At the beginning of the heavy snowfall, the whole palace is covered with snow, covered in silver, the sun shines on the snow, reflecting the dazzling light, the tall pines and cypresses are piled up with layers of light snow, a gust of wind blows, one after another blows down, the cold wind is bleak, through the heart.

Because the weather was extremely cold, the queen was exempted from the morning and dusk of the palaces, so Lu Yuan stayed in Ruruntang all day to keep warm, only throwing dice and drawing lots with Biluo, Chunhua and others, making wine orders, joking and joking, and it was also lively, and occasionally went out to Qinfangzhai to talk to Shun Concubine.

At the beginning of winter, Lu Yuan put on silver carbon, big hairy clothes, hand stoves and other things that should survive the winter and carried Aunt Xie to send them to Lan Xin, and also got a letter from Aunt Xie. Because Concubine Shun didn't accept anything for food, clothing and entertainment, she only ordered Xiao Yunzi and Xiao Lianzi to carry a few baskets of silver carbon.

On this day, Yu Lin went to Yuruntang to see Lu Yuan in his spare time, and heard a graceful sound of the zither from a distance, when it was tight and slow, if it was a storm, if it was a drizzle, it was like a drizzle caressing Tong, it was like a wind blowing snow, stretching like a breeze caressing the willows, Yu Lin had never heard such a subtle sound of the zither, and he was stunned to hear it, and said in his heart: I haven't seen it for a few days, and Yuanyuan's piano skills have made great progress.

I got closer to realize that the sound of the zither was actually worn out from Qin Fang Zhai, in the past, Qin Fang Zhai always closed the door, today the two doors are half hidden, and the sound of the kite is coming out of the door continuously.

Yu Lin involuntarily stepped into the door, walked through the porch, and went straight into the inner room, shouting a shout of praise.

Concubine Shun hurriedly stopped playing and bent her knees to say goodbye. Yu Lin helped her up with both hands and said, "No need to be polite. I thought it was from Ying Guiren, I didn't want it to be you, I remember that you used to be good at the guzheng, and now you have made great progress. ”

Concubine Shun smiled: "The concubine's carving insect skills made the emperor laugh." Saying that, he served fragrant tea with his own hands, and said softly: "The concubine remembers that the emperor loves to drink Longjing, but the concubine only has this Lu'an tea here, please use one of the emperor's generals." ”

Yu Lin was greatly moved: "Do you remember my preferences? "I haven't seen each other for a few years, Yu Lin has long forgotten the appearance of Shun Concubine, and when I meet again today, I am like a newcomer in front of me.

Shun Concubine is slightly thin, wearing a lotus-blue and gold-lined pomegranate forged robe, holding a pendant crow bun on her head, holding a pearl jasper hairpin, sweeping her eyebrows, her eyes are full of autumn waves, very plain but elegant.

Yu Lin couldn't help but hold her hand and said, "You've lost a lot of weight." ”

Concubine Shun smiled faintly and said slowly: "Mo Dao is not ecstatic, the curtain is swept by the west wind, and people are thinner than yellow flowers." ”

Yu Lin said: "It's "Drunken Flower Yin", which means that I still like Li Qingzhao's words." ”

Concubine Shun smiled and said, "The emperor hasn't forgotten it." ”

Yu Lin said: "Why is it so cold in this house? Don't have a brazier? ”

Shun Concubine said: "The concubine has always thought that the cold can make people sober and refreshed. Since the emperor felt cold, the concubine went to add some carbon. As he spoke, he walked to the brazier, added carbon to the basin with a silver clip, and as soon as he put it in, a puff of green smoke rose up, and Concubine Shun couldn't help coughing lightly.

Yu Lin was surprised: "Why do you do it yourself?" What about those who serve you? Why aren't they any? ”

Concubine Shun gently stirred up the charcoal fire and said, "The concubine asked Yingqin and Zhihua to go to the Internal Affairs Office to receive this month's share." ”

"What about the others?" Yu Lin asked.

Concubine Shun smiled lightly: "The concubine has always liked to be quiet, and she doesn't like many people, but now only the two of them are serving in front of her." ”

When Yu Lin heard this, he frowned unconsciously, and said, "This gray charcoal has a lot of smoke, how can you not use silver carbon?" ”

Concubine Shun didn't answer, but took out a copper hand stove, put it in Yu Lin's hand, and said, "The emperor should use this to warm his hands." ”

Yu Lin said: "Everything is depressed, your courtyard is full of pines and cypresses, but it is still green and pleasant." ”

Concubine Shun looked out the window and said: "The concubine just likes the pines and cypresses to be straight and straight, not to give in to the cold and heat, and is always full of vitality all year round." ”

Yu Lin recalled: "You seem to have said this before? ”

Concubine Shun smiled and said: "The emperor forgot, it is because the concubines like pines and cypresses that the emperor planted this full courtyard of pines and cypresses for the concubines." ”

Yu Lin sneered and said, "I remember." ”

While talking, Yingqin and Zhihua came back with a copy, and the two didn't know that Yu was here, so they put the things they brought under the corridor, and Zhihua said angrily: "Every time I go to get a share, I have to be treated by the head of the Internal Affairs Office Cao, which is really annoying." This time we have deducted a lot of things, sister, look, this silver carbon is only one basket, how can it be burned for a month? Those gray carbons choked the master and coughed. ”

Yingqin said: "There is still a basket of silver carbon sent by the noble Ying last time, so save some burning." ”

Zhihua still wanted to complain, Yingqin gently scratched her nose and said softly: "Be quiet, don't complain, the master of the province is annoyed when he hears it." ”

The two were about to enter the house, and suddenly saw Yu Lin coming out of the house, and they were stunned all of a sudden, because they had not faced the saint for a long time, they even forgot the rules, and in a panic, Yingqin came back to her senses first, and hurriedly pulled Zhihua to kneel.

Yu Lin let them be exempted, and said with a pleasant voice: "Serve your mother well, and you will have benefits." Then he turned to Shun Concubine and said, "I will leave first, and I will come to see you tomorrow." As he spoke, he walked out, his glasses glanced at the baskets of gray carbon under the porch, and his face was very unhappy.

In the afternoon, suddenly the chief manager of the Internal Affairs Office, Cao, led a group of small eunuchs to carry several baskets of silver carbon and other samples to Qinfangzhai in person, and resigned and grovelled to review his own deduction of Qinfangzhai's examples, and begged for forgiveness from the concubines. Concubine Shun didn't see it, she only called Yingqin and Zhihua to talk to him, and Yingqin Zhihua raised her eyebrows this time.

The brazier of Yuruntang is burning vigorously, the silver carbon in the charcoal basin occasionally makes a gentle "beep" sound, the master and servant sit around the fire with a small shovel from the red-hot charcoal to pluck the roasted sweet potatoes and taro, the plum blossom table on the side is a bad goose paw duck letter, the best wine, a high-legged wine pot full of hot pear blossoms drunk.

Biluo peeled a fragrant sweet potato and handed it to Chunhua, who took a bite and exclaimed, "It's so hot!" ”

Lu Yuan smiled: "No one robbed you, why are you in such a hurry?" ”

Ming Qingyi smiled: "This is called being anxious and unable to eat baked sweet potatoes!" Be careful to burn your tongue. Everyone laughed.

Cai Ping is guarding a small silver crane in front of the stove, which is stewed with rock sugar pears, bubbling hot, and the freshness of Sydney pears and the sweet aroma of rock sugar are mixed together.

Lu Yuan saw that the rock sugar pears were almost stewed, so she ordered Caiping to carefully pour them into a small stew pot and put them in a small food box, so that she would personally send them to Concubine Shun. Because she occasionally heard Concubine Shun cough a few times yesterday, she specially stewed this sweet rock sugar pear, which is delicious and moistens her throat.

Comb Yue is young, and her heart is straightforward: "In the past, Yi Guiren liked to come to us the most, and everyone was happier to have fun together than now." ”

Chunhua interrupted her in one bite: "Eating can't stop you from talking." Comb Yue knew that she was speechless, and stuck out her tongue.

Lu Yuan just pretended not to hear it, and picked up the food box to go out, Biluo hurriedly followed, Lu Yuan smiled: "It's just a few steps away, I'll go by myself, no one is allowed to follow." Biluo had to smile and retreat.

Lu Yuan walked into the inner room and saw that Concubine Shun was holding a book and reading, she pointed to the mountains of things under the porch, and quipped, "Sister, is this going to open a grocery store?" ”

Concubine Shun raised her head and said with a smile: "You naughty one, don't make fun of it." ”

Lu Yuan smiled and sat down on the soft chair next to him, and said, "I heard that yesterday the emperor called the head of the Internal Affairs Office, Mr. Cao, and reprimanded him fiercely, and fined him for three months, which really gave my sister a sigh of relief." ”

Concubine Shun put down the scroll in her hand and said indifferently: "If you do too much injustice, you will kill yourself, he is just asking for hardship." ”

Lu Yuan smiled and asked, "Why did my sister suddenly change her character?" ”

Concubine Shun said slowly: "It's just to survive in this harem." Now there are two factions in this harem, the queen is a faction, the concubine Rong is a faction, the queen is in the limelight, although she lost her concubine, but she added a Wei who can sing and dance to envelop the emperor. Although Concubine Rong is losing power now, with the help of Concubine Shu and others, it should not be underestimated. Only you are weak, if I have more face, I can also help you a little. ”

Lu Yuan sighed: "I have already guessed that my sister has such a mind, and it is Yuanyuan's blessing to meet someone with a true temperament like my sister in this harem." ”

Concubine Shun also shook her hand and said, "It's also a blessing that I can meet my sister." ”

At night, the Chengming Palace, the lights were bright, Yu Lin was watching the folds, and Jiang Lufu, the head of the worship room, presented a gold-painted plate filled with the green head cards of the palace concubines, bowed his head and said respectfully: "Your Majesty, it's time to lift the sign." ”

Yu Lin agreed, his eyes swept the brand from beginning to end, he didn't start for a long time, and looked up and asked, "Why don't you see the brand of Shun Concubine?" ”

Jiang Lufu was speechless for a while, didn't know how to answer, and said, "This... The brand of Shun Concubine Niangniang is old, and the small one is refurbished. ”

Yu Lin was dissatisfied: "Your errand is getting better and better! Get out of here, I'll stay alone in the Chunyuan Hall tonight. ”

Jiang Lufu reluctantly withdrew, wiped a handful of sweat beads on his forehead, hurriedly returned to the worship room, and ordered the little eunuchs to rummage through the cabinets for a while, and finally found the green head card of Shun Concubine, repainted it, traced it, and put it on the plate upright, before he breathed a sigh of relief.

The next night, Yu Lin summoned Shun Concubine, and everyone in the harem couldn't help but be stunned again.