New·New Consort

The winter night is desolate and desolate, and the princess mansion is dead at night, only the whistling sound of the north wind can be heard occasionally passing through the hall.

The north wind made the window lattice tremble and rustle, and Feng Suzhen, who was sleeping in the guest room, couldn't sleep at night, tossing and turning.

There was a sound of tuk tuk in the wind.

Feng Suzhen was taken aback, got up and opened the window.

A figure jumped in.

Feng Suzhen took advantage of the crescent moon to see who was coming, her eyebrows were raised immediately, she hurriedly closed the window and said, "It's so late, why did you come to me so recklessly?"

"Miss... I, I really can't sleep, I want to talk to you..." Mei Zhu came in a hurry, wearing only a thin robe, shivering a little from the cold, and her words were a little incoherent.

Fearing that she would be cold, Feng Suzhen pushed her onto the bed, covered her with a quilt, and lay down beside her.

It was years ago that the master and servant were so intimate last time.

Feng Suzhen felt a sense of alienation in her heart, and then began to criticize: "Even if you want to find me, you should wear more. Counting the cold winter, what should I do if something goes wrong?"

Mei Zhu sighed quietly, and hugged Feng Suzhen's arm unconsciously: "Miss, my heart has been cold since dusk, how can I know the cold and heat in my body."

Feng Suzhen was taken aback for a moment, feeling a little sour in her heart.

She stroked Mei Zhu's back and said distressedly: "Silly girl, why is this?"

Meizhu buried herself in her arms for a while, and said in a muffled voice: "Miss, how have you been doing this year? Meizhu is not by your side, how can you take care of yourself?" After that, she blamed herself a little, "I'm really It's because of poor eyesight, I met you in the eight prefectures in the past, but I didn't recognize you, it's really...so stupid!"

Feng Suzhen said softly: "I'm fine, everything is fine. You don't have to blame yourself, I've changed my appearance, so I can be easily recognized..." She paused, thinking of Tianxiang.

——"That person's voice and smile have long been imprinted in my heart. Even though the world is different, as long as she appears in front of me, I can always recognize her."

Feng Suzhen was astonished, even the plum and bamboo who had slept with her for more than ten years had never recognized her, how could Tianxiang be so insightful?

Mei Zhu said with pity: "Miss must have suffered a lot for being so invisible by herself."

Feng Suzhen seriously recalled it, and was in a trance for a while: "It seems that I didn't suffer much..."

Except for the initial contest with Tianxiang, she didn't use much energy to hide herself in the following time.

Mei Zhu Niannian said: "Princess Xiang was so domineering that day, did she ever bully you?"

Feng Suzhen continued to say in a daze: "No, never."

Tianxiang couldn't be better for her, so good that outsiders envy her, so good that she is tempted.

If Princess Tianxiang knew that she was Feng Suzhen from the very beginning, then it would make sense for her to have a smooth journey.

Just because I am Feng Suzhen, do I deserve this kind of treatment from you?

She couldn't help thinking of that sultry rainstorm night in the Miaozhou government office.

—— "Who is the person you like?"

——"Feng Suzhen..."

Feng Suzhen was startled into a cold sweat, and she immediately dug out another memory to calm down.

—— "But my liking is not the liking Li Zhaoting has for Feng Suzhen. My liking is admiration, admiration, appreciation for such a wonderful person in the world!"

That might make sense...

"Miss, what are you thinking?" Mei Zhu finally noticed Feng Suzhen's absence.

"No, it's nothing." Feng Suzhen concealed something casually, and said in a calm tone, "Mei Zhu, how are you doing?"

Mei Zhu told Feng Suzhen some things after the farewell in narration, her naturalization, she was sent back to Huizhou by Zhang Shaomin, together with her going to Beijing to seek help, pretending to be a little eunuch in the palace and so on.

Every pile of piles was inspired by Tianxiang or dealt with.

How can she, Feng Suzhen, how can she be!

How can I deserve this from you?

Is it because I am Feng Suzhen?

The two chatted slowly for half the night, but neither of them felt sleepy, they just had their own thoughts.

Mei Zhu endured it for a long time, but finally couldn't hold back, and asked: "Miss, tell me, does the prince have me in his heart?"

Feng Suzhen came to her senses, and recalled the prince's expression when he mentioned Mei Zhu: "He has you in his heart, based on what I know about him, I can see that he likes you."

"But, yesterday, he was so indifferent... so indifferent that he didn't even bother to look at me or say a word!" Mei Zhu was very sad.

Feng Suzhen frowned and thought for a moment: "Mei Zhu, do you like him?"

"I...I like him."

"Do you like the prince, or him?"

"The one I like is the one I know..."

Feng Suzhen sighed: "Mei Zhu, he is not only 'he', he is the prince. You should not only like 'he', you have to think about it, can you like 'prince'?"

Mei Zhu was puzzled: "Is there any difference?"

"Yes," Feng Suzhen said pitifully, "Meizhu, it's impossible for a person to go smoothly in his life. Even if he ascends to the most honored position in the world, he can't completely do what he wants. If you really marry into the royal family, you What you are facing is not only your husband, but also all the responsibilities brought about by his dignity."

"He has his responsibilities. He is the future emperor. He wants to be a wise king who lives in the eyes of his courtiers. He wants to give birth to and cultivate the future heirs of the empire. The second half of his life cannot be as absurd as the first half, and it will never be like Princess Tianxiang is so comfortable."

"Mei Zhu, you should also think carefully about whether you can stand by his side and shoulder the heavy responsibilities of the world with him, as well as the invisible fights inside and outside the palace."

After what she said, Mei Zhu's face was covered with tears: "Miss, I am willing to do anything and give anything for him, even if it is my life."

Feng Suzhen's heart was full of embarrassment, she wrapped her arms around Mei Zhu's shoulders in vain, and wiped away the tears on her face: "But, this is not enough...Even if you sacrifice your life, this is not enough..."

In the face of the invisible gap, identity is just the shallowest obstacle.If the state of mind cannot be matched, how can the momentary love match be worth the long-term mutual resentment?

"I'm not trying to pour cold water on you, you have a long life ahead, you will..." Feng Suzhen was taken aback, and she remembered what Tianxiang said to her:

"...It's like the dark side of the canopy, because a wall was built to block the light, so it no longer grows. A certain part of my heart also stops growing, and stays in the time with her forever..."

She couldn't help closing her eyes, her heart ached, she didn't know if it was because of plum bamboo or Tianxiang.

Maybe for myself.

After all, it was just a sigh.

The two chatted until the end of the night, and before dawn, Feng Suzhen sent Meizhu out.She went back to bed and lay down, the quilt still carried the temperature and breath of plum and bamboo.

She suddenly realized that she had only slept with two women in her life, one was Tianxiang and the other was Meizhu.

She couldn't help thinking of the "frozen hands and feet" in the camp at the foot of Yanshan Mountain with Tianxiang.

Sure enough, plum bamboo is plum bamboo, and heavenly fragrance is heavenly fragrance...

She sighed and pulled up the quilt to cover her hot face.

After the prince's visit, the princess's house was full of guests.

Various palaces in the palace sent other people to visit one after another, and some county kings and princesses of the same clan came to the door one after another, and even some courtiers sent their family members to greet them.

Tian Xiang was very impatient, but considering that the current father's health is not good, and the prince is the future heir, although he has never been a cold hearted person, it is understandable if these people want to burn the icing on the cake.

She was not at the unruly and willful age in her previous life. Knowing the necessity of human affection in these scenes, she couldn't put on a posture of rejecting people thousands of miles away.

Fortunately, most of the pot-saucers are considered knowledgeable, and they don't expect to exchange anything with Tianxiang, they just come here to show off.

Feng Suzhen had no choice but to devote all her energy to guarding Tianxiang's guests outside, chatting and laughing happily, reminiscing about the past, and at the same time serving tea to see off the guests in an impersonal manner.She was not good at this, so Shan Shiwen, who is most proficient in this matter, should take care of her, but Shan Shiwen asked for leave before the guests came to the door and slipped back home.

Luckily for the wives and ladies, Feng Suzhen is a foreigner after all, so she can get away with a few casual chats.But the clan members are all relatives of their own family, so Tianxiang refused directly, took the decoction and lay down on the bed and fell asleep, and left happily after those brothers and sisters who didn't see them often cried for their tragic situation .

After three or four days like this, the bustling pot-burning customers finally dispersed, and Tianxiang exhaled, wishing that someone would hang up the no-customer sign when Liu Qian came.

"The princess has haggarded a lot, and she has suffered a lot! Well, it would be great if I stayed that night. If I stayed, maybe I could resist more, and the princess wouldn't have suffered so much." Finally saw Tianxiang's pale and weak appearance made Liu Qian anxious and blamed herself repeatedly, wishing she could replace her with her own body.

But please don't, it's not just a matter of being stabbed if you stay - Tianxiang sneered, with a touch of emotion on her face: "It's okay, it's okay, look at me, isn't this alive and kicking..."

Liu Qian looked at Tian Xiang's "live and kicking" lying on the bed sadly, and even blamed herself, Tian Xiang had no choice but to cheer her up and comfort her.

Liu Qian came to inspect the wounds, how could the wounded be exhausted, she calmed down and said, "However, if you survive a catastrophe, you will have future blessings. Later, Zhao Ting helped the princess with a divination. From now on, everything will be smooth sailing. It's what you want."

"Ha..." Tianxiang laughed dryly, and suddenly realized something, "Well, Liu Qian, are you leaving?"

Liu Qian paused, and replied: "Well... I won't go..."

"You... make up?"

"Hmm..." Liu Qian buried her head down, and two meaningful blushes appeared on her cheeks.

Tianxiang felt mixed feelings for a moment, and didn't know what to say, so she said repeatedly: "Congratulations..."

She mumbled for a moment, then said with emotion: "Liu Qian...that Crow's mouth has a bad temper and lack of understanding. I really don't know why such a nice woman like you fell in love with him!"

Liu Qian said with a smile: "Princess, although Zhao Ting was a little confused before, he is still a kind-hearted person with some skills. Princess, don't feel sorry for me."

No, it's not injustice, but anxiety.

Since her rebirth, Tianxiang has frequently spoken out words of cruelty to poke Li Zhaoting's heart, making him forget Feng Suzhen, letting him know who he is, and letting him treat Liu Qian kindly, all out of her own selfishness, out of her unspeakable thoughts towards Feng Suzhen.

She only wanted to separate Li Zhaoting from Feng Suzhen's life, but she never thought that this would in turn make Li Zhaoting get closer to Liu Qian.She didn't know whether it was good or bad for Liu Qian to let Liu Qian and Li Zhaoting spend their lives.

In the previous life, Liu Qian died for Feng Suzhen on that assassination night. What will happen to Liu Qian in this life?

Tianxiang was uneasy in the end, coughed lightly and said: "He looks pretty good now, what if he changes in the future? Is he ugly? Disabled? Changed his mind? Is it bad for you?"

"What is the princess talking about?" Liu Qian was surprised, "I can't disturb my current life because of these things that didn't happen."

Tianxiang was at a loss for words, she racked her brains to think for a while, and continued: "If, I mean if, you and this crow's mouth will not be happy in the future...or does he demand too much from you...or you What happened to the two of you... You must remember to cherish yourself and take care of yourself."

Liu Qian smiled, and patted the back of Tianxiang's hand: "Princess, don't worry, even if you don't believe in Zhao Ting, you should believe in me. I will never wrong myself again."

"Well...you just have to think it through yourself." Tianxiang said dully.

Liu Qian wanted to say a few words for Li Zhaoting, so she said: "Zhaoting originally wanted to come with me. It is true that the Ministry of Rites hastily got the news yesterday that the emperor wants to collect information from all the ladies of the appropriate age in Luo Chaozhong—otherwise, I will No matter what, you have to pull him with me—"

"Wait—" Tianxiang was startled, and couldn't help asking, "What does the emperor want this for? He wants to draft girls when he's old?"

But in an instant, she thought of another possibility - is it possible that the father is going to choose a concubine for the crown prince? "

Her heart skipped a beat: What about plum bamboo?

After Liu Qian left, Tianxiang thought and thought, she was still weak when the prince came last time, and she couldn't remember plum and bamboo at all.Now that I think of it, I can't help but toss and turn.

In the past few days, there are a lot of guests, Tianxiang pretends to be asleep during the day, but she is energetic at night.When the wound scabs, it is the most painful and unbearable, but it is not good to always use medicine to force Tianxiang to sleep.Feng Suzhen recited "Handan Tale" for Tianxiang every day, so as to distract her, and Tianxiang seemed to be really interested in this book, and she was very engrossed every time she listened to it.

The daily communication between the two, besides welcoming and seeing off guests, is to read books.

Since Tianxiang confessed to her that day that she knew her identity as a woman from the beginning, the two of them didn't talk about it any more.

Tianxiang was waiting, waiting for Feng Suzhen to react to her words.

Feng Suzhen was also waiting, waiting for Tianxiang to bring up this topic again.

But the two of them have such a tacit understanding, and they can barely avoid it several times.

Feng Suzhen was in a trance, Tianxiang was so calm that she felt that what she heard that day was like a dream of her own.

Feng Shaoqing trembled for two days because of the emperor's waking up, but after seeing the calm, he felt at ease.And no longer urging Feng Suzhen, let her daughter continue to serve the princess lying on the bed——

——Anyway, with the protection of the princess and my father and daughter, there are always more ways to survive.

When Feng Suzhen entered the door with the book between her arms, she happened to see Tianxiang scratching her ear and cheek

"What about the princess? Is it itching again?" Feng Suzhen asked with concern.

Tianxiang was overjoyed when she saw Feng Suzhen, and wanted her to give her an idea, but after thinking about it, it's better not to disturb Feng Suzhen, so she casually replied: "Yes, the itching is unbearable."

After the words fell, both of them inexplicably felt that something was wrong.

Feng Suzhen thought for a while and said, "I'll get some sanqiping plaster, you... just relax..."

It seems even weirder.

Tianxiang simply said: "Ah... Forget it, you can bear it, you can bear it, you should come and read to me."

Feng Suzhen saw that Tianxiang was sitting upright, and seeing that she was not as uneasy as before, she felt a little relieved, so she sat down and read a book.

Tianxiang had something on her mind, and she got tired of talking after not listening too much, Feng Suzhen would not insist on it, and packed up her things like a flutter and left.Feng Suzhen went out, Tianxiang sent someone to look for Shan Shiwen and came back.

Shan Shiwen's family is a nobleman who lives in the capital, not too far from the princess mansion.It took only more than half an hour to find it this time, Shan Shiwen strolled back to the Princess Mansion, and then went straight to Tianxiang's bedroom.

As soon as he stepped into the room, he realized that there was no son-in-law in the room. He couldn't help but move his eyes, revealing a thoughtful expression: "The princess summoned her subordinates back, but what orders do you have?"

Tianxiang reprimanded her head and face: "You know how to hide, the house is a mess, but you go home and have fun!"

Shan Shiwen laughed a few times with a playful face: "My old man has hidden a lot of good wound medicine. I'm going back to find medicine for the princess!" As he said, he really took out some bottles from a bag that he was carrying. Bottles and cans come.

Tianxiang wasn't really angry with him at first, and seeing this, she couldn't hold her temper anymore, so she just said casually: "If you wait for your good medicine, this princess will become a Buddha by now!"

Shan Shiwen rolled his eyes and boasted: "Look at this subordinate, the princess's complexion is much better today than in the past few days, and it's the son-in-law who took good care of her!" He asked casually, "Hey, why is the son-in-law not here? here?"

"You are here with me, what do you ask her for?" Tianxiang also replied casually, thinking of Feng Suzhen's "care", she couldn't help sighing, "Three meals of medicine a day, plus a few bowls of sugar water, I don't think I'm so good , I feel like my whole body is swollen."

Tianxiang curled her lips, and looked Shan Shiwen up and down: "Thirty Wen, I have vaguely heard from my relatives in the past few days that the authentic Dongfang Sheng is coming back?"

Shan Shiwen nodded and said: "Well, I'm on my way. I heard that I'm walking quite fast, just in time for a bowl of porridge during the Laba Festival. I heard from friends in the palace that the emperor is preparing for the Laba family banquet with great fanfare. !"

Tianxiang gritted her teeth: "What's so delicious about porridge? It would be nice to come back when spring begins."

Shan Shiwen was a little puzzled: "Huh? The princess seems to have a lot of resentment towards the young master!" He bit his lip and added, "Could it be because he and the son-in-law snatched a woman?"

Tianxiang snorted coldly and didn't answer, and scratched her inexplicably itchy scalp unconsciously: "You go back these few days, it seems that you have dealt with many people, do you know what's going on in Beijing these few days?"

Shan Shiwen thought for a while: "If there is any major event, it is...the emperor may choose the crown princess."

really!

Tianxiang's heart tightened: "Did my father make a clear decree?"

Shan Shiwen shook his head: "No, it's just that Concubine Chrysanthemum invited the ladies into the palace to have a drink of tea, and then went to the Ministry of Rites to compile the roster of women of the right age!" He thought of something, and a trace of embarrassment appeared on his face, " My mother still wants me to bring my sister to show the princess..."

Tian Xiang was stunned: "Show me what?"

Shan Shiwen said strangely: "Princess, you are the real sister of His Highness the Crown Prince! Now in the imperial court, which family with a daughter doesn't expect their girl to get your favor so that they can take advantage of the opportunity to board the Prince's boat! Otherwise, Why are you so busy these days!"

A flash of light flashed in Tianxiang's mind: "You mean, those wives who came to visit me in the past few days brought their daughters on purpose?"

Shan Shiwen paused for a moment and asked, "Princess, why didn't the son-in-law tell you?"

Tianxiang was in a daze, but really didn't notice whether Feng Suzhen had said this.Feng Suzhen received guests diligently every day, worked hard, and did not pour out any complaints.

Shan Shiwen's face darkened, hesitantly said: "Princess, are you and your son-in-law okay?"

"Ah?" Tianxiang was a little surprised, "What do you mean by that?"

Shan Shiwen took a deep breath, frowned and said, "Princess, I dare to ask, what do you think of Miss Meizhu...?"

Tianxiang was at a loss: "What should I look at, why should I look at her..." She paused, then suddenly said, "Could it be you... Oh, you boy!"

"Me?" Shan Shiwen waved his hands again and again, shaking his head like a rattle, "No, no, princess, don't think about it!"

"Then what do you mean?" Tianxiang was used to Shan Shiwen's lively and straightforward, and it was the first time she saw him hesitating, so she felt very uncomfortable.

Shan Shiwen sighed, gritted his teeth and stomped his feet, and said, "Before the villain came home, I saw... Miss Plum and Bamboo come out of the guest room where the son-in-law lives!"

"Huh?" Tianxiang didn't know what to do.

Shan Shiwen was heartbroken, and pointed out: "Princess, your head is green!"

"What?" Tianxiang still didn't turn the corner.

Shan Shiwen could only start to lament what he saw when he got up early and practiced his sword that day:

"...that plum and bamboo girl was only wearing a thin cloak, and it was obvious that she had spent the night in the concubine's room. I specifically called her, but she ran away in a panic, obviously she had a ghost in her heart! I wanted to tell you next time, but I was afraid that you would be sad, and I didn’t know how to deal with myself, so I asked for leave and went home to rest for a few days!"

"Uh..." Tianxiang looked at Shan Shiwen gritted his teeth and hopped his feet, and seemed to be more angry than her "green" one, "So that's how it is..."

Shan Shiwen was very disappointed: "Princess, aren't you angry?"

If something can happen to Feng Suzhen and Meizhu, why am I here, your princess... Tianxiang sighed in her heart, but her expression immediately changed, as if she was infected by Shan Shiwen: "This The son-in-law is really unreasonable! Don't worry about thirty coins, I will definitely teach him a lesson, and I will definitely give you an explanation!"

"Yes! The princess must not swallow her anger!" Shan Shiwen's passion was cut off in the middle, he paused, and awkwardly said: "Princess, I am not explaining to me, but to explaining to you!"

Tianxiang smiled: "Don't worry, I will definitely ask her to give me an explanation!"

Shan Shiwen faintly looked forward to it: "Does the princess need help from her subordinates?"

Tianxiang thought for a while: "Well, just prepare something for me."

Shan Shiwen received the order, although he didn't understand the meaning, he immediately went out vigorously.Soon, he trotted back and took away all the bottles and jars on the table, leaving only two bottles, looking at each other, quite deserted.

Tianxiang asked suspiciously: "Didn't you bring me the wound medicine? Why did you take it away?"

Shan Shiwen turned his head and said: "Oh, I only took a bottle of wound medicine. The rest is sweet-scented osmanthus honey sent by my farmer. My mother asked me to share it, and I will keep it for you!"

Tianxiang deeply felt that this was much worse than Meizhu entering Feng Suzhen's guest room.

After finding out that all the pot-burning guests came with intentions, the Princess Mansion closed its doors to thank the guests openly and aboveboard.

Tianxiang doesn't have to pretend to be asleep during the day, she leans on her back with warm water mixed with sweet-scented osmanthus honey, and sips with her eyes wide open.Feng Suzhen sat by her bed and read to her the end of "Handan Tale"——

In that story, Lu Sheng was a general and prime minister in terms of his merits, and he had been in the sky for sixty years, and he was over eighty years old, with five sons and ten grandchildren, and he finally came to the end of his life.Before he died, he was still full of thoughts, thinking about his useless children and grandchildren, and he died thinking about it.Life and death are a dream, when you wake up, the sojourner's rebellious journey, Huang Liang is not yet ripe.

He came to a realization and decided to take refuge. He gave up his dream of fame and fame, and went away to practice immortality.

At the end of the story, the two were immersed in the final ending and fell silent together.

After a long time, Tianxiang said: "Read it again."

Feng Suzhen thought for a moment, then asked seriously: "Read it from the beginning?"

Tianxiang smiled and said, "I'm reluctant to torture your throat, just the last part."

The last paragraph is the one in which the Eight Immortals scolded Lu Sheng in turn. The immortals scolded Lu Sheng and Lu Sheng replied, which really sounded very happy.

Feng Suzhen didn't refuse, and read again: "What big in-laws. Taisui Flower God. The Fenkuku family is a new one. Where is the Cui family? You idiot."

The previous life was like a dream, even though there was such a gorgeous Feng Suzhen in her life in the bridal chamber, but it came and went like a spring dream without a trace, and in the end she never saw each other until she died. Next sentence: "Well, I'm an idiot."

Feng Suzhen was stunned for a moment, then continued to read: "What is Daguanjin? Using the god of money. Inserting palace flowers and drinking wine to make people laugh. Where is the champion you won. You idiot." She paused for Tianxiang to answer However, his mind trembled slightly when he was stabbed by the "Where is the No. [-] scholar?"

Whether it is the talented hairpin champion, or the powerful princess of the country, or is burdened with children's debts, or indulged in love in the heart, he lost his body in the years and was crushed into dust. After all, it was all a fantasy, Tianxiang's heart was surging, and she replied: "Well, I'm an idiot."

Feng Suzhen thought, Tianxiang really wanted to play Lu Sheng with her, so she went on to read: "What a great hero. He broke Hejin. He harmed the people in order to expand the territory. What is the fame of Leshi. You idiot .”

Tianxiang couldn't help thinking of the cause of the Battle of Chahar, and suddenly felt lost, and sighed heavily: "Well, I'm an idiot..."

The two of them read each sentence until the end: "...what a benevolent relative. You are in your eighties. You still beg for kindness and endure death to protect your children and grandchildren. Where is the filial piety hall. You idiot."

Tianxiang didn't follow along, but looked up at Feng Suzhen, her lips twitched, and suddenly said: "Feng Suzhen, can you wear women's clothing?"

Feng Suzhen was greatly surprised, her face became hot: "This..."

Tianxiang said sincerely: "There are no outsiders here, I will lock the door, and you can change your clothes here. Just show me the clothes, okay?"

Feng Suzhen resigned: "Princess, don't be joking, how can I find my clothes here..."

"Yes." Tianxiang put down the things in her hand, got up and got out of bed.

Feng Suzhen said worriedly: "Be careful of your wounds."

Tianxiang Gu took out a moon-white silk dress from a side cabinet—this was exactly what she asked Shan Shiwen to find yesterday.

Feng Suzhen pondered for a moment, took a deep breath, took the clothes, turned and went behind the screen.

Tianxiang was slightly taken aback, and the corners of her lips raised slightly.

She latched the door lightly.