There was no conversation all night. I only heard that Xuan Ling stayed with Xuan Qing all night and talked happily over wine. Xuan Qing, who was hungover, was also left to sleep in the side hall of Shuilv Nanxun Hall.
When I got up from my nap, Xiaoxiazi hurriedly came to me and said, "The Emperor is waiting for His Majesty at the Shuilu Nanxun Hall."
Coming in such a hurry, I had to dress up, and hurried to the Shuilv Nanxun Hall. The Yifu Hall where I used to live is not far from the Shuilv Nanxun Hall, but it was rare for a small house to have a dignified face and not a smile, so I couldn't help but call me. I thought about it. When I arrived in front of the palace gate, I saw the heavy bamboo curtains of the Xiang Concubine hanging low. Li Chang took advantage of the interval to greet her and whispered in my ear: "Yesterday, the Emperor and the Concubine Xian saw her."
In just ten words, before I could ask for details, my heart sank into the ice and snow, and I felt chills all over my body.
Xuan Ling was lying on the cool mat alone, and did not get up when I entered the palace. I gathered my clothes as usual, saluted as usual, and said hello as usual. He did not turn around, but said vaguely: "Well, you are here."
I didn't dare to say anything, so I sat down quietly next to him. Next to the couch was a round fan for screen protection. I don't know which concubine left it, but I only vaguely thought it looked familiar. The fan handle was gilded and hollowed out with carved patterns. , with apricot red tassels hanging down, a very bright color, the fan is made into the shape of a blooming lotus, covered with plain cotton, with endless pictures of "Smoky Mountains in the Distant Mountains" embroidered on it, all in different shades of green. , if you look at it for a long time, your eyes will feel slightly dizzy.
I saw Xuan Ling just closing her eyes, with fine beads of sweat on her forehead. I picked up the fan and fanned her gently. I smiled softly and said, "Silang sleeps so hot. Look at the sweat on his face..." …”
Xuan Ling sat up suddenly, glared at me, and slapped me hard on the face.
This hit suddenly, my cheeks were numb with pain, stars were dancing in front of my eyes, and I was stunned. I have been serving him for many years, and this is the first time I have been beaten. Even when I was grounded and imprisoned by him before, I have never received one from him. fingers.
Holding back tears, I leaned down and said, "Your Majesty wants to beat me and I don't dare to say anything. But what did I do wrong? Please tell me clearly."
"Excuse me?" His head was covered with sweat, and the sneer on his lips was completely inconsistent with this warm season. "I am embarrassed to say it!"
I caressed the hot spot on my cheek, raised my head with tears in my eyes and said, "I think there is nothing wrong that I can say to others. Your Majesty, it's okay to just say it. I am listening attentively."
The gelled atmosphere was slightly suffocating. Xuan Ling squinted his eyes slightly, and a thin cold light pierced the bottom of his eyes like a needle, "What did you and Xuan Qing do in the Royal Garden yesterday?"
My heart was shocked, I quickly calmed down, and said calmly: "In broad daylight, people are coming and going in the imperial garden. What does the emperor think I can do with the six kings? It's just a chance encounter with the six kings, and they asked each other how they are. Six kings I also like Xuepo very much, and I hugged him for a while." I thought about it, "Although it is against the rules for a prince to hug an emperor or a prince, but after the six kings returned from their travels, he hugged Xuepo, and there was nothing he could do to dissuade me." I felt deep in my heart. He said bitterly, "After all, Xue Po is the niece of the Sixth King, and I cannot ignore the feelings of uncle and nephew."
He was silent for a moment, then stretched out his hand to lift my chin, "The relationship between uncle and nephew? Can you and him talk about joy and sorrow for most of the day? You really think that I can't see anything! Back then, the Queen Mother and..." He His eyes were full of anger, and he couldn't hold back and didn't say any more.
My heart was shocked, and I finally understood what was bothering him - Xuan Ling was not unaware of the incident between the regent and the queen mother in the past! I looked at him silently and said quietly: "I am filled with sadness and joy, but also
It's for Yu Yin. She doesn't have a husband to accompany her every day. She can only wait for the six kings to come back day and night to talk about their love as husband and wife. Yu Yin is Chen Concubine's sworn sister, and it is reasonable for Chen Concubine to care about her.
."
He sneered and tightened his fingers on my chin, "Whether you are looking forward to Xuan Qing's return or Yu Yin, you know it yourself!"
My jaw ached, and I looked directly into his eyes, "To be honest, I don't want the six kings to return. Because when the six kings return to the palace, the emperor is moody and suspicious of his wife and children, and the palace cannot live in peace." I said it outright,
"The emperor once ignored my concubine because of her persuasion, and now he is suspicious of me because of the gossip between the six kings and my concubine. If the emperor has real evidence, he can depose me, and I will have no complaints!"
"True evidence!" He released his hand holding my chin, "When he led his army to rescue you from Mog at all costs, are you really not moved at all?"
I met his cold eyes with confusion and surprise, my painful knees softened, and I said in a trembling voice: "Didn't the emperor send six kings to rescue my concubine?"
Xuan Ling was slightly stunned, then calmed down, and the coldness in his eyes gradually melted away, "Of course, I ordered him."
I said "Oh", but I was just surprised, "If the emperor sent Li Chang here, how could I be moved by Li Chang? Of course I am grateful for the emperor's good intentions!" I said hypocritically: "What's more, I still deeply resent the six kings.
, how could Yu Yao be allowed to follow the army, so that Moge valued Yu Yao and became his concubine, and I lost my sister all my life, and now I have not seen her for several years."
There was a moment of silence, and I listened to the sound of the wind. He plucked the dense lotus leaves outside the window, and there was an uproar when I touched them lightly. His expression gradually softened, and he stretched out his hand to touch the swollen spot where I was beaten, and asked, "Does it hurt?"
I simply turned my eyes red and pointed to my heart, "It hurts here."
He put his arm around my shoulders and was about to comfort me, but suddenly his face turned cold again, "If you blame him, why did you talk to him for so long?"
I lowered my face and sobbed lowly, "Back then, I suffered deeply from Concubine Hua, and I could endure it for the sake of political affairs. Now, no matter how bad the Six Kings are, they are still my brother-in-law and the emperor's brother. How could I not know how to be patient?
Great scene work!”
He was startled, then his expression softened a little. He stood up and took out a few pieces of half-melted ice from the cloisonné jar in front of the bed. With a gentle gesture, he gently applied it on my swollen cheeks. The ice cubes were extremely cold.
The cold seeped into my skin, making my hair stand on end and making my hair stand on end.
Xuan Ling's gestures were gentle, and the ice water that melted when touching his muscles slid coldly from his cheeks to his neck, rolling down in a cold motion. Even his voice sounded a little dazed in his ears, "I have to be jealous of him. Since childhood,
My father loved Lao Liu the most and wanted to make him the prince several times. If it weren't for the opposition of the officials, I wouldn't be the one sitting on the throne today. Not to mention, whether it's poetry and writing, riding or shooting, my father taught me carefully.
Naturally, he is better than me in everything. Now, he holds military power again. If he has the past intentions of King Runan... I have to be on guard!"
I felt chills in my heart, so cold that I felt pain, "Your Majesty, the Six Kings don't know how!"
He suddenly threw the ice cube in his hand hard, and the ice cube rolled out, leaving behind a drop of broken ice beads and water marks, reflecting the snowy white light outside, like a cold shadow with a blade. His face was deep, and he scolded
: "How do you know what he is thinking if you are not him? How could he tell you whatever he has on his mind! I have long known that he has ulterior motives for you!"
I hurriedly knelt down and said, "I don't dare! I'm just assuming that the six kings have always been respectful to the emperor..."
"No matter how respectful a person is, he will have dissatisfaction when he has military power. What's more, my father has already preferred him to be the prince. There is no guarantee that he will not covet the throne!" His face was gloomy and uncertain, and a suspicious glint flashed in his eyes, coldly.
Said: "What's more, the royal family has no brotherhood, only the relationship between monarch and minister. I put it bluntly, if the monarch wants the minister to die, the minister has to die!"
It was like someone had poured thousands of years of ice water into my head. The bone-deep chill spread quickly from my mind to my limbs. My hands and feet were numb from the cold and I couldn't move. I just felt countless long cold needles piercing my brain, causing pain.
I couldn't think. I shouted instinctively: "Your Majesty, the Sixth King is your biological brother——"
"When I decided to fight for the throne with my mother, I had already forgotten that he was my younger brother. I have treated him so kindly over the years, which is a special reward." He paused, and his whole face revealed a sinister look.
Murderous intention, "I had a long conversation with him last night. He talked to me about military affairs, and I can tell you that he has a lot of insights. If this person is used well, he is a serious problem for me. If he is not used properly, he will be a serious problem for me. I will not tolerate him."
!”
I want to persuade you again, "Your Majesty, think twice. The six kings are not at fault for their military merits. If Your Majesty wants to get rid of him, I'm afraid it will damage your reputation -"
"Shu Fei, you never disappoint me when doing things." Xuan Ling stood up slowly and placed a delicately folded paper bag on the table, "So I still leave it to you to do this matter. I can only succeed.
Never allow failure." He touched my cheek gently, "You tell me with your actions that you have no selfish intentions towards him. I must get rid of Lao Liu, but I just want to give you a chance."
My lips trembled slightly and I shook my head instinctively to resist the packet of deadly poisonous powder.
His voice was sinister and bewitching, "I have already arranged everything. He is waiting for me to have a banquet with him at the Tonghua Terrace. You go in my place. I am waiting for your good news."
I struggled and said, "Your Majesty, please allow me to change my clothes."
"No need to change." He stretched out his hand to straighten the two phoenixes holding pearls on my bun. The golden wings and jade steps were swaying, so that the three strands of gold thread and the rose crystal tail pendant hung just right by my ears. He straightened it for me again.
Concubine Yang wore a silk dress with dark flowers and flowing cloud patterns, "My Huan Huan will always be so beautiful. If I were the sixth child, I would be willing to drink the poisonous wine sent by your beautiful hand. Go!"
I was pushed to my feet numbly by him, and Xiao Xiazi held my arm firmly and walked to the Tonghua Terrace. Xuan Ling's hollow voice sounded deep behind my ears, "When the matter is completed, Han'er will be the crown prince of Zhou Dynasty without any objection.
Because he has a mother-in-law who is deeply trusted by me and capable."
The moment he looked back, in the dim light, his eyes were as deep as an infinite black hole, far and unpredictable, and there was a faint ray of dark purple sword light, cold and sharp, piercing towards the direction of the Tonghua Terrace.
There is no way forward, and retreat will only lead to death.
The concubine-colored skirt was scattered like flowing clouds and gently passed over the white marble floor. Because there was a banquet in the palace, the floor of the tung flower terrace was washed with clean water, and the light was discernible. The small building quietly led me into the inner room, and the jasper bead curtain was leisurely
As soon as there was a sound, he stood up solemnly behind the curtain, saluted and waited.
"It's me." Through a jasper bead curtain, I suppressed the trembling of my teeth with the tip of my tongue and said warmly, "You're welcome, Your Majesty."
The curtains in the Tonghuatai Palace Pavilion have been rolled up, and the twilight is blurry. Xiaoxiazi stepped forward to open the curtains. Behind the bright pearl light, he was wearing a long tung-colored dress, and his long hair was tied up with a golden crown, looking at each other.
In an instant, the wind blew through the thin bamboo curtain outside the window, becoming more and more gentle and lingering under the soft light of dusk, like a soft dream.
I was in a trance for a moment. The tungflower terrace was full of lush green trees, and the shade was as old as before. It reflected the evening sky, the cool breeze filled my sleeves, and the sunset flowers in the corner were as bright as the clear snow. It was as if time and space had suddenly reversed, and I was back to the young man who first entered the palace.
It was still the night at the end of July that year, when I met him for the first time at Tonghua Terrace.
The days in Ziao City are as long as a thread that gets longer and longer. In the indulging loneliness, I always think of those days of Ling Yunfeng and of him whom I haven't seen for a long time. After missing me for so long, I only feel deeply at this moment.
I look forward to it, as long as I never see him and don't have such a relationship.
Xiaoxiazi hit Qian'er and said with a smile: "The emperor didn't sleep well in the morning and is still very sleepy at the moment, so I sent my wife to have a few drinks with the prince first. The emperor will arrive immediately after changing his clothes."
Xuan Qing raised his eyebrows and asked, "Is Brother Huang feeling uneasy?"
Xiao Xiazi rolled his eyes and started laughing, "Your Majesty is fine, but he is too sleepy in the hot weather and the concubine came again in the afternoon."
Having said this, Xuan Qing had no time to ask any more questions. Xiao Xiazi put down the sardonyx plate in his hand. On the plate was a Hotan white jade lotus petal wine pot. The bright red wine in the pot was like a bottle of peach blossom water, quietly containing an intoxicating sweetness.
The fragrant fragrance. The extremely delicate cap on the pot is made of two petals of white jade. It is almost indistinguishable to the naked eye and is always thought to be a complete piece.
His smile was as light as Twilight's, "I'm here to thank Concubine Shu."
My heart felt numb. The distance from Aqua Nanxun Hall to Tung Blossom Terrace was actually only a cup of tea, but it seemed like I had walked half a lifetime. My feet felt sore and I almost fell on my seat.
Xiaoxiazi put the wine bottle in my hand and said with a smile on his face, "I have Lady Lao sitting with you, so I'll go and invite the Emperor first."
The coldness of the wine flask is so close that it makes my fingers feel cold. That’s it for now, isn’t it?
I smiled heartily and said, "It's rare to drink with the prince."
There was no one else around, and I was the only one facing him quietly. His voice was as clear and fresh as the flying vegetation in early summer, "You still like princess-colored clothes."
Suddenly I remembered that when we met by chance on Tonghua Terrace that year, I was also wearing a concubine-colored dress. Is the coincidence of time really going to last forever?
I stared at the little white and fragrant sunsets outside the window, and sighed: "The Tung Flower Terrace has been cold and lonely for many years, but these sunsets are blooming and falling, and they are still prosperous."
"Concubine Shu, do you still remember what I said in the past? Xiyan is a flower that only blooms for one night, just like love affairs that cannot see the light and are not accepted by the world. But some love affairs can no longer be accepted by the world and cannot be seen in the light, but they will still be in my heart.
The leaves are lush and will never wither.”
I sighed softly, "Will there come a time when someone feels that these sunset faces are an eyesore and will pull them all away without leaving a single leaf?"
"Perhaps." His brows were calm, and his words were light and firm. "Even if you remove these beautiful faces, the beautiful ones in your heart will never be removed."
I lightly pressed the lid on the right side of the pot with my finger. With just a little force, just a little bit, the light red wine flowed smoothly into the cup. I poured a full cup and handed it to him, "You have worked hard at the border these years."
."
His smile was like a ray of moonlight shining on frost, clear and clear, "Have you ever heard a saying, Concubine Shu, I hope that people will live forever, and we can share the beauty of the moon thousands of miles away. As long as you think of the beauty of the moonlight shared thousands of miles away, it can shine on those who are both physically and mentally healthy, no matter how hard it is and how hard it is."
Why not?" He paused and said, "Before I went to the palace to report on my duties, I went to Lingyun Peak. Every mountain and water was as before."
I smiled slightly and said, "It's a pity that I will never have the chance to go back in this life." After saying that, I raised the wine bottle and wanted to fill a glass for him.
He looked at me, "Have you ever thought about going back?"
"Do you believe it, Your Majesty? I have gone back several times in my dreams, as if I was still in the past, and nothing has changed. However, when I wake up from the dream and am in the deep palace, I can't go back even if I look across the world."
"After you returned to the palace, I also believed in the horse's rein. Every time I walked to your old residence, I always wanted to wait quietly for a while before leaving. I know that the best time in this life is all in Lingyun Peak."
There was endless tenderness and pain, piercing my heart densely. I was speechless, stopped holding the wine glass in my hand, and looked out the window in despair.
In early summer, the green color of the parasol trees in the Tung Flower Terrace becomes thicker, making the empty garden look more lonely at night. Most of the bright purple and pink tung flowers have faded. Occasionally, there are a few sporadic flowers on the branches, which have also turned into a dull red. At night,
The sky has been swallowed up by a sad ink color, and the crimson glazed palace lanterns in each courtyard of the palace are lit one by one, as if bright stars are rising in the sky, but they are so far away and out of reach.
It was the light of the world, but I was wandering in hell.
The window sash is half closed, and the clear moonlight is filled with the rising moon in front of the stage. On the night of the 17th, the full moon is gradually becoming incomplete, and there is no way to change it.
"Do you still remember that wedding invitation?"
My heart suddenly softened, and I could hardly hold back the tears in my eyes, so I had to quietly wipe them with silk, and said with all my strength, "Remember."
He smiled slightly and said, "I have a Geng Tie, but I have never drank a cup of wine."
My whole body was shaken, and the despair and tearing pain in my heart overwhelmed me. I lowered my head, lowered my eyelashes, and a clear tear fell from my eyes, and slipped silently into my wine glass.
A dream that has never come true, let’s just think of it as my complete willfulness today. With a cruel heart, I lightly pressed the left side of the pot lid with the fingertips of my broad sleeves, and the wine couldn’t wait to fall from the snake-shaped spout with its fragrant aroma.
.I hid my tears, my smile bloomed like a pear blossom, and I said quietly: "Okay."