Chapter 28 Chapter 28 Rookie

Summer is scorching hot in central Beijing, and the heat never fades at night.No breeze, no crystal curtain.Only the bouquets of roses in the temple are adorned with bright red petals, and the fragrance of the flowers is condensed by the coolness of the ice sculptures. The emperor read the scrolls in the Nuan Pavilion, accompanied by Ruyi, and put a small piece of incense seal pressed into the shape of a lotus flower into the sapphire lion chi ear furnace, and added silver leaves and mica slices to make the aroma even.The curl of light smoke, overflowing with green sycamore trees after the rain, makes the surroundings more peaceful.

Yan Wan knelt down outside for a moment, her weeping was heartbreaking: "The emperor is full of yang energy, which can resist all evil spirits. I implore you to keep Yong Lu in the Hall of Mental Cultivation for a while, and pray for your dragon energy to bless you. Let Yong Lu survive this calamity." Her cries were heart-piercing, enough to move any passer-by.Ruyi accompanied the emperor, and asked softly, "Your majesty, your concubine is begging so beggingly, won't you agree?" The cry outside the hall was filled with cold breath: "Your Majesty! Your Majesty! The concubine's parents are dead, and the brothers are guilty. Except for your mercy, except for Yong Lu, the concubine has no one to rely on. If Yong Lu is not protected, The concubine would rather kneel and die in front of the palace gate!"

The emperor's eyes were filled with rare sadness and confusion: "Ruyi, it's hard for me to determine whether Yongjing's death must have something to do with Lingfei, but I really know that if I didn't love her so much, her mother-in-law wouldn't be so fond of her." Will have delusional intentions to murder your children." Ruyi stared fixedly at the emperor: "I dare not speak too much, but I hope the emperor will understand." A trace of weakness flashed across the emperor's face: "But the one outside the door is also my son, so I really can't ignore it completely."

Ruyi nodded, and sat sideways beside him: "Concubine Ling's request is not too much, but if it is said that she was completely innocent in Yongjing's death, my concubine dare not believe it completely." The emperor held her hand, his palm was moist and slightly cool to the touch under the still hot night wind.She sighed softly: "Of course the emperor should save Yong Lu, not for anything else but because he is your blood. But..." The emperor nodded, opened the door of the palace, and looked down at Yan Wan, who was holding Yong Lu in her arms and crying with messy makeup: "You and Yong Lu stay here, and I promise you to take care of them here."

For the next ten or so days, Yan Wan and Yong Lu temporarily lived in the Zhenxiang Pavilion in the side hall, and stayed with several imperial physicians to take care of them.The emperor must visit Yong Lu every day, but rarely speaks to Yan Wan.Yan Wan didn't ask too much, she couldn't untie her clothes and guarded each other attentively, she couldn't sleep at night, and she knelt in front of the Buddha statue to pray during the day, and she lost a lot of weight. Within half a month, Yan Wan developed a redness syndrome, and the successive births had caused great damage to her body, and she had not been able to confine herself properly twice, so she was angry and worried.At first she didn't dare to speak out, she just endured taking care of Yong Lu, until she couldn't get up, she had to add another bed beside Yong Lu's bed, so as to facilitate the nearby medical care.

As a result, even Princess He Jing felt compassion, and when she saw one or two when she entered the palace, she asked someone to send ginseng and bird's nest there.Occasionally, when there were no palace servants in front of him, He Jing held the baby in his arms, and pleaded with his sleeves: "If there is anything wrong with your majesty, Huang Ama should also see that she recognizes the son. Besides, Yong Lu gave birth prematurely, making your majesty sick. They all rose up to save Qingyou." The emperor only caressed Qingyou's blush and round face lovingly, as if he had never heard anything related to Lingfei: "Qingyou is just a nickname." He pondered, "It has to be a big name that can't be suppressed. Well, like His father is usually a hero. His name is Eljetmur Erkebabai!"

He Jing smiled: "It means steel, what a good name." The emperor laughed and said: "If you survive a catastrophe, you must have future blessings. Last time you fell into the water, you were safe. You are a child with endless blessings." Tears welled up in He Jing's eyes, and he persuaded softly: "Huang Ama, my daughter's son will certainly be blessed in the future, but Yong Lu is still lying in the side hall. Even if the empress has made thousands of mistakes, the love for her son It's not bad. Besides, the Ministry of Internal Affairs only pays for the Yongshou Palace according to the rules of the nobles, and the empress is still raising Yonglu, and the mother and son will be wronged in the future."

The emperor's face sank slightly, and he sat down sideways and took a sip of tea: "Are you interceding for Concubine Ling?" He Jing expressed compassion: "It is so difficult for a woman to live a peaceful life without her husband's favor. Of course, Huang Ama is busy with political affairs, so she doesn't spend much time with Er Niang. Er Niang is a queen, so she can't do it." I don’t want to prevent concubines from overstepping, not to mention Ling Niangniang is just a little concubine who was born under the Han army flag." The emperor looked slightly hesitant, but still spoke calmly to He Jing: "Jing Se, you don't understand many things in the harem."

He Jing bowed his head and flicked the silver thread hanging from the corner of his clothes to string broken agate nets: "My daughter doesn't understand, and Huang Ama may not understand. After Er Niang passed away, Huang Ama realized that many things were misunderstandings. But with Er Niang Life and death are separated, and many things are too late. If there is a misunderstanding about the matter of the empress, but the mother and child are involved, will Huang Ama feel innocent?" What He Jing said, every word is heart-wrenching, almost arousing the deep pain in the emperor's heart.He patted He Jing's hand, and said gently: "Jing Se, Huang Ama is getting old, only you can talk to Huang Ama like this."

He Jing smiled, but did not lose her dignified demeanor: "My daughter is Huang Ama's eldest daughter and the only legitimate daughter. She was raised by Huang Ama in her arms." She concentrated for a moment, "Besides, my daughter also loves Huang Ama. The thirteenth brother died young, Huang Ama must really hope that the fourteenth brother can grow up healthily." The emperor twisted her nose: "Sure enough, no matter how much she grows up, she will be my youngest daughter. I will tell you to continue to treat Concubine Fuling on a daily basis, and will often visit their mother and child."

With a respectful expression, An Xian saluted quietly.The tassels hanging from the gold-plated lotus button on her chest are glass blue, and they fall long and long on the cherry blossom sleeves with cloud blue dark patterns and glittering gold flakes.When she moved, her waist was lightly bent, but Tassel remained motionless. The emperor looked at her beautiful face and elegant temperament, and felt sad: "Jingse, you really look like your mother-in-law. When she married me, she also liked to smile like this." He Jingru's cherry red lips pursed into a warm smile: "Emiang is alive in the sky, she must understand Huang Ama's concern for her." After the two finished speaking, the emperor went to the palace of praying for the concubine.At this time, Concubine Qi was pregnant, and the emperor was very concerned.And Concubine Qi was extra cautious because of the premature death of the sixth princess, and almost stayed behind closed doors to raise her baby with peace of mind. He Jing turned around the corridor, entered the side hall, and saw Yan Wan who was urging the nursing mother to drink medicine for Yong Lu. Yan Wan saw He Jing, and rushed to greet him, but she smiled with tears: "Princess, you are here." He Jing frowned slightly: "Don't cry like this, I know Yong Lu will recover soon." Yan Wan courteously persuaded her to sit down, and then personally took the tea cup from Chun Chan and offered it, quite embarrassed: "I don't have any good tea around me, this is Maojian from last year, please let the princess drink it." He Jing took the teacup, but didn't drink it, just put it aside casually.Yan Wan understood, and motioned for Chun Chan to lead everyone back.The milky water vapor blurred He Jing's upright face into a soft look, and she said with a faint smile, "Congratulations, you will soon be restored to the position of concubine, and Huang Ama will often visit your mother and son." Tears welled up in Yan Wan's eyelashes, but she was afraid that He Jing would not like it, so she had to hold back, and bent down to kowtow: "Thank you, Princess, for your kindness." He Jing didn't look at her, and sat upright with a silk twirling: "There is no need to salute, after all, you are my concubine mother. If Huang Ama knows, you think I don't know how to respect elders." Yan Wan agreed and got up , He Jing said again: "If Er Niang is still there, you are all concubines serving her, and I will not treat you differently. You know, although I want to thank you for being able to save Qingyou, it is also your duty." Minute." Yan Wan repeatedly said: "It's just a coincidence for me. Being able to save the son is a matter of good fortune and good fortune, and it has fulfilled me." "Accumulating goodness and blessings? Er Niang was kind, gentle, diligent and thrifty during her lifetime." He Jing sighed softly, feeling infinitely disappointed, "It's a pity that Er Niang is gone so early." Yan Wan is humble and respectful: "I once served Empress Xiaoxian, who was gentle and dignified, with a noble bearing. In my heart, she is the only empress who sets an example for the world." He Jing glanced at her: "I fulfill you, not because of your words. I just don't like to see that person occupying Er Niang's back seat. That seat is not hers, and she doesn't have to be told to sit quietly." Yan Wan lowered her head and raised her eyebrows, not daring to answer, but humbly said: "A queen is a queen after all..." He Jing interrupted coldly: "I believe you are not a useless person. You can live in the Hall of Mental Cultivation based on your child's illness and get Huang Ama's favor, and you will not disappoint my expectations. Just as you know me, Yong Lu The illness is actually not that important." Yan Wan raised her pale bare face, looked at He Jing's determined smile, and deeply remembered it in her heart. In December, when the north wind was strong, Concubine Qi gave birth to a daughter, the eighth in order, named Jinghua.Concubine Qi is proud of this daughter, thinking that the sixth princess will come again, she is ecstatic, and she doesn't know what to do with the jade-like daughter, leaving all other things aside and focusing on raising the princess. At this time, Yan Wan was pregnant again, and gave birth to the ninth daughter of the emperor Jing Concubine the following year.Although the emperor's favor for her was not as good as before, she gave birth to children for three consecutive years. , born on July 15, 23rd, the ninth daughter of the emperor, Jing concubine.The continuous births finally consolidated Yan Wan's status, making her the concubine who had the most births as pure imperial concubines. Yan Wan stood under the corridor, teasing Yong Lu and Jing Yan who were in the nurse's arms, smiling softly.There was deep longing and anticipation in her eyes: "I can't become the second pure noble concubine, with only honor and no favor." In the autumn of the twenty-third year of Qianlong's reign, as the number of concubines in the palace grew longer, the emperor had few sympathetic people.Yan Wan's consecutive births inevitably damaged her body, so she had to suspend her bed service and rest in bed.Concubine Qi, who has always been favored, also suffers from convulsions after giving birth to the eighth princess, so she stays on the sick bed, and it is inconvenient to serve the emperor anymore.The Ministry of Internal Affairs proposed to fill the harem with a wide selection of talented women, so as to continue the royal heirs. In September of this year, Ruyi and the Queen Mother accompanied the emperor to preside over the palace selection.Among those selected this time, apart from Niu Gulu, a distant relative of the Empress Dowager's mother's family, who is an honorable person, and Suochuolun, the daughter of Minister of Rites and Debao, who is an honorable person, the most outstanding one should be the daughter Lan, who was sent by the Mongolian Prince Huo Shuote. Xi grid.There are also a few low-ranking Chang Zai, all of whom are clothed with the Han army flag specially sent to the palace by Jiangnan Weaving. Although their status is low, all of them are beautiful Jiangnan beauties.Huo Shuote's Lan Xi was conferred the title of concubine Xun as soon as she entered the palace, and she was especially favored by the emperor.Probably as the previous dynasty said, the Huo Shuote tribe was not as prominent as the in-laws of the Qing Dynasty, the Borzigit family, and because they had secretly rebelled against the Junggar tribe, the emperor looked sideways. In order to seek a place of preservation, they had to Like other tribes, they sacrificed their daughters to marry the Qing Dynasty to find asylum. Concubine Xun is the most outstanding among the concubines below the rank of concubine, together with the concubines Bahrain, Gongguiren Lin, Xilinjueluo, Keguiren Baiergusi, who entered the palace through draft for 16 years. woman.Also because of their youthful beauty and vigor, they were particularly favored by the emperor.Coupled with the concubine Ling who entered the palace earlier, the emperor's love often lingers on these delicate and blooming flowers. The draft in the palace has always been just a routine.To gather all the beauties in the world is to exhaust the power of the royal family.In fact, the source of concubines in the emperor's palace is only a small selection. There are palace maids who are served by Cheng En, ministers from outside who are relatives and nobles, and those who are selected by various ministries of Mongolia. There are always new beauties. A lot of flowers bloom in the imperial garden. After one withers, dozens of flowers will bloom again. It will never wither. This day was the third day after the draft, and the titles and residences of all the newcomers had been arranged. Ruyi took Rong Pei to visit the emperor in the study of the Palace of Yangxin. Winter started early this year, and there were several heavy snowfalls in October. The plum blossoms in the plum garden had already bloomed many buds, and they were full of buds.Ruyi saw Huanxi, and ordered someone to pick some of the best white plums, and brought them along. It was quiet in the study.The emperor sat behind a mountain of booklets, and Li Yu brought two clever little eunuchs to accompany him.A wisp of white smoke rose leisurely from the Jinding incense burner. Ruyi sniffed it lightly and knew that it was the agarwood incense commonly used by the emperor, and immediately asked for an offer: "Agarwood incense is pungent, bitter, and warm, warms the waist and knees, and removes evil spirits. It has the effect of warming the middle and clearing the mind, so it can’t be better to use it in this season.” Seeing her coming, the emperor put down his pen and said with a smile, "That's good, but the fragrance of agarwood is warm. If you ask too many questions, you will inevitably feel drowsy. It's not appropriate to open the window." Ruyi just smiled, folded off a few white plum buds and put them in the incense burner, then covered the red gold incense burner with a crane beak, offered the rest of the white plums in a clear water bottle, and said quietly: "Plum blossoms have a clear air, and they are like white plums. Very much. Does the emperor like the fresh air in the warm fragrance?" The emperor expressed joy, took her hand and said: "It has just snowed outside, how can you come here without being afraid of the cold?" Ruyi raised her face, and Rong Pei brought out a plate of charred roast lamb and a pot of white wine.Ruyi said: "I remembered that I used to secretly roast mutton with the emperor to drink in the hidden mansion, so I specially roasted this today to comfort the pride of that day." The emperor was pleasantly surprised and said: "It happened that it was snowing outside, let's move to the window and eat this while watching the snow." After saying that, he laughed, "It's so elegant after folding white plums, so I'm also a drinker." Ruyi smiled coquettishly: "Drinking and eating meat is an elegant thing in life, why should the emperor make it vulgar. Is it possible that concubines are not allowed to 'the old man talks about being a teenager'?" Li Yu and Rong Pei immediately made arrangements, and they moved under the window of the Nuan Pavilion, put the wine and meat on the small table, and propped up the long window.Ruyi shivered from the cold, and said with a smile, "I can't take it, the wind is so strong, it's so cold!" The emperor poured a glass of wine and brought it to her mouth: "Come on, take a warm sip quickly. It won't be cold after drinking it." Ruyi tilted her neck and drank it, seeing that the emperor was only interested in eating the roast lamb, she didn't like it: "Does the emperor feel different after eating it?" The emperor put down his chopsticks again and again, and said with a smile: "There is no fishy smell, it is a fat sheep outside the mouth. The meat is tender, so it should be lamb." The emperor closed his eyes and savored it carefully for a moment, "There is the fragrance of pine branches, and the sweetness of chrysanthemums. ..." "Successful!" Ruyi clapped her palms and rejoiced, "It was roasted with pine branches. During the exam, frosted chrysanthemum petals were sprinkled in the belly of the lamb. The emperor is a big eater!" The emperor was proud of himself: "We handle the world's government every day, and we should also enjoy the world's delicious food, beautiful scenery and beauties." Ruyi shook her head again and again, a scarlet golden phoenix and east bead hairpin with red glazed tassels rustled on her temples, like red plums in the wind, making her face even more peachy: "The emperor has just selected a beautiful girl, and I'm still waiting for you." Do you think this beauty is not enough?" The emperor smiled and said: "Do you think the one I selected must be a young and beautiful woman?" He raised his voice and called: "Li Yu, bring me the third copy of my case." Ruyi drank a glass of wine, hugged the stove to keep warm, and saw Li Yu handing over a brochure.The emperor ordered: "Li Yu, show it to the queen." Ruyi didn't reach out to pick it up, but only looked at the emperor with a shrewd smile, "Doesn't count as meddling in politics?" The emperor laughed: "The affairs of the harem are not considered politics." Ruyi clapped her hands, opened it, and couldn't help laughing: "Is Lord Saisang, the Borzigit tribe, crazy? His thirty-year-old daughter is still going to be sent to the palace as a concubine, and he said he doesn't want to ask for a name." I am very noble, I just want to serve as a nobleman, and take the job of sweeping. Princess Saisang, the pearl on the grassland, where can I not find a good family?" The emperor also shook his head: "It is said that Saisang's daughter, Eyinzhugege, was betrothed three times, but the man died suddenly before she got married. The lama on the grassland did the calculation for her, and she had to marry the most noble person in the world to be married. It was her Kefu's life, so Saisang dragged out a 30-year-old unmarried daughter." Ruyi pondered for a moment, but refused to eat the mutton with a pair of chopsticks, and was blown by the cold wind for a while, making the thin chains of the silver chopsticks rustle, but she just looked at the emperor and remained silent. The emperor said: "What do you think of? Just say it." Ruyi pursed her lips and said: "The legend of the lama is just a theory. Why didn't it be mentioned before, but now it is suddenly brought up? It is indeed pitiful for Eyinzhu Gege to lose her husband before she gets married, but if it weren't for Lan Huoshuo's department Xigege was registered as a concubine by the emperor, I am afraid that Borzigit's department will not be so anxious?" The emperor took a sip of the wine, his love blushed slightly: "Just say it." "The concubine heard that the various tribes in the grassland have been at odds. Although they all surrendered to the Qing Dynasty, they often heard about privately fighting for burning and killing. The Huoshuote tribe and the Borzigit tribe have been at odds for a long time. Borziji The special department is the in-law of the Aixinjueluo family. If you want to choose a concubine, the Borzigit department should be the first. It is estimated that the prince of the Huo Shuote department has also seen that the Borzigit department has no girls of the right age to choose. That's why he sent his daughter, Lanxi Gege, so that if there is any dispute in the future, he can get the protection of the emperor. And after the Junggar incident, the Huo Shuote department knew that they were guilty of the Qing Dynasty, and it was also an act of goodwill. Such a Come on, isn’t the prince of Borzigit going to be in a hurry? After choosing and choosing, there is only one 30-year-old biological daughter, so I had to send it here in a hurry.” The emperor laughed loudly and said, "The empress knows the truth when she sees it. Then what does the empress think, what should I do?" Ruyi stood up and saluted, "The emperor has the world in his heart, and he is in the hands of all the Mongolian tribes. How could he ask his courtiers and concubines about a mere woman's matter? Naturally, he has already made a decision." The emperor held her hand and said with a smile: "You are the empress, so I naturally want to know if you and I are of the same mind?" This is a dangerous question to ask.She is a queen, so naturally she can't be narrow-minded and be accused of jealousy.What's more... She has the seat of the lord of the sixth palace, and one more person in the palace is just one more flower blooming in the royal garden, and there is nothing terrible about it.She quietly looked at the emperor's expression, she still looked leisurely, as if she didn't care.But Ruyi knew that with his expression, he was sure of everything, but he had such an amorous temperament. Ruyi pondered for a moment, then slowly said: "Actually, as long as it is the daughter of the prince of Borzigit, the emperor doesn't care whether it is a thirty-year-old woman or an ugly one. Because in the emperor's heart, drafts come in Not just one woman, but the balance of the Mongol tribes." The emperor's eyes were as deep as a pool of water, and ripples of laughter burst out little by little: "You are worthy of my queen." Ruyi said with a smile: "Then, how does the emperor decide?" "I'm not taking a woman or a concubine, but the Borzigit tribe of Mongolia." He bit his accent, dipped his finger in white wine and wrote the word "take" on the small table, "it's take , instead of marrying, take a woman in the palace, one more is not too many, one less is not less." Ruyi smiled slightly: "The emperor is doting on Concubine Xun now, so you are not afraid of her taste?" The emperor snorted softly: "I just want everyone to know that even if I dote on someone, I don't feel safe. Since they are all my slaves, let them do it themselves." He stopped and picked up his chopsticks. The mutton chewed slowly, "Having Lanxi and Eyinzhu in the palace will balance the power of the Huo Shuote and Borzigit tribes in the palace. And I don't need to give favors, as long as they are Courtesy is enough, just like a decoration." Ruyi's heart was slightly cold, as if the wind outside the palace had inadvertently blown into her heart, creating a layer of iciness. Not allowing her to think about it, the emperor's voice was already in her ears: "I have already decided to give Borzigit's Eryinzhu the same status as Huo Shuote." He pondered slightly, " Then she was named Concubine Yu. The queen will see if there is any other palace that can be placed there?" Ruyi immediately came back to her senses, smiling peacefully as usual: "Among the newcomers this time, Concubine Xun and Noble Cheng live in Jingren Palace, and Concubine Xun is the main seat. Lady Rui, Bai Changzai, and Lu Changzai followed to pray. Concubine lives in Jingyang Palace. Chengqian Palace is temporarily unoccupied." She carefully looked at the emperor's face, hinting at the unpleasant memories that might come, "After Concubine Shu's death, Chuxiu Palace has been Empty, uninhabited. How about..." The emperor's expression turned cold in an instant, as if soaked in ice and snow outside the window, it was cold and hard.He waved his hand and quickly interrupted the end of Ruyi's words: "No need." His words were short but powerful, Ruyi immediately understood, but still tried: "But your majesty, after the death of Concubine Shu, Chuxiu Palace has been empty, so it's not very good." The emperor's face seemed disgusted, and he didn't want to talk about it: "Concubine Shu set herself on fire, she is an ominous person, and she doesn't have to let others live in her residence first. As for Chengqian Palace, it is opposite to your Yikun Palace. Man, I'd rather be empty." He softened slightly, raising the curve of the corners of his lips, "Concubine Yu, no matter which palace, let her live first, as the main seat." Ruyi thought about it and said, "Since Concubine Mei's death, the Yonghe Palace has no rulers, and only a few nobles with low status live there often, so it's appropriate." The emperor moved the mutton on the plate and said casually, "That must be the Yonghe Palace."