Chapter 13 Chapter Thirteen Empty Valley (Part 2)

Yun Che returned to the gate of Lenggong, and leaned against the threshold, feeling a bit difficult.Just now when he went back to the guard's room where he lived, while the leader of the guards, Li Jinzhu, was taking a nap, he rummaged through the salary purse under the suitcase, and there were only seven or eight taels of money in it.This little money is really of no help to Yan Wan.He put away his purse and was about to get up, when Li Jinzhu yawned and got up slowly: "Xiao Ling, according to the rules, it's time to pay." The guards in Lenggong are only four people and one leader. He and Zhao Jiuxiao are in the same group, and Zhang Baotie and Bao Yuan, who are from the Han army flag, are in the same group. Even so, they have to be on duty.Zhang Baotie and Bao Yuan gave Li Jinzhu more money, and they were willing to spend some money to treat him to drinks and food, so they usually rested more and didn't have to do any errands.Ling Yunche and Zhao Jiuxiao were born slaves, their families were poor, and they had to send some money back. Their lives were tight, their filial piety was reduced, and they had to do all the hard work.For example, Zhang Baotie and Bao Yuan never had to do such tiring and dirty work when they carried the corpse last time.

Yun Che thought about needing more money, so he gritted his teeth and said with an apologetic smile: "Boss Li, I...my family..." "It's the old rule, just work if you can't pay the money. The rest of the night watch is your errand." Li Jinzhu waved his hand readily and said with a smile, "I know you are different from others. I have a lover in the palace thinking about the future." You want to start a family. Okay, let’s save some of it. You and that kid Jiuxiao are the ones who are suffering.” Yun Che nodded gratefully, and went out to work. Jiuxiao pushed him: "Why are you in a daze?"

Yun Che was stunned: "I was wondering, is there any way to get some money?" Jiuxiao was stunned for a moment, then laughed: "Is it crazy to think about money? The guards in Lenggong are the poorest of all the guards, where can I get money." Yun Che stared blankly at the blue sky, speechless. Jiu Xiao shook his head and said, "Don't think about it. Tomorrow night, Bao Yuan invites us to have a drink with Li Touer, and he will pay for it, so how about some of our brothers?" Ruyi woke up in the middle of the night, and faintly heard mournful and sad cries outside the corner gate. After a moment of initial fear, she recognized Hailan's voice immediately.There was a corner door on the side of the cold palace, which was closest to her room. She quietly got up and approached, and looked out through the crack of the door. Sure enough, she saw Hailan in a faint blue and dark floral brocade robe.

Ruyi knocked on the door anxiously, and said in a low voice, "Hai Lan, Hai Lan." Hailan poked her head out of her sobs and said overjoyed, "Sister, is it you?" Ruyi said anxiously: "It's late at night, why are you here?" Hailan hesitated a little: "Sister, I'm worried about you. So I came to see you." Ruyi took advantage of the faint light from the palace lantern by the corner door, and keenly noticed the deep red swelling on her cheek, which clearly looked like five fingerprints.She immediately became nervous: "Hai Lan, is someone bullying you?"

Ye Xin let out the wind nearby, and urged in a low voice: "Little master, it's so easy to sneak here once, if you have something to say, hurry up? Don't be found out." Hai Lan quickly stopped crying and said, "I heard people say that the palace is bitterly cold, so I specially packed a few clothes for my sister." She looked at the high wall, picked up the bag with a pole next to it, and threw it in: " If my sister lacks something, I will often send it." The night wind is bitingly cool through the thin clothes.Ruyi's tone was not gentle: "You are not allowed to come here to take risks again. Also, tell me, what happened to your face?"

Before Hailan opened her mouth, Ye Xin couldn't help but said: "This morning our little master went from Yanxi Palace to Changchun Palace to pay his respects. Who knew that we met Shen Changzai on Xichang Street, and we don't know why she went crazy. Seeing our little master bowing his head, he said that the little master's face was unlucky and offended her, and he stretched out his hand to hit her without saying a word." Ruyi said: "Didn't you tell the empress?" Ye Xin said angrily: "I happened to meet the emperor and told the emperor. Who knew that the emperor only asked Shen Chang if his hands hurt and whether he wanted to invite the imperial doctor to prescribe the medicine. He didn't ask our little master at all. He was really mad at the servant. I don’t know what’s wrong with Shen Changzai, he’s so favored by serving the bed every night, yet he’s still so angry!”

Ruyi faintly felt that something was wrong: "As Ye Xin said, she just went to bed last night, so she should be very happy when she just left the Hall of Mental Cultivation at that time. How could you be so angry when I saw you in the morning?" Hailan wept and said, "I'm someone who can be bullied. It's normal for her to be proud of being favored." Ruyi thinks about it too: "You used to have grievances in your heart, and you always liked to talk to me like this." She felt sore in her heart: "But Hailan, now I can no longer comfort you and protect you. You have to think about it yourself. Find a way to protect yourself and don't be wronged again. And in a place like Lenggong, if someone finds out that you came secretly, even you will be implicated."

Before she finished speaking, she suddenly heard someone shout: "Who is there?" Suddenly a voice sounded, and Ye Xin panicked to protect Hailan, but found that the person was coming from the front, and there was no way to retreat.Ruyi was so nervous that Gao Gao grabbed her heart, she was the one who fell here anyway, what was there to be afraid of, but Hailan, if she was implicated by herself and came here, how could she be so good? Ruyi looked through the crack of the corner door, but saw that it was one of the guards who came to carry the body during the day, so she said anxiously, "Brother guard, please don't say anything. They...they just came to see me."

Ling Yunche opened the door lock with a lantern and looked, but saw Ruyi huddled by the door, he said suspiciously: "You have been relegated to the cold palace, why is there still someone coming to see you?" Ruyi suddenly saw the door open, and Hai Lan stood outside the door, so excited that she almost shed tears. She pointed to the burden on the ground and said, "This is Hai Noble Lady of Yanxi Palace. I used to live with her. She I was afraid that I would catch cold in the cold palace, so I came here specially. She...she didn't come here intentionally." Seeing that he was dressed in plain clothes, Ruyi had an idea, pulled out a silver hairpin from his head and handed it to Ling Yunche : "Please, don't say anything. Don't!"

Ling Yunche saw Ruyi's begging and distressed expression, like a deer suddenly startled by a wild beast while drinking water by the stream, and was anxious, but this anxiety was not for himself, but more for the other person in front of him.He couldn't help but feel amused by his own metaphor, and it turned out that he was that beast.Thinking of this episode, he became a little soft-hearted, and when he saw the silver hairpin, his heart moved even more, and he said firmly: "What do you want to do with this silver hairpin? When you take it out, people think I stole it. It's not as convenient as silver."

With a twitch in Ruyi's heart, she already understood that the person in front of her was just greedy for money.Her eyebrows relaxed, and a smile appeared on the corner of her lips: "Then wait a moment." She patted Hailan's hand comfortingly, took out a piece of silver from her cuff and handed it to him: "Here is ten taels, if you If you are willing to never mention today’s events and escort Mr. Hai out of the corridor here, I will give you another ten taels.” Ling Yunche's eyes shone slightly, and he suddenly thought like lightning: "If Mr. Haigui wants to pass something to you in the future, there is really no need to take such a risk, just hand it over to me. As for my help..." He was about to continue when he heard someone stick his head out from the other side of the room and call out: "Xiao Ling, why have you been urinating for so long, waiting for you to drink." He hurriedly turned his head and said, "Okay, okay, come on!" Ruyi showed a bit of contempt: "You love money?" Ling Yunche didn't take it as an insult: "Only people with greed are willing to do things well." Ruyi breathed a sigh of relief: "Then you wait a moment and take good care of Mrs. Hai." She turned back to her room and took out fifty taels of silver and handed it to Ling Yunche: "Is this tael enough for you to do your job well?" Ling Yunche was overjoyed, A pair of eyes were shining brightly, and she was about to reach for it, but Ruyi withdrew her hand and said, "But you have to tell me what your name is, so that I can entrust you to do things." Ling Yunche was also calm: "I am the guard of the Leng Palace, Ling Yunche." Ruyi smiled faintly: "This name has a bit of momentum." Ling Yunche took the silver and held it in the palm of his hand. The cold hardness made people feel at ease. He only felt that the big stone in his heart was removed in an instant, and he agreed again and again. "Yes", and said again: "Even if Hai Guiren wants to come over in the future, just send someone to greet me in advance. Just don't come often, and don't come during the day, it's too eye-catching." He looked around and said: "Hurry up Well, it won't be good until someone comes out later." Ruyi looked at Hai Lan's reluctance, and felt even more sad, and said distressedly: "Take good care of yourself." Hailan leaned close to her and said softly: "Sister, I won't be able to come here often in the future, every ten days if the weather is fine, I will fly a butterfly kite in the imperial garden, as long as you see it, it means we are safe with each other. " Ruyi nodded and said, "Go, go, don't come again if you have nothing to do." Hailan was led by Ye Xin, and walked away step by step.Ruyi heaved a sigh of relief when she heard this, hugged the bundle of clothes Hailan sent tightly to her chest, leaned against the wall, and sat down weakly.The sound of the wind was still whistling, like weeping and complaining, as if someone was sobbing quietly.Perhaps this is the life she has to get used to. The days in the cold palace passed slowly and long.Sometimes even she almost forgets that she is still living in this place, living a repetitive life day by day.On a rainy day, all the people curl up in their own world like insects, lingering on their last breath.On fine days, she would see former women emerging like ghosts one by one, shriveled, boring, crazy, quiet, women living in their own world.At the beginning, she was also afraid, afraid that someone would rush up to hug her and treat her as the first emperor who took them out of the cold palace, or a woman who exposed her breasts and lice in the sun.But she gradually got used to it, as if the people around her had infected her with indifference and indifference, making her used to patience, silence, and watching with cold eyes.Just like she is used to the food that sometimes rots and the clothes and quilts that are often wet and dry, she still swallows big mouthfuls and sleeps with her eyes closed. Not for anything else, but she still wants to live, to live. It's just that it's so gloomy and cold here, so cold that water can be squeezed out. Even though she felt that she was gradually living like a moldy green moss growing in the corner of the wall, she still felt a little abnormal after half a year, and a kind of pain began to wrap around her body. Her body, that is rheumatism.Although Hai Lan often asked Ling Yunche to send some plasters for treating rheumatism, but under the cold and damp all day long, these good plasters from the imperial pharmacy were just a drop in the bucket. Silently enduring the pain, she sewed more and more knee pads and arm pads, not only for herself, but also for Ji Taipin.Every woman here suffers from this disease.Occasionally, she would look up at the sky, looking forward to the butterfly kite flying high once every ten days.That was Hailan reminding her of the passage of time and each other's peace.Of course, occasionally Ling Yunche would pass on some necessary clothes and supplies for them, because the silver that Ruyi rewarded him was enough to make Yanwan's wish come true.Although the money is not as much as expected, she cannot be allowed to go to the most favored concubine's palace, but Yan Wan has at least left the Sizhiku, no longer has to deal with clothes all day long, and is scolded by her aunt, but changed to the elder brother's house. The third princess serving the queen.Although this is not the most ideal place to go, it is already a good place to go compared to the Four Executive Treasurys. When the autumn wind gradually picked up, the life in the cold palace became more and more difficult.On that day, when it was time to fly the kite, it was a cloudy day, and the kite had just taken off before falling down again. Ruyi felt a little uneasy in her heart, and was planning to let Ling Yunche take a look, only to realize that it was the other two guards who were on duty that day.She was really worried, but she couldn't do anything, so she had to sit patiently on the porch and do all kinds of networking, thinking about when Ling Yunche would send it out for some money. At this moment, Hailan felt like a storm was coming, and she was extremely flustered. Her kite had just taken off when she was seen by the Queen, Shen Changzai, and Concubine Hui who were passing by the Imperial Garden. These days, the queen's complexion has not been pretty.Her biological second prince, Yong Lian, has been sick intermittently. In the spring, he has been hugged by his side for a while and he has recovered, so he was immediately sent back to Elder Brother's place. However, as long as the weather changes a little bit, he will continue to suffer from wind and cold, which is worrying. endlessly.When this layer of autumn cools down, Yong Lian becomes weak again. The queen just came over from elder brother's house, and saw Yong Lian's complexion was cyanotic, and his breathing was short and weak, which made her heart wrenching. At this moment, she saw a colorful butterfly flying high, thinking that her child could not get up Laugh out loud, play to your heart's content, almost out of breath. Concubine Hui observed her words and expressions, and shouted, "Who's there?" Hearing the voice, Hailan panicked for no reason, hurriedly put away the kite string and knelt down and said, "See Empress Empress, Empress Hui Guifei." Shen Chang, who was following behind the queen, looked at her contemptuously, and reluctantly saluted. Concubine Hui was very displeased, her hibiscus noodles were as if frozen in severe frost, and she scolded: "The empress is worried about the second elder brother's illness and is in a bad mood, yet you are still here happily flying the kite." The queen's always gentle face was as cold as ice, and she said: "There is no heart at all!" Shen Chang persuaded in a delicate voice: "Your Majesty, don't be angry. Hai Guiren has always been on good terms with the Wulanara family in the cold palace, and he doesn't associate with other concubines. He is notoriously withdrawn. She insists on Take pleasure in other people's misfortune here, fly a kite for fun, and let her go. How long will it take for a villain to succeed?" Hai Lan hastily leaned down and said humbly: "Queen Empress, calm down, Empress Dowager, the concubine doesn't know that the second elder brother is seriously ill, so he is just flying a kite here for fun, not taking pleasure in other's misfortune!" Concubine Hui said "Aiya": "It's useless that Mrs. Fei Hai is still in the palace. Even Mrs. Gaoming from outside has come to visit the palace several times. Mrs. Hai is really indifferent." The empress became more and more annoyed in her heart, lost her former gentleness and composure, and was startled and angry: "This palace and the emperor are worried and upset about the second elder brother, but she doesn't care. She is still so happy here, it's really a shame." Taking advantage of the queen's anger, Shen Chang simply stepped on Hailan's hand.The soles of the flowerpot shoes worn by concubines are made of paulownia wood about an inch high.Hailan only felt pain in his heart, and tears fell down. Concubine Hui shook her head with a sneer and said, "I'm only shedding tears now, so I know I'm not the second elder brother who cares about the empress. How come he's not even as good as livestock." The queen said disgustedly: "You like flying kites in the imperial garden so much, so I knelt here and thought about it." "Oh, I'm afraid it's going to rain in this weather." Shen Chang was looking at the sky, and suddenly smiled, "Your Majesty, if you treat such a person who doesn't know how to advance or retreat, you'll be punished by kneeling in the rain, and your head will be sober after soaking in the rain." Hailan couldn't bear it any longer, raised her head and said, "Ah Ruo, you have also been punished by being exposed to the rain, why do you do to others what you don't want?" Shen Changzai's head full of pearls and emeralds swayed under the increasingly gloomy sky, giving off a sharp and sharp dark light: "This is how I am sober enough, so Haigui, you should also taste the taste of it." The Queen's tone was indifferent and short: "Then, just kneel here and wait for the heavy rain to wash away your despicable and dirty heart." The queen left angrily, stepped on Hailan's injured hand, and almost slipped, but fortunately, she was firmly supported by the maids. The queen gave her a disgusted look, and said: "You put your hands in an inappropriate place, why don't you put them away?" After all, the queen left worried.Shen Chang walked with Concubine Hui on the left and right supporting the Empress' arms.Shen Chang smiled apologetically, "Don't be angry, empress, it is common for children to suffer from colds. There are so many famous doctors in the palace, please be at ease." The queen was very worried: "But the imperial doctor said that Yong Lian's wind-cold had recurred and turned into lung-heat, and he often had difficulty breathing, and if he was not careful, he would be fatal. It's really worrying..." Hai Lan knelt there, Ye Xin hurriedly looked at her hand, two deep purple and red blood marks had already been stepped on the back of the hand by the bottom of the solid paulownia flower pot.Hailan bit her lips in pain, trying her best not to let the tears of humiliation fall.She watched the dark clouds getting denser and thicker, and finally accumulated into a rare pouring autumn rain, sweeping her thin body and the fallen leaves in the autumn, becoming a little bit of Ding Qiuping floating in the boundless rain . It was raining heavily at night, and Hailan was running high fever, unable to bear the grievances any longer, she ran out of the palace alone with an umbrella, and ran to the cold palace.During the rainy season, even the guards hid in the verandah and refused to come out. Hailan slammed on the corner door and finally alarmed Ruyi who lived nearby.She saw Ruyi guarding the door with an umbrella in the crack of the door, she couldn't help crying, she cried and told about all the humiliation of today. Empress, Concubine Hui, and Shen Changzai, these three names almost immediately evoked the bloody pain in Ruyi's heart.She gritted her silver teeth and said bitterly: "Hailan, the ones who hurt me will never escape. It's the three of them. Now, maybe even you will be trampled to death by them." Hailan whimpered, "Sister, it's so cold in this palace, but I'm alone, and you're not even by my side." Ruyi's heartache was aroused by her again, and she stretched out her hand to press the dilapidated and damp corner door: "Hai Lan, I am here, every day is so cold, it seems that there will never be sunshine. Just like at this moment, I really want to hold my hand." I hold your hand to warm each other, but I can't touch you through this door." Her voice became firm as a rock: "Hai Lan, if you don't want to die of cold, hold yourself tightly. Don't be like me , can't do anything but hate, like me back then, I didn't know how to fight back fiercely except forbearance. Hailan, don't fall into the situation like me, don't!" Hailan raised the back of her injured hand: "But sister, I'm afraid that I'm not strong enough to protect myself. Anyone can trample on me, and even dislike my existence." Ruyi's voice sounded particularly cold in the howling wind and rain: "Hai Lan, if others despise you and trample on you, you must live a better life." Hailan cried sadly and helplessly: "Sister, but I know that your life is not good, not at all. I am not living well at all, what should I do? What can I do to help you and help myself? .” Ruyi couldn't tell whether it was rain or tears on her face, but her voice was steady without a moment's hesitation: "Hai Lan, I'm already helpless, but you can do it. You live better, or I can't help it." I can live a better life. Just like my humble prayer at this moment, at least one imperial doctor can come and cure my increasingly serious rheumatism. Hailan, rely on yourself to strive for a better life." Hailan tried her best to wipe the tears off her face, but found that her tears and rainwater had already mixed together, making her wet.She was drowsy, dragging her heavy legs, walking in the boundless rain curtain.The torrential rain whipped the ground like a huge rope, and beat it again and again with water droplets as hard as pebbles. Her body was scorching hot, but she felt that she had become a thin piece of paper, letting the rain wash over her, she still felt the deep cold except for the deep cold.The autumn water in the Forbidden City is so cold, rushing straight down, rolling countless fallen leaves and flowers into the ditch, drifting away to nowhere.She suddenly thought, if she died right now, only Ruyi would be sad for her in this world.So Ruyi even lost her last warmth.She weighed Ruyi's wish repeatedly in her heart.After a long time, she suddenly realized that Ruyi's wish was her own wish. Many years ago, Ruyi was the only one she could rely on.So today, she should make herself a little bit stronger and become a backing that Ruyi can rely on. When such thoughts finally crossed her mind, she had already walked back to the gate of Yanxi Palace.Ye Xin and Luhen were guarding the door with umbrellas, and when they saw her come back bewilderedly, her face finally had a little color on her face, she rushed to meet her, and said in a crying voice: "My lord, you were drenched in the rain during the day." After several hours of rain, I have a high fever, why are you still in the rain at this moment? Where is your umbrella? My lord, please speak up, don’t scare your servants, my lord!" Hearing Ye Xin's voice ringing in his ears, Hailan couldn't help it anymore, leaned back, and fainted in the torrential rain.