Twin Brocade

Chapter 685 The Lonely Island in the Night
The imperial chariot on which Emperor Qinglong was riding was driven by the eunuch, behind the flag array, and was heavily guarded.Surrounded on both sides of the imperial chariot are Wu Sheng, the commander of the Beiya Imperial Army, and Wei Ming, the commander of the Gyeonggi Daying Army.

Wu Zhengxiang, as General Yunhui, followed behind the imperial chariot.The shadow guards under his command had already dispersed in all directions to ensure the emperor's safety.

Such a grand occasion is so dazzling that one dare not look directly at it.

Wherever the guard of honor passed, the people along the way knelt down and shouted long live.

Fang Shuyu's position is at the very end of the civil and military officials.His rank is the lowest, and he is not qualified in the first place.

He thought that he could handle it calmly.But when he was really in this position, Fang Shuyu realized that his heart, unwilling to be resigned to the downstream, was beating.

Looking at the back of the purple official robe at the front and the crown belt of his father Fang Mu, Fang Shuyu really wanted to walk between them.

In this guard of honor, the distance between him and Zhu Zihou, Guan Jinghuan and others in the front is only a few dozen steps.But these dozens of steps may take him half his life, and he may not be able to achieve them.

It is true that, considering his age, he can become the most noble Hanlin, and it is also the imperial imperial edict closest to the emperor.This achievement is not bad, and Fang Shuyu is usually proud of it.

But when the real gap was in front of him, he realized how unwilling he was.

According to the method he discussed with his father before, when the crown prince and King Qi seized the throne, the Fang family stood by and watched.His Hanlin path will be very stable, but he may also be squeezed out by other people who dare to bet.

For example, the Li family.

Another example is the Lu family.

In the city, in order to show this supreme dignity, Yu Jia walked very slowly.After leaving the city gate, after a short rest, he speeded up.

When I settled down in the palace next to the Taimiao, it was already dark.

The mountains here are already pleasant in autumn.

The frost color quietly dyes the branches and treetops, intoxicating red, dazzling gold, and verdant green, covering the mountains layer by layer.The colorful woods are not much inferior to the spring scenery.

The leaves were gently blown by the autumn wind, and fell down in a rustle.Like a flying butterfly, it rushed to the earth, was spun a few times by the wind, and suddenly became silent again.

Walking in such a scene, people's mood is also calmed down for no reason.Away from the hustle and bustle of Luoyang City, get a moment of comfort and leisure.

Emperor Qinglong settled down and sent an edict to all the ministries to rest first, then start fasting and bathing tomorrow, and hold the ceremony of offering sacrifices to heaven.

The palace here is specially built for offering sacrifices to heaven.

Because it is located on the dragon vein, it has good Fengshui and pleasant climate.It is not as majestic as the imperial city, with the Big Dipper as its pattern, but the various palaces located in the mountains have an exquisite pattern.

The soldiers of Gyeonggi Daying are responsible for the outposts and patrols.Wu Sheng formed a team of Beiya imperial guards and patrolled the palace all night.

The journey was hard, and in such a pleasant autumn scenery, Emperor Qinglong and the accompanying officials all rested early.

However, amid such silence, there were still restless shadows, appearing not far from the palace where Emperor Qinglong rested.

After he stood there for a while, another person came quietly, and the two whispered.After a cup of tea, they parted ways and left.Everything returned to silence.

The night in Luoyang City was also quiet.

Fang Jinshu's heart gradually became peaceful.

Fang Shuyu accompanied her to the Taimiao Palace, and everything she planned was finally settled.After more than ten days, nothing will be changed.

That night, she slept more soundly than ever.

With the departure of Emperor Qinglong and a large number of officials, the city of Luoyang became calmer than ever.All power entanglements and open and secret struggles returned to the deep sea with the departure of the emperor.

In the deep palace, it was cold and lonely.

Emperor Qinglong was not in the imperial city, and the fight for favor among women also lost their target and fell silent.Even though it wasn't summer, the concubines became lazy and lethargic. It was rare for them to even step out of the palace gates, and they seldom went to the Imperial Garden.

In the harem, what kind of elaborate dress is not to win the smile of the king?
No matter how many exotic flowers and plants there are in the imperial garden, you will get tired of seeing them for a long time.Isn't it to go there to win a chance to meet the emperor?
If the emperor is not in the palace, this place is like a pool of stagnant water, without a splash.

In this dead silence, the atmosphere in Changle Palace became more and more deserted.

Empress Cao's status is respected, but it is impossible to have real friends in the palace.

Those who are close to her, such as Concubine Fu Xian, also have their own considerations for their own interests.And enemies, both open and secret, emerge in endlessly.In the palace, there is never a shortage of ambitious and beautiful young women.

The exquisite and luxurious Changle Palace is like an isolated island in the night, dormant quietly.

In Empress Cao's bedroom, there was only the sound of the occasional wax candles peeling off.She was wearing a dark black gown, and the floor-drawing skirt was layered behind her, as if still waves were piling up.

The light cast the shadow of Duobao Pavilion on her face, her eyes were low and her face was dark.

Black seeds, growing vines full of thorns in her heart.But the little light in the bottom of my heart has never been extinguished, and it exists tenaciously.

black and white.

Light and darkness.

Entanglements came and went, as if two people were talking in her head at the same time.

One person said: "In front of the imperial power, what do you want to miss? If you are indecisive, you will only have a bleak ending."

Another said: "You've hurt him once, do you want to hurt him a second time?"

"Ridiculous!" The first person sneered, "Who doesn't want to stand at the pinnacle of power? This is not to harm him, but to help him. How many people want such an opportunity, and they can't wait for it."

"This is just your idea, don't force it on him!" The two were arguing endlessly in Empress Cao's mind, and neither could convince the other.

"Enough!" Empress Cao whispered while covering her head.

The candle flame jumped suddenly, and the voice in her head stopped abruptly.Tears flowed from her fingers, but the pain in her heart did not decrease at all.

To be honest, when she heard that Fang Shuyu was driving to the Taimiao, Empress Cao let out a long sigh of relief.

She has always preferred Fang Shuyu as the candidate for Zhan Shi in Prince Qi's Mansion, and also thinks he is the most suitable and outstanding.

This choice is not caused by old feelings, but a fact.A noble and promising Hanlin like Fang Shuyu is willing to serve the King of Qi, and the influence of it will greatly exceed expectations.

But since she entered the palace, she has cut her love with a sword of wisdom, and only regards the beauty of the two as the past.Subconsciously, she didn't want to think of him, let alone use him.

However, he was so good that she couldn't ignore him.

He drove away from Beijing, making Empress Cao think that she didn't have to choose anymore, but it was a pity that fate tricked her.

(End of this chapter)