Biography of Concubine De of Emperor Kangxi

Huan Chun was taken aback, and asked softly: "Master, you can't talk nonsense, why did Concubine Hui drug the emperor, if you say this, you have to..."

"If you want to cause trouble, I understand." Lan Qi was very calm, "But I also understand that there are some things that I can ignore or have no right to care about, but there are some things that I must care about. She can have a second time if she can do it once. What kind of heart did such a thing happen? You said so much just now that you were suspicious of the noble concubine, but I only thought about Concubine Hui, so I wondered, how could she lay hands on her own son? Concubine Tong I used to treat me like that and tortured me. I just thought she was pitiful and pathetic. But when I heard that Concubine Hui dared to drug the emperor, thinking about her gentle, upright, polite and generous person, it was the first time that I felt that a person was so innocent. hateful."

"What are you going to do to Concubine Hui?" Huan Chun was very nervous. After following the master for so many years, from a humble presence to the current honorable master, this is the first time she has seen her take such an initiative. It's all defensive and retreating, even if the grievance is too much to be wronged, she will swallow it by herself, and suddenly become so tough that even she can't adapt.

"I don't know, that's why I'm confused. What should I do about things like poisonous mushrooms and the things she did to the emperor in the past?" Lan Qi was confused, "And Jue Chan, I heard that she In order to leave Yikun Palace, to win the attention of the emperor, and to retaliate against Guo Guiren for mistreating her, in summer, I almost calculated every step of the way. I was thinking, what should I do for such a thing? Huanchun, what should I do? Only then can Concubine Hui never get close to Qianqing Palace? One by one, why are they so smart?"

Huan Chun's heart was pounding, she didn't know any scheming methods, she knew that if the master really took this step, she might deviate from the path she had been walking all along, and she didn't know which direction was right, But at least the master has been walking steadily all the way, going on like this in this life, even if it is not the most correct, it will not go wrong, turning and turning in his heart, pulling Lan Qi from the front of the mirror to sit on the bed, Holding her shoulders, he said: "Calm down, the matter of the eldest brother must remind you of the incident of the fourth elder brother who was almost smothered to death. Now you are very emotional, just wait until you calm down."

Lan Qi gasped for breath, and sure enough Huanchun understood her, leaned softly on her body, and gradually calmed down and said: "Today I said that Jue Chan used noble and beautiful excuses to win sympathy and do selfish things. What I said to you is not the case. What am I going to do to Concubine Hui, to trick her and make her lose her promise in the second palace? Or to kill her so that she can no longer be active in the sixth palace? Doing the same thing as them for the reason of protecting the emperor?"

Huan Chun breathed a sigh of relief, and comforted her: "Why don't you tell the Empress Dowager to know, and let the Empress Dowager decide how to deal with these matters later."

Lan Qi shook her head weakly: "There is no proof, it's just Jue Chan's words. I'm too excited, but to others, maybe it's just an excuse for her to pretend to be pitiful in front of me." She decided Concentrate yourself, sit in Zhouzheng by yourself, pat Huanchun and say, "After listening to my tantrum, I feel much more comfortable. No wonder the emperor always asks me to listen to him when I have nothing to do. Sometimes I may not need to get any solution when I say it. , just to get some air."

"Have you figured it out? What happened after that?" Huan Chun lost direction after being tossed about by Lan Qi.

"As I said before, we don't care about the affairs outside the Yonghe Palace." Although Lan Qi said this, a strangely sharp light flashed in her eyes, and she said slowly, "Nurse once said that I will come to the palace tomorrow." When you are in a high position, don't put the ugliness you saw in the past on your face, but Huanchun, you have seen the statues of the gods, you know why the gods and Buddhas are obviously merciful and kind, but many of them have fierce and evil faces ?”

Huan Chun shook his head, but Lan Qi continued to say: "When I was chant scriptures with the Empress Dowager in the Great Buddha Hall, the Empress Dowager told me that because evil ghosts and spirits are also afraid, they are the most bullying and fearful things, so Many gods have fierce faces, so that they can suppress demons and ghosts, and they are also shocking to ordinary people. Therefore, not all evil faces are evil. What the mother said to me at the beginning should be only half right .”

"Your servant understands, but..." Huan Chun said softly, "You are not a god or Buddha."

Lan Qi nodded, and smiled at her: "I understand, just keep such a truth in your heart."

As the voice fell, there was more drumming outside, and as the night got darker, it was time for the lights of the Yonghe Palace to be extinguished.

In Yuqing Palace, Xuan Ye came alone. At that time, the prince was still asleep, and he was disturbed by the search for pastries. After Xuan Ye came, he talked with his son for a while, and then gradually coaxed him to sleep. He touched Yinfeng's sleeve, revealing the scratch mark, brushed his finger lightly, thinking about what Yinfeng said, he felt very uncomfortable: Did Yinzhen really scratch him?

Leaving the prince's bedroom and standing in the open courtyard of Yuqing Palace, the bright moon was shining brightly in the sky, and he could see things ten steps away without any lanterns. There were 30 people, and Xuan Ye looked at them from a high place. Ever since he discovered that the wet nurses and nurses were talkative, a group of people were carefully selected in order to give the prince the best environment. , recently the prince is more cheerful than before, which must be useful, but Xuanye cares too much about Yinfeng and knows him too well, what he said in Yonghe Palace tonight is unusual.

But at this moment Xuanye just said: "From now on, the food and drink in Prince Yuqing's Palace will be inspected three times a day. The Crown Prince is not allowed to eat outside the palace at will, and all concubines in the palace must be careful. State banquets and family banquets will be held Take him by your side, everything sent from outside must be inspected by the imperial doctor, and there must be no mistakes. All of you, from the nurses close to you to the guards in front of the door, if anyone causes harm to the prince, I will punish you. Sit down and punish."

All the people in the ranks were pale when they heard this, but the emperor continued: "Serving the crown prince is serving the future of the Qing Dynasty. You are superior to others, but your responsibilities are heavier than anyone else. I don't want to force others to make things difficult for you. If there are those who don't want to take responsibility and are afraid of being implicated by others, if they walk out of Yuqing Palace now, I won't make it difficult for anyone, and I will have other places to go. But if I don't leave now, in the days to come, I can only remember my If so, take good care of the prince, and don't allow him to make any mistakes."

The steps ranged from the maids to the accompanying guards, and they all looked at each other in blank dismay. Xuan Ye reiterated that he would not make things difficult for those who wanted to leave. Now, two young eunuchs really went out, and another court lady later, and waited for half a day. At the moment, Xuan Ye said: "Director Li counted fifty times, and if no one leaves, I will treat you all as staying."

Eunuch Li took the order and counted one by one. No one moved until 49. When the number was fifty, everyone bowed their knees, bowed their heads and swore to be loyal to the prince to the death.

Xuan Ye's heart sank, and he told Manager Li: "Everyone who stays will be rewarded with a hundred taels of silver. For the three who left, don't embarrass the arranged place, and don't do anything wrong for the prince."

After saying this, Xuanye wanted to go back to Qianqing Palace, but when he left, he gave Eunuch Li a wink. When he returned to Qianqing Palace to change clothes and rest, Yinrong's personal nanny was brought. She has to be upright and charitable, not very courageous, trembling as soon as she enters the door of Qianqing Palace, not knowing what the emperor wants to do with her, separated by a screen, and the emperor asked her: "How did you get the scar on the prince's arm?"

The mother fell on the ground, hesitant, but heard Eunuch Li whisper: "If you lie, everyone in Yuqing Palace will die in your hands."

"Father-in-law, oh no, the emperor..." The nanny was frightened and said tremblingly, "The emperor forgives the sin, the scar on the prince's arm was indeed scratched by the fourth elder brother, but the prince did not tell you the truth, and the slaves did not. Dare to say."

"You say, I forgive you for your innocence, and I will not tell the prince." A deep voice came from behind the screen.

Mammy hurriedly said: "It's not that the fourth elder brother snatched the third elder brother's things. The prince came forward to stop him from scratching. It was the prince who snatched the fourth elder brother's things. The fourth elder brother grabbed the prince's arm in a hurry, but the prince pushed him backwards and fell on the ground." On the ground, the fourth elder brother was holding a water chestnut in his hand at that time, and scratched the prince. The servant did not dare to say anything and pulled the prince away. The prince also told the slave to stop talking, but then the eldest princess and Princess Duanjing saw the fourth elder brother crying He came to coax him, but when the imperial concubine came, she thought it was the princesses who bullied the fourth elder brother. The emperor... I don’t know why, the prince will break up the matter, and then tell you upside down. Don't dare to say anything."

There was a long, long silence behind the screen, the nurse was flustered, and Eunuch Li was uneasy. Finally, he heard the emperor's voice and said slowly: "The prince doesn't talk much on weekdays. Except for listening to him reciting books and asking homework, he seldom speaks. The concubine is even more silent with him, and I feel strange talking so much in Yonghe Palace today, so I want to ask you, I didn't expect it, it really is."

"Damn your servant, Your Majesty." The nanny said again, "You are often in Chengqian Palace in summer, and the prince will ask your servant if you are going to accompany the fourth elder brother again from time to time. Do you think the prince wants you to spend more time?" Accompany him? This is a lie..."

There was another silence behind the screen, Xuan Ye didn't know what he was thinking, and he said again: "You can't escape the responsibility of today's matter, letting the prince lie is worse than letting him eat the wrong food. But I won't punish you, As long as you remember one thing, you are the prince's servant, but your master is only me, if there is such a thing in the future, I have to wait for me to ask you instead of you first..."

Eunuch Li hurriedly interjected: "Long Live Lord, the slave will explain, it's getting late, you should rest." He ordered the nanny, "Come with me."

But the two turned around, and Eunuch Li reached for the candlestick to blow out the candles. The emperor said again: "Send a soft sedan chair to the Yonghe Palace quietly, and take the concubine De. It's late at night, don't make too much trouble." movement."

Besides, Lan Qi has already been lying down, although she has not fallen asleep yet, but since she entered the Yonghe Palace, she has never been taken to the Qianqing Palace to serve as a servant. If she hadn't seen a familiar eunuch coming to the Qianqing Palace tonight, she would not have dared It is true that Xuan Ye wanted her to go, and she was picked up on the long-lost night, and she suddenly returned to the scene where she was still in the Zhongcui Palace. She was in a hurry and didn't have time to dress up. The eunuch of the Qianqing Palace held a lantern and led them to the door of the bedroom, and the little eunuch said politely: "Your Majesty, go in by yourself, the emperor said, you don't need servants to be in front of you."

Lan Qi nodded, and entered through the door, the palace door was closed behind her, she picked up the candlestick in front of the door, walked in slowly, walked around the screen, and saw Xuan Ye was already lying on the couch, with one hand on his forehead She seemed to close her eyes in meditation, and didn't open her eyes when she heard footsteps, but stretched out her other hand to let Lan Qi approach.

She put down the candlestick, untied her cloak, and there was only a regular shirt inside. She took off her silver-colored satin pajamas by herself. The watery satin reflected the bright light under the candlelight. She reached out and pulled out her hairpin, black and soft Her long hair cascaded down like a waterfall, but the people on the bed didn't look at them. They only opened their mouths to shout when she approached the bed, but someone touched her and grabbed her, gently pulling her into her arms. In the middle of the day, it seemed that the breath on her body could make people feel peaceful, Xuan Ye turned over and brought her into the bed.

Being hugged by Xuan Ye, Lan Qi moved a little and asked softly, "Is the Emperor unhappy?"

"Hmm." Xuan Ye moved as well, seemed to have found the most comfortable position, and then said, "Only when you are by my side can I sleep peacefully. I am very tired, both physically and mentally."

Lan Qi's heart shook, Xuan Ye said again: "Don't worry, Yinzhen is not a bad boy."

"emperor……"

"I'm sleepy."

With a few simple words, the bedroom fell into silence. Xuanye felt that he could not sleep without Lan Qi by his side. It was a feeling of loneliness and chill from the bottom of his heart. Only with her breath could he feel warm, otherwise the bedroom would not be able to fall asleep on the dragon bed. No matter how many layers of bedding are on the top bunk, it feels cold.

What reassured Lan Qi was Xuan Ye's steady snoring afterward, and she seemed to have to listen to such snoring to fall asleep. Last night she couldn't sleep because of Jue Chan's matter, and she was in a trance all day during the day, and she was also extremely tired At that time, there was another case of elder brother being poisoned. She was also tired physically and mentally. On the way here, she thought that Xuan Ye would want her to sleep with her. She was worried that her tired body would not be able to bear it, but she was unwilling to refuse. Falling asleep peacefully like this, Xuan Ye fell asleep, and she fell asleep too.

This sleep was dreamless and sweet. When Lan Qi woke up, she found herself lying on the dragon couch for a long time, and she was dazed for a while, but she turned over and was about to get up, when someone outside heard the movement, and the bright yellow curtain was lifted. Huan Chun's smiling face was in front of his eyes, and he said softly: "Is the master sleeping well? The emperor said, you won't let you scream until you wake up."

"What time is it?"

"It's almost noon."

"At noon?" Lan Qi almost jumped up from the couch. She actually slept in the Qianqing Palace until noon. Crying and laughing, and since Xuan Ye let her sleep peacefully, he would never let anyone disturb her.

Washing and changing clothes in a hurry, combing hair and putting on makeup, it’s not enough to wrap up in a cloak in the middle of the night. If you want to walk out of the gate of Qianqing Palace, what can you do if you don’t tidy up? Ah, why didn't you call me, people outside should laugh at me to death."

Huanchun just smiled and said: "The emperor ordered, the slaves dare not."

Just waiting for the post to be done, stepping on the bottom of the flower pot to the study, the ministers have dispersed at this moment, Xuan Ye is reading the booklet, outside, Eunuch Li and Lan Qi bump into each other, and politely say: "It's time to pass the meal, Madam May I ask for the slave?"

"This is easy." Lan Qi was slightly embarrassed, and agreed with a smile, but when she entered the door, Xuan Ye put down the folder in his hand when he saw her, got up, came over and held hands and said, "I'm hungry, let's Go to the Compassionate Ning Palace for a meal, and what happened last night, I want to talk to the emperor's grandmother."

In this way, Lan Qi was taken away before she could sit down, and she was sent to the Palace of Compassion in a soft sedan chair last night. Sure enough, the Empress Dowager had passed on meals here, but the old man's appetite was not good, unlike the usual extravagant ones. For the banquet, we only ordered japonica rice, porridge and a few side dishes. When we saw them coming, we smiled and said, "I'm eating vegetarian food here, and you guys are coming to join in the fun?"

Xuan Ye laughed: "I eat a lot of wine and meat during the festival, so it should be a nice meal."

The grandparents and grandchildren sat around the table. The Empress Dowager lost her appetite when she saw that someone was accompanying her. In the middle, she asked Madam Su Mala to add some side dishes. She, as soon as she had finished eating, she was sent away to make tea. The emperor only talked to two grandmothers. Afraid that she would be uncomfortable, Aunt Su Mala accompanied her to the tea room and said: "Their grandparents always have whispers." , I have been with you for decades, and I can't hear everything."

"I don't care about this, but I feel very uneasy about what happened last night." Lan Qi was handling the teacup and teapot, scalding the teacup over and over again, and then she looked at the nanny and said, "Is elder brother better? I heard that this matter has already been investigated by the clan's family, what will be the result of the investigation? The previous things will always be left alone."

"It's inevitable that there are some things that need to be avoided. There are always so many entanglements between the people in the palace. One hair can affect the whole body. Sometimes when you see the truth, it's time to despair." Mammy sighed and took Lan Lan's hand. The work in Qi's hands, scooping tea leaves into the teapot, rushing into the hot spring water, sighed helplessly, "The thing that the master is most worried about has begun. In ten or twenty years, the master and slaves will probably be gone. But at that time, the princes and elder brothers were all grown-ups, and what they were fighting for was not just toy candies, and what they were playing was not just poisonous mushrooms."

"Nurse, East Palace..." Lan Qi looked nervous.

The nanny smiled meaningfully: "The East Palace is just the East Palace, and the people on the dragon chairs of the past dynasties are... huh, let alone the East Palace? Madam, you are a smart person. When the fourth and sixth elder brothers grow up, you have to take care of them. The harem can't do politics, but you can take care of your son and protect your son, can't you?"

Lan Qi lowered her eyes and pondered, and after a long while the fragrance of tea overflowed, she asked softly, "Mother, who are you going to aim at when you say what happened last night? Is it aimed at the elder brother, the imperial concubine, or...the fourth elder brother?"

A look of sadness appeared on the face of Madam Su Mala. From outside the customs to the capital, the woman who lived in the Forbidden City through the smoke and war, even if she is old, even if she is usually kind and gentle, the courageous and capable temperament of the past is still in her body. At this moment As if the scent of tea was dissipating inappropriately, Mammy smiled coldly: "Who benefits? In fact, it doesn't matter who it is for, what matters is who benefits?"

Lan Qi stared at her blankly, she really didn't understand.

"You just take good care of the sixth elder brother, and the imperial concubine will protect the fourth elder brother with all her might." Madam Su Mala lowered her serious expression and returned to her usual gentleness, coaxing Lan Qi, "Isn't it impossible Ming said, just like you, you have not seen the truth at the moment, but you are guessing based on experience based on the situation inside and outside the palace. Presumably the emperor is talking about these things with his master at this moment. Everyone has a account in their hearts. In the future, you will also There will be an account, which will record the relationship between people, who is reliable and who can't be approached, isn't it?"

Lan Qi smiled wryly: "It's already there, and it's clearly written stroke by stroke."

The mother said: "You can keep it for yourself, but don't show it to others. The servant is just now, so I shouldn't have said these things to you."

"I've peeked at the account in Mama's heart several times." Lan Qi joked with a smile, and seeing Mama's expression improved, she took her arm and said, "I understand, the emperor will always tell me, let alone This matter has nothing to do with Yonghe Palace, so I don't have to worry about it."

At this time, the eunuch in front of the door came to announce that the concubine Hui had arrived, and the nanny left Lan Qi to tell her not to go out, and went to ask if she had seen her, Lan Qi turned around and continued to serve tea, anyway, she didn't want to see concubine Hui, and she felt Silently recalling what Mammy said just now, Mammy said that it doesn't matter who it is aimed at, what matters is who benefits, and who can be hurt by this incident?Eldest brother, imperial concubine, fourth elder brother?still……

Lan Qi's heart tightened suddenly, the teapot in her hand shook hot water and scalded her fingers, the teapot fell to the ground and blossomed, the sound of the porcelain cracking attracted the palace maids and eunuchs outside to come in to see, shouting to invite the imperial doctor, but Lan Qi stopped her. Soaking my hands in an altar of cold spring water calmed down the piercing pain at my fingertips, and my heart cooled down a little bit.

The most confrontational people in the palace have always been the former Queen Niu Hulu and Concubine Tong, and now the Concubine Tong Gui and Concubine Wen. Tong's half-dynasty royal relatives, but what about the crown prince?Where is the prince's biological mother?

The Hesheli family is still in full swing in the imperial court, and has the glory of the prince in the deep palace, but there is no woman who can protect the prince.

"Did I think too much?" Lan Qi didn't understand why her thoughts suddenly jumped to this point. She just thought about it in her heart and felt that something was missing, so she suddenly became excited. Didn't everything she experienced come from He Queen Sheli passed away, and from that day on, even if the emperor pays homage every year, everyone gradually forgets the former queen, and forgets that there is a powerful force behind the prince.

The coldness of the spring water was not as cold as the chill rising from her back, and only then did she realize the depth of the palace, and she had nothing. The nanny asked her to take care of her son and protect her son, could she do it?

"Your Majesty, please bring tea to the Empress Dowager." Suddenly a court lady came, but she was quickly reminded that the empress de concubine had been scalded. She couldn't wait for her to stop the maid, so she ran back and said, Madam Su Mala immediately When they came, they realized that it was not serious, and they came to the main hall together with tea, but when they saw Concubine Hui sitting at the bottom, her eyes were red from crying.