Palace Scheming: the Queen In the Cold Palace I

Chapter 17 Even in the cold palace, there is warmth of human kindness (3)

"Well, okay! Ning'er, take me down to reward your father-in-law for me." With a slender finger, Ning'er beside him walked out lightly with Fugui, who was already sweating.

 The fragrance of the pavilion was warm, and the person on the couch closed his eyes slightly, and the smile at the corner of his mouth spread gently...

That day, the reason why Xuanyuanze decided to let Yunqing move to Cuiwei Palace was because He Ruowan took the initiative to mention it to him.

That night, Xuanyuan Ze returned to Nuanxiang Pavilion and saw that she had woken up and was sitting on the bed with a pale face, as if she had cried.

When asked, she said she had just had a nightmare and when she woke up, she didn't see the emperor. She was so frightened that she sat huddled on the bed and didn't dare to call anyone.

She said that she dreamed that the emperor no longer wanted her and left her alone in a dark place. No matter how she shouted, he would not look back at her...

Xuanyuan Ze was in an impetuous mood about Yun Qing. When he heard what she said, he immediately felt guilty and stepped forward to hold her tightly in his arms to comfort her.

Afterwards, he briefly explained the reason for going out for a "walk" and told He Ruowan what happened that night. He decided to report to Empress Ming's mother tomorrow and put Yun Qing into the cold palace and depose her as queen.

He Ruowan did not expect that before she took action, the woman accidentally helped her.

He immediately showed great surprise and pretended to ask if the emperor had made a mistake. After receiving an angry affirmation from Xuanyuan Ze, she helped Yun Qing plead for mercy and offered to let Yun Qing's master and servant move to the now empty Cuiwei Palace. Although the queen made a mistake, the prime minister was still an important minister of the country. The queen was thrown into the cold palace soon after her wedding. This incident was harmful to the prime minister's face. Cuiwei Palace is idle, so letting the Queen and her personal maids move in is considered a mercy of the Emperor.

Xuanyuanze thought for a moment after hearing this, and then sighed at Wan'er's kindness and thoughtfulness. Compared with Yunqing, the scheming and flirtatious woman, there was a huge difference.

If this kind of woman still controls the harem, won’t the harem never have peace?

So he complied with He Ruowan's request and agreed to send Luo Yunqing's master and servant to move to Cuiwei Palace without saying a word...

"Brother Imperial, it's your turn!" A white stone fell on the exquisite white jade chessboard. Xuanyuan Ze looked at Xuanyuan Moyu whose expression was very different from before. He was very curious that he had always been lazy and would never wander outside the palace if he had the opportunity. How can a person who knows how to hang out in the palace hold back his interest and even play chess with him here!

The handsome face flashed slightly, Xuanyuan Moyu's handsome eyebrows were raised, the black stone was lightly lifted, and a stone fell on the right side of the chessboard. He said something outside the chessboard: "Your Majesty, I heard that the Queen has been thrown into the cold palace by you?"

He was out in Tiancheng on business these days, but when he came back, he heard that Yunqing was actually thrown into the cold palace by the emperor, and was also imprisoned in Cuiwei Palace, which had always been in his heart.

This, I'm afraid, is another trick of that woman.

"Haha, it turns out that the emperor came here today because he was concerned about this matter." Xuanyuan Ze snorted coldly, and he couldn't help but feel upset when he remembered what happened when he bumped into Yun Qing and him in Xiangning Palace that day.

The anger that had been suppressed these days was slightly aroused again, and his face immediately turned cold.

"Yes, but what I am more concerned about is, why did the emperor send her to Cuiwei Palace?" Xuanyuan Mo Yuhao smiled openly, but there was no smile in his handsome eyes, which made Xuanyuan Ze see the score. Obviously.

 Immediately I became aware that I had inadvertently hit the emperor's heart.

"Oh, I brought it up because Wan'er couldn't bear me sending her to the cold palace. But I forgot that it was a taboo for the emperor." Xuanyuan Ze's expression softened, and he explained aloud, "I don't have to be too careful, brother. I don't mind, my mother also said what happened back then, it was my father who wrongly blamed Concubine Zhen, and my mother also tried her best to ask my father to clear up Concubine Zhen's name. Even now, people in the palace have changed and left, and that matter has been forgotten. ”

"Is it Concubine Hua who suggested it?" Xuanyuan Moyu's handsome eyes flashed, and he was a little surprised. This time it was not the woman who made the plan?

But think about it, Yun Qing was picked out by herself, and she was going to waste it, so she wouldn't waste it in such a hurry.

 It’s just that Concubine Hua, hum!

"Well, Wan'er is kind-hearted, and I'm happy that she has this intention." Although I didn't understand how Xuanyuan Moyu could reveal an inexplicable sneer, as soon as he finished speaking, he saw a bright figure walking from a corner of the garden. Come this way.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, after playing chess for a long time, can you tell who loses and who wins?" He Ruowan, who was wearing a ring of jewels and hairpins, and a bright red silk brocade dress, was supported by Ning'er. A bright yellow gold silk belt is tied around the slender waist, and the outer gauze is lightly covered. The gold peonies embroidered on the clothes are faint, gorgeous and dignified.

 Behind her, there were two handsome palace maids carrying exquisite trays with two plates of snacks and fruits.

"Why are Wan'er here?" Xuanyuan Ze smiled softly, his handsome face glowing with love. Xuanyuan Moyu couldn't help but sneer in his heart, but his face remained calm, pretending to be teasing: "Could it be that Concubine Hua is a young lady?" You miss the emperor when you don’t see him? Ah, it’s all my fault. I wasted half a day by dragging the emperor with me, and it’s time to leave.”

With that said, he stood up gracefully, without even looking at the shy beauty of He Ruowan's face that was filled with clouds due to these words, he winked at Xuanyuan Ze and turned around to leave briskly.

"Your Majesty, please stay." He Ruowanyu raised her hand, and Ning'er quickly picked up the chessboard on the marble table. The two maids skillfully carried the dessert and fruit plate to the stone table.

She was half-leaning beside Xuanyuan Ze, her beautiful eyes were shy, and she said slightly angrily: "Your Majesty is really good at joking. I just brought some snacks to the Emperor and Your Majesty, but I was made fun of by Your Majesty like this."

"Haha, Wan'er, don't be as knowledgeable as the emperor brother. He is famous for his glib tongue. If you really want to argue, the best way is to avoid him forever." Xuanyuan Ze knew Xuanyuan Moyu's temperament well and knew that he He is always merciful when it comes to his children, but he is always careless.

Hence, the mother wanted him to have a princess again and again, so that she could control his freedom.

"Haha, is that so?" She covered her lips with a smile, and He Ruowan pointed to the fresh custard apples in the fruit plate and said to Xuanyuan Ze and Xuanyuan Moyu: "This custard apple was sent by someone from the Shang Palace Bureau early in the morning, saying it was newly sent from the south. The tribute fruit has a unique taste. I ate a few slices and found them very sweet, so I sent them to the emperor and the prince to taste. "

As she spoke, she picked up a piece for Xuanyuan Ze with her green and jade fingers that were not wet with spring water, and handed it to him with a smile.

"Well, it's fresh and moist, sweet and delicious, it's really good." Xuanyuan Ze raised his eyebrows and said to Xuanyuan Moyu with a smile: "Imperial brother, try it too, it's really delicious."

With a sneer in his heart, Xuanyuan Moyu raised his eyebrows and smiled inexplicably: "It's the hardest to bear the kindness of a beauty. Your Majesty's beauty is hugging you. I'm sorry that I'm here to hinder you and me. How can I still eat? Haha, don't eat, no. Just eat.”

With that said, he never looked back and left with a big smile.

"Your Majesty, this King of the Ming and Qing Dynasties is indeed as his name suggests. I am really experienced." He Ruowan's face turned red. Although this was her original intention, she felt really unhappy when someone else said it out loud.

He had to look at Xuanyuan Ze very shyly, and he was shameful.

Seeing his beloved concubine like this, Xuanyuan Ze's handsome eyes softened, and he stretched out his long hands to hug her and sit on him: "Wan'er is my favorite. Even the emperor's brother is envious, but he can only be envious. Fortunately, Wan'er is gentle and gentle. , let me not worry at all.”

He thought that if the person next to him were a woman like Yun Qing, she would not worry him so much, and she would definitely get involved with this unruly imperial brother.

Thinking of this, his handsome eyebrows darkened, and his smile quickly cooled, feeling extremely annoyed that he somehow thought of that woman again. Busy blinked and shook this thought out of his mind...

 After dinner, Bi Tao and Xiao Taohong cleared the table and prepared to wash the dishes, while Yun Qing helped carry water.

The three of them work together very well. Ever since they moved to Cuiwei Palace, there has been no distinction between master and servant. Whether it was food, clothing, or daily chores, Yun Qing refused to let the two of them take over everything, and always had to fight for something to do.

 Fortunately, the **** of Shang Gong Bureau was "considerate", and Yun Qing could easily carry the small barrel back and forth with his slender hands. However, there are advantages and disadvantages. Although carrying water is easier, the number of trips to carry water also increases.

In such slightly cold weather, and at the lakeside, Yun Qing felt very tired after running back and forth twice, and a thin layer of sweat broke out on his forehead.

Xiao Taohong cleaned the table and hurriedly came to replace her. She said distressedly: "Miss, let me do it."

"Okay." Yun Qing did not refuse, smiled slightly and asked Xiao Taohong to carry the barrel away.

Bitao is fourteen this year, Xiao Taohong is fifteen, and Yunqing will be sixteen in just over a month. So here, although the two still call her Miss, she is also a sister.

Bitao and Xiao Taohong both said that they would wait until her birthday and find a way to catch a few fish from the lake and save a few candles to celebrate their birthday.

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but sigh slightly, but she also felt happy.

Perhaps, happiness and poverty are always inseparable. Just like her, the third young lady of the Yun Mansion who seemed to have plenty of food and clothing, had hidden sadness.

Although she is now abandoned here and her life is miserable, no outsiders come to disturb her anymore; to say the least, it is not much harder than when she was in Yun Mansion.

 So, if you want peace and quiet, today is the best time.

 Smile leisurely, the flute plays, and all the happiness and sadness of Yunqing are transmitted into the desolate night sky with the help of a clear song.

In the distance, a black figure silently stared at her thin figure, his handsome eyes filled with thoughts, and the lake wind blew up, rolling up the corners of his clothes.

"Miss, come into the palace quickly, be careful of catching a cold." Bitao washed the dishes, boiled the water, and quickly ran out and pulled Yun Qing, who was playing the flute, in. Xiao Taohong was carefully guarding the lamp, and the three of them continued as usual. They walked briskly into the inner hall together.

“Miss, you play the flute very nicely. Xiao Taohong also wants to learn it, why don’t you teach me!”

“Okay, Xiao Taohong is smart and smart, so it will not be difficult to learn.”

 “Miss, Bitao also wants to learn together.”

"Huh? Bitao wants to learn too? You have been with me for so long and you have never thought about learning to play the flute. Why do you want to learn how to play the flute when you see Xiao Taohong?"

"Miss, you can't be partial. I think Miss always praises Xiao Taohong, never Praise Bitao... Wow, does Miss think Bitao is stupid and doesn't like Bitao anymore..."

The night wind gently carried warm and happy conversations. Looking around, under the dark night sky, I could see only the vast lake and the empty hall, with no one at all.

The black shadow fell in the sky like a crane. When the three of them entered the hall, a warm smile could not help but appear on their handsome faces.

Then the figure jumped slightly, he quickly moved a few times, and ran straight to a remote side hall on the right.

He took out a bright night pearl from his arms, and the clear light illuminated Xuanyuan Moyu's handsome and jade-like face, and also illuminated the originally dark side hall.

He silently glanced around and saw that all the furnishings inside were intact and untouched, so he guessed that Yun Qing and the others had never been here before.

However, when he walked to the desk, he found that the desk was completely new, no longer dusty as before.

 Looking at the inkstone again, there was actually ink that had not yet dried up. It was obvious that no one had been here. It was just that the people who came did not disturb the layout and kept the original furnishings as before.

Looking at the inkstone with his handsome eyes, he found that the ink inside was very poor. Even if he grinded it into this high-quality Zishi Duan inkstone, he could see that the ink was thin and easy to dry and solidify.

 So when using it, you need to grind it from time to time.

Looking at the inkstone, his mind couldn't help but think of the young figure in his memory.

Once upon a time, a young boy struggled to carry a heavy mahogany stool to the desk, clumsily studied ink, and carefully drew a beautiful woman on the drawing paper.

　　However, although the woman is beautiful, the little boy cannot draw her beauty at all in his childish painting.

 But the boy was not discouraged. He insisted on drawing the appearance of a woman, so he worked hardest at painting among all his skills.

 Time passed little by little, and the boy grew up day by day.

 One day, the boy finally finished drawing the beautiful face that he had memorized over the years, and finally saw his mother-in-law again.

At that moment, the boy had grown into a young man, and his handsome face gradually showed a beauty similar to that of a woman.

At that moment, he threw away the brush and looked at the woman in the painting seriously, his clear and handsome eyes bursting with determination.

At that moment, he secretly swore that it was earth-shattering!

 He, Xuanyuan Moyu, must use the most cruel means in this life to return the favor to the person who harmed his mother and concubine back then! Even her son, he would never let go.

 He believes that where sincerity reaches, gold and stone can be opened.

He believes that as long as you put your mind to it, there is nothing you can't do.

The wind picked up and rustled the roller blinds. His handsome eyes shone, and he gently reached out and took out a painting from the bamboo tube on the table.

Spreading it carefully, the cold light in Xuanyuan's black jade eyes gradually faded, and a tenderness of longing overflowed from it: "Mother Concubine, Yu'er has come to see you."

As before, as if his mother and concubine were still alive, he spoke quietly to her.

"Mother Concubine, Yu'er doesn't know whether it is fate or coincidence. The woman who attracted Yu'er's heart unexpectedly moved in with you. Have you seen her? Mother Concubine, she seems to be just as beautiful, as quiet, and as you. The concubine is as indifferent as dust, Yu'er thought. When Yu'er gets her revenge, I will take her away from here, okay? A smile like the breeze.

The lake breeze gently blew the painting paper, and the smiling beauty in the painting seemed to be responding, making Xuanyuan Moyu also smile slightly.

 Silently placed the fruits and pastries he brought on the table. A teasing smile appeared in his handsome eyes. He gently rolled up the picture and imagined what Yun Qing's expression would be like when he discovered these things.

However, he found that there was an extra scroll of painting in the bamboo tube. From the smell of ink, it must have been newly painted not long ago.

He picked it up and unfolded it curiously. When he saw the person in the painting, his handsome face couldn't help but froze.

In the painting is an extraordinary handsome man, with a face as gentle as jade, gentle and affectionate eyes, dressed in white, as elegant as a god.

It was not the man's beauty that made him daze, but he saw that the man was holding a jade flute in his hand. The color was clear and he seemed familiar.

With his handsome eyebrows slightly twisted, he remembered that it was a jade flute he had seen in Yun Qing's hand, with the same exquisite jade pendant and the same gorgeous tassels on it.

 And this person…

Thinking of this, his mood was immediately disrupted by this picture. He no longer had the lightness he had just now, and he was filled with a lot of irritation.

 Rolling up the painting and putting it into the bamboo tube, he put away the luminous pearl, and immediately the surroundings fell into darkness again.

The next day, Yunqing was awakened by Bitao's piercing scream. When he opened his eyes, he saw Xiao Taohong getting up from the bed in a daze. She ran outside without knowing why and asked, "What happened, Bitao?"

"Miss, Xiao Taohong, come and see." Bi Tao shouted, her voice was three parts surprised, two parts surprised, but five parts scared.

Yun Qing frowned slightly and hurriedly ran outside. However, she was also shocked by the fruits, snacks, good white rice, and two roasted ducks that appeared outside the hall. .

"What's going on?" She looked at these things blankly, making sure that she and Xiao Taohong did not get these things when they went to Shang Gong Bureau yesterday. And among the grains they were given, there were only coarse broken rice and coarse bran, and there was no such bright-colored fine tribute rice at all.

As for other things, not to mention, they are all fine fruits and exquisite snacks, and only the emperor and the noble masters in the palace can share them. But, how can these things appear here?

“Miss, do you think these things are true?” Bi Tao shook her head, picked up the fruit plate and sniffed it in disbelief, and found that the taste was really fragrant and sweet.

And the aroma of the two roast ducks placed on silver platters wafted into the nose, making people unable to help but increase their appetite and make them even hungrier.

"Don't move, Bitao." Just when Bitao subconsciously wanted to grab it, Xiao Taohong quickly stopped her move. Then, with Bitao turning her head to look at her in confusion, she quickly ran into the hall and took out Yunqing. When he moved into Cuiwei Palace that day, he only had a small silver hairpin stuck in his head, and he stabbed it carefully into the duck's body.

Yun Qing's complexion changed slightly. Seeing Xiao Taohong's actions, he immediately understood.

At the same time, she also clearly remembered that the place she was staying in was called the Imperial Palace, and it was a dangerous place that all women in the harem had to be cautious throughout their lives.

Even Xiao Taohong, a little maid working in the palace, did not dare to be careless in anything she said or did.

After Xiao Taohong probed from all directions, she turned to look at Yun Qing doubtfully, shook her head and said, "These things are all clean."

Bitao also understood. She couldn't help but feel slightly embarrassed by her actions just now. She said a little embarrassedly: "Miss, there won't be a lake **** here, right? Otherwise, who would have sent these things?"

Yun Qing was also slightly absent-minded, and then she asked Bitao and Xiao Taohong to take the things into the hall. She ignored Xiao Taohong's questioning and ran towards the side hall.

Sunlight poured into the side hall as she opened the door. Yunqing suddenly saw that there were two plates of fresh fruit placed in front of the originally empty desk.

But other things in the temple remained intact, as if no one had been there at all.

 (End of this chapter)