Tanhualang

On the third day of February, it was already dusk.

Wrapped in a thin cloak, Shen Jing followed Zheng Man and hurried through the long corridors and dimly lit palace to Zhao Du's study.

A few candles were lit on the case, burning tremblingly, and next to them were neatly piled up documents and reports.Although it is already February, the charcoal basin is still burning in the warm pavilion; there are two incense burners next to the desk, from which smoke curls up, and the aroma is mixed with a strong medicinal smell.

Zhao Du seemed to be a little thinner again, wrapped in a bright yellow brocade robe, sitting on the recliner behind the desk, his face still pale with fatigue, seeing Shen Jing, he waved his hand hastily, pushed everyone away, and stood up, Slowly walking in front of Shen Jing: "Have you figured it out? I don't know which family the girl you are looking for is from?"

Shen Jing bowed down and kowtowed on the ground, her tone was respectful and careful: "The Holy Majesty gave Shen Jing his favor, and promised him great honor. Shen Jing was grateful in his heart, and I couldn't add more. It's just—"

Zhao Du looked down at him and repeated, "Just?"

"...It's just," Shen Jing said in a low voice, "Shen Jing is just a commoner, with a shabby family, and a humble body, which really insults a lady from a famous family. I implore the Holy One... to allow this minister to choose a woman he likes as his wife. "

Shen Jing lowered her eyes, and continued: "... I implore the Holy Majesty to allow this ruthless request. I will definitely follow the Holy Majesty's will and get married as soon as possible."

Zhao Du glanced at him again, walked back to his seat and sat down, sighed: "I know who you are talking about."

Shen Jing kowtowed again, touched his head to the ground, and said earnestly in a low voice: "I implore the Holy Grace."

At the beginning of February, the holy majesty issued an oral order, announcing Shen Jing to enter the palace and offering him a marriage.

Everyone was quite surprised when they heard the news.Although it was publicly announced at the time that Shen Jing would be given a marriage, but there was no movement for almost a year.

I thought that this matter was probably going to die, but who knew that when everything was in turmoil in the court, the Holy One was sick now, and he remembered this matter again.

Quietly and in accordance with the etiquette, he entered the palace with the eunuch who announced the decree to thank him.

The officials of the Ministry of Rites were already waiting in the palace, waiting for the Holy Majesty's decree to choose a woman for Shen Jing, and then received the decree to return.

Unexpectedly, Shen Jing rejected the kindness of the Holy Majesty on the spot, saying that he already has someone he likes, and implored the Holy Majesty to grant it.

His Majesty felt his sincerity, and immediately issued an imperial decree to marry Shen Jing and his widowed righteous sister Cao Xiaoyu, and rewarded Cao Xiaoyu with a dowry so that they could choose a date to get married.

On the eighth day of February, Shen Jing invited Fang Wei, a scholar of the Imperial Academy, as a matchmaker, and Lu Meng and Xi Wei as witnesses, to marry Cao Xiaoyu at home.

On the night of the wedding, the weather was unusually warm, and Xiao Meng had planted camellias and winter jasmines for a long time, and the whole yard was in full bloom.There are three or four tables of banquets in the middle of the yard, which are full of people.

Most of the guests who came were colleagues from the Shen Jing Imperial Academy.Everyone was happily eating the banquet when the big eunuch Zheng Man came in suddenly, followed by a dozen young eunuchs, holding various congratulatory gifts, to congratulate Shen Jing.

Shen Jing and his wife Cao Xiaoyu knelt down to thank each other, and Zheng Man left after having a glass of wedding wine and beaming.

After Zheng Man was sent away, several elderly bachelors Fang Wei and others in Hanlin Garden congratulated Shen Jing, and then left first, leaving behind a group of young people such as Lu Meng.

Although they knew that Shen Jing's wife, Cao Xiaoyu, was a widow and remarried, most of these people didn't know the whole story, except Yu Zhijing had a glimpse of the twists and turns.

Even Lu Meng, who has the best relationship with Shen Jing, only thinks that Shen Jing is a passionate seed, thinking that he fell in love with Cao Xiaoyu when he was young, and he has not married for so many years, just waiting for his sweetheart wholeheartedly.

So after Fang Wei left, Lu Meng led a group of young people to make a fuss about Shen Jing; He toasted with him, smiling more coquettishly than the camellias in the yard: "Quiet... I really didn't expect you to be such a passionate seed... You dared to push back the marriage offer from the Holy Majesty... Come on, brother toast you !"

Shen Jing held the wine glass, raised her head with a smile and drank it down: "...Thank you."

"This cup, congratulations on your admission again. It is enough to have a confidant in life," Lu Meng seemed quite emotional, patted Shen Jing on the shoulder, and earnestly instructed, "From now on...be sure to treat eldest sister well."

Smiling quietly, he raised his head and drank the wine.

"And this third cup, my brother wants to wish you, wish you—"

Lu Meng was holding the jug, and before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by the movement at the gate of the yard.

The red candles were burning high, and with the half moon in the sky, the camellias in the courtyard were brightly illuminated.

In the warm and cold spring breeze, the general in black, holding a whip in one hand, pushed open the door of the quiet courtyard, striding forward, and rushed into the courtyard.

The people at the banquet met with the visitor, and someone called out "His Royal Highness Yu Wang" in a low voice, and then all the drunks left the table one after another, kneeling on the ground one after another: "I have seen His Royal Highness Yu Wang!"

Wearing red clothes, Shen Jing was drunk like mud, holding a jug in one hand and a wine glass in the other, turned around slowly, and met Zhao Heng's eyes that were as dark as the night.

The two looked at each other for a moment, smiled quietly, turned to look at the colleagues kneeling on the ground on both sides, put down the jug and glass, and knelt on the ground slowly: "I have seen...His Royal Highness Yu Wang .”

Only then did Zhao Heng raise his gaze, and slowly glanced over the red lanterns with the Chinese characters "Double Happiness" and the porch pillars tied with red silk under the eaves. His eyes finally settled on Shen Jing, the groom in a red robe and red gauze.

He watched the silence for a long time, then walked slowly to the wine table, and said slowly: "Gu Yue went to Jizhou to recuperate the army, and I didn't hear the news of Shen Tanhua's marriage until early this morning... I didn't expect to come back in a hurry. Time to watch the ceremony."

He picked up the wine glass on the table, raised his head to drink it up, and then let out a soft breath: "I'm late. Punish yourself with a drink and apologize to Shen Tanhua."

Then he turned his head to look at the crowd, raised his lips and said with a smile: "Everyone, please get up. Today is a day of great joy, so there is no need to be too polite."

When everyone heard the words, they got up one after another, sat back at the table, smiled and continued to play finger games and drink.

Zhao Heng turned around and walked up to Shen Jing who was still kneeling: "Shen Tanhua...get up too."

Shen Jing straightened up crookedly, leaning on the chair next to her, tried several times, but couldn't get up.Seeing this, Lu Meng at the same table wanted to come over to help Shen Jing, but Yu Zhijing quietly grabbed him behind him.

He was startled, and turned his head to stare at Yu Zhijing: "What are you pulling me for?"

Yu Zhijing pushed him onto the chair, stuffed the tea bowl into his arms, and sighed: "You drink too much, drink a cup of tea to wake up."

He sat down beside Lu Meng and turned his head quietly.

Seeing Shen Jing still half-kneeling on the ground, holding on to the chair and struggling to get up, Zhao Heng threw the whip in his hand when he saw this, bent down to support his two arms, and slowly helped him up before letting go.

Shen Jing supported the table and barely stood upright, then turned around again, raised her head and stared at Zhao Heng for a long time, then suddenly smiled, and asked softly, "Your Highness...why are you here?"

As he spoke, he was about to collapse again, but was supported by Zhao Heng, and then he stood firm again. He hung his head intermittently and laughed: "...It's not His Highness who betrayed me, it's me... who betrayed His Highness first."

Others didn't pay much attention to the movement here, but Yu Zhijing could hear it clearly, and couldn't help being shocked by Shen Jing's drunken words.Before Zhao Heng could respond, there was another commotion at the gate of the courtyard, and Cao Feng and Wei Zheng hurried over.

The two rushed to Zhao Heng's side without caring about the eyes of others.

Cao Feng looked at Zhao Heng's face, stretched out his hand to hold Shen Jing from Zhao Heng's hand, and said in a low voice: "Since Your Highness has congratulated Shen Jing, you should rush to the palace earlier, Your Majesty is still waiting to see you."

After finishing speaking, half-supporting and half-dragging Shen Jing, he went to his room: "Why do you drink like this? Go back and have a rest."

Leaving Wei Zheng standing behind Zhao Heng, he urged in a low voice: "Your Highness... go back."

Zhao Heng was expressionless, and stood for a while without saying a word, then suddenly turned around and strode away.

Waiting for Shen Jing to wake up, it was already the middle of the night.

Although the weather in early February was not so cold, because Shen Jing was always afraid of the cold, there was still a kang burning in the room.

Shen Jing opened his eyes at first, only to feel that the room was steaming hot, his mouth was dry and his headache was splitting.

The moonlight had sunk at some point, and the room was pitch black.

He turned over and sat up slowly in the dark, pulled the robe off the bed and put it on his body, then stood up, groped forward, kicked over two stools, and finally reached the table, found the teapot and tea bowl, He poured half a cup of cold tea, raised his head and poured it into his mouth.

After drinking two bowls in a row, he felt that his thirst was relieved. He put down the tea bowl and slowly went back to the bed. He sat down against the head of the bed, half-closed his eyes, and rubbed his forehead that hurt like it was about to explode.

At this moment, he suddenly heard heavy breathing from the silence.

He was startled, and before he could move, he heard a "click", and the fire in the room suddenly lit up.

Shen Jing closed her eyes stunned by the fire, and then realized that there was someone in the room. She retreated to the bed suddenly, and gasped: "Who is—"

"it's me."

Candlestick candles on the table are lit by fire pockets.

Zhao Heng flicked out the fire pocket, walked to the table calmly, picked up the teapot and poured another half a bowl, carried it to the bedside, and handed it to Shen Jing: "You drink too much wine and your mouth gets dry, drink two more sips. "

Shen Jing was terrified and froze for a long time before she tremblingly raised her hand to take the tea bowl and put it on her lips: "...Thank you."

Zhao Heng didn't say a word, just watched him drink the water one gulp, then took the tea bowl and put it back on the table.

After calming down, Shen Jing slowly sat up from the couch.

At this time, his hair was disheveled, and he was still wearing a red shirt and the big red robe that he wore when he got married. The color was festive and bright, but it was wrinkled and full of alcohol.

Quietly got up, straightened the clothes on his body, rolled up his hair in a bun, and sat down beside the bed: "Your Highness... When did you come?"

"It's been a while." Zhao Heng stood by the table with his back to him, gently picking up the somewhat long wick with an iron pick, "Seeing that you were fast asleep, I didn't call you."

"..."

Zhao Heng turned around, and looked at Shen Jing carefully from head to toe: "...this red robe suits you very well."

After being silent for a long time, he coughed, cleared his hoarse throat, and said softly: "It's getting late. Your Highness... go back."

Zhao Heng didn't make a sound, and slowly walked to the bedside.

The candlelight was flickering, and in the silence, Zhao Heng suddenly asked in a low voice: "Miao'an... have you ever regretted it?"

Shen Jing was speechless.

Zhao Heng ignored his silence and let out a long sigh: "... I regret it."

"Gu is rushing all the way back on the horse today, full of regrets."

"Regret to wash away your grievances, and asked you to take the Jinshi exam." Zhao Heng said, walked in front of Shen Jing, lowered his eyes, and looked at him deeply, "Regret myself, too indecisive, afraid of people's words."

Shen Jing wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Zhao Heng's movements.

Zhao Heng held his chin with his hands, lifted his face, and gritted his teeth in a low voice: "... I regret that I didn't break your wings and lock you up and ask you to marry someone else!"

"...Your Highness!"

Shen Jing didn't realize until this time that the smell of alcohol in the room was not just from her body.

Zhao Heng smelled of wine, his eyes were red, he reached out to wrap his arms around his waist and lifted him up, rubbed the corners of his lips with his fingertips, tore off his red robe with one hand, lowered his head and bit Shen Jing's thin lips, He sucked and kissed deeply.

Shen Jing's arm was trapped and he couldn't break free, so he could only let him wreak havoc.Driven by anger, Zhao Heng almost bit the corner of Shen Jing's lips before letting him go, and went to untie his belt with his hands free.

Shen Jing finally broke free and waved towards Zhao Heng, who was stopped by Zhao Heng, who shouted in a deep voice: "... Miao An, Gu will not let go again."