Colorful

Chapter 22
The next day, Ji Cheng and others got up early to wash and wash, because that day they were going to watch the dragon boat race by the Jinhong Pool.A few days ago, Shen's colorful tent was set up by the lake, and these girls would go to the lake with Princess Anhe, Huang Shi, and Ji Lan.

The old lady is old and can't stand the heat, so she doesn't go out today.As for the several masters in the mansion, there is a decree in the Duke of Qi's palace to accompany them. As for the third master, Shen Ying, he has invited friends to go elsewhere, and he does not watch the dragon boat race with all the female relatives.

When Ji Cheng and others arrived at the Jinhong Pool, they were already surrounded by people.

On the north side of Jinhong Pond, a high stand was erected long ago, surrounded by imperial guards standing one by one. It was the place where the emperor and nobles in the palace watched the game. The south side is open to the common people, and there is a fence to prevent them from bumping into the nobles.

Naturally, Princess Anhe didn't sit in the colorful tent in Shen's mansion, as soon as she went there, the eunuchs in the palace led her to the imperial platform to watch the game.

Ji Cheng watched with gusto from the tent. It was the first time she had seen such a grand dragon boat race. Although it hadn't started yet, the colorful and mighty dragon boats had already lined up on the water. The bows were hanging upside down. Those with golden hooks, those who climb flags, and those who play all kinds of tricks in the water, each have their own tricks, just to attract everyone's attention, so that they can cheer and cheer for them when the time comes.

Ji Cheng concentrated on looking at a three-foot-high pole propped up in the water, supported by three people in the water, and another seven or eight-year-old boy, wearing a red belly and braided, like a monkey Bass, mist, climbed to the top, performing all kinds of juggling on the top of the pole, which made everyone's heart tighten, for fear that he would fall off.He also played tricks on the crowd, repeatedly acting like he was about to fall, making them roar and laugh.

Just as he saw the exciting part, Ji Cheng was summoned by Ji Lan to speak: "Ms. Concubine Shu and Mrs. Zhaoyi want to see some girls from our family, and you are also lucky to be with you. You can go to see the nobles in the palace. Later Be smart, don't lose the face of our family."

Ji Cheng's heart skipped a beat, no wonder this Dragon Boat Festival, Ji Lan specially made some new clothes for Shen Cui and her, with high-quality materials, and asked Shen Cui to borrow a pair of gold silk haircuts for himself.

In fact, Ji Cheng already had some premonitions in his heart, but he just felt that Ji Lan was unlikely to have anything to do with the palace, so he didn't think about it deeply, not to mention how the nobles in the palace condescendingly summoned him, who knew that it really happened. .

But fortunately Ji Cheng has always liked simplicity, and he didn't want to show off in today's scene, he only wore a pair of gold silk inlaid jade inlaid treasure auspicious temple hairpins, and a pair of gold silk hollowed out eight-faced gourd earrings.But even so, it was much brighter than looking at Jiaoyan in normal times.

However, there are so many beauties in the palace, and Emperor Jianping is favoring Huang Zhaoyi now, so he might not like her, a girl from a merchant family. Ji Cheng put his mind in order, and only followed Huang, Ji Lan and other girls along with the servants. royal platform.

Because she was a female family member of the Shen family, and Princess Anhe's sister-in-law and niece, Emperor Jianping also received greetings from Ji Cheng and others, but Ji Cheng kept his head down all the way, and just followed everyone to say long live.

Ji Cheng took a quick look at Emperor Jianping when he raised his eyelids. He was born with a Chinese character face and a majestic face. Although his eyes were blue, the emperor's aura of over [-] people was also astonishing, but in the end he was still old. , There are already silver threads on the temples.

Looking at Concubine Wang Shu and Huang Zhaoyi, they are both first-class beauties. Concubine Shu is slender, Zhaoyi is plump, Yan is thin and fat, so beautiful.It is natural to be satisfied with such beautiful blessings. Although Emperor Jianping likes housework, he is not that vicious pervert. He doesn't pay attention to the Shen sisters, Su Yun, Ji Cheng, etc. in front of him, but they are just sprouts. Little girl, there is nothing to see.

On the contrary, Concubine Wang Shu said with a smile: "I heard that the spirit of beauty in our capital is concentrated on the girls of the Shen family, one by one. I always ask Si Niang and the others to get close to you, so don't despise them for their vulgar talents. good."

Emperor Jianping smiled and said: "I see that you are also full of aura. How can your two younger sisters be vulgar? They are all dignified and elegant. When they get married, I will give them a dowry."

Concubine Wang Shu winked and smiled, her watery eyes seemed to be glued to Emperor Jianping's body, she twisted her waist and walked up to Emperor Jianping: "Then this concubine will first thank the emperor for his kindness on behalf of Siniang and Yueniang."

The women in the palace are very good at playing tricks. After this feat, it not only showed Concubine Shu's power in the palace, but also praised the Wang sisters.

Shen Xian and the others listened respectfully, while Ji Cheng kept her head down. She is a small person, and Concubine Wang Shu doesn't even know her last name, so she won't make things difficult for her.

On the contrary, an old concubine sitting next to her looked at Su Yun and Ji Cheng with a smile: "These two little girls are really well-born, and they are very beautiful."

This old concubine is the late emperor's concubine. When the late emperor was still there, she kept hugging the later empress dowager's thigh, so when the late emperor went, she was not buried nor became a monk. She stayed in the palace safely, and now she is considered an old birthday star. characters.

Although Emperor Jianping didn't have much respect for her, all honors were indispensable.

Such a character has a purpose in every word and action, and it is absolutely impossible for her to talk nonsense, otherwise grass will grow on her grave.

Concubine Wang Shu gave the old concubine a sideways look. First, she was the one who encouraged her to see Princess Anhe's daughter Shen Xun. It was necessary for all the sisters from the Shen family to meet her. In the end, even the three girls from relatives who didn't know the so-called relatives in front of her also wanted to meet her. Ask someone to bring them together.Looking at others don't know her purpose?I don't know what she was trying to do, most of her body was buried in the soil, and she was thinking of finding a way out for her family and relatives.

Huang Zhaoyi, who had been speechless all this time, also took a look at the old concubine. Not long after she entered the palace, she was blessed with divine grace and was promoted all the way to Zhaoyi. She only waited for the child in her womb to be born before she could be named concubine.Now she can't serve the emperor due to pregnancy, but she is afraid that another newcomer will enter the palace and take away the favor.

At this moment, seeing that Su Yun and Ji Cheng are both in perfect color, fresh and delicate, like the most beautiful flowers on the branches in early spring, how can I feel happy?Huang Zhaoyi only yelled that she had a stomachache, and then diverted the attention of Emperor Jianping who was looking at Ji Cheng and Su Yun.

Although the old concubine received Ji Lan's benefits through the Hu family, she couldn't drag Emperor Jianping to see the little girl in this situation. It's a pity that the two maids had bad luck. However, even if the little girl enters the palace, it is just a decoration.The old concubine also stopped talking.

Only Ji Lan secretly hated it, it's a pity that this white money has gone to waste, I just want to see if there is another chance next time.

After returning to the colorful tent of Shen’s house in Duke Qi’s mansion, Ji Lan looked at Ji Cheng who was talking to Shen Xian and Shen Cui with a smile on the side. The lake is as ethereal, and Ji Cheng is not sickly and charming, but looking at her like that makes people worry about her, fearing that once the sun shines, the flowers in the mist will turn into green smoke and go straight to the sky.

It's much more difficult to be beautiful than to be gorgeous. For example, Su Yun looks like a celestial beauty at first glance, but after a long time, he gets used to it. But Ji Cheng looks different every time, maybe he is not as eye-catching as Su Yun at first glance. , but that kind of agility makes people look and look again and again.

But such a color failed to attract Emperor Jianping, and Ji Lan also complained to Ji Cheng in his heart, his face was so white, if he could learn a little bit about the charm of Concubine Shu and Zhaoyi, he might be hooked sooner. The soul of Emperor Jianping was gone.

In fact, Ji Lan misunderstood Ji Cheng, with the differences between Ji Cheng and Su Yun, how could Emperor Jianping not notice it.But the two concubines, Wang and Huang, were favored and spoiled, how could they look straight at their courtiers in front of them.Besides, he still has more energy than he wants now. He has worked hard in the harem for the past few years, and finally got a few melons, but internal friction is also severe. In the past month, Emperor Jianping has been recuperating under the guidance of the imperial doctor. No matter how beautiful the woman is, It's still more important than life.

After watching the dragon boat race for a while, the wives and wives from a few tents came over to chat. When they saw Su Yun and Ji Cheng, they couldn't help but ask which girl they were from. Their overall style and demeanor were extraordinary. Such a good color, I like it naturally.

But after hearing about Ji Cheng's identity, he inevitably became cold and went to talk to Su Yun.Ji Cheng is used to it, and he is not discouraged, sitting by the side neither humble nor overbearing, answering the elders' questions, and whispering to his cousins ​​when there is no time, always with a three-pointed smile on his face, his voice is soft and waxy, just not The wife who likes her origin also secretly admires her demeanor and conduct a lot.

At noon, everyone ate lunch in the tent. It was inconvenient to eat outside after all. Thanks to the Duke's mansion, the woman in the kitchen specially made a pot, prepared small dishes, and could be eaten anytime. It was clean and delicious, although some It was hot, but there was a hawker selling herbal tea and ice bowls on the side of the road outside, just recruit them.

Shen Xun was still dissatisfied, and muttered to the side: "Today's Dragon Boat Festival, hawkers from all over the world have come to the Jinhong Pond, and there are many snacks on the south side that we have only heard of and never seen. Since we are out, let's You should try it."

Shen Yuan said: "Eat carefully and carelessly, you will spoil your stomach, and there will be a polo match in the afternoon, are you still going to watch it?"

Shen Xun looked at Shen Xian silently with pouted lips, it seemed that he was still not reconciled.

Besides, after dinner, everyone was a little sleepy, but Shen Xun was still energetic, and impatient to accompany her princess mother to serve the nobles in the palace, and she didn't want to listen to the wives' nagging, so she stood up and said that she wanted to go for a walk to digest food.

Ji Cheng also stood up and said, "I've used it a little too much, let's go out for a walk with Sister Xun."

Shen Xun was naturally willing to have someone to accompany him.

After getting out of the tent, Ji Cheng asked Liu Ye'er to take out two veiled hats calmly, Shen Xun said with a sly smile, "Sister Cheng, are you not full yet?"

"Yes, Yipinguo is too hot to eat, I'm not used to it." Ji Cheng said.In fact, this was just an excuse. Seeing that Shen Xun barely moved his chopsticks, she guessed what she was thinking.

Shen Xian is the eldest sister, so she naturally has the air of a loving mother, but Ji Cheng regards himself as a "sycophant", and he has to help Shen Xun to make troubles in order to get closer.

Shen Xun put on the veiled hat, looked at Ji Cheng with a smile and said, "Let's go over there and find something to eat, I'm not full yet!" Shen Xun pointed to the south bank of Jinhong Pool where the crowds were swarming.

The south bank of Jinhong Pond is really lively, with jugglers shouting loudly, gongs and drums beating loudly, and vendors walking on stilts selling strings of hanging rice dumplings.

Walking down the street to the south, the aroma from the surrounding stalls made people crave for food, even if Ji Cheng didn't plan to eat it, his mouth was watering.

Shen Xun couldn't wait to run up to a little woman, pointed to the things in the steamer in front of her and said, "I want this, and I want this."

The girl who followed hurriedly stepped forward to pay, Shen Xun handed a piece of steamed beef wrapped in bamboo leaves to Ji Cheng, Ji Cheng tasted it, it was spicy and delicious, there were a few pieces of pumpkin under the steamed beef, soaking the flesh of the beef Oil juice, sweet and fragrant, melts in the mouth.

"It's like the taste of Sichuan." Ji Cheng said.

"What the girl said is exactly, the little lady followed her husband to Beijing to take the exam a few years ago, and came from Sichuan." The little lady smiled, "There is Ye Erba here, two girls try."

Ye'erba's skin is made of glutinous rice, sticky and glutinous, and the meat stuffing inside is very delicious. Ji Cheng tasted it, and asked Liu Ye'er to buy dozens of them, and wrapped them in bamboo leaves, "Take Go back and give the third sister and the others a taste."

Passing by the little woman's stall in Sichuan, Ji Cheng and Shen Xun tasted a lot of good things again, but they all chose hot food, fearing that they would hurt their stomachs if they ate cold food, and if they made jokes in the afternoon, they would be laughed for the rest of their lives.

Shen Xun wanted to eat an ice bowl of that red bean juice, but Ji Cheng stopped him: "Eat it cold and hot, it's easy to get upset."

Shen Xun naturally also knew this truth, she just couldn't control her mouth, now she heard Ji Cheng talking about her, she pouted and stopped eating, but she still felt a little awkward.

At this moment, there were more and more people, Ji Cheng took Shen Xun's hand and said: "Just now, I saw a foie gras seller over there, it looks pretty good, do you want to try it?"

Foie gras?Simply unheard of.Shen Xun shook his head. There are too many famous snacks in the capital, such as fried belly, lamb liver, cold noodles, ice yuanzi, crab roe soup dumplings, jujube paste, Wangmazi pot stickers, Yangjiadiao oven cakes... everything, but I have never heard of foie gras.

"I have eaten foie gras from a family in Jindi, and it was very delicious. It tasted like fat, but it didn't feel greasy. I don't know how it is like the one I saw just now." Ji Cheng said.

"If you want to eat, go try it." Shen Xun is easy to talk to, she wants to eat anything, and the elders in the family usually control her so much that she can't even eat at these street stalls.

After talking, the two went to the stall selling foie gras.There are crowds of people in front of other stalls, but this foie gras stall can be described as empty and deserted.Even though the stove is on, there is no aroma coming out, so it is no wonder that people are unwilling to eat.

Then look at the wooden sign on the stall, with a few crooked words on it, fifty cents a pack of foie gras rice, it really scared away many people.

You must know that the famous Yangjia Diaolu cakes are still filled with meat and only cost ten yuan each.

Ji Cheng bought a pack, and the foie gras rice was wrapped in a thin layer of glutinous rice paper, wrapped in zongzi leaves and kept in the palm of his hand, so he didn't need to dirty his hands when eating, he was very thoughtful.

Ji Cheng tasted it, and it really tasted that way. The foie gras was creamy and delicious, without any greasy feeling. It tasted like crispy cheese. There was a special sauce in the white rice, which was moderately sweet and salty, and it was perfect: "It's delicious, sister Xun, you really have to try this."

Shen Xun originally saw the deserted place in front of the stall, so he was a little reluctant to taste it, but after hearing what Ji Cheng said, he had no choice but to reluctantly take a pack, took a small bite in disgust, and then his eyes lit up, In the end, she ate three packs, more than Ji Cheng.

After eating, Shen Xun waved his little hand, wrapped up the foie gras rice at the stall, and took it back to share with his brothers and sisters at home.

After this pass, both Ji Cheng and Shen Xun had full stomachs, and they couldn't even walk fast.

Ji Cheng was leisurely looking around, when he was suddenly pulled up by Shen Xun and ran forward, almost making Ji Cheng spit out, she asked anxiously: "What's wrong, sister Xun?"

"I seem to have seen my second brother." Shen Xun couldn't run anymore when he was speaking, and stopped to catch his breath, "I hate it, you would rather accompany those unruly women outside than watch the dragon boat with me." Shen Xun stomped Stamp your feet and start running forward again.

After hearing Shen Xun's words, Ji Cheng raised his eyes and saw a figure in the crowd not far ahead, who looked like Shen Che, she took Shen Xun's hand and said, "Maybe you misread Woolen cloth?"

This man is lustful, even sages would say, Ji Cheng was afraid that Shen Xun would chase after him just to make fun of himself.She is Shen Che's younger sister, so it's okay, but she is a bit embarrassed as an outsider.

But Shen Xun didn't listen to the persuasion: "My own second brother, how could I admit my mistake, can a person like him admit his mistake?" After saying that, Shen Xun pulled Ji Cheng up and ran away again.

Ji Cheng looked helplessly at the sky, Shen Xun went after Shen Che, what's the point of dragging him away?

Shen Xun was naive, but she was not a fool, she knew that she would get in the way of Shen Che's affairs if she went up, but if it was in front of Ji Cheng, an outsider, Shen Che would always be embarrassed to reprimand her, thinking very nicely.

"Second Brother, Second Brother." Shen Xun took off the veiled hat while running, the weather was too hot, the veiled hood was stuffy, and she was worried that Shen Che would not recognize her, so she simply held the veiled hood in her hand and looked at her. Shen Che waved.

Poor Ji Cheng, being dragged by Shen Xun with one hand, the other had to be pressed on the hood to prevent it from falling off, she didn't want to show her face, so her posture seemed a bit embarrassing.

Looking at Shen Che again, he still looks like a pure and noble son, the scorching sun seems to have no effect on him, he is clean and relaxed, refreshed, like a snow peak in midsummer, even the robe on his body has never had a wrinkle, which is amazing Looking forward to sighing.

Hearing the shout, Shen Che turned his head to see Shen Xun, couldn't help frowning slightly, walked over and picked up the curtain cap in Shen Xun's hand and put it on again for her: "Why are you here? Why are you running around? Girl, mother-in-law? Follow you? If you do this again, you will not be allowed to come out to watch the dragon boat next year."

(End of this chapter)