Fu Heng's expression was indifferent: "Life and death are fate, Fu Ling'an will encounter more ups and downs in his future life, and we will leave him one day, cherish the people in front of us." ”

Ruyin hurriedly said: "I can't say such a thing, the fifth elder brother may be able to get better, the doctors are trying their best to treat it, and they will definitely turn the corner." ”

Fu Heng helped his wife into the room, and only said lightly: "I hope so." ”

However, the situation is not optimistic, Prince Rong's illness has deteriorated, the ulcers on the thighs have spread to the ankles, whether it is internal medicine or external medicine, it is useless, and the seemingly lively Chinese New Year's Eve and New Year's Day in the Old Summer Palace are also overshadowed. In the first month, Burma provoked again, the court was tight, the emperor was sad all day long, and there was nothing to be happy about except for the child in the red belly, which symbolized the hope of life.

The Queen Mother summoned the concubines in Ningchun Hall and told them not to make the emperor angry, they had to clamp their tails and be a man for a while, but when they turned around, they left a red face and Concubine Qing instructed: "The draft should not be delayed, the prosperity of the inner palace is the dignity that the royal family should have, you should do this according to the rules, and you don't have to delay it for other things." ”

On the way out of Ning Chun Hall, Concubine Qing carefully supported Hongyan and said softly: "There are sisters in the palace who die every year, and there are fewer and fewer people, and it is her responsibility for the Queen Mother to fill the harem, but now, when Sister Concubine Yu comes back, she must be even more sad when she sees that there is nothing in the palace." Sister, if there is anything, will she hate us for being unkind. ”

Hongyan sighed for a long time: "I can't care so much, the days in the palace must go on, I hope Yongqi will get better, Yongqi will be better, and there will be nothing left." ”

Fortunately, after the Lantern Festival, the affairs in Burma eased somewhat, and the emperor's mood was slightly better, and no matter how troubled he was, he would not show his face, and he was very patient with the child. Hongyanhui felt sorry for him for the hard work he endured, but she was afraid that she would not accept Hongli's kindness to her and let down the emperor's sincerity, so even if she was worried, she accompanied him to talk and laugh, and worked harder to raise her body well, and did not want to trouble him anymore.

At the beginning of February, the emperor's draft decree was issued, and all flags were preparing to send the show girl into Beijing, but Prince Rong's illness did not improve, and on this day, Qingque's adoptive father Ebi went to the capital and came to visit Yongqi.

Qingque received his adoptive father, only sat in the front hall for a while, and wanted to say a few words and disperse, but Ebi came to ask Qingque for help for the draft, but Prince Rong's mansion was in this situation, he didn't dare to say anything, his mind was confused, and he actually said: "The prince is like this, can you plan for your future?" Who will inherit the palace in the future, and you and the children of the side Fujin ......"

Qingque's hateful gaze slashed at her adoptive father's face like a knife, and she got up and said, "Ama is good to go, I won't send it." ”

Ebi knew that he had said the wrong thing, but since the words came out, he simply said: "You can't help but think about yourself and your children, if something happens, Ama will definitely help you." ”

Qingque left without looking back, all the way to her husband's house, Yongqi fell ill here, she never moved again, the room was filled with the smell of various drugs, so that she smelled a burst of nausea. It is often said that there is no filial son in front of the bed for a long time, and serving the sick is almost all the time and energy, if there is hope, it is fine, but there is no hope at all, everyone will collapse, everyone will be tired. Qingque leaned heavily in front of the door and did not step through the door, but at this moment, the next person brought a decoction, and she immediately beat her spirits and came in with a smile.

Yongqi was groggy most of the time, feeling that his body was being moved, only to open his eyes, and when he saw Qingque's haggard face, he smiled hard and said, "Why don't you go to rest?" ”

Qingque smiled: "In broad daylight, what am I doing resting, you should take medicine." ”

Yongqi shook his head: "If you don't eat it, it's useless to eat it, but you want to eat something delicious, can you let them get it for me?" ”

"What do you want to eat?"

"I can't think of it for a while, so I can pick up a few things that I used to love to eat."

These words have the meaning of parting, Qingque couldn't bear it in her heart, tears fell in her eyes, and she shook her head and said: "Let's take medicine, take medicine and your body will be fine." ”

The couple was silent for a long time, and Yongqi finally nodded: "I listen to you." ”

Outside the door, when Concubine Yu heard these words, her heart was like a knife, and it took a long time for her hand to let go of her clothes, and she instructed Bai Li: "Go and prepare some of Yongqi's favorite food, stewed to a rotten point, so that he can eat it." You can cook whatever he wants to eat, I'm afraid he won't have a chance to eat again. ”

"Mother." Bai Li saw Concubine Yu's body swaying, and hugged her tightly, and she was already in tears.

Concubine Yu cried: "Am I doing evil, how can I repay this child......"

The sad atmosphere of Rongqing Palace, getting heavier and heavier, but in order to maintain the dignity of the royal family, few people in the Old Summer Palace mentioned the matter of Yongqi again, and no one was allowed to show a sad and sad look, the queen mother is still alive, the emperor is still healthy, how can he make a bitter appearance of national mourning, everyone knows that it is so ruthless, but the emperor is more ruthless in the world.

The draft is going on in an orderly manner, the roster of the girls of each flag show has been made in February, and the Queen Mother did not do it herself, but she often summoned Concubine Qing to ask about related matters, compared to the young but sick fifth elder brother in Prince Rong's mansion, the white-haired Queen Mother is particularly spiritual. When He Jing came to see Hongyan, he said to her privately: "The imperial grandmother regards herself as the face of the royal family, she said that she has to live longer, and the court and the royal family will be more prosperous. ”

"In contrast, the Queen Mother is really more suitable for surviving in the royal family, you must think about the royal decency at all times, nothing is as important as decency, she is not wrong, there must always be someone to support her, she is working hard to support hers, do we still have to say that hers is not?" Hongyan was already pot-bellied, and she struggled to support her waist and said, "No wonder the emperor said that I am far inferior to the Queen Mother." ”

He Jing told Hongyan: "Yongqi has been sick for so long, everyone is prepared, when the day comes, you listen to me, take care of it in the house, and you don't have to worry about other things." ”

Hongyan understood what she meant, and said, "I understand." ”

At the beginning of March, for the sake of the draft, the Queen Mother convened the Six Palaces, and it happened that the emperor came to ask for peace, and it was rare for everyone to get together, so they sent the imperial meal to Ningchun Hall. There was a long table in the dining room, the emperor sat beside the queen mother and waited for her to eat, Hongyan and the concubines sat in order, seeing the prosperity of the people, but also lively.

But the Queen Mother rarely smiled, and immediately bad news came, bad news came from Prince Rong's mansion, and Yongqi was already dying.

The excitement on the dining table suddenly dispersed, everyone was tense, only a few hot pots on the table were tumbling, Hongli slowly got up, and said to the Queen Mother: "E-Niang use it slowly, I will go and see Yongqi." ”

In the end, it was her grandson, the Queen Mother held back her sorrow with tears and said: "You tell Yongqi that the imperial grandmother is old and can't catch up." ”

Hongli's eyes were hot, and after saluting his mother, he left without saying a word.

"Let's all disperse, go back, if you have something you like to eat, take a few back." After the emperor left, the Queen Mother waved her hand and ordered everyone, "Go back quietly, don't chew your tongue, don't go out these days." ”

Hongyan got up, and all the concubines left their seats together, originally to let Hongyan go first, but the queen mother suddenly said: "The imperial concubine stays." ”

He Jing got up and said with a smile: "Imperial grandmother, what do you tell your grandson, the imperial concubine is ......?"

The Queen Mother said: "You should follow your Emperor Ama to Prince Rong's mansion, in case something happens, don't make your Ama too sad." ”

He Jing was helpless, looked at the red face, and knew each other's hearts, so he could only hurriedly chase his father.

The concubines quickly dispersed, and in the empty dining room, the table full of wine and delicacies revealed a bit of desolation, and the palace maids stepped forward to remove the hot pot, and the gurgling sound finally disappeared.

Hongyan looked at such a scene, her mind was blank, and she only heard the Queen Mother say: "Watching Hongli walk out just now, I felt that a familiar scene was about to appear again, and sure enough, when the concubines were gone, it was exactly the same as the scene back then." ”

"Queen Mother, the concubine doesn't understand what you said." Hongyan said.

"When Empress Xiaohuizhang died, Kangxi and Concubine De reunited with the emperor's family in the Old Summer Palace, and when the bad news came, Kangxi Ye and his people immediately dispersed, leaving me to guard a room of wine and food, and the sound in the pot was exactly the same as back then." The Queen Mother got up slowly and accidentally touched the chopsticks on the table, and the ivory chopsticks made a crisp sound, making the hall more and more cold and desolate.

Hongyan's heart was shaken, and the Queen Mother continued: "Leaving you is not to pick your thorn again, and I don't want to embarrass you, I just want you to see this situation." ”

"Yes, the concubine watched." The red face is straight.

"The wealth and glory of the emperor's family can also disappear in an instant." The Queen Mother said, "The royal dignity I want to protect is not the hypocrisy of disdain in your eyes, sitting in this position, this is my life." ”

Hongyan looked at the Queen Mother, and never felt that the Queen Mother's image was so tall.

The Queen Mother said: "If you really want to achieve something, you don't have to care what others say and laugh at, you did it, and I probably did it." ”

Hongyan lowered her head, and the Queen Mother said: "If you become the Queen Mother in the future, you may be better than me, maybe far inferior to me, but you must remember that no matter what, you must keep the royal dignity for the emperor, which is also your life." ”

Hongyan's heart trembled, and she responded: "Remember, concubine." ”

The Queen Mother said: "The white-haired person sends the black-haired person, in the days to come, appease Hongli well, the child in your belly will comfort him." ”