Chapter 194 (Time Dafa)
Although the relationship between Shen Mushen and Gu Chaochao had eased before he left the Chenshi Palace, the people in the palace still felt that when he went to the emperor's side, he would wait for the opportunity to take revenge on Gu Chaochao, so they all waited to see the former master and servant turn against each other. When they met, they would greet each other politely, and there was no sign of discord at all, and everyone gradually forgot that Gu Chaochao had 'tortured' Shen Mushen.
And since Shen Mushen left, Gu Chaochao seldom saw him. He only knew that he was working in the imperial study. Because he was smart enough and could read and hyphenate words, he was highly valued by the emperor. Memorial work.
In the original text, Shen Mushen also started from sorting out the memorials, step by step to the peak of power.
Knowing that he was growing up smoothly, Gu Chaochao never bothered him. Only when he occasionally encountered important plot points would he find a way to meet him and remind him to prepare early on the grounds that he was dreaming again.
After Shen Mushen experienced the assassination, he began to believe in Gu Chaochao's ability to 'dream the future'. Although it was unbelievable, he quickly figured it out -
his mother-in-law is a fairy from the Nine Heavens, a compassionate Bodhisattva, natural and ordinary People are different.
Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, it is a year.
In the past year, Shen Mushen went from a little eunuch who swept away to a servant who sorted out memorials, and then gradually became the most favored servant by the emperor's side, no longer just arranging memorials, but also Began to follow the emperor frequently in and out of the harem.
And the biggest change is that he began to draw strips and grow taller.
Gu Chaochao was the first to notice.
At that time, the emperor turned over her sign, stayed too late and simply fell asleep.
As in the past, the emperor only came to chat with her, and went straight to bed after chatting, without any intention of asking her to sleep.
Gu Chaochao didn't want to go to bed either, so he endured the silence and waited for him to fall asleep. Then he came to the outside world to talk to Shen Mushen, but while chatting, he suddenly noticed that his sleeves seemed to be short: "Are you growing taller? ?"
"It is indeed a little taller." Shen Mushen replied obediently.
Gu Chaochao smiled: "It's good to grow taller. Before you didn't eat anything, you didn't grow taller. I thought you wouldn't grow taller in your life."
The two hardly met each other this year, but her tone was not lively at all. There was still concern in his words, and Shen Mu was deeply grateful: "Thank you for your concern."
When Gu Chaochao heard his polite words, he reached out and tapped him on the head, and then realized something: "You are starting to draw, Doesn't that mean growing up..."
Having said this, she suddenly became nervous.
"What is development?" Shen Mu was puzzled.
Gu Chaochao didn't know how to explain it to him. After stumbling about for a long time, Shen Mushen finally understood, and his face suddenly turned red: "Slave, slave knows."
"You don't know," Gu Chaochao gave him a sideways glance, "These are Changes, eunuchs won't happen."
Shen Mu was taken aback for a moment, then realized the seriousness of the matter, and clenched his hands unconsciously.
Seeing his appearance, Gu Chaochao couldn't help but sigh: "You have been with the emperor for a year, I thought you had made progress, but now it seems that you are still full of joy and anger?"
Shen Mu paused for a while, thinking Said that he was not like this in front of outsiders, but after meeting her worried eyes, he just smiled without explaining too much.
He was the only relative in the palace, and he liked her concern.
Gu Chaochao frowned and recalled how the male protagonist concealed in the original text, and then thoughtfully told him how to conceal it.
Because of the preparations made in advance, when the body really started to develop, Shen Mushen didn't panic too much. He quietly washed the sheets and dried them in the room without showing any flaws.
As the days passed, the emperor's body was already depleted, and he was forced to learn to be chaste, so the number of times he came to Gu Chaochao became more and more frequent.
Gu Chaochao was also very welcome. After all, he only had to deal with it for a moment every day before he could go outside and chat with Shen Mushen. Although she usually doesn't talk about it, Shen Mushen still feels her loneliness, so every time she comes, she secretly brings her something, today it's a bunch of candied haws, tomorrow it's a small cake, all things that can be found in the palace , but Gu Chaochao liked it very much.
Gradually, the things he sent became more and more rare. Although they were not valuable, they were all things that could not be obtained in the palace. Gu Chaochao knew that he was really different now.
The two of them remained lukewarm in front of outsiders, one was the inner servant of the famous celebrity, and the other was the favored concubine. But once in private, they seem to have become two children, and they will quietly share what gifts they have received recently, what happened, and the relationship has never changed because of power.
Time flies, another four years in the blink of an eye, Shen Mushen is almost eighteen, and Gu Chaochao has also changed from Concubine Chen to Concubine Chen.
On the Mid-Autumn Festival, there is a big banquet in the palace.
The queen had sinned against the emperor two years ago and was sentenced to think behind closed doors for three years, so today only Gu Chaochao is with the king. She came to the imperial garden with a smile, first gave a salute to the emperor, turned around and sat down, lowered her voice and said to Shen
Mushen: "Tonight's banquet is over, remember to come to Chen Shi Palace."
The corners of his eyes and lips raised an inconspicuous arc.
The banquet started soon, and Gu Chaochao wore a professional smirk to deal with the flattery of the ministers and their families.
Five years ago, on the Laba Festival, she participated in the palace banquet for the first time. At that time, no one took her seriously. Even if she came to toast, she only respected the emperor and not her. It has only been so long, these people seem to have forgotten the past thing.
But Gu Chaochao didn't mind, and even hoped that they wouldn't talk to her. She just wanted to eat early and find an excuse to retreat first.
Yet it always backfires.
"Seeing that Empress has remained beautiful for so many years, you know that the feng shui in this palace is excellent, and the concubines feel envious when they see it," a woman flattered
. Deep eyes moved slightly.
Gu Chaochao glanced at her and recognized that she was the wife of the Minister of Rites, so he asked with a smile: "Madam, but it's okay to say it."
"The second daughter of the concubine and concubine is weak since she was a child, and the fortune teller said that the eight characters are too light. You can only see good things if you are nursed around. Chen concubine thinks about it carefully, can there be anyone in this world who is more blessed than the emperor and empress? So the concubine wanted to ask empress to let my unpromising daughter come to live in the palace for a few days. ."
After the woman finished speaking, she knelt down, and the Minister of Rites knelt down with her: "I hope the emperor and the niece will be kind."
Gu Chaochao raised his eyebrows: "How old is your daughter?
" "I
was more than sixteen years old, and in ancient times, I was at an age when I could get engaged. At this time, I was sent to the palace, and it was a well-known fact of Sima Zhao's heart.
Sure enough, before she opened her mouth, the emperor became interested first: "I saw that girl a few years ago, she had a good face, and I don't know what has changed over the years.
" How old are you, and you're staring at it at that time? Gu Chaochao cursed inwardly, still smiling.
Seeing that the old pervert was interested, the Minister of Rites hurriedly called his second daughter over. Gu Chaochao took a closer look and saw that he was indeed born beautiful. No wonder the two couples wanted to send someone to the palace.
As for the emperor next to him, after seeing the girl, his eyes have changed.
Seeing this, Gu Chaochao knew that there was no room for him to speak about this matter, so he shut up. Everyone's sympathetic eyes fell on her, she didn't even realize it, she concentrated on eating, only Shen Mushen next to her raised her eyes and glanced at the Minister of Rites.
The eunuch next to the Minister of Rites agreed and replaced the couple's fruit wine with original spirits.
After three rounds of drinking, the wife of the Minister of Rites was so drunk that she lay on the table, and the Minister of Rites was so drunk that she could barely sit still.
"My lord, the emperor is talking to you." The eunuch next to him whispered as he poured the wine.
The Minister of Rites was sluggish, and it took a while to raise his head: "Huh?"
"The emperor said that the second lady has entered the palace, and you are the lord of the country. Why don't you quickly thank you?" The eunuch urged.
The Minister of Rites looked at the high platform in surprise, Shen Mushen leaned over and reminded the emperor: "Master Liu is looking at you, does it mean that he has something to say?
" He smiled.
The Minister of Rites was flattered and was about to stand up in a hurry. The eunuch on the side quickly supported him and reminded him in a low voice: "The emperor doesn't like politeness the most. Since he calls you the king, you should be generous.
" Nodding in agreement, knelt down and opened his mouth: "The emperor looks down on Wei Chen, and regards Wei Chen as his countryman..."
The faces of everyone who heard his words suddenly changed, and they all thought that this person is going to die, he is ten years younger than the emperor. How old is he to be the emperor's father-in-law. The emperor was stunned at first, and then became angry after he reacted.
The Minister of Rites was unaware, and continued to speak flattering words that he wanted to do his best to share the emperor's worries. The emperor was very angry, slammed the table and stood up suddenly: "Liu Yu! You are so courageous!" The Minister of
Rites was still dizzy when he saw He was angry and puzzled.
"I declare my will, Liu Yu will be demoted to a cripple, get out of the capital, the entire family will not be allowed to enter the capital for life, and the descendants of the Liu family will not be allowed to be officials or daughters, and will not be allowed to enter the palace. I want to see, how can you still be the head of the state!" The emperor has already He hadn't been so offended for many years, and if he changed his previous temper, he would definitely punish his nine clans, but now it's just banishment.
The Minister of Rites was completely awake, but unfortunately it was too late now. Before he could cry and beg for mercy, the whole family was dragged out.
All these changes happened too fast, Gu Chaochao couldn't help but glance at Shen Mushen, Shen Mushen lowered his eyes, determined not to look at her.
Gu Chaochao clicked his tongue, pretended to appease the old ugly man who broke his defense, and made an excuse to leave first.
After she left, Shen Mushen seemed a little absent-minded, and when the banquet was over, he also took advantage of the darkness to leave.
A quarter of an hour later, he appeared in Gu Chaochao's bedroom.
"You did that just now?" Gu Chaochao raised his eyebrows.
"Yes." Shen Mushen did not deny it.
Gu Chaochao laughed: "You can stop this one, and the next one, and I don't care about these, why do you bother?"
"It shouldn't be too busy, but they shouldn't put the abacus on the Empress," Shen Mu thought deeply of the Shangshu family of the Ministry of Rites, and couldn't help frowning, "The servant doesn't want the Empress to return to the Chenshi Palace, and she has to be tense all day long. Keep your spirits up."
"You are," Gu Chaochao said, putting a box in his hand, "a gift."
Shen Mu opened it with a deep smile, and inside was a jade pendant.
"This jade is of good quality, and you will like it if you come." Under the candlelight, Gu Chaochao smiled, "Your birthday is really not at the right time. Even if it is delayed a day or a day earlier, I can still celebrate it for you, but it's the Mid-Autumn Festival."
Shen Mu Shen glanced at her, and then took out the jade pendant to play with: "My lord, it's a good day for your birthday."
Gu Chaochao looked at his handsome face, and suddenly felt a little emotional: "Unconsciously, you are already eighteen years old. Now, time flies so fast."
"The slave and the empress have known each other for five years," Shen Mu said with a deep smile, and then hung the jade pendant on his waist, "How?"
"It's crooked." Gu Chaochao Helpless, he reached out his hand to smooth the jade pendant for him.
Shen Mu lowered her head deeply, watching her focus on arranging the jade pendant for herself, her Adam's apple moved.
After a long time, Gu Chaochao saw that he had sorted it out, and then he took a breath and stepped back: "This is much better."
Shen Mu smiled deeply: "The servant also has a gift for the empress."
"Why do you have to give it to me every year for your birthday? Things." Gu Chaochao complained, but there was a smile in his eyes.
Shen Mushen handed her something.
It is a silk flower, very delicately done.
Gu Chaochao recognized it with just one glance: "What did you do?"
"Does the niangniang like it?" Shen Mushen didn't answer her question.
Gu Chaochao raised his lips: "Compared with your gift, the jade pendant I gave seems to be not enough."
"The slave likes it very much." Shen Mushen answered seriously.
Gu Chaochao was delighted by being coaxed, so he simply handed the silk flower to him: "Help me put it on."
"Yes." Shen Mushen took the silk flower, carefully put it on her hair bun, and accidentally brushed her temples with her fingers. Leaves a little weird touch.
After wearing it, Gu Chaochao went to the bronze mirror to admire it for a while, and the more he looked at it, the more he liked it. Seeing her satisfaction, Shen Mu was indescribably satisfied.
He stayed in the Chenshi Palace for an hour before leaving. Taking advantage of the night to avoid the patrolling guards, he returned to his residence along the path.
After lighting the lamp, he sat at the table for a long time, and inadvertently caught a glimpse of the bronze mirror, only to realize that his lips were still pouting in the mirror. He paused, laughed, raised his hand and sniffed his fingertips, and sure enough, there was still a little scent of sweet-scented osmanthus head oil.
A good night's sleep.
The emperor's health is not as good as before. On the Mid-Autumn Festival, he drank alcohol and became angry, and the next day he fell ill. Shen Mu gained a lot of leisure, so he took some silk cloth from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and prepared to make two more silk flowers for Gu Chaochao to wear.
When I was doing it seriously, someone outside the door suddenly asked to see me.
It was Li Cairen who had just entered the palace.
Shen Mu was silent for a moment, then locked the silk in the cabinet before inviting someone in.
"I don't know why Li Cairen is here?" He asked in a hurry.
Five years of infiltration of power have turned the helpless children of the past into a manager whose emotions and anger are indistinguishable.
Li Cairen knelt down directly: "The concubine is here to defect to the general manager."
"Oh?" Shen Mu raised her eyes deeply.
Li Cairen gave him a careful look, his mind swayed for a moment, and then he regretted that this person was a eunuch, and such a good appearance was wasted: "I have been in the palace for more than a month now, but I have not seen the emperor for a long time, and I want to ask The general manager helps the concubines, if the ministers and concubines can develop in the future, they will definitely not forget the general manager."
Shen Mu took a deep sip of tea: "There are some people in the palace who haven't seen the emperor for three years, why should Li Cairen be anxious."
"But I'm not too young!" Li Cairen blurted out, and then thought of something with a firm look, "General Manager, don't you think Concubine Chen Gui is an eyesore?"
Shen Mu took a deep breath.
Li Cairen's eyes lit up: "My concubine is willing to be the chief officer's sword. If she is favored in the future, she will definitely help you to avenge your humiliation." After hearing what Zhou Guiren said, she came out to inquire, although they said that the two are now There is no discord, but she doesn't believe that Shen Mushen can easily forget the hatred of being humiliated in the past, it must be because Concubine Chen Gui is now in full swing, and he pretends not to care in order to avoid the limelight.
"Who said this to you?" Shen Mushen's tone did not fluctuate.
"What Zhou Guiren in the cold palace said." Li Cairen said hurriedly.
A trace of mockery flashed in Shen Mushen's eyes: "Got it."
"Then what do you mean..." A look of expectation appeared on Li Cairen's face
, "You came here today, will anyone know?" Shen Mushen interrupted her.
Li Cairen heard that he felt relieved, and hurriedly replied: "The concubine is cautious, and she didn't even say anything about the maid."
"Well done." Shen Mu gave a deep compliment.
When Li Cairen heard his compliment, he couldn't help but blushed again, and he left with a sigh of relief. After a long time, I found that Shen Mushen didn't say yes or no... It should be yes, Li Cairen was not sure, but he didn't have the courage to ask any more, so he could only go back and wait for news.
Three days later, Zhou Guiren in the cold palace suddenly went crazy and killed Li Cairen, who went to see her, and ran out. The guards stabbed him to death on the spot.
The two unfavored concubines died like ants. After a brief discussion in the palace for two days, no one remembered it. After hearing about it, the emperor only felt bad and asked people to deal with it as soon as possible. He did not take the two seriously at all. Chaochao felt embarrassed when he thought about it, and he hadn't forgotten the death of the two for a long time.
"A good person will die if they say they die." She couldn't help but sigh.
Shen Mushen handed over a piece of cake: "Why are you heartbroken for these unimportant people?"
"It's not that I'm heartbroken, I just feel that life is impermanent," Gu Chaochao sighed and looked at the pastry in his hand, "So cherish the moment."
Shen Mu replied deeply, adding: "Also cherish the person in front of you."
Gu Chaochao Didn't hear clearly, and then asked him what he said, but he just smiled.