How many buildings are in the mist

"How's it going in Huben today?" Feng Zihuan asked.Cui Xuanji walked into the room with his head down, still wearing official uniform.And Feng Zihuan had already changed into the red silk robe {9}, sitting on the couch, Cui Xuanji saw a little of the hem, and wanted to ask her if she was cold, although he knew that he should never ask, "Return to Your Majesty , the minister entered the tiger's base today..."

There was nothing to hide, so she said it all in one go.From entering the door to communicating with Zuo Cheng, to what I heard about Li Su when he was in office, to her current handling methods, and even her views on Zuo Cheng—Cui Yi taught her to think twice before talking to the emperor, and to avoid stepping on her. To a certain trap in the emperor's suspicious maze—but she felt that if she didn't tell the truth about what happened today, there would be nothing she could do in the future.What's more, she didn't even have a chance to tell Feng Zihuan the truth, how could she be willing to lie to Feng Zihuan?

After Feng Zihuan finished listening, he smiled all over his face and said: "You look up at me, keep your head down like this, and I can't see your expression, isn't it talking to you like a blind person?"

She had no choice but to raise her head, but she didn't know that Feng Zihuan just wanted to see her face and liked her eyes.

"Cui Qing is worthy of a noble family, you just go ahead and do it, I support you. You said earlier," Feng Zihuan stood up, put down the book, and walked in front of Cui Xuanji, "say that Zuo Cheng is honest and You Cheng is cunning, How can you tell?"

"The minister entered the camp and questioned the left and right Cheng. It stands to reason that both Hu and Ben are warriors. If they are young and good sons in the army, they are unlikely to be good at eloquence. Zuo Cheng is like this. He wanted to explain, but he couldn't find a suitable explanation. Ashamed, completely uncontrollable. You Cheng is the complete opposite, avoiding the problem, smiling all over his face, and feeling guilty after counting the number of people, he was actually taken aback, which shows that he may have something to do with it on weekdays."

Feng Zihuan listened to her with a smile, and found that she was blushing under his gaze.

"Cui Qing really lived up to her trust."

"Your Majesty appreciates it."

"It's just that I have to ask you tonight. Although," Feng Zihuan got up and walked in, naturally a female officer came up to help her undress, Cui Xuanji felt more and more afraid to look at it, and because the thought of not daring to look at it came out at an inappropriate time. feel more ashamed. "I'm not afraid of any assassins. But if I can, I think I'll have to catch them alive. How about it?"

Before entering the dormitory, Feng Zihuan turned his head to look at Cui Xuanji, Cui Xuanji woke up like a dream, "Don't worry, Your Majesty."

That night, Cui Xuanji was alternately on duty with the guards who were guarding Feng Zihuan. She had always been a light sleeper, and she was on duty almost all night.In the early morning during the day, she went home to rest and wash, and then went to the Huben camp for inspection at noon.Destroy the seized gambling and drinking utensils, and do not investigate who owns them.Several drunks had already sobered up. She fined them half a month's salary, and then sent them to guard the camp gate for three days.Three days later, the game began.After the first day of competition, the contestants will go to work the next day.After all three groups have finished the competition, the winners will be randomly divided into different teams, with five people in a team to compete with the other five people.Those who are not defeated among the ten will enter the next round of the same competition.Such a rotation, the schedule only needs four days.On the night of the third day, Cui Xuanji thought about how the peach blossoms at home were blooming, how he would stand up in tomorrow's game, and why the increase in the number of guards and the revised patrol method played a role in the fact that the assassins hadn't been seen for several days. Or are they all being played?

She once said to Cui Yi that Feng Zihuan didn't seem to care who took her life, isn't that abnormal?Cui Yi said it didn't matter, because no matter whether there was such a person who wanted her life, we sent you in, she accepted, and that was enough.

Everything is up to you, do you understand?

"Cui Qing."

"The minister is here."

At night, there are only a few lights in Yoyotai City. If she flies to the top of the building, she knows that the Jiankang City outside must be full of lights, bright and warm.But now she is on duty in Feng Zihuan's palace, even the female officials who serve the pen and ink have been sent away by Feng Zihuan, there are only two of them. "You said the day before yesterday that you planned to have a final competition in Huben tomorrow, right?"

"Yes."

Feng Zihuan was still holding the memorial in his hand, writing like flying, "I really want to go and have a look, but I'm afraid I might miss your business."

Cui Xuanji raised his head slightly, seeing that Feng Zihuan was not looking at her, he was still seriously reviewing the memorial.

"minister……"

"I was thinking about standing up for you. But then I thought, if I stand up for you, it would be inappropriate for me to go. What do you think?" Now he put down the memorial.Cui Xuanji was still standing, she suspected that Feng Zihuan was testing her, using teasing her as a coat with a knife wrapped inside.She has long since understood some things from the fact that Li Su belongs to the Li family of Longxi, but she is not. Of course, Feng Zihuan does not necessarily accept her completely, and there are sufficient reasons to remain suspicious or even hostile to her. If the assassin If it wasn't true, then everything would make more sense. Instead, he was in the way of her.but……

She is here to do things, she is to be her brachii.

"I think that if your majesty can come in person, you will get twice the result with half the effort. I'm afraid that if you miss your majesty's handling of the government affairs, you will be guilty of a serious crime. As for the matter of establishing prestige, I dare not think about it. The tiger and cardinal guards were originally set up to protect your majesty, how can it be a majesty of your majesty?" , as Your Majesty."

In the silence, she knew that Feng Zihuan was watching her: with the crown {10} on top of her head, she could still feel the scorching gaze.

Soon, Feng Zihuan looked away and continued to criticize the memorial, "Forget it, I won't bother you anymore, lest you get in the way."

After another half an hour, Feng Zihuan finally finished his work and drove back to the palace to rest.On the way, female officials held lanterns on both sides to light up, because Feng Zihuan insisted on walking back, saying that he had to sit and work all day, and his muscles and bones could not be stretched, so Cui Xuanji had to follow behind her.Feng Zihuan stretched his limbs as he walked, and looked at the red-robed man in the two rows of lanterns from afar, who looked like an emperor, clearly a child. "Cui Qing, how old are you this year?" Feng Zihuan asked suddenly, "Reporting to Your Majesty, you will be 23 in May."

"Ah, Xiaozhen is ten years old, tsk tsk. What a good time to be a teenager. Ten years ago, I was enthroned for three years. At that time, Feng Xu was just over one year old. And...Xianzhi was sick."

At that time, Zhu Xianzhi was only 23 years old.Feng Zihuan remembered very clearly that Zhu Xianzhi had been suffering from the wind and cold since the twelfth lunar month, so he did not dare to see Feng Xu for several days.Said that he was afraid of giving the child sickness.It turned out that no matter how much medicine he took, the doctor checked his pulse and said that Zhu Xianzhi, who was originally in poor health, was still weak after giving birth.The young and energetic she lost her temper in front of Zhu Xianzhi's window, so you just want her to suffer, right? !

The imperial physicians and female officials knelt down one after another, and Zhu Xianzhi took her hand vigorously to tell her not to do this.Why bother to blame others?It's my fault, Zhu Xianzhi said.She sat back again, and the furious emperor could only sigh, it was my fault, it was me.

How about you, as the emperor, of course you must have an heir.Besides, don't you want us to have kids?

The female officer came forward to inform that the two princesses wanted to have dinner with His Majesty.Feng Zihuan said that they should be put together, and that they should be put together with Cui Xuanji.Cui Xuanji resigned but did not accept it, saying that he did not dare to presume that this is His Majesty's family banquet.Feng Zihuan laughed and said: "You lived at your aunt's house - I remember you said - it must have been a year. Every time I discuss with her until the end, which time do I not leave a simple meal? What's more, you want to guard my house Left and right, let you stand, you will not be allowed to eat, and it will spread that I have treated you badly. If I don’t want this reputation? Whoever says you overstep in the future, you are disobeying me, let’s go!" Cui Xuanji was speechless It can be said that I had no choice but to follow.

After a while, Feng Xu and Feng Xi came in.Although they are sisters, they speak and behave differently.As the eldest daughter, Feng Xu is 11 years old, very quiet and polite.She came in and met with Feng Zihuan first. Feng Zihuan asked her what she had learned in studying and practicing martial arts today, how she felt, and how she had benefited. She answered them one by one. The tone is flat.As soon as the seven-year-old Fengxi came in, after paying homage to Feng Zihuan, she threw herself into her mother's arms. When her sister said something, she added something, and answered her own question as well, as if not giving Feng Zihuan a chance to ask herself any more questions.

When Feng Zihuan introduced Cui Xuanji to them, Feng Xu just saluted slightly, and said softly: "So this is Cui Qing." Feng Xi called out, why didn't you see it now, sister, I saw it when I came in just now .During the conversation, the food was served and everyone sat down.Fengxu just ate quietly, as if he was guarding his food and did not say a word; but Fengxi saw that there was sea bass and sunflower for dinner, so he ate fish instead of sunflower {11}; Say no to picky eaters.She immediately protested that the steamed sea bass was not as delicious as the grilled one. The grilled sea bass was sprinkled with salt and mixed with red thorn {12} leaves, not to mention how delicious it was!

Feng Zihuan laughed and said, what does that have to do with you not eating sunflowers?You like a slightly strong taste, this sunflower is pickled, isn't it just right?Cui Xuanji was about to hear Feng Xi's rebuttal, but Feng Xu who was at the side spoke first, saying that mother didn't know yet?As for pickled food, Xi'er only likes to eat things like Zhuyi {13}, "One or two of Zhuyi can give you four bowls of porridge, she said so herself."

Feng Zihuan laughed out loud, Feng Xi was both ashamed and angry, her face turned red, but she didn't resent her sister, she just puffed up her face in protest.After Feng Zihuan finished laughing, he promised to reward Zhuyi for Fengxi tomorrow.Feng Xi asked, isn't Zhu Yi produced in autumn and winter, where is it now?Feng Zihuan said that the treasury has its own collection for many years, and if you like it, I will give it to you.Feng Xi said not to waste it, and I can only eat a little bit, it must be a good thing that has been hidden over the years, and it should be left to my mother and sister.

Cui Xuanji was taken aback for a moment, then glanced at Feng Xu again, the slender eldest daughter of the emperor said nothing.

After dinner, they left, and when they left, the two sisters held hands and said goodbye to Cui Xuanji.Feng Zihuan asked Cui Xuanji to drink tea with her to digest food.The two sat by the window, Feng Zihuan saw that she was still in a tense state ready to get up at any time, so he told her not to be so, just gossip with me, pass the time after dinner, don't be nervous, don't mind words, Cui Xuan Ji obeyed.Seeing her relaxed, Feng Zihuan said: "When I look at the two of them sometimes, I think of Zizhang when I was a child."

"Your Majesty mean King Nankang?"

"That's right, Zizhang is two years older than you. I held Zizhang's hand like this when I was young, and we walked back to the bedroom together. When we grow up, we live separately. I have never held her like this again."

"I often heard in Jiankang that the king of Nankang was unsmiling and seemed a bit indifferent to others. But he was full of talent, and he often played the piano in Kaishan Temple {14}. People passing by would stop and listen when they heard it."

"Zizhang's temperament is dull. She was not like this when she was a child. When she was a child, she was very well-behaved and relatives. I don't know how she grew up later. She likes to reject people for thousands of miles, unlike our mother and queen mother {15}. She also plays the piano very well, better than me. It's much better. She doesn't like staying in the palace, and she also finds Jiankang people annoying, so she always goes to Kaishan Temple. Li Su's younger sister, Li Zhang, practices there. She is close to Li Zhang. When will she come back? I will introduce you to her, she will definitely like you."

"When I was in Yuzhang, I heard that His Majesty loves King Nankang very much and bestows the highest reward."

"Which sister do I not treat like this? Zibai and Ziyang, as soon as I succeed to the throne, I will promote them as county kings, and don't think about their status as criminal ministers. I want to treat the clan with mercy. After all, it is a family, so why bother?" Let's make trouble? Sometimes I envy you ordinary people, no matter rich or poor, high or low, you can always be a harmonious family together. Now I..."

She remembered that when Zhu Xianzhi was still around, she often thought so.More than five years have passed, and it has been like this for five years.

"It's really lonely."

Cui Xuanji didn't dare to look directly at Feng Zihuan, but from the corner of his eye Feng Zihuan's big and charming eyes were extremely clear, as dazzling as jewels, because there was a look of loneliness in those eyes, the pain in Cui Xuanji's heart spread everywhere.Thinking again that this loneliness is due to the loss of Zhu Xianzhi, it felt like being stabbed deeply.

"If your Majesty misses it, call Nankang King and play chess together. I heard that Nankang King is very good at chess."

"It's great? It's not great. When I was young..."

Feng Zihuan told her about Nankang King Feng Zizhang all night.From the beginning to the end, the answers she could give were "Hello, King Nankang" and "Show King Nankang into the palace as soon as possible". Feng Zihuan didn't care, just kept saying, she I couldn't find a chance to persuade her to go to bed quickly.If the emperor didn't say it, did she persuade her to stay with the two concubines?She had known for a long time that the emperor's two concubines were just decorations.She could feel—neither being told, nor logically guessing, but somehow felt—that Feng Zihuan always had only Zhu Xianzhi in his heart, neither the Xianbei concubine nor Zhu Xianzhi's younger sister.

Yes, she is a loner, and she hasn't seen her own sister for a long time, so she is inevitably lonely.Even if she still can't get rid of Feng Zihuan's suspicion and defense at this moment, she is still willing to accompany her like this.

The next afternoon, the final winner of the Huben Tournament wanted to challenge Cui Xuanji.Seeing that she was the youngest and proudest one in the camp, she asked what kind of weapon they used, and they came when they picked up the guns on the ground.Unexpectedly, she didn't draw the knife at all, saying that for the sake of fairness, let others have it.The jade-faced boy thought that he was strong every inch, but he didn't expect her to hold every inch in her hand. She grasped and grasped the area, moved and dodged, but she couldn't stab it; Xuanji was taken into the ditch.The young man still refused to accept it, and he punched, never expecting that his housekeeping skills were also the best among others, so he was naturally defeated.

Of course, everyone and the young man saw it. Cui Xuanji was about to give him a kick, but he stopped. Instead, he just punched him.It's a mercy.When he got up, Cui Xuanji promoted the guy named Wubao to Huben's servant according to the agreement on the spot.

In this way, the Huben camp began to obey its commander.Cui Xuanji ordered the whole camp to rest for one day.From the next day, the new drill regulations were announced, and the whole battalion had to start training again.The martial arts competition has become an annual standing assessment.Five days later, Cui Xuanji suddenly pretended to check the camp on the day he was resting.All those caught gambling and drinking this time will be expelled.It is unavoidable that after any general is loyal.Those who communicate with the outside world will be sent to Tingwei on the spot.

On the third day of March, Shangsi 祓禊 {16}, and the tiger's ben was finished.Cui Xuanji, as Zhonglang, will accompany Feng Zihuan to the Qingxi River to attend the ceremony.Feng Zihuan was sitting, and Cui Xuanji was standing behind her.

Suddenly I heard Feng Zihuan laughing. "Cui Qing?"

"The minister is here."

"Hu Ben Guardian, it looks so much more comfortable. Cui Qing has time to work."

"Your Majesty, this is the duty of the minister."

Young woman laughing and splashing by the water.Feng Zihuan thought, Cui Xuanji is actually only this big, if he goes there to play, what would it be like?If she was present, probably she would always be reserved, right?Or she has always been.Why do these young people all look like Zizhang?

Just as he was thinking about it, the female officer informed that Nankang Wang Fengzizhang, who came all the way back to the mansion to change his clothes, had arrived.

The author has something to say:

{9} In this article, we will try our best to research the ancient clothing, and in order not to make big mistakes, we will try to avoid unfamiliar details.If there are fallacies in the details written, please enlighten me.

{10} The crown worn by the Huben army uniforms in the Wei and Jin Dynasties was decorated with sable hair and pheasant feathers.

{11} Also known as mallow, folks call it winter amaranth or slippery vegetable.

{12} Ready-to-eat cornel (scientific name: Zanthoxylumailanthoides), aliased as red thorn, red thorn onion, big leaf thorn onion, ren thorn onion, thorn river, Yuejiao, Maoyuejiao, Niaobuta, etc., it is called in Flora of China Toon leaf Zanthoxylum bungeanum is one of the sources of spicy flavor.It can be seen in detail in the sixth episode of "Flavour World", "Spice Crossroads", which appeared in the Wei and Jin Dynasties.

{13} There are two explanations for Zhuyi: 1. That is, 鱁鮧, puffer fish meat. 2. Pickled fish intestines.Take the second meaning here.Legend has it that it is made from salted or honeydewed intestines and tripe of totoaba, shark and mullet.Mullet is the mullet that has become famous in recent years.

{14} North of Jiankang City.

{15} In order not to make it look weird and awkward, the special effect method is that in "Daming Palace Ci", Princess Taiping calls the empress Wu Zetian "mother". It is called "Mother Queen".

{16} Shangsi Festival.Commonly known as March [-]rd, March Festival, and Three-day Festival, it is a traditional festival that originated in China.The customs of the Shangsi Festival in ancient times included outings, bathing, holding exorcism ceremonies (that is, exorcising evil spirits), literati gatherings by the waterside to recite poems and poems (such as Wang Xizhi's Lanting gathering), men and women having sex, and even elopement.The custom of spring bathing at the waterside originated in the Zhou Dynasty, and it was later presided over by the imperial court, and a witch was specially appointed to take charge of the event, which became an official holiday.The more famous records related to this are the excerpts from the "Analects of Confucius" that everyone may have memorized: "Those who are in late spring, the spring clothes are ready, five or six people are crowned, six or seven boys are bathing in Yi, dancing in the wind, singing and dancing. return."