My wife has a secret

Chapter 151 The First Day of the Ceremony

"Everyone is safe."

Empress Gongsun on the high platform looked calm and composed. After saying this sentence calmly, she walked down the platform step by step and entered the phoenix carriage behind the dragon and phoenix.

Empress Gongsun's phoenix carriage was covered by a pearl curtain and gauze veil. Her delicate and soft profile was reflected in the moonlight, and she was so beautiful that she exuded a special charm and style.

After the dragon and phoenix chariots started moving together, all the ministers and generals followed the grand convoy in the order of seniority and set off towards Laojun Mountain under the escort of the imperial guards.

For a moment, the torches on the large and spacious street were bright, illuminating the entire Suzaku Avenue as if it were daytime.

The residents of the capital city had heard the news of the grand ceremony of offering sacrifices to heaven earlier, and they spontaneously took to the streets to watch, kneeling and welcoming the event under the supervision of the Kyoto Prefecture.

Although Empress Dowager Xu was a household name, few people had seen her true face in recent years because she had stayed indoors and devoted herself to worshipping Buddha. Even when she met with some court officials, she only gave orders behind a large and heavy screen.

It is indeed rare to see people dressed up in their best attire and allow all people to look up and worship like today.

As the convoy moved forward, Xu Qing was again lined up with those aristocratic merchants.

But because of his prominent status, people around him were very reserved and didn't even dare to look at him.

The journey to Laojun Mountain is quite long, and it takes two hours to walk from the palace gate to the south city gate. Xu Qing doesn't want to walk all the way in silence.

"Brother Huang."

Huang Sheng was frightened when he saw Xu Qing looking back at him in the queue in front.

Right now, everyone is following the motorcade led by the Queen Mother in a parade to receive the worship of the people, and they dare not make any mistakes.

But he soon realized that his thoughts were a bit unnecessary, because the imperial guards who were accompanying the team straightened their heads after seeing that the person who started chatting was Xu Qing, and no one dared to say a word.

Xu Qing switched positions with the two people behind him, came to Huang Sheng and asked, "I forgot to ask you in the square just now. You are from Yunnan, have you ever heard of the art of insect poisoning?"

Huang Sheng was stunned for a moment, then reacted.

"Mr. Xu, are you interested in the art of insect poisoning?"

"Correct."

Huang Sheng frowned slightly, thought for a while and answered: "The insect poisoning technique in Southern Xinjiang is unique, but it is completely different from the martial arts in the Central Plains. What kind of poisoning technique is Mr. Xu interested in?"

"Just chatting."

The reason Xu Qing came up with was reasonable. After all, the witchcraft in southern Xinjiang was extremely mysterious to outsiders and was said to be extremely evil. People would often be interested in such novel things.

"In fact, Huang has only a limited understanding of Gu magic, because it is popular in the southern Xinjiang area and is basically passed down by wizards in each village. It is rare for Gu magic to be spread outside."

Huang Sheng paused for a moment, then hurriedly told what he knew, fearing that he might upset the empress dowager's nephew.

"But Mr. Huang does know something about the history of Gu Shu. It is said that the Gu Shu in Southern Xinjiang originated from a goddess in Southern Xinjiang. Only women in the past dynasties could practice this method. It is for this reason that most of the mountain villages in Yunnan, Yunnan and Southern Xinjiang are ruled by women. Men have a very low status and their only duty is to work and pick fruits."

Ancient Central Plains was an extremely typical society that favored boys over girls, so Xu Qing listened with great interest.

"Although the mountain strongholds in southern Xinjiang are scattered, they were united into one place by a witch with great magical powers three hundred years ago, and were called the Five Poison Sect. But because the witch encouraged the then King of Yundian to go to war with the Central Plains, she was said to have been punished by heaven and was ripped open by the insects she raised, and died in her residence. Since then, the Five Poison Sect has been demoralized and disintegrated."

Xu Qing suddenly asked, "What happened next?"

Huang Sheng continued, "After the fall of the Five Poison Sect, there was no communication between the villages. The current King of Yundian is a figure nominated by the tribes to make up the scene, and his control over southern Xinjiang is very weak."

After listening to this, Xu Qing gained a new understanding of Yunnan.

"By the way, I heard that the King of Yundian once presented a precious insect Gu to my aunt, named the Golden Silkworm Love Gu."

Huang Sheng was stunned when he heard this, then he nodded slowly and told the origin of this precious poisonous insect.

"It is true. The love Gu is a special Gu passed down by the Mother Goddess. The method of refining it is a mystery. It has always been a legend in the Miao area... As for the golden silkworm love Gu, it originated from the Five Poison Sect. After the witch and the then King Yundian died, a cocoon was left behind. It is said that the King Yundian hatched this thing into a larva and presented it to the current Queen Mother."

Xu Qing nodded, indicating that he had almost understood it.

Huang Sheng's statement was consistent with what he had heard, but not too different.

The only thing that surprised Xu Qing was the history of the Five Poisons Sect.

……

After chatting along the way, the two hours passed quickly.

After the large convoy walked out of the tall city gate, they took cars to Laojun Mountain.

As for the ceremony held on the mountain, it went according to plan and was just as boring as Xu Qing had imagined.

After the imperial guards lined up, the empress dowager, the queen and other royal family members entered the Hanyuan Hall on the top of the mountain one by one to pay their respects, while the ministers and officials waited on the chilly mountain top, waiting for the empress dowager in the hall to pay homage to the ancestors of the Great Qi and present jade and silk.

When the Queen Mother walked out of the Hanyuan Hall, the eunuch in charge continued to shout, "Today's ceremony is over."

"Live a thousand years, Queen Mother. Live a thousand years, Queen."

When all the ministers lowered their heads, ready to wait for orders to disperse and return to the camp halfway up the mountain, Empress Dowager Xu spoke calmly, and her tender and pleasant voice attracted everyone's attention.

"Today is the first day of the Heavenly Sacrifice Ceremony. Although this palace and the Queen have already paid tribute to the spirits of our ancestors, considering that Emperor Xuan has just passed away and may still be wandering in the underworld, so... tonight the Queen will kneel and keep vigil in the Hanyuan Hall to comfort the spirit of Emperor Xuan in heaven."

A cold wind blew, and the ministers looked dazed.

Many people then remembered that ever since the rebellion in the capital caused by Prince Dongwan, Emperor Xuan's coffin had been kept in the palace without being buried. Now, calculating the time, it happened to be the seventh day after the death of the little emperor.

Empress Gongsun, who was two steps behind the Empress Dowager, opened her lips slightly with disbelief flashing in her pupils, as if she wanted to say something but her throat was choked by sudden surprise.

The muscles on her beautiful face stiffened, and for a moment she forgot what expression she should make, because behind the crowd not far away, the imperial guards were carrying Emperor Xuan's coffin and walking slowly towards the direction of Hanyuan Hall.

Realizing the danger of this journey, Empress Gongsun's heart beat faster, and every beat was accompanied by a palpitation of fear.

She wanted to reject the Queen Mother's proposal, but when she thought of Princess Danyang's methods of torture, she shut her mouth wisely and stared blankly at the coffin that was getting closer and closer.

None of the ministers dared to disobey the Queen Mother's wishes, not to mention that her actions were reasonable and made her act of offering sacrifices to the heaven on behalf of Emperor Xuan. Therefore, everyone bowed and saluted, shouting, "The Queen Mother is wise."

"Please stand down and leave. The ceremony will continue as usual tomorrow."

All the officials in front of the Hanyuan Hall left one after another. Empress Dowager Xu turned around and walked into the hall. The palace maids on both sides hurried forward to close the door and retreated from the palace.

As the footsteps of the imperial guards faded away, the vast Hanyuan Hall became empty, leaving only Empress Dowager Xu, Lord Lianhua, Princess Danyang and Empress Gongsun.

Empress Dowager Xu looked aloof and cold. She narrowed her eyes and asked, "Queen, from the look on your face just now, it seems that you are not satisfied with my arrangement?"

"No...don't dare."

Empress Gongsun hastily knelt on the ground, her bright and gorgeous skirt spread out on the smooth ground, like a blooming peony.

Princess Danyang put on a lazy look and greeted the Queen Mother with a smile, then walked to the side of Empress Gongsun and said with a smile: "Sister Gongsun, remember to be obedient... If you dare to disobey the Queen, even if Jin'er is on good terms with you, she won't be able to take care of you much."

Empress Gongsun's heartbeat quickened, her breathing became rapid, and her whole body was shaking unconsciously.

She still remembered clearly what happened in the princess's mansion. Now the culprit was standing next to her. How could she remain calm?

Princess Danyang was like a worm in her stomach, showing a sweet and shy smile, and said: "Sister Gongsun, you are already treated very well in Jin'er's mansion. You have also seen the daughters of those criminals, aren't they all bad?"

Lianhua Jun's brows were slightly frowned, and displeasure appeared on his face.

Naturally, she would not have mercy on Empress Gongsun, but Princess Danyang's words were indeed unruly and too casual.

"Princess Danyang, please don't be so presumptuous in front of the Queen Mother."

"Woo woo...Jin'er knows she was wrong."

Princess Danyang came skipping to the side of Empress Dowager Xu, a pitiful and miserable look immediately revealed on her pretty face, and her hands naturally hugged the Empress Dowager's elbows.

"Queen Mother, you won't blame Jin'er, right?"

Empress Dowager Xu smiled slightly and said slowly, "No, Jin'er did a good job."

"The Queen Mother is so nice. She is the best person Jin'er has ever met... the best person in the world."

Li Jiner used the word "most" three times in a row, and her praise thawed the iceberg of Empress Dowager Xu. The latter ignored Empress Gongsun, who was kneeling on the ground and was extremely humble, and walked out of Hanyuan Hall from the back door with Princess Danyang and headed towards the bedroom palace on the mountain.

When Lord Lianhua caught up with the two, he turned his head slightly to glance at Empress Gongsun, and seeing that she was still sobbing in the same posture, he turned his head back, closed the palace door, and inserted a large gilded lock.

……

Xu Qing was just about to follow the ministers back to their base halfway up the mountain when he was stopped by a female official.

The other party came to him, knelt down and saluted, and said very politely: "Mr. Xu, there is no accommodation arranged for you there, but there are vacant rooms in the palace on the mountain. Please come and live there with me."

Fortunately, when the female official called him, there were not many people around him, so Xu Qing's special treatment did not attract the attention of others.

He followed the female official and after passing through layers of protection of the imperial guards, he came to the side courtyard on the southwest side.

After pushing open the door, the female official respectfully introduced Xu Qing, "The sleeping palace in Laojun Mountain was originally the residence of the emperor, the empress dowager, and the concubines when they offered sacrifices to the heavens, but because of the haste of this grand ceremony, they only had time to clean up this smallest room."

Xu Qing, who had experienced many things, knew that the female official was just being polite.

The sleeping palace is also divided into different levels. The large sleeping palace is naturally the residence for the emperor and the empress. The southwest room where he lives is actually the smallest sleeping palace.

But this arrangement did not mean that the Empress Dowager did not care about him, but if he lived in the emperor and empress's bedroom, it would naturally attract all kinds of criticism.

Most of the officials' residences on the hillside were in tents. It was already a good condition for me to be able to live in the palace, so there was no need to ask for too much.

"Master Xu, the main house to the west is the residence of the Empress, and the one to the east is the residence of the Empress Dowager. Now is the time for the Heavenly Sacrifice Ceremony. If there is anything, please inform me first, and then I will report to Lord Lianhua to see if I can fulfill Master Xu's idea."

"It's okay. I live very well here. Sorry for bothering you."

The female official was a little surprised at Xu Qing's politeness. She bowed and took out a copper key from her bosom and handed it to him.

"Mr. Xu, you are too polite. This key was given to me by Lord Lianhua. Please keep it safe and use it when needed... If there is nothing else, I will take my leave."

Although he didn't know what Lianhua Jun was up to, Xu Qing still took the key and nodded.

After the female official left, Xu Qing played with the huge key for a while. After searching the whole house and failing to find a treasure chest that could be opened, he gave up the idea of ​​treasure hunting and took a nap on the bed.

Today, because of the parade on Suzaku Street and the worship of ancestors of the Great Qi outside the grand ceremony, Xu Qing did not have time to rest for a while. The night went from light to dark, and when he woke up, it was already long into the night.

There was a cold dinner placed at the door of the room. It was obvious that the female officials placed it outside the door because they did not want to disturb Xu Qing.

Considering that it was getting late, it would be troublesome to bother those female officials now, and it would also cause noise around the quiet bedroom and disturb the rest of the Empress Dowager, so Xu Qing took the dinner and took the initiative to walk to the kitchen.

"It seems to be here? No, is it there?"

But after taking a few steps, Xu Qing realized his carelessness.

He didn't know where the kitchen of the palace was, and he walked and stopped, changing directions at random, so he lost his original direction.

For a moment, Xu Qing, who couldn't find the way back to the palace, had to tiptoe up the white marble steps, trying to look at the layout of each room through the window paper.

It was unknown when the candle on the lampstand went out. Xu Qing had no way of determining his own room based on the structure of each bedroom, so he had to resort to this stupid method.

There was no one in the first nearby house, so Xu Qing had to walk to the second house closer to the intersection.

"It should be here."

After observing for a long time, Xu Qing chose a bedroom that was close to the main road. The road conditions and layout here were very similar to the ones he had come here.

But just as he got close to the paper window, he suddenly heard a soft female voice.

"what……"

(End of this chapter)