Clear and Muddy Loss of Love

In the dark, the sky is destined

In midsummer, the golden crow hangs in the middle of the sky, exuding a scorching spirit.

The lush green in the imperial garden also showed bursts of weakness, and a colorless gas rose from the ground, distorting everything around.

The chirping of cicadas is a bit harsh, and there is a trace of weakness in the noise, as if it is the last song of midsummer.

There was a thin trace of sweat on Nangong Shunv's smooth forehead, but she still wore the complicated palace clothes meticulously, and followed the four palace maids on the road in the imperial garden.

Passing through the Imperial Garden is the former site of Fengzao Palace, which is also the Weiming Palace where Princess Zhenzhen lives temporarily.

Since Nangong Jingnv moved back to the palace, the two sisters have not seen each other for several days, Nangong Shunv misses her sister a little.

Recently Nangong Shunv heard that Lu Zhongxing, the imperial bodyguard, set up a private residence outside the consort's mansion, and raised several concubines in it.

At the same time, Nangong Shunv fell into a new round of worries: she is an unfavored concubine, and this matter has spread to her ears. It must be only a matter of time before the emperor knows.

She wanted to communicate with Nangong Jingnv, and asked her younger sister to help her as a staff member: on the day when the "dongchuang incident" happened, what posture should she take, or how to clean herself up.

Nangong Shunv was so engrossed in her thoughts that she didn't realize that there was a person standing in front of her, and it was the voice of the palace maid that pulled her back - "See the imperial concubine."

Nangong Shunv stopped, and standing five steps away from her was the newly promoted imperial concubine, who seemed to be the No.1 elegant concubine in the harem.

Different from Nangongshu's solemnity, Jiya's clothes are very simple, wearing a plain grass bunt with a baggy neckline, exuding a refreshing vigor.

A trace of surprise flashed across Nangong Shunv's eyes, and she quickly relieved: "See the imperial concubine."

Jiya walked over with a smile, and naturally took Nangong Shunv's hand: "What a coincidence."

Nangong Shunv nodded, and Jiya glanced back: "Princess Zhuohua and I are going away, so we don't need to wait on you."

The palace maid backed out as she said, and she was no longer surprised by this scene.

The imperial concubine and empress have a very close personal relationship with His Highness Zhuohua, even the palace people in the inner court know about it.

Jiya pulled Nangong Shunv to the direction of her palace, and asked, "Why did you enter the palace in such a hot day?"

Nangong Shunv: "I haven't seen my little sister for a few days. I wanted to visit. If there is nothing else, can you let me go first?"

Ji Ya looked up, and said with a half-smile: "It's a bad luck for you to come here at this moment, Princess Zhenzhen is not here."

Nangong Shu's eyebrows were slightly frowned, and Jiya pulled her harder with her hands and continued to move forward: "You come to my palace first, and I have something to say to you."

……

What Jiya said is true, Nangong Jingnv is indeed not in Weiming Palace at this time, and in this hot summer season, only one place in the whole palace looks cool.

In the study room of the side hall of Ganquan Palace, there are rows of neatly arranged bookshelves, and several large copper tripods are placed beside them. There are cold water drops hanging on each copper tripod, which from time to time merge into a stream and flow into the tray below.

A large number of ice cubes were placed in the copper tripod, and ambergris was burning in the top tank.

Looking at the entire palace, there is only one person who can receive such treatment - Nangong Rang.

However, Nangong Rang was not in the study room. Behind the imperial case covered with bright yellow silk and satin sat the Nangong Jingnu dressed in a red palace attire.

She was concentrating on writing something at her desk, her wide-sleeved sleeves were slightly rolled up, revealing a lotus arm.

The brush strokes paused occasionally, and after frowning and thinking for a while, they could continue to write.

It has been more than half a year since the emperor's third son, Nangong Wang, left Beijing for disaster relief. There was a stack of memorials on the side of Nangong Jingnv's desk, and the one spread out in front of her was still very new.

Zhu Zhu above has replied dozens of words, and the number is still increasing.

……

The imperial bodyguard walked hurriedly with a tray in both hands. On it were the memorials presented to the adults this morning. The fifth prince had already reviewed and picked up a few important ones and ordered him to send them to heaven.

When he came to the Imperial Garden, Lu Zhongxing's eyes suddenly widened. He saw a familiar figure... No, there should be two of them.

When he walked an arc quietly, he saw half of another person's body hidden behind the rockery.

The imperial concubine Ji Ya, who was dressed in a bunt, was propped on the rockery with one hand, and the other was leaning on the rockery, as if she was "imprisoned" by the imperial concubine.

That half of the clothes corner is magenta, the style of women's uterus...

Jiya from the grassland, like Qi Yan, has five senses that are different from ordinary people.

As soon as Lu Zhongxing stepped into their vicinity, she noticed it, but she just pretended to be innocent and kept looking at Nangong Shunv with a half-smile, the sullen look in her eyes was really interesting.

Nangong Shunv just wanted to say something, but Ji Ya covered her mouth, leaned into her ear and whispered: "Stand here and don't move, someone is coming!"

Nangong Shunv was terrified, but Ji Ya didn't see any panic in her eyes. She pulled Nangong Shunv to hide her figure completely behind the rockery.

Ji Ya yelled sharply: "Who!?"

With a bang, the tray in Lu Zhongxing's hand fell, and before he could bend over to pick it up, Jiya had already appeared in front of him.

"Who am I? It turns out to be Lord Lu, the imperial guard." Jiya deliberately revealed Lu Zhongxing's official position, and Nangong Shunv, who was hiding behind the rockery, paused for breath.

Lu Zhongxing hurriedly fell on the ground, respectfully greeted him and said: "Minister Lu Zhongxing, see the imperial concubine."

Ji Ya sneered: "If I remember correctly, the imperial garden officials are not allowed to enter."

Lu Zhongxing said with a smile: "Your Majesty, I don't know. A few papers for disaster relief came in early. After reading it, His Highness the Fifth Highness chose the urgent one for His Majesty to have a look at. It will be sent back today after being approved by Zhu... So I boldly left. a shortcut."

Ji Ya took a closer look, isn't there a few memorials?One of them is being spread out, and a large article has been written eloquently, on which the comments of Zhongshuling and Nangongda have been left, and the inscription of the memorial is: Qi Yan, Minister of the Ministry of Industry.

Ji Ya leaned over to pick up the memorial for Lu Zhongxing, and read it generously in front of him before handing it back: "As a royal guard, I peeked at the memorial, and let the concubine in the harem also read it. What should I do?"

Lu Zhongxing's expression was a bit astonished, he had never seen such a woman who turned black and white before, but she still knelt down on one knee: "I ask the imperial concubine to raise your hand high!"

Ji Ya simply squatted in front of Lu Zhongxing, still smiling like a flower, but shook every memorial in a vicious manner, and held it up to Lu Zhongxing's eyes.

Lu Zhongxing hurriedly turned his eyes away, and Ji Ya's calm voice came: "Ah, it may make sense to accidentally see a memorial. I have read so many...but what should I do?"

Lu Zhongxing's cold sweat flowed down: "What does your empress want?"

Jiya loosened the green fingers of the memorial, and the memorial fell to the ground again. She clapped her hands as if nothing had happened before, and smiled relaxedly: "It's nothing, Mr. Lu, please go ahead."

Lu Zhongxing lowered his head and carefully closed the scattered memorials, placed them on the tray by category, then picked up the tray and left without looking back.

Jiya: "Come out, let's go."

Only then did Nangong Shunv come out from behind the rockery, shaking the wrinkled clothes on her body.

Jiya: "I helped you block your plague-stricken son-in-law, do you owe me another favor?"

A trace of displeasure flashed across Nangong Shunv's eyes, and she frowned slightly: "If it wasn't for the imperial concubine...then there is no need for me to avoid him."

Jiya: "Didn't you Wei people have a saying that 'the clean is self-clean'? I haven't done anything with you, so what are you doing to me?"

Nangong Shunv: "You and I are both women, so what if Mr. Lu saw it? This palace is just Fengyi who misses the imperial concubine and empress."

Ji Ya suddenly laughed out loud, and Nangong Shunv looked at her strangely, and when she finished laughing, she asked, "What are you laughing at, Your Majesty?"

Ji Ya naturally took Nangong Shunv's arm again, and whispered in her ear: "You boasted that you have read a lot of books, and there are some things that even I, a foreign woman, don't know? How do you know what two women can't have, have you tried?"

……

Jingjia ten years, September.

The rainy season has ushered in the south, and the rainstorm in the north is coming soon.

The craftsmen led by Nan Gongwang, the corvée and the craftsmen hired on the spot were busy and overwhelmed, and finally repaired the river channel that was destroyed the previous year before the heavy rain came.

As long as they wait another ten days and a half a month for the first rain to fall, the drainage of rivers and cities in various places can be checked, and then there will be follow-up consolidation, repairs and adjustments, and they can return to Beijing.

In the past six months, Nan Gongwang's "harvest" has been quite fruitful. Thanks to Qi Yan's confidant and the head of the Ministry of Industry, he can travel around the state capitals with confidence and meet with those who want to win over.

Nangong Wang is more and more satisfied with Qi Yan. Not only is he superior in intelligence and pure in his control of people's hearts, but he is also outstanding in ability. Nowadays, all craftsmen and officials are not dissatisfied with him!

Sure enough, as Qi Yan expected, when he asked the court for money for the third time, Nangongda only brought him some supplies, so Nangongwang generously hosted banquets for the government offices of various states, as well as Jiedu Envoys and garrison generals, please have money to contribute money and strength to contribute...

With the support of the local army, a large amount of salary for hired craftsmen was saved, and the disaster relief work was done quickly and beautifully.

What satisfied Nangongwang the most was that Qi Yan acted very witty this time. After she made up her mind, she silently stood behind Nangongwang and fully supported him. She didn't even attend any banquets.

This reassured Nangong Wang, after all, who would want to hold his braids in the hands of his staff?

After being busy for more than half a year, Qi Yan has a dark color number all over her body.

Half a year ago, she was the gentle and gentle son of Moshang, the son-in-law of "Two Yuan One Flower" Princess Zhen Zhen.

Now she has become a practical decision-maker in disaster relief operations. She shows up at the construction site almost every day before dawn, eats three meals a day with the craftsmen, and finalizes every blueprint of the Ministry of Industry by herself.

The team waited for another fifteen days, and with a muffled thunder, the first autumn rain in the Northland came.

The weather was beautiful, it rained heavily for a whole day and night, and the river swelled sharply, which was a good time to check Cao Gong.

The rain stopped, and everyone walked out of their rooms to the street. The city wall was still strong, and there was little water accumulation on the stone pavement in the street. The craftsmen walked towards the moat with excitement. Although the river had risen by more than a foot, But there is no trace of overflow.

Someone yelled, "It's done!"

The crowd erupted in cheers, and even Qi Yan, who was tanned into a wheat-colored face, showed a rare smile.

Somebody proposed a brocade box, ran to Qi Yan and opened it, inside was a bundle of coiled firecrackers, bright red.

Another officer handed the incense that he had prepared to Qi Yan: "My lord, it's done! Please hurry up."

Another craftsman took out the firecrackers, tied them to the bamboo poles and lifted them up high. Qi Yan smiled and lit the primer. The craftsmen all smiled proudly and raised the bamboo poles to the surface of the moat. There was a loud explosion, and the red The scraps of paper are like small boats, falling on the river and drifting away with the water.

A few days later, good news came from all over the country: all Cao workers in the affected counties and counties have withstood the baptism of the heavy rain!

This is a very rare thing, without any later repairs, such a huge project has been completed once!

The name of Qi Yan, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, is deeply imprinted in the hearts of every craftsman...

Nangongwang was in a good mood, and bought hundreds of pigs and sheep out of his own pocket. The local chef and cook came spontaneously, setting up a big stove and the smell of meat filled the air.

It can be said that all the officials who came to the disaster relief this time lost a lot of weight, and the oil and water in the five internal organs temple had long been empty after eating coarse grains and wild vegetables for several months.

Especially Qi Yan, her clothes were all loose when she came here...

During the three-day carnival in various state capitals, Nangong Wang climbed up to give a speech, ordering the hired craftsmen to disperse after receiving their wages...

In the tenth year of Jingjia, on the fifth day of October, the disaster relief team set off to return to Beijing.

When the team reached the territory of Jinzhou, Nan Gongwang ordered to enter the palace to rest for three days.

At night, Qi Yan came to the main hall.

Qi Yan: "See Your Highness."

Nangong Wang supported Qi Yan with both hands, grabbed his arm affectionately and pressed her on the chair: "The great hero of this palace, take your seat quickly!"

Qi Yan smiled and accepted it calmly.

Nangong Wang: "Why is my brother-in-law visiting late at night?"

Qi Yan pondered for a moment, then softly replied: "It's not really an urgent matter, but this matter is a very important matter for the minister."

Nangong Wang: "Oh? There are other things like this? My brother-in-law said it's okay, I will definitely help you."

Qi Yan: "His Royal Highness also knows that I was born in Jinzhou, and I haven't come back to worship ancestors for many years. I wanted to do it when I came here, but considering how inappropriate the situation was, this time we returned with full load, so I dared to mention it."

Playing and doing a full set, the Wei people pay the most attention to the righteousness of filial piety. As a student of Jinzhou, if Qi Yan went to Jinzhou twice and did not pay homage to the ancestral grave, he would not only be criticized by others, but even arouse the suspicion of some sensitive people.

Even though Qi Yan Agula didn't even know where the ancestral grave of Qi Yan's main body was, she had inquired around it that the Qi family in Jinzhou used to be the largest clan in the area, and the ancestral grave was very easy to find.

Nan Gongwang was ashamed, he had always been known as a virtuous corporal, Qi Yan had been with him for so long and made great contributions, yet he had forgotten such an important thing.

Nangong Wang: "This matter must be done! Brother-in-law, you are now returning to your hometown in fine clothes, and you are also a relative of the emperor. The ancestor worship must be done, and it must be done in a big way! The three animals must be prepared, and I will preside over it personally."

Qi Yan stood up, raised her arms and saluted respectfully: "Thank you, Your Highness."

……

Because of the plague in the first year of Jingjia, the Qi family in Jinzhou withered, and he sent people to the neighboring prefecture to invite all the men surnamed Qi to support Qi Yan.

As soon as those common people heard that it was the Minister of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of the current Dynasty who worshiped their ancestors, they were able to participate in it as an honor for their family. All the people surnamed Qi were overjoyed and joyful.

Nangongwang invited a special person to calculate the auspicious days: just five days later, he ordered to continue to be stationed.

I heard that the great hero Qi Lord wanted to worship the ancestors, none of the accompanying officials and craftsmen objected, and some craftsmen even volunteered to follow the Qi clan into the ancestral hall for repairs.

On the day of offering sacrifices to the ancestors, the sky was clear and clear, Qi Yan took off his bunt and changed into the crimson government office of Zheng Sanpin, the servant of the Ministry of Industry.

This was just a play for Qi Yan, but what happened later made her feel grateful and palpitation every time she thought about it for several years.

She was extremely grateful to the heavens, if she hadn't come to worship her ancestors, she really didn't know how to make up for the pain.

A small episode happened before the ancestor worship...

The members of the Qi family knelt in front of Qi Yan with strange expressions: "Brother, the villain has something important to report."

Qi Yan: "Get up and talk."

The man bent over and stood beside Qi Yan, not daring to look directly at Qi Yan's face, and said in a low voice: "My lord, there is something wrong with the offerings for ancestor worship."

Qi Yan: "Don't worry, talk about it carefully."

"It's strange to say, but there are many other things... Only the most important three sacrifices are missing, and the whole lamb that was cooked a few days ago is missing."

Qi Yan: "It's gone? What does the kitchen say?"

"I have sent someone to ask, and the kitchen has confirmed that it has been enshrined in the ancestral hall the night before, including the whole cow and the whole pig, and everything else is there, including melons and fruits, white spots, and the other two animals. The sheep is gone..."

Qi Yan: "Have you sent someone to look for it?"

"My lord, please don't worry, I have already sent people to look for it. This auspicious time is approaching, what should I do if one of the three animals is missing? It is too late to kill the sheep..."

Qi Yan also knew that cooking lamb was a labor-intensive task, so he raised his eyes to look at the sky, and said solemnly: "There is still some time, immediately ask someone to kill a big rooster and bring it here."

"Rooster? This...?"

Qi Yan: "Although my Qi family in Jinzhou has a third-ranker, it is not among the three princes. Even with the permission of the third highness, the sacrifice of the three animals is still a bit presumptuous. The loss of the sheep out of thin air may be the meaning of the ancestors..."

As soon as the words fell, a guard ran over with a waist knife, and knelt in front of Qi Yan on one knee: "Report!"

Qi Yan: "Get up and answer."

Guard: "Yes, Lord Qi's lost sacrifice has been found..."

Seeing that the guard hesitated to speak, Qi Yan asked: "Just say it, it's okay."

Guard: "Yes, we spread our net and found a small temple fifteen miles outside Jinzhou City. The lost offerings were stolen and...already eaten. Forgive me, my lord!"

Qi Yan turned to the members of the Qi family and said: "Go and do as I tell you."

"Yes!"

Qi Yan then said to the guard: "But the disaster victims around here?"

The guard's expression was a little strange, he glanced around and approached Qi Yan and said in a low voice: "It's a disaster victim...but..."

The guard lowered his voice again: "It's a group of foreigners."

Qi Yan's heart skipped a beat, and she asked calmly, "Where are they?"

Guard: "It has been imprisoned, and it will be decided by the adults."

Qi Yan: "Where is Your Highness?"

The guard's expression was a bit ugly: "Your Highness doesn't know that the sacrificial offerings have been lost... Please sir..." Nangong Wang attaches great importance to Qi Yan's matter, if he finds out that many sacrificial offerings are missing, many people will be punished.

Qi Yan understood, and comforted him: "Don't worry, I have already ordered my clansmen to deal with this matter, and you don't have to report it to Your Highness. Please also ask the official to send the elder brother to lock up the person who stole the sacrifice first. It can be big or small, I am a member of the Qi family in Jinzhou, and if I get involved with people from other races, it will only be bad for me... Quan should give me a favor."

The guard patted his chest and assured: "My lord, please rest assured that the villain's own brother is the one who handles this matter. We have a sense of proportion and will definitely handle this matter for you."

……

Two hours later, the ancestor worship was over.

There is a large banquet in Jinzhou city, and the running water banquet is set up on the street. Jinzhou city, which has been desolate for more than ten years, shows a rare vitality.

All the people in the city came to eat the running water mat provided by the court with their stomachs open.

There are some old people in Jinzhou who escaped the plague and natural disasters and guarded their homeland with their broken bodies. They finally watched the moonlight when the clouds opened, sitting on the table of the flowing water mat and crying.

Qi Yan changed into a normal uniform, and led by the guards to the Jinzhou Sky Prison.

A dozen ragged men huddled in the cell, their hair disheveled.

Qi Yan came to the cell and took a look inside: "That's all?"

Guard: "There are two other women who have been detained alone, and they don't seem to be from other races."

Qi Yan: "How do you see that?"

Guard: "There is an old woman guarding a dirty girl. That old woman can speak the official language of Wei State. She said that their mother and child are just in trouble, their family is gone, and they begged for a meal with these aliens."

Qi Yan: "Then how do you conclude that these people are aliens?"

Guard: "Master Qi, please don't be angry when you say it. Our criterion for identifying people of different races is mainly based on their eyesight. There is no intention to offend the small ones... It's just stating the facts."

Qi Yan: "It's okay, that means these people have different eyes?"

Guard: "That's right."

Qi Yan nodded, and looked away: "These aliens can do whatever they want, take me to see the suffering mother and daughter."

Guard: "Yes, my lord, this way please."

There was a musty smell in the dungeon, through the log thicker than an arm, Qi Yan saw the suffering mother and daughter hugging each other.

Guard: "Master Qi is here, why don't you quickly kowtow to pay your respects?"

It was said that the old woman knelt on the ground and kowtowed like garlic: "My lord, forgive me, my lord, forgive me."

And that young girl hugged her body and curled up in a corner, shouting strange words...