Dong Gong Mei

He Manzhi took one and looked at it again and again, reluctant to eat it. She asked Zhao Xiwei: "Sister Wei, I knew you had good things here. I have lived in Youlan Palace for so long, but I have never seen such good pastries."

Zhao Xiwei had no appetite and smiled helplessly: "I don't have any here either. I only got some because you came."

Eunuch Xilai from the kitchen introduced them attentively: "That's right. Since His Majesty ascended the throne, there has not been a single concubine in the harem. You are the first beauty to be promoted. Who in the imperial kitchen dares to neglect you? These white jade roasted shrimps, steamed crabs, rouge goose breasts, crispy duck feet... were all hurriedly prepared this afternoon!"

Seeing that He Manzhi loved to eat meat, he personally brought another dish: "Hey, try this, this is called Crystal Pork Knuckle, it is guaranteed to be crispy, fragrant, soft and tender, and melt in your mouth. After you eat it, your face will be radiant and your skin will be as white as cream..."

He Manzhi was overwhelmed. He ate one and then looked at another, just like a little squirrel diving into a pile of pine nuts.

"So, this is what being favored feels like..." After dinner, He Manzhi sent Su Yu away and changed the medicine for Zhao Xiwei herself. She took the anti-swelling ointment and gently rubbed it on her ankle, with a clear light flashing in her eyes.

Zhao Xiwei felt something was wrong, but couldn't put her finger on it - he had just been promoted to a higher position, and was thrown here to live with her. This didn't seem like a show of sincerity at all.

He could not help but remind He Manzhi: "He is the emperor, not an ordinary man. You must not lose your heart."

The light in He Manzhi's eyes dimmed: "I understand."

She lowered her eyelashes, rubbed Zhao Xiwei's ankle slowly, and said slowly: "I understand."

"Sister Wei, even if you didn't remind me, I understand. When you were the Crown Princess, you were truly favored. Everyone in Chang'an City knows that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is the most gentle and considerate to you."

She shook her head, sighed, and comforted Zhao Xiwei: "Don't be sad, Sister Wei, I know he still has you in his heart. I have never caught his eye. Not only me, but also Gu Yuci. It's just that your current situation... Alas!"

She bit her lip and said, "You should also be more considerate of him. You said that he is the emperor and he has to consider the overall situation. He can't be trapped by love. There are some things that he must wrong you. I know that my sister has been wronged, but...but you should always make peace!"

"Sister Wei." He Manzhi knelt down beside Zhao Xiwei, hugged Zhao Xiwei's legs, and gently persuaded: "I know you are heartbroken. You did so much for him, but he put you in jail... But, do you know? Dad just told me that His Majesty intends to let you go, and he doesn't want to kill you."

He Manzhi felt that she was so moved just by talking about it: "Your Zhao family has caused such a horrible disaster. This is a crime punishable by the execution of nine generations of the family in all dynasties, but His Majesty does not want to kill you. You know, he is the emperor, but he also has to consider the opinions of the civil and military officials in the court, and even more so, he has to take into account the opinions of the people in the world. In order to be partial, he asked my father to come forward. My father is an upright official and has a very good reputation in the capital. With my father and the people writing a petition, those old stubborn people can only agree to pardon you..."

He Manzhi was very surprised why Zhao Xiwei was not moved at all. She hugged Zhao Xiwei's legs and shook them gently, a little anxiously: "I didn't lie to you, really, His Majesty has put a lot of thought into you. He wants to be a wise emperor, but he doesn't want to let you down. Oh, and he also wants to be a filial son. I send people to inquire every day, and he goes to serve the retired emperor after court..."

Such words sound practical and sincere.

Zhao Xiwei thought that if she had not lost her memory, she would be very moved after hearing this. But after she lost her memory, she woke up to be thrown into death row, facing the interrogation of sharp words and his aggressiveness...

Moreover, she had lost a child.

If he really cared so much for her, how could she have lost the baby? Why didn't he do anything?

He Manzhi didn't know what Zhao Xiwei was thinking. As she tried to persuade him, she blushed and lowered her head in embarrassment: "Sister Wei, His Majesty is really good. He is handsome, talented in both civil and military affairs, and has a noble character... Even if he is not the emperor, but an ordinary man, he is the most worthy man to be with..."

She hugged Zhao Xiwei's legs and begged like a puppy: "Sister Wei, can you please give in and make peace with him?"

Zhao Xi frowned and woke up from his deep thoughts: "I will reconcile with him?"

"Yes!" He Manzhi smiled shyly, revealing a bit of innocence. "If you and His Majesty reconcile, I can live a good life. We can live in the same palace, eat together, and live together. If you don't dislike me, I will massage your shoulders and legs every day... You know, how wonderful it is!"

"..."

Zhao Xi was silent for a moment, thinking to himself, do you know that my life is in his hands...

Even if it was true that he let me live, what about the Zhao family? What about her father?

Her mother was charged with the crime of being a murderer, and she could not rest in peace even after her death. Her bones might even be turned into dust and scattered. Even if she managed to survive, how could she stay out of it?
Reconciliation...

It's just a fool's dream, like a moth flying into a flame.

Zhao Xiwei's biggest wish in this life is not to be someone's sweetheart, but... to live well, freely and without danger.

"Manzhi." Zhao Xiwei called her name and changed the subject without leaving a trace. "What is your biggest wish in this life?" "Ah? A wish?" He Manzhi thought about it seriously and tilted her head and said, "I hope my father will be a good official."

"This is not your wish, it's your father's." Zhao Xi smiled and shook his head.

"Then..." He Manzhi thought for a moment, "Then I hope everything is fine at home and my mother won't be angry."

"That's not it either." Zhao Xiwei still shook his head, "This is your whole family's wish, not your own."

"Is that so..." He Manzhi lay on Zhao Xiwei's legs, staring at the beams carved with dragons and phoenixes above the palace, and quietly revealed the deepest secret in her heart: "My mother came from a poor family, and I want to win a good reputation for her..."

Zhao Xiwei's heart sank and she felt a little guilty. She had no intention of touching upon other people's unknown past.

But He Manzhi's true feelings came out without any defense: "My mother is the lowest kind of actress..."

She put her face on Zhao Xiwei's knees, "Although my father is from a poor family, he couldn't tolerate such an identity... After giving birth to me, she tied herself up with a rope for my future..."

"My stepmother is not a bad person. She is sincere to my father. She raised me and told others that I was a concubine's daughter... They said that being a concubine's daughter is better than being a prostitute..."

Zhao Xiwei's heart sank. She put her arm around He Manzhi's shoulders and soothed him softly, "A hero's origin is not determined by his career. Guan Yiwu was raised among scholars, Sun Shuao was raised in the sea, Baili Xi was raised in the market... How many saints in ancient and modern times did not come from humble beginnings? Who can look down on them?"

After a pause, she quietly handed He Manzhi a handkerchief and said, "You are now His Majesty's concubine. If anyone dares to use these past events to humiliate you, it would be a great disrespect to the emperor and a crime punishable by the execution of all nine generations of the clan."

"Sister Wei..." Tears fell on Zhao Xiwei's knees, wetting a large area. She choked up, "I'll sing a song for you, okay?"

Zhao Xiwei couldn't bear to listen, but she couldn't bear to refuse even more. How painful must it be for her to keep such a secret of her life experience and not dare to reveal a single word among the circle of noble ladies in Beijing?

"Yeah." Zhao Xiwei touched her hair, "I'm listening."

He Manzhi's singing voice with a crying tone then sounded softly in the hall.

"A bright moon shines on the tall building,

The river is winding and the water is far away,
The daughter looked up at the bright moon.
Thinking of my mother, I feel sad.
Other people's mothers wear golden flowers,
My mother washes her hair with water.

……

A bright moon shines on the tall building.

The winding river and the distant mountains

The daughter looked up at the bright moon.
Thinking of my mother, tears come to my eyes.

Other people's mothers wear jade in their hair.
My mother has a head full of snow.

……

A bright moon shines on the tall building.

The river is winding and the road is long,
The daughter looked up at the bright moon.
Thinking of my mother, tears come to my eyes.

My mother is paying homage to the emperor.
My mother is at the grave.

……

The mountains are far away, the waters are far away,
Mountains and rivers are far away, separating yin and yang.

The moon rises, the moon sets,
The moon shines into my attic,
I looked up and asked the moon softly,
Is my mother also worried?" (End of this chapter)