Han Lian quietly pushed the door in, and glanced at the room, Zhang Yan was lying quietly on the couch, her black hair was scattered, and her face was pale and weak.

"How's the mother doing now?"

"Shh," Fuyao gently stopped her and said, "When Mrs. Hou went just now, Niangniang fainted, and now she is still asleep." ”

They are now staying at Zhang Yan's residence in the Hou Mansion before she left the pavilion. When Lu Yuan passed away before, the furniture of the Hou Mansion was slightly cleaned up, and the festive curtains were put away, and now they are all laid out in blue-gray color.

Zhang Yan clasped her hands and lay on the couch on her chest, her brows furrowed slightly, as if she was in a coma, still having uncomfortable thoughts, and suddenly snorted, a teardrop fell from the corner of her eye.

"Niangniang," Han Lian hurriedly stepped forward to help Zhang Yan sit up from the couch.

Zhang Yan pressed her forehead and smiled, "I just seemed to have had a dream, but I dreamed that A-Niang was gone, I was really confused." ”

Her voice became smaller and smaller, and gradually closed down, seeing the sad expressions on the faces of Han Lian and Fuyao, and the familiar decorations and makeup around the room, she gradually realized some things,

"Is it true?"

Tears welled up in her eyes. Until now, she still couldn't believe that Lu Yuan had really left her.

From now on, no one will look at themselves so tenderly, calling "Ah Yan"; There is no one to admonish his words and deeds, but only for his own well; No one rushes between the two houses to intercede when he makes a mistake; No one caress their green silk with love and reluctance, and says: "It is my greatest happiness to have Yan'er and you in this life." ”

Zhang Yan hugged her knees and sobbed, and could still vaguely hear the palace people around her persuading, "Queen Mother, please mourn." After a long while, Fang calmed down. He said, "Change my mourning clothes." ”

"Queen Mother," Han Lian and Fuyao were stunned and persuaded, "The slave knows that after the death of Mrs. Hou, the Queen Mother is sad and sad. However, wearing mourning clothes for Mrs. Hou is the business of the prince, and the queen does not have to serve filial piety for Mrs. Hou. ”

Zhang Yan changed color suddenly, "What do you mean?" ”

Thirty years ago, Qin Shi Huang burned books to pit Confucianism. The records of funeral texts were thus lost in that catastrophe. After the establishment of the Han Dynasty, when Shusun Tong formulated the etiquette, it did not involve the mourning dress system. Now. Decades have passed, and the old man at that time has died, and the people of the time have long since forgotten what the funeral system is. In addition to being a direct elder, such as parents, the eldest parents need to observe some filial piety. The rest of the mourning system has long ceased to be practiced.

In other words, after the death of Princess Lu Yuan, the only person in the entire Xinping Marquis Mansion who needs to serve her filial piety is Zhang Yan, the son of the world. Even the Marquis of Xin Pinghou himself did not insist that he must be filial piety for his deceased wife.

After so many years in Dahan, Zhang Yan is not unaware of the implementation of these funeral systems.

"But that's my mother."

She raised her voice. "I volunteered to keep a year's filial piety for her, can't I?"

Come to think of it, this life. Grandma is as kind to her as the sea, but she doesn't seem to be able to do anything for her to repay her kindness. Excessive gratitude and guilt were entangled in her heart, and it gradually burned into a smoldering fire, which made her heart very uncomfortable. The so-called "trees want to be quiet but the wind does not stop." The son wants to raise but does not wait. It is already the most painful thing in life. If in the end, she can't even get the opportunity to express her sorrow for her mother, how can she, a child, be at ease?

Qu Changyu and Shi Nan glanced at each other, both at a loss, and then set their eyes on the female history who was accompanying them.

Shen Dongshou put down the pen in his hand, closed Tong Shi, and admonished, "Niangniang, you really can't mourn for Mrs. Hou." "The female historian is in charge of the queen's courtesy and has the duty to advise the queen's words and deeds at any time. Shen Dongshou said eloquently,

"The pre-Qin dynasty has handed down: 'The princes are extinct, and the doctors are unrestrained.' Everyone is the son of heaven of the Han Dynasty, and the king is in the world, except for the direct elders such as the first emperor, the queen mother, and the emperor who serves filial piety, the rest, even if they are sisters, are also collateral after all. It is not possible to serve filial piety for Princess Lu Yuan. The queen and everyone are husband and wife, and they should not serve filial piety to Mrs. Hou. Speaking of which, in the second year of the previous year, Chenghou died, and His Majesty did not keep filial piety for his maternal uncle. ”

Zhang Yan almost closed her breath, her eyes darkened, and she said patiently, "Even if what you said makes sense." But that's my mother. She treated me like a mountain, and now that she has passed away, how can I be a child and have no heart at all? ”

……

The princess's family ordered Tu Tu to have tears in her eyes, and put on a clean shroud for Lu Yuan and combed her makeup.

Liu Ying untied the jade on his waist, the jade Jue is only three inches in size, made of high-grade Xiuyu, the whole body is green and transparent, the carved dragon and phoenix circling and flying patterns, the lines are lively, the momentum is vivid, and it is lifelike. "Give this dragon and phoenix jade of mine to Sister A and take it down."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Tu Tu thanked him and took it with red eyes. Gently replied, "No." ”

Liu Ying couldn't bear to stay any longer, so she walked out of the Qiushi Courtyard and stood under an osmanthus tree in the courtyard. At this time, it is still the turn of spring and summer, and the branches and leaves of the laurel tree are flourishing, and a breeze blows. Falling leaves flutter and fall in the wind. A crow flew by, and its voice was very mournful. Somehow, I suddenly recalled that when I was a teenager on Xingyang Road, Lu Yuan protected himself and said to his father, "Don't drive my brother, I'll just get out of the car." ”

At that time, Lu Yuan was only more than ten years old, and although his body was thin, his eyes were amazingly bright.

It has been a long time since he reigned over the world. The queen mother, Sister A is extremely honorable, and she is accompanied by Ah Yan, those long-term memories have long been gradually forgotten, I don't know what's wrong, and I recall it very clearly today. He and Lu Yuan's sister and brother have been together all their lives, and now, he is still alive, but Lu Yuan has passed away forever.

Han Changliu dismissed Xiao Huangmen and gently came to Liu Ying's side, "Everyone." ”

Liu Ying came back to her senses and turned her head to the shadows to hide the tears on her face, "What's the matter?" ”

Chang Lu was a little embarrassed, "The female official next to Niangniang came with the news, saying that the queen wanted to mourn Princess Yuan, and she was a little excited. ”

Liu Ying was stunned for a moment, and the corners of her lips couldn't help but curl up with a smile, "Ah Yan is very hearted." It's not in vain—"

"Go and tell the queen, mourner, 'It is better to mourn than to mourn if there is not enough courtesy.' And it is not enough to be polite and not enough to mourn. If she had a heart, she would not have kept this mourning...... Never mind. Liu Ying shook her hand again. said, "It's not going to work if you go and say it's going to work, I'll go and tell her myself." ”

“…… Ah Yan. I know your mind. Liu Ying pressed Zhang Yan's shoulder and persuaded, "I am also very uncomfortable about Sister's matter." Etiquette has its own reason, and in order to maintain the dignity of imperial power, it cannot be violated. But you and your mother-daughter have a deep relationship, and the human affection cannot be abolished. If you really don't want to go, why don't I join you and keep your heart and filial piety for your aunt. ”

The so-called filial piety. That is, they do not wear mourning clothes, but they should behave the same as during the period of filial piety.

Zhang Yan looked up at her husband, and the expression on her face softened little by little. Suddenly, he said, "Your Majesty,"

"—thank you."

"Stupid." Liu Ying brushed his wife's forehead, "That's not only your aunt, but also my sister." ”

Because of Lu Yuan's funeral. The Son of Heaven and the Empress debated the funeral system, each with different opinions, first asked Yu Doctor of Etiquette Gao Tangsheng, not a few, Dengshiqu Pavilion said: "Since Qin lost the way, the world has few funerals." The etiquette system is often unknown. Doctors, doctors, and students are talking about it. "The ministers talked about mourning clothes. Based on the "Funeral Rites" in the "Rites". Demonstrate the bereavement system and the bereavement behavior.

Zhang Yan also heard about these things when she was guarding filial piety in Jiaofang Palace.

In the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, there was a clear hierarchical distinction between mourning clothes and costumes, but the mourning period of relatives was the period from death to burial. "After the burial, I will be released." In later generations, the difference in mourning period formed by the distance of the service. That is, the three-year decay, the thirteen-month decline, and the September Dagong and other mourning periods are created by Confucianism. At this time, although Liu Ying and some people of insight in the imperial court saw the benefits of Confucianism, Confucianism was far from reaching the status of academic orthodoxy, and therefore, the cumbersome mourning period system was not accepted by the general public, and it was not recognized and respected in this Shiquge Conference.

In order to maintain the supreme imperial power, the principle of "the period of the Son of Heaven" was first established. However, the principle of "the princes are not on the sidelines, and the doctors are on the sidelines" was abandoned. Jia Yiyi, a doctor in Taizhong, strongly advocated this statement, believing that "the ministers and courtiers should be close to each other as their relatives." That is, the vassal kings and princes can no longer be regarded as kings of the world at this time. Therefore, except for the Son of Heaven, the uniform system of all people in the Han Dynasty should be no different from that of the Shu people.

Even if there is no saying that "the Son of Heaven is on the verge of extinction", Zhang Yan wants to wear mourning clothes for her mother, but she can't get it.

Her marriage with Liu Ying belongs to important relatives, and Lu Yuan is not only her mother, but also Liu Ying's sister. In this kind of secular marriage, it is customary to follow the code of affinity in daily salutation, that is, whichever title is more intimate is called.

According to this method, her aunt is a relative of her husband's family, and her maternal grandparents are relatives, so she should follow Liu Ying to call Emperor Xian as her father and queen, and Empress Lu as her mother, rather than her eldest father and grandmother in girlhood; But her parents are far more intimate than her husband and sister, and she can always call Lu Yuan as her mother. However, in the system of observance in which etiquette means solemnity, Gao Tangsheng, a doctor of etiquette, believes that if a marriage is entered into, the woman should be subordinate to her husband, not to her foreign relative. She can only serve the small filial piety of Lu Yuan's husband's sisters, not the filial piety of the married daughter for her mother.

Later generations later studied this period of history and believed that the Shiqu Pavilion Conference laid the groundwork for the later Han court's reduction of the feudal domain. But at that time, Liu Ying had no other intentions, and when she returned to the Jiaofang Palace, she saw Zhang Yan wearing a light blue Zen robe, sitting on a couch painted with silver and lacquer, looking at Lu Yuan's portrait in a daze.

"When A-Niang went, the spring flowers in Chang'an City had not yet bloomed. It's almost summer. As if hearing Liu Ying's arrival, Zhang Yan didn't look back, but said in a low voice, "This scene between the world, A-Niang can no longer see it." ”

"The deceased is gone, Ah Yan, don't be too sad." Liu Ying sighed and persuaded gently, but she also unconsciously recalled the old incident with Lu Yuan. “…… When I was a child, in my hometown, it was also at this time, Pei County was very hot, and there was a well in the second uncle's house, and the well water was very cool, so Sister went to dig well water......"

Filial piety is a boring and monotonous time. But because Lu Yuan is their common dearest, these days, the husband and wife are mourning their deceased relatives together in the Jiaofang Palace, although the body cannot be close, the soul is more and more close together.

********

The coffin-bearer sang the elegy written by Empress Zhang for her mother: "One day to leave the Qin mirror, a thousand years to say goodbye to the Han Palace." Only the spring road is covered, and the moon is bye. The bitter color condenses into the morning dew, and the sad voice cuts the wind. The old virtues of kindness are still contained in the Book of Rites. The voice was mournful. As a filial son, Luhou Zhang Yan wore linen and filial piety all the way, kneeling in the dust kicked by the carriage and horse. sent his deceased mother to Anling.

The cemetery of Princess Lu Yuan is placed a hundred meters east of the emperor's mausoleum, and two pines and cypresses are planted in front of the tomb, which are as green as a canopy. She will gaze at her blood brother and beloved daughter a hundred years from now, as she wishes.

Zhang Yan wiped away the last tears, returned to the Jiaofang Palace, and saw that the dormitory was in a hurry, and Shi Nan and Fuyao were directing the small palace people to replace the laying and curtains in the palace. “…… The new square yarn in Shudi is light and beautiful, and hangs in summer. It is most suitable. ”

Seeing that Zhang Yan was back, he hurriedly greeted him, "...... It was ordered by everyone. Let the slaves and maids bring his things back. Then change the layout of the pepper room hall. ”

The navy blue curtains fell to the ground, dull in color, with the dust of a spring and summer; Zhang Yan raised her head and saw that the newly hung square wood yarn was bright water green, light and beautiful, like a summer night's dream. There is still a breeze blowing, fresh and full of life.

"Since it was ordered by His Majesty," she laughed, "you will do as it is." I'll go to Celestia's place to avoid it first. ”

The palace people in the Jiaofang Palace couldn't help but like their faces, and responded, "No." ”

The hot soup washed away the fatigue in Zhang Yan's bones. There is an extremely lazy feeling, and the snow-white skin is the color of peach blossoms. Waiting for him. Then he came out with the prepared clothes and asked with a smile, "Niangniang is wearing this milky white shirt today, is it okay to accompany the jade-colored crane to paint the skirt?" ”

"Oh no, that dress is too elegant." Zhang Yan thought about it. said, "Let's change to that silver-red peony flower skirt." ”

In the evening, Zhang Yan ordered Cen Niang to prepare a few side dishes. A dish of sliced fish, a dish of chrysanthemum chicken, a dish of fried sunflower vegetables, and a dish of lettuce soup are all dishes that Liu Ying has always liked. When Liu Ying came back, he said with a smile, "It looks like a rich day today." ”

"I also made people burn wine, do you want to drink it?" Zhang Yan held the handle of the pot with a pair of bright wrists, the color was over the ice and snow, and her voice was soft.

"Listen to me."

……

Shi Nan and Fuyao blushed and their hearts beat, glanced at each other, and quietly withdrew from the dormitory. A room in the temple is spring.

Yesterday, Lu Yuan was buried, and filial piety was released. In the evening, the couple were together, and they had not been close for three months, and Liu Ying tossed more this night. The next morning, Zhang Yan didn't get up from the couch in a daggy state until Chen, looked down and saw the blue and purple marks on her body, and her face was slightly red.

The palace people who were waiting for them ate and laughed.

In any case, the harmony between the emperor and the empress is always a good thing for the palace people of the Jiaofang Palace, isn't it?

Zhang Yan quietly called Han Lian, "You go and help me cook medicine." ”

Han Lian's face turned pale. After a long time, Fang replied gently, "No." ”

Because husband and wife cannot have sex together during the filial piety period, the medicine was naturally stopped before. After the filial piety period, the queen and the emperor stayed together again, and the remaining medicine in Hanlian's hand was no longer enough, so she had no choice but to go to the Imperial Doctor's Department to find Chun Yu Jin in person.

"The eldest princess is already four years old, and the queen hasn't given up yet?" Chun Yuyun put down the medicine pestle and said in surprise.

"yes."

Han Lian smiled bitterly, "Why don't I think it's a safe thing to do?" But Niangniang was very stubborn this time. Every time I secretly hid and boiled medicine, I was a little frightened, afraid that once it was revealed, things would be out of control. Her eyes blinked slightly, "I heard that some doctors can make pills into pills, I don't know what Chun Yu female doctor can do?" ”

"Pills?" Chun Yu Yan groaned for a while, and was greatly moved.

Empress Zhang's taking this medicine is a secret after all. If it can be made into pills, it will save the trouble of decoction every time, and the pills do not have a bitter smell than decoctions, and the chance of being discovered by others is much smaller.

"You wait for me for half a month," she said, "I'll try." ”

Chun Yu Jin was born in a medical family, and there was a kind of infatuation in medical skills, so he made up his mind, so he got up and went to the pharmacy to get the medicine. ”

"yes." Chun Yu Jin replied, "Changyu's body is not good. I'm recuperating for her. ”

Baizhu didn't speak, and a hint of strangeness flashed in his eyes.

It is not a pure land in the Imperial Physician's Department, and there are factional disputes. The female doctor has always been a low medical skill, but she is an adjunct of the imperial doctor, but in recent years, she has a Chun Yu Jin, not only with excellent medical skills, but also a confidant of Queen Zhang. The imperial physician is highly respected and has no taboos, but the chief physician under his command is very resentful, and he deliberately wants to find the handle of Chun Yu Jin.

Speaking of which, Chun Yujin has been taking medicine for a long time for Qu Changyu of Jiaofang Palace, but it is just an ordinary Taiping medicine such as angelica, and on the whole, it seems that it is a four-thing soup.

To say that Qu Changyu is weak and needs to use Siwu soup for a long time, it is not an abnormal thing, but Baizhu always feels that there is still an inside story in Chun Yuyu.

……

Half a month later, Chun Yujin handed over the prepared pills to Han Lian, "...... It's all according to the previous prescription, I make it according to the amount of decoction, and I take one pill after each time, and it will be fine. ”

Han Lian was overjoyed and bowed, "Thank you Chun Yu female doctor." ”

"You're welcome." Chun Yu also smiled.

The two of them laughed and laughed, but they forgot about the medicinal properties of the pills, and they didn't mention a word.

“…… The slave maid thought, the target of the decoction is too big, and the taste of the medicinal soup is bitter, and the mother must not like it. So he asked the female doctor Chun Yu to make this bottle of pills. ”

Zhang Yan was a little surprised, took the pill and watched, the pill was rubbed by hand, showing a hemp color, which was not completely regular.

"It's good that there's less danger of being discovered."

She took a pill and put it in her mouth. The pill is slightly bitter and has a honeyy scent.

In any case, the common use of this medicine is not a long-term solution after all. The most perfect result is nothing more than this: Liu Zhi learned to speak, she stopped the medicine and gave birth to a son again.

Zhang Yan sincerely prayed to God to give her a little more luck. However, God no longer seemed to favor her, so three days later, the palace people hurriedly came to report, "Niangniang, it's not good, Qu Changyu was captured by the people of Changle Palace." "His face was anxious.

Zhang Yan was shocked, hurried to Changle Palace, and saw Empress Lu sitting in full costume, smashing a stack of herbs in front of him, and scolded angrily, "Ah Yan, what is this?" ”