Story of Yanxi Palace: Red Seal Spring Star

On the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, when Yingluo put on her makeup and looked in the mirror, she blushed thinking of last night.Pearl pursed her lips and smiled, glanced at the Western clock on the table over there, it was already two o'clock, and she hurriedly called to prepare breakfast.Yingluo no longer wears a rose gold chain, because when she was holding her son, Fu Longan always pulled the chain, and she was worried that it would be torn.Just as she was thinking, Fu Heng came up behind her and inserted two hairpins into her newly combed hair.Yingluo looked at Fu Heng in the mirror in surprise, and Fu Heng also smiled slightly, saying: "One is called Riyong Qinshu, and the other is called Lvxue Hanfang."

Only then did Yingluo look carefully at the two hairpins in the mirror, and saw that one was flat and hollowed out in sandalwood color, but the wood was definitely not soft sandalwood, the hollowed out part was gilded, and the other was a lotus flower set off by green leaves. The petals and flower core are carved from jade, which seems a bit familiar, and the green leaves are green crystals.The Lvxue Hanfang hairpin is not much heavier than the Riyongqin book hairpin, and the two are inserted side by side to complement each other, neither monotonous nor complicated, low-key luxury.

She suddenly remembered that this jade was Hetian sheep fat jade, so she turned her head to look at Fu Heng.Fu Heng hummed, and said: "It's very beautiful, isn't it?"She didn't expect that he also bought Hetian jade for himself, and specially made it into hairpins.According to her idea, when he came back from Yili, he gave a pair of jade bracelets to the queen mother and the old lady respectively, and what he gave to himself was a bag of purple spirit herbs, which he picked himself and dried in Yili and brought back. , Later she made it into spirit herb oil, gave one bottle to Haishi, another bottle to Pearl, and another bottle to Chen Bi...

Suddenly I heard Fu Heng say: You are now Long'er's mother-in-law!It was only then that Yingluo understood why he gave her a hairpin. It was to celebrate her becoming a human mother. Last year's New Year's Eve was the day the two of them knew they were pregnant.So she smiled, raised her face, kissed him on the chin, and said, "Master, are you saying that Yingluo is old?"Fu Heng smiled, circled her, looked in the mirror and said: No, the young master's Yingluo has grown up.After hearing this, Yingluo blushed again when she remembered coming last night, and Fu Heng laughed lightly.

When the two went out, Fu Heng suddenly remembered that it was also in this room that he had bought a hairpin on the street and wanted to give it to Erqing as a way of expressing his guilt, but when he saw Qinglian for the first time, she would Holding the sachet to himself... It seems to have happened in the previous life, and outside the house, there is a high winter sun!

The emperor accompanied the queen mother to Zhengjue Temple for the second time.After the temple was renovated at the beginning of the year, it became a Tibetan Buddhist temple and was abbotted by two lamas.The three characters "Zhengjue Temple" are engraved on the outer eaves of the mountain gate, which are written by the emperor, and the four languages ​​of Han, Manchu, Tibetan and Mongolian are combined.There are 22 monks' rooms in eight blocks in the temple, which are composed of the gate of Zhengjue Temple, Tianwang Hall, Sansheng Hall, Manjusri Pavilion, the uppermost building, and side halls.There are seven rooms in the back building on the uppermost floor, and three rooms in the east and west of the building.On the uppermost floor there are five Buddha statues, and the dharma body is three feet and six minutes high.There are five east and west side halls on the uppermost floor and in front of the Sansheng hall.The surrounding corridors are the residences of lamas.On the main gate of the pagoda, there is a plaque of "Chijian King Kong Throne Pagoda".Two ginkgo trees are planted in front of the pagoda, one male and one female.

This temple was originally located in Chunhe Garden, to the west of the main entrance of the original Jiaohui Garden, connected to the back door of Jiaohui Garden, and formed a unique pattern, with a separate south gate, which is the mountain gate of Zhengjue Temple.It's just that the back door has been abandoned since the death of the thirteenth master Yunxiang. The kobresia inside the door has grown very tall. When the new temple was built, the long grass was only mowed, and it has been cut short and neatly. people set foot.

Last time, before Qiuwei, the living Buddha of Tibet received by the emperor and queen mother here was the seventh Dalai Kelsang Gyatso, who was invited by the emperor to come from Tibet to attend the inauguration ceremony of Xinzhengjue Temple. There are Fu Heng and Prince Hong Zhou, so the Empress Dowager still has a fresh memory of this place.The emperor accompanied her to offer incense in the Hall of Heavenly Kings, and the two lamas presided over the whole process of serving.Then go to the Manjusri Pavilion at the back.

Manjusri Pavilion is a pavilion with double eaves in eight directions. It is located alone in a garden. There are three characters "Wenshu Pavilion" on the outer eaves plaque. more than enough.The statue of Manjusri Bodhisattva and its backlight are all made of wood covered with gold, and the lower vehicle white jade platform is extremely gorgeous.When the mother and son entered the Manjusri Pavilion, Li Yu blocked the two head lamas from the pavilion, told them to go back first, and asked them to wait on them later. He also stood at the gate of the garden, away from the pavilion.

After the door of the pavilion was closed, the emperor served the queen mother, and the two offered incense in front of Manjusri Bodhisattva.Then they walked in the pavilion, the emperor held the queen mother's hand.The queen mother said: "The child came to greet me before. I saw that it was inconvenient for her, so I asked her to excuse me, but she still comes here often. She is a sensible person."I also picked up that girl to see, she looks like you, a daughter looks like a father, she is a blessed appearance.The emperor said: Last time the queen mother talked about the harem, her son wanted her to start learning palace affairs, what does the queen mother think?

The queen mother said: I understand what the emperor means. There is no suitable person in this palace. I heard that this child can endure hardships if he studies hard, but I always feel that I need to find someone with a family background. Someone like Rongyin is the best, who is physically strong. Be better, the emperor didn't see the right one in this year's draft?

The emperor was silent.The Queen Mother smiled and said: You still don't want to part with Chen Bi, right?Find someone from a noble family, and Shen Bi will be suppressed in the future. Although she is from a good family background, she is not from our place after all, and her brother was also appointed by the emperor.The emperor said: It is really not suitable, and the age of the draft is too young, I am still a child.Wei Mei, her son has already sent someone to investigate her life experience, and asked Wu Min, who sent her here, to cut off contact with her, so there will be no trouble, Queen Empress can rest assured.

The Empress Dowager said: "The Eight Banners are the foundation of the country, and they cannot be dissatisfied. The emperor, if you want to use a Han girl, you must be careful. Fortunately, she is from a low family background, and she is born with a princess. There is a man in charge of the six palaces around the holy grandfather." The emperor's concubine has no heirs, but she is a Manchu from a noble family and the cousin of the holy grandfather.The emperor said: "Emperor Niang, where are you thinking, my son thinks that Wei Mei learned everything in the palace, and Huang Er Niang is easy to teach|teach.

The Queen Mother laughed and said: "Most half of me has been buried in the ground, what else do I care about?"I just want the emperor to be good and the harem to be good.The emperor said: Yes, it all depends on the queen's mother's will, but the harem is controlled by the queen's mother, so my son can rest assured. She has a good temper, so the queen's mother should not worry.The queen mother sighed softly, and said: I thought this queen was good-natured and capable at first, so I asked her to replace Rongyin at that time.The emperor said: "My son knows that Shushen's affairs have not been handled well, which made the Queen's mother angry, but she has worked hard for so many years without credit, so the Queen's mother should let her be lenient."

The queen mother said again: "The emperor thinks this way, but I don't know what she thinks?"This matter has been handled for a long time, and it is not so easy to let him go.The emperor said: "Wei Mei doesn't understand anything, you should read it first, if you can't do it, you can choose someone else, and you don't care about the draft."The son didn't think so long-term.

The Empress Dowager sighed, and said: For so many years, there is no noble concubine in the palace, if you give it to Shen Bi, others will be dissatisfied.The emperor said: Shen Bi herself said that she didn't want to replace Rong Yin.The Empress Dowager laughed and said: "This child, I am afraid that the emperor thinks that you miss Rong Yin, and you are unhappy."The emperor smiled and said: There must be a little.

Seeing the emperor's expression, the Empress Dowager knew that he and Concubine Rong were on good terms, so she was very happy, and said, "I am old, and I don't want to worry so much. This concubine, when she is ready, ask Shen Bi to have a relationship with Concubine Rong in private." She discussed what to do, so as not to cause suspicion there, if I teach you the empress to quarrel, it will be my fault, and people outside will not look good.The emperor said: "The empress's wife should tell Shen Bi herself."The queen mother nodded and said: You, I still miss the old love.

The mother and son returned to the Old Summer Palace after having a fast meal in the monastery.After returning, the emperor changed his clothes and went to Tiandi's family for spring.Desheng told him everything about last night this morning, although he didn't know what Concubine Rong and Yilu had said in the end.The emperor was quite satisfied.Seeing the emperor coming in, Caiyun immediately stepped forward and said in a low voice: Your Majesty just went to sleep.

The emperor turned and left, reached the door, turned back, opened the door and entered the inner room, Caiyun then went down, and Li Yu stood guard outside the door as usual.The emperor walked to the bed and saw Concubine Rong with her eyes closed, facing outwards, covered with a green Wufu golden satin quilt, with her long hair hanging out of the quilt, he called her softly, but there was no response, knowing that she was asleep .After thinking about it, he took off his coat, lay down on the bed, and gently took another autumn-colored python satin quilt from inside to cover it.

Concubine Rong woke up after a nap, and was surprised to see the emperor lying beside her.So he didn't get up and looked at the emperor.Soon, the emperor also woke up.Concubine Rong smiled at him and said: Happy New Year to the emperor!The emperor lay down under her quilt, put his arms around her and asked: Are you all right?Worked hard last night.Concubine Rong said: "What's the hard work, I felt better after sleeping last night, but I was sleepy again at noon today, so it must be better now."At the New Year's Eve dinner yesterday, Queen Mother didn't say anything, right?

The emperor said: "Emperor mother hurts you before it's too late, what can I say?"Concubine Rong said: "That's because the emperor was kind to Shen Bi. If it weren't for you, Shen Bi would have been the one who went to the cold palace."Hearing the sadness in her tone, the emperor knew that she thought of Concubine Jia, and when he remembered what happened at that time, he also sighed and said: "He'an is very important in the heart of the empress, I don't want to go against her old man's wishes."Concubine Rong laughed and said: "Emperor Niang, the one who hurts the most in her heart is the emperor."

Bitong Academy, where Concubine Shu lived, was first built in the period of Lord Kangxi, and was named "Wutong Academy" by the late emperor.There are three couplets in the front hall of Bitong Academy, five couplets in the middle hall and five in the back hall.It is adjacent to the natural picture in the south, faces Ciyun Puhu in the west across the water, and Yuncen Pavilion is on the rock in the west.Surrounded by mountains and dense forests, it is a very quiet place.The academy is composed of large and small courtyards in a patchwork pattern, and there are three courtyards in total.Under the eaves of the main hall, there is a plaque of "Bitong Academy" written by the late emperor.

Concubine Shu lived in the third entrance.There are many sycamore trees planted around the academy. The tung trees are dense, condensing auspiciousness and tranquility. It is an excellent place for reading in a quiet room. The late emperor studied here all year round.The emperor also praised in his poem, "The moon turns and the wind turns back to the green shadows, and the rainy window is especially noisy. The sound is the color and the sound is silent. Don't ask about the Ni Family Lion Garden."

Concubine Shu was overwhelmed by the beautiful scenery and fresh air of the Old Summer Palace, but she was depressed and the emperor did not come to see her.Chunmei persuaded her: We have only been here for a few days, and it is Chinese New Year, and the emperor has many ceremonies.Concubine Shu said: But he went to see the queen.Chunmei thought: Queens are naturally different, the emperor has to take care of his integrity and face no matter what.But he said: I heard that it was last night, and the emperor left early in the morning.Would you like to go and see Empress Qing Concubine first?She has been here twice, and you have gone to the garden.Concubine Shu sighed, and said: That means she still thinks about me.Don't be busy, I will go to see this concubine Ling first to see what kind of abilities she has. The Pope treats her like this, and he still hides it from others.

So in the afternoon of the first day of the new year, she went to the Natural Picture Wufu Hall just south of the academy.When she went, it happened that Concubine Qing also came to visit Wei Mei, and she thought to herself: just in time, let's meet together.After Concubine Shu entered, Concubine Qing hurriedly saluted her, and Wei Mei also greeted her on the bed.Then Concubine Qing immediately said happily to her: "Sister Nalan, it's good if you come, we will be more lively together, and now there are Sister Lingbi and Qigege, it is even more lively."

Concubine Shu smiled and said: Hello sister, I have been thinking about my sister all the time, how are you?How about Fifth Prince and Fukang An?He said a few words to Concubine Qing.Only then did he walk to the place near the bed and look at Wei Mei, thinking: It's not that good!Take it easy.Wei Mei had already known Concubine Shu's family background and temperament from Concubine Qing, and knew that she was from Mrs. Nalan's family. When she saw her looking at her, she understood, and said softly: Concubine Shu is naturally beautiful. of.

Concubine Shu felt happy when she heard the words, and said: My sister is serious, the emperor is also good to my sister.How is my sister feeling?This confinement period is very boring, and it will pass after a while.When we can move around, we'll have some fun together.Wei Mei said: Thank you, Madam.Wei Mei made a small hat for elder brother Eleven before, and I have already taught Lord Yilu to inspect it with the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Do you like it or not.

Xijun immediately went to get the box, Concubine Shu saw that it was a tiger head hat, she taught Chunmei to take it, and praised: My sister is so handy, I don't bother to be a female celebrity.Wei Mei smiled and said: I have nothing to do all day long, and I also like to make things for children. My mother praised me.Concubine Qing said from the side: You can call me Sister Nalan, just like me.Concubine Shu immediately said: Yes, just call me sister.

Only then did Concubine Shu remember the gift she had brought to Ling Concubine, and motioned to Chunmei, so Chunmei went outside and called two maids in, each holding a box in her hand.Chunmei lifted the lid of the box and showed it to Wei Mei. It turned out that one box contained two cans of chess pieces, and the other contained a child's longevity lock.Concubine Shu said: "I heard that my sister is good at playing chess. This is the chess piece that the emperor rewarded me before. I didn't have that patience, so I brought it to my sister. Don't mind."This lock was bought for me by my name, Mr. Yuan, who is next to the Empress, and it is specially for Qigege.

Wei Mei hurriedly said: I don't dare to do it, thank you sister.But don't ask for a gift.Concubine Qing hurriedly said about the inspection by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and then Concubine Shu remembered that Wei Mei seemed to have mentioned such a thing just now, and she couldn't help but get angry and said: What does this mean?Could it be that the things I brought are poisonous? !Who does this palace want to harm? !

Wei Mei didn't know what to say.Concubine Qing hurriedly said: "Sister Nalan, this is the new rule after the Queen Mother came to the garden. The things sent by the Queen Mother have also been inspected before, and the things I brought have also been inspected. Sister, don't think too much about it."Concubine Shu glanced at Concubine Qing, and said: So that's the case, I said that the garden is loose, but I didn't expect it to be tighter than in the palace.So she taught Chunmei to collect the things, and asked the Ministry of Internal Affairs to inspect them before sending them over.

Seeing that Concubine Shu was unhappy, Wei Mei asked Xijun to teach the wet nurse to hold the baby for the two of them.Concubine Qing held Qi Gege in her arms, the two looked at it for a while, then both said: She really looks like the emperor.Wei Mei was very sweet in her heart, no matter who said that, she would be happy for a long time.I wanted to ask Mrs. Nalan, but I swallowed the words, because Mrs. Nalan entered the palace without purpose, and Concubine Qing couldn't say anything about it. At that time, Concubine Shu hadn't come yet. Although Concubine Shu belonged to her family, Thinking of Concubine Rong and Concubine Qing's various precautions, she became very careful too.

The author has something to say:

[The name of the two hairpins] This is the birthday gift of Emperor Qianlong in history to celebrate his mother's [-]th birthday.

[Second glimpse of Zhengjue Temple] Zhengjue Temple is adjacent to Chunhe Garden/Qichun Garden, and geographically it is a part of Chunhe Garden.Historically, the renovation of Zhengjue Temple took place in the 38th year of Qianlong's reign, with the purpose of "prospering the Yellow Sect to stabilize Mongolia". After the renovation, it became a Tibetan temple with a Manjusri Pavilion, as shown in the text.