fleeting photos

When Luan drove to Xihe Palace, Yuan Xiang and Aunt Qingshi were already waiting at the door. When Jiang Zhao was helped out of the chariot, he subconsciously raised his eyes and looked around, but couldn't find the figure she wanted to see.

Qingshi looked at her red eyes, and couldn't tell whether the mist inside was from the smell of alcohol or from tears. She reached out to help her, but Jiang Zhao dodged her, and only listened to his hoarse voice: "I Go back by yourself, you all rest."

After all, without waiting for Qingshi to say something to persuade her to stay, she left without looking back.

Jiang Zhao drank too much wine, he inevitably staggered, but fortunately he was still a little clear and returned to the bedroom safely.

There were two night guards at the gate of the palace. Seeing her coming back, Jiang Zhao was busy blessing her body and saluting. He didn't dare to move either.

The wooden door was heavy, and Jiang Zhao exerted all her strength on her feet, making a loud noise that made people tremble, and she almost lost her footing.

Standing in place for a while, the chaos in her mind faded a little, she blinked vigorously, and finally showed some obvious grievances on her little face, which smelled of alcohol and had flushed cheeks.

She sniffed, took another step, and was supported by someone holding her elbow.

A familiar soft voice sounded in the ear, with a sense of ridicule or sarcasm: "Your Majesty is so temperamental, how can these two door panels withstand the king's wrath?"

Jiang Zhao looked up at her, the corners of his mouth trembled, and his eyes quickly turned red again.

After all, her tears did not fall again, but Xie Jin helped her to sit down at the table, and then let her wipe her face with a warm cloth soaked in water.

The cloth towel was soft, and Xie Jin's movements were also gentle, with a comfortable friction feeling from the forehead to the chin. Jiang Zhao narrowed his eyes slightly, until he felt the cloth towel leave, and then suddenly raised his hand to hold Xie Jin's wrist.

That part of the wrist is extraordinarily slender, and it can be pinched perfectly with one hand. Jiang Zhao snatched the cloth towel from her hand with the other hand, threw it aside casually, and then sent his hot cheeks to Xie Jin's hands.

This is an extremely intimate and nostalgic gesture, Jiang Zhao closed his eyes and rubbed against Xie Jin's palm a few times.

Unexpectedly, Xie Jin did not resist, nor did he push Jiang Zhao away, but moved closer to let her lean into his arms.

The familiar light fragrance hit his face, Jiang Zhao sniffed his nose, for a moment he couldn't tell whether it was reality or a dream.

She wanted to speak and call "Sister" to test, but remembering being rejected by Xie Jin many times, she finally gave up.

It was Xie Jin who said first, "Your Majesty, the longevity noodles are going to be lumpy."

Jiang Zhao opened his eyes, turned his head to look at the table, and sure enough, he saw a bowl of noodles, still steaming.

It is true that for Jiang Zhao, the longevity noodles made by Xie Jin every year are of great significance, and it has always been the same in previous years. She does not favor any royal banquets, and all she thinks about is this bowl of noodles.

But when Xie Jin called her His Majesty, she knew very well that they could not go back to the past no matter what.

So he felt aggrieved again, didn't want to eat noodles, and said with a hoarse voice: "It's me, it's me who cheated you and let you stay with me in the deep palace for so long, it's because I'm too greedy."

She didn't dare to look up at Xie Jin's expression, but felt her throat was sore, she couldn't help but shed tears, holding Xie Jin's hand for fear that she would stay away from her again.

Jiang Zhao has a lot to say, and he wanted to say it before, but he was afraid that Xie Jin would not listen, but now he just wants to ignore it and show her all his heart.

"After I ascended the throne, I settled your family well and spared them the suffering of being displaced and working, but I can't take credit for it, because my father owes his debts to the son, and that's what I owe to Xie's family."

"I dare not tell you my real identity at all, I am afraid that you will hate me and you will never want to see me again.

I'm too selfish, and I can't bear to let go of the thoughtfulness and tenderness you gave me. I don't want to be an emperor in front of you. I just want to be your Azhao forever, because I know that I have no parents by my side, only my sister. . "

"But I never wanted to keep you from being reunited with my family, I just wanted to keep you for one more year, and another year for you.

Because I also know that I am doomed to be a bird in a cage for the rest of my life. Once I let you out of the palace, I will never see you again. "

These words were babbled, one loud and one soft, obviously drunk.

Jiang Zhao stood up abruptly, holding Xie Jin's hand and approached her. Xie Jin wanted to back away, but she wrapped her waist with the other hand, and half forced her to come closer to him, smelling each other.

She couldn't help Xie Jin speak at all, and opened her mouth to call her name: "Xie Jin."

The smell of alcohol hit his face, and even Xie Jin was a little dizzy.Jiang Zhao called her "Sister" the first time she saw her. She has been calling her by this name for six years. She has never heard Jiang Zhao call her by her name so seriously.

The ordinary two words were read by Jiang Zhao so tenderly that Xie Jin's ears turned red, but she heard her say again: "Since you don't let me call you Sister, then I will never be your sister again. "

This said, but it seems to sever the relationship.

Xie Jin's face was expressionless, he just looked at her lightly, and asked softly: "Do you know what you are talking about?"

Jiang Zhao said: "If you can't say it because of your identity, I will say it for you."

Xie Jin's face darkened, and he endured and endured, and finally couldn't help it, and pushed her away.

Jiang Zhao never defended himself when they got along with each other, and because he was drunk and dizzy, he was pushed and staggered. If he hadn't supported the edge of the table with his hands in time, he would have fallen to the ground.

There were only the two of them in the hall, and the door of the hall that Jiang Zhao kicked open just now was closed at some point, and no one regarded her as the emperor at this time.

Xie Jin stood not far away, looking at her coldly, and didn't intend to go up to help her.

The two have known each other for six years, have been with each other, and have been sisters for six years, and it's not that they haven't had any troubles.

But Xie Jin is soft-hearted, and Jiang Zhao is even more obedient, but after a few words of verbal debate, they will soon reconcile.

Being pushed away mercilessly and being watched coldly, this is the first time Jiang Zhao experienced it from Xie Jin.

Even if his identity was exposed, when Xie Jin treated her like a stranger in his heart, he never gave her such an expression.

Jiang Zhao leaned on the edge of the hard wooden table, suddenly felt sad, and soon his vision was blurred by tears.

She propped her hands on the edge of the table, tears dripping down, splashing water on the smooth table.

Someone came close, holding a handkerchief to wipe her tears, but Jiang Zhao knew who it was, but she was stubborn, turned her head and refused to cooperate.

Xie Jin didn't force her, took back the handkerchief and stuffed it into his cuff, and asked her suddenly: "Is Ah Zhao your real name?"

When the new emperor ascended the throne, she did not set a taboo word, and her name was not known by ordinary people. Since the day she ascended the throne, it is doomed that no one dares to call her by her name directly. Xie Jin also does not know that she has called her for more than six years. Where did the name "Azhao" come from?

"My name is Ah Zhao." The speaker said with a bit of sobs, choked with sobs, "I just concealed my identity, and I have never lied to you for the rest. My surname is Jiang and my name is Zhao, which is also the name on the Zongyi."

Xie Jin suddenly remembered vaguely that Jiang Zhao had used her first and last name from the very beginning, just for intimacy. The surname is Jiang.

She sighed softly, turned around and walked towards the door, said in her mouth: "Your Majesty is drunk, we can talk about it tomorrow if you have anything to do, I will ask Aunt Qingshi to come over and serve His Majesty to bed."

Just as he put his hand on the door, there was a sound of footsteps behind him. Xie Jin froze and was hugged from behind.

When we met for the first time, Jiang Zhao was still a half-grown child, and she called her "Sister" in a young girl's voice, and she unconditionally stretched out her hand and surrendered, taking the burden of a younger sister for herself.

I don't know when Jiang Zhao grew up day by day, from a 13-year-old girl to a 19-year-old high-spirited young king, she clearly grew up under Xie Jin's nose, but Xie Jin still felt that she had changed overnight. look.

The blunt and soft facial features give birth to obvious handsome edges and corners, and the temperament is restrained and reliable. He can pretend to be a well-behaved Azhao, and he can look down at the world when he raises his eyes, and be a majestic and unparalleled king.

Even the soft girl's voice became clear and magnetic, like the water under the moon turning into rain, it rang in her ears, hoarse and calm, disturbing the heart.

Jiang Zhao was half a head taller than Xie Jin, hugged from behind, just put his lips to her ear, and said softly: "Jin Niang."

You are not joking, she will never call her elder sister again.

"The kindness of a meal, accompanied by six years, can't be repaid."

Jiang Zhao's warm lips even touched Xie Jin's soft earlobe, and she hugged her tightly. Xie Jin couldn't dodge, so he didn't dodge at all. Hearing her soft voice: "Xie Shangshu's side, I'm already circling , won’t let you wait too long.”

This is her promise to Xie Jin, not only to avenge Xie Yu's grievances, but also to let him return to the capital in an open and honest manner, regain his former glory, and reunite his family.

Jiang Zhao once again promised: "From now on, you will be on duty in the Imperial Study and live in Xihe Palace. Just take good care of your body and I won't let anyone hurt you again. At the end of the year at the latest, I will definitely let you out of the palace and let your family reunion."

After not getting a response for a long time, Jiang Zhao lowered his voice and called again: "Jinniang..."

It's not that Xie Jin doesn't want to respond, it's just that he doesn't know how to respond.

Is it true that Jiang Zhao owes her and accepts it as it should be, or is he grateful and kneeling to thank the Lord for his grace?

She didn't know which kind Jiang Zhao wanted, but she knew very well in her heart that none of this was what she wanted.

After pondering for a long time, Xie Jin lowered his eyes and called out, "Your Majesty."

There was no response to this call, so she lowered her voice and called again: "Azhao."

Still no one paid attention to her, but felt that the head on her shoulders was getting heavier and heavier. Xie Jin vaguely understood what was going on, sighed lightly, and turned around to support her.

The drunken person seemed to be a little more depressed, Xie Jin didn't dare to move rashly, for fear of hurting Jiang Zhao, so he yelled loudly.

Soon someone opened the door and came in, it was Aunt Qingshi.Seeing such an intimate posture, Xie Jin blushed a little. Fortunately, Qingshi didn't ask any more questions, and just helped Jiang Zhao to the bedside with her.

Another palace official came over with a water basin and a clean cloth towel. Xie Jin stood aside and skillfully removed Jiang Zhao's shoes, socks and outer shirt while watching Qing, and wiped her neckline, hands and feet before stuffing her into the quilt.

After finishing all this, Qing Shi lowered the curtain on the bed, and the palace people packed up their things and left lightly.

"Your Majesty has had a drink and will get up in the middle of the night to find water. Tonight, I will keep watch for her. It's getting late. Jinniang should go back and rest soon." Qing Shi lowered her voice and patted Xie Jin on the back of her hand few times.

Xie Jin glanced at the direction of the dragon bed, the four sides were tightly covered by the bed curtains, and the scene inside could not be seen at all.

She bit her lower lip, leaned close to Qingshi's ear, and said softly: "Auntie, go back and rest, I will watch the night for His Majesty tonight, okay?"

With surprise on his face, Qing Shi took a deep look at her, but did not refuse.

There is an Arhat bed in the sleeping hall, which leans against the window and is specially used for the night watch of the maids.

It's just that Jiang Zhao didn't like to have outsiders around when she was sleeping, and Aunt Qingshi stayed overnight in that small bed only when she was drunk or sick and needed someone to take care of her.

There was a ready-made quilt in the cabinet in the bedroom, Qing Shi took out the quilt for Xie Jin and folded it up, and gave a few instructions before leaving her to go back to rest.