Traveling through the harem: the favorite concubine

Chapter 24

Dongxiangkou, in fact, vaguely speaking, is not outside the boundaries of the imperial palace.But strictly speaking, it is the palace complex that has been abandoned. At least after the emperor's ancestors came to power, they have not been used for maintenance.In the beginning, the East Alley was specially set up to accommodate the eunuchs and maids in the palace. Because the emperor at that time was extravagant, there were really three thousand beauties in the harem, and the huge palace could not accommodate his women and servants, so it was expanded to the east outside the palace. several places.

Afterwards, although the emperors of the Zhao family were not considered frugal when they came to power, the huge palace was enough for them.Dongxiangkou was also slowly abandoned, and it really became a colder existence than the cold palace.

The guards in the palace do not even regard it as their own inspection range at all, let alone anyone stationed there, except for some old homeless eunuchs and maids who are stationed there, and when the confinement incident occurs, then The place will start to be lively.

The emperors of the Zhao family seemed to have a tacit understanding that whenever someone in the clan was imprisoned, the first choice was Dongxiangkou.That's right, the emperor of the Zhao family didn't have the habit of killing his own relatives, but any clan that was imprisoned was basically committed an unforgivable crime.The original intention of the construction of this East Alleyway was also to accommodate the slaves. Naturally, the construction is not good, and it has been in disrepair for a long time, so it is really not a good place.

Ruyi had been prepared in her heart when she came, but when the carriage stopped at the entrance of the east alley, she still didn't realize it for a while. Even if she lived in a bad place in the palace, she was used to the magnificent The palace, standing in front of this large dilapidated house that has not been repaired for hundreds of years, she even couldn't help wondering when the house would collapse.

But Nanny Cao adjusted her mentality quickly, and said, "Your Highness is still waiting for us, let's go in!"

The flat tone almost didn't pay attention to this simple environment.

Ruyi also reacted, with a bit of embarrassment on her face, and secretly said a few words to herself: I planned to come to suffer hardships, but still want to live in the palace?

Thinking of this, she cheered up and nodded with a smile on her face.

The two masters with the highest status said so, and the rest of the people who followed, even if they had any thoughts in their hearts, they just swallowed them in their stomachs.

Naturally, Ruyi and the others didn't go in by themselves. Now that the prince is confined, as the prince's woman and servant, to be honest, they can't stand any good treatment.

At this moment, they were more like prisoners under guard, escorted and brought in by the eunuchs and guards sent from above.

Although Ruyi lowered her eyebrows and was pleasing to the eye, her eyes still hurriedly scanned the surrounding scenery. The further she walked in, the more uncomfortable she felt.

Needless to say, the places we passed were overgrown with weeds, and ruined walls were also common sights. The place was so large that it only made people feel more desolate and miserable.

She didn't even dare to imagine living in this unpopular run-down place, even if she didn't live alone, she was a little scared.

Shao Yao, who was originally supporting her, couldn't control her emotions at this time, and unconsciously held her arm tightly.

I don't know how long I walked, but finally I was far away. Ruyi saw a lot of figures in guard uniforms. After walking for so long and suddenly seeing so many people, she thought it was her own hallucination. Make sure that these people are guards who are guarding the prince.

The not-so-small courtyard was surrounded by high walls.Under the wall, there was a guard holding a long spear almost a few steps away, and there was a row of guards standing beside the gate. Every once in a while, groups of several guards walked back and forth to patrol.

As soon as Ruyi and his party walked over, they had sharp eyes and looked over.Ruyi subconsciously followed behind Nanny Cao with her head down.

After the leading eunuch who came with Ruyi and others took out the token, the closed door slowly opened.

The leading eunuch and the guard who sent them over didn't go any further, they just stood there and watched them.

Grandma Cao straightened her back, without hesitation, she walked straight towards the open door, but Ruyi's footsteps couldn't help hesitating, she was very upset, walking in step by step, she was afraid that she would collapse, She was afraid that it would be hell inside...

But, with everyone staring, it was impossible for her not to go in.She almost supported each other with Shao Yao, and passed the threshold with difficulty.

As soon as her feet landed inside the gate, the gate behind her was tightly closed.

She couldn't help turning her head, only to see the sealed and opaque door, the door bolt seemed to be outside, and the people inside were tightly circled.

"Ma'am..." Shaoyao called her softly in horror.

At this moment, Ruyi only knows to tightly hold the silver package that has never left her hand, trying to find a sense of security.However, when she looked at the high wall, she felt more and more uncertain.

"Good boy, don't be afraid!" Nanny Cao turned around and saw Ruyi's frightened expression. She held her hand and comforted her: "Look, it's still pretty good here."

Ruyi's eyes hurriedly glanced at the scene here in a panic, but she didn't take it seriously in her heart, how good a place that is confined can be!

Unexpectedly, when she came in, she was only concerned about being frightened but not caring about the environment, which actually gave her a little more comfort.At least it was much better than the dilapidated scene outside.The courtyard-style house is simple and unadorned, but it is tidy and clean; the small yard is not overgrown with weeds like the outside, but it is not planted with blooming flowers, only the vegetable fields that have been opened up in rows.

Ruyi even had the illusion of returning to the farmyard. It wasn't until three eunuchs and maids in washed white palace uniforms came out that she had the feeling of returning to reality.

Nanny Cao personally took out a few ingots of silver ingots and handed them to the two eunuchs and maids, with a kind face on her face: "These days, Your Highness has worked hard for you to take care of them."

The three palace people were flattered, no matter where they used to be in the palace, but now that they are assigned here, they never thought that they would be able to receive rewards.His Royal Highness the Crown Prince caught the epidemic and was placed in this courtyard, and the three of them were dispatched to take care of him, so they were naturally unwilling.

But seeing Grandma Cao's generous move, the reluctance at this time has already disappeared.

For example, seeing that Grandma Cao offered a reward to the people below, she didn't feel any displeasure or embarrassment in her heart.Although she is called the master, she is no higher than Nanny Cao.

Anyway, since she learned of Nanny Cao's identity when she came, she made up her mind to follow her arrangement.

"Let's go and see His Highness first?" After Nanny Cao finished the reward, she turned to Ruyi to discuss. Ruyi nodded repeatedly, handed the things in her hand to Shao Yao, and ordered Shao Yao to follow the others to put the things away first.

Then, he followed Nanny Cao and walked towards the main room.

As Ruyi walked towards the main room, the smell of medicine became stronger.At this time, she couldn't help feeling a little more timid in her heart, the crown prince had a seasonal epidemic, and her body was really not healthy enough to ignore all diseases...

She couldn't help but looked at Grandma Cao, but she saw that the other person looked solemn, but she didn't show any timidity. She couldn't help being ashamed, but she was still afraid.Even she didn't realize that her pace had slowed down involuntarily.

When she walked to the front door of the main room, Nanny Cao turned her head to look at Ruyi, who was still a few steps away from her, and couldn't help frowning, but thinking that Ruyi was the only one who came to take care of the prince without pretending to be sick, she Still gently said: "What's wrong?"

Ruyi lowered her head and shook her head, but still refused to go forward.

Grandma Cao looked at her thin body that couldn't help trembling because of fear, and sighed silently in her heart, she was still a child!

She didn't push Ruyi any further, she just stepped forward and knocked on the door.

The door was opened, but a thin and thin eunuch came out and stopped in front of Grandma Cao: "Mrs. Cao, Your Highness ordered you not to approach this room. After Your Highness informs the Emperor and Empress, I will send you out."

Granny Cao was determined when she heard the words, and said loudly: "Since childhood, I have been taking care of Your Highness, but now His Highness is seriously ill, so it is impossible for my servant to leave."

The little eunuch hesitated when he heard the words, but still stood at the door and refused to let him go.

The prince's slightly weak voice suddenly came from the room: "Nurse, Gu is fine, don't come in and make Gu worry."

"Your Highness..." Grandma Cao called out with trembling lips, and wanted to rush into the room.

"Nurse, take it as a lonely order to you, don't come in!"

The prince's voice was still weak, but he said firmly, "Nurse, are you going to disobey Gu's order?"

"Your servant dare not!" Grandma Cao was in tears, she just knelt down and kowtowed, "Your Highness, don't drive your servant away, let your servant do something for His Highness."

"Nurse, you can't let Gu feel sorry for Wenjie, just treat it for Gu's sake, for Wenjie's sake, don't come in!"

The crown prince's words made Grandma Cao shake a bit, but it was absolutely impossible for her to leave.

"Then...Your Highness, let the servants guard you, otherwise the servants will feel uneasy."

There was no sound in the room, and Nanny Cao insisted on kneeling on the ground. After a long time, the prince's voice came from inside: "Gu will not drive the nanny away, but nanny, please stay away from this room."

Nanny Cao wiped her tears and left here step by step.But Ruyi seemed to have been forgotten, she was still standing there blankly, she looked at Grandma Cao at a loss, but she didn't dare to stop her.

She cast her eyes on the little eunuch who was still standing at the door, but seeing him glance at her, he turned and opened the room, and walked in.

Ruyi's feet seemed to be nailed in place, she had mixed feelings in her heart, she was afraid of death, but she didn't go in...

"Aren't you coming in?"

The little eunuch did not close the door, but looked at her suspiciously and asked.

Ruyi bit her lower lip tightly, her feet were as heavy as a heavy weight, she walked into the door slowly, step by step with difficulty.

The door creaked shut, and Ruyi trembled in fear, biting her lower lip tightly and enduring not letting herself cry out in fear.

She can't be afraid, she has come to this point, she can't back down.

She lowered her head, walked around the screen, and slowly walked to the prince's bed and knelt down.

The prince opened his eyelids, his eyes fell on Ruyi, and there seemed to be a flash of surprise on his face.Finally, he raised his eyelids and asked in a flat tone, "Why are you here?"

Ruyi, who lowered her head, didn't see it. At this moment, the prince's hands were clenched into fists, and there seemed to be an uncontrollable emotion on his face that was about to be vented.

(End of this chapter)