Chapter 11 Chapter Ten Tanabata
At the beginning of July in the imperial capital, the weather is getting hotter and hotter.After noon, everyone hid at home to enjoy the shade, and there were not many people in the alleys and streets.The pagoda tree seems to smell light thunder in the distance.
Jin Yiwei's clothes were too eye-catching, Gao Zhiting changed into a light and simple Taoist gown, buttoned up a square hat, and went out. He rode around half of the imperial city, and stopped in front of a time-honored restaurant next to the Drum Tower.A familiar waiter came up to follow up, calling Gao Qianhu and swiftly leading him to a secluded seat upstairs.The guest had already arrived one step ahead of him, and was standing under the window eagerly looking at the scenery of the imperial capital.The two bowed their hands to greet each other, and sat down separately as guests and hosts. Gao Zhiting ordered snacks and drinks, then ordered the waiter to lower the curtains, not even a single fly was allowed to disturb them.
The young man was dark and gloomy, with a faint look of wind and frost between the corners of his lips and brows, but his eyes were exquisite and beautiful, with some lake-like clarity, so that people could not tell his age for a while.Gao Zhiting sipped his herbal tea, weighed each other quietly, but said in a pleasant way: "General Xiao Lu hasn't come back for more than ten years, how do you think the scenery in the imperial capital is better than before?"
After hearing this, Lu Wenjin said calmly: "My lord Gao doesn't know something. I only stayed in the imperial capital for half a day, and then I went to the north. How can I remember any old scenery? This time I was transferred to the capital by order, and I only got a taste of the imperial capital. Du weather, teach me the wild people here to open their eyes."
Gao Zhiting laughed a few times: "When will General Xiao Lu take office?"
"I just came back, and I have a few days off." Lu Wenjin said, "Shangfeng told me to go to Shenji Camp to report before July 15th."
Gao Zhiting poured wine for him with a smile: "In this way, General Xiao Lu's happy days are not too many. After talking for a long time, I forgot to toast you first. General Xiao Lu has killed enemies on the battlefield for many years and made great achievements. Gao respects you. Tight."
Lu Wenjin also returned a cup with a smile.When we arrived at Beijing Camp, it was not so easy to come out and meet officials.If it weren't for Gao Zhiting himself to be an official of Jin Yiwei, a military general like Lu Wenjin who just came back from the frontier fortress would not be followed.While persuading him to drink, Gao Zhiting asked him about the customs of the Northland, and said: "This time, the old man Lu recommended the general to the Shenji Camp. Everyone knows that the Lu family's army is strong and brave, and the old man relies on him the most. His arms are Brother Zun and the General. It’s a pity that Brother Zun was injured in Beihai last year, so he won’t be able to go to the battlefield anymore, and now the General stays in Beijing again. Do you dare to ask, does the old man really plan to go out of the mountains again and go to Beihai himself?”
"Exactly, I have to take my brother's eldest son with me." Lu Wenjin said, "Both my father and my brother thought that since my nephew is old, I have to take him out to practice."
"So I took my grandson with me." Gao Zhiting asked, "So Beihai is still peaceful?"
Lu Wenjin nodded, and said calmly, "It can be peaceful for a few days."
In fact, the pampered bureaucrats and dignitaries of the imperial capital would not have thought of the hardships of the northern border year after year. If it weren't for the wall of bones built by generations of border guards on the North Sea, the prosperous and gentle town in front of us would have been trampled down by the iron hoof of Mongolia. .Guochao signed a peace treaty with Mongolia, opened up border trade, and traded tea and horses.But the barbarians seldom talk about credit, and the peace treaty is only valid in summer when the water and grass are plentiful.In the cold winter, when the wind and snow swept across the northern border, the Mongolian tribes ran out of food and grass, and rushed straight into the fertile Wusu River basin on the frozen surface of the North Sea. They had to plunder enough food for the whole winter before they were willing to retreat. However, the Northern Army of the Kingdom had to fight to the death with the ferocious Mongolian iron cavalry every year.Last winter's heavy snow came very early, and the battle in Beihai was extremely brutal.Lu Wenjin's elder brother, the famous general Lu Wenyu, was also seriously injured and had a broken leg.
"Last year, although we narrowly defeated Mongolia, the morale of the army has already declined. This year, there was a slight turbulence, and there were rumors that 100,000 Mongolian troops were going south. According to my opinion, half of them were Mongolian bluffs—they had serious internal strife, and how could they gather together?" One hundred thousand cavalry? Half of my brother was injured, and our army's morale is fluctuating. Under such circumstances, changing defense is also a top priority." Lu Wenjin said.
"With Mr. Lu on the way, the morale of the army is naturally stable." Gao Zhiting said, "Then, will the general leave the Lu family's army in the future?"
Lu Wenjin smiled slightly, he knew what Gao Zhiting wanted to ask. "Of course I'm still from the Lu family, but my father told me something else." He lowered his voice and said, "I want to stay in the capital first, so that I can practice in the Jinyiwei of the Shenji Camp. This is the emperor's intention. Maybe in the future Transfer to Liaohai."
Gao Zhiting's eyes lit up: "Rebuild the navy?"
Lu Wenjin was noncommittal: "I can't talk about that right now."
"The emperor doesn't want the Xu family army to be the only one in the southeast, and it will be a matter of time to build a naval division!" Gao Zhiting affirmed, "I didn't expect that the person in the emperor's favor is actually you."
Lu Wenjin smiled indifferently: "Except for Xu Dang in the army, isn't my Lu family the only one?"
Gao Zhiting was deep in his words, and heard Lu Wenjin say: "It is not so easy to rebuild the navy. Zhu Baoliang's rectification of the coastal defense is just the first step, and the next step is to fight a tough battle. In the end, it will take King Zhongjing." Only then can we talk about the rest of the matter.”
Hearing the words "King Zhongjing", Gao Zhiting glanced at him inadvertently, and saw that a cluster of flames seemed to be ignited in the originally clear eyes.Gao Zhiting knew it in his heart, so he didn't talk any more, poured wine and said with a smile: "So, you have been in Beijing for the past few years. This is also very good, let's discuss more!"
The two drank another glass.Lu Wenjin suddenly said: "I have been in Beijing for a few days, and I have heard some unfavorable rumors... How is he doing now?"
"Don't worry." Gao Zhiting said with a smile, "When there is a chance, he will find a way to come out to see you."
Lu Wenjin took out a fish skin bag from her bosom, and slipped out a handful of pearls, the big ones were like pigeon eggs, and the small ones were the size of peas. The brilliance was by no means comparable to those vulgar ones in ordinary shops.Gao Zhiting stared straight at the moment.
"This is Dongzhu. It is considered rare in Beijing, but it is not so rare in Beihai." Lu Wenjin explained, "Four years ago, he wrote me a letter, saying that it was difficult to sleep at night."
Gao Zhiting thought to himself that he had even communicated with each other, it was really desperate.
Lu Wenjin seemed to see what he was thinking, and said calmly: "I have only written one letter in more than ten years, and no one has noticed. When I was young, I heard people say that pearls can calm the nerves and help sleep, so I saved these. Mr. Gao I can see him, please take it and give it to him."
Gao Zhiting responded and took it carefully.Seeing Lu Wenjin tilt her head again, she seemed to say towards the door: "I still have a wish, and I want to ask Mr. Gao to help."
"You're welcome, please speak."
"Back then my life...was saved by Qin Supervisor." Speaking of this name, his voice suddenly softened, "I have been in the army for more than ten years, and I always wanted to repay the benefactor who saved my life. Unfortunately, The qin family is finished. I heard that the daughter left behind by the qin supervisor is now in Yeting?"
Gao Zhiting was stunned.How should I say this?
"Hehe, it's said to be so." He laughed, "But I'm a Jinyiwei, and I don't know what's inside."
"Oh." Lu Wenjin seemed to sneer, and Gao Zhiting suddenly realized that his eyes were not looking at him, but staring at a door curtain opposite.Gao Zhiting suddenly realized.
After sending Lu Wenjin away, Gao Zhiting quietly returned to the original box, only to see the white-haired old internal official sitting upright like a bell, looking at him with a smile.Gao Zhiting took out the fish skin bag and presented it, and said with a wry smile: "What a delicate person, father-in-law, you must have been discovered by him."
Zheng Banshan said: "Is fineness not good?"
Gao Zhiting said: "Since my father-in-law is old with him, why didn't you come out to meet him just now?"
Zheng Banshan shook his head.In fact, he hadn't thought about how to face Lu Wenjin. He hadn't changed much in the past ten years, but the frail orphan had been completely reborn. Everyone called him brave and decisive, with deep scheming.According to his temper, it is better to hide and see clearly first.
Gao Zhiting tentatively asked: "Eunuch Zheng, what should I say about the last thing General Xiao Lu asked?"
Zheng Banshan said disapprovingly: "What's the matter? When we meet again next time, you just tell him the truth."
Zheng Banshan roughly guessed why Lu Wenjin asked this question.Thinking of those trivial old things about the Qin family, Zheng Banshan couldn't help but sighed, put Dongzhu away, and Shi Shiran got up.
"Is Eunuch Zheng going back to the palace now?" Gao Zhiting asked courteously.
"No, I still have something to do." Zheng Banshan bowed with a smile, saying goodbye to him.
The so-called thing is to take a detour to the Tongchun Medicine Hall on the way back to the palace.The old pharmacist and Zheng Banshan were old friends. He twisted a handful of Dongzhu in his hand and looked at it with a magnifying glass for a long time. He was sure that it was non-toxic and harmless, and it was a rare and good thing. "Such high-quality beads are used by ladies and ladies to inlay jewelry. Who would be willing to grind them into powder and eat them? You people in the palace are too rich."
Zheng Banshan said with a smile: "If it is a good medicinal material, of course it is important to cure the disease and save the life, so what are the jewelry?"
Yang Lian experienced several accidents when he was young, and suffered from some minor illnesses, and sometimes had internal imbalances, especially difficult to sleep well.It is for this reason that he takes medicine and incense all the year round.Pearls are certainly a good medicine for calming the nerves, but Zheng Banshan felt in his heart that Lu Wenjin didn't seem to be saving this pearl for this purpose.
It rained heavily this morning, and the Taiye Pond was covered with smoke and water, and the white waves turned the sky.The beginning of autumn was approaching, about an hour later, seeing that the rain was fading, Yang Lian ordered his horses to be prepared, but he himself carried an umbrella and dragged his wooden clogs to cross the Yudai Bridge.
The Xubai room was quiet and silent, the windows were half-opened, and the slanting wind swept in the slightest drizzle.Pages of manuscript paper were bound on the plain screen, rustling by the wind, like a row of white cranes raising their wings.Yang Lian grabbed a page of manuscript paper and saw that it was Qingci. After reading a few lines, he found it familiar, and then remembered that it was originally written by himself.He casually flipped through a few more poems, all of which were poems he had smeared to deal with Kunning Palace a few months ago.It seems that his name is Qin Taiwei, who paints cats and tigers, so she draws all the cats in a fancy way.Could it be that every time she fills in the lyrics, she copies the words from the left to the right and cuts the sentences from the right to make up the number?He looked at the elegant and beautiful lines of small characters on the screen, and laughed silently in his heart for a long time.
Qin Taiwei has no rank, and there are only two small palace servants around her, and she doesn't know where to hide at this moment.Yang Lian walked gently into the bedroom to find someone.Because of the cold air, the two tents were hung high, and the girl was curled up, facing the bed, sleeping soundly.Half of her snow-white body was wrapped in a single gauze liner, a roll of blue silk and a pair of slender legs were casually thrown on the hibiscus mat, her pink toes were like the pads on a cat's paw, she shrank back suddenly just after being touched by him .
Qin Taiwei turned over and sat up impatiently, stared blankly at him for a while, then suddenly grabbed the shirt at the head of the bed and covered herself.
Yang Lian took a step back, and said casually: "You are too lazy, you are already early, and you still refuse to get up?"
Qin Taiwei turned her back and knotted her clothes, and said slowly: "Yesterday's Qing Ci was not finished until the fourth watch, and it was sent over overnight. I just slept for two hours, Your Highness still accuse me of being lazy."
Hearing the resentment in her words, Yang Lian remembered what Cheng Ning mentioned last night: "I still want to ask you, what is the topic so difficult to write?"
"It's the Empress Dowager's business." She slipped out of bed and walked to the desk, and turned out the draft of Qing Ci.
"It's not the first time you've dealt with the Queen Mother." Yang Lian smiled and read the manuscript carefully.Looking at it, the brisk smile on his face gradually disappeared.
Qin Taiwei didn't talk too much, she walked to the dressing table and sat down, set up a small Western glass mirror, and combed her long hair slowly.Zhunzhun poked her head from behind the screen, seeing the two of them in such a situation, it was not easy to disturb, Qin Taiwei made a gesture quietly, she came in on tiptoe, put down a basin of clear water and ran away.
The topic that the empress handed over yesterday was that the empress dowager intended to order the second prince, Yang Xi, to marry Miss Xu San, and the pope asked about the luck.
Qin Taiwei moved her body slightly, even though her back was facing Yang Lian, she happened to be able to see his expression from the mirror.The queen sent Qingci titles to the Qingfu Hall every now and then, and intentionally or unintentionally leaked first-hand news from the inner court.There seems to be some kind of tacit understanding between their aunt and nephew.Qin Taiwei knew very well that if there was something strange about the topic she sent, she immediately copied a copy and sent it to Yang Lian - but she didn't do that last night.
Regarding this incident, Qin Taiwei felt a little gloating in her heart.Although it was Yang Lian who refused the marriage at the beginning, I'm afraid he will still be unhappy at this time.Peeking in the mirror, he didn't show surprise or anger, he just pursed his lips slightly, not knowing what he was thinking about, and finally glanced at the mirror, and said to her: "Your handwriting is getting more and more elegant. "
Qin Taiwei lowered her eyes guiltily, and asked, "Do you think your words are decent?"
"It's all written and sent away, even if it's inappropriate, it's too late."
Qin Taiwei bit her lips.
It was the end of Xu when the title was sent last night, and Kunning Palace was urging to hand over the manuscript before dawn, Xu was passing the news at night so that no one else would know.The little internal official of the Qingfu Palace didn't pay much attention, and sent the question directly to the Xubai Room.Qin Taiwei was a little perplexed after reading the title, so she raised a lamp and went to Qingfu Hall to ask Yang Lian to show her, not wanting to waste time.The internal officials said that the prince went to Mrs. Lin's place, but Qin Taiwei didn't understand what it meant.Seeing that the internal officials seemed unwilling to report, she realized it and blushed immediately.
Yang Lian never stayed overnight in Ji's concubine's room, no matter how late he would come back to rest.It was almost the third watch at that time, Cheng Ning estimated that it was almost finished there, so he led Qin Taiwei to the study to sit and wait.Qin Taiwei drank half a cup of tea, sat restlessly for a while, and suddenly heard voices floating outside the window.She only felt that it must be Yang Lian who came back, a surge of blood came from somewhere in her heart, she got up and left without even thinking about it.Cheng Ning stopped Wei and asked, but she only said that she had finished the draft and would not disturb His Highness.Slipping across the Yudai Bridge in the dark, she turned around and saw a few bead lamps floating far away on the opposite bank, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Now that he said this, he thought he was blaming her for not waiting patiently.Qin Taiwei was dissatisfied, and said: "Since this is the case, in the future, I will teach them to present the topic to His Highness first."
Yang Lian seemed to sneer: "You mean, teach them to send the topic to the study room of Qingfu Hall, and then I will call you to write there?"
Qin Taiwei paused, thinking for a while and unable to accept the trick, so she could only say awkwardly: "Then why bother." She always would rather stay in the empty room than go out, let alone what happened yesterday.She looked at Yang Lian suspiciously, and saw that he was smiling as usual, he didn't mean to ask guilt but was playing tricks—could it be...
"His Highness already knew about Miss Xu San?" She asked suddenly.
Yang Lian nodded slightly.
She felt a little empty in her heart, but she was nervous for nothing.That's right, of course there are people from Qingning Palace—for example, Mr. Zheng, not all the news comes from Kunning Palace.
For a while, Qin Taiwei wanted to call Zhun Zhun to come in and help her comb her hair.Yang Lian sat silently with his hands folded, staring at her to death.Qin Taiwei's eyes accidentally touched the bottomless eyes, and a layer of hair grew in his heart, so he could only ask abruptly: "Your Highness came here on purpose because of this green word?"
"That's not true," Yang Lian said, "I'm going out today. I can't remember the title of the book you mentioned a few days ago. Come here and ask you."
Qin Taiwei stared at him and was stunned.
A few days ago, because of her father's notes, she remembered a book she had read in the past, and she just mentioned it to him casually, thinking that he would still remember it.She put down the comb, lowered her head and walked to the desk, poured a few drops of water to dissolve a little residual ink left on the bottom of the inkstone last night, dipped in light ink and carefully drew the title of the book on a piece of plain paper.
Yang Lian turned his head to see her bending over to write with her sleeves rolled up.
I don't know when the clouds gathered and the rain cleared, the sky was half open, the wind and waves on the lake were calm, and there was still residual rain beating iron horses under the eaves.The sunlight leaking from the stars between the tree ends penetrated into the window paper, making the girl Yuxue's cheeks slightly transparent.A few locks of soft hair dangled in front of his chest, but he refused to stop.
"I'm afraid it's not easy to find this book," Qin Taiwei murmured, "It was lent to my father by a Western monk, and I haven't seen it in the market again. Your Highness, please worry."
"Others can't find it, but I have a solution." Yang Lian folded the paper and put it in his sleeve, and said with a smile, "Is there anything else you want?"
She was a little dazed when she heard these words, but she couldn't remember what she wanted for a while, so she shook her head.He seemed to be a little regretful, and went to brush the few scattered hairs around her ears.Qin Tai slightly lowered her head, wanted to hide but didn't dare to hide, but was finally touched by his fingers on her face.
"It's all sleeping with marks."
The finger gently draws along the light traces printed on the hibiscus mat.She blushed instantly from her face to her neck, and took a few steps back.
Yang Lian looked interesting and wanted to tease her again, but seeing her face downcast, she seemed really unhappy, so she withdrew her hands and walked outside.Qin Taiwei breathed a sigh of relief, sent him out, and went back to the room, twisted the veil and washed his face.
It was only halfway through the wash, but he folded back and said through the window: "Yesterday, Lin Juanjuan told me that today's Qixi Festival, I would like to invite you to spend the festival with the two of them in the evening. I have promised her. You rest To forget."
Qin Taiwei was startled suddenly, and the handkerchief fell into the water.She wiped away the water marks on her face indiscriminately, feeling panicked in her heart, and when she was about to argue, she opened the window and looked, but he disappeared again.
The volume of handwriting left by his father is his notes during the ten years in the Hangzhou Navy.It involves current political commentary, official entertainment, whether people are judged or not, customs of foreign countries, astronomical phenomena and hydrology, actuarial deduction... There are so many things, and there are also large drafts of Western scripts attached to the back-so Qin Taiwei needs a dictionary In order to understand my father's words.
She originally hoped that her father's notes would mention more about her childhood, but she didn't expect that her appearances were very few, but Lin'an County King appeared in her father's pen every day.Although the terms are extremely cryptic, it can be seen that their relationship is extraordinary.
It's just that Yang Lian rarely mentioned the past to her, and occasionally his father was involved in the conversation, and his attitude seemed to be unfamiliar.Maybe it's because of scruples - the vassal king's friendship with foreign ministers who hold military power is, in a big way, conspiracy.
She was not without doubts.Many times, she was about to ask him a question, but she endured it and went back.The diary was extremely fragmentary and vague. She sorted it out several times in her mind, and found that her father had not only taught him the scriptures, but also had secret meetings with military advisers and generals, local celebrities, sea captains and even foreign missionaries, and even took him to the sea. After seeing the navy's large fleet, she was a little jealous... But, isn't this really treason?
After coming out of Xihua Gate, he walked around the root of the imperial city, and the carriage stopped at the gate of Hairi Pavilion.Because of the rain, the bookstore just opened at this time.The chunky shopkeeper wearing a Dongpo scarf was ordering someone to clean up the accumulated water in front of the door. When he caught a glimpse of the visitor, he couldn't help being taken aback.
"Nothing," Yang Lian said with a smile, "I just asked if you have this here."
Cao Qu squinted at the note in his hand, not surprised: "Your Highness is also interested in this?"
"A friend was looking for it."
The note was written in Western script, and Cao Qu recognized it for a long time: "This is a dictionary compiled by Huo Ruowang, a Macau captain in the early years. The title of the book means 'miracle of Western characters', and it passed among Portuguese maritime merchants for a while. They are all manuscripts and have never been printed. If His Highness wants this copy, I will ask someone to go to the south to find it."
Yang Lian frowned after hearing this: "Is there any similar book?"
Cao Qu smiled, turned around and took out a copy from the shelf: "Coincidentally, I just got a copy a few days ago. A foreign monk who just came to Beijing came to visit me and left a copy, saying that they were a group of foreign monks. I compiled a dictionary by myself, and asked me if there is a way to publish it in the imperial capital—it seems to be waiting for His Highness here."
The cover of the manuscript is made of soft new sheepskin, and the binding is extremely exquisite. Presumably the author has put some thought into it, and the title of the book "Xiru Ermuzi" is written on the cover.Yang Lian flipped through the content of the Chinese characters and asked, "Are you going to print it for him?"
Cao Qu shook his head: "It's not easy, I'm still deliberating. If Your Highness thinks it's still eye-catching, please take it first."
Yang Lian thanked with a smile, and said: "The book I mentioned earlier, I need to trouble you to pay attention."
"It's on the villain," Cao Qu repeatedly agreed, but carefully reminded, "Your Highness has orders, just send Eunuch Tian over to say it."
"I have my own measure." Yang Lian responded casually, took the parchment and resigned.
Farewell to Hairi Pavilion, headed north and then east, until Beijuxianfang inside Dongzhimen, got off the car at the gate of Bailin Temple, and entered the temple with a soldier.This day is the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, and there are many women and girls offering incense, and the crowds of Yingying, Yanyan and Yanyan are surging.Yang Lian lowered his big hat, followed the crowd through several halls, but slipped out of the temple through the back door of Guanyin Hall.This area is far away from the imperial city, the streets and alleys are not very prosperous, and there are few pedestrians. There are occasionally a few large courtyards among the deep locust trees and tall willows, which are the residences of several wealthy families in the capital.
Dai Xueshi's two small courtyards interspersed with these mansions looked a bit shabby.The teacher and the students bowed to each other and talked less gossip.Yang Lian has never seen his master since he left Beijing at the age of fourteen.At that time, Dai Lun was the minister of the Ministry of Rites, awarded the Bachelor of Wenhuadian University, and once entered the cabinet.After the death of the crown prince, many officials in the DPRK and China were replaced. Dai Lun was always cautious and refrained from speaking because of his high morals. Those punishments of ransacking his home and exile did not fall on him, but he was moved to an idle job in Nanjing Qintian Supervisor went.After being an idle official for a year, Dai Lun simply resigned due to illness, and went back to his hometown Songjiang Mansion to write a book behind closed doors.Miss Dai married the second son of Ge Jian, the right servant of the Ministry of War, and soon there was good news.Mrs. Dai was worried and temporarily lived in Beijing in order to take care of her daughter from time to time.
"There are unfinished debts to children," Dai Lun stroked his long beard and smiled, "I just passed the age of knowing my fate, and I only want to hold my grandson."
Yang Lian thought that what he said was not entirely true.According to Feng Juefei, the emperor was secretly competing with the queen mother's party.After Gu Yourong was reused, the emperor got the third son who had no Xu family blood, and the wind in the court immediately changed.The old princes and ministers from the past could not help knowing the elegant meaning by hearing the string songs, and quietly moved about in the dormant frozen soil.Dai Lun was stranded in Beijing, of course he was waiting for an opportunity.
For a while, Mrs. Dai sent someone to spread the message, and a family banquet was held in the flower hall in honor of King Zheng.Because it was a gathering of teachers and students, there was no ostentation. Mrs. Dai cooked a few delicate side dishes by herself, such as shredded bamboo shoots mixed with chicken floss, steamed dried fish, tofu with shrimp oil, and basil vegetables...all of which are the flavors of the southern province.Because Yang Lian didn't like drinking, he poured home-brewed rose dew.
After serving the dishes, Dai Lun also praised Yang Lian for not colluding with power and traitors, and resolutely refused to marry Xu.Although those Qingliu officials in the court who were excluded by the Xu party dared not discuss it publicly, they suddenly looked at this little prince who had been shrouded in mist for many years in private, and some even praised him for being like a father.
Yang Lian also knew that the marriage with Ms. Xu San was impossible anyway, the effect would definitely be different if the Empress Dowager came forward to dismantle it or he himself refused.When he heard the words "his father's wind", he couldn't help thinking a little bit.He vaguely remembered that when his mother was grounded and moved to another courtyard in Yangyang Mountain, someone once proposed to establish another princess—that was the first huge threat he faced in his life, but fortunately, his father was determined to keep his mother.Could it be that the one who rejected was also a girl from the Xu family?He couldn't help asking this question.
Dai Lun shook his head: "No, that time the crown prince rejected Xie, the daughter of Princess Xining."
Yang Lian slowly put down his chopsticks, and said in a deep voice, "Is it later... the wife of the violin supervisor?"
Seeing that his face was slightly blue, Dai Lun realized that something was wrong, and said, "Mrs. Xie is the late Emperor's niece, and she was also favored by Empress Dowager Xu. She was also on the list when the princess was selected. It’s not surprising to mention it.”
Yang Lian had vaguely heard people say that this cousin of the Xie family was an unparalleled beauty, unrivaled in the palace for thirty years.Ordinarily, he should have seen her when he was a child, but now he thinks about it, but only Qin Taiwei's cat face, which can't be called stunning, is in front of him.He silently counted the years and said, "I heard that Mrs. Xie married very late, could it be because of this reason?"
"I really don't know." The secrets of the inner court did not come out of the palace wall, and Dai Lun, a foreign minister, only heard a few words, "Please forgive me, besides—this is the prince's family matter, and I should not discuss it."
Yang Lian shook his head: "The Son of Heaven has no family affairs."
Dai Lun was silent for a while, and said: "I only know that Mrs. Xie has a deep relationship with the old lady, the Queen Mother. Your Highness may choose to ask Eunuch Zheng about these matters. He has served Qingning Palace for many years, and there is nothing he doesn't know."
A torrential rain during the day, and the air is fresh and cool at night.Qin Taiwei took a nap until sunset and didn't wake up until sunset. Remembering Yang Lian's explanation when he left, she had to get up and comb her hair and face. She put on a cool Tianshui green single gauze shirt, tied a white silk skirt, and wore a light silk skirt. The small fan swayed towards Qingfu Hall.
The night banquet was held at the Shuiyun Pavilion near the lake. The fans were opened wide, the corner lamps were hung everywhere, and the cool breeze blew from the water with the fragrance of lotus.An incense table was set up on the platform, displaying incense burners, vases of flowers, carved melons and various kinds of fruit, and a few Moheluo smiling faces.Next to it is a tall table with a copper water basin. The clear water in the basin reflects the shadow of the lamp, and it has been skillfully used during the day by throwing needles.
The two wives, Wen and Lin, are leaning on the beauties and gossiping.Qin Taiwei thought that she was late, so she paid homage to the two wives first, and then she was supported by Lin Juanjuan after half a ceremony, and forced her into the table. liquor.After drinking for three rounds, Qin Taiwei was free to see the faces of these two clearly.As expected, Lin Juanjuan had a bright complexion and a pleasant attitude, and she was no different from those top-notch beauties in the emperor's harem. Gu Panjian looked a bit like a concubine, making Qin Taiwei stunned.In contrast, Mrs. Wen's appearance is plain, she doesn't even wear bright clothes, and she doesn't talk much in a low voice, but the faint bookish look flowing between her eyebrows is different from Lin Juanjuan.
Qin Taiwei has nothing to do, she once heard Zhun Zhun criticize the people in the palace, saying that Mrs. Wen's origin is somewhat inexplicable.Two years ago when Zheng Wang had just returned to Beijing, the emperor announced at the welcome banquet that he would marry his step-concubine, and he also specifically mentioned the daughter of the Youqian Capital Yushi Wenguanzhuo's family.At that time, everyone knew that King Zheng had an agreement with the Xu family, how could Wen Guanzhuo dare to accept this marriage?But the emperor's golden words could not be retracted, so Empress Xu thought of a way to point a concubine who was sent by the Wen family to the harem to be a female official to be the concubine of King Zheng, and finally the situation was smoothed over.Wen's nature is cowardly, and she has been silent since she married, and Yang Lian has never entered her room.The inner officials and palace people in the mansion have a lot of contempt for her, Chen Yanluo didn't bother too much, and let those people bully her.Later, when Yang Lian found out about it, he beat and kicked out the first few, and blamed Chen Yanluo for not managing the family strictly. He was confined for a month, and everyone knew that Mrs. Wen was only the prince himself who could be ignored, and no one else could. It cannot be disrespected.And speaking of Lin Juanjuan, she was a son of a good family picked by the Queen Mother solemnly and specially rewarded to King Zheng. Could it be that Miss Xu San is too proud and needs a well-behaved and mellow concubine to pave the way?
Her father never took a concubine.Uncle Xie Fengge has two side rooms, neither of which has anything to do, and has been locked up in the backyard for many years to eat fast and worship Buddha.She had seen them a few times from a distance, and felt that the two aunts were as shriveled as the living dead, and they looked ten years older than their aunts... Just as she was thinking wildly, she suddenly heard Lin Juanjuan say: "The picture I drew Sister Huazi is still satisfied?"
Wen Canran's sleeve was caught in Lin Juanjuan's hand, as if she was contemplating something.Qin Taiwei took a closer look, only to find that Wen Canran's fragrant cloud gauze palace gown was embroidered with cloud shoulders and sleeves, and the phoenix pattern of eight treasures on the necklace was extremely complicated and exquisite, but it was embroidered with honey-colored silk thread. It is indistinct, and you have to look closely to see its beauty.She secretly praised in her heart.
"Sister Wen's needlework is excellent. The embroidered flying fish can jump up from the skirt, which is hundreds of times better than the flowing work of the needlework bureau. Now she takes care of His Highness's clothes, shoes and socks by herself." Lin Juan While explaining, Juan urged, "I usually beg her to embroider a sachet for me, but there is no time to refuse—why don't you ask her for a gift?"
Asking for gifts for others is a bit unseemly, Qin Taiwei didn't know how to respond, but Wen Canran said softly: "I have this kind of heart, but I don't know what kind of trick Miss Qin likes, why don't you go to my place and choose one according to the book. select?"
Qin Taiwei hastily thanked her, and heard Wen Canran say: "A female celebrity is the duty of a boudoir, so I can't boast about it. It's Sister Lin's outstanding drawings that complete my embroidery."
Lin Juanjuan heard her peach cheeks flushed, and tapped Wen Canran lightly.She was born in a painter's family, and she is also a good painter.It's just that Zheng Wang is not interested in this, and she can't play too much on weekdays, so this little painting skill is probably at the service of Wen Canran.Hearing Wen Canran's words, Qin Taiwei's heart seemed to become clearer again, she couldn't help staring at that pink, glossy and fat oval face, the more she looked at it, the more she felt that it looked like it, and there was a chill in her heart...
Lin Juanjuan noticed that she was staring at her in a daze, and she didn't know why, so she smiled: "Let's stop flattering each other, don't you feel ashamed? In front of such a dragon-like sister—"
She took Qin Taiwei's hand and looked it up and down. For some reason, her eyes darkened suddenly, and then she still smiled and said: "——only compare us to mud and rotten wood. No wonder Your Highness can't let it go for a moment."
Qin Taiwei couldn't hear such words any longer, so she couldn't help turning her head to look at Wen Canran.That one lowered his head and peeled the longan, as if he had never heard of it.
"Are you so shy?" Lin Jujuan didn't let her go, and continued to joke, "Last night, I begged His Highness to let us get together with you, but he was still reluctant. Are you afraid Did we eat you? I've never seen him protect food like this."
Qin Taiwei couldn't help asking: "Then why did he agree later?"
"Hehe." Lin Juanjuan half-covered her face with a round fan, but refused to answer, and two necklaces and tassel pendants were swinging on the golden swing by her ears.
My sister made fun of me, and my sister was the worst—Qin Taiwei recalled for no reason how many times she stomped her feet and gritted her teeth to complain loudly to Shen Duanju, covering her ears and refusing to hear Xie Qian's name.However, this person is not that person, this place is not her own home, she has been changed in a fleeting time, even she herself is not the same person as before, how can she still say such coquettish words.
Wen Canran pushed over two small bowls, in which there was a cluster of crystal longan flesh on top of the ice cubes.Lin Juanjuan was not polite to her, but Qin Taiwei had no choice but to get up again to thank her.
"Is Sister Wen's bracelet a new design? Can you let me have a look." Lin Juanjuan asked suddenly.
"It's just an old bracelet." Wen Canran handed over a silver bracelet inlaid with turquoise and chiseled lotus patterns, feeling quite strange.
Lin Juanjuan praised a few words casually, and then looked at Qin Taiwei's bracelet.Qin Taiwei felt that the golden bracelet was too heavy to wear, so she only put a red ribbon made during the Dragon Boat Festival on her right wrist, and had to take it off and hand it to her.Lin Juanjuan picked up the belt with two fingers, held it high in front of Wen Canran, and said with a smile, "This is a very good thing."
There is a pearl on the ribbon, which is the size of a pigeon egg. It is round and clear, with essence contained in it. Under the night, it looks like a handful of small full moons in your hands. It is indeed a rare treasure.Lin Juanjuan suddenly said: "Take this seven-treasure-inlaid twelve-story pavilion on my head to challenge me, and exchange this bead with you, okay?" Although she was still joking, her eyes were a little sharp.
No matter how dull Qin Taiwei was, she understood at this moment.A few days ago, Zheng Banshan went to the island and brought a bag of fine pearls.Seeing her in front of her, Yang Lian picked the biggest and roundest one for her to play with, and she put it on the wristband without any hassle.Lin Juanjuan is so dissatisfied, could it be that her beads are not as big as this one?
"The hairpin is precious, it must be Madam's favorite thing. I don't dare to steal the beauty." She smiled.
"So you're so stingy." Lin Juanjuan sneered, loosened her finger, and the pearl landed on Wen Canran's sleeve.
Wen Canran quickly caught it, turned around and tied Qin Taiwei, and said: "Pearls are soft, so they can't be bumped and rubbed, so it's not easy to wear them like this... Besides, your skin is fair, the beads don't show up anyway, why don't you wear a pearl?" Is the net hanging on the collar?"
"Is that pretty?" Qin Taiwei wondered.
"It's pretty," Wen Cann paused, seeming to take a peek at Lin Juanjuan, and then said, "I have a ready-made one over there, I'll get one for you later."
Lin Juanjuan didn't say anything else, just crushed the fruit in the ice bowl with a small silver spoon, and delivered it to her mouth one spoon at a time.A personal servant next to him was quite anxious, and said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, it's not good to eat cold..."
Wen Canran heard this, and guessed that she was probably not feeling well, so she smiled and said, "It was my negligence, you should leave quickly."
Qin Taiwei didn't touch the spoon at first, but when she heard this, she immediately put down the ice bowl silently.
"It's okay!" Lin Juanjuan laughed suddenly, "I won't freeze to death!"
He actually ate half a cup of chilled longan meat.Although the ice bowl couldn't freeze her to death, the scene actually cooled down.Wen Canran recalled that Yang Neem went to her place last night, she felt a little suspicious, but she couldn't ask any questions, so she got up and looked at the sky, saying: "The moon has set."
其时已近中夜，夜色深沉如水，蝉声都寂静了下来。湖上瑟瑟水光，楼中几行宫灯，草中星点流萤，皆不敌漫天琼英碎玉，一痕河汉滔滔。看了一回双星，有内官捧了剔彩大盘过来，内陈一排五彩丝线，又有九尾针数枚，这是要穿针乞巧了。
林绢绢拈了一枚针在手中打量着，忽展颜一笑，笑容颇为促狭，却是问琴太微：“你来不来？”
戴学士一味热情，硬是将杨楝留过了晚饭才送出家门。彼时天色已晚，杨楝趁着暮色悄悄回宫，一路上琢磨着这一天的收获，虽然还未问出什么，但戴纶已经承诺在离京之前将他所记得的万安末年旧事一一梳理写下。而那两位传教士的言论，亦令他心中萌起了一些不太清晰的冀望。
所以，当他回到寝殿更衣梳洗之后，竟颇有兴致地绕到云水榭的岸边瞄了瞄。阁中两位美人正在把酒闲谈，另一人倒不在其中，他正要抬脚离开，倒被林绢绢一眼看见了，笑吟吟地赶上前来，生拉到了水阁里坐着。
杨楝绝少肯陪姬妾们玩乐，是以两位夫人都有些喜出望外，一个立刻拣了缠丝玛瑙小酒盅儿，斟了甜酒递到唇边，一个却忙着说殿下不善饮，吃些果子罢了，一个又说不妨事，殿下若肯饮了，我便说一件好事给殿下听听。杨楝见她们如此，倒也不好十分摆架子，遂接了酒，一边又命人将戴夫人送的莲子糕端过来，请两位夫人分食。
“这不像寻常市买的莲子糕。”林绢绢拈了一块糕，“这般精致花样，都叫人舍不得吃呢——殿下哪里寻来的？”
杨楝听她追问心中就有些不悦，面上却笑道：“画院寻来的。”
林绢绢嗔道：“我好意奉承，倒被殿下打趣了。难道画院人家是该给人打花样的吗？”
杨楝没接她的话，转问文夫人味道如何，文粲然谨慎地称赞了两句。
“是吗？”杨楝怅然道，“我倒是觉得太甜了些，盖过莲子香气了。”
幼时嗜甜，有回药碗端到书堂里，他见乳母不在身边，就赖着不肯喝那酸苦的药汁。戴先生在一旁看不过去，叫人寻了几枚糖莲子来才把他摆平了，却没想到从此以后，每进书堂授课都得带着糖莲子来。直到太子听说此事，罚他在至圣先师前跪了半日，方才绝了恶习。略大一些懂事了，这事儿还被师父们当作笑话来讲，连琴灵宪都听说过。
想来戴夫人至今记得这一出，着意在糕里加了许多石蜜，却不知他早就转了性了。后来郑半山亦教导他，饮食嗜好，均需竭力克制。不咸不淡，不偏不倚，中正调和，是为养生永年之道。不过他的理解是，若是一时酸苦就要依赖极甜来敷衍，那么内心的空乏与黯淡，又能用什么去抵御呢，还不是只有忍着吧……
想到此处，一仰脖子喝掉了杯中物。文夫人忙递上一碟剥好的桂圆和荔枝，他皱着眉头尝了一口，便推身上困乏要告辞了。
文林二人站在水廊上，瞧着他飘然消失在蕉林后面，一时默默无语。文粲然忽问道：“你不是还有什么……事要说吗？”
“哪有什么好事，”林绢绢淡淡道，“一出笑话罢了。”
文粲然心中狐疑，却见她满面的娇笑早已消弭无踪，眼神凉得像冰。
杨楝晃悠悠地回到清馥殿，总觉得心中有事未了，看见案上那卷新得的羊皮书才想起来，立刻叫人打了灯笼往蓬莱山去。
初秋夜里，岛上愈见清寂，深林中涌出清凉的草木芬芳。灯影照见石径，槐树的落花细如金沙。忽有松鼠从枝头落下，转瞬又踏着泥鳅脊跑掉了。迎面看见古碑体书写的牌匾，想起“虚室生白，吉祥止止”之语，心中油然生出淡淡的欢喜。
院中火烛泰半熄灭，只有卧房的窗纸上映着一圈黄晕。两个小宫人合力抬着一盆洗妆残水，叽叽喳喳地往外走，一头撞见徵王，吓得说不出话来。杨楝挥了挥手让她们走开，随手将羊皮书搁在了正厅的条案上。
他早望见月亮罩里背坐着的人影，披了中单斜倚在妆台前，似是在写什么。一听见外面动静，连忙团了纸往里面藏。杨楝手快，抢过来就瞧，却是红笔写了半个“僊”字（僊：仙的繁体），再看她手里还捏着一管小羊毫笔，笑道：“你不出去穿针乞巧，却躲在这里画符？”
琴太微原本惊得脸色发白，听见他这话里并无责备之意，方才渐渐缓过神思，一时又桃花泛面，哑了半晌终于冷冷挤出一句：“我是活该被你们取笑的。”
杨楝在她对面坐下，低声问：“是不是被她们欺负了？”
琴太微不是自怨自艾的人，虽然被太后打坏了手，从不曾在人前抱怨伤感，伤好之后写字大致无碍，只做起针线来却禁不住手抖。只是今晚林绢绢故意叫她穿针，当着一众宫人内官的面揭了她的短。若非文粲然帮着圆场，当真要难堪了。若说她心中毫不郁结，那是不可能的。
“没有谁欺负我。”她低声道。
“那你怎么早早就溜了？”
“又不早了。”琴太微随口道，“我多饮了两杯，头疼。”
杨楝知她不屑说，只得笑笑过去了。却见纸上红字色泽清透，似非寻常胭脂，又见妆台上一副白瓷杵臼，里面半盏稠稠的深红汁液，不认得是何物事。
“这是什么颜色？”他拈起瓷杵拨了一下。
“是凤仙花，捣碎了染指甲。”
“怎么染？把手指头伸进去浸一下吗？”
“亏你想得出……”琴太微扑哧笑了，却左手拾起原先那管小羊毫，在花汁里蘸了蘸，“是用一种小刷子。我一时找不到，只好用毛笔了。我们南省的习俗，七夕用凤仙花汁涂染红指甲，若能一直养到年尾，来年便能平安顺遂。去年的红指甲就没能留住，在浣衣局洗了几天衣裳，颜色全洗掉了。”
右手五枚指甲已经涂作圆圆的一串珊瑚珠，左手却还空着没画，他从她手中拿过画笔，道：“我来试试。”
他握定她的左手的五根指头，将毛笔蘸饱了花汁，一笔一笔地描画，如工笔画般细致小心。她一时怔住了，只觉时间忽然被笔锋牵住，变得无比缓慢。他一心沉溺于为美人勾画妆容的乐趣之中，唇间笑意全无一丝杂念，鼻息平静而轻柔。鸾镜中折现灯影曈曈，柔光笼住了小小的一方妆台，将他的额角与长眉皆映得分外清明。她一向知道他生得极好，只是那样好的容颜从来自成一统，就如同画里的古人、云间的白鹤或空中的圆月一般高邈离尘，与旁人扯不上半分关系。以至于此时此刻，他的脸距她不过半尺，眉眼低垂，气息相近，她竟至于惶然不解起来。
他忽然抬起眼睛，正与她四目相撞。琴太微吓得一缩手，最后一笔画到了他手心里。他却也呆住了，半天才放下笔擦手，一时皆默然无语。
“殿下这时候来做什么？”琴太微忽然道。
杨楝听她这样问，反不知该怎么说，只好笑道：“我多饮了两杯，头疼。想找你讨碗茶吃。”
琴太微觉得他又在嘲笑自己，嘟着嘴起身去拿茶筒茶杯，指甲上还沾着花汁，只得翘着十个指头去寻谆谆。侍儿们见王爷进了内室，哪敢打扰，早就躲出去了。杨楝拖了她坐下，笑道：“我自己来。”
茶叶普通，全赖莲花一点似有若无的幽香。琴太微幼时在笔记中读到一位前朝画家制莲花茶，于日出之前将茶叶藏入将开未开的白莲花花蕊之间，一夕之后连花摘下，将茶叶倾出焙干而得莲花茶。西湖夏日莲花最多，琴宅后园亦圈入一片僻静莲塘，她便兴兴头头地如法炮制起来。制茶是假，借这个名目坐船游湖是真，琴灵宪乐得有茶喝，也不戳破女儿这点小把戏。事隔数年，今见太液池亦有莲花盛开，与西湖参差可比，她便借了小船下湖，又做了一回莲花茶。杨楝尝过赞不绝口，又说荷香遇热亦散，不妨用井中新汲的凉水浸开。一试果然更好，因又知道他是贪凉怕热的。
凉水浸茶颇费些辰光。琴太微歪在椅子里懒懒道：“上次做的就剩了这么些。待要再弄一些，今年的莲花又要开尽了，何况这茶存不长久，左右不过一个月香味就散尽了，如今吃得一盏是一盏吧。”
说者无心，杨楝心中却隐隐起了些流水落花怅然之意。推窗望去，莲叶亭亭如盖，其中零散点缀着几朵半垂的红白荷花，比六月里接天映日的情景已是寥落许多。他忽然道：“此间虽有荷香，眼界却不开阔。我带你去楼上看看。”
虚白室的后院连着一带粉墙青瓦的苏样长廊，延到水中连着一座四角攒尖棋亭，忽又转回岸边竹林，依山势徐徐上攀，一直连到天籁阁的后披檐下。他们提了一盏角灯，只叫了一个小内官在后面远远跟着，沿着爬山廊拾级而上。此时月落西天，却有零散星光从树杪间漏下，照见衣摆飘飘浮浮。暗中走了一会儿，眼里反而清明，渐渐地山石草木都看得清楚了。
西苑一带原是前朝禁城之所在，主要宫殿多集于蓬莱山上。多少雕梁画栋、华宫广厦，改朝换代之后尽皆废弃了，国朝风习尚俭，诸帝亦不大经营此山。琴太微在皇史宬翻看地图，记得山中原有一处极恢宏的广寒宫，宫室鳞次栉比，峨峨森严；又听年长宫人说，那山中最高处，还有一座梳妆台，是前朝一位冤死的皇后揽镜簪花之处。曾有个看守宫室的小内官夤夜起身，听见梳妆台上有清亮的琵琶声。此时夜色深沉，登高望去，莽莽林木之间，似隐隐能看见那传说中废宫的十字脊歇山顶，正中还有一座残塔，塔身倒了半截，剩下一个黑黝黝的刹座，如有人抱膝蹲在殿顶上。琴太微不禁驻足看了片刻。
“我告诉你，”杨楝轻声道，“沿着这条路上来，绕过天籁阁，有一条小径直通广寒殿的平台。你要是不怕，可以白天上来逛逛，那间大殿没有上锁，里面颇有些好玩的东西。记着多叫几个内官跟着，别只带着谆谆一个小丫头。”
琴太微面上发红，只庆幸天黑他瞧不见。她闲来无事，早就自己偷着上来过，却是走到天籁阁找不到路了。
杨楝命小内官开了天籁阁，一时烛光铺地。阁楼不大，里面不过一案，一椅，一榻外加一壁图书而已，收拾得极为精洁。琴太微一眼瞥见长案上放着一株光华灿烂的珊瑚树，顿时凑了过去：“从前父亲也有一个，是一位番僧送的。”
杨楝心中掠过一阵阴霾。他不欲再提琴灵宪，便拉着琴太微径直走到外面的月台上。
入秋后的中夜透彻清凉。湖风挟着淡淡荷香与水湿气，令人神思清远。莲花散落于暗森森的半湖莲叶之间，如水中浮出一缕缕游魂，随着黝黑的湖水起伏不定。白玉阑干的丝丝凉意，透过菲薄的纱衫缓缓浸入肌骨深处。
琴太微忽然道：“自入帝京以来，从未见过这么清亮的天河。”
杨楝顺着她的话抬头看去，果然碧空如水，迢迢银汉横过天穹，云涛翻卷溅起漫天星子，河中琼英碎玉光华盛极，隐约可闻千帆摇曳之声，一时看得人都痴了。
两人默默望了一回，杨楝忽问道：“总听你们说牛郎织女。这么多星星，究竟是哪两个呢？”
“殿下不认得吗？”琴太微吃惊道。
"I don't know."
鹊桥双星是闺中女儿们话题，他自幼离母，大约真没人讲给他听过吧。她观望了一回，将河鼓、须女一一指点给他看，顺便又指了一回牛宿女宿诸星。
“你认得天上星宿？”
“爹爹从前跟着一个钦天监博士研习天文星象，我跟着他们看过星图。”
杨楝颇好奇地问：“那你可会占星？”
“这个却是不会。他们没有提过占星术。”
“既不占星，弄这个做什么？”
“爹爹说，海上行船，不辨东南西北，要靠天上经星的方位来确定航向，有时也要靠观星来预测风向和天气。长年行走海上商路的那些老船工，个个通晓天文，有许多经验可以借鉴。只是他们西洋通行的星图与我国不同，经星纬宿的划分皆不一样。爹爹是想把将两者对照起来研习，将西洋星图里新提到的一些经星补充进来。”
“是这样。”杨楝点了点头，意味复杂地说，“令尊为了水师真是殚精竭虑。”
一时间她的话都到了嘴边，却仍旧咽了回去，只道：“我听说，无风之夜，乘木兰巨舟出海，水中天上星辉相映，如身处天河之中，情境更为壮丽。”
少年时偷读易安居士词，见“天接云涛连晓雾，星河欲转千帆舞”而神往不已，苦求着父亲带她去大船上看看，可是父亲总说要等海上太平了才行，所以这个心愿从来没有实现过。她望了望杨楝，只见他的侧脸一半明如白玉，一半隐没于黑暗中，网巾圈上的猫睛石在星光里一闪一闪，秘而不语。
杨楝忽道：“你既认得星宿，一定念过，背来我听听？”
琴太微颦眉道：“那个也忒长了。”
杨楝扯着她的袖子道：“那就先拣要紧的念给我听听。艺文志上说，这里包含了天上所有星辰共一千四百多，每枚星子都有官职，与人间的格局一一对应。是怎么对应法儿，我好奇得紧。你就念给我听听吧。”
琴太微无法，只得从头慢慢背起来：“中元北极紫微宫，北极五星在其中。大帝之作第二珠，第三之星庶子居。第一号曰为太子，四为后宫五天枢。左右四星是四辅，天一太一当门户，左枢右枢夹南门，两面营卫一十五……”
或是因为需要一句一句地想，她念得很慢，声音清稚甜美，如滴滴甘露坠在水晶盘上。碧天如水，远山横黛，皇城殿庑墙垣都陷入了长梦中，天地间唯有清音入耳。不知哪里来的一缕幽香忽然撩动了人的神思，似桂花的清甜，又有沉水的幽寂，他心想此间并无桂树，何况到桂花时节还早些，遂又疑心是她抹的头油，见她头发半散着，便绕到背后，拣起一缕青丝闻了闻，却又不是。
“做什么呀。”琴太微停了下来，有些气恼地扯回头发，“我辛苦背了，你又不听。”
杨楝笑道：“谁说我没听，不是'更有三公相西偏，即是天戈一星圆'吗？”
琴太微悟了过来，冷哼一声再不肯念下去。看了看天河的方位，遂道：“太晚了，这就下山去吧——只怕他们等急了。”
“也罢……”杨楝俯在她耳边轻声问，“你只告诉我……太微在哪里？”
她抬眼见他笑容柔如春水，几乎要浸透自己，一时间心中全然空了，连忙扭过头去看天。茫茫银汉，不辨上下，晕乎乎看了很长的时间，她才找到太微垣的位置，指了出来。
“竟是这么大一片。”他惊讶道。
“太微垣有五帝座、五诸侯、左垣右垣、太子少微、九卿三公等诸星，”她解释道，“五帝座排成十字，七月在西——这时不大看得到了。四月里五帝座正位于天顶。”
“所以你叫太微。”
"Ok……"
她怔了一下，手臂停在了空中。注意到她腕间微微发红，他便捉过来察看，却是丝带勒出的一丝红痕，遂问：“珠子呢？”
“挂在脖子上了。”先时被人一说，她立刻给那颗大珠换了地方。
他才留意到她的领间半掩着一条红丝，遂拨开衣襟察看。那颗东珠在颈脖下的雪玉肌肤上面滚了滚，珠光鲜莹悦目。忽想起当初于枕席间所见的那具身体是何等纯洁无辜，岂不比这颗明珠美好百倍？这般回味着，不觉探入她的袖管中，由腕至肘慢慢抚摸上去，手掌所及之处是绵绵不尽的温馨柔腻。
琴太微只觉自己连指尖发梢都红透了，摇摇晃晃退了半步，一横心抽回了手臂。
杨楝见她害羞，索性伸臂圈住她的腰肢，笑道：“咱们别下去了，就在这里好不好？”
“不好。”琴太微几乎喊出来，又不敢推拒，急得心都快要跳出腔子来了，两足却已悬在了空中。杨楝将她打横抱起，径直走入房中，放在榻上。她绷着身子不敢动，一时想起新婚之夜痛得昏死，不由得抱着膝缩起来。
她猛然想起一桩事情来，连忙正色道：“妾身上不便，请殿下恕罪。”
他脸上的笑容凝住了，慢慢放下了她。
她死命低着头，但那种幸免于难的神情还是一丝不漏地落入他眼里。他想起前几天也听她说起身上不好，那么总有一句是假话吧……
“是真的呀。”像是猜到了他问不出口的疑问，她居然颤着声音补充了一句。
“这样啊，”他忽然觉得自己真是活该，然而却只是轻轻笑了笑