The spring in Chang'an seems to be pouring into the city with the south wind.
Yesterday the willow trees put out their first tender buds, and in the blink of an eye the city was already filled with lush peach and plum blossoms, and the chirping of orioles and swallows.
After the Jinshi examination banquet in February, it was the Shangsi Festival on March 3rd.
After a spring rain, countless flowers fell in the main courtyard of Prince Qi’s mansion. Gao Mai walked through the courtyard on the fallen flowers, walked to the door of Prince Qi’s study, and looked at the wooden box in his hand.
The ordinary ebony box was only the size of a palm, but it felt as heavy as a thousand pounds when held in his hand. He cleared his throat and said with gritted teeth: "Your Highness..."
"Come in." The cold voice of Prince Qi came from behind the Xiang curtain. Ever since he had a quarrel with Lady Lu, he had returned to his former aloof and arrogant self, living more isolated than before and even refusing to pay attention to Prince Yuzhang.
Huan Minggui handed in several business cards, and twice people showed up, but His Highness claimed to be ill and refused to see them.
Gao Mai opened the curtain and went in. Huan Xuan was sitting at the desk, holding a pen in his hand and writing quickly.
"Your Highness's calligraphy has improved again." Gao Mai praised.
How could he not make progress? He could not go to the mountain and pond, and he did not go out for social activities. Except for going to the palace and the Ministry of War every now and then, he stayed in his study, either practicing calligraphy or playing chess.
Huan Xuan put down his pen and raised his eyelids: "What's the matter?"
Then his eyes fell on the small sandalwood box: "What is this?"
Gao Mai took a deep breath and said, "This is the Hu medicine that His Highness ordered to be found. It was delivered today."
Huan Xuan then remembered that he had seen the hunter woman drinking large bowls of contraceptive soup years ago. One day, when he passed by Shang Pharmacy, he stopped by to ask a familiar medical officer, and learned that there was a kind of contraceptive pill from the Western Regions, which was as effective as the contraceptive soup, but not as cold as the contraceptive soup.
However, there are too many things to pay attention to in the palace, and the emperor, empress, and concubines cannot use any foreign medicine. In order to be safe, the medical officials would add to or subtract from the old prescriptions as much as possible.
Not many people in the community can afford this medicine, so it is rare. He sent people to the border to buy it, and it was only delivered now.
It was a pity that it was no longer useful. He first set foot in Chang'anfang in the evening of the Lantern Festival.
Huan Xuan frowned, lowered his eyes, and pretended to look at his calligraphy: "How's it going over there?"
Gao Mai certainly knew what "that side" meant, but he still asked knowingly: "Your Highness, are you asking about Chang'anfang?"
Huan Xuan just raised his eyelids and said nothing.
Gao Mai then continued, "Your Highness, everything is going as normal in the Shanchiyuan. The training ground was completed the day before yesterday."
Huan Xuan asked, "Has anyone used it?"
The training ground was specially rebuilt for Lady Lu to practice horse riding and archery, so of course she should be the one to use it.
Gao Mai then tentatively said, "Lu... has used it."
Huan Xuan said "hmm" calmly and continued to study his masterpiece: "What is she busy with recently?"
Gao Mai secretly felt lucky that he had kept an eye on Shanchiyuan and would inquire about Lady Lu's recent situation from time to time in case His Royal Highness the Prince of Qi asked about it on a whim.
He considered and said: "In addition to learning riding and archery, Lu also often plays chess according to your highness's instructions and studies the art of chess..."
"Don't say anything nice," Huan Xuan glanced at him, "Is she heartless and still eating and sleeping as usual, and going out to the market as usual?"
Gao Mai was speechless for a moment, thinking to himself, you know everything about this, yet you still ask me
Of course, he couldn't say that. Gao Mai lowered his eyebrows and said, "Your Highness is wise."
After a pause, he looked at the box: "This medicine..."
Huan Xuan said coldly: "Take it and burn it."
"This..." Gao Mai said cautiously, "This medicine is hard to find. Who knows when it will be useful..."
"I said it was burned." Huan Xuan raised his eyebrows.
Gao Mai could only say, "Yes, I will burn it right away."
Having said this, he was about to leave.
"Wait a minute," Huan Xuan tapped the table with his fingertips, "Put it aside for now, I will burn it myself."
Gao Mai said "yes" helplessly and put the box on the desk.
Huan Xuan ordered, "We have to go to Qujiang Pond early tomorrow morning, so make preparations early."
Speaking of the Liushui Qushang Banquet in Shangsi, Huan Xuan's face darkened. He hated such crowded occasions the most, not to mention that Ruan Yuewei would also attend with her cousin.
But this Shang Siyan was not just his personal matter. His half-brother, Prince Chen, was only three or four months younger than him and had also reached the age to take a concubine. He did not want to marry and his mother did not care about him, but Concubine Shu had been worrying about her son's marriage for several years.
Anyway, he would not take a concubine. Huan Xuan pinched his brows, but he was just going through the motions.
But the hunter girl didn't know. She must have heard that the emperor was going to choose a concubine for him, but there was no movement from her side. She continued to eat, drink, play, ride horses and shoot arrows as usual. Yesterday she even had the leisure to go to the market to buy cosmetics - but he didn't even go, so I wonder who she was putting on cosmetics for!
Huan Xuan stared at the black lacquer box, and the more he looked at it, the angrier he became. He called Gao Mai in and ordered him, "Take it and burn it. I don't have time."
Gao Mai sighed secretly: "As you command."
Huan Xuan said, "Don't report what happened over there to me in the future. Take someone to Chang'anfang and get all my clothes and belongings back."
On second thought, given the girl's temperament, it's not certain whether she can notice that something is missing.
A hint of determination flashed in his eyes: "Let Grandma Gao come back as well."
…
On the third day of March, when people went up the Si River, the wind was warm and the sky was clear and the air was fresh. The Qujiang Pond was filled with mist and the Hibiscus Garden on the south bank was full of flowers.
There are continuous sand curtains and painting screens by the pool, reflecting the emerald green water. Young ladies with misty hair and fluttering clothes walk among them, just like people in a painting.
Although everyone in the court and the country knew that the emperor was looking for concubines for his two sons, and the aristocratic families and the royal family were tacitly aware of it, they could not make it public, so Concubine Shu arranged a banquet with wine flowing in the stream and viewing the flowers and scenery, and not only invited young ladies of suitable age and family background, but also invited noble ladies from the royal family to join them.
The male guests were invited by the Crown Prince, and apart from several legitimate and illegitimate princes, princes of the imperial clan, and sons of dukes and marquises, there were also curtains for male and female guests on both sides, but the curtains were made of gauze, so even in the curtains one could still vaguely see their figures, not to mention that when people were picking flowers and picking willows, or drinking wine, there was always a chance to see them clearly.
In order to show the importance he attached to his two sons' marriages, the emperor specially returned to Chang'an from Mount Li in advance, visited Furong Garden in person, and brought Concubine Shu with him.
Huan Xuan had arrived at Hibiscus Garden early, and sat in the same tent with the emperor and the crown prince. From time to time, sweet laughter like silver bells floated in the wind, and even the crown prince could not help but look in the direction of the sound. However, Huan Xuan did not look to the side, but just sat there drinking tea.
The prince glanced towards the female guests and the smile on his face froze for a moment. He clearly saw Zhang Qingqi, the only daughter of Zhang Xiang. She was a close friend of Ruan Yuewei and he had met her several times when she occasionally visited the East Palace.
He never expected that the slippery old man Zhang Qiuhu would also join in the fun. Was it because he saw the power of King Qi and wanted to join him
When he had made an engagement with Ruan Yuewei, Zhang Qiuhu was still the Minister of Rites and had not yet become a prime minister. Zhang Qiuhu intended to take his daughter as a concubine, but he made all kinds of excuses, saying that he only had one daughter and wanted to keep her for a few more years. In fact, he looked down on the position of concubine.
The prince thought for a moment, looked at Huan Xuan and said with a smile: "I seemed to have seen the daughter of the Zhang family just now. She is A'ruan's best friend, and her talent and reputation are not inferior to A'ruan. Third brother, you can pay more attention to her."
Huan Xuan said, "Thank you for your concern, second brother."
The emperor glanced at the prince and said with a smile, "This young lady of the Zhang family is smart and lively, but she is from a poor family and has a low birth, so she has been wronged."
He paused and said, "But as long as we like each other, family background can be compromised."
Huan Xuan said, "Prime Minister Zhang is a loyal minister, but he only has this one daughter. His son leads the troops and stays at the border for many years. I'm afraid this will delay the daughter of the Zhang family."
The emperor smiled softly and said nothing more.
The prince's face changed slightly, realizing that he was deceived.
Not all the people attending the flower banquet were candidates for the princess. It was possible that Zhang Qiuhu sent his daughter here at the emperor's instruction, just to see his reaction.
On second thought, it was impossible for Huan Xuan to marry her as his concubine. Since the emperor had given the military power of the Shenyi Army to his third son, there was no way he would let him marry the prime minister's daughter. If Zhang Qiuhu got married, her position as prime minister would be over.
This is a very simple truth, but he was blinded by it and lost his composure first.
He was not a person who could not keep his cool, but ever since Huan Xuan took charge of the Divine Wing Army, he felt like there was a sword hanging over his head, and he was restless every day. Especially after the emperor relieved him of his duties as regent, he was even more worried.
If he had known this earlier, and had not fought with Huan Xuan for Ruan Yuewei, but married Zhang Qingqi, Huan Xuan would not have gone to the northwest, nor would he have commanded a large army, and Zhang Qiuhu would undoubtedly have become his helper...
The prince's heart skipped a beat, and he said in a daze, "Ah Ruan also brought her third uncle's cousin here today. I mentioned her last time. I'll ask Ah Ruan to bring her here to pay her respects and let my third brother take a look."
Huan Xuan said, "Second brother is thoughtful. The Crown Princess' sisters are naturally outstanding in appearance and character. You can tell without even seeing them."
The prince was about to say something else when the emperor suddenly said "Huh?" and frowned, "Why hasn't Wu Lang arrived yet?"
Only then did everyone remember King Chen.
Everyone knew that this flower banquet was held for the King of Qi, and the King of Chen was just a bonus.
But even if it's just a bonus, people can't not come.
The prince said, "Perhaps something happened in the palace that delayed him."
The emperor snorted coldly: "What serious business can he have?"
He turned to the eunuch and ordered, "Send someone to the Prince of Qi's mansion and order him to come here immediately."
In fact, he didn't need to send anyone to invite him. When Concubine Shu saw that her son was late, she had already secretly sent a eunuch to Prince Chen's mansion, and he had returned to report.
"He's not here?" Concubine Shu was surprised. "Could it be that he has already gone out and just missed her?"
The eunuch whispered, "May I ask Your Majesty to step aside and talk to me?"
Concubine Shu's face changed slightly. She stood up and smiled and said goodbye to the guests. Then she hurriedly walked out of the tent and chose a secluded place. Then she asked the eunuch: "What happened?"
The eunuch also looked anxious: "Your Highness, according to the servants in the palace, His Highness left the city a few days ago. He said he would come back this morning, but I don't know why he was delayed."
Concubine Shu's face turned red and white: "Why did he go out of the city? Where is he going?"
The eunuch stammered, "Your Highness has been going to Yunshui Temple, 20 miles east of the city, quite often recently..."
He whispered a few words into her ear, and Concubine Shu's face immediately turned red. She said with shame and anger: "This evil creature!"
The place that Prince Chen went to was called a Taoist temple, but it was actually a brothel. The young prostitutes inside were all engaged in prostitution for a living. Recently, a "traveling" prostitute came from the south. Prince Chen was in high spirits these days and had already stayed outside the city for several days in a row. The servants in Prince Chen's mansion were afraid that Concubine Shu would blame them, so they tried their best to cover up for him, until today they could no longer cover it up.
Concubine Shu knew that her son was absurd. It was ok for him to hang out in brothels all day long, but he would be so absurd that even she never expected it.
She frowned and said, "Hurry up and get someone to drag that evil creature out of this den of whoredom!"
The eunuch said, "General Manager Wu sent people out of the city early, but there was no sign of Your Highness. The abbot said that Your Highness took the nun out for a walk early yesterday morning and has not returned since."
"No one knows where they went?" Concubine Shu said angrily, "Tell them to find them for me, otherwise I will burn down that den of whoredom!"
But she also knew that doing so would not help, as the nun was just renting a yard in Yunshui Temple to do business and had nothing to do with them.
It’s all her fault that her good-for-nothing son was hanging out with a whore of unknown origin.
"Send more people to look for him," said Concubine Shu, "even if we have to turn Chang'an upside down, we must find that evildoer. I will break his legs!"
…
When Chen Wang Huanjiong woke up, his spine was still numb, his head was dizzy, and his legs had lost feeling.
He shook his head, and the fat on his body began to tremble.
He should have been in a land of pleasure and luxury, surrounded by the most enchanting beauties, but he had a gut feeling that something was wrong. It was chilly and damp all around, unlike the warm March weather, and there was even the hollow "tick-tick" of water.
Huan Jiong's heart shuddered, and he woke up completely. He opened his eyes and found himself lying on the ground, with his hands and feet tightly bound by hemp ropes. Only an oil lamp about ten feet away was flashing a faint light, vaguely illuminating the surrounding scene.
This was a low dark room with no door or window as far as the eye could see. In front of him was a screen, behind which he could vaguely see a figure.
Huan Jiong felt heavy-hearted. He was being tricked.
He was stunned, and then he started to cry out loudly: "Let me go, who are you? Why are you holding me here? Do you know who I am?"
The figure did not move, but a voice came from behind the screen: "Why did you want to murder the late prince?"
It was a woman's voice, deeper and deeper than that of an average woman. Her tone was calm, but it chilled people to the bone.