Talking about life under dim lights

Sweet after marriage

It was a sultry afternoon and the sky was dark.

"It's so dark."

The carved wooden windows of the Qianqing Palace creaked in the wind. Ji Mingxiu stood on a high pear wood stool and leaned out. The strong wind and raindrops hit his palms, bringing a slight chill.

"Your Majesty, please come down quickly. The wind is very strong. Be careful not to catch a cold."

As soon as Qiu Ling entered the hall, he quickly put down the tea tray in his hand and reached out to help Ji Mingxiu get down from the high stool.

"It's okay. It's good to get some fresh air occasionally."

Ji Mingxiu reluctantly pushed away Qiu Ling's outstretched hand and leaned against the window instead. It was a rare sight to see such weather, so unrestrained and refreshing that even he, who had been cooped up in the palace for years, seemed to feel the ultimate freedom between heaven and earth.

The wind was blowing wildly, and His Majesty's cold hair brushed through his fingertips, making his heart tighten. He lowered his head with dim eyes, not daring to persuade him anymore.

Ever since we knelt down in Changning Palace last time, a wall of silence had been built between us.

Although His Majesty did not drive him away and still allowed him to serve him, he did not dare to take another step forward, let alone expect His Majesty to respond to his despicable thoughts, not even a rejection.

How could the gorgeous crabapple blossoms on the branches be distracted by the love secretly told in the scattered mud at the roots?

He was silent, and suddenly his shoulders felt heavy. He looked up hastily and saw His Majesty holding his shoulders and trying to jump down from the high stool.

"His Majesty!"

He did not have time to feel sad about the little selfish thoughts in his heart, and subconsciously took two quick steps forward to catch His Majesty.

"I'm fine, you guys are just making things too scary."

Ji Mingxiu was somewhat helpless. The country had been peaceful in the past few years. Gu Zi'an and his men had helped to take care of political and military affairs, so there was nothing to worry about. His health had also improved a lot and he was not so fragile anymore.

Moreover...

He reached out and held Qiu Ling's hand, then lowered his head and looked at her carefully.

The hands were probably about the same age as him, but had wrinkles all over them, which was very different from his fair and soft palms.

These hands have served him for more than ten years.

Ji Mingxiu sighed, and this sigh gave rise to infinite fear in Qiu Ling's ears.

Your Majesty, do you think he is too crude? Those scars seem to be the most unsightly part of his disabled body. Your Majesty's eyes are looking at him as if he is completely peeling him apart to see him thoroughly.

Qiu Ling pursed his lips tightly, suppressing the urge to pull his hand back. He was originally a servant, and he had no self-respect in front of his master.

It was because he had thoughts that he shouldn't have that he felt so embarrassed and humiliated.

"Qiu Ling, I am just a mortal."

Ji Mingxiu held it tightly, not letting him withdraw his hand. The low voice seemed like the wind blowing from the past ten years, bringing up the ups and downs of the past decade.

It's not that he didn't know what Qiu Ling was thinking, nor was he deliberately ignoring his response. It's just that Qiu Ling was so deeply in love that even if he couldn't fully accept it at the moment, he couldn't bear to throw away this heavy friendship like a worn-out shoe and let it fall into the mud and turn into dust.

"This heart is made of nothing but metal and stone."

His voice was drowned out by the howling wind outside the window, but it sounded like thunder in Qiu Ling's ears.

"Your Majesty... I... How can a servant be worthy of..."

Qiu Ling heard the hidden meaning of His Majesty. He knelt on the ground with a thud, and the hand he was holding on His Majesty suddenly tightened. There was disbelief in his eyes, and he seemed to be hiding tears of sweetness after bitter experience.

"alright."

Ji Mingxiu couldn't bear to see such a crying scene. He knew that it would take more than a few words to make Qiu Ling believe that he had accepted her feelings, but fortunately, there was a long way to go and they had enough time to answer.

As for now, he smiled and patted Qiu Ling's hand, "Go and close the window a little, um... and bring a heater."

The cool breeze on a hot summer day was certainly pleasant, but he also had an appointment with someone to make tea in the Qianqing Palace today.

With a fire burning in the small stove and listening to the rain by the railing, I am waiting for the destined person.

But I didn’t expect that before the destined person came, two uninvited guests arrived first.

"Your Majesty, the fragrance of this tea cannot be covered by heavy rain. I wonder if I will have the pleasure of tasting it today."

In the heavy rain, Li Qingyun happened to meet him while strolling leisurely with an umbrella. If we ignore the fact that he might meet His Majesty three or five times a day, it still seems quite realistic.

Behind him was Cheng Tianfeng, who had changed into plain clothes after patrolling. He really looked unaware and still had a dazed expression on his face. There was some rain on his forehead, making him look like a drowned puppy.

Ji Mingxiu leaned crookedly on the wooden chair and didn't want to pay any attention to the old fox. He just nodded lazily to Cheng Tianfeng behind him, allowing them to come in.

He didn't know if it was his illusion, but he always felt that Li Qingyun seemed to be becoming more and more weird, and his words were also weird, without any of the smoothness he had in the officialdom.

It turns out that this person can't just stay in the palace and do nothing like a parasite. He still needs to arrange some official work.

Seeing that His Majesty ignored him, Li Qingyun was not embarrassed. Instead, he sat next to His Majesty and began to peel grapes very consciously. He then gently placed the cool flesh on His Majesty's lips. The dripping juice was squeezed out and dyed with some brilliant colors, which made the hearts of the people present nervous and their eyes darkened.

Ji Mingxiu didn't notice the sudden stares from several people. He turned his head and lightly hooked his tongue. The sour and sweet taste between his lips and teeth made him squint happily, making him more like a proud cat, making people want to stroke him from head to tail.

Feeling comfortable with the service, Ji Mingxiu was willing to pay attention to Li Qingyun. Seeing his hand reaching for the teapot on the stove, he casually picked up the jade ruyi beside him and knocked on it.

"Don't move, we're not all here yet."

"Who is your majesty waiting for?"

Li Qingyun's expression froze, and his gentle brows suddenly darkened, but he quickly reacted and lowered his eyes in a fragile manner, revealing some dark circles under his eyes.

"Well... I knew it, as a criminal, I don't even have the qualifications to serve Your Majesty a cup of hot tea..."

Of course, what he said was nonsense, but when Ji Mingxiu saw his haggard face, he felt a little guilty. Ah Yuan was at the age when people hated him, so he simply left him to Li Qingyun. Judging from the appearance, Ah Yuan was probably more capable than he thought.

He pursed his lips and took back the jade ruyi, looking slightly apologetic.

"I'm going to visit A ​​Yuan tonight."

That means I'm staying at his place tonight.

After hearing His Majesty's sincere words, Li Qingyun immediately put away his hypocritical look and continued to peel the grapes one by one with a smile.

Cheng Tianfeng, who witnessed the whole process of changing his face, silently rolled his eyes in his heart. He sat aside and concentrated on stirring the icy and cold Yuanzi prepared for His Majesty. He no longer had any awe in his heart for this former superior.

**, damn green tea!

"Hmm, slow down, it's a bit cold."

Before Ji Mingxiu could eat the grape, a figure in armor rushed out from the rain curtains in the courtyard.

"Zian!"

Ji Mingxiu jumped down from his chair and went to greet him excitedly. The person he was waiting for finally came.

Today was the day that Gu Zian went to the training ground to give a speech to the new recruits of Tiandu, so he was dressed more formally. The black gold armor that he had worn on the battlefield still caught people's attention in the heavy rain.

When the other people saw His Majesty's completely different attitude towards Gu Zi'an, their faces suddenly darkened and their eyes as sharp as knives and swords shot over one after another.

Gu Zi'an felt those tense looks, but he didn't care at all. He strode into the house, and the rain dripping from his body wet the ground.

He gently dodged the hand that His Majesty stretched out to help him take off his armor. This golden armor was not light, and the murderous iron aura was mixed with the coldness of rain. How could he dare to let His Majesty touch it?

But seeing His Majesty following closely behind him, his envious eyes were almost completely glued to the armor, like a cat that was playing coquettishly around his legs because it couldn't get food.

Who can handle this?

After carefully wiping off the moisture on his body, Gu Zi'an turned around, picked up the cute and unaware cat, and shook it arrogantly.

Then, despite those murderous gazes, she gave His Majesty a kiss on the lips that was so sweet it would melt your heart.

Take care! Son! An!

Huh? Why do I seem to smell gunpowder? (Cat peeking outjpg.)

*

After the pot of boiling hot tea in front of me had rolled over several times, the last protagonist of the day finally arrived with an umbrella.

Su Yuanbai nodded slightly to His Majesty, shook off the rain from his umbrella, and sat down beside His Majesty. The rain outside the court had become lighter, but it still wet his court robes.

Ji Mingxiu's eyes wandered over Su Yuanbai's dark-colored court robes, and he was a little dazed. As far as he could remember, the imperial teacher always wore plain white robes, occasionally embellished with a few winter plum blossoms.

Until a while ago, the palace had to rush to make a batch of new court robes. The position of imperial preceptor was a nominal position and there were no clear regulations to date, so naturally there were no additional requirements for court robes.

But he remembered that the imperial teacher had worn plain clothes for so many years, so he took the initiative to change the color. Unexpectedly, it turned out to be surprisingly suitable.

Perhaps, many years ago, the Imperial Master had also worn this red outfit, drinking poetry and singing, full of vigor and vitality.

However, his gaze was fixed on the few strands of frosty hair that fell on the dark purple robe.

Finally, the years will never come back.

Su Yuanbai noticed the seemingly gloomy and regretful look in His Majesty's eyes, and he smiled and shook his head. The tea smoke brought a breeze that made him drunk like wine, filling the room with darkness.

He knew what His Majesty was thinking. One spring day last year, he finally had the courage to step into Xunfeng Mountain again.

The little monk in front of the temple gate was no longer someone he was familiar with. He lingered for a long time but did not dare to go any further.

Just as he was about to leave, a little nun came running from the temple and led him into the master's room.

He had not dared to see his master for more than 20 years. He knelt on the ground for a long time and did not dare to look at his master.

"I am guilty and I have no face to see my master."

At this moment, he seemed to have returned to his childhood, when he was just a little monk in Liuming Temple. Scriptures were turning before his eyes, weaving out a complex yet simple and pure human world.

"Does Yuan Bai feel ashamed?"

The master sat cross-legged on the couch, his tone as gentle and calm as it had been twenty years ago.

Do you feel ashamed?

He closed his eyes, and the past twenty years lingered in his mind.

He is unwilling to get involved in the chess game, so he has no regrets even if he does nothing in the world.

He was unwilling to let this heart go into the wilderness, even though it violated the moral code of heaven and earth, he had no regrets.

"The secular world is also a form of spiritual practice. If you have a clear conscience, what sin have you committed?"

He suddenly raised his head and looked at his master intently. His master's eyes were kind and peaceful, as if he was encouraging his confused young son.

If you have no regrets, then come out.

When he left Xunfeng Mountain, he stood on the bluestone steps. Behind him, he could hear the distant sound of the ancient temple's bell, echoing throughout the world, a full 108 times.

That is the sound of the bell that heralds the death of the abbot.

He leaned forward and knelt on the long steps, his trembling tears falling uncontrollably, wetting the bluestone slabs that bore the imprint of a century of time.

*

Talk about it the day after tomorrow

July 14th King's Chronicle

Today, I warmed tea and boiled snow in the midst of a storm. I remembered that when my brother was still alive, we often drank tea and played chess in the bamboo pavilion. Although things and people have changed, we can still talk about our lives with the people we are close to.

Time is like the flickering shadows under the lantern. He can glimpse the sorrow and joy, hear the wind and rain in the swaying, and it flows like this without noticing the human world.