Chapter 26 Chapter 26 A Ruo

That night, the Yonghe Palace was not peaceful, and there was a whole night of trouble, and I didn't know what was going on. I saw the imperial doctor go and call again and again, but they were not released.Everyone in the Sixth Palace was amazed, they asked privately but they couldn't find anything, they only knew that the lights of the Yonghe Palace had been on all night, but the gate was closed tightly and there was no sound. When she woke up in the morning, she didn't know what happened in Yonghe Palace, Ruyi was thinking about going to Changchun Palace to pay her respects, so she passed the chariot and sedan chair outside after washing up early.

Concubines used to go out in chariot sedan chairs, but it was still cool in the early summer morning, so Ruyi helped Xin and A Ruo's hands and went out slowly, passing the long street, looking at the early sun as clear as gold, The golden sunlight falls on the glazed tiles, as if a pool of golden waves is floating.Ruyi coveted the sight of the day, and only took a few steps, but saw Concubine Hui was also ahead, and hurriedly stood respectfully by the side of the road to meet her, seeing her approaching, she was blessed. Concubine Hui looked at her with a smile and said: "I haven't seen Concubine Xian for a few days, and my complexion is getting better. Is it true that the emperor rested at your place yesterday, so people are in good spirits on happy occasions?"

Ah Ruo had a sweet smile all over her face, but she said: "It's not uncommon for the emperor to come here, so can this be considered a happy event?" Ruyi was annoyed that Ah Ruo talked so fast, and before she had time to stare at her, Concubine Hui just smiled as usual, stretched out her hand to caress a cold emerald jade pearl hairpin on the new hairpin, and said lightly: "I also forgot about it yesterday. Your Majesty seems to be resting in the Yonghe Palace. I thought that my sister's spring is always there, and it doesn't fall for a day." Ruyi didn't want to talk to her quickly, so she just lowered her face quietly and looked at the thin tassels on her pine flower silk.

Concubine Hui thought she was discouraged, so the corners of her eyes became more peachy, and she was about to say a few more words of sarcasm, but she saw a chariot sedan crossing the slant, almost bumping into Concubine Hui.She staggered, the bottom of the flower pot tilted, and almost fell out.Luckily, Caizhu and Caiyue helped her up quickly, although she was fine, the jasper hairpin on her hair slipped down and fell to pieces. The chariot sedan bumped into someone, and acted as if nothing had happened, turned around the corner gate and passed, not caring who it hit, whether it was hard or not.

Caiyue let out an "Aiya", hurriedly squatted down to pick up the jasper hairpin, and said anxiously: "This is a new reward from the emperor, it's broken like this..." Before she finished speaking, Caiyue received a slap on the face.Concubine Hui said angrily, "Do you see who that person is?" Caiyue covered her face and didn't dare to cry, but Mo Xin said: "The back image shows that Mei is always there, but the clothes don't look like it." Concubine Hui scolded: "Only a jade hairpin, the emperor rewards you so little? You are petty!" After finishing speaking, she left Ruyi and hurried to Changchun Palace.

Seeing her leaving, Ruyi felt a little annoyed, and said to Ah Ruo, "If you continue to talk like this, don't come out with me again!" Ah Ruo murmured: "The little master is afraid of what she will do? We have a big elder brother, and the favor of Yanxi Palace is no less than that of the imperial concubine!" Seeing that she was not good at teaching, Ruyi said angrily, "Even so, why did you bother to provoke her? Now that Big Brother is by my side, and how many people are watching, you still refuse to behave yourself!" A Ruo wanted to say more, but finally endured it, and helped Ruyi's hand to go to Changchun Palace.

When Ruyi arrives, all the concubines will be there.She followed Concubine Hui in and sat down according to the number of seats. The Empress smiled and said to Concubine Gui: "What's wrong with you today? Your hair is a little loose, and your complexion is not very good." Concubine Hui gave her a wink, and Mo Xin hurriedly said: "Just now when we came from the long street, our little master was bumped into by someone's sedan chair, almost twisted, and even the jade hairpin that the emperor rewarded was broken." Concubine Hui hurriedly stood up and said: "I came to see the empress in such a hurry, I was really afraid that I might miss the time to say hello, so I ask the empress to forgive me."

The queen said gently: "What's the big deal, are you all right? Didn't the people following see clearly who hit it?" Mo Xin said: "The servant looks in a trance because Mei is always there." Rui Ji was not surprised at all, but just smiled like a lotus dew: "Just now I was reckless, and I almost bumped into the imperial concubine, it is really disrespectful." Concubine Hui's expression was hesitant, and she said coldly: "Now that I know I've bumped into my palace, how did I escape like a gust of wind?" Rui Ji smiled, stroked her cheeks and said, "I wanted to stop and apologize to the imperial concubine. However, the concubine has an important matter and has to report to the empress first, so I have to feel sorry for the imperial concubine. As for falling As for the jade hairpins bestowed by the emperor, you can go to the concubine's palace and choose whatever you like, and you can pick what you like, and it doesn't matter if I pay you two or three."

Concubine Hui heard that she was so arrogant, and she couldn't help but feel a little angry on her pink face like a lotus flower: "Last night, the Yonghe Palace was noisy all night, and today you are rude again, even if the emperor spoils you, you can't let you behave like this! " Rui Ji turned her face sideways, the corners of her lips curved like a crescent moon, stood up and respectfully blessed the queen: "Returning to the empress, my concubine had a lot of abdominal pain last night. I'm pregnant, it's been two months!" As soon as this remark came out, all four were shocked.

Ruyi subconsciously pressed her lower abdomen, feeling a little miserable.She immediately realized that this was not the time for her to be sad, so she hurriedly held back the smile on her face, not allowing it to scatter, and congratulated everyone: "Congratulations to the emperor, congratulations to the queen, congratulations to Mei Chang." The queen was still calm, with a smile on her face that couldn't hide the spring that was missing: "Really? It's just that since you are pregnant, how can you have abdominal pain?" Ruiji was slightly pleased: "The imperial doctor said that the concubine's body is cold, the fetus is hot, and there is a collision, and it is the first child, so the abdominal pain. In fact, it is not a problem. The concubine is also rushing to report to the empress because of this matter. , so I don’t dare to stay even if I offend the concubine.” After she finished speaking, she wanted to bow her knees and salute the concubine, “I ask the concubine to forgive the concubine for what happened.”

Although Rui Ji wanted to bend her knees, her movements were extremely slow. The noble concubine knew what she meant, so she had to be stopped by Mo Xin, and said: "Be careful when you are pregnant. If you bump it, you will lose this good fortune carefully. " Rui Ji's eyes were slightly provocative, she looked at the noble concubine and said, "How can I lose this blessing that I got so easily? With the protection of the noble concubine, the concubine's blessing will last forever." The queen quickly said: "You are the first child, so you have to be extra careful. I will send a few more people to take care of you when you are finished. If you need anything, just come and tell me. It is hard work to be pregnant in October." She kept a peaceful smile, looked at the imperial concubine and Ruyi and said, "But this hard work is also a blessing, and I hope that you two will have children early." Mei Changzai looked at Concubine Hui, and said in a gentle voice, "Yes, ten months is hard work. The concubine puts all her heart and soul into watching Concubine Xian take care of the elder brother. If it is not her own birth, it will be like this. How hard it is to be a biological child. Concubine Hui is lucky, and those who have not given birth look younger than their actual age, not so old." Concubine Hui was trembling with anger, almost going to attack immediately.The queen gave her a reassuring look, but she didn't notice it, Su Xin nodded calmly, passed a bowl of tea over, touched the imperial concubine's elbow, and signaled her to be quiet. The queen looked around at the crowd and said slowly: "It's true that those who have children are happy, and those who don't don't need to worry. The emperor has always treated the harem with kindness and care, and sooner or later he will have his own children." She paused and said slowly, "That's right. , I happen to have a happy event to tell you today, and it is also a great happy event in the whole palace." She called out, "Lian Xin." Lian Xin stood there all morning, like a clay figure.Hearing the queen's call, she almost trembled violently, knelt down involuntarily and said, "The servant is here." The queen pointed at her with a gentle tone like a spring breeze: "Among the girls in the palace, I love Lian Xin the most. Now that Lian Xin has grown up, I want to marry her to a good family, but she doesn't want to leave the palace. Marrying far away. As a loyal person in this palace, naturally she cannot be wronged, so I discussed with the emperor, and pointed out Lian Xin to Wang Qin, the deputy director of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, and we will get married on August 16th." Lian Xin trembled, her face turned snow-white, she bent down and begged: "Empress Empress, slave... I really don't want to get married, I just want to serve you all the time." The queen smiled very kindly, as if she was talking to her daughter softly: "I know your loyalty, but women have to marry. You are the person I trust the most, so you must marry well." That's right. Wang Qin is only in his early thirties, and he will stay with you for a long time. Your dowry will be doubled to you by the palace." The queen's tone sank slightly, "Wang Qin has liked you for a long time, and this marriage is a pity. You can't even ask for a good marriage. Don't let down the love of this Palace and the Emperor for you." Lian Xin knelt there trembling, wanting to cry.Su Xin hurriedly supported her and said: "The empress is kind, it's too late for Lian Xin to be happy. She must be overjoyed." After saying that, she helped Lian Xin to go down. Ruyi and Hailan looked at each other, they were both silent, they just followed the crowd and said: "My empress is merciful." Concubine Hui even said: "Wang Qin is a big celebrity in front of the emperor. This marriage is worthy of Lian Xin. If you want to change someone else, you can't ask for it. The Empress Empress has a big face." The queen's smile continued: "Okay. These are all gossip." She looked at Rui Ji and said, "The most important thing now is Meichang's fetus. You have to take good care of it, and you must not take it lightly." Rui Ji bowed and agreed.Everyone congratulated and left. The queen waited for the palace to calm down, then looked at Su Xin, and said lightly: "Go and see Lian Xin, don't shed tears on such a great event, it's bad luck!" Su Xin hurriedly persuaded with an apologetic smile: "Empress, don't worry, Lian Xin is just confused for a while, and she hasn't figured it out yet." The queen took a loquat, peeled it into the shape of an upside-down lotus flower, and Fang ate it slowly: "What else does she not understand! In the entire Changchun Palace, either they are over thirty like you, or they are too young to enter." Fortunately, Wang Qin likes her, so he mentioned it to Ben Gong again and again, and she is Ben Gong's confidant, so Ben Gong is willing to praise her. You want her to remember well, to marry obediently, and to win over Wang Qin is equivalent to It has captured the emperor's mind and footsteps. I will never allow her to ruin my important affairs!" Su Xin knew the seriousness, so she quickly peeled a loquat for the queen and handed it over, saying: "We all know the painstaking efforts of the empress, but the empress has an elder brother and a princess, and she also has the authority in the middle palace and the love of the emperor. What are we afraid of?" ?” The queen raised her eyes to see the golden sunlight in the clear sky, reached out her hand to explore the iceberg in the cloisonné basin, and said, "Why don't I want to sit back and relax? But the queen mother is getting more and more involved in the affairs of the harem." The more you see, you will know that the emperor will have more and more concubines and heirs, and this palace will only become more and more old-fashioned and decrepit." Her eyes lit up, as if a little flashed. Black fireworks, "Therefore everything must be guarded against." Su Xin sighed: "A wise man must have a lot of worries. The empress has bothered." Mei Changzai's pregnancy was the emperor's first child after he ascended the throne. Although the emperor already had children, he seemed very happy.Although he was worried about the water affairs in the south of the Yangtze River for a few days, the emperor stayed in the Yonghe Palace to ask for his health when he had free time. It was a rare night that Mei Changzai didn't pester the emperor any more, so the emperor came to Yanxi Palace, asked Yong Huang about his homework, and stayed in Ruyi Pavilion for dinner together. Ruyi held a chopstick for the emperor and said, "Does the emperor know that the empress is going to give Lian Xin a wedding meal?" The emperor smiled and said, "Why did you ask this?" Ruyi frowned: "The concubine just thinks it's a pity that a good daughter married a eunuch." The emperor said: "The queen said that there are too many eunuchs and maids in the palace, and they can't all be released. There are too many idiots and resentful women. It's better to make do with it and give food to each other, so as to comfort each other. The queen is kind, and I will allow it." Hearing this, Ruyi didn't want to say much, so she poured a glass of wine into the emperor's cup, and the cherry-colored nectar condensed in the white jade cup, shining like a fine ruby. The emperor smiled and said, "The color of this wine looks very festive." Ruyi looked at the emperor's expression and was also happy: "The emperor is in a good mood, so naturally everything is festive." "You think I'm in a good mood?" Ruyi smiled and stretched out her hand to caress his eyebrows, each one was as black as ink.Looking at him so close, even his eyebrows are so pretty. "His face is full of laugh lines, which can't be hidden. There are also eyebrows, and the eyebrows are flying up." She endured the sourness in her heart, and smiled lightly, "Mei Changzai is pregnant, the emperor is really happy." The emperor smiled and shook her hand, only to feel that her hand was as cold as a piece of Hetian jade, and after holding it for a long time, it gradually became moist.He said loudly: "No matter how happy the affairs in the harem are, it is a trivial matter. Only when happy things happened in the previous dynasty, I am really happy in my heart." Ruyi poured a cup of wine and offered a toast to the emperor: "Happiness in the emperor's heart is happiness in the heart of the concubine. The emperor has spent day and night worrying about governing the previous court, and the effort he has spent is not something that can be understood by looking at it. So this cup, the minister's heart My concubine respects the emperor." The emperor took it but didn't drink it, and said with great interest: "Why are you happy if you don't ask me?" Ruyi bowed her head slightly: "Like a farmer farming, he pays and reaps. This is happiness. Others, the concubines are in the harem, they shouldn't ask, and they can't ask." The emperor took the wine and raised his neck to drink it. His eyes were full of bright smiles. He clung to Ruyi's hand and said softly, "This is your benefit. If it is Concubine Hui, she must chase after her." I asked, what is the joy?" The calm smile on Ruyi's lips slightly retracted: "Concubine Hui naturally has the benefits of Concubine Hui. But the emperor..." She paused, and her soft voice contained a bit of stubbornness, "Your Majesty, here, we don't Tell someone else." The emperor was taken aback for a moment, and then smiled unconsciously: "I didn't realize that, you still have time to be narrow-minded." Ruyi's smile reflected the water of the moon, clear and clear: "The emperor's heart is divided into two halves, one half is the front court, and the other half is the harem. Half of the heart of the harem is given to the queen mother and princesses and princes, and the smaller half I gave it to my concubine and all my sisters. In this small half, the empress occupies a big part, and the concubines each share a little of the emperor's heart, and there is not much left for the concubine. Then this little heart comes to the concubine. At that time, if the emperor distributed it to others, then the concubine would not even be able to occupy it as big as a sesame seed." The emperor heaved a sigh of relief, and stretched out his hand to grab Ruyi's shoulders: "Although you said this with a smile, I know the grievance and pain in your heart. I am still young, and I can't take care of the affairs of the previous dynasty. They are old ministers who followed the late emperor, and each of them is qualified to be there. If I don’t take care of each one by myself, it will be my embarrassment to fall into their words. For this matter, I There are fewer people entering the harem, and for the sake of filial piety and the majesty of the main palace, I have to spend more time with the empress dowager and empress. I know how many times I spend with you, and the time I spend with you is no more than when I was in the hidden mansion." Ruyi leaned on the emperor's shoulders, and the pattern of golden thread soaring clouds and five-clawed dragon pattern was pressed tightly on her cheeks. After a long time, she also felt a trace of roughness. That is the difficulty of not understanding the emperor. The courtiers are also looking forward to the emperor's coming, and in their private hearts, it is best not to leave when the emperor comes. But the courtiers know that a husband can be a husband of one person, but the emperor is the emperor of the world. So the courtiers and concubines look forward to the emperor's coming, but they dare not expect the emperor to come." The emperor was silent for a moment, stroking Ruyi's temple hair, and said firmly: "This is the truth. When I walked into the harem, there was a virtuous wife like the empress, as well as the gentleness of the concubine Hui, the pure concubine who was considerate, and the noble lady who was charming. Yiguiren, Haiguiren and Wanyue also have their duty to be honest. But there is only one thing, you have what they have, but none of them have it." Ruyi is curious: "What is it?" The emperor kissed her on the forehead, and said quietly: "It's straightforwardness. This straightforwardness is for me, and it hasn't changed since you entered the submerged mansion to today." Ruyi was taken aback for a moment, feeling deeply in her heart, but her mouth was firm: "Frankness is not a virtue of a concubine, and it is not a good thing." The emperor sighed softly and said with a smile: "This benefit is not available among concubines, it is between husband and wife." As if someone's hand had gently brushed the softest part of her heart, Ruyi almost shed tears. She lowered her head and tried her best to hold back the tears: "Ruyi thank you, Your Majesty, for being able to understand like this." The emperor moved and said: "I understand and cherish it even more. So Ruyi, although you are not my first wife, nor the person who has been with me the longest, but your kindness is in my heart. I also hope you understand, no matter what I don't come to Yanxi Palace very often, you are always in my heart, not just in this palace." The moonlight is bright and white, roaming the sky leisurely, like a puddle of clear water flowing down from the broken ice.The distant wind brings the fragrance of flowers and trees.Such a good moonlight, looking out through the half-open gap of the window, it seems that the whole palace is as white as frost.Such a good month should reflect such a pair of people.Ruyi never felt that the sixteenth moon in the Forbidden City was so perfect. In such a peaceful time, Ruyi really felt that she was going to sleep.It would be great if he woke up after a night of sleep and was still like this. It's just that there were two knocks on the door outside. She closed her eyes and didn't want to pay attention to it, but there were two more knocks outside.Ruyi sighed, seeing that the dishes on the table were getting cold, and knowing that it was the maid who brought in the dishes, she could only sigh, "Come in." The emperor knew what she was thinking, shook her hand, smiled and did not speak.Ruyi's face blushed, but she heard a soft "squeak" from the palace door, a figure flashed in briskly, followed by a little palace lady carrying a yellow wooden square curly pattern, and walked in steadily.It was Ah Ruo who came, she bowed lightly, said "Wan Fu", nodded slightly, and the maid carrying the plate came forward.A Ruo brought out the dishes one by one, and said in his mouth: "This dish of quail crystal is the emperor's favorite. The little master ordered the small kitchen to watch it well, and it was almost impossible to make this crystal-clear appearance; This steamed duck breast with lotus flower is specially made with duck breast meat that is neither fat nor thin. Duck loves running water, so it is cold in nature and relieves heat. The mandarin fish is sweet and sour, and it is most suitable for eating and drinking; there is also a dish of Binuojia lotus root, which is light and sweet, which symbolizes that the emperor and the young master are a perfect couple, and the oil is mixed with honey." The emperor smiled and said, "Every dish is your little master's thoughts, but she refuses to say it herself. When you say it, the thoughts will come to life." A Ruo made a gesture and patted himself on the face lightly: "It's the servant who is talking too much. But our mother is a solid person, thinking about the emperor's heart, she can't say it out. If the servant does not speak out for the young master, I am afraid that the young master will The Lord's infatuation, let alone anyone knows." The emperor smiled briskly, patted the back of Ruyi's hand and said: "Actually, you can be regarded as a person who can talk. I didn't expect that the girls trained by my subordinates are as clever as each other. As I remember, Ah Ruo has been with you for several years. Bar." Ruyi nodded and said: "Ah Ruo is the concubine's family girl, and she came here as a dowry with the concubine. If you have served the concubine for a long time, then you will not be able to sit quietly under your tongue." The emperor was quite happy: "Ever since I moved into the palace, the empress has strict rules, and I have taught all the servants in the palace to pretend to be dumb. I wish I could lose my tongue. I think it's like what A Ruo said." It’s good to just joke around, it’s much more fun for you to live behind closed doors.” Ruyi was quite happy when she heard Ah Ruo being praised, and said, "Since the emperor praised you so much, let's leave the cloth to serve you. It's just the same, don't get so complacent that you lose the rules." A Ruo had a blessing, and said with a smile: "Your Majesty's instructions, how can I not remember the slaves?" After finishing speaking, she waited quietly and served the two of them for dinner. The emperor took a piece of sweet lotus root and ate it slowly, and said with a smile: "At first, I didn't want to go to court in advance. But now I saw this piece of lotus root, and I was happy again. The floods in the south of the Yangtze River have been a disaster year after year. The flood destroyed tens of thousands of acres of fertile land and displaced the victims. This has always been a major concern of the imperial court. The first emperor wanted to control the water every year, so he allocated money to build dams, but the dams were softer than tofu and could not prevent floods. After ascending the throne, the officials I sent to the south of the Yangtze River to govern the two Huaihe Rivers wrote a note, saying that this year's dams were built well, no matter how much water was flooded, the people were finally happy for a year. Especially the magistrate of Huaiyin County who was in charge of repairing In that period, all the money sent by the imperial court was spent, and the dam was harder than pouring iron. In previous years, Huaiyin was the most vulnerable to disasters. This year, the county magistrate is able to manage affairs and control the water. I reward him well. some." Ruyi took another chopsticks and lotus root for the emperor, and looked at him with a sideways smile: "Those who can share the emperor's worries should be rewarded. I just don't know what the name of this magistrate of Huaiyin is?" The emperor pondered for a while: "It seems that he is called Gui Duo, the Suo Chuo Lun family, and he was born in a red flag. He is a very capable person. I was thinking that he can actually repair the dam. I will look at him for a while, and if he is useful, I can reward him as a magistrate." Before the emperor finished speaking, A Ruo knelt down and kowtowed his head sharply, tears streaming down his face in excitement: "I thank the emperor for the reward, and thank the emperor for his kindness." The emperor wondered: "I reward the officials under my command, why are you in a hurry to thank me?" Ruyi looked at A Ruo with a smile and said, "Guiduo is A Ruo's Ama." The emperor also showed a smile: "It turns out that I have been boasting for a long time, and my daughter is here." He said to A Ruo, "Your Ama is doing my best for me outside, so you can serve me well in the harem, and you can do it yourself." Bring out your eyebrows." Ah Ruo was overjoyed, and quickly kowtowed to thank her.Seeing that the timing was just right, Ruyi said, "What the emperor means is that he can point out a good family for Ah Ruo. The concubine first thanked the emperor for Ah Ruo." The emperor put mandarin fish with chopsticks in Ruyi's bowl: "Whether Ah Ruo has such good fortune depends on her own." Ah Ruo saw the emperor took a hot towel beside him and wiped his hands, stood up hurriedly, poured a cup of tea and handed it to the emperor: "This is the newly prepared Liu'an tea, it is the best for removing dirt and greasy stagnation .The emperor has a taste." The emperor took a sip and smiled a little: "In terms of carefulness, Concubine Xian, you are the first class here." Ruyi lowered her brows and smiled softly: "It's right to be careful and thoughtful. The emperor feels it, and the intention will come."