There is a small lake in the southeast corner of Yuqing Palace, because it resembles a crescent moon, it is called Moon Lake, at this time, the water lilies in early summer have not yet bloomed, the long wicker brushes over the lake, at this time, the dripping rain falls on the lake surface, ripples up a circle of ripples, although the scenery here is beautiful, but few people come, this place is remote, plus the first two months after the eunuch fell into the lake and drowned, there are rumors that this place is haunted, the drowned eunuch is looking for the dead ghost all day long, the eunuchs and palace maids are afraid of being dragged into the water, they have avoided here to go. The small lake in the rain is sparsely populated, but there is a palace maid who holds a small umbrella, hides her face in the umbrella, approaches the small lake lightly, sees that there is no one around, and hides behind the rockery by the lake with a flash of cleverness. This rockery is a great advantage for hiding, and I can't see anything from the outside, so I heard the palace maid lower her voice and say, "My father-in-law called me at this time, what do you command?" ”

Another voice was also low: "The master ordered, the Red Lotus Sect Holy Maiden in white clothes infiltrated Yuqing Palace, I don't know what the plan is, but if I contact the prince, I am afraid that the master's plan will be ruined." The master ordered you to find this person quickly, and as a result, she died. ”

The palace maid was a little surprised: "Qin Ji guarded Yuqing Palace like an iron bucket, and it was not easy for the master to get me in, what means did this Red Lotus Sect have, and it was easy to get in." ”

Another voice said: "Originally, the master didn't want to use you so early, but now you have to do it, you must not expose yourself." ”

The palace maid's voice sounded: "What clues are there?" ”

Another voice said: "Because Concubine Wan was born as a palace maid back then, the queen mother reduced the palace maids next to the prince, and there is a huge Yuqing Palace, just the four of you, this Red Lotus Sect saint is bound to be among the four of you." ”

The palace maid said: "I will not live up to my master's orders." ”

The voice said gloomily: "That Red Lotus Sect Holy Maiden should have been disguised by the Red Lotus Sect master, and it is said that her skills are also very good, you must remember not to startle the snake." ”

The palace maid replied "yes", then stopped talking, and after a while, hearing that there was no movement outside, she quickly flashed out from behind the rockery, saw that there was no one around, and walked into the rain with an umbrella.

The rain didn't last long before it stopped, in Yuqing Palace, the red willow was busy fertilizing the flowers in the flower bed, the red cotton was pruning the bonsai, the red lotus and the red maple were busy cleaning up the yard, and the four of them performed their duties and cleaned up the Yuqing Palace quickly.

The door of the study squeaked open, and Zhu Youji's voice came from inside at the same time: "Father-in-law Qin, send Mr. for me." ”

only heard Qin Ji agree, and walked out with Liu Jian.

Walking to the courtyard, Liu Jian saw that the flowers and plants in the flower bed were growing lushly, and he couldn't help but praise: "Yuqing Palace is getting more and more tidy." Suddenly, he asked, "How can there be such a fragrant aroma?" ”

Among the several potted green plants under the corridor of Qin Ji, there is a pot of about three feet, the leaves are thick and fat, and a few flowers emerge from the depths of the leaves, with a slight red halo on the ivory yellow petals, and green stamens, which open quietly like a quiet girl. Qin Ji couldn't help but rejoice: "I didn't expect this flower to bloom after a rain." At a glance, when he saw the red cotton next to him, he shouted: "Go and report to the prince, the flowers are blooming with a smile." ”

Liu Jian looked at Qin Ji's elated appearance, and couldn't help but wonder: "What kind of flower is this?" Haven't seen it yet. ”

Qin Ji replied: "This flower is called a smiling flower, it was originally a flower in the south, and it was not easy to survive in the palace, and it was the first time it bloomed." ”

Liu Jian approached, saw that the flower was slightly half-opened, and drooped slightly, and couldn't help but praise: "It's really a flower as its name suggests, quite like a beauty smiling." He also said: "Yang Chengzhai had a poem that said: 'Only this flower can't be stolen, and no one knows where it suddenly smells.'" That's what I'm talking about. Glancing at Qin Ji, he said, "Only the East Palace is comparable to this flower." ”

Qin Ji also sighed infinitely: "Who said it wasn't? ”

While the two were talking, Zhu Youzhu had already hurried over, and said with infinite surprise: "Good signs, the smiling flower that has not bloomed for many years is actually blooming at this time." He also praised: "It's really fragrant and refreshing." Then he suddenly smiled and said, "Hurry up and fold a few and send them to the Queen Mother." ”

Next to him, Qin Ji hurriedly waved his hand and asked the four of them to bring the jade bottle, carefully folded off a few smiling flowers, and inserted the small jade bottle into a cluster of flowers.

Zhu Youzhi ordered the red cotton to send the flowers to Cining Palace quickly, and the red cotton took the order, carefully held the vase, and carefully went out of the palace gate, and the three red lotus people cleaned up the residual leaves on the side.

Zhu Youzhu sniffed the fragrance of flowers, and couldn't help but say emotionally: "I still remember when I was a child, my mother took me to live in Anle Hall, and my mother did everything possible to plant this flower, and it has been twelve years before I know it. After that, he took out the sachet from his bosom, rubbed it gently, and said, "There are petals of a smiling flower in this sachet." ”

He was sad for a while, Qin Ji knew that some time ago was the death day of Concubine Ji, Zhu Youzhu was a little sad, and quickly diverted the conversation and said: "The old slave still remembers that the prince almost lost this sachet some time ago, and thanks to the little catcher Ding Si caught the thief. ”

mentioned the name "Ding Si", Zhu Youzhi immediately said to Liu Jian: "Before I have time to tell Mr., I met a friend outside, who is a catcher from Shuntianfu, named Ding Si, and his character is very good." ”

Liu Jian bowed down and said: "The prince's friendship is not distinguished by the noble and the low, which is really praiseworthy, but as the prince, I don't know how many people want to flock to it." Liu Jian reminded Zhu Youzhu to be cautious in making friends, and not to be blinded by the villain who deliberately clings.

Zhu Youzhu knew what Liu Jian meant, and couldn't help but sigh and said, "That Ding Si doesn't know my identity yet." Thinking about it, his childlike heart grew: "This person is interesting, he has met me several times, and he doesn't even ask me what I do, and I don't know what he thinks I am doing." ”

Liu Jian looked at the sky and said to Zhu Youji: "The minister still has something to do, so he will retire first." ”

Zhu Youzhu hurriedly said, "Sir, go slowly." ”

After Liu Jian left, Zhu Youzhu said to Qin Ji: "I heard that Imperial Doctor Hu said that my father and emperor have been in poor health in the past two days? ”

Qin Ji replied: "I heard that the spirit is not very neat, and I have dreamed of Concubine Wan several times in my dreams. ”

Zhu Youzhu stood up and thought for a while and said, "You and I are going to visit my father and the emperor." ”

Qin Ji answered and followed Zhu Youzhu out of the door.

At this time, the three of them had already finished cleaning up the stump and leaves, and Hongfeng looked at Zhu Youzhi's back in a daze. Honghe looked at Hongfeng like this, and asked softly, "Hongfeng, what are you thinking?" ”

Red Maple seemed to wake up from a dream, and immediately said timidly like a frightened rabbit: "Nothing, nothing." ”

The red willow next to him held the red maple hand and said, "Why are your hands so cold, although it is close to summer, you are careful to get sick." ”

Before the red maple could answer, the red cotton tree walked over with light steps, she was originally condensing, as soon as she saw that everyone in the courtyard was dispersed, she immediately relaxed, and the words had already sounded before the three of them arrived: "Hey, I am really lucky today, the queen mother liked it when she saw the smiling flower, and rewarded me with two taels of silver." She was elated, ignoring the fact that the bluestone slab was a little slippery after the rain, and she accidentally fell hard, and there she was on all fours.

The three of them hurriedly stepped forward to pull her up, and Honghe also reproached softly: "Hongmian, be careful of the palace rules." ”

Cotton Tree stood up in a panic, groped around his waist and said, "I don't dare to lose my silver." ”

Hearing this, Red Lotus and Red Willow couldn't help but smile at each other, and even Red Maple had a hint of a smile on his face as if he was always frightened.

The day's life passed quickly, after dinner, the four of them crowded into the lower room again, the red cotton is still rejoicing at today's reward, the red lotus is helping the red willow to wrap his nails with impatiens, the red maple lies on the bed and doesn't know what to think, and after a while suddenly got up and said: "Why is this day so boring, I will go outside to dissipate the air." With that, he got up and walked out.

It was already sunset outside the house, Hongfeng stood motionless at the gate of the palace, the afterglow was reflected on her face, making people feel preoccupied, after a while, the big guard Mao Ruhai walked in from outside the door, saw Hongfeng standing at the door, and couldn't help asking: "Hongfeng, why are you standing here, but there is something?" ”

Red Maple hurriedly shook his head in a panic.

Mao Ruhai said: "If it's not a big deal, go back to your residence and rest quickly." With that, he strode away.

Hongfeng looked at Mao Ruhai's figure and wanted to take a step, but he couldn't move. At this moment, a branch shot at her shoulder, which was an ordinary branch, but because it was sent out by someone with internal force, this branch was quite powerful, and if it was shot in the shoulder, it would definitely hurt. Just as the branch was about to shoot at Red Maple's shoulder, Red Maple suddenly squatted down, holding his head in his hands, and seemed to sob. The branch flew over her head and landed more than a foot in front of her with a "snap". Mao Ruhai seemed to hear the sound, looked back at Hongfeng squatting on the ground, and hurriedly rushed back to ask, "Hongfeng, what's wrong with you?" ”

Red Maple stood up, wiped her eyes and said, "It's nothing." After saying that, he left in a hurry.

Gradually, the night of Yuqing Palace was dark, and only the lanterns under the eaves were blown by the wind, exuding a faint light.