Chaos in the Chu Palace

Chapter 96
In the dreary and cold December of the second year of Chu Ninghe, the entire harem became more cautious because of Chu Huotian's ashen complexion.No one dared to talk about the earth-shaking events on the third day of October, and no one dared to laugh and laugh in front of others, for fear that if they were not careful, they would become the most unlucky punching bag.

The palace gates of the Queen's Fengyi Palace are closed every day, which makes the palace people feel uneasy, but no one dares to inquire; as for the crying of babies coming out of the Ganlu Palace every night, no one dares to ask why. .The Minister of Civil and Military Affairs saw Chu Huo sitting in the court exhausted every day, and he was speculating in his heart, but he was blocked by his calm and decisive voice after the jade crown.

This month has been very depressing and heavy.

Hu Tian had snowfall in August, but Chudi just had its first snow this year. Compared with the heavy snowfall in previous years, it seemed particularly bleak and deserted.In Yunxiang Palace, Ouyang Ruo was wrapped in a long blanket of snow fox, quietly watching the flying snow outside the window, little by little, like the softest cotton wool, disappearing in an instant.

With her eyes open, she traced the traces of falling snow bit by bit. Her big eyes were embedded in her thin, palm-sized face. They were so big and lifeless. Her cheeks were no longer as plump and soft as they used to be. The lower jaw is now only as thin as a sharp blade.

The carbon fire in the house is strong, warm as spring, exuding a soothing fragrance.She gradually fell into sleep, half asleep and half awake, the sound of footsteps outside the curtain gradually approached, and then Aunt Wan Hui's voice sounded: "Mr. Zhao is here again, my mother just woke up. It's just right."

"Have you taken all the medicine today? What's wrong?" Zhao Qingling's gentle and elegant voice rang out unhurriedly. It was heart-wrenching to hear, and with strong stability, people couldn't help but trust him.

"It's all used up, my lady is still... ah... I still don't want to talk, it's a crime..." Aunt Wan Hui's soft sobs sounded again.

"Don't worry, aunt. It's serious to take care of your body. Take your time with the rest. Don't be too sad." Zhao Qingling sighed.The gauze curtain was lifted, and the cold wind rushed in.

With the sound of footsteps, the familiar body exuding a fresh medicinal fragrance was already sitting on the side of her couch, grabbing her wrist to feel her pulse, and caressing her forehead with the other hand without hesitation.

He frowned slightly, and he let go of his hand after a while, looking at her quietly: "Are you awake?" Although it was a question sentence, it was affirmed by his calm voice.

Ouyang Ruo opened his eyes, glanced at him quietly, then turned his head to look at Feixue outside the window.

A gleam of joy flashed in Zhao Qingling's gentle eyes, and then turned dark because of her silence: "Madam, what's wrong today?"

Ouyang Ruo just kept silent, clutching the wrapped snow fox blanket with his skinny fingers, it seemed that those fingers were as white as jade, without any blood color.

Zhao Qingling seemed to be used to the coldness caused by her silence, took a sip of the cold tea on the table in a blink of an eye and said with a light smile: "Your Majesty doesn't know. This time, the emperor didn't sleep well all night, but he had to put himself in the bedroom, and Zhao was still yawning when he watched him go to court."

Ouyang Ruo also ignored him.

Zhao Qingling's heart was blocked, and she suddenly smiled coldly: "Your Majesty received a good beating this time, and the emperor woke up from the beating. From now on, according to what Zhao said, the emperor will never dare to treat your empress badly again. The empress empress also restrained herself." The empress can say anything as long as she is in good health."

Ouyang Ruo's unmoving eyes finally turned to look at him, and he was overjoyed, but he was so frozen by her eyes that it seemed like a bucket of cold water had been poured on his head in October.Her eyes were full of sarcasm and self-deprecation, mocking everyone who comforted her, telling them clearly with her black and white eyes that she, Ouyang Ruo, did not need such cheap comfort.

Zhao Qingling was stunned for a moment, but when she came back to her senses, she saw Ouyang Ruo turned her head back and was still silently looking at Feixue outside the window.

He finally couldn't bear it any longer, and dragged her up from the couch, her long black hair covered his hands, her eyes as cold as snow only looked at him coldly, her complexion as white as black ink Ordinary eyes form the sharpest contrast.

His heart was finally irritated by her indifference.

Zhao Qingling suddenly smiled at her and said, "Your Majesty is not only good at playing the piano, but also good at plotting. Zhao knows that your Majesty is not too much, and Zhao knows almost everything your Majesty does. Is Liu Zhengsheng the Xu who you call those concubines behind?" The Lin family, the Zhang family, and the Zhang family were brought together? And the queen, if Zhao's guess is correct, you sent Qin Zhi there, and..."

"There is also Xu's witchcraft case, and..." She took his words coldly, with the most ironic ridicule hidden under her expressionless face.She told one by one what she had done.The icy sharpness of her voice made Zhao Qingling feel cold all over her body, and she even spoke out one by one the ear wires she had placed outside the palace.

There was indifferent fanaticism on the beautiful and pale face. After she finished speaking, she looked coldly at Zhao Qingling's increasingly ugly face, and laughed: "Why, Mr. Zhao is afraid? A femme fatale like Bengong should have Going down to the eighteenth floor of hell, I can no longer live in this world. Mr. Zhao's medicine is probably more valuable if it is spilled on the ground than it is on Ben Gong."

She finally broke away from his hand and stood up tremblingly. It was as if some supporting frame had collapsed in her thin body, she looked so weak and weak, and she looked at him with deep hatred in her dark eyes: "Mr. Zhao, please go away." Go ahead, tell the emperor those words, I have already died once, on the day when the country of Hua perished, he should have died for the country. Why drag this dilapidated body in your Chu country to block your eyes. "

Zhao Qingling looked at her face filled with hatred: "You men are vying for power and position, killing people without blood, dynasties have changed, and I don't know how many people died, Huaguo was destroyed, 10,000+ good men in Huadi were killed by your Chu army's iron hooves There is no bones left. The majestic Emperor Hua, the concubines of the Hua Palace are locked up by the cold palace like livestock. Thinking about it every night, this palace almost wakes up from sleep."

"I, Ouyang Ruo, endured humiliation and survived humiliation. I came all the way from Huadi, and I saw devastation and sorrow everywhere... But, I still want to laugh, laugh at him, and smile at everyone in Chu. When I arrived at the Hou Mansion, Queen Zhao's scheming Deep, in the midst of Mrs. Liu talking and laughing, killing without blood, Mrs. Xu is arrogant and domineering, and provoked me several times. Even the cowardly Mrs. Lin knew how to seduce the emperor when I had a miscarriage, so that I could conceive..."

She paused, and looked at him sarcastically: "Mr. Zhao is amazingly talented, please tell me how to gain a foothold in the Chu Palace with no power or power? Xu's witchcraft case can make a comeback, and Liu's embezzlement of a huge amount of money from the harem has not yet happened." To die, because of a small jade pendant, I will be punished to death by the empress, I will beg the empress not to execute the execution in front of the little Diji, guess what the empress said? Only after beating her to death will she be clean!! Haha!" She laughed My eyes are full of tears.

Zhao Qingling saw that she was trembling all over and was about to twitch. She was shocked, and hurriedly stepped forward to press her on the bed, and said in a hurry: "Shut up! Don't say any more! I know you are suffering, but you have made it this far , do you want to give up? I don’t allow it! No! Do you hear me? Now it’s not your pain alone, the emperor has moved his heart and feelings for you, and even Zixuan wants to leave Chujing because of you. You are not allowed to die, you know?! If you want to die!"

His elegant face finally showed anger: "If you want to die, I have the ability to take you back from the hands of the king of Hades! Not only do you have to live, but you have to live a better life than those who want to harm you!"

Ouyang Ruo stopped struggling, and just stared blankly at the excited expression on Zhao Qingling's face who was holding her down.It seems that since the day Hua Guocheng was broken, there was a voice in her heart telling her what to do, but unfortunately she couldn't understand it all the time, and now she finally knew what that voice was.

She wants to live, not only to live well, but also to live better than those who want her dead!

She looked at Zhao Qingling and finally smiled silently.

"Mr. Zhao can help a fallen prince to become an emperor, can he also help me, a subjugated concubine, to stand behind the dragon chair?"

Zhao Qingling's expression tightened, she glanced at her unchangingly, and said in a cold voice: "If you simply want to gain a foothold, Zhao doesn't need to help you, you can do it yourself, but if you have malicious intentions, you will be harmed by the state of Chu." Unfavorable, Zhao also has the ability to destroy you. However, Zhao still hopes that you can have good intentions, if the heart is not clean, the piano will not be clear."

Ouyang Ruo pushed him away, with black hair covering both sides of his cheeks coldly, making his eyes look as deep as water in a cold pool: "What Mr. Zhao said, Zen Master Rong De also said, today's palace I just want to ask you, do you want to help or not?"

Zhao Qingling looked at her stubborn and glamorous face, suddenly couldn't speak, the carbon fire in the room was crackling, her eyes were deep and hard to distinguish.

He finally nodded, and his thin and elegant lips curved gracefully: "Can you not help me, Mrs. Zhao? I have heard so many secrets from my empress, if Mrs. Zhao does not help you, I am afraid I will never be able to help you." Listen to my mother's sincere caress again..."

He wants to help her, not just to help her, but more importantly, to keep an eye on her... The most fearful thing is that she, who is crazy, will do something earth-shaking...

Day by day, Ouyang Ruo's injury has healed by seven or eight points, but she is still thin, but she is no longer that lifeless and weak, but becomes sharper day by day, her eyes are as cold as snow, There is no gentleness and tenderness in the past.

Wan Hui once tried to ask her to take Xiao Yingzhou back, but Ouyang Ruo said coldly: "Put it on the emperor's side, so why is aunt worried? This is a great favor."

"However, the emperor works day and night on state affairs and still takes care of the third prince. It's really..." When Wan Hui thought of Chu Huotian correcting the memorial and watching the crying child at the same time, just thinking about that scene felt...it was really full of joy feeling...

Ouyang Ruo watched Xiao Linxiang regain her vitality and ran around the hall, suddenly said with a smile: "Auntie is confused, do you think you were born with grace or raised with grace?"

"Naturally, it's to raise Enda." Wan Hui hesitated.

"Then aunt, let's talk about it, is it more kind to be born or nurtured?" Ouyang Ruo turned her head and stared at her.

"This... This is naturally a matter of nurturing kindness..." Cold sweat broke out on Wan Hui's forehead, how could she not understand such a simple truth?What a fool.

"Then if the emperor chooses the crown prince in the future, auntie, do you think the emperor should establish the third prince or the second prince?" Ouyang Ruo stared at Wan Hui's nervous face without blinking.

Wan Hui didn't dare to say anything anymore, she just lowered her head.Ouyang Ruo stopped talking, and only turned into the inner hall, sealed a form he had written a few days ago, and handed it to Wan Hui: "Go and send a servant, and hand over this 'crime form' to the emperor, and you will Saying that my injury is well, please leave the palace and move into Yongxiang after living in the huge Yunxiang Palace!"

Wan Hui was startled, and hurriedly knelt down and said, "What did you say?! If you want to move into Yongxiang in such a cold winter, it will be a cold palace! Your lady, think twice!"

Ouyang Ruo just ignored him, turned his head and quietly watched the cold wind howling outside the window.

"Your Majesty! The anger you have been living for so many days should be gone. It is absolutely impossible to go there. Not to mention that you are recovering from a serious injury, even if you are usually healthy, you have to take off a few layers if you go there without dying." Here comes the skin." Wan Hui continued to persuade.

Ouyang Ruo took the guilt form from her hand, and called another court lady to order her to send it out.Seeing that she couldn't stop it, Wan Hui was so anxious that she almost burst into tears.

Seeing that there was no one around, Ouyang Ruo sighed softly: "Auntie, just listen to me. It seems that there is life only in a dead place. If you blindly covet this moment of peace, you will end up with a disaster full of dangers."

She looked at the snow-covered eaves and palace walls outside the house, and said coldly: "I, Ouyang Ruo, swore that I would eventually inflict on them a hundred times the pain that was inflicted on me that day!"

The white snow is still falling, bit by bit, covering all the evils that have happened on this earth, and the unfathomable human hearts.

"Crack!" Chu Huotian threw the "Guild Self-Watch" in his hand to the ground with a livid face, and roared angrily, "She really said that!?"

On the slippery ground, there was a little waiter kneeling who was passing on the message, he replied tremblingly: "Yes... if you go back to the emperor, Rou Jieyu... your mother really... really said so!"

Chu Huotian waited and yelled again, and there was a "wow" in the back hall, and the child cried loudly.A look of remorse flashed across his face, and then he turned into the inner hall, and he heard him scolding the nurse in a low voice: "Why are you crying again?! Are you hungry?" He carried the child over and softly coaxed him in his arms.

The nurse and the maids were used to seeing him showing such a kind side these days, but they were still very strange in their hearts. The nurse whispered: "I just fell asleep after eating... just..." She dared not say that the little prince He was woken up again by Chu Huotian's sudden drink.

Seeing her embarrassed face, Chu Huotian also knew that his voice was too loud.He impatiently waved down the palace people.Holding the crying little Yingzhou alone, sitting on the bed lost in thought.

Little Yingzhou has been around for more than two months, and he is very white and fat, but he is easy to wake up at night, crying in fright as if he has lost his support.He took him by his side day and night, looking at his young face, he was able to describe her clear and proud face.Since that day, he didn't dare to see her again when she woke up.He was afraid that when she opened her eyes, it would be that deep-seated hatred.The past tenderness and sweetness have all turned into hatred, which he cannot accept.

Little Yingzhou cried for a while before slowly falling asleep.Chu Huotian gently placed him in the cradle, and stared blankly for a while. He didn't know why he took Xiao Yingzhou away that day. Maybe he was angry and wanted to teach her a lesson, but he didn't expect it to end up It's my heart that hurts.

He sighed, rubbed his headache forehead and turned away, only to find that the little servant who sent the message was still kneeling aside, tremblingly waiting for his order.

Chu Huotian's ice-like facial features softened: "Go, tell Rou Jieyu... just say... I will visit her in a few days."

The servant who delivered the message wiped off his sweat and quickly retreated.

...

"What? The emperor really said that?" Wan Hui looked at the servant who came back in disbelief, and turned to look at Ouyang Ruo in surprise.

The corner of Ouyang Ruo's mouth twitched: "Okay, let's go down." Ruo Ruo was a lonely man, leaning against the window coldly, and stopped talking.Wan Hui sighed, and was about to step back, when she suddenly remembered something and said, "Mrs.

Ouyang Ruo frowned slightly: "Choose some exquisite gifts and send them back, and say that I will go to see them when I get better. Today I am sick and dare not see guests."

Wan Hui nodded and stepped back.

Ouyang Ruo thought about it carefully, this injury made her see a lot more clearly, even the heart that she couldn't see clearly...

She was still in deep thought, but the corner of her clothes was carefully pulled. She lowered her head, and Xiao Linxiang looked at her timidly: "Mother Concubine, why are you crying?"

The small face is full of inquiry and fear.Ouyang Ruo wiped his face, only to realize that he was already in tears unknowingly, no wonder Xiao Linxiang would ask such a question.

She quickly wiped away her tears and said with a smile: "No, the mother concubine is thinking about something."

Xiao Linxiang frowned, and tilted her head: "Is the concubine in pain?"

The tears that Ouyang Ruo held back flowed out again, hugged her and wept, "My concubine doesn't hurt anymore, it doesn't hurt anymore..." Yes, it doesn't hurt anymore, it doesn't hurt anymore, the wound healed and scars formed, never hurt again...

Three days later, Chu Huotian finally came over. Behind him was the nurse holding Xiao Yingzhou. Ouyang Ruo was still standing quietly with uncombed hair and white clothes like snow. When he came close, he gave a little gift .

Chu Huotian looked at her silently, he sat down and turned his head, coughing lightly: "You... are feeling better."

Ouyang Ruo didn't answer, just looked at the little Yingzhou behind him, and the wet nurse rushed forward to hug him.She hugged him tremblingly, and turned into the inner room. After a while, the suppressed crying came out, which was heartbreaking.

Chu Huotian turned his head away in embarrassment, sipping the tea in his cup bitterly.

After a while, Ouyang Ruo came out with a calm face. She handed Xiao Yingzhou to the wet nurse, and said to Chu Huotian: "The concubine thanked the emperor for taking care of the third prince. The concubine is still ill, please The emperor should avoid it more."

Chu Huotian was stunned for a moment, and Wan Hui was so shocked that he couldn't even close his mouth.

His embarrassment was reflected in her cold eyes.She looked at him quietly for a while, then turned around and went back to the room.Little Yingzhou left his mother's arms and cried loudly again.

Chu Huotian's heart was suddenly pulled into a ball, he gritted his teeth, and said slightly angrily: "Go back to the palace!" After speaking, he strode out.

Little Yingzhou cried even harder.

Wan Hui was so distressed that she wanted to catch up, but she stomped her feet and turned back to the inner room and said urgently to Ouyang Ruo: "How can your empress drive the emperor away? What if the emperor is furious..."

Ouyang Ruo closed her eyes and did not speak. After a while, she slowly said: "Auntie, the weather will clear up in two days. I am going to go. I am going to visit Concubine Yu Jing. I heard that she is devoted to Buddha. I want to take Ask for some Buddhist teachings."

Wan Hui was stunned for a long time before she answered yes in a daze, and couldn't help asking: "The emperor?..."

Ouyang Ruo took out another "Report of Guilt", handed it to her with eyes closed, and said, "Go, send it to the emperor, saying that this palace is unable to raise the third prince, so please ask the emperor to educate him. I will pray to the emperor every day." With the third prince, good luck and health."

Wan Hui was dumb, and then retreated.

After two days, the sky cleared up. Ouyang Ruo first went to visit Mrs. Xu and Mrs. Lin who cared about her, and then visited Zhang Fang.Now that her brother has been promoted to three ranks, Chu Huotian even entrusts half of Chujing's capital defense to him.A small part of the confiscated money from the Liu family was put into his hands, and he was ordered to settle down the people and innocent slaves who were persecuted by Liu Zhengsheng.Zhang Fang was also promoted to concubine.

When Ouyang Ruo came to her, seeing that she was in good spirits, she put down a big stone in her heart, thinking that the queen didn't make things difficult for her.

Zhang Fang was very grateful to her, and cried: "If the concubine hadn't rushed over that day, Mrs. Liu Guo would have beaten the concubine to death. A good man has no reward, why the concubine is constantly in trouble. Since that day, the concubine has been fighting for her day and night The empress is chanting scriptures and praying for blessings."

Ouyang Ruo smiled lightly: "Okay, don't cry anymore, I can only watch you for a while and then leave. You will have more blessings if you serve the emperor well in the future."

Looking at her thin face, Zhang Fang was moved again.Ouyang Ruo persuaded him with kind words, so he went out.

Looking at the time, it was almost lunch time, Ouyang Ruo was still waiting, Wan Hui worried: "Is the empress still going to the concubine's side?"

Ouyang Ruo said with a smile: "Go, why not go, I still want to talk to the concubine about a vegetarian meal."

(End of this chapter)