Queen Sun

Chapter 10
Like many emperors before him, Li Shimin had the pride and awe of being a son of heaven after he had been a virtuous emperor for two years.Ever since the queen left the palace in June, he planned to hold a ceremony to sacrifice to heaven at the altar in the western suburbs of Chang'an on the day of the winter solstice.

Since Emperor Gaozu almost never left the palace during his reign, this sacrifice to heaven in the second year of Zhenguan was the first time since the end of the Sui Dynasty in decades, and it was particularly important. He was also assigned to be the inspector of this sacrifice to heaven very early.

Before the day of sacrifice, officials and palace people had already carried out comprehensive repairs on the altar inside the altar and the surrounding palaces and pavilions for the emperor and his entourage to rest. The repairs even included the Taiji Palace to the altar. street.

Five days before the sacrifice, the emperor sent officials from the Ministry of Rites to the sacrificial place to inspect the animals prepared for the sacrifice. Three days before the emperor began to fast, two days before the officials wrote the wishes on the board, and the day before the palace people The animals will be slaughtered, the sacrifices will be made, and the sacrificial utensils in the shrine will be sorted out. Finally, the emperor will read the blessing plate, go to the emperor's vault to offer incense, go to the altar to see the gods, go to the shrine to see the side beans, and the shrine to look at the animals, and then return to the temple. Ramadan fasting.On the eve of the sacrificial day, the Ministry of Rites led the people to arrange the tablets, offerings, and sacrifices, and then ordered the club to be ready; finally, Changsun Wuji cooperated with the Minister of Rites to conduct a comprehensive inspection to ensure that everything was safe.

In the middle of the night, Li Shimin got up from the bed and put on a coat. Since it was a separate palace prepared for sacrifices, the guards and palace personnel stayed in the outer hall, and the inner hall seemed extremely quiet.Pushing the door open, the cold air in the dark night came oncoming. He looked up at the sky, filled with a sense of tranquility that he hadn't experienced in a long time, and looked to the west. Is it the location of Biezhuang?The emperor stared there for a long time, and a sense of loss clearly came from his heart. He raised his hand and pressed his forehead, as if trying to hide something.A young hero who became famous at a young age, a victorious general on the battlefield, and a majestic emperor of a country will inevitably be vulnerable. If one day, when those eyes that are as calm as ancient wells no longer look at him... No!He resolutely put down his hand, clenched his fist, and suddenly remembered the meaningful scene in the palace more than ten days ago, it was time to bring the queen back.

At this moment, even Changsun Wuji didn't know about a decision made by the emperor not long ago, and the cause was at a banquet in the harem.Originally, the empress was seriously ill, and the harem should have tabooed these things, but it coincided with Concubine Wei's [-]th birthday.Concubine Yin De and Concubine Yang Shu persuaded the emperor together, saying that it was just a meal between the concubines and not a big banquet, it was also a comfort to the concubine who had worked hard for half a year.

So that night, in Concubine Wei's An Le Palace, the emperor, the fourth wife, and the concubine's cousin Wei Zhaorong sat around a table, while the servants were laying out the dishes, Concubine Yin De seemed to mention the New Year's feast unintentionally, and Concubine Yang Shu worried softly He said, if the queen can't return to the palace, then there is no shortage of people around His Majesty.Wei Zhaorong quickly interjected that even if the queen is not there, there will still be a noble concubine taking over the post of queen, so there is no need to worry.Hearing this, the emperor's face immediately darkened, he dropped his chopsticks and walked away.

Thinking about it afterwards, Li Shimin was even more angry and suspicious. When did the people next to him become so strange? Although Concubine Wei and Concubine Yan did not speak, who knows what they expected .If I want to create an unprecedented scene of prosperity, the harem naturally cannot have such obvious intrigues.

After leaving, the emperor stayed alone in the Lizheng Hall all night, holding a piece of paper in his hand, which was sent by someone from Sun Simiao, with a few words written on it: stagnation in the heart, medicine and stone have no cure.I couldn't help but feel a sharp pain in my heart, but in this lonely palace, or in the cold tomb in the future, they can only live together and die together, and they must not let go.

Looking at the moon in the sky, Li Shimin said to himself almost coldly: "Ruoshui, public and private, you must come back, the palace will never be complete without a mistress."

On the second day, seven quarters before sunrise, the bell of the other palace rang, and the emperor got up and drove to the altar.At this time, a calf was burnt in the southeast of the altar, and a sky lantern was hung in the southwest.

The entire sacrifice to heaven was complicated and there was no room for any mistakes, otherwise it would be disrespect to heaven and disrespect to imperial power.The officials were finally relieved after months of worry, and when they were about to return to the palace with the emperor, they heard an imperial decree. Xin envied, but the two who received the order had expressions on their faces.

Fang Xuanling and Changsun Wuji have always been on good terms, so they couldn't help feeling suspicious.Pei Ji held the position of prime minister during the reign of Wude, and was highly valued and favored by the emperor Gaozu, but now the last one succeeds him, on the surface he respects him a lot, he is an official worshiper of Sikong, he is granted [-] households, and he ranks among the ministers He is the head of the government, but no longer has the real power to discuss politics, no wonder he is now a little bit shy about the emperor's reward.But Wuji's face was a bit strange, although the Queen left the palace to recuperate, His Majesty's favor for him has not changed at all, and it is getting more and more serious, but at this moment, this old friend's face is a little panicked.Here he was wondering, and saw Wuji walking towards him quickly.

"Old Fang, where is Your Majesty?"

Fang Xuanling replied casually: "Your Majesty is about to drive back to the palace, why are you asking this?"

Changsun Wuji's face was complicated, and he immediately asked: "Have you asked the people in the Ministry of Rites? Your Majesty has indeed returned to the palace?"

Fang Xuanling also became cautious: "What, but what happened? Or, I'll ask right away."

"Hey, no need, if His Majesty really... people from the Ministry of Rites would not tell us the truth."

Fang Xuanling's face changed: "Really what? It can't be an assassin, Wuji, you can't be joking."

Suddenly, Changsun Wuji patted Fang Xuanling on the shoulder, then pulled a horse beside the guards, jumped up, said "Old Fang, you stand in my way", and galloped westward. Only Fang Xuanling was left on the spot and shouted: "Wuji, your golden 辂."

(End of this chapter)