Chapter 12 Chapter Twelve

After the heart-to-heart confession that day, Ling Rong and I gradually became close again, and we often went to the Queen's Palace together to pay respects and serve.Xuan Ling was very happy to see such a scene of harmony between his wives and concubines. In addition, after Concubine Hua recovered, she did not make any major hostile actions. Xuan Ling seemed very satisfied with the peaceful scene of the harem. Ten or so days after the Dragon Boat Festival, the weather gradually became hotter, and several palace people could not bear the hot wind even if they shook their feather fans lightly.So Xuanling decreed that the relatives and nobles who moved to the palace should come to the Taiping Palace in Xijing to escape the summer heat.

All the empresses and concubines walked together, except for the concubines who were not favored and had little status, only Mei Zhuang did not follow to the Taiping Palace.She resigned to Xuan Ling: "The Empress Dowager never leaves Zi'ao Palace to escape the summer heat, and my concubine is willing to stay in the palace to accompany the Empress Dowager instead of the Emperor, and serve her wholeheartedly to fulfill the filial piety of a courtier and daughter." Xuan Ling naturally couldn't refute such an official and upright reason, so he only commended and rewarded Mei Zhuang's words and deeds, and let her stay in the palace.

When I arrived at the Taiping Palace, the ministers and servants had already arranged everything. Xuanling still lived in the cool and quiet Nanxun Hall, and the Queen lived in the Guangfeng Jiyue Hall. Zhuang used to live in Yuruntang, but Lingrong lived in it. On the first day after I went to the Taiping Palace to escape the summer heat, I went to sit in the mausoleum.However, the inner supervisor led me, not to the "Fanying Pavilion" where Xiang Lingrong used to live. I asked, "An Xiaoyuan doesn't live in Fanying Pavilion anymore?" The inner supervisor smiled and said: "If you go back to your mother, An Xiaozhu is now living in Yuruntang. The emperor means that An Xiaozhu and your empress have always been close, and they live close to each other and take care of each other. It is also close to the middle road of the emperor's hall."

I said "Oh" and said: "I still have something to do in the Palace, so I won't go to An Xiaoyuan's place for now, you can step back." The eunuch beat Qian'er, got up and left. Jinxi held my hand and walked back slowly, seeing my expression stupefied, she tentatively asked: "Is your empress feeling sad about Shen Ronghua?" I stopped walking, nodded and said: "In the past, Meizhuang was proud of the spring breeze, but now this Yuruntang is inhabited by a mausoleum. It is really different. I am afraid that once it passes by, it will inevitably hurt the scene."

Jinxi said: "Your Majesty attaches great importance to the relationship between sisters in the palace, which is very rare. But your Majesty should also know that there are many empresses and young masters in this palace. There is no fixed number of favors for you today and hers for tomorrow. Although Your Majesty cares about Shen Ronghua, There is no need to be sentimental about it.” I smiled sadly: "Jinxi, I always like to worry about these little things." Jinxi smiled and said, "Your Majesty is indeed easy to be sentimental sometimes. But only gentle people can think too much, and cruel people can't." Because of being close to the empress, secondly, it is convenient for the emperor to call for luck. The empress will not fail to see that Xiaozhu An is no less favored than Shen Ronghua was back then."

I glanced at her and said, "What do you want to say?" Jinxi thought about it for a while, and said softly: "The slave girl doesn't understand why the empress is estranged from the young master An, but it must be related to the relapse of the young master's illness after falling out of favor; It has something to do with the fact that your mistress made the medicine for you during the cold weather. Although the slaves knew about it, but when your mistress fell out of favor, the mistress never took care of her for a day, and now she boils the medicine herself, and her repetitions are really hard to fathom."

Jinxi's words hit the nail on the head, and it was also a deep and unspeakable concern in my heart. I said, "Do you also think she is unpredictable?" Jinxi replied softly: "Yes." I walked slowly to the shade of the tree and sat down, "Why don't I think so. When I was sick, she cut my flesh to heal me. In fact, why is my illness so bad? But no matter how cold the heart is, there is always a trace of kindness. Mausoleum , as well as her own concern and reluctance. Even though I once had a grudge against her, I can't be unaffected by what she cares about."

Jinxi said: "I don't know what the empress refers to as Miss An's concern, but please hope that the empress is half as fierce and ruthless as Concubine Hua." Seeing my silence, Jinxi thought I was angry, and immediately knelt down without changing her face Said: "Please excuse my servant's talkativeness. The empress's shortcoming is that she is too soft-hearted and has too many worries. People with soft hearts are often dragged down by their soft hearts. I hope your empress will think twice." I was silent, the wind was very small, rustling through the lush tree shade above my head, the sound of the leaves touching each other was suddenly a pleasant sound.And my heart is not happy and easy.Mei Zhuang and I gradually grew colder, and Ling Rong's closeness brought up old grievances from time to time, and Jinxi thought that my heart was weak and not strong enough to fight the enemy.Although I have won Xuan Ling's favor and love, all of these can't make me feel at ease.

I flicked the ribbon on my skirt, and said: "Being friendly and guarding against others is the real way to treat people in the palace. Jinxi, the palace is too indifferent, the relationship between a husband and a gentleman cannot be relied on, and there is also a relationship between a master and a servant." Repeatedly, if the sisterly love in the past is all ignored, how much affection in the palace is enough to warm the heart. Although Lingrong sometimes acts unexpectedly, she still has some sincerity towards some people." Jinxi bowed her head dumbly, and said after a while: "If there is no later incident, Xiaozhu An really has a lot of affection for your mother after she enters the palace."

I said: "I also understand that people's hearts are fickle, so I will naturally be careful." So Jinxi stopped talking and just accompanied me back to the palace to rest. However, Lingrong still has to come and go after all, even if she lives in the old palace of Meizhuang. It was a cool early morning, and I took Huanbi and Liuzhu to the Yurun Hall of the mausoleum. The courtyard was covered with thousands of tall bamboos, which gave off a sense of coolness.Such a scene is very familiar.My eyes are slightly blurred, and everything is like yesterday, as if it was the year when I first got lucky, and Meizhuang and Meizhuang lighted lotus lanterns in each water tank of Yuruntang for fun at dusk at the beginning of the hot summer.

Time has changed and things have changed, and the beloved concubine who lives here now has the appearance of a mausoleum.Walking to the bottom of the long mica steps, the chrysanthemums that Mei Zhuang loved were all placed on the verandah.Chrysanthemums originally bloomed in autumn. Of course, because of Meizhuang's favor and love for chrysanthemums, Xuan Ling specially asked the artisans in the flower garden to cultivate new products, and they can bloom as usual in summer. It is really a miracle.At this time, the chrysanthemums had completely disappeared, and the eunuch was leading the little maid to replace the flower pots, and scolded: "Return all the chrysanthemums to the flower garden, put all the flowers that the young master likes on the porch, and put them in pots and pots." Neat and nice." I felt a little uneasy in my heart, and said to the eunuch: "It's a pity that those chrysanthemums are returned, they should all be moved to the Yifu Pavilion in the palace." Seeing that it was me, the inner eunuch hurriedly said with a smile on his face: "Your Majesty likes slaves, so you should obey her orders. It's just that these flowers are not in season, and they don't have any fragrance. Why don't you ask someone to change the new fragrant flowers and send them to your empress personally?" ..." He kept chattering and pretending to be smart, and I didn't realize that my face had changed.It just so happened that Juqing opened the curtain and brought water out from the bedroom. Seeing the displeasure on my face, she quickly guessed the reason, and hurriedly reprimanded the inner eunuch: "Your Majesty told you to send it to you. How can I be a slave?" Such a talkative person, just do what the empress tells you, do you want to cut your tongue?" The eunuch was too frightened to be born, so he led the person to carry the flowerpot and left in a desperate manner. I laughed: "Since when did your mouth become sharp?" Juqing greeted her, and said with a smile: "Your Majesty raised up the servant to serve the young master, how dare the servant not do her best." She raised the bamboo curtain of Concubine Xiang and said, "The young master just got up." The hall was quiet and silent, the smell of benzoin was still there last night, the bamboo curtains around the sleeping hall were all half-rolled, and the morning light sifted in to reveal a faint bright and warm color. There was no maid by my side, and Ling Rong didn't notice me coming in. She was sitting alone in front of the dressing table by the window. Her long hair was combed smoothly, like black silk, hanging on her small shoulders, and it hadn't been tied into a bun yet.All the pearl hairpins were neatly arranged in front of her, she just didn't want to enjoy them, she leaned on the half-opened vermilion carved window sill, her hair set off her face as petite as a lotus petal, and her complexion was as bright and clear as a white lotus on the water.Ling Rong was wearing loose pajamas, his eyes were half closed and he was contemplating, his body became thinner and thinner, as if he was burdened with endless sorrow.After a long time, a tear slowly fell from the corner of her eye. I quietly walked to her side and said softly, "Why is my sister crying?" Ling Rong heard my voice, a pair of clear and beautiful eyes suddenly opened, startled, hurriedly wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes, tried to smile and said: "Sister came so early." I held her down to keep her from getting up, and said with a smile: "My sister is also very early, I'm afraid she didn't wake up, and she is still dozing off." She took my hand and sat down Yiyi, softly concealed: "I didn't sleep well, it's just a nightmare last night." I played with a fan made of ivory silk on her table. The white jade fan handle was dotted with red bats made of honey wax, emerald leaves and mother-of-pearl pink flowers, which were extremely delicate and elegant. I took it and shook it lightly, and said slowly, "Sister, do you want to hide something from me?" She hesitated, and finally said: "Young Master Zhen..." My face gradually became gloomy, and I stopped talking, Ling Rong looked sad, "Is Master Zhen really going to be so cruel? After all, he is his only son..." I shook my head resolutely: "My wife got involved with prostitutes when she was pregnant, and she has to abandon her wife and son for a firework, causing criticism. Dad doesn't have such a son, and I don't have such a brother." I couldn't hide my sadness: "What's more It was he himself who said that he would rather have Jiayi than official wealth, and his sister-in-law has returned to live with Ning's mother's family, so it is unbearable for my brother to disregard ethics and morals." Ling Rong said sadly: "In this way, the reputation of his life will be ruined." My anger calmed down, and I said sadly, "Brother destroyed it with his own hands." Ling Rong's eyes were watery and misty: "Sister, why are you still angry with the young master? He has no other choice. Don't you think he is very pitiful? Sister, do you know that the women in the palace are laughing at him, and the whole The people in the capital are also despising him, everyone calls the young master "Bo Xing Zhenlang", and looks contemptuous. Sister, you are his biological sister, don't you have any worries?" Ling Rong said in a hurry, the voice was in the throat respite. There was a heavy tone of repression in my tone, and I stared at her: "It's not that I don't worry about my brother, but that he ignores all my concerns. He abandoned his parents who raised him for twenty years, his wife, and his unborn child for a firework." Children and all the ethics of the world. Why did he ever worry about us?" My eyes had the meaning of scrutiny and inquiry, "I don't know if my brother has ever worried about you?" I looked at her surprised slightly parted lips and said with a smile: "Perhaps that woman named 'Jiayi' is really similar to you?" Ling Rong was deeply disturbed, and she was too embarrassed to look at me. She called me, "Sister." I stroked her shoulder, calmly suppressed her uneasiness, and said: "The world of men is not something we women can intervene in. No matter what kind of person the woman my brother is obsessed with is, our thoughts are only in the harem. There is nothing we can do to stop it, and they have nothing to do with it." My sense of powerlessness gradually aggravated in my own words. The man's world is really something that women cannot fully understand and understand.Just like Xuan Ling, do I really understand him?Will he really understand my feelings?Probably not. Ling Rong's eyes were innocent and confused, like a frightened deer. After a while, his voice was weak and almost silent: "I'm just worried about him... sister, I'm worried about him." I can't tell her what's true or false in this world, and she doesn't need to know.So what?Worry more?She shouldn't be worried, he is the emperor's woman, the emperor's favorite concubine, and he belongs to the emperor all his life, how can he be distracted from worrying about the man next to him, and worry about him day and night. However, Lingrong's worry affected my mind, I silently tied a Yunjin incense bun for her, decorated with jade pearl hairpins, flower tines, gold combs and gold tines, mixed with fresh flowers, I calmly said: " Smile again, the emperor will like you very much." She was just silent, the gardenias on the dressing table were in full bloom, and the fragrance of the flowers dispelled the gloomy smell of the night after the spices were burned, giving a sense of freshness.Ling Rong sighed: "Actually, my sister knows what the emperor likes and dislikes, so why did she fall out of favor?" I tied the last strand of soft hair for her, and smiled to myself, "Because although I know it, sometimes I can't do it." Her eyes looked at me without blinking, "Then what about sister Mei, she must know what my sister knows, why did she fall out of favor?" My brows furrowed slightly, and I said calmly, "Because she doesn't want to." Ling Rong didn't ask any more questions, she chose a dress for herself to put on, and sat down with her face restrained, her expression was as calm as usual.At the end, I said: "Don't worry, no matter what happens, it will pass." Ling Rong nodded solemnly, and suddenly smiled sweetly, full of charm. The days in the Taiping Palace are a bit boring, and even the time is in a hurry. Many trivial rules in the palace have been abolished here.There were not many concubines accompanying him, only the Empress, Concubine Hua, Concubine Duan, Concubine Jing, Concubine Xingui, Concubine Cao Jieyu, Concubine Tian, ​​Concubine Shen, myself and Ling Rong, Qin Fangyi who had been here together had long since disappeared. In people's memory, no one mentions it again. Maybe it's been a long time since Xuanling had a new favorite. After living in the palace for a month, Xuan Ling took in a maid, Qiao Shi, to change her clothes.The young and beautiful maids in the palace are all yearning to fly on the branches and become a phoenix one day, and they have worked hard to do so.And there are not a few palace maids who become palace concubines, for example, Prince Pingyang's biological mother, Concubine Shun Chen, used to be a maid of needlework, and the former lady Miaoyin. This is a common thing, and no one will care too much about it.And when Cao Jieyu told me that Mrs. Qiao is the close maid in Concubine Hua's palace, I paid attention. Cao Jieyu said: "Concubine Hua is afraid that she will fall out of favor again in the future. In addition, she has lost the help of her noble concubine, she has long been determined to train people again. It's just that Qin Fangyi is useless, and Concubine Hua is unwilling to use women from high-ranking officials and noble families for her own use. In the future, there will be too many pets to control, so I chose this Qiao family." The water pavilion used for summer vacation is very cool and hidden. I flicked my nails and asked, "What kind of person is Mrs. Qiao? Has Sister Cao ever paid attention to it?" She smiled, stretched out her wide butterfly sleeves, and said: "Your Majesty, do you want to hear the truth?" Seeing that I was just looking at the lake full of green lotuses, she said again: "Empress Hua is too impatient, she made a mistake this time." I said "Oh", narrowed my eyes slightly, looked at her and said, "How do you say it?" Cao Jieyu said: "Although Mrs. Qiao has a bit of cleverness and a bit of beauty, she is just a mediocre talent, not good enough to become a great talent. The Empress Hua wants to use her to share the favor between you and An Xiaoyuan. It’s not really a wise move.” I never thought that a mere Qiao family could compete with us, I just sighed: "Concubine Hua is at the end of her rope." There was a faint smile on the corner of Cao Jieyu's lips, and she said lightly: "In the past, she never allowed the pretty maids by her side to approach the emperor rashly, but now..." I smiled, "It's different now." The days passed slowly like this.Being in the palace is no better than staying in the palace, and because of the empress dowager's admonition, I dare not get involved in political affairs at will, so after all, I can only hear a little bit of shadow of King Runan, not much.The life in the palace is peaceful and leisurely, and there are no rules, so you can do as you please.As long as it is to give Lawton a little peace of mind and body. On the first day of July, a night banquet is held in the palace.The queen is on the left, Ling Rong and I are on the lower right, and Xuan Ling is in the middle, watching the singing and dancing party together.The wine was in full swing, the dance was in full bloom, the envoy Xuanling sent to comfort the Empress Dowager had returned, and immediately told the Empress Dowager that she was in good health.Xuanling was very happy, and said again and again: "The queen mother is in good health, and I can feel at ease." As he said that, he wanted to reward the imperial doctor who treated the queen mother. Ling Rong raised his glass with a smile, and said: "The queen mother is in good health, besides rewarding the imperial doctor, should the emperor reward someone else?" Xuan Ling pondered for a moment, then asked, "Who is it?" Ling Rong said with a smile: "Did the emperor forget that Shen Ronghua has been accompanying and caring for the Queen Mother?" Then he looked at the messenger. The envoy said respectfully: "Shen Ronghua took good care of the Empress Dowager. He often did not take off his clothes and did it himself. He even tasted the medicine before giving it to the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager repeatedly praised Rong Hua for his filial piety." Xuanling suddenly realized, and said joyfully: "That's true, Shen Ronghua has worked hard day and night to serve you." Immediately, he passed on the decree: "I will go to Zi'ao City with my order, and join Ronghua Shen's family as a third-rank Jieyu, and her salary will be doubled. " The queen said with a smile: "The emperor's rewards and punishments are appropriate. If you are filial to your mother, you should follow the example of the people in the world." Xuan Ling smiled happily, and said to Lingrong, "I'll be Xie Rong'er's reminder." He also said: "Rong'er has been with Xiaoyuan for a long time, and she is modest and decent, which is really rare. She was promoted to be a fifth-rank concubine 'stop." Ling Rong hurriedly got up to thank her, but the queen asked, "What character is the title?" I poured a full cup of wine for Xuan Ling, he was in great spirits, raised his head and drank it, and said casually: "Let's use my surname as a name." Ling Rong froze, a trace of displeasure quickly crossed his face, he quickly maintained his smile, and thanked him politely again. The queen and I looked at each other and couldn't help but look at each other.Concubines have always been enfeoffed, and everyone who meets nobles, concubines, concubines, concubines, wives and four concubines has a title, and they are proud of it, and they are arrogant to everyone.Only those who are not very favored or have a humble family background are often titled by their surnames.It's not that Ling Rong is unfavorable, so the lack of a title can only be because of her weak background. Concubine An, this position was originally quite honorable, but due to the change of title, this honor has been dimmed.I felt pity in my heart, comforted Ling Rong with my eyes, and was about to speak to Xuan Ling about this. Concubine Hua's eyes quickly glanced at me, and she said to Xuan Ling with a domineering smile: "Actually, An's word 'An' is very good, whichever is safe and happy is better than thinking of another title." He looked at Ling Rong with a sarcasm. Mausoleum can only be seen.Let me think about it, there is no need to say anything else, Xuan Ling would naturally not refuse when Concubine Hua asked.What's more, it's not a big deal, I'm afraid Ling Rong himself doesn't want to make Xuan Ling feel bad just because of a title.But at this moment, she must be very uncomfortable.Will she resent her family background and be deeply ashamed of it?For someone as sensitive as her, it is naturally unacceptable.Xuan Ling had no intention of taking all of this into consideration.He just relied on his intuition, thinking of Ling Rong's unremarkable background and family status. At this point in the banquet, to her, it was no longer interesting. I sighed, but secretly there was still a trace of inexplicable relief for myself, the mausoleum was in Xuan Ling's heart, that's all. Later, Concubine Xin Gui mentioned this matter in front of me, still feeling a little resentful and gloating: "Although my sister is on good terms with Concubine An, I am not afraid to tell my sister——Your Sister An is really good at catching good manners. .Shen Jieyu worked hard to serve the sick and was only promoted to one level, but she was promoted to one level because she mentioned Shen Jieyu's achievements, who do you think is proud of it." She pressed the powder on her nose with a silk cloth, not without satisfaction Said: "Fortunately, the emperor is wise. Even though she has entered the concubine's position, she didn't even give her a title. I saw her crying on the way back, and she usually pretended to be nonchalant." The weather was so hot that it seemed to be burning, I put a piece of ice in my mouth, and slowly waited for it to melt, Fang said: "Sister Xin, why bother to talk about Sister An, I have never seen her offend you. She is sad without a title, Sister, why bother to complain all the time." The noble concubine knocked on the melon seeds and said: "I am convinced that Shen Ronghua promoted Jieyu, she deserves it. If it weren't for the turmoil in the past, I am afraid that she would have been the noble concubine. I just don't like An The coquettish concubine's look is always pitiful, as if she has been wronged. It's hard for my sister to get along with her in harmony—" Concubine Xingui has always disliked her mausoleum, and she often doesn't get along with her when there are many people Words, if it is jealousy, it is more like disgust from the bottom of my heart. Women from high-ranking families often look down on women from poor families.The so-called confrontation between the rich and the poor is not only the court, but also the harem. Concubine Xin Gui said again: "Although Concubine Hua is domineering, it's not too much to speak out about the title this time. In those days when Concubine An was only doting on the emperor, it was really an outrage. She dominated the emperor all day long, and we even looked at the shadow of the emperor." I don't see you. It's really not as good as when the emperor dotes on his sister and Shen Jieyu, he often comes to sit in our palace." I said: "My sister is serious. The emperor has his heart on her, so he will inevitably neglect us. Let's relax, isn't everyone here like this?" Concubine Xingui snorted to show her disdain for Lingrong, and said, "Sister, have you forgotten how she seduced the emperor when your miscarriage fell out of favor? After my sister and Concubine Tian had a miscarriage, the emperor hardly ever I went to visit you, but I was confused by her..." I didn't want to listen anymore, so I interrupted aloud: "Sister—why do you need to mention the past?" Concubine Xingui curled her lips, "Although my sister doesn't want to mention it again, who doesn't feel sorry for you." She didn't continue talking, and started another topic, talking about Shu and Di Ji's recent painting learning. She usually talked a lot, and her language was crisp, and she said a lot.I listened attentively, but my mind wandered a little. It turned out that this was the inexplicable comfort at the day and night banquet. I can't help laughing at myself, it turns out that I am also such an ordinary woman who is narrow-minded, easily jealous and brooding. However, what is puzzling is that Xuan Ling's love for Ling Rong has gradually become less intense since this little title turmoil, but it is also slightly better than ordinary people.The harem began to stand out from the mausoleum, and I and the concubine Hua began to share the left and right, and then evolved into a situation where each was in full bloom and autumn, and many concubines who had been neglected for a long time regained their beauty, and were successively taken to Zi'ao City to escape the summer heat. . And most of these favored concubines have rich families and family backgrounds, such as Concubine Duan, Concubine Hua, Li Xiurong, me, Concubine Xingui, Concubine Meizhuang, Concubine Wang Mu and Concubine Zhao Yun.As for Lingrong's change, although he was a little sad, he was indifferent after all. In the Taiping Palace, there was a lot of competition and excitement for a while. On that day, I led Liu Zhu to get up early to go to Fanyue Lake to collect fresh morning dew from the lotus for making tea.The fields of lotus leaves cover the sky, the lotus flowers tower above them, and the water ripples like gold.During the boating, it is like looking for a deep road among the green leaves and red flowers. Occasionally, I break the lotus pod and peel fresh lotus seeds to eat. It is also my daily pleasure. As the boat twisted and swung, he suddenly remembered that Concubine Duan lived in the Yuhua Pavilion by the side of Fanyue Lake. With a thought, he said, "Follow me to visit Concubine Duan." Before approaching the palace and pavilion, I could hear the gurgling sound of a pipa from a distance, smooth and melodious.When I saw it, I clapped my palms and smiled, and said to Concubine Duan: "I never knew that Your Majesty has such pipa skills. Your Majesty hides her skills really well." When she saw me coming in, she just smiled and nodded, and when the song was over, she was fascinated, and said: "Empress Chunyuan taught me the pipa by herself, but it's a pity that I'm not talented enough, and what I learned was only three or four out of ten. The Hall of Elegance." My admiration and fear for Empress Chunyuan added to my heart. Concubine Duan's pipa skills are superb, and she is not as good as Empress Chunyuan. I just laughed: "Your Majesty has this skill, no wonder she is favored by the Emperor." Concubine Duan smiled lightly, let me sit down, and said: "I don't need to hide my sister, the emperor came to me to listen to the pipa, and with my weak body, I can't serve the emperor overnight." In the vortex, "Nowadays there are many concubines in the Taiping Palace, and all of them are quite favored. Why is my sister still interested in coming to me?" I took a sip of tea and said with a smile: "What is a temporary favor. My sister is very smart, so I can naturally think of the truth." I lingered on the aftertaste of the tea: "This autumn is another three years of outstanding girls. I don't know how many newcomers will enter the palace, these are really insignificant." Her eyes were as clear as water, shining brightly, and she said: "My sister can be so calm and relaxed because she can always accompany the emperor to know the political situation." I humbly said: "I'm just a girl, what can I know, just keep my own place. Isn't your empress also take it lightly?" Concubine Duan smiled without saying a word, looking at the blue sky as clear as glass, she was fascinated, I just slowly picked water chestnuts to eat, each enjoyed himself.After a long time, Concubine Duan took a look at me and said: "The matter of Concubine An is just the beginning, I think we will not be able to stay out of it in the future." I sighed and said: "If someone rises, someone will fall. The emperor deliberately did not give Concubine An a title, so as to calm the anger of the high-ranking women in the harem for being favored by her." Concubine Duan sighed bewilderedly, and then said flatly: "There is no difference between the harem and the political situation." I just smiled, as if I had never heard of it.I just feel that this summer is so long, so long, the sound of cicadas is endless, and the days seem to never end.