"Spare her?" The Empress Dowager smiled coldly, "What kind of forgiveness?" She killed almost all the princesses of Brother, how do you want me to spare her? ”

Xuan Ye lowered his eyes and said slowly: "Imperial grandmother, grandson promises not to let such a thing happen in the harem again, you look at grandson's face and forgive her." ”

The Empress Dowager let out a long sigh: "Xuan Ye, in fact, I don't interfere in many things now, can't you see it?" You have grown up, you are a monarch who stands up to the sky, the imperial grandmother just wants to live for the elderly, and does not want to be involved in the disputes of the imperial harem again, what decisions do you make in the future, you don't have to come to see the face of Cining Palace, the imperial grandmother will no longer stumble on you, you let go and do it, I will always leave you. ”

Xuan Ye frowned slightly, and Mama Su Mala was busy explaining: "Long live the master's consciousness, don't misinterpret it, your imperial grandmother's meaning is to agree." ”

"I understand." Xuan Ye smiled and took his grandmother's hand, just like when she was a child, "But the imperial grandmother should not say anything to me to leave." ”

The Empress Dowager smiled helplessly: "You, like Lan Qi, are both grinding people. ”

After serving his grandmother to sleep, the emperor withdrew from Cining Palace, and Mama Su Mala sent it to the door and whispered to the emperor: "When the matter came today, the slave didn't dare to report it to the master first, and only waited until she heard that the princesses were okay before reporting it. In addition, the slave and maid should not say these words, the slave and maid thought that although the emperor spared Concubine Wen, he could not act as if nothing had happened, and he should also give the sixth palace a wake-up call and suppress everyone. ”

"I remember." Xuan Ye happily responded, and said, "I am very relieved to have you by my side with the imperial grandmother, Lan Qi will be born in a few days, these days I am worried when I think of it from time to time, I dare to say to my grandmother, it is the first time I have such a mind in these years, and I don't know if it is the events of that year that scared me." ”

Mama knew that the emperor was afraid of the recurrence of the tragedy of Empress Hesheri, she had been ordered to accompany the lady on the day of the birth, and the empress dowager privately told her that if there was anything to protect the adult, at this moment she asked Xuan Ye softly: "The noble man must be closed by the ghost gate for a while, and the emperor must know in his heart." ”

Xuan Ye nodded: "Mama, as long as she is healthy, if anything happens, I will coax her well in the future, but I can't live without her." ”

Mama Su Mala solemnly agreed: "The slave and maid remember." ”

In this way, the farce that happened on Concubine Tong's birthday, the blame was all on the slave who was killed in Chengqian Palace, the emperor only said that he was still investigating who the master behind the slave was, but on the other hand, he asked Gonggong Li to let out words in the palace, so that the concubines and even the ministers outside knew that this person was sent by the Niu Hulu family to be placed next to Concubine Tong, because there was no evidence of death, but it was just rumored that the Tong Mansion could not make trouble because of this, and the Niu Hulu family could not rush up to refute it, and both sides were silent, just waiting for this matter to be investigated to no avail, so that it was gradually diluted by time.

And because of the competition between the two families, irrelevant people dare not jump out at this time to say nonsense, and the princes and princesses are safe, and the only thing that seems to be lost outside is Concubine Wen's fetus, but the rumors have said that she has long slipped due to poor health, and so on, this major event that almost destroyed all the emperor's heirs is thrilling, and finally became people's gossip after dinner.

In the deep palace, although the emperor did not take responsibility for anyone, but in the name of the queen mother's sadness because of Concubine Wen's slippery tire, she ordered the palaces to think about it behind closed doors, when the queen mother's mood improved before she could go out, since Xuan Ye's marriage on the throne, there has never been such a thing in the harem, and they all understand that the emperor is angry, and seeing that Concubine Tong and Concubine Wen are fine, they also know that the emperor has the intention to favor the second concubine, and the children of Hui Concubine and Rong Concubine do not dare to ask the emperor for justice casually, only everyone closes their doors to introspect, and in the winter of October, The harem is so quiet that you can hear the sound of the first snow falling.

On the day of the first snowfall, Lan Qi first saw it on the window, the starry snowflakes fell from the air, a few days ago it was suddenly so cold that people's bones were about to break, and they all said that they were going to make snow, so she waited at the window every day, and finally told her to wait, patted her stomach happily and said: "Good boy, it snows, everything that is not clean will freeze to death, and the dirty and bad ones are also covered by the snow, when you are born, the world is clean and white, and Eniang will be relieved." ”

Huanchun and the others often see her talking to her stomach these days, and after that farce, they remind them all day long, and they only feel relieved when they see Lan Qi like this. I heard that the nobles of Yikun Palace Guo saw red twice after that, and the imperial doctors desperately protected the fetus, as if God blessed, that day Huanchun also blamed the master for eating without moderation, if she didn't lose her temper and must eat, she was almost not allowed to eat, in case she was hungry to go to Chengqian Palace, I really don't know what the result will be, no wonder people say that it is a blessing to be able to eat, this must be a blessing.

The hospital has already come to arrange the delivery room, the nurses are all ready, Su Mala has come to see twice, and Gonggong Li has come to ask how it is every few days, because these days the harem has all been thought about behind closed doors, and the emperor does not come to the harem, between her and Xuan Ye, she relied on a few little eunuchs of the Qianqing Palace to maintain, and that day Gonggong Li came to spread the good news, saying that Yunnan was a great victory, and the number of the three feudal clans was about to be exhausted.

The imperial doctor diagnosed Lan Qi as born in late October, but the days passed day by day, until even the Queen Mother issued a decree to relieve her of the harem grounding, Lan Qi's stomach still did not move, seeing that October was about to pass, the longer it dragged on, the greater the danger to the child, there was a doctor on call in the Zhongcui Palace every day, because the noble people were very good and spirited, it can be inferred that the fetus is also healthy in the womb, so it cannot be induced, so she can only count the days, day by day and wait for her to give birth.

On this day, Concubine Rong and Concubine Hui came together, Concubine Rong arrived first, and when she entered the door, she saw Lan Qi standing in front of the mirror, and Concubine Duan and Bu Guiren sat on the side to look at her, and when they saw them coming, they also said, "You also see, is her stomach falling?" ”

"I woke up yesterday morning and felt like my stomach was falling, and I was supposed to be here." Lan Qi gestured at her stomach, and Concubine Rong hurriedly said, "Don't dare to move anymore, the child will be in the pot soon." ”

Rong Concubine is the concubine who gave birth to the most in the palace, although the child died early, but the blessing is incomparable, and it is more experienced than anyone else, and once joked that she can be a stable woman to deliver Lan Qi, Lan Qi said that she had to accompany her that day, everyone joked and had fun, and did not mention the matter of Chengqian Palace that day, Lan Qi also understood in her heart that the relationship with them was completely different from that of the Bu Guiren, but everyone looked up and did not look down here, and politeness was a good thing.

It didn't take long for Concubine Hui to come, and when she saw the people she brought, she understood why she was a few steps late with Concubine Rong, and she was followed by Juechan, who had not been seen for many days, and she seemed to be very well raised in Yikun Palace, her face was radiant, and her natural beauty embryo would dress up, although it was just a promise, it was a little more expensive than ordinary people.

"This is my sister-in-law from the people's homes to collect cloth sewn a hundred quilts, my craftsmanship is not good, so let Juezen promise to do it on my behalf, otherwise it will be bad to spoil the people's minds. As for my sister-in-law, she is also a blessed person with all four corners, and she went door-to-door to ask for it in person, but it is not Mrs. Mingzhu, sister, don't think wrong. Hui Concubine said with a smile, spread the quilt on the hot kang, pulled Lan Qi to sit down, touched her stomach and said, "Good boy come out quickly, Hui Niangniang has brought your quilt too, why are you still willing to toss in your mother's belly?" ”

Everyone laughed, Zhong Cui Palace was full of joy, and laughter came out from time to time, not a few days ago, the palaces were grounded and thought, lifeless, and the front of the Chengqian Palace, silent for more than half a month, Concubine Tong had nothing to do all day long, and also remembered the person who was waiting to give birth later, that day she approached the inner hall and called herself up, saying that sitting and crying was useless words and clearly remembered, I always felt strange in my heart, as if I wanted to thank her, and I couldn't wipe my face and put down the shelf, I always felt that being close to these lowly concubines shouldn't be what she did.

At this time, Qinglian came in and said that several ladies were talking to the nobles in Zhongcui Palace, Concubine Tong shrugged her eyebrows, as if impatiently and said, "Why do they go every day, they are noisy." ”

Qinglian was silent, since the queen mother ordered the palaces not to be grounded anymore, she prepared a gift according to the master's instructions, it seems that the concubine wants to go to Zhongcui Palace on a day, but there is now fragrant and sweet, all palaces and courtyards have nothing to do to say hello, she always can't insert the space, today I probably want to go again, but Rong Concubine and Hui Concubine are there, so I lost my temper again.

"When are they leaving?" Concubine Tong asked coyly, pinching the cloth tiger she sewn with her own hands, it was no longer for the eldest brother, it was behind closed doors thinking about it for a few days, and she had been playing with it in her hands for the past few days.

Qinglian smiled and said: "We live so close, it's okay to sit and sit at night, it's not as good as other mothers who come far away, the master wants to go, how many times it will be, it's better to choose a day than to hit the day, just tonight, the slave maid will go and talk to Huanchun." ”

Concubine Tong raised her chin to look at her, her eyes rolled slowly, "You go." ”

Qinglian secretly rejoiced, if the master can really make friends with the noble people, it will be of great benefit to her in the future, what to do is to be opposed to the person the emperor likes, and she will make a fuss at every turn, if she changes her temperament since then, she will not have to run away at both ends of the Chengqian Palace in Cining Palace in the future.

When Rong Concubine and a few people were about to leave, they saw that Qinglian was very fresh, she saluted respectfully and didn't say much, only waited for the two ladies to go away, and then came in to find Huanchun, saying that the concubine was going to visit the noble people at night, Huanchun was a little embarrassed, and Qinglian said a lot of good things before leaving.

Huanchun relayed it to Lan Qi, Bu Guiren was on the side, frowning and muttering that this person would not come to the most peaceful, but the little pregnant woman did not think and said: "She will not come to harm me, you don't want to be a soldier." ”

Seeing her like this, others said that it was useless, just waiting for dinner at night, and now Lan Qi is about to give birth, the imperial doctor wants her to eat things that remove fetal poison, compared to what she wanted to eat in the past, everyone can only coax her to say that she can eat anything when she is born, Lan Qi also sighed herself, if she was born in an ordinary people's family and couldn't afford to be a nurse, she would have to work hard to feed herself, and she still couldn't touch anything delicious, but she was talking and envious of those women who could feed herself. Do you only give birth to but don't raise?

It's a pity that no one pays attention to her sentimentality, hoping that she is dying of childbirth, who cares what she thinks in her heart, this Zi Bu Guiren just led Duan Jing and Chunxi back to Duan Concubine, the concubine came, Duan Concubine had to come out again, the concubine let them rest by themselves, led Qinglian to the East Side Palace, compared to the past when going out a vast crowd of more than a dozen people, today only one master and one servant two people came, Qinglian put down the heavy gift and said: "Niang Niang to the noble people, I wish you a safe birth." As he spoke, he opened the box and smiled at the Jade Guanyin, "It was invited by our family from Yong'an Temple." ”

Lan Qi got up to thank her, Concubine Tong stood up in a panic and said to her: "Don't move, if something happens, this palace can't afford it, even if they all come to see you, if this palace doesn't come to look stingy, if there is nothing to do, let's leave." ”

Seeing that the concubine was leaving, Lan Qi felt that they had nothing to say, so let's go, holding Huanchun's hand and sending it to the door, but Tong Guifei avoided her as if she was hiding from the plague, and said far away: "Be careful, why is your belly so big......"

Before the concubine finished speaking, she saw that the noble body was tight, frowning and covering her stomach, and the people on the side were stunned, and she said nervously: "It seems to be ...... It's like the amniotic water has broken ......"

A word overturned the Zhongcui Palace, the little eunuchs privately ran to the two palaces and the Qianqing Palace to pray, the imperial doctor Wen Po came to press the pregnant woman back to the bed, the nursing mothers and mothers were on standby outside the hall, Duan Concubine and Bu Guiren couldn't help, together in front of the Buddha statue in her main hall to Lan Qi to pray and chant the scriptures, Su Mala Mama quickly came from Cining Palace, it looked chaotic outside, but in fact it was orderly, how many children had been born in the palace, and it was not bad for the noble person.

The little pregnant woman is very calm, the labor pain comes one after another, when it doesn't hurt, she can still joke with her grandmother, when it hurts, she tears flow, Wen Po saw it and said that she couldn't give birth for a while, this sin is to suffer for a while, Lan Qi suddenly cried, so scared that she grabbed her mother's hand, saying that she missed her mother.

Mama Su Mala herself has no experience in childbirth, but from the Empress Dowager to Empress Xiaokang to Empress Hesheli and so on, she has helped deliver too many princes and grandchildren, and each mother is different.

"Mama, the emperor is here." Huanchun suddenly ran in and said, as if he had deliberately said it loudly to Lan Qi, "The emperor is outside, you go and persuade him." ”

Lan Qi's eyes looked straight out of the window, obviously she couldn't even see a trace of her figure, but she knew that Xuan Ye was standing outside when she came, and while she couldn't stop her tears, she was very down-to-earth in her heart, and said to Mama with a tearful smile: "I'm not afraid, Mama, go and persuade the emperor to go back, it's late at night." ”

"Slave and maid, go now." Mama asked everyone to take care of the nobles, and hurried out by herself, only she could persuade the emperor here, and sure enough, I saw Xuan Ye standing under the corridor, and the adults of the Qin Tianjian in the courtyard were leading the people to choose a place with good feng shui to plane the Xi pit, and Mama approached, Xuan Ye said with a humble heart, "I came to see them to dig the Xi pit, and I will go back." "It's also strange to Mama, "You don't accompany Lan Qi, what are you doing when you come out?" ”

Mama could only laugh: "The noble man asked the slave maid to persuade you to go back to the Qianqing Palace quickly, you are here that the noble person is worried about being distracted, the emperor listens to the nobleman's words, go back quickly." Saying that he greeted Manager Li and asked them to send the emperor away, Xuan Ye wanted to leave and stay, but he hesitated for a long time, walked to the palace gate and turned back, pulled his grandmother and whispered, "You still remember what you said before." ”

"Amitabha, I hope that the mother and child are safe, the emperor can't be like this." Mama laughed, personally pushed the emperor out, turned around and saw Qinglian standing under the porch, and asked her in surprise, "What are you doing here?" ”

"Slave...... Slaves. Qinglian was hesitant, she had always been afraid of Mama, but she still stretched out her hands, held a cloth tiger and said, "The noble concubine Niangniang wants to give it to the noble people, and when she came at night, she forgot to bring it, let the slave maid send it over, Mama, can you send it in for the slave maid?" ”

Qinglian has been standing here for half an hour, she came a step late when she returned, and she was made afraid to go in by her grandmother, and no one paid attention to her when people came and went in Zhongcui Palace, and when she was determined to go in, the emperor came again. Now that she was finally seen by Mama, she was afraid of being rejected by Mama, she just didn't dare to persuade her, because if she refused at this moment, the concubine would definitely be sad.

"I thanked you for your honor, you go and tell the concubine Niangniang, thank her." Mama is so wise, she will never do such a hurtful thing, even if she turns around and throws away the cloth tiger, she can't do these things in front of her, she took it with a smile, and sent Qinglian back, and saw the appearance of the cloth tiger clearly under the light, but it is a pity that the stitches are too bad, and at first glance it is a person who has never been a needle and a red woman, the old lady is kind-hearted, and walked to the side of the bed and handed the cloth tiger to Lan Qi, "Qinglian said that the concubine made it herself a few days ago, and I came to give it to you." ”

Lan Qi was tormented by labor pains, reached out and pinched the soft and hard in his hand, and didn't care about what it looked like, but he never let go after that, Mama told him about Xuan Ye, and the little nobleman was comforted in his heart, so he felt a little less afraid, even if the sharp pain of a torn pelvis hit later, he gritted his teeth and endured it, although he couldn't stop crying, he didn't make noise or groan, and he was so strong that Mama's heart softened.

But the first birth is hard, an hour after an hour passes, there is still no good news in the Zhongcui Palace, Duan Concubine and Bu Guiren are kneeling tired in front of the Buddha shrine, the front Chengqian Palace has not yet turned off the lights, not to mention the Qianqing Palace of Cining Palace, not to mention the bright lights of the night, it seems that the last time I went back to the palace to wait for the pregnant woman to give birth, it was more than four years ago when Queen Hesheri gave birth to the prince.

On the side of Yikun Palace, Guo Guiren also asked the imperial doctor overnight because he was unwell, but he hurried to one very late, and he was prepared for Zhong Cui Palace, Yi Concubine and Guo Guiren didn't say anything on their faces, just waited for someone to leave, and Guo Guiren snorted: "Degui is really very expensive, sister, we can't compare with it in a lifetime." ”

Yi Concubine was also uncomfortable, but she still remembered what Eniang said before entering the palace, and comforted her sister: "Eniang's words can't be forgotten, you are also going to be Eniang now, I will always have good luck in a few years, the days in the palace are like this, and there will be others who will become the second virtuous and noble person in the future, we can't be jealous." ”

Having said that, in fact, who is not jealous in the palace, Guo Guiren is still like this, Nala is often there, not to mention, and the little brother Wan Huang is still lingering on the sickbed, she is not at ease all the time as a mother, but because the noble people are about to give birth, they all stand back, this night Duan Concubine Bu Guiren chanted all night to pray for Lan Qi, and there are few people who secretly curse, wishing that the tireless Wu Ya clan is like Queen Hesheri, and has been dying since then.

But they didn't know that it was a curse to compare the little virtuous nobleman with the incomparably noble Queen Hesheri, but not everyone could afford to lift it.

At this moment, in the Xianfu Palace, which is separated from the east and west of Zhongcui Palace, there is silence and tranquility, the lights have long been extinguished, only a few candles are swaying to prevent tripping when walking at night, the winter clouds on duty come in to cut the candle heart, and suddenly saw Concubine Wen in white standing in front of the window, and when she saw such a scene at first glance in the middle of the night, she was so frightened that her legs were weak, and she knelt directly on the ground, and complained softly: "Master, what are you doing standing, the ground is cold." ”

Concubine Wen asked in a daze, "What time is it?" ”

"It's time to pass." Dong Yunying knew what Concubine Wen wanted to ask, and then said, "It seems that the noble man has not been born yet, and it is said that the first child is difficult to give birth." ”

Concubine Wen raised her head and looked out of the window, the window opened a slit to breathe, and she could see the stars and moonlight, and suddenly a little black shadow floated past to block the moonlight, her heart moved, climbed up and opened the big window, a cold wind whistled in, freezing her whole body convulsions, but it was really cold and windy outside, and it was snowing.

"Master, beware of catching a cold......" Dongyun came to advise.

Concubine Wen let the snow beads fall on her face, a little cold into her skin and into her heart, and smiled in the cold wind: "She will be safe, my sister will definitely bless her." ”

After the child, it was October 30, the night suddenly snowed, the wind and snow covered the sky and the moon, the ugly time passed, the whole palace was covered with snow, the wind gradually stopped, the snow is still endless, Xuan Ye in the Qianqing Palace woke up, there was a thick blanket draped by Gonggong Li, as if he smelled the cold breath, he wrapped the blanket and walked to the door, the yard has been thickly covered with a layer of snow like a blanket, he just opened his mouth to call Gonggong Li, suddenly a thunder exploded, Xuan Ye was shocked.

The loud baby cry accompanied by thunder sounded in the Zhongcui Palace, tossed all night, Degui finally gave birth, the angry mother fainted after a look at the wrinkled gray-red baby, the nursing mother was busy wiping and cleaning up the newborn, Su Mala Mama called aloud: "Go and report the good news, Degui gave birth to a little brother." Turning around to look at the sleeping Lan Qi's calm complexion, he added, "Mother and son are safe." ”

The good news of Zhong Cui Palace immediately dispersed, and Concubine Tong in Chengqian Palace was already sleepy, and when she heard Qinglian say that she gave birth to a little brother, her mother and son were safe, and she suddenly had spirits, and she pulled Qinglian with inexplicable joy and asked, "That cloth tiger, did you send it?" ”

In the Qianqing Palace, Xuan Ye was already preparing to change his clothes and go to the early court. He didn't know why he suddenly became calm and relaxed, only when he heard Gonggong Li rush in to report the good news, he suddenly panicked again, I don't know whether he was happy or distressed, his eyes were hot and moist, but he still held back his emotions and said: "Prepare for the early court, send my reward to Zhongcui Palace, and tell Lan Qi that I will go to see him in a few days." ”

Gonggong Li promised and instructed the little eunuchs to prepare things, and sent proper people to serve the emperor to prepare for the court, and he personally sent congratulatory gifts to Zhongcui Palace, but before he was about to go to the door, a gust of wind blew outside and squinted, and when he opened his eyes again, he heard someone panicking in the palace, and turned around to see the grandmother who was waiting for the prince over there and ran out in a panic, and saw Gonggong Li here, ran over and knelt down and said, "Gong, Gonggong...... Oh no, the prince, the prince seems to have a pox. ”

"What?" Gonggong Li's eyes widened, at the moment of great joy, how could such a thing happen, he didn't dare to delay for a moment, while sending someone to find the imperial doctor, he went back to tell the emperor that Xuan Ye had a pox rash when he was a child and was not afraid of infection, so he came to see the prince in person, and he already understood a little bit in his heart, and when the imperial doctor came to diagnose it again, the prince did have a pox rash.

Xuan Ye immediately ordered the palace to be closed for 12 days, so that the people in the harem were not allowed to enter and leave at will, and Princess Brother Du'an lived in the house to avoid pox, and on the 12th of the court, all the ministries and yamen were directly sent to the Qianqing Palace for approval, and he wanted to take care of the prince personally.

After half an hour's effort, there was another kind of weather in the imperial city, even the little brother who was just born became unimportant, and was left in Zhongcui Palace for the time being, and Mama Su Mala did not go out after rushing back to Cining Palace, and for twelve days, she only looked forward to the prince spending the most dangerous days.

After Lan Qi gave birth, she didn't wake up until noon that day, and when she was conscious and didn't open her eyes, she thought that the child should have gone to Cining Palace, and she had to go out of the confinement to see it again, and she was suddenly sad, but suddenly heard the baby crying in her ears, and someone hurriedly said in a low voice: "Are you hungry?" ”

Lan Qi immediately opened her eyes, sat up with her soft body, and saw the nurse holding the baby in her arms with her breasts exposed, everyone saw that she sat up by herself, and hurriedly came over to serve, Lan Qi asked blankly: "Why is the child still here?" He looked around again, "What about Mama Suma?" ”

Only then did someone say that the prince had acne, Lan Qi was shocked when she heard it, and she didn't know if she had picked up the bargain in the past twelve days, because the little brother would stay here and send it to Cining Palace after the prince recovered. While she was worried about the prince's body, she knew that Xuan Ye valued the prince, and on the other hand, she was immersed in the joy of giving birth to a son, and after the nurse fed the child, she put the little brother in her arms.

It's not the first time to hold a soft baby, but only this baby is the flesh that fell by himself, the blood and bones of his own pregnancy for ten months, and the child of her and Xuan Ye, when Lan Qi held it, her heart beat faster than ever, the child closed his eyes and frowned, very similar to him Ama when he was angry, Huan Chun lay under the bed and said: "Mama said that when our little brother and Long Live Lord were born, they were exactly the same." ”

"I haven't seen the emperor when he was a child, but it looks like this, and the emperor looks like this when he loses his temper at me." Lan Qi pouted, as if she had also become a child, and said happily, "You said that he is so old, what are you doing to make him look worried about the country and the people, silly child, give E-Niang a smile." ”

As she spoke, there was a sudden excitement in her heart, seeing the gentle and gentle nurse standing on the side, her heart was pounding, and she asked Huanchun to lead irrelevant people down, saying that she wanted to let the nurse coax the little brother to sleep, but when everyone left, she called the nurse to her and asked reverently: "Can you let the little brother eat a few mouthfuls of my mother's milk?" If we don't talk about it, no one will know. ”

The nurse was stunned, she was also a mother, and the children were not seen outside the palace, so she could best understand the mood of the nobles, and immediately smiled and nodded: "Of course this is good, let the slave and maid teach you." ”

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