The yellow sand is long, and the wind blows the flag. There are many winds and frosts along the way, and the sun, moon and stars are just embellishments.
The guards escorting were scattered, and they didn't show much respect to the people in the carriage.
A girl who looked like a maid walked over from the back of the convoy, jumped on the carriage, and handed a bowl of porridge to the person inside, saying, "Miss, the porridge is a little cold, but it's still edible. You can't go to the village or the store right now. Take a bite."
The woman in the carriage was still young, but her expression was very haggard, and her clothes were not very delicate. Looking closely, it was the style of a few years ago, and even a little ill-fitting because of her thinness. She lifted the curtain of the carriage and asked, "Where are you now?"
"After a short walk, you can go to the official road before it gets dark." Bai Lu smiled and said, "This servant has asked those people, and within five days, they will definitely be able to return to Dingjing."
Shuang Jiang also laughed: "When I go back to the palace, the empress will come after all the hardships."
“After all the hardships have come.” Shen Miao smiled bitterly, “Those who are broken will not be able to come back.”
She was talking about Jing Zhe and Gu Yu. Hearing this, Bai Lu and Shuang Jiang also showed sadness in their eyes and stopped speaking.
Jing Zhe was willing to be a concubine in order to win over the powerful minister, and news came in the first year that Shen Miao went to Qin that she was found by the wife of the powerful minister to be blamed and died. As for Gu Yu… Shen Miao clenched her fists tightly but died in Huangfu Hao’s hands to protect her.
Five years, five full years. During the five years in Qin State, the last bit of arrogance in her was worn away. She gritted her teeth and begged for forgiveness, but she wanted to return to her homeland one day and reunite with her children. However, the heavy price paid for this is indeed a hardship that cannot be described by outsiders.
How difficult is this journey? There are not many guards escorting them. Just looking at this chariot team, who would have thought that this is the honor guard of a queen of a country? The men and horses she brought over to Qin State had already died or scattered within five years, and they were almost separated. Just like the way back home, if Mo Qing was not protecting her, she would definitely not be able to go back alive.
Shen Miao sighed, fortunately all the hardships were not in vain, five years finally passed.
I was thinking that it was time for the carriage to continue its journey, but instead of starting, there was a loud noise in front of it.
She frowned slightly, opened the carriage curtain, and asked outside, "What's going on?"
Mo Qing walked over from the front and said, “Meet a strange person, come and ask for water.” Before he finished speaking, he saw an old man dressed in gray behind him, looked at Shen Miao and said with a smile, “Madam, I'm dying of thirst, so give me some water to drink."
This old man was dressed strangely, his body was stinking, and he stared straight at people, which made people suspicious. It was not that he refused to give water, but Shen Miao had a special status. Something is going to happen. Mo Qing ordered someone to hold the old man and not let him get close to Shen Miao. However, Shen Miao laughed and said, "There is a drought along the way, God is not beautiful, a bowl of water is a life, give it to him, Ben... I don't lack this bowl of water to drink."
Since Shen Miao had already spoken, Mo Qing also simply ordered someone to take a bowl and put a bowl of clear water for the old man. The old man gulped down with a “gududu” sigh, patted his stomach, pushed away the guard’s hand and stood up, gave Shen Miao a decent bow, and said, “Madam is kind-hearted and saved the poor road. One life. This kind of bowl of water will also be repaid by the poor.”
“Poor Dao?” Shen Miao was stunned for a moment and then smiled, “Are you a Taoist priest?”
“The name of the law is Chi Yan.” The strange old man looked at Shen Miao and shook his head, “Madam’s face is extremely precious, but your luck is too precious and you cannot afford it.”
“What nonsense are you talking about?” Bai Lu frowned and looked at Shen Miao again, “Mother… Madam, who might be a liar from somewhere, don’t listen to his nonsense.”
Mo Qing also made a gesture to drive the strange old man away.
“Wait.” Shen Miao said, “The journey is also very boring, listen to what people say.”
The old man bowed in a pretentious manner again, and said: "Madam has black air between her brows, I'm afraid it's not good. The end of this road is a bad omen. If you turn your horse's head just like this, you can avoid this disaster. Madam, the poor road still advises You, this is Huang Quan's way, don't go, you can't look back when you leave."
"The more you talk, the more you go!" Shuang Jiangqi's face was ashen: "Who are you cursing?"
Shen Miao has a good temper, she has stayed in Qin country for a long time, facing anyone from Ming Qi, she has the same joy as someone from her hometown, even if the old man is talking nonsense, she is not angry, she just smiled: " Many thanks to the Taoist priest for reminding me, but I have to walk this way, my children are all on this way, and I have to go home."
The strange Taoist sighed deeply and said, “As expected.” He looked at Shen Miao, “We meet by chance, I will give you a chance.” After saying that, he took out a red rope from his sleeve and went forward to give it to Shen Miao. Miao, was stopped by Mo Qing and had to hand over the red rope to Mo Qing, Mo Qing looked left and right to see that there was nothing unusual and then handed it to Shen Miao.
"This red rope is a gift from Pindao to his wife. Madam ties it around her wrist and can achieve her own destiny." He said solemnly, "Remember, Madam, the way of heaven is treacherous, and it depends on man. Pindao can see it. One cannot change one's life, and a person who can change one's life for his wife is not a poor man. God has the virtue of good life, and there is a fate, and this red string is a question, and one day, the wife will find her own solution."
After that, he laughed a few times, turned around and strode away.
This Taoist priest babbled, but the few prophecies he said were extremely unlucky words, and Bailu and Shuangjiang were a little unhappy. Bai Lu said: "Niang Niang, please don't take that weird person's words to heart, probably because your brain is not very clear."
"Don't wear this thing." Shuang Jiang also said: "It's unlucky."
Shen Miao looked left and right and felt that the red rope was extremely cute and she couldn't put it down for no reason, she tied it on her wrist instead and smiled, "It is said that since it is a fate, it is fate to meet by chance, so I wear it. Right. It’s fine if it’s fake, it’s really more spiritual, isn’t it better?”
With all that said, Bai Lu and Shuang Jiang couldn't say anything else. Mo Qing set off towards the carriageway in front of him, and started moving again.
The wind and sand in the distance will almost cover up the figure of the person, but on the road ahead, there is no more figure of the strange old man.
…
Going back to Ming Qi again, it was not like Shuang Jiang said, "the bitter end comes with joy."
The world is changing all the time, the situation will change, and people's hearts will also change.
As a queen, there is nothing special except this status. Sometimes when I think about it, I feel that it is not even better than the days when I was humiliated in Qin. Back in Qin, those injuries were all on the bright side, but in Ming Qi, it was in the dark.
Shen Miao sat in the Kunning Palace and looked at the withered red-sleeved grass on the table with a sullen expression.
The red sleeve grass was sent by Mo Qing. It is said that it is a rare spirit grass. It looks very beautiful, like the sleeves of a woman swaying in the wind, hence the name Red sleeve grass. It was just that Shen Miao had no intention of taking care of it because it was somewhat withered recently.
It's been a few years since she came back to Ming Qi, and she hasn't had a good life in the past few years.
In the harem, there is a Madam Mei. Madam Mei is charming and intelligent, charming and soft, like a mystery, causing people's eyes to fall on her and reluctant to leave for a long time.
In the beginning, it was not without heartbreak. The man he once admired looked at the woman next to him with such doting eyes. He thought that he treated everyone with the same indifference, but later found out that it was not, it was just that the person was not himself.
After many days of heartbreak, it gradually became numb. Pain and malaise gradually turned into hatred and unwillingness, because of Fu Sheng.
Fu Sheng always took too much away from Fu Xiu Yi's favor, and her child Fu Ming, who was clearly sitting in the position of the crown prince, clearly had both virtue and talent, and worked hard, but in the end, he was like a prince who fell out of favor. Fu Xiu Yi could teach Fu Sheng to write and discuss politics, but he was stingy at giving Fu Mingduo a caring look.
When asked, he said that Fu Ming was the crown prince, so he had to be mature and steady, and what was it like to pester the emperor every day.
But every time she looked at Fu Ming's disappointed eyes, Shen Miao's heart was twisted like a knife.
The Shen family's life wasn't very good, Luo Xueyan's illness was getting worse and worse, and Jing Chuchu and Shen Qiu were exhausted. The reputation of the Shen family went from bad to worse, and Shen Xin became much older.
Fu Xiu Yi seemed to be suppressing the Shen family, Shen Miao vaguely sensed this, but how in the harem could clearly know the affairs of the imperial court, the only way she could get in touch with them was through Pei Lang, but Pei Lang was doing it for Fu Xiu Yi Allegiance. Although Pei Lang had a good relationship with her, he was always loyal to Fu Xiu Yi first.
Shen Miao's infatuation with Fu Xiu Yi had long since cooled into ice when she watched him and Madam Yan get along with cold eyes over the past few years. But in her position to pursue her political affairs, she always has to sit firmly in the position of queen, and she always has to win some opportunities for Fu Ming and Wan Yu.
Recently, there was news from the Xiongnu side that Mrs. Mei seemed to want to push Fu Xiu Yi to kiss Wan Yu.
This was what Shen Miao could not endure the most.
However, Madam Mei's methods became more and more sophisticated. Fu Xiu Yi's love for Fu Sheng was seen by everyone, the Shen family was not as good as the day, and there were too many people standing on Madam Mei's side. When it falls, everyone has to step on it. In addition, Mrs. Mei's brother Li Ke has done several important things for Fu Xiu Yi recently.
Shen Miao knew what the courtiers were thinking, when they were thinking about when to change the crown prince and when to abolish the queen.
But Fu Xiu Yi still had to face. She is the first wife, and it is not so easy for Madam Mei to pass over her.
Fighting back and forth, going around in circles, her heart was already exhausted. If it weren't for these two children, sometimes I would feel that it would be better to burn the palace inside and outside with a fire, and the world would be peaceful.
Bai Lu walked in and said, "Niangniang, the clothes for the palace banquet are ready, so I have to brush my hair earlier."
Shen Miao agreed.
Shuang Jiang died a year ago, and Madam Mei was so good at it that she even spared the girl beside her. Going around in circles, only Bai Lu was left.
Tonight was Ming Qi's palace banquet. The New Year was approaching. Fu Xiuyi wanted to entertain the officials. Of course, the most important thing was to practice it for Xie Jingxing, the young marquis of the Marquis of Lin'an. The Marquis of Lin'an, Xie Ding, died on the battlefield in the northern border, and now his son went out again, in fact, the timing was not good, it even made people feel that this was a bit tragic, but Xie Jing Xing still accepted the command.
Shen Miao and Xie Jing Xing did not have much interaction, but it was because of the subtle relationship between the Shen family and the Xie family. Since the time of Xie Ding in the Marquis of Lin'an Mansion, Xie Jing Xing was the only one who supported the lintel. This is a bit embarrassing. At the beginning, the Nan Xie Bei Shen was not as good as the day, and the Xie family was gradually declining, which really taught people to be sad.
But Xie Jing Xing has his way to go, so why is Shen Miao's own way not difficult
She said, "Comb your hair."
Sizhu was in a state of confusion, and this palace banquet was extraordinarily lively.
Fu Xiu Yi hadn't been so cheerful for a long time, his normally stern expression became much softer, and his smile became extraordinarily pleasant. Shen Miao looked at Fu Sheng coldly as he went to toast him, the father and son seemed to be in a good mood, but there was a chill in their hearts.
Fu Mingduan sat on the side, and Wan Yu also sat well. Those courtiers always praised the prince and princess. They were very sensible at a young age, but they had the demeanor of a little adult. Such a dignified bearing was not something that everyone could develop. Although it is polite, but it is almost the same, but don't think about it, if people can act like a spoiled child, who wants to be sensible? Being sensible is just forced out.
Wan Yu and Fu Ming also tried their best to be close to Fu Xiu Yi, and then the children's minds were the most direct and pure, and they could feel Fu Xiu Yi's indifference, and gradually they became polite and polite.
Shen Miao sat beside Fu Xiu Yi but watched Fu Xiu Yi exchange glances with Madam Mei from time to time, Madam Mei smiled at Yan Yan, it was really affectionate and Fu Xiu Yi also smiled slightly.
Shen Miao thought that the two of them must be really happy.
But what about the protagonist of this palace banquet
Shen Miao involuntarily looked at the man on the left side of the banquet.
The young man looked extremely handsome, his posture was lazy and flying, he was sitting slantingly, and the dark purple robe was a bit wide, but he still couldn't hide his high spirits. With a smile at the corner of his mouth, he drank slowly, as if the noise of the crowd had nothing to do with him, and was out of tune with the excitement.
Shen Miao laughed in her heart and felt that this little Marquis of Lin'an Marquis Mansion was somewhat similar to herself. The whole place was lively and joyful, but in fact, the heart was not very happy. Xie Jing Xing was going to take a bloody road where life and death were uncertain, and at the end of her life she didn't know what the end would be.
Being attacked by the enemy on the back and belly, and being embattled on all sides, all of them are at a very close call.
She also took a wine glass, poured herself a drink, and sipped it with extreme restraint.
Empress, you should always be dignified and graceful, not like a concubine, drinking delicately, charming and charming.
After the banquet left, the people dispersed in twos and threes. Sitting in her seat, she heard Mrs. Mei say: "Your Majesty, my concubine has prepared a good wine tonight. Your Majesty and your concubine can watch the fireworks together. Sheng'er also said that she wants to compete with Your Majesty in chess."
Fu Xiu Yi laughed loudly, and pointed at Madam Mei's nose, "This competitive temperament is exactly the same as yours!"
Shen Miao swallowed her words "At the end of the year, Wan Yu and the Crown Prince also want to accompany the Emperor".
Looking back, the sadness in the eyes of the two children made her heart hurt.
But he also endured the pain, and his face was light.
But this new year, I can't sleep.
She coaxed the two children to sleep. She only felt that the two children were not very enthusiastic about the arrival of the New Year. The sound of fireworks came from the palace walls. It was late at night. Best to watch fireworks. Presumably the three of them are also very affectionate.
Shen Miao put on her clothes and ordered Bai Lu to take a jar of wine and a bowl and go to the garden by herself.
From one corner of the garden, you can see fireworks. The fireworks can only be seen in a small part, but even a small part is extremely gorgeous. It almost lights up the entire sky. You can imagine the other side, you can see the whole picture. What a beautiful scenery.
She took out a bowl, Bai Lu felt a little distressed, Shen Miao waved her hand and told her not to speak.
“These fireworks are so beautiful.” Shen Miao’s voice was low and she was drunk, “When can I watch a complete show?”
She suddenly smiled again: "Probably not."
Just as he was talking, he heard footsteps coming from behind him, and his boots stepped on the snow, making a "rustling" sound.
Bai Lu was taken aback and said, "You guys..."
Shen Miao turned around and saw someone brushing away the heavy tree shadows and walking forward.
A person dressed as a guard is behind, and the person standing in front of him is tall, with purple robes and blue boots, and a pair of peach blossom eyes that reflect the fireworks in the night, which is extraordinarily bright and moving, very beautiful.
"The Marquis of Lin'an... Lord Xie?" Shen Miao squinted at him.
The man seemed to be a little surprised, "tsk", and said, "Fu Xiu Yi's queen turns out to be an alcoholic."
The guard behind him said, "Master, we should go."
Bai Lu was also a little nervous, not knowing why Xie Jing Xing was still in the palace. But if a queen or a courtier were seen standing together, something big might happen, especially these days Shen Miao was already struggling in the palace, once someone caught her, she would go to her without hesitation. Dirty water on your body. At this time, the farther away the prince of the Marquis of Lin'an was, the better.
Bai Lu didn't dare to disturb others. This garden is also very remote, so she whispered: "Master Shizi, the Queen Mother is a little drunk, and the servant is about to help her back, and she asked Shiziye to pretend that she didn't see it."
Xie Jing Xing glanced at Shen Miao and laughed, but he was a little bit uninterested, he turned around and was about to leave.
“Wait!” Shen Miao called him.
Bai Lu was startled and anxiously wanted to cover Shen Miao's mouth. Shen Miao was staring at Xie Jing Xing, she was a little drunk at the moment, since she went to Qin country until now, she has never drank indiscriminately, but it is not false to say that a cup of wine relieves Qian Sorrow. When people are drunk, they will be relaxed and relaxed, and they will do many things that they would not do on weekdays.
She said, "Bengong heard that you are going to Northern Xinjiang?"
Xie Jing Xing hugged his chest and said with a half-smile, “What is the Empress’s order?”
Tie Yi and Bai Lu both stared at Shen Miao, Shen Miao smiled, took out the bowl she had just drank from the table, poured a large bowl full of the wine in the jar, motioned Xie Jing Xing to look at it, and said: "Young talents, people from ancient times, and brilliant talents, unparalleled in the world!"
Xie Jing Xing raised his eyebrows, Bai Lu was so embarrassed that she wished to drag Shen Miao away, how could she boast of a flower in front of people like this.
“Northern Xinjiang is a very bad place.” Shen Miao patted his shoulder, she was petite, she had to stand on tiptoe when patting someone’s shoulder, and looked at Xie Jing Xing, half serious and half drunk: "I heard that my father said that there is no grass there, the terrain is treacherous, and there are many poisonous snakes, insects and ants, and it is easy to fall into traps. You are in great danger."
"Wei Chen, thank you for your empress." Xie Jing Xing said casually.
“A thousand years of history is shameless, a piece of heart will pay to the emperor!” She said wholeheartedly, and she raised the wine bowl in Xie Jing Xing’s hand and swallowed it in one breath.
Bai Lu and Tie Yi were both startled, the former did not expect that Shen Miao would drink it and the latter was surprised that the Empress would be so forthright.
Shen Miao wiped her mouth, burped her wine, and said, "This is a bowl of wine that Ben Gong honors you, it must be a triumph!"
Xie Jing Xing stared at her, there was still wine that had not been wiped off her lips, it hung brightly on her lips, it was very beautiful, under the moonlight, her face showed a beauty that could not be seen in the daytime. Taking off the shackles of the queen, she is actually a very delicate and beautiful woman.
He raised his lips, and his smile showed a bit of evil spirit, and said slowly: "The emperor seems to have neglected the queen, Liangliang."
Bai Lu's eyes widened, Xie Jing Xing's words were too presumptuous, but she did not dare to drag Shen Miao away directly, lest if Shen Miao made any noises to alarm others, she was really speechless.
After Shen Miao finished drinking, she picked up the wine jar swayingly, poured a big bowl full and handed it to Xie Jing Xing, “You drink too!”
“Why should I drink?” Xie Jing Xing was puzzled.
“You, and Ben Gong share the same illness!” Shen Miao said.
“Who has the same illness as you?” Xie Jing Xing was amused. Shen Miao had already raised the wine bowl and fed it to his mouth.
Bai Lu was shocked, this was too ambiguous! Tie Yi was also very surprised, but Xie Jing Xing did not speak, he would not make a move.
Xie Jing Xing was suddenly poured a bowl of wine, and when she pushed Shen Miao away, a lot of wine was spilled on her clothes, but looking at Shen Miao, she finally smiled with satisfaction. She said, "You and I have a bowl of wine in love. When you return triumphantly, come watch the fireworks with this palace!"
Xie Jing Xing felt that today was really inexplicable. It turns out that it is irrational for a woman to be drunk and crazy. Even the queen who looks at the dignified Shuyi in the past day is really different.
"The Empress should come to see the emperor." He sorted out his clothes.
Shen Miao said sadly, "Ben Gong has never seen fireworks with him."
Xie Jing Xing stared at the woman opposite, she bowed her head slightly, the corners of her mouth were raised, but her eyes were bitter, he inexplicably softened a bit, and said, "It's fine, Wei Chen promises you."
Shen Miao's eyes lit up and she looked at him and said, "That's right."
Xie Jing Xing nodded.
Shen Miao thought for a while, then shook her head and said, "There is no evidence to say it, you have to have a token." Then she began to touch the hairpin on her hair.
Bai Lu was stunned for a moment and secretly thought that it was not good, if Xie Jing Xing belonged to the empress, then it would be a charge of fornication. For fear of what handkerchief and hairpin Shen Miao would give to the other party, she suddenly saw the red string around Shen Miao’s wrist and she had an idea and said, “Niangniang, your red string is very good!”
Shen Miao's eyes fell on the red rope, and as soon as her heart moved, she quickly untied it, took Xie Jing Xing's hand and tied it to him seriously.
Xie Jing Xing's eyes fell on her slightly curled eyelashes, they were wet, as if they were mixed with the coldness of winter and they were light and moist, which made one's heart feel slightly itchy for no reason.
Shen Miao tied him tightly and smiled at him, "This is the token given to you by this palace, take this as your trust, waiting for your triumph!"
“Many thanks for the reward from the Empress.” Xie Jing Xing smiled casually, “But Wei Chen has no token to give to the Empress. How about giving the Empress a wish?”
“Wish?” Shen Miao looked at him.
"When we meet again in triumph, Wei Chen can give Niangniang a wish, and Weichen can fulfill the wish that Niangniang wants, and I will try my best to think it."
Shen Miao said, "A word is settled!"
"It's a word."
With a sound of "Boom", a corner of the sky was once again illuminated by bright fireworks. The two of them looked together, but they seemed to have a tacit understanding and were unusually compatible.
Bai Lu was also stunned.
Fireworks are fleeting, but some things don't, like this night.
When Shen Miao woke up again, she only felt a splitting headache, while rubbing her forehead, she stood up and walked to the table, “I slept for such a long time.”
Bai Lu brought her hot soup, and said, "My lady drank too much yesterday, wake up the bar first."
“Drink too much?” Shen Miao made a move, “I didn’t drink much at the palace banquet.”
Bai Lu felt a little guilty, and said, "It's probably because the drinks at the palace banquet are so powerful."
Shen Miao nodded and sighed again, "The problem that Ben Gong can't remember anything when he is drunk really hasn't changed for so many years, but he hasn't been drunk for a long time."
Bai Lu nodded, only to hear Shen Miao look at her empty wrist again, "Why is the red string gone?"
Bai Lu whispered: "It's probably... I lost it."
Shen Miao sighed, "It really doesn't last long."
The sun is hot, and the team that set off is at the city gate.
The young man at the head was arrogant, clearly with a lazy smile, but his eyes were so cold that he didn't dare to look at him.
"Master, everything is ready." Tie Yi said.
Xie Jing Xing glanced behind him and walked out of this city gate. The future will be completely different, which means that it will be completely broken with the past and will not be involved anymore.
eventually leaving.
"There is nothing to be missed here," the man in white beside him shook his fan and said, "It has nothing to do with you."
"Maybe I'm looking forward to whether the third brother will go or not return." The young man in the pine green robe smiled and looked forward again: "No matter what, I'm finally going home."
"uncertain."
The two looked at the man in purple together.
Xie Jing Xing lowered his head, his eyes fell on his wrist, there was a red rope tied there, the end of the red rope was tied upright and carefully knotted, as if it was firm and would not loosen.
"Isn't this what women wear?" Ji Yushu asked, "What are you wearing this for?"
"Drinking someone's farewell wine, I owe someone a wish." Xie Jing Xing said, "I will pay it back when I come back."
He withdrew his gaze and waved his whip: "Get up!"
Set off.