Old Madam Sun stood up tremblingly, her movements not as agile as before, half-closed her eyes, and thanked her repeatedly: "Thank you, Madam. I neglected you just now..."
Yun Xiu let her continue talking and shifted his gaze to look directly at Li.
Seeing the imperial concubine looking at her lightly, Li's face immediately flushed red. She no longer dared to hesitate for a moment and knelt down neatly: "I pay my respects to the imperial concubine. Long live the imperial concubine!"
As she knelt down, her fingers trembled, and she no longer dared to think of looking at him. A sense of fear surged in the depths of her heart.
What kind of look is that
She was dignified and inviolable, as if she were an ant, and he didn't take her seriously at all.
Lying prone on the cold ground, Li finally remembered that the Cao and Li families had been bondservants for generations. Even if they became the emperor's eyes and ears, everyone in Jiangnan had to respect and flatter them... In the eyes of their masters, they were just slaves.
This extremely clear understanding made her close her eyes, and she crawled more respectfully. After a long while, she finally got the imperial concubine to say "no need to bow".
Outside the mansion gate, the atmosphere seemed a little strange.
The noble ladies who had the honor of accompanying the emperor got off the carriage and held their breath as they watched this scene. Only Rong Fei came forward slowly and said with a smile: "Why are you crowding together? Your Highness and I are both tired. We still need the old lady to show us the way, so we can get a good night's sleep. Your Highness, why don't we go in together?"
"Okay." Yun Xiu smiled, happy to do as she wished. She thought to herself, I used to call her "sister", but now I call her "empress".
After the Imperial Noble Consort was demoted to Consort Tong, Yun Xiu suddenly felt that Consort Rong was much more lively, and she smiled more often, as if she was no longer obsessed with the ranking of the concubines. However, she couldn't call her sister any more, because the Third Prince inherited her mother's temperament and was awkward.
Rong Fei was willing to show her goodwill, so Yun Xiu naturally would not refuse. Who would want to make enemies everywhere and be surrounded by enemies in the harem
But with just a few words, the women of the weaving house were reduced to foils.
Even though Concubine Rong no longer looks like she used to, her eyes are still peaceful and smiling, her clothes are soaked with scent of Buddhist incense, and her aura, which comes from years of luxury, is not something that ordinary people can match.
Li was speechless for a moment. She did not dare to look at her mother-in-law's reaction. She bowed humbly and said hurriedly, "Please forgive me, Your Majesty. I was inconsiderate! The bedding in the main courtyard has been laid out and fumigated. Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please come in, and the ladies, please come in..."
******
Several ladies moved into the main courtyard where the old lady Sun lived. Li voluntarily gave up the Xiefang Hall where she and her husband usually lived, and moved all their belongings to the side courtyard.
When Cao Yin arrived, his eldest son Cao Yong fluttered around in the yard, and his wife, who had not seen him for a long time, looked at him with tears in her eyes: "... You are finally home."
When Yong Ge'er looked at him, he was timid and curious. Even though he was a seven-foot-tall man, his eyes were red at this moment.
"It's all thanks to His Majesty's grace! They're still discussing something up front, and it'll probably take a long time, so they sent me back to the backyard first..." Cao Yin said gently, "I can't wait to see you two."
It is said that parents' orders and matchmaker's words are final. Cao Yin had no objection to the wife his mother chose for him. Although he didn't like her at first, he was satisfied with her.
Li was a virtuous woman who managed the household well, and she was more than qualified to be the mistress of the house. He was not a lustful man, and once he had chosen a wife, he would treat her wholeheartedly. Moreover, his uncle Li Xu was his best friend, and for the sake of his uncle's face, he would never be a heartless person.
Because of Cao Yin's persistence, he and Li lived in harmony and happiness. Even though they had been separated for so many years, he had no intention of taking a concubine. He was only concerned about his elders, his wife and children at home.
In fact, apart from the fact that Cao Yin was far away in the capital, Li had nothing going wrong on a daily basis.
My husband has been the emperor's companion since he was young. He is not only good at both civil and military affairs, but also has a first-class appearance, and there is nothing wrong with him. Not only is my husband devoted to me, but my mother-in-law, Sun, feels sorry for her eldest son and daughter-in-law being separated and has never proposed taking a concubine; my father-in-law, Cao Xi, does not care about the affairs in the backyard...
As the old lady grew older, with the transfer of power as the housekeeper, Li was in charge of the household affairs at the weaving house and she truly had the final say.
The daughters of each family were extremely envious. Why didn’t they marry into the Cao family
Now, the couple had a good time reminiscing about the past. Cao Yin brought his son to tease him affectionately, with love in his eyes and eyebrows.
Li pursed her lips and smiled, feeling that the moment couldn't be more perfect. Then, as if she remembered something, her smile faded and she asked softly, "Have you paid your respects to mother? The main courtyard has been given to the ladies, and mother now lives in the Qifang Hall... It's wronged that you and I live in the side courtyard."
Cao Yin was touched by Li's intention, so how could he feel aggrieved
"This is the filial piety that children should show. There is nothing to be wronged about. Thank you, Madam." He said with a smile, and then stood up. "Father said that mother was talking with the Imperial Concubine and the Rong Concubine. So she is back? I will go and pay my respects to her now."
"I hope you don't blame me." Li lowered her eyes and said softly, "Mother didn't talk to the ladies. She was not feeling well. I'm afraid she has passed away."
"Why not?" Cao Yin became anxious when he heard it.
Li twisted her handkerchief, a hint of worry in her eyes: "... Such an oversight may have neglected Imperial Concubine Yi. Master, may I apologize to Her Majesty?"
The Fang Hall.
The old lady leaned against the bed and sighed, "Brother Yin, tell me about the Imperial Concubine's personality. I'm afraid she misunderstood me, the Cao family, and you when she came to meet the Emperor just now."
His Majesty helped her up, but Concubine Yi acted like that.
Judging from Concubine Yi's attitude, she didn't have good intentions, and she even humiliated her in front of everyone! The old lady was furious and worried. She grabbed Cao Yin's hand and said, "What if the concubine whispered to His Majesty?"
Cao Yin frowned and remained silent for a long time. What kind of temper is he
He had heard more than once that Concubine Yi was a woman that no one dared to offend because she was in the presence of the emperor. Perhaps the rumor was false, but it was true that the emperor regarded her as a treasure. In his spare time, he once lamented to him that Concubine Yi was the only woman who could speak to him.
… He was not sure whether to persuade someone else or not.
With a myriad of thoughts in his mind, Cao Yin whispered to comfort her: "Don't worry, mother. Imperial Concubine Yi is very considerate and would never do that. To be favored by the Empress Dowager and ordered to look after the Crown Prince, Imperial Concubine Yi is magnanimous and virtuous!"
Before she finished speaking, the old lady regained her spirit and was shocked: "Looking after the prince?"
This happened not long ago, and the news had not yet reached Jiangnan, so it is understandable that my mother didn't know about it.
Cao Yin briefly recounted the whole story, and when he recalled the scene where the impeachment finally stopped, his expression paused slightly: "The imperial concubine is favored and has a royal family. If there is no place for her to return, my son should accompany Li to apologize."
This is different from what the old lady expected!
There is a huge difference between the two!
As for the apology, she only asked her daughter-in-law to test it out, but she didn't know that Yin Ge'er really had such thoughts.
What frightened her most was that Concubine Yi was not only favored, but was also ordered to look after the Crown Prince...
My Lord, this is the young master to whom Ying'er is determined to serve!
The old lady felt heavy in her heart and her head was splitting. After a long while, she managed to force a smile and said, "You are right. The Imperial Concubine is very generous and has probably forgotten our neglect. There is no need for us to apologize. It is I who am paranoid."
After much persuasion, the eldest son gave up the idea. The old lady watched Cao Yin's figure disappear at the threshold. She closed her eyes tiredly, then opened them again, and her smile completely disappeared.
"Tell Wang to be more tactful and find an opportunity to serve His Majesty." She rubbed her forehead and told the maid beside her, "As soon as possible. Isn't she the best at serving the emperor? Go and make some arrangements. In addition to serving tea, it would be even better if she could serve him with writing materials..."
******
The main courtyard of the weaving house was very spacious, and was divided into several small courtyards, which was more than enough for the concubines accompanying the emperor to stay in. The largest inner room in the center was where Yunxiu stayed.
The color tone and even the furnishings in the house reveal the exquisite atmosphere of the Jiangnan water village. Although it is not as grand as the decoration of the Yiku Palace, it is also unique and beautiful.
After scanning it, Yun Xiu was generally satisfied. She was too lazy to find faults, and she couldn't find any faults. She picked up a piece of celadon from the cabinet and took a look. It felt delicate and had beautiful patterns. It didn't look like an ordinary item.
But it's an antique
The Imperial Concubine was not an expert on this matter, so she kept the question in her heart and asked the Crown Prince when he brought his brother to her.
After putting the porcelain vase back, Yun Xiu felt a surge of sleepiness and closed her eyes slightly. She was tired from the morning journey and it was time to take a rest and recharge her energy as there would be a banquet in the evening.
As early as when they stepped into the inner room, Nanny Dong and Ruizhu carefully checked all the objects on the tables, chairs and beds, and finally nodded slightly to her, indicating that they found nothing wrong.
After eating a few snacks from the bicycle frame and rinsing his mouth, Yunxiu lay down with his clothes on and gently closed his eyes.
The blanket covering her body was warm and fluffy, very comfortable, with a faint floral and fruity scent, as if it had been carefully fumigated. Yun Xiu did not reject this scent, she even liked it. The faint aroma lingered around her nose, and she soon fell asleep.
After an unknown number of hours, I vaguely heard Liang Jiugong's voice: "Awake... The Emperor wants the Empress to accompany him..."
Yun Xiu slowly opened his eyes, raised his hand and rubbed his temple, only to feel his mind a little dizzy.
How long has she slept
"It's been exactly two hours, and it's already past noon. The emperor has left some food for the queen." Liang Jiugong was waiting outside the curtain, smiling eagerly, "The queen, please go to the West Garden as soon as possible."
Yun Xiu asked someone to help her wash and dress. She was no longer sleepy, but the feeling of drowsiness gradually deepened. Apart from that, she felt a slight discomfort in her lower abdomen, but it was negligible.
Pressing her brows, she realized something was wrong.
Yun Xiu frowned and thought, the emperor has an imperial physician accompanying him, so when he arrives at the West Garden, he must let the imperial physician take his pulse and have a look.
…
The destination for accompanying the emperor was the same as the destination for inviting the imperial physician - the Western Garden where the emperor was staying.
The West Garden was very far from the main courtyard at the back, so it would take a long time to get there. After receiving Kangxi's order, Liang Jiugong had a sedan chair brought over and respectfully invited Yunxiu to get on it. After two quarters of an hour, the sedan chair stopped steadily in front of the courtyard.
The Western Garden was modeled after the layout of a temporary palace and had an imperial study for the emperor to handle government affairs.
Yun Xiu felt quite tired due to the drowsiness in her mind. She forced herself to stay awake and looked around aimlessly.
Suddenly, her expression froze. Why was there a familiar maid standing among the servants holding the four treasures of the study
Like a flower about to bloom, her plain clothes could not hide her freshness. She was small and delicate, with delicate features and eyes as misty as spring water. She carefully hid in the center of the attendants.
She looked around and suddenly met Yun Xiu's eyes.
Her face quickly turned pale, and then she lowered her head. The maid was like a frightened deer, and almost dropped the paperweight in her hand. She bit her lip, weighed her options, and hurriedly said a few words to the people around her, pretending to have a stomachache, and turned around to run.
The dizziness became more and more serious. Yun Xiu endured the discomfort and said coldly: "Stop."
Liang Jiugong was immediately startled. The maid with outstanding appearance froze in place and began to tremble slightly. She had to give up the idea of escaping and lowered her head as low as she could.
"Who is that?" Yun Xiu asked Liang Jiugong who was accompanying her.
Liang Jiugong turned his head and looked, but didn't find any clues for a long time. Who did Master Yi say "Stop" to
These servants were chosen by him, could it be possible that some sneaky people had sneaked in? !
The chief steward was very nervous and hadn't figured out what was going on. When he heard the imperial concubine's question, he had to bite the bullet and say, "Those were all selected by me... the people who serve in front of the emperor..."
OK.
Was it Liang Jiugong who picked it
It would be better to say that it was chosen by the emperor!
Instantly, a wave of anger swept over him. Why, not only did he hide it from her, but he also had to do such a thing as hiding it from her
It turns out that Concubine Wang had not entered the palace in the 25th year, but had already caught the emperor's eye at that time!
The anger of being fooled surged in Yunxiu's heart, and she almost laughed out of anger.
Yes, she didn’t care that the emperor favored a Han woman, and she didn’t care even more about herself falling out of favor.
But such an action simply trampled on the face of Yikun Palace, so where did it put her
After summoning her to accompany him, is he going to find someone else to accompany him? !
However, Yun Xiu had prepared herself mentally at the beginning of the southern tour. Although such a situation was unexpected, it was still reasonable.
The anger was only momentary and soon disappeared. She narrowed her eyes, suppressed the dizziness, and quickly regained her composure.
The future has been foreseen, there is nothing to be angry about. I am already a concubine, how much is my face worth
Your Majesty, I'm sorry I can't keep you company.
"Your Majesty is in a good mood to have such a beauty hidden away," Yun Xiu walked forward slowly, bypassed the servants kneeling on the ground, pulled Wang up, and said sincerely, "What a blessing."
After seeing the maid's appearance clearly, Ruizhu and Liang Jiugong both took a deep breath. This...
Ruizhu thought anxiously, the queen must not let anything bad happen to her when she is so beautiful!
Liang Jiugong was a little confused, then shocked and angry. Where did this person come from
Then he slapped his head and thought, oh no, what if Master Yi misunderstood? !
Facing Ruizhu's worried gaze, Yunxiu smiled slightly, waved his hand, slowly let go of the frightened Wang, brushed his sleeves, and walked away slowly with a gloomy face.
She had long since let go of Concubine Mi and now really didn't care about her.
But why did the headache get worse
It’s okay, the weaving house also employs doctors.
Liang Jiugong hurriedly chased after him and was about to explain, but the next moment, his eyes widened in horror, and he was frightened to death.
The imperial concubine collapsed and fainted outside the courtyard gate...
"Empress!" Ruizhu's eyes turned red with anxiety, and she staggered forward to support him.
She cried in a voice that hinted at tears: "Imperial Physician, call the Imperial Physician! Your Majesty cares so much about Your Majesty that her heart and eyes are filled with no room for anyone else. How can she bear this blow?!"