At dusk that day, the dark clouds rolled over Bianjing City, and the birds flew low, and the heat was so hot that people couldn't breathe. A few pots of Jianlan were planted in the courtyard of Tangli Palace, which were planted by Zhou Meiren himself. The light yellow petals hide in the green leaves and spread slightly diagonally, so you can smell a little quiet when you get closer.

Yu Meiren smiled from afar: "It's difficult for you to have leisure, and raising flowers can best benefit your body and mind." ”

Zhou Meiren was wearing a narrow-sleeved white shirt, rolled up the cuffs, and beads of sweat were dripping from her forehead, squatting in front of the flower pot to loosen the soil. She straightened up, only to feel a flower in front of her, and slowly saw that it was Zhang Jieyu, Li Jieyu, and Yu Meiren who came. The maid hurriedly came over to help her take off her white shirt, and before serving warm water, Zhou Meiren washed her hands and smiled: "Why did you come together, and you didn't ask anyone to tell me, so that I couldn't greet her, but it was rude." ”

Everyone said goodbye to each other, and they all said, "It's all right." ”

Seeing that it was going to rain, Zhou Meiren instructed the chamberlain to move Jianlan into the porch and invite everyone to watch. After playing with it, Fang smiled: "If you talk about orchids, Funing Hall has raised a lot." ”

Zhou Meiren's eyes lit up and said, "Could it be that the official family also loves orchids?" I've never heard of that. ”

Li Jieyu had a few clusters of red roses on her hairpin, lining her neck bright and white, she smiled and said, "I heard that because of that, the official family sent people from all walks of life to find more than 100 kinds of orchids and raise them in the palace. Although it is not a priceless thing, it is rare for officials to bother with it. ”

When it came to "that person", everyone knew it and was silent.

After entering the hall, the maid stepped forward with tea, and Yu Meiren suddenly smiled and said, "I don't know if you have heard of ......" said half a sentence, but stopped talking again, only staring at everyone.

Zhang Rongyue smiled and asked, "What are you talking about?" Don't sell it, let's hear it. ”

Because of Zhou Meiren's brother's victory, even she has been treated by the Holy Car recently, and the people of the Shanggong Bureau dare not slack off.

Yu Meiren wore an extra half-arm shirt, and she came in from the outside, and fine beads of sweat were already on her back. She happened to sit next to the porcelain jar with ice cubes, and the cold air soaked all over her body, and she felt quite useful.

She whispered and said, "A few days ago, that person stayed in the Funing Hall during the day, and broke into the outer hall in disheveled clothes, and more than a dozen courtiers saw it, and the official family didn't even reprimand half a sentence. ”

Zhou Meiren pulled the belt around her waist, snorted from her nostrils, and said: "It's just a cheap maid from the Cuihe Pavilion, I don't know what the official family likes about her, and it's not ashamed." ”

Lang Yue blew the tea carefully, and when it was a little cold, she drank half a sip and said, "Although she is a cheap maid, she is now above you and me, so don't talk nonsense." ”

Yu Meiren echoed: "Zhang Jieyu is right. He whispered again: "It is rumored that she is pregnant with a prince, if she really guesses correctly, I am afraid that the one in Ciyuan Hall is also very embarrassed." ”

Li Meiren smiled: "Then you have to be able to give birth...... and she knew that she was speechless, and hurriedly said: "Let's not talk about this, anyway, no matter what, it won't be you and me, it's better to talk about some side pastime." ”

She saw that Zhou Meiren was wearing a bracelet of mutton fat and white jade on her wrist, and she stepped forward to take a look, and said: "I think it was newly given by the official family, and the color and appearance are all superior." ”

Zhou Meiren's face changed color, and she said lightly: "My mother gave it to me before I entered the palace." After a pause, he said: "The official family has been to the Tangli Hall for a few days, and if the holy driver goes to the palace, he will take the trouble to mention me." ”

Lang Yue said with a smile: "In the past few days, the lord of Western Xia has come to visit and said that he wants to choose a concubine. The official family is busy day and night, and they are reluctant to Princess Minhua, it is a dilemma, where can they take care of us. General Zhou fought on the battlefield for the country, how could the official family treat her sister badly, wouldn't it make the soldiers on the front line chill. Come to think of it, the official family doesn't dare to snub you. ”

Zhou Meiren was happy when she heard this, politely said a few words, and then wondered: "Didn't you say that you chose a princess and a kiss?" How did Princess Minhua be involved? ”

Lang Yue replied: "Where to make it clear, marrying or not marrying is nothing more than a thought of the official family." Suddenly, there was a thunderclap in the sky, and a boom startled everyone.

Yu Cairen hurriedly got up, looked out the window, and said: "It looks strange and scary, it must be a rainstorm, we might as well go back, wait for the rain to come down, the road is not easy to walk." After speaking, he took the hands of Lang Yue and Li Jieyu and went out of the hall.

In the middle of the moment, the dark clouds rolled like angry waves, tore apart by lightning, and fell straight to the edge of the sky. The sky suddenly darkened, as if it were evening. The palace attendants were running on the palace street, their faces were in a hurry, Minhua ran out of the Funing Hall crying, and the red skirt flew away in the wind, like a touch of smoke, and went straight to the Luanming Palace.

The rain has been crackling and falling, and Daishan in the distance is also hazy and misty, like a fairyland.

Mo Lan stood in front of the window and watched the palace people move the flower pots, and when he saw that the rain was getting heavier and heavier, he ordered: "Forget it, let's rest, don't be funny when the rain falls red...... " As he was talking, he heard Qingqiu calling urgently: "Niangniang, Princess Minhua is here." ”

Mo Lan turned around and saw Minhua standing at the threshold with his whole body wet, his hair bun on his head was also scattered, and the green silk was all over his face, and he couldn't help asking, "Why is the princess here?" Then let the curtain hang down, find clean clothes, and wait for Minhua to change into them.

Min Hua was still in a trance, and he didn't know whether it was rain or tears on his face, and said hoarsely: "Mo Lan, what should I do?" As soon as he opened his mouth, two tears flowed like a tidal wave. Moran was worried and asked, "What's wrong?" He loosened her hair bun with his own hands and gently rubbed it with a dry bath towel.

Minhua whimpered: "Sixth brother asked me to marry to Western Xia...... endured it and continued: "You know, my heart belongs, besides, if I go to that wild place, I can't come back." The sixth brother is so ruthless, he doesn't care about the feelings of brother and sister at all. ”

Although Mo Lan couldn't bear it, she couldn't, and although she had the holy grace in the affairs of the court, she was helpless, so she said: "The official family has no choice." ”

Min Hua said angrily: "Is there no way for him, should he sacrifice me if he has no way?" I haven't even been to Bianjing, how can I go to a place as far away as Xixia. Moran, Sixth Brother listens to you the most, you must help me persuade him. ”

The sky was already dark, and there were curtains hanging in the hall, and suddenly a lightning bolt illuminated the hall, and her face was turned snow-white, and her lips were purple, and she was already angry.

Mo Lan led her to sit on the top of the floor, and said slowly: "The concubine can't interfere in political affairs, if it's just me to advise the official family, it will be difficult to convince him." ”

Min Hua saw that Mo Lan was a little sure on his face, so he asked, "Then what should I do?" ”

Moran said slowly: "If you have a marriage contract, this matter should be a different matter. He added: "The official family has not yet made an order, and there may be a place to maneuver." ”

Minhua listened to what Moran said, and thought that it was a ploy, so he thought about it secretly. The summer rain comes in time and goes quickly. It was only half an hour of incense, the rain had stopped, the gray sunlight was shining through the clouds, and a rainbow could be faintly seen hanging in the sky. She ran back to the Funing Palace, and it happened that Su Hehe was on duty under the corridor, and when she saw the princess, she hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Princess, the official family is very worried about you." ”

Minhua didn't care about anything else at this time, and said, "What about you?" ”

Su Jihe was stunned, as if he didn't know what she meant.

Min Hua said again: "Let me ask you, are you worried?" ”

And he frowned, and said without changing his face: "The minister is naturally also worried. Listening to the first half of the sentence, Min Hua was overjoyed, but he heard him say: "The whole palace is very worried about the princess. ”

Behind him hung a colorful rainbow in the distance, which was very beautiful. The palace people wanted to come forward and salute, and Minhua shouted: "Stay away from me." They all hurriedly retreated a few feet away, and stood quietly with their heads bowed. She looked straight at Hehe and said, "The official family wants to send me to Xixia and relatives, what do you think?" ”

And he guarded the duties of his courtiers, and said respectfully: "Now there are often wars on the border between the Great Song Dynasty and Western Xia, and the princess's envoy is also to let the border people live and work in peace and contentment." The princess is supported by the world, so naturally she must also serve the country. ”

Min Hua said: "But I don't want to marry any Western Xia lord at all, I just want to live a simple life, can't I?" She had just redrawn her makeup in the Luanming Palace, but her face was covered with tears again.

Seeing that she was crying, he took out a handkerchief from his cuffs, handed it over and said, "The princess's daughter, how can she lose her honor in front of the palace people, wipe her tears quickly." ”

Minhua didn't answer, let the tears flow, his heart was stirred up, and he didn't know where to start. After pondering for a long time, Fang said: "Do you think I should also go and kiss?" ”

Su Jihe was still respectful, his face was completely colorless, and said: "The affairs of the court are judged by the officials, and the ministers dare not comment on them." ”

Min Hua smiled with tears in her eyes: "I'm just asking you, not the official family." But if you don't say it, I'll pluck out your beard. ”

Seeing her crying and laughing, he didn't know what he meant, but said: "If you can save the people from suffering and reduce the war, the princess should naturally go to make peace." ”

Minhua has always been extremely proud, and at this time, he sneered three times and was speechless.

Zhao Zhen personally greeted him from the hall, and when he saw Minhua, he said: "You must change this habit, if you are not happy, you have to run, and you don't have anyone with you." It's okay to be in the palace today, but if you go......"

Min Hua said stubbornly: "Where did you go?" ”

Zhao Zhen was afraid that she would run again, so he softened his tone and said, "Let's go in first." ”

Minhua froze, motionless, and did not speak. Her heart was really cold, more than the freshly melted ice water in the temple. Suddenly she felt that there was no one to rely on in the world, and she was left alone in the wilderness, surrounded by darkness, no matter where she went, it was like a cliff, and she was never recovered.

Zhao Zhen was soft-hearted, went over to take her hand, and slowly went to the back garden. She let him lead, just like when she was a child, as long as she followed him, naturally no one dared to bully her, and the catastrophe was pressed down, and he blocked it for herself, with him, there was no need to be afraid. She turned her head and glanced at Su Jihe, who followed steadily behind him, wearing armor, majestic, his eyes were as heavy as stagnant water, and there were no half-dead waves.

Because of the heavy rain, the summer flowers in the back garden withered and fell red and broken. After the guard of honor stood a hundred steps, Zhao Zhen slowly paced forward with his hands, Min Hua was sad in his heart, and refused to speak.

The two walked silently to the depths of the flowers, among the lush shade of the trees, and they stood together.

Zhao Zhen turned around, stretched out his hand to touch Minhua's head, saw her crying, felt pity in his heart, and said for a long time: "I can't help the major affairs of the country." You are the princess of the Great Song Dynasty, and after marrying, Yuan Hao will not dare to treat her badly......"

Min Hua sneered and said, "Disadvantage? Naturally, you don't treat those family girls badly, but how sincere are you to them? As he spoke, tears fell, and he said, "Since I was a child, you all said that I was the most noble princess in the Great Song Dynasty, and I could have whatever I wanted." Even if it is the stars in the sky, you will pluck them for me. Now, I just want to marry someone I like, why is it so difficult? He grabbed Zhao Zhen's sleeve robe and begged: "Sixth brother, you are the best person in the world who treats me well, I want to stay by your side for the rest of my life." ”

Zhao Zhen has eaten and slept with Minhua since he was a child, and his relationship is unusual. Seeing her begging bitterly, her heart had already softened, and she said softly: "Say stupid things, as a woman, sooner or later you will get married." ”

Min Hua said: "Okay, good, I'll marry, I'll marry." As long as you don't let me go to Western Xia, I'm willing to marry anyone. ”

Zhao Zhen smiled bitterly: "Then who are you going to marry?" Min Hua pointed behind him, and Zhao Zhen looked in the direction, only to see Su and He standing like a Buddhist shrine, motionless.

Minhua said loudly: "Su Jihe, come here." ”

And he didn't know what was going on, so he hurriedly ran over and asked respectfully, "What does the princess command?" ”

Minhua took a step forward, threw himself directly into his arms, hugged his waist, frightened and panicked, with his arms outstretched, stunned.

Zhao Zhen was also taken aback, and scolded angrily: "What nonsense." ”

Min Hua was not afraid, raised his head from Hehe's arms, and said, "Su Hehe, if you don't marry me, I will marry to Xixia to make peace." Her eyes were dark and bright, as clear as autumn water. And with his head down, for some reason, he suddenly remembered that day, and picked her up from the imperial river, she shrunk in her arms lonely, trembling and trembling like a wounded kitten, and repeated with anger in her mouth: "I'm really stuffy, it's better to die." ”

Until then, he had always thought she was just an arrogant, carefree eldest princess.

Seeing that he didn't speak for a long time, Min Hua was a little anxious and said, "Do you really bear to let me marry Xixia Heqin?" He came back to his senses, gently pulled her hand away, took a step back, and said with a frosty face: "The princess is self-respecting." ”

The dull pain in Minhua's heart was unbearable, tears flowed all over her face, when Zhao Qing told her that she was going to marry, it was also like this, like a sharp sword piercing her heart, I wanted to die immediately, and I didn't have to go through this pain again.

Zhao Zhen saw that Minhua was crying sadly, angry and distressed, and hurriedly took her into his arms, and said angrily to Hehe: "Su and He, Minhua is my most distressed sister and the most noble princess of the Great Song Dynasty, can't you be tactful?" After a pause, he said, "Tell me, why is Minhua not worthy of you?" ”

And the corners of his mouth twitched, and said, "The princess is fine, it's just ...... It's just ......" suddenly seemed to have made up his mind, and said with a sigh of relief: "If the official family asks the minister to marry the princess, the minister will marry, and everything will be sent by the official." ”

Zhao Zhen was angry, tore off a palm-sized white fat sheep jade pendant on his waist and threw it at Hehe, and said angrily: "You still ...... Still...... Dispatch ......"

And he didn't dare to hide, so Ren Nayu pendant smashed on the corner of his forehead, and it suddenly swollen.

Min Hua suddenly burst into tears and laughed, pushed Zhao Zhen away, threw himself into his arms, and smiled: "I'll stay at your house tomorrow." As soon as the words came out, his frightened face turned pale.

At night, the moon sky was pure, and the stars were scattered all over the sky. The palace lamp in the Luanming Hall is hanging high, lively and bright. The attendants withdrew to the hall in a neat and orderly manner, and some palace maids brought tea, spittoons, warm water, bath towels and other things into the hall, waiting for the imperial concubine to finish washing, and then retreated.

Mo Lan had always wanted to go to the garden after eating, Zhao Zhen took her by the hand, and the two walked slowly under the moonlight. Because of Minhua's matter, Zhao Zhen was quite worried, and it was difficult to see a smile on his face, he said: "Minhua can take a fancy to Su and He, it's really like a fantasy." ”

Mo Lan smiled: "Minhua has long liked him, and Liulang usually doesn't pay attention, so he didn't find out." ”

Zhen said: "Could it be that you already knew?" ”

Mo Lan leaned on Zhao Zhen's shoulder, stroked his stomach and said, "I also saw a little bit of Ni Duan when I went to the palace last time. After a pause, he asked, "What is the matter of Princess Minhua, what is Liulang's plan?" ”

Zhao Zhen smiled and said, "What else, I haven't won against her since I was a child." ”

Moran said naughtily: "It turns out that Rokuro also has people who can't fight." ”

Zhao Zhen pinched Mo Lan's cheek and said, "I can't fight you." ”

Moran pouted, "Hmph, I don't believe it." ”

Zhao Zhen stopped and feigned anger: "You dare not believe me? It's a heinous crime. As he spoke, he kissed her, bit her lip, and smiled: "Believe it or not?" ”

When the palace people who obeyed the ceremony saw this, they all turned their backs. Moran giggled happily, dodged to the side, and said, "If you don't believe it, you just don't believe it." Zhao Zhen scooped her into his arms and kissed the bare skin on his shoulder, making both of them hot and dry, and Fang let go.

Because the official family wanted to issue an order to marry Minhua and Su Hehe, it attracted the ministers to admonish. Zhao Zhen pretended to be sick and hid for two or three days and did not go to court, and talked with Yuan Hao in detail for half a day, promising to give thousands of books and scrolls in Western Xia, thousands of cattle and sheep, more than 100 kinds of pharmacies and open up border market trade, in exchange for the freedom of Minhua.

Yuan Hao was just making a face, but seeing that Zhao Zhen was like this, he had gained real benefits, so he took a step back and picked a dignified and generous daughter of the clan among the princesses of the side lineage and made her a concubine.

In November, Zhao Zhen officially decreed marriage, and allocated 50,000 taels from the treasury to build a princess's mansion outside the palace for Minhua, giving thousands of acres of fertile land, thousands of palace maids, pigs, horses, cattle and sheep, and countless treasures. On the day of Minhua's marriage, the emperor and queen took advantage of the public opinion to drive the princess's mansion, and Zhao Zhen personally entrusted Minhua to Su Hehe, solemnly instructed him, set up a banquet, and returned to Luan.

Since he got married, Congguang went to the princess's mansion for several days to feast and drink, and often went home drunk when he was a child. It was late for the day, and when he heard the sound, he hurriedly got up, ordered his subordinates to serve him a decanting soup for him to drink, and waited for him to bathe and change his clothes. He sat in the bathtub, surrounded by curtains, and changed the small skirt with narrow cuffs of light magenta cotton, helped him untie his hair, and rubbed it carefully.

Congguang was still dazed, half-squinting, and let her serve. After bathing and putting on his bedclothes, he was already half awake, standing in front of the window with his hair scattered, looking at the boundless night, in a deep daze.

Wan Bai warmed the chicken soup and handed it to Congguang: "Can you eat to fill your stomach before drinking?" Would you like some snacks? ”

Congguang drank the soup, shook his head and said, "I'm not hungry." ”

The winter night was already cold, and although the house was burned with earth dragons and silver charcoal, the cool breeze blowing in the window still made people shiver. Wan Bai said softly: "Erlang, you are also very tired after a day of entertainment, so it is better to sleep peacefully." ”

Congguang didn't seem to hear it, stood for a long time, and said, "You rest first, I'll go to the study for a while." Seeing that he was leaving, Wan Bai hurriedly grabbed his cuffs and said with a red face: "You have slept in the study for more than half a month, and my mother's eldest girl came to ask me today, and I was very scared." ”

Congguang frowned and said, "What are you afraid of?" I'll talk about it tomorrow. ”

Wan Bai hurriedly said: "Don't, I didn't mean that." ”

There were only two arm-thick candles burning in the room, and the silver charcoal was ruddy in the dim yellow, and burned with a beeping sound. Behind her lay a few yellow chrysanthemums, lingering with a vague fragrance, swaying gently in the night breeze.

Her thoughts, he knew very well, and he understood it very well. It's not that he dislikes her, it's just that his heart has been given to Zifei, so he can't give it to a second person.

He slowly pulled out his sleeve from her hand and said softly, "Mother, you don't have to be afraid, I will explain myself, you sleep well, you don't have to wait for me." With that, he reached out and closed the window, and walked out of the house.

Wan Bai has always been submissive and never dared to be disobedient, but at this time, he suddenly said: "Wait a minute, I have something to say to Erlang." ”

Congguang didn't look back, only said with a side face: "If you have something to say, let's talk about it tomorrow." ”

If it was in the past, Wan Bai would naturally forget it, but today she stopped in front of him and said with tears on her face: "Don't you even want to say a few words to me?" ”

Congguang looked at her and reached out to wipe away her tears, his hand warm and wide, almost covering half of her face. He said quietly: "Don't think too much, go to sleep." ”

He lowered his hand and went out of the house. Wan Bai hugged him from behind, his face was pressed against his broad and strong back, and he barely smiled a little, and said, "I'm pregnant with your child." ”

When I heard it from Guang, I felt a bang in my head, shock, guilt, and regret...... rushed to my heart, and I didn't know how to react for a while.

Wan Bai said again: "It's been two months. ”

Before he met Zifei, he liked children very much. After meeting Zifei, he just wanted to have children with Zifei. That year, when he went to pick up his eldest brother outside the city by the order of the Empress Dowager, he had been looking forward to it, and when he returned to the palace, the first thing he did was to ask the Empress Dowager for a child, and then give birth to a big gang of children with her, form a Keju team, and personally teach them to play Keju. But the eldest brother died of illness, the queen mother died, she was infected with the plague again, married his wife, and the day was precarious.

He didn't have the face to see her, and he didn't dare to see her.

Since I had her in my life, it seems that all the dreams in my life have been involved with her. Even at this moment, he was still thinking in his heart, if there was no Zifei, the child, what would the child do?

Seeing that he didn't speak, the joy in his heart gradually melted, and his smile faded, as if he was standing in the ice and snow, poured with a basin of cold water, and he was cold to the bottom of his heart, shivering all over. After a long time, he said, "Tomorrow I will show my mother and ask the housekeeper to send more people to serve." It's getting late, so go to bed early. ”