Bixue was still describing the scene vividly, but Qixi interrupted her and whispered: "Stop talking, the master is still using the fruit bowl!".
Ji Ling fiddled with the remaining pieces of fruit in the bowl with a spoon, while staring at the plain swastika pattern on the edge of the bowl. He remained silent for a long time, then wiped the juice from his mouth with a towel and threw it back into the plate.
Qixi came forward to clean up the bowls and spoons, then turned to Bi Xue and gave detailed instructions: "You can go and prepare the things for bathing. The dried flower petals are still in the same place. Please take them carefully and don't knock over the porcelain jar with petals."
, you have to move faster, it’s almost time for the master to be settled.”
Bixue agreed crisply, took the bowl and spoon, and then retreated outside to ask Evian to bring hot water.
…
The stars are sparse and scattered like broken silver on the dark blue night. Under the starlight, the glazed tiles on the eaves of Yonghe Palace are like washing with water, giving off a flowing light.
In the main hall of Yonghe Palace, the window screens have just been replaced, and they are translucent. The lights inside are bright, outlining the silhouettes of two women in palace clothes.
In the courtyard, a slender palace maid was walking steadily towards the main hall with a plate of tea. Another young eunuch on duty was leaning on a pillar and was drowsy. At this time, he woke up a little and reached out to stop the eunuch.
He looked at her and asked her quietly: "Master, is he still playing chess?".
The palace maid nodded, pursed her lips towards the figure on the window, and whispered: "Master's chess skills, how can he be the opponent of Jingyang Palace? It will definitely be too early tonight...".
She paused and said to the little eunuch: "You, don't sleep too much. Look back carefully. The master called you on an errand. If you didn't hear, I'll skin you!".
The little eunuch shrank his neck and darkened his face. Sure enough, he woke up a little and stood up straight.
The palace maid held the tea and walked sideways into the palace. She walked over in small steps and gently put down the teacup and cakes. She saw that the chessboard between the two queens was filled with black and white. Concubine Ning was holding her chin with one hand and the other.
Holding the chess piece in one hand, he hesitated.
Mao Biyi sat at the other end of the chessboard, calmly waiting for her move.
Seeing that she still had no decision for a long time, Mao Bi picked up the tea cup that had just been given to her, took a sip and then said with a smile: "Ms. Ning Fei, the principle on the chessboard is 'the other side is strong enough to protect itself, and the only one who can make peace'..."
How come you forgot?"
Concubine Ning looked at the chessboard with a frustrated face, suddenly threw the chess piece in her hand on the chessboard, stretched out her hands and pushed it on the chessboard, shouting: "No more, no more!".
Mao Bi said "Ouch", but when it was too late to dissuade her, she saw that the chessboard was already in a mess, with black and white mixed together.
Mao Bi was both angry and amused, so she said: "Concubine Ning, I look at you... you are very confused today."
She paused and asked tentatively: "Is there something unhappy about your Majesty?".
Concubine Ning said lazily: "It's not a big deal, it's just..." She gestured to Guiren Zhang's west side hall with her lips raised.
Mao Bi looked in the direction she indicated, frowned, and asked slightly curiously: "That girl has always been timid and afraid of getting into trouble, how could she make you angry?".
Concubine Ning picked up a piece of pastry in her hand. After hearing this, she snorted coldly and said with a half-smile: "You are timid, but your brain is not slow at all."
She paused and said: "Maobin, you don't know, right? Zhang Yatou recently climbed up to Ji's family. You didn't see it like that. She was rushing on the ground! I'll watch, after a while, Zhang Yatou
How can there be a serious lady in charge like me?".
Maobin blurted out: "Ji family?".
Concubine Ning said: "Isn't he the lucky noble in your palace?"
Mao Bi thought for a moment and smiled and said: "Zhang Yatou and Mr. Ji are similar in age and have the same status. They are both nobles and have reserved temperaments. Jingyang Palace and Yonghe Palace are close to each other, so it is not enough to get closer.
Strange."
Concubine Ning put the pastry into her mouth, bit off a piece of it, raised her eyelids and glanced at her, saying sarcastically: "Ha! What a concubine! I used to think you were kind-hearted, but now I think more and more of you.
I can’t see through the fact that I always have such a friendly mouth and don’t want to offend anyone, but it makes me look like a mean master.”
Mao concubine's face was as usual, she just covered her smile with a handkerchief, leaned forward and said, "Where are you talking to me?" Jingyang Palace and Yonghe Palace were close to each other. Both the concubine and the empress were on good terms, and they were on good terms with each other.
Are you not allowed to allow the two people below to come closer?"
Concubine Ning glanced at her and said slowly: "I just don't like Zhang Yatou!".
Mao Bi smiled and said: "If the empress is really unhappy, I will just give her a small punishment when I get the chance. Why should I be angry on the surface?".
Concubine Ning rolled her eyes and said nothing.
…
At the third watch of the day, several bells are ringing.
The Hall of Nourishing Heart.
"What time is it?" Yin raised his head from the imperial case where he had collected memorials and asked, his eyes bloodshot.
Su Peisheng glanced at the Western clock, made quick calculations in his mind, and stepped forward and said softly: "When you return to the emperor, it will be the beginning of your ugly days soon. How about... I will serve you as a servant?"
Yin didn't say anything, but after a while he suddenly asked coldly: "Su Peisheng! I ask you, how do you compare Nian Gengyao to Prince Yi?"
Su Peisheng was almost frightened to death. He immediately knelt down and his voice trembled: "Your Majesty, you have broken this slave! What is the status of a slave? How can you comment on Prince Yi and the general!".
Yin Duan sat on the dragon chair, his eyes swept over the memorials in the case and landed on Su Peisheng's face.
There was no movement at all in Nuo Da's Heart Cultivation Hall. At this time, only the sound of lights crackling and exploding could be heard.
Yin said word by word: "I ask you, and you tell me."
Su Peisheng touched his forehead to the ground. For a moment, he thought of the series of iron-fisted measures taken by the Fourth Master when he ascended the throne, and his heart pounded in his chest.
He calmed down, kowtowed carefully, thought for a while, and then said: "Back to the emperor, I don't understand the things in the court, but I serve the emperor and often hear Prince Yi say: As a minister, you can be relied on.
Virtue, but never rely on talent!”.
Yin murmured: "You can rely on virtue, but you can never rely on talent... Yes, this is what only the thirteenth old man can say!".
Even if someone has great military achievements, if he has no ruler and ministers and acts wildly and disrespectfully, then the emperor will never be able to bear it.
He raised his head, looked directly at Su Peisheng, and shouted after a while: "Stand up!".
Su Peisheng shook his legs and stood up.
Yin's eyes fell sternly on a pair of lacquered red columns in the Hall of Yangxin. On it was a couplet he wrote in his own hand and ordered to be engraved when he ascended the throne: "Only one person can rule the world, how can he serve the world with one person?"
!".
One person rules the world.
Yes, this supreme authority...how can we allow others to tempt us!