Queen Sun

Chapter 56 The Palace (1)
The imperial palace at night looks empty and quiet, except for two places, one is naturally the emperor's bedroom palace, and the other is different every day, just depends on which concubine's palace the footsteps of the chief servant Zheng Ji finally land on. Only then can the dust settle.

Counting today, it has been almost half a month. The smile on Zheng Ji's face was respectful but not flattering, and he saluted the woman in front of him: "Xu Jieyu, Your Majesty still ordered your name today." What she was facing was not the most beloved concubine in the harem.

Xu Hui smiled gently: "Thank you Eunuch Zheng, please wait for me to take a shower and change clothes to see you."

Zheng Ji nodded slightly, then exited the palace and waited. Looking at the other palaces in the distance, he couldn't help but feel somewhat relieved. Since His Majesty sealed the Lizheng Palace, how many concubines in the palace thought that the days when they stayed alone for a long night might be It's almost over.But no one expected that half a year later, His Majesty ordered to recruit women from aristocratic families into the palace to enrich the harem.This Xu Jieyu was only eleven years old that year, maybe she was too young, and she was only recognized as a talented person because of her wit and quick thinking.But just half a month ago, His Majesty saw her reading a book by chance, and she accepted the emperor's favor that night. This favor has never been interrupted. No wonder, the other concubines in the harem began to feel angry again .

Without waiting too long, Xu Hui got on the soft chariot and walked all the way to the Ganlu Hall.The dark palace road was brightly illuminated by the persistent palace lanterns of the servants. Although it was not the first time, she was still more surprised than happy.Perhaps Xu Hui will never forget the scene of that day. She entered the palace because of her outstanding talents, and her appearance was only delicate. After seeing countless stunning women in the palace, her heart gradually dimmed. After coming down, I thought that the ending of the second half of my life would be nothing more than dying alone in the deep palace.Until one day, I somehow came to a strange garden, so I sat down on the ground, took the scroll and looked through it, and after a while, an angry voice came from my ear, asking me how I got into the garden .She was quite uneasy in her heart, she raised her eyes and was about to answer, but she didn't want to be tightly grasped by the shoulders in an instant, and that person was the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty whom she had seen from afar when she entered the palace.Xu Hui immediately blurted out the word Your Majesty, but the emperor's face turned cold. After asking her name, he only told himself that this place is a forbidden place, and he must never enter again.Disappointed, she looked at the distant figure of the emperor, thinking that everything was over.But perhaps it was beyond everyone's expectation, since that night, His Majesty began to only invite himself to sleep, not because of talent, nor because of appearance, her being favored was more like a dream without reason, and the girl His love and expression fell on the most honorable man in the world.

After getting off the soft chariot, Xu Hui slowly walked into the gradually familiar palace, knelt down at the door of the inner room, and listened to Zheng Ji reporting back to the emperor: "Your Majesty, Xu Jieyu has arrived."

The heart gradually beat faster, and then, the emperor's voice appeared: "Come in." As usual, there was an indescribable depth and loneliness.

Xu Hui lowered his eyelids, walked in obediently, and saluted again.Different from the emperor when he was wearing the royal uniform, His Majesty looks younger at this moment. I heard from the old people in the palace that the emperor ten years ago in Zhenguan still had a majestic arrogance, but now, standing in front of Xu Hui The man in front of him appeared more majestic, indifferent and unfathomable.

Li Shimin called out faintly, but did not stop the pen in his hand. After a long time, he turned to Xu Hui's figure and asked, "How about you come and see my painting?"

Xu Hui took a few steps cautiously, and looked at the table with concentration. On the huge drawing paper, there were only a few strokes, but the shape and spirit of the peach tree were vividly drawn on the paper. But in her opinion, the only thing that was wrong What's more, the gloomy strokes don't seem to fit well with the bright peach blossoms. If it's a work of mountains and mountains, it will be more charming.After thinking for a while, she still said vaguely: "In my opinion, the peach blossoms in your majesty's paintings are quite different from the ones you usually see, but they show the character of the flowers even more."

Li Shimin smiled noncommittally, stepped forward, paused with the tip of his pen, and after a little thought, the handsome and smooth running script came to fruition:

——Forbidden Garden is beautiful in spring, decorated with beautiful flowers and trees.The stripes are dark and light, and the spots reveal uneven light.There are thousands of smiles in the mouth, and there is a fragrance in the wind.How about the side of the fairy mountain, the unique beauty and the remote fragrance.

Then, he asked again: "So what do you think of this poem?"

Xu Hui frowned slightly, trying to prevaricate, and respectfully said: "I think that this poem and the artistic conception in the painting may not quite match. According to the meaning in your majesty's poem, it seems that you love the burning of peach blossoms very much, but for some reason, there is something faint in the painting. With a sense of sadness."

Li Shimin's smile disappeared most of the time, and he lingered on Xu Hui for a long time with deep eyes, and suddenly laughed and said: "I often heard that the land of Huzhou is beautiful, and I didn't take it seriously at first. Son, I have to believe it."

Xu Hui blushed slightly, lowered her head shyly and said nothing, but her chin was gently lifted, and the emperor asked with a slight smile: "I also heard that Hui'er was able to speak at five months old and read at the age of four." "The Book of Songs" and "The Analects of Confucius", at the age of nine, I was able to imitate Qu Ping's "Li Sao" and compose "Xiaoshan Pian", I wonder if the rumors are true?"

"Your Majesty is absurd. The concubine just likes to read books more than others, and there is nothing special about him." Xu Hui said respectfully.

"Hui'er is too modest." Li Shimin put down his hands, leaned casually on the soft couch, and said casually, "A few days ago, Concubine De said that you wrote a poem called "Longmen Complaint" and read it to me. Listen."

Xu Hui's heart sank. This poem was written before he was favored, and he spoke of the coldness and loneliness of the deep palace. How could this reach His Majesty's ears. Thinking of this, he suddenly saw the emperor's impatient expression, so he had no choice but to Kneeling down and reading: "I used to love the Bailiang Terrace, but now I love Zhaoyang Hall. Keeping the farewell to the chariot, weeping with affection for the round fan. Once the song and dance flourished, the old poems and books were cheap. The decadent kindness and sincerity are gone, and it is difficult to recommend again if it is overwhelmed."

"Farewell to the chariot, weeping with affection." Li Shimin repeated it playfully, "Then Yi Huier thinks this class of Jieyu is lucky or unlucky?"

Xu Hui was stunned, how could he answer this? Ban Jieyu was a virtuous concubine in ancient times. Her feminine virtues have been handed down to this day. Compared with the two sisters Zhao Feiyan and Zhao Hede who have a bad reputation, it is a blessing, but the loss of Emperor Han Cheng Beloved, how can she be said to be happy after retiring to the Empress Dowager's palace? If she is really lucky, why would this intelligent and peerless woman use the autumn fan to hurt herself, and lamented "abandoned the donated pod" in "Tuan Fan Poem"? In the wat, the way of kindness is absolute"?

Li Shimin looked at Xu Hui's struggling and silent expression, he understood in his heart, but he didn't point it out, he just stretched out his hand to take her slender wrist and said, "Pour me a glass of wine."

Xu Hui came back to his senses, and filled the wine bottle on the table with the tribute wine from outside the Great Wall. Li Shimin took it, took a sip, and glanced at the appearance of this beautiful lady kneeling in front of her, frowning slightly, looking at The purple wine in the cup was clear, and he said coldly: "Undress me."

"Yes, Your Majesty." After all, Xu Hui was still in the early days of human affairs, and his hands moving on the emperor were still trembling slightly. Li Shimin just drank the wine calmly, as if he hadn't seen it. I don't know how long it has been, and how many of them The night is spent like this, young and immature women with various styles lie under him, just like this vast territory, let him conquer and enjoy.

Dim and ambiguous palace lanterns, gauze curtains made of silk, Li Shimin's hands are inspecting the smooth and fair skin inch by inch, and the masculine body is covered with almost no pity. From the beginning to the end, those eyes have no trace The emotion seems to be possessing and plundering.

Gradually, his movements slowed down, and he withdrew to leave with a still grim face. Zheng Ji, who was waiting outside the door, immediately walked in and whispered: "Your Majesty, the bathing clothes are ready."

Li Shimin nodded, then turned around and walked into another room. Behind the screen was a large bathing pool. He stepped into the warm water, closed his eyes and leaned against the side of the pool. The exhaustion of his body can be recovered at any time, but what about it?Time passed day by day, and I thought of finding the shadow of my original wife in many women, but even the quiet girl at the first marriage could not be replaced. The love for Ruoshui did not decrease because of her departure, but But it goes deep into the bone marrow day by day, and the pain pierces the heart.

Zheng Ji sighed lightly, stood outside the curtain, and said softly: "Xu Jieyu, it's time, you should go back."

Xu Hui, who was already sore all over, hurriedly put on her dress, lowered her head slightly and got off the bed, her feet suddenly went limp.

Zheng Ji helped her lightly, picked up the soup from the lady's plate behind her and handed it to Xu Hui whose expression suddenly dimmed, but did not make a sound.

Xu Hui's heart ached, and she searched for the figure of the emperor with a hint of hope, but all she could see was Zheng Ji's slightly pitiful eyes. She took the porcelain bowl with some hesitation, and drank it slowly.

Zheng Ji also heaved a sigh of relief, this Xu Jieyu is probably the most knowledgeable and courteous person in the past two years, but it's a pity that His Majesty now has no thoughts of pity and sympathy...

With heavy steps, Xu Hui walked out of Ganlu Hall with a sad expression. "Eunuch Zheng." She hesitated for a while, and finally couldn't help asking: "Why, Your Majesty..."

Zheng Ji's expression faded, and the moment he helped Xu Hui onto the soft chariot, he said in a low voice: "Jieyu, please think carefully about the small characters written by His Royal Highness Yin."

Xu Hui sat there in a daze, King Yin?That taboo that cannot be mentioned like the owner of the Lizheng Palace?When she first entered the palace, she heard that His Royal Highness Yin Wang was His Majesty's third son, but for some reason, she took her mother's surname. No one dared to explore the past that shocked the government and the public. His small characters?What does it have to do with the bowls of Bizi soup after going to bed?

In the dark night, Li Shimin, who never allowed anyone to disturb him while taking a bath, suddenly opened his eyes, and said displeasedly, "Who is outside?"

After waiting for a while, there was no sound, Li Shimin got up from the pool vigilantly, put on a silk robe, turned around and looked out, only a corner of the clothes was exposed from behind the screen, he called out again :"come out!"

After a moment of silence, a little girl wearing a bright red bellyband and yellow silk trousers timidly poked her head out from behind, pursed her mouth, and called out softly, "Daddy is so fierce."

Li Shimin heaved a sigh of relief, bent down and picked Mingda up from the ground: "Father didn't kill you, he thought he was an assassin."

"Assassin?" Mingda blinked, "Is that the kind of person who came here to kill the emperor?"

Li Shimin kissed his daughter's tender cheeks, but he didn't correct her. He just boasted: "Sizi is the smartest, but why didn't you go to bed obediently today?"

Mingda's pink and jade-carved face suddenly jumped up and said: "Father, mother is coming back."

Li Shimin felt suffocated, and asked with a forced smile, "Why did you say that?"

"Because Dad said it." Sizi told his father excitedly, "Didn't Dad say that as long as Sizi dreams of Mother, Mother will come back?"

"Did you dream about your mother?" Li Shimin sat on the bed and hugged Mingda between his legs.

Mingda nodded emphatically, and said, "Mother is standing by the lake with her son in her arms, and the last son is also there, but mother is only holding her son."

A bitter taste welled up spontaneously, Li Shimin pretended to raise his face slightly: "Why is there no father?"

Mingda looked at his father strangely, and then said as a matter of course: "Because Daddy already has many older sisters to accompany him every night, why does he still need a mother?"

Li Shimin was speechless, and after a long time, he said with a solemn expression: "Who told you this?"

"No one." Mingda didn't seem to understand the deep meaning of his father's words, "I saw it with Suzi."

Li Shimin was stunned, staring at his daughter's innocent smile for a while: "See? Where did you see it?"

Mingda smiled sweetly: "At the door, the last son said that the same elder sister came here recently, so he won't come, so I'm the only one these days."

"Zheng Ji!" Li Shimin shouted angrily to the outside, "Come in!"

Mingda pursed his lips, covered his ears with his small hands, and looked at his father dissatisfied.

As soon as Zheng Ji saw Princess Jinyang, he knew that something was wrong. He lowered his head, knelt down and said, "Your Majesty..."

"Go outside and receive the cane punishment yourself." Li Shimin shouted angrily in a cold voice.

There was a layer of cold sweat on Zheng Ji's forehead, he didn't dare to say a word, and was about to step back, but heard Princess Jinyang's childish voice: "Why did Dad punish Zheng Ji, he did nothing wrong , it was Su Zi and I who forbade him to make a sound, and we should be punished if he is punished."

Li Shimin said in a low voice helplessly: "Sis, Zheng Ji did something wrong in this matter, he shouldn't let you see those..."

"Daddy is unreasonable." Mingda's eyes widened. "Which rule in the palace says that Zheng Ji's actions are wrong? Besides, if it wasn't for Daddy not allowing us to look at beautiful sisters, we still have to peek at whatever we do. It's not Dad's own fault."

Li Shimin was at a loss for words for a while, so he waved his hands and said, "Forget it, Zheng Ji, you go down first." Then, looking into his daughter's eyes, Li Shimin said, "Sis, do you understand what it means to look no evil?"

Ming Da shook his head curiously: "Is it the part where Zheng Ji said that Sue Zi and I couldn't watch it?"

Li Shimin didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Father really has nothing to do with you, what about the last son?"

"The last son is writing, and he said that he will show it to Mr. Chu tomorrow." Sizi seemed a little disapproving.

"Is Si still not willing to learn?" Li Shimin asked with a doting smile.

Ming Da nestled in Li Shimin's arms, yawned a little, squinted his eyes and said: "I want to learn from my father, Mr. Chu will be bullied by the last son whenever he has time, so I don't want to fight with him, I am a sister, so Don't haggle over every detail with the last son."

Li Shimin looked at Mingda's sleepy eyes, and smiled gently: "Then let Daddy teach you."

(End of this chapter)