Chapter 2 The second chapter is good
This sentence is a sharp blade, cutting through Ruyi's depression and sorrow, "The emperor likes the new and never tires of the old. This kind of temperament has been known since I married him. But the emperor has never been moved by the feelings of children. Back then, I never deceived my mind to the imperial concubine Huixian and the imperial concubine Shujia. But today you have seen with your own eyes, the emperor’s confused expression when he saw Hanxiang! Hailan, I have been with the emperor for most of my life. I have had too many women, but I have never seen him look at a person with such eyes."
"The emperor is good at drinking, so he seldom gets drunk. But the way the emperor looks at Han, even the best wine can't be that intoxicating." Hailan laughed at herself, "I was once favored by the emperor. People are just so different." Her weakness was only momentary, and soon she became indifferent, "However, I will not be as sad as my sister, or as lost as my concubine Ling. I knew it was something I would never get. , give up your desire for him. It's a pity that my sister won't understand."
Ruyi was in a daze, "Yes. I just don't understand, that's why I dissuaded the emperor in public. I'm very stupid, right?"
Hailan stroked Ruyi's hand comfortingly, "It doesn't matter if you say it right or wrong. My sister is a queen, so there must always be a sound of dissuasion. But a few words are enough. My sister knows where Chengqian Palace is. Shuncheng Qiankun is a place where non-beloved concubines cannot live. Unexpectedly, Chengqian Palace has been vacant for decades, and finally a widow of a rebellious minister was allowed to live in it."
Ruyi was very sad. She pulled up her sleeves and used the gesture of avoiding the dust to cover up the pain that was uncontrollable in this short moment, "What I don't understand the most is that the emperor has a big heart all his life. Will the old man talk about youth madness, such a fanatical and obsessive love for a girl he met for the first time? Have you ignored the opinions of his subjects? The emperor cherishes fame the most, and even for her, he didn't even want it!"
"The emperor is stubborn, and is rarely shaken by others. My sister must firmly remember this point, and never hurt yourself with an egg. On the other hand, people will always go crazy once in their life. In the past, the emperor liked Concubine Shu's coldness, Wouldn't it be interesting to meet someone who is more wild and unruly now? So, sister, don't do anything on the cusp of the storm. No matter how dissatisfied others are, they won't really make a sound." Flying wantonly in the sky.Hailan stretched out her hand to cover the flying dust in front of her eyes, and said softly, "Sister, the scene in front of you is chaotic and will only dirty your eyes. Close your eyes, we won't look."
Ruyi forced herself to be quiet, "If you don't look or listen, can you not exist?"
Hailan said calmly: "The most important thing is to focus on what is in front of you and yourself." She snorted suddenly, with a hint of contempt, "However, sister doesn't have to care so much, maybe things are not that bad. You said, why did the Emperor marry Concubine Shujia, Concubine Huixian, Concubine Ying, Concubine Xun and Concubine Xin?"
Ruyi instantly understood the contempt in Hailan's eyes, "Of course I understand that marriage is the best way to win over and appease. Maybe the emperor really has this intention, but the Han family is so staunch, I'm afraid it would be bad to force it!"
Hailan's smile was meaningful, "For hunters, untameable prey are the most interesting to hunt."
In the moment of silence, there was rain pouring down, splashing and splashing, splashing dust and mud all over the ground.Ruyi and Hailan stood under the eaves, watching the violent rainwater rushing down the eaves, dyeing the vermilion palace walls into blood-red crimson, and the entire palace was shrouded in a huge cloud. In the mist, it is hazy to see the way.
A long time later, Ruyi recalled the days when Xiangjian first entered the palace, and felt that those days were so hazy.People are like walking in a thick fog, not knowing where they are.About every day, there will be shocking new news, which makes her feel that peace is something that is hard to come by.
And the hot and cold weather in spring, mixed with the dampness of spring rain, timely found the best excuse for Ruyi's bedtime illness.And her sickness and closed door are exactly the same as the empress dowager's behavior of praying for Buddha in a closed palace, which is the best silent and embarrassing footnote for the chaos in the harem.
Naturally, the concubines complained the most, but this did not hinder the emperor's enthusiasm and persistence in frequenting Chengqian Palace.Because grievances are grievances, curses are curses, obedience and timing are the best rules of survival, and no one will really come across the emperor and vomit bitterness to him.
Thus, the days of the harem of the Forbidden City lingered forward in such a strange and eager atmosphere.
However, everyone's eyes, without exception, turned to Chengqian Palace, which was on the cusp of the storm.In fact, even if they took advantage of the weather to avoid lying in Yikun Palace, wouldn't the disturbances outside be swept into their ears one by one?
For example, when Xiangjian really realized why she moved to Chengqian Palace as the main seat, she cried like crazy, raised her sword several times and tried to rush out of Chengqian Palace, but was surrounded by guards led by Ling Yunche.It wasn't until the emperor sent her father's handwritten letter, asking her to live in the palace to honor the emperor, that she calmed down like deathly silence after the collapse.
For example, the emperor sent all the treasures he had collected over the years to Chengqian Palace, just for Boxiang to see and smile.But she didn't even want to lift her eyelids, just treating her like nothing.If she gets angry, while crying, she will break the rewards into pieces, like silk and forged cloth, she will take the scissors and cut them one by one, all the while sneering.Every time the emperor came, she also looked at each other indifferently, without saying a word.Even if the emperor brought her the news of the tribe, she would speak sarcastically and never smile.
For example, she refused to change her plain white clothes, and only prayed to her true god in the palace every day to bless Han Qi's peace after death, and also to show that she was Han Qi's widow.The emperor never forced her to do this, and only ordered the Ministry of Internal Affairs to rush to make her tribal clothes day and night, or embroidered with gold, or inlaid with beads, all of which were extravagant for her to enjoy.As for Xiangjian, she just put it aside and replaced it with the old shirt she brought.
For example, after she prayed every day, she only focused her eyes on the direction of her hometown, completely disregarding looking through the autumn water, and she could not penetrate the heavy palace walls.And the emperor, just behind her, looked at her figure obsessively, even if he sat quietly all day, he would not get bored.
For example, the emperor took pity on her homesickness and loneliness, and ordered the imperial dining room to deliver her hometown meals every day, striving to be exquisite and delicious.She was unhappy.The emperor sent someone to send her former maid to serve in the palace, but he thought there was not enough manpower, so he invited some of her people who were good at singing and dancing to enter the palace to entertain her, but it made Xiang Jianjian feel homesick and even shed tears.
The emperor has never had such patience and enthusiasm. Ever since Xiangjian entered Chengqian Palace, the emperor must visit her three or five times a day.The rest all passed through the gate of the palace but did not enter, causing the Sangong and Six Courtyards to complain.And that complaint, the emperor naturally couldn't hear it.It was also fortunate that Xiang treated the emperor so coldly, and when the emperor was disappointed, he went to sit with Yan Wan, concubine Xin, and concubine Ying for a while to comfort him.
But the signs of Liugong's cold treatment have already begun to appear.
This is enough to make every woman who has been exposed to rain and dew uneasy.Even Concubine Wan felt sorry for herself, "Since the time when I buried my residence, my concubines have been with the emperor for a long time, but if you say that the emperor has fallen in love with a woman so far, I have never seen any of my concubines."
Hailan was by her side, took Ruyi's body-replenishing decoction, and blew softly, "Don't listen to these words, empress, it's not good for the phoenix's body. You should drink the decoction quickly, it will be more bitter when it's cold."
Ruyi took a sip of the decoction and frowned unconsciously.Those on the left and right are decoctions that calm the liver, regulate qi, nourish blood and nourish the kidney, and they are not bad for people.Concubine Wan probably realized that these words would arouse jealousy in a woman's nature, so she pursed her lips in embarrassment, took a slice of pear and chewed it, and sighed softly: "The empress has not gone out these days, I heard that The third elder brother has been reprimanded by the emperor again."
Ruyi quickly raised her eyes to look at Hailan, took the silk tied on the jade bracelet and wiped the corners of her lips carefully, "Yes, I'm almost like a frog at the bottom of a well after staying for so long. Concubine Wan, what's the matter? "
Concubine Wan couldn't bear it and said: "Since the third elder brother married Fujin and moved out of the palace, the emperor has seen that he has a much more peaceful temper, and the father and son can also chat a few words. I heard... I heard that the third elder brother offended the emperor because of his careless words." Her words were vague, making people anxious.
Hailan understood, rinsed Ruyi's mouth with clear water, and then said: "It was also a matter of two days ago, and the third elder brother came to the palace to greet him that day. The emperor just talked to him a few more words when he was interested, and asked about the situation outside the palace. Stories and people. Elder Brother San is also an honest person who doesn’t know taboos, so he said that there are rumors outside, that the Han family who has just entered the palace is a bewitching concubine, Kefu, and a dead family, and now he is going to enter the palace again to shake the Qing Dynasty.”
Wanpin shook her head and said: "Third Elder Brother is also confused, how can you say these words to the emperor, don't you know that the emperor doesn't like to hear these words that report sorrow but not good news?"
Ruyi sighed apprehensively, leaned on the pillow and coughed a few times, reluctantly said: "The emperor's temperament is always careless, and the third brother will inevitably suffer."
Concubine Wan's eyes contained a ray of sorrow, "The emperor saw that the words were not speculative, so he asked about the body of the pure noble concubine. The empress also knew that since the third elder brother was reprimanded by the emperor and refused to be a prince, he has become a pure noble concubine. It's a heart disease. I'm always afraid that father and son won't get along, and I worry about it day and night. Now even though I'm devoting myself to practicing Buddhism, most of my anxiety is caused by this incident."
Ruyi didn't know how the emperor angrily scolded the elder brother and the third elder brother in front of the coffin. The scene of being furious was still vivid in my mind many years later.
Hai Lan said with a gentle feeling: "Sister Wanpin is right. The emperor never liked the third elder brother being spoiled and spoiled. After this incident, the father and son became more and more separated. Now it is a little bit better, and the third elder brother is too heartless. He opened his mouth and came. Probably because he felt sorry for Chun Guifei's sister, who was not feeling well and was left out in the cold, so she felt sorry for Emiang."
Ruyi was alert immediately, couldn't help standing up, and asked eagerly, "What did Yongzhang say?"
Hailan and Concubine Wan glanced at each other, both hesitant to speak, but it was Hailan who said first: "Of course the third elder brother talked about the illness of Concubine Chun, alas, it is pitiful after all. Except for the banquet in the palace, Concubine Chun has been a vegetarian every meal, praying for the safety of her children. But the third elder brother bumped into it by himself, saying that Concubine Chun's illness was not serious, but it was the Han family who entered the palace and was restrained! The emperor was angry at that time , It is worth remembering the foolish words outside, and the third elder brother is worth remembering to bring it to Yuqian to chew on him, saying that he is getting worse and worse. After scolding for more than half an hour, he was ordered to be thrown out of the palace. Alas, Han's heart Stubborn, the emperor couldn't get what he wanted, so he poured all his anger on the third elder brother. He was so frightened that the third elder brother had a high fever and fell into a coma after returning home."
Ruyi's heart skipped a beat when she heard this, and she said anxiously: "Brother San is timid and has nothing in his heart. Seeing the emperor is like a mouse seeing a cat. Now I'm not scared out of my wits!"
Wan Concubine covered her heart, and said in a panic: "Isn't it just frightened! The imperial doctor has already gone to see it, and said that it is frightening and frightening, directly rushing to the pulse of the heart, I am afraid it is..."
Ruyi heard the ominous situation, and scolded: "Don't talk nonsense! Yongzhang is so big, and his blessings are still to come." She paused, straightened her disheveled temple hair, and said softly: "If you have time, go and see it for me. Look at Concubine Chun, I'm afraid she's worried! I also persuade her, it's fine for the emperor to get angry, don't take it to heart." Concubine Wan couldn't be more soft-hearted, and she agreed with Hailan.
Ruyi is still worried, "Yongqi..."
Hailan was calm and composed, "Empress, don't worry. The concubine has told Yongqi that he will not make the same mistakes as his brother." Ruyi felt at ease when she heard Hailan's words.The woman in front of her has been polished by favor, honor and disgrace, and has been cruelly carved by the hands of time, like a greengage that was picked and left behind.For a long time, it is reassuring.
But that peace of mind is only the power endowed by the outside.For a while, the three of them were silent.In the ups and downs in his heart, he didn't know whether he was feeling sorry for Luyun's fate, or worried about Yongzhang's future.The hall was quiet, only the sound of water splashing down the glazed tiles could be heard from all around.
The rare torrential downpour in spring filled the air with lingering and sticky water vapor, washing away the scent of the burning sandalwood in the hall.While they were silent, they saw a person rushing in wet from outside, but it was Li Yu's apprentice Xiao Xia who was following him.He rolled in like a water man, bluffing Wanbi to avoid him.Ruyi patted in a panic, looked intently, and said solemnly, "Why are you coming here in such a panic at this time?"
Xiao Xia thought she was in a hurry, she couldn't tell whether it was water or tears on her face, and said with a mournful face: "Master can't go away, so I asked the servant to come and inform the empress, the pure noble concubine made the emperor furious, and received a heart-warming blow." The feet are vomiting blood. The emperor told her to go back to the palace to raise her, but she didn't listen, she was kneeling in the heavy rain outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation."
Ruyi only felt her heart tightening, she knew Luyun's body, the cough had hurt her lungs, it was already a serious illness, how could she bear such suffering.She heard her voice change the melody, "What's going on? How could the well-behaved emperor be so angry?"
Xiao Xia let out a "squeak" and said: "It's not that Concubine Chun was worried about Third Elder Brother, and struggled to come over to plead with the Emperor, but her inadvertent words made the Emperor hate him, so... just couldn't hold it back for a while."
Wanpin was timid, she was so frightened that she burst into tears.Xiao Xia said: "Your Majesty knows that the Empress Dowager doesn't care about things now. If this continues, I'm afraid someone will die. Master has no idea, so I invite the Empress Dowager to take a look."
Ruyi's heart was on fire when she heard that, she got up on her feet, called Rong Pei to change clothes and freshen up, and then said: "Concubine Wan, I'm afraid this matter will be very hectic. You go to Zhongcui Palace and wait for someone to burn you." It’s hot water, prepare ginger soup, and ask the imperial physician to prepare it.”
Concubine Wan hurriedly wiped away her tears.Hailan quietly grabbed Ruyi's sleeve, and said worriedly: "This matter involves the Han family, sister really wants to go into this muddy water?"
Ruyi walked in a hurry, tied a large robe on her thin body, and gathered up a green mist girl, "Lvyun has been with us for many years, even if there is a misunderstanding, but the kindness is not small. I don't want to see her just like this die."
Seeing Rong Pei tidying up Ruyi's makeup, Hailan took a twelve-fold bamboo bone umbrella, her words were clear and firm, "Then, this concubine will hold an umbrella for my sister, and we will walk through the wind and rain."
When Ruyi and Hailan arrived outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, they separated for a long time before they saw the tiny figure kowtowing in front of the white marble steps.Even with the little eunuch holding an umbrella by her side, she was completely drenched by the rain, and her clothes were thinly attached to her body, and she was suddenly chilled.
Ruyi hurriedly took off the Xiaying purple embroidered gardenia scatter-flowered Qiansha cloak, wrapped her head and face around Luyun, and said in a deep voice, "If you have anything to say, I'll talk about it when I go back to the palace. You are not allowed to abuse your body here."
Luyun was crying so hard that she held on to Ruyi's sleeves and wept loudly, "Empress, my concubine's Yongzhang has a high fever and is unconscious. It's almost impossible! My concubine came to ask the emperor to forgive Yongzhang's crimes." , this child is unintentional, he didn't intend to contradict the emperor on purpose! Empress, don't worry about my concubine, please beg the emperor to forgive Yongzhang for my concubine!"
Hailan hurriedly supported Luyun, dragged her up desperately, and prevented her from kneeling in the turbulent rain and puddles, "Sister Concubine, get up quickly, your body is important. Yongzhang is sick, everything depends on you." I'm looking at you. Why do you bother to bring up this matter again in the emperor's anger!"
Hearing this, Luyun became even more sad, "Empress, you don't know that Yongzhang is so ill and confused, and you still call him Huang Ama, and keep saying 'Huang Ama, calm down'. As his concubine Mother-in-law, I really can't bear it!"
Ruyi signaled the maid to come forward to help her, and comforted her, "Don't worry, after a few days, the emperor will definitely understand." Luyun was dragged half leaning on the maid, her eyes were full of tears, her face was pale Terrible.Ruyi looked at it with concentration, even more startled.Even though it was washed by the rain, there were still spots of dark purple blood stains on Lu Yun's skirt, which was shocking.
Ruyi hurriedly said: "Why did you vomit blood, but where is the injury?"
Kexin said with tears in her voice: "Empress, the emperor was so angry that he kicked the young master in the heart. The young master couldn't guard against it, so he vomited blood."
The rain was caught off guard, and the rain in spring was still cold. After standing for a long time, the rain fell like a whip, causing pain on the face and body.She is still like this, not to mention that Luyun has been ill for a long time.However, Luyun refused to leave no matter what, and struggled to kneel on the ground, "Empress, please be merciful, let the concubine kneel here until the emperor calms down!" She raised her face and cried out in pain: "Your Majesty, if Whatever punishments you have, let the concubine bear it. It is the concubine's fault that she does not teach her children well." Every time she said a word, she took a step forward and kowtowed heavily.Repeat this several times until you reach the porch in front of the hall, then retreat into the pouring rain and start again.The sound of flesh hitting the brick floor was particularly dull and long in the rain, as if a heavy hammer fell on the heart, causing pain.
After several times, Ruyi couldn't bear it anymore, and hurried up the jade steps to stand outside the door of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.Pleading: "The emperor is merciful, please Gu Lianchun is sick, it is really not suitable to work like this. The emperor calm down and show mercy!"
Her pleading sounded faintly in the rain.Even she herself didn't know whether such a plea would be answered by the emperor.She suddenly felt that she was so insignificant, just like the green yun who kowtowed and mourned unceasingly under the steps, as small as dust.
After an unknown amount of time, the vermilion lacquer-filled golden door of the Hall of Mental Cultivation suddenly opened, and the heavy reverberation between the opening and closing of the door aroused a ray of hope for her.
The emperor's slender figure cast a huge sword-sharp shadow, covering her body that was damp with water vapor.His voice seemed to come from the distant sky, indifferent and distant, "Why don't the empress stay in her own palace, what are you doing foolishly with the crazy woman?"
Ruyi's heart became tense, and she hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, Concubine Chun is ill and offended the Emperor in a moment of confusion. Please forgive me and let her go back to the palace!"
The emperor said coldly: "I never asked her to stay in front of the Hall of Mental Cultivation to show her eyes. She insists on doing so, what can I do?"
Seeing the emperor coming out, Luyun hurriedly crawled forward, grabbed the corner of the emperor's robe, and burst into tears, "Your Majesty! It's the fault of the concubine. The concubine shouldn't have told Yongzhang about the harem, and he shouldn't have told Chengqian Palace. Feeling resentful. But the concubine really didn't mean it, and Yongzhang also said that he didn't mean it, he just said it outright. Your Majesty, you know that he is such a child, so don't argue with him!"
The emperor kicked her hand away, and said in disgust: "You have said this many times, and I am tired of hearing it. You never have any good ideas to teach your children. Yongzhang is cowardly, Yongrong is incompetent, fortunately Jing Yan is a daughter, otherwise you will delay another one." He pointed to Hailan who was standing silently under the corridor holding an umbrella, and he became more and more angry, "You can't learn how Empress Xiaoxian disciplined the prince back then, and it's too big. You can learn from Concubine Yu. She also gave birth to a son, and Yongqi is more promising than your son, but she will not be able to exploit, know how to keep herself safe, and know how to be a good mother. Instead of causing trouble and evil intentions like you !"
Luyun's face turned pale with shock, her breath was like a tide, and she leaned back and almost fell into Ruyi's arms.Ruyi heard the emperor's words in a harsh manner, and knew that she was really angry, so she hurriedly pulled Luyun behind her, and persuaded: "The emperor calms down. Concubine Chungui is already heartbroken because of Yongzhang, she can't afford the emperor's burden." Expensive." "She can't afford it?" The emperor took out something from his sleeve and threw it in front of Luyun, "I kicked you just now because I was confused, and you deserve it! Back then you did it yourself. It’s a good thing for you, and you dare to say that you are not scheming! You are the same as the imperial concubine Shujia, it is because of a mother like you that you have such an unworthy son!"
Seeing that Luyun's face was pale and she was about to faint, Ruyi hurriedly supported her.Looking around, he saw that what the emperor threw down was a burnt blue gilt bee dot green hydrangea bead flower, the style was very familiar.Ruyi identified them carefully, and said in surprise: "Your Majesty, this pearl flower was given to Concubine Chun by you back then. There are six pairs in total. How could this one be in your hands?"
The emperor was furious, "I know the good deeds she did herself! That day Suxin died strangely, and when she died, she was holding this pearl flower tightly in her hand, so it can be said that it had nothing to do with her!"