On August 11, Ciqing Palace was full of joy in the early morning. The eunuchs and palace maids put up lanterns to welcome the thirty-sixth birthday of their master, the first prince Zhu Changluo.

Soon, many officials in the East Palace congratulated the crown prince Zhu Changluo on his birthday. Zhu Changluo was dressed in brand new clothes and accepted the birthday congratulations of the officials with a smile on his face. Next to him stood two sons, one was Zhu Youxiao, who was about thirteen or fourteen years old, who later became the Emperor of the Apocalypse. The other was Zhu Youzhen, who was about eight or nine years old, that is, Emperor Chongzhen, the later king of the dead fruit.

Several eunuchs walked into Ciqing Palace, and the first two eunuchs were the eunuchs in Zheng Guifei's palace. One is called Pang Bao, and the other is Liu Cheng.

When they stepped into the main hall, they shouted: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince takes the order!" Zhu Changluo hurriedly led his two sons and all the officials to kneel down together to listen to the order. The eunuch Pang Bao coughed, and said in a sharp voice: "According to the emperor's command, the concubine Niangniang Yi, just because the emperor is ill, he can't come to congratulate." Now I am waiting to bring the birthday gift prepared by the emperor and the concubine to congratulate. Zhu Changluo said respectfully: "Thank you, Lord Longen!" ”

Zhu Changluo and the others stood up. Zhu Changluo said again: "I don't know if the emperor's dragon body is not safe, and the palace will visit it now." Pang Bao smiled: "Your Highness still don't go." The emperor is in the palace of the concubine. Carefully cared for by the mother, the emperor's dragon body will definitely recover. What's more, when the slave just left the palace, the emperor was still resting in bed. ”

Zhu Changluo said with a smile: "Since there is a queen mother to take care of it, this palace is much more relieved." When my father's spirit improves, I will go to visit my father again. Pang Bao nodded and said, "The emperor must understand His Royal Highness's filial piety." ”

Zhu Changluo waved his hand and said, "Come here, prepare a seat for the two fathers-in-law." Pang Bao and Liu Cheng bowed down and said with a smile: "Your Highness's birthday, the slaves should have stayed to accompany you, but the slaves still have to return to the mother's will, I am afraid that they can't delay it for too long, and I hope that Your Highness will forgive your sins." ”

Zhu Changluo's face was uncertain, Pang Bao and Liu Cheng saw this, and hurriedly smiled: "Although Niangniang's decree must be returned, His Royal Highness can't help but drink this cup of longevity wine." They poured wine, knelt on their knees, held their wine glasses high with both hands, looked up at Zhu Changluo, and said respectfully: "The servant toasts His Highness to celebrate his birthday." After drinking the cup of wine of the minion, His Royal Highness will live forever and enjoy eternal health! ”

Zhu Changluo immediately relieved: "Okay! He took his glass and drank it down. Pang Bao and Liu Cheng also drank it in one gulp, stood up, and said, "The slave takes his leave!" Zhu Changluo said with a smile: "Go back to thank my father and mother for the great gift of the palace!" Pang Baoha said: "Definitely! Certain! ”

Zhu Changluo sat in the right position under the support of everyone. Someone outside the hall shouted: "Princess Shouning and the concubine congratulate His Royal Highness on his birthday." Zhu Changluo clapped his hands and smiled: "The royal sister is here!" He stood up to greet him.

I saw a pair of jeweled couples walking hand in hand. Princess Shouning said: "I wish the imperial brother blessings such as the East China Sea, and longevity than Nanshan!" The horse master said: "I wish the imperial brother a long life, the sun and the moon!" Zhu Changluo was already smiling.

Princess Shouning took the brocade box from the palace maid behind her and presented it: "Brother Huang, the courtier sister has a little heart, and I hope to smile." Zhu Changluo nodded with a smile and said, "It's good to come, why bother with the imperial sister!" Take a seat! The eunuch beside him took the congratulatory gift from Princess Shouning and slowly retreated.

Someone outside the hall shouted: "Princess Tiantai congratulates Her Highness on his birthday." Before Zhu Changluo was seated, a girl about eighteen or nineteen years old walked into the main hall.

I saw that she was dressed in red high-grade satin, her face was like a peach blossom, and her hair was in a bun with gold and silver, which looked even more noble and elegant. Although it does not have the appearance of a country and a city, it is better than ordinary people. This Tiantai princess is the youngest among the daughters of Emperor Wanli, also known as the ninth princess, and was born to Zheng Guifei.

I have loved this girl since I was a child, and I treat her differently from other daughters. Princess Tiantai has the love of her father and the emperor, and the queen mother supports her behind her, so she becomes very self-conscious, and does not take other concubines and princesses in her eyes, even the vassal king and the prince also look like they want to ignore it.

Zhu Changluo didn't expect this little imperial sister to come, and it was difficult to say anything for a while. Princess Tiantai moved the lotus step, and said with a smile: "Congratulations to the royal brother for his longevity and Tianqi!" Zhu Changluo smiled and said: "The imperial sister can come, of course I am happy to be the imperial brother." Princess Tiantai turned her head slightly and said, "Don't offer it yet!" The tone was not as soft as before.

She was followed by two palace maids, one of whom held a scroll in her hand, and hurriedly walked over and knelt in front of Zhu Changluo, raising the scroll with both hands. Princess Tiantai said: "Brother Huang, this is the picture of Tang Yin's lady in this dynasty. It took a lot of hard work to find it and present it to the royal brother. As a birthday gift. The gift is light, please forgive me! ”

Tang Yin was the first painter of the Ming Dynasty, and his works are masterpieces. The world is known as "six such as the pen on the hand, wash its hook study, rejuvenate the gods." "His fine pen characters, especially the ladies, have a delicate and meticulous brushwork, chic and elegant, which can be called the pinnacle.

Zhu Changluo knew that Tang Yin's authentic works were hard to find, and he still had no Tang Yin's works in his hands, so he felt very regretful. How could he not be excited to get Tang Yin's authentic work today. Zhu Changluo took it and said, "The imperial sister is so polite, take a seat quickly!" ”

Princess Tiantai slowly walked over to a young man and coughed lightly at the person sitting next to him. The man was amused, and hurriedly gave up his seat to her. The princess sat down with a grin. The young man had already bowed respectfully to the princess of Tiantai, and said goodbye.

Princess Tiantai waved her sleeves and said with a smile: "Lord Xu doesn't have to be polite, sit down!" "The young man's surname is Xu Mingkuang, and he was appointed to the position of Taichangqing after Xu Da, the founding general of the Ming Dynasty. Xu Kuang confessed and sat down.

Princess Tiantai said, "When did Lord Xu come?" Xu Kuang replied: "The minister has just arrived. Princess Tiantai said with a smile: "I heard that Lord Xu is a handsome person, and it is true to see it today." Xu Kuang said in fear: "The minister is a despicable person, and the princess praised it falsely." Princess Tiantai said: "I don't know if Lord Xu has a wife?" Xu Kuang said: "The minister has never married a wife. ”

Princess Tiantai laughed and did not speak again. Xu Kuang wondered why Princess Tiantai would ask him about his marriage, and he unconsciously looked at Princess Tiantai, and it happened that Princess Tiantai winked at him and smiled. Xu Kuang hurriedly didn't start, his chest was pounding, and he couldn't calm down for a long time.

Zhu Changluo ushered in many royal relatives again, and the entire hall was already full of friends. The wine and food were already on the table, Zhu Changluo looked left and right, as if he was looking for someone, and muttered: "Where is this little girl Ajuan?" There was no figure to be seen. Wang An, the eunuch beside him, bowed his head and said softly, "Master, can you have a banquet?" Zhu Changluo said: "The county lord hasn't come yet, wait a minute." Wang An said: "Master, the guests have arrived, and if there is no more banquet, the food will be cold." It's better for the slave to send someone to the county lord's mansion to take a look, maybe the county lord is already on the way. Let's eat and wait. What do you think? ”

Zhu Changluo saw that the two sides of the hall were already full of royal relatives, high-ranking officials and nobles, sitting one by one waiting for him to speak, so he said loudly: "Banquet!" The crowd shouted and began to eat the delicacies on the table.

Princess Tiantai didn't seem to be interested in eating, but kept sneaking at Xu Kuang with her eyes. Xu Kuang had already found out, so he was like a thorn in his back, fidgeting, and had to bury his head in eating and drinking.

Zhu Youxiao knelt in front of Zhu Changluo and took out a wooden villain from his sleeve. But seeing the little wooden man kneeling, face down, holding a banner high with both hands, his expression was extremely respectful. Zhu Changluo took it in his hand and watched it carefully, and the banner had a few small characters written on it, "Fengyu Shangshou". Zhu Changluo was overjoyed and said, "Wonderful! Wonderful! Wonderful! My son is good at craftsmanship and proud of my son! ”

Zhu Youxiao said: "As long as the father is happy, the son will be satisfied." He also said, "Father, my son has prepared a song and dance to celebrate your birthday." Zhu Changluo said softly: "My son not only has wonderful craftsmanship, but also has such filial piety. It's not in vain for your father to hurt you. Zhu Youxiao stood up and glanced at the little eunuch standing at the foot of the steps. The little eunuch flew out of the main hall.

Soon, a team of musicians walked in and knelt down to congratulate Zhu Changluo on his birthday. Zhu Changluo nodded happily. The group slowly retreated into the corner. Everyone in the hall is known to have singing and dancing, and they are all waiting for the singer to appear.

Orr, the elegant music sounded. At first, the light flute is melodious, sometimes high and sometimes low, gracefully listening, and then the sound of the piano follows like a wave, and the sound of the flute complements each other. Soon, other instruments were also played. The various instruments merge together to create a magnificent picture. And all the people in the temple were like on a boat of leaves, going up and down with the waves.

Some people even close their eyes and can't help but hit the dishes with their chopsticks to feel the beautiful music. Everyone listened attentively and reveled in it. As soon as the music stopped, everyone couldn't help but sigh why the wonderful concert stopped so quickly.

Hearing only the sound of "dong qiang", a grimace poked out of the door of the main hall, and everyone was bluffed. The grimace turned out to be a mask, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

A young girl wearing a long green dress and combed into a butterfly bun walked into the main hall. She was followed by eight maidens dressed like her. They lined up in a long line and walked into the main hall with a light gait. The same height, the same fat and thin, the same pace, although they wear masks, but looking at their elegant figures, their faces must be beautiful.

The music slowly sounded again, and the group of girls began to dance, their movements neat and elegant, their bodies soft, like lotus leaves in a pond, dancing in the wind, which was refreshing.

It was refreshing for everyone to listen not only to the beautiful music, but also to watch the elegant dance. Suddenly, a burst of incense wafted from outside the hall, like Lan Fei Lan, like a musk deer, from far to near, more and more intense. The dancing girl in the temple fell to her knees with her legs on the ground, her upper body lying back on her back, forming a circle, and her hands making waves in the air.

I don't know who said "Huh", everyone looked outside the hall, and saw a girl standing outside the hall. She was also masked, with long black hair in a shawl, and the breeze caressed her hair. A long flaming red dress dragged the ground. Her graceful figure curled towards the center of the main hall, standing in the circle of dancing queens, like a delicate hibiscus flower blooming.

The girl's delicate waist began to dance with the music, a pair of tender hands slowly raised, revealing a pair of white and silky hands, her right leg was slowly raised, her soft body was slightly tilted back, and her long black and beautiful hair fluttered in the wind. The grace of her figure, the grace of her movements, and the grace of her dancing are breathtaking.

Zhu Changluo looked at the girl, as if she was familiar and unfamiliar, déjà vu, eager to see her face under the mask. Zhu Youxiao looked at his father as if he was fascinated, and he couldn't help but purse his lips and smile. In fact, none of the people present wanted to take off their masks and see the girl's jade face.

The girl danced all over her body, and flew among the flowers like butterflies with nine dancing girls. It was as if they were dancing with butterflies among the flowers. The music began to play in full force, and the girl slowly merged with the nine dancing girls, dancing hand in hand, but the difference in her costume and hair bun was particularly eye-catching. From the moment she entered, the eyes of everyone in the hall had never left her.

When the music reaches the boiling point, it stops "quack". The nine dancing girls quickly took off their masks, knelt down together, hugged their hands around their waists, and the voice of the light warbler swallow came into everyone's ears, "Congratulations to His Royal Highness the Prince, green bamboo, and good fortune; Chunxuan and luxuriant, pine and cypress in the same spring! ”

Zhu Changluo was overjoyed when he heard this, clapped his hands and said, "Okay! You can say that again! Come on, reward them! The nine dancing girls said in unison: "Thank you, Your Royal Highness the Prince, for the reward!" Then he slowly retreated, leaving only the girl in red standing in the middle.

The girl stretched out her slender hand to remove the mask, and everyone in the hall held their breath and widened their eyes to see what a stunning face was hidden under the mask. The mask was slowly taken off, it was a suffocating beautiful face, a face as white as snow was inlaid with a pair of crystal clear eyes like black pearls, under the high jade nose was a pink jade lip that made people infinitely reverie, a sharp chin, she smiled slightly, and the jade lips were gently curled, so that the viewer was full of blood and thoughts.