Dozens of bright lights illuminated Concubine Duan's elegant incense-draping hall. Concubine Duan and I sat opposite each other, each choosing a chess piece to compete with each other. Meizhuang's figure gradually appeared, and Caiyue and I sat aside to select baby shoes to be embroidered.
She occasionally turned around to look at the chess game between me and Concubine Duan. She said calmly: "Have you made it clear with Concubine Jing?"
I said "hmm", and Concubine Duan laughed, "A true gentleman watches chess without speaking."
Mei Zhuang chuckled, "I'm not a gentleman, so why should I imitate men who watch chess without saying a word?"
Concubine Duan smiled at the chess piece, "I thought you were honest and honest, but I didn't know that you had learned to be as smooth-tongued as Concubine Shu. Now that you are the only one pregnant, the Emperor is even more obsessed with you."
I smiled and said, "It's okay for my sister to say sister Mei, why bother involving me."
Concubine Duan smiled and said: "Who doesn't know that the emperor only goes to three places in the harem now, your Rouyi Palace, Xu Guifei's Kongcui Palace, and her Yingxin Palace. You all know the result.
, the emperor only kept thinking that it would be great if Shuyuan could have another prince, and the bird's nests and snow clams were sent to the Yingxin Palace like water, and he was still worried that it was not enough, so he just asked Shuyuan to feel at ease and protect the pregnancy. - He only looked at Shuyuan.
Woolen cloth."
Meizhuang didn't even raise his head, and said with a half-smile, "Sister's heart is like that of Ming Jing - she doesn't care about me, she just cares about the child in her belly."
Concubine Duan's eyebrows looked particularly sparse under the candle shadow, like a faint bamboo shadow, "Don't be dissatisfied, just look at the one in Jingchun Palace - I heard that even the more shameless servants dare to look at her,
What's the difference from being in the cold palace?"
Mei Zhuang hummed softly without raising his head, "My sister feels sorry for her, but I don't feel sorry for her. Let alone anyone who has not survived such a life, I'm afraid there are many people who have fallen into her hands and suffered."
Concubine Duan smiled and said: "I don't feel sorry for her, but there is always a shadow of doubt in my heart - listening to the meaning behind Hu Zhaoyi's words, I never struck such a heavy blow."
My heart skipped a beat. Concubine Duan, who was always very discerning, said unconsciously: "Whether it's serious or not is also diagnosed by the Queen's imperial doctor."
Concubine Duan concentrated for a moment, rested her chin on her head, and said slowly: "That's exactly it..."
Mei Zhuang frowned and said in disgust: "Queen... who knows what kind of medicine she sells in her gourd. The Emperor can be said to be hurting the child in her belly, but the Queen only thinks she is hurting my life."
Concubine Duan sighed softly, "I know you have been suffering for so many years and there are always knots in your heart. But now that you have a child, don't think about anything and just wait and see to become a mother." Concubine Duan paused for a moment.
Stop, "Just look at Concubine Jing and I. We all dream of having a child of our own, but we never get it."
Concubine Duan's tone was calm, as if she was talking about other people's affairs, but how could she explain her inner pain clearly to others? Real pain can never be expressed in words.
I picked up a pair of small silver scissors, cut off the excess wick, and said slowly: "To be honest with her, I don't know whether it is a good thing or a bad thing for her. I can't sleep well at night."
Concubine Duan frowned slightly and said nothing, but Meizhuang turned away and said: "I don't know this all my life, and I will be a fool until I die. It will be easier for others to kill others with a knife."
I lowered my eyes and said, "Don't you accuse me of having a bad heart."
Mei Zhuang sighed sadly, "I wish you had never been heartless."
Concubine Duan took a sip of tea and said, "More than ten years ago, from the day I knew I had been given safflower and could no longer have children, I couldn't sleep peacefully every night. Whenever I closed my eyes, I was haunted by nightmares. When I woke up, I couldn't even sleep on my pillow or quilt.
They are all wet with tears. If a woman is deprived of the right to be a mother for no reason, it is a great pain in the world; if she cannot even take revenge, but is deceived by her enemies every day and even used by her, it is even more shameful and painful."
She paused and said, "I would rather be awake than confused."
I nodded and looked up in the direction of Yunzhao Palace. I couldn't help but worry, "My sister didn't see the concubine's appearance yesterday. I'm really afraid that she will go crazy with pain."
The shadow of the candle flickered red, making Concubine Duan's temples look like mist. She said calmly: "She won't. She has lived in the palace for so many years, and many things are commonplace. Even if it happens to her, she has passed the age of being able to have children.
At my age, no matter how painful it is, I will never die."
Meizhuang raised his head halely, with a strange light in his eyes, and said coldly: "I don't know what Concubine Jing thinks. But if someone wants to harm my child now, I will definitely kill her a thousand times and ten thousand times, so that she will never be able to survive."
Superborn!"
Ever since Mei Zhuang became pregnant, the cold and sparse aura has faded a lot, and the whole person has been enveloped by the tranquility and tranquility of motherhood, like a pearl that has opened a clam, shining with a warm and gentle brilliance.
Now that she said these words, it shows how much she loves this child, even if she doesn't love Xuan Ling.
In the deep silence of the palace, the king's affection is not enough to last a lifetime, and only children can be relied upon for life.
Concubine Duan was calm and calm, "Even if I were to die or go crazy, I wouldn't go at this time. Only after seeing many life, separation and death can I realize how important it is to live well. Concubine Jing still has your Haoyue." She held Aya Zhuguang's arms.
Xiu said, "It's just that there is hatred in her heart. She is no longer the Feng Ruozhao she used to be."
Meizhuang chose a pattern of "wishful thinking with branches", looked into the distance and was slightly lost in thought, and said: "She is not a woman with only hatred, she has a hazy moon."
Concubine Duan scratched her head with jade, looked at me warmly and said, "It is a good decision for you to leave Long Yue to Concubine Jing to raise. It will make everyone happy, both for others and for yourself."
"I hope so." The candlelight in front of me jumped and danced, like a breath of floating breath, and it kept beating, "Forcibly bring Haoyue back to me, I'm afraid this child will hate me for the rest of his life. I would rather take my time.
, so that we won’t have a place to meet each other one day.”
Concubine Duan nodded and said, "That's true. That child in Longyue is a bit temperamental and can't bear to come." She smiled faintly, "Now that you are also the mother of three children, I still have some doubts. I thought
It was still the time when you first entered the palace."
I lowered my head slightly and looked at my reflection on the wall. I couldn't tell whether my appearance was still the same. I just felt that my silhouette was like a cut, a little thinner than before. People are better than yellow flowers, but in fact they are not even as good as yellow flowers.
And a heart has become thin to nothingness.
Concubine Duan looked a little dazed, the candlelight was shining, and there was a depressing atmosphere of autumn night spreading everywhere. The green woven and gold-embroidered flower curtains in the palace reflected the heavy dark light. Concubine Duan smiled suddenly, and her voice seemed to come from ancient memories.
She walked in, looked at me and said, "When I saw your profile just now, you really look like Fu Jieyu." She said, "Two years ago, I played a game of chess with Fu Jieyu in Shanglin Garden."
I looked at her quietly, "Sister, do you like her very much?"
"No," she said calmly, "I am only willing to talk and play chess with her because I remember you."
I smiled, "Does Fu Jieyu really look like me?"
"Like you, also like an old friend."
I lowered my head and said silently, "I know." I turned around and looked at the pattern of "Six and Spring" on the window lattice. It was obviously an auspicious and joyful pattern, but I just felt sad in my heart, "Is it really similar?"
She nodded, "I haven't read the book, but I also know the poem about chanting snow. Fu Jieyu's is like 'sprinkling salt in the air, and the difference can be imitated', while you are like 'not like catkins blowing up in the wind'. There is only a difference between physical similarity and spiritual similarity."
"
I thought about all the past events and felt even more pity, "It doesn't matter if you sprinkle salt or catkins, it's just like snow after all."
"I'm just reminding you that snow is not such a bad thing - just think about it yourself."
I lowered my head and said nothing, only holding my chin to carefully savor the meaning of her words. Mei Zhuang glanced at me and Concubine Duan, and said, "You are becoming more and more fond of playing riddles." She paused, "I only know that when Fu Ruyin entered the palace,
One day, all the concubines I saw changed their expressions. There were rumors in the palace that she looked like you, and I suspected that she was your sister."
I sneered, "Looking like me is enough to scare people. Does she know that she looks similar to me?"
"The emperor loves you so much. You can't hide from people's comments even if you cover your ears. How could she not know?" Meizhuang glanced at Concubine Duan and said quietly: "She hates being like you, and like you, she is the one who gets the honor."
The only asset of pampering is something she dare not and cannot give up."
I thought about Wu Shi San's case of seizing favor, and my heart became alert, and I said in a low voice: "So..."
Meizhuang didn't know what I meant, "The facts of that day were very strange. I can't figure out how Wu Shi San could have entered her palace without anyone noticing. She took it with the emperor, so she wouldn't be left with nothing in the end."
Know."
Concubine Duan twisted the emerald beads on her hand, and said slowly and thoughtfully: "If she also feels that she is always in danger of being favored by others, and wants to retain favor, but does not want to be favored by the palace just based on her appearance, then there will be no one else.
If you tempt her from the side, she will fall into the urn."
Meizhuang sighed lowly, patted my hand and said: "He is dead after all. Whatever the reason, there is really no need to speculate too much. It is important to take care of yourself."
Concubine Duan quietly pursed her lips and said with a smile: "That's right. Now Concubine Shu, what you should think about most is how to join forces with Concubine Jing. I know her temper very well. She will not give up until this hatred is resolved..."
"She won't be impulsive, sister, don't worry." I looked at Concubine Duan with a smile, "Actually, sister is the wisest..."
Concubine Duan's eyes were filled with waves, and she said clearly: "Don't worry, I will definitely not help you."
I breathed a sigh of relief and said calmly: "I also think so. My sister has always been a clairvoyant, and can best see the chaos with a cold eye. Furthermore, if I let my sister be tainted with right and wrong, if I am not in danger in the future, I am afraid no one will tell me.
That’s a fair word.”
The weather was sunny that day, but the chill was like a layer of cold feathers covering my body. I woke up from my nap, and my mother and I put Lingxi and Yuhan to sleep together, and I was watching Jinxi and Huanbi enjoying the winter sun in the back garden.
I had to wear a big sweater inside. The sun was shining brightly outside, and the smell of fluffy cotton lingered on my winter clothes.
The shadow of the sun moved silently, and I looked up suddenly, only to see Concubine Jing standing quietly under the eaves, looking up at the distant sky, but I didn’t know when she came in. I smiled and said, "Sister, why did you come in so quietly?"
, it really scared me."
Her tone was casual, as if nothing had happened, "It's nothing, I just feel that the same sun is more comfortable to see in Rouyi Hall than in Yunzhao Hall."
In fact, Yunzhao Palace is not gorgeous. The only advantage is that there is plenty of daylight, which makes it warm even in winter. "Yunzhao Liuxia" is one of the scenic spots in Ziao City. It is the only residence given to the imperial concubine. It can be seen that Xuan Ling
Pay attention to the concubine.
She turned to me and smiled, "Take me to see Yun Huan and Han'er, okay?"
I nodded and took her hand in. Among the brocade mattresses, Lingxi and Yuhan were sleeping peacefully on one side, with their mother-in-law beside them gently stroking them.
Concubine Jing stood aside quietly, looking at the blushing little face of the sleeping child. Her voice was as soft as the ripples on the willow branches, "Everyone said that the sunshine in Yun Zhao Palace is only inferior to that of the Queen's Zhao Yang Palace. They all said
Back then, I was the most important person to the Emperor among Concubine Hua. But from that day on, when I knew that the Emperor was only using me to sway Concubine Hua, I have never seen a sunny time in my heart." Her voice sounded.
It seems that it is not his own, and his thoughts are wandering outside the long past, "Those days when I lived in the same palace with Concubine Hua, I still wake up from my dreams to this day. You can't imagine how many elaborate tricks a person like her can do."
It's embarrassing for you. Since the emperor's favor cannot be relied on, I just want to have a child like crazy so that I won't be so lonely and helpless in the future." Her fingers trembled slightly, "I always regard it as my own blessing, and I can't blame God.
Later, new people came into the palace one after another, and the emperor paid no attention to me, so I had to stop thinking about it."
I shook her finger and said softly: "That is a thing of the past."
Concubine Jing nodded, and the plump white jade phoenix in her bun trembled slightly, "I always thought so. After you left the palace, I had a baby." She tucked the corner of the child's quilt, her eyes were so gentle that it seemed to make water flow, "
She was so small and soft when she was brought to my palace. It was raining that day, and the prisoner who brought her was not careful. Half of her swaddling clothes were soaked, and Hazy Moon was so cold that she cried. They bullied Jin Niang again.
The new nurse nanny put a lot of salt in her elbows, so that Jin Niang had no breast juice and starved Haoyue. I was so disgusted that I moved the palace rules in front of Yunzhao Palace with Haoyue in my arms.
I broke the legs of all those slaves, and no one dared to look down upon her from now on. I want everyone in this palace to know that Emperor Yu Yue is not without the love and protection of her biological mother. To me, Feng Ruozhao, she is Yun.
The master of Zhao Palace."
I was moved in my heart. To raise the daughter of a deposed concubine, and to teach others not to look down upon her, Jing Fei really put a lot of effort into it.
Lingxi in her sleep may have felt hot, so she turned around impatiently. Concubine Jing carefully hugged her into her arms. Her gestures were steady and skillful, like a small ring, tightly holding Lingxi in her arms. It was about
Feeling that she was sleeping comfortably, Lingxi pouted and fell asleep again. Concubine Jing put Lingxi into the crib and stared at her little face, "At that time, Longyue cried endlessly day and night and had to be held.
I'm willing to sleep. Except for Jin Niang and Han Zhu, I don't believe in anyone or rely on anyone. I only accompany Shuyuan and take turns to sleep." She smiled horribly, "I don't mean to show off by saying this, sister, please don't eat it.
Xin. Longyue is not my biological child after all. If she were her biological child, she might be spoiled by me."
I held her hand and cried: "Sister taught Haoyue very well."
Concubine Jing had a complicated look on her face and whispered in my ear: "In order to have a son, I took countless bitter medicines every day, and even secretly raised a 'little husband' in the palace."
When I heard this, my expression changed, and I quickly sent Ping Niang and Zhong Niang out. I held Concubine Jing down and said, "Sister, you are crazy. The 'little Xianggong' is an evil creature. It has always been forbidden in the palace. If the Emperor and Concubine Jing are raped,
The Queen knows that it would be strange not to treat my sister as a filthy person and bring chaos to the palace."
Concubine Jing said quietly: "It's just a sandalwood doll with moving hands and feet. I only used it to beg for a child. At that time, I was ill and went to the doctor. After a month or two, I figured it out and asked people to burn it.
"Things." Concubine Jing sneered, "Today's bringing up old things does not mean that I was stupid that day. I love my son as much as my life. If anyone makes me lose hope in this life, I swear I will not let her go."
There were a few crisp sounds in her hand, with a smile on her face, and she released her hand as if nothing had happened. However, several thin glazed jade armors on her fingers were strangled in her hand and fell to the ground.
I plucked the beads on my temples and said, "Sister, now that you have made up your mind, it will be easy to handle."
I took Concubine Jing into the Rouyi Palace, reheated the stove, and asked the kitchen to stew Fritillaria Black Chicken Soup to share with us as snacks. Huanbi served us and ate, and sent a few other maids to change the bottles.
The chrysanthemum. I sat sideways and watched them chatting and joking, and I found it interesting. I was chatting with Concubine Jing when Xuan Ling came in and said with a smile: "I heard you laughing and chatting here from a distance. It's so lively."
I bowed and smiled, "Your Majesty was attracted by the excitement." When Concubine Jing saw Xuan Ling arriving, she immediately stood up and bowed.
Xuan Ling hugged me lovingly and said, "You are here, why can't I come?" He then looked at Concubine Jing, "You are already on good terms with Concubine Shu, so you should move around more."
I glanced at him with a smile and said softly: "The autumn is getting colder. Your Majesty must have felt cold all the way here. Please cover your face with a hot towel. The assorted honey soup has been made in the small kitchen. It is very sweet. Your Majesty must try it.
?”
Xuan Ling said: "I happen to be thirsty, but you are thinking about it. It's strange to say that I sometimes think about you advising me to soak up the rain and dew and go to other palaces, but no matter what snacks and soups I use wherever I go, I always feel that
It’s the best here.” After saying that, he called Xiao Yunzi to hold it up.