Chapter 5 fourth quarter

I can't change Mrs. Huangfu's decision, and I can't find a more suitable candidate than Duanwen.My half-brother, my enemy with the same roots and different hearts, what kind of state of mind will he return to Xie Palace after years of exile?Duanwen's return date is approaching, and I feel numb.Whenever I recall that gloomy and stern face, a strange weight falls in my heart.During that time, Concubine Han, who was eloquent and considerate, was favored by me. She was keenly aware of my emotions in the embroidered pillow and brocade quilt, and asked the reason repeatedly.I don't want to tell Concubine Han much, I just use a joke to prevaricate.there is a wolf fast

Back to bite.I say. Is King Daxie still afraid of wolves?Concubine Han covered her mouth and smiled, she was squinting at me, her eyes were charming and full of probing, I heard Madam Meng said that Wang brother Duanwen is going back to the palace in the near future, if Duanwen is a wolf, let him go to the mob to charge, then If it's either death or injury, wouldn't the emperor be able to kill two birds with one stone? Nonsense, I hate your women's self-assertion, I interrupted Concubine Han's discourse unhappily, and I said, God knows what will happen in the future, everything is not as good as God's calculation, Duanwen is very mediocre, and there will be people in the Southern Expedition to sacrifice to heaven 80% sure.I don't want him to die, even if he dies, I have to wait for him to return to court in triumph.

In fact, I have already confided my heart to Concubine Han, and I am trying to find a way to beat wolves.As an emperor enthroned at a young age, my understanding of many state affairs and palace rituals is crude and ignorant. Only in terms of identifying ambition and conspiracy, I have the sensitivity and anxiety that are indispensable in the life of an emperor.I think Duanwen is a wolf, and a wounded wolf will become more ferocious. The beautiful scenery of a good night in Yifang Building turned into a quietness in the sound of night leakage, and everything resembled the scenery made of paper.I heard the sound of the wind and the grass on the palace wall trembling with the wind. I suddenly remembered what the monk Juekong said many years ago. It rolled into pieces all over the sky. He said that if one day you become king, one day you have a palace full of beauties and thousands of money, there must be a day when you find yourself empty, like a leaf blowing in the wind.

When General Guangyu Duanwen arrived in the capital, someone set off firecrackers on the city tower, and musicians lined up to beat drums and play music, doing their best to welcome the heroes back home.These are undoubtedly arranged by Prince Ping Duanwu.Duan Wu jumped down from the chariot, one foot was wearing silk sandals, the other was bare, and he ran towards his fellow brothers, shouting all the way.The sight of Duanwen brothers hugging each other and crying at the gate of the city caused some people to sigh for a long time, and it also made me feel deeply disappointed and lost.Duanwen is not my brother, I only have subjects, never have brothers.Instead of granting the military seal to Duanwen according to Mrs. Huangfu's will, I followed the plan of the chief eunuch Yan Lang and arranged another ceremony to welcome Duanwen.The content of the ceremony is to compare swords and grant seals.The two sides holding the sword are Duan Wen and Zhang Zhi, who joined the army who has repeatedly volunteered for the Southern Expedition.I believe that Yan Lang's plan fully complies with my complex and unspeakable state of mind. It is a warning and deterrent to Duanwen, and it is also a reasonable blow. For me, no matter who wins or loses, it is a seamless match Fighting game.I saw Duanwen in the agreed back garden in the morning.The wind and sand in northern Xinjiang darkened his pale cheeks and made his thin body much thicker.Duan Wen Zunzhi came with a sword, followed by his simple-minded and romantic brother Duan Wu, Prince Ping, and a group of guards stood standing in front of the forest with their horses.I found that Duanwen, whom I had not seen for a long time, had a mysterious and distant charm on his face, and his gestures were even more resembling the late father and king.I'm back, listening to all of His Majesty's wishes.Duanwen walked forward with his head held high, and knelt down on the grass three feet in front of me.I noticed that the movements of his knees seemed stiff.Do you know why you were called back to the palace?I say.

Know.Duanwen raised his face and looked at me. He said, "I just don't know why His Majesty turned his back on what he said, and put the heavy responsibility of the Southern Expedition on Duanwen's shoulders, why did he compete with Zhang Canjun to grant the seal?"the reason is simple.You are a mortal, if you want to make great achievements and seek the throne of the emperor, you must go through every pass, and the sword competition with Zhang Canjun is only the first pass.After pondering for a while, I answered Duanwen's questioning, and then I called Zhang Zhi, who was famous for his superb swordsmanship in the military account, from behind.This time the swords meet, the outcome is determined by life and death, the winner will be the commander of the Southern Expedition Army, and the loser will be the Ghost of the Tomb. If anyone can't accept it, they can withdraw immediately.I will not retreat, I accept the covenant of life and death.Joining the army Zhang Zhi said.I will not return.Duanwen's long and narrow eyes flashed the familiar cold light, and he looked around the garden briefly, with a contemptuous smile on his face.I have traveled thousands of miles to return to the palace in response to the imperial edict, just for the sake of life and death.Duanwen and his brother Duanwu looked at each other and smiled. He said, if I die under the sword of Zhang Canjun, Duanwu will collect my body and everything is ready.Prince Ping Duanwu sat on the stone bench, his attire was always as kitsch and weird as a troupe actor.The number one scholar wears a red phoenix robe, a boat-shaped fur hat and a gold-inlaid belt, and a pair of thick-soled soap boots.When I see him, he always thinks of those unspeakable intimacy in the palace, and I feel disgusted to the core.Duan Wu muttered something in a low voice, I guess he was cursing me, but I didn't bother to care about this trash.Later I witnessed a splendid court killing.There was no sound in the garden, only the panting of the two fighting sides and the sound of swords colliding. The shadow of swords and swords made the fresh air in the entire back garden heavy and dry, and many people's faces were blushing inexplicably.Duan Wen and Zhang Zhi are now stabbing each other around a big cypress tree. It can be seen that Duan Wen's swordsman has inherited the White Ape Sword from a court warrior. His footwork is light and calm, and his sword is precise and powerful. The plum-blossom sword, which is popular in Jianghu, is fierce and fast. Under Zhang Zhi's stabbing like falling plum blossom petals, the shield in Duanwen's hand made a continuous piercing trembling sound.I saw Duanwen retreat and block, and jumped onto the coffin covered with yellow cloth, Zhang Zhi also jumped up afterward.At this moment, I realized that the game of swords and seals was coming to an end, and that one person had stepped on the edge of the grave.Duan Wen took advantage of Zhang Zhi's opening in the coffin, and suddenly stabbed Zhang Zhi's throat with a sword.I heard Duanwen's shout was deafening, covering up the slight blunt sound of the sword piercing through the flesh.Joining the army Zhang Zhi fell on the coffin, his withered head drooping on the outside of the coffin wall, his eyes stared at the sky in the garden in astonishment, blood splashed from the throat like a spring onto the yellow tarpaulin, and then dripped onto the grass superior.The cheers of Duan Wu and the northern soldiers sounded from the forest, and the game really ended with Duan Wen's victory.The pool of black blood on the grass made me dizzy, and I turned sideways to look at the Priest.Li Jian raised the copper box in his hand high and walked towards Duanwen. He was going to award the Black Panther Army seal to Duanwen.Now I have to believe that Duanwen is the only candidate for the Southern Expedition Festival, everything is God's will, I can control the life and death of my subjects but I can't go against God's will.The life-and-death fight was over, and the morning mist in the back garden also curled up, and the spring sun lightly shone on the flowers and plants in the garden and the coffin on the grass.The palace servants uncovered the yellow tarpaulin on the coffin, and carefully placed the corpse of Zhang Zhi, who joined the army, into the coffin.I saw Duan Wen, whose face was covered in blood, walked over and put his hands on Zhang Zhi's wide-open eyes.Close your eyes, Duanwen's voice sounds very tired and sad. He said that since ancient times, heroes have been wronged souls who have died. Many people have been sacrificed for conspiracy and politics. This kind of death is not surprising at all.

A guard picked up a sweat towel on the grass, and he presented it to me, saying that it fell from Zhang Canjun's waist during the fight.A black eagle and Zhang Zhi's name were embroidered on the sweat towel.Did the guards and I hand over the sweat towel to Zhang Zhi's family as a relic.No need, I said, you throw it away.The guard's hands stopped blankly in the air, his fingers trembled, and then I saw the straight sweat towel fall on the grass like a dead bird.On March 9th of the lunar calendar, Duanwen led his army to march, and its momentum was mighty.Mrs. Huangfu, who was old and sick, saw Duanwen off in front of the gate of the capital in person, and it became a good story in Xie Kingdom.The common people have all seen the feat of Duanwen splashing the black panther flag with blood. He cut off his left wrist and splashed the blood on Daxie’s black panther flag. It is said that my grandmother, Mrs. Huangfu, was in tears And the people watching from a distance also sighed and sighed, and some people shouted the slogan "Long live the general" to Duanwen.That day, I was on the high city tower overlooking what happened below, and I remained silent all the time.I seem to foresee that Duanwen's blood contains deeper content, crazier and more ambitious ambitions, so I have an unspeakable sense of discomfort. I have a splitting headache, my underwear is soaked with sweat, and I am fidgeting under the crank yellow cover .When the trumpeters lined up to blow the horn for the expedition, I jumped out of the car and drove back to the palace.I heard my voice weeping.I feel like I'm literally on the verge of crying.

The spring in the palace is getting thinner, and the first cicadas are singing on the juniper trees outside the Qingxiu Hall.On the battlefield in the south, both the officials and the invaders were deadlocked, and there were countless casualties, but there was still no sign of the flag dying down. In my Daxie Palace, there was a scene of spring and twilight, singing and dancing, and in the fragrance of carmine powder and fallen flowers and new lotuses, floating as always Another kind of smoke of war, that is the never-ending harem battle between women.A shocking news came from Liming Pavilion, saying that Concubine Hui, who had been pregnant for many months, had a sudden miscarriage at night and gave birth to a dead fox with snow-white fur. , I just figured out what he meant.I slapped the little palace eunuch furiously.Who told you to talk nonsense?How could it be a miscarriage?How can humans give birth to foxes?The little palace supervisor didn't dare to argue, he just pointed in the direction of Liming Pavilion and said that the slaves don't know anything, it's the Empress Dowager and the Queen who asked His Majesty to go and have a look.I hurried to the Liming Pavilion, and saw Mrs. Meng and the concubines sitting in the front hall and whispering, each with a different expression, and their eyes were eagerly cast on me.I walked upstairs without saying a word, but Mrs. Meng stopped me from behind.Don't go upstairs, be careful of disaster.Mrs. Meng asked a court lady to fetch the dead fox, her tone was distressed and panicked, His Majesty should see it with his own eyes, and you will know what kind of enchanting Concubine Hui is.The maid tremblingly opened a cloth bag, and what caught her eyes was a young white fox covered in blood. The fur of the dead fox exuded an unbearable stench.I couldn't help but take a step back, breaking out in a cold sweat.The concubines in the front hall screamed and covered their noses and mouths with their sleeves.

How to prove that the dead fox was born by Concubine Hui?After I calmed down, I asked Mrs. Meng.The three night guard maids and the imperial physician Sun Tingmei are all circumstantial evidence.Mrs. Meng said, if your majesty doesn't believe it, you can immediately send Tai Physician Sun and three court ladies to verify it.I thought this matter was strange, but I didn't know how to deal with it for a while. From the corner of my eye, I could catch a glimpse of the annoying Queen Peng. She was sitting in a group of concubines dressed up, picking up a cherry in the fruit plate with a bamboo stick, calmly and gracefully. Sending it to her mouth, I glimpsed some suspicious shadow from her face.

Poor Concubine Hui.I sighed and walked upstairs.I ignored Mrs. Meng's stop.When I went upstairs, I found that the yellow cloth strips had been drawn between the pillars, which is a common seal in the forbidden area of ​​the palace.I tore off the seal and threw it at the concubines below, then hurriedly walked into Concubine Hui's bedroom.The moment I lifted the brocade curtain, I suddenly thought that Concubine Hui had been neglected by me for a long time. I smelled the familiar fragrance of orchids, and saw Concubine Hui's worried and sad eyes flickering like shooting stars over the Liming Pavilion. Concubine Hui's vain worries in the past have really come true now.

Concubine Hui on the embroidered couch was dying, she seemed to be in a coma, but when I approached her, I saw one of her hands slowly raised up, groping in the air, and finally pulled my belt.I bent down and saw that the once plump and beautiful Pinzhou girl was like a piece of rotten wood and dead branches, her face bursting out with cold white light in the afternoon light.I lightly stroked Concubine Hui's only indigo-colored brow, which was a magical force for her. I saw her eyes slowly open under my hands, and a few tears were embedded in my face like pearls. between the fingers.I was going to die, and they conspired to frame me.They said I gave birth to a white fox.Concubine Hui's hand tightly grasped my dragon and phoenix belt, I was amazed by this extraordinary strength.Her empty eyes stare at me beseechingly, Your Majesty, for old love's sake, help me.I knew they would not let me go, but I didn't expect their methods to be so despicable and vicious. God, they actually said that I gave birth to a white fox, a white fox.

They say so.I do not believe.I will send Doctor Sun and the maid to question, and the matter will be cleared up. Your Majesty don't need to worry about it, Imperial Physician Sun and those maids have already been bribed by Queen Peng, they are all shameless villains who follow her power.Concubine Hui suddenly burst into tears, and she said as she cried, they had planned for a long time, and I couldn't guard against it, no matter how careful I was, it was useless, and I still fell into their trap. Did you see the miscarriage that night? No.The lady-in-waiting said that the candle was gone, and the palace lantern could not be found either.It was pitch black all around, and I only felt a pool of blood on the couch, and I fainted for a long time. When I woke up, the candles were already lit, and Doctor Sun also came, and he said that what I lost was a fox fetus.I know he's lying, and I know Queen Mother Peng and the others have cast a trap.Concubine Hui was already in tears. She struggled to climb down from the embroidered couch, knelt on the ground and hugged my legs. Show me a way out.Concubine Hui raised her tearful face, her blood-sucking lips were like a fish, beaking my dragon brocade robe from bottom to top, making a sad rustling sound, Concubine Hui stopped crying, her eyes suddenly released almost With a tragic light, she finally said, Your Majesty, the supreme King Daxie, tell me, am I alive or dead?Should I really die?If I have to die, I beg Your Majesty to give me white silk now.I hugged Concubine Hui's cold and thin body, feeling as sad as water.Since spring, this fairy-like Pinzhou girl has been away from me day by day, and now I see that invisible poisonous hand has pushed her to the mausoleum.I don't know why I can't hold poor Concubine Hui. When she cries for help, I don't know what is binding my hands.I comforted Concubine Hui with tears in my eyes, but I didn't make an emperor's promise.I secretly summoned Ranlang, the chief eunuch, to the Qingxiu Hall, and asked him for advice on how to deal with Concubine Hui.Yan Lang seemed to have a plan for this matter, he asked me bluntly if I still had feelings for Concubine Hui, and I answered in the affirmative.He asked me again if I wanted her to die or live, and I said of course I wanted her to live.That's fine, Yan Lang nodded and said with a smile, I can send Concubine Hui outside the palace, to a place where no one will know to spend the rest of her life, and tell the old lady and other concubines that Concubine Hui has been bestowed to death by His Majesty. He was also sent out of the palace. Where are you going to hide her?I asked Yan Lang. The nunnery outside Lianzhou City, where my aunt was the abbot.That place is high in mountains and dense in forests, and there are few people around. No one will know her whereabouts. Let Concubine Hui shave her hair and become a nun?I exclaimed in surprise, you let the majestic Concubine Xiegong become a nun?Isn't there a better way?Concubine Hui is no longer what she used to be. If she wants to make a living, she can only leave the palace. After leaving the palace, she has a family that cannot be returned, and a husband that cannot be married. The only way to go is to shave her hair and become a nun. Your Majesty, please think carefully.I heard cicadas singing suddenly on the juniper in front of the hall, and a beautiful and thin paper figure floating in the wind appeared in front of my eyes again. Concubine, it seems that she can only spend the rest of her life with the lonely window and cold lamp of the nunnery.Just do as you say.Finally, I said to Yan Lang.This is God's will, maybe Concubine Hui entered the palace by mistake, maybe she was born to be a nun, I have no choice, I am the supreme King Xie, but what else can I do?A little maid named Zhen'er who looked exactly like Concubine Hui acted as Concubine Hui's substitute. Yan Lang managed to get Zhen'er to take a large dose of perspiration medicine to make her fall asleep. Snoring softly.Concubine Hui was sent out of the palace.The loud shouts of the criminal prison echoed by the Yu River, and the crowd standing by the river and the yellow cloth bags floating on the water constituted the scenery of the palace at dawn.That is, at the dawn of late spring, Concubine Hui disguised herself as a palace supervisor and sat on a shopping cart to sneak out of the Guangxie Gate and return to the outside world.According to the description of Yan Lang who sent her out of the palace, Concubine Hui was silent all the way, and he found many topics, but Concubine Hui turned a deaf ear to them, her eyes were always looking up at the wandering sky. The gold and silver jewelry I presented to Concubine Hui was brought back to the palace intact by Yan Lang. Yan Lang said that Concubine Hui refused to accept these gifts. She said to Yan Lang, I am going to be a nun in a nunnery. What is the use of these items? ?Nothing is needed.That's right, she really doesn't need these items anymore.I thought about it, and then asked Yan Lang, did she really take nothing away? I took away a lacquered makeup box, which contained a stack of poems, and I didn't take anything else. I guess the poems were written for her by His Majesty before, and she has been collecting them.Poems?I suddenly remembered the days when Concubine Hui was imprisoned in the Wuliang Palace, and I couldn't help but be moved by it, and sighed, it's hard for this passionate and hard-working woman.On the day Concubine Hui left the palace, I was depressed and wandered alone on the flower path.Flowers understand people's minds, and the warm wind and fragrance along the way are full of sad feelings.I sang as I walked, and finally composed a song to commemorate the short but warm love between Concubine Hui and me.I strolled to the edge of the Yu River, leaning on the railing and looking west, the palace was full of greenery, the peaches and plums on the branches had just faded, and the peonies and peonies on the ground were still colorful and colorful. The old place, the old friend, the girl who used to run like a bird by the Yu River is now has gone away from me.I am surprised to find that yesterday's past has passed away, and what remains are only some broken elegiac words.I saw someone sitting on the swing, it was Queen Peng and Concubine Lan, and several court ladies stood with their hands down under the willow tree.When I walked over, Queen Peng quickly swung back and forth a few times, then she jumped off the swing frame and drove away the maid next to her. She said, you go back, Concubine Lan and I will play with His Majesty for a while. I don't want anyone to accompany me, I said in a cold tone, you guys play, I want to watch you swing and see how high you can swing. His Majesty is frowning, presumably because he is sad for Concubine Hui.Could it be that His Majesty didn't know that Concubine Hui was not dead, and that it was the little maid Zhen'er who was sent out of the palace?Queen Peng stood by the swing frame, lightly hitting the iron chains of the swing frame with the gold bracelet on her wrist, a sly smile appeared on the corner of her mouth.You know everything, but the things you know are ridiculous.In fact, we don't necessarily have to put her to death. Since she is the reincarnation of the fox demon, she should naturally go back to the wild mountains and wasteland.As long as we sweep her out of the palace, the evil spirits in the palace will be eliminated, and we will feel at ease.Queen Peng looked sideways at Concubine Lan, winked at her and said, Concubine Lan, what do you think? The queen's words are absolutely true.Lan Fei said.