Chapter 16 Chapter Sixteen Yan Wan

One day in the first month of the following year, Hailan flew that kite again. This time, another little boy kite flew beside the butterfly kite. Just the day before, Ruyi heard the sound of joy and firecrackers in the palace, and she knew that the concubine Jia had successfully given birth to the fourth son.This child, born on the fourteenth day of the first lunar month in the fourth year of Qianlong, became the first prince obtained by the emperor four years after he ascended the throne, and also the first prince obtained after the emperor lost his son Yong Lian, which almost made up for his loss of love. The great pain and emptiness of the child.The emperor was overjoyed, and personally named the prince Yongxuan, held banquets every day, and rewarded Qixiang Palace, and even the prince's biological mother, the concubine, was also proud of her, and her favor continued.

However, the queen of the Changchun Palace was immersed in the pain and shock of losing her parent and child, and became seriously ill day after day. After the fourth elder brother Yongxuan was born, he was allowed to be raised by his biological mother, Jiafei.This is extraordinarily favored and honored. In the eyes of outsiders, it is not only a symbol of the favor and glory of the concubine Jia and the fourth elder brother, but also a message to Li Chaozhao, the concubine's mother, that the concubine Jia is unshakable in the eyes of the harem and the emperor. status.The festivities from the fourth elder brother's birth to the full moon lasted for a full month. Even Li Chao sent a special envoy to congratulate the court on the special products, and also sent the concubine Jia's favorite hometown snacks to chat with each other. She is homesick.

At the same time, the pure concubine who was raising the two princes was also promoted to the title of pure concubine. She went from being unknown to being very important for a while, and she became very popular.Even the emperor, in his spare time, in addition to staying in the concubine's palace, gradually went to the Zhongcui palace where the concubine Chun lived.Because of the early death of Prince Duanhui, the emperor was really worried that the prince and princess would be brought up by his elder brother. In addition, the pure concubine and concubine Jia would cry and persuade each other, reluctant to separate mother and child, so the emperor agreed.In this way, the previously bustling elder brother's place was also clean, but it was only in name only.Except for the lowest-ranking sansan palace servants in the elder brother's office, the rest were assigned to serve in various palaces.Yan Wan was on this list and was assigned to the Pure Concubine Palace.Concubine Chun also liked her clear and handsome features, looking soft and pleasant, so she specially called her to serve elder brother tea and snacks.

Concubine Chun and Hailan sat in the courtyard on this day, admiring the flowers dotted with colored paper on the slightly withered branches in winter, and praised: "It's my younger sister who has the heart to decorate the branches with colored paper flowers. It doesn't look so bad." It's deserted." Hai Lan glanced at it, and said: "Sister Chunfei doesn't know, this flower should be cut out of colored silk to look the best. It's just that it can't be done now." Concubine Chun quietly glanced out, nodded and said: "This is too wasteful, if the empress finds out, it will be another reprimand."

Hailan smiled softly, and pulled a newly made satin fox cloak with rose purple flying gold makeup on Concubine Chun and said, "Now you are Concubine Hui and Concubine Chun under the empress. You have two more The prince has an unusual status, and if he wears better clothes and uses them better, others will naturally flatter him, so who dares to say anything." Concubine Chun patted her hand with a smile, and pushed a string of agate red gold nine-ring bracelets onto her wrist, and said affectionately: "If my sister didn't persuade me to take a risk for the third elder brother, where would I be today?" How can there be a good day to be a concubine for the joy of being together with the third elder brother?"

Hailan chuckled softly: "Sister Chunfei is worth mentioning, it's just seeing outsiders." The two of them watched Yan Wan playing with the eldest and third elder brothers and a few wet nurses in the corridor.But seeing the emperor just coming over, he said with a smile: "Wherever I go, the Zhongcui Palace is the busiest, and I can hear laughter from afar, and I feel happy when I hear it." Concubine Chun and Hai Lan hurriedly knelt and said, "My Majesty, the emperor is blessed and safe." The emperor gave the two of them a hand, and said with a smile, "Hai Lan, you're here too."

Hai Lan looked at the emperor with a smile, her eyes flickering: "The emperor likes to be lively, so shouldn't his concubines be envied by the excitement?" Concubine Chun smiled and said: "Master Hai is envious of my concubine having a child. It would be great if Mr. Hai could also give birth to a prince. Does the emperor say so?" The emperor's smile contained a bit of embarrassment: "Why don't I think so, the more children the better. The emperor Kangxi's heirs are prosperous, and our royal family can also prosper." The emperor saw that the third elder brother was having fun with the eldest elder brother, and said: "It's good to be lively. The third elder brother is now four years old, so he should read some words well, don't just play for fun, even the eldest elder brother I can't read well."

Concubine Chun was obviously a little unhappy when she heard the emperor's words, and was about to argue for her son, but she saw Yan Wanyingying saluted and said: "If you want to return to the emperor, the elder brother said, the third elder brother As soon as I returned to the concubine Chun, it was inevitable that the mother, son and brother would be alienated, so after school, I played with the third elder brother, which also strengthened the brotherhood. And the third elder brother is so cute now, the eldest elder brother is studying in the house. When I was young, the third elder brother followed me and listened, and the eldest elder brother taught the third elder brother how to read, which is really a respectful brother."

The emperor said happily: "Really? Can the third prince know how to read?" The eldest brother shook the hand of the third elder brother, pointed to the plaque in the main hall of Zhongcui Palace and said: "Third brother, what is that word?" The third elder brother raised his head curiously, looked at it for a while and said, "Wen Wen. Brother, it is Wen Wen." Concubine Chun originally thought that the third elder brother didn't know a word, so she held her heart tightly, complaining secretly that the eldest elder brother chose such difficult words for her son to recognize, but she didn't want the four words "Shushen and Gentle" written on the plaque. Chinese characters, but my son was able to recognize two, and he was relieved.

"I didn't know big characters in the past, but now I can recognize two, which is not bad." The emperor smiled, and stretched out his hand to stroke the head of the elder brother, "Good boy, you are worthy of being my elder brother. study." Eldest elder brother hurriedly knelt down and said: "Imperial Ama Mingjian, it's not because my son is careful, but because he thinks that the third brother is actually talented. It's just that the nuns and nurses whom elder brother loved before were too late to learn to read and write, so I want to teach my third brother more to fulfill my elder brother's responsibility."

Concubine Chun was very pleased and said with a smile: "Brother is pure filial piety, friendship and love, he is really an example for all elder brothers." Eldest elder brother took the emperor's hand and said: "However, Huang Ama, my son has been unclear about a few places in his studies recently, can I ask Huang Ama to teach my son and third younger brother." Emperor Joy took his two sons and went to the warm pavilion.He was about to step up, but he saw Yan Wan's face was gentle and submissive, like a little spring flower that was about to bloom, delicate and shy, but with a little pride of taking the first opportunity of spring. The emperor paid attention unconsciously: "You serve Concubine Chun? Why haven't I seen it before?" The mellow voice is as clear as spring water in the mountains, and it is moving: "The slaves used to be served by elder brother, but now they have been called to the palace of the pure concubine empress. Meng Niangniang never gave up, and let the slaves serve the elder brother's tea and snacks .” The emperor saw that her words were appropriate, so he said: "I see that you are very smart and intelligent, so you should serve the elder brother attentively." After finishing speaking, he took the two elder brothers inside. Seeing that the emperor was so happy, Concubine Chun breathed a sigh of relief, and said, "Amitabha, God bless you. The emperor doesn't despise the third elder brother." Hailan smiled and comforted her and said: "No, it's very peaceful. My sister just said, as long as the third elder brother is raised by my mother's side, it will be fine. Sure enough, the elder sister and the elder brother are teaching, and the third elder brother will please the emperor." .” Concubine Chun caressed her heart and said: "I don't think Eldest Brother is so smart, but I want to show this face for Third Elder Brother. God has eyes." Hailan looked at Yan Wan, who was waiting outside the palace gate, dressed in a court lady's attire but without losing her glamorous complexion, and said with a smile: "Sister Chunfei wants to reward Eldest Brother, and even more so, the court lady next to Eldest Brother. If you don't She, the emperor is not so happy today." Concubine Chun laughed and said: "Reward, of course I want to reward. Kexin, go and reward this court lady with the sugar steamed crispy cheese sent by the imperial dining room today, called..." Yan Wan said obediently: "If you go back to your mother, the maidservant's name is Yan Wan. It's a slave maid's honor to be summoned by the empress' honor." Concubine Chun smiled even more brightly: "Keep it sweet, let's give you all the sugar-steamed crispy cheese." Hailan saw the opportunity and hurriedly said: "Sister Chunfei, while the emperor is happy, you go in quickly, my sister will leave first." The next day, Hailan went to see the fourth elder brother in the concubine's palace and came back. She was carrying Ye Xin through the imperial garden, and saw the newly opened Yingchun stars shining with light yellow stars, hidden among the verdant green branches. As expected, it was already spring. world.Hailan thought about the severe winter this winter, and should have asked Jiang and Bin to go to Lenggong to treat Ruyi's cold earlier, but the second elder brother died early, and the fourth elder brother was born, and the affairs in the palace continued one after another. There is no room for slowing down.Now that the weather is getting warmer, we should find a way to call this Jiang Yubin into Yanxi Palace to ask him and find out his details. Hailan was just thinking about it, but she heard someone murmuring in front of Fubiting and behind Fubiting. One of them had a very familiar voice, so she stood still and signaled Ye Xin to keep silent. A bay of clear water, like thin spring silk, winds silently past the Fubiting Pavilion, gurgling down.The flowers and trees in the surrounding area are gradually sprouting light yellow and emerald green, and the grass is green and lush.Through the gaps between the twigs and leaves of the clumps of beautiful trees, a bright yellow color unexpectedly came into view, the emperor only said to the maid in Tsing Yi in front of him: "I remember seeing you in the Pure Concubine Palace yesterday, why are you here again today?" into my eyes in the garden." The maid said timidly: "The Empress Dowager summoned Elder Brother to the Compassionate Ning Palace, after the slaves served Elder Brother and sent him to the Minister's Study, they walked back to the Imperial Garden to the Zhongcui Palace, not intending to disturb the Emperor. " The emperor smiled and lifted her small and round chin and said: "Did I ever say that you disturbed me? The spring scenery came into my eyes for joy and joy, and I see you, too." The palace lady immediately understood, she hurriedly stepped away from the emperor's fingers, shyly said: "This servant is stupid, I dare not bear such a compliment from the emperor." The emperor's smile is like the spring breeze blowing on the face, melting the budding buds and giving birth to a tree of flowers blooming brightly: "What's your name?" "The maid's name is Yan Wan." "Yan Wan is very good, and the tongue is sweet when you read it. Which Yan Wan is it?" His eyes suddenly lit up, with a hint of teasing, "Shen Yue's "Ode to Beauty" in the Southern Dynasty said, "Tingting like the moon, Yan Wan is like spring. Concentrating on the price, thinking about clothes and scarves'. But Yan Wan from the side of the girl?" There is a thin crimson color between Yan Wan's eyebrows, as if the clouds in the sky are condensed between her delicate eyebrows, and Yiyi refuses to leave.She seemed to be a little afraid, her voice was soft, but restrained and distant, she said: "The poems read by the emperor are really nice, but it's a pity that the slaves don't understand." There was a vigorous smile in the emperor's eyes, and he said: "You don't need to understand, because you are that beautiful woman who is as graceful as spring. When you stand in front of me, you understand and understand everything." The emperor seemed to think of something, so he asked, "Yan Wan, what's your last name?" Yan Wan seemed to mention something unpleasant, but she had no choice but to answer: "The servant girl was born in the Han army and was dressed in the yellow flag, and her mother's family name was Wei." The emperor smiled slightly, seemingly relieved: "Wei's surname is ordinary, like a ghost who wants to make a difference. But the Han army is wearing a yellow flag, and his family background is not very low." Her clear and melancholy eyes were covered by a sad shadow: "Although she was born in the three banners of the Han army, her father died early, and her brother is not up to date, it is really not a good family background." The emperor's hand seemed to caress the back of her hand inadvertently: "Whether the family status is good or not, what the elders left doesn't count, but depends on whether you can live up to yourself and strive for a good family status." Yan Wan's eyes lit up slightly, as if she understood.The initial evasion and shyness in her eyes gradually faded away, leaving only a smile, with shabby eyebrows, like a spring willow under the moonlit night, charming and charming.She said timidly: "This slave is just a weak girl, is that okay?" The emperor smiled: "If you were a man, it would be more difficult. If you were born as a weak woman, then it would be easy." Yan Wan was startled for a moment, her confused and clear eyes seemed to be full of thoughts, and she was as confused as floating catkins.The emperor smiled faintly: "You can think about the meaning of it slowly. I will wait for the day when, 'Entertainment is at this evening, and it is a good time'." The emperor left alone, leaving only Yan Wan, who was dressed in green clothes and spring clothes, standing alone in the spring breeze and setting sun, meditating. When Yan Wan walked to the corridor in front of the cold palace, she already felt her legs sore and limp, as if she had walked thousands of miles and spent all her energy on the way here.Seeing her coming unexpectedly, Ling Yunche couldn't help being overjoyed, hurriedly gave Jiu Xiao a few words, then rushed forward and said, "Yan Wan, why are you here?" Yan Wan forced a smile and said, "I happen to be fine, so I came to see you." Yun Che's heart warmed, he stretched out his hand to hold her hand and said with a smile, "But you miss me?" Yan Wan withdrew her hand, glanced behind him, and said in a low voice, "Brother Jiuxiao is here." Seeing that the two of them were looking at him, Jiuxiao stretched out his hands to cover his eyes, covered his ears, stuck out his tongue and made a grimace, and went away. Yun Che said with concern: "Aren't you very busy serving Eldest Brother by the side of Concubine Chun now? I think you won't come to see me for a few days." Yan Wan hurriedly said: "Busy...very busy." Yun Che's gentle tone was like green spring water gently flowing through the back of his hand, with a crisp warmth: "Brother is at a naughty age, you have to learn to be lazy for yourself, don't work too hard." That voice She has always been used to being gentle, she is the most useful, and the most reassuring to hear.But at this moment, she only felt distant and unfamiliar, like a person bathed in the bright sun, stepping into the cold water, no matter how the color of the water reflected people's hearts, it was shocking.She kept repeating the emperor's words in her heart: "If you are a man, it will be more difficult. If you are born as a weak woman, then it will be easy." That's easy, that's easy.These words can't help but shake her, the background of the Han army flag is coated, although it is more noble than the lower five banners, but it is still a coated.And Ama committed a crime and lost his official position, leaving them alone.After the guilty minister, this is a lifelong imprisonment, which will be passed down from generation to generation along with her blood, and she cannot break free.Looking at Yun Che in front of her, she felt even more sad.Yun Che, he also has such a humble status, so after many years in the palace, he can only be a bodyguard guarding the cold palace, without a bright future.She stretched out her hand to brush off the cobweb dust on his shoulders, and said distressedly: "I can only stay here, is there no other way?" Although Yun Che was helpless, he also comforted her: "Take your time, there will always be a chance." Yan Wan's hand trembled slightly, and it stopped on his shoulder: "You are a man, so you are not afraid that you will not wait for the opportunity. And I will leave the palace when I am twenty-five years old. If there is no opportunity before then, it will be impossible." Yun Che was a little confused: "What chance? Is it not good for you to be in the Pure Concubine Palace?" Yan Wan lowered her head, not daring to meet his eyes.I only felt the silk flower of a purple cloud silk butterfly fluttering tremblingly in the wind by my temple, wishing I could spread its wings and fly up immediately.The opportunity to fly like this is really fleeting, maybe there will be no second time in this life.She was ruthless, and no matter how ruthless she was, she finally said, "Brother Yunche, let's not meet again." Yun Che seemed to have been hit hard on the top of the head by a thunderbolt, his lips trembling a little: "What did you say? Is it true that the pure imperial concubine does not allow the maids and guards below to communicate?" Yan Wan didn't dare to look at him, but quickly took two steps back, stared at the tip of her shoe and said, "Brother Yunche, we don't want to meet again. You were born in a Hanjun flag, and I was also born in a coat. If we Together, the children in the future are just a coat, and they will be slaves for a lifetime, and they will not be able to escape from life to life. You should plan for your own future, don't pay attention to me anymore, and just pretend that you don't know me. " After she finished speaking, she ran away as if fleeing.Yun Che froze on the spot, almost dumbfounded, only felt that the endless draft wind in the corridor was like a howling sharp sword, piercing through his body coldly, freezing the warmth of his blood bit by bit. When Yan Wan returned to Zhongcui Palace, the eldest elder brother had already finished school and was looking for her everywhere. Seeing her, he came in and said, "Yan Wan, I always like to eat tofu skin buns filled with golden needles and fungus, why isn't it you for today's dim sum?" Did you prepare it? You actually used vegetables and mushroom stuffing to deal with me." Yan Wan was gloomy and unhappy, seeing her elder brother pestering her, she could only pull herself together and said, "Good elder brother, let's eat it today, tomorrow my servant will definitely prepare tofu skin buns with golden needle and fungus stuffing for you, okay? " The elder brother pestered Yan Wan into the study.Hailan accompanied Concubine Chun to watch coldly under the window of the Nuan Pavilion. Hailan said softly: "This girl came back so late, I don't know where to move those shameful thoughts." Concubine Chun held suppressed anger: "Is what my sister said just now true?" Hailan's beautiful eyes slightly raised, clear and clear, full of concern: "Sister Chunfei, do you think my sister can make up such a lie? My sister thinks, the emperor often comes to my sister now, and I'm afraid that he has already treated her well." The little girl has put her mind to it. If she is seduced by that little girl a few more times, there will be a newcomer in the palace. Sister Chunfei, you have managed to get your status and honor today. Do you want to be divided by this seductress? Is it?" Concubine Chun bit her lip, and said distressedly: "But if the emperor likes her, what can I do? Besides, the empress is ill, concubine Jia is just out of confinement and cannot serve the emperor, concubine Yi is also dead, and all in the harem can only serve her." With so few people left, if the emperor wants to recruit a newcomer, there is nothing we can do." "Even if the emperor wants to recruit a newcomer, it can't come from my sister's palace. Sister Chunfei, think about it carefully, you already have two princes, if you are favored, others will think it is recommended by your sister. In the eyes of those who are interested, they think that the elder sister is taking advantage of the Queen's serious illness to collude in private to confuse the emperor, and wants to praise the third elder brother for favor. That's all for the elder sister, wouldn't the third elder brother become the target of public criticism?" Concubine Chun turned pale with shock: "How can I do that? It doesn't matter to me, but I can't harm my son!" Hailan's dark eyes rolled slightly, and said: "Of course there is a way, and it can completely kill the emperor's thoughts." Concubine Chun was both surprised and delighted, her smile lines were full of stretched smiles: "Sister, are you really sure?" Hailan smiled and flicked her nails, and said in a low voice, "Is this the first day my sister knows me?" She whispered a few words in her ear, and Concubine Chun beamed with joy and said, "Ke Xin, go and pass on Yan Wan." Yan Wan came over immediately.She greeted her with a low eyebrow and pleasing to the eye, appearing extremely respectful.Concubine Chun originally thought she was delicate and charming, with a hint of kindness between her brows and eyes, but now when she looked at her, even in a blue and plain palace attire, she felt that she was seductive and out of shape. Wrinkle the carefully described Chunliu eyebrows.Hailan touched her elbow calmly, took an orange, and slowly cut it with parallel knives. Concubine Chun raised her silk and said slowly: "Yan Wan, you have served Elder Brother very well. Originally, I wanted you to keep and continue to serve Elder Brother, but today Qin Tianjian came to take care of Elder Brother. Brother counts fleeting years, I combined your birthday horoscope with elder brother, and found that not only conflict with elder brother, but also conflict with the emperor, this is not good. So I think about it, for the sake of the emperor Brother He, I have no choice but to wrong you. From today on, you can go to the greenhouse to serve the flowers and plants. In this way, there will be no more conflicts." Yan Wan originally listened to Concubine Chun's praise, obviously she attached great importance to it.Thinking that if she was by the emperor's side in the future, concubine Chun would not object, but she couldn't accept that concubine Chun's sudden utterance was like thunder.The flower house was originally in the remotest part of the harem, except for a few gardeners who were palace servants, with heavy affairs, it was impossible to come out.I never thought that my life, which had just turned around, would be pushed to the bottom like this, with no room for turning around. She heard that although Concubine Chun's tone was polite, she was determined to the end, and pleading for mercy must be useless.After much deliberation, I had to kowtow and thank my kindness: "My servant thanked the concubine Chun for your kindness. It's just that the elder brother can't do without the servant for a while, can you ask the empress to be a little more accommodating and allow the servant and the elder brother to explain it in a few days before going." Hai Lan said slowly: "Since fate is incompatible, what's the use of staying longer? Hurry up to avoid any accidents, then it's not enough to go to the greenhouse." Yan Wan bit her lips tightly, resisting the tears in her eyes and the soreness in her throat, she kowtowed and said: "Your servant obeys, I will go immediately." She stood up slowly and saw Hai Lan handing the cut oranges to Concubine Chun with a smile on her face: "Sister, try it. It's like breaking a new orange with a knife like water." Yan Wan looked at the orange that had been cut into eight petals, and her cavity was almost bleeding.She thought hopelessly, her life, is it not like that orange, which is torn apart by others wantonly, half of it can't be controlled by herself, and never can be controlled by herself.