Chapter 306 Wei Yanwan 46
"Alright, even though it's spring, the wind is quite strong. Let's play with them for a while and then go back quickly. The Empress Dowager is hosting a banquet tonight."
Hongli took Yanwan's fan and gently tapped her head, then whispered in her ear, "I'll bring you another Dingsheng cake tomorrow."
"I'm not a child anymore." Wei Yanwan took the fan from Hongli's hand, muttered something, but still took the two of them to cut the kite and turned back.
Hongli saw her holding a fan in her hand, and turned her head to chat with Yihuan about something. Her face still had a bit of youthfulness, which made him smile and sigh: "This imperial concubine..."
However, Ruyi could hear the doting and affection in his words, and felt complicated.
At nightfall, everyone sat on the waterside pavilion, toasting each other and making the atmosphere very lively.
The Empress Dowager, who was sitting at the head of the table, looked around and suddenly said to the Emperor beside her, "I have received Your Majesty's filial piety today. At the age of sixty, I am able to see the beauty of Jiangnan. But since I am here, I must see the lotus flowers before I leave."
"You're joking, Empress Dowager. Where do the lotus flowers come from in this spring?"
As soon as Hongli finished speaking, he saw two small boats suddenly rowing in the lake. One person was playing the pipa and the other was singing loudly. The singing sounded more melodious through the water, which made Hongli excited. He seemed to be very satisfied with the empress dowager's arrangement.
After the song ended, the person in the boat slowly walked forward and lifted the veil.
The one singing was naturally Concubine Qing, but the one playing the pipa was a newcomer with an ordinary appearance, who actually made Concubine Qing look particularly charming.
Listening to the Empress Dowager's explicit and implicit advice, and looking at the Emperor's expression, Yan Wan knew that Hongli's rebellious psychology had been aroused again.
In particular, the Empress Dowager took this opportunity to rebuke the Empress for her favor over the past year. Perhaps in the Emperor's mind, she was indirectly criticizing him, blaming him for not knowing how to balance the six palaces.
However, he did not want to give others a chance to criticize him in public, so he admitted his mistake in a gentle tone and respectfully sent the Queen Mother away.
"This song performance is really boring, it seems like a farce."
Yihuan looked at the emperor with a puzzled expression on his face, and couldn't help but feel sorry for him, but he couldn't blame the empress dowager either. He could only sigh and said nothing more.
Ruiji also nodded and said, "This pipa playing is not very good, not even half as good as mine."
"Fool, eat two more fruits."
Wei Yanwan put a peeled orange into her mouth and smiled at Yi Huan, "Don't worry about it. The Emperor can handle it. But how is Yi Huan today? After the banquet is over, let's go and have some fun."
"I'm in good spirits, but how are you going to have fun?"
The three of them whispered to each other in their seats, with the Emperor and Empress above them in full view. Hongli, feeling somewhat curious, glanced at the palace attendant who asked him to turn over the cards, and said calmly, "Let's go with the one who plays the pipa. I don't want to disappoint the Empress Dowager."
Ruyi also followed Hongli's words and expressed her concern for the emperor's health, and simply ended the banquet on the grounds that it was getting late.
…
"Come on, be careful, this pleasure boat is a bit shaky."
Wei Yanwan quickly climbed onto the pleasure boat, smiling and waving at them. Rui Ji and Yi Huan, supporting each other, also carefully boarded the boat.
Lotus flowers, which were arranged by the Queen Mother at her command, were placed in the front and back of the boat, and the faint fragrance of the lotus flowers could be smelled in the boat.
"Did you bring all the lotus flowers from those two small boats?"
"Yes, the Queen Mother has already used it up, so it would be a waste to just leave it there. I ordered them all to move to this pleasure boat, and we can have some fun together."
Yihuan had already sat in her seat, picked up a bitter bamboo flute placed next to her and blew it twice, seeming reluctant to let it go.
Ruiji also saw the red sandalwood moon harp, and her memory instantly returned to that winter day and the promise they had made. The smile on her face gradually softened: "Do you still remember it?"
"Of course I wouldn't forget, but I wonder how Ruiji's Yueqin practice is going?"
Bai Ruiji didn't say anything, but just plucked the strings of the Yueqin skillfully. The next second, the mellow and melodious sound flowed out.
Yihuan followed in with the beat, picked up her bamboo flute and smiled. The two people's music intertwined with each other, but it seemed as if they were waiting for something, calling for something.
Yanwan sat by the boat, took off her finger gloves, listened carefully to the spring-like music, and finally joined in at a gap.
In an instant, the leisurely spring outing turned into a New Year's Day lantern festival:
The east wind blows thousands of flowers into bloom at night, and blows down stars like rain. The road is filled with the fragrance of BMW and carved carriages. The sound of phoenix flutes moves, the light of jade pots turns, and fish and dragons dance all night long.
The kind of hustle and bustle of hiding in the crowd and watching the fireworks of the world has a power that warms people's hearts, making people unable to help but reveal a childlike innocent smile and a teenager's unrestrained spirit.
The two were inspired by her, and as if they had thrown off their shackles, they also threw themselves into the free, unrestrained, and heroic world of music, playing and playing with ecstasy...
The song is over, but the soul remains.
At this time, Yihuan and Ruiji had stopped and were listening quietly to the last part of the pipa music.
I don't know who spoke first: "When I look back, I see that person standing there in the dim light."
The three of them were now each holding their instruments in silence, still savoring the unprecedented exhilaration they had just felt in that short song.
“This song is so good…”
Ruiji held the Yueqin in her arms and said over and over again, "This song is so good..."
None of the three noticed the bright yellow figure that flashed by in the attic closest to them.
It felt like a dream until the next day, and I was still savoring the touch in my heart last night.
But soon they had to wake up, because the emperor had gone mad for some unknown reason and recently he liked to have them serve him and often wanted to listen to their music.
Wei Yanwan, in particular, felt a little tired holding the pipa that the emperor had just given her. "Your Majesty, which piece do you want me to play? Just tell me directly and don't make me guess."
"Just play what you like."
Hongli held the scroll in his hand, but his tone of voice was filled with dissatisfaction.
Wei Yanwan simply put down her pipa, snatched the book from the emperor's hand, and leaned against his chest. "Your Majesty, please tell me. I'm not very smart to begin with, and I'd be even more foolish if I continued to guess."
"...Where are the lotus flowers that the Empress Dowager brought that day?"
Wei Yanwan raised her head, blinking her watery eyes for a long time before she said, "Ah...you were there that day too."
"That's not right. Didn't you turn over Lady Zhao's nameplate that day? Where did you hear it?"
Hongli was so angry at her attitude that he laughed. He raised his right hand and pinched her little face: "Why do you care where I am listening? Just tell me whether you will play for me or not."
"Oh, pinch it, I'll pinch it right away. Please be kind. This is the part of my body that pleases you the most. If I pinch it, you won't love me anymore, what will I do?"
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