The day when Empress Wu summoned Wan'er was a cloudy day in early spring, and the chill had not completely subsided, but Wan'er had a touch of brightness and warmth in her heart.

Along the long road, for the first time in fourteen years, out of the palace wall, an expressionless eunuch passed the message of the Empress Wu, and then took Wan'er to go around and around, as if walking through a labyrinth, full of excitement and freshness, but completely ignorant of the consequences.

The place where Empress Wu summoned Wan'er was Zichen Palace, which was often used by the emperor and queen to meet close ministers, but Wan'er did not examine this glory at that time.

Kneeling on the ground, the rhythm of his heartbeat was obviously different from the past, and only one voice could be heard high, piercing through the clouds and chiseling stones: "You are the famous and talented servant girl in the court?" ”

Wan'er bowed her head and replied: "Back to the queen's mother, the slave maid is just a rough understanding of literature and ink, and she is really shallow in her learning, so she is ashamed." ”

"Whether you dare to do it or not, you will know when you find out in this palace. In vain, it cannot be concealed; The light is shining, and it can't be blocked. Empress Wu's tone was steady and majestic.

Wan'er gasped, she should have been silent but rose to the challenge: "Please ask Niang Niang to take the exam." ”

It's really a newborn calf who is not afraid of tigers, the corner of the martial queen's mouth twitched, and he said to the people around him: "Ling Yue, when did you live so simply?" "The meaning of love is overflowing.

An innocent but arrogant voice revealed a deep dissatisfaction: "Mother, her daughter studied under Hongru and held her own degree, but the ignorant are fearless, so they dare to open their mouths." ”

The sharpness and meanness in these words made Wan'er feel like a thorn, but she warned herself that she couldn't back down. In fact, if you don't advance, you will retreat.

"You kid, I really spoil you, you have no one in your eyes." It's obviously a scolding word, but it's still a motherly tone. It's just that the role changed, and in the face of the little man who was kneeling on the ground and didn't raise his head for a long time, Empress Wu resumed her posture and said calmly: "Your name is Wan'er, right?" ”

"Back to the queen, slave and maid Shangguan Wan'er."

Empress Wu asked very strangely: "I know what your surname is, but do you know what your surname is?" ”

After many years of life in the court, Wan'er has already thought about it, and almost everyone around her has a story, how can she be the only one who has a simple background? Her mother, Zheng, told her many times, intentionally or unintentionally, that they were the daughters of poor families who were forced to enter the palace as slaves for their livelihood. The sensitive Wan'er has long realized that this may be a lie that is 108,000 miles away from the truth. But since the mother is unwilling to tell the truth, then there must be her reason. The distress of smart people often comes from getting to the bottom of things, and Wan'er doesn't want to disturb mediocrity.

Therefore, he replied calmly: "The slave and maid don't know what the word 'Shangguan' means, and the slave and maid don't want to know." Wan'er's world is like this as soon as she opens her eyes, and there is nothing she can't understand. ”

"Very good." Empress Wu actually had a sense of approval, and softened her tone, "You raise your head and let the palace take a look." ”

Wan'er slowly straightened up, raised her head, and met her vision with a beautiful face, this beauty is not only the softness and charm of the woman, but more resolute and quiet, the accumulation of years has achieved extraordinary wind and bones, and every gesture is the brilliance of pouring all beings, this is the martial queen she has been fascinated for a long time.

"This girl is very good-looking." It's still that innocent and arrogant voice, but at this time, the taste of innocence is heavier, and it's no longer so aggressive.

Wan'er swept the girl who was talking next to the martial arts queen with her afterglow, her age was similar to herself, her forehead was broad, her eyebrows and eyes were exquisite, her nose was very straight, and the tip of her nose was especially beautiful.

"Taiping's speech this time is quite fair." Empress Wu said with a smile.

"The slave has seen Princess Taiping." Wan'er saluted, and when she entered the palace, she looked from afar, but she didn't see anyone else on the throne, and she thought that this Taiping princess Li Lingyue also suddenly ran out from behind the screen. She is the youngest daughter of Li Zhi and Empress Wu, she is very favored, she has been used to flying and domineering since she was a child, but she also loses her true temperament in her willfulness.

"Mother, my daughter is really curious, what is outstanding about this little maidservant, her poems can be widely circulated in the palace, in comparison, but our juniors from the royal family have lost face, and there is no ...... poem that can take out their hands" Princess Taiping was straightforward.

"That's not what you said, Ling Yue." Empress Wu smiled, feeling that the cold plum was blooming.

"Mother—" Taiping pursed his lips, lengthened his voice, and glared at Wan'er.

This anger is very spontaneous and cute in Wan'er's eyes, and she has a little affection for the princess in her heart.

"Good, good, good." Empress Wu said three good words in a row, and looked at Wan'er with a straight eye, "Taiping can't understand your uniqueness, to be honest, this palace also wants to know more." In this way, I am walking in the garden today, the flowers are in my eyes, I can't help but think of the popular paper-cut flowers in the palace, only to feel lifelike, as if I can be real with the false, for a time I have an understanding, but it is difficult to write a chapter, how about you make a song for the palace? ”

Wan'er thought about it for a while, didn't pause too much, and blurted out: "The dense leaves are cut and vomited, and the new flowers are growing one after another." Although it is not wrong to climb the strip, it is clear that it is false to pick the stamen. The origin of the spring solstice, autumn has not yet been sparse. By asking the peach and the plum, what is the desire for chaos. ”

Empress Wu was slightly stunned, and said: "You are good at writing landscape and clear sounds, and I have always preferred Songgui, so you can start a poem with four words." ”

Wan'er immediately chanted: "The branches are lush and polite; Mountains and forests are companions, and pine and laurel are neighbors. The text is soft and simple, and it is natural.

"What a quiet and beautiful scene!" Empress Wu couldn't help but nod in praise.

Princess Taiping on one side is even more rare.

Empress Wu only felt that her intention was still unfinished, and she found a few themes to make Wan'er improvise poems, Wan'er was all made in a moment, and the tone was harmonious, the scene was blended, the style was fresh and natural, and there was no sense of pretentiousness.

Looking at the thin, unmodified beautiful girl in front of her, Empress Wu was in a trance, how could she not be so humble and small, but she was also talented. It's just that I don't know, is this talented woman equally open-minded?

"Wan'er, I heard that you like to read history books, can you tell me what you think of Empress Lu?" Empress Wu seemed to ask lightly, and her voice was full of laughter.

Smart as Wan'er naturally understands it, but she doesn't know how to be sycophant, so she just expresses her heart: "The slave doesn't dare to say anything, but she has a lot of reverence for this heroine among women, and she takes on the heavy responsibility of the society with a weak body, what a demeanor!" Everyone in the world says that women should be warm and affectionate, but the iron fist that governs the world can also be as tender as a shaved onion, and the mind and courage of an extraordinary woman are not a little more than a seven-foot man? ”

These simple, warm, and heartfelt words deeply moved Empress Wu, and she was even a little grateful for Wan'er's righteous words. This is indeed a different kind of child, like Taiping, he is sent to him by God.

"Wan'er, from now on, you will stay by my side, learn to be in charge of the bookcase with the Lin Sheren, and be a companion with Taiping, she is surrounded by stupid girls......" Empress Wu said slowly, full of pity.

Wan'er looked at the peony woven with gold thread on the queen's dress, obviously it was a dream moment, but she hesitated.

Empress Wu said: "This palace will order that your mother and daughter's lowly status be removed and moved out of the court." ”

Wan'er kowtowed, only to feel a hint of salty and sweet taste on the side of her mouth.

This made Empress Wu completely moved by compassion, and sighed in her heart: Wan'er, why do you have to thank me, this belongs to you.