Chaos in the Chu Palace

Chapter 80
The days in the harem passed away like stagnant water. Chu Huotian came to see him every two days. Seeing her growing belly, he smiled with relief, "Look at you, you will definitely be able to give birth to a prince."

Ouyang Ruo suddenly thought of the fetal portrait that Qin Zhi had cut off for her, her heart skipped a beat, and she said with a smile: "How can the emperor insist that the concubine will be able to bear a boy? If it is an emperor concubine, then the emperor will not feel pain?"

Chu Huotian laughed: "Both boys and girls are the same, I will be in pain." As he spoke, he took off his dragon robe, loosened his neckline, and lay on the bamboo bed where Ouyang Ruo often lay, gently stroking Ouyang Ruo's stomach on one side. .

Ouyang Ruo just pretended not to believe it: "Don't talk about the eldest prince, even the second prince is the same. It doesn't mean that the emperor loves him a little bit. Yi Chenqie said that it would be all right to give birth to an emperor concubine."

Chu Huotian laughed and said: "I don't care about them, it's just that the two of them are not great talents. I just order them to be idle princes in the future." After he finished speaking, he whispered to Ouyang Ruo: " Don't talk about it outside."

Ouyang Ruo nodded, but couldn't help but jump up in his heart. He meant that his candidate for the crown prince had not yet been decided?After thinking wildly for a while, I thought of the Queen's eager and even crazy hopes.Only then did she truly feel the horror of her thoughts.Once the child she raises is the emperor, then she will be the queen mother.The whole world is almost respected by her, what a position of power full of temptation!

Chu Huotian was going to stay at Ouyang Ruo's place that night, when it was time for dinner, someone suddenly came from the queen's place and invited Chu Huotian to go.Chu Huotian frowned, but he couldn't say anything.

Ouyang Ruo had no choice but to wait for him to change clothes quickly, and sent him off respectfully.At this time, the palace people came to Wanhui and said that a sister of the palace lady wanted to give this dessert to Aunt Wanhui to try.Ouyang Ruo asked again but couldn't find anything. The little servant said that the lady in the palace had a very ugly face, and she thought she was in charge of the meal in the queen's palace.

With a thought in his heart, Ouyang Ruo called Wan Hui over, retreated from the crowd and peeled off the snacks one by one to find the note stuffed in the snacks.It turned out that it was written by Qin Zhi.

After reading it, Ouyang Ruo's face turned red and white.Wan Hui quickly asked: "Madam, what's going on?" Ouyang Ruo was so complicated that she burned the note with a candle.

After a long while, he slowly said: "Princess Qin said that the empress is impatient to conceive, so he ordered him to take strong medicine. The empress will invite the emperor to her Fengyi Palace for a few days."

After she finished speaking, she closed her eyes and said no more.Wan Hui sighed in her heart, and said comfortingly: "Your Majesty, don't worry about it, there is no way for the emperor to be alone with your empress. Relying on the emperor's love for your empress is already hard to come by."

Ouyang Ruo waved his hand, ordering her to back down.I knew this in my heart, but why did I still feel unbearable pain?It was as if she had covered her eyes and didn't want to see such a fact, but someone put this fact in front of her and said it over and over again, leaving her with nowhere to escape. Could it be that she already has deep roots in love for him?When will he have her in his heart, and she will be the only one by his side.

Sure enough, for a few days, Chu Huotian wanted to go to another palace to rest, and the empress "invited" him back to the central palace with many plans.Everyone in the palace watched coldly, full of complaints.Chu Huotian was also very annoyed, after a few days, he said that he would go out of the palace to see the military affairs in the northwest, and he brought a dozen generals and left the palace.For a while, almost every concubine in the palace laughed their stomachs up.It is said that even the fearless emperor is afraid of the queen.

But Zhonggong remained unmoved.Ouyang Ruo went to pay her respects several times, but she also saw the queen's expression as usual.It's just that the smell of medicine around her is stronger.Ouyang Ruo remembered what Qin Zhi said about using strong medicine on the queen, and it seemed extremely bad under that meaning.Ouyang Ruo felt uneasy, and didn't know what would happen to her in the future.

At the beginning of August, suddenly Liang Guo came to envoy, and brought many beautiful women in gold and silver, saying that he would establish friendly diplomatic relations with Chu State.The entire court of Chu State was shocked and uncertain when they heard this.Liang Guo has always been on bad terms with Chu State, but now the real purpose of coming here is unknown.

Above the court hall, the envoy from the Kingdom of Liang was eloquent, chanted a lot of high-sounding words, and brought a lot of gold and silver, as if they wanted to form an alliance forever.It is naturally a great pleasure to have friends from afar, even if it is not known whether such friends are true or not.That night, Chu Huotian set up a grand banquet and entertained the envoys from afar with the queen.Ouyang Ruo was also fortunate to be at the same table.

The queen is dressed in golden yellow with gold thread of the same color, a wide phoenix suit, and a golden crown with nine phoenixes winning pearls on her head.Chu Huotian is also dressed in a golden dragon robe, with a jade crown and a golden dome. He is as majestic as a god, and he has a banquet with Liang Guolai.

It is said that Liang Guo is far away in the cold of the north, and he lives with cattle and sheep all the year round, and often fights with Dirong and barbarians, so each of them is born with three big and five rough.

Ouyang Ruo looked around and saw that it was indeed the case. Those Liang Guolai envoys didn't know if it was like this in the first place, or they chose such characters on purpose, all of them had black faces, beards, and hulking backs, very sturdy.

Their voices were like a bell, and they looked at the small golden cups on the wine table and sneered, "We in Liang State drink from bowls and eat meat in large pieces. I heard that the emperor of Chu State is a great hero. Why is he so petty?"

Chu Huotian sat on the top with his face unchanged, but the generals below shouted and cursed one after another.The Liang Guo envoy still looked disdainful.Chu Huotian laughed: "Since that's the case, then the Lord will do as the guest wishes, and come here! Present the bowl to Shanghai, and I will not return home without getting drunk with the envoy of Liang Kingdom today."

After receiving the imperial decree, the servants in the lower palace hurriedly put on big bowls, and then brought jars of spirits.Chu Huotian patted open the mud seal, poured himself a big bowl, and said with a smile, "I'll tell you the envoy from the Kingdom of Liang. I was born in the army. Since I was a child, I have been drinking with soldiers in big bowls and eating large pieces of meat. Now I see you too It can be regarded as like-minded, very kind. Come to me to treat guests from afar with a bowl, and hope that the two countries will have good relations from now on!"

After saying that, he drank it all in one gulp, lit the bottom of the bowl first, and there was no drop left.The Liang Guo envoys applauded one after another, stood up, and each of them drank a bowl of Gulu.Like a cow drinking water.

Ouyang Ruo frowned, who would drink like this?Looking at those envoys from the Kingdom of Liang who were shouting and making noise, they clearly wanted to put Chu Huotian down.

Thinking about it, I couldn't help worrying.She quietly looked at Chu Huotian, only to see that his expression did not change, he would not refuse anyone who came, and drank bowl after bowl.Those Liang Guo envoys went up one by one, and it was a wheel battle.

The queen was also uneasy, and quickly winked at the humble general.Those military generals were unwilling to be reconciled to others, and they all brought wine bowls and went forward to drink with them.

Seeing the battle, Wanhui was clearly a group of barbarians who broke into the palace to eat and drink, and said to Ouyang Ruo, "Madam, do you want to go back to the palace first? I think this barbarian is really rude. , what should I do if I disturb the empress?"

Ouyang Ruo shook his head lightly: "No, I have to take a good look at them to see if they don't look like kind people, I'm afraid they still have tricks."

She thought for a while, and then said to Dexuan who was beside her: "Go and invite Mr. Zhao Da to come over, he is good at eloquence, maybe he can help the emperor."

Dexuan hurriedly took orders and left.

Ouyang Ruo sat on the table with lowered eyebrows, secretly looking at the faces of the Liang Guo envoys. Sure enough, after drinking for three rounds, the first Liang Guo envoy, who looked like the leader of their envoys, suddenly smiled at Chu Huotian: " It is said that the women in Chu State are beautiful, but in my opinion, Zhang, in fact, beautiful women are useless, they must be able to bear children to be considered a good woman." As soon as he finished speaking, the queen's expression changed.

Ouyang Ruo secretly laughed in his heart that he had said the wrong thing and hit the queen's pain point.

Sure enough, the queen's face darkened: "The envoy Zhang's words are wrong. According to the book, this woman's virtue, deeds, speech and workmanship are all important. She only knows how to give birth, but she doesn't know etiquette and shame. She is like a beast."

She said this very seriously, but Chu Huotian smiled lightly and remained silent.The emissary Zhang was at a loss for words.After a while, he snorted: "What kind of etiquette and shame? It's a name that can only be created after a full meal. The women of our Liang country are beautiful and can dance, and they can also go to the battlefield. That's a real woman. This time We also brought ten beauties, and ask the emperor of Chu to open his eyes, if the emperor of Chu likes them, all of them will be included in the harem."

As he spoke, he clapped his hands to the outside of the hall, and after a while, a group of girls covered in red veils filed in.I saw them all tall, plump and very fair.

Ouyang Ruo heard that the people of Liang Guo had more or less Hu people's blood, and after a closer look, it turned out to be the case.I saw that the eyes of those beauties are often different colors, and the skin color is more like milk.

At first, a young girl seemed to be even better, with a hip waist and buttocks. She didn't know what to do with her face under the red veil. She only felt that her eyes exposed outside were big and beautiful, full of charm.

Ten people came forward to pay their respects, and after the ceremony, they took off their veils together, and the whole hall gasped in unison, only to see that they all had high noses and deep eyes, as beautiful as blooming flowers.The clothes on his body are thin and revealing, adding a very foreign style.

Envoy Azhang was very satisfied when he saw that everyone was shocked, and said with a smile, "Hurry up and present the dance of our Liang Kingdom to the Emperor of Chu Kingdom."

The group of girls bowed and saluted again, only to hear the beating of drums outside the hall, the tone was monotonous and full of tension.Those girls had bells on their wrists and ankles, and they all jumped up to the sound of the drum.

The dancing posture is hot and generous, with dancing eyes, half-exposed breasts, and slender waist, like strong wine, it makes people want to be drunk.All the civil and military personnel in the hall were almost intoxicated by this very provocative dance.

Ouyang Ruo looked at the dancer in front and couldn't help but glance at Chu Huotian, full of seductive meaning.Chu Huotian only smiled lightly, unmoved.

After dancing to a song, everyone praised it.The emissary Zhang was very proud, pointing to the most outstanding dancer and smiling at Chu Huotian: "This girl is named Lian Ji, and she is the most beautiful dancer in our country of Liang. Our emperor dedicated her to the emperor. Normally, as long as Chu Huotian The emperor is tired, let her dance to a song to make sure the tiredness disappears."

Chu Huotian suddenly laughed: "So I will accept it with a smile." The envoy Zhang was very proud, and added: "Lian Ji can dance all kinds of dances, and she is proficient in all dances of Huadi, Chudi, and Qindi. .”

The queen suddenly interrupted and said: "It is true that you can dance all kinds of dances, what if there is one who can't dance? Wouldn't it be inappropriate?" After finishing speaking, the queen shot at the dancer named Lian Ji with some coldness.

The envoy Azhang was very annoyed by the Queen's words of "like a beast". Seeing her attack, he snorted coldly: "The Queen doesn't believe it, so go and test her. If there is one that can't jump, this envoy will cut off its head."

The queen said coldly: "It's not uncommon for Zhang's envoy to have his first book, but it's just that he can dance all kinds of dances, that's an exaggeration."

Ouyang Ruo heard what the queen said, and then looked at the smiling Lian Ji in the hall, suddenly smiled slightly, walked out, bowed slightly to Chu Huotian and the queen, and said: "This concubine is lucky to see Lian Ji who is such a superb dancer today, I also heard that the envoy said that this younger sister can dance all kinds of dances, so the concubine has a dance piece in her hand, and no one has known how to dance it for a hundred years. Today is just a good time to ask this Lianji of Liang Guo."

Chu Huotian and the queen looked at each other.The queen tightened her throat and asked, "Does Rou Fangyi really have this song?"

Ouyang Ruo smiled slightly, lowered his head and said respectfully: "Yes, this song is a dance song that has been lost for a long time in Huadi, and today I just took it out to compete with this Lian Ji. If she really can't dance, it's fine, I will go again It’s just to find someone capable to compose the dance. It’s not a loss.” She said it very respectfully, but the meaning of contempt was very obvious.

When Liang Guo's envoy heard this, he was very unconvinced.Azhang's envoy blushed even more: "What kind of capable person are you looking for? Our Lianji from Liang Kingdom can dance in any way!"

Ouyang Ruo turned to Lian Ji with a smile and asked: "Can Lian Ji and Ben Gong complete this long-lost dance music?"

When Lian Ji heard this, she seemed to hesitate slightly, and the emissary from Azhang gave her a stern look.She hurriedly said: "Then ask your mother to teach you. Lian Ji has been learning dance since she was three years old, and when she grew up, she has traveled around the four countries and studied dance with all her heart. There is really not a single dance that she has not danced."

Ouyang Ruo saw her singing and swallowing, her temperament was not very arrogant, and she had a good impression of her in her heart.He said softly: "In that case, I will play it again, just listen to it. If you can get it out, it means I'm ignorant. If you can't get it out..." She paused, Lian Ji was also very clever, Quickly interjected: "Then Lian Ji has no face to serve the Emperor of Chu, she should return home and practice hard."

As soon as she said this, the Queen's complexion eased, and she smiled at Ouyang Ruo: "Rou Fangyi is pregnant, please don't bother yourself too much, can you tell the adults about this dance music?"

Ouyang Ruo turned her head, her long sleeves were slightly pulled back, a trace of pride flashed across her unparalleled face, and respectfully said to Chu Huotian and the queen: "This song is the long-lost 'Li Ge San' in Huadi!"

As soon as her words fell to the ground, Lian Ji's face turned pale, and she lost her voice: "Impossible, this dance music has long been dilapidated, and no one can recompose it completely. Is it possible that this empress Rou Fangyi can have the complete copy? I am not a concubine. Believe it, unless the empress can really come out." Her little face was full of disbelief, and the dancers below were also talking about it.

Ouyang Ruo knew that this sentence shocked her, and half of the goal was achieved.Others may not know this song, but these dancers who have been immersed in dancing for many years will definitely know the weight of this "separate song".

This dance music is about a dancer named Li Niang who was famous all over the four kingdoms back then. Because she lost her beloved son and husband in the war, she missed her every day. Finally, she asked the luthier at that time, master Yaqing, to compose this dance music.This song was composed, and she danced amazingly on the high platform ten people high.Those who have seen it all shed tears one after another, feeling dejected and emotionally agitated for a long time.

Her dance is full of unyielding accusations against the sky and the grief of being separated from her relatives.She died three days after dancing.Only the unyielding and resentful shadow on the high platform is left, which is missed by the world.

Ouyang Ruo smiled slightly, the smile was cold and lonely, like the white lotus in the ice and snow.She was standing on the imperial steps, condescending, and said to her lightly: "Then I will play it once, and you will know the truth."

After she finished speaking, she walked down slowly, and Lian Ji suddenly saw her slightly protruding belly under the wide palace dress, and couldn't help but exclaimed in a low voice: "You are pregnant."

Ouyang Ruo walked past her and smiled kindly at her.Just ask the palace people to prepare the piano for her, wash their hands and burn incense.

The bead curtain was drawn down, and she sat in a corner of the hall, holding her breath and concentrating on it, stroking her slender hands slightly, and a string of clear and ethereal piano sounds flowed around the hall.It seems that a fairy that fell from the sky is dancing in the forest, and the sound of the piano is like flowing water and a quiet stream. Everyone only feels that the eyes are bright, as if everything is blooming together, and the spring is boundless.

It is pleasant to hear.Chu Huotian listened attentively, and a flash of appreciation flashed on his handsome face. He had slept with her for many years, and he only vaguely knew that she could play the piano.He didn't know that she had such a skill, and it seemed that she never mentioned it.

Lian Ji at the bottom listened intently, as if facing a formidable enemy.Thin sweat was faintly oozing from her forehead.She recognized that this was the first part of "Li Ge San".But even though she had heard her master play it before, when she heard Ouyang Ruo's piano sound, she could make a judgment. Her piano sound was all-encompassing and smooth, without any hindrance.

Just after listening to the first part, she knew she had lost.Li Niang's dancing posture pays more attention to the artistic conception than to the technique, but this Chapter 1 highly integrates the dancer's technique and artistic conception.So it is said that when Li Niang danced this dance, she was already dripping with sweat after dancing the first part. She believed that she did not have the accomplishments of Li Niang back then. It's been a hundred and eight thousand miles.

The sound of the zither is getting low, like the spring is fading away, everything is sleeping, under the bright moonlight, the fairy and the mortal love each other, lingering, it seems like a grudge, it seems like they are talking to each other, as if they have waited for this moment for thousands of years, and the two hold hands. Look, the tenderness is full of love, and the world is moved...

There was no sound in the hall, and a handsome figure in green shirt approached quietly, just as De Xuan was about to invite him to the table, Zhao Qingling looked at the person behind the bead curtain, signaling to keep silent.After the lingering sound of the piano, it suddenly became intense and high-pitched. There was a vague sound of fighting and iron horses. The murderous aura gradually became stronger.Fate is ups and downs, people are like ants, ups and downs in the waves.

Ouyang Ruo is hidden behind the bead curtain, and Ruyu's forehead is covered with cold sweat. The most difficult part of "Li Ge San" is the last two parts. The first two parts are gentle and gentle, the last two parts are murderous, and the last part The Ministry is even more sad.Therefore, people in the world say that the song "Li Ge San" is incomplete. In fact, most of the people who copied it could not understand the meaning of the luthier. After a hundred years of copying, the last two parts were gradually lost.At that time, Ouyang Ruo was lucky enough to get the fragmented book from his father. Relying on his own intelligence, he compiled it for three months before gradually compiling it. The lonely and impoverished girl at that time has now experienced wandering and wandering all the way to the court of the enemy country. Among the bitterness and loneliness, I never tell outsiders.

(End of this chapter)