An Lingrong's Rebirth: The Lock of Qingqiu

The emperor felt that the affairs in the harem were cumbersome, so he ordered Su Pei to send an oral order to return to the palace immediately. At the same time, he recalled Concubine Hua who was practicing in Taihang Mountain. Nian Gengyao had to go to Concubine Hua's Yikun Palace when he returned to the palace.

Su Peisheng raised his feet and was about to go out. The emperor said urgently: "Su Peisheng, please call Concubine Hua back to Old Summer Palace first, and you will return to the Forbidden City with me tomorrow. I heard that Gengyao is on his way back to the city this year."

Su Peisheng left in response. Inside the Qinzheng Hall, there was silence, with only the sunset accompanying the setting sun. An Lingrong gently opened the door and entered, and saw the emperor sitting motionless in the wide-backed dragon chair, looking at the rows of bookshelves, with no expression on his face, and silence outside the window.

Since the news that Concubine Duan was poisoned spread throughout the harem, before dark and almost evening, the people from each palace began to return to the palace and stopped wandering around.

The emperor stood up and said to An Lingrong, who was making fragrant tea: "An Guiren, stop making tea and come with me for a walk outside!"

This season is early autumn, and the cold autumn wind is blowing. An Lingrong feels a bit cold. She can't help but wrap up her clothes tightly, and walks with the emperor on the unusually clean red brick road, climbing high and looking into the distance, where the dragons and tigers are standing in the palace. They stood in groups, and the emperor stood among them, like a god, standing proudly between heaven and earth, as if everything was under his control.

An Lingrong raised his head and looked up at the emperor for the first time. He said in an extremely slow tone: "I have to handle government affairs, balance the relationship between the civil and military officials of the dynasty, and reuse talented people, but there are always things that are unsatisfactory. , People can't bear the cold at high places. I have to do everything by hand. I have always been strict and diligent, without slacking off. I get up before dawn and go to bed late every day. Seeing the Qing Dynasty move toward prosperity and stability step by step, I feel very at ease. But the more practical I am, the more uneasy I feel, fearing that one day I will lose this practical life."

An Lingrong comforted him and said, "Your Majesty, the country is now peaceful and the people are safe, and the weather is going well. Your Majesty, you don't have to worry too much."

The emperor sighed and said: "It is said that upright officials cannot deal with household affairs. The disputes in the harem often make me very anxious. I sometimes wonder whether these concubines of mine have ever put themselves in my shoes and thought about what I want. We have to protect the country and the people first, then we can have the glory and wealth of the concubines in the harem, why can't they live in harmony?"

An Lingrong didn't want to respond to this question. The three palaces and six courtyards were, on the one hand, the rules passed down by the late emperor, and on the other, which powerful family didn't want to send women to the palace to consolidate their status?

It seems like an ordinary thing like the draft, but many people want to break their foreheads just to get a chance. After finally getting the glory and wealth, they are naturally afraid that one day their status will not be guaranteed and they will lose everything they own. So he fought for it at all costs.

An Lingrong thought that the emperor was probably just pouring out his emotions to her. He didn't need his own response, he just needed to listen and let him vent his emotions.

As she expected, the emperor didn't hear An Lingrong's response, but he still kept talking to himself: "Not only did Gengyao have great achievements this year, he became more and more unruly! I saw his memorial yesterday, He said that he would return to Beijing that day and wanted to insert his talented adopted son Liu Qing'an into the Hanlin Academy. I was angry at the time and rejected his request with immediate approval on the grounds of overcrowding. It was simply ridiculous. Who did he think I was? He said Do you still have me as the emperor in your eyes?"

The wind blew up An Lingrong's clothes flying, and An Lingrong involuntarily leaned closer to the emperor. The emperor did not hold her hand, but was willing to slow down and wait for her to join them. The two of them strolled on the top of the palace. Then one after another, they moved forward slowly.

This is the tallest building in the Old Summer Palace. Few people come to such a secluded place. The emperor's casual words are not afraid of being overheard and spread by interested people.

The emperor said calmly: "Mr. An Gui, do you think it's ridiculous? Liu Qing married Nian Gengyao's niece, and Liu Qing's biological sister Liu Shuchun became Nian Gengyao's mistress. Do you want me to do it in front of Nian Gengyao? Gengyao exposed him with his face, I am really annoyed, Mr. An Gui, what do you think?"

An Lingrong paused and said cautiously: "Your Majesty, the harem is not allowed to interfere in politics. This has to be decided by the Emperor himself. He must have made up his mind."

The emperor nodded and said: "Then I will endure it a little longer. I am really very annoyed."

When the emperor was walking down the steps, he stepped on An Lingrong's dress. Today, she was bare-faced. She only applied a little makeup and wore a light blue one-piece dress, which made her look a little more delicate. , seeing that An Lingrong was unsteady, the emperor stretched out his hand to help her, and An Lingrong quickly pulled his hand away from the emperor's hand.

The emperor smiled faintly and said: "What, An Guiren still wants to avoid suspicion with me? If I hadn't held my hand like this, I'm afraid An Guiren would have rolled down the steps."

An Lingrong smiled slightly and said: "Thank you, Your Majesty. I just feel that the steps are not spacious enough to accommodate two people walking side by side at the same time. I am afraid of dragging the Emperor to the ground."

An Lingrong lied casually, thinking that the emperor was showing off. If the emperor really wanted to hold hands with her after walking on the top of the palace for such a long time, he would have held hands with her long ago.

The emperor suddenly looked at her seriously and said: "I always feel that there is a slight alienation in An Gui. Unlike other concubines, they are so enthusiastic when they see me that they rush towards me desperately."

An Lingrong thought: "Your Majesty, this servant is self-aware!"

An Lingrong's words amused the emperor again, but how did the emperor know what she was thinking: She spent her whole life fighting for favor in her previous life, but in the end she didn't get any favor from the emperor, and she ended up with nothing. Yu Yun’s fate.

In this life, she just wants to live well. If the emperor can't protect her, she has to consider herself first in everything. If she doesn't fight for favor, she won't be pushed to the forefront.

An Lingrong changed the subject and said, "Your Majesty, how many days have you not been to Sister Mei and Sister Wan? I think the two sisters also miss the Emperor."

The emperor tugged at the corners of his lips and said: "An Gui, do you want to hear the truth? If you want to hear it, I will tell you the truth. When I am happy, I will play chess with Hui Gui, and Wan Gui will go to the garden and listen to her play the piano. , reciting poems and lyrics with her, but when I am upset, I don’t want to go to them. I will go to you. Firstly, your cooking skills are good and you can iron my stomach to a smooth texture. Secondly, Anguiren is A good listener, I don't need you to make any analysis or decision-making for me, I just need someone to listen quietly to what I have to say and stay with me."