The imperial concubine's mouth was still very bitter, and the strong smell of medicine could not be dissipated. She could see her son lying tenderly on her knees, with a look of eager concern in her eyes, and her heart couldn't help but feel sweet. He was so young, but he already knew how to care for his mother. The imperial concubine often
It is said that the emperor is the only one who treats her well in this palace. In fact, the emperor is not ranked first. The one who treats her best now is his son, Yinzhen.
"Eniang, Yinzhen wheezes, Eniang doesn't hurt anymore." The little guy held his mother's palm with both hands, kissed and blew it, imitating the way his wet nurse usually coaxed him. The imperial concubine picked up her son, who was chubby.
She could no longer hold the little guy, but it was so satisfying to have him so heavy in her arms. She said softly, "Eniang is not sick. This is a tonic. Eniang will have more strength to hold Yinzhen after taking it."
Yinzhen likes E Niang to hug you, right?"
Only then did the little elder brother become happy. He held the imperial concubine's face and kissed her hard. He rubbed the powder on her mouth, leaving a white patch on her lips. This made the imperial concubine laugh and called Qinglian: "Bring me a mirror quickly."
I made up for it, and soon someone came to the door again and saw my painted face."
Seeing that the fourth elder brother had made his mother laugh, the fourth elder brother was very satisfied and proud. He wiped the rouge on his mouth with his little hands. Qinglian came with the maid holding a mirror and a scarf to serve him. He smiled and hugged the little prince away and said: "Four elder brother, go ahead and eat yourself."
Fujin's rouge, why are you chewing on your empress's?"
The little guy didn't quite understand. He looked at Qinglian in a daze, while the imperial concubine scolded her: "How can he understand what you are talking nonsense? Besides, I don't allow him to eat my own Fujin rouge. A grown man just hangs around rouge and gouache."
Damn it."
Qinglian smiled and did not defend herself, making her fourth brother happy. Later, Yinzhen remembered the big red envelope given by her great-grandmother and the emperor's grandmother, and proudly gave it to her mother-in-law. The imperial concubine asked him what he was doing with the money, little guy.
Say loudly: "Buy candy for E Niang."
"Our fourth elder brother is really the most filial." Qinglian said with a smile, "In the past, when the eldest elder brother was this age, the Queen Mother asked the eldest elder brother what he was doing with his New Year's money, and he said he would use it for his wife in the future."
The imperial concubine said angrily: "Such words must have been learned from the nonsense of the mothers around me. How can a child understand? So don't say anything to Yinzhen about Fujin's wife. He is very good now, and the emperor likes him more and more."
I can't teach you anything else, so it's not difficult to be a filial son."
Yinzhen listened to his mother's words attentively. Although he didn't understand it very well, he understood what the word filial piety meant. Being obedient and obedient meant being filial.
He didn't care about these things and had nothing to do, so he took his son to look through the room where various gifts were piled up to see if there was anything he liked that he could use as a toy.
The imperial concubine came from a wealthy family and grew up among jewels since she was a child. Jade Ruyi, coral pearls, were just playthings in her eyes. Even if Yinzhen poured out a handful of pearls and rolled them on the ground, she would not feel pity. On the contrary,
He taught his son how to count the big pearls, but the pearls were so full and moist that they became pitted and unusable, so he casually rewarded them to the palace maid and eunuch in the name of the fourth prince.
At this moment, Yinzhen took out a box and took out a large black stone. He touched it and found that it was boring, so he put it aside. The imperial concubine took it over, looked at it over and over, and asked Qinglian: "
Was it sent here by Wu Yashi again?"
Qinglian smiled and said: "This is a New Year's gift from Concubine De to Brother Si."
The imperial concubine looked very disdainful, but she already asked: "I also gave you a stone for my birthday. Where is the other one I asked you to keep for Yinzhen?"
"It was kept separately, and there were a few pieces of ink and a few pens together." Qinglian was a little nervous and panicked, and hurriedly explained, "This time, there was a swarm of bees here. I remembered it, but turned around and forgot.
, not put away properly."
The imperial concubine glared at her with dissatisfaction, handed it over and said: "Everything that Wu Ya gave to Yinzhen has been carefully sorted and put away. I don't know what is good inkstone and good ink, but it can be used by Si Age in the future when he goes to the study."
, it can also be used in private residences outside the palace. Things nowadays are not as good as each year. What is good now will definitely be better in more than ten years. You should keep it carefully and be careful not to damage it. "
Qinglian hurriedly dug out a few more things sent by the Concubine De, and carefully put them away in other places, while the fourth brother was bored rummaging through the pile of things, rubbing his forehead and the mother groaned, at this moment
Someone came from outside and said that some old concubines from Ningshou Palace had arrived and wanted to see the imperial concubine. The Queen Mother sent someone to invite them.
"I used to say polite words again, which was very boring." The imperial concubine was not happy, but she could not refute the queen mother's face, so she lowered her head and asked her son, "How about Yinzhen and E Niang go to play with Yinzhen?"
However, Yinzhen thought about it seriously, shook his head and said sweetly: "Play with Yinzuo, mother-in-law, and go to Yonghe Palace."
The imperial concubine was not very happy, but there was nothing she could do. She patted her son on the head and said: "After all, we are compatriots, and my mother is going to be jealous."
Yinzhen didn't understand, but his mother agreed. She had already called the wet nurse and asked them to carefully send the fourth brother to Yonghe Palace. Before leaving, she also warned: "The one in Concubine De's belly is not very reliable. Just say it's me. Don't do it."
Let her hug Brother Si, and keep him far away. A child is neither too light nor too heavy."
Of course, the wet nurse would not say it so directly. After that, she brought the fourth elder brother to the Yonghe Palace, saluted Concubine De, and said with a smile: "The imperial concubine said you should take care of yourself. The fourth elder brother is very naughty now. I am afraid that the fourth elder brother will
You are tired from your coquettishness, so just let the slaves lead the brothers to play, and please have a good rest, my lady."
Lan Qi did not force herself, and the imperial concubine had no ill intentions, not to mention that she was able to send the child. Lan Qi was already very grateful. Her body really could not withstand the torment. She smiled and agreed, letting Huanchun reward the wet nurse, and let the children leave it up to her.
Playing elsewhere, she heard the joyful laughter of her sons from time to time. She was very satisfied just listening to it while sitting under the window.
Huan Chun brought in anti-fetal medicine, and she drank it without frowning. Huan Chun said with a smile: "The empress took it as soon as she saw my brothers. Even the emperor couldn't compare with it. This medicine is not bitter anymore."
Lan Qi smiled leisurely, touched her slightly bulging belly and said, "I'm even more looking forward to this one coming out soon. The noise will give me a headache."
After that, Huan Chun went in and out, busy receiving and giving gifts. Occasionally, noble people would come over to ask An An to sit down. Most of the day passed by, and when Huan Chun came to the master again, she pulled Huan Chun and said: "Lv Zhu and Zi Yu will be there tomorrow."
Just come back, you and Yukui and the others will also go out of the palace. Since it is the emperor's grace and it is shared by all the maids of the palace, there is nothing inappropriate or against the rules. It is a rare opportunity, so you should go home and have a look."
Huan Chun smiled: "This slave is old enough to leave the palace. Master is not afraid that this slave will not come back again?"
Of course Lan Qi was afraid, but she still said: "You take good care of me so well. As long as you feel happy, I will do anything. After leaving the palace, it is not like going to the ends of the earth. I will miss you in the future, so just invite you in. I
Please ask the emperor to find a good family for you. If your husband-in-law can have an official position and make more money in the future, you will be an official wife and can come to the palace to see me."
"Master said such a lot of things, but the slave listened to every word with reluctance." Huan Chun smiled, but she and Lan Qi had already had a tacit understanding. If Lan Qi hadn't suddenly become pregnant, she was busy arranging the arrangements.
They were so busy taking care of each other that they forgot about each other. Perhaps Huanchun was celebrating the New Year at home outside the palace. There were palace rules, and there had to be an explanation for whether she was leaving or staying. After New Year's Day, the emperor issued an order to
The maids and eunuchs of various palaces whose families live in Gyeonggi and nearby places are on a trip home. It is just in time to go home and have a look, and then make a decision.
In this way, after the green pearl and purple jade came back happily, Huanchun arranged the things in the palace, and left the palace with Yukui to go home. Only Xiangyue's family was far away in the northeast and could not go back. She always loved to act coquettishly and pestered Lan Qi.
She pitifully said she missed home, and tricked her master into rewarding her with many things.
Huanchun and Yukui were supposed to return to the palace two days later, but Huanchun came back the next day. He smiled and said that his family was very good. As for leaving the palace, he gave Lan Qi a straightforward reply:
Instead of leaving, she directly went to the minister's room to confess in the name of her master that she would stay with Empress Dowager De Fei forever.
This was something Lan Qi didn't expect, but Huanchun was straightforward and cheerful, with a cheerful face without any hesitation. She couldn't ask again and again, but she still had doubts in her heart. Sure enough, before the Lantern Festival, Huanchun was raped by her mother-in-law Sumala.
When asked to get something, Xiangyue and Ziyu came secretly and told their master that they had seen Huanchun crying alone for several nights. This made Lan Qi very uneasy. She always felt that Huanchun stayed here because he was extremely reluctant.
thing.
Not long after Huanchun came back from Cining Palace, the Empress Dowager didn't like to eat the Yuanxiao made in the imperial dining room. Every year, Grandma Sumala led the palace maids to make it herself. She just asked her to go over and bring some for Lan Qi to eat.
In order for her not to leave the palace, the Empress Dowager asked a few questions and gave her a reward. She even asked a young eunuch from the Cining Palace to help bring back the large and small packages. She stuffed some pieces of silver into the young eunuch and thanked the young eunuch before asking for it.
When I went to pack my things, Xiangyue ran over and said, "I'll wait for my sister to speak. Sister, go ahead. I'll clean up here."
Huan Chun didn't think much, washed his hands and went straight to his master. When he entered, he saw Lan Qi sitting under the bright window. The sun was very strong today, which made her face turn red. He smiled and said, "Master, just bask in the sun.
Don't look at it with those eyes, you might faint after a while."
Lan Qi looked back at her and asked abruptly: "Why are you crying at night? Huanchun, are you homesick and want to leave the palace? Why do you force yourself? If you force yourself, will I feel better?"
"Empress..." Huan Chun was stunned.
"Ever since you talked back to An Guiren for me, I have always regarded you as my sister. I can't bear to let you go, but I hope you live well." Lan Qi felt that going around the corner would only be a waste of energy, so she might as well say what should be said.
After everything was said, he gave it to Huan Chun, "Aunt Sumala followed the Queen Mother from the grassland to the capital. In that era and the environment at that time, they were destined to be inseparable as master and servant, but we can't
It's the same. The prosperous times are prosperous, life is peaceful, and new maids enter the palace every year. Isn't it just to enable you to leave?"
Huan Chun understood what was going on. She had indeed cried secretly at night. She thought she had hidden it from others, but as expected, that girl Xiangyue saw it. She felt very upset and felt very uncomfortable.
Although Lan Qi felt distressed, she acted like a master and said, "If you force yourself to stay and cry at night, what's the point of me? Think about it now. If you want to leave, don't force me."
Let me tell you something, and no one will make things difficult for you."
But Huanchun suddenly bent his knees and walked to the Kang, crying: "If the queen drives this slave away, I will really have nowhere to go. This slave is crying not to force me to stay, but to cry that I have a home and can't go back."
, I haven’t seen my family in the palace for more than ten years, and once I went back, they turned out to be such a hateful person, I should treat them as pitiful slaves and don’t drive me away.”
Now Lan Qi couldn't stand it any longer and pulled Huan Chun to stand up. The master and servant sat together. She wiped Huan Chun's tears with a handkerchief, and then Huan Chun started sobbing and talking about things at home.
It turned out that Huan Chun returned home happily, but she came back with great grievance. Because she lost her mother when she was young, except for her elder brother, her younger brothers and sisters were all born to her stepmother. Her younger brother married a new daughter-in-law last year, and her two younger sisters
They were not married yet. Originally, when they went back to have a family reunion, Huan Chun prepared things by himself, and Lan Qi gave many rewards. Who knows, but her stepmother said that the things she gave to her sister-in-law were not as good as those given to her sister and sister-in-law, and she felt that her stepdaughter was neglecting her half-brothers.
Not only was she mean to her face, but she also mentioned that Huan Chun should leave the palace later, saying that she had been in the palace for more than ten years and had been following the most favored Concubine De in these years, so she must have saved a lot of money, and asked her to use the money to buy land for her brother.
They built a house and said that Huanchun was too old to get married. They had already arranged a marriage for her. The stepmother's nephew had lost his wife the year before last and was almost forty years old. The deceased wife left a two-year-old son with no one to take care of her.
The rationing ring is just right.
When Huan Chun said this, he burst into tears: "My stepmother said that I didn't have to choose slaves and would get married as soon as I left the palace. Her natal nephew had everything ready, so there was no need to arrange a happy event. She just brought a few beddings and got married. My Ama is
A cowardly person who has relied on my stepmother to take care of him when he has been ill these past few years, he will naturally not help me, my dearest lady... please don't drive me away."
What he said made Lan Qi feel extremely distressed. Meeting such a family member was a tragedy for Huan Chun. Thinking about it, although he came from a humble family and Amma was a serious person, he still loved his daughter silently in his heart. When he entered the palace that year
Ama said with tears that she would remember it for the rest of her life when she came out of the palace. She was lucky enough to meet the emperor. Now Ama is still keeping a low profile outside the palace, for fear of causing trouble for her daughter. Think about Huan Chun again, no wonder everyone
They all say that they are lucky. Her parents loved her when she was a child, and her husband loved her when she got married. Her life is really good.
"Stop crying, I won't drive you away. It's all my fault. I've wronged you like that. I can't help it if you cry again. Don't you feel sorry for my body anymore?" Lan Qi coaxed Huanchun and rubbed it.
Her arm said, "Then you will be with me all your life, just like Aunt Sumala. In the future, when we grow old together, I will ask Yinzuo to honor you. When you can't do anything anymore, go to their private residence."
If you live here, I will make sure your daughter-in-law respects you as your mother-in-law."
Huan Chun burst into tears and laughed: "Your Majesty is going to kill this slave."
Seeing Huan Chun smile, Lan Qi felt relieved. She thought that Huan Chun had been in the palace for more than ten years, and the relationship with her family had really faded away. It was just that everyone was eager to go home, so she missed her even a little bit. But now she has left the palace.
She was about to be pushed into a pit of fire by her stepmother. Of course she would rather stay in the palace all her life, with no hard work to do, and being with a favored concubine, as if she were half a master. Who would want to go out of the palace and suffer that kind of grievance?
But Huan Chun also muttered: "My stepmother was not like this before. When she was a child, she was very kind to the slave and her brother when she first married into the slave's house. Later, when she had her own children, she didn't treat us harshly. After more than ten years of not getting along with each other, she actually changed as a person."
Yes, my sister-in-law even told her slave in private that my stepmother is partial to her son and daughter-in-law and always beats and scolds her. It’s scary to think about it. I wonder if my stepmother will abuse my sister-in-law again when I return to the palace."
Lan Qi didn't know what was going on in Huanchun's family, so she said enthusiastically: "I'll bring something to my Ama later, asking him to find a small house for your brother outside, and let your brother and sister-in-law move out, so that you won't be angry in the future."
Okay? If your mother-in-law keeps you brothers and sisters, you will naturally love your brother and sister-in-law more."
Huan Chun was very grateful, and laughed and said that she had saved up her salary and rewards in the palace for many years, which was enough to buy land and a house for her brother.
There was no point in keeping it. When Lan Qi saw that she had planned everything, a big stone fell in her heart and she felt really at ease.
The next day, the emperor came over to sit down during lunch. Lan Qi dismissed the servants and quietly told Xuan Ye these things, sighing: "I am so blessed that I don't know how to be blessed, and you always make trouble for you to act coquettishly and complain about your grievances.
It's pitiful to be like Chun. From now on, I won't bother you anymore as a concubine."
Xuan Ye knew what was going on in Huan Chun's family, but on his face he pretended to be dumbfounded: "What does it have to do with you? You're just thinking nonsense. No matter how good Huan Chun is, he is still a slave. How can you compare yourself with a slave?"
Lan Qi wanted to say that she was also a palace maid, but she felt that she should not despise the honor given to her by Xuan Ye as a concubine, so she agreed with a smile. Xuan Ye gently touched her belly and said, "I don't want to eat when I see you are so energetic."
We are all full, and I often think that I care about our children, but you suffer the consequences of giving birth to a child, and I am reluctant to part with you. It is really contradictory."
"The emperor only cares about children, what else?" Lan Qi was charming, her eyes were very charming, and she whispered in her ear. Xuan Ye's face turned red, and he slapped her hard on the forehead, "Don't be ashamed.
"
The two were getting intimate when suddenly they heard Eunuch Liang's voice outside: "Long live my Lord, my fourth brother got into trouble in Cining Palace."
Lan Qi and Xuan Ye's expressions changed when they heard this, and the emperor immediately asked: "Is anyone hurt?"
Eunuch Liang said hurriedly: "Only the fifth elder brother cut his hand. I don't know the specific servant. It's just that someone from Cining Palace asked Long Live Master to come over and have a look."
Lan Qi was very worried, but she restrained herself from running over as a biological mother right now, not to mention that she had been unable to leave the house to have the baby, so running away now would obviously not give the imperial concubine face, so she kept silent, and Xuan Ye comforted her.
: "I'll go and take a look, and I'll tell you everything later. You can wait with peace of mind."
"Your Majesty is busy, just send someone to say a word." Lan Qi meekly comforted the emperor in turn, and even advised him, "Children are always naughty. Your Majesty, don't criticize the imperial concubine too harshly."
Xuan Ye said: "I have my own sense of propriety, Yinzhen is still so young."