Chapter 1: The lips and teeth are cold and they have lasted for eight years

In early spring in February, the weather is still chilly.

The new snow was like drifting catkins, scattered all over the imperial city. Plum trees were in full bloom among the palaces and pavilions. The red flowers and white snow reflected the inky black sky, adding a touch of charm to the solemn and dignified imperial city.

But the beautiful scenery did not attract attention, and the hurried footsteps were particularly harsh in the snowy night.

As soon as the palace gate opened at Yinshi, Zhao Changning was invited in.

"Aunt, you're finally back. The emperor suddenly got angry, and Yun Pei was about to be beaten to death..."

"I don't know how I managed to displease the Emperor."

"She deserved it. We reminded her several times, but she refused to listen. That time, she even tried to get past Auntie and steal the credit, and finally bumped into her..."

"Everyone knows that the emperor trusts my aunt and likes to be served by her. He is not satisfied with being served by others..."

"That's right. It's troublesome for Aunt to come here now. Maybe it will also trouble us. It's really cold..."

The topic suddenly changed direction, and everyone started talking about Yun Pei's faults for fear of being implicated.

The palace lanterns fluttered like ghost lights in the corridor, accompanied by whispers. For a moment, it was unclear whether this was the underworld or the bustling human world.

Zhao Changning listened to the gossips in his ears, pursed his lips and said nothing for a long time, then he tightened his cloak and gradually slowed down his pace.

Yun Pei was a capricious person who always wanted to take advantage of others. She was sneaky and cunning in her daily life, so it was only a matter of time before something got into trouble. If it weren't for the fact that those sent to the emperor were all poor children who were as poor and powerless as she was back then, she would have wanted to drive them away long ago.

Serving in front of the emperor may seem glorious, but it is definitely not a good job, at least not in front of Emperor Yong'an. The person who sent the cloud pendant did not have good intentions.

Zhao Changning entered the palace at the age of eight and began serving in the imperial court at the age of twelve, which has been eight years.

Before her, the imperial ladies-in-waiting had to be replaced almost every ten days or half a month, and the shortest was even just one day. Everyone knew that this was not an easy job, but she managed to hold on.

Until now, she is still alive and well.

Zhao Changning gathered his thoughts and pondered for a few moments before saying to the palace maids and eunuchs who were reporting, "Don't say any more. Everyone has their own destiny. Take this as a warning. Be careful from now on, okay?"

Seeing that the eunuchs and palace maids in front of him suddenly became quiet and showed hesitation and fear, Zhao Changning was not surprised. He just took off the peony-patterned gold bracelet on his wrist, weighed it and threw it over.

"You've worked so hard, take this. Go eat something good and get yourself a pot of good wine to ward off the cold."

Giving a beating followed by a sweet treat was the fastest thing she learned after entering the palace. People's hearts are easy to win over, but they can also easily become cold.

People left in a flock, all with smiles on their faces, as if what they were abandoning was not a person, but an object.

Only one young eunuch was left behind. He knelt before her, not daring to howl, but just kowtowed continuously.

On a cold snowy night, besides the whistling wind, you could also hear the sound of him sniffing and sobbing.

Zhao Changning stared at him blankly, tucked his hands into his sleeves, and said in a deep voice, "What are you going to do?"

In this place where life is worthless, it has been a long time since she saw anyone who cares about others. This inevitably made her feel a little bit alive.

She asked one more question, "Do you want to plead for Yun Pei?"

Those people just left and no one spoke.

Considering the old emperor who was old, sick, sensitive, suspicious, and increasingly violent, it was not surprising. Everyone knew that Yun Pei could not survive, but as a human being, he still had a trace of conscience and felt that if one was gone, the other would be in danger.

"Yes, please, Auntie, save Yun Pei..."

The eunuch kneeling down was called Yunsheng, and he arrived at about the same time as Yunpei.

The rules of serving in the imperial court are very different from before, and the people and things have also changed a lot. After all, no emperor has lived longer than Emperor Yong'an.

The emperor was old, so even if he occasionally did something extraordinary, the censors would turn a blind eye. They thought it was just a change of living environment and nothing serious.

Zhao Changning's current status makes him one of the first beneficiaries. To be more precise, he has survived and become the first beneficiary.

"Why?"

She also wanted to live longer, and Yun Pei was not worthy of her speaking.

Yunsheng's head was bleeding.

His face was covered with tears, and the tears in his eyes seemed to be pouring out like stars, which were particularly crystal clear and dazzling under the fluorescent red candlelight.

"Aunt, please save Yun Pei. She's just a bit bad-mouthed. After entering the palace, she suffered too much bullying and has a bit of a left-wing personality. But she actually has a good heart. Back then..."

Zhao Changning listened to another sad and miserable story, which was the same as those people in the past. They all had a miserable life experience, a tragic past, and a hopeless future.

There is only one difference.

"Were you and Yun Pei married?"

Yunsheng sobbed and nodded in agreement, his eyes clear, "It's just that no one knows about this, and Yunpei doesn't want others to know. Aunt, you..."

No wonder, it turns out there is love.

"Don't worry, I'm not in the habit of chatting with you guys." Zhao Changning saw that he was embarrassed, so he waved his hand and refused. "Okay, don't say it anymore. Yun Pei is unstable and doesn't usually cultivate good relationships with others. I can't save her."

Yunsheng rushed over and grabbed his aunt's clothes, crying and begging, "Aunt, I beg you, as long as you agree, I am willing to do anything..."

He seemed to have just remembered something, and he quickly knelt up straight, frantically reaching for his chest, his clothes getting messed up.

"I have money, Auntie, I have money, I'll give it all to you, Auntie, please..."

Zhao Changning looked at the jewelry, gold ingots, silver melon seeds and other things that were no longer of any use to him. They were probably all Yunsheng had. People who were involved in the palace would always get some rewards.

"Yun Pei has been wanting to climb into the dragon bed for a few days, you know that, right?" She paused and said lightly, "Is it worth it?"

Yunsheng shed tears of sorrow and said without hesitation, "It was worth it. At least she survived. Anyway, she couldn't climb up."

Zhao Changning shook his head. "You think it's worth it, but to me, it's not as good as the gold bracelet I just threw away."

It's really not worth her risk.

Seeing her about to leave, Yunsheng was so scared that he hugged his legs again and fell to the ground, "Auntie, I still have some, I still have some..."

He then took out a silver hairpin of fairly good design, on which was a small tung flower, lifelike and delicate, as if he was holding some precious treasure.

"Aunt, this hairpin is my last possession." Yunsheng reluctantly handed it over with both hands, explaining quickly, "This is the last thing my mother left me... Yunpei said that when we are better off in the future, she will wear this hairpin and marry me..."

The tone of voice became increasingly weak, almost disappearing in the cold and snowy night.

Zhao Changning stopped and couldn't help but look at the tung flower hairpin.

In fact, the story was very vulgar and could not move her at all, but the bond between the two people and the reality had an inexplicable meaning that made her unable to move her feet.

This hairpin was very valuable in Yun Pei's eyes back then, but in Yun Pei's eyes now, it is just a worthless thing. Maybe she doesn't even remember it.

She couldn't help but ask again, "Is it worth it?"

Yunsheng heard his aunt sigh. He was not a fool. Judging from her obviously relaxed tone, his aunt must be feeling sorry for him and Yunpei, right?

He crawled on his knees for two steps and cried, "It's worth it, Auntie, it's worth it. Yun Pei was confused for a moment, she will understand in the future..."

Zhao Changning curled his lips and smiled playfully when he heard this, with sarcasm in the corners of his mouth and eyebrows.

She felt that Yun Pei would never understand.

"Get up." She only took the silver hairpin with tung blossom pattern, returned the rest of the things to Yunsheng, and took off the jade pendant given by the emperor from her waist and handed it to him.

"Run over quickly and tell the eunuch who's carrying out the execution to hit him harder."

Yunsheng was stunned for a moment, then reacted and thanked her repeatedly, "Thank you, auntie, thank you, auntie..."

There are certain techniques for beating people in the palace. Every time you hit someone with a stick, there are certain rules. Some people leave no visible external injuries but their internal organs are rotten. Others make a lot of noise but do little, and in the end, they only leave superficial injuries.

He ran out excitedly, muttering, "Yun Pei, you are saved..."

Zhao Changning watched Yunsheng hurriedly running out of the ceremonial gate, and couldn't help but think that she had been struggling here for eight years. If one day she fell into such a situation, would there be anyone who would kneel down and beg for her?

Probably, no.

She adjusted her hood before walking deeper into the corridor.

It was still dark at this moment. The palace gates opened at the hour of Yin. The dragon's sons and grandsons were going to come in to study, which meant that the emperor was about to get up. Emperor Yong'an was a diligent monarch when he was young, but now that he was old, he slept less and often woke up before the hour of Yin.

When people get old, they feel uncomfortable, and have trouble eating, drinking, defecating and urinating. Their tempers become more and more strange. This is why it is easy to lose one's life while serving in the imperial court.

The corridors in the towering palace are long and deep. Some of the lanterns under the eaves are lit, while some are extinguished. The eunuchs and palace maids are busy cleaning, and everyone is quiet, not daring to make a sound.

Seeing Zhao Changning walking by, the eunuchs and palace maids all bowed to her respectfully and humbly.

As Zhao Changning watched, she could always recall that she was one of them in the past. Life at that time was simply not a life for a human being. The nanny and eunuch who took care of her were more ferocious than the other.

It was not until it was finally her turn to take charge that she understood the reason.

Like her predecessors, she had a face as dark as a demon. She kicked a eunuch holding a broom who was blocking her way, then said coldly, "Be careful, everyone. If anyone makes a mistake today, don't blame me for being cruel."

Everyone knelt down and kowtowed in panic, not daring to breathe. The eunuch who was kicked buried his face in the snow, not daring to move at all.

Seeing that everyone was obedient, Zhao Changning slowly breathed a sigh of relief, watched the white smoke he exhaled dissipate in the night sky, refreshed himself, and stepped into the last ceremonial gate of the Qinzheng Hall.

Rows of stone lanterns illuminate the dark bluestone roads. This is where she has lived for the past eight years. Every brick and stone is engraved into her bones. Even the growth and withering of grass in the corners of the walls is vividly remembered.

The thick felt curtain had been lifted, and the warmth in the hall gave shape and color to the cold air that rushed in. The dim yellow light swayed inside, like a man-eating beast with its bloody mouth wide open.

Zhao Changning took off his cloak, and the little palace maid beside him quickly took it.

The little palace maid whispered in fear, "Aunt, please be careful."

Zhao Changning said nothing and walked into the inner room with a calm expression. He pursed his lips and soaked his hands in warm water until his bones and blood were warm, then he wiped them dry with a soft towel.

She took a deep breath and felt a little nauseous. Ambergris was burned in the house all year round, but she still hadn't gotten used to the smell.

After passing through layers of thick curtains and a narrow corridor, we finally arrived at the emperor's residence.

In a small room, with four sides measuring only a few square meters, there is a precious rosewood thousand-crafts step-out bed in the inner part, hung with a bright yellow soft curtain embroidered with gold and embroidered with a five-clawed golden dragon. Next to it is a small rosewood cabinet with low legs, on which is placed an exquisite Boshan stove with a Chi beast and a cup of warm tea. Against the wall is a high-legged table. There is no candle, and people can only see with the help of a little candlelight in the outer room.

It is very small, dark and simple, but it is the best place to sleep. It was chosen by the most powerful feng shui master.

She was also surprised when she first entered the emperor's residence, but later she realized that it is a bad idea to live in a house with too many people.

The curtain had been lifted, and the emperor's figure was rising and falling slightly under the bright yellow quilt, seemingly motionless.

Zhao Changning knew that the old emperor had an erratic temper, so he held his breath, concentrated his attention, and called out softly.

"Your Majesty, this servant is coming in."

She waited for two breaths before quietly walking towards the bed. She put her hand to her neck and found that it was still warm. Then she knelt on the footstool and put her hand into the bright yellow quilt.

A strong smell of old age hit my nose. Although this is the supreme emperor, time ignores status and wealth, and people will still grow old.

When his hands touched the soft and rough skin of the old man, Zhao Changning imagined himself as a piece of wood, as if he were already dead.

Before I could move, a yellow light flashed before my eyes, the quilt was opened, and an unpleasant smell hit my nose -

Before he could react, he was slapped loudly.

Zhao Changning's face was filled with pain, but he didn't frown or raise his eyes. He knelt on the ground extremely quickly, his forehead touching the cool floor.

"I deserve to die. I am stupid and have failed to serve you well. Your Majesty, please take care of yourself."

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Open a new article, babies, please collect it! Love you! [kiss][kiss][kiss]

Pre-collection - "The Princess and the Secret Guard"

Fenglai was the most favored princess of Daliang. Just as she was about to get married, her country was destroyed.

Her brothers and sisters died tragically, her fiancé defected to the enemy, and Feng Lai was taken away crying by the secret guards.

The secret guard had no compassion and only knew how to polish his broken sword. He couldn't prepare a bathtub with flowers, delicious meals, or beautiful clothes for her. When she slept, she either lay on the ground or on top of him.

Fenglai felt like the sky was falling and it would be better for him to die.

She cried and cried, but the secret guard actually used the broken sword to take her back to Yujing and earned her a first-class imperial edict.

She could once again live a life with a flower bathtub, delicious meals, beautiful clothes and a soft couch.

Feng Lai was still dissatisfied. He felt that if he tried harder at some point, he might be able to make him happy and regain his throne in one fell swoop.

The secret guard's face turned red, and he gasped, but still pulled her off his waist.

"Based on our brains, let's forget about usurping the throne."

On the first day, deep in the mountains and forests, the princess said she wanted to take a flower bath.

On the third day, still in the deep mountains and forests, the princess said she wanted to eat lamb legs.

On the fifth day, still in the deep mountains and forests, the princess said she wanted to wear the beautiful dress with a long string of names on it.

On the seventh day, he couldn't help himself, "Either lie on me or sleep on the floor."

The little princess cried and finally fell asleep on him out of exhaustion.

On the nth day, Yu Jiu finally prepared all these things. Looking at the little princess's rosy smiling face that was well-nourished, he felt that it was worth it.

On the n+nth day, Yu Jiu finally earned a lifetime's supply of flower bathtubs, delicious meals, beautiful clothes, and a couch as soft as a cloud for the little princess.

But the little princess was not satisfied and started to make trouble by grabbing him.

The Duke was confused and embarrassed, so he chose to block her mouth.