Chapter 8 Chapter Eight Xiao Qiang Hate (Part 1)

In March, the weather is warm and clear. Since Concubine Xin was reminded a few words by Ruyi, she has calmed down a lot.After all, she is a smart woman, who knows how to advance and retreat, and knows how to measure.When she was free, Hailan also said: "Actually Lingfei seems to really want to get close to the empress and ask for her protection." Ruyi looked at the pink apricot blossoms that bloomed day after day in the royal garden. The wind blew the flowers and the flowers fell like rain, and she reached out to catch her palm, and said, "You would also say it seems. Could it be that you pity her?"

Hailan bowed her head: "No. The concubine just feels that the concubine Ling's favor cannot be relied on. Without children, everything in this palace is fake." "Would it be easier to have children? Just look at Concubine Jia." Ruyi looked up, and saw a tree of apricot blossoms surrounded by pink snowflakes, and like a large piece of cloud brocade illuminated by the bright sun. Lightly silky and comfortable.The branches respond to the wind and divide the clear sky like still water into small pieces, during which the sun shines like golden powder, and the light and white catkins are flying all over the sky, like snow blown away by the wind, fluttering lightly with the wind , swaying and fragrant.

The two were chatting, but they saw Sanbao rushing over, his feet softened and he knelt down first, his face turned pale and said: "Empress, Brother Ba is not good!" The eighth elder brother is Yuyan's eighth son, Yongxuan, who is now nine years old and is raised by the elder brother.Yuyan's fourth elder brother, Yongxuan, has been alienated and neglected by the emperor. If something happens to the eighth elder brother again, wouldn't it hurt Yuyan's heart very much. Ruyi and Hailan looked at each other, and quickly asked, "What's the matter?" Sanbao cried: "The elder brothers practiced riding and shooting with their masters on the racecourse. For some reason, the eighth elder brother fell off the horse and passed out from the pain!"

Hailan then asked, "How did the servants serve you? Who was the closest to the eighth brother at that time?" Sanbao's expression became even uglier: "Yes...it's the fifth elder brother who is the closest, so the fifth elder brother reached out to save the eighth elder brother, but it was too late. The horse ran like crazy, and no one could stop it. I just watched Eighth Brother fall off the horse!" Hailan's face turned pale, and she swayed even more.Ruyi doesn't know love well, even if she wants to avoid suspicion, she can't dodge it at this moment, so she hurriedly asked, "Where's the eighth elder brother?"

Hailan was also dizzy with anxiety, and asked repeatedly: "Where is the fifth elder brother?" Sanbao didn't know who to answer first, so he had to say: "Fifth elder brother and the guards carried eighth elder brother back to elder brother's place, and the imperial physician is treating him right now." Ruyi hastily ordered: "Go and ask Concubine Jia to take care of Eighth Brother at Elder Brother's place. Concubine Yu, you and I should go and have a look first!" Elder brother's office was already in chaos, and Jin Yuyan had already arrived, crying hoarsely, and became a tearful person.Seeing Ruyi and Hailan come in, she didn't dare to do anything to Ruyi, but grabbed Hailan's skirt and tore it continuously, saying that it was Yongqi who harmed Yongxuan.

Yongqi had never seen such a formation before, she knelt under the eaves of the dripping rain and kowtowed.Ruyi felt distressed when she saw it, and hurriedly asked the palace servants to stretch out their hands to persuade her.But at that moment, Hailan's clothes were messed up by Yuyan's rubbing, Zhucui fell to the side, and Yuyan herself was tear-stained, in a panic. Ruyi immediately shouted: "It's all like this, how can I ask the imperial physician to heal Yongxuan!" Everyone calmed down hastily, Ruyi couldn't take a breath, and immediately ordered: "Today, all the slaves who are serving the eighth elder brother at the racecourse will be sent to the Department of Punishment for careful interrogation. There is also the imperial doctor, the eighth elder brother is young, and cannot tolerate any mistakes , you must be careful in the treatment, so as not to make any mistakes. Concubine Jia, you can stay here with the eighth elder brother, but you must be quiet, so as not to disturb the imperial doctor's treatment."

With Ruyi's vigorous arrangements, Yuyan also stopped making noise, but just opened her unwilling eyes and said bitterly: "I heard that Yongqi was the closest to Yongxuan when he fell from the horse! You!" She died Gouging Hailan with death, "It's not enough for your son to take away Yongxuan's favor, but also hurt my Yongxuan! If Yongxuan makes any mistakes, I will definitely not spare you!" Ruyi kept Hai Lan behind her and said in an unquestionable tone, "You and I are both mothers, so it is inevitable that we will have an affair. If this palace handles it, you will not feel at ease, so whether Yong Qi is involved or not? Neither Bengong nor Concubine Yu will get involved in this matter, and leave it to the emperor to dispose of. If you continue to make noise, this palace will not let you accompany Yongxuan again!"

Yuyan was speechless, so she had to put down her flags and drums, and looked at Yongxuan who was covered in blood on Gu's couch with tears in her eyes. Seeing that Hai Lan was panicked, Ruyi comforted her softly, "The matter is not yet clear, it's just that the accident is also unknown. You are flustered first, which makes people suspicious." Hailan held back her sobs and said, "Yongqi just won the emperor's favor, and these inexplicable things are involved, isn't it that our mother and child are not blessed?" "Whether you are blessed or not is not up to your mother and child. I will go and see Yongqi first." Ruyi walked to the corridor, and saw Yongqi kowtowed repeatedly, her forehead was already black and blue, her heart softened, and she hurriedly supported her. He said: "Okay! You are right again, what are you busy kowtowing for?"

Hai Lan wanted to speak, tears almost fell down first, so she had to endure it and said: "Yong Qi, does this matter have anything to do with you?" The panic on Yongqi's face stopped temporarily like floating clouds, and there was still a hint of firmness in his weak tone: "Emperor Niang, this son kowtows here, it's not because of his own fault, let alone harming the eighth brother, but because he hopes to use this Calm Empress Jia's anger a little bit, so she can concentrate on taking care of my eighth brother." Ruyi breathed a sigh of relief, smiled and said, "Mother Huang Er knew that you would not do it. As for today's matter, I will let you Huang Ama thoroughly investigate and return your innocence."

There are faint groans and cries of the child in pain and Jin Yuyan's unstoppable weeping.Ruyi's heart felt sour, Yong Qi was keenly aware of the change in her expression, and said with some hesitation: "The eighth younger brother is young and pitifully hurt, will Huang Ama distrust my son?" Ruyi said solemnly: "If you haven't done it, you should be calm." She whispered, "If you want to kneel, you have to kneel in front of the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Go, I'm going to see your Huang Ama too." Regarding Ruyi's solitude, the emperor agrees: "After all, you are Yongqi's adoptive mother. If these things are mixed up, it will be of no benefit to you."

Ruyi's forehead: "Yes. A concubine's job is to take care of the harem, so she will order the imperial physician to heal Yongxuan and comfort Concubine Jia. Naturally, there is also Concubine Xin. The imperial physician said her fetal image is very good, I will definitely give birth to a healthy child for the emperor." The emperor covered his forehead with his hands, and said in annoyance: "No matter how complicated the political affairs of the previous dynasty were, there are still clues to be found. Even if it is a border war, with thousands of troops, I can also plan the curtain. But the matter of my children is really difficult. People are troubled." Ruyi smiled and said: "Blessed are many children. Before enjoying blessings, one must suffer from worries, so that one feels that this blessing is hard-won and really precious." The emperor stroked her hand and said, "I hope so. Then I will leave this matter to Li Yu." Ruyisi Fu said: "Li Yu is the minister serving the imperial court. It may be inconvenient if he has to go out of the palace to investigate some matters. This matter should not be made public. It will make people think that there are constant disputes in the royal family. We should ask the emperor to let the capable guards in front of the imperial court go and investigate together. Better." Without hesitation, the emperor summoned Ling Yunche and said, "Then I will leave it to you to lead people and Li Yu to investigate the matter of Eighth Prince's falling from the horse." Ling Yunche's eyes lowered respectfully: "Yes, I obey the order." Ling Yunche acted swiftly and resolutely, so Li Yu went to the Department of Punishment to question the palace servants who served Yongxuan, and then he rushed to the racecourse to investigate.When he met Ruyi, Ling Yunche was returning from the Punishment Department with four guards and Li Yu. Seeing Ruyi, everyone hurriedly knelt down to salute.In order to look after Gu Yongxuan and Concubine Xin, she has been traveling between these two places for the past two days, so she is inevitably a little tired, and there are two patches of dark ink color under her eyes.However, Concubine Jia was very vigilant and did not want her to get too close. Most of the time, Ruyi could only send someone to take care of her, or ask the imperial physician how to treat her. After everyone saluted, Ling Yunche couldn't help but said: "The empress has worked hard, and she is worrying about the eighth elder brother." The long street was windy, and Ruyi could see a little concern in his eyes, but she pretended not to see it, and only asked, "How did you find out?" Li Yu hurriedly said: "The Punishment Department has used all available punishments, and it is true that there is nothing to spit out. But..." Ling Yunche's eyes turned slightly, as if nothing had happened: "It's because the servants in the palace are not careful enough. As for how to punish, I should ask the emperor and empress to show me." Ruyi only felt tired, and her body felt sore and weak, she reluctantly said: "That's fine. You guys go and inquire, and give the emperor an explanation." Ling Yunche saw that Ruyi's expression was not very good, he quickly leaned over and said, "Your Majesty has no color, is it because you have been working hard recently?" Rong Pei hurriedly said: "Your Majesty just went to the Imperial Hospital to see the prescription of Eighth Prince's prescription. Maybe the smell of the medicinal materials is too strong, which smells on Madam, making her feel a little uncomfortable. This servant is about to accompany Madam back home." Li Yu hurriedly supported her and said, "Your Majesty is exhausted from gymnastics, so you should hurry back to the palace to rest." Ruyi helped Rong Pei's hand and walked away slowly.Li Yu concentrated for a moment, then whispered to Ling Yunche: "Lord Ling, please take a step to speak." Ling Yunche motioned for the guards behind him to step down, walked to the eaves with Li Yu, and said: "Eunuch Li, you may as well speak up if you have something to say." Li Yu sleeved his hands, looked around for no one, and then said in a low voice: "Hearing the tone of your lord's interrogation of those palace servants just now, it seems that you found something in the racecourse?" Ling Yunche smiled: "I can't hide it from Eunuch Li." He took out two inch-long silver needles from his sleeve, "I heard that the horse that Eighth Brother was riding suddenly lost his temper and knocked Eighth Brother off the horse. Afterwards, I checked and found nothing, but I found this on the saddle that the horse had replaced.” There was a coldness in his eyes, “The silver needles are hidden under the leather. People have been riding on horses for a long time. The needles will pierce the leather and stick it firmly on the horse’s back. The horse will get angry because of the pain, but the wound can’t be found, and it is indeed concealed.” Li Yu heard that the matter was serious, so he also looked solemn: "As the prince, eighth elder brother, who would dare to murder him easily? Master Ling thought it was..." Ling Yunche just looked at Li Yu: "Eunuch Li has been idle in the palace for a long time, you think it's..." Li Yu blurted out: "Brother Ba is the son of Imperial Concubine Jia, so whoever benefits him will do it." He was suddenly startled, "Lord Ling is trying to trick me, isn't that bad?" "Where is there?" Ling Yunche waved his hands and smiled, "Eunuch Li has been with the emperor for many years, and he has a unique vision. He is no more rough than me, with shallow knowledge." Li Yu approached, and said mysteriously; "Master Ling still comes to visit me, I'm afraid he knows it in his heart? Guess who it is?" The seriousness on Ling Yunche's face turned into a smile: "Maybe it's an accident and we don't know." He pointed to the blue sky, "Maybe it's God's will." Li Yu was so obedient, and immediately said: "That is. The emperor entrusted Master Ling to conduct a thorough investigation. If Master Ling finds out, then what I find will be the same as Master Ling." He cupped his hands, "Jia The noble concubine has clearly fallen out of favor, why bother to offend a favored person for her? Besides, that person has done us both a favor, this is the time to repay the favor." Ling Yunche put the silver needle into his sleeve, and smiled lightly: "My father-in-law's idea is my idea." The two looked at each other and smiled, and left together. This kind of idea may have been decided the moment the silver needle was found, so even if he had a good drink with Zhao Jiuxiao, when he talked about this matter, he kept silent.He has also heard about the treacherous waves and treacherous clouds in the palace, and the bloody fights and tricks among the funeral concubines, not to mention, Yuyan has always been unruly towards Ruyi. Vaguely, he could also know that the eighth elder brother Yongxuan's fall from the horse was of course the fifth elder brother Yongqi who was closest to him most suspected, and it was also the fifth elder brother who benefited the most, who had greatly injured his vitality. Yan's mother and son were hit hard again.But if the fifth elder brother is suspected, it is equivalent to the suspicion of the biological mother Concubine Yu Hailan and the adoptive mother Ruyi.He had seen Ruyi suffer in the cold palace, how could he let her fall into such suspicion again.Even just suspicion is enough to hurt her hard-won status in the palace. Therefore, he prefers to remain silent and just regard this incident as an accident. So even Zhao Jiuxiao said: "Brother, you know how to be wise and protect yourself more and more. No wonder you got promoted step by step and became a celebrity in front of the emperor. As for me, I'll hang out here in Kunning Palace. I don't even like the girl I like." Ken looked me in the eye." What Ling Yunche vaguely knew was that Zhao Jiuxiao liked a court lady from Yongshou Palace, and once asked himself to help propose a marriage, but he just waved his hand: "People from Yongshou Palace, it's better to be less contaminated!" Zhao Jiuxiao took a pot of wine and poured himself a drink: "You, once bitten by a snake, ten years afraid of well ropes, the head of Yongshou Palace is not good, is it true that her subordinates are not good?" He was very depressed, " It's a pity that even a court lady doesn't like me!" Ling Yunche drank heavily from the flagon, just smiled.The girl Zhao Jiuxiao likes doesn't like Zhao Jiuxiao, and the girl he likes, how can he ever see him again? Fortunately, Zhao Jiuxiao is not a Yuyu person, and quickly swept away his depression: "But, I just need to be able to watch her from a distance. It's fine if I see her by chance." Ling Yunche clapped his hands with him, and sighed with a smile: "You are really my good brother!" Why not?The same is true for him, it is good to be able to see her from a distance occasionally.At the corner of the corridor in the deep palace where the poplar flowers are like snow, under the corridor of the Hall of Mental Cultivation stained by wind and dew and rustling bamboo leaves, or in the moonlight like waves, she is wrapped in a brocade quilt and reveals a strand of blue hair. It is peace of mind to see her well. Thinking like this, he let himself be intoxicated at his desk.There was a faint whimpering sound, which seemed to be the worrying cry of Jin Yuyan in the elder brother's office, or the helpless cry of some concubine who fell out of favor in the long silent night. He only hoped that she would never be so sad. It has been a month since the eighth elder brother Yongxuan was able to get up and walk. No matter how meticulously the imperial physician treats him, one of Yongxuan's legs is finally useless.In the words of the imperial physician, even if he can recover, he will not be able to walk like ordinary people in this life. When Jin Yuyan knew about it, she naturally cried and choked, feeling heartbroken to death.Even the emperor came to visit several times. Seeing Yuyan crying pitifully, he allowed her to take Elder Brother Yongxuan and stay in Elder Brother's care of Yongxuan's injuries. As a result, Yuyan's pet dog raised in the palace lost her care and whimpered on a daily basis, which added a bit of desolation.It seems that the warm sun of this spring day, even if it is warm as peach blossoms red and willow leaves green, can no longer warm the sorrowful hearts of the imperial concubine Jia, mother and child. The sorrow in the palace always comes lightly and briefly.In the final analysis, the grief belongs to others, and it is over after a few sighs and a few tears.Everyone has their own new happiness, looking forward to the newborn child with pink face, red lips, soft hands and feet; Chun En's car stopped at the gate of his palace on time at dusk, and was wrapped up by the eunuchs with joy and sent to the bedroom of the Hall of Mental Cultivation; looking forward to Jun En's constant presence, it seems that this spring will never end like. Because of Yongxuan's falling from the horse, the emperor did not turn his anger on Yongqi after all, so he and Hailan felt relieved. In his free time, Ruyi played with his two children in the imperial garden. The spring sunshine is quiet, like a light golden veil that falls silently.There is silence in the imperial garden, and the spring breeze blows over several pink, purple and light white magnolia trees. The flowers in full bloom are like the orchid fingers of an actor, slender and soft, full of flowers.It is a peculiar kind of flower, with thousands of pistils, flowers without leaves, like a jade tree piled up with snow, gracefully shining. Concubine Xin sat on a stone bench under a tree of green willows with her bulging belly upright. The bench was covered with goose feather cushions, and there was an open book on her lap.She bowed her head and recited softly with concentration, with a peaceful expression, like a beautiful mother looking forward to the birth of a new life.Because of her pregnancy, Concubine Xin became a little plump. At this time, the translucent sunlight spread and overflowed from the flower branches, and countless pure white and deep purple magnolias bloomed thrillingly behind her.She only wore a light pink dress, with delicate Chiba peach blossoms embroidered on the cuffs, her hair tied up with jasper squares, and a simple and clean double-strand hairpin with flowing beads.The back was dyed in the color of golden pink glow, reddish and warm. Concubine Xin recited the ancient words and sentences softly to the scroll, because she was not familiar with it, she stumbled occasionally: "Drinking magnolia in the morning is like falling dew, and eating autumn chrysanthemum in the evening is like falling flowers. Gou Yuqing's faith is good enough to practice, and a long chin is also good. What hurts." As she read, she couldn't help laughing, revealing a trace of white glutinous rice and fine teeth: "Empress, when my concubine was with the emperor yesterday, I kept listening to the emperor reading these lines, saying it was Qu Yuan's "Li Sao" .Although you found and taught the ministers and concubines to read word by word, but the ministers and concubines still read it regardless of class." Ruyi smiled and turned her head: "Many concubines in the palace only know Manchu and Mongolian characters. You grew up in the south, and you can recognize Chinese characters very well. Besides, "Li Sao" is uncommon and difficult, and it is not something that my daughter reads. Li Sao, Lisao means to be sad, so why are you sad?" "Of course my concubine is worried!" Concubine Xin stroking her swollen belly and pointing her fingers, "I am worried that giving birth will be very painful, I am worried that I will not be able to give birth, and I am worried that I will be like Concubine Yu." Will suffer, like the late Concubine Shu, will lose a lot of hair, and worry that the child will not have a full beard..." Ruyi quickly covered her mouth, and scolded: "What nonsense, you think about these messes all day long!" She changed her tone softly, "With the imperial doctor and mother here, you will give birth smoothly." Although Concubine Xin said this, there was no trace of worry on her face, she smiled and said: "Oh, empress, the concubine is just joking." She pointed at Yongzhen and Jingxi who were playing, "The concubine will definitely have children who are as lovely as the twelfth elder brother and the fifth princess. They will grow up slowly and will be called the concubine's mother. That's great..." She shook Ruyi's hand, Like a young and ignorant child, the last ray of innocence still remained on his face, "Empress, the book you read with the emperor, although I know the words, I don't know what they mean, please tell me quickly." Such innocence and pampering made Ruyi vaguely glimpse the shadow of her girlhood in the passing of time, she couldn't bear to refuse, and said with a smile: "You, you are going to be a mother-in-law, and you are still like a child. " Concubine Xin smiled innocently: "In the heart of my concubine, the Empress is my concubine's elder sister. Sister, please tell my younger sister." Ruyi smiled and explained: "This sentence means that in the morning I drink the dew on the magnolia, and in the evening I eat the fallen chrysanthemum petals to satisfy my hunger. As long as my emotions are steadfast, it doesn't matter what the body is. " Xin Yi couldn't help laughing and said: "The concubine heard that Qu Yuan is a big man, so she also likes to write poems in such an awkward way. But what the emperor reads, so the empress knows everything." Does the emperor like it?In the beginning, it was Ruyi who liked to read "Li Sao" at night. Hearing her sing these lines repeatedly, the emperor just smiled and played with her drooping hair: "Qu Yuan is too lonely to be tolerated in the world. If he knows how to compromise, Know how to keep your mouth shut and be a proper person..." Ruyi pressed against the emperor's forehead: "If you know how to compromise, then you won't be Qu Yuan!" The emperor snorted lightly, hugged her and said something else. Concubine Xin was still laughing: "A big man, he always eats flowers and plants, so cute!" As soon as she said cute, Yong Xin clapped his hands and said repeatedly: "Cute! Cute! " Concubine Xin and Ruyi looked at each other and couldn't help laughing. Yongzheng is almost three years old, and Jingsi is almost two years old. One is wearing a green robe and the other is wearing a red dress. They are both cute ages.Yong Xing ran fast, cheering all over the ground.Jing Si has just learned to walk, fluttering her wings like a bird learning to fly, following behind her brother, laughing like silver bells. Liuqiao Huawu, falling flowers and flying catkins, the long and the spring breeze are the masters.It was about such a good time.