Traveling through the harem: the favorite concubine

Chapter 77

Ruyi got off the chariot, handed Aman to the nanny and carried her into the house, while she herself was supported by Fangcao and Shaoyao into the house, she took off her phoenix crown palace attire, washed her face and put on ordinary clothes, and just relaxed a little tone.

"Ma'am, I'll go to the dining room to get something."

Seeing Ruyi's calm face, Fangcao cautiously spoke.

Ruyi nodded dispensably, and leaned on the couch, letting Shaoyao beat her legs.

Fangcao saluted slightly, bowed and stepped back, Ruyi sat up suddenly, and waved to the other palace servants standing in the room: "You all step back!"

Shaoyao withdrew her hand and wanted to follow her back, but Ruyi suddenly glanced at her and said, "Stay and talk with me."

Shao Yao didn't understand what it meant, but she obediently stood aside.

After everyone in the room had left, Ruyi looked at Shaoyao for a long time, then suddenly sighed.

Shao Yao opened her mouth, and finally managed to utter a sentence: "Your Majesty, what you heard outside first, can't be true, you have to believe the Emperor's feelings for you!"

The corners of Ruyi's mouth curled up slightly, but she didn't look like she was smiling. She patted Shao Yao's hand, paused, but held her hand.

"My lady..."

Shao Yao was a little puzzled, and looked up at Ruyi, only to see that Ruyi lowered her head, her eyelids drooping to cover up all her emotions.

"Shaoyao, like you, I used to be a little court lady, and I know the pain and tiring of being a court lady."

"Being able to follow the empress, the servants will not feel bitter or tired!"

What Shao Yao said was extremely sincere.

Ruyi patted Shaoyao's hand when she heard the words, and sighed again: "At the beginning, you accompanied me to the entrance of Dongxiang. I always remembered that love in my heart. Opportunity, your kindness, I must repay you well."

"Your Majesty has always treated your servants very well, but it's the servants who don't live up to expectations and make your Majesty sad!"

Shao Yao took a breath, trying to suppress the sadness in her heart.Even if she felt a little wronged before, but what Ruyi said to her now is enough to move her.

"The servant has self-knowledge, she is not as clever as others, she has no ability, and even her temperament is not so pleasing. If it weren't for the kindness of the empress, the servant would not be able to live a good life today."

"These are all what you deserve."

Ruyi smiled, hesitated for a moment, and said softly: "I have always kept in mind the fact that the palace maids can only be released from the court at the age of 25, and I am also worried about you. I am not able to help everyone other court ladies, but you But I can't watch you let go at such an age, so I mentioned it to the emperor in private."

"My lady..."

Shaoyao didn't know what was going on in her heart, she suddenly panicked, she raised her head to look at Ruyi, but she saw Ruyi continued to speak slowly: "The emperor also said that at that time, he can even point out a good marriage for you."

"The servant does not marry, and the servant wants to stay by your mother's side to serve you for the rest of her life!"

Listening to these words, Shao Yao didn't know what it was like, it was sour and astringent, full of gratitude, but also somewhat regretful.

"What nonsense!"

Ruyi smiled, but she smiled again, looked up at Shaoyao, and said softly: "Tell me the truth, what is going on in your heart!"

"My lady..."

Shao Yao was startled when she heard the words, she opened her eyes wide and looked at Ruyi.

Ruyi smiled self-deprecatingly: "At the beginning, I realized that you were out of your mind, but because of Qiangwei's incident, I ignored it, but today, I suddenly remembered that your situation is not a day or two at all... "

"Your Majesty! Slaves deserve to die!"

Shao Yao fell to her knees on the ground with a pounce, she was panicked and frightened, her whole face was almost covered with tears.

"So, what I think is true!"

When Ruyi said this, she still couldn't believe it.Why did Shaoyao just...she only met Cao Rui a few times!
Ruyi only had a little guess in her heart at first, and she was just testing Shaoyao at all.Shaoyao's anomaly tonight reminded her of the previous events, Shaoyao began to lose her mind, and it started when Cao Rui appeared.

"Your Majesty, this servant deserves to die, you punish me! It's my wishful thinking, it's me who doesn't obey the rules!"

When Shao Yao said this, she knew that she had made a big mistake, she knocked her head heavily on the ground, and she cried and trembled.

"You...how could you be like this! Don't you know that this is a capital crime! The court ladies are all women of the emperor in name, you look like this..."

Ruyi couldn't help but shed tears a little bit hating iron for not making steel.

"Who else knows? How far have you and Cao Rui reached?!"

Ruyi fell from the collapse, squatted on the ground, grabbed Shaoyao and asked.

Shao Yao was so crying that she couldn't speak, she just shook her head blindly.

"What's there to cry about, just talk!"

Ruyi couldn't help crying, she just felt extremely depressed in her heart, she couldn't tell whether the tears were shed for Shaoyao or for herself.

"Didn't you listen to what Aunt Cao said? She doesn't even look down on the lady of the fifth-rank official's family. You are a court lady, how can you be so delusional!" Ruyi clutched her forehead and said weakly: "Our family background Humble, some things are simply not something we can think about!"

"My lady..."

Shaoyao grabbed Ruyi's hand, as if grasping driftwood, and cried, "I have never dreamed of becoming General Cao's wife. I have never thought about it."

"I just can't control it, but I never dare to think about it, I will only keep this thought in my heart, and I will never bring it up!"

"I know I'm wrong. I shouldn't be thinking about it, but I can't control it. I was in Aunt Cao's house. When I saw General Cao for the first time, I was stunned. General Cao is so heroic. A big man, but he is so considerate and caring for Aunt Cao, the slave girl couldn't help but think how happy she would be if she became his wife."

"However, the servant also knows that these are all extravagant thoughts in the heart of the servant. The servant has never been able to expect it to come true, and the servant has always wanted to suppress this emotion, but..."

When Shao Yao said this, she was already sobbing.

But Ruyi took a deep breath, calmed down, and asked in a deep voice, "Tell me, have you and General Cao ever met in private?"

"No no……"

When Shao Yao heard this, she shook her head again and again.

"Your servant swears, absolutely nothing happened. General Cao doesn't know what your servant is thinking at all. General Cao just treats your servant as the most ordinary palace servant. Last time, when sending Aunt Cao away, General Cao rewarded your servant. I knew right away that the distance between myself and General Cao was too far, and I couldn't think about it any longer."

"You still like him..."

Ruyi asked this question hesitantly, but with some certainty.

But Shao Yao hesitated for a moment, but nodded.

"Slaves dare not lie to the empress..."

After saying this, Shaoyao was ready to punish her wishfully, she knew that if she told the truth, the whole matter would be out of hand by her.But she didn't want to lie to Ruyi.

She lowered her head, waiting for Ruyi to give her the verdict.

But Ruyi sighed, and said: "If... If I give you to General Cao as a concubine, just like the twenty maids that the emperor gave to Cao's family before. But from now on, you have nothing to do with me , I will not let you use my banner to compete for favor in the Cao family, are you willing?"

Shao Yao could not deny that when she heard Ruyi's words, her heart beat violently.

She had never thought of being Cao Rui's wife, and the choice Ruyi said, to her, was simply what she had imagined and wished for.However, after the throbbing, she suddenly calmed down.

As if her body was not under her control, she bent down and kowtowed.

Ruyi closed her eyes in disappointment, but she heard Shaoyao say: "Your Majesty, this servant is not willing, this servant is telling the truth, I just want to stay by your side and serve you!"

"Where is General Cao!"

Ruyi turned her head to look at Shaoyao's smiling face with tears, and heard her slowly say: "I have thought about it, General Cao is just a dream that is out of reach for this servant. I don't know if I will forget this in the future." However, the servant knows that he cannot enter this dream, otherwise the dream will be shattered."

"Your servant will not hide from your mother, Eunuch Deng has already seen what your servant is thinking!"

Shao Yao said softly, "Eunuch Deng also warned the servant, and the servant thinks it is right. The servant does not want to disappoint the lady anymore, and the servant also believes that the lady has always treated the servant well and will arrange a good home for the servant."

"You!"

Ruyi suddenly cried bitterly and hugged Shaoyao, and said softly, "You know, I was just testing you just now, I was really afraid that you agreed. But I won't send you to Cao's house, you know!"

Ruyi felt both guilty and moved.

At that moment just now, she did have the idea of ​​giving up Shao Yao.

If Shao Yao chose the Cao family, she would not send Shao Yao to the Cao family, maybe she would find the emperor to choose a marriage in a hurry to marry Shao Yao off, or at worst, she would give Shao Yao Yinliang to let her out of the palace.

Sending Shaoyao to Cao's house was too unpredictable for her.Shaoyao has a deep affection for Cao Rui, and she sent her in because she was labeling her. If there is a dispute between wives and concubines in the future, if something happens to the Cao family...Nurse Cao holds too much importance in Zhao Qingze's heart, and Zhao Qingze Whether she would blame her for this, she couldn't help but want to selfishly consider for herself and Aman.

"Paeonia, I'm sorry!"

Ruyi cried bitterly, "Actually, we have all changed. After returning to the palace, I found that many people and things had changed, but I didn't realize that I was also changing. Maybe I haven't changed. I have always been so selfish. When you I risked my life and accompanied me to Dongxiangkou without hesitation, but... now I only have a few things, and I can't promise you!"

"No, it's the servant who made a mistake! The servant has also changed. After returning to the palace, the servant became frivolous, and even did things inappropriately. The empress is still generous and doesn't care about the servant."

Shao Yao was a little at a loss, but murmured back.

"The servants will no longer cause trouble for the mother, and the servants will no longer like General Cao. The servants are happy to arrange the servants whatever the mother wants!"

"Will be fine!"

Ruyi doesn't know if it's self-comfort, or she is comforting Shaoyao: "We will all be fine, in the future, I will choose a good marriage for you, and get married in a beautiful way. The Cao family is not a good choice, we all forgot!"

"Ok!"

Shao Yao nodded while crying.

When Fangcao led her back, Ruyi and Shaoyao had packed up, just as she had just left.

With a smile on her face, Fangcao walked to Ruyi's side and said softly, "Ma'am, this servant will help you eat!"

Ruyi nodded lightly, without any objection, and was supported by Fangcao and Shaoyao to the table.

Fang Cao asked the dining room to send a variety of dim sum, salty, sweet, crispy... There is also a sticky stewed red dates and white fungus soup, which looks very tempting.

Ruyi lazily picked up a few and put them into his mouth. For the convenience of the master, the small snacks in the palace are basically made very small, almost one bite at a time.

Ruyi put down her chopsticks after taking two bites from this end, and said with a smile, "Take it away and you share it! Maybe it's after the meal time, and I'm not hungry!"

"My servant, thank you for your reward!"

Fangcao and Shaoyao knelt down and thanked each other immediately after hearing the words.

At this moment, an old palace official came into the room and said: "Madam, please see Mrs. Deng!"

Ruyi was a little surprised, but said: "Please come in!"

She felt a little strange, at this time, the banquet should be over soon, why did Deng come here first.

Deng Xian was dressed in a purple palace uniform, walked into the room, and saluted respectfully and wishfully: "I pay my respects to the imperial concubine!"

"Get up!"

Ruyi cried out, with a smile on her face, and asked, "Did the Emperor ask you to come and talk to me about something?"

"Your Majesty has a good plan!" Deng Xian forced a smile on his face, flattering him.

"The emperor asked the slave to talk to the empress, let the empress rest first, and the emperor will come back after finishing the matter!"

"Is something wrong with the emperor?"

Ruyi just felt a little puzzled, but didn't want to ask what it was.

But when Deng Xian heard this, he thought that Ruyi wanted to ask each other, and a look of embarrassment appeared on his face, he hesitated and said nothing.

"Go back and tell the emperor, before it's too late!"

Ruyi sent Deng Xian away with a smile, but she was a little dazed thinking wildly.

Knowing that Shaoyao whispered a reminder beside her, she came back to her senses, and let them clean her body as usual, and then went to see Aman, who had already fallen asleep, before she lay down on the bed and fell asleep.

Zhao Qingze got the news from the people below just when the banquet was about to end.

After hearing the news, he also got up early and left the table. He walked halfway, only then did he remember that the dragon chariot had been stopped, and Deng was asked to approach first, so he could go back and talk to Ruyi, so as not to wait for him too late.

Afterwards, he made people pick up the sedan chair and walked towards the Chaoyang Hall.

The Chaoyang Hall seemed to have already been prepared to welcome Zhao Qingze's arrival, and the gate was brightly lit.

Zhao Qingze got off the dragon chariot, looking at this place with a sense of strangeness in his eyes.Ever since Ruyi got into a fight with him because of Aman, except for the earthquake, he came here once, but he hasn't been here for a long time!
He walked up the stairs slowly. Along the way, the guards kneeled respectfully and saluted. He slowly walked to the gate of Chaoyang Palace, and the dust-sealed gate was slowly opened.

At the gate, the former Princess Rong led the other female relatives to kneel at the gate. In the hands of Princess Rong, she was holding a little girl who was just over one year old and could just walk. The eldest daughter is also Zhao Qingze's niece.At the beginning, the Supreme Emperor was conferred the title of Princess Changping, but it was a pity that he did not enjoy the glory and wealth, but he was imprisoned here along with his father.

Princess Changping's eyes were wide open, and she looked up at Zhao Qingze with some curiosity, while Princess Rong quickly pressed her head down, and lowered her own head even lower.

Princess Rong is actually a relative of Zhao Qingze, her mother is the younger sister of the Empress Dowager Xiaoci, and she is actually Zhao Qingze's cousin, but at this time, Princess Rong is kneeling timidly and respectfully.

"Get up!"

Zhao Qingze sighed secretly in his heart, and his eyes fell on Chunlan who was kneeling behind Princess Rong. Looking at her slightly swollen belly, he sneered slightly at the corner of his mouth: "It's been five months, it's good enough to hide it! No way!" Think, Zhao Qingli dared to get involved with the maids in the mother's harem! You are also very courageous, you dared to secretly communicate with Prince Rong at that time!"

Chunlan subconsciously clutched her stomach tightly, her body trembling with fear, wishing she could hide her body behind Prince Rong and Princess Rong.

Although Princess Rong was afraid, she kowtowed at Zhao Qingze and pleaded: "Your Majesty, please let the child in Chunlan's belly go!"

Zhao Qingze sneered, but he walked up to Chunlan, his eyes fell on Chunlan's stomach, and asked in a low voice, "Do you want this child? If you and the child can only live as one, do you want it?"

"I..." Chunlan didn't speak, but just lowered her head.

However, Zhao Qingze already understood her answer, yes, in her previous life, she could trade her child for points, but in this life, she could not bear to trade her child for a life!
Zhao Qingze stood up, but laughed, and said, "Don't worry, I won't move you and this child. Today is the crown prince's hundredth day, how could I be bloody on this happy day!"

"And, I will give you a favor!"

Zhao Qingze paused, and said softly: "This child, if it is a boy, I will let you and this child out of this land, and make this child a prince."

Chunlan suddenly raised her head in an instant, and looked at Zhao Qingze in disbelief.

"Chunlan, you should understand what I mean best. I have always been fair, but, when the mother made an exchange, what would you do to exchange the position of prince with the child I gave you! "

Zhao Qingze whispered with a smile, but Chunlan's heart was beating like thunder.

"I, wait and see!"

After Zhao Qingze finished speaking, he turned around and left, walked out of Chaoyang Palace, the gate slowly closed, but Chunlan's eyes revealed a bright and frightening light.

(End of this chapter)