Queen Sun

Chapter 49
In the eighth year of Zhenguan, in July, the emperor and his descendants went to the Jiucheng Palace to escape the summer heat, and all the courtiers above the third rank accompanied him. The emperor ordered the prince and Sikong Changsun Wuji to stay in the capital and handle political affairs with arbitrary power.

Jiucheng Palace is the Renshou Palace built during the reign of Emperor Wen of the previous dynasty. It was expanded in the fifth year of Zhenguan, and after renovation, it became the Royal Palace again.In the sixth year of Zhenguan, Wei Zheng once mentioned the majestic scene in the "Jiucheng Palace Liquan Ming": "Guanshan Kangdian, Juegu is a pool, crossing the water with couplets, divided rocks and towering towers, high pavilions built around, long There are four corridors, entangled buildings, and uneven terraces; when you look up, you can travel hundreds of miles, and when you look down, you can see towering towers, and the pearls and walls reflect each other.

Sitting in the imperial chariot with Li Shimin, the more you walk forward, the more you feel the cool breeze moving in Ruo Shui, which is not the same as the scorching heat in Chang'an Taiji Hall.

"Ruoshui has never been to Jiucheng Palace, right?" Li Shimin said with a rare leisurely smile.

Ruoshui nodded, I don't know if it was his illusion, why Li Shimin's searching eyes that had been looking at him these days disappeared quite a bit after leaving the Tai Chi Palace.

Li Shimin laughed loudly: "I promised you to build a summer palace at this time last year, but it's a pity that it may not even be completed in summer next year, so I thought that Jiucheng Palace would be a good place. Built between green mountains and green waters, it is very cool. Back then, I specially asked Wei Zheng to write the inscription and set up a stele, and the words on the stele were still written by Ouyang Xun."

Ruoshui smiled lightly, but didn't seem too excited.Jiucheng Palace is indeed an excellent place for other people, but for the eldest grandson...she lowered her gaze and landed on the edge of the white skirt...but it was undoubtedly the beginning of a tragedy, causing old illnesses, and then... It is difficult to get up from a serious illness, and it will eventually lead to the eternal farewell between heaven and man.

Li Shimin felt his wife's gloomy mood, and also fell silent. He thought that after leaving Chang'an, he could temporarily leave the memory of Wude Palace, but now, why does Ruoshui...

"Second brother." Ruoshui said softly, "I'm still a little worried about Chengqian. I'm really worried that the huge capital city will be handed over to him and my brother."

Li Shimin suppressed the doubts in his heart, and embraced Ruoshui's body: "Are you worried about Chengqian, or Wuji? Don't worry, the future of the Tang Dynasty is not Chengqian, and Wuji is your elder brother. I can safely entrust him with my wealth and life, let alone just a Chang'an?"

Ruoshui nodded speechlessly, unable to tell what he was worried about, some for his son and some for himself.

Xieyang Palace, when the mighty Son of Heaven arrived at the Nine Elements Palace, it was already unitary time.Ruoshui stood in front of the main hall for a moment, feeling a sense of emotion in his heart, the Nine Elements Palace, which was restored in the sixth year of Zhenguan, took the meaning of the nine heavenly heights, removed the luxurious and magnificent decorations of the previous dynasty, and looked simple and grand, really worthy of the name.

Compared with the Tai Chi Palace, the rules in the Xing Palace are undoubtedly much more casual.Because this trip was originally for the emperor's self-cultivation after recovering from a serious illness, most of the courtiers who accompanied him were quite knowledgeable and tried not to disturb the peace of the emperor with political affairs.

In the inner hall, Shangguanping, who routinely took Li Shimin's pulse, couldn't help but smiled gratifiedly: "Your Majesty, your body has roughly recovered [-]%, and you will be back to normal in autumn."

Ruoshui's worries for a long time finally fell to the ground, and just now his serious face eased slightly, and he said: "After this illness, Your Majesty must not be careless anymore."

Li Shimin smiled with ease: "Shangguanping, you should also check the queen's pulse. These days, she often coughs at night and cannot sleep well."

Shangguanping didn't dare to be careless. Ever since His Majesty fell ill, he felt that the queen's complexion was not good, but the imperial doctor could not presume to ask the queen for a doctor's consultation without being summoned. , he first frowned and then said slightly: "Is your lady still suffering from shortness of breath?"

"If the cough is too severe, it will appear." Ruoshui replied calmly.

Shangguan Ping pondered for a long time before replying respectfully: "The queen's illness may be suspected of being short of breath, but it's not serious yet. As long as you pay attention to your diet and calm your mind, the few medicines prescribed by He Yichen will definitely be of no use. Big problem."

Li Shimin looked worried, and after waving Shangguanping back, he said: "When you were in Wude, you also suffered from this disease. The doctor at that time said that this disease cannot be cured, and you must take good care of it so that it will not recur. It must be that you were tired from the previous period of time, which almost brought on the old illness."

Ruoshui smiled sweetly, and said with a playful tone: "So, this Jiuxing Palace is a good place for Nashu to recuperate. When we return to Chang'an, we must look so good that even Chengqian can't recognize it."

Li Shimin suddenly leaned over and kissed Ruoshui's forehead: "Remember what you said you promised me, we will live and die together." The words were obviously extremely gentle, but Ruoshui heard a strange possessive desire.

Although the life in the palace is leisurely, as a monarch, Li Shimin still takes some time every day to discuss state affairs with ministers, and the most important thing is to prepare for the Western Expedition at the end of the year.

Ruoshui has always never intervened in any military affairs in person, only when Li Shimin asked, she would answer a few words, and it was just to talk about her own thoughts, and the days were peaceful and peaceful, as if she had returned to the days of Tianshui Villa. There is more warmth and sweetness in the days.

One afternoon, in front of the bed of the two children, Ruoshui hugged the last son helplessly. He was supposed to take a nap like his sister, but he refused to sleep on the bed at this moment. As long as Ruoshui wanted to put him down, his brilliant The smiling face immediately shrunk, as if about to cry.

In order not to wake up the sleeping Si Zi, she had no choice but to carry her son out of the inner room: "Mo Zi, shall we sleep?"

As if Suzi understood, he twisted his fat little body in his mother's arms, and made a protesting sound from his little mouth.Ruoshui shook his head, turned to Danyun who was standing aside and asked, "Where is Your Majesty now?"

"It should be discussing with the ministers in the study, miss."

Ruoshui turned his face back, nodded Mo Zi's little nose and said: "This is good, originally Mother planned to throw you to Dad."

Dan Yun smiled and said: "Why don't you let the servants come and hug the little prince."

"At this moment, he is like something, sticking to me, and I can't pull it off." Ruoshui looked at his two little hands tightly holding his skirt and said, "Why don't I take him out for a walk, Maybe he fell asleep too, Danyun, you and Guangyue should watch Sizi too."

"Mother...Mother..." When Ruoshui was alone, Mo Zi, who usually didn't speak much, called out childishly.

"What's the matter, Mozi." Ruoshui walked casually on a stone road. The air was fresh and humid after the rain. From a distance, there were white clouds floating in the mountains and lush greenery. His little finger pointed to a right fork in front of him.

Ruoshui deliberately walked to the other side, and sure enough, when Mo Zi saw it, his two calves were swinging vigorously, and he didn't stop until his mother returned to the original place.

Following the direction pointed by the son, there is a gazebo not far in front, and it is even more surprising to walk forward. Below the gazebo is a pool of crystal clear spring water.She sat down with Mo Zi, who was already a bit sleepy, and turned sideways, watching the gurgling mountain spring flowing by.For a while, the surroundings were extremely quiet, with birds chirping, trees chirping, and water playing, making people feel like they were in a fairyland outside the world.

When people are extremely quiet, their ears are more sensitive. Without turning their heads, Ruoshui heard footsteps coming from behind. At first, she just thought it was a passing palace man, so she didn't pay attention.But after the person reached a certain place, she seemed to have stopped in her tracks. She turned her head curiously, and a figure in court clothes stood quietly on the left side of the pavilion, as if looking at a stone tablet. In response, she still held Sue Zi in her hand, and walked slowly towards the man.

After only a few steps, the man seemed to have noticed something, and turned his gaze to where the sound was, a stunned expression suddenly appeared on that usually gentle face. "Guan..." As soon as the word came out of his mouth, he stopped immediately, knelt down respectfully and said, "I didn't know that the empress is here too, forgive me for being rude."

Time seemed to freeze for a moment. "Master Chu, please, since I don't know, how can I blame you?" Ruoshui heard his own voice with a slight trace of trepidation.

There was silence between the two for a long time, until the last son in Ruoshui's arms suddenly opened his eyes, and seemed to be shaking his hands and feet a little uneasy. After all, he had been hugged for a long time, and Ruoshui's arms were also a little sore, but he heard that the one who was used to silence in his memory The man said in a too natural tone: "If the empress is struggling, can I go over the limit and give the fifteenth prince a hug?"

Exceeding the rules?Ruoshui's heart sank suddenly, and then he raised his eyes and said, "Mo Zi has always disliked being hugged by strangers." There was some annoyance in his words for some reason.

As soon as he finished speaking, he saw that the last son who had just returned to Chu Suiliang, whom no one wanted except his mother, stretched out his little hand towards Chu Suiliang, and yelled indistinctly: "Hold... hug..."

A real smile suddenly flashed across Chu Suiliang's warm but frozen eyes, he stretched out his arms, and hugged the little prince almost without Ruoshui's consent.

"You..." Ruoshui said coldly, and then clenched her hands. This person who only existed in the memories of her eldest grandson could really arouse her emotions. Thinking of this, she said in a deep voice, "Master Chu, you That’s really over the line.”

There was a trace of pity in Chu Suiliang's eyes that could not be mistaken, and he almost caught off guard and asked Ruoshui: "Guanyin maidservant, do we really need to talk like this?"

Ruoshui's body took a few steps back, but the only thing he could do was remain silent.No, what he was asking about was the eldest grandson, not her, but the pretty girl from childhood, not the self who grew up lonely in the orphanage.Wei Wei closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, she looked directly at the other party with clear and somewhat cruel eyes, and she said: "I am no longer that Avalokitesvara's servant girl."

Chu Suiliang's body shook slightly, and then he smiled very lightly and quickly, and the reply seemed to be Ruoshui's last sentence: "Yes, the minister has indeed exceeded the rules."

Ruoshui's heart seemed to be poked by a needle suddenly, the pain was so painful that he couldn't grasp the source, but he could only smile aloofly: "Master Chu also has a family." It was obviously a question, but the tone was affirmative.

"Weichen married a wife in his early years, and now he has children." Chu Suiliang's voice was faint, and no emotion could be heard.

"Then you must be a loving father at home, I seldom see strangers that the last son likes." Ruoshui asked very ordinary words, but with a trace of dignity and nobility.

Chu Suiliang looked down at Mo Zi, but he didn't reply for a long time, but there was a trace of tranquility in his eyes.

Ruoshui looked at his son who was playing comfortably in Chu Suiliang's arms, but his mind was a little dazed, maybe this is also the so-called fate.She quietly shifted her gaze to the stele that Chu Suiliang was staring at just now: "Is this what Master Chu was looking at just now?"

"Yes, Wei Chen has heard about this inscription written by Mr. Ouyang before, so this time he must come to see the real inscription."

Ruoshui also looked at it curiously, is this the famous "Jiucheng Palace Liquan Inscription" in later generations?Standing side by side with Chu Suiliang in front of the stele, the two of them asked and answered the beauty of the word, as if they had returned to the past, the boy next door held the girl's hand and faced the post horizontally and vertically. .

(End of this chapter)