The next day, Qinghe brought a bunch of Longxi's special products to Yaoguang Hall, she calculated the time this time, it was after Tao Ti woke up.
The two talked and laughed and played again, and the relationship became more and more intimate.
Friendship between girls is sometimes that simple.
When Pei Yan learned that Qinghe came to Yaoguang Palace to play, he didn't stop him, and played around with their little ladies.
He has been very busy these days, apart from the renovation of Gu's mansion, he also has to be busy with the Hungry Ghost Festival three days later.
Every July 15th is the Ghost Festival, also known as the Yulan Basin Festival. On this day, the common people will worship their ancestors, and the Yulan Basin Festival will also be held in temples to save the dead.
Emperor Zhaokang had a deep affection for his late empress, so the palace held the Hungry Ghost Festival every year. Not only would he invite monks from the royal temple to chant scriptures, but he would also invite Taoist priests from Baiyun Temple to be the dojo.
On the day of the Hungry Ghost Festival, Tao Ti woke up early, wearing plain, light-colored dresses, and eating cold vegetarian dishes.
After breakfast, she and Pei Yan went to Yichun Palace, a palace next to Fengyi Palace.
Sitting on the sedan chair, Tao Ti asked very puzzled, "Why don't you do something in Fengyi Palace?"
Pei Yan said calmly, "Father always feels that the dead soul of the queen mother is still in Fengyi Palace, and the mother likes to be quiet, so he doesn't want others to go to Fengyi Palace to disturb."
Tao Ti, "... okay."
After a pause, she asked curiously again, "Well, you are inviting monks and Taoist priests, won't there be conflicts?"
Pei Yan pondered for a moment, then replied, "In terms of reason, father doesn't believe in religion."
Tao Ti, "Then he..."
Pei Yan twitched his lips, "But when it comes to the matter of the mother, the father seems to be irrational. He doesn't believe in ghosts and gods, but at the same time he hopes that there will be souls and reincarnation in this world, so that he can continue his relationship with the mother. He I don't know which family of monks and Taoists are spiritual, so I invite them all to let the Buddhist and Taoist families show their magical powers."
The corner of Tao Ti's mouth twitched, is this all right
While talking, the two arrived at Yichun Palace.
Emperor Zhaokang was not there, and everything was presided over by Queen Zhou. She led a group of concubines and royal family members to conduct the sacrificial ceremony in an orderly, decent and thoughtful manner.
Oil cakes, milk cakes, rich cakes, melons and fruits were enshrined on the table. Tao Ti stooped to offer incense while secretly looking at Queen Zhou's expression.
Tao Ti really admires Empress Zhou. As the current wife, she can perform sacrifices for her husband's ex-wife without changing her face. What a wonderful psychological quality!
After burning the incense, Tao Ti and Pei Yan knelt side by side on the futon and listened to the monk recite the Sutra of the Past Life together with the crowd; this chanting passed in one morning.
This is not over yet, after finishing the Buddhist program in the morning and having a simple lunch, I went to the apse to walk the Taoist program in the afternoon...
By the time the Taoist ceremonies were over, the sky was covered with sunset glow, ushering in the night.
After a whole day of tossing, kneeling and worshiping, everyone was already exhausted. When Queen Zhou said that it was time to leave, they left one after another as if relieved of a heavy burden.
Pei Yan looked at the palace that had returned to the tranquility, and there was a smile that seemed to be not a smile on his lips, and there was a coldness in his deep black eyes.
After pondering for a long time, he lowered his eyes and looked at the tired little girl next to him, his eyes softened.
He turned sideways, raised his hand and rubbed her little head, "Are you tired?"
Tao Ti came back to her senses, her dark eyes were shining brightly, she shook her head, "Fortunately, I'm not very tired."
In fact, she is also tired, but considering that it is all for Pei Yan's biological mother, it is not easy to shout tired.
Pei Yan took her hand, "Let's go, first go to Fengyi Palace to burn a stick of incense on the tablet of the queen mother, and then we will go home."
I don't know when he started to regard "Yaoguang Palace" as his "home"—
No matter how tiring you are from running around outside, as long as you go back at night and see the lights of Yaoguang Temple, steaming food, and her smiling face, you will feel relaxed. Those intrigues and treacherous plots are all isolated, and there is no more worry.
Fengyi Palace is next door, the two held hands and walked over directly.
Li Gui and Nanny Lan stood guard at the gate of the hall, seeing Pei Yan and Tao Ti coming, they hurriedly saluted and greeted them.
Pei Yan signaled them to get up, looked at the closed door, "Father is inside?"
Li Gui nodded, showing embarrassment, "Yes, His Majesty has been sitting inside for a whole day, and the servants dare not go in and ask."
Hearing this, Pei Yan twisted her handsome thick eyebrows.
Sister Lan smiled gently at Tao Ti, raised her head to see Pei Yan frowning, and said slowly, "Did His Highness bring the Crown Princess to pay homage to the Empress? Why don't you go back, Your Majesty... he is in a bad mood right now. .”
Li Gui didn't think so, he smiled apologetically and said to Pei Yan, "Your Highness, why don't you go in and persuade His Majesty? It's getting late now, and you have to go to court tomorrow."
Pei Yan pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "Well, go in and have a look."
The sleeve was grabbed, he turned his head sideways, saw Tao Ti beside him, and said softly, "Ah Ti, are you waiting at the door?"
Tao Ti pursed her lips, and said softly, "Since I'm here to pay homage to the late queen, I'll go with you."
Pei Yan lowered her eyes, "Alright."
Li Gui quickly opened the door and let them in.
There are no lamps in the hall, the light is dim, and the main hall is empty without anyone.
Tao Ti subconsciously pulled Pei Yan's sleeve, and Pei Yan gave her a comforting look, "It's okay."
He led her to the side hall together, his warm and cool palms tightly wrapped around her weak and boneless little hands.
Bypassing the nine-foot-high red sandalwood screen, a strong smell of wine came to the nostrils.
I saw Emperor Zhaokang in a loose black robe holding a tablet in one hand and a jug in the other, leaning crookedly on the side of the bed. There is no image of a majestic emperor at all, this appearance is like a drunk on the street, decadent, lonely, and boundless loneliness.
Tao Ti's eyes were full of astonishment, but Pei Yan was used to it, calmly let go of Tao Ti's hand, and said in a low voice, "I'll go and have a look."
Tao Ti nodded and stood obediently.
Pei Yan stepped forward and called out in a low voice, "Royal Father."
Hearing this, the person on the bed sat up slowly, stretched out half of his body, the drunken face appeared in the dim light, he squinted his eyes, as if he had carefully identified it, and suddenly said, "It's Yan'er. "
After finishing speaking, he bowed his head to the tablet in his arms and said, "Yuan Yuan, our son has come to see you."
Pei Yan's face was heavy and his eyes were dim.
As a bystander, Tao Ti felt that this scene was a bit sad, and there was a bit of weirdness in the sadness. Emperor Zhaokang seemed drunk and crazy.
Pei Yan went to help Emperor Zhaokang get up, "Father, you are drunk, why don't you go back to the palace to rest first."
With his support, Emperor Zhaokang put down the wine bottle in his hand, still holding the tablet tightly.
When he passed by Tao Ti, Emperor Zhaokang stopped his staggering steps, he turned his head slowly, a pair of deep eyes burst out with a sharp cold light, and fell tightly on Tao Ti.
Tao Ti, "..."
The hairs stand on end!
Emperor Zhaokang pushed Pei Yan away, like a lone wolf, walked in front of Tao Ti with a cold face, his eyes became more and more sinister.
The thought of this woman drinking poisoned wine on their wedding night made him feel angry.
Tao Ti's heart tightened, she hesitated for a moment, and called out, "Father?"
Emperor Zhaokang's voice was hoarse and cold, "Dao Shi, if you dare to betray the crown prince, I will kill your whole family!"
Tao Ti's eyelids twitched, especially as soon as he said "kill", she seemed to really feel the coldness of a sharp blade on her neck.
Emperor Zhaokang wanted to say more, Pei Yan stood in front of Tao Ti with a stern face, and pressed down on Emperor Zhaokang's shoulder with one hand, his handsome face was serious, "Father, you scared her!" .”
His voice was very low, suppressing his anger, and his clear brows seemed to be covered with a layer of frost.
Emperor Zhaokang raised his head, a flash of surprise flashed in his slightly cloudy eyes, and he looked at Pei Yan.
Needles can be heard in the surroundings, and in this deathly silence, there is a fierce undercurrent surging.
The father and son are like two lions facing each other, one end is not angry but already in his twilight years, and the other is young and strong with infinite power hidden.
Finally, Emperor Zhaokang lowered his eyes quietly.
"Yan'er, help me out."
"Yes." Pei Yan loosened his hand a little, and took Emperor Zhaokang's hand instead.
Tao Ti let out a long breath of relief, and raised her hand to pat her chest.
When we returned to Yaoguang Palace again, it was already dark.
Tired all day, Tao Ti didn't have the energy to enjoy the food, so she simply ate dinner and climbed into bed after taking a shower.
Pei Yan lay down beside her, with apologetic tone, "Ah Ti, father is drunk today, I apologize for him."
Tao Ti's eyelashes trembled slightly, she turned over to him suddenly, and said in a relaxed tone, "It's okay, I know he's drunk, I didn't take it to heart."
Pei Yan, "..."
Tao Ti said, "And he didn't do anything to me, he just warned me..."
Alas, after listening to Emperor Zhaokang's warning, he probably still remembered the matter of taking poison on the wedding night in his heart. In this matter, Tao Ti really let himself be ridiculed.
Pei Yanchang stretched out his arms and pulled her into his arms. With his chin resting on her hair, he said in a clear voice, "Ah Ti, you have been wronged."
Tao Ti put her arms around his waist, sniffed the reassuring rosin on his body, and muttered in a low voice, "I just can't figure out why your Majesty suddenly got angry with me..."
Obviously she was standing in the corner at that time, quiet and well-behaved, she didn't say a word!
"My mother did not die of illness, but committed suicide by taking poison."
"!!!" Tao Ti was shocked, she heard some terrible court secrets!
"Father should see you and think that you have also taken poison, so... that's why he got angry."
Tao Ti, "..."
This makes sense.
After the shock, Tao Ti's mind flashed countless bloody plots, and finally she couldn't hold back her curiosity, and asked cautiously, "Your Highness, why did the former queen commit suicide?"
According to the information she knows so far, Empress Gu has talent and good looks, a family background, friends, a biological son, and Emperor Zhaokang's deep affection. This is a proper script for a winner in life.
If he died of illness, at most he would sigh with emotion, God is unfair, and the beauty is unlucky.
But now she took the initiative to commit suicide by taking poison, why is that
Pei Yanjing stayed for a long time, twitched the corners of her mouth, and said lightly to herself, "I want to know too."
His tone was calm, but Tao Ti keenly felt his depression, and felt a little uncomfortable.
She moved closer to Pei Yan's arms, raised her head, kissed his chin lightly, and coaxed softly, "Your Highness, let's stop thinking about those uncomfortable things, huh?"
Knowing she was comforting him, he hugged her tightly like a drowning man grabbing the last piece of driftwood.
He lowered his head and took a deep breath on her shoulder, his voice was a little hoarse, "Ah Ti, will you always stay by my side?"
Tao Ti's eyes flickered slightly, and she said softly, "Yes."
Pei Yan kissed her eyebrows and eyes tenderly, her slender eyelashes drooping, covering the surging madness and possessiveness in his eyes, "Remember your words."
If he breaks his promise, he may also become a madman and do some crazy things.
...
After the Ghost Festival, everything in the palace returned to normal, bustling and busy.
In the afternoon of this day, Qinghe came to play with Tao Ti as usual.
Some time ago, Tao Ti asked the palace servants to set up the swing, and happily took Qing He to the apse to play on the swing.
The two were hanging out on the swing, Qing He suddenly remembered something serious, and said softly, "Biao sister-in-law, do you know the Bamboo Garden Collection?"
Tao Ti was taken aback, "Bamboo Garden Collection? The title of the book?"
"...It's a gathering organized by the Prime Minister's Mansion."
"Uh, so..."
Tao Ti touched her nose in embarrassment, I'm sorry, it's embarrassing again.
Qinghe seemed to be a little worried, her two willow eyebrows frowned, and she said softly, "Yesterday afternoon, the Empress called me to Ganlu Palace, saying that the Zhou family held an elegant fair every year in Zhuyuan Villa outside the city. The noble daughters and sons of the city will go to play... Well, she asked me to go with cousin Lingbi."
Tao Ti said, "Then you go. You finally came to Chang'an to play. It's so boring to stay in the palace every day. If you go out to visit mountains and rivers, maybe you can meet some friends."
Qing He bit her lip, and said in a low voice, "But I, I... don't like Cousin Lingbi very much, well, actually she doesn't like me very much either, I'm not stupid, I can tell."
Tao Ti, "..."
Little cutie, you are very accurate in seeing people, that guy is not a good thing!
Qinghe said, "I don't want to go, but the queen's aunt has opened her mouth, so I don't want to refute her face..."
Looking at Qinghe's watery deer eyes, Tao Ti seemed to understand something, raised her eyebrows and said, "You, you want me to go with you?"
Qing He's eyes lit up all of a sudden, her little face was full of anticipation, "Is it okay!"
Tao Ti, "..."
Tao Ti, "Forget it, for your cuteness."
Qinghe jumped for joy, took Tao Ti's hand, and leaned on her shoulder like a kitten, "Biao sister-in-law, you are so kind!"