Chapter 22 Chapter 22 The Fisherman

Two days later, Xuan Ling's spirits improved, and he still went to court.His expression was very calm, and he seemed to be fine.There are so many things in the previous dynasty, complicated and confusing.He couldn't allow him to be too distracted to grieve for a newly formed child.Besides, he is still young after all, lost this one child, and the one in my womb.Otherwise, with so many women in the harem, some would get pregnant again and give birth to him again. Thinking that the matter was over like this, Concubine Tian also woke up from the coma.However, she kept crying after waking up, saying that her baby was framed and died.All the time, the palace was full of chaos, and the chickens and dogs were restless.

The queen thought she was overly sad, so she just wanted to be comforted.However, Concubine Jing was sitting idle in my palace this afternoon, talking for a while about my raising a baby, and then talking about Concubine Tian's miscarriage. Seeing that there were no idlers around, she lowered her voice and said, "Concubine Tian's miscarriage is very strange." Concubine Jing has never been a talkative person, she said so, she is somewhat sure.I was already suspicious, but when I heard her say that, my heart skipped a beat, I just acted nonchalantly, and still smiled: "Why? Didn't Concubine Tian keep saying that the fetus was restless, and a miscarriage is not an accident."

Concubine Jing's silk leafy sleeves were wide, and when she lifted them up slightly, she covered half of her cheeks. She smiled lightly and said indifferently: "We all know that she said the fetal movement is disturbed, but she is just fighting for the emperor's favor and acting like a spoiled child. I It is often seen that she can eat and sleep in the palace, so why is there any discomfort?" Concubine Jing lowered her voice again: "I heard from the imperial doctor who treated Concubine Tian that she was in good condition until the day of miscarriage. Nothing happened, but I found a lot of oleander pollen in the leftover Ruyi cake."

I didn't understand, so I asked suspiciously, "Oleander?" Concubine Jing nodded, "It took a long time for the imperial doctor to say that the pollen of oleander pollen is poisonous. I think Concubine Tian ate a lot of it, so she had a miscarriage that night." Concubine Jing sighed, "There are oleander pollen planted in many places in the palace. Bamboo peach, who knew it was poisonous? It’s really unexpected to use it to harm people.” My heart was beating violently at one point, and after a moment of hesitation, Fang asked: "Then... is the wishful cake made in the Imperial Dining Room?"

Concubine Jing hesitated slightly, and shook her head: "Concubine Cui sent it." I looked up and met her equally disbelieving gaze.Concubine Jing's voice was a little hoarse, and she slowly recounted what she knew: "Concubine Tian is pregnant, and as a rule, the things sent in from outside have to be tasted before being delivered. But it turned out that Concubine Cui made it herself. Second, Concubine Concubine's status is much higher than that of Concubine Tian, ​​and it was the Queen who asked her to teach Concubine Tian. She is also known to be honest and cautious, who would have thought of this level And I heard from the court lady who served Concubine Tian that day that Concubine Cui ate a piece of Ruyi Cake first, and Concubine Tian ate it later." Concubine Jing paused and said: "There is no place where oleanders are planted in the palace. Not many, and Concubine Cui’s own palace is not far away. If it is not done by her, no one will believe it.”

Based on what she said, I carefully imagined the scene at that time, and it seems that at that time, no one would doubt that Concubine Cui would harm Concubine Tian.However, I wondered: "Even if Concubine Cui has eaten oleander pollen, why does she have to eat a piece of it herself? It is well known that Concubine Tian likes to eat wishful cakes, even if she doesn't eat them, Concubine Tian will eat a lot of them. Wouldn't it be hypocritical to do so? Concubine Cui made a murderous attempt, but because of the eldest son of the emperor? Is it true that a mother's love for her son is so terrifying?"

Concubine Jing said: "We are only guessing what happened, and the emperor will naturally investigate. We can't blame Concubine Kui entirely. Concubine Tian has been criticized twice because of her pregnancy. She is still so ignorant that she came from your palace in the middle of the night. The emperor has been invited several times. You know, sister, she has been invited not only to you, but also to concubine Xie and Cao Jieyu. You are generous and don’t say anything, but it’s hard to guarantee that people outside will not regard her as She is a thorn in my side—you also know that the emperor seldom goes to Concubine Kui's place, and let her invite her to go away after a rare visit. Can you not annoy her? In addition, the emperor has only Concubine Cui's prince under his knee now..." Concubine Jing No more talking, just stroked the cherry red tassels hanging from the round fan with his fingers.

What Concubine Jing said is also reasonable, not to mention that everyone in the harem probably thinks so.I was a little skeptical at first, but when I remembered that day in the empress's palace, the pine nuts that hurt people came from the arms of Concubine Cui, so I couldn't help but believe it. I bowed my head silently and said: "Concubine Tian is too insane. The rabbit bites people even in a hurry, let alone Concubine Cui. Now that her child has not been born, she is so defiant. Will the eldest son of the emperor still have a good life? It can be seen that it is better to be peaceful."

Concubine Jing thought it was true, "What's more, she was promoted to be a concubine this time. I heard from Lu Zhaoyi that Concubine Tian asked the emperor for her. She said that she was pregnant with a boy and that's why the fetal movement was so strong." I was slightly surprised: "Is it true? That's too..." Concubine Jing closed her almond eyes slightly, her long eyelashes were slightly lowered, and her tone was low and relaxed: "To be honest, in fact, no one really hoped for Concubine Tian's birth except for the above. Concubine Cui made her have a miscarriage. I don't know how many people clapped their hands secretly to say their wishes, but she is too frivolous."

Concubine Jing seldom said such explicit words, she had no children, and Concubine Tian would not have any direct conflict of interest with her.Today, it is probably because he is dissatisfied with Concubine Tian's behavior on weekdays. However, her words were extremely harsh in the ears.It seemed that in her eyes, I was also the one who was looking forward to Concubine Tian's miscarriage.But I asked myself in secret, the moment I heard that Concubine Tian had a miscarriage, I was actually a little happy.I didn't even care about her life or death, I just felt jealous because Xuan Ling cared about her.Perhaps in my subconscious, I hate her just like Concubine Jing and the others, and I even fear that her child will compete with my child for favor after it is born.

I smiled bitterly, could it be that my heart has become so indifferent and vicious? It took me half a day to wake up and said, "Has the emperor already known?" "I only found out at noon. The emperor was so angry that he asked Mrs. Xihua and me to investigate. Mrs. Xihua is the most resolute, and there will be a result within three days." Concubine Jing still sighed: "The wishful cake was sprinkled with a lot of icing sugar, and the color was almost the same as the pollen of oleander, so that a lot of it was mixed in and no one noticed. It's hard to imagine that Concubine Cui made such an ingenious idea." .She doesn't even step on an ant on weekdays, which shows that she knows people and faces but doesn't know her heart." While talking, Xiao Yunzi came in, saw Concubine Jing was there, hurriedly wiped the sweat off her forehead, greeted her politely, and then said: "Concubine Concubine is dead!" I was taken aback, and Concubine Jing quickly looked at each other, almost saying in unison: "What?" Xiao Yunzi replied: "I just got the news from outside that Mrs. Xihua went to Concubine Cui's palace to ask about Concubine Tian's miscarriage. Who would have thought that when she entered the inner hall, she would find Concubine Cui dangling from the beam by her neck. When I was rescued, I was already out of breath. I heard it was scary, even sticking out my tongue..." Xiao Yunzi described it vividly, before the words fell, Concubine Jing stopped her: "Don't talk nonsense, your master is pregnant, how can you listen to these things?! Pick the important ones." Xiao Yunzi was stunned, and continued: "I heard from the maid beside Concubine Cui that Concubine Cui sent them out half an hour ago, and they were alone in the inner hall. Now Mrs. Xihua has reported to the emperor, and she should be sentenced to commit suicide in fear of crime. gone." My heart felt a little cold, and I sighed and said, "I'm sorry for the eldest son of the emperor, he won't have a mother at such a young age." Concubine Jing looked at the little sunlight leaking into the ground from the window, and said: "It's really pitiful. Fortunately, although there is no biological mother, there are still aunts and concubines, or else there will be the Queen Mother to take care of them." I nodded slightly, slightly puzzled, "It's just that although everything points to her, why should Concubine Hu rush to kill herself. If she pleads or pleads with the emperor, it may not be impossible to save her life." Concubine Jing understands my doubts.Although this matter is reasonable, it is too abrupt after all. She said: "Even if the emperor is willing to forgive her, she will definitely be demoted, and even the eldest son of the emperor cannot be kept by her side to raise her." Her tone sank slightly: "Such a mother will hinder her son's future." My heart trembled slightly, "You mean—maybe the death of Concubine Cui can preserve the future of the eldest son of the emperor." Concubine Jing nodded, not without sighing, "Actually, ever since the pine nuts hurt someone in the Queen's Palace last time, and Concubine Cui was reprimanded by the emperor, she has been unhappy when she went back. Concubine Cui's family has long since fallen, and there is only one second-class viscount left Empty title. How pitiful! For this reason, she must be stronger, but unfortunately the eldest son of the emperor is not up to date, and the concubine's beloved son is eager to see the emperor's strict discipline, so she is inevitably spoiled in private, and she has a dispute with the emperor, which is why she fell out of favor Now that I have ended up hanging myself, I really don't know what to say." I wrapped up the silk in my hand, drank tea slowly and did not speak, my mind was always vague and lingering with doubts, as if I had heard it and thought of it before, but it was always unclear.Concubine Jing saw that I was silent, so she told me: "Concubine Tian's incident is a lesson, sister, you must pay more attention to diet in the future." I thought about it for a while, and finally got a little clear, so I whispered: "My sister once told me that Mrs. Xihua had a miscarriage, and she was still a boy, right?" Concubine Jing thought for a moment and said, "Yes." "Is it because of careless maintenance?" Concubine Jing's eyes quickly swept across my face, unexpectedly I would suddenly ask about these old things, and said: "Although she was still a noble concubine at that time, she was also loved by thousands of people, so how could she be careless?" Her The voice was as thin as a mosquito: "There are rumors in the palace that it was caused by taking the anti-fetal medicine given by Concubine Duan." My eyelashes flickered, my ears flickered, and I blurted out: "I don't believe it." In a killing place like the harem, anything can happen, why should I not believe it, I don't know.Just thinking of the few times I had been with Concubine Duan in the past, I couldn't believe her loving expression for the child. Concubine Jing's expression was still peaceful, she was talking about other people's affairs, so naturally she wouldn't touch her heart.She said unhurriedly: "Don't say you didn't believe it. At that time, the emperor and the empress didn't believe it very much. After all, it was nothing. It's just that after this incident, Concubine Duan has been ill since then, and she doesn't see people very much." There are many doubts and key points in this, I have never experienced it personally, and it has nothing to do with the immediate interests, so naturally I will not speculate.I just feel that many things happen again and again, such as the entanglement of reincarnation, yesterday it was her, today it is you, everyone suffers, everyone harms others, it is like an unbreakable vicious circle, it is really terrifying! Concubine Cui's funeral was sloppy, and she was buried hastily and sent to Zi Palace.The queen sighed a lot because of this, Xuan Ling was also there when she went to pay her respects that day. Speaking of the mourning and glory after the death of Concubine Kui, Xuan Ling only said: "Mr. Tang committed suicide in fear of crime and could not be named after her. She could only be buried as a concubine under the title of 'Cu'. It is considered that I will not pursue her. She entered Gong Jiuzai, to be so confused, it's really embarrassing." The queen wiped the corners of her eyes with a silk cloth, and corrected softly: "Your Majesty, Concubine Xi has been in the palace for eleven years." Xuanling snorted lightly, not paying attention, and unwilling to mention Concubine Kui more, just said: "Tang Shi is dead, the eldest son of the emperor can't live without someone to take care of him." The queen immediately said: "The concubine is the master of the harem, and the sons born in the harem are the same as those born by the concubine. The concubine will raise the emperor's eldest son well and fulfill the responsibility of a mother." Xuan Ling was very satisfied, and said with a smile: "I am relieved when the queen says so. The queen mother is old and sick, so it is most appropriate for the eldest son of the emperor to be raised by the queen." In this way, everyone congratulated the queen on her joy of having a son.The eldest son of the emperor was taken care of, and the queen also had an heir, so everyone was happy. After Xuan Ling left, everyone still chatted with the queen. The empress said with tears: "Concubine Cui has been in the palace for eleven years, and I have seen her enter the palace as Liangdi, successively moved to Shunyi, Ronghua, and noble concubine. After giving birth, she was named Zhaoyi, and then promoted to concubine. Even if you make a big mistake now, it is a great achievement to leave blood for the royal family after all. Now that she has come to a miserable end, although the emperor doesn't like it, we are both sisters in the harem, so we shouldn't be too ruthless, not to mention she is also the eldest son of the emperor Her birth mother, serving the emperor for many years has no credit or hard work. I will send people to guard her Zi Palace, hoping that Concubine Cui will repent her mistakes underground and be at peace." The queen's maid, Jian Qiu, persuaded: "Your Majesty, don't be too sad. You have been sad for several days for the sake of Concubine Cui, and now that the eldest son of the emperor has your care, Concubine Cui can also rest in peace. Sadness will only make the living more sad. After all, it is also the fault of Concubine Cui herself." The queen wiped her tears and said: "Although I say that, I have served the emperor with her for many years. How can I feel good about her sudden departure. Sigh——Concubine Xi is really confused!" The queen was so sad that everyone had to cry and persuade her.After half a day, the empress gradually stopped being sad and started talking and laughing. My body gradually became less light, after all, I was almost four months pregnant.Others didn't notice any abnormality in my figure, but I understood that a small life was constantly absorbing strength, growing bigger and bigger in my stomach. It’s already early summer, and I lay on the vermilion window sill and looked at the depths of the green grass where the durian flowers had all bloomed in the palace garden. The phoenix flowers were blooming and burning fiercely in the air. The sun has also been smothered with enthusiasm.The green leaves temporarily separated from the heat, and the coolness fell on the cobblestones of the path, and the shade was like water. There are too many things happening in the past few days, and everything is related to the passing of life.The children of Chun'er and Concubine Tian and Concubine Kui.Such rapid and continuous death terrified me, and even the air could faintly smell blood and the sad suffocating smell of burning paper money. In the quiet afternoon, a child's cheerful and clear voice suddenly sounded outside the door, like the sound of bird wings flying, piercing the peaceful sky. Naturally, the inner eunuch opened the door to look, and it was the eldest son of the emperor, Yu Li, who came in. I saw that he was alone, without a nurse guard, so I couldn't help being surprised, I quickly took his hand and came in and said, "Prince, why are you here?" He stood grinning, biting his fingers.The little golden crown on his head was also half tilted, his face was covered with traces of sweat, and the sky blue brocade robe was covered with dust.It seems that he is indeed a naughty child, a little mud monkey just like a real one. He looked at me with his face crooked like this for a while, but he didn't salute me, nor did he recognize me.It's no wonder that I don't see him often, and I'm not familiar with his biological mother Concubine Concubine. In the memory of the child's family, there is no stranger like me. Xiao Yunzi told him from the side: "This is the noble concubine of Tangli Palace." I don't know if it's because I have a little life in my womb, but I love children very much, and I like to be close to them.Although I was just a dirty young child in front of me, a young child who was not favored by his father and lost his biological mother, and he was rumored to be mediocre.I still love him. I smiled and held his hand, "Prince, I am your concubine mother. You can call me 'Mother Concubine', okay?" Only then did he wake up, and he greeted me awkwardly: "Hello, Concubine Wanmu." I helped him up with a smile, Liu Zhu had already brought over a silver box, filled with some exquisite food.I signaled to Yu Li that he could eat whatever he wanted, and he was very happy, grabbing his hand full, but kept looking at me with his eyes. He stared at the silver box suddenly, and asked, "Why do you use a silver box to pack your food? In the mother's harem, gold plates and gold boxes are used." I was slightly taken aback.How can I tell him that I use silverware because I am afraid that someone will poison my food?How can such a secretive mind be known to a child who should be naive.So he said gently: "The status of a concubine is not as noble as that of a queen, so of course you can't use gold utensils." He nodded as if he understood, and didn't care about my answer, he just concentrated on biting the pine cake in his hand. I waited for Yu Li to eat, and my mind gradually settled down, Fang asked: "Why did you run out, don't you want to take a nap at this time?" Yuli played with the food in his hand, and replied: "The queen mother and nurse were both asleep, so I sneaked out." He suddenly pouted and felt wronged: "I can't recite, father is not happy, they don't allow me to catch crickets Son wants me to sleep." The coherence of what he said was not clear, but he knew the general idea. I laughed: "So you sneaked out alone to catch crickets?" He nodded vigorously, and suddenly stared at me with wide eyes, "Don't tell the queen mother." I nodded and agreed to him: "Okay." He kicked the cobblestones on the ground in disappointment, "It's really hard to memorize, why do you have to memorize it?" He stuck out his tongue, looking very distressed, "Why didn't Master Kong catch the crickets, what he wanted to write, he didn't write, I don't have to carry it anymore." The surrounding palace people laughed when they heard what he said, and he was annoyed when he saw others laughing, looking very angry.Turning around and seeing the Ling Xiaohua climbing on the flower stand, he was attracted again, with a childish and self-willed voice, pointed at Xiao Lianzi with his hips on his hips and said, "You, pick that flower for me." But I smiled softly: "Mother and Concubine will fold it for you?" I stretched out my hand and folded it, and he snatched it away with all his hands. He compared the orange flower to his belt and laughed happily. Little teeth. I ordered someone to fetch water, wiped the dirt off his face, patted the dust off his clothes, and straightened his clothes carefully.He giggled: "My mother wipes my face in the same way." I was taken aback for a moment, then quickly came back to my senses, forced a smile: "Really?" He said seriously: "Yes. But the queen mother said that my mother is sick, and I can see her and live with her when she recovers. Then I can go out to catch crickets again, and my mother won't say anything about me. "Speaking of this, his smile is smug and kind. Sadness swept over me quickly, and I dare not tell this six or seven-year-old child where his mother is.I just tidy up for him more carefully and gently. He looked at me and pointed to himself: "My name is Yuli." I nodded: "I know." He held me by the corner of my clothes, and smiled more intimately: "Concubine Guanmu can call me 'Li'er'." I hugged him lightly, and said softly, "Okay, Li'er." In fact, he is not as mediocre as the rumors, but he is just a child who has not grown up, and he also loves to play and eat.Maybe his father had too high expectations of him, so he was so disappointed. Jinxi reminded from the side: "Young lady, why don't you send the prince back, I'm afraid the queen's palace has already been turned upside down just to find the prince." I thought about it too.Looking back, she saw Yu Li showing a timid look, she couldn't help but soften her heart, and said, "I'll take you back to the palace, okay?" His smile softened instantly, and I smiled too. Back in the queen's palace, as expected, they were already busy looking for someone.When the nurse saw me sending someone over, she was greatly relieved and chanted "Amitabha".The queen hurried out from behind the tent when she heard the sound, presumably she was woken up from her afternoon nap to look for Yuli, so she just put on a coat over her pajamas and her hair was loose.When Yu Li saw her, she quickly let go of my hand, threw herself into the queen's arms, and rubbed her hips on the queen's skirt like twisted candy ears. The queen was overjoyed and said, "My son, where have you been? It's easy for the queen mother to find you." I feel a little strange, the children recognize their mothers, and the queen raised Yu Li for only three to five days. In the past, because there was a biological mother, the aunt would not get too close to the prince. Why are the two of them so close?After thinking about it for a while, I put it aside, probably because the queen is kind. However, the queen's face was slightly solemn, and said: "Why don't you take a good afternoon nap, where did you go alone?" She looked at me from time to time while talking. Yu Li seemed taken aback, but couldn't answer, so she stood obediently on the ground with her hands down respectfully. I was busy smoothing things over for him, "The prince said that he had forgotten what he had read in the morning, and he couldn't find the master, so he ran out to ask someone to ask, but unexpectedly, he met a concubine, which made the queen worry, it was the concubine's." no." The queen smiled slightly when she heard that Yu Li was so studious, stroked Yu Li's hair and said: "My wife Guan Gui is good at learning, it's best if you can ask her. It's just the same, it's good to be studious, but the body should also rest well. How can you go to school if you are in good health?" Yu Li answered "yes" politely, and glanced at me with a sneaky smile. The queen came out again after changing clothes, sat down and slowly sipped a cup of tea, Fang said to me: "Fortunately, Li'er went to your place just now, but I was taken aback. There are frequent accidents in the palace now, if Li'er If there is anything wrong with my son, I really don't know how to fix it." I laughed and said: "The prince has great blessings, and with the blessing of ten thousand Buddhas, everything will go smoothly." The queen nodded and said: "You are right. But as a parent, there is no time to rest assured. My own child has not grown up. Now the emperor only has Li'er as a prince, how can I not be more careful." The queen sighed, rubbed her temples and continued: "This year is different, and I don't know what kind of evil has been hurt. When the epidemic was cleared, Concubine Chun slipped and drowned for no reason, Concubine Tian's child was not kept, and Concubine Cui also hanged herself to death. Now even The Empress Dowager is also in disobedience. I heard from the emperor that there are frequent droughts outside the palace, and there hasn’t been a single drop of rain in two months. This is a major issue related to the community’s agriculture and mulberry.” She said a word, and I listened carefully. Natural disasters and man-made disasters, both the harem and the former dynasty are so turbulent. There was a moment of distraction, and the bright and scorching sunlight outside fell far on the gorgeous glazed tiles of the palace in a trance, and the dazzling golden light flowed around like water.In such fine weather, the haze caused by the continuous death has not been reduced by half because of the heat. Seeing that the empress had a headache, I hurriedly handed the geranium oil in my sleeve to her.The empress ordered the maid to rub her forehead, her complexion improved a lot, and said: "The emperor and this palace both plan to pray for rain at the Temple of Heaven, and then go to Ganlu Temple to stay for a few days to pray for the shrine and the harem." The empress gave me a meaningful look : "All the affairs of the harem will be handed over to Mrs. Xihua, and Concubine Jing will also assist." I naturally understood what the queen meant, and bowed my head and said: "The concubine will live in the palace to raise her baby, and will not go out if there is nothing to do." The queen nodded slightly: "This is the best. You also know Mrs. Xihua's temperament, bear it if you can, and wait for the emperor and Ben Gong to come back to make decisions for you." She sank a little, and comforted me: "But you are pregnant She doesn't dare to do anything to you when she is alive, just relax. The Emperor and I have only been back and forth for about ten days, and will return to the palace soon." I Ning He smiled and maintained the humility that I should have: "Thank you for your care, the queen, I must take good care of myself." The Queen smiled and looked at the scars on my cheeks where I was scratched by pine nuts, and said, "The scars on your face seem to be much better." I stretched out my hand to stroke it lightly, and said: "Sister An gave me a kind of scar-relieving glue, and I have used it until now, and it has really improved a lot." The empress narrowed her eyes, and said with a smile: "Since it's a good thing, let's continue to use it. The wound must heal completely, and it would be a pity not to leave any scars." The empress seemed to have feelings: "Our palace My woman, having a good face is more important than anything else." I have listened respectfully before resigning.