Qing Palace - Biography of Concubine Wan

Chapter 4

No one can count how many women's blood and tears were buried in the Forbidden City, only that there is dark red soil under every inch of ground and every brick!No matter how heavy the sandalwood is, it can't cover up the pungent blood, and no amount of Buddhist scriptures can melt away the ghost buried deep in the ground!
There are tens of thousands of women in the harem, but only a few of them can die well. Most of them either die unexplainably while enjoying the honor, or grow old in the desolation of falling out of favor...

Xiaozhuang, who had been in the harem for more than twenty years, knew its horror best, but she still sent her niece and even her grandniece, two beautiful princesses on the grassland, into the palace successively.

One queen who had only been in office for two years was deposed as concubine Jing and moved to a side palace, and the other was a nameless one who had never been liked by the emperor.And the distance between her and Fulin's mother and child is getting farther and farther...

No matter Huang Taiji, who neglected to see her before his death, or Dorgon, who was entangled with her, are gone, only Fulin is still with her, but he never understands her painstaking efforts, he is always so willful and stubborn!Looking at the setting sun outside the window, she let out a long sigh!
Someone approached from behind, "Queen Mother, the emperor is here!" It was Su Mo'er.

Xiaozhuang nodded, slowly opened his eyes, and when she turned around, determination and strength had replaced the sadness between her brows.

Fulin walked in with an unhappy expression: "I have seen the Queen Mother!" Although he was unhappy, he still saluted.

"Forget it, why is the emperor so free to come here so late? Is he here to accompany the mourning family for dinner?" Xiao Zhuang twisted the beads in his hand with a calm expression.

Fulin also went straight to the point with lazy nonsense: "Emperor Niang, why did you send someone to follow your son? Don't say you don't know about it. I really can't think of anyone else besides your son!"

"Your Majesty, are you blaming Aijia?"

"I dare not!" Fulin suppressed his displeasure.

Xiaozhuang held Su Moer's hand and walked slowly in front of Fulin: "The emperor wants to go out of the palace to observe the people's sentiments, and the family can't stop it, but you are the emperor of my Qing Dynasty, and every move is related to the safety of the country. Once something happens to you Then the foundation of the Qing Dynasty will be shaken. Is this what you want to see? You have seen what happened today, so tell me, can the Ai family not send someone to protect you?" She took a breath and said: " Your majesty is Ai's family who gave birth in October, how can you tell Ai's family to rest assured?!"

"But I'm not a child anymore!" Fulin pushed back unceremoniously.

For a while, the Palace of Compassion and Ning fell silent, only a low gasp was heard, and suddenly Xiaozhuang laughed, with a bitter taste in his smile: "Yes, the emperor is no longer a child, even the empress is abolished and still a child Is it? But the mother-in-law always thinks that her child is still young and needs to be protected by the mother-in-law's wings..."

The loss revealed in Xiaozhuang's words made Fulin's tone soften: "Emperor Niang, this son-in-law didn't mean that, it's just..."

"Forget it, forget it, let's not talk about it." She didn't want to get entangled in this issue anymore, she would never agree no matter what, the emperor's safety is always the most important, even if Fulin misunderstood it!

"I heard that your hand was injured, did you let the imperial doctor see it, let the Ai family have a look!"

"It's nothing, it's just a skin injury, it'll be fine after a few days!"

Xiao Zhuang was still worried, pulled Fulin to sit down, rolled up his sleeves and inspected carefully, only to see that the wound was wrapped with a silk handkerchief, with blood oozing faintly, she frowned and untied the silk handkerchief, and when she saw the wound on her arm, Those few inch-long wounds were very painful: "It's so serious and you say it's okay!" She gently blew on the wound and said to Su Mo'er: "Hurry up and come to the imperial doctor Xuan, and take my bottle of white jade Bring Shengjisan, too!" No matter what the fuss, it's mother and son, blood is thicker than water!

Seeing Xiaozhuang's tense look, Fulin was a little touched, the original unhappiness was gone, and when he turned his head and saw Fang Sipa on the table, he couldn't help thinking of Sipa's master's beautiful face, the most unforgettable thing was that she bowed her head for him The gentleness when bandaging!

"I want to discuss something with you..."

When Fulin finished speaking his thoughts, Xiaozhuang slapped the table and stood up angrily: "No! I will never allow you to do such a ridiculous thing!
"Why not? Don't I even have the right to like a woman?! If so, then what's the point of being the emperor!" Seeing Xiao Zhuang rebuffed without even thinking about it, Fulin couldn't help being furious. .

"Because you are the emperor, it is even more impossible. All the people in the world are looking at you. If you let them know that an emperor is going to steal his brother's wife, what will they think of you? Have you ever thought about it?" Xiao Zhuang's amazing thoughts about his son The anger in my heart can no longer be described in words.

"It's up to them how people in the world think about me. Besides, aren't they married yet?!" Fulin was determined to bring Dong E Xianglan into the harem.

"Your Majesty! Don't forget that the marriage between Bogor and the daughter of the Eshuo family was decided by your Huang Ama while he was still alive. Don't tell me you want to go against your Huang Ama's will!" Xiaozhuang said with a warning.

At that time, filial piety was very valued. Even the emperor could not change the will of the previous emperor at will, otherwise it would be regarded as unfilial and treasonous!
She would never allow Fulin to do such an excessive thing, but she still underestimated the position in Fulin's heart of the Dong E family who only met once.Xiao Zhuang's words didn't stop him: "No matter what, I will definitely get her, even if I get a bad name for it!"

Xiaozhuang didn't expect his son's determination to be so firm: "If I say no, I won't do it. I want her to enter the palace unless I die!" He even said the word death, and one can imagine the anger in his heart.

Seeing that Xiaozhuang didn't agree with what he said for a long time, Fulin couldn't help feeling angry: "I am the king of a country, and I don't need you to do whatever I want. Besides, wasn't the relationship between you and Dorgon worse than me back then?" ?!"

"You...you..." Xiaozhuang didn't expect Fulin to say such words, pointing at his nose and trembling with anger, wishing to slap him down, she pointed her fingers out of the door and said angrily: " You get out!"

Fulin was also very angry, and went straight out without even saying goodbye.Seeing the emperor coming out angrily, the imperial physician who was waiting outside the door knelt down to pay his respects.

It was very hot in the afternoon, the sun was shining brightly, people were dizzy, and the wind was hot, people hid in the house to rest and did not want to take a step in this kind of weather. A housekeeper and servant worked outside the house under the shade of the trees.

Qingru was leaning on the bamboo couch and slowly shaking the round fan. Because she was in her own boudoir, she was only wearing a robe, not a gown, and there was a large piece of ice on the ground, which could not stop emitting a trace of coldness. Compared with the heat outside, the house looks much cooler.

Qingru sent Zijin and the others back to the house and kept thinking about what happened on the street last time. Every time she thought of Luo Jue's rude appearance after seeing Dong E Xianglan, she felt extremely uncomfortable, let alone Luo Jue sent her back to the house in person. Since Dong E's appearance, he hasn't looked her in the eye again, and even when she said goodbye to him, she just hummed casually.

She knew in her heart that Dong E Xianglan, who appeared later than her, had already firmly grasped Luo Jue's heart. The number one beauty in the capital really lived up to her reputation, and her beauty was amazing even for a woman like her.

As for the party of the Red Flower Society, she has already investigated it clearly. It is a member of the Changfeng Hall under the Red Flower Society. Last month, E Shuo was ordered to lead the army to encircle and suppress the rebellious party and killed their hall master.The survivors wanted to assassinate him after they escaped, but who knew that they had been prepared and failed, so they turned to kill their daughter, and the girl named Xiaoyou was the daughter of Changfeng Hall's master.

In contrast, what puzzled her was the origins of the group of masked men. Not only were they strong in martial arts, they also cooperated with each other tacitly. A touch of apricot yellow!

Both bright yellow and apricot yellow are colors that can only be used by the royal family. Among them, the control of apricot yellow is a little looser. In addition to the members of the royal family, the emperor also used it as the color of the yellow mandarin jacket and rewarded those who have made meritorious service. I've seen it in Manali, and it's exactly the same color as that one.

These people's backgrounds are absolutely extraordinary, but they saluted Luo Jue. It seems that this Luo Jue has a great background. Could it be that he is Prince Baylor?
The more I thought about it, the more I didn't understand. At this moment, the closed door was pushed open, and a small figure came in. It was her three-year-old niece Fang'er. She came from nowhere and was sweating profusely. , flushed.She staggered to Qingru with her short legs, raised her head and stretched out her chubby little hands with excitement, and shouted: "Auntie, Auntie, eat Tangtang!" There is a sticky yellow thing that has almost melted.

Qing Ru looked at the disfigured melted candy, how could she dare to eat it, and hurriedly said, "Fang'er is good, my aunt won't eat it, you can eat it!"

Fang'er opened her big round eyes and said in a childish voice: "Eat, it's sweet!" Although she wanted to eat it very much, she still wanted to let her aunt eat it first. "Qingru had no choice but to lower her head and lick it. Fang'er saw that her aunt had eaten it before she ate the candy in her hand with relish.

Qingru picked up Fang'er Xiangxiang's soft body and put it on her lap, and straightened the crooked hair accessories on her head. After she finished eating the candy, she patted her flushed cheek and asked, "Why are you running alone?" Here we go, where is your mother-in-law?"

Fang'er licked the corner of her mouth reluctantly: "Emiang is gone, Fang'er can't find it!" After eating the candy, she became restless, sitting on Qingru's lap and writhing, just about to put her down, Unexpectedly, she suddenly stretched out her little finger to point at a certain place, and kept shouting: "Flowers! Flowers!"

Looking in the direction she pointed, it turned out to be as clear as the "autumn rain and hibiscus picture" just drawn. The inscription on the picture is: clear water comes out of hibiscus, and you will be blessed by God.It was just what Luo Jue wrote to her in the restaurant last time, the tone change of 'ru' is 'ru', and the combination of the first word of the two sentences is 'qingru'

The thoughts that had just calmed down were aroused again, just thinking that Zipei suddenly broke in, still yelling: "Miss! Miss! Come, come! Hey, the little lady is here too!"

Qingru glared at her displeasedly: "What are you yelling about, explain what's coming."

Zipei scratched her head in embarrassment, then said excitedly: "Miss, Miss Shuiyin is here!"

"Really? Where is she?!" Qingru stood up in surprise. Shuiyin is the daughter of Lord Mokesuo, governor of Hunan Province. Her surname is Guarjia. Shuiyin was a few months older than Qingru, and the two played together since they were young. It was not until Moxo was transferred to Hunan at the age of 12 that they lost contact and sent letters instead. The last time we met was two years ago.

"I'm chatting with Fujin in the front hall!" Zipei took Fang'er and said.

Qing Ru hurriedly tied her clothes and changed her shoes and went straight to the front hall. As soon as she entered the hall, she saw a figure, it was Shui Yin, she was wearing a pink flag dress, with a lotus leaf and lotus root hairpin on her head, her eyebrows were light It's even more pleasant to not see anything for two years.

The two were so happy that they didn't know what to say, Qingru took her hand and asked with a smile: "Sister, why did you come to see me this time?"

"What? Don't you welcome me?" Shui Yin asked pretending to be unhappy.

"How can it be? I can't even look forward to it. I'm afraid that my sister is too busy to forget me as a younger sister!"

"Look at your glib mouth!" Shui Yin smiled lightly and scraped Qing Ru's cheeks.

"Sister, didn't you come here for the draft next month?" Qing Ru guessed.

"No, the draft is coming soon. I'm thinking about coming to Beijing earlier, so I can get together with you, and then we can go to the election together. It's much better to have someone as a companion than to be alone. Maybe we will be together in the future She was chosen by the emperor to be a concubine!"

"Enter the palace?" Qingru never thought that one day she would enter the palace and become a concubine. What she wanted to marry was the best man in the world, and the emperor was undoubtedly the most ruthless person in the world.However, she also knew that this was the only way for a lady in the official family to go. As for whether to choose her as a concubine or send it back to the family, or to give it to a certain prince Baylor, it was up to the emperor.

Shuiyin didn't think deeply about Qingru's slightly weird expression: "Yeah, let's talk about my sister's family background, how many people can match you in terms of appearance and character alone, if you can't even choose Who else can be selected?!"

Qingru smiled: "Sister, you are making fun of me. There are many people who are better than me, and sister, you are much better than me."

Shuiyin wanted to say more, but Zhang Jiashi interjected with a smile: "Okay, okay, you chatted non-stop when you met, Qing'er, why don't you arrange a place for your Sister Shuiyin first."

"What Er Niang said is that I was negligent. Sister, you can live in Jiyuexuan next to me. I will find a few maids to serve you later. If you need anything, just say it."

"Okay, will I still be polite to you, not to mention I brought a few servants myself!" Shui Yin nodded with a smile.

Just as he was talking, Sony came back, followed by Gabra and Suo'etu, and they brought back a shocking news: Prince Xiang died!

The death of a prince is enough to shock the government and the public. What's more, the day before his death, he was announced to the palace alone by the emperor. No one knows what they said and did. They only know that they committed suicide the next day after they came back. The cause of death is confusing. !

On the same day, Sonny went to the Prince's Mansion with his wife and children to express their condolences. When they got off the sedan chair in front of the Prince's Mansion, they saw two white lanterns in front of the door with a big word "Dian" written on them. , sedan chairs of various colors were parked all around, and it seemed that many people had already arrived first.

Qingru and her two elder brothers followed Soni and his wife into the mourning hall where the coffin tablet was parked. Concubine Yijing was also there. She kept wiping her tears with a handkerchief and went up to meet the ceremony. Shouting in a high-pitched voice: "The emperor is here!" Everyone was shocked, unexpectedly, the emperor came to express condolences in person, and quickly knelt down on the ground, shouting: "Welcome to the emperor!"

Qingru lowered her head behind the crowd, and waited for the only bright yellow in the world to step in before she raised her head secretly. This was the first time she saw the emperor, and the same emperor also saw her...

The days are still going on day by day, the death of Prince Xiang is gradually fading in people's minds, and in ten days or so it will be the big day of the draft every three years, and the girls from all over the country have come to the capital one after another, and start preparing for the draft .

However, it is a different scene in the Suo Mansion. Everyone thinks that the young lady has become weird these days. Since she came back from the Prince Xiang Mansion, she has been shutting herself in the room and copying the "Book of Songs" over and over again. She doesn't talk to anyone about her poems, she just copies them from morning to night, no matter who asks her, she doesn't say anything, she is completely different from the innocent, cheerful and laughing appearance before.

On the fifth night, she finally left the room and came to the door of Sony's study room. Seeing that the light was still on, she walked in. Sony was writing a memorial inside. Son? Why are you here so late, is there something wrong?"

Qingru nodded, went to the desk, picked up a pen and wrote on the paper: "Guanju" and "Emperor" and asked after the two words: "Ama, do you think it is possible for these two words to be connected?" Tian didn't speak, and his voice sounded hoarse.

Sony's heart skipped a beat: "Qing'er, why are you asking this?"

"Ama, answer me!" The helpless look in Sony's heart ached, and he touched Qingru's head and said kindly: "Ama knows that you are unhappy about the upcoming draft, but this is our fate. I might as well tell you that the queen mother has ordered the emperor to bring the daughters of several ministers into the palace, and you are one of them!

Qing'er, Ama understands that you have been determined to marry someone who can match you and treat you as the only person since you were a child, but the emperor is different, he is the husband of all the concubines and empresses in the harem, women in the palace do not have the word "only" Yes, you have to remember this sentence!As for 'Guanju'... You'd better forget it! ! "Sony knows that saying this is cruel to his daughter, but he can't help it...
"But...but didn't the former emperor build a Guanju Palace for Concubine Chen? Didn't he only love Concubine Chen?" Qing Ru retorted urgently, she urgently needed a reason to convince her dazed mind Heart.

Soni walked to the window, pointed to the bright moon in the sky and said to Qingru: "Daughter, don't you think this moon is big and round? If you compare it to the emperor, then the stars around it are the concubines in the harem. One of them may be brighter than the others, but it will never be the only one around the moon!
Back then, the former emperor showed great favor to Concubine Chen, and even made the newborn eighth son the crown prince, and even pardoned the world for him!However, even at that time, there was still a queen and three concubines.Qing'er, I don't know if you will become the emperor's only one, but the emperor will definitely be your only one forever! "

Master Qingru looked at the bright moon in the night sky, the moonlight gently sprinkled on her body, the halo rippled like water, and her face was even more white as jade in the brilliance!The bright moon was getting bigger and bigger in her eyes. She closed her eyes, opened them, turned her head, and smiled brightly: "Ama, I think I have found the best man in the world!" He is the emperor of the Qing Dynasty with the pseudonym Luo Jue!

Although Sony didn't quite understand, it knew that Qingru was talking about the emperor, and he was very relieved to see that she could figure it out, but soon he was worried about his daughter's future, and he said earnestly: "Qing'er, Ama has already reached a very high position. I am a minister, and the glory of the Hesheli family is unmatched by anyone! Ama doesn’t need your glory in the harem, I just want you to grow old in peace. Ama is 60 years old this year, and I don’t want to be white one day Send someone to give away the black-haired person, daughter, do you remember?!" Tears welled up in Sony's eyes after saying these words, and his straight waist seemed a little bent at this moment.

Qingru looked at Ama's white hair at the temples, and thought that she would no longer be able to serve her relatives, so she couldn't help feeling sad, and said with a sob: "Ama, don't worry, my daughter will not only be safe, but also become the most favored in the harem." Concubine, when the time comes, you can go home in peace and prosperity!"

On July 13th of the [-]th year of Shunzhi, five days before the draft, Shuiyin took Qingru to go shopping to buy jewelry early in the morning, followed by Zijin and the maid Chunlan brought from home by Shuiyin.

In one morning, I almost visited all the jewelry stores on East Street, from hairpins and tassels to bracelets, earrings, and necklaces, everything that one expects to find!Shuiyin played with a golden hairpin in his hand, and praised: "It is said that the things in the capital are good, and now it seems that it is true. Just talking about the workmanship of this hairpin, it is impossible to buy it in Suzhou. To be honest , my sister really envies my sister that you can live in the capital!" She said half-jokingly.

Qingru smiled slightly: "Sister, if you like it, you can just buy a few more, but I'm afraid that after my sister enters the palace and sees the things in the palace, these will not be able to enter your eyes!"

After walking for a while, both of them felt a little hungry. At a glance, there were no restaurants and restaurants around, only some small stalls, and Shuiyin didn't want to eat on the side of the road, so Qingru had no choice but to buy two steamed buns on the opposite side. Wanting to leave, she suddenly caught a glimpse of a ragged little beggar in the corner staring at the steamed bun in her hand and swallowing.

Qingru has always been soft-hearted, seeing this situation, she handed over a steamed bun, the little beggar took it ecstatically but didn't eat it, but carefully hid it in his arms, Qingru didn't understand, squatted down and asked softly: "Aren't you hungry? Why don't you eat?"

The little beggar was very grateful to the lady who gave him steamed buns, and replied naively: "I'll keep this for my brother to eat together!"

Unexpectedly, this little beggar took such good care of his younger brother, he would rather be hungry than eat alone, "What's your name, how old are you?"

"My name is Maoer, I am ten years old, and my younger brother is called Gouer."

Hearing a boy called Mao'er, Qingru couldn't help covering her mouth and chuckling lightly. The smile didn't matter. Mao'er was stunned for a long time before she came to her senses: "Sister, you look so good-looking, like a fairy!"

Qingru smiled and handed him another steamed bun and some scattered silver, but the cat only took the steamed bun, but didn't take any money, asked him why he didn't want it, his little face was serious Said: "My mother said that one must be content and not be greedy. Greedy words will eventually lead to poverty. Only contentment can lead to happiness. Sister, you are a good person. Cat and brother will remember you forever!"

Hearing these words, Qingru was quite moved in her heart, such a young child had such integrity, and asked again: "Where is your mother?"

"Mother passed away two years ago!" Mao'er lowered her head sadly.

It seems that Mao'er's mother is not an ordinary peasant woman. Qingru suddenly had an idea in her heart: "Mao'er, would you like to come with me, so that I won't have to beg for a living in the future, and I can also study and practice martial arts." Seeing that Maoer has clear eyebrows and eyes, he is honest and honest. It is rare that he is not greedy. If he is handed over to the second brother to train him, he will definitely be an outstanding talent in the future

I thought Mao'er would definitely agree, but he shook his head and refused without thinking: "No, if I leave with you, then my brother will not be taken care of, he will be very pitiful!"

After all, he was still reluctant to part with his younger brother, and when Qingru agreed that he could take his younger brother with him, he immediately agreed happily.

Qingru led him to Shuiyin, and repeated the conversation just now, Shuiyin nodded and said: "It's rare that my sister has such a kind heart, and it's also a blessing for the two brothers, I hope they will not disappoint your expectations, sister!"

Just as Qingru was about to speak, she suddenly caught a glimpse of a familiar figure from the corner of her eyes. She quickly put the cat in Zijin's hand, confessed a few words in a hurry, and then chased him out alone. After following for a long time, she finally found herself in a deserted alley Li caught up with Fulin who was in Weifu, but Tu Hai was not by his side today.

He didn't seem to be in a good mood today, so he asked casually, "What are you doing here?"

Qingru saluted nervously: "The emperor forgives my sins, the little girl has something I want to give you, please accept it!" As she spoke, she took out a finely embroidered purse with a blue dragon playing in the water embroidered on it.

Fulin took it and felt that there seemed to be something inside, and was about to open it, Qingru hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, wait a moment, let the young lady leave before opening it!" After saying that, she hurriedly left.

Fulin waited for her to leave before opening it. Inside was only a piece of paper with a poem written on it.Fulin glanced at the corner of his mouth with a sneering smile: Hesheli Qingru is nothing more than that, but he will remember her!

Countless shreds of paper flew out of his hands, and the shredded papers flew in the wind with the same broken poems, like a group of butterflies lost in the bustling streets...

There are plums, but they are actually seven.Beg me, a common man, to be lucky.

There are plums, but they are actually three.I beg my son, let me know what it is today.

There are plums, and they are in the basket.I beg me, my fellow, just say it.

—— "The Book of Songs. Ru Nan. There Are Plums"

We will no longer have the opportunity to know what kind of feelings Concubine Wan, who had not yet entered the palace, wrote it with, let alone what kind of mood Fulin was in when she saw this poem many years later …
(End of this chapter)