The next day, Xuan Ling ordered Li Chang to pass an oral order, allowing me to call Gu Jiayi to inquire carefully. Except for married women, relatives and monks, commoner women who enter the palace must be informed that they will meet the queen, not to mention that Jiayi was born in a wealthy family. Xuan Ling only gave me the oral order.
Don't mention it beyond the queen.
The summer breeze is as cool as jade, and the water in the pool in front of Rouyi Hall is as cool as jade. Red and white lotus flowers have floated in the clear water. The lotus flowers are raised in the wind, gently dragging in the misty water waves.
Gu Jiayi, on the other hand, crossed the water and crossed the bridge with lotus steps like this.
This was the second time I saw Jiayi, and the first time I saw her clearly. When I first saw her, my breathing almost froze slightly because of her appearance. Maybe she was hanging around in the brothel and fireworks place.
Because of this, her beauty is somewhat aura of dust. But the aura of dust is not the filthy smoke and dust in the world, but the hazy mist like the mist that spreads when the mountain wind passes by and the dawn mist rises. In fact, you can't say how beautiful she is.
Beauty, just that kind of faint and confused expression, will be revealed unconsciously in her charming posture while looking forward to it, as if it is a little bit of thoughts revealed inadvertently. That feeling of weakness is very similar to when she first entered Zhen's house.
The only difference between her and Ling Rong is that in her eyes, there is fierce perseverance and stubbornness, as well as the arrogance and enchanting charm of a famous prostitute.
She stood quietly in front of me, with the sparse and bluish sky behind her. Her hair was combed like glossy black clouds. The long hair on her temples hung slightly, as soft as willow branches, and moved gently in the wind.
The piles are like light smoke and dense mist, all of which are covered with green plum blossoms with flying gold. Surrounded by gold silk hairpins, they are neatly inserted after the bun. The crystal tassels on the hairpins are half fallen and swaying slightly. They are worn in the ears.
Purple Ying stone pendant, and a shiny bead chain around her neck. The bead chain is so thin that its light shines like water waves in the sunlight. She wears a short-waisted rut with moon white embroidery and pink roses, and gauze green is sprinkled all over the place.
A gold skirt, with a pair of embroidered shoes with red mandarin parrot beaks exposed at the feet. Such a bright and pretty color, but the style is conservative. On the shoulders, there is a faintly bright red bellyband ribbon, such a bright red thin line winding along it.
On the upper body, a small piece of skin becomes increasingly exposed and is extremely white and tender, making people almost want to reach out and touch it. And the ribbon lazily spreads along the collarbone, making people can't help but daydream about how beautiful it will be if it goes on. I just want to touch it.
After taking a look, she didn't dare to take a closer look. Her face became hot and she blushed unconsciously. Her face was carefully painted, with long eyebrows and charming eyes. Under the reflection of the light, you could see her cheeks.
The hair on her lips was as fine as the freshest peaches in May, giving her a little bit of wildness like a stray rabbit. Her plump lips made her makeup look delicate and gorgeous. But her expression was cold and similar to the color of the sky.
, contrasting with her gorgeous attire, it was an indescribable special color.
When she saw me, she just knelt down and said indifferently: "Long blessing, Concubine Shu."
I nodded and offered my seat, "Miss Gu, please take a seat."
Because it was an important matter at home, both Yu Yin and Yu Rao were present. Yu Yin spread out his broad cloud sleeves with lotus leaf patterns and said softly: "Miss Jiayi has always had many elegant guests. It is not easy for me to call you into the palace once."
She ordered Bin'er to bring a plate of gold, "These should be considered as an apology to the girl."
Jiayi didn't even look at it, as if she had never seen the gold and silver in her eyes. She just bowed and said, "Thank you, Concubine Yin." Yu Yin was the prince's side concubine. According to the rules, only the principal concubine could be called "Princess" or given the title of concubine.
It is disrespectful to call the concubine directly by her surname. Instead, it is common to use one word from the concubine's name to show respect. For example, You Jingxian is the "Jingfei" in everyone's mouth. Jiayi is like this
The name Yu Yin also shows that he is quite understanding of people and worldly affairs.
I asked: "Is the girl still in Liuhuan Pavilion now?"
Jiayi smiled faintly and said gracefully, "How can a person like me find a good home to go to? Why not be happy and comfortable in Liuhuan Pavilion?"
Yu Yin said: "Girls are famous for their beauty. If you want to be a good person, you will naturally have a lot of princes and princes to choose from."
Her eyes were shining, "Of course, Concubine Shu will never forget that there was a Mr. Zhen who had a long-lasting relationship with me back then. No one in the city knew about it. In the end, I still failed to be a good person as I wished. It can be seen that I only have a glamorous reputation in vain, but in fact I lost with Canhua."
Liu Wuyi."
My heart sank, "Young lady, you can blame that young man, right? A man who has always been in trouble and finally gave up. With the fierceness of the girl, he naturally needs to take a good breath."
Yu Yin couldn't hold back his shock and anger, and looked at Jiayi angrily, saying in a trembling voice: "So you can't give up without causing his family to be destroyed, right?"
She smiled faintly and said, "If someone betrays you, how should you handle yourself?"
I remained silent, "I will never have any contact with you again." I smiled in despair, "However, things in this world are not so simple and easy to do."
She nodded slightly and said slowly: "I have been bought by the madam since I was born. I have loved her like a treasure since I was a child. My food and clothing expenses are not inferior to those of a wealthy family. I will give you whatever you want, and I will not be willing to beat or scold you. Firstly,
In order to maintain my face and figure, secondly, I cultivate my arrogance and elegance, and thirdly, I gain face. Only in this way can I become a money-spinner for the madam in the future. Also because I have been taught since I was a child that my eyes are higher than my head, and I know that there is no true love in pleasure.
However, I am used to seeing romance, and I have long since stopped taking the relationship between men and women seriously, and I don’t put any man in my eyes. That day, the manager spent a lot of money to see me, and he also brought someone with him, your brother, Concubine Shu, and
I negotiated a deal." She paused, her eyelashes falling quietly like the wings of a gentle and restrained butterfly, "I was willing to agree at first, but it was just for the reward of 30,000 snowflakes, and I also thought Mr. Zhen had a good appearance.
Only a talented person can reluctantly agree."
Yu Yin frowned, "Having already accepted the money, how can you say it's just a matter of reluctance? It would be hypocritical."
Jiayi smiled slightly, "After receiving the money, I will only interact with one man during this period of time. Wouldn't it be boring if he looked disgusting? Not to mention that he would have to cause miscarriage to ruin his face."
Yurao said with a sigh: "I always thought that the miscarriage was true. You hate your brother because you have no children and have not married into Zhen's house."
"How could it be?" She lowered her face, feeling quite sad, "Except for the necessary show, he never even touched me. Even though he was by my side, even though the young master treated me very well, even though he was openly with the young lady,
"Li Jue, in fact, there is not a day that goes by that he doesn't miss the young lady and the child." A pink blush flashed across her face, like an albizia flower blooming slowly, "I have never seen such a man, he makes me admire him.
I began to hope that just like the rumors and what he publicized, he would marry me as his concubine."
I lowered my head, "My brother really loves his sister-in-law very much." I murmured softly, "I sometimes speculated that my brother might have someone else in his heart, but it turned out not to be the case."
Jiayi's eyelashes trembled, "Have you ever been suspicious, your Majesty? I do have such suspicions. My son has a toothache. Whenever he has a toothache, he bites a clove bud to relieve the pain, or sometimes when he looks at the oleander outside the window, I often look at it.
He was deep in thought, and his expression did not look like he was doing anything official."
Memories emerged from the dust and smoke. A long time ago, my brother had a toothache when he came to visit me in the palace. Lingrong smiled and said, "The raw material for preparing lotus root is clove. It is made from the buds of cloves and is held in the mouth."
It can relieve toothache. Not only is it not bitter, but it also has a lingering fragrance in your mouth. You might as well give it a try."
Sure enough, there really are such indescribable emotions!
Jiayi softened her expression and continued: "I was hoping, hoping, that the big things outside would finally be settled. I had a wishful thinking, but..." She sighed sadly, "Young Master is indeed very good to me. He redeemed my life, but unfortunately...
It’s not that I want to be a good person and marry him as my concubine, but that I can live a stable life on my own.” She secretly felt sad, “What’s the point of being a good person if I can’t be with the man I love? So I returned to Liuhuan Pavilion to live my life of drunkenness and dreams.
day."
"So you are taking revenge on my Zhen family because of love and hatred?"
She shook her head, "It's just that your brother doesn't like me. Why should I hurt him for this? What really makes me resentful is another thing!" She said, "One day Guan Lu came to my place to drink. He drank too much and he kept talking drunkenly.
He took out a picture scroll and showed it to me." A wisp of coolness like the autumn wind gradually appeared on her eyebrows, "It was a picture of a woman in palace clothes, and the woman on it was the emperor's favorite An Fenyi. He said, An Fenyi
After Fenyi was selected, he lived in Zhen Mansion and met Mr. Zhen. He said that he heard Mr. Zhen mention that I was similar to An Fenyi, so he asked the palace painter to get a portrait. He said, An Fenyi and you are really different.
They are very similar. I saw that the woman's handkerchief and dress in the portrait had oleander patterns, and I couldn't help but be curious. He told me that An Fenyi loved oleander. I finally understood why he chose me to help him in the first place.
They have achieved great things. It is not because I am famous far and wide, nor because Mr. Zhen likes me, but because I look like this An Fenyi. He does not touch me, not only because he cares about the young lady, but also because he cares about this An Fenyi.
Yi. It’s just a young lady. She is his wife, but what about An Fenyi? She is the emperor’s concubine. I treat him so well when I am by his side, but I am not even as good as An Fenyi who is far away in the palace!
"
There was anger hidden in Yu Yin's eyebrows, "So you want to harm our Zhen family like this?!"
Jiayi lost her countenance, "I was angry that day, and Guanlu told me that Prince Zhen Ping and Queen Runan were extremely arrogant and formed cliques for personal gain. He also looked at the King of Runan several times during the incident. I was shocked at that time.
He said that the emperor had become suspicious and punished Mr. Zhen’s sister for entering the palace as a concubine. Once it was revealed, Mr. Zhen and I once caused a storm in the city. Even if we were fake, others would think it was true love. Not only me, but also the sisters in Liuhuan Pavilion.
I can't live with the bustard mother. I grew up in Liuhuan Pavilion since I was a child. Although the bustard mother raised me for money, she has been kind enough to raise me for many years, and the sisters in Liuhuan Pavilion are all innocent."
"So he taught you that if you make the first report, you can preserve the life of Liuhuan Pavilion?"
"Yes." She lowered her head, her original coldness and arrogance gradually disappearing, "I knew that I came from a humble background, and hated being looked down upon most in my life, so I made a big mistake in anger. Three years after the Zhen family's accident, I
I gradually realized that many things were caused by my arrogance and impulsive misunderstanding, but the mistake was already made and I don’t know how to make up for it.”
I hesitated, "You are confused, but it is also because of your feelings. If it were anyone else, it would be fine, but it was you, the emperor would have been gullible." I calmed down with anger in my chest, "But thank you for taking care of my brother."
She raised her beautiful eyes and said, "Is your Majesty aware?"
"I went to see my brother after he became insane. The gardener at the nursing home heard the noise and thought it was Miss Gu. The only Miss Gu my brother knew was Miss Jiayi."
She sighed with sadness, "It is indeed my fault that the young master has become like this. I can only try my best to make up for it." There were tears in her eyes, "The former young master Pian Pianjia became what he is now. It is indeed my fault."
Yes. But I was so angry at that time that I really never imagined that there would be such consequences. On the day when Mr. Zhen was exiled, I heard that the young lady and the young master died suddenly, and I went to find out the news. "
My heart moved and I asked urgently: "Oh? Did my sister-in-law and Zhining really die of malaria?"
"I once asked the widower who did the autopsy, and it was true that he died of malaria." She mused. "At that time, I was suffering from malaria. I had doubts in my heart. After I bribed the widower, I heard that there was a dead mouse in the cell where the young lady and the young master were detained. Then
A mouse died of malaria, and both the young lady and the young master had traces of being bitten by mice, and they died in a miserable state."
I felt miserable and knew that something was wrong, "Malaria is very contagious. If one mouse gets the disease, it will spread quickly. So are there other people in the prison who have malaria?"
Jiayi shook her head, "No. There is no one else but the young lady and the young master in separate cells."
My heart trembled violently, and I almost didn't dare to think about it. Yurao was already crying: "Sister, someone must have deliberately put that mouse in to bite Zhining and my sister-in-law. They... they are so vicious!"
I pressed my palms hard, and my nails dug into my flesh, making me feel like it was about to burst. "Is it a pipe?"
Jiayi denied it sharply, "No. He was interested in Mr. Zhen. He only knew that the young lady and the young master had passed away, but he didn't know why. I tested him several times, and he really didn't know."
"The Zhen family was ruined at that time. Her parents were demoted to Sichuan and Shu in their old age. My brother was exiled to Lingnan and was framed by traitors for madness. My sister-in-law and nephew died tragically. The girl saw the tragedy of the Zhen family and knew that many things were actually misunderstood. So, let me ask you, girl,
Are you willing to try your best today to make up for the regrets of the past?"
She thought for a moment and said, "I am willing to come today, just ask."
"Brother Guanlu was on good terms with my brother, but he suddenly backtracked. Being driven by interests is naturally one of the reasons. But the girl has been in contact with Guanlu. Do you know if there is someone behind the scenes who wants Guanlu to attack my Zhen family?"
"Guan Lu has always been in contact with me. I have also heard that a lady from the palace has been in contact with me. I don't know who she is."
"Does the girl really not know?"
"I am ashamed of myself, Mr. Zhen, why should I lie?"
I stared at her for a moment, then reached out and took out a roll of paper, "The girl just said she was willing to make up for her regrets, so would she be willing to write down the fact that the management used both soft and hard methods to force her to unjustly accuse Zhenmen." I looked at her, "I might as well tell you.
Girl, the Guan family is arrogant and domineering. There is a lot of dissatisfaction in the court, and there are also many doubts about the injustice of the Zhen family. Now that everything is ready, whether the Zhen family can see the light of day again depends on the girl."
She pondered for a moment, did not take up the pen and ink, took out the golden hairpin from her head, pricked her fingertips, and buried herself in writing.
Yu Yin smiled at me, and her tightly knitted eyebrows were slightly loosened.
Jiayi wrote the blood letter and laughed at herself, "The pen and ink can change the truth and falsehood. I hope this blood letter can make them trust me a little more."
I nodded and took it, "Last time, the girl was suspected of falsely accusing an official of the court. I'm afraid that if the Guan family falls, the girl will be implicated. I will explain to the emperor the whole story of why you were forced by the Guan family. I hope the emperor can forgive you."
Yu Yin said: "There is another way. If the girl becomes the brother's concubine, then she may be exempted from all punishment."
Jiayi smiled faintly, her cold demeanor was like smoke coming from the mountains, and she slowly said, "If I become the master's concubine, how can others believe my testimony? Besides, how can I have the face to face the master?" She said.
He looked up at me and asked, "Master, are you feeling better?"
I nodded happily, "I'm feeling a lot better now. I can recognize people now. But I'm afraid there are still some difficulties in clarifying the past."
She smiled slightly, her beauty shining brightly, but it was as bright as spring plum blossoms and snow, and there was always a sense of sadness, "I still dare to visit the young master, because I know that the young master no longer recognizes me. Now that the young master has improved, I am ashamed of him, how can I do it?"
If you dare to meet me again, I will leave as soon as this matter is over, so as not to embarrass you." She bowed down and said, "If I did something wrong in the past, I hope I can make up for it this time."