Li Huang

I searched carefully along the shore, and sure enough, I found the boat under a tree not far away.

I stepped forward quickly, but the rope was thick and tied tightly, and my hands were cold and half-angel. It was easy to untie it, and I got on the boat carefully, picking up the oar, but suddenly realized that I can't row at all.

I thought about the way they rowed before, and imitated it myself, but the oars were too heavy for me to hold one. I had no choice but to give up one of them and use only one to row.

I was very tired, and what made me even more helpless was that the boat was just spinning around and didn't move forward at all.

I changed the way I paddled, and after a while I was sweating profusely. However, the boat finally started to head to the other shore, and my heart relaxed slightly.

Putting aside the fatigue, I rowed hard, and the boat slowly drove to the opposite bank. Finally, I could see the shore right in front of my eyes, and I could even catch the wicker hanging from the willow trees on the shore when I stretched out my hand, but he didn't move forward anymore.

I was a little desperate, seeing the boat drifting back into the lake with the waves. I became worried. If I can't get to the shore, I really don't have the strength to pass.

Then I thought: It’s almost the shore, so the water here is not too deep, right? I tentatively extended the oar into the water, but didn't get to the bottom, my heart fell, and I dropped the oar and jumped into the water. The boat drifted away with the waves.

Sure enough, it wasn't very deep, but it didn't get under my neck, and I strenuously walked to the shore.

I was surprised that I did something completely different from what I would normally do, but I don’t know what happened to me. I really don’t want to face the emperor at this moment-without knowing the exact condition of King Yu, I cannot "enjoy" the emperor's favor.

I really can't accept it. I can only escape and try my best to escape. As long as I return to Kunning Palace, he will not find me. At least, give me a time to sort out my mind completely.

I tried to move forward. It was very difficult to walk in the water. The cold lake water flooded my whole body. It was very cold. My teeth began to bite down the mountain, and there was a cold war on my body. I stared at a willow branch that was hanging down on the water. , Just walk in its direction.

The water patted the shore gently, and finally I grasped the willow branch, and finally got on the shore after gritting my teeth again. I almost fell on the grass on the shore, trembling all over, completely wet, but my heart was joyful, because I finally left there.

I was lying on the grass, groggy in my head trying to close my eyes, but I knew I couldn't. Struggling to get up, panting, and standing with the willow tree for a while, looking at the endless darkness ahead, I took a deep breath. Here, it is far from Kunning Palace! I want to go back before dawn.

I walked in the dark without even having an impression of how I got here, everything was so strange. At a fork in the road, the road is divided into several underfoot, extending in different directions.

I was a little at a loss, thinking about how I should choose. I have to go back to Kunning Palace tonight. There is not much time left and I can only make one choice-he will go to the morning court every day, so there must be at least one way to the court hall, if there is only one, then it must be The widest and most flat one.

As long as I find this road, no matter whether it leads to the palace gate or the palace, I can always find a place I am more familiar with, and then return to my palace.

Unsurprisingly, I chose the right one. The road under my feet did indeed lead to the place where the Sixth Palace of the East and the West were connected with the Chaodian. I looked at the long palace road I was familiar with, and my heart jumped for joy.

The Kunning Palace was quiet, there was no **** at the door, and no lights inside. I was a little uneasy. I opened the door and went in. The courtyard was quiet. I became scared. I walked to the main hall but did not dare to open the door, for fear that what I saw was a mess. I still stretched out my hand and pressed it gently on the door, but I didn't dare to use any force.

At this time, Huiju's voice sounded: "Manny, is it you?"

The voice was very careful, with doubts and expectations, I looked back.

Huiju has already rushed forward and grabbed my clothes, "Manny, you can come back."

I helped her and smiled: "Didn't you see me that day? What are you afraid of?"

"But, after that, you have no news at all. The minions thought that you would come back soon, and the emperor would give you a favor, and the empress would be able to stand up from then on. But they waited and couldn't wait, and there was no news. , The minions became worried, I don't know what happened to you, madam, if something happened." Huiju started crying loudly as she said.

I patted her on the shoulder, "Isn't this coming back."

Suddenly, Huiju was surprised and said: "Manny, you are all wet, go in and change clothes." After speaking, he helped me into the bedroom.

I also felt a terrible headache, so I didn't say anything.

Huiju served me to change into my wet clothes and lay on the bed, and then went to make **** soup for me.

Seeing her walking to the door, I asked feebly, "I haven't come back for two days, did you report it?"

"No, mother. You waved to me that day, I know what you mean."

I smiled and closed my eyes and went to sleep. I finally came back. Everything here is familiar to me, which makes me feel at ease.

I didn't wake up until noon the next day. In the middle, Huiju called me up and took some **** soup. I woke up without any discomfort.

After lunch, I changed into a skirt embroidered with blue vines and silk in the blue lake color, and simply wore a fan-shaped hairpin with gilt and sapphires and a few enamel hairpins. Then call Yumei.

"Niang Niang, you are looking for me." Yumei asked after giving a gift.

"Go to Ye Ting, and invite Yue Meiren to see me at the leisure pavilion."

I withdrew Huiju and the others, standing alone in the leisure pavilion, not far from the West Lake, shimmering with sparkling waves, slightly dazzling in the sun. The lotus on the lake was no longer in full bloom at this time, and it was slightly declining. The surrounding forest trees were blown by the wind and heard a soft rustling sound, and my heart calmed down.

I took a look at this lake-blue skirt on my body. The gentle wind blew the light blue ribbon on the skirt slightly. The hair hanging around my ears also rose with the wind, and the hairpins on my head swayed and touched. A soft, sweet voice.

"Miss."

When I heard the sound, I turned back, Haoyue was already standing under the pavilion, alone. Compared with the previous one, she has changed a little. After all, she is a concubine, so her dress is naturally different.

I glanced at the woman in front of me who had followed me for more than ten years, her face was full of happiness and a little bit of fatigue. The moon-white skirt suits her gentle temperament. The old silver double-layer carved beaded flower hairpin swayed slightly, and a fringe hung from the top of the hairpin...

I looked at Haoyue, I didn't know what my gaze was like, but there were mixed feelings in my heart. Excitement, joy, worry, guilt, and a trace of doubt.

"Miss." Haoyue's eyes were bright, shining with the joy of reunion, she stepped forward and bowed to the ground, "Miss."

I quickly stepped forward to support her, "It's only the two of us, why bother to see you like this."

There was a smile on my face, but Haoyue did not look up for a long time, and there was an imperceptible tremor in her shoulder.

I placed my hand gently on her shoulder, and my eyes were also moist.

"Miss, why don't you let me see you? Are you to blame?" Haoyue finally raised her head, tears on her charming face.

"It's too late for me to be happy for you, how can I blame you?"

After speaking, I took Haoyue to the pavilion and sat down, winking at Huiju in the distance. Huiju stepped forward and placed a tea set and a few snacks that Haoyue liked on the small stone table in the pavilion, and then quietly stepped back.

I looked at the West Lake in the distance, and it took a long time before I looked back and smiled at her.

"Eat some, I specially asked Huiju to make it."

Haoyue hesitated, but quickly picked up a piece of Ruyi and took a bite, a smile appeared on her face.

"Miss, it's so delicious." He put down Ruyi Su.

I didn't care about her behavior, and took a sip of the tea, "Haoyue, how are the past few months?"

Haoyue was stunned for a moment, then smiled, "It's a good time, miss don't worry."

But her eyes didn't have the previous happiness, and she was enveloped by a faint melancholy.

I pretended not to see it, so I picked up the silk fan and slapped it one after another.

"This harem, if you take a little wrong step, you will get wounds all over you. I just hope you can protect yourself and stay out of everything so that maybe you can get long-term stability." I said slowly.

Haoyue nodded after hearing it, "I see, miss." But her eyes turned to the distant West Lake.

I know, maybe she can't hear these words yet. After all, I am an unfavored queen, but my unfavored, don't worry, after all, I have a powerful cousin.

But Haoyue was different, she could only survive in this harem by petting.

However, pampering will not be permanent, even if the emperor wants to always pamper her, how can the concubines who have been trained in this deep palace let her go? I was really worried in my heart, and I faintly felt that something was about to fall on Haoyue.

I looked at the clear sky and stood up, "We haven't walked together in a long time."

I said lightly, looking at Huiju and the others standing in the distance, and then at the two girls that Haoyue brought, "How about the two of us alone?"

"Of course, miss."

I shook my head, and a pearl on the fan-shaped hairpin with gold and sapphires swayed and gently hit my face, and the white beads made a bright white.

"Now you are also the master. If you are in an ordinary person's house, we are also considered sisters. Don't call me miss again."

Haoyue's teeth lightly bit her lower lip and nodded hesitantly.

Seeing her nodding, I took her hand, "There is a place in this imperial garden called Wuling Chunse, let's go take a look."

The agate-inlaid silver wishful bracelet worn on Haoyue's wrist collided with my white jade dragon and phoenix bracelet, and she hurriedly withdrew her hand with a crisp sound.

I was taken aback, looked at her flustered expression, and smiled: "Let's go.

Huiju and the others are far behind us. I haven't spoken any more, Haoyue just followed me slowly with her head down.

I didn't look back, but I knew Haoyue had something to tell me, and all I had to do was wait.

"Miss," Haoyue finally said, "Don't you want to know how I became this beauty?"

"What if you know or don't? As long as you are good."

"However, the emperor does not spoil me very much."

"Speaking of the origins of most concubines in this harem, they are all women from the official family. You can become this beauty, which many people hope and cannot get."

"Miss I know, but..."

Haoyue's words were full of unwillingness and helplessness, "However, I may not be beautiful enough to leave a deep impression on the emperor."

I turned back and walked very close to her, squinting at her eyes.

"In this harem, the most important thing is not your birth, but whether you can grasp the emperor's heart, not just by beauty, because there is never a lack of beauty in this palace, but you must grasp the emperor's heart with talent. "