Han Shizu

Chapter 1786
As winter goes to spring and the ice and snow melt, the chill is getting farther and farther away, and the big man ushered in the season of recovery of all things again.For Emperor Liu, the past 22 years of Kaibao were a year of joy and sorrow. The Yulin Rebellion was quelled and the invasion of Heihan Tuodi for two thousand miles was just a small joy, but the death of the Empress Fu was a great sorrow.

In the Hanging Palace, in front of the floor-to-ceiling glazed mirror, Emperor Liu stood with his hands spread out, his whole body reflected in the mirror, and two maids carefully dressed Emperor Liu.

It is true that I am getting old, my hands can't be straightened at all, and I feel sore and tired after holding them in the air for a long time, and my waist is not as straight as before. I have to compromise with the years and hunched down.

"Time is a pig-killing knife!" Emperor Liu looked at his old and ugly face in the mirror, and laughed at himself: "When I was young, I thought I was handsome, but now I look at it. Why are you so hideous, no wonder even those old friends are leaving me one after another, could it be that my face is too annoying?"

Emperor Liu murmured to himself here, and the palace people who were waiting were trembling with fear, and the hands of Gong'e who helped him straighten his robe trembled uncontrollably.Yan Tuo can be said to be able to speak, and he doesn't know how to answer this at this time. The current appearance of Emperor Liu is indeed unflattering, so naturally he can't tell the truth, but if he flatters without regard to the facts, Yan Tuo has also experienced it Yes, for fear of being accused of being a bully.

A companion is like a tiger, you can't tell the truth, and Emperor Liu doesn't like to listen to nonsense. Since the collapse of the Empress Fu, Emperor Liu has become more moody and often "ill".

Just thinking of something, Yan Tuo hurriedly changed the subject and said: "Officials, just now the Hanlin waited for Huang Jucai to send a pair of imperial portraits, do you want to have a look at them?"

"Huh?" Emperor Liu seemed to have regained his senses, and ordered: "Take it and have a look!"

"Yes!"

Huang Jucai was a well-known painting master at that time. He and his father Huang Quan were originally the painters of the Meng Shu Palace. After Sichuan was settled down, they were escorted to Tokyo with Meng Chang. , a large number of excellent works were born under their pens. The court style and important events of the Kaibao era of the Han Dynasty can be recorded in their paintings.

As he got older, he did talk a lot. After walking a few steps, Emperor Liu pointed to the crown and said with emotion: "This crown seems to be getting heavier, just like this ever-expanding country, which makes me feel overwhelmed! "

With a sigh, Emperor Liu ordered Yan Tuo: "Send a word to Huang Jucai, just say that I am not satisfied with this painting, and he doesn't look like it. However, I will give him another chance to repaint. If he deceives me, I will punish him for deceiving the emperor!"

The painting shows that Emperor Liu has a purple crown on his head, a splendid attire, a heroic and majestic face, and his whole body seems to radiate divine light.Painting also pays attention to charm, the painting in front of me is full of charm and full of impression.
Perhaps it was because of his poor eyesight, Emperor Liu glanced at it carefully enough, took a closer look, turned around and compared the image in the mirror, and frowned: "Yantuo, do you think this painting is about me?"

"My health is very good! There is no need for you people to remind me all the time!" Emperor Liu suddenly turned his head and said angrily.

The four words "for the sake of the venerable" came to Yan Tuo's mind, but he didn't dare to say it.

"Keep it! Wait for the new painting to be drawn, and then compare it to see which one is more like me!" Emperor Liu said lightly.

"Yes!" Yan Tuo blurted out, observed Emperor Liu's expression, and said again: "It's just that the official family is sacred. Huang Hanlin's painting skills are superb, but in the end he is an ordinary brush. How can he show the dignity of the official family? A little glimpse of the charm of Baiyi"

"Hehe!" Emperor Liu was amused by Yan Tuo's words, waved his hands, and said with emotion: "I have discovered that the older I am, the less these painters will be able to draw me, and the portraits will become less so. picture"

"Please take care of your body!" Seeing that Emperor Liu was in a bad mood again, Yan Tuo instinctively comforted him.

A month ago, Emperor Liu came by chance and asked Huang Jucai to draw a portrait of him. Now, it finally has a result.Soon, Yan Tuo greeted the two servants, unfolded the scroll in front of Emperor Liu, and the portrait of Emperor Liu came into view.

No one dared to answer these words indiscriminately. This morning, Emperor Liu seemed to be at odds with his own appearance, and repeatedly mentioned it, as if it had become a sore spot for him.

After finishing the painting, Emperor Liu went back to the mirror and stared at himself in the mirror for a while, his old eyes gradually dimmed.The self on the opposite side has gray hair, wrinkled face, and even two very obvious age spots. The meaning of aging and twilight exudes from the inside out. Emperor Liu has never felt so deeply, and even has a kind of Fear and chill from the bottom of my heart.Today's Emperor Liu is not like before, the older he is, the less he wants to admit it.
"In the past, I didn't really believe in the stories of dying overnight with white hair and crying tears, but when it happened to me, I had to believe it!" Emperor Liu said with a hint of sadness in his tone: "Life's ups and downs, great sorrows and great joys, it's really not true. what a good thing"

"Yes!" Yan Tuo obeyed, gestured to the servant, and quickly put it away.

"Then how to deal with this painting?" Yan Tuo asked again.

Emperor Liu didn't care so much, and instructed: "I remember that what Huang Jucai is best at is flowers, birds, bamboo and stones. Is it embarrassing him to ask him to paint portraits? It's a pity that Gu Hongzhong died a few years earlier, otherwise his A wonderful pen can surely produce flowers."

Under the gaze, Yan Tuo felt terrified, shrank his hands and feet, and hesitated to speak.At this time, Gong'e took the crown and carefully helped Emperor Liu put it on, so that he had just finished dressing up.

I secretly mourned for Huang Jucai in my heart, this job is not easy to do, this is not a portrait, it is clearly the intention of painting the emperor, but the mind of Emperor Liu during this period is so unpredictable, it makes people afraid even thinking about it.But a dead fellow Taoist is not a poor one, as long as the fire doesn't burn himself, what's more, the Huang family father and son have been on duty in the palace for many years, and they have received many honors and favors.

"Yes!" Yan Tuo responded immediately.

Twelve crowns swayed slightly in front of his eyes, and each of the hanging beads seemed to reflect a world, a mood. Seeing the blocked face in the mirror, Emperor Liu suddenly said: "This crown seems to be used to cover up the ugliness." It works!"

After moaning without illness, Emperor Liu returned to normal, waved his hand, and ordered: "Go, go to court!"

"Let's drive!" Yan Tuo finally breathed a sigh of relief when he heard the words, and hurriedly sang and led the way.

However, after not taking two steps, Emperor Liu paused again, turned his head to look at the floor-to-ceiling mirror, and suddenly had an idea in his heart, so he said coldly: "Break this mirror for me, it illuminates me perfectly. It's so clear!"

"Yes!"

(End of this chapter)