Great Song Super Scholar

Chapter 228 Brother and Sister Enter the Palace
The old eunuch's surname was Gu. He entered the palace during Taizong's time. He is over sixty years old now. He got up and saluted with a smile, "Our family, Gu Chuan, the head of Fuling Palace, came to disturb Zhu officials today!"

Zhu Xiaoyun was stunned. Fuling Palace is the palace of Empress Cao. Could it be that this father-in-law came here at the emperor's will.

He was puzzled, so he tentatively asked: "Did Eunuch Gu come here at the official's order?"

Eunuch Gu laughed and said: "It's the meaning of the official family, but our family came here on the orders of the empress, and invited your son to enter the palace to carve a statue for the empress."

Zhu Xiaoyun was silent for a moment and said: "Does the empress know that the dog's situation is special?"

Eunuch Gu nodded, "It is precisely because of the situation of the son that the officials allowed him to enter the palace, otherwise it would be really difficult."

Zhu Xiaoyun was in a bit of a dilemma. Although his son was rather stupid, he was fat, tall and burly, and he happened to be at the age of youthful vigor. He didn't understand anything when he entered the palace.
Zhu Xiaoyun didn't know what to do for a moment, and finally said: "Let me discuss this matter with my wife and see how to arrange it!"

"Yes, but it's best to decide as soon as possible. The empress hopes that your son will enter the palace tomorrow morning!"

"I see!"

Gu Chuan put a silver medal for entering the palace on the table, "Tomorrow I will wait for your son in the palace!"

The old eunuch Gu Chuan bid farewell and left, while the young eunuch stayed at Zhu's house, waiting for Zhu Xiaoyun's reply.

Zhu Xiaoyun returned to the inner house full of worries, and his wife Wang Shi came up to welcome him, "Officer, what do the people in the palace say?"

Zhu Xiaoyun sighed and said: "I don't know how the officials knew that Zhe'er could carve, so they asked the queen to call Zhe'er into the palace for a statue. I don't know whether to carve for the officials or for the queen, and asked to enter the palace tomorrow morning!"

Wang suddenly became anxious, "He is a silly boy, how could he enter the palace?"

"I know, the officials and the empress also know, they don't care, what should I say?"

"If it wasn't for this problem, Zhe'er wouldn't know how to deal with people. If you talk to him, he won't pay attention to people."

"Then what should I do? I can't resist and disobey!" Zhu Xiaoyun said with a distressed face.

Seeing her husband's perplexed face, Mrs. Wang seemed to have no choice but to refuse. She thought for a while and said, "Why don't you let Pei'er accompany your brother into the palace? Take care of Zhe'er, if this doesn't work, then there is nothing we can do."

Zhu Xiaoyun thought about it, and he could only do so, "Okay! I'll write down the situation clearly and let the little eunuch bring him into the palace. If there is no objection in the palace, let Pei'er accompany her brother into the palace."

Immediately, Zhu Xiaoyun wrote a letter in which he explained his son's situation in detail, and gave the young eunuch ten taels of silver, and the young eunuch happily returned to the palace to meet his errands.

In the evening, news came from the palace that Empress Cao agreed with Zhu Pei to accompany her elder brother Zhu Zhe into the palace, and also allowed Zhu Zhe's wet nurse to take care of her in the palace.

Early the next morning, a large and luxurious carriage galloped out from the gate of the Zhu Mansion and headed towards the imperial palace.

Zhu Pei is wearing a light red trousers today, a yellow half-sleeve jacket, a double-ring comb on her temples, and a double phoenix nobile. She has light makeup on her face, thin eyebrows, and a deep pool-like beauty. Her beautiful eyes, her straight nose, her small and plump lips, her skin as crystal clear as snow, made her even more pretty and beautiful.

However, she seemed a little hesitant sitting in the carriage. She understood why the emperor and the empress wanted to invite her elder brother into the palace. Palace, Zhu Pei agreed without hesitation.

It was not the first time for Zhu Pei to enter the palace. When she was three years old, her grandmother took her into the palace to visit the old noble concubine's aunt. She lived in the palace for a few days. She could hardly remember the specific things, but she is still clear I remember the high walls in the palace, which gave her a feeling of being imprisoned.

The carriage gradually approached the imperial city, and Zhu Pei couldn't help but glanced back at his elder brother. The elder brother, who was like a giant baby, was engrossed in carving a piece of Tianhuang stone, with his thick chins piled up together. He was so absorbed that nothing outside could disturb him. .

Recently, he suddenly became very interested in Tianhuangshi, carving landscape paintings, carving flowers and birds, figures, Fan Ning gave him 20 Yuan Tianhuangshi has been carved, Zhu Pei had to go to the store to get dozens of Tianhuangshi back.

But fortunately, my elder brother is only interested in carving, not in collecting. He has carved a whole room of small figures and piled them up at home, and he won’t take another look at them. Boy, let my brother be a free engraver for him.

Zhu Pei has an idea. She wants her brother to become the most famous sculptor in Song Dynasty. His works can be passed down, so that future generations can remember Zhu Zhe. Go back and discuss it with Fan Ning. Her brother's works must not Sold cheap.

The carriage drove into Da Nei, and two guards on horseback guided them to the East Pavilion Gate. From here, they could go directly to Fuling Palace.

At this time, the old eunuch Gu Chuan came to welcome him, Zhu Pei got out of the carriage first, and bowed to the old eunuch: "Little girl Zhu Pei, I am here to accompany my brother to Beijing!"

"I've seen yours!"

Gu Chuan looked at Zhu Pei and said with a smile: "At that time you were still young, and you went to the palace with your grandmother to visit the old imperial concubine, and I was the one who led you into the palace, and you grew up in a blink of an eye."

Zhu Pei was a little embarrassed and said, "I can't remember."

"It doesn't matter, this is your brother Zhu Zhe!"

Gu Chuan looked at the fat boy who was lying in the car and refused to get off, and couldn't help laughing, "He seems a little shy."

"My elder brother is not used to unfamiliar environments, can he enter the palace in a sedan chair?"

Seeing that Zhu Zhe was too fat, Gu Chuan probably didn't have such a big sedan chair in the palace. He thought for a while and said, "You can take a carriage in the palace, how about it! Change to a coachman in the palace, ask the guards to check the carriage for a while, and take the carriage directly Enter the palace."

Zhu Pei agreed, and she asked the wet nurse to take her brother to the toilet. Taking advantage of this gap, several guards carefully checked the carriage, and then changed to a coachman. Zhu Pei and his brother entered the palace in a carriage.

"Which temple is this?" Zhu Zhe looked at the palace and asked curiously.

"This is a Bodhisattva temple for Goddess Guanyin. Listen to me and follow me. Don't make Goddess Guanyin angry."

Zhu Zhe nodded obediently, Zhu Pei happily played a brainwave on his forehead, Zhu Zhe laughed foolishly.

The carriage stopped in front of a tall palace, surrounded by trees and flowers, and the air was filled with the intoxicating fragrance of flowers. Looking around, you can see pavilions everywhere in the distance, which are very elegant. This is the Fuling Palace, the residence of Empress Cao. .

Fuling Palace is a complex of buildings, covering an area of ​​tens of acres. There is a lake in the northeast corner, which is connected to Taiye Pool. You can see several painting boats moored by the lake.

At this time, several palace maids came up to welcome them, and saluted: "The Empress, please take a rest in the quiet room!"

This is also Zhu Xiaoyun's request, hoping to let his son stay in a quiet and simple environment, no one is present, and he can't meet strangers.

Jupe nodded, "That's troublesome!"

A court lady brought Zhu Pei, his elder brother Zhu Zhe, and Zhu Zhe's nurse to a large room. The room was empty, with only one couch. The windows around were high, and there was no sound of talking or walking around. Quiet.

Without Zhu Pei's arrangement, Zhu Zhe sat down directly on the couch, and lowered his head to carve his portrait of a lady playing Tianhuang. A lifelike lady playing the pipa has been presented in his hands.

The elder brother entered the state of carving, and often remained motionless for several hours. Zhu Pei was a little bored, so she asked the nurse to watch the elder brother, while she went outside to enjoy the distant scenery.

At this time, there was a ringing sound behind her, and there were dense footsteps. Zhu Pei turned around and saw a large group of court ladies walking towards a beautiful woman in palace costume. The woman in palace costume was about [-] years old, with fair skin and hair. Wearing a high bun, her appearance is dignified and beautiful, and she wears a colorful six-panel long skirt with wide sleeves, which looks extraordinarily graceful and luxurious.

Someone reminded Zhu Pei in a low voice, "The empress is here, see you soon!"

It turned out that the beauty in the palace costume was Empress Cao, and Zhu Pei hurriedly stepped forward to give a blessing, "Little girl Zhu Pei sees the empress."

Empress Cao looked Zhu Pei up and down, smiled and praised: "What a beautiful little lady!"

Zhu Pei was a little embarrassed, and quickly said: "Your Majesty, I'm too proud!"

Empress Cao waved to her, "Come here!"

Zhu Pei stepped forward, Empress Cao held her hand and said with a smile: "Seeing you, I thought of your aunt again. When I first entered the palace, she was very tolerant to me and often came to talk to me and help me I got used to life in the palace, seeing you now reminds me of the old imperial concubine, it is your first time entering the palace!"

"Reporting to your mother, I entered the palace once eight years ago!"

"By the way, you have been here. I happened to be sick that time, so I didn't see you."

Empress Cao smiled and said, "I invite your brother to come and ask him to carve a small statue for me, do you think it's okay?"

"No problem, the Empress only needs to let me take a look."

Empress Cao was very surprised, "Is it enough to just take a look?"

Zhu Pei nodded with a smile, "It's enough for him to look at the lady from a distance. The lady can enjoy the flowers. I'll bring him here."

After a pause, Zhu Pei continued: "My brother has a big body, but in fact, his mind is only equivalent to that of a three-year-old child. Please forgive me for being rude!"

"I know, I don't blame him."

(End of this chapter)