This can be remembered

Chapter 4
In the early morning, before the sun showed its shadow on the top of the mountain, Shen Xiyao had already straddled back.Along the way, the breeze was blowing, accompanied by the cool and fragrant breath, and the sound of "clack" horseshoes sounded on the deserted path.Soon, the road gradually became more crowded and the road became wider. The magnificent city gate of Nine Cities was in sight. At this time, the copper city gate had not yet been opened. There were city guards patrolling the tower, and crowds had gathered outside the gate. Some merchants who got up early and entered the city sat in twos and threes by the side of the road. Many of them were farmers who lived outside the city, carrying loads of fresh fruits and vegetables, and gossiping with acquaintances.There are also merchants from afar, waiting quietly with their horses laden with goods.

Shen Xiyao's appearance caused a burst of admiration among the waiting people, and countless eyes focused on him.Shen Xiyao felt a little uncomfortable, but he couldn't help it.Seeing that the time for the morning court is approaching, but the time when the city gate opens is the same as the time when the morning court begins, if he enters at that time, it will be too late.

The defenders at the gate of the city stood there majestically with spears in their hands, their fiery red tassels dancing in the wind, and the bright light of the morning sun projected on their armor, reflecting brilliant light.Shen Xiyao thought for a long time, and finally stepped forward and asked one of the leading guards: "Who is on duty at the Nine Gates today?"

The guard looked at the person in front of him, he was dressed in white clothes, and his eyes were as handsome and majestic as a god. Although he smiled slightly, he was unattainably noble. Just one glance filled his heart with emotion, and he couldn't help feeling awed.Xu is a son of a certain family, and he replied respectfully: "Master Zhao is on duty today, and he is on the tower at this time."

Shen Xiyao nodded, and folded the fan in his hand: "I want to see this lord at this moment, may I let you know?"

The guard froze for a moment, then looked carefully at the person in front of him.Mr. Zhao is the deputy admiral of the Nine Sects, ranked in the fourth rank, and he is not someone who can be easily seen.

"Master Zhao is not easy to see." The guard spoke a little harder.

Shen Xiyao smiled, this deputy admiral Zhao is not enough to participate in politics, so why can't he see him anymore.In the whole world, is there anyone else that he can't see?However, I couldn't reveal my identity at this time, so I could only smile and said: "I have a friendship with Deputy Admiral Zhao, so please show this jade pendant to him, so that he can come." He said and untied it from his waist A piece of jade pendant, which he often wears with his regular clothes, is made of sapphire, with a sea of ​​dragons and clouds carved on the top, and the word "Xi" at the bottom, which means "yao" on the opposite side.

The guard half-believingly took it, and hesitantly went up the tower. For some reason, he just couldn't refuse the person in front of him.The people standing around the city also looked at the man in front of them with great interest, discussing in low voices.

In less than a stick of incense, I saw a man in golden armor rushing down from the tower, his face was full of panic, he was about to bow down when he saw Shen Xiyao, but Shen Xiyao stepped forward in time, and said with a smile: "Lord Zhao How have you been?"

The middle-aged man over there was completely nervous: "Chen..." Before he could say anything, Shen Xiyao looked at the sky and said seriously, "I have something urgent to go to the city, so I hope it will be convenient."

Deputy Admiral Zhao nodded repeatedly, and waved his hand: "Open the city gate."

Shen Xiyao jumped on the horse, smiled at Deputy Admiral Zhao, "Thank you," and rode away.

Deputy Admiral Zhao watched Shen Xi go far away, wiped the sweat from his forehead with his hand, and then calmed down. When he lowered his head, he found that there was still the jade pendant in his hand, which was heavy in the palm of his hand.

It turns out that the emperor looks like this.

In the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the Empress Dowager was sitting on a big mahogany chair with tangled branches and treasures, with a string of topaz beads spinning in her hands.Shen Xiyao stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes slightly lowered, and wherever he could see, there was a boundless sea of ​​clouds and dragons.

"Emperor, where did you go last night?" The Empress Dowager's voice was mild and gentle, but it was like a layer of ice floe on the river surface in early spring, thin and light, unreal.

"My son..." Shen Xiyao glanced lightly at Zhang Dehai who was kneeling beside him, knowing that he couldn't hide it, when he raised his eyes, he saw the empress dowager's smiling eyes, but there was a cold air underneath.

"I'm just going on tour in disguise." Shen Xiyao's reply was very simple and he didn't say a word.

"Traveling in micro-clothes?" The Empress Dowager's eyes flashed, and she was very sharp: "Where do micro-cloths go on patrol at night? Where can you go?"

"My son..." Shen Xiyao was about to say something, but the queen mother stood up and looked at Zhang Dehai and shouted angrily: "This slave can't keep his master, what else is he going to do? Come, delay me!" Go down, the stick is forty. It's a real hit!" As soon as the words fell, a tall guard strode forward and grabbed Zhang Dehai's arms.

Zhang Dehai's face was pale with fright, Shu knew that this was a real beating, but it was a life-threatening beating.

"Queen mother, why are you doing this? Could it be that, as the son of heaven, you can't get to know the common people?" Shen Xiyao strode forward and stopped in front of the guards. When he turned his head, his eyes swept over with majesty: "Everyone back down!"

"It's okay to forgive him," said the Queen Mother, and slowly sat back on the chair: "Then the emperor will tell Aijia where he went last night."

Shen Xiyao pondered for a moment and finally raised his head: "Where does the queen mother think the son has gone?"

The queen mother carefully looked at her son in front of her, and snorted softly: "Yi Ai's family thinks, young and energetic, maybe they went to the place of fireworks?"

Before the words fell, Shen Xiyao laughed and said, "It turns out that this is what the empress thinks about the son, so why did the mother try her best to let the son sit on this seat?" Although Shen Xiyao said it with a smile, his gaze But it was cold.

"You..." The queen mother was stunned for a moment: "Aijia just thinks that way, but he also believes that his son, the king of a country, will not be like this."

Shen Xiyao nodded, took a step forward, and smiled: "My son, I'm not going to Qinglong Temple to enjoy the cherry blossoms."

"Qinglong Temple?" The Empress Dowager's black eyebrows were twisted into mountainous peaks, but her eyes were full of disbelief: "Will you go to worship the Buddha?" As soon as the words finished, she smiled and shook her head lightly.

Shen Xiyao was looking up, lowering his head and flipping a bamboo leaf in his palm, which was the one in the rustling bamboo forest the night before.Under the eyes, the green and long and narrow bamboo leaves have a hard and brittle texture, like the character of a certain figure in the deep impression, thinking about it, a smile can't help but appear on the face.

"The cherry blossoms in Qinglong Temple are the most famous. When I saw the cherry blossoms falling in the imperial garden yesterday, my son suddenly became interested and wanted to see the famous cherry blossoms."

The queen mother carefully looked at her son. The man in front of her had a pure smile on his face, making him more like a spring breeze. Looking closely, he was even more clear and noble, lush and spring pine.Some calculations arose in my heart, and I knew that the trip to Qinglong Temple must not be a sudden interest, let alone a simple viewing of cherry blossoms.It's just that it's inconvenient to ask at this time, even if you ask, the person in front of you won't say anything.Only to inquire from the side.Thinking of this, the Empress Dowager's eyes turned to Zhang Dehai, and with a light sweep, the serious look on her face faded away.Zhang Dehai lowered his head and remained silent.

"If it's really cherry blossom viewing, just tell the queen mother, run out alone, and see no one for one night, can you make people feel at ease?" The queen mother said, walked in front of Shen Xiyao, and gently picked up the moon white casual robe. Flipping a piece of hair in his hand for a moment, he said with a smile, "If you want to go out next time, why don't you find someone to let you know." The word "ah" at the end is full of love, but Shen Xiyao frowned.

"I know, it's wrong to make the queen mother worry about it. In the future..." Before she finished speaking, the queen mother waved her hand: "Emperor," the man said, and walked to the door, standing behind the backlight, A long shadow was cast on the ground, and the voice became serious: "This world is yours, you can go wherever you want. But," the queen mother continued after a pause, "but, every time I go out, if there is someone Harvested."

Shen Xiyao looked at his mother in front of him, and with a restrained look on his face, he bowed lightly: "Thank you, my mother, for your teaching."

It took more than three months in a flash, during which Shen Xiyao naturally stayed in the palace obediently, as if he had never encountered anything before.As for the queen mother, she was also secretly inquiring about the whereabouts of the emperor before, and gradually, there were some clues.After all, Shen Xiyao went to Qinglong Temple, so it's easy to check.

The day when I got a definite answer was the bright weather in June.The sun was shining brightly at noon, and there were luxuriant trees all around the Palace of Compassion and Ning, which covered most of the time. The ice sculptures of auspicious wishes, blessings and longevity had been placed in the palace pavilion, and there was an occasional "tick" sound, which startled the half-sleeping people in the hallway. The little eunuch was shocked.As soon as he raised his eyes, he saw Hui Chun coming in a hurry, with mixed emotions on his face.Hastily stepped forward: "Aunt Huichun, the empress dowager is paying respects to the Buddha, so I don't want to disturb you at this time."

Hui Chun is the queen mother's personal maid since she entered the palace, so she naturally knows the habits of the queen mother, but she just nodded: "I know, but the queen mother has been waiting for this for a long time, so she doesn't care about it." Then he opened the curtain and went in.

There is a Buddhist hall in the Compassionate Ning Palace. At this time, cigarettes are lingering, all of which are wishful sandalwood from the Western Regions, with a little bit of sweetness, but also a bit of sweetness and bitterness.Smelling more is a refreshing power.The Empress Dowager knelt on the honey-colored futon, and the topaz beads in her hands flowed lightly and smoothly.A pair of phoenix eyes were slightly closed, but he said: "But did you find out?"

"Back to the queen mother, it is clear and correct." Hui Chun smiled and stepped forward to help the queen mother: "It's really like what was found out earlier. Did the emperor go to see a woman, or did he go secretly?" Hui Chun Covering her mouth and laughing as she spoke, the Empress Dowager cast a glance over her and quickly restrained herself.

"Have you found out whose daughter it is?" Sitting in the wide rosewood chair, the Empress Dowager asked, holding up the teacup.

"I found out." Huichun took a step forward, and whispered in the Queen Mother's ear, "It's the daughter of Prime Minister Ling, Xuewei."

The white smoke from the freshly brewed tea rises slowly, forming clouds that last for a long time, and the fragrance of tea permeates the room, which is unparalleled in elegance.

Shen Xiyao looked at the person in front of him, a sky blue pleated skirt embroidered with fine narcissus, the branches and branches were distinct, making him slim and slender even more.Looking back, Liu Jieyu smiled slightly: "Your Majesty, this is the freshly brewed Yuqian Longjing, please use some." A pair of pure white hands were held in front of her eyes, and Shen Xiyao couldn't help but think of that pure white figure in the dark night.

Shen Xiyao nodded, took the blue and white treasured teacup with twigs, looked up, and saw Zhang Dehai standing by the door with a smile, but hesitated, as if he had something to say.He waved his hand and asked, "What's wrong?"

Zhang Dehai approached slowly, without looking at Liu Shuyi, he said in a low voice: "Back to the emperor, the queen mother is hosting a banquet today, please the emperor to come."

Shen Xiyao frowned slightly, took a sip of the tea in his hand but didn't speak.On the contrary, Liu Jieyu stepped forward and said softly to Zhang Dehai: "Boss Zhang, it's not like you don't know..." Before she finished speaking, Zhang Dehai interrupted at the right time, and said to Shen Xiyao: "Your Majesty, all the relatives of first-rank officials are invited to the banquet today."

After eating the teacup in his hand, Shen Xiyao didn't look up, but just stared at a cup of clear water with a hint of a smile on his lips. "That's it." He lowered his expression, "It's been a few days since I went to my mother's place for dinner, so it's better to go this time." This last sentence seems to be talking to himself, and the corners of his lips have been raised involuntarily.

Liu Jieyu on the side looked a little curious, but didn't say anything, just bent over to smooth the folds of Shen Xiyao's clothes, and looked at the auspicious beast in the autumn-colored uniform, with a pair of blue eyes shining coldly.

"Your Majesty, tonight..." Liu Jieyu raised her head, her pretty face was full of anticipation.

Shen Xiyao didn't seem to hear it, his eyes couldn't hide the joy, and his face was still pretending to be calm, his eyes were always floating outside the window under the clear sky, and he said "huh" after a while, but lowered his head: "What did you just say? "

Liu Jieyu was startled, she actually overturned the five-flavored bottle in her heart, she calmed down, she was a little bit concerned, but she still smiled on her face: "I am asking, what kind of snacks does the emperor want to use tonight? Prepare."

Shen Xiyao shook his head: "There are still unread memorials in the imperial study, so I won't be here tonight. You should arrange it earlier. After speaking, he strode out.

Liu Jieyu bowed respectfully to see her off, and waited for the tall figure to disappear into the blue sky before slowly getting up, the smile on her face disappeared, and her voice became colder: "Xia'er, go and ask, What's the matter, Your Majesty?"

At this time, there were bursts of Yan Yan's words and laughter in the Palace of Compassion and Ning, and Shen Xiyao heard it as soon as he walked outside the hall. He stopped and signaled the little eunuch at the door not to pass the message.

Zhang Dehai looked at the man in front of him, with a warm smile like the sunshine in early spring, standing quietly on the porch with his hands behind his back, his brows were slightly wrinkled, but his eyes were full of anticipation, and there was also the usual nervous look on young people's faces.However, in Zhang Dehai's memory, this expression of the master he has been serving is very rare.

There was a witty smile from inside the room, and it sounded like a young woman. Zhang Dehai saw Shen Xiyao raised his eyebrows, and an involuntary smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, but he put it away in an instant.He tilted his ears slightly, listening to something.

At this moment, a voice came from inside the house: "Who is outside?" The voice was not loud, but it was also gentle, and one could tell it was Aunt Hui Chun who was beside the Empress Dowager.After saying that, he came out, and seeing that it was Shen Xiyao, he was deeply blessed: "The emperor is finally here. The queen mother just mentioned it, so she thought she wouldn't be coming. The servants will come when they go to the imperial dining room, and the emperor will go in quickly." Once again, he walked away.

Shen Xiyao straightened his clothes and looked worriedly at the crimson jade pendant on his waist. Zhang Dehai remembered that Shen Xiyao had said in the morning that the crimson jade pendant with Qiuxiang seemed not very elegant, but he didn't change it back then. At this moment... ····· Zhang Dehai thought of this, saw Shen Xiyao's embarrassed expression, and couldn't help laughing secretly.Maybe, someone in the house can form a wonderful relationship with this hero.

Gently lift the silk-woven door curtain with smoky green hills and black daisy, and a burst of coolness rushes over your face.There are small ice sculptures scattered in the Compassion Palace, most of them are sculptures of good fortune and auspiciousness. Only in the middle is a pear tree with a picture of mountains and rivers, and there is a golden basin on the ground that only holds water drops. Submerged in bursts of singing.

There was no one in the main hall, and the laughter came from behind.

Shen Xiyao took a deep breath, and he also felt strange, why he was so uneasy and burned like a cat scratching.His feet felt a little jerky, as if he had forgotten how to walk.

After making up his mind, he told himself that it was only to accompany the queen mother to meet the relatives of those high-ranking officials, to show the mighty kindness of the emperor, and the royal family should also be close to the people.Thinking of this, he walked in.

Across a huge carved screen, looking from the gaps between the flowers and birds on the hollowed-out landscape figures made of nanmu wood, a group of wives are sitting in two rows, with the empress dowager sitting at the head, her eyebrows and eyes full of smiles, a woman , with her back facing the screen, with a long and slender body, wearing a honey pink Confucian skirt with double corals and jade rings among grasses, tall black hair, and a hairpin with jasper, lotus and silver tassels at an angle, graceful and graceful, with infinite elegance.

There was a smile on Shen Xiyao's lips, and he was about to turn around and go in, when he heard a soft female voice: "'Swallows don't come back late in the spring, a misty rain and apricot blossoms are cold.' This sentence is the most wonderful, and after hearing it, endless emotions arise in my heart." Praise."

Shen Xiyao stopped walking, and the smile on his face gradually disappeared.Zhang Dehai behind him didn't stop in time, he yelled "Ouch", but he stopped abruptly.

At this time, everyone inside looked at this place, and the woman also turned around slowly.

The woman in front of her was tall and slender, her face was like a peach blossom, and her delicately painted face exuded a charming charm.At this time, with a slightly shy smile, he touched his body lightly, and his voice was also soft and delicate: "The daughter of the people sees the emperor." The movements are also gentle, and you will be an understanding person.

Shen Xiyao just smiled lightly, but his eyes were anxiously looking around in the hall. Apart from those family members of high-ranking officials who were over the middle of their age, and a few young women dressed as women, there was only this woman in front of him.He turned his gaze back again, and the woman in front of him still lowered her head, her hands trembling slightly, she seemed extremely nervous.

Shen Xiyao suddenly felt very disappointed, and it was almost hard to hide it on his face.His face turned gray, and the look of anticipation when he just came in just now disappeared somewhere.

"Emperor, these are the relatives of my loyal ministers of the Daxi Dynasty. Come and meet." The Queen Mother's voice sounded faintly, and she said again as if unintentionally: "Just now everyone said that you might not be able to come, so I said, the emperor's heart When you care about the ministers, you will naturally also care about the family members of you ministers. No, I came here just as I said that." Immediately there was a voice of agreement from below, and Shen Xiyao could only smile pretendingly, but his gaze had already drifted out of the window went.But with the majesty of an emperor and the humility of a junior, he walked in front of everyone, accepted the worship, and met them one by one.

"Emperor, this is the youngest daughter of Lord Wu, Minister of the Ministry of Officials." Seeing Shen Xiyao sitting beside her, the Queen Mother smiled and said, "The Ai family said, upon closer inspection, I still look a bit like I did back then."

Shen Xiyao nodded curtly, and glanced at the young woman just now: "She has an outstanding appearance."

"The empress dowager has won the award, my little girl can't be compared with you back then. The empress dowager's reputation in Beijing back then was..." The woman who spoke was dressed in a sky-blue court dress, and she also had a benevolent look.It is Mrs. Wu's wife.Before the words fell, there was a burst of echo below.

"Thinking of the talent and beauty of the Empress Dowager back then, even in our boudoirs, we often heard about it."

"That's right, those poems in your boudoir are widely circulated in the house, and we occasionally do them, but we always feel inferior."

"'The tree is full of tenderness and redness, and the dandelion of thousands of branches is shining in the spring." This poem is amazing when I recite it now."

Shen Xiyao was so bored that he sat beside the Queen Mother, wearing a mask of a false smile, his eyes occasionally turned, and his thoughts also flew to nowhere.It's just that when I heard that poem, I suddenly came to the spirit. "The tree is full of tenderness and redness, and Wanzhi Dan is shining in spring. What happens after this sentence?" It was just an unintentional sentence, before the words fell, but the Queen Mother's face changed slightly, first white, then gray, but all Like the fleeting clouds in the sky, after that, she smiled brightly and closed her eyes slightly: "The last sentence is 'He Dangjie's practice of thousands of years will show the world's good fortune.'"

Shen Xiyao said "Oh": "This last sentence is very wonderful." After that, he turned his eyes inadvertently, and saw that the complexion of the first woman in the red and light green peacock brocade dress was slightly gloomy.There was a little doubt in my heart, but I didn't take it to heart.As soon as he looked away, he was suddenly startled and turned back suddenly.He sighed in his heart, this woman has the same eyes as hers.

"The last sentence doesn't seem to be made by the Queen Mother." A voice sounded.

"That's right. Ai's family made this sentence back then, but because it was appropriate for the occasion, they didn't recite the next sentence. But not long after that, the champion of Jinke took it." The queen mother said this sentence very casually, but her eyes were full of tears. Flashed all round.

"That year..." There was a memory in a voice. For a long while, the hall was extremely quiet, and no one seemed to notice anything wrong. Another voice, a little deep, said gently: "That year, It is my husband, the year Ling Xiang Jinbang was named." Hearing the sound and looking, it is the woman just now.

(End of this chapter)