Empress Jinghua: The eunuch is nine thousand years old

Chapter 172 The Woman in the Picture Scroll
The alliance between Xia Shengqing and Xia Qin was kept in secret. The two often met in the middle of the night. Even if Ming Shengdi was very vigilant and thoughtful, he would not find out that the closest courtiers around him were conspiring with the crown prince.

Because of Xia Shengqing's help, Xia Qin became more eye-catching in front of Ming Shengdi, often able to touch Ming Shengdi's mind and win Ming Shengdi's praise, Xia Bin was very annoyed every time he saw this situation, and the two fought fiercely secretly , but in front of Ming Shengdi, he could only argue with his tongue.

Xia Bin didn't have Xia Shengqing's hidden stake, so he could only keep pushing Shui Yanran to speak from Ming Shengdi's side. For a while, Shui Yanran and Yue Jing'an were also at loggerheads. Every day in the peaceful Mercy Villa, there are turmoil in private.

The only place that is clean and undisturbed is probably the residence of the princesses, and Xia Zijin is becoming more and more uncertain as he waits and sees Xia Shengqing's actions.

In the past, although Xia Shengqing sometimes stood out in front of Ming Shengdi, most of them were for the protection of Mingzhe, but now Xia Shengqing's mind is not so simple. Refused, it was precisely because of this that Ming Shengdi trusted Xia Shengqing even more.

Xia Zijin didn't know what he wanted to do, she swallowed the words a few times, she really wanted to ask what secret Xia Shengqing was hiding, and also wanted to ask if Huier's death had something to do with him?

But she was paranoid and hoped that Xia Shengqing would tell her these things in person. Since the two of them are already a royally appointed fiancée and have gone through the difficulties of life and death holding hands, why can't they be honest?
The days at the beginning of August are still very hot, and the Ci'en Villa is still separated from the hot tongue of the outside world, so it is cool and pleasant.

Because of the heat of summer, the freshly ripened melons and fruits are also very fresh and fragrant. The area around Nanluojun County paid tribute to cartloads of watermelons, each of which was as big as a disc, with red and sweet flesh. It is suitable for eating in this season.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs sent them to all the masters according to their ranks, because Ming Shengdi had been lucky enough to recruit Shui Yanran in the past few days, and the people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs gave Shui Yanran a copy just to curry favor.

Although it is just melons and fruits, in the eyes of the concubines in the harem, it is not just that simple. The people in the House of Internal Affairs are the most shrewd, and they often know how to figure out the mind of Ming Shengdi. Since they want to curry favor with Shui Yanran, it must be because Ming holy emperor.

For a while, all the concubines in the harem were thinking about it, but they didn't know whether Concubine Yue was more favored in this palace, or Concubine Lian was more able to grasp Ming Shengdi's mind.

On this day, Ming Shengdi was in his study looking at the memorials presented by the courtiers, most of which were about the trial shipment of silk at sea a few days ago. Eight of the ten people agreed, and the remaining two made some comments. All this seems to mean that this matter is very beneficial to Diners Club.

When Xia Qin stepped into the study room, he saw Ming Shengdi holding the memorial of the Ministry of Households liquidation profit, and nodded repeatedly looking at the numbers on it.

"I pay homage to my father!" He knelt down and said.

Ming Shengdi raised his head, showed a kind smile to Xia Qin, put the memorial in his hand aside, and waved Xia Qin to get up.

"The crown prince came at the right time. I just read the memorials of all the love ministers. Almost all of them are praises for the trial operation of the maritime silk trade. The prince contributed a lot to the planning of the trial operation. When the preparations for this matter are completed, it will be on the right track. I will reward you well!"

Xia Tian respectfully blessed his body, and said Langlang: "I thank my father for his praise. As a prince, it is my duty to solve my father's worries and problems. I dare not ask my father for a reward."

His respectful and modest attitude made Ming Shengdi very satisfied, and Ming Shengdi nodded his head with a gratified smile on his face.

The father and son talked about their opinions on the future of maritime commerce, and had a good talk.

Xiao Xiazi pushed the door into the hall carrying slices of freshly sliced ​​watermelon, and shook the whisk in his hand with a smile.

"Your Majesty, Your Royal Highness, the new big watermelon in the Imperial Dining Room is juicy and sweet, let the two masters use some before discussing state affairs!"

Smelling the sweet and fruity fragrance, Ming Shengdi also felt a little parched, took the silver fork handed over by Xiao Xiazi, forked a piece of sliced ​​watermelon into his mouth and chewed, the sweet juice overflowed in his mouth , from the mouth to the stomach are well satisfied.

"Prince, use some too." Ming Shengdi invited.

"Yes, Father!"

Xia Qin responded, and was about to get up and walk forward, but the moment Xia Qin got up, his upper body leaned forward slightly, and a scroll fell out of his lap with a clatter.

The moment the scroll fell to the ground, Ming Shengdi clearly felt Xia Qin's face change slightly, and unconsciously raised his head to look at himself with a guilty conscience, neither to pick it up nor not to pick it up.

"What is it?"

Ming Shengdi asked, narrowing his eyes slightly.

"This is...is..."

Xia Qin's eyes wandered, he hesitated for a long time but dared not say anything.

Suspicious like the Holy Emperor Ming, at this time, his mind immediately began to think whether Xia Qin had any secrets to hide from himself, and his complexion suddenly turned bad. He pointed to the scroll on the ground and raised his chin to Xiao Xiazi: "Here I see!"

Xiao Xiazi naturally stepped forward to pick it up immediately, and Xia Qin stretched his hand forward, as if he was afraid that Ming Shengdi would see the content in the scroll, and it was not good when he raised his head to meet Ming Shengdi's probing gaze. Move again.

"With such a guilty conscience, could it be that he is doing something shady behind my back?" Ming Shengdi asked suspiciously, took the scroll handed over by Xiao Xiazi with a cold snort, and slowly opened it with doubts in his heart. .

As the scroll was gradually opened, the content inside became clearer. Ming Shengdi looked at the content on the scroll, and his originally skeptical expression was replaced by another indescribable expression after seeing the contents of the scroll clearly. substitute.

Because to Ming Shengdi's surprise, what was shown on the scroll was neither secret nor shady, but a small portrait of a woman's upper body.

I saw the face of the woman on the painting scroll like a fairy, her skin was like snow, her facial features were full and upright on her oval face, her slender willow eyebrows were slightly raised, with a bit of beauty and playfulness, and under her small and tall nose was a picture of The red lips are so attractive, I don't know which girl is just born, even if it is just a portrait, she is so beautiful, how beautiful should a real person be.

But Ming Shengdi's eyes when he looked at the woman's portrait were not just the admiration and longing of a man when he saw the beauty, but another complex emotion, which seemed to be recalled through the scroll to a distant place. Far away, there is unbearable and guilt, and a bit of regret.

Chu Chu beautiful girl, Bi Yu Shengxiang.

A small cinnabar mole under the eyes of the beautiful woman on the painting scroll is even more charming and natural. Ming Shengdi's fingertips trembled a little as he touched that cinnabar mole, his mind seemed to have drifted to a distant dream. .

He floated to the temple that is now a barren land, and there was a slim figure sitting in front of the brass vanity mirror, holding a small sandalwood comb in his hand and gently combing his long black hair, and then turned his head Smiled sweetly at him, calling out: "Chong Lang."

That's right, Yue Jinglan also has a small cinnabar mole under her eyes, which was born in the same position. When he first saw him, she was at the same young age as the woman in the picture.

Although the looks of the woman and Yue Jinglan in the painting are not as similar as Yue Jingan and Yue Jinglan, they are still young and beautiful.

Seeing Ming Shengdi staring at the woman in the painting for a long time, Xia Qin raised his head slightly and curled his lips. He knew he was betting right.

At first, Xia Shengqing told him that the most memorable woman in Ming Shengdi's heart was Dong Feiyue Jinglan, who was burned to death and buried in the sea of ​​fire by Ming Shengdi himself. She was still a little skeptical. There are somewhat similar portraits of young women to try Ming Shengdi's attitude.

But now seeing Emperor Ming's reaction, he knew that Xia Shengqing's words were true, that woman who had been dead for many years had become a wound on Ming Shengdi's heart that hurt when he touched it.

There is such a wonderful secret, and he must make good use of it.

"Father..." Xia Tianqin said.

Ming Shengdi's mind immersed in memories was recalled, he coughed twice and put the scroll aside, he reached out and knocked on the imperial table with a pretentious gesture, and slightly reprimanded him: "Huh, I still think it's something, you are dignified A prince of a country, what does it look like to hide a portrait of a woman on his body!"

Xia Tian timidly made a sound, as if he was afraid that Ming Shengdi would blame him, and confessed autonomously.

"This is a folk woman. When I saw one by chance, I felt astonished as a heavenly being. I often thought about it. I sent people to inquire about the woman's identity and asked the artist to draw a small portrait to explain it. Lovesickness, I thought to myself, don’t be rude to a beautiful woman, find a good day and then take her to the Prince’s Mansion..."

It turned out to be a folk woman, Ming Shengdi couldn't help but glanced at the little statue again, feeling a little bit emotional in his heart, if Yue Jinglan and the child in her womb hadn't died, they would probably have a daughter with her Just as beautiful.

Thinking of Yue Jinglan in his heart, Ming Shengdi gradually developed a little more affection for the woman on the scroll, but he only heard Xia Qin say that this woman is his love, as the emperor and father, he would not pull it I can't bear this face to ask my son for a woman.

"That's all, just pay attention to yourself. As a prince, you should put state affairs first. Don't indulge in romantic affairs, otherwise it will lead to a catastrophe! This time it's all right, let me see you next time You must be punished for doing such stupid things without knowing your identity!"

Ming Shengdi coughed lightly twice and reprimanded, with a cold voice on purpose to cover up the unnatural expression on his face, and under the anger was a flash of sigh.

"Yes... I understand, I must remember my father's teachings and put state affairs first!"

Xia Tian worshiped with sincerity and fear, and the fear on his face turned into a deep smile when he was facing his knees.

(End of this chapter)