Is this considered a foolish act? Is it considered to dig a grave for yourself? Don't you be too clever to calculate and mistake Qingqing's life?

I had the longest and darkest night of my life, and I couldn't sleep all night.

This thing is not destined to be good, so I will prepare for the worst. Since the emperor wants me to make a vase, he will not give me any more time to think about it, maybe soon, there will be a Huangmen official to come to announce the decree, from Shanglin Imperial Prison to Weiyang Palace, this journey will be my last chance.

Although it was a strategy of the next step, I decided to use the thirty-sixth plan -- to go up for the top!

In fact, I have also hesitated, if Hetian jade is in the emperor's hands, the most direct way to get it is to enter the palace and become his pillow person, if Hetian jade is not in the emperor's hands, I can also take the opportunity to ask him to find it for me. I even thought about using Hetian jade as a condition for me to enter the palace, but in the end I gave up.

The cost of the first two methods is too great, it is no different from betraying myself, my body and mind should belong to Xiao Jian, and it must belong to him cleanly. The latter method is too dangerous, I value that Emperor Hetian Yu knows, but I attach importance to the fact that if I negotiate conditions with the emperor for it, he will definitely be suspicious, if I take jade to blackmail me in turn, it will be more than worth the loss, think about it, only escape first and then slowly think of a way.

The idea was made, but the chaotic heart quieted down, reclining on the couch and closing his eyes to recuperate, waiting for someone to come.

Early in the morning, there was no snow and no wind, the morning sun was like blood, the sky was blue, with the iron lock, the Huangmen official who passed the decree arrived, not the emperor's close attendant Lu Guang, it was a strange face.

"Liu Dan in the waiter took the order...... "The sharp voice made people extremely uncomfortable to listen to.

I slowly got up and knelt down to answer the order.

"The Queen Mother has a will, and she will see Liu Dan in Changle Palace. ”

I was stunned, isn't it the emperor's edict? What did the Queen Mother do when she saw me? Didn't she still want to kill me?

No, if she wants to kill me, she can just have a glass of poisoned wine here and now, and she doesn't have to summon me to Changle Palace.

Perhaps, this is my turning point?

Sitting in the carriage, I was once again faced with a choice: should I run away immediately, or should I go to see the old witch?

Lifting the curtain, I asked the Yellow Gate official who was riding slowly: "Does my father-in-law know what the Queen Mother is looking for me?"

The expressionless Huangmen official turned his head to look at me and said, "How do you know about the Queen Mother?"

I looked at the front and back, it was just a yellow door officer, a carriage and a coachman, if you want to disadvantage me, it shouldn't be only these two people to escort me.

Lowering the curtain, I decided to break into Changle Palace.

Changle Palace is located in the southeast of Chang'an City, because it is also called the East Palace in the east of Weiyang Palace. It was built on the basis of Qin Xingle Palace in the fifth year of Han Gaozu (202 BC), and was completed two years later. Since Emperor Hui, it has been changed to the residence of the Queen Mother.

Entering the Xisima Gate from the West Que, looking at the layers of forests, I couldn't help but shudder, thinking that Han Xin, a famous general in the early Han Dynasty, died in the bell room of this Changle Palace. Thinking of this, I hesitated, but at this time there was no regret, with the Huangmen official into the East Palace, went straight to the Queen Mother's bedroom - Changxin Palace.

Along the way, I kept my eyes on the page, planning the best escape route in case of the unexpected.

The palace of Changxin Palace is deep and the curtains are heavy, although it is tall and luxurious, it still gives people a gloomy feeling. On the main seat of the palace sat a woman in gorgeous clothes, and there was a young noble woman next to her, beautiful and incomprehensible, surrounded by palace maids, like stars holding the moon.

With a cry of "See you Liu Danjin!" I knelt in front of the noble lady who could not hide her aging state despite her careful depiction.

"Minister Liu Dan visited the Queen Mother. "Not long after becoming an official, the bowing ceremony has become similar, and it is no longer jerky at the beginning, and even the rejection is not so strong. So, it's scary to get used to this stuff!

I felt two cold gazes shooting at me with a rather menacing look, and my head hung lower and behaved more respectfully.

The Queen Mother deliberately embarrassed me, and did not let me get up immediately, but a noble and beautiful woman beside her said gently: "Lord Liu only has the queen mother in his eyes? ”

I looked up: Princess?

Looking at the age, it is not the eldest princess of Guantao, Nangong is married, and the only ones left are Princess Pingyang (Pingyang's original title is Yangxin, and she is called Princess Pingyang after marrying Pingyang Hou Cao Shou) and Princess Longxi.

The beautiful and dignified person in front of me made people feel good at first sight, which was completely in line with my imagination, she must be the princess of Pingyang.

"The minister is rude, see Princess Pingyang. ”

The princess was slightly stunned and asked curiously: "When you first saw this palace, how did you know that this palace is Princess Pingyang and not Princess Longxi?"

Although it is a fact, it definitely contains an element of deliberate flattery, I said: "Folk rumors say that the Queen Mother is peerless, and the three princesses born are all beautiful and outstanding, especially the princess of Pingyang, who is known as the first beauty of the Han Dynasty. ”

The so-called thousands of wears, sycophants do not wear, this is an immortal truth. What young man in the world is not good at love? Which woman doesn't like to praise? A few words to praise other people's mothers and sisters, the Queen Mother will be a little embarrassed even if she wants my life.

Princess Pingyang smiled and said, "There is a mother and a daughter, the queen mother, is Lord Liu praising you openly and secretly? ”

I almost cried out with gratitude, what a kind princess, what a lovely woman, if such a woman does not have a good home, then it will make the gods and men angry? If I get out of trouble today, he will definitely be a big matchmaker between you and Wei Qing one day, and ensure that you marry a good husband. (At this time, Cao Shou was not dead, and it seems to be a little early to talk about remarrying)

When a beloved daughter pleaded, the Queen Mother's face softened slightly, and she said, "Get up." ”

I got up as I said, and the Queen Mother said, "Raise your head and let the mourning family take a good look." ”

I looked up again as I said, and the Queen Mother looked at me with the same critical eyes as she picked watermelons in the market, and looked up and down, left and right, and almost picked it up and patted it to try to be raw.

In order to meet the occasion, I cooperated to pretend to be cramped and uneasy, it always does not hurt to be weak at this time, in short, everything is for the head of my neck, alas, since I came to the Han Dynasty, this round guy who had spent twenty-five years unharmed did not know what bad luck he had, as if he was always in danger of falling.

The Queen Mother was obviously not satisfied with my appearance, and said sarcastically: "Sure enough, I was born with a charming appearance." ”

I rolled my eyes secretly, and said in my heart that you are only a fox, otherwise how can you see the emperor favored by remarrying with a broken flower? But she is the queen mother, and her life hangs in the hands of others, so I have to swallow this evil breath, I endure it!

I only heard Princess Pingyang say: "Queen Mother, I heard that Lord Liu's appearance is more beautiful than that of a woman, according to Erchen, if Lord Liu is a woman, the title of the first beauty of the Han Dynasty should be him." ”

Although there is banter in the words, there is no malice. This princess seems to have been bribed to speak for me.

Who is it?

The Queen Mother snorted and said, "She was originally a woman, so what's so strange about being born neatly?"

I was taken aback, and it didn't seem surprising to see Princess Pingyang's smiling face, it turned out that they all knew.

The Queen Mother's face sank suddenly, and she said sharply: "Liu Dan, are you guilty?"

I immediately knelt down again, confessed my sins and lamented very sincerely: "The minister is guilty, and I ask the queen mother for forgiveness." ”

The Queen Mother became more and more violent: "You disguise yourself as a man and reverse yin and yang, and deceive the king to confuse the chaos of the dynasty, which is a great crime of disrespect, do you know that according to the Han law, Ling Chi should be executed?"

My tears are about to fall out, crying and sad face: "The queen mother spares her life, the minister knows that he has done many evils and is extremely evil, although a thousand knives and 10,000 times to kill is not enough for the people to be angry, I ask the queen mother to read that the minister has also been born and died for the country's society, and there is a little merit for the sake of the minister not to die, after which the queen mother wants the minister to go east, the minister will not dare to go west, the queen mother orders the minister to beat the dog, the minister will never chase the chicken, the minister is willing to be a cow and a horse, and the grass is tied to the ring for the queen mother to drive, and the sword mountain and the sea of fire will not give up!"

This long list of disgusting Barra's words is basically taken from twenty-first-century commentaries, all the demeaning proverbs and idioms I know of for loyalty, and it seems to have been practiced a thousand times at this time, and I don't know how catchy it is.

At the moment when I sang and wrote well, I saw that the Queen Mother and Princess both opened their red lips slightly, and looked at me with stunned expressions, and finally Princess Pingyang couldn't help but laugh when she couldn't help but smile, the Queen Mother was originally full of anger, and was forcibly infiltrated by the sudden smile, and the two expressions of anger and smile coexisted on one face, and its weirdness and richness were really breathtaking.

Princess Pingyang smiled: "This girl, it's really weird and interesting to speak, but what does the grass ring mean?"

When she asked this, it was clear that she was deliberately diverting the Queen Mother's attention, and I was sure that she was here to help me. But the princess of a dignified country doesn't even know this allusion, and she has no culture. On second thought, yes, the allusion to the grass comes from the "Zuo Chuan" in the Spring and Autumn Period, and the allusion to the ring comes from the "Book of the Later Han", which spanned two dynasties, and the time for forming the idiom is only later.

I am very happy in my heart, even if Princess Pingyang does not know the "ring" but may not know the "knotted grass", she has the heart to help me, I am naturally very happy to explain these two stories in detail, anger is like morale, one blow, then decline, three and exhaustion, the longer it drags on, the better it is for me.

So he gave a respectful salute and said: "Back to the princess to ask, according to legend, during the Spring and Autumn Period, Wei Wuzi, the doctor of the Jin Kingdom, had a sonless concubine, Wei Wuzi liked her very much, and said to Wei Wei when he was dying: 'After I die, I must let her be buried for me.'" ’

After Wei Wuzi died, Wei Mei did not kill the concubine and bury her, but married her to someone else. Later, Qin Huan Gong sent troops to attack Jin, the Jin army and Qin soldiers fought in the Jin Di Fu clan, the Jin general Wei Mei and the Qin general Du Hui met, the two fought together, and when it was inseparable, Wei Mei suddenly saw an old man with a straw rope to lasso Du Hui, so that this dignified Qin strong man stood unsteadily, fell to the ground, and was captured by Wei Mei on the spot, so that Wei Mei defeated the Qin division in this battle.

That night, Wei Wei saw in a dream the old man who tripped Du Hui for him during the day, and the old man said, "I am the father of the woman you married her off and did not let her be buried with your father." I'm doing this today to repay you for your great kindness! As for the 'ring'......"

Naturally, I can't tell them that this allusion was first seen in the Book of the Later Han Dynasty, so I rolled my eyes and said: "The story of the 'Ring' happened in the Western Regions, when Yang Zhen's father Yang Bao was nine years old, he saw a yellow finch injured by an eagle and fell under the tree, Yang Bao took pity on it, and took it home, treated its injuries and fed it yellow flowers, and after a hundred days, the yellow finch flew away with plump feathers." That night, a boy in yellow appeared in Yang Bao's dream, thanked him for saving his life, and gave Yang Bao four white rings, saying: "It can bless the descendants of the king to live in the temple, to be honest and honest, and to behave in the world as white and immaculate as this jade ring." ’

Later, as the boy in yellow said, Yang Bao's son Yang Zhen, grandson Yang Bing, great-grandson Yang Ci, and great-grandson Yang Biao all became officials in the Western Regions, equivalent to the Taiwei of the Han Dynasty, and they were all upright and honest. ”

Seeing that the queen mother and the princess listened to it with relish, she seized the opportunity to plead: "The grass title ring, that is, the favor of people will try to repay the meaning, now the minister has violated the Han law, and the queen mother and His Majesty have been offended, the queen mother is merciful, if the minister does not die, the minister will follow the old man and the yellow bird, and the grass title ring will be repaid to the queen mother and Your Majesty." ”

After the story was told, I looked at the Queen Mother cautiously, and Princess Pingyang raised her eyebrows and chuckled, looking at me thoughtfully.

After a long time, the Queen Mother spoke: "Mourning family and asking you, why do women disguise themselves as men and become officials?"

If it weren't for your precious son's hard work, why would I be here? I thought angrily, but I didn't dare to say it.

"Empress Dowager Qi, things are actually like this, so and so ......" (in view of the long story, I have to use the usual language of storytelling)

I cautiously retold the lie about Guo Jie, Wei Qing and Han Yan, and the emperor about returning to China to find relatives, and disguising talented women disguised as men for the convenience of others, and I had to take care not to miss it, it was really hard.

"Originally, before His Majesty was crowned, the minister wanted to tell His Majesty the truth, but my maid said that I was afraid that I would be convicted for this, and even be beheaded, so frightened that the minister did not dare to speak out, so he became a waiter in a daze. "As the saying goes, if there are more lice, you are not afraid of biting, and if you have more debts, you are not afraid of paying, anyway, Zhao Min has already escaped, and she will take more responsibility for me.

continued to pretend to be aggrieved Bo sympathetically: "Alas, all this is to blame on the thief who stole the jade, without him, there would not be so many things, so that my family can't go back, my relatives can't see it, and I also violated the criminal law of the Han Dynasty, offended the Queen Mother and Your Majesty, and my mother has a spirit in the sky, and I will definitely blame the minister for this unfilial descendant." ”

Princess Pingyang said sympathetically: "From the Western Regions to the Han Dynasty, how many miles away, a woman, alone and deserted, crossed the mountains and rivers, and slept in the open air and suffered from bumps, just to return to the Han Kingdom to recognize the ancestors and return to the ancestors. Mother, you have always been kind and merciful, so forgive her this time. ”

The Queen Mother was also quite moved, sighed and said: "I can't imagine that you are a woman, with such twists and turns, and you are quite knowledgeable with a splendid mind." There are not many women with such wisdom and eloquence, and it is a pity to kill them.

Princess Pingyang seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, and said with a smile: "The queen mother said very much, this girl is smart and knowledgeable, it is a pity to kill her, it is better to punish a little, how about a small punishment and a big punishment." ”

My heart that had been hanging on my head finally fell back into place, and although the outcome was unclear, it seemed that this head had finally been saved.

The Queen Mother looked at me intently, I don't know what thoughts are turning in my heart, I look at me creepy, a woman standing at the pinnacle of power, really has a frightening capital, you don't need to speak, just roll your eyes like this, you can break out in a cold sweat.

"Liu Dan, the mourning family knows that the emperor values you a lot. The Queen Mother's voice echoed in the hall. "If you were a man, the mourners would kill you. You should thank God for giving birth to a daughter. ”

It turned out that she wanted to kill me a while ago, and she really mistook me for having sex with the emperor. Fortunately, I am blessed with a great life, otherwise wouldn't I have died unjustly?

The Queen Mother looked at me sternly: "Although the emperor and the princess intercede for you, the king's laws and regulations should not be violated. The mourning family pities you for returning to your homeland thousands of miles away, and you have a pure heart, so I don't kill you, but I can't help but punish you. Now I will give you three ways: first, a hundred lashes, a fine of 10,000 yuan, and a concubine to serve the emperor, second, a whipping of fifty and a fine of 5,000, and a female official, and third, a twenty lashes, a fine of two thousand, and a demotion to a commoner, and never be a saint. ”

As she spoke, she raised her eyebrows meaningfully: "Girl, you have to choose the three paths carefully, otherwise the mourning family will not be able to help you." ”

My heart was beating violently, these three paths were strange, and the heavier the punishment, the higher the status. If you want to become an emperor's woman, you have to suffer more flesh and skin, and she will be beaten down with eighty lashes, but she is afraid that she will be blessed and will not enjoy her life, this queen mother, she clearly does not want me to enter the palace.

She naturally didn't know that this was in my arms, and if she wanted to run, she was worried that she didn't have a chance, so the third way was clearly placed in front of her.

"Do you have a choice?" asked the Queen Mother.

Without thinking, I said: "Go back to the Queen Mother, the ministers choose the third ......" Before I finished speaking, I saw Princess Pingyang winking at me vigorously, her expression was anxious, and she subconsciously swallowed back the last words.

What is she doing? If you don't choose three, will you let me choose one? I thought that the princess was looking for a woman for her baby brother for a long time, and I couldn't forget that Wei Zifu was also given to the emperor by her, and later Mrs. Li entered the palace, all of which were made by this princess of Pingyang...... The best thing is that it is a matchmaker, and the bad thing is that it is a PI guest.

I was very angry, and said firmly to the Queen Mother: "The minister chooses the ......."

"The second way. "Princess Pingyang snatched my unfinished words loudly.

The Queen Mother and I looked at her in amazement at the same time, and Princess Pingyang smiled and said, "Queen Mother, Erchen likes this girl very much, so please let Erchen choose the most suitable path for her?"

The Queen Mother looked at me, and I looked at the princess in surprise: she is not a pimp, she does not choose one or three, but two?

"Liu Dan, are you willing to let the princess choose for you?" asked me the Queen Mother, her expression full of majesty.

Anyway, as long as you don't want to be the emperor's woman, let alone a female official, you can be a female eunuch.

I nodded and said solemnly: "The minister can trust the princess, and I believe that the princess will choose a clear path for the minister." ”

Binh Duong has been helping me from the beginning, and as far as I can see, she shouldn't hurt me. There must be some hidden motive in this.

Princess Pingyang smiled slightly, looked at me comfortingly, and said, "Don't worry, the road that this palace has chosen for you will definitely repay you in the future." As he spoke, he turned to the Queen Mother. "The queen mother, the son-in-law chose the second path for Liu Dan. ”

No matter which path you choose, a beating is inevitable, after fifty lashes, the flesh and blood in the back are blurred and painful, and the palace maid carried back to Changxin Palace and fell in front of the queen mother's mother.

The Queen Mother said: "Liu Dan, the fifty lashes are for you to remember that you must not violate the Han law again in the future." "Maybe it's because of my pitiful appearance, the Queen Mother's tone is much softer.

I grinned and replied, "Yes, the minister should remember the instructions of the Queen Mother." ”

The Queen Mother gestured to the attendant next to her and said, "Announce the decree." ”

The inner decree opened the yellow silk and said in a special voice: "Under the holy decree, Liu Dan will take the decree." ”

Isn't it a decree?

"The minister is here. "It hurts to death, and I have to kneel.

"Your Majesty has a decree to give Liu Dan the title of the first female official of Weiyang Palace - the former imperial chief, and she will take up her post on the same day. ”

is not only a female official, but also the first female official, or the first female official of Weiyang Palace, and thinks that how smart and wise she is, she can save herself with her clever tongue, it turns out that the so-called desperate life, or she can't get out of the emperor's arrangement!

He really did what he said, and asked me to make a vase, and it was the first vase placed on the façade of Weiyang Palace.