Chapter 9: Piano Sound

Yang Yong walked towards the harem with a brisk pace. When Xue Daoheng pleaded for Yang Guang, Yang Yong was not as angry as he appeared. On the contrary, he had a little favor to Xue Daoheng, who was like a nerdy person. After all, there were probably very few ministers who knew that they might have violated the emperor and had the courage to say it. But politics is politics, and he did not have to be punished because he had a good impression of him. Perhaps if Xue Daoheng could be a small official with peace of mind, he would protect him and let him write more beautiful poems.

A beautiful sound of tinging dong dong came from the Ganlu Hall. Yang Yong was stunned when he heard it and asked the eunuch beside him, "Who is playing the zither?"

Yang Yong had half of Xianbei blood. According to Xianbei customs, after his father died, his eldest son could accept his father's wives and concubines except his mother as his wives and concubines. However, Yang Yong had memories of his previous life after all. This practice was contrary to the etiquette of the Han people. In addition, he never regarded half of his Xianbei bloodline and respected his father's wives and concubines.

Yang Jian's favorite formerly, Xuan Hua and Mrs. Rong Hua both gave the identity of the Supreme Princess to be kept in Renshou Palace for retirement. The other concubines who had served Yang Jian also dealt with each other. As for the other older palace maids, they were all put back home. When Yang Yong was the crown prince, he only had three wives and concubines, so the palace seemed a little deserted. The sound of the piano was clearly not played by the current queen and the two imperial concubines, so Yang Yong felt strange.

Most of the eunuchs around Yang Yong were brought from the East Palace. They were always with the emperor, so naturally they didn't know that, so they shook their heads.

Yang Yong was immediately interested: "Let's go, take a look."

The sound of the piano was still clanging. In order not to disturb the person who played the piano, Yang Yong made a special step. When the eunuchs saw the emperor like this, they were even more arrogant and did not dare to show off. They followed the emperor lightly, looking a little secretly.

Ganlu Hall is the third hall of the palace, located behind Taiji Hall and in front of Yanjia Hall. It is located at the center of the palace. It is usually used by the emperor to study in the inner palace, and the imperial study is also in Ganlu Hall. Yang Yong has to enter Ganlu Hall several times a day. It can be said that the Ganlu Hall is so mature that it cannot be more mature. At this time, he stepped into the gate of Ganlu Hall, but he couldn't help but thump in his heart.

The huge Ganlu Palace seems a little empty, no wonder later generations concluded that the entire palace was 2,820 meters wide from east to west, 1,492 meters deep from north to south, and an area of ​​more than 4 million square meters. Even the inner palace had more than 1,900,000 square meters, while the entire inner palace had only 3,000 people.

The sound of the piano came from the middle of the Ganlu Hall. In the middle of the empty Ganlu Hall, a woman in white sat cross-legged like a white elf. There was a Yaoqin in front of her, and her white fingers were plucking on the strings. The beautiful sound of the piano came from her fingers. Around her, there were several palace maids gathered together, and she was fascinated by her.

These palace maids looked like a slim young, mostly thirteen or fourteen years old, holding some washing tools in their hands, and were obviously cleaning in the Ganlu Hall. At present, the older women in the palace were put out. The cleaning and scrubbing work could only fall on the young women and eunuchs. However, these little palace maids were attracted by the sound of the white-clothed women and even forgot to clean.

The woman in white lowered her head and showed a beautiful swan-like neck. When Yang Yong's eyes turned to her face, she couldn't help but breathe. Her long eyelashes, gem-like eyes, a straight nose, and her face was even more flawless. The woman's facial features were all beautiful, and the combination was just right. At this time, she was fully focused on the sound of her piano, like a beautiful statue.

"Who is this woman?" countless question marks flashed in Yang Yong's heart. He should be a palace maid. He is about the age of 20 years old. All women over twenty have been released from the palace some time ago. Could it be that this woman is not yet the age to leave the palace, or she is unwilling to leave the palace? It's just that this woman has such an outstanding appearance, why does she know nothing?

However, Yang Yong immediately felt at ease and just ask a question later. Now you might as well listen to the sound of the piano again.

At the end of the song, the lingering sound was still circling in the hall. The woman sighed softly, put down the Yaoqin, and hung it back on a piano stand in the hall. However, the Yaoqin was placed in the Ganlu Hall. It must have been the woman who couldn't help but take it down to try her skills when she was wiping the piano body.

"May I have your name?"

The sudden sound immediately scared the palace maids who had just been immersed in the sound of the piano. When their eyes saw Yang Yong, their faces turned pale. Everyone hurriedly knelt down and trembled and shouted: "Your Majesty..." It would be better to do anything.

The emperor is the supreme in the world and holds the power of life and death for everyone. They say that they are just little palace maids, no matter how noble they are, as long as the emperor gives orders, they will not only die without a place to die, but their families will also be implicated. They should have just scrubbed and cleaned, but they took the piano, played the piano, and listened to the piano, and were hit by the emperor, so why are they not afraid?

"You don't have to be afraid, say your name." For some reason, the woman in front of her seemed to give Yang Yong a sense of familiarity, but Yang Yong couldn't remember when he had seen this woman no matter what.

"I, slave... I... I, I, Weichi... Yuchi Mingyue, please forgive me... I will give up the emperor... I will take the piano and play it privately... I will play it alone. I will ask the emperor to... I will punish me... I will only punish me." Although Yuchi Mingyue's voice stuttered, it was still as crisp as a yellow oriole, very beautiful.

"Yuchi Mingyue, a good name, a good name, a better person, and only such a name can match your person." Yang Yong had no idea about this name, and was even sure that he had never seen this woman before, so he couldn't help but look at her carefully. At this time, Yuchi Mingyue knelt on the ground, her head drooped to her chest. Despite this, Yuchi Mingyue's strong breasts, fair and tender neck, and slender waist still feasted Yang Yong's eyes.

Hearing the emperor's praise, Yuchi Mingyue's head drooped even lower, almost touching the ground. However, the emperor's tone had no intention of being angry, but it made Yuchi Mingyue and several little palace maids relieved. Several small palace women and little ghosts were even more secretly happy for Yuchi Mingyue. Such a fairy-like figure would probably be moved at first sight.

"Tell me, how should I punish you?"

"I...I..." Yuchi Mingyue's heart seemed to jump out, but she didn't know how to answer.

"Okay, okay, I will punish you to get up." Seeing that Yuchi Mingyue was almost scared again for his words, Yang Yong couldn't help but feel pity: "With your courage, I don't understand why I dare to pick up the piano and play it privately in the hall where I study?"

Yuchi Mingyue and several little palace maids were still hesitant, so no one was punished to stand up. They have been in the palace for many years and know that the rules in the palace are strict. When Empress Dugu was alive, at least a dozen palace maids were ordered to die by the queen every year. As for the eunuchs who were beaten by the corporal for violating the rules, there were more eunuchs who were killed by the corporal officials.

"I told you to get up but I can't get up. Could it be that I will punish you otherwise?"

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty." Yuchi Mingyue and several little palace maids quickly stood up and stood aside with their heads down.

After some conversation, Yang Yong found out that Yuchi Mingyue is not the one he looks like he is only twenty years old. If he was twenty-eight years old, Yang Yong would be even more amazed by Yuchi Mingyue's appearance. No wonder Yuchi Mingyue's body looks so mature, but there is no way she can see her face as twenty-eight years old. Her face is smooth and tenderer than a 20-year-old woman.

"A few months ago, the palace allowed all women over the age of twenty to go home, why didn't you go back?"

"When I go back to the emperor, I grew up in the palace since I was a child. I have no home and don't know where to go, so I chose to stay in the palace."

"No home?" Yang Yong was stunned for a moment: "What's going on? How old were you when you entered the palace?"

"Go back to the emperor, I entered the palace at the age of five."

"At the age of five, then didn't you enter the palace in the first year of Kaihuang?"

"Back to the emperor, that's exactly what it is."

Yang Yong understood a little. In the first year of Kaihuang, it was actually the third year of Dading. His father was the prime minister and had just wiped out the rebellion headed by Yuchi Jiong and others. At that time, a large number of princes and nobles involved in the rebellion were raided and exterminated. Some of their wives and daughters were rewarded to meritorious ministers, but some were taken into the palace. Yuchi Mingyue in front of him must have been the daughter of the rebellion that year, so she has been growing in the palace. No wonder she has nowhere to go.

Wait, a thought suddenly flashed through Yang Yong's mind. Her surname was Yuchi. Is it related to Yuchi Jiong? Yang Yong couldn't help but ask.

"Go back to the emperor, Yuchi Jiong is my servant's grandfather." Yuchi Mingyue turned pale. She was too young to enter the palace. Although she remembered it at that time, many things were blurred after so many years. She just remembered that she was a rebellious granddaughter. When others asked, she couldn't help but be afraid.
Chapter completed!