Linque

The emperor on the throne put away the gentle smile on his face, and swept around the hall expressionlessly. The clan relatives were watching him, and the family heads were also waiting eagerly. Even the noble ladies It is also eager.

Everyone was waiting for his response, thinking of him and nodding, except for one——

When the elegant music sounded, Chu Heng was holding honey water. At first, he didn't pay attention to it, until the sound of drinking and changing cups around him stopped, and he looked towards the field, only to realize the sound of the field The woman on the table was originally offering music.He was a little dazed, his reaction seemed to be several beats slower, his mind was in chaos, and only a string named "Hope" was hanging vaguely.Then as soon as the sound of the piano stopped, he heard the impeccable words of the old prince, and the strings in his mind broke.

Chu Heng blinked his eyes slowly, forcibly separated a ray of clarity from the chaotic thoughts, he squeezed the wine glass, his fingertips turned white, and tried his best not to let himself lose his composure.

In the silence around him, he slowly drank the glass of cold honey water in his hand. In the cold winter, the glass of water had been left for a long time. From the beginning of the rhythm to the end of the performance, it cooled down inch by inch. There is no temperature anymore.There is only a little bit of sweetness floating on the surface, and it is completely cold in the mouth when you drink it.The chill invaded the lungs and froze the atrium.

The dream is about to wake up, Chu Heng thought.

Ever since he realized that he liked her, he would always measure the distance between himself and Ling Ye consciously or unconsciously.From here to Dan Bi, there are a hundred steps; in the Jingcheng Hall, the servant Mo is on duty, and there are three steps between him and His Majesty; and on weekdays, they are at the same dining table, and they can almost touch each other by raising their hands.

Just now, when the melody of elegant music reverberated in the hall, he suddenly thought, how far is it between them?A short distance, three steps away or a hundred steps away?

Actually neither.

These long or short distances are nothing but his self-deception. For example, now, between a hundred steps, there are mountains and seas of people separated. his heart.

He suppressed the unspeakable liking in his heart, and saw his moon through the close water tower of the imperial servant Mo.Although he can't touch it yet, at least he is the only one who can see it.Indulging in this clear dream time for a long time, he forgot that all the rivers, lakes and seas in the world want the moon.

And the sky and the moon have never belonged to him. When the rivers, lakes and seas stretch out their hands, his long-distance pleasure will come to an end.

Just like it is now.

The old prince's words were reasonable and irrefutable. Chu Heng knew that many people around him were waiting for His Majesty to nod, which was almost a foreseeable necessity.

He was the only one who was so out of place, he didn't know what His Majesty would say, but he couldn't sit still.He always knew that his dream would wake him up, but he didn't have the courage to let the moon break it himself—it was too painful.

The quiet departure of an imperial servant Mo will not attract anyone's attention, especially at this moment, everyone is looking at the emperor with bated breath, waiting for his response.

But Ling Ye who was sitting on the high platform found that his Chu Heng was gone.

When he turned his gaze, he only caught a figure from the back, disappearing alone outside the side door, and before he realized it, it had already gone away from him.

Ling Ye seemed to be pinched in the heart for a moment, the pain made him breathless, and his heart was empty.After a long time, an uncontrollable anger surged from his chest, he turned his head and looked at the group of people below indifferently.

Ling Ye sneered in his heart, and suddenly wanted to ask clearly, who gave them the courage and confidence to threaten the emperor?Do you think you can force him to submit by using the so-called filial piety and the face of the clan?Even Shengdou Xiaomin knew that he and the queen mother had no mother-child relationship at all, and when he came to the courtiers of the aristocratic family, he started to use this to disgust him.

Children and grandchildren around the knees family happiness?Ling Ye was really curious. Why did he think that he would make concessions because of the mother's kindness and filial piety with the Queen Mother?She rebelled with King Qi, thinking that she was the first emperor to succeed the queen, and it would have been good not to send her to the imperial temple to "pray for the country", but now there are still people who dare to use this ridiculous filial piety to suppress he.

If you really let them start this way of using the principles of sages and the righteousness of the world to dictate to the emperor, they will become more and more presumptuous in the future, and there will be no end to it.He sat on this dragon chair not because of any other necessity. As the master of Dayin Kyushu, he can take the initiative to restrain himself, but no matter whether he is a courtier or a clan relative, no one can imagine that he will be passively restrained.

Strong anger flooded Ling Ye's heart, and he looked coldly at these people below - you don't want to lose face, so don't blame me for not giving it to you.

The eldest princess of Changning was in a mess. Before the Winter Festival meeting, when she told the emperor about the people around her, Ling Ye was a little dazed, and she didn't refuse directly like before. At that time, she felt that there might be someone in Ling Ye's heart. .

Although she was not directly involved in what happened to the clan members today, she did know something about it.She didn't stop her, and she didn't tell the emperor, because she really felt that Ling Ye had been alone for many years, and there should be someone by his side, and it didn't matter whether it was the one in front of him or not.

Emperors should not be indulging in beauty, so according to the practice since ancient times, the first wave of official drafts among noble ladies of aristocratic families are first proposed by the courtiers and clansmen, and the family in front of them is just the beginning of the draft.

As soon as the harem opens, whoever Ling Ye likes in his heart can marry in a grand manner, and with the draft proposals of the courtiers, he will not lose the emperor's sage dignity.As for the present one, if you really don't want to accept it, you can stay in the inner court and be a female official of Si Le first, and then release it after two years.

But Princess Dachang never imagined that her nephew actually liked a man. It was not uncommon for such a thing to happen in Dayin Dynasty, but she never thought that Ling Ye would.

This sudden change caught her by surprise, she was helpless for a while, her mind was twisted together like a mess, by the time she came to her senses, it was already too late, the words of the old prince had come out of her mouth.

In the silence all around, Princess Changning suddenly remembered that Ling Ye once said that she wanted to spend her whole life with the person she really likes——she didn't realize clearly until now that it turned out that this was not a joke, nor was it simply a joke. The reason to prevaricate Na Fei is true.

The eldest princess looked at Chu Heng who was opposite again, but this time, when she looked over, she found that the seat was already empty.Chang Ning's heart was suffocated, and he suddenly raised his head to look at the emperor——

Ling Ye's face sank like water. After a long silence, he smiled instead of anger, and then stretched out his hand to pour a glass of wine himself.

At this moment, Princess Dachang realized what the emperor would say. She was tense and hurried to speak before Ling Ye: "Little girl Liu Le is so good at learning, I am moved by hearing it. Don't say anything else, even if It is also good to play music by the Queen Mother's side to relieve fatigue, what does Her Highness the Queen Mother think?"

The eldest princess of Changning looked up at the empress dowager at the head. The two aunts and sisters-in-law had always been at odds in the past, but the queen mother didn't want the emperor to choose a concubine to marry into the family. Of course she would accept the step offered by the eldest princess, and immediately smiled kindly : "What the emperor said is that the Ai family looks so juicy, and the Ai family is also happy to see it. When the palace banquet is over, I will go back to the Palace of Cihe with the Ai family. The Ai family also wants to hear you play a few more songs. "

The eldest princess of Changning is the late emperor's elder sister, who holds a pivotal position in the clan. The two aunts and sisters-in-law sing together, and the old prince is entrusted by others. The Harmony Palace is still the Ming Cheng Palace, seeing what they said, he toasted the Empress Dowager and sat down again.

This seemed to be just a brief interlude, and the singing and dancing in the hall started again. I don't know who took the lead, and the lively sound of pushing cups and changing cups echoed in the hall again.

It was completely dark when Chu Heng came out from the side door.Today is the Grand Ceremony of the Thousand Years, a day for all people to celebrate together. There is no one on the palace road except the patrolling guards. He is walking in the deep night, and a thin first-quarter moon in the sky reflects his shadow, drawing a stroke of loneliness on the palace road. inkblots.

It took a long time to walk from Linde Hall to the palace gate, and the cold wind brushed against his face, leaving a knife-like touch.

Chu Heng suddenly remembered that since he returned to the Hall of Jingcheng on the [-]th day of the winter moon, he had not walked through the palace road in the evening.The New Year is approaching, the government affairs are busy, and the Jingnan Silk Road has been arguing all the time. These days, His Majesty always likes to ask Quge to read at night, so he sent him back to the Hall of Martial Arts.

Yujia is warm and spacious, and the cold wind and rain do not invade, just like his dream.But the busy government affairs will eventually come to an end, the dream will wake up, and after a piece of elegant music is played, his wishful thinking will come to an end.

Chu Heng didn't know how he made it through this distance, the outline of the palace gate was close in front of him, and the lights on the Danfeng Gate were dazzlingly bright.

Once you step out of this door, you will leave Jiuzhong Que.

He turned his head and glanced at the majestic and solemn palace under the night, and a voice began to ask himself, you have gained a lot, haven't you?Your Majesty cares about it intentionally or unintentionally. Why is it not enough for His Majesty to take care of the nearest position when His Majesty handles government affairs, or even for His Majesty's whole day from morning till night?When you wake up tomorrow morning, nothing will change. You are still the only royal servant beside His Majesty, and you can still get a handful of moonlight, won't you?

Well, there are countless voices answering from the bottom of my heart.

But not enough.

He is very greedy, in Ling Ye, he wants more, wants everything.He not only longed for Ling Ye's eccentricity, he longed for Ling Ye's whole heart, and he couldn't tolerate anyone else's coveting.

But maybe after tonight, His Majesty's heart will belong.

Chu Heng knew that he had no way to pretend not to see all this. No matter if it was a noble daughter of a family or someone else, their eager eyes on His Majesty were like thorns piercing into his heart, and a little breath would be able to pull him away. He couldn't even think about such things as infinite pain and drafting a concubine, but he was not qualified to stop it.

After coming to the imperial capital, he left his heart here.

Jin Wu couldn't help it tonight, and the police didn't seal it off. When Chu Heng walked out from Danfeng Gate, there were huge crowds of people outside.The golden and green buildings on both sides of the Tianjie Street are covered with brilliant lanterns, and the red lanterns that can be seen everywhere meander from the street to the end of the alley, converging into long red dragons.

Chu Heng didn't know where he was going. He followed the crowd and walked straight forward. Boys and girls gathered together and rushed in one direction, surrounded by laughter and laughter. He was out of tune with everyone, just like he just came after the Mid-Autumn Festival. The evening when I arrived in the imperial capital.The laughter belongs to others, the reunion belongs to others, under the starry sky, only sorrow is reserved for him.

Chu Heng blindly followed the crowd for an unknown amount of time until he reached the bank of the Yongding River. He stood by the Xinghan Bridge and watched countless river lanterns starting from here and gradually drifting away along the water.A small paper boat, carrying the simplest and most pristine prayers of boys and girls, meanders down and sends them to distant places, telling the gods to hear them.

On the other side of the bridge is a big banyan tree, with many wooden signs with names written on it hung with red strings. Chu Heng realized belatedly that he followed the group of boys and girls to the only Yuelao Temple in the imperial capital city. .

When a person is sad, even God loves to joke with him.

The smiling girl ran past him, but accidentally stepped on the corner of her skirt when she was on the bridge, she was about to fall, Chu Heng subconsciously reached out to help her, the little girl stood firm, and walked towards him Fushen thanked him, with excitement still written on Tuantuan's face, and asked him inquiringly: "Brother, are you unhappy, where is your sweetheart?"

His sweetheart, Chu Heng pulled the corner of his mouth with difficulty, and looked in the direction of Jiu Chongque.

The moment he turned around, there was a sharp sound from the sky above the distant city tower, and a huge firework exploded in the sky.Chu Heng was stunned for a moment, the palace banquet in Linde Hall had ended, and the fireworks show with the people had just begun.

One after another, the fireworks bloomed fiercely in the sky, reflecting the sky of the imperial capital with brilliance.

The extremely bright light fell into Chu Heng's eyes, and a deep envy suddenly arose in his heart. At least at the moment of blooming, the entire sky belongs to them, and the vast night presents the most beautiful colors with the blooming of fireworks.How much Yanhuo loves Tianqiong, Tianqiong knows, how much he likes his sweetheart, sweetheart doesn't know.

Chu Heng, why are you so cowardly, you dare not even say love.

Even if it is fireworks, there is a moment of brilliance in the sky.With Ling Ye, what are you afraid of losing?

Suddenly there was a light pat on the shoulder, Chu Heng turned around, it was the little girl just now, and there was a handsome young man standing behind her, she handed the two entangled red ropes to Chu Heng: "Brother , I begged this from the old man Yuexia, and I will give it to you. Don’t be unhappy, tonight is still very long, everything is in time, with the blessing of the old man Yuexia, you will meet your sweetheart.”

Chu Heng took it from her hand in a daze. The girl was very happy, and ran away like a gust of wind, leaving behind a string of laughter like silver bells.

The gate of the palace is not closed tonight, there is still time for everything, he doesn't want to be patient anymore, he wants to tell Ling Ye now, even if His Majesty is furious and drives him away, he will admit it.

Without fireworks, no matter how much you love, the sky doesn't know.Even if the final result is to lose completely, he should not only share a beam of moonlight——

He wants the whole moon.

The sound of fireworks bursting outside spread all the way to the Jingcheng Hall. When Princess Changning came over, a candle was lit in the hall. The emperor sat on the throne, his whole body melted into the shadow, and the expression on his face could not be seen clearly.

Chang Ning walked up to the royal case with a candlestick in his hand, illuminating the stern face of the young imperial emperor. Ling Ye's eyes were dark, and he looked up at the eldest princess: "You know, but you didn't tell me."

The Eldest Princess was silent.

"Your cousin has reached the age of learning rites and music. My aunt asked you to teach her someone. That girl is very good today."

"Okay." Ling Ye nodded.

"Auntie, I have always respected you in the past, and of course I will do the same in the future. But when you go back, don't forget to tell the old prince—" Ling Ye looked at the eldest princess silently for a moment, then said softly: "No Next time."

The eldest princess lowered her eyebrows and nodded lightly, and asked again: "Is he in the palace just now?"

"Yes." Ling Ye said, he knew what the Eldest Princess was asking, but until the end of the palace banquet, his Chu Heng did not come back, and the imperial guard said that he was out of the palace.

"You are sitting here, but he didn't come," the Eldest Princess looked at her nephew sitting in the shadow, and said firmly, "It means that your sweetheart is sad."

Ling Ye's heart suddenly moved, and he seemed to grasp something in an instant.

He never asked the reason for Chu Heng's sudden departure, but he always had a faint premonition in his heart that it was because Chu Heng cared so much about the well-designed persecution at the palace banquet that he didn't want to face it.

But he is not sure, he is very afraid that it is his own sentimentality.But now, the aunt said, Chu Heng was sad.

Feeling joyful in the dark, Ling Ye clenched the armrest of the dragon chair, sat up straight, and took a deep breath.

The Tianzi Yingwei's investigation has not yet yielded results. Ling Ye doesn't know what major events have happened in Lishan in recent years, and he is not sure about the true identity of his sweetheart.

But it doesn't matter whether he is Chu Heng or Ji Wuyue, whether he is Dong Jun or not.

Ling Ye only knew that he liked him, very much.

At this moment, Ling Ye suddenly felt an irresistible urge, which he had never experienced in 22 years. In just a moment, it could completely overwhelm the rationality and restraint he was proud of as an emperor——

He wants to see him, right now, right now.