Winter turned to spring, the ice and snow melted, the cold gradually faded away, and the Han Dynasty ushered in the season of recovery of all things. For Emperor Liu, the past twenty-two years of Kaibao were a year of joy and sorrow. The chaos in Yulin was put down, and the invasion Black Khan's expansion of the land for two thousand miles is only a small joy, but the death of Empress Fu is a great tragedy.
In the Chui Gong Hall, in front of the floor-to-ceiling glazed mirror, Emperor Liu stood with his hands spread out, his whole body reflected in the mirror, and two maids carefully dressed Emperor Liu.
I am indeed getting older. I cannot straighten my hands at all. I still feel sore and tired after holding them in the air for a long time. My waist is no longer as straight as before. I have to compromise with the years and become rickety.
"Time is like a butcher's knife!" Emperor Liu looked at his old and even somewhat gloomy and ugly face in the mirror, and laughed at himself: "When I was young, I thought I was handsome, but now it seems, Why is my face so disgusting? No wonder even those old friends are moving away from me one after another. Could it be that my face is too disgusting?"
Emperor Liu was muttering to himself here, which made the palace attendants tremble with fear. The delicate hands of the palace maid who helped him arrange the folds of his robe could not help but tremble. Yantuo could speak, and he didn't know how to answer these words at this time. Emperor Liu His current appearance is indeed something that makes people dare not compliment him, so naturally he cannot tell the truth. However, if he flatters regardless of the facts, Yantuo has experienced it, and he is afraid of being accused of being a liar.
Accompanying an emperor is like accompanying a tiger. He can't tell the truth, and Emperor Liu doesn't like to hear lies. After Fu Hou died, Emperor Liu became more and more moody and often "sick". Even Yantuo, who had served Emperor Liu for more than 20 years, could not control it. Already.
Just as he thought of something, Yantuo quickly changed the subject and said, "Guan family, just now Huang Jucai, the Imperial Academy's imperial edict, sent a royal portrait. Do you want to take a look at it?"
"Huh?" Emperor Liu seemed to have come to his senses and ordered: "Take it and have a look!"
"yes!"
Huang Jucai was a famous painting master at that time. He and his father Huang Quan were originally painters in the Meng-Shu palace. After Sichuan was pacified, he was taken to Tokyo with Meng Chang. Later, the father and son entered the palace together and served as painters of the Han court. In the past twenty years, Over the years, a large number of excellent works have been produced under their pens. The palace style and important events of the Kaibao era of the Han Dynasty can be recorded in their paintings.
A month ago, Emperor Liu happened to be interested and asked Huang Jucai to draw a portrait for him. Now, the result finally came to fruition. Soon, Yantuo greeted two chamberlains and unfolded the scroll in front of Emperor Liu, and Emperor Liu's portrait also appeared. Come into view.
The painting shows Emperor Liu with a purple crown on his head, a rich robe, and a majestic look on his face. His whole body seems to be emitting divine light. Paintings also pay attention to charm. The painting in front of you is full of charm and full of impressions.
Perhaps because of poor eyesight, Emperor Liu glanced at it not carefully enough, took another closer look, turned around and compared the image in the mirror, and frowned: "Yantuo, do you think this painting is of me?"
"Yes!" Yan Tuo blurted out, and after observing Emperor Liu's expression, he added: "It's just that the official family is sacred. Although Huang Hanlin has superb painting skills, he is still an ordinary brush. How can he fulfill the majesty of the official family? He can only Get a glimpse of the charm of Baiyi”
"Haha!" Emperor Liu was amused by Yantuo's words. He waved his hand and said with emotion: "I have discovered that the older I get, the less these painters know how to draw me, and the less I can draw my portraits. picture"
The words "Taboo for the Venerable" came to Yantuo's mind, but he did not dare to say them out loud.
Emperor Liu didn't care so much, and instructed: "I remember that Huang Jucai was best at flowers, birds, bamboos and stones. Is it embarrassing for him to let him paint portraits? It's a pity that Gu Hongzhong died a few years ago, otherwise he would be like that A wonderful pen will surely produce flowers."
After sighing with emotion, Emperor Liu told Yantuo: "Send a message to Huang Jucai, saying that I am not satisfied with this painting. He did not paint it well. However, I will give him another chance to paint it again. If he paints this kind of painting again, If he deceives me, I will punish him for deceiving the king!"
"Yes!" Yantuo responded immediately.
I secretly mourned for Huang Jucai in my heart. This job is not easy to do. This is not a portrait. It is clearly a painting of the emperor's thoughts. However, Emperor Liu's thoughts during this period are so unpredictable that it makes people scared just thinking about it. But the dead Taoist friends will not die. I'm a poor man, as long as the fire doesn't burn you, it's fine. Besides, the Huang family and his son have been in the palace for many years, and they have received a lot of honors and favors. As they enjoy their blessings, they have to bear the risk of thunder.
"Then what should I do with this painting?" Yantuo asked again.
"Keep it! When the new painting comes out, we can compare it and see which one is more like me!" Emperor Liu said calmly.
"Yes!" Yantuo responded, gestured to the waiter, and quickly put it away.
After reading the painting, Emperor Liu returned to the mirror and stared at himself in the mirror for a long time. His old eyes gradually became hazy. The person opposite him had gray hair, wrinkles on his face, and even two very obvious age spots. , that sense of aging and twilight exudes from the inside out, Emperor Liu has never felt it so deeply, and even has a kind of fear and chill from the heart. Today's Emperor Liu is not like before, the older he gets, the more... Don't want to admit it.
"In the past, I didn't really believe the story of growing old overnight and dying in tears, but when it happened to me, I had to believe it!" Emperor Liu said with a hint of sadness in his tone: "The ups and downs of life, the great sorrow and great joy, it's really not true. What a good thing?"
"Please take care of your health, officials!" Seeing that Emperor Liu's mood was not right again, Yantuo comforted him instinctively.
"I am in very good health! I don't need you people to remind me all the time!" Emperor Liu suddenly turned his head and said angrily.
Under the gaze, Yantuo was horrified, shrinking his hands and feet, hesitating and not daring to speak anymore. At this time, Gong E took the crown and carefully helped Emperor Liu put it on, and then he finished dressing up.
Twelve crown beads were swaying slightly in front of his eyes. Each of the hanging beads seemed to reflect a world or a mood. When he saw the face blocked in the mirror, Emperor Liu suddenly said: "This crown crown seems to hide the ugly face." It’s working!”
No one dared to answer these words randomly. This morning, Emperor Liu seemed to be at odds with his appearance. He mentioned it repeatedly, as if it had become a sore spot for him.
As he got older, he did talk more. After walking a few steps, Emperor Liu pointed to the crown on his head and sighed: "This crown seems to be getting heavier and heavier, just like this country is becoming more and more vast, which makes me feel overwhelmed!" "
Wuyou groaned, and then Emperor Liu returned to normal. He waved his hand and ordered: "Let's go to court!"
"Let's drive!" Hearing this, Yantuo finally breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly sang and led the way.
However, before he had taken two steps, Emperor Liu paused again. He turned around and looked at the floor-to-ceiling mirror. An idea suddenly came to his mind, and he said coldly: "Smash this mirror for me. It will shine a bright light on me." It’s so clear!”