Chapter 3 Chapter Three

As if it was a gentle boo of the spring breeze, the peach blossoms in Shangyuan gradually bloomed.The east and west double dikes, ten miles of peach blossoms like red clouds and bright clouds, are sandwiched with tender yellow weeping willows. Zhichun".The old site of Shangyuan was originally the garden of the private residence of Wu Jin, a scholar of the former dynasty.In the Yongqing period of the current dynasty, Jingping was prosperous and strong, so Emperor Jingzong chose this place to build Xingyuan, and built pavilions and pavilions one after another. It lasted for more than 50 years in three generations, until the early years of Tianyou, and finally became forty-six. Royal Palace.

Shangyuan Palace is only more than 60 miles away from West Changjing, and it can be reached by car in one day. Therefore, since Emperor Jingzong, the annual spring festival and autumn hunting have been held here.This year, the emperor also led the concubines and officials as usual, and drove out of Xichangjing in a mighty way, and stayed in the Shangyuan Palace.After the Spring Sacrifice Ceremony was held on the first day of spring, for several days in a row, feudal princes of different surnames gave spring feasts, shot willows and killed people. "Yuchen Lianbo" is the place where Rushuang's eyes are working. This courtyard is one of the forty-six sceneries of Shangyuan. quiet.Because the emperor always liked the cold and feared the heat, he moved to Tokyo every June for the summer vacation, so the several summer resorts in Shangyuan were useless, and only a few palace maids were arranged by the Zhidian Supervisor to be responsible for cleaning.Rushuang has been here for more than a month, and she only wipes the dust and ashes every day, and in the afternoon, she has nothing to do and is very leisurely.

After finishing the errands that day, the accompanying maids gathered to play with flowers and grass.Rushuang didn't like to talk all day long, so she sat alone and watched them fight grass.It was the height of spring, and the upper garden was full of exotic flowers and plants. This one found purple bead grass, that one picked up magnolias. They were chattering all over the place, and they were talking lively. Xiao Yu, the little eunuch of Zhidian Supervisor, brought a new broom. , the maids were having fun, but no one paid any attention to it, Rushuang got up to receive the leading card, put a bet on it, and led Xiao Yu to open the warehouse.After locking the warehouse and coming out, Xiao Yu saw that there was no one around, and suddenly whispered like a fly: "I heard that the emperor will give twelve maids to King Darkhan, please make plans early."

Rushuang nodded lightly, so lightly that even the rice bead pendant on her ear didn't even shake a little bit, Xiao Yu left by herself.In a few days, the Supervisor of Rituals issued an edict, selecting twelve maids from the harem and giving them to King Darkhan who was about to return to his domain.Rushuang heard that her name was impressively listed, which was exactly what she expected, so she was naturally indifferent. As soon as the twelve of them were selected, they were sent to a separate garden, where they were taught etiquette by the ceremonial supervisor. After only half a month, King Darkhan got up and went back to his domain, and took them with him.King Darhan was over sixty years old, old and frail, and he was a vassal prince with a different surname. As a rule, he was not allowed to enter Beijing unless he received an edict.The yellow sand outside the pass is endless, and it is extremely cold and bitter. After they go, they are afraid that they will never have the opportunity to step inside the pass again in this life. Therefore, although they have good food and drink every day, and there are special staff to wait on them, the dozen or so palace ladies who have been selected are still sad and crying behind their backs. .

That night, when Rushuang woke up, she heard the sound of sobbing again. They were living in the same room, so they knew it was the palace lady who was in the same room crying again.The night was quiet, Rushuang had a very light sleep, but she couldn't fall back to sleep after waking up, so she had to lie there with her eyes wide open, listening to her crying sadly, but her heart was numb and not mourning.How good it is to be able to cry, she can't even cry, her eyes have already dried up like a dry pool.Since Xiaohuan's death, she cried for the last time and shed all the tears in her life.From then on, she had no more tears to shed, only blood.

There is like a small feminine flame in the bottom of her heart, burning her internal organs with burning pain, she can't think of Xiaohuan, the past days, as long as she thinks of it for a moment, there will be turbulent blood in her heart, as if it can no longer be suppressed Can't live.Her palms were hot, and she groped for a small flat silver box from under her pillow. When she opened it, it contained pills the size of broad beans, exuding a faint and cold fragrance. When she touched her nose, she felt a strange sense of calmness, and she swallowed a pill. Going down, it seems that the breath finally slowed down.Because she was strangled and suffocated for too long last time, her pulse was often overwhelmed. The famous doctor extended by Prince Rui prescribed this secret pill. Since she entered the palace, Prince Rui's people tried every means to deliver this box of medicine to her.You need to eat one pill when it breaks out before you can recover.

If one day I can't catch my breath and die right away, I don't know whether it is luck or misfortune.The pills gradually took effect, and the pain and palpitations in the whole body finally gradually calmed down.She recalled Prince Rui's sloppy and lazy eyes, sometimes his eyes would pass over her face, giving her an illusion, as if he was not looking at her, but at a sharp and unparalleled sharp blade, which was about to be silently Penetrate the blood and penetrate the opponent's most important heart.The divine light flashed in those eyes, and suddenly a ray of arrogance and pride that was impossible to fathom flashed across. The corners of his mouth were slightly pursed, and a faint smile appeared, and he was once again a noble prince as graceful as jade.

In the past, there were many boudoirs, except for her father and brother, she had never seen other men at all.Rushuang occasionally recalls her elder brothers, but they have been fighting with their father all year round. Even when they return home and take off their armor and change into casual clothes, there are always traces of wind and frost on their dark faces, and their eyes often emit a sharp light like a falcon , It's hard to look at.And Prince Rui's eyes are always unfocused, as if nothing in this world can arouse his interest. But she knew what he wanted, and she knew that under his seemingly sluggishness, there was actually a raging ambition hidden.He is Xingzong's most beloved prince, and the cruel power of the Yu family flows in his bones.He wanted to use her to get something, and she would get what she wanted through this. She didn't suffer a loss in this deal.

She was curled up on the bed, motionless, since her family was destroyed, she had always been in this sleeping position, like a little animal fascinated by the dense forest, unable to sleep peacefully anymore.She curled up on the pillow quietly like that, listening to the slight sound outside the window, dripping on the newly opened banana leaves. It was a rainy day that day, and the rain started dripping at night until dawn. When everyone got up to make up in the morning, the supervisor of ceremonies had already sent someone to urge him: "Don't miss the hour." It was supposed to be the empress who gave these twelve maids a banquet, and said a few words of comfort, as a farewell ceremony.But when the emperor was still the fourth son of the emperor, Prince Yi, the Yuan concubine Zhou had died of illness. Only one year after the emperor ascended the throne, the imperial concubine, who was regarded as the deputy queen, died of dystocia, so the middle palace has been left empty.Therefore, on this day, the most respected concubine Hua in the palace presided over the banquet.Ru Shuang cheered up, washed and washed with everyone, and changed into new clothes, all of which were exquisite spring shirts made by the needlework bureau, and the same color light yellow shirt and emerald green lily skirt.The twelve people stood tall and graceful, with even more graceful postures and beautiful appearances. They were led by the eunuchs and eunuchs to receive the banquet.

The place where the banquet is given is at Mingyue Continent. Mingyue Continent is actually a small island in the lake. There is a hanging rainbow bridge across the lake. The red railing bow hole is like a long rainbow lying on the waves. Everyone is winding down from the bridge when they suddenly hear a distant blow. applause.The ceremonial supervisor and eunuch hurriedly shouted, they were all educated, and they immediately knelt down respectfully along the stone steps, Rushuang glanced out of the corner of his eyes, and saw a huge painting boat rippling in the lake, and there were more than ten small boats around Surrounded by each other, the sound of silk and bamboo faintly wafted from the boat.When Rushuang saw the dragon pattern on the prow of the ship, the prow was surrounded by a canopy of parasols, faintly visible in the drizzle, and she knew it was a royal boat, her heart couldn't help beating wildly, as if something was about to burst out of her chest , the blood all over her body poured into her brain, she bit her lip fiercely to suppress the frantic impulse.

Due to the terrain of the Celestial Dynasty, the west is high and the east is low, but most of the prefectures and counties in the territory are close to the sea, and there are many rivers, swamps and lakes. The Chinese people are good at boat management.There are several floors built on the boat, which are as exquisite as a building, and are known as "building boats". The skills of making boats are well known in various countries.This royal boat is naturally very spacious and bright, with a treasured roof and eaves, flying teeth and brackets, like a tower on the water.In the floating lake, silk-string singing and dancing are more ethereal and melodious with the sound of water. Looking at the willows and green trees on both sides, there are countless scorching peach blossoms. What a great lake. Prince Rui took a sip of the lukewarm wine in his glass, and his casual eyes seemed to be unintentional, darting towards the emperor on the throne.Nine dragons plate gold and vermilion lacquer throne, every piece of golden dragon scales seems to be alive, the emperor sits on it, he seems to be listening to Prince Yu and King Darkhan talking and laughing, the corners of his mouth are raised slightly in a trance, although it looks like a smile, it always feels separated It's a layer up, as if it's not real.The emperor has always been shy and seldom happy, probably because when Emperor Xingzong was alive, he didn't like the prince very much, and his mother and concubine Zhong also preferred the younger son, the eleventh son, Prince Jing Dingyong, so he was under the care of his parents since he was a child. He grew up in the indifference of the emperor, and cultivated the emperor's indifferent nature. The throne should not have been his.Emperor Xingzong came to the throne at a young age, and has been on the throne for more than forty years. There are eleven princes who have grown up.Prince Rui Dingzhan is the sixth son of Emperor Xingzong, born of the imperial concubine Mao.Concubine Mao was born in a humble family, but she was favored by Xingzong. Not long after giving birth to Dingzhan, she was canonized as imperial concubine.A son is precious according to his mother, and Dingzhan was born extremely intelligent, so Xingzong inevitably wanted to make him the crown prince.However, the ministers of the cabinet insisted on inheriting the ancestral system, and insisted on making Dingyi, the eldest son of the empress, as the prince.Dingyi's talents were mediocre, and Xingzong never valued his son very much, so the emperor and his ministers stood in a stalemate, and the cabinet ministers threatened to resign, and the court lasted for several days, and Xingzong was finally forced to give in.Dingyi was established as the crown prince, and his beloved son Dingzhan was named King Rui.At that time, Prince Rui was only nine years old, and he was the first prince who was crowned king when he was a minor in the more than 400 years of the dynasty. After the collapse of Xingzong, the prince Dingyiqian came to the throne as Emperor Muzong.Mu Zong was only 18 years old when he was canonized as the crown prince. Xing Zong's training was extremely strict. Ding Yi would not even dare to take a wrong step in front of the emperor's father. He has been tightly locked up for more than ten years.After ascending the throne, he immediately escaped from the cage like a bird, acting recklessly.Favoring internal officials, indulged in licentiousness, selected beautiful women to fill Chen's harem during the country's funeral, and believed in Taoist priests' words to eat "Huichun Pills". On Bingzi Day in October of the 42nd year, he was violently murdered in the Yuanqing Palace in the middle of the night. Two emperors collapsed within one year, and Mu Zong had no children. If he followed the ancestral motto "brothers end up with younger brothers", one of Xingzong's princes should succeed him.The eunuch Li Jintang, who is known as the "Inner Prime Minister" and the eunuch Bingbi, colluded with Mu Zong's younger brother and Xingzong's second son, Prince Li Dingtang, to block the news of Mu Zong's death, and ordered the Beijing camp to enter the city overnight. The only surviving son of Xingzong intends to seize the guards of the Forbidden Palace and seek great power.As a result, Mu Yuan, the commander of the Beijing camp, pretended to agree, turned his back on the battlefield, and divided his troops into two groups. One went to surround Prince Li's mansion and put Dingtang under house arrest.Li Jintang was ignorant, and still opened the door to greet him as originally planned. He didn't want Mu Yuan to lead tens of thousands of soldiers, and it was Prince Yi Dingchun who came to guard him. Seeing that the situation was over, Li Jintang immediately knelt down and shouted "Long Live" to Prince Yi.Dingchun just sneered, beheaded Li Jintang with his sword, then wiped the blood with his robe, and ordered Mu Yuan to "get rid of traitors and eunuchs", and Mu Yuan bowed to accept the order.It was the night when the Beijing camp was closed and the Dasuo Li Prince Dingtang and Li Jintang's remnant party, this is the "Bingzi Change" recorded in the history books of later generations. Just after Prince Yi killed Li Jintang with his sword, the heavily besieged Prince Li's Mansion suddenly flooded, and the raging flames reflected thick red flames on half the sky in the capital.At this time, the people in Tongcheng knew that there was a change, and the Beijing camp that entered the city had sent heavy troops to maintain the curfew. Prince Yu, who had the closest relationship with Prince Yi on weekdays, personally led the order, and all idlers were not allowed to go to the streets , let alone firefighting.Later, everyone said that Prince Dingtang felt ashamed after the failure of the rebellion, so he set himself on fire.Over a hundred people in Prince Li's mansion lost all their bones in the fire, not even a single one escaped alive.The carved beams and painted buildings and splendid pavilions stretching for several miles in Prince Li's Mansion all disappeared in this monstrous fire.For three consecutive days, the billowing smoke from the fire almost obscured the sun. It was not until dusk on the fourth day that the soldiers led by Gyeonggi Province gradually put out the fire.At this time, Prince Li's mansion had already been burnt to a white ground, and the inside and outside of the palace had been slaughtered. Not only the remnants of Li Jintang's party, but also Prince Li's confidantes were all killed.Prince Yi Dingchun proclaimed himself emperor at Chaoyi Gate, and changed Yuan Yongtai the next year, making him the current emperor. A few days before the change of Bingzi, Prince Rui happened to be sent by Mu Zong to Yuling to sacrifice to Xing Zong, and when he returned, the overall situation was settled.The emperor sent envoys to welcome him out of the suburbs, Prince Rui bowed his head and proclaimed himself a minister, the emperor also treated this brother very politely, rewarded him with a lot of money and farmland, and gave him a double salary for the prince.Because Xingzong loved him too much, Prince Rui was extremely arrogant and extravagant since he was a child.At this time, there is no one to restrain him, and he spends his time drinking and drinking, and does not think about making progress. He is only in his own mansion every day, making fun of all kinds of weird tricks.Prince Rui was fond of Danqing calligraphy, and his subordinates flattered him in every possible way, forcibly seizing the precious calligraphy and paintings collected by the gentry.He also likes to kill family slaves and take good girls as concubines.For a time, the public opinion was boiling, and the censor had even issued several remonstrances, but they were all kept by the current emperor one by one.So everyone in the court knew that the emperor treated this brother differently, that Prince Rui would restrain himself a little every time he was in front of the imperial court, but he still had fun in private, it was ridiculous beyond words.