Chapter 6 Chapter Six Xiuzi Resists Marriage

When the west wind blows, it will be cold when it says it is cold.One afternoon, the maids of Chuxiu Palace gathered on the brick floor of the North Courtyard of the Hall of Tihe to play shuttlecock. This is very rare entertainment for the young girls living in the deep palace isolated from the world.Although there are many festivals in the palace, every Spring Festival ceremony.Major festivals such as the Lantern Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival have various celebrations.Such as viewing flowers in the imperial garden in spring, climbing mountains and watching the moon in autumn, etc.When the Empress Dowager Cixi and the Emperor's birthdays were called Longevity Day in the palace, they would set up a stage to sing operas in the palace, invite opera troupes from the Tianqiao to perform on the Shufenzhai stage in the West Sixth Palace, and the scene was naturally very lively.In other palaces, especially for young masters such as queens and concubines, maids of honor can accompany the master on the swings, but no matter how you say it.In these kinds of games, the court ladies are just playing with the masters, and only kicking the shuttlecock is their own game.

Today is the happiest day Yin'er has been in the palace for several months.She kicked forgetfully, as if she had returned to those carefree days before entering the palace, she was so excited that she couldn't tell, the energy she had been holding back for so many days suddenly let go.She played all kinds of tricks.The shuttlecock kicked alive under her feet, rolling and dancing around her like a bird, unable to fall off.Everyone else made her compete, and she was the only one left kicking on the court.Looking at her extraordinary skills, the court ladies and mothers who looked around were full of admiration, and some couldn't help clapping their hands.As soon as the people around her applauded, she kicked even harder.

While people were watching Yin'er kicking the shuttlecock, a group of eunuchs and maids surrounded the hostess of Chuxiu Palace. Waiting there to greet Cixi. Yin'er was in the middle of kicking, and with his back turned to the Empress Dowager Luan Jia, he didn't pay attention to Cixi's appearance at all. He stared intently at the shuttlecock in the air and kicked various tricks in the open space. Ping'er was so anxious that he wanted to call Yin'er He stopped, but he didn't dare to shout loudly, so he kept winking at her.But she didn't know it, and she was still kicking vigorously.The others stood aside, nervously waiting for Li Lianying, the head of the inner court next to the queen mother, to open his mouth, then knelt down to kowtow to the old Buddha.Unexpectedly, instead of making a sound, Li Lianying talked with Cixi in a low voice.Cixi, who was over 60 years old, stood there, looking intently at Yin'er in the field.

Seeing that Cixi didn't speak, the maids didn't know what to do, they whispered to each other, sweating for Yin'er.Ping'er was in a hurry, walked up to Yin'er, gave Yin'er a hard look, and said in a low voice: Why don't you wink at all, Lafayette is here! When Ping'er said that Lafayette was here, Yin'er was terrified, and his mind was distracted, and the shuttlecock flew under his feet.The shuttlecock flew straight towards Cixi's face without bias, and everyone present was terrified.Unexpectedly, when Cixi raised her hand, she caught the shuttlecock steadily.

bold!Seeing the shuttlecock under Yin'er's feet flying towards Cixi's face, Li Lianying broke into a cold sweat from fright, and shouted involuntarily.When he shouted the order, all the people on the field were terrified. They all held their breath and stood upright with their hands. No one knew what would happen next. As soon as Yin'er stood firm, she heard Manager Li shout angrily. She didn't even see what the Empress Dowager Cixi looked like standing on the steps, so she was so frightened that she lay down on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly: Lafayette!Slaves be damned!minions be damned

When Yin'er knelt down, the others also knelt down, calling Lafayette auspicious.Everyone on the scene was very nervous, especially Ping'er, who didn't know what Lafayette would do with Yin'er, and was worried that the matter would become a big one, and she, the person who lived in the same room, would be involved. Cixi didn't speak, she looked at the shuttlecock in her hand thoughtfully, everyone was watching her face, especially Li Lianying, who was so nervous that she didn't even dare to breathe.Suddenly, Cixi waved her sleeves, with a smile on her face: Get up, get up!Isn't this playing? I'm here to watch you play.Kick it, kick it as you want, I will watch you kick it.

Instead of being angry, Cixi threw the shuttlecock to Yin'er on the ground and asked them to continue kicking.Yin'er lay on the ground, took the shuttlecock gratefully, and took advantage of the moment when she reached out to catch the shuttlecock, secretly glanced at the Empress Dowager Cixi standing on the steps.After more than four months in the palace, this was the first time I saw her face.The old lady's fine, clean and fair skin is not at all like that of an old man in her sixties, other than that, there is nothing special about it, and she is not at all as mysterious as rumored outside.The old lady's light eyebrows, long nose, especially the smiling mouth on her chin, and the loose muscles around her chin reminded her of her grandmother when she was alive.She felt that when people were old, they all looked alike.

Li Lianying was the first to react to Lafayette's smile, and before Lafayette's smile disappeared completely, his donkey face was like a flower blooming.The chief executive's expression infected all the people present, and the ladies and mothers all laughed along with him.Everyone stood up, looking at each other, holding the shuttlecocks in their hands, eager to try, but no one dared to be the first.Aunt Liu, who was in charge, pushed out Yin'er and Heping'er: Here's to counting the two of you playing well, so hurry up and show your true skills to Lafayette! Aunt Liu was in charge, and after she spoke, everyone pushed Yin'er and Ping'er out, and after a bit of humility, they finally walked into the center of the arena, first bowed to Cixi, and then kicked the shuttlecock.

It's been a good few days, and it's rare to be in such a good mood. Cixi looked at Yin'er and Ping'er's agility, and thoughtfully thought of her own childhood.She has loved kicking shuttlecock since she was a child, and she often kicked it when she entered the palace.Later, when she got older, she couldn't kick anymore, but she often asked the maids to compete in the palace to kick this thing.In recent years, due to the continuous troubles caused by foreigners, the Germans occupied Jiaodong, the Japanese captured Dalian, and the south continued to fight with the French. In addition, Guangxu was disobedient, and the ministers were even more at odds. One group wanted to fight the foreigners. The other faction advocates peace, and even thinks that she should learn the strategies of foreigners governing the country. In short, the state affairs and family affairs disturb her, so she hasn't seen the court ladies playing this kind of game in the palace for several years.

Seeing the old lady watching from the sidelines, Yin'er and Ping'er naturally tried their best to kick all kinds of tricks.The two kicked a few rounds, and suddenly kicked the shuttlecock high to each other's side, and then each took the shuttlecock kicked by the other and kicked it down. Cixi clapped her hands happily and said hello to their wonderful performance.When everyone saw the queen mother and said yes, they also applauded.More and more people surrounded the open space. Finally, Yin'er and Ping'er exchanged shuttlecocks again, kicked the shuttlecock into the air, and then both of them reached out to catch the shuttlecock at the same time, and they both saluted Empress Dowager Cixi.

well!Well done!Cixi said happily, noticing Yin'er's face was strange, she thought she must be new here, paused for a moment and asked: What's her name? Yin'er hurriedly wanted to kneel down. You just stand up and say.Cixi waved her hand. Responding to Lafayette's words, Yin'er lowered her head, not daring to look directly at the old lady: the servant's surname is Shangguan, and his name is Yin'er. um, are you new here? The slave has been in the palace for more than four months. Are you used to being here, do you want to be home? It is a blessing for a slave to serve Lafayette. Cixi looked at Yin'er's pretty face, and her vivaciousness when kicking the shuttlecock with her, and there was one person in her mind, that was Xiaozhu, her personal girl before entering the palace.At that time at home, she often kicked shuttlecock with Xiao Zhu, and soon after she was selected into the palace by Emperor Xianfeng, Xiao Zhu died of illness.If Xiaozhu lived to this day, he would be sixty.Thinking of this, Cixi was overwhelmed with emotion. It has been more than forty years, and thinking of this, Cixi was somewhat sad. Li Lianying looked at the sky and whispered in the Queen Mother's ear to remind her that King Rui was waiting for her to see her in the front hall.Cixi nodded, turned around and was about to leave when she suddenly remembered something and said to Li Lianying: "Tell me what I said, and reward each of Yin'er and Ping'er with a jade hairpin." Li Lianying responded quickly, and said to Yin'er and the others: "Lafayette, look at it!"Thank you Lafayette for your grace, slave!Yin'er and Ping'er hurriedly knelt down to thank them.Of course, the rewards can only be given to them after Li Lianying returns, but this is a kind of etiquette, and the slaves must first thank them. Back in the servant's room, Ping'er hugged Yin'er's shoulder happily and said: You really showed your face this afternoon, and I showed your face too!I heard that Lafayette used to like to watch our slaves kick shuttlecocks, but in recent years, there are very few of them, but I have never heard of such a precious thing being rewarded on the spot because someone kicked it well like today! I didn't expect Lafayette to treat people so kindly.Yin'er nodded again and again, and said with emotion: "You don't believe me, although I have never seen Lafayette, I don't know why, when I saw her old man, it seemed that I had seen her a few years ago, with that kind and kind look, I am very familiar with you." Think about it. This is probably the fate of the previous life. Can't tell.Yin'er wanted to say that Lafayette looked a little like her grandmother, but she didn't dare to say it out of fear of violating the palace rules.She glanced at Ping'er, feeling very happy, thinking that he had been here for more than a year, and she had only seen the Queen Mother a few times from a distance.It has only been four months since I entered the palace, not only did I see Lafayette in person, but I also talked to the old man face to face, this is a great blessing!I don't know why, once the mysterious veil was removed, on the one hand, I felt a sense of intimacy, and on the other hand, I felt an indescribable sense of loss. Could it be that this ordinary old lady is the mighty emperor of the Qing Dynasty? The queen mother, the supreme figure on the throne of power in the Forbidden City? The easterly sun shone on the window paper, making the whole room yellow. Xiuzi sat on the edge of the kang in the lower room, and said to Yin'er with a straight face, "Remember, offering cigarettes to Lafayette is not an ordinary job, but dealing with God of Fire, so be careful. From now on, treat it as if you are real." By Lafayette's side, every move should not be sloppy.Waiting for Lafayette to smoke, the palace called it a respectful cigarette.Today she is going to formally teach Yin'er how to respect cigarettes. In order to let her be in the real scene, Xiuzi pretends to be the queen mother, and asks Yin'er to set up the cigarettes and light the fire for her, and wait for her to smoke. aunt!knew.Yin'er quickly responded, she knew that Xiuzi would soon be in the palace for eight years, and she had to take herself out of the teacher before she left. Knowing that, why are you still staring blankly!Xiuzi glanced at Yin'er. Yin'er quickly took a copper pipe, and filled the pipe with raw yellow shredded tobacco.There are two smoke pots, which are used alternately on the cigarette pouch.She packed the shredded tobacco, put the snuff bottle in the pouch, touched the fire with a flint, lit the paper medium, half knelt on the ground, held the snuff pot with her hands and handed it to Xiuzi. The long pipe on the hookah was right next to Xiuzi's chin.Xiuzi bit the pipe with her mouth, and smoked lightly when Yin'er lit the fire. With the sound of water in the pipe, puffs of smoke came out around her chin.Obviously she was quite satisfied with Yin'er's technique. Xiuzi took the hookah from Yin'er, took a few more puffs, and asked Yin'er to get up. What are you doing kneeling? It's not really serving Lafayette.Under normal circumstances, Lafayette does not necessarily require you to kneel on the ground and offer cigarettes.In order to let you practice your real skills, I let you learn it on your knees, and then it is much easier for you to stand up and offer cigarettes. Aunt, would you like me to pack another pot of cigarettes for you?Yin'er asked flatteringly. Xiuzi hesitated for a moment, then handed the hookah to Yin'er, asking her to fill another pot of shredded tobacco.While smoking, Xiuzi told Yin'er patiently: "The paper matchmaker is very particular about lighting cigarettes. If you rub it too tightly, the flame will be stuffy and it will not be easy to ignite."On the contrary, it is loose and easy to fly sparks.The queen mother likes to smoke shredded tobacco from the south, which is called Qingtiaoer in the palace. This kind of shredded tobacco can neither be wet nor dry.Easy to extinguish when wet, choking when dry.How do you know if the shredded tobacco is dry or wet?It mainly relies on eyes to see colors and nose to smell. Most people can't tell the difference, but you must be able to tell the difference, otherwise it will be troublesome. If you want to practice this kind of ability, you can only rely on your daily attention, not a day or two. Probably did not expect that there is so much knowledge in this small pouch of cigarettes, right? In short, if you haven't mastered your skills, don't be in a hurry to offer cigarettes to Lafayette. It's not like you kicking shuttlecocks.Xiuzi talked a lot, and finally told Yin'er earnestly. Yin'er listened carefully, she really didn't expect that there is so much knowledge in this little bag of cigarettes.Through the clouds of smoke blowing out from Xiuzi's mouth, Yin'er noticed a faint sadness between her brows, as if she was very worried.It was said that Xiuzi didn't seem to want to leave Chuxiu Palace.Yin'er didn't understand, even if she had been here for a long time and was the maid of honor next to Lafayette, no matter how good it was here, it couldn't compare to outside the palace.Think about it, no matter how good it is to be here, you are just a slave of your master, like a dog or a cat in a cage isolated from the world.On the contrary, outside the palace, you can not only be with your relatives and friends at home, but also go wherever you want freely, without having to look at the face of the master, there will not be so many rules, and you will not even be able to marry the man you love ah! It would be great if I could be released from the palace soon like her!When she thought of Rong Qing outside the palace, and thought of being able to live with him and Meimei, her heart was in a mess.She couldn't understand that there were still some people who refused to leave here for their slaves. Xiuzi must have other unspeakable secrets, so she didn't want to leave here.After thinking about it, Yin'er couldn't think of any reason to make a court lady willingly stay in this austere palace until she dies of old age. Today, Xiuzi is very kind to Yin'er, she is not as sullen as usual, she explained everything about smoking in honor of Lafayette in a soft voice, as if she was going to leave here tomorrow.The two of them have been together for almost five months. Although Xiuzi is usually very harsh and vicious towards her, she remains calm when she encounters big problems, just like when she bumped into the tea room and scolded her viciously in her face, but later concealed it from her. Don't worry about others, otherwise she will have to move her head just for this one.And when her family members came to visit relatives, instead of stopping her, my aunt personally combed her hair and made her wear appropriate clothes. In short, she couldn't figure out Aunt Xiuzi's temperament, saying that she was not good to herself, Say she treats herself badly, why does she tolerate her on some crucial issues. Xiuzi was smoking, and the room was quiet. Neither of them spoke. After a while, Xiuzi finally finished smoking. She put down her cigarette pouch, glanced at Yin'er who was silent and asked: Thinking about something? No, I didn't think about it, I didn't think about anything Yin'er avoided the other party's eyes, knowing that Xiuzi didn't want to smoke anymore, she just asked the other party if she wanted to fill another bag of cigarettes for her. No.Xiuzi shook her head. Aunt, Yin'er stood uncomfortably for a while.She is instinctively afraid of being alone with each other, especially when there is nothing specific, can I go? go.Xiuzi waved his hand.Yin'er bowed to her, turned around and walked out the door.When she came to the door and was about to lift the curtain, Xiuzi stopped her.Yin'er stopped timidly, turned around and walked to the edge of the kang, staring at the pattern on her shoe.She was about to ask, "What's the matter with my aunt calling me?"Before the words came out, Xiuzi suddenly whispered something incongruous. Miss Yin, do you hate me? No, no, no, Yin'er froze there for a moment, her tongue twirling in her mouth, and it took a long time to make a trembling voice, no, no aunt was always for my own good Yiner!Xiuzi interrupted the other party, you don’t tell the truth, when I first entered the palace, I also worshiped my aunt, learned how to do things from her, learned the rules in the palace, tried to please her, but hated her in my heart, I always felt that she was embarrassed everywhere I am picky, as long as I am not pleasing to the eye, I am either beaten with a duster, or made to kneel for a long time. In summer, the clothes are thin, and sometimes even the top of my knees bleeds. aunt!I really don't hate you!Yin'er looked at Xiuzi in bewilderment, not knowing what she meant by these words. To tell you the truth, I don't care whether I hate it or not!You and I can meet each other in this world and serve Lafayette together. It is the fate of the previous life, and it is fate. Let me tell you, in the palace, you and I are the cats and dogs of the master. You just think about what you should do to the master, and you will never Don't think about what to do with yourself, just forget about yourself.yes!Yin'er stood there and nodded repeatedly, feeling strange in her heart, because since she worshiped Xiuzi as her aunt, she has never talked with her, let alone talking about slaves and masters. Maybe one day I'm gone and you're still alive, thinking of what I said to you today, maybe you can taste something!Xiuzi paused for a long time, then suddenly stood up from the edge of the kang, and walked to the window with a sad expression. Auntie, I Yin'er was stunned for a moment.She felt a certain sadness from the other party's tone, but she didn't understand what was hidden in her words.Looking at Aunt Xiuzi's thin silhouette by the window, she thought that she must have a lot of suffering hidden in her heart, and it was hard to say it if she didn't want to.She suddenly felt tenderness and wanted to stay here and talk to her.She was about to say something when Xiuzi suddenly waved her hand and said, "Go, you have nothing to do here." After leaving Xiuzi to go to the room, Yin'er was very puzzled. Along the way, Xiuzi's words before the breakup kept ringing in her ears. She didn't understand what Xiuzi meant when she left.If it refers to the matter of her going out of the palace, why did the dead and alive pop up immediately after thinking about it, she didn't know why. One afternoon, Yin'er was sitting on the edge of the kang embroidering, and this incident came to her mind again, so she told Ping'er in the same room that Xiuzi taught her how to respect cigarettes that day. Sister Ping!Tell me, what did she mean by these words? Ping'er was silent for a long time after listening.Yin'er asked her repeatedly, and she shook her head and said she didn't know.Ping'er said this on his lips, but he was savoring the meaning of Aunt Xiu's words in his heart.She heard some rumors that both Aunt Xiu's parents had died, and Lafayette made the decision for her, planning to marry her to a certain prince's son as his wife.It stands to reason that this is something that everyone envies, but Aunt Xiu seems to disapprove of it, and said this kind of thing to Yin'er in private, and there is obviously some hidden meaning behind the words. I think she is very preoccupied and seems unwilling to leave Chuxiu Palace.Yin'er said. That won't work.This is the rule left by the ancestors. Generally, a court lady has to be released from the palace after seven years of service. It is said that she has been here for eight years.In fact, she had heard about Xiuzi a long time ago, but she never dared to tell Yin'er, fearing that she would accidentally slip up and cause trouble. Yin'er wanted to say something, but seeing Ping'er's serious face, she seemed unwilling to talk about Xiuzi.After staying in the palace for a while, she didn't learn much about other skills, but judging by the person's expression, she has improved a lot. When she saw the other person's expression, Yin'er no longer mentioned Xiuzi's matter. The two of them were embroidering the upper flowers in their hands, and neither of them spoke.Embroidery is a must-do job for court ladies in their spare time.The center of the palace is quiet, and there are many designs and colors in the palace, so the designs and colors embroidered by the maids of the palace are called unique, and later spread outside the palace, and many rich people are willing to pay a lot of money to buy them.Especially since the foreigners invaded the capital in the tenth year of Xianfeng, set fire to the Old Summer Palace, and the imperial court paid countless taels of silver to the foreigners, the money spent in the palace was much tighter than before. They embroidered flowers and sold them outside as a subsidy for the palace expenses.Chuxiu Palace is the residence of Lafayette, so I don’t care how much money it costs, and there is no such thing as being tight, so the uppers embroidered by the court ladies are all embroidered for themselves, and there are strict regulations and particularities on dressing in the palace all year round. Don't dare to be too eye-catching, so as not to be too ostentatious, so everyone competes on the upper pattern to see whose pattern is newer and more beautiful, so no one of the court ladies is sloppy. The two of them were embroidering, when there was a sudden noise outside the door, and then a court lady named Liu Ye'er opened the door curtain, ran in with a panicked face, said to Ping'er and Yin'er nervously, "It's not good, Aunt Xiu problem occurs! What happened?Yin'er was startled, her hands trembled, the needle point immediately pierced her flesh, the pain caused her to stand up from the edge of the kang with her fingers clenched tightly. have no idea.Liu Ye'er shook her head, saying that a few eunuchs had entered Aunt Xiu's servants accompanied by Aunt Liu, and they all had serious faces.When she said this, Yin'er remembered that Xiuzi hadn't shown up for several days in a row. She had visited her before, and she slept with the door closed and didn't let her in. I gonna go see.Yin'er put on her vest and went out of the room.Ping'er and Liu Ye'er also followed her, walking all the way to the backyard. Yin'er and the others walked into the backyard, only to see several eunuchs carrying a stretcher, coming out of the west side hall.The little eunuch Wang Huihui followed behind with a flustered expression.Yin'er immediately recognized Xiuzi lying on the stretcher.She was wrapped in a quilt, with her head exposed, and Yin'er hurriedly stepped forward, only to see Aunt Xiuzi's face was sallow, her eyes were tightly closed, and she fell asleep unconsciously. Seeing this scene, Yin'er's head thumped, her heart rose to her throat, and she immediately remembered the first day she entered the palace, when she saw the dying Qian'er being carried on a stretcher.She didn't care too much, and stretched out her hand to grab Wang Huihui who was walking behind the stretcher: Brother Hui, what's wrong with Auntie. Xiao Huihui hurriedly winked at Yin'er, clearly telling her not to ask any more questions. back brother!Yin'er chased Wang back unwillingly, wanting to find out what happened, but Ping'er stepped forward and dragged her back. Stop for me, I told you earlier that if you shouldn't know here, you should be blind, and if you shouldn't hear, you should be deaf.Ping'er's face was livid, and he yelled at Yin'er excitedly, and hurried back to the house. Yin'er watched the eunuchs carry the stretcher out of the side door, and then followed Ping'er back to the servant's room. After Xiuzi was carried away, there was no news of her for several days.Some people said that she had a strange disease and was admitted to the imperial hospital; some said that she violated the rules of the palace and was locked up in an empty room;There are different opinions surrounding Xiuzi, each has its own theory, what's going on, not to mention Yin'er and Ping'er and other little palace ladies, even Aunt Liu who is in charge of the matter doesn't know the details. Yin'er sat cross-legged at the kang table, carefully wiped the hookah for Lafayette, and then rubbed the paper matchstick with toilet paper according to the method Xiuzi taught her. At the same time, she was thinking of Aunt Xiu, and a loss appeared in her mind I wonder what happened to Aunt Xiu?Where are people now?What happened? After Xiuzi's accident, Aunt Liu asked someone to take the small wooden box used by the aunt to respect cigarettes from Xiuzi's house, and sent it to Yin'er, obviously to let her take over Xiuzi's shift, that is to say, Xiuzi will never come back Waiting for Lafayette, looking at the wooden box containing fire paper, flint, shredded tobacco and copper bars, cigarette pouches and other items, all of which were used by Aunt Xiuzi, seeing things and thinking about others, she couldn't help thinking of Aunt Xiu again. Ping'er raised the door curtain and walked in quietly. She saw Yin'er holding the small wooden box in a daze, and she didn't even notice that she entered the room, so she couldn't help sighing.I thought that this girl was too honest, Aunt Xiu treated her badly enough, but instead of holding grudges against her, she worried about her all day long. Standing by the door, Ping'er coughed lightly on purpose. Sister Ping!When Yin'er heard the noise, she hurriedly raised her face and smiled at Ping'er. What's on your mind again? Nothing, Yin'er hastily denied it, lowered her head and continued to organize the small wooden box. Ping'er got down on the edge of the kang opposite her kang.She heard something about Aunt Xiu today and wanted to tell her, but seeing her lowering her head intently, she held back her desire to speak.After a while, the two raised their heads at the same time, and their eyes just met.Yin'er was just about to open her mouth to talk to Ping'er, but she held back when the words came to her lips, she was afraid that the other party would laugh at her for being too wordy. What were you trying to say just now?Ping'er saw the other party's mind and asked her after her. It's nothing I know, I want to talk about Aunt Xiu, right? Yin'er nodded. Then tell me. These days, whenever Yin'er mentioned about Xiuzi, Ping'er always stopped her from talking about it, but today the other party asked her to talk about it. In fact, Yin'er herself didn't know what to say to Ping'er. It seemed that she only wanted to talk about Xiuzi. It doesn't really matter what you say. Do you think it's strange, thinking of Aunt Xiu on weekdays, hating her and being afraid of her in my heart, but something happened to her, I couldn't see her face or hear her voice for a few days, and I felt an indescribable emptiness in my heart.Yin'er hesitated for a while, and finally said what she didn't want to say. This is life cheap!Usually people are used to yelling, but no one cares about you, but you feel uncomfortable.Ping'er said with a smile. Sister Ping!Do you think Aunt Xiu is still alive? Don't talk nonsense, how can you just leave when you are young?Ping'er hesitated for a moment, and finally said the news she had just heard in a very low voice, that she was not seriously ill.I heard people say that she didn't eat or drink for several days, as if she was thinking about that No way, she is the favored person by Lafayette's side, how could she have such an idea?Even though Ping'er didn't say the last word, Yin'er immediately understood that this is a special ability that court ladies usually practice, and they can understand everything after half listening, just like looking at a person's face, knowing that the other party is going to pull him down before he pulls his face down. face off.The reason why she said no is because she wanted the other party to continue talking. This was not a denial, but an encouragement instead. I think so.But I didn't see her lying on the stretcher that day, her face was as yellow as straw paper, without a trace of blood.Ping'er still spoke in an uncertain tone.In the palace, slaves like them can't be sure about even the most accurate things, because the real power of affirmation is in the hands of the masters, and only they can decide everything, including the life and death of the slaves. It would be a pity if this really happened. She has been in the palace for eight years, and she is about to be released from the palace. How could such a thing happen?Yin'er said this, but she already knew in her heart that even though Aunt Xiu was favored by the old lady, it must be the end of the game, otherwise, could Aunt Liu take the utensils for offering cigarettes from her room and give them to herself? Yin'er was still about to say something, but when she heard footsteps in the corridor, she hurriedly swallowed the words that came to her lips.Ping'er also quickly picked up a piece of fire paper, imitating Yin'er's way of rubbing the paper media.Footsteps walked past the window and stopped by the door for a while, then Aunt Liu, who was in charge, raised the curtain and walked in. Seeing Aunt Liu, Miss Yin'er and Heping hurriedly got off the kang, and while calling for Aunt Liu, she stood there respectfully. Aunt Liu glanced at them: Are you rubbing paper? Yes, Miss Ping helped me rub together.Yin'er nodded. Yin'er, from tomorrow onwards, you will offer cigarettes to Lafayette. aunt!Yin'er was stunned for a moment, it seemed that her worry had been confirmed, Aunt Xiuzi would disappear from Chuxiu Palace from now on. What's the matter?This is a blessing that no one else can imagine! I'm afraid I'm not skilled enough.This is also the way of speaking in the palace, she didn't dare to say no, she only dared to say that she was afraid of not doing well, I'm sorry master, Aunt Liu's face darkened when she heard this. Then wait carefully, to tell you the truth, this is Lafayette asking you to go by name, if something happens, you must be skinned.After Aunt Liu finished speaking, she turned and left. aunt!You go slowly!Yin'er and Heping'er sent each other out of the door at the same time. Why did Aunt Liu, who has always been friendly, suddenly change her face?Yin'er stared at her aunt's back in horror.It seems that everyone here has two faces, including Ping'er, and of course herself, because without two faces, you can't survive here.Just like at this moment, no matter how unhappy she is in her heart, she has to pretend to be happy on her face, respectfully send away the aunt in charge, and think of Aunt Xiu's face from Aunt Liu's face, although Aunt Xiu's face The face changes at any time, sometimes making you elusive, but it seems more real than the faces around you that rarely change. In late autumn, the noon sun is lazily crawling on the south-facing window sill of the Imperial Tea House.It was the time when Lafayette was taking a nap, Chuxiu Palace was eerily quiet inside and out, not a single movement could be heard.Holding a hookah in his hand, Zhang Deshun sat on a bench against the wall by the door and dozed off. His moving auricles had miraculous hearing, just as his nose had a special sense of smell.In this awe-inspiring silence, he could not only smell the scent of sunlight, but even feel the sound of sunlight crawling on the window sill, and he lowered his loose eyelids in peace in this sound. Zhang Deshun was nicknamed Chashuizhang, which is naturally inseparable from the fact that he boiled water and made soup for Lafayette in Chuxiu Palace.He is 41 years old this year, entered the palace at the age of 18, and has been in the palace for 23 years now.When he first entered the palace, Emperor Tongzhi had not yet passed away, so he was doing odd jobs in the palace.Later, when Tongzhi died of illness, Emperor Guangxu entered the palace. At that time, the emperor had just turned six years old. He was assigned to work next to the little emperor and became a meal eunuch in the palace. Later, he served the queen and other young masters until Li Lianying became The head of the inner court transferred him to Chuxiu Palace, where he stayed for more than ten years.Cixi likes him because he can cook good soup, and he has a simple and honest nature and never makes trouble.The eunuchs and maids in the palace respected him because he was kind-hearted and easy-going. Those of his generation, like Li Lianying, admired him because he was as calm as water, and he never asked for merit or favor, let alone the slightest ambition to climb up. From nowhere came a fly, buzzing around his head.The fly flew around a few times and finally landed on the tip of his nose. He felt itchy and wrinkled his nose, trying to drive the fly away.Flies crawled on the tip of his nose without paying attention.He half-closed his eyes, and waved his hands to drive away the nasty little flying insects.After a while, the fly landed on the tip of his nose again.He became angry, gently put down the cigarette pouch in his hand, raised his arm carefully, exerted a sudden force, and grabbed the annoying little creature. He pinched the fly in his hand and listened to it proudly for a while, then walked to the stove, intending to throw the fly into the fire.For some reason, he suddenly changed his mind, lifted the bamboo curtain on the door, walked outside, stretched out his palm and let the fly go. The flies flew away.He still stood where he was, staring at the sky in a daze. Yin'er quietly walked behind Chashuizhang, saw him staring at the air in a daze, and called softly: Uncle Zhang! Yin girl!Cha Shui Zhang hurriedly turned his face away, what's the matter? Uncle Zhang!I bring you something.Yin'er raised the birdcage in her hand. thrush.Cha Shui Zhang took the birdcage, stared at the lively thrush inside, staring with joy on his face, where did he get it? Sent by family.You always stay alone in the tea room, except for serving Lafayette, you have no one to talk to on weekdays, so you are specially sent here to be your companion.A few days ago, my mother came to visit her, fearing that she would be lonely in the palace, so she specially brought this cute little bird for her to play with, and remembered how Uncle Zhang usually took care of her, especially when she ran into the tea room, Xiuzi He decided to give the bird to him because of his kindness to save the situation. In addition, she knew that Uncle Zhang was an old man in the palace. He had been here for a long time, was very popular, and knew a lot of things, so she also wanted to take the opportunity to find out about Aunt Xiu. . Before Yin'er's words could fall to the ground, the thrush in the cage suddenly yelled happily, and the melodious cry brought Cha Shuizhang back to his childhood.He seems to have gone back to the past again, in the woods in the countryside, he played with the neighbor's children, went to the tree to dig bird eggs, and picked wild fruits together.The memories that had been dusty for many years were suddenly opened. If it wasn't for the little bird in the cage, he almost forgot that he also had a very vivid childhood. interesting!really interesting.Cha Shuizhang looked at the birdcage in his hand excitedly, and said to Yin'er with great emotion: If you talk about the treasures in the palace, there are no more treasures in the world than here, but who can hear the thrush here?I remember when I was a child in the countryside, I could often catch this thing in the woods. I didn't think it at the time, but now I know it's a little treasure! Uncle Zhang, I knew you would like it, so I specially gave it to you. Miss Yin, I accept your wish.Since it was brought to you by your family, you should keep it and play with your little sisters.As he spoke, he handed the thrush to Yin'er. Uncle Zhang, you must accept it.Every time our family comes here, we come in and out thanks to your care, especially Eunuch Wu outside the city gate, who always picks up my mother at the bridge, and it is too late to find an opportunity to thank you. This is too polite.Eunuch Wu entered the palace with me. He is a brother who grew up carrying a broom together. He is on an errand, so this matter is in his charge, not helpful. Anyway, the bird is here with you!If you refuse to accept it, I will have to kneel down and kowtow to you.Yin'er really wanted to kneel down after she finished speaking. Can't make it, can't make it.Cha Shui Zhang hurriedly stopped the other party and said, I accept it, I accept it. He hung the birdcage in his hand on the corridor outside the door, and expressed his thanks repeatedly. Yin'er kept saying no thanks, standing there wanting to find out about Xiuzi, but the words were on his lips, not knowing how to start.Cha Shui Zhang seemed to see her thoughts, so he took the initiative to ask if there was anything else?Yin'er hesitated again and again, and finally brought up the matter of Xiuzi. After hearing this, Cha Shuizhang was silent for a long time.Yin'er saw that the other party was in trouble, and wanted to leave, but she was unwilling to leave just like that. Yin girl!Don't inquire about this matter.He remembered that day Yin'er came to the tea room to ask for hot water, Xiuzi's face was arrogant, he didn't expect that she still cared about Xiuzi like this, it was really rare. Uncle Zhang, I know this, I'm just worried about her health, I'm afraid she won't be able to bear it Alas, this is life! Yin'er knew that there would be no results if she continued to ask, so she had to leave with doubts.After Yin'er left, Cha Shuizhang stood under the corridor and looked at the thrush in the birdcage.Thrush seemed to know what was on his mind, so she flapped her wings and screamed.The old eunuch looked at the lively little creature, his eye sockets were wet, and he couldn't tell what it was like.In fact, not only did he know about Xiuzi, but he also persuaded Li Lianying, but unfortunately it was too late. Half a month ago, Cixi just got up after taking a nap. He hurried to the quiet room to serve tea. After passing through the warm water in the pot once, and then brewing it twice with the boiling water in the big pot, the bowl was covered and stuffy for a while, and then it was delivered on a tray to the coffee table next to Cixi. That day Xiuzi served Cixi after smoking two bags of cigarettes. Seeing that he wanted to serve tea, she kowtowed to Cixi three times on the ground and said: Lafayette!The slave is gone!秀子眼圈紅紅的，一步步退著走出起居室。慈禧若有所思地望著她的背影，臉上浮出一絲淡淡的惆悵。 老佛爺請用茶。茶水章掀起碗蓋，恭敬地跪在地下，將托盤遞到慈禧手邊。 慈禧這才回過神，拿起碗蓋，抿了一口，對茶水章說：起來吧。 謝老佛爺！茶水章站起，雙手垂在身邊。 慈禧又喝了一口，突然問章德順：你覺得秀子怎麼樣？ 茶水章不知她什麼意思，猶豫片刻：人聰明，也勤快，心地也好。 慈禧笑笑：章德順！你嘴巴裡，我從沒聽你說過誰人有什麼毛病。 茶水章慌忙說：老佛爺！奴才嘴笨，眼耳也笨，總覺得別人處處比奴才強。 秀子很快要出嫁了。 Yeah?他故作驚訝，其實他已經從李蓮英那兒知道老太后將秀子賜給瑞王府家的七公子，而且這位七公子天生的癡呆。 早在三個月前，我就把她賜給了瑞王家的兒子。 那是秀子的福氣啊！他嘴上這麼說，心裡不由得可憐起秀子，正如人常說的，一朵鮮花插在牛糞上。 聽說瑞王這個兒子沒多大出息。慈禧從椅子上站起，心煩意亂地走來走去，這個小李子也夠混帳的，事先也不問問清楚。 茶水章低著頭，沒敢再出聲。他心裡非常清楚，李總管那麼精明，能不知道瑞王兒子是個殘廢人。他大內廷總管，另一個是朝廷大臣，王爺需要他從中幫忙，他也想利用王爺的勢力，互相利用而已，沒想到秀子不知從哪兒知道了小七王爺的事，躺在床上不吃不喝，想以死抗命，這下惹怒了慈禧，一道懿旨，將秀子打入空房。 吟兒走後，茶水章正出神地想著有關秀子的事，小回回跑來提醒他給老佛爺上茶。他慌忙準備好茶具，向慈禧起居的正殿走去。 茶水章挑起靜室的門簾走進，見慈禧神色凝重地站在紅木長案上的觀音玉佛前，立即意識到老佛爺心裡有事。只有碰上重大變故，或是非常不順心的難題，慈禧才會獨自一人躲在這間靜室裡苦苦思索。一般情況下，這兒是不讓奴才進來的，平時無論敬煙，上茶，都在東西側殿的起居室。 想到這兒，茶水章更加小心翼翼，先在茶几上放好茶具，然後跪在地下，雙手捧著托盤，將剛剛燉好的銀耳湯遞到慈禧面前：老佛爺吉祥！奴才給老佛爺請湯！ 慈禧拿起托盤上的銀耳湯，抿了一口便放下，轉身走回觀音菩薩像前，竭力使自己的心神穩下來，因為她必須作出一個非常重要的決定。 回想這些年來，無論國事家事天下事，幾乎沒有一樣順心。洋人不說了，朝廷內冒出個姓康的酸秀才，和一班吃飽飯沒事做的讀書人，聯名上書皇上，要搞什麼新政。沒想到皇上耳根子軟，居然想重用這些人，也不跟她商量，便將康有為調入工部。不像話，大不像話！真要是這麼鬧下去還了得，祖宗打下的江山還要不要了？朝廷的事本來已經攪得她非常煩心，這還不算，偏偏自己後院也起火了。她不過將秀子賜婚給瑞王的七公子，偏偏秀子一個小小宮女，竟敢以死抗命，這在過去是不可能的，再這樣下去那還了得！ 她想拿秀子開刀，畢竟她跟自己八年，又狠不下心，但為了儲秀宮的聲譽，為了她說一不二的威嚴，她又不得不這樣做，因此越想越犯難。本來她既不想喝湯也不想喝茶，只是想找個人說話，於是便傳茶水章來伺候她。 章德順！她看一眼跪在地下的茶水章。 Minions are here.茶水章跪在地下應道。 知道你在。慈禧不高興地說：所以才問你話。 茶水章被她這一說更不知說什麼好。因為她什麼也沒問，他就算是她肚子裡的蛔蟲，知道她想說什麼，但她還沒說出口，猜中了也不敢亂說啊。 老佛爺！奴才該死，奴才天生的耳背，沒聽清老佛爺的話明知對方沒說出她要問什麼，卻不得不先請罪。 慈禧本想發脾氣，轉念一想，她是想問他話，但還沒有說出口，不由得苦笑起來，擺擺手對茶水章說：起來吧。誰還讓你跪著。 謝老佛爺！茶水章爬起來，垂著雙手站在一旁。 你說說，秀子的事該怎麼樣辦？ 老佛爺！這還用得著說，宮裡上上下下，誰不知道她是您身邊的姑娘，她自小沒了爸媽，她能伺候您可是她的福分啊！ That's it.慈禧憤憤地咬著牙根，我為了她前程，將她許配給瑞王家的七公子，她非但不領情，竟然敢不吃不喝，想以死抗命！我在宮中四十多年，可從沒遇過這種晦氣的事兒，你說她該不該死？ 老太后一言九鼎，聽慈禧說到秀子該死，這可不是鬧著玩的，茶水章頓時嚇得趴在地下不停地磕頭。 我問你話，沒讓你磕頭。 奴才嘴笨，不敢亂說，他抬起那張清瘦的臉，揚起額頭下淡淡的眉毛，眼神裡隱含著某種企盼。 你嘴笨心不笨。你說，說錯了也沒事兒。往常她決心要辦的事，從不想聽別人意見，這次不知為什麼，她想聽聽身邊人，特別像茶水章這樣親和厚道的人怎麼想的。 依奴才看，秀子是真心愛戴老佛爺，捨不得離開這兒，才幹出這種大不敬的事兒。將心比心，奴才跟著老佛爺十多年，要是讓奴才離開您，奴才也不知該怎麼著？所以他知道此刻每一句話都跟人命有關聯，因此出言更加謹慎，既要幫秀子說話，聽上去更要像幫慈禧說話才行。 說呀，所以怎麼著？ 老佛爺！秀子有錯，對不起老佛爺，只是老佛爺已經將她賜給瑞王府，要是這事兒傳出去 Easy to handle.就說她病死了，再選個有頭有臉的宮女賜給瑞王府就成了。慈禧沉下臉，不以為然地冷笑一聲。說到這兒她頓了一會兒，突然想起那個踢毽子踢得非常好的小宮女，脫口問道，那踢毽子的宮女怎麼樣？對了，她叫吟兒，就讓她頂秀子的名份嫁到瑞王府！ 聽慈禧說要讓吟兒頂秀子的名份，茶水章心裡大吃一驚，這不僅意味著秀子姑娘必死無疑，吟兒也將從此送進火坑，想到這兒，他心裡亂得不行，特別吟兒，這姑娘不僅模樣長得好，心地更好，剛才她還在茶水房擔心秀子的事，想從他這兒套話，要是連她也栽進去，鬧不好那又是一條人命啊！ Why are not you talking?慈禧見他趴在地下，茶水章抬起頭，一連給自己幾個耳光，然後趴在地下說道：老佛爺一定要奴才說，我只得先打自己耳光子，說錯了老佛爺千萬寬容奴才！ 快說吧，免你無罪。 老佛爺聖明！奴才以為，儲秀宮的名聲在外，宮中上上下下無論什麼人都知道這兒的威嚴，更知道在老佛爺跟前當差是極光彩的事兒。所以奴才以為秀子的事，最好別讓外面人知道，更不能因為秀子一念之差壞了儲秀宮的名聲啊！對於宮中的事，無論大小，茶水章平日從不在慈禧和其他人面前流露自己的態度。現在為了秀子的人命，同時也算為了吟兒，再也顧不得許多。 他說了這一番話，慈禧竟然愣了片刻，沒想到他有這樣的膽子，這可不像平日的茶水章。 bold!你想替秀子說情？慈禧沉下臉，猛然喝道。 The slaves dare not, the slaves dare not!奴才不是這個意思，奴才只是替老佛爺著想，儲秀宮是皇城中天字第一號的地兒，秀子縱然該死，也絕不能讓她壞了儲秀宮的聲威啊！茶水章心中一沉，心想今兒非但幫不了秀子和吟兒，反倒會因此激怒慈禧，真要那樣他也沒有辦法，這都是命。 慈禧聽後半天不語，最後無奈地回到茶几邊坐下，端起銀耳湯。茶水章慌忙說湯涼了，要替她換一碗。慈禧不聽，一口氣將碗裡的湯水喝乾了。因為喝得急，嗆了幾下。茶水章磕頭請罪，一邊說自己該死，一邊遞上半溫的茶水。 慈禧喝了茶，止住了咳，瞅著趴在地下的茶水章半天不說話。一方面她覺得茶水章的話確實有道理，另一方面她覺得自己老了，缺少當年的決斷，連這種小事也變得猶疑不決。她似乎有些後悔，不該硬逼對方說。儘管對方是個奴才，既然他說得有道理，按理說就該聽，礙著皇家的威嚴，她又不能聽，兩難之間，她目光突然落在案邊那隻銅煙袋上，眼前不自覺地浮起秀子那張臉，心中不由一動。她沉默了一會兒，走到觀音玉佛前雙手合掌靜默片刻，然後順手抓起案桌上一枚銅錢往空中拋去。只見銅錢在空中劃過一道弧線，發出一聲脆響落在案几的桌腿邊。 你去看看，那錢兒要是正出朝上，就饒了秀子。要是背面朝上，那就不好說了，這是天意！慈禧有意背過身，讓茶水章上前看個究竟。 茶水章巍巍顫顫一路向案桌邊爬去，心想一枚小小銅錢，這一瞬間將決定二條人命，相比之下，他們這些當奴才的多麼不值錢啊！他終於爬到桌腿下，瞅著地下那枚銅錢半天不說話，一股熱流頓時湧上眼窩