All the streets where the emperor passed have been cleared in advance. Although the people in the capital knew that the emperor was traveling, they were unable to pay homage to the holy face with their own eyes.
Because this was the emperor's first visit to the Old Summer Palace, it was particularly grand. The bright yellow guard of honor covered the sky and covered the sun, and the imperial guards followed behind with golden flags and velvet flags. The bells and drums sounded in unison, creating a solemn atmosphere.
The brothers rode in front of the emperor's chariot, and the imperial guards with swords in front were guarding the horses on the left and right. Hongli and Hongzhou held the reins in one hand and the waist swords beside them in the other. The sun shone on the gems on the handles of the swords.
A brilliant scene emerged.
Wherever they went, Gyeonggi Guardsmen knelt on both sides of the street.
The sound of carriages rumbled as they headed out of the city.
Sitting on the carriage, Ji Ling looked at the city of Beijing three hundred years ago through the gaps in the wind-blown curtains. Although the route he took had been cleared, looking at the houses and store signs on the street, there was still a sense of wonder.
The thick atmosphere of human fireworks.
The team slowly walked through countless streets and finally arrived at the city gate. The relevant officials on duty in Gyeonggi Province had already taken the lead and knelt down to welcome a group of people. Seeing the bright yellow color of the emperor's car from a distance, a large number of officials immediately knelt down and kowtowed.
Long live.
When the ceremony guard left the city gate and entered the suburbs of Beijing, the scenery on both sides suddenly changed - it was no longer a store floor, but a lush scenery of nature.
The carriage sped up slightly, but it was still very steady. Ji Ling leaned against the carriage window, listening to the clatter of horse hooves, and looking at the scenery passing through the gaps in the curtains.
The scenery is beautiful when you first look at it, but as you keep looking at it, it becomes a bit monotonous.
Qixi gradually recovered from the excitement of leaving the palace, and began to ask Ji Ling in a whisper: "Master? Are you hungry? Do you want some of the crab roe pancakes in the morning for the master?"
Ji Ling shook his head and said, "I'm not hungry at all. If you are hungry, just share the food."
She turned to look at Bixue and said, "You two, you stayed up all night last night, so you probably didn't eat well in the morning, either?"
After Qixi heard what Ji Ling said, she stopped mentioning the fried food.
But Bixue reminded her: "Sister Qixi, didn't we bring candies?"
As soon as Qixi was reminded by her, she started digging through the candies in the package.
Ji Ling looked around and began to look carefully inside the carriage - the carriage assigned to her was quite luxurious. Although it was said to be a noble's carriage, in fact it was based on the specifications of a concubine. The interior was extremely spacious and even
There are exquisite wooden tables, mattresses and quilts, all available.
Qixi also brought a small porcelain plate with her. After finding the purse containing the candies, she took out a set of porcelain plates.
Bixue helped her, arranged the candies on several tables one by one, poured the candies according to different flavors into several plates.
Ji Ling picked a little and picked up a few fructose made from licorice, ginger, cinnamon, and orange shreds and put them in his mouth.
The sweet and sour taste filled your mouth.
Qixi took out the embroidered slippers again, knelt on the carriage floor, and helped Ji Ling put on the slippers.
There were also silk eye masks, small waist pillows, and small silk quilts... Because it was midsummer, the concubine had a small ice bucket in her carriage. She carefully took the ice bucket away from Ji Ling.
, and covered Ji Ling's belly with a silk quilt.
Ji Ling was very happy to see her busy, so he squeezed her hand and ordered her: "Okay, take a rest! You stayed up all night, took a nap, and then arrived at the Old Summer Palace.
Have the spirit to take care of me.”
Bixue also nodded and said: "Sister Qixi, as long as I am here, you can rest assured and take a nap with the master for a while!"
Only then did Qixi rest.
She was really tired and sleepy - she tilted her head back slightly, and Bixue folded a coarse cloth handkerchief on the back of her head so that she could lean against the wall of the carriage. After a while, Qixi breathed
It just got longer.
Sleepiness is contagious.
Seeing Qixi sleeping so soundly, Ji Ling couldn't help but yawn, and felt that her eyelids were getting heavier and heavier...
The monotonous and rhythmic rocking of the carriage was like hypnosis. Ji Ling lay down on the small table and fell asleep.
…
I don't know how long it took, but the carriage suddenly stopped suddenly. Ji Ling's body shook and he woke up with a start.
As soon as she raised her head, she blurted out: "Are we here?"
Qixi had woken up in front of her a long time ago. When she saw Ji Ling's surprised look, she quickly said: "If I get back to the master, I haven't arrived yet, so this is a place to rest!"
She paused, made a gesture, and asked Ji Ling in a low voice: "Master, do you want...?"
Ji Ling shook his head.
When the concubines travel, they all bring respectful barrels, which are made of gold, jade, porcelain, wood and other materials according to their status. Scented tea, jujubes, etc. are placed in the barrels to cover the smell, and there are incense ash at the bottom.
If the concubines wanted to be more convenient on the road, they would stay in the carriage, with the curtains closed and their own utensils, and then the slaves would send them down. They would have their own "incense pourers" to handle it.
Ji Ling was afraid of this, so she resisted drinking more water in the morning.
She slightly lifted a corner of the curtain and squinted at the sun - it was rising quite high.
She turned around and asked Bixue: "It's been an hour since we left...right?"
Bi Xue put up the awning with her hands, looked at the sun outside the window, and said: "Return to the master, it has been more than an hour, and the master has just slept soundly. Don't you think, please look at the sun - it is almost noon."
Ji Ling calculated in his mind - at noon, it would be eleven o'clock.
After traveling through time for so long, she still wasn't used to it. She always listened to the hours and secretly converted them into modern hours in her mind.
It's coming soon! The Old Summer Palace should be very close.
She didn't dare to sleep anymore. She sat up straight in the carriage and stretched again. Only then did she realize that her whole body was aching from being jolted by the carriage.
The three masters and servants chatted for a few words, and suddenly someone came knocking on the carriage wall. Bi Xue gently lifted the door curtain, and saw that the person outside was actually Xiao Chenzi.
She was quite surprised and said with a smile: "Xiao Chenzi! Why is it you?"
After saying this, she turned her head slightly and saw two eunuchs following Xiao Chenzi, with their eyes lowered and their faces downcast. One of them was holding cakes and the other was holding fruits, and she understood.
Ji Ling was in the carriage, while Xiao Chenzi kowtowed outside and said with a smile: "My servant, Xiao Chenzi, would like to say hello to noble Ji! Jin'an! This is the pastry, tea and fruit that the emperor gave to the noble. The emperor also ordered the servant to say a few words to the noble."
:'The road is a little long, and the carriage and horses are tiring, so please be patient and patient, the journey ahead will be fast!"
Xiao Chenzi waved his hand, and the two young eunuchs came forward and brought the plates in their hands respectfully.
Bi Xue lifted the curtain of the carriage, and Qixi bent down to take the fruit plate and put it into the car for the waiter. Xiao Chenzi kowtowed outside and said with a smile: "If you don't have other instructions, my servant will go back and take your life!"
After he left, Ji Ling looked at the fruit plate on the small table. The fruit plate was large and heavy. It was covered with a thin layer of gauze to prevent mosquitoes, flies and dust. Below it were a few huge lotus leaves, which were washed clean.
Use it cleanly as a substrate.
There are four large light yellow lotus flowers on the lotus leaves.
Ji Ling reached out and touched the petals, only to realize that they were made of silk and not real flowers.
In each lotus, there is a kind of fruit. Looking at it one by one, there are green fruits, black plums, cherries, sweet apricots... a total of four kinds, all of which are warm fruits; the other plate of pastries is the ones she made in Yangxin Palace
Xitang’s favorite food while he was recovering from his injuries.
Ji Ling took a bite and found that the cake was still a little hot inside. It was probably brought out from the Yangxin Palace and kept warm all the way.
The cake was so sweet that she smiled after taking a bite.
When Qixi and Bixue saw each other, they both pursed their lips and smiled at each other.
The team rested for a while and then moved on.
Finally, around the first quarter of noon, the carriage gradually slowed down and finally stopped.
