Rebirth after waste

Chapter 43

After November was over, it was time for He Gong to prepare for the New Year.

It snowed for three consecutive days in Yudu, and the entire palace was covered in silver, as if it had turned into a fairy palace in Yaotai overnight.

Knowing that Gu Yunxian has always been afraid of the cold, the ground dragon in the Hanzhang Hall was extremely burned, and it was as warm as a spring day.The Shangfu Bureau specially made a batch of winter clothes for her, and Li Siyi from the Department of Clothing delivered them in person.Gu Yunxian half-lyed on the imperial concubine's couch, and listened to Li Siyi's obedient and flattering words: "These clothes are Si Yisi's kindness to Empress Guiji, and I hope she will accept it with a smile."

She smiled lazily, "Everyone is interested. Cai Jia, put it away."

Li Siyi didn't expect her to accept it so readily, so he was overjoyed and kowtowed, "Your Majesty can accept it, it's really a blessing for all of us, Siyi!"

Gu Yunxian signaled her to get up, exchanged a few more words of greeting, and then Li Siyi said goodbye.Gu Yunxian nodded, and asked seemingly unintentionally, "By the way, how is Qin Siyi recently?"

Li Siyi was taken aback, but still replied: "A while ago I caught a cold and was still recuperating, so recently Si Yisi's big and small affairs are handled by slaves."

"Oh, that's how it is." Gu Yunxian understood.

After Li Siyi left, Ah Ci gave her a cup of hot tea.Gu Yunxian took it but didn't drink it, his eyes were dark and thoughtful.

Everyone in the Shangfu Bureau knew that Qin Siyi used to belong to her. A while ago, when she first gained power in the palace, she offered to come and worship her, but she refused to avoid people's eyes and ears.

But today, the Shangfu Bureau came to give her a filial gift, such a great opportunity, why didn't she come here with Li Siyi?
Could it be that the situation does not allow her to please her old master?
It seems that she is in a very difficult situation in Siyi Division.How much of the so-called infection with wind and cold is true or false is still unknown.

"Miss, the Laba porridge is ready, would you like to invite the ladies Zhuang Lingyi and Rou Wanyi to come and eat it together?"

She was taken aback, "Laba porridge?"

Yes, today is Laba.She actually forgot.

The Hanzhang Hall was still as warm as spring, but she began to feel cold.

She had disliked winter before, and she hated it even more now.Such cold weather always reminded her of last year, of the dilapidated and desolate Jingsheng Pavilion, where she was trapped and spent the coldest winter in her life.

"See Your Majesty!"

She was startled by the sudden noise from outside, and hurried out to greet her.The emperor, wearing a black cloak and surrounded by palace people, stepped into the palace.

"The earth dragon here is so hot that you are not afraid of the heat?" He took off his cloak, revealing the brown uniform underneath.

Gu Yunxian was still immersed in the thoughts just now, and smiled a little reluctantly: "The concubine has always been afraid of the cold, and it's not like your Majesty doesn't know."

He didn't notice her strangeness, so he took her hand and put it in his palm.Gu Yunxian only felt that his palms were as cold as jade, and couldn't help but said: "Your Majesty, if you want to warm your hands, wouldn't you go get a Tang Po and toss your concubines instead?"

He raised his eyebrows and smiled, "I will only hold for a short while, why is Yunniang so stingy?"

Gu Yunxian had no choice but to let him hold it, "Why is Your Majesty here now, don't you need to criticize the paper?"

After Zhou Shitao became an official, Xu Qinghua, the former Minister of the Ministry of Officials, took over the position of left prime minister.When a new official takes office, there will naturally be a large number of replacements, and the previous government is now busy.

He shouldn't be so relaxed.

"Today's Laba, I came here specially to accompany you to drink Laba porridge." The emperor smiled and patted her forehead, "Leave after drinking."

The saying of "Laba Festival" originally originated from Buddhism.According to legend, the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month is the anniversary of Buddha's enlightenment. Buddhism calls it "Dharma Treasure Festival", and folks commonly call it "Laba Festival".Common people eat Laba porridge on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month to celebrate a good harvest and offer sacrifices to ancestors.

Because of the different regional products, Laba porridge is also divided into many categories.The popular Laba porridge in Yudu is made of yellow rice, white rice, glutinous rice, millet, water chestnut rice, chestnuts, red cowpea, peeled jujube paste, etc., boiled in water, and dyed red peach kernels, almonds, pine nuts, white sugar, and brown sugar for external use. Dye.

Gu Yunxian sat with him behind the food table, in front of him were two crystal clear jade bowls, filled with hot Laba porridge, pink and white, very cute in color.

The emperor picked up a bowl, tasted a spoonful, and praised: "It's soft and delicious, and your cooking skills here are good."

Gu Yunxian smiled and picked up the bowl.

After taking a sip of porridge, she felt as if her throat was stuck.Uncontrollably recalling her last life, which was also the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, she knelt on the cold brick floor of Jingsheng Pavilion, staring fixedly at the door, waiting for Lu Chuan to bring him the emperor's reply.

Then Lu Chuan came back and told her that he didn't want to see her, even if it was the last time.

She didn't have the chance to drink that year's Laba porridge, what she had was just a glass of gut-piercing wine.

The sound of the jade bowl being placed on the table suddenly.

The emperor turned his head, but saw Gu Yunxian pursed his lips tightly, staring at the front without saying a word.

"What's wrong?" He frowned, feeling a little uneasy in his heart.

She turned her head and looked at him with strange eyes.Cold and chilly, as if he had never known him before.

It seems that there is still deep-seated hatred.

He was startled for a moment.

Before he could react, she was already awake, and hurriedly said: "The concubine is disrespectful in front of the imperial court, please forgive me, Your Majesty."

He didn't speak, just looked at her intently.The woman in front of her has drooping eyebrows, is submissive and soft, she is his quiet and gentle Yunniang.

Nothing unusual, everything is normal.It seemed that the coldness just now was just his illusion.

The uneasiness in my heart became heavier and heavier, followed by uncontrollable irritability.

"What's wrong?" He said lightly.

Hearing his tone, she secretly thought it was bad.I don't know what's wrong today, I'm too impatient, and I keep thinking about the things in my previous life.It was even more resentful and angry just now, and I almost lost control of my emotions.

Perhaps, this day was so special that it brought back the most unbearable memories in her mind.

"Chen Qie... Chen Qie has been feeling unwell for the past few days, and she is in a trance, that's why she lost her composure just now." She said softly.

You can't use the queen mother as an excuse every time, it won't work if you talk too much.

"Unwell?" His tone remained cold, "Have you seen the imperial doctor? How should I say it?"

"Winter fatigue, coupled with a slight cold, is just a minor ailment, and it will take a few days to take care of it."

He nodded: "In that case, you should rest well. I'm back."

She wanted to send him to the gate of the palace, but before he left the palace, he said lightly: "You are not in good health, so don't go out to have a shower." She had to stand at the gate of the palace, watching him with his mighty entourage , Gradually out of her sight.

Cai Jia lowered the curtain, and said with concern: "Your Majesty, don't stand in the wind, be careful of freezing."

Her head froze, and she slowly walked back into the hall.

"Cai Jia, did I lose my composure just now?"

Cai Jia hesitated for a moment, "Your Majesty suddenly put down the bowl, as if she was getting angry, the movement is a bit loud..."

"Is he angry?"

"Your majesty's expression is very bad, servant girl." After a pause, "What's wrong with your majesty, how could it be..."

"It was my fault……."

It was because she didn't control herself well that she made such a low-level mistake.

But it doesn't matter, it can be redeemed.As long as she is careful in the future, she will be able to recover.

After coming out of Hanzhang Hall, the emperor remained silent.

The sedan chair was very warm, he closed his eyes and meditated, his facial features were handsome and seductive.

He felt that something was wrong with him these days.

Today he was supposed to discuss matters with Xu Qinghua in the Lixiao Hall, but when he saw the snow falling outside, he suddenly thought of ordering Xu Qinghua to wait there, and he walked a long way in a sedan chair just to get to Han Zhang Dian accompanied her to drink a bowl of Laba porridge.

He has done such a painstaking and smiling thing before.But this period of time is really not the time to do these things.

Especially not in front of Xu Qinghua.

Xu Qinghua is his newly appointed left minister. On the surface, he is a member of the Northern Party, but secretly he has been loyal to him for many years.

A while ago, King Ning made a surprise ride on a royal horse. Although he didn't know who was behind it, he took advantage of it and directed the fire to Zhou Shitao.

First Cui Shuo's impeachment, and now he was accused of regicide, Zhou Shitao really couldn't bear it, and proposed to go home from illness.

For Zhou Shitao, this is already a kind of admitting defeat.

However, this level of victory was far from what he had expected, so he kept pressing and did not allow it.

In the following time, while calmly guiding the censor to impeach Zhou Shitao, he used an overly obvious partial attitude to arouse more people's dissatisfaction with him.Xu Qinghua also obeyed his orders and spread news inside the Northern Party to drive apart his party members.In the end, Zhou Shitao had to change his words and said that he wanted to retire and return home.

A generation of powerful officials fell from the horse, and he won a complete victory.

After so many years of repression, he finally used his ability to clear away the obstacles in front of him step by step, and approached his ideal.

This should be when he is most energetic.

But why, he is so lost now.

Her eyes as cold as ice flashed in front of his eyes again, which made his heart ache.

Taking a deep breath, he finally understood where his frustration came from.

He thought of her beautiful figure in the mirror and dressing, of her demeanor writing poems with a pen, of her light frown and smile, and soft words.

When he was studying when he was young, his master once warned him solemnly: "Women are seductive, so many kings have ruined their reputation for the whole life. Your Highness needs to remember it."

He just thought it was funny.Women in this world are beautiful and pleasant, but how can a handsome man really be controlled by a woman, and his emotions are all controlled by her?

If so, then this man is useless.

But just a moment ago, he suddenly realized that he was walking in that dangerous direction.

He cared too much about her now.

What's even more frightening is that he didn't seem to get an equal return for his care.

The melodious sound of the pipa could be heard in the distance, and he opened his eyes, and in front of him was the curtain of the dragon pattern of the Ming Emperor.

Hearing the voice from inside the sedan chair, Lu Chuan rushed forward and asked, "What is your majesty's order?"

"Stop the car."

The sedan chair carried by 16 people slowly landed, the palace people lifted the curtain, and the emperor bowed out, standing in front of the sedan chair without saying a word.

"Your Majesty, it's freezing cold, take care of yourself! Master Xu is still waiting in Lixiao Hall, you should hurry over there."

The emperor was silent, and Lu Chuan wanted to say more, but he raised his hand and stopped him.Lu Chuan was slightly startled, only then did he realize that the emperor was looking straight at a certain direction with an unpredictable expression.

"Your Majesty, this is..."

The emperor suddenly stepped forward, ignored him and walked straight forward.They had reached the vicinity of the Imperial Garden at this moment, and after turning two turns, they saw a woman in plain clothes with her back to them, plucking a pipa in her hand, on the bank of the frozen lake.

Lu Chuan understood that he came here following the sound of the pipa.

The sky is dark today, and the imperial garden is also gloomy. The woman in plain clothes didn't even wear a cloak, holding a pipa in her arms. There was only a slim back, but it seemed like a soft light, illuminating everything around her.

The sound of the pipa is sometimes fast and sometimes slow, and it contains infinite emotions, such as weeping, complaining, resentment and admiration, which makes people feel compassionate.

The emperor had no expression on his face, he only slowly approached her, and finally stopped three steps behind her.

After the song was over, the woman in plain clothes turned around slowly, looked at the emperor, and remained silent.

"Ashu." He said, "Why are you here?"

Zhen Jieyu said softly: "The concubine has been here recently, watching the scenery, listening to the wind, and sometimes playing the pipa." With a slight smile, "The concubine should ask Your Majesty, why are you here?"

He raised the corner of his lips slightly, "I came here when I heard your pipa."

She said "Oh", a little lonely, "Your Majesty, still remember the sound of the pipa played by the concubine?"

"Naturally." He smiled, "I've never heard it in my life. I can't forget the sound that is more pleasant than your pipa."

She lowered her head and said nothing.

He saw that her expression was different, and said softly: "What's the matter, are you unhappy?"

"No, it's not." She raised her head, her eyes were wet, "I am happy. Your Majesty still remembers the sound of my pipa, which is great. Even if one day in the future, Your Majesty forgets about this person, at least I will still remember it." The song that Chen Qie played. Just thinking about it like this, Chen Qie feels that this life is not in vain."

The fine snow was flying, and she was dressed in plain clothes, cleaner than the snowflakes all over the sky.And the eyes she looked at him were so clear, like the first ray of morning light in spring, with sincere and deep feelings.He suddenly remembered that a few years ago, on the day of Shangsi Festival, he caught the figure that fell from the horse.At that time, she was nestled in his arms, trembling all over, like a frightened deer.

"What nonsense are you talking about?" He took off his black cloak and put it on her body, "You are my beloved concubine, how could I forget you?"

She smiled, and a tear rolled down her cheek.

He finally reached out and took her into his arms.

He knew that she should be waiting here on purpose, playing the pipa on purpose at this time, to lure him over.

But those don't matter.

The important thing is that her love and attachment are real.And he will not lose his mind because of her.

She is safe.

The woman in his arms leaned on him tenderly, with her small arms around his waist, but those cold eyes slipped uncontrollably in his mind,
Sighing slightly, he closed his eyes.

Even though it was nephrite jade and warm fragrance in her bosom, the haze in her heart couldn't go away no matter what.

(End of this chapter)