The matter regarding Wen Yi and Di Ji came to fruition three days later. www. Xiao Tang, who was in charge of pastry ingredients in the Imperial Kitchen, came forward and said that he accidentally mixed up two powder ingredients, which caused Di Ji's discomfort.
When the news came, Ling Rong and I were stretching snow-white silk yarn and embroidering a double-sided embroidery on an ebony frame. Double-sided embroidery is most about the needle skills and the embroiderer's vision and thought. Thousands of pieces must be made.
Threads are hidden in embroidery without a trace. One more stitch, one less stitch, one crooked stitch, or one slanted stitch will cause the pattern to deform or change color.
The embroidery is a picture of a long trip to the spring mountains. Hundreds of green colors are gradually enchanting the eyes. After looking at it for a long time, my head feels slightly dizzy. Through the soft curtain of lake green crepe, a dark blue shadow falls on the ground. Outside the curtain, Jinxi carries a
The palace maid was drying a large piece of Minghua material sent by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, causing the tiny pink butterflies in the shadow to jump and flash, and the light and shadow separated, seeming to freeze the last sky shadow time of this summer.
I stood up and rubbed the sore back of my neck, took a sip of Xiangzhi and said, "What do you think?"
Lingrong compared the color of the silk thread carefully against the sun, with a faint smile on his lips, "This is the coincidence that Concubine Hua said."
I chuckled, "Why do you like to mince words when talking?"
Lingrong put down the silk thread in his hand, pursed his lips and said: "Yes. Following sister's order." Then he said slowly and calmly: "The emperor wants to conduct a thorough investigation, and Xiao Tang has made his appearance. It's just that someone did not want the emperor to continue the investigation and ordered the chess piece."
." However, she was confused, "It's just that...the emperor punished Xiao Tang for dereliction of duty and killed him with a cane."
I held the Xiangzhi drink in my hand, looked at the busy figure of the palace maid outside the curtain, and said calmly: "Of course I will be beaten with a stick. If we continue to investigate, it will be a scandal in the palace. It will be a small matter in the ears of the Yanguan and the Queen Mother, but in the eyes of the subjects, I am afraid it will be a big scandal."
She has fallen from royal dignity." I chewed the fragrant grass in my mouth gently and said slowly: "We all understand the whole story, how could the emperor not understand it? It's just that I can't touch her temporarily."
Seeing that Lingrong seemed confused and puzzled, he stretched out his finger to poke at the window screen in the southwest direction. Lingrong immediately understood and sighed in a low voice: "As the emperor, the emperor has so many helplessness."
I curled my fingers slightly, licked my temple hair, and said word by word: "The cunning rabbit dies, and the running dog is cooked. I am only waiting for the day when Murong's bird will be hidden."
Lingrong was silent for a moment, picked up a herbal grape, chewed it slowly in his mouth, and said, "Lingrong just feels that my sister is working hard."
I said: "How can you not be hardworking on the cusp of glory and grace?"
Lingrong clapped her hands and said with a smile: "But the emperor has been really good to my sister these days." She was quiet, "Actually, the emperor is very good to my sister."
This sentence struck my ears, and I remembered what I said when I was sitting with Xuan Ling the afternoon before yesterday.
He put me on his knees and peeled water chestnuts together to eat. We rubbed our temples together and held red water chestnuts in our hands. They talked softly and gracefully. It was such a beautiful scene.
I leaned against his ear and said softly: "Why does Shiro believe that Huan Huan is innocent?"
He was peeling the red water chestnut. He thought he was not used to doing this, so the peeling was very unfamiliar. The snow-white flesh was mottled with the dark red peel that had not been cleaned. He said: "You are Shiro's daughter-in-law. As my husband, how can I
I won’t believe you.”
Feeling warm and comfortable in his heart, he pretended to be angry: "Just for this? No wonder the concubines always say that Shiro is partial to me. It seems to be true."
He put down the water chestnut in his hand and said seriously: "Huan Huan would not do such a thing." He grabbed my hand and said: "Then you dig out my heart and take a look. Is it biased towards you or not?"
Looking at others?"
My face flushed, and I spat: "You are still the king of a country. What you say is not serious or serious, and it is ridiculous."
He smiled without saying a word, peeled off a complete water chestnut and put it in my mouth, asking, "Is it delicious?"
Frowning, he reluctantly swallowed it whole and said, "It's so astringent, it can't be peeled off cleanly." He couldn't hold it back and laughed again: "Silang holds the world in his hands, how could he be used to doing this? Just leave the little water chestnut to Huan Huan.
." As he spoke, he peeled off several pieces until the flesh was smooth and put them in his palm. He smiled and said, "It's sweet, crispy, and extraordinarily sweet. It's all thanks to your skill."
I smiled and said, "This is the red water chestnut from Jiangnan. It is crisp, tender and refreshing, and full of fragrance. It is naturally unusual."
As he spoke, Xuan Ling ate a few more and slowly closed his eyes to reflect, "The taste of this red water chestnut is clear but not greasy, just like the sound of your piano or your dance."
I laughed out loud, "If you are greedy, you will have to look forward to Shu. The words of the ancients are really true. I peeled the water chestnuts for you and you want to make me play the piano and dance."
He couldn't help but smile: "What kind of dance are you doing? Even if you think about it, I won't allow it." Then he said, "If you want to dance, I won't allow it. You'll be sweating all over and it's so uncomfortable."
I said "Ah": "He has 'ice muscles and jade bones, and he is cool and sweat-free'1. The emperor made fun of me for being a sweaty person made of water." I deliberately turned around and ignored him, leaving him alone for thousands of years.
After coaxing him, Fang looked back and smiled at him.
I thought about it for a moment, and suddenly I felt that at this time, I shouldn't be silent and think about it. I had to say something. Otherwise, it would seem like I was neglecting Lingrong and showing off to her. So I said with a smile: "The emperor is also very kind to my sister.
OK."
Lingrong suddenly showed an almost sad look, and looked at the hundreds of dazzling green silk threads on the embroidery frame in a daze, carefully smoothing them out one by one. I looked at her with a strange look, Xuan Ling was also kind to her, as a favorite
Concubine, what else does she have dissatisfaction with? However, Lingrong's mind is more sensitive than others, so it's hard to ask. After a while, she showed her face and said: "Sister, why do you suddenly want to embroider such a troublesome thing? It takes a lot of effort and trouble."
I stepped forward and looked at it quietly for a while, then stroked the smooth embroidery and said, "It really takes a lot of effort. However, the more effort you put into something, the more it tests a person's mind and endurance."
Lingrong said: "Sister's words are always so profound. What does embroidery have to do with the mind? Lingrong doesn't understand."
I changed the tea for her, sat down again to embroider, and said gently: "Sometimes, not knowing is a blessing. It's better to never understand."
Lingrong smiled, changed the subject and said, "Sister, I want to embroider double-sided embroidery on a whim. I don't know how many days of effort it will take. I will be back in Luang in a few days, so I'm afraid it will take a lot of time and effort."
I just lowered my head to embroider and said without raising my head: "Not to mention an embroidery stand, I want to move all the remnants in front of the Yifu Hall to Taiye Pond. Who dares to say that in front of me?"
No' word?"
Lingrong smiled and clapped her hands and said, "Yes, yes. I'm afraid that if my sister wants to transfer Fanyue Lake to Taiye Lake, the emperor will only say it's a good idea."
I couldn't help laughing: "How could you learn to be so glib?"
After embroidering for a while, my hands began to sweat. I was afraid that the color of the silk thread would be stained, so I got up and washed my hands. I saw Huanbi outside carefully choosing the colors of this season's clothes. The green dress was like a new lotus leaf curling in the sunlight. The earlobes.
The pinky-sized pearl earrings I gave her newly were shining like stars with every move she made. Suddenly she remembered something, as if she had recalled a bright dawn in the twists and turns of Shende Hall that day, and that
There was such cruelty and darkness behind the dawn that I dared not open it for a moment and take a look. Finally I couldn't bear it anymore. If it were true, how could I be different from letting others sleep beside me on the pillow?
The sharp blade hung above the head, as dangerous as an egg. He took a deep breath and called out: "Huanbi——"
Huanbi came in after hearing the sound and said: "Miss, do you want to exchange tea and fruits?"
I looked her over and over and said with a smile: "Didn't you go to the imperial kitchen last time to get tapioca flour to make pearl dumplings? Go make some for snacks."
Huanbi was slightly startled and said: "Why did the young lady suddenly think of eating this? After what happened last time, I felt filthy, so I took it all and threw it away."
"Oh. What a coincidence. I was still thinking about the taste." I said, "That's it, just do whatever you want." He turned away and asked Lingrong: "There is the chestnut cake that the emperor rewarded today. Come again."
Would you like a bowl of rice pudding?"
Lingrong said meekly: "Sister makes up her mind."
After having some snacks with Ling Rong, we dispersed. Watching the palace maids and chamberlains packing the bags for a while before returning home, I felt a little better and went back to embroidering.
Calm, this calm lasted until the Mid-Autumn Festival after returning to Luang.
As usual, the Mid-Autumn Festival is spent in Zi'ao City. The day to return to Luan is scheduled for the fifth day of August. When returning to Luan, the concubine's ceremonial guard has already arrived at the same time. Meizhuang's car is strictly guarded and cannot get off easily;
Yu Qingluan's canopied chariot followed the queen and her phoenix driver, with a dazzling majesty that swept away the decadent air when they arrived. After Concubine Cui, Feng Shuyi and Concubine Xinggui, Cao Jieyu and I drove together, and Lingrong followed behind.
It took two days of hard work to get back to Ziao City. Even though I was riding in the car, I still felt tired. Fortunately, everything was prepared in Tangli Palace. After a quick wash, I fell asleep.
The etiquette of the Mid-Autumn Festival was complicated. Xuan Ling gave a banquet to the courtiers, and in the evening there was a family banquet in the harem. The queen hosted it very lively. The eldest son of the emperor, Yu Li, and Shu He, and the two emperors Wen Yi were in the presence of each other, which was very cute.
According to the ritual, the family banquet was held in the Huiguang Hall, the first hall at the main entrance of the harem. All the kings and their wives were present. The Queen Mother seemed to be in a good mood, and she was accompanied by several concubines. The Queen Mother ascended the throne to the south, everyone
The concubines sat on both sides to accompany each other. A stage was set up in the south of the palace, where they performed various plays and dances. The emperor and the empress led the concubines, princes, and concubines to have tea and wine and congratulate the empress dowager on a long life.
After the congratulations, everyone returned to their seats. The music of congratulations was played over and over again, and the singers in the band used their loud and clear singing voices to sing birthday celebrations and toasts in harmony with the music.
As the most noble elder of this large, prominent and noble family, the Queen Mother can naturally enjoy the glory and pride that no one can experience. This is the first time I have seen the Queen Mother, whom I have imagined countless times in my mind. Although my position
This time I was far away from the throne of the Queen Mother, but it could not restrain my admiration and longing for the Queen Mother in the rumors. The various rumors made me draw an outline of the Queen Mother in my mind as a serious and powerful lady of the palace, but when I saw it in real life
When I arrived at her, I was a little surprised by her calm and calm demeanor. Because it was a family banquet, the Queen Mother's dress was luxurious but not grand. She wore a green and gold dress with simple patterns and refreshing atmosphere. Her hair was only decorated with jadeite and south pearls.
, her face is also lightly made up. The Queen Mother is not very beautiful, perhaps because she has recited too many Buddhist scriptures, but she has a faint noble and distant demeanor, which is impressive. As the most noble woman in this dynasty,
She was supposed to live a superior life that was beyond the reach of ordinary people, but for some reason her face had a haggard look. I think it was because she paid too much attention to the Buddha.
When the Queen Mother saw the dozen or so concubines under her, she looked very pleased and said to Xuan Ling: "The emperor needs the rain and dew to be evenly distributed in order for the heirs in the harem to multiply." Then she said to the queen: "You are the master of the harem, so naturally you have to take care of the emperor a lot.
, Don't let him have any worries about his future." The Empress accepted the order, and the Empress Dowager had a conversation with the Empress Shang Yue. Although the Empress was her niece, she was only polite and distant, and was not very close, which also confirmed that the Empress Dowager had always been
I don’t pity the truth of the Queen’s rumors.
Because King Runan was on an expedition to the southwest, and only Princess He was present, the Queen Mother smiled and said: "Your prince is not here, so you have to take good care of yourself and take care of the prince." After saying this, she ordered someone to bring something to reward her. Concubine He bowed after hearing this.
The Queen Mother thanked the Queen Mother for her concern. The Queen Mother said kindly to Xuan Fen: "I heard that Fen'er is very up-to-date, and is good at poetry, writing, riding and shooting. As a mother in the Ai family, I can rest assured." She turned back to Princess Shun Chen and Princess Zhuang He and said: "
The son you raised is very good." Due to the humble background of Princess Shun Chen, Prince Xuanfen of Pingyang has been raised by Princess Zhuang and Princess Zhuang. Now hearing what the Queen Mother said, tears filled her eyes with joy.
Because Xuanqing had been raised by the Queen Mother since Concubine Shu left the palace, the Queen Mother became even more affectionate when she saw him. She pulled him to sit beside her and said with a smile: "Qing'er is the most worried about the Ai family. When will the wedding be attended by someone?"
As long as I keep you under control, it means that the Ai family has given an explanation to your mother and concubine over the years."
Xuan Qing smiled: "Mother, don't worry, if I find the person I like, I will definitely marry him and give my mother a blessing. It's just that the person I like is very rare."
The Queen Mother smiled and said to Xuan Ling: "The Emperor also listens to this. Qing'er, a lady from the civil and military families of the Manchu Dynasty, you can choose slowly by yourself. If you are not good enough, as long as it is good, it doesn't matter if the lintel is lower."
Xuan Qing just smiled and said nothing, Xuan Ling said: "Don't worry, Queen, maybe there will be someone he likes tomorrow."
The Queen Mother smiled helplessly: "I hope so, I have no choice but to leave it to him."
The Queen Mother gradually started to look tired, so she returned to the palace first. Several concubines seemed to respect the Queen Mother very much. Seeing that the Queen Mother looked tired, they immediately accompanied the Queen Mother back to the palace. The family banquet was hosted by the Queen Mother.
The seats were arranged in descending order according to the rank of the concubines. Xuan Ling and I were not close to each other. I saw him sitting side by side with the queen from a distance. His bright yellow brocade robe made him look like a crown jewel and he had the demeanor of a king.
I smiled slightly at him, and he obviously saw me and smiled at me, his gaze was as longing as ever, far away. In the presence of a large audience, I blushed unconsciously and bowed my head shyly to drink a glass of wine.
When I looked up again, Xuan Ling was already talking to the Queen, but I saw Xuan Qing taking advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention and slightly raised his glass in my direction, smiled knowingly with him, raised his head and drank from the wine glass in front of him.
During the dinner, Xuan Ling looked at me frequently and asked Li Chang to personally share the dishes in front of me with me, which were mostly my favorite foods. Although he couldn't speak because of the restrictions, he was full of affection. He couldn't help but feel happy.
After the family banquet was finally over, Xuan Ling naturally stayed in the Queen's Zhaoyang Hall on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, and the concubines went back to the palace to sleep. Sitting on the sedan chair, the drunkenness just now was overflowing, her cheeks were hot, and her body was soft.
I stood up and crooked my hand for a while. I looked up and saw that the moonlight in the sky was extremely beautiful. The fifteen-year-old moon was like an ice disk, hanging high in the black and blue velvet-bottomed night sky. It was bright and clear. The moonlight was like water, reflected in the sky.
The halibut jade pendant on my skirt is even more gleaming and moist. The halibut is originally a pair of fish, and it is such a full moon night, but I am alone, facing the shadow of a pair, listening to the egrets paddling in the Taiye Pond.
The cold sound that passed by made me feel lonely and desolate. The bright moonlight also became the dim water color of the floating water chestnut leaves in Taiye Pond.
After the banquet, I returned to Yingxintang. Liuzhu and Huanbi served me and changed out of my auspicious clothes. I also took off my makeup and washed my face clean. I touched my face unconsciously and said: "
My face is very hot, I did drink too much tonight."
Liu Zhu pursed his lips and said with a smile: "Everyone gets drunk without being drunk. The emperor was so pampered with the young lady during the banquet, and even the newly favored Anmei couldn't take away half of it."
I said angrily: "Don't talk nonsense."
Huanbi was slightly startled, then smiled as before: "Really?"
Liu Zhu said, "Of course you didn't see it if you didn't go. Concubine Hua was so angry that her eyes were blinded." As she spoke, she bent down and giggled, "It's better to be angry with her, so that she doesn't know the importance of the young lady in the emperor's heart."
, so arrogant every day.”
I glared at her and said, "What are you talking about? Even if you are in your own palace, you have to be careful."
Liu Zhu then restrained himself and lowered his eyebrows and answered "Yes".
Huanbi held my dress and gently smoothed it and hung it up, and said, "The emperor has always been very kind to our lady."
Hearing this, my heart felt slightly warm, but also slightly cold.
Just after changing into pajamas, I heard footsteps outside the door. I thought it was Xiao Lianzi who was spending the night outside, so he said, "It's getting late, go and close the palace door and have a rest."
But it was Li Chang's voice who said respectfully: "It's my fault to disturb my little master's sleep."
Seeing that it was him, I couldn't help but wonder why he was here so late. He said politely: "I haven't gone to bed yet. What's the matter with my father-in-law so late?"
He said: "Your Majesty has something that I must hand over to my little master. I hope my little master has a good night and a good dream."
She said with a smile and handed it to Jin Xi. It was a very delicate wooden box made of red sandalwood and gold. There was a seal on the opening of the box, with a big word "sealed" written on it and an inscription next to it.
There are five small characters written by the emperor personally: "Given the Zhen family to Jieyu".
Li Chang just stood there with a smile and said: "Master Jieyu, please take a look, so that I can go back and recover."
I was slightly confused, and when I opened it, I felt my heart beating very fast, my eyes felt a little hot, and I couldn't control myself for a moment. Inside the box was a concentric knot of silver silk ribbons. The pattern of the knot was twisting and turning, and the buckles were intertwined and knitted.
It is both strong and full, obviously carefully compiled. There are two lines of regular script written on a small piece of silk paper next to it: Double Qi belt in the waist, the dream is a concentric knot. This is a poem "Thinking" written by Xiao Yan, Emperor Wu of Liang Dynasty.
Seeing that he had written the two sentences in his own hand, I couldn't help but smile, and after a moment I said, "Please, father-in-law, thank the emperor for me."
Li Chang just smiled: "Yes. Congratulations, little master." After saying that, he and Jin Xi and others retreated.
The moonlight was like intoxicating beauty, and through the ice-patterned window screen, it seemed like a milky white mist hanging on the ground. I held the knot in my hand, smiled and fell asleep peacefully.
I woke up early and looked in the mirror and slowly combed my long hair. I saw that the person in the mirror had picturesque features and a slightly haggard look on his face, but his eyes were still as bright as stars, like two pills of black mercury, and the precious light was flowing uncertainly as he looked around.
Thinking that Xuan Ling had stayed at my place for three nights, he thought he would go to Ling Rong's place tonight. Ever since the incident at Meizhuang, he had almost always been at a disadvantage. I thought that Ling Rong would be favored, but Concubine Hua and others did not dare to
What to do with me? Now it seems that it is better to rely on others than to rely on oneself. It is time to plan carefully.
Twisting a lock of hair in his hand, he fell into deep thought. Suddenly he saw a flash of green clothes outside the window behind him in the mirror. He almost thought he was dazzled. Then he shouted: "Who is sneaking around outside?"
However, Huanbi turned around and came in, smiling as usual and saying: "The emperor asked the father-in-law in the greenhouse to send some pots of newly bloomed purple chrysanthemums 'Shuangfeiyan' and 'Jianxiaxiao'. I want to ask the young lady if she wants to see them now.
I'm afraid of disturbing the lady."
I don't actually like chrysanthemums very much. I always think they have a bad smell, but Meizhuang likes them very much. She loved her so much last autumn, and I think there were countless precious chrysanthemums in Xuanling that were in full bloom for her.
The clouds are like clouds, and even the name of the hall where she lives is called "Cunju Hall".
I feel sad that the chrysanthemums are still in full bloom this year, but the glory of Meizhuang has disappeared.
The once glorious Cunju Hall has now become a cage for prisoners. Meizhuang has been imprisoned in it, leaving only the name "Cunju Hall" empty and sad.
My heart moved, I glanced at Huanbi, and said as if nothing had happened: "Go and teach someone to put it on the porch and take good care of it. I'll go down and take a look." After thinking about it, I said, "The jewelry the emperor rewarded yesterday is pretty good. You can pick some good ones."
I'll give it to An Meiren, Feng Shuyi and Concubine Xin Gui. Then tell Feng Shuyi that I will go over and talk to her tomorrow night."
Huanbi agreed and spun out lightly.
I watched her curling figure disappear outside the curtain, and suddenly my thoughts came to my mind, and I fell into endless thoughts.
In the evening, Xuan Ling did not come to my palace, so he took Jin Xi and Pin'er to visit Cao Jieyu in Hexu Hall. Thinking that he went suddenly, Cao Jieyu was very surprised. Because of the recent incident of Emperor Wen Yi, she always
It's a bit unnatural.
I just shook her hand cordially and said, "Sister, I miss Di Ji very much, so I came here to see her. Isn't it because Sister Cao doesn't welcome her?"
Seeing that I was polite, she hurriedly let me in, ordered the palace maid to bring tea to the guests, and said: "How could it be? I have been thinking about my sister coming over to sit here all day and night, but I am just afraid that my sister will be angry with me for being stupid."
I sat down with her, took the tea from the palace maid with a smile, slowly blew away the foam, and said: "Sister Cao said this to make my sister embarrassed. What happened that day was just a misunderstanding. My sister is just afraid of Sister Cao.
I still have a grudge, so I came here to resolve my knot with my sister. We all serve the emperor together, and we should not distinguish between each other. How can we hurt each other's feelings because of a small misunderstanding."
Cao Jieyu nodded repeatedly and said: "That's exactly what I said." As she spoke, she took my hand and caressed it, with a moist light shining from the corner of her eyes. "Although I am a few years older than you, I am a confused person. I heard that screwdriver the other day.
The bastard's bastard words have caused my sister to suffer such a huge injustice in vain. She really deserves a beating." He said, pretending to hit himself.
I hurriedly held her hand and said: "Sister, if you keep doing this, you will drive me away. Those palace maids talk too much, and they have made our sisters fall apart. I don't do my sister's business, I just care about the emperor."
She's just Ji, so caring about her will lead to chaos."
Cao Jieyu sighed: "I didn't expect that in such a big palace, my younger sister would understand me best. I only have one daughter, Wen Yi, so naturally I feel the pain of my dearest one. She is also in trouble, so it's hard for me not to
Worry. In this way, I fell into someone else's scheme and wronged my sister."
I smiled and said, "Don't mention what you said in the past. It's really presumptuous of me to come over to see my sister all of a sudden today. It's better that my sister doesn't take offense." As he said this, he brought the things up and pointed at them one by one and said, "This is mine.
I personally embroidered some bellybands for Di Ji to use. My sister is not good at needlework. This is just a little thought. Please don’t dislike it.” He then said, “These materials are newly imported from the weaving factory. Of course, my sister doesn’t lack these. She just needs to cut them.
Wear whatever you want." "These gouache rouges were made by Cui Shunren himself when he had free time. They are very delicate and rosy when applied to the face. They are actually better than the ones sent by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Sister, you might as well try them."
I said something, and Cao Jieyu praised it. The two of them were very affectionate, as if they had never had any quarrel. She looked at it once, picked up the bellyband I gave to Emperor Wen Yi, and looked through it with admiration.
He said: "My sister's hands are so skillful. The embroidery made by Zhai Feng seems to be able to fly. The flowers can smell the fragrance at a glance." After that, the wet nurse took Wen Yi out and showed her how to put on the bellyband, praising her.
Continuously, he seemed not to be on guard against me at all.
I looked at everything in front of me with a smile, hugged Wen Yi for a while, and then pulled Cao Jieyu over and said quietly: "These are just ordinary things. I have one more thing to give to my sister. It's just that it's not convenient here. Can I go to the inner room?"
?”
Cao Jieyu thought for a while and agreed, and entered the inner room with me. The inner room was very dark and cool, with layers of gauze curtains hanging silently. There was a rose purple brocade quilt on the bed, and there was a table in front of the bed.
A few new flowers were sparsely inserted in the shrugged pastel vase, which was not very luxurious. I took out a small enamel-inlaid gold box from my sleeve and solemnly said: "Sister, please accept this."
Cao Jieyu was slightly surprised to see me being so solemn and said, "Sister, what are you doing?" Then she sat down on me, took the box and opened it. Her expression turned into surprise and disbelief the moment the box was opened, and she said:
"I can never accept such an expensive gift. My sister should take it back."
I said firmly: "My sister has something to ask her for. If my sister says this, doesn't she reject her?"
Cao Jieyu carefully put down the box and said softly: "Sister, just say whatever you want. If you can help me, I won't refuse."
I suppressed my smile and said with sobs: "Hua Fei is noble and elegant, and my sister admires her deeply, but I don't know how I offended her and made her misunderstand me, so that my sister can't get close to her elegance." After saying this, I sobbed.
She started crying, "My sister is alone in this deep palace and is extremely lonely. Now that Chang Zai is grounded, my sister is even more alone. I hope my sister has mercy on me."
Cao Jieyu looked surprised and comforted: "What did my sister say? My sister is favored by the emperor and is a sister to Anmei. How could she say such a thing?"
I cried and said: "Sister, there is no favor for me. It's just that the emperor is looking at her for two more days. I'm afraid that she will be forgotten in a few days. Sister An is also not smart. Seeing that the emperor is getting more and more...
I dote on her, I don’t know where my sister and I will be in the future.”
After hearing this, Cao Jieyu's eyes were red, and she sighed: "What my sister said makes me sad. Isn't it the same situation as a sister? Although she has a child, she is just an empress and can't do anything."
I hurriedly said: "Concubine Hua trusts my sister very much. I also hope that my sister can say a few kind words in front of her. I will be very grateful to her for taking care of her for a day." As I said that, I picked up the silk and silently wiped the tears on my cheeks.
Cao Jieyu comforted me for a while and said: "If my sister has this intention, the empress will definitely know it. But it's better to take this gift back. I will try my best to reconcile it in front of the empress."
I cried and said, "If this is the case, my sister is willing to do the hard work for the queen and sister." Then I opened the box and placed it in front of Cao Jieyu, "This box of honey and incense was given by the emperor. I heard it was a tribute from Nanzhao.
There's only one box like this in total. I hope my sister won't dislike it and accept it."
Cao Jieyu hurriedly said: "This thing is really too precious. My sister is just afraid that outsiders will find out if it is given away for free."
I smiled and said, "If my sister is willing to help me, it is more precious than anything else. How could I begrudge a box of spices in front of my sister? What's more, the emperor rewarded me privately and never recorded it." After a pause, he continued:
"The fragrance of honey is subtle and tasteless, but it will last for a long time when it is touched on clothes. It is different from ordinary spices. My sister is not lucky, so I accept it happily." I added: "It's better not to let others know."
After rejecting it several times, Cao Jieyu accepted it with a smile and put it on the dressing table in the inner room. After chatting for a long time, I stood up and left.
When I returned to Yingxintang, I raised my sleeves and smelled it. I found that my body was already tainted with the vague fragrance of honey. However, the fragrance was faint and difficult to detect without smelling it carefully. I couldn't help but smile at the corner of my mouth.
Xiao Lianzi came in and said: "As soon as the young master left, Yin Xiu from Cao Jieyu's palace quietly threw out all the things that the young master had given me."
This was expected. How could she sincerely accept what I gave her? I didn't care about this and raised my eyebrows and said, "Did you even throw away the spices?"
Xiao Lianzi said confusedly: "What kind of spice? I haven't seen it."
I smiled slightly and said, "I understand. It's none of your business. Go down."
Jin Xi said: "My master is so sure that Cao Jieyu will accept the honey incense you sent."
After talking to Cao Jieyu for a long time, my mouth was dry. I picked up the tea cup with blue and white branches and drank half of it in one go. My long nails were dyed with impatiens just last night, and the bright beauty shone before my eyes.
, I glanced at her casually, then stopped looking, and said leisurely: "She has been under Concubine Hua for a long time and she does not dare to overstep the mark. I see that she abides by her duties in food and clothing, even in the inner room.
I know that she has never used such precious spices. Besides, the fragrance of honey is indeed rare. Except for people like the Queen who don’t like fragrance, how can any woman refuse it? Even if she is wary of me, she will not be willing to throw away this spice.
"Yes." I put down the tea cup and smiled: "Those who cannot let go of their glory and wealth will never be able to achieve great success."
Jin Xi said: "My master is confident, so I can rest assured." She said with a smile: "I have been following my master for almost a year. I am impressed by my ability to guess the subtleties of people's hearts."
I said lightly: "How can I guess people's hearts? It's just to think for a while before speaking." I sneered slightly, "People's hearts? That's the most difficult thing to guess. With my little skills, I can guess it. I can guess it accurately."
It’s difficult.”
Jin Xi smiled and said, "My young master, as long as he can guess the emperor's heart, that's enough."
I cherished my nails, took off the armor cover, and gently looked at a pearl inlaid on the golden armor and said: "In this harem, if you want to be promoted, you must guess the emperor's mind; but if you want to live, you must guess the emperor's mind.
You have to guess what the other women in the harem are thinking." Then he looked at Jin Xi: "Have all the arrangements been made?"
Jin Xi said: "Yes. My servant, Xiao Yunzi, and Xiao Lianzi have arranged everything so that no one else knows about it."
I smiled lightly: "That's good, don't let down my box of honey and incense, it's really a treasure."
Note:
1 It comes from the poem "Song of the Cave Immortal" by Su Shi of the Song Dynasty. This sentence describes the fairy posture and fragrant demeanor of Mrs. Huarui, Meng Chang's beloved concubine of the Later Shu Dynasty. It is said that it was originally written by Meng Chang and followed by Dongpo.