Zhurou

Chapter 267 Comb
Two people came to ask questions one after another, and Wang Shu had no choice but to go into the hall to report.

Zhao Hong was originally smiling at Zhao Mingzhi, but when he heard that Pei Yong had arrived at Donghua Gate early in the morning and not on time, the smile on his face gradually faded, and he lowered his head and said nothing, holding the citron cup.

Zhao Mingzhi thought for a moment and said, "Please ask Mr. Pei to temporarily retreat to Donghua Gate to avoid being blocked by the people."

After Wang Shu received the order and left, she turned to look at Zhao Hong and said softly, "I'm just leaving for a while and will be back in two days."

Zhao Hong forced a smile and said, "I know, I am actually happy in my heart, but I don't know why, I just can't get rid of that thought..."

Zhao Mingzhi reached out his hand and gently took his brother's hand that was holding Xiangcheng's. He said slowly, "Whether I recruit a prince consort or not, he will always be an outsider. You and I are the only brothers and sisters in the world who share the same mother and blood. I always think of you first in my heart. Don't you also put me in the most important position? How can you have other thoughts?"

Zhao Hong had been patient for many days. Now he hesitated again and again. He could no longer bear the depression in his heart. Finally, he whispered, "Sister, I heard some rumors outside. They said that after the Lantern Festival, Pei Yong... Mr. Pei will return to Jingzhao Prefecture... Then, sister will go with him to help me... Many of them seem to be well-founded. I don't know what to think..."

Zhao Mingzhi said, "Haven't I asked you before? You are the emperor, you can do whatever you want. What's so difficult about that?"

"Last time I asked him, although he agreed to everything and followed my arrangements, people have their own selfish desires. I can't just force myself to do what I want. So... He is a meritorious official. If he wants to return to Jingzhao Prefecture, it will be difficult to win his support if I force him now. But if it's just for his heart, then... Sister..."

"He is not an outsider. You can speak directly to him if you have anything to say. Even if you want to go back to Jingzhao Prefecture, it doesn't necessarily take a few years. In the future, when you are familiar with everything, you can go back to the northwest or the southeast. It is not a big deal. Besides, I am alone. Do I have to obey others? Can't I stay in the east for half a year and in the west for a year?"

Zhao Mingzhi lowered his voice and smiled as he said, "You have only been in power for a few years. Can I just watch my brother stand alone? I have to lend a hand. As for the so-called return to the northwest together - if there were no such rumors, how could the two governments agree to this marriage immediately with all the rumors and their own selfish desires?"

She paused for a few breaths, then smiled and said, "I didn't want to tell you before because you are kind and don't like to play. If you knew the inside story earlier, you would have been confident and would have shown some things, which would inevitably arouse suspicion from others. Now that everything is settled, there is no suspicion anymore. If you want to blame someone, don't blame my sister, just blame Pei Yong for his tricks. After three days, he and I will return to the palace to thank you. You can just blame him. It has nothing to do with me."

Zhao Hong's eyes widened suddenly, he was both happy and angry, and after a long while he snorted in dissatisfaction: "Sister, you underestimate me! Although I am young, my acting is not necessarily bad!"

But his eyes finally lit up, and a smile appeared on his face again. He said, "Then ask the Prince Consort to come in and sit and wait for a while. I... I'll ask someone to bring him tea!"

Zhao Mingzhi came here early in the morning because she knew her brother was a thoughtful person. She was afraid that after she got married, he would be left alone in the palace for a few days. He had to be competitive and sensible at the same time, and it would be bad if he had too many things on his mind.

After she had said everything to him, she said, "When I return to the palace after three days, the winter solstice will come in a few days. According to the rules, the court will rest for seven days during the winter solstice. If you have time, why not put your homework aside for a while and go to the western suburbs to find a farm to stay for a few days, first to soak in the hot springs to drive away the cold, and second to relax. How do you think?"

Since Zhao Hong became emperor, he has either been fleeing here and there in fear, or working day and night, focusing on his studies and government affairs. He has hardly any free time. When he heard the words "going to the western suburbs to relax", his heart almost flew away. He was so excited that he wanted to go back home immediately.

He kept nodding his head, counting on his fingers when the winter solstice would come and when he could leave. All his original frustration and melancholy were thrown away.

Zhao Mingzhi continued, "In the palace, we are naturally the monarch and his subjects. When we go to the western suburbs, you will be my younger brother first. The last time I went to Jingzhao Prefecture, I met the third brother Wei Chengyan on the road. He was very good at using an axe and said that he was very good at catching chickens and ducks. He was also very interesting. This time, I took the opportunity of him coming back for the banquet and asked him to take us to roast chicken and duck in the earthen stove. I heard that the whole chicken was wrapped in lotus leaves and cooked in the stove. The meat was tender and juicy, hot, and had the aroma of lotus leaves. Some taro and chestnuts were stewed inside..."

Zhao Hong listened. Although he had never eaten fresh chicken or duck cooked in front of him and found it hard to imagine how delicious they were, he was already longing for the thought of sitting around the fire with his sister without having to worry about all the complicated affairs.

He searched his memory for a few things he wanted to eat, and hurriedly said, "Bring some maltose and rock sugar, grind them up, and eat the roasted taro with the sugar!"

Speaking of taro dipped in brown sugar powder, he couldn't help but drool.

Zhao Mingzhi immediately thought of his childhood. He was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "Okay, let them prepare the big taro and the small taro, and then we will cook them together."

***
No matter how much Zhao Hong wished that time would pass more slowly, the sun still rose slowly to the zenith and then gradually set in the west.

It was almost the auspicious time in the evening when Zhao Mingzhi returned to the palace. She had already changed into a nine-phoenix crown and a robe with wrapped sleeves, and slowly stepped onto the sedan chair.

The etiquette for the princess' descent was extremely complicated. Even if it was simplified a lot, the astronomical officials, dowry attendants, candle holders, messengers, boys inserting hairpins and square and round fans were all lined up in a queue, forming a very long winding line.

Zhao Mingzhi sat in the sedan chair and could hardly feel himself moving forward. Everywhere he looked, he saw heads of people. He could not see Pei Yong at all. He could only see colorful silks flying beside the road.

The colorful silks are of different styles, lengths and colors, and are written with congratulatory words. Some say plain words, some say auspicious poems from past dynasties, and some people take the opportunity to write their own store names on them, saying that a certain store congratulates the heavenly family on their great happiness and so on. It is obvious that each one does his or her own thing, all from his or her own heart.

Ever since the marriage was confirmed, Zhao Mingzhi has never felt much of a sense of reality. First, he was worried that his second brother Pei was bound by the marriage, but in fact the problem was not completely solved. He began to get busy with the affairs of the former court and the harem, and then he had to take care of the diplomatic envoys going north to discuss the return of the emperor to the capital. He was simply overwhelmed. Until the morning, he was still talking with his brother, worried that he had wrong ideas in his mind.

At this moment, because the days are short in winter, it is already half dark, but every shop along the way is decorated with lights and candles, or torches, lighting up the whole area. There are cheers and applause on both sides of the road, which are actually difficult to make out clearly. It seems like someone is cheering for the emperor, or calling out for the princess. There are also countless congratulations. Even if you can't see everyone's faces clearly, you can tell that everyone has carefully washed and dressed, and all wear bright clothes.

However, seeing these people and hearing these voices, he couldn't tell at which moment a real idea suddenly emerged in Zhao Mingzhi's mind.

——They actually got married like this.

Perhaps it was because the person she was going to marry was too steady and confident, that after she came up with the idea, she felt neither repulsive nor nervous.

However, the nine-winged and four-phoenix crown on her head was inlaid with too many and too large jewels, and was woven with gold threads, weighing several kilograms. It made her head hurt, and even her neck and shoulders felt a dull pain.

In a daze, the team finally arrived at the destination.

When the princess got married, according to etiquette, the empress should ride in a nine-dragon carriage and the crown prince should ride on horseback to see her off. However, there was no empress or crown prince in the palace at the moment.

So at Zhao Hong's strong request, the emperor personally escorted the bride, and a group of ladies accompanied him. The Princess's residence, where Junyi Bridge Street was located, was actually only a quarter of an hour away from Xuande Gate at a fast pace. Although there were patrol officers and soldiers to clear the way, the queue was too long, there were too many people watching in front, and the wedding carriage, according to custom, went around the nearby streets and markets. By the time it arrived at the Princess's residence, it took a full two hours.

By this time, it was already dark. There was a banquet going on in the front and back halls. Zhao Mingzhi walked into the side room. The noisy sounds around him gradually faded away. Mo Xiang came over with a copper basin for Zhao Mingzhi to wash his hands. Another eunuch came in from outside and whispered, "Your Highness, the emperor has already given you nine imperial banquets. Prepare to return to the palace."

Zhao Mingzhi nodded and was about to agree when she heard a burst of chaotic footsteps outside. Soon, Zhao Hong's voice was heard outside. He called out "Sister" and was about to push the door open.

Outside the gate, there were imperial guards, escorts, and people with full blessings from unknown families. When they saw someone rushing in, they wanted to stop him, but when they saw the other person's clothes, the countless servants, the imperial guards on the left and right, and the eunuchs, they dared not say a word and could only bow their heads and salute.

Zhao Hong had one hand on the door, and just as he was about to exert force, he seemed to remember something and turned around to ask, "The princess is getting married, can I go in?"

Wang Shu followed behind, panting. He finally got forward and when he was asked this question, he wanted to slap his legs to death for running so fast when he should have run slower.

He then turned around and looked at those happy people.

Everyone bowed their heads, not even raising them, and no one responded to him.

Wang Shu had no choice but to bite the bullet and said, "According to etiquette..."

Before he finished speaking, the door of the bridal chamber had already opened from the inside, and Mo Xiang and others lined up in two rows to pay their respects.

6◇9◇Book◇Bar

Zhao Hong put Wang Shu behind his mind and went into the house immediately.

Zhao Mingzhi was sitting on the bed. When he saw his brother coming in, he was about to get up, but Zhao Hong stepped forward and stopped him.

"Don't move, sister. They say that a woman needs to add makeup when she gets married. Although we are looking for a prince consort, it still counts as a marriage. Now that my father and mother are gone, I can also come to add makeup to my sister."

Zhao Hong was wearing a formal suit and had come on horseback. He could not wipe off the sweat on his head and face. His small chest rose and fell, and he was breathing heavier than usual.

He stood there for a while, calmed his breathing, then picked up the thing in his right wide sleeve, held it in both hands, and slowly put it into Zhao Mingzhi's arms.

It is a small wooden box.

Zhao Mingzhi saw that the wooden box looked familiar, so he took it with both hands. He was not in a hurry to open it, but took out a handkerchief and gently wiped the sweat off his brother's forehead, whispering, "Sister will be back in two days."

Zhao Hong hummed softly, and did not stay for long. He just took a long look at the box, then looked up at Zhao Mingzhi, held back the tears in his red eyes, forced a smile, and slowly walked out.

When the emperor left, the door naturally closed.

Only then did Zhao Mingzhi lower his head to examine the wooden box.

The box was locked with the key in the lock. After turning it, there was a space of only three or four inches square inside, with only a few things in it - a palm-sized purse, in which there were a handful of gold melon seeds, two large pearls, and half a jade disk. The jade disk must have been dropped before, and there was also a small comb somewhere on the other side.

Zhao Mingzhi first looked at the purse, picked up a melon seed from it, and with just one glance, he felt as if he had returned to a year ago.

At that time, the Di soldiers invaded and came and went freely as if they were in an empty land. The imperial court fled to Caizhou, but when they heard that Xuzhou had fallen and the rebels were going to move south again, the two governments clamored to move south again.

She was preparing to go to Jingzhao Prefecture to ask for troops from the Jiedushi Pei Yong. Before leaving, her brother was frail and sickly, and thought he would not live long. Not knowing her plan, he specially sent her his treasured hidden private belongings, shouting, "Don't worry about me, just run away."

The scene of that day is still vivid in my mind, but the situation is different now. On the night of my wedding, my brother brought me this box again. The things inside were the same, except that there was an extra comb.

The comb was only two fingers long, and seemed to be made of sandalwood, thickly coated with tung oil. It was crudely made, with even the lengths and gaps between the teeth uneven. There was also a word "Hong" clearly carved on the handle with a knife.

Before she could take a closer look, she heard another noise outside. It was Mo Xiang who hurried over and said, "Your Highness, please go to the main hall to pay your respects."

Zhao Mingzhi took out the purse he carried with him, put the comb into it, and carefully put it into his sleeve. He then asked Moxiang to carefully put away the wooden box. Then he took the round fan handed to him by the servant and stood up. Before going out, he was about to cover his face with the fan, but when he looked up, he saw a person standing opposite him.

The person is naturally Pei Yong.

He was the first one to arrive, wearing a purple robe, a jade belt, and a goldfish bag on his waist. He had a smile on his face and his eyes were bright. He completely ignored everyone else and only looked at Zhao Mingzhi.

Zhao Mingzhi paused and subconsciously slowed down his pace, but before he could say anything, he saw the eyes of the person opposite him were as dark as lacquer, shockingly bright. Without saying a word, he took a few steps forward, half stepped into the house, quietly stretched out his hand, and held the phoenix crown on her head to help relieve the force.

It was pitch black outside, and although the lights in the houses in the courtyard were on, Pei Yong was standing in a place with backlight, and his tall and broad shoulders blocked out the light from outside.

As for the palace maids in the room, they naturally pretended not to see anything.

The two hadn't seen each other for many days. When they met this time, Zhao Mingzhi couldn't tell what he felt, but he couldn't help but smile and raise his eyebrows. Although he shook his head and gently brushed the other's hand away, he looked at Pei Yong unconsciously several times before his eyes met with his. After a moment of lingering, he was rational enough to realize where he was at the moment and quickly looked away.