Gongshang Confidante

Among the winding vermilion corridors, a figure in a palace skirt of cherry pigment flowers walked slowly. The palace ladies passing by were saluting and perfunctory, and some boldly tested it from the corner of their eyes. Slowly, he gathered the sleeves of his robe to cover the whitening edges, and glanced casually at the brocade skirt worn by the palace maid. It was made of high-quality material, better than the one on his own. It seems that his status is not low in front of the master. , and the cost of food and clothing, even the court ladies can't compare.

At the corner of the corridor, whispering voices came, Zhou Chiyu stopped, rolled up his robe sleeves, and stood tall.

"I heard that Ma Cairen, who was dancing at a banquet a few days ago, committed suicide in the palace." Two or three court ladies gathered together and whispered,

"That Ma Cairen didn't know the heights of heaven and earth, and contradicted the imperial concubine and empress. The empress punished Ma Cairen and knelt outside the hall for an hour. There were many people outside the hall. If you can't think about it, then..."

"In the palace, whoever wins the emperor's favor will gain momentum. The imperial concubine is deeply favored by the emperor, and she is supported by her natal family. The queen is courteous to three points. This talented man dares to contradict the imperial concubine. He is reaping the fruit of himself and cannot complain. others",

"Sister Cui'er, I heard that the emperor asked you something in Yongning Palace that day, but it's true? Could it be..." the little maid asked, "Go, go, don't talk nonsense, there is nothing wrong with it", that Cui'er Repeatedly annoyed,

"If you can get the emperor's favor, you will really fly up to the branch and become a phoenix." The little maid's tone was full of envy, "That's not it, look at the one in Yudian, who has a noble status, but he can't be favored, so what? The clothes are shabby, even I can't compare with them."

Zhou Chiyu's fingertips were curled up in the sleeves of her robe, she straightened her back, turned around and walked back, her immature face gradually faded, her thin lips were slightly pursed, and in her clear and moist eyes, obscurity gradually appeared, like a dark thick fog surging.

"Chao'er, have you got something on your mind these days?" Duan Ruohua looked at Chi Yu, who was much thinner and a bit distracted, and asked, Zhou Chiyu's hand holding the pen paused for a moment, and put Zihao back in the bed of the Eight Immortals On the mountain pen holder, she said lightly, "Grandmother, Chao'er heard some gossip a few days ago, and she was just frightened."

In front of Duan Ruohua, Zhou Chiyu showed a little fragility, the corners of his eyes were flushed, his moist eyes were misty, and looked pitiful, his eyes were like ink, and the corners of his eyes were full of stubbornness and pride inside,

Duan Ruohua put down the memorial in her hand, with her handwriting circled on it, shook Chi Yu's hand and patted it lightly. She was not good at talking, and Chao'er was used to hiding her thoughts. If she didn't say anything, Duan Ruohua I will not ask, everyone has secrets in their hearts.

Duan Ruohua is a reserved and cold person who is used to being alone, while Chao'er does not like to be touched by others and has a proud personality. When the two get along, they are polite but distant.

Duan Ruohua raised his hand unaccustomed to it, stroked Chi Yu's head lightly, and said softly, "Chao'er often has scars on her body, and it's always a bump to coax Ai's family. Now that Concubine Mei is not here, the emperor's thoughts on Chao'er are indifferent." Aijia doesn't know what those people outside the palace will do. Aijia mentioned it to the emperor a few times, but Chao'er always avoids your father."

Speaking of Concubine Mei, Zhou Chiyu's eyes flushed red when he remembered what he said that night, his hands in his robe sleeves were clenched into small fists, his eyes flickered, thoughtful,

"After all, the emperor is your father, Chao'er should not be alienated for a long time, no matter how angry you are, you should let go." Duan Ruohua persuaded, "Everything is in accordance with God's will. The emperor is the Son of Heaven. Can Chao'er understand?"

Zhou Chiyu let go of his fist, twisted his fingers, bowed his head in silence, and said softly for a long time, "The imperial grandmother once said that Chao'er has the ambition not to lose to a man. If Chao'er wants to, she can become the most proud child of the imperial grandmother."

Duan Ruohua smiled lightly, like a ray of breeze blowing by, pear blossoms blurred, and his voice was like the ripples caused by petals falling on the water, gently and softly, "Chao'er was taught by the Ai family, and his knowledge is not lost. Others, the Ai family knows that success or failure is only in Chao'er's thought." Duan Ruohua paused, "Chao'er knows that a heavy hammer can carve huge stones, but he doesn't know that flowing water that lasts for years can also shape Form of Rock",

Zhou Chiyu was slightly stunned, thoughtful, and nodded after a while, "Chao'er understands", Duan Ruohua was relieved, this child's understanding is clear, and he can understand it immediately.To untie the bell, the person who tied it had to be tied. Only she can untie the knot in Chao'er's heart.

The cold winter came earlier this year. After a heavy snowfall, all the flowers were ruined and the ground was crushed into mud. Only the wintersweet on the branches bloomed extraordinarily beautifully in the white snow.

"The flowers in the plum grove are blooming very well. Your Majesty, do you want to move to admire the plum blossoms? The slaves have prepared the best plum wine, and the honey plum cake that the emperor likes." Li Chengqian put on a gray fox fur cloak for the emperor and bowed. asked,

"It's opened early this year," the emperor said with emotion, holding the stove in his hand, "Let's go and have a look."

A large area of ​​plum forests blooms in various poses and with different forms in the white snow. The fresh and cold plum fragrance rushes to the face, which is refreshing and refreshing. Underneath the elegant red dress, the burning eyes hurt, the red lips and pearl sleeves, the fragrant fragrance between the waving sleeves, as bright as a robe reflecting the snow, and as cold as a cold shadow condensing the clear light.

"Li Chengqian, drive the plum garden", the emperor broke off a branch of plum with his fingers, and the fragrance lingered in his nose, Li Chengqian bowed his head in response, only then remembered that today is that person's birthday.

"Just wait outside", the emperor looked at the depressed Meiyuan in front of him, the door was gently pushed, like a dusty memory, with a jerky creaking sound, he stepped in, the scenery was like yesterday, the old friend was not there, and her softness was vaguely lingering in his ears With a soft voice, "Your Majesty, this is the honey plum cake specially made by my concubine, made from freshly picked plums", "Your Majesty, this concubine made plum wine...",

The emperor's hand fell silently on the beauties' couch in front of the hall. A few plum blossoms were sprinkled, and the touch of his fingertips was cold to the bone, but clean. The emperor was a little surprised. Looking around, the garden was dilapidated, but neat and clean. , as if someone still lives here.

Entering the hall, a touch of bright color enters the eyes. The light green plum brocade skirt is thin, without even a scarf around the neck. A slender neck, exposed in the cold air, is as white as fine porcelain, bright and clean. Run, with a slender body curled up, lying on the chair that that person used to sit on most.

The emperor couldn't help but lighten his steps, and walked quietly, looking down at the little man lying on his stomach, his thin eyebrows were furrowed, between the brows was a grief that didn't match his age, and the long eyelashes were full of tears, like a frightened butterfly Like, fluttering, fluttering restlessly,

The little man slept a little restlessly, and murmured, "Mother, mother, Chao'er, I miss you...",

The emperor's face changed slightly, and he looked at her in a daze, with emotions in his eyes surging,

"Why don't you take Chao'er with you? Mother doesn't want Chao'er, and even Father doesn't want Chao'er." Crystal tears rolled down from the corners of his eyes, soaking the cuff of the pillow, the edges were frayed, and the color faded .

The emperor felt sore in his heart, and his eyes were reddish. Looking at the child he had neglected all these years, he thought of Chao'er's soft and small body lying in his arms when he was born, with a pink face, fingers in his mouth, and big eyes. , looking at him curiously;

Thinking of Chao'er babbling, when his childish voice called out his father for the first time, he was filled with joy, thinking of Concubine Mei holding Chao'er, standing under the plum tree, waiting tenderly...

The emperor sighed unceasingly, and with the corners of his eyes reddened, he took off the gray fox fur cloak he was wearing, and laid it gently on her shoulders. Chao'er dodged as if awakened, and shouted hastily, "Don't, don't hit me, don't, throw me away!" To the pool, cold, cold...",

Suffering flashed across the emperor's eyes, he squatted down, embraced her small body, and said softly, "Chao'er, my Chao'er...",

Zhou Chiyu paused in the emperor's arms, looking at the emperor in front of him wearing a bright yellow dragon robe, wearing a nine-dragon gold crown, and holding the highest power in the Zhou Dynasty.

Clear eyes were clouded with mist, Zhou Chiyu wrung his fingers, quickly lowered his head, stepped back, and stammered, "My son, my son has disturbed my father, my son, I'm leaving now."

The emperor's chest was pressed like a big stone and he couldn't breathe. He raised his hand to cover his chest, guilt and self-blame rose from the bottom of his heart.

When Chao'er returned to the palace, because of Mei Fei's matter, he was hostile and resentful towards him, but every time the emperor saw her face that looked so much like Mei Fei, all kinds of pain and longing for Mei Fei's death flooded up , simply avoid seeing.

After the emperor recovered, Chao'er was nowhere to be seen. With the birth of the fifth prince and sixth princess, the emperor gradually forgot about it.

"Chao'er, my Chao'er, you are so big now, you, your mother and concubine will be pleased." Two tears dripped from the corners of the emperor's sour eyes. He hugged him tightly, making Chi Yu's body stiff, and he stood still. Moving, the emperor noticed her stiffness, and only said that these years of estrangement made Chao'er not used to his intimacy, and his heart ached even more.

The emperor looked at the child in front of him, wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, stood up, gathered the cloak on her body, held Chi Yu's hand as if, and said, "These years, I have treated the court poorly",

Chi Yu knelt on the ground, kowtowed and said, "Father, it's Chaoer's waywardness. I don't fulfill my filial piety. I hope my father will punish me."

The emperor withdrew his hand in vain, smiled, and said gratifiedly, "Your grandmother always said, Chao'er knows the book and understands the truth, I am very happy." The emperor held the square handkerchief, wiped away her tears, and looked at the scratches on her neck. , with a slightly stern expression, said majesticly and solemnly, "From now on, with me here, I will pamper and protect you, and no one will dare to bully my Princess Zhaoning of the Great Zhou!!",

"Royal Father", Chi Yu called out tenderly, throwing her soft body into his arms, her eyes were as silent as water.