In a blink of an eye, it was the end of March.
The originally quiet Jiangdu Palace suddenly became lively these days. Shang Ruyi looked at the maids and eunuchs who were busy and seemed to be preparing something, so he asked the maids who were serving him.
One of them said: "Back to Madam, the Cold Food Festival will be in a few days, and Your Majesty will celebrate it in the palace."
"Cold Food Festival, celebrating?"
Shang Ruyi frowned slightly and said, "It should be a sacrifice, right?"
The palace maid laughed awkwardly and shook her head.
The Cold Food Festival has been a day for worshiping sages since ancient times. Few people would celebrate anything on this day. Shang Ruyi didn't know what Chu Yang meant by this arrangement. At this time, Eunuch Yu came with people.
He saluted Shang Ruyi and then said, "Madam, Your Majesty is waiting for you in the inner palace. Please move."
Shang Ruyi said, "What's the matter?"
Eunuch Yu said, "Your Majesty has arranged some things at the back. Madam, please come over and take a look."
It's not that she doesn't know how much money is spent in the palace. Her daily meals alone are enough to feed several families, but such waste is still limited. If the entire Jiangdu Palace is really decorated like this, the money spent will be huge. Dare to imagine.
The huge garden was covered with a thick carpet as always, but this time the carpet was dark green, and it looked like soft grass all over the ground. However, the garden was not as clear as before, but instead placed many Many screens divide this garden into countless winding roads; the silk screens are embroidered with plum blossoms, orchids, bamboos and chrysanthemums, and there are also beautiful maids. Looking at it, it seems that there are many people in this garden. It’s like enjoying the spring outing.
Shang Ruyi wanted to say something else, but Chu Yang already said coldly: "Okay."
Wang Shaoji added: "There is just one thing for which I need to ask His Majesty for permission."
When I came here before, I heard the sound of silk and bamboo. I don’t know why, but now it is the sound of ringing.
The further you go, the more you can see some beautiful spring scenes made of gauze and silk, or in other words, made of silver. For example, there are several trees by the roadside, which are also covered with red ribbons, and the wind keeps blowing. Flying like a laurel tree in the moon palace.
Shang Ruyi looked up and was shocked again, because she discovered that there was a huge net made of gold thread hanging above the garden.
Shang Ruyi was so shocked that he forgot to salute and only looked at him and then at the luxurious scenery in front of him.
Both men lowered their heads and closed their mouths.
"I also had people work all night to make these thousands of silver bells. With these things, the birds will not dare to come down."
"...!"
When Eunuch Yu heard this, he just smiled bitterly.
There are countless silver bells hanging on the net. When the wind blows, the bells immediately make a sweet tinkling sound, like the laughter of these outing women.
She said it was an invitation, but she actually had no position to refuse, so she got up and followed Eunuch Yu. But on the way, Shang Ruyi couldn't help but ask: "Eunuch Yu, I heard that Your Majesty is going to celebrate the Cold Food Festival. What are you celebrating?"
The further Shang Ruyi walked, the heavier he felt.
Shang Ruyi's heart also sank.
Chu Yang said: "I had people prepare a lot of flowers, but there are also a lot of birds here. Two days ago, they pecked them and took away a lot of them, so I had people hang a net here."
….
She thought for a while and said softly: "Your Majesty, if you can't close the palace door, will something happen?"
Eunuch Yu, who had been standing aside, broke out in a cold sweat at this time.
Eunuch Yu said, "Your Majesty specially asked craftsmen from the south to make these flowers. One flower costs two cents of silver."
Shang Ruyi hesitated for a while, then said softly: "Your Majesty, just for a Cold Food Festival, this - it's too expensive."
"landscape?"
He smiled and said, "This is the scenery that Jiangnan should have."
A familiar voice suddenly sounded in his ears. Shang Ruyi hurriedly turned around and saw Chu Yang walking away from behind the screen.
He came out and looked at him with a smile.
"..."
Shang Ruyi was a little dizzy. She walked all the way to the tree and looked at the white jade-like flowers blooming on it and the golden net covering her head. She couldn't help but asked softly: "Your Majesty, why are you making such a big tree here?" Open a net?"
He stood under the tree and stretched out his hand to fiddle with the round silver bell above his head. As the bell trembled slightly, the golden wire net also trembled. All the bells rang together, as if a hundred birds were singing, which was sweet to the ear.
"Pretty?"
Of course she knew that what Chu Yang couldn't hear the most now was the word "rebel". In fact, no one was allowed to mention the fall of Dongdu anymore. When Wang Shaoji mentioned this, she immediately said: "Of course I am not this mean."
Wang Shaoji said: "Then, please Madam, please don't interfere with what our guards are doing. The guards never slack off about the safety of the imperial city. The only thing they have to worry about is the old palace guards. They are always uneasy." Divided."
"..."
At that time, she also advised him - anything should be used in moderation.
"..."
But Shang Ruyi on the side couldn't help but frown.
As soon as I raised my eyes, I saw the surrounding scenery. It was indeed different from what I saw when I came here before. Both sides of the winding path paved with bluestones in the inner palace were originally planted with flowers and plants. However, it was not in season at this time and the green leaves were not there. Although it was lush, there were not many flowers in bloom, but this time, Shang Ruyi saw red, pink, yellow, and purple flowers blooming, and she narrowed her eyes for a moment.
Everything he created was so beautiful that it took your breath away.
Upon hearing the word "rebel", Chu Yang's face immediately darkened.
"On the day of the Cold Food Festival, we will come here for an outing and enjoy the spring."
Just when they were about to reach the garden that day, they heard a pleasant silver bell ringing in the distance.
"..."
Then he said: "It's not a celebration, it's just that your Majesty plans to go out and visit the garden on that day. But it's not very safe outside recently, so your Majesty doesn't plan to leave the palace, so he just goes for an outing in the palace, so he specially arranged some scenery. "
Wang Shaoji said: "Wei Chen has had people work all night to make twenty pairs of bead curtains. On the day of the Cold Food Festival, they will be hung on the palace gates around the garden. Under the moonlight, the pearls will shine, adding to the brilliance. "
Chu Yang glanced at Shang Ruyi coldly, but didn't say anything. He only looked up at Wang Shaoji, thought for a moment, and said, "The inner palace door does not need to be closed, but the Guangming Gate should be closed on time."
….
Chu Yang's expression softened slightly and he said, "What's the matter? Tell me."
Wang Shaoji immediately asked: "Does the young lady mean that there will be rebels appearing in the Jiangdu Palace at the feet of the emperor?"
As if he felt something, Chu Yang lowered his head and looked at her, but saw that the expression on her face was not as happy as he thought. He couldn't help but frown slightly: "What's wrong?"
Shang Ruyi looked at him silently and hesitated several times.
Chu Yang nodded when he heard this: "That makes sense. Then pass on the order and wait until the night of the Cold Food Festival. The inner palace door does not need to be closed."
Of course she didn't forget that this was the first time the two of them met. Seeing Chu Yang's extravagant behavior, she couldn't help but tried to admonish him, but he refuted it.
Can’t the inner palace door be closed?
"..."
"What?"
Chu Yang glanced at him, but before he said anything, Wang Shaoji had already said with a smile: "Young Madam Yuwen is worrying too much. You are also living in the palace these days, has anything unexpected happened?"
Shang Ruyi frowned, didn't say anything more, and just continued walking forward.
But at this time, when she met Chu Yang's eyes, she couldn't speak these familiar words.
"However, there is only a net, which looks ominous."
"..."
Shang Ruyi frowned slightly, and turned around to see Wang Shaoji appearing at the door of the garden again. When Eunuch Yu saw him, he still sighed and could only salute respectfully.
"you--"
When I took a closer look, I realized that the flowers were actually made of yarn. They were so lifelike that they couldn't be identified without looking carefully.
Chu Yang seemed very satisfied with her "discourtesy". He reached out and grabbed Shang Ruyi's wrist and led her into this picturesque scenery.
Shang Ruyi's heart suddenly sank.
Sure enough, while he was talking, a little sparrow landed on the net, which immediately triggered the jingling of several silver bells. The sparrow screamed in fright and flew away, while other birds did not dare to land. .
"..."
Wang Shaoji frowned slightly.
However, who can know what this beautiful scenery will look like in the end?
And above their heads, there were constant tinny and melodious ringing sounds.
"That is, if the bead curtain is hung, the palace door must not be closed, otherwise, there will be no beautiful scenery with the candlelight shining at all."
"..."
Chu Yang looked at her coldly and said, "Have you forgotten that I once said that all things are born for people to use. If they are not used, then they are born without any meaning."
Shang Ruyi said: "Nothing happened because the palace door was closed. But if the palace door is opened——"
Wang Shaoji's eyes flashed slightly, and he immediately leaned forward and saluted: "Yes."
Shang Ruyi was a little surprised, but at this moment, they passed through the middle gate and entered the inner palace.
Chu Yang's brows immediately wrinkled.
When Chu Yang heard this, his eyes lit up.
He nodded and said, "Okay, you did this well."
And at this moment, the familiar, disgusting voice sounded from the side: "Your Majesty, I have something to report."
Shang Ruyi hurriedly quickened her pace. When she walked through the Aquarius Gate, the scene in front of her immediately opened her eyes wide in shock.
She said: "This is -"
Seeing this situation, Chu Yang showed a proud smile on his face.
"I originally wanted to go out to the palace for an outing, but the people below said that the weather outside the city has been bad recently, so I asked people to move all these scenery to the palace."
It's beautiful...
But immediately, he showed a smile and said: "Wei Chen understands, Wei Chen will go down and pass the order."
After saying that, he bowed, turned around and left in a hurry.
After he left, Chu Yang lowered his head again, looked at Shang Ruyi who looked worried, and said in a deep voice: "I asked you to come here so that you can accompany me to have fun and enjoy the beautiful scenery. There are things outside. Don’t worry about it anymore if people take care of it.”
"..."
Shang Ruyi bit her lower lip, remained silent for a long time, and finally said softly, "Yes."
Leng Qingshan
