However, Lin Rong always felt that something was not right, and asked tentatively: "I was at Shiliting Pavilion at noon to say goodbye to the official Zhou Chang, and the Lord hurriedly summoned me back to the house. I don't know why?"
Shen Yan knew that he had just violated Lu Shen's taboo, so how could he dare to talk too much? Seeing the kindness and sincerity of this noble lady from Jiangzhou, he nodded a little: "The prince didn't say anything clearly, he just didn't look good when he came back."
Chapter 12
Jinmingtai was built on the high platform of Chenliu Palace. It was the place where the former vassal kings practiced Taoism and sought immortality. The twelve floors of the large and small palaces are known as the White Jade Palace in the Sky. It's just that when Lu Shen entered Xuanzhou, he felt that the place was too luxurious and it was not used as a residence but only as a place for civil and military banquets.
In the hall, the civil and military officials of Yongzhou were sitting on both sides. Lu Shen sat on the high platform and raised his glass: "Doctor Sima, who has been assisting Your Majesty, has lived in Luoyang for twenty years. Do you miss your hometown? I heard that Mrs. Sima would look at the south from the high platform every spring equinox. It must be... What are you thinking about?"
There was an old man sitting in the court, his beard and hair were all white, but his back was straight, and his voice was as loud as a bell: "Why did the Yongzhou pastor say this? The Sima family has been favored by the Han for generations, and has been paid by the Han for generations. Although I am a humble minister, how can I What’s the point of neglecting state affairs because of family affairs?”
This Sima Yunzhong came from a wealthy family in Wu. He was known as the Qilin son of the Sima family since he was born. He became famous in Beijing and Luo at the age of twenty. He knew the laws and regulations, and was well-known in the world. At the age of thirty, he became famous all over the world for an essay against the eunuchs. Although he has no real power, he is extremely noble.
All the civil servants and military officers in the court looked at him angrily, but Lu Shen smiled without any dissatisfaction and ordered Si Yue in the court: "Come up to Wu Wu!"
Si Yue made a promise and waved his hand behind the curtain: "Let's play music." After speaking, the sounds of chimes, chimes, drums, harps, zithers, etc. slowly started to sound, and he stood on the high building and sang loudly to the outside of the hall: "Go to Wu Wu!"
A young woman with red makeup and emerald sleeves slowly entered the palace in the middle of the night. She had elegant broad sleeves and a slanting blouse. Wu Nong softly sang:
Climb the balcony in the morning and sleep in the orchid pond at night.
I pick hibiscus by the moon and get lotus seeds every night.
Say goodbye to the spring breeze, now it is still summer clouds. ①
…
Nowadays, after years of war, etiquette and music have collapsed. Even Luoyang no longer has such pure elegant music. Everyone in the palace nodded in praise. The accompanying envoy of the emperor stroked his beard and said: "The Marquis of Fuyuan governs the elegant music!"
Sima Yunzhong was the only one who burst into tears. After dancing, he sighed: "I haven't heard Wu Yin for a long time!"
After saying that, he coughed, cleared his throat, and said seriously: "I heard that Yongzhou Mu's new wife is also from Wu, and comes from the Cui family in Jiangzhou. Is this possible?"
Lu Shen said: "She is indeed the daughter of the Cui family. What can Dr. Sima say?"
Sima Yunzhong shook his head: "It's not a high-level discussion. This is Yongzhou Mu's family matter. Logically speaking, I shouldn't say much. It's just that since Wang Mang usurped the Han Dynasty, although the chaos was brought back, the moral style of the people has declined, and the moral education has withered. As for the distinction between scholars and common people, I can’t say more.”
After saying that, he stood up and said loudly: "The Cui family in Jiangzhou is ranked first in the "Clan Chronicles". Now there are many discussions about Cui Lu's marriage to Luo. It is really a high-ranking family that degrades their ancestors and insults their relatives..."
On the surface, these words were scolding the Cui family, but in fact they were scolding Lu Shen, who was born in the common people and climbed to the gentry clan. A military general immediately stood up and said: "Sima Laoer, my lord treats each other with courtesy, but you repay kindness with enmity. You are talking nonsense here. Are you trying to deceive me that there is no one in Yongzhou?"
Sima Yunzhong chuckled: "Cui and Lu are getting married today. I went all the way north and heard people singing: There are no pine and cypress trees in the soil, and there are different weapons. The people still know the difference between pine trees and cypresses, but the Marquis of Fuyuan does not distinguish between the common people and the pine trees. , sets an unethical precedent?”
Sima Yunzhong advocated the style of the family and once advised His Majesty: Nobles of the royal family and the families of scholars and civilians are not allowed to marry non-human couples. Naturally, he was very dissatisfied with the marriage between Cui and Lu.
As soon as Lu Shen said this, before Lu Shen could do anything, all the civil servants and generals in the court were furious: "How outrageous! Get out, get out!"
One person said to Lu Shen: "My lord, why should such a pedantic old thief listen to his arrogant words? Just beat him out with a stick."
Sima Yunzhong had only one word of "zhi" in his life, and he prided himself on being a loyal minister. He always treated these separatist warlords without any pretense. He also knew that the imperial court was in a state of decline. Whenever he went on missions, he showed his integrity and never succumbed to them.
…
Lin Rong asked the maid to lead him to the Jinjin Pavilion next to the palace to freshen up and change clothes. He put on a honey-colored satin jacket and a moon-white pleated skirt, all decorated with gold and silver embellishments, such as a beaded bun, a beaded hairpin, and a necklace. None of them are used, and only a jade hairpin is used on the bun, which makes it look more and more simple.
Coming out of Zhujin Pavilion, there is a corridor wide from north to south. Several strong servants and women are waiting at the foot of Taiji. After riding the sedan chair for a hundred or two hundred steps, he saw the maid raising the curtain of the sedan chair and replied: "Madam, Jinmingtai has arrived."
Lin Rong got off the sedan chair and saw bright lights and all the guards standing under the Danqi. She waited outside the hall for a while and heard the argument in the hall. She immediately understood Lu Shen's intention of calling her here and was quite hesitant. : "The prince is hosting a banquet with foreign ministers here. I am a member of the family, and there is a distinction between inside and outside. I'm afraid it would be inappropriate to rush in."
The maid bowed and stood beside her, her tone was humble but she did not allow Lin Rong to refuse: "Of course there are differences between inside and outside, but this is the Lord's order. When the Lord was free, he once said that Madam is a smart person, and she must be able to enter the palace later. Know what you should do and say.”
After Lin Rong heard this, he raised his eyes and looked at the maid carefully. He saw that she was wearing a long autumn-colored light skirt, a pair of well-watered jasper bracelets on her hands, two curved eyebrows, and a pair of peach blossom eyes. She was quite romantic. There was a hint of perseverance in her eyes. This was not the look of an ordinary maid. She asked, "What's your name? I seem to have never seen you before?"
The maid was neither humble nor arrogant: "My name is Hang Qing. I used to serve my wife. I came to Xuanzhou with the two nuns to arrange the wedding of the king, but we were delayed. I only arrived in Xuanzhou these two days, and my wife didn't recognize my servant." It turns out that he is there, and if we meet him more often in the future, we will naturally recognize him."
After saying that, she waved, and the small yellow door on the side immediately ran in and reported: "Madam, please see me outside the palace!"
In the hall, Lu Shen was pouring himself a drink. Hearing this, he raised his eyes and said, "Xuan!"
Lin Rong had no choice but to cheer up and entered the palace. He saw a large plaque with red gold and black background. On the plaque were written the four words "Yun Wai Qing Capital". Lu Shen was dressed in cloud satin and slanted. Leaning on the high platform, he seemed a little tipsy.
Under the high platform are two rows of twenty-four nanmu chairs. The ministers and servants are arranged on both sides. In front of each person is a large carved huanghuali table with six or seven side dishes. Each table is equipped with a sapphire teapot and a cloisonné enamel teapot. Silver cups, beef and mutton, and several side dishes.
As soon as Lin Rong entered, most of the civil and military people in Yongzhou despised this noble lady from Jiangzhou and did not treat her as a serious mistress. They had an arrogant attitude and refused to stand up to greet her. Only a few people who followed Lu Shen on the hunt at noon, trying to figure out what was going on, or those who had always acted cautiously, showed up and bowed their hands: "Madam!"
Lin Rong nodded in return and turned to Lu Shenfu on the high platform: "When I was young, I often listened to my elders in the family reciting Dr. Sima's articles, and I was always filled with admiration. Now that I heard that Dr. Sima was far away, I specially prepared Wu Di Di Dessert, Liao Jie Sima The doctor is homesick. I went to the palace abruptly, and I hope you will forgive me."
Then he smiled slightly and saluted Sima Yunzhong, saying, "Doctor Sima has been in Jingluo for a long time. I wonder if he can still remember the flavor of his hometown?"
Sima Yunzhong's face didn't look very good, so he reluctantly returned the salute.
The maid behind her was holding a large box with vermilion lacquer and solid gold Ruyi beads with auspicious patterns, and brought out a small Dehua Jian white porcelain lamp with a small crimson abalone in the lamp.
Lu Shen didn't say much, just nodded slightly: "Madam, thank you for your hard work!" Then he said to his subordinates, "Since Madam is so dedicated, please give it a try!"
This situation is really strange. Lu Shen entertains foreign ministers at banquets, singing, dancing, and having fun. Is there any reason to ask serious family members to come out to see the ceremony? Just an ordinary concubine, this is the head wife of three matchmakers and six betrothals. Even if Yongzhou civil and military officials were to visit him, they would have to face each other across a curtain.
The civil and military officials in Yongzhou each tasted a piece of abalone in silence and choked out three or five words: "Wonderful, wonderful."
Lu Shen sat on the high platform, holding his forehead with one hand, with a pair of red phoenix eyes and a faint smile. He waited for all the ministers to finish tasting, but still made no move. The whole hall suddenly fell into a strange silence.
Lin Rong took a deep breath, still with a gentle smile on his face, and slowly walked up to the high platform. Behind Lu Shen were several maids holding fly brushes, basins and other items. The maid handed the tea to Lin Rong: "Madam!"
Lin Rong understood and came to Lu Shen with a small bell with a dome color made from kilns and said: "Your Majesty, please rinse your mouth first!"
Lu Shen seemed to be very drunk. He just hummed slightly and reluctantly followed Lin Rong's service, gargling his mouth and hands, and then asked Lin Rong to bend down and wipe it carefully with a Songjiang cloth handkerchief.
Lu Shen raised his head slightly and saw her pair of jasper dripping earrings as if they were on a swing. He didn't know what kind of incense she had smoked today. It had a light fruity smell, and seemed to be mixed with some kind of floral fragrance. The smell was very light, and when she smelled it again, it was like It seems like there is nothing left, as if there is nothing.
Lu Shen usually hates the fragrance of these powders, but now he feels that the fragrance of these powders is probably different. The woman lowered her head and rolled the Songjiang cloth across his palm. He felt slightly uncomfortable - she was not useless at all, at least she knew the current affairs and knew how to advance and retreat.
Lin Rong changed into a pair of red sandalwood, agate, gold and silver chopsticks, picked up a pink and white abalone from the box, placed it on a gold plate, and stood aside with his hands down: "Your Majesty!"
Lu Shen slowly ate half of it and slowly uttered one word: "Good!"
Sima Yunzhong, who was at the head, had a livid face. Lu Shen used his wife as a maid and ordered her to serve at the banquet. It was not just the Cui family's daughter who was humiliated? It was clearly a slap in his face! I'm afraid Lu Shen has never looked down on people like common people, nobles or lowly people.
Sima Yunzhong said he was a scholar and a commoner, claiming to be a noble family, and united with each other to join the party and the masses, so what?
Lu Shen seemed as if he had not heard of the strange sight of those sitting down, but still had a warm expression on his face: "This thing is sweet and greasy. Doctor Sima, please drink this cup to the full!"
Lu Shen calmly slapped these nobles in the face. Until the banquet ended, Sima Yunzhong didn't say a single word.
After the banquet ended, Lin Rong was led by the maid to the side hall to wait. She had been standing for a long time, and her knees ached a little. She leaned slightly on the couch and took a nap. After waiting for an unknown period of time, no one came, so she held her chin up. Sitting there, I stared at the Ru kiln flower bag on the small table and was stunned.
Suddenly I heard the curtains outside, and a girl asked, "What are you doing?"
The person who answered was also a female voice, but her voice was weak, and she must be younger: "Sister Guiyuan, Madam has been waiting inside for half an hour, and there is no water or rice on the table. I will bring you a cup of Liu'an tea, just for the sake of it. "
The girl who called Guiyuan sneered twice: "Little hooves, I couldn't find you in the whole palace. I don't know where I went to beat my teeth. Now my son came out and looked at the high branches. But you are also stupid, go up There is no high platform, but when someone calls the lady inside, do you really think of her as a person? Come on, what good can you think of her? "
Chapter 13
The little girl said calmly: "Sister Hangqing just asked me to deliver something to Chaoyun Palace. Sister just said that I am the one, so what's the point of dragging my wife into it?"
Liuli sat on the small stool at the door with her legs crossed, bouncing on her embroidered shoes, grabbed the tea, took a few sips, and rolled her eyes: "One mouthful, madam, so affectionate? I bought it from outside. It's really true." His eyelids are shallow.”
After all, the ones bought from outside are inferior to those born at home. The little girl did not dare to refute, and whispered: "Sister!"
Liuli snorted: "When I was hired, the seventh old man went to the ancestral hall to cry for his ancestors. The wife in Yongzhou Mansion was the first to not want to see her, and the old lady may not like her very much. When the fourth grandma came over, the old lady, my wife and relatives gave her Things were piled up in three big rooms. What did she get this time? She didn't even have a plate of auspicious money, and she was just a face-saving person. No matter how noble she is, her surname is Cui. She may not be as good as us in the future. Where are these serving girls?”
As she spoke, she laughed: "Didn't she just do the job of a girl serving people today? Who is better than her?"
Liuli's voice became louder and louder, and the little girl hurriedly said: "Shh, sister Liuli, keep your voice down. She was just taking a nap, so she might have woken up. As long as we serve people, we can just go by without a hitch, so why should we have to embarrass anyone?" ? When it comes to serious trouble, it's always us slaves who are not the ones to do it."
Liuli glared at the little girl bitterly, feeling a little afraid after all. She pulled up her skirt and stood up, speaking in a lower voice: "Okay, okay, you are just a little girl bought from outside with a few taels of silver. You have to eat enough." It has only been a few days, and now you are teaching me. The more you flatter me, I will call you sister in the future. I wonder if you are so lucky?"
After saying that, he slammed the door curtain and turned around, not knowing where he was going.
The little girl sighed and saw that the cup of tea had been drained of longan, so she had to go outside, put a pot of boiling water on the small red clay stove, and took out a small can of tea leaves from the filigree blue box. , carry it in with a Ru kiln plate.
As soon as he entered, he saw a woman sitting on a beautiful couch. She was pulling out a jade hairpin and picking up a candle. The light of the candle was extinguished and reflected on the woman's face, making her raven hair and jade face even more beautiful, and her bones frozen with ice.
Lin Rong heard the noise and turned around. He saw a little girl wearing a green shirt who had just grown her hair. She was only eleven or twelve years old. She timidly saluted: "Madam, you're awake!"
Lin Rong hummed, spoke lazily, and motioned for her to place the tray on the begonia-style carved lacquer table in front of her. She picked out the tea leaves from the porcelain jar, boiled them with boiling water three or four times, and poured the fifth tea soup on the table. He slowly took a sip from the white tureen with a red lotus pattern on the ground. He saw the little girl looking at him longingly and said with a smile: "Would you like a drink too?"
The little girl shook her head, lowered her head and added a handful of styrax into the Ruinao incense burner. After a long time, she whispered: "Madam, you are so beautiful, even the way you make tea is so beautiful."
This little girl looked innocent and childish. Lin Rong smiled and asked casually: "You came from Yongzhou, how many days have you been on the road?"
The little girl tilted her head and thought for a while: "It took more than half a month to arrive, but sister Hangqing fell ill on the way, and it was delayed for a few days. We stopped at Shilibao on the way, and everyone in that village was infected with the disease. We I don’t know, but later Sister Hang Qing also started to have a fever and talk nonsense, which frightened Captain Hu who was escorting him half to death. He sighed and said that if Sister Hang Qing had an emergency, she didn’t know how to explain it to the king. Fortunately, she took medicine later and gradually recovered. alright."
After hearing this, Lin Rong just said lightly: "It was really hard on the road."
The little girl waited for a while, and when she saw that Lin Rong didn't ask any more questions, she asked curiously, "Madam, don't you want to ask about Yongzhou?"
Lin Rong said: "You probably don't need to know."
The little girl scratched her head and didn't understand: "You don't need to know?"
Lin Rong touched the top of her hair and just smiled without explaining anything.
Just as he was talking, he heard footsteps outside, and the gold, vine, and red lacquered bamboo curtains were opened. Lin Rong stood up, and the first thing that caught his eye was a pair of azurite boots.
Lu Shenxin put on a black sleeve of arrows. Standing in the backlight, he looked even more like a wasp with the waist of a monkey and the shape of a crane like a beetle. He had drunk too much wine at the banquet. He smelled of alcohol and his steps were a little sloppy. He was leaning slightly on the couch, leaning on a half-old brocade pillow. He closed his eyes for a long time, and then waved his hands to order the girls. They all retreated: "Everyone, go out and wait outside!"
Lu Shen opened his eyes and saw Lin Rong, dressed in plain silk, standing under the lamp. Her hair was like dark clouds, her face was pink with hibiscus, and her eyebrows were far away. Although she was not wearing brocade clothes, she could not hide her national beauty. Instead, she had a certain elegance and elegance.
As the saying goes, when you look at a beautiful woman under the lamp, you often see a curl of hair.
For some reason, perhaps because he drank too much, Lu Shen felt an inexplicable hot feeling that reached his abdomen. He opened his eyes slightly and drank a few cups of cold tea. Then he felt better and called out, "Cui Shiniang?"
Lin Rong bent his knees slightly: "I am here, I wonder what your orders are?"
Lu Shen looked at her standing quietly. Although her posture was submissive, she still had the alienation unique to a noble lady from aristocratic families. She was calm and unhurried, unhurried and unhurried.
Lu Shen frowned unconsciously, and then his voice became colder. He changed his title and asked, "You come from the Haoying clan, the Shili family. You have a reputation as a virtuous woman in the south of the Yangtze River. You must be Youcheng." Ting Xun, a man with poetry and books in his belly?"
Lin Rong's eyelids twitched and he was quite confused. The Cui family is indeed a generation of talented women, and the original Cui Shiniang was also enlightened since childhood. But Lin Rong is not Cui Shiniang, and has never learned calligraphy. After coming here for half a year, she barely learned a little bit. In terms of handwriting, she is only neat, and she is definitely not as good as a lady from a wealthy family.
She subconsciously retorted: "I have been stupid since I was a child. I don't understand poetry and books. I am not as good as my sisters in the clan. I can barely read a few words. I don't dare to call myself a virtuous wife."
Lu Shen rubbed the gold-sprinkled Caoyang fan on the table, and said softly: "Since I know a few words, why don't I understand the nurturing rules? The Book of Rites says that when a woman goes out, she must cover her face. Yongdi Although there is no bad habit of women not leaving the boudoir, it is not appropriate to just see foreign men..." The following words were not finished, but the meaning was very clear.
Lin Rong suddenly understood that when she was bidding farewell to the Jiang governor at Shiliting today, she was not wearing a curtain hat, which Lu Shen saw, which aroused his taboo. The atmosphere in Jiangzhou is open, and there is no custom of women covering their faces when going out, no matter how old or young they are.
She felt ridiculous in her heart, being good at seeing foreign men? Lu Shen asked her to serve at the banquet today, and she saw more than one foreign man?
