The beginning of autumn in the 16th year of Chongzhen of Ming Dynasty
The drizzle outside the curtain stirred up Consort Shu's worries. She leaned against the railing alone, her eyebrows slightly furrowed.
Yu 'er's heart ached for her master. She held a shawl in her hand and quietly walked to Consort Shu's side, gently draping it over her master's shoulders. "Niangniang, you're missing the emperor again.”
Consort Shu raised her bright eyes and looked back at Yu 'er.
"Time really flies. It's already the beginning of autumn.”
"That's right. In a few months, it will be the Mid-Autumn Festival.”Yu Er stopped beside Shu Fei and carefully tidied up the shawl draped over Shu Fei's shoulders.
"Eh? Why didn't I see Xianxian today?" Consort Shu suddenly thought of her daughter Xian Xian.
"Oh, the little princess is at Granny Wang's place. I heard that the emperor especially likes the little princess and keeps praising the little princess for her intelligence and beauty.”Yu 'Er spat.
"Really?" Consort Shu's worried face finally broke into a smile, but it suddenly dimmed again." But can Princess Taiping tolerate Xianxian? She's the Emperor's most beloved princess. What if she thinks that Xianxian is fighting with her for favor…"
The open and secret struggles in the harem were not inferior to the open and secret struggles of the civil and military officials in the court.
Yu 'Er covered her mouth and giggled.
"Regarding this point, Empress can rest assured. Princess Taiping loves the little princess even more. She often takes the initiative to bring the little princess to the imperial garden to play!”
"If that's the case, I'll be at ease.”Only then did Consort Shu's heart relax slightly.
Suddenly, a hurried voice came from outside the door."Shu Fei niangniang, the emperor is coming towards us.”
Consort Shu was stunned and grabbed Yu 'er in a panic." The Emperor is here. Quickly help me tidy up to welcome the Emperor."”
After Yu 'er hurriedly helped Shu Fei dress up, the master and servant immediately went to the door and knelt on the ground to welcome the Emperor.
After a while, a loud and clear voice rang out from the outside,"The Emperor has arrived!"
In an instant, the surroundings fell silent.
Chong Zhen walked towards Consort Shu with his head held high.”……He reached out to hold her hand.
Consort Shu raised her eyes and smiled lightly, blushing." Emperor."”He bowed slightly.
Chong Zhen happily led Consort Shu into the palace.
The spring breeze once, but the long night made Shu Fei unable to sleep peacefully. While serving her, she was so tired that she took a short nap and suddenly had a dream that made her uneasy. After waking up from the dream, she felt depressed and uneasy. She tilted her head and looked at the emperor who had fallen asleep. She gently pulled the blanket for the emperor and quietly got off the bed.
Consort Shu sat in front of the dressing table and stared at the mirror in front of her. She caressed her delicate face and couldn't help but think to herself, Why did that dream make her so uneasy?
Suddenly, she remembered that year when the Emperor was selecting a concubine, she was lucky enough to be chosen by the Emperor into the palace and was about to leave home. Her mother had personally handed her a bronze mirror with tears in her eyes. She had also repeatedly reminded her that although this mirror was a family heirloom, it was an ominous mirror.
Because this bronze mirror was only passed down to females, and she was the only girl in the family, she was about to enter the palace. Once she entered the noble house, it was as deep as the sea. The day when mother and daughter would meet in the future was probably far away, so her mother gave her that mirror.
She had been carefully collecting it, and she remembered the ominous thing her mother had mentioned, but she did not know what kind of bad luck it would bring. Until one day, when she could no longer tolerate the scheming and deception in the palace, and thus had the idea of committing suicide, she suddenly remembered the ominous bronze mirror that her mother had mentioned.
Desperate, she took out the bronze mirror wrapped in red silk. Facing the bronze mirror, she prayed silently in her heart with the determination to die. If you really are an ominous mirror, I hope you can take my soul and soul, so that I can end this once and for all…
Who knew that a scene that made her heart tremble would appear in the bronze mirror.
She saw that there was a little girl beside her. Her innocence and cuteness made one pity her. There was also a tall figure among them. When she turned around, she was surprised to find that it was the emperor.
At that time, she was so shocked that she couldn't control herself. She didn't know what was going on because what she saw was the scene that had appeared in her dream. Because of this incident, she gave up on the idea of committing suicide. After a few years, everything miraculously came true.
It was only then that she realized that it was not the so-called evil mirror that her mother had mentioned, but a " dream mirror " that could see dreams! Moreover, the things in the dream might happen in the future.
Tonight, she suddenly felt uneasy. For some reason, she couldn't help but take out the bronze mirror and carefully lifted the red silk covering it.
However, a hair-raising scene appeared in the bronze mirror.
The ground was littered with mutilated corpses. Her eyes widened in horror. She saw a tall man standing on the city gate and shouting. The city gate was opened under the joint efforts of the soldiers. He stood on the city wall with a smile on his face, as if he was welcoming the soldiers who looked like bandits outside the city.
Then, another scene appeared. A disheveled man appeared inside. He turned around and looked outside the door…
Consort Shu could not help but exclaim with a pale face,"Emperor, Emperor!" The mirror fell from her trembling hand to the ground, making a crisp sound that broke the silence of the bedroom.
Consort Shu widened her frightened eyes and covered her face with both hands.
"Heavens! How did this happen?"
Chongzhen was awakened by this sound and suddenly found that the soft jade fragrance in his arms had disappeared. He lifted the cloth curtain with one hand. "Consort Shu, what are you doing?"
Consort Shu was so frightened that she could not recover for a moment, sitting in front of the dressing table like a wooden chicken.
Chongzhen walked out of bed rather suspiciously and approached Consort Shu's back. He inadvertently caught a glimpse of the culprit who disturbed his dream. However, it was good to interrupt that dream. It was not a good dream anyway.
He bent down to pick up the bronze mirror and flipped through it." Why do you have a bronze mirror?”
Consort Shu pulled her mind back from her panic and knelt on the ground with a pale face. "Your Majesty."
Chong Zhen held the bronze mirror and looked at Consort Shu." Where did this mirror come from?”
Consort Shu was afraid of Chongzhen's might and said in terror," It's, it's a gift from my mother. It's not a good thing…"
Chongzhen looked at it again." It's not bad. Take it and keep it well. Don't drop it on the ground again."”He handed it to her without hesitation.
Consort Shu looked panicked." Your Majesty, it's really just an ordinary mirror. The images inside are all nonsensical…"
Chong Zhen curiously retracted his hand and looked at the bronze mirror carefully. "There are images inside? What's there?" He looked at Consort Shu, who had turned pale with fright." Are you feeling unwell somewhere that's why you're hallucinating?”
Illusion? Consort Shu immediately got up and ran to Chong Zhen's side. She lowered her head to look at the bronze mirror in Chong Zhen's hand. It was already empty inside. The shocking scene had disappeared without a trace.
Consort Shu smiled in relief.
"The emperor is right, I must be feeling unwell somewhere.”
"Since you're not feeling well, quickly lie down on the bed and rest. I'll summon the imperial physician to take your pulse at dawn.”Chong Zhen said gently and lovingly.
Consort Shu revealed a charming smile." Thank you, Emperor."”
Chong Zhen pulled Consort Shu into his arms and whispered,"Xianxian is really a lovely princess. I want you to help me give birth to another child who is as doting and lovable as Xianxian.”
"Your Majesty." Consort Shu's eyes moved as she called out in a charming tone.
Chongzhen Longxin was overjoyed, smiling from ear to ear as he carried Consort Shu up in the air.
Consort Shu delicately pressed herself against Chong Zhen's chest, evoking the wild thoughts in Chong Zhen's heart…
At the fourth watch, Chong Zhen reluctantly left Consort Shu's bedroom. Consort Shu sent him off with a delicate smile. As he watched Chongzhen leave, the uneasiness in his heart once again hit him.
However, the ancestors had clearly instructed that the harem could not interfere with national politics. Because of this, Consort Shu remembered everything she saw in the mirror and did not dare to say much. However, she was always worried that this dream would come true one by one like before. If it really was so, how would she face it?
Consort Shu grabbed the cloak by the bed and walked out of the bedroom. Yesterday's fine drizzle had already stopped, and the faint clouds in the sky floated to and fro under the hazy moon. She walked leisurely by the small pool, her heart uneasy and her thoughts chaotic.
The image in the dream mirror lingered in her mind, making her feel as if her heart was being pressed by a thousand-pound rock, making her almost unable to breathe.
Yu 'er couldn't see Shu Fei in the bedchamber and hurriedly ran out to look for her." Empress, why did you run out?”She finally felt at ease after finding her master.
Consort Shu turned around and smiled bitterly." Yu 'er, I want to ask you, do you remember how long you have been by my side?”
Yu 'er was stunned at first, then she counted with her fingers seriously." Ever since the Empress entered the palace, I was sent here to serve you. It has been about five years.”
" It's already been five years…" Consort Shu looked up at the moon and sighed." Have I treated you well?”
Yu 'er replied happily,"Good, all the maids are envious that I followed a good master."”
"Really?" Consort Shu smiled indifferently.
Yu 'er saw the heavy expression on Shu Fei's face and could not help but feel flustered." Empress, what's wrong with you? Did Yu 'Er not serve him well?”
Consort Shu smiled eerily." No, Yu 'er, you're really good.”
" Then you…" Yu 'er looked at Consort Shu in confusion.
Consort Shu suddenly looked at Yu 'er with a serious expression." Yu' er, I want to ask you something. Has the palace been very peaceful recently? Have you heard anything?”
"The wind blows?" Yu 'Er was stunned for a while before she tilted her head and replied,"No! Everything is very good, very peaceful."
"Really?" Consort Shu asked doubtfully.
"Uh, I know. I heard from the eunuch beside the emperor that the border seems to be in a tight situation recently. However, this is not a big deal at all because the person guarding Shanhaiguan is not anyone else but our dynasty's Prestige General Wu Sangui. With Great General Wu guarding the border, he believed that those reckless Jurchen would not dare to invade.”Yu 'Er said confidently with a smile.
When she heard Wu Sangui's name, her heart could not help but tense up. Although she had never met Wu Sangui, she had heard many stories about his heroic deeds. She remembered that the eunuch who had seen Wu Sangui described him as a powerful and valiant martial artist.
Heavens! Wasn't this exactly the same as the image in the mirror? Thinking of this, she became even more worried.
Yu 'er noticed the sadness on Consort Shu's face.
"Niangniang, you seem to have a lot on your mind. Is there something bothering you? Why don't you tell me? Perhaps Yu 'Er can help you.”
Consort Shu frowned slightly. How could she not be mocked by Yu 'er for worrying about nothing?
"No, it's nothing. Yu 'Er, I miss Xianxian…"
"Oh, I thought it was something! Tomorrow, I'll go to Granny Wang's and bring the little princess back.”Yu 'er felt relieved and smiled.
Consort Shu helplessly turned around and strolled back to her chambers. Yu 'er followed carefully. With every step Shu Fei took, she kept thinking about how to deal with the days she would face in the future.
Consort Shu suddenly stopped in her tracks and turned to look at Yu 'er." After you bring Xianxian back tomorrow, we'll go to the Jade Buddha Temple to offer incense."”
"Niangniang, do you want to offer incense?" Yu 'Er asked ecstatically.
"What's wrong? You don't want to go with me?" Consort Shu glanced at Yu 'er again.
"No way! I wanted to go out of the palace to get some fresh air a long time ago. I was too excited. Besides, I believe that Bodhisattva will miss you for a merciful person like the Empress.”Yu 'Er smiled sweetly.
Consort Shu smiled and glanced at her. "You! He was getting more and more unruly, actually making jokes about Bodhisattva.”
Yu 'Er could not help but cover her mouth and giggle.
Consort Shu thought bitterly. In order to prevent this from happening, she could only ask Great Master Yu Xuan for advice.
Jade Buddha Temple
Under the guidance of the steady and restrained Master Yuxuan, Concubine Shu knelt in front of the Bodhisattva and prayed devoutly, praying for the prosperity of the country and the health of the dragon. She also prayed that the things that appeared in the dream mirror would not happen. However, this still could not resolve her gloomy mood.
Consort Shu stood up and faced Great Master Yu Xuan with her palms together. Her disappointed expression made Great Master Yu Xuan's heart tremble.
"Empress, do you have something on your mind?"
Consort Shu's heart turned a thousand times for a dream.
"Master, can we talk in private?”
Great Master Yu Xuan smiled." Of course you can. Empress, please follow me."”
Yu 'er carried Xianxian and followed closely behind Consort Shu. Consort Shu deliberately sent Yu' er away and turned around to look at Yu 'er.
"Yu 'Er, bring the little princess to the courtyard to play.”
Yu 'er understood Consort Shu's meaning and hurriedly carried Xianxian into the courtyard of the temple.
Consort Shu followed Great Master Yu Xuan into the meditation room.
Great Master Yu Xuan pushed open the door." Empress, please."”
Consort Shu gently walked into the meditation room and sat down, waiting for Great Master Yu Xuan to lock the door.
Great Master Yu Xuan turned around to face Consort Shu." Empress, if there's anything annoying, you can say it now.”
Consort Shu immediately got up and knelt in front of Great Master Yu Xuan." Great Master…"
Great Master Yu Xuan was so frightened that he took three steps back. He immediately regained his senses and rushed in front of Consort Shu, helping her up with both hands. "Niangniang, I can't bear the responsibility, please quickly get up.”
Consort Shu stood up and looked pleadingly at Great Master Yu Xuan." Great Master, I have a request. I hope you can grant it."”
"What is it? Empress, please say it. As long as I can do it, I will definitely do it.”Great Master Yu Xuan said righteously.
Consort Shu endured her heartache and reluctantly said,"I wish to invite Grandmaster to secretly enter the palace and abduct the little princess Xianxian.”
"What is it? You want me to kidnap the little princess?" Great Master Yu Xuan's expression changed drastically as he looked at Consort Shu in shock and disbelief.
"Yes, please grant my wish, Master." Consort Shu's heart ached like a wring, and she was about to cry.
"Why?" Grandmaster Yu Xuan asked, flabbergasted.
Consort Shu did not say anything. She slowly took out a bronze mirror wrapped in red silk from her waist and handed it to Great Master Yu Xuan.
" This…" Great Master Yu Xuan was bewildered.
"This is a bronze mirror that my mother personally gave me before I entered the palace. Rather than calling it a bronze mirror, it would be better to call it a dream mirror.”Consort Shu sighed.
"Dream mirror?" Great Master Yu Xuan still didn't understand the meaning behind Consort Shu's words.
"Yes, you can see the dreams of others or yourself in the bronze mirror, and that dream may happen in the future.”
Consort Shu inexplicably sighed again." Perhaps this will make you feel incredulous, but the dreams that once appeared in the bronze mirror will eventually come true one by one.”
Great Master Yu Xuan's eyes widened in surprise. He could not believe that such a treasure existed in the world. "Really?"
" It's true. I accidentally saw the calamity of the Ming Dynasty in the Emperor's dream. My heart aches for Xianxian's young age…"
At this point, Shu Fei's heartbroken tears could not stop falling. "I don't care if I live or die. If I can't escape the calamity tomorrow, I should spend the rest of my life with the Emperor, or even go hand in hand with him. But Xianxian…so I beg you to help me with this. I will definitely repay your kindness in my next life.”She let out a trembling and choked voice.
"Empress, perhaps there are times when this dream mirror fails.”Great Master Yu Xuan was shocked, but he found it hard to accept this mysterious matter.
"No, I can't! Master, the dream mirror has always been effective and has never made a mistake.”Consort Shu retorted firmly.
Great Master Yu Xuan looked troubled, not knowing what to do. "This…"
"Master, I beg you to lend a helping hand and save Xianxian.”Shu Fei's face was covered in tears, unable to stop.
"Even if the calamity of the Ming Dynasty comes true, I'm just a monk. How can I take care of a little girl?”Great Master Yu Xuan said helplessly.
Consort Shu took out a small package from her body. She seemed to have prepared for this. "There are many expensive jewelry here. I believe it will be enough for you and Xianxian to live on. Also, please give this bronze mirror to Xianxian in the future.”
Great Master Yu Xuan looked at the package on the table in astonishment." This…"
Ignoring his shock, Consort Shu pointed at the bronze mirror with a heavy heart and said," This is my mother's heirloom. Furthermore, there is an unwritten rule that this mirror is only passed on to women. Therefore, I would like to ask Master to pass it on to Xianxian.”
Great Master Yu Xuan saw that Consort Shu was determined, and the solemn expression on her face seemed to confirm the authenticity of the bronze mirror. "Even if I kidnap the little princess, where will I survive in the future?”
"The further, the better." Consort Shu closed her eyes in heartache. After saying those cruel words, her heart was in pain.
"Alright, I promise you." Grandmaster Yu Xuan finally agreed.
"Also, you must not reveal her identity as a princess. If there really is a change of dynasty one day, I'm afraid that her identity as a princess will attract killing intent for her.”Consort Shu's expression was sorrowful and her voice trembled.
"I understand. If all of this is not as you see it, I will send Xianxian back to your side when she grows up.”Great Master Yu Xuan stared at Consort Shu and said as if he was making an oath.
"Alright, thank you for your help, Master." Consort Shu bowed gratefully to Great Master Yu Xuan, her tears flowing down like a broken dam.
Great Master Yu Xuan's mind was at a loss. He really didn't know what to do in the future.
Consort Shu was unable to close her eyes the entire night. She stared at Xian Xian, who had long since fallen asleep, with her eyes wide open. Tears of heartache dripped onto the bed as she constantly caressed Xian Xian's tender cheeks.
"Child, after today, I wonder if there will be a day when we meet again?”At this point, tears fell like broken pearls.
Xian Xian twisted her body and continued to sleep, completely unaware of the pain in her mother's heart.
Suddenly, a figure flashed into Consort Shu's bedroom. "Empress, Empress."
Consort Shu recognized Great Master Yu Xuan's voice and quickly wiped away the tears on her cheeks as she walked out." Great Master, I'll leave everything to you."”
Great Master Yu Xuan sighed sadly." I really don't know if what I'm doing is right or wrong.”
" Master…" Consort Shu was worried that he would go back on his word, and her beautiful eyes once again shone with a pleading gaze.
"Sigh! Since he was already here, he could only wait for the changes in the situation in the future.”He sighed.
Consort Shu hurriedly ran to the bedside and carried Xianxian, placing her in Great Master Yu Xuan's arms." I'll leave everything to you."”The heartbroken Consort Shu's tears flowed down. Looking at her cute little face, she reluctantly stretched out her fingers and kept caressing her delicate cheeks.
Great Master Yu Xuan tied Xian Xian on his back." I'm leaving."”
"Wait!" Consort Shu ran to Xianxian's side and pressed her face against her tender cheek, calling out,"Child, child…"
"Niangniang, if you don't leave now, I'm afraid you won't be able to leave later.”Great Master Yu Xuan reminded her anxiously.
"Let's go!" Shu Fei's tears fell like rain, her hands tightly gripping the front of her clothes as she said with heartache.
Great Master Yu Xuan immediately rushed out of the bedroom without looking back.
Seeing Yu Xuan walking further and further away, Consort Shu picked up the knife she had prepared and cut her own arm, screaming in horror,""Someone come! There's an assassin, the princess is captured…"
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