[Qing wear] Harem promotion expert

At the end of the 11th year of Yongzheng.

In the twelfth lunar month, the palace was full of festivities, but when Jiang Heng stepped into Zhongcui Palace, he felt a different atmosphere from outside the palace walls.

The Queen's Palace has always been very quiet and tidy, but today's silence has more of a sense of cautiousness.

Gong Mei is the most trustworthy court lady by the empress's side. During these years in the palace, she has long been an older, stable and dignified person who is always called aunt wherever she goes.

However, in such a cold day today, she stood in the yard, as if in a daze.

When Gongmei raised her head and saw Jiang Heng entering the main entrance, she hurriedly smiled and said, "The imperial concubine is here, please go in quickly, the empress has prepared tea for you. It's cold outside, so be careful not to slip." Helping Jiang Heng up the steps, he hesitated for a moment and still said in a low voice: "The empress is feeling bitter and bitter, and the servants dare not speak to persuade them. I beg the imperial concubine to help persuade me."

Otherwise, I'm afraid that the empress will think too much, and that headache will happen again.

Jiang Heng nodded.

Gong Mei raised the curtain with her own hands to invite her in.

When Jiang Heng entered the door, he saw the queen sitting on the couch wearing a robe with the pattern of double happiness and eight groups of blessings, which was rare, with a look of sadness and joy on her face.

Originally, after the empress turned 40 years old, she basically only wore inconspicuous colors such as lake green and pine flower yellow. Even purple was only used in dark colors such as summer purple, and she seldom wore such bright colors.

When the queen heard the sound of the curtain, she raised her head and smiled at her, "The imperial concubine is here, come and sit down—since there is a happy event, I have prepared good tea for you today."

Then she pointed to the outside: "Gongmei and the others are all cautious, and they think it's a happy event, but they dare not show it." She looked at Jiang Heng and sighed: "Actually, 20 years have passed, and there is no limit to how sad I am, let alone This matter is again the Lord Long Live’s intention, and made an exception to show his kindness.”

What the queen was talking about was that the emperor posthumously crowned his eldest son, Honghui, who died young, as the king of Duanjun.

There are very few precedents for a prince who died early in the early morning to be posthumously crowned. So far, only Emperor Shunzhi has posthumously crowned the elder brother born of Concubine Dong E as Prince Rong.

In addition, from the Tai and Zu Nurhachi, there have been several generations of emperors in the Qing Dynasty, and in each generation, several princes died young, but they were all buried according to the rules, without being knighted.

It is also the job of the next emperor to confer titles: for example, the emperor conferred titles on his compatriot Yin Zuo, who died young, and rebuilt the prince's mausoleum.

Therefore, it is an extremely rare grace for Honghui to be crowned Duanjun King in the first dynasty of the emperor.

When the queen heard the imperial decree, she was naturally both happy and sad.

The palace people of Zhongcui Palace were all afraid that the queen would be too sad when they thought of the elder brother's arrival, so they were a little at a loss, and they were very happy for the queen in their hearts, but they didn't dare to show it.

"I know the emperor's heart, and it is the heart of An Bengong."

Hong Hui left early, and now all the elder brothers under the emperor's knees have never met this eldest brother, let alone any brotherhood.

If the emperor, the empress Ama, doesn't pursue the title, it doesn't matter which elder brother ascends the throne in the future. If the aunt is still in order to show filial piety, maybe Honghui can be chased after him. If the queen is gone, then maybe the matter will not be mentioned at all. .

Honghui can only be an elder brother who died young without a title. He was buried in the same place according to the rules, and he was not sealed or treed. He stayed silently on the Huanghua Mountain next to Dongling with many princes who died young.

However, now that the emperor has proclaimed the eldest son Duanjun King, no matter which elder brother ascends the throne in the future, he will definitely give this elder brother another level, build the prince's mausoleum, and enjoy the sacrifice of the prince.

Therefore, although the posthumous imperial decree reminded the empress of the pain of her beloved son's early death, she was more relieved.

Jiang Heng followed the queen's words and chatted with her for a while, trying to calm the queen down; the imperial doctor once said that the queen's illness should not only prevent hard work, standing and sitting for a long time, but also avoid great joy and great sorrow.

The joy and sorrow on the queen's face gradually dissipated, and she started gossiping with her in the palace: "After the new year, the emperor will also confer titles on Hongshi and his three elder brothers."

When the prince reaches the age of 15, the patriarchal family must submit a booklet as usual, and invite the emperor to ennoble him.

Of course, the booklet of the clan mansion is up, whether the emperor seals it or not, and at what level, all depends on the emperor's kindness.

For example, the third elder brother, who has been over 15 years old for several years at this time, has a son, but still has not been knighted.When the third elder brother was 15 years old, the clan's family also dutifully signed up for the book, and after discovering that Rushi Niu had entered the sea... that's all he could do.

It just so happened that even the fifth elder brother Hong Zhou's big wedding was over this year, so the clan's house simply sent three letters to remind the emperor: You have three express mails that have not been checked, no, three sons who have reached their age have not been knighted.

Unexpectedly, years ago, the emperor suddenly decreed that Hong Hui, the eldest son of the first line, should be conferred first.

The courtiers all felt that this was also a sign that the emperor should start giving titles to his sons in order.They all stared and waited to see, the rank of this title is just like the Sacred Heart!

Jiang Heng remembered that in history, Lord Yongzheng waited for several years until Hongli and Hongzhou were 21 years old before he was named Prince Bao and Prince He respectively.

After saying a few homely things, the queen suddenly frowned, and then she couldn't help but hold her forehead and smiled bitterly: "Now this palace is like a person who jumps out of the rocks and doesn't cry or laugh. Today, for Honghui's pursuit It's inevitable that I've moved my heart a little bit about Feng's matter, and this end is aching."

Jiang Heng got up to leave and asked the queen to rest first.

It is only said that all the important palace affairs at the end of the year will be sent first, and then I will have a look at the queen empress when she is in good health.

Gong Mei came in and helped the queen to lie down, and asked softly: "Your Majesty, have you mentioned that matter to your concubine? At that time, I will also ask your concubine to speak nicely in front of the emperor." Now everyone in the palace agrees that it is right for a concubine to speak in front of the emperor. Very useful.

The queen shook her head.

Gong Mei was a little puzzled: their elder brother chased after the title of title, and the empress empress's big worry was half settled.But there is another thing in his mind, that is, he wants to adopt a child from his clan to Honghui, so that in the future, the king of Duanjun will continue to offer incense and sacrifices, which can be regarded as continuing.

At that time, people attached great importance to the antecedent and posthumous events.

Even though Honghui has the title, the clan's family will not forget the four seasons sacrifices, but after all, it is different from offering sacrifices to ancestors with descendants of one line.

"Wait a little longer." The emperor had just given him a rare favor, and if he hurriedly raised the matter of adoption, it would seem that he would be greedy.If the emperor is upset and upset and refuses, it will be difficult to mention it in the future.

Besides, the queen wanted to propose to the emperor to choose a son of a down-and-out family member for Hongshi to adopt, but she just wanted to wait for a good time, and when there was any happy event in the court, the emperor wanted to talk about it, and then asked the noble concubine to help him intercede.

But I didn't want to, someone thought of her.

On the 25th of the twelfth lunar month, Hongli came to Zhongcui Palace to greet him.

The queen's phoenix body is uneasy, and the princes often come to kowtow to pay their respects.The queen has been resting in bed, and she thought it would be the same as before, and asked Gong Mei to go out to pass a few words, so it was over after seeing off the fourth elder brother.

Unexpectedly, Gongmei turned around and said: "The fourth elder brother wanted to see the empress. He said that at the end of the first lunar month, the emperor would take the princes to the Eastern Tomb of the Qing Dynasty to worship the late emperor. He also ordered the fourth elder brother to lead the way and go to Huanghua Mountain with all the elder brothers to pay respects to us." The cemetery of King Duanjun."

When the queen heard this, she got up and changed her clothes.

Hongli came in to say hello, and respectfully said: "Go back to the emperor's mother, this time my son is ordered to pay homage to the elder brother's cemetery. Although I can't repair it for my elder brother, but now that I am here, my son will naturally bring someone to sweep the courtyard for my elder brother."

The son does not assume the father, let alone the father is the emperor.Even if Honghui was crowned King Duanjun, as long as the emperor is in power, Honghui can only stay in Huanghuashan.After the emperor was buried in the imperial mausoleum a hundred years later, Honghui could be transferred to the Qingxi Mausoleum for burial by the next emperor.

Therefore, what Hongli said about spreading the soil and sweeping the courtyard can be regarded as dedication.

Before the queen ordered, Hongli said that he would reward the palace guards of the cemetery more, so that they could be more diligent on a daily basis, so that the fragrance and tribute fruits could not be broken, and they had to build sheds in case of wind, frost, rain and snow.

These few words made the queen feel sad, and Hongli's eyes were no longer just for the dignified queen and aunt, but she nodded with tears of emotion: "Hongli, you are a proper child. The Empress will entrust it to you."

Seeing that the queen's heart was touched, Hongli said what he had been planning all along: "Emperor's mother, although Huang Ama has proclaimed the elder brother as the county king, but it is not complete after all. If it is given to the elder brother It would be better to adopt an heir."

The queen was startled, she had never mentioned this idea to anyone before, but Hongli actually guessed it?

When Hongli said this, he knelt down, his eyes were red, and he said to the queen: "The emperor's mother has always been kind and loving, and Hongli has always remembered it in her heart since she was a child. Now that her mother is recuperating in the Old Summer Palace, the son only feels that there is no mother's protection. It is very difficult for Li to move forward. If the queen mother does not dislike her, my son is willing to fulfill his filial piety for the elder brother and serve the queen mother."

The queen was about to decline on the spot. Concubine Xi was only temporarily exiled to the Old Summer Palace, and it wasn't that she disappeared. After all, they were still mother and child, and she was an outsider.Concubine Xi's mother and son were not close to Zhongcui Palace before. Now that Hongli suddenly mentions this, he must feel that he is married and is about to be ennobled and moved out. There is no mother in the palace to take care of the emperor for him Talking to the front, keeping an eye on the news in the palace for him, and only then did he think of himself, the queen mother.

Not only did the queen want to refuse subconsciously, but her touch just now turned into dissatisfaction: Hongli, you are quite good at planning.

When you are using me, come and recognize the Queen Mother, and want to coax me to pave the way for you.When Concubine Xi comes back in the future, if you walk away, I will still be empty.

However, before the queen declined, Hongli threw out a shocking sentence: "My son thinks, the eldest brother is the eldest son of Huang Ama and Huang Erniang. It's disgraceful—I don't know if the Empress would like to choose one of my sons to adopt to my elder brother?"

The queen was really surprised.

Enduring a slight headache, she looked at Hongli who was kneeling on the ground.

This kid, not only let me take care of him, but also let me help win the reserve position!

He promised to adopt a child to Hong Hui - the only one who can decide which child to adopt to the palace is the Ninth Five Supreme!

But the queen couldn't help but be moved: adopting a child from an unknown clan to Honghui is definitely not the same concept as adopting a prince.

Honghui died before opening the mansion, even if she begged the emperor to adopt a parent-child to Honghui, it would be nothing more than a monthly allocation of money from the Ministry of Internal Affairs to the child.It is impossible to really build a duanjun palace for him to live in, and let him be a decent county king - even if such grace is really given, I am afraid that the child will be privately given to his biological parents to help the family.

But it would be very different if he adopted the son of the future emperor.

It must be a real county prince's mansion or even a prince's mansion, and the child is also Honghui's nephew, so there is no need to worry that the adoptive son will only turn to his own family, but Honghui's sacrifice will be neglected.

The conditions proposed by Hongli were too generous, and the queen was really moved.

Her illness was too tormenting, and the reputation of "the empress is virtuous and capable" that she cared about in the past was gone, so she had to stay in bed except to recuperate.

Then she only thought about one thing the most, and that was what happened to Hong Hui.

If it weren't for the years of reason in the palace that tied her down, the queen would almost agree.

The queen managed to gather herself together, and said vaguely: "Hongli actually thought of this for your elder brother, he really has a heart." While talking, she couldn't help pressing her forehead, and even wanted to ask Gongmei for two pills.Hongli's news made her startled and thought, and she immediately had a headache.

Because Hongli lowered his head, he didn't notice anything unusual about the queen, he just kowtowed respectfully and said, "If the queen mother is willing to take care of her son, the son will swear to heaven that he will never regret disappointing the queen mother and elder brother."

The queen's face turned pale from the pain, and her mind was buzzing, so she could only say: "Hongli, you go back first, and then I will send someone to look for you."

Hongli had to resign.

Go out and think about it: I have said everything I should say, and I should be able to impress the queen.

Now the queen's phoenix seal exists in name only, and all matters in the harem are planned by the imperial concubine. If there is a big event and the queen mother sits in charge, the queen is like an idler with a seal in the middle, and she must be dissatisfied.

And his biological mother was trapped in the Old Summer Palace—a prince who temporarily lost the protection of his biological mother but had a bright future, and the lord of the sixth house who had no heirs and was taken over by the imperial concubine, wasn't he a perfect match for mother and son?Everyone gets what they need.

It's just that the queen is the aunt after all, if there is no chance to impress the queen, Hongli would not dare to mention it rashly.

It happened that something happened to pursue Feng Honghui, and Hongli deeply felt that this was an opportunity bestowed on him by God.

The timing is great too!Just in time for him to be knighted, if the queen accepts his offer, she can also say something nice to him about the knighthood, so that the wind blowing by the concubine's bedside will make Huang Amak detain her title.

After returning to elder brother's place, Hongli took the tea from the maid.

The court lady bent her knees and said, "This is the sweet milk tea that Fujin specially prepared for my brother because he thought about my brother getting up early and eating less."

Hongli frowned, and raised his hand to pour the tea into the teapot: Although this milk tea is now prepared in every palace, it originated from Yonghe Palace, so Hongli never liked it.The courtiers where elder brother lived may not know the reason, but they all looked at elder brother's preferences and always only serve him green tea.

On the contrary, Ulanara and Hongli had only been married for a little over a year, and they hadn't seen each other much, so they didn't know each other very well, so they prepared milk tea for him in winter.

After raising his hand halfway, Hongli suddenly stopped, remembering the Western ship back then.

So he endured his displeasure, drank half a cup slowly, and then put down the cup and said to the palace: "Let's go to Fujin's room for dinner."

The palace people are busy sending messages to ask for rewards.

Hongli didn't like Ulanara's Fujin very much, from his background to his temperament.But in the end it is the main wife, it is better to go there a few more times, it is best that Fujin is pregnant as soon as possible, maybe Er Niang can come back like Concubine Qi.

In Zhongcui Palace, after Hongli left, the queen took a handful of pills to suppress the headache.

Because the emperor strictly restricted the dosage of drugs and other substances in the palace pills, the empress had to eat a lot in order to suppress the pain, and almost choked.Gong Mei felt distressed and regretted at the side.

If I had known it earlier, I would have followed the old rules and asked the fourth elder brother to please go away outside the door. Who would have thought that the fourth elder brother not only talked about paying homage to elder brother Honghui, but also said so many things, which was so embarrassing It happened again.

The empress was still unwilling to rest, so she only asked Gong Mei to read the memorabilia of palace affairs sent by the imperial concubine.

Gong Mei didn't dare to disobey, so she had to hug her.The queen endured a headache and looked through: it has been two years since the imperial concubine took over the palace affairs, but she still hasn't surpassed her duties as a noble concubine.Where there is a need to change the old rules, they have been truthfully written and sent to the queen to make a decision.

The queen was very conflicted.

She kept checking the palace affairs until she saw that the pills didn't work, and she had a splitting headache, so she had to drink two sedatives and go to bed to forcefully fall asleep.

It's just that this worry is too much, and I just can't sleep.

After a day and a night of tossing like this, the empress fell ill again, and did not take a step out of Zhongcui Palace throughout the New Year.

"Greetings to Queen Mother."

The queen leaned on the bed and said with a smile: "Minmin, come and sit here." She ordered Gongmei to bring new snacks and tea in repeated voices.

Minmin sat next to the Queen's couch as she said, and the Queen touched her hands a little cold, so she simply let her sleep under her quilt, and then asked about the sacrificial offerings in the Eastern Qing Tomb.

On the first month of the 12th year of Yongzheng, the emperor took all the princes to Dongling to worship the late emperor.

What troubled the Ministry of Rites was that the emperor not only brought four princes, but also four princesses.

Arsun'a, Minister of the Ministry of Rites, was pushed out to persuade the emperor: There has never been a precedent for a princess to worship the imperial mausoleum in the past.

The emperor didn't mention violating the ancestral laws, but the king of Daoduan County is the eldest brother of the princes and princesses, and it is a due ritual for siblings to pay respects.

Arson thought, oh, it turns out that the princess went to pay homage to Duan County King, so she was fooled away after it was all right.

As a result, when we arrived at the Eastern Tomb of the Qing Dynasty, when the emperor paid homage to the late emperor, he still brought the fourth princess in. Arsuna stared outside: He can't let his head go, so let the emperor send the fourth princess in now.

Fortunately, the princess changed into the prince's clothes... So that's it, Arsunha decided to treat herself as blind.

The queen was not very interested in the process of worshiping the late emperor, she just wanted to know what happened to the cemetery where Hong Huijin was buried.

The prince who died early has no mausoleum, no stele, only a small courtyard on the mountain for each person.

Minmin and the queen described the elder brother's cemetery.

The girl's voice was sweet and soft, and the queen outlined a small courtyard on the mountain in Minmin's detailed narration: clean and quiet, pines and cypresses were planted outside the door, and the mountains and forests were green from a distance.

He remained quietly out of this world.

It wasn't until Minmin wiped her tears with a handkerchief that the queen realized that she had shed tears unconsciously.

Minmin wiped away her tears for the queen, and said, "Mother Huang, I picked up a young turtledove from the cypress tree outside the elder brother's door. It's still very young."

It turned out that there was a turtledove that made a nest on a big cypress tree outside the Honghui cemetery, but the tranquility of this mountain forest was disturbed by the place where the royal driver went, and the continuous incense candles scared the turtledove and the big bird that could not return at night. , leaving only a flightless chick in the nest, screaming hungry.

When Minmin heard it, she asked the eunuch to take the baby bird down and feed it, and she brought it all the way back to the palace.

At this time, it was given to the queen, and the rare bird room has already been equipped with an eunuch who can take care of the turtledove. The little eunuch knelt on the ground and said: "Go back to the empress, this turtledove is as good as a pigeon, and it can fly in the daytime." Go out, and it will fly back by itself at night."

The queen said: "Since that's the case, take good care of it."

The bird landed on the cypress tree in front of his son's door, was picked up by Min Min, and was brought back to the palace and was still alive. This is fate.

Minmin took out two more dried pine cones and handed them to the queen: "Emperor Niang, the pines and cypresses in front of big brother's door are growing very well, and this pine cone is also very well-proportioned and beautiful. These are the two most beautiful ones. "

The queen puts a pine cone in her palm.

In fact, after Hongli returned to the palace, he also came to invite Ann, and told the queen in detail how he cleaned the courtyard for his elder brother Honghui himself, and how he taught the old eunuchs guarding the tomb the rules.

However, the queen looked at the pine cone in her hand at this moment, and her conflicted heart kept shaking, and she suddenly settled down.

She carefully placed the pine cones on the small cabinet beside the bed, and then stretched out her arms to hold Min Min in her arms: "My good boy, you can lie down with Queen Mother for a while."

The soft strands of hair rubbed against the queen's cheeks, and the itchiness felt reassuring.

After a long while, the queen said softly: "Minmin, promise the queen mother one thing."

Minmin agreed, then looked up at the queen, waiting for her to speak.

The queen hugged her tighter, and said softly to her: "The empress will leave many years earlier than Min Min. When the empress is here, she will naturally think of your big brother. After you can... Min Min wants to help Queen Mother always remember your big brother, okay?"

Minmin nodded vigorously: "Okay."

Feeling relieved, the queen let Minmin go, leaned down and lay down with her eyes closed, meditating: "I heard that Minmin is recording the ages of various plants, trees and flowers. If so, tell the queen mother about the plants and trees on Huanghua Mountain in detail." .”

Minmin has now written three big notebooks of all kinds of little knowledge collected.

Herbs and Trees is the book she has written the most—since she was born, she lived in the back hall of the Yonghe Palace, where Jiang Heng had carefully built a small garden. Min Min learned to count and recognize colors by looking at these flowers. It is her silent friend, Hua Hua Hua Xie stays with her year after year.

At this time, Minmin described the trees on Huanghua Mountain that she saw one by one: "There is a very thick rhododendron tree on Huanghua Mountain, and there are several ingot flowers under the tree. Like gold ingots one by one..."

Minmin didn't get up gently until she heard the Queen's breathing became even, obviously she was fast asleep.

Gong Mei sent her out, and gave her a deep blessing at the door: "Servant send the fourth princess respectfully."

Minmin raised her hand to straighten her cloak and hood, and said with a smile, "Aunt Gongmei, go back, I'll come see Queen Mother tomorrow."

"I haven't had such a good night's sleep in a long time." In Minmin's soft words, it was rare for the queen to take a long nap without thinking about anything.

She sat up: "Give me a homely bun again."

Then he said to Gongmei: "Go and invite the emperor, just say that I have something to say."

The emperor came very quickly.

The queen seldom invites him, especially after she fell ill two years ago, the queen even said, "You can't share the worries of the Lord Long Live if you are in the back seat, let alone add to the worries of the emperor." Please don't worry about her repeated words. It's an old problem, so I don't need to visit often.

This time, hearing that the queen took the initiative to invite her, the emperor stopped half of what he had said to Prince Yi, and immediately ordered someone to prepare a sedan chair and go to the harem.

When he entered the door, he saw that the empress looked good, her expression was also calm, and the expression of pain in the brows was no longer the same as before, so she couldn't help but nodded from the bottom of her heart and said: "I see that the empress is well."

The queen smiled at the emperor and shook her head, "Your Majesty, this concubine's disease is hard to recover from. Once the attack was severe, this time it was even the new year that I couldn't get up."

Without waiting for the emperor to comfort him, the queen said: "Your majesty, the imperial physicians all said that my concubine should not work hard for this illness, let alone being uncertain about joy and sorrow. The concubine was thinking about it, or she could just worship the Buddha in peace and tranquility. There is no benefit to know."

She always followed the way of women in the harem when she talked with the emperor, she lowered her eyes and lowered her face, not looking directly at the king's face.This time it was different, it was rare for her to look directly at the emperor calmly: "I also ask the emperor Xu Chenqie to stay lazy from now on and entrust all the palace affairs to the noble concubine."

The emperor was a little surprised.

Husband and wife have known each other for many years.The emperor knew that the queen was just like him in some respects.If he had a headache that affected his administration, he would only take medicine to suppress the headache and continue working, instead of throwing away his work for the sake of his health.

So the queen has never let go of the palace power, and the emperor never said, 'If you are sick, don't take care of it and listen to palace affairs. '

He knew that the queen would not be able to recuperate in peace.

But now, the queen has figured it out by herself, and she wants to ignore the matter and let go completely.

Not only that, the queen also said: "The silkworm kissing ceremony in March is a great gift for farming and mulberry. Last year, the concubines barely survived, and then fell ill again when they came back. This year, the ministers and concubines can't even get up for the new year. The silkworm kissing ceremony is broken." I can't do it myself. The concubine asks the emperor's will to make the imperial concubine do it for him."