Traveling through the harem: the favorite concubine

Chapter 97

When Zhao Qingze rushed back to the Summer Resort, it was already late at night, and everyone in the palace had already slept peacefully.

After being served by the servants, he cleaned himself up and returned to the bedroom.

The bed curtain in the dormitory was not put down, as if it was waiting for him to go back to sleep peacefully. Ruyi slept in the middle of the bed, lying on her side, holding the quilt awkwardly with her hands, but she was sleeping very deeply. When he walked in, Neither woke her up.

Zhao Qingze picked up the book that fell on the ground, glanced at the cover, the corners of his mouth were slightly raised, he gently put the book aside, his eyes fell on Ruyi's face, but he couldn't help sighing, stretched out his hand Adjusted a comfortable sleeping position for her.

Ruyi hummed softly twice, but her body was very cooperative and let him manipulate her. When he withdrew her hand, Ruyi suddenly turned around and turned her head towards the inside of the bed.Also vacated more than half of the bed for him.

Zhao Qingze didn't fall asleep, but sat on the edge of the bed with his back on his back. He turned his head and glanced at Ruyi, but buried his head deeply in his palm again.

When Ruyi woke up, she found herself lying in Zhao Qingze's arms. She opened her eyes wide in surprise, but Zhao Qingze had already noticed that she had woken up, so he patted her body and said softly: "Sleep!" All right?"

Ruyi nodded, and asked strangely: "Why did you come back from the palace so quickly? Nothing happened in the palace, right?"

"It's nothing, it's just that Concubine Jin is about to give birth."

Zhao Qingze just casually said something to deal with, and didn't say anything more.

"Grand Concubine Jin gave birth?" This was the first time she heard about it, and she didn't know about Concubine Jin's pregnancy at first.

But the matter of Concubine Jin reminded Ruyi of something, she said slowly: "Speaking of which, I remember last time you told me that Chunlan seemed to be pregnant too, counting the days, it should be in these few months ?”

Zhao Qingze's eyelids drooped slightly, and he hummed lightly. His expression was flat and no emotion could be seen on his face, but the hand that suddenly tightened while holding the book showed the turmoil in his heart.

"Coincidentally, I dreamed of Chunlan yesterday..."

Ruyi said softly, while Zhao Qingze subconsciously looked at Ruyi's face, tried to suppress and calmly asked, "What did you dream about?"

Ruyi frowned, and said softly: "It's quite bizarre, and I can't remember it clearly. There was a scene when we were young, not long after we entered the palace... It seems, it doesn't seem to be, Chunlan seems to be standing in front of her. Let me go and play with her."

"It's just a dream, don't overthink it."

Zhao Qingze put down the book in his hand, took a deep breath, and spoke aloud.

"Now that you're awake, get up and have breakfast. I'll take you to the temple on the mountain in the morning."

After a pause, he said this sentence again.

"it is good……"

Ruyi nodded when she heard the words, but asked a little hesitantly: "Aren't you busy?"

She remembered that even when she came to the summer resort, Zhao Qingze was also very busy every day, hardly seeing anyone before meal time and sleep time.

"not busy."

Zhao Qingze showed a gentle smile on his face, patted Ruyi on the shoulder, and said again: "I have nothing to do today, so I will stay with you."

"Do you want to bring An Rui?"

Ruyi sat up and was about to get off the bed when she suddenly thought of An Rui, so she asked again.

"Take them together!"

Zhao Qingze also answered straightforwardly, and nodded with a smile.

"Okay, then I'll ask someone to speak to An Rui."

Ruyi laughed happily, her delicate eyebrows and eyes were so charming that Zhao Qingze couldn't help showing a smile on his face, but after Ruyi left, the smile on his face seemed to freeze for a moment.

The temple on the mountain was not far from the summer palace, and the three of them went up in a chariot, not tired at all, and after a while, they had already arrived at the gate of the mountain temple.

The building of the temple is very magnificent. Compared with the summer palace at the foot of the mountain, there are no pilgrims like other temples. The gate has already been opened, and the abbot in red cassock has led a group of monks to wait at the gate of the temple. caught.

Even though he is an outsider, is it possible for him to be so transcendent that he is truly inseparable from the mundane.

The emperor of the world, even here, is equally aloof. After leading all the monks to kneel down and salute, the presiding officer greeted Zhao Qingze and others and walked into the temple.

Although Ruyi accompanied her mother to the temple to burn incense and worship Buddha in her previous life, she went to their small local temples. It was the first time she saw such a large temple, and the temple here was similar to the one she had visited in her previous life. There are some differences in the world, and even the feeling these monks give her is very different.

She looked at it curiously, while An Rui was talking softly with Ruyi on the side, talking about some things here.

Ruyi also heard about some things when she was in the palace. It is said that there used to be a nunnery here, which specially received royal family members. Also, some concubines who had no children, waited for them to serve After the emperor passed away, he would come here from the palace to clean up.Later, one of the emperors of the Zhao family abolished this rule and changed it to a more humane one of staying in the palace and being supported by the palace.

No matter, Ruyi has heard about the lives of some concubines before, but in fact, even in the palace, it is also difficult.

In the final analysis, this temple and nunnery are supported by the royal family and serve the royal family. If the superiors are unhappy, they will no longer support them, and they will cease to exist.

Ruyi walked slowly, the scenery here is extremely beautiful, although it is not as finely crafted as the scenery in the palace, but it is more natural and simple, and also more vibrant.

Cooperating with Ruyi, Zhao Qingze walked very slowly. The road from the gate to the main hall was not far away, but they walked for quite a while.

As soon as you enter the main hall, you will see a Buddha statue with a golden body in front of you, and you will feel an indescribable feeling.The Buddha statue is exquisitely carved and huge. His palm is as big as Ruyi's body.

Standing below, Ruyi only felt that she was as small as an ant, and suddenly felt a sense of awe in her heart.

She respectfully accepted the three incense candles offered by the people below, knelt down in front of the futon, and sincerely prayed in her heart: May the Buddha bless the family safe and sound, Qingze, Aman, she and the child in her belly are all safe and sound. To be healthy and live happily ever after.I also wish... Lord Buddha bless her parents not to be too sad, not to miss her too much, so that they can enjoy their old age without any worries.also hope...

Ruyi didn't dare to think about it anymore, it was the first time she discovered that there were so many desires in her heart, so many wishes, so many extravagant demands.

"May the Lord Buddha bless you."

Ruyi thought silently in her heart, she doesn't expect anything else, as long as... as long as her first two wishes can be fulfilled, she will be satisfied in this life.

She respectfully held the incense sticks and carefully kowtowed three times on the futon, then supported by Shao Yao, and watched Shao Yao insert the three incense sticks into the incense burner with her own eyes, and she was slightly relieved just now.

As if in this way, she can get what she wants.

Ruyi turned around and saw Anrui touching a stick in a bamboo tube and shaking it gently.

She looked at Zhao Qingze questioningly, Zhao Qingze smiled and helped her waist, and said softly: "I'm afraid An Rui is asking about marriage!"

Ruyi heard the words, but suddenly laughed.That's right, An Rui is not close. As a princess, she has no worries about food and clothing in this life. The only thing she will worry about and the most recent thing is probably the marriage.

However, Ruyi couldn't help laughing when she was looking for marriage here, but she felt that she was a little offended, and she said a few words in her heart: The Lord Buddha is omnipotent.Lord Buddha is omnipotent.

At this time, a stick had fallen to the ground.

An Rui opened her eyes nervously, the maid beside her had already picked up the stick and handed it to her.

Ruyi was about to go up to speak, but Zhao Qingze reached out and picked up another stick placed on the incense table, handed it to Ruyi, and said softly, "Since we're here, let's ask for a divination."

Ruyi hesitated to accept it. She didn't really want to ask for it. Although she also wrote superstitions, Ruyi felt that it was a bit strange to ask for a lottery, whether it was a good lottery or a bad lottery.

"Begging for what?"

Ruyi didn't have any thoughts in her mind for a while, but just looked at Zhao Qingze inquiringly.

Zhao Qingze's eyes fell on Ruyi's lottery, and he sighed, "Please be safe!"

Hearing this, Ruyi frowned slightly.Seek peace?Why does she feel a little weird.But after thinking about it, indeed, what she hopes for in this life is peace and safety.

She smiled, supported by Shao Yao, knelt down on the futon again, and then gently began to shake the stick.

I don't know how long it was shaken, only heard a "pop", Ruyi opened her eyes, and saw that a stick had fallen on the ground.

When Shao Yao was about to pick it up, suddenly Zhao Qingze walked to the place where the lottery was dropped, picked it up, and threw it back into the lottery holder.

Ruyi looked in surprise, but Zhao Qingze helped Ruyi up, and said softly: "Don't ask, with me here, nothing will happen."

Ruyi nodded, but felt a little strange about Zhao Qingze's abnormality today.When the lottery in her hand was about to be handed over to Shao Yao to put back on the incense case, Anrui came back from unwrapping the lottery, no need to ask any more questions, seeing the smile on her face, she knew that the lottery must be signed.

Ruyi blinked at An Rui with a little teasing, causing An Rui to blush.

Tea and vegetarian food were prepared in the temple, so Ruyi and his party had lunch in the temple before going down the mountain.

The taste of vegetarian food is good. Although it doesn't have the slightest smell of meat, Ruyi eats it with great relish. She even used a lot of ordinary rice, so she ate too much. She walked down the mountain for a while, supported by Zhao Qingze. He was carried down the mountain.

As soon as she lay down on the soft cushion here, she narrowed her eyes a little drowsily. On the way back, she was not as interested as when she came here to look at the scenery outside.

As soon as she returned to the bedroom, she was put into bed by Shao Yao and fell into a deep sleep.

Zhao Qingze was by Ruyi's side, and only after she had fallen asleep for a long time did she walk out of the bedroom door.

Deng Xian followed Zhao Qingze step by step, and after walking a certain distance, he whispered: "Your Majesty, the imperial doctor has arrived."

Zhao Qingze nodded slightly, and walked into the study.

The imperial doctor who was waiting in the room hurriedly knelt down to salute, but after he excused himself, he looked down at the medicine box on his back.

"The medicine... is it ready?"

Zhao Qingze asked.

The imperial doctor responded, and then took out the package of prepared medicine from the medicine box.

Zhao Qingze just glanced at it, but turned away, and asked in a deep voice: "The baby in the imperial concubine's belly is almost five months old. After this package of medicine, the imperial concubine's body..."

"Your Majesty, abortion is harmful to the body of a pregnant woman. I dare not guarantee that the imperial concubine will not be harmed, but I will try my best to make the imperial concubine suffer the least damage. The development of the fetus of the imperial concubine is extremely slow. If it takes five months, the minister will I dare not prescribe this kind of medicine to the noble concubine again."

In fact, it would be best to kill the child within three months, but the imperial doctor dared not say this at this time.

He glanced at Zhao Qingze cautiously, and said softly: "This medicine is mixed with the soup that the concubine nourishes every day. After seven days, the baby will naturally fall, and the concubine will not suffer too much. After the pregnancy, the concubine will not suffer too much." Take good care of it, and over time, your body will recover naturally."

"The noble concubine's child..." Zhao Qingze took a deep breath, and said softly, "Is there really no way to get the best of both worlds?"

The imperial doctor lowered his head and said nothing.

And Zhao Qingze smiled mockingly, and clenched his hands tightly into fists: "You hand over the medicine to Mr. Deng, step back!"

He turned his back, his eye sockets could no longer be controlled, and turned red.

Ruyi was woken up by starvation. Although she ate a lot at noon, it was all vegetarian and not a bit greasy. At this time, her stomach had already been digested and it was empty.

Shao Yao, who was guarding the side, heard the words, smiled and told the servants to pass the meal.

She helped Ruyi out of bed, just when she was putting on her coat, Ruyi smelled a smell of chicken soup.When she looked towards the door, Fangcao had already walked in with a tray in her hand and a cup of soup.

"I was just saying I was hungry, so Fangcao came over with something. It's okay, drink some soup before eating other things."

Although Ruyi was already a little tired of the soup that she drank every day, she was really hungry now, and she had to drink this soup every day if she didn't like it, so she happily accepted it. .

Fangcao carefully put the soup in front of Ruyi, but stood by the side and stopped doing anything.

Shao Yao glanced at Fangcao strangely, but said nothing. Instead, she took over Fangcao's work, poured the soup into a bowl, and stirred it gently with a spoon.

"Your Majesty, it's still a little hot. I'll give it to you after it warms up."

Seeing Ruyi's gaze fell into the bowl, Shaoyao said something with a smile, and then gently stirred the golden and clear soup with a spoon. The medicinal materials are stewed together, but there will never be a little dregs of the medicinal materials, lest it spoil the appetite of the master.

Therefore, Ruyi can accept this slightly medicinal soup.

Shaoyao stirred it lightly for a while, and after touching the soup on the side of the bowl with her hand, a smile appeared on her face: "Your Majesty, it's not hot anymore, drink it slowly."

Ruyi nodded with a smile, and took it from Shaoyao's hand.

She took a scoop with a spoon, and when she was about to send it to her mouth, her hand stopped suddenly.

"My lady..."

Fangcao called out in a low voice, feeling very uneasy.

But Ruyi suddenly laughed, put the spoon back into the bowl, held her belly in both hands, and said with a little excitement: "It moved, the child kicked me."

It’s not that Ruyi’s first fetal movement was so tense during her first pregnancy, it’s just that the baby has been very quiet, and it’s only moved once after being pregnant for such a long time. This is the second time, and compared to the last time, it makes Ruyi feel Even more active than last time.

"Really?" Shaoyao was also a little excited when she heard the words. Last time, when Ruyi was pregnant with Aman, Shaoyao had touched her and felt the fetal movement. This time, she felt a little anxious in her heart, and asked cautiously: " Empress, can this servant touch it?"

"Touch it!"

Ruyi generously agreed, took Shao Yao's hand and put it on her stomach: "Do you feel it, he is still moving, he is really energetic."

"Yeah yeah!"

Shaoyao showed a very excited expression on her face and nodded her head repeatedly.Summer clothes are light and thin, even if the fetal movement is not violent, you can still feel it.

When Ruyi raised her head with a smile, she saw Fangcao was in a daze, and her gaze fell on her stomach, thinking that she wanted to touch it too, so she smiled and said, "Fangcao, come and touch her too."

Hearing this, Shao Yao stepped aside.

Fangcao might as well call her out of the blue, she trembled in fright, Shaoyao saw Fangcao's dumbfounded look, and thought it was the first time she encountered such a situation, she was surprised, and she was the same way back then.So he smiled and pulled her over, and put her hand on Ruyi's stomach like someone who had come here.

"You lean against it gently, do you feel the movement inside?"

Just as she was speaking, Fangcao felt a slight tremor in her hand, and her heart trembled along with it.At that moment, she almost cried out, but she held it back.

She just stood up when she saw Ruyi reached for a spoon and was about to scoop soup into a bowl.

Her mind suddenly went blank, and she didn't know what she had done. When she came to her senses, she had already reached out and snatched the bowl of soup.

Ruyi and Shaoyao looked at her in surprise, Fangcao came back to her senses, and subconsciously found an excuse: "The soup has been cold for a long time, and this servant will change a bowl for the empress."

She put the bowl on the tray with the soup pot and was about to take it out.

Shao Yao carefully reminded: "You don't need to replace them all, the soup is still hot."

At this moment, both Ruyi and Shaoyao sensed that something was wrong with Fangcao, but they didn't think much about it. They just thought that Fangcao had something on their minds, that's why they didn't care about things.

"The servant is negligent."

Fangcao blinked her eyes, avoided Ruyi and Shaoyao's gaze, lowered her head, but burst into tears.

"Fangcao, what happened!"

Ruyi felt a little strange and asked aloud, but Fangcao shook her head and said nothing.

She felt guilty and afraid at the same time, she had to listen to Eunuch Deng and the emperor, but she really couldn't do it, and she was afraid of death, she was not a fool, she naturally knew that if the baby in the imperial concubine's belly was lost, then she would It will definitely be a victim.

She didn't want to do it, and she didn't dare to say it.

(End of this chapter)