Chapter 29 Chapter 29

On this day, when the winter snow began to fall, Ruyi coveted the sight of white plum blossoms in the snow, so she helped her to go out together.Winter is cold and cold, and the white plums in the garden bloom lonely.In this lonely afternoon with few people walking, the petals are blooming enchantingly.Xin Xin said with a smile: "My lord is really true. Others are looking for plums in the snow, and they are all looking for red plums. My lord wants to see the white plums. The servants don't believe it. The white plums are hidden in the white snow, and they can only see the blackness. branches, what's so good about it?"

Ruyi was wearing a big fur cloak with pearls, brocade and green feathers. She reached out to catch a few flying snowflakes, and said, "White snow and red plums naturally have a bright and clear beauty, which is admired by people. But the white plums are hidden in the white snow, and only the fragrance of the flowers can force them to fall." A little bit of difference between human and coldness, the beauty in the world, if you don't distinguish carefully, what's the point of getting it easily?" A mischievous smile flashed in Yin's mind: "The servant feels that the young master likes this kind of fine-grained distinction."

Ruyi straightened the fluffy fur ball on her collar, nodded and said with a smile: "If you don't look carefully at many things, you will only see the snow on the black branches. Naturally, you don't think it's beautiful. You have to take a closer look, and don't be fooled by the appearance." Only when you are confused can you know where the true beauty lies.” As soon as she finished speaking, she heard a gentle female voice sounding from behind her: "The words of Concubine Xian really won my heart." Ruyi turned around, but saw a beautiful woman wearing a cloud-digging goose yellow gold gorilla felt cape standing under the plum tree in the snowy glass, but it was Concubine Shu.She smiled and said politely: "So it's Sister Shupin."

Shu Pin took off her hood, revealing her head full of jade pieces and silver embellishments. Seen in the winter's cold and snow, she looked more noble and desolate, with a lonely and noble expression like ice and snow.Just like her, she looks extremely gorgeous at first glance, but after getting along with her, she realizes that she has such a lonely temperament, just like this winter snow and cold flower. Concubine Shu bowed slightly and said, "If you don't mind Concubine Xian, you can call me by my real name, Yi Huan. I can also address you as elder sister, instead of being so vulgar."

Seeing her speaking directly, Ruyi liked her even more, so she said, "That's naturally good." Concubine Shu smiled calmly and said: "Everyone in the harem is saying that the emperor let his sister out of the cold palace, but he has rarely visited her, never had a meal with her, and never called her to sleep with her once. Everyone in the palace There is a lot of discussion behind the scenes, I don't know where the emperor put my sister?" Ruyi saw that she was not hiding anything, so she also said: "How can the emperor's heart be in heaven, we can guess."

Nearby, there are large plum blossoms standing proudly on their branches. The branches are covered with snow, and the stamens and petals are still clear and clean, not stained by dust and mud. Concubine Shu flicked a string of silver tassels on her temples, and said slowly: "Others think so, but I don't. I have been thinking that Concubine Shen was once so favored, and now that she is ill these days, the emperor also ignores it. After seeing my sister, I actually showed how close I am to my sister. Is it because I am more timid because I am closer to my hometown. I think the emperor values ​​my sister more."

Ruyi smiled lightly: "Where did my sister come from just now?" Concubine Shu said: "I had lunch with the emperor." Her smile was a bit secretive: "During lunch, the emperor loves a plum blossom pot, which is made with white plums, and the clear soup is rich. But I don't want me to go to the imperial garden In the middle of the day, I saw that my sister was so coincidental, admiring the plum blossoms alone." Ruyi's heart twitched slightly, as if someone's hands were coldly plucking the strings of her heart, but the expression on her face was extremely calm: "There are only plum blossoms in the cold winter, and it's too easy to just happen to be."

Shu Pin smiled and said nothing, just said: "Sister, don't you think the white snow and white plums are extremely beautiful, but the black branches are really too eye-catching? If it were me, I would have painted it all over with white paint, That's clean." A cluster of plum branches rustled in the wind, and the wind moved, and the wind was graceful, like ripples.Ruyi reached out and broke off a branch of white plum, "It turns out that my sister is not only quick to talk, but also decisive. It's just that... nothing is in a hurry to do well." Concubine Shu smiled slightly, got up and left.

Xin was a little worried and said: "Why did the young master talk so much to Concubine Shu? We don't know her details." "Secrets?" Ruyi looked at her bright red back in the white snow, "Shu Concubine was recommended by the Empress Dowager, and she was proud of herself, so she didn't want to associate with the concubine. It's okay to say a few more words about this kind of background of." She turned around and walked out of the garden holding her heart, but she saw Ling Yunche holding a bouquet of folded regret flowers, guarding outside. Ruyi was quite surprised: "Aren't you guarding Kunning Palace now? Why are you here?"

Ling Yunche saluted like a rite: "Kunning Palace clears the offerings every year, and puts plum blossoms in vases every day, so it's all humble ministers who come here." He glanced at Ruyi quietly, and said respectfully: "I heard Concubine Xian today The empress is talking inside, so I specially waited in the garden, hoping to pay my respects to the empress." Ruyi stared at it with a smile on her face: "There is only one door in and out of Meiyuan, you specially waited for it, presumably it wasn't just for the sake of asking for safety." Ling Yunche was a little embarrassed: "I was still seen through by the empress."

"Speak up if you have something to say." Ling Yunche hesitated for a moment, then thought about it: "There is a maid named Wei Yanwan in the flower room, she came to look for Wei Chen..." Ruyi smiled lightly, looked at him and said, "I'm only getting better, have so many people come to you? If you help them one by one, how many people can you help?" Although Ruyi said with a smile, Ling Yunche couldn't help but blushed, and said in a whisper: "Yes. But she..." Ruyi suddenly understood: "But the person who made you get drunk and depressed for her that day?" Ling Yunche was told his thoughts, so he had to confess: "Yan Wan is my fellow countryman, and I entered the palace with me as a servant. Although she had a higher mind and left me to fly high that day, but by accident, she was finally demoted. The conservatory works as an errand. The conservatory does not distinguish between day and night, and she works hard. She knows her mistakes and has never dared to come to me. I didn’t know her until today when I was working as an errand in Kunning Palace and saw the pine branches she sent to clean the offerings on the errand of the conservatory. It turned out that she had suffered so much. Her hands... were full of chilblains, and because she was not doing the work of serving others, she was dressed poorly. Yan Wan...she is the most beautiful." As she spoke, she couldn't feel it on her face. A little more compassion and love. Ruyi interrupted him: "When she complained, you forgot the pain of being abandoned by her in the past?" Ling Yunche hurriedly shook his head and said: "Concubine Xian's concubine Mingjian, it's not that I'm soft-hearted. It's just...it's just that she is so pitiful. Yan Wan has been crying bitterly. She said that she knew that she had done something wrong that day, so she didn't have the face to see me. She ..." "I don't have the face to see you, but I did see you after all, and I said so many touching things. So, what did you promise her? Come to beg me again?" Ling Yunche was very embarrassed: "She didn't intentionally let the minister come to ask for the empress, but in the huge deep palace, the only thing I can ask for is the empress. The minister just thought, can the empress do the minister a favor?" , transferred her out of the conservatory, and changed to a lighter job." Ruyi pondered for a moment: "You really think that?" Yun Che said: "Yan Wan doesn't dare to ask for it, but she just asks not to have chilblains all over her hands, and she is satisfied." "It sounds like it's just a small wish, and it's not difficult to fulfill." Ruyi raised her face, breathing in the cool air, "It's just that the end of the year is coming, and there is no shortage of people in the greenhouse. You take my words Bring it to her, so that she can work with peace of mind, and after the beginning of spring, I will change her to a better place." Ling Yunche couldn't help showing a little bit of joy, he slapped Qianer and said: "The humble minister thanked you so much." Ruyi couldn't help laughing: "Seeing you are so happy, what Wei Yanwan said today was very precise." After finishing speaking, she left without looking at him. Back in the palace, I saw a bouquet of green plums offered to the boss in the Nuan Pavilion.The light jade-like color is crystal clear and translucent, and the flower heart is pure white.Although it is not as beautiful as red plums and white plums, it is fragrant and fragrant, especially better than ordinary plums.At this time, the room has been wiped clean by the eunuchs, the fragrance of flowers blends with the wet steam, and the charcoal fire in the hall is clean, and the heating is faint, making it look more elegant and fresh, making people want to get drunk. Ruyi took off her cloak and asked, "Who sent the green plums, the color is so good?" The little court lady Ling Zhizai carefully wiped the coral-glazed pastel flower-and-bird pattern porcelain vase for the green plums and said: "The young master has not been out for a long time, and the emperor ordered Jin Baogong to bring it." Ruyi stared at it for a while, then smiled and said, "Then go and change to a plainer white porcelain vase. The green plums are so simple and elegant, it would be too tacky to use a colorful vase." Lingzhi sticks out her tongue embarrassedly: "I just saw that this bottle is happy and the color is lively, so I used it." "You're going to use this bottle to arrange flowers. It looks good, but it's disappointing the emperor's heart." Seeing that Lingzhi had gone out, Xin Xin smiled and said, "The emperor has a heart for the young master, but it's just that we have a heart. I can’t see it for a while.” Ruyi caressed the green plum and said with a smile: "If you can't see through it, don't look at it. There are such good green plums. If you don't appreciate them carefully, it will be a waste." After the New Year is the Lantern Festival, and in February, the most prosperous festival is "Dragon Raises its Head on the Second Day of February".According to the custom, it is said that the Longtou Festival originated in the era of Fuxi. Fuxi "emphasized farming and mulberry farming and plowing the fields".When the emperor was in power, he also attached great importance to it.On this day, Xin and the queen went to the altar to offer sacrifices.When she came back, the queen was in high spirits, so she ordered people to hold a family banquet in the Changchun Palace and invited the emperor to welcome the spring together.Since the death of her beloved son, the empress has been depressed and rarely showed her joyful face. This time, the emperor took the initiative to invite her, and the emperor felt that it was rare for the empress to have such affection, so he agreed, and let the imperial dining room do a lot of empress love. Send the food to eat.The emperor attached so much importance to it, there was no reason for the concubines not to follow her, so Concubine Hui set up a barrier and invited all the concubines in the palace to celebrate the Spring Festival together for the empress. family dinner. The emperor has always liked excitement, so naturally there is nothing he doesn't like.So even the low-ranking Xiuyue and even the concubine Shen who was ill were called one by one.Although the empress dowager did not come in person, Fujia also asked Fu Jia to seal a large drawer of donkey-hide gelatin walnut paste for the empress Chu Yi, and also gave two handfuls of boy Ruyi, hoping that the empress would give birth to a prince soon. The empress was naturally grateful for such kindness.Even the emperor was here, so he couldn't help but touch his heart, and said softly: "Don't worry, queen, I will come to accompany the queen on every tenth and fifth day except the first and fifteenth day of the lunar new year. I hope that the queen can give birth to me again. Fat little brother." Ruyi sat in the first seat on the west side, sipping wine into her throat, she had already heard every word.The emperor deeply hated himself for being a concubine, and wholeheartedly hoped to have a son, so even though he had the third and fourth elder brothers, and Hailan was pregnant, it still couldn't make up for his wholehearted yearning.Therefore, the loss of Prince Duanhui can be said to be a great misfortune, but also a blessing, for the queen who has never been favored much. The spring gift that the emperor gave to the empress was a box of East China Sea pearls. The empress hurriedly got up and thanked her: "Pearls are precious, let alone a box. The ministers and concubines don't dare to accept the hard work of the pearl hunters." The emperor held her hand and said: "I know that you are used to frugality and don't like luxury. But no matter how precious this box of East China Sea Pearl is, it can't compare to the weight you have in my heart, Queen. Why should the queen care about such a mere thing?" What about the number of boxes?" In this case, even though the empress has always paid attention to her appearance, she did not feel the tears in her eyes. She thanked her with tears, but saw the emperor order Li Yu to deliver the small red brocade box to each concubine.Concubine Hui and Concubine Chun were the first to open it, but inside was an East China Sea Pearl that was the same as the empress.Concubine Chun was still happy, but Concubine Hui said coquettishly: "The emperor is so eccentric, it's fine to give the empress a box, but there is only one box for us, so stingy." The emperor smiled and said, "Although I have given you less, it is the same as I treat you." Ruyi opened the brocade box and saw that it was indeed radiant, a huge and round one, brighter than a candle.When Concubine Shen opened it, the concubine Jia beside her suddenly let out an "ouch" and said with a covered smile, "Ours are all pearls of the East China Sea, what's in this brocade box, Concubine Shen?" As soon as the words fell, everyone turned their heads to look, only to see a bright red pill-like thing.Concubine Shen was already ill, and she became emaciated, with a lot of rouge applied on her face, it was also flamboyant and vain.Seeing this thing at this time, his complexion was even more blue and gray, which was incompatible with the rouge on his face, and he trembled a little. It was Concubine Mei who recognized it first, her expression changed drastically, she immediately turned her head to look at the emperor and said, "Your Majesty! This dirty thing is the cinnabar that killed my concubine's child back then!" The queen looked at Concubine Mei worriedly, and gently instructed: "Concubine Mei, don't worry, and listen to the emperor's questions slowly." Concubine Shen was stunned when she heard the words, immediately knelt down, and said in a trembling voice: "Your Majesty, cinnabar is poisonous, why do you give this to my concubine?" She forced a smile and said, "Could it be that the little father-in-law who put the pearl in the wrong hand, gave it to the concubine by mistake?" I am a concubine." The emperor was wearing a red plum-colored dragon robe with jade dragon, green and white fox fur, and a pale gold brocade fringe folded at the cuffs.Wearing such a gorgeous color tone, there is no gaudy makeup on his body, but his face like a crown jade is even brighter and brighter, and his mood is as clear as the wind, just like the light of a star.He raised a cup to his lips to sip leisurely, and said slowly, "Since it's for you, you can't be wrong. Cinnabar is poisonous, and mercury can be released when heated. If I reward me with such a good thing, I won't have it." Wrong, it suits you best." Concubine Shen was so frightened that she couldn't even move her eyeballs, she forced a smile and said, "Why did the emperor give this to my concubine? This concubine... really doesn't understand." The emperor suddenly knocked down the wine cup in his hand, and shouted: "Li Yu, you come." Li Yu lowered his hands and said solemnly: "Yes. The servant followed the emperor's order and went to investigate the two empresses who were with Mei Concubine and Yi Concubine. Regarding the damage to the emperor's heir. Xiao Luzi, who testified against the concubine Xian, was killed by a head-on collision, and the other Xiao Anzi was sent to the Department of Punishment to do hard labor. He was tortured to the point where only half his life was left. The servant asked him Only then did I know that concubine Xian used thirty taels of silver to buy him off by mixing cinnabar in the candles, which was secretly ordered by concubine Shen to do it. In addition, although Xiaoluzi died, his brother, who used to serve concubine Xian The little Fuzi is still alive, but he was sent out of the palace. The slave went out to take a look, and it was amazing. It turns out that after Xiaoluzi died, his family was able to build a three-in-one yard and bought a hundred acres of fertile land. And the money, It was all dialed by the magistrate of Concubine Shen's Ama Guiduo. For the rest, I can only ask Concubine Shen herself." There was an indifferent smile on the corner of the emperor's mouth, but his voice was completely inconsistent with gentleness: "Then Ah Ruo, let me ask you, what's going on?" Ah Ruo trembled all over, looking at Concubine Hui and the Empress as if asking for help.Concubine Hui just turned her face away as if she didn't know anything, and whispered something with the concubine Jia. The emperor said leisurely: "Besides Xiao Luzi and Xiao Anzi, you were the one who testified the most against Concubine Xian. Now, do you have anything to say?" Ah Ruo's closed eyes suddenly opened, as if remembering something, he walked up to the emperor on his knees: "Your Majesty, my concubine has been wronged, my concubine has been wronged! This concubine has nothing to do with Xiaoluzi at all, his family bought fields to build houses As for Xiao Anzi, the concubine heard that he became hoarse when he served in the Punishment Department and could no longer speak, so how could it be said that the concubine instructed him." She yelled out in desperation, but before she finished speaking, the queen had already closed her eyes in disgust, hugged the third princess and Jing in her arms, called the nurse and said: "He Jing is still young, I don't want to hear such foul language, first Send her to the Queen Mother?" Ruyi raised her eyebrows and said in a slow voice: "Anyone who enters the Punishment Department, the Punishment Department will naturally have a record. I accidentally read the records of the Punishment Department a few days ago, and there is no record of you or your palace. The record of people coming and going. I really want to know, Concubine Shen, how did you know that Xiao Anzi became hoarse and can no longer speak." Ah Ruo's expression changed drastically, and he said hoarsely: "I heard about it, my wife." Ruyi was very interested: "Then Concubine Shen, who are you listening to, you might as well listen to it." A Ruo gave her a resentful and fearful look: "I've only heard about it. As for who it is, I've forgotten it after hearing it. It's not as delicate as Concubine Xian's, and she even checks the records of the Department of Punishment and Punishment. " Ruyi's gaze swept across her face slowly, and said with a smile: "Of course I will look at it, and I will also investigate it. Because from the day I was wronged, I have never forgotten to clear my grievances." A Ruo said harshly, "Concubine Xian understands what she does herself." Ruyi smiled calmly: "This sentence is most suitable for you to listen to yourself." Although the emperor's tone was indifferent, there was a hint of murderous intent: "Then Concubine Shen, since you saw with your own eyes how Concubine Xian harmed Concubine Yi and Concubine Mei, you will naturally remember it day and night and dare not forget it. Then you have to say it yourself." Let me listen to it again, and let me listen to it, what happened back then?" After speaking, the emperor turned his head and told Li Yu: "Back then, Concubine Shen was still the maid of Concubine Xian, and you all memorized her confession. Right? I also really want to know, after three years, whether Concubine Shen can still tell the truth without missing a single word?" A Ruo was so anxious that she spoke in disarray, and kowtowed desperately: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, what happened back then was too horrible, and my concubines forced myself not to think about it or to remember it. The maidservant only engraved how Concubine Xian lived with candles and food. The cinnabar mixed in, as for the details, I really don't remember." "Ridiculous!" Concubine Mei was furious, the red jade beads on her earlobes ticking and shaking, "Back then you kept describing how Concubine Xian harmed my concubine Yi and my child in the womb, every detail was subtle, but today you can't describe it one by one. Come on, it can be seen that you lied that day, so you didn't take these words to heart!" Hailan propped her waist and said slowly: "Back then, the empress sent her maid Su Xin to lead people to search the Yanxi Palace. It was A Ruo who stopped them from searching the bedroom, which aroused people's suspicion. Later, they found it under the dressing table drawer in Concubine Xian's bedroom. Concubine Xian's crimes were fulfilled by a bag of cinnabar tainted with the fragrance of aloe water. The concubine had been thinking that if Concubine Xian really did such a thing, since she had bribed Xiao Luzi and Xiao Anzi, then there would be a point for her to take the cinnabar. Why is it difficult, why does it have to be placed under the drawer of the dressing table in her bedroom? If the bag of cinnabar concubine Xian really didn't know about it, who could come in and out of her bedroom at will, and could keep it there for so long to be contaminated with the smell of agarwood fragrance Wouldn't Concubine Xian find out?" Concubine Shu said contemptuously: "Then it can only be Concubine Xian's close maid?" She ate with a chopstick, looked at A Ruo and said, "It seems that there is no such thing except Concubine Shen that day. Others can do it." Concubine Jia shook her head in disgust and said, "The words were so convincing back then, but today I am in a panic. Your Majesty, Concubine Shen is really suspicious." The disgust in the emperor's eyes was obvious, he held the wine cup in his hand tightly, and said coldly: "What you said back then and what you did back then were related to the lives of my two emperors, if you don't tell the truth today, I will reward you If you swallow this cinnabar alive, I will order the people from the Punishment Department to bury you alive with cinnabar. You can decide for yourself!" A Ruo's face was pale with fright, and she was wearing a powder-blue tapestry robe with eight patterns of plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum, shaking like the surface of a lake.Ruyi looked at her with an indifferent gaze, showing no mercy at all, and then said to the emperor, "Your Majesty, my concubine has been thinking that Ah Ruo is not capable of finding so much cinnabar, buying so many people, and arranging them one by one. It was so detailed, and a net was set up to harm the concubine. Although she had always had the heart to admire the emperor's favor, she did not necessarily have the heart to put the concubine to death at that time. The concubine wanted to know who was behind the scenes to instigate Shen Qie. concubine." "Concubine Shen?" The emperor smiled lightly, "If she was not instructed by others to do so many evil things, she was going to murder the emperor's heir herself. She is not worthy to be my concubine Shen. She has always been just you Your maidservant, what you want to do with it is up to you!" Ruyi leaned back and said, "Then pardon my concubine for taking the liberty. Repay her with the same way. If Ah Ruo refuses to tell the truth, my concubine will ask someone to give her spoonfuls of cinnabar that has been refined and tainted with mercury. If it is poured down, this kind of thing will corrode her internal organs after being poured in a large amount. The process from poisoning to poisoning to death is extremely painful. But if A Ruo finds out who instigated it, at most it is just a crime of accusation and does not involve To murder the emperor's heir, the concubine is willing to ask the emperor to spare her life." The emperor talked and laughed freely, looked at the queen and said: "A Ruo belongs to Concubine Xian, so naturally she will be dealt with by Concubine Xian. Queen, don't you think so?" The queen smiled faintly: "The emperor is right. It's just... the punishment of Concubine Xian sounds too terrible." The emperor said indifferently: "For such a heartless person, this kind of punishment is not too much. Concubine Xian, I promise you." A Ruo knew that there was no hope, she looked at Concubine Hui as if she was asking for help, and called out, "Young Concubine..." Concubine Hui immediately said: "Oh, what are you calling me for! Don't implicate me! Concubine Xian, everything is up to you." Before she finished speaking, she heard a "gudong" on the ground, but A Ruo had already passed out. The emperor saw that A Ruo couldn't bear the stimulation and fainted to the ground, so he ordered: "Today is the Spring Festival family banquet hosted by the queen and I. I shouldn't mention it at this time. It's just that when I saw the queen, I remembered that I had died young." Prince Duanhui also remembered that the children of Concubine Mei and Concubine Yi were stillborn, and the deaths were unclear, so I had to investigate carefully." When the queen heard him mention the second elder brother, she couldn't help but feel sad: "The emperor and the concubine are both parents, how can you not be sad? Although this matter was mentioned at the concubine's Spring Festival banquet, if the truth can be found out, it will also be true. It is the best congratulatory gift for my concubines. Now that it is getting late, the emperor will ask tomorrow if there is anything to do. After tossing about for so long, I would like to ask the emperor to rest early." The emperor nodded and said, "I originally wanted to accompany the empress, but I'm not in the mood tonight. Li Yu, get up and drive back to the Hall of Mental Cultivation. I want to be quiet for a while." Li Yu hurriedly said: "Please order. How should Ah Ruo deal with it?" A gleam of coldness flashed in the emperor's eyes: "Take her to the side hall of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, and watch her. Don't commit suicide or die for some other reason." This sentence clearly has a deep meaning.Concubine Hui shrunk her body unconsciously, touched the Suzhou embroidery pattern on her cuffs, and forced herself to calm down.Seeing this, the concubines took their leave and left.Concubine Hui purposely stayed behind and looked at the queen with some worry. The queen said indifferently: "It's none of your business, what are you doing looking at me?" Concubine Hui timidly said: "Yes, but if A Ruo bites us out..." "Bite us out?" The queen sneered slightly, and said leisurely, "You are a noble concubine, and I am the queen, what are we afraid of?" Concubine Hui was still worried, she took a step forward and said, "But doesn't the Empress think it's strange? Today is obviously the Empress's Spring Festival banquet, why does the Emperor have to have an outbreak today, and strictly examine this matter? Could it be possible that the Emperor even empress should Suspicious?" The queen's expression froze, a flash of panic flashed, and she quickly said solemnly: "Presumptuous! The emperor just cares about the emperor's heir and is suspicious of A Ruo. It was also accidental to mention it at the Spring Festival banquet in this palace. Don't think wildly, let alone think of anything. Talk nonsense and mess yourself up." Concubine Hui seldom saw the queen speak so harshly, she quickly lowered her head and dared not speak. The queen supported Su Xin's hand and went to the bedroom, took off her clothes, stared at the acacia bronze mirror on the dressing table for a while, then lowered her voice and said: "Su Xin, the emperor really doubts me, right? " Su Xin hung the queen's cloak on the boxwood hanger and tidied it meticulously, and said: "Empress, don't worry, didn't the emperor say it, it's also because of thinking about our Prince Duanhui who passed away early, so he endured so much." Can't help it. The emperor still wants to have another elder brother with the empress. After all, the emperor always cares about the empress, not to mention, we have the third princess. I don't know how much the emperor likes the third princess." "The eldest princess born in the palace and the second princess born in the concubine Zhe died young. Although the emperor has several older brothers, the princess only has this one. He cherishes it very much. The so-called pearl in the palm is about the same." The queen took off Dongzhu earrings, sighed, lowered his head and stroked his lower abdomen, "It's just that this palace is the same as the emperor, how I hope to have another elder brother who is born in the first place, who can inherit the country and continue the blood for the emperor." Su Xin hung up her clothes, untied her bun for the queen, and took off a beaded flower: "Don't worry, your majesty, the emperor has promised to come to accompany you often, your majesty, as long as you take good care of your body, you will be pregnant soon." Prince's." The queen nodded and said: "That's right. You remember to remind Qi Lu of the Supreme Hospital to prepare a few doses of anti-fertility medicine for Ben Gong." Su Xin smiled and said: "Yes. It's funny when it comes to birth control medicine. There is no one in the palace who drinks the birth control medicine more diligently than Concubine Hui. I wish I could drink it as water. But the more you drink it, the worse your body will be. Pay attention, Concubine Hui's complexion has become more and more ugly in the past two years, she has become a paper beauty." The queen said: "I sometimes have doubts. Both Concubine Xian and her have the bracelets. Even if they can't conceive a child, how can they make her body weak? Fortunately, Qi Lu is treating her personally. It didn’t improve at all.” "It's just that she is not blessed. Even if Concubine Hui's father was so relied on by the emperor in the previous dynasty, and she was favored in the harem, she can't have a child, and it is useless as usual. Forever, she can only live by relying on her mother." .” The queen showed a look of peace: "The emperor is not the first emperor, and he will not emphasize the Han army flag and despise the full army flag, so that the harem is full of concubines with the Han army flag. The late emperor's noble concubine Nian, Qi concubine Li, modest concubine Liu, Concubine Ning Wu, Concubine Song, Mao Concubine, which one is not like this. But even so, this Palace has to be wary of Concubine Hui, who was born in the Han Army Banner, getting bigger." Su Xin smiled and said: "She dare not, and she can't. Even if she has her father as a backer, doesn't your mother also have the support of Mr. Zhang Tingyu, a veteran of the three dynasties. It is the womb of Haigui, and the servant has quietly asked. I don't know why. , Was it discovered or what, the little eunuch Wen Si'er, who dispensed medicinal materials at the imperial hospital, said that now it is impossible to add those appetizing medicinal materials to Haiguiren's medicine." The queen frowned slightly: "Could it have been discovered?" She immediately said calmly: "That's okay. The left and right are just appetizers, so I thought the eunuchs added it wrong. If you are pregnant, you should have an appetizer. What's more. The nobleman has gained so much weight, and all the things that should grow on his body have grown, and it’s okay if he doesn’t eat.” She stopped talking suddenly, saw something vaguely in the bronze mirror, turned her head suddenly, and said in a panicked voice: "He Jing, what are you doing standing there? Where are the people following you?" The third princess stood behind the Zhuling curtain with some fear, slowly moved out, and called: "Emiang." The queen restrained her face slightly: "How many times have I told you that you want to call me the empress mother, because I am not only your empress, but also the queen." The third princess is already ten years old, she looks very clean and pleasant, her face has the arrogance that only the eldest princess can have, like a rose raised in the deep boudoir, unaware of the wind and frost, she is delicate and beautiful. When she saw the queen, the arrogance on her face disappeared. She was just a timid little girl who followed the rules and said, "Yes. I know." Listening to the conversation between Queen Mother and Aunt Suxin, I just want to come to say hello to Mother Queen before she goes to bed, and talk to you alone." The queen was relieved, and calmly changed into a gentle tone: "Then, what do you want to say to Queen Mother?" "It's gone now." The third princess shook her head slightly, raised her immature face, and looked at the queen, "Emperor Niang, what did you say to Hai Guiren just now?" The queen raised her face, signaled Su Xin to go out, put her arms around the third princess and said solemnly: "No matter what the Queen Empress gave to anyone or what she did to anyone, it was all for you and for the Queen Mother herself. In this palace, There are too many people who are hurting us, and the Queen Mother does everything to protect herself." She kissed the third princess's face, and said softly with tears in her eyes: "Hejing, your second brother is dead. Mother has no son to rely on, only herself." The third princess was greatly moved, she stretched out her hand to wipe away tears for the queen, and said firmly: "Emperor mother, I understand. The second elder brother is gone. Although I am a daughter, I will not be useless. I will definitely help you." For the Queen's Lady. If the Queen's Lady doesn't like someone, my son doesn't like anyone." The queen smiled, but couldn't help feeling sad.Her husband's second elder brother, Yong Lian, also has Princess He Jing, so she has never regarded this daughter as important.Even after Yong Lian's death, she had to use this only daughter to win over the emperor's heart, but she had never been so close.But she didn't want to, on the contrary, it was this daughter who was so considerate and understood her heart, and really became her little padded jacket. This night, I think many people couldn't sleep well.Ruyi listened to the sound of snow rustling outside the window, occasionally there was a light "slap" sound from the snow on the dead branches falling to the ground, interspersed with the crisp sound of twigs breaking, and the copper leaks in the corners of the hall.What a long night. When Ruyi woke up, she saw that there was a circle of bruises under her eyes, and she had to use some powder to cover it up.Xing Xin smiled and said: "You don't need to cover up, my masters, when you meet today, don't all of you have such eyes." Ruyi snorted lightly, and took Tong Dai to trace her eyebrows in the mirror: "I'm afraid that when I see the emperor, the emperor will do the same." While he was talking, he saw Li Yu coming in. He respectfully greeted him and said, "Blessed Concubine Xian, Your Majesty invites you to go to the Hall of Mental Cultivation after breakfast." When Ruyi rushed to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, it was the little eunuch Jin Zhong who led her to the back room of the hall, saying: "The emperor is waiting for the young master." Ruyi pushed the door into the ear room, but saw the emperor sitting cross-legged on the couch with a serious expression.A Ruo changed into a dark dress and knelt down on the ground, the beads on her head and the precious jewelry on her body were stripped clean, only a few velvet flowers were left for decoration, her face was full of tears, seeing Ruyi came in, just about to show a look of disgust, but after taking a look at the emperor's face, she hurriedly restrained herself, and knelt side by side with her daughter Xinyan. The emperor held Ruyi's hand and gave it to her through a flat gold enamel hand stove, and said in a harmonious voice, "Have you been freezing all the way here? Warm up quickly, and come sit beside me." Ruyi smiled, and sat down side by side with the emperor, but heard the emperor say to Ah Ruo: "Yesterday I spared your face, I didn't wake you up with water to force you to question you, and I allowed you to stay in the ear room for one night. Now only Concubine Xian and I are here, if you have anything to say, feel free to say it, right?" Ruyi glanced at Li Yu, who was guarding at the side, and said, "The cinnabar that I ordered to prepare yesterday, if she doesn't tell the truth, she will swallow it bit by bit. Where's the cinnabar?" Li Yu pointed to a large pot of cinnabar in the corner of the earphone: "As ordered by Concubine Xian, everything has been prepared." A Ruo knew that she couldn't argue anymore, so she could only say: "The emperor forgives the sin, it was the slaves who wronged the concubine Xian." The emperor brought a cup of tea, slowly blew on the froth and said, "I know this." A Ruo said again: "It was the servant who secretly took the cinnabar and mixed it into the charcoal fire and candles of the concubine Yi, and it was also the servant who took the cinnabar and dyed the smell of aloe incense, and waited for Su Xin to search the bedroom. The one under the table...Xiao Luzi was also ordered by someone, but not the concubine Xian." The emperor was a little impatient: "I know all of this." Ruyi frowned and said, "I've already taken care of everything that should be taken from me. I also want to know, who ordered you to get things belonging to Concubine Yi, but you can't often sneak into Concubine Mei's palace?" ?” The emperor sipped his tea and lowered his head as if he hadn't heard anything.A Ruo opened her eyes wide and looked at the emperor in bewilderment, but the emperor just pretended not to see him.Ruyi said slowly: "It's up to you whether you say it or not. Anyway, if you want to take care of everything, no one can stop you. Originally, I could save your life for you, but you insist on admitting that you murdered the emperor. The crimes committed by the heirs and the nine clans cannot be tolerated by you." Ah Ruo bit her lower lip tightly, blood was almost dripping from her lip, she said with a trembling throat, "Queen, Concubine Hui..." A gleam of suspicion flashed in the emperor's dark eyes, and he said slowly: "The empress and concubine have always been kind, and you can't ask them. You should think more about your family." Xinyan hurriedly followed behind and said: "My lord, my lord, please don't be confused. Now that you've reached this point, begging no one will work, just ask yourself what you do, and don't cause trouble for others. Even slaves are just serving you, and they don’t know many things about the past.” The emperor immediately woke up: "I don't know the past? So how much do you know about the present? For example, I have always wanted to know, who gave arsenic to Concubine Xian's diet in the cold palace?" A Ruo looked up eagerly: "Your Majesty, you are really not a slave! Really!" The emperor looked at Xinyan and said, "Say it." "I don't dare to lie to the emperor, my servant really doesn't know." Xinyan kowtowed hurriedly, glanced at A Ruo timidly, and said hesitantly: "But this servant has indeed heard that the young master hates Concubine Xian deeply, especially It was that time when the Lenggong caught fire in Chongyang. After the emperor saw Concubine Xian, the young master was very afraid that Concubine Xian would leave the Lenggong. She mentioned it several times in front of the slaves and maids that Concubine Xian must die in the Lenggong. .Others, the slaves don’t know about it either.” 阿箬的脸色越来越白，最后成了一张透明的纸，猛地仰起脸来，两眼定在如懿身上，恨不得剜出两个大洞来，道：“娴妃，我是恨毒了你，明明我聪慧伶俐，事事为你着想，你却凡事都压着我，欺辱我！你明明看出皇上喜欢我，却一定要拔除我这个眼中钉把我指婚出去。我得宠对你难道不好么，你也多了一个帮衬。为什么你非要断了我的出头之路呢？” “皇上喜欢你？”如懿忍不住轻笑，“如今皇上也在这里，你可问问他，喜不喜欢你？若不方便，本宫大可回避！” 如懿说罢便要起身，皇帝伸手拦住她道：“不必了。朕便告诉她实话就是。” 阿箬泪眼蒙蒙，喘息着道：“娴妃，你又何必这般假惺惺！我知道皇上已经不喜欢我了！否则他不会这么待我！”她爬行两步，死死攥住如懿的裙角，冷笑道：“你不是很想知道皇上怎么待我的么？我便告诉你好了。自从第一次侍寝之后，皇上每一次翻我的牌子，都不许我碰他一下，只准我赤身裸体披着一袭薄毯跪在床边的地上，像一个奴婢一样伺候。白天我是小主，受尽皇上的恩赏。可到了皇上身边，一个人的时候，我还是一个低贱的奴婢，连只是侍寝的官女子也不如！可即便是这样，落在旁人眼里，我还是受尽宠爱，所以不得不忍受她们的嫉妒和欺凌！娴妃，你以为你在冷宫的日子难过，我在外头的日子就好过么？每日翻覆在皇上的两极对待下，无所适从，战战兢兢！我怎能不恨？怎能不怕？” 如懿听着她字字诉控，也未成想到她三年的恩宠便是如此不堪，不觉震惊到了极点。良久，倒是皇帝缓缓道：“现在觉得不甘心了么？那么，朕告诉你，都是自找的。你想当朕的宠妃，朕许你了。可是背后的冷暖，你便自己尝去吧。要不是为了留着你这条性命到今日，要不是为了让你尝尝风光之下的痛苦，朕也不必花这份心思了。”他望着如懿，缓缓动情道：“如今，你都该明白了吧？” 阿箬瘫倒在地，不可置信地看着皇帝，满脸怆然，惊呼道：“皇上，你竟这样待臣妾对您的一片心！” 皇帝泰然微笑：“你对朕的心是算计之心，朕为何不能了？” 阿箬怔怔地流下眼泪来：“皇上以为臣妾对您是算计之心，那后宫众人哪一个不是这样？为什么偏偏臣妾就要被皇上如此打压？” “打压？”皇帝侧身坐在窗下，任由一泊天光将他的身影映出朗朗的俊美轮廓，“朕相信许多人都算计过朕，朕也算计过旁人，但像你一般背主求荣，暗自生杀的，朕倒真是没见过。” 如懿坐在皇帝身侧，只觉得记忆里他的容颜已然陌生，连他说出的话也让人觉得心头冰凉一片，无依无着。她只觉得有些疲累，淡淡道：“那么，所有的事都是你做的么？” 阿箬悲怆至极，茫然地点点头：“都是我，都是我。玫嫔和怡嫔是我害的，娴妃是我想杀的！什么都是我！行了么？” 如懿忽然想起一事：“阿箬，我记得你很怕蛇？” 阿箬沉浸在深深的绝望之中，还是新燕替她答的：“回娴妃娘娘的话，小主是很怕蛇。” 皇帝看如懿神色倦怠，柔声道：“如懿，你是不是累了？你先去暖阁坐坐，朕稍后就来。”说罢，李玉便过来扶了如懿离开。皇帝见她出去了，方盯着阿箬，目光中有深重的迫视之意，问道：“你方才说是皇后和贵妃的主使，是不是真的？” 皇帝回到暖阁时，如懿正在青玉纱绣屏风后等待，她的目光凝注屏风一侧三层五足银香炉镂空间隙中袅袅升起的龙涎香，听着窗外三两丛黄叶凋净的枯枝婆婆娑娑划过窗纸，寒雪化作冷雨窸窣，寂寂敲窗。如懿看着皇帝端肃缓步而入，宽坐榻边，衣裾在身后铺成舒展优雅的弧度。皇帝执过她的手：“手这样冷，是不是心里不舒服？” 如懿点点头，只是默然。皇帝缓声道：“阿箬已经都招了。虽然她要招供的东西朕早就知道了，可是朕不能不委屈你在冷宫这三年。当年的是扑朔迷离，朕若不给后宫诸人一个交代，不知道在你身上还会发生什么可怕的事。朕一直以为，冷宫可以保你平安。” 如懿缓缓抬起眼：“臣妾不知道皇上这些年是这样待阿箬。” 皇帝轻轻搂过她：“如今知道了，会不会觉得朕很可怕？” 皇帝这样坦诚，如懿反倒不知道说什么了，定了半天，方道：“皇上的心胸，不是臣妾可以揣测的。” 他以一漾温和目色坦然相对：“你不能揣测的，朕都会尽数告诉你，因为你是如懿，从来对朕知无不言最最坦诚直率的如懿。而朕还有一句话要告诉你，朕当年留下阿箬，一则是要她放松戒心，也是怕真有主使的人要灭她的口；二来当时治水之事很需要她阿玛出力，旁人也帮不上忙。所以一直拖延到了今日。如懿，你要明白朕，朕首先是前朝的君主，然后才是后宫的君主。” 他的话，坦白到无以复加。如懿忍着内心的惊动，这么多年，她所委屈的，介意的，皇帝都一一告诉了她。What else can she say?皇帝数年来那样对待阿箬，本就是对她的宽慰了。于是她轻声问：“皇上真的相信没有人主使阿箬了么？” 皇帝的目光波澜不兴：“她一个人都认了，你也听见了。再攀扯别人，只会越来越是非不清。所以朕也希望你明白，到阿箬为止，再没有别人了。” 这样的答案，她已经隐约猜到了几分。既然她也想到会是谁，何必要皇帝一个肯定的答案呢。如懿心头微微一松，终于放松了自己，靠在皇帝怀中：“皇上有心了。” 皇帝轻吻她额头：“自你出冷宫，朕一直没有召幸你，很少见你。便是要等这水落石出的一天，你心中疑虑消尽，朕才真正能与你坦然相处，没有隔阂。” 清晨的雪光淡淡如薄雾，映着窗上的明纸，把他们身上扫落的影子交叠在一起。在分开了这些年之后，如懿亦有一丝期望，或许皇帝可以和她这般没有隔阂的相拥，长长久久。 皇帝拥着她道：“如今，你的心中好过些了么？” 如懿微微颔首，含情看向皇帝：“皇上的用心，臣妾都知道了。” 黄帝身姿秀逸，背靠朱栏彩槛、金漆彩绘的背景中，任偶然漏进的清幽的风吹动他的凉衫薄袖，他温然道：“朕很想封你为贵妃，让你不再屈居人下。可是骤然晋封，总还不是万金，朕也不希望后宫太过惊动。但是朕让你住在翊坤宫，翊坤为何，你应该明白。” 坤为天下女子至尊，翊为辅佐襄赞。她知道，皇帝是在暗示她仅次于皇后的地位。她心中微暖，复又一凉，想起阿箬的遭遇，竟有几分凉薄之意。但愿皇帝待她，并无算计之心。 那么，便算是此生长安了。