It was seen that she was holding a handkerchief to wipe away sweat in one hand, and in the other hand she was holding something small, which seemed to be something like rouge and gouache.
Seeing Yinzhen's eyes on her hands, Ji Ling subconsciously clenched her hands and hid them behind her back with a little embarrassment.
Her face was red from the heat, and Yinzhen felt both funny and distressed.
He turned around and told Su Peisheng that the concubines no longer had to wait at the "Entry and Exit Xianliang Gate". They should all go to the West Wing Hall of the Zhengda Guangming Hall to wait.
Concubine Cheng and Mrs. Ulanara chatted for a few words. Suddenly, as if she remembered something, she turned back and waved with a smile, "Xi concubine! Come here quickly."
As she spoke, she turned to face the queen again, half-explaining, half-self-deprecatingly laughing: "Look at the Ai family... Sigh! People are getting old and their memory is poor. After walking such a long way, it's really...
I forgot that there is a kid like Xi Bin following me!"
Xi concubine?
Among the concubines, someone whispered: "It's the Niu Hulu family!"
Hongli’s mother-in-law is here!
Ji Ling was startled and looked up.
Behind Concubine Cheng, a young woman wearing auspicious clothes heard the call, smiled and walked out briskly.
Her steps were very dignified when she walked around, and the pattern on the hem of her robe was almost untouched.
All the palace maids following him also lowered their eyes and lowered their hands.
When she was in front of Concubine Cheng, Xi Bi bowed slightly.
The queen nodded, and Xi Concubine stood up straight, lowered her head again, and said with a respectful smile: "Queen, my concubine is accompanying the concubine. It is rare to see her as happy as today, and she talks a lot more!"
I think it’s because I haven’t seen the Emperor and the Queen for a long time.”
Concubine Cheng said with a smile: "What you say is so pitiful to Baba! I don't know how happy my family would be here among the lakes and mountains, enjoying the beautiful scenery!"
These words made the queen smile, and said: "Xi concubine, you have served me with all your heart. It is all thanks to you that Concubine Cheng looks so good and her foot disease has improved greatly!"
Xi Concubine knelt down and smiled, neither humble nor arrogant, and said: "The Queen is so flattering! I don't dare to take credit. This is all the Emperor. The Queen has blessed me with great blessings. The Concubine worshiped the Buddha sincerely for Empress Xiao Yiren. I think the gods have seen the Concubine's sincerity.
Therefore, the concubine’s illness was alleviated.”
Her voice is soft and tactful, and she speaks neither quickly nor slowly.
Although they are just a few simple clichés, they are like fresh rain in the empty mountains and flowing springs in the mountains. After listening to them, people feel very comfortable.
Concubine Xi helped Concubine Cheng turn around.
Only then did Ji Ling see her face clearly - she was indeed Hongli's biological mother, her features were almost exactly the same as Hongli's, as if she had been carved from the same mold.
They all have dark eyes, graceful brows, and full foreheads.
The only difference is that Hongli has a long face, while Xipi has a slightly square face.
If we judge purely by appearance, although Niu Hulu has good facial features, he cannot be considered bright and attractive.
What is truly unforgettable is her unique calm and unhurried demeanor.
…
When Ji Ling heard that they had just mentioned that Concubine Cheng had foot problems, she looked down and saw that Concubine Cheng was stumbling slightly as she walked.
After Mrs. Niu Hulu said those few words, the Queen smiled gently. Before she could speak, Princess Cheng had already reached out and handed it to Xi Bin. The expression in the Queen's eyes changed slightly. Princess Cheng saw it and smiled with her other hand.
One hand held the queen.
Mrs. Niu Hulu carefully supported Princess Cheng and walked forward.
Concubine Cheng patted the back of the queen's hand affectionately with one hand and whispered: "Queen, the Ai family are old friends from the previous dynasty. Now that the concubines have come in, it is natural for the living to be adjusted and arranged! Ai.
The family can live anywhere, and all matters are handled by the queen, and the Ai family listens to the emperor and the queen!"
Ulanara smiled virtuously and said with a hint of complaint: "Where are you talking about!" Seeing the pumice stone under his feet, he said again: "Be careful, concubine."
Concubine Cheng glanced at Uranala meaningfully, smiled and said nothing.
When passing by the concubines, Princess Cheng's eyes fell on everyone, passing them one by one, and then smiled and said to the queen: "I haven't seen the emperor for a while, and the Ai family seems to have a lot of new faces here, so good
!Good! This one is all neat and tidy, very good!"
Ulanara smiled and said: "The emperor is visiting the Old Summer Palace for the first time. He has brought many people with him in the harem, some of whom are low-ranking and young. It is normal that you have never seen them before."
Seeing the queen supporting her and walking away, the concubines couldn't help but look at each other.
At this time, the singing eunuch came to invite everyone to get on the sedan chair.
Since the Zhengda Guangming Hall was right in front and not far away, many people walked over directly.
There were also those who were afraid of the sun and heat and went to sit in a sedan chair.
Ji Ling chose to walk.
Zhang Guiren originally wanted to sit in a sedan, but seeing Ji Ling walking, she stopped riding in the sedan and walked with Ji Ling.
Zhang Guiren deliberately fell behind everyone, but when no one heard him, he whispered to Ji Ling: "Sister Ji, this Concubine Cheng is so impressive. If you don't know, you might think she is..."
Where is the Queen Mother! Why haven’t I heard of her in the Forbidden City before?”
Ji Ling shook his head and turned to Zhang Guiren in a low voice: "I entered the palace not long ago. If I hadn't come to the Old Summer Palace, I wouldn't have known there was a concubine here!"
Zhang Guiren nodded thoughtfully, took Ji Ling's arm and walked forward.
After walking for a while, under the cover of green pines, a majestic and solemn palace on the top of the mountain appeared in front of everyone.
This is the main body of the former building complex of Yuanmingyuan - Zhengda Guangming Hall.
Just like its name, the entire Zhengda Guangming Hall exudes an awe-inspiring atmosphere.
The first time Ji Ling saw it, he thought it looked so similar to the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City!
Judging from the appearance, the Zhengda Guangming Hall has the grand and dignified style that Fourth Master loved most - seven rooms wide, three rooms deep, with a gray tiled top and brackets.
Ji Ling raised his head and looked up. He saw that the Zhengda Guangming Hall was about forty meters high and nearly twenty meters wide. The steps alone were more than one meter high. Seven golden nanmu pillars were erected on the steps.
Only the red rhombus doors and windows can be regarded as an embellishment in the elegance, making the overall style more unpretentious.
But Ji Ling looked inside through the main hall door, and saw that the decoration inside the hall was magnificent, completely different from the outside - the throne of the emperor, with a golden dragon carved all over the body, and behind the throne was a golden lacquer screen carved with dragons.
Next to it are pairs of cranes, elephants, incense tubes and incense burners.
In the hall, there is also a huge plaque written by Yinzhen himself: With the heart of heaven, you can wear clothes at night and eat at night; enjoy the happiness of the people with harmony and happiness.
Ji Ling looked up along the plaque and saw the famous four words "upright and bright" hanging high on it.
These four words come from Zhu Xi's "The ancient sage kings and wise ministers communicated with each other sincerely and did their best, so that together they could achieve an upright and bright cause."
Ji Ling secretly wondered whether the fourth master also wanted to use these four words to tell the world: The throne of the emperor is upright and bright!
The east and west auxiliary halls on both sides of the Zhengda Guangming Hall are where the cabinet bachelors work. Because the officials have not yet entered the garden.
At this time, the singing eunuch guided the concubines into the West Wing Hall to take a short rest.
Although the West Wing Hall is large, not everyone can enter it.
Chang Zai and Yin Ying could only sit in the corridor, while nobles and above had their own seats in the palace according to their status.
After a while, the palace attendants brought tea, fruit and snacks, allowing everyone to take a rest and settle down before making arrangements for the next step.
Among the concubines, many of them were hungry after working hard all morning, and since the emperor and empress were not around, they all started eating tea and fruit cakes.
Compared with others, the pile of fruits in front of Ji Ling was quite exaggerated. It was almost full. Red and large lychees were piled neatly on the plate. Some of them had dark green leaves with slightly curled edges.
, with beads of ice water condensing on it.
The lychees in front of Zhang Guiren are slightly darker in color and smaller in size.
Zhang Guiren picked up one and was about to peel it when the palace maid who was close to her already took it and helped her peel it.
Ji Ling accidentally raised his head and glanced at the palace maid. He was slightly surprised to see that it was not Maidong, Zhang Guiren's personal maid in the past. He felt that the palace maid in front of him looked very familiar.
She thought for a while and then remembered - when Concubine Ning was beating Zhang Guiren in Yonghe Palace, it was this little palace maid who came to Jingyang Palace to ask for help.
"What's your name?", she asked her.
The little palace maid, who was small and thin, listened to Mr. Ji's question, knelt down and saluted, and then said: "To Mr. Ji, my name is Li Cheng."
Ji Ling nodded - this girl looked thin and small, but her face was full of intelligence.
It seems that Ophiopogon japonicus has been squeezed out by Lichen.
She lowered her head and was not busy eating the fruit. She just drank three small cups of hot tea in one breath - she was afraid of the embarrassment of going to the toilet along the way, so she didn't dare to drink water. At this time, her throat was almost smoking.
The teapot was very delicate and small. When Qixi poured the fourth cup for her, only half of it was filled and the teapot was empty.
When the maid waiting next to her saw this, she immediately brought another pot of hot tea to her.
As a result, when she handed it over, her sleeve accidentally knocked over the bowl of tea on the small table next to her.
A cup of tea was turned over on Ji Ling's lap.
Fortunately, the hot tea had been left for a while and was no longer very hot - but the tea leaves were soaked with water and splashed all over the body, which was very embarrassing.
A few drops splashed on the noble lady next to her. She stood up immediately and yelled at the palace maid: "What's going on!"
The palace maid's face turned pale with fright, and she knelt down: "This slave deserves to die! This slave deserves to die!"
The eunuch in charge immediately came up and slapped Qian'er against Ji Ling. Hai Guiren apologized, glared at the palace maid and shouted: "Stupid thing! You burned two nobles, and even your ten lives are not enough to compensate."
of!"
The palace maid was so frightened that tears welled up in her eyes and were about to fall down.
Ji Ling looked at it and couldn't bear it, so she raised her hand and said to the eunuch: "It's a small matter. Let's exempt her from punishment. Let her be careful in the future."
When Hai Guiren saw this, although there was still an angry look on his face, he followed Ji Ling in a grunt: "Forgive me!"
Ji Ling turned to Hai Guiren and smiled and nodded to express his gratitude. Hai Guiren was also on the list of people accompanying him this time, but he had not had much contact with her before.
The eunuch smiled with a smile on his face and said: "Yes! Yes! Your noble Lord." Then he glared at the palace maid and said: "My Lord, you are so kind! I haven't even thanked these two noble Lords!"
The palace maid looked at Ji Ling with big tears in her eyes, knelt down and kowtowed to Ji Ling with great gratitude, and then went out shivering.
Zhang Guiren took off the handkerchief from his clothes, bent down, opened his eyes wide, and helped Ji Ling carefully sip the tea from his clothes.
Qixi also knelt down and wiped the tea from Ji Ling Huapan's shoes, and then said: "Master, I brought a change of clothes in the package I brought with me!"
The maid at the back came forward and said cautiously: "My lord, there is a penthouse in the back room. Can I lead you there?"
Concubine Yu was originally surrounded by a group of servants. At this time, she also saw Ji Ling's embarrassment. She raised her eyebrows and asked in a moderate voice: "Isn't Ji Ling permed?"
As soon as she said this, everyone around them turned to look at Ji Ling.
Seeing that she was half-dressed and in a miserable state, several people covered their mouths with handkerchiefs and laughed happily.
Ji Ling stood up and said, "Thank you, Concubine Yu, for caring about me! It's fine, it's not burned."
Mao Bi raised her head and raised her eyebrows with concern: "Sister Ji, I brought some clothes with me, why don't you take them and change them?"
Ji Ling nodded to her with a smile and said, "Thank you so much, Madam Mao! Madam, don't worry, I also brought some clothes with me."
Maobin nodded repeatedly and said: "That's good, that's good, put it on quickly, don't get caught in the cold and lose your manners!"
The palace maid led Ji Ling towards the wing of the west side hall.
The corridor outside the side hall is very deep and wide. Qixi is holding the package, and Zhang Guiren is helping Ji Ling carry the hem of the dripping robe with his own hands.
When walking through a meadow, my flowerpot-soled shoes stepped on the turf, making no sound.
Ji Ling stopped slightly and straightened the hem of her robe, then suddenly heard a soft female voice whispering from around the corner: "What do you know? Princess Cheng watched our emperor grow up!
I have a lot of contact with Queen Xiao Yiren, so the emperor naturally treats her unusually!
The reason why she stayed in the Old Summer Palace instead of returning to the Forbidden City was to pay homage to the Buddha and chant sutras for Empress Xiao Yiren. In the past, Xi concubine asked herself to accompany her. Although it was not in line with the etiquette, it was not just to please the emperor and earn money for the fourth elder brother.
A future?"
Another person smiled and said in a low voice: "Isn't the price of 'pleasing' too high? Staying in the Old Summer Palace, not seeing the emperor all day long, facing an old concubine, who can bear it?"
"
The man before sneered, lowered his voice, and said mysteriously: "What do you know? Our emperor is the most particular about filial piety! Now Concubine Xi is staying by Concubine Cheng's side, making the old man happy - as long as Concubine Cheng says
One good word from her is worth hundreds of compliments from others!
Besides, when the emperor comes to the Old Summer Palace, he must often visit the concubine Cheng, and the concubine Xi serves beside the concubine. This is called "the one who is near the water and the tower first gets the moon"! What's the use of you guys even if you are in the Forbidden City?
We only see the emperor a few times a year? Doesn’t the emperor go to Jingyang Palace all day long?”
Ji Ling pulled Zhang Guiren's sleeve and signaled him to turn around and take another route.
As soon as the few people turned around, they heard the man sneer and say coldly: "So what? When I was in the palace before, I didn't see how Niu Hulu Gege was so favored! If it weren't for Si Age,
, how can she become a concubine?
The other person laughed and said: "So what if Gege? She worked hard and gave birth to a good son. Look at the one in Jingyang Palace - the emperor is so favored, but God just doesn't favor her. After so long, she has no children."
If you don’t have a man and a half woman…”
Zhang Guiren took a deep breath and couldn't help but hold Ji Ling's hand tightly.
Qixi was also anxious. She hugged her clothes and looked up at Ji Ling's face.
Then someone behind me suddenly shouted and asked, "Who is it? He's hiding there and sneaking around!"
