Indulgence in the Red Chamber

Xuan Ning followed Lian Sheng to Yinzhen's room in a hurry, seeing Yinzhen and Jin Yu's faces were gloomy, and the dinner was still on the table, seeing Xuan Ning coming in, Jin Yu hurriedly said: "Hurry up!" Come. Fourth Master is looking for you in a hurry. "

"What happened?"

"The nobleman in the palace had a difficult labor, the baby couldn't be born, and the imperial doctor couldn't help it. I'm afraid it won't work at this moment." Yinzhen sighed helplessly. Normally, Emperor Kangxi had more than a dozen sons and many daughters.I don't care what the kid is like.It's just that this year's plan is to go to the western border, if this thing comes out, it will be a bad omen.

"Does the emperor know?" Xuan Ning asked in wonder.

"I don't know yet, who dares to talk about this at this moment?" Yinzhen took Xuan Ning's hand and said anxiously, "The emperor's big campaign is imminent, so there must be no trouble in the harem..."

"Yes, it's a bad omen to go on an expedition during the national mourning period." Jinyu also sighed anxiously: "The most important thing is that when the Empress Dowager heard about this, she also became anxious and had some phlegm symptoms. The imperial doctors are all busy I'm in a hurry, young master must think of a way."

"Then you have to go in and have a pulse diagnosis. Just saying that, I don't dare to jump to conclusions."

"Then quickly follow me into the palace." Yinzhen stood up and told Jinyu, "Don't go. Take care of Miss Lin at home."

"Master, it's not appropriate for me not to go, right? The Empress Dowager's place..."

"You can go in at five o'clock tomorrow morning to say hello. The empress dowager will be guarded by the concubine and a few empresses. Besides, as long as there is nothing wrong with the nobleman, the empress dowager will be fine." Yinzhen said, and had already pulled the announcement Ning left the room in a hurry.

Jinyu understood Yinzhen's thoughts.As long as Daiyu is fine, Lin Ning can calm down and cut off the mess in the palace.If Daiyu had something to do, Lin Ning would naturally not take care of those busy affairs in the palace.So she asked someone to remove the food, leaving only two kinds of porridge and two side dishes, and asked someone to pack them in food boxes, and brought her two confidants to Wuxiang Courtyard.

Yinzhen and Lin Ning did not return all night.

On the second day, news came out from the palace that Wang Gui gave birth to a son, and the mother and child were safe.The emperor was very happy to hear the news in Changchun Garden, and named his No. 16 son: Yinlu.Wang Guiren was also promoted as a concubine, titled "Mi" and called "Mi Concubine".

Jinyu slept with Daiyu in her room for one night, and her family came in early the next morning to answer her questions.The two breathed a sigh of relief, Jinyu knew that there was going to be a lot of fuss again, so he hurriedly ordered people to prepare things, and went into the palace to congratulate the empress dowager, the empress dowager and the secret concubine.

This year's summer is not too long, and the weather gradually turns cold amidst the busyness, the lotus flowers in the pool are gone, leaving only the bare lotus pods shivering in the autumn wind.The branches and leaves retreated a layer of emerald green, but they were dyed a layer of yellow.

September [-]th is the [-]th day of the sixteenth elder brother Yinlu.The autumn was crisp and the emperor moved back to the Forbidden City from the Changchun Garden, and the harem was bustling again.In order to make the empress dowager and the emperor happy, the concubines in the harem discussed together to imitate the common people's family, and everyone gathered together to hold a hundred-day banquet for the sixteenth brother.Mi Pin is an honest and honest person, so she naturally has no opinions.In today's harem, Concubine De, Concubine Yi, Concubine Hui, Concubine Cheng and Concubine Rong are in charge, and the Empress Dowager is old, so she doesn't bother to worry about anything.

Concubine Yi proposed to hold a banquet in the back garden without inviting outsiders, and just invite the royal family Aixinjueluo's family to have fun for a day.Everyone felt that this matter was very good, so Concubine De came forward and returned to the emperor.Kangxi was naturally happy, and said that he would go over to make fun of it when the time came.After thinking about it, he called Li Dequan over again and told him, "Xuan Ning's contribution to the safe birth of Little Sixteen is indispensable. Go and tell Fourth Brother that on September [-]th, let Xuan Ning also come in and sit down with you." .”

Li Dequan hurriedly agreed to go out to pass on the oral order, and the empress Yifei was a little unhappy when she heard this, but she didn't dare to say anything more after the emperor said this.Then he smiled and asked: "Long Live Lord, it is said that Mr. Ning's medical skills are very good. It's been cold these few days, and the old injury that my concubine threw while riding a horse that year always hurts, can you call him to treat my concubine? Look, let's see if there is any good medicine, and it can also cure the root cause of this disease for my concubine?"

Among the concubines in the harem, only Concubine Yi can ride a horse. Kangxi once praised her as the real Manchu princess, so she has always been doting on her.Hearing this, no one disagreed, so he nodded and said: "When he comes in that day, you can just ask him to show you some time. In fact, it doesn't matter if you don't look at it, it's just an old wound. I heard that the pills he gave Fei Yanggu a few days ago were very effective. I still want to ask him to prepare more and reward the generals in the court who have been fighting all the year round. Since you are also traumatized, let him ask for a few pills, It's good to eat."

After hearing this, Concubine Yi burst out laughing: "Look at what Long Live Lord said, has he become the panacea for the Supreme Lord? Why is it that you don't even look at it, and you don't need to feel the pulse, just take it?"

"Well, it really has this effect. Can I still lie to you? You will know after eating." Kangxi smiled, stood up, looked at Concubine Yi thoughtfully, and said, "I saw this After half a day's work, my shoulders are a little sore. Would you like to accompany me for a walk outside?"

"The concubine obeys the order." Concubine Yi smiled playfully, stepped forward to support Kangxi and walked out.

"You, my son is old enough to be so naughty." Kangxi smiled fondly, this Concubine Yi is indeed different.

In the imperial garden, there are beautiful scenery in all seasons.

On September [-]th, the chrysanthemums are in full bloom and the osmanthus trees are fragrant.Fenghongbaicui, exceptionally enchanting.

Because it is a family banquet, the atmosphere is more active.Manchu rules are not so strict, there is only a flower barrier between the men's and women's seats, but they are close together. Hundreds of men and women from the Aixinjueluo family gather here, and there may be something in between. Passing, or having something to say, is sent back and forth by the maids, which is very convenient.

Naturally, the Empress Dowager is the head of the women's table, accompanied by several old concubines on both sides, and then there are the concubines of Kangxi, and then there are the Fujin side Fujin Shu Fujin of your elder brothers. Dozens of women made ten tables On the man's side, Kangxi has not yet come, the first place is empty, the old prince Yue Le, Fuquan and the prince, brothers and other princes Baylor also have dozens of people, and made eight tables.

A friend asked, why are there more women than men?Could it be that the royal family of the Qing Dynasty is not prosperous?No, just talking about Sibeile Yinzhen, one man has two women, Nala and Li, and Jinyu brought Daiyu in specially today.Which of the other Prince Baylor is not three wives and four concubines?A bunch of women follow behind every Fujin.There are also more than a dozen concubines in the Kangxi harem, do you think there are more women than men?

For the sake of excitement, Fuquan also asked the Ministry of Internal Affairs to prepare a small show. At this time, the emperor had not come yet. In order to prevent everyone from being lonely, the empress dowager ordered the play to start first. When the emperor came, the banquet was held.All the people happily ate tea and listened to operas. The gongs and drums in the imperial garden were really lively.

Concubine De sat on the seat below the empress dowager, she didn't care about food and drink, and she didn't care about drama, she just quietly looked at the little girl next to Si Fujin Nala who sat down at the seat next to her.

"Cuiyun." Concubine De looked at it for a long time, and finally couldn't help calling her close maid over.

"Ma'am, what are your orders?"

"I'm going to wash my face at the back." Concubine De said, she nodded to Concubine Yi beside her, then stood up and walked to one side, and then told Cuiyun in a low voice: "Go and call Sifujin and the people beside her The little girl came to see me."

"Yes." Cuiyun agreed, helped Concubine De to leave the table, found a small secluded pavilion among the osmanthus trees, let Concubine De sit down, came back quietly, and whispered a few words beside Sifujin Nala.Jin Yu pursed her lips, nodded and said, "I'll come right away."

After Cuiyun left, Jinyu said to Daiyu who was beside her, "Sister, Empress Defei wants to see you."

Daiyu's heart tightened, and she whispered, "Is it because of his business?"

"It must be. Don't worry, I'll go with you. Although the empress is stricter, she treats people very well. I think she wants to talk to you in private because she is grateful for you saving him." Jinyu said, following Sanfujin beside him nodded, and pulled Daiyu up to leave the table.

"Sister-in-law Si, you left just after the show started?" Ba Fujin was sitting opposite, her eyes were sharp, and she saw Cuiyun coming just now.On weekdays, she would look down on Fei Yanggu's family, and she didn't miss this opportunity even more at this time.

"Look at what my younger siblings said, I just had too much tea and I want to go out for a walk, who wants to leave? Huang Ama hasn't come yet, do I dare to leave?" Jinyu finished speaking lukewarmly , and said to Li Shi behind him: "It's good to stand here, I missed the good show, you have to tell me later."

Mrs. Li hurriedly agreed, blessing her body.

Jinyu and Daiyu took the girl away, and Eighth Fujin Guo Luoluo's Yaqin smiled disdainfully, and said to Li Shi: "Guifang, are you so dull when you are usually taken by Fujin?"

How dare Mrs. Li say that Mrs. Nala is wrong, he hurriedly smiled and said: "Look at what Ba Fujin said, our Fujin treats us well on weekdays."

"But I see, she seems to be trying to make things difficult for you." Yaqin smiled and said to Wu Fujin Nala's Wenqian next to her, "Look, the girl Lin next to her is in Sibeile's mansion. She doesn't even have a title, but she can sit side by side with us. Where's Guifang? But she stands behind her like a girl and serves her. I think she clearly intends to run on Guifang. Does Fifth Sister-in-law say so?"

Wu Fujin is the daughter-in-law of Concubine Yi, and Bafu Jin is the niece of Concubine Yi's family.All the time when Wu Fujin had something to do, they always let this eight Fujin, and now she asked this again, even though Nala's Wenqian couldn't understand her, she couldn't say anything, she just smiled faintly,

But the princess said: "Bamei, this is a matter of Sibeile's residence anyway. I heard that Miss Lin is sitting at our table, it is the empress dowager's intention, how dare we make irresponsible remarks to the empress dowager? "

Yaqin was dissatisfied, but she couldn't say anything.Although she was dissatisfied with the crown princess in her heart, she still had to save the most face.Guo Luoluo's Yaqin is not a fool, she doesn't want to be a person on the cusp of the storm.

However, Jinyu took Daiyu to wash his hands in the small room temporarily prepared behind the curtain for the female relatives of the Fujin to wash his hands. After checking that there was no one around, he took Daiyu out through the back door and looked for it in the osmanthus bushes. Concubine De.

Concubine De sat on a stone bench under the osmanthus tree, watching Sifujin and Daiyu coming gracefully, after paying their respects, Fang asked in a low voice: "Old fourth daughter-in-law, I have a few words to tell Lin said the girl. Bring me a cup of tea."

Jinyu was taken aback for a moment, not expecting that Concubine De would push her away as soon as she came up, so she quietly turned her head to look at Daiyu, but she didn't dare to say more, she hurriedly agreed to get out of the way, and added before leaving: "Er Niang, What kind of tea would you like to drink?"

"Prepare Laojun's eyebrows for me." Concubine De did not lift her eyelids, only looked at Daiyu, and said slowly.

"Yes. The daughter-in-law will come whenever she goes." I will come whenever I go, so don't be a little girl.Otherwise, your fourth child will not agree!Sister Lin, sister Lin, hold on for a while, if you really can't... If you can't, I'll call that kid over to rescue you!Jinyu glanced at Daiyu again worriedly, muttered a few words from his heart, and then left slowly.

"Miss Lin, come here. Come sit beside me and talk." Concubine De said, beckoning Daiyu to come over.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. Your Majesty is a body of gold and jade, and Daiyu dare not approach her to prosecute her." Daiyu gave a light blessing, but did not step forward.

"Hey, what kind of golden body? Who in this world is not a body of flesh and blood? Whether it is a prince or a poor man, who was not raised by his father and mother and grew up eating whole grains? There are no outsiders here, you sit Come here, let's get closer so we can talk." Concubine De smiled, with a kind smile on her kind face.

Daiyu had no choice but to agree, took two steps forward, and sat on the opposite side of Concubine De with her knees bent.

"I heard that you saved that Mr. Ning in the fourth elder brother's house?" Seeing Daiyu's good looks and dignified behavior, Concubine De nodded slightly in her heart, secretly thinking that Jia Min could give birth to such a daughter. Those people were not much alike.

"Return to your mother's words. How could I, a child, be able to save the young master's all-round abilities? The young master said that in a humble way. Daiyu didn't do anything."

Concubine De was delighted when she heard the words, she nodded and smiled and said, "Well, you really are a proper kid. Then tell me, what did he look like when you saw him? Was he covered in mud? Like a beggar who hasn't eaten for more than ten days?"

"No, no, no." Daiyu shook her head hastily, and seriously recalled the first time she saw Xuan Ning, "At that time, he was wearing a fancy dress from an unknown country or province, with normal arms exposed, short hair, and the back of his back. He was carrying a big dirty package, which was black, surprisingly big, and strange-looking. There were two straps hanging on his shoulders. What kind of fabric is it made of? The fabric is similar to his trousers. It looks like a cloth board for the soles of a woman's homemade shoes. Anyway, there is something strange about him..."

After hearing this, Concubine De naturally meant that her son had gone somewhere and suffered for ten years. He couldn't even put on decent clothes, and his gown was still showing his arms. Although he was carrying a big burden, the burden was that Look... isn't this more miserable than a beggar?Hearing this, she only felt that she was more uncomfortable than cutting out her heart with a knife, and she burst into tears, sobbing softly.

"Your Majesty? Why are you crying?" Daiyu looked at Concubine De in surprise, and hurriedly said, "Although he looks strange, his whole body is clean and he speaks very politely. He doesn't look like he is begging." At that time, I thought that he was a missionary from a foreign country, so I knew that he had no home in Yangzhou, so I invited him to my home. My son—he didn’t seem to have suffered much..."

"You don't need to comfort me anymore..." Concubine De said, wiping her tears with a handkerchief.He asked again, "It's just how well he became your family's slave again?"

When Daiyu heard this, her heart tightened, and she thought to herself: So she was waiting for me on this matter.

"Returning to Niang Niang, at first, my father didn't know about this matter. The housekeepers thought that they just took in a family member, and it was okay to have one more person to eat. Besides, I made the decision, so they didn't go back to my father. Later, my father met the young master by chance, and because he saw that the young master was very handsome, he reprimanded me, forbidding the housekeepers to do chores for the young master, and only told him to pack the books in the study. The mother knew that my father was working in Yangzhou at the time, and he was busy with business. The two ends of the day are not at home. The study has become the residence of the young master. Later, the fourth master came to our house on business, and happened to meet the young master and treated him as a friend. My father told my mother and me that no one below is allowed to treat the young master. Daiyu Even though he was young, he didn't dare to disobey his father's words. It's just that the young master accidentally joked and said such things. Please learn from your mother."

"Well, that's all right! Who is he? How can he be your family's slave? Not to mention you, even your father and grandfather can't afford it." Concubine De snorted and said no more. explain.

Jin Yu hurried over with tea, seeing the situation of the two of them, she was relieved.He hurriedly stepped forward to persuade him: "Emiang, on this day of great joy, don't let others see you so thirsty. Those who know don't say anything, and those who don't know will go to the emperor to gossip again."

"It's just that you think too much!" Concubine De gave Jinyu a reproachful look, took the tea, took a sip, and handed it to Daiyu: "Taste this tea, it's a new tribute this year, only It’s more than two catties, and you can’t eat it outside.”

Daiyu was stunned.

What does it mean?Empress Defei ate the leftover tea for herself. Is this a warning or a thank you?If it is a warning, she is the lord of the first palace, so she doesn't need to be like this, just say a few cruel words.If it is a thank you, even if there is only two taels of this kind of tea, it shouldn't be left over for others.

An indescribable emotion spread in Daiyu's heart, inexplicable and boundless.Suddenly a voice sounded from behind the osmanthus tree, startling the three people sitting here.

"Huh? Why did I come here?" Xuan Ning turned around from behind the sweet-scented osmanthus tree, looked in surprise at Concubine De who brought tea to Daiyu, then looked at Daiyu who was at a loss, and smiled , Then knelt down: "Xuan Ning got drunk and lost his way. I didn't know that the empress was drinking tea here, and offended the concubine, please forgive me."

Concubine De saw Xuan Ning, and saw him wearing a moon-white brocade gown, luxurious and elegant, kneeling respectfully on the ground, she couldn't see his face, only his thin and slender back.His heart softened, and he thought that without this girl from the Lin family, his son would not know where he was wandering right now, even if he could not meet like this at this moment, the resentment in his heart slowly dissipated.Then he withdrew the half cup of tea, handed it to Jinyu, shook his head and smiled, "I'm too confused. I actually gave this leftover tea to Lin girl. Fourth daughter-in-law, take this teacup back. Ask someone to give you two more. A new cup of tea."

Jinyu let out a long breath, agreed, took the teacup and glanced at Daiyu, smiled secretly, turned and backed away.

"This is Mr. Ning from the fourth mansion, isn't it?" Concubine De looked at her son kneeling on the ground, her heart ached, but she didn't dare to show it.Because the emperor once told her about the power of this in the quilt beside the pillow.Although the court situation is stable now, the emperor is over 40 years old, and he is going to conquest Galdan himself. There are still many variables in the next thing.Xiao Liu had already died once, and could not experience that kind of risk again.

"It was the reckless man Xuan Ning who accidentally bumped into the empress after drinking, please forgive me."

"Forget it, is there any conflict? You can get up now. I sat and talked with this girl from the Lin family for a while, and I am tired now. You came just in time, she is still young, and the road in the palace It's very complicated, I'm afraid she's lost by herself, so you can send her to the front table. By the way, tell the fourth daughter-in-law, I'll go back and have a rest and come back again. Tell her not to come over to serve."

Xuan Ning agreed, stood up and looked up at Concubine De.

But Concubine De has already turned around, walked resolutely behind the sweet-scented osmanthus tree, and only gave Xuanning a back view.Alone, gritted his teeth secretly, and left in a hurry.

It's not that she didn't want to look at it, but that she was afraid that she would really see that face, so she couldn't help but go forward and shout: Son!

Xuan Ning felt a sense of loss, seeing Concubine De's figure disappearing among the sweet-scented osmanthus, still standing there blankly in thought.

"My lady is gone. What are you still doing standing there?" Daiyu walked up to Lin Ning and asked remindingly.

"Oh. Already gone." Lin Ning whispered to himself, looked down at Daiyu, and asked, "What were you talking about just now? Why do you look unhappy?"

"Your Majesty, who dares to smile when you ask me a question? Why don't you hurry back when you come out. Be careful that they catch you and punish you with wine." Daiyu saw Lin Ning's expression was in a trance, and she knew what was on his mind, but she couldn't help it. It's easy to tell.Also thinking that this place is the forbidden garden of the imperial palace, he and Xuan Ning have special identities, so there must be no sloppy, so he had to push his arm and remind him softly.

"I'll take you back first." Lin Ning said, turned and walked out together with Daiyu.

"They didn't embarrass you, did they? With fourth master here, even if they wanted to embarrass you, they didn't dare to say so. Did they?"

"Well. The fourth master will naturally defend me. But they don't have to make things difficult for me. I'm not a prince or nobleman, but a doctor. They have a headache and can use me. They want to leave a way out for themselves. That's all." Lin Ning smiled, thinking that who in the world is not afraid of death?Few people dare to offend a person who is well versed in medical skills.

"Don't be careless. There are many people who know medical skills in the world. They don't just expect you to cure diseases and save lives."

"That's true. But anyway, I'm the son of Elder Sixteen. They won't embarrass me at today's banquet. Just now, the Empress Dowager asked someone to pour wine for me." Lin Ning laughed said.

"I'm here, you go over there quickly."

After saying this, the two of them arrived at the banquet place, Daiyu pointed to the group of women in front, and pouted at Lin Ning angrily.

Lin Ning understood, nodded and watched Daiyu enter the banquet before turning back.