"I didn't want to let any of you down, but in the end, I failed every one of you." Rong Ruo's haggard face showed endless sadness, "Wan'er, I still failed you after all."
Shen Wan shook her head, hugged her beloved tightly, and said with tears and a smile on her lips: "I deserve all this."
The night in March was still cold. After all the hard work in Nalan Mansion, everyone was exhausted. When Mrs. Mingzhu woke up, her son had already disappeared. Looking at the aggrieved and helpless daughter-in-law beside her, Mrs. Mingzhu had carried decades of scars. His pride was about to be defeated. He took his daughter-in-law's hand and said, "Don't make the same mistake again. Don't let my grandson and my son turn against each other one day. My greatest pride in this life is them, and my biggest failure is also them." ah."
The daughter-in-law had tears in her eyes and said sadly: "Mother, I always feel that Rong Ruo will never come back."
The young lady's worries soon came true, and the rare family harmony since the beginning of the year was broken. Since that night, Rongruo has been living in a private house. The emperor treated him as always, and there were many errands to do. The father and son Meeting in the court was just polite and no more words were said. The discord between Mingzhu and his son had been going on for a long time, and the courtiers and colleagues had long been accustomed to it.
In the harem, the noble Jue Chan was ordered to be confined to the Xianfu Palace to reflect on her mistakes, but she was not asked about the crime of adultery. The guard who "committed suicide" was eventually said to be a hysterical madman. He thought it was a very troublesome death without proof. Just because of one sentence, the result would be completely different. Lan Qi was originally worried that noble Jue Chan would be unable to argue because of this. In the end, everything still depends on the attitude of the superiors.
As for Concubine Ping, she went to Qianqing Palace twice in the next ten days or so. The second time she was finally no longer a blank slate, but the emperor did not promote her to a higher position as the imperial concubine said, but just to see her. As a reward, she was given a small courtyard to live alone. The day after receiving the favor, she moved away in great splendor.
Before that, Tong Bin claimed to be sick and hid in the dormitory and did not see little Hesheli. They did not see each other until the day she was leaving. However, little Hesheli came to the door in a swaggering manner, saluted, and said to Tong Bin through the door: "In the future, my sister will also sit on the throne of the first palace. I must remember to thank my sister for your support today. Our good days are still to come."
Tong Bin hid in the room without saying a word. Yuzhi came out embarrassedly and said that her master was asleep. Ping Guiren sneered and said: "Why are you always sleeping? You should get up and walk. How can you get better if you fall asleep all the time? You and your empress He said, my place will be tidied up in a few days, and I will invite her to have tea."
Yuzhi lowered her head and respectfully sent Ping Guiren off. After the bustling crowd of people who followed her finally left, Yuzhi quickly called a few palace maids and eunuchs and asked them to clean the East Wing Hall inside and outside to see if Ping Guiren had anything. If something is left behind, send it to her quickly and don't let her have another chance to find an excuse to come back.
When Yuzhi returned to the dormitory, Tong Pin stood at the window and looked at the scene outside. When she heard Yuzhi saying that people were leaving, she nodded and said, "It's good to leave. My place is finally clean again."
Yuzhi pursed her lips and hesitated before speaking: "Master, don't blame me for being too talkative and unruly, but you really should be tougher. Even if the ladies, gentlemen, and nobles in the palace are not easy to get along with, I have never seen you so afraid of her. ah."
Tong Pin pouted and said, "How long have I been afraid of her?" But she had no confidence in what she said. Her eyes turned red for a moment, and she said aggrievedly, "That's what I am, and I want to argue, but I don't have the ability."
.If I can’t afford to offend you, why can’t I afford to hide?”
Fortunately, it was a happy thing that Mr. Ping had moved away. She no longer had to look up or down to see each other. Tong Bin felt better after a while and even came to Xianfu Palace in person to tell Mr. Juechan the good news. She had always wanted to do this.
I apologized to her for the matter. After all, the source of the matter still lies with her.
Although Jue Chan was banned, she did not say that no one could come to visit her. After sitting with Concubine Wen for a while, Tong Bin came to Jue Chan's side hall. As expected, she was at ease and calm, and she was still the same as before.
When Mrs. Juechan saw Tong Bin being so happy, she reminded her: "For people like Ping Guiren, your Majesty can just let her go. She likes to fight and fight. If you ignore her several times, she will get tired of it."
Tong Bi repeatedly said yes and sighed: "The life in the harem is not easy. This time I have experienced the cruelty of strife in the palace. I am just a small fish in the pond, and I have suffered a lot, let alone those who are at the forefront of the storm."
What about those who have fallen? They will inevitably lose all their little desire to strive for glory and boast. The only way to achieve peace of mind and body is to be low-key and tolerant. That’s why I like you. You are such a quiet and quiet person.
I feel very relaxed when you are together."
Jue Chan said: "Thank you for your great love, but my status as concubine is embarrassing. The imperial concubine is very intolerant of me. You have to tolerate the sisterly feelings. When it is critical, the imperial concubine can still help you, so you must respect her."
Looking after my sister."
Tong Bin nodded, but seemed to be even more helpless. She didn't know what she was sighing for, but she just muttered: "It's good now, I don't expect anything better." After a while, she felt better again, and said, "Count the days, we will celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival."
Be more lively. When the time comes, I will ask my sister to lift your restraint. From now on, my place will be clean, and you can often come and sit." She lowered her voice and said, "The imperial concubine is going to have a baby, and it is not very convenient here.
.”
Mrs. Juechan just smiled and did not agree to her directly. She somehow brought up the events of that day again. Tong Bi sighed and said: "I heard that Nalan Rongruo, who was beside the emperor, went to interrogate the guard in person. As a result, not long after he left, that
The guard committed suicide. They said that he was not in good spirits recently due to a setback in his promotion. He was supposed to be dismissed a long time ago, but he did not expect that he would cause such a thing. In short, the mouth is theirs, so they can say whatever they like.
, you see Ping Guiren is very proud, even if she doesn’t do anything to you, at least she has gained the emperor’s favor.”
When Tong Bin said this, the person in front of her was stunned. She didn't know why Jue Chan was in such a daze. She even advised her, "Don't be sad. Just like Mr. Ping, you can be a monster. I might point you out next time."
If you trick others, everyone will soon forget about it."
But the more she persuaded, the worse Mr. Jue Chan's expression became. Strings of tears fell down his cheeks, which scared Tong Bin so much that she comforted her repeatedly: "I won't mention it anymore, and we won't talk about it anymore. Don't be sad.
As time goes by, no one will remember it."
But no matter how long the days passed, the root of love was still deeply buried in her heart. Even if the branches and leaves were cut off with a sword, with a little rain, dew and sunshine, the tenacious roots would grow again. The pain that was about to penetrate her heart made her unable to stop falling.
Tears, I kept asking in my heart: Nalan Rongruo, why are you suffering?
In the blink of an eye, it was already April. This year, the emperor established an official school in Jingshan, so that the idle disciples of the Three Banners of the Ministry of Internal Affairs could have something to do. The elder brothers in the palace did not relax for a moment in their studies. The fourth elder brother entered the study by himself.
At such a young age, he would wake up early every day and work hard at night, which made the imperial concubine extremely distressed. However, he knew that studying was the most important thing. While taking care of him with all his heart every day, he did not dare to do anything that would delay his son's studies.
The fourth elder brother is very talented. Although he entered school earlier, he studied very hard. Although the third elder brother has a weak character, he is also somewhat talented in reading. The two younger brothers are highly praised by the master. It is inevitable that the eldest elder brother and the prince will be overtaken by the younger brothers one day.
He surpassed him and worked harder and harder, but after all, the eldest brother lacked talent. The advantage was that his riding and shooting martial arts were getting better and better. The emperor knew that people have their own strengths and weaknesses, so he no longer pushed too hard on him.
On that day, all the concubines gathered together to discuss how to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival. Because the third day of May was the anniversary of the death of Queen Hesheli, in the past, due to this day, there were very few lively Dragon Boat Festivals. However, after so many years, it was not as good as before.
Attention, and besides, this year a little Hesheli appeared in the palace, pretending to be under the cover of her late sister. The imperial concubine wanted to pay tribute and celebrate the festival.
For women, it was naturally more important to celebrate the festival lively. Since this was what the imperial concubine meant, they all flattered and came up with ideas on how to make it lively. Later, they seemed to even talk about inviting the female relatives of the princes and ministers to visit the palace and garden.
Lan Qi didn't ask much about how to celebrate the festival. She only listened to Rong Fei's sister complaining to her, saying that the imperial concubine was extravagant and if she had to do everything she said, it would cost a lot of money. Lan Qi laughed that she must have a way to divert the money elsewhere.
When she came, Concubine Rong laughed and scolded her: "You are capable. When you are in charge of the house in the future, I will see how you break a copper plate into two halves."
On this day, he took Yinzuo out of Cining Palace and promised his son to wait for the fourth elder brother to finish school today. Mother and son wandered to the study room. Along the way, Yinzuo asked Eniang if there was a big dragon boat that he could ride on during the Dragon Boat Festival.
Lan Qi said that he would meet the Imperial Concubine later and let him ask the question on his own. Soon after school was over in the study, the eldest brother ran out like a gust of wind, hurriedly saluted the Imperial Concubine, and ran away.
Naturally, the prince was not with them, and then Yinzhi and Yinzhen came out. Yinzhi saluted Concubine De, and knowing that they were going to go with Si Age, he left with a few young eunuchs, and Yinzhen ran up.
He took the fourth brother's hand and said happily: "Fourth brother, can we ride the dragon boat together during the Dragon Boat Festival?"
But Yinzhen said seriously: "I can't play with you today, I have to endorse it well."
Lan Qi could already tell that something was wrong with the child. The little eunuch who followed him out was limping, so she asked with a smile: "Xiao Hezi, didn't you wear the same shoes when you went out today? You can't walk well no matter what."
?”
The little eunuch who follows the fourth elder brother is thirteen or fourteen years old. The people in the palace call him Xiao Hezi. He takes care of the matters in the fourth elder brother's study and is also considered as a half-reader. If the elder brothers do something wrong, they will be punished on their behalf. See
In his current state, he must have received a slap on the butt.
Yinzhen was embarrassed and looked back at him: "Go back and have a rest. I will never ask you to be beaten again. I will ask E Niang for a silver coin as a reward."