Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace

The days in the palace were plain and short. In the spring of Qianlong’s 20th year, thousands of jasmine flowers bloomed together by the waterside, and the fragrance was steamed by the spring sun with the dew, which was refreshing.In the spring of this year, it was the dry and lonely palace wall that was dyed a little by little with a light goose yellow color.

The imperial court's war against Junggar was victorious, in large part because after Che Ling led his troops to join him, he did his best in the war to put down Amur Sana, so the good news from the front line occasionally came through the palace walls. When it leaked in, it added the laughter of the concubines.And the harem was not without happy events, for example, after concubine Ying gave birth to Princess Hejing, Wei Yanwan, who had received little favor in recent years, suddenly became pregnant again, which really made the emperor extremely happy.

The concubines who entered the palace after the emperor ascended the throne were all princesses, only the old man in the hidden mansion raised his elder brothers. Looking back later, the emperor was always depressed and regretful.This time Wei Yanwan was pregnant, but within three months, Qixiang Palace heard that the concubine loves sour apricots and jujubes. Everyone in the harem guessed that Wei Yanwan was pregnant with an elder brother.After the emperor heard this, Long Yan was very happy, and he told Wei Yanwan in public that as soon as she gave birth to a prince, he would immediately promote her to be a concubine.

Right now, there is only Concubine Shu in the palace, but there are six concubines, Concubines Ying, Concubine Ying, Concubine Wan, Concubine Qing, Concubine Jin, and Concubine Xin, which are full of concubines.The lack of four concubines and three concubines has been lacking for more than ten years, and it is time to add one. In addition, Wei Yanwan already has Princess Herong, and the concubines are more jealous than envious.

In March, the weather is warm and clear.It was time to pay respects again in Yikun Palace, Concubine Chun and Hailan were the first to sit down separately, they both arrived early, and only Wei Yanwan's seat was empty.Because she is pregnant and precious, the concubines are headed by her and sit opposite Yi Huan.Her concubine Ying, who was next to her, couldn't hold back her anger even more, and said coldly: "Last year when my concubine was pregnant, she had the grace of the empress. Late. Unlike some people, who dare to be so lazy after only three months."

Yi Huan fiddled with a few peach blossoms in the earthen vase on the table, and lazily brushed off the bright pink petals in her hands, and said, "Isn't it? But I got a promise that I will be a concubine when I give birth to an elder brother, and what I'm pregnant with is I don't know if it's a man or a woman, but if she likes something sour, she treats herself as Concubine Xin. I'm afraid that one day she really becomes Concubine Xin, and even this palace will be willing to be inferior to her."

Yihuan is the most arrogant and unyielding person, Ruyi understands that she is not really afraid of Wei Yanwan by saying these words now, but really angry.

"So what if I really have to give birth to a prince and become Concubine Su?" Concubine Xin curled her lips, with a stern blizzard between her brows, "What kind of family background is Concubine Shu, Concubine Su is no more than a slave in clothes, even As a concubine, the concubine should also be respected by Sister Shu Concubine."

The spring sunshine is quiet, like a light golden veil that falls silently.Ruyi looked at the chattering of the crowd, smiled slightly, and gently persuaded: "Concubine Xin is lucky enough to be pregnant with the emperor's heir, it is naturally a joy of the palace, compared to morning and evening greetings are trivial matters." She turned her head with a smile, looked at Yi Huan, "Concubine Shu, don't be too self-effacing. Everything comes first, first come first, and the emperor always has different feelings for you."

"With the words of the empress, not only sister Concubine Shu, but even the concubines can feel at ease."

The gentle and soft voice poured in loudly, making Yihuan's already widening smile gradually dissipate.Everyone looked in surprise, and saw Wei Yanwan standing outside the corridor, her slender figure set off by a tree of begonias.She protected her inconspicuous lower abdomen without leaving any traces, put Dongxue's hand on the lotus steps, slowly bowed her knees in front of Ruyi, and said softly: "My concubine pays her respects to the empress, and may she be happy forever." Promise."

Ruyi raised her hand, motioned for Rong Pei to help her up, sat safely on the armchair, and said softly: "I still remember the last time Concubine Ying was pregnant, and I rewarded your concubine Wuxi with the offering of concubine Xin Ama." Ah Fu. Whoever thought about it would really appreciate Ying Rui, and now Concubine Xin has a baby again."

"The concubine's fortune is poor, so I have to borrow the queen's blessing." Wei Yanwan groaned, and suddenly covered her lips and wanted to vomit. Dongxue quickly handed her a crabapple fruit and ate it slowly. She slowed down for a moment, and Fang Jiao laughed Said: "The concubine was a little embarrassed this morning, and delayed the time to greet the empress, the empress should not blame the concubine."

Before Ruyi could speak, Concubine Ying snorted coldly: "Concubine Ying has been delayed for a day since she was diagnosed with pregnancy. If the Empress really has to blame her, I'm afraid she can't blame her!"

After Wei Yanwan heard this, she just shook the silver-threaded dark flower handkerchief in her hand, "Your Majesty doesn't blame me, it's because your Majesty values ​​the emperor's heir, and this kind of thought is the same as my palace's love for the emperor's heir. Is it possible that the concubine Ying has to go overboard to replace her?" Is it?"

"You!..." Concubine Ying was at a loss for words when she was so bullied by her.

It was still Hailan who knocked on the teacup lightly, and said lightly: "In front of the empress, there is no need for others to talk. It's just a concubine, the empress is the emperor's heir's aunt, and the aunt's heart is not comparable to that of a concubine. Even if you are the biological mother of the emperor's heir, there is no exception."

This remark reminded Wei Yanwan of her current identity in an extremely pungent way.Although Ruyi didn't open her mouth, Wei Yanwan looked at her with the eyes of a senior woman looking at a humble concubine.Thinking that Ruyi is only from a concubine to a later position, her heart seemed to be tightly grasped and rubbed by a hand, and she was so sore that she couldn't breathe, but no matter what, she couldn't let the smile fade a little bit on her face .

After a while, she forced a smile and said: "The empress's mother is respected all over the world. She is the emperor's mother who is the emperor's heir. Naturally, she is not comparable to the biological mother of the concubine. It is the concubine's slip of the tongue."

After years of obedience and obedience, it turned out that it was so easy to have a different heart.Ruyi glanced at her, and smiled faintly: "What about the aunt's birth mother? I'm so overwhelmed. As long as there is a sense of superiority and inferiority in my heart, why should I pay attention to these small things." She changed the topic, and said: " This child will be born in September, and Concubine Xin is the birthday of the Double Ninth Festival on the ninth day of September, so it is a blessing to have a child born near the mother's birthday, Concubine Xin must be careful in raising the baby, and be more careful in everything."

Wei Yanwan suddenly heard Ruyi mentioning her own birthday and the birth of the emperor's heir, and she hurriedly put on a smile: "My concubine, I thank the empress for her concern."

Concubine Xin and Concubine Ying were both in favor, young and energetic, so they were not willing to give in. They congratulated each other, but smiled lightly on their faces.In this way, everyone chatted and laughed for a while, and then dispersed.Only Hailan stayed behind, worried: "Concubine Concubine has become more and more disobedient. She even sent a letter to her mother's family a few days ago, asking her brother Zuolu to help her find a way to conceive a son. Xia Tang came to report again yesterday, saying that Concubine Concubine prefers Eating sour food makes me very sick..."

"The embarrassment is so serious in just over three months, do you think her dragon fetus is really healthy?" Ruyi interrupted her, playing with a very sour crabapple fruit in her hand, and slowly ate it, "I saw it just now Although Concubine Xin's makeup is not obvious, but her lips are slightly purple, obviously her fetal gas is not stable. You and I have both been pregnant before, and it is not a good thing if it is too early and too serious. Besides, even if she The first child is a prince, and it may not necessarily have the fate of being born."

Hai Lan was slightly startled, then smiled and said: "My sister is very right. The last time the concubine sent someone to find the midwife, and now it has been arranged in the enclosure of the apse of Qixiang Palace. I have already inquired about it. Surnamed Tian, ​​there is a seriously ill daughter and a son who are in urgent need of money, so I ordered her family to be guarded."

Grandma Tian?Tian Yunjiao?Ruyi leisurely fiddled with the green green gold teacup in her hand, and the light green mist and silver peaks steamed with white mist, reflecting her thin smile: "It turned out to be so. That's her, huh If this concubine is a princess, I will keep it, but if it is a prince, I am afraid that I will not have that blessing."

It was almost midsummer, and the sunny days in Beijing were cloudless, and it was getting hotter and hotter.The war in Junggar was over, and what the emperor was thinking of, apart from Wei Yanwan's children, were the untamed Hanbu in the Tianshan Mountains and the disobedient scholars in the south of the Yangtze River.The former, Han Xiangjian's arrival is hard to stop.In the latter case, the literary prison is so implicated that Ruyi dare not intervene.But her younger sister, Lanying, married into the Xilin Jueluo family, so she had to be taken care of by the Ulanara family.

In Beijing this year, there is no fire in July, only scorching heat.In such a scorching weather, even if the emperor stayed with Qixiang Palace for two out of three days, and the House of Internal Affairs sent good flowers for pillow and pregnancy, Wei Yanwan's spirit was still gradually weakened. , the sickness became more and more serious, and his appearance became more haggard.

Of course, Wei Yanwan never showed her weakness in front of the emperor.Every day, Qi Lu from the Tai Hospital smokes AI for her to protect her pregnancy, and the skillful Dong Xue also spends an hour or two putting on makeup for her to cover up her pale complexion.

At the same time, Qin Tianjian also reported the calculation results to the emperor, saying: "The purple light of the Ziwei star in the sky is a sign of auspiciousness. The birth of the concubine empress must be the auspicious sign of the auspiciousness of the heavenly heart and the Anzongxie." Fetus are priceless."

Qin Tianjian has always observed the sky and predicted disasters and fortunes, and the emperor believed it very much.When this word reached Ruyi's ears, the emperor had already ordered the House of Internal Affairs to start preparing for Wei Yanwan's concubine ceremony.Ruyi knew that Qin Tianjian's happy news was nothing more than flattery to win the emperor's favor, but she didn't say anything in front of the emperor, just smiled.

The autumn wind is rustling, and the red leaves are falling.The sky is full of frost, and the snow is like weaving.The snow fell very early this year, and there was already a light silver makeup in September.This year's Double Ninth Festival, because of Wei Yanwan's birthday and the emperor's heir, almost became her home game.During the feasting, Wei Yanwan was dressed in a sapphire blue and gold grape festoon dress, making Wei Yanwan slim and pleasant. She couldn't drink, so she held a gauze fan embroidered with golden peonies, chatting and laughing happily with the emperor.

Ruyi went to see the emperor the next day, and his joy did not fade away.The Hall of Mental Cultivation in the afternoon was almost lonely, the emperor stood alone under the window, the wind was blowing his clothes gracefully, like the wings of a white crane, wandering in the sky.His back is solemn, like an exile.

The emperor's intoxication lies in a mahogany tray on the long table by the window, on which are the names of the three elder brothers, written on gilt red paper, using bright and strong colors to reflect the emperor's state of mind at the moment.He looked at Ruyi excitedly, his eyes filled with composure and joy: "Queen, come and see, which name sounds nice?"

"Look at the emperor's appearance, it's not the first time to be the emperor's ama. It can be seen that the emperor really likes the child of the concubine's younger sister." Ruyi walked over slowly to share his happiness, and stood beside him, pointing Holding the tray, he commented one by one: "My elder brother's name is chosen by the Ministry of Internal Affairs to choose auspicious words, so naturally they are all good. The three characters Lu, Ju, and Lin all mean beautiful jade. Qu Zi's "Nine Chapters" says Cui Wei, who crowned Qieyun, was Pei Baolu by Mingyuexi. The concubine thinks that Yonglu is very good."

The emperor chewed it over and over for a while, smiled clearly, held her hand and said, "The empress is knowledgeable, Yong Lu. Pei Baolu by Mingyuexi, such a nice name, catchy, I must like it too."

Ruyi handed over a lotus and lotus seed soup that was still steaming, and sent her warmth: "In late autumn, even if the emperor is happy, don't stand in front of the window for too long. The lotus seeds used in this lotus seed soup are all summer." It was picked from the garden, sealed with honey, and made with lotus petals, the emperor might as well try it."

The emperor took a sip from Ruyi's hand, and couldn't help admiring: "It's so fragrant! Lotus seeds, Lianzi, it's just the right time to drink, the queen has a heart."

"A concubine is just a woman's little thought, how can it compare to the concubine's concubine who is considerate and holy?" There was a breeze, and the light purple Tangdi pattern cuffs on Ruyi's body fluttered with the wind. , Like a butterfly fluttering its wide wings, she smiled and said, "Sister Xin's child, I'm afraid it will be in these few days?"

The emperor talked eloquently: "Qin Tianjian said that the auspicious time is today, but Qi Lu said that there is no movement yet. In fact, as long as the childbirth is safe, it will be icing on the cake if it is an auspicious time..."

Before the emperor finished speaking, he saw Li Yu rushing in, slapped Qianer and said, "Report to the emperor and empress, Xiatang from Qixiang Palace has come to report, saying that the concubine's concubine has activated it."

The emperor immediately beamed with joy, stroked his palms and smiled, "Good! Good! Li Yu, drive to Qixiang Palace!"

Wei Yanwan launched it at noon on the tenth day of September in the 20th year of Qianlong.Unlike usual, in addition to the midwife and the imperial physician accompanying the birth, even the supervisor and deputy supervisor of the Qin Tianjian guarded the side hall, waiting for the auspicious birth of the fetus as indicated by the astrology.

Sitting in the side hall, the emperor listened to Wei Yanwan's miserable groans, rubbed his hands again and again, and said anxiously: "It's not convenient for me to enter the delivery room, Li Yu, you can call a nanny to ask, what's the reason, why are you still here?" No movement?"

Ruyi held down the emperor's hand and comforted him, "Don't worry, your majesty. If you are impatient, wouldn't you be even more frightened if you let my concubine hear it? Your concubine will be able to give birth with peace of mind when your mind is settled."

The emperor's tone was disturbed and impatient, and he said: "The imperial physician said this just now. But the midwives said that the baby's fetal position is not good and it is not easy to give birth. How can I feel at ease?"

Li Yu saw the emperor's anxiety and worry, and hurriedly persuaded him: "Your majesty, don't worry, the concubine has already given birth once, this time there will be no trouble, and the baby brother will definitely be born smoothly."

Qin Tianjian was busy apologizing and said with a smile: "What Li Gonggong said is very true. It is also an auspicious time when the concubine's fetal gas is activated. I have already calculated that as long as she is born around Shenshi, then the concubine will A child, regardless of gender, must be priceless."

The emperor let out a long breath, and relaxed a little: "The imperial doctor said that Concubine Xin's birth is very likely to be a prince. I have already thought of the name of the prince, Yong Lu. When the prince is born, I will immediately promote Concubine Concubine Xin to be Concubine Concubine .”

Qin Tianjian said again and again, "Lu, Meiyu. When the concubine was pregnant with this child, the Ziwei star was shining brightly. It is really the most appropriate name for the emperor to choose."

The shadow of the sun moved little by little, and it seemed that it was almost noon, but Wei Yanwan's child was not born for a long time.Qin Tianjian's forehead was covered with sweat, and the emperor's eyes became colder and colder.At the turn of the year, Wei Yanwan's groans/groans stopped abruptly with a painful cry.How many children did the emperor have, and when he heard this cry of pain, he knew that he was about to give birth.However, the expected cry did not resound, just an embarrassing silence.

Li Yu stretched his neck and leaned out, and said softly: "It sounds like someone gave birth? Why is there no cry yet?"

Before he could finish speaking, there were faint low-pitched screams of panic, and the door of the side hall was suddenly pushed open. The midwife and the imperial physicians stumbled in and said with a mournful face, "Your Majesty, forgive me! Your Majesty, please forgive me!"

The emperor's face suddenly froze like frost, and he said sharply: "What's wrong, is the emperor's heir bad?"

The leader was Nanny Tian, ​​who trembled with fright, and reported back: "If you go back to the emperor, the concubine has given birth to a little elder brother." Said: "But the little elder brother just left the mother's womb, so he lost his breath and passed away."

The emperor staggered a few steps in shock, and fell down on the red sandalwood chair.His voice was a little trembling, and his eyes searched the hall constantly: "Little elder brother, where is my little elder brother?"

Xia Tang hugged a small baby in her arms, stepped forward with tears in her eyes and said, "Your Majesty, my little elder brother is here, but it's just not destined for me."

The emperor's hands trembled slightly, and he wanted to lift the white silk covering the child's face, but he couldn't grasp the white silk no matter what.In the end it was Ruyi who supported the emperor, and opened it for the emperor to take a look at. The child's cheeks were bruised and black, and his eyes were tightly closed. It was obvious that he was strangled by the umbilical cord and suffocated to death.Ruyi waved her hand, and said with all her strength, "Hold it down well."

The emperor's gaze trembled like a flame that had been extinguished by a strong wind, and he couldn't help but shed tears.His breath seemed to be choked in his throat, and he twitched and said, "How could this be so, little elder brother?"

All the midwives trembled like chaff in fright, unable to speak.Ruyi looked at Qi Lu and sighed, "Your Majesty, when I was at home, I heard that when a baby is in the womb, the umbilical cord is easily wrapped around the neck, causing the baby to suffocate to death. Unless it is at the time of delivery, the imperial doctor will not be able to detect it." .”

Qi Lu's sweat dripped down on the ground, with a greasy luster, he said panickedly: "What the empress said is absolutely true. Besides, the empress is nearly thirty years old, and her body is naturally not as good as it was when she was young..."

Before the words were finished, the emperor caught a glimpse of the Qintian Prison standing beside him, and immediately kicked him. How dare the prisoner dodge, he suffered the kick and rolled to the ground.

The emperor's eyes were red, he was angry and sad, and said: "Didn't you say that Concubine Xin is pregnant with the son of auspiciousness, who inherits the heart of heaven and descends from Anzong, and that the purple light of Ziwei star is a sign of auspiciousness! Now It seems that it is all nonsense!"

The prisoner was kneeling and crawling on the ground, kneeling on the ground, kowtowing his head like garlic: "Your Majesty! Your Majesty! I don't dare to talk nonsense when I watch the stars at night! Besides, I also said that my elder brother was born around Shenshi. The most auspicious thing is, as for why he died around his neck, I... I don’t know why this happened!" He grinned in pain, but he didn’t dare to cry out in pain, so he gritted his teeth and said, "The emperor wants to punish, Weichen I am willing to accept it. It’s just that I don’t know why, but please understand.” He kowtowed and said, “Your Majesty, I would like to ask when is the birthday of the concubine?”

The emperor was so angry that his face was livid, and he raised his chin no matter how he could speak.Li Yu knew how to tell the details to Qin Tianjian Jianzheng, who wrenched his fingers, frowned, thought for a moment and said: "Your Majesty, Empress Concubine Xin was born in the fifth year of Yongzheng, and this year is the year of the passing year." He looked The sky outside the window said again, "At this moment, it is the third quarter of you time, the sky is about to faint, it is the evening of the sun, and the prince belongs to Yang, if he can be born around Shen time, it will be very expensive. From the birthday of the concubine, the concubine Look, the fate is extremely negative, so the little elder brother was born at this time, and his life was cut off in the end!"

This is not the first time such a scene has happened.The emperor's complexion changed again and again, and the muscles around his cheeks twitched slightly, as if a stormy sea was undulating under his flesh.There was a long silence, and the sound of cold sweat dripping from everyone's face to the ground could almost be heard.

The emperor's voice was very soft, but it was as cold as if it came from a cold tan: "The thirteenth elder brother named Yong Lu, and he will be buried with the eighth elder brother in the garden." If you don’t work hard, you will all leave the palace. Qin Tianjian is in charge, and you will be dismissed if you talk nonsense, and you will never be used again." After he finished speaking, he suddenly got up and left, and the wind from his robes blew on Ruyi's face, making his face cold .

Rumors about the death of the prince by Xingpin inevitably spread.Although she was pregnant with an elder brother, the emperor's promise to be a concubine had already become a dead letter with the anger.Until Wei Yanwan came out of the moon, the emperor never entered Qixiang Palace again. Even after she was finally able to greet Ruyi, he ordered her to go to Baohua Palace to kneel to the Thirteenth Elder Brother to wash away her sins.

The winter of Qianlong's 20th year seemed to be extremely cold.Because of the emperor's absence, everyone in the harem seemed to have fallen to the bottom of a deep and freezing well.Since the return of Princess Duanshu, the Queen Mother has long since stopped interfering with the affairs of the Six Palaces, and only spends her days in the Palace of Compassion and Ning.

Occasionally when the concubine pays her respects, the empress dowager would inevitably say: "The concubine is humble, and the emperor is taboo, that's all. It can't be bad luck for her alone, even the concubines in the harem are left out in the cold. Empress, you are the master of the six palaces, so you have time to spare." , should remind the emperor."

Ruyi tightened her azure beaded ermine cloak around her body, and sighed in embarrassment: "Why didn't my concubine persuade me? Others are fine, Xin Concubine has only been in the palace for two years, and she was favored deeply before, but now even It is also difficult to see the emperor. Even with the concubine, the emperor comes less often. The concubine thinks that the emperor still feels sorry for elder brother Thirteen, and it will take some time to let go of it."

In the winter time, the blossoms bloom into the emerald green shade of the spring forest.In the 21st year of Qianlong's reign, the spring scenery of the imperial garden was the most sultry, with pink walls and flower gardens, sunny and warm sunshine, and the heart of spring flying everywhere.But these are the excitement of others, for Wei Yanwan, it is the splendor of others embellished on the pale and silent picture scroll, blooming the most beautiful and beautiful world of brocade.

On the twelfth of March, the grass grows and the birds fly, the best day of the year according to the calendar, Gu Lun and Princess An officially marry Zhang Jia Qinggui, who has been promoted to a cabinet bachelor.

At that time, Yongjin's first child was already one year old, the emperor's eldest grandson Aixinjueluo Mianheng.Ruyi married her eldest daughter in peace, and everything was satisfied, so on a spring rainy April day, she pushed open the gate of Qixiang Palace.