Qinxin Palace.
Li Qinxi was sitting in the yard, basking in the sun.
The sun was shining brightly, cutting off Li Qinxi's profile and coating it with a layer of golden brilliance.
On countless such afternoons, Li Qinxi always liked to move a chair and sit in the yard, making herself a cup of newly picked Longjing tea.
She felt that afternoons like this were always fragrant afternoons.
The lingering and glutinous smell of sunshine is combined with the faint fragrance of Longjing tea and the fragrance of the magnolia tree in the courtyard.
These fragrances were collected by her into every quiet afternoon in her life.
Of course, Zhang Wenling's company was always indispensable for her on such an afternoon.
The magnolia tree is blooming quietly under the warm sunshine, and the blossoming magnolia flowers are extremely brilliant, glowing with the vitality of the magnolia tree.
Li Qinxi looked up at the magnolia tree above her head, with genuine love in her eyes.
She loved watching the magnolia flowers being blown off the branches by the breeze and falling to the ground.
Whenever she saw this scene, she always felt that time passed very slowly.
She is a person who likes to enjoy life slowly.
At this time, a breeze blew.
A pure white magnolia flower fell from the branch, catching Li Qinxi's eyes.
I saw magnolia flowers fluttering in the air, like a butterfly wearing flowers.
Sometimes the magnolia flowers float to this end, sometimes they fly to that end, swinging unsteadily and then falling vertically.
But no matter how much the magnolia flies, it will eventually stop.
Finally, the magnolia flower fell firmly on Li Qinxi's shoulder.
Li Qinxi twisted the flowers with one hand, but there was no expression on her face.
The flowers are white and flawless, the petals are round and smooth, and there are no defects.
"This peanut is quite handsome." Li Qinxi put the flower in the palm of her hand and looked at it carefully.
"However, this flower worked hard to grow from the roots of the tree, and finally reached the branches. From falling from the branches to returning to the soil, the process in between is life."
Li Qinxi threw the flowers to the ground, "I don't like to let others dictate my life, nor do I like to watch others design other people's lives."
Zhang Wenling, who had been standing behind Li Qinxi, immediately knelt down and said, "Please forgive me, I will not dare to do this next time."
Li Qinxi looked up at the blossoming magnolia flowers on the branches, "Are you curious, how could I, a person who obviously doesn't know martial arts, know that this magnolia flower is controlled by you?"
Zhang Wenling said softly, "I really don't know."
"Haha, I have been admiring this magnolia tree for almost 20 years. I have seen countless flowers that have fallen. How could I not see that something is wrong with this flower?"
Zhang Wenling was shocked when he heard this and leaned deeper.
"You don't really think that's the case, do you?" Li Qinxi looked at Zhang Wenling and smiled.
Zhang Wenling was shocked again and couldn't figure out Li Qinxi's thoughts for a while.
Li Qinxi lowered her head and looked at her bright wrist. A little red mark could be faintly seen on her frost-skinned wrist.
"This can be regarded as a fate. This sword energy has been with me for so long. Although it has not allowed me to embark on martial arts, it has also allowed me to sense the internal energy of the people around me."
Only then did Zhang Wenling remember that Li Qinxi still had that sword energy in her body.
"Your Majesty, the third princess is here." A palace maid walked up to Li Qinxi and said.
"Oh, why did the third princess come to my place? Let her come in!" Li Qinxi said.
Not long after, Jiang Zhiyuan walked into the courtyard respectfully.
"Zhiyuan sends his regards to the Queen Mother!"
The palace maid brought a chair and placed it next to Jiang Zhiyuan.
"Haha, I have always heard that although the third princess is a girl, she has the heart of a man. When I met her today, I found that the third princess has a gentle temperament and is understanding and courteous. Those remarks must be made by people who do not really understand the third princess. It’s just nonsense.”
Jiang Zhiyuan smiled slightly when he heard this, feeling a little proud in his heart.
It turned out that before she came, she specifically consulted a few older palace maids and learned a few ways of saluting, and then she took them out and used them. This is the so-called learning now and putting it into practice.
"I don't have anything to do without going to the Three Treasures Palace. The third princess came to my Qinxin Palace today when she was free. What's the matter?" Jiang Zhiyuan poured a small half cup of tea and handed it to Jiang Zhiyuan.
Jiang Zhiyuan caught it and put it aside.
Li Qinxi looked at Jiang Zhiyuan with a smile, a hint of thought flashing in his eyes.
"Actually, the reason I came here this time is to pick some magnolia flowers from the Queen Mother's place to make soup. I hope the Queen Mother will allow it."
As Jiang Zhiyuan spoke, he turned his attention to the magnolia flowers blooming luxuriantly on the magnolia branches above his head.
When she thought about it, the Queen Mother, who was known for her reasonableness, would definitely agree to such a small request.
But you have to choose carefully and pick a few larger flowers back.
So now, like a hunter, she is carefully selecting her prey.
What Jiang Zhiyuan didn't know was that Li Qinxi next to her was holding back her anger.
Even Zhang Wenling, who was behind Li Qinxi, clenched his fists tightly.
Almost everyone in the palace knows that the Queen Mother Li Qinxi of Qinxin Palace is famous for her good temper.
Even though she had emerged from numerous harem battles and plots and became the master of the harem, she did not seek revenge on the concubines who had plotted against her.
A concubine once said that those of us who live in a harem that never see the light of day are all using shady methods and have done shameful things. Only the empress still retains a pure heart. She He is also the only person living under the sun in this prison.
However, when the Buddha was still able to break the precepts by jumping over the wall, how could a mortal remain perfect?
As a person like Li Qinxi, it is not uncommon for ordinary people to bother her.
There was a concubine who finally became pregnant with a dragon seed, but the fetal gas could not stabilize. She took several medicines but it didn't work, and the doctors were helpless.
So she went to Qinxin Palace to learn from Li Qinxi how to calm the fetus and calm the qi.
Li Qinxi, who was in confinement, naturally shared her experience without reservation.
Unexpectedly, the concubine had a miscarriage as soon as she returned, and the dragon seed was not saved.
After that, there were rumors in the palace that the queen had removed the child from the concubine's belly.
Later, the news became even more fierce.
The concubine, who was already suspicious, had a palace maid fanning the flames, saying that the queen had buried a puppet cursed by Feng Shui under the newly planted magnolia tree in the courtyard, and deliberately murdered the fetus in the concubine's belly.
When the concubine heard this, she immediately became furious. So he sent two skilled eunuchs at night to poison the magnolia tree with poison during the night.
Unexpectedly, the two eunuchs finally climbed over the wall and were captured on the spot by Zhang Wenling and his men before they could open the poison bottle.
When Li Qinxi learned about this the next day, he immediately ordered the two eunuchs to be beaten to death and then threw the bodies in front of the concubine's palace gate.
Soon after, Emperor Jiang returned.
After learning about this incident, Emperor Jiang directly ordered that the concubine be thrown into the cold palace and never be allowed to take a step forward.
At this point, everyone in the palace was full of fear of the magnolia tree in Li Qinxi's courtyard.
But later the origin of the magnolia tree in Li Qinxi's yard came out.
It turns out that this magnolia tree was planted by Li Qinxi himself, and the saplings were also brought from Yuzhou.
Every early spring, Li Qinxi would carefully pick a handful of magnolia flowers from the tree and make magnolia soup for his two sons.
In addition, no one is allowed to approach the magnolia tree in the yard.
This has also become an interesting anecdote in the palace. Some people raise birds and fish in the palace, and some people raise cats and dogs in the palace. The queen just raises trees in the palace.
Of course, no one dared to talk about this in front of the queen.
After so many years, this incident was buried in the dark soil along with the bodies of the two eunuchs, and was forgotten by people.
But today, Jiang Zhiyuan brought this matter up from his memory again, just like lifting a jar of wine that had been stored for many years from the wine cellar, the aroma of the wine overflowed.
Li Qinxi held the tea for a long time. The tea was almost cold before she took a sip.
Jiang Zhiyuan watched curiously as the face of the Queen Mother in front of her gradually turned cold and stiff.
"This...if the Queen Mother doesn't want to, I have absolutely no objection. I can find someone else!" Jiang Zhiyuan said hurriedly.
She found it difficult to understand. Is the Queen Mother an iron rooster who never gets rid of her hair? So what if I just picked two flowers? Isn't this correct?
Li Qinxi put down her teacup and asked, "Did your mother and concubine ask you to come?"
After Jiang Zhiyuan hesitated for a moment, he nodded slowly and said, "Yes... my mother-in-law said that you can come to the Queen Mother to get magnolia flowers."
Li Qinxi nodded lightly, "Okay, then you can pick it."
As soon as these words came out, Zhang Wenling's expression changed instantly.
He never expected that Li Qinxi would agree to let Jiang Zhiyuan pick the magnolia flowers.
You know, this magnolia flower is Li Qinxi's treasure. On weekdays, even he can't get even half a step closer to it without permission.
But now, the second prince has passed away, and the life or death of the eldest prince is uncertain. This magnolia tree may also bear a mother's longing for her two sons!
Jiang Zhiyuan did not notice Zhang Wenling's silent gaze standing behind Li Qinxi. She was just happy that the Queen Mother suddenly agreed to her request.
So she said with joy on her face, "Thank you, Queen Mother, for the gift!"
Li Qinxi just nodded slightly, then turned around and entered the house, with Zhang Wenling following behind Li Qinxi.
Jiang Zhiyuan didn't care about their departure, but hurriedly moved the tables and chairs under the magnolia tree, and then started picking magnolia flowers.
In the room, Li Qinxi knelt quietly in the Buddhist hall, clasping his hands together and reciting Buddhist scriptures.
Zhang Wenling stood outside the Buddhist hall, looking at Li Qinxi in the Buddhist hall with a worried face.
Not long after, Jiang Zhiyuan walked in with an arm full of magnolia flowers and shouted excitedly, "Empress Dowager, I've finished picking them!"
Zhang Wenling hurriedly walked up to her and said softly, "The empress is chanting sutras and worshiping Buddha inside. Please ask the third princess not to make any noise."
Jiang Zhiyuan was stunned for a moment, looked at Li Qinxi who was kneeling inside the curtain, and then said, "Then you will send a message to me and the Queen Mother later, saying that I will go back to make magnolia soup, and I will go first gone!"
After saying that, Jiang Zhiyuan trotted away.
A magnolia flower with half its petals missing fell to the ground.
Watching Jiang Zhiyuan leave, Zhang Wenling leaned over to pick up half of the magnolia flower and looked at it carefully.
After a long time, there was a sigh in the room.
Li Qinxi kowtowed slightly in front of the Buddha statue, and her whole body seemed to be much older.
Li Qinxi slowly stood up and walked out of the Buddhist hall.
He raised his hand and twisted the half of the magnolia flower in Zhang Wenling's hand, and sighed, "This place no longer belongs to me, and I can't even keep the space for a tree."
Zhang Wenling was stunned for a moment, and then said, "Here you are still the Queen Mother of Jiang State, and you will always be my Queen Mother."
Zhang Wenling knelt down respectfully in front of Li Qinxi and placed his head tightly on her skirt.
"Is it just the Queen Mother? What does the Queen Mother mean when you are the only one who recognizes her? Maybe soon, no one outside the palace will have the surname Jiang, and I, the Queen Mother, will only have a false name."
Li Qinxi laughed, her eyes turning red instantly, "But where can I go now?"
She raised her foot and pushed hard on Zhang Wenling's shoulder. Zhang Wenling didn't resist at all and was pushed to the ground.
Li Qinxi looked at Zhang Wenling's face, took a deep breath, and threw herself towards Zhang Wenling.
Put your hands on his shoulders, kneel with one leg on Zhang Wenling's waist, and kneel with the other leg on the ground.
Li Qinxi's beautiful face was stained with tears, and she looked quietly at Zhang Wenling, who was motionless.
If word spread about the two people's posture at this time, I'm afraid they would be attacked by the crowd tomorrow.
The dignified Queen Mother of the Jiang Kingdom actually did such a ridiculous thing with a eunuch in broad daylight!
"Take me away, okay?" Li Qinxi's lips parted slightly, her tone already filled with a hint of prayer.
However, Zhang Wenling was silent at this time.
