Chapter 123 The Storm

Bai Yuxin mentioned the guzheng, which brought back Meng Yan's memories.

That year, at the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, it was her guzheng music that brought the whole room to a climax. She was awarded the Jade Ruyi by the Empress Dowager and also won the favor of Lu Haozhi.

At that time, she was young and energetic, and she only wanted to show her talents in front of everyone and show off.

Sometimes in her dreams at midnight, Meng Yan would wonder if she had not played that song at the birthday party and had just muddled through in mediocrity, would she have missed out on meeting Lu Haozhi?

Meng Yan smiled slightly. "These are just boudoir games. I haven't played them since I became a concubine. I won't join in the fun at this welcoming banquet. Let those people have their fun, so they don't complain all day long."

Bai Yuxin smiled and said, "That's a shame. I really want to see you in person."

Meng Yan smiled and said, "That's not difficult. When you have some free time, take out Curry's phoenix-headed red sandalwood konghou, tune up the strings, and I'll play it just for you."

The two chatted and laughed for a while, then stopped.

That evening, Lu Haozhi once again visited Changchun Palace. After dinner, he continued to review memorials.

Meng Yan accompanied him, tending to chores at Changchun Palace and reading a few pages of the account book. From time to time, the two of them exchanged casual conversations, mostly Lu Haozhi asking questions and her answering them.

Doukouni was playing with a big Afu toy beside her, and sometimes she would poke her little head out from behind Meng Yan and secretly look at Lu Haozhi.

In the blink of an eye, it was bedtime. Lu Haozhi told Rong An to collect the memorials, but gave the remaining unread ones to Meng Yan to keep. "Put them aside. You can continue reading them when I come over tomorrow."

Meng Yan hesitated slightly, but still took it and placed it in a desk box on the high platform.

Thinking back to his conversation with Zhang Huainan in the Yangxin Palace during the day, does he still have some trust in the Meng family?

Lu Haozhi stood up and put on his clothes, saying, "It's late. I'm going back. You and the child should get settled early."

Meng Yan agreed and walked him to the door.

The next day, the same thing happened again.

Lu Haozhi no longer forced her to sleep with him. It seemed that as long as she was willing to accompany him, it was enough.

In the blink of an eye, it was time for the Queen Mother's welcoming banquet.

The banquet was held on Penglai Island in Taiye Lake, named after the vast expanse of water and mountains surrounding it. Large lotus leaves and lotus flowers embraced each other, and the breeze was very cool and refreshing, and the lotus fragrance was so pleasant that it made people feel intoxicated.

Because it was a family banquet for the harem, no foreign ministers and their families were entertained today. Only the concubines in the harem and a few princes and princesses were invited.

As a noble concubine, Meng Yan naturally sat at the head of the group. Concubine Ren Xian sat next to her, and Bai Yuxin was next. Concubine Liang's seat, however, was across from her.

Originally, Bai Yuxin was just a concubine with a low position and should not sit next to the two ladies.

But the fact that Meng Yan and Bai Yuxin were on good terms had long been known to everyone in the palace, so it was useless to do these things for the sake of face. She simply put Bai Yuxin's seat next to herself, so that everyone could see that Bai Yuxin was under the protection of her, Concubine Meng.

Everyone saw this, but most of them just smiled. Some concubines who entered the palace with Bai Yuxin tried to curry favor with her by using their connections.

Liang Chengbi was sitting opposite, dressed elegantly but looking unhappy.

Although neither the Empress Dowager nor the Emperor reprimanded her for Zhao's execution, it was still a major loss of face for her. Furthermore, writing a letter of apology to Bai Yuxin made her feel even more ashamed. She hadn't wanted to attend today's banquet, but Chun Qing persuaded her that not coming would only embolden the Changchun Palace and play into Meng Yan's hands. So, she forced herself to come.

Meng Yan didn't even look at her, but only spoke in a low voice to Ren Shuyi and Bai Yuxin.

Ren Shuyi smelled the lotus fragrance, but kept sneezing.

Meng Yan looked at her and chuckled softly, "So you actually have this problem?"

Ren Shuyi covered her face with her sleeves and kept wiping it with a handkerchief, complaining, "In summer, everyone can enjoy the lotus flowers, but I have to suffer this pain... A-choo!"

Meng Yan was about to tell her what medicine to use when she heard the eunuch's shrill voice, "The Empress Dowager has arrived! The Emperor has arrived!"

The concubines and the princes all stood up, bowed in unison, and shouted "Long live the emperor!"

Empress Dowager Jiang and Lu Haozhi got off the sedan chair together, walked to the top, and gave way to each other to sit.

Empress Dowager Jiang said with a smile, "Everyone, please stand up. Today is a family banquet. I'm taking advantage of my return to the palace to invite everyone here to have some fun together. It's best if everyone feels free to relax!" Then she turned to Lu Haozhi and said, "Emperor, let's begin the feast."

Lu Haozhi nodded and gave instructions to the banquet officer.

After a while, palace maids came in one after another, holding jade trays high, and delivered delicious dishes to everyone's table.

The opera troupe from the Imperial Music Bureau followed orders and played music to liven up the atmosphere. They sang and danced together, and suddenly the singing sounded like the sound of cracking rocks, and the dancing had the air of demons.

At the New Year banquets these years, the dishes served by the imperial kitchen were always the same old dishes as prescribed. Meng Yan had been eating them for two lifetimes and they were no longer fresh to her. She just whispered to Bai Yuxin about the various dishes and their cooking methods, and personally picked up some dishes and fed them to Doukou.

Somehow, Meng Yan felt as if there were always gazes coming from above. She looked up and saw that the emperor was chatting and laughing with the empress dowager, and no one was looking over here. She thought that she was probably overthinking it.

After a moment of excitement, Concubine Xuanhe smiled at the Empress Dowager and said, "Your Majesty, I'm tired of watching the singing and dancing of the Jiaofangsi. The palace is now full of beauties, and the concubines are all young ladies from noble families, proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting. Why don't you set a prize and invite everyone to perform? Firstly, it will be fresh and lively, and secondly, it will show the filial piety of the younger generation. What do you think?"

Empress Dowager Jiang looked at her, her lips slightly curved. After a moment, she said, "Your idea is quite interesting. Let's proceed as you wish." Then she said loudly, "Today is a good day, so I will be generous for once. There is no need to hide your gifts. Those who are capable can bring their gifts. I will reward the winner with a bracelet of gold beads, and the rest will also have prizes."

Meng Yan listened, pursed her lips and smiled, then picked up a piece of drunken crab stewed egg with chopsticks and put it in her mouth.

With such a golden opportunity today, the concubines naturally had to show off. The Empress Dowager knew this very well, but she just went along with it.

She had no intention of doing anything. She just wanted to taste the food and enjoy the singing and dancing. Isn't it wonderful? It was better than working hard in this hot weather.

At this moment, she suddenly thought of someone, Lin Yanrong.

In her previous life, at this welcoming banquet, she sang a song and was praised by the Empress Dowager. This first prize was snatched away by her.

However, Meng Yan felt something was wrong. She vaguely remembered that the Lin Yanrong in the book sang a southwestern tune, but the Lin Yanrong in her previous life sang palace lyrics.

Why is there a difference between the two?

Just as she was pondering this, she heard the Dowager Xuanhe Concubine say, "I've always heard that Concubine Meng is an expert at playing the guzheng. I wonder if I have the pleasure of hearing her."