The beauties in the Sixteenth Courtyard were all personally selected by the two Chen Empresses, but this was the first time they took the initiative to recommend who would be the host wife. Empress Xiao always had to give this face, so she couldn't help but smile: "Oh,
Let me take a closer look."
Gao Xiu'er didn't dare to disobey her order, and slowly raised her head, only to see that Queen Xiao had a delicate face and jade skin. She was very beautiful, like someone in her twenties. I don't know how she took care of herself on weekdays. She was nearly forty years old, but her appearance didn't look old. Gao Xiu'er didn't know.
If he dared to look more, he quickly lowered his head again.
"What a handsome man." Queen Xiao nodded with satisfaction, but then said, "If you have any talents, you can present them to me."
But Gao Xiuer said softly: "I am a daughter of a common family and know nothing about it."
Empress Xiao felt a little disappointed. She turned to Chen Sui and Chen Chou and said, "You two sisters must know the emperor's temperament, so you should first look at others."
Yuan Ziyan didn't want to fight with Gao Xiuer, so she hurriedly saluted and said: "Go back to the empress, I know nothing about you."
Empress Xiao turned her gaze to Xie Xiangwen, who bowed her head and said, "I would like to present a song for you."
A palace maid had presented the Yao Qin a long time ago, and Xie Xiang's jade fingers caressed it gently. The music was melodious, sometimes clear, sometimes solemn, sometimes soft and crisp, but it was a song of mountains and flowing water, with such high skill that even the musicians in the palace could not match it.
Empress Xiao put her hands on her hands and said with a smile: "There is no need to argue, you can be the head of this hospital."
Back in the courtyard, all the beauties congratulated Xie Xiangwen. But Yuan Ziyan quietly walked to Gao Xiuer and asked in a low voice: "Sister, really know nothing?"
Gao Xiuer asked, "Sister, why don't you show off your stargazing skills?"
Yuan Ziyan sighed: "If you don't know the emperor's temperament, you may be killed."
After a night of silence, Gao Xiuer got up early and went to the lake as usual. Although Gao Xiuer lost to Xie Xiangwen, Chen Fangling still served her respectfully. Gao Xiuer secretly sighed, this girl is loyal, but she is afraid that what she has planned will end
It will be a drag on her, so we have to find an opportunity for her to get rid of it.
Yesterday's review by the Queen left some happy and some sad. Under the big willow tree by the lake, Xue Yeer danced her swords crazily. The sword light flashed among the willow branches, and the willow leaves fell, covering the grass at her feet.
Gao Xiuer watched for a while, then suddenly her heart moved, and she raised her voice and said, "Sister, how come your swordsmanship is so scattered today, but your heart is also in a mess?"
Xue Ye'er put away his sword, turned around and saw Gao Xiu'er, and couldn't help but smile bitterly: "Sister, you are here too. Ye'er is not outstanding in appearance, but that's fine, but my sister lost unjustly."
"In fact, it's not unfair." Gao Xiuer sighed, "It's a pity that I know nothing. I wonder if my sister is willing to teach me how to dance a sword?"
Xue Yeer frowned and said: "I heard that the two Chen ladies take good care of my sister. Could it be that my sister still has the ability to return to heaven?"
Gao Xiuer smiled and said, "How can you know if you don't give it a try? If Hui Niang gets what she wants, she will definitely share the wealth with her sister!"
Xue Yeer thought for a while, there was someone in the palace of "Shi Huiniang" who might be able to make a comeback, so she couldn't help but nodded and said: "That's fine, I will teach you this sword dance. You practice diligently morning and night, and don't forget what I said today!"
It was getting late, and Liu Ziqiu was immersed in modifying two Emei thorns, when the door was suddenly pushed open. It turned out that the "huohuo" sound of sharpening the knife attracted Li Jing, who was walking in the courtyard.
"Brother, you're here." Liu Ziqiu continued his work without looking back.
Li Jing stepped forward and asked curiously: "Brother Xian, what are you doing?"
Liu Ziqiu casually handed one to Li Jing and said, "This is called a three-edged thorn, but it's a pity that it's a bit short. However, you can make do with it."
Li Jing observed it carefully for a while and said: "It looks a bit like the legendary Qi."
Liu Ziqiu had never seen Qi, but he could guess that it was an ancient weapon. He couldn't help but admired: "Brother is really well-informed. This thing can only stab but not cut, but it also has its advantages."
After being stabbed by a three-edged thorn, a square wound will be formed, which is difficult to bandage and heal. Even if the wound is not stabbed, the injured person will gradually lose combat effectiveness due to excessive blood loss. More importantly, the three-edged thorn has extremely powerful Strong penetrating power, can easily pierce armor.
Liu Ziqiu wanted to enter the palace to assassinate Yang Guang, so it was impossible to carry a large weapon. This miniature version of the three-sided thorn was not only easy to hide but also had enough lethality, it was the best choice he could find at present.
Another day later, Luoyang City suddenly became heavily guarded. All civil and military officials gathered outside the North Gate. Guards lined the streets along the way from the North Gate to the palace. Yang Guang returned to Beijing. A huge honor guard slowly entered the city. The officials and the people burned incense and worshiped, shouting long live the mountain. Yang Guang was sitting on a huge and luxurious dragon chariot, surrounded by hundreds of guards. There was a wheel axle installed under the dragon chariot, and hundreds of people pushed it. It turned freely, which was quite magical. .
Liu Ziqiu and Li Jing were also among the crowd of spectators.
Li Jing whispered: "Look, dear brother, that is the Guanfeng Palace."
Liu Ziqiu secretly loosened his hands that were holding the three-pointed thorn and nodded. The Guanfeng Palace has a huge structure, surrounded by walls made of solid wood, which can block bows and arrows. There are many curtains in the palace, and there may be other mechanisms inside. , now is not the time for assassination.
The emperor's car drove very fast and disappeared in the blink of an eye. At the other end of the road, the officials and people at the city gate also dispersed in a hurry. Li Jing and Liu Ziqiu returned home without mentioning anything.
But when Yang Guang arrived at the harem and saw all the concubines, he took Empress Xiao's hand and said, "Leader of the Sixteenth Courtyard, Ai Qing, can you finish the review?"
Empress Xiao smiled and said, "How dare I fail to do my best when the Emperor orders me? I'm afraid that from now on the Emperor will be full of eyes and be too happy to miss Shu."
Yang Guang's thoughts had already flown to Xiyuan, but after hearing Queen Xiao's words, it was inconvenient to go immediately, so he stayed in Queen Xiao's palace that night.
After a night of fun, Empress Xiao was naturally satisfied. She knew what Yang Guang was thinking, and until dawn, she took the initiative to urge: "The new garden is completed, I dare you to ask the emperor to come to see you, five lakes and sixteen courtyards, please beg for the name."
It is said that this Empress Xiao has a gentle temperament and is not jealous. When Mrs. Xuanhua was sent to Chang'an, it was Empress Xiao who welcomed her back to the palace. It was Empress Xiao's idea to draft girls this time. Yesterday she stayed in Yang Guang overnight, and it was also In order to prevent Yang Guang from traveling to Xiyuan as soon as he returned to the Eastern Capital, causing criticism from both the government and the public. Her actions were always in line with Yang Guang's wishes, so she won Yang Guang's respect and everlasting favor.
Yang Guang immediately agreed, opened the west gate of the palace city, and went straight into Shanglin Garden.
This time visiting the garden is different from entering the city. This is a forbidden garden of the palace. It is difficult for outsiders to come in. There are many young and beautiful women in the garden, and it is not convenient for the guards to follow them. Therefore, Yang Guang only brought Empress Xiao and San In addition to Xu Tingfu, there were also Ma Zhong and Wang Hong. Although these two were also eunuchs, they were both highly skilled in martial arts and never left Yang Guang's side. In fact, they were Yang Guang's two personal bodyguards.
There were preparations in Xiyuan. The chamberlains were waiting by the lake in a dragon boat. There was an apricot yellow flag on the bow with a five-clawed golden dragon embroidered on the flag. Yang Guang and Empress Xiao boarded the dragon boat and sat under the apricot flag. The chamberlains had already placed melons on them.
Fruit cakes, nectar and jade liquid.
Empress Xiao raised her wine glass and said, "I respectfully invite your Majesty to visit the East Lake first."
Yang Guang laughed and said, "I will love you."
Willows are planted on both sides of the East Lake, dancing in the wind, as if bending down to welcome the driver. It is late autumn, but the willow leaves are still green. The sun has just risen, and the sunlight is shining on the lake, making waves. The willows reflect the waves, and the green is deep.
Yang Guang pondered and said: "How about this lake's waves are green, so how about calling it Cuiguang Lake?"
Empress Xiao and Xu Tingfu both claimed to be good.
Each of the five lakes in Xiyuan is connected by a long canal, and the sixteen courtyards are distributed along the canal. Yang Guang rode a dragon boat, went down the canal, and visited the five lakes and sixteen courtyards, giving each of them names. The five lakes are named Cuiguang, Yingyang.
Every time he arrived at a courtyard, the lady in charge of the courtyard came to the canal with twenty beauties to greet her. The indescribable beauty of pink flowers and green willows made Yang Guang's heart tremble and he wished he could go ashore immediately.
Unconsciously, it was already dusk. Seeing this, Empress Xiao smiled and said: "The palace gate is about to be closed. Why don't the emperor go to the courtyard to take a rest? I, my concubine, please go back to the palace first."
Yang Guangguang was overjoyed and sent Empress Xiao away with a smile. He took Xu Tingfu, Ma Zhong and Wang Hong to the long embankment, not knowing which courtyard they were going to.
But I heard Xu Tingfu say: "The emperor just walks forward casually, and whichever hospital he turns to will be that hospital. Isn't it interesting?"
Yang Guang did as he was told, laughed, and walked happily along the long canal.
A gust of wind came, and he could only hear the clear and sweet sound of the piano. Yang Guang couldn't help but follow the sound, but when he arrived in front of the door of Qiyin Courtyard, the sound of the piano came out. Yang Guang stood at the door and listened carefully. At first, he only felt the sound of the wind, as if
Pushing the clouds, I gradually feel like they are talking to each other, and then they are lingering and wandering, and there is a sound of spring, but at the end it is lingering and far-reaching.
Just as he was hearing the important point, he suddenly heard a "pop" sound, the strings broke and the piano stopped, and a beauty in her twenties and eighty years came out to greet her: "My concubine, Xie Xiangwen, bows to welcome the Holy Emperor."
Yang Guang asked curiously: "How did you know I was here?"
Xie Xiangwen said with a smile: "The string of the Yao Qin broke just now. Someone must have eavesdropped on it. No outsider in this courtyard dares to come because they know that the Emperor is here."
Yang Guang had already been introduced by Empress Xiao and knew that she was the head of Qiyin Courtyard. He couldn't help but ask: "What song did Madam just perform, but I have never heard it."
Xie Xiangwen bowed and replied: "The name of the music played by my concubine is called King Xiang Meng."
Yang Guang laughed loudly: "What a song to dream of the king, but it led me to Wushan to meet the goddess Madam!"
After Xie Xiangwen heard these words, two red clouds flew over the powder. He was so embarrassed that he didn't even dare to raise his head. He hurriedly welcomed Yang Guang into the courtyard. The sensible beauty had already packed the banquet, filled with fine wine and delicacies.
feast.
Yang Guang took Xie Xiangwen's arm and sat together at the table. He took her into his arms and wanted to have a drink with her.
Xie Xiangwen saw all the beauties in front of him, as well as three unfamiliar waiters. He was even more shy, but he didn't dare to shirk it, so he could only pretend to say: "Sisters, why don't you quickly present your singing and dancing!"
All the beauties laughed and played Sheng songs.
Yuan Ziyan looked at Yang Guang, then at Gao Xiuer, and couldn't help but say "Huh".
But Gao Xiu'er saw that Gao Xiu'er had already stepped forward and saluted: "Your Majesty, thank you Madam, I have learned a new sword dance, please present it to you."