Ding Huang remembered that his daughter was in the depths of the palace and would not be able to see the light of day for the time being. He could not help but be stunned for a moment.
Just as he was stunned, he suddenly heard a voice from behind him asking faintly, "Who is in the central room?"
Ding Huang felt that the voice was a bit familiar and was stunned. He then heard Zhang Kuo eagerly say, "The Emperor will be here in a moment. Little Noble Lady, go back to the inner room and rest. It is cold outside.
After this servant has asked around who is in the central room, I will come back and inform you. "
The jade pendant inside the water curtain jingled like a small stream flowing away and then back again.
The footsteps and breathing seemed to be breathtaking. At first, he only saw a white and slender hand pick up the jade beads, and the tassels retreated like flowing water. Then, a person turned his head and looked in their direction. The middle of the cotton robe was tied around the waist, and the belt hung loosely, draping over the thick and soft carpet. It was so light that it seemed like a dream that would be awakened with the slightest movement.
Ding Huang did not know what had happened.
In other words, he knew that he would see this person again in the next two days. However, no matter how many times he had imagined an embarrassing, angry, and troublesome meeting, there was no way he would be able to react in such a way as to meet this person in front of him.
How could the vicious-mouthed and lowly Shangguan Mingde, who he once hated to the bone and who should be waiting for an audience in the camp outside the city, appear in Qianwandi's bedroom, loosely and lazily wrapped in the white robe that he had just woken up in, as if he was the real owner of this place?
In fact, if it were someone else, Ding Huang would quickly realize what was going on.
No matter how absurd or obscene it was, he could accept it.
The imperial family, after all. How many absurd things had been hidden in the imperial family's dignity throughout the ages?
It was normal for the Emperor to like a beautiful little boy.
Not to mention the Emperor, it was common for ordinary court officials to raise a beautiful child in their home.
… But if it was Shangguan Mingde!
Ding Huang was stunned.
However, Shangguan Mingde reacted quickly. With a familiar cold and sarcastic smile, he asked respectfully, "How are you, Your Excellency Ding?"
Ding Huang took half a step back. "You?
How did you … "
Mingde sat down on a chair, propped up his chin, and stared at Ding Huang. "Where did the flood come from?
Your Excellency Ding, who are you here to plead for the people? "
The way he sat down was extremely relaxed, as if he was a kitten that had just woken up.
Her hair was casually tied up at the back of her head, hanging loosely over her shoulders and wrapped around her snow-white cotton robe. The corners of her eyes were slightly raised, making her look indescribably delicate and piercing.
Ding Huang said angrily, "I came to the Qing Zheng Hall under the order of the Emperor to wait for your arrival!"
Mingde let out a long 'oh' and asked with a smile, "What about General Lin?"
In the blink of an eye, Lin Bing suddenly understood the question that had been bothering him for a long time.
Why was it that ever since Shangguan Mingde came, the Hanbei Camp's military supplies and provisions had never been delayed?
Why was it that the credit was given to someone else by an imperial edict when it was clearly his own?
Why was Qianwandi so pleased with him that he would gladly reward him with all the soldiers and provisions in the world?
"I gave the person to you, and you gave him back in one piece …" It turned out that the civil war that had been delayed to the Huai River not only defeated Dongyang Wang Jinyuan, but also created enough military achievements for a nameless young master in the capital to brag about!
And he, who had perfectly cooperated with this act, was the greatest contributor in Qianwandi's heart!
Suddenly, Lin Bing had an idea. Perhaps even if he lost the war, as long as he could guarantee the safety of Shangguan Mingde, all other problems would not be a problem, right?
From beginning to end, everything that had happened in the past year was nothing more than a lavish banquet where he used the country to tease a beauty!
Mingde was still looking at Lin Bing with a smile. He rested his chin on his hand, and the joints of his fingers seemed to be carved from jade. They were so delicate that it seemed like they would break if he clenched them.
He was so delicate and indulgent that he did not seem to be the same person as the young general in white and silver armor who had fought alone for three thousand li.
If it had been a few years ago when he was hot-blooded, perhaps Lin Bing would have been angry, stomped his feet, and turned hostile on the spot.
But everything was different now. He had endured so long in the bitter cold borderlands. He had seen through the ways of the world and knew how to behave.
He slowly opened his mouth and said, "… I … I am here on orders. What orders does Your Majesty have?
I met Official Ding on the way here, so we came together. "
His words were actually very clever.
Everyone knew that Shangguan Mingde and Ding Huang were not on good terms. Lin Bing's words were tantamount to drawing a clear line between himself and Ding Huang.
Of course, one was a foreign official. Although he seemed to be endlessly honored, his wealth and position were all at the mercy of the Emperor. The lives of his entire family were in the hands of the Emperor.
On the other hand, she was a real person who shared the same pillow. Even Zhang Kuo had to serve her attentively and not neglect her. If she didn't like someone, she would just have to act coquettishly, and it was clear who was close and who was distant.
Mingde nodded and said, "I see.
But Your Majesty didn't come. It's almost lunchtime. Since you two are waiting, why don't you eat first? "
Ding Huang was shocked, and then he said righteously, "Without Your Majesty's permission, how could I dare to stay in the palace?
This old man will never do something so disrespectful to the ancestors of my dynasty! "
Mingde didn't care at all and advised him, "Official Ding, there's no need. Even if you are the Emperor, there's no reason for you to watch your officials starve.
Besides, Your Majesty has always been lenient. Official Ding, if you act like Your Majesty is treating you badly, it'll sound bad! "
As he spoke, he jumped down from the tall camphor wood chair with a smile on his face. He called Zhang Kuo to serve the food while waiting at the door. When he saw the palace servants coming in, he personally went to set up the table and chairs to serve the food.
Ding Huang took half a step back and turned his head with a serious face, "What do you mean by this, Official Shangguan?
It's not that there haven't been cases of foreign officials staying in the harem to eat, but the Ceremony Directorate will record in detail which palace concubine and which foreign official is invited to the banquet. Before and after the banquet, they have to get the Emperor's permission.
If Official Shangguan keeps the food, in the future, when the Ceremony Directorate records it, which concubine will it be? "
Just as he finished speaking, Mingde happened to take a soup bowl from Zhang Kuo's hand. The blue and white porcelain bowl was half an inch thick. When it reached Mingde's hand, Zhang Kuo saw fine cracks appear on it.
The veins on the back of Mingde's hand bulged and then calmed down. He turned his head and smiled warmly, "Official Ding is joking.
It's taboo for a concubine to invite a foreign official to a banquet, but the Emperor has personally said that Qing Zhen Hall doesn't belong to the harem. What's wrong with me inviting you two for lunch on behalf of the Emperor?
Does Official Ding think that I don't even have the money to invite officials to a meal because I'm a member of the imperial family? "
Ding Huang's anger was stuck in his throat and he couldn't say anything else.
I've already said it clearly, I'm inviting you two for lunch on behalf of the Emperor!
If Mingde dared to say this in front of everyone in Qing Zhen Hall, then it meant that he really did have the right to do so.
If he continued to decline, it probably wouldn't be Shangguan Mingde who would be angry, but Qianwandi.
Lin Bing sat down without a word. He looked at Ding Huang and smiled, "Official Ding, come.
It's often said that officials are getting poorer and poorer. A good meal is eaten over a few days.
It's not easy for us to see what the Emperor eats. Official Ding, don't let go of this good opportunity. "
Mingde glanced at him and coughed a few times. He smiled lightly and said, "General Lin is truly an upright official."
He didn't say the rest of the sentence.
This lunch wasn't prepared for Qianwandi. It was prepared for Mingde alone in a small kitchen that had been opened in Qing Zhen Hall that day.
Qianwandi had a strong taste in the north and could eat anything salty or spicy. However, Mingde's taste was truly southern. When he ate with Qianwandi, he would immediately vomit after eating.
Heavenly Emperor Qian had spoiled this little thing and had always given it everything in terms of material things.
He had opened a small kitchen in Qing Zhen Hall and recruited twenty chefs from the south. Every day, fresh vegetables, fruits, and southerly specialties were sent to the imperial palace. Just his food and clothing alone was equivalent to a third of the food of the entire inner palace.
A eunuch from the Ceremony Directorate had once calculated that the materials thrown away in the small kitchen in Qing Zhen Hall were more than ten times the materials used. However, the food that was made every day was only a tenth of Qianwandi's portion.
Zhang Kuo always knew how to serve Mingde so that he wouldn't make him angry. If he put Qianwandi's imperial food in front of Mingde, he would skin him alive.
Therefore, Ding Huang and Lin Bing were eating Mingde's usual portion, which was light and slightly sweet in the south. The staple food was a bowl of jasper rice porridge in a small white jade bowl. It didn't look like much, but it was actually specially provided. It was less than fifty kilograms of porridge per year.
Ding Huang looked at the bowl of porridge and scooped up a spoonful to eat. Suddenly, his expression changed.
Without waiting for him to speak, Mingde immediately asked with great concern, "What's wrong, Lord Ding?
Is such precious rice not good enough for you? "
Ding Huang had never eaten such salty rice in his life. It was as if ten kilograms of salt had been poured into it. It was so salty that he almost couldn't speak. "… I … I have eaten jasper rice before. How can it be so … so …"
Mingde ate the porridge slowly and smiled gently. "Lord Ding, you are really extravagant. You are specially provided with less than fifty kilograms of rice every year. You don't even care about it. I wonder what kind of rice you eat at home. You must be living a good life."
Ding Huang's face turned purple. He slammed the table and stood up angrily. "Lord Shangguan, why do you have to be so mean?"
Mingde frowned and asked tactfully, "What do you mean, Lord Shangguan?"
"Even if you don't like me, you don't have to humiliate me with such dirty tricks!
— — "
Before he finished speaking, the eunuch at the door suddenly announced in a shrill voice, "His Majesty has arrived!"
Qianwandi walked in with big strides. Before the eunuch outside the door finished announcing, he had already lifted the curtain and walked in through the screen.
Zhang Kuo hurried forward to take the coat and said in a low voice, "His Majesty is finally back."
He added almost inaudibly, "… The little noble lady … put something in Lord Ding's bowl …"
Ran Wen
Qianwandi's eyelids twitched.
According to Mingde's character, adding arsenic would be a light punishment.
Zhang Kuo hurriedly added, "She added a handful of salt!"
Emperor Qian Wan was amused and almost laughed out loud. He looked at Ding Wan and Lin Bing on the other side of the table who hurriedly got up and knelt down. Ming De bit on his chopsticks and looked at him. He hurriedly retracted his smile and ordered, "My beloved officials, rise.
What is it? Did you eat something good? "
As he said this, he went over to take a look. Lin Bing followed behind him and said respectfully, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for giving us this banquet. We were all frightened and ate with trepidation."
Qianwandi walked over and sat beside Mingde. He held Mingde's hand and scooped a spoonful of porridge into his mouth. He laughed and said, "The porridge is cold now. We can't eat it. Take it away."
Ding Huang sighed in relief when he heard this.
Before he could take a deep breath, he saw Ming De's face sink. With a fling of his hand, he threw away the spoon that had been fed to Emperor Qian Wandi. With a flick of his hand, he threw the spoon that had been fed to Emperor Qian Wandi.
Qianwandi didn't get angry. He watched as the palace servants came and tidied up the table. He slowly said, "What's wrong with me? Why do you dislike me so much?"
Mingde snorted and broke free from him. He turned around and lifted the jade bead curtain. In a few steps, he disappeared behind the screen.
He was wearing a cotton-white robe that was tied loosely around his waist. His body heat lingered on his fingertips. There was an indescribable ambiguity and flirtatiousness.
Qianwandi couldn't help but look behind the bead curtain for a while. He was lost in thought for a while. Then, he turned his head and smiled faintly, "The older you are, the more unruly you are!"
Ding Huang and Lin Bing didn't know how to answer. They could only smile vaguely.
This meal was tasteless. Qianwandi was obviously not in a good mood. After a while, a few palace servants came to report in low voices about the little noble in the inner chamber. After whispering for a while, they left.
When the meal was about to end, Qianwandi couldn't sit still anymore. He found an excuse to send Ding Huang and Lin Bing away.
Ding Huang was angry, but he couldn't vent his anger. He could only snort and leave angrily.
Lin Bing stayed behind. Before she left, Qianwandi called her, "My dear minister, wait a moment."
"Yes, my lord."
"Do you have a good relationship with Mingde?"
Lin Bing's forehead was suddenly covered in sweat.
What did he mean by a good relationship?
If the emperor asked her if she had a good relationship with the woman who slept next to him, how would she answer?
Lin Bing could only laugh and say, "We take care of each other on the battlefield. Of course we do …"
Qianwandi nodded and suddenly asked, "My dear minister, what did you see today?"
Lin Bing looked up and saw Qianwandi playing with the jade beads beside his hand. His tone was good, but his face was cold and indifferent. There was no expression at all.
Lin Bing lowered her head and said, "Today, I was ordered to have an audience with the emperor. Fortunately, I was given a meal. As for the rest … that's all."
Qianwandi nodded, stood up, and strode into the inner chamber. He only left a sentence from afar. Then, he floated in with the wind and floated away.
"My dear minister, remember that the rest is all. Don't forget these few words …"