It has been snowing heavily since the beginning of winter, and the flying snow falls like willow catkins in the sky. It also looks like a group of white cranes squatting on the ground. It is soft and heavy when you step on it, and it feels extremely soft under your feet.
Looking at the snowy scenery of the capital, the high-rise buildings are as white as jade buildings. In the distance, you can vaguely see thousands of mountains winding outside the city, as curved as a giant white python. Cangshan Mountain is far and wide, with endless views. This scene is very much like the freehand landscape paintings of the Song Dynasty.
People in the Song Dynasty never pursued bright colors when painting. Instead, they preferred to use white lines to outline and render the main body of the painting on rice paper, leaving the rest blank. The so-called leftover mountains and leftover water truly embodies the meaning without spitting out, leaving an endless aftertaste. .
Winter is a good season for making wine, especially plum blossom wine. Pick the twelfth lunar month plum blossoms, wash and drain them, sugar-sweeten them for a few days, put them into a jar with rock sugar and white wine and wait for a few months before drinking. It has the effect of relieving heat and promoting fluid production, and is mainly used to treat dizziness due to heat. It is an extremely suitable drink in the hot summer.
The flowering period of plum blossoms is generally between spring and autumn, so if you want to make wine, you have to wait until the twelfth lunar month at the latest, but at this moment, there is already a plum tree in full bloom in the backyard of Qingui Palace.
The plum blossoms are delicate and beautiful, with an intoxicating aroma. If a cold wind blows by, the plum blossoms on the tree will dance like butterflies bathing in fire, creating a place of vitality in the cold weather.
The tree is a strange tree, cultivated by Guiqing Shi using ancient methods, and its petals are also the best for wine making.
At this moment, Gui Qing was wearing a fox-white fur that perfectly matched the snowy scenery of the courtyard. She was standing under the tree, reaching out to pick off a petal and kneading it in her hands. Her beautiful eyes revealed rare joy.
She looked up at the clusters of fiery red and was in a daze.
In a pavilion not far away, Qin Fang rested her chin on her hands and narrowed her eyes with a smile, thinking that her daughter was really pretty no matter how beautiful she looked. She was not that pretty either, so why did she give birth to such a charming daughter?
Not long after, Gui Qing walked into the pavilion and sat down gently.
Qin Fang looked at the iceberg beauty and asked with a smile: "Are you going to Yangyue Lake with Xiao Humei today?"
Gui Qing hummed and wanted to pour the wine. After hesitating, she picked up the wine warmer first.
Qin Fang smiled happily. Of course she knew that her daughter never liked drinking warm wine, and she also knew that this behavior was just pretending in front of her. But Gui Qing's hesitant look just now lost her coldness and indifference, like a child obediently listening to her parents.
But then, she smiled and narrowed her eyes, a little reluctant.
"What? Are you afraid that your mother will blame you?"
Gui Qing said calmly, "Of course Gui Qing doesn't want to be blamed by mother."
Qin Fang didn't say anything anymore, she just looked at the beautiful woman in front of her quietly, her eyes full of tenderness and doting. She didn't speak, and Guiqing was silent as well. Although the pavilion was quiet, the atmosphere was very warm. In the end, Qin Fang drank three glasses of wine. She was a little drunk as she rarely drank. She told Gui Qing, "Be careful when going out to play," and then got up and left.
After passing through the Chaoshou Corridor and leaving the Qingui Palace, the Queen did not return to the Jiaofang Palace, but walked to the Prince's East Palace.
Although the prince is currently traveling abroad, his palace is spotless and orderly, no different from usual times. Inside the jade incense burner, green smoke curls up. On the white porcelain plate on the table, there is a large and delicate yellow Buddha's hand as usual. The table is covered with pastries, all fresh.
Even if the master is not at home, the maids are not lazy, they are all waiting quietly in their places. There are many people in such a large palace, but it is very quiet.
Qin Fang has never liked complicated etiquette, so she went directly to the prince's living room. Three maids were waiting quietly. The jade plaques around their waists were their respective identities.
Seeing the Queen Empress appearing out of thin air, the three maids were not surprised. They just said Wan Fu together and said softly: "Hail the Queen, Wan Fu."
Looking around and tasting the pastries on the table, Qin Fang nodded with satisfaction and asked casually: "Where are the peach branches?"
No one answered.
Qin Fang seemed to have expected it, and stopped asking too many questions. She turned to look at one of the cold-tempered maids and said: "Qingxue, you immediately go back to the military camp and mobilize five hundred cavalry out of the city to guard around Yangyue Lake, secretly Protect the princess.”
Immediately, she added, "You don't need your heavily armored pagoda. Five hundred cavalry can just follow lightly. Don't make too much noise and don't disturb the people."
"As commanded."
Dressed in white, he quickly left the Prince's East Palace and went to the military camp.
The eight scenic spots in the capital are famous all over the world. The first of the eight scenic spots is undoubtedly the world-famous Yangyue Lake.
Yangyue Lake is located in the southeast of Beijing. It is vast and has clear water. Just like its name, the boat is sailing in the water, the stars are shining, as if it is driving in the bright star river.
In the past, someone wrote a poem here, "When you are drunk, you don't know that the sky is on the water, and the boat is full of clear dreams that overwhelm the stars."
Many literati came here to enjoy the scenery, drink wine and write poems, which was a happy and romantic place. There are also many dandy boys from prominent families who come here to have fun. They usually arrange banquets on the painting boats and order beauties to play flute and music on the bridge. Therefore, every summer, Yangyue Lake is bustling with people, drinking, playing and singing. You can see the charming young master Pian Pian and Xiao Jia Biyu's boudoir girl everywhere. Naturally, some people fall in love after meeting here by chance. Therefore, Yangyue Lake is not only a famous scenery in the world, but also regarded as a holy place for marriage by countless people looking for golden wind and jade dew.
The architectural landscape of Yangyue Lake is also beautiful and breathtaking. Countless elegant court officials built pavilions and pavilions in Yangyue Lake. According to court statistics, in the 15th year of Yongshuang, there were 127 pavilions and pavilions in Yangyue Lake. There are 107 waterside pavilions, 23 smoke and water causeways, and more than 300 bridges of various shapes. The most famous of them is the Twenty-Four Bridges built by His Royal Highness.
Later, the prince asked twenty-four maids from the palace to play the flute on the twenty-four bridges on the night of the 15th Mid-Autumn Festival. The music was melodious and long-lasting, and the tourists were fascinated, so this act became a custom. From then on, every year on the 15th night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, palace maids would play the flute on the bridge, and His Highness the Prince would hold a banquet. All guests, regardless of their status, could drink. Therefore, many people rush to the capital every year before the Mid-Autumn Festival just to participate in this lively event.
Yangyue Lake in winter is completely different from this. It is bleak and desolate, with few human traces, and even birds and animals have disappeared. It seems to be a forgotten place.
The goose-feather heavy snow still fell, the snow intensity did not decrease at all, and the sky was a little dark.
Snowflakes fell on Yangyue Lake, causing slight ripples. At a glance, the entire lake is rippling.
At this moment, a awning boat was moving slowly.
There were no candles burning in the canopy, and it was slightly dark. There was only a faint light from a red clay stove.
The firelight illuminated Hu Meizi's face as she warmed her wine.
Sitting facing her was Gui Qing, who was wearing a white dress.
Gui Qing never liked warm wine, so she poured herself a glass and drank it slowly.
Hu Meizi's moist and charming peach blossom eyes were bored, and she tried to seduce Gui Qing several times, but the latter always turned a blind eye.
After a while, the wine had warmed up. She took a sip and asked cautiously: "Is your injury really almost healed?"
How could Guiqing not know the subtle thoughts of the foxy girl in front of her? She didn't even want to say a word, she just gave a faint hum.
When Hu Meizi heard this, she knew that she would never be able to get up close to the iceberg beauty in front of her again. She suddenly lost her expression and lowered her head.
Guiqing ignored her and drank leisurely, contentedly. She would often fill a glass of wine and then drink it all in one gulp. The whole action was done in one go, with an indescribable air of romance.
Suddenly, Hu Meizi, who was still unwilling to give up, raised her head, her big watery eyes full of expectation and pleading, "Can I sit next to you?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Gui Qing narrowed her eyes slightly and looked slightly cold.
Hu Meizi quickly shut up, her eyelashes drooped slightly, her slender hands nervously kneaded the corners of her clothes, looking scared and aggrieved. This scene was extremely pitiful.
"Don't break the rules, understand?" Gui Qing's voice was cold and emotionless.
She felt even more aggrieved, hummed softly, and lowered her head.
After a while, she actually started sobbing quietly.
There are many things about a woman that stir people's hearts. Her tenderness when accompanying her, her laughter when she is happy, her sobs when she is sad, and her wrinkles when she is worried are all enough to make her miss him in her heart.
Seeing her like this, Gui Qing finally had no intention of drinking. She sighed softly and put down her glass. Her tone was much gentler than before, "Hu Meizi, here you go."
She raised her head, froze for a moment, then rubbed her eyes that were red from crying, still looking a little aggrieved, and gently sat down next to Gui Qing.
"Drink with me." Guiqing said softly.
The black-topped boat drifted freely, the heavy snow fell freely from the sky, and ripples appeared in the Yangyue Lake. I don't know how much time passed, but Gui Qing was already a little drunk. The drunken Hu Meizi was lying on the table, her pretty face was blushing, and she was even more charming.
Guiqing rubbed her temples and said softly: "Come out with me for a while."
The snow is still falling, and the scenery of Yangyue Lake is dim and pale. The awning boat is sailing on the lake, as small as a drop of heaven and earth, with only boundless ripples spreading.
The two of them were standing on the bow of the boat, when suddenly a biting cold wind howled by, and heavy snow fell from the sky.
Gui Qing wore very little, just a thin piece of clothing, and she retreated unconsciously when the cold wind blew.
Hu Meizi hesitated for a moment, then put her snow-white fox fur on Gui Qing.
Unexpectedly, as soon as the mink fur was put on, Gui Qing frowned slightly.
Hu Meizi thought that this move had angered Gui Qing, and said quickly: "I won't do it next time. I'm just afraid that you will be cold."
Gui Qing's voice was slightly cold, "Put it back on."
She was stunned, then blinked again, and finally said cautiously: "Are you caring about me?"
Guiqing didn't answer, but slowly stretched out her hand, letting the snowflakes fall on her palm and melt instantly.
She suddenly remembered what the man once said, "Life is very fragile. It can be eternal or fluid."
Just like this crystal clear snowflake, it gently fell to the ground, ending its short life.
It's already dark, and the twilight is getting darker in Yangyue Lake, but the heavy snow has not stopped.
Guiqing just stood there, motionless, looking at the snowflakes in the sky.
Hu Meizi accompanied her and did not take back the fox fur, but she did not feel very cold either.
She suddenly remembered that sad and touching story.
In fact, a long time ago, this place was not called Yangyue Lake. It was not famous all over the world, and it had no magnificent architectural landscape. It was just a deserted lake that no one cared about.
Only a man and a woman are playing in the boat here.
Just like early winter, just like the sky full of snow in front of you.
At that time, Yangyue Lake had boundless reed swamps. In the early winter, all the reeds turned gray-white. The man and woman stopped the boat in front of the reed swamp, clasping their fingers and looking up at the snow.
Like gray-white reeds, the two of them looked at the snow together and their heads turned white together.
It was also that night that the powerful man made a promise to the woman that he would share the world with her.
It's a pity that since ancient times, beauties have always had a bad life, not to mention that it is difficult for emperors to have the best of both worlds.
He finally betrayed her and secured his position.
She has a good beginning but no good end.
A clump of reeds has watched for a thousand years,
A snowy moon has been waiting for a thousand years,
She is still waiting for his reply.
I don't know where the love started, but it goes deeper and deeper.
The word "love" is the most misleading.
