Palace Scheming: the Queen In the Cold Palace I

Chapter 16 Even in the cold palace, there is warmth of human kindness (2)

Although the young lady was crying alone in the garden that time until her eyes were red and swollen, the usually calm young lady rushed into the hall for the first time and walked quickly to the fourth young lady Yun Ya in front of everyone who was having breakfast. Without hesitation, he slapped her twice.

Bitao still remembers that the young lady was only twelve years old at that time. At the age of twelve, she had endured ten years of suffering before she faced it bravely for the first time.

Then, Yun Ya cried loudly and everyone scolded her in unison, but the young lady was not afraid. No matter how she tried to hold her back, the young lady just looked confidently at the master of the family, whom everyone was afraid of.

Staring at him so firmly, every word could not be ignored: "Dad, Yun Qing has lost his mother since he was a child, and his father is busy with government affairs. Yun Qing never dared to make any request to his father. Today Yun Qing wants to ask his father, From now on, Yun Qing should stay in the West Courtyard regardless of food and clothing expenses, and will never go to other people's places to disturb others. I also ask my father to promise Yun Qing that if others want to come to Yunqing Courtyard, Yun Qing will accept it with good intentions. "If you are maliciously teasing Yun Qing, please investigate and give Yun Qing justice!"

Bitao knew that if someone hadn't touched the young lady's most beloved flowers and plants, the young lady would never say a word no matter how wronged she was.

Fortunately, instead of blaming the young lady, the master severely scolded the fourth young lady after asking for the reason, thus winning a peaceful space for the young lady. From then on, the West Courtyard was the only paradise for himself and the young lady. Although the master and servant still lived in poverty, they still lived in poverty. But very happy.

Today, however, she saw injuries on the young lady’s body again, and the past events flooded into her heart uncontrollably, causing her to cry together with the grievances she had felt over the past few days.

I thought that after moving out of Yun Mansion and becoming a country, the young lady would no longer have to be bullied by others, and she would no longer have to look at other people's faces.

Whoever wants to enter the palace, the first person to show off to the young lady is the young lady's husband - the emperor who is the most powerful emperor.

Miss Miss may not be sad or heartbroken, but she is different. She didn't want her to suffer anymore, but she couldn't do anything to help her...

"Bitao, don't cry." Yun Qing sighed, hugged Bitao gently, and said calmly: "I know you feel sorry for me, but it's really okay. I accidentally scratched this injury yesterday, not someone else. I brought it. It was me who forgot that I shouldn’t have left the Golden Phoenix Palace, and that’s why you had to suffer with me again.”

Yun Qing thought that within a short time, the emperor's imperial edict would be delivered.

I wonder if the Queen Mother will involve that young man. Alas, it's pitiful to think that that young man is seriously ill. But she couldn't figure it out why he suddenly went crazy yesterday.

In her opinion, a person with a very cold temperament like him is definitely not a frivolous person like Xuanyuan Moyu, which can be seen from his attitude! But why was his expression so strange and terrifying last night?

She shook her head, but Bi Tao raised her head from her arms, with a puzzled look on her face: "Where are you going?"

"I don't know, it must be the cold palace. Or..." Yun Qing smiled bitterly. If the concubines in the palace made a mistake, they would be punished with death, or they would be demoted and fined. If they were neither serious nor minor, they would be punished with just a word from the emperor. Cold palace.

What he did last night, in Xuanyuan Ze’s eyes, was the crime of fornication among the seven sins. Although he didn't sit down firmly, he still saw it with his own eyes.

"Or what?" Bi Tao jumped up in fright. She didn't want to ask the young lady how the injury came about. She knew that the young lady had always been strong and refused to let her know anything for fear of worrying herself.

Now that the lady said this, she could no longer stop asking. Did something big happen last night?

 “Empress!” But at this moment, Xiao Taohong’s voice came into the hall.

Yun Qing raised his head and looked at Xiao Taohong. Seeing her nervous expression, he couldn't help but understand something in his heart, and said softly: "Xiao Taohong, what's the matter?"

Because there were still tears on Bi Tao's face, she didn't want others to see them, so she quickly turned her head and wiped them away gently.

Xiao Taohong didn't notice that Bitao's expression was unnatural. She was just more alarmed by the imperial edict brought by Eunuch Chang Le at this time. She hurriedly replied: "Mother, Eunuch Chang led a group of guards with swords to the palace. Empress Xuan hastened out to receive the edict. ”

"Eunuch Chang again?" Bi Tao ignored her eyes which were red from crying and looked at Xiao Taohong with wide eyes. Thinking of what the young lady had just said, her heart couldn't help but beat wildly.

"Yes, your Majesty, let me help you freshen up quickly!" Xiao Taohong didn't know what happened. For two days in a row, the emperor's personal father-in-law came to the Jinfeng Palace. Yesterday, he invited his Majesty to the Tai Chi Palace. Today, Another group of guards came, which was really puzzling.

"Well, no need to bother. Xiao Taohong, go and tell Eunuch Chang that I will ask Bitao to help me freshen up briefly and then go out." Yun Qing waved his hand and asked Xiao Taohong to go out first.

 Then with Bi Tao's help, she simply dressed up and came to the middle hall.

"Eunuch, I've been waiting for a long time." Just like yesterday, Yun Qing nodded lightly when Chang Le saw him.

But he didn't dare to hear Chang Ledao, so he opened the imperial edict scroll and read loudly: "Please accept the edict from the Queen -".

"My concubine Yun Qing, I respectfully accept the imperial edict." Yun Qing knelt down calmly to receive the edict. Bitao and all the palace officials also knelt down and lowered their heads to listen quietly.

"Queen Yunqing, as the head of a palace, actually committed a personal offence, disobeyed the holy will, went out of Jinfeng Palace without permission and intended to disturb the harem, which is really a serious crime. Therefore, she is deprived of her position as queen and will be thrown into the cold palace with immediate effect. , admire this!" After Chang Le read, everyone below was shocked, suspicious, and had different expressions.

Only Yun Qing was calm and calm, as if nothing happened, he said "long live the emperor" and stood up to take the imperial edict from Chang Le.

"Your Majesty, your Majesty has given orders, please pack up your things now and move to Cuiwei Palace." Chang Le coughed lightly, leaving behind the emperor's special words, he led everyone back and left.

"Cuiwei Palace?" Yunqing was stunned. Isn't the cold palace in the palace Luoxia Palace?

"Miss!" Bi Tao was shocked and angry. Looking at the people leaving, she couldn't help but stepped forward to grab Yun Qing and said angrily: "Miss, Your Majesty, he has gone too far. Even if he wants to destroy Miss, there is no need to find such a vicious person. Let’s put the blame on the young lady! Even the emperor can’t fabricate it out of thin air..."

"Bitao!" Yun Qing shouted sternly and stopped Bitao from speaking. Knowing that in addition to Xiao Taohong, there were other people here who were gloating about his dethronement, he said sternly: "How can the emperor, the king of a country, allow you to speak privately? Slander?"

　　Then, she took Bi Tao's hand while Qiu Yue looked on coldly and hummed, and said softly: "Come in with me."

"Tsk, sitting in the harem, this crime is not pleasant." Qiu Yue smiled at the corner of her mouth, her eyes were sarcastic, she opened her mouth, and directly hit Yun Qing with words that ordinary unmarried women are ashamed to say: " But think about it, it is understandable that some people are supposed to be newly married, but they stay alone in the boudoir every night, and they cannot bear the loneliness. But it is a pity that they were discovered too early, and I am afraid that everything that should happen has not had time to happen... "

"Shameless!" Bi Tao shook off Yun Qing's hand, rushed to Qiu Yue without thinking, raised her hand and slapped her, and said angrily: "Shut your stinky mouth!"

 “Pah!” After a brief pause, a loud and crisp sound was thrown back to Bi Tao’s face without hesitation, causing her to immediately flush with blood.

Qiuyue didn't expect Bitao to come up and hit her, so she immediately slapped her back hard, and grabbed Bitao's wrist which was so angry that she was about to fight back again, and cursed: "Who do you think you are, you dare to hit me?"

Qiuyue's sharp eyebrows, slight twitching of the corners of her mouth, and the distinct palm prints on the left side of her face made her look just like a ghost: "For a mistress who has fallen out of favor, I give her two cents to work for her. This is my kindness to Qiuyue. Now you are just a nameless little maid, what qualifications do you have to attack my aunt, the head of Jinfeng Palace?"

She pointed at Yun Qing and smiled bitterly: "A waste queen who is about to move into the cold palace has no qualifications!"

“Pop!” Qiuyue was unprepared, and the right side of her face swelled up again. The redness and swelling on both sides made her originally beautiful face start to look ferocious and scary.

"Little Taohong!" She gritted her teeth and stared hatefully at the little palace maid who was looking at her coldly - that usually unknown and timid girl: "You dare to hit me?"

"If she doesn't have the right to beat you, I do!" Xiao Taohongsu raised her hand, and a square gold medal suddenly appeared in front of Qiuyue. Even if she, Qiuyue, has no experience, the solid gold is indeed a dazzling thing that she cannot ignore: "You, are you from the Queen Mother?"

"Yes, I am the one who was rewarded by the Queen Mother. The Queen Mother said that Xiao Taohong now only listens to the Queen Mother's orders. Wherever the Queen Mother goes, the slaves will follow her. Therefore, if anyone dares to be disrespectful to Xiao Taohong's master, then Xiao Taohong Taohong will never stand idly by!" Xiao Taohong said firmly, with a face that was usually soft and frail. At this moment, it was so deserted that it made people feel frightened. It also made Qiuyue feel cold, and she loosened her grip on Bitao.

"Xiao Taohong..." Bi Tao's eyes were hot and she was speechless.

She didn't expect that the young lady would be in such a situation now, and Xiao Taohong would still be willing to help them. Compared with someone like Qiuyue who could change the situation when the wind comes, she was really touched.

"Okay, haha, she's just a has-been queen. I'll see how long you can last." With hatred in her heart, Qiu Yue glared at Yun Qing angrily, then smiled evilly, turned around and ran out of the palace.

What about the Queen Mother? How long can the Queen Mother protect her? No matter what, the emperor is the biggest in this palace, but currently, the emperor’s favorite is Concubine Hua!

"I'm sorry, my dear, Xiao Taohong is impulsive." Xiao Taohong smiled gently at Bitao, looked at Yun Qing quietly, and apologized in a low voice.

Yun Qing's heart warmed up, and all her emotions turned into one sentence: "Xiao Taohong, are you willing to move into Cuiwei Palace with me? If you are willing, please call me Miss from now on."

"Ms....Ms.!" Xiao Taohong's eyes flashed, and the joy in her eyes was not concealed, and it was clearly displayed in Yun Qing's eyes.

Yun Qing smiled, human feelings are like people drinking water, knowing whether it is warm or cold.

At this moment, all she can feel is the rare warmth in the human world...

Cuiwei Palace is a palace that is more deserted than Leng Palace. It has a beautiful appearance and is not as old and mottled as Leng Palace. Its appearance is unique and the scenery inside the palace is beautiful. It is a rare quiet place in the entire harem.

However, in Cuiwei Palace, there is a huge artificial lake between the main hall and the side halls. There are no pavilions, pavilions, or bridges. If you want to rest in the inner hall or have a meal in the main hall, you usually have to cross a dilapidated lake. Boat trip. Otherwise, just take a long detour through the narrow path around the lake.

It’s just that the lake is so wide that if you abandon the boat and walk, a round trip would take more than half a day.

 Flash forward to the beginning of February, half a month has passed since the day I moved to Cuiwei Palace. The weather is getting warmer, the sun is shining brightly, and the ice on the lake has finally melted.

Sitting on the boat, Yun Qing put away his jade flute, pulled his cloak and stood up.

The lake breeze gently picked up the ends of her hair, making them tangle like a lover's hand, trying to hold it back.

Bitao ran out from the palace to help Yun Qing get off the boat, and then helped Xiao Taohong move the things. After seeing the pitiful things she brought back, her face that was slightly blue from the cold turned rosy with anger: "Isn't it, there are so few? "

Holding her meager clothes and daily belongings, she endured her resentment for several days and finally swelled. She stomped her feet bitterly and was about to get on the boat and plan to settle the score with them.

"There's no need to go, Xiao Taohong has done her best." Yun Qing grabbed Bitao and helped her take the things into the hall. He smiled comfortingly and said: "It's much better than at the beginning. The weather is not that cold anymore, so we don't have to." The lake breeze blows every day, and we keep running back and forth. There are less things, and at least we have something every few days, so they don’t make it too difficult for us.”

"Isn't this too embarrassing?" Bi Tao couldn't help but raise her voice, and scolded with her feet jumping: "Damn Shang Gong Bureau, those people are really going too far. They even refuse to give us bedding and clothing to keep out the cold. Besides, they didn’t know how cold it was by the lake! They also said that the weather is getting warmer, and the cold-proof items purchased by Shang Gong Bureau have been distributed everywhere, and now they are starting to buy unlined clothes... Humph, I don’t believe their lies, it’s clearly them. Miss, you don't know how hurtful those people are by depriving us of our items. They seemed to have made an exception and promised us that they could send us items in three days, but they reduced the three-day supply to two. Or is it only for two people? Do you think they want to starve us to death?"

"I'm sorry, miss, it's Xiao Taohong who has caused trouble for you." Xiao Taohong said softly, looking at Bitao who was very angry, and secretly complained that instead of helping the miss, she had troubled the miss and the others.

Had she not insisted on following the young lady, the items distributed by the Shang Palace Bureau would still be for two people, at least enough for the young lady and the others.

There have always been rules in the cold palace. A concubine who is thrown into the cold palace can only bring one personal maid to accompany her, so the items distributed are only for two people. In addition, the eunuchs took advantage of the situation to bully others, which made it even more embarrassing in private.

"Silly girl, why are you stupider than me!" Bitao, who was straightforward, saw Xiao Taohong blaming herself. The anger she had just extinguished immediately turned into a helpless sigh: "I don't blame you at all, I blame those unscrupulous palace people for bullying others. It’s too much. People are fond of others, and others are splashed with water. Alas, they are just ruthless people.”

"Bitao, Xiao Taohong, I'm sorry, I made you suffer." Yun Qing turned around and looked at the two kind-hearted girls who followed her wholeheartedly, and she felt heartbroken.

If I hadn't been too casual, such an accident wouldn't have happened that night, and Bitao and Xiao Taohong wouldn't have to suffer with me here.

"Miss!" Bitao hurriedly stepped forward and took Yunqing's hand: "I have said it a thousand times, you are not allowed to say that again, otherwise Bitao will cry to you!"

Her eyes were red and she burst into tears, not because of the pain, but because the young lady should not have to endure such hardship.

"Miss, we are not afraid of hardship and hardship. We can squeeze in the same couch with the lady at night, eat the same pot of homemade vegetables during the day, listen to the sweet flute music played by the lady on weekdays, and be happy with the lady every day. Let’s talk and laugh, although this life is hard, it is the happiest time in Xiao Taohong’s life. Miss, Xiao Taohong doesn’t want to be separated from Miss, not even in her life.” Xiao Taohong stepped forward and grabbed Yun Qing’s other hand. Hands, although she usually doesn't like to talk much, today she said so much all at once. Let Yun Qing know that in this world, besides Bi Tao, she also sincerely cares about the young lady.

"Oh, you two silly girls!" She gently hugged their shoulders and smiled silly herself: "The three of us will never be separated. Ha, actually we are quite happy now, although it is a bit cold. , It's a bit bitter, but once you get used to it, you won't feel the bitterness anymore. We don't think of the benefits of living here in spring. In summer, this place will become the most enviable summer paradise in the entire palace. Lotus flowers bloomed, lovely lotus pods grew, and then lotus seeds were produced..."

The breeze blew gently on the faces of the three people. Although it was a bit cold, under the warm sunshine, their faces were filled with smiles longing for the arrival of summer...

In the Zhu Hua Palace, He Ruowan sat lazily on the imperial concubine's couch. She picked up the cherimoya cut by Ning'er as a special tribute from the south with her long fingernails, and put it into her mouth to savor it with great enjoyment.

The sweet and refreshing custard apple is soaked in the unique cold air of early spring. In the warm and intoxicating Nuanxiang Pavilion, it is even more refreshing and delicious.

"Well, it is indeed a good thing." She praised twice, took the wet handkerchief handed over by Ning'er at the right time, wiped her fingertips lightly, then turned her head and raised her jade wrist gently to the **** kneeling beside her: " Get up."

"Thank you for your grace." The **** swung his sleeves and kowtowed his thanks with great respect. Then he stood up carefully, his legs already numb from the activity.

Even so, Mr. Fugui did not dare to raise his head to look at the bejeweled woman in front of him. I just felt that underneath her lazy posture, there was a heart that was frightening.

"How are you doing over there recently? Have you followed my instructions?" The lazy voice contained a timbre that made Fugui nervous, so he responded quickly: "Don't worry, my Majesty, all the slaves have done what I asked you to do." The palace maid named Bitao came to the Shang Palace Bureau several times to ask for bedding and clothes to keep out the cold, but the servants and the steward sent them away. Now they have no choice but to express their grievances. Give up."

 “Is it just a deduction?” He Ruowan snorted, obviously dissatisfied.

 What she wants is for them to live in peace.

"What does the empress mean?" Fugui asked in a low voice. He knew that Concubine Hua was the future empress. Although she had not been officially canonized yet, because the empress dowager needed to clean up her body in the past two days, the matter of changing the empress was temporarily postponed.

 However, the real power of the Queen in the palace has been in the hands of Concubine Hua. These were mentioned by the Queen Mother on her own initiative.

"The emperor has forgotten her existence these days. I will take care of the affairs of the harem for the time being. As long as you do things appropriately, I will inevitably reward you heavily." He Ruowan tapped the back of the chair lightly with her fingertips and said. There was a rhythmic crisp sound.

Hearing this, Fugui was startled. He suddenly looked up and saw a frightening sneer on Concubine Hua's lips. Immediately her knees softened and she knelt down again, expressing her stance: "I will never take your orders lightly. Please, empress." Don’t worry, I have my own sense of propriety, and I won’t let you worry too much.”

 (End of this chapter)