Chapter 16 Chapter Sixteen Cong Broken

The wind outside the hall was extremely cold, if it could erode the bones, Yan Wan stumbled to the bottom of the jade steps, only to feel the cold sweat all over her body, piercing her bones.Lan Cui panicked and held her tightly: "Don't worry, little master. You spent half a day and braved the severe cold to send it. The Emperor knows this painstaking effort." Seeing no one around, she complained in a low voice, "It's all the fault of Concubine Xian, what are you showing off, she's just a poor family!" Yan Wan tightly grabbed Lan Cui's arm, and said in a hoarse voice with a sour face: "Don't talk nonsense, it's just that I am shameless and ignorant. Concubine Xian's family is in trouble, am I also from a poor family background? She gritted her teeth, held the screen for a long time, looked back at the brightly lit Hall of Mental Cultivation, and said word by word, "Originally, it was the emperor who gave me a glimmer of hope. He smiled at me and told me that I could rely on myself. Changing the fate of the family, but I don’t know sweet and white glaze, and even the bird’s nest is made vulgarly, isn’t it shameful? The emperor didn’t withdraw the Jin’s decree to be a nobleman, so I have saved face.”

Lan Cui worriedly said: "Then what is the young master's plan?" Yan Wan suddenly pinched Lan Cui's chin, twisted her face to her, and said in a hoarse voice: "Lan Cui, look carefully, is my face still there? Am I getting old or ugly?" Seeing her fierce expression, Lan Cui was so frightened that her heart beat wildly, she hurriedly said with a smile: "The face of the young master is very good, the young master is as beautiful as a flower, and is in full bloom of youth." Yan Wan's hand dropped heavily, like unloading a huge boulder.She touched her face and said sadly:

"Lan Cui, it's not that I don't know why I was favored. It's because of the emperor's whim, because of a man's occasional desire, and more importantly, my face still looks a bit like Concubine Xian when she was young. Don't I even know?" Lan Cui hurriedly supported her body, and said softly: "My lord, Concubine Xian is very honorable, you are like her, it is not a blessing for you. What's more, even though you are three points alike, you are younger than Concubine Xian. It's been a long time." Yan Wan struggled to prop up her body, her face gradually calmed down like cold water.She wrapped her Qingyun satin brocade wool cloak tightly around her body, and her voice seemed to burst out from the bottom of her throat: "Yes. It is my blessing to be favored because of being like a noble concubine. No matter how ignorant I am, as long as I This face is here, as long as I don't make a big mistake, I won't lie down in the cold palace like Concubine Xian was back then. Because the emperor looks at my young face, he will think of the age when he wronged Concubine Xian, Naturally, she will be extraordinarily beautiful. And I am still young. Concubine Xian understands it. I will learn it slowly, and one day I will understand it. She will not do it lightly. If I want to do everything better than her, that is Best plan ever."

After dinner in the palace, there was a little maid waiting for her to drink tea and rinse her mouth. Everyone was busy, but there was no sound and no chaos.Seeing that everything was over, Li Yu came in and said, "Your Majesty, Mr. Qi Lu of the Imperial Hospital has something to see." The emperor's face darkened slightly, Ruyi understood: "The concubine will leave first." The emperor waved his hands and smiled briskly: "No need. You stay in the Hall of Mental Cultivation tonight. Li Yu, send someone to serve the noble concubine to take a bath." Ruyi turned to leave and walked to the back hall. She felt that her left ear was empty, and after touching it, she realized that the white jade earrings she was wearing had disappeared.Her heart sank slightly, she only thought that this was a gift from the emperor, and she felt a little drunk, so she went to Dongnuan Pavilion without thinking much.

Just walked outside Dongnuan Pavilion, only to hear Qi Lu's voice inside saying: "At noon the day before yesterday, Lan Cui, the court lady who was with Chang Wei, came and said that she wanted to make a portion of the anti-abortion medicine in this bottle. The hospital was on duty, so he told him to stay. Upon closer inspection, the minister found that the birth control drug was exactly the same as the one given by the emperor to Concubine Shu. I think Wei Chang was stealing it from Concubine Shu. I went. Wei Changzai wanted to conceive with all his heart, so..." The emperor's tone was a little solemn: "Since Wei Changzai wants it so much, you can still give her a copy. Just tell her that it is a good anti-fertility medicine, and it is because Concubine Shu is unlucky that she hasn't conceived until today. "

Qi Lu said again and again: "When Miss Concubine Shu asked about it, I also said that she has a weak constitution and is not easy to conceive." The emperor said indifferently: "That's fine. I used this medicine to prevent Concubine Shu from being the empress dowager's person and Yehenala's family background, so I didn't want her to conceive easily. You prepared the medicine, so you naturally know it. It doesn't matter if it stops someday. Since Wei Changzai has made up his mind, I have so many princes anyway, the most important thing is to have Yong Cong. It doesn't matter whether others can have children or have sons and daughters."

Qi Lu said: "Yes, the emperor is merciful. The humble minister will do it now." The cold wind pierced the bones, and Ruyi leaned against the wall, feeling that all the strength in her body had been exhausted, and her heart almost jumped out of her chest.There was chaos in her mind, she was just thinking in a daze. How could this be? It turned out to be like this! Vaguely, it was not the first time she knew such a thing. The decoctions that the imperial concubine Huixian took during her lifetime all aggravated her illness, and Concubine Shu, the emperor was even more decisive.Perhaps, the emperor thought it was benevolent, didn't he?He must have thought that a bowl of decoction would sterilize them, but he took the trouble to make them temporarily unable to conceive.

She pressed her abdomen tightly, feeling chills in her heart, this is the emperor's house!No matter how much favor you have, no matter how deep your favor is, it is nothing more than heaven and earth in a single thought.Her feet felt weak for a while, and she crouched down a little timidly.It happened that Ling Yunche passed by after changing shifts, and seeing her huddled underground behind the Nuan Pavilion, he hurriedly said: "My lady, my lady, what's wrong with you?" Ruyi hurriedly covered her mouth, motioned for him to cover it, and shook her head desperately.Yun Che dragged her to the porch of the apse, and said in a low voice, "Is your empress uncomfortable?"

Ruyi forced herself to stand up: "It's okay, you go back." She broke away from his hand, although she felt that his ordinary concern at this time made her feel a breath of warmth amidst the huge shock and confusion just now, but She understands that such a gaffe of herself cannot be seen by others.She walked to the apse in a daze, just about to ask her if she found the earring, but seeing her like this, she knew that she couldn't ask any more, so she hurriedly sent someone out to wait for her to take a bath alone. Ruyi immersed her whole body in the hot water, only in this way could she feel a trace of warmth.The water used for bathing is the most particular. According to the season, it is boiled with cardamom flowers and squeezed juice of bergamot. It is mellow and refreshing, and the chaotic brain gradually calms down.Ruyi was silent for a long time, then he let out a long breath, turned his face blankly, and asked dumbly: "Xingxin, do you think there will be a day when the emperor will not allow me to have a child?"

Not knowing what happened, Song Xin hurriedly covered Ruyi's mouth and said, "My lord, what are you talking about?" Ruyi felt his face was stiff, so he rubbed his sore cheeks and said, "Yeah, I'm just talking nonsense." The lingering aroma of cardamom flowers soaked in hot water surrounded Ruyi, she wondered hesitantly in the intoxicated sweetness, should Concubine Shu know?Perhaps, Concubine Shu loved the emperor, so she made lucky bags every day in Baohua Hall to pray for blessings during the days when the emperor was seriously ill and could not see each other, but she didn't mention her hard work after the emperor recovered.If she knew, she would be very sad, right?However, she is such a lonely and proud woman. "

So no!Must not let her know!Even if it is a scam, I would rather be cheated of happiness than the pain of being stabbed with a blunt knife after waking up.She tightly covered her mouth and submerged her whole body. When she returned to her bedroom after bathing and changing clothes, the emperor also changed into bright yellow pajamas and was waiting for her.On the high beams of the sleeping hall of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, bright yellow brocade curtains hang down all over the sky, and the top-quality red sandalwood incense is burning inside the Panlong Jinding in the corner, and the blue smoke gradually spreads upwards and fades away. The whole hall is solemn and quiet.The moment Ruyi stepped in, her expression eased, she was as gentle as usual. The emperor lowered his eyelids, and said lazily: "It smells like bergamot, it smells so good." He stretched out his hand to her, with a half smile, "Come on, come closer, let me smell it carefully, as if there is cardamom sweetness." Ruyi smiled quietly, and walked to the double-crane copper candlestick in front of the couch, and was about to blow out the candles, when panicked and hasty footsteps sounded outside, and the knocking on the door was obviously out of proportion. No rules! Come in and talk!" It was Zhao Yitai who was beside the queen who rushed in. His whole face was distorted, and he yelled, "Your Majesty! It's not good! It's not good! Seventh elder brother's wet nurse has acne! Seventh elder brother is also tight!" Followed by acne! He, he is infected with acne!" Ruyi's heart skipped a beat, almost losing the rhythm it should have.The long-standing resentment gnawed silently in her body like ants, and became more profound as time went by.Didn't she never think about what would happen if she listened to Mo Xin and moved her hand?However, the dark thoughts that flashed through her heart came to the world in such a thorny and smooth manner.Before she had time to carefully distinguish whether it was pity or accident in her heart, the emperor stood up abruptly, knocking over the double-crane copper candlestick beside him, and the flames burned along the bright yellow green gold coiled dragon tent. The Seventh Prince Yong Cong died four days later, on the twenty-ninth day of the twelfth lunar month in the twelfth year of Qianlong.It was the night before New Year's Eve, and his body, which had come to this world prematurely, could not withstand any seemingly minor ailments, let alone such a menacing disease as pox.Even with the hard work of all the imperial doctors, they couldn't make it to the new year. The queen fainted the moment she saw her own son die in her arms, and became sick with grief, unable to get up again. The emperor murmured in grief: "Tomorrow is the 30th day of the twelfth lunar month. After tomorrow, Lian's Yong Cong will be one year older." In his great grief, he issued an edict: "The seventh son of the emperor, Yong Cong. Yu Cui Zhong The palace, the nature has become Suhui. Just two weeks later, the strangeness is different. The Empress Dowager is the most intelligent because she came from the rightful wife. I also hope that the upbringing can be established, and it can be inherited. I don’t want to have acne. I am deeply saddened by the passing away." However, no matter how deep the grief of the living is, it will be futile to exchange for the dead child. With the pain of bereavement, this new year is naturally extremely gloomy.After the first day of the new year, the emperor began to solemnly attend the funeral for his beloved son.On the second day of the first lunar month, Yong Cong's body was put into the "golden coffin".Kings, ministers, officials and princesses, Fujin and others gathered to express their condolences.On the fourth day of the lunar new year, the "golden coffin" was moved outside the city for a temporary rest, and the prince's guards were set up along the way.On the sixth day of the lunar new year, Yongcong was given the posthumous title of "Prince Mourning Min".On the eleventh, the "first sacrifice ceremony" was performed, with 10,000 gold and silver paper ingots, 10,000 paper money, and 31 feasts.The nobles of the clan and the wives of the inner court gathered at the sacrificial hall to salute. Twenty-three, perform the "big sacrifice".Emperor Qianlong visited the sacrificial place in person and offered three honors. No matter how grand the funeral ceremony is, it cannot wash away the emperor's mourning.The eldest son died young, and the empress was seriously ill. Naturally, the concubines had to express their condolences.Ruyi assists in managing the Six Palaces, and spends all her energy and energy in taking care of the affairs of Yong Cong's death, in order to maximize the sorrow and glory.Even in private, I couldn't let go of my suspicions and went to ask Hailan.Hailan showed her same surprise and shock with a dumbfounded attitude, but she clapped her hands and cheered: "It turns out that if we don't do anything, God will not let her go!" That night, Ruyi was going to the Changchun Palace to visit the grief-stricken empress, but on the side of the long street outside the Changchun Palace, with a fleeting glimpse, she saw Concubine Mei in plain clothes and silver ornaments, looking at the desolate empress. The Changchun Palace, which is wrapped in white, has a charming smile leisurely.For some reason, Ruyi thought of that day, the day Concubine Mei gave birth to that weird child.Such a beautiful smile had indeed not appeared on her face for a long time. While pondering like this, she couldn't stand the repeated urgings of the Three Treasures beside her: "Your Majesty, we are waiting for you to preside over the matter of saving lives in Baohua Palace." She shook her head and left. On the fourth day of February in the thirteenth year of Qianlong, the emperor enshrined the empress dowager, and wanted to take the empress and concubine to the east to tour Qidi and Ludi.Emperor Qin, Han and Wu both made tours to the east, especially when they climbed Mount Tai to enshrine Zen. The emperor took the throne for thirteen years. He thought that the country was stable and the people were prosperous. Looking around the world, the only problem was his son. However, he was trapped in the palace. It's just that he looked sad, so he moved to follow the example of the emperor's east tour. Ever since Yong Cong passed away, most of the Empress' spirits have been exhausted.In the month after the new year, she lay on the bed like a ghost, except for tears and despair, she could no longer see anything bright in her eyes. The news brought by the imperial physician even made her lose the will to support. Qi Lu shook his head after getting the empress's pulse: "Empress, you were too anxious to conceive in those days. You gave birth to the prince when you were old and weak, so the prince gave birth prematurely and was born weak. And you also suffered a lot. Colleagues in the Imperial Hospital have diagnosed and treated her, and if the empress wants to have another child, I'm afraid she won't be able to." When hearing these words, the queen's eyes were only dry.The faint wry smile looked extraordinarily sad at the corners of her weak and drooping mouth, she just stared at the plain melon roof, and said slowly: "Thank you, doctor." Too much sadness and despair finally destroyed her body like termites eating wood.The queen suddenly aged like forty people, and at first glance she was no different from the queen mother who was still in her prime.Su Xin combed the blue hair winding on the pillow for her little by little, and the white hair that grows every night is as shocking as autumn grass withered.While combing for her, Su Xin tried to cover her white hair with black hair as much as possible, but she couldn't cover it no matter what.Su Xin was in a hurry and couldn't help shedding tears silently.The queen lay sideways on the bed, looked at the hair in Su Xin's hands, and she didn't feel anxious or sad at all, she just said indifferently: "What's there to cry about? I'm already old." This is the first time that the empress has called herself "I" since she was canonized. Su Xin has known that the empress cherishes the word "Ben Gong" when her title is confirmed. How terrified.It was only then that Su Xin realized that the woman she had served for many years had lost her heart. The queen turned her body sideways, and made a slight rustling sound, her voice sounded extremely exhausted: "A queen who can't bear any more children and can't pass on an heir, what does it matter if she is old or dead? Let alone a few strands of blue hair That's all." Su Xin looked at each other with tears in her eyes, and her hands trembled a little: "Empress, don't worry, you have accumulated good fortune and good deeds, God has mercy on you, there will definitely be a prince!" The queen leaned on the pillow, her expression was as calm as a person who was about to die.She was silent for a long time, then suddenly laughed softly, the laughter sounded too much desolation and panic in the palace that was as quiet as an abyss: "I can't, my body can't do it anymore. Su Xin, I can't keep my Yong Lian and Yong Cong. Is it all retribution?" Su Xin knelt in front of the queen's bed, shook her head desperately and said, "Empress, no, no. You just guarded against those who should be guarded, and you didn't kill them. What is the point of retribution?" There was a faint cry from outside the hall, and the queen listened intently for a moment: "Who is crying? Why did you cry for me so early?" Su Xin hurriedly said: "Empress, the third princess is outside. She always wanted to come in to see you, but thought you were asleep, so she dared not come in. The princess has been waiting for a long time." The queen sighed softly: "Then let her in." Princess Hejing's stepping in did not make the queen react too much. She was still lying quietly among the piles of beautiful quilts, like a dead leaf that has been drained of water, or a tail that has been out of the water for too long. The fish in the dry lake. After entering the palace, He Jing obviously restrained her crying and tears, tried her best to show a little smile, and gave a deep blessing to the queen whose back was turned to her: "The emperor's mother is safe." The queen closed her eyes for a moment, and said indifferently, "You are the emperor's only direct princess, standing in front of Changchun Palace and crying, it's too disrespectful." He Jing had a sore nose: "Emperor Niang, I am worried about you." The queen's expression was cold and cold, and she said in an admonishing tone: "You are the direct princess of the Qing Dynasty, so don't forget your identity at any moment. Besides, your brother is dead, so what's the use of crying?" He Jing's tears burst into tears: "Emperor Niang, Yong Cong and the second elder brother have all left Huang Erniang, but Huang Erniang still has a daughter. The daughter will also be your support and will give you confidence. " The queen opened her eyes suddenly when she heard the words, sat up straight with difficulty, and looked up and down at He Jing.He Jing had never seen the queen look at him with such eyes, and felt terrified, he was stared at by the queen, and gradually lowered his forehead. The queen sneered coldly: "Daughter? What's the use of a daughter? With a son, a daughter is the icing on the cake; without a son, a daughter can't even compare to the charcoal that is needed. But talk is better than nothing." Although the queen's love for her daughter is far less than that of the prince, she has never said such heart-wrenching words.He Jing was very proud. He had never heard such words, and was forced to shed tears: "Emperor Niang, do you just look down on your daughter like this?" The queen shook her head sadly, and stretched out her hand to slowly caress her daughter's face, but the gesture didn't have much warmth, but a hint of exploration: "It's not that the empress looks down on her daughter, but on herself. Like me Er Niang, who can't even keep her son, no wonder your Huang Ama is sad, these days are gradually not coming." He Jing was hurting himself. Hearing what the queen said, he raised his eyes angrily, clenched his fists and said, "Yong Cong died less than a month ago, and Huang Ama has been hanging around Chungui Concubine and Jia Concubine these days. In the palace. After all, they are just concubines, so why not let Huang Ama come to comfort and accompany you?" The queen caressed her emaciated and out of shape face, the dry and slack feeling made her feel frightened even when she touched her hand.She smiled bitterly and said, "If your Huang Ama doesn't come by herself, neither can anyone else. Mrs. Er is old, and she doesn't even have a son. Of course, your Huang Ama likes a young and delicate woman who has a son. Your Huang Ama has If the other princes accompany you, you will soon forget about Er Niang and Yong Cong." He Jing couldn't help weeping: "Why is Queen Mother so depressed? You are the queen, Huang Ama's only concubine! If you are discouraged yourself, what do you want to teach your daughter? Huang Ama has Concubine Jia, there are pure noble concubines, Xian noble concubines, and other elder brothers, but you are the only daughter!" She turned her face away sadly, "I don't know that the emperor's mother is sick like this, Huang Ama has already planned to tour the east , I want to take the six concubines headed by Concubine Xian and Concubine Chun to the land of Qilu. They will go to Mount Tai and the Temple of Confucius. This is Huang Ama’s first east tour since he became the throne 13 years ago. You are the mother of the world, How could you not go?" The queen was at a loss for a moment, then was deeply shocked and puzzled, she looked at Su Xin and said, "Why doesn't this palace know about the east tour?" Su Xin was a little timid: "Actually, the emperor always hoped that the empress would go on a tour of the east, but he was just worried that you would be too sad, and your illness was not recovered, and you would not be able to withstand the exhaustion of the horses and horses, so I never told you..." Two lines of tears welled up in the Queen's eyes: "Ben Gong hasn't gone with Yong Cong yet, are they all going to die as Ben Gong?" He Jing looked at the Queen's grief and anger, and smiled unconsciously: "Of course not! The Queen Mother can ask such a question, and I am really happy for the Queen Mother!" She held the Queen's hands tightly and knelt on the Queen's bed. In front of him, "Emperor Niang, it doesn't matter, even if the second brother and Yong Cong are gone, you are the queen, and you are still the unshakable queen. Although the son-in-law is useless, at least it is the only daughter of Huang Ama and you, son-in-law I will definitely support you, Queen Mother, and we, mother and daughter, will go well and well. Don't worry!" At this moment, all the will of the queen was irritated by the determination and refusal to admit defeat in He Jing's eyes. She couldn't help stretching out her hand to straighten her disheveled temple hair, and said in a deep voice: "Su Xin, go and send the message to the imperial physician of Qi. Ask him to take a good look."