Drunken Exquisiteness

Chapter 140: Autumn dust rises from Qiongtai Golden Palace

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After the rain, the sky is cool and the autumn wind is full.

Looking at the imperial garden, the flowers are withered, the fallen trees are bleak, only the clear lake, blue waves and the sky, the autumn sky is thousands of miles, and the yellow leaves are flying.

Along the Lianyun embankment across both sides of the lake, a servant in a dark green gauze robe walked quickly from the direction of Wutai hall. Because he walked too fast, the beaded long tassel hanging from the hat crown shook violently, but he didn't Can't care less about tidying up.

After entering Tsinghua Terrace, a thin layer of hot sweat had already oozed from the servant's face, and hurriedly said to the maid on duty when he arrived in front of the bedroom: "Please inform me, please see your empress."

At this time, Bi Yao came out of the bedroom, asked him a few words, and said, "Come with me."

The servant followed Bi Yao into the sleeping hall, the deep hall became warmer and warmer, and Du Ruo's fragrance was faintly floating in the air. Turning around the long and quiet hall corridor, and entering the inner palace, Baguio asked him to wait outside and report first.

The servant held his breath and stood at the bottom, quietly raised his eyes to see behind the embroidered Liuyun screen, the maid rolled up the purple gauze curtain layer by layer, and vaguely saw the queen leaning on the phoenix couch. Baguio approached and whispered something, a soft and slightly lazy voice seemed to come out through the clouds on the screen, "What's the matter?"

The waiter hurried forward and knelt down, bowed his head and said: "I want to tell you, Madam, Eunuch Yan ordered the villain to come quickly to invite Madam, and please move to the Wutai Hall."

The queen asked: "What's the matter, isn't the emperor in Wutai Hall today?"

The servant said: "The emperor was discussing matters in the Wutai Palace today, and he reprimanded several ministers, even Qin Guogong, Chang Dinghou and others were implicated. At present, no one can persuade the emperor, so we have to come to invite the empress."

There was a soft ringing sound, and the queen on the phoenix couch was supported by the maid to stand up. The waiter saw the queen move out of the screen, the soft moonlight cloud clothes were scattered on her body, her black hair was like a waterfall, and her eyes were as deep as autumn water, and her voice was a little calmer than before: "This is Why?"

"It seems that for the joint burial of the Supreme Emperor and the Empress Dowager He Hui, all the adults made a statement to remonstrate, but in the end they angered the Emperor, and this has become the situation."

Qing Chen moved slowly, frowned, thought carefully, turned around, and said to Bi Yao, "Change into court clothes and go to Wutai Hall."

In front of the Wutai Hall, Yan Xi stood not far behind the emperor, very anxious. The executioner in front of the steps looked up, he moved his toes outward calmly, and the steps below understood, and used the staff to execute the sentence.

Several ministers took off their official uniforms, bent over the ground, raised their cane sticks high in the hands of the servants, drew a sharp arc in mid-air and slapped their backs, there was a loud "pop", and blood flew all over within a few strokes .

Spots of blood fell onto the bluestone ground, and the sound of the cane falling one after another made people tremble with fear. Fortunately, Yan Xi, the waiter in the execution room, hinted that he understood that the emperor wanted to keep people under his staff, and although his men's momentum was terrifying, they all left room. Otherwise, if you go down with a heavy whip, you can break the bones without seeing blood. How can these civil servants stand it

The autumn wind chilled, and the dead leaves flew around on the square in front of the hall. The emperor stood under the high canopy and golden umbrella with his hands behind his back, looking coldly at the ministers who continued to remonstrate endlessly below him, his face was pale, and it was difficult to distinguish between emotions and anger.

The burial of the Emperor of Heaven in the Dongling Mausoleum involved the joint burial of the emperor and empress. According to the ceremonial system, Empress Xiaozhen and Empress Yin who were canonized by the Emperor of Heaven during his lifetime, and Concubine Lian who was later named Empress Dowager Hehui should all be buried in the same mausoleum. However, many ministers believed that Empress Dowager He Hui had served Emperor Mu and Emperor Tian successively, so she should not be buried with Emperor Tian at this time, so they wrote to express their dissent.

But what was unexpected was that after reading the memorial, the emperor issued an order to open the Mausoleum of Emperor Mu and move the empress dowager's coffin into the burial. This was even more unacceptable to the courtiers, and they repeatedly expressed their admonitions and faced court disputes, which gradually developed into a debate on whether the Empress Dowager can be buried in the imperial tomb. Early this morning, the well-known Palace Attendant Shi Huai Chuaizuo Biaochang knelt in front of the Wutai Hall, and it was for this matter again.

The emperor refused to accept the remonstrance, and ordered the censor who persisted in remonstrance to be expelled from the palace. Unexpectedly, the censor, holding the pillars in his arms, shouted loudly: "Your Majesty can open the words of the scholars in the world, why don't you listen to the advice of the minister? Today, the minister is admonishing with death, and listening with justice!" He crashed into the corridor pillar, if the servants hadn't stopped him in time, blood would really be splashed on the hall.

This aroused the sympathy of the ministers present, and they all came forward to kneel and play, speaking fiercely. But no one expected that the emperor, who has always been lenient, was furious on the spot, and immediately ordered the two leading ministers to be scolded in front of the court, and all the ministers were ordered to go out of the palace to watch the punishment. Unforgivable.

"Your Majesty's move is against the rules of etiquette. I'm worried about your Majesty's concern for your Majesty..." Before Qin Guogong finished speaking, he saw the emperor's dragon sleeves flicked heavily: "Take it down!"

Immediately, two servants stepped forward to stand up Qin Guogong, and the officials were shocked. Chang Dinghou who was next to him quickly kowtowed and persuaded: "Your Majesty, the old minister of Qin Guogong is old, how can he bear this whip?" Is the stick heavy responsibility?"

Everyone begged for mercy, but Qin Guogong still insisted on admonishing, "If you don't follow the rules of etiquette, the country will be in danger, and the death of a minister is not a pity. Please, Your Majesty, put the country first!"

The emperor usually treated these veterans and ministers with great courtesy, but today he seemed to be really angry. He looked ahead without even glancing down from the corner of his eyes. His expression was absolutely cold and chilling for no reason.

King Zhan saw clearly from the sidelines that during this period of time, the rectification was in vain. The emperor's swift methods, firm determination, and thorough actions made many people in the court feel insecure. Today, some of these ministers are indeed obstinate and clinging to etiquette, but more are trying to use this to cause trouble and disrupt the court situation. Today, the emperor has reversed his previous practice of admonishing and even resorting to the court stick, obviously he knew it well and did it on purpose. In the face of these officials, princes and princes, if they want to investigate the deficit smoothly, they must have thunderous means to subdue the court. So he couldn't persuade the emperor to act cruelly.

However, King Hao beside him has a benevolent temperament. Seeing the situation getting worse, he finally couldn't help but stepped forward to persuade him: "Your Majesty, if there is any objection to the court affairs, it is not at fault for the minister to advise you. Even if what you say is inappropriate, you should be lenient. Your Majesty This move may make the admonishing officials fearful and the ministers silent in the future, please give your Majesty more consideration."

King Zhan frowned slightly, and then turned his head to look at the emperor, only to see an imperceptible ripple in the emperor's eyes. At this time, I suddenly heard the voice of the servant in front of the palace saying: "The empress is here!"

Yan Xi was overjoyed, and King Zhan also secretly heaved a sigh of relief. This turmoil can't be too big, and only the queen can ease it.

The empress, dressed in court attire with a phoenix crown and solemn makeup, was accompanied by several female officials along the Baishi Royal Road into the Hall of Martial Arts, looked sideways at the minister who was being punished in front of the hall, and looked calm. When she reached the steps, she lightly tightened her belt and bowed gracefully: "My concubine sees Your Majesty."

Ye Tianling's cold and solemn expression eased slightly, and he helped her up with his own hands: "The queen is flat."

Qing Chen didn't follow his hand and got up, looked at the steps, and said tactfully: "I have heard that since ancient times, I can't punish a doctor. Now there are courtiers who are punished in court, and I really can't bear to see each other. Forgive them."

Ye Tianling's hands froze, and he looked down to see the emerald tines on the Nine Dies and Four Phoenix Crowns were soft and quiet, with the beads hanging down, Qing Chen knelt down in front of him like this, and the long lapels of the bright red luan clothes spread behind him, motionless and unyielding Kou is a chaste, quiet and virtuous lady in the palace. He withdrew his hand coldly: "Are you also here to persuade me?"

Qing Chen raised his head and said: "The concubine heard that His Majesty intends to open the tomb of Emperor Mu. Wouldn't this disturb Emperor Mu's spiritual palace? Presumably the Empress Dowager can't bear to know it. Your Majesty's benevolence and filial piety will definitely not make Emperor Mu and the Empress Dowager difficult." Ann. Even if the courtier speaks more violently, His Majesty has already punished him, so don't pursue it any further."

The quiet color in Ye Tianling's eyes sank silently, as if the coldness of the whole cold autumn was trapped in it, "Then you also object to the joint burial of the Empress Dowager and Emperor Mu?"

Qing Chen said: "The concubine really thinks something is wrong." When she said this, she and Ye Tianling looked at each other, and their fine eyelashes slightly raised.

The front of the hall was extremely quiet, Ye Tianling looked at Qing Chen for a long time, then suddenly turned around, "I have already said, if there are any people who criticize this matter, it should be the same case, haven't you seen it?"

Qing Chen still leaned over quietly: "Since the concubine is the empress, she has the duty to advise His Majesty. Even if His Majesty punishes the concubine because of this, the concubine will not complain."

Ye Tianling turned his back to her, raised his eyes and swept towards the front of the hall, the officials saw the emperor's expression darken: "Come here! Take the queen down!"

At this time, if you say take it down, you will be punished on the spot. All the ministers were horrified when they heard the words, and even Qin Guogong, who insisted on remonstrating to death, was stunned.

The servants next to him couldn't believe the decree they had heard with their own ears, and looked at each other, at a loss. Yan Xi was so frightened that he was so frightened that he didn't expect that even the Queen's presence would be useless, so he hurriedly knelt down and begged: "Your Majesty, how can a lady with a thousand gold body stand the stick..."

Ye Tianling frowned and interrupted him: "The empress is arrogant because of her favor, and she committed a crime of disobedience and sent her to Changxiao Palace to contemplate her mistakes behind closed doors."

The Changxiao Palace is a cold palace in Ye Ting, which is dedicated to concubine concubines. The emperor's voice fell behind, and the surrounding ministers "coaxed" chaos, and then it turned into a dead silence, no one dared to say more.

"The concubine obeys the order." Qing Chen said with downcast eyes, and slowly got up.

At this time, two voices suddenly sounded in front of the main hall at the same time, stopping the nearby servants, "I have something to say!" "Your Majesty, please think twice!" One was Feng Yan, and the other was King Zhan.

Ye Tianling never heard what they said, and said indifferently: "Didn't you hear what I said?"

The servants had no choice but to step forward, but no one dared to be presumptuous, so they only whispered: "My lady, please."

Qing Chen walked forward, seemingly turning his eyes to look at Ye Tianzhan unintentionally, and was immediately taken out of the Wutai Hall. Ye Tianzhan was taken aback for a moment, Qing Chen's eyes seemed to stop him, and the moment he turned his head, he clearly saw a different kind of light in her eyes.

The autumn wind is light, the autumn grass is long, the pepper room is empty, and the autumn dust is everywhere.

Bi Yao came back from the outside, with tears in her eyes, she just went to find a quilt, she was insulted by insults everywhere, the people in Changxiao Palace are more snobbish than the autumn wind.

The cobwebs between the beams accumulated dust, the broken leaves on the ground were withered, and there was only one cold low couch in the room, with a yellow wooden table next to it, which was extremely simple. Qing Chen, dressed in plain clothes, stood in front of the window and quietly looked at the clear and distant sky, feeling at ease with the situation in front of him.

Baguio stepped forward quickly and said: "The window is cool, Madam, please don't stand here." She turned to cover the window while she was talking, but unexpectedly the window sill was covered with dust, it flew all over her body when she moved, making her cough.

Qing Chen walked up to the low couch, fluttered his long sleeves lightly, swept away the floating dust on the couch, sat down and looked at Bi Yao's expression carefully, and said with a smile: "I told you not to go, did you hit a snag?"

Baguio frowned resentfully: "What are these things! They are all pretending. I begged, but they..." She said a few words, afraid of offending Qing Chen, she suppressed it and just watched The room was worried: "What should I do at night like this? No, I will go to the lady in charge of the palace here."

Qing Chen said: "You don't listen to me anymore? Don't go anywhere again. I saw a lot of chrysanthemums outside just now, go out with me to have a look." She stood up while talking, and walked outside.

Bi Yao was stunned, "Ma'am, why are you still in the mood to see these things, what kind of place is this?"

Qing Chen smiled and said: "I'm afraid this place will have to live for a while, the walls just look strange and monotonous, it's better than the courtyard."

Baguio hurriedly followed her: "Your Majesty, hurry up and think of a way, what's the use of seeing these flowers and plants?"

Qing Chen said, "What do you think?"

Baguio couldn't help but said: "I don't know what happened to the emperor..."

When Qing Chen turned his head indifferently, Bi Yao only spoke half of what he had said. Qing Chen didn't say anything more, just stepped out of the corridor and picked up a chrysanthemum casually. Bi Yao saw that she was leisurely looking at the flowers, and said with raised eyebrows: "People say that the emperor is not in a hurry to kill eunuchs, that's good, the empress is not in a hurry, she is in a hurry to destroy my girl. These are just chrysanthemums that grow on their own. What catches your eyes?"

Qing Chen stood in front of a clump of golden chrysanthemums, and as soon as the wind passed, a little bit of plain fragrance fell all over his sleeves, "One flower, one world, one leaf, one Bodhi. If you are not calm, you will naturally not be able to see the beauty of this flower's self-growth."

Baguio worried, "Can you calm down?"

Qing Chen smiled and said nothing, suddenly heard footsteps coming, followed by someone said: "The Empress is really in a mood, and she is still in the mood to enjoy the flowers at this time." She and Bi Yao turned around and saw a few people in green clothes and black skirts The female officer stood behind, and the leader, about forty years old, with harsh eyebrows and a sneer, was looking at Qing Chen.

Qing Chen took a look at her clothes, and was not surprised by her disrespectful attitude, and said quietly: "The chrysanthemums in Changxiao Palace are blooming well, and the palace garden is also quiet."

The female official said: "Your Majesty will be able to stay here slowly in the future. The days are still long, but I am afraid that your Majesty will not be able to endure it."

There was sarcasm in her words, obviously she was looking for trouble, Bi Yao said angrily: "In front of the empress, what are you talking about?"

The female officer sneered and said: "Empress? I have been in this palace for decades, and I have never seen any empress who can go out after entering here. What about the empress? When you arrive at Changxiao Palace, you have to follow the rules of Changxiao Palace." , anyone is the same!"

"You..." Bi Yao was very angry, Qing Chen stopped her with his eyes, and asked, "Are you a court lady?"

"good."

"I don't ask much about the trivial matters of each palace and hall. I don't know that Changxiao Palace has its own rules. Tell me, what are the rules? Let me also listen."

Qing Chen's tone was soft, his eyes swept across his eyes, neither happy nor angry. The female official seemed to hit the water with her palm, she didn't exert any force, and she didn't realize that the water was splashed all over her body, "The rules of Changxiao Palace will soon be known, and I dare not say anything else. How is Princess Zhan in Qianmin Temple? Empress will never be half a point here from now on."

Qing Chen narrowed his phoenix eyes a little, and before he could speak, he heard a stern reprimand, "Bold! How dare you be presumptuous to the empress without slapping your mouth!"

The female officer looked at the person who was speaking, her face suddenly changed, and it turned out that the person who came was Wu Wei, the Minister of Internal Affairs. Following the appearance of Wu Wei, there was a sound of purging boots, and several lines of imperial guards entered the Changxiao Palace, and quickly deployed everywhere from the inside to the outside. The female officer was startled, she hurriedly leaned back to the side, bowed her knees and saluted: "I have seen Eunuch Wu."

Wu Wei didn't even look at them, turned around and saluted the queen respectfully, "Your Majesty."

Qing Chen nodded, but looked at the female officer. Although it was a remote and cold palace like Changxiao Palace, after two cleanings, the Wei family had already collapsed, and there were still remnants of forces in the palace. It was no wonder that the emperor and even King Zhan could no longer tolerate foreign relatives.

The female officer looked at the Changxiao Palace guarded by heavy soldiers, and then at Wu Wei who was respectful to the queen as usual, she had already sensed that something was wrong, when she raised her head, she was startled when she met the queen's calm eyes.

Qing Chen walked past the female official slowly, with a cold expression on his face, "I don't remember that there is Princess Zhan in Qianmin Temple, Wu Wei, since someone is confused, let her see it clearly."

Wu Wei lowered his head and said, "The old servant obeys the order."

The female officer stood there frightened, and when she came to her senses, her previous arrogance had long since disappeared, her legs softened, and she knelt down on the ground with a "plop": "Your Majesty... Your Majesty, please forgive me! I know my mistake!"

The queen's plain clothes were fluttering, and she had already walked away, her haughty back calmly walked away, leaving no room for struggle, she was completely dismissive.

Wu Wei waved his hand behind him, and ordered his servant to obey Yi's order, and ignored the female official, and followed the queen.

In addition to the guards who blocked the palace gate, there were four servants and four maids who came with Wu Wei. In just one stick of incense, the previous palace room was tidied up, with brocade quilts, fur clothes and a stove. In front of the couch, there was a gold and copper stove with auspicious phoenix, and there was a magnolia incense commonly used in Tsinghua Taichung, and the smoke was light. , and the clean breath of the autumn wind, the room is full of tranquility. Wu Weigong said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, take a look, is there anything missing?"

Qing Chen walked into the room, smiled when he smelled the incense, and turned around and said: "It's hard for you to be thoughtful, I have an unfinished book next to my pillow, and someone sent it, you don't have to come here again these days .”

"The old slave remembered it."