Chapter 14 Chapter Fourteen

Ruyi accompanied Rui Ji all the way back to the Yonghe Palace from the Imperial Garden.As the heavy snow had stopped for the first time, there were quite a few palace people sweeping the snow along the way. Seeing the two walking together, they hurriedly knelt down to pay respects.However, Rui Ji's slapped cheeks were particularly eye-catching. Even when the palace people lowered their heads to salute, they couldn't help but peek at each other, exchanging surprise and amazement with each other's winks.Rui Ji didn't seem to care about this, she didn't use a wide hood to cover up her wounds, she didn't criticize the seemingly rude behavior of the palace people, she just walked calmly, as if she didn't notice other people's eyes and whispers.

Back in the Yonghe Palace, the maidservants rushed up to greet them, took over the hood and cloak for Ruyi and Ruiji, and replaced them with new hand stoves.When they saw Rui Ji's red and swollen cheeks, although they looked surprised, they didn't dare to ask. It seems that Rui Ji's rules are very strict here.Ruyi glanced around, only to realize that in the huge and newly decorated Yonghe Palace, there are actually more palace servants than the noble Huang Qiyun.And the charcoal fire used in the hall is also the red bamboo charcoal that is promised to be useless at all, and it bakes the whole room like spring.Ah Ruo was serving at the side, unconsciously showing a bit of surprise.Ruyi noticed it, and immediately said, "Ah Ruo, go and ask them if they have any ointment for reducing swelling. If not, send someone to the imperial hospital to get it."

A Ruo agreed and went out, just as the young eunuch outside came in to report that the Ministry of Internal Affairs had sent a newly made plaque to hang in the main hall.Rui Ji nodded and said, "Let them bring it in." The deacon and eunuch of the Ministry of Internal Affairs respectfully brought in the plaque, but it was written in large golden lacquered characters with the words "Yizhao Shushen". Ruyi recognized it immediately, and said with a smile: "Mei agrees, this is the emperor's imperial pen." The deacon and eunuch said with a smile: "That's right, Concubine Xian has good eyesight."

Rui Ji read the four words lightly, and said: "I know all these words, but I don't know what they mean when put together. Concubine Xian, if you know, please tell me .” Ruyi smiled slightly: "In "Rituals" it says 'respect Erweiyi, Shu Shende', which means that women are required to be kind and cautious in order to maintain their morality." Rui Ji scoffed lightly, with a touch of contempt: "Then Concubine Xian, do you think I am worthy of these four words?" Ruyi calmly said, "The emperor gave this plaque to the Yonghe Palace. Since the emperor allowed you to live in the Yonghe Palace, he naturally thought that you could afford these four words."

Rui Ji's eyes lingered on the plaque, but she just smiled coldly: "How many people will think that I am unworthy if they see it, but whether I am worthy or not, it all belongs to me." The deacon and eunuch were in a hurry to ask Ruiji for instructions: "Master Mei, do you want to hang up immediately?" Rui Ji nodded: "Such an honor, of course I don't want to hide it, hang it up quickly." The deacon and eunuch responded loudly, and started to fight with a few young eunuchs in ocher clothes.The deacon and eunuch had a flattering expression on his face: "Concubine Xian, my lord Mei, the sound of nailing up the plaque here is too loud, I'm afraid it will disturb you two. Why don't you ask the two lords to move the jade steps and go to the nearby Nuan Pavilion to have a rest, servants Right away."

Rui Ji said: "I'm annoyed after hearing these voices. Concubine Xian will come and sit in the warm pavilion with me." Ruyi didn't want to stay with her any longer, but after thinking about it, she went in with her. The inside of the Nuan Pavilion was still quiet. Seeing that the servants did not come in, Ruyi asked, "The wound on your face is very swollen. Ask the servants to boil eggs for you to rub." Rui Ji laughed softly: "I know better than them the skills of servants, so you can rest assured, empress." Ruyi frowned slightly when she heard the words: "Seeing that you are favored, listening to your words, it seems that I really care about my background."

Rui Ji held up the armor and lightly scratched it on the small boxwood table, and said with a sneer, "Do you mind? Ever since I was granted permission to serve in the bed for the first time, all of them stared at me like black-eyed chickens, and took it every now and then. My origin is a joke, I wish I could be swallowed alive." Ruyi was sitting: "One's origin cannot be chosen. If you care more than others, others will be proud." Rui Ji's black and cold eyes lightly scratched her face: "It turns out that she was born in the Ulanara family, and it is also the sore spot of Concubine Xian."

Ruyi didn't realize that her words were so sharp, so she congealed a peaceful smile: "If I don't take this as a pain point, others won't make me feel pain." Her eyes turned, "It's you, but It was because I was identified as being with Ben Gong, and suffered a lot of grievances. In fact, Ben Gong also wants to know, why did you get lucky overnight and make such a success?" Rui Ji's armor made a sharp sound of "stabbing" on the small table, and her face was not good-looking: "Everyone thought that the concubine came from the Ulanala mansion, and was instigated by the concubine Xian to be honored by the emperor. It turns out that the concubine is still suspicious that my concubine has been instigated by others." Mei agreed coldly, "If the concubine has the ability to be instigated by someone else, it will be fine. This life is only up to fate, not others. A little bit of arrogance, so I have a few more words with the empress. Since this is the case, the concubine is going to rest, please go ahead."

Before she finished speaking, the little palace maid came in: "My lord, Aunt Suxin who is in front of the Empress has come, she is waiting outside." Rui Ji said coldly: "What is she here for?" The little maid said: "Returning to the young master, it is said that the medicine was sent to the Imperial Hospital." Rui Ji nodded: "Then let her in." Ruyi got up to leave, Rui Ji said: "I offended you by what you said just now, but please take a look at it for me, don't send me anything else, I don't understand." Ruyi thought that it was the queen who asked him to send her here. Now that Su Xin came, if he was not there, it would be right and wrong, so he sat down again.

Su Xin came in and gave a blessing and said: "Concubine Xian and Mei agree, the servant obeys the order of the concubine, and specially took the best anti-swelling ointment from the Imperial Hospital to give Mei the promise." Rui Ji sneered: "Concubine Hui has such a kind heart! Just after I slapped me, I sent medicine, thinking that slapping a sweet date would be the end? I really dare not use this medicine." Su Xin accidentally swallowed this sentence, holding the ointment in her hand, unable to advance or retreat, she could only look at Ruyi as if asking for help: "Ms. Xianfei..."

Ruyi stretched out her hand to her, "Let me have a look." She started with a round powder porcelain bowl, which contained a light green translucent paste, and the nostrils were filled with a refreshing fragrance, faintly filled with honey, mint, and dandelion. smell.She took a little bit and sniffed it lightly, and it was indeed a good medicine for reducing swelling that is commonly used, no different.Ruyi nodded and said: "The detumescence ointment usually used in the palace is indeed this kind. In addition, ice packs, rubbing with eggs, and taking yam, barley and panax notoginseng powder can all promote blood circulation and eliminate stasis." Su Xin breathed a sigh of relief: "The concubine Xian is right, the red bean barley soup can indeed reduce swelling. In fact, after the concubine concubine punished the young master, she regretted it very much, and was reprimanded by the empress, so she was in a hurry Order the slaves to bring the medicine so that the young master will not be able to serve the young master when the emperor summons him. Don't worry, the young master, as long as you use this medicine, the swelling will subside in three days." "Three days?" Rui Ji sneered, "Can you guarantee that the emperor will not summon me for these three days?" Su Xin bowed her body and said: "The empress said, if there is a summons, please take care of the overall situation, and don't get angry and make noise. After all, the empress has already severely reprimanded the noble concubine. If there is another incident, I am afraid that today's incident will be the little master. I can't get away with it myself!" Rui Ji was slightly at a loss for words, and then her tone was harsh: "Then thank the queen and the noble concubine for me. As long as this face is fine, I'll let this matter go." Su Xin smiled and said: "That's it. Mei promised to be newly favored, and she must hope that every step will go smoothly in the future, and everything will go smoothly. The young master is so smart and understands the general situation, she will definitely." After saying that, Su Xin stepped back.Ruyi sat down for a while, then got up to say goodbye and left. Concubine Hui supported the maid's hand and slowly walked back along the long street, looking at the snow scene all the way, her expression was peaceful.Just passing through the corridor of Jianfu Gate, I suddenly saw a young eunuch in green clothes sneakily leading two people with their backs behind their backs out of the corner gate of Xianfu Palace.Concubine Hui was startled, and immediately told Mo Xin, the maid beside her, "Go and have a look. Someone is sneaking around the Xianfu Palace." Mo Xin chased after two steps, and shouted sharply: "Who's there! Why didn't you kneel down when you saw your mother! Turn around quickly!" The green-clothed eunuch hesitated at his feet, knowing that he couldn't get away, he turned around and knelt down to say hello: "Your servant sees Hui Guifei, the imperial concubine and empress Wanan." "Wan An?" Concubine Hui Shi Shiran said, "Run away when you see me, why is my house safe? Look up!" The little eunuch in green was hesitant, so he could only raise his head.Mo Xin asked in surprise, "Baocheng?" Concubine Hui's face darkened slightly: "You are from Yanxi Palace, what are you doing here in Xianfu Palace?" Baocheng kowtowed cleverly and said: "It's all due to the heavy snow. The servant froze to death. He wanted to lean against the wall of the Xianfu Palace to get warm before leaving. Who knew that when he saw the empress coming, he was afraid that the empress would scold him. So I ran away with my back." Concubine Hui frowned, as if she didn't believe it: "Xianfu Palace is at the end of the east, and Yanxi Palace is at the front of the east, you have to go too far to get warm." She caught a glimpse of Baocheng pressing on the snow There were black marks on his hands, so he raised his eyes, motioning Mo Xin to take a look.Mo Xin understood, took a few steps forward, pulled Baocheng up and said with a smile: "Okay, so what if you like to run to Xianfu Palace? The ground air in Xianfu Palace is so warm that even the emperor loves to come, let alone you. She turned her face away and nodded towards Concubine Hui. Concubine Hui understood, so she changed into a gentle smile: "Let's go if you have nothing to do. Remember to tell you Concubine Xian that you often come to Xianfu Palace when you have time." Sanbao was frightened by this, and was afraid that he would not be able to hide it, but he didn't want to expose it lightly, so he hurriedly thanked him and left.Seeing them walking away, Concubine Hui stared at the six blackened palm prints on the ground, and smiled contemptuously, "Dare to pretend to be a ghost in front of this palace, Mo Xin, go and see what it is?" Mo Xin squatted down to take a look, and wondered: "If you go back to your mother, the black thing is charcoal ash, the ashes of black charcoal." Concubine Hui wondered: "Heitan is not a good thing. Could it be that the Yanxi Palace still lacks this to steal?" She regained her senses and gritted her teeth secretly, "No, she is for Hailan!" Mo Xin nodded.Concubine Hui was even more annoyed, her pink face flushed purple, "Even if she is a powerful Koliyet family, if I use a little charcoal from her, she dares to cry and complain everywhere! It makes others come to help and treat her as her own." How did the palace treat her harshly!" Mo Xin hurriedly said: "That's not true! The empress has always said that the harem should be frugal, and there are only a few people in her room, so how much can be used, the empress is just saving for her in the palace. Who knew that Hai Changzai would be so generous! " Concubine Hui bit her white teeth lightly, as if she had no intention of saying: "She and the Palace of Yanxi Palace are of the same mind, and this Palace can be regarded as a real one. This is something that eats inside and outside..." She pursed her lips and said nothing more go down. Mo Xin couldn't help but feel a chill, she also lowered her head, and hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, it's cold outside, let's go in quickly." Concubine Hui nodded slightly, and helped Mo Xin into the palace.It just so happened that the deacon eunuch of the Ministry of Internal Affairs came out of Yonghe Palace, finished hanging the plaque in Xianfu Palace, wiped his hands and was about to leave.Turning around, I saw Concubine Hui coming in, with a busy smile on her face, beating Qian'er and flattering her, which made Concubine Hui very happy, and told the chief eunuch Shuangxi in the palace: "In such a cold day, we still need more Taking care of the errands, I will reward them well for my palace." The deacon eunuch was happy, and said a lot of icing on the cake, "The emperor said that the plaque in the Xianfu Palace is a blessing, and the meaning of Xu Hui, the empress, and the empress. It is said that the emperor has considered it for a long time. It was just decided. It is said that it is for the Xianfu Palace, so I can't write it lightly, it must be the best." Concubine Hui was very interested, appreciating the emperor's imperial brush carefully, smiling like a spring flower, "The emperor's imperial brush is rare, does this plaque only exist in the palace, or does it even exist at the empress's place?" The eunuch, the deacon of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, was stunned for a moment, unable to answer for a while.Concubine Hui glanced at him, then chuckled lightly and said, "What are you afraid of? The empress should have it. Is it possible that this palace will still be jealous of the empress?" The deacon and eunuch had no choice but to bite the bullet and said: "Not only in the empress's palace, but according to the emperor's order, there are six palaces in east and west." Concubine Hui's smile seemed to be frozen by frost for a moment, there was still a smile on her brows, but there was an angry look on her lips.Her smile and anger were originally extremely beautiful, but now they turned into a strange and charming face, which made people shudder even more, "So, is there even the Yonghe Palace?" The deacon and eunuch's scalp was numb, so he replied tremblingly, "Yes." Concubine Hui asked sternly, "What's the word?" The eunuch supervisor said: "It's Yi Zhao Shushen." Concubine Hui's expression was cold, and she said sharply, "She deserves it too!" The deacon and eunuch knelt down in fright, kowtowed his head and said: "Mei promised that she knew she was not worthy, and went to ask Concubine Xian, but Concubine Xian said that the emperor gave the plaque to Yonghe Palace, and she lived in Yonghe Palace. She is the one who can afford it. Mei promised to be happy." Xiyue's complexion changed again and again, and finally sank into a bottomless abyss, she slowly said with a sullen face, "Go down." The deacon listened too much to this sentence, he wished he could leave quickly, and immediately led people to leave. Concubine Hui walked in front of the main hall and looked at the sky outside, the sun was shining slightly. In the west room where Hailan lived, Ye Xinzheng came out with a charcoal basin and poured the burnt black charcoal ash on the corner of the wall. Concubine Hui looked at her coldly, her gaze was colder than the snow outside, "Shuangxi, please keep an eye on Hai Chang there, and see how often people from Yanxi Palace come quietly." Seeing that Concubine Hui's expression was not as usual, Shuangxi knew that she was powerful, so she quickly agreed. For a few days, I was busy with the next year's big festival. On Wuyin Day, the emperor gave the empress dowager a badge titled "Chongqing Empress Dowager" and paid homage to her.Then, because Junggar sent envoys to ask for peace, they ordered Khalkha Zhasak and others to discuss the demarcation matters in detail, and they were busy for several days. That night, snowdrops, Gelange, opened the window blankly, falling like scattered flowers and powder.Ruyi sat in the Nuan Pavilion, took the brazier to warm up the fire, and put a few tiger skin pine cones picked in early winter and a few cypress branches into it, after a while, a clear and strong fragrance of pine and cypress came out.A Ruo saw that Xin was busy making the bed in the inner room, and Ruyi was leaning on the couch in the Nuan Pavilion reading a book, so she hugged a green bead lambskin blanket and covered it for her. A warming pad. A Ruo saw that Ruyi was holding the book in a daze, so she asked: "The young master likes to read "Sou Shen Zhuan" the most in the past two days, why does it seem to be boring today?" Ruyi smiled and said, "It's all weird stuff, the more I see it, the more I feel bored staying here." A Ruo smiled and said, "Isn't it? When the young master used to be in the old house, he liked to sneak out and run horses. Now it's snowing so boring, no wonder the young master feels bored." Ruyi was bored for a while, then asked: "The emperor hasn't called anyone to sleep in for a few days, right?" Ah Ruo added some tea and said, "That's not true! I heard that I've been busy with Junggar affairs, with endless meetings with ministers and endless approvals. The green cards sent by the respect room are all returned intact. The one who came back said that the emperor didn't even bother to take a look." Ruyi pondered for a while, "That's fine, just three or four days, with that medicine, Mei's promised face should be healed." A Ruo snorted softly, "It's cheaper, Concubine Hui!" She hesitated a little, but still asked, "But my lord, the servants can't figure it out, what did the emperor agree to Mei Mei? Not too docile, not to mention her family background, she can't even compare to Wanyue. Wanyue used to be the emperor's servant girl in the hidden mansion anyway." Ruyi glanced at her lightly, and sighed: "Ah Ruo, you are usually the smartest person. The only thing is not good, you like to talk behind your back too much. If such words are spread, others will hear it, and you will only treat it as my Yanxi Palace. The palace has always been sitting in a circle and loves to gossip." A Ruo saw that the heart was there, and her face blushed, "The servant is just in front of the young master. If it is facing others, I will bite off the back of my tongue and not chew half a word." She twisted the red string on her hair. Ling'er, "Your servant just can't figure it out." Ruyi pointed to a bunch of wintersweet that looked like a string of golden beads in the vase, and asked: "What flowers are not good in these four seasons, and why are the wintersweet deflected?" A Ruo was taken aback, "My lord is just joking, isn't there no other flowers in winter, only a few plum blossoms?" Ruyi pursed her lips and said, "Yes. Others don't have it, only she has it, so it's good. Look at the people in our palace, the empress Ninghe is dignified, the noble concubine is gentle and beautiful, the pure concubine is simple and quiet, Jiaguiren It is the most charming. Yigui and Haichang are here, and they don’t say a word, and Wanyue is a gourd without a mouth. But no matter how you say it, we people still have some background, and most of us follow the emperor. The emperor I'm used to seeing us, and I occasionally get someone from a humble background but with a bit of a temper, and her appearance is also delicate and refined, so why don't you pamper her and pamper her. Besides, you can be more satisfied if you dote on someone with such a background." A Ruo was stunned for a moment, then came back to his senses and said: "Your servant has heard what the young master means. A man treats a woman of humble background, pampers her, honors her, and sees her happy. He has seen everything better than pampering her." A woman who knows everything has a much greater sense of accomplishment." Holding the scroll, Ruyi's interest faded, "Because they have received so little, they will be very happy when they get it. It also seems that your contribution will be much more meaningful." A Ruo was thoughtful, "Then just because of this, will the emperor always dote on her?" The charcoal fire crackled and made a slight crackling sound, which filled the room with more fragrance and clear air.Ruyi said: "Then... that's her own ability." For a while, both of them were silent, A Ruo said in a low voice, "It turns out that there are so many reasons why a man likes a woman." Ruyi smiled silently, that tired smile, like a flower withered in the evening wind.Xin put down the curtain, and said softly: "The good concubine whom Lord Kangxi likes was born in Xinzheku, didn't she also rise to the concubine position all the way? In fact, there are so many reasons why I like it or not, it's just a thought, ups and downs, honor and disgrace. .” While talking, Sanbao hurried in from outside, beat Qian'er and said in a panic, "Mother, something happened to Xianfu Palace, you should go and have a look."