Chapter 19 Chapter Nineteen

I was leaning alone on the concubine's couch in the warm pavilion, with my chin tilted on one hand, although I was lazy, I didn't feel sleepy at all.I just felt a few thin strands of tassels hanging from a golden hairpin on the head, and a ruby ​​at the end of the tassels. The cool ice was on the cheeks, but after a long time, it seemed to melt with the temperature of the face, and I no longer felt cold.When I was half asleep and half awake, I heard a small voice calling me: "Miss, miss." Gradually regaining consciousness, it was Huanbi's voice outside the curtain.I didn't get up, and said lazily: "What's the matter?" She didn't answer, I knew it was not a trivial matter, so I stroked my face and cheered up: "Come in and answer."

She lifted up the curtain to cover herself and came in, walked up to me and whispered: "Lenggong Yu will die if he refuses, the commotion is full of chaos, he insists on seeing the emperor before he agrees to end it." I shook my head, "What's the use of dying like this. What does the emperor say?" "The emperor hated her so much, he just said 'see you'." "Have you returned to the queen?" "The queen has a headache these days, and she can't even get out of bed. Naturally, she can't control this matter." I murmured: "Then only Concubine Hua is left to take care of this matter. It's just that Concubine Hua has always been very close to Mrs. Yu, and it's too late to withdraw to avoid suspicion at this moment, so she must evade it."

"Miss said that Concubine Hua said she couldn't go if she was not feeling well." I raised my eyebrows and asked: "Li Chang is so useless, even a few inner eunuchs can't deal with her, a weak woman?" Huanbi frowned, and said disgustedly: "Mr. Yu is very vicious. She spilled poisoned wine. She looks like a mad woman. She yelled at the young master in the cold palace. The viciousness of her words is unbearable to hear!" I slowly sat up straight, smoothed my temples and said, "Does she still have the face to scold? If she continues to scold like this, I'm afraid she will die without a place to bury her."

"Ms Yu kept saying that she was framed by others, but she didn't know why she had to die." I stood up, let Huanbi hold my hand, and said slowly: "Then you will accompany me to the cold palace, and let her die clearly, so as not to be a ghost!" Huanbi was startled, and hurriedly said: "Lenggong is an ominous place, Miss must not go there! What's more, Mrs. Yu will lose control and hurt you if she sees you, you can't put yourself in danger!" I stared at the bright sunshine outside the window screen, straightened the tassels of the gold thread embroidered hibiscus purse on the skirt, and said, "I can't let her go on like this, ask Shang Jinxi to come with me."

Huanbi knew that I had made up my mind and would not listen to other people's advice, so she had to order someone to prepare shoulders and Jinxi to go with me. The Lenggong, named Qujin, is far away from the palace courtyard where the concubines live. It is the place where the deposed concubines of the past dynasties were imprisoned.Many concubines and nobles who were deposed were insane or committed suicide because they couldn't stand the miserable life in the cold palace after being deposed, so in private, everyone thought that going to the Jin Palace to accumulate grievances was too deep, and the yin was too heavy. The deepest place of resentment.People who lived nearby often heard the endless crying, moaning, shouting and cursing from the Qujin Palace, and some palace people even claimed to see erratic white-clothed ghosts wandering around the Qujin Palace at midnight. It makes people stay away from going to Jin Palace even more.

Sitting on the shoulders and walking for a long time, there is still no sign of approaching the Jin Palace.The weather was getting warmer in the afternoon, and Huanbi and Jinxi had been walking on both sides of the shoulders for a long time, fine beads of sweat oozed from their foreheads, and they wiped them with handkerchiefs from time to time.The inner eunuch who was carrying his shoulders walked neatly, like a single person, walking like flying.I ordered: "It's hot, walk slowly." Then I turned to Jinxi and asked, "How far is it?" Jinxi replied: "Out of Shanglinyuan, go to the end of Yongxiang and then walk north for a while."

The house at the end of the palace is already very small, and it is a place where low-status palace people live together.The further you go, the more desolate it becomes, as if you have reached a place that has not been inhabited for a long time.Gradually, it became clear that it looked like a palace. It was huge, but it was full of scars, as if no one had lived in it for a long time. A gold-painted pattern that was once drawn. Before I entered the cold palace, I heard a woman's hoarse and sharp scolding, I ordered the little inner prisoner with shoulders to stay outside, and walked straight in.When all the eunuchs saw me coming in, they all knelt down to pay my respects.Li Chang is Xuan Ling's personal servant, according to the rules, he doesn't have to kneel down, he just bows and salutes: "Wanyi is auspicious."

I politely said: "Elder-in-law, please get up." Then I signaled the eunuchs to get up.I asked: "Why is the father-in-law's errand still gone?" With a wry smile on his face, Li Chang pointed to Mrs. Yu who was still yelling: "Look, young master, he is really a rascal." Yu's eyes were full of frightening light, he rushed forward and pulled my skirt and said, "Why are you? Where is the emperor? Where is the emperor?" Asking and looking behind me. Jinxi and Li Chang shouted in panic in unison: "Let go of the young master!" I coldly pushed her hand away, and said: "The emperor's body, how could he set foot in the cold palace at will?"

Yu's clothes were disheveled, his hair was disheveled, the light in his eyes was like an extinguished candle, gradually dimming, then he pointed at me and cried and shouted: "It's all you, it's all you bitch! The emperor insisted Don't kill me! You bitch!" Huanbi hurriedly dodged in front of me for fear that she would hurt me.Perhaps Yu's shout was so loud that the thick dust accumulated on the beam fell off a little bit.I couldn't hide, the dust fell straight on my shoulders, choking me to cough twice. Seeing this, Mrs. Yu clapped her hands and laughed wildly: "Okay! Okay! You bitch with a vicious heart! Even God will spare you!"

Seeing her swearing viciously and without form, Li Chang waved his hand and slapped her loudly across the face, causing her left cheek to swell up, and five red fingerprints floated on her face.She stroked her cheek with one hand, still looking at me with a cold smile. I took out the handkerchief and wiped the dust off my shoulders, and said calmly, "You are the one who committed the crime yourself, and you cannot live. It is just dust. Since it is annoying, you can just wipe it off. It is not a big deal, and it is worthy of the emperor's old respect." Is the concubine so happy?"

Hearing what I meant, Mrs. Yu gradually stopped laughing, and stared straight at me.The corners of my mouth raised slightly upwards, and I said: "You are so unwilling to die, don't you just want to die clearly, then I will tell you." It’s not fake, right? You can’t get away with all the stolen goods.” She raised her head, her face was grim, she gritted her teeth and said, "Yes, I ordered someone to do it. If it weren't for you, how could I have fallen out of favor, how could I have fallen into such a situation, I wish I could gnaw your bones and drink your blood! You bitch will never be reborn!" Seeing the situation, Li Chang wanted to strike him again, I raised my hand slightly to stop him, and he lowered his hand and retreated behind me.I said: "Since you already know your crime, why don't you obey me?!" "It's all because of my carelessness that you found out. I can't blame the emperor for throwing me into the cold palace. I was the only one in the cold palace, and the emperor suddenly wanted to kill me. Do you dare to say that you didn't instigate me?!" I smiled slightly: "Why should I provoke you? You should know why you are favored!" I paused, and the smile on my lips deepened: "On New Year's Eve, leaning against the plum garden, 'Adverse wind is like a solution, and it is easy not to destroy' , do you remember?" A puzzled look gradually appeared on Yu's face, which was replaced by panic, and she screamed sharply: "It's you! It's you!" She stretched out her arms and threw herself forward, shouting at the top of her lungs, "The person that day was you! ! My success is also because of you, and my failure is also because of you!" I turned sideways, and said to Jinxi: "You are so rude, give me a slap!" Yu shi flung himself to nothing, and fell to the ground with too much force, causing dust to rise everywhere.Without saying a word, Jinxi stepped forward and slapped her backhand twice, until the corners of her mouth burst and blood oozes out. Seeing Yu Shi being beaten in a daze, I signaled Jinxi to let go of her, and said, "The way you got favored is not straightforward, and you should be more cautious and guard your duty, but you have made troubles again and again, and you still don't know how to intensify your lessons." How could I let you off if you poisoned me and murdered me!" She listened in dismay, hearing that I couldn't spare her, and suddenly jumped up and rushed out.Li Changyan quickly pushed her back inside, she shook her head like crazy, and shouted: "I'm not dead! I'm not dead! The emperor likes to listen to my singing, the emperor will not kill me!" She shouted and struggled to get out.A group of inner eunuchs pulled her with all their strength, causing a commotion. I beckoned Li Chang to come over, frowned and said in a low voice: "It's not an option to go on like this, the emperor is upset, and the empress has lost her temper again, so we can't let her make trouble." Li Chang is also in a dilemma: "I don't know, the emperor ordered her to commit suicide, but this crazy woman smashed the medicinal wine and tore the white silk, there is nothing she can do." I asked: "Eunuch Li has served the emperor for many years, right?" "Returning to the young master, the servant has served the emperor for twenty years." I smiled and said: "Elder-in-law has worked hard in serving the emperor, and he has seen a lot in the palace, so he can best understand the emperor's mind." I deliberately paused, "Since the emperor ordered her to commit suicide, she will die. If you die, your errand will be lost." Now, who will ask whether it is suicide or something else." Li Chang whispered: "My lord means..." "Ms Yu has no support in the palace, no one will speak for her, and now the emperor hates her." I changed the subject and asked: "If the concubines who ordered to be buried in the past refuse to die themselves, what should they do? " Li Changhe was so obedient, he immediately lowered his eyes, looked at the ground and said: "Yes." "My father-in-law knows better than me what nights are long and dreams are full of dreams. After breaking her, the emperor also has something on his mind." Li Chang bowed respectfully and said, "I understand. I will send my master off respectfully." I smiled slightly, and slowly went out with Huanbi Jinxi.Yu Shi's sharp cursing sound came from behind: "Zhen Huan! If you don't die in my hands, someone will help me finish you! You must die a terrible death!" With a stab, he just pretended not to hear and continued walking outside. Huanbi said bitterly, "I don't know how to repent when I'm about to die." I said lightly: "Death is imminent, let her go." In the twilight outside Qujin Palace, a crow fluttered in fright and flew towards a distant tree.The wind in front of the cold palace seemed to be extraordinarily cold, Huanbi Jinxi helped me onto the shoulders and walked back to the palace.The sky was getting darker and darker, and the black half of the sky was like ink dripping into the clear water, gradually spreading bigger and bigger, bit by bit engulfing the other half of the sky with the gorgeous sunset glow. There are street lamps on both sides of Yongxiang. Each street lamp is as tall as a person. There are copper lamp towers on the stone base and copper wires to protect the windows.The night is illuminated, and the wind and rain never go out.At this time, the internal supervisor was lighting the lamps, and they took fuel and poured it into the lamp building to light up the street lamps.Seeing my shoulder father approaching, he knelt down and saluted silently all the way. After returning to the palace, Jinxi came in and reported that Li Chang had sent a small inner eunuch to spread the word that Mrs. Yu had committed suicide.Although I already knew the result, now that I learned from other people, my heart still sank, and my little finger trembled slightly. Scared. Jinxi saw that my complexion was not good-looking, she put aside the waiters around me, closed the door of the room and stood there quietly. Incense was burning in a small Boshan stove on the table. The smoke was fine and fragrant, rising straight up and spreading like mist.I stretched out my hand and flicked it lightly, and the smoke dissipated and lost its shape. I asked softly, "Jinxi, am I being too cruel about this?" "What does the young master refer to?" I sighed faintly, and gently flicked the messy silk embroidery on the tablecloth with the tip of my armor, but remained silent. Jinxi poured a cup of tea and put it in front of me, and said softly: "I don't know how to be too much, I only know that if others don't offend my master, my master will not offend others. If my master takes action, it must be intolerable." "Are you trying to comfort me?" "The slaves don't know how to comfort, but just tell the young master that there are too many killings in the palace. If the young master is not cruel to others, I am afraid that others will be more cruel to the young master." I was silent, Jinxi looked at the bottom, and said softly: "It's not early, servant girl will serve the young master to sleep." I said "hmm" and said, "At this hour, the emperor should still be reading the scriptures, right?" "Yes. I heard that the ministers have given a lot of memorials these days." "I'm tired too. I sent Xiao Yunzi to send some ginseng soup to Yiyuan Hall. The emperor has been too tired recently." "Yes." Jinxi went out to order, and Duan Shui removed the hairpin and rouge for me, helped me to bed, put down the silk curtain, leaving only two small candles in front of the bed, and quietly retreated. After spending a lot of effort in the past few days, and the medicine in my body hadn't been exhausted, I fell into a deep sleep as soon as I hit the pillow.I don't know how long I slept, but I just felt that the quilt on my body was cool, as if it was raining, and the sound of wind and rain was loud, and the sound of beating leaves was rustling.Someone is calling my name—Zhen Huan!Zhen Huan!It's been a long time since anyone called me like this, and I feel strange and alienated.I sat up in a daze, the window sash was knocking "clack-clack", and the cold wind leaked in, and the flickering candle in front of the bed immediately went out with a "pop".I asked confusedly, "Who is it?" A dark shadow swayed in front of the bed, vaguely a woman with loose hair.I asked, "Who?" It was a woman's voice, sobbing and screaming: "Zhen Huan. You took my life and asked someone to strangle me. How did you forget it so quickly?" She repeatedly asked, "How did you forget so soon? " Cold sweat is dripping all over my body, Mrs. Yu! "Zhen Huan. Do you know what it's like to be strangled? They strangled me with a bowstring. It hurts. Half of my neck was strangled. Do you want to see it?" The horror of speaking quickly permeated the entire room. "Do you dare to take a look?" She gestured to throw back the curtain.I was so frightened that my hairs were standing on end, my scalp was numb, and I fumbled for things around me.Pillow!Gilt Porcelain Pillow!I grabbed it suddenly, lifted the curtain and threw it at the shadow with all my strength, there was a clang, and there was a sharp "Zilla" sound of broken ceramics scattered all over the ground.Panting heavily, I shouted sharply: "I, Zhen Huan, ordered you to be strangled, what can you do to me! If I don't kill you, you must kill me! If you dare to linger, I will definitely crush your bones Yang Hui, you won't even be able to keep your stinky skin!" There was no sound, and soon there was the sound of the door being opened, and someone rushed in in a panic, lit candles and opened the curtain in a hurry, "My lord, what's wrong with you, my lord!" A string of twisted silver bracelets on my wrist buzzed, reminding me that I was still alive.I was covered in cold sweat, and gasped slightly, "It's just a nightmare." Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, and hurriedly wiped my face with water, closed the windows, and cleaned up the mess all over the place.Jinxi helped me get a new pillow and put it on. I lowered my voice as much as I could and leaned close to her ear and said, "She's been here before." Jinxi's expression changed, and he changed to benzoin and burned it in the Boshan furnace, and said to others: "Little Master Mengmai, I will accompany you to rest in the room, you go out first." Everyone retreated, Jinxi hugged the bedding and lay down under my bed, and said in a calm voice: "Your servant will accompany you, please sleep peacefully." The sound of wind and rain was pattering into my ears, and I was still in shock. The more frightened I was, the more I wanted to curl up into a ball, and the more I stretched my body, my hands and feet were straightened, and my body was a little stiff.Jinxi's breathing was a little rapid, not even and gentle, nor did she look like she had fallen asleep. I said softly, "Jinxi." Jinxi responded, "Is the young master still afraid?" "Ok." "The theory of ghosts and gods is just rumored by the world, so please don't take it to heart." I stretched my hand out of the quilt, under the dim yellow candlelight, the silver bracelet on my wrist reflected the cold dark light, like a free dark yellow snake.I calmed down and said: "Today's nightmare is really my hands stained with blood for the first time, and I even dreamed that the soul of Yu's family is taking his life." I kept quiet and continued: "What I am really afraid of is not these. Ghosts and gods come from people's hearts. As long as I don't No matter how much you feel owed, you won't be disturbed by nightmares anymore. What I'm afraid of is that although Mrs. Yu died, this matter is not completely over." "My lord suspects that there is someone behind the Yu family?" Jinxi sat up and asked. "Yeah. Do you still remember what Mrs. Yu cursed me when we were out of the limbo?" "Remember." Jinxi's tone sank slightly, "She said that someone must help her kill the young master." "You have been in the palace for some years. Think about it, Mrs. Yu doesn't seem like a scheming person. She is just a court lady who grows flowers. How does she know how to understand medicine and know how much medicine to put in my soup every time? How to arrange it carefully?" When people come into my palace, they should cooperate with each other? Where did the medicine come from?" Jinxi's breathing gradually became heavy, and she was silent for a moment: "The young master has long understood that she should be kept alive for interrogation." I shook my head, "Shi Yu hates me to the core, how could she tell the person behind her who is behind the scenes. She would rather die than say anything, and even bite us back and slander others. On the contrary, when she dies, the person who made her will Be slack, let us have a trace." I sneered and said, "Let's use her death to make a good show." Jinxi said softly: "The young master already has a plan?" "Not bad." I beckoned her to come to me and whispered a few words. After hearing this, Jinxi smiled: "My lord is a good plan, let's wait for that person to reveal his true colors." -------------------------------------------------- --- Notes: