[Onmyoji] Chronicles of Heianjing

Can I see you tomorrow?

Just one sentence, only eight characters, made Aju toss and turn at night, unable to sleep peacefully.She got up and went outside the house. When she passed the door of her mother's room, she couldn't help but pause for a moment and asked, "How is mother?" The room was quiet, and no one answered.Aju shook her head, feeling that she was fooled by the general's question, it was midnight, and her mother slept very deeply even on weekdays, let alone sick.

Aju is now on the porch, but the winter night is better than the daytime, there is no wind, only snow.It was a thick layer, and the trees bent by the snow were broken. Aju stared at it blankly, thinking that this would be something the general would like to see.

"Your Highness." Aju read.There is a rabbit hiding in the open snow, and her heart is beating secretly just like this white rabbit that no one can detect.

After such a stop, the sky will be bright.

Aju packed up and went to the general's mansion, the snowy road was difficult, and the general's wife never blamed her for being late, Aju blushed, feeling a little ashamed of herself.Only one day later, I became obsessed with the general like a demon, and couldn't sleep because of him.When Aju went to the general's study, her head was lowered deeper than usual. The general probably didn't notice her, and chatted with the general's wife about the banquet after the new year. Aju was confused and didn't understand. Finally, Her thoughts drifted away in the clouds and mist, and the hazy feeling was full of the feeling when the general's hand touched her yesterday.

"Aju?"

"Yes." Hearing the general's wife calling him suddenly, Aju came back to her senses and hurriedly answered, which made the general's wife a little unhappy, but she calmed down under the general's gentle eyes.She held the general's hand and repeatedly recited the preparations for the New Year's banquet. The general changed from listening to her quietly to becoming impatient. Seeing this, she beckoned Aju to go out with her, but the general was indifferent. Glancing at Aju, she shook her head.

"Your Highness?" Mieko lowered her eyes and grasped the cypress fan tightly in her hand, "Please consider carefully the matter of His Majesty the Emperor."

The general didn't answer, so Mieko had to go out alone.Aju stood there blankly, feeling that the general's mind was hard to guess, but he stayed by himself, which might be alluding to something, plus what he said yesterday.The corner of Aju's mouth curled up into a smile. Although her father and mother were ordinary in appearance, she was born beautiful. It is not impossible for the general to be moved by her appearance.

It's just... A-ju is a little worried. Compared with a public woman like the general's wife, her status is really low.Aju stared at the floor, her smile gradually disappeared, she was wishful thinking.Is she able to climb the general, or be an obedient maid? If she does well, the general's wife may keep her for a long time.In this way, there is one more person and more strength, and the life at home does not have to be as tight as before. Second, even if she knows it is a dream, she is satisfied to see the general every day.

"What did your mother say to you?" The general made a heavy knock on the table. Aju didn't quite understand the meaning of his words, but since her mother fell ill, she came to the general's mansion to work, and she could go back on weekdays. It's also late, and often I can't see my mother who is awake.She thought about it carefully, but found that she had actually said a word to her mother these days, so she shook her head.The general stopped knocking on the table, and asked again, "Did you invite a doctor for her?"

"The family is really struggling," Aju said in embarrassment. "Father asked the doctor's apprentice to inquire about the situation according to the illness. The apprentice prescribed several medicines for the mother the next day, but it didn't improve. He often yelled at night and said no." Come up with a reason, in the past few days... the past few days seem to be delirious, and people don't know what to do."

With tears in her eyes, Aju spoke intermittently, the appearance of a soft daughter made the general frown even deeper, he sighed, and said, "Don't panic, I just hired a doctor for Aju."

"Your Highness, be careful!" Aju was startled when she heard the name of the general, she knelt down on the ground, breaking out in cold sweat.As the saying goes, walls have ears, if someone else hears it and hears it in the ears of the general's wife, she will not be able to enjoy peace in her life.

"Okay, okay," the general helped her up, but she didn't dare to move, she continued to kneel stiffly, the general's tone changed, and he said sternly, "Get up!" Aju stood up immediately in fright, her face pale. People really feel distressed, "I won't eat you, so I'm so afraid of what to do. You look so good-looking, and you are more like a public woman than a public woman like Mieko."

"Don't dare...don't dare to be compared with His Highness Mei Huizi, Your Highness is beautiful, how can a country girl like me compare?"

"Humble." The general laughed, looking very happy. "She is not as cute as you. She has a cold face all day long. She and I are not like husband and wife, but like subordinates. I have so many subordinates. I just want a gentle wife who knows my heart and supports me wholeheartedly."

"His Royal Highness Mieko is just a gentle and confidant, she is a perfect match for you." Aju was not as timid as she was just now, she already fully understood what the general meant, if the general was just teasing with words, she would still Don't worry that others will misunderstand that she is seducing the general.But now it seems that the general really has some interest in her, and she also has a secret affection for the general, and it hit it off.Although the status is low, it is also a blessing to be able to be a concubine and enjoy a century of friendship with the general.

"I don't understand what she looks like." The general held Aju's hand, "Why is it so cold? It's cold in winter, I need to add some clothes. Drink some hot soup to keep warm?" Although it was a question, the general But he had already handed the soup to Aju, Aju was hesitant, the general laughed and said, "I don't like to drink, drink it quickly, lest Mieko come in and see me not drinking, and blame you."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Aju drank the ginger soup, and wiped the corner of her mouth with the handkerchief handed over by the general, "Your Highness has treated me so well, I don't know how to repay His Highness." There are many children in the family, and she is the eldest. One, her parents say that a sister should be courteous to her younger brothers and sisters. Whether it is food or clothing, she picks up the worst ones, and the younger brothers and sisters eat what they don't want.The general was the first to speak softly to her, give her soup, and ask her how warm she was.Aju's heart was soft, and her tearful eyes seemed to contain the general's whole body, not letting go of every inch from top to bottom, but her mouth was closed, and she couldn't say any other words of gratitude.

"It's getting cuter, I'm going to feel sorry for you if you keep crying. You can make your Highness feel sorry for you? But you made a big mistake," the general said with a smile on his face. Looking at it calmly, in fact, I have thought several times in my heart to sway my power. I have never cried after going through all this, why are you crying?"

"Your Highness is a general, how can I compare with you, how can I compare to you." Aju felt distressed when he heard it, but the general didn't care much, so he stopped and signaled Aju to open the window.Aju also felt the stuffiness in the room and her head hurt, so she hurried to open the window, but she couldn't see the deep and meaningful eyes of the general behind her.

The days passed quickly, and Aju's mother passed away seven days later.The doctor sent by the general came several times, but in the end they were unable to prevent her death.Also on this day, the general told Aju that he wanted to marry her.

Ah Ju was filled with grief and joy, not knowing what to do, she just said to let it go for now, and talk about it later in the year.The general didn't force it, and simply told the general's wife to let Aju directly take the place of her mother and become the maid of the general's mansion.Mieko didn't like to see Aju at first, but when she saw her mother died, she just had a reason to resign from her.But the general rejected her request and insisted on keeping Aju.Mieko was silent for a while, then smiled miserably.

"Your Highness never had me in his heart?" Although Mei Huizi was sad in her heart, she still put the ginger soup that was delivered every day on the general's table, and she saw the rice paper on the table. There are a few large characters crookedly written on it, which is Aju's name.She grabbed the rice paper and placed it in front of the general, forgetting the usual etiquette and shouting at the general, "You taught her to write? You taught her to write!"

The general was silent as usual, and Mieko sat on the ground blankly, crying silently, she asked, "Why? Am I not doing well enough? What on earth do you want? Do you want a maid to sit on the same seat as me?" Position, face the world with the same claim? You have married so many concubines, have I ever had trouble with you, but this, I just can’t—”

The general's eyes fluctuated a little, but he still walked out without helping Mieko.Aju picked up the ginger soup on the table and went out with the general. When they came to the corridor, more than half of the trees in the general's mansion were broken, just like Mei Keiko. The general was silent, but it hurt more than talking.The general watched Aju drink up the ginger soup, he didn't laugh at her as usual, but quietly looked into the distance.A-ju also followed his gaze, seeing a vast expanse of whiteness, so desolate that it doesn't look like the capital.Is it the same in the general's heart?Aju thought, the luxurious clothes wrapped him up, but he was still lonely.

For three months, there was no one else around the general except Aju, and the officials in Ping'an Jingli all knew that he fell in love with a maid, and since then they have accepted it. Although they are very shameless about this matter, they have changed anyway. With the reputation of being an infatuation, and his style is much more correct, he began to accept him into their circle.Aju has also lived well in these three months, holding love tightly is something she never dared to look like, but now she not only has love, but also has many things, only one status is missing.

The general's wife didn't pay much attention to her, even the general. She was busy preparing the banquet and couldn't spare a little time to take care of their affairs.The general didn't think much about this change, but his body became weaker day by day, he often got up late and slept too much.Aju served the general, and she also felt the same way, and she was not feeling well either.But she thought it was another possibility, and looked for a doctor to see it, but found that it was not, which made her regret for a long time, after all, the general didn't have a son yet.

"You took the blue and white porcelain plate brought back by the envoy from the Tang Kingdom?" Mieko caught up with Aju who had just come out of the kitchen, and stopped her, "This is a reward from His Majesty the Emperor the year before last. His Majesty is coming tonight. Are you deliberately trying to make me look bad in front of His Majesty? You are too stupid, this is about the face of the General's Mansion!"

"What are you talking about?" Aju stopped, very puzzled by Mieko's words.

"One of the ten blue and white porcelain plates is missing, and the maid in the kitchen said that you were the only one who touched it, and you still want to pretend nothing happened?" Mieko sneered, "You are still working as a concubine for His Highness, do you think His Highness will keep you after this happened? Is it in this food box? Hand it over quickly." After speaking, she gave the maids around her a look and asked them to take it, but Aju was so protective that she would not let go, Mieko was a little annoyed, and pushed her away But he didn't expect Aju to be pushed down the well because of his frail body.

"Ah—Your Highness!"

The sound of falling into the water and the sound of Aju struggling surrounded Mieko's ears. She didn't care about the food box left by the side, and hurriedly searched for someone to rescue her.But just as she took a step, she was hugged by the person behind her. It was the general.She opened her eyes wide, not daring to move.

"Where is the plate?" The general said in a low voice, "You don't have to save her, she is dying, just like her mother."

"Your Highness."

Mieko was stunned.