Chapter 23 Chapter 23 Burning

Ruyi didn't expect the fire to burst into flames all of a sudden.In the beginning, she was just like those women in the cold palace.Standing under their respective corridors, watching the fireworks all over the sky and the night sky bewildered.The wind that night just blew in the direction of Leng Gong, bringing the originally distant and bright fireworks closer to them in the air.It is really the prosperity of the present world. Although their loneliness and poverty are highlighted more and more, they still can't help but look at it and yearn for it. Ruyi smiled self-deprecatingly, even though she was imprisoned here for such a long time, she never let go of the red dust and the vain world.

In the first year, her heart was ashamed, but in the second year, her determination was stimulated after forbearance, and in the third year, she was a little gentle.Although the desire to get out of this cage is strong day after day, she understands that there is no rush. Just like the chilblains on the hands and feet in winter, and the prickly heat and mosquito scabs on the back in summer, you know you have to pass this season before you get better. Qiao Xin came over and said angrily, "My lord, Ling Yunche and Zhao Jiuxiao were supposed to be on duty tonight, and this servant wants to ask them to watch the fireworks together. Who knows where those two lazy guys went? , not even a human figure."

Ruyi smiled and said, "I miss my relatives a lot during the festive season. It's hard for them to stay here every year, so let them go." The flame was ignited when she finished saying this sentence. Without warning, almost the entire roof was burning. The fire was so fast that it almost burned wherever it went. up.The cold palace was damp and musty, but the fire was unstoppable, and it ignited a musty smell.Shocked, he immediately protected Ruyi behind him, and shouted, "Come on! Come on! There's a fire!" All the women in the palace panicked, and a few clever ones rushed to the yard first to see if there was any accumulated water in the water tank.In order to prevent fires and accumulate rain in the palace, copper vats are always placed in the courtyard and under the porch in front of the palace. The women were frightened by the intensifying fire, and hurriedly reached out to scoop up water from the vats. Spoonful after spoonful was poured out, but the ground and the wall were already on fire, and since it hadn't rained for a long time, there wasn't much water in the tank.Ruyi rushed to the door, slapped the palace door vigorously and said, "Save people! Save people! Is anyone there? Is there anyone?"

She yelled a few words, but was choked by the billowing smoke.Ling Yunche stood far outside the door of the Lu room, followed behind the leader Li Jinzhu with Zhao Jiuxiao, Zhang Baotie, and Bao Yuan with their hands down. Seeing the fire getting bigger and bigger, Zhao Jiuxiao hesitated and said, "Boss! The fire is burning like this. Are we really not going to save people? What if all the women are burned to death inside..." Li Jinzhu looked terrified, pressed the long knife at his waist, and said: "When they were alive, they were the women who were despised by the late emperor and today. They eat this food, spend their clothes, and live a disgraceful life. It would be better to burn them to death. It's over once and for all. Our brother is also at peace, and doesn't have to suffer outside this cold palace."

Bao Yuan said: "Boss means..." Li Jinzhu glanced at Bao Yuan and Zhang Baotie: "The Leng Palace is gone, what do we need the guards of the Leng Palace to do? Naturally, there is a better place to go." Zhao Jiuxiao was still a little scared: "But if the superior blames it, and the cold palace catches fire and dies, it's not a small crime!" Li Jinzhu looked up at the fire, and said with a serious face: "You have been working in the palace for a long time, you should have a little bit of winking and gain some insight. Look at the way the fire looks like, if someone hadn't prepared it first, this place in the Lenggong , can it cause such a big fire? Think again in this palace, how many people dare to burn down the cold palace. It's that status. We can't afford to offend. If we ruin other people's good things, this head will not be there on my own neck."

Zhao Jiuxiao was a little timid. Hearing the frightened wailing in the cold palace getting louder and louder, he hurriedly covered his ears with his sleeves.Don't dare to listen again.Ling Yunche held the knife handle tightly with both hands, and took a step forward subconsciously, because he clearly heard someone calling his name, calling for help, he was holding the knife handle tightly, and the veins on the back of his hand were bulging. The voice of the young master, or the heart?He couldn't tell for a moment, he only knew that they must be terrified to call out his name for help, he couldn't help but took another step forward, Li Jinzhu glanced at him: "The last time I was beaten like that, Still don't remember the lesson? Persevere in this palace, one thing more is worse than one thing less. Let alone the master you can't afford to offend."

Ling Yunche gritted his teeth, knelt down and said, "Boss, if you think about it carefully, we have to save people. There are not many women in the cold palace, only a dozen or twenty, no one thinks highly of them, but If you really die, the first crime will fall on the five of us, even if you say that we can't afford to offend the master. But if anyone in the palace blames each master, we can't afford to offend. When the time comes, the palace will be left alone Huo, plus the heads of our five brothers, there is really no proof." Zhang Baotie looked at Ling Yunche, then at Li Jinzhu, a little unsure: "Boss, what Xiao Ling said seems to have some truth. After all, this matter is not ordered by our superiors to ignore it. That... ..”

Ling Yunche pleaded: "Boss, others are fine. The one who came in last was Empress Xiao Minxian's niece. Although she fell out of favor and the emperor didn't want her anymore, she is a relative of the emperor. If anything happens, we will take care of her." I can't bear it." Li Jinzhu was obviously moved by the persuasion, but he hesitated and refused to speak again.Ling Yunche heard the cries inside getting more and more fierce, couldn't bear it anymore, got up and rushed out with a bucket of water, Zhao Jiuxiao hesitated for a moment, and rushed out after him.

Zhang Baotie was startled, and opened his mouth: "Boss...they..." Li Jinzhu shook his head and said: "He won't listen to persuasion, there's nothing he can do, it's just that the two of them are on duty tonight, if something really happens, they will bear the brunt of it, so let's go. That's fine, if we offend either side, we will both won't die." Ling Yunche managed to open the door of the Leng Palace, and when he broke in, he was almost shocked, because there were haystacks piled up under the corridor, the doors and windows were rotten, and the fire was the worst.In the thick smoke, he tripped over several people, and the corners of his clothes and hair were on fire. He was so frightened that he quickly sprinkled the bucket of water on them, coughing and choking on the smoke, while searching inside for such things as He searched for the traces of Yi and Xin Xin for a long time, and saw that the house where Ruyi and Xin Xin lived was the most burned, most of them had been burned down, and there was no one there. inside.He was a little reconciled, and couldn't help calling: "My lord! I'm so heartbroken! My lord!"

There was a faint groan coming from nearby, Ling Yunche heard the sound familiar, and went straight there without realizing it, that room was the palace where Concubine Su Riji lived, and it had been abandoned since her death.Right now, it seems that the fire is the smallest there.Holding the last glimmer of hope, Ling Yunche rushed in, only to see two drenched people shivering and hiding there in the corner behind the palace door, choked by the smoke and almost passed out. Ling Yunche could see that it was the two of them, and was overjoyed. Seeing Zhao Jiuxiao come in, he hurriedly beckoned him over, carried them out one by one, and then carried them to the door of the cold palace. Driving over in a hurry, facing the fire in Lenggong, he set up the water dragon and sprayed it directly. Ling Yunche was exhausted, but couldn't help smiling, heaved a sigh of relief.

Ruyi smelled the clean and sober air, woke up a little in her mind, and saw Yunche's anxious face when she saw her eyes. She felt a little relaxed, as if her whole body had fallen into reality, and she couldn't help saying: "Ruyi...Thank you Pass." Ling Yunche took a handkerchief and wiped her smoky face for her, and said in a low voice, "I thought your name was Xiaozhu, so it turns out that your name is Ruyi. Is everything going well?" Ruyi shook her head with difficulty: "Good words and good deeds mean good things." Ling Yunche sneered and said, "It would be wonderful to be able to rescue all of you." Ruyi looked at the drowsy heart, stretched out her hand to hold her in her arms, and said in confusion, "Thank you for coming to save us." She looked at the spraying water dragon, and said hesitantly: "It's just that the fire is too big. It's strange, if you rush to save us, will it implicate you?" Ling Yunche looked at the busy guards moving the women out of the cold palace one by one in the distance, and his brows relaxed slightly: "I'm sweating too, I don't know if I should save you, but when I saw the royal water dragon coming, I just I know I saved you by mistake." He looked around and said in a low voice: "Jiu Xiao and I are going to help, you guys have a good rest." Ruyi nodded, watched him leave, looked up and took a deep breath for a moment.This is the first time she has walked out of the cold palace in three years, even though she knew that she would still have to go back to that trapped place after a while, it was so rare, the starlight outside looked different from the inside, she took a deep breath , holding his hand tightly. As the fire subsided, she leaned against the wall, watching the bright yellow Kowloon guard of honor gradually approaching, her heart couldn't help jumping up, almost jumping out of her own throat.Her eyes were clouded by tears, but she recognized that the all-too-familiar Nine Dragons Bright Yellow Guard of Honor was him, it was he who came. Not only the emperor, but also the empress. They stood far away and watched the flames being suppressed by the water dragon. They were relieved, but Li Yu who was beside the emperor also noticed her, and said softly: "Your Majesty! , the one leaning against the bottom of the wall seems to be..." He instinctively didn't say any more, but it was enough to attract the emperor's attention.The emperor pondered for a moment, but still walked towards her.At that moment, Ruyi couldn't tell whether he was happy or sad, as if all the love, hatred and grievances had faded away one by one, he was still the handsome young man back then, walking slowly towards her on the Malan Terrace. The moment tears blurred her eyes, she hugged her heart, curled up her body tightly, and leaned against the foot of the wall where the plaster was shaking off, trying to shrink herself into an invisible ball as much as possible. It may be the moss that is not seeing the sun at the bottom of the wall.Yes, she is ashamed of herself. Beside him is the queen who is in full bloom and glory, but she is so embarrassed and pitiful. She lowered her head desperately, and finally, at a distance of one step, she clearly saw the pattern of river teeth and sea water patterns embroidered on the lower end of his bright yellow robe. It was the so-called "Ten Thousand Miles of River Water", and she hadn't seen it for a long, long time. . The man stood in front of her like a huge shadow, blocking all the light.Everything not far away is faintly blurred, becoming an illusory and distant floating shadow.She faintly heard the anxious voice of the queen calling: "Your Majesty—" That voice left everyone indifferent. The transparent firelight was behind him, reflecting on the elegant clothes swollen by the wind, floating a distant and vain luster.He walked forward silently, and Ruyi also curled up into a ball silently.There is only the wind in the corridor, wandering through it unconsciously, rustling into the ears. He bent down, put the red cloak on her body, gently brushed the wet and greasy hair on her face with his fingers, and said softly: "It's autumn, don't freeze." With such a gentle tone, Qingyue is like a crescent moon in the sky, like the moonlight with the fragrance of flowers, quietly and serenely dissipating the intractable smell around, quietly diffused.As if it was the first time in the past, he also called her in the same tone: "Sister Qingying." She nodded slightly, turned her face away: "Don't look at me, save me some face, don't see me in such a mess." He also nodded: "No matter how many years have passed, you are still that strong sister in my heart." He looked up and said softly and solemnly: "Qingying, take care." At this moment, he called her "Qingying", not "Ruyi".It was Qingying who had been happy and happy in previous years. At that time, they were still young, and their hearts were deep and simple.It was not "Ruyi", that little concubine who was extremely self-protective in the harem and tried her best to plan, that disgraced woman who had been wronged and sent to the cold palace by him. Qingying, Hongli.Those were some of their best years. Unfortunately, it's all over. He turned around and left without the slightest bit of nostalgia. When he arrived at the Queen's side, he said calmly, "No one is injured, let's go back." The queen agreed, and looked worriedly at the back of him who was leaving first, and glanced back at the extremely embarrassed Ruyi, with a trace of resentment deeply hidden in her eyes. The fire came suddenly. Although no one was killed in Lenggong, several people were injured.Fortunately, it was discovered early, but half of the houses in the Lenggong were also burned down. The queen mother and the emperor were almost furious because of the fire on the Chongyang Festival. Sincerely.Concubine Hui was impatient, and fearing that the emperor would blame her, she knelt and took off her hairpin outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation to serve the crime.The emperor didn't want to blame her, he just said a few words to comfort her. Jiang Yubin sneered coldly: "Really? Fortunately, only a few people were burned, and nothing was burnt to death, otherwise it would be difficult to cover up this matter." Ruyi smiled: "Those who dare to do such a thing will definitely be able to cover it up." Jiang Yubin said: "It's just that the emperor thinks the harem is annoying recently, so he doesn't go into the harem very much. When he does, it's just to see the nobleman Hai and that's it. Even the newly appointed nobleman Shu is not favored, so he has been left there." Ruyi was a little hesitant, but still murmured: "The emperor...isn't happy?" "It's no wonder the emperor is not happy that something like this happened on a big festival like Chongyang." Ruyi took a breath and said with concern, "How about Hailan?" Jiang Yubin hesitated slightly, and said after deliberation: "The fetus looks good, but I'm pregnant with my first child, and I don't think about eating in the first three months. These days, I have always had a big appetite." Ruyi smiled reassuringly: "It's a good thing to be able to eat, Hailan used to be too thin." Jiang Yubin also smiled: "It's a good thing, just gain weight quickly, I always told Mr. Haigui to move around more. Otherwise, it will be hard to give birth." He looked around: "The old house of the young master burned down. , and now go to Ji Taipin's former house, let's make do with it for a while." Ruyi is also indifferent: "I don't want to live wherever I go, and I can't leave here." Jiang Yubin saw a red cloak on the couch, embellished with coral and beeswax beads in endless patterns, and embroidered with golden silk threads into jade algae patterns, which stretched endlessly.This is the pattern used by the queen, so he can recognize it naturally.Don't feel like smiling and cupping his hands: "It seems that the fire in the cold palace is intended for the young master, but it has brought the young master a surprise." Ruyi helped the loose bun, and said: "If you have time, take it out for me and return it to the emperor, if you stay here, something will happen." Jiang Yubin said: "Okay, but I have something for Song Xin." He opened the medicine box and took out a pack of snacks: "This is Wanbaozhai's sour plum cake, which is Song Xin's favorite. Weichen Brought to her specially, to comfort her frightened by the fire." Ruyi touched the wrapping paper outside the pastry, and sighed: "It's been a long time to see people's hearts, and Xin Xin followed a master like me to this point of desperation, yet you still have the same heart for her. This is the most rare thing." Jiang Yubin looked earnest, and said, "Both Weichen and Song Xin were born in poverty, so why bother to dislike each other. Even if she wants to stay with the young master in the cold palace for the rest of her life, Weichen will not change her mind." Ruyi got up and wrapped the emperor's cloak, handed it to Jiang Yubin and said, "That day, the guards of the Leng Palace rushed in with fire in order to save us people. I don't know if they were injured? Or did the emperor punish them?" Jiang Yubin said: "It's just that I was choked by the fireworks, nothing happened. The emperor also saw that they tried their best to save people, so he didn't blame them. The meaning of the young master is..." Ruyi looked at the dark sky outside, and said worriedly: "I'm afraid they will save people rashly, and they won't know if they offend them. Although the emperor didn't blame him for a while, but if they are plotted against..." Jiang Yubin smiled confidently: "That's easy to do. Just think of a way to make him get sick and avoid the limelight. This humble minister will arrange it. As for Sang Xin, she was choked by the smoke so badly that she couldn't get up for a while. Bed, Wei Chen will prepare some more medicines here, and the young master will feed her on time." Ruyi nodded and said, "Come back here, and bring me a pack of important things. No one else can get these things except you." After hearing Ruyi's whispers, Jiang Yubin's face darkened, and a flash of light flashed across his face. Confused, but still agreed: "But according to the little master's order." When Jiang and Bin went to the Palace of Yanxi Palace to ask for their pulse, the emperor was sitting with Hai Lan on the couch in the Nuan Pavilion.It was almost dusk, and the hall was a bit dark, only a ray of slanting light penetrated through the long windows, and the chill of early autumn was like a pulse of clear water, slowly hitting through the bones. Jiang Yubin greeted him, and the emperor lost his interest, so he gave orders casually.Jiang Yubin asked for his pulse, said "fetal gas is stable", and respectfully presented the cloak entrusted by Ruyi with both hands: "Wei Chen just went to Lenggong to ask for pulse, and Ruyi's young master asked Wei Chen to hand this over to you." Give it to the emperor, saying that the cold palace is unclean and cannot accommodate holy things. The little master has cleaned it up, please take it back." The emperor was slightly distracted, but it was Li Yu who was alert, and quickly took it and said, "It's hard for young master Ruyi, the place where the clothes are pickled in the cold palace can clean the emperor's clothes so clean, I don't know that she washed them carefully. How many times." The emperor stretched out his hand and said: "Let me see." Li Yu offered it, and the emperor stretched out his hand to stroke it carefully, and said slowly: "That was the day when the fire started, I saw that she was soaking wet, so I specially put it on for her. Don’t you like it that much? I sent it back in a hurry.” Hailan combed her homely bun, with jade decorations with Ruyi cloud patterns on her head, and a Ruyi pearl hairpin obliquely hanging by her ear, refreshing yet gentle.She said in a gentle voice: "Sister, I'm afraid that being close to the country will make you more timid, and touching the scene will hurt your feelings. She is already the emperor's abandoned concubine, how can she still keep the emperor's things. Sister, she..." The emperor waved his hand and said, "Forget it, I understand." Li Yu hurriedly held it carefully and accepted it.The emperor then asked Jiang Yubin, "Is Ruyi all right there?" Jiang Yubin hurriedly knelt down and said, "If this humble minister tells the truth, the emperor will definitely blame him." The emperor smiled: "I asked you wrongly. The Lenggong is naturally not good. I asked her if she is in good health?" "Everything else is fine, except that I have lost weight a lot. Being with those crazy women all day long, it's good to be awake." The emperor nodded slightly: "Master Hai recommended you for her pregnancy, I was not at ease at first. There are many more qualified people in the Tai Hospital than you, and you are only working in the cold palace. But Mr. Hai said you are seasoned, It's not someone who picks and chooses to bully the lord. I see that you have devoted yourself to serving the nobleman Heer Ruyi, so you can rest assured." Jiang Yubin said: "In the eyes of this official, there is no difference between the young master of the cold palace and the noble man of the sea. They are all young masters that this official should take care of with all his heart." It just so happened that Xu An, the chief eunuch of the respect room, came in holding a green card and said, "Your Majesty, it's time to flip the card." The emperor looked at the row of green-headed cards on the black rosewood plate, and said lightly, "Take it down." Xu An said with a bitter face: "Your Majesty, you haven't flipped your cards for a long time. Among other things, Mr. Shu Gui is eagerly looking forward to your going." The emperor gave him a sideways look, and said calmly: "Your job is getting better and better. Who else has to obey your orders?" Xu An knelt down in panic and said, "I don't dare, I don't dare." Hailan hurriedly persuaded: "Mr. Shu Gui was newly appointed by the emperor, but he was thrown aside before he was summoned. It's not very good-looking. Anyway, there is still the Queen Mother." "I'm not in the mood today." The emperor shook his head, pushed the sign away, and said gently, "Hai Lan, take a good rest, I'm going back to the Hall of Mental Cultivation." Hailan hurriedly got up and sent the emperor out, seeing the emperor get into the chariot, before walking back slowly. Sitting on the chariot, the emperor watched the dark crowd walking calmly and swiftly in the twilight, and a few crows flapped their wings and flew across the ink-colored golden-red sky, feeling lonely for no reason.He reached into his arms and took out a thin silk handkerchief, on which were only embroidered a few red lychees and a few light blue cherry blossoms.For a moment, he held it tightly in his hand, as if he was holding a lost and regained warmth, and would never let go.