After saying that, she saw Huan Chun covering her mouth and smiling, and asked her why she was laughing. Huan Chun said, "I think you can't tell the emperor this."
"Can't you say?" Lan Qi didn't understand.
"Because the emperor must ask again, do you really understand? Where do you understand?" Huan Chun imitated Xuan Ye's usual look of disdain for his master's stupidity, and his eyes were so vivid that Lan Qi was so angry.
He pouted and couldn't say anything. After a while, he pulled Yu Kui and Xiang Yue away, "Let's ignore her. You two are not allowed to ignore her today, otherwise I will worry about you."
The three masters and servants went back to Zhongcui Palace playfully. Since they had to pass by Concubine Tong's palace, they naturally restrained themselves and kept a low profile when they got there. But just as they were about to walk past, they saw a commotion at the entrance of Chengqian Palace. Lan Qi was curious for a moment.
I glanced over there and saw a palace maid being pinned to the ground. A young eunuch rolled up his sleeves and was slapping people from side to side. There was always a rule in the palace that people should not be slapped in the face. They were afraid of disturbing people if their faces were ugly.
If the holy master really wants to fight, no one can stop him.
"Master, let's mind our own business." Huan Chun pulled Lan Qi and continued to walk forward. After closing the door of Zhongcui Palace, he continued, "Concubine Tong has a bad temper. She often beats and scolds her slaves, even if someone wants to
No matter what, it’s not our turn.”
Lan Qi understood that she just felt that the palace maid was pitiful. Seeing that she was only twelve or thirteen years old, she naturally remembered the situation when she first entered the palace. Unfortunately, she was very weak and could only watch her being beaten.
After that, I changed my clothes, washed my hands and wrote under the window. Perhaps I had just recovered from a serious illness, and I wandered outside for a long time. The pen in my hand was shaking badly, so I wanted to take a rest, but someone came outside. Yu Kui came in and said: "Sewing room"
The people are here, you have been ill a few days ago and have not been able to take care of yourself."
Lan Qi smiled leisurely and said: "They measured it after they measured it, but don't tell anyone else, especially Long Live Lord."
She had lost a lot of weight due to the illness, and she told the emperor last year that she was a lot wider. But after she became ill, her clothes would hang around her body. Now the maids took her measurements and said with a smile: "
Wu Changzai has lost weight again, but you have grown taller."
"Really?" Lan Qi pulled Xiangyue to sign, Xiangyue smiled, "My slave has grown too. Master and slave can't compare."
Because they invited Bu Changzai to come and measure them together, they opened the curtain and came in. They only heard Bu Changzai asking: "Is that little palace maid outside one of yours? Why is her face swollen like that and why is she still receiving it?"
It would be bad if she bumps into someone while walking outside, so let her go back quickly."
When Lan Qi heard this, she walked out by herself. She opened the door curtain and saw the little girl standing in the yard, holding a sewing basket in her hand. She was thin and frail, and her face was horribly swollen. She was very pitiful.
The nun who headed the sewing room sighed: "I just went to Concubine Tong's place. The empress asked her to make a new set of clothes. She was taking measurements. I don't know what mistake this girl made. When I came to my senses, the empress had already scolded her.
They dragged her out and beat her. Because the two of you are always here, this is the last place. After serving you two, you have to go back. I was afraid that she would bump into someone by wandering around in the palace alone, so I brought her here. I didn't want to do it anyway.
It disturbed the two masters."
This old nanny is a kind-hearted person. As she said this, she was about to bow to Lan Qi and Bu Changzai and apologize. Lan Qi quickly asked Huan Chun to support her and sat down to drink tea. Then she turned around and lifted the curtain to take a look.
It was inevitable that the little girl would be pitiful, but she stood there with her spine straight, neither crying nor frightened, which was very different at such a young age.
"I have some medicine here." Lan Qi said and pointed to Yukui to get it. Speaking of those trauma medicines, she had extra when she was beaten by the Queen Mother, so she was worried about whether they would break when she brought them.
He said that those that had been opened and used had been thrown away long ago, and those that were sealed tightly with wax, the imperial doctor said that it does not matter if they are kept for a few years.
"Mom, let's give it to the child. It looks so pitiful. It's not convenient for you to find an imperial doctor." Lan Qi asked Yu Kui to give it to her. The old mama wanted to call the palace maid in to thank her, but Lan Qi gave in.
"She must be feeling uncomfortable. I gave her medicine without asking her to kowtow."
Bu Changzai asked: "Looking very young, why are the newly selected maids in the palace getting younger and younger?"
Mammy responded: "This child committed a crime at home, and the whole family was confiscated, so he was brought in at this age, and the slaves were told that it was better to be in the palace than outside, doing the same thing of serving others.
He is a very clever and quiet child. Despite his young age, he is quite skilled in his hands. It is rare for me to meet a child with such talent, so I took care of him myself."
"It's so pitiful." Bu Changzai sighed quietly, "But it's her good fortune to meet you, grandma."
The people in the sewing room dispersed soon after. Bu Changzai chatted with Lan Qi for a while and then went to rest by himself. Everyone gradually forgot about the little palace maid. After all, there were too many such things in the palace, and they got used to it after a long time.
It's also numb.
Unknowingly, spring faded away and early summer arrived. In the days before the Dragon Boat Festival, Lan Qi was waiting at Cining Palace. The Empress Dowager was happy that the court was becoming more and more stable, and she had to wear somara for the Dragon Boat Festival.
She sewed the clothes, but grandma was also getting older, and her needlework occasionally got dazzled, and Lan Qi was always there to help.
The Empress Dowager came to urge them every day when she was free. She thought the stitching here was not delicate and the color matching was too tacky. That day, Aunt Sumala said with a smile: "Huanchun told the slave that her family has become more and more annoying recently.
I'm bullying them all. I think this is what I learned from you, Master. I'm already this old, so why are you still acting like you were young?"
However, the Empress Dowager hugged Lan Qi lovingly and said, "If they learn from me, they are the best at bullying. If we don't learn to be better, how can we be able to control them?"
"Who can Grandma Huang control?" As he was talking, he heard Xuan Ye's voice. He walked in and saw Lan Qi there, and he liked it even more. He was so busy recently that he didn't even have time to say hello to his grandmother. He felt very guilty, but
I heard that Lan Qi was with me almost every day, so I felt relieved. I didn't expect to see her here again today. The imperial grandmother smiled and held her hand to show the new clothes that were still being sewn, "Speak for me quickly."
Speaking of Sumala, at my age, it’s too unstable to insist on wearing such bright colors.”
Xuan Ye saw that the newly made auspicious clothes had many bright red patterns. The imperial grandmother had been a widow for many years and had almost never seen her wearing bright colors. This outfit was indeed very fresh. He didn't feel anything was wrong. He also heard that Grandma Su Ma
Ma said: "If the emperor also thinks it is good, why not help the slave to persuade the master? The slave has followed the master since Wuchang was this age. Now, seeing Wu Changzai bright and lively every day, I also want to see the master."
If you wear such a color again, you are saying that the master has left the maid in the sewing room without going to work, and has to polish the slave to make a suit of clothes, so the slave can't choose a color?"
Xuan Ye nodded happily, turned around and saw Lan Qi smiling stupidly beside him. He couldn't help but glare at her. Lan Qi saw this and silently walked to the side of the Empress Dowager and ignored him, but the Empress Dowager saw her in her eyes.
Pushing forward, she scolded her grandson: "What are you two doing with each other in front of me? Go sit there and talk. Lan Qi, the emperor is tired. Let him drink a bowl of tea to moisten his skin."
Xuan Ye came to have a rest. He was always so relaxed and unconventional in front of his grandmother. He sat cross-legged on the kang, supporting his chin with one hand and watching Lan Qi make tea. He saw her scoop out some amber-colored roses with dots from the jar.
When the honey is mixed with hot water and gently stirred with a spoon, the fragrance of flowers will hit you, as if the spring scenery scared away by the scorching sun has returned.
"What is this? This is the first time I've seen it." Xuan Ye reached out and deliberately grabbed Lan Qi's hand. He gave him the tea bowl, then he stepped aside and sat down, muttering in a low voice, "Too
The Queen Mother is outside."
Xuan Ye was so happy that he stopped bullying her and took a few sips by himself, then asked: "What kind of tea is it?"
"It's flower nectar made by grandma herself. The red stuff in it is pickled flower petals. I don't know what it is exactly, but I don't know what it is, but grandma gave me a jar, and the emperor thought it would be okay to drink it..." said
Here, Lan Qi paused. She always felt that she and the emperor had never been separated. Even though they had not seen each other for a long time, she would still naturally invite Xuan Ye to her palace for a bowl of honey tea as before.
Xuan Ye stretched out his hand, and Lan Qi stood up and walked to him, holding hands with each other. The warmth in Xuan Ye's palm did not feel cloying in this already sultry early summer. The warmth kept drilling into her heart, but she heard the emperor say: "
Eat those yourself, this is good for your health. Learn how to make it from grandma later, and from now on I will only eat what you make."
Seeing the person in front of him laughing happily, Xuan Ye's fatigue from the busy morning was gone. He drank another half bowl of tea and asked Lan Qi if she was feeling well recently. The two talked quietly for a while, and soon the Empress Dowager and the Queen Mother
When I came in, I saw the two people were quiet and holding hands. Grandma couldn't help laughing at first, pointed at Xuan Ye's hand and said, "Master, look at it."
The two of them quickly let go, and Lan Qi came with a blushing face to help the Queen Mother sit down. Xuan Ye got up and said he was leaving, but his grandmother didn't stay. Knowing that he was busy, she pulled Lan Qi and said happily
: "You are busy ahead of time, so don't worry about me here. This child is by your side whether it's hot or cold. The imperial grandmother is fine with everything."
Xuan Ye smiled and saluted and left. Aunt Sumala pushed Lan Qi forward: "Aren't you going to see Wu Chang off?"
Lan Qi smiled so hard that her eyebrows arched, and she was no longer polite. She followed Xuan Ye out and walked to the palace gate. Xuan Ye told her not to be greedy for cold weather when it was hot, and then left.
When she turned around and came back, the Empress Dowager was about to take a nap, so she helped to take care of her and then hurriedly sewed clothes with her grandma. Her grandma was getting older, so Lan Qi persuaded her to take a nap while she concentrated on sewing.
But halfway through the work, he found that the embroidery thread was not enough. Seeing that his grandma was sleeping, he couldn't bear to disturb her, so he went out and asked other palace maids, saying that grandma knew that there was not enough embroidery thread early in the morning, and had already gone to the sewing room to prepare it, but the emperor
The thread used by the Queen Mother here is extremely expensive and cannot be obtained immediately.
"Perhaps there aren't many. I was afraid that I would be scolded if I didn't bring enough, so I didn't dare to bring it over right away." Lan Qi happened to feel stiff and wanted to go out for some exercise. She told the maids not to disturb the Empress Dowager and her mother-in-law when they were resting.
So I went to the sewing room with Huan Chun and others, also wanting to personally select some embroidery threads to match the colors.
But when she arrived at the sewing room and saw the busy scene inside, Lan Qi regretted that she shouldn't have come to urge her. As soon as she explained what she was doing, the mammies and eunuchs in charge treated her as a guest of honor and stopped caring about what they were doing.
, just bringing tea and water, which made her very embarrassed.
Not long after, all the embroidery threads that Grandma Sumala asked for were delivered, and it was just as she expected. Because there wasn't much that could be used, she was afraid that she wouldn't be scolded if she didn't send it. She only said that she wanted it, but didn't tell her the time.
Want to wait another day.
Lan Qi said with a smile: "It's almost the Dragon Boat Festival, these are enough, you can send the others later." She originally wanted to pick some embroidery threads to sew a handkerchief for her grandma, but seeing how busy it was here, she was displeased.
I didn't mention it, and sat for a while to leave. But before I could go out, four or five palace maids suddenly barged in from outside. Lan Qi recognized the one at the head as Qiao Yan, the palace maid next to Concubine Tong, and they didn't look at anyone else when they came in.
, I didn’t know that Lan Qi was standing on the other side, shouting and calling someone: "Who is in charge? Is there anyone who can breathe?"
Lan Qi heard Yu Kui muttering beside her: "Jingzhu doesn't have this temperament outside, but this girl looks like a dog outside Chengqian Palace."
Seeing that the group of people were going to the house next to them, Lan Qi didn't bother to pay attention. When she was taking the people out, she suddenly heard screams, followed by a lot of noisy movements, and saw Qiaoyan and a few others.
The man was carrying a little girl out, and someone behind him brought a bamboo ruler for measuring cloth. Qiaoyan took it easily, and then slapped the child. No one around her dared to stop her. The little palace maid huddled on the ground and hugged her.
He was beaten on the head but didn't say a word.
"What are you doing?" Lan Qi couldn't see it for a moment, and couldn't wait for Huan Chun to stop her, so she walked over. Qiaoyan was stunned for a moment, but obviously didn't give Lan Qi face, so she smiled coldly and laughed again in front of her eyes.
He slapped the little palace maid twice with his dead hand.
"Master..." Huan Chun came and wanted to settle the matter. After all, this naughty slave belonged to Concubine Tong, but her master walked over step by step, walked up to Qiao Yan, and stretched out his hand to her.
"Wu Changzai... what are you going to do?" Qiaoyan was forced to step back and threw the bamboo ruler in her hand on the ground. Lan Qi kicked the bamboo ruler away and turned around to call the palace maid next to her.
The child pulled up.
"Wu Changzai, this girl bit my slave's hand just now, look at it." Qiaoyan lifted up her sleeves, and sure enough there were two rows of deep teeth marks. She said angrily, "You won't favor this little girl.
Bar."
Lan Qi looked at her coldly: "What are you doing here?"
Qiaoyan's face was filled with pride, and she raised her chin and said, "Concubine Tong's new clothes haven't been delivered yet. The slaves came to rush for them. Can Wu Changzai give me some advice?"
"Then go and dress up the clothes. If you don't do serious things, it won't be your turn to teach the maids in the sewing room." Lan Qi pointed to a few nuns and father-in-law not far away, "They must be in charge of the clothes of the queen.
Hey, what's the use of embarrassing a little palace maid? If you do this, you will only embarrass the queen, and I'm afraid the queen won't tolerate you being so arrogant."
Qiaoyan's face turned pale with anger, but Lan Qi was a serious Chang Zai after all. A palace maid would not be able to contradict her, so she passed by with her head lowered angrily.
A palace maid, why are you pretending to be in front of me?"
But not only Lan Qi heard this sentence, but also Lian Lianchun and Yu Kui heard it clearly. They were just waiting to do something to Qiao Yan, when the master next to them suddenly shouted: "Stop."
Qiaoyan was startled, but Wu Changzai had already arrived. Looking at the petite person, there was a sharp look on her face, and she was asking her: "What did you just say?" She swallowed her saliva and pretended to be serious.
He said, "This slave didn't say anything. Maybe Wu Changzai misunderstood."
"Kneel down." Lan Qi said angrily.
Qiaoyan's eyes widened and she was very unconvinced, but before she could open her mouth to speak, Wu Changzai scolded her again, "Kneel down." Then she had no choice but to kneel down angrily. Above her head, she heard Wu Changzai say: "
You kneel here for half an hour, and I will go and collect the new clothes for the queen. Once they are ready, I will send them to you immediately. If they are not ready, I will work harder, and you will have nothing to do. But when you go back, if the queen asks you why you are late, you
It’s okay to tell the truth.”
Qiaoyan, the palace maid, really has a bad temper. She actually raised her head and said to Lan Qi: "I am the palace maid of Chengqian Palace. You said that it is not the slave's turn to take care of the sewing room. How can you punish the slave? It's not as good as Wu Chang
Have you gone and asked my master before you can tell me?"
Lan Qi smiled lightly at her: "It's my business whether you ask or not. If you have the ability, leave now. If you don't dare to leave, just shut up." After saying that, she turned around and called the stewards here, and asked them to stare at them for half an hour.
, and urged the clothes from Chengqian Palace to be sent over quickly, before leading Huan Chun and others away.
But she was obviously angry, and her sullen face never relaxed. Neither Xiangyue nor Yukui dared to say a word. After serving for more than a year, this was the first time they saw their master angry. Such a gentle and lovely face could actually
He has a domineering aura, but Qiaoyan still dares to talk back. Otherwise, they would have been frightened to death.
"Master, if you go back to Cining Palace with such a sullen face, aren't you afraid of the Empress Dowager and Nanny asking questions?" Huan Chun finally tried to persuade her, but Lan Qi suddenly stopped and said with a deep heart: "Thank you for reminding me.
But I’m really angry inside, what’s wrong with me, what should I do to argue with a palace maid? It’s not like I haven’t heard those words before.”
"Maybe you pity the child." Huan Chun gently stroked his master's back to calm Shunshun, and smiled to comfort her, "You are not angry that she violated the child, but this sentence alone will definitely not make me so angry. My master
He may be small, but he has a big heart.”
"Really?" Lan Qi calmed down and her aura gradually dissipated.
Huan Chun wanted to make her happy, so he came up and pointed at Lan Qi's chest, and whispered: "Isn't it wider? The size of your waist has not increased, but the upper part is wider than before. If you eat that meat, the whole length will be
Went over there."
Lan Qi was startled, and her cheeks suddenly turned red. She also knew that her body had gradually changed in recent days. A few days ago, her chest was unbearably swollen and painful. Unknowingly, the bones in her body were no longer fleshy, and that part of her body was actually much plumper.
, she was a little shy at first and had to be hoisted tightly every day before she dared to wear clothes and go out. Now when Huan Chun said it in broad daylight, she was so angry that she went crazy. He stretched out his hand and hit her: "You will bully me, and you will follow me later."
Mom said, I don’t want you anymore.”
After coaxing her master to smile, Huanchun finally felt relieved. He pestered her to the Cining Palace for nothing. When he came back, he saw that his grandma had woken up. Lan Qi acted coquettishly with her and said that Huanchun was bullying others. Mammy said that she wanted to
She couldn't bear to fight, so everyone was talking and laughing while the sky was still bright and they finished the task at hand, and no one mentioned the sewing room.
Later, when the Empress Dowager tried on new clothes, Lan Qi looked so graceful and radiant that everyone was very happy. She liked it and completely forgot about it. When she came back from Cining Palace, she even talked to Huan Chun and others, saying,
The Empress Dowager must have been a stunning beauty when she was young. She lamented that if she lived as long as the Empress Dowager in the future, she didn't know whether she would turn into a withered old woman.
When she came back in a good mood, she saw a palace maid kneeling in front of Zhongcui Palace. When she got closer and took a closer look, Lan Qi was really shocked. The palace maid's face had been beaten until it was swollen and crooked, and there were black blood stains on the corners of her mouth.
, the body was already shaky, but it seemed that he did not dare to move, and he knelt there with gritted teeth.
"It's Qiaoyan..." Yukui exclaimed. Qiaoyan heard the sound and turned around to see them coming back. She immediately threw herself at Lan Qi and knelt down, begging, "Wuchang is here to save this slave, please forgive me."
Servant..."
The palace door opened inside, and Bu Changzai heard the noise, and came out tremblingly. His face was so frightened that he pulled Lan Qi and said, "What happened? Concubine Tong beat her like this, so let her do it."
Kneel here and say whether life or death will be decided by you, and let you come back to deal with it."
Lan Qi's chest suddenly took a breath. She lowered her head to look at Qiao Yan. Her face was so swollen that she couldn't see its original appearance. Concubine Tong seemed to be more ruthless now than before. Today, she couldn't be more angry with Qiao Yan for violating others, so she could change her hands.
He actually pushed her to death with his own hands. No matter how bad Qiao Yan is, she can't take someone's life easily. She thought that it was her who started the incident, and she should go to see Concubine Tong to end it. Even if she was humiliated, she could save this palace maid's life.
, always good.
Turning around and walking towards Chengqian Palace, Qiaoyan stumbled up and followed her. Huan Chun Yukui was so frightened that she told Panxia when she left, "If anything happens, do you know who to go to for help?"
Bu Changzai was unreliable, but Panxia was still smart and quickly nodded in agreement, saying that he knew who to ask for help.
However, Lan Qi was sure that Concubine Tong would not do anything to her. After all, she had done nothing wrong. She could only say a few words of humiliation and endure it.
"A person with a mean mouth should be beaten like this. Beat her so that she doesn't dare to talk nonsense in the future. If she is unruly outside, others will just think that I have not disciplined her well. It will always be my face that is humiliated. Wu Chang, if you do something
Very good, such a slave should be taught a lesson." Concubine Tong had been waiting for Lan Qi to come, and she smiled coldly when they met, "And she contradicted you today, it is up to you to decide whether she lives or dies.
There is no room for you here in this palace."
Lan Qi felt blessed and said calmly: "I begged the empress for her, and I was beaten. She was so kneeling that she couldn't stand up. With such a punishment, she will never dare to do it again in the future."
It's so wild outside. Seeing that the festival is about to take place, the palace is bustling with excitement, and I would like to ask the empress to spare her life. If anything happens, the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager will also be in trouble."
Concubine Tong sneered: "Of course she can keep her life, but I don't want her here. Since Wu Changzai is so kind, let her stay in Zhongcui Palace."