Chapter 18 Chapter Eighteen

"Ghost arrow feathers have the effect of dispelling blood and dredging menstrual flow, detoxifying and reducing swelling, and killing insects. Although they are rare, they can still be found in the Qinling Mountains," old man Lin replied, "It's just that the golden chan flower is very evil. This thing is also called grass cicada chrysalis , the root is the cicada chrysalis in the ground when the larva encounters a grievance, and I heard that the chrysalis grows from the head of the cicada chrysalis, about an inch long, and blooms and branches from the top... It looks like Baiyouzi, but it is more evil..."

After quickly looking up the information, I realized that the so-called transformation of a wronged soul is actually just a so-called biological pathological phenomenon, a complex of insects and bacteria, and cicadas are parasites of fungi.However, unlike Bai Youzi, Bai Youzi can live symbiotically with the host, but the fungus of Jinchanhua invades the body of the cicada and eventually leads to the death of the cicada. It is a bit similar to the so-called Cordyceps sinensis. Therefore, the so-called "Cicada Flower" is actually the residue after the bacteria absorb enough essence and the cicadas are consumed.

Old man Lin finally mentioned that only dozens of cicadas survived in Qinling Mountains every year, and only three or four were found. There should be fifteen in the internal affairs treasury. The imperial concubine is gone. So Jinxiu has this golden cicada flower! I asked someone to scour the ghost arrow feathers on the market. It was indeed worth a thousand gold, and I spent a little money, but I finally bought it. Considering that the epidemic may move northward, I divided half and kept it, and packed the other half and secretly shipped it to the southern country. Next, when I was thinking about how to open my mouth to Jinxiu, Qi Fang came up with an idea. I just planned to sell it to the Ministry of Internal Affairs this year, that is, the new gauze garments that were bestowed by the Empress Palace on the imperial court have already been successfully produced. Opportunity asks Jinxiu for it.

I went to Zhonggong, Yishang Junshi, Yulouzhuang's spring and summer fashion show is famous all over the world. This year, it mainly promotes cheap and high-quality linen yarn clothes. At this time when the country's foundation is not stable, it can reduce the burden of national funds. It may be taken into account that I am the elder sister of Imperial Concubine Jin, and also the name of Jun, the Emperor Taizu happily agreed to play, Jinxiu was named the Deputy Empress, and was granted the right to assist the sixth palace by the emperor, in fact, the actual power in the harem , so he issued an edict to set up a female seat in the purple garden for the queen, and invited the concubines of the harem and the daughters of all the houses to come and enjoy it. I also tried my best with Qi Fang to organize the first fashion show in the palace, but I never imagined that the place where Splendid Edict issued was actually the Shuanghui Donggui Building in Rongbao Hall.

Since Jinxiu took charge of the inner curtain of the Yuan family, Taizu ordered Qiao Wan to renovate and expand Ziqi Villa on a large scale to become the Royal Ziqi Palace. However, due to the loss of power in the family, the Lian family also gave birth to Feiliu from Jinxiu, and after the death of their youngest daughter, Her favor was not as good as before, so she recited Buddhist scriptures to pass the time every day. Later, Jinxiu used the name of Xiugong to obtain an imperial decree and ordered Lian to move out of Rongbaotang and move to Beizhai Palace, which was originally Yubeizhai. Jue has a surly temper. Taizu once donated a small golden body of Sakyamuni to Famen Temple for her, so Lian family was ordered to pray for the emperor day and night, and the Chongguang Pavilion where she lived was changed into the Rongbao Hall, where she became a concubine in Jinxiu. On the eve of the eve, Taizu personally bestowed on Jinxiu from the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

On the sixth day of June, I came to the Rongbao Hall early. That day, the sky was blue and the sun was shining brightly. I stood in the courtyard and looked around. The courtyard was still moist with green onions, and the wisteria flowers on the shelf were still in full bloom. There are many plum trees with green branches and new bursts beside them. I heard that she was favored by the emperor and transplanted many plum trees. It is really true.However, what is more eye-catching is the overwhelming snow-covered blue gate, the blossoms are as big as silver plates, and they are so lively that they are full of gorgeous cigarettes.

Behind it is a majestic and majestic high-rise building, which was rebuilt on top of the Rongbao Hall in those days. At the request of Jinxiu, Emperor Taizu personally bestowed the name Shuanghui Dongguilou, which implies Jinxiu's double dragon opera pearl. The mole, and the legend of the purple air coming from the east that everyone envied when she first entered the mansion, the Shuanghui Donggui Building is now the main place for the emperor to have large-scale banquets in the harem.The color of the unicorn brackets on the ground floor is still new and bright, and the dragon pattern on the top of the dragon gate is still vigorous and fierce. How many times in the early days of the handyman's room we secretly looked up enviously, because the girls who go in and out of this place mean the waiters of the purple garden The most glamorous appearance in the world, the highest status, given the right to life and death by the master, living the most superior life like the master.

This was once the place where Biying, me, and the other little Wuyi were humiliated. It was here that the fate of Biying and I was cruelly changed. Now it has become a beautiful golden cage. Such honor and favor, as if the flames of war had never come, as if the blood of me and Biying had never been sprinkled on the bright gold bricks. A burst of dance and music came, and a shadow of a girl in fragrant clothes emerged from the Donggui Hall. The leader, with shining purple pupils, was peerless and graceful, bathing in the rain of wisteria petals with a smile on her face. It was my sister Jinhuang Guifei, her tall There are ten flower hairpins, ten flower tines, and two temples, which are only two flower hairpins and two flower tines less than Queen's Yi.

While saluting, I was studying the twelve rows of red multicolored patterns embroidered on her purple jacket, which seemed to be the empress's ceremony, and it was a bit out of order, but she had already helped me up and spared me the ceremony , in the rain of purple petals, she smiled softly at me and said, "Sister came just in time." At that time, the western glazed clock was reaching nine o'clock in the morning. "Jinxiu, sister wants to ask you for a reward." I smiled at Jinxiu. Jinxiu raised her eyebrows: "Sister is really interesting, the Jun family behind you is as rich as a country, what kind of treasure can't you want?"

"You are joking. Since my sister returned to her original home, the family property has already shrunk. Even if I have seen some rare things, but some of them are worthy of the table. How can they compare with the good things that the Holy One rewarded you? Secondly, it is the emperor's grace to Jinxiu, my sister is very envious." After these words, Jinxiu really enjoyed it, her purple pupils were full of pride, she brushed the wide sleeves of her brocade robe and giggled non-stop, only laughing so much that even the peony flowers embroidered on the cuffs seemed to fly up : "Oh, Mujin, I've convinced you, your little mouth is still as sweet as before, no wonder our family's Northern Jin King is so crazy about you, just say what you want, my sister will definitely give it. "

"Hey, this, it's like this..." I was about to start. At this time, a eunuch coaxed the voice to say: "The empress is here." My request was put on hold, and I had to go to the courtyard with a group of women to meet the queen. The young Empress Xuanyuan stood in the atrium, wearing a bright red silk skirt with wide sleeves, on which six golden phoenixes were meticulously embroidered on top of white peonies, and she was standing beside Jinxiu wearing tall Shu brocade pearl shoes. , although the appearance is a bit inferior, but the most important thing is to smile, young and cute, but it also makes people feel like a spring breeze. Behind her was Yuan Feiyan who was also well-dressed, dragging a large goose-yellow silver satin skirt, and her makeup was exquisitely pasted with lotus ingots. Hairpin, among a group of women, I feel that the temperament is more precious, but the delicate body is slightly thinner in the breeze. A group of luxurious women, like tropical fish, swam gorgeously to their respective seats and sat down.Qi Fang also walked in, saluted and reported the performance. "Are all the noble ladies here?" The queen asked the maid beside her, Jinxiu glanced at the seat, lowered her eyes and said sideways: "All the wives inside and outside have already entered the table, but even the elder sister has not arrived yet, why not let the maidservant Concubine let them begin." The queen smiled lightly and said, "It's okay, you can wait a little longer." Jinxiu asked the palace people to play the chime bell, and the elegant music spread throughout Donggui Hall immediately. The Empress chatted with Jinxiu about homework, her eyes fell on my shawl, she took a few glances and said with a smile: "Princess Jin's silk pattern is so beautiful, I heard it was made by Mrs. Jun." I also bowed my head in respect: "I bought it from Jun's Jade House Clothing, but it is not as soft and fresh as the gauze worn by the empress. If my concubine guessed correctly, it should be the latest style of Yinbao gauze in Haozhou." Surprise flashed in the queen's eyes, and she said happily, "The princess has good eyesight." Yuan Feiyan's overly drawn phoenix eyes glanced at me lightly, revealing a trace of sarcasm, but did not speak. Suddenly, a muffled bang sound came from inside the bead curtain, Jinxiu and I turned our heads to look, the sun was shining on an exquisite western glass clock, the glass surface was glowing with golden light, and the small door on the top was wide open , A little girl wooden figure with a big braid on her head popped out, with a strange big smile on her face, followed by clapping her little hands ten times with a dang bang, and then bounced back. Hey? !This girl looks very familiar! "Does it look familiar?" Jinxiu's voice sounded in my ears, and I was taken aback. Looking back, she was smiling proudly at me, no matter how delicate her eyes were, there was a faint smile line Come on, she smiled lightly at me and said: "This glazed clock is old, isn't it? Back then, the emperor ordered his sister to move to Beizhai Palace, and wanted to move out together, but she accidentally dropped it once and broke the time teller, so the emperor followed suit I rewarded my sister with a bigger one. I heard that the characters on the clock were inlaid with ivory and jewels, but I was reluctant to throw it away, so I asked someone to repair it. I simply replaced the small time teller with your appearance. Keep using it and see if you look as stupid as you were when you were a child!" The empress obviously heard our conversation, she also glanced at the villain, and exclaimed a little: "Did Princess Jin look like this when she was young?...so cute...so cute." Then the beautiful eyes looked at me frequently, full of deep thought, I guess her subtext is actually, I can't imagine that you were so ugly back then, how did you become a white general? Jinxiu pursed her lips and smiled sweeter, raised her slender fingers, and called for singing and dancing, but saw more than a dozen maikos dressed in white gauze, holding big whisks, came to the hall, and danced the white dove dance popular in the palace. The dance music gradually soothed the atmosphere in the venue. Jinxiu's purple eyes glanced at me, smiling sweetly, but she lowered her voice and said to me: "I was transferred to the wife's room at the beginning, because I didn't wipe the clock for a day, so I was sent She was twenty naked, and I thought at the time, one day I will let her experience the feeling of being naked." I was about to reply with a smile, but the palace servant came to report: "Even the imperial concubine is here." After a while, Lian went to the main hall to salute the empress. This is the first time I have seen Lian's up close since I returned to my original home. Age has also carved marks on her body, and the marks are much deeper than mine. The black hair on her temples has been darkly stained. A few traces of autumn frost, no matter how thick the powder is applied, the lower eye sockets are still deeply swollen. Although the eyes are still beautiful, they have been polished and dull by the pain of bereavement. I noticed that her complexion is extremely Although the pale, jet-black hair is covered with gold hairpins and treasures, upon closer inspection, there are some messy strands. Jin Xiu's smile subsided, she stood up, and slightly bowed to Lian Shi according to the order of seniority, but Lian Shi had to make a full curtsy. "Today is the emperor's quasi-empress banquet for the sisters in the harem, and all the noble ladies to come to watch the new clothes show. Even if my sister has something important to do, she can send someone to report it for a while. How can I let the empress and the sisters in the harem, all the concubines inside and outside Waiting for you alone for a long time? My Yuan clan is the most respectful of etiquette, and my sister's move is really against the palace system, the Yuan clan's family law. It is difficult to be a model for the harem if you despise the queen." The hat was too big, a trace of hatred flashed in Lian's eyes, and the gaze became even colder. The queen was about to speak to persuade her, but an older nun next to her gently tugged at her sleeve, and the queen immediately There was silence. Lian Shi calmed down, and smiled arrogantly: "What do you want to do?" Jinxiu sneered and said, "My sister's memory is getting worse and worse, so it's natural to implement the Yuan family's family law." Lian raised his swan-like neck high and said loudly: "I am the emperor's wife and wife, you are worthy to touch me as a concubine?" Jinxiu showed a strange smile: "My sister is right, my sister is indeed a concubine, but now only the empress is the emperor's first wife, and you... are nothing more than a concubine," she successfully saw Lian's face was distorted because of sadness, and then her tone gradually became tougher, and finally she said sharply: "Sister is so presumptuous, it is really a big treason." Jinxiu suddenly came to the middle of the field, knelt down on both knees in front of the queen, and wept softly: "My concubine implores the empress to punish Lian for the crime of contempt according to the palace rules, and fight twenty times in court to show my respect and filial piety." As soon as these words came out, all the women were shocked. No matter how self-cultivated Empress Xuanyuan was in the high hall, sweat dripped from her forehead. She couldn't help but look at the nanny beside her. nod. The queen coughed lightly, nodded slightly and said, "Quite...play." The queen's voice was slightly unstable, Jinxiu just smiled softly and said, "Accept the queen's order." The palace servant helped Jinxiu to stand up, and immediately two strong eunuchs came to pull Lian Shi over. The two maids beside Lian showed their sharp knives, but before they could save her, they were knocked down by Jinxiu's palace maid, and then they were mercilessly shot down. Relentlessly breaking the bones of her hand, Jinxiu covered her lips and exclaimed: "What a bold Lian, how dare you make the palace servants bring weapons to meet the queen!" I don't know who exclaimed: "Concubine Lian wants to assassinate the queen!" All the women present were startled and made a mess. Lian looked at Yuan Feiyan begging for help, but Yuan Feiyan lowered her eyes coldly, playing with her enamel nail set without saying a word.Lian desperately wanted to call for help, but a group of warriors rushed in quickly, grabbed her maid, covered her mouth, and dragged her down mercilessly. Lian Shi struggled desperately until she disappeared, her eyes were fixed on Jinxiu with despair and hatred all the time, the pearls, hairpins and treasures on her black bun fell all the way down and scattered all over the ground. The sweat from Queen Xuanyuan's forehead slid down to the tip of her nose. Although the old lady beside her remained calm, there were waves in her eyes. With her head on the ground, she said slowly in an old voice: "Imperial Concubine Rong, after all, the Lian family has served the Emperor for many years. , why don’t you imprison him first, report it to the Emperor Ming, and ask the ministers of Dali Temple to interrogate him, and then make sense?!” Jinxiu slowly raised her head, her face was covered with tears like pear blossoms and rain, and she wept bitterly: "Your Majesty the Empress, although Madam Yi's words are very reasonable, but even though we come from a martial family and are women, we also fight with the Emperor on the battlefield. Killing, but it happened to be a peaceful and prosperous age, how lucky to be able to have Queen Xuanyuan's mother in the world, and the blessing of the harem, it must be the concubines and other sisters who worshiped Buddha and accumulated virtue in their previous lives. Therefore, in the harem, you must respect the queen, and you must not carry a knife when you meet the queen, so as to scare Xuanyuan Zong's family. Lien's action is a capital crime, and it will limit the emperor's injustice. I implore the queen to kill this wicked woman immediately. To show the world, the emperor's sincere heart to Xuanyuanzong and the empress." Jinxiu only spoke with sincerity, and burst into tears, all the wives fell to their knees in astonishment, not daring to speak. In this way, my fashion show turned into a SHOW TIME for Splendid and Lien. Empress Xuanyuan once again took the lead with difficulty.Lian's screams finally resounded, and the sound was very shocking, but Jinxiu waved her fingers as if nothing had happened, the palace attendant who played the music shook her body, raised her hands with sweat dripping down her face, the elegant music played again, and even Shi's screams were slowly covered by the moving music of the fashion show, and finally no trace of sound could be heard. A group of well-trained models walked in, beautiful and beautiful, with ethereal clothes and socks, and none of the court officials present had the heart to appreciate the wonderful performance. , left with a straight face, and let Jinxiu take full control before leaving, and then more than half of the frightened wives also made excuses to retreat with a pale face, and finally I was the only one in the hall to accompany Jinxiu to watch the whole performance with great interest , I think this is definitely the worst one since my fashion show, but it is also the one with the most lucrative orders. As a result, none of the ladies complained about any dissatisfaction with this year's royal gift, even though they knew that the silk was far inferior to the brocade Silk and satin are expensive, and Jinxiu has ordered all the silks and silks of the Jun family this year, and the Jun family has become an official imperial merchant. That day, when Jinxiu made a decree to set the yarn, I finally asked for a few golden flowers, and Jinxiu replied: "Sister is really good at picking things, this is a rare thing in the world, saving a life is worth a thousand gold, not to mention It is my son's life." "The King of Hanzhong is now in good health. You have at least ten in your library, but my sister only needs three." I sincerely begged. Jinxiu looked at me, and said coldly: "Mujin, the emperor has always communicated with foreign countries, and the epidemic in the south is rampant. I know what you want this golden flower for, but don't forget, you are now the concubine of Jin, and I She is also the deputy empress of the Central Palace, so don't do anything to implicate me, the King of Hanzhong, and the King of Jin. Now we are waiting for sisters, it is only more dangerous than back then. Do you know how many pairs of eyes are staring at us? The Nanjia County King and Dongxian King in the court, and the princess An Nian, who is deeply favored by the emperor, which one of them is easy to get along with? They want to pick out our mistakes, and they want to eat my flesh and blood, just like me. It's like dealing with the Lian family, otherwise the achievements of fifteen years will be in vain." I was at a loss for words, and left the palace with a cold heart. Not long after I returned to Xifeng Garden, someone passed on that Jinxiu brought the eunuch to reward me. I thought to myself, could it be that Jinxiu changed his doctrine and secretly gave me golden cicada flowers? I came to Hualin Road with a glimmer of hope, and saw a group of eunuchs moving a large object. Changfu, the eunuch next to Jinxiu, wiped his face full of sweat, and said with a high-pitched smile: "The imperial concubine said that this object was originally owned by the queens of previous dynasties, and it was given to Emperor Xuanzu by the central palace of Emperor Bozong in the last years of the Ting Dynasty. Therefore, this object is very precious, and the imperial concubine also loves this thing deeply. I just saw that the princess of Jin likes this western glazed clock very much. As soon as the concubine of Jin left, the concubine sent her servants to bring it to her. The concubine said, Princess Jin is not feeling well, so there is no need to come here to thank you." I numbly rewarded him and sent him away. Under the sun, I folded my arms and looked at the western glazed clock silently. People who didn't know where they were were excitedly circled around the luxurious western clock, chirping and admiring it repeatedly. Later Qi Fang told me that on the night of the fifth day of June, Jinxiu secretly reported the evidence of the Lian family's crimes to the Taizu. The Taizu was very angry and punished Lian to kneel in the courtyard overnight. However, Jinxiu intentionally caused the palace servants to verbally insult her on the way here, which made her feel depressed, so that day in the main hall, Lian couldn't bear it anymore, and Jinxiu took the opportunity to get rid of this long-time empress in the name of the queen. old rival. But I didn't get the golden cicada flower, but inexplicably got the Western glazed clock that might have caused my sudden death! In the first year of Yuanchang, a wife of the great ancestor died silently in the harem of the Yuan family. However, the emperor did not blame Jinxiu for forcing the empress to execute the Lien family. And defended the queen's dignity. Soon, someone reported that the Lian family was corrupt and broke the law. In order to seize the land, beat people to death, and demolish the temple privately, the information the Xuanyuan family had had played a major role. Lian's father and brother beheaded for public display, and several family uncles were exiled in the desolate Xiguan. Since then, Lian's family has been destroyed for a hundred years, and all property and land deeds have been used as the treasury. He has made a huge contribution, and people at the time joked: "Your face will last forever, but you only want a son; you are favored in the middle palace, regardless of your background, you are a rabbit and a dog, and you are cheap in the west and expensive in the east."