Hotaru [The Tale of Genji]

When Jiao Shibu himself Chengxiangdian fell ill, he stayed close to His Highness and took good care of him.His Royal Highness once saved her life, she never forgot, and decided to repay His Royal Highness with her whole life.

In the evening of this day, she was serving Chengxiang Palace and had just taken medicine and fell asleep when someone sent a message to say that the handsome palace would like to see you.Jiao Shibu didn't think it was strange. After tidying up his clothes and hair, he went to visit the commander-in-chief with the person who summoned him.

His Highness Ying sat alone in the room, holding an old book in his hand, with a pensive expression on his face.Seeing someone coming, he pointed to the soft cushion in front of him, indicating the seating.The serious lady saluted meticulously before sitting down in front of His Highness with solemn eyebrows.Shuai Gong's face showed a heavy heart, which was inconsistent with his usual behavior.Maybe it's because of really difficult occasions that such emotions are revealed.

Jiao Shibu remained silent, and waited until the commander-in-chief asked.

"Shikibu, how long have you been with your mother?"

"Reporting to Your Highness, it has been 16 years."

16 years... His Highness's hand holding the scroll tightened, and then slowly loosened.

"I remember that you stayed by your mother's side because she saved you."

"Indeed."

"What kind of story is that?"

"Your Highness... are you interested in this?"

His Highness Ying raised his head and glanced at Jiao Shibu, seeing a rare and strange look on her solemn face, he lowered his head and smiled, and replied, "Yes, I am a little curious about the old things many years ago."

Jiao Shibu didn't know what to do, and didn't know how to start a conversation, so he kept silent.His Highness Ying waved his hand and said to her, "Please tell me about the matter between you and your mother, Shikibu."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Jiao Shibu was originally a member of the imperial capital, but later married a small official who had a half-job because of his father's appreciation.Later, she went to Kyushu with her husband to take up her post and bid farewell to Beijing.However, her later life was not smooth.Her husband's attitude towards her became more and more indifferent and even cruel, revealing a treacherous and hypocritical side.What's more, the concubine Ji in the mansion still made fun of her, saying that her rigid personality did not please her husband, and she had no interest at all.

Not long after, news of his father's death came from Beijing.Hearing the bad news, Jiao Shibu almost fainted from crying.That hateful person showed his true nature as a tiger and wolf even more, wantonly insulting and beating and scolding her.This is how the fetus in her womb was lost.

Jiao Shibu, who lost his child, was left in a dilapidated house to kill himself, and no one asked him.Since then, she has finally recognized her husband's true nature of being ungrateful and overbearing, and she has been disheartened by her husband.She escaped from her home one winter night while no one was looking.In the cold weather, I ran wildly in the snow with only single clothes, and I didn't know where to go.When he was desperate, Jiao Shibu met the maid of Chengxiang Palace who was not yet married at that time.

At this time, the lord of the Neifu had just gone to Beijing to take up the post of a capital official, Chengxiangdian and the wife of the Neifu did not follow, and remained in Dazaifu.After rescuing Jiao Shibu, when he learned of her experience, he felt very sympathetic and asked Jiao Shibu if he would stay by his side.

"At that time, I had nowhere to go, and I was even more disappointed with my husband's family, so I agreed to stay in the Dazaifu."

"……and after?"

During this time, the vicious husband got the news that his wife had been rescued, and he also sent someone to the door to make a fool of himself.Cheng Xiangdian looked down on such a person the most, and asked his servant to beat up that group of people.

Such an outrageous move was not opposed by the wife of the inner government, but was greatly appreciated, which opened the eyes of Jiao Shibu.Later, Jiao Shibu's husband's family finally found out what was inside, and they didn't dare to make trouble anymore, and cautiously came to the door to make amends.It doesn't matter how long the Jiao Shibu wants to stay.After hearing this, the maid of Chengxiang Palace sneered and said that how long she wanted to stay had nothing to do with this kind of person.So I asked, do you want to go back with this kind of person?

Jiao Shibu just thought about it for a while, and then said that he would not go back again.Cheng Xiangdian smiled, and said to the servants, get rid of those people, and don't dirty my yard.From then on, the Jiao Shibu stayed in Dazaifu.

"After staying in Dazaifu, I was in a trance all day long. His Highness couldn't see it, so he said to me: I heard that you are a learned person. The maids around me are very ignorant, so please discipline them for me."

Hearing this, His Majesty Shuai Gong laughed, thinking that it was indeed a rhetoric that his mother would use.Lian, who had been unable to see his emotions clearly, finally calmed down, and asked softly, "...What kind of person was your mother at that time?"

At this time, Chengxiang Palace is only twenty-nine years old, just the age of flowers.Cheerful and lively personality, also has the shyness of a daughter's family.Conservative and polite like Jiao Shibu, I have never seen such a bright and neat girl.Several daughters of the same age get together and can have a good day.The few maids who are used to it are not big or small, lawless.

I was so tired that I had to spend more time explaining etiquette every day, and the meaning was often misunderstood and made fun of by Nu Yu.This made Jiao Shibu helpless and funny.But also because of this, Jiao Shibu's depressed emotions were relieved a lot.

"However, Her Royal Highness also has quiet times."

Recalling the things in my youth, the serious female officer will also show a very gentle smile.

Most of the time, Her Royal Highness always likes to look at the sea alone.Watching seabirds fly back from distant islands and disappear into the clouds again.At that time, Chengxiang Palace embraced the girl's unique feeling of nostalgia, and a very quiet and clear sadness pervaded the whole body.

"Not long after that, a letter came from Beijing, saying that he would pick up his wife and His Royal Highness to go to Beijing together. His Highness was very reluctant to leave, but he couldn't go against his parents' wishes, so he had to sit in front of the window and look into the distance all day very sadly. "

"You said mother didn't want to go to Beijing?"

"Yes, it is indeed very unwilling. Even on the boat, I am very depressed, either looking at the stern or huddled in the room, unwilling to move."

During that time, Jiao Shibu was really anxious and wanted to comfort His Highness every day.However, the excellent eloquence that he used to teach the maids was useless at this time.All I could do was look at Nu Yu's very sad look, worrying in vain.

After arriving in Beijing, Her Royal Highness was not happy either, asking all day if there was any letter from Dazaifu.It's just that she never got any news that made her happy.At this time, with the help of the son of the inner government, Jiao Shibu found his elder brother.Brother and sister hugged each other and wept loudly, as if they had met each other in a lifetime.

Thinking about it, if there is no His Royal Highness, Jiao Shibu will not be alive to meet his relatives again.Therefore, they are very grateful for His Highness's kindness and are willing to work for him.

"After I found my relatives, I was busy getting to know them, and returned to the Minister's Mansion after many days. Only then did I know that His Highness has been called into the palace."

"Mother is not willing?" Her Highness Ying asked.

Jiao Shibu shook his head, "His Royal Highness is indeed unwilling. For this reason, she even made a big fuss with the Lord of the Inner Palace. However, this matter is a final decision and cannot be changed. No matter how unwilling His Highness is, There was no way. Until that night..."

It rained heavily that night, soaked in the slight chill of autumn, and it became more and more bitter.Jiao Shibufang was so disturbed that he couldn't sleep well, so he thought about getting up to see if the female imperial servant next door was sleeping well.But when she just put on her coat and sat up, she heard a loud noise from the female royal room.

Then there was the furious reprimand of the adults in the inner palace, and the voices of the wife of the inner palace pleading and arguing in Chengxiang Palace.

The noisy sound was mixed with the sound of heavy rain, and it was far and near, very unclear.Jiao Shibu became afraid and worried for no reason, and hurried to the door of the female imperial room.She hesitated, and quickly thought about what to say to intercede for Cheng Xiangdian.However, I don't know the inside story, so how can I open this mouth.

Just when Jiao Shibu was in chaos like ants on a hot pan, there was a thunder in the sky.Shikibu let out a scream and crouched down with his head in his arms.The lord of the Neifu slammed the door out in anger, without seeing clearly who was squatting aside.

Then, the door opened, and the young Cheng Xiangdian walked out from inside.She was devastated, but it seemed as if the dust had settled.Covered with sadness but faintly with the joy of relief.Her expression was both happy and sad, and there were distressing tears in her brows.

Jiao Shibu hurriedly stood up from the ground and looked at Nu Yu very worriedly.When Cheng Xiangdian saw her, he smiled with difficulty at first, and then threw himself into her arms and cried out sadly.

"Afterwards, Her Royal Highness entered the palace. I was worried about her, and insisted on following her regardless of my family's obstruction." Recalling that night, Jiao Shibu has been full of doubts for many years.It's just that she knew that this matter was on Nu Yu's mind, and because she didn't want to touch her old wounds, the lady official never asked.For her, Chengxiang Palace has always been good, so she doesn't need to care about anything, "Fortunately, not long after, His Highness became pregnant and gave birth to you."

After listening to Jiao Shibu's narration of the past, His Royal Highness Ying sat silently.The old incident seemed to be nothing, but it made him more sure of the guess in his heart.The secret hidden in it must be known to the Minister of the Interior and his wife.At that time, Cheng Xiangdian thought she had exchanged herself with the two elders.

"When did the mother find out she was pregnant?"

Jiao Shibu was a little surprised why His Highness asked such a question, but still answered truthfully, "It's not long since I entered the palace, but the performance was not obvious at that time, so I couldn't be sure, and the fact was not confirmed until later."

"I see..." His Royal Highness Ying stood up, looked at the scroll that was pinched out of shape, and threw it aside, "Thank you, Mr. Shikibu, you can go back... If His Royal Highness asks Your whereabouts, then truthfully explain that I asked you to come and talk about the past."

"Yes, Your Highness, I know."

"Well, please go back and take good care of your mother."

Jiao Shibu didn't know the significance of Shuai Gongxia's actions.But she is a loyal person, and everything will be done according to the wishes of the two highnesses.

Not long after the lady official went back, in the evening, there was news that Chengxiang Hall had improved from the female imperial court.But His Royal Highness misses her son very much, and asks His Majesty Shuai to visit him.

When Shuai Gongxia came to visit, the female Yudianxia drank the medicine and sat in the room with her long hair loose in a coat in a daze.She seemed to be in a good mood, and she seemed very leisurely.Although due to the illness, the usually gorgeous facial features looked weak at this time, but they were still very beautiful.

Yingying has never seen Chengxiang Palace like this.The mother in my impression has always been elegant and noble, and she has never noticed any trivial matters.Therefore, when His Majesty His Majesty showed such a weak temperament, it made Prince Ying a little dazed.For many years, I saw her watching the world with cold eyes and laughing at the world, but suddenly one day I found that she was also in this world of mortals.

In Jiao Shibu's mouth, the sad and lonely girl who looks at the distant sea overlaps with the person in front of her, revealing the color of time's obscurity.

"Ying... come, come here..." Cheng Xiangdian saw the handsome palace standing at the door, and beckoned him to come to him.

Ying walked over, sat down upright, and called softly, "Mother."

"Well," Cheng Xiangdian stretched out his hand to touch Ying Ying's cheek, the palm was soft and warm.She looked carefully at her beloved child, and said softly, "Son, you have grown up."

"Mother..." Prince Ying felt a sore nose for some reason, and raised his hand to hold his mother's hand.

Cheng Xiangdian smiled, and lovingly touched his son's temples, "Have you already gone to Jiao Shibu?"

"Yes," Yingying's voice paused, "I looked for her and asked about some old things."

"Really..." Cheng Xiangdian tilted his head, lowered his eyes and smiled again, "There are many things that she doesn't know completely, are you interested in listening to mother say it again?"

"Please ask mother to clarify."

The past events of the year are still as clear as new to Chengxiang Palace, and they are vivid in memory.

The person she deeply loves is a son who travels around with Tang's merchant ships.He has traveled many places and seen many landscapes.He has a chic and talent that ordinary people don't have.He has a brilliant literary talent and broad knowledge, how can such a romantic person be unloved.At that time, the Chengxiang Palace was as beautiful as white tea in winter, so gorgeous and noble.In Dazai's mansion, Wei Xue saw her for the first time, and she was amazed.

For this short encounter, the son always seized every opportunity to travel between Kyushu and his hometown with different merchant ships.In the limited time, this pair of lovers love each other deeply, inseparable.However, such stories always have a sad twist.The young man had been away from home for a long time, and he missed his old relatives in his hometown, so he wanted to go back with the boat.Before parting, he said that this time he would go back and tell his parents that he could marry her.

At that time, Chengxiangdian was overjoyed but couldn't resist the sadness of parting.And that kind of worry also gave her a fear that her lover would never come back once she left.She hugged her sweetheart and whispered in his ear, asking him not to forget the promise at this time.

When she stood at the ferry to send her lover off the ship, she bid farewell to the love of her life.From then on, I looked through the autumn water, waiting for the news of that person sent by seabirds from afar.

However, not long after the sweetheart left, a letter from the master of the Neifu came from the middle of the capital to take the family back to the capital.Even though Chengxiangdian was extremely unhappy, he could not disobey his parents' orders.Before she left, she told the people in Dazaifu that if that person came back, they must let him come to Yujing to find her.

However, when they arrived in Yujing, Chengxiangdian got the news that he was going to enter the palace.

Chengxiangdian was in extreme pain, refused to obey, and had a big fight with his parents.In his words, he only said that he would wait for the son to come to her, and would never agree to enter the palace.The master of the inner palace was so angry with this daughter that he locked her in the mansion and was not allowed to step out of the room.During this period, she has been waiting, but she also understands how there will be news in such a short time.

I just hate that this body is not a swan goose, so I can't cross the end of the mountain.

And just when she was sad and desperate, Cheng Xiangdian found out that she was pregnant.She cried and told her parents the news, asking them to allow her to stay at home and not send her into the palace.The lord of the Neifu was surprised and angry, and in desperation he told the truth.

It turned out that it was His Majesty's order for the female family members of the upper families to enter the palace, and the daughters of several high-ranking ministers' families were the first candidates to be selected among them - there is no possibility of changing this matter.

The matter fell into a dilemma.Because it was too shocking, the adults of the inner palace even wanted to kill the fetus in the belly of Chengxiang Palace.The lady of the Neifu stood in front of her husband to protect her daughter, saying that she would bear all the consequences and would never let the master of the Neifu do such a thing that hurt her daughter.It was also for this child that Cheng Xiangdian agreed to enter the palace in exchange for the child's fate of survival.

After entering the palace, Chengxiang Palace found that His Majesty didn't seem to be keen on the new female emperors who entered the palace, but just perfunctory every day.This made her heave a sigh of relief, and the plan was that she would shrink in her womb to raise the baby after a lucky one, and then spread the news of the pregnancy in a vague manner.

His Majesty who received the news was also very happy, as if he had completed the mission, he no longer set foot in Chengxiang Palace.After a certain month, Chengxiang Palace asked to go back to her natal family to raise a baby.And gave birth to His Highness Prince Ying on a June afternoon.

"Looking back now, it was really dangerous but also a coincidence. At that time, you were born half a month later than ordinary people..." At this point, Cheng Xiangdian smiled, as if he felt that the dangerous part of the past was just a rumor Listen, "At that time, my mother made a lot of preparations for it, but I didn't expect it to be useless."

However, Yingying's mood was too complicated at this time, and she couldn't say anything.The smile of Chengxiangdian's life is very abrupt, soaked in the air, there is a very sad taste.

Seeing that his son did not speak, Cheng Xiangdian also understood his state of mind at this time.Just mentioning the past made her feel bad, and she couldn't help coughing twice.Yingying was a little too late to react, and sat down and patted her mother's back lightly.

Her Royal Highness breathed a sigh of relief, and continued: "Speaking of which, at the beginning, I hated Your Majesty very much."

The prince was taken aback and asked, "Why?"

"Of course it's because of his selection of women into the palace." Cheng Xiangdian twitched the corner of his mouth, "I was so ugly at that time. I resent why His Majesty agreed to call women into the palace when he was clearly unwilling. Well. If the love is really as deep as the sea, then I will only miss her in this life. What's the point of that kind of hypocrisy and hypocrisy!"

The maid of Chengxiang Palace took a deep breath, "Now that I think about it, all this is just an excuse I made for my deceit and unresolved guilt. Although, I still don't like this kind of approach..."

The prince knew that his mother was referring to Tong Huyuan after the changer died, but he was heartbroken but did not resist the pressure from the ministers, and finally decided to call the daughter of Gongqing into the palace.Putting myself in the situation, it is absolutely impossible for Hotaru to do the same thing.Although Yingying never commented on other people's lives.But when this matter indirectly involved himself, he couldn't help but think that it would be great if Tonghuyuan hadn't issued that edict of calling at that time...

His Highness Ying felt as if a boulder had weighed on his heart, and it was so heavy that he couldn't breathe.The most feared thing in this world is the word blunder, it is so difficult that no one can help it.

In the end, the maids of Chengxiang Palace did not wait for the news of her sweetheart.Sometimes she would also think, fortunately that person did not come to find her.Otherwise, what kind of face should the two of them face each other in the sadness now.She devoted her entire life to raising her beloved son, only asking him to do whatever he wanted in his life and never encounter the pain that he couldn't get.

Therefore, when Cheng Xiangdian found out that Ying had admiration for Suzaku, she never cared about any ethics in the world, and she also wanted to help Ying realize her wish.

"I wanted to keep this matter from you for the rest of my life..." Cheng Xiangdian's brows were full of sadness, and he sighed with a wry smile: "But, you, you really deserve to be my child... the person you fall in love with is also like this difficult."

"So even if my mother wants to tell me something that makes me sad, will she help me achieve my wish?"

"Yes..." Cheng Xiangdian replied, gathered his coat and leaned forward to hug his child, "It's not so much helping you, it's better for me. The feeling of waiting is too painful, mother I don't have the courage to watch you bear it again."

Yingying didn't speak, and after a while until Chengxiangdian felt a little uneasy, he withdrew from his mother's embrace.The prince took his mother's hand and covered it, put on her coat again, and arranged her hair.Ask very softly, "One last question..."

"Ok?"

"Do that person and I look alike?"

The queen was stunned when she heard this, and then big tears rolled down from her eyes.She reached out tremblingly and stroked her son's cheek again.I want to look through his eyes to recall the thoughts that have been intertwined with my life for more than ten years, and the figure that I have never seen again——

"It looks like..." said the queen.

If it weren't for these eyes, I really thought he was back by my side.

The author has something to say: complete.

The story of Chengxiang Temple has come to an end for the time being, and I have erased many of the details, so that it looks like an "old story", isn't it~

Her mentality of helping her son desperately has something to do with it.In addition, with regard to Emperor Tonghu and the Minister of Internal Affairs, it can only be said that they stand on their own standpoints, each has a choice, and they are all very helpless.