The next day, I met Dong Qiuhe, the secretary of the house, in Yifeng Pavilion.

She came to trim Miao Zhaorong's makeup. At that time, it was just dawn, and Miao Zhaorong had not yet gotten up in the morning, so she was already waiting in the courtyard of the cabinet. The old palace people in the pavilion called her name and invited her in, but she just smiled lightly and whispered, "Wait a little longer." ”

Dressed in a round-necked green shirt, wearing curved shoes, a red belt around the waist, and a crown of a black lacquered gauze soft-winged scarf on her head, Qiu He was dressed as the most ordinary female official, and her fair face was also plain and without makeup, but a pair of crescent-shaped white beads were pasted on the sideburns.

She is slender and thin, standing next to the purple bamboo in the courtyard with a box in her hand. The frost branches and snow are dry, the smoke is thin, and the morning light of early winter erases a layer of color from this picture, making this scene like a freehand painting swept by light ink.

When Miao Zhaorong and the princess got up, I took Qiu He inside, because there were others on the side, I didn't have time to mention Cui Bai's matter to her.

She combed Miao Zhaorong's hair, took out a green heart jade plate crown and added it, Miao Zhaorong looked at the mirror carefully, her face was happy, and asked her: "Is this crown famous?" ”

Qiu He bowed his head and said, "The name is Xiangqiong." ”

"Good name." Miao Zhaorong said, "The color of this crown is plain, not big, simple and exquisite. Unlike the ones that Mrs. Zhang often wears, she is often two or three feet long and wide, and she is not tired of resisting. ”

Qiu He smiled, but didn't answer, looked at Zhaorong's face in the mirror, and said: "Today, the color of Miao Niangzi's dress and crown is plain, and you can add a bright color flower in the center of your eyebrows." ”

Miao Zhaorong said yes, she took out a thin piece of rose-shaped face flower from the box, gently pasted it between Zhaorong's eyebrows, and then took out a makeup pen, and filled it with gold painting.

As soon as the box was opened, the room was full of incense. When the princess heard this, she ran over and picked up a piece of play: "This flower is so fragrant." ”

Miao Zhaorong also said: "This tastes very good, what is it made of?" ”

Qiuhe replied: "Use one or two each of jataman, sandalwood, lingling, and cloves, and one penny each of Huoxiang leaves, Huangdan, Angelica, fragrant ink, and fennel, grind them into fine powder, mix them with honey, pour them into the rose flower mold, and take them out after drying, and then wipe a layer of brain musk deer on the flower pieces." ”

The princess interjected and asked, "Qiuhe, is this something you have recently transferred?" ”

"Yes." Qiuhe replied, adding, "I've tried, and it doesn't hurt my skin." ”

The princess walked up to her, took her sleeve and looked in, and was ashamed to shrink her hand, and asked, "What does the princess look at?" ”

The princess said: "You have to try it yourself before you use makeup for the ladies every time, but your skin is thin and sensitive, the last time I tried balm for Yu Niangzi, it made a red and swollen piece on the wrist, and it took a few days to disappear, I want to see if it is swollen again this time." ”

Miao Zhaorong also asked with concern when he heard this: "But it hurt your skin again?" ”

"No, no." Qiu He covered his wrists with his sleeves and said, "There really isn't." This time I tried it, and there was no redness and swelling. ”

At that moment just now, the princess must have seen it clearly, so she didn't ask any more questions, and took Qiu He's hand affectionately, and said, "You stay for a while, and when I finish reading, let's play together." ”

Miao Zhaorong saw her hesitation, so he also persuaded: "Yu Niangzi has not been very good in the past two days, I don't think I have the heart to dress up, I will ask her to take a leave of absence when I go back, you can stay here today." ”

Qiu He finally agreed, and Miao Zhaorong sent someone to Yu Jieyu. After a while, Shang Gongzhi, who taught the princess, went to the study and ordered me and Qiu He to serve with her.

Shang Gong taught "The Female Rule" and "The History of the State" that day, the princess was a little absent-minded, but Qiu He's expression was very focused, obviously she understood the content.

At the end of the lesson, the princess immediately took Qiuhe and ran back to the hall, and began to play with the dustpan again, but after only sitting down for a while, she heard the attendant come in and report that the official was coming and had arrived outside the pavilion door.

Everyone in the cabinet stood up and lined up to greet the officials.

This is the first time I've seen Imajo up close, and I've only seen him on a high throne at ceremonies such as the Great Sacrifice and the Shuo Dynasty's ordination, wearing a silk robe, wearing a crown of heaven, and a white Luo square heart curved collar, sitting upright, not smiling, like all portraits of emperors, my impression is vague.

He was about thirty-four or five years old at this time, and he was dressed casually on this day, wearing a white large-sleeved shirt, with a black edging collar, sleeves, and trim, black boots, a soft gauze Tang scarf on his head, a five-colored Lu Gongqi at the waist, a crane on the outside, and a clear eyebrow, elegant and graceful like a literati and a celebrity.

Today, he walked from the back garden, and just entered the pavilion, so that people were thirsty after they were flattened, and they quickly entered the cooked water. Miao Zhaorong personally took the water, took it today, and drank several cups in a row.

Seeing this, the princess said curiously, "Why didn't Daddy get water to drink when he was out just now?" So much so that I am thirsty now. ”

Imakami said, "I looked back a few times, but I didn't see the attendant shackles. At that time, Ren Du knew that if I asked, he would make a big fuss and immediately atone for the crime, so I simply endured my thirst and returned. ”

Wang Zhaoming, the official who came with him today, was busy blaming himself: "The ministers have seen that the official family has reviewed it many times, but they have not understood the meaning of the official family, and they really deserve to die, please punish the official family." ”

Imagami smiled and waved his hand: "You're not me, I don't say it, how do you know?" Don't mention it, and don't tell Shouzhong in the future, so as not to be punished with shackles. ”

Miao Zhaorong smiled when he heard this: "The official family has always been like this. Zhaoming told his concubine that one morning the official told him that he couldn't sleep at night, felt hungry, and wanted to eat roast sheep. Zhaoming asked why he didn't issue an edict to ask for it, but the official said, "I heard that what the people in the forbidden area demanded was spread outside the palace, and people were competing to imitate it, and it became a trend. I am worried that if I open my mouth to roast sheep, from now on, people will slaughter a large number of sheep every night for supper, which will be very harmful. 'Alas, it is good to be generous to others and to have mercy on the common people, but it is strange that he is willing to endure thirst and hunger for this reason, and to be the emperor to do this. ”

Jinshang smiled and said: "In the emperor's family, every move has the effect of showing the world, you must think twice about everything, and you must not act arbitrarily because of a momentary desire." Sometimes a little thing that seems to be innocuous is done by ordinary people, but if we do it, the result is often difficult to manage. ”

Yan asked the princess: "Huirou, can you write down this?" ”

The princess nodded violently, and then smiled and turned her eyes to Zhaorong, and noticed the flowers between her eyebrows, so she casually praised: "Today's flowers are good, the paintings are meticulous, and the fragrance is not bad." ”

Miao Zhaorong smiled: "The concubine said the same thing...... It is made by Autumn and Shin. ”

"Oh, Qiuhe ......" Jin Shang looked at Qiuhe, who was standing on the side, smiled lightly, looked at it slightly, and then asked the princess: "Huirou, is there a new red mark on Qiuhe's wrist?" ”

The princess replied, "Yes, no." ”

"Look behind her ears again," Imakami stared at Qiuhe, his eyes gentle, "this time she must have tried there." ”

The princess went over to check, and then smiled: "Daddy is right, there is a red mark the size of a fingernail behind Qiu He's right ear." ”

Qiu He was already embarrassed, retreated slightly, bowed his head deeply, and said: "Official, Qiu Fei is not ...... intentionally"

"I don't have to explain, I understand." "These spices are used in a lot of things, and you can mix them very often, and you will always try them again and again...... It's just that now you have a few girls under you, why are you still trying it on yourself now? ”

Qiu He replied softly: "They are still young, and it is always bad to use spices. ”

Hearing this, he smiled again: "How old are you yourself...... Is it fourteen? ”

Qiuhe hesitated slightly, but could only answer truthfully: "There are still two months left." ”

Jin Shang bowed his head and said: "I will tell Chu Shangfu when I go back, let her transfer two sixteen or seventeen insiders to call you, and order them to do things like trying incense medicine." ”

Qiu He thanked him, but he did not accept it: "Qiu He Xie Guan's grace." It's just that Qiuhe's skin quality is not good and he is sensitive to incense, so it is most suitable to act as a drug tester. If the incense can be used, it will not damage the skin of all the ladies. If you test the medicine for others, if their skin is stronger than that of the lady, the slight toxicity of the incense is not shown in them, wouldn't it be very inappropriate to use it for the ladies? I also hope that the official family will take back the order, and the matter of testing the medicine will be handed over to Qiuhe. ”

Jinshang sighed, turned his head to Miao Zhaorong and smiled: "How is this good?" We can't help her if we want to. ”

Miao Zhaorong smiled and looked at Qiuhe: "This kid, it seems that you have to ask the official family to transfer you out of the Shangfu Bureau." ”

Qiu He hurriedly shook his head: "No, no, I didn't mean that......"

Jinshang and Miao Zhaorong looked at each other and smiled, and did not continue to talk about this topic, but said, "Hurry up." I saw that there were copper coins on the table, were you and Hui Rou just throwing money? Keep playing. ”

Qiuhe thanked the official family again, got up to return the banquet, and the princess also went over and began to spend money with her again.

Akiwa's hands are extremely dexterous, and his movements are graceful and gentle. The princess always makes a loud noise when she scatters the child, but she does not, every time she throws the splice, the sound is crisp and not harsh, the slender hand flies like a butterfly, and the heavy copper coin has a deciduous lightness under her provocation, with her gestures undulating, floating up and down and whirling, and interpreting a series of monotonous and repetitive movements very beautifully.

Today, I sat on the side and raised my eyes to look around, occasionally chatting with Miao Zhaorong for three or five sentences, but my eyes would always turn back to the two girls who were spending money, with a smile on the corners of her lips, and the veins in her eyes were full of love.

On this day, he also noticed me who was born, and after Miao Zhaorong's introduction, he quickly remembered Fu Bi.

"Waiji, that's a good name." He smiled and asked me, "Did you change your original name after entering the palace?" ”

"I changed it after entering the palace," I replied, adding, "this name was given to me by Mr. Zhang Pingfu." ”

"Moze?" There was something strange about Imagami's tone, followed by a short, but audible, silence.

I was apprehensive, and I didn't know where to answer wrong, but now I immediately looked as usual, and said gently: "Now that I have come here, I don't have to worry about other things, I don't have to make friends with people outside the Miao Niangzi Pavilion, and I just serve the princess well." ”

I agreed, and he told me to step down and say nothing more.

After noon, Qiu He wanted to say goodbye, but was held by several maids of Miao Zhaorong, and they all wanted to learn new hairstyles from her. Miao Zhao allowed her to have dinner in the pavilion, and it was already dark when she could finally return to her residence.

I took the initiative to ask her to go out, quickly went back to the room and took Cui Bai's "Qiupu Rongbin Tu" hidden in my sleeve, and then carried a lantern to take her away.

When I walked out of the gate of the concubine's palace and saw that there was no one around, I took out the painting scroll and told her what Cui Bai had entrusted when he left the academy. She took the scroll with a smile on her face, but there were tears in her eyes.

"Cui Gongzi...... Will you be back? She asked me in a low voice.

I smelled sadness in her slightly trembling words, which overwhelmed me a little, and I could only reply, "Maybe...... It will be in the future. ”

She smiled reluctantly, thanked me, and then hurriedly said goodbye, hugged the scroll and left, and as soon as she turned around, her right arm was slightly raised, probably wiping away tears.

Since then, Qiuhe still often comes to Yifeng Pavilion, and often goes to Yu Jieyu's place, and the queen occasionally calls her over. is so busy all day long, entering the inner palace before dawn, and often returning until dark, no wonder she was always found before.

One day, I stayed in Yifeng Pavilion until late, and I still sent her out of the inner palace. She looked very tired, her face was pale, and she walked a little shaky, and I asked her if she wanted to rest and walk again, and she said that it was not in the way, and urged me to go back. Although I finally stopped, I was a little worried after all, and I kept watching her.

She walked to the door of the imperial ceremony, but finally couldn't support it, her body went limp, and she fell to the ground.

I rushed over, and when I saw that she was confused and there was no one passing by on the left and right, I picked her up and wanted to take her to the pharmacy.

That's a long way. During this period, I passed through the Inner East Gate Division, which coincided with Mr. Zhang Maoze walking out of the inside.

When he saw us, he was quite surprised, asked why, and then probed the autumn and pulse with two fingers, and said, "It's all right." It's too hard for you to carry her to the pharmacy like this, so it's better to come in, and I'll give her acupuncture, and it should be fine soon. ”

Taking us to the inner east gate division's room, he took out a box of gold needles, and added a few needles to Qiuhe's head and neck, but Qiuhe's expression eased in a moment. Mr. Zhang gently told her not to be nervous, continue to apply the needle, and wait for a stick of incense to burn out before pulling out the golden needle.

Qiuhe's face was much better, and he bowed his knees to thank him, and Mr. Zhang said, "Dong Neiren doesn't need to be polite. You're just overworked and sleep deprived of sleep to have such symptoms. In the future, you should pay attention to rest and take care of yourself. ”

Autumn and bowed his head in agreement. Mr. Zhang said again: "I heard Chu Shangfu say that after you return to the Shangfu Bureau at night, you will have to make cosmetics and teach the people of the little palace, so that there will not be much time to rest." I will explain to the queen tomorrow and ask her to let you only do half a day in the harem. ”

Qiuhe thanked her with tears, but Mr. Zhang avoided it and asked me to send her to her residence.

After sending Qiuhe back, I re-entered the Inner East Gate Division, and Mr. Zhang was still washing needles and disinfecting and had not left. I thanked him, and he smiled, "It's just a gesture, and besides, it's not for you, so why thank me." ”

I looked down and smiled and asked him, "Sir, has you studied medicine?" ”

"I worked in the Imperial Medicine Institute when I was younger." He said lightly. looked at my suit, and said with a smile: "Yes, advanced." Congratulations. Many of the children who entered the palace with you were not as good as you. ”

I thanked him, hesitated for a while, and then asked him, "But, for us, is promotion a good idea?" ”

He frowned slightly: "What are you thinking, kid?" ”

But there was no rebuke in his tone, it was closer to a gentle inquiry, so I had the courage to ask him the question I had been thinking about for many years: "Is promotion our goal after entering the palace?" So what is the promotion for? ”

He was stunned for a moment, and didn't answer for a while, so I asked again: "Sir, you are now the chief worship officer of the inner west, and you are in charge of the inner east gate, in charge of the palace forbidden people to enter and exit and the internal and external transmission of confidential cases, and you are a high-ranking official among the eunuchs, but you are still dressed simply, you don't eat hard, and you are kind and generous to others, and you don't take pleasure in beating and scolding your subordinates like other high-ranking and powerful people, so where is your fun?" Do you have a wish? What is your greatest wish? ”

He pondered for a long time, and finally said, "Your question, maybe one day in the future, I will give you the answer." But now, you just have to do what the official family and Miao Niangzi asked you to do, and you don't have to think too much about anything else. ”