Chapter 76 Lian Youdu comes to pick you up.
Inside the palace, the sounds of stringed instruments were lingering, and dancing and music were playing, it was the time when people were drinking to their heart's content.
Cui Yiluo sat at the table, but ate with her eyes downcast with an indifferent expression, not paying attention to the singing and dancing in the hall. However, there was a smile in her downcast eyes, and upon closer inspection, the corners of her lips were slightly raised.
She just raised her eyelids slightly, and the man beside her quickly turned his gaze away.
Cui Yiluo picked up a slice of orange and put it in her mouth. She blinked at him and said, "I really wasn't looking at him."
Jiang Yunjin hummed softly, and when he saw her lower her eyes again, he turned his gaze back, but unexpectedly met the mocking gaze of the man in black clothes at the table opposite.
The two looked at each other for a moment, then looked away.
The sweet yet bitter juice of the orange segments exploded in her mouth. The man beside her calmly picked out the veins of the newly peeled orange segments and put them into the cup in front of her, as if he didn't notice the surprised looks of the people around him.
He looked like he hadn't shown at all that he had been feeling jealous all day.
Cui Yiluo didn't know when he had revealed his emotions so obviously in front of her.
To celebrate the new year, the emperor ordered his ministers and their families to enjoy a few days of recreation at the hot spring palace in the suburbs. Initially, he was supposed to follow the imperial carriage on horseback, but he opted for a carriage instead, citing the cold weather as the excuse. Cui Yiluo sensed something was amiss, but couldn't figure out the reason until she spotted Yuan Ling as she disembarked.
Although ordered to travel south, it coincided with the Lunar New Year holiday, and the emperor graciously allowed officials to return to Shengjing for a few days, waiting until after the Lunar New Year before continuing south. Therefore, Yuan Ling was also prominently included in this trip to the other palace.
However, during the dinner, Yuan Ling's seat happened to be opposite them, and he could only look at them from a distance.
So that night, as long as Cui Yiluo raised her face slightly, the man next to her would look at her quickly.
Small-minded, very caring.
At this time, Concubine Qiong, who was sitting right below the emperor, stood up. As she stood up, the pearls and jade on her head shone brightly in the candlelight, and the maids around her immediately rushed over.
Concubine Qiong whispered something to the emperor, as if she was drunk and wanted to rest for a while. The emperor immediately wanted to get up and follow her, but was stopped by Concubine Qiong. Then, Concubine Qiong took a group of maids and eunuchs and left to the side hall.
After a while, Cui Yiluo glanced at Jiang Yunjin and was about to leave, but suddenly her hand was grabbed and squeezed lightly.
"Be careful."
-
In the side hall, Imperial Concubine Qiong reclined on the imperial couch, eyes closed, her face slightly flushed from the alcohol she'd drunk, giving her the air of a drunken beauty. Beside her, Yingxue meticulously massaged the Imperial Concubine's forehead, carefully observing her expression.
Suddenly, a maidservant came in lightly from outside the palace gate, looking hesitantly and tentatively at Yingxue in the palace.
Yingxue glanced at Concubine Qiong. Although Concubine Qiong had her eyes closed, she waved her hand gently.
But after hearing the report from the maid, Yingxue stood there in a daze, hesitating for a long time. It was not until Concubine Qiong called her that she walked back hesitantly.
"Your Majesty, Madam Jiang requests an audience..."
Concubine Qiong's expression was obviously paused. After a moment, she slowly raised her eyes and glanced at Yingxue, "Let her in."
Yingxue understood, and before inviting Cui Yiluo in, she ordered the secret guards to ambush around the side hall, waiting for the master's order to break in through the window.
The hall was warm and the incense burner with double phoenixes playing with pearls was emitting a light wisp of fragrant mist. As soon as Cui Yiluo entered the hall, the maid guarding the door tactfully took the goose yellow fox fur cloak embroidered with pear blossoms that Cui Yiluo was wearing.
"Madam Jiang is here to see me, what's the important matter?" Imperial Concubine Qiong sat up straight, her wide sleeves slid down an inch, revealing a fair wrist. The mutton-fat jade bracelet on her slender wrist made her skin look even more like cream. Her hair was full of pearls and jade, and she looked extremely elegant. There was no sign that she had given birth to and raised three sons.
Although she was smiling, her beautiful eyes were cold.
Cui Yiluo said slowly, "It is indeed an important matter. Could Your Majesty please ask the attendants to leave?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Yingxue began to scold: "Madam Jiang, you really don't take the palace rules seriously. How can the imperial concubine be alone in a room with a minister?"
Cui Yiluo glanced at Yingxue. For a moment, Yingxue saw the shadow of Concubine Qiong's power in Cui Yiluo's cold eyes. She was stunned and the stern expression on her face froze.
Cui Yiluo turned to look at Concubine Qiong, "What did Her Majesty say?"
Concubine Qiong said calmly, "Go and receive your punishment."
Yingxue raised her eyebrows slightly and was about to ask someone to take Cui Yiluo away, but suddenly she saw Concubine Qiong's cold eyes glance at her and she knelt down hurriedly, "I know I was wrong!"
"Everyone, go down."
Yingxue knew that she had angered her master, so she didn't dare to say anything. She immediately made a gesture and took the rest of the people away.
The side hall, which had been packed with people just a moment ago, was suddenly filled with only two people. Concubine Qiong tapped the armrest of the couch with her slender index finger, the nail polish stained red like pigeon blood.
"Can you tell me?"
Cui Yiluo took a deep breath, the sweet aroma from the incense burner filling her lungs. She didn't like such a cloying aroma, so she endured the discomfort and said, "Your Majesty, my mother's death anniversary will be soon. I'd like to offer a few lamps for my deceased mother. Which temple in Shengjing should I go to?"
Upon hearing this, Concubine Qiong's face darkened and she frowned, saying, "It's a major festival, it's too unlucky for Madam Jiang to bring up this matter."
Cui Yiluo simply said, "It is I who have offended. My mother died in the Ningzhou River a long time ago. I was only six months old at the time, and I don't remember what she looked like. That's why I took the liberty to ask Your Majesty about offering lamps. Your Majesty has three children, so I'm sure you can understand my feelings."
Concubine Qiong smiled sarcastically: "Madam Jiang, you have offended me. Why should I believe your words?"
"I wonder if your Majesty has heard, but my father, Cui Qi, a military officer in Ningzhou, unfortunately fell ill with hysteria a while ago. He's been sent back to his hometown for treatment, but the doctor says he'll probably never recover. His mental state will be even weaker than that of a three-year-old child," Cui Yiluo said expressionlessly, as if simply explaining, "In the future, I doubt anyone in this world will even remember what my mother looked like."
Concubine Qiong's smile faded, and her expression turned serious. She cast a heavy gaze on Cui Yiluo, and after a moment, she slowly spoke, "I understand. If Madam Jiang wants to offer lamps for her deceased mother, she might as well go to Guanghua Temple and seek out Abbot Yuanjue. I believe he will bless Madam with a peaceful and smooth life."
When she found the temple that offered lanterns for her deceased mother, Cui Yiluo didn't smile easily. She bowed properly and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty. I will take my leave."
Concubine Qiong paused for a moment and nodded softly.
Cui Yiluo let out a light breath, turned around and left, and suddenly heard the sound of pearls and jade swaying behind her. It seemed that Concubine Qiong stood up and took a step forward.
"I heard that it was Madam Jiang's birthday a few days ago. Happy birthday."
Cui Yiluo didn't turn around. The sweet fragrance in the hall made her throat a little sticky. She said softly, "Thank you, Your Majesty. But my birthday has passed for several days."
After saying this, she walked away without waiting for Concubine Qiong to answer.
The maid who had just brought her cloak was waiting outside. Cui Yiluo's inner clothes were not thick, and the distance she walked without the cloak was only a few steps, but her hands and feet were already cold after walking.
After putting on the cloak, he hadn't taken two steps when he saw Xiao Ying coming towards him.
Xiao Ying always felt a natural affinity for her, and subconsciously smiled and moved closer to her, but then he remembered his mother's instructions and restrained himself by stopping a few steps away.
"Meet the princess."
"No need to be polite. Madam Jiang, why are you here?"
Cui Yiluo replied calmly, "I have something to ask Your Majesty, and I'd like to pay my respects to you."
Xiao Ying had been doted on by her parents since she was young, and she was innocent and naive. She didn't think anything was wrong when she heard this, so she smiled and said, "Then Madam, please return soon."
After the two parted ways, Cui Yiluo took a few steps and heard the laughter of Xiao Ying and Concubine Qiong coming from the side hall. Concubine Qiong scolded Xiao Ying for not wearing more clothes and not being afraid of being cold, but her tone was full of smiles and pampering. Xiao Ying naturally did not take her mother's reprimand seriously and just acted coquettishly and got over it.
The side hall, which had been silent and solemn just now, suddenly became lively and cheerful due to Xiao Ying's arrival. Everyone could see that Concubine Qiong obviously doted on her daughter Xiao Ying much more than the two princes, and no one knew why.
The night grew darker, Cui Yiluo hurried back, quickening her pace as she left the side hall.
But when approaching the door of the side hall, he saw a man with a slender figure wearing a snow-blue cloak in the distant night. His tall figure was very eye-catching in the thick night. He held a lamp in his hand, like the only bright star in the chaotic night, and his handsome face was still dazzling in the weak candlelight.
Cui Yiluo recognized him at a glance. After all, the cloak he was wearing was made by someone she had personally selected the material for.
She was stunned for a moment, and Jiang Yunjin obviously recognized her and strode towards her.
"Why are you here..."
"I'm here to pick you up."
Cui Yiluo didn't say anything.
Last night she said she wanted to talk to Concubine Qiong today, but she didn't say much, and he only responded softly. She thought he would just wait for her to return to the main hall where the banquet was held.
He stood there, waiting for who knows how long.
His palms felt warm, and Jiang Yunjin had already skillfully taken her hand, inserted his fingers into hers, and clasped them tightly. Then, his sword-like brows slightly frowned: "Why are your hands so cold?"
"I spoke a few words to Princess Hejia."
Jiang Yunjin nodded and held her tighter.
"Aren't you going back to the banquet?"
Cui Yiluo recognized that this road was not the way back to the main hall, but the way back to their residence.
"Um."
Jiang Yunjin held the lamp in his other hand, holding it very steadily. Only when the wind blew would the lamp sway slightly. Most of the time, it steadily illuminated the bluestone road ahead.
On the long palace road, in the dim light, there was silence for a few moments, and then Cui Yiluo's low voice was heard.
"Actually, you already knew that she didn't lose her memory, right?"
"Well," his voice sounded a little obscure in the dim light, "I don't want you to feel bad."
Cui Yiluo simply asked, "Does Your Majesty know?"
Jiang Yunjin's eyes darkened as he recalled the conversation he had with the emperor in the Council Chamber that afternoon. After a pause, he said, "I know."
With just two words, Cui Yiluo understood. In reality, amnesia or not, it was just a cover-up. The emperor used it to take his wife in, and Concubine Qiong used it to get rid of her cowardly and incompetent husband. There was no need to explain it to each other.
Jiang Yunjin looked at her: "A Luo..."
But before he could say anything, Cui Yiluo interrupted him, smiling, "My cousin told me that the hot springs in this palace are good for promoting qi and blood circulation. Has my husband been here before?"
"I came here once two years ago with the Emperor, but at that time I was still the Minister of the Central Secretariat."
Only officials of the third rank and above had private hot spring pools in their residences; the rest of the officials and their families could only go to the Hot Spring Palace. Back then, Jiang Yunjin was only a minister of the imperial court, so it was natural that his current residence wouldn't have a private hot spring pool. Cui Yiluo knew that Jiang Yunjin was a man of restraint, never indulging in pleasure. He was alone here, so he certainly didn't know what the hot springs were like.
Cui Yiluo responded and said nothing more.
Jiang Yunjin also tacitly did not speak again. The two walked hand in hand in the dark and returned to their residence.
Perhaps fatigued by the journey, Cui Yiluo bathed and went to bed that night. Late in the night, she seemed to have a dream about her childhood, a series of trivial events that she had completely forgotten upon waking. But in her dream, she could still clearly feel herself trapped in a warm, broad embrace.
-
The next day, although a group of ministers accompanied him to the hot spring palace for fun, the emperor was determined to govern the country. Although he was having fun, he did not delay state affairs. Except for skipping the court session, the rest was the same as if he were in Shengjing.
So after breakfast, Jiang Yunjin went to the Council of State.
Cui Yiluo was not idle either. Before setting off yesterday, Jiang Zhaoyue invited them to go to the hot spring together.
The hot spring palace was divided into many independent hot spring pools, and the women came together without disturbing each other. However, the sound insulation was a little poor.
崔宜萝几人换了明衣，浸在温热泉水中，听着隔壁的几个贵女从礼部尚书的儿子专宠贵妾，以致被夫人娘家寻人揍了一顿，讲到郭太师家的大小姐钟意上了父亲门下的哪个寒门学生，讲着讲着，还顺带着将隔壁的崔宜萝几人也提了几句。
"Yesterday at the banquet, I saw Lord Jiang peeling oranges for his wife."
A noble lady exclaimed in amazement, "Just peeling oranges? As expected of Lord Jiang Ling, he's as unromantic as ever."
"No, don't you think it's truly astonishing that Jiang Linggong, who never gives anyone extra glances, regardless of whether they're male or female, could peel an orange for his wife?"
The voices of several people talking could be heard clearly. Jiang Zhaoyue glanced at Cui Yiluo teasingly, but Cui Yiluo seemed to have gotten used to it and looked calm.
"By the way, I heard that His Majesty will set up a stage in the training grounds at 5 p.m. for people to compete. Would you like to go and see?"
The other noble lady was not surprised: "Isn't it always like this before?"
"Things are different now. In the past two years, Yunyi Guard has selected many tall and handsome men."
The noble lady was obviously interested: "Huh? Then I'm going."
On the other side, Jiang Zhaoyue also used her mouth to ask whether a few people wanted to go. Yang Jingling nodded first, and then Xie Xiyun also nodded.
Cui Yiluo was not interested in this. She just felt that most men looked similar. However, she had never been involved in a martial arts competition before, so it would be okay to go and take a look.
But they didn't expect that as soon as the four of them arrived outside the school training ground, they heard a group of noble ladies and gentlemen rushing in excitedly.
"Really? Lord Jiang Linggong versus Commander Yuan? Hurry, hurry, let's go, don't miss it!"
Jiang Yunjin and Yuan Ling had a fight? Cui Yiluo's eyebrows jumped suddenly, and she felt a black screen before her eyes.
Jiang Zhaoyue was also surprised when he heard this, "Big brother is actually on stage too? That's really rare."
After saying that, he pulled Cui Yiluo inside. Jiang Zhaoyue was in a hurry and directly pulled Cui Yiluo through the crowd to the front.
The two swords collided with each other, making a crisp clanging sound. On the school training ground, a man in frosty riding clothes and a man in black clothes were fighting with swords. The two were evenly matched, and their moves were fast and powerful, and the fight was back and forth.
The crowd watching below were all amazed, even the emperor and empress at the top were fascinated.
The sharp sword blade shone coldly in the sunlight. Yuan Ling's sword moves were extremely fast, attacking Jiang Yunjin's vital points again. Although Jiang Yunjin's attack was a little softer, he was always able to block Yuan Ling's sword attack tightly and find a flaw to attack back.
But several times, Yuan Ling's sword still brushed past Jiang Yunjin's body, which made Cui Yiluo's forehead throb.
The young men around him were discussing, "I heard that Commander Yuan specifically wanted to compete with Lord Jiang, but Lord Jiang actually agreed. Commander Yuan is a military commander."
"But it seems that Lord Jiang Ling's martial arts skills are not much inferior to Commander Yuan."
Jiang Yunjin was a civil official, and many people didn't know he was also a skilled swordsman. Cui Yiluo had seen him wield a sword before, but apart from anything else, just the muscular build and strength he displayed every night after taking off his clothes made Cui Yiluo realize that he couldn't be inferior to Yuan Ling.
But Cui Yiluo still frowned and stared at the snow-white figure on the field.
Suddenly, Jiang Yunjin turned his head and met her gaze accurately. Cui Yiluo's heart skipped a beat, and before she could react, she saw him avert his gaze, blocking Yuan Ling's attacking sword.
But the corners of his lips curled up slightly.
The battle was stalemate, but the onlookers did not seem tired. They were just waiting to see which side would show a flaw first, and some even placed bets on which side would win.
With a sharp clang, Yuan Ling's sword passed Jiang Yunjin's sword and moved forward swiftly. Jiang Yunjin dodged to the side, but his arm was still cut by the sword. The bright red blood instantly dyed his frosty sleeves red, which was particularly eye-catching.
Cui Yiluo's heart stopped.
But the next moment, Jiang Yunjin bypassed Yuan Ling's sword and pointed it directly at Yuan Ling's throat.
The winner has been decided.
There was silence outside the stadium for a few moments, and then applause was heard.
On the field, Yuan Ling did not expect that he would dodge the sword moves so clumsily. He was stunned for a moment, and it was at this moment that the offensive and defensive positions changed.
He had hurt himself on purpose.
As for why he would intentionally injure himself, the answer is obvious.
He looked at Jiang Yunjin with a dark look as he pointed his sword at him.
In the arena, swords and knives have no eyes, and injuries have occurred before. Moreover, the emperor prefers masculine bloodiness, so the fighting in the arena became more and more intense, and the young men all tried their best to show their grace in front of the emperor.
Therefore, no one noticed the undercurrent between the two. Seeing that the winner had been decided, the emperor rewarded the two and ordered the imperial physician to take Jiang Yunjin away for bandaging.
Yuan Ling's sword cut was not shallow, and the blood flowing from Jiang Yunjin's arm almost dyed most of his sleeve red.
Cui Yiluo's forehead twitched as she watched. She said something to Jiang Zhaoyue, then squeezed out of the crowd and quickly headed towards her residence.
But when passing through the corridor, a dark figure flashed around the corner.
"Miss Cui."
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The author has something to say: My cousin is going to go crazy again tomorrow [狗头]
Thank you for the nutrient solution [heart]
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