In the anxious waiting, Yun Ge finally sent a secret letter expressing his approval. After Su Poyan received the secret letter from the palace of Xiangting County in the holy capital, he immediately returned to Fengde Palace and presented the secret letter to Empress Xuanren. Empress Seonin finally relented and decided to take immediate action.

Empress Xuanren burned the secret letter and said to Su Poyan: "You should go out of the palace again, go to the palace of the king of Xiangting County, contact the king of Xiangting County through Yunge, inform him of my decision with Xiao Jia, and ask him to prepare in advance." Then quickly return to the palace, and we will leave the palace with Zhou Duan today. ”

Su Poyan and Empress Xuanren reconfirmed the contents of the letter and left quickly.

Empress Xuanren summoned a palace maid and said, "You go and find Xiangguo Gong." You don't have to come here, just go to Changhongqiao to see you. Let's go for a walk. ”

After the Mid-Autumn Festival, the garden takes on a different taste. This is a well-designed royal garden, and the trees and flowers are planted with great precision, so that the scenery can be enjoyed all year round. In autumn, the garden is more beautiful than the flowery spring and the lush summer. Some of the climbing leaves have turned bright red, matching the changing red maple, making red the base color of the entire garden. More than half of the leaves of the cochinus and maple trees have turned yellow. There are also some evergreen pines and cypresses that have little green left. Dotted with chrysanthemums, as if inadvertently, there are some chrysanthemums, the flowers are very small, but they are quite colorful. The whole garden is more colorful than in spring.

Empress Xuanren, dressed in plain clothes, arrived at Changhongqiao first.

The pool under the bridge appears even clearer and bluer, like a huge tourmaline embedded in the ground, shining with an attractive bright blue. The sun is very good, sprinkled on the pool, sparkling and shining, making this autumn water look a little ghostly.

Probably because of the lack of rain in autumn in the holy capital, the water flow of the small waterfall opposite is significantly smaller than in summer, and the rainbow formed by the splashing of the waterfall against the rock has also become smaller, but with the small blue pond, this smaller element is more delicate and elegant than in summer.

A gust of autumn wind passed, and the small pond rippled, and the sparkling waves became denser. The leaves of all colors in the yard rattled, some of the yellow and red old leaves fell, and some fell into the small pool, like a small boat, swaying with the small waves in the small pool. There was an undercurrent in the small pond, and the leaves swam very fast, as if in a hurry, and quickly rowed across the bottom of the bridge and flowed out along a thin stream.

The breeze sent bursts of floral fragrance. It was the faint fragrance of the little chrysanthemum. There seems to be an orchid-like aroma in the middle. Empress Xuanren felt strange and searched everywhere with her eyes. Sure enough, on an old tree, there is a Su Lan, which is a wild Four Seasons Orchid, the pure white flowers are blooming, and the fragrance is very rich. Empress Xuanren couldn't help but take a deep breath and said to herself: "It's really a good autumn scene. ”

Empress Xuanren herself felt very strange, at this moment, when the country was ruined and the family was ruined, her heart was not panicked, but she was very calm, and she still had the heart to savor the autumn scenery. Empress Xuanren thought that this was probably the detached and indifferent mentality that people ushered in after experiencing great compassion.

Just as he was out of his mind, Zhou Duan came. Zhou Duan is really good-looking, and in every move, he does not see the humility and cowardice of the king of the dead country, but is full of nobility and calmness. The temperament of the jade tree in the wind, coupled with the colorful and refreshing autumn scenery, Empress Xuanren feels eye-catching when she looks at it from a distance.

"Niangniang, it's windy and heavy on this bridge, so it's better for Niangniang to wear more." Zhou Duan handed over a plain coat.

"You're bothered." Empress Xuanren said, "Duan, you see, how beautiful this garden is, it is even more beautiful than in the summer. I loved it here. Emperor Dejia will really be blessed. ”

"When this garden was built, it was in the prosperous era of Dejia, and the national strength was at its peak, and it was built very carefully. It's really beautiful. Zhou Duan didn't know why Empress Xuanren suddenly sighed at the garden, and she could only respond.

Empress Xuanren took Zhou Duan's hand, looked at Zhou Duan's eyes, and said: "Duan, you used to be the emperor of Dagao, you were robbed of the throne by Tu Li, demoted to the prince of the country, and lived an almost claustrophobic life all day long, all these years, you have suffered." This is all a sin done by Tu Li. You hate him in your heart, don't you? Isn't it? Isn't it, you also hate me? Empress Xuanren's eyes were red and tears flowed.

Zhou Duan actually smiled and said, "Niangniang, there is no hatred in the minister's heart. For the first emperor, the ministers still have some resentment. But for the mother, there is only gratitude. ”

Empress Xuanren said, "Hey. The originally infinitely good country was usurped by a courtier. The original supreme wealth and respect are all gone, but they are living under the fence, and the day is precarious, how can you not have hatred? Since Tu Li's death, I have a first-hand understanding of your feelings. That kind of hatred can never be erased. I don't know why, every time I come to this Changhongqiao, this feeling is even stronger. The more beautiful and tranquil the scenery is, the stronger this feeling becomes. ”

Zhou Duan said: "Niangniang, when Emperor Longwu founded the country, the minister was only three years old, and he didn't know anything, so he never had the memory and feeling of being a lord. Moreover, since the minister knew the matter, what he saw every day was the meticulous care of the mother. Therefore, in the minister's heart, Niangniang is more like his mother. The relationship between the minister and his biological mother, Mrs. Hua'an, is even weaker. ”

Empress Xuanren shed tears and gently took Zhou Duan into her arms. Zhou Duan is already sixteen years old, and he looks a lot taller than Empress Xuanren, and Empress Xuanren wants to reach out and touch Zhou Duan's head, but it is a little laborious. Zhou Duan squatted sensibly.

Empress Xuanren burst into tears and smiled, and said, "Child, why don't I treat you as my own son." They were sent to study and practice martial arts in the school palace at the age of five or six, and it was rare to see them every day. It's you, on the other hand, who are with me every day. I had a Gorou who died on that snowy night. That's why I often think of you as my Gorou. You've grown up now. You've grown a lot taller in the past six months. You see, it's been a long time since I've touched your head, and I didn't know how tall you were. Hurry up, how tired it is to squat like this. I didn't take good care of you. Child, if you are still on the throne of the emperor, your mother, Madame Hua'an, will definitely take care of you better than I take care of you. Over the years, all the hardships you have suffered have been the result of Tu Li. If it weren't for Tu Li, you would be the rich and noble king who ascended the throne as a young man, and Mrs. Hua'an would be the noble queen mother of the world. However, because Tu Li's selfish desires ......, hey, now these are gone. End, Tu Li and I can't live with you after all. You have hatred in your heart, and I understand it. ”

Zhou Duan affectionately grabbed Empress Xuanren's arm, leaned on Empress Xuanren's body, and said: "This is Niangniang's benevolence and generosity, and her preference for ministers, so you can have such an idea." Niangniang, although the minister has no memory of the master, but because of the protection of the mother, the minister has seen more in the past thirteen years. Emperor Longwu is so powerful and wise, but in the face of the subjects of the world and the princes and clans, he is still vigilant and often powerless. Speaking of which, this emperor is really the world's first-class drudgery. Emperor Longwu was wise and wise, but was finally killed by his most trusted brother. As the late emperor of the former dynasty, it is a great fortune to be able to be able to be able to be under the mercy of Niangniang and Emperor Longwu. The minister was satisfied, and the minister was very grateful in his heart. The minister said a word of arrogance, since the day of the death of Emperor Longwu, the minister has thought that he must do his best to protect and serve Niangniang, and treat Niangniang as the minister's biological mother, in order to repay Niangniang's life-saving grace and nurturing grace. ”

Zhou Duan had never said so many words, nor had he ever said such emotional words. Empress Xuanren was a little surprised. The reason why she said so much to Zhou Duan on the Changhong Bridge was that she did have a lot of feelings in her heart, and secondly, it was mainly to say everything she needed to say before leaving, otherwise as soon as she arrived in Beiling County, Zhou Duan would not only be the Duke of Xiangguo and the abolished emperor in the holy capital, his status would probably surpass him, and when the time comes, it will be a little untasteful. But Empress Xuanren's words seemed to have been recognized by Zhou Duan in advance, and they were completely resolved by Zhou Duan. Empress Xuanren's sincere repentance was far less powerful than Zhou Duan's affectionate gratitude.

Empress Xuanren didn't know how to respond for a while, so she could only gently pat Zhou Duan's back.

And Zhou Duan thought more in his heart. In the past few days, the king of Beiling County has frequently sent wills, asking Zhou Duan to do his best and strengthen Empress Xuanren's determination to leave the palace to avoid trouble.

Zhou Duan thought for a while, sighed, and said leisurely: "Moreover, Niangniang, the minister should not be the emperor of Da Gao in the first place. ”

Empress Xuanren said: "Duan, don't say that. You were originally the emperor of Dagao, the son of heaven who succeeded to the throne in a dignified manner according to the legal system. It's just that Tuyu took it away. ”

Zhou Duan smiled: "Niangniang, the minister didn't mean that." The meaning of the minister is that the minister is not the emperor in the first place, or that the minister is not worthy of being the emperor in the first place. ”

Empress Xuanren was taken aback.

Zhou Duan said: "Niangniang, do you know that the minister was not originally the heir of the Da Gao royal family. ”

Empress Xuanren was dumbfounded.

Zhou Duan said: "Niangniang, the minister's mother told the minister that the minister was the illegitimate son of her and the king of Beiling County. ”

Empress Xuanren lost her voice and cried out "Ah".

Zhou Duan said: "Niang Niang is not surprised. This was originally a scandal of the minister's origin, and the minister was originally reluctant to say it, but Niangniang has always been depressed about Emperor Longwu's abolition of the country, and she can't show her face all day long, and the minister really can't bear to see Niangniang worry about it again. Therefore, the minister must explain the original situation to the mother today. ”