Chaos in the Chu Palace

Chapter 27
Ouyang Ruo smiled slightly, and fell asleep with his arm on his pillow.She just felt groggy, as if she had fallen into a dream.There was a lot of noise around, as if someone was shouting, followed by a pair of eyes, why are those eyes so familiar.Ouyang Ruo only felt that he was thinking constantly, constantly thinking...

Suddenly, she was startled and jumped up.

Ah!
Ouyang Ruo woke up startled from the bed, felt his hands covered in cold sweat when he touched his face, Chu Huotian also had sleepy eyes, and asked vaguely: "What's wrong?"

Ouyang Ruo didn't answer, just breathing rapidly.

Seeing that her expression was wrong, Chu Huotian hurriedly got up and said, "What's wrong? Did you have a nightmare?"

Ouyang Ruo nodded.Chu Huotian hastily called his servants to bring water.Wan Hui was startled in the back room outside the house, seeing Ouyang Ruo's complexion was snow-white, she hurriedly asked the maid on duty to boil some water and mixed pearl powder for Ouyang Ruo to drink.

Chu Huotian looked at her face worriedly, and said in a deep voice: "If you feel uncomfortable, call the doctor over to have a look."

Ouyang Ruo shook his head and said: "It's okay, I was shocked tonight, just rest for a while. Master Hou, go and rest, tomorrow morning is still in court."

Chu Huotian picked her up and put her gently on the bed. Seeing her expression slowly recovering, he smiled and said, "Don't worry about me, you should rest early, what's the good of the morning, a bunch of shameless villains. Tomorrow Just go and take a leave of absence, and I can accompany you tomorrow morning."

Ouyang Ruo was stunned for a moment, seeing a trace of tenderness in his deep eyes, the night was silent, even the grass insects were silent.Ouyang Ruo only felt that her heart suddenly became much more stable than panic.She let out a long sigh and curled into his arms.

Looking at her pure sleeping face, Chu Huotian couldn't help but leaned down and kissed her lightly on the forehead.The moon rabbit is falling to the west, and the sky is almost dawn.

In the early morning of the second day, Chu Huotian did not go to court, and slept until the sun was up with Ouyang Ruo in his arms, got up, took her hand after breakfast, and strolled in the garden of the mansion.In the garden, hundreds of flowers are competing for beauty, hosta flowers, hibiscus flowers, water chestnut flowers of various colors, a large area, competing for red and beauty, blooming lively.There are also precious flowers, but they are not placed in the big garden, they are placed in the flower house built in the mansion, and they are carried out when distinguished guests come.Although the flowers in the garden are not expensive enough, they are expensive because they bloom energetically and have many varieties.Just talking about one kind of hibiscus flower, there are as many as four or five books.Needless to say the rest of the flowers, the roses bloomed as if they were about to catch fire, and the clouds were steaming and the clouds were blooming.

Chu Huotian took her hand and walked along the path among the flowers.He was wearing a plain white rust-silver dark-pattern robe, with a white jade belt of the same color around his waist, and no jade crown on his head, only a long white jade tiger head hairpin.Dressed in plain white, she is really a jade tree facing the wind, as graceful as a fairy.

Ouyang Ruo was also plainly dressed, only a moon-white long skirt embroidered with small rose flowers embroidered with twigs, and covered with a white gauze and silver silk drape.The head is tied in a flowing cloud bun, and only two jaspers are scratched on the head.

Chu Huotian saw that she was dressed in plain clothes, but she was as bright and beautiful as a pure white magnolia flower.He smiled and said: "You look good in plain clothes, but last time I saw you wearing colorful clothes, you were also very attractive. It's really suitable for heavy makeup and light makeup."

Ouyang Ruo smiled sweetly when he heard the words, and that smile was dazzling under the bright sunshine.She said: "Master Hou is really absurd."

Chu Huotian raised his eyes and looked around, and suddenly he took a long breath and said, "I haven't really looked around this garden yet. Every time I come and go, I am in a hurry. Today is the real walk."

Ouyang Ruo reached out and plucked a purple water chestnut hairpin and put it on her hair, and said ramblingly: "Your Majesty has a lot of business and government affairs every day. Where can I come to the garden to enjoy the flowers when I have time?"

Chu Huotian frowned and sighed suddenly: "Where do I have the time to enjoy the flowers and scenery? Nowadays, the battle for the establishment of the reserve in the court is getting more and more fierce. A few days ago, the head of the country and the party began to participate in the Qingliu party. Cholera. The academy run by the Qingliu school gathered some young students and began to jointly write a letter to the emperor, exposing the father-in-law and the party for personal gain and bribery. Sigh... this mess."

After hearing this, Ouyang Ruo suddenly smiled and said, "Then Hou Ye, the faction in the army, just watched the fire from the other side and did not help each other. They just wait for the right time to come and make a profit?"

Chu Huotian's heart was shocked, he turned his head, his handsome eyes were dark, and he stared straight at Ouyang Ruo's face.Ouyang Ruo was horrified by him, knowing that he had slipped his tongue, his heart was pounding, and he couldn't help but lowered his brows and said: "My concubine is out of line, please be punished by Lord Hou." After saying that, she bowed down.

Chu Huotian didn't pull her, and let her bow down before slowly helping her up, he stared into her eyes and said: "You are talented and intelligent, and you can understand this situation, which is beyond my expectation. What else do you have that I don't understand, don't understand." His expression was steady, with a hint of doubt and inquiry, his eyes seemed to look into her heart.

Ouyang Ruo relaxed his mind a little, and replied: "I am a girl, even if I can understand it, I can only see it through. How can I control it?"

Chu Huotian laughed, put his arms around her slender waist and said with a smile: "It's amazing to understand it, and it's extremely capable to see it through. I don't know how many seven-foot men are lost in this chaotic court. Direction, life is lost. A man’s court is bloody and rainy. If he makes a wrong step, he will steal his family and exterminate his family. coveted."

When he said this, the universe was as clear and clear as jade, and all living beings seemed to be prostrate at his feet, and the world belonged to him.Ouyang Ruo's heart skipped a beat and she looked at him fixedly.

The half-day leisure time passed quickly, and Chu Huotian hurried out of the house to deal with affairs.Ouyang Ruo stayed in the Jingyun Pavilion to recuperate. Concubine Chu and Mrs. Liu came to visit and brought a lot of supplements.

Concubine Chu didn't sleep well last night, the circles around her eyes were slightly dark, which couldn't be covered by a layer of white powder.She frowned at Ouyang Ruo and said: "Sister Ouyang was really shocked last night. My concubine has already killed that wild dog. Fortunately, my sister is fine. If something happens, my concubine will be the first to feel uneasy. "Speaking with a long sigh, he shook the peony fan in his hand.

Mrs. Liu also said: "Yes, the concubine wanted to congratulate her sister with good intentions, but she didn't expect a dog to mess it up. It's strange to say that there is no dog in the mansion, why did such a dog come here? .Is it something unclean?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Ouyang Ruo sneered secretly, but said in a panic, "No way, there were so many people last night, how could there be something unclean."

Mrs. Liu patted her chest, and the round fan in her hand flapped so fast that the hair on her temples flew up. She lowered her voice and said, "Don't say it, it really happened. A few years ago..." She was about to go Next, Concubine Chu coughed a few times, Liu Shi seemed to wake up, stopped with a dry smile and said: "Oh, I really should hit, Sister Ouyang is pregnant. Just say these frustrating words. No Say no more."

Concubine Chu comforted Ouyang Ruo a few more words, and Ouyang Ruo was naturally grateful.Concubine Chu and Mrs. Liu were overjoyed, chatted and laughed for a while and left.

Ouyang Ruo watched them leave, turned her head to look at a large pile of anti-abortion medicines on the table, suddenly felt very bored, called Ming Ying and said: "Take all these medicines, it will be annoying to look at."

Mingying hurriedly held it down.Wan Hui opened the curtain and came in, seeing Ouyang Ruo lying on the bed with her eyes closed, she stepped forward and said softly, "Did the two ladies say something unpleasant that made the lady angry? It's not worth it to be so angry."

Ouyang Ruo opened his eyes, and smiled coldly: "Listen, what are they talking about? They're playing tricks, and they don't say they found the person who released the dog. They're talking nonsense. Think of me as an idiot."

Wan Hui was also angry: "If the servants hadn't put more thought into that night, maybe they would have succeeded. I don't know which lady caused so many wives last night, maybe it was Mrs. Xu. She just came in , the dog followed in."

Ouyang Ruo thought about it carefully before saying: "It's too obvious, it doesn't look like her, and I saw it last night. After the dog came in, she found a free time and left the pavilion. The maidservant also took it away. It's a pity Last night was so chaotic, I didn't pay attention to see who came to hit me."

Wanhui gritted her teeth and muttered a few words, the days passed slowly, Chu Huotian seemed to be getting busier and busier, and he disappeared for a few days, let alone Ouyang Ruo's side, even Zhao Qingling's east side is also Not often.Ouyang Ruo heard Dexuan talk about it vaguely, like something in the army.Dexuan couldn't find anything of value, and Ouyang Ruo couldn't understand it even more, but seeing Chu Huotian's appearance must be a bit tricky.

Slowly the days swayed to the beginning of July.Ouyang Ruo's pregnancy has been two months, perhaps because of the second child, the embarrassment has passed, and she is much more energetic.The seventh day of July is the annual traditional "Qiqiao Festival" in Chu.Concubine Chu has the custom of going to Jingguo Temple to offer incense every year, because she gave birth to a princess, so she is very solemn at this time of year, hoping that her child will be well-behaved, proficient in all kinds of piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, and the female worker embroidered red pieces Affordable.

At the beginning of July, Concubine Chu was talking about going to burn incense, and asked the wives what they meant by the way.The wives wanted to go out to watch the fun. The seventh day of the seventh lunar month in Chudi was very lively and grand. Many young girls to be married would go to the temple fair to get a marriage lottery, and young men would also go there. Good luck is also very lucky.Ouyang Ruo heard them talking happily, so she listened silently.

Seeing that she just lowered her head and concentrated on looking at the teacup, Mrs. Liu said suddenly: "Ah, actually, sister Ouyang has to pay her respects too, and she might be able to give birth to a big fat son for the Marquis if she comes and pays her respects to Songzi Guanyin. Second, go out and take a look at our customs."

Seeing that everyone was looking at her, Ouyang Ruo suddenly smiled and said, "I can't join in the fun because I'm inconvenient. Thank you, Sister Liu, for your kindness."

She smiled bitterly in her heart, she had never been out of the mansion since she came to Chudi, it seemed that going out of the mansion was an extremely extravagant thing for her.Fortunately, after three years in the deep palace, she got used to it.Now that I heard that I'm going out, I'm really not used to it.

Mrs. Liu heard what she said, so she couldn't persuade her any more, but Concubine Chu smiled and said, "Mrs. Liu's suggestion is good. I'm going to ask Lord Hou, just because Lord Hou feels sorry for Sister Ouyang who is pregnant."

A group of wives hurriedly chimed in and chattered and laughed, and if Ouyang Ruo went, he might not be able to swim to his heart's content due to his inconvenient body.Ouyang Ruo laughed dryly with them, then said goodbye and went back to Jingyun Pavilion.Just when I got back to the pavilion, I heard Mingying say that Daodexuan had come.

Ouyang Ruo went to the inner hall and sent him in.Seeing that there was no one around, Dexuan said in a low voice: "Ma'am, the servants have already done what Madam said, and the people below are better, but those servants who are in charge still dare not act rashly."

Ouyang Ruo thought about it carefully, and then said: "It's not a problem, you try to find the people below, if you can use it for yourself, pay a lot of money to buy them, first order them to do some harmless things, you can't touch the managers above. , They are probably all from Concubine Chu and the Liu family. If you really want to buy them, you have to take it slowly step by step, and let me step in." After finishing speaking, he paused and asked: "Ling Huaxing can find it. how's it going?"

Dexuan hurriedly said: "The servant girl is looking for someone. I heard that there is a third master Ma in the capital. He has a wide range of people. He has many subordinates who can inquire about the news. He is called 'Ma Zilang'. If you want to find someone, just look for him. You can basically find it by going to 'Ma San Ye'. But it also costs a lot of money."

Ouyang Ruo nodded, turned around and took out something from the bottom box of his lacquered gold painting makeup box. Dexuan took it over and saw that it was a few ingots of yellow gold, and hurriedly pushed: "Madam, don't take it anymore, last time There are still servants given by the madam."

Ouyang Ruo stuffed the gold into his sleeve and said with a smile: "Take it, there are plenty of places for silver, and it's better to pawn a few things from Huaguo."

Dexuan reluctantly accepted it.

After a few days, it will be approaching the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, and the little maids in Jingyun Pavilion are busy preparing all kinds of melons and fruits. On the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, it can be placed on the incense table in the courtyard, and everything is exquisite and beautiful.Ouyang Ruo looked at the bustling crowd, but there was a little hope in his heart. If he could really leave the mansion, what would it be like...

Just as he was thinking, suddenly a few people who looked like nuns came outside.As soon as he entered the gate of the courtyard, he smiled and bowed: "Madam Seven, the princess said that on the morning of the seventh day, Madam Seven was invited to go to Jingguo Temple to burn incense. There is no need to make offerings. The concubine made them together, so as not to lose anything. Ma'am, just get ready."

Ouyang Ruo was overjoyed when she heard the words, and said with a smile, "Thank you for your hard work, Wan Hui will take some of the mothers to drink some tea before leaving."

Wan Hui hurriedly responded, and Mingying happily ran forward, clapped her hands and said: "Ah, madam is so kind, you can watch the fun. Although it's nice to be in the mansion, it's also boring. You can go with madam. ?” As he spoke, he stared at Ouyang Ruo with a pair of big eyes, his face full of longing.

Ouyang Ruo smiled and nodded her forehead and said, "Go, all of you, take you guys to see the fun together."

Mingying cheered and jumped back to find a few little maids to rejoice with.Ouyang Ruo only felt a surge of excitement in his heart, and only hoped that Chu Qi would come soon.

On the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, before dawn, Wan Hui and Ming Ying got up and worked for a while, packing up the incense.Although Ouyang Ruo slept deeply, she also woke up earlier. Ming Ying was agile and diligent in helping Ouyang Ruo change and freshen up.

After tidying up and tidying up, Concubine Chu's mother came to remind her when the sun had risen a little.A group of people left the Hou Mansion in a mighty manner.Along the way, the maids and nurses were dressed in red and green, guards cleared the way in front of them, and pennants stood everywhere. How could it not be a sensational event for the family members of Chu Dinghou, the most powerful man in Chu State, to go to Jingguo Temple to offer incense?

Sitting in the sedan chair, Ouyang Ruo lifted a corner of the car curtain and looked out, only to see crowds of people on both sides of the street and various shops everywhere.There are noodle stalls outside the shop, some selling steamed buns, flower rolls, and some shopkeepers carrying hand towels, silk threads, and jewelry that girls like, and selling them all the way.Ouyang Ruo watched with gusto. It seems that what Dexuan said is right. The prosperity of Chujing is not inferior to that of the capital of Huaguo, and maybe the terrain of Chuguo is relatively flat. Line ten horses.The houses on both sides also have the shape of a two-storey attic, with shops on the bottom and people living on the upper floor.Those who want to come and live are the family members of small merchants.

Because there were a lot of pedestrians on the street, most of them were young men and women, and the convoy of the family members of the Chu Mansion moved very slowly. Ouyang Ruo watched all the way, those young women, the men's faces were full of excitement, and they were giggling. all the way.What a beautiful thing each living life is.Ouyang Ruo sighed in his heart.

Suddenly there was a fierce quarrel in front, Ouyang Ruo lifted the curtain to look, and saw a few young Confucian scholars in the teahouse on the left being pushed out by a team of officers and soldiers.One of the students, who was dressed in light blue, had his clothes ruffled, and the Confucian crown on his head was pulled to one side.

He scratched his neck and shouted: "You lackeys who are working for the tiger, are we talking about which national laws have been violated here, you...you are working for the tiger, you will die..."

He has a fair complexion and looks like he is only sixteen or seventeen years old.The veins on his neck burst out, and the others also cursed one after another.The escort officers and soldiers didn't care how they scolded, and they grabbed the iron shackles on their hands fiercely one by one.The leader of the team, who looked like an official, stepped forward and slapped the student who scolded the most fiercely, until his mouth was bleeding.

"It's his grandfather, you monsters talk about the queen, you dare to talk about the queen behind your back, the king... hmph..." He cursed and pushed them forward.

Ouyang Ruo's sedan chair swayed forward, and gradually their messy and thin figures disappeared from sight.Ouyang Ruo remembered what Chu Huotian said about the factions of the court and China attacking each other, but he didn't expect it to come to this point.

After half an hour, Concubine Chu and her party arrived at Jingguo Temple.Ouyang Ruo looked around and saw that there were huge crowds of people in front of the temple, and the incense was very strong.Many of them squeezed forward desperately with a handful of incense sticks.The guards stepped forward to clear the way.Finally, a passable road was barely opened.Several old monks dressed in bright yellow monk uniforms hurriedly bowed from the temple to greet him.Yellow is the exclusive color of the royal family. It seems that this Jingguo Temple is a royal temple.

Concubine Chu took her mother's hand and entered through the main front door of the temple. Several wives got out of their sedan chairs and entered the temple.After entering the temple, he went into a quiet path next to him. Concubine Chu was talking softly and politely with the masters, while the wives behind him walked past with smiles.Ouyang Ruo walked last, looking around slowly.After passing through the double gate, the courtyard gate behind him was slowly closed, thinking that the main hall inside is for the royal nobles to worship.

Concubine Chu wore a dark red embroidered begonia-wrapped Xiluo dress, a long bun on her head, eight eight-treasure exquisite hairpins, and jewelry of various colors.Ouyang Ruo looked at her beautiful body and felt tired for her.But she is still tall and straight, dignified and elegant, really worthy of someone from our family background.

Ouyang Ruo looked at herself, she was wearing a peony long skirt sprinkled with silver and embroidered in cloud and blue, her hair was loosely tied in a swan bun, only a long jasper hairpin was inserted, and only a pair of white jade bracelets were worn on her hands. other.Ouyang Ruo followed Concubine Chu to a large Zen room.

The abbot was an old monk in his [-]s. He went up to pray, chanted the Buddha's name, and greeted the concubine Chu and the wives one after another.

Concubine Chu smiled kindly: "Master Abbot, I have come here to bother you today, and I just want to burn a few sticks of incense, firstly to pray for Hou Ye's safety, and secondly to pray for the longevity of my family."

The abbot chanted the Buddha's name, glanced at the wives with his old eyes, lowered his white eyebrows and smiled kindly: "It's a coincidence that Princess Chu came today. Zen Master Rongde from my temple left the customs the day before yesterday, and told the old monk that the seventh day of the lunar new year If there are distinguished guests coming, you can come out and meet them."

When Concubine Chu and the other wives heard this, they all exclaimed in low voices.

Concubine Chu hurriedly stepped forward and asked, "Is that the Chan Master Rong De who was conferred the title of 'Zen Guo Zen Master' by the previous emperor? I heard that Zen Master Rong De has been in seclusion for ten years. Has he really left the seclusion now?" It looks excited.Liu's pretty face was pleasantly surprised, but she couldn't come forward to speak, her jade hands were tightly twisting the handkerchief.

(End of this chapter)