Gongshang Confidante

The loud sound of the bell broke the tranquility of the imperial city, and small footsteps came from outside the hall, awakening Zhou Chiyu's meditation.The bells and drums rang three times, which meant that the officials of the Ministry of Rites had finished offering sacrifices to the Temple of Heaven, and the enthronement ceremony kicked off.

The guard of honor of the Son of Heaven stopped in front of the city tower, the late emperor passed away, Zhou Chiyu was wearing filial piety, and there were no lights and festoons in the palace. The ceremony was simple. As Zhou Chiyu got off the sedan chair and walked slowly up the high platform, the eyes of the officials all fell on this On the body of the first female emperor since the opening of the dynasty.

The filial piety is clean, but the nine five-clawed golden dragons in the dark pattern still call her noble and majestic, her steps are slow and firm, and the sight and attention of thousands of people have no effect on her. eight women.

After the sacrifice to heaven, Zhou Chiyu entered the Chengde Hall and sat down. Civil and military officials entered the hall according to their ranks to celebrate. The eunuchs carefully opened a wooden box, and placed a jade seal engraved with a coiling dragon and a golden soldier symbol, symbolizing the supreme power. The two things that command the army of the world are held in Zhou Chiyu's hands, and they are heavy.

Then the new emperor will praise the ancestors, the foundation of the emperor, praise the sages and virtuous virtues of the previous emperors, and then express that he will be strong and vigorous, and repay the favor of his father, you and other officials.

In the 39th year of the Great Zhou Dynasty, it was announced to the world that Princess Zhaoning was enthroned as emperor, titled Hongyu, and called Emperor Tianshun Yuan. Since then, the first female emperor in history has appeared in Dazhou.For a time, women entered the hall, took the imperial examination, and entered the court as officials, reaching their peak, and the status of women in the Great Zhou Dynasty was significantly improved.

After the enthronement ceremony was over, Zhou Chiyu ordered the imperial dining room to prepare vegetarian food because it was in the filial piety period, and everything was kept simple.

As the night darkened, Zhou Chiyu left the banquet first. She stood in front of the hall, the autumn frost dyed the leaves red, and was blown by the wind, fluttering and falling, and the cold moon was like a hook, sprinkled silver on the steps.

"Where is Your Majesty driving?" Xia Ling asked in a low voice, "Where?" Zhou Chiyu put his hands behind his back, looking up at the moonlight, his eyes dimmed.

"Is Lord Su still not seeing the emperor behind closed doors?" Xia Ling asked, Zhou Chiyu glanced at her, Xia Ling lowered his head, "Slaves shouldn't talk too much", Zhou Chiyu didn't make a sound, just opened his mouth and said, "Go and see Huayu go", "Yes, Your Majesty", Xia Ling replied.

Zhou Chiyu arranged a secluded place for Huayu to recuperate, and sent a few maids and eunuchs to take care of her. The imperial physician came to consult and prescribe medicine every day.The residence was filled with the lingering smell of medicine, Zhou Chiyu sighed softly, pushed the door and walked in, because it was cool in autumn and the windows were closed,

Lighting a weak candle, in the spacious and comfortable room, around the screen, Huayu lay quietly on the bed with her eyes closed and her face pale.

The thin skinny hands were folded on his body, his eyes were sunken, Zhou Chiyu walked over, and sat down on the bedside, the new servant maid saw Shengyan for the first time, buried her head tightly, trembling nervously.

"Has the imperial physician ever been here?" Zhou Chiyu asked, "He comes every day to give Miss Hua a pulse and prescribe medicine", the little maid replied,

"Is there anyone who said, when will I wake up?" Zhou Chiyu asked, the little maid shook her head, and said timidly, "I don't know", "Go down." Running into someone who walked in, "Xiao Cui, what are you panicking about?",

"Hmm...that...the emperor...your majesty..." The little court lady waved her hand anxiously, and when she saw Zhou Chiyu looking over, she stepped faster,

"Slow down, I'll bring Huayu's medicine later," Huayi walked in with a basin of water and urged,

Seeing that she was holding up her sleeves, Zhou Chiyu skillfully put the basin beside Huayu's bed, and said, "This maid is still young and flustered, Xia Ling, find an old nanny over in a few days", Xia Ling agreed Huayi didn't make a sound, and said after a long time, "Although Xiaocui is young, I know that she treats Huayu sincerely. Those old mothers are too deep in the city, so I don't worry about it."

"Who in this palace would dare to harm her?" Zhou Chiyu said in a slightly cold tone, "If you know people and faces but don't know what they are thinking, it is better to find someone to talk to." Hua Yi put the silk handkerchief in the hot water, twisted it, and sat On the edge of the bed, wipe Huayu's hands.

"Xiaoyi, let me come, you go over and change the candlesticks." Xia Ling snatched the silk handkerchief from Huayi's hand, gave her a wink, Huayi didn't move, lowered her head and carefully wiped Huayu's hands.

"Although I treat you and Huayu like my own sisters, in this palace, there should be rules, and there are things that should not be said that cannot be said," Zhou Chiyu said seriously,

Huayi rolled up Huayu's sleeves, wiped her arms, and said, "It's getting late, please go back, Your Majesty." Zhou Chiyu pursed his lips, got up and left.

Huayi twisted the veil again, and unbuttoned a few buttons on the front of Huayu's front. From the white neck down, along the slender and protruding collarbone, the bony and proud look very much like her, the veil was down, gently Wiping it below the collarbone, seeing the beige color gradually appearing on the skin, Hua Yi thought that her hand was a little heavier, so she lightened the pressure and said in a low voice, "Hua Yu, wake up quickly, she is the emperor now. , don’t need our protection anymore. After you wake up, I will take you back to the mountain.”

Huayu closed her eyes and lay quietly, letting Huayi wipe her. In a daze, her eyelashes fluttered slightly.

With the open front of the clothes, the sunless skin has almost transparent white and blue veins. As the Chinese clothes are wiped, the palm of the hand seems to feel the beating of the right chest. Although it is a little weak, it is still beating slowly and steadily.

Huayi spread out her palms, placed them on the beating place, lowered her head, and a tear fell. Only in this way can she feel Huayu's existence, "Promise me, wake up soon, okay? You can ignore me, It doesn't matter if you get angry, beat me or scold me, no matter what you want, I'm willing."

Huayi lay on Huayu's chest, tears soon soaked her clothes.

Since Zhou Chiyu ascended the throne, Ye Fu was appointed as the imperial commander, and he was given a lot of rewards. As Zhou Chiyu's master, Ye Fu was proud of himself and envied others.

The threshold of the Ye family in the capital was about to be broken by matchmakers, and Ye Fu had also reached the age of marriage. The parents of the Ye family planned to arrange a marriage for Ye Fu, and looked at the right-aged and well-matched family in the capital.

After Ye Fu shirked it a few times, he simply told his family that he already had someone he liked. Ye Fu's parents questioned him, but Ye Fu couldn't tell why, and only said that he was a son and daughter of the Jianghu. With a low background and low status, thinking of making a house for Ye Fu, he agreed.

But Ye Fu vowed to ask the Ming matchmaker to marry a regular wife, and marry into Ye's family as a regular wife. After a few troubles, Ye Fu approached Zhou Chiyu.

"This minister knows that this matter is abrupt, but I implore the emperor for permission!" Ye Fu knelt on the ground and solemnly kowtowed, "Commander Ye, get up first." Zhou Chiyu's face was serious, "I and Commander Ye have the status of master and apprentice. This matter is not difficult at all, but Huayi has a loose temperament and does not reject common etiquette, I can give her an identity, but she may not necessarily want it."

"Furthermore, a marriage contract is a matter of gratification between two people. Has Commander Ye ever asked Hua Yi?" When Zhou Chiyu asked, Ye Fucai was slightly taken aback, but he and Hua Yi were both unmarried and unmarried. Deep, not to mention that Ye Huayi was crying on his shoulder,

Who can believe that a woman who can disarm men and women in front of men says that she has no affection at all?

"What your majesty said is that this minister is impatient." Ye Fu was a little embarrassed, the seven-foot man blushed slightly, and after bidding farewell to Zhou Chiyu, he went straight to Huayi.

"What? Getting married?" Hua Yi looked at Ye Fu in surprise, "Xiao Yi", Ye Fu touched the sword on his waist nervously, holding the sword always makes people feel more at ease, "Although, my parents are right The sons and daughters of the rivers and lakes are somewhat prejudiced, but I will like you, and I will definitely marry you into the Ye family",

Hua Yi's expression of shock did not fade, she stepped back two steps, looked at Ye Fu, Ye Fu showed embarrassment on his face, his face flushed, "I, am I being too abrupt", "But it doesn't matter, Xiao Yi, I hope to marry you As a wife, I will take pity on you and care for you in this life, just like the night of the imperial city rebellion, when a strong enemy stood before us, and we handed over our backs to each other, I knew that we would be the people who trust and depend on each other the most",

"Xiaoyi, remember after leaving the mountain, whenever you and Xiaoyu are fighting, you must protect each other." Master's words flashed in Huayi's mind, but he seemed to see that night when Ye Fu was in trouble, Throwing Huayu down by himself, let her face the enemy alone, and the scene where she was seriously injured.

"No...no...it's like this", Hua Yi's eyes were full of pain and self-blame, she lowered her head, her shoulders trembling slightly, Ye Fu hurried forward two steps, holding her shoulders, "Xiao Yi , I know you are worried that you won't be able to take care of Huayu, it doesn't matter, after we get married, I can take care of Huayu with you",

"Xiaoyi grows up, and one day she will get married and have children. If you want to separate from me, it's better to get used to it earlier." Huayu's flat and calm voice sounded in Huayi's head. She was so dull that she couldn't hear it. Express the reluctance, sadness, and regret inside,

It turned out that what Huayu was worried about was never the separation of the two, but that one day, someone would take Huayu's place in Huayi's heart, so that Huayi would no longer have her in his heart.

"Fool, fool... If you don't tell, who will know..." Hua Yi murmured, tears welled up in her eyes, two lines of clear streams flowed down her cheeks,

"It's not too late now, Xiaoyi, that's great, I'll prepare the dowry right away." Ye Fu was overjoyed, holding Huayi's shoulders tightly, reaching out to wipe her tears,

Huayi took a step back, letting Ye Fu's hand drop, she said, "Brother Ye, Xiaoyi treats you like a brother, nothing else." Ye Fu said in a panic, "I have Xiaoyi in my heart, I thought, you...you...you also have..."

Hua Yi wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes with his fingers, raised the corners of his mouth, and said with a smile, "I already have someone I like, and I can't tolerate anyone else in my heart." "I have to go back and make medicine for Hua Yu." brisk,

Ye Fu stood there dumbfounded, looking at her back, feeling depressed and frustrated.