Soon it will be the day of the twelfth day of February, when the dragon will raise its head. When the whole palace is busy coming in and out for the new draft, the etiquette of the festival is naturally not to be wasted. Compared with the festive feast, the festival of the dragon raising its head has a more important meaning for Daqi, and at the same time, there is also an important etiquette in the harem, that is, the sacrificial activities of Hanshan Temple.

Originally, in the early years of the founding of the Great Qi Dynasty, the national strength was weak, the court was difficult, and the first Queen Qian'an in order to save military spending, open source and reduce expenditure, and even personally led the concubines of the harem to learn weaving and tailoring, and cut the amount of money in the palace. Once in February, the powerful country came to attack, the founding emperor Taizong of the Great Qi led the army to go out, the queen of Qian'an stayed in the palace, worried day and night, looking forward to the safe and victorious return of the husband, in order to show sincerity, simply in the absence of the husband into the Hanshan Temple not far from the Qi Palace in the fasting and penance, concentrating on prayer, only hoping that his husband can return victorious. Maybe it was the sincerity of the heart really moved the heavens, Emperor Taizong really defeated the enemy, triumphantly returned, so after the Empress Qian'an every time Taizong went out to kill the enemy, will enter the temple to pray, after the death of this pair of legendary emperors, it is not only the reputation of the Empress Qian'an who is virtuous and virtuous, but also the rules of the concubines who enter the temple to pray and sacrifice in February every year, forming a kind of etiquette.

Later, the national strength of Daqi became more and more prosperous, and a family temple was built in the palace, so naturally there was no need for the palace concubine to trek through mountains and rivers, and went to the mountain temple to pray for the protection of the gods. As long as the queen led the concubines to sacrifice in the palace. However, in order to show respect for the founding queen of the Great Qi Dynasty, who is known for her virtuousness, a concubine will be sent to Hanshan Temple instead of the queen every year to worship the Buddha and bow to show respect.

"You said that this time, Concubine Lian will go to take charge of the worship and sacrifice of Hanshan Temple instead of you?" Qi Long asked.

"Exactly," the queen smiled, "does the emperor think it is inappropriate?" ”

"How dare a concubine rashly undertake such an important task with a low position?" Su Mi hurriedly excused himself and said: "And the concubine doesn't know much about etiquette, I'm afraid that there will be a joke when the time comes, and the concubine's own affairs are small, but if it damages the royal face, the concubine will die and will not be able to escape the blame." ”

Qi Long also hesitated, it was a rare honor for the concubines to undertake this task, and he wanted to agree immediately, but in the past, those who were in charge of this work every year were at least the positions above the noble concubines of the three grades, so as to show their respect for the founding queen. Although he also wanted to attribute this glory to Su Mi, Su Mi's position was still too low after all, and he was afraid that it would be difficult to convince the public. Maybe it's not too late to say that next year.

Seeing Qi Long's hesitation, the queen hurriedly said sincerely: "Although Concubine Lian has not been in the palace for a long time, she is respectful and courteous, virtuous and virtuous, although her position is not high, but she can also be called an example of the concubines in the harem." When the Empress Dowager Qian'an was alive, she always paid attention to the virtues of her concubines. Therefore, the concubine believes that the so-called position and background are just virtual literary etiquette, or the qualifications and character of the concubine are the most important. Concubine Lian is the best person to be in charge of this matter this time. ”

Qi Long thought so, nodded, and seeing Qi Long's expression, the queen smiled again: "As for the position, according to the opinion of the concubine, Concubine Lian has been serving the emperor respectfully and respectfully these days, and now that the New Year has passed, she should also be promoted." And the completion of this sacrifice is another great achievement, and now it is reasonable to promote the position a few days in advance. What do you think, Your Majesty? ”

"Makes sense, too." Qi Long nodded and smiled.

"Moreover, the concubines have also checked the classics, when Emperor Wu was the first dynasty, there was once a lady who was only Rong Hua in the position of the concubine, according to the concubines, it is better to follow this old example and promote Rong Hua." The queen said as she looked at Su Mi with a smile.

"Well, the queen has a point. I will present the canonization ceremony today and promote Mi'er's position to Ronghua," Qi Long laughed, turned his head and smiled at Su Mi beside him: "Mi'er is going to have a hard trip." ”

"Thanks to the emperor and the queen's mother," Su Mi saluted respectfully: "The concubines must be careful and live up to their high expectations." She was secretly anxious in her heart, but she didn't dare to reveal the slightest, the queen's words were not leaky, and she couldn't find a flaw, especially if Qi Long agreed, if she forcibly resigned, she would look petty.

Su Mi was born as a palace maid, and according to the ancestral system, she must be promoted to the title step by step, and now she has jumped two levels in a row, in the eyes of other concubines, I am afraid it is a glory that cannot be sought, but falling on Su Mi's body makes her feel like walking on thin ice and sitting still. But she began to wonder in her heart, what did the queen mean by this?

For the concubines, entering the mountain during the Yuanxiao Festival to represent the queen and the concubines of the harem to worship is a great honor and a proof of grace and trust. Since Qi Long succeeded to the throne, the first pilgrimage was from Concubine Li Xian, one of the four concubines of Yipin. The second time was Ni Yelin, who had not been in the palace for a long time, and last year, the queen recommended Concubine Yun.

Although Concubine Li Xian has long been unfavored in front of Qi Long, she served as a concubine by her side when Qi Long was still the prince, and she has been by his side for longer than the queen, and the queen is also polite to her on weekdays. The first time she received this task, it was also expected.

The next two Concubine Ni and Concubine Yun can clearly see the direction of power and favor in the harem. Although Ni Yelin had not been in the palace for a long time, the military power behind her and the huge military exploits that her father had just made anyone dissatisfied shut up. For the third Concubine Yun, although there were more concubines who were dissatisfied, the queen's insistence and Qi Long's attention to Concubine Yun's favor made the concubines have nowhere to express their grievances. It's like this year's self.

What does it mean that the queen is trying her best to promote herself now? Just to show trust and envelope, just like the promotion of Yun Fei, who was favored last year? But thinking of Qi Long a few days ago, she brushed her face in public for herself...... For this sudden kindness at this time, Su Mi had to think deeply.

"Why doesn't Niangniang shirk the past, or simply pretend to be sick, will the queen still use any means to force Niangniang to leave Beijing?" Mi Qing heard Su Mi's concern and suggested.

Su Mi smiled bitterly, "It's a blessing or a curse." If the queen really has the intention of attacking me, even if I pretend to be sick and avoid this time, there will be a next time, what about the next time? On the contrary, it is better to follow her wishes, now my power in the palace is so meager, after this pilgrimage, my prestige can also rise a bit, and it will be a new draft soon, and now I am in the palace with infinite scenery, but, when the newcomer comes in, who knows what the situation will be. ”

Mi Qing hesitated for a moment, looked at Su Mi's face, and whispered: "Between the slaves and maids, the emperor's heart for Niangniang is sincere,"

"What about the truth, and what about the false? Do you think that the emperor has no true feelings for Concubine Yun, and it is all false for Concubine Ni? Su Mi looked at her and asked. Maybe the sincerity in me is a little more than them, and even a little more than all the people in the harem, but the emperor's temperament is ......" she shook her head, Qi Long was originally a person who was greedy for new sex, and in the face of the harem, there will only be more and more women, younger and younger, and more and more beautiful women competing for favor, how much true love is just afraid that sooner or later it will be accompanied by the aging of the red face and the appearance of one beautiful woman after another around him will pass away with the wind. Sometimes she can't help but sympathize with them, even if the queen and Ni Guifei have exhausted the chess pieces, but in the face of such an emperor. There are only regrets and unwillingness, this is the sorrow of being in the emperor's house, what else is there to say here.

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Hanshan Temple is very close to Qijing, in the Danfeng Mountain, which is not far north from the city gate. Danfeng Mountain is located in the north of Qijing, is a famous tourist attraction in Daqi, if it is a single fast horse, it is more than enough to run back and forth in one day, but since Su Mi is going to worship and worship, the accompanying chariot and horse team is naturally indispensable to rely on the attendants, and the action is so slow, it takes nearly two days to reach the mountain.

In the early morning of February 1, the solid and gorgeous Nanmu carriage drove out of the palace gate under the service of the guards and servants of the regiment.

The gate of the palace wall with heavy vermilion inlaid gold rings with a dull "squeak" sound was pushed open by several guards guarding the door, and the carriage passed through the palace gate, walked on the official road, and then drove towards the north gate of the capital with a neat support. It was Su Mi and his party.

This was the first time Su Mi had left this heavily guarded imperial city since entering the palace, she lifted the sky-blue curtain embroidered with golden thread peonies, and looked back from the gap, the strikingly standing vermilion palace gate was becoming more and more distant, more and more blurred.

Su Mi didn't know whether she was sad or happy in her heart for a while, although she knew that the carriage she was riding in now was just a continuation of the power of this dynasty, and she still didn't get out of that suffocating cage, as a palace concubine, she didn't even have the freedom to get off the carriage in public, but she couldn't help but feel a long-lost excitement in her heart.

I haven't seen such a scene for a long time, although the hour is still early, the whole Qijing has begun to glow with vitality, the people who get up early have already started a busy day's life, some of them are erecting the doors and windows of the shop, some are carrying goods to prepare to go to the market, and some people, they are looking at this bright carriage and relying on the neat team from afar, secretly pointing and whispering something.

Next to the carriage were the people who accompanied the worship ceremony. Although it is only a routine once a year, with the current national strength of Daqi, it cannot be sloppy at all.

As early as the beginning of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the State of Qi was only called the king, not the emperor, and when the Empress Qian'an entered the mountain, she was just an ordinary car, with a few personal palace people and guards. I hurried up the mountain lightly. Along the way, there was no complicated reliance, and there was no luxurious convoy, but the urgent mood of praying for his husband and blessing was more gorgeous and moving than all the false praises in this world, and more sincere and noble than all the accompanying sacrifices.

But looking at the present, Su Mi couldn't help but shake his head when he thought of the preparations before and after his trip, as well as the full salute on the car behind. If Empress Qian'an, who is famous for her simplicity and purity, really has a spirit underground, and knows the behavior of her descendants in the future, I don't know how she will feel?

The pedestrians on the street gradually became more numerous, and the etiquette officer around him began to pay attention to Su Mi's raised car curtain from time to time, and the meaning in his eyes could not be clearer, Su Mi sighed secretly and put down the curtain that was slightly lifted in his hand.

She relaxed, snuggling back into the soft animal skin cushions.

This time of worship, due to the regularity of the ceremony, in addition to the relevant utensils, the palace people who led the personal service were all arranged by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and more than a dozen ceremonial officials of the Shangyi Bureau were responsible for related matters, and at the same time, there were thirty internal guards with them to protect, headed by Ni Tingxuan, the deputy commander of the guards. A group of fifty or sixty people marched towards Hanshan Temple and raised billowing yellow dust.

Although a luxurious and warm carriage was prepared, it was still easy to get tired of traveling in such a cold spring weather.

The journey in the capital is quite brisk and smooth, but when you get out of the city gate and into the countryside, the journey becomes more and more difficult to walk. Even though the carriage was covered with layers of padded fur, the feeling of bouncing up and down still made most female officers who had not suffered dizzy and nauseous.

After about a day's journey, we arrived at the boundary of the Danfeng Mountains. The road is steep and becomes more and more difficult to walk.

Su Mi was a little dizzy in the carriage, but suddenly noticed that the carriage stopped.

"What's wrong?" She asked in a deep voice, "Is there something wrong?" ”

"Niangniang, it's the way ahead that is blocked." The frightened voices of the accompanying palace people came in.

Su Mi gently lifted the curtain.

Now the car has traveled halfway up the mountain, the mountain road is rugged, and there are cliffs not far away, which are steep and towering.

The originally smooth mountain road in front of him was blocked by a large tree that had fallen for some reason. The mountain path was too narrow and the carriage was too wide to go around, so it was stopped for a while.

A few of the guards jumped off their horses and walked towards the tree that was in the way.

Ni Tingxuan, the leader of the guards, turned his head and looked at the car on Su Mi's side, with a little anxiety and worry in his eyes.

He commanded a few guards to get ready to knock down the broken tree that was in the way and go down the cliff. While loudly reminding the guards to be careful, he leaned over to Su Mi's car uneasily.

Seeing him approaching, Su Mi hesitated for a moment, and suddenly understood that when the sky was blue and white, such an abrupt tree suddenly appeared on the road, it was really an inexplicable thing, and it was no wonder that he was vigilant.

Ni Tingxuan walked to the side of the car and saw that Su Mi was lifting the curtain to look this way, and couldn't help but be stunned, Su Mi smiled at him slightly, and said in a manly voice: "There is General Lao Ni." ”

Ni Tingxuan's face turned red, he didn't dare to meet the transparent gaze, and hurriedly turned his head: "Rong Hua Niangniang is polite, where the lowly task is, and she should serve." He tried to keep his voice calm.

Su Mi smiled slightly and stopped talking, Ni Tingxuan's seemingly indifferent eyes seemed to contain a kind of thoughts and emotions that she couldn't see clearly, she had no interest in exploring this, and naturally she wouldn't say anything.

As soon as the slender hand was loosened, the curtain fell, and Su Mi was about to lean back into the cushion, quietly waiting for the passage of the next road, when he suddenly heard Ni Tingxuan break off with a shocked voice, "Be careful!" ”

At the same time, a sharp sound of breaking the air came, and something like lightning and lightning passed through the place where Su Mi had just let go, bringing a small but howling wind, rolling up the curtain that had just fallen.

Then, with a crisp "ding", it pierced through the layers of lavishly laid out upholstered pillows and nailed them to the floor of the carriage.

It's an arrow! The tail of the arrow was still trembling gently, showing the strength that had not yet been completely exhausted.

Su Mi was stunned for a moment, and the sharp sounds of fighting and shouting were already remembered outside the carriage and horse.

With Ni Tingxuan's carefulness, all of a sudden, countless figures appeared on the cliff that was originally covered with layers of dead trees, which made Su Mi think of the mushrooms that he had often seen in the mountains before, and which could not wait to emerge after the rain.

It's just that the group of people in front of them, holding black bows and arrows and hard crossbows in their hands, still can't hide the layers of horizontal flesh on their faces covered with black cloth. Even the blind can know what they're here for.

Immediately, the entire mountain road became chaotic, and the sound of palace people screaming and screaming was accompanied by the sound of shouting and killing.

The guards brought out this time were all elites, and when they saw that they were attacked, they reacted quickly, and gradually moved closer to Su Mi's carriage as the center, facing the attackers.

Su Mi couldn't see the slightest outside scene in the carriage, and after the first arrow, the window suddenly dimmed, and it was Ni Tingxuan's figure blocking the window.

She only heard a series of arrows breaking through the air, followed by the sound of "clanging" one after another, apparently the bows and arrows shot by the attackers were blocked by Ni Tingxuan with his sword.

How so? Who is it? Ordinary bandits, impossible, Daqi's martial arts at home and abroad over the years are commendable, in big cities, especially near the capital, there are absolutely no large bandits lurking. And even if there were, they wouldn't attack the royal concubine's car like this. So who would risk killing their heads to intercept themselves, looking at the arrow just now, it is clear that they want their own lives!

their own enemies...... Is it only because of my pampering these days?

It's Ni Guifei, no! Outside, Ni Tingxuan is in charge of guarding there, and no matter how ruthless Ni Guifei is, she will not take her brother's life and future in order to deal with an insignificant opponent for her favor.

It's the queen, it must be her. Su Mi panicked, she actually wanted her own life, what should she do now? I will be in the palace in the future......

Forget it, it's such a time, and he is still busy analyzing these conspiracies, Su Mi couldn't help but smile bitterly, I don't know if I can escape this catastrophe this time, and I will think about countermeasures when I survive.

At this time, seeing that the bow and arrow were no longer effective, the attackers outside had already jumped off the cliff. From the gap between Ni Tingxuan's demeanor, Su Mi could vaguely see that the attackers and the guards had exchanged hands. If you talk purely about martial arts, it is naturally the guards who have the upper hand, but this time I left the palace, but I only brought thirty guards to protect me. At this time, in the face of hundreds of attackers, in less than a while, a lot of them were killed, where did the female officials of the palace people of the Shangyi Bureau have seen such a bloody killing scene in front of them, one by one crying father and mother, fleeing in embarrassment, the attackers were stabbed one by one, and in the blink of an eye, half of Tai died in Huangquan.

Shouts of killing, cries, swords clashing...... It came from this long-secluded mountain road.

Su Mi looked at the scene in front of him in shock, this was a far more real and bloody battle than the scene of the assassins in Tianxiangyuan, especially this time, he became the main target of the assassins, instead of waiting for an opportunity to move and look for an opportunity like that night. In front of me is the moment of your life and death!

The mountain path was narrow, and the Assassins surrounded the road on either side. They fought with the guards, and from time to time someone was even cut down from a mountain stream, and the shouts could not tell whether it was the guards or the attackers. Seeing that the guards could no longer hold on, the assassins gradually attacked this side.

Ni Tingxuan knew that if he continued like this, until his manpower was exhausted, it would be a dead end. Only choose the direction to break through, there are only two sides of the narrow mountain road, retreat, the assassins are heavy, according to their own strength can not rush over, because there are big trees on the road in front, there are fewer assassins guarding there, and they will go forward!

He immediately shouted to him, "Get on the horse and break through!" He slammed open the carriage door behind him.

Su Mi was sitting in the car, she looked at him in shock, and he didn't have time to tell the difference, so he immediately reached out and grabbed Su Mi's wrist, pulled her into his arms violently, and held her hard.

With a long roar, the horse's hooves were raised high, and Ni Tingxuan immediately galloped forward.

Lying on her solid shoulders, all she saw were stumps and broken arms, bloody killing fields, Su Mi only felt dizzy, at such a moment of crisis, she could only hug the person in front of her tightly, so that her body would not be shaky.

Although she had experienced the cruelty of defending the country and breaking the city, and experienced the thrill of a night in Tianxiangyuan, she had never been so close to the enemy's bright sword for a moment, and it was still stained with blood and meat scraps.

Ni Tingxuan's sword momentum spread out in twelve, and at the moment when his life was at stake, the silver light flickered, the sword roared and the dragon roared, and several assassins closest to the ground were slashed by this sharp slash in the blink of an eye, flesh and blood flew sideways, staggered to the ground, and the offensive of the assassins behind him suddenly stagnated.

Ni Tingxuan immediately stepped up his horse and rushed towards the periphery, but then the assassins surrounded him again.

There were fewer and fewer auxiliary guards around him, and Ni Tingxuan couldn't help but feel anxious. He protected Su Mi with his left hand, unable to fight the enemy, and after a few moves, soon the enemy discovered this defect, and more assassins surrounded him from the left, Ni Tingxuan barely supported while protecting Su Mi.

I only feel that the sword momentum is becoming more and more difficult to use, and I am afraid that the lives of the two of them will really be left here.

Immediately, he gritted his teeth fiercely, and the long sword stretched out violently, like a scattered light curtain, rolling towards the assassins around, and the assassins in front of him only felt that the blue light in front of him was dazzling, and he couldn't tell whether it was a sword blade or a sword light, and they retreated and dodged, Ni Tingxuan took the opportunity to urge the horses as hard as he could, and as the horses jumped up, across the big trees that blocked the way, the two rushed out.

"Oh no!" Seeing that their target this time was about to escape, several assassins were in a hurry, this time the mission was very important, if they were escaped, I am afraid that they would not be able to cover a few lives.

"Shoot the horse!" An assassin shouted loudly, and immediately everyone reacted, and immediately more than a dozen crossbow arrows were shot at Ni Tingxuan's back, Ni Tingxuan turned around to block the arrows, but the arrows shot at the horses below could not be completely blocked.

Several arrows immediately shot into the horse's body, no matter how battle-hardened the horse could not withstand such an attack, immediately, the horse stood up like frightened, Ni Tingxuan suddenly lost his balance, and the two were thrown out by this sudden force.

Seeing that the two of them were about to fall to the ground, in mid-air, Ni Tingxuan turned to the side, vacating Su Mi's direction, but the other side lost his balance and slammed into the cliff wall on one side, Su Mi clearly heard a crisp sound, and the bones in his place must have been broken, she thought suddenly.

The assassins scrambled over the trees, and in the blink of an eye, they swarmed in, Ni Tingxuan couldn't help but smile bitterly when he saw the sword shining in front of him, he was afraid that he was really going to die here.

At this time, Su Mi was still in his arms, if he died with her, it would not be bad, between the swords and swords, he suddenly had such a thought.

Throughout the scene, the corpses of the assassins and the palace guards lay on the ground, among which the corpses of the assassins were more numerous. However, the number of assassins far exceeded the number of people in the convoy, and at this time most of the other guards had already died, only a few outstanding martial arts were still struggling to support themselves, scattered in battle, but they were all covered with wounds, and those palace officials who did not know martial arts were all mercilessly killed by the assassins on the spot.

Blatantly attacking the concubines' cars is tantamount to treason, and these assassins, no matter which side they are, will never be stupid enough to stay alive.

Ni Tingxuan tried his best to support while retreating, Su Mi was blocked by him, the two of them took a few steps back, the original mountain road was narrow, Su Mi hesitated, and did not look back, suddenly stepped into the air, and his body fell down.

She screamed, and there was a cliff below, and she only felt that she was about to fall down lightly, when a hand suddenly reached out from above and grabbed her tightly. It just stopped her from falling.

She raised her head in a panic, it was Ni Tingxuan, his dark eyes were looking at her, and there was anxious concern in his eyes. There was still blood splattered on his cheeks, and he didn't know if it was his own or the enemy's.

This fool! Turning around when facing the enemy?! Feeling the burning heat on her wrist, Su Mi's brain could barely turn, and she could only think in shock.

At this time, the assassin behind Ni Tingxuan chased after him, slashed down with a knife, and a muffled snort with suppressed pain came into his ears, and a series of scarlet blood stains splashed on Su Mi's face, which made people panic in their hearts.

Ni Tingxuan was hit by the force of the knife and stumbled forward, and then, the two of them didn't even have time to exclaim, they fell down together......