I shook my head: "Brother, I can't go back, I can't go back again." I raised my tearful face and looked at him: "Why don't I want to?" I smiled in the tears "If I was not born in Ling's family, would I be able to stay with my beloved Xie Lang like Xie Niang today? Even if you face the sky, even if you need to calculate for firewood, rice, oil and salt, at least the world is stable and the years are peaceful. Don't worry about family honor and disgrace. Don't worry about the concubine's intrigue, don't try hard for petting." I calmed down, and said firmly: "But I was born in Ling's family and I have passed so many times. It's time for me to take the responsibility."

The eldest brother moved his lips, he stopped talking, and finally he got up: "Vil, no matter what you do, we will be your support." He smiled slightly, and the smile was pure: "No matter what, you are our best My beloved little girl should be held in our palms since birth. It used to be so, and it will be so in the future." He paused: "So don't be afraid, at least, you still have brothers."

My heart suddenly tightened, joyful and moved. It's like seeing a dead tree in spring again, seeing a new young grass under ice and snow, and seeing the first ray of sunlight in the dark clouds. It makes me hopeful, even if I am about to face a sea of ​​swords and fires, I am fearless. .

"Queen Niangniang, Weichen retires. Please take care of your phoenix body and get well soon." The eldest brother gave a solemn salute, and the time limit was reached before he knew it. Big brother had to say goodbye. But at least the next time, there is no need to wait two more years.

I nodded slightly and said softly, "Brother Lao is there now."

The eldest brother disagrees, even a little reproach: "Such a big matter, you should discuss with me in advance." He whispered: "Don't worry, everything is arranged."

I didn't say anything anymore, showing the queen's manners, and said loudly: "Please take care of your body, elder brother, be loyal and patriotic, and be the pillar of the country."

"The minister would like to follow the instructions of the mother." The eldest brother bowed back.

I leaned heavily on the big welcome pillow and relaxed for a moment, but my brows were difficult to stretch. Picking up the boxwood five bats by the bed and taking a sip of tea on the longevity table, Huiju came in.

"Settling in?" I hung a gentle smile, with the surprise of reunion with the deceased in my eyes.

"Hui Niangniang, everything is settled." Hui Ju bowed her head.

I nodded: "Very well, I still like old people to serve my side." After a pause, I said in a melancholy, "I don't know when the disease in my palace will get better."

Hui Ju smiled sweetly: "The slave servant sees the maid's complexion, and I think it will be better soon."

I smiled and called Zhilan in: "Aunt Zhilan, my palace feels bored and wants to go for a walk."

Zhilan showed hesitation on her face, but she nodded politely and said, "Niang, please pay attention to your body and just take a walk."

"My palace has its own measures." I said, extending my hand to Huiju: "Huiju, you can walk with this palace at will."

Huiju held my arm firmly: "Please, mother."

Although Yaotai on Pengdao Island is not big, it is meticulously planted with exotic flowers and trees everywhere. The rare flowers and plants that have always been delicately placed in the halls and pavilions are planted here like ordinary plants and trees on the edge of the eaves, blooming the most gorgeous Flowers, the most peculiar style.

There is a small garden behind Yuanying Hall. At this time, roses are in full bloom, and a winding path paved with broken pebbles leads to the octagonal pavilion at the end. After that, the blue waves on the other side cannot be seen.

Taking the first step on the trail, I randomly glanced at the eight court ladies and eunuchs who followed behind me, with a very gentle voice: "This palace is not happy, you are here to guard." Then I looked at Huiju: "You are waiting by your side. ."

The court lady **** stepped aside, and I walked to the pavilion and quietly watched the golden spots scattered on the spring water by the setting sun. The light breeze brings a faint fragrance of flowers, and the water is sparkling. All of this makes the whole body very comfortable.

"Huiju, I haven't seen you for so many years, you haven't changed." My voice was softer than the breeze.

"The maidservant is still outstanding." Huiju's voice contained a smile: "The slave maid is looking forward to seeing the maid again on the date. Now the maid is in front of her, the slave really feels that she is dreaming."

I turned around, met her excited and tearful eyes, gently stretched out my hand, and handed a silk scarf.

"If you didn't do those things for this palace, this palace wouldn't be able to transfer you to your side so quickly."

Huiju's smile was humble and gentle: "It's the blessing of a slave and a maid, to meet the empress that day."

I nodded: "It must be the blessing of my palace, I met you."

That morning, Su Xin accompanied me on a walk on the Jiuqu Promenade. A woman from a distance, wearing the most common deep purple court lady's dress, squatted on the side of a cluster of brightly-opened camellia. The deep purple dress was in the snow white camellia. It is particularly conspicuous.

At that time, it was not time for the masters of the palaces to wake up in the morning, and few people were in the imperial garden except for the Shihua palace ladies. I have a little understanding of the service system of the lower palace people. The palace ladies who serve concubines above the concubine level are dark purple, the ones below the concubine level are dark blue, and the lower-sweeping and washing palace people are the new willow color. But the dress of the court lady beside the concubine, as long as it does not overstep, it is not bright. Therefore, most palace ladies still like to wear other costumes given by the master.

Shen Xiyao has not many concubines who have sealed high positions, so when I saw this deep purple dress, I was shocked for fear of meeting someone who knew me.

I deliberately dropped the veil on the ground, taking advantage of Su Xin's moment of picking it up for me, carefully stepping forward and hiding behind a porch, trying to discern who the person is from the gaps between the petals and branches. It just so happened that the court lady slightly raised her hand to wipe the sweat on her forehead, and for a moment when she looked up, I recognized at a glance that she was the Huiju who had been with Zeng Chaoxi.

"Su Xin," I rubbed the center of my eyebrows lightly, and my voice was slightly higher.

Huiju trembled over there and quickly hid in the red flowers.

"What's wrong with the lady?" Su Xin handed over the handkerchief, paying attention to me instead of noticing that there were people over there.

I weakly leaned on the pillar and whispered, "I feel a little uncomfortable."

"Lady, do you want to go back?" Su Xin supported me with a worried look.

I shook my head: "This problem will fall after a cold winter." I tried to put a smile on my face: "Sometimes I feel suddenly weak and dizzy."

"What can I do then?" Su Xin looked around anxiously, at a loss.

I sat on the railing with her arm supported, and gasped slightly, "The imperial doctor said it was caused by the void of the body. It doesn't matter, just take a rest and eat some sweets."

Su Xin looked embarrassed: "The slave servant was negligent and never brought desserts."

I shook my head: "Don't blame you, I haven't committed it for a long time." I looked up at the sun: "Maybe it's because I didn't sleep well last night."

"Well, the lady didn't eat much this morning." Su Xin looked worried.

I patted her hand: "Here is a little far from the Hall of Yangxin, I'm afraid I won't be able to go back. Or, you go back and get some snacks." I looked at the gloomy sky to the south and said, "It looks like it will rain. , Remember to bring an umbrella."

"But the lady is here alone?" Su Xin was a little worried.

I smiled calmly: "It's okay if the emperor doesn't let people come here. You can come back soon."

Su Xin hesitated for a moment, after all, Zhang Dehai told her to stay with me. It can be seen that my face is getting paler and I finally nodded: "Lady later, the slave and maid will be back soon."

"It's hard work." I smiled softly and said softly.

When Su Xin's figure disappeared at the corner of the Jiuqu Long Corridor, Huiju stood up quickly and walked towards me with an expression of disbelief.

I stood up and smiled openly.

"Niang Niang," Hui Ju knelt before me almost immediately: "Niang Niang, aren't you?"

When Zhilan went to Kunning Palace to organize my luggage, Huiju helped me. Want to come from the packing things, Huiju guessed something.

I shook my head: "I'm back."

Tears fell in Hui Ju's eyes immediately. She wanted to take my hand, but she didn't dare to overstep because of her identity.

I took her hand directly, and she was one of the people I was most worried about for so many years. I have always worried that she will be silenced by the Queen Mother. Therefore, seeing her standing in front of me today, her complexion and dress are not bad, a big stone in her heart finally let go.

Huiju's hands are soft and warm, making my frozen heart melt a bit.

"Hui Ju, how have you been in the past few years?" My eyes were filled with tears of joy of reunion after a long absence.

"Thanks to your mother," Huiju's tears continued to fall. "After the empress left, the prince did not embarrass the servant."

In fact, she knew in her heart how such secrets could be kept alive.

"That's good, that's good." I nodded, "Where are you now? I came to the Royal Garden so early, but the new master is not good to you?"

Huiju smiled: "The servant girl came to the Imperial Garden to collect dew, and she will make tea for the lady in the future." She smiled slyly: "As for the new master, the servant girl has always been the only master."

I looked at her puzzled.

Huiju smiled and said: "On the day Aunt Zhilan came to collect things, the slave and maid became suspicious. Afterwards, the prince asked the slave in private where he wanted to go, and the slave asked him a little bit, and the slave knew that the maid had left the palace. The grandpa said , The maid asked him to take care of the servants, but the servants only wanted to stay in Kunning Palace." Huiju wiped her eyes: "The servants said to the prince, if the Kunning Palace changes one day, then the servants are not willing to serve the new master, do It’s enough to sweep the palace lady."

"You are so stupid, you know I won't be back." I was touched by her obsession, and ashamed of her obsession.

"Didn't the empress come back now?" Huiju's smile became brighter: "It seems that the slave and maid's choice back then was correct. The prince saw the slave's persistence and protected her and stayed behind. Other eunuchs and maids in Kunning Palace were also there. "Hui Ju explained: "But later you were'long-time sick and never healed', and even rumored in the palace that you had passed away. The eunuchs and maids of other palaces gradually dared to make us angry. Several later Kun Ning who was unwilling to guard the void Gong, I have tried a way to transfer away, and now there are not many left."

"Who else is there?" I asked.

"Only the first few selected by the first lady herself." Hui Ju said in a low voice.

"It seems that I didn't choose the wrong person back then." I shook Huiju's hand again and said with emotion.

"But now that the empress is back, we won't be bullied anymore." She looked at me up and down, and suddenly smiled: "It looks like the emperor treats the empress well."

I shook my head: "No matter how good I am, I can only be called a'maiden'."

"Did the empress think?" Huiju looked at me.

I nodded.

"Which servant can help?" Hui Ju's eyes were full of loyalty.

I smiled quietly: "It does."

Huiju knelt in front of me immediately. Her sudden behavior made me unable to react for a while.

"Hui Ju is willing to go through fire and water for the empress." She raised her head, her eyes full of loyalty and determination.

I suppressed the turmoil in my heart, hurriedly helped her up, and said solemnly: "But what I need you to do, once discovered, there is no escape."

Huiju's smile was even more dazzling than Chenguang: "Huiju's life has long belonged to the empress." She bowed to me and said with a smile.

I thought about it, and suddenly I hesitated. But this is my only chance, I must seize it.

"Then I need you to go out for me." I lowered my eyes.

"Are you in a hurry?" Hui Ju said, "It happens that I have a chance to go out of the palace this month."

I suddenly felt that God was very kind to me, and I stopped thinking about it now, so I told her carefully.

"Niang Niang, you!" Hui Ju looked at me in surprise and disbelief, with a tangled look in her eyes.

I said lightly: "Now you know why I said that if we are discovered, we all have to die."

Huiju bit her lip and nodded.

"I don't force you, Huiju." My smile is still gentle: "After all, this is too dangerous."