Forty-four, we meet you again in the season of falling flowers
A ray of silvery moonlight shines through the flowers and trees outside the window, shining in thousands of times. At dawn, it is replaced by a clear and vigorous sunshine. Whether it is a lonely empty garden or a bustling palace, even if I am already standing in the entire
The top of the harem overlooks all living beings, but my heart is like a fish, quietly sinking to the bottom of Ziao City, and then a ray of light leaks to the bottom of the sea, watching the time passing by silently and coldly.
I have become accustomed to the life in the harem. I no longer rely on the king's love, favor, and the glory and wealth that it brings like when I was young. I am more accustomed to looking at concubines who are younger than me.
, those flower-like women tried their best to compete for Xuan Ling's limited favor and share the glory.
I am getting a little older, but Xuan Ling's favor for me has not diminished much, and he treats my elderly parents even more favorably. Even though Hu Yunrong was named a good concubine because of Xuan Ling's favor, I am still a noble concubine.
My status remains unchanged. Compared with Hu Yunrong's young and beautiful self-confidence and publicity, I seem too quiet. I quietly take care of the affairs of the palace, quietly raise my children and grow up. In my free time, I drink tea and chat with the concubines who I know well in the past.
.
If nothing else happens, I believe I will continue to live this way until I become a concubine or a queen mother.
Of course, there is something else in my life that makes me feel more fresh and satisfied, and that is Xue Po.
More than nine months after returning from the border, I gave birth to Xuan Ling's sixth daughter, named Xue Po Di Ji, also known as Qian Yu.
She was a very beautiful girl, with a complexion as white and crystal clear as snow under the moon. Moreover, she loved to laugh, and her smile was clear, as if the white snow had melted into a budding red plum and gradually bloomed.
Children grow up day by day, and days pass by.
Occasionally late at night, Xuan Ling met a young and plump woman like a delicate flower in the east room of Yiyuan Hall, and I reviewed memorials one after another under the dim candle in the west room. My life is not one of sitting in a well and looking at the sky, at least.
Every few months I can get close to Xuan Qing's life in the sweet fragrance of memorial ink.
After that incident, he did not return to Beijing. Instead, he admitted the crime of leading troops without authorization and asked to guard the border and suffer the sandstorm to punish himself.
He guarded Yanming Pass for six months, and Hehe did not dare to invade.
He patrolled the border and walked all the way from Yanming Pass to Nanzhao Baiyi, where his biological mother was born.
A year later, Yuyao gave birth to a daughter. She was gentle and yet resolute, and she was very fond of Moge. It happened that Duoningge, the Dongzhanglan family, died of illness, so Moge took Yuyao, the only childless one among the concubines, from the west.
Zhanglan was promoted to the illustrious concubine. That year, Xuanqing sent a congratulatory gift on behalf of Zhou Dynasty.
It snowed heavily at Yanming Pass, so he guarded the border with the soldiers. There was three inches of snow on the iron armor, which won the admiration of the soldiers.
He guarded the border, drank and slept with the soldiers, and was not arrogant because of his status as a prince. The soldiers loved him and accepted him.
He governed the army strictly and did not touch the common people, so he was known as the "Wise King".
He respected Hehe and appeased the people. The borders were peaceful, mutual trade prospered, and the people lived and worked in peace and contentment.
Countless nights, when I was sleeping, it was raining, or the clear moonlight was shining brightly on the ground. I quietly put on my clothes and stood in the wind under the window with the carving of "Mandarin Duck, Lotus and Heron", hoping that I could take advantage of a
A wisp of wind blowing from the north can hear his voice, or feel more of his breath. There is a scroll hanging beside the bed, with gold paper on a red background, and a line of words written in thick ink, "If the flowers are good, the moon will be full, and the people will last forever." When the flowers are good, the moon is full.
It's easy to get. But people can't stay together for a long time. But at least, this kind of night sky is something he and I share.
But for a long time, the only sound in my ears was Xuan Ling's steady breathing, which was the closest to me.
However, every time Xuan Ling sees such memorials, he can't help but frown and worry, "Xuan Qing, isn't this an invitation to buy people's hearts?"
I didn't dare to persuade or speak out. After the incident in Taiping Palace, Xuan Ling was actually very taboo about me mentioning Xuan Qing. He pointed to a book of Xuan Qing and said bitterly: "He is also a soldier.
I propose to increase the military pay so that the soldiers can be fed and clothed. Could it be that I have treated the border soldiers harshly?"
After all, the concubine who was accompanying you couldn't hear it, so she took a plate of delicate snacks and persuaded her softly: "The six kings proposed this because they hope that the border officers will be grateful for the emperor's kindness and be more loyal to the emperor!"
Xuan Ling just sneered when he heard this, "To express gratitude to the emperor for his favor or to express gratitude to him for seeking the emperor's favor? Are you more loyal to me or to him?" He looked at the noble concubine and said, "I remembered that you were born in Qinghe Prince's Palace, so naturally you want to
Speak for him." He took two steps forward, grabbed the concubine's weak shoulders, and shouted: "Did you have an affair with him before you entered the palace?"
The concubine was so frightened that her face turned pale and she could only cry. "I have been serving the emperor since I entered the palace. I am loyal and loyal. How could there be an affair!" The concubine had never seen Xuan Ling speak so harshly. She was so frightened.
She collapsed on the ground, kowtowing desperately, "I have no personal relationship with the six kings! Your Majesty, please be aware of this!" Until her white forehead was bleeding, Xuan Ling had not yet recovered from his anger, and shouted: "Go! I don't want to see you again! He begged
Even with my military salary, I will not teach him to get what he wants!"
Since then, the concubines who were once in great power fell out of favor. Xuan Ling's temperament became more and more suspicious, and the concubines did not dare to talk about political affairs anymore. However, Hu Yunrong became more and more favored by Xuan Ling.
Two years later, Xuan Qing once again petitioned for the soldiers at the border, saying that the border was bitterly cold, and advised Xuan Ling that the "spring breeze" should also go to Yanmen Pass. Xuan Ling just pondered over and over again and called him back to Beijing to report on his duties.
The next time I saw him was in the late spring and early summer. Because of the early summer heat, I stayed early in the Taiping Palace. The spring light in the garden had not yet faded, and the lotus flowers in Fanyue Lake were already overwhelmingly beautiful, red and white.
, so charming that people can hardly part with her.
Lingxi likes lotus by nature, so she took my hand and went together. Lingxi is extremely quiet, and even if she likes something, she never shouts or cries for help. She only looks at you with a pair of clear eyes like mercury pills, making you soft-hearted.
In the afternoon of this day, I walked slowly along Fanyue Lake with Xuepo in my hands. After passing the Mirror Bridge on Fanyue Lake, I saw Youfeng Bridge. Under the bridge, the lotus flowers were the most abundant, and as far as the eye could see, there were new white lotuses.
One after another bloomed under the green lotus cover. Such fresh colors are more refreshing than the bright brilliance. Occasionally, a red dragonfly falls lightly on the branches and green leaves, and Lingxi can't help but say with joy
: "Dragonfly! Red dragonfly——"
The lake reflected the golden water under the bright sun and dazzled my eyes. I couldn't open my eyes. I could only smell the jasmine and jasmine blooming nearby with smiles. The fragrance was refreshing and gradually covered up the fragrance of lotus. I unconsciously said: "Here is
These fragrant flowers should not be planted."
As if there was a voice nearby, he said gently: "The fragrance of the lotus is already refreshing enough, but if you plant other fragrant flowers, it will mess up the smell and make it not pure enough."
Such a familiar tone has been repeated in my heart thousands of times. I can almost hear the sound of my own heartbeat. His breath is strange and familiar. The dryness of the wind and the cold breath of the iron horse are mixed with a touch of Du Ruo's tranquility. I
Suddenly I felt relieved, and my whole heart felt calmer than ever before.
I opened my eyes and saw him standing at the end of the light, as if he had come from the clouds. After identifying him for a moment, he tentatively said: "Uncle Liu Wang."
He bent down, his eyes turned into two crescent moons, and said with a smile: "Lingxi is so big."
He has become darker and thinner. His gentle face has been sharpened by the strong wind from the border. His eyes seem to have condensed the sharp cold air from the border, which is like hooks and cold moons, adding a little more fortitude. Because he has entered the palace, he has already
After taking off his heavy armor, he only wore a simple long coat of off-white soft silk, with some swastika embroidery on the cuffs. He had not yet had time to wash away the dust between his brows and eyes.
After such a long time, I almost looked through the autumn water, and finally met him again. It was so sudden, and the past events came back one after another. After so many years and years, it made me sad and happy at the same time.
I said softly: "I heard that the Six Kings were coming back, but I didn't expect it to be so soon."
The warm sunshine shone brightly across his refreshing brows and eyes. He looked at me for a full moment, his expression so focused that he seemed to not know where to start. After a moment, he slowly said: "I haven't been back to Beijing for a long time, and my return is as fast as an arrow.
." He paused and said, "I haven't seen you for a long time, Concubine Shu. How are you?"
Taiping Palace is full of flowers and trees, green mountains and clear waters, the fragrance of flowers is gentle, and green branches are hanging slowly. It is the old days that are before my eyes. I tried my best to hold back the sobs in my throat and said gently: "Thanks to the prince, everything is fine."
He looked at the sleeping baby in my arms and said gently, "This is Princess Xue Po." He stared at the baby in his arms for a long time and said, "She looks a lot like you."
Lingxi climbed on a calamus that stretched out from the lake and said with a smile: "Yes. My sister is already fourteen months old."
Xuan Qing was startled when he heard the words, and his eyes suddenly looked at me, seemingly inquiring. I understood his doubts, tried my best to suppress the anxiety and alarm in my heart, and just smiled, "The emperor loves this little daughter very much." My eyes were calm,
"I have given birth to three daughters, but the prince still only has one young prince. The fate of a daughter is not enough."
His eyebrows were slightly lowered, like a white bird folding its smooth wings, and he just smiled faintly at each other. I said: "Che'er is very big now, has the prince seen it?"
He lovingly stretched out his hand to caress Xue Po's cheeks as red as apples, and said, "I saw him when I went back to the house to change clothes. Yu Yin led him to wait outside the house." He smiled faintly, "He has indeed grown a lot taller.
, it can be seen that Yuyin loves him very much."
I was touched in my heart and whispered: "Yu Yin is a good mother."
Before he could answer, he just looked at Xuepo with a smile. Perhaps sensing his loving gaze, Xuepo quietly opened his eyes, turning his black grape-like pupils and looked at Xuanqing curiously, and for a moment, he revealed a very sweet smile.
Smiling. She also smiled, pulled my skirt and shook it, "My sister likes Uncle Liu Wang very much."
Xuanqing smiled at Lingxi and blinked his eyes. My heart softened, and I felt infinite warmth and affection. My hands relaxed slightly.
Coaxing her gently, Xuepo smiled happily, and her cheerful laughter was like the crisp wind chimes hanging between the eaves in March, making people happy.
"The lotus flowers in Fanyue Lake are still there. You have added another daughter, which shows that you are living a good life in the palace." His voice was like a piece of softly unfolded silk, warm and calm, "I am very relieved."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." I turned my head and looked at the new lotuses all over the lake lifting lightly in the wind, "The swords are shining in the battlefield, and the border is windy, frosty, and cold. Every time Yu Yin talks about it, we feel very uneasy."
He understood the quiet concern in my words with gentle eyebrows and said, "Thank you, Concubine Shu. I will tell Yu Yin when I get back, so that she can rest assured."
He didn't say anything more, he just hugged Xuepo and lowered his head to make her laugh. My heart was calm and shocked, and I suddenly enjoyed the warmth and peace of this moment. He had no chance to hug Yuhan and Lingxi when they were young, but only Xuepo
, Xue Po is the most blessed.
"Concubine Shu, may you be blessed." My peace and joy were instantly shattered by Li Chang's familiar sharp voice.
He stood behind me with a smile on his face, and said with a smile: "It's strange that the emperor is waiting for the prince on one side and he doesn't come on the other. It turns out that our Xue Po Emperor has tripped him. No, the emperor asked his servant to come and invite you.
Where are you?"
Xuan Qing paled slightly and said apologetically, "Then I will leave immediately."
He returned the snow soul to my hand, and they touched each other under the swaddling clothes. His fingertips were slightly cold and lightly touched my wrist. There was a warm pulse flowing under my thin skin. Above the pulse, he was hanging
With my coral bracelet.
He said goodbye, and Li Chang followed him and whispered: "The emperor has a deep brotherhood, so he specially asked his servant to come and see..." He whispered, but his eyes secretly gave me a worried look, and he followed closely.