He had been learning the rules of the palace for half a month. Today, the spring was sunny and gradually warmed up. Even the usually gloomy harem welcomed the first ray of the spring sun, illuminating the wind and everything. Even the mood of the palace people was as soft and gentle as if they had been exposed to the warm sun.
" Aiya…" Zixun lay on the bed and stretched lazily. She shouted," After working for half a month, I can finally rest for a day. This is the best! Sister Xie 'er, what do you think?"
"Hehe, that's right. Then what are we going to do today?”Before Xie 'er could answer, Heng Jun came over and asked.
"Zixun, you have so many ideas. Quickly think about it. Don't waste today." Nu Ke also hurriedly poked his head out of the quilt.
"Think quickly!" Pod 'er couldn't help but crawl over from the easternmost end.
" What should I play…Hehe, let me think about it for a moment…" Zixun rolled her big eyes. She was very clever.
"Why don't we go to the Imperial Academy of Medicine to take a look?”Nu Ke smiled mischievously, and everyone understood what he meant. Ever since the day Doctor Duan came, his handsome face was something that no one could forget.
"That's good." Everyone nodded, their hearts filled with joy.
Xie 'er and Liu Yan had already gotten up and were dressing up in front of the dressing table. When they heard that Zi Xun's place was bustling with activity and this place was also bustling with noise, they couldn't help but turn their heads to look. The sisters in the room all had smiles on their faces. It was like a festival after a day of rest. This innocence and flawlessness warmed their hearts.
" Urgent warning, all rooms gather quickly…" Just as they were laughing and laughing, Xiao Shunzi's sharp voice suddenly came from outside the door.
"Ah!" Everyone cried out in alarm and quickly put down the work in their hands. Each of them choked and quickly jumped out of the quilt. They quickly put on their clothes and palace shoes. They tidied up and in a moment, they all rushed out and lined up.
All the beautiful women looked flustered and sloppy. Xiao Shunzi glanced at them and said with great dissatisfaction," It's been half a month, and you're still behaving in such an undignified manner. You guys, which part of you looks like people who want to be concubines? Are you all here to be palace maids?"”Little Shunzi's small eyes swept over sharply as he broke the silence.
The ladies looked at each other and lowered their heads in shame.
"The Empress has just issued a decree to invite all of you to Taihe Palace tonight. You all better behave yourselves. This is the first time you're meeting the Empress. How you act and behave will be entirely up to you. The significance of this banquet is extraordinary. You have to dress up well and perform well. This is related to the election in three months. Is it clear?" After Little Shunzi finished speaking, he quickly scanned the surroundings.
" Eunuch, everything is clear..." The female cultivators could not hide their excitement as they answered in a clear voice.
"Yes." Xiao Shunzi snorted disdainfully and ordered again," When the time is right, all the attendants will gather here. I will lead you into the palace. Now, go back and prepare. Scatter!"
" Yes..." The beautiful girls then rushed back to their rooms like a swarm of bees.
In the east room, Wanzhen and her sisters searched through the cabinets and cabinets to pick the most beautiful clothes. They rushed to the dressing table and looked at the mirror. The table was full of jewelry and the floor was full of messy clothes. The beautiful women combed their hair, tried on their clothes, and pinned their hairpins. They all looked determined to win and compete for glory.
"Quick, help me take a look. How about I wear this?”Wanzhen held a golden phoenix hairpin and looked at Pei Lan with her pink face.
"Yo, the empress hasn't become the empress yet, but she's already wearing a phoenix hairpin. Wanzhen, you're quite ambitious." Pei Lan mocked him with jealousy and turned around to leave.
"Hmph, if you don't have money or power, don't despise other people's expensive jewelry!”Wanzhen scoffed in disdain. Yangyang covered her mouth to shame her, then changed a few hairpins and showed them off in front of everyone.
"You two, stop arguing. In my opinion, the Empress will definitely like my Jade Silk Robe.”Xiu Rong waved her gold and navy blue satin trigram and paced around the room.
"Heh, what kind of tattered robe is that? It doesn't even have the noble aura of mine.”Another beauty with phoenix eyes flipped her hair and said contemptuously. Her name was Andara? Yu Die.
"That one of yours, it's extremely crude. The Empress would not even look at him.”Burca? Red Kite mocked.
"You! You! You're talking nonsense!" The east room immediately became noisy.
"All of you, be quiet!" Aunt Ah Lu opened the door with a bang and glared at them angrily." Look at all of you good-for-nothings. Stop dressing up."”
Wanzhen and the others suddenly came back to their senses and were in a panic. They threw down the things in their hands and stood in a row.
"Aunt just passed by the Second East Branch and didn't hear them making such a ruckus. What kind of rules are there for our sisters to make such a scene!”Ah Lu closed the door and started lecturing.
"Tonight's banquet is extremely important. If there's a slight mistake, the selection will be almost impossible.”Ah Lu looked as if she had expected better from him. She continued," Listen up, Your Majesty. The Empress has always liked dignified and generous women. You should choose clothes that are appropriate and elegant. There shouldn't be too many accessories, just one or two expensive ones will do. Your hairstyle shouldn't be abrupt and strange. It's best to be steady and honorable.”
" Yes..." The girls lowered their heads and agreed, but they had already planned their makeup for the banquet.
"After this banquet, the Empress will reward you according to your performance. The one who received the most rewards had a higher chance of winning the selection. The one who received the least rewards was almost certain to be assigned to the palace maids in the various palaces. To put it bluntly, she would be a palace maid for the rest of her life.”For some reason, Aunt Ah Lu laughed bitterly. Her laughter made one's scalp tingle.
"..." The attendants were shocked. No one wanted their fate to be decided so early. After the initial excitement died down, everyone heard their aunt's words and became worried. They were afraid that if they did not perform well at the banquet, they would end up serving others in a sorry state. Then, how would they have the face to face the sisters today?
"Let's stop here. It's up to you tonight. Those who understand, wealth and honor ascend to heaven. Those who listen, hehe, just wait to be a shoe-carrying girl!”Ah Lu slammed the door and went out.
Wanzhen and the others let out a sigh of relief and quietly closed the door.
" Aunt Alu is so scary. I've never seen her so fierce before. What's wrong with her today…" Pei Lan stuck out her tongue, looking displeased.
" Could she be..." Yu Die Lin squinted and guessed.
" Hehehe... She is the palace maid who has been carrying shoes for a lifetime..." Xiu Rong covered her mouth and laughed secretly.
" You're right... Look at the way she's looking at us. She must be jealous... It's so funny..." Wanzhen waved her handkerchief and laughed.
In the East Second House, Ah Gan sat in his room, leaning against the desk, sipping tea while muttering trivial matters.
"Why don't you guys look anxious at all?”Ah Gan took a sip and asked hesitantly," The room in the past and the room next door today didn't look so calm."”
"Aunt, it's still early. We were just discussing where to go today.”Zixun jumped over happily and rubbed her aunt's body like a candy.
"Yes, yes. Zixun, where were we?”Nu Ke asked happily.
"You guys, stop thinking about it. Other than the Imperial Garden and Chuxiu Palace, you don't want to run around anywhere. Be careful and be caught by Nanny Zhu! Another beating!" Ah Gan said.
"Sigh…What? You can only play in the Imperial Garden? Really boring! "I wanted to take a look at the Imperial Academy of Medicine…" Hengjun sat on the bed in disappointment.
" Shh…" Zixun quickly covered her mouth. Fortunately, Aunt Ah Gan did not hear her and quickly said," It's fine, it's fine. The imperial garden is fun too!"”
"Is that so?" Pod 'er asked, his eyes shining.
"Isn't that so? The peach blossoms are all in bloom.”Zi Xun excitedly pulled Xie 'er and Liu Yan's hands and shook them." Let's go together, sisters!"”
"Yes!" Xie 'er and Liu Yan couldn't resist her, so they nodded with a smile and agreed.
"Sisters, the sun is up. Let's go!”Zi Xun pushed open the door without any explanation. She pulled Xie 'er and Liu Huan and flew out like a bird that had just escaped from its cage. When Ke Hengjun and the others saw this, they happily followed, leaving Ah Gan alone in the room.
"Hey! Girls, auntie hasn't told you the rules of tonight's banquet! Come back, come back!" Ah Gan was shocked and quickly chased them out of the door, but he could not catch their figures.
"Remember to return to the house before sunset!”Ah Gan shouted at the top of his lungs.
"I know!" " Yes," she answered from somewhere and then quickly disappeared.
" Sigh, these wild girls..." Ah Gan smiled and shook his head.
Xie 'er and the others rushed to the Imperial Academy of Medicine, fluttering like colorful butterflies. Just as he ran to the entrance of the Imperial Academy of Medicine, he did not expect that the group of women from the East First House had already hidden behind the door and looked inside carefully. The two houses were enemies on a narrow road and were meeting face to face.
Just as Wanzhen was about to get angry, Doctor Duan, who was drying medicine in the courtyard, suddenly turned around and saw them hiding outside the door. Everyone couldn't help but lower their heads in shame and be at a loss.
Imperial Physician Duan, however, had a clear smile on his face. He put down the work in his hands and greeted them respectfully." I pay my respects to the selected attendants."”
Seeing that he did not blame her, the sisters gradually relaxed and their faces were filled with joy. From time to time, they stole glances at his handsome face, as if they had received a great favor. Imperial Physician Duan calmly scoffed and said," I wonder what advice you have for choosing to come to the Imperial Academy of Medicine?”
Everyone was embarrassed, but Wanzhen said," I've been treated by Doctor Duan a few days ago. I've recovered and have come to thank you."”
"You're too polite, saving lives is my duty.”Doctor Duan was very happy, and Wang Wanzhen was embarrassed.
"I heard that Doctor Duan is good at concocting incense recipes. I wonder if you can show us?”said Pei Lan.
"Hehe, a woman's fragrance is like a weak branch. His actions were like a hundred incense curling up, inevitably making people's hearts flutter, as if there was no master.”Doctor Duan's eyes turned and he said happily," I have just made a few sachets. You have come at the right time. If you like them, you can wear them and carry them around. It is the best for you to wear a scented robe."”
"I'm really blessed!" Everyone was pleasantly surprised." Thank you, Imperial Physician Duan."”
"You're being too serious." Duan Linfeng bowed slightly and smiled." I will bring it over now. Please wait in the courtyard for a moment."”
Duan Linfeng turned around and went into the hall to retrieve the sachets. Xie 'er and Wanzhen, the two sisters, walked into the courtyard and played around. They saw all kinds of herbs in the courtyard. They were of different shapes and colors, and they emitted different medicinal fragrances. They filled the entire Imperial Academy of Medicine. They couldn't help but play with them curiously and sniff them carefully.
"Xie 'er, you are very knowledgeable. Look, what is this herb?”Nu Ke suddenly picked up a piece of herbs from a basket and asked.
Xie 'er took a look, sniffed, and smiled." Other than some common herbs, I don't know much about the rest. However, he recognized this. Its name was 'Asmodium' and it was mainly used to treat cough, headache, and brain activity.”
" I see..." Nu Ke suddenly realized and ran away to play.
"Xie 'er, what's this called?”Liu Yan also picked up a herb and smiled at Xie 'er.
"This is called 'Dipsacus' and has a bitter smell.”Xie 'er said.
Wanzhen saw that Xie 'er was very lively and could say something, so she brought her sisters over to ask with interest. Wanzhen handed over the herb and asked,"What about this?"”
Xie 'er carefully identified it and said," Aranthes bidentata has a bitter and sour smell. It is mainly used to treat cold and damp flaccidity and limbs spasm.”
Wanzhen took a bite of it, and as expected, it tasted bitter and sour. She couldn't help but spit a few times and breathe. Everyone laughed. Seeing that Xie 'er knew a lot and could say all her names, they did not believe that they could not beat her. Heng Jun pointed at the herbs on the ground and asked," What's the name of these clumps?”
Xie 'er lowered her head and smiled." It's called Coix seed. It smells sweet and slightly cold. It governs the spasm of the muscles and tendons, resulting in prolonged wind and dampness arthralgia."
Heng Jun sighed." I really can't beat you!”
Jiao 'er ran to Xie' er softly and brought a few more herbs from somewhere." What about this?" Sister Xie 'er."
"This is Polygala, it smells bitter. It was a good herb. Not only did it nourish one's body, but it also drove away evil qi and increased one's wisdom. It also made one's eyes and ears smart. After taking it for a long time, one's body would not grow old!”Xie 'er smiled.
"Hehe, that sounds like a divine medicine. It was just bitter and could not be eaten as candy.”Pod 'er said innocently, and everyone covered their mouths and laughed.
Zi Xun held the snow-white object in her palm and asked Xie 'er with a smile," This looks strange. If it's not a herb, what is it?”
Xie 'er scoffed and said," This is' steamstone.'It has a sweet smell and is used to treat fever and diarrhea. If you take it for a long time, your body will be light and you will be able to endure hunger for a long time.”
"Isn't it an item that can prolong one's life?”Zi Xun was overjoyed." This is really sweet. It can really be eaten like candy!”
"Medicine is 30% poisonous. I'll carefully poison you to death!”Xiu Rong glanced sideways.
" Hehehe..." When everyone was about to enter the pavilion again, Doctor Duan came out with a few Hang embroidery sachets and handed one to each of the sisters. They were overjoyed and bowed to thank him. They immediately wore them around their waists. As expected, the fragrance lingered around them. Chief Physician Duan smiled at Xie 'er." This servant knows a lot. It's rare."”
Xie 'er smiled shyly and said," It's just superficial knowledge. I really don't know how to use it. If Doctor Duan said so, I'm really ashamed to be selling axes in front of Luban."”
Chief Physician Duan smiled and did not say anything. He picked up a fragrant herb and smiled at Xie 'er." I want to test you. What is this?"”
Xie 'er took it and smelled it. The fragrance assailed her nose. It did not resemble Du Heng, Nardostachys, Aquilaria, Sandalwood, Musk, Black Aquilaria, White Brain Fragrance, Angelica, and so on. She tasted it carefully but could not recognize it. She could only cup her hands and ask," I still have to hear it from Doctor Duan."”
Duan took a sniff and sighed." This is the loneliest type of herb, called 'Fragrant Angelica.' Although the fragrance is not as fragrant as muskiness and sandalwood, it is the most pleasing to my heart and the most pitiful to me.”
"If I remember correctly, Angelica Angelica has another name, Longevity Grass. Doctor Duan didn't need to worry about its loneliness, it was better to remember its meaning of immortality.”Xie 'er saw the sadness on his face and could not guess what kind of story he had in his heart. Presumably, he was also a person who was obsessed with her. Otherwise, he would not have paid attention to the name of the herb.
Doctor Duan smiled faintly and said," Even if you live forever, you live alone. Speaking of which, wouldn't you be even more lonely?"
"Perhaps it is because of this that I can see through the little infatuation in the smoke and fire.”Xie 'er was lured into the land of sorrow by him and could not control herself for a moment. As soon as the words left his mouth, Fang Jue felt that he was talking too much and stopped abruptly.
Imperial Physician Duan pondered over Xie 'er's words as if he was meditating. Suddenly, he narrowed his eyes and smiled forgiving. He hurriedly said," All of you, don't stay here for too long. You'll be stained with the smell of medicine and won't be favored by the Emperor." She was so young that she should go to the imperial garden more often. The peach blossoms there were blooming.”
Hearing such an elegant order to leave, all the attendants left happily. They also tried to figure out the meaning behind Doctor Duan's words. Could it be that the Emperor often went to the Imperial Garden to stroll? With that thought, they all headed to the imperial garden.
This imperial garden was centered around the Qin An Hall and extended from a few long corridors. Whether it was built against the wall or the pavilions, they were all exquisite and unique. Among them, the Floating Jade Pavilion, the Clear Auspicious Pavilion, the Thousand Spring Pavilion, and the Thousand Autumn Pavilion were the most unique. The two pairs of pavilions were arranged in a symmetrical manner from east to west. Floating Jade Pavilion and Clear Auspicious Pavilion were square pavilions that spanned over the pool, extending out from the south side. The Wanchun Pavilion and the Qianqiu Pavilion were round at the top and round at the bottom, with buildings on all sides, forming a cross-shaped multi-angle pavilion, reflecting the concept of "round sky and square earth". The two pavilions were delicate and beautiful, and were the most beautiful scenery in the imperial garden. In the garden, there were strange rocks, lush trees, ancient cypresses and wisteria, which made the garden full of interest. The road was paved with colorful stones, exquisite and clear, simple and unique. The paths in the garden were carefully paved with pebbles of different colors. There were people, flowers, scenery, plays, allusions, etc. along the way, it was interesting.
In front of the Crimson Snow Pavilion, snow-white spring begonias were planted everywhere. Xie 'er was deeply attracted in an instant, and she slowly stopped in her tracks to admire them. She didn't know when her sisters had scattered to various parts of the garden to play. When she turned around, she saw that there was only herself and the begonia in the garden. The pale and intense flame filled the entire sky, and even time suddenly quieted down.
Xie 'er walked slowly and quietly in the pavilion. Sometimes she bent over to sniff the fragrance of the begonia, sometimes she picked up a few petals of fallen flowers and hid them in her sleeves, and sometimes she rested on a stone in the pavilion, watching the begonia flowers fluttering in the air like snow. This cold and elegant scene was very much like the pear blossoms outside the Cold Fragrance Pavilion.
Xie 'er couldn't help but look out of her mind. She leaned against the crabapple flowers, almost covered by the blooming crabapple flowers. Separated by a few clumps of crabapple flowers, she looked at the sky that had been cut into petals by the branches, and her heart ached for it to be broken beyond recognition. The sky was like a mirror. When one was holding a flower in front of the mirror, there would never be a complete side. The branches are tears that flow freely, blurring into a lovable appearance, but I don't know that it's the sad posture of waiting…Who are you waiting for, to make up for you?
"Half the curtain and half the door are closed, and the ice is crushed into a basin of earth and jade. Steal pear pistil three white, borrow plum blossom a wisp of soul. The immortals in the moon cave sew the white sleeves, and the women in the autumn boudoir wipe away the traces of crying. " Who do I tell shyly and silently? I'm tired of leaning against the west wind and the night is already dark…" Xie 'er remembered a poem about the white begonia and began to recite it faintly.
"Once you remove the makeup from the plum powder, apply the new red and add the begonia. Open to the tea flowers, silk thorns out of the strawberry wall.”While Xie 'er was reciting, across the flowers, someone suddenly composed a poem of Begonia by Wang Qi of the Song Dynasty. Shocked, Xie' er quickly got up from the rock and dove into the flowers.
Because the person who composed the poem was a man.
"'Steal a pear and get a wisp of the plum blossom's soul.'Good lyrics, good lyrics! Where did this girl come from to have such deep thoughts?”The man slowly approached them through the flowers. Xie 'er panicked and quickly pushed aside the flowers. Just as she was about to escape, the corner of her clothes was entangled by the flowers and she could not escape for a moment.
"Does Young Lady also love this pure white begonia?”The man suddenly stopped and asked faintly.
Xie 'er didn't wait for an answer. She suddenly pulled herself away and stumbled out of the flowers. With a " bang ", she actually tripped on the edge of the rockery and knocked her temple until it turned red. She cried out in pain. The man was shocked and quickly pushed away the flowers to meet her.
Separated by a crabapple branch, he saw a faint silhouette under the white petals. At the end of her eyebrows, there was a beautiful red, like the rainbow in the sky. He was instantly stunned and supported Rizhi as he looked at the Addict.
Xie 'er looked down and saw that the man's bright yellow robe was embroidered with the picture of " Sea Water and River Cliff ". She was shocked and recognized that he was the Third Master Huang whom she had met at the waterside pavilion that day! He was actually the emperor.
Xie 'er was truly shocked. She quickly pulled herself out, covered her face, and flew away, instantly disappearing into the rain of white begonia petals.
" Miss…" The Emperor reacted, but she had already run away. He could only ponder," She looks so familiar, as if I've seen her somewhere before…"
It turned out that Kang Xi had just finished his morning court session and was pacing alone in the pavilion. This was because the scenery here was the best and there were few people. He thought about which woman in the palace didn't love the red and rich peony, who would come to such a quiet place, it was just the best place for the emperor to be quiet and alone.
"The slanted red at the end of her eyebrows is like a cluster of white begonia's amorous stamens. It's really stunning makeup. Sitting alone among the flowers for a long time, my eyebrows stained with the red tip of an apricot.”Kang Xi sighed deeply, the beauty he had just seen was still lingering in his mind.
"Little Fu, pass down the order. Zhen wants to find the woman with a red eyebrow.”Kangxi could not get rid of his reluctance, so he ordered.
However, he did not know that with this order, in an instant, this slanted red had become the most fashionable makeup in the harem. From the concubines to the palace maids, everyone had a slanted red makeup on their eyebrows. In this case, where would the emperor go to find this woman? He had no choice but to give up.
The woman that Yu Yu had not been able to get for many years appeared quietly and then disappeared in a hurry. It made the young emperor even more infatuated.
1. The canonization of the slanting red came from Xue Ye of the Han Dynasty.
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