Chapter 18: The Lady of Hibiscus
This night, Chang'an slept very unsteadily.
When Chang'an returned to the palace at the end of the year, he knew that the emperor had come, but he did not stop. She only thought that he had something important to deal with, and she gave up, and slept vaguely for the night. When the sky was slightly bright, she woke up leisurely, and sat on the couch to read a book after being served by evening incense to bathe and change clothes.
At the beginning of the morning, Han Yan received this month's Yulu from the Ministry of Internal Affairs. She put the cloth she had just brought back on the table, and looked carefully to the left and right.
Chang'an saw that her expression was wrong, so he asked, "What are you looking for?" ”
Hanyan hurried over when he heard this, and Nuo Nuo said, "The slave and maid are watching the evening fragrance or not, and the slave and maid have something to say, which is not easy to say in front of people......
Hanyan was waiting in front of her as early as when Chang'an married into the palace, lively and active, and she got along with Chang'an, and she dared to say anything in front of her, Chang'an had already regarded her as her sister, so some things were not surprising. And the evening fragrance and the cold smoke are very different temperaments, she is dexterous, but she is always silent. Although Wanxiang has been serving Chang'an for a year, after all, she is still close to Hanyan in her heart, and she feels closer to Chang'an, so she always avoids her.
Chang An smiled and shook his head slightly, "I'm alone in the hall, just say anything you want." ”
She thought to herself, if this girl had taken a fancy to the pieces of cloth that the Internal Affairs Office had rewarded, so she would bring them to her. In this regard, Chang'an has never been comparable.
But Han Yan's expression was a little wrong, he opened his mouth, and stopped talking.
When Chang'an saw her like this, he felt that it was not good, and when he thought about what happened last night, he couldn't hold his breath even more, and raised his voice, "What happened, you said." ”
When Han Yan heard this, he lowered his eyebrows and bowed his head, and said politely, "When the slave maid went to the Internal Affairs Mansion just now, I heard a few little palace maids talking about it...... Say...... Last night, the emperor turned over Zhong Meiren's brand, and this morning Zhong Meiren came out of Mingde Palace in a sedan chair......" Hanyan said while observing Chang'an's expression, afraid that he would make the master unhappy if he continued to talk about it, and his voice was even deeper, "As soon as they saw the slave and maid passing, they immediately ran away...... But the slave maid felt that she had to tell her master about this...... So ......"
Chang'an listened, but his heart sank point by point.
She didn't speak for a long time, but she was anxious about the cold smoke on the side, and she muttered, "Master, master......"
Chang'an's heart was about to burst open at this time, and he couldn't stop sneering again and again, dancing Chinese New Year's Eve night, the cat in the royal garden, his little affection for Zhong Yuxiu, she saw it in her eyes point by point, such a look, that kind of eyes, he was obviously moved, so he finally turned over her brand...... It was she who blindly believed him, she always believed that she was the only one in his heart no matter what, everyone knew that Zhong Yuxiu was favored last night, and she was the only one who didn't know anything.
Chang'an grabbed Hanyan's hand, and his eyes were full of faint tears, "Quick, prepare the sedan chair, I want to see the emperor......"
Hanyan was already frightened, so he hurriedly responded and hurried out.
As soon as Chang'an came out of the palace, she saw Jiang Wanran carrying a basket of pastries to her, she was full of smiles, but Chang'an had no intention of making peace with her.
Jiang Wanran stopped, glanced at the sedan chair parked at the door, and couldn't help but wonder, "Where is Concubine Xian going so early?" ”
Chang An reluctantly raised the corners of his drooping mouth, and did not answer her question directly, but said indifferently, "Sister Jiang, go back first, and the palace will go to Xingyun Pavilion to see you later." ”
Jiang Wanran wanted to say more, but seeing that Chang'an had already taken the sedan chair, she sighed lightly and had to do it.
In front of the gate of Mingde Palace, there were only a few little eunuchs guarding the door, and there was silence all around.
Chang'an gently lifted the bead curtain, and when he saw Hanyan, who had gone to report, he trotted all the way back, and when he came to her, he said to her in a warm voice, "Master, the emperor is discussing with the ministers in the Xuanzheng Hall at this time." ”
Chang'an was gloomy when he heard this, since he went to the Xuanzheng Palace, there must be something important to negotiate, and it must be inconvenient to bother at this time. But she was unwilling to go back to the palace like this, when she was still a collection of three thousand favors, how could she have put anyone in her eyes, but Zhong Yuxiu's appearance really touched her bottom line. He is the emperor, but he is also her Chu Luo, and she has always believed in this.
She glanced at the hour, thinking that at this time, the concubines must be in the queen's palace to ask for peace and have not dispersed, and she can also meet Zhong Yuxiu when she goes at this time. Thinking like this, Chang'an raised his voice and said, "Go to Fengluan Palace." ”
In front of the gate of Fengluan Palace, the anger in Chang'an's heart had not completely subsided. She held the sedan chair of Han Yan, and faintly heard the continuous laughter of women in the hall, probably thinking that she was right, just a few steps, Chang'an heard a clear female voice behind her.
"Concubine Xian."
As soon as Chang'an turned around, he saw a woman blessing her, "Concubine Zhong asked Concubine Xian Niangniang to say goodbye." ”
She looked up and smiled brightly.
Chang An sneered in his heart, this is it.
Zhong Yuxiu was dressed in a light-colored palace dress this day, the dark brown silk thread embroidered a strange and strong branch on the fabric, and the peach-colored silk thread embroidered a blooming wooden hibiscus, extending from the skirt to the waist.
"Concubine Xian, are you going to the queen's palace?"
Hearing this, Chang'an glanced at Yuxiu, straightened a glazed jade bead hosta on his bun, and replied, "The palace has nothing to do, come to pass the time, and inadvertently walked to Fengluan Palace." ”
Chonghua Hall and Fengluan Palace are hundreds of meters apart, and this point Zhong Yuxiu is very clear. But she didn't realize it, and she was still smiling on her face, "If the mother is fine, can you go to the concubine's Baihua Pavilion to sit down, the concubine has good Longjing tea, and the mother will definitely like it." ”
The arc of Chang'an's lips outlined a disapproving chuckle, and said slowly, "That's naturally good." ”
The reason why the Hundred Flowers Pavilion is called the Hundred Flowers Pavilion is, as the name suggests, the most prosperous place in the palace. As soon as Chang'an walked into the pavilion, the fragrance of flowers came to his face, which reminded Chang'an of the peach forest in her Chonghua Palace, which was also like this. But at the bottom is a solitary one, which is really a little inferior to this spectacle of flowers in full bloom.
"The emperor said that Niangniang likes peach blossoms, and the peach blossoms in the concubine's palace are blooming just right, if Niangniang likes it, wait for the concubine to ask someone to send some to Niangniang." Yuxiu smiled and brought the tea cup presented by the palace maid to Chang'an in person.
Chang An chuckled disdainfully, "There is already a peach forest in the palace, if Sister Zhong sends a few more branches to the palace, the palace really doesn't know where to put these only ones." After finishing speaking, she smiled, took a sip of the dragon well, and unconsciously admired, "But the tea in Sister Zhong's palace is really excellent." ”
Zhong Yuxiu's face was embarrassed, thinking of the embarrassment last night, and her face was even more unsightly, she took a sip of tea and smiled reluctantly, "This is the new tea in Lin'an this year, brewed with dew, it was just given to the concubine by the emperor's order of the Internal Affairs Office, if the mother likes it, it is really good." ”
Yuxiu secretly bit the word "emperor", Chang'an was shocked when she heard this, and her smile was fleeting.
This Longjing tea is a specialty of Lin'an, Chang'an has been accustomed to this taste since he was a child, and Chu Luo just turned over Zhong Yuxiu's brand, and rewarded the new Longjing to her palace, which really made Chang'an unable to swallow this breath.
But she thought about her identity, and in the end she endured it, but she couldn't sit still anymore, so she got up and said, "Sister Zhong was afraid that she was tired from sleeping last night, so she could rest, so the palace won't bother." ”
Shen Chang'an slapped Zhong Yuxiu hard as if she was secretly slapping her, she was trembling with anger, but she still bowed down and gave Chang'an a salute, "Concubine Congratulations to Concubine Xian." ”
Chang An glanced at her with low eyebrows and left.
Back in the palace, Jiang Wanran hadn't left yet, Chang'an was secretly taken aback, and asked, "Why hasn't Sister Jiang gone back yet?" ”
Wanran Yingying smiled, "The concubine is here to visit the virtuous concubine, and the concubine has not returned yet, how can the concubine go back like this?" ”
Chang'an couldn't bear it in his heart, took her hand and walked to the hall, and said lightly, "Sister Jiang can call someone to report when she comes back, so she won't run in vain." ”
Hearing this, her face flushed slightly, "Anyway, the concubine is idle......
Chang An smiled lightly and did not say no.
The two were gossiping, but they saw a palace maid come in and gave a salute to Chang'an and Wanran Yingying, Chang'an recognized her as the palace maid Lanxiang next to Zhong Yuxiu, and saw her mention Longjing tea and a plate of freshly made osmanthus cake, and her heart was already clear.
Lan Xiang smiled sweetly, bowed slightly, and said, "Fang Cai Niangniang is in a hurry, this is the osmanthus cake made by our little master, and Niangniang didn't care about taking it, so the little master sent the slave maid to Niangniang." ”
"Give it to me." Han Yan took it and said coldly, "You go back, just say that our mother has thanked your little master for his kindness." ”
Seeing this, Lan Xiang just bowed her head and went out quietly.
As soon as Lan Xiang left, Han Yan threw the thing on the table hatefully, and said angrily, "Master, don't eat it, maybe she poisoned this thing." ”
Chang An glanced at Wanran quickly and said sharply, "Don't talk nonsense. ”
Han Yan immediately stopped his mouth and didn't dare to say any more.
Wanran glanced at Chang'an, that is, thoughtfully, and said slowly, "Concubine Xian Niangniang just went to Zhong Meiren's place?" ”
Chang'an's eyebrows were warm, "Zhong Meiren has the opportunity to sleep, and this palace naturally wants to go to see her." ”
Wanran frowned, stared for a moment, and said slowly, "Niangniang knows ......"
Chang'an heard it strangely, glanced at his graceful expression again, and involuntarily sneered, "You know it too...... It seems that they are thinking about the Fa and not letting this palace know about it......"
"Don't worry about it, maybe it's just ......"
"That's it." Chang'an closed his eyes for a moment, waved his hand and said, "The palace is tired, you can go back first." ”
Wanran got up when she heard this, her expression contained a little depression, and she didn't want to say anything more, so she turned around and left.