The Biography of Concubine Wen Xi in Qing Palace

Chapter 64 Yikun Sky Lantern Keeps the Sacred Heart ([-])

All the maids and eunuchs of Yikun Palace gathered in the courtyard, and everyone was holding bamboo bones to weave sky lantern skeletons.

In the main hall, Concubine Yi is writing "The Curse of Rebirth" on yellow paper before the desk. Her small seal script is beautiful, and the characters are neatly arranged. Arqiong, who is studying ink, praised: "My lady's writing is getting better and better." gone."

Concubine Yi finished writing this chapter, put the brush on the black jade pen stand beside her, loosened her stiff wrist, and glanced at the thick layer of paper that had been written on the side, and said: "Take it and let them take this Mantras are pasted on sky lanterns, 49 should be enough."

Aqiong stopped studying ink, called a court lady to come in and carried the yellow paper out of the door, and then pinched Concubine Yi's wrist and forearm: "Your Majesty has been busy with work since she came back from Kunning Palace, and I don't even have time for lunch." eat, I'm going to be exhausted."

Concubine Yi sighed: "Mr. An's child is also pitiful. It is a merit to be able to do something for her. Anyway, life in the palace is boring day after day. Let's just have fun."

After dinner time, Concubine Yi ordered Aqiong to send some of the eunuchs who were unfamiliar to Qianqing Palace to find out who was sleeping tonight, and when she learned that the emperor had not turned over the concubine's sign, she immediately ordered the palace staff to prepare the sky lanterns. As long as the sky is completely dark, seven sky lanterns will be released every half an hour until the 49 sky lanterns are burned out in seven times.

The sky is cloudless for thousands of miles tonight, the sky is full of stars shining brightly like eyes, and the bright moon hangs in the night.

When the sky lantern first flew into the sky, only some palace people passing by on the corridor saw it, which is not unusual.

But as the number of lit sky lanterns increased, there was an endless stream of people stopping to watch them.

These trifles spread among the palace people the fastest, and in less than an hour, the East and West Six Palaces were already buzzing.

The Qianqing Palace is located in the center of the East and West Six Palaces, and these movements cannot escape the eyes of the palace servants serving in front of the imperial court.

On the Dragon Seat in the main hall, the emperor finished approving the scriptures, and felt sore and tired, so he called Liang Jiugong's name several times outside the hall, but Long Yan was furious when he didn't hear back for a long time, and shouted loudly outside the hall: " Liang Jiugong, what if you don't want your head?"

As soon as this movement came out, there was a sound of hurried footsteps outside the door. Liang Jiugong walked into the hall with a bowed body. Perhaps he stepped too hastily and almost tripped over the high threshold.

He straightened his clothes slightly, and hurriedly replied the emperor's words: "Your Majesty, this slave deserves to die, I haven't heard the emperor's call for a while."

The emperor nodded and said, "What's the noise outside the palace?"

"Back to the emperor, there are many sky lanterns floating in the direction of Yikun Palace, and the palace people gathered around to watch the excitement." Liang Jiugong replied timidly, and then said after slapping a thousand sons: "The slave will go and let them go."

"That's all." The emperor waved his hands and got up, and went straight to the door.

Outside the house, the court ladies and eunuchs who served the imperial court were the most well-behaved, but now they were also making a fuss and raised their necks to look up to the sky.

Liang Jiugong followed behind the emperor, and when he came out of the palace gate, he shouted in a solemn voice: "What are you doing here, stupid things?"

The palace people heard the movement and looked back, seeing the emperor standing behind them, everyone was shocked and knelt to pay their respects. The emperor didn't say anything, but just looked up in the direction they were looking.

In the direction of the West Sixth Palace, the splashed ink night is decorated with bright yellow sky lanterns, which is really beautiful.

The ones that float a little farther are like candles and fireflies, and the ones that are only released are more like a round sun.

The lights were like falling stars, the emperor stared at them for a long time, and then asked Liang Jiugong: "Today is not a day to pray for blessings during the New Year's Eve. Why are there so many sky lanterns in Yikun Palace?"

"Your Majesty, how can we, as slaves, speculate freely?"

The emperor glanced at him and said calmly: "Forget it, I'll go and see for myself."

Liang Jiugong let out a 'sigh', said in a solemn voice, 'The emperor drives the Yikun Palace', and called out the imperial sedan chair that had been waiting in the side hall for a long time.

After the emperor arrived at Yikun Palace, he saw that the palace people were still busy lighting sky lanterns and letting them fly. The eunuch guarding the gate saw him and wanted to pass him on but was stopped.

The emperor walked into the courtyard alone, avoiding everyone's etiquette to keep them busy, and he casually picked up a sky lantern. Seeing the mantra of "The Curse of Rebirth" was densely copied on it, his heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly asked "Why is Concubine Yi in such a good mood today?"

A court lady replied: "Today is the second prince. The day the second prince passed away on March [-], the empress got up in the morning and began to arrange for us to make this sky lantern together, saying that she wanted to pray for the second prince."

The emperor nodded and said nothing, and walked into the main hall with a solemn expression.

Concubine Yi was kneeling in front of the Buddhist altar with her back facing him. Most of the sandalwood burning in the incense burner had been embers, and the blue-purple smoke slowly spiraled up, gathering in front of the small gold-plated Bodhisattva statue for a long time.

The emperor stood behind Concubine Yi very lightly, for fear of disturbing her.I saw her standing with her hands folded in front of her chest, and her mouth was filled with prayers: "The second son of the emperor passed away at an early age, and we mourned together in the palace. The believer Niu Hulu prayed for the blessings of gods and Buddhas in the sky, and hoped that the child would ascend to bliss early and not suffer any more. .Today I sincerely transcribe the number seven or seven of the "Curse of Rebirth", and honor the gods."

"Namo Amida Poye Dotagata Ye, Dodi Yeta Amitabavi, Amitabhi, Amitabhi, Amitabhi, Amitabhi, Amitakalando, and Kamita , Gagana, Zhitaka La Sapoha."

She repeated the "Curse of Rebirth" in her mouth, and her pious posture moved people's hearts.

Aqiong, who was kneeling behind her, saw that the sandalwood incense was about to burn out, so he said, "Madam, the incense is almost exhausted, servant girl go and light a few more sticks."

Concubine Yi nodded slightly, and then Arjun got up and saw the emperor standing behind him, knelt down again and said in surprise: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty is in peace."

Concubine Yi didn't even look at her, she stopped speaking the melodious Buddhist voice, and said lightly: "Ah Qiong, don't be crazy about chanting sutras for too long, the emperor has already recruited some concubine who is sleeping to go to the Qianqing Palace at this hour, What are you talking nonsense here? If you are tired, go down and have a rest, and I will pray for the second prince myself."

The emperor looked tenderly at Concubine Yi's frail back, and softly called her name.

Only then did Concubine Yi turn her head hastily, seeing that the emperor was standing behind her, she seemed a little embarrassed.He got up in a hurry and wanted to salute the emperor, but because of kneeling for too long, his knees were sore and he fell to the ground.

The emperor took two steps forward and leaned over to help her up, then asked with concern: "Are you hurt?"

Concubine Yi shyly shook her head: "No problem. The concubine has seen the emperor."

The emperor took her by the hand and walked to the warm seat to sit down, with a look of approval in his eyes, he said: "You are the only concubine in the palace who is the most attentive, even the birth mother of the second prince, who only cares about her own sadness, not as pious as you Pray."

"Children are always pitiful." Concubine Yi's eyes flickered, as if she had tears in her eyes: "Mr. An is too sad, the empress has no time to do the affairs of the Six Palaces, and the remaining concubines have the highest status as ministers and concubines, so they set an example. "

The emperor took her hand again, and there was a little pity in his soft smile: "If you have the heart, you will always have time. I have been coming to Yikun Palace for a long time, and I just saw the tea served in your palace, but 'Cuifeng built Snow'?"

Concubine Yi nodded and answered yes, the emperor said again: "The tea is fragrant, let Aqiong offer me a cup too." Then he patted Concubine Yi's hand lightly: "I will stay with you today."

(End of this chapter)