Chaos in the Chu Palace

Chapter 84 Chrysanthemum crab roe (1)
Early the next morning, Ouyang Ruo sent De Xuan out to inquire about the news. Although she had no appetite, Wan Hui forced her to eat two bowls of gruel and another bowl of milk and bird's nest. .Seeing that she was not in good spirits, Wan Hui asked her to go back and lie down.Ouyang Ruo had something on his mind, so naturally he couldn't lie down, waved his hand, and went to Mrs. Liu Guo's Palace of Yanxi Palace.

Such a commotion last night must have spread throughout the entire Chu Palace today, and Mrs. Liu Guo is the center of all rumors.When Ouyang Ruo arrived at Yanxi Palace, as expected, he saw the shoulder chariots of many concubines in the palace parked outside, and many palace people also gathered in small groups, discussing quietly.

Ou Ruo was supported by Wan Hui, and walked in slowly.Before arriving in the palace, Mrs. Liu Guo sighed faintly: "I heard someone report this news last night, and my heart was in a state of turmoil. I really wish I could go and see for myself..." She spoke affectionately. Sincerely, with a lot of choking voice.Those who didn't know thought she was really worried about the Queen's safety, and couldn't help it.

As soon as she finished speaking, many concubines tried to comfort her again and again. They all persuaded Mrs. Liu Guo not to leave the palace now that there is no master in the harem. Full of flattery.

Ouyang Ruo listened for a while before going in.Mrs. Liu Guo was holding a handkerchief to her eyes, as if wiping her tears.Ouyang Ruo raised her eyes slightly, and saw that she was wearing a moon-white long skirt embroidered with dark patterns, and there were very few pearl hairpins on her hair, except for a thumb-sized pearl hairpin on her temples, with a circle of pearls of the same color on each side. .It looks like a filial flower from a distance.

Ouyang Ruo saw that she had a plain body, but she seemed to have already put on sackcloth and filial piety for the empress in advance. She sneered a few times in her heart, but she still stepped forward to pay her respects and said: "Concubine please forgive me for being late, Mrs. Liu Guo, my concubine last night I heard that the Empress…”

Before she finished speaking, Mrs. Liu Guo wiped away tears, her crescent moon eyes were red, she stepped down from the main seat, stepped forward to help her choked up and said: "Yes, the empress is in danger and unpredictable, I was worried last night. I haven't slept all night..." She choked up.

Ouyang Ruo's complexion remained unchanged, she only helped her to sit up, and then said softly: "Mrs. Liu Guo, please calm down, there is no news from the Queen yet?"

Mrs. Liu Guo just shook her head, and the concubines below said one after another: "No, it will take a day to go back and forth, but I heard that I met Da Hong... this... I'm afraid..."

The person who spoke hesitated and stopped, but everyone could hear what she meant. The queen was not in good health, but now she was barely pregnant. It would be too dangerous to have a miscarriage and see her popularity again.

Ouyang Ruo's eyelids twitched, so he sat aside and didn't speak.There was a lot of discussion among the people, but there was no new news. It seemed that the incident happened suddenly last night, and the servants who sent the message all left with Chu Huotian, so the whole harem did not know the specific situation.

Ouyang Ruo sat for a while, then left Yanxi Palace, wanted to go back to the palace but felt disturbed, and didn't know who to talk to for a while.

While hesitating, she watched Xu Shi approaching from a distance.Xu ordered someone to carry her shoulder chariot to Ouyang Ruo's side, looked at her a few times, and said with a half-smile: "Have you heard about Rou Fangyi? The empress is in serious trouble..."

Ouyang Ruo was expressionless, and just sighed: "Yes, the concubine is also very worried..."

Mrs. Xu snorted through her nostrils, as if mocking her insincere words, Ouyang Ruo looked at her, and they got off their shoulders and walked to the nearby garden.

The two sat down, and ordered the servants to leave. At this time, Mrs. Xu took a closer look at Ouyang Ruo, and suddenly said without thinking: "Why didn't I see clearly your exquisite mind at the beginning?" Well. No wonder I couldn't beat you when I was Madam Xu of the Hou Mansion."

Ouyang Ruo didn't change his face, just smiled lightly and said: "To each other, the courtiers and concubines would not have imagined that Mrs. Xu, who was arrogant and domineering at the beginning, was at odds with me, and now I am Ouyang Ruo's most reliable ally in this palace."

Mrs. Xu was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said: "The world is unpredictable. I have lived as a witch for ten thousand years. I didn't expect that now she has stepped on the door of hell. Maybe she is now..."

She didn't go on, but sneered again and again, but Ouyang Ruo could hear the Xiao Suo and indifference in the smile.

Xu's pain of bereavement is now all reported, and this time even the queen almost put her own life on the line... It turned out that the retribution of reincarnation was such a strange coincidence.

She gave the life of her unborn child to Xu's also unborn child!
Ouyang Ruo sighed slightly in his heart, shook her cool palm, and said nothing.

Mrs. Xu calmed down and smiled in a trance, only desolation and loneliness remained on her beautiful face: "Now I can see clearly that the so-called deep-rooted hatred is nothing more than the love between husband and wife. Why."

Ouyang Ruo just kept silent when he heard the words, there was always some warm comfort to pass through the desolate palace years, like an unattainable dream, dangling in front of his eyes, attracting everyone to chase forward, and gradually forget hardships on the road.

Xu sat with her in silence for a while, and then went back. Before leaving, she suddenly smiled at Ouyang Ruo: "No matter what, thank you, even if you didn't do it for me..."

She left after speaking.Ouyang Ruo was left standing there in a daze.

After two days, the Queen's news came intermittently from the Summer Resort. It was heard that the Queen's miscarriage had stopped bleeding, and several imperial physicians were guarding her side day and night. So, the danger is not over yet.

Ouyang Ruo breathed a sigh of relief when he heard the news.It seems that Imperial Physician Qin is very far-sighted, and his skills have reached the point of being like a servant.

The news that the queen had a miscarriage and survived spread quickly in the harem, and the reactions of the concubines were different. When Mrs. Liu heard about it, she went to the Taimiao and burned incense outside the temple to pray.Ouyang Ruo thought of her attire like wearing filial piety and wearing flowers that day, and she secretly laughed in her heart. The queen is not dead, and it is estimated that Mrs. Liu Guo is the most unwilling in the palace of Chu, but she can still make a pious gesture, which makes people admire and admire .Fortunately, the vacant position of the empress still exists, otherwise, if the empress dies, the harem will naturally respect Mrs. Liu Guo. At that time, with her scheming and the city government, it will be more difficult to deal with than the empress.

Because the queen was in a coma, Chu Huotian lived in the Summer Resort for five days, and all the courts and governments moved there, but it was inconvenient after all. Chu Huotian rushed back to Chujing on the fifth day. Ouyang Ruo saw Seeing that his face was a bit haggard, he thought it was because of the queen's affairs that he couldn't rest well.

Chu Huotian hurriedly had dinner with her, then went to the imperial study to deal with government affairs, Ouyang Ruo leaned by the door, watching the dragon chariot pass by, with a majestic guard of honor, his cold and handsome face under the bright yellow canopy.

As an emperor, he really has too many things to worry about.Just as she was about to turn around, a pair of late-returning swallows passed her eyes. She watched them combing each other's feathers on the tree, and they were very affectionate.He couldn't help but sigh in his heart, he and she were not as happy as this pair of swallows in this bustling Chu palace.

Day by day, Chu Huotian went to see the queen twice in his busy schedule, and it was the third time, fifteen days later, that the queen gradually woke up.Ouyang Ruo didn't know how she faced all this when she woke up, but after Chu Huotian came back that day, there was a red scar on his handsome face, and his face that had been clouded for several days, it's not hard to imagine how the queen would react of.After he came back from the summer resort, he locked himself in the imperial study, only read memorials, dealt with political affairs, and never set foot in the harem.

Ouyang Ruo sighed inwardly, and took a moment to ask Li Jing quietly.Li Jingcai's delicate face was also full of sorrow, seeing Ouyang Ruo lingering in the imperial study for a long time with a big belly, he didn't dare to knock on the door, he knew her concern for the emperor in his heart.

So she shook her head in a low voice and said, "The maidservant only said that because the empress really cared about the emperor. The empress... oh... the empress is crazy."

Ouyang Ruo covered her mouth in shock and said, "Crazy? Is it true?"

Li Jingcai sighed: "If you're not crazy, you're close to being crazy. The servant girl looked at the queen like that that day, it was scary. Knowing that her child was gone, the emperor happened to be right next to her... I don't know where the energy came from, so I jumped up and threw myself at the emperor. body, crying and scratching, saying yes..."

His complexion turned pale, and he seemed to be thinking of the queen's crazy appearance that day: "It is said that the emperor harmed her child, and it is... that everyone in the palace is harming her... The emperor was arrested by the empress, Here!" Li Jing made a gesture on his face: "Just grab it here. If the emperor didn't see that she was heartbroken by the loss of her son, and her mind was not clear, how could she let her claws?"

He sighed, suddenly felt that what he said was inappropriate, he quickly raised his head to look at Ouyang Ruo's expression, saw that Ouyang Ruo was only frowning on one side, and didn't pay attention, so he continued: "Hey, the empress looks like this, I'm afraid it's not very good..."

After hearing this, Ouyang Ruo reluctantly replied: "The empress is not a good person, how could she have a small... childbirth?"

She watched him carefully.Li Jingcai didn't want to say it at first, but when he saw Ouyang Ruo's eyes that were as clear as water, he couldn't help but keep talking: "If you go back to your mother, the servants are not talkative people. Today is also for the sake of your mother's sincerity. That's all. The queen and the emperor married for more than ten years, and finally got a big emperor concubine a few years later, but the empress injured her body when she gave birth to the big emperor concubine. No matter how many doctors she saw, she said she couldn't have a concubine. Even Mr. Zhao at the time said that he could not conceive. In fact, the empress can conceive, but the bigger the child in the womb, the more dangerous the mother's life will be. The emperor listened to Mr. Zhao's words and decided not to let the queen risk another pregnancy. So ...That...the emperor hasn't touched the queen for several years, and he went there once or twice a month just to rest... Alas, the queen has been kept in the dark thinking that she can't conceive again, and gradually died of this kind of thinking. Unexpectedly In the past few months, I don't know where I heard the words of that Qin imperial physician."

He paused and then changed his words: "Actually, I don't blame the Qin imperial doctor. The servant later brought him for questioning according to the emperor's oral order. He said that the queen ordered him to diagnose whether he was pregnant. He was forced to do so. The empress said that she could get pregnant again, but later the empress forced him to prescribe a prescription. Imperial doctor Qin was also a cowardly person, and he carefully told the empress about all possible consequences, but the empress insisted on conceiving. That boy knew how to ask for it The queen's letter. Otherwise, he will die this time."

Li Jing just hummed twice, seeing Ouyang Ruo's expression was unnatural.He hurriedly apologized and said with a smile: "Ms. Rou Fangyi must have been frightened. This servant really shouldn't have told the empress about this."

Ouyang Ruo forced a smile and said: "It doesn't matter, there is nothing left and right. After listening to Eunuch Li, I will not violate the emperor's taboo. But how did the empress have a miscarriage?"

Li Jingcai sighed: "Actually, it's very strange. The queen fell asleep, and when she got up, she felt a sharp pain in her stomach. Then she lost her child..."

Ouyang Ruo sighed after hearing this, and looked at the closed door of the imperial study room, feeling panicked in her heart. It seemed that the crazy queen had already passed on all the resentment in her heart to Chu Huotian.

Chu Huotian originally wanted to be good for the queen, but he didn't expect that the two of them would end up in this situation.And all of this... the world is really tricky...

Ouyang Ruo also stopped looking for Chu Huotian, knowing that he was bored, so she just calmed down and raised her baby in Yunxiang Palace.After a few days, the autumn of Chu State began. This is the first year of autumn since Chu Huotian opened the dynasty. Before summer, there was just a small sign of early autumn, and autumn began in various places. .

Ouyang Ruo suddenly remembered the sonorous oath made by Cha Sanshao, and then thought of his refusal of his request that day, and a wonderful premonition surged in his heart.She had a premonition that she could meet him again, such an unruly young man, full of talent, and such a prominent family background, if he had ambition to cause trouble, he should not be underestimated.Ouyang Ruo finally sighed after thinking about it, and stopped thinking about it.

After a few days, it will be early autumn, and the summer heat in Chudi is gradually dissipating. Ouyang Ruo heard that when Chudi faces the sea, there are sea crabs to eat every autumn. She only ate lake crabs in Huadi. Never had sea crab.She was planning to eat it, but one day, a waiter came over with a small basket of sea crabs. Ouyang Ruo happily opened it and saw that each one was tied up with straw, just like a plate. Generally big, more than one or two times bigger than the lake crabs Ouyang Ruo has seen.

Ouyang Ruo wondered: "Dare to ask this little eunuch, who sent it?"

The little father-in-law is very clever, and his voice is as crisp as fried beans: "Ms. Huirou Fangyi, it was sent by Concubine Yu Jing. She said that the family sent a big basket with a fast horse, and Concubine Yu Jing couldn't finish it." , I just sent some from each palace. Madam, don’t worry, these sea crabs are good, and they were the first batch caught this year. When they were delivered, there were no imperial dining rooms in the palace.”

Ouyang Ruo kept an eye out: "Then Concubine Yu Jing is..."

The little eunuch kowtowed and said: "Go back to your mother, Concubine Yu Jing's natal family is with Duke Zha."

Ouyang Ruo nodded thoughtfully, then rewarded him with money and told him to retreat.

Wan Hui came in, frowned and looked at the small basket of sea crabs, and asked, "Your Majesty, do you really want to eat it? What if something goes wrong..." Ouyang Ruo understood what she meant.

So she ordered the little servant to cut the rice rope, and the sea crabs opened their teeth and claws one by one, very fresh.Ouyang Ruo said with a smile: "Auntie can rest assured. They are all alive. I heard that people in Chudi do not eat dead sea crabs, and those who are alive will be fine. At most, Ben Gong will eat one, and Lin Xiang will eat one." , and the rest will be shared among the girls in the house. It's a rare good seafood."

Only then did Wan Hui ask someone to wash the sea crabs and steam them in a pot.Picking out the snow-white meat, Ouyang Ruo ate a few mouthfuls with vinegar. It was delicious and delicious.

Seeing that Ouyang Ruo ate a lot, Wan Hui muttered: "I really don't know how that so-called Concubine Yu Jing sent sea crabs this time. It's obviously someone she doesn't know well."

Ouyang Ruo stopped chopsticks, thinking about what the visitor said, and suddenly chuckled inwardly, it seemed that his hunch was correct, did that Cha San Shao use this method to tell himself that he would not forget his promise.But whether he succeeds or not, since he is a concubine and he is a minister, how can there be any intersection?Such a basket of sea crabs that is hard to buy was sent for nothing.Ouyang Ruo smiled lightly, then raised her chopsticks and started to eat again.

The matter of the queen's miscarriage gradually settled down, and it was only heard that her health was up and down, and her spirit was not good, often accompanied by symptoms almost like madness.Chu Huo Tianxia ordered the palace servants to take good care of him, and since the state affairs were entangled with him, he was too busy to visit him.

As the days passed, Chu Huotian's spirit also recovered a little.Seeing that his mood was getting better, Ouyang Ruo often made some appetizing dishes and sent them to him.

Chu Huotian was very moved when he saw that she had a big belly, and she worked so hard to wash his hands and make soup for him. Every time there were new things brought in tribute from various places, Li Jing would pick some of them and give them to Yunxiang Palace.

One day Chu Huotian came over and saw her cooking for him again. In the hot and stuffy small kitchen, Ouyang Ruo stood by the stove and asked a few young ladies how to cook a stewed duck soup with eight treasures.

He quickly hugged her out without saying a word, until he carefully placed her on the bed in the inner hall, then said with a stern face: "Who allowed you to work in the kitchen? If you are tired, when you see How can you explain to me?"

He seemed to remember something, and couldn't help but squeeze Ouyang Ruo's hand even tighter.Seeing his handsome face, Ouyang Ruo was in a daze, knowing that he must have thought of the empress' miscarriage, so she quickly put her arms around his waist and said softly: "Don't worry, your majesty, my concubine is still very young, and she is in good health. I will never let you down." ..."

Chu Huotian hugged her tightly and closed his eyes, as if he could still smell the bloody smell that day, he only murmured: "I can't lose you anymore. I can't..."

Only now did Ouyang Ruo feel the panic in his heart.Li Yinghong, the queen... figures blurred with blood passed by in a flash.The usually cold and stern emperor, only at this moment can people feel the weakness hidden in a corner of his heart.

Both of them were silent, cigarettes were lingering in the incense cauldron.He whispered in her ear: "Ruo'er, I want you to be well, you must be well..."

Tears fell happily at this moment, without a trace of regret and sadness.

Qiu Wei came soon, and candidates from all over the country entered Chujing to rush for the exam. Chu Huotian was unique and set up another exam room dedicated to other categories, such as geography.Specially recruit all kinds of talents for Chu State.This action also won the hearts of the people. Some students are usually not good at writing silent scripts, but this time, as long as they have a skill, they can still win the favor of the emperor, so some people took the exam one after another.All of a sudden, there were a lot of talents, and the clouds flooded into the Chu capital.

When Chu Huotian was busy, Ouyang Ruo was free to enjoy flowers and go to various palaces in his spare time.It's very comfortable.

But it is said that the golden autumn of August is almost mid-autumn, the whole palace is full of chrysanthemums, and this year is another year of abundant crab fat and meat. It is the first autumn of Chu Huotian's reign, so naturally someone wants to come up with something Come.

Mrs. Liu Guo discussed with several empresses in the palace, then smiled and said: "Now that the chrysanthemums are blooming everywhere, why not have a chrysanthemum and crab feast. All the palaces come to eat, it's a Mid-Autumn Festival in advance, when it's Mid-Autumn Festival, Please invite the Empress to come back, and then everyone will have more fun."

Some empresses laughed and said: "Madam Liu Guo's proposal is very good, we haven't got together for a long time. Hey, this year is not very peaceful, I always feel bored..."

Before she finished speaking, she stopped alertly.Mrs. Liu Guo didn't blame her when she glanced at her.Just smile and don't speak.The empresses of all the palaces below felt the same. First, Li Yinghong died after being infected with aconite powder, and then the empress had a miscarriage. It has only been a few months since the reign, and the harem has seen blood, it is really not peaceful.

Ouyang Ruo sat down and didn't speak.Mrs. Liu Guo glanced at her and said with a smile, "So what does Rou Fangyi have to say?"

Ouyang Ruo got up with a smile and was blessed with a little blessing: "Go back to Mrs. Liu Guo, the concubine is still pregnant, and she is very slanderous, just eat what you have, I really can't think of anything else."

(End of this chapter)