Chapter 10 Chapter Ten Ear Piercing

Thinking like this, it is a bit difficult to fall asleep again.In the twilight, the sky is already twilight.The emperor was going to the morning court as usual, and asked her to rest for a while after getting up.Ruyi thought that today is the day when the concubine will see her, so she also got up with the emperor, dressed neatly together, sent the emperor out with a smile, and went back to her own palace. Jin Yuyan's temper has become more and more bad since the death of elder brother Jiu.Seeing her suffering from the loss of her son, the emperor tried to comfort her, and then reinstated her as a noble concubine the next day to show her kindness. After a long period of silence, she finally raised her eyebrows.

This day is the first time a concubine has met with a concubine in the palace since the Empress Li.Ruyi didn't want to put on the airs of a new queen, so she met the concubines in Yikun Palace according to the time, but everyone kept their status and waited in the palace earlier. Because it was the first day, Ruyi changed into a red gauze cloak with dragon, phoenix, lotus and dark flowers, and her hair bun was mostly decorated with pure gold, mixed with red treasures, which was luxurious and graceful while celebrating. At that time, the concubine Jia Yuyan and the pure concubine Luyun were in the left and right positions respectively, and the lower ones of Luyun were Concubine Yu Hailan, Concubine Ling Yanwan, Concubine Wanyin, Qing Guiren Yingluo, Xiu Changzai, and Yuyan's concubine Yuyan. The following are the promises of Concubine Shu Yihuan, Concubine Mei Ruiji, Jin Guiren, Ping Zai, Kui Chang Zai and the last few.In order not to interfere with the queen's bright red color, the concubines often wear lake blue, Luo emerald, silver beads, light pink, and rosy purple. The colors are bright and the embroidery is complicated and delicate, but they dare not have anyone similar to Ruyi's clothes, so they wear She is Su Lvyun who ranks first among the concubines, but she is only dressed in an orange cloak embroidered with seven treasures, peonies and jade halls in spring, with emerald green silver thread inlaid with precious stones for a long life. .

Among the concubines, only the newly restored Yuyan is dressed in a carmine red embroidered eight-cluster peony cloak, and the Qingyunhua bun is dotted with emerald-inlaid coral and golden water chestnut flowers, and a pair of auspicious clouds inlaid with gold beaded garnet tails. The hairpin is bright and luxurious, approaching Ruyi. Ruyi was displeased, but she didn't look at her, and only looked at Luyun with a pleasant face: "I just got an ebony red coral pen holder and a pair of white jade pen collars. I think Yongrong is learning calligraphy. You can take them with you later." .”

Seeing that Ruyi cared about her son, Lu Yun couldn't be happier, so she hurriedly got up and thanked her: "The queen's wife is happy, and she still cares about my concubine's children. I am really grateful." Then she said to Yuyan: " Concubine Jia is restored, and congratulates the empress on her position in the palace, it is rare to see her dressed so delicately, we are also happy to see it." Yan Wan said softly: "The concubine waits to serve the empress, no matter how good-looking she is, it's not for herself, it's just for empress Bo's smile. To make the empress happy, it's not in vain that Concubine Jia wears such a colorful dress. It's all good. Just to please the master and empress."

Yuyan's smile was cold and strange: "It's a coincidence that the concubine wants to please the master and empress, but I just remember that the emperor said that he likes me to wear red." Yan Wan was a little embarrassed, she took a cherry to cover up and ate it, but Hai Lan said with a smile: "The emperor and the empress are originally a husband and wife. Concubine Jia remembers the emperor, so she remembers the empress." Seeing Ruyi sitting on it, Yuyan slowly closed the lid of the blue-and-white hole stone flower teacup, and the hot air covered her beautiful face: "The empress is the new empress, but the Yikun Palace is the old palace. I remember that at that time The emperor gave Yikun Palace to live in the Empress Empress who was still Concubine Xian last time, because she took Yi as an assistant. Asking the empress to assist Kunning originally meant a deputy envoy. Why is she now the master of the middle palace, and the empress lives here? Or the Hall of Assistants?"

This question is extremely sharp.Ruyi recalled that before the conferment of Empress Dowager, the emperor had mentioned changing the palace to live in, but among the six east and west palaces, only Changchun Palace, Weifu Palace, Chengqian Palace and Jingren Palace had never been inhabited.Changchun Palace enshrines the relics of Empress Xiaoxian; Weifu Palace is the former residence of Emperor Huixian, who was vacant after her death; Jingren Palace, Ruyi only needs to think about it for a while, and she will think of her poor aunt How can my aunt, who died of resentment, be willing to live again?The emperor also mentioned that the Chengqian Palace means inheriting the heaven and earth, and it has always been the residence of the most favored woman in the harem. Emperor Shunzhi's filial piety empress Dong E is like this, but it has been in disrepair for a long time, and it has to be repaired to let Ruyi live.It's just, why do you need to explain this to Jin Yuyan.

Ruyi just smiled and said nothing, ignoring it.Yan Wan pursed the corners of her lips and smiled lightly. With her slender hands, she raised her pastel sleeves embroidered with lotus leaves and covered her lips. With a hint of sarcasm in her eyes, she plucked the emerald green water jade pendant on her ears, and said softly: "The empress is the empress, the lord of the six palaces by name, no matter where she lives. They are the emperor's official wives, our master and empress." Yuyan smiled faintly, tilted her head slightly, her head was full of jewels, she flickered the star-like light, and dazzled people's eyes: "Master and empress are all masters and empresses, but they are regular wives..." Her body leaned forward slightly , and said to Luyun: "Pure concubine was born in the Han army flag, naturally you know that there is such a saying in the folks, right? Is it the second string? Or fill in the house, stepwife?" Said: "Is it the continued wife? Is it different from the first wife?"

These words are indeed harsh.Lu Yun didn't dare to answer for a while, but turned her head and said something to Yi Huan in a casual way to cover it up. For a moment of deep thought, Ruyi thought of her aunt, the empress of Jingren Palace who died of resentment and despair, perhaps, she also cared about it before she was alive, right?Concerned about her status, she will always be the next in line to others, Ruyi suddenly smiled, calm and determined.Actually, what does it matter?Really, the only person in this position is the most important person, before and after, it's all just illusion.

Ruyi turned her face and called Rong Pei: "Go and present the earrings that I have prepared for Concubine Chun and Concubine Jia." Rong Pei agreed, and immediately took a long plate of Chinese water-curved wood peonies through the wind from the young lady-in-waiting, on which were placed two pink brocade round boxes.She opened it neatly, and brought them to Luyun in order. They were a pair of agate earrings with bright pearls and jade earrings. The color is generous and bright, which is very suitable for Luyun's age and identity.Lu Yun hurriedly got up and thanked: "Thank you, Empress, for the reward."

Ruyi smiled faintly: "There are still three jade ruyis later, it is also a bit of my heart for you to bring them back to the third elder brother, sixth elder brother and fourth princess." Luyun thanked him again, with a respectful expression.Rong Pei brought another pair of earrings to Yuyan, Ruyi smiled gently: "This pair of earrings is different from the pair of Pure Imperial Concubine, it was specially chosen for you. Concubine Jia will like it, right?" Yuyan only glanced at it, her face changed suddenly, Ruyi didn't seem to see her, and said as usual: "The pair of earrings for Concubine Jia are carnelian earrings, decorated with turquoise and coral used in the Seven Treasures, and at the end The carved golden bead the size of a thumb hangs down, the color is bright, it is very suitable for the bright and charming temperament of Concubine Jia, but, after all, carnelian is not as valuable as agate, so there is no way, pure concubine has deep qualifications, both sons and daughters, naturally Concubine Jia is above."

These words not only praised Luyun's transcendent status as the head of the concubines, but also stabilized her anxiety after Yonghuang and Yongzhang were demoted, and also reminded Yuyan of trying to assassinate her that day with a bracelet of seven treasures.She clearly remembered the cause and effect. Sure enough, Yuyan was a little pale, her face was slightly pale, and she didn't want to pick up the pair of earrings. Ruyi's face sank slightly, like the surface of a lake under the shadow of autumn: "What? Is Concubine Jia unwilling to accept my wishes?" Luyun was still obedient after all, and hurriedly took off the tourmaline glass leaf crystal earrings on her earlobes, put on the earrings rewarded by Ruyi, stood up and said: "The empress's reward, I will keep it in my heart, I will put it on now as a token of respect." Madam respect." Ruyi nodded in satisfaction, looked at Yuyan calmly, Yuyan reluctantly said: "Thank you Queen, I will wear it when I go back." Yan Wan chuckled, and said crisply: "This is our first day to meet the Empress. If Concubine Jia is interested, she can just wear it now. Why bother to go back? Besides, the empress is not responsible for how to go back. In the sixth palace under its jurisdiction." Yi Huan has never liked Yuyan, so she looked sideways and said, "If Concubine Jia doesn't like it, she just doesn't like it, why bother to pretend to be an excuse, it shows that she is not true." Wan Yin also persuaded: "Concubine Jia, the earrings bestowed by the queen empress are very beautiful, and only you and Concubine Chun have them, we can't even envy them." Yuyan had no choice but to reach out and weigh the earrings, and reluctantly said: "The empress is really sincere, such a big gold bead must be solid, and the concubines are afraid that their ears will hurt if they wear it. In the past, when the empress Xiaoxian was here, the most Don't be extravagant or gorgeous, such luxurious earrings, my concubines really don't dare to accept them." As a result, Luyun, who had already put on the earrings, couldn't help but feel embarrassed, Hailan still smiled and said: "Empress Xiaoxian is frugal, that's because the emperor ascended the throne, and everything is done in the first place. Now the emperor is the emperor of Taiping and rich, rich in the world, it is the noble concubine Dai What's wrong with a pair of more expensive earrings, I'm afraid the emperor will be happier when he sees it." Yuyan looked carefully at the earring, the piercing needle was originally made of silver needles, the head was slightly more curved than the usual earring needles, but the needle body was more than twice as thick, she said: "This ear needle is so thick, the concubine's ear hole is small , I’m afraid I can’t wear it.” Ruyi didn't want to talk too much with her, so she raised her chin, Rong Pei understood, and said: "It's not the business of the noble concubine Jia to wear earrings, it's the servant's ability to wear them or not, and it's Jia if you are willing to let the slaves wear them." Your concubine's own mind." Ruyi leaned slightly, fiddled with a large handful of freshly folded crimson hibiscus beside her, and said with a smile, "Concubine Jia naturally knows why I want to reward you with carnelian earrings. You just need to understand what I am thinking. To put it bluntly, don't lose the position of noble concubine like you, the man who has been resettled." Yuyan was full of anger, she didn't dare to attack after all, she could only lower her head and sternly said to Rong Pei: "Be careful with your claws, don't hurt Bengong." With a promise, Rong Pei took off Yuyan's original earrings, no matter what happened, and pierced her earholes forcefully. The ear needles were sharp, and there was a tingling pain when they touched the flesh, and they were quickly pierced by the rough earrings. The needle blocked it, so I couldn't get it through.Rong Pei didn't pay attention to it, and still pierced it obtrusively, as if it was not a human ear hole.Yuyan held back a little at first, but then she was really in pain, she turned her head and shouted: "Didn't I teach you to be more careful? What are your claws made of, let me loosen them quickly!" Rong Pei's face was expressionless, but she refused to let go of her hands. She just said with a straight face: "It's not that this servant is careless, it's that this servant's hands are careless and can't recognize people. When Concubine Jia sent Aunt Xinxin to the Punishment Division, I didn't do anything, but aren't those servants of the Punishment Division the concubine Jia's claws, your claws failed your heart, I don't know, but now the slaves' claws don't listen to me, I have to drill What do you say about your ears?" Yuyan was startled and angry, her face twisted slightly in pain: "Empress! Are you just letting your slaves bully your concubines like this?" Ruyi smiled and said nothing, as if she was just watching a funny comedy, and said: "Xin Xin, bring some refreshments to all the young masters. Your legs and feet are not good, go slowly, don't worry." Seeing Ruyi like this, Yuyan was even more disturbed: "Xin Xin's leg is broken, it's because the people from the Punishment Department have dealt too hard, and the emperor has already reprimanded the concubine. Now that the concubine is restored, the emperor doesn't care about it. The emperor Don't even care about it, does the queen still dare to care about it?" Ruyi looked at her with warmth like a spring breeze: "It's the emperor's kindness that the emperor doesn't care, and this palace is one with the emperor if it doesn't care, so right now, this palace is rewarding you, not punishing you, don't get me wrong. " Rong Pei said with a cold face: "Concubine Jia, the ear needles have already been inserted. If you continue to struggle and move around like this, don't blame yourself for accidentally hurting your ears. Besides, if you behave yourself, the servant will immediately After passing through, you will suffer less, right?" Yuyan's eyes were red with hatred: "Empress, you are taking rewards to avenge your own personal revenge! The concubine refuses to accept it!" Ruyi smiled calmly: "You have never been dissatisfied, and it is not just a day or two. Moreover, I can tell you clearly that it is not that I want to avenge my own personal revenge, but that you are responsible for doing it yourself." What happened! So for you, the reward is also the punishment, and the punishment is also the reward!” Yan Wan stretched out her soft and boneless fingers, and slowly peeled a loquat: "The Empress is already generous enough. As a concubine, I don't even need honorific words to the Empress, how dare I talk about it?" It made the empress look good. To put it bluntly, no matter how noble the concubine Jia is, no matter how far she comes from, she is just like us, she is just a concubine. I have heard that in the Li Dynasty, Confucianism was followed, and concubines were always servants of the main family. , the children born in the concubine's room will always be the slaves of the children of the main family. How come here, the noble concubine Jia forgot to teach, and there is no distinction between high and low? If the emperor knows, he will probably regret restoring your position of concubine so early Don't be so ignorant, isn't it a disappointment to the emperor's painstaking efforts?" Yuyan heard the word "emperor", and she didn't dare to argue any more, so her eyes turned red, and she gritted her teeth to hold back.Rong Pei's hands were merciless, as if it was just a piece of pork belly cut off and hung on a hook. She didn't know pain, cold or heat, so she raised the ear acupuncture and pierced desperately.Yuyan was so painful that she shed tears, she really felt that the pair of earlobes were not her own.For so many years, she has been pampered and pampered, every night and every night, she sprays every inch of her body with snow-white pearl powder extracted from flower juice, nourishing every muscle and texture as tender as suet, how can she bear such tossing.However, she looked at everyone around her, even the most timid and kind Wanyin, she just lowered her face and dared not look at her.And the others were so indifferent, they only cared about talking and laughing at themselves, occasionally looking at her as if they were watching a joke. Yuyan bit her lip fiercely, it turns out that in this deep palace, no matter how high her status is, no matter how many princes she has, she is nothing but a different kind. After an unknown amount of time, Rong Pei finally put on the earrings for Yuyan. The pure gold beads shone extremely brightly, and the blood beads dripping from her earlobe were even more eye-catching.Rong Pei's fingertips were also stained with scarlet blood spots, her indifferent expression made people forget that it was fresh human blood, and thought it was rouge or something else.But on Yuyan's snow-white earlobe, the overly heavy earrings tore her broken ear hole, leaving two bright red traces, tick-tock, melting into the thick carpet in the new harem. There was a moment of silence, and everyone was stunned by the sad, angry and beautiful scene at this moment. Facing Yuyan's anger and unwillingness, Ruyi only smiled calmly.She suddenly remembered that in her distant memory, she went to Jingren Palace to visit her empress aunt by chance. After taking care of her concubines, the smug aunt said casually to her: "The most important thing for an empress is to rule by doing nothing. You can do anything." I want to do it, but if I do everything with my own hands, I will be inferior. The important thing is to borrow other people's hands to do what I want to do." Ruyi knew that at this moment, she had already violated this taboo of her aunt.But, she is happy.The joy at this moment is the most important thing, not to mention that as the new empress, she has struggled step by step from the position of concubine, she knows how to be lenient and strict, so she appeases Su Luyun and suppresses Jin Yuyan. Ruyi smiled and looked at Yuyan's gorgeous blood-stained earlobes. The bright red color relieved her a little of the heartache of being crippled and the humiliation of being accused of adultery.She smiled and said, "It's so beautiful! But, does it hurt?" Yuyan clearly hated it, but she lost her arrogance just now, and said timidly: "Of course it hurts." Ruyi smiled and flicked the gold-encrusted jade armor: "It's fine if it hurts. Only after it hurts will you remember the lesson! Get up and sit down." Li Xin next to Yu Yan was startled with fright, and only recovered after hearing Ruyi's order, and timidly helped Yu Yan to sit up and sit down. Yi Huan glanced at Li Xin, and her tone was as cold as Qiushuang: "You have to take good care of Concubine Jia, don't be like Zhen Shu, who was sent back to Li Chao by accident, Zhen Shu has Li Chao to return, you can No!" Li Xin was so frightened that she trembled, she dared not make a sound. Rong Pei saw that Yuyan's face was still a bit angry, so she said coldly with a straight face: "Concubine Jia's teardrops are too precious, don't shed them in front of the servants, in the eyes of the servants, they are the same as those on the roof There is no difference between dirty water! But if you want to throw your teardrops in front of the emperor, the servants will answer clearly in front of the young lords. What the empress gives is a reward, and the servants wear it for you. If you are hurt, even if you come to the servant, the servant will not say a word. But if you want to pour dirty water on the empress, then you should rest your mind, all the little masters are watching, are you I am also willing to bear it. It is not for anything else, but for yourself that you have done something wrong, and that is what you should bear. " How could the concubines know how to read words and expressions, hurriedly stood up with Lu Yun who was the leader, and said: "Yes. The concubines have seen and heard, it is definitely not the empress's fault." Ruyi had a pleasant face and smiled at everyone: "Rong Pei, please give the gifts prepared by this palace to the palaces." If so, the concubines chatted and laughed with Ruyi for a while, and then they also dispersed. In the evening, the emperor came to accompany Ruyi for dinner early.Standing under the corridor, Ruyi saw the emperor from a distance and smiled, "The emperor came so early, it's just that the ministers and concubines haven't prepared dinner yet." Qiao Xin said playfully: "That's right! The emperor came in a hurry, and the empress empress personally prepared the stewed purple chicken with cloud sliced ​​ham and it's only rolled once, and I still can't drink it." The emperor took Ruyi's hand and was extremely intimate: "Stop saluting, you're sweating all over again." He smiled at Xin Xin and said, "It doesn't matter what you eat, I just want to come to accompany the queen earlier Sit down." Ruyi said with a smile: "The emperor said that you can eat whatever you want, there is a freshly cooled rock sugar lily lotus seed soup, would you like to try it?" The clarity of the emperor's eyes could almost reflect Ruyi's smiling face like a lotus in full bloom: "Naturally, lily lily, acacia for a hundred years, it's a good intention." Ruyi glanced at him gracefully: "It's just a bowl of soup, it is already a blessing to have the emperor's thoughts like this." In no time, Xin brought the lily and lotus seed soup, and offered Ruyi a bowl of ice.The ice bowl is a good product for relieving summer heat in the palace. Slice fresh lotus root, peel fresh water chestnut and cut into small cubes. After soaking lotus seeds in water, remove the skin and lotus heart, add water to steam until cooked, then add sliced ​​honeydew melon and fresh peaches. Put the watermelon on the lotus leaf, put in ice cubes and chill for later use.It's so sweet, Ruyi also likes it very much. Ruyi just took a sip, and the emperor stretched out his hand and snatched the silver spoon from her hand: "Hey, it looks like you eat deliciously, so it's different from mine." Then he took a bite of the silver spoon that Ruyi had used , sighed, "It's so sweet!" Ruyi wondered: "The concubine doesn't like sweets very much, so I won't add a lot of sugar to this ice bowl." The emperor said, "If you don't believe me, try it yourself." Ruyi took another sip, and said, "The emperor really cheated on his ministers and concubines." The emperor couldn't help laughing, leaned close to her ear and whispered: "It's my heart that feels sweet." Ruyi smiled and gave the emperor a look, and spat, "The emperor is used to being glib." The emperor's eyebrows and eyes were full of smiles: "Glib? It also depends on whether that person is worthy of my glibness." After finishing his snacks with Ruyi, the conversation suddenly changed, "By the way, Concubine Jia came to Yangxin Palace to see you just now. I'm crying, and my earlobe is hurt. What's wrong?" The long eyelashes were like the wings of jackdaws, and Ruyi's eyelashes drooped, she sneered secretly, Jin Yuyan really couldn't bear her temper.She raised her eyes, looked into the emperor's eyes and said with a smile: "Right and wrong, the emperor has heard Concubine Jia cry herself, and the concubine will stop talking." The emperor slowly scooped up a lotus seed into the silver spoon: "What she said is naturally to defend herself, I want to hear what you have to say." Ruyi said without hesitation: "The harem belongs to the concubines, especially the emperor. Concubines will not intentionally cause trouble." The emperor smiled brightly, and his eyebrows stretched out one by one: "With your words, I feel relieved. In fact, I know it even if you don't tell me. Concubine Jia has just returned to power, so it is inevitable that she will be a little unruly. Where can I find breath to restore my old self?" Honor, earn back some face. If you don’t suppress a little when you first ascended to the lower position, it will indeed be difficult to suppress in the future.” Ruyi lowered her eyebrows and nodded, very gentle: "Your Majesty is right, Concubine Jia was born in the Li Dynasty, so she should be extraordinarily beautiful. But when I saw Princess Hejing two days ago, I felt that the princess said something very well." The emperor was very interested, and said with a smile: "He Jing is married as a woman, and now she is no longer self-willed. Let me listen to what she says." Ruyi flicked the key in her hand, said with a slight smile, "Princess said, if you can enjoy the wealth and honor in the sky, you must also be able to endure the catastrophe in the future." The emperor raised his eyebrows, obviously not hesitating: "The first two days were the grand ceremony for the Empress Dowager, what intention does she have in saying such things?" Ruyi knew he was displeased, so she smiled lightly and said, "Princess's words are valid in all six palaces, and my concubine thinks it's not bad. The emperor is gracious and loving, so Concubine Jia should be more cautious in her words and deeds, and don't repeat the mistakes of the past." wrong." The emperor waved his hand and said softly: "You have already dealt with the matter of Concubine Jia. He Jing... She is already married, so you don't have to pay attention to it. By the way, it will be my Longevity Day in a few days. After much deliberation, I have something to give you." The exquisitely painted eyebrows of Yuanshan raised lightly, Ruyi smiled and said: "This is strange. On the emperor's birthday, it should be the concubine's congratulatory gift, but why is the emperor upside down?" The emperor held her hand, and there was affection in his eyes: "I went to Shufangzhai today, and I remembered that you lived in the cold palace for several years, and it was miserable, and most of the women who lived with you were also the late emperor's concubine. According to the decree, send all these women to the Rehe Palace, choose a secluded place to retire, and don't live such miserable lives anymore." There was a slight vibration rushing through the heart spring, as if warm spring water was gurgling beneath the frozen surface of the spring, Ruyi couldn't believe it, and whispered: "The emperor means..." "I don't want there to be a cold palace in the palace anymore." The emperor said solemnly, holding on to Ruyi's hand, "There is no cold palace, it's the time when I want the couple in the palace to be united and to abandon each other ruthlessly." The warmth in her heart finally broke through the ice, and Ruyi looked back at the emperor with a gentle smile: "The emperor has deep affection, and the sixth palace is with Mu Enze." The hall was so cool and cool, Ruyi only felt warm in his heart.It's just that amidst the warmth, there is also a trace of untimely melancholy.In fact, Lenggong is just a palace. If one day the emperor's grace is cut off, even if you are in a rich and beautiful place, why not be in Lenggong, miserable and helpless? It's just that, it's too unlucky.She won't ask, and won't ask.He just silently leaned on the emperor's shoulder, persuading himself to enjoy the peace and gentleness of this moment.