Competing in the morning and evening

Zeng Chuyu didn't dare to neglect, and immediately led Qingxiang into the palace with the eunuch.

The imperial palace is still the palace alley, the palace alley, the rich families are connected with the rich families, and they often don't know when it will end.

The eunuch led Zeng Chuyu and Qingxiang across these gates in a hurry, without saying a word all the way, Zeng Chuyu gave Qingxiang a wink.

Qingxiang immediately understood, and asked the eunuch leading the way with a smile on his face, "Eunuch, do you know why the imperial concubine is so anxious to find our empress?"

The eunuch turned his head, saluted sideways, and said with a dang in his throat: "Go back to your mother, what this master wants to do is not for us servants to discuss casually. You step carefully, we are going to the mother's promise right now." It's time to go to the palace." The eunuch's tone seemed favorable, but in fact it was quite arrogant, Zeng Chuyu's lips understood a little, but his face did not change, and he followed the eunuch silently into the gate of Chengqian Palace.

Concubine Ping is famous for her frugality and simplicity, and naturally the layout of the palace is not luxurious.Several birdcages hung on the porch, besides the red and green budgerigars, there was also a black mynah with jet-black fur and a phoenix crown on its head, pacing up and down in the space of one foot and three inches away from the cage, It's also quite imposing.There are two hundred-year-old cypress trees in the courtyard, with many new branches and green shoots growing on them. At first glance, they are lush and lush, but when the sun shines at noon, it casts shadows all over the ground, making people feel suddenly chilled like black ink.

The buildings in Chengqian Palace are very deep. From the outer hall to the inner hall, Zeng Chuyu passed through layers of yellow silk curtains, and only then did he reach the outside of Concubine Ping's curtain.

"Daughter-in-law Chu Yu pays respects to Concubine Mother." Zeng Chuyu knelt down and kowtowed to Concubine Ping.

Concubine Ping did not say Ping Shen as gently as in the past, and she seemed to have not heard Zeng Chuyu's greeting at all.

After a while, I heard the jerk whisper: "My lady, the princess is here to greet you."

Concubine Ping did not reply to her words, but said indifferently: "Why does the fragrance in this hall fade a lot, go and see what's going on?"

Zhi'er responded, opened the curtain, approached the Boshan stove in the corner of the room, picked up the incense chopsticks next to it, and fiddled with the ashes.Zeng Chuyu was so close to the Dingbo Mountain incense burner that some of the ashes from the burner floated onto her head, choking her so much that she wanted to cough several times, but she couldn't help but hold back.

Zhi'er took out the incense burner and went back and said, "Your Majesty, I feel better."

"Forget it..." Concubine Ping lazily said, "Maybe it's because I've smelled this sandalwood a lot, but I don't feel it's good."

Zhi'er smiled and said, "How can it be, madam, are you sleepy?"

Concubine Ping hummed, and Zhi'er hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, I'll bring you a warm pillow, you can bend over for a while."

Zeng Chuyu didn't get a sound, so he knelt there for more than two hours.Concubine Ping finally woke up, drank tea for a while, and drank some sweet soup.

Zhi'er whispered again: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty Wang Fei has come to greet you."

Concubine Ping still didn't answer, she just said indifferently: "The green calyx plums that I asked you to pick, have you picked them?"

"Ma'am, do you want to arrange flowers?"

Concubine Ping said: "Is there even a need to ask, where did the usual cleverness go?"

Zhi'er hurriedly sighed and brought all the utensils.

Zeng Chuyu had been kneeling for more than two hours at this time, and she was in a bad mood: she hadn't eaten breakfast or lunch, and now she only felt that her eyes were going dark, but she didn't dare to speak.

After a while, Concubine Ping said: "Zhier, what do you think of the green calyx plums that I have planted this time?"

Zhi'er laughed and said, "If you go back to your mother, the more you insert, the more interesting you will be."

Concubine Ping chuckled, and said: "Yuan Xizheng reminded me that this green calyx plum was originally not a Fuliju, but it would look nondescript if you flatter it. There is only kindness, lower your figure, and gather around Together, we will have some future."

"Niangyu is right." Zhi'er laughed quickly.

Concubine Ping said indifferently: "Who is kneeling outside?"

Zhi'er said: "If you go back to the empress, it is the empress Wangfei who came to greet you."

"Get up!" Concubine Ping casually said.

Zeng Chuyu was already sweating profusely, and said: "Chu Yu thanked the concubine mother." She was about to stand up, but she didn't stand up after several times. Concubine Ping sighed and said: "Qian'er, why don't you help the concubine?"

Zhi'er replied yes, and quickly walked over to help Zeng Chuyu up, and then lifted the curtain in front of Concubine Ping.

Concubine Ping glanced up and down at Zeng Chuyu and said, "Yu'er, how long have you been here?"

Zeng Chuyu said: "It will take less than three months to return to mother and concubine."

Concubine Ping took out a green calyx plum and said, "Less than three months... Do you know how many years I waited before seeing the emperor for the first time?"

Zeng Chuyu said in a low voice, "Chu Yu doesn't know."

Concubine Ping smiled slightly, and said: "Six years. Yu'er, people must know how to cherish blessings in order to be blessed, understand?"

Zeng Chuyu suddenly knelt down again, and said, "Chu Yu has been regretting all day long for doing such a wrong thing, and asked the concubine mother to punish the child severely, so that the child can feel better."

Concubine Ping sighed, and said: "Forget it, it's all my own child, don't I feel bad for punishing you? Zhier, go and help your mother up."

Concubine Ping then persuaded Zeng Chuyu with soft words, and finally gave Zeng Chuyu two more Buddhist scriptures, asking her to read and study well, and to cultivate her character.

Zeng Chuyu bowed her head meekly, and Concubine Ping helped her forehead, and said: "I'm a little tired today, so I won't let you eat, you go back first."

Zeng Chuyu knelt and bid farewell to Concubine Ping as if she had been pardoned, but she was stopped by Concubine Ping after she had just walked a few steps. Send Mei to Chu Yu."

Zeng Chuyu took a vase that looked like an earthen jar, and said gratefully: "Chu Yu thank you, mother and concubine, for the reward."

Concubine Ping said with satisfaction: "Go."

Qingxiang had already waited outside the palace until he was very anxious. When he saw Zeng Chuyu coming out with a crock of green calyx plums in a stiff posture, he quickly took it and said, "Your Majesty, are you alright?"

Zeng Chuyu's body softened involuntarily, and Qing Xiang hurriedly supported her, but seeing Zeng Chuyu's eyes were full of anger, she gritted her teeth and said, "Let's go."

The two of them came at noon, but they came back when the lamps were lighted.The open Zhumen opened its mouth like a ferocious beast in the dark night. Looking from the beast's mouth, there are one door after another, one within another, life seems endless.The silk paper lanterns in the hands of the eunuch leading the way swayed and spilled light. In the dark night and the silent palace, there was a strangeness, like a living creature suddenly appearing on a lifeless ink painting.

There was a lot of rain in early spring, and there was light rain in the sky again. After Zeng Chuyu left the palace gate, she kept walking in the rainy field. Even though Qingxiang's lips were worn out, she refused to get into the sedan chair.Being drenched in the rain like this, coupled with his upset heart, Zeng Chuyu developed a high fever in the middle of the night.She was full of nonsense, so frightened Qingxiang that she went to report it overnight, but it seemed that Chu Yin stepped up his guard after the last time, and the guards heard that the concubine wanted to see the prince, so they refused to allow it.Qingxiang begged repeatedly, and the captain of the guard hesitated and said: "Then let Doctor Shi go and see it first."

The doctors and historians of the palace rushed over immediately, but after the decoction went down, Zeng Chuyu still had a high fever, his eyes were wide open, as if he was dying, Qingxiang was so frightened that he was out of his wits, and he said repeatedly: "My aunt, you don't want to die. Put out the fire. Tell me what you want to do, as long as I, Qingxiang, can do it, I will do it."

Zeng Chuyu's eyeballs moved a little, and said, "I want to see Yuan Xizheng."

Qingxiang said: "Okay, okay, tomorrow morning, I will go to find Master Ziqing."

Zeng Chuyu seemed to let out a sigh of relief. Although the fever did not subside, he recovered a lot.

At dawn, even though it was still drizzling outside, Qingxiang ordered a little girl to take good care of Zeng Chuyu, while he hurriedly asked the palace for a carriage to go back to the original village, only saying that Zeng Chuyu missed his family and wanted to send a message to them.

As soon as Qingxiang returned to his original village, he naturally went straight to Yuanxi to fight for his family.

Seeing Qing Xiang, Lu Zhu let out a ouch, and said: "This is not the princess's first personal maid, why did she come to our house, no wonder the sparrows on the roof kept screaming today."

Qingxiang laughed together and said, "Is Master Ziqing here?"

Lu Zhu was just joking, and said: "The young master was invited by a friend to go to the capital for a banquet. I don't know when he will return."

Qingxiang quickly asked again: "Then can you tell which family it is?"

Lu Zhu shook his head and said, "Young master's friend, how can I know?"

Qing Xiang was so anxious that he stomped his feet repeatedly, and Lu Zhu couldn't help feeling suspicious, and said: "Qing Xiang, it's not that something happened to Ms. Chu Yu, right?"

Qingxiang faltered and was about to say something, but someone said: "It's Qingxiang!"

She turned around and saw that it was the old lady Yuan, who quickly smiled and said, "Old lady, I'm here to find Ziqing."

The original old lady had no expression on her face, she just turned her face to Lu Zhu and said: "Lu Zhu, go to our field and pull some radishes up, I want to pickle some dried radishes."

Naturally, Green Bamboo didn't dare to be negligent, and went out with a basket and an umbrella in response.

The original mother said to Qingxiang: "Come in with me."

Qing Xiang swallowed, followed Yuan's mother into the living room, and Yuan's mother sat down on the chair in the middle, and said, "Tell me, what's the matter?"

Qingxiang said: "The concubine is having a very bad time in the palace. She is suffering from a high fever. I want Master Ziqing to visit her."

The original mother sighed slightly after hearing this, and said: "Qingxiang, Chu Yu and Ziqing have been close since childhood. But now one is a girl who has left the court, and the other is still an unmarried young man. There is a difference between men and women. The so-called obeying the father at home, Married from her husband, she is facing great difficulties now, the first thing she should think of is her husband, and she should not worry about another single man."

Just as Qingxiang was about to speak, the original mother interrupted her and said: "Qingxiang, think about where the palace is, and who is the imperial concubine? If you let them know, you can arrange for the princess to meet an old concubine. Man, where will they leave you?"

A spring thunder just exploded outside, Qingxiang was so frightened that his face paled, and the original mother sighed: "Chu Yu's discomfort is only short-lived, how could her husband's family hold her in the palm of her hand like she did in her natal family, and always think about it?" Just keep it up and stick to everything. When her temper wears off, her heart will settle down."

Qingxiang thought over and over again, and said, "Old Madam Yuan, this... How can I report this when I go back?"

The original mother picked up a piece of clothing in the basket next to it. It was a linen blouse with a rather novel style. She picked up a needle and twisted the clothes, and said slowly: "Go back and tell your mother, Ziqing told her: Once you enter the Hou family, it is as deep as the sea, and from then on Xiao Lang is a passerby."

Qingxiang thought about it, although it was not good to lie to Zeng Chuyu, but it was a hundred times better than taking the blame himself.

She hesitated again and again, and sighed: "Then I will talk to the old lady." She opened the umbrella, stepped out of the threshold, and once again sighed that she was really pecked by an eagle this time, and she actually thought that following Zeng Chuyu could enjoy glory Wealth, now it seems that even the little life must be carefully protected.

As soon as she stepped out of the gate, she saw Yuan Wanru walking in in a tight-fitting riding outfit, dressed in neither man nor woman, she just raised her hand to say hello, Yuan Wanru had already brushed past her and entered. I didn't see her in person.

"Aunt Yuan, I'm here to help you try on the clothes. Have you finished the clothes for Sister Nalan?"

The original mother smiled and said: "Miss Wanru is here, the clothes are not ready yet..."

Yuan Wanru never pretended to talk to Qing Xiang, even so, her arrogance still made Qing Xiang sneer.

She rode back in the carriage all the way, and the more she thought about it, the more useless she became, thinking that if Zeng Chuyu became a princess who lived in the cold palace for a long time, she, a dowry girl, might never have a bright future.The more Qing Xiang thought about it, the more upset he became, he lifted the curtain with his hand, but accidentally saw Yuan Xizheng sitting in a roadside restaurant drinking with others.

Yuan Xizheng was wearing a white cloth robe, her long hair was tied up by a veil of the same color, she was holding her chin to watch the person in front of her play tricks and laughing, occasionally smiling, she was extremely handsome and free and easy.Qingxiang's heart couldn't help but move, as long as she got out of the car, she could tell Yuan Xizheng about Zeng Chuyu's current situation, but she hesitated for a while and didn't get out of the car.

She covered her chest, thinking to herself that people like Yuan Xizheng, it's no wonder Zeng Chuyu couldn't let go, if Yuan Xizheng was told, I really don't know what will happen in the end.She made up her mind, so she went straight back to the palace.

Seeing her coming back, Zeng Chuyu couldn't wait, grabbed her hand and said, "Where's Ziqing?"

Qingxiang calmed down her heartbeat and sighed.

Zeng Chuyu's expression changed, and he asked again, "Where's Ziqing?"

Qingxiang said faintly: "Madam, don't send me to find Master Ziqing again from now on."

"What do you mean by that?" Zeng Chuyu asked with a sudden change of expression.

Qingxiang turned his eyes away, Zeng Chuyu pinched her arm, and said, "Tell me, what do you mean?"

Qingxiang was in pain, and said: "Madam, okay, let me tell you, Master Ziqing said that Madam has already left the cabinet, and it is inappropriate for us to meet again... He also said that once entering the Houmen, it is as deep as the sea, and from then on Xiao Lang is a passerby..."

Zeng Chuyu seemed to be silent, Qingxiang thought for a while and added: "And I think he is quite busy, Miss Wanru is now in and out of his house all day..."

Qingxiang doesn't like Yuan Wanru, so he can't help but make one more enemy for her when he speaks.

Who would have thought that it would be all right if she didn't say that, but Zeng Chuyu actually laughed lightly, making Qingxiang's hair stand on end.Fortunately, Zeng Chuyu didn't do anything too outrageous next time. She had a high fever for two days in a row. Sometimes Qingxiang saw her struggling in pain and felt that she might as well die like this, and she would be clean.Unexpectedly, Zeng Chuyu gradually recovered from the burn for two days, but this illness really hurt her vitality, making her look weaker and weaker.

Chu Yin visited her twice, and both times were when Zeng Chuyu was asleep.But when Zeng Chuyu recovered from his illness, Chu Yin seemed to be less likely to come back.Zeng Chuyu also seemed to know that Chu Yin was upset about the affairs in the court, Qingxiang now went out to inquire about various gossips every day and came back to tell her, counting it as a pastime.From these rumors, Zeng Chuyu finally knew that Chu Hao had already regarded Chu Yin as a strong competitor to attack.

Perhaps it was because Chu Yin's marriage was too ostentatious, and Emperor Chang's imperial decree made people have too many guesses. After all, there is no prince's marriage that needs to be announced to the world, so that emissaries can hear about it.This made Chu Hao, who originally guessed that Emperor Chang had other candidates for the crown prince, even more affirmed that Emperor Chang intended to pass on the position of crown prince to Chu Yin.It is conceivable that with Chu Hao's power, Chu Yin suddenly became unable to move an inch, doing one errand and smashing another errand, which made Emperor Chang extremely annoyed.

Emperor Chang was weak and sick, and his temperament was mild. Now he actually reprimanded Chu Yin in front of all civil and military officials, and everyone knew about it.Yuan Xizheng has been drinking and chatting with Gu Chongen and some literati who don't have official positions in some small wine shops recently, so he naturally doesn't know.

"Old Gu, I heard that you have been going out of your way recently and want to become an official?" A literati said with a smile.

Yuan Xizheng turned her head and said with a smile, "Really? Are you asking for an official again?"

Gu Chongen sighed: "When I was an official, I only talked about being idle, but when I was free, I thought about being an official (Note 19)..."

Yuan Xizheng shook his head, and said with a smile: "Then you must not forget that Dr. Chu was chanting by the lakeside, the five generals' clothes were stained with blood, the heroes were killed by the banks of the Wujiang River, and the prime minister of Xianyang City was retired... (Note 20)"

Gu Chongen put the jug on the table fiercely, and said, "Ziqing, it's not that I'm talking about you, you just lack a little bit of my old Gu's vigor..."

Yuan Xizheng nodded again and again. The literati next to him suppressed a smile and said, "Old Gu, I don't believe you when you say you are hot-blooded. Why do you invite vegetarian wine for every meal? Could it be that once you meet this lady, you Do you want to vent all your blood?"

Gu Chongen sighed and said: "No...it's because old Gu has a lot of blood but little money..."

Yuan Xi contended with all the literati, but Gu Chongen poured himself a glass of wine leisurely, and said, "Everyone, it's not that old Gu didn't remind you, now everyone's chance to make a fortune has come."

When Gu Chongen saw that everyone had calmed down, he said, "I think the King of Liang was reprimanded, and everyone knows it!"

The literati all nodded, Gu Chongen said with a smile: "If you connect the cause and effect, this reprimand is very particular."

As soon as he opened his mouth, others laughed and said, "It's nothing more than dissatisfaction with King Liang, so what's the point?"

"You're wrong!" Gu Chongen pointed at the literati and said, "You know, just four months ago, this prince was announced to the world with great care by Emperor Chang that he married a wife, do you still remember the imperial decree... Only inherit the order of heaven, only cherish the eternal plan. Think about it, isn’t this imperial decree itself very problematic, let me ask who can inherit the order of heaven... the crown prince!"

The literati all showed shock, and said in a stuttering manner: "Old Gu, you are too arbitrary!"

Gu Chongen laughed a few times, and said: "If you only talk about the imperial decree, you can say that you are old Gu Wujuan, but if you think about it, even if King Li can't handle the errands well, he is the prince who has just been empowered by Emperor Chang to handle the errands. It's nothing, not to mention it's not too bad. Why did the emperor scold him in court?"

The literati still wanted to listen, but Yuan Xizheng had already shouted: "Enough is enough!" After saying a word, Yuan Xizheng waved his hand, and the two wine glasses fell down three people.Gu Chongen was taken aback, Yuan Xizheng had already got up, stood in front of the three people lying on the ground with a sneer, and said: "Go back and tell your master that he has sent someone to follow me for four months, and it should be enough. If you send someone over next time, don't blame me, Yuan Xizheng, for being merciless!"

Gu Chongen said: "Ziqing, this...who are these people, why do they follow you?!"

Yuan Xizheng turned around, smiled, and said, "It's okay, it's an old grievance...Old Gu, I don't know there is an allusion, have you heard of it?"

Gu Chongen showed curiosity, Yuan Xizheng chuckled in his ear and said, "Yang Xiu."

As soon as Yuan Xizheng's words fell, Gu Chongen was taken aback. Yuan Xizheng had already straightened his body, and said with a smile, "Everyone, I'll take a step first."

Yuan Xi struggled to leave, and the literati urged Gu Chongen to continue, but Gu Chongen faltered for a long time before saying, "I'm just kidding."

With a coaxing sound, the literati laughed at Gu Chongen, and scattered like birds and beasts.

Yuan Xizheng walked to an elegant house, knocked on the door, someone opened the door inside, and Cai Ji, who was winking like silk, smiled and said, "Why did Master Ziqing come back so early?"

Yuan Xizheng entered the room with a smile, and said, "It's early."

"Exactly. The wine in the restaurant is cold and dry, not suitable for you to drink, Master Ziqing. I have warmed another pot of wine for you." Cai Ji smiled and competed with Yuan Xi to go upstairs; she now She is already the number one dancer in the capital, and even a thousand dollars may not be able to invite her to dance, so naturally she bought a house long ago to live alone.And almost everyone who has unreasonable thoughts about her knows that only one man lives in Cai Ji's house.That is Yuan Xi Zheng.

Yuan Xizheng sat down by the window and said, "I plan to go back today."

Cai Ji paused and said, "So fast?"

Yuan Xi smiled and said, "It's been three or four months since I came out."

Cai Ji didn't say much, but slowly poured the wine into Yuan Xizheng's cup, and the tangy aroma of the wine rose in the air. Yuan Xizheng's eyes lit up, and said, "Good wine."

Cai Ji smiled and said, "It was also given by someone two days ago. I don't drink much anyway, so you should drink two more glasses."

Yuan Xizheng smiled and said, "I've already drank a lot today, and if I drink any more, I'm going to get drunk."

"Anyway, come back tomorrow. If you get drunk, you'll fall asleep at worst."

Yuan Xizheng picked up the wine glass with her slender fingers, sniffed it, and said: "That's right." After finishing speaking, he drank the wine in the glass, his eyes became brighter, and said: "It's so strong." .”

Cai Ji poured another glass for Yuan Xizheng, and said with a smile: "Exactly, I have never drunk such a strong wine, but it is really fragrant. I just tasted a glass, and the aroma is still in my mouth."

Yuan Xizheng smiled, picked up the glass and drank it, Cai Ji would fill it up with a smile as soon as Yuan Xizheng's glass was empty, but Yuan Xizheng drank very slowly except for the first glass.Cai Ji had been smiling while watching Yuan Xizheng drink. Yuan Xizheng slowly seemed to feel a little uncomfortable. She stroked her forehead and asked Cai Ji, "What kind of wine is this..."

Cai Ji smiled and filled Yuan Xizheng again, and said, "I don't know, it was given by a guest from the north."

Yuan Xizheng frowned, and said: "No wonder, the aftertaste of this drink is too strong."

"Why don't you go and rest for a while." Cai Ji smiled and came over to help Yuan Xizheng.

But Yuan Xizheng raised his hand to stop her, stood up and walked into the room specially prepared by Cai Ji, leaning on the wall.

At this moment, Yuan Xizheng felt dizzy and couldn't even stand still, so he had to sleep on the quilt.

Cai Ji came over with some hot water, and smiled through the door: "Master Ziqing, drink some hot tea, wash your face before going to sleep."

Yuan Xizheng heard her words in a daze, and wanted to answer, but was unable to speak.

Cai Ji didn't hear the answer, so she pushed the door quietly, and seeing that Yuan Xizheng had fallen asleep on the bed, she smiled and put down the hot water, picked up the candlestick and walked up to Yuan Xizheng, carefully looking at Yuan Xi from top to bottom In the end, she put her hand on Yuan Xizheng's waist, took off the belt, and said with a smile: "I want to see what happened to the man who can turn all living beings upside down, but still sit still all the time." Touch it."

Notes 19 and 20: From the same Yuan song "Quanshi", it refers to the fate of Qu Yuan, Wu Zixu, Xiang Yu, and Li Si respectively, which means that the officialdom is dangerous.