[Go Soul Natsume's Book of Friends] Guang Xia

Natsume Special Chapter Sixteen

Nuozi put the more leaky pot by the lattice window.The civet cat named "The Lord of Life" was watching curiously.

"In this way, you will know the time." Xiangzi said, "If there is a leak, I can calculate how long it will take to play with you." Nuozi smiled sweetly at Qinglan: "We always come and see at Shenshi you."

Qing Lan was a little startled.Always come to see her at Shen Shi?

That's right... Since when, the two of them have become frequent visitors to me.

Lowering her head to arrange the chess pieces, Qing Lan smiled unconsciously.

Xiangzi and Qinglan like to count the voice of Genglou and play fast chess in time limit.Nuozi continued to write her "Pillow Pillow", looking at them and smiling from time to time, apparently imitating their expressions.

Natsume felt that Qinglan at that time was happier than any time after a thousand years.

But everything took a turn for the worse after Akiko Fujiwara entered the palace.

Empress Zhangzi entered the palace, and Nuozi walked on eggshells in the palace.The civet cat she gave to Xiangzi, "The Lord of Life", was dying of illness. In desperation, Nuozi asked the imperial doctor for help in front of Empress Zhangzi, but was charged with "rudeness" and slapped.Queen Stator has nothing to do.

The wound on Nuozi's face shocked Qing Lan.Xiangzi said that Queen Zhangzi was blatantly declaring war on Queen Dingzi.

Xiangzi's father and Queen Zhangzi belonged to the same faction in the ruling and opposition parties, which made Nuozi worry that he would turn against Xiangzi in the future.Xiangzi said lightly that Empress Zhangzi would not take her seriously.

"Among the court, the only one who thinks highly of me is Master Zuowei." Xiangzi said lightly.

Nuozi said that she envied Zuo Wei very much.As long as he devotes himself wholeheartedly to the way of chess, he can stay in the palace without fear of harm from others.

"Master Zuo Wei also has something to worry about." Xiangzi said, "If you lose the selection of Beijing officials this autumn, you will not be able to stay in Heian Beijing."

Nuozi laughed and said, "If Mr. Zuowei loses the election, there will be no chess pieces left in the palace."

Xiangzi told Qing Lan that her uncle would also participate in the selection.

Qinglan wanted to know more details, but Nuozi shook her head: "What is the method of selection, the ministers are secretive, and they can't find out at all. The emperor is even more wary of the nobles."

Natsume didn't understand what they were talking about.It's just that the eyes of Murasaki Shikibu and Qing Shao Nayan are obviously more heavy.He was relieved that the Zuowei he knew never knew power.

He remembered what Guang said, that Zuo Wei, who had wandered for thousands of years, had never been different, it was they who were different.

As if in an instant, the branches of the Isatsuki Forest were covered with red leaves.The bright red leaves flutter and flutter in the autumn wind, like desolate and poetic gestures.

When the wind blows, a piece of red leaves falls from the branches, dancing in the sun, with a fresh and fragile beauty.Natsume subconsciously reached out to pick it up, but the red leaf passed through his invisible skin and landed on the shoulder of the girl in front of the lattice window.

There is an uneven contrast between the green and decayed leaf-colored coat and a bright red leaf.

Qinglan showed a look of loneliness and worry intertwined on her face, she wrote, "Weakness, wearyness, Hu not returning?"

Xiangzi and Nuozi have not appeared for several days.Qing Lan was very anxious.She couldn't sit still anymore, thinking that it would be good to just go to see them and make sure they were all right.

Since when has she gotten used to their presence?

Cloaks and skirts rustled as they slid across the vermilion thresholds of the city gates.Nuozi said that besides the imperial palace in Heian capital, the most prominent mansion belongs to the Fujiwara family.She saw a mansion decorated with red paper lanterns on Suzaku Avenue, which was as magnificent and gorgeous as an imperial palace.Qinglan guessed that it was undoubtedly the Fujiwara mansion, so she quickened her pace.

The luxurious ox cart passed by, pressing a corner of the splendid robe, and emitting a few wisps of incense faintly.There was an endless stream of people in the palace, and there were constant noises, like a raging fire cooking oil, it was a grand scene that Qing Lan had never seen before.

Just then, a pat on the shoulder was taken.Qing Lan was so frightened that she almost couldn't hold the wind lantern in her hand steadily.

"Don't be afraid, it's me!" It was Nuozi's voice.Qing Lan breathed a sigh of relief and turned around.I saw Nuozi wearing cherry red twelve singles, with a pale face.

"I recognized you from a distance." Nuozi smiled lightly, but there was an indescribable weakness in the smile, "I also sneaked out to find Xiangzi..." Meeting Qinglan's confused eyes, Nuozi explained, "Xiangzi is going to perform the ceremony, it is very grand, she can't leave the house, the 'lord of life's wife' has to go back to my place for treatment..." The voice suddenly lowered, "Qing Lan, do you know?" The king is dying..."

Qing Lan thought of that cute civet cat and felt sad.Seeing Nuozi's body shaking, Qing Lan hastily stretched out her hand to pull her wrist, but her hand was wet and cold.Looking closely, it was scarlet.

Snapped!The lantern fell to the ground.

It was too late for Nuozi to hide, Qing Lan quickly took Nuozi's hand and rolled up her sleeves - only to see that the sallow arms were covered with winding fine wounds!

Qing Lan was horrified!

Nuozi couldn't hide it at this time, and said in a trembling voice: "I carried the 'Master of Life' into the palace to look for an imperial doctor. Empress Zhangzi passed by. The civet cat was frightened and almost jumped at Empress Zhangzi...so...she ordered Acupuncture was used on me..."

Qing Lan trembled all over, and she burst into tears unconsciously.The grand scene in front of the Fujiwara house is so ironic and sad.

The two walked into the commoner restaurant beside the street.

"You don't need to worry too much." Nuozi comforted her instead, "Empress Dingzi personally applied the medicine for me."

Qing Lan shed tears.If she hadn't sneaked into Beijing today, Nuozi would have kept it from her.

"Empress Dingzi is very helpless, she doesn't have too many trustworthy female officials around her..." Nuozi said distressedly, "She is too gentle and kind, unlike Empress Zhangzi who is ruthless—"

She stared at Qing Lan suddenly, with a burning light in her eyes: "Qing Lan, would you like to enter the palace and serve as a female officer with me, and assist Queen Stingzi together?"

Enter the palace as a female officer!A strange heat surged into Qing Lan's chest.

"Queen Stingzi urgently needs a trustworthy female official. The Sugawara family is also a nobleman, and Queen Stingzi won't mind if you can't speak." Nuozi said solemnly, "I know...you really want to play a game of chess with Zuo Weiqing in a dignified way— "

Her voice stopped suddenly, she shook her head, and put her autumn fan against her forehead, "No, no, it's better not to enter the palace, the palace is too dangerous..."

"I want to enter the palace."

What Qinglan wrote with tears in her eyes made Nuozi stunned.The shadow of the candlelight danced on the girl's face, Qing Lan's expression had a kind of solemnity that she had never seen before, and there was also a faint longing.

"I want to be by your side."

Because, I like you all.

I hate watching you suffer and feel helpless.

And... Master Zuowei.

"You... are you serious?" Nuozi stared blankly at the fleeting handwriting on the table, "Qing Lan, do you really want to enter the palace?"

Qinglan looked directly at Nuozi, her eyes were as bright as torches illuminated by the flames.She nodded firmly.

<<

In front of Sugawara House.

The grand scene of the Fujiwara mansion is still in sight, but the Sugawara mansion is much colder.It is almost unrecognizable that it is the residence of the nobles.Qinglan looked at Nuozi helplessly, Nuozi could only smile wryly: "Now, do you understand why even the emperor is afraid of Fujiwara?"

"Who is here?" The guards in front of the door stepped forward vigilantly.

Qing Lan slowly took off her hood.The guard's face suddenly changed: "...Jun Ji... Oh my god! It's Jun Ji!" Then he kowtowed and went into the mansion to report.

The uncle wearing a black hat soon came out of the mansion - he was the only one in a dark black singlet.Seeing this, Qing Lan felt a pang of sorrow in her heart.In the eyes of my uncle, she is always the most taboo ominous!

Nuozi took her hand and bowed gracefully: "Shao Nayan Qingyuan Nuozi pays homage to Sugawara Ki Daizhao!"

"It's Lord Dai Nayan's Ji Jun!" Lord Sugawara was startled, obviously he never expected that the female officer next to Empress Dingzi would come to visit late at night and be with the niece he abandoned in the Jiyue Forest in the past, and he couldn't help feeling vigilant, " Please come in quickly!" As he spoke, he ordered his attendants to greet him with great gifts, but was stopped by Nuo Zi, "Please don't announce our visit, my lord."

So, Lord Sugawara welcomed the two of them into the hall and only lit one palace lantern.Qinglan saluted again, and Nuozi talked about her idea of ​​wanting Mr. Sugawara to help Qinglan enter the palace.

"Master Sugawara, you are a chess player who is highly valued by the emperor in the palace. Today is different from the past, the emperor fears the Fujiwara clan, and the empress Dingzi is weak. As long as you recommend her in front of the empress Dingzi, Qing Lan will have a good chance of entering the palace , to assist Queen Stator—”

Qing Lan calmly raised her eyes and looked at her uncle.

For this person who raised her reluctantly, abandoned her, and begged Du Ruojinying for her, Qing Lan had complicated and ignorant emotions towards him.

Has he ever cared for himself even a little?

But Mr. Sugawara said embarrassingly: "Mr. Shao Nayan, I'm afraid I can't do what you want. You should know that I want to participate in the selection of chess masters in the palace... The opponent is strong in chess. I have little chance of winning, and I may even leave Ping'an Jing—— "

These words crushed Qing Lan's heart into ashes.Uncle didn't want to help her, from the beginning.

Being unable to speak, she has always been Sugawara's burden.

Nuozi obviously saw through this point, and suddenly stood up: "Master Sugawara, why don't you just refuse your niece's plea without even thinking about it?"

Nuozi, she actually spoke out against her uncle for herself.Coupled with the company of the past few days, Xiangzi and Nuozi are Qinglan's only friends for many years—but, can she do nothing for Nuozi?

Qing Lan's heart felt as if someone had grabbed her hard, and immediately, sadness came from her.He picked up a pen dipped in ink and rice paper from the case, and then knelt down on his knees.Both Noko and Sugawara-sama were taken aback.

Mr. Sugawara hurriedly stepped forward: "Qing Lan! You...why are you like this—"

Qing Lan's tears fell down my cheeks.She spread out the rice paper, and the ink splashed down, and she felt that the brush in her hand was trembling, as if she had accumulated all the resentment over the years.

She wrote word for word:

"Mountains and rivers are vast and have no beams. They cannot be stretched by the waves, and they have no wings to soar high. Sorrow!"

Huai Cai is burdened by fate, which is the tragedy of every generation of literati.

Nuozi covered her face with a fan, tears streaming down her skirt silently.Sugawara-sama couldn't say a word either.Sugawara Hime has been very good at chess since he was a child, and he actually misses this spiritual girl—but, she is born with a disability and talks nonsense, and the nobles have many eyes and ears, and he has too many things he can't help himself.Over the years, this niece has indeed been wronged too much.

"Shao Na Yan-jun, Qing Lan, I promise you." Lord Sugawara finally said in a deep voice, "——I will do my best to become a chess player next to the Emperor.

"Then, as a chess master, I will formally recommend Sugawara Hime to Queen Stator."