Chapter 5 Chapter Five

Yan Wan's delicate and beautiful face like a daffodil was slightly distorted due to nervousness and anxiety, she hurriedly grabbed Yun Che's sleeve, and dragged him into the nearby passageway, even changing her tone of drinking: "Brother Yun Che, I'm so Of course I did it for myself, but it was also for the imperial concubine. Concubine Jia framed the imperial concubine on the charge of adultery, and the imperial concubine was confined to Yikun Palace for a few days, and Rui Xin was imprisoned in the Punishment Department and tortured. Aren't you anxious? I It was to plead for the imperial concubine, and I knelt outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation for so long, and you saw it with your own eyes. I just want to save the imperial concubine and avenge the imperial concubine, so what's wrong?" She said in a panic, "And , and if Concubine Jia didn't have bad intentions herself, how could her child be so frightened that she would die after being frightened. This is retribution, not me!"

Yun Che was annoyed: "The child can't help being scared, it's because your hands are too cruel!" Seeing that he was hard to move, Yan Wan felt angry: "My hands are too cruel? Who in this palace is not cruel? Who hasn't got dirt on their hands? It's the imperial concubine. Above men, who knows what her hands have done?" Yun Che's expression was as cold as ice, and there was also a flash of compassion: "I can't criticize what the imperial concubine has done. Yan Wan, I know that the concubine Jia has been bullying you, but you have been wronged for hurting brother Jiu." Pure noble concubine. It is not difficult for you to protect yourself, why do you want to imitate the concubine Jia? Are you not afraid of retribution?"

Yan Wan sneered and said: "Retribution? What retribution can I have? I don't have any children of my own, so I am the same as the imperial concubine. If this is retribution, it is also the retribution of the imperial concubine." Yun Che shook his head: "I thought you did this to cling to the imperial concubine's favor and seek support from her. It turns out that you are nothing more than that to her. Yan Wan, I really have nothing to say to you." Yan Wan took a deep breath: "Yes. You and I have nothing to say, but you must expose to the emperor that I did this thing, and I will tell the emperor that the imperial concubine and concubine Yu ordered me to do it. Anyway, Concubine Jia died of a child, Concubine Chun was left out in the cold, such a thing that kills two birds with one stone, no matter what, others will believe that it was done by Concubine Huang Guifei and Concubine Yu."

Yun Che took a step closer, his expression deeply cold: "How dare you!" Yan Wan simply smiled resolutely: "Even if I die, I can't die by myself. Your glory and wealth are given to you by the imperial concubine, so you can see if I dare?" Yun Che shook off her hand vigorously: "Yan Wan, you are beyond recognition." There was a bit of sadness in Yan Wan's cold tone: "Why don't you? In the past, you only cared about me, but now you not only care about the glory and wealth, but also care about the imperial concubine." Yun Che's heart trembled slightly: "The imperial concubine is my benefactor."

Yan Wan stared into her eyes: "But she is also a woman." She suddenly felt a little proud, "However, she is just a woman who looks similar to me but is older than me." Yun Che calmly accepted her smile with his eyes: "The imperial concubine is indeed older than you, but do you know why she is more favored than you?" Yan Wan narrowed her eyes: "I am younger than her, so I will definitely be more favored than her." Yun Che shook his head slightly, and said solemnly: "I know her hands may not be clean, but she still has her own bottom line, unlike you, in addition to clinging to flattery, it is conspiracy to harm people."

He walked away, Yan Wanyan suddenly burst into tears: "Brother Yunche, no matter how bad I am, don't forget our childhood sweetheart. Me, no matter how much I become, I will never forget it." .” Yun Che was slightly taken aback, with a complicated and unspeakable expression, and left alone. Luyun was left out in the cold until the spring of the fifteenth year of Qianlong, and Yuyan was restored as a concubine in this spring, but no matter what, the grace was not as good as before.And the one who often accompanied the emperor was the concubine Shu's joy from the holy family all the time.

At dusk, the clouds filled the sky, the golden light of the afterglow remained undiminished, and the sky was covered with lingering drunk purple red.The sunset glow gradually turned crimson purple, as if it was empty, and burned on the window of Longevity Changchun. Ruyi entered the study room of the Palace of Mental Cultivation, and seeing Yihuan accompanying her in the test, she flipped through a collection of poems with the emperor to appreciate them carefully.She saluted like a ceremonial, but also a bit embarrassed, she just smiled and said: "Your Majesty Wan'an, it's not the right time for my concubine to come."

Yi Huan got up and looked solemn, her face flushed slightly: "The imperial concubine loves to joke the most. My sister is just sitting with the emperor to have fun." The emperor got up with a smile, and took Ruyi's hand: "It's so hot at this time, why did you think to come here? Be careful, there is heat on the road." Seeing that Yi Huan was taking a test, Ruyi's face burned, she hurriedly put her hands away and said, "I was riding in a sedan chair along the way, it wasn't very hot." Rui Xin was at the side, sticking out her tongue and laughing: "Going back to the emperor, our little master heard that the weather in the past two days was hot, and the dim sum that the emperor entered into the imperial dining room was not delicious, so I specially made some pastries and sent them here. To the emperor."

Yi Huan pursed her lips and said with a smile, "Your sister, the imperial concubine, has never tasted the craftsmanship? Today is a coincidence." She looked sideways at the food box in Rui Xin's hand, "The emperor is always afraid of heat, and the desserts in the imperial dining room are sweet. It's very greasy, as if the taste can't be made without sugar juice, it's really boring." The emperor was curious, so he reached out to lift the food box: "Let me see what you did." Ruyi rolled up her light purple cuffs embroidered with grapes, revealing a slender wrist like a white lotus root. She brought out a few plain white dishes and pointed to them one by one: "This dish is the white water chestnut lotus root from Ziyang Lake. , only cut into thin slices, crispy and sweet, if you don’t like the taste, you can also serve it with sour plum soup.”

Yi Huan seems to like it quite a bit: "Sour plum soup is deep red in color, and it looks good when poured on white lotus root. However, the lotus root is good if it is fresh and sweet, and it doesn't matter if you don't need anything else." Ruyi nodded slightly, and said, "This dish is fat cake." The emperor frowned, not realizing it was funny: "I usually like to eat this, but as it is so hot today, how can I swallow something as greasy as fat oil cake?" Ruyi glanced at him, then smiled and said, "What the concubine does is different from what the emperor usually eats." She picked it up gracefully, and held it to the emperor's nose, seeing that the emperor seemed to be attracted by the fragrance, she held back her complacent joy and said : "This oily cake is cut from the wisteria flowers that bloom in mid-spring, and only picks the pure purple for use, leaving the flower buds that are less than 80% open. Only the petals are needed. After cutting the stalks and removing the stamens, mix it with honey and seal it in a small jar. Good. The honey is also very particular, it must be wisteria nectar, so that the smell is pure and unadulterated. When it is time to eat, the pure glutinous flour is accompanied by finely diced fat, then crushed with rock sugar, layer by layer and layer by layer of petals Stir it up and steam it on a plate, then simmer it with ice cubes to cool slightly, and that's it."

Yi Huan looked at the plate of light purple pastry, and liked it very much: "It's usually fat and tacky, but the vine flower is sweet and relieves the greasy, looking crystal clear, it seems like spring." After hearing the praise, Ruyi said: "Sister Concubine Shu, if you like it, you can try a few more pieces." Before she finished speaking, the emperor had already taken a piece of silver chopsticks and praised again and again: "It's fragrant, sweet and soft, it's really good. .” He said with greedy eyes, “Is there anything else?” Ruyi's brows and eyes were shrewd, and she said with a smile: "There is also a plate of soft fragrant cake and a cup of licorice ice and snow balls. This licorice ice and snow cold balls are not unusual, it just stimulates body fluid in the mouth. The soft fragrant cake is mixed with japonica rice flour It’s made with mint juice, it’s refreshing and cool.” She handed it to the emperor and Yi Huan as she spoke, feeling nostalgic, “I lived with Ama in Suzhou when I was young, and I love this soft fragrance the most. Cake. Nowhere else can compare. I haven’t tasted it for more than ten years after I returned to Beijing with Ama. Later, I tried it a few times according to the taste I remembered. It was not very good. I made it again today, but it was still delicious. Can enter." The emperor and Yihuan tasted it, then took Ruyi to sit down, and sighed: "You lived in Suzhou when you were young, and you have never forgotten it. Every time I hear you mention it, I am very fascinated." He stroked the back of Ruyi's hand, gently And firmly, "Don't worry, Hangzhou, which I like, and Suzhou, which you love, is a paradise on earth. In my lifetime, I will definitely take you to the mountains and rivers of Suzhou and Hangzhou." Ruyi's heart warmed slightly, her face showed a hint of blush, and a rare charming smile adorned her face, which was strange and moving: "The emperor has a heart, my concubine is very grateful." The emperor stared at it for a moment, but his heart was shaken, and he said softly: "I asked the painter Lang Shining of Ruyi Pavilion to draw a portrait for you. Do you like it? I think Lang Shining's brushwork is very good, which is different from the restrained and rigid painters in the court. It's just that he's used to drawing Ji Fu's upright appearance, so he won't be able to draw your gentle and charming look at this moment." Ruyi saw Yihuan pursing her lips and listening with a smile, she became more and more embarrassed, her eyes streamed, and she glanced at the emperor: "It's not the first time that Lang Shining draws for his concubines, he's always been good." Ruyi sighed: "The painter Yu Zhiding, the ancestor of the Kangxi era, was the best at painting small portraits of people, who are handsome and moving." He smiled warmly, "It's a pity that no matter how good the portrait is, it is not as elegant and clear as the real person. You once said that people are old and painted Not old, time flies, it is good to remember a moment. I will order Castiglione to write for you one by one, and I will leave it for you to enjoy in the future." Yi Huan was slightly taken aback, seemed to be absorbed in thought for a moment, and said enviously: "The imperial concubine is so lucky. The emperor always remembers what the imperial concubine said. Not to mention, this year's annual Suzhou tribute Lumei, only imperial concubines have it." The emperor looked leisurely, glanced at Yihuan and said with a smile: "Is Concubine Shu jealous at this time? There are flowers in all seasons, but the imperial concubine only loves plum blossoms, especially green plum blossoms. I also wondered why she likes them at first. Only when you see it, you will know that among the plum blossoms, only the green plum is pure green in color, and its branches are also blue. .” Yi Huan's pretty face was serious, she took a piece of soft cake and chewed it: "The concubine is just sighing with envy, and the emperor wants to make fun of it like this, it's really boring." The emperor's eyes were full of smiles, he just looked at Ruyi holding her sleeve and said, "Look, Concubine Shu is angry, how can you make up for it?" Ruyi spat in a low voice, and said with a smile: "The emperor himself caused the disaster, what is the matter with the courtiers and concubines? There is no reason for the courtiers and concubines to make up for it." The emperor leaned back and forth with a smile, pointed at the two of them and said, "You two have sharp teeth and sharp mouths, so I can't beat you. That's all, I just think this cake is very comfortable, but it needs to be paired with some kind of tea to be considered good." Rui Xin hurriedly said: "What the emperor said is true. No, our young master will prepare it." After speaking, he took out a sapphire teapot, poured out the clear tea soup, and said: "This is the silver monkey tea that Songyang paid tribute to. As the young master said, it is not the most expensive tea, but it is fresh and elegant in the mountains, and it is the sweetest aftertaste when paired with this Jiangnan pastry." The emperor raised his glass and sipped it, then said: "The taste is fresh and sweet, as if it smells like chestnuts." Yi Huan tasted half a cup and said: "I have also heard about Silver Monkey Tea, but it's rare to see it. It really goes well with today's dim sum." The emperor brought a piece of white lotus root to Ruyi's mouth: "You've been busy for so long, why don't you try it yourself?" Before the emperor could speak, Yi Huan lightly shook her fan, and said with a half-smile, "Is it true that the imperial concubine will try her best only if the emperor likes it?" Ruyi saw that her eyes were shining brightly, and she didn't know if she was joking or jealous, so she just smiled slightly and said, "Sister Concubine Shu would do the same, wouldn't she?" Hong, as if she was very shy, only secretly amused, turned her head to look at the scroll in the emperor's hand and asked, "What book are the emperor and Sister Concubine Shu reading just now, it's so interesting?" The emperor handed the book at hand to Ruyi, and said with a smile, "It's Nalan Rongruo's "Drinking Water Poetry", which is considered to be Concubine Shu's natal family, and it's all written by Yehenara." There is a gentle smile on Yihuan's usually cold face, like the light yellow leaves that are newly blooming on the branches in February.She lowered her head and rolled up the corner of her clothes, and said softly: "I really like Nalan Rongruo's Ci, not because they are all from Yehenara's family. Before I entered the palace, I knew that the Emperor liked Nalan's Ci. " The emperor looked at her very tenderly.His hand tapped on the table, causing a deep lingering sound: "I like it, and you like it very much. I also think that Nalan's words are very good, and I am mouth-watering when I read them." Yi Huan turned over the pale yellow pages with her slender fingers, pointed to one of them, and said, "That's all. I read it carefully, and I think this one is the best." Wrong, depressed mood. Red tears dripping down, eyes full of spring breeze, nothing wrong. Love knows that there is nothing to do in the future, and insists on a happy date. It’s not like this, the plow has fallen, the flowers and the moon are gone.” Ruyi sees Yihuan under the window, wearing a long gown of clear water and silver silk, green and cold like white dew condensed on fine green bamboo, even though she is a woman, seeing her eyes shakes her heart.Yi Huan is really beautiful, no wonder she has been favored for so many years and has been favored continuously. Although the emperor does not allow her to have a child, he is still reluctant to let her go.In fact, Ruyi is also beautiful.Ruyi's beauty stands out among the bright and colorful, quietly in the midst of the bright and beautiful, just like a calyx green plum, or a beautiful jadeite, quietly exuding warmth and brilliance.Compared with Yuyan, who is so beautiful that people feel that there is no room for it, and that every inch is forced in front of the eyes, Yihuan is more like Zhilan Yushu, which stands out from the crystal of ice and snow, making people ecstatic. At this moment, Ruyi heard her voice like big pearls and small pearls falling on a jade plate, very clear, and said: "Nalan Rongruo's words win with real characters, and the writing is sincere and strong, but it is not like cooking oil in a raging fire. After reading it carefully, I thought it was lightly sad, but the aftertaste was deeply sad. I think Rong Ruo's words are lighter than Liu Yong and Yan Jidao's, but more meaningful, and they are regarded as the masterpieces of this dynasty." Yi Huan listened to Ruyi's eloquence, and nodded unconsciously: "The imperial concubine talked about Yan Jidao's words, but I thought there was one that was comparable to Rong Ruo." Ruyi pursed her lips and smiled: "Let's not talk about Sister Concubine Shu, let me guess." She pondered for a moment, her eyes lit up, "Xiu Xiu Momo, divorce is more or less karma. Youqing can't help but think about it. Moonlit night is good, I recently wrote a green letter appointment. I hate yesterday with all my heart and soul, and it is easy to make mistakes at the time of separation. Later, the rest is like the previous joy. Buy out the brothel, don’t let the spring go. But this song "Drunk and Desolate"" The emperor clapped his palms and smiled: "I don't know if Concubine Shu is talking about it? This is what I was thinking of." Yihuan has always been as cold as ice and snow, but now she smiles like a red plum blossoming on the snow, dazzling and dazzling.She took two slices of pears from the table, handed them to the emperor and Ruyi respectively, and said with a smile, "You guessed right, this is the reward." The smile on the emperor's lips was as calm as the thin clouds in the sky: "It's been two days like this, it's time to talk about wine and poetry with the two concubines, and spend the day leisurely. It's better than the noisy old men in the previous court." Ruyi unconsciously asked: "Is there something bothering the emperor? The concubine originally came to report the expenses of the Sixth Palace this month. If the emperor is upset, the concubine dare not speak up." The emperor smiled and waved his hands: "You can take care of the matter of the Sixth Palace. You don't have to keep reporting to me." Yi Huan took a new orange: "That Sydney is too sweet, it's better to eat something sweet and sour." She raised the little silver by the side of the fruit plate and cut it open with the other hand. The orange splits open immediately, revealing the bright red flesh, which still overflows with juice. Yihuan methodically cuts the new oranges into evenly sized pieces and puts them on a plain white plate, creating a blue-colored brocade. A piece of jade-like wrist was exposed under the cuff, which attracted people's attention. Yi Huan divided the oranges, looked at the emperor's affection, and said with a smile: "A knife is like water, Wu Yan beats snow, and a slender finger breaks a new orange. The brocade tent is warm at the beginning, and the scent of beasts is constant. They sit opposite each other and tune Sheng. Question: "Who is going to sleep, the city has already been on the third watch. The horses are slippery and frosty, it is better to rest, and there are fewer people." Even Song Huizong was intoxicated for the time being because Li Shishi did not mention political affairs. Why did the emperor go to court in advance? Those unhappy things?" Ruyi knew that Yihuan was trying to appease the emperor, but if she could take so much trouble to persuade her, the emperor must have been really angry.She didn't say much at the moment, just held her breath, took a bite of an orange, and said: "The new orange is on fire, Concubine Shu has a heart." The emperor shook his head and said with a smile: "I really can't be irritable. Yesterday in the court hall, the Ministry of Rites mentioned that it had been three years since Empress Xiaoxian passed away, and they also talked about the matter of becoming a queen. Who knew that I hadn't said anything yet, so Zhang Tingyu said to me, The Fucha family is one of the eight surnames in Manchuria, and it has a prominent family background in our court. If you want to choose a successor, you should be born in the Fucha family. He mentioned this sentence, but many people in the court immediately agreed. It is proposed to establish a noble person as the queen." Yihuan was slightly shocked, looked at Ruyi, and quickly lowered her eyes and said: "Your Jin entered the palace not long ago. Although he has a good background, his qualifications are not so good. I'm afraid it will be difficult to convince everyone." The noble Jin was young and beautiful, and came from a descendant family, so the emperor would inevitably stay in her palace for a few more nights, and she was indeed favored.But how could Ruyi put such a young girl in her eyes, not to mention the birth control medicine given by the emperor under the name of grace is enough for her to breathe a sigh of relief. Ruyi pondered slightly, her eyes clear: "The emperor's anger is not whether Jin nobles can afford the position of empress, but Zhang Tingyu's response to everyone in the court." A trace of gloom flashed across the emperor's eyes: "When the first emperor passed away, he left Ertai and Zhang Tingyu as auxiliary ministers. As soon as I ascended the throne, I ordered the two of them to come to Japan to enjoy the treatment of the Taimiao. It is the highest honor for the ministers to share the Taimiao." , but because both of them are old ministers, and they assisted the late emperor with all their heart, I would agree to both of them. Now it seems that although Zhang Tingyu is calm, he is extremely difficult to deal with." Ruyi looked at the emperor's face, and said softly: "Zhang Tingyu's family and his in-laws Yao's family have 20 or 30 people who are officials in the court or in the local area. If you add the old disciples, the power is not small. No wonder you just mentioned that you want to establish Jin After the honorable person, there are so many people who agree." "If they agree, they will agree. If I don't agree, that's fine. I'm talking about the order of the hidden residences. Speaking of you, you are the side Fujin, after the empress Xiaoxian, and your qualifications are deep. Besides, there are pure noble concubine, Jia concubine and Yu." Concubine, with these old people in the hidden mansion, it is really hard for the Jin nobles to convince the public. How can someone jump to the empress with a mere nobleman?" Yi Huan flashed an expected smile: "Then with the hearts of these people, it is necessary to mention Empress Xiaoxian's deathbed recommendation, to recommend the pure noble concubine as the empress?" The emperor sneered: "You are so good, what Zhang Tingyu said is exactly the same as yours." Yi Huanxiu frowned slightly: "Such nonsense is passed around in the harem, and it is considered a woman's opinion. Why are the ministers in the court so unbearable? The position of empress depends on the emperor, how can the former empress choose it? Successor, or should the ministers discuss the emperor's family affairs? If Zhang Tingyu is not confused, then he is overstepping."