Story of Yanxi Palace

Chapter 82: A thousand purples and a thousand reds

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The news of the disaster relief came back to the harem, and Concubine Huigui slapped her on the case: "What a concubine Xian, it's not enough to pretend to be in the Forbidden City, and now the whole capital is praising her, saying that she is majestic and can convince the public! In the cold winter and the twelfth lunar month, I don’t open a tent outside the city to put food, these bastards have forgotten everything, there is only one concubine Xian in their eyes, and this palace’s thoughts are all fed to the dogs!”

Nalan Chunxue hurriedly reassured: "My lord, calm down, this kind of good thing is done every year, so it's not unusual for others. Concubine Xian used to be quiet in the past, but this is so cold, and she has done a big thing, which naturally attracts attention. However, As long as the empress dowager's birthday banquet is properly organized, is the empress afraid of not being able to perform well?"

Concubine Huigui took a deep breath: "This time, this time, this palace will compare her face to shame! Zhilan, how did you prepare for the Queen Mother's birthday gift?"

Zhilan: "Concubine Empress, Wanzi Qianhong has completed her practice and is ready for inspection at any time!"

Concubine Hui Gui: "Ben Gong is going to see it in person and instruct them to get ready tonight!"

"Yes!" Zhilan hesitated and said, "But four craftsmen tried to escape and were killed on the spot, madam, look..."

Concubine Hui Gui sneered: "Four, forty, even four hundred, no matter how many people die in this palace, it only depends on the final result!"

Holding a sigh of relief in her heart, she wanted to compete with Concubine Xian, and Concubine Huigui hurriedly ate dinner and left Chuxiu Palace. How did you come?"

The surprise was fleeting, she looked at the woman standing beside Hongli, her face sank: "Concubine Xian, you are here too."

Concubine Xian was wearing a green dress today, which was light and simple and elegant, embellishing the hot summer with a cool emerald color, and smiled gently to Concubine Hui: "I heard that Concubine Concubine meticulously prepared a birthday gift for the Queen Mother, and the concubines followed. The emperor came to have a look, does the noble concubine mind?"

Concubine Huigui smiled back: "Bengong mind, can you turn around and go back immediately, if you can't, then why do you ask!"

The two fought against each other for a moment, seeing that Concubine Xian was not leaking, and that she could not get anything good from her, Concubine Huigui decisively shifted her focus, and focused her eyes on Hongli again, saying: "Your Majesty, take a look today, if they The performance is good, on the day of the Queen Mother's birthday, the concubines will form a performance team of 12 people, and the scene must be even more spectacular, Zhilan, tell them to start!"

Zhilan: "Yes!"

The colorful performers were a few craftsmen wearing bamboo hats and thick jackets. The old man, as the leader, put the white spoon in his hand into the hot water, and the flames burst out instantly. As soon as he raised his hand, the melted water immediately flew towards the icy city wall. The hot and cold met, and with a bang, the molten iron burst, like thousands of flowers, blooming in an instant.

"The fire shines in the heaven and the earth, the red stars are scattered with purple smoke. On the moonlit night, the song moves the cold river." Concubine Xian recited a poem and sighed, "If you think about it carefully, Li Bai is also depicting this scene!"

Hongli also nodded in a rare way: "Qiupu is a famous place for copper production. Li Bai passed by this place and saw copper slag dumped and sparks radiating everywhere. It is a picture of smelting in autumn night! Far better than the fire of smelting!"

The old man was flying a few spoonfuls of molten iron one after another, sparks one after another. The craftsmen next to him all follow his example, spoon after spoon, as if beautiful fireworks hit the palace wall. On the cold wall, a string of passionate sparks burst into the sky, and the moment they fell. , turned into a splendid rain of flowers all over the sky, lighting up the dark night sky.

The light fell on Concubine Hui's face, and her smile was as bright as fireworks: "Your Majesty, the concubine is preparing to cast the stage and make up the dance in person. Let the beautiful dancers dance in the sky, and the queen mother will definitely be able to perform!"

Hongli smiled with satisfaction: "The imperial concubine's mind is ingenious, if Wanzi Qianhong performs on the day of the Queen Mother's birthday, it will definitely shock the world!"

Concubine Huigui showed a proud look, and when Hongli's eyes were caught by Huayu, she leaned back in the chair and whispered to Zhilan who was standing behind the chair: "The stage will be built here when the time comes!"

Zhilan bent down and whispered, "Niangniang, isn't it too close?"

Concubine Huigui: "What are you afraid of, it's not for you to dance, it's built here!"

Zhilan: "Yes!"

Zhilan turned her head to instruct the eunuch, and tomorrow she would instruct the craftsmen of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to come measure.

Eunuch: "Hey!"

During the conversation, another craftsman came to the stage. The other party was small in size and not very skilled. Although he tried to imitate the old man's movements, the movements of his hands seemed a little stiff and unnatural... as if he was injured.

Hongli was busy looking at Huayu, and Concubine Huigui was busy giving orders to her servants. Only Concubine Xian noticed the other party, but her eyes flashed, she turned her face away, and pretended not to see it.

The little craftsman approached Concubine Huigui calmly, and suddenly raised his hand, choked his throat and called out, "Niangniang."

"Huh?" Concubine Huigui turned around, but saw molten iron pouring out of the sky and pouring all over her, she screamed in horror, covering her delicate face with both hands.

Surrounded by shocking noises, Hongli was at a distance from Concubine Huigui, and he would not have been involved, but he quickly ran to Concubine Huigui: "Concubine Hui!"

The splashing water and sparks almost landed on him, and Concubine Xian suddenly hugged him: "Be careful, Your Majesty!"

The spark landed on Concubine Xian's back, she screamed and threw herself in Hongli's arms, trembling with pain, Hongli changed color: "Concubine Xian, come here, come quickly!"

The guards arrived in a hurry, and Fu Heng was the leader. He turned his eyes and immediately found something strange.

A small craftsman is trying to escape the scene!

"Stop!" Fu Heng shouted.

Fu Heng chased the other party, but the old craftsman made a silent gesture, and the rest of the craftsmen understood, the next moment,

More and more molten iron was poured on the palace wall, the golden rain was flying all over the sky, and the golden light was prosperous in front of everyone. Fu Heng was only one step closer to catching the little craftsman, but he was blinded by the golden light. When I opened my eyes, there was no one in front of me.

Fu Heng was furious, and smashed the iron spoon in the old man's hand with a sword: "Stop everything!"

The iron spoon fell to the ground, and the craftsmen stopped their movements one after another. The old craftsman did the same. He stood with his head bowed and looked very docile. Only when the corner of his eyes swept towards the concubine Hui Gui who was crying in pain on the ground, he showed a bit of bone-chilling hatred.

"Huh, huh—" In the middle of the palace, a small craftsman wearing a gray hat ran out of breath, the pursuers behind him got closer and closer, and suddenly a hand stretched out from the corner and pulled her over.

The hat fell off, revealing Wei Yingluo's slightly pale face.

"Shh." Yuan Chunwang embraced her and covered her mouth with one hand.

Wei Yingluo was struggling, but when she heard his voice, she stood still.

The footsteps of the chasing soldiers hurried past them and gradually ran away.

Before Wei Yingluo could breathe a sigh of relief, Yuan Chunwang had already pulled her up and said, "Let's go."

As soon as the two ran out of the corridor, the sound of dense footsteps rushed towards the corner where they were hiding before. Fu Heng went around the pillar, bent over to pick up the gray hat on the ground, and then slowly turned his face to the direction where the two escaped. , coldly ordered: "I was almost deceived by him, chase!"

The group chased out, because there were many forks on the road, so they divided their troops into several paths. Fu Heng led the three guards to chase outside Yongxiang, suddenly stopped and shouted: "Stop!"

The sound of the wheels rolling suddenly stopped, and Yuan Chunwang, who was pushing the dung cart, turned his face as usual: "Sir, what happened?"

Fu Heng walked over, his eyes fell on the dung truck: "Open!"

Yuan Chunwang looked at him in surprise: "This is a dung truck!"

Fu Heng snorted coldly, took off the sword from his waist, picked it up with the sword, and the cover of the dung cart fell to the ground, he ordered coldly, "Go and check!"

The guard stepped forward to check and shook his head: "No."

There was nothing in the dung car, and Yuan Chunwang's expression looked extremely innocent, but for some reason, the more Fu Heng looked at him, the less pleasing his eyes became. Suddenly, his eyes turned and landed on a hidden shadow not far away, and immediately dropped it. Yuan Chunwang, striding towards the other party, was afraid that the other party would run away like before, so he grabbed the other party's arm.

"Ouch!" A familiar female voice sounded, Wei Yingluo turned her head back with an angry expression, "What are you doing!"

"...It's you!" Fu Heng was stunned, and unwittingly let go of his hand, and even his tone softened, "There are assassins in the palace, I'm catching assassins!"

Yingluo raised the brush in her hand: "Will the assassin brush the bucket in the palace?"

"I'm sorry, it's my duty." Fu Heng had no intention of embarrassing her, and turned around and asked, "Have you all checked it out!"

The guards briefly searched and answered immediately, "No!"

Fu Heng breathed a sigh of relief: "Miss Yingluo, I'm sorry!"

Watching him leave in a hurry, Yingluo breathed a sigh of relief, and threw the brush away before leaving.

"Stop." A clear voice sounded behind her.

"Cough cough cough!" Wei Yingluo coughed a few times deliberately, then turned around and said, "I'm seriously ill. If you have anything to say, I'll talk about it tomorrow..."

"Severely ill?" Yuan Chunwang sneered, grabbed Wei Yingluo's arm, and lifted her sleeve, "I think it's because she is seriously injured!"

Under the moonlight, Wei Yingluo's arm was bright red, obviously burnt.

Wei Yingluo said in pain, "What are you doing?"

"Tell me!" Yuan Chunwang took a step closer, his eyes burning, "Where does the injury on the arm come from?"

Yingluo withdrew her hand forcefully, and said somewhat unconvincingly: "I was injured at work on weekdays..."

"Heh." Yuan Chunwang sneered, "This stunt of Wanziqianhong can easily burn yourself. The scar on your arm is the burn of molten iron."

"No..." Wei Yingluo wanted to quibble, but the other party's next sentence was: "Laiwang has already told me everything."

Laiwang is the name of the little craftsman who was replaced by Wei Yingluo. The child was seriously injured due to training Wanziqianhong. It was for the sake of this child and the future of the child that the old craftsman agreed to let Wei Yingluo replace him in power. , to teach Concubine Hui a lesson.

Hearing the name, Wei Yingluo knew that he knew everything, and immediately shut his mouth and said nothing.

"Is it to avenge the dead craftsman?" Yuan Chunwang stared at her, "Or... the queen."

Wei Yingluo quickly looked up at him, and then quickly lowered her head.

Yuan Chunwang understood immediately, his laughter was even colder, with a hint of sarcasm, and a hint of inexplicable emotion: "You are a fool for risking your own life for such a small favor!"

His right hand caressed Wei Yingluo's cheek. I don't know if it was her illusion. His fingers, which were always cold as snakes, were actually stained with a touch of warmth tonight.

"...I'm also very good to you." Yuan Chunwang looked down at her, his voice whispering, "If I were in trouble, would you risk your life for me...?"