[Qing wear] Harem promotion expert

Guo Guiren felt that he had never played such a nerve-wracking sparrow card.

The birthday gift that Jiang Heng prepared for Concubine Yu was four sets of mahjong with different materials.But they are all packed in small square cowhide boxes. When you remove the copper buckle and open the box cover, you can see that the mahjong pieces of the same size are neatly polished and smooth, which is quite pleasing to the eye.

Concubine Yu opened a pair and praised it.

Among them, the most expensive one is a pair of transparently fired glass mahjong printed with gold letters: Times have changed, Jiang Heng used to use the most glass products, but now it is the most expensive luxury.Sure enough, as soon as Concubine Yu saw this pair, she immediately said: "Hey, this is so precious, you have to put it up and look at it, it can't stand being beaten." It is a display type rather than a practical mahjong.

Concubine Hou Yu looked at the other three sets, and picked up a card made of bamboo bones from the last set, and played with it in her hand. Turning it over, she saw that it was a card of Dongfeng.

Concubine Yu secretly sighed, a person's life is simply a bird card, sometimes it doesn't depend on whether the card is good or not, it depends on luck, your card is good, no one else can say it is better, you are playing a crazy game.And sometimes, looking at one's own cards is not very good, but maybe the rest of the players at the table are worse than the other, and they also win in the end.

The sky is getting hotter, this Bamboo Bone Bird Brand is a cool and reserved natural green color, it is comfortable to hold in the palm of your hand.

Concubine Yu accepted the birthday gift, and after saying thank you and caring to Jiang Heng, she turned to Huang Yang and said, "We also have a set of onyx bird cards in our palace, although they are not as good as today's Venus glass Yes, but the ruddy one is also something to enjoy, you brought it here for your concubine Xin to taste it."

He also said very humorously: "I know you like ornaments of red agate and ruby ​​stones of various colors. If you like that pair of birds - just exchange it with a box of gold."

All the maids in the room laughed.

Jiang Heng smiled: Actually, it's not that she likes all kinds of red agate utensils, but the emperor always likes to give her all kinds of pomegranate utensils, which are naturally more red.

Huang Yang went out to the warehouse, and took away the palace servants from the corridor of the main hall of Xianfu Palace.

Concubine Yu saw no one in the hallway through the window, so she went straight to the point: "A few days ago, I heard that my sister was in a bad mood. The Lord Long Live and the Empress Dowager didn't ask anyone to disturb you, so I couldn't come to the door even if I had something to say. I was very anxious for a while." Concubine Yu looked directly at her eyebrows and eyes when she was talking to her, there was no place to hide.

"I usually don't inquire about the affairs of the Department of Punishment. But this time, the maid surnamed Fei who was taken away was originally in my palace. What a heinous crime I committed, could it be that my former master didn't teach me well."

Concubine Yu still gritted her teeth when she mentioned it: "At first, I thought she had shallow eyelids and an open mouth, and at most she was taken by the Department of Criminal Justice because of stealing something or arguing with others. Who would have entrusted someone to take the money to the Criminal Justice Department?" The secretary asked a familiar vice-principal, only to find out that she actually made up those deadly words!"

Concubine Yu looked at Jiang Heng: "I originally wanted to go to the Yonghe Palace to explain something, but just now you are here."

Jiang Heng suddenly remembered that when she first entered the palace, Concubine Nian specially sent a pair of goldfish as a humiliation, Jiang Heng thought it was his own business.But later, when he went to Zhongzheng Hall, he met Concubine Yu at the door, and heard her explain himself, telling her not to go to Concubine Nian just because she was young and energetic. Only then did Jiang Heng realize that there are no absolute secrets in this palace.

The only difference is whether people say it or not.

Just like the rumors this time, the emperor can't suppress it, but the masters, as long as they inquire carefully, they can know more or less.

Concubine Yu looked at Jiang Heng in a daze and didn't speak, thinking she wouldn't believe it, she simply said directly: "It's about the child, you have to be more cautious, and compare your heart with your heart, if someone uses those words to say about my Hong Zhou, I will take care of myself." I also refuse to let it go easily. Otherwise, I will either swear a strong oath to you, or let Su Mama from the Punishment Department come over and just ask me, she is used to asking people, is a word right? You can tell the truth, and I will answer every question."

Jiang Heng regained his senses and smiled: "This is too serious a word, so it's not useful. Sister Yu Fei mentioned this matter straightforwardly, and I believed it in my heart."

"Besides, the original direction of this rumor is too obvious. I don't know how many maids in the palace are in charge of laundry, but this maid who came out of my sister's palace is indiscreet and has been implicated everywhere. It is estimated that Sister Yufei is also wronged. "

Hearing this, it aroused Concubine Yu's heartache.

"Little sister, when it comes to this, I will tell you the truth. I feel really uncomfortable! The emperor refuses to investigate this matter, which is justified. No one will turn the palace upside down because of unreasonable rumors. But I was really aggrieved in my heart: since that maid came out of my palace, I always carry a shadow of suspicion that I can't get rid of."

Concubine Yu said that her eye circles were red: "In case the emperor thinks that I am not right... There is really nowhere to tell."

Jiang Heng stretched out his hand to comfort him: "Today is my sister's birthday, so I don't want to cry. Besides, the emperor is a person who needs facts in everything, so he won't suspect people without grounds."

Concubine Yu spoke out the anger and worry in her heart these days, she just felt that a big heart disease had gone away.

She really likes Concubine Xin's temperament, she can speak openly and honestly.For Concubine Yu Yu, she did nothing wrong, so she was happy to spread everything under the sun.

Concubine Yu couldn't help being thankful that this was Concubine Xin's temper and she was willing to speak plainly to her. If this misunderstanding happened between her and Concubine Xi, even if she said it directly, Concubine Xi would probably be as sympathetic as ever Rong Wuleu politely dismissed the matter, only saying, "They are all sisters in the harem, and they should be in harmony with each other to serve the emperor and empress, how could they be suspicious of each other." 'Such a scene.

It's like talking to valleys and stones, without being discouraging.

"I see that you don't like drinking honey water, so ask someone to change you a cup of honeysuckle tea?" Concubine Yu raised her voice to call for someone to come in and change the tea.

Huang Yang, who had already moved the sparrow box outside and waited, knew that the two ladies inside had finished their business, so he hurried in to deliver the agate sparrow, and asked someone to bring the best honeysuckle from the Taitai Hospital into the house. , in front of the two concubines, and then made a cup of light honeysuckle tea for Concubine Xin.

Jiang Heng picked up the red agate bird cards that were brought in one by one and looked at them, and they were really round and red and cute.

Concubine Yu was out of her mind, so she talked with Jiang Heng about Hong Zhou's recent interesting stories, her eyebrows were beaming, and her laughing words came out of the window.

It just fell into Concubine Xi's ear.

When Concubine Xi entered the main hall, her eyes unconsciously fell on Concubine Xin.

I saw that she was wearing a lake-color dark flower silk dress, which was the same color as the lake water under the clear and soft sunlight, and it seemed to cast a halo on her body.

It just reflected Xinfei's eyes.

Concubine Xi always loves to look at people in detail: Concubine Xin's eyes are different from those of many concubines who are reserved and introverted, for fear of revealing her own thoughts. Her eyes are always alive, like a flowing spring, capable of joy, anger, sorrow, and joy. See.

Concubine Yu probably said something funny just now, but now Concubine Xin's eyes are full of smiles that haven't faded away.

Concubine Xi and Concubine Yu greeted each other, and when congratulating her birthday, Jiang Heng sat quietly by the side and drank tea.

Huang Yang smiled bitterly at the door: It is said that Empress Xi is here, and Empress Xin shouldn't get up and say something, so should I go back first?

After Concubine Xi and Concubine Yu finished their polite words, they fell into a brief vacuum of silence.

The space for three people is really a bit cramped.

"Today is Concubine Yu's birthday, so it's a good day, it's rare that Concubine Xin still has the energy to go out for a walk." Concubine Xi broke the silence, and put her hand on the bird card box: "Why don't we play two bird cards before breaking up? "

Concubine Yuyuan politely refused: "Three are missing and one is missing." When she turned her head, she saw that Jiang Heng also showed interest on his face, so she changed the topic: "Just the three of us are not enough, so let's take the one from my palace." Guo Guiren invited you to play together. It’s just that there is no status at the poker table, so don’t bully my palace people.”

When Guo Shi was called, he felt a lot of pressure.

She is not qualified enough to inquire about any rumors, but recently the atmosphere of Xianfu Palace is here, the concubine Yu's face was pulled to the ground for a few days a few days ago, and even the corners of her mouth were covered with boils. alright.

So Mrs. Guo just lived her life honestly, and if Concubine Yu didn't call, she would not go to the front hall less, so as not to upset her.

At this moment, when she was called over, she went to the concubine's poker table where three were missing and one was missing. Guo Shi felt a little breathless: it's better to be a cat in the palace two days ago.

Jiang Heng has always been not very good at poker, and Concubine Xi is also unfamiliar with it.

Concubine Xi doesn't like to play bird cards like this ostentatious thing--to play bird cards, there must be four people, and an unusual square table has to be set up, and the cards have to be shuffled and wiped, and the chips have to be counted.

Concubine Xi usually only plays leaf cards, or plays a game by herself, or asks Dongqing to play with her, these are small and quiet pastimes.

So Concubine Yu won the first three laps.

"The birthday star will naturally win the jackpot." Concubine Xi congratulated with a smile, but still sat still.

Concubine Yu thought, isn't this over yet?This is the first time she has had such a painful time playing bird cards.

Guo even felt that the clothes inside were soaked through.

She didn't know what happened, but the atmosphere on the table always felt weird, which made her panic unconsciously.

Concubine Yu had no choice but to ask the little palace maid to go forward to shuffle the cards, and while she was doing it, she heard Concubine Xin's voice like fairy music: "Whip it again and it will be fine, now my back hurts after sitting for a long time."

Concubine Yu immediately responded positively: "Exactly, this was originally a thing to relieve boredom. If you are tired, you will be guilty."

In the second half of the last game, Concubine Xi threw down a card, and just as her crisp voice landed on the table, Concubine Xi suddenly pressed down on the card she had just thrown and said, "It was because I was impatient, but I missed it for a while." A wrong card was thrown."

Concubine Yu blurted out first: "Sister Concubine Xi will never regret her card."

Then Concubine Xi said in a deep voice: "It's true that I was wrong and impatient, so let me regret this time? There will definitely be no more in the future."

Concubine Yu immediately looked down at her own cards.She regretted it after blurting out just now, what Concubine Xi said is not a card.

But Concubine Xin said with a smile: "It's not that I'm stingy, and I can't let Concubine Xi regret a card. It's just that this card is really a coincidence." Jiang Heng pushed the row of bird cards in front of him to the showdown: "Tuo Xi Concubine Empress is a card, I am fooled."

Concubine Xi was stunned for a while.

Then his hand slowly moved away from the card he was holding, and finally he smiled: "Concubine Xin is lucky."

After both Concubine Xi and Concubine Xin had left, Concubine Yu almost jumped away from the poker table regardless of her image: this was simply giving her a break from her addiction to poker.If there are two more bird cards like this, she probably won't want to serve them again.

Even more so, Mrs. Guo quickly resigned and prepared to go back and lie down to comfort her little heart.Going out of Concubine Yu's door, I just saw Jiang Heng's figure disappear from the door—she was pregnant and walked slowly, so she just walked out of the main entrance of Xianfu Palace.

Guo couldn't help but stop: she remembered that when they first entered the palace, they had finished their days in the Chuxiu Palace and greeted the empress dowagers together as newcomers.

Concubine Qi didn't come in a fit of anger that day, and Concubine Xi and Concubine Xi were under the empress.

But now, there are no Concubines Gui and Concubine Qi in this palace, and Jiang Heng has come to the same place as Concubine Xi before he knew it.

Concubine Xi is very depressed recently.

She felt that her standard of seeing people and dealing with things was not bad, but recently she found that she couldn't get the pulse of Concubine Xin at all.

On Concubine Yu's birthday, Concubine Xin was actually ahead of her, leaving a shadow on Concubine Xi.So at the following Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, Concubine Xi deliberately arrived early and sat at the head of the imperial concubine: don't care if Concubine Xin will surpass her after giving birth to a child, but not yet.

If Concubine Xin were to sit on top of her right now, the inner and outer wives would only feel that Concubine Xi could not sit firmly in her seat.It could be said that the family they belonged to would also have some thoughts about Hongli.

So Concubine Xi deliberately arrived early that day.

There were even some nobles who arrived later than her, and when they entered the door and saw that someone was already sitting at the main seat, they were startled and hurried up to salute, wondering why Empress Xi arrived so early.

And Concubine Xi herself was wondering: Where is Concubine Xin?

Concubine Xi came early on purpose, but she sat there for half an hour, only to see Concubine Xin come over at the usual time, then smiled and sat in her usual seat, and greeted her.

Concubine Xi: ...

She comforted herself in her heart: It's not in vain, at least it's safe.

And it can be seen that on the big scene, Concubine Xin dare not make mistakes.

It wasn't long before she was relieved, but when she turned around at the Queen's birthday banquet, Concubine Xin presented her with a more expensive gift than her—it really confused Concubine Xi.

What does this mean?

In short, Concubine Xin was going as usual for a while, and Concubine Xi's behavior of suppressing her by surprise made Concubine Xi feel uncomfortable.

Every day I ponder and worry: Will Concubine Xin catch her by surprise again today?

Concubine Xi was suspicious in every possible way, but Jiang Heng had temporarily put aside his thoughts on this matter and focused on the graphite pen.

Graphite cores are not very difficult to smelt. By the end of May, the Manufacturing Office had brought in a large number of graphite pens, and was responsible for further processing, such as carving patterns on the outside of the graphite pen barrel.

When Jiang Heng got the first box, he took a look and his first reaction was: These pencils must be very expensive.

I saw that although the engraving on the top was shallow, it was lifelike, and the edges were outlined with gold powder. I wish I could carve a pencil like a nuclear boat.

The person who came to give the graphite pen was Director Chen of the Manufacturing Office.

Soon he rejoiced that fortunately he came over in person.

I saw Concubine Xin picked up the graphite pen and put it on the table. Seeing it rolling, she asked: "Mr. Chen, if you have a graphite pen that has not been engraved, you should not put a carving knife on it first, but give it to you." I'll change my look."

Mr. Chen hurriedly nodded and bowed his waist: "Your Majesty, just talk."

Jiang Heng said: "Nowadays, the wooden handle wrapped around the outside is round, and it's too easy to roll off the table. The core of this graphite pen is brittle, and it will break if you drop it. Now you can cut the wooden handle outside. Take it back in a hexagonal shape."

Director Chen immediately went back to do so, and then sent another box. Jiang Heng felt uncomfortable in his hand, and the manufacturing office made several changes to make a graphite pen that is comfortable to hold and not easy to roll off.

Manager Chen happily sent him to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Sure enough, the emperor thought it was very good when he saw her. When he came to see her, he said: "This graphite pen is convenient, but it is easy to find it when you put it down. If you turn your head, you don't know where it went. There are many papers on my case. There are so many utensils, you can’t find them just by looking for pens, and now it’s better to change them to edges, it really is your ingenuity.”

He laughed again: "The thirteenth brother can't do without this graphite pen now. Their account reconciliation, if there is a mistake, they have to re-transcribe, but now they can make the manuscript first, and finally trace the table."

"In the words of the thirteenth brother, it's just a little waste of steamed buns." Nowadays, in the offices of the military aircraft department and other offices where graphite pens are arranged, there is a plate of steamed buns with mixed noodles for people to break the steamed buns and wipe the graphite.

After the emperor finished speaking, seeing that Jiang Heng was still holding a Western book in his hand, he asked with concern, "How is your spirit recently?"

Jiang Heng smiled and said, "It's been fine these two days."

This pregnancy is completely different from the feeling of Min Minzhen before. This time it is periodic fatigue, as if every once in a while, the child is thinking about major life events in her stomach, which takes up a lot of her memory, and she will sleep for two days. sky.

Speaking of which, Jiang Heng also raised the book in his hand to show the emperor, only to see a snow-white sailing boat painted on the cover: "Besides, what I read is a book of "Stories of Traveling at Sea", which is not a waste of thought. thing."

The emperor came over, he didn't know much Latin, so he asked directly: "What is it talking about here?"

Jiang Heng roughly told the emperor: It is true that Columbus discovered the New World, but at that time many people in Europe did not think that South America was the New World, they only thought that Columbus was dizzy by sailing and went to India or it was a real Japanese.

It is the author of this book, who organized the voyage of the fleet by himself, not only supported Columbus's argument, but also provided further evidence, and published this collection of stories.This is also one of the best-selling books in Europe in the past 200 years. It has been printed many times, and later people even drew many illustrations based on his travel notes.

Jiang Heng turned to a page and showed the illustration to the emperor.

The emperor rolled his eyes and said, "They also play Cuju?"

Jiang Heng shook his head: "It shouldn't be Cuju. According to this book, the local people like to play with a ball that can bounce. It is said to be made of a special local tree's jelly."

She rested her chin and said with a smile: "During the Dragon Boat Festival, Er Niang brought the sisters-in-law to visit me, so I told the second sister-in-law that since the second brother is going to Annan, he will also look for me, if there is such a pinball. Minmin doesn’t like playing hydrangea anymore. Hydrangea can only roll around. It would be great if there is a ball that can be shot and bounced like in this book.”

The emperor nodded: "Well, let him look for it." When the emperor was a child, he also grabbed Cuju with his brothers, and it was a rare time when brothers were happy and unrestrained.

And after the Dragon Boat Festival, Jiang Yuan received an imperial decree to go to Annan.

A few days ago, Master Jiu wrote a letter in Annan, and the border trade between the two places is almost finished, and there is only the finishing touches left. Please ask the emperor to send an imperial envoy to check it out and exchange him back by the way.

He kind of couldn't wait to go back.

I heard that the foreign affairs office over there was very lively, and the French and English people started to fight. Master Jiu regretted that he was not there to watch.

Afterwards, he received letters asking for instructions from Jiang Yuan one after another, the news that France began to sell English, and after receiving the first batch of trial graphite pens, Master Jiu couldn't sit still.

He wanted to go back to the foreign affairs office.

Eighth Master has always known this younger brother best. Seeing that he got anxious after getting the graphite pen, he took the initiative to smile and said: "The things here are almost over, and you should go back to Beijing."

Master Jiu came back to his senses, and hesitated again: "Brother, once I return to Beijing, I'm afraid that our brothers will not see each other again in a few years... Or I'd better stay a little longer and help you more."

Ba Ye shook his head: "You are confused again. I was afraid that you would forget the business, so I specially urged you to submit the booklet and ask to return to Beijing: the booklet comes and goes, and you will always have it in a month or two. When you start your journey back and delay on the road—don’t forget, October is the emperor’s 40th birthday, and the palace will definitely hold the Longevity Festival.”

"The emperor allowed you to handle foreign affairs, just to use it regardless of previous suspicions. The emperor is one step lenient, and you have to respect three steps. You have to travel day and night for this Longevity Festival, and you have to go back to greet the emperor on a regular day!" Ba Ye Seriously said: "Don't say anything more, just want to hang around for a few more months just to help me."

Ba Ye calculated the date: "If you want to come to Twelfth Brother and Hongshi's place, you already have to hand in your booklet and ask to return to Beijing. Don't be too late, it seems disrespectful."

There is another thing that Eighth Master didn't tell Jiu Ye thoroughly: their brothers always tripped up and choked on the emperor in the past, and now it's not proper for the two of them to take care of everything in Annan.It is still necessary to make a statement first, and let the emperor send his own officials to inspect and accept the border trade after the matter is almost done.

Ba Ye is a thorough person, and if he really wants to have a good relationship with others, he will spare no effort to do what is in the heart of the other party.

This time around Longevity Day, the emperor will probably not let him go back.

I only hope that in the future I will really make some good achievements that please the emperor, and as time fades away the grievances of the past years, I can go back to Beijing to visit my mother and concubine, and then look at the growing Hongwang...

Ba Ye thinks of Er Niang and his son who are worried about him, and he can't help being concerned about who is the capital official who will replace Jiu Di.Those who can be sent to Annan by the emperor must be confidantes. The eighth master must prepare in advance to answer, and he must not offend the "imperial envoy" and ask him to go back and read his own book.

After receiving the exact news, Master Jiu excitedly came to look for Master Ba: "Don't worry, Ba Ge, the emperor sent over this time is someone from our foreign affairs yamen, Jiang Yuan, the second child of Uncle Su Yi's residence."

Ba Ye had a picture of his relationship in his mind, and he quickly said, "The elder brother of Concubine Xin in the palace?"

Lord Jiu nodded: "The people in Uncle Su Yi's mansion are all pretty good, at least they're not the kind of impetuous people who have three chicken feathers in them and hold the arrows at the ready, nor are they the ones who just want to squeeze other people out when they have time. After I left Beijing, Su Yibo's mansion basically took care of the foreign affairs yamen, and whenever there was an important matter, Jiang Yuan would first send a letter to me from thousands of miles away."

Prince Lian and his wife arrived in Annan together, so they don't know much about Beijing and China.

But Jiufu Jin stayed in the capital all the time. Master Jiu knew a lot about the affairs of the capital, so he said to Prince Lian: "The concubine Xin's concubine in the palace is pregnant, and she will be born in October. If the 40-year-old Wanshou It is a great joy to have a prince, and the emperor has always liked the fourth princess, and there are three older elder brothers before his birth... If this time is really a prince, then our prince's position as the heir apparent will be very lively in the future .”

Ba Ye immediately thumped him: "You are not allowed to meddle!"

Master Jiu repeatedly called Qu: "That's what I said, how dare you meddle in it! The starling flattered me, and I couldn't even understand our dear Ama. Back then, I never imagined that I had anything to do with the throne, let alone now? I finally got a feel for the emperor's temper. From the perspective of brotherhood, he is rare and magnanimous. He gave us a second chance. How dare we poke the tiger's eyes again and mess with the prince again? matters and his housework!" Lian Lian assured himself that he was just talking nonsense.

Prince Lian felt relieved when he heard what he said clearly and earnestly.

When Jiang Yuan arrived at the border of Annan, it was already August, and it took only two days for the handover. Prince Lian urged the ninth younger brother to hurry up and get on the road. He must not return to Beijing later than the Wanshou Festival. This kind of thing is sooner rather than later.

The emperor's longevity is at the end of October, Master Jiu buried his head on the road and rushed back to the capital at the beginning of October.

After entering the capital, even the family did not have time to go back, so they immediately entered the palace to pay their respects.

As soon as I entered the Forbidden City, I felt that the Forbidden City was full of joy.He grabbed the little eunuch of the Hall of Mental Cultivation who was leading the way and asked, "Is there any happy event in the palace?"

The little eunuch smiled and said: "Back to Jiubeile, Concubine Xin gave birth to a prince yesterday, and Long Live Lord is very happy!"