Hearing this, a light smile flashed across Lan Qi's face. She stretched out her hand to serve Xuan Ye and said, "It is the emperor's responsibility to teach them. It is enough for me to take care of their daily life and food."
Xuan Ye did not continue this topic. The two of them sat across from each other to eat, and then talked about other things. After dinner, the prince wanted to come over to talk, so Lan Qi left early. She originally wanted to go back and explain to the imperial concubine, but there was someone outside.
Waiting, the Empress Dowager wanted to see her, Huan Chun accompanied her all the way, and said with a smile: "After receiving the emperor's reprimand, it's time for the Empress Dowager. What does this matter have to do with the master? Why is it you who are the one receiving the punishment?"
scold?"
Lan Qi also found it unbelievable and smiled helplessly: "Forget it, it won't cause any extra trouble if they are angry at me. If those people are called in to give them a lesson, who knows what will happen next."
But the Empress Dowager did not blame Lan Qi, she just wanted to know what happened. She had always disliked the Jue Chan family. It can be seen that Lan Qi was willing to come forward. It was not just a matter of pressure from the imperial concubine. She listened carefully to the whole story.
, sighing: "Well, you should be friendly with her. In the future, she will at least remember your kindness and always look down on her, but she is finally at peace with herself. Moreover, from what you said, she is a kind and righteous person.
.”
But she also told Lan Qi: "Although roses are beautiful and their branches are thorny, just look at them from a distance and don't get too close."
Lan Qi understands the truth. She has no intention of becoming close friends with Jue Chan. From the time when she was a palace maid, for more than ten years, the only person she can feel confident and honest with is still Sister Bu, and that is Concubine Rong.
Duan and the concubines, Lan Qi just get along well with each other and play together happily.
It's not that she is suspicious and jealous, just by looking at Concubine Rong and Concubine Hui, who have been close and sometimes distant over the years, it is clear what kind of interpersonal interactions there are in the palace.
During this farce, Concubine Hui and Concubine Rong suppressed the rumors in the palace together. They seemed to be gentle and good-natured people, but they were not merciful when encountering such a thing. Everyone in the palace knew that the two empresses usually
She is easy to talk to, but she can speak her mind when it is important. She dare not offend them at the critical moment, so the gust of wind was quickly suppressed. As for Lan Qi, she will one day take care of the affairs of the Sixth Palace, and today’s experience also made her
Gained another wisdom.
After returning from Cining Palace, he explained the meaning of the two palaces to the imperial concubine. He did not mention that Xuan Ye wanted her to speak for herself. The imperial concubine did not ask any more questions, but when it came to the noble concubine Jue Chan, she only wanted these two words.
Don't go out again for a month to reflect on your mistakes. As for Ping Guiren, it depends on when the emperor comes to see you. Lan Qi doesn't need to worry about anything after that.
After finally returning to Yonghe Palace to rest, Yinzuo came to find E Niang and asked E Niang where he had been all afternoon and evening. He coquettishly said that he was very bored, and the wet nurses refused to take him to play with his fourth brother.
He said angrily: "If my mother wants to leave Yinzuo behind again, Yinzuo will no longer be with my mother."
Lan Qi was angry and funny, scolding him: "Little thing, are you even here to bully me?"
But when I see my son, I can't help but think of my eighth elder brother. Poor eighth elder brother has been abandoned by his biological mother time and time again. Just like today, his mother will even consider herself for Tong Bin, but when it comes to him, she is cold-blooded and ruthless.
But Jue Chan should know that the existence of the biological mother cannot be wiped out by her being cold-blooded. For the child, it is really pitiful.
In his random thoughts, he thought of Nalan Rongruo again. Xuan Ye said that it was difficult for him to explain to Mingzhu today and he didn't know what the situation was like.
Think about it, Mingzhu is in charge of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and Suo'etu is in charge of the imperial guards. They are two existences that can get along well. Today's incident seems to have played a trick on Noble Jue Chan, but in fact it was directed at Concubine Wen and Concubine Tong. How many elders are there? The relationship between the family is already sensitive and fragile, and the Juechan clan has never really been counted as a member of the Mingzhu Mansion. If she were Mingzhu, she would never wade into such troubled waters, but Rongruo rushed into the palace and quickly resolved the matter.
It does not seem to be wrong to say that he exceeded his authority. After all, he reported "suicide" and no one can blame him. But obviously he cannot be blamed, but the secret grudge is settled. If someone wants to make a fuss about it, Rong Ruoxing will not be able to bear the consequences. Leaving would be even more troublesome for Mingzhu.
That night when Rong Ruo left the palace and learned that her cousin was safe and sound, her nerves relaxed and she suddenly remembered Shen Wan who had been abandoned by him without even saying a word. She was filled with guilt and helplessness and wanted to go home quickly to comfort her, but the mansion The servants had been waiting at the palace gate for a long time, urging him to return home. Rongruo knew that his father wanted to cause trouble for him, so hiding was not an option, so he went back openly.
On this day, Mrs. Mingzhu accompanied the old lady to pray for Buddha and eat fast in the backyard Buddhist hall. They were not disturbed by anything outside. After chanting sutras at night, she was about to rest, but she saw her daughter-in-law running over in a hurry regardless of the fact that she was pregnant with a child. Crying and begging her: "Eniang, go and have a look, Ama has passed down the family law, Eniang, what should I do..."
Mrs. Mingzhu was so anxious that she couldn't speak. She came all the way and learned from the servants what was going on. The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law hurried to the study and then walked under the window. Suddenly there was the sound of people turning on their backs, and several pieces of porcelain seemed to have been smashed. After it was broken, the mother and son looked at each other in shock. Could it be that father and son took action?
"Beast, why did I give birth to you? Since you don't see me as a father anymore, I will kill you today." The elegant Lord Mingxiang above the court would also say such cruel words. After a while of ping-ping-pong-ping, Mrs. Mingzhu rushed in in fright, only to see various things smashed to pieces. A scabbard was lying on the ground. The sharp long sword was still in Mingzhu's hand, but he was passively grabbed by her son. He was leaning against the wall with his collar on. How old could he be compared to his son who was still in his prime?
"Rong Ruo..." Mrs. Mingzhu shouted, and she fainted from fright. The young lady supported her mother-in-law and fell to the ground together, crying and begging the father and son to let go.
But Rongruo turned a blind eye to all this and held his father tightly. Compared with the long sword in his father's hand, his gaze was a sharper blade. He pressed his father and said: "What have you done in the court?" , do you think you can really hide it? In your eyes, I am an unfilial son, but in the eyes of outsiders, everything I do is to atone for your sins. Kill me? Kill me, who will atone for your sins? Without me, this treacherous son , Nalan Mingzhu’s strength has also been exhausted.”
"brute……"
Faced with her father's unfounded scolding, Rongruo twisted his hand and put the long sword in his hand against her neck. Her eyes pierced into her father's eyes like ice picks and said hatefully: "If you want to kill, just kill him." Don't hesitate, I'm tired a long time ago, am I living all my life just to atone for your sins?"
The young lady cried and rushed over to hug Rongruo and begged: "Rongruo, you can't do this, let go. What will happen to my mother-in-law if you die? What will happen to me and the children?"
With a bang, Mingzhu let go of the long sword in his hand first. How could he really have the intention to kill his son? But his son's words today really shocked him. He should think carefully about the future, and he must also be hesitant. There is closure.
The young lady kicked the long sword far away, and the father and son gradually let go of each other. Mingzhu still harbored hatred and slapped her son on the face with her backhand. Rong Ruo just licked the blood on her lips and looked at her father with cold contempt. , immediately turned around and left, leaving his parents and wife behind, and rushed into the night without looking back.
For this family, for this father, I have been working in front of the emperor with fear for more than ten years. In the end, I only got my father to murder me, and I only got the reputation of being an unfaithful and unfilial son. In more than thirty years of life, What exactly did he leave behind?
Without riding a horse or following him, Rong Ruo walked almost aimlessly in the dark night of the capital. The anger in his heart gradually faded away. Unknowingly, he had reached the vicinity of his private house, and he was just a few steps away from his home. At the door, he stopped.
Why did he come here? Because he had nowhere to go, but this shouldn't be a place where he came because he had nowhere to go. That would be unfair to Shen Wan. He couldn't always give her affection or just to have a place to stay. To be nice to her, Shen Wan would be too pathetic and cruel to her.
He turned around to leave, thinking that he might as well keep walking like this, wherever he wanted, but then he moved and suddenly heard a familiar voice behind him. Under the hurried footsteps, it was Shen Wan asking: "Rong Ruo, is that you?" Rongruo?"
Rong Ruo turned around in surprise. Under the dim moonlight, she saw Shen Wan coming towards her. She almost threw herself into her arms, hugged his body tightly, and said with choked words: "I know you will come back. I've been waiting for you."
"Wan'er."
"Don't leave me." Shen Wan cried, reaching out to hold Rong Ruo's face, as if she wanted to confirm that he was her man, but she was horrified when she touched Rong Ruo's bloated cheeks and the dried blood at the corner of her mouth. She was nervous The ground started to tremble, and he asked one after another, "Rong Ruo, what's wrong with you? Did you get into a fight with someone?"
After returning home to clean the wound, Shen Wan tearfully applied medicine to him. Seeing how sad she was, Rong Ruo smiled helplessly: "I'm fine, don't worry."
Shen Wan applied the medicine and stood aside to collect bottles and jars. He lowered his head and thought for a long time, and finally asked: "Why did you leave just now? I saw the figure and thought you were back, but you turned around and left. I thought it was because I was dazzled, or I was dreaming while asleep."
"You've been waiting at the door." Rong Ruo frowned and gently pulled her in front of her, "It's still very cold. What should you do if you get frozen?"
Shen Wan's tears fell in large drops. She was extremely sad for some reason. It took her a long time to calm down, and she choked and said, "I'm afraid you won't come back. When I saw you rushing out like that this afternoon, I'm really afraid you'll never come back again." "
"I want to come, but I..." Rongruo hesitated for a moment and said softly, "I can't always come here when I'm frustrated. I can't always come to you just to escape from something. That would be unfair to you."
Shen Wan stretched out her hand to touch his swollen cheek, feeling extremely distressed. Hearing these words, she smiled bitterly with tears in her eyes: "I want to go back to Beijing with you, and I want to follow you for the rest of my life. But I have always understood that I care about you. "It's just a chance meeting. You can't bear to let me down and you have given me everything I want, but I have never been able to give you what you want."