Mountains and rivers fall into red

Chapter 7: White Toad (6)
Shen Buyu's carriage arrived outside the palace, and Xiuxiu got out of the carriage.But when he saw the armored guards outside the palace, their expressions were solemn and majestic.With a rumbling sound, the two heavy lacquered gold palace doors opened wide, and a person who looked like a palace came out to greet him.Xiuxiu didn't dare to look around, followed closely behind Shen Buyu, and walked step by step along the bluestone path towards the palace.

After crossing the Qingshi trail, the entire imperial palace spread out before Xiuxiu's eyes like a prosperous and magnificent scroll.The pavilions, terraces, halls and pavilions are scattered and scattered, and the glazed tiles are shining golden in the sunlight.She walked in a trance, feeling like stepping on the clouds, as if she had entered the legendary Yao Palace fairyland.

Walking through the winding corridors and turning towards the harem, a court lady in brocade clothes came up respectfully and whispered a word in front of Shen Buyu.

Shen Buyu nodded, slightly satisfied, pointing to the long and deep corridor ahead, and said to Xiuxiu: "In front of you is the Concubine Rong's Palace of Concubine Concubine Rong. I will wait for you here in an hour."

Xiuxiu raised his head and looked at Shen Buyu uneasily, and the latter raised the corner of his mouth slightly, which was regarded as a gentle encouragement.Xiuxiu was helpless, bowed her head and lowered her eyebrows, and the palace maid led the way to the depths of the harem.

Turning around the mountain tower, you will see the jade lotus pond with clear waves and clear water. There is another scene in front of you. It is full of lush green, shaded by green trees, and the surface of the pond is covered with green and large lotus leaves like fans. However, there are still sporadic Pingting Furong.The fresh breeze brings wisps of fragrance, which is even more vain and refreshing.

Xixiu wandered in it, almost forgetting where he was.The maid leading the way in front slowed down, and Xiuxiu came to her senses, so she didn't care to appreciate it, and followed the maid to the steps of Wenying Hall.

Passing through the door curtain of shark beads hanging outside the hall, there is another curtain embroidered with red peonies and lark chicks. Suddenly, a warm breath rushes towards the face, mixed with a different kind of fragrance.Before Xiuxiu could raise her head, a figure came up from inside, like a cluster of flowers in spring, blooming in front of her.Following the maid's chorus, Xiuxiu finally knew who this person was, so he fell down on his knees and bowed: "Your maidservant kowtows to Concubine Rong."

"You don't need to be so generous, Miss Xiuxiu."

Concubine Rong's clear and gentle voice sounded beside Xiuxiu's ears, that voice was like willows blowing against her face in spring in March.Immediately afterwards, a pair of white hands appeared from under the wide pine-colored sleeves, and gently lifted her up.Xiuxiu's eyes followed those soft and boneless jade hands, and he raised his head involuntarily.

Although Concubine Rong in front of her was dressed in simple casual clothes, she still had a slender figure with a slender waist.An emerald coral hairpin on the head gently tied a bun, the black eyebrows like distant mountains, exquisite facial features, and a pair of bright autumn eyes are even more radiant, really graceful and graceful.

Xiuxiu admired secretly in her heart, feeling that such a lady is rare in the world, especially those eyes, which seemed familiar.

Concubine Rong also looked at her in a daze, her eyes slightly blurred.

Xiuxiu thought about her own attire today, compared with the beautiful lady in front of her, it was unavoidably vulgar, and immediately became nervous again.Concubine Rong stared at her, with a faint smile on her lips: "Let's go inside and talk."

Holding Xixiu's hand, she walked towards the inner hall in a generous manner.Xiuxiu let her lead her, stealing eyes to see the scenery on both sides.In the vases at the four corners were newly picked wild goose reds. At this time, the shadow of the sun had passed over the eaves of the hall, and through the window screens, the flowers were reflected as brilliantly as if dyed with rouge.

The huge inner hall also hangs curtains of the same color, and the haze is light and thin, making the inside dizzy.The Boshan censer is burning with pale white smoke, which diffuses faintly.In this misty space, Xiuxiu vaguely saw a person lying on the brocade imperial concubine's couch.

Xiuxiu didn't expect that there was a man in the empress's hall, so she was taken aback and immediately stood still.

Concubine Rong felt Xiuxiu's surprise, and still smiled and said: "Miss Xiuxiu, don't be nervous, this is the emperor's son Xiao Kui. I wanted to say hello to my mother this morning, but it happened to happen."

After hearing this, Xiuxiu hastily bowed his knees and saluted, and said, "His Royal Highness, Third Prince, please greet me."

The people on the soft couch didn't move, their emerald yellow wide sleeves poured down lazily, as if they were full of arrogance and domineering.

Concubine Rong's expression was a little unnatural, and she forced a smile and said: "Miss Xiuxiu, don't be surprised, Kui'er has such a temper, and when she sees strangers, she doesn't care about her. It will be better when you get acquainted. Just sit down and I'll call him come over."

Xiuxiu has heard people say that the emperor's son is used to being pampered, his temperament is volatile, and he is very proud.As long as I abide by the etiquette taught by the old mother, everything will be fine after an hour.She just wanted to go back early, so she was not as restrained as before, and was led by the maid to sit on the red sandalwood pouf.The coffee table was full of various fruits and melon kernels. She took a sip of the jasmine tea and involuntarily followed Concubine Rong's back to look inside.

Concubine Rong passed through the curtain and winked at the maid lying in Xiao Kui's arms.The maid was still relying on herself, Xiao Kui carelessly pushed her away and sat up from the couch.The maid slipped off the soft satin shirt and fell to the ground.Xiao Kui brushed off his sleeves by himself, and said: "Mother and concubine have guests, and my son is leaving."

"They are all relatives of my own family, so you go out and say hello." Concubine Rong persuaded in a soft voice.

Xiao Kui showed surprise on his face: "A relative? Which family?"

"You'll know when you speak." Concubine Rong said half-jokingly, but she was very nervous.

She didn't know whether the meticulous arrangement this time would arouse her son's suspicion.There is also this girl named Xiuxiu, although she is pretty, but it is inevitable that she is a bit rusty, and my son will not care.She was disappointed to think that it was her great good fortune that Xiuxiu could let her son see him a few more times.

Xiao Kui frowned impatiently and strode out.As the footsteps approached, his tall figure landed on the gilded floor tiles.Xiuxiu in the outer hall couldn't help looking up, and saw the gradually bright sunlight penetrating through the carved window, falling on a face with sharp edges and corners, full forehead, straight nose bridge, and an intoxicating atmosphere filled the air. of fog.

Her heartbeat suddenly and inexplicably missed.

Xiao Kui glanced at Xiuxiu, like a shooting star piercing the black clouds in the cold night, fleeting.He spoke leisurely, revealing an indescribable flavor: "Whose family do you belong to?"

After such a scene, Xiu Xiu's cheeks were flushed, and she had to sit up again to salute, and stammered: "President... from the prime minister's residence."

When Xiao Kui heard the word "Prime Minister", he left without thinking.Concubine Rong grabbed him at the right time, trying to make the last effort: "Ku'er, Xiuxiu is Lord Shen's newly adopted daughter. She just came to Jiangling, so don't scare her."

"Adopted daughter..." Xiao Kui suddenly realized, with a strange smile on his brows, "I'm just wondering, why is there another daughter from the Shen family?"

He turned to Xiuxiu abruptly, stared at her with piercing eyes, and asked, "Your surname is Shen?"

Xiuxiu was so nervous that his mind went blank, and he blurted out, "My surname is Tao."

She was at a loss, but suddenly remembered that the second wife Liu Rulan had said that she was adopted by Shen Buyu, and she would be part of the Shen family from now on, so naturally she was not Tao Xiuxiu, but Shen Xiuxiu.But the Third Highness stared at her with scrutiny, and for a while, yes and no, no and no, so he could only answer truthfully.

Seeing Xiao Kui taking the initiative to talk to Xiuxiu, Concubine Rong was pleasantly surprised, and smoothed things over and said, "Miss Xiuxiu is now Mrs. Shen's daughter, so naturally her surname will be Shen. Kui'er, when you meet for the first time, please sit with your mother for a while." Concubine and Xiuxiu talk."

"No, I'm just about to discuss hunting with brother Hao, and we're leaving in three days."

"Who else is going with me?" Concubine Rong asked urgently.

"Brother Hao said that he would bring his uncle's cousin with him, and the crowd would be more lively."

"It turned out to be Yizhen." Concubine Rong became anxious when she heard this person, she rolled her eyes, and then said in a soft tone, "Then take Xiuxiu with me, she and Yizhen can be companions."

Xiao Kui remained silent, his eyes moved to the ground.The flickering lights and shadows in the hall lingered on him, and no one could guess what he was thinking.Although the air was shady and cool, it was suffocatingly dull, and Xixiu could already feel the traces of sweat oozing from his forehead.

"Okay, Brother Hao has lived in Huanyi for a long time and it's rare to come here. This hunting is also prepared for him. How nice and exciting, Brother Hao must be happy."

Xiao Kui suddenly gave a hearty smile, and without the slightest hint, he took big steps and walked outside.Xiuxiu was caught off guard, raised his eyes, a gust of cold air passed by, and Xiao Kui could vaguely see a strange smile.She stood at a loss, and when she regained her senses, Xiao Kui's figure had already disappeared outside the hall.

"It's a very good thing."

Concubine Rong was overjoyed.She let out a long breath, picked up a piece of candied fruit, and handed it to Xixiu.

After staying in Wenyong Palace for a while, it was estimated that the time had come, so Xiuxiu saluted and kowtowed to bid farewell to Concubine Rong.Concubine Rong didn't hold back much, sent her outside the palace, rewarded a pair of coral bat hairpins and six bolts of fine brocade, and asked the palace servants to send them to the mansion.

Outside the hall, the red sun shines directly.Xiuxiu looked back, but there was no court lady following her, she guessed that she had come out early, so she walked around Yuhe Pond slowly and stopped to have a look.The scattered and unique pavilions and pavilions in the distance are more and more colorful under the sunshine.I don't know which empress's palace it is?She was thinking to herself, but her cheeks were slightly warm.

After a while, she walked along the road to enjoy the scenery, and she walked to the corridor without knowing it.

Xiuxiu thought of the area around the vertical flower gate, where Shen Buyu was waiting for her.She stepped up and walked for a while, but heard the sound of footsteps behind her.She turned around and saw that a large group of palace guards and regular servants were driving a chariot, and they were coming from there majesticly and imposingly.Look at the leisurely, emerald-yellow man above, who would it be if it wasn't Xiao Kui?

Xiuxiu hurriedly avoided the side of the alley, bowed his head and stood.In an instant, pieces of dark red palace uniforms flashed in front of my eyes, as if the wind was blowing, and the corners of Xiuxiu's skirts were blowing.When she straightened up, the chariot had already sped away and disappeared at the end of the long and empty corridor in an instant.

This is the so-called royal style.Xiuxiu pursed her lips and smiled lightly.

Finally, she walked out of the hanging flower door and turned to an open place. She looked around, where was the shadow of Shen Buyu?
Thinking about it, Shen Buyu might have been delayed by something. He is the prime minister, and there are many things in the natural palace. It is absolutely impossible to wait for her alone under the sun and wind. It is better to wait here patiently.

She just stood abruptly beside the white marble railing, gracefully standing, the warm sunlight shone on her body, like a Su Xinlan in full bloom in the cold water of green snow.In her bright and clear pupils, a touch of emerald yellow suddenly appeared.I saw the person in front of me was tall and tall, with exquisite facial features that made one suddenly unable to breathe.

Xiuxiu was surprised that Xiao Kui didn't go far, so she couldn't speak to herself.She watched him stand in front of her, with a trace of mockery in the corner of his mouth, and his voice was extremely indifferent: "Are you waiting for me here?"

She blushed immediately, and hurriedly explained: "No, I'm waiting for Master Xiang to leave the palace together."

"Didn't he already leave? Jiang Chen, but did you see the prime minister leaving the palace?" Xiao Kui raised his eyebrows and asked the guard standing not far behind.

"Yes." Jiang Chen answered clearly and forcefully.

Xiao Kui's mocking smile became stronger and stronger, as if to say: How about it?Lying does not look at who I am.

Xiuxiu never dreamed that Shen Buyu would abandon her, and she was anxious, thinking that Xiangye might have said that he was waiting for her outside the palace at the beginning, but she was nervous at the time and didn't understand that she made a mistake, and now she had to rush to the palace. so as not to be reprimanded by him.Thinking of this, she didn't explain, saluted slightly, and hurriedly left along the road.

When she entered the palace, she just followed Shen Buyu, she didn't care about the way she came, and just based on her memory, she seemed to feel that the front was ahead.However, the inner courtyard of the imperial palace is so deep that it is difficult to distinguish east, west, north, south, east, west, north and south with so many layers and turns. Finally, I thought that the willows and flowers were clear, but found that I had turned back to the original place.

Xiao Kui was still standing there leisurely, as if in deep thought, when he saw her, his face was cloudy and uncertain, and he asked strangely, "Why are you back again?"

Xiuxiu was already sweating profusely and was extremely embarrassed, so he had no choice but to tell the truth: "I'm lost."

Xiao Kuichi laughed out loud, showing a mouthful of white teeth, and the laughter became louder and louder, startling the forest birds perched on the railing in the distance, and flew towards the blue sky with a flutter.Finally stopped laughing, Xiao Kui stared at her, and seemed to be talking to himself: "What kind of tricks is Shen Buyu playing?" After pondering for a moment, a faint smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, "It seems that I am the only one to see you off." I'm out of the palace, it's good to do good deeds once in a while."

His words are lively and hearty, like a spring breeze blowing willows, sweeping away the previous gloom.Xixiu blinked his eyes, thinking: So this person looks better when he smiles, but I misunderstood him a bit earlier.Feeling ashamed, she couldn't help smiling at him.

Xiao Kui was taken aback for a moment, and then ordered: "Jiang Chen, send this young lady out of the palace!"

Jiang Chen led the way, Xixiu stepped on the solid and bright green bricks, the surrounding was silent, only the rustling sound of the hem of the skirt touching the upper of the shoes could be heard.When she turned her head, Xiao Kui had disappeared from the white jade railing, and only saw the imperial road paved with blue bricks, which was straight and long.

After leaving the palace gate, Shen Buyu's carriage waited for a long time, making her think that she really remembered the wrong place.

This is Xiuxiu's first experience of entering the palace, which is short and even vague.She faintly felt that Concubine Rong and His Royal Highness the Third Prince, they are all people living in another world, the floor is paved with beautiful flowers, and the garden is full of fragrance of flowers.Her acquaintance with them is just a strange illusion, aftertaste carefully, it is like a mess of twine.She really couldn't describe that feeling.

(End of this chapter)