late night song

Chapter 11 Two birds with one stone

After the banquet ended and they returned to the palace, Gu Yuchu followed Qi Zhan and strolled by the inner lake of the palace.

The moonlight was bright and the evening breeze was gentle, making it very cool and comfortable.

The two of them didn't talk, they just walked in tandem.

She suddenly felt so relaxed. There was no strange attention, no false talk and laughter, and the back view of Kai Zhen made her feel even more at ease. The close distance and the warmth that could be reached were the most comfortable existence for her.

It's so good that I never thought about owning it, but I never had the heart to give it up.

Covered in the quiet sky and the shadows of the dancing trees, Gu Yuchu unconsciously stood on tiptoes and walked.

Qi Jian turned around silently and looked at her quietly.

After so many years since that old case, it was rare to see her looking so carefree and relaxed. She was obviously young, but those very decent smiles and forbearing silence made him feel heartbroken.

The woman who was hopping with her head lowered accidentally bumped into Qi Jian's thick shoulder. She looked up and saw a serious face. She became nervous unconsciously, covered her head and lowered her head in silence.

"Does it hurt?" Qi Jian said in a gentle tone.

"It doesn't hurt." Gu Yuchu lowered his head and responded, then refused to say another word.

It seemed that since the day when their sisters continued their conversation, this woman had begun to distance herself from him in every possible way, becoming respectful and silent. Qi Jian couldn't help but frown.

"Today's mission was completed well."

"Thank you for your compliments, Your Majesty." Gu Yuchu bowed respectfully with clasped fists, as if he wanted to express clearly the distinction between superiors and subordinates.

Qi Jian couldn't find anything wrong with her, so he sighed inwardly, then put aside official matters and talked about other topics to break the embarrassment.

"What do you sisters talk about on weekdays?"

"Yes. It's just gossip at my daughter's house." Gu Yuchu became more respectful, but when he raised his head and saw Qi Zhi's scrutinizing eyes, he couldn't help but feel guilty, so he quickly added, "The prince will not be interested."

"How do you know I wouldn't be interested? Tell me."

"It's nothing more than how to make delicious cakes and how to wear beautiful clothes."

"anything else."

"There are still some past events." Gu Yuchu smiled, but there was no luster in his eyes.

Qi Jian did not ask further, but raised his hand to smooth the hair from her forehead.

Gu Yuchu instinctively dodged. This was in the inner courtyard of the palace, and there was no one else who had to care about King Qin's face. She really didn't want to cooperate, so she immediately knelt on the ground and said solemnly:
"My lord, I have something to ask you."

Seeing her being so groveling, Qi Jian frowned.

"But it doesn't matter."

"My brother Jingheng's whereabouts are still unknown. I have been searching for many years and still have no clues. Could you please help me to find out his whereabouts? Whether he is alive or dead, at least I can understand it. I don't have to search hard anymore. It will be unforgettable."

At that time, although Yuchi Jingheng was picked up by his uncle who was a merchant from Beiling Kingdom to visit his sick grandmother a few days before his family was exterminated, he luckily escaped the disaster. However, when passing through the Hehe border, he was ambushed by bandits on the way, and his whereabouts are still unknown. .

"I have been searching for these years, but it has been too long and there are no clues. But I have taken note of your words and will send someone to Hehe Country to investigate again in the near future."

"Thank you, Lord."

Before Gu Yuchu could stand up, he was picked up by Qi Zhi. He held her hand tightly and walked quickly towards Linyue Pavilion.

Liansheng cleverly hurriedly dismissed the girl who was waiting in the room, and when the prince and princess entered the room, she closed the door with a smile.

Under the candlelight, Gu Yuchu was at a loss, unable to judge what was going to happen next, so he had to retreat continuously, with a look of panic and distress on his face.

Qi Zhen slowly approached her, forcing her to retreat, then touched her shoulders, as if he wanted to kiss her.

Gu Yuchu dodged awkwardly from side to side, his cheeks flushed as brightly as a begonia in autumn.

At that moment, Qi Jian was in a trance. The woman in front of him seemed to overlap with his thoughts that night. He silently let go of his hands and sighed softly.

"It's late at night. Princess, please rest early."

After that, he hurriedly exited the west pavilion, leaving Gu Yuchu alone in place, his heartstrings rising and falling, grievances and annoyance mixed together.

Was it that I was too frivolous just now?
Is it that my embarrassing thoughts are exposed?
Gu Yuchu began to think wildly. She felt that she had been exiled after all, just like the hairpin and the dagger back then. From now on, she could be his sharp blade, but she could never stand side by side with him.

She hated that she could be cowardly and submissive when facing him, but she could never feel free and easy.

It's so hard to love or not to love.

The days passed in such a tangled manner. After that day, Qi Zhi never came to Linyue Pavilion again, and summer gradually came to an end in the continuous rain.

Qi Yinan's marriage was settled. Zhao Yun, the second daughter of the Minister of Rites, and Duan He Gongshun, were named Princess Rong and got married on the eighth day of February next year. Zhang Yuyuan, the concubine of the Minister of Hubu, was registered as a concubine and entered the palace that day.

The outcome of this matter was beyond Gu Yuchu's expectation. He originally thought that King Rong and the Queen would be punished by Emperor Ming, but he did not expect that the matter would turn around so easily. This royal undercurrent is really difficult to figure out.

It was not a trivial matter for a prince to mess up the harem. Emperor Ming was furious and reprimanded King Rong and the Queen, but after all, it involved the royal family's face, so he kept silent.

The queen was eager to protect her son. When she saw the incident exposed, she threatened Zhang Defang to force her daughter to endure the grievance and take the initiative to admit that she was the one who seduced Prince Rong on the condition that she obtain the position of concubine for Zhang Yuyuan.The deal was already done. In order to protect his future prosperity, Zhang Defang had no choice but to admit his daughter's loss of being mute in front of Emperor Ming.

But the stubborn Zhang Yuyuan somehow learned about this while in confinement and committed suicide. Fortunately, he was rescued in time. For the sake of the emperor's grandson and Zhang Defang, Emperor Ming gave Zhang Yuyuan some relief. status.

So far, the matter has come to an end.

Although Qi Yinan's marriage seemed to have gathered the power of the Ministry of Husbandry and the Ministry of Rites, and connected the Zhao family and the King of Zhenxi more closely, the queen's loss was a big gain.

In fact, Emperor Ming had kept this scandal in mind. Qi Jinnan was absurd, the queen was protecting him, and it was embarrassing for him. This was the purpose of Qi Jinnan.

At the same time, the situation in the harem was also turbulent.

Concubine Mengyi finally became pregnant after four years in the palace. Emperor Ming was extremely happy to have a son. She enjoyed all the food and daily life beyond the regulations. Although the queen was unhappy about this, the matter of honoring the king had just settled down, and because of Emperor Ming's insistence, he could not So much to say.

At the court, the queen secretly encouraged the minister of rites to declare that the emperor said that this move was not in line with the ancestral system. Mengyi's concubine was charming and seduced the emperor. Emperor Ming was very angry. He reprimanded Zhao Kuixue on the spot and warned the courtiers not to interfere in the affairs of the harem.

Concubine Lin Shu, Lin Zixian, and Concubine Mengyi had a deep grudge. Not long before Zhang Mengyi became pregnant, the two were scolded by Emperor Ming for a quarrel. However, she looked down on Zhang Mengyi's humble background, and even used some The Ming Emperor's unattractive and charming ways made him obedient and obedient. He ignored the etiquette and ancestral rules. First, he was granted the title of concubine second only to the queen. Now, he even used the excuse of being pregnant to violate the etiquette of the queen.

If she gave birth to a prince, she would be even more arrogant. Lin Zixian couldn't bear this tone of voice. Even after Emperor Ming scolded Zhao Kexue and was reprimanded, he still didn't know how to restrain himself.

So, she ordered a craftsman to make a bamboo-bone round fan exactly like Zhang Mengyi's. Then she hollowed out the bamboo joints of the fan handle and stuffed them with the powerful male musk deer. She also used mint leaves to soak the silk fan for many days to let the mint flavor out. Covering up the strong aroma of musk, he then asked the palace maid next to him to secretly switch the bag.

Zhang Mengyi was already afraid of heat, and her body temperature increased after pregnancy, and it was the hottest summer weather. The ice cubes in the ice cellar were not enough to keep her cool, and she had to keep fanning herself all day long.Finally, she had an unusual miscarriage half a month later.

For this reason, Zhang Mengyi was in trouble for three days and three nights. She refused to give up and insisted that someone was plotting against her. Emperor Ming loved him so much that he ordered a thorough investigation. Finally, it was discovered that the bamboo bones soaked in musk were wild purple bamboo unique to western Hunan, and it happened that Lin Zixian was the only one in the harem. There was a purple bamboo growing in the palace of one person, and the eunuchs around him couldn't stand the torture, so they all confessed. Lin Zixian was convicted and sent to the cold palace.

In fact, there is something strange about this matter when you think about it carefully. Why did Zhang Mengyi, who was of noble status, prefer to use a bamboo bone fan, and why Concubine Lin Shu was stupid enough to use the bamboo planted in her palace as a design.The intrigues and intrigues in the palace have always been followed by the mantis stalking the cicada and the oriole behind.

In fact, the queen secretly ordered a craftsman to make this bamboo bone.The palm-fan girl next to Concubine Mengyi and the rough eunuch next to Lin Zixian are also the queen's people. This is a game set up by the queen to kill two birds with one stone, in order to get rid of the fetus in Zhang Mengyi's belly and the unknown people. Concubine Lin Shu.

It's a pity that Lin Zixian has to spend the rest of his life in a dark and cold palace at such a young age.

Lin Feng's beloved daughter earnestly wrote a letter to plead for mercy, but Emperor Ming backed off and urged him to focus on the naval battle in the East China Sea and not to interfere with the affairs of the harem.

Lin Feng had no choice but to give up. In addition, pirates had been rampant in recent months. He personally led ten warships to fight in the East China Sea. However, he unexpectedly fell into a Japanese ambush. All eight warships were destroyed, causing heavy casualties.

The navy stationed in Dongding went into full-scale war with Japan, but the war was fierce. Emperor Ming was very angry about this, so he sent the King of Qin to lead the Pingqi army to sit in the area to dampen the morale of the Japanese pirates.

It took three months to go to Qi frame.

In the palace, Gu Yuchu did not receive any instructions from the ring leader, so he could only stay bored in the palace chatting and eating tea with his sister, and occasionally went to Feiying Street to check out the business of the shops.

Qi Jian's birthday was also spent during the Anti-Japanese War. Gu Yuchu couldn't help but feel a little disappointed because she couldn't celebrate him in the first year after returning home. However, Liansheng instigated her to make a set of clothes as a gift, and she thought she would have free time anyway. I had nothing to do, so I had a lot of fun choosing fabrics and embroidery patterns.

"Sister, sister, try my new arrowroot powder and osmanthus crystal cake." The voice came before Gu Yuxin came in. Gu Yuchu quickly ordered Liansheng to hide the half-sewn clothes, for fear that his sister would be too worried.

"Slow down, don't fall." She said caringly.

In fact, when Gu Yuxin came in, she saw Liansheng hurriedly putting the embroidery basket into the box, and felt suspicious.

"Sister, please try it quickly." Gu Yuxin took the food plate held by the girl and placed it on the table in front of her sister, greeting her.

Gu Yuchu smiled, picked up a piece, took a bite, and commented honestly: "It's delicious, but a little too sweet."

"How come, brother frame likes the sweetness of three pieces of rock candy the most." Gu Yuxin blurted out, but when she saw her sister's lowered eyes, she quickly changed the topic, "Then next time I will make my sister's favorite hawthorn cake, okay? ?”

"Okay."

"Sister, why does your room smell so good?" Gu Yuxin said deliberately, and then walked closer to the inner room.

Liansheng was in such a hurry that the sleeves of the clothes he put in the box were exposed. They were cyan brocade and simple swastika patterns. These were men's clothes.

Smart Gu Yuxin already knew that her sister was preparing gifts for Qi Zhen's birthday, but why she deliberately kept it from herself made her feel a little unhappy.

Could it be that he knows that he has feelings for Qi Zhi but feels resentful about it?Or have you already joined the competition for love?
"Where is the fragrance? You know I don't like fragrance and powder." Gu Yuchu didn't care about his sister's thoughts, picked another piece of pastry, and tasted Qi Xian's favorite taste carefully, but he still felt that it was not to his taste.

"I think it's my sister's body fragrance." Gu Yuxin retracted her confusion and joked instead.

"Go, go, you are the most fragrant."

The two sisters just teased each other.

"It's so boring to stay in the house all day. How about my sister take me out of the house tomorrow."

After a while, the bored Gu Yuxin grabbed her sister's clothes and blinked her eyes innocently. This was the first time she had begged her sister to take her out of the house. She couldn't even remember it, but the King of Qin was not in Qidu. , all were rejected by Gu Yuchu for safety reasons.

She also knew that it was uncomfortable to be stuck in the house, but she couldn't bear to see her sister's pitiful appearance, and she also felt itchy, so she relaxed:
"Hmm... Okay, it's only for half a day. Let's dress up as men and don't be too ostentatious."

"Sister is the best."

Gu Yuxin was so happy that she almost jumped up. Seeing her sister's cuteness and innocence, Gu Yuchu was very envious. She also had an unruly temperament, but now that she restrained herself, she was really going to die of suffocation.

The next day, the two sisters spent a lot of time dressing up like young gentlemen. Gu Yuxin was wearing a jade-faced dragon and fluttering green clothes, and Gu Yuchu was wearing a mysterious dress with her hair tied up, which made her look very heroic. Even if she didn't want to be ostentatious, she might as well go out in women's clothing. .

The street was bustling with people, and Gu Yuxin excitedly pulled her sister through the crowd.

But Gu Yuchu was always vigilant, instinctively observing various movements on the street, for fear of any accidents happening.

"Sister...brother, look, candy man!" Gu Yuxin dragged her to the candy man's stall.

"Boss, I want this little rabbit."

"Ten pennies."

The uncle who drew the candy man smiled and handed the rabbit-shaped candy man to Gu Yuxin. Gu Yuchu paid the money and hurriedly followed her, for fear of getting separated from her.

There was a group of people gathered in front of them, as if they were watching something exciting. Gu Yuxin rushed over without hesitation, and Gu Yuchu followed closely behind and squeezed into the crowd.

This lively street is always full of bully gangsters and miserable virtuous women, as well as classic scenes of heroes saving beauties in dramas.

Gu Yuchu dragged his sister to prevent her from lying in the muddy water, and he just watched with cold eyes.

This little brother's skills are strong and agile, and he wouldn't be like this after many years of martial arts training. Five or six local ruffians and three-legged cats were beaten to pieces in just a few moves. They were looking for teeth all over the ground and made the crowd watch on the street. People kept cheering, and Gu Yuxin also started shouting, calling her beautiful.

Before the lady could bow to express her gratitude, the hero shook his head and left in a dashing way, as if he didn't care at all about the beauty's tearful thanks and reunion.

He passed by the two sisters who were watching the excitement. Gu Yuchu instinctively stepped sideways in front of his sister. Through her thin shoulders, the hero who saved the beauty saw the world-famous face behind her. Even though she was deliberately wearing plain men's clothes, The beautiful eyes are dim and pusy, looking forward to the brilliance.

Gu Yuchu noticed the subtle change in his expression and couldn't help but frown.

Feeling the hostility and vigilance of the woman in front of him, the man curled his lips and smiled, thinking that Qidu City is getting more and more interesting.

"Your Excellency, Han Yu, may I ask the names of these two young ladies."

Gu Yu glanced at his sister guiltily, muttering to himself that this disguise was really a failure.

Gu Yuchu ignored it at all, grabbed his sister and turned around to leave.But this man was like a dog-skin plaster. He would follow them wherever they went, which was very annoying.

Gu Yuchu was a little annoyed. He turned back and glared at him angrily and asked, "What do you mean by daring to stand for your brother?"

"I was just casually strolling around, how could I have known that I was so destined to meet these two young ladies." Despite his handsome features and elegant appearance, this man had a glib tone when he spoke angrily.

"You are obviously following us!" Gu Yuxin concluded unconvinced.

"No, this road is opened by the government. All people can pass freely. You and I are just destined to be on the same road. Why is this young lady so arrogant?"

"You!" Gu Yu's face turned red with anger, and he couldn't hide his gorgeous appearance, which made Han Yu mesmerized.

"Don't talk to him." Gu Yuchu pulled his sister through the crowd with a cold face, turned into the alley, and quickly got rid of Han Yu's following.

Because of this, they did not dare to stay any longer, and the two of them hurried back to the palace.

"It's all that lunatic's fault. We can't go to the night market anymore!" Back at home, Gu Yuxin was still angry and scolded the ignorant weirdo to death.

"Okay, okay, after all, we visited the market and ate some candy and wontons. Let's go to bed early."

Gu Yuchu deeply felt that it was not easy to be a parent. He had to take care of his children during the day and sew clothes at night. This life was really different from the murderous and bloody life he imagined in Xunmen, sleeping day and night!
(End of this chapter)