Ji's actions were as fast as ever. Within two days, Empress Dowager Ji came forward and proposed to Chunjia that she wanted to summon the next three potential consorts to see it in person.
Yun Fenghuang had reminded her before she and the Queen Mother came back, so Chunjia agreed gently.
The next day, Wang Linglai, Zheng Fengfen and Xie Wuzheng were led to Mianfu Palace by palace officials.
Queen Mother Ji was sitting high on the phoenix throne, looking at them condescendingly.
Her eyes only paused briefly on Zheng Fengfen and Xie Wuzheng, and her sharp eyes scanned Wang Linglai up and down, as if she wanted to cut him open and take a closer look.
Wang Linglai came from a wealthy background and had not seen the world before. However, it was his first time to meet the Queen Mother, especially since this was his future mother-in-law, so he was naturally extremely nervous.
"Since your Majesty has chosen the person for the late Emperor's blood, I think he is a good one." Seeing that his buttocks were trembling, Empress Dowager Ji snorted softly and said lukewarmly, "Everyone, sit down."
Wang Linglai and the other three thanked each other and sat on the embroidery bench for a while, with their backs straight and not daring to relax at all.
Empress Dowager Ji didn't mean to appease her. Holding a tea bowl, she picked out some questions about schoolwork, family background, etc., and asked them one after another.
At this time, she didn't come and go specifically for Wang Ling. She even took Xie Wuzheng with her, but she didn't pay much attention to Zheng Fengfen.
After such a short day, the three young people were already sweating. Empress Dowager Ji said: "There is nothing wrong with the Ai family. Come, please go to Qingci Palace for instructions. Is the Queen Mother free to summon them?"
The palace attendants came back soon to report that the Empress Dowager happened to be vacant and someone could come over right now.
So Empress Dowager Ji asked someone to prepare the chariot and take them to Qingci Palace.
The Empress Dowager's attitude is similar to that of the Empress Dowager Ji, lukewarm, which makes people suspicious that she is very dissatisfied with the marriage of the three princesses, but she can't find any problems with it - after all, she is the Empress Dowager, how can she still confront her? My granddaughter’s fiancé can’t help but laugh
"It's already this hour, let's just have a light meal here at the Ai family." After some questions and answers, the Queen Mother glanced at the sky and ordered, "Let the small kitchen add a few dishes... Do you have any taboos?"
How could Wang Linglai and the other three dare to mention taboos in Qingci Palace? They all said that they could do whatever they wanted: "I'm disturbing the Queen Mother!"
When the palace people were preparing to prepare the meal, the chamberlain came in to report that the Empress Dowager the Mother and the Empress Dowager the Virgin had come with some of the concubines.
"What's the matter with such a big battle?" the Empress Dowager put down her tea bowl and asked calmly.
"I heard that you have some charming guests here, so I wanted to join in the fun." Empress Dowager Yuan said with a smile, "Please don't get bored."
The Empress Dowager wanted to smile and said: "This was decided before, why didn't you help Zhang Yan?"
Empress Dowager Yuan said: "You don't know that your Majesty attaches great importance to the marriage of the three princesses. He has personally seen all the candidates and no one talks much. No, except for the children of General Qiusi's family, Minghui and Penglai A quasi-consort that no one has ever seen before."
He added, "I heard that this prince is talented, humble, and filial. He looks very handsome, and he is a perfect match for Princess Minghui."
After hearing this, the Empress Dowager Ji bowed her head and her face darkened.
She is definitely dissatisfied with Wang Linglai's choice. It can be said that she will not be satisfied with the person chosen by Chunjia - but Wang Linglai, aside from other things, is definitely the last among the three potential consorts in terms of appearance. one.
After all, as Zheng Ju's adopted son, Zheng Fengfen would not have been able to choose Zheng Ju when he was choosing a son from the clan if he had been different in appearance. Later, when Chunjia ascended the throne, he chose a companion, but it was not his turn.
Not to mention Xie Wuzheng, Concubine Xian's direct cousin.
In terms of beauty, Xian Fei was slightly inferior to Yi Xing'en in the palace, but she definitely stood out among the others.
One can imagine Xie Wuzheng’s appearance!
In addition, although Zheng Fengfen came from a family of eunuchs, his adoptive father Zheng Ju was in charge of the imperial army. He was deeply influenced by it. He was no stranger to military camps since he was a child. He was also one of Chunjia's companions. He was familiar with the roads in and out of the palace, and he also practiced court etiquette. , looking handsome yet graceful.
Xie Wuzheng grew up in the north, where the folk customs were fierce and fierce, and he learned to bow and horse at a young age. Although he was young, he was heroic and had a face like jade.
Wang Linglai, who was born into a wealthy family, was actually a scholar from a wealthy family. The magnanimity cultivated by his well-fed and wealthy family was inevitably more graceful than tough in comparison.
If it was purely admiration, it would be fair to say that each one has his or her own style, but Queen Mother Ji was entrusting her to her daughter—or entrusting her to her daughter when Ji's future was uncertain, so how could she like Wang Linglai
At this moment, she simply wished that this guy died on the spot so that she could personally take over the task of choosing another consort for her daughter.
Empress Dowager Yuan's words "a perfect match for Ming Hui" seemed to Empress Dowager Ji nothing more than a naked humiliation!
-Isn’t this a mockery of Princess Minghui’s fat body and unworthy of a truly handsome son? ! !
"The emperor's eyesight is naturally not wrong." Empress Dowager Ji held back her anger, sneered slightly, and said calmly, "For example, the Xian Concubine, although she has not been in the palace for a long time, she is deeply favored. According to the Yi Ai family, the emperor should be close to a truly virtuous concubine like Xian Fei, instead of just being used to unruly things and causing unrest in the Sixth Palace like he did in the past few years."
When these words were said, even the Empress Dowager frowned slightly, because in front of three would-be consorts, it would be a bit out of character to bluntly state the emperor's favor in the harem, even if it was something that everyone knew - it can be seen that Empress Dowager Ji Angry - so Empress Dowager Yuan was not only not angry, but also a little happy.
The Ji family had always had the upper hand before, and the third-generation Phoenix Master had not always been unhappy, but she had never been unable to control her emotions and words in public.
Because in their view, everything is under control and is natural and calm.
The current attitude of Queen Mother Ji shows that Mrs. Ji really cannot remain calm.
The corners of Queen Mother Yuan's lips curled up again, and she obviously didn't care about showing her happiness at all: "Sister Ji just likes Mr. Wang."
Quan Dang didn't hear the ridicule behind him.
"Is dinner ready?" Empress Dowager Ji clenched her fists, but before she could speak, the Empress Dowager coughed dryly and asked.
The palace man said hurriedly: "My servant, I will go and see you now."
After going to see it, I came to tell him that it had been set up. Please invite Feng Jia, the concubines, and the three quasi-consorts to come and sit down at the table.
In fact, many people don't want to join in the fun today, for fear of getting into trouble.
It was helpless that the three empress dowagers gathered together. It was impossible for Empress Ji, a serious daughter-in-law, not to come over to accompany her. When the empress came, the concubines with lower statuses were left alone. The concubines, especially the high-ranking ones such as Yun Fenghuang and Luo Hanyi, It is impossible for a concubine not to "fulfill her filial piety" and "care for the three princesses".
When they came, they always had to bring some attendants to serve them, so a crowd of crows surrounded the Empress Dowager and the three Empress Dowagers as they moved to the side hall where they were setting up a banquet.
In the side hall, two rooms have been separated with gauze screens, so that the three potential princes-in-law and the concubines can eat separately.
After all, this is not a palace banquet. Even if there are elders such as the Empress Dowager and the three empress dowagers, the three quasi-consorts have not yet officially handed over their masters. After all, they are foreign men. It is not right to let them directly accompany a group of noble wives to eat. Proper.
The Empress Dowager's daily meals are not extravagant, just ordinary portions. Even so, they are extremely sumptuous. When Yun Fenghuang saw the dazzling scene in front of him, he unexpectedly remembered that when he entered the palace, he had eaten so much in order to eat well. An example of thinking about Chunjia...
She paused for a moment, then raised the bottle as if nothing had happened, got up from the table, and went to persuade the guests one by one to drink, especially the Queen Mother Ji, who congratulated her on her good son-in-law, which was a great joy.
Empress Dowager Yuan tried hard not to laugh when Empress Dowager Ji lowered her head, but was also a little worried, fearing that Empress Dowager Ji couldn't hold back and would throw the drink on Concubine Xian's face.
Fortunately, Empress Dowager Ji still had a sense of shame and could not act like a shrew in front of everyone. She only took a deep breath, stared at the wine bottle in front of her for a moment like she was looking at Qiu Yu, gritted her teeth, raised it up, and drank it all in one gulp.
With a smile on her face, Yun Fenghuang poured another bottle for Queen Mother Ji, saying that she wished Princess Minghui and her husband-to-be a son in advance... Anyway, he kept saying auspicious words one after another, which was enough to persuade Queen Mother Ji to drink three bottles of wine. In the end, Empress Dowager Yuan saw that the Empress Dowager's expression was not right. She was afraid that something would happen if the excitement was too much, and the trouble would be unpleasant, so she asked Chunjia to come over at night to deal with the aftermath.
Then she took over the conversation with a dry cough, and asked Yun Fenghuang to offer a bottle each to her and Queen Mother Qu, signaling the virtuous concubine to step aside.
Empress Dowager Yuan was very happy. She had been oppressed by the Ji family over the years, but her niece Yuan Yuniang would not be a hindrance to her, let alone help her. It would be nice not to hold her back.
This is the first time I feel the convenience and pleasure of having a junior as my helper.
After all, even though she had just stabbed Queen Mother Ji in person, given her age and status, it was hard for her to continue pursuing her victory.
But Yun Fenghuang didn't have such scruples. She was a generation younger than Queen Mother Ji, and even if she really annoyed Queen Mother Ji, Queen Mother Yuan would say from the sidelines: "The Concubine Xian also has good intentions."
Or "Concubine Xian is young. Sister Ji, please don't behave like a child." This matter will be over.
"It would be great if the girls in my Yuan family could be so sensible." Empress Dowager Yuan couldn't help but think so, but she glanced at Yuan Zhiniang who was at the table at the moment. Although she was very attentive to her daily service, when it came to The specific operation of the intrigue is really not very good...
The Queen Mother sighed in her heart and took a sip of it with regret.
At this time, the Empress Dowager above seemed to be trying to cover up Empress Dowager Ji, whose face was becoming increasingly ferocious, and ordered some artists to come in and perform songs and dances to add to the fun.
When the sound of silk and bamboo was heard, everyone relaxed a lot.
While they were watching the singing and dancing in groups and chatting in low voices, Empress Dowager Ji suddenly changed her face, raised her sleeves to cover her mouth, stood up quickly, and walked out quickly without bothering to say goodbye to the Empress Dowager!
Seeing this, the concubines who were so close were startled. Empress Ji quickly got up and caught up. Seeing this, Empress Dowager Yuan gave Yun Fenghuang a wink, so Yun Fenghuang also followed. The two concubines chased outside and saw Ji. The Queen Mother was holding on to the railing and vomiting, so she naturally came forward to comfort her by patting her chest and back, and then ordered the palace servants to get water.
After taking such good care of her, she was helped to go to the side hall next door. Queen Mother Ji's face was pale at the moment, and she weakly waved her hand to let them go back to the table: "It's okay to be sad for my family, but I drank too much."
"It's all because of my bad health. I only paid attention to congratulations to the Queen Mother, but I didn't pay attention to the Queen Mother's drinking capacity." Yun Fenghuang apologized without sincerity, "I also ask the Queen to be magnanimous and don't argue with me."
Queen Mother Ji closed her eyes and didn't want to look at her. She just said to the Queen: "Let someone tell the Queen Mother so that she won't worry."
However, the Queen had not yet gone to the front to deliver the message as promised. As soon as the palace door opened, it was the Queen Mother who led the way, and almost all the concubines at the table crowded in.