refuse to be a concubine

Chapter 7 Okay, so embarrassing!
The man behind him froze.

Without thinking about it, I turned around and quickly kicked my feet towards his crotch, but I was caught by him before my feet touched the hem of his clothes.

Looking up in panic, a pair of bright eyes with a gentle smile rushed into my eyes like a shooting star.

I stared at him blankly, dressed in white clothes, with a high crown and hair tied up, and wide sleeves fluttering, standing gracefully under the starry sky, with a handsome face like jade.

"Girls can't be so rude." He smiled, and the curved smile on the corner of his mouth blended with the tenderness in his eyes.

Under his gentle gaze, my disturbed heart gradually calmed down. When I retracted my feet, I felt my face was hot, but I still looked at him with wide eyes. I am so greedy for such tenderness. Since my mother died, I have been alone Lonely and helpless, bumping into walls everywhere, pretending to enter the palace with an uneasy heart, trembling, doing things in an orderly manner, but this heart is always hanging in the air.

In my longing eyes, his eyes are like the moon, and his smile is more gentle, "What's your name?"

"Su En, mother calls me Enen."

"Enen, what a nice name." He put one hand on my face and stroked it back and forth, deceiving me, looking at him up close is confusing. "This face doesn't look very good from a distance, but it looks very delicious up close. The skin is as tender as jade fat, smooth as gossamer, and feels good to the touch."

Faced with his increasingly frivolous tone, I should have pushed him away and turned to leave, but this gentle voice attracted me deeply like a magnet.

Junyan's distance is getting closer and closer, so close that I can feel his gentle breathing.

I was still in a daze, and felt that my heart had been dialed by something, and that feeling was very strange.

"Master Shangshu, are you teasing the court lady again? Oh, fortunately, the servant came out to wait for you early. If the emperor arrives in Feior Palace and hasn't seen you grow old, the servant will be punished again."

The sudden voice woke me up suddenly, looking at the man in front of me who was looking at me with a narrow smile, I felt as if my whole body was on fire, and I was so ashamed.

What is this doing?So frivolous, his only smile can make me give birth to fantasies.

I was secretly angry, angry that I was such a casual woman, in front of a strange man, I actually...

"Master Shangshu, let's go." The father-in-law urged from the side.

He is Lord Shangshu?I am amazed.

"Enen, what a nice name, I like it, and your hair fragrance."

He whispered such a sentence in my ear, smiled brightly in my bewilderment, and left lightly.

The night wind that blows is as cool as ice water, but I feel hot all over, wishing I could dig a hole in the ground.

It was almost midnight when we got back to the laundry bureau.

When I entered the room, I saw Aunt Suyan sitting on the bench. Seeing me, she was relieved and didn't ask any questions. She just said: "It's good to be back, it's late at night, let's go to bed early."

My heart was in a mess, I didn't know what to say, so I just nodded, and when Aunt Su closed the door, I buried my face deep in the bedding, thinking of how stupid I was in front of the man just now, I really wanted to yell loudly to relieve my annoyance .

It's just that I didn't expect that the majestic Shang Shu of the Yan Dynasty was so young, so handsome, and so frivolous!

The next day, the sky was clear and the weather was excellent.

Under the big locust tree not far from the well, a small grass that just emerged from the ground swayed slightly in the warm sunlight, adding infinite vitality.

Yes, spring is here.

I hung up the freshly washed clothes, stretched my slightly sore waist, raised my head and squinted at the blue sky like gems, and smiled slightly. It’s a sunny day, so nice. Under the warm spring sun, I don’t want to go to anything. Think, just to feel the warm sunshine, life is really pleasant.

Suddenly thinking of last night, I felt ashamed again, I am afraid that this feeling of shame will not go away for a few days.

"Yes."

When I turned around, it was Aunt Suyan, her usually calm face was a bit heavy.

"Auntie, what's the matter?"

"A Tao is dead. He was found in the small pond behind the laundry bureau." A Tao was the little washerwoman who tore Concubine Liu's clothes.

Aunt Su frowned slightly, with an indelible worry in her eyes.

I was stunned, "How could it be? She was fine yesterday, why did she seek death?" Concubine Liu didn't blame her.

"Do you think she committed suicide?"

"Isn't it?" I didn't understand what Aunt Suyan meant.

"Of course not, I'm afraid it was Concubine Ming's plan to keep you from killing people." Aunt Su shook her head and smiled wryly, "This kind of thing is not uncommon in the palace."

Unexpectedly, Chen Liuer's words from yesterday came to mind, "Concubine Ming has always been a narrow-minded person. It is not uncommon to kill people with a knife in the palace. You met me this time by luck, and you will not be so lucky next time."

"What happened in Concubine Ming's Palace last time, Concubine Ming believed that you used means to attract the emperor's attention, and you were under her nose. You were provoking her."

"How could it be?" I couldn't believe it, could it be that what Chen Liuer said was true?
"Why not? You have been in the palace for almost half a year, so you should know more or less."

I shook my head, I naturally believed what Aunt Su said, but my heart refused to believe it, just because of my impulsiveness in the Ming Concubine Palace, Ming Concubine held a grudge in her heart, and even killed someone?
Does this make sense?That's a real person.

How could Concubine Ming do that?
"Even if Concubine Ming hates me, but, is it necessary to kill someone?"

Aunt Su looked at me with an incomprehensible depth in her eyes. After a while, she nodded heavily, "Only the dead can keep secrets, so they won't betray her. If you stay in the palace for a long time, you will know that killing people in the palace is a crime." You don't have to pay for it."

Killing does not pay for life?
I looked at Aunt Su, under Aunt Su's sophisticated pupils, I felt a chill in my heart. After only a few months in the palace, I already felt the warmth and warmth of the people in the palace. I just met a maid and just looked at her expression. Knowing whether her master is favored or neglected is so clear, but these are so insignificant under the "killing does not pay for life".

Is this the palace?

"For the sake of your safety, you can't stay at the laundry bureau any longer. I'll tell the steward of the Queen's Palace that you can go to work in the Queen's Palace from now on. Concubine Ming doesn't dare to mess around there."

Queen's Palace?I panicked, if I went to the Queen's Palace, wouldn't I be about to meet that man?

"aunt?"

Before I could say it, Aunt Su said again: "Don't worry, leave everything to me."

Aunt Su understood what I wanted to say.

"Auntie, why do you treat Enen so well?" I was moved and grateful.

When I came to the Laundry Bureau, I had very little conversation with Aunt Su, let alone emotions. I never understood why Aunt Su treated me so well?
The person I offended was the concubine Ming who was being favored, isn't Aunt Su afraid of getting herself into trouble?
"Sometimes when doing things, the intention is not necessarily to be grateful, but also to touch my conscience. I just do things according to my conscience. Besides, I like you very much. You are a good boy."

My eye sockets are a bit wet, and my nose is sore. At such a time, having someone by my side to help me gives me an indescribable sense of steadfastness and peace of mind. I decided in my heart that I must repay Aunt Suyan for her help in the future.

Aunt Lian is the steward of the Queen's Palace. When meeting her for the first time, her serious appearance can really frighten people.Aunt Su and her are good friends, even so, she is also very indifferent.

After Aunt Su left, she looked at me for a long time, and the indifferent and stern gaze made me nervous for a long time.

"You look like a person, let's go."

I look like a person?like who?But I didn't dare to ask, even if I did, I'm afraid Aunt Lian would not tell me, so I just followed Aunt Lian closely to a small courtyard.

The job Aunt Lian gave me was extremely easy, and I became a maid in charge of tea and tea sets.

Looking at the tea set in front of me, which was so bright that it stings people's eyes, I lamented the luxury of the palace, the luxury supplies, and the extravagant employment.

The side hall where I work is in charge of items in the queen's palace, such as tea sets, stove charcoal, and clothing materials. There are not many palace people here, and there are only two palace people guarding each side room.

"Sister Enen, here." Xiaoru put the freshly brewed tea in front of me with a smile, "My new tea, please help me try it."

Although Xiao Ru is also the court lady in charge of the tea set, she is different from me. She mainly brews all kinds of refreshments and tea drinks for the empress.

"It's delicious." I took a sip, it was neither sweet nor greasy, the fragrance of the tea lingered on my teeth, with a strong aftertaste, it was an excellent tea drink.

"That's natural." Xiao Rushen approached my ear mysteriously, "This tea is only for the prince to drink."

"Is there any difference between the one for the prince and the one for the empress?"

"Of course it's different." Xiaoru gave me an old-fashioned look, "The prince is still a child, one year younger than me, so he needs to put a little more sugar."

I can't help but laugh, she is still a half-old child.

"It's very lively." A father-in-law came in, saw Xiao Ru, and called out to Ru Ru with a smile on his face. When he turned to look at me, his eyes grew to the top of his head, and he put a bag of things on the table. "Here, this is the new tea that was just presented as a tribute this year. You have to put it away. The empress and the little prince will drink it at any time. Don't confuse it with the old tea."

"I've written it down, I'll give it to my eunuch." I'm no longer surprised by such snobbishness.

After my father-in-law left, I took off the official porcelain inlaid with gold thread from the cabinet, carefully opened the paper bag, slowly put the new green tea into the official porcelain, closed the lid and put it in the middle of the cabinet. Pai, since it is new tea, the empress may take it at any time, so it is better to put it easy to take.

Turning around, Xiao Ru was looking at me disdainfully.

"What's wrong?" It's strange to be seen by a child like this.

"It's a shame." Xiao Ru threw out these three words and walked out with her newly made tea.

Although Xiaoru is small, she is a child with strong self-esteem, or her temperament is typical of those who are favored in the palace. Even though I have only been with her for five days, I can still feel her thoughts.

Such disdain, I am afraid that I am a person who is easy to bully.

I didn't expect such a young child to have such a mentality.

"Where is Xiaoruren?" The voice outside the door was as cold as ice.

The only person in the palace who could speak so coldly was Tang Yu, the big celebrity in front of the empress.

Seeing me, his eyes like the cold night seemed to flicker.

"Xiaoru has gone to the prince's place." I smiled at him slightly, as usual, his expression was indifferent except cold.

"The empress wants to drink the new tea presented as a tribute this year, you let her prepare it, right now."

"But Xiaoru has gone to the prince's place, and I'm afraid I won't be able to come back for a while."

"You can make tea yourself, or ask her to come back." He turned and left.
Why is this man like this?I stared at his leaving back for a while, and then I was secretly distressed, making tea by myself?That is absolutely unacceptable, it is tantamount to robbing Xiaoru in front of the empress, this kind of thing is very common in the palace, and because of this, those palace people who lost did not suffer less, and some even lost their money. life.

I have no intention of striving for merit, I just want to stay in peace until the day I leave the palace.

It seems that I can only call Xiao Ru back.

The Queen's Palace is huge and divided into four main halls. The Shanghe Hall to the east is the place where the little prince sleeps.

The Hall of Shanghe is divided into three large courtyards. There are pavilions and countless exotic flowers in the courtyard.

It's spring, the weather is getting warmer, and the noon sun is shining directly, and sweat is already coming out of the back.

At this time, Xiaoru is playing throwing game with His Highness the Crown Prince in the courtyard, you and I are having a great time playing, and you can hear Xiaoru's laughter like silver bells from time to time.

It can be seen that the prince likes Xiao Ru.

A lot of courtiers stood beside them, bowing their bodies quietly and waiting ten steps away from the prince.

How can I let Xiao Ru know that I am here?After thinking for a while, I walked into the palace people and stood in an inconspicuous position in the second row that Xiaoru could see.

Just as I was about to wave my hand at Xiaoru, a slender voice made me stiffen.

"The Emperor is here—"

"The servants have seen the emperor."

Everyone knelt down, and I lowered my head even more, and my hands couldn't help but clenched the green grass that had just sprouted on the ground.

"My son has seen his father."

"Get up." The cool voice, even in front of relatives, his voice is faint.

"Father, are you here to see the queen mother?" The little prince's voice was very similar to his, but a little immature.

"I heard from the master that you haven't gone to study for three days. Why?"

"I know what the master taught me, and I don't want to learn any more."

Because I lowered my head, I couldn't see what was going on, but he didn't speak for a long time. When he spoke again, I saw the prince was forcibly carried by several eunuchs to the master's place.

The palace people around me chased after the prince one after another, I don't allow me to think too much at this time, so I can only bite the bullet and follow them.

"Come here, take all the palace servants who accompany the prince down and beat them twenty times with sticks to punish the crime of delaying the prince's study." He ordered coolly.

My scalp was numb for a while, and the palace man next to me was already kneeling on the ground begging for mercy. I didn't want to ask him for mercy, but when everyone was kneeling, if I didn't kneel, it would be too conspicuous. I hesitated for only half a second, and I still knelt down. Close tightly.

I don't know if it is my illusion, but I always feel that there is an indifferent gaze cast on me, which has not gone for a long time.

Soon, several guards came over and carried away the palace man who was kneeling in front.

Immediately afterwards, screams and begging for mercy resounded throughout the courtyard.

The sound of the board was like a series of cold arrows. When it passed through the eardrum, I only felt that the whole body was completely cool. Chunyang is like a decoration at this time, and I can't feel its temperature.

Do I also have to accept these [-] boards for no reason?

Soon, only me and two other palace servants were left in the courtyard, and the rest of the palace servants were beaten until they either passed out or lay limp on the ground moaning in pain.

what should I do?His forehead was full of cold sweat.

Seeing the two palace servants trembling, I was terrified.

If I don't want to accept the twenty slaps, I can tell him that I am not the prince's palace attendant, but when I think of what happened in Mingfei Palace, I hesitate again.

I don't want to cause any more unwarranted right and wrong.

Gritting my teeth, I walked over without waiting for the guards to drag me.

That line of sight has been projected on me, I don't know if I'm too sensitive, I always feel that there is a little more playfulness and irony in the indifference of this line of sight.

The board hit me mercilessly, and the pain was so painful that I couldn't speak. I held back the pain and didn't utter a word.

Just let it hurt, I will never beg for mercy from the person who ruined my life.

The lower lip was bitten and blood was dripping into the mud, and the pain reached all limbs.

Finally, the [-]th board passed.

The guards pushed me to the ground, and I was lying on the ground in embarrassment and without dignity like those palace people. Fortunately, I didn't face the ground like them, making my face covered with mud, and because of this, the pain on my back more dramatic.

I really hate the current self, who is slaughtered like an ant, and her dignity and pride are trampled to the ground.

"Go back to the palace." He said calmly.

But it lifted the resentment in my heart, but I could only bear it.

This is the emperor, who regards the lives of others as nothing.

The people who were beaten and me were the only ones left in the courtyard.

It seems that all my pain comes from him.

"Sister Enen, you are really asking for trouble, and you are not someone close to the prince, so just tell the emperor directly." Xiaoru suddenly appeared above my head, looking at me, it seems that she didn't follow me just now. The prince went.

I forced a smile, "When I saw the emperor, my legs were so weak that I couldn't speak."

"You are so useless." She looked contemptuous, "Can you still walk?"

"It should work."

"Then get up and go back by yourself."

"Xiao, Xiaoru." I called Xiaoru who was about to leave, but I didn't forget the purpose of coming here, but it was a bit difficult to speak, "The empress wants to drink this year's new tea."

"Why didn't you say it earlier." Xiao Ru stomped her feet, gave me a reproachful look, and quickly disappeared into the courtyard.

People change really quickly. When I first came, Xiaoru was like a sister next door, very close. Now she looks at me with disdain and contempt, and she can still call me elder sister. Aunt Lian is the only one who is afraid.

Xiao Ru always thought that Aunt Lian and I were related.

I got up reluctantly, couldn't straighten up at all, I could only walk with my head bent, and after just two steps, I was so painful that I couldn't breathe.

Breathing calmly, I forced myself to straighten up, cold sweat dripping off my forehead.

Although it hurts, at least walk straight and dignified.

I looked up, the spring breeze was blowing, and not far away, the scorching sun shone directly on the bright yellow glazed tiles, making people's eyes dazzled.I can't help but block the dazzling light with my hands.

"It seems like a stubborn girl, what do you think? Eunuch Tang." It was a soft voice, like a spring breeze caressing. If the frivolity in the words were removed, such a voice would probably be intoxicating.

this voice?The strings in my heart seemed to be plucked by something, and I suddenly raised my head.

Under the shade of greenery, the man was dressed in a white shirt that was more snowy, with his arms crossed, his slender body leaning against the tree, with a lazy smile hanging from the corner of his mouth.

Beside him, Tang Yu stood respectfully, his icy face that had not melted for a thousand years could not see his thoughts.

The two of them are like a perfect painting, which makes people unable to take their eyes off.

His face suddenly became scorching hot, and the wound from the beating was clearly unstoppable pain, but in front of this man, Lord Shang Shu, apart from feeling his whole body scalding, the pain from the wound was unbearable.

I lowered my head in a hurry, I didn't know where to put my hands for a moment, and what I thought in my heart was not the hatred of being beaten, but the filth of my body, being beaten and pushed to the ground, making my body covered in mud. There are also scattered sideburns on the forehead.

Okay, so embarrassing.

"Here." He came over suddenly, holding a white bottle the size of a thumb in his slender white hand and handing it to me with a gentle voice, "Apply this on the wound, and the pain will disappear within an hour. After a day, the wound will heal."

Unfamiliar emotions flipped over in my chest. I didn't know what was wrong with my chest. I just felt that under his gentle and smiling gaze, it was extremely difficult to even move, let alone speak.

At this time, I am afraid that the roots of my ears are also red.

With a chuckle, he stuffed the bottle into my hand, and stuffed the messy hair on my forehead behind my ears, his movements were gentle, as if full of infinite affection.

Just when I was at a loss and didn't know what to do, Tang Yu's cold voice broke the situation, "Master Jinglin, if you don't leave, I'm afraid the empress will be angry again."

"Understood." He smiled, bowed his head to my ear, and said softly, "Don't forget, you only need to apply medicine once a day, and the best time to apply medicine is before going to bed."

Such intimacy made me take a big step back, my heart was beating extremely violently, as if I was about to jump out.Looking at the back of his departure, I couldn't help feeling depressed.

Didn't you tell yourself that you can't be so frivolous anymore?

In front of a strange man, let alone being reserved, he didn't even hide it, just let him fool him at will.

This is the second time.

It's really, really frustrating.

There must never be a next time, no.

Having said that, he couldn't help but look in the direction of Jing Lin's departure. Looking at it, the heat all over his body seemed to be poured with a basin of ice water, completely cooling him down.

Under the round door, Tang Yu stood with his clothes fluttering, staring at me with starry eyes as cold as a pool of cold stars.

I can't see the meaning in his eyes, but I feel like a thorn in my back.

Why is he looking at me like that?
I smiled at him in salute, only a little stiffly.

He looked away coldly, turned around and left.

Am I doing something wrong?I thought about it secretly, but I couldn't understand it.

A gust of wind blew by, and the pain from the beating hit my limbs and bones again. I looked down and saw the white bottle in my hand.

Just because I wore an extra piece of clothes, these twenty big boards didn't cause me to be bruised, but menstrual pain and bone pain are inevitable.After lying on the bed for nearly four days, I was finally able to move freely.

This is also due to the medicine that Jinglin gave me, which has such a miraculous effect. I am afraid that this medicine is very expensive. I have been saving it all the time, but no matter how I save it, it is so little that it can be used up in four days.

When I opened the window, the sun poured in. I stretched my waist and felt very energetic. From the corner of my eye, I saw the small white bottle in my hand exuding a very special light in the sun. He pulled out a red string from the bottle, tied it to the body of the bottle, and pinned it to his waist.

Looking at this little white bottle, I couldn't help but blushed again.

When I entered the tea room, I saw Xiaoru was picking tea leaves from all kinds of official porcelain, she gave me a sideways look, and ignored it.

For her indifference, I just smiled and began to clean the thin dust around the official porcelain.

The indifference of others can only be adapted to a court lady like me.

After a while, she suddenly looked up at me, and said in her usual old-fashioned voice: "It seems that you understand the rules of the palace quite well, so I don't know if it's true or not, but the days are still long."

I didn't understand the meaning behind her words for a moment, "What are you talking about?"

Xiaoru snorted softly, "Can't you hear that? Just pretend." After finishing speaking, she picked up the tea and went out.

It took me a long time to realize that what Xiaoru said meant making tea for the queen?I can't help but smile wryly, if I make new tea without authorization to claim credit, I'm afraid Xiaoru will treat me as an enemy, call her out with good intentions, and get beaten for no reason, and become suspicious again.

I couldn't help but stay there for a long time, and I didn't even notice that Aunt Su came in. When I recovered, I saw Aunt Su looking at me thoughtfully.

"Auntie, when did you come?" I was taken aback.

"Sometimes, I even heard what Cai Xiaoru said just now." Aunt Su smiled, and there was a touch of kindness in her usual plain eyes, "Does the wound still hurt?"

It seems that Aunt Su knew about my being beaten with a stick, so I nodded, "It's much better now."

"Have you been bullied by Xiaoru?"

"No. How can she bully me when she's a half-old child?" I made a cup of tea for my aunt.

"Child? Xiaoru was sent to the palace as a maid since she was born. I haven't heard anyone call her a child in the palace except you." Aunt Su smiled slightly. The smile was a bit complicated, and I couldn't understand it. , vaguely seems to understand a little bit.

"Enn," the aunt put down the teacup, and said, "To survive in the palace, you have to be more careful, as defensive as offensive, and you have to take some measures when necessary, understand?"

I looked at Aunt Su, not understanding why she said this sentence suddenly, but seeing that the colors in her eyes were more complicated, and the eyes she looked at me seemed somewhat contradictory.

Although I think Aunt Su is a bit strange today, I still smiled at her and nodded.

Aunt Su is caring about me, I can feel that.

"Why do I feel like you don't understand at all?" Aunt Su shook her head.

"Enen understands that my aunt is doing it for my own good."

Aunt Su still shook her head, stood up and said, "I came here specially to see you today. I have something to do at the laundry bureau, so I should go too. The Queen's Palace is no different than other palaces, so I have to be more careful."

"Yes. Thank you, aunt, for your concern."

After sending Aunt Su away, I was busy arranging the tea sets. Although I had only rested for four days, the arrangement of the tea sets seemed messy. I only paid attention to making tea, and the rest of the things were messed up after use. Not in place, it took me a long time to put them back where they were.

At this time, it was already sunset.

Looking at the clean and shiny tea set, I sighed with satisfaction.

"Roller, is it just her?" A familiar high-pitched voice sounded outside the room.

I raised my eyes and couldn't help being stunned when I saw the person in front of me. Isn't this the father-in-law who brought me into the palace that day, that Aunt Li called him Eunuch Wang?

"Hey, is that you?" Eunuch Wang also recognized me.

Even though he entered the palace under a false name, this father-in-law was the first person I met in the palace, so I was a little happy.

"Slave Su En has seen Eunuch Wang."

He seemed to be taken aback by the joy I showed, then he raised his eyebrows and said, "That's all, since I'm an acquaintance, I won't pursue it."

Standing beside me was the father-in-law who brought the new tea that day, his eyes that were watching the show suddenly became enthusiastic, and he raised his thin finger slightly towards me, "It turns out Miss Su and father-in-law are old acquaintances, why didn't we tell you earlier? It’s really flooding the Dragon King Temple.”

Although I have been in the palace for almost a year, I am still not used to the orchid fingers of these father-in-laws. When I first entered the palace, I thought that the orchid fingers were used by the palace.

"Eunuch, please sit down."

"Su En, I brought you into the palace, no matter what you ordered from above, you should give seven points of face."

I was a little confused, "Eunuch Wang, I don't understand what you're talking about."

"not understand?"

I shook my head.

"Didn't Xiaoru tell you about the new tribute Yunsi tea from the Western Regions, and let you go to the Ministry of Internal Affairs to get it?"

"when did it happen?"

"Noon."

Now, it's almost night.

This incident seems to be very reminiscent of something, I don't want people to think that there is something between me and Xiaoru, so I said: "Xiaoru seems to be saying something to the servant at noon, but the servant is too focused on cleaning up the things in front of me. The tea set is gone, so I didn’t particularly listen to what she was talking about. The servant girl will go get it now.”

Eunuch Wang looked at me meaningfully, "From now on, I will visit the House of Internal Affairs on the sixth and 25th of every month. These two days are the time when the House of Internal Affairs distributes daily necessities to the palaces."

"The servant has recorded it."

"Yes, she is a witty girl, get out, let's go."

As soon as Eunuch Wang was sent away, when I turned around and entered the room, I saw Xiao Ru staring at me with a cold face. I don't know when she entered the room, so I didn't see her come back just now?

"Why did you agree to them to get Yunsi tea?" Xiao Ru was displeased, "Sending things to the palaces is the job of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, why are you so easy to bully? It's really embarrassing to me."

After Xiaoru finished speaking angrily, she left angrily.

Is being dispatched the same as being bullied?It's just taking something, it doesn't seem to be a big deal, but Xiao Ru is so angry?
That's right, she has always been favored by the queen and the prince, and she has always been only responsible for sending others.

She must not be used to my appearance.

The House of Internal Affairs is very large, occupying a corner of the palace. Except for the moat on the east, the other three sides are connected to the eight main halls of the palace, and the distance is the same, which is amazing.

"closed."

"Eunuch, I'm Su En from the Queen's Palace. I'm here to get Yunsi tea." I thought I had heard it wrong, but I just asked this father-in-law for tea, but he said it was closed. What does it mean?
"It's closed, come get it tomorrow." My father-in-law glanced at me impatiently, "Why don't you leave soon?"

"Eunuch, what does it mean to be closed?"

"Hehe." The father-in-law smiled strangely, looked at me for a while, "You just entered the palace?"

I shook my head.

"No? Then you are from the Laundry Bureau?"

I nodded, "Yes, I have been in the Queen's Palace for almost ten days."

"No wonder, the people in this laundry bureau are like those country folks. They have no knowledge, and they only deserve to do some laundry chores with their heads down. You are so lucky that you actually went to the Queen's Palace to do errands. Remember, the storage room of our Ministry of Internal Affairs As soon as the sun goes down, the door will be locked, and no one can open the door without the token of the general manager, unless there is an order from the emperor. Let's go, let's go."

I really didn't expect that the Laundry Bureau turned out to be a countryman in the palace in the eyes of these eunuchs. I don't care about the superficial reputation, but I am a little angry at this man's disdainful appearance.

This is the man in the palace.

It looks like Yunsi tea will come back tomorrow to get it, but fortunately, it is not used now.

Because I was thinking about the matter just now, I didn't pay attention to the person who was walking in front of me. As soon as I stepped out of the threshold of the House of Internal Affairs, I bumped into someone.

The rice paper in his arms fell to the ground.

"I'm sorry." I quickly apologized without looking up, and bent down to pick up the rice paper piece by piece.

The man stood proudly, without moving.

In the past, when I bumped into someone, after I apologized and then picked up the object, the owner would not say nothing, or scold me, but would bend over to pick up the object in a hurry. There is nothing like this person, who just watched me pick up the object without saying a word. .

Naturally, I bumped into him first, and I was supposed to be responsible for returning the scattered things to their original owners, but this person...

Alas, people in the palace are very airy.

Don't they understand and should respect others?

I picked up the rice paper and glanced upwards, unexpectedly that person was also looking at me, if not for the flickering at the bottom of the long and narrow eyes, I really thought that the eyes that made people want to take a second look had formed a layer of knot thick ice.

Then look at my line of sight, it is clearly two Frostbolts.

It was Tang Yu.

"I'm really sorry, here." He folded the rice paper and handed it to him, but he didn't take it, and just said coldly: "It's dirty."

"I took pictures of the dirty places, and they are still usable." I smiled at him.

"Throw it away."

"Throw it away? Such good paper has never been used, how can I throw it away?" I thought I heard it wrong. These rice papers are as white as jade, with fine texture, feel like cloth, and there are no broken marks in the folds. I can't afford to buy a few grains for the next year's food.

He turned a deaf ear to my words and walked straight into the inner room, as if it was troublesome to even look at me.

I thought to myself, how can there be such a person in this world?

This stack of paper belongs to him, he can make the decision, but it's a pity to throw it away. After thinking about it, he turned around and said, "Eunuch Tang, since you don't want it, can you give it to me?"

"If you like to pick what others don't want, just take it."

Why is this man talking like that?Just a nod or a smile is fine, why bother to speak so harshly.

I walked up to him, looked up at him, and said in a light and non-negligible tone: "Eunuch Tang, this rice paper is not dirty or broken, it is a pity to lose it, so I will ask you for it, but you are If you look at people like that, this is your thing, if you want to throw it away, throw it away yourself."

Putting the paper into his arms, I turned and left.

"Wait," he called out.

I looked at him, thinking that he would say something, but unexpectedly his eyes stopped on my waist, and he said coldly: "Master Jinglin already has a fiancée, and she is still the woman he likes. You can express your love with a jade bottle. It's just self-defeating."

With a flick of his sleeves, he has left.

Master Jing has a fiancée?I was stunned, my heart seemed to be hit by something, and it hurt a little.

Wait, he said the jade bottle was a teaser?I touched the little jade bottle on my waist, he didn't think I hung the little bottle on my waist to imply Mr. Jing that I like him, right?

A gust of hot air rushed from the soles of my feet to my cheeks, burning them thoroughly. I felt that my face was so hot that I could boil eggs.

Me, why do I like Mr. Jing?The reason why I hang the jade bottle on my waist is, because there is a sentence in my heart that I want to say, but I can't spell what it is, only the shyness and slight sense of loss are left.

Faintly, he felt that Tang Yu was right.

Suddenly, my heart seemed to be stabbed by something, and the sudden pain made me a little suffocated.

I covered my chest and rubbed it desperately, but the more I rubbed it, the more painful it became.

Yes, how could I forget, I have already lost the qualification to like people.

Can you still like a body with broken flowers and ruined willows?Do you still have the right to like someone like other girls?
No, I can't anymore.

All the girlish feelings were gone that night, and I shouldn't even have fantasies.

Now I can only be honest, do the errands in front of me peacefully, receive the meager salary every month, and wait day after day and year after year for the day when I will leave the palace.

It was as if a bucket of ice water had been poured all over his body, from head to toe, it was completely cold.

I don't want to think about that night again, I don't want to dig out the pain anymore, I want to live a good life.But now, I realize that the pain is impossible to pass, and that memory is a nightmare that will accompany me for the rest of my life.

"Your majesty, everyone says that peonies are the most beautiful in the world, but according to my concubine, this purple mother plant in front of me is the most beautiful flower in the world."

"Sister Mingfei, the emperor specially sent someone to transport this purple mother plant to you from outside the Great Wall, and specially built a snow pond for it in the imperial garden. I heard that the snow pond cannot be broken by snow. It's exhausting. The emperor's thoughtfulness for his sister, the concubine is very envious."

"Who doesn't know that Sister Lanfei can play the piano well and write well. The emperor's love for her is obvious to all. If my sister has half the talent of my sister, I can trade it for anything."

The delicate voice, the silver bell-like laughter, and the melodious piano sound floated into my ears, especially the woman's voice, which was soft and flattering, but also slightly deliberate. Harsh.

I looked up and saw that on the other side of the tree, red lanterns illuminated the entire imperial garden brilliantly.

And in the land where the birds are singing and the flowers are fragrant, there are laughter, singing and dancing, the group of beautiful or elegantly dressed concubines laugh like peonies, they are not talking softly, watching the beauties singing and dancing in front of them, or drinking fine wine lightly, but no matter what they do, Their eyes always seem to glance at the tall man.

Before I knew it, I came to the Royal Garden.

I stared at that figure so noble that people dare not look directly at it, no matter how lively the surrounding is, he just looked at it with his cool eyes, under those dark eyes, it seemed that everyone around was just locked in a cage monkeys, playing fun for him to watch.

Such an attitude is so annoying.

So what if he is an emperor?Can it be so easily forgotten?
Can you not be punished?Is it possible to live like this?
Clenching my fist unconsciously, I rushed forward.

But he stamped his feet within a few steps, and only held the branches beside him tightly with his hands.

I, can't do anything.

As humble as I am, all I can do is live a good life, for myself and for my promise to my mother.

You shouldn't provoke someone who you can't afford and can't wait for.

I took a deep breath and secretly comforted myself, there is one thing I can do, which is to shoot him flat with my gaze as an arrow.

After half a stick of incense.

I sighed, what am I doing, such a childish behavior is simply a child's mischief, and my eyes are so sore.

"Take it away." Two pairs of powerful big hands appeared behind me at some point, and suddenly clamped me left and right.

I was surprised, "Who are you?"

Without any explanation, they dragged me out from behind the tree. Immediately, the singing and dancing stopped, and everyone's eyes turned to this side.

That person was no exception, his eyes flashed something vaguely.

I was forced to kneel on the ground.

"Your Majesty, she just hid behind a tree and peeped here." The guard tore off the wooden plaque on my waist, looked at it, knelt down and said, "It's a maid from the Queen's Palace, please forgive me, Your Majesty."

"This servant is not peeping, but just passing by, please look out for the emperor." I was still in shock, and I had no mental preparation to meet him, so I just lowered my head, although I was nervous, since he didn't recognize me before, this Sometimes it is impossible to recognize me.

With a wry smile, at this moment, he seems to be glad that he didn't recognize me.

"It's you again?" The smile on the corner of Concubine Ming's mouth that was sitting beside him slipped and her face sank.

"Sister Mingfei knows this maid?" It was Concubine Liu's voice.

"It's just a shameless court lady." Concubine Ming snorted coldly, "What are you still doing in a daze? The crime of voyeurism is punished like a cane twenty times according to the law, why don't you drag it on?"

Cane?I broke out in a cold sweat, and the pain from the beating that day was still on my body.

"Sister Ming Concubine, since you are a member of the Empress Palace, should you first ask the Empress for instructions?"

"Such a small matter, why bother the empress?"

"How can it be a trivial matter? The empress governs the sixth palace, and she is a member of the empress's palace. Doesn't sister do this to embarrass the empress? Your majesty, what do you think?"

He didn't speak.

A drop of cold sweat fell from my forehead, and I didn't dare to wipe it off. I couldn't help but clenched my hands lying on the ground. Although there was resentment in my heart, this kind of silence only made me afraid and uneasy.

what should I do?Are you really going to be rode again?

Really, really annoyed, I should have left just now.

"Just do whatever you want." He finally spoke, coolly, with a bit of ruthlessness and a bit of sarcasm.

Heart began to sink.

I closed my eyes tightly and bit my lower lip, trying to suppress my nervousness and fear.

When the guards escorted me away, I slowly said: "Your Majesty, this servant really didn't peep, but just passed by. You said that this servant was peeping, but what evidence do you have? Convicting this servant without evidence, isn't it a disregard for human life?"

Gasps came from all around.

"If you were caught on the spot, do you still need evidence?"

I pursed my dry lips, "As long as you are a human being, you will stop and take a look when you see such a scene, and the so-called peeping refers to peeping. The emperor and the ladies are having fun in such a big place, do the servants need to peek?" ?”

When my father was still alive, he taught me to reason with people with reason and restraint. If you don't have enough reason, you won't be able to suppress the other party.

The man in front of me is the emperor.

The aura belongs to him, and the courage should also belong to him. Being strong and restrained should also be combined with momentum and courage.

The rest just makes sense.

I am more restless and tense.

"You are so brave, how dare you talk to the emperor like this?" Concubine Ming's resentment became more obvious.

"Isn't reading the books of sages and sages just teaching people to reason? The servants are just speaking out what they think, please learn from the emperor and empress." She lowered her head even more, I'm afraid that the concubine Ming will hate me even more.

"Very well, let her be exempted from the cane punishment." He said coldly.

I was overjoyed, I kowtowed to thank the emperor, "I thank the emperor for your kindness, I will leave."

When I exited, my footsteps were almost a little soft, but fortunately, my body was soon submerged in the night.

Walking too fast, how can I pay attention to those eyes that have been falling on me and never left.

Back in the tea set room, I drank the cold tea in my arms with panting breaths, which barely relieved my uneasiness.

I patted my chest, thinking back just now, I really felt that I was too courageous, how could I talk to the emperor like this?
Fortunately, there was no danger.

I couldn't help but drank a few more cups of tea. After the warm water warmed my whole body, I felt comfortable all over.

"Return without success? Since you like to be ordered so much, it's not bad to make a few more trips." Xiao Ru came in with a tea set, stood beside me and gave me a look.

I just smiled, I can't take her words in my current mood.

Seeing that I didn't speak, she seemed to feel bored, and said: "The empress scolded Lord Jing Lin again today, the empress is most upset about her younger brother, every time she enters the palace, she has to tease the maids, making those The maids are not interested in doing anything."

"You said Master Jing Lin was teasing the court lady?" My heart that had just been relieved was uncontrollably agitated, so I asked involuntarily.

"Yeah, you have been in the laundry bureau all the time, so of course you don't know Lord Jing Lin, Lord Jing is the famous young Shangshu in my dynasty, the younger brother of the current empress, he is handsome and handsome, he is the most beautiful man in my dynasty. It’s just that he is too carefree, nine out of ten maids in the palace are teased by him, poor people still put their hearts on Mr. Jing, but they don’t know that Mr. Jing is just playing for fun.”

She was just a boring sentence, but I couldn't breathe as if a stone was pressing on my chest.

That person who looks like a flower loves to tease court ladies?Also, are you teasing me too?

Heavy loss swept through my heart.

The wounds from the beating have all healed, but these days, I can't do anything vigorously, and my heart feels as uncomfortable as a thorn in my heart.

These days the tea set room is not busy. In the past, Xiao Ru would go to the empress’s place five or six times a day. I don’t know what’s going on these days. I haven’t seen Xiao Ru go once in two days. It saves me a lot of time to tidy up the tea sets. .

The sun is just right, neither hot nor cold.

There are a lot of wild moxa growing in the courtyard of the hut. When I was a child, my mother would take me to the wild to pick wild moxa with a small basket to make dumplings. The moxa dumplings were so delicious that I could eat twenty of them at once.

Thinking of this, I couldn't help but bend down to pick moxa.

Just picked a small handful, Xiao Ru hurried into the yard, and asked me without waiting, "Where did you put those transparent sapphire glass cups?"

The sapphire glazed cup is an extremely precious set of cups, it is said that this is the only set in the world, and even the Empress herself has never used it a few times."What do you want it for?" I asked.

"Of course I have to use it. Mrs. Jing's fiancée, Miss Zhao, has entered the palace. The empress specially ordered to use the sapphire cup. Where did you put it?"

"Put it in the bottom grid." Master Jing's fiancée has entered the palace?I'm a little dazed.

"What are you still doing blankly? You are in charge of the tea set, and I am only in charge of tea drinking. Naturally, you have to bring such a precious tea set."

"I'll go as well?"

"Don't you know this is a palace rule? The person in charge of the precious tea set must personally collect the income."

Indeed, there are such rules in the palace.

It's just that it's so difficult to take this step.

The Queen's Hall is located in the middle of the palace, resplendent and magnificent.

Before entering the hall, he saw dozens of court ladies and eunuchs standing around outside the hall. Their rigorous demeanor and solemn appearance made people feel more restrained and cautious.

Holding the priceless sapphire glass cup in my hand, there is no room for me to think about the things in my heart. The focus of my eyes, hands, feet, and the whole body are all focused on this sapphire glass cup. All with caution.

When entering the hall, I heard a few charming laughter. It seems that the Empress and Miss Zhao had a very happy conversation.

My heart felt a little more melancholy.

"My maidservant has seen the empress." Xiaoru and I saluted and served tea.

As a court lady, she couldn't look straight ahead, she could only see a few inches above the master's shoes.

Facing the empress, the current mother of the country, this is the first time I am so close to her, how can I not be nervous?But compared to this, I found that what I was most nervous about was the sapphire glass cup in my hand.

"The empress learned that Miss Zhao had suffered from a cold in the past few days, so she specially ordered her servants to make jade silk jujube tea for the girl to nourish her energy and beauty."

As soon as Xiaoru said that, I knew that the owner of the peony embroidered shoes in front of me was Miss Zhao.

I couldn't help looking up, and the moment I saw it, I thought I understood how the so-called Yan Ruyu in the book made the scholar crazy.She is extremely beautiful, a kind of soft and delicate beauty, and also has the unique beauty of Jiangnan women.

She is supposed to be a delicate woman, but why does it make me feel that there is a little bit of spirit hidden in her eyes.

I think I'm overly nervous.

She stood up and saluted gracefully, "Thank you, Yue Fu, for your concern."

"What are you doing with so much courtesy? You'll soon be my family." The queen laughed.

"Master Jing, this is your favorite Yunsi tea."

The hands holding the plate froze.

Is he too?
Ruxue's clothes flashed before my eyes, and I heard his slightly raised voice: "Xiao Ru knows me best."

"It's been so many years, I didn't expect Brother Jinglin's habit of drinking cloud tea still hasn't changed." Miss Zhao said coquettishly, "No, a few days ago, Dad just asked someone to bring a new cloud tea from the Western Regions. Silk tea, I'll deliver it to you in a few days."

"Did your father entrust someone to buy it, or did you entrust someone to buy it for Jinglin? Yuefu?" The Queen pursed her lips and smiled, her teasing gaze made Zhao Yuefu blush, but she just looked at the opposite seat affectionately. The man tasting tea is ashamed to speak.

"Then I really have to thank Sister Yuefu." His voice was infinitely gentle, which made people's imagination run wild.

The hands holding the plate were unconsciously clenched, and the chest seemed to be filled with air, rushing around but unable to get out.

Is he such a person?
Recalling how I looked in front of him, I was suddenly very annoyed with myself at that time.

I can't say what that feeling of being angry and annoyed is, I just feel that I...

I stood respectfully on one side, and although I had some weird emotions in my heart, I still didn't dare to be too distracted at this time.

It's just that after standing for a long time, I inevitably want to move, but I dare not move my feet a little, so I raised my eyes slightly, but I didn't expect the queen's proud eyes to fall on me as if nothing.

I hurriedly lowered my head, thinking to myself that it must be my illusion, how could the Empress look at me?I'm an inconspicuous court lady, what do you see me doing?
At this time, an old palace lady came in hurriedly and said: "Empress, His Royal Highness is clamoring to drink Xiaoru's milk tea, so I must let Xiaoru pass."

"This child is still like this at a young age." The empress's proud voice was a little more loving, "Xiao Ru, you can go."

"Yes."

When walking past me, Xiaoru said in an imperceptible voice: "I'll leave this to you, be careful."

I should have smiled wryly, actually letting a half-grown child lecture me.

But what she said is right, it's my first time to come to the Queen's Palace, so I should be careful.

"The Emperor is here—"
Maybe it's because I heard it more times. When I heard these four words, my heart was not as frightened as before, but I was still somewhat uncomfortable.

"The concubine has seen the emperor."

After saluting one by one, the queen said to the maids beside her, "Go quickly and get the emperor's favorite green chrysanthemum tea."

I thought that I just need to stand aside quietly until Zhao Yuefu went out of the palace to take back the sapphire glass cup, but I didn't expect the maid to hand me the green chrysanthemum tea and said: "Go to the bar."

Not allowing me to think too much, I rushed to the tea, and I bit the bullet and walked towards the bright yellow figure.
Every step I took was stiff, and every movement was extremely forced.

"Your Majesty, please have tea." When I put the cup on the table, a pair of slender and clean handprints came into my eyes. When I withdrew my hands, these hands suddenly took the cup, and the fingertips ran across the back of my hand.

My heart trembled and I almost lost my composure, but luckily no one noticed.

Not daring to raise my eyes to peek, I just retreated to the side in a regular manner, only to feel the burning of the back of my hand that was touched, like the pain of being beaten with a stick.

This is just an accident.

Because of his arrival, the people in the hall became somewhat restrained, and their voices were no longer as comfortable as before. Only Jing Lin, who was not affected by him, still had a gentle voice that could make a girl blush.

"Queen, is this green chrysanthemum just paid tribute this year?" He asked suddenly.

"Yes, the Ministry of Internal Affairs just submitted it yesterday, what's the matter?" the queen asked with concern.

(End of this chapter)