Qing Yan

In the ninth year of Qiyuan, the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month.

The inner and outer parts of the imperial capital of the Great Zhou Dynasty were covered in silver, and clusters of snowflakes came to the world following the footsteps of the New Year.

Today is a young year, and the streets of Xishi are more lively than ever.The faces of sellers and buyers all had unconcealable smiles. It seemed that no matter how cold the weather was, no matter how heavy the snow was, they couldn't stop people from being in a good mood.

But no, the new year is the new year after the young year, who is not happy when the new year is over?

What's more, God opened his eyes last year, the crops were bumper, the grain and rice were plentiful, and the prices were stable. Don't ordinary people just want to have a stable life?

Although it is said that the situation at the border is tight, and it is said that the emperor is going to use troops against Beizheng, but there is rice and meat in his bowl. For ordinary people, such military and state affairs are far away in the country of Java, and at most they are only after eating and drinking. Just talk.

Seeing another good snow, hey, the auspicious snow heralds a good year, and it makes sense that the coming year must be a good year!

In the private room on the second floor of the Zhenxiuyujia Building, the fumigated heat from the red clay stove filled the whole room, making it as warm as spring.

On the table by the window, all kinds of fresh seasonal vegetables, glasses, plates and wine glasses are fully placed.

Standing by the table, Shen Quanshi was twisting a slightly thicker than usual silver needle in his right hand, unhurriedly trying every food in front of him, including the wine glass and wine in the flagon.At the same time, he carefully lifted the sleeve edge of the robe with his right hand with his left hand, lest the sleeve fabric stain the dishes.

A quarter of an hour passed, and he still hadn't finished trying.But the boss at the table couldn't bear his temper——

"You really try one by one! It's so troublesome!" The seventeen or eighteen-year-old white-robed young man complained impatiently.

The corner of Shen Quan's mouth twitched, and he said to himself, who told your ancestors that you love going out of the palace to play?It is also euphemistically called "private visits in micro-services, and understanding of people's sentiments".There are special servants in the palace to test dishes, but there are none outside the palace, and you are not afraid of evil people's schemes.

Although he was slandering incessantly in his heart, his face was full of kindness and humility: "Master, this is Tai Furen's order, we dare not disobey it!"

As he said that, his hands were not half-ambiguous, and he still tried another dish steadily.

When the young master in white robe heard the word "Mrs. Tai", he immediately stopped talking, pursed his mouth, and played with himself.

The burly young man sitting opposite him grinned and advised, "Don't embarrass this kid! How dare he not listen to Mrs. Tai's orders? Isn't it all for your safety?"

This young man in white robe is Yu Wenrui, the current son of Da Zhou, she let out a sigh of relief and said, "How could I not know their kindness? It's just that it's too troublesome!"

She said, looking into the eyes of the burly young man angrily: "Brother, does your sister-in-law have to bother so much every time you go out?"

Hearing this, Yuwen Keqin raised his eyebrows unnaturally, and coughed lightly: "I go out every day, or go to court, or do errands, or meet friends. If she tells me every day, won't I bother to die?"

Yu Wenrui immediately had an expression of "Look, I'll just say it".

"However, when my mother was alive, she always took the trouble to instruct her every day." Yuwen Keqin's eyes darkened, and he hurriedly changed the subject, "You are the emperor, and when you are not in the palace, the empress dowager's loving mother always has to take care of you. distracted."

When Yu Wenrui heard the word "loving mother", he felt unhappy, and reprimanded Quan Quan: "Hurry up! Hurry up! I'm still waiting to drink!"

Shen Quan repeatedly responded "Yes", but the movements of his hands remained calm.

Yuwen Keqin just revealed the words of "emperor" and "empress dowager". He is a very stable person, and he felt something wrong in his heart, so he hurriedly summoned his personal bodyguard Chang Qing.

Yu Wenrui understood, and said: "Don't worry, brother, He Chong is guarding outside with people! It will be fine!"

Yuwen Keqin felt a little relieved, and waited until Shen Quan poured the wine, and the brother and sister drank a glass together.

Yu Wenrui shouted "Happy", and regardless of Yu Wen Keqin, he drank the second glass of wine that Shen Quan had just filled, and drank it clean.

The corner of Shen Quan's mouth twitched, and he didn't know whether to fill her another glass or not.

Yu Wenrui glanced at him, meaning: Why not fill it up?

You are the ancestor!Shen Quan couldn't afford to mess with her, so he had to fill her up obediently.

Yuwen Keqin watched helplessly as the girl in men's clothing on the opposite side drank the third glass of wine in one gulp, her cheeks were already stained with two clusters of pink, and she couldn't stand it any longer, so she asked tentatively, "Your Majesty, is there something on your mind?"

Yu Wenrui paused with his right hand holding the empty cup——

worry?How can there be no worries?

After more than two years, she has become more and more proficient in handling political affairs, and she has become more confident in winning Beizheng. She has been promoted to several young and talented officials, and this year is another bumper year...everything proves that, as the emperor, she is very happy As one wishes.

But, besides these?

After the incident two and a half years ago, there seemed to be something between her and A-sao. No matter how hard she tried to break through this barrier, A-sao could never treat her as before.

No!Sister-in-law still cares about her!He cared about her basic necessities of life, cared about the slightest movement of the previous court, and even entrusted her with everything about Beizheng that he controlled with confidence.However, Yu Wenrui couldn't see A Sao's heart clearly.Even sometimes, Yu Wenrui would suddenly have a feeling that made her very uneasy: Sister-in-law is like a body that has been drained of its soul...

Also, what worries Yu Wenrui the most is——

"I'm just worried about the health of my sister-in-law." Naturally, she would not tell Yuwen Keqin about those hidden thoughts.

Yuwen Keqin also showed concern: "Yes! In the past two years, the Empress Dowager's body has been very weak, with frequent minor illnesses... Logically speaking, she is in the prime of her life, it shouldn't be!"

Well, you're only under 28 years old, how can you be in such poor health?

Yu Wenrui was even more irritable when he heard it, and couldn't wait for Shen Quan to pour the wine, so he picked up the jug, filled it up, and drank it up.

heart disease!Sister-in-law is mentally ill and even physically ill, how could she not know?

Yuwen Keqin was stunned when he saw her so bold, and hurriedly said: "Shen Quan! Hurry up and serve your master!"

Seeing Yu Wenrui had two mouthfuls of food and suppressed the feeling of drinking, Yu Wen Keqin said slowly: "It's time to find a good hand, so I can show the Queen Mother."

Yu Wenrui smiled wryly: "Shi Ran is the number one master of Dazhou Xinglin, no matter how wonderful his master is, can he beat him?"

Yuwen Keqin finished his speech, but he didn't want to see her too worried about the Queen Mother's body, so he stared blankly at the snow scene outside the window for a moment, and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, do you remember today?"

"Well, I have to accompany the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager to have a meal at night and worship the stove." Yu Wenrui answered absent-mindedly.

Yuwen Keqin said with a smile: "Your Majesty, have you forgotten that Yue'er and the others are going to come back for the New Year this year? It was originally scheduled to be able to enter the city tonight."

Yu Wenrui slapped his forehead in surprise, "I'm so busy! Yue'er is coming back today! I haven't seen her for more than two years, and I don't know what she's going to be like! And Sister, I miss her so much! "

When she thought of seeing her childhood friend whom she hadn't seen for a long time, her gloomy mood cleared up a little, so she was looking forward to seeing Jing Jiayue and Yun Sujun as soon as possible.

"I'm going to accompany my mother and sister-in-law tonight. I'm afraid we won't be able to see each other... Tomorrow! Tomorrow, I will personally go to the British government to meet Yue'er! I will also call my sister into the palace!"

Yuwen Keqin watched her revealing her true feelings with a smile, and was also relieved in his heart: Although the emperor is the son of heaven, he attaches great importance to friendship, and the relationship between them growing up together has never been forgotten by the emperor.

Inside Shoukang Palace, there is also a mass of warmth.

Empress Dowager Duan was wearing ordinary single clothes, and was lazily leaning on the brocade couch, while the little maid kneeling at her feet was obediently beating her legs.

She glanced at Jing Yan who was still wearing jackets, his face was pale, but he was still sitting upright, and sighed silently.

"How can you be healthy and sick again? If you are sick, why bother to run out in a snowy day? Filial piety is not bad at this point."

Jing Yan smiled lightly, and said: "If you don't come to say hello, I'm afraid the queen mother will be worried. Let the queen laugh!"

Empress Dowager Duan waved her hand and said, "What's so funny? Who hasn't been sick? It's just that, Empress, your thoughts are too serious!"

Jing Yan bowed his head and said softly: "It's just that the weather is warm and hot, and I feel the wind and cold..."

Empress Dowager Duan feigned anger, and said angrily, "Are you fooled by the Ai family? The Ai family has eaten more salt than you have eaten rice! Zhe'er has been gone for nearly ten years, but you still can't understand Through... Aijia these years, I wish I could persuade him every day, how about it? Even he is married, and his son is full moon! Aijia persuades him, why not persuade himself? No more. They have spirits in the sky, don’t they expect us to live a better life? Do they have to torture themselves to death to live up to her affection? If they really go to that life, they will be able to find her? I don’t know Where is she! As we live, if we suffer from ourselves day and night, wouldn’t it be disappointing for them to wish us well?”

Jing Yan was silent.

"So, the Ai family has not thought about anything these years! If you like to eat and drink, you can eat more. At most, you can eat enough to fill your stomach, and there is also the digestive soup. What are you afraid of? When you have nothing to do, just eat Invite a few old relatives into the palace to chat about Lele, or see which family's children are a good match, and rely on the old to sell the old to lead a red line... Make yourself happy!"

Jing Yan couldn't help smiling when he heard the words, but there was also a slight bitterness in his heart: the queen mother is open-minded, but I can't do it myself.This is due to the nature of the heart, or it may be due to the age.

She is only under 28 years old, if she is placed in an ordinary wealthy family, she will be at the age when flowers are blooming and her husband loves her; but, in this desolate deep palace, she is a lonely goose who has lost her spouse.

If you say lonely, it's not always true.

Yu Wenrui's face could not help but flash before Jing Yan's eyes——

That child, Wuyou, was like a ball of fire, emitting endless heat, warming the supposedly cold deep palace.

However, what happened two and a half years ago happened as it happened.No matter how hard she tried to restore the worry-free state of mind she once faced, she was powerless. On the contrary, every time she forced herself to do so, Ye Zhe would fall into a dream with a bloody appearance.After feeling guilty and helpless, it is always inevitable to suffer from illness.This cycle goes on and on, ruining a good body.

Jing Yan is proficient in medical skills, she knows that her body is getting worse day by day, it is all caused by heart disease.Physical illness is easy to cure, but mental demons are hard to get rid of.

Whenever she was seriously ill and in a trance, a thought always popped into her mind without warning: if one day, if she died like this, would she fall into that boundless icy hell?

It must be very cold there, right?There must be no fire to warm my heart...