The sedan chair swayed all the way to Fengqi Palace, and Ye Jun was not early.
Because she took a detour, she was actually one step behind Concubine Zhao.
Now Zhao didn't dare to offend her. They greeted each other and entered the hall one after another.
Sun Xiurong was seriously ill and did not come, and Concubine Yi was pregnant so she did not have to pay her respects. Ye Jun sat next to Lin Xiurong and Concubine Xia on his left and right respectively.
"Sister Ming, this hairpin is really beautiful. The orchid leaves are carved so lifelike. It looks like it's made of white jade?"
Lady Xia spoke with a smile.
Ye Jun curled her lips, "Sister, you have good taste. This hairpin is from outside the palace. Although it is not as valuable as the ones made inside, it is also exquisite. My uncle went to the south to do business and sent it here because he thought it was beautiful. If you like it, I have some other designs. Come with me later."
"Then I'd better obey your command respectfully." Xia smiled.
The two of them were very harmonious.
"It's just a hairpin, but it's worth it for Lady Xia to ask for it. It's not shameful at all."
Suddenly, along with the sound of footsteps, some sarcastic remarks also floated into my ears.
Looking up, the person coming was Concubine Shu.
She was dressed in a golden palace dress with a hundred flowers and butterflies, a flying bun, and a set of gilded eight-treasure head ornaments inlaid with red and blue gems, which was very elegant.
This posture doesn't seem like he's coming to pay his respects, but rather to show off his power.
I don't know if he had been bored in his palace for too long and wanted to come out to put on airs, or if he was thinking about who he was going to piss off later.
"I am a humble servant, so I naturally don't have any good things. How can I compare to the majesty's luxurious things? I just thought that Sister Ming would look good wearing it, and I thought that the emperor would like it, so I shamelessly asked for it. After all, no matter how valuable the things are, if the emperor doesn't like it, it is not a good thing."
Lady Xia had a cold face and gave her a neutral retort.
Since the death of that child, Xia's temperament has changed a lot. She is no longer as easily manipulated as before, and now has some temper.
"Precious things are valuable because they themselves are valuable. Unlike your humble body, no matter how good the things you wear, you are still humble!" Concubine Shu glared at her.
After all, thinking about the emperor's oral instructions, I didn't continue.
In fact, everyone knew that Concubine Shu might not necessarily want to make things difficult for Concubine Xia, but she just didn't dare to confront Ye Jun directly.
These words were also said to Ye Jun under the pretext of attacking the Xia family.
Ye Jun understood it in his heart, but he was too lazy to care about it.
Why bother? It has been known for a long time that Concubine Shu has a low IQ.
After another cup of tea, Lady Su came in with her head down.
If you look closely, you can see that her right cheek is a little red and swollen, as if she had been beaten.
But no one cares, after all, she is really insignificant now.
Soon, the queen came out of the inner room holding Nanny Ding's hand.
She was dressed up today.
She was wearing a bright yellow phoenix robe, which was embroidered with peonies of various colors with fine threads mixed with gold and silver. The nine-tailed phoenix hairpin in her bun was inlaid with round and full oriental pearls.
This configuration can only be used by the Queen.
It can be seen that the queen is declaring her status as the queen.
After accepting everyone's worship, the queen slowly sat down on the phoenix chair.
After a quick glance, I found that there was an empty seat at the top.
His face immediately darkened.
"Why didn't Concubine Wende come?"
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone looked at the empty seat next to Concubine Shu.
No one answered for a moment.
"Maybe something delayed her. Empress Defei is always on time." Concubine Jing said softly.
His eyes flickered involuntarily, as if he was saying something against his will.
These little actions were extremely painful to the Queen, and she felt a surge of anger.
Now even the concubines below her dare not say a bad word about Concubine Wende
Even Concubine Jing, who was not interested in worldly matters, helped her to make excuses.
"What could have delayed me? I just don't want to come. After all, I'm here to look after the Crown Prince. I'm afraid I'm the only one left in my eyes."
Lin Xiurong sneered without any reservation.
Everyone was puzzled. Lin Xiurong had been out of favor for many years, so why did she suddenly come out to criticize Concubine Wende? Could it be that she wanted to surrender to the Queen
Ye Jun glanced at Lin without leaving a trace, then looked past her and at the woman on the phoenix chair.
The queen's expression became even stiffer.
When I lowered my eyes slightly, I could vaguely sense some other taste in my mind.
"Send someone to call them!" The Queen threw the sandalwood Buddhist beads in her hand onto the table. "Even if there is something that prevents you from coming to pay your respects, you must give a reasonable explanation, otherwise you will be punished for disrespecting the Queen!"
"Your Majesty, there is no need to mobilize so many people. I am late because the eldest prince felt uncomfortable when he woke up this morning and I was worried about him. That's why I was late in paying my respects. If you don't believe me, you can go to Chuxiu Palace to take a look yourself."
The crisp sound of palace boots tapping the ground could be heard.
Concubine Wende held Bai Lu's hand and walked in slowly from outside.
"Please forgive me, Queen. I am already a mother, so I can't help but feel a little worried." Concubine Wende bowed slightly and glanced at the Queen's belly. "Your Majesty has not been a biological mother yet. I believe that you will understand my feelings only when you give birth to an imperial heir in the future."
This kind of provocation is too obvious.
Everyone could see that Concubine Wende was probably angry because the Queen had taken back the palace power.
Normally, Concubine Wende would never speak like this on purpose.
Seeing that the queen looked unhappy, Concubine Zhao hurriedly said, "The queen is the legitimate mother, and all the children in the palace are the queen's children. The virtuous concubine should not be confused by the cold wind of the twelfth lunar month and say such ridiculous words. I remember that the virtuous concubine is also a legitimate child. Don't you lose the distinction between the superior and the inferior after leaving home?"
"I'm talking to the Queen, you have no right to interrupt. If Concubine Zhao has forgotten the palace rules, go back today and copy them several times!"
Concubine Wende waved her sleeves and glared at Zhao fiercely.
"Shut up, everyone!" The Queen slammed the table angrily, "Concubine Wende is so arrogant. I am still sitting on this phoenix chair. It is not your turn to lecture the concubines in the harem!"
Concubine Wende clenched the handkerchief in her hand, her eyes dark, and finally she lowered her head.
She bowed reluctantly, "My words were inappropriate, please forgive me, Your Majesty. These are the account books I sorted out. I will return them to you today, please check them."
After he finished speaking, he turned sideways and saw four young palace maids behind him holding four stacks of account books, ten in each stack, forty volumes in total.
When the queen saw her lower her head, her expression eased a little.
He waved his hand and asked Suqin and Su'e to take the account book.
"Although I am pregnant, the fetus is stable. It is not a big deal to handle some harem affairs, but there are many things to do this year, and I am always unable to handle them. You should all be down-to-earth at this time. If anyone dares to cause trouble at this critical moment, the emperor and I will not let them off easily!"
"I will follow your Majesty's instructions and abide by the palace rules, and I will not dare to overstep the boundaries!"
Everyone responded in unison and saluted together.
The queen was satisfied with this attitude, and a hint of pride flashed in her eyes.
He looked at the concubines and suddenly saw something familiar.