Chapter 54 Chapter Fifty-Three

The crown prince is gone, and everything is waiting for Kangxi's final ruling.Kangxi looked at the prince with only icy eyes, thinking of the father who would cry for the prince three or four years ago, his heart was full of sighs, the throne, this cold chair finally crushed the love between father and son, now only I'm cold and disgusted. Because of his mother's death, the eighth elder brother, who was sick at home for more than half a year due to his mother's illness, reappeared in the Forbidden City, his face was pale, his lips were still smiling, but his eyes became colder.

Today, the fourth elder brother and the thirteenth elder brother came to greet Kangxi. As soon as they sat down, the eighth elder brother, ninth elder brother and fourteenth elder brother came to greet Kangxi again.Kangxi did not wake up after taking a nap, Wang Xi asked the elder brothers what they meant, and the elder brothers all said 'wait and see'.Although there were many people in the room, it was silent.Holding the tea tray, I served tea to each elder brother in turn. Walking to the eighth elder brother's table, I gently put the tea on the table. I felt his eyes staring at my wrist. I forced myself to glance at him calmly, and met his eyes, which were as cold as ice for thousands of years. Surprise and pain are mixed in the waves of light.In an instant, his heart sank sharply, and his whole body was suddenly cold. He walked away from him a few steps, served tea to the thirteen elder brothers beside him, held his breath and turned around to pick up the tea from the tea tray held by the little eunuch behind him, but his hands trembled. Brother Thirteen glanced at me indifferently, quickly took the teacup, pretended to be very thirsty, took a sip quickly, and put it on the table as if nothing had happened.From the beginning to the end, the eyes kept smiling and looking at the fourth elder brother and ninth elder brother opposite.

With my hands in my sleeves, I walked to Brother Fourteen's table, took a deep breath, and then picked up the teacup with steady hands, and asked him with my eyes.He froze for a moment, seeing my little finger pointing at his wrist when I was serving tea, he pretended to serve tea and shook his head invisibly.It turns out that he hasn't given it yet, no wonder so! Holding the tea tray in a daze, I turned around and walked out. I suddenly bumped into the person rushing in. I couldn't stand upright and fell backwards. I heard him shout angrily, "You bastard! You have long eyes like a dog!" Where did you go?" I lifted my foot and kicked, before they could say "Stop", I was kicked in the side rib.Fortunately, with the help of falling back, a lot of it was resolved, but it was also a heartache.

Ignoring the pain, I quickly knelt down and kowtowed to apologize, but when I looked up, it was Elder Brother Shi.He obviously didn't expect me to be the one kicked, he was anxious, angry and annoyed, he raised his sleeve to cover half of his face, and came to help me with the other, I hurriedly avoided his hand, got up by myself, and whispered in pain: "Just I touched it lightly, but it didn't hit the real point." He bowed to him and said, "Thank you ten brothers for not punishing me!" He froze for a moment, but still wanted to speak, I smiled at him and shook my head slightly.With an annoyed expression on his face, he walked to a chair beside him and sat down.He still half covered his face with his sleeves.The eighth brother's face was slightly green, and he scolded: "When you come in, An also doesn't invite you, just go on the rampage, what's the important thing for you?"

The tenth elder brother glanced at the fourth elder brother, and saluted perfunctorily to the fourth elder brother and the ninth elder brother. Thirteenth and fourteenth hurriedly saluted him again, and sat back on their chairs. I walked quickly to the outside of the curtain, and then leaned on the wall, bent over and lightly touched the place where I was kicked, bared my teeth and took a deep breath, and told the little eunuch next to me: "Notify Yutan to make tea for brother ten .” After finishing speaking, he turned his head to look inside the curtain, not knowing who actually lit the firecracker, but I was innocently bombed.

Elder Brother Ten looked around at the Elder Brothers present, and asked loudly: "Where's Huang Ama?" The eunuch on the side hurriedly bowed and replied, "Long Live Lord has not woken up from his nap, Elder Brother Ten, please wait for a while!" Elder Brother Shi patted the table angrily, and asked the eunuch standing beside him: "Where's the tea? Didn't you see that Master is here?" The eunuch hurriedly bowed and replied, "Miss Ruoxi just went out to make a brew, and I think she will be here soon. " Brother Ten's hand that was patting the table froze, stopped in mid-air, and then slowly put it on the table.I sighed angrily, this two hundred and five, I find someone to vent my anger, but it falls on me again and again.

Fourteen asked: "Where did Brother Ten get angry? Why did you keep covering half of your face with your sleeve? Could it be that he got killed in a fight?" Elder Brother Ten's expression was ugly, he was stunned for a long time, he slammed the table, stood up and shouted: "Even if I try my best to be beaten by Huang Ama, I must give up this shrew!" Mantang elder brothers were taken aback when they heard it, but Fourteen started laughing, saying, "Take off your sleeves quickly, let us have a look! How is the fight? I can help you beat the side drums in a while."

When Brother Nine and Brother Thirteen heard the words, they both wanted to laugh but held back.The fourth elder brother kept his face pale, staring down at the ground as if he hadn't heard anything.The eighth elder brother frowned slightly and scolded: "How can you bring the private affairs between husband and wife into the palace? Go back quickly!" Elder Brother Ten stood angrily, neither speaking nor moving.Fourteen smiled and stepped forward, wanting to pull his sleeves to find out.Elder Brother Ten pushed him away angrily, Fourteen stopped, and asked with a smile: "What's the matter? Let's hear it, and we'll help you judge."

The eighth elder brother saw that the tenth elder brother was unmoved, he sighed helplessly, and asked, "What's going on? Are you going to make a fuss here?" The little eunuch held the tea tray and said softly, "Sister, the tea is ready." I hurriedly took the tea tray and walked in through the curtain.Elder Brother Shi was pointing at the eunuch standing beside him and shouted: "Get out!" Since he came in, the eunuch who had been on tenterhooks bowed his head and hurriedly withdrew as if ordered by Lun, and the eunuchs guarding outside the curtain also quickly dispersed.

He said angrily: "This year's Lantern Festival, she saw that the lantern hanging in my study was fun, so she wanted to go. Today, I heard some gossip from somewhere, and when I came back, she threw the lantern on my face, stomped her feet and smashed it. Noisy and noisy, I insisted on explaining clearly, "Why did you give her something that other people didn't want last year?" How could I have time to accompany her to babble? She became more and more violent. I scolded her for even the slightest bit of temper. Even if she couldn't catch up, she suddenly started to splash, and she gave it to me, gave it to me..." As she said, she took a look at Brother Ba's sleeve, and quickly covered it up again.

When I heard this, I was just embarrassed and unable to advance or retreat.Fourteen smiled and glanced at me.The eighth elder brother persuaded softly: "Then there is no reason to divorce your wife for this. Go back first, and later I will let her sister scold her for you to relieve your anger." The tenth elder brother sat back on the chair and said: "Mynah , you don’t need to persuade me anymore, I’m determined.” Fourteen hurriedly put away his smile, and said seriously: “Brother Ten, it’s not good for you to make such a fuss, and you’ve made Ruoxi tired for no reason, so let’s go back first.” The tenth elder brother said angrily: "I will make it clear to Huang Ama myself that I will divorce her because she is a savage! What does it have to do with Ruoxi?" Fourteen looked sideways at me, indicating that there was nothing I could do, and let me make up my own mind.I hesitated for a while, now is the time for troubles, and the aftermath of the prince's proposal is still undecided.With the tenth brother's mixed temper, he didn't know what else to say to Kangxi. If something made Kangxi angry and turned his anger on me, the consequences would be dire.After weighing the pros and cons, no matter how inappropriate it feels, this is the only way to go.Fortunately, the people present, except for the fourth elder brother and the thirteenth elder brother, are all members of the Eighth Master Party, even if they don't care about me, they have to care about the tenth elder brother. I went forward to bow to Elder Brother Ten and said: "Your maidservant is bold, I have a few words to say." Elder Ten said: "Don't persuade me! I've made up my mind!" After speaking, he closed his eyes. I said to myself: "I didn't intend to persuade you, I just wanted to ask a question." He didn't respond, I asked: "Brother Shi, you were beaten by Fujin, did you fight back?" He closed his eyes and snorted coldly :"No!" I asked: "Why?" He opened his eyes and looked at me, a little dazed for a while, then said angrily after a while: "I don't have the same knowledge as women!" ? I’m afraid it’s just a child, so I’ll beat him up first to relieve my anger.” He stared at me blankly. I slowly said: "When I was a child, my servant especially liked to eat candied haws, because it is sour, sweet, and crunchy. Occasionally, it feels very fresh. Later, because Ama thought it was unclean, she refused to buy it for me, but I couldn't forget it even more. The taste of candied haws is always the most delicious thing in the world. Although I also love the hibiscus cake that I usually eat, I still think that candied haws are more delicious. Then, one day, I finally ate candied haws again, brother ten , guess how I feel?" Elder Brother Shi looked at me with some confusion, seeing me staring at him, he said: "I must be very happy!" I smiled and said: "Wrong! It's disappointment! Extremely disappointed! This is what I felt for a moment. Although the food is not unpalatable, it is definitely not as delicious as Furong Cake. How could the servant always think it is better than Furong Cake? Then I tried not to eat Furong Cake for three months, and found that I wanted it to die. Knowing that her favorite food is hibiscus cake. The servant girl didn’t know that her taste had changed as she got older, but she stubbornly clings to the past memory and refuses to let go, but she doesn’t know that she has been deceived by her memory all the time. Already!" After I finished speaking, I quietly looked at Elder Brother Ten, but he was bewildered. Is it difficult to understand what I said?I looked at Fourteenth Brother, Fourteen gave me an approving glance, and then looked at Tenth Brother and shook his head helplessly. It doesn't seem to be my problem, the matter has come to an end, let's talk about it clearly!I took a breath and continued: "Brother Shi, actually, the servant girl is the candied haws, and the ten Fujin is the hibiscus cake. The hibiscus cake is always within your reach. After a long time, you don't think it's strange. And because the candied haws have always been No, the taste will become better and better if it stays in memory. But if one day you really don’t have Furong Cake, you will know that your favorite is Furong Cake.” Elder Brother Ten's expression alternated between shock and pain, and he was silently thinking.I said: "I will ask you again, why didn't Elder Brother Shi fight back?" Elder Brother Ten's complexion changed a lot, hesitating.I said: "Maybe it's because even though I'm so angry, I still don't want to part with it deep down in my heart!" He threw the teacup on the table to the ground and shouted: "No! No! I won't tell you! I always I can’t say no to you! Anyway, it’s not!” As he said, he still covered his face and rushed out. I chased after a few steps, and the fourteenth elder brother shouted from behind: "Let him think about it for himself, the knots in his heart for so many years can't be figured out in a short while, not to mention he is still a person who accepts death." I stopped in my tracks, very embarrassed, turned around and saluted hastily to the elder brothers, I didn't dare to look at anyone's expressions, so I hurriedly backed out.I came out and called Wang Xi to let him take someone in to serve, and ordered to clean up the broken tea cups on the ground quickly. I sat by the table and thought blankly of Elder Brother Shi and Fujin Shi.Yutan called softly: "Sister, it's time to serve tea to Long Live Lord." I hurriedly stood up, and Yutan handed me the tea tray.I made up my mind, held the tea tray, and walked out quickly. When he entered, Kangxi was discussing the 'Jiangnan governor mutual criticism case' with several older brothers.He sighed softly in his heart, it's corruption again!Now it's really a small greed every month, and a big greed every few months! Because during the Jiangsu provincial examination, Zhao Jin, the deputy examiner, colluded with others and cheated wantonly, so that the scholars in Suzhou made a fuss when the results were released.Kangxi ordered the governor Zhang Boxing, the governor of Liangjiang, Zhang Penghe, the minister of Litong household department, and the governor of Anhui, Liang Shixun, to review the case.During the trial, Chuga Li was involved in bribery of 500,000 taels. The case became more and more complicated, and there was no result after more than a month of trial.Zhang Boxing was angry and impeached Gali, and Gali immediately wrote a letter to attack Zhang Boxing after hearing the news.There are different opinions for a while, and each has its own truth. In desperation, Kangxi sent Mu Helun and Zhang Tingshu to investigate, but they have not made a decision because of their scruples about the power of ritual.Gali was born in a noble family. He is the fourth grandson of Afu, the daughter of Taizu Nurhachi, and He Heli, the Wenshun Gong of Zhenghong Banner of Manchuria in Dong'e. He also holds a high position. A senior official.The most important thing is that Kari has always been a holy family. Kangxi asked the fourth elder brother what he thought, and the fourth elder brother respectfully replied: "During his southern tour, Huang Ama once praised Zhang Bo as the 'No. Erdan made a great contribution. At that time, the army was trapped in the prairie. Only Gali took the risk of supervising the transportation of the troops and food on the middle road. He has always been loyal to Huang Ama. It is indeed a pity that the two are attacking each other now! It means that we need to investigate in detail, and don’t wrong anyone.” As I bowed my head to serve tea, I pursed my lips and smiled, like smearing mud, and it was as if I hadn’t said anything.But then he was helpless for him. His original intention must be to severely punish corrupt people, but last time he was reprimanded for his political views and Kangxi's disagreement when he was involved in the case of purchasing Caodouyin at a loss in the household department. Kangxi's favored minister Gali, before he is sure of Kangxi's intentions, if he does not want to lose Kangxi's favor, he can only hide his political opinions. Kangxi asked the eighth elder brother again what he meant, and the eighth elder brother replied: "I have the same idea as the fourth elder brother. We still need to inquire carefully, and don't let it go." I smiled in my heart, this is also a watertight one, and having a point of view is equal to having no point of view.After serving the tea, bow your head and exit. Seeing me covering my side ribs and frowning, Yutan squatted beside me and asked, "Does it hurt?" I nodded and said, "It's okay!" Yutan said, "I'll help my sister use shochu, flour and Apply egg white to the wound. It will be fine in a few days." I smiled gratefully at her and nodded. My heart suddenly moved, thinking that even Yutan, who hadn't gone to the front, knew that Brother Shi was making a scene, Kangxi couldn't possibly be unaware. After a while, Wang Xi came in and said, "Long Live Lord calls me sister!" I got up and followed him.A few older brothers were going out, Wang Xi and I hurriedly squatted aside and waited for them to leave before I went in. Kangxi asked: "What happened just now? Yinrong, what did I do? I kicked people and threw glasses." I knelt on the ground, thinking that I couldn't hide it after all.He lowered his head and said: "The tenth elder brother and the tenth Fujin quarreled, and when he got angry, he ran to the emperor to comment. After a few words of persuasion, he went back." Kangxi said: "I know all these things, why are you arguing, and how did you persuade him to go back?" Although his tone was gentle, there was a hint of infinite majesty and oppression.My heart trembled, I kowtowed my head and said, "The root cause of the quarrel between Elder Brother Shi and Fujin is because of some rumors and gossips many years ago, which made Fujin misunderstand until now. So this matter is also caused by slaves. Yes The slaves dared to persuade me." Back then, the story about my liking for Elder Brother Shi was widely spread throughout the Forbidden City, and Kangxi had no reason not to know. I recounted the quarrel caused by the lantern from beginning to end, and roughly repeated what I said to Brother Ten. After answering the words, I put my head on the ground, feeling just uncomfortable in my heart, one by one, one by one, I don't know how Kangxi will distribute me in the end.I suddenly felt that everything was meaningless, I was worried all day long, looking forward and backward, but there were still mistakes from time to time, life and death were all in the hands of others, no matter if it was Kangxi or elder brother, anyone's words could send me to hell in an instant .Infinitely discouraged, infinitely tired.Suddenly I felt that if he gave me to Elder Brother Ten, I would admit it too, and I didn't want to fight or resist any more. Kangxi didn't speak all the time, and there was a deathly silence in the air. I waited numbly for Kangxi to say goodbye. After a long while, Kangxi said: "Get up!" I kowtowed and stood up.Kangxi stared at me, and asked gently: "You have said the truth so clearly, one day in the future, you may be able to do it yourself? Forget what you can't get, and cherish what you have already got?" I suddenly raised my head to look at Kangxi, and met his penetrating gaze, and hurriedly lowered my head again.After being silent for a while, he replied, "Your maidservant doesn't know!" Kangxi sighed softly and said softly, "Go down!" I came out in a daze, with Kangxi's words "forget what you can't get, and cherish what you have already got?" in my mind. What did he think I couldn't get, and what could I get? Feeling depressed, he walked out of the porch and looked at the high walls around him. The world was surrounded by them, which was cramped and oppressive.Looking up at the blue sky again, it is bright, open and boundless.They seem to be very close to me, as if I can touch them by extending my hand a little.He stretched out his hand as if bewitched, but there was nothing, only the uncontrollable wind slipped through his fingers. "Ruoxi!" I stared blankly at the ice-cold Eighth Brother, and after a while, I realized that he was calling me.Smiling at him, he said, "There is nothing but the wind." Brother Ba was stunned. Fourteen asked in amazement: "Ruoxi, what's wrong with you?" Before I could answer, he and the eighth elder brother leaned over behind me to greet me. Turning sideways and looking back at the fourth elder brother and the thirteenth elder brother who were walking slowly. The thirteenth elder brother greeted the eighth elder brother with a smile, and said: "My fourth brother and I thought that we should go to greet the concubine Defei, so we turned back again. Why didn't the eighth elder brother leave the palace?" The eighth elder brother laughed and said: "Suddenly remembered that Ruolan had something to ask Ruoxi, so I was delayed." After speaking, she looked at me and said softly, "Ruoxi, it's getting more and more unruly, won't An invite you?" I was restless and greeted the fourth elder brother and the thirteenth elder brother, saying: "This servant has been out for a long time, and I have to go back to work." I squatted quietly for a while, but no one spoke. I raised my head and looked at the fourth elder brother pleadingly.I hurried away quickly.He heard the voice of the thirteenth elder brother saying goodbye to the eighth elder brother behind him.