It was already past eight o'clock in the evening when Zhao Si returned to the harem.
The night was bright with stars and the breeze was blowing. Two chamberlains held lanterns and led the way. Zhao Si walked in the long and quiet alley with his hands behind his back.
Looking up, you can see the towering shadows of the palace in the distance, swaying in the moonlight. It's not that they are moving, but that the moon is passing through the clouds, casting bright and dim light, causing a visual illusion.
After turning a corner and walking into a door, Zhao Xi's sharp ears could vaguely hear the sound of silk and bamboo.
"Well, where is the opera going?"
"Guan family, this should be an opera being performed on the Yuyuan stage. Concubine Gong, Concubine Shu and Concubine Li all like to listen to opera, especially the Kunqu opera that has been spread in Suzhou, Wuxi, Jiangdong, Qizhou, Huaixi and Shuzhou in the past two years.
Huangmei tune is popular in other places. Last year, the queen took the initiative and asked four female theater troupes to be selected to perform in the palace in turn."
Yu Huatian said beside him.
"Well, it's good to relieve everyone's boredom." Zhao Si nodded.
Several concubines lived deep in the palace, bound by etiquette and rules, and rarely went out to relax. Especially when they were on an expedition, in order to avoid suspicion, they did not easily leave the palace.
It's also a good thing to listen to music to relieve boredom, so as to avoid thinking of other crooked ideas - well, I said it was a intrigue and intrigue in the palace.
"Li Gong and Shi Cheng have arranged for the four boys. They don't have to wait on them anymore. They should rest early. Have you said this for me?"
"I told Mr. Li and Liang Da to monitor everything I said." Yu Huatian replied honestly. But today, his face seemed paler and lifeless under the cold moonlight.
"Well, you've been running around with me all day, and you're all exhausted. Especially Mr. Li, he's already sixty. We can't tire him out."
"The benevolence of officials, I am so grateful to you."
"There is no need to say such foolish words between our monarchs and ministers. Huatian, how old are you this year?"
"When I return to the official house, the younger one will be forty-three years old."
"Then I remember correctly. You are six years older than me. I am thirty-seven years old this year, and you are naturally forty-three. You just think too much, which is not good for your health. Those who think too much waste energy and blood.
Your life is not long. You, don’t keep thinking about those messy things.”
"The official family, I didn't think much about it, I just ran errands for the official family honestly."
"Haha, you think I don't know. In the cabinet today, Liang Shicheng has taken the lead, so you are depressed. You and Mr. Li helped me learn to walk. We have been friends for more than thirty years, and I still don't know you!"
Zhao Si snorted coldly, as if he was blaming him, but he was actually very concerned.
"When I was studying at Zishan Hall, you were my reading companion... I went to Zishan Hall just to hang out. Because of my stupid temperament, I was kind-hearted, praised reading, and spoke directly, so my husband did not dare to take care of me.
..."
Yu Huatian laughed and echoed: "The Guan family has been taller than his peers since he was a child, and he has a reckless and straightforward temper. He dared to punch at each other if he disagreed. I remember when I was young, I beat several people away from the Guan family in the past three or four years.
Mr. Zan Read, Talk Directly, etc...you really dare to fight!"
"Haha, that's right. At that time, I was relying on the protection of the official family, and I was arrogant and domineering. Especially after the death of my eldest mother, I became a tyrant in the imperial city. When I went to Zishantang to hang out, the gentlemen turned a blind eye.
Eyes. You are the only one who, with your head dangling from the beam, your buttocks pierced, and your head immersed in reading, is better than the fellow readers of the imperial brothers."
….
Having said this, Zhao Si turned around and looked at Yu Huatian.
"You still say you're not angry and competitive?"
"Mainly because those highnesses and those gentlemen... said something so unpleasant that I couldn't swallow it. Others didn't know, but I knew it. At that time, the officials said, why should I read these books?
Don’t take the imperial examination to become the top scholar, but study the useful knowledge that helped the late emperor to govern and stabilize the country.”
Zhao Si smiled, as if he had remembered something, and continued walking silently.
Yu Huatian followed closely behind. The footsteps of the two of them, together with the footsteps of the servants in front and behind, were light and rhythmic, like the sound of insects in the quiet night behind the farmhouse.
"Huatian," Zhao Si suddenly spoke again.
"The little one is here."
"You and Shicheng are equally good at figuring out people's hearts. But his speculations are mostly from above and inside, while yours are mostly from below and outside. Each has its own focus and strengths. What are you worried about? Even if Shicheng is one step ahead, so what?
?I haven’t even understood what will happen decades later, but you are already worried!”
Yu Huatian said quickly: "It's my wild thoughts that have caused the officials to worry. I shouldn't have done this. I will definitely stop thinking wildly in the future."
"now it's right."
Entering the gate of Yanfu Palace, two female officials stopped me.
"The official family, the queen has placed fruit snacks in the back garden, and wants to invite the official family to enjoy the moon together."
"Oh, I didn't expect my wife to be so cheerful tonight. Lead the way."
In a pavilion at Linshui Pavilion in the back garden, Queen Zeng Shuhua was waiting there. A burner of incense was burned in the pavilion, and four plates of fresh fruits and vegetables and four plates of exquisite pastries were placed.
"Well, they are listening to the play, and my wife and I are admiring the moon." Zhao Si helped Zeng Shuhua, who was saluting, and said with a smile.
The chambermaids and maids all retreated and stood waiting in the distance. Only Zhao Si and Zeng Shuhua were left in the pavilion.
The moon is in the sky, as round as a silver plate, and the light it casts is like mist, shimmering and shimmering, shrouding everything in the world. The evening breeze blows in, refreshing and refreshing, making people's six senses refreshed.
Zhao Si sat on a chair, closing his eyes slightly, bathing in the moonlight, listening to the long strings and bamboos and the sound of singing coming from the stage, feeling very uncomfortable.
Suddenly something cool and moist touched his lips. Zhao Si opened his eyes and it turned out that it was Zeng Shuhua who had sent him a piece of grapefruit.
He opened his mouth and ate it in one bite, filling his mouth with the delicious taste.
The two chatted for some time, and Zeng Shuhua suddenly said: "Yesterday, Brother Bazhi heard that the official wanted him to go out for a walk. He was so excited that he didn't sleep well all night. He didn't doze off and make a fool of himself today."
"No, I'm still in high spirits."
"Guan family, Bage is eight years old and has been knighted. I am thinking about making a good choice and finding a good match for him."
Zhao Si couldn't help but look at Zeng Shuhua carefully. Time has left traces on her beautiful face. Unexpectedly, time flies so fast. My wife is almost forty years old, and she has to worry about life-long matters for her children.
Zhao Ting, the eighth brother, was the eldest son and the recognized crown prince. He would only wait until the right time to be canonized as the crown prince of the East Palace. To determine a good match for him, he would choose the crown prince and the future empress of the Song Dynasty.
It sounds very early to start now, but it is not.
First, we need to set a range, and then repeatedly screen - the old Zhao family rarely holds national beauty pageants. Narrow down the range, then re-select, and finally select two to four candidates, and observe them for one to two years - this
He has his own way to understand their temperament and conduct thoroughly and finally decide on a suitable candidate.
….
It would take at least three or four years to complete this process. Then it would take another one or two years to find a job and choose an auspicious day to get married. Zhao Ting was thirteen or fourteen years old at that time, which was the marriage age for royal families and nobles.
Zhao Si asked: "My lady, you should have a suitable candidate."
He knew Zeng Shuhua very well. Since he made such a suggestion, he must have a rough selection of candidates.
"I took a preliminary look and found that Liu Da Sima, Wangdu Yuhou, and Guo Zuoxian all have daughters of similar age, and they are all dignified and beautiful..."
They are all from the military. Zhao Si looked at Zeng Shuhua and couldn't help but shook his head, "My wife has really good intentions for Bage. You don't need to test me, I will pave the way for him. Next time he goes to the west, Bage will be there too." If you are twelve or thirteen years old, you can go on an expedition with me."
Zeng Shuhua looked overjoyed and said, "I know that the official family will make appropriate arrangements."
"I know my lady's worries. Not many of my predecessors in the Song Dynasty lived long..."
Yes, I don’t know if there is any hereditary disease in the old Zhao family. No emperor can live beyond the age of sixty. Especially after Emperor Renzong, each one has a shorter lifespan than the last...
"But don't worry, madam, I am an anomaly. I received guidance from the gods and got a wonderful recipe. I soaked apocynum and ginkgo leaves in water and drank it. I have persisted for more than 20 years and the effect is good. Several famous doctors in the country checked my pulse. At least you can live to be seventy years old. What are you afraid of!
There's still time."
Zhao Si had read the "medical records" of past emperors and initially determined that the old Zhao family might indeed have hereditary diseases such as high blood pressure and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
So I resorted to the mythical prescription of the gods, soaked apocynum and ginkgo leaves in water and drank it. Now it seems that it is indeed effective. There is no dizziness, chest tightness and other symptoms that the late emperors had at such a young age.
Zeng Shuhua looked at Zhao Si, her eyes flashed, and asked: "Guan family, what should we do about the marriage of Bago?"