Chapter 10 [10] Taking advantage of the full moon tonight
【10】/First release
This question was asked for a long time, but there was no response from the higher-ups.
But Yun Ran clearly saw that the man in the pavilion turned his face and looked towards her.
"Young lady, let's go."
Qiulian reminded quietly: "It's better to have less trouble in the palace than more."
Yun Ran was a little hesitant, but she thought of her master's teachings since she was a child, and that she had recited the Tai Shang Jiu Ku Jing not long ago. Although she had returned to secular life, how could her Taoist faith be shaken by worldly affairs?
Maybe the Ten Directions Taiyi Rescuer of Sufferings is watching her in heaven.
"It's okay, I'll ask again."
Yun Ran cleared his throat and called out to the tall figure again, "Brother, we mean no harm. It's just that your music sounded desolate and mournful, as if you were worried. Have you encountered any difficulties?"
This time, the person in the pavilion finally responded and walked towards her.
Yun Ran was both happy and nervous at the same time: "Brother, did you hear that?"
The rockery was steep and rugged, and the man stopped when he reached one side.
He was standing with the light behind him. Yun Ran looked up at him from below. The man's face was still dark, but he was very tall and stood upright, as majestic as a mountain.
Just as Yun Ran was wondering why he didn't speak, was he shy, afraid, or mute, a cold voice finally rang out from the rockery: "Who are you?"
Yun Ran thought to himself that this man was not only good at playing the Qiang flute, but also had a very nice voice. It seemed that he was really a musician from the Jiaofangsi.
"I...we are the palace maids serving at today's banquet. We were attracted here by the sound of your Qiang flute."
Palace maid?
Although the light under the rockery was dim, Yun Ran stood there with a bright face, her facial features blurred, but her hairstyle and dress were definitely not those of a palace maid.
Sima Jing stared at the two figures under the osmanthus tree, his black eyes narrowed slightly.
At this time, the woman in the crimson dress spoke again: "Meeting is fate. If you encounter any difficulties, could you please tell me?"
As if he heard a joke, Sima Jing's mouth curled up into a sarcastic arc.
On any other day, he would have turned around and left.
Perhaps he was too free today, so he lowered his eyes calmly: "What can I do if I tell you?"
"If I can help, I'll do my best. If I can't help... I can't help..."
The man below seemed speechless and could not say anything after hesitating for a long time.
"I thought he was the reincarnation of Guanyin, but it turns out he's just trying to be a hero."
Sima Jing's lips curved in a more sarcastic tone. "Since you don't have the ability to help others, then just stay out of other people's business and avoid getting yourself into trouble."
"Hey, why do you speak so harshly?"
Yun Ran hadn't expected her kind inquiry to be met with such sarcasm, and she couldn't help but lose her temper. "I may not be very capable, but didn't I tell you that I'll do my best to help if I can? If I really can't, I can just recite some sutras for you so that the Lord of Mercy can come and help you when he's free."
"but!"
She emphasized the word, her face raised with anger: "You are so ungrateful, so I don't need to help you, let alone chant for you. Just continue to stay here and play the flute by yourself!"
Without waiting for the people on the rockery to speak, Yun Ran turned around and grabbed Qiu Lian's sleeve: "Sister Qiu Lian, let's go."
The two figures under the osmanthus tree left in a hurry, especially the petite figure in the red crabapple color walking in front.
Even in the dim light, one could sense a fierce aura from the figure's back, which showed that he was indeed very angry.
"Your Highness, this young lady is being rude to you. Do you want to arrest her?"
Chang Chun appeared behind him like a ghost, his eyes fixed on the direction the two men left.
“No need.”
Sima Jing's face was expressionless: "Just a young lady."
Judging from his tone and manner, he is not very old and would not bother with a little girl.
Chang Chun murmured "yes", but couldn't help muttering: "I don't know whose wife is this, she is so bold."
Not only did she run around the palace alone, but she also dared to talk to a foreign man of unknown origin and said ridiculous words like asking for help. With such a mentality, she would have been eaten to pieces in the palace.
When Sima Jing heard the word "bold", a green figure suddenly appeared in his mind.
It has been more than half a month, but when I think of it again, the voice and figure of the young lady from the West Market that day... seem somewhat similar to the woman in the red skirt under the osmanthus tree just now.
"Your Highness? Your Highness?"
Changchun called out softly, "The night is late and the dew is heavy. Let's go back to the side hall first. Aunt Guilan, who was beside the Empress Dowager, has just sent a message saying that in one stick of incense, the Empress Dowager and His Majesty will leave the banquet and come to celebrate the festival with you."
Sima Jing glanced at the brightly lit main hall and twitched his thin lips.
They took great pains to summon him into the palace, and went through all this trouble, just to make him accompany them in singing the drama of loving mother and filial son, and brothers being friendly and respectful to each other... It's really ridiculous.
***
When Yun Ran returned to his seat with a sullen breath, the hall was still bustling with music.
"What took you so long?"
Zheng looked at her daughter and saw her snow-white cheeks puffed up slightly like a pufferfish. She couldn't help but wonder: "What happened? Did she take the wrong road? Or..."
She glanced at Qiulian behind her and asked, "Who upset you?"
"No."
Yun Ran was afraid that Zheng would misunderstand, so she quickly grabbed her hand and said, "Sister Qiulian takes good care of me. I just felt too full, so I went out for a walk. That's why I came back late."
Seeing that she even knew the maid's name after just one trip, Zheng knew what she said was true. She politely nodded to the maid and turned to ask, "If everything is going well, why do you look like you've been wronged?"
Yun Ran was slightly startled and raised his hand to touch his face: "Is it that obvious?"
Zheng: "Obviously."
Yun Ran saw that he couldn't hide it from her, so he curled his lips and said, "To be honest, I'm just bored and have nothing better to do. I have to ask that question for no reason..."
Just as they were about to begin, a thin eunuch's voice suddenly rang out from above: "Madam Changxin and the young lady, the Empress Dowager invites you to come forward and speak."
The sound was neither loud nor low, but everyone in the hall could hear it clearly.
In an instant, countless gazes turned towards him again.
Yun Ran, who was whispering to Zheng, said: "..."
Zheng: “…”
After all, Zheng had experienced a lot, so she quickly calmed down. She used her wide sleeves to cover her daughter and helped her still confused daughter up: "Yes, I will come right over."
Facing the gazes of the crowd that had been watching them leave, Zheng maintained a dignified and calm smile while comforting Yun Ran with a throaty murmur, "The Queen Mother has always been kind and compassionate. Perhaps she heard your cousin mention it, so she summoned you to come closer."
Although Yun Ran was a little nervous, she was not afraid because her mother held her hand.
When they reached the high platform, Zheng led her to bow upwards, "Your Highness, I, along with my daughter Wu Niang, pay my respects to Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager, and the Empress."
Yun Ran followed his sister-in-law's instructions and bent his knees and hunched his back obediently.
This position was not comfortable, but fortunately, a gentle voice soon sounded above his head: "No need to be polite, everyone, get up."
"Thank you, Queen Mother."
Zheng stood up, and Yun Ran, who was half a step behind her, followed suit, straightening his back. "Thank you, Queen Mother."
"Madam Hou, this is the apple of your eye that was lost and then found again, right?"
Empress Dowager Zhao sat on the throne, her voice filled with her usual gentle smile: "Come, come forward and let me take a look."
Yun Ran pursed her rosy lips, glanced at the graceful and beautiful woman waving at her from above, and then looked at her mother.
Zheng nodded slightly at her and said, "Go ahead. The Empress Dowager has honored you. Go and pay your respects to her."
Yun Ran then grasped the hem of her scarlet skirt embroidered with gold thread and stepped onto the white marble steps covered with floral lichen.
She didn't stop until she reached Queen Dowager Zhao's throne. She bowed once more to the most distinguished woman on the throne: "Fifth Lady Yun pays her respects to the Queen Dowager. May you live a long and healthy life."
"What a sweet-talking little girl."
Queen Mother Zhao smiled and said, "Raise your head and let me take a closer look."
Yun Ran responded "yes" and slowly raised his face.
The candles on the high platform were already more numerous and brighter than those elsewhere. Under the bright candlelight, the young lady in a crabapple-red dress had a face as white and bright as the bright moon, with willow-shaped eyebrows, rosy cheeks, red lips and white teeth. The most eye-catching thing on her pretty face was her pair of clear black eyes.
His round, large, black pupils were larger than those of others, and thus revealed a childlike purity that was untainted by the dust.
Just based on such a pair of clear eyes, Queen Mother Zhao was already three parts in love with this little girl.
Thinking of the eunuch's report just now, which mentioned that the young lady of the Marquis's Mansion took the initiative to talk to A Jing, Queen Mother Zhao looked at Yun Ran with even softer eyes.
"He's truly a well-behaved child. No wonder your parents treasure him like a treasure and have searched for him for so many years."
Queen Mother Zhao looked Yun Ran up and down again, and finally her eyes fell on her face: "I heard that you were abducted to Jiangnan and have been taken in by a Taoist priest for these years?"
Although Yun Ran had just met Queen Mother Zhao, she was beautiful and spoke softly, like an elder in the family. This made her feel a little more relaxed. She nodded and said, "Yes, thanks to Master for kindly taking me in, providing me with food and clothing, and teaching me to read. Otherwise, I wouldn't be where I am today."
Seeing her frank admission, and her calm and composed manner, with no evasion or resentment towards her past experiences, Queen Dowager Zhao's smile deepened. "That Taoist priest is a kind and virtuous person, and you are a grateful child."
Yun Ran lowered her eyes and said, "Your Majesty the Queen Mother, your compliments are too kind."
Queen Mother Zhao asked, "You've been away for so many years, have you ever thought about your family?"
Yun Ran hadn't expected the Queen Mother to ask this, but it wasn't a difficult question. After a moment's thought, she said, "Of course I would. After all, people don't just emerge from cracks in the rocks, so naturally they want to know where they came from."
"However, I was still very young when I arrived at the Taoist temple. When I grew up and became more aware, I learned from my senior sisters that everyone had been abandoned by their parents. Although I was a little sad at the time, it was only for a while... After all, I had my master and senior sisters by my side. Although we were not related by blood, we were all as close as family, so I didn't miss my original families anymore."
After she finished speaking, she noticed that Queen Mother Zhao's eyes looked a little dazed.
I couldn't help feeling a little uneasy. Did I say something wrong?
She subconsciously turned around and looked at Zheng at the bottom of the stairs.
When Zheng heard her daughter's last words, "I will never think about my original family again," her heart felt like it was pierced by a needle, and she was in unspeakable pain.
When he felt his daughter's cautious and dependent eyes like a cub, he immediately cheered up, smiled at his daughter and signaled her not to be nervous.
With his mother's encouragement, Yun Ran finally felt relieved.
When she turned around again, Queen Mother Zhao had returned to normal, but there was a hint of meaning in the look she gave her.
She asked Yun Ran another question: "So, do you blame your parents?"
Yun Ran was stunned for a moment: "No, why should I blame them?"
Queen Mother Zhao said nothing, but her eyes, staring at her quietly, clearly waited for her to continue.
Although Yun Ran didn't understand why the Queen Mother was so curious, she still answered, "When I first learned that I was abandoned, I did feel resentful. If they weren't going to raise me, why bother giving birth to me? But when I was eight years old, I learned that I wasn't abandoned by my biological parents, but was abducted and sold. Then I no longer felt any resentment."
"If you want to blame someone, blame those damn kidnappers and those wicked families who bought the children. If it weren't for their sins, there wouldn't be separation between flesh and blood, and tears on both sides."
Yun Ran cursed in his heart, saying that all the kidnappers and child sellers in the world should go to hell.
Queen Mother Zhao asked again, "Don't you blame them for not taking good care of you and losing you?"
Yun Ran found this question even more baffling: "No one is perfect. Everyone is always careless sometimes. It's wrong to be careless, but the worst one is that kidnapper! Besides, my parents have been looking for me all these years, and they have been heartbroken for so many years..."
At this point, a hint of sadness appeared in her eyes. "My parents and I have already wasted twelve years. For the rest of my life, I just want to be by their side and make up for the time we missed. How could I blame them anymore?"
"Good boy, what a sensible and good boy."
Queen Mother Zhao's voice seemed to be choking a little, and she leaned down from the throne and stretched out her hand towards Yun Ran: "Come."
Yun Ran was slightly stunned, and then he was even more shocked when he saw the empress dowager's slightly red eyes.
How could what I just said move the empress dowager so much?
Before she could think about it, her hand was held by the Queen Mother. The next moment, she saw the Queen Mother take off a jade bracelet with an extremely fine water color from her wrist.
"Empress Dowager, this is impossible!" Yun Ran quickly declined.
"It's just a bracelet, what's the use of it?"
Queen Mother Zhao looked at her with eyes full of fondness: "I fell in love with you the moment I saw you, and you are so well-behaved and sensible, so why should I give you this bracelet as a reward?"
As he said that, he was about to put it on Yun Ran.
But she saw that Yun Ran was already wearing a string of wooden beads on his left hand. Queen Dowager Zhao paused and asked, "What is this?"
Yun Ran said, "This is the lightning-struck jujube wood my master gave me before we parted. It has the power to ward off evil spirits, dispel misfortunes, and eliminate disasters."
"Ward off evil spirits, dispel misfortunes and eliminate disasters..."
Queen Mother Zhao muttered it twice, then raised her eyes again and looked at the beautiful girl in front of her who looked like a fairy from the Jade Pool. Her eyes became more determined.
"Your master is a good master, and you are a good child."
Queen Mother Zhao said this, then she changed her hand and put the jade bracelet on Yun Ran's right hand: "See, it fits perfectly."
Although Yun Ran didn't know much about jewelry and jade, as soon as he saw the crystal clear and glittering bracelet on his wrist, he knew it must be worth a lot of money.
The Queen Mother's hospitality really made her feel uneasy. She looked at Zheng who was sitting below her again and said, "Mother, what should we do now? Can we accept this?"
Zheng was also having a headache at the moment.
At first, when the Queen Mother asked her questions, she was relatively calm. But when she saw the Queen Mother holding her daughter's hand and putting a bracelet on her daughter, Zheng felt a little uneasy.
After all, the last young lady who was praised so highly by Queen Mother Zhao and who gave up her reward was none other than Cui Jia Liuniang, who passed away not long ago!
At the thought of this, Zheng's legs felt weak beneath her skirt, but she still had to put on a forced smile and said, "The Empress Dowager is so kind and gracious, but my Fifth Lady is still young. How can a young lady of her age wear such a fine jade? Giving it to her would be a waste of the Empress Dowager's precious treasure."
"Madam Hou is too modest."
Queen Mother Zhao took Yun Ran's hand and smiled at Zheng, saying, "A young lady of her age has delicate skin and tender flesh. She would look better in something bright."
Zheng looked at the Empress Dowager and Yun Ran, their skirts so close that they were almost overlapping. The intimacy was beyond words. Her heart tightened and her lips turned pale. "Empress Dowager... Empress Dowager..."
Queen Mother Zhao pretended not to see it, took Yun Ran's hand, looked him up and down, and praised him again.
Yun Ran's face turned red from all the praise, and she thought to herself, is she really that good?
The next moment, the Queen Mother grasped her hand tightly. She looked up in surprise, only to see Queen Mother Zhao smiling at Zheng in the audience. "Madam, I'm very fond of your young lady. Seeing her is like seeing my own daughter. If you don't mind, tonight, under the beautiful full moon, I will marry your daughter to your daughter and marry her to King Jing as his consort."
Jing…King Jing…
The living devil who killed three of his fiancées in a row!
In an instant, Zheng felt his brain go blank and his ears buzz.
Before he could open his mouth, his eyes turned black and his face turned backwards.
The author has something to say:
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Finally I have written this far, I am collapsed.JPG[melted]
I'll take a day off tomorrow, and I'll draw a red envelope for this chapter~ [blue heart]
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