How many buildings are in the mist

Chapter 9

On the second day of April, there was a family banquet in the palace.Feng Zihuan sat on the throne, and below him were his two daughters and two concubines.The place belonging to the queen has been vacant, and Feng Zihuan intends to keep it vacant forever.And Cui Xuanji stood at the entrance of the hall.After the family banquet was over, she escorted Feng Zihuan back to the palace.It stands to reason that when Feng Zihuan was going to bed, she had to be outside and could not go in.Tonight, Feng Zihuan had just finished washing his hair, so he was not in a hurry to sleep, so he dispersed the serving female officer, and called her: "Xuan Ji, come in."

"Your Majesty." She walked in, and saw Feng Zihuan's hair was loose, his clothes were cool, and under the thin coat, the collarbone could be seen faintly.She had never seen Feng Zihuan like this before, she was afraid that Feng Zihuan would see her blushing again, so she immediately looked away.Unexpectedly, Feng Zihuan asked her to come closer.She stepped forward and stood in the middle of the road. Seeing her blushing, Feng Zihuan said softly, "Would you like to have some snacks together? I'm afraid you'll get hungry just watching us eat, and I'm not full, so I'm going to ask Ask what is there, and eat more."

Cui Xuanji really thought she was hungry, so she followed her mood and said that if your majesty wants to eat, just pass it on, and I will report it for you.Feng Zihuan said, then you can ask the imperial banquet what else to eat, and choose what you like.When she reached the gate of the palace, she still asked His Majesty if these were the things he usually liked.

"Today's family dinner, do you find it troublesome?"

"What does Your Majesty mean by trouble?" What Feng Zihuan finally got was his favorite side dish with white porridge. Cui Xuanji thought that she should hangover after drinking, and should not eat more.

"I didn't feel it in the past, but today I suddenly feel that the ladies in the palace are very troublesome with their wide robes and sleeves layered on top of each other. Have you seen Xianwan?"

"Your Majesty is saying that it is inconvenient for Concubine Ning to toast?"

"Xianwan has always been like that. Today, her illness is just a little bit better, and she can't lift a toast. You have never seen Concubine Duan in Xianbei clothes. I think her short sleeves are more convenient. She is from the Hu family in the north. Women's clothes are much simpler. The clothes we prepare for our daughter's family are inconvenient. Moreover, it is very expensive to make these clothes with fine embroidery and expensive materials {44}. Of course they are good-looking, but they are not It’s convenient. If it’s like this in the palace, it’s not good for the country. What do you think, huh?”

After finishing speaking, she drank the porridge seriously, and threw troublesome questions to Cui Xuanji.Cui Xuanji had no choice but to get along with her for a while. He knew that Feng Zihuan didn't like to play tricks. Want to change the Hu clothes for the female officials in the palace?"

"It's not all random clothes. I hope to change the current attire, combine different clothes from the north and the south, and carry out reforms based on the principles of good-looking, practical, and economical."

"Chen, no, I thought..."

Feng Zihuan looked up at her, and she felt that gaze, which was waiting for her answer, with a slight warmth, it seemed a little more than looking at other officials.Cui Xuanji enjoys this kind of gaze, because this kind of gaze means that he cares a little more than others.

Just a little more, she understood, and there would be no more.What's more, now I'm not sure why Feng Zihuan is so fond of him {45}.Talking about guessing Shangyi, in fact, she is just innately consistent with Feng Zihuan in certain ideas, so she can understand.But after all, he was young, so he couldn't guess Feng Zihuan's many other schemes.She doesn't intend to think about those calculations, she just wants to serve the king with sincerity.

"I think it's good if it's good, just be careful that some descendants of the aristocratic clan will be dissatisfied with it and make admonitions."

"Admonition? Hahahaha! Then come!"

After the two of them finished eating, they called someone to clean up. Feng Zihuan still didn't plan to go to sleep, and left Cui Xuanji to talk, "I've been thinking about it recently, and I feel that there is a lack of talents like you in the court. Emptiness and weakness. If things go on like this, they will not be able to defeat the barbarians in the north. I intend to start from the palace, start with small things, change customs, and gradually accumulate strength in order to conquer the Central Plains."

"Your Majesty's idea is naturally good, but some people's hearts are more different than anything else. It is impossible for them to imitate the barbarians who they look down on."

"Can't learn from each other's strengths?"

"Your Majesty, these people originally denied that they have shortcomings while others have strengths."

Feng Zihuan sneered, "I didn't know they could be so arrogant."

"The road His Majesty wants to take must be difficult and difficult."

"Then Xuan Ji, would you like to accompany me?"

"Of course," she said.She knew that Feng Zihuan might not be sincere, but she was fine with it.

"You are more and more like Cui Yi." After Feng Zihuan finished speaking, he got up and went to bed.And Cui Xuanji pushed the door out and stood guard on duty.

On the third day of April the next day, Feng Zihuan ordered the two concubines to have dinner together.Ning Concubine Zhu Xianwan and Duan Concubine Duan Qichen were surprised when they received the news.We just finished eating together yesterday, what are we doing today?It stands to reason that the emperor didn't want to see them once a month. If he did, it would be either when he needed to ask about the health of the harem, or when they had something to ask the emperor.Here, Zhu Xianwan sees the emperor frequently, while Duan Qichen doesn't go to the Three Treasure Hall for nothing, and the emperor treats her the same way.Duan Qichen felt that she was a canary raised by the emperor more than once. Although she had the ambition of a goshawk, she eventually became a canary in the deep palace.

The time was approaching, Zhu Xianwan felt that Feng Zihuan was busy today, so she planned to go there earlier, and she hadn't stayed alone with the emperor for a long time.The female officer asked her what she would wear to meet the emperor today, and she said it was still a purple skirt. The female official said that today's occasion is more casual, and the empress should change to something brighter.She thought for a while, "Then change to the crow-green one." The female officer was so angry that she wanted to roll her eyes, and forcefully gave her a golden step.As a result, Zhu Xianwan glanced at it and said, "Change it to another one, this one is too ostentatious." The female officer had no choice but to get her a golden hairpin.

"My concubine sees Your Majesty."

"Oh? You're here. It's so early, please sit down." Feng Zihuan was still working, and Zhu Xianwan sat down beside her.

"The concubine disturbed His Majesty."

"It's okay, nothing important."

More than ten years ago, she privately called Feng Zihuan brother-in-law.Later, after entering the palace, it was difficult to change his mouth.Feng Zihuan didn't care about it privately, but she did. She changed it for a long time, and now it's over.In fact, she likes to be called Feng Zihuan's brother-in-law, not to mention that the two imperial daughters call her aunt now.Only she forced herself.

Watching Feng Zihuan put away the memorial and put down the ink brush, she asked, "How is Your Majesty?"

"I? I'm fine. How about you? Are you better?"

"Thank you for your concern, my concubine is much better."

"For the matter of the harem, you have worked hard all these years."

"Your Majesty's talking and joking are all the duties of courtiers and concubines."

"Yeah, so—"

Feng Zihuan stopped, and Zhu Xianwan also heard the female official announce that Concubine Duan had arrived. "The concubine sees Your Majesty." Zhu Xianwan looked back and saw that Duan Qichen was wearing a suit of brown and black with bright red today, with gold bracelets, gold hairpins and gold flower tinsel. The sun shone from behind and refracted from the floor tiles to his body, which was quite dazzling.She felt disgusted for a while, and turned her head away from Duan Qichen.It was Feng Zihuan who said, "Normal. Are you dressed so gorgeously today?"

"The weather is so nice," Duan Qichen got up, answered loudly, walked in, took a look at Zhu Xianwan and then withdrew his eyes, "How can I be worthy of the weather if I don't dress up more brightly?"

Feng Zihuan smiled and asked the female officer to pass on the meal.

The three of them ate together, talking about the weather and trivial rumors at first.After dinner and drinking tea, Feng Zihuan said: "According to the affairs of the harem, apart from the general routine, the only major event in a year is the sacrifice ceremony of Xianzhi. This year, more maids will be released, right?"

Zhu Xianwan nodded, "Yes, it has been three years."

"Well, is the list ready?"

"It was already planned in January."

"Okay, every time the maids are released, it happens to be the time to make clothes for the new maids. I think this year, I can make some changes."

Zhu Xianwan is in charge of the affairs of the harem, and her main job is to maintain it.If Feng Zihuan asked her, she would do it. "Your Majesty wants to?"

"I want to—" Zhu Xianwan looked at Feng Zihuan, and Feng Zihuan turned his gaze to Duan Qichen, "Let Concubine Duan take the lead, and you will assist me. Change the costumes of the female officials a little, and learn some of the advantages of Beidi's clothes. Don’t use the toga with big sleeves like this, save some material and make it easier for them to work on weekdays.”

Zhu Xianwan was still surprised, Feng Zihuan didn't look at her, and said to Duan Qichen, "What does Concubine Duan think?"

Duan Qichen had nothing to do in the palace.Feng Zihuan will satisfy all her demands, although she never makes excessive demands.Zhu Xianzhi and Zhu Shihan passed away successively, and after Zhu Xianwan entered the palace, Feng Zihuan asked Zhu Xianwan to take charge of the affairs of the harem, but all important matters must be discussed with Duan Qichen, and Duan Qichen has the right to veto.If the two are at loggerheads, the emperor will be played.But Duan Qichen was too lazy to veto.She used to fight with Zhu Xianzhi like that, and Zhu Xianzhi gave in to her, and at that time Zhu Xianzhi was the only one who was sincerely kind to her.When Zhu Xianwan entered the palace, she no longer had that spirit.Neither fighting nor caring, it is best to have nothing at all.She is used to the cage.Enjoying the flashy things was now her only interest.

If I still have a little other interest, it is to restore life in my hometown once in a while.But it can't be restored too real, because the more real, the less it is, the more homesick and painful it is.

"Your Majesty is holy!" She replied loudly, couldn't help but look at Zhu Xianwan, who was a little surprised, and continued to reply happily: "I also felt that the clothes of the ladies in the palace were quite inconvenient, and very uncomfortable. Waste of materials, if we can absorb the strengths of the Northern Land costumes, we will be able to save materials and expenses in the palace, and it will be more convenient for female officials to work. For example, cuffs..."

Duan Qichen talked endlessly about clothes.I don't know why Feng Zihuan is in such a good mood, so I let her talk.As Zhu Xianwan listened to her talking, she felt more and more depressed.

"Your Majesty," finally Feng Zihuan had heard enough and interrupted Duan Qichen, Zhu Xianwan hastily added: "The palace attire is an example for the world. Changing to Hufu at every turn may cause dissatisfaction."

"Dissatisfied? Who are you worried about dissatisfied?" Zhu Xianwan couldn't tell, and Feng Zihuan didn't give her a chance: "You don't have to worry about the outside affairs. That's what I have to face. Besides, I never intend to let the maids directly Wearing Hu clothes, what I hope is that the two of you will work together to make a little modification and absorb the advantages of Beidi clothes, which are frugal and convenient, that’s all. If you think it is necessary to maintain something, you can discuss it. I just want results .”

Zhu Xianwan had nothing to say, she was never good at arguing with reason, so she agreed.He made an appointment with Duan Qichen to discuss with her in Duan Qichen's palace tomorrow afternoon. "Sister, please prepare the clothes for reference." She said respectfully, Duan Qichen nodded, with a bit of arrogance, said "OK" and left.Zhu Xianwan stood on the spot and watched her, her heart was warmed by the spring breeze, and a trace of anger arose in her boredom.

In June, with the end of Zhu Xianzhi's sacrificial ceremony, the maids will be released, and newcomers will be recruited.There are still two months between now and then, and the pattern of the costumes needs to be finalized and produced in a hurry. In fact, there is no delay.She was upset at the thought of cooperating with Duan Qichen.That guy is used to being arrogant and indifferent. After so many years, he always ignores him. She always looks at it casually when he discusses with her.God knows how to catch up with such a thing at this time?Usually, people who don't like to manage things are so annoying, but now that they are in charge, isn't that lip service even more annoying?

Zhu Xianwan grew up in a family of Confucianism, unlike Feng Zihuan who only had contact with her father Zhu Shihan, the uncles and brothers she had dealt with since childhood were all based on Confucianism. Di, Qiang, or Duan Qichen's Xianbei, they will not tolerate it, they only have themselves in their hearts.

She remembered how her father asked Feng Zihuan to marry her.At that time, she felt that her deceased sister was a political tool of her father, and so was she.My father said to himself, your brother is useless, and our family can only rely on you.

rely on me?What do you rely on me for?Sending me to this palace will only have the power of a queen, without the status of a queen, I will not be able to give birth to a royal heir, and I will not be able to take care of the family when I retire.Say that Zhu Hezhi is useless, and keep me in the palace so he won't be dismissed from office?The emperor will not have any more feelings for the Zhu family because of me. All the feelings come from my sister. After my sister is gone, the remaining feelings are just fading away.I stay here, but it's just a useless reminder specially designed for my brother-in-law.

Zhu Xianwan never hated her father, sister, brother, or other relatives, or the emperor.She just hates herself.I hate myself for never claiming anything for myself, always obeying the will of others.

Back in his own palace, the older female officials were discussing how abominable Duan Qichen's haughty posture is today.As they talked, they began to talk about Zhu Xianzhi's death. At that time, there were rumors in the palace that it was Duan Qichen's hands, that she used some kind of poison that was only found in Xianbei in the north.When Zhu Xianwan heard it, she immediately stopped talking: "You are all old people in the palace, you don't know the rules in the palace, what are you talking about here? Do you want outsiders to say that there is a difference between internal and external relations under my rule, and that it is unfair?"

Zhu Xianwan never believed this rumor.Because Duan Qichen didn't need to kill Zhu Xianzhi at all; on the contrary, without Zhu Xianzhi, she would have a more difficult time here.Although I always felt that it was unnecessary for my sister to be so nice to Duan Qichen back then, but if she wasn't nice to her, wouldn't the fight be endless?She will have no children, no future, just like herself now.

Well, it's all a thing of the past.What should be done tomorrow is still to be done.

The next day, Zhu Xianwan intentionally changed into moon-white and ivory-colored clothes, which were a little brighter, and went to Duan Qichen with a sense of comparison.Unexpectedly, when she walked into Duan Qichen's palace, the smell of exotic incense and cheese hit her, making her a little dizzy.

Duan Qichen came out to welcome her, wearing bright red Xianbei clothes, more dazzling than yesterday.

The author has something to say:

{44}Note: The parts about costumes here and in the following article are designed for the plot, and the words spoken by the characters purposefully, do not represent the author's views on traditional Han costumes.

{45} "Blue Eyes You Jia" comes from Ruan Ji.Ruan Ji can do "blue and white eyes", blue eyes are black eyes, and both eyes are facing straight;Ruan Ji looked at people who were not welcome, and looked at him with white eyes; he used "blue eyes" to those who appreciated him.Later, this idiom was derived to express appreciation for people.