Chapter 4 Chapter Four Jade Mark (Part 2)

The dusk in spring darkened early, and the night was as hazy as gauze, with the last ray of bright purple rays, covering elder brother's body under the dark golden color of the heavy sand.The pear blossoms outside the window are in full bloom, and only one spring rain can ruin the last prosperity.Occasionally, there is a wind blowing, blowing the trees full of snow and fragrant flowers, and the shadows of the flowers are heavy and about to fall. Yuyan lingered outside elder brother's house for a long time, suffering from not being able to enter the hall, when Luyun happened to pass by, she ignored her, turned her face away and just ignored her.

On the other hand, Luyun didn't care about being sympathetic, so he called first: "Why is Jiagui here?" Yuyan made a hasty salute, and said stubbornly: "Pure concubine, do you want to accuse the concubine of leaving the palace without authorization? The emperor scolded the concubine and told the concubine not to leave the palace without incident, but the concubine's ninth elder brother was weak and restless, and the concubine also Can't you come to Brother's place to have a look?" Kexin said indignantly: "Mr. Jia was also a noble concubine and was in charge of the Sixth Palace, so she naturally knows the rules of the ancestors. Visiting Elder Brother is sometimes arranged, and it is not just whoever wants to enter Elder Brother's place."

Luyun hurriedly pressed Kexin and said: "Master Jia, the nanny who is serving Brother Jiu has been following you all the time, presumably she will also take good care of Brother Jiu, so you can rest assured." "Slave, they're all cheap!" Yuyan glanced at Kexin and said, "If you don't beat or scold for a day, you will be turned upside down. If you leave Qixiang Palace, without me watching, how can you take good care of the child." Then, Yuyan Yan sneered and said: "Concubine Chun is also a person with children. Although her own children are not well-bred, she doesn't have to treat other people's children like this. You know, if you don't care enough about your children, you will not know what kind of black-hearted seeds will be raised in the future."

Luyun is good-natured in everything, but he can't listen to criticizing his own children. How can he bear it for a while, and said sarcastically: "Mr. Jiagui's words are right! If the mother's body is not right, it will indeed be retribution on the children. Originally, this At that time, brother Jiu should be raised by your side, it doesn't suffer like this!" Yuyan blushed with anger, and was about to refute, when the eunuch in charge of the antique house happened to bring something over, and when she saw Luyun, she hurriedly greeted her and said, "Pure imperial concubine and empress, good luck and golden safety, and good luck to the noble people."

Kexin said: "Jiagui will only ridicule others blindly, but he can't help anything. If it weren't for the little lord, Brother Jiu might not even be able to get some jade articles to sleep on. Can you count on Jiagui? What is the mother doing?" Seeing that there were too many people coming, Yuyan couldn't stay for a long time, so she snorted and said, "Don't be hypocritical! Do you really think I don't know what you're doing?" After finishing speaking, she walked away. Lu Yun repeatedly smiled wryly: "I know how to restrain my nature and keep myself safe for the sake of children. How can such a noble man end up with such a temper?"

Ke Xin said: "People are doing it, the sky is watching, let her go. The young master should tell the emperor that the nobleman left the palace without authorization to contradict the young master." Luyun stroked her temples, shook her head and said: "One thing more is worse than one thing less. Why should I make things difficult for others. I must pity him for being a mother." After saying that, she also had the heart to support her. The eunuch in charge of the antique room sent the corresponding jade jars to Brother Jiu's room, arranged them on the long red sandalwood table next to his pillow, and told the wet nurse: "This is what the pure imperial concubine ordered. They should all be placed close to Brother Nine for peace of mind, so don’t miss the place.”

Because Yuyan fell out of favor, the nurses didn't care much about Brother Jiu, they promised, but they were lazy.At night, the nursing mothers became more and more slack, and one of them, Nanny Chen, said: "The imperial doctor said that elder brother Jiu couldn't drink the medicine. The medicine was too bitter, and elder brother Jiu would vomit after drinking it, so we asked us to drink it and turn it into milk to feed to Jiu." Brother." Another Li Nanny said: "That medicine is bitterer than Coptis chinensis. Brother Jiu's tongue can't drink it for fear of suffering. Isn't our tongue a human tongue? I took a sip and poured it out quietly. Amitabha, take a drink!" Even a bowl of honey can't slow down."

Chen Nanny smiled and said: "It turns out that my sister is the same as me. Actually, it's not just a cold, it's better to cover it tightly, and it's useless to take so many medicines." Just as he was talking, Brother Jiu started crying again. Annoyed: "Crying early and late, there is never a time to rest. He is not tired from crying, but we are tired from listening first." Nanny Li waved her hand and said, "Forget it, let's just watch it. Mr. Jiagui's fiery temper, if you hear it, you'll think we've treated Brother Jiu harshly. I came here yesterday morning to see Brother Jiu lost weight, and scolded him again. Let's get through."

Nanny Chen sneered and said: "She still thinks she is a noble concubine, but now she is a noble lady, one word difference is a big difference. Every time she comes here, she beats chickens and scolds dogs. I think Brother Nine is the one on the stall. Such a mother-in-law has come to this point." She yawned, "I cried so much at noon that I couldn't sleep well, I'll go to sleep in the back for a while, you watch first." Nanny Li agreed, untied her clothes and fed Brother Jiu a few sips of milk. Seeing that Brother Jiu was sleepy and had no appetite, she frowned and said, "I can't even drink milk." She hugged him on the bed, After patting him casually a few times to lull him to sleep, he dozed off beside the bed.

In the dead of night, the red candles were shining brightly, exuding a faint fire light.Brother Jiu was so tired from crying that he finally fell asleep.The jade vase on the table shimmered with luster, and there was a rustling sound, which sounded particularly strange in the still night.Suddenly, the jade bottle shook a few times, tilted with a thud, rolled around on the table, and knocked down two sapphire vases with two ears next to it.Those bottles and cans were all polished to a very round shape, and they fell off the long table with a height of one person, and smashed into pieces with a loud sound.

Brother Jiu suddenly heard the huge sound of bumping and falling, and cried heart-piercingly.Nanny Li was also woken up, she rubbed her eyes and saw a gray mouse crawling across the ground, then raised her broom and chased it away: "It's unlucky, a mouse came out and bumped into something." It's a pity again and again, "Such a good jade bottle is worth a lot of money just to be broken." She swept a little, and impatiently patted Brother Jiu to coax her, and only took a few shots, only to see Brother Jiu's complexion was livid, his eyes were rolling, his stomach was twitching, and his whole body was covered with bean sprouts. beads of sweat, and the crying became weaker and weaker.She was a little panicked, and hurriedly called Mother Chen to come out. When the two of them watched together, Brother Jiu's face was already pale, and his hands and feet could not move anymore. He could only breathe out but not breathe in.The two looked at each other, rushed out in a panic and shouted: "Prince doctor, doctor, brother Jiu is not good!" Brother Jiu stopped breathing before the imperial physician arrived.When the emperor came to Elder Brother's place to visit, Yuyan had already cried into tears, tightly hugging Ninth Elder Brother's cold body and refused to let go.She sat on the ground with disheveled hair, as if she had been awakened from sleep, her face was not covered with makeup, and her face became more and more yellow and pitiful.Seeing her like this, the emperor couldn't help feeling a little sympathetic, and hurriedly asked Jin Zhong and Yu Hu to help Yu Yan up. The emperor angrily said to the wet nurse: "Well, how do you take care of elder brother?" The imperial physician kneeling on the ground was the court judge Qi Lu, he hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, Brother Jiu was crying with a cold, his heart and lungs were weak, and suddenly he heard the loud sound of the jade bottle falling and shattering, he was terrified and died of a convulsion." The emperor looked at the fragments of jade wares all over the floor: "How could a good jade bottle fall down? Did you guys not be careful?!" Mother Li was frightened and hurriedly replied: "The emperor forgives the sin, the emperor forgives the sin. These jade bottles were sent from the antique room at dusk, and they were said to be sent by the pure noble concubine to rest her mind and sleep. The servant girl guarded the ninth elder brother to sleep , Somehow, a mouse slipped into the room, and the bottle was smashed to scare my elder brother." Chen Momo also kowtowed desperately and said: "Your Majesty, the slaves dare not lie, indeed they dare not walk away even if they are guarding elder brother. Originally, the slaves even breastfed Brother Jiu, who slept soundly. No one knows how the beast sneaked in to do harm." Qilu said: "Elder Brother Nine has a cold and is weak from the mother's womb, so I can't hear a big noise. The Tai Hospital has been prescribing the right medicine for Elder Nine these days. Brother Jiu didn't drink much of these medicines, he was seriously ill and was frightened, so he passed away before the imperial doctor came." The emperor was frightened and angry, and shouted: "Why did brother Jiu have a cold but didn't take his medicine? Where did his medicine go?" Nanny Chen and Nanny Li looked at each other in shock: "The soup is too bitter, my little elder brother can't drink it, so, so..." Qilu said: "My elder brother is young, and there are some who can't drink the medicine. The nurses can drink it by themselves and turn it into milk for the elder brother. It's the same. But judging from the last appearance of the ninth elder brother, these medicines have not reached the nurses. I'm afraid the medicine is too bitter, so nurses don't want to drink it." When Yuyan heard this, her dull eyes turned twice, and she handed the nine princes in the cup to Yuhu, rushed up like crazy, grabbed the two nurses and tore and beat them: "You black-hearted Woman, I usually don’t take good care of Brother Nine, I’m lazy and slack off! Now I’m here, I’m going to kill my Brother Nine!” She hated to the extreme, and she attacked fiercely, pulling and clawing like a crazy mother beast, nurses He didn't dare to dodge, his face was covered in bloodstains from being grabbed by her, and he was in a panic. The emperor couldn't stand it anymore, and waved his hand to hold Yuyan.Nanny Chen couldn't help but said: "Mr. Jia is here to blame this servant, and this servant dare not tell the difference! It's just that if the nobleman hadn't thought of harming others, brother Jiu would still take good care of you by your side. You can't help it every time Go to Elder Brother's place to beat chickens and scold dogs. You can't get rats in your palace!" Yuyan cried her eyes straight, and the emperor said coldly: "How dare you speak up when you do something wrong! Li Yu, these two lowly maidservants didn't take good care of the prince, so they died young. They were dragged out immediately and had their hands and feet broken before giving them death." Seeing the wet nurse being dragged out, Yuyan hugged the emperor's leg and cried, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty! Concubine Chun has no good intentions. She has always suspected that it was the concubine who provoked the elder brother and the third elder brother to fall out of favor with you, so she gave it to you." The jade bottle came to harm the ninth elder brother, and the concubine ninth elder brother died so unjustly!" The emperor waved his hand and said: "Okay. I have seen this jade bottle. It is a tribute sent by Li Chao. The pure noble concubine can't do anything. But if the pure noble concubine is wrong, it is only because she cares about your son too much. I see that just now The two wet nurses look like you don't usually treat them well, so they dare to ignore Brother Jiu. Don't cry like this, anyway, you still have Yongxuan and Yongxuan." Yuyan cried hoarsely, and fell to the ground: "Your Majesty, even if the concubine is wrong, the concubine's love for the son is not wrong! The concubine has followed you for so many years, serving you wholeheartedly, and giving birth to an imperial heir for you. Now that I have lost even my youngest son, if you are not by my side, what is the point of my life!" After she finished speaking, she got up in a daze and slammed into the wall. Fortunately, Li Yu's eyes were quick and his hands were quick, so he grabbed him.Seeing her like this, the emperor was both angry and pitiful, so he ordered Qi Lu: "Mr. Jiagui is overly sad, give her some tranquilizing medicine." Qi Lu agreed, and the emperor said again: "Li Yu, send off Mrs. Jiagui well later. Go back to the palace, and then notify the Ministry of Internal Affairs to handle the affairs of Brother Jiu." After finishing speaking, he kept the last warmth in his palm, stroked Brother Jiu's already cold face, tears flashed from the corner of his eyes, and walked Weary pace went out. The sudden death of elder brother Jiu made Yuyan so sad beyond words.Because of Yuyan's fall out of favor, elder brother Jiu has never been named. At this time the emperor was also sad, and ordered elder brother Jiu to be buried in the dormitory of Crown Prince Duanhui, and all funerals will be carried out according to the status of the county king.But every time Yuyan sees the emperor, she has to suspect that it is Brother Jiu who was murdered by Luyun, and it is inevitable that the emperor will neglect Luyun, and even less go to Zhongcui Palace. Luyun had no way to complain, so she had to pull Ruyi and weep: "The imperial concubine must make the decision for me. Although the jade bottle was given by me, who knew that beast would crawl into it. The emperor loves brother Jiu, You can't let me suffer this injustice." Although Ruyi didn't believe that Luyun would harm Brother Jiu, but he couldn't say anything about it, so he could only comfort him with words: "Pure Concubine, don't be sad. Chill you, to avoid suspicion." Luyun cried and complained: "Now I know. The emperor is dubious about such a disappearance, so it can be seen that he has never believed in us. I have served the emperor for more than ten years, and I have given birth to children for him, but I don't even have this little trust." If I can’t get it, how can I gain a foothold in the future? No wonder I can’t even protect my child.” Lu Yun's words were sad, but it was not Ruyi's heartache.It turned out that she was no different from others. On the contrary, Yan Wan dissuaded her from the sidelines: "Pure concubine sees clearly, but don't be too sad. The emperor treats you like this, why is he not like Jia Guiren." She sighed, "Perhaps except for Empress Xiaoxian, there is really no one else. People can go to the heart of the emperor." Lu Yun became even more sad when she heard the words: "Then what is the purpose of my life? Children cannot be sheltered, and kindness cannot last long. I have the position of noble concubine, but I am alone. Why do I have to come here?" The lips are dead and the teeth are cold, the rabbit is dead and the fox is sad.The sadness and doubts in Ruyi's heart are just like Luyun's.This life has been tossing and tossing, struggling hard, what is it that you want? Although the emperor didn't like Yuyan's framing of Ruyi, seeing her so sad for his beloved son, he didn't feel pity.Just when Li Chao heard about the death of Brother Nine, he wrote a letter to express his condolences. The emperor could not disregard Li Chao's face too much.Lian Ruyi also persuaded: "Looking at the past friendship, there are still Yongxuan and Yongxuan, the emperor should go to comfort Jiagui." Li Yu also said: "The noble man is thirty-seven years old. Seeing his youngest son pass away, he may not be able to have another prince in the future. How can he not be mad with grief." At that time, Jiang and Bin were asking for Ruyi's peace of mind. After listening to this, they watched the emperor leave, and then sneered: "Eunuch Li's words are most impeccable. He has become a good person, and reminds the emperor of his noble age. Fading." Ruyi smiled slightly, and lowered her head to embroider the picture of spring branches stretched on the red sandalwood embroidery frame: "Then tell me, what did you do?" Jiang Yubin smiled and said: "Nothing can be hidden from the imperial concubine. I can't do cruel things that hurt others, but I just added a lot of Coptis chinensis to Brother Jiu's cold medicine. In this way, Brother Jiu can't drink it, and those who suffer The nursing mother who was beaten and scolded by the Jiagui people refused to drink it, so it is difficult for Brother Jiu to recover from his illness. But Coptis chinensis has the effect of clearing away heat and dampness, purging fire and detoxifying, and it is the most effective in treating high fever, dizziness, upset and insomnia. There is no wrong medicine." Ruyi smiled like smoke: "Use a blind Coptis chinensis, let Jiagui people also taste the pain of Coptis chinensis from you and Song Xin." Jiang Yubin said distressedly: "When I think that Xin's legs can no longer walk like ordinary people, I feel very sad. Originally, I just wanted to let Brother Jiu suffer from some illnesses, but I didn't expect him to be frightened and die." He sneered. , "Probably this is the so-called unhappiness of retribution. But now that the emperor is willing to go to Qixiang Palace to see her, it can be regarded as a blessing in disguise for her." Seeing the emperor's Ming Huangyu driving into Qixiang Palace, Yan Wan stood under the moonlight, feeling the mild April night wind blowing pleasantly on her cheeks with the fragrance of magnolia flowers.The sky was covered by dark clouds, covering half of the crescent moon. The half moon was reflected on the towering red wall, floating and sinking in the shimmering light and shadow of the shattered glazed tiles that were floating like brocade, and gradually became fragmented. There is also a bit of a jade-like shadow on the beautiful face. Lan Cui was quite worried and said: "The emperor has been visiting Jiagui every day these days. Hearing Jinzhong's tone, the emperor is afraid that he will be promoted to her position. My lord, are we just marrying others for nothing? Clothes?" Yan Wan held a faint smile: "A promotion is a promotion, and a visit is a visit. The faces of the left and right emperors are all for Li Chao, not just for Jiagui. Besides, he is thirty-seven years old. A woman, once she is over forty, she is like a flower that has failed to bloom. A flower can't bloom for a hundred days, so how many days can she have? I am young, so I can tolerate the emperor's pity for her for a while." Lan Cui said, "Yes." Yan Wan smiled and held her hand, and pushed a string of red gold and eight treasures bracelets onto her wrist.Lan Cui hurriedly wanted to retreat, and said eagerly: "Young master's reward, slaves dare not accept it." Yan Wan smiled and said: "You did a good job this time, I should reward you." Lan Cui pursed her lips and said with a smile: "The servant just caught a very hungry mouse and stuffed it quietly into the jade bottle. In the dead of night, when the animal smelled the fragrance of milk, there was no reason why the beast would not come out in a hurry. The jade bottle The mouth is slender and the belly is big, if you stuff it in, you won't be able to climb out of the mouth of the bottle, so you have to knock over the jade bottle and escape." Yan Wan smiled and said: "The so-called big mouse startled Yu Ping'er, that's what it is. You did a good job. This is the emperor's fault, and I can only blame the pure noble concubine for her meddling and courteousness." The next day, the emperor made a decree to restore Yuyan as a concubine.Then he wrote back to Li Chao, expressing his gratitude to the Lord Li Chao for his care for his concubine and the emperor's heir. Hailan then smiled at Ruyi: "On the surface, it seems that the emperor is comforting Concubine Jia's pain of losing her son, but in fact, it is easier for Concubine Jia to be on an equal footing with Concubine Jia." Yan Wan smiled and said to Ruyi: "My sister has always been affected by the concubine's face, even if she is the same concubine as her, but a prince is different after all." She stroked her stomach and said, "My sister has been kind for so long, and I don't know how to treat her." I'm always not pregnant, I really don't know..." In the middle of speaking, Yan Wan remembered that Ruyi had been empty-handed all the time, and hurriedly got up: "Imperial Concubine, please forgive me, my sister didn't mean it." Ruyi smiled lightly: "Sister, don't worry, you are still young, and you will have a child sooner or later." She looked at Yi Huan who was sitting beside her with reddish eyes, and said softly, "The same is true for Concubine Shu. , as long as you have the heart, there will always be." Yi Huan wiped the corners of her eyes, but said with force on her mouth: "Thank you, Imperial Concubine, for your concern." Ruyi said softly: "Actually, the emperor is very considerate to Sister Concubine Shu and the Jin nobles. He also wants you to conceive early, so he has been rewarding the birth control medicine. I heard that recently, even the concubine Jia is also asking for the birth control medicine from the imperial hospital. I hope to add another prince to the emperor." When Yan Wan heard the word "Jia Concubine", her complexion became sour: "It's a lot of age, and you still don't give up. What are you doing to give birth to a prince? If you don't live up to yourself, what's the use of saving more money?" She After talking angrily, seeing that Ruyi didn't care about it, she hurriedly put on an apologetic smile and said tentatively: "The imperial concubine is in her prime, so she should drink some fertility medicine, so that she can give birth to a prince as soon as possible." Ruyi said with a smile: "When I was young, I and the imperial concubine Huixian were anxious to have no children. Seeing other people's children fall to the ground one by one and grow up, there is no reason not to be impatient. Drink bowls of fertility medicine After going down, the tongue I drank was not my own. But after thinking about it, no matter how good the medicine from the hospital is, it is three-point poison after all. Besides, the matter of children and heirs is preordained, so I don’t force it.” Yan Wan looked at Ruyi's expression and saw that she didn't look like a fake, so she also smiled and said: "What the empress said is true. The younger sisters have been taught." Yi Huan also said: "That's right, after drinking these birth control drugs these years, the desire to have a child has also faded from the drink. In short, just let fate." Apart from Yikun Palace, Yan Wan's expression was a little anxious, and Chunchan knew that she was sad about her children again, so she said, "My lord, it's fifteen today, and it's most effective to go to Baohua Palace to offer incense. The servant girl will accompany the little lord for a while." Let's go." Yan Wan was a little dazed: "Chunchan, you said that Bengong has been taking those birth control medicines for so many years, but there is still no movement at all. If not, then stop those medicines, and Bengong will be annoyed after drinking them." .” Chunchan said: "The emperor rewarded Concubine Shu with this medicine. It's not easy for us to get it secretly. If we don't drink it, it will be even more difficult to conceive." Yan Wan thought for a moment, then hesitated and said: "That's right, I and this one should be asking for comfort. By the way, Concubine Jia has also asked the imperial hospital for the birth control medicine. Be careful with our prescription, and don't be imitated by her." went." Chunchan hurriedly said: "That's right. No matter how good the confinement medicine from the Imperial Hospital is, it's better than what the emperor rewarded. The medicine that my lord has been taking these few years is all boiled by my slaves with prescriptions. The concubine Jia doesn't know. .” Yan Wan caressed her heart, the emerald beaded armor on her fingers reflected the green color of her chin: "However, my concubine is so sad without Brother Jiu, I am really happy! Letting Concubine Chun suffer in the cold can be regarded as killing two birds with one stone." Chunchan smiled and said: "That's not true. At the beginning, Concubine Chun thought she was going to be a queen, how proud she was. Later, her elder brother and third elder brother fell out of favor, and everyone would believe that she was going to harm the concubine's child. " The two were smiling when they saw Ling Yunche leading two guards coming from the front.Lin motion sickness saluted like a ceremonial: "Ling concubine and empress, safe and sound." Yan Wan raised her chin reservedly: "Master Ling." Ling Yunche glanced at the two guards behind him, and the two guards retreated by themselves.Yun Che said: "The concubine seems to be very happy." Yan Wan felt a little uncomfortable: "I have nothing to be upset about." Yun Che pondered for a moment, then looked directly at her and said, "Forgive me for being bold. Does the concubine know about Brother Jiu's death?" Yan Wan raised her eyebrows: "No one in the palace knows this." He stepped forward and whispered, "Is it related to you?" Yan Wan lowered her face: "Bold! Concubine Chun ordered the things to be delivered, how dare you wantonly doubt Bengong?" Yun Che had a meaningful wry smile: "Everyone thinks that this incident has something to do with the pure imperial concubine, and my guess is not suspicion, but understanding. Your concubine, I just went to the antique room. On the way to send the jade bottle in Elder Brother's room, I met Lan Cui who was next to the empress, and Lan Cui touched those jade bottles. Weichen thought, how did Elder Brother suddenly get a mouse in it, and knocked it down so coincidentally? The jade bottle frightened Brother Nine?" Yan Wan's expression changed slightly, she was a little panicked: "Then what are you going to do?" Yun Che said neither humble nor overbearing: "If I intend to report the truth to the emperor, the emperor will decide. What do you think?" Yan Wan took a step back in shock: "How dare you!" Yun Che concentrated on it for a long time, then cupped his hands and said: "Madam Ling, what I know is only limited to the people who have met the antique house in Lan Cui. As for whether Lan Cui has encountered the jade vase, even the people in the antique house are only joking. , I didn’t see it clearly. But your reaction tells Wei Chen that Wei Chen’s speculation is true.” Yan Wan was frightened and angry: "You dare to test this palace?!" "If your concubine dares to murder the emperor's heir, why don't you dare to test your concubine?" He got up and walked straight forward.Yan Wan panicked and shouted: "Ling Yunche!" Yun Che didn't look back, Yan Wan rushed a few steps, stopped him and said, "Brother Yun Che, because of our years of friendship—" Yun Che interrupted her, and said sadly: "From the day you tricked me into Yongshou Palace, we have no love for each other."