Chapter 75 Flower Tree
Thinking of her son's unprecedented radiant and heroic appearance at that time, and looking at the woman in front of her who might change her son's life, Mrs. Cui felt a complex feeling of joy in her heart.
After the class was over, she said nothing more. She just smiled and gently stroked Qiandeng's shoulder, signaling her to quickly return to the queue and prepare to depart.
Under the guidance of the palace servants, the ladies of honor lined up and entered the Hanliang Palace.
The summer breeze blows gently, lifting the hems of skirts and sleeves of clothes, and the long silk ribbons and long threads accompanied by gorgeous makeup and beautiful accessories, seem to have returned to the glorious era.
The Queen also had a dignified appearance and was in high spirits when she made toasts during the banquet. She seemed to be in good spirits.
When the complicated banquet was over and Qiandeng was about to leave with the others, the lady-in-waiting beside the queen came over and motioned her to follow her to the back hall.
After walking around the double-story building and the gorgeous corridors, I arrived at the back hall and saw that not only the queen but also the prince was there.
"Lingling, I heard from the Crown Prince that you will also accompany him on this border patrol?"
"Yes, a message came from Kucha saying that thanks to the great Tang court's grace, my father and grandfather were able to be buried in the mountains. This is a great honor for the Kucha royal family. However, when my grandfather rebuilt my great-grandmother's tomb, he also left his own place for a hundred years. Therefore, I decided to send my grandfather's armor back to his homeland as a comfort to my great-grandmother."
The Queen praised, "That's great! It's very inconvenient for a girl like you to travel thousands of miles to the northwest. Now that the Crown Prince is on a border inspection, you two can go together so that you can look after each other."
"Yes, Lingling has relied on His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's care along the way."
The prince looked at her and replied with a smile, "No, Lingling, you have helped me out of danger many times. This journey, we have been walking hand in hand, supporting each other."
"Lingling dare not." Qiandeng bowed his head silently.
The Queen glanced at the Crown Prince, sneered faintly, and changed the subject: "Since we are going together, how many people are going from the Changhua Palace this time? How will they be organized?"
Qian Deng replied, "Most of my father's and grandfather's former subordinates and the palace guards are from the northwest. Now that they know we're going northwest, there are over 300 of them who wish to return home to visit their families. The palace, the army, and themselves will share the expenses 30/30, so we don't need to encroach on the imperial court's share of food and wages. In addition, I have several young men in my palace who will also go with me."
Speaking of this, the Queen turned her gaze away from the Crown Prince and asked, "By the way, how many candidates for the position of Prince Do you have in your palace right now?"
Qian Deng whispered back, "There are also the Minister of Music Xue Xiyang and the Recorder of the Imperial Guard Ji Linyou. In addition, there are the Junior Minister of the Supreme Court Cui Fufeng and the Huihe Prince Mingjiu."
The prince said, "These four gentlemen will all accompany me to the northwest this time."
Qian Deng replied, "Yes, my father's old subordinates were originally taken over by the Ji family, and Ji Linyou, the recorder of the Imperial Guard, is the leader of this team."
"So, what about Xue Xiyang, the Minister of Music?"
"He traveled to the northwest to search for ten music and dance works to fill in the gaps due to the frequent wars in recent years and the loss of many music scores."
"So that's how it is. The Huihe prince has been here since New Year's Day, and it's time for him to return." Mingjiu and Huihe's feelings for Qiandeng were well known to everyone. However, the court was in a dilemma on the matter, so the empress remained aloof and did not interfere. She simply asked, "Then, how can Cui Shaoqing, who works in the Ministry of Justice, put aside his duties at the Dali Temple and head to the northwest?"
Qian Deng was unaware of this matter. When he recalled Mrs. Cui's meaningful look just now, he suddenly understood the meaning of her mysterious smile.
The Crown Prince answered for him, "Shaoqing Cui is well-versed in the customs and languages of various ethnic groups. Back when he was at the Ministry of Rites, he often worked with the Honglu Temple to oversee reception matters. Therefore, he has been seconded here on this trip to oversee the liaisons with the other ethnic groups."
"In that case, every young man has a reason to accompany the county lady." The queen smiled and looked at Qian Deng with a meaningful look. "That's right, Lingling, when you were originally framed by a treacherous person and were trapped in the fate of 'no relatives and bad luck to your husband,' the young men might have been hesitant. But now that the stigma has been cleared, it seems that the rumors are true. Your fate is indescribably noble, but ordinary people who covet it will suffer the consequences. You must be matched with someone of the same noble fate."
Seeing the queen's change in attitude towards him, Qiandeng didn't know what her intention was, so he could only kowtow deeply and leave with the prince.
The prince slowed down his pace, and she followed him one step behind. Neither of them violated the rules of courtesy, and they walked quietly through the palace path where the branches of early summer flowers drooped.
His stride was longer than before, and his steps were much steadier.
Since the war, the emperor has been ill for many years and the government has gradually become more dependent on the prince. He has lived up to the expectations of the court and the people and has taken on the heavy responsibility after the crisis. He has become stronger day by day and is now able to handle things on his own.
Now that I think about it, after the turmoil, the Crown Prince's Secretary was replaced, the Crown Princess-to-be was killed, and the Princess Gao's Mansion was destroyed...
Qiandeng gazed at the prince's back and thought to himself, his life had been turbulent during this period. But when the most important people around him met their end, he remained calm and composed, expressing appropriate emotions and resolving all causal relationships.
Chaos and desperate situations can indeed make people grow rapidly. They also transformed the weak young man who did not dare to go to Danfeng Gate to supervise the battle into His Royal Highness the Crown Prince who is the Regent and shows signs of having strong opinions.
It wasn't until they reached the palace gate, just before the Crown Prince boarded his carriage, that he turned around and asked her, "Lingling, how are you preparing for this journey west?"
Qian Deng replied, "My itinerary is simple, unlike the Crown Prince. I am mainly here to send my ancestors' clothing back to their homeland, so it is convenient for them to be collected and inspected."
"Well, if you need anything, feel free to come to me." The prince was in an especially bright mood today. His eyes, filled with smiles as he looked at her, seemed to be filled with a thousand words to say. "My queen mother also said that since you and I are traveling together this time, we must take care of each other."
Qiandeng lowered his eyes and said respectfully, "Lingling dare not."
Seeing her attitude so solemn and distant, the prince glanced at the people around him and said nothing more. He only signaled the eunuch accompanying him to bring out a rosewood box inlaid with mother-of-pearl and hand it to Qiandeng.
"This is the Dragon Boat Festival gift that the Eastern Palace prepared for the Changhua Palace."
Qiandeng hesitated a little, took the box with both hands, and bowed his head to express his gratitude.
The prince seemed to want to say something, but among the guards surrounding him, he only glanced at the box, nodded at her with a smile, got into the car and left.
Qiandeng walked to the side of the palace gate, slowly lifted the lid of the box, and took a look at what was inside.
It is a five-colored longevity thread in the shape of a heart knot, with nine golden flowers inlaid with gems of various colors, shining brightly and brilliantly.
The Nine-tree Flower Hairpin is a style that only the Crown Princess is worthy of owning.
At the beginning, she had exceeded the rules and owned a pair of Nine Trees of Golden Flowers, but was targeted by Princess Gao and Princess Changyi, causing a huge uproar.
And now, he gave her an even more luxurious set of nine-tree flower hairpins, and told her that the Queen Mother also said that you and I will soon walk hand in hand...
Does the meaning of traveling together only refer to their journey to the northwest together?
Volume 6: Lantern and Shadow
In June, the south is hot and humid, the Central Plains is scorching, but it is the most magnificent and vast time in the northwest.
Traveling along the Hexi Corridor, you will see vast deserts and thriving oases, one after another.
As the Crown Prince's western tour progressed, Chang'an was already far away. Thousands of lights formed curtains on the carriages in the vast expanse, and the view was as far as the eye could see.
The lush green grass spreads to the horizon. Occasionally, a long breeze blows by, and the dotted wild flowers undulate like brocade, occasionally revealing the traces of dozens of cattle and sheep.
It had been five years since she last set foot in the Northwest.
At that time, her family was still there, and she was still young. When there was no war, her father and grandfather missed her and would send someone to bring her to the camp to play.
She often went out of camp with them to hunt, riding her pony, jumping over shallow streams, stepping on lush flowers and plants, and galloping freely in the wilderness wind.
Even though she was still just a child, she was fearless. As long as she turned around, she could see her father's tall figure and his unwavering gaze. If anything happened to the young girl, she would be protected by a pair of strong arms, preventing any harm from happening.
But now, there is no such person in the world anymore.
The clatter of horse hooves echoed beside the carriage; it was Ji Linyou galloping up. A veteran of battle, he naturally didn't want to ride in a carriage. Though weathered and tanned, he was full of energy. He pointed ahead with his whip and said excitedly, "County Lady, the troops from the Beiting Protectorate are arriving. Tonight we can enter Yizhou and rest for two days."
The Beiting Protectorate was under the jurisdiction of the Shuofang, Hanhai, and Yiwu armies, and was governed together with the Anxi Protectorate on the north and south sides of the Tianshan Mountains.
After the Anshi Rebellion, the imperial court's control over the northwest declined. When the old Prince Linhuai was in charge of Beiting, he also controlled Lingzhou and the Hetao region. The Turks, Uighurs, and Western Barbarians were all under his control, so he became the most important barrier in the northwest of the Tang Dynasty and was considered the pillar of the country.
"Didn't Prince Linhuai come to greet His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?" Qian Deng got off the car and stretched his muscles on the soft grass. Seeing that the people from the Shuofang army who came to greet him were already in front of them, they all dismounted and kowtowed to the Crown Prince.
Although the leader was quite strong and tall, and looked like a veteran of many battles, his age and behavior were obviously different.
Cui Fufeng, Xue Xiyang and Ming Jiu who came with Qian Deng also dismounted from their horses or carriages and came to her side.
"I'm not sure whether Prince Linhuai has come. By comparison..." Xue Xiyang looked at Mingjiu who had come with him and said sarcastically, "What I'm even more confused about is that after passing Lingzhou, Prince Mingjiu should have headed north to return to his country. Why is this dignified prince so leisurely, still hanging around here?"
Mingjiu didn't take it seriously and smiled at him with his big white teeth: "My father said that when we Huihe fought with the King of Changhua, one side was taller than the other and we burned incense and prayed to Buddha!"
Only Cui Fufeng could translate these incomprehensible words: "The Huihe people are grateful for the friendship they had with the Prince of Changhua when they fought side by side."
"So I'm going to Kucha with Xianzhu! But you, when we go to worship, will it be appropriate for you to sing and dance and put your hands together?"
The two had been at loggerheads all the way, disliking each other and exchanging countless arguments. Xue Xiyang was no exception this time: "County Lady, please judge for yourself. Music has five tones, some happy, some sad, and some expressing each other's feelings. It's a pity that the prince comes from a barbaric land and doesn't even understand these things. Who can possibly understand him?"
The two of them, one making innuendos and the other not expressing themselves clearly, started arguing with each other in a chaotic manner, and no one was too lazy to try to stop them.
Cui Fufeng was the only one who was well-versed in court affairs. He explained to Qian Deng in detail, "The commander-in-chief must remain at the main camp. According to custom, the Prince of Linhuai does not need to travel far to welcome him. Soldiers had previously welcomed him a hundred miles away, and now his generals have gone out twenty miles to welcome him. The Prince of Linhuai will then host a banquet in the Yizhou camp to welcome the Crown Prince."
Thinking about the journey of thousands of miles to finally meet King Linhuai, Qiandeng felt a little nervous.
She has met the Prince of Linhuai many times but has never seen his true face due to some strange coincidences. Now, can she finally get a glimpse of his true face?
Thinking about what to say to him, Qiandeng followed the prince and his entourage, led by the Shuofang army, all the way to the camp.
The soldiers were in neat uniforms and their military salutes were extremely solemn. They escorted the prince into the camp without any negligence or neglect, which showed that Prince Linhuai was loyal and respectful to the court.
However, after the prince's carriage entered, Qian Deng and others' carriages were refused entry outside the camp.
Qian Deng was about to ask when a dignified woman, accompanied by her maids and servants, approached the camp gate. She greeted her respectfully through the window and said with a smile, "I am Yuehe, the Lady of the Linhuai Palace. The Princess of Lingling County is of distinguished status, but she is not assigned to patrol the borders, so I'm afraid it would be inconvenient for her to enter the camp. The Prince has already ordered the mansion to be cleaned; it's quiet and elegant there. Please come with me there to rest and refresh yourself from the fatigue of the journey."
Qiandeng frowned slightly, opened the car window a little, and looked into the military camp.
In fact, it’s not far away.
She saw from afar a figure coming out of the camp, vaguely visible among the crowded crowd, somewhat familiar yet indistinguishable.
But since Prince Linhuai had made such an arrangement, it was clear that he did not want to see her, and she could not force him to see her, so she just nodded to Yuehe and smiled as usual: "Thank you, aunt."
The carriage turned around to the sound of grand drums and music to welcome the prince. Qiandeng took one last look at the bustling center, subconsciously looking for the person she was not sure whether she should recognize or not.
Has the wound she left on him at that time healed?
He failed to complete the mission assigned by the army. Has he been punished now?
But, with the bustling crowd and the noise from far and near, how could she have a chance to find that person?
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