Queen Qin's face darkened.
After years of planning, the Qin family is now strong enough. Her brothers, nephews and nephews are all in high positions in the court and ministers, and the harem is as stable as a soup.
Her son is the eldest and the only choice for the emperor. What she needs to do is to take care of her body, set an example for the concubines in the harem, and wait for the day when the emperor will speak.
Thinking of this, Queen Qin laughed softly. Empress Lu is working hard, but she can't survive.
Empress Qin thought about this and said with a smile: "Today's palace banquet, what is the imperial concubine wearing?"
Jingxue said with a smile: "Back to your Majesty, your concubine is wearing rose red today."
Queen Qin smiled and said, "From a distance, there is not much difference between Rose Red and Zhenghong. She wants to compete with me."
Qingxue sneered: "It's just Dong Shi's imitation. Everyone with eyes is watching."
Empress Qin felt extremely comfortable being flattered. She picked up a gold phoenix hairpin inlaid with Baola silk and said with a half-smile, "Put it in for me."
"Prince Rui, Princess Rui is here."
Queen Qin was overjoyed and said with a smile in her eyes: "Invite people in quickly."
After a while, Prince Rui and his wife came in and saluted the queen.
Princess Rui, Xiao Qin, was in her early twenties. She wore a high bun and exquisite makeup. After bowing, she stood behind Prince Rui with lowered eyebrows and submissive eyes. Her movements were quite orderly.
Empress Qin's eyes were kind, and she ordered the palace servants to give her a seat, and said with a smile: "It's quite early for me to come."
King Rui said gently: "Prince Su has returned to Beijing. I haven't seen him for a year. I came here early today to pay my respects."
Queen Qin asked: "Where is he?"
"After returning to my mother, Prince Su should be having dinner with his father at the moment."
Queen Qin's mind was moved and she said with a smile: "In that case, you can go ahead and let us two have a nice conversation."
King Rui stood up, saluted, and left as he was told. After walking a few steps, he turned back and said, "Mother, I was drinking with my eighth brother last night. I saw that he is quite old, and the principal concubine in the house is always free. You see, the family is noble." Among women, which one is worthy of being the Princess of Longevity?”
Empress Qin looked at him sideways and said with a smile: "Your majesty, your majesty, actually takes care of the minor affairs of your children and their parents' families. Go ahead. This matter is left to your mother to worry about. You can go ahead."
"Thank you, Queen Mother." Prince Rui came out respectfully.
Only then did Queen Qin turn her attention to Princess Rui.
In Yongchun Palace.
Behind the huanghuali wood-carved crabapple screen, Concubine Yin lazily leaned on the couch, her eyes half-closed, and her face seemed to be thoughtful.
Mingchun came in from outside, went to the gate quietly, and whispered: "Your Majesty, the Emperor has finished his meal now and is reminiscing with Prince Su in the imperial study."
Concubine Yin's eyelashes trembled twice and said: "First we eat together, then we share tea. This rule has not changed for many years."
Mingchun said with a smile: "Prince Su has traveled all over the world and has seen a lot. The emperor likes to hear the old prince tell some interesting stories along the way. I'm afraid this reminiscence will take another two hours before we can stop."
Concubine Yin's face turned slightly red, she opened her eyes, and slowly got up from the couch. She walked to the bronze mirror, looked at the beautiful woman in the bronze mirror, and whispered: "Please change some clothes for me, tonight's night banquet , I will not compete with the Queen.”
Mingchun understood in his heart and said, "Are you wearing that green dress?"
"Um."
Mingchun smiled and said, "My queen has not worn green clothes for two years."
Concubine Yin said with a half-smile, "Yes, it's been two years again."
In less than three seconds, the emperor's nobles, civil and military officials, and newly promoted scholars entered the palace one after another, dressed in luxurious clothes. At this time, the sun was setting in the west, but the sky was still as bright as day.
Because there was a champion in the Jiang family, the three masters of the Jiang family were all invited. Not only that, the emperor also sent Eunuch Li to personally invite the ancestors of the Jiang family.
While the ancestor knelt down to thank the emperor for his great kindness, he declined the emperor's invitation due to personal reasons. Then the emperor was not angry but happy, and instead ordered someone to send a picture of a hundred years of life to his ancestors.
Qiongtai Water Palace is divided into two parts: inner and outer halls. The inner palace and concubines all live in the inner hall, while the foreign ministers and scholars live in the outer hall. When the auspicious time comes, the emperor shows up and arrives with the queen's hand in hand amid everyone's expectations.
Everyone knelt down and worshiped on the ground, shouting "Long Live the Mountain" with great momentum.
Empress Qin followed the emperor's side and moved forward steadily. She glanced at the imperial concubine's seat from the corner of her eye and frowned imperceptibly.
Surprisingly, this woman did not wear rose red, but instead wore a green palace dress, looking quite plain. Still self-aware, Empress Qin stroked the purple and golden peonies on her head, smiled coldly, and held her head high.
Concubine Yin looked up suddenly, her eyes swept over the hands held by the emperor and empress, and a sneer appeared at the corner of her mouth.
The emperor practiced Taoism and alchemy this year, and the harem has become a decoration. Even on the first and fifteenth day of the lunar month, he only went to the queen's palace to have a meal. At this time, he pretended to be deeply in love with his wife, which was really a joke.
Concubine Yin turned her gaze back. When she saw a tall and majestic figure, the hand holding the handkerchief trembled slightly and she slowly moved her gaze away.
The night is getting dark and the lights are on.
Qingguan had already ordered someone to close the courtyard door and entered the room alone. Yueniang and Chunni didn't know what was going on, so they just watched outside.
After a cup of tea, Ye Qing rushed in from the backyard and whispered a few words in Yueniang's ear.
Yueniang nodded and knocked on the door, "Miss, the time has come."
After a moment, the door creaked open, and Yueniang hurried forward, "Miss, the Eighteenth Master has come to pick you up in person."
Qingguan's eyes lit up, a smile flowed from the corner of her mouth, she picked up her skirt and left.
Under the moonlight, the man stood with his hands behind his back. When he heard the movement, he quickly turned around and smiled silently.
Qingguan stepped forward and called out in a low voice: "Brother."
Sheng Fang looked at his features and asked, "Are you feeling better?"
"Well, it's nothing serious."
Sheng Fang bent down and said, "Come on, let me carry you."
Qingguan's heart suddenly felt warm, and she lay obediently on his broad back. Sheng Fang waited for her to lie down steady, then raised her breath and jumped up. She had already jumped onto the wall.
Yueniang took two quick steps after her, turned her back and wiped her tears. He was the 18th Master of the Sheng family. He looked so much like Uncle Sheng.
The flower hall of Jin Mansion was darkly packed with people, all of them Sheng Fang's die-hard brothers, and they were all waiting eagerly.
Sheng Fang held her hand and walked in. With just a slight glance, everyone said in unison: "Say hello to Miss Sixth."
The voice was as loud as a bell, and Qingguan was startled. She walked to the middle of the flower hall, stroking her chest, and said generously: "You heroes, there is no need to be polite, please take your seats quickly."
Everyone didn't move, just looked at Sheng Fang.
Sheng Fang waved his hand and took his seat.
Qingguan smiled slightly. Although these people are all bandits, under the guidance of their elder brother, they behave in a very orderly manner.
Qian Fu and Shi Minwei stepped forward to salute Qingguan and then took their seats together.
Qingguan just drank a few glasses of wine, then glanced at Sheng Fang. The latter understood, held her arm, and the two of them walked in the courtyard.
In the courtyard, several crabapples bloomed extremely prosperously, covering them with a layer of soft color under the dim moonlight. It was a pity that such beautiful flowers had no fragrance.
Just like the current situation, the brother and sister have just recognized each other, but they are about to separate. Qingguan thought about it and sighed softly.
This breath passed into Sheng Fang's ears, and he thought with a thought: "Sister, there is no need to be sentimental, not to mention that this trip can find out what happened back then, because I am my father's son, and I should be a strong soldier." ”
Qing Guan's red lips were slightly raised, like a angry child, and she said: "Brother is happy and happy, but my sister is here holding on to her heart."
Sheng Fang looked at her bright black eyes, thinking about the overwhelming sadness on her body when they first met, and felt relieved.
"Don't worry. We are twenty-one brothers, if we can take care of each other, we will not suffer hardship."
Qingguan nodded and took a white porcelain vase from her arms.
"Brother, my sister has a good thing for you."
Sheng Fang took the white porcelain bottle and opened it gently. A pungent smell of wine hit his face. He frowned and said, "What is this?"
Qingguan smiled and said, "This is alcohol, used for disinfection. If a soldier is injured, apply it on it to prevent the wound from festering. It only takes three days to heal the wound that originally took ten days."
Sheng Fang's deep eyes brightened slightly and he said, "Is this wine?"
Qingguan shook his head, "It is wine but not wine. It is extremely pure and burns when exposed to fire. It is difficult to refine it, so I got this. After I study more, I can bottle it and send it to my brother in less than a month. . When the time comes, my brother will dedicate it to the general, and he will definitely win the general’s trust.”
Sheng Fang didn't expect Qingguan to have this idea, and he was surprised and at the same time, his face looked a little bit arrogant.
He had seen her intelligence, and heard Qian Fu, Master and the others talk about her plan for King Shou. Behind intelligence and calculation, there must be exhaustive consideration.
You can imagine how many sleepless nights I spent with this bottle in my hand. I was afraid that I was thinking about it in my sleep.
Qingguan didn't know what Sheng Fang was thinking, so he thought to himself: "Uncle Fu has prepared some common trauma medicines for his brother. Yueniang also has a baggage in her hand, which contains some poisons I have researched over the years. The medicine is written on paper, and my brother keeps it for self-defense.”
Sheng Fang was shocked again and sighed: "My sister is so thoughtful."
"I dare not be careless. I have to protect my brother for all the innocent souls of the Sheng family."
Qingguan's voice was soft and soft, like a puff of smoke, but like a heavy blow on Sheng Fang's chest.
Over the years, he has been through life and death, bleeding and working for his life, and has always been alone. Suddenly, someone said that he would protect him, and that person was a weak and fragile concubine. This made Sheng Fang's eyes gradually become moist.
The man bleeds but does not shed tears, but he has not reached the point of emotion. Sheng Fang blinked and forced tears into his eyes, "My sister saved my life. I don't dare to die in vain. I still want to keep it to carry on the family line for my father."
Qingguan said nothing, but nodded heavily.
Sheng Fang placed his hand on her shoulder. The thinness of the tentacles made him soften his voice and said, "After I leave, you have to be careful. There are some things that you can do according to your ability. Don't show off."
Qingguan looked at him for a while and then said: "Brother, don't worry, I know it well. Like my brother, I don't dare to die in vain."
"Sister!" Sheng Fang did not ignore the flash of pain in her eyes. Thinking of the arrow that pierced her heart in her previous life, she gritted her teeth and said, "If you have hatred in your heart, I will kill the person who betrayed your heart before leaving. ”