There were many concubines in the harem who were the product of marriages. The emperor did not like them, but in order to protect the noble family behind the concubines, Chen Ji would go to sit with these concubines every once in a while.
If you are happy, you will stay there several times a year to show your favor.
On this day, Chen Ji followed his usual practice and went to Changping Palace where Concubine Qing lived.
As soon as he entered the door, Chen Ji smelled a faint fragrance.
It is his favorite plum blossom fragrance.
"I pay my respects to Your Majesty!"
Concubine Qing led a group of palace maids to kowtow to Chen Ji.
"Get up," Chen Ji waved his hand casually, then looked around and said, "Concubine Qing, it's only autumn, why is there a faint fragrance of plum blossoms in your Changping Palace?"
"Your Majesty, you have worked hard all day. Please sit down and take a rest.
"
Concubine Qing did not answer, but waved away the palace maid, walked a few steps forward with a smile, and took Chen Ji's arm.
Chen Ji immediately felt that the scent of plum blossoms was getting stronger, and couldn't help but lean into Concubine Qing's neck and smell it: "Yes, that's the smell. Concubine Qing, have you applied plum blossom scented rouge?"
"It's not rouge, it's the girl Mu Lan who gave me some small gadgets called soap. After I bathed with the soap, this smell was left on my body.
Concubine Qing said with a smile.
"Soap? The one made by Baron Qingshui Jin Feng?" Chen Ji asked.
"Your Majesty knows about soap?" Concubine Qing was stunned.
After Duke Qingguo delivered the soap, Concubine Qing felt like she had found a treasure.
What is the main job of a concubine in the harem?
Isn’t it just to please the emperor?
Knowing that Chen Ji likes plum blossoms, he not only bathes with plum blossom-flavored soap every day, but also soaks his clothes in scented soap.
In the end, she endured her heartache and asked the palace maid to grind a piece of soap into powder and sprinkle it in the palace, so Changping Palace would always exude the faint fragrance of plum blossoms.
Sure enough, when Chen Ji arrived, he was immediately attracted by the plum fragrance.
But what Concubine Qing didn't expect was that Chen Ji actually knew that the soap was made by Jin Feng.
"Some time ago, Zhou Wenyuan of the Zhou family went to Guangyuan to buy soap. Somehow, he got greedy and had Jin Feng's concubine kidnapped. He wanted to bring her back to the capital to ask for the soap formula.
Jin Feng was furious, and with the cooperation of Guangyuan County Sheriff, the city was sealed off and searched..."
Chen Ji leaned on his chair and recounted the grievances between Jin Feng and Zhou Wenyuan: "Zhou Wenyuan also killed Guangyuan's soldiers for this matter, but the Qing family, Gao family and others caught him, and they were caught by the tail every day.
I came here to impeach the Zhou family, and the quarrel lasted for almost two months before the Zhou family put the matter under wraps.
"
“So that’s how it is.
"
Only then did Concubine Qing know that there was such a story behind the soap.
He walked around behind the chair, gently helped Chen Ji rub his temples, and then said, "Zhou Wenyuan has gone too far. He kidnapped the concubine of a nobleman in the county seat. It is already disrespectful. He actually dared to kill the soldiers guarding the city!
"
Since she accepted Jin Feng's benefits, Concubine Qing naturally wanted to help Jin Feng speak up.
"When Zhou Wenyuan kidnapped Tang Xiaobei, she was not yet Jin Feng's concubine.
As for killing the soldiers, they are probably scared. Jin Feng is a talented killer and he is reasonable. If Zhou Wenyuan hadn't run so fast, Jin Feng would have really dared to kill him!"
Chen Ji closed his eyes slightly, sighed and said, "Jin Feng might as well have killed Zhou Wenyuan at that time. This would have settled the matter once and for all, and the Zhou family and your Qing family would not bother me every day.
"
"Your Majesty makes atonement. I am a woman and do not understand political affairs. However, I believe that my brother's interference with Your Majesty must be for the sake of a prosperous country and the country.
"
Concubine Qing knelt on the ground and said: "Now Qinghuai and Xin Yao are guarding the border for Your Majesty, and Mu Lan, a girl, also talks about going into battle to kill the enemy and fight for the country every day.
The Qing family’s loyalty to His Majesty’s fists can be learned from the sun and the moon!”
"I just said casually, Concubine Qing, why are you doing this? Get up quickly.
"
Chen Ji stretched out his hand to pull Concubine Qing into his arms and changed the subject: "It is said that Baron Qingshui is not doing his job properly. A scholar does not study hard, but is obsessed with heresy every day. I believe it now. This soap he made is really good."
It's exactly the same scent as plum blossoms.
"
"Your Majesty, who said Baron Qingshui is not doing his job properly?"
Concubine Qing smiled and took out a soap box from the side, opened the lid and held it in front of Chen Ji: "This poem was written by Baron Qingshui, and I thought it was very good.
"
Dakang had promoted literature and suppressed martial arts for hundreds of years, and the literary style was extremely popular. The emperor Chen Ji was also deeply affected. He was not only talented in poetry, calligraphy and painting, but also very tolerant of literati.
When Jin Feng wrote a poem like "There is no idle land in the world, farmers are still starving to death" and was impeached by the enemies of the Qing family, Chen Ji did not blame it, but just laughed and passed it over.
Chen Ji is a qualified artist, but not a qualified emperor.
I believe in the art of imperial balance, but unfortunately I am not good at it and my ears are still soft.
Sometimes the princes would give him a rare calligraphy and painting, or spend money to buy some good poems and read them to him. Chen Ji might change his mind.
For example, now, as soon as Chen Ji heard that Concubine Qing was going to show him Jin Feng's poems, Chen Ji immediately became energetic.
"Baron Qingshui has some poetic talent. I have also heard several poems written by him. I will not mention the one about pleasing the brothel girl. Although the other poems are simple in terms of words, they are deeply emotional and can quite touch people's hearts.
"
While commenting, he straightened up and looked at the wooden box in Concubine Qing's hand.
On the lid of the soap box, there are four lines of boy engraved on it.
"The plum blossoms and snow are not willing to fall in the spring, so the poet put aside his pen and spent money on commentaries.
The plum blossoms are three cents whiter than the snow, but the snow is less fragrant than the plum blossoms.
"
Chen Ji slowly finished reading the poem, then closed his eyes slightly, shook his head and repeated it in a low voice.
It's like eating some delicacy from the mountains and seas, and being reluctant to swallow it, chewing it back and forth in your mouth.
After a few minutes, he suddenly opened his eyes, slapped his thigh and said, "What a Baron Qingshui! What a plum. The snow is three cents whiter, but the snow is less fragrant than the plum! It's so wonderfully written!"
When Concubine Qing heard this, a hint of joy flashed in her eyes.
She knew that Chen Ji liked plum blossoms, and she also guessed that Chen Ji would be happy when he saw this poem about plum blossoms, but she didn't expect that he would be so happy.
When Chen Ji had finished reminiscing, Concubine Qing said with a smile: "If Baron Qingshui knew that His Majesty liked his poems so much, I don't know how happy he would be.
"
"Forget it, I heard that Baron Qingshui was aloof and arrogant. Qinghuai valued him so much in Weizhou City and was ready to entrust him with important tasks, but he would rather go back to the small mountain village of Jinchuan than join Qinghuai.
"
Chen Ji said: "However, since ancient times, most people with poetic talent have been like this. If they didn't have a mind that is indifferent to fame and wealth, they would not be able to write such amazing poems about plum blossoms.
It's a pity that there is no snow in the plum blossom picture I made recently, otherwise the title of this poem would be perfect.
"
While talking, he kept playing with the soap box in his hand.
"Your Majesty, there is no need to regret. Baron Qingshui did not just compose this plum poem.
"
Concubine Qing covered her mouth and smiled, then took out another box from the side.
"besides?"
Chen Ji's eyes widened and he couldn't care less about the emperor's majesty and snatched the box from Concubine Qing.
[The author has something to say]
Beichuan knew that he owed everyone more than ten chapters, and he felt very guilty, but he was really busy recently and couldn't spare the time to type during the day. I'm sorry.
I'll write at least one more chapter tonight, but you don't have to wait, I'll read it tomorrow.