Winter turns to spring, the ice and snow melt, the cold gradually fades away, and it is time for the great man to usher in the recovery of all things. For Emperor Liu, the past twenty-two years of Kaibao were a year of mixed joys and sorrows. The suppression of the Yulin Rebellion and the invasion of Heihan for two thousand miles were a small joy, but the death of Empress Fu was a great tragedy.
In the Chui Gong Hall, Emperor Liu stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling glazed mirror with his hands spread out. His whole body was reflected in the mirror. Two maids carefully dressed Emperor Liu.
I am indeed getting older. I cannot straighten my hands at all. I still feel sore and tired after holding them in the air for a long time. My waist is no longer as straight as before. I have to compromise with the years and become rickety.
"Time is like a butcher's knife!" Emperor Liu looked at his old and even somewhat gloomy and ugly face in the mirror, and laughed at himself: "When I was young, I thought I was pretty handsome, but now it seems, Why is my face so disgusting? No wonder even those old friends are moving away from me one after another. Could it be that my face is too disgusting?"
Emperor Liu was muttering to himself here, which made the palace attendants tremble with fear, and the delicate hands of the palace maid who helped him straighten his robes trembled. Yan Tuo can talk now, and he doesn't know how to answer these words at this time. Emperor Liu's current appearance is really unflattering, and naturally he cannot tell the truth. However, Yan Tuo has also experienced it if he flatters regardless of the facts. Yes, I am afraid of being accused of being a liar.
Accompanying an emperor is like accompanying a tiger. He cannot tell the truth, and Emperor Liu does not like to hear lies. After Fu Hou died, Emperor Liu became more and more moody and often "sick". Even Yantuo, who had served Emperor Liu for more than 20 years, could not control it. .
Just as he thought of something, Yantuo quickly changed the subject and said, "Guan family, just now Huang Jucai, who was waiting for imperial edict from Hanlin Academy, sent a royal portrait. Do you want to have a look at it?"
"Huh?" Emperor Liu seemed to have come to his senses and ordered: "Take it and take a look!"
"yes!"
Huang Jucai was a famous painting master at that time. He and his father Huang Quan were originally painters in the Meng Shu palace. After Sichuan was pacified, he was taken to Tokyo with Meng Chang. Later, father and son entered the palace together and served as painters of the Han court. In the past twenty years, Over the years, a large number of excellent works have been produced under their pens. The palace style and important events of the Kaibao era of the Han Dynasty can be recorded in their paintings.
A month ago, Emperor Liu happened to be interested and asked Huang Jucai to paint a portrait for him. Now, the result has finally come to fruition. Soon, Yan Tuo greeted the two chamberlains and unfolded the scroll in front of Emperor Liu, and Emperor Liu's portrait also came into view.
The painting shows that Emperor Liu has a purple crown on his head, is dressed in gorgeous clothes, and has a heroic and majestic look on his face. His whole body seems to be emitting divine light. Painting also pays attention to charm. The painting in front of me is full of charm and full of impression...
Perhaps because of his bad eyesight, Emperor Liu didn't scan carefully enough, so he took another closer look, turned around and compared the image in the mirror, and frowned: "Yantuo, do you think this painting is of me?"
"Yes!" Yan Tuo blurted out, observing Emperor Liu's expression, and then said: "It's just that the official family is sacred. Although Huang Hanlin has superb painting skills, he is still an ordinary brush. How can he fulfill the dignity of the official family? He can only A little glimpse of the charm of Baiyi..."
"Haha!" Emperor Liu was amused by Yantuo's words. He waved his hand and said with emotion: "I have discovered that the older I get, the less these painters know how to draw me, and the less I can draw my portraits. picture......"
The words "Taboo for the Venerable" came to Yan Tuo's mind, but he did not dare to say them out.
Emperor Liu didn't care so much and instructed: "I remember that Huang Jucai was best at flowers, birds, bamboo and stone. Is it embarrassing for him to let him paint portraits? It's a pity that Gu Hongzhong died a few years ago, otherwise he would be so A wonderful pen will surely produce flowers."
After sighing with emotion, Emperor Liu told Yantuo: "Send a message to Huang Jucai, saying that I am not satisfied with this painting. He did not paint it like it. However, I will give him another chance to paint it again. If he paints like this again, If he deceives me, I will punish him for the crime of deceiving the emperor!"
"Yes!" Yantuo responded immediately.
I secretly mourned for Huang Jucai in my heart. This job is not easy to do. This is not a portrait. It is clearly a painting of the emperor's thoughts. However, Emperor Liu's thoughts during this period were so unpredictable that it makes people scared just thinking about it. However, a dead Taoist friend is not a poor Taoist, as long as the fire does not burn him, not to mention that the Huang family and his son are serving as kings in the palace.
In these years, I have received many honors and favors. As I enjoy the blessings, I have to bear the risk of thunder.
"Then what should I do with this painting?" Yantuo asked again.
"Keep it! When the new painting comes out, compare it again to see which one is more like me!" Emperor Liu said calmly.
"Yes!" Yantuo responded, gestured to the waiter, and quickly put it away.
After reading the painting, Emperor Liu returned to the mirror and stared at himself in the mirror for a long time, his old eyes gradually becoming hazy. The person opposite him had gray hair, wrinkles on his face, and even two very obvious age spots. The feeling of aging and slumber was exuding from the inside out. Emperor Liu had never felt it so deeply before, and even had a feeling of it. Fear and chill from the bottom of my heart. Today's Emperor Liu is not like before. The older he gets, the less he wants to admit...
"In the past, I didn't really believe the story of dying in tears overnight, but when it happened to me, I had to believe it!" Emperor Liu said with a hint of sadness in his tone: "The ups and downs of life, the great sorrow and great joy, it's really not true. What a good thing..."
"Please take care of yourself, officials!" Seeing that Emperor Liu's mood was not right again, Yan Tuo comforted him instinctively.
"I'm in very good health! I don't need you people to remind me all the time!" Emperor Liu suddenly turned his head and said angrily.
Under the gaze, Yantuo felt horrified, shrank his hands and feet, and hesitated to speak any more. At this time, the palace maid took the crown and carefully helped Emperor Liu put it on, and then he finished dressing up.
Twelve crown beads were swaying slightly in front of his eyes. Each of the hanging beads seemed to reflect a world or a mood. When he saw the face blocked in the mirror, Emperor Liu suddenly said: "This crown crown seems to hide the ugly face." It’s working!”
No one dared to answer these words randomly. This morning, Emperor Liu seemed to be at odds with his appearance. He mentioned it repeatedly, as if it had become a sore spot for him.
As he got older, he did talk more. After walking a few steps, Emperor Liu pointed to the crown on his head and sighed: "This crown seems to be getting heavier and heavier, just like this country is becoming more and more vast, which makes me feel overwhelmed!" "
Wuyou groaned, and then Emperor Liu returned to normal. With a wave of his hand, he ordered: "Let's go to court!"
"Let's drive!" Hearing this, Yantuo finally breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly sang and led the way.
However, before he had taken two steps, Emperor Liu paused again. He turned around and looked at the floor-to-ceiling mirror. An idea suddenly came to his mind, and he said coldly: "Smash this mirror for me. It will shine a bright light on me." It’s so clear!”
"yes!"
