Chapter 23 Chapter 23 The Heir

On the seventh day of June, in hot weather, Xuan Ling and the queen went out of the palace to pray for rain, and everyone saw them off outside the gate of the palace, seeing the brigade winding away.Mrs. Xi Hua suddenly laughed softly: "This time I pray that only the empress of the harem will accompany the emperor. I am afraid that she will not only ask for rain in the sky, but also ask for a prince, so that the empress will be satisfied." Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Mrs. Xi Hua said such disrespectful words, no one dared to say a word.Under the shining white sun, everything was silent.

She suddenly turned her head to look at me, her delicate face was still flawless under the scorching sun.She is really beautiful and strong enough.She looked at me with a half-smile, and continued the topic just now: "Concubine Guan Gui, what do you think?" My thoughts froze for a moment, and I quickly said neither humble nor overbearing: "If the queen is really pregnant, it will be a happy event for Da Zhou, and the madam will be happy too, won't she?" She smiled: "Of course. I think your concubine will be happy too." I kept my eyes on her: "The empress is the mother of the world, except for those with ulterior motives, no one will be unhappy about it."

She raised her sleeves to cover the sun, narrowed her eyes slightly, and seemed to be talking to herself: "Your articulation is getting better." She didn't say any more, but her eyes fell silently and sharply across my cheeks, sharp and subtle. pain.In the end, her eyes fell on my slightly raised belly, her expression complicated and confused. Xuan Ling and the queen's first provocation after they left the palace disappeared without a sound. Madam Xihua's hostility towards me is well known. Thought they could continue to be evenly matched, who would have thought that the wind and rain would come so fast.

That morning when I was doing my makeup in the mirror, I suddenly felt a faint soreness in my lower abdomen, and my waist was also sore and limp. Looking back in the mirror, I saw my face was pale and ugly, and I was startled. Huanbi panicked, hurried over to help me lie down, and said, "Miss, what's wrong?" I was afraid that she would be worried, so although I was quite flustered, I forced a smile and said: "It's okay, it's probably because I have to deal with Mrs. Xihua for a few days, and it's because I put too much effort into it." After all, Huanbi was young and inexperienced, and looked flustered, Jinxi hurried over and said: "Your Majesty is always sore and tired these days, why don't you drink some hot water and rest, and this servant will invite Doctor Zhang right away."

I try to nod. Jinxi had just left the door when a deacon next to Mrs. Xihua came over to deliver the message. He was courteous, but without any expression on his face, and said dully: "Tell Mrs. Xihua, please go to Mixiu Palace. Let's listen together." I turned my eyes in surprise: "What's the matter of listening together?" He smiled on the surface: "Now Mrs. Xihua takes care of the affairs of the Six Palaces on behalf of the empress. If you have any orders, all the empresses and mistresses have to listen to them." Liu Zhu glared at the side and said: "Didn't you see that my young lady is not feeling well?! A few days ago, the Empress also said that my young lady is pregnant, and even the daily greetings can be avoided. This time Mrs. Xihua I don't even need to listen to what matters!"

Before Liu Zhu finished speaking, another person came in from the outside, it was Mrs. Xihua's most powerful internal supervisor, Zhou Ninghai.He asked for peace to the end, and when he got up again, he was already yelling at the little inner prisoner who came just now: "Stupid thing! Asking you to invite Concubine Guan is so slow, it will only delay time, and if you don't go to the Punishment Department yourself Get thirty mouths!" Why didn't I understand that he was obviously scolding the little eunuch, but he was criticizing me in private.He couldn't help accumulating anger in his chest, and couldn't help but cast a glance at Liu Zhu.

Liu Zhu was about to speak, but Zhou Ninghai smiled at me and said respectfully: "Our wife knows that your concubine is weak, so I specially asked the slaves to invite you, lest those ignorant slaves bump into you. Let's talk about you If you don't go, you won't be able to do it. Although you are only ranked behind the concubine Xingui according to your status, I am afraid that several concubines and empresses are not as honorable as you. If you don't go, how will Mrs. Xihua organize the harem? Mrs. Xihua It is the empress's intention to take charge of the Six Palaces, you must not disobey the empress!"

Although he is glib, his words make sense.I couldn't refute for a moment, and while hesitating, he quickly added: "Master Tian and Concubine Duan are so bad that they can't go, the other concubines have already arrived, even An Meiren is here, just waiting for you One." In this way, I naturally can no longer shirk, knowing that I will inevitably suffer from her rejection, but etiquette cannot be abandoned.What's more, the queen also said before leaving that she told me to take care of it no matter what these few days.After struggling to get up and changing clothes, I put on my makeup to look good, naturally I can't let my sickness show in front of her, how can I show weakness?

After all, it's too late. Mrs. Xihua's Mixiu Palace is magnificent, with multiple golden animal spines, beams and pillars all painted with auspicious patterns of the green luan soaring to the sky. With Jinxi's support, I climbed up the steps, and Yili knelt down in front of Mrs. Xihua. There are huge ice sculptures in the hall, which are as cool as water.The purple gold lily cauldron beside the main hall is burning with unknown spices, the fragrance is sweet and soft, it makes people feel drunk, it only makes people soft and crisp in their bones, and it is indescribably comfortable.

Mrs. Xihua was sitting on the seat, her long beaded hair was hanging down her cheeks, she was shaking the lacquered peony multicolored fan in her hand, her eyes seemed to be half-open, but the delicately painted distant mountain eyebrows were extremely dazzling .My late arrival made the stagnant atmosphere even more rigid. After listening to my explanation, she didn't make it difficult for me and asked me to sit down.I let it go so easily, I was a little suspicious. After saying a few words, when it was time for snacks, everyone relaxed a little, and Ling Rong suddenly asked: "Madam's palace is so fragrant, what kind of spices are used?"

Mrs. Xihua's brows and eyes were full of pride, and she said: "An Meiren's nose is good! This is the spice that the emperor ordered someone to prepare carefully for this palace, called 'Huan Yixiang', and only one person in the harem is using it. I want to come to you I haven't seen it before." Speaking of such words in public, everyone would be somewhat embarrassed and jealous, but with a status as noble as her, they would naturally ignore it. Ling Rong smiled lightly, lowered his head and said: "The concubine is not as knowledgeable as my wife is." After a few gossips, the concubines of the Sixth Palace remained silent again, quietly listening to her detailing the affairs of the palace. My body's soreness gradually improved, and her words also talked about the rectification of the palace: "The matter of Concubine Tian and Xiaoyue has committed suicide in fear of crime, and I don't want to bring up the past. There are plenty of people. Moreover, there have been a lot of quarrels and fights among the court ladies and eunuchs recently, and each of them has become lawless. The palace should also be rectified." Although Concubine Jing also has the right to assist the Six Palaces, but Mrs. Xihua can't get in a word when she can't stop talking.Everyone listened like this, Mrs. Xihua just stroked her smooth and slender nails like water onions, and changed the subject lightly: "You can be proud of being pampered when you are pregnant." She glanced at me sideways as she spoke. , the voice rose sharply, becoming sharp and harsh: "Concubine Guangui, are you guilty?!" I didn't intend to listen to her at first, but I was stunned when I suddenly spoke so harshly.Standing up and bowing his head, he said: "Madam is so angry, I don't know what is wrong with this concubine? But please tell Madam." A gloomy look suddenly appeared between her eyebrows and eyes, and she shouted: "Today, the concubines and concubines gathered in Mixiu Palace to listen to the affairs. The noble concubine Zhen Shi came late for no reason, and she has no eyes on the palace, so she still doesn't kneel down!" Saying this is just to give me a blow, so as to frighten Liugong.In fact, why bother, whether the queen is present or not, everyone knows who is the most favored at the moment, and she has a rich family background. I'm just pregnant, and I won't be able to serve Xuan Ling often in a short period of time, so why should she fight over the day and night. However, I still remember the exhortations of the queen and Xuan Ling, and I had to endure this moment of anger and kneel down slowly. Her anger did not dissipate, and she became more and more severe: "Now that you are so disrespectful, what will happen if you really give birth to an emperor's heir? Doesn't it mean that the harem will follow your surname Zhen!" It's not that I can't bear it, but if I just bear it, it will only make her more arrogant, not to mention Chun'er, she really didn't die for nothing.With this in mind, how can I back away from it? I bowed my head slightly, maintaining a humble posture: "Although Madam is angry, the concubine has to say it. When the concubine is pregnant, the emperor and the queen must take care of her. This is not for the concubine, but for the ancestral temple. The concubine It is not without reason that I came here today, even if my concubine offends me today, but there are the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, and the Empress is the emperor's heir and concubine's mother, Madam's saying that the harem follows Zhen's surname really makes the concubine panic." Under the cloud temples and high bun, her well-groomed face is tense, her eyebrows are like black mountains in the distance, and her pair of phoenix eyes are even more domineering, without anger and prestige.Her breathing quickened slightly, and the fan in her hand slammed heavily on the armrest of the seat with a "click", causing everyone to look at each other in shock, and hurriedly straightened up and sat down. Concubine Jing hurriedly smoothed things over: "Madam is thirsty after talking for a long time, why not drink a cup of tea and rest. As for Concubine Guan, let her get up and talk too." Mei Zhuang tried his best to focus on me, looking back at Mrs. Xihua with hidden blue hatred, hidden like the blade of a knife.Mrs. Xi Hua just didn't realize it at all, she just stared at me, and finally said every word: "Women put women's morality first, and the noble concubine Zhen's flattery and flirtatious words, the following offenses, and disrespect to my palace..." Her thin bright red eyes Tightly pursing his lips, he said angrily: "Punish him to kneel outside Mixiu Palace and recite "The Commandments for Women" as a lesson." Concubine Jing hurriedly said: "Ma'am, the sun is very hot outside, and the granite is hard, how can you make your concubine kneel there?" From a distance behind, Ling Rong also pleaded: "Madam calm down, please spare my sister for the sake of your concubine's pregnancy. If there is any mistake, the emperor and the queen will probably blame the lady when they return." Mausoleum Rong's voice was damaged, and this kind of begging seemed miserable and pitiful, but Mrs. Xihua was furious: "The palace rules are not strict, of course they must be rectified, even if the emperor and queen are here, the concubine is the best example, can it be possible?" Are you using the emperor and empress to blackmail the palace?" Ling Rong was so frightened that his face was full of tears, he didn't dare to speak again, so he kowtowed endlessly. Mrs. Xihua stared at me and said, "Are you going out by yourself or shall I ask someone to help you?" There was intermittent slight soreness in my lower abdomen, I frowned, and said proudly: "No need to work, Ma'am." Zhou Ninghai smiled slightly, lowered his eyelids and said to me: "Your concubine, please!" I walked straight to the gate of Mixiu Palace, knelt down, and said: "The concubine received the punishment because the empress is a first-rank wife, her position is only below that of the queen, and she is ordered by the emperor to take care of the affairs of the sixth palace." I didn't care about Concubine Jing's winking at me, and I didn't want to take into account the sympathetic or gloating gazes around me, so I raised my head slightly, "It's not that the concubine's reprimand to the empress is sincere and sincere, it's just and comfortable, and it's not that the punishment can be determined." She laughed angrily: "Very well, I will let you know whether justice is in the hands of me, Murong Shilan, or in your so-called human heart!" She threw the book in front of my lap, "Read it slowly by yourself ! Read until I am satisfied." Mei Zhuang no longer cared about the taboo and dignity, kneeled in front of Mrs. Xi Hua, and said: "Concubine Guan Gui is pregnant, it is really inappropriate—" Mrs. Xi Hua raised her eyebrows and interrupted Mei Zhuang's words: "I see that your scars are healed and you forgot the pain! Since you want to intercede for her, go and kneel beside her and listen to the training together." I don't want this to happen to Mei Zhuang, she is in good health, how can she kneel with me under the sun, I couldn't help but glance at Mei Zhuang to signal her to stop talking, and said softly to Madam Xihua: "Shen Ronghua is not a concubine I beg you, Madam, please don't take your anger out on her." She smiled with heavy makeup, full of jokes: "If I must vent my anger on her, what can you do?!" She suddenly suppressed her smile, and said to Meizhuang: "Aren't you a sister? You just hold her The book kneels opposite Concubine Wan Gui, let her recite it carefully, and be more disciplined!" Mei Zhuang knew that it was hopeless to ask for mercy, and asking again would only lead to an even more humiliating situation.She picked up the book without saying a word, and said in my ear very quickly and softly: "I will accompany you." Filled with indescribable gratitude and touch, I nodded quickly, raised my head slightly, and raised it again, forcing back the tears in my eyes. It was almost noon, and the sun was scorching hot. When he suddenly came out of the cool and pleasant Mixiu Palace, he felt the heat waves sweeping away, enveloping all the pores of his body. Only then did I understand why Mrs. Xihua didn't have an attack early in the morning and had to wait until this time. It was cold early in the morning. In her eyes, she didn't take advantage of me too much. The thin and soft skirt was attached to the legs, and the hot air from the floor tiles was transmitted to the heart, and it was very uncomfortable to feel that it was hard and hot from the knees to the toes. Mrs. Xihua sat at the entrance of the hall by herself, and there were ice sculptures beside the seat. She still felt hot, so she ordered four maids to fan her behind, but she said to the inner eunuch beside her, "Take the seats of your lords and lords." Move the chair to the front of the corridor, let them watch carefully, what good is it to disobey the palace rules and despise the palace!" Women in the palace cherish their skin the most, how could they allow their skin to be so white and tender under the hot sun, it would be like killing them.Besides, they are the most pampered, how can they sit under the scorching sun and expose themselves to the sun with me.However, how dare Mrs. Xihua disobey her strict order, she might kneel with me.As a result, everyone was crying and distressed, and dared not speak out. I couldn't help but smile bitterly in my heart, Mrs. Xihua is also considered to be well-intentioned.It's not enough to be favored like this, let those delicate beauties get tanned, but I am the only one who is pampered and white.When Xuan Ling came back, she was naturally the only beauty in her eyes who was as white as jade. The surroundings gradually quieted down, and the sun shone brightly on the granite floor in front of the hall. The floor tiles were originally black and shiny, and the light could be seen, like solidified black ink, under the hot sun, there was a dazzling white light. Knowing that it was impossible, Mei Zhuang and I knelt face to face in that ball of white light.She held the book in front of me and asked me to read it word by word.The reflection is strong, and the book is dilapidated, and it is very difficult to read every word. Concubine Jing couldn't bear it and wanted to persuade her again, Mrs. Xi Hua turned her head and gave her a hard look: "Kneeling for half an hour and reciting "The Commandments for Women" will not kill anyone! If you talk too much, I will let you kneel too." The concubine had no choice but to stop making a sound. After reciting it once, Mrs. Xi Hua still refused to give up, and said two words sadly: "Read it again." I had no choice but to read it from the beginning again, worrying about the safety of Mei Zhuang's body and the baby in my womb. I wanted to read it quickly, but how could Mrs. Xi Hua agree? Tap the ruler—it was originally used by Mr. Xixi to beat urchins, but in Mrs. Xihua's palace, it has become a tool of torture.The "cracking" sound of the hitting was particularly crisp and sharp on the flesh, and it was a deep red mark.Mei Zhuang resisted the pain desperately, and endured the pain without saying a word, her sweat was profuse.I know that when I sweat, the wound will hurt more. Mrs. Xihua did not dare to hit me, but seeing Mei Zhuang suffer for me like this, she felt anxious and unspeakable, even more sad than myself being blamed.I can only watch helplessly like this, I can only read slowly word by word, and endure the time. I don't know how long it has passed, but my legs are already numb, and I can only feel the prickly sweat dripping down my face, greasy on my temples.The clothes on the vest and cuffs were wet and dry, and there were white marks. I chant over and over again: "I am stupid, insensitive to nature, favored by my ancestors, and rely on my mother's teachings. . . . The grace of the saints, the bestowing gold and purple, is not what I expect. A man can make his own way, I don't. It’s also worrying again. But it’s appropriate to hurt the women, don’t teach them gradually, don’t listen to women’s etiquette, and fear losing tolerance to other families and shame the clan.” "The humble and weak first: the ancients gave birth to a daughter for three days, lying on the bed, making tiles and bricks, and fasting. Lying on the bed, it is clear that she is humble and weak, and the master is also a servant.... Couples second: couples The Dao of yin and yang, understanding the gods, believing in the righteousness of heaven and earth, and the great integrity of human relations...” Is it the sound of cicadas chirping or the sound of Ling Rong still kowtowing, my mind is dizzy, it is so noisy, and my ears are buzzing. "Third Respect: Yin and Yang are different, and men and women are different. Yang regards strength as virtue, Yin regards softness as useful, men regard strength as precious, women regard weakness as beauty..." It seems that the sun is too big, and the characters that can be read are swaying from big to small, wriggling like ants. "Women's behavior is the fourth: women have four behaviors, one is women's virtue, the other is women's words, the third is women's appearance, and the fourth is women's merit..." The lower abdomen sank heavily, the mouth was dry, and the body was sore and limp, as if the strength was gradually evaporating with the water in the body. Mei Zhuang looked at me worriedly, Concubine Jing's anxious voice reminded: "It's been half an hour." "Concentrate on the fifth: etiquette, a husband has the meaning of remarrying, and a woman has no suitable text, so it is said that the husband is heaven. ... Song Cong Six: If a husband is happy with one person, it means eternal death; if he is frustrated with one person, it means eternal death." finished.……" The shattered ice in Mrs. Xihua's bowl was tinkling, like wind chimes jingling in the eaves, always tempting me.With a piece of ice in her mouth, she said vaguely and indifferently: "Not busy, just read for another quarter of an hour." "What if something happens? I'm afraid Madam can't afford it. Oh, sister Wan's face is turning pale! Madam!" Mrs. Xihua disdained: "Is she acting so pretentiously for Ben Gong to see? Ben Gong sees that she is fine!" "Seventh with Uncles and Sisters: A woman's satisfaction with her husband is due to her uncle's self-love; her uncle's love for herself is due to her uncle's self-respect. . . . The two are enough to reconcile. The poem says: "There is no evil there, and there is no shooting here." This is what it means." The body was very sore, and the pain started to spread like a snake, as if something was being lost in the body bit by bit.The sun is so big, why do I feel cold, the bright white light is as cold as the light of snow. I really want to lean on me, is Mei Zhuang calling me? "Huan'er?! Huan'er? What's wrong with you?!" I'm sorry, Meizhuang, it's not that I don't want to answer you, I really don't have the energy. Why do men's clothes appear beside me?ah?Xuan Ling, are you back?Shiro!Shiro!Quickly save me! ——No, there is no bright yellow on his body, and the uniform is not that of an emperor.I raised my head with difficulty. I saw a single gown in crimson gauze and a white jade fish-dragon buckle—yes, it was the prince’s ordinary clothes.It's him, Xuan Qing!I remembered that the Empress Dowager was ill a few days ago, and he lived in the Luyue Kaiyun Pavilion on the Taiye Pool to facilitate his consultation day and night. It was also because he was not married and wanted to avoid suspicion with the harem concubines, so he lived on the lake.However, when going to the Empress Dowager's Palace, Mrs. Xihua's Mixiu Palace is a must. His sudden appearance caused the concubines to scatter like birds and beasts in a panic, fleeing into the inner hall one after another. King Qinghe, are you arguing with Madam Xihua?Fool, there are so many female relatives here, don't you know how to avoid suspicion?You must be crazy, trespassing on the palace.Behind Mrs. Xihua is the power of the King of Runan, and among the brothers, the King of Runan hates you the most, so why should you? ! well!I can't care less!The stomach hurts so much, who's claws are stirring my penis, stripping away the warmth of my body, such a warm, flowing feeling, gurgling out. My eyes looked like they were separated by a snow-white fog, and my eyelashes became layers of blurred gauze.Xuan Qing, your expression is so angry and eager, are you angry with her?well!You have always been gentle. Meizhuang, mausoleum?And why are you so afraid?Meizhuang, you are crying.Why?I'm just tired and a little sore, don't be afraid.Shiro, Shiro is coming back soon! You see, Shiro hugged me, his clothes were tightly pressed against my face, and he hugged me horizontally. On that day, the sky was full of apricot blossoms like rain, and he hugged me and walked on the long eternity. lane.His hands were so strong, he led me away from Mixiu Palace.Mrs. Xihua sneered angrily, but why did she look so frightened? ……what!It was Shiro who scolded her... Meizhuang, you are crying, are you going to chase me?I'm so tired, I really want to sleep. But... but... Shiro, why does your face look so similar to Xuanqing today?I can't laugh...it must be my eyesight. "Your concubine!..." Before the last loss of consciousness, Shiro, I only heard you call me that, your voice was so affectionate, painful and forbearing.A scorching liquid fell on my cheeks, are those your tears?This is the first time you cry for me.Or, this is just my ignorant illusion...