After Zhou Zhixi walked away, Zhao An came in from behind the small door outside the corridor, he glanced at the direction Zhou Zhixi left, sighed, and then walked back to the Qianming Palace.

Wei Li was holding his head and closing his eyes to recuperate, and he didn't open his eyes when he heard the footsteps, but asked tiredly: "Concubine Shu went back?" ”

"Yes, the little pillow didn't stop the lady concubine, I think I heard it." Zhao An responded, he did not leave the Qianming Palace, Zhou Zhixi was able to hear these words close to the door, it was not a coincidence and accident, the rules of the Qianming Palace were the strictest, if it were not for Wei Li's instructions, Zhao'an would never have left only such a young little eunuch behind.

Wei Li responded, I don't know if he was relieved or heavier in his heart, the ownership of the throne is very important, and there are too many things to consider for him.

At this time, Wei Zishan had been waiting in Luoyang Palace for a long time, and after drinking half of the teacup, he saw Yongge helping Zhou Zhixi in.

Fang Cai was still thinking about Wei Li's words, his mood was very low, seeing Zhou Zhixi, Wei Zishan hurriedly laughed, unwilling to be worried about his mother's lost look, since the division of the mansion, the two who originally met every day have not seen each other a few times throughout the year, and finally came back for a meal, so they naturally want to say something happy.

"Why did Zishan come?" Zhou Zhixi also had the same thoughts, and the surprised smile on her face couldn't be hidden, she stepped forward to grab Wei Zishan and didn't let him salute, and the two of them went to the back room to sit down and talk together, "It's that the mother concubine is not good, no one will come, so I went out for a walk, and I came back late." ”

"The son should wait for the mother concubine, the father said that the son can accompany the mother concubine to have dinner before leaving, and then go to the queen mother's harem to say hello, and the mother concubine will also go with him." Wei Zishan took the pastry handed by Yongge and put it in front of Zhou Zhixi.

Zhou Zhixi lowered her eyes and said with a smile: "I have been out for a long time today, and I am really tired, so you should go there by yourself, so you can talk to the queen mother." ”

Wei Zishan nodded, but he was not reluctant, talking about the interesting things in Beijing during this time to Zhou Zhixi, she was full of interest, her face was full of smiles, although this imperial city is the most precious and gorgeous place in the Great Wei, but she has not been out for so many years, it is really boring, fortunately, Wei Zishan can tell her what the outside world is like, Zhou Zhixi can also hear a lot of interesting things, and the difficult harem life seems to be not so boring.

Yongge went to the small kitchen to tell him to have more things that the prince likes to eat today, and then stood outside the door, did not go in to disturb the mother and son, Yongge knows, only when Wei Zishan enters the palace, Zhou Zhixi will be so happy, she loves lively people so much, and now she doesn't go out of the palace much, and when she sees the most people every day, it is morning and dusk.

The palace is indeed the best place to bury beauties, and now the concubines who are still in the harem have reached the time to live in peace. It's getting quieter.

After lunch, Wei Zishan also accompanied Zhou Zhixi to prune the flowers and branches in the yard before leaving, Zhou Zhixi sent him to the door, looked at Wei Zishan's back as he walked away, and his hand holding the door frame couldn't move away for a long time, her son... has grown taller and grown up, and occasionally I can hear a song saying that Wei Li praised Wei Zishan again, and every time that time, Zhou Zhixi will be very happy, even happier than Wei Li coming to see her.

But now, she really can't laugh, such an excellent child, just because she has no background, no power, just because she was dragged down, those things that once made her proud and made him proud, have become crusting knives.

Now that he was walking towards Fengyu Palace alone, Zhou Zhixi knew that he had to let go and let him go back to where he was supposed to be.

Wei Zishan came to salute Yu Lanqing, Yu Lanqing was also happy, Fengyu Palace has not changed at all for so many years, and the queen mother has not changed at all for so many years, there will be no difference between treating him and treating the fifth brother.

After sitting in Fengyu Palace for a while, drinking the tea of Fengyu Palace, I unknowingly, I actually talked to Yu Lanqing about Yu Moling.

When Wei Zishan reacted, Yu Lan looked at himself with a smile, with a smile with some ambiguity, and seemed to hear a lot of clues from his words.

Wei Zishan's face turned red all of a sudden, and he hurriedly waved his hand, wanting to bypass this topic: "Sister Moling, she was praised by Mr. Nan Zhai two days ago, and she worked very hard in school, but the fifth brother is not bad, and she will definitely be able to shine in a few years." ”

Yu Lanqing ignored the second half of the sentence, Wei Zijue's kid was fooling around with Yu Lei all day long, she didn't know, if she really was attentive to her studies and court affairs, Wei Li would have jumped three feet high by now and set the crown prince.

Wei Li didn't dare to come to Fengyu Palace these days, just because he was too entangled, Yu Lanqing naturally wouldn't urge him, and at this time, if he said more, it seemed that he was more partial to which child, so it was better to let Wei Li think about it himself.

"Mo Ling has a good temperament, with the dignified and proper sister-in-law, there is still the style of the Yu family in her bones, the palace likes this child very much, seeing that it is at this age, it is about to be time, and the new batch of young people have also grown up, I want to come to the sister-in-law in the past two years will also go out to socialize more, and see a good husband for Mo Ling." Yu Lanqing took a sip of the teacup in his hand and glanced at Wei Zishan.

Sure enough, hearing this, Wei Zishan was even more uncomfortable, and frowned: "Husband's family? Sister Moling is still young.,This。。。 This has to be chosen carefully, and you can't wronged Sister Moling, and besides, you must not be in a hurry to meet the two years. ”

Yu Lanqing chuckled: "This is natural, the niece of this palace must be matched with the dragon and phoenix." ”

Wei Zishan blinked, suddenly understood Yu Lanqing's smile, stood up suddenly, his hands and feet were at a loss, and finally recognized it, and sighed: "I can't hide anything from the queen mother." ”

Yu Lanqing stretched out his hand and pulled him: "Your father and the emperor see you today, no matter what you say, don't go to your heart, people's hearts are disturbed, they will unconsciously say to the other party on the things they care about, if you meet someone with ulterior motives, you will talk in a few words, harm others and yourself, today is in front of the queen mother, you relaxed your vigilance, but you must remember the words of the queen mother, no matter where you are in the future, the things that disturb your mind must be hidden in your heart, and the meaning of love must also be hidden in your heart, say less, do more, protect yourself, and protect the people you care about." ”

Yu Lanqing's hand was still so warm, Wei Zishan lost his mind for a moment, such a serious and gentle look, before entering the palace, he had also seen it in Yu Moling's eyes, and there were ripples in his heart, and after nodding slowly, Wei Zishan's heart was a lot more stable.

Now, it seems that there are more things worth caring about, and Yu Lanqing is right, he... There are people who want to protect, and there are things that they want to protect.

To be strong, you must be strong.

After leaving Fengyu Palace, Yue Ying helped Yu Lanqing get up and walked to the inner bed: "Queen Mother, the eldest prince's heart... If the second prince knows, I'm afraid it will be uncomfortable. ”

Wei Ziling also unconsciously revealed his liking for Yu Moling when he was talking to Yu Lanqing, Wei Ziling is a very sensitive child, his childhood experience and the defects of his own face made this child very cautious, and there must still be inferiority complex in his heart, so his liking for Yu Moling has always been suppressed in the depths of his heart.

Of course, Yu Lanqing knew Wei Ziling's thoughts, he wanted to wait for himself to be able to match Yu Moling before he had the courage to approach her and fight for her, but now it seems that no matter what the result is, there will always be someone who will be hurt: "Moling has his own intentions, young people's own affairs, we can't control it now, but Zishan and Ziling have become more and more affectionate over the years, both of them are good children, no matter what choice Moling makes, the other one will not be resentful." ”

They are all people who hope that Yu Moling will be truly happy, they are all good children of her, their nature is not bad, and they naturally do not have bad thoughts.

There is such a relationship, maybe it is another good thing for Mo Ling, in the end, no matter who she chooses, there is a bond between the two brothers, and they will never turn against each other, protecting her is protecting the friendship between the two, who knows if it will not be a good thing?

"Yes." Yue Ying responded, because the eldest prince came, so it was supposed to be time for a nap and didn't sleep, and now it's a little late to lie down, so I just went to Zhuchai and took a nap on the soft chair.

For the next few days, the palace was still as usual.

Zhou Zhixi has been very silent for a long time, and she doesn't come out and walk around much, but these days it seems that she has suddenly returned to the time when she first arrived in Dawei, and let people set up a simple stage in the imperial garden, and even took the flower pavilion as a seat, so that the concubines who are still in the harem now accompany her to listen to the opera and listen to the music.

Xiao Menghuo and Zhu Yuqiong are now two companions, plus Yu Lan, the women in the harem are all here.

This scene was silent, after Yu Lan came out of the cold palace, these young lamps and ancient Buddhas were accompanied, without Zhao Li'er, she was silent, and the two of them who had been fighting each other for half their lives were angry, but in the end, only she was left as a reckless person.

Xiao Menghuo pestered Zhu Yuqiong all day long, asking her to turn back to the shore and stop in time, it was just when Zhou Zhixi adopted the eldest prince, the situation was decided, and there was no place to fight for in the harem, the queen gave Zhu Yuqiong a chance to mention a point, and now she is with Xiao Menghui as a companion, and the two write poems and paintings for fun, but it is much more enjoyable than the days before.

Everyone has lived their own days for so many years, except for the lively palace banquet, they don't move around much on weekdays, and now I don't know what happened to Zhou Zhixi, I want to get them all together, there were a lot of such activities when Nan Huazhu was in the past, and now... Everyone was silent.

Zhou Zhixi watched it with relish, sang a song, and saw that everyone was looking at him, so he grabbed a handful of melon seeds in his hand: "Let's not sit down and chat like this for a long time, laugh and laugh, this palace still remembers when I first came to Dawei, this harem was full of flowers, very lively, at that time, I didn't understand anything, I didn't understand anything, and I didn't have the momentum to rush forward with enthusiasm, but now I don't have it." ”

The three of them listened in silence and looked at each other.

The ten people who came to the palace in high spirits back then have disappeared all these years.

"I miss that time, I miss myself at that time, and I miss the excitement at that time." Zhou Zhixi is still smiling, the edge is exhausted, and now, there is only the mildness accumulated over the years, "This song is sung very well, I listen to it a few times a year in the palace, this day, the torment is also a day, and the happiness is also a day, in the past, I had to count my fingers, and a year was counted to the end, as if there was a lifetime as long, but now in a snap of my fingers, a few years have passed, and it is a little funny to say." ”

Zhu Yuqiong looked at Zhou Zhixi's smile, I don't know why, I feel that although she is smiling, it is more sad than tears.

Over the years, no one has survived, what has been won, what has been celebrated, what has been calculated, and now it is a pile of dry bones buried in the loess, what have you gotten? It seems that there is nothing, what have you lost? It doesn't seem to be.

What is buried in the palace is only the passing years.

They will grow old and die so peacefully, and when they think about it, what they used to feel extremely frightening is now like a relief.

"Lady Niangniang." Zhu Yuqiong picked up the cup in front of her and poured herself a cup of tea, she raised her glass and smiled at Zhou Zhixi, "The concubine replaces the wine with tea and respects the mother." ”

Sure enough, Zhou Zhixi's eyes bent into crescent moons, and she happily raised her glass and touched her: "Okay." ”

Reconciling with everyone and integrating into them is what Zhou Zhixi has always wanted, she thought that she could do it with enough coercion and power, but that could only make them afraid of themselves, not accept themselves.

Now... Zhu Yuqiong drank a cup with her, this lady concubine really recognized her, Zhou Zhixi was very happy, she had never been so happy.

"Concubine Niangniang, concubines also respect you, there will be more such gatherings in the future, we sisters are companions, and we are also happy, the days to come are so long, everyone is stuffed in their own palace, it's too boring." Xiao Menghuo also hurriedly got up and raised her glass, and by the way, she also pulled Yu Lan together, she has always been this temperament, Zhu Yuqiong stared at her and smiled, and sighed with a look, "It would be better if I could call the queen mother." ”

Zhou Zhixi just laughed, and did not respond to Xiao Menghui's words, with someone leading the conversation, the atmosphere in the banquet instantly eased a lot, and even Yu Lan covered her mouth and chuckled, with tears in her eyes, very emotional.

Zhou Zhixi looked at the few people in front of her, and after half a ring, she slowly picked up the melon seeds and knocked them up, what she didn't like to eat before, now she wants to taste what it tastes like, the people and scenery that she haven't seen carefully before, now she also wants to see it more seriously.

It turns out that there are so many things in this harem that she has not noticed, the sky is so clear and blue, and the kindness and smile are so warm in people's hearts, it turns out that these... She didn't really feel it.

Xiao Menghui is right, the days ahead are still long.

Their days are still long, and her days are here.

Went to the appointment in a daze, and returned happy, Xiao Menghui hadn't been so happy for many years, and before going back side by side with Zhu Yuqiong, he also turned back and gave Zhou Zhixi a newly embroidered embroidered handkerchief, this thing was originally a gift that Xiao Menghui was ready to give to his mother outside the palace, and gave it to Zhou Zhixi today, and whispered to her: "If the lady concubine feels lonely, it would be good to send someone to talk to the concubine at any time." ”

After that, he ran towards Zhu Yuqiong's side.

Zhou Zhixi held it and looked at it for a long time, and after a long time, she carefully put it into her arms, put on the back of Yongge's hand, looked up at the blue sky, and hooked the corners of her mouth: "Go back." ”

On the third day after the party, Zhou Zhixi summoned Wei Zishan to the palace again on the grounds that she was a little uncomfortable.

Wei Zishan was worried, and asked about how well he entered the palace some time ago, why did his mother lose so much weight this time, Zhou Zhixi just smiled and said that when you are older, you naturally don't have to be in good health when you are young, but there is some imbalance in the spleen and stomach, and it will be fine after a while.

She prepared a table of Wei Zishan's favorite food, saying that she wanted to hear interesting things in the capital these days, Wei Zishan told her, Zhou Zhixi smiled, nodded again and again, and helped Wei Zishan carefully pick out the fish bones, and then put them in his bowl.

Seeing that he ate well, but Zhou Zhixi didn't move his chopsticks, Wei Zishan persuaded her to eat a little, but Zhou Zhixi just shook her head and said with a smile: "I just drank the medicine, and I will eat it later when I am hungry." ”

After watching Wei Zishan use the meal, Zhou Zhixi took his hand and said softly: "The mother concubine can't tell you any big truth, Zishan has grown up, and now he is a man who can take charge of himself, no matter what others say, no matter how you look at it, you are the proudest child of the mother's concubine, and the mother's concubine will always be proud of you." ”

"Why did the concubine suddenly say this." Wei Zishan was a little uneasy.

"The mother concubine has nothing to ask for in this life, the mother concubine has only one wish, can you agree to the mother concubine?" Zhou Zhixi's voice was very soft, and after seeing Wei Zishan nodding, he continued, "Mother Concubine hopes, no matter when, you have to cherish yourself, okay?" ”

Wei Zishan nodded: "My son has written it down, and he will definitely cherish himself and not worry his mother." ”

"No matter what happens in the future, don't easily give up what you should have fought for, because it's you, Zishan, because it's you, you must not give up what you can do instinctively, what you can get instinctively, if you can't get it with all your might, it's too late to talk about giving up." Zhou Zhixi clenched Wei Zishan's hand and carefully admonished.

"Yes, my son has written it down." Wei Zishan saw that Zhou Zhixi's face was very bad, so he hurriedly helped Zhou Zhixi get up, took her to sit down on the soft collapse inside, and said softly, "The mother concubine must also cherish her body, so that she can drink medicine and recuperate." ”

Zhou Zhixi bowed her head and said with a smile: "Naturally." ”

After talking for a while, Zhou Zhixi asked Yongge to send Wei Zishan out of the palace, Wei Zishan turned back three times in one step, very uneasy, and finally went out of the palace after seeing Zhou Zhixi smiling at him.

Yongge came back from outside, Zhou Zhixi was leaning on the soft pillow, Yongge didn't speak, her nose was sore, tears fell, she knelt down and cried: "Princess, we must have another way." ”

Zhou Zhixi slowly closed his eyes: "Yongge, go and find out the Great Zhou service I brought under the box." ”

She's up to her mind.

Yongge knelt on the ground and didn't move, crying undulating, and after a long time, she wiped away her tears, got up from the ground with weak hands and feet, and followed Zhou Zhixi's wishes to dig out the clothes she had put away at the bottom of the box.

The garment is washed and dried every year, and it is well preserved, scented with green wood, and as new as ever.

The clothes were hanging on the shelf, Zhou Zhixi stepped forward, touched the pattern streamline, and hooked the corners of his mouth: "It's so good, I... It's been a long time since I've seen it. ”

Yongge couldn't stop crying, but he didn't dare to cry too loudly, he stood aside with his mouth covered, and there was only a haze in front of him.

"Dress me up." Zhou Zhixi withdrew her hand, sat back in front of the dresser, and looked at herself in the mirror, the little princess who was arrogant at the beginning couldn't see the shadow now.

Yongge trembled and washed her hair, and when she went to see Wei Li, she naturally still had to wear the palace clothes of the concubine, this body was cumbersome and precious, and Zhou Zhixi was really tired.

When she first got married, the imperial brother asked her: "If you go to such a far place, can't you find the imperial brother to support you from time to time, are you afraid?" ”

Zhou Zhixi smiled: "Don't be afraid!" ”

"What if you regret it?"

"I'll come back if I regret it."

At that time, she couldn't understand the bitter smile of the imperial brother, but now she understands, many years have passed.

At that time, he was not afraid of heaven and earth, he only knew that he was going to follow Wei Li, and he was full of joy, but he didn't know what he was going to face.

It was so good at that time, she was Zhou Zhixi at that time, and now the person in the mirror is Concubine Wei Shu.

It took a long time to dress, Zhou Zhixi ate a bowl of porridge for dinner, just some side dishes, and sat in the palace until nightfall, then stood up and passed towards the Qianming Palace.

The Qianming Palace is magnificent, just like it was back then, when she first came to Dawei, she desperately wanted to go to this palace, and when she thought of Wei leaving her side, she was hypocritical, and wanted him to look at herself a few more times.

Now, I even feel that this place is like the mouth of a man-eating beast, and I know that I am afraid.

Zhao An saw Zhou Zhixi coming from afar, she was dressed very ceremoniously, and she froze for a moment, and then she restrained her gaze and greeted her.

"My father-in-law is tired of passing on the word for the palace."

Zhao An responded and walked into the palace quickly, but this time he came out quickly, called Zhou Zhixi a thousand children, and said in a deep voice: "The emperor invites Concubine Shuniang to go in." ”

Zhou Zhixi bowed, let go of Yongge's hand, and went inside alone.

Zhao An looked at Zhou Zhixi's back, his eyes were deep, and after half a ring, he stepped forward and closed the door of the Qianming Palace.

Wei Li stood with his back to her, not knowing what he was looking for.

Zhou Zhixi bowed: "Please say hello to the emperor." ”

Wei Li turned around, her grand outfit stung Wei Li's eyes, he lowered his eyes, and after a long sound, he said something and sat down to speak, then returned to his place and sat down.

Zhou Zhixi didn't sit down, she lifted her skirt, knelt in the middle of the hall, and kowtowed to Wei Li: "The concubine came because she wanted to ask the emperor for something." ”

Wei Li stared at her, the two looked at each other, only this time, Wei Li didn't see the light next to Zhou Zhixi's eyes, she... Sure enough, it still came.

"Ask for me? Is it the concubine who asks for me, or the princess of Da Zhou who asks for me? Wei Li lightly opened his thin lips, since he wants to talk about things, let's talk about it.

"Your Majesty, the concubine is a mother of a child who comes to plead with the emperor." Zhou Zhixi will continue to worship, those titles and identities are no longer important to her, she is just a mother, although she has never given birth, but raising grace is also kindness, and adoptive mother is also a mother.

Wei Li's eyes trembled, and he tapped the table twice: "You say, what's the matter." ”

"The concubine wants to beg the emperor to allow the concubine to return the eldest prince who should have belonged to the queen's mother to the queen's mother in full." Zhou Zhixi raised his face, looked at Wei Li who was seated, and looked at his calm face, not surprised at all.

This man, it seems that everything is in his expectation, he is never surprised, his emotions are all in the Fengyu Palace, never here.

"The eldest prince has been raised by your side for many years, he is your child, and his adoptive mother is still there, how can he change it easily? Wouldn't that put him in the land of disloyalty and unfilial piety? Wei Li's voice was very soft, and he didn't look at Zhou Zhixi again, "He is your child, you can take care of it yourself." ”

Zhou Zhixi smiled lightly: "What the emperor said is very true, the concubine has already thought about it carefully, Zishan was originally raised by the queen's mother, and the concubine can have the honor to raise Zishan for all these years, all relying on the queen's mother, now since Zishan is to be returned, naturally the emperor and queen can't embarrass him, the concubine knows that her identity is embarrassing, and she doesn't dare to coerce the emperor with this identity, she just asks the emperor to pity the concubine with a motherly heart, so that the eldest prince can continue to be raised by the queen mother in the future, and officially pass on to the queen mother as a son-in-law, The concubine is willing to repair a letter to return to the Great Zhou and ask for three cities for the emperor. ”

"Are you negotiating terms with me?" Wei Li narrowed his eyes, "Zishan is filial, how can he be willing?" ”

"How can a person who has died continue to raise the prince, and how can he be filial to the prince?" Zhou Zhixi had tears in her eyes, but she just smiled and said something like this calmly, "The concubine has nothing to give Zishan, only a dilapidated body, and the emperor doesn't have to worry about the imperial brother after the concubine's death, the concubine has already written a letter to the imperial brother, and the emperor can read it first if he is not at ease, with the concubine's handwritten letter, although the imperial brother is sad, he will never delve into the reason why the concubine died of illness, the imperial brother loves the concubine, far better than the emperor does, the three cities will also be dedicated to the emperor, the concubine wishes, only this is the same, begged the emperor to fulfill the concubine. ”

She bowed her head three times and didn't get up again.

"You..."

"The concubine has no regrets, anyway, the concubine is in this life... Enough has been lived. ”

She doesn't want Wei Zishan to simply return to the queen's side, then he will always be just an adopted son, she wants Wei Zishan to inherit to the queen's name and become the queen's child, like this. Wei Zishan's future will be bright.

Loving so far is all she can do.

Wei Li's silence made Zhou Zhixi panic, she knew that these three cities were nothing to Wei Li, and her own life was nothing to him, but she didn't know that her heart did shake Wei Li's heart.

Wei Li's impression of her has always been on the little princess who was delicate and self-conscious in the past, and now the person kneeling here, as she said, is a mother, and the greatness of maternal love never varies from person to person.

I'd rather die than give Wei Zishan a future.

Wei Li clenched his fists, and at this moment, he was deeply shaken.

Perhaps, all along, he was wrong.

It was he who was stuck in the mud of the past alone, and he refused to come out, Yu Lanqing put it down, the Queen Mother put it down, only him, he couldn't let it go, and he stubbornly believed that everyone couldn't let go.

But he is the only one who has been making things difficult for this child who has been excellent since he was a child.

Now Zhou Zhixi is willing to exchange her life for Wei Zishan's life, she doesn't want the identity of the princess of Da Zhou to trap him all his life, mother's love is like this, what about his father's love?

He... What was given to this child?

After more than ten years of prejudice and injustice, he wants Wei Zijue to be the prince, and he wants Wei Zishan to be the first person to assist Wei Zijue, has he really thought about what the two children said from the bottom of their hearts in front of him?

What he gave was only what he thought was good, and that's all.

The wrong person has always been him.

Wei Li slowly stood up, he let out a long sigh, and lowered his eyes: "I promise you." ”

Zhou Zhixi was stunned for a moment, then raised her body, this time it was really relieved, grateful to Wei Li from the bottom of her heart, she stood up and walked towards Wei Li, she trembled and stretched out her hand, this time Wei Li didn't hide, she touched Wei Li's arm, clenched it, and quickly let go again, tears were left down her cheeks, the smile on the corner of her mouth would not deceive, she had stars in her eyes, and Wei Zishan was all her hope.

"Thank you, brother."