The Golden Hairpin

Early the next morning, Huang Zixia had just got up, and found that the people at Princess Tongchang's mansion were already waiting at the door of the room. The **** named Deng Chunmin looked miserable and begged: "Daddy Yang, hurry up. Yesterday the princess said that I would take you there, so please save me!"

Huang Zixia looked at the sky and asked in surprise, "The princess has been asking about this so early?"

"The princess hasn't gotten up yet, but if she wakes up, she asks about it? I have to take you in quickly, don't you think?"

Under Deng Chunmin's pleading eyes, Huang Zixia had to wash up quickly, and then followed him to the Tongchang Princess Mansion.

Tongchang Princess Mansion is indeed a place where gold is used for railings and jade is used for walls. Although it is not as magnificent as the palace, the gold ornaments on the eaves, the golden bells that avoid birds among the flowers, and the finely woven patterns of gold and silver on the bamboo curtains are all kinds of subtle. The extravagance of the place presents a dazzling effect.

Huang Zixia stood quietly in the front yard of Princess Tongchang's mansion, waiting for her call.

In the early morning the dew was not cleared, and the birds above their heads were chirping. She was watching, and there was a pitiful voice with a sleepy voice next to her: "Daddy Yang, are you here too?"

Huang Zixian turned his head to see that it was Cui Chunzhan, Shaoqing of Dali Temple. He led the four Dali Temple officials with his head down in despair, and after saying hello to her, he sat down on the chair beside her with a sad expression: "Duke Yang, have you used breakfast?"

"Not yet." Huang Zixia pointed at the five fingerprints on his face and said calmly.

"Me too." He noticed her gaze, so he sadly covered his cheek and said, "Getting up too early in the morning disturbed my tigress. As a result..."

Huang Zixia remembered his name as the first fear inside the central government, and could only smile without saying a word.

Cui Chunzhan felt embarrassed and said: "She also feels distressed that I get up early to be busy with official duties. She wants to stay with me more, but she can't express it. Daddy Yang, don't you?"

"Exactly." Huang Zixia said sternly.

Seeing that she affirmed his wife, Cui Chunzhan was happy. When she turned around, she saw a maid come in curly and tingly carrying a food box. She was immediately happier: "Great, let's have breakfast first."

The maid pursed her lips and opened the food box to take out the pastry and porridge. Cui Chunzhan greeted everyone to sit down and eat together.

Deng Chunmin hurried up to scoop a small bowl of porridge for everyone. Cui Chunzhan looked at the handsome maid and asked, "Are you the princess's person?"

"The slave servant chuizhu, followed the princess since childhood, and later married out of the palace." She smiled with crooked eyebrows, and her cheeks were matte. Although her facial features were not beautiful, her gentle appearance was unforgettable. "Princess It is said that Cui Shaoqing and Yang Gonggong may not be familiar with the situation in the mansion, and all the needs, just ask me."

"This is really great! I'm worried about the princess mansion, and I don't know how to start." Cui Chunzhan said, and looked at Deng Chunmin again.

Deng Chunmin hurriedly said: "The slave servant Deng Chunmin, like Chuizhu and Wei Ximin, grew up with the princess in the palace since he was a child, and went out of the palace with the princess a year ago."

"How many people are there in your house?" Cui Chunzhan asked.

Deng Chunmin was in trouble immediately, but Chuizhu said: "Back to Cui Shaoqing, the princess mansion now has 42 head and deputy housekeepers, large and small accountants, 78 eunuchs, 128 maidservants, and kitchen workers and concierges. Two hundred and forty-seven people."

"How many people went with the princess out of the palace?"

"At that time, there were 78 eunuchs and 36 servants. Most of the others were bought from the people when the princess mansion was built by the decree of the Holy Supreme. There are more than ten people who are several horse breeders, warehouse stewards and gardeners. Wait, I have taken refuge one after another in the past year."

Seeing that Chuizhu spoke clearly and acted clearly, Huang Zixia asked, "Did Wei Ximin ever forge enmity with anyone on weekdays?"

Chuizhu thought for a while and said: "Wei Ximin is with me doing things next to the princess. He has always served the princess with all his heart, trembling, and loyal."

Deng Chunmin showed a hesitant appearance beside him. Huang Zixian asked him: "Duke Deng, you and Wei Ximin are both in-house servants, do you find anything in your daily life?"

Wei Ximin hurriedly said: "Actually, just the day before yesterday, I discovered that he had a dispute with...the calamus in the kitchen."

"Oh?" Cui Chunzhan quickly put down his chopsticks and asked, "Why did he argue with a cook?"

Deng Chunmin was at a loss and said, "I...I don't know."

"Changpu is not a cook, but the person in charge of the kitchens in the house and the meals in the four seasons. The princess often praises her for her prudent work." Seeing this, Chuizhu said on his behalf, "She is a servant of the housekeeper. When the princess was married, she was a servant Come here. She should be in her thirties this year and hasn't been married yet. As for the content of the dispute, we don't know."

"Dispute? My dispute with Wei Ximin?"

Changpu has the appearance of a middle-aged person, but his face is unsmiling, and the corners of his mouth are two deep lines of decree, which makes this woman in her thirties seem to have no charm at all.

She was working out the dishes in Tomorrow's Mansion. Seeing that they were coming, she put the paper aside, thought carefully, nodded and said, "That's the case."

The governor behind quickly took out his pen and ink and began to record.

Seeing this situation, Changpu's expression changed a little, and he asked, "What do you say? Do you think that Wei Ximin's death is related to me? His... Isn't he a scourge!"

Huang Zixia hurriedly comforted him and said, "Please don't worry, sister. It's just a routine. You just need to know about Wei Ximin's usual things. You can just answer."

Changpu still looked suspicious and nervous, and hesitated: "I don't know... what's the matter?"

"Can you tell us more about your dispute a few days ago?"

"Oh... that thing." Changpu's voice slightly increased, and she was obviously dissatisfied. She said, "The servant girl usually takes care of the meals in the house, and Wei Ximin is the close waiter next to the princess. There is no friendship. He has never been guilty. Who knows that he came to me the day before yesterday and asked the servant for Lingxiang. I said no. He actually scolded me in front of the man in the kitchen. You said, the servant has been in charge of the kitchen for more than 20 years from the house of the servant. As for people, what does he mean by making me faceless? But after all, he is the celebrity beside the princess, so the slave and maid could only let him curse at the time. Who knows now... Well, the deceased is dead, forget it."

Huang Zixian asked again: "You are the person in charge of meals, why would he ask you for Lingxiang?"

"Speaking of this, it's unlucky for a servant. Just a few days ago... I got a little bit from somewhere. This spice is quite expensive, and the servant is reluctant to use it, so I dedicated it to the princess. Who knows that the princess is not eye-catching. He has it in his hand. After he used it up, he felt that the slave and maid must still have it on hand, so he was confident and continued to beg for it.

Huang Zixian continued to ask the bottom line: "Excuse me, my sister, where did this Lingxiang fragrance come from?"

"It was... from someone who met the slave and maid." Changpu lowered his head with an embarrassed expression, and obviously resisted the topic. "Anyway, that person only gave me this, no more. After that, the slave and Wei Ximin never met again. Yes, the next day I heard that he died. It is said that... was struck by thunder, and the slave servant was also very surprised. Wouldn't it be God who couldn't see him so domineering, right?"

Huang Zixia nodded and asked the last question: "Excuse me, where were you when Wei Ximin died?"

"That day was the day of Guanshiyin's Dao, and the Fuzhong was going to eat vegetarian food. So the servants and maids stared at those people in the kitchen all morning, lest they get in. In case the princess finds out, this is a big deal, don't you think? ?"

Cui Chunzhan replied casually: "This is true."

An **** had already come over to announce: "The princess has gotten up, you can go and meet."

Cui Chunzhan and Huang Zixia left the chef's side first, and headed towards the place where the princess lived. From a distance, I saw a group of maids in beautiful silk skirts rushing down the high platform, each with a golden light in their hands. It was only when they were near that they found out that they were holding a golden plate in their hands, which was the breakfast that Princess Tongchang had withdrawn after eating.

Huang Zixian thought in her heart that if Zhou Ziqin were there, he would definitely say that the gold plate is useless, the silver plate is really much, and it can be tested for drugs!

Princess Tongchang was dressed in a gorgeous red skirt, her hair pulled loose and a cloud updo, and she sat in the pavilion alone to meet them. She sat on the couch with only a hairpin in her hair. But the beauty and exquisiteness of this hairpin made people like Huang Zixian who never cared about jewelry, even men like Cui Chunzhan, their eyes fell on it, and they couldn't look away for a while.

This is a jade hairpin, the whole body is carved from a piece of jade, with fine carvings, clearly showing the posture of nine luan phoenix soaring. And the most rare thing is that this piece of jade is actually a piece of nine-color jade, and I don’t know which jade craftsman made it by hand. It actually relies on the color of the jade itself to carve nine different colors. Luanfeng, flying with wings spread, the meaning is extremely vivid.

Huang Zixian thought, this should be the legendary Nine Luan Chai, there is only this one in the whole world, and it is known as the treasure of the Neifu Town Treasury. The current emperor did not give it to the queen, but gave it to his daughter, which shows the cherishment of Princess Tongchang.

There is no trace of the consort in the pavilion. The princess motioned for them to sit down, and then said: "The concubine was injured yesterday, and the imperial doctor said to apply medicine. I thought the medicine smelled unpleasant, so I sent him to the hospital to sleep."

Cui Chunzhan's hand subconsciously stroked the half of his cheek that was slapped by his wife in the morning, with a complex expression.

The princess and her husband seem to be quite indifferent to each other.

Li Shubai's words flashed through Huang Zixian's mind.

He said that Princess Tongchang and Yu Xuan have a lot of rumors...

She forcibly stopped herself from thinking about it anymore, restrained her mind, and tried to calm her voice as before: "I wonder what the princess thinks about Wei Ximin? Can you tell us something?"

The princess pouted slightly and said, "Of course I have doubts about this! First of all, Wei Ximin is a person who never believes in ghosts and gods. Why did you say he squeezed into Jianfu Temple to attend the Fa conference that day?"

Huang Zixian was slightly surprised, and asked: "He doesn't believe in ghosts and gods?"

"Yes." The princess thought for a while and asked a maid next to her: "Luo Pei, don't you think?"

Luo Pei hurriedly said: "Exactly! On weekdays, doesn't Wei Ximin have headaches and stubborn illnesses. Whenever he hurts, he points to the heavens and the earth. He also often said that if there are Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in the world, then let her two fleshy flesh grow back first. …Oh, it's all sordid things anyway. This is not what someone said last night, Wei Ximin was punished because of his disrespect on weekdays!"

"The night before yesterday, I heard that he had an ugly quarrel with the calamus in the dining room. You know, calamus is from the horror family. Can he let him go? I was trying to train him. Everyone didn’t see him. I didn’t expect to hear that he died at Jianfu Temple the next day!” Princess Tongchang frowned, “So I think there must be something strange in this matter. Those who were introduced to Jianfu Temple must be very suspicious."

Cui Chunzhan said: "The princess is justified, and the ministers will definitely find out and live up to the princess' expectations!"

He didn't have any sincerity in this scene, and Princess Tongchang turned her gaze directly to Huang Zixia: "Duke Yang, what do you think?"

Huang Zixian said: "It is still unknown at this time. It seems that Cui Shaoqing and the servant girl have to ask the servant horse before they know it."

Princess Tongchang waved her hand and said, "Cui Shaoqing go first, and Duke Yang wait a minute."

After the five of Cui Chunzhan walked out of the door, Princess Tongchang slowly stood up and walked to Huang Zixia's side.

Huang Zixia stood up and bowed her head respectfully.

Huang Zixia is tall and slender, while Princess Tongchang is petite, about half a head shorter than her. She raised her eyes and stared at Huang Zixian for a long time before smiling, "I have long heard that the father-in-law's name is such a bland-eyed person, and she has an extraordinary appearance."

Huang Zixia smiled reluctantly: "The princess is absurd."

"Is there anything wrong with what I said?" She glanced at her, and walked to the window again with a smile, leaning there lazily, and asked, "Did you see this nine-luan hairpin worn by this palace? ?"

Huang Zixian nodded and said, "Extremely subtle and ingenious."

"Father-in-law, you don't know what a woman thinks. Although I only need to move my fingers, the world's rare jewels will be presented in front of me, but my favorite is this nine-luan hairpin." She raised her hand and stroked her head. Luan Chai sighed softly, "A woman's obsession always feels that the things she loves most will connect with her own mind..."

Huang Zixia didn't know what she meant by saying this to herself, but she didn't show any impatient expression, she just listened quietly and respectfully.

"The night before, the night before Wei Ximin's tragic death, I had a dream." The princess put her hands on the railing and looked down at the sea of ​​flowers below.

In July, the weather is hot. Her residence is on a high platform. The cool breeze came slowly, and the pink albizia flowers planted below floated like water waves, scented slowly.

A velvety albizia flower was rolled up by the wind and touched her sideburns. It trembled gently. It was slender and soft. She raised her hand and took it off, twisting her fingers lightly, and muttered: "I dreamed that one was wearing a splendid costume. A woman with long hair without modification, pouring to the ground. She gradually emerged from the darkness, walking towards me step by step, and I saw her face, glorious as a jade-she said to me, I am Nan Qishu concubine Pan Yuer. There is a beloved thing by your side for a long time, please prepare the princess as soon as possible and give it back to me."