Each of the masters in Lianchi Academy has a room for rest.
Queen Yu is no exception.
Queen Yu's house is adjacent to Gu Shanchang's house, and the furnishings in the house are almost the same. They are elegant and simple, with nothing else except the necessary tables, chairs, beds, dressing tables and mirrors.
Yuqiao Zhilan smiled and held up the food box: "Queen, this is the lunch delivered by the imperial kitchen."
Yu Qiao and Zhi Lan were both Queen Yu's maids at the time. Now they are both over forty years old and are the female officials in charge of the Jiaofang Palace.
They have served Empress Yu for many years and are well aware of Empress Yu's temperament and preferences. Every time they go to Lianchi Academy, they are the two of them who serve her closely.
Queen Yu had been in class for half a day, and she felt hungry. She immediately smiled and said, "Let's prepare the meal now!" Then she ordered, "Yu Qiao, go and invite Xianzhi to come and have dinner with me."
Yu Qiao responded with a smile.
Empress Yu and Chief Gu had grown up together since childhood and had a deep friendship. Empress Yu founded the Lotus Pond Academy, but it was Chief Gu who actually managed the affairs and worked hard.
Queen Yu came here three days a month and often had meals with Chief Gu.
Unexpectedly, at this review, the mountain chief shied away: "I've already laid out lunch here, so I won't bother you anymore."
Yu Qiao said with a smile: "My Majesty specially asked my servants to come and invite me. If the mountain chief doesn't go, I'm afraid that my wife will be unhappy and will send my slaves away. I sincerely ask the mountain chief to show mercy to my slaves."
This confirmed her soft-heartedness.
Gu Shanchang glanced at Yu Qiao angrily, sighed, and finally agreed.
…
The lunch served in the imperial dining room consisted of eight dishes, all of which were delicious, delicious and far superior to the meals at Lotus Pond Academy. Only one of them was roasted sea cucumber with green onion, which was a rare delicacy.
Having been the Queen of the Central Palace for many years, no matter how simple and low-key she is, her food and clothing are much more exquisite than ordinary people.
Since Chief Gu Shan arrived, he did not show any courtesy and sat down opposite Queen Yu.
Empress Yu personally served a bowl of Japonica rice for Gu Shanchang, and said with a friendly smile: "I specially asked the imperial kitchen to put some red beans on the rice."
She has loved eating red beans and rice since she was a child. Cooked red beans are always prepared in the Gu family's kitchen, and the cook will always steam a bowl of rice mixed with red beans. After leaving the Gu family and living in the academy, this special treatment naturally disappeared.
.
Every time Queen Yu comes, she never forgets to bring red beans and rice.
A hint of complexity flashed through Gu Shan's eyes, and he silently took the bowl.
The food was delicious, the red beans and rice were soft and sweet. After eating two bowls, Gu Shanchang put down his chopsticks. When he looked up, he saw Queen Yu looking at him with a smile.
It was as if there had never been any disputes in the Jiao Fang Palace. It was as if there had never been any barriers between them.
Just like sitting in the boudoir chatting in the old days.
…
"Xianzhi, today I asked the students why women study." Queen Yu talked about today's class with great interest. Xie Mingxi's words were learned over and over again without revealing a word.
I attended class all morning, and thanks to Queen Yu, I remembered every word of it so clearly.
After hearing this, Chief Gu Shan was also quite moved: "This Xie Mingxi is indeed witty and talented, with a deep chest. He is also surprisingly courageous."
"Yes! I haven't seen anyone dare to speak freely in front of me in many years."
Queen Yu made a double entendre and meant something else.
Then he sighed softly, with a flash of sadness in his eyes: "When people gain something, they will always lose something else. No one is exception. Even though I am a queen, I can't always go as planned."
Gu Shanchang raised his eyes and asked bluntly: "Are you explaining to me why you suppressed the substitute exam?"
Empress Yu was speechless for a moment, then smiled helplessly: "Xianzhi, I know you are still angry with me. However, I also have my own difficulties. Over the years, my position as queen seems to be stable, but in fact there are turbulences."
"Empress Dowager Li is extremely picky with me and insists on filial piety at every turn."
"As a daughter-in-law, I am born one head short. Sometimes I have to swallow my anger and give in a little. This matter is neither big nor small. If things get louder, the Emperor will naturally be on my side."
"It's just that if Queen Mother Li loses face, she will definitely hold a grudge in her heart. I don't know how much trouble she will cause me in the future."
"If I give in, she will give in on other things. It can be regarded as returning the favor in disguise."
"This is how things are done in the palace. You have been in the academy for many years, and your mind is still upright and simple. You can't bear to see me acting like this. However, I also have my own reasons."
The wrestling between her and Empress Dowager Li often resulted in winners and losers. In the final analysis, it still depended on whom Emperor Jianwen turned to.
The love between husband and wife was getting thinner and thinner day by day. To carefully maintain Emperor Jianwen's feelings for her and to consolidate his position as queen, it took so much effort that it cannot be described in detail in words.
The Xie family's scandal was a disgusting scandal for Lianchi Academy. For a queen, it was no longer a big deal.
At least, it wasn't worth it for her, the queen, to fall out with Queen Mother Li, or to test how much Emperor Jianwen still had feelings for her.
…
Seeing the loneliness in Queen Yu's eyes, Gu Shanchang felt a slight pain in his heart.
"Lianniang," Gu Shanchang called his friend's maiden name in a low voice, with a little indignation in his voice: "How could he treat you like this? He liked you so much back then. Because of you, he fell out with Empress Dowager Li and insisted on
I will marry you. When we get married, I will swear to treat you wholeheartedly."
"Why is it like this now?"
yes!
Since when did the man who loved her deeply change his appearance?
Queen Yu's eyes quickly flashed with water, and she turned her head to the side.
Gu Shanchang's nose was slightly sour, he stretched out his hand and gently placed it on Queen Yu's hand.
The silent comfort made Queen Yu feel much better. She quickly turned her head and smiled: "That's all! Don't talk about this."
"Xianzhi, I like Xie Mingxi very much. Looking at her is like looking at me when I was young. I must cultivate this disciple well."
Gu Shanchang deliberately smiled and said: "This is not possible. I also like her quite a lot and plan to let her inherit my mantle!"
The two looked at each other and smiled.
The unhappiness caused by the disagreement disappeared.
Gu Shan smiled and talked about yesterday's interesting story: "...Yesterday, when Dong Hanlin was in class, the sixth princess fell asleep. Dong Hanlin was so angry that he ran to me to complain as soon as school was over. Today, the sixth princess is in class.
How was your performance? Did you take a nap secretly?"
Queen Yu raised her eyebrows and said calmly: "Not only did I not doze off, I also listened very seriously." Then, she added teasingly: "I don't know how much I understood."
Gu Shanchang laughed dumbly: "The Sixth Princess is quite thoughtful."
It's okay for Dong Hanlin to fall asleep in class. Empress Yu teaches in person, so she must maintain a correct attitude.
Queen Yu did not say much about the Sixth Princess, but instead gave Chief Gu a meaningful look: "Does Dong Hanlin want to come to you to complain about some trivial matter?"
