4. Famous and beautiful flowers are in love with each other
Xu Yiren's affair had just started, but the queen was already choosing someone for the eldest son's wedding.
It was the season of blooming at the beginning of the century, and the atmosphere in Fengyi Palace was warm, so the peonies bloomed the earliest and best, so naturally they were the most beautiful flowers. The spring light was so warm in the afternoon that day, even a pair of mandarin ducks were accompanied by a pair of mandarin ducks on the flowerbed in front of the palace.
Sleeping in the warm sand, I reclined on the red sandalwood bed and took a nap. Seeing the beaded curtains hanging down in white and emitting soft light, I felt a bit lazy without realizing it. While I was drifting off to sleep, I felt
I heard Xiao Yunzi come in and quietly stood beside me. I heard him speechless for a long time, and I didn't bother to open my eyes, so I just said: "Say it."
Xiao Yunzi laughed and said, "I have disturbed your Majesty's sleep. Word came from the Queen's Palace that I am inviting your Majesty to enjoy peonies." I didn't respond, so he continued, "Actually, it's called peony appreciation, but it's just for the Emperor."
The eldest son is just looking at the concubine first. Besides, if we look at each other again, she is just the eighth young lady of their Zhu family."
Since the Empress Dowager, the Zhu family has had three heads of the harem, so naturally they are not willing to lose power. Unfortunately, the Zhu family has not had any outstanding daughters since the empress sisters, and several young ladies have died in succession before leaving the palace. Now the eldest eight
The young lady is the youngest daughter of the queen's cousin, only fourteen years old. If the queen had not had the right to make a decision on the day of the draft, let alone the power to comment, why would she have bothered so much? What's more, the act of kissing her would also
It can keep her in a stable position in the back.
Xiao Yunzi said: "It doesn't matter if your Majesty doesn't go, what's the big deal? No matter who she likes, after all, on the day of the draft, the Emperor still has to listen to your wishes."
I stood up slowly, opened the heavy curtains, and said calmly: "Ask Jinxi to come in and wash up." I glanced at him, "The queen is the lord of the middle palace and the closest relative of the queen mother. Remember, speak with caution." Xiao Yunzi hurriedly bowed his head.
First, I dare not speak anymore.
Before entering Fengyi Palace, I could hear laughter from a distance, like dendrobium beads falling down, and it was extremely lively. I asked, "Is the emperor's eldest son here too?"
A small eunuch at the palace gate said: "If you come back to Concubine Shu, the eldest son of the emperor is already here."
The Queen enjoys peace and quiet during her illness. Fengyi Palace has been deserted these days. It is extremely rare to see such liveliness. I can only see the fragrant shadows in the garden, the singing of warblers and the chirping of swallows, and the faces of people and spring flowers. Such a pleasant spring scenery,
However, the eldest son of the emperor just sat beside the queen, with a respectful face, but he did not raise his eyes to appreciate it. The queen looked at the dozens of beauties in front of her with a smile, then glanced at the expression of the eldest son of the emperor, frowned slightly, and then said with a smile: "Your Majesty
Is there a woman you like?"
The eldest son of the emperor raised his head and glanced quickly, then lowered his head hurriedly and said: "The queen is kind, as long as the queen makes the decision."
The queen stretched out her hand to caress the dragon pattern on the lapel of the eldest son's clothes, and said warmly: "You choose with your own eyes. If you like one, go and ask your father. Now that you have grown up, my mother will only make arrangements for you."
, I won’t make the decision for you.”
The eldest son of the emperor lowered his head even more, turned to look at me, and stood up as if he was receiving a general amnesty, "May your concubine be safe."
Hearing the sound, everyone stopped laughing and knelt down behind the eldest son of the emperor one by one. They said in fear and fear, "Concubine Shu, may you be blessed with peace and happiness." Only one person stood far behind and did not perform the grand ceremony of kneeling down to worship the concubine for the first time.
, she only bowed her knees and squatted down as a courtesy. I saw that her expression was arrogant, and her clothes were also very outstanding. She was far better than others, so I already knew it in my heart, so I just pretended not to see her.
The queen took the tea cup and took a sip, and said calmly: "It's just a normal meeting, there is no need to give such a big gift."
I said to Yan Yuese, "Get up. Today is the first time we meet. I will have a day to meet all the ladies for the Yunyi Palace draft tomorrow." After saying that, I looked at the emperor's eldest son with a smile, "The emperor's eldest son is getting taller and taller."
The Queen was interested in selecting the first concubine, so she only invited Concubine De and I to attend the occasion. Concubine De was already there in a short while. When the Queen was gone, she quietly smiled and said: "We are here. Let's talk about what the eldest son of the Emperor has chosen in the future."
One of them can be used to talk to us. It was chosen by the eldest son of the emperor himself. It was not her who had the final say. Even we are also happy with it."
I just smiled, shook my head slightly and said nothing.
At this moment, the first and second concubines have all taken their seats. The queen also ordered ten women to sit down one by one, "The peonies in Fengyi Palace bloomed early this spring, and it happens to be the year of the draft. It is really a good sign. I invite you all to enter the palace today.
We came here to enjoy the flowers, and secondly to get close to each other." After that, he looked at Concubine De and me, "The ladies who came today are all ladies of the noble family, and they are the most outstanding among these ladies.
, she is beautiful in appearance, knowledgeable in poetry and calligraphy, and behaves dignifiedly. The emperor once told me that this year’s draft was focused on choosing a concubine for the emperor’s eldest son. Concubine Shu is the favorite in the harem, and she has a prince herself, so she should be the queen.
Your Highness, Risan, let’s try our hand at choosing a concubine.”
The implication is that the eldest son of the emperor will only let those who are not attractive to him into the palace and be made a low-level concubine, and there are concubines who are favored in the harem. The future of the new couple is uncertain, so naturally it is not as stable as becoming the prince's main concubine.
Before she finished speaking, the eyes of the women who looked at the eldest son of the emperor seemed to be dyed with a charming color by the spring breeze. The queen smiled slightly, unconsciously, and introduced them one by one. The woman she was talking about bowed shyly,
Taking advantage of the break in the salute, she handed it over with a playful glance. When the last moment came, the queen's tone was already slightly solemn, "This is Zhu Hengming, the etiquette officer of the Imperial Academy - who is also your cousin's uncle."
**, the eighth in the family, you should call her 'cousin'."
I looked over with cold eyes. It was the woman who looked arrogant just now and was unwilling to kneel down. She was still looking calm at this moment, just like the queen's usual cold and dignified look. However, she was not a very beautiful woman, Qian Ya.
Under the yellow dress, the originally pretty eyebrows and corners of her eyes were dimmed by her deliberately reserved aura.
The eldest son of the emperor followed the instructions and called him "cousin"
Hearing Yu Li's words, she just bowed and said, "My little name is Qianwei."
The eldest son of the emperor nodded in courtesy and said nothing more. Zhu Qian bit her lip with her fine white teeth and turned her face away and stopped talking. Concubine De must bring the moon with her wherever she went, and at this time the moon was already dull.
Seeing that the Dettol peonies in the color of Eastern Dawn were embroidered very delicately on Qianwei's skirt, she felt very playful. She stretched out her hand to touch it and said with a smile: "This flower is as beautiful as the peonies in the mother's harem."
.”
Zhu Qianwei smiled without showing her teeth and was extremely dignified. "Thank you, Emperor Ji, for the compliment." She gently turned her hands over and gently brushed the place where Long Yue had touched her as if by accident. Concubine De frowned slightly when she saw it.
Guo Longyue's hand smiled and said: "There are some 'Jade White' flowers blooming well over there. My mother-in-law will take you to see them."
I was also displeased in my heart, but the queen was very smart, so she didn't realize it. She immediately smiled and said: "This year, the purple flowers in my palace are blooming the best. You can enjoy it by yourself."
After hearing the words, everyone dispersed. The eldest son of the emperor stood in front of the flowers in an autumn-colored robe. It was the most precious Yao Huang. The golden flowers bloomed in complex and scattered shapes. Each one was as big as a jade plate, with a majestic posture and condensed dew.
The fragrance was like a rising sun. The queen raised her face, and Xiwei stood up and came forward with a plate of fruit and said: "I heard that His Highness likes to eat ginger-flavored plums, so I came here to meet His Highness."
The warm breeze makes people intoxicated. The emperor's eldest son in autumn-colored robes and Qianwei in bud-yellow clothes stand side by side beside the dazzling golden flowers, like a pair of lovers.
The eldest son of the emperor picked up one and said with a faint smile: "I can't say that I like it, but my mother said that plums produce fluid and quench thirst, and ginger can warm the stomach, so I want to eat more of the fruits."
Xiwei said sternly: "The queen is thinking about your highness's health, and your highness should obey the queen's wishes." After saying that, she offered another one with both hands.
The eldest son of the emperor did not comment, just looked at the figure of Long Yue fluttering butterflies and chasing swallows, sniffing the fragrance of flowers, and said: "You don't seem to like children."
Qianwei frowned and said: "Children are always naughty and ignorant. As adults, we don't need to care about them and don't pay attention to them. This dress is specially made for the audience with His Highness. What will happen if someone breaks it?"
?”
The eldest son of the emperor smiled when he heard this, took the fruit from Qianwei's hand and called to Longyue, "Wanwan, come here." After saying that, he hugged Longyue and said, "These ginger-flavored plums are your favorite, so I'll give them to you."
Longyue smiled happily, held the hand of the eldest son of the emperor and said, "Brother Huang loves Longyue the most." Xiwei's face was red and white, so she had to look away and remain silent.
I smiled and said to the Queen: "Maybe the children will feel uncomfortable if we are here."
The queen nodded slightly and said, "It's windy outside. Concubine Shu, please accompany me to go in and change clothes."
Just when I was about to answer, Longyue came over to hold my hand and pouted, "Concubine Mother is missing. Concubine Shu, please accompany me to look for her." I looked around, and sure enough, there was no trace of Concubine De, and the Queen didn't want to.
Embarrassed, he said: "You go ahead."
After only walking around for a week, I saw Concubine De coming in from the ceremonial door. I asked, "Why didn't you say anything when you left? Fortunately, the queen didn't blame her."
Concubine De laughed and said, "She is so focused on the Zhu family's glory and wealth, why would she pay attention to us?" She smiled and said, "Fengyi Palace is so busy, and we have nothing to do with it, why not go to Shanglin Garden for a walk?"
The peonies over there are blooming beautifully." She caught a glimpse of the emperor's eldest son and Zhu Qianwei looking at each other sullenly, with a group of women beside him either pulling him to admire the flowers or talking to him, and she couldn't help but say: "The emperor's eldest son is very uncomfortable.
.Wanwan, go and take the elder brother to the Chenxiang Pavilion to enjoy the flowers, and tell him that the peonies there are also blooming well."
Longyue nodded, "I also see that the eldest brother has a headache. Where can he enjoy the flowers?" After that, he left happily.
Leaning on the railing and looking out, the cornices of the numerous palaces amidst the splendid flowers were like shadows imprinted on the five-color blur. I looked at the extremely beautiful women surrounding the eldest son of the emperor. How could such a wealthy family not be intoxicating?
It was said that I was going to Shanglin Garden. The peach blossoms on the bank of Taiye Pond were blooming. The light red color was scattered among the uneven yellow and green willows, but it couldn't hold back Concubine De's pleasure in admiring. I knew that she was not a reckless person, so I didn't do it.
When I asked more questions, I just followed her to the Agarwood Pavilion. Before I got close, I could hear the melodious sound of singing and dancing of silk and bamboo. Someone probably missed the beat. The music stopped for a moment and then started again. I followed the sound and saw
Beside the Agarwood Pavilion, a woman in a rose-colored spring shirt was dancing to a song. She spun more than a dozen spins in a row, then stopped again, looking distressed, and said to the musician: "I haven't even spun sixteen yet."
Hu Xuan, come again, come again!"
The musician persuaded her kindly: "Miss Xu has been practicing all afternoon, and it's time to take a rest."
The woman seemed to be angry, "I won't rest until I have completed sixteen twists and turns."
Several musicians looked at each other and smiled bitterly, and had no choice but to pluck the strings again. I smiled softly and called out, "Sister Yiren." She turned around and saw me, a little surprised and embarrassed, and hurriedly came forward to greet her, bowed and saluted, "Your Majesty.
The girl occasionally practiced some trivial skills, which made the empress laugh."
She thought she had practiced hard, her face was red, she was panting slightly, and there were some beads of sweat on her forehead. I smiled and said, "If you want to learn Hu Xuan Dance, why don't you come and ask me?"
She blushed even more, lowered her head and eyebrows and said, "I am afraid of disturbing the empress."
I took off the gold-threaded epiphyllum silk shawl from my arms and handed it to Concubine De. I said to Xu Yiren: "Raise your arms horizontally. The arms must be straight, but do not use excessive force. They must be as soft as if they are boneless. Pointing your toes
Stand on tiptoe high, take a deep breath, and after completing all sixteen turns, exhale exactly in one breath. Only when your breath is smooth can you achieve lightness and completeness." After that, I demonstrated it to her in person.
Xu Yiren was very smart, but she learned very well after only three or four times. She was pleasantly surprised and said, "Please ask the empress to accept me as a disciple. With the empress' guidance, I will not learn so hard."
I hurriedly said: "Sister Yiren is the daughter of Duke Sui, so why should I be forced to be my dance disciple? That is absolutely unacceptable."
Yiren's expression dimmed, as if she felt aggrieved. Seeing this, Concubine De saw her intention, smiled and scolded me: "What does it matter? You are a Chinese dancer, and sister Yiren sincerely asks for advice. Since the two of us are in love, why not
Complete this wonderful story."
Yiren was overjoyed and said, "I'd better ask your Majesty to give me more advice."
I hurriedly supported her and said with a smile: "My sister has Mrs. Zhuang Min to help her, so it is reasonable for her to enter the palace. Learning to dance can also win the emperor's favor for my sister."
Yi Ren hurriedly lowered his head and said, "I dare not think like this."
I held her hand and said sincerely, "You are my disciple now, so I will naturally teach you so that your hard work will not be wasted. - It doesn't matter that you don't want to learn this Hu Xuan dance. The Emperor has been refusing to watch this dance for more than half a year.
When I saw it, I felt dizzy and dizzy."
Yiren was slightly surprised, "Didn't the Emperor like Hu Xuanwu very much in the past?"
"That was in the past. I might as well tell you that ever since An's poisoned the emperor with Five Stone Powder, the emperor's health has been much worse than before - actually a lot worse. Although he often played and sang at night banquets, he didn't pay attention to it.
Concubine Ying is the best at the Hu Xuan Dance. Now she doesn’t dance much anymore and dances the Bamboo Branch Dance instead. In fact, the emperor occasionally has free time, but he just spends his time with a few young concubines and rarely watches other people’s dances.
Already."
Yi Ren looked slightly surprised, and Concubine De smiled and said: "The emperor spends the most time with Concubine Shu. Naturally, Concubine Shu knows the emperor's preferences best. If you don't believe me, you can ask the musicians around you. Concubine Shu is the best at Jinghong Dance, if so.
Maybe I won’t dance for a long time.”
Seeing several musicians nodding their heads, frustration gradually appeared on their pleasant faces. Concubine De smiled and said to me: "But no matter what, the new favorite is no match for the old love. Even though you don't dance, the emperor still loves you very much."
No matter how good the Concubine Ying, Concubine Ying, and Concubine Rong are at singing, dancing, riding and singing, they are still just concubines after all. The emperor was also fresh and energetic for a while, and after the enthusiasm was over, the newly selected palace concubines came in.
, they are just living in the cold palace."
I glanced at Concubine De in a hurry and covered it up with a smile, "Sister De Concubine is just joking, don't take it seriously. Besides, even if this kind of thing happens every year in the palace, it will never happen to a lady from a wealthy family like my sister.
"
Yiren slowly sat down on the railing, with a hint of sadness on her lips, just looking at a clump of dark peonies in deep thought.
Concubine De regretted her mistake and hurriedly grabbed me and said: "After being out for so long, the queen must be looking for us. I also want to see which young lady is the most suitable for the emperor's eldest son to see the concubine today."
I took over the Yancui draped silk and shook my head and said, "That's all. Those so-called rich men are proud of their noble status and are very arrogant. The eldest son of the emperor likes gentle and docile women. I'm afraid they won't even look at them."
Concubine De and I walked and talked, and gradually walked farther and farther. About a stick of incense passed by, Concubine De and I turned back again. A bay of clear water, as smooth as silk, passed around the agarwood pavilion, and the sound of the water was like a harp.
The flowers and trees on both sides were lush and the grass was lush and green. Several musicians had already dispersed, and only a few large bushes of peonies in front of the Agarwood Pavilion were blooming brightly, reflecting the rose-colored Xu Yiren.
Standing behind the thick trees, Concubine De looked into the distance and suddenly smiled, "Longyue is such a well-behaved child."
The spring sunshine, with its thin warmth and transparent light gold, brushed through the green glazed tiles rising from the four corners of the Agarwood Pavilion, brushed through the clusters of graceful peonies, and sprinkled finely on the bodies of a man and a woman.
Longyue asked curiously: "Why is the color of this flower different from when my mother-in-law brought me here in the morning?"
Yu Li couldn't answer for a moment and couldn't help but hesitate. Yi Ren held Long Yue's hand and whispered softly, "This flower is called 'Beauty Face'. It is deep red in the morning, deep green in the afternoon, deep yellow in the evening, and pink at night."
White has different fragrances throughout the day and night. Isn’t it like the face of a beautiful woman, which changes throughout the day, whether she is laughing, angry, cursing, happy or angry?”
Longyue knew that Yiren liked her, so she raised her finger and pointed at her face, and said with a smile: "Sister, she has a beautiful face." Yiren's face turned crimson, and Longyue became more and more reluctant, "Isn't that right, Brother Emperor?"
Yu Li smiled slightly and said, "Famous flowers make the whole country happy."
The peonies and peonies were in full bloom beside the Agarwood Pavilion, and the lingering fragrance lingered on my clothes as I brushed them lightly. I could still smell the sweet smell even if I and Concubine De were standing far away.
The grass is as fragrant as the grass, and the mother-of-pearl still carries the sweet fragrance of fallen pistils, and is fragrant. It fell from the cloud bun just now when Yiren was practicing dancing. Yu Li leaned over and picked up one, "Is it yours?"
Yiren nodded shyly and reached out to take it. Yu Li said: "The beads on this flower mother-in-law are quite valuable, but the style is the same as in the early Qianyuan period. Who gave it to you?"
"It's Mrs. Zhuang Min." Yiren blushed even more and muttered, "I am already clumsy, so it doesn't matter what style I wear."
Yu Li casually broke off a "Beauty Face" hairpin and tied it on her temple, "The palace would not give the peony such an elegant name as 'Beauty Face', but because of you, I will remember that this flower is called 'Beauty Face'.
"He asked softly, "What's your name?"
Yiren raised her pretty face, shyly and timidly, "Your Highness, my daughter is Xu Yiren, this year's show girl."
The graceful flower plate of peonies is carefree and ready to fall, and the petals of each flower overlap one another as light as silk. The fragrance of the flowers floats, dyeing the trains of the spring clothes and skirts, and also dyes the faces of the two people looking at each other.
I raised the corners of my lips lightly and said to Concubine De, who was also smiling slightly: "Xu Yiren is really well-behaved."