Chapter 7 Chapter 7 West Breeze

The night is like a veil lifted and scattered in all directions.Suddenly, a cool breeze blew, and inadvertently extinguished a few flickering lights.Rong Pei turned to turn on the lamps one by one, her movements were silent.Occasionally, candlelight illuminates the burning blue beaded silk flowers on her temples, and the faint blue light like starbursts flashes, as if the pistils are fragrant, calm and shining. Ruyi picked the strings of the piano with a plectrum, and played a piece of "Butterfly Love Flower" by Yan Shu over and over again.Originally Song Ci was most suitable for singing with red makeup, not to mention Yan Shu's Ci, which is most suitable for a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl holding a red tooth board to sing and sigh softly on a rainy night.Ruyi has never been good at singing, but she loves the eloquence and gracefulness of Song Ci so much, and she chanted incense in the mouth, so she took the lyre and played it carefully, chanting it over and over again.

"Bicao Pond is late in spring, the small leaves are delicate, and the makeup of Shang Xue'e is light. When the two swallows come, they still read far away, and the beaded curtain is full of poplar flowers. The green pillars shift frequently and the strings are easy to break. If you look closely at the zither, it is just like human feelings. Key. A song of crying crows, the mind is in disorder, and the beauty is dark and the fleeting time is changing." Such a sad word makes my heart cool when I read it. Rong Pei silently stepped forward to refill the tea, and asked softly: "The night of the full moon is beautiful, and the empress is in her prime, why do you say such sad words?"

Ruyi contemptuously, how should I say it?Yan Shu is obviously a man, but he understands his daughter's heart so well.If there is such a person who can always accompany me in such a day when the moss is cold and the flowers are cold, and understand all my unspeakable thoughts, how wonderful it would be!This kind of thought is just a change, and I can't help laughing.She is a queen, a lofty queen, in this splendid palace built of gold and jade, in the end she just has the same dream as an ordinary woman. While pondering, he saw a long shadow reflected on the ground at some point.Ruyi raised her eyes to look, but saw the tall and tall figure of the emperor hidden behind the lightly rolled curtain, with a glowing complexion, staring at her deeply without saying a word.

Surprised only for a moment, Ruyi hurriedly got up and bowed down: "May the emperor be safe." She raised her head, smelled the mellow smell of alcohol, and said unconsciously, "It's late at night, why did the emperor return the wine after drinking? Li What about Jade?" The emperor approached slowly, staggering a little, but he met her and held her tightly in his arms: "I spent my birthday with Concubine Ling in Yongshou Palace, and Concubine Ling can play Qin Zheng's instrument so cold. It's so sweet. Ruyi, your Yueqin is sober. I passed by Xukun Palace and heard the sound of your qin, so I couldn't help but come in."

Ruyi couldn't move in his sudden hug, so she could only say in a low voice: "The concubine's piano sound is rough, which disturbed the emperor." She turned her face slightly, and ordered Rong Pei, who stood aside and looked down at her toes, "Pour the emperor's wine." Hot tea, and then go prepare hangover soup." The emperor refused to let go, but buried his face in her neck, exuding a warm and humid breath, every word smacked of alcohol: "Ruyi, you are clearer than when I saw you two days ago." It has been reduced a little. You look really good in your clothes, and the blue sky and water suit you very well, but there is a hint of melancholy in the corners of your eyebrows and eyes."

Ruyi lowered her head, looking at her pajamas, which were darkly embroidered with sky water and blue color, hibiscus and dew.Such a sober color is probably very suitable for her gradually darkening years.It's just that the emperor's sudden intimacy suddenly awakened her long-sleeping memory.In those years when he first entered the Qiandi, he also liked to hug himself like this, whispering softly. The emperor raised his head and stared into her eyes, with a hint of indifference and coldness in his drunkenness: "Ruyi, I have been husband and wife with you for decades, you accompanied me from prince to king, and I accompanied you from mother to queen, You and I have a pair of smart and lovely sons and daughters. Ruyi, why are you still sad?" He leaned closer, "Don't say you are happy, I heard you read that poem, I know, you are actually sad of."

In the pavilion stands a magnolia parrot gold-plated glass standing screen. The twelve glass panels are smooth and translucent. There are three layers of five-legged silver incense burners on one side of the screen, and black aloe incense rises from the hollow gap.It was a spice tribute from a foreign country, with a rich fragrance, as if draping heavily on the body.Ruyi tilted her head and saw her pale and slightly slack skin without makeup, and felt a little ashamed of herself.She knew that in the palace, she was not the most beautiful. At that time, she wanted to be happy, and there was Jin Yuyan nearby.But the emperor's handsome eyes, plump brows, and slack appearance seem to have not been taken away by the years, but instead have a layer of gentleness soaked in by the years, like old ink, jade that has been rubbed for many years, with a stern and lofty temperament Without losing its warmth.

Uncle has a pair of sons and daughters, will they gradually become estranged after all?Such a thought jumped in Ruyi's heart, and it actually caused a lifelong pain.She never thought that she would have such an ominous thought. Ruyi's voice was as low as the fluttering wings of a butterfly: "The concubine is just sentimental, she has no other thoughts." The emperor snorted lightly: "The beauty is cut off before she is old, isn't it? The sentimental thoughts of the last funeral concubine, the empress's noble body, why bother to be contaminated? And I ask myself that although there are many funeral concubines, they are not ungrateful. Just like Wanfu and others, I will definitely go to sit and visit every one or two months."

"Your Majesty is naturally not a person who is ungrateful." Ruyi forced a smile, "It's just that although my concubines are loved by the Emperor, when I think about my life, there are always some inadequacies. The concubine's Ama died early, and she couldn't see the glory of the concubine as a queen; for example, the Ulanara clan withered. The concubine always thought that if the emperor didn't give the concubine the honor of being in the middle palace, maybe the concubine's life It’s going to keep getting dark.” The sadness in Ruyi's language is like drizzle, staining the emperor's eyelashes.He rubbed his smooth teacup and listened quietly. After a long time, he said softly: "I always dream, especially after the Hundred Days Ceremony, I will dream of my mother-in-law." The emperor's voice was like The dead leaves wet with dew rustled, "I have never seen her before. Really. She died of dystocia when I was born. Since I was sensible, I knew that such a humble mother-in-law was mine. Shame, my mother only has the current Empress Dowager and the Concubine Xi back then. I also really want the Empress Dowager to be Lian’s own Empress." He smiled wryly, "Looking at it now, I am actually dreaming. Even if I support you with all the wealth in the world Empress Dowager, even if you can be filial to your mother and son on weekdays, but when it comes to critical times, if you are not a blood relative, then you are not." He smirked, and there was a cool breeze between his brows and eyes, "Mother and son are not like mother and son..."

Ruyi swallowed half of the sentence, husband and wife are not like husband and wife!Isn't this the day in the deep palace? Ruyi said in a low voice: "Is the queen mother still unwilling to see the emperor?" Wu Chenxiang is thin, strands penetrate into the heart, only the emperor's sigh is left in his ears: "The queen mother only has her own princess in her heart, and there is no son like me." His sigh stopped abruptly, " Naturally, no matter how the Queen Mother treats me, the Junggar War will not stop. All I can do is to keep Duan Shu safe as much as possible. That's all." He smiled helplessly, "Sometimes it seems that the Queen Mother is really a A stubborn and powerful woman. Even though she stayed behind closed doors in the Palace of Compassion and Prayer, there are still officials in the previous dynasty who kept asking me to save Duan Shu before attacking Junggar." He smiled wryly, "Lian to the Queen Mother , I am really in awe, but also keep a respectful distance.”

Ruyi's hand gently brushed his red cheeks like a butterfly touching a stamen: "The queen mother is indeed powerful and powerful enough to be awe-inspiring, but the emperor does not need to take it too seriously. The queen mother once said to the concubine that a person who does not Only those who are weak can be truly strong. And the two eldest princesses are the queen mother's biggest weakness." "Weakness?" The emperor chuckled, but there was only a glimmer of cold star in his eyes, without warmth, "Then what is my weakness? Ruyi, can I be your weakness?" Brocade curtains hang down low, and the cold night invades people.The night is long, and because he is lonely and lonely, the warmth in Ruyi's heart is aroused. It turned out that they are equally lonely.She approached him silently, reached out and hugged him tightly, embracing the tacit understanding between each other. At this moment, the heart blossoms like a lantern. The night in the palace is quiet and long, not everyone can sleep peacefully until dawn like Ruyi and the emperor. The wind was whistling outside, Yan Wan could not rest her pillow all night, and her complexion was not very good when she woke up.Chunchan knew that Yanwan was getting up, so she winked with Lancui, and even brushed her hair lightly.The little maid came in with a bowl of peanut, longan and lotus seed soup, Lan Cui took it and respectfully served it in front of Yan Wan.Yan Wan glanced sideways, and said displeasedly: "I drink this every day when I wake up, saying it's for good luck, but my tongue is tired of drinking, and I still don't have a child. What 'Lian' has a precious son, it's all to coax me! " How dare Lan Cui answer the words, this porridge was originally ordered by Yan Wan to drink every day because she was eager to beg her son.Yan Wan looked up and saw in the mirror that there was a gold-encrusted pearl and gem vase hairpin on her bun. The handle of the hairpin was in the pattern of "Boy Baoping Ping An". A huge agate was carved into a dancing boy, holding a sapphire vase, The bottom is inlaid with turquoise and coral beads, and the branches are wrapped with golden silk dots and emerald patterns, Ruyi, and the word "An" is inlaid. with.At this moment, she was angry, and she stretched out her hand to pull it out and put it on the dressing table, and there was a crisp "dong". Lan Cui and Chunchan were so frightened that they fell silent, let alone dared to speak.Yan Wan was about to stand up, when she suddenly swayed, she held her forehead and said, "I'm so dizzy!" Before she finished speaking, she leaned over and vomited a few mouthfuls of clear water.Lan Cui and Chun Chan hurriedly supported her, but their faces were filled with joy: "The little master is dizzy and vomiting, could it be..." The two looked at each other, both smiling.Yan Wan was skeptical, but her face was full of joy: "Then, shouldn't it be time to call for the imperial physician... quickly invite the imperial physician." Before the words finished, it was the eunuch Wang Chan who reported back outside: "My lord, Imperial Physician Qi has come to ask for a pulse." Qi Lu is an old doctor who has been by the emperor's side for many years, and has been regulating her pulse since Yan Wan became a favor.Yan Wan didn't dare to be negligent at the moment, she was overjoyed and said: "It's just in time, please come in now!" When Qi Lu came in, he saluted respectfully, and after Lan Cui took a handkerchief and put it on Yan Wan's wrist, he stretched out his hand to take the pulse.After a while, he looked closely at Yan Wan's expression again, and asked, "Did the young master vomit today?" "This is the first time." Yan Wan said eagerly, "Physician Qi, is this palace pregnant?" Qi Lu shook his head and said: "The pulse condition is not the happy pulse." Seeing that Yan Wan's smile faded quickly, he continued to ask, "Can the young master take the decoction prescribed by the minister on time?" Chunchan hurriedly said: "The little master eats on time, and never misses a single time." Qi Lu nodded slightly, and looked at Yan Wan's tongue coating, his expression seemed a little dignified. Yan Wan anxiously said: "I have been recuperating according to Master Qi's words, and I added a lot of nourishing decoctions, just hoping to conceive as soon as possible, but why there is no movement?" Qi Lu's expression was solemn, and he also sighed: "I have been serving your concubine for a while, and the mistress has been anxious to get pregnant. She doesn't listen to what I say, and she overdos it. Immediately conceive." Yan Wan's body pressed forward: "Then is there any way to get pregnant faster?" "Is this..." Qi Lu pondered, stroked his beard and remained silent. Yan Wan winked, Chunchan turned into the inner room, quickly took out a brocade box, opened it, the treasures inside shone, and it was sent straight to Qi Lu's face, shaking him so much that he couldn't open his eyes. Qi Lu was startled, got up quickly and said: "My lord, my lord, I dare not." Yan Wan held a faint smile: "Such a little kindness, of course Mr. Qi will not be moved. Don't worry, Mr. Qi, this is only one-tenth of the amount. If I can get pregnant soon, why not The emperor gave birth to an heir, and in the future, he will definitely give ten times the number for adults to enjoy." Qilu looked at the shining gemstones in the brocade box, and thought that he had been serving in the palace for many years, although he was used by the emperor, he was only an imperial physician, never had he seen so many jewels.Thinking about it, Yan Wan was the most favored by the emperor, and these jewels and jade articles were nothing more than mediocre in her eyes.A hint of greed flashed in his eyes, his hands trembled slightly due to excitement, and his gaze unconsciously looked at Yan Wan. Yan Wan raised her onion-like fingers, and said with a light smile, "I am favored by the emperor, and it will be a matter of time before I have a baby. I just hope that with the help of the imperial physician Qi, the sooner I can conceive, the better. For such a simple matter, the imperial physician can't help it." Won't you help Bengong?" Qi Lu wiped the sweat off his face with his sleeve, and said hesitantly: "There is no way. If you want to conceive as soon as possible, you can use decoction to recuperate. For example, if you have ten menstrual periods per year, you can adjust it to twelve times or more per year. There are many, and there are more chances of conception like this. But medicines are poisonous, no matter how careful the humble minister is, there will always be danger of injury, let alone such a medicine for inducing pregnancy. Think twice, little master." Yan Wanxiu raised her eyebrows, and said anxiously: "Is there really such a method? Is it effective?" After all, she was a little scared, "What's the harm?" Qi Lu didn't dare to say it bluntly, "Is this...too much menstruation, it will naturally hurt a woman's vitality, and it is easy to look old!" A trace of color and hesitation settled between Yan Wan's eyebrows, she murmured hesitantly: "Will you see the youngest soon?" Qi Lu hurriedly said: "Of course not now, but in three to five years, it will be obvious." Yan Wan couldn't help stretching out her hand to caress her skin, which was as smooth as spring silk.When she looked at herself in the mirror, she was still confident.Because of proper maintenance, she may have never given birth. Compared with the younger Xin Yan and Ying Ming, she does not look old, not at all, she still has skin that can be broken by blowing bombs, plump face and beautiful eyes, Gu Pansheng color. All the hesitation was only for a moment, and her words were resolute and decisive: "Then please ask Doctor Qi to take medicine!" The days in the palace were plain and short. In the spring of Qianlong’s 20th year, thousands of jasmine flowers bloomed along the waterside, and the fragrance was steamed by the spring sun along with the dew, which was refreshing.In the spring of this year, it was the dry and lonely palace wall that was dyed a little by little with a light goose yellow color. The imperial court’s victories in the war against Junggar are largely due to the fact that after Che Ling led his troops to join him, he did his best in the war to pacify Dawaqi, so good news from the front line occasionally leaked through the palace walls. At that time, the laughter of the funeral concubines was added, and the fear of the empress dowager who was praying in the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility was also implicitly deepened. And it was not without happy events in the harem. Xin Bin, who first entered the palace last year and had just inherited Si Ze, was pregnant soon, which really made the emperor extremely happy. Ruyi was ordered by the emperor to take care of the pregnant concubine Xin, which made her a little busy, but when everyone talked and laughed, it was all children's business, so it was very interesting. On this day, Ruyi and Hailan were returning with Concubine Xin to offer incense in the Baohua Palace. When they turned their heads and saw the wind blowing off Concubine Xin's veil, they hurriedly told them, "Be careful not to catch the wind. Medicine, I'm afraid it will hurt the child." Concubine Xin's face flushed: "The empress is right, but she is so delicate." Hailan smiled and swept away a pink flower from her temple: "Where is it not delicate? When I give birth to a little elder brother, I am afraid that I will be a concubine in the near future." Concubine Xin was naturally happy, but also worried: "What if it's a little princess? Will the emperor not like it?" Hailan hurriedly said: "Why don't you like it? The emperor is already an elder brother, and there are only two princesses. You can see the fourth and fifth princesses. The emperor likes it so much." Ruyi said: "My brother and the princess are naturally good. Now there are only Concubine Ling and Concubine Yu in the concubine position, so there should be more people to be lively." Her eyes are full of warm concern, "And you are young, ah Ma worked hard for Junggar's affairs, and the emperor loves you so much, the title of imperial concubine is just around the corner." The voice hadn't been blown away by the wind, there was only a bark in the horizontal bark, and a snow-white bark jumped out.Concubine Xin took a step back in fright, and was about to scold, but saw a woman in palace attire walking out slowly from behind, calling out, "Fu Gui, be careful if you are touched by someone!" Ruyi took a closer look, and found that the person was Jia Guifei Jin Yuyan who hadn't been out for many days.Although she is not as proud as before, her attire is not less luxurious, a phoenix cloak woven with gold gauze on a bright green ground, with a snow-white silk collar embroidered with flower and bird patterns, a blue and purple crystal wreath hanging down, and gold branches are embroidered all over the skirt Patterns, colorful flow between actions.She turned her head sideways, and the red crystal bead flower hairpin and the twin silk flowers that were densely dotted in the bun were shining brightly. Concubine Xin was displeased at the moment, and muttered in a low voice, "How old are you, and you're still dressed so delicately?" Hailan tugged at Concubine Xin's sleeve, signaling her not to talk too much.Yuyan looked at Ruyi hastily, then looked at Hailan and Concubine Xin, the two had no choice but to bow their knees: "Wanfu, Concubine Jia." Yuyan looked at Concubine Xin coldly, and said with a smirk: "Now I'm getting heavier, and I'm getting fatter. Women, you just can't get pregnant. Once you're pregnant, you won't look good in anything, because your stomach is on the top." It's like a pot!" She sneered, "Sister Xinpin, now that she is pregnant, the emperor doesn't often visit you, does she?" Concubine Xin was young and energetic, how could she bear such words, she immediately said: "My younger sister is young, so naturally she looks good in anything she wears! It is incomparable that the old Zhuhuang is still acting coquettishly there! And although my younger sister is pregnant, the emperor still favors her, unlike Some people gave birth to unworthy descendants, which the emperor hates!" Why couldn't Yuyan hear the sarcasm in her words, she immediately said with a sullen face, "I know what kind of child I will have." She stared at Concubine Xin's swollen belly, "Then what are you pregnant with?" , do you know? It's joy now, but don't be joy in vain!" Xu Shi's tone was slightly higher, and the little dog named "Fuguier" under her feet barked viciously at Concubine Xin. Concubine Xin was disgusted and a little scared, she took a few steps back, but she didn't show any weakness on her face: "I can't see the happiness of other people, I can really see whether the empress Jia Guifei is happy or not." Seeing that Concubine Xin was afraid of dogs, Yuyan's eyes flashed a hint of secret joy, she kicked "Fuguier" with her toes, driving it forward.Concubine Xin hid behind Hai Lan in fear, and hurriedly called, "Sister Concubine Yu." Ruyi originally only watched with cold eyes, but when she saw Yuyan attacking a dog, she said, "Isn't Concubine Jia uncomfortable and cannot rest her pillow? The weather is very good today, go back and have a good sleep." Yuyan bit her lips and said "yes", she looked sideways at Concubine Xin with phoenix eyes and said, "I'm afraid that sister concubine is pregnant, so I don't come out and walk around less, if I bump into it, don't blame the people next to me for not being careful." I just blame you, a mother, for wandering around." After she finished speaking, she bent down and hugged "Fuguier" affectionately, and turned around to leave. Seeing her being so arrogant, Ruyi had already held a trace of anger and said, "Kneel down!" Seeing Ruyi's words, Yu Yan didn't dare to leave for a while, so she turned around and said, "The concubine did nothing wrong, why did she kneel?" Ruyi's expression is calm, but her cold tone is incompatible with the three spring scenery: "You are a noble concubine with a noble position. You entered the palace early and gave birth to children for the emperor. You should know how to show compassion for sisters and take care of children. Now Your bastard is reckless, naturally you have not disciplined him properly." However, Concubine Xin refused to forgive others: "It's fine if you don't discipline animals properly, but if your own children are disciplined improperly, then it will be really pitiful." Yuyan snorted angrily: "My child is not disciplined properly, so yours will be fine? Let's talk about it after seeing what is born!" Concubine Xin picked up the silk and smiled lightly, and was about to speak when she saw Yan Wan approaching with Chunchan behind her, before they arrived, she smiled first: "Well, there are always fifth and twelfth elder brothers as role models .Look at how much the emperor likes Fifth Elder Brother, he is really the most filial and promising." Yuyan has always disliked Yanwan, so she frowned when she saw her: "If this is the case, a childless person is not worthy to say it!" Yan Wan saluted timidly, with a gentle smile: "My younger sister has no children, so I envy the blessings of the queen, concubine Yu, and concubine Xin. As for the elder sister of concubine Jia..." Her eyes fluttered, Turning to face Hailan, she said: "What's so good about having more children, the most important thing is that everyone strives for success. I heard that the fifth elder brother has been highly valued by the emperor recently. Sister Concubine Yu is really blessed." Hai Lan said calmly: "Blessed or not, they are both the emperor's children." Deep jealousy flashed across Yu Yanwan's face, she stared at Haisheng and said, "My child is unlucky, so it's your child's turn to be blessed? Don't dream, I'll just watch. Your Yongqi has taken away the blessing of Bengong Yongxuan, so when will he be blessed!" She said and left with a flick of her sleeves. Yan Wan covered her sleeves and said: "Oh! Concubine Jia has been resting these days, but her fiery temper hasn't changed at all. It's really rude to say such indiscriminate words in front of the empress." Ruyi didn't even look at her: "Concubine Jia's fiery temper has not changed, and your mouth has never said anything nice. You are used to playing tricks on people." Yan Wan hurriedly bowed her body and said: "Empress, my concubine just can't see... my concubine..." When she was in a hurry, there were tears in her eyes. Ruyi didn't bother to look at her, so she took Hailan's hand and left, and told Concubine Xin: "You don't have to be so angry when you are pregnant with a child. I will send someone to send the "Diamond Sutra" to your palace later, so please take care of me." Think about it, and calm down." Yan Wan watched Ruyi and Hailan leave, bowed and saw them off for a long time, with an unusually respectful expression.After a while, she stood up, let the wind across the long street caress her face, and said softly: "Chunchan, where is the puppy you brought from outside the palace? Let's go and have a look." Chunchan said: "I'll leave it to the little eunuch at the ashes burning yard, it's too dirty, I'm afraid that the dog will startle my lord, and the dog..." She was a little scared and didn't dare to say any more. Yan Wan smiled steadily: "Look at it from a distance, just look at it from a distance, I like such little things."