The noisy cicadas disturbed the summer breeze, not allowing people to have a faint and distant thought.
The Empress was supported by Cui Huan as she slowly walked into Changxi Palace.
" The Empress has arrived…" The voice was still tired, as if it had been frightened and fell asleep again.
Concubine Tong's head was slightly tilted on the white jade carved Concubine Yang's couch. Her jade-like arms had long been drenched in sweat from sleeping soundly. She was a little shocked when she heard this, so she brushed her hair and stood up, rushing out of the palace door to welcome him.
" Sister Empress, what brings you here? I was thinking about you too. I thought about how long the days are in the summer, so I wanted to go to your palace. I was afraid that you might be serving the Emperor, so I hesitated. Look, you're here." Concubine Tong sang with a beautiful tongue and hurriedly ordered people to serve tea.
"Good sister, you're the only one with a sweet mouth.”The Empress sat down leisurely with a face full of joy.
"Elder sister, younger sister just got some Western Region heart fragrance the day before yesterday. It was extremely strong and didn't go away for a long time. Coincidentally, his sister was blessed, so she came. Yu Shang, quickly hand it over." Consort Tong raised her arms.
The concubine in front of him had a slightly plump figure, cheeks like new litchi, and skin like cream. She had a noble aura. She was the daughter of the Chahar family, Chahar Tong Yuan, given the title Consort Tong. A year ago, he was personally selected by the Empress. With his rich family status and his own methods, he quickly gained the Empress's appreciation and trust and was promoted to one of the four concubines.
The Empress nodded with a smile and ordered the palace maid beside her to accept it before talking to Consort Tong.
"Little sister Consort Tong, this time big sister is here to ask little sister to assist in this year's talent selection. The Grand Empress Dowager had always placed great importance on this year's election. Thinking back to three years ago, his younger sister was so beautiful that she had risen to the imperial concubine rank. Now that three years had passed, age really hastened.”The Empress sighed.
" Elder Sister, you have such a beautiful face. Even though you're getting old, you're still the most favored one." Concubine Tong's beautiful eyes twitched as she laughed.
"Younger Sister's words are so likable. Sister, I wish I was half as sweet as you. He didn't know that his sister had agreed to it?”The Empress asked.
"How could Younger Sister not agree? Younger Sister would definitely help Elder Sister out and assist the Emperor in selecting a few virtuous concubines.”Concubine Tong laughed so hard that her hair ornaments and rings jingled. It was very lively.
"This is the best. It's just that I don't know how this year's beautiful girl looks like. For so many years, the Emperor has never paid much attention to this matter, and he has been even more indifferent to the matter of having a concubine. This has made the Empress Dowager anxious, and even BenGong, as the Empress, can't escape the blame for a while. Sigh…I hope that this year I can really choose a woman that suits the Emperor.”The Empress frowned slightly, feeling melancholic.
"Elder sister is worrying too much. The children of the Eight Banners are mostly people with good looks and character. Shouldn't you be more at ease?" Concubine Tong often had words to relieve her worries.
"Younger Sister is so clever and has always won the Emperor's heart. She definitely knows what kind of woman the Emperor wants. This time, she has to put in more effort to resolve Elder Sister's worries and add more children to the Imperial Family.”When the Empress heard Consort Tong's words, she relaxed a little.
Consort Tong's expression darkened because of the Empress's words," I've always won the Emperor's heart."
In fact, the Emperor rarely came to Changxi Palace. Other than the wedding day, he had never visited her. She had stayed in the empty room for three years. Other than occasionally chatting with the Empress, the Empress Dowager, and the other concubines, she did not move around. As the days passed, she had nowhere to go. As a result, her thoughts became more and more meticulous, and her behavior became more and more sharp. However, it was not that she did not have any expectations for the Emperor. This selection was a rare opportunity. The Empress was kind and honest, and she was wholeheartedly thinking of the Emperor's heir, but she was not.
Concubine Tong looked at the glaring afternoon sun outside the window and unconsciously closed her eyes.
When Nalan Rong Ruo was chatting happily with those few literary friends, she didn't realize that the literary gathering had already begun.
Miss Qiyue slowly walked and said," Young masters, I don't like you. I feel sorry for you. Zhong Qi has met you, why should I be ashamed to play the flowing water? Wenhua chapter color, poetry works Ci Yi, but also hope you do not hesitate to enlighten me.”
"Hong Yi!" Qi Yue clapped her hands together.
With Qiyue's order, a group of women in fluttering clothes filed in. In a short while, the surroundings of the waterside pavilion were filled with countless snow-colored paper umbrellas. On both sides of the corridor, in the red pillars, on the windowsill, between the doors, the huge waterside pavilion was surrounded by paper umbrellas.
"Young masters, the inscriptions on the umbrella were all written by this little girl. Please choose your paper umbrella freely. If you draw a picture on the umbrella, please write a poem for this picture. There is no restriction on rhyme and name. If there are poems inscribed on the paper umbrella, please draw a good painting to achieve its realm. In the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, my father will decide who is better for each of the young masters. The person who wins the top scorer, second place, and third place will be personally visited by this little girl and given a gift. To show the sincerity of this text association."
As soon as he finished speaking, there was a commotion below the stage, and everyone picked up their umbrellas. Only Nalan's table did not move and continued to chat.
Xie 'er was not as calm as the scholars at the table. She quickly pulled Rong Ruo and said," Cousin, they all went to pick umbrellas…"
"Brother Gu, when you look at a poem, you draw a picture. When you look at a picture, you write a poem.”Rong Ruo smiled.
"Rong Ruo always knows me." Gu Zhenguan folded his fan.
Rong Ruo walked slowly in the corridor with Xie 'er. The umbrellas on both sides were lined up. The inscriptions were carefully drawn by Miss Qiyue. They were splash-ink landscapes, meticulous paintings of flowers and birds, and seven-character and five-character quatrains. It was a moment of prosperity and dazzling.
Xie 'er took out one of them and saw that the umbrella cover was decorated with orchids. There was no color, only light ink and thick ink mixed together, making it look elegant. A few butterflies that were casually embellished danced as if there was a wind blowing, stirring up this proud and lonely black orchid as if it could smell the fragrance. He couldn't help but recite the words "The Orchid's Yi Yi, its Fragrance" in Han Yu's "You Lan *". If you don't pick it and wear it, what harm will it do to the orchid…"
Rong Ruo carefully admired it, then picked up the brush and ink scattered around the waterside pavilion and wrote:
There is no other kind of quiet fragrance, and there is no place where the rich and colorful flowers are urged to bloom. The waves are about to leave, and the east wind will stop them.
Too evil desolate, how can bear autumn so? When I came back, I left half a wisp of cold fragrance, and the first Xiangjiang River fell.
"Red Lips?" Ode to the Wind Orchid
The Emperor led Cao Yin to tour the waterside pavilion. Everywhere they went, the decorations were exquisite and refined. The Emperor praised her greatly and said to Cao Yin," This girl is Xu Gan's daughter after all. Unfortunately, it was a Han woman.”
"Master, please give up on this idea.”Cao Yin understood the Emperor's meaning and smiled when he saw the Emperor's regretful expression.
"It's a pity to lose such a woman in the martial world.”The Emperor sighed.
"Master, the selection is coming soon. Perhaps there is a woman like her among the Eight Banners.”Cao Yin said.
" Sigh…If Consort Wan had not changed, Zhen would not have…" The Emperor sighed deeply.
" I still remember our childhood love…" Cao Yin mumbled softly.
"There's nothing else." The Emperor placed his hands behind his back and faced the water. He closed his eyes silently, as if he had put away the warmth of the rainy day in the story. He could no longer smell any old smell in the mud.
Gege Qi Ji returned to the tribe with a dusty face.
Ge Ge, you're finally back!" The clansmen were overjoyed and ran back to the tent to report to the Mongol King.
"Ge Ge is back! Ge Ge is back!" Wherever Qi Ji went, the people of the clan were pleasantly surprised and shouted.
Although Qi Ji was a woman, she had followed the Mongol King Zang Ci and his subordinates for many years. She had made great contributions and destroyed many enemies for the Torhuts. The entire tribe was very respectful to her, almost worshiping her as a god.
Although the Qing army had returned in defeat, the clansmen were more worried about the safety of Qi Ji. When they heard that she had been captured by the Qing army's deputy general, the entire clan immediately fell into sorrow. Seeing Qi Ji return safely alone, they were overjoyed, sweeping away the haze of defeat for the past few days.
"Reporting…reporting to King Zang Ci, Qi Ji Ge Ge has returned safely.”A soldier entered the tent and reported.
"Ah! It was Qi Ji! My Qi Ji is back." King Zang Ci was also heavily injured, he hurriedly supported himself to stand up, and his clansmen supported him as he staggered outside.
Qi Ji walked to the front of the tent in a short while. When Zang Ci saw that she was thin and covered in wounds, he burst into tears and could not help himself. Qi Ji saw that his father was haggard and no longer as valiant as before. He was limping and tears streamed down his face.
Qi Ji helped his father back to the tent and sobbed in his father's arms. Zang Ci caressed his daughter with a solemn expression. He was not as happy as his clansmen. After a while, he finally sighed." Qi Ji, I'm sorry…"
"What's wrong? Ma, what happened?" Qi Ji was shocked, and his eyes widened as he looked at his old father whose hair had already turned gray.
"Sigh…Qi Ji…I'm old, and the safety of my people is more important…I hope you won't blame me…Just think of it as a sacrifice for the Torhuts…The entire clan will be grateful.”Zang Ci supported his crippled body and was about to kneel in front of Qi Ji when Qi Ji quickly helped him up and said in shock," Ma, what exactly is it? What was it about the safety of the clansmen? What was it about the entire clan being grateful? What was it about the important matter that made Ma kneel? Ama, you better make yourself clear!"
" Qi Ji..." Zang Ci wiped his tears." My Qi Ji, you are now my only daughter. Your sister was lost in the war so many years ago... I treated you as a pearl in my palm, loved you, and loved you, but now I personally gave you to the emperor of the Qing Dynasty..."
"What?!" When Qi Ji heard that, he felt his head buzzing.
"Our tribe has been defeated, and we have lost beyond control. In order to protect the lives of our entire tribe, Ama has already allied with the Qing Dynasty. All of our land is under the jurisdiction of the Qing Dynasty. Ama was conferred the title of Lord of the Mongol Empire by the Qing Dynasty Emperor, and the Emperor promised to protect our entire tribe and no longer fight. As long as they obeyed the Qing court, took back the army, and paid tribute on time, they would be able to keep their peace for a lifetime.”Zang Ci shook his head and sighed.
" Ah Ma…" When Qi Ji heard this, he felt that his father had aged even more. The father in front of him was no longer the invincible Mongol King who had fought on the battlefield. He was really old. He no longer killed for fame. He wanted to protect the living. He was the true ruler of the people. Qi Ji also sighed.
"Qi Ji, the Qing Dynasty has always had an old rule of marriage. The defeated clan must present the daughter of the clan king to the imperial court to complete the agreement and form an eternal alliance. "Qi Ji…For the lives of the entire Tuerhu clan, you…" Zang Ci's heart ached, and he could not continue.
" Ma…Qi Ji is willing…" Qi Jige lowered her head. She could not bear to see her father's haggard face again. Because of this matter, she had experienced even more vicissitudes. She agreed with tears in her eyes.
" Good Qi Ji…You are the god of our clan…I thank you on behalf of the entire clan…" Zang Ci ignored Qi Ji's obstruction and knelt down. Qi Ji was already sobbing uncontrollably. His wound was so painful that he could not help but faint.
"Qi Ji!" Seeing this, Zang Ci rushed over and cried out.
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。