Volume 1: Huatangchun Chapter 26: An Unusual Wedding Night
Xiao Yizheng stepped into the house, and Qingxi could smell the strong smell of alcohol. She immediately stood up and saw that his cheeks were red, his eyebrows were clear, and his mouth was smiling. Under the candlelight, he really showed that he was in high spirits on happy occasions.
The two performed another etiquette: spreading the tent, tying the knot, and tying their hair. After everyone knelt down and congratulated, they all exited the wedding room, and the room suddenly became quiet.
This sudden silence made Qingxi's heart beat faster and her face became hot. She moved unnaturally twice, blinking and staring at the burning red candle on the table, thinking about what to do next? Embarrassed and uneasy
, overwhelmed, forcing composure, pretending to be normal, all these emotions seemed to be integrated into this moment. After a long time, she recalled the wedding night, and found that only this moment was in line with the mood of a newlywed bride.
She was still thinking about whether she should say something, when a mellow voice came to her ear at the right time: "Are you still hungry?"
She hurriedly turned her head and met his smiling eyes, feeling embarrassed for a while. It was Yueying's fault that he also heard this sentence. She bit her lip, not wanting to be looked down upon, and replied stubbornly: "His Highness stole it again."
listen!"
Xiao Yizheng looked at him with a deeper smile, but did not reply.
Qingxi was in a trance for a moment. Was the person in front of her really the person who strangled her neck and imprisoned her in his arms that day? Was it really His Highness Prince Heng who didn't let an inch of his words come out on Baoding Mountain? Really?
Is it the frank and cheerful Cheng Zhan in Yuyue Pavilion?
Tonight, he is as gentle as the spring breeze blowing on his face, yes, just like the jade young man in the peach blossoms and the rain that day.
How many sides does he have?
She was lost in thought when Xiao Yizheng stood up from the wedding bed, walked to the desk in two steps, and gently picked up the two pieces of hair tied together on the desk. He drank a lot of wine at today's dinner.
His feet were a little shaky, but he was truly awake. He stared at the two strands of black hair for a long time.
The red candle snapped and candle flowers burst out. He looked up, put down the hair bundle in his hand, turned to Qingxi and said, "It's almost time. You put on your coat, and I'll take you to Wangchun Pavilion."
Qingxi was puzzled: "Huh? Wangchun Pavilion? Now?"
Xiao Yizheng saw her hesitation and said with a smile: "It doesn't matter, there are not so many rules in Prince Heng's palace."
She followed him out of the house with surprise, walked around the corridor, turned around the garden, entered a courtyard gate, and walked to a relatively secluded palace. There were not many attendants she met along the way, and they all bowed when they saw them.
It seemed that there was nothing wrong with the prince taking the princess to visit the palace on this wedding night. It seemed that the people in the palace were used to the master's eclectic style.
When she looked up, the words "Wangchun Pavilion" came into view. This pavilion did not occupy a large area, but it had five floors. The decoration inside the pavilion was also very simple. She followed Xiao Yizheng to the top floor and leaned on the railing to overlook the Shangdu.
Half of the city's scenery is visible.
Xiao Yizheng stood with his hands folded, and Qingxi stood beside him, holding his collar with his hands. The night breeze blew the hem of the red dress. The two people standing side by side in the gentle moonlight looked like a picturesque scenery, which was very beautiful.
Xiao Yizheng raised his hand and pointed toward the southeast.
She stared and saw red lanterns rising one after another where they pointed. They were Kongming lanterns, one after another, one after another, one after another, in an endless stream, gathering together like a huge force, and gradually spreading out again.
Like misty clouds, in the deep black night, the rising red appeared dazzling and warm, dyeing the sky red, and then slowly drifted into the distance.
"That's the Liuxin Garden on the outskirts of the city. It's the way the servants in the garden bless our marriage." Xiao Yizheng looked at the sky and explained to her.
Careful Garden? This is the residence of his biological mother, Queen Xiaoyi. Qingxi listened to his voice hazy, thinking about this night and scene. He must have missed his mother, but his marriage to him was so unusual.
It seemed hard to say anything, not to mention that her biological mother was still a taboo. So, she whispered: "Compared with the fiery trees and silver flowers that never sleep in the sky, these sky lanterns are more gentle and gentle to the heart. They took the trouble."
Xiao Yizheng nodded lightly, "I accept their intentions, but I feel guilty in my heart. For them..." He turned around and looked into her smiling eyes, and continued: "And for you too."
Qingxi frowned briefly, but before he could reply, he heard the sound of hurried running from the attic, and Xiao Yizheng's eyes fell behind him.
She turned around and saw that a house not far from the attic was lit with blazing fire. She suddenly turned around and exclaimed in surprise: "This?"
Xiao Yizheng's eyes focused, but his expression was calm, and he said calmly: "Don't worry." After saying that, he actually smiled in relief.
Voices gradually came from the palace: "The water has escaped, the water has escaped."
At this time, Zhao Xin also climbed up the pavilion and came to them. After saluting, he said seriously: "Everything has been arranged!"
When Qingxi heard this, she was shocked. She suddenly turned back and looked at the place where the fire started. What kind of drama is this?
"Are there any casualties?" Xiao Yizheng asked.
"No, I don't dare to make any mistakes in what His Highness has told me. This fire will only burn down part of the house, and not even the princess's dowry will be damaged at all." Xin Zhao did not shy away from Qingxi when he spoke.
When Qingxi heard the word dowry, she suddenly turned around and stared at Xiao Yizheng, her eyes full of questions.
Xiao Yizheng's eyes slowly softened, but he did not explain further, but continued to ask Xin Zhao: "Man, are you under control?"
"Yes, it has been controlled and is only waiting for His Highness' interrogation."
"No need, I'll leave this matter to you, just get back to me after it's done." Xiao Yizheng explained clearly and neatly, and then looked at the place where the fire started: "Let the fire get bigger again, and then you can organize all the people in the house.
Someone put out the fire."
"Yes" Zhao Xin took the order and turned around to leave.
At this time, Xiao Yizheng once again looked at Qingxi's probing eyes. His expression relaxed a little and became solemn again. "I know you are smart, and you should be able to guess that the fire in Prince Heng's Mansion tonight was not an accident, but was indeed man-made."
Qingxi was still staring at him closely, her face no longer showing the comfort and relief she had when she just watched the Kongming lanterns burning in the distance.
Xiao Yizheng sighed and said slowly: "The place where the fire broke out was the warehouse where your dowry was placed. Tonight, a servant and a female official in the palace were exchanging news in that room. I would like to take this opportunity to sort out the people in the palace.
.”
When Qingxi heard this, he frowned and asked urgently: "Your Highness, do you mean that there is someone in the palace who is not good for you?"
Xiao Yizheng hesitated for a moment and said steadily: "It may be someone who is not good for you."
Qingxi's mouth opened slightly and her eyes widened, looking incredible.
Xiao Yizheng smiled: "Speaking of which, after I opened the government office and built the palace, I have been traveling abroad, and the days I really spent in the palace are numbered. I know more about this palace than you do. The composition of the personnel in the palace is simple.
, the number is not large, but due to this wedding and the princess moving in, many new people have been assigned to the palace, and there are always some insiders. From the day the marriage decree was delegated, in the eyes of others, you and I are one. I said,
You and I have agreed that I will be responsible for your safety. I also want to make your life in the palace more comfortable and simpler, so it is better to settle it once and for all. Before, I was not in the palace. This time, I really want to stay for a long time.
I want to keep everyone in the house pure. It would be good to use this fire to clean up some people."
Qingxi rolled her eyes, and she was filled with surprise. She was surprised that he thought so carefully about herself, but she was not moved because she was keenly aware that if it was just for this reason, this scene would not be necessary.
Fire. "Your Highness's plan is probably more than that, right?"
Xiao Yizheng nodded without hesitation: "The news about King Heng's wedding will spread throughout Shangdu City tomorrow, and it may be beneficial to the affairs of the court."
Qingxi thought that this was indeed the case. For some reason, she felt a faint feeling of unhappiness in her heart. This marriage was indeed a performance, and even the bridal night was so carefully planned and used. She looked at the floating sky outside the city.
The Kongming Lantern, and then thinking about the fire behind her that would also dye the sky red, felt extremely ironic. But she knew that she had no position and should not mind at all.
Xiao Yizheng looked at her face with undisguised anger, his eyes were bright, his voice was deep, and he said in a serious tone: "I brought you here just to tell you clearly that there is a sky high in this world that you long for.
Despite the picturesque scenery, there are also dark, complex and helpless struggles that you must face. If you are not Princess Heng, then everything in this house has nothing to do with you; but as long as you are Princess Heng, I hope you can understand clearly
Facing these, you have the ability to protect yourself. Knowing the beauty in front of you can also solve the troubles behind you!"
His voice reached her ears steadily, and his bright black eyes were deep and distant. All of this shocked Qingxi on the spot. Thousands of emotions surged in her heart, ups and downs, but she was speechless and unable to say a word.
.
The two looked at each other for a long time, but Xiao Yizheng smiled slightly first, turned around and looked into the distance, and continued: "I said that day, the emperor's family has no choice but to suppress it. You should be prepared. In fact, compared to
The carefree warmth in the distance, the obscurity and complexity in the near, the healthy life in the houses, the safety and prosperity within the city walls, the peace in the world, the peace of the country and the people, are all the more worthy of efforts to protect."
When Qingxi heard these words, she slightly raised her head and looked at him. His figure was firm, his words were warm, and his eyes were far-reaching, as if all the mountains and rivers of thousands of miles were reflected in this one eye. She was moved in her heart, and gradually calmed down from the shock just now.
However, he also looked into the distance with longing and said softly: "I will remember your Highness's words."
The corner of Xiao Yizheng's mouth moved slightly, and his smile rekindled. The two of them stood in this night, and neither of them spoke anymore.
After a while, the fire gradually weakened and the hustle and bustle in the house gradually stopped. Xiao Yizheng lowered his head to look at the clear stream and asked in a low voice: "Is it cold?"
Qingxi raised his eyebrows and said loudly: "Greedy people are not afraid of the cold."
Xiao Yizheng was stunned for a moment, then smiled heartily.
The night wind came, and Qingxi's hair was blown up, and it was blown over his face, making him tingle. He stopped laughing and said softly: "Heng, Hengyu, rare and precious. It's a good name, come on.
It’s not meant to be disrespectful. From now on, I’ll call you by my name too.”
Qingxi was stunned.
Xiao Yizheng said with a smile: "Aheng, let's go back."