[Three Kingdoms] Carnival

Xu Duhan Palace

It is the mid-autumn season, the sun is warm and windy, and the scenery is pleasant.The small pavilion is located deep in the shade of flowers, Cao Jie, Bi Zan and plain shirt, concentrate on doing needlework.Outside the pavilion, yellow osmanthus is full of branches, and the fragrance is elegant, and the surface of the brocade caressed by catkins is also full of flowers, if there is a faint fragrance floating.

"Queen."

Cao Jie couldn't help being startled, and his fingertip was accidentally pricked by a needle.Ignoring the pain, she hurriedly stood up and saluted Liu Xie.

"His Majesty……"

"I shouldn't have called you suddenly." Liu Xie walked to her side and took her hand, "Is it hurt somewhere? Just leave these tasks to the maids, why do you have to do it yourself."

Cao Jie shook his head: "It doesn't matter, even after pricking it, it didn't bleed. I'm used to doing this at home, but I have to worry about this and that when I hand it over to the maid. It's better to sew it myself." Liu Xie's close-fitting things, She also doesn't want to give her hands to others.

Thinking that Liu Xie would not want to hear her mentioning her family, Cao Jie changed the subject: "Today His Majesty summoned the Imperial Physician into the palace, but what medical books did you read to gain insights?"

Six years ago, Cao Cao was canonized as queen of Wei, and there was no political affairs in Beijing that Liu Xie had to deal with.After half a year of ignorance, one day he met the newly appointed Imperial Physician Cheng in the palace, and since then he has been fascinated by the art of orpiment.Although there are many people who wrote letters, expressing how the king of a country can learn medical skills cheaply, but more ministers are happy to see the success.It is better to have something to want than to be depressed all day long, and now, they have no intention of forcing anything.

"I can't talk about the experience, but I just read a few things that I don't understand, and I want to figure it out as soon as possible." Sure enough, when mentioning medical skills, Liu Xie's eyes brightened a lot, and he talked with Cao Jie with great interest.Cao Jie listened with a smile, and asked a few questions from time to time.The breeze is blowing, and the cinnamon is all over the courtyard. Here in the world, everything is quiet.

"In short, medical books are easy to read, but medical skills are difficult to learn. No matter how familiar I am with the books, I can only talk about it on paper. I don't know when I will be able to rejuvenate like the Imperial Physician."

"Your Majesty is smart and willing to work hard. One day he will do it." Cao Jie said, "However, when it comes to 'talking on paper', I have heard that the current Imperial Physician will go to the city to provide free consultations for the people from time to time. If His Majesty is willing, maybe he can go with him?"

"I don't want to hide it from the queen. A few days ago, I really talked about the imperial physician, so I allowed you to disguise myself and go out of the palace with him. I didn't expect that the things I thought I had a good idea on weekdays, but I was really on the pulse, but it all came true." It was a lump of paste, and it almost made the other person’s condition worse.” As if thinking of his own embarrassment at that time, Liu Xie couldn’t help but blushed, “I’ll still be the same as now, only checking the pulse of the people in your palace, and not opening it. Fang. My medical skills are not good, and life-threatening matters cannot be harmed just because of a whim."

"Your Majesty, there is no need to underestimate yourself. After using the health-preserving prescription you prescribed a few days ago, the people in the palace told me that my body has improved a lot." Cao Jie said gently, "It's getting late, your Majesty will be here soon." This meal?"

"I am indeed a little hungry, pass the meal."

After receiving Liu Xie's words, Cao Jie ordered the maid to notify the servants to deliver the food. Every time a dish was served, he secretly checked whether Liu Xie was satisfied. In his tone, he couldn't help feeling a little lonely.

Seven years ago, she married Liu Xie, and six years ago, after receiving the seal, it stands to reason that as a woman, this is an extremely honorable favor.But these are not what she wants.What she cares about is the man in the deep courtyard of the palace many years ago, who mentioned his mother and concubine with a sad face.So even if her parents tried to persuade her before she got married, even if Liu Xie walked away before the wedding was over on the wedding night, she never complained to her father. a queen.With sincerity, gold and stone are open. After a few years, Liu Xie no longer treats her coldly like he did at the beginning. Many times he can still care a few words like he does today, and talk to her about the daily things in a pleasant way. fun.She told herself that since she chose this path, she was blessed by God to be able to reach this point, but whenever Liu Xie only called her "Queen", she couldn't help feeling sorry for her. It seemed to remind her that the reason why Liu Xie changed her view was only because she was the queen, not because she was Cao Jie.

She kept telling herself not to force or be greedy.However, as far as love is concerned, her heart cannot be suppressed, and her desires cannot be stopped. To this day, she still can't help but ask extravagantly, what she can't get.

"This fish..."

Hearing Liu Xie's voice, Cao Jie hurriedly collected his emotions, and asked warmly, "Your Majesty, what's wrong?"

"It's obviously surimi, but it's no different from pork when you eat it. It's very strange." As he said, Liu Xie put a chopstick into Cao Jie's plate, "The queen wants to try it too." He asked the attendant again, " How did the fish do it?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, this method is the same as usual, but the fish used is the comb tooth fish from the East China Sea. Knowing that the fish is delicious, King Wei specially ordered people to send it from the East China Sea."

With a "snap", the chopsticks were slammed onto the table, but the person who got angry was not Liu Xie, but Cao Jie.She scolded: "What nonsense! Remove all these quickly and change to another table!"

"But this fish was specially given to His Highness by King Wei..."

Cao Jie didn't know that this was his father's intention.Cao Cao loved her already, and since she married into the palace, he felt that he owed her a lot. Whenever there are any rare treasures that other brothers and sisters don't have, she can get it alone.She has always kept these things carefully and tried to avoid Liu Xie as much as possible.But today, this palace man not only brought fish, but also talked about his father's goodness in front of Liu Xie. Isn't this deliberately making Liu Xie angry? !

Thinking of Liu Xie's indifference to her at the beginning, Cao Jie's heart fell into an ice cellar.

"Let's go." At this time, Liu Xie suddenly said, "I'm afraid the money spent on these dishes can be worth the three-day use of the folks, so it's a pity to just change it. And——" Liu Xie took another piece of minced fish with chopsticks, tasted it for a long time, and finally showed a wry smile, "I thought that if I knew that this fish was related to him, I would feel sour and smelly in the mouth, and it would be difficult to swallow. But Unexpectedly, no matter what kind of thoughts you have, the deliciousness of the fish meat will not change in any way. On the contrary, after a long time, even the disgust in your heart has faded."

"His Majesty……"

"I remember that a few years ago, the king of Wei also presented a recipe for brewing wine. I don't know if there are a few altars prepared in the empress's palace." After seeing Cao Jie's nod, Liu Xie said, "Then I will also send a altar. .Delicate food and wine, what a joy it is.”

After finishing speaking, he lowered his voice, and said another sigh that could be heard by the people beside him:

"It's time for me to let myself go."

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"Zhongxuan, what's the matter with your illness? You can't even let Pi enter the house to have a look?"

After handling official duties, Cao Pi and Sima Yi Wu Zhi drove to Wang Can's home to visit the sick, but unexpectedly, when they reached the door of the room, Wang Can tried every means to shirk and refused to let Cao Pi in.

"You know that you have an ordinary appearance, and now you have been sick for so many days, and your face is sickly and haggard. How can I let you see it again. You can go back and let Zhong Da and Ji Chong accompany you tomorrow. That's it."

Cao Pi suppressed a smile and shouted into the room: "Does Zhongxuan compare himself to Mrs. Li, or does he regard Pi as Emperor Wu? That being the case, Pi would like to give ten dendrobiums of pearls and jade, and a hundred pieces of cloth, in exchange for Zhongxuan's side?"

"Are there so many things in the treasury?" Wu Zhi whispered next to Cao Pi's ear.

Cao Pi also replied in a low voice: "Let him come out first."

Sima Yi: "..."

"Pearls, jade, and silk will be spared. You won't be able to get so many things out of your treasury." Wang Can said through a door, "When Chan is terminally ill and dies, don't forget the promise that should be made in the year, and give you a few voices." Let the donkey bray to see you off."

"What nonsense are you talking about!" Cao Pi knew it was a joke, but Cao Pi felt a little uneasy for some reason.He turned his head and asked Wang Can's eldest son, Wang Xun, "How is your father's illness? What did the doctor say?"

Wang Xun is young, but already has a good demeanor, and he is neither humble nor overbearing when facing Cao Pi: "I have asked the doctor to see him, and they all said that he had a fever because of cold. Take it seriously, so the disease will recover slowly."

"So that's what happened." Hearing that the problem was not serious, Cao Pi breathed a sigh of relief and felt relieved, "Forget it, since that's the case, Pi will come to see him again in a few days." After speaking, he shouted into the room again , "Zhongxuan, forget it if you don't go hunting tomorrow, take good care of yourself. Ten days later, Pi, Kong Zhang, Delian and others will hold a poetry meeting at Tongque Terrace, then you must not shirk."

After the voice fell for a long time, the room was still silent, and no one responded.

"Father is probably asleep." Wang Xun apologized with a smile, "Since he was ill, my father said that he was very tired, and he often fell asleep without saying a few words to us." Seeing that Cao Pi didn't care about Wang Can For being impolite, he breathed a sigh of relief, and while walking out of the mansion with Cao Pi, he asked curiously, "Will Mr. Wei be invited to the poetry meeting that the son just talked about?"

"Mr. Wei?" Cao Pi was a little puzzled, "Who is this?" He had never heard that there was a famous scholar named "Wei" in Yecheng.

Unexpectedly, Wang Xun was even more surprised than him: "My son doesn't know Mr. Wei satirizes Mr. Wei?" The prince really doesn't know him?"

It's Wei Xi again.

Cao Pi frowned slightly.Of course he knew Wei Xie, and had met him a few times, but he never thought that the person who could be honored as Mr. by Wang Can's son would be the same person as the person he met who could only talk and talk.

"Pi met him a few times, and his eloquence is good, but he can't be called a great talent. At the poetry meeting, Pi will not invite him. But you, when your father recovers from illness, you can come with him." Thinking again This is Wang Can's eldest son. Although he was a little unhappy that he didn't know people well, Cao Pi still mentioned something, "It's good to talk about the past and the present, but if you blindly indulge in vanity and don't seek practicality, sooner or later it will be a short story." Seeing empty talkers. You are still young, and you should be more cautious when making friends with others. You must remember that you must be slow in words and quick in deeds. Don't go against the law."

"Yes, I would like to follow your son's instruction."

Wang Xun's tone was calm, and he didn't know if he had listened to Cao Pi's words.Cao Pi sighed secretly, and stopped talking, thinking that when Wang Can recovered from his illness, he would just let him discipline him more.

After leaving Wang's house, a servant from Wu Zhi's house came, and there were some chores in the Taoist family that needed to be dealt with, so he went back to the mansion first.Cao Pi and Sima Yi were left behind. Seeing that it was still early, they suggested that they should go to the West Market for a walk.

Since the fall of the Yuan family, Yecheng has been in peace for more than ten years. The people live and work in peace and contentment, and their families have surplus food.Fortunately, they had anticipated this possibility before they came, and made an appointment early in the morning to meet at a restaurant on the corner of the street if they got separated.

Cao Pi was still thinking about Wang Can's illness. He came to Xishi to relax, but he lost interest after being crowded by the crowd, so he went straight to the wine shop, but he was blocked by a person at the corner of the street.

"What's the matter, sir?"

The person in front of him is handsome, wearing a crane cloak and holding a feather fan in his hand, he looks a bit like a fairy.Cao Pi was patient and asked loudly.

In addition, it may be an illusion, it is obvious that there is a stranger in front of him, but Cao Pi feels a little familiar, as if he has seen him somewhere before.

"I have already said what I have to say. In this life, I only want to pursue Pengzu, and I have no intention of fighting against the sky. I just beg my son to give Guo Fengxiao a word for me. What he does is like throwing a stone into a deep hole, and ripples rise in a moment. The surface of the water will eventually return to calm. The cycle of karma and fate will continue, and the way of heaven will be as usual.

After speaking, he turned and left.Even though Cao Pi called him several times, he refused to look back.

"wack."

Cao Pi muttered something, turned around and entered the wine shop.Unexpectedly, Sima Yi arrived earlier than him.

After listening to Cao Pi talking about what happened before the restaurant, Sima Yi said, "The person you met must be Zhu Jianping."

"Zhu Jianping? Is that the famous fortune-teller in Peiguo? No wonder there are so many strange words." Cao Pi asked, "Zhongda knows this person?"

"I met once when I was a child, just met by chance." Sima Yi didn't want to talk too much about this person.Not to mention that Zhu Jianping's words are always naughty and alarmist, let's say that today, Zhu Jianping was so drunk in this wine shop that he insisted on telling the shopkeeper that the person he hadn't seen in more than ten years was just paying for the wine for him. come.He really didn't want to think about such a brazen person, and his mood was broken.

"But what he said is interesting. That's all, it's just a sentence. When my father and Mr. Guo return to Yecheng, Pi will help him bring it." Speaking of this, Cao Pi thought of the hardships and hardships of the past few years, and couldn't help sighing. Getting angry, "I just don't know when they will come back."

----------------------

"When will we return to Yecheng?"

When Cao Cao asked this question, Guo Jia was wearing a moon-white thin shirt, sitting on the edge of the window, enjoying the cool breeze, admiring the night.The little fox was obediently held in his arms, and it was used as a stove to warm his hands.Hearing the sound, he turned his head slightly, a strand of hair drooped down, and what caught Cao Cao's eyes was really the bright moon rising and the outstanding man.

"Jiaben thought that Meng De still wanted to be a hero for a few days. Why did he want to go back all of a sudden?"

"Zi Huan repeatedly sent people to deliver letters. At one time, he said that there were too many affairs in the middle school and he didn't dare to do it alone. At another time, he said that Rui'er was thinking about his father day and night to go back and teach him martial arts. Anyway, Langya, you and I stayed for a long time. It doesn't matter if you go back earlier this year." Cao Cao sat down opposite him, seeing Guo Jia's brows were clear, but there was a glimmer of light in his eyes, as if thinking, "Why, what's on your mind?"

"It's not a big deal." Guo Jia said, "In addition to the letter to Meng De, the prince also wrote a special letter to Jia, saying that he met a fortune teller named Zhu Jianping in Yecheng and wanted him to tell Jia something."

"What is it?"

"It's not some mysterious words. It is said that what Jia did is just throwing a stone into the lake. Although it can cause ripples for a while, everything will return to the original point in the end. Then there are such clichés and boring things very."

"Zhu Jianping's words are strange." Cao Cao said, "It's true that when you throw a stone into the Yuantan, the water will eventually level off. But in the world, the end is nothing but the dust returning to the soil. How can we forget life because of the inevitable death?" The suddenness?"

"Jia thinks so too." Hearing Cao Cao's words, Guo Jia's eyes became brighter.

Cao Cao couldn't help showing a smile in his eyes.In fact, both he and Guo Jia knew what Zhu Jianping meant by what he said.But the difference this time is that as early as the day when Duke Wei was canonized a few years ago, they made an agreement that even if they went around in circles, the road ahead was still a deep abyss, and they would treat it calmly.Live happily and die with no regrets, singing and screaming, letting his destiny be good or bad.

At this time, thin clouds cover the moon, and the galaxy is shining.In the place of Dubeichen, there is a star of the extreme north, bright and dark, as if it is about to fall.

"Before returning to Yecheng, Meng De and Jia should go back to Yangdi." Maybe because the night wind turned cold, Guo Jia moved closer to Cao Cao, "Take the few years we buried a few years ago." Take the altar of wine back to Yecheng together."

After that, I probably won't go back again.

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In Yizhou tonight, there is a clear wind and no moon, the night sky is clear, and the stars are twinkling.Zhuge Liang knew that this night, just like the night under the cliff in Jingzhou ten years ago, was the most suitable for stargazing, divination, and divine will.

Suddenly his shoulders felt warm, he turned his head and saw that it was his wife, Huang Yueying, who had come to the courtyard and put on a shirt for him: "You have worked hard for days, and it's hard for you to be free today, and you don't want to rest earlier, What if you are really tired and sick?"

"Because today is free, it is rare for Liang to have time to calm down and look at the stars." Seeing that Huang Yueying's expression became more worried after hearing his words, he hurriedly smiled again, "Okay, okay, Yueying don't be upset .At most half an hour, Liang will go to sleep immediately."

"Forget it, it's up to you." Knowing that she would not be able to persuade others, Huang Yueying simply walked to his side and started watching the stars with him, "Looking at the white tiger's veins, the ginseng is bright, and Yizhou will definitely be in the next year." It's going to be a good year."

"Not bad." Zhuge Liang nodded.Huang Yueying is a rare woman in the world. Ever since he taught her the art of stargazing, she has made rapid progress, and she has achieved a small amount of success in less than three years. "However, what Liang sees is not Yizhou, but Jizhou. He raised his finger to the north of Cisu and Sansu, "Although Wei, Ang, and Bi Sansu are all bright now, they all seem to be in a state of confusion. If we only rely on the sky, disasters will surely happen to Jizhou in the near future."

"Judging from Kong Ming's tone, he doesn't seem happy."

"If something bad happens, it will be the common people who will suffer the most. Even if Yu Liang's plan is beneficial, how can Liang be happy." He sighed softly, "Liang still wants to stay here for a while. Night 』Han Liang, you don’t have to accompany me, go back to sleep first.”

After hearing what Zhuge Liang said, Huang Yueying didn't force her anymore, and turned around and went back to the house.

After Huang Yueying left, Zhuge Liang looked up again, but what he was looking at at this time was neither Xishenersu nor Jizhou, but Ziwei, the Beichen Emperor star guarded by the stars, or To be more precise, it is a flickering star closest to Dixing.

He still remembered that someone told him that after ten years, that star would be completely dimmed.

But now, the ten-year period is approaching, and the star that was supposed to be the emperor has really declined, hanging on the verge of falling, and even faintly fading away.

"At that time, Kong Ming will understand what Jia means."

Feng Xiao, what you wanted to say at that time, was it really just that?

————————————————————

At the poetry meeting ten days later, Wang Can was still ill for a long time and could not attend the meeting.It was Wei Xi, whether it was due to chance or on purpose, after the poetry meeting, when Cao Pi and his literary friends went out for an outing in the countryside, it happened that Wei Xi and a group of other young scholars were discussing poetry and Taoism in the suburbs.After exchanging pleasantries, in front of many scholars, Cao Pi could only pretend to be a respectful corporal, and patiently listened to what Wei Xi had to say.In all fairness, what Wei satirized said, such as abolishing redundant officials, suppressing cruel officials, and thoroughly investigating corruption... everything is wrong, but he did not propose any practical countermeasures. It is simply treating politics as a child's play.But this kind of rhetoric is most liked by young people. Seeing the enthusiasm of the scholars, Cao Pi had to stay and wasted two hours.

Because of this, the servants of the Wang family stood aside for a long time, but they couldn't say a word to Cao Pi.When the scholars dispersed, he was finally able to get in front of Cao Pi, begging Cao Pi to go back to the city as soon as possible to see his master for the last time.

"The last side?! Tell me clearly, what's going on?! Isn't Zhongxuan just suffering from cold and fever?! How could it be so serious?!"

The servant's voice was almost full of tears: "Reporting to my lord, at first the doctor said that he was just suffering from a cold, but these days, the master's condition is getting worse, so the eldest son invited the doctor again. But he said, the master didn't catch a cold, but contracted a disease!"

Cao Pi's mind exploded with a buzzing sound, and he couldn't care about anything anymore.He pulled a horse and turned over, and rushed to the city with all his strength, but it was still a step too late.When he arrived at the palace, all the people in the palace knelt on the ground, crying deafeningly, heartbroken.He rushed into the house regardless of obstacles, and Wang Can lay on his back, his eyes closed, his face pale, his cheeks sunken deeply, and he did not know how long he had been tortured by the illness.

He only saw this, and was dragged out by Sima Yi who came after him.No matter how much he beat, scolded and cried, Sima Yi didn't make a sound, nor did he let go.Since Wang Can died of the disease, the corpse must not be easily touched, it must be burned with a big fire as soon as possible, so as not to infect others again.

Unexpectedly, Wang Can's death was just the beginning.

The plague started from nowhere, and gradually spread, first in the households of the Jingshi households, and later in the households of the heavy households.For a time, the whole city of Ye was plagued by plague, every family felt the pain of zombies, every room was crying and mourning, and there were countless people who died after closing their doors, and lost their families.

It is recorded in historical records: "In the 22nd year of Jian'an, it was a year-old epidemic."

Now, the established thing, although two years late, is finally coming.

In the 24th year of Jian'an, Yecheng suffered a severe epidemic.