Chapter 25 Chapter 25 Mountain Rain
Since Yonghuang's arrival, Ruyi has gradually realized the difference in life.With a child, there is a new sustenance and support.In the past, I always hoped that Jun'en would stay forever, but now I put all my heart and soul into Yonghuang, and even Hai Lan, who has always been quiet, is willing to come here often to chat and laugh with her children.Every day at five o'clock, Yonghuang got up in the morning to study, and Ruyi escorted him outside the palace gate.At dinner time, I waited under the dripping eaves, looking forward to his return.The time after dinner every day is the time when the mother and son are the closest. Sometimes Hailan will accompany them to embroider and trace flowers, and sometimes Ruyi will read a book alone, and Yonghuang will have endless words. Wrapping around her knees, he told Ruyi everything he saw and heard during the day.Or memorize a paragraph of Taifu's Protestant article. In the always remote and cold palace, there are a lot of laughter because of the childish voice.
Because of Yonghuang, the emperor came to Yanxi Palace more often than before.In the next two or three days, even if they don't stay overnight at Ruyi's place, they will definitely come to have dinner with them and ask Yonghuang about his homework.Even Hailan, who hadn't been lucky for a long time, was promoted to a nobleman because of raising Yonghuang together.
Ruyi always thinks that even though Yong Huang is not her own, maybe this is what the Queen Mother said is "a beautiful wish".
In this way, the others in the palace dare not belittle Ruyi, they all thought that she had a son for no reason, and even her luck changed accordingly.Gradually, not only the people in the harem, but also the Xianfu Palace became extra polite. Even though Concubine Hui was so jealous of the child behind her back, she went to the Baohua Palace to pray to God and Buddha to pray for an heir, but she was no longer the same when facing Ruyi face to face. It's like doing whatever you want.
This day Yonghuang was a bit bored after school, not as lively as before, Ruyi didn't feel comfortable asking him in front of many people, and after dinner was over, he took Yonghuang to the imperial garden.
In the midsummer, the imperial garden is full of phoenix tails and the shade of the trees. The wide and sparse phoenix trees and the secluded bamboos create a cool and quiet tranquility.At that time, the sun was setting, the night was falling, and the return of spring in the north was late, but most of the tung flowers that were once bright, purple, pink and white were in bloom and withered on the luxuriant grass, withering and turning into dust.Such prosperity is nothing but a dream in spring, and why is it not full of depression in the end?Ruyi watched the bright stars rising up in the sky, as if they were within reach, yet so far away, so far out of reach.Only Yong Huang's small hands can be held in the palm of his hand.
She took Yong Huang with her in the imperial garden, watching the crimson goldfish swimming leisurely under the fresh green lotus in the clear water, the clear waves are like blue, and the red fish swim leisurely.Ruyi told Yonghuang to break the willows in his hands, and threw the finely twisted willow leaves into the pool, causing the red fish to jump up and play with each other to eat.
After all Yonghuang was young, after playing for a while he became happy, Ruyi signaled the people following to step back, and looked at him with a smile: "Yonghuang, do you feel more comfortable?"
Yong Huang fiddled with willow branches and dipped in the water: "Mother, my son is feeling better."
Ruyi sat down leaning against the white stone railing by the pool, looked into his eyes and said, "Now that I'm more comfortable, I can tell my mother what's on my mind. Why are you unhappy today?"
Yong Huang's eyes narrowed slightly, and he watched the toes of his shoes rub against each other: "Mother..."
He hesitated to speak, as if hesitating, Ruyi said softly: "When I came back, everything on the newly made brocade robe was clean, except for the traces of dust on the knees. Could it be that the Tai Tuo punished you to kneel?" Is it?"
Yong Huang nodded sadly, then shook his head again: "Mother, Yong Lian has come to Shang Shang's study today."
Ruyi was slightly startled, but said with a smile, "Second Elder Brother is only six years old, did he get enlightened so early?"
Yong Huang said: "Emperor Niang has also come. Huang Er Niang said that Yong Lian is not young and wants to study with me. So today the Shang Study Room has two new Taifu, Chen Taifu and Bai Taifu, Empress Niang said that the two new Taifus are both bachelors, and she wants us to be obedient."
Ruyi smiled: "This is a good thing. Tomorrow, mother will accompany you to meet the new Grand Tutor."
Yonghuang dropped the willow branch in his hand, and said aggrievedly: "But the new tutors are not good to my son! It is clear that Yonglian couldn't sit still on the first day of study, but the new tutors actually punished me and punished me for being in the minister's study. I knelt outside for half an hour, and even the Huang Taifu who taught me didn't dare to stop me. Chen Taifu also said that next time the prince..."
Ruyi immediately alerted: "What prince?"
Yong Huang shook his head blankly: "Mother, what is a prince? Taifu Chen called him a prince, but Taifu Bai stopped him."
Ruyi's heart tightened for no reason, and she still smiled as usual: "Mother doesn't know what a prince is. But my good boy, most of what the Taifu said has deep meaning, so don't ask anyone you meet, you can't ask this question. Tell me, what else did Mrs. Chen say?"
Yong Huang nodded obediently, and cried again: "Chen Taifu said that if Yong Lian is disobedient next time, he will lock his son in a dark room to fight fire." He was very frightened, "Son knows what fire is to fight fire, last year when son had a cold Nanny Su didn't call the imperial doctor to see her, but locked me in a dark room alone and didn't give me food. I was terrified at that time!" He hugged Ruyi tightly, "Mother, I don't want to lose my temper anymore !"
Ruyi was full of sadness, but there was a deeper helplessness weighing on her heart like a heavy cloud, she hugged Yonghuang tightly, and said softly: "Good boy, both mother and your mother are concubines, so you Her status is not as valuable as that of the second elder brother. It is inevitable that you will suffer some grievances when you study in the Shangshufang." There was firmness that could not be changed in her gentle tone, "But you have to remember that you are your Huang Ama's child, and you are taken care of by your mother. , you can’t let them bully you. The next time something like this happens again, you can tell the Taifu that they will punish you like this, does Huang Ama know?”
Yong Huang opened his eyes wide and said, "Mother, can I say that?"
Ruyi hugged him encouragingly: "You are Huang Ama's eldest son, you should take care of your younger brother, but you can't wrong yourself. No matter who it is, whether it's your wet nurse or Tai Tuo, your mother will always be your mother." Don't let them bully you."
The two were talking, but they saw Chun Concubine rushing over worriedly, and called out from behind: "Concubine Xian..."
Seeing that her expression was not as usual, Ruyi hurriedly picked up the willow branches on the ground and handed them to Yonghuang, telling him to play obediently.Concubine Chun greeted Ruyi hastily, and stepped forward to hold Ruyi's hand, about to shed tears.Ruyi hurriedly whispered: "What's the matter?"
Concubine Chun glanced tearfully at Yong Huang who was teasing the fish: "I heard that elder brother was punished to kneel in Shang's study today?"
Ruyi glanced at her in surprise, pulled her away and walked under the sycamore tree and said, "How do you know?"
"The little chestnut who served in the Shang study was originally a person who went out of my palace. I wanted to send him to serve in the Shang study early. In the future, my Yongzhang will be taken care of by himself when he goes to study in the Shang study. I didn't expect that I just bumped into him on the corridor. I saw him, but I heard him say such a thing." She glanced at Yong Huang quietly, "Is the elder brother wronged?"
Ruyi sighed: "We are all concubines, we are not as noble as the queen's direct children, and there are some."
These words evoked the sadness of Chun Concubine, her eye circles were slightly red, and she couldn't help sobbing: "Elder brother is like this, then my Yongzhang will..."
Ruyi hurriedly comforted him: "The empress loves Yongzhang so much, and the people who take care of him are the most meticulous. Even Yonghuang is envious."
The concubine Chun didn't dare to show crying on her face, so she had to wipe away her tears, bowed her head and clung to Ruyi's side and said, "I'm sad because of this. The emperor used lunch at my place today, and he actually talked about it Yongzhang is not very smart." She was so anxious, "How could my Yongzhang not be smart?"
Ruyi hesitated slightly, but still said: "I heard from Yonghuang that when Yongzhang was one year old, he couldn't crawl very well. The wet nurses either hugged or carried them, and never let them fall to the ground. Are they fourteen now? It's been a month, will you leave?"
The pure concubine's tears fell uncontrollably: "It's because he can't walk, and the nuns are always afraid that he will bump into him, so the emperor thinks so, saying that Yongzhang is slow to learn, slow to learn words, and looks not smart. This child is still so young, if he loses the favor of his Ama, what can I do?"
The faint light of Xingzi shook off a faint halo from the gaps in the leaves, and Ruyi said: "You told me several times that the nuns in elder brother's house took good care of the children. Now it seems that this Carefulness actually spoiled him."
The pure concubine was anxious and helpless: "How dare I say this, if I say a premise above the emperor, wouldn't it ruin the queen's painstaking efforts? She doesn't care so much about her second elder brother and third princess." Woolen cloth."
Ruyi's heart moved, and she suddenly felt a little doubtful, but she couldn't say such words to Concubine Chun, what else could she do besides deepening her worry and anxiety?Ruyi had no choice but to persuade: "The emperor just said that because he was angry for a while. Next time when we see the emperor, you will say that we are the world on horseback. The child should not be spoiled too much, and you should also drag the emperor to elder brother's place more often." Have a look. It might be better if the emperor often asks about it. Besides, the relationship between father and son is in nature, as long as we see each other a few times, Yongzhang is so cute, the emperor will like it."
Concubine Chun nodded, her sorrow was as deep as a tangle, and she wrapped herself up layer by layer: "I thought that if Yongzhang was lucky, he could be fostered under the empress's knees, and I could see her often. Now it seems that there is no hope. .”
Ruyi restrained her face: "Don't move this idea. Nowadays, the only high-ranking man in the palace who has no children is Concubine Hui. Of course you don't want to. Besides, Yonghuang was sent to me because of elder brother's poor care. Yongzhang has nothing like this. If people know about your thoughts, not only the empress, but also the emperor will blame you."
The concubine Chun had no choice but to keep silent, Ruyi hurriedly said: "Hurry up and wipe away your tears and go back, don't let anyone gossip."
Concubine Chun rubbed the corners of her eyes with a silk cloth: "My sister has a child now, so if I have anything to say, I can come and ask you more, and we can come up with an idea together."
Ruyi said with a smile: "Don't worry, as long as you don't cry like this, I promise you."
The pure concubine had no choice but to leave.Ruyi looked at her lonely and thin back, feeling pity in her heart.She is just a mother who just wants her child to be good.But in this deep palace, even this is not available.And what about myself?If one day I have my own child, will I be so miserable, wanting to cry but have no tears?
Seeing that it was getting late, Ruyi beckoned to Yonghuang, and they walked back to the palace slowly.Occasionally, fish jumped out of the water along the way, splashing a few splashes.There are lotus leaf fields, green weeds grow in clusters, and two or three early-blooming water lilies bloom, which are full of pink.Several egrets perched beside the dark red and light green calamus and green reeds, combing each other's feathers.Yong Huang was happy with everything he saw, he laughed and chattered while holding Ruyi's hand.Ruyi agreed with her mouth, but the doubts in her heart were difficult to express, but they were strangled there like dense silk threads, and the circle became dull.She tried her best to get rid of those thoughts, but it seemed that the sky was bound to darken, and the ink-like color was soaked in the clear water, pouring out unstoppably.
Ruyi was concentrating on thinking, but she heard whimpering and crying from behind the rockery, the sound was so soft that people misunderstood it, and thought it was the long chirping of summer insects.Ruyi remained calm, pretending to be casual, and said loudly: "Yonghuang, come back quickly, don't go to the rockery to catch crickets!"
The crying over there stopped immediately, Ruyi motioned Yonghuang to silence.But for a moment, a lady with the appearance of a court lady came out from the rockery, Ruyi let go of Yonghuang's hand, Yonghuang immediately understood, just pretended to run to catch crickets, and bumped into the woman.The maid looked up and was about to scold, but when she saw that Ruyi was following Yonghuang, she hurriedly restrained her arrogance and begged for a double peace, "May the concubine Xian be blessed with golden safety."
Ruyi smiled and said: "This palace is naturally Wanfu Jin'an. But Lian Xin, why are you uneasy?" The wind lamp in Xin Xin's hand illuminated Lian Xin's crying face, "The eyes are crying like peaches, what is this? gone?"
Lian Xin subconsciously touched her face, smiled, and said loudly: "Is there any uneasiness in serving the Empress? It's just that I'm homesick, and I just cry once in a while."
Ruyi knew that she was unwilling to tell the truth, and she didn't want to waste time with her, so she said, "When you serve the empress, you should be more careful in everything, and don't go back with tears on your face." She smiled slightly, "It's just that, the empress The empress loves you and Su Xin so much, so naturally she won't be unhappy when she sees your tears."
Lian Xin raised her face without fear, but after hearing this sentence, she somehow lowered her face, with a gloomy look on her face, but she said stubbornly: "Of course the empress loves us. It's not as good as those You are mean, even the nurse who followed you from childhood was kicked out of the palace."
These words were pointed at Ruyi, Ah Ruo couldn't help it immediately, and said, "Who are you talking about?"
Lian Xin smiled brightly: "I have someone I want to talk about, Ruo, why are you so anxious? It's not about you anyway, why do you have to follow this heart?"
Ah Ruo He was once said to be wrong, and said with a sneer: "Of course I don't want to take this kind of heart. I just thought that Miss Lianxin will be very happy, so why not accumulate some merits in her mouth, so as not to make people listen to the joke. Anyway, you A good family to marry will never be mean to you."
Lian Xin's face immediately burned red, but there was an ugly iron blue faintly, and said in a hateful voice: "You..."
Ah Ruo smiled and said, "I... I am naturally not as lucky as the Empress Dowager to marry me personally. First congratulations to sister and congratulations to sister."
Embarrassed and annoyed, Lian Xin stomped her feet and immediately ran away.
A Ruo looked at her back and sneered.Ruyi said, "If you continue to sneer like this, Ye Xiao's laughter won't compare to yours. It sounds creepy."
Ah Ruo bent over with a smile: "My lord, this servant is Xiao Lianxin. Do you know that this morning, this servant went to the leather storehouse of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and wanted them to save some of the good leather that they brought in this autumn for the eldest brother?" Brother is making clothes, who knows that people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs are busy choosing big wool fabrics in the nearby Piku. The servant girl asked curiously, what kind of wool fabrics were they looking for in summer, but they said that the empress empress gave them to Lianxin Prepare dowry."
Ruyi said: "Lian Xin is already twenty-four, she should have been released from the palace, but she is the empress' maidservant, and has no place to go back. Since she has to serve in the palace for the rest of her life, she might as well get married. The empress It is also to give her face if she is willing to point out marriage."
A Ruo spat with a smile, and the lantern in her hand swayed in circles: "The young master doesn't know who the empress pointed out to her, does she?"
Ruyi took a look at Song Xin, who hurriedly coaxed Yong Huang to go.Ruyi asked: "In the past, I heard that she was close to Wang Qin who was in front of the emperor, and the queen also said so, but this is a joke after all. Wang Qin is a father-in-law, not a man, how can he match him?" ?”
A Ruo was so proud that her eyebrows flew up, and said: "Don't tell me, my lord, you are really Wang Qin. The dowry for the House of Internal Affairs has been prepared, and the emperor knows about it, so he will marry him after the Mid-Autumn Festival. The Queen's Palace said that Lian Xin has been with her for so many years, it's like marrying half a daughter."
Ruyi was stunned for a long time, and after a while she came back to her senses and said, "It's a pity to be such a good girl."
A Ruo beamed brightly: "What a pity! Of all the eunuchs in the palace, Wang Qin is the one with the highest status. How many people want to curry favor but still can't? Lian Xin deserves him, and it's even cheaper for Lian Xin!"
Ruyi looked at her with displeasure: "Okay, don't say such things! The palace maid is pitiful if she is paired with food. No matter how bad Lian Xin is, don't make fun of her face to face."
Ah Ruo reluctantly agreed, half of her face blushed, and she leaned up to Ruyi and said, "My lord, will you point out a good family to this servant in the future?"
Ruyi smiled and stretched out her hand to shave her face: "Don't worry, your ama let go of foreign officials last year. I've always heard that it was good. At that time, no matter what, I will point you to a good family."
A Ruo was shy and happy at the same time: "The servant can choose a good family, it all depends on the grace of the young master."
Ruyi said: "We don't know how the people outside are. If we can pick a bodyguard in front of the imperial court, we can earn a good future by ourselves."
A Ruo couldn't help but stick to Ruyi's side for a long time.It happened that Yong Huang was brought over by Song Xin, A Ruo waved and said with a smile: "My lord is happy today, please beg her to let you marry a good man, so as to elevate your family status and save others I know the origin of your two hundred coins!"
Ruyi patted A Ruo reproachfully, making a gesture to slap her on the mouth, but A Ruo avoided it with a smile: "This slave and Xin are so familiar, it's just a joke."
Song Xin said calmly: "This servant is no better than Sister Ah Ruo, I just want to guard my little master for the rest of my life, and I don't want to go anywhere."
A Ruo raised the corners of her eyes, seemingly dissatisfied, and muttered: "Such a great grace is in front of you, don't be hypocritical!"
Qiao Xin dusted off Yong Huang's clothes, and said with a faint smile, "There's nothing to be hypocritical about. Sister Ah Ruo wants to marry a good family, and the young master must have someone to take care of her. Come down and serve the little master for the rest of your life."
Ruyi stroked the cool gilt tassels on her temples, and said with a smile: "It's good for you to have this kind of heart, but girls have to marry. Even if they marry a little closer, marry a bodyguard or an imperial physician, It's good too."
Chun Xin blushed, bit her lip, but didn't speak.
Ruyi was holding their hands and was about to get up to leave when suddenly he saw bright lights ahead, dozens of lanterns flickering like dark red and light yellow stars, dimly lighting up into one piece.
Ruyi raised her face, and Xin immediately ran to the front, came back after a while and said, "My lord, something happened in Yonghe Palace, the emperor is rushing over."