In the southeast of the palace, a Xuanhui Gate connects Ouchi with the East Palace. This is the main and largest passage between the East Palace and Ouchi. The prince and the concubines of the East Palace usually pass through this passage when they enter the palace to pay respects.
Under normal circumstances, ordinary East Palace officials and chamberlains are not qualified to enter this gate. This is also the most heavily guarded palace gate in the Huan Da Nei, with two teams of Da Nei guards stationed there.
Summer has arrived again, and the scorching sun is shining in the sky, releasing light and heat to its heart's content, casting the shadow of the solemn guard at Xuanhui Gate directly to the ground. In addition to the majestic guards, Xuanhui Gate is also waiting for a wave of people.
Several of the chambermaids were from the East Palace. A young man with a handsome appearance and an upright posture was the emperor's grandson Liu Wenji. In the narrow shadow under the umbrella was the gorgeously dressed Concubine Zhao, who was in her mid-teens. Among them all She is the most eager to see through it.
It was the emperor's grandson Liu Wenhuan who could make them treat him so solemnly in front of Xuanhui's gate. Last year, Liu Wenhuan happened to be talking about supporting Anxi. Emperor Liu had an idea and asked Liu Wenhuan to lead a team to escort a batch of important ordnance supplies to the west.
It only took nearly a year to turn back and we finally arrived in Beijing this morning. As soon as he entered the city, Emperor Liu sent someone to take him to the palace for questioning. The grandfather and grandson spent the whole morning talking in Chui Gong Hall.
Regarding Liu Wenhuan's return, his mother, Concubine Zhao, was undoubtedly the happiest. Her son had traveled thousands of miles, and her mother was worried. Liu Wenhuan had traveled thousands of miles back and forth, and he was going to Anxi, where the war was fierce and dangerous.
Concubine Zhao had been worried about her for a year, praying and wishing her all the time. Now that her beloved son has returned safely, although the news was that everything was intact, how could she feel completely at ease unless she saw him in person.
Concubine Zhao had been waiting in front of Xuanhui Gate for almost two hours. She was very patient. Since she was looking forward to seeing Liu Wenhuan soon, she was also full of hope and reverie about the old emperor's reception for so long.
Compared with Concubine Zhao's conflicting mood, Liu Wenji was waiting aside. His calm and childish face could tell people his age at a glance, but his low-key and restrained temperament also made it easy for people to fall in love with her. .
Of course, Liu Wenji came to the palace gate in person to wait for his brother, but he could not do without the advice of his wise mother, Concubine Xiao. Not to mention the brotherly respect that should be shown, Liu Wenhuan spared no effort to travel thousands of miles to Western Xinjiang. This spirit is worth learning from Liu Wenji.
Until the afternoon, when the sun moved westward and even the palace officials showed expressions of hard work and endurance, Liu Wenhuan's figure finally appeared in sight. It has only been one year since he traveled west, but Liu Wenhuan's growth has doubled. He looks leaner, but his spirit seems to have been baptized, and he exudes a confident temperament from the inside out.
From a distance, he saw the people under the palace gate, especially the familiar figure of his mother. Liu Wenhuan immediately picked up his speed and ran towards Xuanhui Gate. He approached, knelt down straight and threw himself into the arms of Concubine Zhao who was coming up. inside.
The reunion of mother and son was a catharsis of longing. Liu Wenhuan had tears in his eyes, and Concubine Zhao also cried with joy. Looking down at her son in her arms, she couldn't stop crying.
Although he returned intact, his face was stained black, which made Concubine Zhao look really distressed. Obviously, Liu Wenhuan was not going to enjoy happiness on this journey to the west.
"My son has suffered!" Concubine Zhao muttered.
Liu Wenhuan, who was gradually calming down, smiled heartily when he heard this: "No matter how hard it is, it is not as good as the officials and people guarding the border and the soldiers who went on a bloody Western expedition. However, this trip took a long time, which made my mother worried and my son deeply uneasy!"
Seeing this, Concubine Zhao wiped her tears happily and said excitedly: "It'll be good to come back! It'll be good to come back! Have you had lunch? Mother has already asked someone to prepare it."
"Thank you, mother!" Although Emperor Liu had already invited him to have lunch, Liu Wenhuan still understood his mother's wishes and obeyed her arrangements with a smile.
After the mother and son had a brief conversation, Liu Wenji finally came up and saluted Liu Wenhuan respectfully. Lian Shan showed a warm smile: "Brother, you finally returned to Beijing!"
Hearing the sound, Liu Wenhuan turned his attention to Liu Wenji. His eyes were as sharp as a falcon. He looked around the younger brother and quickly smiled back. He stepped forward and gave him a hug: "Erlang, I haven't seen him in a while." See, you’ve grown a lot taller too!”
Although they were both teenagers, the two brothers had not been so close to each other for some years, and Liu Wenji was a little stunned. But he soon smiled brightly and said to Liu Wenhuan: "Brother, we miss you so much after being away from Beijing for such a long time. When I heard about your return, Empress Zhao was extremely surprised and has been waiting here for two hours."
After hearing what Liu Wenji said, Liu Wenhuan straightened his expression, looked at his mother again, solemnly bowed his hands to Concubine Zhao, and said in a sincere tone: "Mother is worried!"
"Brother, I have never left the capital, and you have traveled thousands of miles to the west!" Liu Wenji was very interested, and then asked: "Can you please tell us about your journey to the west? The northwest should be as vast and magnificent as the teacher said. Come on! Brother, have you ever seen the Ninety-Nine Meanders of the Yellow River? Have you ever walked through the desert? Isn’t it shocking to see the rolling sand?"
On Liu Wenji's face, in addition to deep curiosity, there was also deep admiration, and his eyes were almost filled with stars. Seeing this, Liu Wenhuan couldn't help but reveal a smug smile, his vanity was greatly satisfied, and he patted him on the shoulder: "These are very common in the northwest, I have seen them all, go back to the palace first, I will take my time. Let me tell you."
Hearing this, Liu Wenji's expression changed from a smile to a beaming one.
Concubine Zhao, who was also gradually calming down, paid attention to the exchange between the two brothers. Although Liu Wenji was humble, respectful and even somewhat attentive to Liu Wenhuan, Concubine Zhao felt a little awkward.
Seeing that the two brothers were becoming more familiar with each other, Concubine Zhao couldn't help but cough slightly and said to Liu Wenhuan: "Wenhuan, you really need to tell your mother about your experiences along the way!"
"Yes!" Liu Wenhuan said respectfully.
As if feeling the faint rejection from Concubine Zhao, Liu Wenji quickly calmed down, with a smile still on his lips, and followed Concubine Zhao and her son back to the palace like a follower. His eyelids drooped, and his eyes fell calmly on the square inch in front of his toes, silently. Silent.
On the way back to the East Palace, Liu Wenhuan personally supported Concubine Zhao as a sign of filial piety and laughed softly: "There is another piece of good news to tell my mother. Just now, I bowed down in the palace and my grandfather has conferred a title on my son and made him a first-class Marquis of Ten Thousand Years." "
The happiest person for Liu Wenhuan's return is Concubine Zhao, followed by Prince Liu Yang, who is a parent after all. However, compared with Concubine Zhao, Liu Yang is stable. He has been staying in Guangzheng Palace, focusing on state affairs, and everything seems to be business as usual.
But since Liu Wenhuan entered the palace, people have been paying attention to him, and he left Guangzheng Hall today half an hour earlier than usual. In the afternoon, Liu Yang specially summoned Zhao Defang and Murong Yongren to the Guangzheng Hall to personally inquire about Liu Wenhuan's westward journey. These two officials were specially selected by Liu Yang to accompany Liu Wenhuan.
East Palace, Hongde Hall.
A family banquet was a matter of course, and the palace people were busy in an orderly manner, preparing various items for the emperor and grandson to take care of themselves. On the left side of the palace, Prince Liu Yang received Liu Wenhuan alone. Since returning to the palace, Liu Wenhuan has been a little arrogant. Even in front of Emperor Liu, he is full of confidence. But at this time, facing his father's sizing eyes, his pride fades a little. go.
Looking at Liu Wenhuan calmly, Liu Yang finally smiled when he saw that he was standing straight and not daring to relax. This smile also made Liu Wenhuan breathe a sigh of relief. Perhaps it was an illusion, but Liu Wenhuan felt that his prince father was more majestic and awe-inspiring than the emperor's grandfather.
"I asked Zhao Defang and Murong Yongren, and they spoke very well of you. They said that you have a strong temperament, can withstand hardships, and can take on big responsibilities!" Liu Yang said slowly.
Hearing this, Liu Wenhuan was slightly happy in his heart, but he said modestly: "I don't dare to be a son, but I have been taught by my grandfather for a long time and I dare not forget it. I only want to complete my mission."
Seeing this, Liu Yang shook his head again and said calmly: "Zhao and Murong have not experienced any major events. I don't care how flattering their evaluations are. I just hope that this trip is not in vain. What you experience and what you see and hear can be remembered and become your true knowledge!”
"Yes!" After hearing what Liu Yang said, Liu Wenhuan calmed down and responded obediently.
