It's better to fall in love than seize the heir

The days in the palace passed quickly, and it was the first day of the first lunar month in a blink of an eye.

After the sound of firecrackers, the incense ash and red shavings that fell on the ground were carefully cleared away. The palace people cleaned up the palaces all over the place early. The word "Fu" pasted upside down on the door added a lot of excitement to the solemn and solemn Forbidden Palace.

The New Year's gifts were sent into the palace like flowing water, Shen Jinghe just glanced at them casually, and let Cheng Mo lead a group of palace people to collect these jewels and treasures by himself.

During the family banquet on New Year's Eve yesterday, even those childless concubines appeared in Qinglong Hall.When a group of Yingying and Yanyan gather together, it is inevitable to fight openly and covertly, and to be jealous.During the staggering of cups and cups, the fragrance of clothes and temples all over the hall could not hide the tit-for-tat between Concubine Duan and Concubine Xu Guifei's words, and thanks to the emperor's composure, he only stayed above the first one and turned a deaf ear to it.He looked at it from the side seat, but only felt a faint throbbing pain in his forehead.

However, what he cares about is not the intrigue behind yesterday's singing and dancing - more precisely, it's not just him, whether it's the eldest prince who was drunk from the beginning to the end of last night, or the smiling man who greeted him from time to time. The third prince, or the countless courtiers outside the palace, whether in the open or in the dark, all set their sights on the morning sun altar on Yuanxi.

The major events of the country lie in sacrifice and Rong.

Now that the war in the northern border has been initially decided, and the Yong Dynasty is at the time of cultivating health and rest, the remaining "sacrifice" has a somewhat more important position than usual.

Every year at the beginning of the new year, the emperor would lead the children of the royal family and all civil and military officials to open an altar to worship the ancestors at the Chaori Altar outside the Fengtian Hall, in order to pray for good weather and peace in the coming year.Worshiping the ancestors is the most important event of the year. All the ministers who participated in the ceremony wore splendid and auspicious clothes, bathed in fragrant incense, and stood respectfully and solemnly with their heads down.The officials and deacons stand on both sides of the altar in Xuanduan and deep clothes, and the sub-altars behind them represent the sun, moon and stars, Yue Zhenhaidu, Yunlei Yuyue and Shanchuan Taisui.

The golden sound of Zhonghe Shaoyue reverberated on the huge altar. After the dance of Bayi, the emperor in the crown and black clothes slowly stepped on the white marble steps surrounded by the officials.The Tianhe belt of the twelve-pronged crown swayed slightly with the steps, brushing the coat of arms of the sun, the moon and the rising dragon on the shoulder of Xuanshang.

When he passed by the prince who was standing with his hands down, the emperor stopped, and his scrutiny glanced over them one by one.

The probing eyes seemed to see through everyone's heart, Shen Jinghe's face remained unchanged in the eyes of the emperor, but he could clearly hear the breathing of the eldest prince next to his ear, which was somewhat rapid for no reason.The eyes of the ministers of the lower ranks were also focused on this place, waiting with bated breath for the emperor to speak and choose a prince who will be presented this year.

The ritual of offering sacrifices on the Lantern Festival is roughly divided into four steps: welcoming the gods, presenting the nobles, saying goodbye to the gods, and dispersing the gods.According to Dayong's custom, the person who presents wine to the noble has always been the current prince.Now that the crown prince has passed away for nearly a year, the position of the East Palace is still vacant. The selection of the first person to present the title after that is particularly interesting.

Is it the eldest prince who is named the eldest son and has tens of thousands of soldiers in the Xin'an army, or the third prince who relies on the family and has countless connections in the court?

The emperor has been reluctant to appoint another prince for a long time, and all the ministers are also suffering from being unable to guess the sacred heart, so that they can choose a good tree to live in as soon as possible.Today's presentation of the title is a rare opportunity to teach them to find a way to get a glimpse of Tianjia's mind.

The emperor was still pondering to himself, but the civil and military officials were already secretly anxious, with different and unpredictable expressions faintly showing on their faces.

Taishi Xu stood at the head of the civil servants, his eyes were slightly closed, his face was full of joy and anger, but his hands under his sleeves were turning sandalwood beads up and down.A few steps away from him, the burly and hale Deng Shangshu squinted his eyes to look at him, and let out an inaudible cold hum from the corner of his mouth, and set his eyes on the jade steps far away.

Everyone is waiting with bated breath.

The smoke and clouds were misty, and there was no sound on the tall and vast altar, even the sound of falling needles could be clearly discerned.

The emperor looked around calmly, seeing everyone's expressions in his eyes, raised his hand, and pointed forward steadily.

"You come to honor the title."

As soon as the voice fell, everyone looked sideways.But the person who saw the emperor's finger was neither the first prince with trembling lips and his face full of disbelief, nor the third prince with constricted pupils and slightly pale face, but—

Shen Jinghe slowly raised his head, ignoring thousands of sharp gazes like thorns on his body, he folded his hands and bowed deeply.

"The emperor takes orders."

With a "click", the string of Buddhist beads in Grand Master Xu's hand broke from the middle, and several ebony-colored Buddhist beads fell from his sleeves to the ground, bouncing and rolling away.

Impossible, this is impossible...

Not only Taishi Xu alone, almost most of the officials under the jade rank changed color in horror.The reward given by Hu Envoy of Zhao Nian Palace after meeting him, and the sudden adoption by the empress a few months ago can still be explained by the emperor's love for the youngest son.However, the sensitive position of the person offering the honor to the ancestors in such a solemn Spring Festival today was also pointed out to him without hesitation...

There was a dead silence under the altar, even though the Xu and Deng families were almost burning their eyes with raging anger, they had to restrain themselves and lower their heads, not daring to let the emperor see anything wrong.Those courtiers who hadn't clearly stood in line also gasped in their hearts, and many people quietly glanced at Shen Jinghe, and they also had a little different color.

If eyes can hurt people, I'm afraid that Shen Jinghe's body is about to be pierced alive right now.It's okay for the courtiers in the distance to be separated by a certain distance, but the gaze of the eldest prince beside him staring at his back is something that people can't even ignore.

He sighed softly, took the bronze wine bar from the ceremony official with both hands, put on a reverent expression on his face, and followed behind the emperor with steady steps, until step by step he walked up the endless and straight corridor.

The higher you go, the stronger the sound of the wind, and the inexhaustible fragrance of agarwood burning makes the clouds that seem to be within reach when you look up a bit more mysterious.Looking down from the main altar in the south and north, the officials who descended for several miles seem to have turned into small figures, and there is a beautiful and magnificent mountain and river in sight, which makes people feel that the world is only in full bloom. A grip.

After crossing the long white marble steps and finally standing still, the sharp and cold eyes just now are no longer perceived as the place gets higher and farther away.The music of the bronze bell resounded magnificently through the sky. After offering officials and deacons four prostrations, cattle, sheep, and hogs were each sacrificed in front of the altar. This is the most solemn ceremony in the sacrificial ceremony.

When the music is played for half an hour, welcome the gods to the sun.The emperor led civil and military officials to pay four respects to welcome the gods. The black crowd knelt down and bowed to the ground, and the sound of "Long live" was endless.Shen Jinghe obediently followed and knelt down, holding the wine cup firmly with both hands, but there was a mocking smile in his eyes.

It's no wonder that people all over the world are busy with each other, and what they do is nothing more than power and profit.Standing at the place closest to the blue sky and the universe, you can stretch out your fingers to see the sun and the moon, and look down to see all living beings. How many people are there in the world who can not be captured by such infinitely expanding desires?

After being flattened, rituals and music resumed, and the emperor took a step forward, walked to the god's seat and stood still.Si Zun walked up to Shen Jinghe and poured wine. After the gurgling wine filled the wine cup in his hand, Shen Jinghe quickly walked to the east side in front of the altar, stood upright facing north, and respectfully offered the wine cup.

The emperor took the wine cup from him, and the moment his eyes met, Shen Jinghe saw a deep meaning in his eyes.

The movement did not stop, and the next moment, the emperor turned his hands over and poured wine in front of the altar.The clear wine quickly overflowed and spread on the ground, engulfing inch after inch of the shiny and clean white jade.

At this time, the sound of ritual and music stopped, and all the officials knelt down again.Si Zhu had knelt down and waited for the blessing as early as the reading. Seeing that the auspicious time had come, he held up the blessing tablet beside the altar, faced the eastern god, and read out the blessing that had been drawn up.

"The emperor goes to the sky, and shines down on the earth. The god who bears the sky, enjoys the sweetness and wind and rain. There are all kinds of flowers and plants, and there is no one who does not prosper. Each has its own place, and the present and the past..."

Si Zhu's protracted reverent voice echoed on the large and majestic altar, Shen Jinghe's lowered face was respectful, but his heart slowly climbed into a solemn shadow.

The position of presenting a noble is that even Huangkou Xiaoer knows how important it is in ancestor worship.The emperor praised him so highly today, it seemed that he was letting him stand out, but he also made it clear that he wanted to push him to the top of the storm, and use him to stir up the muddy water that was already turbulent. .

Just like what he said to the empress more than a month ago - he is just a pawn in the hands of the emperor to check and balance the chess game in the world, when and where he will play, but at this time he is completely unable to allow himself to decide.

The congratulatory speech was finally finished leisurely, and the solemn gag music sounded again.After drinking the blessings and removing the food, the sacrifices were also sent to the stove for burning, and the green smoke rose to the sky.The emperor bowed to the god four times just like before, and all the officials followed him respectfully and prostrated themselves.

Standing up straight, Shen Jinghe took a deep breath, turned his head to look at the shadows of birds flying in the distance, and the hands hanging by his sides clenched into fists in the sleeves.

Since the emperor is willing to give him a good wind at this moment, he might as well use his strength to go straight to Qingyun.When he can really gain a firm foothold in the court, it is still unknown who is the player in the game and who is the one who holds the hand.

……

There was nothing special about the dispersal after the ceremony. All officials, big and small, who had received blessings, all said that the heavenly family's kindness was extensive, and they were sincere and frightened.

The so-called sacrifice is to show respect, and the banquet is to have fun. After the ancestor worship ceremony is over, the Qinglong Palace, which just held a family banquet yesterday, will hold another palace banquet.It's just that the scale of the palace banquet this time is bigger than yesterday's, and the guests are no longer concubines, but high-ranking civil and military ministers.

The palace people were busy back and forth as early as noon, and it was not until the sun was sinking in the west that they prepared all the delicacies one by one.

Ziting Jinfeng Que, Danban Yujichuan.Zhanlu Feiyao wine, smoked wind enters Shunxian.

The resplendent hall is brightly lit, and the two long rows of orange palace lanterns almost compete with the bright moon next to the top of the tower.On both sides of the heavy velvet blanket with intricate patterns, several low hardwood dining tables are neatly arranged, and the fragrant hot meals and soup rice are offered by the maids who walk through it.

The emperor sat on a high seat in the deepest part of the hall, and in front of him was a golden dragon banquet table with forty items of various delicacies, and gold spoons and ivory chopsticks were placed horizontally on the edge of the jade bowl.The side seats under him were several princes, and the officials and ministers were arranged in order according to their ranks. There were so many people that there was no end in sight.

Palace banquets during the Spring Festival are not as solemn as other banquets. Although they are also grand, they are also for the auspiciousness and celebration of the coming year, so the officials are never restricted, and the hall is full of lively conversations and low laughter.The musicians and actors of the Jiaofang Division performed the promise banquet in the center of the hall, and there were graceful dancers in fairy clothes dancing among them.

Shen Jinghe sat idle on the table, using a few chopsticks from time to time to use the fresh snacks served by the palace maid.Since he came back from the altar in the morning, the palace people looked at him more or less changed, and he was not very concerned - if it was according to the emperor's mind, before he had enough bargaining chips to get along with the other two Before checks and balances, there will only be more and no less of these favors that outsiders would envy in the future.

The eldest prince still had a dark face. Although he had been reminded by his subordinates to restrain himself a little before the palace banquet started, the glances he occasionally glanced over were still full of unkindness and jealousy.He was sitting at the same place, gulping down the wine, his back showing some depression, as if he couldn't figure out why this sixth younger brother, who had only been back to the palace for half a year, was able to get what he most longed for all at once.

Sometimes Shen Jinghe looked at him, but felt that he was a little pitiful.She wholeheartedly wanted to win the favor of her father and emperor, but she didn't know that she and her mother and concubine were just marionettes under the emperor's hands, who could be manipulated at will according to the emperor's preferences.When the Xu family was powerful, he often received a few words of kind encouragement.When the Deng family had a faint tendency to rise gradually, the emperor suddenly became indifferent to him.

"After today, I'm afraid you will suffer more schemes in the palace. If you need Brother Wu's help, you can come to Lingxi Palace to find me." Shen Zhuoxuan put the wine bottle in his hand on the table and looked at Shen Zhuoxuan. Jing He silently ate his snacks, and let out a long sigh.

He never thought that his father would make such a choice this morning, and now it seems that it is still uncertain whether it will be a blessing or a curse for Shen Jinghe.

A smile finally appeared on Shen Jinghe's face, he wiped his hands with a handkerchief, turned his head and said briskly, "There is really something that needs Brother Five's help..."

"Just open your mouth." Shen Zhuoxuan looked at him seriously.

A sly light flashed across Shen Jinghe's eyes, "The two jugs of good wine that Fourth Sister invited us to drink last time, I have been thinking about them since I went back. If Fifth Brother is free, can you help me ask her for some more?"

Shen Zhuoxuan was dumbfounded for a long time, then patted his head with a wry smile, "You... well, forget it, I know you always know what's in your heart. Anyway, you should remember that since we are brothers, if we have any difficulties, don't be afraid Tell Fifth Brother, do you understand?"

Warmth welled up in Shen Jinghe's chest, he nodded with a smile, turning his gratitude into a light clink of glasses with Shen Zhuoxuan.The sound of wine vessels colliding is just like metal and stone colliding, very crisp.

Touching his chin, Shen Zhuoxuan frowned and said, "Those jars of wine, Fourth Sister, are very precious——but if I said I bought it for you, she probably wouldn't scold me like I did last time." Shower."

He recalled the way Shen Rutang rejected him with straight brows, and there was still some lingering fear on his face.He has always regarded himself as a gentle and gentle gentleman, but he has nothing to do with this hot-tempered sister.Poor him, if he wants to taste some good wine under the pear tree, he has to rely on the light of his sixth brother.

Shen Jinghe looked at him with a sad expression, but his eyes were bent with a smile.He patted Shen Zhuoxuan on the shoulder, "Fifth brother, it's all up to you!"

While speaking, Shen Zhuoxuan gave him a slight look, but he had already picked up the wine cup and turned his head.Talking about the two jars of wine last time, he couldn't help but think of how he followed Liang Yan back to the general's mansion the next day after drinking...

Maybe it was because the warm light of the palace lantern was too bright, it made his side face slightly hot.He couldn't help turning his head to the side, looking at the opposite seat of the military general, his eyes scanned aimlessly, but he didn't even know what he wanted to find.

Then he bumped into a pair of deep eyes that were fixedly looking at him.

Liang Yan held the wine bottle in one hand and sat on the table, the noisy voices and the gorgeous singing and dancing in the hall seemed to have nothing to do with him.After the bustle and joy of being drunk with flowers faded away, he sat in a corner illuminated by candlelight in black clothes, as if he had been sitting there alone for a hundred years.

Also, I watched him for a hundred years.

After Shen Jinghe's gaze was caught by him, it seemed as if it was glued to it, and he couldn't break it away—or maybe it was because the owner of the gaze didn't even have the desire to struggle, just looking at each other from a distance, The only thing left in my heart is peace and tranquility.

He looked at Liang Yan's deep black eyes in a daze, but he didn't know that the corner of his mouth unconsciously pulled out a very shallow smile.

Not missing that smile, Liang Yan looked at his half-dark face covered by the candlelight, and the coldness in his eyes melted away.He raised the wine bottle in his hand, tilted his head slightly, and signaled to him from afar.

Shen Jinghe immediately understood what he meant with a tacit understanding, and also raised the wine cup, looking at him with a pair of smiling eyes without blinking.

Everyone in the hall was still chatting, laughing, eating and drinking unconsciously, the strings were being plucked rapidly, and the music was playing to the most intense part.The sound of toasting and mingling can be heard endlessly, and amidst the fragrance of makeup and powder, the layered skirts of the dancing girl are like peach petals and light pink, blooming layer by layer, dazzled the eyes of the onlookers.

No one knew, under the shadow of the candle, the two wine bottles touched lightly for a moment in the air.Breathing was still for half a second, and the clear wine was rippling slightly like a twinkling mind.

From a distance, Shen Jinghe saw Liang Yan's thin lips slightly opened and closed a few times after swallowing the wine, and said something to him.

There were many crowds, but Shen Jinghe was very determined, he clearly understood Liang Yan's smiling words.

He said, happy new year.

……

Not long after the emperor left, the banquet gradually dissipated, and the officials walked out of the palace gate chatting with each other after the feast.The palace maid deftly walked through the seats, cleaning up the messy cups and plates and leftovers.The incense cover on the Pixiu copper stove has been closed, and the burnt sweet rosin leaves only a faint wisp of white smoke, which quickly disappears into nothingness.

Shen Jinghe lifted the hem of his clothes, and walked out of the vermilion palace gate alone.Blown by the clear night wind outside, the mind seems to be much lighter after drinking.

The crowd has almost dispersed, only two or three figures walking towards the palace gate can be vaguely seen under the eaves lamp in the distance.Shen Jinghe subconsciously looked around as if searching, but was soon startled by his actions.

What is he expecting?

Smiling and shaking his head, Shen Jinghe straightened the folds of his sleeves, and walked slowly towards Changle Palace against the cool wind.

The shadows of the trees were dancing at the intersection ahead, and the lights were not as bright as elsewhere.When he got closer, he stopped for a moment because of what he saw.

A tall and handsome figure was leaning against the tree trunk, as if he heard footsteps, he turned his head and flew over.The slender thick eyebrows flew slantingly into the temples, and below them were a pair of smiling eyes brighter than the stars in the sky.

The heart that worries about gains and losses suddenly settles down, as if a tired bird finally flies away from the wind and rain, resting in the nest that gently embraces it.

"What a coincidence." Shen Jinghe's footsteps were a little lighter than usual for no reason, he raised his eyebrows, trying to restrain the excitement in his tone, "Little General Liang...are you waiting for someone?"

"Yeah." Liang Yan stood up straight, his eyes only watched his figure getting closer, "I'm waiting for someone I want to see."

Shen Jinghe's steps paused, and soon he pretended not to care and continued to walk forward, only the reddish pinnae still showed the master's uneasy heart, "Then you, wait until Is it?"

Liang Yan took a step forward, and the shadows of the two under the palace lantern mellowed together, as if they were born to be so compatible.

"There is no such thing as Fang Fang."

He gently took Shen Jinghe Anshun's hand hanging by his side, grabbed the cool fingertips, and slowly warmed them with the temperature of his palm.

"Now." He moved closer, at a distance where he could rest his chin on his black hair with a lowered head, "Maybe... finally got his wish?"

Shen Jinghe stared at him blankly, only felt that they seemed to be too close, so that he could hardly see anything else in his eyes.

Liang Yan already backed away with a chuckle, he rubbed his fingertips twice, but still couldn't hold back rubbing on his smooth black hair, "I drank wine today, remember to drink a bowl of hangover soup before going to sleep when I go back tonight. "

"Well, preparations have been made in the palace." Shen Jinghe glanced carefully at his face again.Thinking that Taixue will be on spring break from today, and he will not be able to see him for more than half a decade, he suddenly felt a sour feeling in his heart.

Liang Yan seemed to see his depressed mood for a moment, and touched the side of his face with his knuckles, "Would you like to go to the Lantern Festival with me when the 15th Lantern Festival comes?"

Shen Jinghe's eyes lit up all of a sudden, but the joy that filled his heart at that moment was too strong, and he didn't want to just agree directly like this.He deliberately frowned, turned his eyes away from Liang Yan, just counted his fingers and muttered, "In the morning of Yuanxiao, I will accompany my mother to the temple to pray for blessings. When I come back, I will go to visit my fourth sister and fifth brother. Ah, yes Well, I haven't bothered to read a newly borrowed book..."

Liang Yan amusedly looked down at him counting with his fingers, but did not urge him in a good-tempered manner.It wasn't until Shen Jinghe finally couldn't make it up anymore, and secretly raised his eyes to look at him, that he gently put his hands behind his head again, leaned slightly and spoke.

"At a quarter of you on the fifteenth day, I'll be waiting for you by the lantern shop on the left side of Luo Street."

After finishing speaking, without waiting for an answer, Liang Yan looked up at the palace gate that was about to be locked in the distance, then let go of his hands and turned away with a smile.

Shen Jinghe brushed the hair that was slightly messed up by him, looked at his back that was gradually receding, and curled his lips in disgust.

...He hasn't said he will agree yet.

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General Liang Xiao wishes everyone an early New Year!Happy Chinese New Year!

Thank you Mo °, Xue Chui Mo, and the landmines that do not pass through the smoke~ Memoda

Thank you..., the nutrient solution irrigated in Ni's dumplings!tweet