The heroine Jiangshan

Chapter 214
The first month of the 20th year of Mingguang, Beijing.

The ubiquitous smell of sulfur and smoke in the air, the crumbs of red clothes in the streets and alleys, the children wearing new cotton clothes laughing and chasing and playing... No matter whether they are rich or poor, in the beautiful days of the new year, everyone There are happy smiles on their faces.

Today is the Lantern Festival, before it gets dark, the imperial street is full of colorful sheds.The stall owners are busy, they have some stoves to prepare raw materials, and make snacks at night; The annual Lantern Festival is busy.

Tonight is destined to be another day of fiery trees and silver flowers.

In the imperial palace, it was also a lively scene.The eunuchs and palace maids were doing their own thing, tying ribbons, hanging lanterns, setting up tables and chairs, all of them had oily feet, and they were so busy that they didn't even have time to drink their saliva to rest their breath.

The Lantern Festival has not been held in the palace for two years. This year, the Empress finally persuaded the emperor to reopen the Lantern Festival and invited all the relatives and relatives in Beijing to have fun.It is said that even Concubine Duan, who has been practicing Buddhism in Tsinghua Palace, will come to join in the fun with the juniors.

Ever since the Eldest Princess left Beijing, there have been days when the palace has not been so lively.

As soon as it got dark, the imperial garden was already full of lights.The colorful lanterns are like stars in the sky, illuminating the imperial garden brilliantly, like a fairy palace.Last year, the empress had someone renovate the imperial garden, replanted flowers and trees, and changed the layout. Now a little decoration is enough luxury.

Anyway, the internal treasury is not short of money now, so it should be done to make the palace more beautiful.

The 20 years of Emperor Mingguang's reign were the most prosperous and prosperous 300 years of the Daqing Dynasty in the past 20 years, which has long been recognized by the government and the public.Especially in recent years, with good harvests year after year, Changping in China, several newly opened ports have also begun to make profits.In previous dynasties, the treasury was so empty that rats could starve to death, but gradually there was more money, and the lives of the common people became better.

All of this is naturally attributed to their wise, wise and virtuous Majesty.If His Majesty had not severely reprimanded some officials who tried to offer "auspiciousness" or wrote articles to flatter and take shortcuts, and curbed the trend of flattery in the ruling and opposition parties that deified him, there must have been all kinds of so-called prosperity and auspiciousness.

Of course, the important officials of the imperial court are all aware of this great situation, which is a good foundation laid by "that" for many years.It's just that everyone has a tacit understanding now, and everyone before and after mentions the name of "that" as little as possible.The Son of Heaven is already in charge, and he has done a good job, so it's hard to talk about the past....

It was time for dinner, and the invited nobles came down to the imperial garden one after another led by the servants.On the other side of the screen, all the female family members in costumes also took their seats one by one, competing implicitly in a joyous atmosphere.

As long as there are women, there will always be comparisons of clothes, jewelry, makeup, hairstyles, and even who has a new wife, who has new children and grandchildren, and whose property has made money again... are all topics of competition.

However, since they are in the palace after all, everyone's attitude is quite restrained.Besides, I can't concentrate on chatting right now, and the bosses haven't come out yet!

Not long after the guests arrived, they saw a group of solemnly dressed maids carrying lanterns and blowing flowers and willows.Everyone stretched their necks involuntarily, knowing that the nobles from the harem were about to come out.

Sure enough, when the eunuchs in charge of ceremonies sang, "The empress dowager, the empress empress, and the empress dowager are here", everyone hurriedly got up to greet them.

There are actually several concubines who are called "twilight concubines" in the palace nowadays, and they are all concubines of the previous two emperors, but no one cares about them, and they don't come out and walk around, and they all live in their own small palaces honestly inside.There were not many old people left in the period of Emperor Yuanqi, and there were not many people in the harem of Emperor Yongjia, and there were no children.

There is only one "twilight concubine" who is often paid attention to by everyone: the emperor's great-grandfather, Emperor Yuanqi's imperial concubine, Duan Taifei.

When the late Emperor Yongjia was still alive, he respected Concubine Duan very much and served her as his own mother.Everyone said that Concubine Duan was so blessed.Even though he has no children, he had a discerning eye at the beginning, supported the late emperor when he was still an unfavored prince, and cultivated a deep relationship with the late emperor, which is why he got such a good result.

An old man like her who lived two dynasties can still live in the Tsinghua Palace in a dignified manner, and her status is also the highest in the palace, and she has more status than the empress, isn't it an odd number?

But only the old people in the palace knew very well why the former Emperor Yongjia and the present His Majesty treated Concubine Duan respectfully and filially.

It's all because "that" respects Concubine Duan and says she wants to support Concubine Duan in the old age, and don't allow others to neglect Concubine Duan...Grand Concubine Duan is probably the only one who has been so successful to this day.

However, Concubine Duan also knows how to be a human being, she never interferes with the affairs of the palace, and just enjoys the honor calmly.On weekdays, eating fast, chanting Buddha, the days are happy.

Therefore, the empress is extremely respectful to this "grandmother".No, along the way, it was the empress who personally supported the nearly seventy-year-old Concubine Duan, fulfilling her filial piety and attracting praises.

This queen is His Majesty's original spouse, surnamed Fang, born in a scholarly family in the capital, but her father and grandfather are only scholars.There are officials in the family, at most they can only reach the fifth rank, and they are still in some Qingshui yamen that don't matter.

This was the Qing Dynasty's consistent standard for selecting concubines, as long as the net worth was clean, noble daughters of high families were not welcome.Foreign relatives had never been successful in the Qing Dynasty because of this rule.

Empress Fang is beautiful in appearance and graceful in bearing. Although she is a jasper from a small family, she has a noble demeanor that is not inferior to the daughter of the clan.When she first became a queen, at some gatherings, there were some ignorant ladies who wanted to tease her behind her back that she was just a "scholar's daughter", but she subtly humiliated them one by one, and no one could please them.

At first, everyone was quite surprised. There is such an outstanding woman in a small family?Later, I thought that this was the sister-in-law chosen by "that" out of thousands of people, and I was relieved.Moreover, "that person" often entered the palace, almost teaching Queen Fang how to manage the Six Palaces, and handed over all his confidantes in the harem to Queen Fang.

With the support of "that person", Queen Fang not only quickly won the favor of His Majesty, but also established her own authority in the harem.After she gave birth to the eldest prince, second prince and eldest princess one after another, her position in the harem became even more secure.

Even Concubine Lin Gui, who was recognized as a stunning beauty and who had just given birth to the third prince and was promoted to her position, just kept a low profile in front of her, not daring to show any disrespect.

"Hehehe, everyone sit down."

Although Concubine Duan was supported by the Empress, she actually walked steadily and spoke clearly and forcefully, with the demeanor of an old birthday star.After Concubine Duan and Empress Fang, there are Concubine Lin Gui, several princesses, and some important concubines.

During the eight years since His Majesty's wedding, the harem concubines have raised three princes and five princesses.Compared with the difficulties of the previous generations of emperors in terms of heirs, this Majesty's offspring seems to be very good. This is what makes the ministers very happy - only with an heir can the country last forever.

But few people know that the reason why His Majesty's heir is so successful is because someone desperately broke a terrible curse circle.

However, Emperor Mingguang knew it himself.

Finally, with everyone's eagerly looking forward to it, Emperor Ming Guang, dressed in bright yellow uniform and wearing a golden crown with hair tied on his head, came slowly, surrounded by a group of servants.The six-year-old eldest prince and the four-year-old second prince also followed behind their father in a decent manner, without the need for a nanny to guide them. Their serious expressions were really endearing.

Ming Guang Emperor Yun Yao, who has been on the throne for 20 years, is still only 26 years old this year, in his prime.

Compared with his grandfather and father, Emperor Mingguang's appearance was just like his name and year title, bright as light, handsome and charming.When he slowly walked into the garden with a faint smile on his face, the lights in the garden seemed to have dimmed a lot, and the light of the audience seemed to be concentrated on him alone.

This is not just the emperor's demeanor... His father, the well-known "good old man" Emperor Yongjia, never gave people such a dazzling feeling.

However, in the eyes of Emperor Mingguang, the first emperor is still the best father in the world.

Tonight is equivalent to a "family banquet", and the emperor doesn't talk nonsense, and talking nonsense is not his style.After a few simple sentences, Emperor Mingguang announced the start of the dinner.

Delicacies and aged wines were delivered like flowing water by the palace people who filed in.On the side of the women's family, there are all around Concubine Duan, Empress Fang, and Concubine Lin Guifei who can't stop flattering them.The male guests also let go after a few rounds of toasts. For a while, the banquet was full of toasts and cheers.

Although it is not as happy as having beauties to accompany wine at a banquet outside, this kind of opportunity to get together with many other clans is not very common, so after a few rounds of drinking, everyone began to wander between the tables, borrowing Take the opportunity of a toast to connect with your feelings.

If it was in the past when Emperor Yuan Qi was in power, of course this would not work.Emperor Yuanqi was rigid and serious, while Emperor Yongjia was kind, but the world had never been peaceful during his reign... The point is that he was very poor, so basically he didn't hold any banquets.

But in the Mingguang Dynasty, the situation has been greatly improved. His Majesty the Emperor is majestic but close to the people. It is said that he often goes out of the palace to observe the people's sentiments.He was young and didn't like to pay too much attention to the rules, so everyone let him go.

When the willow shoots are on the moon, the banquet is also approaching its climax.Some palace people specially brought out utensils for playing pitching pots, and some palace people brought lantern riddles to invite the guests to guess the riddles, and many people started to order wine, and the scene became even more lively and messy.

His Majesty the Emperor, who had been sitting on the first seat with a smile all this time, disappeared, and went to some other seat to join in the fun.

"Brother Xuan."

In a slightly dark corner of the imperial garden, a tall man in white was drinking silently, but his contemplation was interrupted by the sudden appearance of His Majesty the Emperor.

Zhao Xuan raised his eyes, with a faint smile on his lips, he was not in a hurry to salute, but just raised his wine glass to the emperor.

"His Majesty."

"Brother Xuan, why are you drinking here by yourself?" Emperor Mingguang took a glass of wine from the tray of the waiter behind him, and clinked glasses with Zhao Xuan: "Where's your boy?"

"That kid, I don't know who's kid went to play with them. Let them go." Speaking of his eldest son, Zhao Xuan just shook his head with a smile: "I don't know who his temper is like. He is more naughty than I was when I was young." A hundred times, when I was a teenager, I couldn't concentrate on studying, and wandered around all day long."

"I heard from Brother Che that your kid, and that one from his family, are all clamoring to join the army with Brother Che?"

"Yeah. They're all very active."

Zhao Xuan seemed helpless, but he was actually quite satisfied with his son's liveliness.This child seems to be a bit noisy, but the Chu family still raised him well.Zhao Xuan is very quiet, but he likes cheerful children very much.

"Your Majesty, the eldest princess...do you have a letter?"

After hesitating for a moment, Zhao Xuan couldn't help asking this question.

It has been two years since Yun Ruochen left the capital.

In the past two years, both the government and the opposition have all wanted to downplay the existence of the former "Princess Regent", occasionally mentioning it and quietly using "that" as a vague reference.After all, His Majesty is in charge now, so it would be a bit... inappropriate to mention the eldest princess, right?
Even though His Majesty has a deep relationship with the Eldest Princess on the surface, but in his heart he feels relieved that the Eldest Sister has left, right?

It is human nature to think so.

Only old people like Zhao Xuan and Gu Che understood Yun Yao's true thoughts.

When Yun Yao heard Zhao Xuan's question, he smiled wryly: "My sister went to the grassland, but she didn't reply to the letter, but brother-in-law occasionally sent some messages back... They live very well in the grassland."

"is it?"

Zhao Xuan's eyes were a little empty, and he lowered his head and took another sip of wine.

"Tonight's Royal Garden..."

The slightly drunken Zhao Xuan looked at the glorious and jubilant scene in front of him, but suddenly remembered a certain day many, many years ago.

"What's wrong with the Royal Garden?" Yun Yao was aroused by Zhao Xuan, so he took a few sips of wine and let out a long breath.Zhao Xuan is the only one who can talk about his thoughts now.

"At the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet that year, His Majesty was not born yet."

That was the most critical night for the late Emperor Yongjia's lineage to flourish from decline to prosperity.

On the mid-autumn night of the 35th year of Yuan Qi, ten-year-old Zhao Xuan met eight-year-old Yun Ruochen for the first time in the palace.

Cheng Wang Xianrui, Jing Wang sad, Yun Ruochen suddenly said that there is "Da Rui" in Jing Wang's mansion, and took the opportunity to tell the news that Huang Fangfei was pregnant.From then on, Prince Jing's power became stronger and stronger under the impetus of Yun Ruochen...

In this garden, Yun Ruochen silently waited for the eunuchs who went to Prince Jing's mansion to verify the "shining stone" she said. No one believed her, let alone paid attention to her.

Only he was moved by her resolute expression.

That day he gave her a bright red pomegranate fruit, trying to make her smile.Her smile at that time... Even after decades, it was still vividly imprinted in his mind and could not be lingered.

"I just heard about this matter from the old man in the palace. My sister didn't like to talk about it before." Yun Yao didn't expect to hear about her sister's old story tonight, so he suddenly regained his energy.

He thought for a while, then suddenly showed a narrow smile, approached Zhao Xuan and said, "Brother Xuan, didn't you doubt my sister at that time?"

"Who knows? His Majesty wasn't there, the scene couldn't be more real."

Zhao Xuan recalled the scene at that time, and said it casually, but Emperor Mingguang was frequently surprised and fascinated.

"Sister..."

Unlike what the world speculates, his resolute departure of his sister is nothing but reluctance to let go, nothing but pain or pain.

In fact, my sister wanted to leave a long time ago.

When he was 17 years old, his sister wanted to choose a concubine for him, but he refused.

My sister was very surprised and asked why.You are grown up, it's time to get married.

"But sister, do you think that when I marry the queen, you will leave everything behind...and leave me too?"

A 17-year-old boy, in the dark palace, hugged his elder sister tightly and refused to let go.

He is not afraid of his sister saying that he is acting like a baby, loves to cry, and does not live up to expectations.As a teenager, he really couldn't imagine the days without his sister by his side.

Since he was sensible, every step he took, his sister was supporting and leading him.No, actually these are not the most important, the most important is...

He loves his sister.

A beautiful, gentle, older sister who only thinks of him wholeheartedly.He has never had a mother since he was a child, not even a aunt, but he has no regrets at all.

Because he has a sister!
My sister probably thought that he had no memory of his childhood, but he remembered it clearly.

He remembered the sandy beach, the endless sea.I remember my sister accompanied him to build castles on the beach, dig bamboo shoots and catch crickets in the bamboo forest with him, hug him to sleep at night, and sing him nice tunes.

He remembered the danger on the way back to Beijing, the coldness in Empress Chen's eyes, the day when someone rushed into the Chonghua Palace to snatch him away, and when his sister got angry, the sixth palace was stained with blood...

He will never go back to that island.No matter how warm my sister's embrace is, he will not be able to stay for long after all...

He begged bitterly to let his sister stay for another year after his wedding.

Then, year after year, year after year...

Forcibly dragging my sister in the capital for several years.Even if his sister refused to enter the palace again, he would always leave the palace and run to the princess mansion.

Even if he didn't do anything, and asked his elder sister to make a bowl of noodles for himself, Emperor Mingguang ate very happily.

What are those people thinking?It was ridiculous that they shunned the name of sister in front of him.

It is said that the world of Daqing is now prosperous, but are these all due to him?
It's my sister...

Among the women in the palace, he didn't particularly like the queen except for the queen chosen by his sister.Recently, I like Lin's more, and even named her a noble concubine, but it's not because she just gave birth to the third prince.

It's just that her side face, sometimes, looks a bit like her sister's shadow.

But in this world, there will no longer be a woman as good as my sister, right?

"Your Majesty, you should go back there, they are all looking for you."

Zhao Xuan woke him up from his meditation.

Emperor Mingguang raised his head, and sure enough, he saw a group of people including the empress and noble concubine walking towards him.Indeed, he had been hiding for a while...

He straightened his clothes, hid the sad expression on his face, and returned to the appearance of the heroic and majestic young monarch.

Before my sister left, she said, Xing'er, you must be a good emperor.

In order not to disappoint my sister...

He will try.

Yun Yao raised his head slightly and walked towards his courtiers.

The wind suddenly picked up, and I don't know if it brought his long thoughts to the distance where his sister is...

(End of this chapter)