Chang'an ancient meaning

After Li Longji and Wang Ju went down the mountain, Li Longji and Gao Lishi went first, while Wang Ju lingered in the garden.They returned to the waterside pavilion by the Furong Pool, and saw that the wine and food in front of the emperor were all ruined, and brothers Li Chengqi and Xue Chongjian were sitting around the emperor, creating a scene of joy and harmony.Qi Wang Li Fan raised his head and smiled and said, "Where did the third brother go? Daddy sent people to look for you everywhere." Li Chengqi gave up a seat and let Li Longji sit closest to the emperor.

Li Longji smiled and said: "I don't know why, I was a little dizzy just now, and I went to rest by the water for a while. The son should die, which made Dad worry." The emperor stared at Li Longji's face for a moment, and then Li Longji realized that the emperor's eyes Slightly swollen, as if she had cried, secretly startled.The emperor had a gentle expression on his face, and asked with concern: "Is it better now?" Li Longji said: "It's okay, I ask you to punish yourself with three cups." Holding two huge peach-red peonies with twin pedicles in his hand, he said with a smile: "Brother and Hua Nu spent countless efforts to make it, and you just ruined it like this." Li Fan laughed and said: "This was originally a gift from my father, and my cousin Hua Nu broke it with his own hands. Send me, you don't have to feel wronged for them."

Li Ye said with a smile: "Fourth Brother has a happy event today!" Li Longji smiled and said: "What happy event?" Come here together, taking advantage of daddy's pleasure, and asked for the title of Ruren! Eldest brother planted a few peonies with double stalks, and daddy rewarded them with a pair." Li Longji said with a smile: "If so, I should toast Shiro a cup."

Just as he was talking, a woman in a costume covered her face with a fan, and a servant dragged her long skirt and hung her head. Li Ye clapped his hands and said with a smile: "My little sister-in-law is here, and the fourth brother should write fan poetry." Li Fan thought so After being fed too much by them, he hiccupped, stood up staggeringly, and said with sleepy drunken eyes: "That trick doesn't work, look at me—" He salivated and smiled, "Sister, my hands It's cold, keep me warm." While reaching into the woman's arms, the woman let out a low exclamation, quickly covered her face with her hands, and then revealed her face, Li Ye and others laughed in unison, but Li Longji I was stunned.This woman is not a face-to-face person, she was Jinse, the handmaid given to Li Fan by Princess Taiping when they were confined together in Luoyang Forbidden Garden.

Jinse is one year older than Li Fan, and her appearance is not superior, but she is a bit charming under her costume today.Li Fan held on to her hand and stared at her for a long time, without a trace of playfulness in his eyes, he divided the peony with double pedicles into two, one was pinned on the jinse high bun, and the other was pinned to his head.

While the two of them were alone, Li Longji asked Li Chengqi in a low voice, "What's wrong with Dad?" Li Chengqi said, "Just now when Shiro talked about the past, he had frostbite on his hands and feet when he was young, and there was no fire in the forbidden garden in winter. This is the woman." Warm him with your heart. Daddy touches his heart, and he doesn't feel weeping." Li Ye also came up and smiled and said: "Isn't that Yuan Yuan also very good with you, why don't you hurry up and ask Daddy for a seal?" Li Longji was As soon as he mentioned it, he suddenly remembered that when he met him for the first time a few years ago, the woman was nervously hugging a quilt, with her slender waist tilted, silent and tranquil like a shadow facing the water.There was a sharp pain in his heart, but he smiled and twisted Li Ye's ear, and said with a smile, "Don't mind your own business!"

Li Fan took Jinse to pay homage to his father and several elder brothers in turn, and came to Xue Chongjian again, and said with a smile: "She is from your family, you will act as your mother's family once today, and you will also have a glass of wine with me." Xue Chongjian met Just now Li Fan looked at Jinse's expression, it was not like in the past when he was teasing with ordinary prostitutes, he was also secretly surprised, he was so happy that he was beautiful as an adult, he said with a smile: "If you don't mind, I will recognize her as a girl, and you prepare a gift for the car Me." Li Fan tilted his head to look at Xue Chongjian and said with a smile, "Are you serious?" Xue Chongjian said with a smile, "Do I dare to lie to you in front of my uncle?"

What Li Fan is most worried about is that his concubine Wei comes from a famous family and has a jealous temperament. Jinse comes from Yeting, and she will be wronged if she is a concubine or a maidservant. That's why he waited until today to find an emperor. At this time, he asked the emperor for a title.If Jinse had worshiped Princess Taiping as her adoptive mother, her status would be a hundred times more precious than that of a child, and he suddenly raised his clothes and knelt down in front of Xue Chongjian, and said with a smile, "You accept my worship on behalf of my aunt." Jinse also knelt down in a hurry, choking Kowtowing and saying: "The princess and the lord's great kindness, slaves and maids are hard to protect." Xue Chongjian helped them up with a smile and said: "From now on, you will be a child, so don't be a slave."

Li Longji said with a smile: "Since Hua Nu recognizes my sister, today is the day when the emperor marries a wife, and the princess marries a daughter. You shouldn't be so hasty. If you wait a few more days, when your aunt comes back, the third brother will personally organize a lively event for you." .”

Before he finished speaking, even though Li Fan was drunk, he couldn't help asking in surprise: "Auntie is coming back?" Emperor Li Chengqi and Xue Chongjian couldn't help looking up at Li Longji, Li Longji turned to face the emperor and knelt up, saying seriously: " My aunt has been away from Beijing for more than two months, and I still miss her all the time, not to mention the blood relatives of King Lijie. Your Majesty only has this sister, and the ministers and others only have this aunt, so you should not leave her home far away. Your Majesty, I beg your aunt to return to Beijing." He He said and kowtowed.

The emperor hesitated for a moment, looked at Li Longji hesitantly and said: "Sanlang..." Li Longji said in a low voice: "There are many rumors outside that because of this minister, your Majesty's brothers and sisters are far apart, and I dare not bear the responsibility of being unfilial." I hope my father will take pity on me." Li Chengyi said with a smile: "It would be great if Sanlang said a few days earlier, and seeing the flowers today will mean that our family is reunited."

The emperor sighed and leaned forward to help Li Longji up.Li Longji felt his father's gentle hands holding him, those hands were slightly wet and greasy, and a few wrinkles appeared on the back of his hands.This was something he hadn't experienced for a long time, but he only felt pity in his heart, without any emotion.The emperor smiled and said to Xue Chongjian: "Huanu, you should thank Sanlang."

Although Xue Chongjian and Li Longji have become even more discordant since he was blamed last time, Li Longji took the lead in asking to recall his mother today, which was beyond his expectation. He just turned to Li Longji and knelt down, and said in his mouth: "Thank you, Your Royal Highness... ..." Li Longji hastened to support him, preventing him from bowing down and said: "Huanu is like this, which makes me have no place to stand." He smiled again: "I have a ridiculous idea, and it was recruited by Jinshi from outside. Pingkang's prostitutes haven't left yet, today there is Shiro's happy event, why not make an exception and ask them to come in for a song and dance. I'm used to listening to the peaceful tone of Si Zhongzheng in Jiaofang, so I want to change my ears today, I don't know if Daddy thinks it's okay?" Emperor He laughed and said: "I originally said that today I came to be a spectator, and they invited the person, so it doesn't matter if we just take advantage of it."

The servants hurriedly went to the outside to summon the dancing prostitutes, and spread out various musical instruments in the waterside pavilion. Li Longji kissed a tall and beautiful dancing prostitute to end the stage. In the end, a singing and dancing hall was set up under the flower trees outside the waterside pavilion.Li Chengqi played the flute, Li Shouli played the chime, Li Longji played the Jiegu, Li Chengyi played the tambourine, Jinse played the pipa, Li Ye played the zither, Xue Chongjian changed clothes, and danced with the woman.All of a sudden, silk and bamboo were playing leisurely, drums were beating, qin strings were clanging, maikos and the golden bells worn by Xue Chongjian's brothers and feet rang together, and the sleeves and long skirts were flying, rolling up thousands of peach blossoms and falling red into hail, falling in a mighty way On everyone's headdresses and clothes.

The emperor held on to the wine glass, and looked at the bustling song and dance with a smile on his face, the simple and honest smile on Li Chengyi's face, the quiet smile on Li Longji's face, the childish smile on Li Ye's face, Li Fan and Jinse's There was a consonant smile between glances, and when Li Chengqi looked at Xue Chongjian's figure wearing flowers and butterflies, the intoxicated smile floated on his face.These sincere smiles are youthful and gorgeous to the extreme, making him envious and fearful, as if the heart of the sky is full and the branches are full of flowers. He doesn't know how to face the emptiness and live after the singing and dancing are over.

His grandfather, father, and mother all created the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty, but in his heart, when he thinks of the word prosperity, it is hazy. Under such a prosperous and prosperous age, there are bleak tears, thick blood, and sad parting. Constant dilapidation, inaudible curses.Only today, facing this group of young people who are singing and dancing, facing these contented children, thinking about the return of the person he cares about, his heart is filled with joy and anticipation.Li Dan is convinced that he has seen his own prosperous world of completeness and reunion.

A few days later, Princess Taiping returned to Chang'an from Puzhou at the invitation of the crown prince, and the emperor issued an order to recruit her personally.The emperor sent the crown prince, Li Chengqi, Li Chengyi, and Xue Chongjian to the Chunming Gate to meet him personally, while he himself waited in the Taiji Palace.In the afternoon, Xue Chongjian and Li Chengqi finally saw the people coming from afar. The emperor specially transferred Xiao Zhizhong from Puzhou to the lower province because of Princess Taiping's recommendation. This time, he personally escorted Princess Taiping to Beijing. The servants and guards held umbrellas, fans, etc., and on both sides were Habayashi sent by the emperor, dressed in armor, standing on high horses, walking majestically with swords and spears.In the middle are dozens of people carrying a chariot covered with brocade, and Princess Taiping sits on the chariot.Standing on the city, Li Longji and others could only see Taiping's bright red dress shining brightly in the late spring noon sun. come.

Xue Chongjian couldn't hold back for a long time, before his mother's carriage and horses came to the city, he rushed down first, stepped on a horse and ran towards his mother.Li Longji watched Taiping pull Xue Chongjian onto the chariot from a distance, took his son into his arms and caressed him, as if expressing his feelings of parting, he smiled to Li Chengqi and Li Chengyi, "Let's go down too." The three left for the city, Li Chengqi and Li Chengyi Then he stood beside Li Longji and waited for the chariot to arrive. Xiao Zhizhong and others hurriedly dismounted and kowtowed to Li Longji and the kings.Princess Taiping still sat on the chariot in a dignified manner. Li Longji strode forward and held the head of the chariot, looking up at Princess Taiping.She was over forty at that time, and the makeup she used was even more gorgeous. What was even more amazing was the golden jade crown on her head that was more than two feet high. The Luanfeng article reminded Li Longji of the golden body that Emperor Zetian made for himself that day.

Li Longji had heard about the jade-leaf crown that Cui Shi gave to Taiping, but it was the first time he saw Taiping wearing it, his eyes turned on the crown, then fell back to Taiping, and said with a smile: "Wanfu, aunt. I haven't seen my aunt for several months, and the glory is better than when I left." Taiping said with a smile: "My aunt is old, how can she compare with Sanlang's dragon and phoenix, the appearance of the sun." She stood up, smiled at Xue Chongjian: "Help me down, see you Your Royal Highness." Li Longji hurriedly said: "Your Majesty has been waiting in the Tai Chi Palace since morning, and has never even eaten lunch, so I ask my aunt to enter the city as soon as possible to comfort the sacred heart." He stood up again Going further, he said with a low laugh: "My nephew, Xi Yan, please ride with my aunt. I don't know if my aunt will give me this seat?"

Taiping smiled and said: "The crown prince condescends to go on the chariot, and he bestows on me the favor of heaven. How dare you disobey it." Li Longji smiled and boarded the chariot, and sat on the other side of Taiping. Li Chengqi and Li Chengyi also got on their horses, Walking at the head of the convoy, Weiyi Didi walked into the city.

Taiping just shed two tears when he hugged his son at the beginning, but when he entered the city, he didn't look sideways and didn't say a word, with a faint smile on his mouth, accepting the respect of the people along the way.Li Longji looked sideways at his aunt's side face. Taiping's pair of phoenix eyes were originally raised slightly, but with the crescent eyebrows painted by Luo Zidai, the sharpness was enhanced. It makes people feel awe when they see it.Li Longji closed his eyes slightly. He couldn't remember his aunt's face when he was young. The face next to him gradually merged with the face of Empress Zetian when he ascended the throne in his memory, overlapping each other without any difference.He couldn't help but quietly hold the hand hidden in the wide sleeve of the court uniform.

When the chariot reached the Taiji Palace, Li Chengqi and Li Chengyi could not get off the horse. The emperor sent a servant to pass the message that Princess Taiping did not need to get off the chariot, and the chariot was carried all the way to the Wude Hall.Sure enough, she saw the emperor standing outside the palace with her hands behind her back, as if she had been watching for a long time, the reserved look on the plane was immediately replaced by sorrow, she cried out in pain: "Fourth brother!" After stopping, Xue Chongjian and Li Longji hurriedly helped her get off the chariot, and Taiping ran towards the emperor with a nine-torn skirt, and the emperor also ran down all the way regardless of his status.The two met at the foot of the steps, Taiping bowed at the emperor's feet, wept bitterly, the emperor couldn't help crying, bent down to help Taiping up, and comforted her in a low voice while patting her back: "Okay, okay, I won't do it again." Let you leave the capital." Taiping cried: "When I arrived in Puzhou, I didn't know what it's like to be separated from one another. Your Majesty, the only person Ah Yue can rely on in this world is the fourth brother." The emperor used his clothes Sleeve wiped away her tears, but said in a low voice: "Fourth brother knows, it is fourth brother who has wronged you."

Taiping cried for a while, and then entered the palace with the emperor holding hands. The emperor looked back, but he did not see Wu Youji, and said, "Where is King Ding?" Taiping said, "When he arrived in Puzhou, he fell ill and couldn't get up , I ordered someone to send him back to his residence." The emperor was taken aback and said, "Why didn't you say it earlier?" Taiping said sadly, "Telling the fourth brother is just to see a doctor and take medicine, and the courtiers should say, I am For this reason, I love the capital.” The emperor felt pain and shame in his heart, and he held Taiping’s hand tightly and said, “Chang’an was originally your homeland.” The emperor ordered his servants to pass on the decree, and sent the imperial physician to Princess Taiping’s mansion, Fang and Princess Taiping Enter the temple together.

After entering the table, Xue Chongjian sat on both sides of Princess Taiping. Princess Taiping raised her hand and gently rubbed her son's neck, and said with a light smile, "Huanu, I don't look at you. Have you ever caused trouble to make His Majesty and the Prince angry?" To toast Taiping, he just took a step while holding the golden cup, but he couldn't help standing still.The emperor smiled a little ashamedly and said: "Huanu is very good." Taiping glanced at Li Longji intentionally or unintentionally, and said with a smile: "This child has been naughty since he was a child, and he may not be safe in the past few months. Thanks to the fourth brother and the prince for taking care of him." "The emperor smiled awkwardly and said: "I have always regarded him as my own son. You say this, because you have a relationship with me." Taiping smiled and said nothing, Li Longji was slightly relieved, and went forward to hold the wine glass , Taoist aunt Wanfu.

The emperor and Princess Taiping had only been separated for two months, but they seemed to have a thousand words to say. The palace banquet lasted from the hour of Chen to the end of the hour of You. The palace where you live is cleaned by palace people every day, you go to change clothes and take a bath first, rest for a while, and then talk to me in the evening." Taiping and the emperor got up and left the table, she brought Xue Chongjian inside, and suddenly turned her head and smiled at Li Chengqi : "You come with me, my aunt has something to ask you."

When he arrived at the sleeping hall, Taiping dismissed his servants and servants, and when he turned his face, the smile on his face had disappeared, and he asked Li Chengqi: "Has your father beaten a flower slave?" Hua slave has been wronged." Although Xue Chongjian had quarreled with Li Chengqi that day, seeing him kneeling in front of his mother, he couldn't bear it after all, so he excused him and said: "It was a misunderstanding. Xiaowu is ignorant and messing around. Uncle has Rehabilitation for me." Taiping glared at Xue Chongjian, and said with a sneer, "My brothers are ignorant, but you understand!" She said to Li Chengqi, "Fortunately, Song Jing didn't drown, you just beat him up, if Song Jing If you are dead, do you want to take the flower slave to pay for your life first, and then tell me a misunderstanding?"

Li Chengqi felt pain and remorse, kowtowed and said: "My nephew has betrayed my aunt's entrustment, and caused Hua Nu to suffer innocently, please punish me." Tai Ping glanced at him and said: "Who ordered the execution? It's your father? Or your Saburo?" Li Chengqi didn't want Taiping and Li Longji to renew their estrangement, and without waiting for Xue Chongjian to speak, he said, "It was me who recklessly beat Hua Nu, and my aunt punished me." Taiping was slightly startled, looked at Xue Chongjian and said, "Really ?” Although Xue Chongjian didn’t want to cover up for Li Longji, he couldn’t bear to see Li Chengqi kneeling on the ground pitifully. Besides, he really didn’t want to repeat the scene to his mother again, so he could only smile and said: “His sins, I have already done so. Let him make up the compensation, and mother will spare him."

The anger in Taiping's heart was only slightly extinguished, and he snorted and said: "He has been with you since he was a child. I said that you can punish him if he made a mistake. Even if he makes a mistake, it's okay. But he is now an adult. , and there are officials and nobles, how can you let the eunuchs use the staff to punish the officials? I just went to Puzhou and heard that Hua Nu was beaten so badly that I couldn’t walk, and I said that you really despise my mother and child so much.” She said the last sentence , touched the heart, and the voice was slightly choked.Li Chengqi didn't dare to defend himself, but just kowtowed and apologized.

Taiping said to Xue Chongjian: "Is your injury healed?" He said to Li Chengqi: "Go out and come in with a cane." Li Chengqi hurriedly answered "Yes", got up and walked out, Xue Chongjian said in surprise: "Mum, do you really want to beat your cousin for this?" Clutching Taiping's arm, he said with a smile: "Mother will beat someone when she gets off the car, it's not good for uncle to hear about it." But Taiping ignored him, just said: "Go to bed, let me see." Xue Chongjian said with a smile: " He's healed a long time ago, so there's no injury to see." Taiping frowned and pushed Xue Chongjian lightly, saying: "Go up!"

Xue Chongjian didn't know why, but was captured by his mother's aura, so he stuck out his tongue and fell on the bed. Taiping stepped forward to take off his robe, untied his sweat towel, and took off his trousers. No blemishes.Those buttocks seemed to be slightly plumper than what he had imagined, white and shiny as straight as freshly peeled water chestnuts.Taiping guessed that it was because he and Li Chengqi roamed around the Furong Garden this spring and seldom rode a horse, so he snorted again.

At this time Li Chengqi had already brought the cane in. He walked into Taiping with a blushing face, knelt down and raised the cane with both hands, and said in a low voice, "Auntie, please punish me." Lifting it up, she said coldly: "Wait!" She turned around and held down Xue Chongjian's wrist, and with a raised hand, she pulled the cane towards his buttocks. With a crisp snap, Xue Chongjian and Li Chengqi exclaimed at the same time, Xue Chongjian was in pain, Li Chengqi was ignorant.

Taiping kept slapping her again and again, causing Xue Chongjian to writhe "Ouch" and "Ouch", and hurriedly called out, "Grandma! Why is this! Grandma, did you hit the wrong person!" Taiping Pulling the cane off his hand, he reprimanded: "Since the injury is healed, why don't you go to court! You are still a child, you can stay at home if you don't want to go to school! How many people are plotting against you without sleep, you are better off, hide here In Furong Garden, don’t care about world affairs! A prince and a county king have been free from disasters and diseases for more than two months and ignored political affairs. You don’t want fame, I want it! Do you think this Chang’an City is a peach blossom garden? Why didn't you choose the right family when you reincarnated!"

Li Chengqi waited for Taiping to smoke dozens of times before he understood why Taiping was angry. He hurriedly stepped forward, held Taiping's hand and begged: "Auntie! It's me... Let Hua Nu stay with me in the Furong Garden, you fight I am it!" Taiping stopped his hands, looked down at Li Chengqi and said: "Stand up." Li Chengqi was stared at by Taiping's shining phoenix eyes, he couldn't help shivering slightly, and stood up involuntarily.

Taiping said: "Has there ever been a thought in your mind that my aunt wants to help you to be the crown prince because you are weak and incompetent and easy to control?" Li Chengqi lowered his head and said in a low voice: "My nephew dare not." The corners of Taiping's lips twitched slightly , said: "Among your father's five sons, you have been with me the longest and are the most filial to me, so I am partial. Besides, as the daughter of the great emperor, I have the responsibility to maintain Li Tang's orthodoxy, and avoid planting concubine sons and then But I never thought you were incompetent, only you said you were incompetent." Li Chengqi lowered his head and said, "It was Chengqi who let my aunt down." Taiping said: "You are close to Hua Nu, and I am already very close. Tolerate it as much as possible, but I don’t want my sons to hate me because of these trivial things. But even if you don’t become a prince, you are still your father’s son, so don’t let your surname be ashamed. You can meet each other when you are resting, but you must first be your Highness Lijie King and Song King, can you do it?" Li Chengqi felt cramped in his heart, and tremblingly said: "Yes..."

Taiping nodded: "You remember this word." She threw down the cane casually, turned and left the room.

Xue Chongjian had been listening in a daze, and when Taiping left the door, he said angrily, "Why did you agree!" Li Chengqi sat beside him, saw scarlet scars floating on his buttocks, and sighed, "Aunt just came back, We can't make trouble for her, let's go home separately for a while, in the future, we should still be able to..." He really didn't know what the future would be like, so he couldn't continue, he just reached out and rubbed Xue Chongjian's buttocks lightly.Xue Chongjian lay on his stomach sullenly, he knew that his mother's words could not be disobeyed, no wonder Li Chengqi, he could blame no one, but their vows were really not for them to decide.

Li Chengqi rubbed for a while, then gently covered his trousers, supported him and comforted him: "You will sleep here tonight, and I will go out of the palace, and I will see you after sunset tomorrow." Xue Chongjian suddenly stretched out his arms He hugged him tightly by the waist, and whispered: "Rub me again, you go when I fall asleep." He raised his head with a trace of pleading: "I will fall asleep soon, I won't delay you long. "

Li Chengqi trembled again, he understood that behind this child's coquettish pleading was the cruelty of cutting off the love that had become a habit.He loosened his clothes for Xue Chongjian, took off his boots, and went to bed with his clothes on, pulled the quilt to cover the two of them, put his right hand into his shirt again, and rubbed the skin on his buttocks gently.Xue Chongjian leaned his head against Li Chengqi's arms, closed his eyes, and lit the room with aromatherapy, and the fragrance wafted up, which was slightly similar to the fragrance that Li Chengqi liked to use on a daily basis.He tried hard not to think that this was no longer Furong Garden, tried hard not to think about the pain in his buttocks, tried hard not to think about how this night was different from every night they had experienced since three springs.

This person is still by his side, he can snuggle him to sleep, feel his body temperature, hear his heartbeat.Outside the window is the peony they planted by hand. Although it has come to wither, there are still many expectations. A large area of ​​roses is about to bloom. After the roses, there are alfalfa flowers everywhere. He still learned from Li Chengqi that this flower is also called Lianli Grass, they agreed that this summer they want to see the beautiful scenery of the hibiscus garden covered with alfalfa flowers. [1] There is also the clear and clear golden bell, ringing endlessly in his dream again.

Li Chengqi heard the second watch beating outside, and stared intently at Xue Chongjian's face, which still had a peaceful and satisfied smile on it.He resisted the pain like a knife gouging out in his heart, leaned forward and kissed the person in his arms very lightly, Xue Chongjian's eyelashes blinked twice, Li Chengqi's heart almost stopped at that moment, for fear that he would be caught by him Waking up with a start, he froze for a while, but Hua Nu finally didn't wake up.

Li Chengqi got off the bed carefully, walked to the door with his boots barefoot, and opened the door with extremely slow movements.The moonlight pouring down was like water, and it bumped into his arms coldly.

The author has something to say: [1] "Xijing Miscellaneous Notes": "Leyouyuan has self-growing rose trees, and there are many alfalfas. It is awe-inspiring to look at its flowers, and it is glorious, so it is named alfalfa as 'Huaifeng'. Maoling people call it 'Lianzhi grass'."