Before Zhong Shuyu entered the East Palace, she had imagined what her future husband might look like.
He should be gentle and personable, he should be a scholar, he should have a reputation, and he should be an official in the future, and she will be like her mother at home, raising her husband and raising her children, and being an official wife.
Maybe the husband will inevitably take a few concubines, but these are nothing. Her mother said that concubines are just things, and they are things that cannot be put on the table. Just keep them as kittens and puppies, and you can't get past you.
She didn't expect that one day she would be someone's concubine, even if that person was one of the most honorable men in the world.
Prince, the future Ninety-Five Lord.
When she knew that she might be favored by the Empress Dowager and sent to the Eastern Palace as a concubine, Zhong Shuyu had inquired about it.
It is said that the prince is well-educated, gentle and polite, a handsome gentleman, and handsome. Although she was ten years older than her, her mother said that men only know how to love when they are older.
But the prince loves others
Zhong Shuyu didn't dare to imagine that she couldn't say no to this kind of decision, and she couldn't refuse it. She could only quietly wait for the fate to come, and then try her best to find out about the East Palace, picture the appearance of the prince in her heart, and then treat him as a Is my wishful husband.
In fact, Zhong Shuyu knew very well that her imagination was false. The prince had already had a concubine. It is said that there were also two very favored concubines. She entered the East Palace but could only be a good lady. Still full of expectations into the East Palace.
On the first day she entered the Eastern Palace, her illusions were shattered.
She knew that she and Li Liangyuan from the Princess Mansion came in at the same time, and she also knew that it was impossible for the prince to go to two places at night, so he could only choose one of the two.
She had thought that the prince might not come to her, but she didn't expect the prince to go anywhere.
This night was the most difficult night in Zhong Shuyu's life. On the second day, when she went to pay her respects to the Crown Princess, all the concubines in the backyard of the East Palace came, except one person was missing.
Since then, Zhong Shuyu has known Su Liangdi's name.
In the following days, Su Liangdi's three words filled Zhong Shuyu's eardrums.
Even though the rules in the palace are strict, some rumors and gossip will inevitably reach people's ears, especially when Li Liangyuan lives across from her.
This woman is vulgar and arrogant, but she is scheming, she talks a lot, and she can't hold her breath. She knows a lot of things from her mouth.
Zhong Shuyu also once guessed whether Li Liangyuan said these words to her deliberately, trying to instigate her to fight Su Liangdi. Not to mention whether she has such qualifications, she is not that stupid, so guessing is just guessing, Zhong Shuyu never even mentioned this matter to Li Liangyuan.
But that name still drilled into her ears continuously, making her toss and turn in those countless empty nights.
It is said that Su Liangdi was sent into the palace by the crown princess's natal family to help her to be a pet. Who knew that this girl was so scheming that she turned her face and refused to recognize anyone; it was said that Su Liangdi was very much loved by the crown prince. In the past, the crown prince seldom came to the backyard, but now he broke her For example, even Hu Liangdi is not her opponent. Hu Liangdi is an old man in the East Palace. When she was favored in the past, she even ignored the Crown Princess; it is said that the reason why the Crown Prince didn't go anywhere on the wedding day was also because of Su Liangdi...
There were too many rumors, so when Zhong Shuyu saw the legendary Su Liangdi for the first time, even though she always followed the rules and was praised by everyone as a lady, she couldn't help feeling sour in her heart, and a sentence flashed in her mind.
She didn't know that Li Liangyuan thought the same way at the time.
But the reality is so cruel. In the days to come, this little woman monopolizes the favor, even with a big belly, she pretends to be sick and uncomfortable, and drags the prince to accompany her every day.
Zhong Shuyu once saw the pregnant Su Liangdi from afar, and that was at the Crown Princess' birthday banquet.
The woman who was quite beautiful earlier became swollen due to the torture of pregnancy. Zhong Shuyu saw the sneer in Li Liangyuan's eyes, but her heart was a little cold.
If she can't even compete with such a person, will she still have a chance in the future
Because of this thought, and because she lost hope, she gradually became less concerned about whether she could... be favored or not.
She wasn't the only one anyway.
The human mind is so strange, if others have it and you don't, you will naturally find it difficult, but if others don't have it and you don't, it doesn't seem so difficult.
Life in the palace was very difficult.
Most of the time, Zhong Shuyu sat on the big kang by the window, quietly watching the unchanging scenery outside.
It's a scenery, but it's just a square inch. There are some ordinary flowers planted in the flower garden, which is not as good as when she was in the boudoir.
She might have to look at this kind of scenery for a lifetime, and she would shudder every time she thought of it, so she often recalled her days in the boudoir.
At that time, she was only thirteen or fourteen years old, and she hadn't reached the age yet. Her troubles seemed to have nothing to do with her. The biggest thing in life was what kind of person she would marry in the future.
Now that person is there, but she can't touch it.
…
Zhong Shuyu never thought that one day the prince would come to her yard.
The servants were so surprised that they lost their composure, and she also lost her composure. The thing that she had been looking forward to for a long time suddenly came like this, and her mind was in a mess.
When she saw the prince frowned, she felt distressed in her heart, but she couldn't react.
Afterwards, the prince did not stay overnight, but left.
She was finally lucky, but that was all, she didn't seem as happy as she imagined.
But the maids and eunuchs around her were very happy. It seemed that from then on she would be able to flourish and become the prince's favorite concubine. She thought it was ridiculous, but she was passively happy. Seeing the jealousy in Li Liangyuan's eyes, she even had a faint sense of morbid pleasure in her heart.
Days passed, and the prince never came again. Finally, the maids and eunuchs in the small courtyard were no longer happy, but became cautious.
She thought she had screwed up after all, but at the same time she was relieved.
Knowing that she was happy, she didn't realize it for a long time, Cui Liu told her excitedly that the master finally has someone to rely on in the future, and she still felt that she was dreaming.
The Crown Princess rewarded things, and the Crown Prince also rewarded things. A few people were added to her yard to wait on her. Before she knew it, her belly gradually grew bigger.
Since then, she has a sense of reality.
This is her future reliance, the Zhong family's reliance, she finally lived up to her father's expectations, she didn't go to the palace for nothing, and she didn't become the daughter of the Zhong family in vain.
She thinks that her life will be better in the future, she will have a child, male or female, and finally someone can accompany her.
Many times, Zhong Shuyu always had a dream.
In the dream there was a man whose face could not be seen clearly, but she vaguely knew that this was her husband, she sat on the kang with him, and there were several women in red and green standing below.
She hated these women very much in her heart, so she couldn't help getting angry at him, and secretly pinched him under the table. He looked helpless, but smiled at her, as if begging for mercy, but she gave him an angry and coquettish look...
Dreaming here, she will always wake up.
Only when she woke up did she realize that she had dreamed about the first time she saw Su Liangdi again.
Zhong Shuyu has had this dream for a long time.
After waking up, she found that the room was a bit stuffy, and she was sweating a lot.
She called Cui Liu.
Cui Liu quickly came in, helped her up from the bed, and put a soft pillow behind her.
"Master, what's the matter? But it's uncomfortable again?"
Zhong Shuyu shook her head, feeling weak all over, she couldn't exert any strength, but her heart was so dry and flustered. Sweat wet her forehead hair, making her feel sticky everywhere.
She said weakly, "I'm a little hot, take some water and wipe my body."
Cui Liu went and brought people in soon after.
After Zhong Shuyu wiped her body, changed into clean clothes, and leaned back on the bed, she couldn't help but think of her son.
"Mae'er is awake? Come and show me."
Not long after, Zong Mace was brought over. He was only over one year old and he ate fat for nothing... he could already speak some simple words, and when he saw Zhong Shuyu, he called his mother.
Seeing her son, Zhong Shuyu's ashen face immediately lit up, and she also laughed.
But she didn't dare to hug her son, and even let the nanny stand far away, for fear of catching the cold for her son.
After watching and watching from a long distance, Zhong Shuyu became tired after a while, and Cui Liu asked someone to carry the young master down before helping her to lie down.
"Master, don't worry about the young master, the young master is fine. The young master recognizes you now, don't worry, take good care of your illness, those people can't take the young master away."
But how could Zhong Shuyu not be anxious, she knew her body, she was getting weaker and weaker these days, she would sweat when she moved, and she would feel cold when she sweated, the cold came from the cracks in her bones.
Especially after suffering from the wind and cold, she didn't even have the energy to sit, she knew that her time was approaching.
She is not afraid of death, she is not afraid of anything, but she is afraid of what will happen after she dies
Those people all wanted to rob her son, and they came to her door every day before she was dead. The elder sister is long and the younger sister is short, all of them smile like flowers, but underneath they hide the thought of being bankrupt.
Zhong Shuyu didn't know what to do, she was afraid that her son would be eaten up if he fell into the hands of these people, but what should she do? To beg the prince, or to beg the princess
No matter who to ask, if she is gone, such a big child will always need a mother, and this mother can only be chosen among the prince's wives and concubines.
If possible, Zhong Shuyu hopes that Su Liangdi can help her raise the child.
In fact, over the past few years, Zhong Shuyu has understood that when she met Su Liangdi for the first time and saw some things from her, the crown prince treats Su Liangdi differently, different from everyone else.
Because Su Liangdi was different, the children she gave birth to were also admired by others. If she could raise Qie'er, then Qie'er would be able to see the crown prince more, so that he would not lose his mother and his father's care.
But she knew that was impossible, Su Liangdi already had two sons and three children, if there was one more son, the Crown Princess would probably not allow it.
Zhong Shuyu coughed, and Cui Liu patted her on the back while weeping.
She guessed that her complexion must be extremely ugly, otherwise Cui Liu, who has always been steady, would not be like this.
"Master, don't think too much, as long as you are good, no one can take it away from you, young master."
After coughing, Zhong Shuyu's face was like gold paper, she reached out and patted Cui Liu's hand: "Don't cry, I know you are a good person, thank you, otherwise I wouldn't know they hid such a dirty place. I will not do what they wish, even after I die, let the crown prince decide who will raise the mace, I will not agree to them... "
As she spoke, she lost her strength and gradually fell into a lethargic sleep.
Faintly hearing someone coming, Cui Liu's startled cry woke her up from her sleep.
"Zhao Fengyi, a servant is a slave, but my master is still here. She is Liangyuan, you are Fengyi, can you break into Liangyuan's house at will?"
"Aren't I also worried about Sister Zhong's body, come here to check on her..."
Faintly, another person's voice came.
"Why are you here again? Sister Zhong doesn't want to see you, don't you know?"
"Aren't you here too..."
"Sister Li, Sister Zhao, you better stop arguing..."
…
Zhong Shuyu held her breath in her heart, she wanted to jump up and drive these people away, but she had no strength at all.
She even felt that she was gradually getting lighter, getting lighter and lighter.
A light suddenly appeared in front of her eyes, and somehow she felt that it was the place she should go, and she still saw the swing set up in the yard of her boudoir in that white light, the girl sitting on the swing and smiling.
The girl chanted a poem: "... This year the color of the flowers will change, and next year the flowers will bloom again. Who will see the pines and cypresses as a salary, and even hear that the mulberry fields have become the sea..."
She also saw her parents.
Mother is weeping silently, and father's face is ugly.
"It is a great blessing to be drafted into the palace. If you can be selected and stay with the crown prince to serve, it is the glory of the ancestors of the Zhong family. This time, the East Palace will definitely recruit newcomers. Although my official position...is not high, but in Qingliu Zhongzi has connections, maybe our Yu'er can be elected, why should you..."
"Yu'er is pure and kind by nature. Don't you know what it's like in the palace? Will she be better off in the palace? Maybe she'll fill the pit of fire! I don't ask my daughter to be a mother and master in the future, I only ask her to marry Enter an ordinary family, have a husband and son, live a stable life... "
"You fool, really!"
"If you say I'm a fool, I'm a fool. I'm just such a daughter. If you really send her into the palace, I won't live anymore..."
"... Well, if you don't enter the palace, then don't enter."
"real?"
"I still can't lie to you."
Niangxi smiled and wiped away her tears: "I'll go and tell Yu'er that she has been depressed for a while..."
Zhong Shuyu closed her eyes and plunged into the white light.