Chapter 18 Chapter 18 Jade Noodles (Part 2)

Under the window of the Nuan Pavilion, there is a kang with carved cherry wood, and a bright yellow Wanfu satin mattress with a green and gold border. In the kang, there is a white sandalwood table with fine teeth and golden silk cloud legs, on which there are some refreshments. It seems that the emperor and empress were chatting about family affairs here.Because they were sitting opposite each other, the queen simply put up a high bun, with small pearled cherry silk flowers on her temples, and a few small silver hairpins with tassels. As soon as the radiator in the warm pavilion turned up, Dilong's face turned reddish.When the queen saw her and said hello, she asked Su Xin to sit down in front of her, and Fang slightly raised the corners of her mouth: "Concubine Xian, I called you over in the freezing rain. I really have something important to ask you." .”

Just as the queen was about to speak, the emperor slowly picked up a piece of peeled walnut and ate it, and said calmly: "What happened last night, are you and Hai Changzai better?" Ruyi's heart warmed, and she leaned over and said, "The concubine is fine, but Hai Changzai was frightened, and with the injury on his foot, he has to take care of him." The emperor said: "Since it's in your palace, you should bother to take care of it. Tell her to be more at ease, and don't think about the past." Ruyi agreed, the queen smiled modestly, and said to the emperor: "It's deserted in the afternoon, if Mei agrees to play a pipa at this time, she will be free. It's just that she won't meet the saint for five or six days."

The emperor's smile was very faint, but it was like the quiet dust in the pavilion, with a warm breath: "She always said that the wound on her face was not healed, and she was not suitable for face-to-face, so let her go." The queen smiled and said: "That day the concubine was a bit angry, but there was something wrong with Mei's promise. The emperor was worried about Mei's promise, but he didn't condone her. The concubine was very pleased." The emerald green in the emperor's tea cup was like a fine jasper, and he took a sip leisurely: "Although I haven't seen it, thinking about it in my heart, it's like seeing it."

Ruyi only accompanied the emperor once after entering the palace, and she hadn't seen Sheng Jia for a long time. Although she had the emperor's instructions in her heart, she was unavoidably lonely.That kind of loneliness is singing a joyful and bright song, but I know that the next libretto is the separation of love between men and women, and the separation of lovesickness and ignorance; that kind of loneliness is the happiness of flowers and full moons. The bleakness of the waning moon; that kind of loneliness is like a lonely shadow in a half-golden world with bright lights; but no matter how lonely you are, the feeling is warm and cool. After a while, there is always hope and hope , That is a layer of warm thoughts.Until we met in a hurry last night, I thought the emperor was protecting me, but his eyes never fell on me a few times, and even if it did, it was like a dove flying far away in the sky, unable to catch it. In the white clouds.

Her gaze suddenly focused on the queen's clothes, which were so steady yet gorgeous in purple color, with lively clusters of embroidered patterns of peonies, bees and butterflies, embroidered with evergreen birthday characters on the border, reflecting the plum green embroidered milky white lingxiaohua on her body. The brocade clothes she wore were so dim and out of date.And Ling Xiao is such a lonely flower. Ruyi's throat seemed to contain a sour plum, and she could not spit it out or swallow it. With a forced smile on her face, she couldn't help asking: "It's not long before Mei promised to serve the emperor. Why?" The emperor likes her so much?"

The emperor's original faint smile gradually became warmer: "It is precisely because she has been with me for a short time, but everything goes well, like a person who has been with me for a long time, thinking of everything, I That’s why I think she’s caring.” After hearing this sentence, Ruyi could only lower her eyes no matter how sour her heart was like a very green plum. The queen's smile froze on the corner of her lips, like a flower that is about to thank, after a moment of congealing, she let it bloom: "Speaking of this matter, I don't know what to say or not to say. "

The emperor smiled and said: "The queen and I, what should I say?" The Queen's smile faltered slightly: "After lunch, Mei promised to come to Chen Qie, and showed Chen Qie her face. Chen Qie couldn't make up her mind for a while, so she had to bring her to see the emperor. Mei promised to cry, and now The concubine didn't dare to enter the palace. The concubine thought that Concubine Xian had witnessed the slap that Mei promised to be slapped that day, and sent her back to Yonghe Palace, so she hurriedly called Concubine Xian over. Please also take a look at what Mei promised. face."

The emperor was quite surprised: "Ruiji is here? Where is she?" The queen said gloomily: "People are waiting in the side hall, but they dare not come to see the emperor." The queen saw that the emperor's eyebrows gradually twisted, and said, "Suxin, go and ask Mei to agree to come in. If you have any grievances, please tell me yourself. .” Su Xin went out for a while, then led Mei to agree to come in.Mei promised to wear delicate clothes as usual, but there was an extra white gauze scarf on her face, which was covered by temple flowers on both sides, covering most of her clean face like a lotus in water.

With tears in her eyes, she saluted according to the rules. Before she finished saluting, the emperor stopped her and said, "What's the matter? Even if I received two slaps, these days should be better." Mei promised to cry uncontrollably, and said in a coquettish voice: "Anyway, it hurt the concubine's face. The emperor is having fun, and he thinks it's very happy to be red and swollen." Ruyi heard her talking to the emperor like this, and suddenly remembered that when she was first married, she would do her makeup in front of the Linghua mirror when she got up in the morning, and she would also joke with the emperor like this, coquettishly speaking sweet words, and There is no distinction between superiority and inferiority.At that age, it was really the most innocent and carefree time in my life.It just passed by with a snap of the fingers, and now, it was not easy to see the emperor, but he watched him get close and happy with the newcomer, just like facing himself back then.

As she thought about it, she raised her eyes to look at the queen. The queen just lowered her face, like the Miaoyan Buddha statue enshrined in the temple, neither joy nor sorrow, the treasure looks solemn.Ruyi was playing with the gold silk snowball pendant hanging from the skirt, the beads were round and hard, which made her palms ache.She felt more and more that the dizziness from the wind chill was pressing on her face, so she had to massage her temples to wake herself up. Mei promised to cry, then hurriedly tore off the veil from her face, Ruyi glanced at it, and was almost startled.Mei's promised face was originally red and swollen from a slap, and the corners of her mouth were covered with blood, but now it was not only swollen into bruises and mottled, but the damage at the corners of her mouth also festered, spreading to the dimples, forming layers of snow-white skin flakes, like It looks like a layer of frost, and the bright red tender meat is exposed underneath.

The emperor's face changed in shock: "Your face..." He did not continue, and looked at the empress, who immediately said: "This appearance is definitely not caused by slapping, it must be because of using something wrong, or not diet." Mei promised to kneel on the ground immediately, her eyes mournful like the cold dew dripping in the night, she cried: "I cherish my appearance, I dare not make the Emperor unhappy by breaking my face. Is it the concubine's fault to offend the noble concubine? Beating up the concubine should also be tolerated, but the concubine is already eating lightly and taking medicines on time. But the face is getting worse and worse, the concubine is panicked and afraid, and dare not meet the emperor, so she has to tell the empress." The queen said worriedly: "The concubine asked the person who served Mei and agreed, and they all said that she has been very careful about her diet in the past few days. She even used barley water that can reduce swelling and silt when she drank water, and she didn't forget to rub it with boiled eggs Come on, be careful enough." The emperor pondered slightly: "You said you took medicine? Where did you get the medicine?" Mei agreed to stop crying: "It was brought by the imperial hospital. It said that the imperial concubine beat the concubine, and she was willing to make peace with it, so she specially sent the medicine to express a little apology." The emperor's eyes were slightly cold: "Did you bring that medicine?" Mei agreed to take out a small round bowl from her sleeve, Su Xin hurriedly took it, opened it and smelled it, and said: "That day, the servant went to the imperial hospital to get the medicine, that's right." The emperor's eyes were slightly suspicious, and the queen said: "The concubine was there that day. For the sake of peace in the harem, the concubine persuaded the concubine to deliver the medicine to Mei and agreed, and it was the concubine who asked Su Xin to take the medicine in the name of the concubine." A gleam of approval flashed in the emperor's eyes: "The queen has a heart, and I have you to take care of me, so the harem can be as safe as it is." The queen smiled peacefully: "Isn't that the queen's duty? A concubine is just doing her job well." The emperor stopped talking and just asked: "Wang Qin, I remember that the imperial physician just came to ask for a peace pulse for me, is it still there?" Wang Qingong said: "It's Zhao Ming, the Imperial Physician of the Imperial Hospital, who is still preparing a winter tonic prescription for the emperor in the side hall." The emperor froze slightly: "Let him come over and see what this medicine has to offer." Wang Qin immediately invited Imperial Physician Zhao to come in. Imperial Physician Zhao is a very agile person. He invited An to see the redness and swelling on Mei's face, smelled the ointment, rubbed it on his fingers, and knelt down Said: "It's true that this medicine is from the Tai Hospital, it's just that some people added some white flower pills, and the good medicine for reducing swelling and stasis has become a bad medicine for causing redness, swelling and shedding." The queen frowned and said, "Baihuadan? Why is it so familiar?" Imperial Physician Zhao respectfully said: "Yes. After entering the winter palaces, they have received the powder of plum flower dan, together with the dried leaves of the sea wind vine, it is a good medicine for dispelling rheumatism, dredging collaterals and relieving pain blindly. The humidity in the palace is heavy, and the empress A lot of the empress's grace was distributed in each palace, and they were made into sachets and hung on the body. Only Mei promised to be favored recently, and her Yonghe Palace has just been tidied up, so there is no one." Ruyi also said: "Yes. The concubine's palace also received a lot last month." The queen said again and again: "That's not true! Both the concubine and concubine Xian are wearing such sachets." The emperor avoided eye contact with Mei's promised face, and only said, "What exactly is Baihuadan?" Doctor Zhao said: "If Baihuadan is used in combination with other medicines, it is a good medicine. But if it is used alone, it is a very overbearing medicine and is poisonous. As long as the skin is in contact with Baihuadan, it only needs a little , it will be red, swollen and peeling, and then ulcerated, dripping with water, forming an ulcer. After a long time, the ulcer will not heal, and the skin of the sore surface will be grayish white or dark red, and the sewage will overflow with grayish black or greenish sewage, which is extremely filthy. The ulcer will become more rotten and deeper , and even the outer flesh is gone, and the shin bone can be seen. The symptom of my promise is that this ointment has been mixed with plum flower dan." As soon as Mei agreed, she burst into tears, pointed at Su Xin and said: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I don't know who offended my concubine, but I asked Su Xin to take such medicine to harm my concubine!" Although she was talking about Su Xin, But she stared at the queen, and said in a hateful voice, "The concubine knows that she came from a lowly background, if someone can't tolerate the concubine serving the emperor's side, the concubine would rather bump her head to death here than bear these lowly tricks!" The queen's expression changed drastically, and she immediately got up and said: "The emperor has learned a lesson. Although the concubine asked Su Xin to take the medicine, if the concubine did such an unreasonable thing, how dare the concubine take Mei to agree to come to nourish her heart?" Dian, it must be obstructed in every possible way." The emperor took a sip of tea, supported the queen and said, "The queen has always been virtuous, and I know her well. It's just plain heart..." Su Xin was so flustered that her knees went limp, she immediately knelt down on the ground: "Your Majesty and Empress Mingjian, the medicine was taken by the servant himself that day, and I handed it to Mei promised in person, but the servant dare not mix it with other medicines." It's something!" She suddenly thought of something, rolled up her sleeves and said, "That day when the concubine was taking medicine, she was accidentally injured by the small scissors in the imperial hospital. At that time, the imperial doctors instructed the servants to use the medicine in this bowl I put it on a little bit, and said it has the effect of stopping bleeding. The servant girl used it at that time, and it didn’t fester anymore.” On Su Xin's wrist was a red scar the size of a fingernail, which was obviously injured a few days ago.She hastily argued: "Your maidservant dare not lie, there are many imperial doctors in the Imperial Hospital who have seen this matter, and they can testify for your maidservant." Doctor Zhao quickly said: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, the minister was also in the imperial hospital that day, so there was such a thing. Because this kind of ointment is not easy to prepare, I only had this bottle that day, so I took a little from the bowl and gave it to Aunt Suxin. used." The queen thought about it: "It's okay to use it at that time, then Su Xin, has anyone touched this ointment along the way?" Su Xin resolutely said: "Absolutely not anymore, the slaves rushed over, and when they arrived at the Yonghe Palace, only Concubine Xian was with them, and the slaves gave the medicine and left." Mei agreed to wring the handkerchief, and she gritted her teeth with hatred: "Yes. That day, Suxin delivered the medicine, and Concubine Xian sat with the concubine for a while and then left. No one else came to visit the concubine after that." The emperor's eyes fell on Ruyi's face, with a hint of inquiry: "Concubine Xian, what are you doing there?" The dark smell of ambergris in the hall is too strong, and it is almost suffocating when it is smoked by the heating.Ruyi's face was as calm as a jade: "The Empress asked my concubine to accompany Mei to return to the Yonghe Palace, but the concubine left after saying a few words and didn't stay much longer." The queen's eyes were swollen, but there was a silver needle-like light hidden in the cotton: "In fact, no one else can touch that bottle of ointment except Concubine Xian. It's not the turn of the Yonghe Palace to give it to you. Concubine Xian, you Can you tell me what's going on?" Ruyi knelt on the "Songhe Changchun" thick gold-woven blanket that was about an inch long, feeling that Luo Yi was soaked in cold sweat.She had never thought of it this way, from that slap to the time she promised to return to the Yonghe Palace and the delivery of the ointment, all kinds of unintentional incidents would actually form a dense net, entangled her tightly, and could not escape. get away. Her heart was terrified like a stormy sea, but she refused to show the slightest hint of discouragement on her face, she just looked at the emperor and said: "Your Majesty, my concubine has never done it, and I don't know the reason." The empress looked rather embarrassed, and said hesitantly: "Your Majesty, Mei promised to be born in the mansion of the Ulanala family. If Concubine Xian cares about friendship, she will definitely not do such a thing." Mei promised to turn her face away, and looked at Ruyi with an aggressive tone: "Everyone has a heart of jealousy, and my concubine also knows that since she was favored by the emperor, she has been coveted and framed by others, but she doesn't want such a person to be the concubine Xian! Dare I ask you, besides you, did anyone else have the opportunity to put the powder of plum blossoms in the concubine's ointment that day?" Ruyi looked at her flat, refused to avoid the slightest gaze, and said calmly: "When the Japanese palace is always in front of you, and leave after saying a few words, if you must believe that this palace will harm you in person, then this palace has nothing to do with you." There is something to say." The emperor looked at Ruyi, his dark eyes were calm and unflappable: "Since such a big incident happened, and it hurt Mei's promised face, I have to investigate thoroughly." The queen apologized and said: "Jealousy is a serious crime for a concubine, not to mention hurting others secretly. The lack of strict discipline in the harem is the sin of the concubine." The emperor frowned and said: "The empress is at fault, but it's not your fault." A trace of unbearableness flashed in his eyes, just like the tail of a meteor flashing by, and disappeared in an instant. The queen thought for a moment, and said, "Concubine Xian, whether you did it or not, you should always ask. Go to the Punishment Department. If you have any questions, the Jingqi mother there will ask you." Ruyi's body shivered, the Punishment Department was in charge of the prisons in the harem, from the concubines to the palace servants, once they made a mistake, they all had to peel off a layer of skin to get out.Enduring the discomfort of the bristling hairs on her body, she braced her body and bent down to worship: "It's about the innocence of the minister, and the minister has to go. Just please believe the emperor, the minister is not such a person." The emperor nodded slightly, and said in a deep voice, "Don't worry." With just three words, Ruyi's heart stabilized, and she felt her whole body relax.Xin Xin couldn't help crying and begging: "Your Majesty, even if you want to ask the young master, don't go to the Punishment Department. The young master has already caught the wind and cold last night, how can he bear such tossing. Your majesty!" The emperor said gently: "If it's a cold, I'll ask the imperial doctor to diagnose and treat it. But the rules cannot be broken." The end of the emperor's words has not yet dissipated, only to hear a bang outside, someone broke the door with his body and rushed in: "Your Majesty, it was not my sister who did it! No! It was the work of the concubine, you take the concubine there Punishment Department!"