The overturned cups on the high seat clattered to the ground, and a round wine glass rolled down the steps. Boom, boom, boom, echoing in the empty and silent hall, like a drumstick beating on everyone's hearts.
At the Queen Mother's birthday banquet, the emperor suddenly lost his composure. All the musicians, dancers and concubines stopped, and everyone knelt on the ground, not daring to express their anger.
"Emperor?" The Queen Mother had already noticed something was wrong with him. She followed her gaze but didn't see anything. "What's wrong?"
Bian Chen didn't respond.
He was looking straight into the distance. The eldest eunuch wiped away the wine stains on the floor and was pushed away by him just as he was about to stand up. The emperor strode down the steps, pushed aside the people in front of him, and strode towards that place in embarrassment and eagerness.
Shanshan knelt on the ground, his forehead pressed against the cold floor tiles.
She still didn't know what happened, and the taste of delicious snacks was still in her mouth. She only heard a rush of footsteps approaching, and a bright yellow piece of clothing appeared in front of her eyes. She just wanted to raise her head, but her mother held her hand.
The emperor's voice trembled: "You..."
The voice was extremely familiar, and before Shanshan could think about it clearly, the next moment she felt her mother's hand tightening on her suddenly. She was startled, and turned around subconsciously to see her mother lowering her head. , eyes wide open, face pale.
Shanshan is worried: "Mother?"
Bian Chen's eyes then fell on her.
His expression was shocked, his eyes were red, and he asked word by word: "What did you call her?!"
Only then did Shanshan remember her mother's instructions. She quickly lowered her head, but the next moment she heard the emperor in front of her say: "Look up and let me take a look."
Her mother held her hand tighter and tighter, and her panic seemed to spread to her. Shan Shan raised his head in fear and closed his eyes tightly, not daring to look at it for fear of offending the noble man.
Bian Chen stared blankly at the child in front of him.
From the first moment he saw him, he felt that this child was extremely kind and kind. At first, even he himself didn't understand where this closeness came from, but now he finally sees it clearly.
Half of this child's face looks like Wen Yiqing, and the other half looks like himself.
His eyes looked at her greedily, wishing that every trembling eyelash of hers could be remembered deeply in his mind. That's right, why didn't he realize before that if he and Wen Yiqing had a child, it would be natural for him to look like this.
He met Wen Yiqing six years ago, and the child is five years old this year.
This is his child!
Bian Chen stretched out his hand.
His hand trembled slightly, not daring to exert any more strength, and gently fell on Shanshan's face. The rough fingertips stroked her tender face, her tightly closed and trembling eyebrows.
"Your name is Wen Shan, are you five years old?" The emperor's tone was incredibly soft: "Don't be afraid, open your eyes and look at me."
Shan Shan carefully opened his eyes.
She had never seen such a powerful person, and her heartbeat was beating fast in her chest, as if someone was playing a drum in her ears. She first saw the complicated patterns on the rich clothes of the person in front of her, and a big hand gently held her face, asking her to raise her head. She looked up, past her broad chest, Adam's apple, angular face, and finally met a pair of red-rimmed eyes.
The emperor who was rumored to be mighty and noble was looking at him in surprise and joy.
Be good and stay still.
"Uncle?!" Shanshan was in high spirits, with his head held high, and he was no longer nervous at all. He said in surprise: "Why is it you?"
She then saw the golden crown on the emperor's head and the dragon pattern on his clothes, and said in surprise: "You are the emperor?!"
Bian Chen smiled slightly.
The people kneeling in the hall took in a breath of air that could not be detected, and their hearts were shaken.
The emperor has always been majestic, and even the prince did not dare to make a mistake in front of the emperor. What is the identity of that child? !
Just as Shanshan was about to say something, suddenly, a hand stretched out and pulled her over, pressing her head down roughly.
Wen Yiqing lowered his head deeply, "I am ignorant and daring. I hope the emperor will forgive me."
Bian Chen was stunned.
He lowered his head and only met the black hair on the back of Wen Yiqing's head.
It was like a splash of cold water, calming down his head that was slightly swollen with joy.
The emperor looked around. The Queen Mother and Concubine Zheng on the high seat were both stunned. The Crown Prince and He Lanzhou in the distance looked worried and wanted to come over. The eldest princess also looked incredulous.
Today is the Queen Mother's birthday banquet, so it's not a good idea to make a scene.
He was also full of questions. It was obvious that his Ah Qing had passed away a long time ago, and he had even seen the tombstone, but why did his lover, who was supposed to be sleeping underground, appear in front of him again? !
And brought a child with me!
"Emperor?" The Queen Mother also stepped down the steps and walked towards him.
Bian Chen tried his best to calm down and said, "I'm fine."
Knowing that this was not a good time, he took another deep look at Wen Yiqing. When he saw that she did not respond at all, he looked away in disappointment and said, "I am not feeling well, so I will go back and rest first."
After the emperor left, everyone stood up one after another.
Everyone looked at each other, and countless eyes were cast on the mother and son from all directions. Wen Yiqing took a long time to get up, with a pale face, holding the child beside him tightly.
He Lanzhou walked quickly through the crowd, walked to her side, and asked caringly: "Are you okay?"
"It's okay." Her face turned pale, she stared at something in a daze, and said softly: "I'm just... a little scared."
She was just a commoner, so it was understandable that she would be frightened when she was so close to the emperor. He Lanzhou did not doubt that he had it and comforted him softly.
Wen Yiqing nodded casually and sat back down. Mrs. Zheng next to her wanted to talk to her, but she was vague.
The eldest princess didn't know what had just happened, and she was full of questions waiting to be asked. But she was close just now, and she could see that her imperial brother was walking in front of Wen Yiqing at first, and then his attention was attracted by the child. All the emperor's gaffes were all because of Wen Yiqing.
She thought of the pictures of beauties that had been kept away by the emperor. The beauties on them had not been painted for a long time. The eldest princess's thoughts were turning over and over again, but seeing that Wen Yiqing was restless, she could only suppress her curiosity for the time being and quietly block her from the probing eyes of the people around her.
"Mom?" Shanshan looked at her worriedly, holding her face with his little hands: "What's wrong with you?"
"nothing."
Wen Yiqing quickly remembered something and grabbed Shanshan nervously: "Shanshan, what did you call him just now?!"
"Mom, you don't know!" Shanshan said with joy, "The emperor is actually the uncle I met before!"
"Which uncle?"
"That's the one we met when we went to burn incense. Brother Shitou and I got lost last time, and he was the one who sent me home. You said last time that you wanted me to thank him properly when I saw him. Shanshan said happily: "Mom, we are attending the palace banquet. Is this the invitation he sent me?"
Wen Yiqing felt like he was struck by lightning.
Her head was buzzing, and waves of coldness came from her limbs, making her whole body feel like she had fallen into an ice cellar.
It's so early...
Even though she had taken every precaution and kept everything hidden, it was their fate as father and daughter, and even the Bodhisattva wanted to help him.
not far away.
The official lady next to her started talking, and Qi Wenyue recovered from the shock.
"I wonder who the person next to the eldest princess is? How can he win the favor of the emperor?" Mrs. Wang next to her said: "Did you hear it just now? That child is so bold that he doesn't care about any etiquette in front of the emperor. She If you come with the eldest princess, could it be that you are from a clan?"
Qi Wenyue immediately retorted: "How is that possible?"
Another lady asked: "Mrs. Jiang, do you recognize this person?"
"Her." Qi Wenyue covered her lips with a smile and said: "I really know her. She is not from a clan, or even from any other family. She is the shopkeeper of a rouge and gouache shop in the east city of the capital. She does some business and supports her family. .”
"She's actually a business woman?!"
Everyone around was shocked.
"I don't know how she got on top of the eldest princess and was able to sneak into today's birthday banquet. Today is the birthday banquet of the Queen Mother. The emperor is so filial that he doesn't want to get angry even if he finds out. That child is so disrespectful to the emperor. So. It’s the eldest princess who is merciful, but I’m afraid she will still suffer from this.”
Everyone looked at each other and suppressed their surprise.
Qi Wenyue looked from a distance.
Wen Yiqing was still sitting in that position, and her despair could be seen from a distance.
She raised the corners of her lips, withdrew her gaze, picked up the cup on the table, and took a sip of the fine wine.
I felt extremely proud.
So what if some people have that kind of luck? Even if you can cling to the powerful and enter the palace banquet, God will put the opportunity in front of you, and what should not happen will still not happen.
If you offend the emperor, I'm afraid you don't know how you will be punished later.
After a long time, she saw people from the First Palace inviting the mother and daughter out. Her guess came true and she felt even more at ease.
…
The Queen Mother went out with the Emperor.
She was the emperor's biological mother and raised him personally. She knew her son best, and she saw everything clearly just now. Over the past ten years since the emperor ascended the throne, she had seen her son become more serious and steady. It had been a long time since she had seen him lose his composure.
As soon as Fang sat down, she couldn't wait to ask: "Emperor, what happened? Who was that person just now?"
"Queen mother, that's Ah Qing."
"A Qing?" The Queen Mother paused, then was shocked: "The one from Yuncheng?"
"is her."
Of course the Queen Mother knew. Six years ago, the emperor paid a private visit incognito and returned to the capital in frustration. After that, he often looked at a certain place and was lost in thought.
The emperor had established the prince early and said frankly that he did not want the prince to face the struggle for the throne again. Even the harem was empty and there was no one close to him. She finally sighed when the person she loved died early.
"But isn't she already dead?!"
"I thought she was dead too."
When he came to Wen's house, Ah Qing's parents told him personally that Ah Qing was dead, pointed at his nose and cursed, and the elegant and easy-going businessman picked up his cane and whipped him himself. He felt guilty and grieved for the loss of a daughter in his family, and did not resist at all. I also visited Wen Yiqing's grave, and her name was clearly written on the tombstone.
Bian Chen frowned.
He was still full of doubts and had no clue, but Wen Yiqing was absolutely dead and resurrected and appeared in front of him, and there was no way he could fake it. Even after many years, he could still hear Wen Yiqing's voice. She had not changed much from before. Even the small mole on the back of her neck was in the same place, exactly the same. It was just that the years had made her more gentle and mature than when she was a girl. .
"Since the person is already in the palace, it is better to call him directly and ask." The Queen Mother said: "In those days, you will know whether you are dead or alive, just ask."
Bian Chen nodded.
He said: "I'd rather trouble my mother."
Regardless of whether it is true or false, whatever the truth is, Wen Yiqing is just an ordinary woman at the moment, and summoning her directly by the emperor will harm her reputation.
"The Ai family knows." The queen mother ordered the maid next to her, and the maid took the order and walked out. She smiled and said: "I'm afraid there will be a happy event in the palace soon."
The emperor remained silent, with only a faint smile on his lips.
The waiting time was long, and even though the emperor had a calm temperament, he was restless as his lost lover was about to appear in front of him.
After drinking half of the tea in the cup, he suddenly noticed that after the light tea aroma, there was still the smell of wine that had not dissipated.
Bian Chen looked down. The alcohol on his body had dried up, leaving only the stench of alcohol all over him.
Before the Queen Mother could recover, she heard the clink of cups, and the emperor sitting next to her walked out quickly like a gust of wind, disappearing in the blink of an eye. He was obviously the most stable person to sit on the throne, but at this moment he looked like a half-grown boy, rough and rough.
Not long after.
The maid sent to call for someone came back.
The Queen Mother considerately left room for the two of them to talk, and only asked the child on Wen Yiqing's side to be brought to her.
Shanshan took the palace maid's hand, said goodbye to her mother, and walked in briskly.
She already knew that the emperor was the good uncle who gave her delicious snacks and sent her home when she was lost. Now he was not afraid when the Queen Mother summoned her, and she had completely forgotten all the tension she felt before entering the palace.
When she saw the Queen Mother, she bowed politely. When she stood up, she immediately saw the old man sitting on the seat. The Empress Dowager had kind eyebrows and kind eyes, as friendly as a kind-hearted emperor's uncle. She pursed her mouth kindly, with deep pear dimples on her cheeks, and gave her a sweet smile.
When she met those dark eyes, the Queen Mother felt happy, and she immediately remembered the way this child had eaten so deliciously at the banquet.
She picked up the cakes on the table and said with a smile: "Good boy, come here and let the Ai family have a look."
…
Bian Chen changed into a black robe.
He hurriedly bathed and burned incense, and walked back quickly. When he reached the door, he could already see the shadowy figures in the house. He looked down again and saw that his clothes were neatly dressed, then he waved away the palace servants and stepped in.
Wen Yiqing stood in the room, staring blankly at the pattern on the tea cup on the table. When she heard the movement behind her, she didn't even move her eyelids.
The footsteps stopped behind her.
The familiar deep voice gently called her: "Aqing."
She took a deep breath, turned around and knelt down to salute.
"A common woman meets the emperor."
Bian Chen was slightly startled.
He took a step back in panic, looked at the person kneeling in front of him, and frowned slowly.
Six years ago, he paid a private visit incognito to observe the people's situation. On the way, he received an urgent report that the south of the Yangtze River had been flooded for many years, but the disaster relief funds allocated by the court had disappeared, leaving the people in dire straits. Two imperial envoys were even sent to investigate, but there was no news.
He had been on the throne for many years, and the government was stable and the country and the people were peaceful. He didn't believe that those local officials had great eyes and hands, so he went there himself. He settled in a small town in the south of the Yangtze River and pretended to be a traveler. At that time, he met Wen Yiqing who came to the villa to relax.
It was indeed a brief period of joy.
Only later did the case get deeper and deeper, and it was discovered that corrupt officials had been entrenched in Jiangnan for many years and even dared to kill imperial ministers. Not only did they embezzle disaster relief funds, they also had the intention of rebelling. After receiving the news, he hurriedly mobilized troops to encircle and suppress Wen Yiqing, leaving trusted people to protect Wen Yiqing.
Before they separated, the relationship between the two was at its peak. He also thought that after suppressing the rebellious ministers and settling Jiangnan affairs, he would explain the truth to Wen Yiqing and take her back to Beijing. Unexpectedly, after going back, I only saw the ruins all over the place after the fire burned.
All the tenderness returned to the dust.
Bian Chen helped the person up and looked at the cold face of his sweetheart. His throat seemed to be blocked and he felt uncomfortable, "Aqing, don't you recognize me?"
Wen Yiqing said coldly: "A civilian woman wouldn't dare."
Bian Chen had never seen such a cold attitude in her.
She has always had a gentle temperament, even when talking to maids and servants, and she rarely gets angry even when she encounters injustices and grievances. In front of him, there is also the cuteness of his daughter's family.
But those are all gone.
He wanted to get closer, but as soon as he took a step, Wen Yiqing backed away hastily, fearing that he would be out of reach.
"Aqing?"
Wen Yiqing turned his head and said, "The emperor respects himself."
The silence is like falling into an ice cellar.
He thought about scolding and missing him, but he never thought he would be treated so coldly.
"If you blame me, you should." The emperor's voice was hoarse: "Back then, when I went back, everything had been burned clean. When I went to find your house, your parents also said that you were dead. Ah Qing, since you didn't Damn it, why are you avoiding me?"
"..."
"Since you are alive, I will inform the Ministry of Rites tomorrow and ask them to prepare for the ceremony of enthroning the queen."
"No need."
"I have owed you a long time ago. I promised you back then that I would take you back to Beijing and marry you in a glorious way."
"That was a thing of the past."
Bian Chen took a breath.
It was as if a big hand was ruthlessly kneading and crushing his internal organs.
"Aqing, you might as well scold me."
"You are the emperor, you are the Supreme Being, how dare a common woman say anything wrong about you." Wen Yiqing said coldly: "Even if you want the life of a common woman, it is only a matter of one word."
"Why would I want your life?" Bian Chen said hoarsely: "These years, I have wanted you to live again every day. I only regret that I didn't take you with me when I left. That way I might be able to protect you." You’re thoughtful.”
Wen Yiqing finally raised his head to look at him.
Her almond-shaped eyes were cold, and she said softly: "But I already regret it."
"..."
"If I had not gone to other villages back then, I would not have met you, nor would I have been coaxed by you into giving you my true heart in vain. You are the emperor, rich in the world, and I am just for your entertainment. In your eyes, there is no difference between them and toys." At the end of the sentence, her eyes were moist and her voice was nasal, "So many years have passed, and I'm afraid you have already forgotten it, so you just pretend it never happened. Why bring it up again."
Bian Chen said eagerly: "I am also sincere to you."
"...You even lied to me about your identity."
Wen Yiqing's almond-shaped eyes were filled with tears, but she just tried not to fall. She said desperately: "If I had known you were the emperor, how could I have agreed to your request?"
She might as well live a dull life, listen to her parents, and marry a well-matched young man. That way, she wouldn't have met the person in front of her, and her parents wouldn't have to worry about her, and live such a hard life.
"...I didn't mean to hide it from you." When Bian Chen saw her tears, he felt even more heartbroken and guilty. He said hoarsely: "It was just that the situation was critical at that time, and I was afraid that revealing my identity would harm you."
"..."
"Ah Qing, I owed you back then." He lowered his tone and looked at the person in front of him almost pleadingly: "Now you are alone with Shanshan and have gone through a lot of hard work. She is also my child. In the past few years, I have missed the opportunity, so let me make it up to you two in the future."
"If you really feel that you are in debt, just pretend that what happened in the past never happened, that you and I have never met each other, and that you will never appear in front of us again."
Wen Yiqing lowered his eyes, his eyelashes were wet, and whispered: "You are the emperor, and women are just ordinary people. A business woman cannot reach a high level. Women are living a good life now, and they don't want any changes. "
"What about Shanshan?" Bian Chen asked, "The first time I saw her, she still wanted to find her father."
"We, mother and daughter, lived very well without you in the past."
"She's my daughter too."
"She's my child."
"You live in the Qi family, and you even leave her behind in the school carriage. She is a princess and does not have to suffer these grievances."
"But she is my only child." Wen Yiqing choked and said, "And you already have a prince, and there will be more in the future. If you still have a little kindness, please don't take her away from me."
She lowered her head, a tear fell, and whispered: "...please."
"..."
The emperor froze in place, like a weathered stone statue.
You can hear a needle drop in the house.
The great eunuch stood at the door, holding his breath and concentrating, not even daring to breathe. Lest I make any noise.
I don’t know how much time passed before I heard the emperor’s hoarse voice coming from low.
"……good."
"If this is what you want, I...will do as you wish."
…
The emperor stood there for a long time.
Even though the other person in the room had been gone for a long time, he didn't move.
Liang Yong approached cautiously.
The great eunuch did not dare to show his anger, for fear of offending the emperor: "Your Majesty?"
He seemed to have just come to his senses.
The tall body seemed to have been struck down by something. He staggered and held on to the table next to him.
"Where's Zheng Rong?"
The emperor asked hoarsely: "Where are the others?!"
Back then, when he paid a private visit incognito, he only asked Concubine Zheng's brother to accompany him, and many matters were also supervised by Zheng Rong. Later, when he left to suppress the bandits, Zheng Rong was left behind to protect Wen Yiqing.
He and Zheng Rong are like brothers and can be trusted most.
Zheng Rong told him that it was the traitor who rebelled against the party and found out where he lived. A fire burned both houses cleanly and more than ten people in the house survived. rescued. He also handed over the love jade pendant he gave to Ah Qing, saying that it was found from the corpse.
Later, urgent news came from the capital that war broke out at the border. He hurried back to the capital and left Zheng Rong in Yuncheng, leaving him to handle the remaining affairs.
The emperor's eyes were red: "Let him get here!"
