Concubine Wen Xi in Qing Dynasty

Yuan seems to be in good spirits. She is wearing a emerald blue flag dress with golden branches and green leaves and flowers, which makes her waist more slender. There is a happy smile on her lightly painted face. It is conceivable that Kangxi asked her to accompany her to drive south. How happy Xun's decree made her.There are many ways to compete for favor in the harem. Back then, concubine Wei Shu also "met" the emperor in the imperial garden to be favored and fortunately gave birth to the eighth prince. Concubine Yuan Shu just wanted to regain favor, and others didn't like this trick.

"This time the emperor brought the three of you on the southern tour, and you have to take good care of the emperor." The empress dowager said to Concubine Wen, "You are the highest-ranking concubine who is accompanying you on this tour, so pay close attention." some."

"Yes." Concubine Wen replied with a light smile.

An He glanced at Concubine Yuan Shu.Mammy Wanyan told her that Concubine Yuan Shu knew that Kangxi would go to the Buddhist hall to offer incense to the Empress Dowager that day, so she specially dressed up and waited in the Buddhist hall.This kind of scheming was something that the impetuous and arrogant concubine Yuan Shu didn't know. I have to say that although there is no shortage of food and clothing in the past three or two years, the life like a cold palace is enough for Concubine Yuan Shu to grow up.

Concubine Tong Guifei did not come to greet the Empress Dowager today. She is in poor health. She forced herself to attend the family banquet on New Year's Eve and made her condition worse. Now she has no way to get out of bed.Although Concubine Tong Shu was sitting at the bottom, she could tell at a glance that her mind was no longer here. During this period of time, she was busy taking care of Concubine Tong Gui and lost a lot of weight.

"Is the Ministry of Internal Affairs ready for the tour?" The Empress Dowager turned to An He again.

"The carriages, boats, all the clothes and ingredients for the tour have been prepared, and we just wait for the emperor's decree to set off." An He replied, "I heard that the emperor originally intended to go south with the empress dowager. Why isn't the queen mother going with me this time? There are many beautiful scenery in the south of the Yangtze River, so it's good to go for a walk."

"When people get old, they don't want to move." The empress dowager waved her hand. "Those officials and wives like to quote scriptures when they talk. I feel tired after listening to it. I might as well not go. There are princesses in the palace who accompany me to chat and chant Buddha. It's much more fun to play around." He whispered again, "Concubine Tong Guifei is not in good health, and the affairs of the Sixth Palace cannot be separated from the person who talks about it, so this time the emperor didn't take you out of the palace, don't think too much about it."

"My maidservant has followed the emperor to the south before, so it's okay to miss a trip." An He said, "The maidservant's small kitchen has made fresh snacks. Let someone bring them to the empress dowager to taste later."

"Okay, the emperor said that the food made by you is the most suitable for his appetite, and I have been curious about it for a long time." The empress dowager smiled like a child who stole candy, "Don't tell Nanny Lu, she Recently, I am not allowed to eat more desserts, not even the Lantern Festival with sesame filling."

Although their voices were low, they could still be heard clearly if they listened carefully.The other concubines who did not get the opportunity to accompany the driver are not qualified to be explained by the empress dowager herself. Concubine Hui sat on the side twisting the handkerchief, feeling sour in her heart.Concubine Rong and Concubine Yi are old gods, these vain favors are no longer important to them old people who have been in the harem for many years, what is important is that their children live well in the future.

Thinking of the eldest elder brother who was getting more and more neglected by the emperor, Concubine Rong and Concubine Yi looked at each other with smiles that knew each other well.

Zhang Jia carried the Eighth Princess to An He and then drove away from Beijing.Even if he was unwilling to be able to accompany the driver, when Kangxi's royal driver left the capital, the concubines in the harem could only live their lives behind closed doors.An He's daily arrangements have also become simpler. The eldest princess has to accompany the Empress Dowager frequently during this period, so she only comes here once every other day. Apart from taking care of the thirteenth elder brother and the eighth princess, An He just writes, writes, and does embroidery. Live, the days are dull.

"The House of Internal Affairs sent this year's new tribute rose honeydew, master, would you like to open a bottle and taste it?" Seeing that An He had been transcribing scriptures for half an hour, Jinxiu stepped forward and asked.

"Alright." An He handed the pen to Fei Qing, "Put it away for me first, and write in the afternoon."

"Master likes to practice calligraphy more and more recently." Feiqing said with a smile.

"Practicing handwriting can make people feel peaceful, and it may be a long time since I have practiced handwriting well, so I would like to contact you more while I have free time." An He took a sip of the sweet rose honeydew, "The emperor left Beijing It's been five days, so we should have arrived at the ferry to board the ship."

"According to the date, it should be." Jinxiu brought a few more plates of snacks, "Master, do you miss Sixth Brother and Tenth Brother?"

"It's not the first time for the two of them to go out with the emperor without my company. I don't think much about it. Maybe they will be more obedient with the emperor watching." When the empress dowager pays her respects, someone always asks about the emperor's itinerary, and I get annoyed after listening to it."

"Master, why bother with them." Jinxiu brought Feihong a big welcome pillow for An He to lean on, "It's still a little cold, master should pay attention to her health. I heard that Tong Guifei's health is getting worse, the imperial doctor of the imperial hospital Even if we scratched our heads, we couldn’t think of any good prescription.”

"Time is fate, and now we can only resign ourselves to fate." An He said, "Brother Thirteen and Princess Eight should pay more attention. Don't take them out to play in such a cold day, so as not to freeze. The two The child is still young, and if he gets sick, the imperial physicians will not prescribe strong medicine, and if he recovers slowly, it is only the child who will suffer."

"The slave will tell Elder Brother and the princess's mother."

"Master!" Fei Lan suddenly opened the curtain and hurried in, "Tong Guifei vomited blood and passed out!"

An He quickly sat up straight, and immediately ordered: "Cook my hair, I'm going to Chengqian Palace to see."

The maids rummaged through the box and took out the women's cloak, recombed An He's hair and changed her clothes, and asked Xiao Luzi to call the bearer to prepare the sedan chair. After a busy journey, they wrapped An He away tightly Get on the sedan chair.Jinxiu naturally followed, while Feiqing, Feihong and Feilan stayed behind.

Concubine Tong's bedroom was filled with a strong smell of medicine, and the doors and windows were tightly closed and there was no air circulation.An He pinched the handkerchief in front of his nose, watched the imperial physicians bustle for a while, saw that Concubine Tong's complexion gradually improved, and called Imperial Physician Wang to come to her, and asked, "What's going on?"

"Concubine Tong is already terminally ill, medicine is useless, and now it's just holding her breath." Imperial physician Wang shook his head slightly, "Wei Chen discussed with imperial physicians Zhang and Chen of the imperial hospital, and increased the strength of the medicine in the prescription. , barely able to extend the life of Concubine Tong Gui. From my humble opinion, even this will not last for a long time."

"I'm sorry for your embarrassment, please go and make medicine for Concubine Tong Gui." An He said softly.

It was obviously a sign of exhaustion, but Concubine Tong still held her breath, maybe it was to see Kangxi for the last time, right?An He took a look at Concubine Tong who was serving concubine wholeheartedly. The Tong family's daughters seemed unable to get out of the vicious cycle of falling in love with the emperor. Empress Xiaokangzhang was in her prime at that time, and she was too sad because of the death of the late emperor?Now Concubine Tong is also looking forward to seeing her emperor's cousin again before she dies.

"I'll have to trouble a few imperial physicians here." An Helin whispered when he stepped out of Chengqian Palace, "If there is any change in Concubine Tong's condition, feel free to send someone to Qixiang Palace to report."

"I understand." Imperial Physician Zhang replied.

"Jinxiu, let's go to the Palace of Compassion, the Empress Dowager is probably waiting for news."

"Yes."

The Empress Dowager also sent Nanny Lu to visit Concubine Tong, so she had a general understanding of Concubine Tong's situation.When An He came to the Palace of Compassion and Ning, he happened to see the Empress Dowager leading the Eldest Princess to pray for Concubine Tong, and after sighing slightly, he stepped forward and said, "Greetings to the Empress Dowager."

"Come on, sit down." The empress dowager was rarely serious, "What do the imperial doctors say?"

"The imperial physicians said that Concubine Tong Guifei's health is very bad, and she is just struggling to survive." An He replied, "I want people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs to send some high-quality ginseng to Chengqian Palace. The imperial physicians may can come in handy."

"It's up to you. The emperor ordered before leaving the palace that all the medicinal materials should be sent to Chengqian Palace." The empress dowager flicked the beads, "That girl is very thoughtful, otherwise she wouldn't have hurt myself so much. There are many infertile concubines in the palace, and there are also many princes and princesses who died young. Who do you think will be depressed because of this? I have told her many times not to think too much, but she just If you don’t listen, she won’t be able to hear any more now.”

An He didn't know how to answer the conversation, so he could only comfort him: "Concubine Tong Gui has her own auspiciousness, and she will be blessed by the Buddha to be safe and sound. The slave girl also thought that Mrs. Tong Guowei went south with the emperor, so it is better to invite Mrs. Tong Come into the palace and ask her to take care of Concubine Tong. Perhaps with the company of her family, it is not certain that Concubine Tong will recover. Besides, should someone send a message to the emperor?"

"Just do as you say." The Empress Dowager said, "In my name, go to the Tong Mansion to issue an order, and ask Yinfeng to write a letter to the emperor to inform him. You have to watch over Chengqian Palace, thank you for your hard work. "

"Since the emperor and the empress dowager have given the servants the power to manage the six palaces, the servants should do their best." An He said, "The empress dowager is also going to take a nap at this time, so don't tire yourself out because of this matter. Slaves Let the eldest princess serve the empress dowager to take an afternoon nap." After saying that, he winked at the eldest princess.

The eldest princess hurriedly got up and walked to the empress dowager, reaching out to help her up, and said: "Mama, go to rest first."

Only then did the empress dowager agree to rest in the bedroom with the help of the eldest princess and An He.After she fell asleep, the eldest princess said: "Mamo is not very happy these days, I want to stay by her side, I'm afraid I won't be able to go to the imperial concubine's place these days."

"It's okay, you just need to take care of the empress dowager." An He whispered, "I have to watch over Guifei Tong's place too, I'm afraid I won't be able to make up my mind to teach you."

In the afternoon of the same day, Mrs. Tong Hesheli, who received the order from the Empress Dowager, packed her bags and came to the palace.The letter written by the prince himself was also sent to the south with the booklet.An He ordered the Ministry of Internal Affairs to send all the good medicinal materials to Chengqian Palace, and the rest depends on the destiny.