eurekapd Chapter 234 Obscure
Chapter 234 Obscure
At night, darkness enveloped the laundry, a place filled with toil and hardship, and the air was filled with dampness and dullness.
Rong Pei struggled to wash the clothes, her hands rough from the long hours of work. She numbly rubbed the clothes on the washboard, each movement seeming to exhaust all her strength.
The old wounds on her body had not yet healed, and the slightest movement would cause her to throb uncontrollably. The pain was like fine needles, pricking her nerves again and again, but it could not make her stop her work.
The moonlight shone on her through the narrow window, reflecting her tired but determined figure. In this quiet night, her figure seemed particularly lonely.
She was an old lady in the palace, and she was very powerful in the Yikun Palace a few years ago. At that time, she was by the side of the Empress and was highly respected.
He only did light work, and his hands were well-maintained. Those hands, once used only to occasionally adjust the Empress's clothes or fiddle with her jewelry, had never experienced such heavy labor.
Now, those once delicate hands were swollen and red from being soaked in the cold river water, and scarred by being rubbed by rough clothes. Every touch brought a piercing pain.
After spending the better part of half a year working in the laundry department, my hands were as rough as the bark of a tree. The once delicate skin was long gone, replaced by layers of cracks and rough texture.
The chilblains on her joints burst open, revealing bright red flesh, a truly tragic sight. Every movement brought piercing pain, but she could only endure it and continue with her work.
She didn't care about these things, she just wanted to finish the work at hand as soon as possible so that she could go back to eat and go to bed.
She lowered her head, mechanically scrubbing the clothes, her heart filled with confusion about the future. She didn't know how long this life would last, nor did she know if she would ever have the chance to leave this place.
But she didn't dare to slack off at all, because she knew that only by working hard could she survive in this cruel environment.
In this majestic and solemn imperial palace, the only person who could truly make her worry and miss deeply was the extremely noble Empress.
Rong Pei imagined Ruyi's current state, and her heart was filled with worry. She didn't know if the Empress was well, or if she was missing her.
Thinking back to those days, on that long palace street,
The sun shone down, but it couldn't dispel the gloom lingering within the palace. Golden light poured onto the ancient stone pavement, as if trying to illuminate a corner shrouded in conspiracy and calculation, but it was in vain.
She was filled with dissatisfaction with the eunuch's unfair arrangement and was determined to fight for the sisters around her. The unyielding courage burned in her heart. She didn't want to see her sisters suffer injustice, so even if her own strength was meager, she would stand up for them.
Even if it is just to fight for a little rare fairness for them in this dark and obscure palace full of intrigue.
That day, she argued fiercely with the eunuch in charge, but she never expected to be slapped to the ground. The crisp sound of the slap echoed in the silent palace alleys like a cruel announcement.
Her cheeks burned with pain, and her heart was filled with anger and grievance. At that moment, she was filled with grievance and despair, and she felt that her life might be bleak and bleak forever.
She lay on the cold ground, staring at the indifferent sky, tears blurring her eyes. It was as if she saw the endless darkness of her future, her heart filled with helplessness and confusion. Little did she know that a turning point in her fate was about to come, and the person who would change her life was about to appear in her life.
Fate took a turn at this moment. She never expected that she would be seen by the Empress, who was only an Imperial Consort at that time.
At that moment, time seemed to freeze. She stared blankly at the noble figure, an indescribable shock welling up in her heart. The Queen's gorgeous dress shone brightly in the sunlight. Her face was dignified and kind, and her eyes revealed a hint of concern.
She punished the steward and brought her back to the Yikun Palace. From that moment on, her fate changed dramatically. During her time in the Yikun Palace, she felt the respect and care she had never felt before.
Before long, she climbed to the position of the head aunt of Yiku Palace, and everyone in the palace had to respectfully call her Aunt Rong Pei when they saw her.
Back then, she was awe-inspiring and highly respected. With a rigorous attitude and a loyal heart, she guarded every corner of the Yikun Palace. Her presence was like a solid barrier within the Yikun Palace, providing peace of mind.
However, she never expected that she would end up in the laundry department. The sudden turn of fate caught her off guard.
The glory and splendor she once had vanished in an instant, but she did not give up hope.
She believed that the Queen would definitely overcome the difficulties, and that one day she would return to her side and continue to serve her.
Is this the Lan Yin Xu Guo that the Empress mentioned?
Rong Pei sighed inwardly, the contrast between her once beautiful expectations and her current desolation was stark. She recalled the helplessness and sadness in the Queen's eyes when she said this, and a pang of bitterness welled up in her heart.
She knew the Empress's life had not been easy; she had witnessed her hardships over the years. For countless days and nights, the Empress endured the pressures and intrigues of the palace alone, yet never once complained. She silently sacrificed everything for her convictions and her true feelings. Rong Pei felt sorry for the Empress's plight, yet was also moved by her perseverance.
As long as the Empress is well in the future, she will be satisfied. Rong Pei prayed silently in her heart, hoping that the Empress could get out of the predicament and regain happiness.
In the past few days, people from the Yikun Palace also gave her news that the emperor had still promised that if the empress could organize a good family dinner for the Dragon Boat Festival, the former people from the Yikun Palace would be able to return.
She knew that the Yikun Palace had a new head aunt, and that if she returned, she would only be a lowly nanny, but that was enough for her. In her heart, status was not important; what mattered was being able to accompany the Empress again. She didn't care whether she could regain power, but only whether she could do her best for the Empress.
As long as she could return to the Empress' side, she would be willing to do it even if she could only do some sweeping and cleaning work.
The days passed quickly as Rong Pei looked forward to it, and in the blink of an eye it was two days before the Dragon Boat Festival family dinner.
Perhaps it was the beautiful spring weather that prompted the Emperor to take the Seventh Princess on a tour of the Imperial Gardens. A gentle spring breeze blew through the garden, swaying the blossoms. The Emperor, clad in a bright yellow dragon robe, wore a rare expression of ease and joy.
The seventh princess was wearing a pink dress, like the most beautiful flower in spring. She skipped beside the emperor, and her clear laughter echoed in the air.
After the Fifth Princess passed away, there were only princes but no princesses in the Forbidden City. The Fifth Princess's departure brought a touch of sadness to the palace. During that period, the entire palace was immersed in sorrow.
The deadlock was not resolved until the birth of the sixth princess.
However, the emperor did not dote on Concubine Ying too much, and was only indifferent to his daughter.
The appearance of the Seventh Princess seemed to have injected new vitality into the dull palace. Her innocence, liveliness and loveliness gave the emperor a sense of comfort in his busy political affairs.
Therefore, after the seventh princess was born, the emperor poured all his love on her, and his love was not reduced in the slightest even when other concubines gave birth to princesses later.
Jingxuan is already two years old, and is at the age when she is lovable.
Her rosy little face was like a ripe apple, so sweet it made you want to kiss it. Her big, bright eyes sparkled with curiosity. She walked unsteadily, wobbling like a cute little duck.
Little Jingxuan was filled with curiosity about everything around her. She would gaze at the flowers in the garden with wide eyes, reaching out her hands to touch them. She would hear the birds chirping and excitedly look up to find them. Her smile was like the spring sunshine, warming everyone's heart.
At the age of two, Jingxuan's world was simple and beautiful.
Yihuan raised her very well, and the way she behaves and recognizes people is so adorable that it almost melts you.
In the imperial garden on a spring day, flowers are in full bloom and colorful. The seventh and sixth princesses are dressed in brightly colored clothes, like two lovely elves.
The concubines gathered around, their faces filled with gentle smiles. They whispered softly to the two little princesses, and the scene was warm and beautiful.
The Seventh Princess blinked her large eyes, curiously observing the people around her, occasionally letting out a clear laugh. The Sixth Princess was more reserved, sitting quietly to the side, watching her sisters play. The concubines teased the princesses with small toys, while others hummed nursery rhymes.
"The Sixth and Fifth Princesses look so delightful! Your Majesties are truly blessed..."
Concubine Yu also came along to join in the fun. She was dressed in gorgeous clothes and had delicate makeup, but her eyes revealed a hint of eagerness and desire.
Concubine Yu had just entered the palace and was filled with curiosity and anticipation for everything. She longed to give birth to a son or daughter so that she could gain a firm foothold in the palace and bring honor to her mother's family.
She looked at the Sixth and Seventh Princesses with envy. Those two lovely little princesses were like the most beautiful flowers in spring, making people want to protect them.
Concubine Yu secretly made up her mind to get pregnant as soon as possible to bring glory to herself and her mother's family.
Besides, in this deep palace, it’s good to have a little more comfort.
Wasn’t it the same with the Jin family back then?
Even though she made a serious mistake, after her death, the emperor took the sake of several princes into consideration and restored her to the throne, naming her Shujia Imperial Noble Consort and burying her in the imperial mausoleum, where she would occupy a position beside the emperor a hundred years later.
In this harem, having offspring is the top priority for the concubines.
"Look at what Sister Yufei said. The emperor loves you more than anyone else in the palace. Having children is only a matter of time. Why should you envy us..."
Concubine Ying has become much calmer in recent years. She is no longer the little concubine who always thinks she is superior because of her mother's family. When she saw Concubine Yu speaking, she did not forget to tease her.