On the eighth day of the eighth month, Yanxue Palace was decorated with lights and colorful lanterns. Everyone could see the favor that Concubine Rou had enjoyed since she entered the palace.

In just two years, the little dancer was able to become a concubine.

Even the imperial concubine at that time could not compare to her.

Although everyone was jealous, they did not dare to show it on their faces and still brought various exquisite gifts to celebrate Concubine Rou's birthday.

Inside the bedroom, Concubine Rou sat in front of the mirror while a palace maid happily selected jewelry for her. "Your Majesty, today is your birthday. Why don't you wear this golden hairpin with a magpie ascending a plum blossom pattern? The Emperor specially ordered the Shangzhen Bureau to make it for you."

Concubine Rou had a calm expression, and her face showed no emotion. She stared at herself in the mirror for a long time before she suddenly smiled and said, "Okay, I'll wear this."

The palace maid looked happy and quickly helped her master to wash and dress up.

Just as he was dressed, he heard his master's instructions, "Oh right, the emperor has just recovered, so today's diet must not be neglected. Go and open the jar of snow water I saved before the New Year. I want to make tea for the emperor myself."

The maid smiled and said, "The Empress took great pains to collect that jar of snow water. She usually doesn't even want to drink it herself. The Empress is so kind to the Emperor."

Concubine Rou adjusted her clothes, lowered her eyes and smiled brightly: "The emperor treats me so well, so of course I have to treat him with all my heart. Go and get ready."

"yes."

After the palace maid left, Concubine Rou's smile faded and she became as cold as winter.

Half an hour later, concubines arrived one after another. Everyone sat down according to their seats, chatting and laughing, and the gloom of nearly a month was swept away.

However, the most talked about are Huayang Palace, Yanxue Palace and Zhilin Palace.

After helping the emperor recover, Concubine Xi fell ill. Zhao Yuancheng did not remember her contribution, but promoted her to Concubine Rou.

This is really sad.

Then there is Huayang Palace. The news that the three princes are seriously ill is well known, but the emperor issued an order to celebrate Concubine Rou's birthday in a grand manner.

In addition, Fu Mingxu was our army's military advisor, and many soldiers were lost before the battle actually started. Although we turned defeat into victory later, the emperor still blamed all the fault on Fu Mingxu.

Therefore, rumors spread in the palace that the Imperial Noble Consort was just a figurehead and that the Emperor actually wanted to re-enthrone Concubine Rou as the Empress.

Just follow the crowd.

Even if the news was untrue, people started to believe it after hearing it so many times. They no longer looked down on Concubine Rou as before, but instead showed a bit of flattery.

Until the outside world announced that people from Huayang Palace had arrived.

The noises of laughter at the banquet came to an abrupt end, and everyone looked towards the door, only to see the chief palace maid Lingyun leading a dozen palace maids walking in happily.

There was no trace of sadness on his face.

She walked slowly up to Concubine Rou and bowed respectfully. "Today is your Majesty's birthday. Our Majesty should have come to congratulate you in person, but because the three princes are still ill, we cannot come in person. Please forgive me, Majesty."

As she spoke, she pointed to the item in the hand of the palace maid behind her and said, "This was specially selected for you by the Imperial Concubine. Please don't dislike it."

Concubine Rou smiled gently and told Zizhu to accept the gift. She said politely, "Your Majesty's things must be good things. How could I dislike them? Please, aunt, thank Your Majesty for the gift on my behalf."

"Yes, I have something else to do in Huayang Palace, so I will take my leave now."

"Someone, please escort Aunt Yun out."

Originally, everyone wanted to laugh at Huayang Palace, but the people there were well-mannered, calm and composed, and there was no trace of strangeness on their faces.

Someone in the crowd sighed, "This Imperial Concubine is truly patient. Even at this critical moment, she remains so calm and composed."

"You are so short-sighted. What if the Emperor favors Concubine Rou? A Royal Concubine is a Royal Concubine. Her brother is guarding the front lines for the Emperor, and her sister is the mistress of the palace. Besides, she is just a little dancer. No matter how she jumps around, her background is not there. Do you think the Queen Mother will watch the Emperor make her the Empress? I advise you not to believe everything you hear. Be careful that the Royal Concubine will make things difficult for you when she enters the palace."

"Yes, yes, sister, I will take note of what you said."

Soon, news came that the emperor had arrived.

Everyone stood up to greet him.

Zhao Yuancheng was wearing a light purple casual suit today. His gentle and friendly appearance immediately made the women who had not seen him for a long time agitated.

Zhao Yuancheng passed by everyone and walked slowly up to Concubine Rou. He reached out and helped her up, as affectionate as before.

"No need to be so polite, my dear."

As he said this, he raised his hand to signal others not to be polite. The intimacy between the two of them was really the envy of others.

After they were seated, Concubine Rou took the tea offered by Zizhu and handed it to Zhao Yuancheng personally: "Your Majesty, although it is already autumn, the weather has been very stuffy these days. I brewed this tea myself, using the snow water from bamboo leaves from last year. Please try it and see if it suits your taste."

Zhao Yuancheng took it with a smile, but only tasted half a mouthful before putting it down, saying with a smile: "The fragrance is lingering, like a thread of silk. My beloved concubine is indeed thoughtful."

Seeing that Zhao Yuancheng didn't drink much, Concubine Rou didn't force him. She took the teacup and put it aside, but her eyes inadvertently fell on the incense burner beside her.

After the emperor arrived, the performance officially began on the stage.

The gongs and drums were loud and it was very lively.

Zhao Yuancheng seemed to be in a good mood. Several bold concubines took the opportunity to persuade him to drink, and he accepted them one by one. After three rounds of drinking.

The emperor's face was slightly drunk, and he turned to Zhu Yu and said, "Are all the gifts I prepared for Concubine Rou ready?"

Zhu Yu bowed and promised: "I'm already waiting outside the hall."

"Well, present it."

“Yeah.”

Zhu Yu clapped his hands lightly towards the outside of the hall, and the people in the hall also craned their necks to look towards the door, thinking that it would be some rare object.

But when a woman dressed simply walked in, everyone was stunned.

Zizhu looked at the visitor with a happy face, then turned to look at Concubine Rou beside her, but saw that her face was indifferent, calm and composed, as if she had expected it.

The person who came was Lu Zhu.

Everyone knows Lu Zhu, and they also know that she was sent out of the palace because she had tuberculosis. But why would she appear here out of the blue?

The hall was suddenly silent, even the sound of stringed instruments and wind instruments stopped abruptly, and everyone looked at the emperor above with suspicion.

"This servant greets His Majesty, Concubine Rou, and all the masters."

Lu Zhu knelt in the hall and bowed solemnly.

Zhao Yuancheng waved his hand slightly, his expression indifferent: "Get up."

As he spoke, he turned to look at Concubine Rou and smiled, "My beloved, Luzhu is your personal maid and she is truly devoted to you. I know you can't leave her, so I ordered the imperial physician to cure her illness. Now, how about asking her to serve you?"

Without waiting for Concubine Rou's agreement, she looked at Lu Zhu and said, "Today is your master's birthday. If you have any auspicious words, just say them. It will also make your master happy."