Chapter 10 The Tenth Chapter of Tracing the Past

Qianlong watched Chen Shiguan leave the palace, feeling deeply moved in his heart.Thinking of Zhang Tingyu's old age, Ertai's sickness, and the fact that the two have been in power for a long time, they have their own sects, and one man and one Han each have a group of disciples and cronies, and they can't even restrain themselves.This hidden worry has always existed in my heart and I can't make it public.At present, there is a Fu Heng who is both civil and military, a close-knit one who is honest and diligent, and a Han Chinese who is Liu Tongxun who is upright and intelligent, and now there is a Chen Shiguan who is knowledgeable, generous and knowledgeable, generally a pillar of the people.Thinking back to the time when the new and the old were changing, and the master and the young country were in doubt, the remnant party of the deposed prince took the opportunity to make a fool of himself, and I really have mixed feelings.At that time, the old feathers were withered and the new feathers were not yet abundant. They were stretched thin and anxious day and night; now there are many wise men, young and old, working together to help each other. In my heart, I am both excited and joyful, but at the same time feel the regret of "Si Chuan is gone"...

A gust of cold wind came in through the window, causing Qianlong to shiver slightly, remembering that he had to go to pay his respects to the Queen Mother, so he stood up.Gao Dayong was instructing the eunuchs to clean up calligraphy and paintings in the Xipian Hall, and hurried over to change Qianlong's buckskin oil boots, and told Wang Li: "Bring the oil coats from the new tribute! ——Master, it's cold outside, relying on the servants He said that the gray felt cloaks newly made by the Ministry of War are thick and big. They are the clothes that the master gave to officials above the guerrillas stationed outside the festival. Keep it warm..." Then he put it on for Qianlong, and gently buttoned the bright yellow buttons on both sides under his neck.Qianlong really felt warm, and said with a smile: "This is really useful. Send someone to the Ministry of War to award it quickly. Let's not send umbrellas after the rain. Who will wear this in spring?" He walked out of the hall after speaking.

The outside is already a world of snow, a vast expanse, with thousands of flowers flying, and the red walls and green tiles in the palace have been covered with silver, and they have become Qionglou Yuyu.The howling wind made the wind chimes and iron horses on the roof of the hall tinkle.The snow that had been swept up on the ground drifted back and forth, and one after another, the snow spinners were looking for a way out, or went over the wall, or got into the door and window.Although the weather is cold, the guards in front of the palaces and palaces stand like nails. Some of the eunuchs are making snowmen and snow elephants, and some are storing snow water in urns for the next year's royal tea. The head is covered with snow, and the work is very energetic, adding a lot of vitality to the Forbidden City that has gone through vicissitudes.

Wrapped in a heavy military cloak, with the cool wind and snow blowing in his face, Qianlong immediately refreshed and washed himself off after a day of fatigue.He walked slowly, listening to the sound of the snow being trampled under his feet, and walked out of Yongxiang.At the entrance of Tianjie, Qianlong looked towards the low-rise row of the military aircraft department. The cotton curtains of the dark door openings were open, and it seemed that someone was lighting a fire inside.He couldn't help but think that it was the same weather that year, and he met Qian Du at the military aircraft department.An emperor, a small book office with no fame, and strangers sitting around the stove eating wine, talking about local officials, and talking about the strategy of governing the country, have now been passed down as good talks by the official circles.Thinking about it, it still seemed like yesterday... He took a step towards the military plane, and felt that he was a bit out of his mind, so he couldn't help but smile secretly, turned around and walked towards the Compassionate Ning Palace.

Qianlong entered the gate of the Cining Palace, bypassed the Great Worship Hall, and was ordered to stay on standby. He walked along the east corridor and walked into the palace alone. In exchange for food, he didn't prevent him from coming in wearing this kind of cloak. It wasn't until he got close that the eunuch Qin Meimei squinted her eyes and saw it. She hastily knelt down, greeted Qianer, and apologized with a cocky voice, "Okay, long live my master!" Grandpa, you are wearing such a big gray cloak, and your figure is so different from usual that you can't even recognize the dog eyes of the servant! Lafayette is happy now, and has a big bowl of old rice at noon The western turkey that Prince Zhuang Fujin bought was also to the Buddha's appetite. He put in a whole leg and half a bowl of sauerkraut pork belly soup. One was afraid that he would stop eating, and the other was that Lafayette loved snow and didn't want to rest Zhongjue, let the emperor’s grandson come over first to relieve boredom and have fun, and now I’m going to enjoy calligraphy and painting with some old concubines and noble masters!” As he spoke, he raised the curtain and invited Qianlong to come in, and a few court ladies gave him a hand. Qianlong undressed his clothes.When Qianlong first entered the room, he couldn't see clearly, and it took him a long time to get used to it.It turned out that the Empress Dowager was watching calligraphy and painting with several female relatives in the gauze grid of Xinuange.Princess Geng, Qi, and Li are all there.Geng sat on the side, and Qi and Li accompanied behind him.Concubine Nalan sat opposite, and Concubine Zhun Wang next to her, she was engrossed in looking at a painting on the table, she didn't notice Qianlong coming in.Qianlong approached quietly, and when he looked at the table through Nalan's shoulder, it was a picture of "Luoshen Chariot and Horse Picture".The painting is the shore of Luoshui. Cao Zijian stands awe-inspiringly under the willows with withered autumn leaves, looking up at the opposite side with a pool of autumn water in the middle.On the other side of the river, covered by clouds and fog, a dragon chariot, full of horses roaring furiously, vaguely accompanied by gods, and treasured banners and clothes sash fluttering in the wind.Surrounded by Luoshen in the middle, the cloud temples are wonderfully haired, and the wind rings are extremely noble.Luoshen frowned, and looked diagonally at Cao Zhi below, as if gently entreating something.Cao Zhi, on the other hand, looked dazed, with his hands slightly flattened, as if he was sighing, and at the same time he seemed to be calling... The painting is very old, the edges of the paper are yellow and brittle, but the scroll is new, and the inscription on the lower left of the painting is already full. Unclear, there are countless stamps on the upper and lower heavens and earth, it is obvious that it is an extremely valuable ancient painting.Qianlong couldn't help asking:

"Whose handwriting?" Everyone turned their faces at the same time, seeing that it was Qianlong, Nala was the first to kneel down to pay his respects.Concubine Zhun also knelt down, and the concubines hurriedly drew back their hands. Empress Dowager Niu Hulu took off her reading glasses with a smile, and said, "The emperor is here, so I didn't ask them to report, which made us girls jump." I figured it would take another hour for you to come here! This was bought by your Uncle Sixteen’s house, costing more than 10,000 silver, and it was said to be Wu Daozi’s painting, but the name was unrecognizable, and it was said to be for me. I'm afraid it's fake, please let me find an expert to identify it. I just think it's good, how can I tell? You have read a lot of books, so you can take a look." "Yes!" Qianlong said with a smile: "But son He is also not good at identifying antiques, Ji Yun from the Hanlin Academy will come in and take a closer look." He leaned down to look at the painting carefully, and stared at the inscriptions, saying, "Wu Daozi is good at painting Avalokitesvara. I don’t know how to give up the length, so I draw the landscape of this character short. But these two characters are indeed ‘Wu Dao’, which is really weird!” Seeing that Concubine Zhun Wang and Concubine Qi are still kneeling on felt mats , and asked: "What's the matter with you?" Concubine Qi and Wang just kowtowed but didn't answer.The queen mother smiled and said: "This is the rule set by your sixteenth uncle. Mrs. Wang is a concubine who has been demoted, and Mrs. Qi is implicated by your third brother... Here I am begging for them, forgive me Let's go to this level!"

"Get up," Qianlong smiled slightly.He remembered that Prince Zhuang Yunlu was in charge of the royal affairs of the palace and the inner court, and he had indeed made a statement: the mother of the guilty elder brother and the guilty palace concubine met the king, and they were reduced to the same etiquette as the foreign official Wang Jue Fujin—— Approved.Concubine Qi's elder brother, Hongshi, was his third brother, who was ordered to commit suicide by Yongzheng because of plotting for the throne.Mrs. Wang was deposed as a concubine by flogging her servant to death for a trivial matter.Seeing the two people kneeling pitifully and not daring to move, Qianlong felt compassionate and thanked the two of them for their blessings, saying: "You come to serve Lafayette on a snowy day. This is filial piety. If you have this thought, God will bless you. This article is specially exempted for you. Several years have passed since the matter of Mrs. Wang, and I was going to pardon you. From now on, you will be promoted to your concubine position. Aunt Qi is even more like this. When I was young, you often played with me in your arms , picking grapes while riding on your shoulders in the imperial garden... The third brother is guilty, it is his business, and you don’t know, why is there a crime? Promote Hongzhou Erniang Geng's family to the imperial concubine, and you will also be promoted -- your status is too low, and it is not appropriate to accompany Lafayette." The two women listened to Qianlong's conversation as usual, and they were considerate in every detail , Speaking of my heart, thinking of my own situation, I couldn't help crying, I just held my mouth with a handkerchief and dared not speak out.The Empress Dowager smiled and said: "This is your master's mighty grace. You should be happy. What kind of heart is it hurting at this time? I'm afraid the emperor hasn't eaten yet, so I will use it in my small kitchen today. Wang did it. If you have a good dish, you can cook a few by yourself, and we will go together. In this heavy snow, if there is no urgent business, call the study, the military aircraft department, and the six departments to have a day off, so that they can spend time with their families Is it also your kindness to sit around the stove and enjoy the snow!"

Wang Shi and Qi Shi were busy laughing through their tears, Qi Shi said: "I will cook for Wang Shi as well." The two retreated one after the other to fix the food.Qianlong said to the Empress Dowager: "Mother, I will let them accompany you here, and my son has to go to see the empress. Cui Meier from Yikun Palace came to tell me this morning. The empress did not sleep well all night, but her body was weak and dizzy. Son Busy going to the Military Aircraft Department, I just asked the imperial doctor to go to see a doctor first. I don’t know what to do now? Qin Meimei is asked to pass on the decree for the holiday. However, the Military Aircraft Department and the Ministry of Households still have to work as usual, Shuntian Mansion and Jiumen Admiral The yamen can’t rest even more, you have to take a look at the capital city, the weather is easy to collapse the house and collapse the house. And it’s terrible if you stop cooking.” Before he finished speaking, the queen mother had put her hands together and recited Buddha repeatedly, saying in her mouth: “Amitabha! My son, this is truly merciful! Just now Geng came in and said, what kind of alley—” Geng smiled and said, “It’s Hongzhou’s and Prince’s Mansion, it’s called Huahua Deep in the alley." "Yes, it is the alley of flowers." The Queen Mother said, "Ye Lai was overwhelmed by the heavy snow and three thatched houses were overwhelmed. Although it did not hurt anyone, the adults were crying and the children were screaming. When the foreign monk passed by, weeping with him, he said that he would help him build the house. I don’t think this can be done. Have we Chinese lost people who do good deeds? Just ask Hong Zhou to do it, you With this arrangement, I feel more at ease. Don't rush to the Queen's side. I just sent someone to ask. She has taken the medicine. She is resting now. Fu Heng's family also came in today and is serving there now. #. You have had a hot meal here, and it’s not too late to go.”

"Really?" Qianlong smiled and said, "The son will be ordered!" He has something to do with Tang'er from "Fu Heng's family", so he couldn't help blushing, glanced at Nala, and said: "She gave birth Soon, it will be difficult for her to come in under such a snowy day." The noble concubine Nala knew the reason, smiled and bowed and said: "Tomorrow is her son's 100-day soup and cake party, and it is a good day to catch Zhou'er. Come in and give it to the Buddha." Please be well, please give your son a name for auspiciousness. The master is not in good health, and Fu Heng is busy with business, so she should come in to serve her as a daughter-in-law. I think it will be snowy today, so I won’t let her go I'm going back. I'll rest in my palace tonight." After speaking, he glanced at Qianlong secretly.Qianlong and Tang'er had a tryst in Zhongcui Palace, and were "captured" by this imperial concubine on the spot.Although I gave her a big hat of "jealousy", I suppressed it.Seeing what she said now, Qianlong nodded with satisfaction, and said, "It's very good. I promised to name her son. Zhou'er was arrested for a hundred days, and it doesn't look good without a formal official name. Lafayette, my son thinks Fu Heng is a person who has contributed to the country and is a close relative. This face has to be given. My son thinks, let's call him Fukang'an! These three characters are combined with the surname of Fucha, and the meaning in Chinese characters is also very good. .”

The Empress Dowager laughed so hard that her eyes narrowed, she clapped her hands and said on her knees, "Okay—this name is good. If a child is born in such a family, is there any need to talk about wealth? The rare thing is the word 'Kang'an'. Be healthy and safe, good!" As he said, seeing Qi Shi and Wang Shi supervised the eunuchs carrying the food box, he ordered the mat to be set up.The same thing was spread up.A plate of dumplings, a plate of stir-fried mung bean sprouts, a plate of diced chicken with pork belly and sour bamboo shoots in the hot pot, hot and fragrant, surrounded by small steamed buns, spring rolls, and bean noodle pancakes. , and there is another dish that is crystal clear, like shredded squid, white and white mixed with green peppers, just out of the pot, still making a slight sound, Qianlong sniffed it, and couldn't help but praise: "Good!"

"The master agrees. That's my devotion." Wang said with a smile: "I'm afraid Lafayette may not have used this dish before! Such a dish can't be done without five hundred taels of silver!" Qianlong smiled. It slowly solidified, and asked: "What kind of dish is that?" Mrs. Qi put a chopstick of bean sprouts on the Empress Dowager's plate, and returned to Qianlong with a smile, "That's called bursting dragon's beard. It's hard for Mrs. Wang to collect so many carp. Beard. Butchering fish for this dish is really impossible without five hundred taels—— Lafayette, this is light. These are the bean sprouts prepared by my kitchen. They have been cored and the sprouts have been removed. It smells like bean flavor!" Qianlong ordered everyone to sit and eat with him, so he said with a smile: "I only use tea to be more particular, and the food is very ordinary. I was shocked when I said that this dish is worth five hundred taels. After the flood in Zhoukou, Eastern Henan this year, In some places, people eat people, and parents eat their sons. It is said that a dish of mine is so expensive, won’t I become the lord of Jie and Zhou?" Wang said: "Using fish silk for soup is very fresh, so I took care of it. I asked my court lady to go to the imperial dining room to collect it every day and freeze it for later use. If you really talk about money, it is true to say that it is worthless." Qianlong took a chopstick, and it was really delicious, but he refused to praise the taste. He just said: "You can worry about Lafayette and me, this is your heart of loyalty." He tasted another dumpling, and hurriedly picked one for the queen mother, and said: "Lafayette, try this—— There is no leek in it, so why is it full of fresh leek taste?" The queen mother tasted it and said, "It's really good! It's winter, how can we grow this leek, and there is no leek in the stuffing, how can there be such a taste? Son, this little elf, Mrs. Wang, is getting more and more dexterous!" Mrs. Wang chuckled and said, "It's chives, squeezed the juice while it's fresh and mixed it into fresh meat stuffing...Look at this diced chicken, it's actually ham Simmer tofu, simmer for three days, the dried tofu is wrapped with chicken skin and fried chicken meat - if the emperor likes to use it, I still have it there!" Everyone tasted it, and it was really good, all Mouth said "wonderful!" Everyone talked and ate, it was very lively and harmonious. After eating for a while, everyone rinsed their mouths and wiped their hands.The Empress Dowager was still thinking about the "cannibalism" and asked, "Emperor, what is the situation in Zhoukou now? We should send people to help. The former emperor hated these things the most. If he heard this, he would have jumped up and got angry. Yongzheng In the early years, Guimeng topped He Gou'er and set off cannons to rebel, so people fell down because of hunger. At that time, even the governor of Shandong Province was taken off, and there were only a dozen county magistrates and magistrates. It's not because of me. Just a word of advice. The common people are hungry and anxious to rebel, the holy grandfather said, the late emperor also said, I heard it all with my own ears." "Mother taught you well!" Qianlong bowed and said, "My son was also shocked when this happened, and he was afraid of being wronged, so he sent Qian Du to investigate. The decree was issued the day before yesterday, and the county magistrate of Shangshui was arrested on the spot. Zhengfa was killed in front of the victims, and the prefect of Chenzhou government ordered him to commit suicide. The rest of the governors and below were charged with the crime of negligence and handed over to the Ministry for punishment. The son treats the government with leniency, not to be a good person. The government can be lenient, but the punishment cannot Laxity. This is the son's charter. The mother is watching, the son will never stay in the Forbidden City to eat the ancestors' meal, and the son will go out of Beijing for a walk in the near future, and he will go back after the Mulan hunting next spring. Officials who love money and are not afraid of death, if there are those who take people's lives for nothing, dereliction of duty and blasphemy, my son will kill a group of them!" His tone was very strong, everyone in the palace had seen Yongzheng lose his temper, and when he got angry, everyone around him was frightened, but it was rare for him to kill officials.Moreover, Yongzheng has never left the capital since his ascension to the throne until his death, except for one occasion of offering sacrifices to the ancestors.But this master can sit still and go down. Every year, he travels in Zhili, the capital, and even in Henan and Shanxi to observe the people's sentiments. Although he is gentle and elegant, he has an amiable and approachable face, but he has to say something Killing without any hesitation.The people in the hall were silenced by these words, a gust of wind whizzed past outside the hall, which made people feel a chill coming up.After a long time, the queen mother came back to her senses, murmured something, and said: "The more prudent the murder, the better. In the peaceful and prosperous times, there are many murders, and it is easy to arouse anger. When I hear about killing people, I feel miserable. " "The queen mother, Shengming, taught you very well!" Qianlong still had an amiable and happy look, and said softly: "My son would not dare to kill anyone who has been wronged. Some officials, if you feel sorry for him and refuse to kill him, he will be next to you." Kill people indiscriminately, harm the people indiscriminately, and become a beetle of the country. Kill him, the people will be happy, and it will not be easy to commit robbery. On the contrary, you will kill fewer people. My son has asked Chen Shiguan to coordinate disaster relief and military affairs. Let's see what else The local people should give relief, and they don't care about money or food—seeing that the land under the snow will not be small, the folk proverb "Mai Gai three quilts, sleep with buns on the head", next year's bumper harvest, the imperial court will still take turns to save Donate money, the people are rich, is our family still poor?" The words convinced everyone, the queen mother said with a smile: "It is true. Go to see your wife, Nala and Wang will also accompany your master there, Greetings to the queen. Tell her to take care of her illness and don't think about me—we'll break up after talking for a while." Qianlong smiled and left.The queen mother waited for Qianlong and his party to go out. Seeing that Geng, Qi, and Li were still preparing cards, the queen mother said: "Leave a few of you here so that our old sisters can say a few words of their own, not for the sake of making money." Playing cards. They all sat on the kang, warmed up, drinking tea and talking. If the snow is not here today, I will live here. The old sister often sees me, and I am also bored!" The three naturally flattered and rejoiced. , together under the kang salute.The Geng family had the highest status, and they sat next to the empress dowager against the wall. Qi and Li sat sideways on the edge of the kang, facing the empress dowager. The purpose is not to be too superstitious in front of me. This is still the right pattern, and the words are not sweet." Qi and Li sat cross-legged with a smile.The queen mother asked in a low voice: "Sisters of the Qi family and sisters of the Li family, remember that you moved out of the palace the year the late emperor died? The emperor told me that for the time being, we will live in Changchun Garden, except that the house is narrower, and everything is provided. As usual. The Ministry of Internal Affairs does not know how to take care of it?" Qi family and Li family looked at each other, according to Qing system, when the emperor died, only the queen mother remained in the palace, and all concubines who were concubines, concubines, and concubines had to move out of the palace.The Geng family's son, Hong Zhou, became the prince and lived in the palace in the alley deep in the flowers. Although the Qi family's son committed crimes, he was not deposed, and the childless concubine and concubine of the Li family were all placed in a remote corner of the Northwest Pole of Changchun Garden.The Ministry of Internal Affairs' "responsibility" is actually just a monthly distribution of charcoal.All purchases are handled by the eunuchs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and it is very common for them to be deducted.How can it be compared with Gunn's?But why can't you tell the Queen Mother about such things, Qi swallowed a mouthful, and said: "The Ministry of Internal Affairs has taken care of it well. It's all because of the blessing of Lafayette..." "You don't have to cover it for them. I'm also a concubine, why don't you know?" The queen mother sighed, "In this Forbidden City, the same concubine is not the same in front of the emperor, and the treatment is in the sky. , one is underground!" She paused, "Don't you think I've never eaten the rotten rice from the black-hearted cook, or used the torn silk that melts in the wind? The emperor told me to take Xihaizi, Changchun The north of the garden is connected with the Old Summer Palace to build a large garden that has never been seen before. The name is still called Old Summer Palace. It has already been surveyed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. When the time comes, I will move there and live closer to you. I'm afraid it will be better. " These three concubines have all lived in Changchun Garden, thinking about the scale of the Queen Mother's painting, they can't help but feel dumbfounded in their hearts.Geng first recited a Buddha: "Amitabha! That is a ground with a radius of a hundred miles, how much money does it cost!" "It should be smaller than the Afang Palace." I accept the filial piety, you can’t learn from Qin Shihuang to build the Efang Palace! The emperor said that the villas of the little princes and monarchs in foreign countries are still very big. Yes, the most beautiful houses and gardens in their place were built in our Beijing. In the future, all nations will be crowned in Beijing, so as to show the demeanor of the celestial dynasty sitting in charge and caring for Diyi. It is not just to honor the mother and support the rest of the world. This is another yardstick The thing is his ambition. If I stop him again, I will become petty. This garden will cost tens of billions of silver, and it will be built in decades. Now that several gardens are connected together, it is actually the first step. If the imperial court has more money, it will be built faster, and if it is less money, it will be built more slowly, and it will not disturb the people. Think about this garden, a small garden is covered in a big garden, and the foreign-style garden, the Jiangnan Garden, the Beijing Garden, and the Haizi Mountain Forest are all surrounded. The gardens are all collected, and all the ancient and modern books are hidden in, so we can eat and swim leisurely, and it’s not in vain to travel in the world, isn’t this a proud thing?” Looking at the heavy snow outside the glass window, she was so excited. His eyes were shining brightly, and his breathing was a little uneven. It took a long time to regain his senses, and said to the concubines who were in a daze: "I'm old, and I got off topic when I said it. You two live in the garden now. Here, I heard some gossip, and I want to ask you." "What are you talking about?" Concubine Qi was fascinated by the unique Great Summer Palace, the only one in heaven and earth, when she heard the Empress Dowager change the subject, she couldn't help being startled when she heard the word "gossip".Widows are most afraid of "idle work", and even Mrs. Li was taken aback.Concubine Qi felt that she had lost her composure, so she calmed down and said, "Mr. Li and I are next to each other. The only eunuchs in the garden are women, and the guards are not allowed to cross the persimmon forest..." The queen mother laughed when she heard that, "Who said What about you? I heard that the two girls brought by the emperor from Henan live in the garden, and the emperor rests with them at night whenever he goes to do business, have you heard?" This incident has been rumored for half a year, saying that when Qianlong was not on his way to the throne, he toured the south of the Yangtze River and brought two Han girls with him.She was going to take her as a concubine by her side.At that time, Yongzheng was in power, and Yongzheng's temper was the most taboo for elder brother to be promiscuous outside.He swallowed it several times when he tried to open his mouth.When he ascended the throne, he had to stay in mourning for another three years. Listening to the empress dowager's words, taking in Han women in the palace was against the precepts of the ancestors, so he didn't dare to say anything and swallowed it back.Qianlong couldn't let go of these two adversaries who had been in trouble together with him and fled thousands of miles to avoid Hongshi's pursuit.I had to quietly arrange them in the south of the persimmon forest in Changchun Garden.Their residence was only a few tens of feet away from the two concubines Qi and Li. In order to prevent "gossip", Qianlong also specially instructed these two "aunts" not to let out a word!Now the Empress Dowager actually asked each other bluntly... One is the Supreme Being who occupies the ninth level and controls the four seas; ——Qi and Li couldn't help being silent at the same time.His face flushed red and he muttered, even he didn't know what he said. "You don't have to be afraid." The queen mother said peacefully: "Everyone is almost clear about this matter, but they just want to carry a flag for them, and if they get their names, it's over. What's more, they still have some skills. Yuanmener brings them, so I feel more at ease." Qi and Li were relieved after hearing this, and Li frowned and said: "No one goes to gossip with the servants, and the servants dare not ask outside the courtyard wall. I only heard from the maids that the emperor had been to the palace south of the persimmon grove and had said it a few times before I found out that there were women living there, one named Yanhong and the other named something." "That's it." The queen mother nodded Said: "When you go back, just say that according to my order, I will take them to Mrs. Li. After the New Year, you will bring them in. I will meet you, and then I will meet the queen. Ask Uncle Sixteen to carry a flag for them , After passing the Ming road, to be a concubine in a serious manner, so as not to be said that the emperor stole women, how ugly is it?" Geng Shi hurriedly said beside him: "Right now Prince Zhuang and Hong Zhou are in charge of the flag affairs, I will go back and tell Zhou Er, and it will be done without anyone noticing." "It's all to protect the emperor's dignity." The empress sighed, "The emperor is good at everything, but this is the fault. I'm really afraid that he will eventually suffer from women. I heard that there are not only these two, but also A wife surnamed Xu from the Hanlin Academy also had contacts with the emperor. Yanhong and the others are fine, there is a reason for this, the Xu family has a husband, so why mess with it! What kind of reputation is that? So I can't do this kind of thing Let go of your hands—the difficulty lies in letting him loose and letting him go, and keeping him tight and fearing wronging him. That year I executed Jinxia, ​​and I heard that the emperor went to her palace several times to pay homage in private... the world did it Mother's heart, how many sons can really be considerate? Jinxia is not dead, I am happy to be Anfu and honored as my 'Lafayette', and the Yinyuan who hurt me may not accept my love for him!" Said Then he took out his handkerchief and wiped his tears. Seeing her sad, the three concubines tried to comfort her.Qi said: "Although I don't study, I heard my father say when I was young that 'Little Mercy is the thief of Great Mercy'. By doing this, the Empress Dowager has fulfilled the Emperor's reputation, and Jin Xia deserved her death. Compassionate heart. How can I hurt Yin Zhi? If I had controlled Hongshi a little bit more tightly at that time, I would not have ended up in the present situation!" Thinking of his son Hongshi who was ordered to commit suicide, a burst of sadness welled up in his heart. Qi also shed tears.Mrs. Li hurriedly said: "Why should the queen mother be sad? Now the emperor is doing well, the government affairs are handled well outside, he is filial, and holy, and he is more popular than the holy ancestor and the late emperor! My natal brother is in charge of the treasury, and now the court is We have saved the most since the founding of the Qing Dynasty. The copper coins are rusted, and the strings of money are rotten! Let me say something that should be said, which man is not lustful and does not love women. The emperor’s idea is really not a problem. What are you going to do?" Geng went on to say: "Li said privately, it's not wrong at all. Qingtai, the internal supervisor, is Zhou'er's coat slave, already full of three wives and four concubines. It's too inhumane to mess with the aunts and eighth aunts. I see that the emperor is a person who values ​​affection and has not bullied anyone. After all, lust is a problem. With the empress dowager in charge, I will grow up slowly. I'm getting old and my heart is closed, so I'm afraid I won't be able to change it?" A few people talked to each other with humor and comfort, the Queen Mother turned her grief into joy, and said with a smile: "This is what people say, there is nothing in the world to disturb people. The old sisters see each other less often. I can only talk to you, but once I say it, I can’t close it. The emperor’s face is the most important thing. Sister Geng, you go back and tell Hongzhou that you need father and son soldiers to go into battle, and you rely on your own brothers to fight tigers. His prince is different from others, tell him to find a way to send that foxy son of the Xu family away, tear him apart and let them meet again, and it will be over." Geng said hurriedly: "It's easy. Surname Xu is now in the Guozijian, Leng Cao's yamen, let him go to a Taoist platform or something, and go farther, and there is no reason to leave his family in Beijing. He was promoted to a foreign official for no reason, and he didn't want to go He is a petty official, and the emperor has no reason to keep him." Several people laughed when they heard that, but they saw Wang Zhi, the head of the eunuch of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, covering the wooden slats with a yellow bundle of noodles, and covering it with an oilcloth. One rubbed into the patio.Knowing that he wanted to see the emperor, the queen mother ordered someone to call him in through the window, and said, "Did you see your master? He has gone to Kunyi Palace--let me see what rare things you entrusted!" "Auspicious Lafayette!" Wang Zhi smiled with his eyes wide open, put the tray on the kang, got up on the spot, gently lifted the tarpaulin, and said, "This is a Catholic priest in Europe named Madge Gringon." The emperor has already seen the ones that came up, and said to bring them in for Lafayette to have a look at. If Lafayette likes them, he can keep them for use.” When the Empress Dowager looked at it, on the velvet substrate, there were more than 20 exquisitely crafted jade ornaments, all of which were in the shape of a ring, a dozen wooden combs of rhinoceros horn, and a dozen golden crosses, lying crystal bright inside. A gold-cased pocket watch hung by the side of the case on a silver chain.The Empress Dowager took out ten wooden combs and gave one to each of the three concubines, and the rest of the courtiers took them away, and took three pocket watches and gave them to the concubines. For Brother Zhou, he’s in a hurry outside, so he can’t do without this.” He opened another wooden box and looked inside, and there was a piece of yellowish-black raw soil inside, staring at it for a long time: “I don’t recognize this object, What is it for?" "It's called opium," Wang Zhi said with a smile. "It's made from poppy flowers. If someone has a headache, pinch his fingernails and take it a little bit, and it will be effective immediately. Just don't use too much." The queen mother nodded. , ordered someone to cut off half and keep it.In the middle of the mouth, "What is the ring for? It's too big and heavy for earrings, and too small for a pot. Whose hands are so small?" Reaching out to uncover the paper box, Wang Zhi hurriedly opened the paper box for her, He replied: "Those are earrings. Foreign women have strong ears and are not afraid of being heavy..." Opening the box, there was a Western painting inside, which showed a girl with a breasts and a long skirt. Beautiful, a pair of big blue eyes staring at something with a smile, the most conspicuous thing is a head of golden hair, flowing from the shoulders to the feet like golden soft silk.The Empress Dowager looked at the painting and said: "Needless to say the figure is slender, but the face is also good-looking, how can we save so much? Open it up a little more, and the two big breasts will be exposed? But this hair is rare. Something." She reached out to the box and took out the object, and saw that it was a wig, the same color as the painting, and she couldn't help saying "Yo", and exclaimed in surprise: "Look at this wig! It's soft and smooth. It's slippery, just like the real thing!" She held it up and looked at it, and she suddenly became childish, smiled childishly, and put the wig on Li's head. Mrs. Li was wearing a flag dress, with her feet on the bottom of a flowerpot, and this wig on her head, which flowed brilliantly golden. It was as weird as it could be, as rare as it could be, and everyone in the hall was happy to see it. Laughing, the Qi family and the Geng family have all been widowed for many years, and today I am talking about family life with the Queen Mother, and I feel comfortable and smooth in my heart.Mrs. Qi clapped her hands and said with a smile: "The foreign girl has escaped into our palace! It's a pity that the clothes are not right, and the age is not right. In the future, all nations will be crowned emperors, and we will be able to meet foreign Fujin, and we will play with Lafayette together, how interesting it will be." Ah!" Geng smiled and said, "Sister Li looks great in this!" "It's not bad." Li smiled radiantly, turned around and admired herself, and said, "If you go to the palace once, it will be strange if you don't let the guards take it as goblins!" The crowd burst into laughter again, seeing that there was still a picture album, the queen mother took it over with great interest, and said with a smile: "This must be good, take a look!" The three concubines and several embarrassing maids also rushed over.Unexpectedly, the Queen Mother's face changed color as soon as she opened it.It turned out that in this painting a man was throwing a shuttlecock, exerting all his strength, and looking forward, but he was completely naked, and the thing hanging under his legs was hanging loosely... All the women blushed in an instant.The Queen Mother also felt embarrassed.Staring at the painting with dead eyes, he turned another page. This picture shows a woman, leaning on a swing, also naked, leaning up naked, with a head of yellow hair hanging from her shoulders to between her legs. , Helped her hide her ugliness. "These foreign devils are full!" the queen mother groaned, "I only pick up boring things to draw!"