Between the vast sea of ​​clouds

The first day of the first month is the beginning of the New Year, and it is the time when Vientiane will be renewed. On this day, Chang'an is heavily guarded. The soldiers and horses of the five cities are patrolling the streets, and the gates of the palace are closed. ceremony.

In the early wind, the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty stood in the open space under the Temple of Heaven according to their grades. The Jinwu Guards stood with guns and guarded along the jade steps. Those who were eligible to participate in the emperor's enthronement ceremony were all Beijing officials of the fifth grade or above, holding elephant wats. , dressed in complicated court clothes.

Because the new emperor came to the throne, the Shangyi Bureau rushed to make a batch of new dresses to distribute to the officials. Some changes were made on the sleeves and the decorations were also somewhat different.This has always been the rule. Each succeeding emperor has to slightly modify the costumes of the previous dynasty, and then change the year name to show the difference.

Before Yinshi, Qingping had already put on his court clothes and came to the palace. After going through a series of cumbersome inspections to check his identity, he was taken to a side hall by the palace people to change clothes and search him.

Wen Tianfu, Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites, was very talkative, and when he saw her coming, he smiled and said: "Li Shizhong is also here, he must have not eaten yet, so come in and have some refreshments."

Qingping bowed to her, only to find that among the six departments, only the Ministry of Rites had the fewest officials, but a few adults came to participate in the ceremony, a capable woman saw her and said: "I think this is Li Shizhong? Daming, seeing you today is really extraordinary."

Wen Tianfu said: "This is Chen Kaiyi, Director Chen of the Qing Officials Department."

The Chen family is a well-known and powerful family in Hengzhou, and anyone with the surname Chen among Beijing officials can always have some indescribable relationship with it.Qingping greeted her again, Chen Kaiyi avoided and said: "Don't dare."

Because of the special circumstances, the officials waiting in the hall did not dare to talk too much, and waited silently after exchanging greetings.Time passed slowly, the sky was dim, and a golden light was cast from the leaden gray thick and sad clouds. In this continuous snow day, it was indeed a rare good day.

When the bells and drums sounded, all the officials restrained their expressions, lined up and left the palace in an orderly manner, and gathered in the square under the Temple of Heaven.I saw hundreds of Beijing officials waiting for a long time in the cold wind, and the indigo court clothes reflected the hazy blue light in the morning sun, like gentle water waves.

Courtiers and Beijing officials are of different grades, so naturally they have to stand closer to the front. Looking at the high jade steps from a distance, the majestic palace, the flying eaves and brackets, under the vast sky, leaning against an incomparably gorgeous morning glow, the glazed tiles shine with golden light, as if It is as high and unattainable as a palace in the sky.

The music stopped, and the sound of heavy drums came from all directions. On the royal road, the emperor walked up the royal road wearing a five-color imperial crown and a gown.

When she stood on the Temple of Heaven, she reappeared on the side of the high platform after offering sacrifices to heaven under the guidance of the priest, and the music sounded again, and the priest said loudly: "Bow——"

The officials bowed down and said in unison: "Long live my emperor, long live, long live."

Qingping couldn't help feeling a little dazed, the sound came surging like a sea wave, echoed over the palace, the flag embroidered with a phoenix bird pattern was hunting in the wind, and all the officials shouted long live, hitting people's hearts like a landslide and a tsunami, it turned out that this is Power, she can't see the expressions of the people on the high platform, but from this moment on, they are just emperors, and the day and night in Yunzhou seem to be just an absurd dream of her. I closed my eyes.

After the emperor's enthronement ceremony was held in the palace, he would go out of the palace on the emperor's chariot to accept the worship of the people in Chang'an City, and then go to the Taimiao to comfort the ancestors.The Beijing officials who had participated in the grand ceremony could leave, but the courtiers had to change clothes in the palace and wait for the emperor to come back, and saluted the emperor again in the Zichen Palace, and then the officials hosted a banquet.

Qingping entered the room in the side hall to change clothes, a small servant followed her step by step, and when she entered the door, he changed the heavy court clothes for her, and then saluted: "My lord, please forgive me, this servant is going to take samples Come."

Qing Ping answered casually, waited in the room for a while, the knock on the door rang again, this time it was a maid who came, kowtowed to her and said: "My lord, I will allow this servant to change your clothes for you."

She shook off a set of clothes, obviously not court clothes, but the most common palace clothes, Qingping didn't say a word, let her change clothes for herself, and kept moving on her face, Qingping moved too much when changing clothes , the water in the basin splashed on the new court clothes hanging on the side, and the water stained a piece of sleeves, the maid said firmly: "You can go out, my lord, let the slaves come here."

Qing Ping bowed slightly, opened the door and came out from the side hall, and then saw the little servant again, he said: "Please come with me."

The two of them didn't talk during the whole process, and a few servants came out with the maids in the middle, and sent these people outside the palace gate. The guard guard frowned and said, "Who is this? Why are you leaving the palace at this time?"

The leader said humanely: "It's the court ladies who used to serve in the harem. Your Majesty went to the Taimiao to worship the ancestors. He was afraid that there would be insufficient manpower, so he said they would be transferred there."

The guard checked the seal of the document before letting go. Several servants got into the carriage, Qingping knocked a few times, and the servant who came out with Qingping suddenly exclaimed: "Yulan, why are you coughing up blood?"

The head servant's face changed slightly, and he said with a look of bad luck: "Send it back quickly! It's a great day, if you offend His Majesty, you and I will die!"

The servant Nuonuo agreed, turned around and left with Qingping, boarded a new carriage, but did not return to the palace, only went around outside the palace a few times, got into a new carriage, and then headed towards the crowd. drive away.

But after a while, the carriage stopped by an alley. Qing Ping had already changed into ordinary clothes in the carriage, and brought the accompanying documents with him. Half an hour has been left for the company handover meeting, and we must leave before the end of the day."

Qing Ping nodded, thanked him sincerely, got off the carriage, the servant remained motionless, as if he hadn't seen her, the wheels turned, and the carriage just left.

Qingping looked at the padded robe on her body, and it was not in vain that she went out to buy scripts every day these days, and found out these streets and alleys.She touched the tail-wagging horse by the side of the alley, stepped on the horse, avoided the crowd, and drove towards the city gate from a remote alley.

Her face hurt from the cold wind, but she felt very happy. The joy of being about to get out of the cage paralyzed her reason. Out of town.

There were quite a few people leaving the city at this time, but the censorship was stricter.She led the horse and stood patiently in line behind a cart. A group of patrolling people happened to pass by. She turned sideways to avoid it, and suddenly a person hesitated: "Qingping?"

Qingping's heart was shocked, the voice was very familiar, she turned her head to look, but it was Feng Yun whom she hadn't seen for a long time.

Feng Yun was also obviously shocked, and ordered his subordinates to patrol by themselves, eyes flickering and said: "My officer sees that your backpack is bulging, and you don't know what you are hiding, go out and search!"

Qingping was dragged out of the waiting line by her, Fengyun lowered his voice and said, "What are you doing! You are not waiting in the palace, and you are going out of the city in disguise at this time!"

Qingping woke up from the joy as if a bucket of cold water had been poured on his head, and said, "I want to leave the city."

Feng Yun was a little unbelievable, and said: "You have come back from Yunzhou after going through all kinds of hardships and dangers, and you have entered the court to participate in politics. Now you want to leave?"

"Oh? You also know those things about me?" Qingping smiled mockingly, "Surely there are many legendary stories in the vernacular on the street?"

Her tone was sarcasm, obviously depressed, Feng Yun asked in confusion: "What—you, what are you talking about, Qingping—"

"I want to go." Qingping cut off her words, and said simply and neatly, "If you want to identify me, please give me a quick treat."

Feng Yun was tongue-tied, obviously she didn't recognize her anymore, she was at war with heaven and man, and finally gritted her teeth: "You go!"

Qingping clenched his hands and said, "Really?"

Feng Yun turned her head and left, her voice trembling: "Let's go! I don't think I've seen you before!"

Qingping heaved a sigh of relief, and continued to return to the team, followed slowly by a black-topped carriage with a family crest painted on it, obviously a wealthy family traveling.

She sideways avoided, intending to stay away.It would be a lie if she said she was not in a hurry, seeing the city gate was close at hand, but she suddenly narrowed her eyes, feeling suspicious.

Feng Yun is a member of Sanqishe. Logically speaking, he should not be sent to patrol with Wucheng Bingmasi at this time, but should drive to the Taimiao. Why did he appear so coincidentally during the handover?

Once doubt arises in the heart, it cannot be eliminated.The more Qingping thought about it, the more she felt something was wrong. Seeing that the people in the city were letting go one by one, the gate of the city was close in front of her eyes, but seemed far away in the sky. Her hands trembled slightly, feeling that she had never experienced such a moment of fear.

What if everything she did today had already been arranged?

Is going out of the city a new temptation, a new trap?

She suddenly remembered what Chu Jun said that day: "You'd better be quiet."

"Otherwise, there must be room for another person in the harem."

Qingping looked pale and took a step back.

Liu Zhen, Feng Yun... If she really leaves, will those who have helped her and those who have seen her today know...she is empty-handed and fearless, but if she hurts others What is the difference from the original!

She made up her mind to turn around and retreat. At this time, the curtain of the carriage next to her moved slightly, opening a finger-wide gap, and the person inside said gently: "Is this Mr. Li? Please come up."

Qingping only felt that her premonition had come true, even if she didn't believe it anymore, she still had to believe it. She said indifferently, "Who are you?"

The man didn't seem to expect her to react like this, and said with a smile: "Chen Yu, I met you earlier, do you remember?"

Holding warm tea, Qingping sat in the carriage, looked at the young woman in a dress opposite and said, "So it's the daughter of Prince Chenliu."

Chen Qi smiled slightly and said, "It's rare that your lord still remembers me."

Qingping sighed slowly, a little disheartened and said: "I don't know what instructions the lady has?"

"Don't dare." Chen Qi said, "It's just that when I saw Master Li, I felt a little familiar."

Qing Ping laughed, Chen Qi was born with eye disease and couldn't see the snow, so how could he just see her?

Chen Qi looked at her curiously, and said, "Where is your lord going, why don't I give you a ride."

"Where is the world going?"

Chen Qi said: "Of course I'm entering the palace, do you want to come together?"

Her birth was somewhat similar to Chu Jun's, Qingping felt uncomfortable, and didn't want to see her face, she knew that this was to vent her anger, but she still couldn't control herself: "No need, just go back to the government to rest."

This will probably become another feat after her safe return from Yunzhou. She ran back to the mansion halfway through the enthronement ceremony, and presumably the papers of attending her tomorrow will fill the imperial court.

It doesn't matter if this official is inappropriate, she thought indifferently, if she resigns, she will resign, what can she do?

Chen Qi seemed to see the resentment in her heart, so he stopped talking.

Bailiu Lane is very close, just a few turns away. Before getting off the car, Chen Qi asked: "Is Master Li really not going to enter the palace with me? Your Majesty will return to the palace at the right time, and there is still time to pass now."

Qing Ping said: "Thank you for your concern, Your Royal Highness, I don't really want to go back."

Chen Qi looked at her with a clear expression, and said in a gentle manner: "In this way, it will not be difficult for others."

Qingping knocked on the door of the mansion, the porter's eyes flickered, and said: "My lord is back, the steward is already waiting inside."

There was something wrong with her expression, Qingping asked: "What, what's the matter?"

The concierge hesitated and refused to speak, Qingping stepped into the hall, but saw the steward standing by the door, his face was pale and his body was shaking violently.

"My lord," said the steward in a trembling voice, "just now someone came from the palace and said that you left something behind, so he sent someone to bring it over."

Qingping followed her line of sight, his eyes froze.

It was clearly the court dress she was supposed to change in the palace, and the cuffs were stained with a small piece of water, which was almost dry.

A drop of cold sweat slid down her forehead, her heart collapsed like a mountain, and there was a huge roar, causing her limbs to go numb.

At three moments later, the carriage parked in front of the Li Mansion finally started to move. Qing Ping was wearing court clothes, looked at Chen Qi expressionlessly and said, "Lady Lao Shi has been waiting for a long time."

Chen Qi still had the same expression. Hearing this, he seemed to want to laugh, but shook his head slightly and said, "It's okay."

The carriage drove into the official road, and drove towards the palace amidst the joyful cheers of the people.