Chapter 5 Chapter Five

The sound of cicadas came densely from among the layers of leaves, and the sound was clearer and clearer.The scorching sun hung high in the sky, like a burning golden plate, radiating heat endlessly.Maids and servants lined up, waiting far away at the entrance of the main hall.Even though ice cubes were placed in the inner hall, it was still as stuffy as a steamer, and people would not stop until they were steamed to sweat. Ruan Wushuang was wearing a plain white short and long skirt, with a snow gauze of the same color on half of her arm.Because it is a national funeral, the palace is all light-colored.Even the soft smoke on the window is only a faint green, looking from a distance, it seems to be a touch of white on the horizon, almost transparent.

Mo Zhu served the chilled chrysanthemum and wolfberry honey water, and muttered: "The weather is getting hotter and hotter, there is no way out!" Mo Ju and two maids were waiting for Ruan Wushuang, who had just woken up from a nap, to wash his hands , turned her head, tut she said: "Don't talk nonsense, haven't you seen the ice cubes in this hall all day long? This season, it is like this. And most of the ice cubes in the entire palace are in this Zhaoyang Hall It's here. What else do you want?" The maids who were holding washbasins and silk scarves next to her burst out laughing.

Ruan Wushuang's mouth curled into a slight smile, her belly was getting bigger and bigger, and she was close to giving birth in the past few days, and the heat was unbearable.Every night, I toss and turn, and I can't sleep peacefully every night.So Baili Haozhe ordered people to send all the ice cubes in the palace to Zhaoyang Palace.Seeing the ice cubes in the round bucket at the corner of the hall slightly steaming, I felt inexplicably comfortable, as if the April breeze was blowing over my body, refreshing and pleasant. At this time, Baili Haozhe has ascended the throne, Ruan Wushuang has also become a queen, and has moved into the Zhaoyang Hall, which symbolizes the identity of the queen of the Baili Dynasty, half a month ago.And the original Empress Ruan, the current Empress Dowager Ruan, has also moved to the Hall of Compassion and Ning, where the empress dowagers of the Baili Dynasty spent their lives.

Ruan Wushuang took the tea presented by Mo Zhu, and stirred it a few times with the white jade spoon, and there was a clear and crisp sound when the bowl and spoon collided occasionally.Smiling slightly, he took a sip of the drink, and the temperature was right: "Auntie, is she still used to living in the Hall of Compassion?" Mo Zhu sent her to the Hall of Compassion and Ning early in the morning to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager.Hearing her question, he stopped playing with Mo Lan, and replied solemnly: "Miss Hui, Aunt Mu said that the Queen Mother is quite used to living here. But... But Aunt Mu said that the Queen Mother is a whole person. Very depressed, refused to eat every day."

After a pause, Fang said again: "Miss, looking at this servant, I also feel that the Queen Mother has lost a lot of weight in recent days..." Although Ruan Wushuang has become a queen now, in the hearts of the maids in the Ruan Mansion, Ruan Wushuang Still their young lady.So between the replies or according to the previous address. Ruan Wushuang frowned slightly, put down the white jade bowl, supported his waist and said, "I'd better go to the Hall of Compassion and Peace." Mo Lan hurriedly stopped her and said, "Miss, Imperial Physician Su said that your The confinement period is just a few days away, take care of the slaves and maidservants to take care of them, and you don't need to worry too much." Ruan Wushuang stood up slowly with one hand supporting her waist.

Mo Lan hurriedly winked at Mo Zhu. Although Mo Zhu likes to play, he is also a clever person, and he has already answered: "Miss, the empress dowager and the first emperor have always had a deep relationship. Now that the first emperor is gone, the empress dowager is naturally a sudden It's hard to accept, it's human nature. Maybe it will get better after a while. Also, the empress dowager also knows the young lady's filial piety. When the slaves went to pay their respects today, the queen mother asked the young lady about her health in the past few days and said that she would The servants and others take care of her carefully, don't go to pay her a visit every day."

Mo Lan then persuaded: "Yes, miss. That's how you go. One thing, the queen mother may not be able to eat right away, and this heart disease still needs to be taken slowly. Two things, it's so hot outside, miss you Now there are two bodies again, if there is an emergency, what should I do?" Ruan Wushuang sighed, and looked into the distance, because of the light green smoky windows, looking at it this way, he could see the shade in the garden was as thick as water, the courtyard was deep, and everything was green. My aunt and the first emperor have been husband and wife for decades, after all, they have a bond of affection.Even if there was always someone in the late emperor's heart, and everything he did was for himself, but after so many years, my aunt still fell into it and couldn't help herself.Only my aunt knows best about how much she has experienced in the past few decades.Otherwise, how could it be that my aunt fell ill as soon as the late emperor left?Things are different, and the hardest thing to bear is this kind of pain.

Just when he was about to sit down, he already felt something strange in his stomach, so he hurriedly supported the table.Standing by the side, Mo Ju already noticed something was wrong, and asked, "What's wrong, miss?" Ruan Wushuang took a deep breath, the pain seemed to be better.But after a while, the pain hit again, wave after wave... Ruan Wushuang grabbed Mo Lan's hand with a pale face, and said, "I guess... I'm going to give birth. Help me to the bed!" Mo Zhu hurriedly raised the curtain, and told the waiting maids and servants: "Quickly, quickly go and invite the imperial physician and midwife." Waiting in the side hall.The servant standing with his hands down hurriedly responded, and ran out like a smoke.

There was not a breath of wind in the air, and it was suffocating.The sweat on the forehead kept dripping down, even if the maids kept wiping it with silk scarves, it was useless, the whole body was covered with sweat, and the whole body was drenched like being drenched in a storm.Ruan Wushuang felt that the pain was flooding in like a tidal wave, and it was so densely engulfed that there was no chance to breathe... She had almost exhausted even the strength to shout. The midwife kept yelling in her ears: "Empress, use your strength, harder..." There was also the voice of Mo Lan, Mo Zhu and others walking back and forth: "Hot water... Hurry up... Change a pot right away!" Come on, serve ginseng soup..." "She feels that people are almost numb, it's not her own..."

In the outer hall of Zhaoyang Hall, red candles were lit on the Golden Beast Candlestick, and the lingering light dragged Baili Haozhe's figure on the white marble floor.He stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the ink-like night. Shi Quanyi, the chief internal servant, came over and reported with a little hesitation: "Your Majesty...the imperial physician said...the Empress Empress has not given birth to a prince at this time, so it is probably...a dystocia." Baili Haozhe turned around abruptly and stared straight at him, his gaze was sharp and silent like a knife.Shi Quanyi was startled for no reason, and hurriedly lowered his head.The newly enthroned emperor had always been introverted when he was a prince, and he was rarely seen smiling, and very few people could guess his thoughts.At this moment, being stared at by him like this, cold sweat dripped down his back, and he said in fear, "Your Majesty, do you want to drive to Fengxian Hall to pray for blessings?" The first hall prays for the blessing of the ancestors of the past dynasties.

Shi Quanyi stood with his head bowed, he didn't hear Baili Haozhe's voice for a long time, raised his head slightly, and saw that Baili Haozhe had strode towards the inner hall, the hem of the apricot-colored robe drew an arc behind him Wire.He hurriedly followed, and hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, you are not allowed to enter the inner hall." Because it would be unlucky, so even if a woman in an ordinary household gives birth, a man is absolutely not allowed to enter the delivery room.What's more, the emperor of the ten thousand chariots. Baili Haozhe stood at the door, and said to the maids waiting on both sides: "Open the door." The voice was not loud, but the maids were already shuddering, and hurriedly opened the door. Shi Quanyi still said from behind: "Your Majesty, you are a body of gold, you must not..." Before the words fell, Baili Haozhe had strode in. He let out a long sigh, turned his head, just saw a few servants under him poking their heads, and said angrily: "What are you looking at, why don't you go to the Hall of Compassion and Ning to invite the Empress Dowager to come over." When a group of people in the inner hall saw Baili Haozhe coming in, they were all stunned in place.Mo Lan and Mo Zhu were the quickest to react, and hurriedly knelt down: "Greetings to the emperor!" Only then did the others wake up, and they all knelt together. Baili Haozhe waved his hands irritably, and said in a tense voice, "Get up." He walked to the bed in three steps at a time, only to see that Ruan Wushuang's eyes were closed tightly, his face was dripping with sweat, and his face was pale. She was as pale as paper, and her lips were even less bloody. He turned his head and stared at the midwife: "What's the situation?" The midwife had never seen Tianyan before, and she was already terrified at this moment. When she saw the emperor's stern question, she knelt down with a plop and kowtowed desperately . Baili Haozhe turned his eyes back to Ruan Wushuang's face, took the silk scarf held by the maid on the plate, and slowly wiped off the sweat from Wushuang's head one by one. People were terrified: "If the queen and the child have a good or bad relationship, all of you here will be buried with me!" In a daze, Ruan Wushuang only felt that someone was holding her hand with great force, as if trying to work hard with her.But she was so numb from the pain that she didn't even want to move her fingers.The man gave her courage in his ear: "Wu Shuang, I've already seen the child's head—come on, use more force! Hurry up, come on, give me some more force, it'll be fine soon..." When the last wave of pain hit like a tsunami, she couldn't bear it anymore, grabbed his hand, exhausted all her strength, and bit it hard... At that moment, she seemed to hear that there was a child The crying "Wow" "Wow" came, and when her eyes went dark, she fell into the boundless darkness. The midwife picked up the child, wiped the child clean with a silk scarf, and hurriedly knelt down: "Congratulations to the emperor, congratulations to the emperor, you are a prince!" When everyone heard this, they hurriedly knelt down: "Congratulations to the emperor, congratulations to the emperor!" Baili Haozhe took the child, the little baby was just a thin ball in his palm, wrinkled and red like a kitten.Suddenly, as if he had sensed it, he opened his eyes slightly, and then closed them immediately.Although small, the nose and eyes are vivid and very cute. He couldn't tell what it felt like, it seemed like a warm current was passing through his heart, slowly flowing through every corner of his body.Smiling, he leaned over and said to Ruan Wushuang, "Wushuang, come, take a look at the child." Ruan Wushuang didn't move as if unconscious.He didn't know why, but his heart tightened as if being grabbed by someone, and he couldn't help reaching out to check her breath.The place where the fingertips touched was still warm and humid, and only then did he let go of his hanging heart a little.Turning to Mo Lan and Mo Zhu, he said, "Hurry up, tidy up the queen, and send the imperial physician to take the pulse." In a blink of an eye, it is autumn, and the cool breeze is refreshing.The breeze blows through the leaves, leaving a subtle rustling sound, listen carefully, as if there is something like rain. Mo Lan brought a few maids to present a cup of bird's nest with almonds and a few delicate dots.Ruan Wushuang was pruning the flower branches in the official glaze painted porcelain, her black hair was only slightly tied up in a slanted phoenix bun.Although the little prince had only been born for a few months, her figure had already slimmed down. She was wearing a purple skirt with wide sleeves and plain gauze.Looking at it from a distance, Mo Lan only felt that she looked more graceful and graceful than before when she was in the prime minister's mansion. Mo Lan motioned to the maids behind him to gently put the snacks on the table, and then waved them down.Called: "Miss!" The tone was a little different from usual.Ruan Wushuang has been with her since she was a child, so she can naturally tell the difference clearly. She only cares about the movements of her hands without raising her eyelids, and said plainly, "What is it?" Mo Lan stepped forward, with a very cautious expression, and looked back again, the servants and maids were standing far outside the door.So he lowered his voice and said: "Yesterday, some ministers played a book to the emperor, saying that the new emperor ascended the throne, the sixth palace is empty, and the sixth palace should be expanded. It is suggested that the emperor choose a concubine." Ruan Wushuang's hand paused for a moment, then turned her head slightly, a slanted beaded emerald tassel on the slanted phoenix bun was drawing a small arc with her movements, trembling, looking small and delicate: "These How did you find out about the imperial court?" Ruan Wushuang never asked about political affairs, and he didn't like to inquire.The few personal maids around her knew her temperament, and they seldom talked about court affairs.Today, Mo Lan will disregard her preferences and mention it like this, I am afraid that these ministers are not ordinary people! Mo Lan pursed her lips and smiled: "Slaves, I still need to inquire. In this palace, there are many people who want to curry favor with slaves and maids who come out with the lady from Xiang's mansion, and come to Zhaoyang Hall every day to deliver news! "People in the palace have their own set of rules of survival.Her young lady is a queen, and she just gave birth to the emperor's eldest son, not to mention Prime Minister Ruan and Queen Mother Ruan behind her.Every emperor has a queen, but there are few such eminent ones in ancient times.How could the people in the palace not understand this truth? Ruan Wushuang lowered her head and continued to prune, and the originally pleasing autumn begonias in the official glaze became dazzlingly red. She frowned slightly, and asked as if inadvertently: "Is it accurate?" As a queen, she must share a man with all the women in the harem.She already understood it!In fact, in ordinary wealthy families, why not?Which man does not long for a beautiful wife and concubine?As long as men have power, financial resources, and ability, they will want to have such a life.Throughout the ages, there is no exception! I didn't hear Mo Lan's voice for a long time, and when I turned my head, I saw Mo Lan covered her mouth and closed her eyes with a smile. For some reason, her face suddenly turned red, and she pretended to be angry and said, "Well, you Mo Lan, you didn't even see me. Playing too!" Mo Lan hurriedly stopped smiling, but the corners of her eyes and brows were still full of smiles, but she replied in a very respectful tone: "I don't dare, I don't dare." After taking a few steps back, she replied mischievously: "This... this Your Majesty said... Your Majesty said, when you first ascend the throne, everything just begins, and it is really inappropriate to be greedy for pleasure... This is what the little Dezi under Director Shi said." Looking at Ruan Wushuang's slightly reddened angry face, Mo Lan hurriedly He lowered his head and added an explanation. After Mo Lan went out, the air became quiet, and the sound of the wind blowing the leaves outside the hall could be clearly heard.Ruan Wushuang was still pruning the branches and leaves, and the green leaves and flowers complemented each other.Mo Lan's words rang in her ears from time to time, and she knew clearly in her heart that it was only a matter of time.But for some reason, the more I think about it, the more restless I feel.Only then did the certain God realize that he had cut off the flowers by mistake, and the petals were scarlet, scattered on the white marble floor tiles like falling flowers.After a daze, he suddenly turned around and called out, "Come on!" Mo Lan brought two maids in, and bowed to salute: "Miss!" Ruan Wushuang turned around slowly, and ordered: "Serve and change clothes!" Mo Lan always knew what she wanted, and picked out a light yellow snow gauze long skirt.The royal family has always respected yellow and purple, and bright yellow and apricot yellow have always been the exclusive colors of emperors and empresses.But she likes light colors, elegant and clean. In the Hall of Compassion and Ning, the smell of sandalwood lingers everywhere.Empress Dowager Ruan had just finished worshiping Buddha and was cleaning her hands when Aunt Mu had already entered: "Empress Dowager, Empress Empress is here." Empress Dowager Ruan took the silk scarf presented by the maid, turned her head and said, "Why did you come to give birth to me?" The child will not be long, so he should take a good rest!" Before he finished speaking, Ruan Wushuang had already entered the hall, and the servants and maids who were waiting in the hall had already knelt down and saluted. Empress Dowager Ruan took Ruan Wushuang's hand, sat down, looked at Fang for a long time and said, "Why did you lose weight after seeing her for two days? You don't see any plumpness at all. How did the hospital treat this?" Ruan Wushuang smiled slightly, and replied: "Don't worry, aunt, Imperial Physician Su said that my body has recovered, and I don't need to make up for it every day." Empress Dowager Ruan felt more relieved: "I am also relieved that Imperial Physician Su is doing things. .” Turning around, he took the chrysanthemum clear dew from Aunt Mu, and ordered: “You all go down!” Empress Dowager Ruan picked up the white jade celadon teacup. Her long Danko nails were gone, and she brought two slender and long gold-plated finger protectors. She gently picked up the lid of the white jade teacup, tenderly Authentic: "Take a sip and see, it's made by Mu Qing himself." Sighing, looking out the window, he said: "In a blink of an eye, it has been so many years." Mu Qing is Aunt Mu's name.She has been my aunt's personal maid since she was a child, and followed her into the Prince's Mansion and then into the palace. Empress Dowager Ruan took a sip and said, "The taste is still the same as before. Mu Qing has been with me since I was a child, and has always been familiar with my preferences." Ruan Wushuang gently lifted the lid, and a burst of chrysanthemum fragrance came to the nostrils. Dried chrysanthemums bloom like branches because they are soaked in water, delicate and lovely.After taking a sip, I felt that the fragrance was full of teeth, and then I nodded and smiled slightly: "It's really delicious." Empress Dowager Ruan also laughed: "If you like it, ask Mu Qing to send some to Zhaoyang Palace." Ruan Wushuang took another sip and nodded, "Thank you, Auntie." The Empress Dowager Ruan was fiddling with dried fruits and preserves, she raised her head gently and said, "You and my nephew, why are you so ignorant." She picked out a candied golden date and handed it to Ruan Wushuang. Said that yesterday, Gui Taifu and others played a notebook to the emperor, saying that the new emperor ascended the throne, the harem is still empty, and suggested that the emperor expand the six palaces." Ruan Wushuang's heart skipped a beat, it really happened, and Gui Taifu took the lead.No wonder Mo Lan came to report early in the morning.One must know that this Tutor Gui had already been named the Prince Tutor by the previous emperor when Baili Haozhe was in a ignorant state. For more than 20 years, he had supported Baili Haozhe through countless court battles.Among so many advisers of Baili Haozhe, Gui Taifu's words are the most important. In this way, the matter of choosing a concubine can be big or small! The power of the Ruan family is now in full swing. There is Ruan's father-in-law as the prime minister in the court, and the first son-in-law of the Ruan family is Marquis Wu Xuan, who is in charge of the military power of the court. The second son-in-law of the Ruan family is also the minister of the official department. Houjue, I am afraid that there is no one in the past, and there will be no one in the future.In the emperor's harem, both the empress dowager and empress came from the Ruan mansion.Gui Taifu and others who are loyal to Baili Haozhe are naturally worried about this situation.It has always been a taboo of the imperial court for foreign relatives to rule. But for the Ruan family's deep-rooted power in the court, it is not easy to move.The so-called mobilize the whole body by pulling a hair.Not long after Baili Haozhe came to the throne, the Great Prince's faction and the late emperor's forces are still in the stage of adapting to changes, and may make moves at any time. Baili Haozhe only depends on the power of the Ruan family if he wants to sit firmly in the dragon chair. But what about after he sits firmly on the throne?The so-called "flying birds are exhausted, good bows are hidden", "cunning rabbits die, running dogs cook", and there are many things that accompany a king like a tiger.Ruan Wushuang felt inexplicably sad.Who knows what will happen in the future! But the harem can be loose.All through the ages, when a new emperor ascends the throne, he will select all the best women from all over the world to fill his harem.Firstly, there is a precedent for this, and the Ruan family has no reason to object.Baili Haozhe has only had one prince born to Ruan Wushuang so far, so it can be said that his knees are still empty.All dynasties have always paid the most attention to offspring, believing that offspring are the foundation of continuing the country's lineage and are a major matter related to the future of the society.Taking this as a reason, I am afraid that even the Empress Dowager Ruan would not be able to say no.Secondly, when choosing a concubine to enter the harem, there must be many court ministers eager to try and recommend daughters of the right age to enter the palace.Yingyingyanyan, beauties like clouds, the emperor will not focus on the queen from now on.In this way, the queen's status will become a mere formality, and the ability to influence the emperor will be reduced a lot.And the power of court ministers may be reorganized because of the emperor's favor.In this way, the power of the Ruan family will be relatively weakened.This is a wonderful move! Ruan Wushuang only felt that his hands and feet were cold, but he could clearly feel the temperature of the chrysanthemum dew through the white jade cup, which was warm.He remembered that at dinner time yesterday, Baili Haozhe broke in through the curtain, and she was playing with the emperor on the brocade couch.Looking back now, his expression was as gentle as usual, nothing unusual. Ruan Wushuang frowned slightly, and looked at Queen Mother Ruan speechlessly.Empress Dowager Ruan was also in deep thought, looking out of the window under the shadow of the whirling trees.It was already autumn afternoon, and the light lazily shone in from the carved peonies on the window, dappledly reflecting on the two of them.As soon as Ruan Wushuang lowered his head, he saw the light yellow snowy cuffs, and the blooming clusters of silver-white apricot flowers were embroidered with silver silk, delicate and blurred.