Palace Scheming: the Queen In the Cold Palace I

Chapter 51 The moon is not always full and the spring is easy to grow old (3)

When the emperor and empress' dragon and phoenix chariots gathered at Xihua Gate, Yun Qing got off the sedan chair and saw that Xuanyuan Yi had already arrived there early. Her eyes widened and she looked at him with some disbelief as he led a pure horse. Bai's horse stood at the palace gate. When he saw her surprised gaze, a smile slowly appeared on his lips.

 “I, my ministers, see you, Your Majesty, long live Your Majesty!”

　　"I will see you, the Queen Mother. She is a thousand years old, a thousand years old!"

　　"I'll see you, the Queen. She may live a thousand years, a thousand years, a thousand years!"

The guards accompanying the palace and the imperial guards who had already stood guard outside the palace immediately separated the inside and outside of the palace gate in an orderly manner. Their movements were neat and orderly, which made the Queen Mother's eyes brighten up as she just got off the sedan chair, and she couldn't help but praise Yun Qing. glance.

When all the ministers who were waiting at the palace gate saw the Empress Dowager and the Emperor arriving, they hurriedly knelt down to greet them. After the Empress Dowager and the Emperor got on the carriages respectively, the ministers got into their sedan chairs and were protected by guards on both sides. Get off the bus and walk in the direction of Huangjue Temple together.

Yun Qing gently opened the sedan curtain and saw that the people on both sides of the street were separated within a certain safety line by the imperial guards on both sides. Although some people would look up curiously, most of the people still lowered their heads respectfully and did not dare to do anything casually. Peep into the holy face.

At the front of the team, Murong Qian led a group of first-class guards to clear the way. The guards were specially strengthened in front and behind the carriages of the Queen Mother and the Emperor. Yun Qing was very satisfied, everything was going according to what she and Murong Qian agreed on that day.

Not far away, the Prime Minister's Mansion, where he had lived for more than ten years, jumped into Yun Qing's eyes. At this time, some passers-by and servants were also kneeling outside the mansion. Yun Qing looked at the extremely familiar Yun Mansion, but there was nothing in his heart. a feeling of.

If she still misses the Yun Mansion a little bit, it is the Baiyuan Garden that she and Bi Tao once took care of. I wonder if it is still there now?

As we go further and further away, the spring scenery that catches Yunqing’s eyes becomes more and more intense. Spring is coming to an end, and the weather is getting warmer day by day. Yunqing looks at the increasingly green tree-lined avenue in front of him, and listens to the chirping of birds from all around, feeling lighthearted.

Although Huangjue Temple is located in Tiancheng, it is located close to the suburbs. Because this temple is specially used by members of the royal family to worship Buddha every year, its scenery and architecture are naturally very unique and pleasant.

There are large bamboo forests and trees surrounding the temple. The tall and solemn palace looks looming among the green trees.

Not far away, the loud sound of chanting sutras penetrated the trees and reached everyone's ears. People could not help but clear their minds amidst the slightly drowsy bumps of the carriages and horses along the way. Many people lifted the car curtains and looked out the window, and a swath of green came into view.

 “I sincerely welcome the Emperor, the Queen Mother, and the Queen! May the Emperor live long, long live! The Queen Mother may live a thousand years, and the Queen may live a thousand years! Amitabha!”

"Master, no courtesy!" When the emperor and others got out of the car, the abbot Huixin, who was waiting outside the temple, saluted the three of them together with a group of elders and disciples. The Queen Mother smiled slightly, stretched out her hand to give a gesture to the monks, and then With Fang Fei's help, she slowly stepped onto the steps.

"Thank you, Queen Mother!" Master Huixin had a kind face. When he saw the Queen Mother entering the temple, he stood aside and allowed the emperor and the Queen Mother to enter first. Then he followed the Queen Mother and led them to the main hall.

Yun Qing stood beside Xuanyuan Ze in a Dharma hall filled with incense. After the Queen Mother cleaned her hands and offered incense to the Buddha, she stepped forward simultaneously with Xuanyuan Ze, held the incense on her chest, and listened to Master Huixin's soft prayer. Then they raised incense to their eyebrows. Under the guidance of the master, the emperor and the empress burned incense together to pray for the fate of the country and the blessings of the people.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please come with the poor monk!" The incense-burning ceremony of the ministers in the main hall was still going on. The Queen Mother followed Master Huixin to the Zen room to listen to sutras and recite Buddhist scriptures. Yunqing and Xuanyuanze went to the cabinet under the leadership of the Zen master. Kneel down and listen to the Buddhist mantra to show the sincerity of the emperor and empress for the country and the people. May the Buddha bless Tianque with prosperity.

He knelt and listened to the Buddhist scriptures all morning with no desire. When Yun Qing stood up, his feet went numb and he almost tripped over the skirt behind him. Fortunately, the person beside him stretched out his hands in time and powerfully Pulled her up.

"Thank you!" Yun Qing hurriedly stood up, and under Xuanyuan Ze's indifferent gaze, he retracted his hand in embarrassment, trying to wait for his feet to get numb before walking.

Her eager movements to avoid him and the gentle smile she kept on her face were obviously different from the natural smile she gave Yi Di outside the Xihua Gate. Xuanyuan Ze's palms tightened, and he stretched out his long hands somewhat unhappily. He pulled her to his side without any explanation, and took her towards the door with him.

Yun Qing staggered, and the moment his wrist was pulled up, her body had involuntarily bumped into him, but Xuanyuan Ze didn't notice it and still pulled her forward.

Bitao and others who were waiting outside the door were slightly startled when they saw the emperor pulling the young lady out with him, and then quietly followed the two of them and walked to the dining hall together.

"The Emperor is coming out!" He Ruowan, who had nothing to do, first listened to the monks reciting sutras in the hall boredly for a while, and then walked around again. At this time, someone announced that the meal was about to begin, so she quickly came to the corridor of the hall. Waiting for Xuanyuan Ze, wanting to sit down with him.

But when she saw the emperor holding Yun Qing's hand, her beautiful eyes immediately sank, and she felt a little unhappy.

However, her unhappiness only lasted for a moment, and then, after a pause, a smile quickly appeared on her face, and she stepped forward with a chuckle.

"Wan'er is pregnant. She should sit and rest more. What are you doing standing here?" Xuanyuan Ze glanced at her indifferently, and when Yun Qing tried to pull out, he grabbed it hard, making Yun Qing's beautiful eyebrows light up. It wrinkled up and felt a little raw from his hard grip.

"Wan'er is not tired. Wan'er wants to wait for the emperor to come out and go to the dining room to eat together." He Ruowan said, then walked gently to Xuanyuan Ze's side, raised her hand to take Xuanyuan Ze's arm, with a soft smile on her face .

That charming look made the monks on both sides lower their heads and dared not look at each other. It also made Xuanyuan Ze's handsome eyes darken and his face darken even more.

But Yun Qing's face was slightly red, thinking that he and others were messing around in the Buddhist pure land, which was really indecent.

But the man refused to let go, and her face couldn't help but turn redder. She was just about to find an excuse to get rid of this embarrassment, but she heard Xuanyuan Ze speak again, saying coldly: "How can Wan'er be so willful? If she is tired, What should I do if my body is broken? Ning'er, why don't you help your master? If Concubine Hua becomes ill in any way, can you people take the responsibility?"

He Ruowan's face turned pale, and she raised her head stiffly to look at the indifferent man next to her. The shock in her eyes made her stay on the spot for a moment.

 “Your Majesty, let me help you!” Ning’er’s heart skipped a beat when she saw the pale-faced Concubine Hua. She hurriedly ran forward to support her and said softly.

 As soon as he loosened his grip, He Ruowan had never been so out of control like this before. She did not expect that the emperor would be as indifferent to her as if he were a stranger, with no emotion in his eyes or voice.

Yun Qing was also surprised. He did not expect that he would treat Concubine Hua like this. In just a flash of thought, his body was pulled up by him again, and he walked forward past He Ruowan.

"Your Majesty, don't you think you are going too far?" As she turned a corner and gradually avoided the eyes of the people behind her, the dissatisfaction she had been holding back for a long time finally made Yun Qing glare angrily at the people around her, and then she desperately Struggling to shake off his hand.

She was angry, he was the emperor, he could pamper whoever he wanted, and he could do whatever he wanted! But how could he be so heartless and indifferent to a woman he once deeply loved.

What's more, that woman is still pregnant with his child. How can he bear to make her sad because of this?

"Isn't it too much, Queen? I am the Emperor, but you have rejected me time and time again. Could it be that now I can't even touch your hand?" His heart heaved slightly as he thought of her smile towards Xuanyuan Yi and her rejection of him. It was like a fire was burning in my heart.

He just pulled her like this, making her feel so uncomfortable?

"Is the Emperor angry with Yun Qing? But why would the Emperor vent his anger on your most beloved person! What's more, she is still pregnant with the Emperor's dragon seed in her belly!" Yun Qing's face was equally unhappy. He was so good-looking that he ignored Xiao Taohong who was already catching up behind him and looked at him intently with an angry look on his face.

The last time he treated Concubine Hua so indifferently had already made her extremely uncomfortable. She could have turned a blind eye to the new couple he had invited for three nights in a row; however, she did not want to see him treat Concubine Hua like that because of herself again.

"It's because she was my most beloved woman! It's because she is still pregnant with my child, so I..." Xuanyuan Ze's eyes dimmed, and the troubles that had been accumulated in his heart made him almost blurt out to Wan'er dissatisfaction.

When the words came to his lips, he woke up in time and hurriedly stopped talking, but there was a kind of pain in his eyes that Yun Qing couldn't understand: "Yun Qing, you don't understand my troubles at all... You don't even understand, my heart…"

 After saying that, he looked at her deeply, and in those clear eyes, he saw his own dejected look.

As soon as his hand loosened, he finally let go of her, then tightened his grip, turned around, and left alone.

Yun Qing's heart trembled. Looking at his lonely back retreating away, something suddenly opened a small gap in his heart, and he felt a slight pain.

"Miss..." Bi Tao and Xiao Taohong looked worried, looking at Yun Qing who was a little stunned. It was rare to see the lady looking so dazed.

The two of them looked at each other and wondered what had happened to the young lady these days. Just now I saw her arguing with the emperor in such a disrespectful manner, which was not at all like a young lady's temperament.

 “Let’s go!” Hearing Bi Tao’s soft call, Yun Qing blinked and slowly came back to his senses.

 The next meal was tasteless to Yunqing. Although they were all famous special vegetarian dishes of Huangjue Temple, she was absent-minded. Even the Queen Mother kept praising the exquisite vegetarian dishes here. She seemed not to hear them.

After the fast, as in previous years, Master Huixin led the ministers to pay homage to all the Buddhist halls and Zen pavilions in Huangjue Temple one by one. Then everyone gathered in the main hall again, and the Queen Mother handed the royal donation to Master Huixin, hoping that Huangjue Temple continues to be charitable to the royal family, accumulate blessings for the Tianque Kingdom, and pray for peace and tranquility for all people in the world.

By the time Yun Qing returned to the palace, it was already evening.

 Fortunately, today's trip was uneventful. She felt very tired, but she was still grateful that it was smooth sailing today.

Having a hasty dinner, Yunqing took a bath and then lay down on the bed early to rest. She had been busy doing this and that in the past few days. It was rare for her to relax at this moment, but she was so tired that she didn't want to move anymore. Yun Qing was lying alone on the bed. Although he was very tired, he was not sleepy.

For some reason, she couldn't help but think of Xuanyuanze's hesitant expression on her in the temple during the day, and her words of "Yun Qing" seemed to be filled with infinite passion.

Looking at his expression, he seemed to be in pain, hesitant, and uneasy.

 What is he suffering from, and what is he worried about? If there was something she didn't understand about his feelings for Concubine Hua, it was his rapid change.

  Could it be that his transformation was because he saw clearly the true face of Concubine Hua? Could it be that what he was hesitating about was how he should face her?

Yun Qing's heartbeat suddenly became irregular. She recalled that when he played chess with her in the imperial garden, he was still so determined to find out the person behind the assassination.

His expression didn't look like he was talking casually, but after Concubine Hua became pregnant, he stopped making any movement.

She suddenly understood that he seemed to have discovered something.

 That's why he was so indifferent when facing Concubine Hua; that's why he was so hesitant after learning that she was pregnant...

 But why is he so weird about himself?

 Yunqing... He did not call himself "Queen", nor was he the ordinary "you and me". He called her name so naturally, so naturally that she didn't realize that the name was abnormal at the time...

 “Huh!” Yun Qing shook his head slightly, not letting himself think about anything about him anymore.

 Close your eyes and take a deep breath.

Turning over slightly, Yun Qing forced herself not to think about these troublesome things anymore, but she always thought of that person, and the emotion in his eyes when he turned to leave alone today that she couldn't ignore.

"I also hope that my infatuation can only be given to one person!" His words kept running into his mind that night. When he said these words, his eyes looked at her so affectionately, not the Concubine Hua she thought she was.

"How could this happen?" Yun Qing suddenly panicked. She sat up suddenly and reached for the pillow. When she touched the cold jade flute, her heart calmed down slightly.

In the darkness, she held tightly the jade pendant engraved with the word "wind" and gently traced the word "wind" with her fingertips. She gently placed the jade pendant on her face and sighed softly.

 She thought that the relationship between herself and the wind was the most beautiful relationship in the world. It's a pity that fate played a trick on people, and she and he missed this life.

 It is clear that it is useless to miss lovesickness, but to feel melancholy is pure madness. Alas, the wind...

Muttering the name of Feng silently, recalling the beautiful days when he and she met and fell in love; sweet and pure, it always made her miss her again and again, intoxicated and heartbroken again and again.

 (End of this chapter)