A life of ups and downs is pure joy

Chaoyangden, Tokyo Imperial Palace.

The yellow of autumn is pots and pots of chrysanthemums in the southern courtyard, which is also the flower that Gong Zheshan loves most. However, the yellow fallen leaves all over the ground of Chaoyang Palace are the fallen leaves of fan-leaf trees. Wei Lan's love is different from that of her aunt. She asked people to plant this kind of tree just to see the fan leaves all over the ground in autumn.

"My Lady, there are more fallen leaves this year than in previous years."

Aunt He Ye said as she looked at Huang in the yard.

"nice."

Wei Lan said with relief.

"It's a pity that I can't go back to the foreign land to see those vast fan-leaved forests."

Wei Lan looked at it for a while and said with some regret.

Seeing this, He Ye could only step forward and comfort her.

"Today is the fifteenth day of the lunar month. As per custom, His Majesty is to come to Chaoyang Palace to have dinner with Her Majesty. It's time for Her Majesty to dress up."

"I heard that since Zhuang Ge'er moved into Hehuan Palace, His Majesty hasn't been anywhere else?"

Wei Lan hadn't seen Gong Heyu for a long time, so she asked.

"That's right, it's just..."

"what?"

"Your Majesty has never stayed overnight. He simply stayed in the Hehuan Palace after the morning court session and returned to the Imperial Library after dinner."

"Is there really such a thing?"

Wei Lan asked in surprise, Gong Heyu liked that woman so much, how could he not visit her.

"I have looked through the records in the Palace of Imperial Affairs and see that Your Majesty has been staying in the Imperial Library for the past month."

"No wonder there's been no news of the canonization for so long. Why is Your Majesty like this?"

"I don't understand either."

Lotus leaf shook her head.

"Has the person from Yunguang Palace turned over yet?"

The fact that the ordinary Fang Duoduo rose all the way from a beauty to Empress Xian was a deep-rooted thorn in Wei Lan's heart, although on the surface she still had to act like the mistress of the harem who ruled the country.

"Every day, Alai is sent to the palace to check on the affairs. I'm sure our Empress Xian has been tormented every night for the past month."

"Does she really think that she can command the Lord's affection for a lifetime just by having a pair of eyes? A substitute is just a substitute after all."

Aunt He Ye also smiled smugly and kept chattering beside her.

In recent years, as the queen's maid, she has been overshadowed by Alai, a maid of a concubine, wherever she goes. Now that Concubine Xian has fallen out of favor, she is determined to make Alai pay.

"He Ye, go and take the red agate and diamond hairpin in my box to He Huan Palace."

Wei Lan thought for a while and said.

"My Lady, isn't this your favorite hairpin?"

Lotus Leaf asked in confusion.

"Your Majesty likes her, so I naturally want to like her too. Send her now. Your Majesty should still be there."

He Ye thought for a moment, nodded in understanding, took the hairpin and went out.

In the Hehuan Palace, Zhuang Ge'er was standing beside Gong Heyu, rolling up her sleeves to grind ink for him, watching him write official documents that she could not understand. The official documents of Dayan were equivalent to encrypted text. Ordinary people did not need to learn this, but those who entered officialdom must learn it.

"Your Majesty, these words are just like the paintings I have drawn."

Looking at those flamboyant handwritings, Zhuang Ge'er couldn't help but complain.

After Zhuang Ge'er finished speaking, Gong Heyu smiled slightly and spoke gently.

"Do you want to learn to recognize official characters?"

"Do I need to learn?"

Zhuang Ge'er thought this was required by palace rules, so she asked with some confusion.

"If you like, I will teach you. If you don't like, just recognize Pu Wen."

"If that's the case, then I still don't like it. It seems quite difficult to think about."

Zhuang Ge'er glanced at the official document that was full of nonsense and said.

"Still as lazy as when I was a kid."

Gong Heyu rubbed Zhuang Ge'er's head lovingly and said casually.

"Your Majesty, do you know about my childhood?"

Zhuang Ge'er asked with some surprise.

"know."

Gong Heyu looked up at the dazed person in front of him and said softly.

Zhuang Ge'er couldn't remember these things. She wanted to continue asking, but she heard Wandong knocking on the door.

"Your Majesty, my Lord, Aunt He Ye is here."

"Please come in."

Zhuang Ge'er knew that He Ye was the Queen's maid, so she said.

After He Ye followed Wan Dong into the house, she saw the emperor reviewing official documents and a woman in white grinding ink beside him.

"Your Majesty, your Majesty is honored, and my Lord is honored."

Lotus Leaf bowed deeply to the two of them.

"Stand up, what brings you here?"

Gong Heyu asked.

"Your Majesty, the Queen, out of pity for the Master, has specially ordered this servant to deliver this hairpin."

Wandong stepped forward and took the exquisite hibiscus box from Heye's hand, then respectfully handed it to Gong Heyu.

"Since it's a gift from the Queen, open it and take a look."

Gong Heyu handed it to Zhuang Ge'er who was a little surprised. The woman opened the box in confusion and took out the agate and diamond gold hairpin from it.

"Isn't this the Queen's favorite hairpin?"

Gong Heyu recognized this hairpin. On the fifteenth of every month, Wei Lan would wear this hairpin to welcome him for dinner.

"The queen said that she likes the owner of the manor very much, so she asked the maid to bring it over."

Lotus Leaf said.

"Since it's a gift from the Queen, just accept it."

Gong Heyu nodded, and then spoke gently to Zhuang Ge'er.

"Aunt, please thank the Queen for me."

Normally, Zhuang Ge'er should go to Chaoyang Palace in person to express her gratitude, but now, except for Hehuan Palace, she doesn't want to go anywhere in the entire palace, because her heart is still filled with fear of this unknown place.

Since she had not been canonized, she was not considered the emperor's concubine, and naturally she did not need to go to the queen's palace to pay her respects every day.

"Today is the fifteenth day. Go back and tell the Queen that I will go to Chaoyang Palace for dinner."

Gong Heyu knew that Wei Lan also came to remind him, so he talked to He Ye. After the senior palace maid left, Gong Heyu looked at the hairpin again.

"You look best in a white jade hairpin."

Gong Heyu said as he looked at the hairpin he had given to Zhuang Ge'er on her hair.

When the maid Wan Dong heard this, she couldn't help but laugh. She never thought that the handsome and calm king would be so jealous.

"I can't eat with you tonight. I'll teach you how to write when I get back."

"Your Majesty, will you not stay in Chaoyang Palace?"

Zhuang Geer asked.

"Do you want me to stay?"

Gong Heyu asked.

"My concubine..."

When Zhuang Ge'er heard this, she didn't know how to respond. After all, today was the fifteenth day of the lunar month, and the king was supposed to stay with the queen.

Zhuang Ge'er lowered her head and said nothing. She didn't know whether she wanted the king to stay overnight in Chaoyang Palace.

During these days, Gong Heyu came to accompany her to play the piano, paint and write every day. He treated her well. Regardless of whether it was because of the goddess in the painting, for an orphan like her, it was a great favor and care.

At the same time, she also knew that she had no status at all, so how could she dare to compete with the queen for favor.

Seeing her like this, Gong Heyu couldn't help but feel a little pity in his heart. He knew very well that Huan'er no longer remembered him, and these words would only make her feel embarrassed.

He reached out and gently stroked Zhuang Ge'er's cheek, speaking softly.

"Don't worry, I'll be back after dinner. I have so many memorials to review."

"Yes, then I will make some refreshing tea for you, my lord, and wait for you to come back."

Zhuang Geer said with a shy smile.

After Gong Heyu left.

Zhuang Ge'er looked at his back, and a complex emotion surged in her heart.

She didn't know what her feelings were for the young Lord, she only knew that she was becoming more and more dependent on him, and sometimes she even looked forward to his arrival.

But it was clearly the little prince that was in her heart.