Chapter 38 Hunting Palace "I will accompany it, and you will accompany me."
This was the first time Qingzan came to pay her respects to the Queen after returning from Taiji Palace.
Before this, either the emperor exempted her from paying her respects and allowed her to recuperate, or the empress was exhausted and had no intention of dealing with everyone.
Unexpectedly, when they finally met, the queen's cheeks were sunken and there was a dark spot under her eyes that could not be covered by makeup. She no longer had the arrogance of the past.
He even seemed to have changed his personality and would even let Concubine Hui review the arrangements for the autumn hunt.
Is the Marquis' Mansion also in chaos now?
There was a cold smile on Qingzan's lips.
While she was distracted, Concubine Zhen had already come over to look at the booklet with Concubine Hui.
After reading a few lines, Concubine Zhen looked at the Empress and Concubine Hui with great interest, then at Qingzan. "Lady Ying has been ill, but you look so radiant and radiant. I feel so sorry for you. No wonder the Empress loves you so much and even let you live in Danli Palace. I just don't know how good Lady Ying is at archery. I hope she doesn't catch anything, which would make her look unworthy of her position."
When Concubine Zhen said this, all the concubines who were curious about the Queen's arrangements but were too cowardly to go forward to see what was going on suddenly knew what was going on, and the whole room was immediately in an uproar.
When did the Queen treat Concubine Ying so well? Is she trying to flatter Concubine Ying to death?
Concubine Hui first responded to Concubine Zhen's previous statement: "Going to the hunting palace is to relax and enjoy the scenery. If we are really going there to compete in archery, then Zhaoyi's archery skills are undoubtedly the best in the palace, unmatched. Can't we all just not hold a bow?"
After saying this, she seemed to recall something and stood up to address the Empress. "During last year's autumn hunt, I lived in Chonghua Palace, and Zhaoyi lived in Danli Palace. This year, Your Majesty has arranged for me to live in Chonghua Palace again, which has fulfilled my wish to return to my old home. Zhaoyi and I both left many things behind last year, so I'd like to ask Your Majesty for mercy on Zhaoyi's behalf. Could Danli Palace remain with Zhaoyi?"
You want to pretend to be magnanimous, but you are too embarrassed to say it openly, so you use Ming Zhaoyi as an excuse to say it?
The Empress now felt a wave of nausea upon seeing Concubine Hui, no less so than when she saw Qingzan. She had the memorial taken back and said, "If Zhaoyi is dissatisfied, let her come to me herself."
Concubine Hui stopped talking.
Concubine Zhen originally wanted to watch the show, but when she thought about the fact that the queen had arranged her position so far away from the emperor, she felt unhappy.
He took the opportunity to sarcastically say, "If Zhaoyi really comes to see the Empress, wouldn't that be a disaster? Empress Huifei's arrangements are always well-organized and everyone is convinced. But the Empress rarely takes care of things, and yet everyone is in a state of alarm and discussion. What kind of thing is this?"
Qingzan didn't have much of an idea about where to live, as it didn't matter where she lived. But she knew the Queen's intention very well. She probably didn't dare to take action herself, so she wanted to stir up trouble between herself and others.
How could she make the queen happy?
Qing Zan: "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty, but this is my first time going to the hunting palace. I am not good at riding or shooting, so I am afraid I can only wander around and enjoy the scenery of the autumn forest. I beg Your Majesty to arrange a house with lower ground and a more ordinary environment for me."
When she spoke in such a gentle and humble tone, the Queen was so angry that she almost fainted. So far, the three people who had spoken in the palace did not agree with her arrangement.
The Queen winked at Concubine Wu, who had always been the most obedient to her. However, Concubine Wu had been unable to protect herself recently, and her courage had waned overnight.
A while ago, she relied on the Empress's support to become much more assertive towards people from all walks of life, and she also made quite a few enemies. As a result, the things the Ministry of Internal Affairs sent her were now even less than before.
Now he was hunched over and couldn't meet the Queen's gaze for a long time.
The queen fought alone, but she felt she had no strength to continue any longer and just wanted to kick everyone out as soon as possible.
"Since you are self-aware, I will give you the Secret Snow Pavilion."
Mixue Pavilion is located in the most remote place among the Twelve Peaks.
This is what she wanted!
When Qingzan saw the queen's relief when she said this, she knew that Mixue Pavilion would not be a good place to live.
Fortunately, the queen did not change her personality.
However, Concubine Hui was afraid that people would not be able to see clearly and blame herself, so she waited a little longer when she came out of Fengzao Palace.
"Everything that rises must fall, and excess is as bad as deficiency. If you really surpass me and Zhaoyi so quickly, it may not be a good thing for you. Although the Mixue Mansion is far away, as long as Your Majesty thinks of you, it doesn't matter where you live."
Those who came to pay their respects left one by one, and no one stayed in Fengzao Palace.
Qing Zan looked back at the towering embroidered door and said to Concubine Hui, "If I am willing to help Your Majesty rescue Concubine Zhao, would Your Majesty be willing to do me a favor?"
Concubine Hui seemed to have not expected her to say this, and asked cautiously, "I don't know what kind of favor it was, but... don't you blame her?"
She didn't doubt whether Lady Ying could really save people. Sometimes a whisper is worth a thousand words, especially since Lady Ying was the one who suffered in this matter.
Qing Zan didn't say whether she was resentful or not, she just stated her conditions: "I want to see a foreign minister."
Concubine Hui was shocked: "Who?"
"Hanlin Academy Editor, Lord Chen."
Concubine Hui is a righteous person and holds power in the palace, so she has the easiest access to the outside world. Qingzan thought about it and decided that if she wanted to see the number one scholar again, she would have to go through Concubine Hui.
Concubine Hui was surprised that Qingzan spoke so frankly. If a concubine had secret dealings with a man outside her family, it would be a handle for anyone to know about it.
She weighed the options for a moment and said, "Let's talk in my palace."
*
On the day of departure, the weather was still very hot, and the eunuchs driving the carriages all wore sunshade hats. If it were not for the flags at the front and the mighty elite soldiers on both sides of the carriages, this group of people would look like some wealthy family going on a grand tour.
Since we have to walk along the winding mountain road, the ceremonial procession cannot be too heavy.
Many concubines had already changed into hunting clothes at this time. The hunting clothes of Daliang were somewhat like modified Hu clothing. The Shangyi Bureau also made a few sets for Qingzan, which Qingzan put in a bag and loaded in the back of the carriage.
She sat in the carriage and vaguely heard the sound of the convoy setting off, but the carriages didn't move for a long time. When she realized something was wrong, she opened the window and saw that Doukou and the elite soldiers who were standing outside had disappeared. Except for her carriage, all the other carriages had already traveled a long distance.
Qingzan originally thought that someone was using some cunning trick again.
Until the emperor drove his horse forward a few steps, sat on a tall horse, and looked down at her in the carriage window: "Why don't you get off?"
Qingzan then realized that it was the emperor who was obstructing everything.
She leisurely lifted the carriage curtain and stepped out: "Shouldn't Your Majesty be in the carriage now?"
The emperor's carriage was at the front of the convoy, with many people between him and her. Qingzan didn't even notice when he got off the carriage.
The emperor never went up at all.
Behind him was a small group of people and a carriage of unusual design. The entire carriage looked a bit like a wooden box for loading goods. The door was not closed. Qingzan went around to take a look and saw that Songtsen was actually lying inside. Inside the wooden box was an iron cage that was as tall as the sky.
Songzan had already smelled Qingzan's scent, but he was too lazy to get up. He just growled at her and greeted her.
The emperor said, "Accompany it with me."
Qingzan did miss Songzan, but she looked around and asked, "Where should I sit?"
We can't let her squeeze into Songtsen's iron cage, right?
Xiao Fang smiled with a hint of amusement, and a bit of arrogance. He squeezed his legs together, and the black horse Kicking Snow under him spread its hooves.
At this moment, he leaned over slightly, grabbed the woman who was standing on the side of the road by the waist, and carried her onto the horse with one hand.
Before Qingzan could even see the man's movements, he had her in front of him.
The golden-saddled horses were so fast that even heavily loaded carriages could not match them. The wind brushed against Qingzan's cheeks. She held her breath as she saw that they had actually caught up with the palace convoy and easily surpassed it.
She exposed the emperor's lie: "Aren't you here to accompany Songtsen? Your Majesty rides so fast, there's no way Songtsen can keep up!"
Xiao Fang didn't seem to feel guilty at all, but said it as a matter of course: "I accompany it, and you accompany me." As the horse's back bumped, the soft top of the woman in front of him rubbed against his chin. The smooth collar on her narrow shoulders fell back slightly, and her even smoother skin seemed to be hidden but visible again when the emperor lowered his head.
Xiao Fang's eyes darkened. He was clearly looking at the vast expanse of mountains and rivers, and the fertile lands beyond his reach. He didn't know why the object that caught his eye was the square in his arms.
Qingzan was actually looking around seriously.
I was certainly scared at first, but when I realized that I had no chance of falling out, I finally had the leisure to appreciate the colorful world rushing past me.
The former Yongning Marquis Mansion was also a cage.
Ever since she entered the old lady's yard, there were always people around her paying attention to her every move, and she never had the opportunity to walk so far.
The further you get towards the outskirts of the capital, the smaller the houses become and the fewer people there are. When you get closer to the hill where the Hunting Palace is located, the official road becomes even more deserted, with only a few peddlers and porters passing by on their way to the capital.
Seeing her enjoying the pleasure of riding, the emperor said with a smile, "Would you like me to teach you how to ride?"
Qing Zan quickly shook her head: "I won't learn. I am naturally dull and I will never be able to learn."
The emperor scoffed coldly, "My riding and archery skills are the true teachings of the late emperor. Even if others want to become my disciples, they will not be able to do so. You'd better not regret it."
Qingzan wanted to turn around to look at the person, but when she did, the wind was blowing against her and she couldn't open her eyes. She turned back and said softly and slowly, "If I had learned it, how could I still sit on your Majesty's horse?"
"Eating honey." Xiao Fang felt that the person was abnormally sweet today, but he still curled his lips.
However, when things are abnormal, there must be something wrong.
He soon heard the woman in his arms say with a tone of earnest expectation: "During the autumn hunt, Your Majesty, can you give Songtsen to me?"
That distracted feeling disappeared without a trace.
The emperor nodded indifferently, which was considered as his agreement.
In less than two hours, they arrived at the Hunting Palace. The Hunting Palace was located between the Five Forests and Twelve Peaks, which in turn encompassed a total of twenty-four enclosures, covering ten thousand hectares. Eighteen of these enclosures were reserved for the royal family members and accompanying ministers participating in the Autumn Hunt, while six were reserved for the ladies of the court, including the emperor's empress and consorts. The prey there mostly consisted of small, gentle animals, such as pheasants and hares.
Mixue Pavilion was at the outermost edge of the Hunting Palace, and the emperor sent the person to the door.
After putting the man down, the emperor climbed back on his horse and looked towards the peak where the Qingyan Palace was located. He said something meaningful: "Remember to change into a pair of riding boots that fit you well tonight."
Then he rode away in a scattered manner.
Qingzan blinked and understood.
Was he asking her to come find him?
That’s too far!
After the emperor left, Qingzan was first placed in the Mixue Pavilion. Half a day later, Doukou and Songzan arrived at about the same time. Doukou came in with several bundles and saw a tall snow lion squatting beside Qingzan. She was so frightened that she froze in her tracks.
She hesitated and said, "Master, what is this?"
Songzan was wearing a collar, and one end of the rope was in Qingzan's hand. Qingzan gently pulled it, and Songzan knew that he could go out for a walk, and he stood up excitedly.
"Its name is Songzan, and it doesn't bite." Qingzan comforted Doukou, "I'll take it out for a walk."
Doukou nodded, but pressed her whole body against the door panel, making way for the man and the lion, while seeming to be trying her best to stay away from Songtsen.
Qingzan took Songzan for a leisurely walk. When they saw the guards outside the enclosure, they asked, "Did you see which enclosure the Empress entered?"
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