The singing sound was as cool as the wind, and it was refreshing to the ears. The emperor's pent-up air gradually calmed down. Zhao Youzhi came in, saw his face softened, and greeted him with a smile: "Long live, you are a candidate for the election." The beautiful girl, who just entered the palace, didn't understand the rules, and didn't know that the royal driver was here, so she made a lot of noise. The slaves have already brought her here, do you want to see the emperor?"
The emperor gave him a cold look: "What the hell are you doing?"
Zhao Youzhi said with a smile: "Slaves dare not."
The emperor didn't bother to talk to him, he just raised his face, Zhao Youzhi understood, and tapped lightly with both palms.
The heavy curtains were lifted layer by layer, as if there was a wind blowing in a faint fragrance of lotus, but seeing the lotus walking slowly, it was not a palace makeup, but just a thin silk gauze dress, green like a duckweed, and the hair tied with double maids. , very elegant and lovely. Pingping Tingting came through the curtain, walked to the emperor and bowed Yingying.
The emperor's expression suddenly became a little dazed: "Raise your head."
The bright eyes were so clear that they could almost reflect a figure, the emperor seemed to take a light breath, but those eyes seemed to be filled with water, and he just looked at the emperor fixedly.
Zhao Youzhi said softly: "Seeing the emperor, why are you so unruly?"
"Zhuxia has met the emperor, and the emperor is blessed and safe."
The emperor asked: "Your name is Zhuxia?"
"yes."
The emperor asked again: "Whose family are you the daughter of?"
"The servant's father is Wu Jin, the servant of the household department."
The emperor remembered that Wu Jin's wife, Mu family, was a distant branch of Mu family, and her relatives were outside of Wufu, so she was exempted from being convicted of copying and beheading. There is such a resemblance, like frost, but it is slightly noticeable between the eyebrows and eyes, while the person in front of him is like a reflection in the water, the illusion is flowing, and it is agile everywhere. It was as if the hand of time had pulled back a long time ago.
The emperor finally said: "Get up, let me take a look at you."
Zhuxia responded, got up and walked slowly towards the emperor.
Zhao Youzhi retreated at a tiptoe, told the little eunuchs to listen to the summons, followed the shade of the porch, walked around the rockery all the way, and it was the Tsinghua Palace where the imperial concubine usually lived. The summer sun is fierce, and there is a row of old locust trees in front of the hall, green locust trees like clouds, full of shade, but quiet, not even the sound of cicadas can be heard-Ru Shuang's illness likes quietness, and the palace supervisor is ordered to patrol every day to catch the cicadas. All caught. Rushuang's confidant servant was standing under the shade of Huai Huai trees, when he saw him, he came up to meet him with a smile and called: "Mr. Zhao." He led him into the hall.
Rushuang had just changed her clothes and was combing her hair. Her long, jet-black hair flowed down along the smoky skirt. Zhao Youzhi bowed and saluted: "Your Majesty."
After recovering from a serious illness, the person in the mirror was pale, like a portrait carved from white jade, Rushuang stared at herself in the mirror, as if talking to herself: "It's really kind of the emperor to respect the prince."
Zhao Youzhi smiled apologetically: "Long Live Lord only has such a brother from the same mother, but in fact, he loves Eleven Lord very much in his heart."
Rushuang's face was expressionless, and it took a while before she smiled: "He is so nice to people, it's unbearable."
Zhao Youzhi didn't dare to speak again, Rushuang asked: "What does the emperor mean, is he planning to keep Master Eleven?"
Zhao Youzhi said: "I dare not make wild guesses, but the emperor said that I will leave it to Master Qi to discipline me."
The attendant tied up Rushuang's long hair, piled up black clouds, and inserted gold hairpins and pearl hairpins one by one. Although she is only a concubine, she has already had a special decree that she is the same as the imperial concubine, and enjoys the half queen service system. A heavy necklace hangs from the silk golden phoenix, which rustles every time it is shaken. She seemed tired: "You go, if the emperor asks about me these few days, he will only say that I am tired and have already fallen asleep."
Zhao Youzhi agreed, and as soon as he retreated to the door, Rushuang smiled again and stopped him: "If the emperor forgot to ask me, father-in-law may not have forgotten too."
Zhao Youzhi smiled and said: "Your Majesty said this, the slaves would never dare."
Rushuang originally doted on the Six Palaces, but since that day, she hasn't been summoned for several days in a row. Today's talent show in Tianxiu Palace, she had to brace herself to host it. The emperor was not keen on the draft, nor did he move to Tianxiu Palace to select it himself. The talent show is a grand ceremony, and as a rule, the empress should lead the concubines to preside over it, but there is a vacancy in the back seat, and Concubine Shu, Mushi temporarily took part in the affairs of the Six Palaces. For such a grand ceremony, even Concubine Qing came with illness. Rushuang has never seen this Qing Concubine, so she was extra polite, and the two sat side by side. There is another one below, which is the Zhaoyi Wu family in the emperor's new book.
Concubine Qing has been ill for a long time, and she has long looked down on Rong Chong. Seeing Wu Zhaoyi, she only felt that she was radiant, and she couldn't help but stare at her for a long time. Rushuang said with a smile: "Sister Qing Concubine looks at Sister Wu like this, making Sister Wu laugh at us sisters who have never seen the world."
Concubine Qing couldn't help but blushed, and said: "Wu Zhaoyi and your younger sister look similar, they look like a pair of twins, that's why I caught my eye for a while."
Is it similar
Rushuang pursed her cherry lips slightly with interest. The outline and figure are very similar, but Wu Zhaoyi seems to be a piece of mercury, flowing and flickering, while Rushuang herself is like an ice bead—even if there is water and light, It was also freezing cold.
Rushuang smiled infinitely lazily, because she presided over the grand ceremony, she wore a big red dress, with gorgeous tassels hanging from the golden silk embroidered scarf, and the extremely long pattern of phoenix tails stretched all the way to the skirt. The cuffs are also intricately embroidered with gold thread, and the two-inch-wide pile of embroidered lace slightly reveals the tips of the ten fingers. The red marks on the nails dyed by impatiens are contrasted by the red of Zhai Yi's clothes, making them look as if they are extremely thin. Crisp reddish glazed tiles.
In the grand and quiet hall, only the rustling of clothes could be heard, and the eunuch's drawn-out voice announced everyone's surname, father and brother's official position, and rows of flowery and jade-like faces flashed past in front of them, following the etiquette and showing infinite respect Go down and salute. Rushuang talked to Concubine Qing without saying a word, casually deciding whether these women would stay or not.
Zhuixia looked down at those slim young girls in a daze, sitting in the depths of such a high palace, as if she was far away from them. The gate of the palace is as deep as the sea, and Rushuang stretched out the handle of her fan, playing with the parrot on the shelf, with that half-smile still in the corner of her mouth: "He asked you to come—have you thought about it yourself?" The parrot let out a strange "croak" and flapped its wings. The breeze picked up the broken hair on her temples, and at that moment, Zhuxia saw her exquisitely painted eyebrows, which were as light and distant as spring mountains, and they were slightly frowned.
Now she is already high above, overlooking the prosperity of all beings. But everything is so far away, like her own voice, once distant and vague, as if it came from another person's mouth: "The prince has a great kindness to the Wu family, and Zhuxia must not be ungrateful."
It seemed after a long time before I heard Rushuang laugh, the laughter was very soft, it seemed to be a sigh: "Idiot woman—"
Her ears were hot, as if she had a fever. No one knew what was really going on in her heart, but at this moment, she really thought she was being seen through. This Concubine Shu has eyes that are so bright that it is almost impossible to look at them, but when she stared at them, the eyes had already turned gray and darkened, like charcoal, burning out the last ray of light and heat, So only a little embers remained.
Her voice was the same, without any warmth: "Then just wait."
Everything is like a well-arranged excerpt, starting and ending, singing and fighting, and she can't miss a single step. She has become the Zhaoyi Wu family in a smooth way, and she is extremely gracious. The emperor's gaze on her is always gentle and calm, It was as if they had known each other for a long time.
Only she knew that the emperor accidentally turned his face away from the secret deeply hidden in her heart, and the slight silhouette would overlap the amazing secret, making her heart palpitate, and then a deep pain would emanate from her chest .
It has only been a few days since she entered the palace, and there are already rumors whispering that she and Concubine Mu are surprisingly similar in appearance, like enchanting twin flowers, each bright and beautiful. But she is not Concubine Shu, the most noble woman in the harem is like a jade statue, flawless and charming, but she is not angry at all, even when she smiles, her eyes are dark, without a trace of smile.
A total of eight women were selected and stayed in the palace to wait for the year, or they were granted pardons to become concubines, or given to princes as wives and concubines, depending on their respective fortunes. Concubine Qing said: "With the addition of newcomers, the palace will be more lively." Rushuang still had that half-smile: "Sister is right."
In fact, the emperor is not a womanizer, and this selection is also the meaning of the cabinet ministers, and the memorial to urge the empress to be established was like a snowflake. Since the sudden death of Concubine Hua and the serious illness of Concubine Han, it has suddenly become silent. It is said that Tai Fu Cheng Pu once had to shoot a halberd and swore in private angrily: "If the emperor insists on making that monster queen, the old minister will be bumped to death at the steps of the Taimiao first." Probably intending to single out a Dayu Empress from among the ladies of the famous family.
But the emperor was not interested in choosing Na'vi, and in the end he was still a monster, sitting under the roof and being worshiped by all the famous beauties.
The eight women selected this time didn't see the king's imperial appearance until they received the banquet on Qixi Festival.
The Qixi Festival in the palace is actually very lively. Apart from "begging for cleverness", the princes and princesses are given banquets in the Qingchang Pavilion as usual. The banquet in the palace is naturally a list of rare treasures, singing and dancing. The emperor seemed to be quite interested that day, so he specially ordered Zhaoyi Wu's family to play a harp and sing a new song, which won a lot of applause. Rushuang's temperament is not able to sit for a long time, so she gets up and changes clothes. He didn't want to enter the back hall, but Cheng Yuan quietly went forward and reported: "My lady, Chengyu Palace sent someone to say that the lady Qing is not well, would you like to go and have a look?"
Concubine Qing has always been weak, she is ill for more than half of the year. The back hall was very quiet, only the front hall singing could be heard faintly, like fairy music, and the sound of laughter mixed with the silk and bamboo, it was extremely lively and prosperous. Rushuang thought of Concubine Qing being lonely and pitiful at this moment, and said, "I'll go and see her."
At that moment, Rushuang took the chariot, and the courtiers carried a row of eight palace lanterns, surrounded the chariot and drove forward. The Fuchun Palace where Concubine Qing lives is also very remote. At this time, the whole palace is having a feast, the roads are quiet and no one is there, and only the chirping of autumn insects can be heard, which makes people feel that the atmosphere of autumn is getting stronger. The outside of Fuchun Palace was deserted, and the maids sitting in the watch were playing tricks, laughing and laughing, as if nothing had happened, when they saw the lights coming, they thought it was a gift - under such a festival, the palace ladies will always be rewarded according to the rules. When it was clear that it was Concubine Shu who was coming, she was caught off guard and saluted in a hurry.
Rushuang was about to explode, but she frightened Concubine Qing, so she just gave Cheng Yuan a hard look. Cheng Yuan understood, and said: "Your Majesty, don't worry." Rushuang knew that he would order someone to deal with it, so she stepped into the palace door and smelled a strong medicinal fragrance from a distance. There were layers of heavy curtains, and there were only two lamps burning in the hall, and the lights were dim, making the hall even more desolate. Rushuang took her steps lightly, but she saw Concubine Qing sleeping on the couch, dimly, as if she had already fallen asleep. Only an older court lady was still standing by the couch and waiting for her to take the medicine, weeping and blowing on the bowl of boiling medicine. Seeing her suddenly, the palace maid was both surprised and happy, and called out: "Your Majesty." She choked up and couldn't speak. Rushuang asked: "Why did you become so sick and didn't tell the imperial doctor?" The maid wiped her tears and said: "I wanted to tell it a long time ago, but the empress said it was under the festival, and she was afraid that the emperor would not be happy, so she just said that she was always a doctor. In this way, it will be over after a while, and it will not be known." Rushuang then ordered the eunuch: "Tell me what I say, and open the Yongji Gate to let the imperial doctor come in." Some people have already agreed to go. Looking under the lamp, Concubine Qing on the couch frowned slightly, her face was pale without a trace of blood, she stepped forward like frost, and called softly: "Sister." Concubine Qing groaned, but I don't know if she heard it. After a long time, Concubine Qing finally opened her eyes and looked at her blankly. Rushuang called out again: "Sister Qingfei."
Concubine Qing seemed to have heard it, a slight smile appeared on her face, she just panted, and after a long while, she seemed to catch her breath, her voice was so low that she could barely hear: "Yes... yes... Huang... Royal Concubine..."
Rushuang was slightly taken aback, then lowered her head with a smile, and said softly: "Sister is too confused, so I don't want anyone to know about her illness." Concubine Qing shook her head slightly, then closed her eyes, as if she didn't have the strength to speak anymore . Rushuang thought she had fallen asleep again, but she struggled to open her eyes again, but her voice was intermittent: "I'm afraid I have to go first... that day... that day... what I told you... just forget it." …”
Rushuang felt strange, and leaned down to hold her hand: "Sister Qingfei?"
Concubine Qing just panted: "We are sisters together... Linyue... What I said that day... Don't take it to your heart..."
Rushuang didn't know what she meant, but comforted her softly: "Don't worry, I understand." Concubine Qing seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, and murmured: "Then... then... good..." The corners of her eyes had already ooze Tears, "It's just that he doesn't know that it's not you...but I'm really envious..." Rushuang held her hand, feeling cold at the fingertips, and didn't know whether it was Concubine Qing's hands or her own. . Concubine Qing was tossing and turning in a haze and unconsciously, her words were vague and intermittent.
The imperial doctor finally came, and after taking the pulse, Rushuang summoned her in the side hall, and said: "I was in good spirits a few days ago, why did I suddenly become like this again?" The imperial doctor said: "Your Majesty's illness has not lasted for a day. For two days, if you say something disrespectful, it is like a piece of wood, the middle of which has already rotted to nothing, but fortunately, your mother is so blessed, and she can take care of her slowly, and she will get better." Rushuang understood the meaning of his words, and the matter was over. Up to this point, there was nothing to do, watching Concubine Qing take the medicine and fall into a deep sleep, before going back.
It was already late at night, and the corridors in the palace were soaked with dew, like mercury paved under the moonlight. Rushuang was thinking a lot, but hearing the footsteps of the internal officials, the old bird on the branch was startled, and flew to the depths of the moon shadow with a chirp. Unconsciously looking up, I saw the palace wall was deep, and several sycamore trees were higher than the top of the wall, with sparse branches and leaves, reflecting an autumn moon. The palace regulations in this area are extremely grand, under the moonlight, there are only one layer of golden animal ridges, coldly reflecting the moonlight, the surroundings are silent, there is not even a single bit of light, which makes people feel very cold and desolate. Rushuang then asked, "What kind of place is this?"
Cheng Yuan, who was helping the chariot, faltered, Rushuang knew that there were many taboos in the palace, but her temperament was always persistent, so Cheng Yuan had no choice but to answer: "Return to your mother, this is Jingxiu Palace."
Jingxiu Palace
It was as if a very fine and thin saw blade had been sliced through my heart. At first I didn't feel any pain, but then I suddenly realized that this was Jingxiu Palace.
Under the high palace walls, the shadows of the tung and the moon are sparse, and this is actually Jingxiu Palace.
She ordered: "Stay in the chariot."
The chariot slowly lowered from the shoulder of the charioteer, and Cheng Yuan came up to hold her arm, with a sad face: "Your Majesty, it's better to go back, it will be more exposed, if you suffer from the cold, the servant will deserve to die."
Rushuang said coldly: "Just say one more word, and I will fulfill you immediately."
Cheng Yuan shivered in fright, Rushuang raised her head up on her own, staring at the palace in the moonlight.
As usual, imperial concubines of all dynasties were given residence in Tsinghua Palace, but they lived in Jingxiu Palace when Linyue entered the palace. Although they were registered as imperial concubines later, they never moved out. After the death of Mrs. Mu, no one lived in Jingxiu Palace, and the emperor ordered that it should not be cleaned, and the palace people would not walk around here at will, so it was deserted.
Rushuang saw that the copper lock on the Chuihua Gate had grown a green patina, and said, "Bring the key."
Cheng Yuan broke out in a cold sweat: "Your Majesty!"
Ru Shuang frowned, and Cheng Yuan said anxiously: "Your Majesty, it's already late at night, and the palace has been closed for a long time, and it's better to wait for someone to clean it up tomorrow, and then your Majesty will move over."
Rushuang remained silent, Cheng Yuan knelt there upright, and said: "If your lady wants to go in now, the servants will not dare to stop her, please think twice."
Rushuang had no expression on her face, she just stared at the bright moon at the corner of the eaves, the moon was shining coldly, shining on the dense array of owl kisses, after a long time, she finally said two words from her lips: "Go back."
Cheng Yuan felt as if he had been pardoned, so he hurriedly waited for her to get on the chariot. The wind was cold at night, and the sycamore branches and leaves rustled. The lanterns in the hands of the eunuchs were blown by the wind, flickering and flickering. Rushuang's sleeves were also blown up by the wind, like a black butterfly in the night, spreading out huge and gorgeous wings.
She thought of Concubine Qing's raving just now, those vague and fragmented words, pieced together the secret deepest in her heart, the horror that she could never think of.
The chariot was walking very fast, and when she turned her head, Jingxiu Palace had gradually been submerged in the thick night, and the moonlight was hazy, outlining the outline of the continuous palace, like the shadow of a hill, one after another, one after another, in sight.