Chapter 2 Chapter two

The light boat went straight down and stopped at Jiangling for a short time. After the girls from good families selected from various places gathered together, they began to turn northward by land.Turning from Xiangyang to the northwest, it goes out of Bauhinia, passes through Lantian, and enters Chang'an. The height of Chang'an City is three feet and five feet, and the circumference is sixty-five miles. The shape of the north and the south is different. The longitude and latitude of Doucheng are thirty-two li and eighteen dou long respectively. There are eight streets and nine mos, three palaces, nine mansions, three temples and twelve gates, nine cities and sixteen bridges.But Zhaojun failed to appreciate it in detail.An car drove in from the Qingcheng Gate in the east of Chang'an.Always approaching the court.

Yeting is located in Weiyang Palace, one of the three palaces built in the early Han Dynasty.There are twenty-eight miles around, and there are thirty-two palaces and pavilions inside, gold shops, jade households, and green Suodanchi, which are extraordinarily magnificent.The harem where the concubines lived.It is called Jiaofangdian, and the wall is painted with pepper and mud, whichever is fragrant and dry.It is divided into eight districts, or halls, or houses. The most famous ones are the Zhaoyang Hall in the first district and Zengchengshe in the third district. Yeting is located on the two wings of the harem, divided into east and west. Zigui Simei is assigned to East Yeting. At the beginning of the entry, log in as usual, and the first person who comes forward is Korean.

"What's your name, where are you from?" asked the eunuch in charge of logging in. "My name is Han Wen, from Jingxiang and Zigui." "She looks quite quiet." The eunuch looked her up and down, and then asked, "What are your specialties?" "I can embroider." "That's good. It's lonely in the deep palace, and I don't have to worry about the time!" The eunuch raised his voice and called: "Next." The next one was Zhao Mei, who gave her name and hometown.For some reason, the eunuch had a bad impression of her, so his words were not pleasant.

"It's just beautiful!" Although there are only four words, it makes Zhao Mei feel as uncomfortable as an arrow piercing her heart.Seeing that her face was flushed and tears were shining, Lin Cai knew that she understood the eunuch's harsh words, saying that she was "a beautiful woman but not beautiful", so he hurriedly held her hand and gave her a comforting look. "What about you?" The eunuch ignored Zhao Mei, looked at Lin Cai and asked, "What's your name?" "Lin Cai. Shuangmu Lin, the style of Cai." "The style is not bad! Where are the people?"

"The four of us are all from Zigui." Lin Cai replied, looking back at Zhaojun. This time, Zhaojun, who was originally the focus of everyone's attention, attracted all the attention even more.The eunuch looked at her from head to toe and kept nodding. To hide his embarrassment, Zhaojun signed up by himself, "My name is Wang Qiang." "Which Xiang? The auspicious Xiang?" "It's next to the word female, a stingy word." "It's a rare word." "She's also called Zhaojun." Lin Cai said, "Zhao, the king's king."

"That's a good name! Just register Wang Zhaojun in the book." Both Zhaojun and Lin Cai were slightly surprised by the sudden interruption and the cold voice.Looking up, Fang Shi found behind the eunuch, in the shadow of the tall palace gate, standing a dry and thin middle-aged man, with a face like a melon, eagle nose and mouse eyes, he didn't look like a kind person.But look at his clothes and listen to his tone of command.It is known that his status is not low.Lin Cai is more sophisticated.Even though he responded with a smile, the man had no expression on his face, his eyes were only on Zhaojun.

The eunuch registered his name and asked again: "What specialties do you have?" "Nothing good?" "No, no!" Lin Cai hurriedly said again: "She is versatile, good at singing and dancing, and good at female celebrities. She is our number one beauty in Zigui." "It's a well-deserved reputation." The eunuch pointed to the cloth bag that Zhaojun had brought and asked, "What is that?" "lute." "Pipa! Great, great. Congratulations! Your Majesty's favorite instrument is the pipa." It is true that Zhaojun is versatile, but the chores of cleaning and laying the house.Rarely do it yourself at home.So when I arrived at the designated residence, looking at Xiao Ran's four walls and the boxes and cages on the ground, I felt at a loss.

"Zhaojun," Lin Cai who appeared at the door asked in surprise, "What are you in a daze for?" "I don't know what to do?" "Oh," Lin Cai said with a smile, "you've never done it yourself, no wonder you! Come, let me help you." So instead of customers, everything is arranged by Lin Cai, but Zhaojun just obeys the command and runs around. Gossip while doing things.Lin Cai didn't have much luggage.After setting it up a long time ago, I went to various places to inquire about the situation of Ye Ting, so I told Zhaojun one by one at this time.The most important one is that Ye Ting ordered Sun Zhen to be transferred.

"No wonder! I've always wondered why I didn't see him when I got to Ye Ting, which is under his own control." Zhaojun then asked, "Then, who is the new Ye Ting Ling?" "It's the man standing at the gate, gloomy, with no flesh on his face. His name is Shi Hengzhi. This man," Lin Cai looked out of the window. Although no one was eavesdropping, he was afraid that the wall might have ears, so he deliberately Approaching Zhaojun, he said in a low voice, "This Shi Heng is extremely insidious, so beware of him!" "Oh, sister Lin, you must have heard something?"

"Yes! Otherwise, I wouldn't want to wrong someone casually. It is said that he was originally promoted by Sun Zhen. This time, Sun Zhen was sent as an envoy, and he acted as his agent. He actually wrote a book in secret, saying how Sun Zhen's measures were. Good recipe? I reported it to the Empress Dowager, and the Empress Dowager ordered the Emperor to transfer Sun Zhen to take charge of the Li Palace. Shi Hengzhi became the Ye Ting Order logically." "So, Ye Ting is under the control of the Empress Dowager?" "The empress dowager wants to take power, and there is no way for her." Lin Cai was interested in talking about Shi Hengzhi, and brought the topic back:

"Shi Hengzhi has a very dark heart, and he wants red envelopes." "Here. My father has already prepared it for me. It's a meeting gift of ten taels of silver." "You give ten taels, and I will also give ten taels. Also," Lin Cai asked, "Grandma Fu, who takes care of our daily life, should also give a red envelope. How much do you think?" "At least five taels, right?" "Okay! I'll inform Han Wen and Zhao Mei that everyone will send the same amount." As soon as Lin Cai left, Grandma Fu happened to come too.The name is "Grandma", but she is actually a middle-aged woman, fat and fat, with a charming charm, but she just behaves and talks like an old grandmother, so she becomes "Grandma Fu". Grandma Fu is one of the many deaconesses in the Ye court.The houses in Ye Ting are all the same, row after row, row upon row.In the middle of each row is a north-south corridor called "Yongxiang".There are forty-two Yongxiang in Dongyeting.There are forty-two deaconesses like Grandma Fu.Their status is not high or low, similar to the "housekeeper" of a wealthy family, and their authority depends on the degree of trust of the master.Granny Fu is very capable and has always been valued by the Ye Ting Order, so she is a respectable deaconess in Dong Ye Ting. Her ability, of course, includes knowing people.The first time he saw Zhaojun, he knew she was in Yeting.But it's like a traveler who goes against the road.Therefore, I am very courteous to see if there is any opportunity to win Zhaojun's favor. Grandma Fu asked questions.Very attentive.But it's not just perfunctory. the words asked.It's not what people worry about, it's what people are interested in.In Zhaojun's opinion, there has never been anyone in the world who is as considerate and humane as Grandma Fu, so she fell in love with her all at once. Seeing that she was perfunctory enough, Granny Fu stood up and said, "Miss Wang, I live in the Beitou hut. No matter the time, feel free to call me if you have something to do. Don't be afraid of embarrassment, thin-skinned, and you will suffer." Not to mention that she herself is willing to take care of her day and night.But he gave advice, saying "Thin-skinned, you will suffer."Zhaojun heard these words very kindly, and he couldn't help saying: "Grandma Fu, please go slowly!" She took out the red envelope that she was going to hand over when Lin Cai came, and handed it to Granny Fu, " Please give this ten taels of silver to Chief Shi." Granny Fu thought for a while and said, "Okay! Store it with me first. Wait for a few more people to entrust me, and send it up together." "That's right! I entrusted you with one thing. I will buy you a coat for five taels of silver!" "You deserve it! If I don't accept it, you must be grumbling in your heart. You think I'm too little." Granny Fu said earnestly, "To be honest, Miss Wang, I don't count on you for five taels of silver. This - don't need to say it for the time being! Anyway, I appreciate your kindness." Granny Fu is really kind-hearted, she hopes that Zhaojun will be favored in the near future, and she really wants to entrust her in front of Shi Hengzhi.But if I think about it at first, then I think it's not right, this new Ye Ting Ling is extremely suspicious, and he must think that he has received a lot of benefits from Zhao Jun, so he strongly recommends it, then it will be self-defeating. However, she really loves Zhaojun from the bottom of her heart, so she came to visit again at night when she had nothing to do.Sitting alone facing the lamp, Zhaojun, who is homesick and flying over, has nothing to do with his worries.Of course, such a person is also welcome to chat and break the boredom, so he hurriedly got up and gave up his seat, showing a very enthusiastic attitude. "Alone homesick?" Zhaojun smiled, then nodded and asked, "How does Granny Fu know?" "I've seen a lot of this. I won't come to persuade you, and it's useless to persuade you. After a while, it will be fine naturally." "May 'these days' pass quickly." "Others don't dare to say, like you, this is only a few days." Granny Fu said: "As soon as you are in your early years, it's okay to be homesick even if you are homesick!" "how?" "At that time, you want—" Granny Fu suddenly asked, "Miss Wang, are there any other people in the house?" "Father, mother, two elder brothers!" "You're all very lucky." Granny Fu praised without saying a word. That means.Both her parents and her brothers can be prosperous because of her favor.If this is the case, it will naturally be a great comfort.Zhaojun couldn't help but burst into a smile. "Ah!" Granny Fu suddenly sighed, "I just realized it today." Zhaojun was stunned, "Grandma Fu," she asked, "why do you suddenly feel emotional?" "I just realized today that a beautiful woman can forget her worries when she smiles. Sure enough, there is such a thing." That turned out to be a huge compliment!Zhaojun smiled again: "Thank you, Granny Fu!" "Okay! I should go. With you, the more we talk, the more I don't want to go. There are still many things to do tomorrow!" Just because Grandma Fu came to chat for a while.Arousing Zhaojun's infinite longing, it is easy to cover up the nostalgia, turn off the lights and go to bed, and sleep peacefully overnight. The autumn light of Yuyuan is very impressive.Red maple and yellow chrysanthemum, sparse willow and tall locust tree, the inexhaustible Jie Pavilion is steep and winding.The trouble is that it is too vast, from early morning to near noon, only one-third of the time has passed.Korean is relatively weak, so I apologize first. "Three sisters, take a break!" "Here," Zhaojun said, pointing to the front, "there is a pavilion over there." It is a stone pavilion built on the east bank of Yuchi, where Zhaojun led the way.But he was still brave enough to stay outside the pavilion, fiddled with the water surface with a bamboo branch, and frightened five-color carp jumped out of the water from time to time.The golden scales reflect the sun, and disappear as soon as they appear. "Zhaojun," Lin Cai was calling, "please come here, we have something to talk about." Zhaojun dropped the bamboo branch and returned to the pavilion.It was Han Wen who spoke first, "Sister Zhaojun," she said, "I have a proposal. The four of us have traveled thousands of miles to come here. We are lonely in the palace and have no relatives. Why don't we become sisters with different surnames, so that we can take care of each other. Both of them agreed, what do you mean?" "I agree, I agree!" Zhaojun smiled, "This is so interesting." "Since everyone agrees, let's talk about seniority first." Han Wen said to himself, "I'm eighteen this year." "I am also eighteen." Zhaojun said. "Coincidentally! It's already three eighteen!" Lin Cai asked Zhao Mei: "What about you?" "Seventeen." "Then you are the youngest." Han Wen said with a smile: "Before there is an older sister, there is a younger sister." "The eldest sister is probably me." Lin Cai said, "My birthday is big, it's a man's day." "Man's day is the seventh day of the first lunar month." Han Wen said, "I am the birthday of Chongyang." "The order is determined." Zhaojun pointed to Lin Cai and said, "Eldest sister!" Then he pointed to himself, "I was born on the same day as Baihua, on February 12th, and I came next." So Zhao Mei got up, and Yingying bowed down: "Eldest sister, second sister, third sister, see you, younger sister." "Little sister, take your time!" Lin Cai stopped her as the eldest sister, "Although the address is fixed, you still have to make an oath before God. Getting married is a very solemn thing." This is a difficult problem, where is the shrine in the palace?They looked at each other, a little dazed. After all, Zhaojun still has an idea: "Eldest sister, knowing each other, knowing each other, a thousand gold and a promise, life and death are based on appearances." She pointed to the tall pine tree standing outside the pavilion and said: "Three sisters, look at that tree. The old pine has grown green through the years, just like the friendship between the four of us sisters, which has never changed. It is better to pinch soil for incense and express our hearts, so let'Eighteen Gongs' be a witness that our sisters with different surnames share misfortunes and fortunes .” Before the words were finished, the other three sisters clapped their hands and expressed their kindness.So Lin Cai led the way out of the pavilion, facing the young old pine, lined up in a row facing north, and waited to bow down. "Second Sister," Lin Cai said, "You might as well spend your time drawing up a few words of alliance, and read them aloud when everyone prays." "Eldest sister's order, do your best to obey, I'm afraid the words don't convey the meaning." "It turned out to be one heart." Han Jie said: "Second sister just wish God the sincerity of all of us." Zhaojun nodded and typed a draft.After the four sisters knelt down together and registered by themselves in order, they recited aloud: "Short in the same township, grow up in the deep palace; I wish to become sisters, and say what I say from the bottom of my heart; from now on, we will share misfortunes and blessings; if you break the oath, you will not die well!" " After reading it, the four of them nodded together.Then go to the pavilion and salute according to senior and young.Lin Cai had to have a few words of encouragement. If she said something, everyone would respond. Everyone felt that in this moment, they had added a lot of concern for the other three. At night, Grandma Fu came to visit Zhaojun. Seeing Lin Cai, Han Wen, and Zhao Mei were all there, she smiled and said, "Congratulations, congratulations! I heard that the four of you are sworn sisters. Is that the eldest sister?" "What do you think?" Zhao Mei asked back. Granny Fu looked over one by one, pointed to Lin Cai and said, "I want to come to Miss Lin to live here!" Everyone laughed.The laughing stopped, Lin Cai asked: "Grandma Fu, do you think I look like a big sister?" "Like! Like!" Granny Fu had an idea, she was worried about something she couldn't tell Zhaojun, and she had an "eldest sister", so she said, "Miss Lin, since you are the eldest sister, I have something I want to discuss in private." Talk to you." Hearing the word "privately" in her words, Lin Cai nodded, winked at Granny Fu, and led her to his room to talk. "Miss Lin, there is something that I am very embarrassed about, so I have to discuss it with you." "Okay, tell me!" "Officer Ye Ting Ling Shi took a fancy to Miss Zhaojun's pair of jade bracelets, and asked me to ask for them, but I really can't say it. Miss Lin," Granny Fu begged, "I'll leave this to you, okay?" Lin Cai was quite surprised. After pondering for a while, he replied, "Yes, yes, but people don't dare to say if they are willing." "It's best, it's best that Miss Zhaojun agrees." "I'll talk to her first." "Then," said Granny Fu apologetically, "Mr. Shi is waiting for an answer. Could you please trouble Miss Lin to go there? I'll wait for the letter outside." Lin Cai nodded and turned away.Walking all the way, thinking all the way, and returning to Zhaojun's house.The three younger sisters looked at her together with questioning expressions in their eyes. Lin Cai immediately became aware that as the eldest sister herself, she should be open and honest.Although it is Zhaojun's personal matter now, there is no need to discuss it in private, otherwise it will cause unnecessary misunderstanding. So she said: "Second Sister, Granny Fu said that Chief Ye Tingling Shi is very fond of the bracelet on your wrist, and I hope you can part with it." Before Zhaojun could answer, the straightforward Han Wen scolded: "Why is this person so shameless!" "Easy, light!" Lin Cai hastily shouted.Then he said to Zhaojun: "Second sister, this jade bracelet is very precious, but it is always a possession outside the body, why not give it up! I think, you don't know how many precious jewelry you will have in the future." "Yes!" Zhao Mei said, "Second Sister, just be more generous!" "Eldest sister, fourth sister," Zhaojun replied immediately: "I'm not a stingy person, but if you want me to have other jewelry, you can give it as a gift. This jade bracelet is really inconvenient. One is a family heirloom, and the other is my mother's. Repeatedly, seeing this bracelet is like seeing her face. Please think about it, everyone, how can I give up this love?" "So there are these reasons," Lin Cai immediately changed his attitude, and said without hesitation: "Of course we have to keep it." Zhao Mei was cowardly and timid, so she said timidly, "Find something else to give him!" "Okay!" Zhaojun generously agreed, "I'll look for it." "It's available now." Zhao Mei pointed to the jade pendant on Zhaojun's belt and said, "This piece of jade is not bad, so it's not too thin to give it to him." "How can that be done!" Han Wen objected, "How can you just give it to a stinky man if you wear something that you wear around the ring?" "Then," Zhao Mei asked, "what should I do? It's not good to refuse openly, right?" "It's better to give him another ten taels of silver." "Eldest sister," Zhaojun asked Lin Cai, "Look!" "It has to be like this." So Zhaojun wrapped another ten taels of silver, and Tuolin picked it and handed it to Grandma Fu.Forward it to Shi Hengzhi. Lin Cai walked out of the door carrying the silver, and there was a long Yongxiang.The so-called "drafting wind" was so strong that I couldn't help shivering.But her mind became clear again, and she thought: The bracelet on Zhaojun's wrist is a high-quality green jade, which is crystal clear and very precious.Shi Heng's prayer is so extravagant, how can ten taels of silver be put off? Thinking of this, the footsteps could not help but slow down.But she was not allowed to think about it, Granny Fu had already greeted her, so she could only accompany her back to her room first. "Unsuccessful?" Granny Fu asked, looking at her expression. "Yes!" Lin Cai replied, "I have my own difficulties." After listening to Lin Cai's report, because Zhaojun couldn't give up his love, Grandma Fu also felt that it was inconvenient to force others to make things difficult.However, she had the same idea as Lin Cai, thinking that ten taels of silver would not be able to get through. "Miss Lin." She said, "I'm not afraid that I won't be able to do business in front of Chief Shi, but I'm planning for Zhaojun. The future will be bright, so don't offend the chief as soon as you come up." "That's what I mean too, now I have to find another way." Lin Cai thought for a while and said, "I have two pieces of jewelry, give them to her!" Lin Cai unpacked and took out a brocade box, opened it to see, inside was a "Golden Step Rocker" and a pair of jasper earrings.The jade color is much lighter than Zhaojun's bracelet, and it is a small piece. Of course, the value cannot be compared, but it is still considered a precious jewelry. "Miss Lin, why do you do this? I gave it to someone else, what do you wear yourself?" "Then don't care about it! Who told me to be the eldest sister?" "Miss Lin, you are really loyal." Granny Fu thought for a while and said, "Okay! When I have a chance, I will tell Zhaojun so that she can report to you in the future. " "No, no! Granny Fu," Lin Cai waved his hands wildly, "Thank you for your kindness, it's worthless if you put it bluntly! There is another sentence, in front of Chief Shi, you must not tell the truth, these two things are mine. " "I understand, you don't have to worry about it, I won't be reckless." After speaking, Grandma Fu left.