Chapter 75: The Eve of Longing, When Will We Meet Again?
Qingzan was not in the mood to talk, and Xu Delu didn't want to bother anyone, so he tactfully found an excuse to leave.
Doukou craned her neck and watched him until he was out of sight. Then she sighed, "Eunuch Xu is a good man."
She carefully held the green hairpin and walked back: "When I first arrived at Chengluan Palace, Xu Dajian reminded me that I must never have any second thoughts when serving my master. I must always put you first, no matter what, and always put you first, even on the same level as His Majesty."
Qing Zan pursed her lips and smiled faintly: "Do you want to speak up for him?"
This "he" does not only refer to Xu Delu, both of them know it very well.
Dare to compare a little beauty with the emperor? Xu Delu himself would never say such words. After all, the emperor is the only real master in this palace. It can be seen that he was also under orders from his superiors.
Doukou felt as if she had been exposed. She frowned slightly and said, "I'm worried too. The people in the palace are all opportunists. It's only been ten days, how are we going to get through the rest of this? Fortunately, my master is pregnant with the royal heir, so the servants dare not shortchange us. Otherwise, I don't know how we'd get by... I was so angry just now!"
Qing Zan smiled nonchalantly, "The Empress Dowager scolded me, and His Majesty has alienated me, so naturally they want to vent their past grievances."
Doukou knew that her persuasion would be of no use to her master, and she didn't dare to say anything more, for fear of making her sad. After all, no one else knew the whole story of what had happened between her master and His Majesty.
The road from Guanju Palace back to Chengluan Palace is not short and it takes a while to walk. It was freezing cold and the road seemed to be covered with a layer of ice. Although the two of them were not walking fast, Doukou still held the other person more tightly, fearing that the master would slip.
She asked, "I heard that even Consort Zhaoyi rarely visits Concubine Yang. Why did you decide to go today?"
They had just returned from visiting Concubine Yang, but they were unlucky enough to run into those flatterers!
Qing Zan said, "The imperial physician said I should move around more, but I don't have anywhere I want to go, so why not go see her? Huying Pavilion is pretty quiet there. Zhaoyi is different. She still has the eldest prince to raise, so I guess she's been busy with his education these days."
Concubine Yang had suffered a setback during childbirth, and now she was plagued by minor ailments, not just a major one. Concubine Hui had visited her once recently, holding the little princess in her arms, but she had only dared to speak to her briefly through the door. The room was thick with the smell of medicine, and the baby was crying non-stop. Concubine Hui couldn't stay for long, so she told the palace maids to carefully tend to her and then left.
Others will avoid it even more.
Although Qingzan made a special trip this time, he could only take a peek from afar.
It wasn't just Concubine Yang. Concubine Nian Zhen also had a rough time. At the end of the year, her father, Imperial Tutor Wang, celebrated his birthday, and the Emperor granted her permission to return home for three days to show some filial piety. At the time, Imperial Tutor Wang was ill, and while his condition had improved since the birthday, it relapsed recently.
Concubine Zhen was worried about her father. She had a sad face these past two days and locked herself in the room.
Therefore, the Queen Mother asked the concubines to perform in front of her, some of which were meant to cheer everyone up and get everyone together for a good time.
*
In Taiji Hall, Xu Delu seemed to be hesitant to speak to the emperor several times since he came back from the fight.
The emperor now had difficulty holding a pen with his right hand, so when reviewing memorials, he mostly dictated, and Xu Delu would write them down on paper and convey them to the three ministries. Most of the minor matters that had old precedents and laws to follow were directly discussed and handled by the Secretariat and the Ministry of Personnel, and the emperor only needed to review them.
So even if I say I'm busy, I'm not that busy. I still have time to be distracted: "If you have something to say, just say it. I asked you to write two words, but you kept looking at my face."
Xu Delu finally put down his pen and said with an apologetic smile, "I just bumped into someone when I was coming back from Ziquan Palace."
The emperor did not ask who it was, but just nodded lightly, his eyes still fixed on the spread-out memorial.
Xu Delu didn't know whether to continue speaking for a moment, and after observing the emperor's expression for a while, he finally decided to say, "I met Concubine Ying."
When the emperor heard this, his brows moved slightly, and he finally stopped being routine and devoted himself to government affairs.
Xu Delu knew that he had made the right move and continued, "Guess what happened to Concubine Ying now?"
Xiao Fang straightened the memorial that had slipped from his hand and deliberately adopted a casual tone: "What can I do? I haven't seen her for ten days, not ten years."
Xu Delu hurriedly said, "Oh, Your Majesty, your hand is aching every day, and I feel so bad for you. I feel like every day I spend with you is like a year!"
These words seemed to be roundabout, but they mercilessly revealed the emperor's recent thoughts.
Xiao Fang stopped talking, and Xu Delu simply told him everything he had seen on the palace road. Finally, he said, "Thanks to the fact that the noble concubine has a gentle nature and is kind to others, others are willing to give her some superficial respect."
Although he was complaining on behalf of Qingzan, Xu Delu would not openly point out any master's faults, because how could the emperor not understand?
While looking at the memorial, my heart was already flying to the sky and beside the lotus pond.
Sometimes even he didn't know what to do with her.
The emperor suddenly thought of something, raised his thin eyelids slightly, and turned to ask, "Did Yulin Garden receive a new batch of parakeets recently?"
Xu Delu said yes, "That fur is green and shiny, it's so pleasing to the eye! Counting the days, it's almost been a month since I started teaching it. It's very spiritual, and I'm just waiting for Your Majesty to show it to me."
The emperor had no interest in entertaining cats and birds, but he thought of the little bitter melon who was living a miserable life one day and had nothing else to do during her pregnancy.
Then he said, "Pick out a good pair and send them to Chengluan Palace."
Xu Delu groaned and was about to do it when he heard the emperor pause and said, "Forget it, send it to me first."
*
Two days before the Lantern Festival, Xun Huan indeed entered the palace under the attention of everyone.
As soon as I entered the palace, I went to the Purple Spring Hall to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager. It was the Empress Dowager who had called me into the palace, so logically I should still live with her. The Purple Spring Hall was seven rooms wide and five rooms deep, so there was plenty of room. But this time, the Empress Dowager just kept driving me out: "Let the Emperor show you a place. You can't live with me forever."
Xun Huan hurriedly squatted down beside the Empress Dowager's couch, folded her arms and rested them on the armrests, resting her pretty face on them. She looked the Empress Dowager in the eye and said coquettishly, "Huan'er just wants to live with you forever! Even if you're not willing to take me in forever, I'll naturally leave the palace once I'm out of the spotlight."
Xun Huan's parents were conservative people. They believed that their daughters should get married and raise children when they reached a certain age. As for the choice of the husband's family, they valued the family background and financial resources the most. They hoped that their daughter could marry into a wealthy family.
Xun Huan had no intention of going back this time.
The Empress Dowager had long since given up on the idea of having her enter the palace as a concubine. But then, thinking about how both the Emperor and the concubines had become increasingly troublesome, she rekindled her thoughts. She stood up and looked at her solemnly, "What are you thinking? Tell me the truth! You've known the Emperor since childhood. You know his appearance and character. Even if he's not the Emperor of Man, he's still one in a million. Isn't he worthy of being your husband?"
Most unmarried girls would blush and get emotionally timid when talking about marriage, but Xun Huan, who had always been a flirtatious and outgoing person, was very outspoken about it. She stood up and said, "Huan'er treats him as her brother and you as her half-mother. How can a sister marry her brother?"
These words sounded frank and affectionate to the Queen Mother. However, she only pretended to be dissatisfied and said, "Then you wrote to me earlier and told me that you wanted to stay in the palace?"
"Isn't it because they've forced me into a corner?" Xun Huan said, stamping his feet. Then he put on a dazzling smile and looked at the Queen Mother with a slightly coquettish and flattering look, calculating loudly: "Your Majesty, you must help Huan'er this time. Otherwise, Huan'er will serve you in my aunt's place from now on."
*
In the afternoon, Xun Huan dragged his feet and refused to go to Taiji Hall, but unexpectedly, the empress dowager invited the emperor to Ziquan Hall first.
When the empress dowager heard that the emperor intended to promote a group of concubines on the Lantern Festival, she asked the emperor to show her the list.
The Queen Mother flipped through the pages and said, "This is a good thing. They are all daughters of good families, marrying into the palace with great aspirations. We can't treat them badly. If we make them happy, there will be more peace in the palace."
Even if there is no hope of gaining the emperor's favor, and one lives a life of luxury, one will never feel too resentful or miserable, and will not seek to cause trouble.
The empress dowager looked carefully and saw that the first on the list of titles was Ming Zhaoyi, who was promoted from Zhaoyi to Shufei, one of the four concubines; in addition, Zhen Jieyu was promoted to Zhenguiji, Xue Pin was promoted to Ronghua, and Zhao Cairen was promoted to Zhao Guiren. The others were all insignificant low-ranking positions. There were also a few who were on the list and then crossed out, such as Xie and Yuan. The empress dowager didn't care too much.
The Emperor was able to treat everyone equally, and the Empress Dowager saw no problem with that. However, thinking about the fact that the Empress's position was still vacant, she asked, "What do you think, Concubine Hui? She is now in charge of the six palaces on behalf of the Empress, and this has put her behind Xue Lian. Why not promote her to the rank of Imperial Concubine?"
The emperor said, "My son believes that the harem, like the imperial court, requires checks and balances. If the imperial harem becomes without a ruler and the imperial concubine is the only one who is respected, and her appetite is inflated, I'm afraid it will ultimately backfire."
The Queen Mother thought for a moment and agreed, "Xue Lian has the title and the eldest prince by her side, while Concubine Hui holds the power in the palace. They are evenly matched in strength."
But when the two sides are evenly matched, the one who is most likely to profit is the emerging third party.
The empress dowager's casual and elegant demeanor suddenly revealed a hint of profound shrewdness. She closed the booklet and asked, "What's going on between you and Qingzan? She's pregnant now. Even if it's wrong to hurt you, you should at least be more considerate of her. Give her a promotion this time, even if it's given in advance. No further promotion will be given after the child is born."
In the empress dowager's view, it was only a matter of time before the emperor would appoint someone as the Ninth Concubine. As soon as the child was born, it would be the Ninth Concubine's turn.
As long as the emperor didn't have any other thoughts... This time, when he injured his body, the emperor initially tried to cover it up and keep the matter secret. If she hadn't pressed him, he would have been like those outside, not knowing how his hand was injured like this.
This is an obsession!
The emperor's next words made the empress dowager's heart beat fast. It was clear that he was showing favor to his beloved, but the emperor did not nod, only saying, "My son has his own plans."
The empress dowager relaxed her body that had been leaning against the back of the couch, then straightened up again.
She asked tentatively, "Are you still angry with her?"
Xiao Fang gave a subtle wry smile but didn't answer. He had a red jade screen with a persimmon tree and ruyi pattern brought in. "This is a newly acquired treasure, presented to you for your appreciation. I have an appointment with the ministers later, so I'll take my leave now."
Seeing that he was determined to avoid her temptation, the Queen Mother hurriedly stopped him and changed the subject to talk about Xun Huan.
After saying this, he looked outside the hall again, but still no one was in sight. "This girl knew you were coming, so she ran away early in the morning. Now I don't know where she is having fun."
At this time, the palace maid saw the empress dowager blow on her hands, and hurriedly poured some water into the charcoal fire. Bright sparks began to emerge from the charcoal, and the fire burned even more vigorously.
The emperor did not turn back, but stood beside the red gold charcoal stove in the center of the hall. After listening to the empress dowager's words, he replied, "I understand, son. Please ask the empress dowager to come to Taiji Hall when she returns."
The billowing smoke curled around the golden and silver five-clawed flying dragon on his clothes, making it look like it was riding on the clouds and mist, lofty and distant.
Even the Queen Mother felt that he was somewhat difficult to approach. He had his own ideas about everything, and he became even more distant from her.
*
On the eve of the Lantern Festival, Qingzan reclined on the couch, reading a book. The curtains were silent, the doors were heavy and deep. In the past, when I had the entire Chengluan Palace to myself, I thought it was all good. All day long, I had only the golden palace and the beautiful water for company, and no neighbors to socialize with, whether they knew who was friend or foe.
But now that the days have become quiet and the door has been closed, Chengluan Palace has become an isolated island in the world, and no one knows what is happening outside.
Except for the occasional moment when his mood would become a little dazed, Qingzan was content to be alone in peace and quiet.
Little did she know that the palace maids wanted her to rest and take care of her pregnancy, so they deliberately avoided her and did not dare to gossip in front of her.
There was already a huge uproar outside, and everyone was talking about the fact that His Majesty was going to take Miss Xun Huan as his concubine. Although the imperial edict had not been issued yet and the emperor had not mentioned it publicly, the news in the palace spread like wildfire.
Just at this moment, the emperor sent a pair of green parrots.
The golden cage was covered with red cloth, so no one could see what was inside. That was until Duobao, the young eunuch in front of the emperor, came in, bowed to Qingzan, and was about to lift the lid for his master when the parrot, as if sensing something, began to chirp cleverly from under the red cloth: "Qingzan, Qingzan."
When the red cloth slid down, the two little creatures with round bellies, long tails, green clothes and red beaks saw the light. They grabbed the golden bars of the cage with their feet and moved to the outside of the cage. They bowed to Qing Zan and said, "Happy Lantern Festival, Happy Lantern Festival."
One of them even shook its head and chanted a poem: "I don't know when we will meet again, it's embarrassing at this time and night~"
Seeing that his mistress was indeed somewhat attracted by the pair of parrots, the young eunuch, who didn't like something new and thoughtfully crafted, took the opportunity to place the cage on the table beside her and said with a smile, "Your Majesty personally trained these parrots."
Just when I was hoping that the pair of parrots would calm Concubine Ying and allow His Majesty to finally see the light at the end of the tunnel, the parrot suddenly spoke in a loud and clear voice:
"Xun Huan is the most beautiful woman in the world!"
This is not right!
The young eunuch's face was filled with horror, and he immediately looked at Qingzan awkwardly... He kept saying in his heart that something bad had happened, but he was very sure that this was definitely not what His Majesty taught him!
I vaguely remember that when Miss Xun left, she saw these two hanging under the corridor and went to tease them for a while... ?
He hesitated about how to explain it. What should he say if his master asked why Miss Xun Huan went to Taiji Hall? However, the woman at the top didn't need his explanation. She just lowered her eyelashes, and the interest she had just had disappeared without a trace.
She seemed calm and said calmly, "Your Majesty is thoughtful."
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Author's words: Little eunuch: After I finish this job, I will be beheaded when I go back! Desperate face.jpg
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