The spring of this year seemed to have been spent in such a gloomy and continuous rain. The successive changes on that day cast an unspeakable gloom in the hearts of all the concubines, and no one dared to mention anything related to that day.
Anything. The death of Meizhuang shocked the Queen Mother who always cherished her. Except for the exception of naming her a virtuous concubine, all the funeral rites were in accordance with the rites of a noble concubine, giving her mourning and honor after death. Because of the funeral rites of Meizhuang,
Hu Yunrong's concubine ceremony was also repeatedly postponed. I took Yurun to my side to raise him. Because of the difficult delivery, his body was always weaker than other children, and he had to be fed by his mother, who drank bowls of medicine and turned it into milk juice.
After staying with him for more than a month, Run'er's body slowly recovered. Because he was an orphan in Meizhuang, I loved Yu Run especially, even more than my biological children Yu Han and Ling Xi.
The events of that day reached the Queen Mother's ears through Hu Yunrong's mouth. After being furious, the Queen Mother did not say a word. She only told the Queen to take more care of her like Xuan Ling, and there was no need to interfere with the affairs of the palace. She only left everything to me to take care of.
After that incident, Guan and Ni changed their clothes and moved to live in Yongxiang, while Zhao Jieyu and Lady Yu Rong stayed at home. It was obvious that Lady Yu Rong, who was favored by the saint, was in decline, and she was gradually replaced by Xuan Ling.
Ignore.
However, two days later, Xuan Ling gave Yurao a pair of red-gold red-gold begonia flowers newly made in the palace, praising her for her courage to break into the queen's palace at night to protect her sister. This sudden reward was not so much a sign of ignoring the queen again.
, it is better to say that it is the attention on Yurao.
In the blink of an eye, the Dragon Boat Festival passed, Xuanqing recovered, and he and Xuanfen came to pay their respects to the Queen Mother several times. They heard Yu Runer's cry getting louder and louder, and the palace gradually regained some bustle.
Xuan Ling discussed with me the matter of Yunrong's concubine, and said: "It's time to organize Yunrong's ceremony. After Concubine De passed away, the mother always felt uncomfortable. It would be better to ask her to deal with it." He added, "
If I don't register Yun Rong as my concubine, I'm afraid my mother's presence will be unclean. Anyway, it's simple, the rituals are ready-made, and there's no need to draft a title, it's just Chang."
I sat on the couch and slowly drank jasmine tea. The jasmine was made from jasmine buds picked in midsummer last year, marinated with Wu salt and kept in an ice cellar. After a year, it was soaked in boiling water.
The jasmine suddenly bloomed and floated on the water. It was still fragrant and very fresh. The light salty taste in the mouth can also dispel the heat.
I thought of the thoughts she showed when she invented the embroidery of the divine bird that day, and I felt slightly unhappy. I smiled lightly and said: "The word "Chang" is actually very good, but it's just too ostentatious. Who doesn't know that Sister Hu is holding that
She was born as a piece of jade that will last forever. If the emperor really cares about her, there is no need to make too much publicity for her."
He was flipping through a volume of "Taiping Yulan" in his hand, and looked up at me with confusion, "Do you also think that Yunrong is sometimes too showy?"
I fiddled with the lid of the tea cup and said slowly: "The daffodils in winter are particularly fragrant, but the fragrance is too strong and can make people dizzy. Like this jasmine tea, it is a good thing that the fragrance becomes clearer and clearer. Sister Hu has the emperor and me
The Queen Mother is naturally blessed with love and affection, but when you reach a high place, you will inevitably be coveted and resented by villains. If my sister had not received such great love, no one would have noticed the details of her clothes, so why should she cause trouble?"
Xuan Ling chuckled and said, "You are right, so just give her a different title. Yunrong has always been smart and shrewd, so I gave her the word 'sensitive'. You can inform the Ministry of Internal Affairs."
He saw a newly painted "Picture of Rongbin in Qiupu" painted on the wall. The lotus leaves were withered and yellow, the hibiscus was blooming, and the autumn light was beautiful. Two geese fluttered in the sky among the flowers, facing each other, and they were flying thousands of miles away. He smiled:
"I remember never admiring this painting by Cui Bai(1)."
I covered my mouth and said with a smile: "Did the Emperor also hide the graffiti done by my little daughter?" Seeing his confusion, I said, "My concubine is just imitating it in her spare time."
"Little sister?" He smiled slightly, with a relaxed expression, "But the woman who broke into the Queen's Palace that day? I didn't see her come to thank me after I gave her the jewelry. She is in your palace today, and she can't trust her.
Damn it."
I couldn't shirk it, so I had to call Yurao to come. At that time, Yurao had just put on new makeup. When she came over, she was a little reluctant. She gave Xuanling a blessing and then stood facing the wall without saying a word.
Xuan Ling didn't feel dissatisfied and just said with a smile: "You are very good at painting, but are you willing to compete with the palace painter? I can arrange it for you."
Yurao said lightly: "The painters in the palace often admire rich and brilliant colors. When the emperor saw his daughter copying Cui Bai's paintings, he knew that his daughter and the painter must not talk to each other."
He stared at the painting on the wall and said, "You painted a pair of wild geese." He mused leisurely, "Thousands of miles of clouds, thousands of mountains with dusk snow, who are the shadows going to? Wild geese are loyal birds and should stay in pairs." He said.
Laughing, "The residence your sister lived in when she was in Taiping Palace was called Yifu Pavilion. She liked hibiscus flowers very much."
Only then did Yurao smile, "I also like loyal birds."
Xuan Ling saw her show off her face and couldn't help but smile and look at her, "The green jade hairpin on your head is very beautiful. You seem to have been decorated. Why don't you like the pair of gold hairpins I gave you and you didn't wear them even when I summoned you?"
I was afraid that Xuan Ling would be angry with Yu Rao, so I hurriedly said: "She usually doesn't like these gold articles, so she never wears them." I pushed Yu Rao and said, "The emperor has given me a reward, but you haven't thanked me yet."
Yurao bowed slightly and said without being humble or arrogant: "Not only does my daughter not like gold jewelry, but the begonia flowers on the wave are my sister's favorite. My sister loves it, and I will not be tainted in the slightest."
Xuan Ling smiled, "It's better to have fun alone than to have fun together! It's not bad to share something good." He waved to Li Chang, "Go and bring Cui Bai's "Qiupu Rongbin Pictures" as a reward to Miss Zhen."
He explained with a smile, "Both the sixth and ninth brothers like this "Picture of Rongbin in Qiupu". The sixth brother likes the hibiscus, and the ninth brother likes the wild geese. They have asked me for it several times, but I have not given it to them. Now I will give it to you.
Here you go, let them get jealous."
Yurao's face turned slightly red and she thanked him.
I thought of the pond full of hibiscus that Xuan Qing planted for my birthday, and I smiled calmly and said, "This painting is a good intention. I really hope that my little sister will not be far away from me when she gets married. It will be convenient for us to come and go, just like in the painting."
The wild geese are beside the hibiscus flowers, otherwise what fun would it be if the sisters were separated."
Xuan Ling just smiled and said nothing, and a few days later, she asked people to give her two pieces of Li Tinggui ink and a few rolls of Chengxintang paper for her to use for painting. Seeing Xuan Ling like this, I was a little interested, but Xuan Ling
When Ling came, he would only occasionally call Yurao in front of him, and would quietly watch her cooking tea and painting, often without saying a word, just as if he was admiring the scenery from a distance. Yurao would not talk to him first, and just kept quiet.
Outside the window, the banana trees are covered in greenery, and occasionally a little pink petals jump in the shadow of the sun. Time passes quietly, and the three of them sit quietly, not feeling that time is rushing by.
In this way, half a month later, Hu Yunrong performed the ceremony of concubinage. Concubine Zhen was feeling a little better, and she managed to go to the ceremony. I stood solemnly to watch the ceremony, and quietly whispered to Huan Bi, "That woman hugged the second prince and stole the dragon.
Concubine Zhengui is not suspicious about Feng's matter, right?"
Huanbi said: "No. I also pricked two needles on the instep of His Highness the Third Highness in the same way. Concubine Zhen was ill for the past few days and couldn't take care of herself. By the time she took His Highness back to the Second Highness, the wound had already healed." She stroked her heart.
Said: "That day Eunuch Li came to hug His Highness, and it happened that the two His Highnesses were sleeping with Concubine De. Seeing the sad look on the father-in-law's face, the servant said that he would ask His Highness to take two injections and drop blood to test the relationship. She knew it was not good, so she took advantage of the situation.
It is no wonder that the Second Highness came down wrapped in a swaddling cloth embroidered by the Empress herself. Anyway, the two Highnesses look alike, and they are both asleep, so as long as I hold you tightly, no one will notice."
I sighed and said, "Finally you were smart enough to send Concubine Zhengui away again. Otherwise, if the Second Highness started crying, how could he not know that Concubine Zhengui is the biological mother?"
Huanbi said: "This slave also has her heart hanging in her throat." She glanced at the queen who was sitting on the phoenix throne and lecturing calmly, "It's really an advantage for the queen. She has caused so much trouble, but the emperor let it go so easily.
, you can’t tell the difference between right and wrong.”
Xuan Ling, who was sitting next to the empress, had a distant look on his face. The empress and empress, who had always been respectful to each other, finally felt alienated. I smiled coldly, maybe they had never been close; or perhaps, the alienation had been around for a long time, but now the gap is deeper.
That’s it. I shook my head with a smile, and with a respectful expression on my face, I said quietly: “The Emperor is not ignorant of right and wrong, but is trapped by love and can’t help himself.”
I sighed secretly and became a little more thoughtful.
After the ceremony was over, the concubines went to the Yanxi Palace to congratulate Yun Rong on the wedding ceremony as usual. It was so lively for most of the day that I waited for everyone in the Yanxi Palace to leave before taking Jin Xi there to congratulate her.
Yunrong stood under the dripping eaves from a distance and watched the palace maid flying a kite. When she saw me coming, she waved and smiled and said: "I thought that Concubine Shu would not appreciate this face. Everyone is here, but you are not the only one. I am still waiting."
I'm going to apologize."
"Sister, it's a joke." I stepped forward and held her hand, "You have always been friendly with Sister De Fei, so you naturally understand that now that Yurun is in my palace, I need ten thousand favors. Now that my sister is gone, I will only leave
How can I not be careful about the next prince?"
Yun Rong nodded and said, "I heard that the fourth prince is much better than when he was born. It's all Concubine Shu's trouble."
I looked at her dazzling pomegranate red tasseled gold silk makeup and cloud brocade palace dress, and said with a smile: "I want to come to congratulate Concubine Min, why don't you hurry up early? I just thought that there must be a lot of people in your place just now, so I want to
Even if I say a few personal words to my sister, I'm afraid that you won't have time to listen. I love my sister so much that I dare not say it. Firstly, I'm afraid that my sister won't care about you. You are the most loved person by the Queen Mother and the Emperor; secondly, I'm afraid that people will say it behind my back.
I am partial and only follow the Queen Mother and the Emperor's good son to flatter my sister. I don't dare to show my sincerity."
Yunrong sat down with me, smiled and ordered the tea, and said: "After what happened that day, I still don't know that my sister loves me? That's too ignorant. Who knew that my cousin is not as good as my sister?
It’s okay not to mention your love for me and such calculations." She clasped her fingers hard and smiled meaningfully, "The days in the palace will be long, and I will have to rely on my sister to love me in the future."
I understand, "It's natural. My sister is smart and smart, and the emperor specially changed your title to the word "sensitive" for you. This kind of honor is the only one in the palace. I have to borrow my sister's intelligence to help me, otherwise
The concubine Shu who is in charge of the Sixth Palace is really boring." I sighed softly, "If my sister becomes a concubine soon, I can also relieve myself of this burden and take care of the children."
"Sister is joking." Concubine Min smiled low and turned her eyes slightly, "I am not qualified to be a noble concubine. Even the queen's cousin thinks that I have no talent and only keeps me in the concubine position. Sister said that the emperor changed my title to
Rong Chong, I really like the word 'Chang'."
I smiled and said, "Sister, the word 'Chang' is so good, and the image of the divine bird looks so much like a phoenix, it's inevitable that some people will take it seriously."
"Oh?" She smiled sweetly, raised her hand to straighten her bun, which was made of gold and ruby inlaid with double luan dots, and twirled an eggplant-shaped pink tourmaline pendant on her lapel. "Sister, you don't have such suspicions in your heart, right?
"
I smiled calmly and said, "How could it be? My sister doesn't know that my father is still a criminal in Sichuan and Sichuan. Due to the limitations of family background, it is an unexpected blessing to be favored by the emperor and occupy the position of concubine. It's okay if we don't cultivate good karma.
How dare you still eat my sister? When the Japanese Palace was falsely accused by Mr. Guan, my sister spoke for me several times, so I will remember it in my heart."
Yunrong calmly breathed a sigh of relief and smiled slowly: "That day, An's palace maid alarmed Concubine De, so Concubine De was frightened and had difficulty giving birth outside Zhaoyang Palace. I heard that my sister was beaten in Tangli Palace for this reason.
That bitch An?"
I took a sip of tea and said, "I am too impatient. I only focus on Sister De Fei."
"It's not my fault, sister. Look at the way she usually plays tricks on others. If I were the sister, it wouldn't be as simple as giving her a slap." She looked slightly proud, "Since Concubine De passed away.
, the emperor doesn’t treat her as well as before.”
I smiled and said nothing, and ordered Jinxi to open the brocade red satin box that I brought. Inside lay a snow-white and plump snow ginseng, about the thickness of a woman’s wrist, with long and complete fibrous roots. “It was inconvenient just now because of the large number of people.
The ginseng is used to replenish the body of my sister. I hope that my sister will give birth to a prince for the emperor soon, and I will come back to congratulate Concubine Min."
Yunrong's eyes dimmed, and then she smiled: "Thank you sister for your kind words." She sighed lowly, "It's just that Dr. Wen has hurt her body and mind because of those gossipy things. Otherwise, with his care, Yunrong can get her wish as soon as possible."
I looked at the sky and sighed: "I originally wanted to talk to my sister more. But the time has come to go to the Queen's Palace. There are a few things in the palace today that are not big or small, so I have to go back to the Queen."
Yunrong laughed horrifiedly, "Sister is trying to prevaricate me! Who knows that my cousin has entrusted you with all the affairs in the palace and just told her to rest, so why would my sister go back to the queen?" She smiled and held my hand, "I
In the palace, there is the 'Yunshan Yujian' tea that the emperor recently gifted, and my sister and I are making tea together and talking."
I looked very reluctant to part with it, "The tea in my sister's palace is naturally top-notch. I heard that there was a lot of rain this year, and the 'Yunshan Jade Tip' only weighed more than a pound. My sister had it first." I paused and said,
He said helplessly, "No matter how bad she is, she is still the most noble person in the palace, and the emperor cannot ignore her. After all, the former Queen Chunyuan was her biological sister, and the queen mother was a member of the Zhu family. Although the emperor said so, I
Don’t be too proud. I would like to advise my sister, after all, she is still the queen.”
The tone of my voice before leaving was so meaningful that Hu Yunrong didn't know whether he heard it or not, so he had no choice but to let me go.
After returning to the palace, Huanbi asked me quietly: "Did Concubine Min listen to Miss Min's advice?"
"Who knows? After the incident last time, the grudge has been forged. She is always so high-spirited."
Huanbi pursed her lips and smiled, saying, "I'm afraid the more you persuade her, the more tempered she becomes."
After saying that, it happened that Wei came to take Ping An's pulse. Taking advantage of the break, I asked him: "Is Dr. Wen feeling better?"
He whispered: "Since the death of Empress Dowager De, Imperial Physician Wen has been in poor spirits. He has been drinking to drown his sorrows. In addition, he was seriously injured by the knife, and now his health is very bad." He paused for a moment.
Stop, "The most important thing is that the old spirit is gone."
I shook my head sadly, "What's the point of having a deep understanding after death? You can take care of him more for me."
Wei Lin answered "Yes", I stood up and stood in front of the long window, looking at the newly bloomed cannas in front of the window, stretching gently, and said calmly: "With the arrival of Wen Shichu, now I have a trustworthy imperial doctor around me.
You are the only one left."
Wei Lin bowed and said: "If you are promoted by the empress, the ministers must do their best."
I nodded, "It's best that you have this intention, and I won't treat you badly. In two days, I'll ask Wen Shichu to come and ask for a safe pulse for the fourth prince." I deliberately whispered, "You know the severity."
He agreed "yes" and turned to leave.
When I saw Wen Shichu's description, I almost gasped. Such a gentle and peaceful person was so haggard. His face was haggard, his eye sockets were sunken, and he was so thin that he was out of shape. He was recovering from a serious injury.
The man's whole body was exuding a strong smell of alcohol, which made him take a few steps back.
When I saw him like this, thinking about Mei Zhuang's death, tears fell down before I could say anything.
I called Jin Xi to bring some water, and personally washed his face, loosened his bun, and combed his hair one by one with a comb. I asked Jin Xi to get a set of clean clothes for him to put on. This was my first time.
I did these things for Wen Shichu, maybe because I was grateful that he could make me live peacefully and happily in Meizhuang, or maybe it was because of my guilt. For the first time in my life, I felt that he was like a real relative of mine.