Fifty-one, lie down and listen to the head of Nangong Qinglou
The spring of the 30th year of the Qianyuan Dynasty came belatedly. After Xuan Ling announced that the fourth prince would be crown prince, he became increasingly sick and finally became bedridden in mid-spring. In order to allow Xuan Ling to rest in peace, his sleeping quarters were moved to the palace.
Except for a few highly respected concubines, no other beloved concubines are allowed to enter the Xianyang Hall, which is the quietest in the palace, without an edict.
On this day, I still felt refreshed after reviewing the memorials. I went to talk to Concubine De for half a day, and then went to Xianyang Hall to see Xuan Ling. The chariot and sedan chair were not even a hundred paces away when the servants heard that I was coming and came over early to welcome me.
Respectfully, he stepped forward and opened the main entrance of Xianyang Hall. Xianyang Hall is tall, vast, ancient, and in a clean location, making it the best place to recuperate.
The tall red lacquered and gold-engraved palace door slowly opened with a "beep" sound, like the hoarse and long sigh of an old man. There were layers of red embroidered satin curtains embroidered with flying dragons in the sky hanging in the hall. The depth of the hall was already dimly lit.
, blocked by the airtight curtain, it is even more dark and strange.
For a moment, it was as if a ripple of wind penetrated the hall. The wind blew through countless layers of silent curtains hanging to the ground. It was like an invisible big hand, rushing forward all the way, blowing the heavy brocades to flutter.
I turned around the twelve-leaf red sandalwood mirror screen inlaid with the Chinese character "Shou" and walked around to the bed where Xuan Ling was recovering from illness. Xuan Ling seemed to be in a deep sleep. It was rare to sleep so peacefully. But I saw a woman in plain gauze palace clothes sitting on the couch.
Next to the incense burner under the bed, she seemed to be sobbing faintly, but after all, she was in a faint mood and did not dare to disturb anyone.
I stopped in the distance and coughed very lightly. Upon hearing the sound, the woman in palace clothes turned around, and it was Mrs. Zhenyi.
When she saw me, she quickly stood up, wiped away her tears, and said quietly: "The Imperial Concubine Jin An."
I helped her get up politely and said, "Sister, you don't have to be polite."
Mrs. Zhenyi has been in the palace for more than ten years, and she has the deepest love for Xuan Ling. She has a rare gentle and quiet temperament. She usually only focuses on taking care of the second prince, and spends her free time reciting poems and painting. This time Xuan Ling
She was seriously ill, except for praying in Tongming Hall and taking necessary rest, she stayed by Xuan Ling's side all the time.
Mrs. Zhenyi suffered from the disease after she gave birth. Her body was weak and she did not have to work so hard. Looking at her diligent and careful service of the decoction these days, she has already lost a lot of weight. Her eyes are as red and swollen as peaches. It seems that she has cried, and now there is even a piece of it.
A semi-circle of crow-green hair, with a yellow and haggard face.
Although the emperor had made her suffer so many grievances in the past and did not love her very much, during the long years in the palace, despite the fact that the emperor was the life support of the concubines, she was also very affectionate towards him.
I couldn't bear it and said, "Thank you for your hard work, sister." Then I asked, "Is the emperor feeling better?"
She was about to cry, but she really didn't want to cry in front of others, so she had to smile bitterly and said: "It's okay if it's not bad. The imperial doctor just came to see me. He took the medicine and just fell asleep." She shook her head slightly.
, said: "Sister, what you said is serious. I have to assist the government in approving memorials, and also take care of His Highness the Third Highness and His Highness the Crown Prince. I am already very tired. As I occupy the position of Madam, I naturally have to serve by my side." She said softly and caringly: "
The weather has been bad these past two days, with rain and shine, and I am afraid that the old disease in my sister's leg will recur. I heard from Hua Yi that her sister's leg injury recurred last night, and she was so painful that she couldn't sleep well in the middle of the night. She should take care of herself.
Now, I have to rely on my sister to take care of everything."
I nodded, held her arm and said, "It's an old illness. Once you get used to it, it won't matter. It's reasonable for my sister to care about the emperor, but she also has her own health, and she has to take care of His Highness.
" He laughed again, "I want to concentrate on taking care of the government. My sister personally takes care of the emperor. The trivial matters in the harem are all troublesome for Sister De Fei and Sister Guifei. They have also worked hard. However, the emperor is sick now, so we sisters should work together.
when."
Mrs. Zhenyi glanced at Xuan Ling who was sleeping with her eyes closed on the bed, and said softly: "Sister, that's right. No matter how hard it is, we all do it for the emperor." When she saw that I was just standing, she hurriedly gave way: "Sister
Sit down and let's wait for the emperor to wake up together. I have ordered the small kitchen to stew ginseng soup to refresh the emperor. It is best to drink it when he wakes up." She looked worried and sighed deeply, "The emperor's body is...
I'm so exhausted, I always thought that without the red peony root, the emperor would be better, but who knows..." She hesitated to speak, and finally refused to say any more.
Her words meant something. For more than a year, Xuan Ling favored the newlyweds, often entertained her until dawn, and repeatedly asked for the elixirs in the hospital. Concubine De, Concubine De, and I often advised him to take good care of himself, but he always laughed it off.
, she calmed down for a few days and then returned to her old ways. For this reason, Mrs. Zhenyi shed countless tears.
I came from Concubine De and had something in my heart to say to Xuan Ling alone, so I smiled and said: "Sister, it's been hard for me to take care of the Emperor for days. Why don't you take a good rest? It's time for His Highness to go to school. I must be looking forward to it."
Sister, please stay with him more."
Mrs. Zhenyi looked at the emperor, as if she was attached to him. She was reluctant to leave Xuan Ling, and missed her beloved son. She thought for a moment, knelt down and said goodbye: "Then, if the emperor wakes up later, please let me know.
Let me say something."
I looked at her with a smile and said, "That's natural, sister, don't worry."
Mrs. Zhenyi stood up and took two steps, then stopped and turned back to me and said: "When the ginseng soup in the small kitchen is ready, the servants will bring it to you. Please ask my sister to tell the emperor to drink it." She was about to turn around, and then thought about it again.
Said: "If the emperor wakes up with a bitter taste in his mouth, there will be freshly made date paste and yam cake on the bedside, which the emperor likes to eat."
Seeing her like this, I couldn't help but smile and said: "Please don't worry, sister. If you are still worried, I can only wait until the emperor wakes up and ask for permission to go to my sister's Kongcui Palace to rest."
Mrs. Zhenyi lost her composure slightly and was very embarrassed. She blushed and said, "Sister is joking. With sister here, I naturally feel at ease."
However, she still hesitated a little, and her eyebrows furrowed slightly, like the slightly curved creases on smooth silk. She hesitated for a moment and asked, "How do you plan to deal with Sun Cairen's matter?"
When I saw her asking, I pondered for a moment and said solemnly: "I have discussed with Concubine De. We are not the ones who can decide on such a matter. We must ask the emperor for permission after all."
She didn't hesitate, "That matter... it's better not to tell the Emperor yet. The Emperor's body can't bear to be angry..."
I frowned deeply and said worriedly: "I don't think so. It's just that Sun Cairen's affairs are too outrageous. There are constant rumors in the palace. If we don't ask the emperor to issue an edict, I'm afraid those dirty words from the palace people will reach the emperor's ears."
It made the emperor even more angry."
After thinking about it for a while, she finally had no choice but to say: "Rumors are hard to quell, so it's better for my sister to tell the emperor." She said sincerely: "I also ask my sister to tell the emperor slowly, so as not to make the emperor too angry."
I nodded slightly, and the long pearl-embedded pink diamond pagoda earrings rustled on the rich satin embroidered clothes. Like light rain, there was a slight echo in the empty hall. I responded to her words with a warm smile.
, "My sister's thoughts are what I am thinking at this time. It's just that there are some things that must be decided by the emperor. We sisters can't make the decision after all. I will choose a suitable time to tell the emperor slowly."
She was full of worries and sighed quietly, "The imperial concubine has the final say."
I called her personal maid, "Jiejie, Zhuru, please help your wife go back to rest. If I still look so haggard next time I see my wife, I will definitely take issue with you."
I personally sent Mrs. Zhenyi to the outside of Xianyang Palace. Seeing her leaving, Hua Yi whispered in my ear: "Mrs. Zhenyi is really pitiful. These days of accompanying the emperor have added so much sadness and discomfort. I pity her."
That body."
I just felt a little stuffy in my chest, so I casually told Hua Yi, "Tell someone to hook up the thick embroidered brocade curtains and replace them with crocodile gauze ones. In such a stuffy weather, using such thick curtains makes it even more stuffy."
"
Hua Yi responded "Yes" and ordered people to take action. Li Chang cautiously interjected: "The imperial doctor said that the emperor should blow less wind, so he used a thick brocade curtain with embroidery."
I glanced at him and said slowly: "How could I not know this? It's just that the imperial doctor said that it is necessary to prevent wind, but the patient's illness is serious, and it is also important to get fresh air properly. Besides, you are a good person, so
It's boring to be bored, not to mention that the emperor is so unhappy."
Li Changnuo agreed and did not dare to ask any more questions. I smiled and said, "I have looked at you with cold eyes in recent years. Eunuch Li seems to be afraid to talk to me anymore."
Li Chang said hurriedly: "Don't dare. Your Majesty is so graceful and noble, and she takes care of everything every day. There is no place for a servant to talk casually. I respect your Majesty very much."
Graceful and luxurious? I laughed out loud. Once upon a time, this was the word I used to describe the former Chinese concubine Murong Shilan. Today, in the eyes of others, I, the imperial concubine, am as sharp and sharp as the Chinese concubine back then.
Already?
Li Chang didn't know what I was laughing at, and became even more worried. I held the pearl armband on my arm, and wrapped it with nine red gold rings, and said almost casually: "Respect is enough, but awe is not necessary -
—You naturally know how to distinguish the right things here. Moreover, I will naturally remember the benefits you have given me over the years."
Li Chang's face almost broke out in cold sweat. Seeing that no one was paying attention around him, he took a step closer and lowered his voice and said: "I have something to report privately. Just now, Dr. Shao came to check for the emperor's pulse. He had been talking for a long time.
During the conversation, even Mrs. Zhenyi was invited out. This has never happened before. It seemed like we were talking in secret." He saw that I just pursed my lips and listened, not daring to stop, and then said: "Slave, don't
Don't worry, Your Majesty. I listened in private. It seems to be related to the Empress and the Third Highness. After Dr. Shao left, the Emperor's expression was not very good. He only ordered Dr. Wei to no longer diagnose his pulse, but only Dr. Shao. After drinking the medicine, he fell asleep.
Down."
I said "hmm", looked at him with a faint smile and said, "Very good, you are very loyal to me, but why did you come to tell me now?"
Li Chang raised his sleeves to wipe the sweat on his face and said hurriedly: "I wanted to send someone to report. First, I heard that the empress was at Concubine De's place and it was inconvenient to report back. Furthermore, I guessed that the empress was coming today, so I kept waiting.
Here."
I smiled lightly and said: "I understand. You can take everyone down, and I can just accompany the emperor quietly." I thought about it and then said: "Go down, I am here today, no matter who it is,
No one is allowed to disturb me."
Li Chang bowed and agreed, and hurriedly sent people down. There was no one in the hall, and it became more and more empty and lonely. I walked in slowly, and the three-foot-long fur satin skirt was gorgeous on the inch-thick red velvet and gold carpet, sweeping the floor.
Passed silently.
My heart became even more empty, almost cold to the depths.
Since Wen Shichu guarded the Zi Palace of Concubine Hui Yi, Wei Lin has been favored by Xuan Ling, and has gradually become the chief of the imperial hospital, becoming the head of the imperial hospital. Wei Lin has excellent medical skills, has always been relied upon by the emperor, and is my confidant.
, the emperor also knew it, so he trusted me even more. Now that he has suddenly abandoned me, it may not be that he does not trust Wei Lin, but he may have some suspicion about me.
The third highness's words are about Yu Han's child.
Xuan Ling's suspicions are growing day by day, and once provoked, they cannot be suppressed easily.
My heart became colder by the minute, as if it was tightly pressed by thousand-year-old ice. It was so cold that I couldn't breathe.
Over the years, I haven't felt like this for a long, long time, this cold and helpless feeling.
I walked slowly to Xuan Ling's couch. A faint white smoke came out of the underground bronze cauldron with nine lilies. The ambergris used by the emperor was precious and fragrant. I opened the cauldron lid and slowly poured a handful of ambergris into it.
, and after another injection, the aroma in the palace became stronger and stronger. It could almost seep into the depths of a person's bone marrow through the pores, and the whole person wanted to stretch out lazily, unwilling to move.
But at this moment, I can't relax, I can't stay still. Just one oversight, one mistake, and everything I have today, everything he gained by protecting me with his life, will be wiped out. Not only will I die, but also how many people will have to die because of this.
I die.
No! I can't take any more risks! After all these years of hard work and many desperate attempts, I have managed to hold on until today and I can no longer fall down.
I quickly closed the lid of the cauldron and walked to the window. As the long window with golden dragon carvings opened, the cool breeze rushed into my delicately decorated cheeks and into my head, which was dizzy with ambergris.
.The wind blew on my face, and also blew up my long hair scattered behind the bun. Several feet of green silk decorated with light purple fresh orchids fluttered in the wind. I suddenly felt in a trance, as if I was still young and still dew.
During those years in the temple, my black hair was often scattered like this, scattered like clouds, unrestrained.
I was thinking about what Concubine Duan and Concubine De told me about Xuan Ling's repeated illness, and Wei Lin's advice also lingered in my ears - "In the past two years, there have been many new people in the palace, and the emperor has been lingering around, and many tigers and wolves have entered the palace.
The medicine has been spent on this body for a long time. But after all, he is the Nine-Five Supreme Supreme. His foundation has been there since he was a child. He is diligent in taking medicine at the Tai Hospital, so it may not be hopeless. It just depends on what your plans are."
The sky was overcast, and it seemed like a heavy rain was brewing. The old wound on my knee began to hurt a little, as if a small steel knife was scraping against the bone, endlessly.
What plans could I have?! What plans could I have!
I just bowed my head deeply, with a few inches of long shiny white nails on my index finger, dyed red with impatiens, and bit by bit at the slender carved gaps in the window lattice, and only heard "
"Click!" There was a crisp sound, and the long, green onion-like nails were broken without even realizing it. After a moment, I coldly threw the broken nails out of the window.
That year, the man who died in my arms. His blood was vomited on my clothes. Such bright blood stained my snow-white clothes, and my heart was broken because of his blood.
It turned into powder and scattered all over the sky and the earth, never to return to its original shape.
I subconsciously pressed my heart, and the old wound on my leg hurt even more. Every time the weather is like this, my leg wound starts to hurt, which seems to remind me that I can no longer perform the Jinglong Dance.
That’s fine, if he’s dead, why should I dance? I don’t have to dance anymore.
I sneered slightly, and the smile was like a white and sharp electric light, slowly extending to the corners of my eyes.
I slowly, slowly breathed a sigh of relief.
I sat quietly in front of Xuan Ling's couch, thinking only about how to tell the best story about Sun Cairen. The misty smoke of spices emitted from the big cauldron beast's mouth, and the light in the palace was slightly brighter by the heavy crocodile curtains.
, the faint skylight leaking in from the long window with gold dragon carvings fell on Xuan Ling's sleeping face through the bright yellow curtain with rain and sky blue cloud patterns. He seemed to be sleeping uneasily, and his eyebrows were wrinkled.
The cheeks were sunken deeply and looked sallow, like two shriveled chrysanthemums.
I smiled softly and silently, took out a pair of small silver scissors from the drawer in front of the couch and slowly trimmed the broken nails, waiting quietly for Xuan Ling to wake up.
After a long time, I don't know how long, the sky was still gloomy. Xuan Ling turned sideways and woke up. His eyes were slightly squinted, as if they were illuminated by a strong light, and it took him a long time to recognize it was me.
He seemed to be laughing, and his voice had some strength, and he called me softly: "The Imperial Concubine."
Since I was canonized as the imperial concubine, he has seldom called me "Huan Huan". Even in private, when the two of us are facing each other, Xuan Ling, he still calls me "the imperial concubine".
Imperial Concubine, this title seems to be unparalleled in the world.
I just smiled as usual and stepped forward to help him get up and lean on the pillow. He nodded, "You are here. How long have you been here?"
"The emperor had just fallen asleep when I came."
He said a faint "Oh", coughed twice, and then asked: "Where is Yan Yi?"
I rolled up my sleeves for Xuan Ling, washed his hands in person, and took a silk scarf to dry them. Fang smiled and said, "Sister Zhen has been working hard to accompany the emperor for days. I asked her to go back to her palace to rest first.
"
He said "Oh" and said: "It's okay for Yan Yi to go back. I saw that she was sad behind her back, but she didn't dare to show it in front of me. It made me feel uncomfortable. I was thinking about how many people should be called to prevent her from serving.
He is very diligent and not easy to talk to."
I smiled slightly and said, "Does your Majesty remember some of your young sisters?"
Seeing that I was serving well, he looked at me and said, "You are the imperial concubine of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Why do you have to do these things? You can just send your servants to serve me."
I smiled and said, "Does Your Majesty think that I am clumsy and poor at serving you?" I looked at him Yingying, "No matter how noble your status is, the Imperial Concubine is still someone who serves the Emperor. Even though I live in the harem, I
First of all, being in charge of the harem is an honor given by the emperor. Everything I have is given by the emperor, so I will never forget it in my heart. Only by serving the emperor with all my heart can I be rewarded. "
The corners of his mouth raised slightly, as if he wanted to smile. After a moment, he muttered: "You will never forget it in your heart?"
I looked at him steadily and said in a deep and respectful voice, "Yes."
He was leaning on the pillow, and his half-smile became more intense. He stretched out his hand, gesturing for me to come closer. I was a little frightened, but my face remained unchanged, and I leaned slightly closer to him. His hands were a little withered, and his body was
There is a strong medicinal smell and the smell of weakness and decay unique to patients, as well as a faint fragrance of powder.
I secretly sneered from the bottom of my heart. Although Mrs. Zhenyi had been waiting beside her for days, Mrs. Zhenyi had never used such rich-smelling powder, so it must have been left by some beloved concubine.
I remained calm and secretly held my breath to reject the disgusting smell emanating from his body.
He stretched out his hand and slowly stroked my bun, slowly, little by little. My heart was so full that I wanted to vomit. I tried my best to endure it, and he said in my ear: "Your Majesty, in the past you
Never say such high-sounding words."
I tilted my head, calmly moved slightly away from his body, and said with a chuckle: "In the past, the emperor never called his concubine 'the imperial concubine'."
He smiled, and the knots of his bright yellow pajamas embroidered with gold dragons spread on my cheeks. He gestured at my temples and said, "Yes. I never called you like this before. In the past..."
Imperial Concubine, I will never forget why I received this honor and honor. Every time I hear others call me this, my heart is almost stabbed with a sharp knife, and I will hate it for the rest of my life.
The imperial concubine is a supreme honor in the eyes of others. But to me, it is a life-long fatal pain.
For a long time, I felt like my chest was suffocating. Then he slowly let go of his hand, stared at me and said, "I wanted to touch your hair, but I only touched the cold and gorgeous pearls all over it."
I suppressed my somewhat chaotic heartbeat and said as if it was a joke, "Yes. The emperor wanted to touch my concubine's face, but he didn't want to touch the thick powder on her face. It was really disgusting and disgusting.
"
Xuan Ling's eyes were a little deep and unpredictable, but also a little wandering, "Yes. Now that you are the most noble woman in this palace, you naturally have to dress up more luxuriously to control the people in the harem." He said.
After thinking quietly for a while, there was an unspeakable tenderness in his eyes, "I think of those years when you and I spent the summer in the Taiping Palace, enjoying the cool air together in the evening, and your hair was spread like this, without any beads.
Decoration. You are lying on my knees like this, with your green hair flowing like clouds. You are really beautiful."
He suddenly mentioned the past and the beautiful time in the past, and his tone was as gentle and ethereal as the most beautiful morning glow on the top of the mountain, almost drowning people.
My thoughts were in a trance, and my soul almost wandered out of this Ziao City. It seemed that many years ago, the bells of Ganlu Temple echoed in the distant sky, and he and I were boating on the lake in the vast river under Ganlu Temple.
The stars in the sky were as bright as diamonds poured into the river, and the green water plants were swaying in the water. The oars stopped and the boat stopped, just like rafting among the dazzling Milky Way. He held my hand firmly, and I fell on his lap. Because I practiced with my hair, I grew up.
His long hair was scattered casually, without any decoration. His green clothes had a soft and friendly texture, and his voice was like the wind chimes in the eaves in March, ringing softly in the wind. He said softly: "I haven't combed my hair in the past.
My silk hair is covered by my shoulders." I responded tactfully, "How can I not be pitiful on my knees?" He laughed softly, pulled me into his arms, and gently passed his fingers through my hair. In his arms, I will always be there.
It has such a clean and fragrant smell, like a faint Du Ruo freshness in the air.
Those years were the happiest times in Kuji's life.
It's a pity that it was so short-lived. My eyes were sour and almost burst into tears. I quickly turned my head away. I was straightening my clothes, facing Xuan Ling, and slowly took off the golden eight-treasure hairpin on my bun.
, silver inlaid cat's eye hairpin, golden Kun dotted emerald plum blossom hairpin, rhinoceros horn eight-treasure comb, square pot with auspicious temple flowers, ruby flowers on the head, dotted with emerald coral, turquoise gourd head flowers, and the last one with Nine Exhibitions of Kunlun.
The phoenix wings and golden steps shook. The moment the straight bun was loosened, the black hair fell like a waterfall. I asked him gently, and I was also asking myself: "Is it like this?"
Xuan Ling's eyebrows flashed with joy for a moment, "Imperial Concubine, your appearance is no different from before."
Really? His appearance remains the same, but that person is no longer visible.
Your beauty is still like a flower. If you don't see the person who really treats you, what's the point? It's just loneliness, loneliness, loneliness and withering.
Thinking of this, my mood suddenly tightened, and I said gently: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your compliment."