Chapter 8 Chapter 8: Empty Moon

Ruyi didn't know how she got out of the Palace of Compassion and Ning, she was fluttering, and her steps were weak.After walking outside Baoyue Tower, her soul finally came back, and her heart sank. Looking up, the person she saw was Wanbi. The westerly wind gradually picked up, sobbing through the palace with red shadows and green fences. The concubine was wearing a brocade shirt with deep bamboo and moonlight Kesi with double stalks and a lotus pattern, and a bucket of pearls and green crepe leather jacket. She looked more and more timid, like a cold pool. Thin Crane.When she saw Ruyi, she bowed timidly, which was very embarrassing.

Seeing that she was wearing a brand new cat's-eye red gold Wu Cuihua tin, Ruyi couldn't help but stop and said with a smile, "A new gift from the emperor? It was just sent by the Ministry of Internal Affairs yesterday." Concubine Wan's face was reddish, and she lowered her face and said: "The emperor misses it, and the concubine will always remember it." As she spoke, her chin almost dropped to her chest, she whispered, "It's just that the concubine hasn't seen the emperor for almost half a year. .” Ruyi sized her up, "You came here to see the emperor?"

Concubine Wan blushed with embarrassment, and hesitated more and more, "No, my concubine is just curious..." She sighed lowly, "My concubine is just curious, what would a woman whom the emperor loves so much look like sitting and standing in daily life? " Ruyi was stunned, and suddenly remembered that there was a rumor in the palace that the concubine Wan had a dementia, and she always liked to spy on the most favored concubine outside the palace gate, and most of the people who usually came and went were women who were favored by the emperor. Thinking about it this way, there are really some shadows.

Hailan, Yihuan, and herself when they were favored in the past, became wan after a while.Even after being estranged from Yan Wan, she just watched quietly, keeping a deliberate distance. It's not that she is following others, and Wanbi is not that kind of person.She has always been the most silent shadow in Yingyan of Liugong. Ruyi said, "Mr. Rong is very beautiful." Concubine Wan's face turned blood red, "No, empress." Her expression was a little solemn, "I like to look at nobles, but because I am curious, whether I can see that I am the emperor from her words and deeds." It’s possible to take another look.” She blushed, the fire in her eyes dimmed, and her sadness and self-pity were like thin silver needles in her indifferent tone, which didn’t see blood when poked into the flesh, “However, my concubines follow them What you see on your body is always impossible. Empress, do you know? What the concubine sees the most and remembers the most is the back of the emperor. Many times the emperor enters the palace through the gate of the concubine, and the concubine is looking forward to , Your Majesty, he might make a mistake once and walk into the concubine's palace. But, never, never once. I can't remember the happy concubine on his face, because it was never for the concubine. But The image of his back is always in the heart of my concubine, when I can't see the emperor, thinking about it for a while will warm my heart for a while."

It's not that she doesn't know Wanbi's past and favor.It's just that even if she was as close as herself, she didn't know that she, who had always been unknown, had such a charming and pure expectation. Ruyi said softly, "Concubine Wan, you are worrying too much." Concubine Wan's eyes were filled with tears, and she said quietly: "The concubine is just the most ordinary woman, with mediocre looks and mediocre talents. She is the most inconspicuous Gege in the hidden mansion, and no one remembers her in the palace." Concubine. The appearance of the emperor's jade tree, the quality of my concubine's willow, and being able to receive the emperor's sunshine overnight is already the most honorable thing in my life." Her obsession burned the thin water in her eyes, "Mr. The concubine didn't dare to think about how much love she would get, but she just wanted to see the concubine more when the emperor happened to pass by the crowd. Therefore, the concubine tried every means to hope that she could be more uncommon, and only then did she find the way she could think of. It's just the most common way."

Those ordinary words, in Wanbi's flat tone, were scraping the rusty blade of her heart, grinding it sharply, without seeing blood, it was still painful.Ruyi listened, without a word of comfort.What can she do?Isn't she one of those thousands of figures? After a while, Ruyi heard her own dry voice: "You have always kept your own place, and the Emperor treats you well." Concubine Wan smiled lightly, desolate and lonely, "The reason for keeping yourself safe is because the concubine has no ability to attract the emperor's attention for a moment. And the emperor has rewarded the concubine a lot in the four seasons, and has never treated the concubine badly. But the empress, the concubine Is it so difficult to stay in the emperor's heart for a while longer?"

Not difficult, no.Affection is never about getting as much as you expect.Perhaps the long-term watch is just to condense your figure into a constant posture of the watchman stone, but not to look forward to a sincere gaze.It was bleak. Concubine Wan looked at Xiang Jian, who was leaning on the railing upstairs and staring at her eyes, shaking her head lightly, with great desire and endless regret, "If my concubine can get one ten thousandth of the favor of the nobleman, I will have no regrets in this life. It's a pity that the nobleman is too generous No regrets." Perhaps all the people in the palace think so.Ruyi watched Concubine Wan leave quietly.Only then did I realize that outside the Baoyue Tower, the same infatuated heart grows up, but it is destined that a pair of people and a heart will not be consummated in the end.

Xiang Jian sat alone on the second floor, leaning on the railing and looking at the prayer hall in the distance, with a bewildered expression, unaware of Ruyi's arrival.When Xiangjian's maid saw Ruyi, she came in like a phoenix and said, "The empress is here. Our young master is just sitting bored, looking at Chang'an Street and the Blessing Hall all day, it's not a problem. " Ruyi smiled lightly, "It's rare to have something she likes, let her go." The maid supported Xiangjian, and when Xiangjian met Ruyi, she got up and gave her a blessing, "My lady is safe."

Ruyi smiled, "The capital is very windy and sandy in October, go in and sit down." The layout of Baoyue Tower is like the second Chengqian Palace, but there are many Hanbu styles in the paint.Originally, many sitting objects and decorations of the Hall of Mental Cultivation have been moved here, which shows that the emperor often comes here. Ruyi didn't look too much, so she asked, "I just came to see Concubine Wan, and I don't know how long I've been looking up at you downstairs in Baoyue." Xiang Jian was indifferent, "I've seen her once or twice. She is very strange, and she never goes upstairs." She sneered, "In the eyes of others, I am also very strange. People in this palace are very strange. It's strange, even entering here has become a monster."

She laughed and spoke freely, and she didn't mind teasing herself with such a sharp tone.Just like her makeup, the wings can be widened and slightly curled, like thin cicada wings, which can cover the scars on her face.But she didn't, the big thorn was exposed to the sky, she didn't care at all. But after all, she was young, and Xiang Jian was also curious, "What is she looking at me for?" Ruyi answered calmly, "Envying your favor is a blessing she can't expect in her whole life." "Ah!" Xiang Jian suddenly realized, "The emperor doesn't love her, right? She treats the emperor just like the emperor treats me. Wishful thinking, it's really meaningless." She immediately smiled indifferently, "However, it's also my own fault. I treat him as I should." Just like how he treats others. Karmic reincarnation is all caused by oneself and suffered by oneself."

Seeing that Xiangjian's expression was not very good-looking when she was talking, she looked sleepy, so Ruyi put aside the topic, "I moved a lot of sandy jujube trees downstairs, and they will definitely look good when they bloom." Xiangjian sneered, "Your majesty thought that these date flowers are what I want? The so-called things change when they leave their homes. When the date tree arrives here, no matter how you move it, it will not grow." There was a pot of carved tourmaline and coral jade on the round table, she tore off a few pieces to play with, and then put it down again, "It was so funny just now. The emperor sent an imperial doctor to recuperate my body so that I can conceive as soon as possible." .” As she spoke, she sneered sharply, like a cuckoo weeping blood, with a desolate look on her face. That laughter made Ruyi's heart sore, "But you have been sleeping for many days, and it is common for you to be pregnant." Xiangjian laughed, "So I asked the imperial physician, I don't want to be pregnant, is there any way to infertility, that coward actually ran away in fright." Hearing that she was so unrestrained, the maid hurriedly brought yogurt lumps and butter glutinous rice to serve, and said with a smile: "Empress, don't be surprised, the young master is so close to you that she speaks so bluntly in front of the emperor." Well, the young master is not like that, but he doesn't like to talk a lot." After finishing speaking, he winked at Xiangjian frequently. Knowing how to protect the Lord is a loyal servant. Xiangjian sighed, had to hold back, and said to Ruyi, "We people in the Han tribe like to eat this, does the empress like it?" Ruyi noticed that the emperor respected Xiangjian's food very much, and set up a small kitchen for Xiangjian to cook alone, so she took a yogurt lump and ate it, "It's excellent. The emperor also misses you." Xiang Jian raised the corners of her mouth, forcing out a smile.Ruyi raised her hand, and Rong Pei opened the small cotton holder in her hand, and carefully took out the soup. "You have what you want, and I have to do it. I sent this bowl of food by the order of the Empress Dowager. Whether you drink it or not is up to you." Xiangjian bit her finger and laughed, as if she had encountered something very interesting, "What? I didn't die myself, and the queen mother also hoped for my death. That's good, the emperor won't blame the queen mother, right? " Seeing her so happy, Ruyi finds it hard to say anything.She had to take a deep breath, and said loudly: "This medicine won't kill you, it just fulfills your wish. Drink it in one gulp, and you won't be able to have children again." Xiangjian let out a long laugh in his chest, without saying a word, picked up the soup cup and poured it down his throat. Her movements were too violent, and a few drops of soup splashed onto her bright blue embroidered dark purple feather pattern skirt, like splashes of fresh blood, solidified dark red.She drank it all in one gulp, and her wide sleeves were rippled like water, showing a kind of resolute freedom and sadness. Xiangjian's lips twitched, and she stared at Ruyi with scorching eyes, "My stomach only bears children of the man I like, and he doesn't need it!" She casually told the maid, "The imperial doctor left not long ago, go Call back." That is indeed a good bowl of medicine, and the effect is very fast.Half an hour later, Xiangjian began to suffer from abdominal pain and collapsed.Ruyi stood outside the bedroom, listening to the busy voices of the imperial physicians and nuns, and heard a painful groan after not smelling the fragrance for a long time. Ruyi sat under the warm sun, the almost transparent sunlight fell on the autumn-scented Xia Yingsha, and the swirling ripples seemed to roll her whole body to the bottom of the sea. Her whole head was empty.There were chaotic sounds of court ladies running in and out, and even the maid serving Xiangjian looked at her with resentment.Yes, everyone could see that she was the one who brought in this bowl of soup and medicine openly and aboveboard. Accompanied by silence, only Rong Pei.She shook Ruyi's hand, "Empress Empress, this is the end of the matter, there is nothing I can do about it." I don't know if it's me or Xiangjian who said this.Ruyi tried her best to smile, only to find that the bottom of her tongue was bitter. The emperor came quickly, almost with wind.He didn't notice that Ruyi was also there, but rushed into the bedroom in a hurry.Soon, the gust of wind turned to her, she got up habitually and bowed her knees to salute, but a resounding clasp came in front of her. He shouted sharply: "Poison woman! What did you give her to drink?" His voice was trembling, broken beyond recognition. Her face was hot for a while, then cold for a while, and at the end, apart from the pain, there was no other feeling. He never scolded her, nor flicked her a finger.Even in the most embarrassing years of the cold palace, even after Yongjing's death, they were estranged to the extreme, never before.He has always been an affectionate, gentle and calm man. But it turns out that there is also today!There is also today! Ruyi's whole body was trembling, as if she couldn't stop it, because she almost gnawed her silver teeth, pinched her fingers, and her limbs became sore and stiff, she couldn't stop it.After trembling for a long time, she unexpectedly calmed down strangely. The sun was a piece of crystal clear ice, which also froze her.After a long while, her hoarse mouthpiece was able to speak, "Your Majesty, so the relationship between you and me has reached this point?" She endured the pain and saluted like a rite, "This bowl of soup is brought by my concubine. The concubine has nothing to say." The emperor's eyes were red and he was about to bleed, "The imperial physician said that Xiangjian would not be able to give birth again. Listen, she is in so much pain that she can't cry!" Ruyi's throat was on fire, and she was about to dry up, "The imperial doctor is right. That bowl of medicine is for the sake of sterility." She paused, breathing hard, "Whether to drink or not is up to you. My own idea. The emperor can be fascinated and desperate for her. Even if he kills the concubine, if he can vent his hatred, the concubine will bear it willingly!" The emperor pointed in the direction of the bedroom, his breathing slowed down in pain, and his chest heaved sharply, "You know she's lying in there, covered in blood! How sad am I? You know that I like Xiangjian so much, if Xiangjian With a child, she will understand me better and follow me..." Her voice was thin and sharp, which hurt the emperor's restless nerves, "But there are many things that cannot be changed! You are willing to stay in the palace and serve the emperor! But the emperor will not get her heart after all." ! It’s just that the emperor himself can’t accept it, it’s just wishful thinking!” She had already received a slap on the face, but it was just a second slap, so what else?He was just like this, with his eyes cutting her skin like a knife, grinding into the flesh bluntly, and the blood was gurgling. She always poked the most untouchable thing in his heart.But with that said, she is probably the only one in the world who dares to give birth.This queen's identity is so majestic, and her body is crowned, but what hurts her bottom is Ruyi's heart.It's ridiculous! What broke the death-like silence was the majestic voice of the Empress Dowager, as if it came from the clouds, unknowable, but it calmed down everyone's panic and confusion.The queen mother twirled the beads, helped Hailan to come steadily, and slowly scanned the crowd.As soon as Hailan came in, she saw Ruyi, but seeing her cheeks were raised, red and swollen, her eyes were red, she quickly lowered her head, and stood behind Ruyi. The empress dowager's old figure looked majestic and irresistible, "The emperor wanted the Han family, and no one stopped you, and you got what you wanted. Since you never mentioned that you want the Han family to have children, the Ai family asked the queen to get rid of the Han family." There is nothing wrong with your future children!" The emperor didn't dare to resist, he opened and closed his lips slightly, like a dried fish.The queen mother sat down slowly, "Emperor, you know what you want to say. I have seen how sad you are. But people who are not of my race must have different hearts. Instead of frequent turmoil when Rihan gives birth to a child, it is better Let her be alone quietly, won your favor, and will also get rid of the resentment of the funeral concubines in the palace." The queen mother's words were impeccable, the emperor had to bow his head, his eyes were cloudy, and agreed "yes".He tried his best to force a smile, but his eyes were fixed on Ruyi, "Emperor Niang has ignored the affairs of the palace for a long time, why does she care about Qi Xiang's meeting?" How shrewd is the Empress Dowager, she doesn't know what the emperor means, "It's really not the queen who came to tell the Ai family. The Ai family only has the emperor's son. Naturally, what the emperor cares about, the Ai family also cares about. It's just that the Ai family has something to say , Sometimes the right amount of love is enough to harm her. Emperor, if it weren't for your overindulgence, no one would have cared about the honor and disgrace of Yihan's life and death. Your doting is too loud, which drove her to a corner." An almost decadent look spread across the emperor's face, and he shook his head slowly, "Even though the empress's mother thought so, this bowl of medicine was brought by the empress. How in the world can you do such a thing of extinction of my heirs?" The queen mother was calm and composed, "The medicine was given to the queen by the Ai family, and it was Han's own idea to drink it. If the emperor wants to blame, he can only blame himself for not being able to get along with Han's willingness to give birth to a child for you." She said, suddenly squeezed Hold the emperor's wrist.The emperor was caught off guard for a while, and suddenly suffered pain, which made his eyebrows twitch together.The Empress Dowager let go of her hand, gently blew the wound on the emperor's behalf, and said with a pleasant face, "You are the son of the Ai family, if you didn't love you and your reputation, you wouldn't be like this." The emperor's face changed suddenly, his eyes were suspicious, but seeing that Ruyi was only looking at him fixedly, without any sign of retreat, he suddenly felt a little guilty.Looking at the little eunuchs behind him, their expressions became a little more stern.Seeing the emperor's stalemate, Hailan took a cup of tea and offered it, "Don't worry, your majesty, speak slowly if you have anything to say. The empress dowager also cares about you." The emperor calmed down a little, took the teacup, moistened his puffy lips, and coughed lightly, "What the queen mother said is absolutely true. All the right and wrong in the palace are caused by jealousy and vying for favor. My son deeply feels that concubines and imperial concubines are the ones who can't help it." I have more time to learn from Concubine Yu. Yuji keeps herself safe and never competes for favor, nor makes mistakes." These words hit Ruyi in the face.He only looked at her like this, and regarded her as a first-class jealous woman. Hearing the emperor's faint anger, Hai Lan still had words of praise for her, but she just smiled modestly, calmly, as usual, "The emperor's praise, the concubine dare not accept it. The concubine respects the virtue of a concubine and dare not go beyond it." " She saluted respectfully, with a gentle yet dignified demeanor, "However, your majesty, the empress is deeply attached to the emperor, so she speaks words that no one else can hear. Isn't this the quality that the emperor has always praised the empress for?" These words were soft but firm, the emperor was speechless for a while, but shouted out from the bedroom, "Your Honor is awake! Wake up!" All the grievances and anger of the emperor were completely left behind at this moment, and he hurried in, oblivious to the empress dowager shaking her head secretly.The imperial physicians and servants below knelt on the ground, looking at Xiangjian who had come to life, as if receiving an amnesty. The emperor put his arms around her shoulders, but he didn't dare to hug her for fear of hurting her, so he had to withdraw his hands and let the maid wipe her face.Xiangjian's eyes were empty and dark, she looked at the top of the tent, gently stroked her stomach, "I can't give birth, can I?" The emperor burst into tears, and shook her hand tightly, trying to ease the warmth of his palm over her weakness and coldness, "Xiangjian, don't be afraid, it's just that you don't have a child... I will treat you well... I..." Before he finished speaking, he was already in tears. Xiang Jian's face became more and more serene, and she raised her body up, like a dead leaf that had been drained of water, lightly holding it in the hands of the maids.Her voice was erratic and weak, as if it would cut off at any moment, "I drink that bowl of medicine myself. I decide whether I will live or not." The emperor's face quickly turned pale. That whiteness was the remnant snow of winter, with the stale air of long-accumulated dust, faintly black.His lips were trembling, he didn't know whether it was anger or sadness.Hailan pursed her lips happily, intently looking at Ruyi's wound. Xiangjian looked at him, her expression softened a little, "Your Majesty, I shouldn't have come to this palace, let alone be favored by you. You just treat me as unlucky and can't bear it. My future child will bear it even more." I'm sorry. If you want me to serve you, I will serve you purely for the rest of my life." A few words are infinitely sad and discouraged. The emperor looked at her in astonishment, and gradually calmed down, "I understand what you mean, what the Queen Mother means. I will restrain my love for you and try not to hurt you." He suddenly got up, and at that moment Quickly regaining her composure and determination in the past, "Li Yu, pass on the decree. Concubine Rong Rong, Concubine Jin Ling, Concubine Ying Concubine Jin Ying, Concubine Qing is Concubine Qing. The queen is tired and powerless. All affairs in the harem will be handed over to Imperial Concubine Ling to take care of them expediently." Ruyi stood there steadfastly, letting the hot tears nibble bit by bit in her eyes, but in the end she refused, refused to shed a drop.