Chapter 37 Chapter Thirty-seven

Tang'er was anxious and frightened, and struggled a few times in Qianlong's arms, but was held tightly by Qianlong's hands, so she had to resign herself to his arms.Seeing a string of lanterns enter the Zhongcui Palace, seeing the "nuns" bowing to welcome the imperial concubine, Gao Wuyong said with a funny smile outside the small Buddhist hall: "My lord, the master is offering incense inside. Tell those who follow you to avoid it!" "Really?" Nala's crisp voice outside said with a smile: "Sooner or later, the master will come back. This devotion is even touched by the Tathagata and the Buddha!" , Master Ke Keer is here too, this is also my lucky fate!" She was stunned for a moment, the candles were clearly lit, and under the Guanyin seat, Tanger, the brother-in-law of the empress's natal family, openly nestled in the arms of Emperor Qianlong!Qianlong put his arm around her shoulder, and gently stroked her hair with the other.In an instant, Nala was nailed to the ground like a nail, unable to enter, retreat, see, or avoid. His handsome and beautiful face turned sallow, and he couldn't speak a word!

Qianlong let go of the half-dizzy Tang'er, got up and walked to the incense table, folded his hands and bowed eleven times, put on three sticks of incense, bowed again, took a step back, turned around and looked at Na Lashi, for a long time, said with a smile: "Are you here to offer incense, or to catch rape?" "Yes... no..." Nala had never seen Qianlong's eyes like this before, she was so flustered that she didn't know what to say, and said after a while: "I don't know the master is here, really! I really don't know..." "It doesn't matter if you know it or you don't know it. Have you seen it?"

"The servant's eyes are not good, I didn't see anything..." "You saw it!" Hearing the heavy and stressful words, the lord lowered his head, and said after a while: "Yes... slaves don't dare to deceive the king... I saw it. If this is the case, slaves should speak to the emperor, there are already people outside. There are gossips. Once this kind of thing gets out, the emperor’s face will not look good, the empress’s face will not look good, even Tang’er can’t behave—” Before she finished speaking, Tang’er covered her face and was sobbing and crying .

"Gao Wuyong," Qianlong ordered through the door, "tell everyone who is with the imperial concubine to go back to the palace. Zhen and the imperial concubine are here to watch the night and offer incense!" After saying that, he turned around and paced back and forth.After a while, he suddenly asked: "Since ancient times, have there been any emperors who have not heard of idle work?" Nala was taken aback by his question, hesitated for a while, and said: "Maybe there is Emperor Taizong of Zhenguan? Xuanzong Kaiyuan..." Qianlong sneered Said: "Yes, you have moved out of Tang Taizong, it seems that you have read a few books! The Xuanwumen coup, Li Shimin killed his brother and usurped the throne, you know? A Wu Zetian served Taizong first, and Gaozong later. They have a good reputation Is it?"

Nala lowered her head and murmured, "Your maidservant doesn't read much..." "You should learn from your master and empress, and read books like "The Book of Daughters." Qianlong saw her blushing, lowered her head and rubbed her clothes belt, and her tenderness that was hesitant to speak, couldn't help being moved, and slowed down. He took a deep breath: "You are defending everywhere! Do the math, I have more than twice as many cards as the queen, so why are you still jealous? Don't forget, jealousy is also a rule of thumb!" He looked at it. Looking at Tang'er who bowed her head in silence, her tone became serious again. "For example, in this small Buddhist hall, I offer incense here, and I ordered you not to come in, can you come in? I just intend to cure you of this problem! I just have a relationship with Tang'er, and there is--you should follow the rules for this matter Taboo for relatives, taboo for venerables, beat Tang'er repeatedly with puns, and spread these 'gossips'! You have come and seen it, you say a regulation, are you guilty or I am guilty?!"

Qianlong's eloquent eloquence and eloquence spoke plausibly. He put a big hat of "jealousy" on Nala's head, which made her breathless. This question of "who is guilty" is even more powerful. Lashi couldn't stand anymore, knelt down and kowtowed with a "plop" and said: "The emperor's eloquence is convincing, it is... a slave... guilty..." "If you know you are guilty, I will forgive you." Qianlong said, " Speaking of the obvious today, I simply hand over Tang'er's life and face to you. She is here, you are safe, rich and honorable, and you are still my beloved concubine; if anything happens to her, you can't let her be a noble concubine, and you can't let her live!"

"Long live..." Nala fell on the ground, hugged Qianlong's feet, trembling all over, and sobbed, "I'm jealous because of love, I really love my master... I don't want others to divide me at all..." Qianlong laughed loudly, pulled Tang'er over, and said: "I love you all, and I love you all naturally. Now that the jealousy is gone, you should be good friends. Come, come, come, before Guanyin Bodhisattva, untangle this grievance." , hold hands!" The two white, tender and delicate hands hesitated for a moment and held them gently: Qianlong originally wanted to see Tang'er and went back to the Hall of Mental Cultivation. After such a turmoil, he was sleepy and wanted to listen to "gossip", so he really didn't want to go back.He ordered someone to carry a fine silk wisteria spring stool to lie down, and ordered Tang'er to sit on the chair in front of him, facing himself, while Nalashi massaged and beat himself sideways, Qianlong smiled triumphantly, "How many days can there be joy in life? I have a pair of beauties by my side today, isn't it a joy?"

"The emperor just said your master's words, some are right, some are not." Tang'er glanced at Nala, who looked a little sad, and sighed deeply, "I have a husband, anyway, this is called Sins... If it weren't for the seeds in my belly, I really think—someone outside said that Fu Heng worked for the emperor in the front, and the emperor wore it for Fu Heng in the back, wearing..." She was so ashamed that she couldn't bear it, and the "green turban" three It took a long time to say this word, but I still didn't say it. Just talking about wearing a green turban, Qianlong didn't care: there are tens of thousands of people in the world.Fu Heng also had an affair with Qianlong's twenty-seventh sister Jieying and Princess Shuo, so Deya also wore a green turban on her forehead.Deya and Yueying are not clear, so Wu Zhenqing also... Wu Zhenqing has an affair with... Even Zheng Chunhua, the ancestor of the ancestors, and Yunfeng, the wise ancestors also wear green turbans - smelly man, dirty Tang, Unclear in the Song Dynasty, confused in the Yuan Dynasty, sloppy in the Ming Dynasty, and now say "clear nose" - the same since ancient times and now.It is my own concubine in the palace now, I heard that there are some brothers who are involved,

He also wears a "green turban".It really doesn't matter.But when it comes to the words "Fu Heng is working hard at the front", it becomes extremely serious.Qianlong wanted to laugh, but he didn't, and sighed: "The word "love" in the world is arranged by nature, and no one can escape this snare.Let me tell you, Fu Heng has a very affectionate relationship with the female thief leader named Juanjuan in the cottage..." Then he told about the meeting between Fu Heng and Juanjuan on Tuo Tuo Peak, "If you really want to live, love is the law. It's hard to have both, and I'm also in a dilemma. Since he died for love, it has become a good story—other than this, what else? "

Fu Heng still had a lingering relationship with a gangster girl, Tang'er couldn't help being startled, for some reason, she felt relieved: she felt sorry for her husband, and her husband loved someone else, so it could somewhat relieve her sense of guilt.Thinking of the first time he had sex with Qianlong, and when he talked about her husband and Erqi Gege, she was faithful at this moment, and felt a little more at ease.Just thinking about it, Nala said beside him: "Your Majesty, you can't get to the bottom of what I said. If you get to the bottom of it, it will kill me, not to mention that I only heard superficial..."

"Such a serious matter?" Qianlong turned his back in, and was beaten by Nalashi, and said with a smile: "You say, I'm listening, I don't want to pursue it." "Some people say... the first emperor died unexpectedly!" Qianlong turned over and sat up with a "huh"! "Your Majesty...you said you would not pursue it..." "I still don't want to pursue it." Qianlong's face was blue and white, "but I want to understand this matter. If you explain this matter clearly, I will know it!" Seeing Tang'er stunned, Qianlong said again: "You lie here... These words are important, but they are not great things. You just rest up. I will find a place to chat with Nalashi." After speaking, Qianlong stood up, and Nalashi felt worried. Uneasy, he followed Qianlong to the courtyard. At this time, it was even more quiet, and the nuns of Zhongcui Palace gathered in the Xibei Hall to meditate because of the emperor's order not to disturb them.There was no one in the courtyard, and the desolate old eunuch who watched the night could be heard from afar, intermittently and feebly yelling "Xiaoyixin-lamp-fire..." a round and a half moon sprinkled yellow and bleak silver light on the ground On the sky, sometimes covered by floating clouds, the fragrance of flowers floating from the imperial garden and the strong Tibetan fragrance from the small Buddhist hall blend together and permeate the dark night sky.After a long time, Qianlong said in a low voice: "Xiaoqian (Nara's nickname), you can tell me." "The emperor is so trusting, and he promised not to pursue it. I don't want to hide anything." Nala's tone was very deep and clear, "When my natal brother and daughter-in-law went to Shiliu Gege's house to pay their respects, I heard people say at the banquet that the late emperor My favorite concubine, what is her name Yindi..." "Qiao Yindi." Qianlong said. "It turned out to be with Yunti." "Yes, it's called Qiao Yindi." Nala's voice trembled a little, "Yunti committed a crime and was sent to Maling Valley to guard the spirit of the ancestors, and took this girl as a neighbor. Later, someone encouraged the Fourteenth Master to rebel and asked the late emperor to find out , The guard maids changed their shifts. The first emperor took Yindi to his side and made her a low-ranking concubine. "People wonder why the late emperor would accept his own brother as his concubine? Later, a letter came out from the Ninth Master's mansion, and it turned out that this Qiao Yindi looked very much like a person - the former emperor was a prince in the early years, and once went to In disaster relief in Anhui, a flood broke out and flooded the city. The late emperor floated in a lotus vat for three days and three nights before being rescued. It was a woman who rescued him. The woman was called Xiaofu...then they got on good terms with the late emperor. Somehow This matter was known by the members of Xiaofu's clan, so they burned Xiaofu to death..." This tragic story was told by Qianlong's servant Gao Fu'er when he was a prince studying.Later, Gao Fuer was executed for rebelling against the Lord, thinking that no one in the world knew about it, but what was rumored outside was more true than Gao Fuer's!Qianlong asked thoughtfully, "What does this have to do with the death of the late Emperor?" "This Qiao Yindi looks so much like Fu'er." Nala said in a deep voice, "So the late emperor accepted her, saying that she was just a concubine, but in fact he loved her and loved her in his heart, and no one in the Six Palaces could compare with her. The Lord knows, the late emperor I don't love money or lust, but I like Yindi, who is not very good-looking. Sometimes he becomes irritable, kills people and ransacks his home, just a word from Yindi can dispel his old man's anger..." Qianlong nodded, he had seen it before.Yongzheng beat his younger brother Hongzhou once.The vines were all broken, Yindi didn't say a word, she just took the sore medicine and asked someone to wipe it on her younger brother.Tears flowed from the stern Yongzheng's eyes, he threw away the cane and left with a sigh.Qianlong was about to tell what he saw, when Nalashi said in shock: "No one will believe it, it was Qiao Yindi who killed Emperor Guang!" Qianlong suddenly shuddered: he suddenly thought of that excited Horrible night, two strange corpses, strange bloodstains, Yongzheng's inexplicable edict. "This is what a court lady saw with her own eyes. That night, it happened that this maid was on duty at night, bringing water in to give the late emperor medicine. She saw the late emperor staring at Yindi tenderly for a long time, saying that it was hard for you to be so loyal. I was annoyed to death every day." Tired to death, strange to see you, all fatigue is gone - since you said this pill is good, I will take it with you, you take one pill, I take one pill, use it!' Yindi smiled and handed over the water Go, while taking the medicine, the first emperor said with a smile, "there were three major suspicious cases in the previous Ming Dynasty, and one of them was the "red pill case". "He took it, and Yindi took it too. "The lady-in-waiting was walking to the window when she heard a 'dang' sound inside. She stood on tiptoe and looked in, suddenly frightened: "Yongzheng's face turned blood red, he covered his stomach with one hand, and pointed at Yindi with the other, saying that you...you...you want to kill me? I... I gave you my heart! Oh...it's like a fire in my stomach... ...I'm going to die... "Yindi stood in front of the table, picked up a paper cutter, rushed up a few steps, and stabbed the late Emperor's chest with a 'bass', and stabbed it in - the maid was so frightened that she grabbed the window and even I can't even shout!" Qianlong was also shocked. This situation was exactly the same as the scene he saw that night. How could people not believe it?He stared blankly at Hei Meimei's large and small palaces, feeling eerie and cold... I don't know how long it took before he breathed out and asked, "What happened next?" "Yindi stabbed the late Emperor. Seeing the late emperor's struggle, she was so frightened that she retreated to the case. She stared straight at the late emperor. With a knife on his chest, the late emperor staggered and refused to fall, and asked with difficulty: 'You ...You tell me, why?—Since I love you, I will die...with no complaints...' Yindi said: 'I saw my mother...my mother told me everything...' 'Your mother!Who is your mother?She said... what? ' 'My mother is Xiaofu!Master Fourteen is my uncle, and you are my father! ' Lord Yongzheng seemed to be struck by lightning, he stopped staggering, his eyes were wide open, he stared at Yindi, went around in a circle, and suddenly laughed, "Is there such a thing in the world?"This kind of thing happened to be shared with Yinzhen?Ah——' He stopped laughing suddenly, and asked again, "Where's your mother?"Zhen——I want to see... see her... oh... it's your aunt who was burned... I understand, I understand..." Seeing him in such pain, Yindi took a step back in shock, and said sadly, "Listen, mother." Talk about me... also took medicine... died...' "Blood was oozing from Yongzheng's chest. He walked a few steps towards the case, dipped his finger in the blood and wrote a few words, then he didn't speak anymore... Back to the bed, he said to Yindi: 'Daughter, the knife I can't stand if you pull me out, good boy, you have to live...Nian your father was kept in the dark about everything, and told Ama to die more quickly, he pulled out the knife suddenly as he said, blood gushed out of his chest immediately ...The first emperor touched the blood-dripping knife in his hand, and said intermittently: 'Come...quick...you...go here and strike again!' "Yindi took the knife with trembling hands, looked at the dying Yongzheng Lord, suddenly looked up to the sky and laughed miserably, shouting 'God...God! You are so cruel—' She pointed at her heart and plunged in... ..." After Nala finished speaking, her petite body seemed to be shivering with extreme cold, and she nestled her head in Qianlong's arms in fear, and said in a trembling voice: "Your Majesty, I'm afraid...the Forbidden City...the forbidden garden of the palace is like every day. There are stories and ghosts in every house...To be honest, I'm afraid at night...I feel a little more at ease when I'm with you. I'm not all jealous, I just look forward to being with you more Thanks to you, I can suppress the evil..." Qianlong had been immersed in this terrible story, and only now did he bring his thoughts back to reality, confirming his own memory.Nala's vivid words fit so well with the scene when he saw his father's tragic death that night - he shook his brows imperceptibly, lifted Nala's shoulders, and secretly looked at her pale and blurred eyes. face, and asked: "That 'maid' is you?" Nalashi seemed to be startled, lowered his head, and his voice was almost inaudible: "Yes..." "You have to know that these things are rumored to destroy the nine clans." Qianlong frowned tightly, and said: "At that time, Minister Wang discussed that all the eunuchs and maids of Danningju will be stabbed into dumb, and they will never be allowed to leave the palace. You are not stupid People, how dare to spread such words?" "No, no, no!" Nala's knees softened and she knelt down, "I swear to God, I didn't reveal a word of what I said just now. The rumors outside are worse than this. I—" She lowered her voice Sobbing his head, "You know, you said that I sleep like a child, and I never even talk in my sleep..." Qianlong picked her up, stared at her and asked, "How do rumors spread outside?" Wiping away his tears, he said: "Someone said that on the night of the late Emperor's sudden death, only...you were present, and said that the Lord was the same as Yunfeng, and had 'that' with Yindi. The late Emperor bumped into him, and he was so pissed off—I I just told the truth just now to make my master understand that someone has spread rumors about me. I know in my heart that my master is innocent. If I really want to ask me to die for my master one day, I will not hesitate!" Qianlong was deeply moved by her affection, but these malicious rumors outside the palace made him feel uneasy: Where is the source of this rumor?What is the reason for these rumors?He suddenly thought of Yang Mingshi's inexplicable sudden illness, those amazing movements and expressions before his death, and he fell into deep thought... "Your Majesty, Your Majesty..." Nala gently tugged at the corner of Qianlong's clothes.Said: "Yelu has come down, please... enter the Buddhist hall." "Oh!" Qianlong woke up from the stupefaction, smiled coldly, and said: "I won't go in. Many people are suspicious now! You and Tang'er are fasting and keeping time together, and have a good chat. I'm going back to the Hall of Mental Cultivation." He smiled and gently twisted Nala's face, "Tomorrow I will turn over your brand! —— ? This time I said clearly, after Tang'er enters the palace, she will rest in your palace!" Nala blushed, wanted to spit, but swallowed it back. When Qianlong returned to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, he wanted to send an order to order Zhang Tingyu to come in, but he looked at the chiming bell, it was already past Haizheng, and the key to the palace gate had already been unlocked.I want to read the memorial, but I can't read a word of it tonight.After thinking for a while, he called Gao Wuyong, and asked: "You often go to the Palace of Compassion and Peace at night, has Lafayette usually rested these days?" "Definitely not!" Gao Wuyong said with a smile, "Lafayette is in good spirits, even if you have nothing to do, you have to burn the joss sticks every now and then, and rest only after checking the incense sticks. Today, I sent a message to Fu Liuye about his victory, and it's another day to bathe the Buddha. Just now, the servant came back to fetch donkey-hide gelatin and Tibetan incense. Seeing that the seventeenth old aunt came to see the master, he wanted to ask the master to wipe the cards in the Palace of Compassion, and the meeting must not be over yet. Either playing cards, or fighting with concubines and princesses Let’s talk about ancient records!” Qianlong said: “I’m a bit delusional today. Let’s go and have a look!” Gao Wuyong hurriedly said: “Since the emperor wants to go there, let me take a step to report to Lafayette !" Qianlong ordered people to wear a big fashion, and said with a smile: "What do you report when the son sees his mother? Let's go now." The queen mother was really wiping the cards, but the atmosphere was not as lively and cheerful as Qianlong imagined.She sat on a porcelain pier in front of the big kang, facing the queen.On both sides of the queen mother are two old aunts, Sigege and Shiqigege, both old widows, holding cards solemnly.Standing behind Seventeen Gege is a young woman about 30 years old, wearing a five-clawed flying dragon and four dragon coats, with giant dragons on the front and back, walking dragons on both shoulders, and a gold-carved two-layer ruby ​​facing crown on her head. Holding the seven orbs, seeing Qianlong coming in, he knelt down without saying a word. "Mother is happy." Qianlong came over with a smile, greeted the Queen Mother, got up and said, "My son is sleepy tonight, and I want to come and talk to my mother—this is Seventh Sister, what are you doing kneeling? Man, it’s the rules now, and you’re still wearing a dress! Forgot to play cricket fight when I was a child, I lost, and sister Qi scratched my nose so badly!" Qi Gege heard Qianlong talking about this, and his face burst into tears. With a slight smile, he also said with a smile: "Master only remembers my bad points! A lychee, you eat meat and I bite the pit, forget it?" Qianlong laughed out loud.The atmosphere suddenly eased a lot. While playing cards, the Queen Mother said to Qi Gege: "Look, looking for someone to talk to can relieve boredom and make you feel better? Don't be bored in the room and think about things! You are a group of sisters, If there is someone who hits it off, they often walk around, listen to a play, play an old memoir, and so on, and the days will go away." Qianlong thought about it, guessing that it was his sister Missing and Zhang Guangsi's son who served in the Sichuan Army, so he laughed He said: "If you don't endure hardships, it's hard to be a master. The forehead has no military merits, and the civil service has no Jinshi, so I can only be the temple minister of Guanglu Temple. The brother asked the nephew to go out, which also means to earn face for you. The seventeenth aunt is an example. The first called Mogro to set off, and the seventeenth aunt was also reluctant. How is it now? Admiral of Fujian! Jianya opened the government and sealed the frontiers. Wherever he goes, he is majestic! Just like Lafayette Speaking of which, when you are bored, you just walk around and talk to people. If you really miss your son, it is not difficult to send a message asking him to ask for leave and come back to live for ten and a half months. When you get through it in the future, you will also taste It’s sweet. The Qing Dynasty has a system, and you can’t be appointed as a knight without military merits. Brothers can’t go beyond this ceremony even if they are emperors. You can’t be a foolish emperor, right?” "What the emperor said is true." The queen mother and several old princesses couldn't help laughing, and the queen mother smiled and said: "Don't think about it. If your surname is Aixinjueluo, then you are doomed to this fate! —— Minger, your fourth sister Birthday, you want to act, you go back and tell her that I want to go to the theater. Fu Heng won the battle ahead, and the emperor is also happy. Tomorrow, the military aircraft department will have a day off, and he will go with me to relax ——Emperor, can you do it?” Qianlong thought about it: Acting was not allowed before the funeral period was less than three years old, but in fact, the ban on drinking and singing at weddings and funerals for officials and people in the world has long been lifted. The mother was benevolent, so she bowed and smiled, and said: "It's been a long time since I saw my old sister, but I still have something to do tomorrow morning. I came here to discuss with Lafayette tonight. Lafayette will go first tomorrow, and I will go later Breaking into the banquet to disturb her, maybe she would be more happy! What do you think of the queen mother? Ask the queen to accompany you first, okay?" Only then did everyone know that Qianlong came to the Cining Palace at night to ask the queen mother for instructions, so they lost their cards. They got up and resigned.