Lingxi ordered me to put a bowl of hot milk on the table and said gently: "You have always been in good health, but this time the wind and cold are really bad. I heard from Xuepo that you didn't get out of bed for several days. Even Concubine Duanmu and Concubine Demu I've come to see you all the way. I'm still not feeling better after walking like this. I need to drink something quickly to keep away the cold."
I knew her kindness, smiled and agreed, picked up the bowl and took a sip. It was usually sweet and delicious, but today it was not the same. It was windy and cold. Maybe I really want to be grateful for the change in the weather at this time, which allowed me to explain this life. A disease caused by fear.
That day when I returned to Ningshou Palace, my mother-in-law was already jumping anxiously in the inner hall. When she saw me, she was so excited that she almost shed tears. She hugged me and kept chanting "Amitabha". He behaves exaggeratedly like a corner kid.
I was touched and embarrassed at the same time, but I pulled myself out of her arms and said angrily: "What is the concubine doing? My daughter is not missing any arms or legs, and the servants are all watching?"
It's okay not to say this. As soon as I said it, the mother-in-law stiffened, let me go, and said: "The servants can't see what they shouldn't see. Even if they see it, they shouldn't keep it in their hearts. Some people actually saw it and shouldn't see it. You said something you shouldn’t have said, and you thought you were just missing an arm or a leg when you fell down!”
My mother-in-law has always been gentle, and she has never had such a harsh tone when speaking to me or anyone else. However, this seemingly peaceful trip to the Yin-Ning Palace made me remain silent, paused, and finally asked unwillingly: " Where is Ruxiu?"
The mother-in-law turned her head away, "If something like this happened in Sanshou Palace, there is no way around Empress Dowager De. I have already sent someone to report the case. If you are in a hurry, you might as well go to Longevity Palace and wait. The result will always be tonight." .”
I was shocked, "Aniang, you."
Reporting it to the Longevity Palace is not something I can press down in private. Although Concubine Demu is kind, she is also for us. She has assisted the late emperor in the Sixth Palace for many years, how can she be soft-hearted? The palace maid betrayed the master. The big taboo is, if you put it in her hands, your skin will be peeled off even if you don't die.
Although I am sad about her betrayal, the matter has not been investigated clearly, and I really don’t want to cut off her options. After all, we have been together for more than ten years, and I cannot be so hard-hearted.
But my mother-in-law, the most gentle and uncontroversial mother-in-law, often reminds me to care for the palace people’s mother-in-law.
"This matter is not up to your willfulness. There are people around you who have twisted minds, as if there is a sharp knife hanging over their heads. I will definitely not tolerate such slaves. Your Concubine Demu must also mean the same thing."
"But the matter hasn't been found out yet. I still want to know about her."
"Clear? Let me ask you, what are the things in the palace that are clear and clear? Apart from things like this, the first thing you should think of is how to clean yourself up. If Ruxiu is really wronged, let's fight to rectify it. It's okay to argue, but after you left, I have checked carefully. People think you are incompetent and have already relied on Li Ronghua. Now you are your mother-in-law, but you are making people laugh. What's the point? You should go back and have a good sleep now. As soon as you wake up, you can either go to the Longevity Palace immediately and make a clear break with that cheap maid."
Seeing such a resolute mother-in-law, I knew that I couldn't argue with her, so I had to pause and said: "Well, my daughter will just go to the Longevity Palace."
My mother-in-law looked at me with some hatred, but she didn't stop me in the end.
When Huaishu's figure disappeared into the rustling autumn night, Jiang Qinshui still stood there, like a sculpture under the moonlight. Rujuan quietly dismissed a group of palace people, went into the house, took a woolen cloak for her son, and walked to Qinshui.
Shui put it on her. After thinking about it, she persuaded her: "Empress, Emperor Ji is young. No matter how cautious she is, she is still a child. She is soft-hearted and values friendship. If you are not at ease, keep her here and teach her well. Concubine De
I will definitely handle that hoof properly. In the future, Emperor Ji Jing will have more things to do, and I will naturally understand your painstaking efforts."
Qinshui stroked the already somewhat old cloak and sighed: "What happened this time was that she was lucky. Xun Fangyi and the Li family had their grudges and suppressed them with all their strength. Also, the Queen Mother did not want to embarrass Pei'er, so a ditch passed easily.
.What about next time? I have always pitied her for being cautious at such a young age, but she has failed to teach her too much. I can’t, I have to be cruel. I can’t stay with her forever!”
The cold wind in the October night was bone-chilling. I was walking in the long and narrow corridor outside Ningshou Palace, and the whooshing autumn wind penetrated my flesh and bones. My fingers were numb from the freezing cold, and my mind couldn't stop churning, thinking that even if I saw
So what if it comes to Ruxiu, Concubine Mu is not such a cold person, she must have chosen Ruxiu's betrayal as the sender. Concubine Demu will never tolerate it, should I disobey Concubine Demu who loves me so much?
To protect a slave who betrayed me? Or, as the mother-in-law said, to draw a clear line completely? I can't do it in my heart. In this case, what can I do if I go? It will only add to the sadness.
Before I could finish these thoughts, the end of the corridor was already clearly visible, and it was even getting brighter. Xiaoyun was careful, took a few steps to stand next to me, and said, "Di Ji, someone seems to be coming next to me.
"
As soon as she finished speaking, the sharp voice of the eunuch came to my ears: "This is Princess De's errand. Others should avoid it."
As soon as my heart skipped a beat, Xiaoyun already said loudly: "Empress Huaishu is here, you haven't seen Qian Sui yet."
The eunuch had already come into my sight at this time. He seemed to be startled, and his face turned pale. He was stunned for a while before he remembered to salute, and then said with an apologetic smile: "It's so late, the autumn is deep, and the dew is heavy.
Why are you in such a secluded place? How can you feel better if your body catches a cold?" After saying that, he moved back, as if he was blocking something.
My heart skipped a beat, and I was filled with doubts. I shouted, "What are you hiding behind? Are you doing something shameful?"
The eunuch was very anxious and said hurriedly: "Emperor Ji, this servant has been wronged. This unlucky and unlucky job, if it hadn't been for the order of Empress Dowager De,..."
I was frightened by the words "bad luck". I could no longer suppress the ominous premonition, and crawled in the direction of the prisoner's retreat. The prisoner was panic-stricken, but after all, he did not dare to stop me. After all, he was being
I pushed it aside, but before I could take a few steps, the sight before me made me unable to take another step.
It was such a horrific scene that I will never forget it for the rest of my life. Under the obscure open-fire palace lantern, there was a motionless corpse on a stretcher. A head that had been squeezed and deformed by a strong impact was white, and the blood on the face had dimmed. It can only be seen from the distortion.
On his facial features, I can recognize a vague familiarity.
And the owner of that corpse is so familiar to me, yet so strange. When I was a child, the girl who followed me around with her maids tied up and said "Be careful", why did she die like this!