Destined in the dark
In midsummer, the Golden Crow hangs in the middle of the sky, exuding a scorching aura.
The lush green in the imperial garden also revealed bursts of weakness, and a colorless gas rose from the ground, distorting everything around it.
The cicada's chirping was a bit harsh, and there was a hint of weakness in the noise, as if it was the last song of the midsummer.
Nangong Shunv's bright and clean forehead oozes a light sweat, but she still wears the complicated palace attire meticulously, followed by four palace maids walking on the road to the imperial garden.
Passing through the Imperial Garden is the former site of Fengzao Palace, which is the Weiming Palace where Princess Zhen Zhen lives temporarily.
Since Nangong Jingnu moved back to the palace, the two sisters have not seen each other for several days.
Nangong Shunv recently heard that Lu Zhongxing, the guard in front of the royal family, had set up another private house outside the concubine's mansion, and kept several concubines in it.
At the same time as she was relieved, Nangong Shunv fell into a new round of worries: she was an unloved concubine, and this matter spread to her ears, presumably the father and emperor knew it was only a matter of time.
She wanted to get in touch with Nangong Jingnu, and asked her sister to help her with one or two staff: on the day when the "unexpected incident" happened, how should she behave, or how to clean herself up.
Nangong Shunv was fascinated by her thoughts, but she didn't realize that there was a person standing in front of her. It was the voice of the palace maid who pulled her back - "See the imperial concubine."
Nangong Shunv stopped, and standing five steps away from her was the newly promoted concubine, who was already the first person in the harem.
Different from the solemnity of Nangong Shunv, Jiya wears very simple, plain-colored prairie bunts with a loose neckline, revealing a refreshing energy.
A trace of surprise flashed in Nangong Shunv's eyes, but she was quickly relieved: "See the imperial concubine."
Ji Ya came over with a smile, and naturally took Nangong Shu's hand: "What a coincidence."
Nangong Shunv nodded, and Jiya looked back: "I'm walking with Princess Zhuohua, you don't have to wait."
The palace maid retreated according to her words, and she was not surprised by this scene for a long time.
The imperial concubine and the concubine Yu Zhuohua had a very close personal relationship, and even the palace people in the inner court knew about it.
Ji Ya took Nangong Shunv and walked in the direction of her palace, and asked, "Why did you enter the palace on this hot day?"
Nangong Shunv: "I haven't seen my little sister for a few days. I wanted to visit her. If I have nothing to do, can you let me go first?"
Ji Ya looked up and said with a half-smile, "It's unfortunate that you are here at this time, and Princess Zhen Zhen is not here."
Nangong Shunv frowned slightly, and Ji Ya pulled her forward with added force: "You come to my palace first, and I have something to tell you."
…
What Ji Ya said was true. Nangong Jingnu was indeed not in the Unming Palace at this time. In this hot summer season, only one place in the entire palace looked cool.
In the study room of the side hall of Ganquan Palace, there are neat rows of bookshelves, and there are several large copper tripods on the side. On each copper tripod, cold water droplets are hung, and from time to time, they flow into a stream and flow into the tray below.
A lot of ice cubes are placed in the copper tripod, and ambergris is burning in the top slot.
Looking at the entire palace, there is only one person who can receive such treatment—Nangong Rang.
However, Nangong Rang was not in the study, sitting behind the imperial desk covered with bright yellow silk satin Nangong Jingnu in a red palace attire.
She was concentrating on writing something at the desk, her wide-mouthed sleeves were slightly rolled up, revealing a lotus arm.
The brushstrokes paused occasionally, and after frowning for a while, they could resume writing.
It has been more than half a year since the third son of the emperor, Nangong Wangli, for disaster relief in Beijing. Nangong Jingnv had a stack of memorials on her desk, and the one laid out in front of her was still very new.
The above Zhu Critic has replied dozens of words, and it is still increasing.
…
The guards in front of the royal walked hurriedly with a tray in both hands, and on it was the memorial that was presented to all the adults this morning.
When he came to the Imperial Garden, Lu Zhongxing suddenly widened his eyes and saw a familiar figure... No, it should be two in fact.
When he secretly walked an arc, he saw half of the body of another person hidden behind the rockery.
The imperial concubine Jiya, who was wearing a bunt, propped up on the rockery with one of her hands, and the other leaned on the rockery.
The half of the hem is magenta, the style of a uterus...
Jiya from the grasslands, like Qi Yan, has five sensitive senses that are different from ordinary people.
As soon as Lu Zhongxing stepped into their vicinity, she noticed it, but she just pretended to be okay and kept looking at Nangong Mistress with a half-smile, the other party's sullen eyes were really interesting.
Nangong Shunv just wanted to say something, but Ji Ya covered her mouth and whispered in her ear: "Stand here and don't move, someone is coming!"
Nangong Shunv was horrified, but Ji Ya did not see panic in her eyes. She pulled Nangong Shunv so that her figure was completely hidden behind the rockery.
Ji Ya shouted sharply: "Who!?"
With a "bang", the tray in Lu Zhongxing's hand fell, and before he could lean over to pick it up, Jiya had already appeared in front of him.
"Who am I supposed to be, it turns out to be Lord Lu, the imperial guard." Jiya deliberately revealed Lu Zhongxing's official position, and Nangong Shu, who was hiding behind the rockery, took a breath.
Lu Zhongxing hurriedly fell to the ground and respectfully said, "My minister, Lu Zhongxing, see the imperial concubine."
Ji Ya sneered: "If I remember correctly, this imperial garden minister is not allowed to enter."
Lu Zhongxing accompanied him with a smile and said: "My lord, I don't know, a few disaster relief papers have been sent to the court early. After reading it, His Majesty chose the urgent one, and asked Your Majesty to take a look. If it is Zhu Zhu, it will be sent back today... So the minister took the liberty to walk away. shortcut."
Ji Ya took a closer look, isn't there a few memorials? One of them is being spread out, and he has written a large article, which has left the comments of Zhongshu Ling and Nangongda. The memorial is signed: Qi Yan, Minister of Works.
Ji Ya leaned over to pick up the memorial for Lu Zhongxing, and read it generously in front of him before handing it back: "As the imperial guard, I peeked at the memorial, and let the concubine in the harem also read it, What's to blame?"
Lu Zhongxing's expression was a little stunned. He had never seen such a woman who reversed black and white, but he still knelt down on one knee: "Please raise your hand high!"
Ji Ya simply squatted in front of Lu Zhongxing, still smiling like a flower, but shook every memorial very badly and held it up in front of Lu Zhongxing.
Lu Zhongxing hurriedly turned his eyes away, and Ji Ya's calm voice came: "Yeah, it may make sense to accidentally see a memorial that was an accident. After reading so much... But what should I do?"
Lu Zhongxing's cold sweat dripped down: "What is your mother's intention?"
Ji Ya released the green jade fingers holding the memorial, and the memorial was spread out on the ground again. She clapped her hands as if nothing had happened before, and smiled lightly: "It's nothing, Master Lu, please do it."
Lu Zhongxing lowered his head and carefully closed the scattered memorials, placed them on the tray by category, then picked up the tray and left without looking back.
Ji Ya: "Come out, let's go."
Nangong Shunv came out from behind the rockery and shook the wrinkled clothes on her body.
Jiya: "I helped you stop your plagued concubine, do you owe me another favor?"
There was a trace of displeasure in Nangong Shunv's eyes, her eyebrows frowned slightly: "If it weren't for the noble concubine... I wouldn't have to hide from him."
Ji Ya: "Isn't there a saying among you people in Wei country that 'the Qing people are self-cleaning'? I haven't done anything with you, and what have I done?"
Nangong Shunv: "You and I are both women, so what if Master Lu sees it? This palace is just thinking about Fengyi, the concubine's concubine."
Ji Ya suddenly laughed out loud, Nangong Shunv looked at her strangely, waited for her to smile and asked, "What are you laughing at?"
Ji Ya took Nangong Shunv's arm naturally again, and said in her ear: "Thank you for reading a lot of books, and there are some things that even a foreign woman like me knows, but Princess Zhuohua doesn't know? How do you know what two women can't have, have you tried?"
…
Jingjia ten years, September.
The south has ushered in the rainy season, and the heavy rain in the north is also coming.
The craftsmen led by Nangong Wang, the corvée, and the craftsmen hired on the spot were busy doing their own thing, and finally repaired the river that was destroyed the previous year before the rainstorm came.
As long as they wait for another ten days and a half months, and wait for the first rain to fall, the drainage in various rivers and cities can be checked, and then follow-up consolidation, repair and adjustment will be followed, and they can return to Beijing.
In the past six months, Nangong Wang has "reasoned" quite a lot. Thanks to Qi Yan's confidant and the head of the Ministry of Industry, he can safely travel around the prefectures and meet the people he wants to win over.
Nangong Wang is more and more satisfied with Qiyan. Not only does he have a superior mind and control over people's hearts, but he is also a leader in his ability. Today, the craftsmen and officials above and below are not dissatisfied with him!
As expected by Qi Yan, when he asked the court for money for the third time, Nangongda only brought him some supplies, so Nangongwang lavishly hosted a banquet to entertain the prefectures, yamen, and Jiedu. Envoys and garrison generals, please give them money and strength...
With the support of the local army, a large amount of wages for hired craftsmen were saved, and the disaster relief was done quickly and beautifully.
What satisfies Nangong Wang most is that Qi Yan's performance was very interesting this time. After she came up with an idea, she silently stood behind Nangong Wang and fully supported him, and did not attend all the banquets.
This made Nangong Wang very relieved. After all, who would want to hold his braids in the hands of his staff
After more than half a year of busyness, Qi Yan's whole person has been blackened by a color number.
Half a year ago, she was still the gentle and jade-like son of Moshang, and the consort of the "two yuan and one flower" Princess Zhen Zhen.
Now she has become a practical decision-maker in disaster relief operations. She appears at the construction site almost every day before dawn, and eats three meals a day with craftsmen. She personally inspects and finalizes every drawing of the Ministry of Works.
The team waited for another fifteen days, and with a dull thunder, the first autumn rain in the northern kingdom came.
The sky was beautiful, the heavy rain fell for a whole day and night, and the river swelled sharply, which was a good time to check Cao Gong.
The rain stopped, and everyone walked out of their rooms to the street. The city wall was still strong, and the slate pavement on the street was rarely flooded. The craftsmen walked towards the moat with excitement. Although the river rose by more than a foot, But there was no trace of spillage.
Someone shouted, "It's done!"
The crowd burst into cheers, and even the face of Qi Yan, who was tanned into wheat, showed a rare smile.
I don't know who proposed a brocade box and ran to Qi Yan to open it. Inside was a bundle of coiled firecrackers, bright red.
Another handed the incense that had been prepared a long time ago to Qi Yan: "Sir, it's done! Please quickly."
Another craftsman took out the firecracker, tied it to the bamboo pole and held it up high. Qi Yan smiled and lit the lead. The craftsmen all smiled proudly and lifted the bamboo pole to the moat. The scraps of paper are like a small boat, falling on the river and drifting away with the water.
A few days later, good news came from all over the country: all the Cao workers in the affected counties have withstood the baptism of the torrential rain!
This is a very rare thing and does not require any later repairs. Such a huge project has been completed in one go!
The name of Qi Yan, the servant of the Ministry of Industry, is deeply imprinted in the hearts of every craftsman...
Nangong Wang was in a good mood, he bought hundreds of pigs and sheep out of his own pocket, local cooks and cooks came spontaneously, setting up a big stove and filling the smell of meat.
It can be said that the officials who came to relieve the disaster this time have lost a lot of weight, and the oil and water in the temple of the five internal organs after eating coarse grains and wild vegetables for several months has long been empty.
Especially Qi Yan, her clothes were all loose when she came...
After three days of carnival in various prefectures, Nangong Wang gave a speech again, and ordered the hired craftsmen to take their wages and disperse...
On the fifth day of October in the tenth year of Jingjia, the disaster relief team set off for Beijing.
When the team arrived in Jinzhou, Nangong Wang ordered to enter the palace to rest for three days.
At night, Qi Yan came to the main hall.
Qi Yan: "See Your Highness."
Nangong Wang supported Qi Yan with both hands, grabbed his arm affectionately and pressed her to the chair: "The great hero of this palace, come to your seat!"
Qi Yan smiled and accepted it calmly.
Nangong Wang: "Why is my brother-in-law visiting late at night?"
Qi Yan pondered for a moment, then replied softly, "It's not an urgent matter, but this matter is an important matter for the minister."
Nangong Wang: "Oh? What else? My brother-in-law said it's okay, this palace will definitely help."
Qi Yan: "His Royal Highness also knows that this minister was born in Jinzhou, and has not come back to worship the ancestors for many years. I wanted to do it when I came, but considering how inappropriate the situation at the time was, this time we returned our minister with full load and dared to mention it."
When it comes to acting and making a full set, the people of the Wei people pay the most attention to the meaning of filial piety. As a student of Jinzhou, if Qi Yan goes to Jinzhou twice and does not pay homage to the ancestral tomb, he will not only be criticized by others, but even arouse the suspicion of some sensitive people.
Even though Qiyan Agula doesn't even know where the ancestral tomb of Qiyan's deity is, she has inquired from side to side that the Qi clan in Jinzhou used to be the largest clan in the area, and the ancestral tomb is very easy to find.
Nangong Wang was embarrassed. He has always been known as a Li Xian corporal. Qi Yan has followed him for so long and made great contributions, yet he has forgotten such an important thing.
Nangong Wang: "This matter must be done! Brother-in-law, you are returning home now, and it is not only a matter for the ancestors of the royal family to be done, but also a big deal! The three animals must be prepared, and this palace will personally preside over it."
Qi Yan got up, raised her arms and bowed respectfully: "Thank you, Your Highness."
…
Due to the plague in the first year of Jingjia, the Qi family in Jinzhou withered. He also sent people to the adjacent state capital to invite all the men with the surname Qi over to support Qi Yan.
As soon as those commoners heard that they were the servants of the third-grade Ministry of Industry of the Dynasty, they were worshipping their ancestors, and they were able to participate in the ceremony.
Nangong Wang invited a special person to calculate the auspicious day: he ordered the station to continue after five days.
I heard that it was the great hero Mr. Qi who wanted to worship the ancestors. None of the officials and craftsmen who accompanied him objected. Some craftsmen even volunteered to follow the Qi clan into the ancestral hall to repair it.
On the day of the ancestor worship, the sky was clear and clear, Qi Yan took off the bunt and replaced it with the crimson official residence of the official third-grade servant of the Ministry of Industry.
For Qi Yan, this was just a show, but something happened later that made her feel happy and heart palpitations every time she thought about it for several years.
She is extremely grateful to the sky. If she didn't come to worship her ancestors, she really didn't know how to make up for the pain.
Before the ancestor worship, a small episode happened...
Qi's clansmen knelt in front of Qi Yan with strange expressions: "Clan brother, the villain has something to report."
Qi Yan: "Get up and talk."
The man stood beside Qi Yan with his waist bent, not daring to look directly at Qi Yan's face, and said in a low voice, "Sir, there is something wrong with the tribute to the ancestors."
Qi Yan: "Don't worry, talk carefully."
"It's strange to say, but there are not many nearby... Only the most important three animal sacrifices are missing, and the whole sheep that was cooked a few days ago is gone."
Qi Yan: "Gone? What did the kitchen say?"
"I have already sent someone to ask, and the kitchen has confirmed that it has been enshrined in the ancestor's ancestral hall the night before, and the whole cow and the whole pig are offered together, and there are all the others, including the melons and fruits, white dots, and two other animals. The sheep is gone..."
Qi Yan: "Did you send someone to look for it?"
"Don't worry, my lord, someone has been sent to look for it. This auspicious time is approaching, what if one of the three animals is missing? It's too late to kill the sheep now..."
Qi Yan also knew that cooking lamb was a labor-intensive task, so she looked up at the sky and said cautiously, "There is still some time, so I will have someone slaughter a big cock and bring it here."
"The rooster? This...?"
Qi Yan: "Although my Jinzhou Qi clan has a third grade, but it is not among the three princes. Even with the permission of the third highness, these three sacrifices are still a bit arrogant. The sheep lost out of thin air may be the meaning of the ancestors..."
As soon as the words fell, a guard ran over with a knife on his waist and knelt in front of Qi Yan on one knee: "Report!"
Qi Yan: "Get up and answer."
Guard: "Yes, Master Qi's lost sacrifice has been found..."
Qi Yan saw that the guards hesitated to speak, and asked, "It's okay if you say it."
Guard: "Yes, we spread out the big net and found a small temple fifteen miles outside Jinzhou City. The lost sacrifices were stolen and... eaten. Your lord forgive me!"
Qi Yan turned to Qi's clan and said, "Go and do as I say."
"Yes!"
Qi Yan then said to the guard, "But the disaster victims here?"
The guard looked a little strange, glanced around and approached Qi Yan and said in a low voice, "It's a disaster victim... But..."
The guard lowered his voice again: "It's a group of aliens."
Qi Yan's heart skipped a beat, and she asked calmly, "Where are they?"
Guard: "It's been imprisoned, and it's up to the adults to decide."
Qi Yan: "Where is Your Highness?"
The guard's expression was a bit ugly: "His Royal Highness doesn't know that the sacrifice is lost... I also ask the adults to..." Nangong Wang attaches great importance to Qi Yan's affairs. If he learns that the sacrifice is lost, many people will be punished.
Qi Yan understood and comforted: "Don't worry, I have already ordered the clan to deal with this matter, and you don't have to report it, Your Highness. I also asked the official to send the thief to secretly detain the person who stole the sacrifice. This matter It can be big or small, my Jinzhou Qi clan is withered, and if I get involved with aliens, it will only be detrimental to me... Quan should give me a favor."
The guard patted his chest and assured: "Sir, please rest assured, it is the villain's own brothers who will handle this matter. We have a sense of proportion and will definitely handle this matter for you."
…
Two hours later, the ancestor worship was over.
There was a big banquet in Jinzhou City, and the flowing water table was placed on the street. Jinzhou City, which had been deserted for more than ten years, showed a rare vitality.
All the people of the city came, and opened their stomachs to eat the running water table provided by the court.
Some elderly people in Jinzhou, who escaped the plague and natural disasters, held their remnants to guard their homeland, and finally kept the clouds and the moon bright, sitting on the table of the flowing table in tears.
Qi Yan put on a suit and was led by the guards to Jinzhou Tianjing.
A dozen or so ragged people huddled in the cells, their hair loose.
Qi Yan came to the cell and glanced inside: "That's all?"
Guard: "There are also two women who are being held alone. Those two don't seem to be aliens."
Qi Yan: "How can you see it?"
Guard: "There is an old woman who is protecting a dirty girl. That old woman can speak the official language of our Wei Kingdom. She said that their mother and son were just suffering, their home was gone, and they were begging for food with these aliens."
Qi Yan: "Then how do you decide that these people are aliens?"
Guard: "Please don't be angry, Master Qi, when you say it. Our standard for identifying aliens is mainly by their looks, and there is no offense to small ones... It's just that we're just stating the facts."
Qi Yan: "It doesn't matter, that means these people are all different eyes?"
Guard: "That's right."
Qi Yan nodded and looked back: "What do these aliens do, take me to see the suffering mother and daughter."
Guard: "Yes, sir, please."
There was a musty smell in the dungeon, and across a log thicker than an arm, Qi Yan saw the suffering mother and daughter hugging each other.
Guard: "Master Qi is here, why don't you hurry up and kowtow?"
Hearing that, the old woman knelt on the ground and kowtowed like garlic: "My lord forgive me, my lord forgive me."
And the young girl hugged her body and curled up in the corner, shouting strange words...