Zhaochun Palace.
Ye Jun was looking at the gift book for the Double Ninth Festival.
The dishes were all the usual ones set by the palace, but Ye Jun was quite knowledgeable about food, so he changed a few items and added a few.
For example, crabs are plump during the Double Ninth Festival, so you can make more dishes.
When I saw the drinks and snacks, I remembered something.
"Have you counted the amount of the imperially brewed chrysanthemum wine? Remember to move it out of the wine cellar a few days in advance, so that there won't be a shortage at the palace banquet."
"Don't worry, Your Majesty. I have already given the order. The people over there reported back that the wine this year is particularly mellow." Huiyue said with a smile.
Ye Jun nodded slightly, "That's good. We drink chrysanthemum wine on Double Ninth Festival. Every year the emperor will give some to his relatives and ministers. We can't make any mistakes."
Nine is an auspicious number, and the Double Ninth Festival is a big day when everything returns to one. The imperially brewed chrysanthemum wine is a must-have for the Double Ninth Festival banquet in the palace, and it has been passed down from ancestors.
The emperor and his ministers drinking chrysanthemum wine together also means that they share the joy and happiness.
This chrysanthemum wine is brewed on the Double Ninth Festival of the previous year, stored for a year, and then taken out for drinking on the Double Ninth Festival of the following year. It tastes sweet and has medicinal effects.
After reading the gift book, Ye Jun called Concubine Hui and went to see how the Qionghua Palace where the banquet was held was decorated.
Huiyue did not go with them, but took the time to go to the wine cellar in person.
The Imperial Concubine takes it very seriously, so she has to go and see it with her own eyes. She can't just believe what the people over there say.
On the way, he happened to see the rosary beside Concubine Jingxian.
Since the two masters didn't get along, the servants naturally had nothing to say and just passed by each other.
Nianzhu went to Ruyi Pavilion to deliver clothes to the Second Prince, and when she returned to Zhongcui Palace, she reported what was happening around the Second Prince.
At last, she said angrily, "When I came back today, I saw Huiyue from Zhaochun Palace going west. She was so arrogant that her nose was almost turned up to the sky. I couldn't stand it!"
Concubine Jingxian is copying Buddhist scriptures.
Recently, she also felt that she was a little impatient and irritable, and copying Buddhist scriptures could at least make her feel a little more relaxed.
His expression was indifferent at this moment.
"What's the point of being reluctant? The Ye family is now in its heyday. I need to be patient, and so do you."
"Yes, I'll remember that." Nianzhu lowered her head and her voice became lower.
However, Concubine Jingxian seemed to have thought of something, and stopped writing. "Huiyue is Concubine Ming's personal maid. If she can do something personally, it must be very important. What is this west..."
He frowned and thought for a moment, then his eyes suddenly flashed, "The Double Ninth Festival is coming, there is a wine cellar in the west, I guess he went to check the imperial chrysanthemum wine."
"Calculating the time, I guess that's it." Nianzhu nodded.
Concubine Jingxian lowered her eyes slightly and did not respond.
After a stick of incense had passed, he finished copying the last page of the Buddhist scripture. He put his pen down, then stood up and went to the window to take a breath.
"How is Qi Xiurong these days? She's almost seven months pregnant, right?"
Rosary brought the tea over, "I heard that your complexion is much better than before, but your pulse is still a little weak."
Concubine Jingxian took the teacup and took a sip, her eyes turned a little colder.
"If the emperor hadn't returned to the palace early and Ye hadn't made a special trip to see her, I would have been afraid and stopped. Her pregnancy would have been gone by now!"
"Your Majesty, please calm down. Even if the baby can be born, what's the use? The baby has been eaten for several months. It will destroy the foundation. Even if the baby can be born, the fetus will be weak and cannot be raised." A hint of sarcasm flashed in Nianzhu's eyes.
Concubine Jingxian felt quite comfortable hearing these words, and her expression softened a little.
He walked slowly to the table, put down the teacup, and whispered softly.
"Qi, Qi, don't blame me. If you want to blame someone, blame Ye. I can't let a woman with such a good family background give birth to a prince."
The second prince was neither the legitimate nor the eldest, and her own mother's family was not good either, so she could only increase the second prince's chances of winning the throne by destroying other princes.
Those concubines who had children still had hope, but those concubines who did not have children could only hope to get pregnant.
Jinglan Pavilion.
The senior palace maid Lu Zhong quietly brought in a bowl of medicine.
"Wanrong, the medicine is ready, please take it."
Looking at the black medicinal juice, Ying Wanrong drank it all without hesitation.
"I don't know if this medicine will work. I entered the palace too late and am not very favored by the emperor. I must give birth to a child as soon as possible while I still have the opportunity to serve him once or twice." Ying Wanrong had a worried look on her face.
Nowadays, the number of times everyone in the harem has seen the emperor is not as many as that of Concubine Ming alone.
She entered the palace at such a young age. Although she didn't want to be the only one favored by the emperor, she was unwilling to waste her time like this.
Ju Bai brought the candied fruit over and said, "I tried my best to get this prescription. You see, Concubine Ming gave birth to two children in a row, two sons and a daughter. It must be because of this prescription. I heard that it was given by the emperor."
"I hope it works. I'm still young and can't give up like this." Ying Wanrong lowered her eyes, hiding the unwillingness in her eyes.
In fact, she began to regret it.
If she had discovered that the midwife and the servants around Qin were in collusion at that time and reported it immediately, would the emperor have remembered her contribution and shown her more favor
Unfortunately, there is no if.
At that time, she also felt that the imperial concubine might not wake up because of some tampering during childbirth.
But it is useless to think about it now. The imperial concubine has already given birth to twins, a boy and a girl. Even if she falls out of favor in the future, she has nothing to fear.
This is something she can't compare to.
Yes, now Ying Wanrong has been smoothed over and is not as proud as before, and this only took a few months.
The warmth and coldness of the palace is the most powerful thing that can force people to bow their heads.
On the other side, Ye Jun and Concubine Hui looked at the layout of the Qionghua Palace and returned to Zhaochun Palace together.
Ye Jun invited Concubine Hui to have lunch together.
When the two of them were sitting idly, Concubine Hui brought up something.
"Sister, do you know that Yi Zhaoyuan asked the emperor to let her brother's son enter the palace to be the third prince's tutor?"
"Well, I heard a few days ago that Yi Zhaoyuan is also thinking about helping her family." Ye Jun smiled indifferently.
Concubine Hui continued, "It has always been the case that the prince needs two study companions. I have been hearing news these days and it seems that the other study companion, Yi Zhaoyuan, has taken a fancy to Concubine Li's nephew."
"The Li family?" Ye Jun put down the teacup in his hand and lowered his eyes slightly. "Concubine Li is not favored, but her father is a powerful one. As the Jingzhao Yin, he is considered a half-military officer and holds some military power. I heard that Li's maternal grandfather, the Gu family, has a third-rank general. Yi Zhaoyuan is quite picky."
Concubine Hui gently waved her fan and smiled with an ambiguous smile.
"That's right. This pair of scholars and martial artists not only helped the younger generation in the family, but also won over the hearts of the Li family."
"Let her go. With the Wu family's background, it won't be difficult for her to find a study partner from a good family. There's no need for me to stop her. Whatever happens, it will be what it is." Ye Jun said indifferently.