After the palace banquet that day, the house seemed to fall into a terrible silence. Daddy shirked that night and promised that he was too tired and late at night, so he went back to his room to rest. The eldest lady saw that Daddy's face was gloomy, so she comforted me a few words and followed Daddy. I looked at the back of the eldest lady leaving, and somehow became melancholy.

When I returned to the room with Zhihong, Zhihong was still immersed in the joy of me being named the lord of the county, and slowly removed the hairpin ring for me, and was also very puzzled by the sad faces of Daddy and the eldest lady.

"Miss, I am the lord of the county, and there are two thousand households of food. Isn't that a good thing? It is a reflection of the emperor's emphasis on the Sun family, why are the generals and eldest ladies very unhappy? On the carriage just now, the slaves saw the general's face pale. ”

The sound of expensive jewelry falling on the red sandalwood plate one by one was very pleasant, and my body was much more relaxed. I sighed softly, "Silly childish, where in this world is there no reason to be punished, besides, don't you think that everything tonight seems to have been premeditated and happened too smoothly?" ”

The lipstick on my mouth is still distinct, and my brow is tightly knit in the bronze mirror.

"Maybe Your Majesty thinks that the general's hard work is high, and for the sake of the general, he also rewarded the young lady?" The little red mouth fluttered and was still entangled with me about the sudden reward of tonight.

I gently wiped the flower on my forehead, "If it is a reward, I have a brother and an eldest lady above me, why don't you reward them, but only a young lady who is unknown in Kyoto?" ”

"Hmm... This.. The immature red gradually came back to me in my words, shaking my head and thinking hard, this silly girl.

I let out a long sigh, and the exhaustion of the banquet hit me like a tidal wave, overflowing my body. Yawned sleepily, "That's it, it's the rain of swords and swords or the snake swamp quagmire that you have to face." It's late at night, so let's rest. ”

Lying in bed, the silence of the night. It was so quiet that I could hear my own heartbeat, stroking the hosta that my mother had left me, and I gradually fell asleep with incomprehensible thoughts.

Early in the morning, after greeting the eldest lady, I stayed at the eldest lady's place for breakfast, and soon my father also sat down together. The family that used to be lively at breakfast is now silent, each with their own thoughts.

Daddy's face is not as ugly as last night, and the eldest lady is still indifferent, and she is calm and will not let people find faults.

I also felt the same taste as chewing wax for a while, and a good breakfast was finally over. I silently served Daddy with tea, and stood aside wringing my hands uneasily.

The eldest lady's eyes wandered back and forth between me and Daddy, and she coughed lightly. Daddy put down the teacup and turned to look at me. "Xiao Qi, you come to the study with your father." I saw that Daddy finally talked to me, and my heart relaxed a lot. At least Daddy is going to discuss with me about entering the palace after all. I nodded, "Yes." ”

As Daddy walked through the eldest lady's Moon Pavilion, he walked through the corridors all the way. As the sun went up, it started to heat up. But the flowers and plants in the garden were in full bloom, a creeper poked out of the wall, and the cicadas began to make noise.

I looked at Daddy's back, and the broad shoulders used to be a good help for me to watch the lanterns when I was a child. Daddy has loved me since I was born, and I was still an infant. Daddy was busy with official business, and sometimes he would sneak into my room late at night to see me a few times when I was asleep, and then go back to my room to settle in, which scared the nursing mother who took care of me several times.

Outside Daddy's study, there is a tall poplar, which is not common in Guanzhong. It was my father who planted it when I was born, because it is the most common tree in my mother's hometown, and he also hopes that I will be as resilient as poplar in the wind and sand, and still stand. But the climate in Guanzhong is still far from that outside Guanzhong, so it is very difficult for Populus euphratica to grow, and I heard Feng's mother say that there is still a red buried for my daughter below.

Daddy wasn't a reader from the beginning, so there weren't many books in the room. It's just that after the enlightenment of the elder brother, three bookshelves were added for the needs of the elder brother, and the father often said that reading makes people feel the same humanity and know virtue. Therefore, he is very attentive to the homework of our brothers and sisters, and often says that he does not want our brothers and sisters to be like him, just a big man who can handle knives and guns, and only after tomorrow will he waste a lot of effort to learn Chinese and calligraphy.

Daddy sat down in the middle of the case, and the good smell of agarwood incense was burning next to him. "Xiao Qi, what do you think about last night's incident?"

Xiao Qi had no other ideas, only felt that the imperial power was inviolable. His Majesty asked Xiao Qi to be a righteous daughter to enter the palace to accompany Concubine Chen, and Xiao Qi went. "I poured tea for Daddy," but Xiao Qi didn't understand why His Majesty arranged it like this, or why it had to be his daughter? ”

Daddy took a shallow sip of tea, "Well, yes, worthy of being my daughter." Not carried away by the gifts. I smiled and couldn't deny it. I thought about it all night last night, and I had no way of knowing what His Majesty was thinking. Such a sudden gift is too frightened, and it is not a blessing for the father. Daddy sighed and waved me to sit down. You're not too old this year, and the palace is complicated, and I don't want you to go through that kind of muddy water once. Usually because of his military exploits in the court, because of his friendship with His Majesty, he has long been exposed to many guns and arrows. Therefore, on weekdays, I instruct the eldest lady that if it is not a necessary banquet, I will not take you out to show your face, and I will rarely let you associate with other eunuchs, in order to restrain your edge. ”

My heart was sad for a while, Daddy never talked to me about this. When I was a child, I was angry with my father many times because he rarely let me participate in the Keju party, but now it seems that he is a person in a high position, walking on thin ice, and he considers and cares for his children in every way.

"Xiao Qi, your aunt went early. For so many years, I grew up loving you as a pearl. I thought that I would wait for you and Lu to find a good man soon to protect the stability of your life, but now things have changed. But don't be afraid, child, if you don't want to, Daddy will go and intercede with Your Majesty, and no county lord will be more important than your well-being. ”

At this moment, my eyes are full of tears, Daddy's age is getting older, and his sideburns have long been born. is a mighty general on weekdays, but at this moment, he lowered his posture for his little daughter and sought her fulfillment.

"Daddy..." I tried my best to restrain my emotions, "Daddy and Auntie gave birth to me, and the eldest lady treated me like a parent and child for many years and taught me carefully. If I encounter a little wind and waves, I have to hide behind Daddy and let Daddy help me deal with everything, then Daddy and the eldest lady will be in vain! ”

I looked into Daddy's eyes and said to him seriously: "That's the palace, you can't do cannibalism." Xiao Qi has been learning etiquette and getting along with people for many years. I will be cautious and cautious, so that Daddy and the eldest lady can rest assured. ”

Daddy's eyes were also slightly red, "Child, how can Daddy be willing to give you up." I poured the tea cup again, "Daddy, don't be afraid, Xiao Qi will come back." ”

After a long silence, Daddy sighed. I cautiously asked the doubts in my heart: "Daddy, now there are only you and me in the study, in fact, it's been a long time, Xiao Qi wants to ask you something." Daddy nodded and motioned for me to continue.

"Your Majesty and Daddy have known each other since the time of the hidden dragon, and they have been close friends since they were young. Even the current Yanqi Dynasty was laid down together, and I even remember that His Majesty rode a big horse for me with a young man and bought sugar gourds to eat. Why did Your Majesty ascend the throne and Daddy became a general, but the two of you became more and more polite and alienated? ”

The water on the stove was boiling hot, the steam wafted in the study, and the face of the hooded father was hazy. "Your Majesty is no longer the seller I used to be, and I am no longer an obscure soldier in the ranks. In this world, the most unpredictable thing is the human heart. Xiao Qi, you have to remember that Uncle Zhou Yuan, who went to the lamp market with you behind his back and cried for you to buy sugar gourds, is long gone. Now it is only Emperor Kang Yuan of Yanqi who invites you to the palace. ”

Daddy's words were as cold as ice on the corridor in December, but they also had a taste of regret and resentment. Yes, Your Majesty and Daddy, and I, when did you become polite, as if nothing had happened, as if nothing had happened.

"Yes, Xiao Qi knows." In fact, the answer has been so long, I have guessed a few points. But when it came out of Daddy's mouth, I always felt very regretful. I regret that in my memory, the days when Daddy and Uncle Zhou Yuan took advantage of the moonlight to drink and talk at night no longer existed.

After I came out of Daddy's study, the sun shone warmly on my body. I touched the poplar in front of the door, and I told my eldest lady to let me go to Mochizuki Xuan after lunch.

As the sun went down, the eldest lady handed me several scrolls of portraits. "There are many complicated people in the palace, and the relationships in them are inextricably linked, and you have never seen them all. This is the portrait of the people I can think of in the palace that you will meet, and these people will have to talk to you in detail. ”

I slowly unfolded the first volume, and a beautiful woman appeared in front of me. "Big lady, isn't this Concubine Chen, I've seen it at the banquet."

The eldest lady took a sip of tea, "Yes, this is Concubine Chen." Just because you've seen it doesn't mean you're familiar with it. The eldest lady's henchman, Aunt Lan, unfolded the scroll, and the eldest lady pointed to the smiling beauty on the scroll and said, "Concubine Chen's background is a mystery, and no one knows where she came from to this day.

But you should also see that she is not from the Central Plains. A woman can be pampered for many years and be pampered alone, it is by no means a thing in the pool, you have to pay attention to her. People in the palace say that she likes to be quiet, loves to listen to Hu music, and is good at dancing, but she rarely shows herself in front of people. It's not good for luxury, and I don't like to socialize with people, so I don't make friends with other ladies in the palace. She is very picky about her diet, so the cooks in her palace are always changing and changing. Do you remember? ”

I nodded, it turned out that Concubine Chen was actually an iceberg beauty.

Then Aunt Lan unfolded four picture scrolls and placed them on the shelves one after another, all of them were beautiful women. "These four are the four ladies except Concubine Chen, and their titles are Virtue, Virtuous, Shu, and Liang. Now that the position of the middle palace is vacant, although His Majesty intends to be a concubine, the ministers will let the middle palace be unattended. These four ladies have been under Concubine Chen for a long time, and many of them are from famous families, and they are looking forward to the next position, and there must be turbulent dark waves. ”

The eldest lady looked at a half-masked woman lying lazily on the beauty couch with embroidered begonia flowers. Even if it is half covered, it is difficult to resist the beautiful appearance. A pair of charming eyes are like silk, as if staring straight at the painter through the picture scroll. The small face is slightly emaciated by the point, which adds a point of delicateness. The green silk was scattered behind him at will, taking advantage of the snow-white complexion. A jade arm holds a fan, and a ring of jade bracelets hangs.

"This is Mrs. De, the daughter of the Ning family, the Duke of Rongguo. His father was a veteran of the Three Dynasties, and he had protégés all over the court. Before Concubine Chen, everyone thought that the queen or this person gave birth to the second son Bo Heng. He is easy-going and strict. He is proficient in poetry, painting and music. "Aunt Lan unfolded another portrait under Mrs. De, a man with eyes like stars and eyebrows like sharp swords." This is the second son of the emperor, Bo Heng, sixteen years old, good at riding and shooting, good character, and decisive action. I nodded thoughtfully.

"This is Mrs. Xian, Fang's family, the daughter of the Huizhou Mansion." Mrs. Xian holds a lotus flower in her hand and stands by the pool. The body is slightly petite, with moon-white clothes, a little round mole in the center of the forehead, and a pair of autumn pupils under two clusters of curved eyebrows. "Gentle in character and gentle in dealing with others. He likes Jiangnan food, reads poetry and books, and has no children. ”

The eldest lady took a break and took a sip of tea.

"The third is Mrs. Shu, Yu's family, the sister of Dr. Yu Xin. Straightforward and generous. But his health is not good, and he takes medicinal stones all year round. did not make friends with Mrs. De, and gave birth to the third son of the emperor, Zhongjin. "As I approached the portrait, the lady smiled brightly and her face was like a moon. Sitting upright on a mahogany circle chair, the powder blue bijia is covered with a white inner skirt, and the cuffs are rolled with a circle of orchid embroidery. Although her appearance is not so beautiful compared to the other two ladies, she is thoughtful and very delicate. And her son Zhong Jin jumped on the horse, showing that he was burly. A spear is not sassy, a young man in fresh clothes and angry horses. "Zhongjin, the third son of the emperor, likes martial arts, and sometimes he often competes with your father. Your father once praised him, and he might go on to do great things in the army. Xiaoqi, have you remembered? ”

I nodded, "Well, I remember." ”

The eldest lady also came to the portrait with me, pointed to the last one and said, "This is Mrs. Liang, the daughter of the lord of the Baiyue Kingdom. She married His Majesty because of His Majesty's alliance with the Baiyue Kingdom, and the Baiyue Kingdom sent troops to conquer for His Majesty. Mrs. Liang has a good temperament, and some palace people once stole her palace property to sell, and after being caught, she should be executed according to the law. But when she heard that the palace people were going to support her sick and weak mother, she burst into tears, exempted herself from punishment, and sent someone to heal her, which is a good story in the palace. ”

I couldn't help but feel respect when I looked at the woman in the painting dressed in a foreign costume, dressed in dark blue, embroidered with regular and unfamiliar totems and patterns. On his head he wore a large silver crown that glowed white. Beneath the crown of the head is a face with deep facial features and eyes like a deep pool. Although she didn't smile, she was as stubborn as Aoxue's red plum, and her two long eyebrows made her a little more heroic.

"At the beginning, Mrs. Liang was a foreign woman, and Baiyue was also known as a wild place, so she actually made a lot of enemies in the palace. But because of the theft, everyone began to praise other virtues, and now Mrs. Liang also has a certain status in the palace. She also made friends with other ladies at the same time, giving birth to Ji Lin, the fourth son of the emperor, who did not like to socialize with people, but was favored by Emperor Yuan. Originally, she also had a daughter, but unfortunately died of illness. ”

I can't help but sigh that Mrs. Liang has good character, but she has to go through the pain of losing her daughter, and God is always unfair. The fourth son of the emperor, Ji Lin, inherited his mother's beautiful handsomeness, and unlike the tall and burly other princes, he seemed to be thinner.

The eldest lady waved her hand, and Aunt Lan put away the scrolls one by one. I was slightly puzzled, "Does Your Majesty only have one concubine and four ladies?" The eldest lady nodded, "Yes, there are no other concubines." ”

I will think of what Emperor Yuan said that night, "But didn't Your Majesty say that he has four sons, and the four ladies here only have three princes." ”

The eldest lady walked to the front of the desk, pulled out a scroll and slowly unfolded it. I approached and took a closer look, "This is the eldest prince Shuyou, his mother is the silver family who died three months before His Majesty ascended the throne, it is rumored that he has a bewitching appearance, and he dances in Kyoto, and he is from Buyeo country. Because her mother came from a humble background and was a dancer of the Sile Workshop, she has never been canonized. With that, the eldest lady handed me the scroll.

The person in the painting seems to have a thousand sorrows between his eyebrows, and he wrinkles slightly. Although the expression on his face is gloomy, it can't cover his handsome appearance, his facial features are three-dimensional and just right, his thin lips are slightly pursed, and he seems to have lost patience with the portrait, but his appearance is so good-looking, it can be seen that his mother should be a great beauty.

"Shu You is often ignored in the palace because of his biological mother, and little is known about him. But there was an old woman who went out of the palace and said that he had a strange personality and didn't like places where there were many people. He is a good drinker and can play the musical instruments of Buyeo country. The eldest lady said this, and put away the scroll. I looked at the handsome face that was slowly closed, and I became curious about this great prince.

The eldest lady sat back in the circle chair, looked at me thoughtfully, and said, "Xiao Qi, this is the person you may see often in the future, do you remember everything?" "I came back to my senses and bowed slightly." Remembered. ”

The eldest lady nodded with satisfaction, "By the way, there are two other people, both of whom you have seen." A county lord who is the same as you, is the daughter of Emperor Yuan's uncle Hong Xuan, the county lord of Lingxi, Zhou Shuning. She had entered the palace three years ago, and she said to the outside world that she had entered the palace to educate her. There is also Liang Yunzhi, who is good friends with you. ”

I let out a sigh of surprise and felt upset. Zhou Shuning was favored by the princess because of his old age, and his personality was arrogant and domineering, and he went to the banquet with him when he was a child, because he had to fight with me with the white hosta on his head, and his nose was blue and his face was swollen. Although afterwards, the two adults said that it was just childish and unreasonable, and laughed it off. But I never got along with her. Just stay away. "Sister Yunzhi is also going to enter the palace?"

"Well, Madame de asked her to go too. Her father was a student of Mrs. De's father, and now the official is Shaoqing of Dali Temple, and has been reused by the emperor, the future official fortune should be prosperous all the way, maybe Mrs. De is considering the candidate for the imperial concubine for her son. You and Yun Zhi are good friends, and you can take care of each other in the palace. ”

I can't help but laugh at the thought that Sister Yunzhi may become the imperial concubine, with her temperament, she may become a happy couple.

The eldest lady looked at me with a smile on her face, coughed twice and motioned for me to sit down. Aunt Lan served tea, which was a cup of good Biluochun. "After your father suppressed the Yundu rebellion, Yundu also sent his second son to Yanqi to be a proton. It's just that we can't hear any news about this foreign world, so Xiao Qi, you have to pay attention to it yourself. ”

Proton? It seems that my life will be really colorful in the future.

After the introductions in turn, it was almost dinner time, and during this time, I had to get to know the officials and commanders in charge of each palace and department, and my mind filled the entire palace for a while.

After the eldest lady had dinner, the eldest lady told me that I would start learning the etiquette of the palace tomorrow, and this time it would be more rigorous than the last time I went to the palace for a banquet, and there was still a lot to learn. I'm tired today, so let me rest as soon as possible.

Back in my Mirror Mountain Pavilion, I was so tired that I lay straight on the couch before my dress faded. I secretly complained in my heart, and the bold words I said to my father in the morning have disappeared by three points at this moment, this is just the beginning, and I want to retreat.

Zhihong changed my clothes, shoes and socks for me, and excitedly told me more wild history anecdotes that she had inquired about. But I was still sleepy, my eyelids were fighting, and I fell into a deep sleep after a few muffled mmmmm

The faces of everyone in the portrait flashed in the dream, and I don't know how God will arrange my acquaintance and entanglement with them, I just hope that I can live a year or two in peace, and then return to Daddy's side.