Leisure days in the cold palace

Chapter 15 Selling Words
People say that the king of Chu has a thin waist, and many people starved to death in the palace.

But now the emperor of Xiangguo is quite good at poetry, so people from all over the world responded.

The scholars in Xiangguo follow the way of examination and examination in the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties. I heard that the real imperial examinations have emerged in Northern Qi and other places, but the scale is generally small, just a simple prototype.

The way to investigate and judge is to raise a name, and the best way to raise a name is to write a few poems and poems, and pass them on to the world.

What's more, the little emperor is quite good at this way, and Xiangguo's poems are springing up like bamboo shoots after rain.

I don't dare to say how much the way of poetry is, but Confucius once said, "If you have spare power, you should learn literature."

The prosperity of Tang and Song Dynasties, praised by poems, is naturally the icing on the cake.

But in this chaotic world, articles are at their peak, so it's a bit of a waste of time.

But after all, I am not the kind of person who cares about the country and the people. These thoughts occasionally pass in my mind, how to live, still as before...

Looking at the paper in my hand, I couldn't help laughing at myself.

Selling the poems of the predecessors in the world, although it is to solve personal food and clothing, is somewhat uncomfortable.

It was nearly half of the night, and the crescent moon was shining high, but there was not much brightness.

I was wearing a thick cloak and sitting by the desk. Although the stove was burning and I was holding the hand stove, I still felt the chill.

I bought these things in exchange for poems, cloaks, heaters, hand stoves, and other daily necessities in Biquan Palace.

The winter of this year seems to be a bit long, if I didn't have these things, I'm afraid I would have re-entered reincarnation.

It's been a long time since I saw Chunxi and him, I miss him to some extent, but more, it's a habit.

I am used to being alone, no matter how cold the palace is, I no longer feel cold, but no one talks, it is more or less boring.

The door of the palace was knocked, three times quickly and twice slowly. This was the secret signal I had agreed with others.I wrapped my cloak and went to open the door.

It was very windy outside, and it was already February, but there was still no warmth at all.

I struggled to open the palace gate. The eunuch in his 20s didn't hold a lantern in order to avoid people's eyes and ears. At this moment, he was shivering in the north wind, looking very pitiful.

The two of us were already familiar with each other. After making sure that no one was following us outside the door, we closed the door and entered the courtyard.

"Come inside and get warm," I told him.

"Okay!" He responded with a smile, but after he spoke a word, I could already hear the sound of his teeth clinking.

Open the door and lift the thick curtain, the inside of the house is indeed much warmer than the outside.

I poured a cup of warm tea and handed it to him. He thanked him and took it, holding it in his hand, slowly.

"Now Madam's palace is much better than that of some beloved and talented people."

He sipped the tea slowly, joking with me with a smile.

"That's not thanks to you, father-in-law, otherwise I'm afraid I would have died when winter just entered."

This is not flattery.I caught a cold in the winter, if he hadn't worked so hard to find the imperial doctor for me, I don't know where my soul should be now.

He couldn't help grinning when he heard the words, bowed his body habitually and said: "Madam is a lucky person, how can a wind and cold be invincible?"

I smiled and pushed the snacks on the table towards him.

He shook his head with a smile and didn't move.

At the beginning of winter, I exchanged an ancient song "Shuangshuang Golden Partridge" for a consultation with the imperial physician, and also exchanged my life.

From then on, the eunuch named Jinzhan in front of me would come to me from time to time to exchange poems.

I will give him the poems in my memory, and he will give me some things I need in life, or some things I need. Such an exchange can be called a win-win situation.

I never ask, who did he give these poems in exchange for, or what kind of ups and downs he brought to those people.

Those people have nothing to do with me, and I am naturally indifferent.

He has a cold temperament, but after staying alone for a long time these days, he is even more reluctant to say anything.

Most of the time, I just write down whatever comes to mind at random, and hand it over to Jinzhan.

But sometimes, Jinzhan will also bring some propositions. For example, in this business, what the other party wants is surprise and innovation.

I picked up the written words from the desk and handed them to him: "To make a surprise, the best way is to put old wine in new bottles. This "Plum Blossom Wine" just needs that person to compose the music himself."

Jinzhan quickly put down the teacup in his hand, rubbed his hands on his clothes, and took it over after making sure that there was no water stain.

Sometimes I can't help feeling too much respect for him, and I told him that, but he smiled and said: "Madam's capital is enough to be famous for thousands of years. If you are disrespectful, wouldn't the servant become a sinner forever?"

Jinzhan is different from other eunuchs. Although they all wear the same style of clothes, walk lightly and quietly, and treat people with the same bow and smile, but they don't have the flattery of other eunuchs at all. Son.

In addition, sometimes listening to him speak, I always feel in a trance that what I am facing is a certain pedant from the previous life.This feeling of difference can't help me not paying attention.

The golden lamp that picked up the paper approached the candlelight, tapped the rhythm with his right hand and slowly chanted: "Ah! I am facing this wild and sad. The grass has turned yellow, and the rabbits have been frosted early. The dogs have faded and the people are picking up Tasseled guns, horses carrying luggage, carts carrying rice, hunting paddocks. He, he, he, sadly bid farewell to the Lord of Han; I, I, I, hand in hand went to Heliang. He went into poverty; I returned to Xianyang Return to Xianyang, pass the palace wall; pass the palace wall, go around the corridor; go around the corridor, near the pepper room; near the pepper room, the moon is dim and yellow; the moon is dim and yellow, the night is cool; the night is cool, weeping cold sting; weeping cold sting, green screen window "Green screen window, don't think about it!"

To sing is to be silent for a long time.

The candlelight crackled in the silence, Jinzhan laughed complicatedly and shook his head.

"Why, don't you feel good?" I asked.

In fact, I have been prepared for a long time, and it would be natural if Jinzhan felt bad.After all, this is a Yuan song and a non-Song poem. People at this time may not be able to agree with such superficial words.

Just when I was about to exchange a Song Ci with him, Jinzhan shook his head hastily.

"Madam, don't embarrass me. Madam, once this word comes out, I am afraid that the style of writing lyrics in the world will change again. It's just, it's a pity..."

Jinzhan sighed softly, I don't know what he was feeling, but he didn't ask any questions.

"Madam, don't worry, the servants will find the books you want soon."

He got up and gave me a deep bow.

"It's not in a hurry, it's just reading some idle books to pass the time, but you, don't make any mistakes because of these things."

Jinzhan smiled wryly, opened his mouth to speak, but hesitated.

I took a sip of warm tea and felt my internal organs warmed up. I asked with a smile, "You and I are friends and we know each other well. If you have anything to say, Jinzhan, you can ask."

Jinzhan nodded, and then he collected his words and asked: "I would like to ask, Madam is so talented, why didn't she show it when she was in Jingfang Palace?"

I heard this and asked with a smile: "When I first came to Biquan Palace, I hanged myself once, do you know?"

Jinzhan nodded and said, "I've heard about it before."

"If I say that the talent I have now is obtained after committing suicide, do you believe it or not?" I asked with a smile.

Jinzhan was obviously taken aback, but then said: "So that's how it is."

"So you believe it?" This time it was my turn to be dazed.

"There are so many strange things in the world, too numerous to enumerate. What's more, what the madam says, the servants believe whatever."

I smiled lightly, this man, the words out of his mouth are slick.

"Jinzhan, why do I look at you differently from other palace people?" After thinking about it, I still asked curiously.

Jinzhan smiled bitterly, knelt down and said to me: "The young one is the son of a criminal minister, and he only entered the palace at sixteen. If something is not in line with the palace rules, I hope you will forgive me, madam."

"That's not what it means." I hurried forward to help him, "I don't think Jinzhan you did anything against the rules, besides, I'm just a person with a decent status now, so how dare I criticize you for being against the rules? I can't stand your kneeling."

Jinzhan seemed a little moved, and stood up under my support.

"Jinzhan, you are from a scholarly family, no wonder you have different personalities."

"Well, my ancestors were the elders of the three dynasties, but it's a pity that when I came to this prodigal son, I became a palace man." Jinzhan smiled lightly, stretched out his hand to flick his front, but there was a self-mockery on his face that couldn't be erased.

"You were convicted because you were only 16 years old, so what can you do?" I shook my head, "I think you are living a good life now, which is the greatest comfort to your ancestors."

Jinzhan shook his head, said with a faint smile: "The reason why I dragged my life away is only for my relatives in prison, I..."

Opened his mouth, Jinzhan didn't want to say any more.

I know that there are always sufferings in this world that I don’t want to share with others. If he doesn’t want to talk about it, I don’t force it. I just smiled and said: "It’s getting late, you should go back quickly, and be careful around."

Jinzhan agreed, gave me a salute, folded the song "Plum Blossom Wine" carefully and put it in his arms, turned around and backed away.

Just walking to the door, he finally stopped.

"But what did you forget?" I asked in amazement.

Jinzhan shook his head, knelt down in front of me with a plop, and said in a slightly excited voice: "I, Liu Shuwen, was born in a family of poetry and etiquette. But, but I... The Liu family was persecuted. I should have sacrificed my life for righteousness with my father and brothers. But I am timid and afraid of death. I would rather be like this kind of people who are neither human nor ghost, but also want to live in ignorance …It’s enough to just live on, but I still want to do such a cowardly thing of buying and selling poetry, I, I don’t deserve the surname Liu!”

Jinzhan clutched his chest, showing a very painful look on his face.

I watched from the sidelines, wanting to speak out to persuade me, but I didn't know how to speak up.

"Ma'am, I know I don't deserve to live, but my relatives are still in prison. I dare not die alone, let alone die alone... In fact, the family affairs have passed through these years, and the prison has already faded away. Said, 500 taels of silver per person, so I...I need money, so I did such shameless things, ma'am, may you forgive me?"

(End of this chapter)