Twilight gradually shrouded in the palace, Zhu Gaoxu walked out of the Rouyi Palace, got into his big sedan chair, and prepared to go back to the harem. To this day, the "take it" that has been repeated many times in the morning still occasionally rings in my mind.

He should be with Concubine Yao Ji tonight. Sometimes the concubines and concubines go to bed, and after they are dressed up, they come to the Qianqing Palace to meet. However, he is going to go to the Xianfei Palace by himself today, on the side of the West Sixth Palace.

Someone had already been sent to tell Concubine Xian in advance, so as soon as Zhu Gaoxu arrived at the place, he could have dinner.

Even for the emperor, the ordinary meal is not complicated, four dishes and one soup. However, for these four dishes and one soup to be delivered to Zhu Gaoxu, many people have to handle them, and they have to go through a series of complicated processes.

In the small room next to the dining room, there was almost no sound at all, and there was a door across it. However, Zhu Gaoxu knew that there were at least a dozen people behind the door, most of them were palace maids and eunuchs in the palace of the virtuous concubine, waiting to taste the food there; In addition, Shang Shan Jian also sent at least two eunuchs to supervise.

In addition to this, there is also the sound of a guzheng in the room, like a slow-paced background music. If you don't pay attention, you think it's a record or something, but of course it's a live performance.

None of this will bother Zhu Gaoxu; The people who do these jobs will not appear in front of him.

There was a ding-dong sound on the table, and Yao Ji leaned over and moved closer to pour wine for Zhu Gaoxu. Zhu Gaoxu turned his head and looked at her face for a while.

At this time, she also raised her head, looked at Zhu Gaoxu and smiled, and said softly: "The saint has seen it clearly, I didn't apply grease and powder today." Otherwise, all you will taste in your mouth will be those flavors. ”

Zhu Gaoxu was stunned for a moment, and said quietly: "It's good that you haven't painted it elsewhere." ”

Yao Ji pretended to be disgusted and glared at him.

Zhu Gaoxu lifted the chopsticks and said, "Eat, I'm coming back a little late today, I'm afraid you're hungry." ”

Yao Ji served him vegetables first. He watched Yao Ji while eating, accompanied by a beautiful woman, and his mood gradually relaxed.

"I've finished reading the book that the concubine wrote about the saint." Yao Ji said again.

Zhu Gaoxu turned his head and said casually: "Is it good-looking?" ”

Yao Ji nodded with a smile on her face, looking at him as if she had met him for the first time: "I have known the saint for more than ten years, but some things have to be known from the book, it turns out that the saint has so many unknown abilities and ideas. ”

"Hmm......" Zhu Gaoxu responded.

She continued: "Not long ago, Yao Fang wrote a letter to the palace, and when I replied, I also asked him to read the book, Yao Fang has great respect for the saint. ”

Zhu Gaoxu said: "How to be a general, it's a pity that I and Yao Fang can't use it." ”

Yao Ji asked again: "What kind of books have the saints and concubines been writing recently?" She covered her mouth and chuckled, "Is it writing how to be an emperor?" ”

Zhu Gaoxu shook his head with a smile. But it reminded him that a book about science had to be made public. And the world must not know that it came from the emperor, so as to avoid unnecessary trouble.

And the impact it will have on future generations, and whether the signatories will be revered as sages, these Zhu Gaoxu does not care. With Yao Fang, is it an option?

Zhu Gaoxu

After a moment, he didn't decide right away, he was going to postpone it for another two or three days, and think about it later.

After dinner, Zhu Gaoxu asked Yao Ji to accompany him to drink tea and chat for a while. When the palace maids were ready for hot water, he went inside to bathe and change clothes.

Behind the screen in one room, the white vapor rising from the hot water was gradually enveloped like mist; The chill of the early spring night was also dispelled. Zhu Gaoxu was half-lying in the barrel, listening to the tranquility of the harem, and exhaled a long breath, as if he could feel the exhaustion dissolving into the hot water.

After a while, next to the hazy screen, Yao Ji's figure appeared. Her figure in a long skirt gradually became clear as she got closer, and she looked at Zhu Gaoxu and said, "The concubine serves the holy bath." ”

Zhu Gaoxu issued a tone word. Yao Ji gently pulled open the outer robe, then raised her hands and began to untie the belt on her collar. Zhu Gaoxu's eyes moved with her hand, and a pair of jade hands were placed on the placket of her chest, and Zhu Gaoxu saw the exaggerated and wonderful outline in the white steam. He almost held his breath as soon as the time passed......

Before dawn the next morning, Zhu Gaoxu got up, and he was going to the morning court. He didn't know how long he could last the morning ritual, rain or shine every day, but it wasn't time to stand it anymore.

Yao Ji actually got up early, and was busy preparing Zhu Gaoxu's court clothes to serve him and dress.

He didn't say much, just stood where he was, waiting for someone to dress him and clean up. After a while, Zhu Gaoxu finally couldn't help but turn his head and whispered: "You used to sleep and couldn't get up in the morning. Could it be that I've been in bad health lately? ”

The faces of the palace maids who were helping next to them suddenly turned red. Zhu Gaoxu is also used to this kind of thing, so he ignores them. After all, there are too many people in the palace, and unless you pay special attention, there really won't be much privacy at all.

Yao Ji glanced at him: "The concubine gritted her teeth to get up, and she is still very tired." ”

Zhu Gaoxu said: "You don't have to be like this, there are others to do these things." ”

Yao Ji approached and whispered in his ear: "In the past, the saint spoiled me like a daughter. Now that I'm older, I should change a little bit and take more care of the saints. ”

A palace maid noticed the intimate movements of the two, and seemed to be very curious, and she made a gesture of listening attentively.

Zhu Gaoxu didn't care too much, because these palace maids were all from the palace of the virtuous concubines, and they were happy to see their masters favored, not a bad thing.

"Is it like my mother?" Zhu Gaoxu blurted out.

Yao Ji gave him a blank look. Zhu Gaoxu also suddenly realized that he had lost his words, but fortunately, Yao Ji was not a person who paid much attention to etiquette.

Not long after, Zhu Gaoxu put on a red Tuanlong suit, a black gauze wing hat, and a pair of deerskin boots on his feet. was ready, but he didn't go out immediately, but first retired the palace maid, and said to Yao Ji: "I want to leave the palace this afternoon and go to Shen's house, where I will meet Yao Fang." ”

Yao Ji said: "Need the concubine to inform Yao Fang?" ”

Zhu Gaoxu shook his head: "It's inconvenient for you, I'll send someone to do it." You don't have to tell anyone about this, but if I leave the palace in private and where I went, it would be better for someone in the palace to know. ”

Yao Ji nodded, showing a slightly relieved look: "The concubine knows." ”

Zhu Gaoxu then washed and ate, left the Xianfei Palace in a sedan chair, and went to Fengtianmen.

The day began again. Zhu Gaoxu sat on the throne, occasionally feeling like a statue, his mind was full of thoughts, and he inadvertently associated all this with a woman.

Most of the etiquette is like a woman dressed in greased and whitewashed, which looks very elaborate but lacks the beauty of the details. Those very standardized words, deeds, and clothing are like fat powder covering people's outside, covering up all kinds of characteristics and making them look boring. However, ministers are not wooden, but it is generally difficult to see their complex hearts from their outward mannerisms and speeches.

After lunch, Zhu Gaoxu went to Dongnuan Pavilion to stay for a while, and then asked Wang Gui to arrange for leaving the palace.

If these things were known to the officials, there would have been repeated admonitions, mostly out of concern for the emperor's safety. Zhu Gaoxu is generally appeased, and then used as the wind in his ears. Taizu Taizong did not stipulate that the emperor could not leave the palace without authorization, and there was no constitution to follow, so it was not serious.

Moreover, Zhu Gaochu is not a rebellious young man, he does not think that ministers will only restrain themselves, in fact, he needs those officials, and he needs more cooperation. Zhu Gaoxu often does not listen to admonitions, and his noble character of "accepting advice like a stream" has nothing to do with him, he just often compromises.

The Shen family's mansion on the shore of Xuanwu Lake is like a villa, but it is slightly larger as a villa.

After Shen Xu greeted Zhu Gaoxu, he took him to a place near the lake behind. It is a semi-open courtyard, with a steep embankment and stone railings on the west side, and the scenery of Xuanwu Lake and the shore is clear at a glance.

Idlers and others are no longer here. In the densely populated place of Beijing, this place is simply quiet, and Zhu Gaoxu came to the courtyard where there was almost no one, and there was a sense of seclusion.

Ma Enhui greeted Zhu Gaoxu here, and the two had a simple etiquette.

Shen Xu said: "Please 'Mrs. Wang' to help receive the saint, I will arrange something first, and then come to serve after a while." Then he immediately left.

Zhu Gaoxu turned his head to take a look, but Shen Xu, who had just walked a few steps, also looked back, and when she saw Zhu Gaoxu's gaze, she immediately showed a polite smile.

"Holy living room, please." Ma Enhui said a little nervously.

She wore a plain light-colored skirt of silk and cotton, and her hair was curled up with no jewelry, and her ivory hairpin was unremarkable. She is not dressed up as flamboyant and delicate as Yao Ji, but her fair skin and plump figure are beautiful and more intimate in the neat and plain dress.

In Ma Enhui's words and deeds, Zhu Gaoxu also felt the complexity and rich feelings that ordinary people do not have. She herself still retains the pride and honor of a noblewoman; But there is also forbearance after frustration and suffering, as well as some disgraceful guilt. Her eyes were a little evasive, but she could also see that she was very happy to see Zhu Gaoxu.

Under the interference of many emotions, she still showed affection when she looked at Zhu Gaoxu's expression, so there must be something sincere in her heart.

When Zhu Gaoxu saw her, he felt that it was worth it to go out of the palace without permission today, even if there was nothing else.

"During the Chinese New Year, until the Lantern Festival, there were many things in the palace, and I didn't come to see you." Zhu Gaoxu said a little guiltily, "I asked Wang Gui to send a gift, do you like it?" ”

Ma Enhui smiled and said softly, "Thank you for your grace." Come in first, it's windy on the lake. ”()

。 m.