After seven or eight days, the snow melted, the weather was unusually warm, and there was a bit of a magnificent spring scene. Mo Lan accidentally fluttered the cold wind, dizzy, took bitter medicine, and sat under the verandah in a sheltered place under the verandah to bask in the sun.

Qingqiu stood at the bottom of the steps and watched the palace people pick up the plum blossoms in the courtyard, pointed to the more than a dozen pots of broken petals flowing plum blossoms in front of him, and said happily: "Talented, you see, the plum blossoms sent by Si Yuan Si Xin today, but the official specially ordered them to be baked!" After a pause, he said: "It's just that the name is weird, what is it called, I don't know what it means." ”

Mo Lan looked at her hand, only to see a large area of pale red plum blossoms fluttering, layered and particularly beautiful, and said with a smile: "Lame, it means that the edge of the petals is often dented, and Jiangning dialect calls it "lame". "Late" means that it blooms late, and it will bloom in February and March, and "water" is because of its red color. The local people of Jiangning Mansion called it that, so it got this name. ”

Listening to Mo Lan's eloquent words, Qingqiu couldn't help but admire: "There are so many talented people who understand. ”

Mo Lan leaned on the long rattan chair of the big red sour branch concubine and said: "When I was a child, there were two or three plants planted in the patio of my home, and I heard the discussion among adults, so I wrote it down. ”

Just as he was talking lively, a few people suddenly came in outside the courtyard gate, and it was Dong Xiuyi, Li Meiren and Lang Yue who came.

Langyue walked through the plum forest, walked under the eaves of the corridor, and said: "The plum blossoms in Ruyi Courtyard are really good, don't be fragrant and elegant, but it is in line with the hearts of Lan Cai." ”

Li Meiren also smiled: "It's not like the yard where I live, there are just a few pots of peony and peony, which is cheesy." ”

Saying that he had walked in front of him, Mo Lan was busy getting up and saluting, but was held down by Dong Xiuyi and said, "It's not good to look at your face, just crooked." We don't have anything important, but if you take a walk, you will come to you, so I will come in and have a look. ”

Despite this, Moran struggled to his feet and saluted according to the rules.

A palace person had already moved a few chairs and stools, and invited all the ladies to sit down, and Mo Lan ordered: "Qingqiu, hurry up and serve some good tea." ”

Qingqiu took the order and left, and said, "It's been cold and hot these days, you should take good care of it." It's sunny like today, and you have to walk around, and don't just stay in the temple......"

She was about to speak, but she didn't want to cough sharply, Liluo handed over the handkerchief, gently stroked her back, and said: "I know that when I talk about Lan Cairen, I don't speak slowly, and I swallowed the cold wind and went in, which made my throat itch again." ”

Dong Xiuyi's face was solemn, and she said: "You girl is very sharp-toothed, and you dare to talk about her mother in front of everyone." ”

Liluo's face turned white suddenly, and she hurriedly bowed down and said, "The slave should die." ”

Mo Lan said: "I see that she is a good slave who is loyal, and it is Zhang Cairen's blessing." ”

Dong Xiuyi was robbed by Mo Lan, and she was angry, but she knew that in recent days, even if the official family did not stay in Ruyi Courtyard, they would come to see Lan Cairen every day. As he was talking, he heard an attendant bow forward and kneel down and say, "Ladies and gentlemen, the official family is here." ”

Everyone hurriedly got up to the courtyard gate to greet them, and when they saw that the official family had gotten off the warm sedan chair in a vermilion dragon robe, they were stunned when they saw that several concubines were there, and then smiled again: "I came unfortunately, and I disturbed your speech." ”

Dong Xiuyi had the highest rank, led everyone to salute, and then said: "But it's also gossip to relieve boredom, the official family is here, it's more interesting." ”

Zhao Zhen saw Mo Lan standing at the end, with a weak look, crossed the others, walked straight to her, shook her hand and said, "Why is it so cold, is it that the earth dragon is not burning enough?" ”

Moran said: "I felt that the weather was warm today, so I didn't burn the earth dragon." ”

Zhao Zhen looked stunned and said, "No matter how short the silver of the Shanggong Bureau is, it shouldn't be short." Even if you are frugal, you don't have to be like that. ”

Dong Xiuyi was already dissatisfied when he saw that the official family didn't talk to him, and he twisted the brocade robe in his hand, and couldn't help but say: "Lan Cairen is so thoughtful, if the official family comes, he will also suffer from the cold with you?" ”

Zhao Zhen glanced back at her, although he was not angry, but his expression was light, Dong Xiuyi saw it, for some reason, he panicked and didn't dare to say anything more.

Several people entered the hall, and Qingqiu sent people to burn the earth dragon, and at the same time gathered more than ten pots of silver charcoal and put them in the hall. Mo Lan changed Zhao Zhen's clothes in the warm pavilion, unbuttoned the dragon pattern gold button with his bare hands, and asked softly: "Didn't you say that you want to see the Confucian students who took the exam in front of the palace, and you won't come today?" ”

Zhao Zhen said: "There was a Confucian student who suddenly fell ill and couldn't get up while lying on the couch, so he postponed the meeting for a few days. ”

Mo Lan took off the silver and white cotton robe with dragon patterns from the truss and said, "Can you have dinner here?" ”

Zhao Zhen groaned slightly, and said, "I will go back to Funing Hall after staying for two or three hours to discuss border matters with Lu Yijian." Mo Lan was busy with his hands, and said a low "um", Zhao Zhen saw that her face was slightly pale, her hair was loose and held behind her head, Zhu Hai was gone, there seemed to be resentment in her eyes, and she felt pity in her heart, and said, "What, unhappy?" ”

Moran said: "No, the official family affairs are important. ”

Zhao Zhen grabbed her hand and said, "In a few days, I will go out of the palace to inspect the water affairs, do you want to go?" ”

Moran said: "In the cold winter, where there is a lot of water can be seen. ”

Zhao Zhen pinched her cheek and said with a smile: "You don't understand this, manage the water affairs well in winter, and you will be prepared for the next year." The two were whispering, and suddenly heard a "oops" sound in the hall, and hurriedly went out to see, it turned out that the palace people accidentally dropped the tray and splashed the tea on Langyue.

The palace people knelt on the ground and trembled with fright, only to hear Lang Yue say: "I accidentally bumped into it, I don't blame you, retreat." ”

The palace people were grateful to Dade and shouted: "Thank you Zhang Meiren for forgiveness, thank you Zhang Meiren for forgiveness." He kowtowed several more times before he respectfully retreated.

Zhao Zhen walked out of the warm pavilion, and when he saw this scene, he couldn't help but smile and said: "The moon is getting more and more lenient to treat people." ”

Lang Yue hurriedly got up and said: "Xie Guan's family is falsely praised, but the cuffs are wet, and they will dry as soon as they are baked, so there is no need to make a fuss." I glanced at Zhao Zhen and Mo Lan holding hands, looking loving, I didn't feel sour in my heart, I turned my head, but I didn't look at it.

Mo Lan said with a smile: "Lang Yuezi is gentle and obedient, and when he was on duty in Renming Palace, he was the most pleasing to the palace people." ”

Lang Yue didn't like others to talk about her past, her face sneered, and then she covered it with a smile and said, "Mo Lan is extremely intelligent, and everyone loves him." ”

Zhao Zhen looked at Mo Lan and smiled, and said, "I also feel the same way. Seeing that the two ladies praised each other and got along harmoniously, they were also very happy in their hearts, and said: "Rongyue, you have lived in the harem for a long time, and you are good friends with Mo Lan, you should often come to Ruyi Courtyard to see her, or lead her to walk around the palaces, it is not bad to relieve fatigue and eliminate food." ”

Lang Yue hurriedly bowed and said, "Yes, the concubine obeys the order." ”

Dong Xiuyi saw that he couldn't interject, and he was all robbed of the limelight by Rongyue, and the official family ignored him, so he was depressed, so he got up and said: "Don't disturb the official family and Lan Cairen to rest, the concubine will retire first." ”

Seeing this, Li Meiren also hurriedly got up to say goodbye, and Lang Yue also retreated together.

When the three of them left the Ruyi Courtyard, they all felt that they were still unsatisfied, so they went to the imperial garden. Due to the sunny weather, the sun shines on the glazed roof tiles, and the golden light is shining, which is eye-catching. The trees and rocks are bleak and desolate, and the cold wind is gusting, but fortunately, the sun is extremely warm. Seeing that in the distance, there were people slowly coming around the shoulders, turning around from the rockery and going to Yujin Gate.

Li Meiren said quickly: "Isn't that Concubine Yang De's sedan chair, maybe I went to Funing Hall to find an official." ”

Dong Xiuyi sneered and said, "I'm afraid it's going to be empty, and the official family won't go back for a while." ”

Lang Yue smiled faintly and said: "Concubine Yang De's status is noble, her father and brother are both important ministers of the court, and she has the right to associate the six palaces. Nowadays, there are remarks about the abolition of the DPRK and China, and it is really uncertain what will happen in the future. ”

Everyone naturally knew the meaning of her words, and Li Meiren smiled: "No matter what happens in the future, it will never be your turn or me." He lowered his voice again and said, "I see, the one in Ruyi Courtyard doesn't seem to be an idle person. ”

Dong Xiuyi reprimanded: "It's just a talented person, and his family background is mediocre, how else can he make waves." ”

There are dead leaves on the tree withering and falling, floating to the shoulders of Langyue, she gently brushed it with an embroidered handkerchief, and said lightly: "Maybe it's really true, everyone in the palace knows that she is the one who let the official family break the queen mother's decree." He smiled again: "Don't say this, if people listen to it, it will be in vain." After speaking, he wrapped his cloak and said, "As I walked, I felt more and more cold, and if it was cold, it was better to go back." Then he resigned, and helped the pear to walk into the small stone path.

Concubine Yang Defei was wrapped in a silver-gray feather satin cloak, and wore a snow hat to cover most of her face, and when she walked to the bottom of the corridor, Yan Wenying recognized the person, hurriedly greeted her, and knelt on the ground and said: "Concubine De Niangniang Wanfu Jin'an." ”

Concubine De kept moving, walked to the palace, and asked, "What is the official family doing?" ”

Yan Wenying did not answer, and said, "If the mother is in a hurry, the slave can go and announce it." ”

Concubine De thought that Zhao Zhen hadn't gotten up from a nap, so she couldn't help but take out her majesty and said: "It's not too early at this time, the official family sleeps too long during the day, but it hurts the body, and you imperial servants should remind you." ”

Yan Wenying's face was stunned, and said: "The official family is not in the Funing Palace, but I am afraid that I will not return until the time of the Emperor." ”

Concubine De reacted, and said, "The official family went to the palace of the concubine?" ”

Yan Wen replied, "Yes." ”

Concubine De's face was displeased, and she asked again: "Which palace did the holy driver go to?" ”

Yan Wenying didn't dare to say nonsense, and only said vaguely: "The servants don't know either, the officials have never said this, it's all improvised." ”

Concubine De nodded and ordered: "When the holy driver comes back, please inform the official family, just say that I have been here." ”

Yan Wenying hurriedly said respectfully: "Yes." ”

After Concubine De finished speaking, she helped Xi Qian's arm and walked down the stairs, sat on her shoulder again, and went to Linhua Palace. When I walked to Gong Street, I happened to bump into Dong Xiuyi and Li Meiren, and hurriedly stopped the sedan chair to greet them. I only heard Dong Xiuyi say: "I just saw you going to Yujin Gate in the Imperial Garden, and I don't dare to be sure that you are going to Funing Palace." I didn't tell it, the official family was resting in Ruyi Courtyard at this time, looking at the formation, I was afraid that I would have to stay there tonight. ”

Concubine De bowed her head, and the white fox fur on the brim of her snow hat was blown on her face by the wind, but she couldn't see her joy and anger clearly. I only heard her say: "Lan Cairen has just been canonized, and the holy family is thick, and it is reasonable for the official family to often go to Ruyi Courtyard." He smiled lightly and said, "Although the sun is warm, it is always cold and windy, so you should also go back to the temple as soon as possible, so as not to be cold." ”

Li Meiren hurriedly bowed down and said: "Xie Niangniang is thinking about it, just going back." ”

Concubine De nodded and said, "The palace is complicated, and it is inconvenient for me to stay for a long time. As he spoke, he ordered the person who carried the public opinion to get up, Dong Xiuyi and Li Meiren stood to the side, and curtled their knees and said, "Congratulations to Concubine De Niangniang." ”

Concubine De returned to Linhua Palace, only then did she change into her regular clothes and take off her makeup, and the attendant of Shang Zhengju knelt under the corridor and said, "Concubine De, the slave has something to tell." ”

Xi Qian lifted the curtain to let him in, Concubine De leaned on the stool, took a shallow drink of half a cup of ginseng tea in her hand, and asked, "But what did Xiaoxia say?" ”

The chamberlain kowtowed to the ground and said, "It's a slave who deserves to die, I didn't take a good look at her for a while." ”

Concubine De felt that it was not good, her apricot eyes were round, and she shouted, "What's the matter?" ”

The waiter raised his head and trembled and said: "Xiaoxia said that she had a stomachache and wanted to invite a doctor to come and see, the servants were afraid that she would have something to do, and they were discussing going to the Cuihe Pavilion to invite someone to come, and she lost her mind for a while, so she hit the pillar, and her head suddenly broke and bled out, and she lost her breath after a while." ”

When Concubine De heard this, the green tendons on her temples jumped, and she was very angry, so she lifted the tea bowl in her hand and smashed it on the head of the waiter, and said angrily: "I can't even look at a little palace maid, what's the use of keeping you?" Worse than useless! ”

The waiter was boiled by the tea, and the blood on his head flowed, and he didn't even dare to hum, and he was muffled. The bowl wasn't broken, and Gollum rolled to the ground until it reached the threshold.

The silence in the hall was terrifying, and the palace people on duty under the corridor saw this, and they all held their breath and did not dare to move. After a long time, I heard Concubine De say: "You go to check again, someone has met with Xiaoxia in the past few days, and what has been said." ”

When the waiter heard this, he immediately breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Yes." After speaking, he was about to get up and retreat, and heard Concubine De say: "If you find out, come first and then make a conclusion, don't clean the snake." He stopped and said sharply: "If you mess up again, you look good!" ”

The chamberlain was so frightened that he hurriedly answered twice, and although he wanted to leave the hall quickly, he didn't dare to show it, so he slowly retreated.

When the waiter in the Shangzheng Bureau retreated, Xi Qian sent someone to clean up the house, presented warm tea, knelt on the soft cushion, and gently helped Concubine De knock on her calf, seeing that Concubine De was gloomy, she said softly: "Don't worry, Niangniang, the more this is the case, the more it shows that the way we checked is not wrong." Although the death of Qianhua is full of fog, judging from Xiaoxia's death, it is always related to Ciyuan Palace. ”

Concubine De frowned and said: "Finally, that Xiao Xia'er said that she had seen Ruoli in Huifuyuan, and I rushed to Funing Hall with interest just now, wanting to reason with the official family, but fortunately he happened to be not in the palace, otherwise I was afraid that I would be bitten by the queen." ”

Xi Qian said softly: "The queen has lived in the main palace for a long time, and has been supported by the queen mother for many years, so she is naturally thoughtful. But ......"

Seeing her spitting, Concubine De couldn't help asking, "But what?" ”

Xi Qian said with a smile: "The queen has lost the queen mother's backer, and she has always had a grudge with the older concubines in the palace, plus there are rumors of abolition in the court, and it is difficult to protect her phoenix position after all." The official asked you to investigate this matter, which shows that you have doubts in your heart. ”

Concubine De looked at the green and oily Junzi orchids on the rosewood shelf, sighed and said, "I don't want to treat the queen like this, she is also a poor person." It's just that how can one mountain accommodate two tigers. ”

Approaching the end of the year, the government is gradually idle, Zhao Zhen has nothing to do and goes to the harem, and he does not favor Ruyi Courtyard, but the Agarwood Hall of Langyue and the Linhua Hall of Concubine De go quite diligently, and even Feng Zhaoyi, Dong Xiuyi, Wen Jieyu and other concubines who have been cold for a long time can also be favored.

The weather was fine on this day, although it was the middle of winter, it was cloudless.

Zhao Zhen stayed in the Agarwood Hall for several days, he was diligent in reading, and he got up in the morning to announce the service of the scholar Shang Palace into the palace to serve, held the "Confucius Family Language", and read "not to be unpleasant, not to be cold and trivial; If the anger is long, the heart will not change, and the heart will not change", and other Yonglan sentences, I couldn't help but think of Mo Lan's smoky and water-colored figure, as if she was smiling at herself. He read it like a jujube, only to feel that there was orchid between his lips and teeth.

After lunch, Zhao Zhenfang drove Ruyi Courtyard.

When he entered the warm pavilion, he saw Mo Lan and the palace maids cutting clothes around the square table, and said in surprise: "Aren't the clothes in the palace all made by the Cultural Embroidery Bureau?" ”

Everyone was doing it seriously, and suddenly when they saw the official family coming, they were all startled, and hurriedly put down the affairs in their hands and bowed down to say goodbye.

Mo Lan also got up, bowed a little and said, "A few days ago, the queen rewarded me with a few horses, and I couldn't use them up for a while, so I thought about making a few clothes for the palace people." Because it is the end of the year, the Cultural Embroidery Bureau can't do anything, thinking that he is idle, so it is better to find something to do to kill time. ”

Zhao Zhen saw that the roses on her sideburns were exposed, so she stretched out her hand to help her and said, "Have you made new clothes yourself?" ”

Qingqiu saw the official family like this, and secretly rejoiced in his heart, and hurriedly gave everyone a look, and quietly avoided it. Moran said: "I only gave so many clothes when I was sealed, and I didn't have to make clothes for two or three years when I could wear them." ”

Zhao Zhen smiled: "You are still so frugal, as if the treasury is short of your few taels of silver." He looked at Mo Lan again, and he was actually wearing a new frost-colored straight-necked brocade robe, with only a few small yellow chrysanthemums embroidered on the cuffs, which was extremely pure, and said, "Did you wear this white robe when you were a palace person?" Those dog minions in the Shanggong Bureau dare not even pay attention to my talents, and they must be punished well. ”

Moran said: "Blame them for what to do, the old clothes are easy to wear." As he spoke, he picked up a few pieces of fabric from the embroidery box and compared them to Zhao Zhen.

Zhao Zhen obediently let her fiddle with it, and said, "What are you going to do for me?" ”

Moran said: "I want to make you a cover for a hand stove." ”

Zhao Zhen smiled: "It's just a cover, what fabric is not the same, how can you compare clothes?" ”

Moran held the fabric to his chest and said, "Although it's just a stove cover, it also has to match the clothes to be superior." As he spoke, his mind turned around, and he smiled mischievously: "The more you dress up Liulang, the more you can make the concubines forget." ”

Zhao Zhen saw her smiling, and naturally carved it, and it was indescribably beautiful, so he couldn't help pinching her cheek and said: "You narrow ......" Before the words were finished, he kissed her lips first.

After two or three days, Zhao Zhen wanted to go out of the palace to inspect the water affairs, because of the micro-service, everything was simple, and only brought a few ministers from the court and the guards in disguise. The group pretended to be Jin merchants and came to Bianjing to visit relatives and enjoy the mountains and rivers everywhere. Mo Lan also traveled, dressed in men's clothes, and followed Zhao Zhen's side, as an endorsement boy.

The city is full of people and lively.

Mo Lan rarely had the opportunity to leave the palace, so he listened to the clamor and noise everywhere, the noise of gongs and drums, and the smoke of cooking, and only felt new and excited. It's just that there is a minister by her side, she doesn't dare to move, for fear of losing her identity and losing Zhao Zhen's face, so although her eyes are looking around, her mouth is silent.

Almost half of Bianjing was gone, after all, Mo Lan was a woman, although she was in a carriage, she climbed up and down with everyone, and her legs and feet were already weak. Zhao Zhen only cared about political affairs and ignored her.

Su Hehe looked in his eyes and asked in a low voice, "Are you okay?" ”

Moran was tired and panting, and said, "It's okay. ”

Although the two of them spoke quietly, they had clearly reached Zhao Zhen's ears, he stopped, looked at the sky, and said to everyone: "The hour is not early, if you rush back to the palace at this time, I am afraid that it will be noisy until midnight." ”

A white-bearded minister stepped forward and said, "The palace is nearby, now is a good time to soak in warm soup, and you can also strengthen your body." The ministers had already arranged it a few days before, just waiting for the Holy Lord's arrival. ”

Zhao Zhen nodded and said with a light smile: "Very good." ”

The palace is built halfway up the mountainside, with a wide gravel road winding up, and towering trees on both sides, withered and holding a few yellow leaves. There have long been royal attendants guarding at the foot of the mountain, and checkpoints are set up every dozen zhang, and the defense is strict. Because the carriage was not good for going up the mountain, everyone changed to riding horses. Mo Lan rode with Zhao Zhen, although she was so tired that she didn't even bother to speak, but she still held the identity of a concubine and didn't dare to slack off at all.

Although the palace is small, the pavilions and pavilions are scattered, and the corridors and water pavilions are connected. What's even more wonderful is that each palace has a hot spring pool, so you can soak in the warm hot spring pool in the cold weather, which is very enjoyable. Although Mo Lan had never soaked in warm soup, he had also read Yang Guifei's Huaqing Pool in the book, and he was quite envious in his heart.

After entering the palace, the sky was already dark, and when Zhao Zhen changed his clothes, there were people stationed in the palace who served in the palace to bring meals. tasted it by Shang Gong of the Catering Division again, and Zhao Zhen began to move chopsticks. It was inconvenient for the white-bearded ministers to drink with the officials, so they all retreated and ate in the side hall.

Mo Lan didn't want to spend the night outside, so he didn't bring more clothes out, so he was a little embarrassed at this time, so he had to still wear men's clothes and stand on one side to serve Zhao Zhen for dinner. Zhao Zhen saw her jade-faced hibiscus, with a loose waist and a scarf tied on her head, which was a little handsome, and said with a smile: "You look good in men's clothes." After a pause, he said, "Why don't you sit down?" I didn't follow the rules in the palace, but now that I'm outside, why am I restrained? ”

Mo Lan took the soup spoon and poured the soup into the celadon lotus petal porcelain bowl, and said softly: "Let the ministers see, it's time to admonish again." ”

Zhao Zhen raised his face, and the palace people waiting on the side all retreated, and said, "What are you afraid of?" Even if it is admonished, there is also a burden on me. ”

Mo Lan pouted and gently blew the soup cold, before handing it to Zhao Zhen, and said, "As long as I return to the palace tomorrow, and the concubines don't give me a look, I will be satisfied, why bother to provoke those white-bearded old men again." ”

Zhao Zhen saw that she insisted on this, and she was not reluctant, and after groaning slightly, he said, "Have you ever soaked in warm soup?" ”