"But in previous years, it seems that I have never seen the saint drive out of the palace on this day." Peer rebuttal.

"How can we know about such a thing? Maybe the guard of honor didn't move, and the holy car quietly went out of the palace and went to the hidden mansion. ”

"Yes, too!"

If the second palace supervisor suddenly noticed someone coming, he immediately shut up and stopped talking.

Su Yu stood quietly in the shadow of the wall, waited for the two palace eunuchs to leave, went out of the West Pavilion, stepped down the corridor, looked back at the Dao Palace that was silent in the twilight rain, and went out of the palace.

The next morning, when the sun was not over, the streets outside the hairpin were crowded with people, all eager to look forward to it. In the midst of the uproar, suddenly there was a sound of opening the road in the distance, and the honor guard showed its corners, and the street immediately fell silent.

Su Yu stood in the corner opposite the gate and saw a large group of men and horses coming this way.

In front of the horseback was a great eunuch with a cold face and a robe of ochre, who was ordered to come here today to preside over the business. Then there was the queue of court officials, except for some wearing green robes and green robes at the end, the front row was wearing scarlet robes, and at the front, there were several officials wearing purple robes.

This is also a high-ranking official at the lowest level, and it should be an official from the Ministry of Rites or Taichang Temple. But the ochre-robed eunuch obviously has a special position, and even a few purple-robed officials seem to be quite polite to him, and he can even see a little welcome in his expression. Behind them were many miscellaneous officials, palace eunuchs and palace guards, as well as their entourage. They came with many cages of fish, and they did not know what was inside.

At the end of the procession, chasing many ragged beggars, not only them, but also a lot of people in the vicinity, all of them poured out at this moment, as if the beggars of Chang'an were gathered here today. They pushed each other, jostling for the front position, and looked eagerly at the huge pomp and circumstance of the large group of people who were heading to the women's crown.

In the midst of the gaze of many eyes, the large group of people stopped outside the hairpin star. The eunuchs and officials went straight inside, and the rest of the eunuchs lined up outside the gate.

Cao Eun, whom Su Yu had seen in the palace, was the leader, and he preached loudly to the beggars around him who had been waiting impatiently: "Today is the auspicious day of Princess Shouchang's birth, and I am here to pray for the princess's birthday on the order of the saint!" Lonely and weak, whoever arrives can receive two longevity fruits and two money. ”

"Princess Xianfeng Yide, a thousand years of happiness!"

When the words fell, the palace eunuchs and their entourage opened the cages they brought and distributed the contents of the cages, which were layers of longevity fruits and boxes of copper coins. Seeing this, not only the beggars were in a commotion, but even some passers-by and some nearby people who liked to take advantage of them also joined the receiving procession, and in an instant, the originally wide road was blocked tightly.

Naturally, there are also many people who disdain to take advantage of this advantage with beggars, and gather to talk about the story, talking about nothing more than how to remember the late Empress Zhaode, miss the princess who is outcast, and so on.

"I just entered the Nanfang Gate, and I saw that there were eunuchs busy sweeping away the flowers and leaves, but they swept this tree alone, and they didn't care about other trees on the street, why is this?"

A merchant who had just come to Chang'an passed by with a burden, stopped for a moment to look at the excitement, and couldn't help but interject and ask.

The one who said the story told the story of the relationship between the durian wood and Princess Shouchang, glanced at the hairpin again, and said in a low voice: "Did the lieutenant who rode in on a horse just see it?" The famous Yuan Value, the first person in the Sigong Terrace, the most useful person in front of the sage, is his order, and it is naturally the sage's intention. ”

The vendor was surprised when he heard of it, shook his head, and said casually: "What can you do with the pomegranate tree?" I see, nine times out of ten, the princess is long gone! If he is still there, he can remember when he was four or five years old, after so many years, how can he not do it with golden branches and jade leaves, and never return outside? ”

Everyone understands this truth, even the saint himself, I am afraid that he is not unclear. It's just that no one dares to say it.

The crowd was silent for a moment. Among them, some of the elderly remembered the catastrophe in the past, and their hearts were palpitating and sighing.

After the vendor finished speaking, he saw that the excitement was almost over, and the hairpin star view was also cleared yesterday and no one was allowed to enter, and there was nothing left to see, and he was about to leave, and suddenly there was a strange sound behind him, and he turned his head to see two passers-by dressed as men coming out of the crowd, looking unkind, shaking out of the chain from his sleeve and walking towards him, and before he understood what was going on, he was locked on the spot.

The vendor struggled: "Who are you?" Why are you tying me up? In broad daylight, is there still a royal law? Let me go! ”

Seeing this, the rest of the people on the side also questioned.

"What did you just say? Today's birthday celebration of Princess Shouchang, you openly cursed the princess with evil words, who will you tie up if you don't tie up? ”

Everyone was amazed and understood.

With such a scene today, Yuan will not allow any accidents, in addition to Mingwei, there are also secret sentinels nearby. These two should be the secret sentinels of Sigongtai. For a moment, they were all silent, and they watched as the vendor was pushed away. The vendors kept shouting that they were wronged, saying that they were unintentional words, and begging to be spared.

The spy sneered: "Whether you are wronged or not, Yuan Neizhi has his own decision." After speaking, he couldn't help but say, escorted people outside the gate, and told Cao Eun about the matter. Cao Eun immediately entered and came out and said: "Spread the words of the envoy, cut off the tongue, and show the public for three days." ”

As soon as the words fell, the merchant was immediately pressed to the ground by the guards, and one of them drew his short sword, pinched his mouth open, and pulled his tongue out of his mouth with a hook that he had taken out of nowhere.

There was no sound around, and everyone held their breath, watching the vendor struggle desperately, whining and begging for mercy, but in vain.

Even the beggars, who were originally only interested in competing for Shou Tao and money, stopped at this moment and watched this scene with wide eyes and horror. The torturer's expression was cold and merciless, and he looked at the man on the ground like a fish on a chopping board, and when he raised the dagger in his hand, he saw that he was about to cut off his tongue, and the timid women in the crowd did not dare to look at it anymore, and they closed their eyes and turned their heads away.

Su Yu took all this into his eyes in the corner, his hands were clenched tightly, his heart was about to jump out, and when he saw this, he couldn't hold back any longer, and was about to separate everyone When he stepped forward, he suddenly heard someone say: "Stop!" ”

The voice sounded quite tender, like that of a young man.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, and looked over, only to find that there was another team of people who looked like they were about to enter the crowd at the near intersection.

Riding a horse came a group of royal nobles, with Qingyou and the guard's guard of honor on the left and right. At the forefront, stopping side by side were two teenagers of the same age, both of whom looked to be only fifteen or sixteen.

Cao Eun recognized that among the two, the one with a strong figure was Li Ze, the current prince of Kang, and the other one with a snow-white face and a somewhat thin body was the grandson of King Ning, King Li Xu.

It was Li Xu who spoke out to stop the execution.

Cao Eun knew that the two of them were sent by the prince today, so he hurriedly greeted them. Li Zhi asked why he cut off his tongue, and Cao Eun explained, saying that the person had just cursed Princess Shouchang and committed the crime of great disrespect, and he was punished on the orders of Yuan Neishi.

King Kang nodded when he heard this: "Yuan Nei's punishment is right!" Today is a good day for my sister, he dares to speak evil words, what is his intention? If it is not punished, how can it be stopped? ”

"Yes, yes, the king is very right!"

Cao Eun was about to order the execution to continue, but Li Zhi hesitated on the side, turned to Li Ze and said, "This person is disrespectful to my aunt and should be punished." But today, Yuan Neishou and we are all ordered to come here to pray for my aunt's blessing and longevity, both to pray for blessings, although I don't know where my aunt is at the moment, but if she knows, she should not want to see blood because of this matter. ”

Li Ze glanced at him and looked disapproving: "Little Thirteen, I think you are just too soft-hearted." Then he leaned over on horseback and whispered, "Let's not do too much, and do as much as we are called!" This is the meaning of the eunuch, if he is told to sue my father, my father is displeased, you and I can't get out of it! ”

Li Xu's face showed hesitation, obviously feeling jealous, but he glanced at the pegging vendor, paused, and then turned to Cao Eun and said, "You better go in, please Yuan Neishou think about it again." If this person has indeed committed a taboo, can it be changed to another punishment? Let's just say that I said it, today is an auspicious day for my aunt's birth, and it is really ominous to see blood like this. ”

Although this King Xin'an is not very old, his face is still a little childish, and his seniority is also low, but his tone at this moment is quite resolute.

He is the widow of the eldest son of King Ning, who died in the counterinsurgency war, and was named King Xin'an by Jinshang at the age of three, and is said to have been studying with his widowed mother in the palace. His mother cherished him and didn't even allow him to practice martial arts, so he developed a taciturn temperament, and he was usually not in the limelight and not very noticeable, but today he opened his mouth like this.

Cao Eun didn't dare to offend too much, and hesitated: "King Xin'an, wait a minute, let me go and tell again." After speaking, he hurriedly entered the Taoist temple.

When he came out again after a while, Yuan Zhi still didn't show up, but changed his words: "Yuan Nei ordered the slave and maid to sue him for his sin, the altar has been erected, and it is inconvenient for him to come out to greet him." Yuan Neishou also said that the words of King Xin'an are not unreasonable, for the sake of today's princess's birthday, the punishment of cutting off the tongue will be exempted, but the crime of living is unforgivable, and the flogging will be changed to thirty to set an example. ”

The merchant had caused a great calamity because of a quick and unintentional remark, and the man had already collapsed to the ground, and his urine was drenched, and when he heard that he had been flogged thirty, he came back to life. Although it is inevitable to die and live, it is a blessing compared to cutting off the tongue.

The onlookers nearby watched the group of people and horses also enter the view, and did not dare to say anything more, lest they themselves also get into trouble and left one after another.

The sun sets in the west. The prayer party that shook half of Chang'an with the cymbals in the women's crown finally ended, the princes, envoys and officials from the palace left, the Shouguo copper coins were distributed, the beggars and passers-by dispersed, and the street slowly returned to its original appearance.

According to the usual practice, the women's crown view is still not open tonight.

It is rumored that His Majesty the Emperor may come here quietly at some unknown moment to remember his late Empress and the princess who is now unknown.

Su Yu kept watch outside the hairpin star view all night.

In the second half of the night, it fell again and drizzled. Stay until dawn, cold green condensation, wet fog wet clothes.

When she returned, she was soaking wet.

All night last night, the current emperor, her Aya, did not return to the old royal mansion that had left many of her memories.

Su Yu's lips were so cold that his lips were white, and he almost shivered. She dried her wet hair, changed into her clothes, and sat behind a carved window in the middle of the room, most of her figure hidden in the darkness of the night.

She opened a black lacquer box for dressing and held up the bronze mirror. The light outside the window reflected her face in the mirror. Her gaze fell on the scar on the forehead of the person in the mirror.

When she was three years old, Aya went on a safari in the Forbidden Garden at the invitation of his brothers, and she was bound to go with her. After Aya put her to sleep, she slipped out the door, but she woke up as soon as she got into the pillow, and chased to the door crying. Aya was helpless, smiled bitterly and got off the horse to pick her up, but she ran too fast, tripped on the threshold, her forehead was knocked out by a sharp pebble on the ground, blood flowed all over her face, and she cried even more heartbreakingly, Aya was so distressed that she immediately canceled her plan to go out and stayed at home with her injured for several days.

It was also a coincidence that her uncles let their guard down during that safari and complained that her Aung was old and deaf and cruel to his son.

They forgot that the slave who led the horse could also be the eyes and ears of Aweng by their side. In this way, after returning, the uncles who had been there were all guilty of conviction and were severely punished for plotting rebellion. One was given wine, the other was given Lingnan, and two who had never spoken a word at that time were also punished by the king and completely expelled from the court.

Su Yu remembered that day Aya returned to the palace from the palace, and without saying a word, the first thing he did was to hold her tightly in his arms, holding her so much that she was almost breathless and refused to let her go. She felt Aya's palms cold and her heart beating fast. Puzzled, she asked him what was wrong, if he was sick, but he didn't say anything, only kissed the scab on her forehead that hadn't fallen off.

Later, although Ah Niang used all kinds of ointments prepared for her by the imperial doctors in the palace, because the wound was too deep, she still left a scar in the end. At that time, although she was young, she was already a beautiful little lady, and she was unhappy when she pouted in the mirror every day, so Aya took advantage of her birthday to ask her Ah Weng for help, and asked for the title of a hairpin star for her.

"It was a star falling from the sky, and the hairpin was on Li Yan'er's forehead. It is unique in the world, and no one else can get it. ”

The words that Aya whispered in her ear that day to make her happy, she will never forget.

But her Aye, he must have completely forgotten.

Her gaze wandered outside the mirror, casting a faint waning moon in the sky outside the window, staring for a long time, vaguely hearing the last sound, awakening.

There was still no response from Yumian.

Today is the fifth day.

Her hopes were dashed on the third day. Yu Wenzhi met her in the palace that day, and when she asked the result, she had told him that the other party was not the old person she was looking for.

Take care of her mood, she is going to continue to work in the palace today.

Accumulate steps, and what she wants to get closer to will always get closer and closer.

There are several small bottles several inches long in the box, which contain several different kinds of makeup powder, which are the cement used for the mural base, the lead powder used for the women's face painting, the fragrant ash as white as snow, and the pig pancreas powder, which is indispensable for the palace ladies to prepare the moisturizing cream. She skillfully twisted a little each, mixed it into a small water bowl, poured a few drops of water, mixed it into a pulp, and finally dipped a thin pen in the rich slurry water, brought her face to the bronze mirror, and carefully traced the scar on her forehead.

When the morning dawned, she went to the palace, and the forehead scar was completely covered by □□ pulp, blending with the skin of her forehead, smooth as muscles, and no trace of half of the makeup could be seen when she got close.

This day, like the previous days, is still shuttling in the Museum of Culture and History. In the evening she returned to the house with tired steps, and unexpectedly received news that she had not dared to look forward to in the slightest.

The Yumian lady of Jinfeng Mansion quietly sent a slave and was waiting for her here.

"The lady said, if it is convenient for you, you can go with me at this moment."

"She wants to meet you."

Chapter 35

Su Yu felt that he was walking in an illusory world.

In this early summer dusk shrouded in the vast sunset, the drums of Chang'an twilight, passers-by hurried home, but she was leading to the former world she had left. The door to the world was locked, but from this moment on, she would be led back to the dusty old days behind the door.

When it was dark, the door of Pingkang Fang closed behind her, and she was taken to the Golden Wind Tower.

This famous green building in Chang'an is full of lights. Su Yu was led around the gate of the Golden Wind Building, approached a winding alley next to it, quietly entered directly from an independent small side door, passed through the deep courtyard full of flowers and trees covered with strange mountain basins and stones, climbed a carved lacquer ladder, and came to a hidden pavilion.

A small number of famous autumn girls in the workshop, although they are also subject to the false mother, but not only have their own private residences, the residence is spacious and gorgeous, the utensils are exquisite, and the daily supply is no less than that of the wealthy nobles.

The slave led her here, bowed down the stairs, and disappeared into a dark shadow of the flowers and trees in the courtyard.

At this time, the surroundings were silent, only the direction of the front building sent a few wisps of ethereal singing and laughter over the wall with the wind, adding to the quiet.

Su Yu settled down, knocked on the door a few times, but did not hear an answer, and then slowly pushed the door in.

Facing is a small hall, both sides of the bed arrangement, each around the embroidery, pen, ink, paper inkstone, elegant arrangement. It should be used as a place to meet guests. After passing through, there is an inner corridor that leads to the dormitory.

In front of the dormitory, an embroidered curtain was lowered, and when the curtain was opened, I saw that the candles on the silver branches were burning, and the surroundings were illuminated with a bright light. Next to the four mica screen shelves is a kettle door bed that is now in circulation. The bed is covered with a mattress and embroidered pillows, there is a case in front of the bed, there is a silver poppy for storing incense on the case, next to the poppy, the silver duck stove is boiling incense, the incense mist slowly spreads out from the mouth on the duck's back, and rises into the air.

From the moment she pushed the door in, Su Yu's snort wafted into a fragrance that she was familiar with. She followed the traces of incense, and at this moment, she finally found the source of the incense.

This is the smell of ambergris borneol.

Ambergris has always been small, and there are not many inner houses, and it is even more difficult to find outside. In the past, every festival, the palace would distribute it to the palace in the form of rewards. Every summer, A-Niang likes to mix borneol in ambergris to make incense pills, and the aroma of lavender remains for many days.

Su Yu stood in front of the incense burner for a moment, and slowly turned his head.

A beautiful woman held the painting handed over by the rain that day, quietly turned out of the small side pavilion connected to the dormitory, and stopped in front of the cloud screen.

She was twenty-eight or nineteen years old, with a lazy bun on her hair, no decoration except for a few hairpins with fixed hair, wearing a dark jade purple undergarment and a goose crown red long skirt. Her pink face is as bright as the spring moon, and her charming and demure eyes are staring at the rain fixedly at the moment, without blinking.

Su Yu recognized it at a glance.

She is Wei Yinniang, the sister of the Wei family who has accompanied her for several years and took her to eat flax cakes.

She turned herself completely away and faced the beauty so that she could see her eyebrows and eyes, her full appearance.