In Seoul in August, the heat has subsided and autumn is beginning. The sun is warm and the leaves are turning golden.
Li Fangyuan now has his own residence, a small four-entry courtyard built in Junxiubang, not far from Gyeongbokgung Palace. In the autumn afternoon, Li Fangyuan was practicing archery in the yard, looking up at the blue sky, where birds soared high in the sky and walked freely under the clouds.
In that distant place, can anyone see such a sky
A homing pigeon hovered in the sky. Li Fangyuan was delighted and whistled several times. Upon hearing the order, the carrier pigeon flew into the courtyard and cuckoo landed on Li Fangyuan's shoulder.
Li Fangyuan took out the creed on the pigeon's feet, glanced at it, his expression changed drastically, and punched the pine tree next to him: "I knew it!" The pine tree shook, and Li Fangyuan's palm bleeding, but he didn't notice it, stamped his foot, and took a big step. Come to Gyeongbokgung Palace.
Li Chenggui and the eldest son Li Fangshuo were in the Qinzheng Hall, talking about the three newly opened trading ports. When they saw Li Fangyuan striding into the hall with an angry look on his face, they couldn't help but stop talking.
Li Fangshuo greeted with a smile: "Fifth brother, are you so early today?" Li Fangyuan did not answer, nor did he salute the two of them. He walked straight to Li Chenggui and slapped the creed on the case: "You have done a good job!"
Li Chenggui is a majestic king and a general who has experienced many battles. How can he be easy to get along with? Without reading the creed, he shouted: "Shu Zi! There are no rules at all! Who are you talking to?"
Li Fangyuan's anger surged: "How many times have I begged you not to let her go, but you insist on letting her go! The harem in the Celestial Dynasty is complicated and dangerous. How can she, a weak woman from a foreign country, gain a foothold? All the men of the Cao family have died for the country, but you can't even think of someone like the Cao family. The last bit of blood shows no mercy!”
Li Fangshuo advised: "Fifth brother, if you have something to say, please speak it carefully."
Li Fangyuan turned around suddenly and shouted: "And you! It is our duty as men to protect our family and the country, so we must let a weak woman show up and leave her hometown! You and your bunch of Confucian scholars have been chanting and chanting in official documents all day long. If you’re just gesticulating in poetry and writing, what else can you do?”
Li Chenggui had already glanced at the creed in a hurry and handed it to Li Fangshuo silently, thinking in silence.
Li Fangshuo was yelled at by Li Fangyuan and was furious. Just as he was about to retaliate, he saw the king hand over the creed, so he endured his anger, took it and read it: "The princess has persuaded the Celestial Empire to send an envoy to Japan. However, when the princess served Taizu, the decoction was poisoned and she committed a capital crime. Taizu ordered the emperor to He tried to ensure that the demoted people chanted sutras at Tianxi Temple, and the princess asked what to do if Wang Xi was found."
Li Fangshuo smiled and said: "This is a good thing. Sister Wang is really good! Even if the Celestial Empire does not send envoys, as long as they receive Japanese envoys and successfully establish diplomatic relations, the three parties can start trade and suppress Japanese pirates." After a pause, he then said: "Wang Mei has already converted. Wouldn't it be useful to chant sutras in the temple? But Wang Xi's matter is a bit troublesome."
Li Fangyuan was extremely angry and grabbed Li Fangshuo with both hands: "You are just taking advantage of her! 'Getting what you want', what 'getting what you want'? Why don't you go to the temple and stay and chant sutras?"
Li Fangshuo is weak in literature and can't break away even though he tries hard. Seeing Li Fangyuan's eyes burning, he couldn't help but panic and shouted: "Father!" "
Li Chenggui shouted: "Stop!"
Li Fangyuan pushed his hand bitterly and let go. Li Fangshuo fell to the ground. Li Fangyuan turned to the king and said, "Father! Do you know how long Wang Shi has been in the Central Plains?"
Li Chenggui looked gloomy: "What?"
Li Fangyuan suppressed his anger and said: "Wang Shi is in the Central Plains, and it is extremely dangerous for her both overtly and covertly. The poison in this soup is probably Wang Shi's doing. If my father had told me earlier, I would have been able to think of a solution together. ".
Li Chenggui said sarcastically: "Oh? Are you so powerful? Are you even powerful enough in the Celestial Empire?"
Li Fangyuan said patiently: "Father! If Wang Shi does something bad, she will definitely be in danger, and it will be a big disadvantage to our country, North Korea."
Of course Li Chenggui knew this, otherwise he wouldn't have sent two guards to ask King Yan. She kept this secret from Li Fangyuan because she was afraid that he would do something drastic because he was protecting Lotus, so he asked calmly: "What should I do according to your wishes?"
Li Fangyuan said: "Wang Shi must be found and brought back to North Korea. Even his accomplices must be identified." Seeing the king nodding, Li Fangyuan carefully begged: "The matter is now over. Father, please send me a memorial to bring Lotus back." !”
Li Chenggui had already guessed what Li Fangyuan would say when he was thinking about it just now. He frowned and replied: "Don't you know that 'the married daughter throws water'? Princess Yining is already a member of the current emperor, how can she take her back?"
Although this was true, what the king said was very harsh. Li Fangyuan's heart hurt, and he still begged: "She is a commoner now and is of no importance to the heaven. My father sent a memorial to say good things and pay tribute, saying that my mother was seriously ill." I miss my daughter, maybe the Celestial Empire will agree.”
Before the king could reply, Li Fangshuo had already scolded: "You are dizzy and curse your mother to be seriously ill!"
Li Chenggui waved his hands, knowing in his heart that Li Fangyuan was deeply devoted to Lianhua and tried every means to save her. But Lianhua was originally guilty of a capital crime, and the Celestial Dynasty did not anger North Korea. How could he send him to look for trouble instead? And although she is now demoted to a commoner, the emperor still seems to be protecting her. She is beneficial and harmless to Korea in the temple. Japan is about to send envoys to China, and maybe it can be promoted.
Li Chenggui made up his mind and said to Li Fangyuan coldly: "The overall situation is more important. Princess Yining is already a beautiful girl who was given away, how can she ask the Celestial Empire to get her back? Don't mention this matter again!"
Li Fangyuan became anxious and wanted to fight again. Li Chenggui stood up and left the hall. Li Fangshuo glared at Li Fangyuan and walked away together.
Li Fang looked at the backs of the two men from afar, clenching her fists with a mixture of grief and anger.
In fact, I also know that even if I submit a memorial, the court will probably not agree, but I always want to give it a try. Unexpectedly, her father refused and completely ignored her life and death! She is in the monastery. Is she okay
Over the years, I have fought in the east and west, ascended the throne for my father, and done so much for North Korea! And my father completely ignored my own feelings! Could it be that I will always be manipulated and used by them like this from now on? Father, and then Li Bangshuo
Li Fangyuan thought about his fate for the first time.
On August 26, the 31st year of Hongwu, the fifth prince of North Korea, Jing'an Lord Li Fangyuan, launched a coup. Taking advantage of the illness of North Korean King Li Chenggui, he led the imperial army to raid Gyeongbokgung Palace. The eldest son Li Bangshuo was killed in the chaos. Li Chenggui was forced to canonize Yong'an Jun Li Bangguo as the crown prince and abdicated the throne the next month. This was the second generation monarch of Joseon, the Joseon Dynasty. It is known in history as the "First Prince's Rebellion" or "Wuyin Jingshe".
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"The monk's courtyard is quiet, and the moss color is even with the deep bamboos. The sunrise is still foggy and dew, and the green pines are like cream." Zhien arrived at Tianxi Temple from the palace early in the morning. The sky was dim, and several monks were sweeping the floor on the mountain path. Zhien smiled and said hello to each of them.
The corner door of the mountain gate had been opened. Zhien walked over and saw a middle-aged man blocked at the door. The monk who guarded the door patiently advised: "The main hall is not open yet. If the donor wants to offer incense, come back later."
The middle-aged man begged: "Let me go in first, I will go to worship the pagoda."
Huai Xin said: "The pagoda is now a forbidden area, and no one is allowed to get close. If you want to worship the pagoda from a distance," he said, seeing Zhien coming, he smiled and said hello: "Zhien, what delicious food can you bring today?" Empress?"
Lotus has been in the pagoda for several months. Xuanxin was the abbot of Tianxi Temple at this time. Remembering Master Hui Ren's instructions, he took great care of Lotus. Instruct the monks in the temple to be kind to Master Lotus and his servants, and to help whenever they can. Zhien was a simple and lovely person, and he soon became acquainted with the monks, especially the gatekeeper Huaixin Huaiyi, who they met every morning and evening, and became like good friends.
When the middle-aged man heard this, he hurriedly shouted in Korean dialect: "Zhien!"
Zhien stopped for a moment and looked at the middle-aged man with dark eyes.
The middle-aged man said eagerly: "Take me to see the princess, I am sent by the king." Seeing that Zhien didn't move, he said anxiously: "Hai Shou has seen me before. My name is Li Tianqi. It was Hai Shou who told me that the princess is here."
When Zhien heard what he said about his appearance and appearance, and that he indeed looked and spoke like a Korean, he couldn't help but believe him. But he still shook his head: "No one is allowed to enter the princess' place. You wait, I will ask Hai Shou to come out."
Li Tianqi said anxiously: "Zhien! The king ordered me to interview the princess. It's a very important matter. Please think of a way! Do you want the princess to be kept here forever?"
After hearing this, Zhien looked at Li Tianqi again, turned around and smiled at Huaixin: "Master Huaixin, this is our princess's old servant, can I take him in to see the princess?"
Huaixin scratched his head: "Isn't this good?" Looking at Zhien's smiling face, he couldn't refuse. While he was in trouble, he saw abbot Xuan Xin waving in this direction: "Zhi En, please bring him here."
Zhien smiled at Huaixin and led Li Tianqi to Xuanxin.
Xuanxin handed Li Tianqi a set of clothes belonging to a fire-headed monk: "Put these on before you go over there." He turned around and left.
Zhien stuck out his tongue: "I almost got into trouble. There are guards guarding the tower for a week, and the rules in the palace don't allow anyone to see you."
In the early Ming Dynasty, palace regulations were extremely strict, and concubines were prohibited from interacting with the outside world. Meetings between the mother-in-law's family must be approved by the palace, and even writing letters was once prohibited. When Li Jinglong visited Lianhua, he always asked the Queen Mother or the Empress for instructions.
Zhien and Li Tianqi, who was pretending to be a fire-headed monk, walked through the corridor next to the main hall as if nothing had happened. After crossing the courtyard, they could see the Shengguan Pagoda.
There were about a dozen guards in the palace. They seemed sparse, but they were secretly surrounded and guarding the outer circle of the tower. Zhien handed the suitcase in Li Tianqi's hand and said loudly, "Master Huaiqi, please, this is too heavy." The two walked towards the tower. The guard looked at Zhien, smiled and said hello, but didn't care.
It was already bright, and the thin morning light shone through the leaves overhead. Birds were chirping and jumping on the branches. Li Tianqi couldn't help but murmur in his heart when he saw that the tower was old and stained with moss, and some bricks seemed about to fall off. The two turned around the tower and came to the back side of the tower.
Hai Shou came up to him and was stunned when he saw Li Tianqi's face.
Zhien said softly: "The king asked me to come to see the princess."
Hai Shou quickly brought him to the wooden door with a smile. She called out: "Princess".
When the wooden door opened, a burst of cold air hit his face, and Li Tianqi couldn't help but shiver. Seeing that Lianhua's whole body was numb and in mourning clothes, she was already wearing a cotton coat this day and her face was thin. He quickly bowed down and saluted, "Princess!" His voice was choked with sobs.
Lianhua didn't know why, so Haishou helped Li Tianqi up and said to Lianhua, "This is Li Tianqi from the shop." He stepped back and looked around on guard.
Li Tianqi knew that he could not stay for long, so he raised his sleeves and wiped away his tears, and said hurriedly: "Princess! Your Majesty asked me to come. Your Majesty, please go home and let us send you away." As he spoke, he took out a note from his hair.
The lotus flower took it, and there were only four words on it: "Go home! Waiting for you!", and two circles were drawn on the back, which was the symbol of Li Fangyuan when the two were young. Seeing these four words and these two circles, Lotus couldn't help but burst into tears.
Li Tianqi said: "Brothers have made arrangements. Come to pick up the princess tomorrow night and leave the city early the day after tomorrow."
Lianhua took a deep breath and said slowly: "I won't leave. I'll write a note for you to bring to the Maharaja."
Li Tianqi was a little anxious: "Is the princess worried about the king? The king has replaced the crown prince with Yong'an Jun, and the king will give up the throne. The king has the final say now, so the princess doesn't have to worry."
Lianhua was stunned: "What does it mean to change the heir apparent, and what does it mean to give up the throne?"
Li Tianqi said: "Even if the king makes Yong'an Jun the crown prince, he will give up the throne to Yong'an Jun. I don't know the specific details. In short, the king said that the princess in North Korea should not worry."
Lianhua thought carefully. Li Fangyuan had been in conflict with the king and the crown prince for a long time. She even tried to persuade him at home last year, but something happened after all. I couldn't help but sigh.
Li Tianqi was still persuading: "Princess, the king has told us that it must be done well. Brothers are well prepared. Princess, don't worry, you can get home in about a month."
"Home..." Lianhua thought of her mother, her own boudoir, the Buddhist hall, kitchen, and courtyard at home. . His eyes couldn't help but be filled with moisture.
Li Tianqi waited anxiously, but did not dare to rush.
After a long time, Lianhua recovered her thoughts, calmed down, and said warmly: "Tian Qi, do you know why I came to heaven?"
Li Tianqi was deeply moved when he heard the princess call her by her first name, and said with a trembling voice: "Princess is for the friendship between Korea and China, and also for the Japanese pirates."
Lianhua nodded: "Then if you were me, would you go back now?"
Li Tianqi didn't dare to say anything.
Lianhua said: "This will definitely affect the two countries. At least they will become enemies, and more seriously they will fight each other. The people of the two countries will suffer. I can't do this." Li Tianqi looked at the princess, speechless, but tears were about to well up again.
Lianhua hurriedly wrote a few words: "Don't think about it if everything is well. It's great to make Japan! The matter of Japanese envoys has been settled." It turned out that Lianhua heard from Hai Shou that Li Fangyuan actually went to Japan personally. Japan was about to send an envoy to the Ming Dynasty, so he chose the opportunity to meet with Ming Dynasty. Zhu Yunwen discussed. Zhu Yunwen was very happy and immediately agreed to treat the Japanese envoys well.
Lotus looked at it and wanted to say something more. After hesitating for a moment, he finally just wrote the word "Treasure!" and drew a lotus flower in the lower corner, which was also a common symbol for the two of them when they were young.
At this moment, Hai Shou said loudly: "Father-in-law is here? So early?"
Li Tianqi hurriedly took the note, turned around and left in a hurry.
Zhang Yuanheng saw the back of a fire-headed monk and didn't take it seriously. He handed Hai Shou a food box and said to Lianhua: "Your Majesty said that you will probably arrive a little late today. This is a water chestnut that was just picked. Your Majesty guesses that the empress has never seen it before. Let me have a taste."
Hai Shou held the lotus in front of him. When Lotus looked at it, the food box was divided into several compartments. The water chestnuts were red, blue, green and white in shape, with two corners, three corners and four corners, with sharp thorns in the corners. I couldn't help but laugh: "So this is water chestnut, and there are also these types." But she didn’t know that in order to let her see more kinds of books, Zhu Yunwen specially ordered them to be sent from Suzhou, Wujiang and even Jiaxing in addition to the local ones in Jinling.
Zhien picked one up, and Zhang Yuanheng said, "Be careful not to poke your hands," and demonstrated how to peel it open. Sure enough, it was watery and fragrant.
Zhu Yunwen knew that Lotus had just arrived in the south and had never seen many plants in the south of the Yangtze River, so he sent fruits and vegetables in season as soon as they were available. The vegetables were also brought raw to Lotus for comparison. Water chestnuts, shepherd's purse, artemisia, chrysanthemum leaves, water chestnuts, loquats, figs, and lotus flowers always make me open my eyes in admiration. Zhu Yunwen once brought a freshly picked whole Gorgon fruit, which was shaped like a chicken head. He could not figure out what it was even if he smashed his head with a lotus flower, which made Zhu Yunwen laugh for several days.
Hai Shou waited for everyone to leave, and quietly asked the princess: "Why is Li Tianqi here? Does the princess have any orders?"
Lianhua shook her head slightly: "It's nothing." Feeling sad in her heart.
Li Fangyuan must be very busy due to the coup in North Korea, but he still cares about himself and is even willing to take huge risks to take him back to Seoul. He is bold and arrogant, but he is sincere to himself. And I have been stubborn and willful to let him down again and again. Is it wrong or right? The lotus looks up at a corner of the sky. Brother Yuanyuan, are you also looking up at the sky and missing me
Suddenly, there was a soft rustling sound, several crows flew up in fright, and three teenagers jumped in.
Lianhua was startled, and when she looked closely, it turned out to be Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Gaosui, but she didn't recognize the other young man in brocade clothes. He was tall and thin, very similar to Zhu Gaosui.
Hai Shou was also stunned, and quickly blocked the lotus, and said with cupped hands: "Long time no see for you two young princes! Who is this?"
Zhu Gaoxu chuckled: "Hai Shou! Why are you so nervous? This is my cousin Xu Zengshou, from the Duke of Wei's palace. The three of us have nothing to do, so we came to see the princess."
Zhu Gaosui also smiled and said, "Yining! Long time no see! How are you?"
Xu Zengshou was a little stunned: "I'm even prettier than you said! I'm just too thin."
Lianhua was angry and funny. The two brothers must have boasted about themselves in front of their cousins, so they turned slightly serious and asked, "How did you guys get in?" She waved to Hai Shou, gesturing for him to go and watch from behind.
Zhu Gaosui scratched his head and said, "We don't know the way. Zengshou brought us over the wall." He looked at Lianhua and said, "Yining! You have lost a lot of weight! Are you not used to the food from Jiangnan?"
Zhu Gaoxu agreed: "I can't get used to this southern food, it's tasteless! What do you want to eat? We'll bring it to you. Pickles? Steamed buns?"
Lian Hua was moved when she saw the enthusiasm of the two brothers. She had not seen much during her ten days in Prince Yan's Mansion, but she did not expect that the two of them would remember her. Wen Yan said: "Thank you! But no need! I eat well."
Xu Zengshou sighed and said: "You are such a person, no wonder the emperor is reluctant to part with it. How could you be poisoned?"
Lianhua was a little annoyed when he heard his unruly words, and kept silent.
Xu Zengshou was a little panicked: "Okay! I'm talking nonsense, don't be angry. But you look good when you are angry..." Seeing that Lianhua was a little worried and kept a straight face, he looked at Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Gaosui for help.
Although Lianhua was demoted to a commoner at this time, she was still the emperor's person, and the emperor protected her very much and visited her every day. Chanting sutras here is also a substitute for Taizu, with a distinguished status. Therefore, the monks in the temple and the chamberlains such as Zhang Yuanheng called Lianhua "Empress", guessing that she would return to the palace sooner or later. These young masters are young, used to lawlessness, and are about the same age as Lian Hua, but they don't regard Lian Hua as the concubine's elders.
Zhu Gaoxu tried to smooth things over: "Yining! After all, our brothers will stay in Beijing for several years to mourn. We live in Wei Guogong's mansion. If you need anything, ask Hai Shou to find us." What he said was so righteous, Lianhua was a little moved.
Zhu Gaosui smiled and said: "I'll bring you something fun next time! I just passed by the Confucius Temple and there were a lot of stuff! What do you like? Windmills? Clay figures? Ah, little white rabbit! How do you like it?"
Lotus smiled: "Okay! Thank you!"
After finally seeing off the three young men, Lotus closed the wooden door and crossed her legs to chant sutras.
Helpless but unable to calm down, my heart is ups and downs and my thoughts are confused. Lianhua didn't dare to press hard, so she casually took the glazed tower in her hand. Under the candlelight, the treasure color was still flowing, and a corner that was broken when she fell to the ground last time seemed to have no effect.
Liuli Pagoda, will you tell me if you encounter danger? When will you be transparent and overcome your calamity