Li Huang

The sun was getting bigger and I was a little dizzy, so I could only hold back and hope that Shen Xiyao would arrive earlier. When I was impatient, I saw one hundred thousand banners coming from the billowing smoke and dust, the dragon title covered the morning sun, and the good spirits rose from the dark sky. One person in the lead, a white horse and golden saddle, a purple chapter and a golden ribbon, full of mind, and aspirations to Changhong. The bright yellow cloak hunts and hunts the wind, and the golden dragon is lifelike. He gallops with the dazzling golden light all over the sky. The handsome appearance like a **** makes the sun and the moon pale. I can't help squinting my eyes to prevent the dazzling figure from stinging my eyes.

Suddenly, I felt Venus looming in front of me, and my legs were leaning to one side. Xihe noticed that I was abnormal, so I hurriedly stretched out my hand to help, I adjusted my posture and stood firm. Only in this moment, Shen Xiyao was already near.

I stepped forward and led everyone to bow down to the ground. Long live the mountain. The broad bluestone road was blanched by the sun, and I had to close my eyes to prevent a tear from flowing.

"Long live my emperor, long live long live!"

"Flat body." Shen Xiyao's voice came high, with more vicissitudes and arrogance, which made people feel difficult to approach.

I stood up, raised my head to meet his gaze, and said with a brilliant smile: "The concubine concubine wishes the emperor to judge the world and return in triumph!"

Shen Xiyao smiled openly and said: "It is my responsibility to govern the country and the world. The queen governs the harem, the Yuwang supervises the country, and the ministers share the worries for me. It is also hard!"

Everyone was too busy to worship, and Shen Xiyao waved his horse whip: "Go back to the palace!"

I stepped into the carriage and followed closely, but I felt vaguely uneasy in my heart. I don't know if it was because of the alienation in Shen Xiyao's eyes.

In front of the palace gate, Concubine Hui led the concubines to greet the holy driver. I saw from the carriage, she was graceful in makeup, generous in demeanor, with a natural look, everything was in order, and she was kind of like a mother of the country.

Shen Xiyao took the civil and military officials into the front court without staying much, and I went back to the harem with the concubines to prepare for the evening celebration banquet.

That night, Shen Xiyao honored the men of merit in the former court and had a feast for the officials. I hosted the families of the important officials in the harem, Xu Yi praised. The fire tree and the silver flower never sleep, the singing is full of the moon, and it is a prosperous scene. When the banquet was over, it was already in the middle of the moon, Zhang Dehai heard that the emperor was drunk and stopped in the Hall of Yangxin. I took off my luxurious dress and looked at the bright moon, lonely and sleepless.

This night, he should stay in Kunning Palace for both love and ceremony to show the love and harmony of the empress. However, he did not.

For the next three days, Shen Xiyao did not set foot in the harem, which made the concubines a little worried. No matter who went to the Hall of Nourishment under any banner, Zhang Dehai stopped them. I was afraid that Shen Xiyao was injured on the battlefield and kept the secret, so I ordered Huiju to ask her elder brother in the name of visiting relatives in the palace.

Huiju came back that evening. The eldest brother meant that during the period of King Yu's supervision, he didn't dare to be expert in some things that were not urgent, so he kept waiting for Shen Xi to make a decision, so that he would be a bit busy. It would be better if he wanted to come later. But I always feel that it is not so simple. I just don’t think what’s wrong, but I can’t figure out what’s wrong. In addition, the Longevity Festival is approaching. I need to check the birthday gifts one after another by the state governments. I also need to arrange a banquet on the day, so I don’t think too much.

When Huiju came back, he brought a few baskets of hairy crabs. It is said that the third brother ordered someone to catch them from Yangcheng Lake and raise them in the lake. I saw that these crabs have large fat bodies, blue shells, white belly, golden claws and yellow hair, and strong limbs. At this time, the golden breeze is refreshing and the chrysanthemums are in full bloom. It is a good time to taste crabs.

Thinking about this, she asked her to cook it in the small kitchen the next day, and ordered Yumei to invite her favorite concubine in the palace to taste crabs the next day. Just take this opportunity to explore Shen Xiyao.

The next day was a crab feast. In the early morning, Shihua Bureau sent dozens of pots of rare chrysanthemums to be placed in front of the lower porch, and a flower shelf was set up in the small garden where the feast was held. The concubines who had been invited before lunch were gathered, enjoying the chrysanthemum and talking and laughing, and they were in harmony.

I stood in front of the window of the west hall and looked at them. Because it is a small gathering, there is no need for a grand gathering, so the dressing of the concubines is very simple. Concubine Hui wore an autumn-scented golden silk chrysanthemum and pomegranate dress, and a young woman dressed in azure embroidery with multicolored broken flowers stood in front of her and whispered something. Concubine Hui only smiled faintly, but did not speak. Haoyue stood alone in front of the flower stand, and occasionally glanced at Concubine Hui, with a slight worry in her brow.

Huiju whispered behind me: "Chen Changzai is next to Concubine Hui."

I nodded, and saw Yi Fei walk into the garden in a plain aqua-colored Lingbo skirt. When she walked closer, she could see the elegant blue and white concave pattern on the skirt, which was very simple and simple.

I said to Huiju: "Go and look at the small kitchen, pick a few good ones, go there and give them to the emperor."

After that, I changed into a lotus leaf skirt with purple silver silk and broken pear flower gauze, holding a long hairpin of chrysanthemum and gold beads, and then walked out.

The gentle breeze is comfortable and the golden chrysanthemum fragrant. Because it is a small banquet, many rules are eliminated. Sitting at the table with everyone, while drinking and waiting for the side dishes, and then talking about some allusions and interesting things, the atmosphere is pleasant.

I was chatting with Concubine Hui about the recent situation of the prince, and only heard a hearty voice with a smile: "The queen has good crabs, I will ask for two."

The concubines were surprised at first, and then they all showed a sweet smile and knelt to welcome Shen Xiyao.

He walked in through the moon gate, dressed in a sauce-purple golden thread chrysanthemum pattern uniform, wearing a red gold plate dragon crown, and his smile was comparable to Qiuyang. He walked straight to me, held on to the body I wanted to bow down, and took me to sit in the first seat. Then he said to the concubine below, "Be flat."

His hands were slightly cold, and there was a little coldness in his eyes, like the rustling autumn wind in the autumn sun. The warmth was only floating on the surface, and the deeper it was cold.

I poured wine for him and said with a smile: "My concubine ordered Huiju to send the hairy crabs over, but I don't know if it's there yet."

Shen Xiyao picked up the wine glass and said in a gentle voice: "I decided to come over after seeing the crab. It happened that Wang Yu and a few ministers were also there, so I gave it to them." He said to the concubines again: "I myself When I returned to Luan, I was busy with government affairs. I finally had a free time today. I would like to borrow the Queen’s wine and good crabs, thank you for your diligence and frugality for your country.

After the concubines thanked for their gratitude, they all took their seats. The maid served the steamed hairy crabs and dishes.

It's just that when I looked at this crab, I couldn't help but think of the few plump hairy crabs that Haoyue brought during the death of the day, and? ? My gaze swept away and landed on Haoyue’s table. The court lady beside her was breaking the crab shell and placing it on the silver plate. Haoyue Xiaochao was about to eat the crab roe. Chen Chang put down the crab feet in his hand and smiled. Said: "Mr. Yue, Queen Empress’s hairy crabs are top grade. If you eat like this, you will be wasted."

Her voice was as beautiful as a yellow oriole coming out of the valley, with a sweet smile, as if a kind reminder from a close friend, but Haoyue's face flushed and embarrassed. She quietly cast a glance at Concubine Hui for help. Concubine Hui only shook the fan in her hand and did not look at her, but looked at Chen Changzai with a smile, with approval in her eyes.

Chen Changzai naturally noticed, so he even more showy, "Crabs become fishy when they are cold. You have to eat crab feet first, then crab claws, and finally the meat and yellow in the crab shell. Yuegui people eat crab yellow first. When the crab feet are cold, it won't taste good."

Haoyue smiled awkwardly: "Thank you for always reminding me. I have lived in Beijing for a long time, but I am not good at eating this."

Chen Changzhe smiled triumphantly, picked up the crab scissor and cut the crab legs from the back to the front like a demonstration, then used the crab needles to push the leg meat out of the bowl, and said to the maid behind him: "I see it. That's it. I'm clumsy and ruined good things." Although her voice was soft, everyone underneath could hear her clearly, not only Haoyue, but also everyone's faces. I saw Haoyue's face flushed red, holding the crab feet in two in her hand, neither was it to eat, nor was it not to eat, she was very embarrassed.

Shen Xiyao didn't seem to hear it, and only smiled: "It's not bad to eat crabs like this without losing elegance."

In this way, Chen Changzai was even more proud, while Haoyue looked ashamed.

Seeing Haoyue's embarrassment, Concubine Yi couldn't bear it. She looked at me and looked at Concubine Hui. I only tasted the finest chrysanthemum wine in the jade-wrapped chrysanthemum wine glass. Concubine Hui chatted with Zhao Rong next to her.

Concubine Yi raised her wine glass and took a sip, and smiled at me: "The wine here is so sweet, and I am afraid that the concubine will ask for more glasses today."

I smiled at her and said to everyone: "This is stuffed with chrysanthemums that I picked at the Chongyang Festival last year. It has a delicate and mellow taste, and it is not easy to get drunk. It also has a lot of effects on health. You can drink a few more glasses."

Then he looked at Chen Changzai and said gently: "My palace remembers that Chen Changzai is from Anyang and doesn't want to have such research on eating crabs."

Chen Changzai got up and gave a polite: "The empress remembers where the concubine is from, and the concubine is grateful!" He said that she was blessed with a blessing: "Although the concubine was born in Anyang, her mother is from Suzhou, and she loves eating. Crabs, there was a set of eight silver-studded coral crabs in the dowry that year.

"Chen Changzai is really humble." I said casually.

I don’t want her to cover her noodles with a fan, as if she is shy: “The empress empress is absurdly praised. The concubines really only know one or two. If you say that the expert still counts the concubine Hui,” she said, the slender finger pointed to Concubine Hui. A set of crab-eating tools on the table, "It is also the first time for a concubine to see such a complete set of tools, and so exquisite, it is really eye-opening."

Everyone looked over as she said, and saw 18 delicate and practical gold-inlaid diamond appliances such as hammers, upsettings, tongs, shovel, spoons, forks, scrapers, needles, etc. neatly placed on Huifei's table. The diamonds were clear in the autumn. Shining in the sunlight, dazzling people's eyes.

I was shocked, and then a huge hatred and anger surged into my heart, and then I felt relieved. Finally, I can be completely sure that the person who has been instructing Haoyue to act from behind is undoubtedly Hui Fei.

Concubine Hui didn't seem to care about everyone's attention, and her smile was always dignified and generous, and she only said to the maid behind her: "Reward the peeled crab in front of this palace to Chen Changzai." Fu said kindly: "This palace My mother is also from Suzhou, so we have a chance."

Chen Chang was stunned and rejoiced, hurriedly thanking him, and after sitting down, he cast a provocative look at Haoyue, a beautiful face showing forgetfulness. Haoyue's complexion became even paler.

I only watched from the wall, ordered Huiju to sing and dance, and talked and laughed with Shen Xiyao and Yi Fei, without paying attention to the situation.

In a short while, a singer dressed in a fragrant embroidered blue chrysanthemum gauze upper skirt, a blue pleated skirt with a hidden bamboo leaf pattern, Tingting curled into the chrysanthemum bushes, her head was full of blue silk, and she was covered with tortoiseshell and amber. The bead flower, in the middle of a filigree golden chrysanthemum hairpin with turquoise leaves, sang to everyone after giving gifts to the crowd slightly: "Dark and pale purple, melting and yellowing. The color of the pottery is the color of the fence, and the fragrance of Luo Han's house is forbidden. Familiar with the setting sun. May the pan-golden parrot rise to the emperor's white jade hall." The singing voice is crisp and clear, and the sound is revolving, such as the new orioles coming out of the valley, the breast swallows returning to the nest, or slow or urgent, high and low, where the tone changes. , Endless changes.

I was stunned for a while. This was the first time I heard such a beautiful voice, but although the singing voice was good, it focused on technique, which made me show off and lost my true feelings.

But Shen Xiyao was fascinated and praised again and again. Seeing that he liked it, I beckoned the singer to come forward, not thinking it was Chen Changzai.