54 Throbbing
◎Hold that soft and fair wrist.◎
Happy Chinese New Year, good health every year.
From the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, the imperial court began to close the doors and rest for the holidays. Unless there were important military or national affairs, all other matters would be reported to the court after the New Year.
Gu Ningxi sealed the official seal. No matter how fierce the struggle for the throne in the court became, it would always be much calmer during the New Year.
On New Year's Day, Gu Ningxi attended a palace banquet, paid respects to the elders of his clan, and invited several colleagues of similar official ranks to go to the East Palace to pay New Year's greetings together.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's attitude towards her was still gentle. She was promoted. Although the Ministry of Works could not be of much use in the struggle for the throne, it would be beneficial to the Crown Prince to keep someone involved.
It was not until the fourth and fifth days of the New Year, after attending to some necessary social obligations, that Gu Ningxi finally had two days of leisure.
"Mother is back."
After reading in the study for half a day, Gu Ningxi heard the news that his mother had returned home, so he went to Qinlan Courtyard to pay his respects.
Today is the fifth day of the first lunar month, and the ladies of the court must enter the palace to pay their respects to the Empress.
Over the years, whenever there was an occasion that required the attendance of the wife of Marquis Xuanping, my mother would mostly stay at the mansion, and only Madam Shen would go out to attend the banquet.
Everyone in the mansion has tacitly accepted this rule. If the fact that Marquis Xuanping had two wives had not become known to everyone, I'm afraid the whole capital would have forgotten that there was another wife in the mansion.
In addition, with Gu Ningxi serving as an official in the court and Gu Ningzheng failing in the imperial examinations as a contrast, people in the capital gradually began to talk about it. Madam Meng had raised a good son and would have good fortune in the future.
My mother never competed with Madam Shen for the title of head lady of the house. She lived a secluded life, rarely going out, except during the New Year holidays when she would pay an audience with the Empress.
My mother remembers the Queen's kindness, and so does Gu Ningxi.
If the Empress hadn't extended a helping hand, my mother would probably never have had the chance to reach the capital alive.
My mother's hometown suffered a flood and she was separated from her relatives. She fainted on the roadside on her way to Beijing to find her husband.
Fortunately, the Queen Mother passed by and ordered people to rescue her.
Though the two women's statuses were vastly different, their circumstances were similar. Both had their husbands divorced their wives and remarried, marrying women from high-ranking families. The fate of Kyoto remained unknown to them.
The Empress was kindhearted. After bringing my mother to the capital, she also ordered her personal maids and servants to escort my mother to the Marquis's residence. This display of power, known to many in Kyoto, made it impossible for the Marquis's residence to quietly settle my mother.
Gu Ningxi vaguely heard about the old events. Although His Majesty made the legitimate daughter of Prince Zhending the princess consort, when he brought his first wife from his hometown in Jinyang to the capital, he intended to make Queen Yao equal to the princess consort.
Therefore, His Majesty instructed that the two ladies of the Xuanping Marquis' Mansion should coexist in order to build momentum for the Jin Prince's Mansion.
However, because Empress Yao's mother's family was of little prominence, all the nobles at court opposed the proposal. While the Yaos were a prominent family in Jinyang, their status had long since declined after years of warfare. The newly minted nobles in the capital, those who had served the Prince of Jin in his conquests, were reluctant to see the old Jinyang faction enter the court en masse and threaten their position. The Yaos were a target, and no one wanted to see two families of relatives from outside the court.
It seems to be a fight for the princess, but in fact it is a game between the old and new forces in the court. How can the old ministers of Jinyang be able to defeat them?
It’s like in the eyes of the new rich, the Zhending Palace has 100,000 strong soldiers and is very famous. What qualifications does the Yao girl have to stand on the same level as the princess of the palace?
In this dilemma, His Majesty hesitated to make a decision. Finally, Empress Yao submitted a petition, requesting that his wife be demoted to a concubine, and that she be made a side concubine, thus resolving the crisis.
Your Majesty later supported Empress Yao as the heir and made the eldest son Lu Heng the crown prince, and he must have felt guilty about this matter.
The Crown Prince is the first son born after Your Majesty married Empress Yao. When Your Majesty was conquering all directions and expanding the territory, the Crown Prince stayed with his mother in their hometown of Jinyang and did not stay with his father.
For this reason, the crown prince is much older than the other princes.
Gu Ningxi saw the familiar pearl hairpin in her mother's hair. Her mother had married on the same day as Madam Shen, who was dressed in a dazzling array of red. Her mother had no dowry, no relatives from her family to accompany her, and only servants from the Marquis's mansion. The Empress, though facing her own difficulties, had sent a dowry to give her mother some dignity.
My mother still remembers this timely help, but her influence is limited and she has never found a chance to repay. She can only go to the Empress to pay her respects during the holidays.
Gu Ningxi heard her mother talk about the scene of the ladies in Fengyi Palace paying homage to the Queen in the morning. The Queen was sitting in the center of the palace, looking graceful and elegant.
"After everyone left, the Queen stayed alone with me to talk for a few words."
"Hmm?" Gu Ningxi raised her eyes.
"It's just some family talk, nothing more than the children growing up and starting their own families. His Royal Highness Prince Huai is getting married after the New Year, and the Empress is worried about him."
She then said that all parents have the same heart.
"I see."
Madam Meng asked, "Are you leaving the city tomorrow?"
"Yes, I've already packed a change of clothes."
His Majesty the Prince of Zhao asked her to go to Chongsheng Temple to burn incense on the seventh day of the first lunar month. His Majesty also ordered Chongsheng Temple to be closed for half a day and a separate ceremony to pray for His Majesty the Prince of Zhao.
However, Chongsheng Temple is quite far from Kyoto, and the round trip would take at least two days. His Majesty Prince Zhao had requested that we first stay at Changqing Garden on the sixth day of the first lunar month. Changqing Garden is the largest hot spring resort in the suburbs of Beijing, and the ground is warm even in winter. His Majesty had specially granted it to His Majesty Prince Zhao, and from there, it only takes half an hour to travel to Chongsheng Temple.
Gu Ningxi boasted to her mother, "I just drew up the blueprint for the renovation of Changqing Garden. I wonder what it will look like after it's completed."
She was waiting to go and see it. Anyway, she had asked the doctor to prescribe some medicine, saying that she was too weak to take a hot spring bath.
In addition to her, Wu'an Hou and three others will also go together.
His Royal Highness Prince Zhao invited many friends. Madam Meng nodded and said that it would be nice for Xier to go to Chongsheng Temple to burn incense and pray during the New Year holiday.
Madam Meng warned, "Your grandmother has been in poor health recently. If you have the chance, remember to get a peace amulet for her."
"The child knows."
…
The next day, Gu Ningxi's carriage arrived at Changqing Garden at dusk, and a steward was waiting for her at the door.
As they were going to climb a mountain tomorrow, Gu Ningxi conserved his energy and went to bed early in the courtyard allocated to him.
She had liked this courtyard since she first drew it, and the entire arrangement made it even better.
Gu Ningxi had a dreamless night and changed into her going-out clothes, and chose a pair of lighter brocade shoes.
After packing up and arriving at the agreed departure place, Gu Ningxi was surprised to find that only she and His Royal Highness Prince Zhao were there.
After asking around, she found out that Marquis Wu'an and Prince Zhen had some urgent official business to attend to and could not leave for the time being; Prince Qin had gone to meet another guest and was not in Changqing Garden at the moment.
"Let's go." Lu Jing nodded to her.
Gu Ningxi thought about it again and again. She was the slowest climber, and she felt a little guilty about asking a few friends to accommodate her walking speed.
Now only His Royal Highness Prince Zhao needs to wait for her... It seems, it seems to make her feel more at ease?
Not so at ease.
Thinking of asking his mother for a peace amulet, Gu Ningxi got on the carriage of His Royal Highness Prince Zhao.
According to your majesty's order, Feiling Mountain is closed today and there are no idle tourists.
It was already past noon when we reached the foot of the mountain, so we had plenty of time.
Gu Ningxi and His Royal Highness Prince Zhao abandoned their carriage and walked up the stone steps together.
The scenery of Feiling Mountain in winter is far inferior to that in spring. The grass and trees are withered and yellow, and frost can be seen on the leaves.
Hundreds of stone steps extend through the mountains, which are quiet and free of outsiders.
The attendants followed far behind. It had not rained in the past few days, so the roads in the mountains were not muddy.
On the first hundred stone steps, Gu Ningxi was still in the mood to chat with His Royal Highness Prince Zhao. After another fifty, she looked at the seemingly endless mountain path and felt exhausted. She silently shut up and focused on climbing.
She glanced at His Royal Highness Prince Zhao who was beside her and looked extremely relaxed, just as he was when he came, making her seem particularly useless.
Gu Ningxi couldn't help but look back at the road she had walked. There were 200 winding stone steps and the road was steep. It was winter and she was wearing thick clothes, so it was not her fault that she climbed slowly.
Her physical strength is quite good among civil officials.
Gu Ningxi pursed her lips, and Lu Jing smiled and comforted her, "It's okay, it's still early."
Gu Ningxi felt a bit of sarcasm when listening to this. She was the one leading the way, and His Royal Highness Prince Zhao had been following her footsteps, neither hurried nor slow.
Lu Jing actually thought that the scenery in the mountains was very beautiful and could be enjoyed slowly.
After passing the stone pavilion halfway up the mountain, Gu Ningxi felt that there was no need to rest as the climb was slow today.
She was sweating slightly and rolled up her sleeves a little.
The breeze blew, and the exposed wrists against the light green sleeves looked even whiter and smoother like jade.
It makes people want to reach out and hold that soft wrist.
Just like when he was attacked by the river before, Lu Jing knew that Yuan Le's palm was soft.
The two states of mind are completely different, and the current one is extremely abrupt.
Lu Jing stopped his thoughts. Even if there was no one around, in front, behind, or around him, it was a blatant homosexuality in broad daylight.
His Royal Highness Prince Zhao still found it difficult to overcome the hurdle in his heart, thinking that he had not had a happy marriage in his previous life, so why did God make things difficult for him in this life?
Is this really a sign of love and rekindling romance?!
This is clearly forcing him to become gay!
Noticing that the person next to him seemed strange, Gu Ningxi couldn't help but look at him.
Even though she was exhausted, she still managed to muster up some strength: "What's wrong, Your Highness?"
Lu Jing looked at her, not knowing what to say for a moment.
Finally he said, "You'd better save your energy for climbing the mountain."
I didn't know how to see clearly when I was reincarnated, and I happened to be reborn as a boy.
In terms of appearance and physical strength, Yuan Le is not similar in any way.
Good intentions don’t bring good rewards. Gu Ningxi snorted and ignored him.
The winter sun was not warm, but when the sun shone brightly, the two finally reached the top of the mountain.
After taking a short rest in front of the temple gate, Gu Ningxi regained his breath.
A young monk came to lead the way, and Gu Ningxi and His Royal Highness Prince Zhao entered the Chongsheng Temple together.
After crossing several thresholds, they arrived in front of the main hall.
The monks were chanting in the hall. There were only two pilgrims in the temple today.
Having climbed the mountain with sincerity, Gu Ningxi held three sticks of incense and made many wishes. She prioritized them and respectfully offered them to the Buddha.
I wish my relatives and friends good health and no illness or disaster.
Second, I wish that your career will be smooth and free from troubles.
My third wish... is to be able to serve as an official for a long time, without being confined to a small world.
After Gu Ningxi finished praying devoutly, he realized that His Royal Highness Prince Zhao beside him had not moved.
"Your Highness, do you have anything to pray for?"
It's a rare opportunity to leave Beijing, I can't just go back so easily.
Lu Jing smiled. What he wanted in his heart was the throne, but he had to fight for it himself. It was useless to pray to gods and Buddhas.
As for the second option, he couldn't make a wish to the gods and Buddhas to turn his beloved into a beautiful girl again, right?
But Lu Jing still took the three incense sticks as he was told and bowed before the Buddha.
He wishes that all Yuan Le desires in his heart will be fulfilled.
…
The temple is quiet, and the sound of bells and chimes echoes among the mountains.
The wind blew up a few dead leaves, but the sycamore tree behind the Guanyin Temple, which was over 600 years old, still stood quietly.
In the depths of winter, the leaves of the sycamore trees have fallen, but the red prayer strings tied to the branches sway in the wind, giving the impression of the lively springtime.
The two sat side by side under the tree, and Gu Ningxi looked up at the red ropes all over the tree.
She said, "It seems that the first time I met Your Highness was here."
"Yeah."
Gu Ningxi laughed: "I thought Your Highness had forgotten it long ago."
Lu Jing disagreed and compared his height: "Back then, you were only this tall."
"How is that possible?" Gu Ningxi was dissatisfied.
Lu Jing remembered it clearly: a delicate little baby, climbing up the flower bed with its short legs, trying to reach a branch to hang a red rope.
Gu Ningxi didn't believe it: "Your Highness is only three years older than me."
They had met when they were teenagers, and it had been over a decade since then. Now, sitting under the sycamore tree again, it felt like a lifetime ago.
The two were originally chatting casually, but for some reason they suddenly became quiet at the same time.
The surroundings were already quiet, and when they looked into each other's eyes, each reflected the other's appearance.
It seems that there are only each other in this world.
Another gust of wind suddenly blew, and the red ropes on the tree became a mess.
After a few breaths, the two of them looked away.
Gu Ningxi went to look at the stones on the ground, while Lu Jing looked at the yellow leaves on the trees.
The atmosphere seemed inexplicably chaotic. Gu Ningxi counted the pebbles and felt indescribably strange.
Lu Jing was counting the yellow leaves and thinking -
The feeling of being a homosexual is really weird.
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