***
Qin Mu asked the palace maid to bring dinner to Jingyang Palace. He had dinner with Hong Niangzi before leaving with Yang Zhi.
It was the dead of winter and the weather was cold. When Qin Mu went out, he asked the palace maid to fetch a silver fox fur cloak and carefully helped Yang Zhi tie it on. This subtle gesture made Yang Zhi feel warm in her heart and she felt that everything she had done for the harem was worth it.
"Your Majesty..."
"When there is no one around, just call me husband. I like to hear you call me husband."
"No, I won't do that. I am the head of the harem and I cannot be the first to break the rules." In Yang Zhi's heart, she actually wanted to obey him and call him husband gently like a little woman.
Qin Mu held her hand and walked out, whispering, "My lady, you forgot that we are the masters of this palace. The rules here are set by us husband and wife. Your husband asked you to do this, and this is the rule. If you don't obey, you will break the rules."
"Your Majesty is talking nonsense again. I cannot argue with you."
"Why don't you call me husband?"
"There are people here. When there is no one around, I... I will call you husband again." Under the furry silver fox fur coat, Yang Zhi's pretty face was rosy and charming.
The few palace maids following behind heard something vaguely, so they tactfully slowed down their pace and kept some distance.
Going forward and around the corridor, you will find Lanlin Pavilion, where the newly selected beauties live. The pavilion is made of fragrant wood for the building and apricot wood for the beams and pillars. There are golden patterns on the door and the windows are green. There are golden bells hanging on the top of the eaves. When the breeze blows, you can hear the sound of bells. Someone is playing the flute upstairs, and the clear sound is ethereal, as if coming from the sky.
"Your Majesty, are you dissatisfied with the nine beauties newly selected into the palace?" Yang Zhi suddenly asked in a low voice.
"Why do you ask this, ma'am?"
Yang Zhi was silent for a moment, then replied, "It's been a while since we moved into the palace, but His Majesty has never summoned them to sleep with him. I guess His Majesty is not satisfied with my choice."
"My lady, what are you thinking about? I'm busy and don't have time. Besides, I haven't even met them, so how can I say I'm satisfied or not?" Qin Mu smiled gently and held her hand tighter, feeling her warm body temperature on her palm.
Yang Zhi mustered up her courage and said softly, "Your Majesty stays in my Kunning Palace every night, which makes me feel a little uneasy. I understand how good your Majesty is to me, but even my eldest aunt said that the only child of the royal family will eventually..."
"Okay, my lady, don't think too much." Qin Mu interrupted her, turned around, picked her up, and walked quickly towards Kunning Palace.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty, please don't do this. Let me down..."
"You are my queen. You are the head of the harem. Ye'er is the only child of the royal family. This is really not good. Madam, let's go back to the palace quickly. Madam, give birth to a big fat boy for your husband, hahaha..."
Qin Mu took a warm bath with his wife, then wrapped her in a blanket and carried her directly back to the bedroom.
The sleeping hall is located behind the main hall of Kunning Palace, with pepper-painted walls and a layer of embroidery, incense pillars as pillars, Yanqi screens, Hongyu tents, and exquisite carpets on the ground, warm as spring.
Yang Zhi, who had just taken a bath, had skin as white as cream, rosy and tender, and was indescribably bright and beautiful. That night, the couple loved each other affectionately, and when Qin Mu sent her to the clouds, she finally agreed to call him husband.
Unable to bear the bullying, she called Mo Mo Ruoruo, who was serving in the palace, to come up. This pair of charming sisters were now seventeen or eighteen years old, the age when flowers bloomed. Their pretty looks were like they were cast from the same mold... (10,000 words omitted here)
***
Xu Yongshun came to Hanyan Painting and Embroidery Workshop early in the morning. Although he was one of the owners of the workshop, he could not enter the workshop casually because Gu Zhaoyi from the palace would come to the workshop from time to time to teach painting and embroidery, so men were not allowed to enter the workshop.
Xu Yongshun asked the eunuch guarding the gate to go in and call his sister out.
His sister was a famous beauty in Nanjing. She was so beautiful that she could make fish sink to the bottom of the water and geese fall to the ground, and she was also a talented woman. She was proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting. Her every move revealed the grace and elegance of a lady from a noble family.
Every day, matchmakers came to Xu's house to propose marriage, but Xu Yongshun already had someone he loved, so he looked down on anyone who came to propose marriage.
A few months ago, the palace held a selection of concubines, and the rule was to select girls between the ages of 13 and 16. Her sister Xu Ruoshi was 17 years old this year, which was over the age for the selection. In addition, Xu Yongshun felt that it would be a bit cheap to let his sister be selected among thousands of people, so he did not go the wrong way.
However, the "belief" in his heart has never wavered. He had just received news that His Majesty would go to Yanziji to review the navy in the morning, so he rushed over to take his sister to Yanziji to "enjoy the scenery" in advance.
Xu Ruoshi quickly came out of the workshop with two maids. She had a slender and graceful figure. Her face, hidden under the white fox fur collar, was as beautiful as a peony with dewdrops on it. She walked with graceful and delicate steps, and lotus flowers bloomed with every step.
"Brother, what's the matter?"
"Didn't sister say you were bored staying at home the other day? Go home and dress up. I'll take you to Yanziji to relax today." Xu Yongshun apologized with a smile.
When Xu Ruoshi heard his words, she immediately realized the unusual meaning, and frowned slightly and said, "Brother, go by yourself. It's so cold, I don't want to go."
"Oh, sister, it's cold so let's put a few more stoves in the car. It's rare for your brother to have some free time to accompany you. How can you not go? Sister, your brother is so kind, so don't refuse. Go home and dress up, and let's go."
"Brother, why are you doing this?" The poet Xu Ruo was kind-hearted and clever. In fact, she had already guessed why her brother came to see her so early in the morning.
"Sister." Xu Yongshun sighed, "If you don't want to go, forget it. I won't force you anymore."
"Brother..." Xu Ruoshi's heart softened. Her brother was so young, but it was not easy for him to support such a big family. She sighed secretly, lowered her head and said, "Brother, you don't need to say anything. I will go with you."
Xu Yongshun was overjoyed when he saw the unexpected turn of events. He quickly said, "Sister, get in the car quickly. I will take you home first."
Xu Ruoshi obediently got into the carriage. It was a cold winter morning and there were not many people on the street. As the carriage passed a street, she suddenly saw a group of people gathered in front of her, pointing and talking. Xu Yongshun was curious and rode over to take a look. He saw a seven-foot tall man, shirtless, with a huge bundle of firewood tied on his back, walking towards her in the cold wind.
Xu Yongshun was at least a sixth-rank Chengzhilang and was very familiar with the officials in the court. One look at this seven-foot-tall man and he knew he had to be none other than the newly-appointed Changshan Marquis Ai Nengqi.
This scene surprised Xu Yongshun so much that he forgot to close his mouth. Why would the dignified Marquis of Changshan go out shirtless and carry a bundle of firewood on such a cold morning
There are also many discerning people on the street, and it is not difficult to hear it from their whispered discussions.
"Isn't this the Marquis of Changshan who conquered Hetao?"
"Yeah, yeah, what's going on?"
"Who knows? It looks like he is asking for forgiveness."
"No way, who has the ability to make the newly appointed Marquis of Changshan apologize for his crime?"
"That's none of our business, but it's going to be a good show. Follow us, follow us."
The people on the street followed one after another. Xu Yongshun, who never missed any movement in the court, ordered his followers to escort his sister back first, and then he followed on horseback.
Ai Nengqi's muscles were as strong as iron and were throbbing all over. Well, that was because he was cold.
In order to express his sincerity, he gave up the method of asking for forgiveness in person and decided to ask for forgiveness himself. It was fine at home, but once he went out, the cold wind blew and it was really damn cold.
As soon as he went out, people gathered around to watch the fun. Ai Nengqi couldn't even go back. He was in the emperor's presence. If the emperor heard that he went out and then went back, wouldn't it seem that he had no sincerity at all
Ai Nengqi gritted his teeth, walked towards the Meridian Gate with his bare chest, carrying a large bundle of firewood on his back and bare legs.
He had only walked a few streets when the story of Changshan Hou asking for forgiveness by carrying a thorn stick on his back spread throughout the city. A large number of citizens rushed over to watch, as if they were watching a foreign spectacle.
Ai Nengqi was already shivering with cold, but how could he show any sign of ferocity under the gaze of millions of eyes
He endured it and kept speeding up his pace. Amid the heated discussions of the onlookers, he arrived at the Meridian Gate. He knelt down and shouted loudly: "Your Majesty, I, Ai Nengqi, the Marquis of Changshan, have come to apologize to Your Majesty!"
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.(To be continued..)
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