The Great Zhou Emperor's Mausoleum is located at the southern foot of Qianshan, surrounded by two rivers on the left and right, and the mountains stretch for thousands of miles, forming the trend of dragon and tiger, yin and yang convergence. The imperial court set up officials and guards here to protect the landscape of the imperial tomb from being destroyed. And these mausoleum guards, regardless of official rank, men and women, are enclosed in the imperial mausoleum day and night, and are not allowed to go out until the expiration of the period.

In addition to the palace and temples around the mausoleum, there is a small mountain village only a hundred miles away. Most of the people in the village are those who are reluctant to return to their hometowns after the expiration of the period, they rely on the mountains to eat the mountains and the water, and occasionally do some small business with the officers and soldiers in the imperial tomb to subsidize their families.

Cao Qing is one of the members of this village. During the Jianzhao period, she once served the crown prince in the East Palace. However, the good times did not last long, and after Prince Jingqi lost power, she, like most of the palace people in the East Palace, was exiled here to guard the royal tomb for fifteen years. After the expiration of the period, Cao Qing chose to settle down in this village alone, making a living by making wine.

On this day, Cao Qing picked up two jars of sorghum wine and went up the mountain, because of her ugly appearance, she was used to wrapping her face with a turban.

Someone saw it in the distance and shouted, "The saltless woman has come to deliver wine again." ”

When the few guards guarding the Xifei Mausoleum heard this, they became interested, thinking that they would have good wine to drink again in the evening. Although this Cao's appearance is ugly, the wine-making technique is extraordinary, even if it is placed in the capital, it can be regarded as the best.

The guard who took the lead motioned for her to go in, put the wine in the kitchen below, and said, "You won't use it tomorrow, the emperor will come to the tomb to pay tribute, and no one is allowed to come in within a hundred miles." ”

Cao Qing let out a faint "oh", she had always been silent, and she didn't care much about the mocking gazes of those men. She went into the house and put down her wine, but did not leave immediately, but went around to the back of the house, where there was still a man waiting for her.

"Aunt Cao, have you bought everything?"

Cao Qing took out a blue and white porcelain box from his arms, wiped it with his sleeve again, and handed it to her: "This place is remote, and you can only buy such rouge in the county, Miss Ayuan, don't dislike it." ”

Ah Yuan took the box and opened it, and there was a peach-colored grease inside, which didn't smell strong, but it was quite elegant. She smiled: "How can you be disgusted, I am so grateful to Aunt Cao that I ran so far." ”

Cao Qingdao: "Forgive me for asking more, the girl is naturally beautiful, and she stays in such a ghost place, what do you want these things for?" ”

Ah Yuan touched her face, she hadn't looked in the mirror for more than two years, was she really the same as before? She shook her head unconfidently, and at the same time took off her silver bracelet and stuffed it to Cao Qing: "Auntie said she laughed." I don't have anything of value, so you can take this. This rouge, as well as the fabric from last time, cost a lot of silver, right? ”

Cao Qing hurriedly excused himself and said, "It won't cost a few dollars, but don't be polite to me, girl." Last time, if the girl hadn't stopped me, I would have smashed the wine jar by them, where would I have to pay for the wine? ”

Ah Yuan said: "Auntie is serious, and it is Prince Xie Ke who wants to thank you, how can those guards listen to me?" ”

"That's also to see the girl's face." Cao Qing grinned: "I have seen that prince come to see you several times in the past two years, what is your relationship?" ”

Ah Yuan sighed in his heart, Jingyu learned that after she asked to guard the tomb for three years, he often came to Qianshan to visit her, but every time he ate a closed door before going back. How would she answer Cao Qing? No matter what the relationship between her and Jingyu was in the past, it will never be the same in the future...... In the whole world, the only man who can help her complete her revenge plan is the high-ranking Ninety-Five. She can't count on anyone else.

She said casually: "I used to be an ordinary palace maid, how can I have a relationship with the prince." ”

Ordinary palace maids? Cao Qing looked at it coldly, as if he didn't believe it. Since hearing that the emperor was coming, Ah Yuan was like a different person, repeatedly asking himself to bring some clothes and dressing things from the bottom of the mountain, and he was always reluctant to give up every time he met. She was not an ordinary village woman, and she had seen some of the world in the royal family before, so she naturally saw some clues, so she asked in a low voice: "People and girls like Prince Ke can't look down on them, maybe they are thinking about the emperor, right?" ”

She asked directly, and Ah Yuan was also surprised: "Auntie, you ......"

Cao Qing said in a deep voice: "This is not an uncommon thing. Who is not a victim of the royal struggle? How many are convinced? She pulled away the headscarf wrapped around her face, revealing several scars more than three inches long, and said: "Look at these injuries on my face, they were all done by the queen and her party at that time after the prince lost power." In order to prevent future troubles, she ordered people to disfigure all the palace dependents in the East Palace, castrate the men, and then drive all these people out of the capital in the name of guarding the tomb, away from the sight of the first emperor. ”

"The Queen Mother ......," Ah Yuan muttered, she knew that the Queen Mother was tough, but she didn't know that it had reached such a cruel point.

"In addition, there are some concubines in Qianling who are defeated in the competition for favor. When I was still there, there was a Wang Jieyu, who was proud of her beauty, and later climbed onto the dragon bed again when the first emperor visited the tomb. But who knows, before he returned to the palace, he was poisoned on the way. When Cao Qing said this, he glanced at Ah Yuan meaningfully, "The palace is full of cannibalistic guys, the girl wants to take this road, but she has to think about it." ”

Ah Yuan tried his best to restrain the panic in his heart, but just shook his head. When she first came, she only wanted to protect herself for the time being, so that she could plan for the future; But now I can't wait any longer, who knows how many years will it be the next time I meet the emperor? Fate has ups and downs, she almost lost her life in the palace, but now she has to find a way to return to that cannibalistic place, and she can't help but feel emotional.

"I understand what my aunt said. But there are some things that I have to do. ”

Cao Qing saw that her expression was firm, and she knew that it was difficult to persuade her back, so she said: "If the girl has thought about it, then go for it." I won't be able to come tomorrow, and I don't know if I'll see you again in the future, so take care of the girl. ”

Ah Yuan said earnestly: "Auntie also take care. ”

The second yen emperor and the queen drove to the Qianshan Palace, and worshiped the two imperial tombs in the east and west respectively in one day. When the sacrifice was finished in the evening and he was about to return to the palace, the emperor proposed to go to the Xiling Concubine Garden to sleep, so he asked the queen to go back first.

There is a hall of enjoyment in the garden bed, two rooms of the east and west side halls, surrounded by blue brick and stone walls. Because the Empress Dowager resolutely opposed the burial of the Yang family in the imperial palace at that time, the emperor could only choose to build such a concubine garden in Xiling to bury him.

Without an honor guard, this was the first time in two years that he had come to this garden. The pines and cypresses around are lush, but it is lonely, and she is the only one in Hongda's mausoleum who sleeps here. Jing Zhen stood in the hall of enjoyment, looking at Yang Muzhi's spirit card, and refused to leave.

It wasn't until a cold hit that the chief eunuch Zu Cheng said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, it's night." ”

Jingzhen seemed to be settled, and he didn't realize that someone was calling him. What he thought in his heart was just the death of Yang Muzhi in the past, and he was quite suspicious, but he had no way to investigate. Just like Wei Han was shot and killed in Hui'anmen, he knew that it was the Queen Mother who did it, so what could he do? As long as the power is not in his hands for a day, he can't even control the inner servants around him, let alone sanction the staggered forces in the harem. With such an unworthy imperial power, he once naively thought that it could at least be used to protect his beloved.

Zu Cheng raised his voice slightly: "Your Majesty, a place like the mausoleum is very cold, and you can't stay at night." If you don't go back, the queen should ask. ”

Jingzhen turned around slowly, but saw a person standing outside the hall-

She has long hair in plain clothes, and her temples are slightly loose, just like the mountain stream magnolia he had seen many years ago.

He froze under his feet and blurted out: "Muzhi ......"

This kind of dress, and his reaction, was already in her plan. Ah Yuan was slightly blessed and said softly: "Your Majesty." "The tail sound is very faint and far away, like floating in the night sky, not like the sound of the world.

Jing Zhen woke up like a dream: "It's you." ”

"It's me." Ah Yuan lowered his eyes, and there were tears flashing in his eyes, "It's been two years, and my sister has finally waited for the emperor." ”

remembered the first time I saw her many years ago, although her appearance was seven or eight points similar to Yang Muzhi, it was very easy to distinguish the difference between the two. I still remember that she always likes to raise her chin when she speaks, and she is proud in her beauty, and her temperament is also hearty and transparent. Now that we see each other again, such a soft voice, the corners of our eyes drooping slightly, everything looks like that person, which makes him trance-like for a while, thinking that the beauty is not dead......

Jingzhen asked, "You have always lived here?" ”

"Yes, my sister will not be lonely with me." Ah Yuan's face was calm, and he tried to suppress his heartbeat.

Jing Zhen looked at her fixedly, his eyes dark: "It's hard for you, I can't help you at that time." ”

Ah Yuan shook his head: "As long as the emperor still thinks about his sister, he will help me." ”

Jing Zhen was puzzled: "What do you mean by this?" ”

Ah Yuan glanced at Zu Cheng, and his voice was extremely soft: "I didn't harm my sister, neither did Rushuang, and those who harmed my sister are all living well in the palace." Can the emperor bear to see his sister die in vain? ”

Jing Zhen's pupils tightened suddenly, as if a cold star flashed: "Do you know who that person is?" ”

Ah Yuan looked up, only to see that his face was clear, but his eyebrows were more and more resolute. She knew that such perseverance was no different from her expression at this time. They are all reborn after experiencing the wind, frost and sword, and this rebirth can only be faced with a more rock-solid heart.

"I don't know, and I don't know what, I have no power and no power, and I can't do anything." Her eyes burned, and she unconsciously forgot the posture she wanted to maintain, "Why isn't the emperor like this?" In the past, he was constrained by the Queen Mother, and he couldn't do everything as he wished. But as long as the emperor is willing to help me, one day, we will definitely be able to avenge my sister! ”

Jingzhen's throat rolled, and after a long silence, he asked, "What do you need me to do?" ”

Ah Yuan raised his eyes and smiled, and there was only a cold determination in his voice: "I want to go back to the palace, as a concubine, and return to the palace in style." ”