"Sheng'er, how are you?" The Empress Dowager frowned slightly, looking very worried. Seeing that the Empress Dowager Ji was about to stand up, she quickly took two steps to stop her, "Lie down, lie down first! You are also a bit old. , why do you still know no restraint like young people? Even if the virtuous concubine is very filial, you should also consider it yourself."
Although she didn't say this directly to Yun Fenghuang, she had to kneel down to apologize again: "I am in poor health. I was busy congratulating the Queen Mother, but I forgot that the Queen Mother is now safe... Please punish me!"
"I can't blame you entirely for this matter." Empress Dowager Yuan only said that Ji's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were singing along to convict the virtuous concubine, so naturally she wanted to stop her. She immediately said without thinking, "After all, Sister Ji has looked very good since she returned to the palace. It seems as if she has never been It doesn’t look like you’ve ever been sick. Plus, I’ve met all of you quasi-consorts today. It’s the time when people are in high spirits during happy events. Even if you don’t propose a toast, Sister Ji will definitely have to drink some.”
Then he said to the Queen Mother, "Don't blame Sister Ji. Sister Ji only has one child, Minghui, who is like the apple of her eye. She has raised her for more than ten years. In her prime years, she met that good boy from the Wang family. She is not a mother." Are you happy? Sister Ji didn't mean to drink too much."
While speaking, the Empress Dowager had already sat beside Empress Dowager Ji's couch. When she heard this, she said without raising her head: "The Empress Dowager, a loving mother, has never given birth to children herself, but she cannot understand the thoughts of those of us who have given birth to children. It is because of Sheng'er Ming Hui has only one child, and Ming Hui is planning to get married. How can she have anything to do? She must make proper arrangements for the child. Otherwise, Zhu Er Bo'er's sweetheart, who has always been pampered and knows nothing, is like a mother. If your eyes and bones are sick, how can your heart not be as uncomfortable as if you are on fire?"
Empress Dowager Yuan thought she was the barking of a defeated dog and was not angry. She smiled and said, "The emperor has everything, so don't worry too much."
What's the point of making so many arrangements
Don’t you have to listen to my royal son in the end
"Don't worry, Queen Mother." Empress Dowager Ji ignored Empress Dowager Yuan and said to the Empress Dowager with a pale face, "It's just that I haven't drank for a long time. I drank a few bottles today. I couldn't hold it in anymore... I simply vomited it. It’s much more enjoyable. I thought I could return to the table after rinsing my mouth for a while, but I didn’t want to wake you up.”
The Empress Dowager said distressedly: "How long has this been, and you still want to return the banquet... It's not an important banquet, it's just a casual meal. When can you not accompany Ai's family, why do you have to show off at this time?"
Empress Dowager Ji sighed: "Originally, many people came together to harass the Queen to relieve her boredom. However, it was my daughter-in-law's poor health that disturbed everyone's interest."
Queen Ji quickly took the lead and said it didn't matter. After all, Queen Mother Ji's body was the most important thing.
Yun Fenghuang and other concubines seconded their opinions... The Empress Dowager personally persuaded her a few more times, which finally made Empress Dowager Ji relax.
At this time, the Empress Dowager made it clear that she had no intention of continuing, and it was impossible for everyone to leave their mother, the Empress Dowager, here to continue eating and drinking. They exchanged greetings, and then when Empress Ji offered to serve, but was rejected by Empress Dowager Ji, she proposed again, After being rejected again, I offered to resign.
"You go first, Sheng'er will stay here to rest tonight." The Queen Mother said, "We will go back tomorrow... Come on, please go to Mianfu Palace and talk to Minghui, so as not to worry Minghui. "
Originally, such a banquet in the palace, especially in Qingci Palace, would not be possible without the three princesses without the concubines.
But today, after all, he was the prince-in-law, so in order to avoid suspicion, he didn't let the ladies come over. For example, Jinyun Penglai lived in Yaoyu Palace, but Minghui was taken to Mianfu Palace for a mother-daughter reunion after Empress Dowager Ji returned.
When the Queen Mother left Ji to stay overnight, she naturally wanted to talk to Princess Minghui at Mianfu Palace.
Thinking of Princess Minghui, everyone finally thought of the three quasi-consorts who were thrown on the table - after all, the Queen Mother came to see Queen Mother Ji in person before, and it was impossible for the others to say that they were sitting on the table eating and drinking.
Not to mention the need to express filial piety, there were three foreign men who were engaged to the princesses sitting behind the screen in the palace. What does it mean when the elders leave and the young and beautiful concubines stay there
So, now everyone is here to see the Empress Dowager Ji. Before leaving, because the Empress Dowager did not give instructions, and no one went over to explain to the people behind the screen, Wang Ling was afraid that the three of them would be embarrassed when they came.
The Empress Dowager sighed, waved her hand and called a palace maid, asking her to go: "Let someone send them out of the palace."
Calculating the time, I'm afraid there will be a curfew at this time, "Speak to the soldiers at the gate of the palace and arrange for someone to take them back to their respective mansions."
The maid bowed her knees and left, and Empress Dowager Yuan, Empress Dowager Qu, and Empress Ji were also blessed and filed away.
After leaving the door, everyone naturally walked in twos and threes according to their formation.
Queen Mother Yuan and Queen Mother Qu were walking together, Queen Mother Qu was one step behind, and Queen Ji was far away, with a full five or six people between them.
Seeing this, the concubines couldn't get past her, so they could only slowly follow behind.
Yun Fenghuang said to Empress Ji: "Mother, the wind is strong at night, and the two empress dowagers rarely come to Qingci Palace. Why don't we go up and give her some support?"
Empress Ji said calmly: "I just drank some wine, and now my feet are still soft. I am afraid that if I go up to help the two queens, it will be self-defeating, but I want the two queens to keep an eye on me. Since the virtuous concubine has such filial piety, why not Concubine Xian and Concubine Xuan go up together."
"I obey." Yun Fenghuang did not refuse, turned his head and called Concubine Xuan, passed the queen, and went up to help the two queen mothers one by one.
Of course, she was supporting the Queen Mother Yuan, and Concubine Xuan could only help the Queen Mother Qu.
Although Yun Fenghuang didn't speak loudly just now, the two empress dowagers in front of her could hear her clearly despite the loud voices at night.
At this moment, while letting them hold their arms, Queen Mother Yuan gently patted the back of her hand and smiled softly: "You are the most narrow-minded. Where are the Ai family and Sister Qu who need to be supported in their old age?"
It sounded like reproach, but it was clearly affectionate.
It was as if there was no grudge between the two of them, just like when they were in the palace, Yun Fenghuang went to apologize for his sins, which was the scene of a filial piety.
Naturally, Yun Fenghuang was not moved in his heart. He only pursed his lips and showed a smile, and whispered: "She walks so slowly, who can wait patiently behind? Remind her to fulfill her filial piety, but she is not willing to do so. It gives me and Xuan Fei an advantage. If you can get close to the two empresses... just let her follow behind and watch me and Concubine Xuan pass over her."
Empress Dowager Yuan didn't say anything this time, she just patted the back of her hand again and raised the corner of her mouth slightly.
When they arrived at the gate of the palace, they helped Empress Dowager Yuan board the phoenix chariot. Yun Fenghuang turned around and saw that Empress Dowager Qu had also sat down. She was about to start driving when Concubine Xuan walked over and said in a low voice and a little anxiously: "Sister, one of the maids in front of me can't be found!"
"Palace maid?" Yun Fenghuang was startled, glanced at Feng Chaan, who had lowered the curtain, motioned for her to take a few steps to the side with him, and asked in a low voice, "What palace maid? Are you the one who brought you into the palace as a bride?"
Concubine Xuan said quickly: "No, she was the original rough envoy in Yanlan Palace. A few days ago, the main hall cleared out many people. She was promoted from the side hall. She is usually very honest and well-behaved. So today I let her follow I came here to call you... Who would have thought that he was still here just now, but now he has disappeared!"
Yun Fenghuang frowned and said, "Why do you dare to take someone to Qingci Palace who has not been trained well? If you bump into someone, can you afford it! What if the previous lesson is not enough?"
These words were extremely rude, but Concubine Xuan knew she was wrong and did not dare to refute. She only whispered: "I beg my sister to think of something. At this moment, the Empress Dowager is personally guarding her mother, the Empress Dowager. If I directly talk to Qing The steward of Cigong said that he might alarm those two people, and then...if something goes wrong..."
"You will go back with the two Queen Mothers first." Yun Fenghuang sighed and glanced at the phoenix chariot that was about to be lifted not far away, "I will go and talk to the Queen Mother."
Concubine Xuan thanked her hurriedly - although she couldn't say how grateful she was to Yun Fenghuang, she had to admit that as an ally, Concubine Xian was able to hold on at the critical moment.
She walked to the phoenix chariot of Queen Mother Yuan, and the Queen Mother inside asked in a low voice: "What's wrong?"
"It's all because of my negligence." Concubine Xuan apologized to the Empress Dowager in a low voice and told her what had happened. Empress Dowager Yuan sighed in disbelief: "Well, since Concubine Xian is in charge, just do as she says. , let’s go back with the Aijia and the Queen Mother.”
Concubine Xuan actually didn't want to leave. After all, she didn't know what happened to her palace maid who suddenly disappeared? Will you be implicated? How can she rest assured if this matter doesn't come to an end
But thinking about how Empress Dowager Yuan and Concubine Xian had just ridiculed Ji, she happened to be in trouble now, so Concubine Xian could just go and negotiate with the queen.
If Queen Mother Yuan and Queen Mother Qu continue to stay, she may be laughed at and come back. Then what will happen to her as the instigator
So he suppressed his worry, knelt down and said, "Yes."
As a result, before the two empress dowagers could lift their chariots, the concubine Xian waved to her, indicating that she would wait a moment.
Concubine Xuan spoke to Empress Dowager Yuan in the carriage, and Empress Dowager Yuan said: "Since Concubine Xian asked you to wait, then let's wait a little longer."
These words were ordinary, but they showed her trust in Concubine Xian's ability. Concubine Xuan was quite disappointed, but she really had no right to be jealous, so she bit her lip and agreed.
Not long after, Concubine Xian walked towards the palace gate with her maid, and soon brought a fair and pretty little maid back to hand to Concubine Xuan: "Is he yours?"
Concubine Xuan glanced at her angrily and said, "It's this bitch!"
He looked at it intently and was surprised, "On your face..."
The little palace maid has gentle eyebrows, and her appearance is not top-notch, but her skin is extremely good, white and delicate, like milk curdled fat. Looking under the lamp, it shines brightly, like jade or porcelain, so the two slap marks on her face become more prominent. shocking.
Her eyes were slightly red, showing that she had cried.
Listening to his master's question, he said in a hoarse voice: "My servant just went to the banquet to pick up the shawl that the ladies had left behind. When I went out, I saw that the ladies had already walked out for a while. I was in a hurry to catch up, but accidentally bumped into one. Auntie, was...rewarded by auntie."
"There is nothing we can do about it today." Concubine Xian said bluntly from the side, "The Queen Mother and the Empress Dowager are exhausted, so it would be unreasonable to cause trouble at the moment. Please take the person back and find her in the Japanese palace in two days." Let’s take a chance to get the situation back.”
Concubine Xuan was flattered and was polite subconsciously: "It's just a maidservant. She doesn't have eyesight, but how can she bother..."
"You treat me as this palace to give you face." Concubine Xian sneered unceremoniously, moved closer to her, and whispered, "You don't even think about how you became this empress? It's nothing more than a gift from your loving mother, the Empress Dowager. .The result? The maid in front of you was slapped in Qingci Palace, and she was slapped so hard. Do you think she was hitting a slave, or you, or...? You won’t get it back even after this, the loving mother-in-law. Isn’t it a waste of pain for us people?!”
Concubine Xuan felt extremely uncomfortable when she said this. She knew that Concubine Xian controlled the volume so that Empress Ji and others in the distance could not hear her. Did Empress Dowager Yuan in the phoenix chariot next to her want to hear it
Sure enough, Empress Dowager Yuan said: "Concubine Xuan, don't worry about this matter. Just listen to Concubine Xian."
Then he softened his voice and said, "Concubine Xian, please don't work with these two old men from the Ai family. Just go back. It's so late and you've worked hard."
Empress Dowager Yuan somewhat understood why her emperor, the Third Palace and the Sixth Courtyard, favored Concubine Xian. Although Concubine Xian was disobedient, although Concubine Xian was domineering, although Concubine Xian was petty... But, she really knew the general picture!