Chapter 22 Prayer for the Gods
At about midnight in the evening, in the Qianwen Palace, the emperor was commenting on the music, and the candlelight was flickering, reflecting a black shadow on the wall behind him. www.biquge.info The emperor is a lonely traveler, and in the dead of night, ordinary people can hug their lover and gossip about homely things, and he can only silently accompany the never-ending pile of twists and turns.
Ma Gonggong came in, kowtowed, and after greeting him, he said: "Your Majesty, the person who played the flute that the emperor asked the slave to check in the afternoon was found by the slave." β
The person behind the bookcase looked up and asked, "Who is she?" β
Ma Gonggong got up, fiddled with the dust in his hand, walked to the emperor in a few steps, and whispered: "Today, the eldest lady of the Ji family came to the palace to greet the queen mother, and the person who played the flute is the eldest lady of the Ji family,"
"People from the Ji family? Are you not mistaken? β
"There will be no mistake, the slave confirmed it with the little palace maid beside the Queen Mother."
Today's queen mother originally wanted him to meet the eldest lady of the Ji family, but he didn't like the people of the Ji family, and it happened to be night to enter the palace, so he didn't go, but he didn't expect that the person who played the flute was her. But doesn't she live in Wuyan Mountain, how can she appear in this capital? The eldest lady of the Ji family actually lives in the deep mountains and old forests, is there something he doesn't know about in the middle? Could it be that she is not the piper on the Wuyan Mountain?
Anyone who can be suspicious has to be verified. "Someone."
A figure appeared out of nowhere, if Ma Gonggong hadn't been used to seeing such a scene, he would have been frightened a long time ago, thinking that it was the soul messenger who appeared somewhere! The people who came knelt down and listened to the emperor's orders.
"Go and check it out for me, this eldest lady of the Ji family, from her birth to the present, everything has been checked clearly."
The person who came was ordered to retreat, and only said two words from beginning to end - see the emperor, obey the order. They are the most secretive existence in this palace, specializing in finding out information and stealing information for the emperor. They have no name, no identity, only number, and all of them have the name Snow Shadowguard.
Since the queen mother invited her into the palace, if she misses the appointment today, she should also go to compensate the queen mother. So he got up, stepped on the moonlight, and walked in the direction of the queen mother's bedroom, and there were some things that had to be asked face to face.
In the Ciming Palace, the emperor and the queen mother sat opposite each other, and the queen mother looked at the emperor with a smile. I thought that he would not come when I told him during the day, and I came by myself at night.
"It's so late, why did the emperor come over, it was even more exposed, and he was careful of the wind and cold."
The Emperor bowed his head slightly. "Thank you for your mother's concern, I can't come to eat with my mother today, doesn't this give you a sin!"
The Queen Mother smiled and disagreed. "Our mother and son, what is the crime or not, if you don't come, the queen mother can just say something considerate to the eldest lady of the Ji family." After speaking, he glanced at the emperor by the way to see his reaction.
The emperor picked up the teacup and took a sip, like gossip, and asked casually: "After the son-in-law failed to find time to accompany his mother more, it was the son-in-law who was not filial." What does the queen mother think of the eldest lady of the Ji family? β
The Queen Mother couldn't help but nod in approval. "This Ji Moyu, he looks good and has a good temperament, if the emperor sees it, he will definitely like it."
Putting down the teacup, the emperor tapped his fingers lightly on the tabletop. "Really? But I haven't heard of any Ji Moyu in the Ji family! β
"This Ji Moyu, who has been in poor health since he was a child, was sent back to his hometown Shizhou to recuperate, and now that he is sick, he naturally has to go back to his parents." The Queen Mother explained.
Sent back to his hometown to recuperate? Is the Ji family's hometown in the deep mountains and forests? I don't know how dare this Ji family dare to send an unidentified woman into the palace without telling him and the queen mother. Of course, there is another situation, the Queen Mother originally knew the details of the eldest lady of the Ji family, and colluded with the Ji family to get him. Ji Moyu, this name is not bad. Moyu is a treasure among jade!
Seeing what the emperor was thinking, the Queen Mother continued: "The emperor wants to see this Ji Moyu? β
The hand that was tapping on the table paused, and when he withdrew his hand, he said, "Not really, just curious." β
"The queen mother looks at Ji Moyu, it's really good, if the emperor likes it, he can also summon her into the palace to let her accompany him, besides, there is indeed a lack of a caring person around the emperor."
"The matter of the harem, the queen mother decides!" The affairs of the harem have always been handled by the queen mother.
The Queen Mother saw that he was interested, so she persuaded him earnestly: "Emperor, there are many concubines in the harem, but you also know the meaning of their existence, and the Ji family is now very important in the court." Although it is natural for the ministers to be loyal to the monarch, but in the face of interests and honors, everyone will have reservations, you want people to be absolutely loyal to you, and you also want people to know that it is profitable. β
"The queen mother understands what she means."
The Queen Mother stretched out her hand and patted her hand twice, "It's good to understand, you welcome her into the palace, don't be too real, just give her the master of the palace and let her enjoy fame, fortune and reputation." She is different from Concubine De, different from Concubine Shu, Concubine De and Concubine Shu are with you to see the truth, only after experiencing life and death, do you know what love is stronger than gold. β
"The son understands that the son listens to the queen mother."
"Okay, the most important thing right now is the Prayer Festival, and after the Prayer Festival, let's make an order!"
The emperor raised his head and looked at the eyes of the queen mother under the candlelight, although she was a year old, she was still full of energy, and there was no sign of old age. "Yes, in two days it will be the Prayer Festival, and the queen mother has been working hard recently, so pay attention to rest. If there is nothing to do, the son will retire first. β
"The emperor should also go back to rest early, don't be too late. Today, Concubine Shu came to ask for peace to the mourning family, and the mourning family saw that her face was not very good, and if the emperor was free, he would go to see her. β
Having said that, the emperor can't dismiss the queen mother's intentions. "Erchen understands, Erchen will go to see her in a while."
"Well, go ahead!"
"The retainers retired."
On the last day of March every year, whether the wind is beautiful or windy and rainy, the emperor and the queen mother will bring hundreds of officials to the foot of Wanshou Mountain to set up an altar to pray to God.
On that day, the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty and the people of Tokyo City all came to watch, and the inner and outer three layers were so full of water that they were crowded like bananas.
The little people were naturally surrounded by the outermost layer, Moyu, Yunshang and Xiangrong were dressed in men's clothes, crowded in the crowd, and from time to time they were trampled again, and tears almost fell from pain.
"What a broken festival, I won't have the life to go back if it goes on like this."
The first thing I couldn't help but was naturally wanting to look, but this girl was the first to get up this morning, and she pulled Moyu out quickly, otherwise she wouldn't be able to occupy a good position. As a result, they came early, and the place where they stood was closest to Yu Linwei, but somehow, there were more and more people, and they were squeezed further and further back.
"What do you say, look at us now, it's better to come later!" Yunshang also complained, she was dizzy from the bang. Girls are already short, and if they are squeezed into a bunch of men, they will definitely only suffer.
"What do you mean, you're blaming me, it's not like I want to stand here."
There are too many people, if the voice is too small, it can't be heard at all, Yunshang shouted at the top of his voice: "I don't want to stand here, you see, what you can see here, it's all human heads." β
wanted to be more aggrieved, "You can still see people's heads, I can only see people's backs." β
"Who made you taller?"
"Woo, it's not that I don't want to grow taller. Miss, Yunshang bullied me. β
People are easy to get emotional when they are irritable, even if they are well-educated, they can't help but scold "******" in their hearts, Yunshang's temper is the best among the three of them, but he still can't stand scolding the people around him. "Hey, you don't have long eyes, you know if you step on someone?" No matter how much he wanted, he ignored it, stretched his neck on his toes and looked ahead, so angry that Yunshang just wanted to slap him twice.
Mo Yu was also a little irritable, she was already squeezed into a dizzy head, and the two people around her were still chattering endlessly. "Okay, don't argue, we'll go back now."
The two saw that the master's tone was not very good, and their faces were even more impatient, so they obediently closed their mouths and bowed their heads without speaking. Mo Yu knew that she was talking a little heavier, but at this time, she didn't want to explain, it was too annoying.
The three of them were silent for about a cup of tea, and then a long trumpet sound was heard in the distance, followed by the sound of drums. The mighty royal guards were the first to open the way, sword in hand, and not angry, and walked to the red silk carpet, and divided into two teams to stop the people on the periphery, so that the carriage could drive smoothly across the red carpet and reach the altar. The first to walk on the red carpet was the army holding the flag of the Zhou State, then the palace maids and eunuchs holding the guard of honor, followed by the civil officials on horseback, and in the middle were the golden chariots of the emperor and the queen mother, followed by the military attachΓ©s, then the palace maids and eunuchs, and finally the guards. The huge procession went straight from the altar to the palace gate, and there was no space.
When the emperor and the queen mother arrived, the people naturally knelt on their knees, kowtowed and shouted long live.
Mo Yu also knelt down with everyone, and when the Jinluan carriage passed in front of her, she couldn't help but raise her head slightly curiously, looking at the people in front of her who didn't dare to raise their heads. They bowed devoutly, and their sincerity was comparable to that of Guanyin Niangniang, but the emperor and the queen mother in the car were like Guanyin Niangniang, and they did not give any reply indifferently. Could this be a manifestation of their supreme heavenly majesty?
Before and after the emperor are his civil and military ministers, the official rank of the civil minister is different, and the color of the dress is also different, and the person closest to the emperor is naturally the person with the higher rank. The generals are the same armor upper body, the only difference is the cherry blossom on their helmet. In the envy and worship of thousands of people, slowly passed.
Among thousands of people, Mo Yu saw him alone.
The silver helmet was on the upper body, with a square scabbard around the waist, and the peach blossom eyes no longer had the evil smile of the past at the moment, but stared ahead, with a solemn look, and drove the brown and yellow horse slowly forward.
I already knew that he was an official. It's just that I didn't expect his official position to be so high, it was because he was negligent before, if his official position was not high, how could he win the emperor's favor? How can there be palace tea and wine that can only be found in the big family every year, how can there be all the piano scores collected in the palace, otherwise how can there be a group of moon cages and light yarns that only the royal family can have......
When the four eyes met, a trace of pity flashed in Ye Tian's eyes, not surprised but pity, and the hand holding the reins under his hand unconsciously tightened. Among thousands of people, he felt her presence at once from the prostrate people, and captured her face accurately.
There were no words, no communication, not even an expression, and the two just looked straight at each other. She froze in place, he kept moving forward, and only the changing eyes of the two of them proved that they knew each other.
The car drove past, the people got up, and the sound of gongs and drums muffled all the noise.
Xiang Rong said enviously: "This is Jin Luan's driving, so majestic, if one day, I can also sit on that frame, and I am willing to die." β
Yun Sheng saw that Moyu's expression was a little wrong, and hurriedly asked, "Miss, is there anything uncomfortable?" β
Mo Yu shook his head, "It's okay, it's probably too human, it's boring!" β
"Otherwise, let's go back!"
I want to jump up excitedly, just at this time. "Look, look, the emperor has ascended the altar."
Mo Yu and Yun Sheng shook their heads helplessly, looked in the direction of the altar, and vaguely saw two people ascending the altar. But looking at Mo Yu's position, the emperor on the stage was just blocked by the elevated brazier next to the altar, and he couldn't see anything. She didn't care, anyway, the emperor and the queen mother had nothing to do with her, and she was not a very curious person.
"The emperor and the queen mother have lit incense." I want to remember the process of praying to God from time to time.
Yunshang asked suspiciously: "So far away, can you see what the emperor and the queen mother are doing?" β
"It's almost, but it's a pity that I can't see the faces of the emperor and the queen mother clearly, if only I could have clairvoyance."
Yunshang pursed her lips, "Then we don't dare to let you stay around." β
I wondered, "Why?" β
"Who dares to stay with a monster around!"
Xiang Rong patted her on the shoulder angrily, what nonsense! "Yunshang, you bullied me again, I'm really angry if you do this again."
Yunshang also knew that he was annoying this little ancestor, so he changed the topic, pointed to the front and said, "Okay, okay, don't make trouble, the emperor has started praying to God." β
The two were quiet for a while, wanted to get closer to Yunshang, and asked, "Yunshang, did you hear what the emperor said?" β
Yunshang rolled her eyes, "I'm not a monster, where can I hear what the emperor said?" β
Xiang Rong frowned and said, "Hey, it's a pity, I heard the earth-shattering drums, and I didn't hear anything else." β
"Hey, that guy is jumping and jumping, what are you doing?"
On the altar, a man dressed in white cloth with a grimace, holding a wooden sword in his hand, pointed to the sky and the earth, babbling and not knowing what to say. But looking at the emperor and the queen mother on the altar, they all looked solemn and listened attentively.
Xiang Rong grinned, there was finally something that Yunshang didn't know, so he explained seriously. "Oh, that's supposed to be a prayer to the gods. I heard Ye Gongzi say that this witch is very powerful, he can hear the voice of the Jade Emperor and convey the will of heaven, and the emperor and the queen mother trust him very much. β
"Really? Hearing the voice of the Jade Emperor, it was too powerful. It's a pity that I can't hear him say anything more? β
Xiang Rong held his toes and looked forward with his neck stretched, "I want to hear clearly, the next time I come back, I will stand in front of death, and no one will move." β
Yunshang was a little disappointed, "Huh? Next time will wait until next year. Hey, Miss, will we come back next year? Miss, Miss? β
There was no response, Yunshang and Xiangrong turned around, and there was still a figure of their young lady behind him. The two were taken aback, and the three of them were scattered. "Xiangrong, Miss is gone."
Xiang Rong turned his head, and there was still the shadow of his own lady beside him. "Yunshang, what should I do?"
Yunshang thought for a moment and said, "Let's look for it, after a stick of incense, we will meet under the tree in front." "In the end, he is older than Xiangrong, and he is calmer when things happen.
Although Rong usually likes to make trouble, when something happens, she has no idea, and what Yunshang says is what it is. So, the two began to search. A stick of incense passed, and the two met at the meeting place, and when they saw that the other party was just alone, they both understood that their young lady had not found it.
There are a lot of people here, and if they get separated, the chance of finding them is too small, so the two decided to go back to Jifu first, and if the young lady hasn't returned to Jifu, then come out to find it.