The sounds of "bitch" lingered in her ears. Lan Qi remembered that in the past, Grandma Wang would scold her and Panxia as little bitches when she was anxious. At that time, she was too lazy to pay attention to the old lady going crazy. She didn't care if it didn't hurt or hurt, but today she heard
Concubine Tong scolded herself like this, and she suddenly understood what dignity was.
Duan Gui and Hui Gui went to help Rong Gui. She got up softly from the ground and watched the eunuchs and maids coming in and out to bury the third elder brother. She cried so hard that she had no strength to make a sound. She was almost being held there by the two people on the left and right.
Later, Hui Guiren and Duan Guiren could not hold her back and let her fall to the ground crying. When the small coffin was brought in and the third elder brother was about to be buried, Rong Guiren cried so hard that his whole body convulsed and finally fainted.
The third elder brother was buried, and Rong Guiren fainted. People came and went in the house, and the room suddenly became chaotic. Concubine Zhao stayed outside and refused to come in. When Rong Guiren was carried away, the little elder brother's coffin was also invited out, and Lan Qi still sat in the corner.
, no one around her followed her, and the people here didn't know what to do with her.
There were fewer and fewer people in the room. Lan Qi raised her head blankly. The cradle was empty. The poor little life was really gone.
There were footsteps coming from the door, and soon the luxurious and exquisite clothes appeared in front of her eyes. Lan Qi raised her head and saw the graceful face of Concubine Zhao. She reached out and pinched her chin, and turned slightly to the right, as if to see herself clearly.
With the scar on his left cheek, he said softly: "Why bother? Why do you have to wade into the muddy water? This slap is really not worth it. Let's go, you have nothing to do here. There are too many elder brothers and princesses passing through the palace, I'm afraid even
The emperor's heart has long been numb."
Concubine Zhao turned around, as if she was worried, and told Dongyun beside her: "Wu Changzai has no one around, so you can send Changzai back to Zhongcui Palace."
Dongyun agreed and sent his master out the door. He turned around and helped Lan Qi respectfully, saying gently: "Wu Chang is leaving, everyone has left."
Lan Qi was pulled to stand up by her, but her legs and feet had long been numb and she had lost all feeling. Dongyun didn't hold her up for a while, so she fell heavily again. This time, the fall was very painful. Her legs that were regaining consciousness felt as if they had been injured.
The sting of a needle, even so, was never as painful as the pain in my heart that felt like a knife being cut out when the dragon robe dangled in front of my eyes.
On the way here, the Empress Dowager asked herself what the emperor liked about her. She didn't know. It turned out that she had never understood what the emperor liked about her.
"Wuchang is here, the ground is cold." Dongyun was very polite and called the little palace maid next to him to help her up. He supported Lan Qi and let her try to walk. He waited until her legs and feet regained strength before sending her back step by step.
Zhongcui Palace.
When passing by Chengqian Palace, Dongyun was still wary, but the people around her were completely immersed in her own world. Dongyun didn't respond to anything she said, and kept handing her over to Huan Chun, unable to help but say a few words.
: "Please be careful, and... Concubine Tong lives right in front. Please keep a low profile these days."
After leaving Zhongcui Palace, when Dongyun walked through Chengqian Palace, she saw a cloth tiger under the stone steps at the entrance of the palace. She walked over and picked it up. The stitching of the cloth tiger was very crude and the shape was weird. The palace door suddenly opened, and now
Qinglian, who was waiting for Concubine Tong, came out. They were old acquaintances. Qinglian saw the cloth tiger in Dongyun's hand. She sighed softly and stretched out her hand to ask for it: "Give it to me. Concubine Tong is looking for it. I was planning to do it."
I went to my brother's place to have a look, and sure enough, my brother still didn't want it and left it behind."
Dongyun gave the cloth tiger to her, Qinglian patted the dust on the cloth tiger, lowered her eyes and sighed: "My queen loves my eldest brother very much. She sewed this cloth tiger overnight the night before my eldest brother came. It's a pity that
The eldest brother has always disliked her and always wants to leave."
Dongyun didn't say anything. After saying goodbye, she returned to Yikun Palace. When she saw the people from her elder brother's office came to return, she and others had left before saying to the imperial concubine: "Wu Changzai was in a state of despair. I wonder if it was because he testified against Concubine Tong."
On the way back from there, the slave girl picked up the tiger cloth that had fallen at the gate of Chengqian Palace. Qinglian came out and asked for it, saying that Concubine Tong sewed it for her eldest brother. The slave girl had seen it and found that the stitches and threads were rough and clumsy.
It was obviously made by someone who is not a needleworker, so what Qinglian said must be the truth."
Concubine Zhao smiled bitterly: "She is very attentive. What she said in my brother's house just now must have come from the bottom of her heart. I wonder if the Empress Dowager or the Emperor will go through the palace where the eldest brother has lived these days.
Are there any hairs of my younger siblings hidden under the bed in my house?”
Dongyun sighed: "I have been in the palace for more than ten years and have never heard such a statement."
"She was rushed to the hospital because she was ill. She must have believed such lies at this time." Concubine Zhao sat cross-legged on the kang and sorted the various lists submitted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs into categories. She suddenly raised her eyes and looked at Dongyun, "They
It is said that Concubine Tong went to Third Brother's house alone. In fact, I also saw her going to Rong Xian's house that day, also alone and sneaking around."
Dongyun groaned: "What if Concubine Tong's words are true? Then Third Brother..."
Concubine Zhao sneered: "The third elder brother will not live long to begin with, but someone took advantage of his death."
Dongyun frowned and thought, and asked the noble concubine in his mind: "Could it be that he is Hui Gui?"
"Whether it's a Hui noble or a Rong noble, who can tell the difference?" Concubine Zhao sighed and called the palace maid to serve ginseng tea. When the winter cloud came, she frowned and drank half a bowl to calm herself down before leaning tiredly on the side.
The big pillow said, "This incident should be blamed entirely on Lord Long Live. Lord Long Live must have understood it in his heart, so he left it alone and didn't even bother to investigate."
Dongyun knelt down and beat her legs for her, and heard his master laugh inexplicably: "Now that I think about it, all those years I wanted to have a child to raise, but the Empress Dowager and the Emperor never let go. It's not that they thought I was wronged.
, It’s really for my own good. If you really let go of me and give me one or two, those impatient women still don’t know how to plot against me. Even if they are throwing an egg against a stone, they will still give it a try."
"When the young lady enters the palace, the empress will not have to worry." Dongyun comforted her.
Mentioning her sister, Concubine Zhao smiled slightly with joy, looking forward to the future and said: "I will also teach her how to take care of the affairs of the Sixth Palace, so that the burden on my shoulders can be lighter. Although Huigui and others are capable, they are not reliable.
, I can’t believe it.”
But Dongyun said inexplicably: "I don't know what will happen to Wu Chang this time. I sent her back. It's so pitiful to see her look like that."
Concubine Zhao's long eyebrows trembled slightly. She didn't know what she was thinking, but sadness gradually appeared in her eyes: "She won't do anything. If that person didn't cherish her, why would he be so angry about it? You didn't see the way he looked at her today,
It’s so jealous.”
Dongyun couldn't tell the difference between "him" and "her" in his master's mouth for a moment, so he didn't dare to talk nonsense and waited silently on one side. Gradually, the sky became dark, and a message came from the front that the emperor had turned over Yiguiren's sign at night and invited someone to come.
.
Yi Guiren first came to the main hall to say hello and say goodbye. She was not here to see what her brother was talking about today, and she didn't understand what was going on. She probably felt uneasy and wanted to ask Concubine Zhao what she should do. After all, she was a person from her own palace. The imperial concubine was finally willing to say something: "Just speak less. If the emperor asks you something, just be perfunctory and don't say stupid and unintelligible things."
That night, Yi Guiren didn't go to bed. She didn't even know when the emperor would lie down to sleep. After going to Qianqing Palace, she kept waiting for the emperor to move from the desk to the bed, but she kept waiting until she was so sleepy that the emperor fell asleep. She didn't even move. When she woke up, the emperor had already gone to court, and it was time for her to leave.
After that, the emperor looked at Yiguiren's brand for several days, but the Ministry of Internal Affairs never recorded it. What Yiguiren did with the emperor was only known to her. Concubine Zhao had asked insinuatingly several times, and Yiguiren was very honest. Concubine Zhao was dubious when she said that she had not even spoken to the emperor.
Halfway through March, the weather is getting warmer, and the flowers are blooming in the imperial garden. However, I don’t know if it is because of the lingering clouds over the death of the third elder brother. The bright spring days have finally arrived, but the palace is inexplicably lifeless, and no one is walking among the six palaces. , since the farce at Brother's House, almost everyone has stayed behind closed doors. Except for the Empress Dowager to talk to the Queen Mother every few days, or Concubine Zhao to pay her respects, no other concubines are seen, even her favorite Wu Chang is here. , and I haven’t been here for a long time.
On this day, Concubine Zhao and the Queen Mother left Cining Palace and were returning to Ningshou Palace. They met Concubine Tong on the way. They had not seen each other for several days. Concubine Tong was in good spirits and still looked bright and charming. She treated them respectfully. After the ceremony, Concubine Tong raised her eyebrows when asked where she was going: "Long Live the Lord sent someone to summon me to go to Qianqing Palace to talk, and I am about to go there."
The Queen Mother smiled leisurely and said: "The Emperor works hard every day and does not know how to rest. If you come over, please give me a few words. The flowers in the garden are blooming just right. Please advise him to walk around more."
"Concubine, I have remembered it. Your Majesty is waiting. The Queen Mother also forgives me for not being able to stay with you for a long time." Concubine Tong bowed and said goodbye. She walked proudly from the side with her head held high. Just when a gust of wind blew sand and dust over, Concubine Zhao was confused. The Queen Mother Asked if she was okay, the concubine blinked some tears and smiled and said it was okay.
Going further, you will find the Zhongcui Palace. The gate is closed and the palace is clean and tidy. When the Queen Mother looked at it, she couldn't help but sigh: "Emperor Taizong dotes on Concubine Chen, Emperor Shizu dotes on Dong E. They are not like this." , Our Long Live Lord likes this little Chang Zai, good and bad sometimes, so people can't understand." He also advised Concubine Zhao, "You should understand in your heart that in the current situation, you should care about Zhongcui Palace, even if the emperor knows about you It's intentional, at least he's aware of it, at least he understands that you know who he cherishes."
The imperial concubine felt sour in her heart and lowered her head in response: "I think so too, but every time I think about it, I just can't swallow it."
The Queen Mother smiled and said: "You have to take a longer view. This is not a condescension. You are working for the emperor. Come on, it is better to choose the day than to hit it. I will accompany you."
Concubine Zhao was surprised, but she was pulled by the Empress Dowager towards the door of Zhongcui Palace. The eunuch beside her had already gone to knock on the door. The people inside opened the door and heard that the Empress Dowager and Concubine Zhao were coming. They hurriedly opened the door and knelt down to welcome them. When Shi Ran came in, he saw Bu Changzai and Wu Changzai opening the curtain and coming out of the east side hall. The two elegant and elegant people hurriedly knelt in the yard.
"It's getting warm, but it's still cold on the ground. Get up quickly." The Queen Mother said with a smile, "I want to walk around instead of going back in a sedan chair. After all, I'm usually too lazy to move around. I'm tired after walking for a while. Seeing that it's quiet here, I want to
Come in and take a rest.”
Huan Chun and others were busy going to clean up the main hall and invite the Queen Mother to sit there. However, the Queen Mother said that it was too cold where no one lived. It would be better to go to Wuchang and stay in the room. Bu Chang was serving tea in person. They rarely had people here. If she remembered correctly
, the Queen Mother must be the most distinguished guest she has ever received.
"I came from the Empress Dowager. New tea has been served, but there is no one who is good at making tea. I asked why I didn't call you. The Empress Dowager said you were having trouble." The Empress Dowager kindly pulled Lan Qi to sit beside her.
He turned around and smiled at the imperial concubine, "I'm right, I'm fine. I'm in the house well. You should also say something to me next time you go back to the old man."
Concubine Zhao tried her best to show a friendly smile on her face and said: "Sister, why don't you go to Cining Palace? The Queen Mother is prone to spring sleepiness, but because you don't go, she has to go to Cining Palace to take a look every day.
No time to take a nap."
The queen mother smiled and pushed the imperial concubine: "Why are you relying on me again?" But she turned around and said to Lan Qi, "Those things are in the past, they are in the past. I won't say who is right or wrong. There are too many such things in the palace.
, I have seen it all in my generation. Good boy, even Concubine Tong has gone out, what do you think you are hiding here? The Empress Dowager cannot live without you, listen to me, go over tomorrow and serve her well, good new tea
It will all be wasted if no one dares to touch it."
Lan Qi was in a panic. The conversation between the Queen Mother and Concubine Zhao made her even more confused. She just agreed obediently without saying a word. When the Queen Mother saw her like this, she drank tea and left.
Chang Zai walked with her to the door. He waited until the Empress Dowager and Concubine Zhao had disappeared before getting up. He then heard Jin He say, "I heard that Long Live Lord summoned Concubine Tong to Qianqing Palace."
Lan Qi's eyes flickered slightly, turned around to look at the scene in Chengqian Palace in front of her, and then went back without saying a word. Bu Changzai didn't follow her, and sighed in front of the palace gate: "How can she get better? What happened?
Really? I was baffled by what the Queen Mother just said."
Huan Chun comforted her a few words and asked Panxia to send her back. He brought a basin of hot water in and saw his master packing books and papers. She had been bored in the room for the past few days, writing one by one. Just now, the Queen Mother suddenly
She didn't even have time to wash off the ink on her hands, so she was always embarrassed when the Queen Mother held her hand.
Lan Qi's hands were soaked in hot water by Huan Chun. Watching her carefully wash her fingers, she suddenly remembered the time when she had served Bu Chang in washing her hands. She couldn't help but frown. For no reason, Concubine Tong's dirty voice
Someone rang in her ears again, and she retracted her hand in panic. Huan Chun was startled, and quickly moved the basin away, wrapped her hand in a soft cotton cloth, and asked nervously: "What's wrong, Master?"
Lan Qi stared at her blankly, and the breath in her chest showed signs of loosening. After ups and downs, she finally said: "Get dressed up for me, I'm going to see Mr. Ronggui."
Huan Chun was stunned for a moment, but immediately agreed. He called Yukui and Xiangyue to wait on him. He changed his master into new clothes that were in season, and dressed him up carefully. Then he took a detour to avoid Concubine Tong's possible appearance and went straight to Rong Guiren's house.
When I arrived at the residence, by chance, I met Mr. Huigui who was about to leave in front of the door.
"Sister is here?" After not seeing each other for several days, Hui Guiren was obviously a little embarrassed. He seemed to be hesitating whether to go or stay. Inside, Ji Xin had already come out to welcome Wu Changzai. While letting Wu Changzai in, he came to Hui Guiren and said softly, "Master, please
Go back first."
Hui Gui nodded, looked at Wu Ya's back inside, sighed and left. Ji Xin came back quickly, asked the palace maids to serve tea, and then stood aside with Huan Chun. It was rare that Wu Chang opened his mouth to let them
They all went down. When Ji Xin left, she saw her master nodding towards her, so she warmly invited Huan Chun to come and have some tea.
The room was quiet. Rong Guiren had already returned to her former glory. After giving birth many times, she still maintained a slim figure and a good-looking face. It was not the emperor's unfailing favor, but everyone saw it. Third Brother
After her death, the emperor had nothing to do with her for many days, and even Hui Gui could hardly see the emperor.
"These new teas were sent as rewards from the Cining Palace. My sister should also have some, right?" Mr. Ronggui cooked the tea himself, with a natural smile on his face. "When serving the emperor, I still serve your tea well. I can't do it as well."
She is skillful, but she is definitely not as good as you. I heard that if you don’t go to Cining Palace these days, the Empress Dowager won’t even drink tea.”
"Ronggui," Lan Qi said.
Mr. Ronggui looked at her, holding a tea spoon in mid-air with one hand. A handful of tea leaves in the tea spoon had not yet been put into the teapot. He paused for a moment, then put it down, lowered his head to serve the tea, and asked with a smile: "What do you want to ask, sister?"
?It’s rare that you are willing to come to me. I still wonder if I should go to Zhongcui Palace in person. I know that you have a knot in your heart."
"Did the third elder brother be poisoned to death?" Lan Qi asked, her heart pounding. Didn't she know that the palace was dangerous? Even if she had never experienced it, she had heard many stories from past dynasties. But she had never thought that she
She actually experienced it herself. If it was Concubine Tong's "bitch" that lingered in her ears, it would be better to say that it was the empty cradle and the lost little life that cast a shadow on her and kept her awake at night.
.
Lan Qi calmed down and continued to ask, "Sir Brother, did he die of illness?"
Rong Guiren nodded, then raised his eyebrows and looked at her seriously: "Yes, the third elder brother died of illness, and the emperor also said so."
"It's not that the emperor said it, I'm asking you..."
"Wu Changzai." Rong Guiren interrupted her, "I said, just tell me what you see. Didn't you do it? No matter whether the third elder brother died of illness or was poisoned, he is the same as you.
It doesn’t matter.”
"What if I didn't see it?" Lan Qi stood up and approached her slightly, "How do you and Hui Gui know that I saw Concubine Tong going to the third brother's house?"
The tea in Rong Guiren's hand was ready. He gave her a cup and said with a smile: "Actually, you want to ask me if I have taken advantage of you? Why don't you just say it? Isn't it because I can't say it out loud?"
Lan Qi was silent, and Rong Guiren continued: "The Empress Dowager and the Emperor both know in their hearts that it will be fine if they wait for a while. Even if Hui Guiren and I are no longer qualified to accompany them, this time it will be worth it."
After she finished speaking, she tasted the tea she had brewed. She didn't know what it tasted like, so she put it down with dissatisfaction. She also poured Lan Qi's bowl of tea and said casually, "You must be very strange that we do this."
, obviously aimed at Concubine Tong, trying to find a way to get the eldest brother back, but the eldest brother belongs to Hui Gui, so I am involved in it, right? "
But Lan Qi didn't know if she couldn't bear to see Mr. Rong Gui ruining those fine tea leaves, so she took the initiative to play with the tea set. Mr. Rong Gui let go and sat back, saying leisurely: "My eldest brother cries all the time, there is always something wrong with him."
One day, even the emperor can't stand it anymore. Concubine Tong herself doesn't know how long she can be patient. But as long as that day comes, she will abandon her eldest brother and turn to other children. What she said to the emperor that day, you
Did you hear that? The emperor promised that she could choose one, so why the eldest brother has been to Chengqian Palace for so many days but there has been no edict, just because she hasn't chosen one yet."
Lan Qi concentrated on serving the tea set and listened to Rong Guiren's words step by step. Rong Guiren continued: "We have no way to kill Concubine Tong. If we want to stop her from raising children, we can only make trouble like this. With the help of the Emperor,
We still have some old feelings for each other, and because she has a short temper and is impulsive at the slightest provocation, and because we are brothers' cousins, we can't let her take the child away even if we risk our futures.
"
The tea in Lan Qi's hand was ready, and she handed a cup to Rong Gui. She happened to have a thirsty mouth. She took a small sip, and there was joy in her eyebrows. The whole cup of tea was immediately down her stomach, and she said with a sigh of relief: "I
I know you think I am ruthless and have used you and my own child..." Crystal tears seeped out from the corners of her eyes. Rong Guiren wiped them away with a smile, looked at Lan Qi and said, "I am already in this palace.
It has been more than ten years, do you think there is anything I can’t let go of? In the next few decades, I will only have children.”
Lan Qi didn't drink tea. She got up and left the kang. They were silent for a while. She was about to leave after being blessed. The Ronggui people asked her if she still had any knots in her heart. She shook her head: "The Queen Mother said that she doesn't care who is right or wrong.
I understand now that no one is right or wrong in this matter. Thank you for your willingness to speak your mind to me."
Mr. Ronggui said with a smile: "Maybe one day I will no longer want to tell you my true feelings, but today I will keep your cup of tea in my heart."
Lan Qi nodded silently and turned around to leave. Outside, Ji Xin hurriedly said: "The Empress Dowager ducked down in the Buddhist hall, and Aunt Sumala came to find Wu Changzai. She knew she was here, so she came directly.
Please hurry up, Wu Chang, the people from Cining Palace are still waiting outside."
Lan Qi hurriedly ran out and asked Ji Xin to help Rong Gui Ren change clothes. Lan Qi went to Cining Palace first. When Rong Gui Ren came over, she saw the emperor passing by from a distance. She stopped for a moment and thought about it before giving the order.
Ji Xin: "Let's go back."
In the Cining Palace's bedroom, the Empress Dowager was lying on the bed, and Lan Qi was kneeling beside the couch. The Empress Dowager wouldn't let her touch her, and the two were in a stalemate. Not long after, Xuan Ye came. Seeing this scene, he asked before he could speak.
Being scolded by my grandmother: "I don't want to see you two, get out quickly."
Xuan Ye quickly apologized and said, "What the royal grandmother said, did your grandson do anything to make you angry?"
Lan Qi raised her head to look at the emperor, and Xuan Ye's eyes also fell on her face. On her left cheek, she could still faintly see the scar covered by makeup. She suddenly felt angry, but this angry look scared Lan Qi away.
It's past.
The Empress Dowager saw it, stretched out her hand to pinch Lan Qi's chin, looked at it, and said coldly: "You deserve it."