[History of the Sui Dynasty Palace] [44]

page views:1 Publication date:2023-03-24

Chapter 44: A Dream at the Dragon's Pavilion, A Cool Zither Witnesses the Deep Affection of the Mandarin Duck Alliance. It is said that Emperor Yang and Empress Xiao arrived at the Great Lake in the north and, after a short visit, Emperor Yang named the lake the North Sea. The three mountains in the lake were named after the three mythical mountains in the sea: Penglai, Fangzhang, and Yingzhou. Emperor Yang then traveled along the long canal, visiting all sixteen gardens and naming each one: Jingming, Yinghui, Qiluan, Chenguang, Mingxia, Cuihua, Wen'an, Jizhen, Yingwen, Yifeng, Renzhi, Qingxiu, Baolin, Heming, Qiyin, and Jiangyang. Emperor Yang then appointed Wang Guizhi to oversee Jingming Garden, Xie Xiangwen to oversee Qiyin Garden, Fan Yu'er to oversee Jizhen Garden, Qin Fengqin to oversee Qingxiu Garden, Liu Yunfang and Di Zhenzhu to oversee Yingwen and Wen'an respectively, Liang Wenyuan to oversee Yinghui Garden, and Li Qing'er to oversee Qiluan Garden. Chen Juqing presided over Baolin Garden. Fang Zhenniang and Liu Xiufeng were in charge of Chenguang Garden and Yifeng Garden, respectively. Tian Yuzhi managed Heming Garden, and Shi Junqing presided over Jiangyang Garden. Zhang Liqing, Huang Yayun, and Zhu Jier were in charge of Mingxia Garden, Cuihua Garden, and Renzhi Garden, respectively. The ladies of the sixteen gardens, after expressing their gratitude, went to their respective gardens to take charge.
With the names settled, it was nearly noon. Emperor Yang and Empress Xiao returned to Xianren Palace for their meal.
Yu Shiji, however, had the sixteen jade seals he had previously selected engraved by craftsmen so that the ladies of the sixteen gardens could wear them. After Emperor Yang finished his lunch, he again ordered his carriage to the West Garden and appointed the eunuch Ma Zhong as the West Garden's commander, in charge of opening and closing the gates. At that time, the ladies of the sixteen gardens, having received the imperial decree and each living in their own garden, all wanted the emperor's favor and flaunted their splendor in their respective gardens, vying for novelty and difference. Music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and various instruments—all these things were readily available.
However, Emperor Yang first set his sights on the Yifeng Garden. Surrounded by lush bamboo, its verdant foliage reflected in the windows, the garden offered respite from the sweltering midday heat. Emperor Yang, therefore, favored it first. Without guards or attendants, he donned a simple gauze robe, a light gauze headscarf, and carried a small, round, thin silk fan. He quietly strolled to the Yifeng Garden, already feeling a refreshing coolness. Upon entering, he found no one to greet him. Emperor Yang, who was not concerned with formalities, paid no attention. He then observed the garden's furnishings. Instead of paintings and calligraphy hanging on the walls, he noticed small bamboo baskets filled with fresh flowers, emitting a delicate fragrance. The tables and chairs were also made of mottled bamboo, devoid of any vulgarity, only a sense of coolness pervading the space. Emperor Yang was in high spirits. Seeing that no one came to serve him, he didn't make a fuss and lay down on the bamboo couch, intending to take a nap.
Suddenly, the green gauze curtain against the wall creaked open, and a beautiful woman emerged. She was dressed in a green silk robe, without makeup or painted eyebrows, and had a very slender figure. She held a banana leaf fan in her hand and gracefully approached Emperor Yang's couch. She bent her waist slightly and knelt down, saying, "This humble concubine, Liu Xiufeng of Yifeng Garden, has arrived late to greet Your Majesty. I deserve to die!" She spoke in a soft Wu dialect. Emperor Yang, finding the sound clear and melodious, smiled and pulled her up, saying, "No need for formalities. My arrival is untimely; I have disturbed your sweet dreams." Xiu Feng laughed, "Your Majesty seems to think I was sleeping during the day." Emperor Yang asked in surprise, "You came out of the green gauze curtain; were you not resting inside?" Xiu Feng replied, "Your Majesty is unaware of the details of this green gauze curtain. It appears to be a green gauze curtain, but it is not a place for sleeping. It is actually a hidden door. I was tidying up in the inner room and did not know of your arrival. Only after I finished tidying up and came out did I realize that Your Majesty had quietly arrived." Upon hearing this, Emperor Yang sat up on the couch and said, "No wonder I looked inside the curtain earlier and didn't see anyone. After you came out, I thought I hadn't looked carefully enough and therefore didn't see you. Now I understand; it was a hidden door leading to the inner room."
As Emperor Yang spoke, he stood up and walked towards the green gauze curtain. Xiu Feng hurriedly opened the door, and Emperor Yang stepped into the inner room. The room's furnishings were elegant and refined, with a cool couch and flower-patterned table, all exquisitely decorated.
At this moment, twenty beauties from the garden greeted Emperor Yang. Xiu Feng smiled and said to him, "I presume Your Majesty has already finished your lunch, so there's no need for a banquet." Emperor Yang nodded, "Your Majesty's words are quite right; there's no need for such haste." Xiu Feng gave a wink to those around her, and soon a beauty presented a wonderful summer treat: a fragrant dew made from white lotus flowers. Emperor Yang took a sip, finding it refreshingly cool and delightful, and drank the entire cup, praising it repeatedly.
It turned out that Liu Xiu Feng's father was originally the owner of a famous flower dew shop in Wu County, and Xiu Feng had inherited this secret skill, enabling her to master the art of making fragrant dews from a hundred flowers—a truly outstanding profession. Emperor Yang, seeing Xiu Feng's elegant and charming appearance, was tempted to have her. He smiled and said to her, "I would like to borrow a seat for a midday nap, Your Majesty. Would you be so kind as to allow me?" Xiu Feng smiled radiantly and replied, "How could Your Majesty ask such a question? How could I possibly refuse?" Emperor Yang, with a lecherous grin, said, "You must keep me company, Your Majesty." Xiu Feng blushed, her eyes filled with tender affection. The twenty discreet beauties, knowing better, pursed their lips and quietly withdrew. Now that Emperor Yang was alone, and disregarding the bright sunshine, he pushed Xiu Feng down onto the couch and began his sexual encounter.
In an instant, dewdrops glistened on the peony petals, Xiu Feng breathed softly, and Emperor Yang was sweating profusely. They exchanged a knowing smile and stopped. Xiu Feng finished, took out a handkerchief, and wiped away Emperor Yang's sweat. Emperor Yang lay softly on the cool bed and soon fell asleep. Xiu Feng covered him with a thin, lined quilt and quietly slipped outside to prepare some snacks for Emperor Yang when he awoke.
Emperor Yang slept until early afternoon, when he finally awoke. Opening his eyes, he saw Xiu Feng sitting on the edge of the bed, holding a small, crimson duster to ward off mosquitoes. Emperor Yang sat up with a smile, and a beautiful woman brought him a basin of warm water to the bedside. Xiu Feng put down the duster, wrung out a towel, and presented it to Emperor Yang. As Emperor Yang wiped his face, another beautiful woman presented him with mouthwash, mixed with rose dew. He rinsed his mouth and found it fragrant. Then another beautiful woman brought a silver plate containing a jade bowl and presented it to Emperor Yang. He saw that it was a bowl of lotus seed soup. Emperor Yang, already somewhat hungry, took the lotus seed soup and ate it, smiling at Xiu Feng, "This lotus seed soup is truly delicious, sweet and refreshing without being cloying. You are a wonderful person, my lady."
Xiu Feng laughed, "There are countless wonderful women hidden in the sixteen courtyards. How can someone as foolish as me be worthy of the title 'wonderful woman'?" Upon hearing this, Emperor Yang couldn't help but laugh heartily, "Since you say so, I must visit the other courtyards to see just how many wonderful women there are." He then stood up and stepped out of the green gauze curtain. Xiu Feng and twenty beauties followed behind to see him off, until Emperor Yang's shadow was no longer visible in Yi Feng Courtyard before they entered.
After leaving Yi Feng Courtyard, Emperor Yang wondered which courtyard to go to. He then thought it would be more interesting to simply walk forward and go to whichever courtyard he ended up in. So he excitedly walked along the long canal. Suddenly a gust of wind blew, and the clear, melodious sound of a zither filled the air. Emperor Yang, without thinking, followed the sound: which garden's beauty possessed such refined taste, playing the zither so skillfully? She must be a remarkable woman. He walked to the entrance of the Qiyin Garden. The melodious zither music was emanating from within, but Emperor Yang did not immediately enter. He stood in the dense shade at the garden gate, listening intently, but could not discern what was being played. Emperor Yang was secretly astonished. Could the zither player compose new music? In a flash, his guess was correct. A string snapped, and the zither player, Lady Xie Xiangwen of the Qiyin Garden, pushed the zither aside, stood up with a smile, and said to the beauties beside her, "Quickly, come with me outside to greet His Majesty." The beauties, thinking Lady Xie was teasing them, smiled but remained still.
Seeing their disbelief, Xiangwen quietly walked out of the garden alone. Emperor Yang had already entered the garden, and Xiangwen immediately knelt down, saying, "When the zither string suddenly broke, I knew Your Majesty had arrived." Emperor Yang smiled and helped her in, and together they entered the garden. The beauties, seeing that Emperor Yang had truly arrived, hurriedly stepped forward to greet him, saying, "Madam cast a divine hexagram, knowing Your Majesty's arrival, yet you ordered us maids to welcome you. We simply didn't believe it, but you have indeed come." Xiangwen laughed, "You don't know the mystery behind this. When I cast the hexagram, it was because Your Majesty's zither string broke for no reason. If someone hadn't been eavesdropping, the string wouldn't have broken. Think about this place, who would dare to come here? I guessed it must be Your Majesty."
Emperor Yang smiled and said, "I've heard that to eavesdrop on someone playing the zither, one must be a true connoisseur for the strings to break. I heard your elegant piece, but I wonder what it was that caused the strings to break?" Xiangwen asked, "Did Your Majesty have any thoughts on it?" Emperor Yang suddenly realized and said, "I did have some thoughts on it. I thought that since it was you playing, you must have composed a new melody." Xiangwen smiled lightly and said, "Just that one thought is enough for you to be a connoisseur." Emperor Yang said, "If that's the case, then may I ask you, what is the name of the piece you played?" Xiangwen said, "It's called 'The Dream of King Xiang,' originally a story about the goddess Wushan." Emperor Yang laughed and said, "What a wonderful 'The Dream of King Xiang,' it has led me to Wushan to meet the goddess, you." Upon hearing Emperor Yang's words, Xiangwen was so ashamed that she couldn't raise her head. Emperor Yang then said, "I would like to trouble you, Madam, to play 'The Dream of King Xiang' again. I wonder if you would be willing?" Xiangwen smiled and said, "Your Majesty does not mind my humble accent, so I have no choice but to make a fool of myself." Xiangwen then tuned the seven strings again, added fine incense to the censer, and sat upright to play the zither. Emperor Yang calmed his mind and listened carefully. At first, he only felt the cold wind, as if pushing the clouds, then he felt the delicate whispers, like secret conversations, then the gentle swaying of the wind, a sound of spring, and finally, a lingering, melodious sound that made him feel far away.
As the music ended, Xiangwen pushed aside her zither and laughed, "I have offended Your Majesty's ears." Emperor Yang, however, clapped his hands and said, "Hearing your elegant playing, Madam, has completely washed away my worldly cares." Xiangwen said, "Your Majesty's praise is too kind; I am even more ashamed." Seeing Madam Xie's charming demeanor and graceful manner, Emperor Yang was reluctant to leave Qiyin Garden immediately. Instead, he smiled at Xiangwen and said, "I am thinking of drinking wine; would Madam allow me to?" Xiangwen replied, "This humble concubine cannot allow you to." Emperor Yang was surprised and asked, "Why do you refuse, Madam?" Xiangwen said, "Your Majesty does not see the moon..." The shadows had already risen above the willow tips; if we continue drinking here, it will only deepen the night. Wouldn't Lady Xiao be uneasy? Therefore, this lowly concubine dared not keep Your Majesty drinking." Upon hearing this, Emperor Yang laughed heartily, "My lady, do not regard the Empress as a jealous woman. She allows me to travel freely; why worry? I not only intend to drink here tonight, but I also wish to tell you that I will stay overnight in this garden and not return to my palace. Surely you will not agree?" Xiangwen blushed, her face flushing, and she merely fiddled with her sash. This sensible beauty, without waiting for Lady Xie's instructions, immediately arranged the banquet. Fine wine filled the cups, and delicacies filled the feast. Emperor Yang ordered Xiangwen to join him in drinking, and twenty beauties played music on the side. At this moment, the Qiyin Garden became incredibly lively. Emperor Yang drank to his heart's content.
Just as they were about to leave, a eunuch entered the garden and reported, "Your Majesty, does Your Majesty wish to stay in the garden tonight, or return to Xianren Palace?" Emperor Yang glanced at Xiangwen and then said to the eunuch, "Your Majesty, I will stay here tonight."
The eunuch turned and left. Emperor Yang smiled at Xiangwen and said, "Well, my words are not meant to deceive you, Madam." Xiangwen said coquettishly, "This humble concubine still does not believe you." Emperor Yang asked in surprise, "Why can't you believe me, Madam?" Xiangwen said, "I still need to ask, that is proof that I do not believe you." Emperor Yang laughed and said, "Asking is only right. But you punish me for this? Judging from this, Madam is quite the jealous woman who knows how to pick a fight?"
These words made the beauties standing on both sides burst into laughter, and Xiangwen couldn't help but lower her head and smile as well. Emperor Yang pointed to the bright moon outside the window and said, "It's getting late. My lady, perhaps you and I will share a song, 'The Dream of King Xiang.' Let's not waste this beautiful night." Xiangwen remained silent, blushing. Emperor Yang then took her slender hand and led her into the inner chamber. They closed the door and entered the boudoir together. Xiangwen had no idea that a song, "The Dream of King Xiang," would act as matchmaker, bringing them together. Indeed: The Emperor's grace is profound, and King Xiang's dream bears witness to their vows.
To find out what happens next, please read the next chapter.

URL 1:https://www.sexlove5.com/htmlBlog/216516.html

URL 2:/Blog.aspx?id=216516&aspx=1

Last access time:

Previous Page : The stock market is a thrilling and terrifying game [11 examples]

Next Page : Eight more jokes

增加

comment Open a new window to view comments

Contact Information

[History of the Sui Dynasty Palace] [44]

comment Open a new window to view comments