The Qingfeng Pavilion in Manxiang Palace is in a sea-like plum forest, where the plum fragrance is overflowing and the flowers bloom like snow.
Man Yao was lying on the table in front of the window, holding a large piece of white paper with one hand, and drawing something with a brush in the other. She frowned slightly, her expression was extremely serious, her head was drooping, and her slender neck curved gracefully. The long hair slipped from the ears and scattered on the same snow-white rich paper.
All around her are piles of old letters, which contain information about weapons and battle formations.
In the past few days, except for the time of sleeping at night and rubbing arms with Wuyou, she has been thinking about one thing at other times. The war is coming, the army of the Southern Dynasty plus the recruited new army, the total number is only about 200,000, while the Iron Armored Army of the Northern Dynasty has nearly 400,000, and the army of Qiyun Kingdom is no less than 500,000. If you don't have good equipment and weapons, even if you are a spy, you will suffer a lot when you start a war. The equipment and weapons of this era are nothing more than armor, horse spears, shields, bows, crossbows, and swords. A single thing is either offensive or defensive, but there is no one that can combine offense and defense.
She was contemplating herself, completely oblivious to the darkness outside. The palace maid entered the room and turned on the lamp and quietly retreated, for fear of disturbing her. All the maids and eunuchs in Manxiang Palace knew that when she was serious about doing something, she forgot to sleep and eat, and didn't like being disturbed.
She never imagined that one day, her designs would be used in weapons and equipment in war. She hasn't had time to discuss this matter with Wuyou, she just wants to give him a surprise after her design is completed. Looking at the drawing formed by her pen, she raised her lips slightly, the brilliance flowing in her eyes made the full moon hanging in the sky eclipsed.
She finally let out a breath, put down her pen, and the maid who was guarding the door quickly came in to salute and said: "Your Majesty, the dinner has been heated four times, you should go to the dining hall to eat."
Man Yao was taken aback, looked at the dark night, and realized that she had been sitting here for several hours without knowing it. She turned her head and asked, "What time is it? Has the emperor come yet?"
The maid replied: "It's already five o'clock in the morning when I returned to my mother. Half an hour ago, Mr. Xiang came to deliver a message that the emperor has something to do tonight, but he will come to the Manxiang Palace. The emperor asked the empress to eat by herself, so there is no need to wait for him... ".
Man Yao was slightly startled, they agreed that no matter how busy they are, they must be together when eating. In the past two days, although he talked to her as usual, she felt that there was something on his mind. She frowned and asked, "Did you say anything else?"
The maid shook her head and said, "No."
She lowered her eyes and paused for a moment, then slowly stood up, and when she looked up, she saw the cunning and bright full moon in the dark gray sky, and suddenly remembered that today is November 15th, which seems to be her birthday . How many years have you not celebrated your birthday
I remember in my previous life, after my father had an affair and my mother was hospitalized all year round, no one remembered her birthday. After her mother passed away, on this night every year, she would sit alone in an empty room, serving a birthday cake, never making a wish, just watching the candle burn slowly with her eyes open, and then she would get up quietly, with her head down. Do not return to leave. Turn off all the lights and lock yourself in the bedroom.
At that time, she still had at least a cake, and she could celebrate a symbolic birthday for herself, but when she came to this world, she dared not let others know how special this day was to her. A secret, a secret that cannot be seen.
On this day last year, they were on their way to Jiangnan, facing the enemy's pursuit, she did not mention this matter to Wuyou. And this year, she hopes that there is someone who can fulfill her long-cherished wish for many years. There is no need for a cake or a grand ceremony, just someone who can gently hug her and say happy birthday to her, that's enough!
She picked up the drawing on the table and walked to the dining room. Seeing that the food was getting cold again, she ordered to the maid: "Reheat it again, and send it to Longxiao Palace when it is hot."
The maid was startled, she raised her head and said "Ah", and the other maids in the room looked at each other, with worry and flickering in their eyes.
Man Yao frowned, feeling that there was something she didn't know. She stared, glanced coldly at everyone, her eyes were sharp, her voice was frozen, and she asked, "What? Are you hiding something from me?"
Seeing that she understood anger, the maids knelt down and said again and again: "I don't dare. Please forgive me!"
Man Yao stared at them with lowered eyes, and said a word coldly, "Say."
Although the maids were afraid, they still lowered their heads and hesitated to speak. A younger maid couldn't help but said: "A few days ago, a lady Sang came to the palace and lived in the Yilan Palace. I heard that Miss Sang is young and beautiful, and she can sing very well... ",
"Xuan'er", the complexion of the older maid kneeling at the front changed, and she hurriedly reprimanded, "No matter how beautiful Miss Sang is, she is not one ten thousandth of our empress's. Her celestial appearance is not ordinary. Are ordinary women comparable? Madam, it’s like this. Miss Sang has been in the palace for five days. During these five days, the emperor has not visited her in the Yilan Palace. This afternoon, Miss Sang was on the way the emperor came to Manxiang Palace Singing on the road attracted the emperor's attention, and said that the emperor was working hard on state affairs all day long. She personally cooked soup for the emperor and nourished the emperor. Dinner-,-"
Man Yao's heart sank. She has been only focused on reading the slips these days, thinking about the upcoming war, just wanting to help him share more, but she doesn't want other women to enter the palace for five days. She doesn't even know !
What did Wuyou let that woman enter the palace for? The woman sang and cooked soup at the same time, she seemed to be a person who was not willing to be ordinary and lonely.
Another palace lady said with a worried expression: "Your Majesty, you should think of a way! Now there are rumors in the palace that your Majesty will be thrown into the cold palace soon, and Miss Sang will become the queen...",
"Shut up, don't talk nonsense!" The older maid hurriedly stopped the maid who had nothing to say, then turned her head and gave a fierce look, and hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, don't listen to their nonsense, the emperor's love for your empress is in the palace. Who doesn't know about it? Even if Miss Sang is really named queen, in the heart of the emperor, you are still the only one. Madam, please eat first, don't starve to death."
Man Yao gathered the things in his hands tightly, his sharp nails pierced through the white rice paper, and nailed to his skin. She glanced at the food on the table and looked at the place where he usually sat, with an unusually calm expression, so calm that it made people feel uneasy.
The maids looked at each other in blank dismay, lowered their heads and did not dare to make another sound.
After a long time, Man Yao opened his mouth softly, and said in a flat tone, "Let's all withdraw."
"Ah? Ma'am, you are deep
"I said, withdraw." Her eyes were sharp, and her voice was icy and cold, which could not be resisted. "You all back down."
"Yes." The maids quickly responded and retreated.
Manyao walked around the room twice, her fingers turned white.
The evening wind in winter is bitingly cold, beating against the carved panes and blowing against the cool white window paper. The window, which had not been closed tightly, was opened with a creak, and the cold wind came in through the window, shaking her hair like snow and silver.
If he was still the former King Li who could act willfully without any scruples, she would firmly believe that he would not compromise, but at this moment, he is an emperor whose power has not yet been fully stabilized. What kind of torture? The mausoleum of his mother's bones is in the enemy's territory, and he can't do it even if he wants to pay homage to it during the holidays! There are also people who brought them shame, and now they are all eyeing them, trying to make them die. All of this made her unable to determine how he would choose
A lover or a country can never have both, when it comes to him, will there be an exception? The courtiers forced each other and the military camp rioted. Someone secretly manipulated and used her white hair to make a big fuss. That person must have understood the relationship between them very well, so he took advantage of the selfishness of the ministers of the Southern Dynasty to make him, the emperor, an emperor. The lone army, caught in a dilemma, set up such a vicious scheme.
An emperor can deal with any of his subjects, but the emperor cannot fight against the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty or even the entire national army. Prime Minister Sang's roots in the Southern Dynasty were too deep, and almost half of the civil and military personnel in the Manchu Dynasty were his disciples. How could it be so easy to get rid of the so-called influence of the whole body
She understands these principles and understands his difficult situation, but she still can't be willing to work with her! Tossing back and forth, experiencing life and death, is this fate? Is it doomed that she will not get the love she wants
She thought for a while, turned around and looked at the dark sky outside, and walked out quickly.
Manxiang Hall is not far from Longxiao Palace, she only took a quarter of an hour to get outside Longxiao Palace, the guards at the gate hurriedly saluted her, she never needs to be notified when she comes here.
After entering Longxiao Palace, she could hear the sound of silk and bamboo from a distance, as well as women's singing, the singing voice was as melodious and clear as a hundred spirits, extremely pleasant to the ear. This woman is really good at singing, she must have been preparing for this day for a long time.
Manyao suddenly stopped, stood at the door, and didn't go any further.
Her gaze was slightly cold, staring at the direction from which the vocal music came from, without moving. The brightly lit palace was right in front of her eyes, as long as she walked in, she could stop everything that might happen.
The lights in the dark night were extraordinarily dazzling, and the full moon in the sky was bright and clear, casting long shadows on the ground by the trees outside the palace. Everything that was already familiar in this palace became a little strange in her heart.
She forgot to put on the fox fur when she went out, and at the moment the cold wind was pouring in, she felt chills all over her body, and even her heart was cold, just like the blue and white floor tiles under her feet. Why do people who love each other have to work so hard to get together, and there are so many trials and tribulations
She raised her head and took a deep breath, the cold air went straight into her lungs, she smiled coolly, and murmured: "It's so cold!" Without those warm hands supporting her, this day is so cold It's like freezing.
She glanced at the palace again, thought for a while, and finally turned around slowly, leaving silently and going back wherever she came from.
"Why don't you go in?" Xiao Sha, who had just left Dragon Cloud Palace and had been watching her from afar, appeared in front of her. He thought she would go in, because a proud woman like her would not allow anyone to destroy her happiness once she had determined what she wanted.
Man Yao paused, what are you going in for? He said he would handle this matter, and she said she would trust him, so she should trust him to handle it well!
If even he can't believe it, then her life really can't find the meaning of existence. Such a life is too much to imagine, and she still wants to give herself a chance.
She raised her chin, looked at the distant and dark sky, and said with a faint smile: "He has his own reasons for doing this." After saying that, she ignored Xiao Sha's stupefied, and left directly, the cool white moonlight pouring down Looking at her thin back, it hurts the eyes of the people behind her.
Outside Qingfeng Hall, among the plum trees, she asked someone to fetch a zither, and sat alone on the pavilion. After sending everyone out, she was alone in the entire Manxiang Palace, accompanied by Leng Yue.
The strings were plucked, and the lonely notes flowed out from her pale fingertips like ding-dong clear springs. With her anxious mood at the moment, she lingered in the quiet night of the deep palace, stained with the desolation of the night.
On the opposite side of Qingfeng Temple, a faint yellow light and candle shadow swayed in the wind, unable to illuminate the darkness outside.
She suddenly thought, how sad and painful was Concubine Yun Gui when she saw Emperor Lin marrying Fu Yuan? During those days when Pu Yuan was favored by her, how did she survive one long night of despair after another? If it's a woman in this world, it's fine. It's only natural for a man to have three wives and four concubines. That's at least easier to accept. The sad thing is that Concubine Yun Gui, like her, came from a monogamous society where men and women were equal. In their minds, love should be single-minded, and three people should not be allowed to set foot. Is this their luck or misfortune
"Wuyou, I hope you don't let their tragedy happen to us again."
In this way, she accompanied herself through the last moment of her birthday with the sad sound of the piano. This time, she was still unaccompanied, and she did not hear a warm blessing.
How long has it been since you had a headache? Probably after Ling'er left, for some unknown reason, her headaches on full moon nights suddenly disappeared since then, as if she had never had pain before. But at this moment, she actually misses the feeling of having a headache. If her head hurts, she can drink the medicine and go to sleep, instead of sitting here suffering so much.
Sleepless all night, she sat quietly in the plum grove, looking at the sky, thinking, there is no blood, there is no way to curb the rumors of her white-haired monster, and calm down the court and army set up by malicious people as soon as possible Riot
The east was pale, she raised her head and rubbed her tight temples.
At this time, a person walked into the woods, and she turned a blind eye to see that it was Xiao Ke whom she hadn't seen for a few days.
Xiao Ke didn't come to hold her arm as usual when he saw her, but walked towards her slowly with his head down. His complexion was rarely dignified, and his eyes were slightly red.
Man Yao frowned and asked, "Ke'er, why are you here so early?"
"Princess Elder Sister", Xiao Ke called her softly, biting his lip, his eyes dodged a little, as if hesitating for something. Then he lowered his head and said in a very soft voice, "Sister Princess, I'm sorry, I... Your Majesty..."
Xiao Ke's abnormality made her feel that something was unusual, Man Yao's heart skipped a beat, she hurriedly stood up, and asked: "What's wrong with him?" She didn't realize that there was a little tremor in her voice.
Xiao Ke looked up at her, his lips moved, he hesitated to speak.
Manyao lost her composure, and said anxiously: "Ker, what happened, tell me!"
Xiao Ke said: "Princess Sister... you can go to Longxiao Palace to see it yourself"
Phoenix Nirvana Heroine Soul