Zhaowei's voice could be faintly heard in the inner hall, and she was telling those street jokes again. She told them three or five times in front of her mother yesterday, and she always made her happy every time.
Qi Lingzhan paused for a moment outside the palace. After she finished speaking, he asked everyone to wait outside the palace and dismissed the palace attendants who brought tea and water.
"What are you saying, and you have to say it mysteriously," Zhaowei said to Qi Lingzhan, "My sister is so depressed that she can't get rid of it. You can't scold her."
Qi Lingzhan said: "With you as a foil, Zhang Fei can be said to be demure when he comes. I can't teach others."
"Then you won't let me listen?" Zhaowei poked his head in and refused to leave, "You must be talking bad about me."
"Da Yong is not afraid of slander," Qi Lingzhan pushed her out and closed the door, "Just wait quietly outside."
Qi Lingzhan and Qi Yaoning were the only ones left in the tearoom. Yaoning wanted to pour tea for him, but Qi Lingzhan didn't dare to strain her and stepped forward to take the teapot.
Yao Ning said: "I don't have many opportunities to pour tea for my brother. Today is a rare occasion, so I don't need to be polite."
Qi Lingzhan said: "You have a hundred years of longevity, don't say such things."
Yao Ning smiled and said, "For thousands of years, once a person dies, he must make plans for what will happen after his death."
Her plan was to let Qi Pingzhi enter the palace to attend to his illness. Although Qi Lingzhan was entrusted by her to write a letter to Qi's parents' room, he did not agree with her approach.
He said: "Coming all the way from Youyemen, I saw the joy on my cousin's face. She is already arrogant before she has gained power. If she really becomes a queen in the future, she may not be kind to the prince considering her blood relationship."
"Brother, don't worry." Qi Yaoning put down the bowl, motioned for him to come over, and whispered a few sincere words to him, but saw Qi Lingzhan's eyebrows slowly frowning.
"Zhaowei? You actually still want her to enter the palace?"
Qi Yaoning said: "I have heard about the Han family. I know that my brother will never let Zhaowei marry into such a family. Don't worry, I will not force her, I will only let her make her own choice."
There was a bit of sternness in Qi Lingzhan's voice: "Yao Ning, you can't do this to yourself. Aren't we, except Asui, my father, mother, and Your Majesty your family? You want me to watch helplessly?" you--"
"elder brother!"
Qi Yaoning interrupted his advice, covered her lips and coughed due to the surge of breath. Qi Lingzhan hurriedly poured water for her to calm down, but he saw a ball of bright red blood smeared in the plain silk handkerchief in her palm.
Yao Ning's eyes were full of tears, and she handed the veil to Qi Lingzhan, "It's meaningless to me to delay for a few days. I only have this wish, brother... If Zhaowei is willing to take pity on me and Asui, this is I owe her a favor, and I will repay her in the next life. If she doesn't want to, don't worry, brother, I will never force her."
In her pleading and hopeful eyes, Qi Lingzhan hesitated several times, and finally slowly tightened the blood-stained handkerchief.
His heart was torn away from the fantasy of escape and fell into the cold, unavoidable reality.
Finally, he said: "This matter will be as you wish. If Zhaowei is willing, then let her enter the palace. If she is not willing... don't worry, Yao Ning, as long as the Yongping Marquis Mansion is here, as long as I still have With one breath, I will never let Asui be bullied."
"elder brother……"
"It's just that you have to take care of yourself and treat yourself as my surrogate mother... please."
The mother he was talking about was the late wife of Marquis Yongping, their biological mother.
When their mother was still alive, the brothers and sisters were raised together at her knees, eating together in the morning and evening, and seeing each other in the morning and evening. After their mother passed away, Mrs. Qi of Rong'an Hall took them in and raised them. She was a very disciplined person. She locked Yao Ning in the embroidery building all day long and asked her to learn embroidery and female craftsmanship. She was not allowed to go downstairs. The brother and sister rarely see each other a few times throughout the year. The older Yaoning gets, the more shy and reserved she becomes. Sometimes she doesn't even dare to raise her head after saying a few words to him.
A few years passed until Rong entered the mansion and took Yao Ning out of the embroidery building. It was only then that Yao Ning's temperament became clear, and she received an imperial edict from the palace to marry the fourth prince.
They have been brother and sister for twenty years. All in all, he, as the elder brother, really owes her a lot. He wanted to take care of her and treat her well, but he had no chance. Now that she was asking him to do this, he was in a dilemma. He could neither accept nor refuse.
Yongpinghou's family left the palace before the end of time, and Qi Pingzhi stayed behind and was placed in a side hall of Kunming Palace.
She was overjoyed in the palace with its carved beams and painted buildings. The bedroom here was larger than the courtyard where she lived, and there were eight delicacies, jade food, and the best tea in Ming Dynasty at her disposal.
The female official Jinchun received the Queen's instruction and allowed her to choose the gifts sent by Yao Guifei, and hinted to Qi Pingzhi: "The Imperial Concubine is always generous with her gifts. When the girl gets a reward, she should go and thank her while it's hot. The Imperial Concubine loves to be lively, easy to get along with, and in charge of." There are many things going on in the harem! Girl, don’t be anxious.”
Qi Pingzhi had already heard about Concubine Yao's name, and had been secretly worried that he would have a conflict with her. Now after hearing Jinchun's words, he breathed a sigh of relief and responded happily: "I understand."
Early the next morning, Qi Pingzhi dressed up deliberately and went to Linhua Palace to meet Concubine Yao.
Concubine Yao was indeed as gentle as a spring breeze as Jinchun said. She held her hand and wanted to treat her as a sister. Seeing that the hairpin she was wearing was the style of the old year, he ordered someone to get a new set of gold silk eight treasures for her head and face, and gave it to her with a raised hand.
Qi Pingzhi's eyes widened.
Two years ago when Mrs. Qi had her birthday, when the queen came to the Yongping Marquis Mansion, she also wore a set of gold silk eight-treasure bun with beads. The pearl was shiny and shiny, and the golden threads trembled slightly as she turned her head. The brilliance was so dazzling that it made people unable to open their eyes.
For several nights, Qi Pingzhi dreamed of that set of gold hairpins. When he woke up, he could only look at a box of simple and rough silver hairpins with sadness. She couldn't help but think that if the old lady had no bias and allowed her father to seize the title, then she was the wife of the Marquis, and it was she who should marry the fourth prince and become the queen in the middle palace.
That was supposed to be her golden head and eight treasures.
The feeling of jealousy was unpleasant. She had been haunted by this appearance for many years. Today, she was suddenly surprised and happy. She turned around and wiped away tears.
Concubine Yao looked at her and said, "Is it because the customs are so crude that my sister is offended? It doesn't matter, just send someone to change them."
Qi Pingzhi hurriedly waved his hands and said, "This gift is too precious. I dare not wear it for fear of exceeding the gift."
The female official next to the imperial concubine burst out laughing when she heard this, and interjected: "The empress is always generous, and when she is in a good mood, she will reward slaves like us. She is a young lady from an official's family and the queen's sister. What's more, once the empress - —”
"Suying, don't talk too much." Concubine Yao glared at the female officer, then comforted Qi Pingzhi and said, "I see that my sister is bright and beautiful, and she is worthy of her appearance. If my sister doesn't like it, I will reward the slave and choose another one for you. set."
"I like it, Sister Guifei!" Qi Pingzhi was afraid that she was really going to lose this treasure, so he almost got up to stop her.
Seeing her eager reaction, Concubine Yao smiled secretly in her heart, "Then just accept it, sister. It's a small gift, and I will never give it up."
Qi Pingzhi held the lacquer box containing his head and face and left Linhua Palace with fluttering feet.
If "entering the palace to attend to illness" is an abstract hint flying on a branch, then the heavy head and face in her arms is the beginning of her true experience of wealth and power.
There was no one around, so Qi Pingzhi put his ear against the lacquer box and listened to the light collision of gold wire and pearls. Through a layer of sandalwood, there was a heart-warming humming sound. Her heart was also filled with excitement, and she couldn't help but think of what Princess Suying said when she was stopped by Concubine Yao.
Once the Queen...
Kunming Palace is right in front of you, with green tiles and flying rafts, open and majestic. It is a place where only the most noble and beloved women of the Zhou Dynasty can live.
Qi Pingzhi silently completed the sentence in his heart: Once the empress passes away, you will be the future master of Kunming Palace, and all the wealth and excitement in the world will be left to her.
A shiver surged from the soles of my feet to my whole body, and soon turned into unbridled happiness.
Jinchun told Qi Yaoning about this, and she said with satisfaction: "You have arranged this matter well. Slowly reveal Qi Pingzhi's preferences to Linhua Palace's informants, so that they can cultivate more feelings between sisters."
In response, Jinchun took down the warm decoction on the medicine stove and served Qi Yaoning to take it. The decoction went down from her throat. After drinking too much, there was bitterness in the joints of her bones. Yao Ning lay on the couch to relax for a while, and then called Jin Qiu over.
She told Jinqiu: "The Lantern Festival is coming soon. You can live in the Marquis Mansion. If there are any changes in the marriage of the two girls, come back and report it in time."
Jinqiu took the order and retreated.
The most solemn festivals during the Great Zhou Dynasty are New Year's Eve and Mid-Autumn Festival, but in terms of liveliness and fun, they are undoubtedly the Lantern Festival during the Lantern Festival and the begging for luck during the Chinese Valentine's Day.
Every year during the Shangyuan Lantern Festival, dozens of Aoshan lantern towers are piled up outside Xuande Gate. Priceless lanterns are hung inside and outside the towers, illuminating the world as brightly as a fairy palace.
The streets were crowded with ordinary people watching the excitement and selling goods. The place for dignitaries to view the cave was in the elegant rooms of the palaces on the two streets.
Based on Qi Lingzhan's status as a second-grade counselor, whether he comes to see the lanterns or not, the private room in Fanhua Tower will be reserved for him. In previous years, he had been on duty in the palace, preparing for the upcoming court. This year, he was rarely interested and went out to enjoy the lanterns with Rong Tinglan, Rong Yuqing and Zhaowei.
Zhaowei stayed in the private room for half an hour before she couldn't sit still. Seeing her mother and uncle enjoying the lanterns and talking about business, they had no time to pay attention to her, so they said hello to her mother-in-law and ran away. Just as she walked down the stairs, she heard someone calling her from behind, and it was Qi Lingzhan who followed her out.
He walked downstairs slowly, "There are many people on the street. Mother asked me to follow you."
Zhaowei glanced at him up and down, and saw that he was wearing a long robe and a jade crown, which was elegant and elegant. Because he was not wearing official uniform, his majesty and desolation were suddenly reduced, making people's eyes involuntarily stop on his beautiful eyebrows.
Zhaowei leaned against the railing, tilted his head and said with a smile: "There are many people on the street, so I accidentally bumped into my brother."
Qi Lingzhan threw the cloak on his arm to her, "It doesn't matter, it's better than you bumping into someone else."
Zhao Wei didn't like hearing this. After she went out, she tended to go to crowded and lively places. The seller of swords had to touch it, and the stall selling dog skin plasters had to get close and take a look.
Qi Lingzhan walked half a step behind with her. Perhaps he was too distinguished, and at first glance, he was the young master who came down from the palace to enjoy something new. Everyone consciously avoided him, like the brocade boneless lantern on the city tower that was as bright as the moon. It is said that no one would dare to touch the land tax worth three months in Pingzhou even if it fell from the city tower.
Zhaowei originally thought that he would be kidnapped by some girl to become his husband, but unfortunately he worried too much.
After strolling around for a while until the beginning of Haishi, pedestrians flocked towards the Imperial Street, waiting to see the white elephants parading through the streets. Zhaowei was so crowded that he gritted his teeth and tried to catch up, but Qi Lingzhan grabbed his cloak and hood and dragged him out of the crowd in a few steps.
He said: "Let's take Xing'an Street to bypass it. There are few people there."
Zhaowei's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he couldn't wait to urge him: "Let's go, let's lead the way."
Xing'an Street runs parallel to Yu Street. To the east of Yu Street, courtiers often take this road when they are on duty or officials from other places come to Beijing and enter the palace. In order to prevent collisions with nobles, ordinary people are generally not allowed to pass on this road, so few people can think of it today.
Zhaowei and Qi Lingzhan went to Xing'an Street and met Zheng Wuniang at the intersection.
Zhaowei was not familiar with her, but she came forward to meet her diligently, gave Zhaowei an exquisite lantern, and invited her to go with her. Zhaowei looked at Qi Lingzhan and saw that his face was calm and he had no intention of refusing.
Could it be that Zheng Wuniang is the elder brother...
If Zhaowei realized something, she looked at him, then at Zheng Wuniang, and had to respond: "Then Wuniang, please go with us and ask the servants to follow."
Zheng Wuniang was very happy and walked up to Zhaowei arm in arm. Zhaowei never knew when she became so enthusiastic and talkative. They talked about tonight's fragrant car lamp market, the plum tree she raised, and even about the last person she fell in love with. Lover, prepare to marry again.
"He is an honest and responsible man. If he stays in Yongjing, he has a bright future. If I marry him, I would like to make soup every day and support my husband and raise my children."
Zheng Wuniang smiled shyly and raised her hand to touch the hairpin in her hair again and again. It was a slender and simple silver halberd hairpin, usually used by men to crown their crowns, and it was in the style of a military attache of the imperial court.
"Tonight he is in the Bai Xiangyi team. I don't like to go out. I just want to see his majesty." Zheng Wuniang said.
Zhaowei's eyes were fixed on the silver hairpin in her hair, and he slowly stopped.
She realized that she seemed to have missed something. Zheng Wuniang suddenly became attentive. It turned out that she was not looking for her brother, but for her.
Zhaowei suddenly raised his hand and pulled out the silver hairpin from Zheng Wuniang's hair. After looking at it for a long time, he touched a secret and exquisite engraving on the tail of the hairpin.
She raised her eyes and looked at Zheng Wuniang, half-smiling but not smiling: "Wu Niang wants to say, your lover's name is Han Feng, right?"
