Chapter 0009: Choosing the Sacred Heart.
The Shendu Fang is a place where thousands of flowers can be appreciated. Is there any reason to remember a particular plant that blooms or withers? Today's Yong'an Wang can be seen by bowing down from the corridor, so he can have a glimpse. However, after that, he will be lost among the crowd of plants and unfortunately be broken by the strong wind. It is not worth the Emperor's special effort to enter the thicket and pick him up.
It can be seen from this that Wei Tuan'er is deeply favored by the God Emperor, not purely because of appearance, but also because of her thoughtful daily service. If Shangguan Wan'er took charge of serving the food, although there would be no major mistakes, it is not necessarily in line with the God Emperor's preferences, because even she herself is not deeply indulgent in food, making it even more difficult for her to discern the subtle differences in others' tastes and preferences.
Weitan's foolishness or luck lies in the fact that she has no idea what kind of person she is serving, nor does she know how she exists in the eyes of the Divine Emperor. However, Shangguan Wan'er has long had a deep understanding of this.
Holy Mother Divine Emperor, will always be uplifted and look forward, as for bowing to the latter, only seek good fortune for oneself!
Last night, due to the excessive heat and lack of palace maids to deliver clothes, Li Tong simply lay down with his chest exposed. When he woke up, he saw the thick pile of folded robes and garments at his feet, and couldn't help but sigh and slap his forehead. His hair, which had been let down after removing his crown last night, was also soaked with night sweats and stuck messily to his shoulders and back.
The so-called morning bell and evening drum, sitting on the couch listening to the sound of the dawn bell, Li Tong's slightly drowsy mind gradually became clear when he woke up, and he realized that he had indeed come to a different time and space, and then felt sore all over.
He quickly searched through the memory scenes and soon remembered the identity of the woman. The woman's name is Zheng Jin, who used to be a maid accompanying her mother, Shen, when she married into the then Prince Yong's mansion. Li Shouyi has been responsible for taking care of her since the birth of Li Shouyi, and he is also one of the old acquaintances who has not dispersed from the former Eastern Palace until now.
It is not surprising to think that the room he currently resides in is actually an empty room that was temporarily cleaned up and used as a funeral parlor. It's just that due to the subsequent changes, the palace people did not receive orders to choose a nearby place to settle this resurrected prince. They just made some arrangements and decorations without considering the comfort of living.
Afterwards, the concubines inside and outside the palace were received, all of whom were to be brought out to entertain everyone. Wei Tuan'er thought that she could rely on favor and enjoy treasures, no wonder the Emperor only allowed her to listen in front of the palace and did not let her leave his side.
The divine emperor's diet emphasizes quality over quantity. Each meal is merely a taste, and the rest is given to the attendants on both sides for additional meals, which are consumed in the corridor. Wei Tuan'er also followed the divine emperor's orders and gave two bottles of freshly brewed lychee tea to Shangguan Wan'er, saying with a smile, "Lady Shangguan is truly beloved by His Majesty. This lychee tea is only a tribute of eighty bottles. His Majesty is always mindful of his daily intake."
The woman saw Li Tong, who was disheveled and dirty, from a distance. She couldn't help but cover her mouth and sob, and rushed forward as the wind blew beneath her feet, saying, "How dare these maidservants treat you, Sir Lang, so unfairly!"
Shangguan Wan'er gracefully took the lychee decoction from the small celadon bottle made in Yue kiln. Upon hearing the words, she only expressed her gratitude with respect, but she knew in her heart that the delicacy bestowed by the emperor was not meant for her to indulge in, but rather to convey the emperor's compassionate and benevolent style to the outside world.
In the courtyard, the palace maids were already busy sweeping. When they saw Li Tong walking out in such disheveled clothes, they scattered like startled rabbits.
With this thought in mind, he walked out of the door and looked towards the east. This was the period when the Ming Hall was being built. It was said that the completed Ming Hall was extremely grand and could be seen from a hundred miles away from the capital. However, when he turned his head to look, all he saw were high palace eaves and walls, which inevitably left him feeling disappointed.
Last night, after a thorough self-reflection, Li Tong also realized that continuing to act mysteriously was inappropriate. Although he had already planned to adjust his behavior and make some remedial measures, seeing the palace maids like this, he couldn't help but feel helpless.
This situation persisted until the arrival of Shangguan Wan'er once again. Li Tongji sat in the corridor and saw a flash of skirt at the gate. He hurriedly rushed back to his room, in a panic, his shorts half undone, unaware if any flesh was exposed. He peeked out from behind the door and saw Shangguan Wan'er, dressed in a new skirt, entering alongside a middle-aged woman.
When Li Tong woke up, he could still hear the deep sound of bells coming from outside. However, with numerous halls and pavilions in the forbidden palace, the sound waves were scattered and it was no longer possible to determine the exact direction from which the sound was coming.
Since then, Shangguan Wan'er realized that the Divine Emperor did not need any confidants, and these female officials and maids listed in front of them were just objects. They each had their own value, but if they lost their value, they would be no different from dust and could be easily discarded.
Upon seeing the situation, Shangguan Wan'er dared not sit idle. She immediately got up and, together with Wei Tuan'er, opened the food box and took out the tableware and utensils one by one from the inside, placing them skillfully on the table.
After a lot of chaos and confusion, Li Tong finally managed to change into new clothes and looked like a normal Tang person, free from the embarrassment of before.
Wei Tuaner came to the side of the Divine Emperor. The time should be a little later, and he didn't know where the potted plant that the palace maid just discarded came from.
Shangguan Wan'er turned her head to the side, subconsciously touching the floral hairpin that she never took off even when she went to sleep, her thoughts flying back to many years ago.
Shangguan Wan'er just smiled and nodded, but her eyes followed the palace maids carrying out and casually discarding the potted plant outside the railing, her thoughts filled with melancholy. She felt that she was not as close to Wei Tuan'er, who stood by the curtain inside, but perhaps it was not necessarily a bad thing. Her thoughts were too delicate and she thought too much.
Especially considering that this is his first day of rebirth in the Tang Dynasty, if he survives the great difficulties that may come in the future, he may become a lone and isolated figure, and he would not want to be remembered as a laughingstock for a thousand years.
In a certain year, during a discussion in the Hall of Two Saints, Shangguan Wan'er was also present. During the discussion, the Emperor's words slightly offended the Heavenly Emperor, enraging the latter. In a fit of anger, the Heavenly Emperor swiftly stabbed Shangguan Wan'er, causing blood to flow from her forehead, leaving her stunned on the spot. She had originally thought that the Heavenly Emperor would protect her to some extent, but the Heavenly Emperor never yielded. In the end, the Heavenly Emperor took a step back, while Shangguan Wan'er's blood-stained cheeks were already being dragged out for treatment by palace maids.
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Anyway, he felt uncomfortable everywhere. The satisfaction of living a good life as a Chinese person emerged after last night's meal, but now it has disappeared. He just wants to cut off his messy hair, take a shower, and put on a pair of beach shorts. By the way, there are a lot of mosquitoes in the room, and now there are many red bumps on his body from mosquito bites, which are very itchy.
The woman's kindness made Li Tong unable to refuse at all, and the young Li Shouyi's body was much smaller than his peers. In no time, he was already being held in the woman's arms.
When she was young, she was punished by the Yeting court, but was recognized and granted talent by the God Emperor. For a period of time, she was also carefree and happy, just like Wei Tuan'er now, and regarded herself as the God Emperor's confidant.
At the same time, he also learned about his new fate from Shangguan Wan'er: the interrogation of the people in the Yongwang Mansion has temporarily come to an end. He can also reunite with his family. The other family members have been sent to the Renzhi Institute in the neighboring city, where they will start a new life.
Just as described by King Yong'an in the poem "Ci Wu", does it really evoke so much nostalgia for the late Crown Prince Li Xian from the God Emperor? Anyone who thinks so is underestimating the God Emperor. The reason the God Emperor ordered the books to be taken from the Chongwen Pavilion is because this poem can serve as a warning to the present sage!
Zheng Jinhua hugged Li Tong and wept for a moment. Seeing the simple and crude living conditions of the house, he became angry again and started cursing at the panicked palace maids in the corridor. This allowed Li Tong to witness a lively and bold scene of women in the early Tang Dynasty.
The Emperor is full of energy, with numerous state affairs and various tasks. When busy, he may even have to eat while working.
Why is my whole body sore? It's naturally because I didn't sleep well. The room is too stuffy and hot, and the bed board is too hard. Li Tong suspects that the bed board underneath him is not the usual bedding used for sleeping nowadays, even though there are several layers of mats, it still makes his shoulders and back sore.
Weitianer's diet is naturally familiar with the Emperor's habit. Although the Emperor only ordered to take a small amount of lychee decoction, other foods were also taken in small quantities, such as crispy carved rice, stewed deer tail, grilled fish and lamb with fermented bean sauce, etc. There are more than ten categories in total, all of which are carefully prepared in the kitchen according to the Emperor's taste and are readily available for consumption.
Of course, this also demonstrates the shrewdness of the Emperor in employing people. Different tasks are assigned to different individuals, and people only need to do their best in front of the Emperor, without harboring any illusions of replacing each other and taking control of internal affairs.
He was wearing a single-layered short robe, but without a belt. He had to use one hand to hold it up at his waist, making it difficult to avoid exposing himself. With his innocent body exposed to the rising sun of the Tang Dynasty, he felt extremely embarrassed.
The mind of heaven is unfathomable. If the Divine Emperor were truly entangled in worldly affairs like an ordinary woman, it would be difficult for him to reach this point. As for the benefits obtained by the Prince Yong'an, it is only because his life and death are not within the scope of the Divine Emperor's consideration.
The arrangements have been completed. Wei Tuaner has also come and gone, holding a food box painted with exquisite Shu lacquer in his hand, and returning here lightly.
In the old year, the two saints resided in Shangyang Palace. The Emperor's illness worsened, and the Divine Emperor personally went to Songyang to pray for the transfer and transplantation of the auspicious tree to the Forbidden City. He personally trimmed, watered, and fertilized it in order to seek divine intervention. Afterward, the Emperor recovered, but the Divine Emperor could not bear to abandon this potted auspicious tree and kept it near his residence. It was just the one that was just thrown out!
Of course, he can now be considered a lonely man, a true solitary figure, with no one paying him any attention.
Last night, making a grimace scared off those palace maids. At this moment, it is unlikely that anyone will come to serve voluntarily. Li Tong can only resign himself to his fate, gather his messy hair, pick up a piece of cloth from an unknown part of the robe, and wrap it around himself before getting out of bed.
As for the value of this matter, the God Emperor has his own standards. Just like the pot of plant that was discarded before, it symbolizes the God Emperor's mourning for the Emperor. However, when there is a precious item to appreciate, this mourning can also be abandoned. The God Emperor's decisive judgment on calmness and choice makes Shangguan Wan'er awe-inspiring and dare not have any disobedience.
After getting out of bed and taking a few steps, her hair fell loose again. Li Tong felt even more annoyed. Then suddenly, she realized that it would be quite nice to shave her head and become a monk. During this period, it seemed that the future of becoming a monk was promising. For example, her cheap grandmother's nephew, Xue Huaiyi, could become an engineer and even a general.
They were chatting in front of the palace when suddenly the Divine Emperor among them ordered Wei Tuanner to remove and discard the potted plants in the palace. After Wei Tuanner commanded the palace maids to do so, she seemed to feel a little ashamed in front of Shangguan Wan'er for only dealing with these trivial matters, so she turned back and said, "Xue Shiri presented the Cuiyu Screen during the day, but there is no place to put it..."