Shu Kingdom.
The Imperial Palace, where Zhang Meiniang lives.
Compared with the mess in the past, Zhang Meiniang's boudoir is now much neater and cleaner, and it looks pleasing to the eye.
The slow-twisted embroidery of light gauze, the bedding exuding the fragrant fragrance, the lake-green curtains, the clean and bright floor, the uniformly colored wardrobes, tables and chairs and other furniture, as well as the highly sentimental vases, pianos, swords, stoves and other ornaments .
bright and clean.
Warm fragrance floats.
Lively and interesting.
This reflects the owner's interest in life and his love for life.
Two months ago, after Zhang Meiniang returned from "medical treatment" in Nanchen, she seemed like a different person, much more cheerful and no longer lifeless.
Not only did she decorate the boudoir where she lived, she no longer "played whatever she wanted" with her own dress.
On one side of the boudoir, next to the dressing table, there was a desk and a chair suddenly placed. Zhang Meiniang was sitting on the bed, her back straight, her bare hands holding a pen, writing something on the paper.
She was dressed up, with her waterfall-like hair pulled up into a bun, covered with all kinds of pearls and jewels, and a silver grate on her head, which made her look like a country and a city, and she had a heart-touching beauty.
In the past, that is, before going to Nanchen for "treatment", not only did she not know how to dress up, she even didn't even bother to wash her face, she was so decadent...
It is difficult for her to avoid attracting other people's attention to this strong contrast.
Especially Emperor Shu.
Emperor Shu was overjoyed and immediately sent an imperial doctor to diagnose Zhang Meiniang's pulse, but the result was not ideal. Zhang Meiniang was better, but that was all. The human-infectious disease was not completely cured.
Emperor Shu was impatient, and for the sake of his own life, he had no choice but to continue to keep a respectful distance from Zhang Meiniang, not daring to come near...
Zhang Meiniang was naturally happy and relaxed.
To be honest, during this trip to Nanchen, especially after she and Su Xian turned Feng Luan upside down again, her mood had already undergone earth-shaking changes.
She doesn't even want to see Emperor Shu now.
Anyway, she and Emperor Shu were husband and wife in name only, not in reality.
It was Su Xian, it was Su Xian who made her realize and experience that being a woman is so wonderful. Now her whole heart is attached to Su Xian, wishing to meet again.
As for the past, she no longer wants the legitimate daughter of the Zhang family, the Emperor of Shu, the most favored concubine of the Shu Palace, etc. She now wants to pursue her own desires and be her true self!
No wonder she is.
The reason why she entered the palace was just because the Zhang family wanted to use her in exchange for greater benefits. She was just a puppet, or just a "good" for exchange.
Emperor Shu didn't really love her, he just got interested in her...
Now, Su Xian occupied her entire mind.
However, Su Xian is not around and cannot see each other. Moreover, she is still trapped in the cage of Shu Palace, unable to be free. The longing for hope is mixed with the shackles of reality. What should she do?
She found a way to amuse herself.
That is to draw a portrait of Su Xian!
That's right, Zhang Meiniang is sitting on the bed with her bare hands holding a pen. She is not writing, but drawing a portrait of Su Xian.
The boudoir was quiet, with sunlight filtering in through the closed doors and windows, scattering down, intersecting with the light from the candles on the desk, illuminating her drawing paper.
She sat upright, her waist straight, and she was focused and serious. Every stroke and every stroke was filled with her affection. As the image of Su Xian on the drawing paper gradually became fuller, a hint of smile could not help but appear on the corner of her mouth. Nice curve.
After a long time, today's painting was basically completed, except for the last step of adding eyes to Su Xian's eyes.
Zhang Meiniang's expression remained focused, she dipped her pen in ink, and then used the slender tip of the pen to lightly touch the eye socket, finishing in one go.
This last step feels like the "finishing touch".
After the Su Xian in the painting had eyes, he seemed to come to life.
Especially the eyes today, painted by Zhang Meiniang, were unruly, overbearing and domineering, just like... the way Su Xian looked at her that night in Nanchen.
"Um……"
Zhang Meiniang hummed softly.
With a snapping sound, the brush fell directly from my hand. Fortunately, it did not fall on the painting, otherwise today's efforts would have been in vain.
Immediately afterwards, the hand that had thrown away the brush, together with the other hand, tightly covered the violently beating heart, while the red lips were slightly opened, and sweet breath was exhaled from the mouth and nose at the same time.
Her whole delicate body was trembling.
**Clamp...
Despite this, Zhang Meiniang still stared at Su Xian's eyes in the painting, unruly, cruel and domineering, and her whole mind seemed to have returned to that night.
This is the only fun in her boring life.
Looking at Su Xian's portrait, she not only recalled the scene that night, but also sometimes "played freely", "wrote and directed", and even "actively molested Su Xian"...
Tonight is no different.
Suddenly, Zhang Meiniang suddenly raised her head and glanced at the door and window.
There was a guilty conscience in his eyes.
Seeing that the window had been closed and the door bolted, it was impossible for anyone to come in. She breathed a sigh of relief and then immersed herself in that wonderful fantasy with peace of mind.
She had ordered that no one should come to disturb her at this time of day, in order to avoid being discovered by others. If someone saw her painting Su Xian's portrait in the palace, the consequences would be really disastrous.
I don’t know how much time has passed.
Zhang Meiniang suddenly came to her senses.
She touched her face, which was still full of emotions, and it still felt hot. Thinking of it, her face was red at this moment, right?
After all, Zhang Meiniang is the legitimate daughter of the Zhang family. Certain ideas cannot be changed in a short time. This makes her feel a sense of guilt every time she "fantasies".
However, she also has reasons to convince herself:
"I am no longer the legitimate daughter of the Zhang family, nor am I a high-ranking concubine of the Shu Palace. I am just an ordinary woman with a bad fate. And I am trapped in this cage with no freedom. There are many things that I can no longer care about!"
When I thought about it, I felt much better.
At this time, she picked up the brush she had just thrown away, stroked the broken nib on the inkstone, and after soaking it in ink, she prepared to continue painting.
There are still a few final touches to this painting.
At this moment, the sound of running footsteps came from outside, clicking, clicking, getting closer and closer.
Zhang Meiniang's expression changed slightly, she raised her head suddenly and stared at the door and window. She had a premonition that the footsteps outside were coming towards her.
Sure enough, there was a knock on the door, and a palace maid's voice came: "Your Majesty, there is something..."
"presumptuous!"
Zhang Meiniang was so flustered that she couldn't help but become angry and hurriedly shouted at the palace maid to stop her words.
At the same time, she quickly pulled out a new piece of rice paper to cover Su Xian's portrait. After completing this step, she breathed a sigh of relief and shouted to the outside:
"I have already ordered that no one should disturb you during this time."
She thought to herself that it was a good thing that this girl came at this time instead of just now. If her "fantasy" was interrupted, she would really go crazy.
However, she was still very angry and continued to scold: "Quickly retreat!"
Through the voice, she could tell that the maid outside was none other than one of her personal maids. This maid was always timid and very obedient.
Zhang Meiniang expected that after she yelled, the maid would flee in disgrace, not daring to stay at all.
However, the figure reflected on the door and window remained motionless, and the maid's voice came from outside: "But Madam, the one who came this time is..."
Zhang Meiniang's beautiful eyebrows sank slightly. The maid's lack of cooperation made her angry. Under normal circumstances, her modest nature would not be the same as the maid.
But right now, there is a portrait of Su Xian on her desk. If the portrait is known to outsiders, the consequences will be really unimaginable. She cannot imagine the consequences.
So, Zhang Meiniang interrupted the maid again and said in a deep voice: "I don't care who comes this time, please step aside first, immediately, immediately!"
The maid outside hesitated for a long time, finally bowed, said "yes", and then slowly withdrew.
Zhang Meiniang breathed a sigh of relief. This girl seems to be in need of some training...
Suddenly, she thought of a question. This girl was obviously timid and obedient. Why did she dare to disobey her again and again this time?
Could it be that this girl really has something important to do?
With this thought in mind, Zhang Meiniang hurriedly shouted loudly: "Hold on, you come back first."
"But your Majesty..." The maid's hesitant voice came from outside.
"I ask you, who is here this time? Is it worth breaking the rules set by me? Could it be that... there is a fight between Daliang and Nan Chen?" Zhang Meiniang asked.
"Reply to your Majesty, no, it's Eunuch Liu who came and said he had something to say to your Majesty," the maid replied.
"Eunuch Liu..."
In the room, Zhang Meiniang stood up directly with a moved expression on her face.
This Eunuch Liu was the only one Zhang Meiniang admired among all the eunuchs in the palace.
That's right, I admire you.
Eunuch Liu is seventy years old. He served the late Emperor of Shu in his early years. He interceded for everyone in the palace countless times. He also worked hard for the people of the world and discouraged many tyranny of the late Emperor of Shu.
Later, when the current Emperor of Shu ascended the throne, Eunuch Liu would always advise him. However, Emperor Shu was perverse and did not listen to the advice of a bad old man. He did many ridiculous things when he first ascended the throne.
Then, Zhang Meiniang entered the palace. Surprisingly, Zhang Meiniang was able to persuade the Shu Emperor. From then on, the Shu Kingdom finally settled down and the people could live and work in peace and contentment.
In terms of "persuading you to do good", Zhang Meiniang and Liu Eunuch are comrades-in-arms.
Zhang Meiniang respects the other party because of her age, and Eunuch Liu respects Zhang Meiniang as a noble concubine. The two parties respected each other and had a happy cooperation.
"Eunuch Liu is here in person, and I should have gone out to welcome him. Just because I have this disease... In order not to infect others, I'd better ask Eunuch Liu to go back."
Although Zhang Meiniang admires Eunuch Liu, in order to maintain the current "personality", it is better not to meet people easily.
She is now a patient carrying an infectious disease.
The maid outside the house said: "Go back to your Majesty, my servant also said this to Eunuch Liu, but Eunuch Liu insisted on seeing your Majesty and said that he would not hesitate even if he got sick and died."
Zhang Meiniang was stunned for a moment. Eunuch Liu insisted that she was afraid that something important was really important. In order not to disappoint the old man, she changed her words and said, "In that case, I will go and greet him personally."
"No, Madam, it's windy outside... I think it's better to let Eunuch Liu greet you outside the door. This can also avoid the risk of infection." The maid suggested.
"Okay, you can make arrangements."
"yes."
After a while, an old figure was reflected on the door and window. The figure bowed outside the door and said loudly: "I pay my respects to the noble concubine!"
Zhang Meiniang helped him across the empty space and said hurriedly: "Eunuch Liu, there is no need for such courtesy. Please get up quickly."
After a few simple greetings, Zhang Meiniang asked: "Eunuch Liu is willing to risk getting sick, but he still wants to see me. I wonder why?"
"My Majesty, please don't worry. I just came to visit your Majesty for nothing. I heard that your Majesty's complexion has improved a lot since she came back from Nanchen. I'm really happy for you," Eunuch Liu replied.
"Eunuch Liu, there is no need to be polite. Eunuch Liu should know very well what kind of person I am. If Eunuch Liu has anything to say, please feel free to speak up."
"In this case, the old slave can't say anything... I can only speak frankly. I hope the queen will not be angry."
"Eunuch Liu, please speak."
Zhang Meiniang secretly thought that the other party should be here to persuade her to have a good rest and recuperate, and not to think too much about other things.
Because others had advised her so.
However, what Eunuch Liu said was:
"I am bold and want to ask my Majesty to go out in person and properly advise His Majesty. I am afraid that only My Majesty in the world can persuade His Majesty."
Zhang Meiniang was stunned after hearing this. She didn't say anything, she just bit her bright red lips and stood in the room, deep in thought.
Eunuch Liu couldn't see Zhang Meiniang's expression and didn't respond. He thought Zhang Meiniang didn't know the current situation in Shu, so he started to explain——
It turned out that since Zhang Meiniang pretended to be ill, there was no one around Emperor Shu who could always advise him. As a result, Emperor Shu's temper became more and more irritable, and his perverse nature was undoubtedly exposed.
Furthermore, Emperor Shu was inhumane, and this kind of pain stimulated him all the time, causing Emperor Shu's character to become increasingly distorted and expressive, which was breathtaking.
In recent times, the Emperor of Shu has tormented the civil and military officials to a great extent, and the people of Yizhou City, and even the people of the entire Shu Kingdom, have not been spared.
Because Emperor Shu developed a special hobby - great joy!
He built palaces all over the Shu Kingdom. The vastness and waste of his projects made the people all over the world complain and make them unable to live in peace.
That's all.
To make matters worse, the "Tibet" on the southwestern plateau was ready to move. It had sent troops to block the border several times, intending to go south.
This incident was tantamount to giving Emperor Shu a reason to unscrupulously plunder the world's people's wealth, because preventing Tibet from moving south requires countless money and food, and resisting Tibet's possible attack also requires countless money and food...
Facing the threat of Tibet, all you have to do is collect money and food. As the saying goes, everyone is responsible for the rise and fall of the world. Although the people have complaints, they can only support it.
However, Emperor Shu took these people's fat and anointed money and did not use it to defend Tibet. Instead, he used it to squander it wantonly, building palaces everywhere, and only caring about his own enjoyment...
How can the people of the world agree to such behavior?
Just recently, several civil uprisings have broken out in various parts of the Shu Kingdom... The current Shu Kingdom is no longer the former Shu Kingdom that lived and worked in peace and contentment, did not pick up things on the road, and did not close its doors at night.
It is even on the verge of overturning.
Therefore, regardless of the risk of contracting the disease, Eunuch Liu came to see Zhang Meiniang and asked her to come forward to persuade the Shu Emperor, otherwise the Shu Kingdom would definitely be doomed!
