Luming Street, just after noon.
A loud sound of horse hooves came from far and near, breaking the tranquility of the entire street.
At the gate of Su Mansion, the sleepy old concierge jumped up and looked around timidly.
In a short while, the noise spread from the gate all the way along the winding corridor to the depths of Su Mansion.
The crisp wind chimes hung all over the pavilion of the Sufu Gallery for a certain little girl's birthday, and the sound of them jingling and swaying in the noon wind was momentarily obscured by the sound of footsteps rushing past below.
It was like a silent artery was suddenly activated by a wildly beating heart, and the blood flow accelerated... The entire Su Mansion came to life.
When the old butler Shun Bo rushed outside the fishing platform by the pond.
Li Xian was sitting on the steps at the edge of the platform, fishing with a fishing rod, nodding sleepily, just like the fishhook buoy that jumped from time to time on the water.
Uncle Shun said hurriedly: "Master, the envoy from Luoyang Palace is here, and he is outside the gate now!"
Li Xian slowly opened his eyes and subconsciously glanced at the calm water where the fishhook was in the distance. He turned his head, looked at Uncle Shun who had a nervous face, and nodded.
Li Xian silently put down the fishing rod, stood up and sighed:
"Those who are supposed to come must come, go, and go out to receive orders."
"Yes, sir."
At this time, Su Guo'er, Wei Mei, and Su Dalang also hurried over.
"Father!"
"Shichiro!"
Looking at his wife and children with worried faces, Li Xian waved his hand. Although his fingers were trembling, he managed to smile:
"Don't worry, didn't the wise nephew Liang Han who was planning a strategy in Yilanxuan say that our family is still useful to the mother, and now we are not blocking the mother's way, and we will not be easily forced to death like the second brother.
"
When Wei Mei and others heard this, they immediately sighed in silence.
Li Xian is the third son of Queen Wei. He had two brothers. Initially, the eldest brother was the crown prince. However, he died young and the second brother succeeded him. However, because of his virtuous and intelligent nature, he aroused the suspicion of Queen Wei, and was later regarded as the crown prince.
After being convicted of treason, he was deposed as a commoner and was exiled to Bazhou. After the queen was proclaimed emperor, he was forced to kill by the cruel official under surveillance, the female historian.
It was because of the accidents that happened to these two brothers that Li Xian became the prince's superintendent by accident. Unfortunately, he still couldn't play the role of a fierce mother. He came to the "Emperor for a few days", and then he was demoted and kicked out of the capital.
I came to this remote Jiangzhou in despair.
Speaking of which, the fate of Li Xian's family is indeed very similar to that of the former crown prince's second brother's family who was deposed as commoners, except for the final forced execution.
This is also the reason why Li Xian was so pessimistic about the future before he met Ouyang Lianghan, who was amazed by him, and before he overheard those ingenious strategies.
From the Luojing palace, the slightest disturbance can make Li Xian panic and frighten him to death.
Because his queen mother has really done this kind of thing and won't joke around with you.
Fortunately, I have met a wise man in the field, an unparalleled national scholar... Ouyang Rong's leisurely and determined voice that day still faintly echoed in his ears, and Li Xian calmed down a little.
After comforting his wife and two children, he took the lead and walked out, rushing to the gate of Su Mansion without hesitation.
Close to the mansion gate.
I saw a group of slaves from the Su Mansion crowded inside the threshold, looking timidly out the door.
And through the crowd, one can faintly see the green, crimson and other colored skirts and dark clothes belonging to the palace messenger team outside the door.
It is in sharp contrast to the monotonous colors of white walls and black tiles in the streets of small counties in the south of the Yangtze River.
Just like their status as uninvited guests, they seemed out of place everywhere.
Inside the threshold, Li Xian held up his hat, separated the crowd with his arms, and stepped out first.
"Bao'er, Dalang, you wait inside."
Wei Mei stretched out her hand to stop Su Guo'er and Su Dalang who wanted to follow.
Then the Mistress of the Su Mansion straightened her appearance, stepped gracefully, followed her husband's footsteps, and walked out the door.
"Amei." Su Dalang turned his head and glanced at Su Guo'er.
"Listen to my mother," Su Guo'er said without turning around. After a pause, he added, "I also believe in his strategic judgment."
Today, she was wearing a sky blue waist-length skirt, and a light cyan tulle on her pretty face, covering the lower half of her pretty face.
Only the bright red plum print between the eyebrows, the two slanting red lines on the temples on the left and right temples, and the narrow and cold lacquered eyes with slightly upturned corners are exposed.
Su Dalang swallowed his words and naturally understood who the "him" in Amei's mouth was.
The two brothers and sister looked at their father and mother's backs shielding them from the wind and rain.
At the same time, his eyes unconsciously moved to the group of palace envoys.
"Where is Li Xian?"
"The common people are here." Li Xian walked out in response.
"Wechsler?"
"The civilian woman is here." Wei Mei followed closely.
Su Guo'er couldn't help but look sideways, and saw that the person who asked the question first was a woman in palace clothes who was at the front of the palace messenger team.
He was about thirty or forty years old, and he was dressed in a luxurious crimson palace dress, which made him stand out.
Two small dots of rouge were added between the dimples at the corners of her mouth, which was a popular lip makeup trend in the Zhou court.
These makeup and looks all highlight the identity of the colorful dress lady beside Her Majesty the Queen.
This should be the sixth-grade palace man mentioned in the secret letter from the Prime Minister's Palace a few days ago... Su Guoer secretly thought.
The questioning seemed to be a routine confirmation of identity. After Li Xian and Wei Mei bowed and bowed in reply, the woman in palace attire, who seemed to be a sixth-grade woman, did not speak for a long time.
She stood at the front of the crowd of envoys, raised her chin slightly, and glanced at the couple who had been demoted to common people in front of her, without saying a word.
Su Guo'er immediately heard her father's respectful words as he stepped forward:
"The angel from Luojing came from afar, and the common people were a little indifferent and frightened. If you dare to ask the angel's name, please move to your humble abode..."
Su Guo'er suddenly saw the corner of the woman's mouth raised in palace clothes, and she chuckled like a "ha".
Before Su Bao'er could frown, she saw her father suddenly silenced as he raised his head to look at her, with a dumbfounded expression on his face. The same happened to her mother behind her, who seemed to be attracted by the chuckle and saw clearly the face of the woman in palace clothes.
The mother's breathing seemed to be quickening, and she clenched her fists under her sleeves.
In front of everyone, the woman in palace clothes tapped her chin and said, "Have you forgotten my name, Your Highness? It's true that noble people forget things."
"You...you are..." Li Xian was a little unsteady on his feet.
"Miaozhen, why is it you!" Wei Mei blurted out.
Miaozhen looked at her sideways and said, "Why can't it be my concubine? Well, maybe His Majesty thinks that we have a good friendship."
She nodded and said to Li Xian, who looked very excited:
"I came here on your Majesty's order to give a seventeenth birthday gift to the princess of the clan. In addition, although Your Majesty has many things to do, he still thinks about you, Your Highness. He also picked a small gift for me to deliver. Your Highness, please don't
I must live up to His Majesty’s wishes.”
Li Xian lowered his head slightly and hesitated: "Miaozhen, I..."
"Your Highness, don't waste time. Please open the gifts personally and prepare to express your gratitude. Someone, please bring over the gifts for Your Highness and the Princess." Miaozhen did not look at him, but turned around and ordered lightly.
These arrogant words and indifferent attitude caused everyone in the venue to immediately fall silent.
Listening to this tone, it seemed that there was some grudge. Countless eyes fell on Su Xian.
The latter's figure was also shaky and he was a little unsteady on his feet. He was supported by Wei Mei who took a step forward. Wei Mei's eyes were wide open and she stared at Miaozhen as if nothing had happened.
"Uncle Shun, you were also a member of the palace before. Do you know this female official named Miaozhen?"
Inside the gate of Su Mansion, Su Guo'er, who was hiding behind the crowd, turned her head and asked the butler Shun Bo who looked worried.
"Why do I feel like I have an old grudge with my father and mother? It seems quite big." Su Dalang couldn't help but frown.
"Miss, Master, where should I start talking about this dispute? Huh..."
Uncle Shun smiled bitterly and sighed:
"This female officer named Miaozhen was one of the favored maids of Queen Wei in Xingqing Palace when she was young. When I was still the seventh prince, I occasionally went in and out of Xingqing Palace. For some reason, Miaozhen fell in love with me.
To be continued...