As the chief eunuch of the Taiyang Palace, Liu Zhongbao has always been cautious in his words and deeds. Even the civil servants who have always been critical of the internal supervisor rarely speak to him.
The emperor chose Miss Ming family as the concubine of the Fifth Highness, not because of Miss Ming's character and conduct, but her identity as Miss Ming family.
It is said that the Sacred Heart is unpredictable, but the emperor is also a human being, and he always considers a lot of children he prefers, paving the way for him.
The door of Ming's house opened wide, and at a glance he saw a girl wearing a floral ruffle skirt standing beside Mrs. Shilang. The girl is like a bud on a willow branch in early spring, full of vitality. Especially those eyes, like a clever cat under the moonlight, attract people's love and pity.
"Madam, miss." Liu Zhongbao saluted respectfully, and when he looked up, he saw the little girl from the Ming family bowing her knees to return the salute to him, with undisguised curiosity and innocent smile in his glittering eyes.
Liu Zhongbao winked at her and smiled back at her.
Jiu Zhu covered the corner of her mouth and snickered. She turned her head and saw that her mother and sixth brother didn't pay attention to her, so she quickly put her hands down, it was the well-behaved little girl again.
Seeing that Liu Zhongbao did not come with the imperial edict, Mrs. Shen welcomed him into the main hall and ordered the servants to prepare melons and fruits for refreshments: "I don't know that my father-in-law is here today, and my father-in-law has not returned from the Ministry of Rites, so he cannot come to treat the distinguished guests, please forgive me. "
"Madam, you're welcome." Liu Zhongbao took a sip of tea and said in a friendly tone: "Master Ming is loyal to the monarch and patriotism, and he is devoted to his duties. It is a great blessing for me to have such a good minister. Even Your Majesty often praises Master Ming."
"The old slave is here today to run errands for His Majesty and the noble concubine." Liu Zhongbao smiled kindly, like an old man who couldn't get along better: "Since the fifth highness and Ling Ai entered into a marriage contract, His Majesty has been busy with government affairs and has never been able to see Miss Ming. Tomorrow is the birthday of the noble concubine, your majesty thought that the young lady had just returned to the capital and worried that some things were not ready, so he asked the old slave to send some things."
Shen shi smiled and thanked: "Many thanks to Your Majesty and the Empress for their love."
"It's good that the madam and the young lady don't dislike it." Liu Zhongbao raised his hand, and the palace attendants filed in, either holding or lifting or picking, and soon the entire main hall was filled to the brim.
Looking at the room full of things, Shen shi couldn't help but wonder, in the eyes of the royal family, what kind of poverty did their family become, and they would have to pay their in-laws every three days in the future
Gold and silver jewelry, silk and satin, calligraphy and painting, pen, ink, paper, inkstone, piano, chess and jade, all kinds of objects, and even toys that the daughter's family likes.
"Your Majesty learned that the young lady is very accomplished in painting, and has prepared the best paints and pen and paper for the young lady." Liu Zhongbao opened one of the boxes, which was filled with small boxes of paints.
Ming Cunfu, who was sitting next to him, couldn't help showing an envious look.
"There are also these calligraphy and paintings." Liu Zhongbao opened another large box, which was full of picture tubes filled with picture scrolls: "Keep it for the young lady to enjoy."
Thinking of the paintings that her daughter made in her spare time, Shen shi looked at these paints and famous paintings, and let out a long sigh in her heart.
"Many thanks to Your Majesty and Empress, the ministers like it very much." Jiu Zhu saw a box full of paint, her eyes glowing.
"It's fine if you like it." Liu Zhongbao looked at Mrs. Shen, and suddenly asked, "Do you remember, the ancestor of Lord Ming also once attacked the lord?"
"My ancestors once had the last baron, which made my father-in-law laugh." Shen shi smiled: "It's just that the father-in-law and the uncle of the child have drawn the Lingzhou genealogy and established their own door, and the glory of the ancestors should not be Say it again."
"Madam doesn't need to be humble. Nowadays, when people mention the Ming clan, they naturally only think of the Ming clan in the capital, so what is there to do with others?" Liu Zhongbao smiled: "What the ancestors could do, how can the descendants not be able to do it? Maybe It will also be better than blue."
Before waiting for Mr. Shen to speak, Liu Zhongbao stood up: "This old slave still has the emperor's life, and I don't dare to stay for a long time, so I will leave."
"It's lunch time, please have tea and dinner before leaving." Jiuzhu said to retain her.
"Thank you for your kindness, Miss. Next time, if I have the opportunity, this old servant will definitely taste the delicious food of your house." Liu Zhongbao smiled and bowed to Jiuzhu: "Please come to the palace earlier tomorrow, the lady misses you very much."
"The minister also misses the Empress very much." Jiuzhu bowed her knees and returned the salute: "Tomorrow I will definitely visit the Empress at Mingyue Palace early."
Shen Shi: "..."
Girl, you probably don't know that there are words in the world that can't be taken seriously, called polite words.
"That old slave greets Miss in the palace." Liu Zhongbao took the palace servants away, and Ming Cunfu hurriedly sent them to the door.
"Young Master Ming stay." Liu Zhongbao looked up at the plaque on the gate of Ming Shilang's mansion, smiled and said, "Please rest assured, Young Master, Your Majesty and Empress like Miss Ming very much."
When Liu Zhongbao was sent away, Ming Cunfu was puzzled. The head of the royal family made this hard trip just to give Jiuzhu a gift? As for the horse farm, don't ask, don't ask, don't mention it
It is said that the royals are suspicious, where is the suspicion
What I did today was not royal at all.
Jiuzhu doesn't know how suspicious the royal family is. She has a lot of paint and is very happy now.
She felt that she could draw a picture of a thousand miles and a thousand mountains, but unfortunately she was persuaded to go back before the painting plan started.
She wants to try on the palace jewelry and shoes she will wear when she enters the palace tomorrow.
"You can't go wrong with your whole body." Shen shi rarely spoke to Jiuzhu in a serious tone, she looked in the direction of the imperial city: "Jiuzhu, when you step into the Mingyue Palace tomorrow, you will be in the eyes of others, Not only the daughter of the Ming family, but also the future Princess Chen."
Jiu Zhu stared at Shen shi in a daze.
"Don't be afraid." Shen shi smiled and stroked the top of her daughter's hair with the utmost gentleness: "Mother will always help you."
"Don't be sad, mother." Jiu Zhu looked at the smile on Shen's face. Although her mother was smiling at this time, she knew that she was sad because her mother's eyes were full of herself.
"Daughter is not afraid." She squatted in front of Shen shi earnestly, not letting her miss the slightest expression on her face: "The sage Lao Tzu has a saying: Faithful words are not beautiful, and beautiful words are not believed. The good ones don't argue, and the debaters are not good. People's hearts It's complicated. My daughter may not be able to read people's hearts, but she knows how to protect herself. Don't worry, I'm smart."
"Yeah, we Jiuzhu are smart." Shen Shi smiled, "There is no girl smarter than you in the world, right?"
"Yes." Jiuzhu nodded.
"You, you." Shen shi was helpless and funny. Which smart child would call himself smart? Just like a drunk person, who never admits that he is drunk.
She embraced her daughter, whom she had worked so hard to find, with a firm look in her eyes.
The candle flames were like beans, and Sun Caiyao could not even feel the coldness of her fingertips when she listened to the wind outside the window.
Tomorrow is the birthday of Concubine Su Gui of Mingyue Palace, but in her dream, this birthday will end before it begins, and the entire Mingyue Palace is covered with veil.
Everyone in the world said that Concubine Su was crazy, but as an elder, she set up a mourning hall for the younger generation.
And she only remembered that in the dream, the strands of succulents were lingering with the autumn wind in the cold night, cold and infiltrating.
"Miss, it's time to sleep."
The already frozen fingertips trembled slightly, but when Sun Caiyao came back to her senses, she realized that her back was soaked in cold sweat.
Before dawn, Jiuzhu got up from the bed, sat in front of the bronze mirror and waited for the maids to help her dress up.
I'm going to see the fairy godmother today, she must dress herself up beautifully.
"Miss." Spring Equinox yawned and glanced out the dark window: "Did you get up too early today?"
"I promised Eunuch Liu that I would go to see the empress earlier today." Jiuzhu smiled at the spring equinox with a few maids: "It's hard work, sisters."
Equinox: "… "
My dear lady, you don't have to take polite words so seriously.
In the Mingyue Palace, Concubine Su got up to dress up, and the palace servants brought a new box of jewelry. After picking out a few items, she suddenly picked up a dragonfly and stood up a lotus hairpin and said, "This hairpin is very suitable for wearing with nine beads."
Hand the hairpin to the female officer: "Pack it in a box, and when Jiuzhu arrives, you secretly give it to her."
There are many female guests at the banquet, so it is not suitable to send the nine-bead jewelry alone. But beautiful and good things, if you don't leave them to your future daughter-in-law, should you give them to outsiders
"The color of this pair of earrings is fresh and tender, and the daughter's house wears the best color, and I also keep it for Jiuzhu." Su Guifei picked a bunch of things to leave to her future daughter-in-law.
The female official was hesitant to say anything, Niangniang, putting so many things together, the goal is too obvious, it is really difficult to "secretly" send it.
"Liu Zhongbao said that Jiuzhu will come early today, and you will arrange for someone to pick him up at the gate of the palace. There are many female relatives entering the palace today. Not long after she returned to Beijing, the palace was worried about the things that didn't have long eyes, which would make her feel wronged."
Having said that, Concubine Su already had a picture of others bullying Jiuzhu in her mind: "Send two more high-ranking female officials, go now."
Female official: "… "
Niangniang, the Wenchen family is the most polite and thoughtful in speech, but she does things in a straight-forward manner. How could the Ming family let their daughter enter the palace early and fall into the notoriety of a flattering concubine
But looking at the serious expression of the goddess, and the box full of jewelry, the female official didn't dare to dissuade the goddess's interest: "Goddess, the slaves will go to the palace gate to meet Miss Ming in person."
When she went, she could find an excuse to cover up one or two, at least not to disappoint her too much.
"Alright." Concubine Su nodded: "I feel most at ease when you do things."
The female official left the house and ordered two high-ranking maids to accompany her.
"Aunt Xiangshuang, who are we going to pick up?" The palace maid was puzzled. As an empress, who is worthy of Aunt Xiangshuang
"Forbidden." Xiangxian's face was expressionless: "The things arranged by the goddess must be done carefully, don't ask more questions."
"Yes." The palace maid did not dare to ask any more, and followed Xiang Xuan honestly.
"Isn't this the incense silk from Mingyue Palace?" On the palace road, Concubine Ning sat upright on the chariot: "Today is the concubine's birthday, and you are not serving by the concubine's side. What are you doing here?"
Xiang silk bowed her knees and saluted, but said nothing.
Concubine Ning lowered her eyelids: "On the birthday of the noble concubine, this palace is afraid that the unsatisfactory little nephew will collide, so I ordered him to stay at home. I wonder if the noble concubine is satisfied?"
Xiangxian knew in her heart that Concubine Ning still resented sending the young son of the Zheng family to Concubine Qi for "teaching" that day.
She bowed and gave a big gift: "Thank you for your deep understanding of righteousness."
Concubine Ning's complexion changed slightly, and she forcibly endured the bad breath.
From top to bottom, Mingyue Palace will die from this arrogant temper sooner or later.
And wait and see.
Sending away Concubine Ning, who had endured her anger, Xiang Silk came to the palace gate and stood still. It was still early, and there was silence in front of the palace gate except for the guards on duty.
Xiang Silk lowered her eyelids slightly, no longer looking forward. With such a result, she was not surprised at all.
Suddenly, there was the sound of a carriage in the distance.
She raised her head sharply and looked into the distance. Reason told her that even if a carriage came, it might not necessarily be Miss Ming, but she still held a glimmer of hope in her heart.
The carriage stopped in front of the palace gate, and the driver set up a footstool in front of the carriage, and the two maids came down first.
The curtain of the car was lifted, and a girl wearing a wide-sleeved palace dress and a lily bun walked out.
She raised her head, met Xiangxian's eyes, and showed a bright and innocent smile: "Auntie."
The hand of the incense silk hanging in front of her lower abdomen trembled slightly. She walked up to the girl and bowed: "Ms. Ming is safe."
"I'm not late, right?" Jiuzhu pointed to her head: "It took half an hour to comb this bun."
"The girl is very beautiful today." Xiangxuan stretched out her hand, supported Jiuzhu's arm, and said respectfully, "The lady was looking forward to the girl's arrival, so she sent servants here to welcome her."
The palace dress was complicated, and Jiuzhu didn't dare to go too fast: "Thank you, my lady, for caring about me, and making my aunt tired."
"The slaves are not tired." Xiangxian smiled: "It's good to receive the girl."
"Little girl from the Ming family, stand there and don't move."
The sound of horse hooves came from behind, and Jiu Zhu heard a familiar voice. She looked back and saw that King Chen was galloping towards this side on a horse.
The horse ran to the front of Jiuzhu, King Chen pulled the reins, turned over and dismounted, the cloak rattled in the air, with extraordinary momentum.
"Your Highness." The silk cloth between Jiuzhu's arms was swayed slightly by the wind brought by King Chen when he dismounted from the horse, and she looked up at him.
His Highness is so tall, he seems to be half a head taller than her.