Chapter 6 Chapter 6
The King of Chu arrived at the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests half a quarter of an hour late.
He was dressed in red, as flamboyant as a blazing fire, and surprisingly eye-catching in the solemn and elegant palace.
The emperor had no interest in waiting.
He made time to choose a princess for the King of Chu, which was the greatest indulgence he could show to his younger brother.
Parents’ orders and matchmaker’s words.
When it comes to matters like marriage, there is never room for the parties involved to participate.
The emperor had experienced turmoil, and he knew better than anyone how rare it was to have a stable political situation.
The emperor's family affairs are also state affairs.
Of course he could let the King of Chu do whatever he wanted with his concubines.
But there is only one legal wife, and there is only one family in the wife's family. This is an important matter that must not be messed up.
The King of Chu was half a minute late, but there was no sign of tension on his face.
He walked into the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests naturally, just like walking into the flower hall at home, and greeted the emperor: "Royal brother."
Although it was a concubine selection, there were no women in the palace.
On the westernmost side are the emperor’s close ministers, both civil officials and military generals.
A little further away were several young scholars.
They were of different ranks and ages.
The only thing they have in common is that they are all the emperor's confidants.
On the long table were portraits of many ladies from aristocratic families, and next to them were booklets with detailed information.
In addition to basic information, even their family tree is clear.
Dealing with such matters is not much different from dealing with government affairs, and may even be more complicated.
After choosing a queen for the King of Chu, there were also concubines and maids.
In fact, it is best to do this kind of thing during the draft.
However, the emperor had not held a beauty pageant for two years and had no intention of doing so in the short term. So when he made such arrangements, the people below naturally followed his orders.
The King of Chu was a young man who was ignorant of everything.
Although he was asked to choose a wife, he didn't pay any attention to it. When he pushed the door open and walked in, his clothes fluttered and the corners of his robe blew in the wind.
He looks like a famous scholar who has just taken medicine.
It’s just that the King of Chu’s appearance and clothing were too eye-catching, and he didn’t have the air of a clean and honest person at all.
The emperor flipped through the documents without looking up. "Why are you here so late?"
"I'm lost," the King of Chu approached calmly, "I thought we were in the east."
He didn't like riding in sedan chairs, nor did he like having guards following him, and he got lost several times in the palace.
The emperor glanced at the King of Chu.
"You can get lost at home?" He said coldly, "Why don't you get lost in Ziwei Palace?"
Ziwei Hall is the emperor's bedroom.
The King of Chu rested his hands on the long table and leaned closer to look at the documents.
"I won't do that next time." He smoothed his tassel and said naturally.
The two are brothers from the same mother. Not only do they look alike, they also have similar temperaments.
It’s just that the emperor’s aura is stronger and his facial features are more handsome.
According to outside rumors, the King of Chu was a fool.
But he was born and raised in the royal family, so he was somewhat scheming.
But this is not good enough in front of the emperor.
The King of Chu was young and naive, so even the slightest disturbance could not escape his notice.
He was once harmed when he was young and had a high fever for ten days, although the imperial physicians said it was not serious.
But the emperor always felt that the King of Chu had become a little stupid since then.
It's not that he's stupid, but he's just not very smart.
The emperor's almond-shaped eyes were slightly raised.
He looked at the King of Chu and said in a gentle voice, "Which noble lady did you meet on the road that kept you here for so long?"
"I didn't meet anyone," the King of Chu denied, "I just got lost."
The emperor said nothing, but just looked at the King of Chu with a smile.
He looked at me with a smile, "Then where does your fragrance come from?"
The King of Chu raised his sleeve and sniffed.
"There is no such thing at all. Your Majesty is lying." He looked at the emperor without blinking, as if he was serious and focused.
The emperor raised the corners of his lips. He had a handsome face, like a crown of jade.
With such outstanding looks, he looks even more handsome when he smiles.
After a moment, the emperor calmed down and said softly, "It's okay if you meet her. If she's suitable, I'll take her into the palace."
He held the jade-tubed wolf-hair brush between his fingers and wrote on the document.
The movements are as smooth as flowing clouds and the brush strokes are as graceful as dragons.
"It's really not true," the King of Chu continued to deny, "My Royal Brother thinks too much."
He speaks bluntly, but he is a master at playing dumb.
The emperor had no intention of provoking the issue further, and finally said, "Just make sure she's not the wife of some other family."
"I have no interest in dealing with you stealing someone else's wife," he said casually, "and being criticized by the ministers."
The King of Chu shrugged and said indifferently: "They will only call me stupid."
The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests is filled with close ministers.
The emperor couldn't help but chuckle, "You know that too."
The elder brother is not very friendly, and the younger brother is not very respectful, but the atmosphere between them is so close.
The power of blood is so magical.
Before the King of Chu returned to the capital, the emperor had not seen him for almost ten years.
However, after just a few days, the two seemed as close as they were when they were children.
The emperor doesn't have many relatives in this world.
He still takes good care of this blood-related brother.
-
Compared with the relaxed atmosphere of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, the warm room in the Plum Garden is not so leisurely.
There was never a shortage of arguments between the concubines in the palace.
Now that the queen is the only one favored and the family is in power, many unnecessary troubles have been avoided.
But even so, the conflicts between the concubines never really stopped.
Concubine De and Concubine Xian stood on their own sides and made sarcastic remarks.
Both of them are graceful and noble concubines. They both have a strong aura and their words are very exquisite. They don’t say anything sarcastic, but every word they say is piercing.
Yuan Mu's life is extremely boring.
Although the flames of war sometimes get to her, she still enjoys listening to other people's arguments.
But today Yuan Mu didn't have that much intention to listen.
Her mind was full of the young man she had just seen. He looked to be no more than eighteen or nineteen years old.
Maybe even smaller than Yuan Mu.
It’s hard to tell whether he is a teenager or a young man.
He should be a member of the royal family. I wonder if he is the emperor's peer or nephew.
Yuan Mu lowered his eyes and closed them, but the dazzling red was still flashing before his eyes.
That person actually didn't wear red.
At least she had never seen it before.
Yuan Mu only dreamed of him dressed in red, riding a horse, and coming to marry her as promised.
The day they first met, she mistakenly thought he was wearing red clothes, but later she realized it was all blood.
It was all a very long time ago.
After entering the palace, Yuan Mu hadn't thought about the past for a long time.
She had heard the imperial physician say that when something extremely tragic happens, people will selectively bury certain past events in order to protect themselves.
When this dustiness reaches a certain level, it will turn into hysteria.
But when Yuan Mu saw the young man, all his old memories came back to him.
At one moment, she even mistakenly thought that she had returned to the past.
Yuan Mu didn't want to admit it.
But in fact, the past that she deliberately forgot had never left her from beginning to end.
It's like a carbuncle attached to the bone.
Like a shadow following a shadow, immortal and indestructible.
The slightest provocation would cause pain in my chest.
Yuan Mu hid his hand in his sleeve and silently grasped the thin bracelet on his wrist.
She took a deep breath, then drank half a cup of tea, and her thoughts gradually returned to reality.
Empress Yuan has arrived.
She had a very high status in the family. She had followed her stepmother, Mrs. Cui, to take care of household chores since she was a child, and was involved in all the arrangements during festivals and holidays.
While other noble ladies were having fun, Queen Yuan was already the master of the house.
So even though she was frail and sickly, the emperor still let her be in charge of the six palaces.
Empress Yuan was very considerate in her handling of matters, and she had the emperor's support behind her.
Even if someone is deliberately making things difficult for someone, no one dares to say anything.
Yuan Mu couldn't even make decisions on trivial matters in Qingning Palace, let alone important matters in the palace.
So at times like this, she is usually silent.
It's like a transparent person.
Today was just an ordinary audience. Empress Yuan did not say much and released the person after chatting for less than half an hour.
But when he was about to leave, Yuan Mu was left behind.
"Her Majesty Zhaoyi, please wait a moment," the maid gently pulled Yuan Mu, "Her Majesty the Queen has something to tell you."
Yuan Mu's legs ached slightly from standing.
She was of low rank and would not be given a seat at a time like this.
Yuan Mu had already decided that after returning home, he would take a shower, rest, and then lie down to sleep for a while.
However, upon hearing this, she had no choice but to retract her steps and continue waiting.
Empress Yuan went to change her clothes.
On the first and fifteenth day of every month, all the concubines in the palace would pay homage to the queen.
She was dressed solemnly and wore a gorgeous and exquisite phoenix crown on her head.
The phoenix crown was undoubtedly beautiful, but the headdress, made entirely of gold and jade, was too heavy for a frail young woman.
Therefore, after each audience, Empress Yuan would change her clothes immediately.
I heard that the bride wore the same crown when she got married.
Yuan Mu tried on wedding dresses before her wedding, but she never tried on the phoenix crown.
In the imperial palace, only the empress would have a wedding-like ceremony with the emperor.
Wearing a phoenix crown and a wedding dress.
No matter how noble the others were, they were nothing more than concubines of the emperor.
Since she is a concubine, there is naturally no need for any rituals.
For ordinary families, it would be considered the ultimate luxury to have a sedan chair delivered through a small door.
Not to mention the imperial family who pays great attention to etiquette.
When Yuan Mu was young, she never thought that she would become someone's concubine, let alone enter the palace.
She had no hopes or desires for the future.
Yuan Mu just has a naive fantasy about love.
If possible, she would like to be with the one she truly loves for the rest of her life.
Empress Yuan once promised Yuan Mu that as long as she could give birth to a prince, she would find a way to send her out of the palace, and even if she wanted to remarry, she would help her find a way.
But two years passed in a flash, and she still hadn't given birth to a prince.
Yuan Mu has never worn a phoenix crown.
She probably won't have the chance to wear it in her lifetime.
-
Yuan Mu stood beside the antique display cabinet, her jade-like face blurred by the curling smoke of incense.
But this slight unclearness makes her temperament even more outstanding.
It's like a bright moon covered by clouds.
No longer clear, but even more bewildering.
This was the scene that Empress Yuan saw when she came out of the inner room.
Yuan Mu stroked the hand warmer, tilted his head, and looked at the red plum blossoms outside the window.
Black hair, white skin, and a figure like jade.
There is clearly no shocking dress, but there is a breathtaking beauty.
The red plum blossom outside cannot even compare to her beauty.
Yuan Mu's clothes were always simple and elegant, with a neckline high enough to cover her neck, and sleeves so long that even half an inch of her slender white jade fingers were rarely exposed.
Her skin was as white as snow, all hidden under the layers of skirt.
Yuan Mu is too dignified and too silent.
As a result, people often overlook the fact that she has a face that is enough to bring disaster to a city or a country.
Yuan Mu didn't paint her face with plaster, so even when she was thirteen or fourteen, her bones were still beautiful and outstanding.
Empress Yuan never looked at Yuan Mu straight in the eye.
But she didn't believe that her father, who was well versed in the world of love, would not see it.
By sending such a person into the palace, was it to help the queen, or to take away the emperor's favor and leave a backup for the family?
Empress Yuan didn't know.
She only knew that when choosing a sister to bear children in her place, her father chose Yuan Mu.
She was extremely reluctant, and her father did not agree.
Empress Yuan never took Yuan Mu seriously.
The emperor was not a person who would tolerate others. If he wanted to promote someone, he would do it without hesitation.
If he treated Yuan Mu sincerely, he would at least give her the position of concubine earlier, so that she would not have to stay in the position of concubine for two years without being promoted.
However, after what happened that day, Empress Yuan felt a strong sense of crisis in her heart.
She had to do something.
Queen Yuan stroked the long nails between her fingers and walked towards Yuan Mu who was standing by the window.
The warm room was very quiet, with only the slight crackling of the burning stove as the sound could be heard.
Yuan Mu only regained her composure when her sister's hand fell on her shoulder. She had been distracted frequently recently and had difficulty concentrating on one thing.
Yuan Mufu bowed and called softly, "My Lady."
The woman's long-nailed hand touched her face.
The golden armor was too long and sharp enough to hurt Yuan Mu's skin.
But Empress Yuan's voice was softer than ever before: "Is it so strange to talk to my sister?"
The two say they are sisters, but in reality they are worlds apart.
There is no room for equality either at home or in the palace.
It's almost noon.
It's been a rare sunny day these past two days, and the sunlight is slightly dazzling.
Yuan Mu faced the light, lowered her eyelashes, turned sideways and called out, "Sister."
She didn't know what Queen Yuan wanted to do, and there was no possibility of refusing.
So even though his palms were sweating, Yuan Mu did not avoid Queen Yuan's gaze.
"You haven't seen your aunt for a while, right?" Queen Yuan asked in a low voice.
Yuan Mu was raised in the farm since he was young.
She had a heavy karma, so she practiced Taoism since she was young and would regularly stay in the Qingyun Temple in the suburbs of Beijing for a period of time every year.
Some are similar to the Buddhist laypeople who practice at home with hair.
Yuan Mu learned the etiquette and manners from the nuns.
But she was not a true Taoist woman after all, and spent most of her time living in the village.
Coincidentally, not long after Yuan Mu was sent to the manor, an aunt of the Yuan family who had given birth to children was also exiled to the manor for some reason.
Her surname is Yu, and people call her Aunt Yu.
Yuan Mu has no mother. She was raised by Aunt Yu and the nuns in Qingyun Temple.
There are few women who voluntarily become nuns, and concubines cannot be compared with the wives of wealthy families.
So even though Yuan Mu came from a noble family, many people looked down on her.
But she had a good relationship with this aunt.
Even though when the disaster happened, Aunt Yu ran away with her little daughter in her arms, without even glancing at Yuan Mu who was trembling and reaching out his hand in the corner, Yuan Mu did not blame her.
"Shortly after my birthday will be my mother's tenth birthday," Empress Yuan said slowly, "Your Majesty has granted me permission to attend in person."
"If you're willing," she looked at Yuan Mu, "I can take you with me then."
Yuan Mu's expression changed slightly.
It was very easy for Empress Yuan to meet Madam Cui.
But the last time Yuan Mu saw Aunt Yu was a year and a half ago.
It was such a quick and hasty meeting that we didn't even get to exchange a few words.
Yuan Mu pinched her knuckles. Of course she wanted to see her aunt, but she also knew that there would be a price to pay.
But she really hadn't seen Aunt Yu for a long time.
If he missed this opportunity, Yuan Mu might never have the chance to leave the palace again.
"Thank you for your help, sister," she raised her eyes slightly, "I'm very busy, is there anything I can do to help me?"
Yuan Mu was not a man who was good at speaking, and when he spoke such social words, he sounded so awkward.
She is so beautiful that I feel pity for her.
But being protected too well, there is a kind of naive stupidity, cowardice and weakness, unable to withstand the wind and rain.
So well done that it makes people laugh.
As Empress Yuan thought this, her gaze towards Yuan Mu became softer.
"Have you heard about Sanniang and Wuniang?" Her eyes were filled with sorrow. "His Majesty has appointed them as concubines to the King of Chu."
Empress Yuan rarely showed her emotions.
"Such a good child," she said in a very soft voice, "I don't know how he could bear to let her go."
In the palace, one has to worry about eavesdropping everywhere.
But Empress Yuan was different.
She was the favored queen and the most noble woman in the six palaces.
Yuan Mu slowly realized that even in the safest warm room, Queen Yuan still sent everyone away when she spoke this time.
"You know how difficult it is to be a concubine," Empress Yuan took Yuan Mu's hand, "A Luo, can you help me and your sisters this time?"
"His Majesty loves you so much," she stared at Yuan Mu intently, "If you were to ask him, he would definitely not refuse."
Yuan Mu instinctively wanted to avoid Queen Yuan's sight.
When Empress Yuan told her about her subsequent plot, she felt as if she had been burned and wanted to withdraw her hand.
"I can't do that, sister," Yuan Mu's voice trembled, "His Majesty won't allow us to do that..."
But Queen Yuan held Yuan Mu's hand tightly.
She pleaded, "But if I really become the King of Chu's concubine, Sanniang and Wuniang's lives will be ruined!"
"A Luo, can you bear to see them being pushed into the fire pit?" Empress Yuan pressed on. "Besides, if you hadn't been unable to give birth to a prince, why would I have brought them into the palace? Why would they have to suffer such a disaster?"
Her voice gradually rose in pitch.
There was a hint of despair and madness in Empress Yuan's eyes when she looked at Yuan Mu.
She seemed to be on the verge of tears: "I know you are unwilling and reluctant..."
The long nail was about to pierce into the back of Yuan Mu's hand.
She tilted her head, her long eyelashes drooped, and her clear, watery eyes became gray and without a trace of light.
I don't know why.
Old things have been chasing her lately.
Yuan Mu's chest felt heavy, and for a moment, she felt like she couldn't breathe.
"You've been suffering these years," Empress Yuan said in a hoarse voice, "but think about it, A'luo, isn't my sister suffering too?"
Her tears really fell.
It was so hot that it fell on the back of Yuan Mu's hand, making the thin snow-white skin hurt.
Her breathing became more difficult.
The pain of infidelity was suppressed for the first time in a long time.
It felt heavy and stuffy, like water pouring in from all directions.
Yuan Mu looked at Empress Yuan and said in a voice so low it was almost inaudible: "What if we fail, sister?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
