Shen Gong Ji

In the past, I often heard my father say that to be a man, you need to make friends widely, and maybe you can find people everywhere.At that time, I despised him for being too utilitarian and always thinking of taking advantage of others.Now I can be regarded as understanding what he meant.

I didn't expect that the matter that I had been worrying about for several days would be solved so easily.Duan Xihe helped me talk to the chief of the Imperial Guard, and the other party agreed straightforwardly, saying that he wanted me to meet those soldiers near the Nangong Gate during the shift change in Xushi.Those soldiers really had all retired from the battlefield. Even though they had worked in this peaceful palace for a year or two, they would still look terrified from the depths of their eyes when war was mentioned, saying that they were dead. Don't go to war again.

They described to me the scene of watching their friends in the army being pierced by several spears. After a meal, they don’t know if they have another meal, and no one knows if they can see the sun tomorrow. .It's very hard for me to understand the feeling of depression and despair, but looking at their tense appearance, I can also feel the cruelty and ruthlessness of war.

Since these people can entrust their connections to enter the palace, it means that they still had some status in the army.People with status are like this, how tragic is it for the soldiers at the bottom...

After chatting with those people for about an hour, I hurried back before dinner.I don't know what will happen if the palace attendant who is being served finds out that I am not in the courtyard.

I started working that night, drawing my impressions of those soldiers into the painting.I chose a half-side angle. A soldier holds half a piece of yellow dough in his hand, squinting his eyes and looking at the sky outside the frame. His face has rough vertical and horizontal wrinkles, and his lips are chapped. He has been marching outside all year round. Engraved wind and frost.The helmet on his head was already torn, and he was wearing it crookedly, and his hands were covered with dry lines.I want to show his numbness and exhaustion of desperation that he can't go back to his home and has no tomorrow, just like what I felt from those soldiers.

I painted this painting for four days, day and night, repeatedly processing every detail.Although I don't know if I have expressed all the feelings I want, but at least this is the work that I have spent the most effort on and the most satisfying so far.

It was late at night when it was completely finished, Qianyi had already dozed off beside me, and Wenfeng was still helping me cut the wick.I took two steps back to look at the painting, then flicked my brush, and waved to Feng Feng, "Look quickly, isn't it awesome?"

When Wenfeng heard this, his sleepy expression swept away, and a surprised expression appeared on his face, "Have you finished the painting?"

"Finally finished painting, grandpa is exhausted..." I stretched myself, and heard the joints on my body cracking.

Wen Feng ran over to look at my painting, more excited than I was, "Tairen! You are so amazing! This person is as alive as he is!"

Hearing him praise me like this is naturally very fulfilling, but for now, my biggest wish is to fall asleep, and it is best to sleep to death...

However, Qi Guo's envoys will arrive in Beijing tomorrow, and if there are no accidents, the Hongtu Banquet will be held in two days.There will be martial law in the palace tomorrow, and no one is allowed to leave the house.I have to get someone to hand over the painting to Xiao Guan tonight.

Xiaoguan has already greeted Cai Xi for me.It is said that during the gift offering section of the Grand Plan Banquet, I had the opportunity to personally present a gift.But since the gift had to be handed over to the Department of Internal Affairs in advance, Xiaoguan had to help me bring the painting in.

I kicked Qianyi up and asked him to bring a few palace attendants to carry the painting to the Koi Pavilion.Qian Yi patted his chest and said to reassure me, and then carefully shipped the painting out.I waited for a while, and when Qianyi came back and said that Guan Meiren had picked up the painting in person, I was relieved.

After a simple wash, I fell headfirst on the bed.The feeling of exhaustion was overwhelming, but I couldn't sleep for no reason.

The bamboo shadows are reflected between the panes on the second floor, and the moonlight is cold, flowing like a lingering stream.I seemed to hear the sobbing singing again, but I couldn't hear it clearly. I was in a trance as if I was dreaming, and I seemed to be still awake.

The little emperor has so many harems, which one does he love?Why is Hong Zhuo so jealous?Why do you die when you cross the road?

Did he love both of them?

Or are those people like me, brought back by him on a whim?

The Hongtu Banquet is scheduled for You hour. Before the banquet starts, all the ministers must first gather in front of the Guanfang Hall, where they usually face the Holy House, and wait for the officials of the Ministry of Rites to guide them into Fengwei Road.The nobles and vassal kings were directly introduced into Zihuan Garden from Yongyu Road on the side of Guanfang Hall by another official of the host and guest department.The banquet will be held in the Luming Hall, which is closest to the Lanzheng Hall in the south of Zihuan Garden, and the ministers and nobles will enter one by one and sit according to the arranged seats.This process seems simple, but it actually takes nearly an hour to settle everything.

After the officials and noble relatives are all settled down, we, the family members of the harem, can set off.

Today I was pulled up by Qian Yi early in the morning, he and Wen Feng rushed to boil hot water for me, and cleaned me inside and out.Qian Yi has been thinking about what clothes to wear and how to dress up for me since several days ago. I don't know what kind of dress can attract the little emperor's attention, so I simply entrusted him with this difficult task.After taking a bath, Wenfeng put on a white silk bathrobe for me, and then Qianyi mysteriously took out the clothes I wanted to wear from behind the screen.

There are three pieces of clothes, the innermost one is a single dress, the middle is a straight lake green silk train, the precise stitches are embroidered with dark patterns of twining lotus flowers, and it is matched with a moon white belt with a turquoise inlaid on it, Inlaid with a ring of tiny pearls.And the outermost gauze shirt with large sleeves is really exquisite. It is cut from the best peacock blue brocade. The cuffs and the open fronts are all peacock feathers. When you look carefully, you find that it is actually a real peacock feather. , I don’t know what method to use to edit it in a little bit.The long back hem is embroidered with a whole peacock, which looks like it is soaring. The slender feathers are still woven with real feathers, and gold and silver threads are also woven into it, which looks radiant and gorgeous.

But... why is it a peacock... isn't it better for a bird like an eagle or a mountain eagle?

I looked at Qianyi with the corners of my mouth twitching, "This...is too exaggerated..."

Qianyi told me seriously, "You don't know, the masters of the other palace are dressed more exaggeratedly than you. I just found something plain because you don't like those things."

Damn... can this be considered pure?Are the rest of them dressed as turkeys?

Qianyi and Wenfeng put the clothes on me, and put some rings on my waist. During this time, the former kept talking about today being a big day, and they had to be well-dressed.

Cooperating with me, I usually don't look like this...

Afterwards, I was held in front of the bronze mirror to comb my hair and wear a hair accessory. Qianyi also wanted to paint my face, but I sternly refused...

After dressing up, they brought rose tea or something, saying they wanted to cleanse my mouth, and they took the incense and circled around me several times, choking me so much that I almost fainted.Even lunch is not allowed to eat too much, for fear of staining the clothes.

Then stay there all afternoon.

Xiaoguan has already sent someone to deliver the letter, saying that after the first round of dance and music performances, it will be a ceremony for both parties to pay tribute to each other.After the little emperor gave the gift, the officials of the Yan Kingdom gathered to give the gift, and the nobles also gave the gift one by one, followed by several concubines.And I was queued behind a beautiful woman who was said to be performing a song and dance.

Finally, a palace attendant came to announce the person.My palms were a little sweaty, and I was a little nervous.

In fact, there is nothing to worry about. I just need to go out with the painting and say a few words of congratulations to the prince who prayed.I have already memorized the congratulatory words fluently, so there will be no problems.

I just don't know...whether it can achieve the expected effect of seducing the little emperor...

No... It seems that you must first seduce Prince Qi, and then indirectly seduce the little emperor...

Damn... how can I use the word seduce with such peace of mind now? ?

All Jieyu, beauties, and talented people entered the line one by one in order, and followed the leading servant of the Ministry of Internal Affairs out of Tongque Gate, and walked along Fengwei Road towards the side gate of Zihuan Garden.Sure enough, everyone is so fancy today, I was almost dazzled when I went out...

In a sea of ​​bright purples and reds, I found Xiaoguan very easily, and I was amazed for a while.

Usually he was always dressed plainly, but today he was wearing a snow-white long-sleeved blouse with long smoke. His black hair was hanging down his back, his eyes were picturesque, and his skin was as white as snow.When he saw me, he gave me a slight smile, and Nima smiled so unearthly, isn't it! ! !

I didn't even know he was a male version of Little Dragon Girl...

And the other one that surprised me a little was Hong Zhuo. He was wearing a red shirt today, and his black hair was tied high, which was very eye-catching like a raging fire.But his expression is still so murderous...

Everyone is so handsome and good-looking... It's really hard not to feel inferior...

Luming Hall is an exceptionally magnificent double-storey palace, high above more than 50 steps of white marble stairs.The walls are painted with murals full of heaven and man scattered flowers, and the doors and windows are carved with extremely complicated pictures of immortals drinking at night. Twelve tall vermilion lacquer columns support a thick bucket arch with flying golden eaves on it, and auspicious beasts line up in long rows. A row, looking at the distant sky.At the beginning of twilight, the sky is like a cloud of rouge that has just fainted, burning brilliantly on the golden dome, outlining the whole palace with a layer of misty colorful light, like a fairy pavilion flying down from the clouds.Elegant palace servants stand along the two sides of the stairs, and in the middle is the royal road with nine phoenixes soaring in the sky, leading to the gate opened at the top.

We entered the hall in two teams.I saw more than a dozen huge pillars lined up on both sides, coiled with phoenix feathers, leading to the frontmost high platform.On the stage stands a unicorn screen carved from a large piece of jadeite, and in front of the screen is the emerald throne of the little emperor.There is a seat on each side of the imperial seat, probably for the empress and the emperor's father.Then there are two seats on the high platform slightly lower than the emperor's seat on both sides, which should be seats for the four princes.In addition, all the officials and nobles who have been seated are gradually sitting in the seats in front of the pillars on both sides of the hall, and each seat is served by a palace attendant.At this time, melodious and peaceful ceremonies and music filled the air. The banquet had not yet started, and the ministers were still talking in whispers.

We entered the arena from behind the huge pillars on both sides, and walked to the seat closest to the royal family at the front of the hall.The person sitting with me was an unknown talent, so I couldn't say anything, so I had to look around to see the officials over there.

This is the first time since I entered the palace, I saw people other than palace attendants and concubines...

Suddenly, I saw a familiar face among the seats not too far away. Wasn't that the general named Du Leng who captured me from the Wuxie clan before?Du Ruo's brother?

He is wearing silver armor today, and he still looks so heroic, standing out among a group of ministers.

After waiting for a while, the nine guests and hosts also entered the table one by one.I noticed that these nine are not all handsome in a mess, but they do have their own tastes, and they all have a bit of elegant and noble temperament in their gestures.

"My lord, my lord, my lord, here—" With a loud shout, I obviously felt that the whole hall became quieter.

Except for the emperor and Huang Yafu, the three most influential people in the palace walked slowly from outside the palace, like the only protagonist in a grotesque background.Walking in the front is the noble son Ouyang Qi I have seen. He is wearing a golden dragon pattern large-sleeved gauze shirt, and the exquisite and gorgeous hair accessories on his head make him look more and more resplendent, as if he was drawn out of a painting. Like a fairy.Walking half a step to the right behind him is a man who is about 21 or [-] years old. He has a very handsome face, but there is a bit of melancholy in the corners of his eyebrows and eyes. He is wearing a navy blue gauze shirt, and his black hair is slightly raised. I guess this is the son of virtue, Zhao Fei.

As for the person who walked half a step to the left of Ouyang Qi, I stared blankly for a long time, and the only adjective I could think of was the four words "Qing Guo Qing Cheng".

I always thought that the adjectives used to describe beauties in the book were exaggerations. I didn’t realize that people can really look beyond the boundaries of gender until I saw this person today...

He was wearing a silver-red gauze shirt, embroidered with two dancing cranes. The glowing red and white formed a perfect contrast, taking advantage of his stunning face.He just walked quietly like that, with a casual smile on the corner of his mouth, which made everyone hold their breath and forget to blink.

Damn... this is the legendary Mr. Hui Lian Moshang?This is too well-deserved!

No wonder everyone said that he was the only one who could fight against your son, because his beauty alone was enough to bring disaster to the country and the people...

I was still so shocked that I didn't come back to my senses, and I heard the palace attendant say loudly, "Father Huang Ya, and the queen is here—"

As soon as these words came out, everyone immediately woke up from Mr. Hui's demeanor, stood up and bowed their heads in a hurry, and greeted the person who really held the power of this country.

At this time, many people poured out from the apse behind the throne, all of them were palace servants holding palace lanterns and incense sticks.Surrounded by the crowd, I saw an old man about 60 years old in Chinese clothes slowly ascending the imperial platform.She has silver hair like snow, wears an exquisite hat, and a Chinese dress embroidered with gold on a black background, looking radiant.However, when he turned around and glanced slightly at the audience, I suddenly felt a heavy pressure descending on my head, and I lowered my eyes involuntarily, not daring to meet his gaze, and my knees were a little bit Soft.

I don't know what's going on...how come when I saw his eyes, I felt a panic seeping from the depths of my heart, and I didn't even dare to breathe out for a while...

What kind of courage is this...

Immediately, the atmosphere in the entire Luming Hall was different.The gentle atmosphere just now was swept away, replaced by a solemn depression, and the air was filled with a sense of caution.

Then, everyone bowed and kowtowed together, and said loudly, "All blessings to the emperor's father! All blessings to the queen!"

Only then did I notice the man who was already seated in the side seat on the other side of the imperial seat.He was also dressed in gold, with a handsome appearance. He seemed to be only eighteen or nineteen years old, and his eyebrows were still a little immature, about the same age as the little emperor.Although he was covered with silk and satin, it seemed to be forced on him.

That's the little emperor's queen, right?The former prince of Qi Kingdom?

So, the envoy who is coming today is his brother or something?

Just as he was guessing, he heard the name of the person reported by the palace attendant again, "Envoy of the State of Qi, Prince Zhu Ran, to—"