Deoksugung Palace is located to the north of Lin'an Imperial City. It was originally the old residence of Prime Minister Qin Hui. It was called "King Qi" because of its promising people. After Qin Hui's death, it was taken over by the official and a new palace was built. In 1162 AD, Zhao Gou, Emperor Gaozong of the Song Dynasty, moved to the new palace and changed its name to "Deshou Palace". Later, the current emperor Song Xiaozong expanded Deoksugung Palace repeatedly to show his filial piety. Because it was located on the north side of the Imperial City of the Southern Song Dynasty, Deoksugung Palace was also called "Beinei" or "North Palace".
Deoksugung Palace is grand in scale, with magnificent architecture and exquisite and elegant gardens. It has landscapes such as cold springs, Feilai Peak, Juyuan Tower, Huanxi River, Manse Bridge, and Simian Pavilion, as well as exotic flowers and plants from all seasons for you to enjoy. There was also a large dragon pond dug into it, which diverted water from the West Lake into it, which was named the Little West Lake. It also built a long-lived mountain with artificial stones to resemble the Feilai Peak of the West Lake.
In the 16th year of Chunxi of the Southern Song Dynasty (1189), Song Xiaozong followed the example of Song Gaozong and retreated to Deokshou Palace and changed its name to Chonghua Palace. Later, this palace served Empress Dowager Xian Sheng Wu and Empress Dowager Shoucheng Xie, and was renamed Cifu Palace and Shouci Palace successively.
In the first year of Kaixi's reign, a fire in Lin'an City burned down the front hall of Deoksugung Palace, and the place gradually became deserted.
At Huansa Pavilion in the west of Deoksugung Palace, the West Lake water flows in front of the pavilion. It is surrounded by lush trees, flowers and plants, and small bridges and flowing water. Although it is spring and the flowers are blooming, it is still refreshing and refreshing in the morning and evening. A bit melancholy and deep, desolate and cold to the bone.
Yang Yi, the concubine of the Emperor of the Song Dynasty, sat on a chair in the pavilion, leaning on the back of the chair and looking at the lake in the distance in trance. It can be seen from her frown that she seems to be worried.
Her face turned red, and she didn't know why.
The setting sun shone in the pavilion, spreading warmth over half of the pavilion. Yang Yi's face was golden and half of his body was motionless.
"Sister, it's getting late, let's go back to the palace quickly, right?"
Cuizhu on the side whispered.
Both of them are concubines in the harem, Yang Yi is a noble, Cuizhu is a beauty, but their identities are different. One is Yang Guizhi's niece, the other is Yang Guizhi's personal maid, one is the daughter of a wealthy family, and the other is just a palace maid. , whose identities vary widely, both in heaven and on earth.
Just like now, even though they are both concubines in the harem, Cuizhu is still cautious and respectful to Yang Yi, just like a slave treats his master.
Seeing that Yang Yi remained silent, Cuizhu started urging her again unconsciously.
"Sister, the Queen Mother is seriously ill. Let's go back early."
Queen Mother Yang Guizhi was seriously ill, which was how she was these days. Although she is a concubine in the harem, she has a deep love between master and servant, and she has to go and take care of her every day. It took too long to accompany Yang Yi out today.
Moreover, the emperor rushed back from the northwest without stopping, but she and I were not in the palace, which seemed a little unreasonable.
"Why are you urging me? There are many people around the Queen Mother! Besides, the Queen Mother has been unconscious all this time. It will be useless for us to go back!"
Yang Yi looked at Cuizhu and frowned unhappily.
Cuizhu no longer dared to urge her, so she could only sit aside and look worried outside the pavilion.
The emperor was engaged in military affairs and was busy with state affairs. She also wanted to go back and make a bowl of beef soup cake for him when he arrived.
"Cuizhu, you are only twenty-four, but you are still young and beautiful. Unlike me, you are old and yellow. However, don't be complacent. In a few years, you will be like me and no one will love you anymore."
Yang Yi couldn't help but say, but his words were full of complaints.
She is thirty-five years old this year. In the Song Dynasty, she was indeed not young anymore. She could be said to be a mature woman.
Cuizhu couldn't help but be startled. She looked at Yang Yi and said with a smile:
"Sister, Your Majesty is still very kind to you, so please stop thinking nonsense."
The emperor treated all his concubines equally, and except for Zhou Xiuniang, he seemed not to favor anyone in particular. I don’t know if Yang Yi’s words were intentional.
"You have been stupid all day long and don't know anything. The emperor now only loves Zhou Xiuniang and Jia Sijin. Those two vixens are sweet-mouthed and clingy. Be careful one day you will be thrown into the cold palace. Then there will be You’re crying!”
Sure enough, Yang Yi said it coldly.
Cuizhu was shocked, lowered her head and said nothing.
Among the concubines in the harem, Zhou Xiuniang had a son and a daughter, as did Li Weiming and Jia Sijin. Only she and Yang Yi had only one daughter each, and the emperor seemed to come to her less frequently.
However, it is an indisputable fact that the emperor treats her well. He didn't make any mistakes, so why did the emperor put him in the cold palace?
"Sister, the emperor is actually quite difficult. He has to go out to fight, deal with political affairs, and fight with ministers. He has gray hair at a young age. Please be considerate."
In the past, Cuizhu would never have dared to say such words. But now that I have been in the palace for a long time and have been around for a long time, I unconsciously speak a lot harder.
"So busy, and he still cares about having sex all day long? Besides leading troops to fight, what else does he want to do? He doesn't want to do anything!"
Yang Yi raised his eyebrows, with unspeakable sarcasm in his eyes.
"You are stupid and you still don't admit it. Zhou Xiuniang's eldest brother is the head of the Anti-Corruption Department, Li Weiming's eldest brother is the King of Xia, and his uncle is the Duke of Xia. Jia Sijin's brothers are either in politics or the military. What do you and I have? I am the Yang family There is no one in the court anymore, so you are even more stupid and don’t know what you want!”
Yang Yi was eloquent and Cuizhu was dumbfounded.
Isn't that Yanggu Yangshi a noble person? Xiaoshan also has a special business granted by the emperor, a thousand acres of money and grain. What else does the Yang family want?
Her family is a small family. Although the emperor's reward is not much, it is enough for their family to live happily and carefree. Isn't this great?
"Although this place is dilapidated, it's a big enough place with mountains, rivers, pavilions, pavilions and terraces. It shouldn't cost much to repair it in time."
Yang Yi looked at the rockery palaces around him and suddenly asked:
"You said, if I want to study, write poems, and cultivate my moral character here, Your Majesty will reward me with this place."
"What?"
Cuizhu looked at Yang Yi in shock, unable to believe her ears.
Deoksugung Palace, since it became a royal garden, has lived here including Song Gaozong, Empress Wu, Song Xiaozong, Empress Xie, etc., all of whom were the most dignified people of the dynasty.
Yang Yi was nothing more than a concubine in the harem, not even a concubine or queen. Where did she get the courage to ask the emperor to reward her with Deoksugung Palace?
"Go back, it's getting late. I really miss the carefree days before!"
Yang Yi lazily stood up and sighed inexplicably.
Cuizhu followed her, and when she heard Yang Yi's words, she couldn't help but shake her head secretly.
As a concubine in the emperor's harem, how could she go out and live in debauchery all day long? If the emperor heard this, he wouldn't be angry.
Zhao Hong left Cining Palace with a lot of worries. Yang Guizhi was unconscious, so thin that she lost her appearance, relying on ginseng, deer antler and other medicines. It seemed that Yang Guizhi's life was at risk in an instant.
This made Zhao Hong feel inexplicably sad.
Originally, he thought he hated Yang Guizhi very much, but now that he saw Yang Guizhi dying, old and haggard, he felt a little empty.
Prime Minister Xue Ji was also seriously ill. Like Yang Guizhi, he might not be able to survive for a few days. These people were about to leave one by one, which made Zhao Hong feel that his efforts to restore the Central Plains and expand territory seemed to have no meaning.
Being ambitious and seeking hegemony, without anyone to appreciate you, you will become a high-minded person and very lonely!
"Your Majesty, the Queen Mother is already very old. She is in her seventies, and her fate is determined by fate. Just be more considerate."
Seeing that Zhao Hong was in a low mood, Zhou Xiuniang, who was traveling with him, whispered.
Zhao Hong was busy with state affairs and was away from home all year round. The couple got together less and separated more, so she was a little disappointed. Now I see that Zhao Hong seems to have gray hair on his temples, and I feel very distressed.
Although Zhao Hong can't always be by his side, in terms of character, Zhao Hong is impeccable.
Just because he is affectionate and righteous to Yang Guizhi, he is already a gentleman among gentlemen.
"Xiu Niang, I'm away from home all year round, and it all depends on you at home!"
Not wanting the people around him to worry too much, a smile appeared on Zhao Hong's face.
Although Yang Guizhi was strong, there was always peace in the harem. Zhou Xiuniang undoubtedly did a lot of things.
"Your Majesty, I have nothing. We are an old married couple. However, the children are getting older, so you have to spend more time with them. Also, you have to comfort Concubine Xian and Yang Guiyi."
Zhou Xiuniang said softly, carefully observing the changes in Zhao Hong's expression.
"Your Majesty, in the hearts of the children, you are the greatest hero in the world. They are looking forward to your coming back every day and telling them about the outside world!"
Cuizhu was behind him and quickly added.
She really didn't want Zhao Hong to be distracted or even angry because of Yang Yi's affairs.
"Cui Zhu, make me a bowl of soup cake, add more chopped green onion, and someone will send it to the imperial study later."
Zhao Hong thought for a moment and then said:
"I'm going to see the children right now and ask them to come to the study."
His eldest son Zhao Quan is almost eight years old, and the other children range from two to five years old. The children all regarded him as a first-class hero, and as soon as he came back, they pestered him to talk about outside affairs without any grudges.
Speaking of which, as an emperor, he might be competent. But as a father who has been away from home for many years, he really owes his children a lot.
"Zhao Quan, Zhao Min, Zhao Feng, Zhao Huan, Zhao Zheng, Wu Ji, who among you can recite Xin Jiaxuan's "Broken Array" by heart?"
In the imperial study room, when Zhao Hong asked a question, all the children raised their hands and rushed to answer the question.
After receiving Zhao Hong's roll call, Zhao Hong's second son, Zhao Feng, blushed and started to memorize it.
After Zhao Feng finished reciting, Zhao Hong took the lead in applauding with a smile on his face, and the other children also followed suit.
"Wuji, why didn't you raise your hand just now?"
Zhao Hong asked about his four-year-old nephew Zhou Wuji.
Zhou Wuji, the posthumous son of his brother-in-law Zhou An. Because he no longer has a father, he was named Wuji because he wanted to grow up healthily.
"Uncle, I don't know how to memorize. But I'm good at stabbing! In the future, I will also learn to ride a horse, enter the martial arts hall, and become a general who dominates the world like Huo Qubing!"
Zhou Wuji blushed and mustered up the courage to say.
"Okay! General Zhou, you have to work hard!"
Zhao Hong laughed and put all his unhappiness behind him.
"Zhao Quan, you are a role model for all your younger brothers and sisters. Tell me, what kind of person do you want to be in the future?"
Zhao Hong smiled broadly and asked about his eldest son.
"Dad, I will be a great hero like you in the future, serve the country and the people, and be admired by everyone in the world!"
"Dad, when I grow up, I want to marry a great hero like dad!"
Daughter Zhao Min followed her brother Zhao Quan and shouted with a red smile.
Zhao Hong laughed again and touched the little heads of his son and daughter.
"Okay, okay! You all have your own ambitions, and you are all dad's good children!"
"Dad, you should tell me about the war! How did the Northwest War Army of the Great Song Dynasty kill the Tatar army without leaving any armor behind?"
Zhao Quan's face turned red and he asked on behalf of his younger brothers and sisters.
"Why don't you keep any armor? Those were all obtained with the blood and sacrifice of my soldiers of the Song Dynasty!"
Zhao Hong's expression became serious, he sorted himself out, and then started to speak.
"Your Majesty, what's wrong with the children? Why are they all in tears?"
Zhou Ping entered the study and asked in surprise.
He is already married, but his child is too young and not yet a year old, so naturally he cannot play with the older ones like Zhao Quan.
"I told some touching stories about the Hanzhong War, and the children were very moved. That's it."
He was a teacher himself, and after his narration of those battles in which he risked his own life and death, they immediately came to life. No wonder his children shed tears.
It's a bit cruel to say that he may be a good teacher and a good king, but he doesn't seem to be a competent father.
