

Ruyi's heart sank slightly, as if she was falling with something heavy, she still smiled: "Aunt Fujia, this palace is already full, even if the queen mother wants to pull this palace and Concubine Yu to be punished, this palace will also have the strength to support it." It's just that Concubine Yu ......."

Fujia didn't understand how to do it, and said with a smile: "Don't worry, Niangniang." The Queen Mother's punishment of kneeling is punishment of kneeling, and she will not be hungry for Concubine Yu. If Concubine Yu Niangniang can, she can doze off on her knees. ”

Answering like this, Ruyi could only be silent. After waiting for a stick of incense, I only heard the soft swaying sound of the bead curtain being raised, crisp and Lingling, like a drizzle. Through a curtain of broken jade beads, a woman's voice as clear as water came, as if it was also stained with the exquisite transparency of broken jade. The Queen Mother strolled out from behind the curtain: "The mourning family knows that Concubine Yu is punished for kneeling, and you will come sooner or later, because of this matter, you must be implicated." ”

Ruyi hurriedly got up and saluted, sincerely afraid: "The Queen Mother is blessed with Jin'an, and she is blessed with longevity and Kangning." ”

The Queen Mother waved her hand and said, "What is the blessing of the mourning family?" Folded two imperial grandsons in your hands at once, implicated the pure concubine, so that you can be alone. Such a good abacus is under the nose of the mourning family, and the mourning family can't see it if they want to close their eyes. ”

Ruyi maintained a respectful smile: "The queen mother's words, the concubines don't understand." ”

The Queen Mother watched the palace maids set up breakfast and retreated, smiled and took the tea from Fu Jia's hand to rinse her mouth, and then slowly scooped a bowl of bird's nest porridge and drank a few sips: "I don't understand? The mourners only need to look at who has benefited the most in this matter to guess who did it. Why, the pure concubine and you are both concubines, but now she can't get sick, you are alone, is there anything else to say? But fortunately, there are many heirs of pure concubines. In addition to Yongzhang being ignorant, the emperor doesn't like Yongzhang in the first place, and there are always Yongying and Jingyan. A person who has both children is more blessed than a mourner, and more blessed than you. ”

Ruyi couldn't hear the matter of the heir the most, and her heart suddenly stabbed, as if a sharp needle was caught off guard and forced out fine blood beads. She tried her best to support the smile on her face: "The blessing of the Queen Mother is naturally incomparable to anyone." It's just that what the Queen Mother said was nothing more than that she felt that the concubines had calculated Yonghuang and Yongzhang. ”

The Queen Mother put down the bird's nest porridge, waved her hand and said, "Fujia, this porridge is too light, go and get some milk for the mourning family." ”

Fujia agreed, leading a group of palace maids to retreat, only Yu Ruyi and the Queen Mother faced each other quietly.

The Queen Mother wiped the corners of her lips with a silk, put it down casually, and turned her cold face: "Now that your mind is getting stronger and stronger, Yongzhang will stop, and even Yonghuang, who you raised, can start." Tiger poison doesn't eat children! The queen was depressed, and suddenly smiled, "The mourning family forgot, how can you ever have your own child in your belly?" Adopted son, naturally don't be too concerned. ”

Even though Ruyi has been practicing for many years, she can't stand such piercing words, she only feels that her face is hot, and she raises her head and says, "The Queen Mother is wrong." This time, even if the concubine calculated the two elder brothers, it was at most a reprimand. It can only be said that the concubine calculates the beginning, but also the end. The emperor's thunderous anger can cut off the road of the two elder brothers' princes, and even the queen mother will be surprised to raise the emperor for many years, how can the concubines calculate? ”

The Queen Mother narrowed her eyes slightly, and her expression was gloomy: "You mean, you and Concubine Yu are not wrong, but the emperor punished too much?" ”

The concubine didn't dare to say that. But the queen mother's heart is like a mirror, the emperor has been on the throne for 12 years, and she is no longer the new monarch who asked the relics of the first emperor about everything. He has his own ideas and opinions, and others can only obey them, not disobey them. Even old ministers like Zhang Tingyu and Gao Bin are like this, not to mention others. Ruyi looked at the Queen Mother, which was meaningful, "Perhaps in the eyes of the emperor, the grace of mother and son, the love of father and son, and the righteousness of husband and wife are not as important as the word monarch and minister!" ”

The Queen Mother's gaze wandered over her: "Is this your own speculation, or did the emperor tell you?" ”

Ruyi saw that the Queen Mother no longer touched breakfast, so she filled a bowl of beef bone marrow soup and respectfully handed it to the Queen Mother: "The emperor's heart is unpredictable, how can the concubines know, and the emperor will not tell the concubines anything." It's just that the Queen Mother has raised the emperor for many years, and she cares about the emperor's affairs, can't she see it? If the concubines really have any calculations, they will also fall into the word 'coincidence'. If there is a relationship with Concubine Yu, it is also accidental. The Queen Mother knows that Concubine Yu can no longer accept favor after giving birth to Yongqi, so she doesn't need to compete for favor and calculate. ”

The faint light of the sky penetrated thin from behind the heavy hanging curtains, and the Queen Mother sat on the couch with Guang Kuan on her back, and her clothes were spread out in an elegant arc under her feet. Behind her is the splendid April Blossom, the fragrance of flowers is full of floating light, but her face seems to be immersed in the shadow, and even the gold beads and jade eyes and Zhu Luo can embroidery all over her body have become a cold dead color. The Queen Mother looked at Ruyi's expression, and after a moment, she reached out to take the soup she handed over, and sipped slowly: "You know how to read the emperor more and more." It is also considered that you are interested, and you have admitted the matter of calculating Yonghuang and Yongzhang. Concubine Yu knelt all night, but she still refused to recruit anything to do with you. ”

Ruyi looked at the Queen Mother, with a faint sense of fear in her heart, but she still said: "This matter has nothing to do with Concubine Yu." And the Queen Mother is a person who has come over, and when she encounters such a thing, she naturally understands that she will not complain about how terrible the calculating person is, but pity the calculated person why it is so easy to be calculated. ”

The smile on the corner of the Queen Mother's lips became deeper and deeper, but her eyes were extremely faint and distant, as if she was always unattainable and elusive: "Your mind like this is becoming more and more like your aunt." She glanced behind the curtain, "Concubine Yu is kneeling outside the mourning family's dormitory, you can go and see for yourself." ”

Ruyi was worried about Hailan, and when she heard this, she hurriedly walked to the queen mother's bedroom, and saw Hailan kneeling on the ground, although her expression was pale and exhausted, she didn't see much torture.

When Hailan saw Ruyi, she couldn't help but burst into tears: "I heard everything my sister said. Why bother to clear things up with me, originally everything was done by me, and my sister never did it. ”

Ruyi motioned for her to be silent, helped her stand up with difficulty, rubbed her knees for her and said, "You sit down first, and I'll help you out later." Remember not to move, kneeling all night, your knees can't stand it. ”

Hailan nodded tearfully and sat down obediently. Ruyi turned to the warm pavilion outside the hall, knelt down and said: "The queen mother has mercy, and the concubine has it." ”

The Queen Mother said slowly: "Concubine Yu has no grace, what are you doing with these?" Her son gave you to be an adopted son, and naturally everything is for you. But there are many things that you just have in your heart, and you don't have to think about them. ”

Ruyi listened quietly, and her eyes only fell on the rosewood screen behind the Queen Mother, which was embroidered with flowers scattered by the Dunhuang Flying Fairies. Such dazzling gold and jade marks, gorgeous embroidery, clothes and ornaments, after looking at it for a long time, there is a blurry halo in front of me, as if leaving the world. Ruyi lowered his head in disagreement: "Everything is decided by the emperor and the queen mother, and the concubines don't dare to be delusional." ”

The Queen Mother smiled firmly and sighed: "Although these words are honest, they are also disrespectful. Is it impossible for the mourning family to be the master of the harem, and the emperor has to make a decision? ”

When Ruyi heard this, the fear in her heart decreased a little, and she chuckled: "The reason for this, the Queen Mother knows better than the concubines. ”

The Queen Mother restrained her smile and said lightly: "Aren't you afraid that the mourning family will tell the emperor about your calculation of Yonghuang and Yongzhang?" If you kill his own son, he will not tolerate you. ”

Ruyi's expression was as light as a cloud of smoke: "If you talk about calculation, who in the harem has not calculated?" The queen mother told the emperor one by one, which made him a loner. The Queen Mother was reluctant. ”

The Queen Mother sneered: "The mourning family is reluctant, it is the mourning family who has the final say." Since you are here, the mourning family can't help but punish you, but why punish you, the mourning family can't publicize it. Not for you, for royal face. This matter, the mourning family will keep it in mind, you can go. ”

Ruyi's heart was relieved, and she hurriedly said: "Thank you Queen Mother." Then Concubine Yu ......"

The Queen Mother didn't raise her eyelids: "You're gone, what do you want her to do with the mourning family, let's go together." ”

Ruyi was like an amnesty, and she was busy helping Hailan out of Cining Palace with Ye Xin. Hyland held her hand tightly, and walked very slowly, step by step. She stood on the tuyere, letting the big drops of tears slide down on the brocade clothes of Tianshuibi, and the bright flowers came out: "I thought my sister hated me and was vicious, and she would ignore me again." ”

Ruyi stared at her: "I said earlier, what's the difference between what you do and what I do?" If I don't forgive you, I don't forgive myself. I came up with the idea myself, but you reached out and did it. Do it absolutely or endlessly, it is not in you and me, but in the emperor. ”

Hailan's light sigh was like the wind blowing in her ears: "The year my sister came out of the cold palace, she told me that she would become more resolute and ruthless, leaving no room for it. But today, it seems that my sister is still a little involved. I've always thought that the emperor can abandon the love between father and son, why can't my sister do it? ”

Ruyi's tone was gloomy: "Because I have never walked to the place where the emperor stood." The height is unbearable, and what the emperor sees and feels is naturally different from what we see. ”

Hailan looked at Ruyi and brushed the gold-inlaid jade step that was blown by the wind and shook the falling jade butterfly wings fluorite beads on her wind-blown jade steps: "So I hope my sister can stand side by side with the emperor, and lean in all directions like the emperor, and make a decision." ”

Ruyi's smile was on her lips, and she refused to retreat for a long time: "This is my wish, and it is also the wish of the Ulanala clan." I know it's still a bit hard, but I'm going to try to do it. ”

Ye Xin hurriedly said: "Concubine Xian is busy taking care of the affairs of the six palaces these days, and rarely interacts with our little master, although our little master doesn't say it, but he is unhappy, and the slave can see it." ”

Hailan glanced at Ye Xin with disgust, and smiled with tears: "Actually, I've been thinking these days, if my sister keeps being separated from me, how far will our sisters be separated?" ”

Ruyi smiled: "Do you still think so?" ”

Hyland pondered for a moment: "Now I think, if our sisters don't even have a share of such a thing, what will they do for in the future?" ”

Ruyi smiled lightly: "Think about it, why don't you hurry back to the palace and treat your knees!" ”

Ruyi walked slowly on the long street with Hailan in her arms, and the Ming Huang sedan chair in the distance gradually approached, and walked towards Cining Palace quickly. Ruyi was slightly surprised, and hurriedly squatted down to greet him: "The emperor is blessed with Jin'an." ”

There was deep concern and worry on the emperor's face: "Came out of Cining Palace?" Did the Queen Mother embarrass you? ”

Ruyi didn't know what to do, and hurriedly said: "Didn't the emperor just go to court at this time?" How do you know that the concubine and Concubine Yu are in Cining Palace? ”

The emperor said: "The palace people around the Queen Mother came to spread the word, saying that you and Concubine Yu are being punished, and I just came down to the court, so I came to take a look." The Emperor took her hand and said gently, "It doesn't matter, does it? ”

The emperor's eyes were like a pool of dark jade-colored lakes, and only her reflection did not move. Ruyi's heart warmed slightly: "The emperor can rest assured, it's all right." ”

The emperor bowed slightly, and said softly: "You and Concubine Yu will go back first, and I am about to go to ask the emperor for peace." The two stepped aside, saw that the emperor had gone, and went back to the palace without mentioning it.