Chapter 16 Chapter 16 Convertible Cars Before the Century
In order to make Cixi happy, Guangxu transferred the four-wheeled foreign car that Yuan Shikai paid tribute to her, and specially asked Cha Shuizhang and Rong Qing to accompany Yuan Shikai to the Summer Palace to meet the empress dowager who was unwilling to be lonely.Chashuizhang asked Yuan Shikai and Rong Qing who came to escort the car to stay in the guard room on the side of the east gate, and he first took Guangxu's post to visit the Lafayette in Le Shou Hall.
Cixi took a nap and was drinking tea and smoking in the side hall of Le Shoutang. Hearing that the tea chapter had arrived, she quickly asked Li Lianying to pass him into the hall.
Li Lianying raised the curtain and walked outside the door. Seeing Cha Shuizhang standing under the pillars on one side of the hall, she waved to him and said, Lafayette let you in.Cha Shuizhang walked to the door and was about to enter. Li Lianying gave him a meaningful look, which clearly reminded him that the old man has something to ask you.
Two young eunuchs lifted the curtain to let Cha Shuizhang in.Seeing Cixi smoking, Cha Shuizhang quickly knelt down and kowtowed: Lafayette!The slave tea chapter invites you to Wanan.
Get up, get up!Cixi waved her sleeves happily, and lowered her head to look at the maid who was offering cigarettes for her.The maid put away the smoking set and left quietly.As soon as the palace maid left, Cixi told Tea Zhang that she hadn't been able to drink the tea he made for a long time, and even the food was not delicious.
Then let the slave come back, so that the slave can serve Lafayette, and it will be delicious even if he doesn't eat.Cha Shui Zhang bowed his head and said respectfully.
Zhang Deshun!When did you learn to talk like him too?Cixi pointed at Li Lianying and said half-jokingly and half-seriously, Chashuizhang saw that Cixi was in a good mood, and wanted to imitate Li Lianying and buy a good deal in front of her, but he didn't expect that the other party would not follow his tricks and choked him there.
Lafayette!After staying by your side for a long time, the dumb can speak, not to mention that Zhang Deshun is neither stupid nor dumb.It's just that he didn't realize that he was by your side all the time in the past, and this separation immediately became apparent.Li Lianying was used to being teased by Cixi, and she had long been used to it, so she took her word for it in a leisurely manner and smoothed things over for Chashuizhang with such compliments.
If you don't speak, no one will think you are dumb.Cixi smiled, turned to ask Chashuizhang, let me ask you, were you by the emperor's side the day the guard Rong had an accident?
Twelve hours a day, never leave the sky.Cha Shui Zhang said cautiously.
I heard that the emperor summoned Yuan Shikai that day, are you there?
The slave is here, it is the imperial decree passed down by the slave.
What did Yuan Shikai say to the emperor?
Going back to Lafayette, the servant led Master Yuan into the palace and left.
What are you doing?Cixi asked.
The servant sent tea to Master Zhen.Cha Shui Zhang was taken aback.
Hey!You can't deliver it at any time, but at that time?Li Lianying was afraid that the tea chapter would not be able to withstand Cixi's shrewdness, so she asked Cixi for her before she could speak.
Steward!How do I know when I can deliver and when I can't?
Zhang Deshun!Let me ask you, Li Lianying pretended to be unhappy: why did you go to the emperor's side?
Serve the emperor.
Why are you pretending to be stupid?Li Lianying lowered her face.Cha Shuizhang naturally understood what he meant, and deliberately lowered his head to show fear.The two of them asked and answered, Cixi was very upset on the side, thinking that Li Lianying shouldn't be interrogating her, let alone taking advantage of her prestige to bully the honest Cha Shui Zhang.
Hey, I'm still here!Cixi glared at Li Lianying.
Slaves be damned!Li Lianying hurriedly bowed her head respectfully.
Zhang Deshun!It's not like you don't know that the emperor is weak.I feel sorry for the emperor, so I asked so carefully.If you think about it, it takes so much effort to start one.Are you tired?If you are the chief eunuch, you should remind him.Even if you are scolded, you have to say what you have to say, who made you eat this kind of food and be this kind of job?Cixi has always had this ability to say the meaning, but not let you understand it all, leaving it for you to guess by yourself.
twitter!Cha Shui Zhang heard the hidden meaning in Ci Xi's words, but still pretended not to understand it, and said seriously, the slave understands, and he must say what should be said next time.If the emperor doesn't listen to the persuasion, the servant will immediately send someone to talk to Lafayette.
You go down to receive the reward.I reward you twenty taels of silver.If Cha Shuizhang hadn't worked by her side for more than ten years, if it had been someone else, Cixi would have thought he was playing tricks on her.She sighed secretly in her heart, feeling that Cha Shui Zhang was too dull.If it was said that Ping'er had played before, then he was too useless.
Cha Shui Zhang thanked Lafayette for his kindness, and withdrew all the way.As soon as he went out, Cixi's expression changed, she glanced at Li Lianying and said: "The tea chapter is the best, and he is also worthy of making tea!"Just as Li Lianying was about to say something, Cha Shuizhang called Lafayette, raised the door curtain and came back.Before Li Lianying asked him why he came back, Cha Shuizhang knelt on the ground, scolding himself for being damned, and even forgot that the emperor sent him to present a birthday present.The emperor sent Mr. Yuan to pay tribute to the four-wheeled foreign car to present the birthday of Lafayette.The car has already driven into the east side gate, waiting for Lafayette to receive him.
Foreign cars?Why haven't I heard of this foreign thing, how is it different from a carriage and a sedan chair!Cixi asked curiously.Li Lianying and Chashuizhang explained to her that the cart was quite different from the four-wheeled carriage, it was made of iron, and it didn't need to be pulled by people or animals, it could run by itself, and it ran very fast.
have to!It is rare for the emperor to have such filial piety.I have to check it out!Cixi stood up from the dragon and phoenix chair while talking, when Xiao Huihui suddenly walked in and said that King Rui was here.
Lafayette!King Rui waited to enter the hall and shouted.Go and tell King Rui to stop coming in and kowtow, and let's go and see that foreign car together.Ci Xi hurriedly said to Xiao Hui, while asking Li Lianying to inform the Empress, Concubine Jin, and the Prince's Fujin who came with her to spend the summer in the Summer Palace to watch the fun together.
When Tea Zhang heard that King Rui was here, he was very puzzled. The emperor asked him to bring Yuan Shikai here to present foreign cars, but no one knew about it except Li Lianying.Did someone tell King Rui, or is it just a coincidence?He wondered suspiciously, if someone informed King Rui, who would it be?
Rong Qing stood guard beside the foreign car covered in yellow silk outside the Dongbian Gate.
This is a convertible car built in England at the end of the last century.The driver was selected by Yuan Shikai from the new army. Before coming here, he trained under the guidance of Tianjin foreigners for half a year.Yuan Shikai learned that Emperor Guangxu had summoned him, and in order to please the emperor who was determined to reform, he specially presented this foreign car to him. Turning around the square, the more you look at it, the more novel it becomes, and you have to admire the scientific and technological progress of the western powers.
Just next month is the birthday of the emperor's father, and Guangxu decided to give her this car. He wanted the conservative emperor's father to see this amazing technological achievement with his own eyes. It was no accident that the Qing Dynasty was strong, so if you want to make the country prosperous and strong, you can't do it without implementing new policies and learning from some experiences of Western powers.In other words, Guangxu wanted to impress Cixi by sending the car, and then persuade her to support his New Deal with facts.
It was Zhenfei's idea to let Yuan Shikai enter the Summer Palace with the tribute to kowtow to Cixi.Guangxu thought it made sense.The foreign car was bought by Yuan Shikai from abroad, and it was justifiable, so he could take the opportunity of entering the Summer Palace to observe the terrain inside and outside the garden and the surrounding terrain. In case of special circumstances, he could use his troops in this area.For this reason, Guangxu specially arranged for Rongqing to escort the car and enter the garden with Yuan Shikai, so that he and Yuan Shikai could take this opportunity to get to know each other, so that he could directly contact Yuan Shikai on behalf of Guangxu when needed in the future.
Yuan Shikai was talking with King Rui in the side hall next to the east gate at the moment.The reason why King Rui came here was not a coincidence, nor was someone in the palace notifying him, but because of Prince Gong.It turned out that Yuan Shikai was an old subordinate of Prince Gong. When Yuan Shikai came to Beijing from Tianjin, Prince Gong asked Yuan Shikai to bring him a letter, asking him to visit King Rui for him after he entered Beijing, and hand the letter and gifts to King Rui.After Yuan Shikai visited Guangxu in the Hall of Mental Cultivation that night, he went to Prince Rui's Mansion that night. During the chat with the other party, King Rui learned that Yuan Shikai was coming to the Summer Palace to pay tribute to foreign cars.
King Rui had to admire Prince Gong.The other party asked Yuan Shikai to bring him an exquisite Western clock from Tianjin, in fact, he wanted to take this opportunity to deepen his relationship with Yuan Shikai.In the struggle between the Queen's Party headed by Lafayette and the Guangxu Emperor's Party over the New Deal, the new army commanded by Yuan Shikai at Tianjin Xiaozhan was a force that cannot be underestimated. After a while, knowing Prince Gong's intentions, he not only gave Yuan Shikai many valuable gifts privately, but also, as the minister of military aircraft, came to the Summer Palace on purpose today, obviously to help Yuan Shikai and make him more face.
Rong Qing, who had escaped from death, stood beside the car, looking at the wide open Kunming Lake, not interested in admiring the beauty of this royal garden, thinking about the matter between him and Yin'er in his heart.Guangxu said to the outside world that he was spared because King Rui interceded, but that was not the case at all.On that day, Cha Shui Zhang led people to loosen his hands and feet from the door panel, and sent him directly to the Supreme Hospital, where he was allowed to rest for a day. After his body recovered, he was led to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to kowtow to Guangxu to thank him.Guangxu closed the door and had a private conversation with Rong Qing.
The emperor told him that because Master Zhen interceded for him, and because he was his beloved general, even though he violated the Dafa in the palace, he still decided to spare him.He didn't want to pursue his letter, and he didn't want to find out who the woman who received the letter was, and made a promise to him on the spot that as long as he committed crimes and meritorious deeds in the future, Guangxu would refer him as a matchmaker and marry the woman he loved in his heart.Rong Qing knew very well that the emperor had no reason to joke, and the emperor's golden words, once Guangxu's words were uttered, became the supreme law.So for him, there is only one way in front of him, and he will follow Guangxu wholeheartedly, so that he will have a bright future and be able to combine with Yin'er one day!
Rong Qing was thinking about something on his mind, when Cha Shuizhang rushed to deliver a message, asking Yuan Shikai and Rong Qing to drive a car to an open space by the lake, where the Empress Dowager would watch a car show.As soon as he called out, Yuan Shikai, King Rui, the driver and others who were waiting to be interviewed immediately left.Rong Qing followed the crowd to the open space, and saw that there were already many spectators standing there, including eunuchs and court ladies, as well as many princes Fujin and Gege in splendid attire.Rong Qing searched the crowd, hoping to see Yin'er, because the queen and many concubines have come to the Summer Palace, and I heard that Concubine Zhen will also come here.As long as Master Zhen is here, Yin'er may be there too.He watched for a long time, but he couldn't see Concubine Zhen and Yin'er, and he was indescribably disappointed.
After a while, Cixi, surrounded by a guard of honor composed of court ladies and eunuchs, came from afar amidst the auspicious shouts of Lafayette from the crowd.Good luck everyone!Cixi smiled happily and waved to everyone casually.Then, accompanied by King Rui, she walked to the open car covered with yellow silk cloth in the middle of the open space.
Rong Qing, the driver and Yuan Shikai hurriedly knelt down to pay their respects.Cixi asked them to get up together, and then asked people to remove the yellow silk covering the car body with great interest, and looked curiously at the polished metal body, touching this and looking at it for a while, looking very excited.
Rong Qing had never seen Cixi before, let alone observe her so closely. If he hadn't known her age in advance, he would not have believed that Lafayette was in his sixties.It looked like she was in her early fifties at most, and her hands with long fingernails were white and plump, looking like a tender lotus root, with thin flesh like a young girl.He felt that she was not as scary as the rumors outside said at all. She was easy-going and amiable when she smiled, and she was not careless when she spoke. The good impression, is it because Yin'er used to work by her side, or is it because of other reasons.In short, he has a good impression of the emperor's adoptive mother, the current Queen Mother.
Because Cixi paid all her attention to cars, she somewhat neglected Yuan Shikai, the owner who sent cars into the Summer Palace.For this reason, King Rui specially called Yuan Shikai to Cixi's side, and solemnly introduced to her the commander of the new Beiyang army.
Yuan Shikai stepped forward and knelt down to kowtow to Cixi flattered.
Yuan Shikai, the minister's alternate servant, pays a visit to the Holy Mother Empress Dowager!
Alternate servant?That should be the second product of the dynasty?Why haven't I seen you?Cixi looked at Yuan Shikai thoughtfully, sizing him up with piercing eyes, as if she could penetrate other people's minds.
Back to the empress dowager's words, the emperor's grace, the minister who was appointed only the day before yesterday.Yuan Shikai had heard rumors about this empress dowager long ago. When he saw her for the first time, he felt a little nervous and lowered his head uneasily.King Rui hurriedly smoothed things over for him.
He brought the foreign car, just to thank Lafayette.King Rui pointed to Yuan Shikai and said.
You got this car?Cixi laughed, get up, and tell me what happened to this foreign car?
Thank you Queen Mother!Yuan Shikai got up from the ground, pointed to the car, and introduced that this car came from abroad, and it didn't need horses or people to push it.Just relying on kerosene machines, you can travel thousands of miles a day and 800 miles at night.
Is it the same thing as the dragon car?Cixi once saw a train on the railway in Fengtai, and called the train a dragon car at that time.
Empress Dowager Shengming.Now the monarchs of the great powers all use this kind of foreign car instead of transportation.Much faster and more comfortable than carriages and sedan chairs.
Instigated by Yuan Shikai, Rui Wang and others, Cixi finally agreed to get in the car and try.King Rui and Li Lianying supported Cixi and sat down in the back seat of the car.People in the open space chanted Lafayette Longevity!Cixi nodded triumphantly to the surroundings, feeling a little uncomfortable for some reason, feeling that the seat was too low and the sedan chair was not tight enough.King Rui whispered to Yuan Shikai who was standing aside: Master Yuan, let’s drive!
yes.drive!Yuan Shikai asked Rong Qing and the guards to clear the way, disperse the crowd before driving, and then ordered the driver to drive. When the driver, who was called a driver, was wearing arrow clothes and a jacket, he heard Yuan Shikai's order to drive, and immediately stepped forward to ask Cixi to kneel down. Ann, just sat in the driver's seat in the front row.
What does he do?Seeing that the driver dared to sit in front of her, Cixi pointed at the driver and shouted.
Seeing this, King Rui immediately yelled at the driver: Get off?
The driver of the car jumped out of the car in fright, knelt on the ground, and kowtowed repeatedly in front of Cixi.
Where did Gazazi come from, sitting on my head in a big way?what are you?Cixi said angrily to the driver kneeling on the ground.
Someone, take it for me.King Rui shouted sharply.
Rong Qing and the others responded, while stepping forward to grab the driver.Yuan Shikai was in a hurry, angry and funny in his heart, thinking that if the driver didn't sit in the front, it would be wrong to sit in the back.He walked to the car and explained to Cixi and King Rui that this person was the driver.The car goes or stops, goes fast or slow, goes straight or turns, it's all up to the driver, so without him the whole car is out of control.
You can't sit at the front either!The ministers and the common people shout long live, are they calling him or whom?King Rui ignored Yuan Shikai's explanation and asked him instead.
Of course it is the Empress Dowager!Yuan Shikai hurriedly replied.
Well, Cixi wanted to try the foreign car wholeheartedly, so she pondered for a moment and said to Yuan Shikai, it's nothing to reward him with a seat, just sit in the back.
Empress Dowager!Yuan Shikai said dumbfoundingly that all the machines of the foreign car were in front of the car, so the driver could only drive in front.Please let the empress dowager learn from you.
Foreigners have no father and no king, and they don't know the etiquette, so they made this kind of bastard!Cixi said dissatisfiedly that if she didn't want to experience this foreign thing, she would definitely get off the car and not ride on it.
Yuan Shikai knelt down in fright.King Rui hurriedly smoothed things over for him: Lafayette!Yuan Shilang also had good intentions.According to the servant, there is also a way.
what way?Cixi asked.
Let him drive with his knees in his head.King Rui replied.
Cixi thought for a while, and finally reluctantly agreed.Only then did Rong Qing let go of the driver.The driver climbed into the car tremblingly and knelt on the seat.Cixi sat in the back seat.King Rui volunteered to stand beside Cixi, waving to the guard of honor and asking them to play music.
Amidst the sound of drums, the car driver hurriedly pressed the pedals with his hands, then held the steering wheel, and drove the car slowly. Yuan Shikai looked at the foreign car and groaned secretly. .He wanted to tell the driver to stop, but seeing King Rui and Cixi's serious expressions, he didn't dare to stop the car, which made him stand there bewildered.
The car drove very slowly, and finally ran crookedly on the open space for more than half a circle, and then made a turn, and the car could stop at the previous starting point.Thank goodness!At last nothing happened, Yuan Shikai heaved a sigh of relief, and his tense nerves immediately relaxed a lot. Although the performance of the foreign car was not very good, the crowd was still very excited, because there was no one and no animals, and the car was able to move. This has made them look stupid.
Standing in the crowd, Rong Qing watched Cixi and King Rui sitting in the car, circling in circles in the open space, feeling indescribably curious, after watching for a while, thinking of Yin'er again, he couldn't help stretching his neck to look around again.Someone patted him on the shoulder, and he turned his head to find Little Gege Yinliu of Ruiwang's family standing behind him.
Who are you looking for?Little Gege smiled very nicely.Showing a row of neat white teeth.
No one was found.When Rong Qing saw Xiao Gege, he immediately became flustered beyond words.
That is to find someone else?Your two eyes are almost staring into the flesh!
you?when did you come hereRong Qing found it strange that King Rui didn't see her when he met Yuan Shikai, so why did she appear in the blink of an eye.
I came here a few days ago.Eunuch Zhang said that you escorted the chariot into the garden for the emperor, and I looked for you everywhere.Little Gege's dead biological mother also belonged to the Yehe family. According to her seniority, she was Cixi's distant niece. She married King Rui and passed away shortly after giving birth.With this kind of family affection, plus Xiao Gege's lively nature and open mouth, Cixi liked her very much, and every summer, she was taken to the Summer Palace as usual, where she stayed with Cixi for ten days and a half months.Little Gege stared at him with eyes full of admiration.
Are you looking for me?What are you looking for?Rong Qing avoided the other party's staring eyes.
Let's play with you.When Little Gege saw him lowering his eyebrows and touching his arm, why, you don't want me to find you?
No, I didn't mean that, Rong Qing said with a blushing face.
Just as Little Gege opened his mouth to say something, Rong Qing suddenly realized that something was wrong, and watched as the convertible car Cixi and King Rui were riding deviated from the direction and staggered towards the crowd.Panicked people screamed and scattered like birds and beasts.Rong Qing rushed towards the car in desperation, and suddenly with a bang, the out-of-control car crashed into the big elm tree beside the open space.King Rui was thrown out of the car immediately and fell to the ground.The driver kneeling on the car bumped his head against the steering wheel, and a large amount of blood oozed from his forehead. Regardless of the wound on his forehead, he climbed out of the car trembling all over, lay on the ground, and kowtowed to Cixi while yelling repeatedly: The slave is guilty!
Rong Qing hurriedly stepped forward to help King Rui up, the music stopped abruptly.The scattered crowd froze for a while, then rushed up immediately, surrounded the car that had the accident, and the open space was in chaos.
Li Lianying, Chashuizhang, Xiao Huihui and others were so frightened that their faces turned pale.They ran to the car, called Lafayette, and walked around the car in a daze, not even opening the door.Yuan Shikai, who was full of panic, originally wanted to please Cixi, but he didn't expect such a big accident. With unspeakable frustration and fear in his heart, he walked up to Cixi tremblingly and said: The minister is guilty.
Cixi sat in the back seat without changing her face, looked at the panicked people around, lowered her face, and looked at everyone majesticly: I am not doing well, why are you yelling?
The crowd was overwhelmed by Cixi's composure and composure, and the scene immediately fell silent.Cixi stood up slowly from her seat, and said to Yuan Shikai beside her: I see that foreigners' tricks are not much better!
Yuan Shikai didn't dare to speak, so he stepped forward to open the car door, and Li Lianying and Cha Shuizhang helped Cixi out of the car. King Rui patted the dust on his robe, and limped to Cixi's side: Lafayette was frightened.
fine.Cixi glanced at Rui Wang, and asked the other party, Rui Wang, did you break it?
Thank you Lafayette for your concern, the slave is fine!
It's too late!Thanks to me burning a few sticks of incense today!Cixi took a meaningful look at Yuan Shikai and asked, "Where did you buy this thing?"
According to the Empress Dowager, I bought it from England.Yuan Shikai said nervously.
How much money did it cost?
Twelve thousand taels.
so much?With twelve thousand taels of vain silver, how many good horses do you have to buy!Foreigners use these tricks. Cameras, foreign clocks, and foreign cars, I think, are all money from the Qing Dynasty, and some people are willing to be fooled by this.Cixi said this in front of Yuan Shikai, but in fact she also said it to other people such as King Rui and Chashuizhang.Yuan Shikai heard it, and naturally many people in the barracks would know that the tea badge might reach the ears of the emperor. King Rui would definitely tell those princes and ministers who opposed the new policy like him.In short, this is a signal, and it is useful for different people.Just like she was sitting motionless in the car just now, this is a gesture. In fact, her buttocks and waist are uncomfortable, but she has to pretend not to care, because she knows that her every move is being watched, This is also a signal.
Yuan Shikai lowered his head, not daring to make a sound, never dreaming that such a situation would arise.Originally, the emperor arranged for him to show his face in front of Cixi, and King Rui also came to join him on purpose, but in the end he was humiliated and the gift broke up. Yuan Shikai returned to his residence, the more he thought about it, the more depressed he was. He didn't sleep well all night. The next day Early in the morning, King Rui came to see him at his residence and brought a necklace of gemstones, saying it was a gift from Lafayette.
When Yuan Shikai opened the lacquer box, he couldn't help being secretly surprised. He knew that this kind of gemstone was priceless.Regardless of its small size, it is worth more than the foreign car he paid tribute to Cixi in terms of price.He didn't understand why Cixi didn't blame him and gave him such a big reward after he had already lost face in the Summer Palace yesterday.In addition, King Rui was much higher than him in terms of official position and title, and he came to him in person with a generous reward from Cixi, which could not but make him suspicious and fearful.
King Rui!The humble official made a fool of himself in public yesterday and caused a huge disaster. He really didn't dare and had no face to accept such a valuable reward from the Empress Dowager!Yuan Shikai put on a stance that he refused to accept the reward, so as to touch the opponent's hole card.
If Lafayette rewards you, you can accept it, or she will be unhappy, the empress dowager said, what happened yesterday was hard for you, it made you work hard, even if something happened, it can't take away your heart.That's why the empress dowager asked me to come here on her behalf to reward you generously.King Rui smiled, told how Cixi sent him here, and comforted Yuan Shikai that he could not be blamed for what happened yesterday. The meaning in his words was obviously directed at Emperor Guangxu, if it wasn't for Guangxu to let Lafayette learn about the so-called foreigner's scientific and technological achievements Therefore, Yuan Shikai would not make a fool of himself in public.
No, it was due to poor consideration that this kind of thing happened, which frightened the empress dowager.I'm humbled and fearful, I didn't sleep well last night, I really don't deserve to receive the reward!Not only did Cixi not pursue the responsibility for yesterday's incident, but the villain Rui Wang brought a generous reward, Yuan Shikai was quite moved.He wanted to kneel down to accept the reward, but he hesitated again when he thought of what the Empress Dowager Cixi said to him yesterday, blaming him for spending so much money on this foreign car.
Yuan Shilang!Don't worry too much, what the Empress Dowager said yesterday was not about you!King Rui saw the other party's mind and pointed out that Ci Xi was referring to Sang Shuo Huai.
Yuan Shikai didn't dare to answer King Rui's words.He was sandwiched between Guangxu and Cixi, and each of these two great figures had many people behind them, so if they were not careful, they might be involved in a cruel fight, and they lost their heads in a daze and didn't know what was going on.He warned himself in his heart, be careful, for some reason, after what happened yesterday, he felt an indescribable awe of Cixi.Her unruffled demeanor surprised him very much, he didn't expect that an old man in his sixties actually had a kind of intimidating majesty.
One afternoon, little Gege Yinliu and Gege from the prince's family got into the convertible car that Yuan Shikai paid tribute to.Because there was no driver and they couldn't drive the car, they asked the eunuch to find some horses and pull the dead iron four-wheeled car around the garden.Little Gege was having a good time, when a young eunuch suddenly sent a message that Lafayette called her to Foxiang Pavilion to accompany her to drink tea with the old man.
Cixi was very happy to see little Gege, and they chatted with her, just as Li Lianying was also there, they chatted from outside the palace to inside the palace, from ordinary people to princes and ministers.While chatting, I somehow came across the letter lost by Rong Qing, the guard next to Guangxu.Cixi asked Li Lianying how the emperor dealt with Rong's guards.Li Lianying said that because King Rui interceded for Rong Qing, the emperor spared the guard.
Hmph, I don't believe that King Rui has such a big face.Cixi said coldly.
When Rongqing was mentioned, Little Gege instinctively became nervous.But she put on a look of disapproval on her face, and asked Li Lianying what was written in the Rongqing letter. Li Lianying didn't want to add fuel to the fire, so she deliberately kept silent.Unexpectedly, Cixi remembered those crooked poems, and while thinking about them, she actually memorized four short poems.Little Gege clapped his palms and repeatedly said that Lafayette had a good memory, but he didn't like it in his heart.
The Qing Dynasty has been in existence for hundreds of years, and it has never been heard that there are guards in the palace writing such crooked poems.If the emperor doesn't check, you have to be careful!Cixi smiled triumphantly at Little Gege, then turned to Li Lianying and said: In my opinion, this man must have had a secret relationship with the women in the palace.
Lafayette!What if the surname Rong wrote to a woman outside the palace?Xiao Gege asked, secretly worried for Rong Qing.
As long as there is evidence that it has nothing to do with the palace, then we don't want to worry about it.Cixi smiled, and jokingly said to Little Gege, "I won't write to you, will I?"
Lafayette!Look at what you said, how embarrassing it is, Little Gege blushed, thinking that it would be great if she really wrote it to herself.No wonder she hinted to Rong Qing every time that he always refused to answer her words. It turned out that he already had a girlfriend.After leaving Cixi, the more Xiao Gege thought about it, the more she felt that she had to go to Rong Qing to ask if he really had a sweetheart, so he didn't take himself seriously.She left the Summer Palace and returned to the palace. She changed into a long robe worn by a man, with a pipa waistcoat and a gold watch chain on her lapel, and came to Rongqing's house in a very chic manner.
She told the servants of the Rong family that she was the youngest seventh master of the Rui Wang family and wanted to see Young Master Rong Qing.When the servant heard that it was the young master of Rui Wang's family, he hurried in to inform General Ye He. Xiao Gege said that she and young master Rong were brothers, so there was no need to disturb the master and wife.As she spoke, she took out a few taels of silver and rewarded the servants.The servant looked at Xiao Gege's gorgeous attire, did not dare to neglect, took her money, and respectfully led her to Rongqing's study in the backyard.Little Gege stopped not far from the study, told the servants to go back first, and then quietly walked towards the study.
Rong Qing sat on the round stool in front of the desk, looking at the photo he begged from Yin'er's house.For Yin'er's photo, he begged Fugui countless times.After meeting in Chengde last time, Fugui helped him speak, but his mother and wife refused to listen to him, and refused to give Rong Qing the photo that Yin'er Tuo Xiaohui brought home.In the end, Fugui had no choice but to take out his unique skills, stole one of the photos from his mother and handed it to Rong Qing, who gave him a bet of one hundred taels of silver for this.
In order to learn the lesson from last time, he no longer dared to carry it with him, carefully placed it in a wooden box in the study room at home, and locked it with a lock.Today he was resting, he took the time to go home, took out Yin'er's photo and hid it in the study for a closer look.The more he looked at it, the more fascinated he felt that Yin'er was a real person in this foreign picture, and he thought that if he could also take a picture like this, it would be great to give it to Yin'er.Thinking of Yin'er, he became depressed again, complaining that Xiao Hui had cheated on him and almost lost his head.But then again, after making such a fuss, at least Yin'er knew that his unchanging determination was worth it.
Rong Qing grabbed Yin'er's photo and looked at it engrossed, he didn't notice Xiao Gege coming in at all.Little Gege gently slipped behind him and covered his eyes with his hands.
who?Rong Qing thought it was his naughty little sister, and hurriedly stuffed Yin'er's photo into the pages of the book. At the same time, he quickly grabbed Little Gege's wrist and hugged her, I see where you are going!Rong Qing shouted happily.Little Gege fell into his arms, wrapped his arms around his neck, and giggled.It was only then that Rong Qing realized that it was Yin Liu who was sitting in his arms, he hurriedly let go of it, his face full of embarrassment.
Me, you put brother!Little Gege flushed with excitement.
Why did you come in without saying a word?Rong Qing stood up from the desk, and gently took off the opponent's hand wrapped around his neck.
Your house is not the Palace of the Golden Luan, so you have to report it layer by layer, pulling your throat and shouting loudly.Little Gege sat down on the chair while talking, and asked with his arms around his knees, why haven't you come to our house for a long time, what are you doing here alone?
No, just read a book.Rong Qing avoided the hot eyes of the other party, and pointed to the book on the table.
No, it's not like hiding at home alone and thinking about that good girl, can you tell me who that girl is?
What kind of relationship is not good, what are you talking about?
You want to hide it from me?Little Gege laughed loudly, and after laughing for a while, she recited the love poem that Rongqing asked Xiao Huihui to send to Yin'er: The glory is like floating clouds, and I am glad to clean my body; Siqing often falls into dreams, and a gentleman tears his towel.
Where did you hear that?Rong Qing's face darkened, and he felt indescribably puzzled.Apart from the emperor and Cha Shuizhang, even the other guards and eunuchs in the palace were kept in the dark about this matter, how could she know about it.
You pretend I didn't see it, and I saw you looking at this little girl's foreign picture as soon as I entered!Little Gege suddenly grabbed the book, shaken out the photo of Yin'er from the book and held it up in his hand, you said, is the crooked poem written in the palace written for her?
give me back!Rong Qing was in a hurry and reached out to grab it.
You tell me first, did you write to her?Little Gege raised the photo in his hand.
Let it be!
So you have a wife, why didn't you say it earlier, it's too dark!Little Gege cried out, because at that time, apart from his fiancée, other women could not be called lovers.
It's just that they haven't married yet, Rong Qing said helplessly.
How long will you marry?
have no idea!
whose family?
Can't tell.
You fool me!Little Gege cried out as if realizing something, there is no such person at all!
If you say no, there will be no.Give me back the foreign picture.
now it's right.Little Gege laughed, and then said solemnly, you picked up this foreign picture, right?Looking at the woman on the picture makes your heart itch, so you write this crooked poem in the palace.Think about it, if you lost your head because of this, it would be too uneconomical.dont you agree?
Okay, okay, even if I dream of marrying a wife, that's fine.Rong Qing had no choice but to wryly smile, he wanted to get back the photos, and sent the other party away, no matter what she said, he would not argue with her.
If you really want to marry a daughter-in-law, you should discuss it with me. Little Gege looked at Rongqing, and liked his naive look. He thought to himself, why not use this topic to show him his thoughts.To her, it doesn't matter whether Rong Qing has a girlfriend or not, as long as he doesn't marry that person and live together, with her own beauty, she is not afraid of the prince's daughter no matter what.She is confident that she can win Rongqing's favor.She pointed at Yin'er in the photo, picked her nose and eyes, and said that Yin'er in the photo looked petty and was not worthy of Rongqing at all.
I marry a daughter-in-law, what's hindering you?Rong Qing likes Xiao Gege's lively temperament, but he has always disliked her self-righteous tone, as if her father is a prince, and everyone in the world should give her three points, especially picky about Yin'er's appearance. Wohuo, I think you don't look better than Yin'er.
Of course I'm in the way!You and I have worshiped heaven and earth, and we are considered brothers and sisters.You are the godson of my father, how can I let you just pick it up and put it in the basket!The first one has to catch my eye.
What kind of person do you catch eyes on?Rong Qing was funny and angry, so he simply teased the other party.
Of course it has to match yours.
Then tell me, who can match me?
look here!Little Gege pointed to himself and said with a pun, implying that Rong Qing must at least be prettier than me.
Can people take a fancy to me?You, don't worry about it.No matter how stupid Rong Qing was, he understood Xiao Gege's meaning, and was shocked.I thought that needless to say I had Yin'er, even if I didn't, I wouldn't dare to marry her, my little aunt!Thinking of her losing her temper and even Prince Rui avoiding her, Rong Qing had no choice but to bite the bullet and pretend that he didn't understand at all.
you are stupid!Little Gege was in a hurry and jumped up from the chair. What if I want to worry?
I said Princess, don't make such a joke!
Who are you kidding?Little Gege walked up to Rong Qing, stared at him, and suddenly softened his tone, Rong Qing!Do you really not understand, or are you pretending to be confused?
Little princess!Don't make fun of me. Rong Qing avoided Little Gege's eyes, feeling very flustered, and replied in an almost pleading tone.Before he could finish speaking, Little Gege covered his mouth with his hand, leaned against him tightly, and said in a very soft voice:
No, there is absolutely no such thing, I have my eyes on you!
As soon as she finished speaking, Rong Qing stood there dumbfounded.He has been avoiding her all the time, preventing her from saying such things, but he didn't dodge them.He shook his hands again and again, making a series of inarticulate sounds from his throat.Little Gege reached out and grabbed Rong Qing's sleeve, and said to him affectionately:
Don't be a father and a son, it's better to be a real son-in-law!
Don't come here, don't come here!Rong Qing pushed Xiao Gege away and stepped back again and again.
How dare you run!She chased after.
miss!I did have a lifetime subscription.He begged Little Grid.
I do not care.As long as I fancy something, no one can take it away!
You can't let me stop my wife and remarry, can you?
If I don't see this person, I won't believe it!She pointed to Yin'er in the photo.
She can't see you now!He wanted to get the photo back.
That is, there is no such person!Just say something, are you happy?She threatens him.
Me, I'm not happy.He gritted his teeth.
you dare!她火了，舉起手上的相片伸手要撕，心裡有說不出的委屈，我比她漂亮，我比她高貴，你憑什麼不樂意！
別撕！千萬別撕。求求你還給我！
那你就得樂意！
還有逼著人樂意的？
那我就撕了！
榮慶急了，撲過來一手抱住小格格，一手搶吟兒的相片。小格格舉著手中的相片，拚命掙扎，企圖從他懷抱中掙脫。榮慶死死抱住她，一定要奪回她手上的相片，小格格身子在他懷中扭動著，雙手緊緊捏住相片不鬆手。眼看著榮慶就要將吟兒的相片搶到手，榮父，榮母和舅老爺突然聞聲進來。他們見榮慶與小格格扭在一起，以為出了什麼事，不由分說將兩人拉開，小格格見榮慶一家人湧進書房，慌忙將吟兒的相片揣進懷裡，氣喘噓噓地站在那兒，旁若無人地打量著榮家父母和他二舅恩海。
榮父瞪一眼兒子，走到面紅耳赤的小格格面前，好言好語地說，有什麼話好好說，要是榮慶有什麼做錯的地方，他替兒子向她陪不是，榮慶二舅打量著小格格，儘管她穿了一身男裝，他還是認出來是瑞王的小女兒。
您您不是瑞王府的？您什麼時候來的，是不是榮慶欺侮您了？恩海慌忙上前低聲問小格格。
我跟你們沒話。小格格不屑一顧地看一眼恩海，走到門邊，衝著榮慶惡狠狠地說：想要那洋畫片嗎？上我那兒取。今晚上你不來取，我就把它撕成片兒，碎成渣兒，輾成麵兒，燒成灰兒。她說完瞪一眼榮慶，轉身跑了，榮慶氣急敗壞地追到門口，被二舅和父母親攔住。
這是哪家的少爺？一腦門子官司，傲氣得不行！榮母衝著兒子問。
管他什麼人，有官司也別上這兒鬧哇。打聽打聽我們是什麼人家！葉赫將軍不滿地搖搖頭。
嗨，你們瞧清楚了嗎？那不是少爺，是位格格。恩海看一眼榮慶，不知他與小格格唱的哪齣戲，竟然唱到家裡來了。榮慶父母一聽說剛才那個身著男裝的公子是王府家的小公主，驚訝得瞪大眼睛，連聲追問是誰家的小格格。舅老爺告訴他們，剛才的姑娘是瑞親王家的小格格，榮慶父母一聽是瑞王家的小公主來了他們家，跟榮慶鬧得不歡而散，連聲埋怨兒子不該跟她鬧。榮母更是拉著兒子問他倆為什麼事鬧，你們都別問了！榮慶惦著小格格手上的相片，急得一跺腳跑出書房。
Honor!你給我滾回來！葉赫將軍跑到門外，衝著兒子背影大叫。葉赫夫人氣得捶胸頓足，說榮慶不聽話，要派家丁上街追他回來。
你們這還看不出？小格格跟他有戲！恩海攔住他倆。
What drama?榮母不明所以地問。
這不，小格格相中他了。
real?榮母吃驚地看著二弟。恩海早就聽說小格格對榮慶有意思，過去他不信，這會兒見小格格追到他們家，他信了。他將自己聽說的情況跟姐姐姐夫說了一遍。
你們成天替他提親，他不幹。這會兒有人相中他，你們高興還來不及，還攔他幹嘛？恩海勸著姐姐姐夫。老夫妻倆一聽小格格看上自己兒子，楞了一會兒，忍不住議論起這件事。榮母說：也好，能攀上瑞王做親家，對榮兒前程有好處。榮父瞪妻子一眼：好個屁！娶上這種媳婦，榮慶受她的氣不說，這個家早晚也讓她給拆了！恩海笑著勸姐夫：姐夫，你沒看過《打金枝》這齣戲，皇上的公主嫁到郭子儀家，照樣要盡媳婦的孝道。何況小格格真心喜歡榮兒，自然會孝敬你們，更會疼他的。榮慶的三個長輩在書房門外，為了榮慶與小格格的事議論了半天，最後得出一致意見，只要榮慶肯娶媳婦，不管是王府家的公主，還是一般人家的小姐，只要能早早替他們家抱個孫子，這就是天大的好事！
瑞王離開頤和園，一路騎著快馬趕回京城，心裡按捺不住的激動，這麼多天以來，一直壓在他心窩上的石頭終於掀掉了，今天天不亮，瑞王與一大幫親王大臣便乘著車轎和快馬向頤和園趕去，九點不到便糾集在東大門內的值房，等著老佛爺接見他們。他們在仁壽殿見到了慈禧，一大幫人磕頭請安後，一個個跪在地下不肯起來，激動地嚷著要請老佛爺降旨。
get up!Get it all together.慈禧不高興地揮著衣袖，等到以瑞王為首的王公大臣們你看我我看你，紛紛起身後，她才對眾人說：我沒的說，全是聽你們說的。怎麼著，皇上推行新政，下頭不認？
她話音剛一落下，眾人便紛紛揚揚埋怨起來，說朝野上下怨聲載道，祖宗的大法也不顧了，國將不國了等等，有人叫著要老佛爺替他們作主，不能再讓皇上這樣胡鬧下去。
你們說的這些，都跟皇上奏過本嗎？慈禧問眾人。
聖母皇太后！皇上什麼也聽不進去。奴才們的本章，一律留中不發！一位大學士氣憤地向慈禧稟報說。
Lafayette!您千萬替我們做主啊！一位王爺高聲叫道。
現在沒別的法子了，只有請老佛爺重新出來垂簾聽政！瑞王激動地喊著。
他的話一出口，像一塊石頭扔進水裡，頓時群情激憤。這些人對光緒在朝廷實行新政早就深痛惡絕，認定所謂的新政不僅不可能讓國家富強，相反只會將國家朝廷捲入一場更大的危機。在場的王公大臣們紛紛跪下，一起重複著瑞王的請求：請老佛爺重新垂簾！
nonsense!慈禧當即沉下臉，神情嚴肅地對眾人說，垂簾聽政，本朝自古沒有。那是先皇歸天以後，同治皇帝沖齡踐祚，肅順那幫子奸臣謀朝篡政。這是沒法子的法子啊！我跟母后皇太后出來支撐局面，誰想到一撐就是三十多年，再加上如今的皇上。我都垂了兩回了。六十多的人了，一個孤老太太，我還不該歇歇嗎？
眾人被她一番話說得愣在那兒，場上一片肅靜。突然有個老王爺撲到慈禧腳下，連哭帶喊地叫著：老佛爺！為我大清國江山和祖宗的大業，您再委屈一回吧！他這一叫，眾人立即醒悟過來，一個個趴在地下，苦苦哀求著慈禧：老佛爺垂簾吧，垂簾吧！
都給我住口！慈禧憤然地拍著龍椅的手柄，太沒良心了！我都白疼了你們！從現在起，誰再提垂簾，誰就是頭號的大奸臣。
眾人全都怔住了，一個個趴在地下，你看我我看你，不敢再出聲。見眾人靜下，慈禧這才指著瑞王罵他：你頭一個不是東西！瑞王趴在地下，嚇得不知怎麼回事，心想難道他保老佛爺還保錯了？盛怒之下的慈禧，罰瑞王打掃半山腰的佛香閣，當即讓太監小回回領他去那兒掃地，瑞王垂頭喪氣地隨小回回走了。慈禧揮揮手，讓眾人立即回去，別在這兒鬧得她不清靜。慈禧說完話，不等眾人磕頭，抽身走了。在場的王公大臣們呆若木雞，誰也沒想到慈禧對垂簾聽政一事的態度如此堅決，領頭的瑞王被帶走罰做苦力了，因此人們只得一個個從地上爬起，悻悻地離開了仁壽殿。
瑞王隨小回回來到佛香閣，像做苦力的太監們一樣，彎腰撅屁股蹲在地下用苫布擦著地磚。小回回等人見瑞王年紀大了，勸他休息，瑞王執意不肯，他滿頭大汗，腰酸背痛，但他仍咬著牙使勁擦地。他在跟自己賭氣，也在和老佛爺賭氣。
他怎麼也想不通，老佛爺明明對光緒皇上推行的一套新政有看法，私下裡暗示過他不知多少次，她是反對光緒搞的那一套。平時，每逢他站出來，說出了慈禧想說而沒說出口的話時，她嘴上教訓他，心裡其實是高興的。可今天，當這麼多王公大臣的面，老太后這樣做實在是叫他太傷心了。罰他來擦地，不給他面子，這都無所謂，她不該拿祖宗的江山交給光緒胡鬧，不該傷那些來頤和園請願的王公大臣們的心啊！
大清祖宗的江山來之不易，那是多少人流了血，多少人丟了命才得來的。幾百年的宏偉大業總不能毀於一旦，由著年輕的皇上和那些剛冒上來的新黨們折騰，就他本人來說，官做到這個份上，也算到頭了，即使現在告老退休，每年的俸銀也夠他過上好日子。我為的什麼？不就是為了祖宗的江山。他和那些老臣們的心情一樣，覺得老佛爺在台上叫人放心，一切按部就班，至少不會像光緒那樣出格。他篤信老佛爺的一片誠懇，非但沒得到她的賞識和理解，反倒成了帶頭鬧事的主。對此，他是怎麼也想不通，想通了也不服氣的。
不知什麼時候，慈禧突然進來了。她什麼人也沒帶，一進殿便讓小回回將其他太監趕出大殿，然後小聲問瑞王，今天的事是不是他挑的頭？
瑞王本來一肚子委屈，當他耳邊響起慈禧溫和的聲音，抬頭又看見她衝著自己微笑，心裡的氣先消了一半，立即回答說：滿朝文武，人同此心。
你呀你，垂簾也不是這麼個垂法。慈禧沉吟片刻，埋怨中透著對他這種忠心的讚許。
老佛爺說怎麼辦？瑞王驚喜地抬起頭，聲音不由得提高。
好好幹活兒，頂你今兒的錯呀！慈禧故意大聲地說，其實是說給外面人聽的。她意味深長地看一眼這位像狗一樣忠心耿耿的親王，暗示他外面有耳朵，要他留神。
是，奴才一定好好幹活。瑞王心領神會，也提高嗓門回應著，彎著腰賣力地擦拭著那隻銅香爐。
你想想，皇上沒鬧出大尺寸，我好模眼兒地又上了場，各國列強會怎麼說呀？慈禧低聲問瑞王。
洋人管的著嗎？瑞王反問，他確實還沒想過這一層。
這話倒退幾十年說說還行。慈禧苦笑笑說，如今洋人可不能不管他們八宗事了！叫我臨了落個不討好，我可不幹！
您那意思是，讓皇上自個兒鬧出毛病來？
起碼得讓外人說不出什麼來吧？
這瑞王瞪著一雙圓眼，半天才回過神。手底下別停啊。慈禧提醒他。瑞王慌忙接著擦地，心裡不得不佩服老佛爺事情想得周全。確實如老佛爺所說，如今膠東半島、旅順都讓他們佔了，上海、天津等處都割了租界，各國在大清國都駐了軍隊，他們嘴上說不管朝廷的事，其實心懷鬼胎，到時候說翻臉就翻臉了。聯想到光緒派總理衙門府的官員與西方各國頻繁來往，前一陣子又單獨召見袁世凱，瑞王忍不住提醒慈禧：
老佛爺，奴才別的都不擔心，就怕那邊的人與各國列強聯手對付我們。您看要不要我派人將承德的護軍調過來？
你這人呀心好，就是不用腦子。慈禧對瑞王的忠心表示高度讚賞，但一再提醒他，好心也能辦壞事，你安心回去，我自有主張，到時候我會讓小李子去找你的，你放心，一時半會兒不會出事的。
原來慈禧當眾罰他，是為遮人耳目。現在看來，她已經早有安排。有了慈禧交給他的底牌，瑞王心裡吃了定心丸，這才離開了頤和園，快馬趕回北京城，要在往常，他一定會跑到各路親王府，迫不及待地將這個消息告訴他們，他按住內心的激動，按慈禧要求，不動聲色地打馬揚鞭，在幾名隨從護送下一路回到王府。
瑞王進了門，來到氣派十足的銀安殿。他一進門，便看見榮慶與王府太監在論理。原來榮侍衛要見小格格，小格格不肯見他，而榮慶不肯走，非要見她不可，雙方僵持不下。
榮慶參見王爺！一見瑞王，榮慶連忙上前請安。他是為了向小格格討回吟兒的相片，才特意追到瑞王府，但嘴上又不好說。要是就這樣離開，又不甘心。
Free!瑞王轉臉問太監，這是幹嘛呀？家裡唱開《八岔廟》了？
王府太監湊上著，低聲對瑞王說著什麼。瑞王當即打斷對方，不高興地訓斥太監：嘀咕什麼？大聲說。榮慶又不是外人！
要不王爺進去瞧瞧，格格掉眼淚呢。太監只得說出事情真相，原來小格格不知為什麼，一個人關在閨房裡掉眼淚。
誰又惹著她了？都不讓我省心！瑞王一聽小格格哭了，連忙要榮慶在這兒等一會兒，他先進去看看再說。
小格格紅腫著兩眼，在自己房間裡又摔又打。看見父親匆匆走進，並不理他，反倒更來勁了，抱著桌上一隻青瓷大花瓶狠狠向地上砸去，要不是瑞王躲得快，花瓶差點兒砸在他腳背上。
What's the matter!小姑奶奶？瑞王滿臉陪笑地走到女兒身邊，哄著她。
go out!get out!一見瑞王，小格格反倒哭得更傷心，連推帶搡地要趕瑞王出門。
有話你說呀，別拿東西撒氣！
小格格背對著父親，越哭越傷心。瞅著女兒因為哭泣而抽動的雙肩，瑞王急得團團轉：銀柳！你父王在朝裡就夠熱鬧的了。老佛爺交派的事兒還沒工夫辦呢。可憐你老爹，咱們痛快點兒行不行？
Okay.小格格轉過臉，你給我把榮慶殺了！
are you crazy?瑞王愣住，半天才回過神，殺他？我憑什麼殺他呀？
他該殺，他混帳！你給我殺呀。小格格一邊抹眼淚一邊扯著瑞王衣袖撒嬌。
哎喲嘿！我的小格格，你別是要選他當郡馬吧？瑞王眨巴著眼睛，突然明白過來是怎麼一回事兒。
誰選他呀！What is he!小格格口不應心地說，心裡還在為榮慶拒絕自己的事生氣。
挑女婿也沒有這麼挑的。按說榮慶這小子倒也夠一賣，還拿得出手，你說是不是？瑞王逗著女兒，想讓她高興。
不是不是，就不是！小格格扭著身子，轉過臉不理父親。
得了，你也別鬧了，榮慶現在就在外頭，我讓他進來，你們倆自個兒惦對惦對吧。瑞王邊說邊準備出去叫榮慶。說實在的，如果說過去他看不上榮慶家的背景，現在也顧不上這麼多了，特別自他在皇上面前得了寵，他也不得不另眼相看，萬一有一天光緒得了勢，至少也得念這個情分上放他一馬。
etc!小格格喊起來：不行啊！他說他有媳婦了！不會吧，從沒聽說呀。瑞王站住。小格格從懷裡掏出吟兒的相片遞給瑞王。瑞王接過吟兒的相片端詳了一陣子，無奈地笑了笑，對女兒說：既然人家有了，就算了吧，老爹給你另尋個好人家。
我不嘛！除了他我誰也不尋。
Nonsense!你堂堂王府格格，郡主身分，還打算給他當二房嗎？
他們還沒成親呢！你讓他退婚吧！
那瑞王哭笑不得，那也得人家樂意呀！
Do you care?不管我當尼姑去，我上白雲觀出家去！小格格纏著父親，橫豎就是不講理。
瑞王瞅著相片不說話，越看越覺著眼熟，一時又記不起在哪兒見過相片上的女子。小格格見父親瞅著相片出神，也湊上前，問瑞王怎麼回事。瑞王沉吟半天，說相片上的丫頭可有點兒面熟啊。小格格一聽急了，追問他在哪兒見過她。瑞王張著嘴巴，伸著脖頸子拚命苦想，眼瞅腦子裡就冒出來了，給小格格一攪和又沒了，相片上的女子分明是宮女打扮，見得最多的宮女便是老佛爺身邊的宮女。一想到這兒，他突然認出相片上的宮女，是老佛爺身邊那個敬煙的姑娘！
榮慶坐在客廳的茶几旁，一邊喝茶，一邊穩住神，心裡惦著吟兒相片的事。他之所以一定要從小格格手裡追回相片，倒不是像別人說的那樣，相片上攝了人的魂靈，相片讓人撕了人就活不了。因為吟兒是宮女，要是這張相片讓別人看到，那就等於告訴別人，吟兒是他相好的，這可是了不得的欺君之罪啊！前些天，他躺在門板，死也不肯說出吟兒，不就是為了保護她不讓人知道，因此這張相片中的祕密絕不能讓外人知道。
這事兒難就難在碰上小格格。她不僅脾氣倔強，更是瑞王的女兒，加上不為別的，因為對他好才不肯還他相片，因此，這事兒變得複雜而微妙。要是換另一個女人，他可以騙她，說他樂意跟她好，這樣就能將相片騙回來。可對她，他不敢。她太認真太執著，對這樣一個女子，他是不能也不應該騙她的。現在看來，唯一的辦法只有跟她慢慢磨，說好話哄她。他又坐了一陣子，瑞王終於回來了。榮慶慌忙起立，表示對王爺的敬意，瑞王瞅著榮慶，就像一個有經驗的老獵人，瞅著手中的獵物，不慌不忙地在他對面椅子上落下身體。
Honor!你追到這兒來，是不是要這個呀？瑞王邊說邊從懷裡掏出吟兒的相片。
謝謝王爺賞還。榮慶連忙抱拳作揖。
她叫什麼呀？瑞王顯然不急著將相片還給他，瞇起眼睛問。
啊，她叫二妞。榮慶猶豫片刻。
不對，她叫吟兒。瑞王沉下臉。
王爺一定認錯了。榮慶被對方說破真相，心中大驚，頓時臉紅脖子粗，她不叫吟兒，她的確叫二妞！
你自個兒瞧，她還穿著宮女的行頭呢。要擱其他人，瑞王早就發脾氣了。他笑笑，再一次晃晃手中的相片，這牆，這樹，這柱子，在哪兒照的我都猜得出來，沒跑兒的是景仁宮！你沒說的了吧？皇上讓你蒙了，王爺可不糊塗，人證物證全有了，你打算怎麼辦吧？
Lord!奴才有罪。榮慶雙腿一軟，當即離了座椅，朝瑞王撲通一聲跪下，背上額頭立即滲出一片汗珠，榮慶自願王爺處置，只求王爺放過她！
怪不得老想見老佛爺呢，原來是你們倆找個機會眉來眼去呀。瑞王將相片收進懷裡，背著雙手在大廳裡來回走了一圈。他這是跟老佛爺學的，不急不忙，這樣不但可以令對方亂了方寸，同時也能給對方留出更多時間，讓他主動說出自己想聽的事兒，果然，這一招挺靈，他不吭聲，榮慶急了。一會兒說他想吟兒想瘋了，跟她沒關係。一會兒又說，相片是他在宮中撿來的，總之，說的前言不搭後語。瑞王一聽心裡更加明白，榮慶跟吟兒一對兒的準跑不了，這樣他到老佛爺身邊奏上一本，不但榮慶和吟兒跑不了，連皇上，特別是老佛爺最嫉恨的珍妃也得吃不了兜著走。想到這兒，他心裡立即冒出一個主意，將他押下，逼他寫下口供，這樣他便可以給老佛爺送上一發打光緒的炮彈了。
瑞王正在思忖著，門外太監來報，說恭親王派人從天津送信來。一聽說恭親王的信使，瑞王立即嚴肅起來，讓家人先將榮慶押下去，等他接見過恭親王再來處理他的事。
榮慶被家丁押出大廳，被小格格迎面撞上。原來小格格不放心榮慶，偷偷跑來打探情況，看見家丁押著他，心裡頓時大驚失措，衝到榮慶身邊要家丁放開他。
你們幹嘛呀？Let me go!小格格一邊叫一邊要上前松他身上的繩子。家了不讓，說沒王爺的命令不能鬆綁。
OK!這下你稱心如意了吧？榮慶跳著腳對她吼道，你聽著，我死她死都認了，你可別半夜睡不著啊！
我可沒害你呀！小