For the first time, Concubine Shu Gui, who has always been in the limelight in the harem, has become the object of excitement in the eyes of all the concubines in the harem. Anyone who sees an opponent who has been favored for many years suddenly becomes less important, can't help venting their hearts. jealousy.
"Since Zhao Xianrong was seriously injured by Hu's plan last time, his status in the emperor's heart seems to be getting heavier and heavier. Concubine Xian Gui felt a little emotional, "There is one less favored Hu, and one more favored. The Zhuang family, what difference does this make to someone like Ben Gong who is only living in the harem relying on their seniority? "She looked at the face in the mirror, although the face was still the same, but after all, it was not as fresh as the concubines who had entered the palace soon.
"How can Niangniang rely on her qualifications, and the servants look at the emperor's trust in you, if not, why would the prince be handed over to you for upbringing?" The maid who served her hairpin heard the words, "There are no other masters in the palace. Such honor.
Concubine Xian smiled when she heard the words, obviously the palace maid's words made her very satisfied, she rewarded the talking maid in a very good mood, stood up and supported Bu Yao, who was holding her temples, the women in the harem will eventually grow old and have children. Being alone is the last resort.
"Let's go, tonight is Zhao Xianrong's birthday banquet, even the emperor is going, so I can't go too late." Concubine Xian smiled, "Sister Zhao Xianrong is a generous person. , this palace can't be neglected either."
As the protagonist of the birthday banquet, Zhuang Luoyan naturally has to dress up in a grand manner, with brocade shoes in Chinese clothes, and a sachet with yellow and red hairpins. The people in the temple province spent a lot of energy.
She carefully traced her eyebrows, but she didn't have the intention to make herself ordinary. When a woman can dress up when she is young, she will dress up more. When she can't match a young girl no matter how she dresses up, she will use the prudent trick. Steady, when you get older, don't you become lifeless
Putting down her eyebrows and looking at her delicate eyebrows, Zhuang Luoyan nodded in satisfaction, stood up and took a look in front of the large mirror.
Walking out of Xihe Palace, passing through the nine-curved corridor, passing by Meixiangluo Snow Garden, and walking down the not-so-short scarlet palace road, seeing the maids and eunuchs on the roadside saluting and avoiding him, Zhuang Luoyan sat steadily and walked steadily with her expression unchanged. Above, until Bu Nian stopped in front of the gate of the Queen's Jingyang Palace.
He Yu, who was already waiting at the door, saw Zhuang Luoyan, smiled and stepped forward to salute Zhuang Luoyan: "Zhaoxian Rong Niangniang is here, the Queen Niangniang is waiting for you, please go in with the servant."
"There are Lao and Yu," Zhuang Luoyan smiled at He Yu, followed He Yu into the palace gate, and the maids and eunuchs who were waiting behind him hurriedly followed.
Not far away at this time, Concubine Shu Gui and Concubine Rou had just rushed over. Seeing this scene, Concubine Rou had a faint smile: "The Empress is really kind."
Concubine Shu Gui looked at Concubine Rou with the same expression, and smiled without saying a word.
When Concubine Rou moved her gaze, she couldn't see Concubine Shu's confident appearance, as if everyone in the harem could see it clearly and understand it. If it is so powerful, why is it still only favoring the concubine, rather than being favored by the emperor? Even Zhuang Luoyan, who entered the palace tonight, came to the fore, and the treatment that He Yu, who was beside the Queen, was waiting at the palace gate in person, was something that Concubine Shu did not have this year.
In the house, after Zhuang Luoyan gave the queen a salute, the queen put a suet jade bracelet on Zhuang Luoyan herself, and other concubines who had arrived in the house also greeted Zhuang Luoyan.
As soon as they sat down, they saw Concubine Shu Gui and Concubine Rou coming together. This made everyone a little surprised. Concubine Shu Gui and Concubine Rou didn't come and go often, so why did they come together today
On the other hand, why didn't Su Xiuyi, who always followed behind Concubine Shu Gui, follow along
After another salute, everyone sat down again, and the queen said, "The emperor still has some details that he hasn't read. I sent someone to tell me that the banquet will be opened according to the time. We won't wait. Let's have the banquet now."
The queen opened this mouth, naturally no one objected. The yard of Jingyang Palace is not small, even if there are a lot of concubines and concubines and a stage, it is not crowded at all.
The first scene was Magu's birthday greeting. Zhuang Luoyan watched it with a smile, but just randomly ordered a play that implied auspiciousness, and asked the queen and other concubines to order it.
"Bengong loved to watch some lively dramas when I was young. I always thought that the more lively, the more interesting it was, but now it's just the opposite. I prefer quiet dramas." on the plate.
"Concubines have also liked quiet things over the years," Concubine Xian Gui continued with a smile, "I think my sisters like these lively things."
If Zhuang Luoyan would not take such a talk in the past, but today is her birthday banquet, she would have to say this: "The Empress and Concubine Xiangui are much stronger than concubines, concubines have been born since childhood. I don't understand opera, my concubines are impatient, I can't hear the slow tone, I just want to listen to the whole story at once."
"Zhaoxian has a straight temperament, and it's normal not to like listening to opera," Concubine Rou used a silver sign to insert a piece of red and green with the core removed, "but even if you don't like listening, you should be someone who understands opera. "
Zhuang Luoyan smiled and looked at Concubine Rou sideways: "Concubine Rou concubine has high regard for concubines, concubines and concubines are absolutely inferior to you."
Whoever was present did not know that Concubine Rou felt sorry for Zhao Xianrong several times. Now that the two of them had something to say, naturally no one spoke up.
"Who is Aifei inferior to?"
A low male voice came from the corner, and everyone watching the play stood up and saluted.
Feng Jin stepped forward to support the queen, and then walked behind the queen to support Zhuang Luoyan, and then said, "Today is Zhao Xianrong's birthday banquet, everyone don't need to be too polite, just take your seats."
"I knew long ago that you didn't like listening to opera, so I asked the people in the palace's acrobatics garden to prepare some juggling." Feng Jin waved his hand, and the actors on the stage stepped back one after another. People appear on stage.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." The smile on Zhuang Luoyan's face tried to suppress the surprise. He bent his knees to salute the Emperor, and the other party held his own hands with one hand.
"Today is your birthday, how can you kneel and kneel?" Pulling Zhuang Luoyan to sit down on his right, Feng Jin looked at the queen on the left, "I heard Zhao Xianrong say that he is far inferior to Concubine Rou. , what's going on here?"
"It's just that the two younger sisters are modest to each other," the queen looked at Concubine Rou and Zhuang Luoyan, and said with a smile, "Zhaoxian Rong is always modest, you know that, Your Majesty."
modesty
Feng Jin thought about Zhuang Luoyan, who was always thinking of a way to make himself compliment a few words in private, and suddenly felt a little fortunate. Fortunately, she was shameless and skinless only in front of him, otherwise the other concubines would be surprised why he spoiled Zhao Xianrong. already? This kind of shameful thing, for the emperor, it is better not to mention it.
"The Queen's words are reasonable, Zhao Xianrong and Concubine Rou are naturally the same," Feng Jin smiled, seeing that the smile on Zhuang Luoyan's face seemed to stiffen for two points, and said in a good mood, "Why are you only showing fruit? What about other things?"
"The concubine was supposed to serve the food, but Zhao Xianrong said to wait, the concubine will wait a while for the people in the food bureau," the queen explained with a smile, "but the emperor is not too late, and the food will be served now. It's just right." After speaking, he ordered someone to serve the food.
Delicate dishes were served on the table, Feng Jin drank two glasses of wine in a good mood, and then took the wine cup to look at the concubines in the yard.
After looking around for the last time, his eyes fell on Zhuang Luoyan. Seeing her burying her head and drinking the soup seriously, she couldn't help but think of the night before, when Zhuang Luoyan suddenly cried out to the emperor with tears in the middle of the night.
He had never seen other concubines have nightmares. When other concubines slept with him, they slept peacefully and didn't even move a bit, but this Zhao Xianrong would always sneak his hand. Or touch his ears.
She thought he was asleep, so he pretended to be asleep all this time.
It was just that the night before, her panicked emotions when she called out to the emperor in her dreams still left some traces in her heart.
When she woke up yesterday morning, she couldn't remember what she dreamed about, but he remembered it inexplicably.
Maybe no other concubine has such a gaffe as Zhao Xianrong
Seemingly thinking of something, Feng Jin looked at the queen beside him: "Fang Cai Zhao Xianrong said that she is not as good as Concubine Rou, but I know where she is not as good as she is?"
When everyone heard this, they all looked at Concubine Rou and Zhuang Luoyan, and even Concubine Rou couldn't help but look up at Zhuang Luoyan.
The queen's heart skipped a beat. She had been with the emperor for many years, and she still knew some of the emperor's habits. The emperor's words should not be mentioned casually, but she could only follow it, "I don't know what the emperor said. Not enough?"
"Concubine Rou is in the position of concubine, Zhao Xianrong is just a virtuous person, and the rank is a little worse." Feng Jin put down the wine cup and said casually, "Since I said that you are all the same, then let Zhao Xianrong be promoted as well. Be a concubine, there are fewer concubines on the concubine’s position.”
It's not that there are fewer concubines in the concubine position, but the Zhuang family is missing in the concubine position, right
The queen sneered in her heart, the smile on her face did not change much, and she said calmly: "What the emperor said is very true."
Zhuang Luoyan was a little surprised, the emperor raised his rank with such a light-hearted sentence, and after being stunned for a while, he got up and thanked the emperor.
"I said, today is your birthday, so you don't have to kneel and kneel. I have already asked Qin Tianjian to pick a good day. The official canonization ceremony will be held on the fifth day of next month." Feng Jin smiled and pointed to the plate of honey in front of him. Juicy duck tongue, "If you like this, I will give you this plate."
Concubine Rou's complexion changed slightly. What does the emperor mean, is he trying to tell everyone in the harem that Zhuang Luoyan is not inferior to her? After today, what face does she have
He has already let Supervisor Qin Tian choose a date, so why would he casually mention it? Concubine Shu looked up at the smile on the emperor's face, thinking a little lost, no matter what the emperor heard when he came in, he would find a chance to be promoted to Zhuang Luoyan.
Blinking her eyes lightly, Concubine Shu Gui calmly watched Zhuang Luoyan eat the honey duck tongue given by the emperor, her eyes turning cold a little.
In the past, she was able to win the emperor's favor, but today, she will not be easily taken away.
"By the way, Concubine Shu, why didn't you see Su Xiuyi today?" the queen asked.
"Back to the Empress, Su Xiuyi is not feeling well, so she didn't come because she was afraid of passing on everyone's illness." Concubine Shugui lowered her eyelids to make herself look soft and submissive, "Not to mention that today is a good day for Sister Zhao, Su Xiuyi is full of illness. Come, isn't it bad luck?"
"Concubine Shu Gui is worrying too much." Zhuang Luoyan wiped the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief and looked up at Concubine Shu Gui with a smile.
Concubine Shu looked up and looked back, also showing a gentle smile to Zhuang Luoyan.