Autumn goes to winter, and I don't know why, the early winter of Cloud City this year is extremely cold. Only a few days after the beginning of winter, the wind howled, and the snow fell like goose feathers, turning into a layer of white veil and covering the corner of the street at the head of the city.

The imposing mansion two or three streets away from the palace was not even silent at the moment because of the snow sprinkled on the sea.

In the front yard, several servants dressed in the same color were clearing the snow in the courtyard in an orderly manner, even if the snow would soon cover the green bricks under their feet again after sweeping.

A few busy figures shuttled back and forth under the porch in the room, and everyone had something big or small in their hands.

Under the eaves, an old man in a velvet coat was carefully looking at everything in the courtyard, caressing his gray beard, as if he had thought of something, and his face showed a sudden expression.

"Jin'er."

A girl of about seventeen or eighteen years old carried a copper basin in her arms, walked past the old man, walked hurriedly, stopped when she heard the old man's call, and the water in the basin was slightly rippling.

"What do you command?"

Steward Liu is the mother of King Qin when the house is not out of the house, after King Qin opened the mansion as an adult, and came to the palace to help take care of it, it has been more than ten years, it can be said that he is a real old man.

Therefore, for him, the whole house is still very respectful.

"Has His Highness's room been cleaned up? The weather is getting colder and colder, and there must be no shortage of charcoal and fire in His Highness's room, and..."

Originally, these Liu stewards had already commanded, but now they emphasized it uneasily.

Listening to Steward Liu's babbling, Jin'er smiled slightly, "Don't worry, everything is ready according to your intentions." ”

"Hmm."

After receiving an affirmative answer, a few smiles appeared on Steward Liu's old face, and he let Jin'er leave.

In the imperial study of the palace, Emperor Yun didn't know what he was laughing and talking about with several ministers, and the atmosphere was quite strong.

I saw that in the middle of the main hall, a pot of silver snow lotus stood proudly on the red sandalwood shelf, and a faint cold air lingered around the body.

"Father, this Thousand Mountains Snow Lotus was obtained by chance by his son, and it is said that this thing is extremely rare, even in the Thousand Mountains of the Northern Kingdom. The most important feature of this thing is that it is noble and unique, and it has an extremely long lifespan, and it is rumored to live for thousands of years. Erchen specially dedicates this snow lotus, wishing his father a long blessing, and my big clouds and mountains will continue to last for thousands of years like this snow lotus! ”

"His Royal Highness the King of Jin is virtuous and filial, Your Majesty is really a blessing."

As soon as King Jin's words fell, Pan Sheng immediately smiled and complimented, and the white beard under his chin shook a few times.

"Well, Song'er has a heart."

Emperor Yun smiled, although there was joy in his heart, he didn't care too much. He doesn't believe in any gods, and he knows that people can live longer than the ages of antiquity, and as for what a thousand years are long, it's just a compliment.

However, this snow lotus is auspicious after all, and good words are naturally loved by everyone, and the emperor is no exception.

Just as everyone was talking about this snow lotus, an internal supervisor entered the palace and reported, "Your Majesty, His Royal Highness King Qin is waiting for orders outside the palace." ”

"King Qin?" Emperor Yun's eyes narrowed slightly, and then a slight smile appeared on his face, "Presumably the aftermath of the matter in the Western Realm has been dealt with, let him in quickly." ”

"King Xuanqin has come to see you."

Accompanied by the high-pitched voice of the inner supervisor, a young man of about thirty years old went to the temple in armor, and the wind of the general was unobstructed at a glance.

"Yun Lan, do you know what kind of place this is? Dare to enter the palace in armor, you still have your father in your eyes, do you have my Dayun etiquette?! ”

Before Emperor Yun could speak, King Jin first scolded the young man with a cross eyebrow, and he seemed to be very angry between his words.

However, the young man did not pay attention to him, but respectfully bowed to Emperor Yun, and said in a deep voice: "The son is ordered by his father to rectify the military affairs in the western territory, and now that the matter is over, he does not dare to delay it slightly, so he will hand over the decree to his father first." ”

"Okay, don't worry about these small things." Emperor Yun still understood the temperament of King Qin, so he did not blame much.

After a cursory glance at the briefing presented, the joy on Emperor Yun's face became more and more intense, "The matter of the Western Realm, Lan'er has done a very good job, this battle has played the momentum of my Great Cloud King Army, and the most important thing is that it has also won the land of the three states of Western Liang, I think that Emperor Liang's old guy's face must be very ugly at this time." ”

"His Royal Highness the King of Qin inherited His Majesty's bravery, phoenix and dragon posture, and he was unstoppable. How can Xiliang Xiaobang worry in front of His Royal Highness and my Iron Cavalry of the Great Cloud King Army! ”

Zhongshu Ling is worthy of living in the temple for a long time, practicing a sleek skill, just after praising the king of Jin with his front foot, and then he turned back to flatter the king of Qin, which is really not offended.

"Hmph, you old thing, you have all the good things to say!" Emperor Yun scolded with a smile, and then announced in public: "King Qin has merit, and he has given 100 pieces of brocade, 100 pieces of jade, and 10,000 taels of gold. ”

"Thank you, Emperor Longen."

The King of Qin thanked him according to the gifts, but he didn't care much about these rewards in his heart.

"Okay, I'm a little tired, it just so happens that tomorrow is Shuo'er's birthday, and then I'll set up a banquet for you to celebrate, and the two things will be done as one thing." Emperor Yun looked at King Qin and smiled slightly, "You have been running all the way, I think you are tired, go back to the house to rest." ”

"All the ministers should step aside."

"Yes."

The wind and snow eased slightly, and the King of Qin set off from the palace. After returning from the palace, Steward Liu immediately greeted him and greeted King Qin for a while.

"Your Highness's journey is hard, the old slave has ordered someone to prepare Tang Mu, please go to the bath and change clothes first, and then go to the palace to meet you."

"There's no need for an audience, this king has just returned from the palace."

Just got back from the palace? That's it?

Steward Liu's footsteps paused slightly, and his face was stunned for a while. By the time he reacted, King Qin's figure had already disappeared.

After washing and dusting, Yun Lan took off her clothes and changed into civilian clothes, but she looked like a handsome son.

In the tearoom, the copper kettle is half-suspended above the blazing brazier, the spout whistling softly, and the white mist rises from the pot.

Yun Lan washed the tea in the pot, poured a cup and drank it slowly.

After only a break for tea, Yun Lan seemed to suddenly think of something, and immediately put down the green jade cup in her hand, got up and walked out of the door.

At this moment, the wind and snow have not stopped, and the cold wind of hunting in the courtyard hits people's bodies, blowing people's muscles and bones a little stiff.

Steward Liu saw that Yun Lan, who had just returned to the house, was about to go out again, so he hurriedly rushed forward regardless of his old age, and said hurriedly: "On this stormy and snowy day, where is Your Highness going?" ”

Yun Lan's footsteps did not stop, and she said as she walked: "Since returning to Beijing, I have only cared about reporting the military situation to my father, but I forgot to ask my mother to say goodbye. She hasn't returned for many years, and her mother thinks she misses it tightly. ”

"Oh, Concubine Xian Niangniang loves His Highness the most, how can she be willing to ask Her Highness to say hello to her on this snowy day? It's not too late to wait until tomorrow when the snow stops. ”

"At this time, the wind and snow are a little lighter than when they came, so it's okay."

Without heeding the persuasion of Steward Liu, Yun Lan left the house and took a sedan chair and went straight to the palace gate.

Although there was heavy snow, the front hall of the Ivy Spring Palace was almost spotless, and there were maidservant eunuchs cleaning in front of the door at all times. It is said that the reason why His Majesty gave the name of Ivy Palace was because there were many strange flowers and plants planted in the front yard at that time, which was full of vitality and full of spring. And Concubine Xian Niangniang loves spring flowers and plants, so His Majesty specially appointed someone to take care of them from time to time, and must keep the palace evergreen.

At this time, Concubine Xian was in the inner hall, and when she heard that King Qin had come to ask for peace, she hurriedly ran out.

"Son, please concubine!"

Yun Lan lifted her robe and knelt on the ground, her expression extremely respectful.

"Hurry up." Concubine Xian took two steps forward, helped her son up, looked carefully from head to toe, and found that there were a few snowflakes on his shoulders, so she hurriedly brushed them away, and her voice was slightly angry: "On this snowy day, it's not good to rest in the house, what are you doing here?" ”

"The son is thinking, I haven't seen my mother for a long time, and I need to greet my mother when I return today."

"And why rush at this time?" Concubine Xian shook her head and pulled Yun Lan to sit down, "Although you have been leading troops abroad all the year round and rarely return to Beijing, and the number of times you and my mother and son meet is even less pitiful, there is no need to be in such a hurry." The wind and snow outside are so big, if you accidentally catch the wind chill, what should you do? ”

Hearing the strong love in her mother's words, Yun Lan smiled slightly and said lightly: "Erchen has always been strong and not easy to be infected with wind and cold. ”

"Moreover, the matter of the western border has come to an end, and my father has allowed his sons to recuperate in Beijing, and I will see my mother more often in the future."

Yun Lan looked around the hall and didn't find the person she wanted to see, so she smiled and asked, "What if the painting is not in the palace?" ”

"Don't mention that girl!" Concubine Xian glanced at him, and said angrily, "I ran out early this morning, and I haven't come back yet." ”

"I guess where to play."

"Leave her alone." Concubine Xian shook her head, and was overjoyed when she learned that Yun Lan was going to stay in Beijing for a long time this time, and then instructed her personal maid: "Xue'er, hurry up and bring a bowl of ginger soup to warm King Qin's body." ”

"Yes, sissy."

After the maid named Xue'er left, Concubine Xian stared at her son again and again, the corners of her mouth rose for a while, and her frown was sad for a while.

Maybe Concubine Xian is not good at hiding the emotions in her heart, or there are other reasons, in short, all this makes Yun Lan in her eyes.

"Is there anything embarrassing about the concubine?"

Hearing her son ask, Concubine Xian pretended to be different, "It's not a big deal, it's just that the palace is unaccompanied in this deep palace, and it's quite lonely." ”

Feeling lonely?

Yun Lan's face was full of confusion, she looked left and right, and then glanced out of the hall.

To say that there are hundreds of miscellaneous maids and maids in this Ivy Palace, although the daily exchanges are not prosperous, but they can also be said to be quite lively, what does the mother mean by this?

King Qin, who was not good at figuring out his mother's thoughts, paused for a moment, and then asked bluntly, "Is the concubine dissatisfied?" ”

"What more can I be dissatisfied with!" Seeing that her son was like a stone, Concubine Xian's voice suddenly raised a few points, and then she said bitterly: "You see that King Jing, King Su, and even King Huai'an have wives and concubines, and even heirs, but you don't even have a decent concubine!" The mother concubine watched other palaces have children playing and frolicking every day, but my eyes in the Changchun Palace were empty! ”

Unexpectedly, the concubine had a complaint about this matter, Yun Lan's face was a little unnatural, and she said vaguely: "The concubine knows that the princess has been guarding the frontier... Really... I can't afford to take care of these things. ”

"Full of nonsense!" Seeing that Yun Lan's attitude was so inactive, Concubine Xian's face immediately changed, "What is the conflict between protecting the family and defending the country and marrying a wife and having children?" You are now past the age of your establishment, and your father has already had a wife at your age..."

"With King Jin and you!"

After the sharp reprimand, Concubine Xian's voice softened again, "It just so happens that you are cultivating in Beijing during this time, and I will discuss with your father and the emperor to see if I can find a noble girl for you..."

"Let's talk about this matter in the future, Erchen doesn't have such an idea yet."

"You kid, why don't you listen..."

"Let me tell you, I once heard your father say that the daughter of Shangshu Zuo Servant Yang Yu seems to have reached the age of leaving the cabinet, and the second daughter of Zhongshu Ling..."

Yun Lan suddenly regretted it now, maybe he should have followed Steward Liu's advice and come back another day...