Bright Spring

However, the younger generation didn't say anything important. He only said that a man named Yang Yong was appreciated by the commander, and Yang Yong might be that younger generation.

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 2: Thrushbird in a Cage

In the Kunning Palace, Empress Xu read the letter in her hand and put it gently on the table. She had a smile on her face and seemed in a good mood.

She turned her head and said to Miao Jin next to her: "As expected, the child will become sensible when he grows up. Gao Xu is becoming more and more thoughtful. Last time when he came to the palace and asked me if I was in good health, I just casually mentioned, I often have headaches; I didn’t expect Gao Xu to send an eunuch named Wang Gui to Beijing as soon as he arrived in Yunnan, and sent Sanqi here, saying that Yunnan Sanqi can cure headaches..."

When Empress Xu said this, a little sadness appeared on her face, "Gao Xu left Beijing for half a year, right?"

The eunuch next to him hurriedly said cautiously: "Go back to the empress, the king of Han has been away from Beijing for five months."

Empress Xu nodded.

When Miao Jin heard the words "Wang Gui" and "Give the empress a gift", her heart was pounding.The queen thought that Zhu Gaoxu sent someone to Beijing to deliver medicine to her; but only Miao Jin knew that Gao Xu had sent someone to pick her up!

It is said that Yunnan is a barren land on the frontier, and Miao Jin has no expectations for that place; but somehow, thinking of going to Yunnan, her heart almost jumps out.

She told herself silently: It's just to leave the palace and find a new place to rest and clean up.

The palace is not a place where she can stay for a long time.Empress Xu is here, and Miao Jin is no one in the palace. But Empress Xu is not in good health, and she is afraid that if she is a thousand years old one day, she will have to find another way out?

People feel uneasy when they are in unfamiliar places; so when going far away, they always want to go to places where there are acquaintances to support them.It's just human nature.The only place Miaojin can go to with peace of mind is Yunnan.

However, she found all kinds of reasons to explain, but she still couldn't fool herself.She really felt her heartbeat and expectation, and she even wished she could become a bird and fly to Yunnan right away...

Why... is this really good?

... Miao Jin stayed in Kunning Palace for a while, and then she was about to leave.At this moment, she pretended to think of something suddenly, and said softly: "The one-year memorial day of my late father has passed, and the unfilial daughter did not go home to worship. I want to go back in these two days to make up for my late father." Some paper money, please grant the Queen's permission."

Empress Xu is very tolerant to Miao Jin, and she will definitely agree to this matter.

Unexpectedly, Empress Xu said: "A while ago, the Holy Majesty said that Miao Jin is a monk, so she doesn't need to go home often; I thought this is the palace, and the rules can't be ignored. If someone goes in and out of the palace frequently, it's really not good. Your Majesty has agreed. Miao Jin has nothing important to do, so don't leave the palace."

After Miao Jin heard this, she was startled, a huge sense of disappointment welled up in her heart, as if a pot of cold water had been poured into her hot heart!She only felt that her hands and feet were weak, and her feet were almost stabilized.

But fortunately, she had been a spy for several years, often disguised her appearance and behavior, and had to tell lies all the time.

Miao Jin said indifferently: "Yes, the poor way obeys the order."

She said goodbye and came out of Kunning Palace, thinking of ways in her heart, how to get out of the palace.He was even a little worried, even if he could sneak away, would he be suspected by the emperor and implicate the people in the Jingfu?

...While thinking hard, I saw a group of people coming from the south.Except for Zhu Di who held his head high in the front, all the eunuchs and maids in the back walked with their heads bowed and their heads buried.The emperor was walking towards Kunning Palace.

Miao Jin had already walked down the stone steps, and immediately bowed to the side.

Although she didn't look directly at the emperor Zhu Di, from the corner of her eyes, she also felt that Zhu Di's gaze was staring at her as she walked.Miao Jin felt a little uncomfortable, but she was more used to the man's gaze.In the sad and solemn scene of her late father's funeral, the male guests in the mourning hall did not forget to peek at her.

At this moment, all the eunuchs and maids stopped in the distance, and Zhu Di came over alone.

"The poor Taoist pays homage to His Majesty." Miao Jin bowed.

Zhu Di stroked his beard and said, "I want to have a few words with Miao Jin, shall we walk around here?"

The emperor is the biggest in the world, even if he is a monk, he cannot disobey the emperor.Miao Jin had no choice but to say: "The poor way obeys the order."

She bowed and followed Zhu Di's side. Zhu Di deliberately stopped to wait for her to come forward, and she stopped too... It could mean that a Taoist priest dare not stand shoulder to shoulder with the emperor.What's more, Miaojin is not willing.

Zhu Di said: "What's so good about being a Taoist priest? Miaojin is a woman. If you continue to be a Taoist priest, you will be alone in the future. Last year I told you to return to vulgarity."

Miao Jin hurriedly replied: "The nature of the poor is indifferent, and returning to the vulgar is not the original wish of the poor. I hope the Holy One will see the truth."

Zhu Di stopped in his tracks, and suddenly said: "If Miao Jin returns to vulgarity, I will do what I say, and I will immediately make you a noble concubine!"

As soon as this remark came out, Miao Jin froze there, not only surprised, but a cold chill rose from the soles of her feet.

He paused for a while and said: "Don't rush to answer, think about it for a while."

The emperor's tone was calm, but Miao Jin still felt deep fear.Just because Zhu Di is the emperor, since the emperor's wishes have been expressed, can people resist?

In an instant, Miao Jin felt that she might only have a dead end!

...Emperor Jianwen said at the beginning that Miaojin would be named imperial concubine after the matter was completed.All the fates arranged for her by others, she was powerless to struggle and did not resist at that time.

But now, why are you so determined?Or because she accidentally committed herself to another person by mistake, she couldn't get over the hurdle in her heart.

Miao Jin thought again, if Jianwen had won back then and she had been forced to commit herself to the King of Yan, would she still be able to return to the imperial court and become the concubine of Jianwen?Hard as it may be, but in the end, she seems to be forced to face reality.

Right now, she can't do that, she would even rather die!

Miao Jin has never underestimated imperial power, she knows that anyone's life is just a thought in the hands of the emperor.That's why she was not confused by Zhu Di's casual tone, and she had already realized the seriousness of the matter.

She has walked through the gate of hell twice, and after facing death for real, for some reason, people don't want to die anymore.

But now she has to choose whether to commit herself to the emperor as a noble concubine or to die. After thinking about it for a long time, she still wants to choose the latter.

...After being silent for a long time, Miao Jin thought about a lot of things, and finally concluded that it is not wise to threaten the emperor with death.Firstly, it might make Zhu Di suspect the reason and make him angry; secondly, if he said he was going to commit suicide, he would be guarded against instead.

Some things, as long as you say it, you may not do it; if you don't say it, do it directly, it is a great determination!

She finally opened her mouth cautiously: "The poor are pure-minded and ascetic. I am used to idle life. I am afraid that I will not be able to serve the Holy One wholeheartedly. The ninth-five-year-old His Holiness, who is attached to all people, should be served by a courteous, virtuous and virtuous female servant." Your Majesty, fortunately with the help of Liugong Fendai, there is no need for poor people like poor people whose hearts are in the mountains. I also hope that Your Majesty will fulfill the ambition of the poor."

After Zhu Di listened, he stood there expressionless, and no one could figure out his thoughts at this time.

After a while, he looked very indifferent, stood with his head up on the brick floor, and sighed nonchalantly: "I don't want to give you the title of imperial concubine, but I want to be celibate, alas! I just have good intentions, and in that case, I won't persuade you gone."

After hearing this, Miao Jin breathed a sigh of relief, and hurriedly knelt down on the ground, kowtowing to thank her.

...Zhu Di stayed in Kunning Palace until the afternoon, and then returned to Dongnuan Pavilion to review the memorials in the imperial chariot.

As soon as he reached the entrance of Dongnuange, his gaze rested on the birdcage at the exit of the inclined corridor.There is a thrush inside, which was there the month before last, or some eunuch ordered it to hang there.

But that thrush is very strange, I have never seen it barking.

Zhu Di strolled to the cage, and made two "wow" sounds to tease the thrush.The eunuchs around them all watched the emperor play with smiles on their faces.

The thrush jumped inside, but still didn't make a sound.Zhu Di opened the cage, stretched out his hands for a while, grabbed the bird, looked at the bird in his hand thoughtfully, and praised: "Beautiful, this bird is really good-looking, I have never seen such beautiful feathers bird."

The eunuchs hurriedly agreed.

After a while, Zhu Di put the thrush back in the cage.At this time, the bird kicked its feet a few times inside, and its body was turned over at the bottom of the cage. After a while, it turned into a dead bird, and the body lay motionless in the cage.

Zhu Di glanced at it, turned his head and said with a smile: "This bird is really! It's dead." But there was a hint of coldness in his eyes.

All the eunuchs didn't speak for a while, and they all bent over and dared not move.

Zhu Di didn't take it seriously either, and strode into the East Nuan Pavilion.