It is a frosty moon, the forests of smoke are reduced, and the leaves fall to know that the world is autumn.
The weather is getting colder day by day, but the Queen Mother's body has gradually "improved".
The autumn wind is coming, and the curtain is cold.
Today, after returning from Lishan, the Queen Mother called me back. All the concubines and concubines were serious about their affairs.
It was not yet bright, and they gathered in front of the Cining Palace.
The five concubines greeted each other in order, and they were still the same, but their eyes and tone were obviously very different from those of a year ago. They were a little less aggressive and more harmonious. To say that I don’t envy Qin Zhaoyi for being favored, it must be It's fake, but the mind of competing for favor is indeed not as good as before.
The concubines were all born from noble families, and none of them were stupid. Why did the emperor promote the entire Qin family? They had a weight in their hearts.
To put it bluntly, no one will go against the candidate who the emperor has in mind.
After a while, Zhang Gonggong introduced the five concubines into the inner hall.
The queen mother leaned on the couch of the imperial concubine, wearing plain satin, and her complexion was indeed much worse than before. It was just autumn, and she held a hand stove in her hand. The hand stove is padded with a soft satin.
"Chen and concubine wait for the empress dowager to greet the empress dowager, the empress dowager is blessed and safe."
The five concubines saluted in unison.
The queen mother raised her hand and said, "No gift, just sit down."
The Queen Mother took a sip of the tea and rubbed her temples. When Concubine Liu saw it, she immediately got up and said earnestly:
"The empress dowager is not in good health, how can I not ask the concubines and others to serve them, the concubines are really guilty."
The queen mother looked at her and smiled: "These days, you have managed the harem in an orderly manner, which has relieved the worries of the Ai family."
When it came to the lack of jade body, Xu Shuyi took up the conversation and asked the maid to present a bottle of Buddha statue. Then, Xue, Erfei Liu and Qin Wei presented the hand-written Buddhist scriptures, while He Shuyi embroidered a scroll of scriptures. .
After receiving the wishes of the various palaces, the queen mother loosened her brows, turned her head and mentioned the cost of the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet next month, and while she was talking, she suddenly raised her head and said to Zhang Gong justice: "By the way, remember to pay attention to it later. The lychees sent by Guanglu Temple will be distributed to the various palaces."
Eunuch Zhang hurriedly bowed.
The queen mother turned her head and said with a sympathetic smile: "These lychees are all sent from Sichuan Express, the shell is red as fire, the flesh is white as snow, sweet and delicious, it's fresh, go back and eat quickly Otherwise, the taste will change in three or two days."
"Chen and concubine, thank the Queen Mother for the reward."
The concubines stood up to be rewarded.
Speaking of which, lychees are indeed fresh, so I can eat them once or twice at this time. Because I can’t eat them locally, they need to be delivered quickly. Ordinary people can’t afford them at all, so the queen mother and the emperor occasionally reward them. Naturally grateful.
After the queen mother said this, she seemed to be exhausted. Qin Xue also wanted to say goodbye, and before she turned around, she heard the Queen Mother say:
"Qin Zhaoyi stay first."
Qin Xue was shocked, and she didn't know what the Queen Mother was looking for her, but she still answered "yes".
The Empress Dowager Chu called her, but she didn't speak, she just closed her eyes and rested on the chair, while Qin Jie served tea and said:
"The Queen Mother, please use it."
Empress Dowager Chu did not answer.
Qin Jie knew that the queen mother must have heard it. Eunuch Zhang watched and sighed inwardly, Qin Zhaoyi didn't say what he looked like, but his manners and etiquette were not to be chosen.
After serving this tea for a long time, the rim of the bowl did not shake so much.
The two sides were silent for a while, and then Empress Dowager Chu took the tea cup, took a sip, and said lightly:
"I just read the Buddhist scriptures you copied, and the words are quite good."
"The empress dowager is very praised."
After saying that, Qin Ye clenched her skirt tightly and knelt down straight.
"What are you doing?"
Qin Ei cupped her hands and lowered her eyebrows, and said softly, "The Queen Mother, since she came back from Lishan, the concubine has always wanted to come to apologize to the Queen Mother, but she is afraid of disturbing the Queen Mother's purity. Fortunately, I have a chance today."
Qin Xue's heart is like a mirror, a woman like the Queen Mother who has experienced two dynasties, she can only endure if she wants to use the ritual to control the harem.
The Empress Dowager Chu clenched her hand tightly holding the cup, and said, "Your Majesty said that you made a contribution to fighting the fire that day. What kind of sin is this?"
"No matter what the reason is, even if you are in a hurry, the concubine should not contradict the queen mother." Qin Jie knelt on the ground with low eyebrows, and said word by word: "Please also ask the queen mother to punish."
As soon as these words came out, Eunuch Zhang couldn't help but look at Qin Zhaoyi more.
When he entered the palace, he was Xiao Fu low, and the appearance of being a humble but self-contained person, now that I think about it, it's just a cover up.
After another long while, the Empress Dowager Chu seemed to recover and smiled suddenly:
"Ai's family doesn't blame you, Eunuch Zhang, quickly help Zhaoyi to get up."
Zhang Gonggong was in a hurry to help Qin Xie get up.
Qin Jie stayed in the Cining Palace for a while, and after she left, Duke Zhang walked to the Queen Mother's side, put the pulp of his finger on her temple, and slowly rubbed it, the Queen Mother Chu closed her eyes and murmured: "Do this again. Go down, once there is news in her stomach, the emperor will seal the empress."
Eunuch Zhang choked his throat and said, "This Empress Zhaoyi is not a shallow mind. The conflagration in Mount Li still left the servants with lingering fears."
The Empress Dowager Chu sighed and said, "Go and deliver a letter to the Chu family and let Ah Kui enter the palace."
Eunuch Zhang paused and got up to go out.
"and many more."
Empress Dowager Chu stopped him.
"What else do you have to order, Niangniang?"
Eunuch Zhang bowed.
"Aijia heard that Xue Xiangyang left Beijing, where did he go?"
Eunuch Zhang hurriedly said: "The Ministry of Punishment's mouth is getting stricter and stricter now, and the news outside only says that they are going to the Jiangnan area."
Empress Dowager Chu stroked her hand on the stove:
"Are you sure it's the South?"
Zhang Gonggong lowered his head a little and said, "The two hidden piles are said to be in the south."
The Empress Dowager Chu took a long breath, her shoulders loosened slightly, but she still said:
"Aijia has been restless for the past two days, and always feels that something major is going to happen..."
"Niangniang is thinking too much." Eunuch Zhang smiled, "Since ancient times, filial piety has ruled the world. If Your Majesty touches the Chu family, how should the history books comment?"
Empress Dowager Chu looked out the window, a yellow leaf was rolled down by the wind, she sighed:
"hope so… "
On the 20th of July, the sky was dark and dark clouds were surging. The willow tree on the palace wall was blown down by the strong wind, making a rustling sound.
The eunuchs and the maids all bowed their heads under the eaves.
Chu Yan followed the little palace maid into the inner hall.
The door squeaked, and Eunuch Zhang turned around and made a gesture, indicating that she should not make a sound to alarm the Queen Mother.
Behind the curtains, Mrs. Chu looked haggard and leaned on the couch with her eyes closed, as if she had fallen asleep.
Chu Yan passed by quietly and silently, and slowly knelt down in front of the queen mother's couch.
Two hours later, the incense of the resting medicine in the furnace burned out, and the Queen Mother Chu slowly opened her eyes, and when she saw Chu Lin who was kneeling in front of her feet, she hooked the corner of her mouth: "You are here, Ah Lin."
Chu Yan's eyes were slightly red, and he immediately put his head down again: "Ah has seen the empress dowager."
"Why are you still holding the ceremony when you see Ai's family? Get up quickly." Empress Dowager Chu smiled and pulled the person up, let Chu Rong sit on the edge of the couch, and held her hand.
Chu Yan was the only daughter of the Chu family who was to be married. It stands to reason that the daughter of the Duke of Chu and the current niece of the Empress Dowager should have been married long ago, but it has been kept until now.
And now, Xiao Yu also has the intention of taking the daughter of the Chu family into the palace.
Seeing the haggard expression of the Queen Mother Chu, Chu Yu couldn't help but whisper: "The Queen Mother has worked so hard. The last time Ah Yu came to visit you, you are not so thin..."
Empress Dowager Chu smiled and waved her hand: "Aijia is all right, it's just that I haven't rested these days."
Chu Luqing knew that the Queen Mother was always strong, and at this time, she was afraid that something was wrong, but she didn't know how to comfort her, so she suggested to the Queen Mother that after dinner, accompany her to go to the funeral.
The Empress Dowager was very happy, and after the two of them had dinner, they went for a walk in the Cining Garden.
"If it wasn't for the Aijia who held you down for so many years, you would have been married long ago..." The Empress Dowager Chu squeezed her palm and said, "Do you have the Aijia in your heart?"
Chu Yan said in fear: "Where is the mother's words, if you say so, then what is Ah Ko? My father and the empress dowager are exhausted, and the reason is to keep the Chu family prosperous for a hundred years. Ah Ko is the daughter of the Chu family. When you are young, you know that you have the courage to bear on your shoulders, so how can you complain?"
When the Empress Dowager Chu looked at her own girl, she naturally looked at how comfortable she was.
"I called you here today, but I actually have something to tell you..." Empress Dowager Chu touched her face lovingly.
Chu Lu smiled and said, "The queen mother said it directly."
Empress Dowager Chu said: "Aijia will find an opportunity for you to meet the emperor in the past two days. You can take care of it yourself. If you still can't enter the palace, Aijia will come forward to tell you in person, and you will not be wronged."
Chu Yan was overjoyed, but remembered the recent rumors that the emperor favored a Zhaoyi, and he was inexplicably at a loss. He just lowered his head submissively and said, "Whether you can enter the palace to serve Your Majesty is all Ah Kui's life, Ah Kui has everything. Listen to the Queen Mother."
—
It was getting dark, and the rain outside the window was getting heavier.
After dinner, Xiao Yu went to the Cining Palace to play chess with the Queen Mother.
The Empress Dowager Chu looked at the corner of his robe that was soaked by the torrential rain, pondered for a moment, dropped a white child, and said, "Sanlang."
Xiao Yu raised his eyes.
Empress Dowager Chu tilted her head to look out the window, only to hear the crackling of the banana leaves.
After a few moments of silence, the Empress Dowager Chu said slowly: "The day Ai's family picked you up and returned to Kunning Palace was also a stormy day. You were soaked in the rain, and it was Ai's family who led you back..."
Speaking of which, the Empress Dowager Chu looked at him.
The sharp-edged outline in front of her eyes gradually softened, and she seemed to see the little prince who was covered in rain again.
They are tall and short, looking at each other under the umbrella.
He bowed and saluted her: "My son has seen my mother."
At that time, there was awe and gratitude in his eyes.
Unlike today, the majesty is growing, the bearing is more and more heavy, the eyes have become hidden, there is no joy and anger between the eyebrows, and the emperor's attitude is becoming more and more obvious.
Xiao Yu said solemnly, "The mother still remembers it."
"How could you forget..." Empress Dowager Chu looked at him and said, "The night you came back, your whole body was hot, and you kept thinking of mother concubine, mother concubine, and Aijia guarded you for three whole nights before you woke up. Your biological mother left. It's too early, Meng Shi has a mean and domineering temperament, so you can't stand a lot of sins, Aijia looks at it, it really hurts..."
Xiao Yu's Adam's apple moved slightly.
"Since you hit the Kunning Palace, you have never missed half a day in literature and martial arts every day. You have always been strict with yourself and diligent and diligent. Even when you went to war, you rarely let Aijia worry about it..." Empress Dowager Chu Taking a deep breath, he said to himself, "This day has passed year by year, and in a flash, it has been almost twenty years..."
Hearing this, Eunuch Sheng pressed the corner of his mouth, and his eyes were sour.
This palace seems to be the most disciplined, but in fact there is no word of fairness at all. The unfavored prince must learn to be a monarch and a minister with a saint from birth, not a father and son.
His Majesty left the palace and established the palace on the 14th, and at the 18th, he led his soldiers to the battlefield, dressed in thick armor and holding a long sword. He ate and lived with the soldiers on the frontier, sharing weal and woe. He went for two full years. Cocooned, scars on the back. But these sufferings, in the past, no one cares at all.
As the years passed, it was about love.
Xiao Yu said slowly, "I have always kept my mother's grace in mind and never dared to forget it."
What the Empress Dowager Chu was waiting for was his words.