The Moon Over Tang Dynasty

Chapter 68: Whispered secretly and sent to the cold market openly

 In the afternoon of the day of Zhongfu, it suddenly started to rain in Wannian Palace. One moment the sun was shining brightly, and the next moment raindrops were falling. Liuli and Aling hurriedly fled into the corridor, their clothes still half wet. Because Wannian Palace was really cool, Liuli was wearing an eighty-percent-new tassel-colored narrow-sleeved silk jacket. Although it was a bit wet, she didn't look embarrassed. Arling was wearing a jade-colored gauze shirt that had just been issued by the palace. It was beaten tightly by the rain and clung to her body. She looked down and couldn't help but stamp her feet and curse, "What a bad weather!" Liuli looked at the mostly wet paper pad in her hand and couldn't help but smile bitterly.

More than a month has passed since the flood in Wannian Palace. The flooded palaces and pavilions have been cleaned up. Looking from the outside, except for a few courtyards in the valley that have been soaked for two days, most places It didn't leave many traces. However, Wu Zhaoyi did not move back to the Ziquan Palace, but moved into the Yurong Palace behind the Danxiao Palace - the location is equivalent to the Lizheng Palace where the queen lived in the Taiji Palace, and the etiquette used gradually became the same. queen.

Liuli didn't know what kind of shock this news would cause when it came back to Chang'an. However, in the Wannian Palace, everything seemed to be going smoothly. However, outside Wu Zetian's Royal Palace, there were more and more female officials and chamberlains waiting to be summoned every day. Wu Zetian also became increasingly busy. She had to preside over the affairs of the harem and was ordered to compile "Women's Training". After entering the ambush, the heat and dampness worsened, and Gaozong suffered from headaches twice. At this time, Wu Zetian would help him read memorials and deal with imperial documents. When Liuli accompanied Mrs. Wu to visit her, she often didn't even have time to chat, but fortunately her complexion became more and more fresh.

Mrs. Wu moved to the Paiyun Hall to the west of Yurong Hall. It faced the West Sea formed by Du Shui in the distance, and it was a bit cooler than other places. Liuli naturally moved to the mountain with Mrs. Wu and lived in the west building on the outermost side of Yurong Palace.

Liuli is also very busy now. After a big flood, Wu Zetian's clothes had to be remade. This time, the clothes, colors and decorations she chose changed from the previous elegance and low-key to become solemn and gorgeous. Although the embroidery workers in the Shangyi Bureau worked day and night, Liuli had little time to rest.

 It’s just that today is Zhongfu. According to Tang law, the first day of Sanfu is also a legal holiday. Of course, officials do not have to deal with official business, and the Six Shang Bureau and other places in the harem can also take a day off. Liuli had some free time now and went out for a walk. Her "Ten Thousand Years Palace Picture" had been burned long ago. Mrs. Wu saw the picture and sighed for a long time. Liuli also secretly made up her mind to paint a good picture again this time. If it can be passed down to future generations, it will also So that people can know that there was once such a palace like a fairyland in the mountains. It was a pity that she finally found time to sketch out the sketch, and then she was caught in the rain again. She couldn't help but murmur in her heart: Could it be that this "Ten Thousand Years Palace Picture" is in the year of the dragon? It’s so connected to the rain!

When he stood in the corridor, Liuli took a casual look and felt a little calmer. After entering the ambush, everyone in the palace was very particular about taking a lunch break. They were all sleeping at the moment, and there was no one in the corridor. Originally, she chose this time to come out because she loved the tranquility - now everyone in the harem knows her, and everyone must greet her when they meet. She can't even walk fast when she comes out on weekdays, so how can she calm down and draw? At this moment, they were the only two half-wet drowned rats in the huge corridor, which saved them from being embarrassed.

The rain was getting heavier, and the sky and the earth were completely white. The corridor was not deep. A gust of wind blew in front of them, and the raindrops hit Liuli and Aling. The two of them had no choice but to walk westward along the inner side of the corridor, hoping to find a shelter from the wind. Finally, they found a place under a protruding rock, which was slightly better.

The summer rain stopped just as quickly as it came, but after a cup of tea, the raindrops had already become drizzling. Liuli turned around and was about to talk to Aling, but she saw Aling making a silent gesture to her, and then Listening to something.

Liuli became curious, so she tiptoed over and listened. Sure enough, there seemed to be voices coming from the pavilion above the corridor. She could hear the voices of a man and a woman, but she couldn't make out what they were saying. Liuli was shocked. If it was a private matter, wouldn't it be asking for trouble if she heard it? Aling hurriedly pulled Aling to leave, but Aling waved his hands, then leaned into Liuli's ear and said, "It's Ah Sheng and Deng Cairen."

 Wang Fusheng and Deng Yiyi? Liuli couldn't help but was stunned, but she heard the woman's voice above her head, which was slightly higher, "Don't use these words to coax me again! My body is ruined, and I will never be able to make a difference in the future! What else can I do in the future?" In the future?" It was Deng Yiyi's voice. Only then did Liuli remember that Deng Yiyi was seriously ill due to the cold last time on a rainy night. It seemed that she had never recovered well. But now she was living in a pavilion high on the north slope, which seemed to be nearby. If she hadn't suddenly heard her voice, Liuli would have almost forgotten that there was such a person in the Wannian Palace.

The man seemed to be persuading a few more words. The sound of rain gradually stopped, and their voices could be heard more clearly. Deng Yiyi sneered, "A Sheng, how can you know my state of mind? I have nothing to ask for now, I just want to see that Wang family end up worse than me!"

The man's voice became louder, "Liu Niang, you have been very strong since you were a child, but what's the use of overthinking this matter? Doctor Jiang is so capable, and even Zhaoyi has nursed him back to health, so why should you be discouraged?" "Liu Li also recognized at this time that the person speaking was indeed Wang Fusheng.

The two of them talked for a few more words, but they only talked about how to take care of themselves and how to flatter the Holy Spirit. After a while, I heard Deng Yiyi sigh, "A Sheng, thank you for taking care of me, otherwise no one would care about me if I died here."

Wang Fusheng said, "The Holy One is also thinking about you. Otherwise, why would he think of giving you this jade bamboo pillow? Doesn't Zhaoyi often send you ginseng antler? Take good care of it and don't think about it anymore."

Deng Yiyi sneered, "I'm afraid you don't believe it yourself, right?"

Wang Fusheng was silent for a while, and seemed to sigh, "The rain has stopped. I'm afraid that the Holy Father will ask me to do errands when he gets up. I'll go back first. Remember to take your medicine." Deng Yiyi whispered a few words in a vague voice. , and then the sound of people gradually faded away, and there was no more movement.

Liuli wondered in her mind, could these two people have known each other since childhood in the palace? It doesn't sound like the friendship has lasted for a year or two, but it has never been shown on the face. When she turned around, she saw Aling's eyes shining brightly. He hurriedly pulled her out of the distance, and then whispered, "It's best not to tell anyone what happened today." Aling chuckled softly, "Of course I won't tell you. Ah Sheng is usually very caring. If this is revealed, wouldn't his future be over? "

Liuli asked curiously, "From what he said, it seems that he and Deng Cairen are old acquaintances, but they didn't talk about much. Is this a taboo thing in the palace?"

Aling nodded and said, "Of course, if Deng Yiyi was just a female official, and now she is a talented person, but she has a private relationship with the **** next to the emperor, even if it is nothing, it is taboo. Although this Deng talented person used to be He has a sharp temper and is pitiful now, so why should I do this to make things worse?"

Liuli suddenly remembered the day when Deng Yiyi was promoted to Baolin, how gorgeously she was dressed and how gorgeous her face was. It only took more than half a year to look like this. She couldn't help but feel a little emotional: fighting beside Wu Zetian. Gaozong's idea was indeed the best way to seek death.

Suddenly the wind stopped and the rain stopped, and the dark clouds in the sky had not completely dispersed. A round of day appeared in the sky again. The sunlight shone directly down, which seemed to be three points stronger than before the rain. The clothes on Liuli and A Ling were dried in just a moment. It was almost done, but there were still traces of rain, so the two had to go back to Paiyun Hall and change their clothes. Liuli sat down and drank a glass of sweet spring water from the sweet spring outside the palace. Before she could decide whether to go out again, a little palace maid came running over happily, "Auntie, Auntie, Zhaoyi is calling you over!"

Liuli was slightly surprised. Why did Wu Zetian suddenly think of calling him over at this moment? Just seeing the little palace maid laughing happily, I didn't feel too panicked, so I stood up and followed her.

Several palaces on the top of Wannian Palace are connected by long corridors. Go out from the east gate of Paiyun Palace and walk through a long corridor to the entrance of Yurong Palace. All the way into the east hall, you can see Wu Zetian as usual. He was sitting on his knees in front of the desk, writing something with his pen. When he saw Liuli coming in, he put down his pen, stood up and said with a smile, "It's a hot summer day. I heard that you are walking in the back mountains. Why are you not afraid of getting tanned?"

 At this time, both men and women regard whiteness as beauty. Not to mention that women cannot live without powder, even men still have powder. In summer, naturally everyone avoids the sun as an enemy, just like Wu Zetian and Mrs. Wu, who will never go out until the red sun sets in the west. However, Liuli didn't like Fu Fen and liked to bask in the sun. Fortunately, she was born with fair skin, so she could only reply with a smile, "Liuli likes to bask in the sun." Basking in the sun would make her feel happy, not to mention her. Her skin cannot be tanned, but even if it gets tanned once she tans, she will still crave that warm and bright feeling.

Wu Zetian glanced at Liuli, shook his head and smiled. Only then did Liuli notice that she was wearing a silk-patterned blouse and a single-silk blue cage skirt today. The color was red and green, but it didn't look gaudy at all. Instead, it made her face look as bright as the moon. I couldn't help but praise, "Zhaoyi looks so good today!"

Wu Zetian smiled and said, "Do you want me to praise the dress you made again?" Liuli looked closely and saw that the embroidered golden peonies on the dress were her own handiwork, and she couldn't help but laugh. Meticulous flower-and-bird paintings had not yet appeared at this time, and the embroidery patterns she painted were indeed unique in the Tang Dynasty. You can tell at a glance.

Wu Zetian said, "Today is the Zhongfu Festival. Officials should go home to take a rest, but those accompanying them can't say much, so I ordered the Shangshi Bureau to make some lotus leaf cold dishes, which can be regarded as celebrating the festival. the meaning of."

Liuli naturally knew that the important thing in this ambush was to eat cold food. Wu Zetian talked about the lotus leaf cold soup. She had already eaten it at noon. She kneaded the dough with lotus leaf juice, cut into thin slices and put it into water. After it was cooked, it was boiled in cold water, mixed with coriander and other seasonings, and then put in a tooth plate. It was green in color and cool in taste. , it is really a delicious food to relieve the heat. However, Wu Zetian asked the Shangshi Bureau to open a small stove for the officials accompanying Wannian Palace. What does it have to do with her?

Seeing her looking at him blankly, Wu Zetian smiled brightly and said, "I heard that Pei Sheren has been working hard day and night recently, so I asked Yuliu to specially set aside a portion. Why don't you go and give it to me?"

p.s. Thank you to my dear Sunshine Sour Plum and Wan Ran Rumeng for the pink. Thank you to my dear DM, Le Youyang and aahhmm for the peace charm. There are already 59 votes for pink. Alan is asking for one more from everyone. Ming Good morning, more update, thank you all...

People in the Tang Dynasty liked to celebrate holidays very much. For example, they had a three-day holiday at the summer solstice, and they also had a holiday at the beginning of summer and the first day of every lunar month. Although officials in the Tang Dynasty had a holiday every ten days, there were more than a hundred days of statutory holidays in total - On September 1st, I will write a special article about the holidays of the Tang Dynasty in the "Tang Dynasty Survival Guide".

 (End of this chapter)