In Yongle Palace, Meng Hongyu accompanied Xiao Ziling to keep the New Year.

This was Ziling's first Chinese New Year's Eve in the palace, and although she was by her side, she still felt lonely. She misses her modern parents, and she also misses Prime Minister Xiao and his wife who regard her as a pearl in their palms. At this time, they must be missing her too, right?

"In the old garden tonight, I should remember that I have not returned." （1）

The charcoal fire burned brightly, and the room was warm like spring. They each held a book to read, and when they were tired of reading, Zi Ling couldn't help but take a nap, and finally couldn't resist the call of the god of sleep, she lay on the table and slept with a pillow book.

He picked her up with infinite affection, gently put her on the bed, and helped her cover the quilt. Then leaning on her side to read, the palace ladies turned the bedside lamp on, and the bright candlelight danced slightly on the tent.

Actually, she was already awake, but she didn't open her eyes.

She rolled over and rested her head lightly on his waist, feeling his temperature. She knew that at some point, she had fallen in love with this handsome and domineering emperor, this emperor with three thousand beauties in the harem!

Smelling his breath, at this time, how she wished he was just an ordinary man! In this way, they will be able to marry the world, "I will work at sunrise and rest at sunset, I will dig wells and drink, and I will plough the fields and eat. (2) They can be an ordinary couple, drinking water ordinarily, and never leaving each other. In this way, this life is enough!

However, Jun was speechless, and neither was Red Candle......

The next day was the first day of the first lunar month, and the emperor went to the court early to receive the congratulations of the hundred officials.

Ziling also got up earlier than usual, had breakfast, put on new clothes for Yu'er, and took her to Cining Palace to greet the Queen Mother. The Guangshou Hall was filled with concubines—all of whom were the emperor's women.

Seeing this room of young and beautiful women, Zi Ling could only smile bitterly: It turns out that there are more women who share men with me than I imagined, and I, who am currently receiving grace, must have already become a public enemy. Those women are slashing me with their sharp eyes!

The Queen Mother sat on the upper seat. She looked much better, only occasionally coughing.

Concubine De also came, wearing a newly cut pink satin dress, and her spirits were much better than usual. When Xinyang saw her, he ran over and snuggled beside her, with a picture of deep love between mother and son.

Zi Ling sat down on the chair opposite Concubine De, who smiled and greeted her with her eyes. Zi Ling smiled back.

The concubines gave New Year's greetings to the Queen Mother in order according to their status and rank, and the Queen Mother smiled and gave red envelopes to everyone.

After saluting, the children were led by the palace maid and went to play in the courtyard. The concubines listened to the teachings of the Queen Mother in accordance with the practice of previous years. That scene is like a meeting now, nothing more than saying that all the concubines have done well in previous years, and they hope to make persistent efforts to do better this year.

Suddenly, there was a girl's cry in the courtyard, and when she heard the voice, Ziling knew that it was Yu'er, she didn't care about the etiquette, and hurriedly ran out of the Guangshou Hall. The Queen Mother and the concubines followed.

I saw that Xiaoru was hugging Yu'er, and Yu'er was crying. Ziling hugged her and asked softly, "What's wrong with Yu'er, talk to the concubine?" ”

Yu'er sobbed and said, "Sister Xin, Xinning said that Yu'er is a child that no one wants, and she also said that my mother is a femme fatale. "Xin Ning is the youngest daughter born to Concubine Shu.

Concubine De's face was pale and full of embarrassment.

Concubine Shu scolded her daughter sharply: "Ning'er, how can you say that!" Xin Ning wanted to cry and said aggrievedly: "Didn't the mother concubine say the same thing!" ”

At this time, it was Concubine Shu's turn to change her face greatly.

She said wryly: "Children are the best at talking nonsense. Xin Ning was so aggrieved that she cried.

The concubines who gloated covered their mouths and snickered, the Queen Mother was so angry that she coughed violently, and Aunt Shuwen hurriedly wanted to help her into the house to rest.

The Queen Mother didn't want everyone to follow up, so she waved her hand and said, "That's it!" Today you are all gone, mourning the family has a headache, and you want to rest. After walking a few steps, she turned back again: "Also, Concubine Shu doesn't have to come over to ask the mourning family to say goodbye these days, stay in the palace and help the mourning family copy the "Diamond Sutra" three hundred times." During the days of mourning, I was lazy and fell a lot. ”

Concubine Shu had no choice but to salute.

The concubines gradually dispersed.

Ziling invited Concubine De to Yongle Palace to taste tea and gossip, and Concubine De agreed, and Concubine De was silent all the way.

Zi Ling knew that she was hurt by Xin Ning's words, so she opened her mouth to comfort her: "On the first day of the Lunar New Year today, my sister must not spoil her mood for a sentence of Mowgli. Zi Ling knew that her sister was a kind-hearted person, and she had already repented, and now she treats Yu'er well, and Zi Ling believes that her sister is a good mother. ”

Concubine De's eyes were full of tears, and she said, "Thank you, sister, for comforting me." I know that I used to have a lot of wrongs, but my sister said that I was very right, and I regret it now, and I am trying to change it. However, after all, that incident was a stain on the white paper, shocking, and could never be erased. The emperor allowed me to go out of the Cold Moon Palace during the New Year's Festival, but I didn't go to the family banquet last night for fear of not being able to raise my head in front of people. I didn't want to come today, but because I missed Yang'er and Yu'er, I finally got the courage to come. Who knew it would happen like this......" he whimpered.

Ziling hurriedly comforted her: "Sister, don't be sad, my sister entered the palace earlier than me, and you don't know what Concubine Shu is." She has always been like this, let's not deal with this kind of person, otherwise we will lose our worth. My sister took her words as a fart, although it smelled bad, but endure it, and the wind blew and passed. ”

When Concubine De heard her say so vulgar, she couldn't help but burst into tears and laughed: "Listen to my sister's clever mouth!" ”

"Yes, my sister's clever mouth doesn't know when it will cause death." Concubine Shu's voice came from behind her.

Zi Ling couldn't help but roll his eyes, then laughed, turned around and said, "Ah! I thought it was a villain, but it turned out to be Sister Shufei. I don't know if Sister Shufei heard what I just said? ”

Concubine Shu said, "Of course I heard it." My sister's voice is so crisp and pleasant. ”

Zi Ling said: "It's good to hear it, save my sister, I have to visit my sister in person and talk to my sister again!" ”

"You...... You ......" Concubine Shu was so angry that she couldn't speak, and turned to Concubine De and said: "My sister doesn't know that my sister is so generous, Xiao Guifei has separated your mother and son, and my sister is still like a sister with her." ”

Concubine De said coldly: "Sister, it's too late for me to thank Concubine Xiao, how can I hate her?" Sister, don't bother to sow discord, I don't love her as a sister, am I like a sister with you? ”

Concubine Shu was angry, gritted her teeth and left, Ziling and Concubine De looked at each other and smiled.

Concubine De asked, "Isn't my sister afraid of offending her?" ”

"Isn't my sister afraid? This kind of woman is not terrible at all. ”

.

Concentrate:

(1) Tang, Bai Juyi, "Keeping the Year in the Guest"

(2) Speak out of the ancient poem of the pre-Qin period, "Song of Kik"