In March, Ji Si said, it is the period when the queen holds the "pro-silkworm" ceremony, the silkworm altar at the north end of the Taiye Pond in the West Garden is erected on the yellow curtain tent, and the tent is for the ancestor of the silkworm god and various sacrifices such as cattle, sheep, pigs, wine, etc.

The queen fasted for three days, and then followed the deacon who entered the altar to eat fast in the women's palace for another day. When it came to the silkworm family, before dawn, Queen Xia got up early to take the lead in setting an example.

A total of 10,000 honor guards have been arranged: 5,000 people guard the surroundings of the Silkworm Altar, and 5,000 people follow the queen's guard. Empress Zhang stepped out of the palace under the guidance of the female officials, and behind her were the two noble concubines, princesses, and the wives of noble relatives, the wives and concubines of officials above the fourth rank of civil service and the third rank of martial arts in Beijing, unmarried sisters, and daughters of thirteen cardamom years.

They are arranged in turn, each with a maid, the maid holds a basket of mulberry picking, carried by the queen, the flowers are splendid, the incense floats for several miles, and the team of women who are rare to see in the next day will drive towards the silkworm altar in a mighty way. It's a pity that the troops are heavily guarded all the way, and ordinary people have no chance to see it.

The young lady was originally light and healthy, but now her pregnancy is not very obvious, far from the point of having a big belly.

The three sisters Yutangchun, Xuelimei, and Tang Yixian appeared together for the first time today, Yutangchun and Xuelimei also wore the robe of Mrs. Xuan, Tang Yixian wore a wood-red narrow-sleeved short skirt and a willow yellow long skirt, and the four women walked together, which was very conspicuous in the crowd.

The queen mother, who was walking far away under the front canopy, also thought that Yang Ling's cousin, the girl who made the emperor fascinated, would definitely appear, but occasionally looked back, the wife was like a cloud, and the ring was tinkling, but where to find her?

The lord of the six palaces in the world of motherhood, she was not sloppy at this ceremony, so she had to endure the jealousy in her heart and walk alone in the forefront. When she arrived at the silkworm altar, Queen Xia wore a bow robe, first ascended the altar to offer sacrifices, and then accepted the order to kneel and worship, and finally walked to the mulberry tree, holding the hook and standing.

Beside him, the female officials of the Liushang Bureau stood around, one of them held a mulberry and willow basket, Queen Xia raised the hook and picked three leaves, the female officer picked up and put it in the basket, even if the queen completed the gift of 'pro-spring bowing mulberry', and then two women of the first grade, one of the second and third women, respectively, according to the grade of the mulberry leaves five, nine, twelve, 10,000 troops, thousands of women with the thirty-four mulberry leaves picked up the mighty back to the altar of the forbidden garden, and the other woman chopped the mulberry leaves, fed to the silkworm baby, the whole long and boring ceremony is over.

Yongfu and Yongchun had already been secretly notified by Qiu Ju, and the two princesses were secretly happy in their hearts and prepared early. When the team turned to the palace gate, and the women from all walks of life looked for a sedan chair in front of the palace gate to return to the house, Yang Ling galloped with a team of cavalry, and he brought a soft sedan chair to send the lady back to the house, and Tang Yixian took a small sedan chair to follow behind his horse team.

Then Yang Ling came to the princess's courtesy, bowed on the horse, and said loudly: "By the holy decree, the emperor wants to go to Jizhou Tangquan for a visit, and invites Her Royal Highnesses the eldest princess and Princess Yongchun to accompany him."

The two princesses went out of the palace to take the luxurious and huge eight-lift ride, and immediately got out of the sedan chair when they heard the words, the two princesses had changed out of the cumbersome and complicated palace clothes in the sedan chair, and wore a light light yellow cardigan with narrow sleeves and a close-fitting pleated skirt, the two princesses were wearing the same, and the delicate bodies were slender and slender, but they were thin and not explicit, which was really beautiful to the extreme.

The light yellow robes set off their fair and moist skin is even more delicate, and the two princesses are not married and cannot wear buns, but the eldest princess Yongfu cleverly matched a kind of cloud bun headdress, which is similar to a married woman's falling horse bun, which is both playful and charming.

Yang Ling waved his hand, and the two light sedan chairs were lifted in front of him, and the two princesses got on the sedan chair and set off.

Queen Xia heard the message in front of the palace gate, and was about to send someone to ask what was going on, Yang Ling had invited two princesses, and the three of the horse team rode away in a small sedan chair.

Zhengde's brigade was waiting outside the city as early as possible, Yang Ling escorted the three small sedan chairs to arrive, first asked the two princesses to change to the sedan chair, a small colonel in the crowd was Emperor Zhengde, the two princesses knew that their brother was going to dress up like this, but they still felt fresh when they saw it, and they didn't cover their lips and snickered.

Zhengde glared at them, hurriedly waved his hand to let them get into the sedan chair, and then came to Tang Yixian's sedan chair. Zhengde didn't see Tang Yixian for more than ten years, and his expression was quite excited at this time, he saw that Tang Yixian was dressed decently, which was the most popular style of clothing for ladies in Beijing in spring, and the body was exquisite, delicate and attractive, and his eyes were a little straight.

Tang Yixian heard that there was an emperor and two princesses on this trip, and he was also a little nervous in his heart, but when he got out of the sedan chair and saw that in addition to his cousin, the more than ten guards were all people who had come back from Datong Road and were very familiar with them, so he didn't feel relaxed. Especially when I saw the handsome and handsome Captain Huang in the crowd, looking at her stupidly, I felt sweet in my heart in joy.

Yang Ling rode forward and commanded: "Start!" ”

The car was rolling around, and the team rushed to Jizhou.

Princess Yongchun was young, and the car shop was bored for a while, so she ran to the Yongfu car, and the two chatted in the sedan chair for a while, Yongchun opened the sedan curtain, raised his hand to Yang Ling, and said coquettishly: "Lord Yang."

Yang Ling approached, leaned over and asked, "What does the princess command?" ”

Yongchun leaned on the window and said curiously: "Lord Yang, the imperial brother seems to like your cousin very much, but why is he pretending to be a guard?" If he likes someone, he will enter the palace with an edict, and it is not difficult for your cousin to be crowned an imperial concubine. ”

Yang Ling blinked and said with a smile: "Because the emperor hopes that Xian'er will really like him as a person, instead of taking the person he likes into the palace as his emperor."

Yongchun looked back at Yongfu inexplicably, and the pair of little sisters still couldn't understand. Yang Ling raised his head, saw the birds singing happily on the branches on the side of the road, raised his horsewhip and pointed: "Your Highness, look at the pair of birds on the branches, they are together with each other, not because of each other's status and official position, but simply because they like each other."

Because of a woman's noble status, it doesn't matter who she likes or who likes her, the important thing is whether the person she wants to marry is the right person. If Xian'er has someone who agrees with each other, but that person already has a wife, she can't marry her in any way by virtue of her identity, maybe she will marry someone worthy of her status in the future, but she doesn't like it in her heart, and love must be subordinated to the consideration of status.

And the emperor's edict, entering the palace to become the imperial concubine, the scenery is of course something that many people can't ask for, but for this woman, it doesn't matter whether she likes the emperor or not, for the emperor, he got this woman by supreme power, he never knows if this woman really likes him, isn't it very sad? ”

Yang Ling said solemnly: "Man is the spirit of all things, much more noble than this bird, but human marriage is mixed with too much utilitarianism and too many other reasons. The emperor likes Yixian and hopes that his cousin will like him too, and likes him as a man, so he pretends to be a lowly guard. As an emperor, what could have been done easily was just because of his respect for love and respect for the woman he liked. The minister admires the emperor very much, he is the emperor, and he is also a man with a real surname! ”

The wheels were rolling, and Yongfu behind Yongchun's shoulders fell into deep thought, thinking of the imperial aunts in the Ten Princes' Mansion who were old one by one, and a burst of sadness suddenly surged in her heart. Those imperial aunts looked forward to meeting their husbands every time, but they were hindered by the palace ministers and housekeepers, but now that they think about it, how many of the pillow people they look forward to staying by each other all night and night do they really like it? It's just that they don't have any more options.

The sorrow of an ordinary woman that Yang Ling said is just that she has to succumb to utilitarianism and can't choose the man she likes, but what about royal women? Not only can they not choose the person they like, but even the husband who they don't like must not see each other like the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl. What is the sorrow behind the emperor's noble scenery?

She stroked the soft and noble tribute weaving clothes on her body, looked around at the gorgeous decorations in the car, and suddenly felt that a person like herself was the saddest person in the world, and she couldn't help but envy Tang Yixian a little.

Princess Yongchun put down the sedan curtain, and smiled unknowingly: "Sister, no wonder the imperial brother favors Yang Ling, listening to his clouds and mountains and fog, my sister is dizzy, who is not as good as a bird, a bird is not as good as a human, I don't think he is a good bird, hehe."

Yongfu smiled lightly, but even You Xing faded

Jizhou Royal Hot Spring, the emperor's car has arrived.

The entourage and those who had been waiting in the palace carried the items of the emperor's entourage to the various rooms.

Far away, the Huang Luo umbrella lid moved into the largest mansion palace, and then housed the residence of the two princesses.

Tang Yixian had already gotten out of the car, looking at the mountains and rivers here curiously, she turned her eyes, and saw that Zhengde was still staring at her, and couldn't help but whisper: "What are you looking at?" Nerds! She was coquettish in her mouth, but her flushed cheeks still unconsciously brought out a little shyness and pride.

Zhengde said with a smile: "Your Excellency is arranging the residence of the emperor and the princess, arranging the police, Miss, please come with me, this is your residence." ”

Zhengde took Tang Yixian into a small building with carved beams and paintings, Tang Yixian looked around, and said: "It turns out that you are not your cousin's guard, you are a big guard at a young age, it's amazing."

Zhengde said proudly: "Of course, didn't you see that these guards all listened to me?" Although I am a small school captain, the emperor is very fond of me."

Tang Yixian pouted and said: "Blow you, be careful that the emperor is too fond of you, and he geldings you into the palace as a eunuch."

Zhengde laughed dryly, and was about to answer, when a crisp and sweet voice called: "Miss Tang, I want to meet you along the way."

With the language, Princess Yongchun jumped in, dressed in tender yellow, delicate like a flower, like a jade carving, her face was full of delicate and innocent, Gu Dayong took a few palace maids and eunuchs, and followed helplessly.

Zhengde glared at her, and reluctantly stepped forward to bow and said, "Meet Her Royal Highness Princess Yongchun."

Tang Yixian was startled, and hurriedly bent his knees to worship, Yongchun had already run over and grabbed her, and said with a smile: "No need to worship, no need to worship, Miss Tang is really beautiful like a flower, stunning in the world, no wonder my imperial brother travels, Lord Yang takes you with him, he can spoil you very much."

Zhengde snorted, he usually worships him forever, but now this little girl is stained with Tang Yixian's light, and she worships herself, she actually turns a blind eye and doesn't tell herself to get up, Zhengde has to pull his throat and say: "See Her Royal Highness the Princess."

Yongchun glanced at him with a narrow smile, and then waved his hand and said, "No courtesy, flat body."

She pulled Tang Yixian to sit on the Jindun and chatted about family life, Zhengde glared at Gu Dayong with disgust, and said secretly: "You stupid talent, why did you bring Yongchun?" ”

Gu Da folded his hands with his sleeves, rolled his eyes helplessly, and said in his heart: "The princess is coming, how can I stop her as a minion?" ”

The two chatted for a while, and the eunuchs in the palace had already sent a few fruits and cakes, and they were tired all the way, and they always had to eat something before the main meal. Yongchun was also not polite, and took it to share with Tang Yixian.

Tea is cooked in the silver kettle, ginseng soup is boiled in the chicken chirp jar, and apricot crisp is prepared in the cup, Princess Yongchun and Zhengde have a habit of eating snacks, she said with a smile while eating: "Miss Tang, let's go to the soup spring to bathe together in the evening, and then play 'leaf play'."

Although Tang Yixian was also naughty, and Yongchun was very good at talking, the first time he saw the princess with a noble status, he was still a little restrained, so he just leaned over and smiled: "Yes, everything is arranged by His Royal Highness."

Yongchun opened the golden pot and saw the deer milk steaming inside, and couldn't help but widen his eyes in surprise, and Zhengde couldn't help but laugh a little weakly when he saw it. You must know that there are rules for eating in the palace, deer milk can only be taken by the emperor, this palace has raised a few old deer, each milk is only half a ou, except for the emperor, even the queen is not allowed to take it, if the emperor does not go out on patrol, even if it is abandoned, it is never allowed to be used by others.

This is the rule of the palace, Yongchun naturally knows that she was not sensible when she was young, and her dignified princess was also crying for a long time, so her father fed her a few spoonfuls in violation of the regulations, and she had to beg each other gently, asking the living officer not to record it in the file, and now the emperor Zhengde is generous, and he actually flatters Tang Yixian so much.

It's a pity that Tang Yixian didn't know this rule at all, seeing the princess staring at Jin Ou, thinking that she liked to eat this kind of thing, she hurriedly took a silver spoon and put it in a jade bowl for her, Yongchun smiled, took it and took a sip, looking at the royal brother standing on the side with a proud face.

Yang Ling arranged the emperor's residence, inquired about the situation of the visit along the mountain, and was about to go to the princess to go through the motions again, when a large internal guard hurriedly came and said: "My lord, there is a woman in Xuanyi outside the palace, holding an inner factory token, please see your lord."

Yang Ling was also a little strange when he heard this, how could there be a woman in the inner factory? His heart jumped, and a Jiangnan woman holding an umbrella and carrying a jacket, as if walking by the water, suddenly jumped into his heart, and Yang Ling hurriedly walked out with the guard.

When I arrived at the guard camp at the foot of the mountain outside the palace, I saw four horses parked outside, three were rough and majestic men, and the other was a woman in Xuanyi, her figure was also tall, but compared with these three big men, it looked much petite and moist.

As soon as she saw Yang Ling, she greeted her, bowed down and said, "Maid Chu Ling see Lord Yang."

As soon as the woman arrived in front of her, she felt a sweet fragrance of flowers, faint and not dissipating. I saw that she had tight sleeves and soft support, short boots, a bewitching figure, and her skin was slightly translucent and green lined with black clothes, like mutton fat and beautiful jade.

Yang Ling was stunned for a moment, and said in amazement: "Who is the girl?" How do I hold my in-house token? ”

Chu Ling glanced at him with a wave of eyes, although she was slightly disgusted, her eyebrows and eyes were like water, and the style was very like Cheng Qiyun, Yang Ling suddenly realized, and before she could explain, she smiled and said: "You are the girl next to you who is the head of the stall!" ”

Chu Ling smiled and said, "It's the maid, Miss wants me to bring news to the adults."

Yang Ling was overjoyed, and said busily: "This is not the place to speak, you come with me."

Not far from the door, there were guards stationed in the camp, and there were several houses, Yang Ling took her into a quiet room, and hurriedly asked, "Miss Cheng, how are you doing?" ”

Chu Ling said with a smile: "Lord Duocheng cares, Miss is all right." Moreover, the young lady also instructed the adults to be very concerned about another important matter, which she has arranged properly, and there will be no mistakes, so please rest assured."

Yang Ling's face turned red, and he hurriedly changed the topic and said, "Miss Cheng sent you, but everything is ready?" ”

Chu Ling said: "Yes, it is said that the envoy of the king of Wen has arrived secretly, and the young lady is accompanying them all the way to the Beijing Division, and the maid is one step ahead, and it is estimated that the young lady will be able to reach the Beijing Division within five days."

It is said that Emperor Bun Kang has been on the throne for four years, and just last year he changed the name of the year to Yongzheng, and the news of the Central Plains is blocked, and he is still habitually called Wen Kang. Yang Ling was stunned for a moment when he heard this, Emperor Wen's special envoy? Cheng Qiyun is so careful that she doesn't even know the truth about her henchman and maidservant? But it makes sense for her to be so careful, one carelessness is a great sin, and the less one person knows, the more safe.

Yang Ling thought of this, and replied vaguely: "Very good, after you go back, tell Miss Cheng and ask her to stay in Tongzhou for the time being, and wait for my side to attack and defend until the last moment, and then ask Miss Cheng to set off for Beijing, highlight the surprise soldiers, and decide the victory or defeat in a battle." ”

Chu Ling said: "Yes, when the maid came, the young lady ordered, the two capitals are far away, it is difficult to understand the recent situation of the Beijing master, the young lady does not know how the adult is fundraising, please explain one or two, the maid replied to the young lady, and it is good to know it."

Yang Ling paced with his hands in his hand, pondered for a moment and said with a smile: "Everything is stopped, and after two days, the official returned to Beijing, and immediately asked the emperor to convene a 'great court meeting', and mobilized the officials to write to the court to request the lifting of the sea ban." ”

Seeing Chu Ling hesitating, he couldn't help laughing and said: "Miss Chu Ling, I heard Miss Cheng say that the two of you have also studied the military book with her, let me ask you, if you and I lead the troops to attack, you have four major dangers to defend, one of which has been quietly taken by me, so that there is a hole in the defense line, and the weakening of the division of troops and garrison forces is very likely to be conquered by me one by one, if it is you, what should you do?" ”

Chu Ling raised her eyebrows and said: "This is simple, since I am the defender, and there is already a disadvantage, and there are loopholes in the defense line, then I will take the initiative to abandon other passes, gather troops in the most dangerous place, hold each other, and do the final decisive battle."

Yang Ling praised: "Exactly, but the reason why this most dangerous level is difficult to attack is that you have natural dangers to defend, or thousands of high mountains cannot be climbed, or huge waves are monstrous by the river, but if all of a sudden, this natural danger becomes a flat river, so what?" ”

Chu Ling smiled bitterly: "My lord is not talking about the art of war, but like two immortals fighting the law, if this situation really happens, then I will gather troops in one place, but I will gather my troops and wait for you to slaughter and poke, but it is better to divide the troops and guard and delay a little longer."

Yang Ling smiled: "So you can return to a girl, just rest assured." The official will show weakness to the enemy in front of this pass, let them regard this place as the only danger to be feared, and concentrate all opposition forces on this point, and at that time, your surprise soldiers will stand out, and the natural danger will become a smooth road, and they will only be defeated, and they will have no strength to resist, understand? ”

Chu Ling shook her head and said frankly: "The servant doesn't understand."

Yang Ling smiled and said: "It's okay if you don't understand, you can truthfully reply to a girl, she will naturally understand when she hears it."

Chu Ling covered her mouth and smiled, and said: "Miss asked me to tell the adults that the extremely important event had been arranged at that time, and the maid didn't understand, and the young lady also said that she only had to reply to the adults truthfully, and the adults would understand after listening to them, and I didn't think that the adults and my young lady were in the same tone."

She chuckled, "Then the servant returns." Finally, there is a word to say, my young lady said that when she entered Beijing, there was a heavy gift for the adult, and the adult must be overjoyed when he saw it."

Yang Lingqi said: "What kind of gift, so important?" ”

Chu Ling said: "The slave doesn't understand, my young lady said, this matter can be said or not, if the adult says something that the maid doesn't understand, then you might as well say it so that the adult you don't understand, hehe"

Chu Ling gave a salute lightly and skillfully, and said triumphantly: "Farewell!" ”

(To be continued)