flstandardbreds Chapter 109, Flower Fairy
Chapter 109, Flower Fairy
Inside Qingyang Temple, outside the Sanqing Hall, Mu Qingfeng stood under the corridor, gazing blankly at the towering ancient trees beyond the green tiles and white walls.
The sweltering heat of a summer afternoon, accompanied by the incessant chirping of cicadas, is irritating and annoying.
A noisy murmur mingled with the cicadas' chirping beside her, incessantly chattering:
"Junior Sister, Jinxiu Pavilion delivered several bolts of sky-blue gauze fabric today. I'll have someone bring them to your room when we get back. Whether you want the embroiderers in the manor to make a few clothes or hire skilled craftsmen from the capital, it's up to you."
Sweat beaded on her delicate, pretty nose, and Tie Yi felt a pang of tenderness and wanted to wipe it away for his beloved, but he knew that such a rash act would only anger her.
He took a step back and took out a fan to fan his beloved with all his might, saying whatever came to mind to help her. Seeing her turn away from his kindness, Tie Yi couldn't hide his disappointment and gripped the fan handle tightly.
"Tieyi, when do you think Senior Brother Ji will come out?" Dodging the young man fanning her, Mu Qingfeng had learned how to change the subject and indirectly refuse this unexpected "kindness" from her cheap senior brother after spending so much time together.
“Well… I don’t know when Brother Ji will finish talking with my father. But I think that since Master Xuanzhen and Senior Mu have both come, it must be something important. Speaking of which, where has Brother Tang gone? I haven’t seen him for several days.”
Recalling his father's praise of his brother Ji yesterday, and his encouragement for him to learn from his brother Ji, Tie Yi felt very uncomfortable.
He naturally admired Brother Ji, but seeing that his beloved only had eyes for Brother Ji and only rejected him, he didn't want to continue the discussion. Frustrated, he randomly picked someone to make conversation.
“I heard my senior sister mention that something seems to have happened to Prince Chengen. Young Master Tang has been running around for his elder brother’s maternal family these past few days.”
"Speaking of which, Senior Sister is truly an extraordinary person. I've heard my father say that there are several martial arts masters in the Imperial Palace whose skills are no less than his. I originally thought that when Senior Sister said she wanted to go to the palace, she wanted Senior Bian to take her in. I never expected that Senior Sister could get Princess Yongle to invite her into the palace with just her mahjong skills."
"That's right, my senior sister is amazing! You don't know..."
When she mentioned her senior sister, her bright and beautiful eyes instantly sparkled, as if filled with little stars.
Tie Yi smiled, pleased that he had found the right topic to talk about. Seeing his beloved talking to him happily, he felt a sweet and pleasant feeling in his heart.
One spoke and the other listened, each enjoying their own pleasure, neither of them noticing a figure quietly approaching from not far away.
"...That old man even tried to deny the beastly things he had done, saying it was all the gods' arrangement, and my senior sister just drew the bow like that..." Mu Qingfeng spread her hands, making a drawing motion with her hands, and took a step back...
As she stepped back, Mu Qingfeng sensed something was wrong, as if she had bumped into something.
She quickly looked up and saw a bald head on top of her.
The afternoon sun was exceptionally scorching. Standing under the shade of the trees, a few mischievous rays of sunlight would always pierce through the gaps in the leaves and fall right on you.
Mu Qingfeng felt that she must have been blinded by the light, otherwise, how could she have seen the Buddha, who saves all sentient beings, shining brightly behind her?
A calm gaze, encompassing his bald head, looked at her; his voice, like a misty cloud, sounded like the bewilderment of someone waking from a nap, unsure of where they were.
"All forms are illusory. If one sees all forms as non-forms, then one sees the Tathagata... All conditioned phenomena are like dreams, illusions, bubbles, shadows, dew, and lightning; thus should one contemplate them..."
"Who are you?!" Tie Yi was stunned for only a moment before he reacted and assumed a fighting stance with imposing momentum, like a ferocious beast awakening.
“This humble monk is Jiewang from Pudu Temple. I have come to assist you on the orders of my master. You two need not be alarmed.”
Mu Qingfeng, who had been pulled behind Tie Yi, still looked dazed and hadn't quite come to her senses.
Just then, the door of the Sanqing Hall was pushed open with a "click," and Master Xuanzhen led Ji Zhongxuan and the others out:
"Is that Jiewang outside the door? How is Brother Hongfa doing lately?"
"Thank you for your concern, Uncle-Master. My master is doing well."
The young monk, dressed in a colorful kasaya, had a flawless face. When his compassionate eyes met the arrogant knight behind Master Xuanzhen, he smiled slightly, exuding an indescribable purity and innocence.
*
As the drums sounded, civil and military officials, dressed in their court robes, stood solemnly outside the Meridian Gate, awaiting entry into the palace.
The drums sounded, and the master of ceremonies led the officials in order through the left and right side gates, where they filed in and stood facing northwest.
With three sharp drumbeats, the officials in charge rushed to the Hall of Literary Glory, where a courtier knelt and announced, "Your Majesty, the time has come. Please proceed to the Golden Palace!" As soon as the words were spoken, Emperor Hua, dressed in a magnificent imperial robe, slowly ascended the throne.
The courtiers shouted "Long live the Emperor!" in unison, bowed thirty-three times to Emperor Hua, and then stepped forward one by one to present their congratulatory gifts to the Emperor.
After the ceremony, Emperor Hua hosted a banquet for his officials at the Five Sacred Mountains Palace.
The Five Sacred Mountains Palace was brightly decorated and bustling with activity. Performers from the Imperial Music Academy sang and danced incessantly, while palace maids and eunuchs moved about the palace in a tense but orderly manner, afraid of making the slightest mistake.
On the eve of the Emperor's birthday, the palace was in full bloom with flowers, and Consort Li put a lot of effort into decorating the Five Sacred Mountains Palace.
Every corner of the Five Sacred Mountains Palace is cleverly designed to correspond to the four seasons, with various flowers and bonsai vying for attention, creating a breathtakingly beautiful scene.
At this moment, everyone in the main hall had taken their seats.
Emperor Hua sat high on the dragon throne, with Empress Wang beside him.
The concubines, princes and princesses, children of princes, Prime Minister Yao, and foreign envoys sat in the hall, while the officials and foreign envoys sat in the two corridors outside the hall.
Emperor Hua picked up a cup of imperial wine and joined in the merriment. The music filled the air, and Prime Minister Yao raised his cup in return, followed by all the officials.
When the seventh cup of imperial wine was raised, the atmosphere in the hall suddenly changed.
Amidst a wisp of soft white smoke, a group of women dressed in colorful cloud-like robes slowly appeared before the people on the painted platform in the hall. They were like fairies, holding different flower branches, and walked over gracefully.
There are twelve flower fairies in total, each dressed in a magnificent cloud-like robe, each a different color. They represent the twelve months of the year, and each month corresponds to a specific flower.
The plum blossoms in January are cold, elegant, and proud, as eye-catching as the red plum blossoms blooming in winter.
In February, the apricot blossoms are delicate and lovely, as graceful and charming as pink apricots blooming in spring.
The peach blossoms in March are charming and beautiful, just like the peach blossoms in full bloom in spring;
The peonies in April are bright and elegant, just like the peonies that bloom in summer, with their graceful and luxurious appearance.
In May, pomegranates are full of charm, just like the pomegranate flowers that bloom in early summer, which are passionate and unrestrained.
The lotus flowers in June are fresh and refined, just like the lotus flowers that bloom in midsummer, which are noble and elegant.
The crabapple blossoms in July are vibrant and beautiful, just like the crabapple flowers that bloom in autumn, charming and captivating.
The osmanthus flowers in August are pleasantly fragrant, just like the osmanthus flowers that bloom in mid-autumn.
Chrysanthemums in September are gentle and elegant, just like the chrysanthemums that bloom in late autumn, which are as elegant and noble as they are.
The hibiscus in October is enchanting and beautiful, just like the hibiscus flowers that bloom in the golden autumn.
The camellias in November are pure and beautiful, as fresh and elegant as the camellias that bloom in early winter;
The daffodils in December are as white as jade, just like the daffodils that bloom in the cold winter, pure and elegant.
Each of the twelve women was unique, with stunning beauty, their hair styled in buns adorned with flowers, dancing and singing.
Even the emperor, who possesses all the beauties in the world, couldn't help but be attracted by the beautiful scenery and fairies before him.
He beckoned to Hai, the eunuch serving him, to come forward and asked, "Who arranged this?"
"Your Majesty, this is a special gift prepared by the Imperial Music Bureau for Your Majesty's birthday celebration."
Emperor Hua was overjoyed. After saying "Reward," he dismissed the servants and continued to admire the "Twelve Flower Fairies Celebrating Longevity" in the palace.
Almost all the men in the hall, like Emperor Hua, never took their eyes off the twelve flower fairies.
Fei Xi, dressed as a palace maid, stood beside Gu Mingfeng. When the twelve flower fairies appeared, her pupils widened instantly.
Upon hearing what the eunuch Hai said, she withdrew her surprised gaze, lowered her head and eyelids, and remained silent.
"Hmph, a bunch of vulgar girls, not even as pretty as me."
Upon hearing this, Fei Xi glanced at the young master Gu beside her. The handsome young master lazily propped his chin up and, seeing her looking at him, arrogantly ordered:
"What are you looking at! Hurry up and pour me some wine."
The obedient little palace maid raised the wine pot to pour wine for her master, but somehow her hand trembled, and half the pot of wine spilled onto the handsome young man's clothes.
"Please forgive me, Your Highness, I didn't mean it..."
Gu Mingfeng's face was full of anger as he looked at the little palace maid trembling in front of him, who was terrified because of her mistake.
"Xiao Feng, you mustn't throw a tantrum on Father's joyous occasion." The Fourth Prince seemed quite pleased to see Gu Mingfeng in trouble, and immediately offered his "kind" concern as soon as he saw that Gu Mingfeng was in trouble.
"Why are you so clumsy? Get over here right now and help me change my clothes."
Gu Mingfeng, with his nostrils flared, snorted coldly at the Fourth Prince, ignoring him completely, which only made the Fourth Prince so angry that his face turned pale.
After patting off the remaining wine on his clothes, Gu Mingfeng stood up and strode out of the hall.
The little palace maid bowed gratefully to the fourth prince and then immediately chased after him.
As soon as they stepped outside the palace, Gu Mingfeng glared disapprovingly at the 'little palace maid' who had followed him.
Why bother with that shameless scoundrel!
"My hand hurts so much, let's go quickly."
"I told you not to come, but you insisted on showing off."
Despite complaining, Gu Mingfeng led his men toward the side hall as soon as he heard the 'little palace maid' Fei Xi say her hand hurt.
Not long after the two entered the side hall, they suddenly heard the clanging sound of swords clashing outside.
Amidst the clanging sounds, shouts of "Protect the Emperor!" could be heard intermittently.
When Fei Xi discovered the sleeping pills in the cabinet and the poison under the bed yesterday, she suspected that a prince was planning to stage a coup on the Emperor's birthday. She suspected that the sleeping pills were intended for the Empress and the poison was meant to make her "commit suicide out of guilt."
Instead of directly stating her suspicions, she handed over the discovered poison to Empress Wang.
Empress Wang immediately flew into a rage upon seeing the poison, then praised Fei Xi a couple of times before feigning a headache to dismiss her.
Seeing the Empress's outward anger, Fei Xi suddenly realized that it was no coincidence that Aunt Qiuyue had passed by the West Enclosure early in the morning.
The mantis stalks the cicada, but it's not certain who will be the oriole that gets caught.
The Emperor and Empress have joined forces to set up this scheme, and those who participate must possess something that Emperor Hua desires.
But just now, I saw those familiar faces in the hall, including Liu Yingxue, who had left long ago... Ling Mianqing is dead, but the twelve flower fairies raised in the back mountain of the Xiaoyao Sect have appeared in the palace.
Who will be able to control the people under Ling Mianqing's command after her death?
Inside the dark tunnel, Fei Xi felt an indescribable unease.