Emperor Yongkun entered the Qingming Hall with a sound of greetings all the way, and Qingruo was sitting in the warm pavilion with his chin stuck in a daze.
He was pulled back from his thoughts by the sound of peace, with a natural smile on the corner of his mouth, and he didn't go out to greet him, so he got up from the chair in the warm pavilion and saluted him.
Emperor Yongkun waved his hand to avoid her salute, Dezhi behind him saluted Qingruo and then extended the cloak on Emperor Yongkun's body. Ruyi and Linglong were standing by his side, but they didn't reach out to pick them up. Let Dezhi himself hang it to a place specially designed to hang coats.
It was snowing outside, Emperor Yongkun came all the way in the seat, and walked in a few steps at the door, the little eunuch trotted to hold an umbrella for him, some snowflakes still fell in his hair.
After entering the warm pavilion, the water had melted into water and melted into his black hair, shining brightly.
There was a tea tray on the table, Qingruo poured tea for him and De Zhi, "Has Your Majesty eaten?"
Emperor Yongkun nodded, raised his teacup and took a sip of the tea. The temperature was hot but within the tolerance range of his lips and teeth. Although his body was not afraid of the cold, he had just come from the snow. very comfortable.
"Commander Gong and Mrs. Gong will be able to enter Beijing in half a month." Emperor Yongkun told her the news with a slight smile.
Qing Ruo's eyes were bright, but her small face suddenly stepped down. He bitterly choked out three words, "Oops."
There was a table between them, not far away. Seeing her sluggish appearance, Emperor Yongkun tapped on the table with his fingers curled, "Enough messing around, now you know you're afraid?"
Qingruo pursed her lips, apparently too lazy to answer this question.
The return of father and mother to Beijing means that the news of her entering the palace cannot be concealed. At that time, Mrs. Gong will rush into the palace and beat her up, or her father will directly send a letter ordering her to go back.
Emperor Yongkun couldn't help with this matter either.
Since that day when he entered the Qingming Hall and got to know Gong Qingruo, Emperor Yongkun would come to sit down every few days or half a month.
Talking to her is effortless and should not go on. She understands as far as she can go, and she can continue to talk. Her inner world and some understanding have given Emperor Yongkun a lot of feelings in the past two months. Some new policies to be implemented have also been adjusted and changed.
So now, the relationship between the two is very harmonious, and there is indeed a taste of friends who can talk and chat.
Emperor Yongkun naturally knew that she had lied to her parents about her entry into the palace, and the New Year was approaching, and several of her elder brothers were stationed outside this year, so the return of her parents to Beijing was considered a New Year's gift to Gong's parents and elders.
It's normal for her to be scared.
It's just that Emperor Yongkun never asked her why she wanted to enter the palace.
Give her the leeway, say what she wants to say, and if she doesn't want to, no matter how angry her parents are, since she is in the palace now, he will at most be said a few words to protect her.
With this small appearance, Ku Dachou frowned deeply, his small face was wrinkled, his beautiful and delicate lips curved down a little, but his eyes were bright and full of spirit.
Scared, but when her parents came back, she was more happy.
Emperor Yongkun held up his teacup, and his eyes fell on her face, watching her interesting and vivid expressions that seemed to be words.
The most vibrant place in this imperial palace is the Qingming Hall.
Leaning back on the comfortable seat, Emperor Yongkun ordered leisurely, "Go, play a song for me."
Qingruo's piano skills, she was playing the piano when he came over once, compared with Linglong's professionalism and meticulousness, there are many gaps, but it is fresh, and the songs that have been heard or not, seem to be familiar with her. Bring real vitality, close your eyes, and you can see the children derived from the music playing and playing in the shade of the trees, or the delicate and gentle woman leaning on the window looking forward to the arrival of the person you care about.
Emperor Yongkun wanted to know what kind of tune she was playing at this time.
Qing Ruo raised her eyes to look at him, the corners of her mouth were still pressed down, she was clearly dissatisfied that he was still instructing her, she stood up and saluted lazily, her voice was a little annoyed, "Yes, Your Majesty, my servant is taking orders."
Sure enough, she was angry, Emperor Yong Kun didn't even need to look at her to know.
The qin platform is near the wall of the warm pavilion, and the chair for playing the qin is also covered with soft cushions, which is very comfortable.
The ten fingers are slender on the piano.
When the zither sounded, Emperor Yongkun closed his eyes.
Mischievous, perverse but pitiful, always happy and smiling, got into trouble, a little scared but still misses home, little girl.
Emperor Yongkun closed his eyes and curled his lips. He didn't know whether it was happiness or sarcasm. It was just the sound of the piano. He could hear so many things. He remembered that he had asked De Zhi casually about Gong Qingruo's piano skills. When he asked, Dezhi answered very seriously.
But there are only two words, 'reiki. '
How could he hear so many things.
Emperor Yong Kun opened his eyes and looked over. She is still playing the piano, her hands are resting on the strings, her body is not as upright as ordinary piano girls, she is rather lazy, her eyes are half-closed, her hair is loosely draped behind her, like a bird in the sun The cat napping underneath.
At the end of the song, Qing Ruo sighed slightly, her eyes fell on the piano, she was gentle.
Raising his head, Emperor Yong Kun looked at her, and his words were very gentle, "Speak, I want you to help me."
"Yes!" The clear and bright voice didn't hesitate at all.
Emperor Yongkun practiced martial arts when he was young, and the master had strict requirements. He practiced in the secret room at night, facing rows of candles. He had to control the palm wind, and only one of the densely packed candles could be extinguished by the palm wind.
Countless failures, countless repetitions.
At this time, he had to light the candle himself.
Often at night, he was alone in the secret room, lighting the candles one by one. Because of his concentration, his eyes kept falling on the candles at that time.
When the candle is lit, there will be a slight popping sound at the center of the candle, and then the small blue flame will grow bigger and bigger, and finally turn into a bright red color.
The whole process from the moment the candle lights up is only a matter of inhalation, but because of the concentration at that time, it can be seen that there is actually a process in the middle.
But her eyes really instantly brightened like stars in the sky.
Shiny without being garish.
It was dark with a layer of brilliance, like black crystal.
Obviously it is a color that has nothing to do with flames, but at this moment, Emperor Yongkun quickly replayed in his mind the process of lighting candles again and again in the secret room when he was young.
The fingertips were itchy, and Emperor Yong Kun didn't press it down. The thumb and index finger of his right hand rubbed each other, and there were thin calluses.
Cursing his lips, Emperor Yong Kun nodded, which was regarded as an agreement, and he protected her thoroughly.
In fact, even if he didn't say it clearly, Emperor Yongkun still wanted to protect her. He didn't ask before, but he was thinking that she was only a teenager, and it was when her self-esteem was strong. He was afraid that it would be counterproductive. After listening to her piano, he would I want to ask.
In the evening, Emperor Yongkun finished handling government affairs and came out of the government affairs hall. He knew the appearance of the little eunuchs and court ladies kneeling at the door, and the big maids and two nuns beside the concubines were also kneeling.
It snowed all day during the day, and it stopped a little while before dinner. No matter how much snow there is, there will be no snow at the gate of the Government Affairs Hall. There is no snow, but it is still freezing cold.
There were braziers burning around the group of kneeling smokers, but it could be seen that almost all of them were pale from the cold.
Seeing him coming out, everyone stiffened and fell to the ground and shouted long live.
De Zhishang behind him took a step forward and said beside him, "Your Majesty, I knelt for an hour and a half. The brazier was prepared by the slave."
Emperor Yongkun nodded. He was in the government affairs hall, looking for something in the harem, so he didn't dare to make noise, so he could only kneel down and wait for him to come out.
"Get up."
As soon as he opened his mouth, the dozen or so people lying on the ground all shouted long live and made a gesture to get up.
His body was already stiff, and he was kneeling all the time, and his knees hurt even more. Seeing that none of them stood up smoothly, Dezhi waved his hands, and the young eunuchs at the gate of the government affairs hall all stepped forward to calm the crooked people.
"Your Majesty, the slaves ask Your Majesty to be the master for the ladies."
"oh?"
"At dinner time, the ladies thought that Ms. Gong had been in the palace for many days, and they were afraid that Ms. Gong would be lonely alone, so they met to prepare a meal and went to Qingming Palace to have dinner with Ms. Gong and comfort Ms. Gong..."
Emperor Yongkun raised his hand and pinched the bridge of his nose. De Zhi knew it at a glance, and interrupted directly, "Get to the point."
His voice was not high or deep, even the usual feminine voice, but when he opened his mouth, the nanny, who was about to burst into tears, was so frightened that the tears couldn't fall from her eyes, but she spoke very neatly, "Ms. The seven empresses were beaten. The imperial physician has already been announced, the empress of Defei has not woken up when she saw a red forehead, and the empress of Liang has not yet woken up after being injured by Miss Gong's whip."
After the old mother finished speaking, the eunuchs and maidservants behind her knelt down in unison, regardless of the little eunuch who was supporting them, "Your Majesty, please make the decision for the ladies."
Emperor Yongkun, "..."
Emperor Yongkun turned and went back to the Government Affairs Hall, "Go announce her."
"Yes." Dezhi took the order.
The maids and maids at the gate of the hall saw that he had spoken, and dared not make any more trouble. They would be quietly helped up by the eunuchs, "sent to the imperial hospital."
"Slave (slave) Mr. Xie De."
Seven empresses were beaten, it sounds like this number is not too much.
However, this is already all the concubines in the palace.
Emperor Yongkun has never held a selection of concubines since he ascended the throne, and he has never added anyone to the harem. All the people he brought out from the palace have been named concubines.
But at that time there were eleven people, and in the past seven years, four people died. And they all died in the first year. In the next six years, the harem and disharmony are unknown, but they are very stable and quiet.
Qing Ruo had obviously fallen asleep and woke up again.
It was cold and windy at night, and she wore a thick cloak. She was wrapped in the cloak and even put on a hat, only revealing a sleepy little face.
When they arrived at the Government Affairs Hall, De Zhi took Qing Ruo to kneel at the door, "Your Majesty, Miss Gong is here."
"Let her in."
The voice of the emperor, separated from the thick and simple wooden boards, reflects the bright lanterns on the eaves, majestic and solemn.
De Zhi pushed open the huge door panel, bowed and stepped back, "Miss Gong, please."
"There is Mr. Lauder." The voice was soft, with sand after being blown by the cold wind after sleepiness.
Emperor Yongkun put down the book in his hand, looked up at her, and hid himself in the snow-white cloak, because the clothes were thick and thick, he looked a little round.
There was a wall warmer in the room, probably because he was still sleepy, and he didn't take off the cloak on his body, but just pulled down the hat.
Walking to the distance of three black jade floor tiles from the high platform, he knelt down and saluted, "My daughter Gong Qingruo has seen Your Majesty."
"Get up." Emperor Yongkun softened his voice.
She saluted with her head bowed, her long black hair scattered on her sides and back, her hat was pulled down, and her hair was a little shaggy.
"Ah?" He raised his head to look at him, and his head was tilted in a silly way, as if by accident.
Emperor Yongkun pointed to the chair prepared for the minister next to him, "Get up."
"Oh." Really dumbfounded, with round almond eyes, sleepy and somewhat pink cheeks, and a snow-white appearance, not like a cat anymore, a cat is more aura than her.
"How did you move your hands?" Emperor Yong Kun asked her after she sat on the chair.
The tense movement of her body is obvious, even through the thick clothes, the sleepiness in her eyes has dissipated, and she is more than half awake, frowning, but she doesn't speak.
Emperor Yongkun waited for a while, and seeing that she didn't speak, he said to himself, "I have been to the Qingming Palace too many times, so I am going to trouble you?"
Qing Ruo suddenly pursed her mouth, leaned back against the chair with her tense and upright body just now, raised her head and looked at him who was sitting behind the imperial case table on the high platform.
In the clean and clear eyes, grievance.
"They are hostile to me. I don't want them to be afraid of every little trick you come and go, this first time."
Emperor Yongkun felt a little smile in his heart, this temper is not like her grandfather who can bear the smile, so who is he like? Prefer not to say.
"Will I punish you?" He asked her, originally intending to speak in a strict tone, but he unconsciously softened his voice.
Where there is majesty, she is almost catching up with the famous words and letting her mess around.
The little girl frowned, she had been looking at him just now, her eyes were like crescent moons, her face was just pink, she stood up and walked directly to this side, there was a little distance between him and her across the high platform, She raised her hand as high as she could, "Okay, Your Majesty will punish me by hitting my palm."
really...
Emperor Yongkun twitched the corner of his mouth and hooked his hands at her, "Come up?"
The round eyes lit up for a moment, and asked him breathlessly, "Is it okay?"
Can I still break my promise? Emperor Yongkun nodded.
Qing Ruo almost breathed lightly, pulled the sides of the clothes with both hands, and stepped lightly on the steps.
This place is the high platform of the emperor's case.
Although the movement of the head was not big, but the eyeballs were about to turn out, Emperor Yongkun curled the corners of his lips, "Open your palms."
It seemed that the impact that made her come up hadn't slowed down, the little girl obediently obediently, her white and tender palms spread out in front of him.
"Papapa!" Three times, Qingruo's eyes widened in disbelief.
Emperor Yongkun moved extremely fast, and he had already put the brush that had hit her palm back under the pen.
Not heavy, but not light either.
A little sore, and a little itchy.
Qing Ruo stared at her palm, it took a long time to come back to her senses, she raised her eyes to look at Emperor Yong Kun with a relaxed face, "Your Majesty really hit?"
Emperor Yongkun raised his eyebrows, won't he? I have to spend a lot of time to deal with the aftermath of you, and save the time to approve several memorials. If I don't hit you, this deal is not worth it.
"It's good to be able to fight, but the secrets among women..." Emperor Yongkun said, looking at her bright eyes, watching him seriously, listening to the words, a little bit unable to continue.
Emperor Yongkun stopped talking and frowned slightly.
"Huh?" She tilted her head strangely.
Emperor Yongkun sighed, and he didn't know if the sigh came from his heart, he just felt that the meridians in his whole body were pulled by this light breath.
"Has Mrs. Gong taught you about housekeeping?"
Qing Ruo nodded.
Emperor Yong Kun's eyes fell on her palm that was still spread in front of her. The skin was too tender, and he had already controlled his strength. There was still a red mark, and there were no calluses on the fingertips. Even though the backs of many noble girls were delicate, they still Because I have practiced calligraphy, piano, painting and even embroidery since I was a child, there will always be calluses on my fingertips.
"Tomorrow Dezhi will take the assistant nun to Qingming Hall. You will take over the food and clothing of the harem in the future, and she will help you for a while."
"… don't want… "
Emperor Yongkun looked up at her.
Qing Ruo pursed her lips and gave a soft smile, "Trouble."
Emperor Yongkun remained silent, still looking at her. Qing Ruo grabbed the sleeve of his robe with her hand, and shook it lightly twice, "Your Majesty, are you okay?"
Emperor Yongkun wanted to pat himself now, because he heard his gentle voice reply, "Okay."
There is no punishment, and there is no process of explaining why he did it.
After tossing for an hour, De Zhi sent Qing Ruo back to Qingming Hall.
While Emperor Yongkun was still sitting in the government affairs hall, the slaves put the chessboard on, and he was playing chess with himself.
In a black and white chess game, if black wins, white loses, and if white wins, black loses.
On the road to succession, if one person wins, the rest of the princes will lose.
Never lose or win.
This is the rule of the world.
But there is something wrong with this rule, Gong Qingruo is a contradiction.
Emperor Yongkun's first evaluation of Gong Qingruo was meticulous, comprehensive and well-measured, with seven apertures and an exquisite heart.
The second time, it was full of vigor and vitality.
The third time, the heart of a child, the cleanliness of a sixteen-year-old girl. That time, when he went to the Qingming Hall, he ran into her pestering Ruyi to entrust Mrs. Gong with a letter, asking for candied haws and folk snacks.
Today, Emperor Yongkun didn't want to comment.
He has been learning the art of the emperor since he was a child. Combined with his knowledge, it has accumulated bit by bit into his every move, every word and deed, and it has become almost instinctive.
The game is deadlocked, white and black are evenly matched.
Playing chess with yourself is mostly the result. But this law may not be true for her.
Emperor Yongkun put the chess pieces back into the chess box, and Dezhi's voice sounded from the door, "Your Majesty, the slave is back."
"En." Emperor Yongkun replied, "Have you drank the warming cold soup?"
"The servant has told the people in the Tai Hospital to guard it. Miss Gong said that she is sleepy, and she will drink it tomorrow when she wakes up."
Emperor Yongkun frowned and said nothing, and the door was silent.
**
Little guy, do you think it's troublesome to keep accounts in the back house
She has to support her, and she has to be loyal to her even if she is proficient in actuarial calculation.
If she has a husband candidate in the future, it will be troublesome,
Then you can take it with you and help her take care of it.
—[Black box]