Chapter 21: The Twenty-Second Episode

Yunxia Cuixuan, rain silk wind piece, smoke wave painting boat, purple and red blooming all over, flying pavilion liudan, biwa pavilion, smoke outside the tuyi drunk soft, the sound of the warbler outside the flowers, fireworks like snow grass such as smoke, plum willow spring river. On the pebble path, the ring is tinkling, only to see a group of female relatives Fan Dai, Pei Jin wearing silver, brocade clothes, one race and one outstanding, all light makeup and heavy makeup are always appropriate. Headed by Ji Wuen, he was covered with a smoky grosgrain gold tuanshou peony sprinkled gown, wearing a red python makeup inlaid beaded satin embroidered robe, combing red tourmaline wings, wearing turquoise phoenixes, five phoenixes saving beads and gold about the pan pendant ivory tassel hairpin, holding a silk handkerchief, with a virtuous smile.

In the spring, the female relatives laughed, this situation and this scene are the so-called "Breaking the Array": "When the swallows come, the pear blossoms are behind Qingming." Three or four points of green moss on the pond, one or two yellow orioles at the bottom of the leaves, and the day is long and light. Qiaoxiao is a female companion in the east, and she is greeted in the mulberry picking path. "The royal fragrance is curling, and the ring is ringing, which is really like fairy music.

At a glance, at this time, the Spring of the Old Summer Palace is just right, and there is green everywhere, Ji Wuen suddenly worshipped, and said with a smile: "This palace leads all the sisters to come to the green, and the sun is looking for Fang, at this time, the Spring of the Old Summer Palace is just right, why don't you sisters each write a poem, to evaluate who is the best?" ”

The custom of going out is very long, and Beijing folk customs have always been exquisite. Especially when it comes to the Qingming Festival, it is a bright day in spring, people will come out of the courtyard, take off their robes, go to the suburbs to relax, feel the brightness and warmth of the sun, as if to go to the cold winter, there are clouds in the ancient poem: "In March, the courtyard will come, and the spring shirt and wide sleeves should be carried in time." The red skirt is in the shadow of the river, and the sound of the green cover and stepping on the stone. And the lyrics are even more elegant.

As soon as the words fell, the girls began to rack their brains and meditate on a rhyme, seeing this, Ah Sujie came to Xingzhen's side and smiled: "This poem is written by feeling, in one go, why is this like writing an essay for the exam?" It's weird and weird. ”

Xingzhen smiled slightly, covered her sleeves and said to Wan Concubine: "What is the reward?" ”

"This is really 'exam writing'!"

On the side, she covered her sleeves and laughed quietly: "I see, this one by one, thinking about it, the emperor has come up!" ”

"Hah!"

was chatting happily, suddenly, I heard a voice that was neither yin nor yang shouting: "The emperor has arrived ------"

Suddenly, the green jade floor that was inlaid with tight seams, knelt down with a group of brushes, and the precious green jade tiles were washed clean like a mirror, just like a piece of green jade mirror inlaid on the floor. The emperor helped Ji Wu up with a smile, smiled and said kindly: "What are you doing?" ”

"Back to the emperor, the concubines saw the spring light, and they were taking their sisters to recite poems and lyrics!"

The emperor is a lover of elegance, squinting and smiling: "With you presiding, I can rest assured." “

Ji Wuen comforted: "Your Majesty, is this the tomb sacrifice back?" ”

"Well, exactly."

Seeing this, others couldn't help but praise the emperor's mother's deep affection and love for the couple, and the nobleman fanned the flames and whispered proudly: "Of course, the emperor and the mother are Qin Se and Ming!" ”

Seeing this, Concubine Wan couldn't help but say to Xingzhen: "Actually, the emperor loves a person too much, which is a good thing." ”

Xingzhen didn't say anything, just sneered, "Hmph." “

Xiao Anzi brought a rosewood carved dragon master chair, served fruit cakes, served the emperor and sat down, lowered his eyes, scraped the Tianchi tea leaves in the landscape porcelain glazed teacup, and said with a smile: "Everyone is flat, I heard that the queen is presiding over the poems of the princess, and it is better for each of the concubines to write a poem to decorate this good spring." Xiao Anzi, pen and ink. ”

"Huh."

Looking at the jade paper that was gradually flattening, Rong Changzai said with some distress: "The emperor's golden mouth and jade words, as soon as this word comes out, it is decided to inscribe a poem, but my sister and I are not good at chanting." ”

Looking at the queen's whims, Xingzhen knew that she was still good at convergence and convergence, and was about to make a random song, but she only listened to An Gong's justice: "According to the emperor's order, those who chant superiority can be rewarded with a piece of embellishment beads, a piece of soft smoke, and a plate of turquoise beads." After finishing speaking, he looked at Xingzhen with a wicked smile.

......

This is clearly deliberately aimed at me......

Xingzhen reluctantly replied to the emperor's "I see that your little emerald fur must be imitation" look.

Before the words fell, the women were no longer calm, and even Ah Su, who had always been calm and composed, began to tremble a little. Diancui, is a traditional craft, has been passed down for a long time, is to cut the feathers of the rare kingfisher, decorate the gold and silver, the appearance of the cui handicrafts is glamorous, but the whole process is very cruel and bloody, since the late Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China, due to the frequent outbreak of war, and the kingfisher is difficult to find, and the process is bloody, because the kingfisher that is cut will not live too long, so the Diancui craft is almost lost.

Diancui is a combination of luxury and cruelty.

It is difficult to find the emerald process, and this beaded emerald fur highlights its rarity.

The brocade box that gradually opened revealed the brilliance of gold, however, it was the blood light dyed by life.

Ah Sujie was a little silent, and when she saw Xingzhen just walking by, she asked, "What about Cui Qiu...... Are you interested? Seeing that Concubine Wan asked, Xingzhen waved the gauze embroidered with apricot circles and replied, "I want gorgeous clothes, not bloody clothes." “

At this time, in the Qing Palace, in the Old Summer Palace, there was a splendid and pure green dress. It would be nice if this sentence could be realized in more than ten years.

Ah Sujie was stunned for a moment and said with a smile: "It is worthy of being a concubine." “

In the harem, the more popular ones are Huan'er and Yi Concubine.

Xingzhen said to Ah Su: "Let's go, go around and collect inspiration, people are worth a thousand gold miles." “

On both sides of the path, it is the precious Xifu begonia that is cultivated, the begonia flower is like a red rouge rendering, a bush by bush, the jungle is dyed, the strange and spit is gorgeous, the fragrance is intoxicating, its potential is like an umbrella, the silk is hanging green, the leaves are like green jade, the verdant is dripping, and the begonia flower is even more wonderful.

Ah Sujie sniffed and wanted to pick it, but couldn't help admiring the good flowers, and said, "This is ......"

"This should be Daughter Tang, well, it is mentioned in "Dream of Red Mansions", the legend comes from a mythical country daughter country, so it is called 'Daughter Tang'."

Ah Su lovingly brushed the petals of her daughter Tang and said, "It's really cute." “

On the ochre-colored branches, the daughter Tang embroidered thousands of branches like mashed rouge powder; It is like a splash of blood, dotted with light ink scattered on the rice paper. Xingzhen stared at her daughter Tang and replied, "Yes." “

The world is colored by the blue chicken and begonia, and the branches seem to be dyed with orangutan blood.

Looking at a blank piece of jade paper, Yu Xuanhuan was still melancholy, holding the pen, knowing that she was not as good as the queen Yi Concubine, thinking for a long time, she had to reluctantly make up the same, and she was racking her brains to figure out how to add the last sentence, only to hear a pleasant voice next to her ear: "What's the matter, can you do it here?" ”

She was taken aback, and when she saw that it was Ah Sujie, she smiled a little embarrassedly: "Ah, not yet...... By the way, are you okay here? ”

Ah Su didn't speak. Yu Huanhuan thought that it would be a little troublesome to ask again, so she didn't ask anymore. Suddenly, I only felt that something seemed to be stuffed in my hand, and when I saw it, it was a ball of paper, which was quietly opened, and what caught my eye was a neat line of lower couplets, facing the first half of her poem. However, the person who handed the paper ball was long gone.

She was stunned for a moment, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but put a grateful and sweet smile on the corner of her mouth, and she murmured, "Thank you." ”

On the other side, the pipa called a bowl of water into the powder celadon glaze pen wash, held a maple dew tea, saw Xingzhen was holding the ink ingot slowly grinding ink, was about to help, suddenly remembered his own young lady's habits, that is, every time he wrote poems and paintings, he liked to study ink by himself first, so as to cure sentiment and increase inspiration. Pipa took out a purse from his sleeve, lowered his voice and whispered in Xingzhen's ear: "Miss, this is what you ordered to take." Xingzhen nodded, put the purse into her sleeve, and continued to study the ink. Suddenly, just when the young lady had just finished writing the word "Careful Title", Jian Chang Chang came over and stammered and said, "That sister Yi Concubine, my sister has a sentence here, and I hope my sister will give me some advice." ”

"Pipa."

Pipa was a little puzzled: "What's the matter with the little master?" ”

Xingzhen put down the wolf pen, got up, and said: "Time is pressing, it's coming soon, you make up a pattern for the palace first, and you only need to point out the reason when you hand it in." ”

Zhu Changzai was taken aback and said, "Sister Yi, this ......"

"Huh? Time is of the essence, isn't it? ”

"This ......"

Before Ju Changzai finished speaking, Xingzhen said smartly: "Pipa, I'll think of the reason for you first, you just need to write: Your Majesty, because Ju Changzai is ......" Before he finished speaking, Ju Changzai was already so anxious that he was afraid to interrupt: "Yi Concubine Niangniang, concubine ......"

"There's no hurry, is there?"

"Yes!"

Xingzhen sat down sensitively, held the pen, and said, "Oh, since I am not in a hurry, then Bengong will write it first." ”

Zhu Chang was really anxious this time, looked at the queen, only to see the queen give a look, Zhu Chang was puzzled at first, knowing that Dai Huan wrote a few words on the paper and held it up to Zhu Chang to read, he immediately understood, and was about to quietly look at Xingzhen's inscription poem, but what he didn't want to see first was Xingzhen's creepy smile, Xingzhen smiled: "Chang is not in a hurry, but isn't there a puzzle?" I often look at you like this.,Let this palace think you're plagiarizing.。 ”

Zhu Chang was busy saying: "The concubine is not! Please ..... mother."

"Ling'er back?"

Three words, two words, four words, these words are flawless, and I didn't think that Zhu Changzai would go back immediately.

If it weren't for the fact that this palace was confident, he wouldn't have played with you for so long.

The tip of the wolf's pen rubbed lightly on the jade paper, and Xingzhen couldn't help complaining: "The queen is looking for someone to find someone smarter, such as a ...... like Ah Yi."

In the palace, Yi sneezed inexplicably.

Xiao Anzi presented the poems of the concubines, and the emperor read them one by one, and when he saw the one that Ming promised from Ji Wuen, he felt strange in his heart, and said to Xingzhen: "Why don't you see Concubine Yi?" ”

As soon as these words came out, all the concubines immediately exploded, and a pair of Ying Ying Qiubo looked at Xingzhen (not so much looking at it, but staring), as if they were going to stare her to death, they gloated and pointed fingers: "The emperor has ordered it, will this concubine be a disobedience?" "Hey! I think she's pretending to be tall. "Hee-hee, there's a good show to watch now!" Zhu Chang was standing there stunned when he saw Ji Wuen, and he didn't say anything, thinking that he didn't care about the identity of the queen? He pretended to be smart and said to Giun: "Niangniang, it's good now!" We don't need to do it, this concubine will ......"

Giun was silent.

Ju Changzai was quite smart, and when he saw that the queen didn't speak, he shut up.

Seeing this, Ah Sujie was also a little impatient: "Wow, wow, all boring?" Isn't it tiring to stare at you? ”

Seeing the emperor ask, Xingzhen evoked a polite smile and raised her head slightly, like a red bird raised her head, contemptuous of the world. Xingzhen ordered Pipa to take the jade paper on which she had just written, only to see that on the pale jade paper, there were only two particularly conspicuous words "Concubine Inscription". Seeing this, the hearts of the women made a "popping" sound very neatly.

The emperor raised his eyebrows slightly, and showed his fan with a "snap", shook the sandalwood fan bone mounted folding fan, Xingzhen saw this, knew that this was the meaning of letting herself explain, first knelt calmly, kowtowed, and said: "Please allow the emperor to promise the concubine, if the concubine will speak wildly and say something that makes the saint unhappy, please forgive me." ”

"I'm good."

Xingzhen thanked the emperor for his kindness, got up calmly, straightened her sleeves, and said with a smile: "Actually, the poem chanted by the concubine is inscribed on this paper, please take a closer look." “

Hearing what Concubine Yi said, all the women couldn't help but widen their eyes and take a closer look, and even the emperor couldn't help but glance intently. After watching it again, he still didn't find anything strange, and Ming Chang teased: "Forgive my sister for being blunt, my sister is pretending to be a ghost, right?" “

Xingzhen smiled slightly and did not answer. The emperor smiled and said: "Concubine Yi, you see that everyone can't think of it, why don't you explain it to everyone?" “

Xingzhen was silent, just told Pipa to bring an oil-paper umbrella and open it, however, when the oil-paper umbrella was slowly opened, everyone's eyes were getting wider and wider, only to see that under the shadow of the oil-paper umbrella, more handwriting gradually appeared on the jade paper that originally only had four words written!

The emperor immediately understood what was going on.

Under the shadow of the oil paper umbrella, the jade paper presents a line of neat and exquisite calligraphy, the beads of the characters, the side is colorful, the layout is orderly, the high and clear grace, concise and subtle, the handwriting is slender and smooth, and the elegance contains the charm of grace and elegance. I saw the inscription on the jade paper:

Danqi is looking for Fangsheng, and he is careful to describe gold. It is surrounded by greenery, and the fragrance is clear. Borrow the mountains and rivers to show, and sing the song in a long way. The begonia is embellished with branches, and the cinnabar is dotted with women.

Seeing this, Ji Un couldn't help but feel strange: "It's strange, why does this palace think this word ......?"

I'm glowing!

The women suddenly felt novelty and said, "Strange, why do I feel that this word is shining?" "yes, I think it's amazing!" "Hey, do you think that too? The words are glowing! I think it's ...... too."

Concubine Wan muttered: "Xitang is embellished with branches, and cinnabar is dotted with women." This atmosphere, this boldness, and such delicate and exquisite, although this font is very new and ingenious, but the highlight of the whole text, but also in the content, this text, said to be unusual, in the for! ”

The emperor smiled slightly, looked at Xingzhen, and Xingzhen felt that the emperor's eyes were cast and smiled calmly. The emperor read it, condensed his eyebrows, paused, and smiled at Ji Wuen: "What does the queen think of this article?" ”

Ji Wuen paused, paused, and said with a smile: "Yi Concubine's writing is really excellent, and she is really the most superior in recitation. ”

The emperor shook the folding fan and said, "It's really funny......" After finishing his words, he gave Xingzhen a look. Xingzhen understood on the spot, saluted, and said with a smile: "The concubine is just a little clever, the mother is upright, and the concubine is ashamed." It is said that chanting is the most superior, and the concubines really can't afford it, so they are sincerely afraid of it. ”

Ji Un was about to speak, but the emperor said first: "I think so too. The queen's article does not add points, don't be poetic, it is said that the writing is outstanding, there must be no dissatisfied, right? Xiao Anzi, after a while, he will send the reward to the Chengxin Hall where the queen lives. ”

When Ji Unn heard this, he immediately stopped what he wanted to say, and said with a smile: "Thank you to the emperor, concubine." ”

Xingzhen smiled and said nothing, only reverently: "The concubine congratulates the queen mother, in terms of poetry, I hope to ask the mother for more advice in the future." ”

Seeing her sincerity, Ji Un smiled slightly and said, "Do you want to advise?" That's a must, after all, this palace, the queen, naturally has to help her sisters more. ”

Old Summer Palace, Zibi Mountain House.

Cloud window fog pavilion, layers of rockery pinnacles dotted in the garden, gold painting hanging a square rosewood silk gallery lamp. In the quiet curtain, the emperor took Xingzhen's soft jade hand with a flattering smile, and said with a smile: "Lan'er...... You know, in that case, it is most appropriate to give it to the queen, and, besides, ....... Uh, ah, by the way, your poetry ......"

Saying that, the emperor glanced at Xingzhen, and saw that although there was a smile on his face, the sullen expression, like a thunderstorm-like face, really made people doubt the authenticity of this smile. Seeing that it was useless to change the topic, the emperor sighed helplessly in his heart. Although Lan'er's handwriting can definitely win the championship in one fell swoop, but there are too many scenery given, just like a person standing on the top of the clouds who falls down, he will always fall the worst, if the reward at that time is really rewarded, there will be more calculations behind her, and the more enemies she will face, after all, she is only a concubine now, without the title of the middle palace. On the contrary, the reward is not rewarded, and others will just feel that although they are talented, there is no reward after all, so they are not afraid, on the contrary, they will secretly admire a few points, and as for the reward to the queen, it is natural for them to be in the palace.

Xingzhen smiled and said: "The queen has worked hard to take care of the trivial matters of the six palaces, and it is natural to get some rewards." ”

The emperor sighed: "It's still Lan'er who is sensible." ”

But......

That's a plate of soft smoke and turquoise beads!

With such a precious jewel, that woman is not impressed?

Xingzhen smiled on the surface, and smiled bitterly inwardly. Hate in her heart, extravagant jewelry, noble titles, supreme power, and the snub of entering the palace for two years has made her psychology a little distorted, and she was finally promoted to a concubine, but she has been struggling to endure it, and her face is still smiling, the bitter pain at the tip of her heart, the emotions that can't be vented, and the calculation of the villain who is trembling, trying her best to please the holy favor, winning people's hearts, and laying out eyeliner, her current psychology is not distorted, but collapsed, two years of snubbing, continuous forbearance, she is nowIt's not easy to get what you want.

All she wanted in the past was to be a favorite concubine; But what she thinks about now, perhaps, is far more than the Son of Heaven.

Facing the villains on the rivers and lakes, the bullying in the court, the unfreedom of regulation and bondage, and the constant kowtow that is about to become cerebral disorder, is smelting her little by little. Suddenly, she thought back to a feast she had participated in before, the golden cup and jade cup, the one overlooking all living beings, the one that was high, and the one that had absolute freedom.......

Xingzhen raised her eyes, shook the fan, smiled slightly, and said, "By the way, Your Majesty, what are you going to say to your concubine?" ”

The emperor knew that she was deliberately easing the atmosphere, and couldn't help but smile: "Do you remember the last time you attacked Raozhou?" ”

Xingzhen said in her heart: "Is this already going to ignore the fact that Wuchang has fallen again?" He smiled and said, "Yes." He said softly inadvertently: "If you change the battlefield and revive your morale, presumably the Jiangxi battlefield will not be too hard." ”

Although he said softly, the emperor still heard it and couldn't help but be surprised, it turned out to be such a clever mind! Thinking about it, Lan'er really surprised him. Suddenly, thinking like this, I felt as if something was suddenly different. The blue windows of the purple mountain house are open, sprinkled with warm sunlight like a light veil, the emperor feels for the first time that the sunshine of the spring day in Beijing is so comfortable and comfortable, he looks at the people in front of him, in the hazy light, she looks like a dream, the embroidery on the spring silk yarn is beautiful, she is like a fairy in the sky, she is really beautiful like a fairy.

He suddenly felt that above ten thousand people, the Ninety-Five Honor, although it was such a lonely position, maybe there would really be such a person who was willing to hold the hand of his son, grow old with his son, and sincerely wanted to be with him.

Until the voice that was more like a fairy music than the ding dong of the mountain stream, he gently repeated: "Your Majesty? The Emperor ......"

He came back to his senses, paused, thought for a moment, and said, "Oh, by the way, there's something, shouldn't you tell me?" “

Xingzhen was a little puzzled, what did the emperor say? "Huh? Please also ask the emperor to make it clear. “

The emperor squinted his eyes and said, "Lan'er, where did you get that phosphor from?" “

Oh yes, phosphor! I almost forgot about this stubble!

The reason why those characters can appear in the shadow of the oiled paper fan is that those characters are actually written in phosphor, and the characteristic of phosphor is that it is not usually visible in bright light, but can only be seen at night or in the dark.

Xingzhen knew that she couldn't hide it from the emperor, after all, as a saint, she had naturally seen these strange things from Western tribute. After looking at the emperor's expression, he pondered it slightly, and said, "Okay, I also ask the emperor to forgive my sins, doesn't the palace send people to carry water down from Yuquan Mountain every day?" Since these people could enter the palace and leave the palace, the concubine sent Pipa to buy one of the workers who carried water and asked him to help buy a bag of phosphor outside the palace. Concubine, I beg my emperor to forgive me. “

As he spoke, he was about to kneel, but the emperor was naturally reluctant, so he hurriedly helped him up and said, "You tell me frankly, how can you say that you can forgive your sins?" Hurry up! “

Xingzhen's words are not leaky, naturally people think it is the truth, and the emperor is in a good mood today, although he is a bribe, but he is also an inconsequential little worker, and he will keep his mouth shut when he sends some silver, besides, he is sending a maid to go, and he has not shown up, so he will not punish her, it is estimated that the emperor will ask her casually. Her "forgiveness" and "just about to kneel" reflect her prudent and steady good character. Xingzhen shook the fan, helped the emperor fan the wind, and said, "By the way, what does the emperor think?" A little handiwork of the concubine? “

The emperor scratched Xingzhen's nose dotingly, and smiled helplessly: "You are out of the limelight!" “

"Don't worry! The concubine is a holy concubine! Nature will protect itself. “

When the word "concubine" was said, the emperor's heart was inexplicably cold.

I have to find a time to give Lan'er a promotion position......

Suddenly thinking of something, the emperor said: "By the way, Lan'er, your poem, that fluorescent ......" Magnolia is such a smart person, Mo Bao must be a hidden Zen machine.

I saw the corner of Yulan's mouth hooked, and said slowly: "What does the saint think?" “

The emperor was about to say, Xingzhen said first: "However, the phosphor thing is very magical, it does not shine in the bright light, but only at night or in the dark." “

Phosphor!

The emperor only felt that there was a secret hidden in this, but he couldn't think about it, so he had to say: "Lan'er, you ..... Why don't you say it explicitly? “

"Actually, this fluorescent pink concubine feels very much like a kind of person, and it only becomes brighter and brighter when there is no light."

Although there is no clear word, the emperor already knows what it means.

Perhaps this is the tacit understanding between husband and wife.

After a pause, the emperor said: "Lan'er, you are right, at this moment, it is the most necessary to recruit talents, but, where are these talents?" “

Its meaning is a metaphor for heroes born in troubled times.

And today's court is also the time when talents are withering.

Xingzhen swallowed, and said softly: "Zhou Gong spit and feed, the world returns to the heart, there will always be talents, for meritorious soldiers, for loyal ministers who recommend talents, reward and set up banquets, migrate trees and establish letters, revitalize the court, take care of the old ministers, there will definitely be people who are willing to raise talents." “

Besides, heroes are born in troubled times, aren't they?

"By the way, do you want to know what happened to Jiangxi later?"

Xingzhen looked at the emperor's expression and said, "Long live Lord, Lan'er saw that you were happy, and the corners of your mouth were hooked, presumably ...... Not a bad thing, right? ”

The emperor couldn't help but smile, where did you go with one-tenth of your confidence? So, the boy was playful and deliberately detoured without saying anything. Seeing this, Yulan thought about it, deliberately put her hands on her waist, her face showed anger, and she said fiercely: "Your Majesty, if you don't say it again, Lan'er will directly regard it as a good thing for the victory of the battle, and I will ask you for a reward." ”

The emperor was amused and said, "Okay, Lan'er, what reward do you want?" ”

Xingzhen was slightly surprised, but she didn't think it was true. So, seeing that the emperor was in a good mood, he thought about it a little and said: "Your Majesty, in fact, being able to help the emperor share his worries is the best reward and the greatest glory for his concubines." ”

The emperor sat on the couch covered with bright yellow soft satin, hugged Xingzhen, and said dotingly: "That..... What about other than that? For example, material? “

How can this be described as these empty material classes? But if there must be other rewards, then ......" Xingzhen leaned on the emperor's chest, his warm breath gently pounced on Xingzhen's lotus face, Xingzhen pursed her lips and smiled, and there was a little more confusion in her cut-off pupils, she gently rubbed the long braid that hung down, and said, "...... Please also ask the emperor to rest in the Hanqiu Pavilion these days, and the concubines will do their best to serve. “

You must give birth to a noble son early!

"Oh? Okay, I'll listen to Lan'er. “

There is a poem that says: I suspect that last night's spring dream was good, but it was won by fighting grass today, and the smile was born from both faces.