Chapter 75

The concubines in the Cining Palace fell completely in love with square dancing.

Musicians from the music troupe would come to play music every now and then.

In order to keep up with her older sisters, the oldest one, Concubine Liang, secretly practiced extra exercises every night.

Qu Dubian often came here and occasionally ran into Concubine De, the biological mother of the eldest prince.

It wasn't that he met him on purpose to ask him to help speak well of his son in front of the emperor. After all, he had been reprimanded by the emperor last time.

People really like square dancing. As long as the musicians come out of the music hall and their music can be heard faintly in the Cining Palace, Concubine De will arrive in time.

Even though she lived far away from the Cining Palace.

In fact, Defei wanted to invite musicians to play in her own palace, but there was no way. In the entire harem, only the Cining Palace was specially approved by His Majesty to invite musicians to play music and dance.

Even Concubine Wen, who was not very fond of joining in the fun, would come occasionally.

There are always few cultural activities in the harem. Apart from daily greetings, bickering, and intrigue, everyone just carefully considers whether what the other person said today is directed at me.

Gradually, my mind became more and more sensitive, and the complicated emotions were like moss in the corners of the palace, gradually crawling all over the walls of my heart in a dark and damp manner.

Qu Dubian thought, it doesn't matter whether I drive one sheep or let two sheep go.

This may be a rough but reasonable statement. It would be better to promote square dancing in the Cining Palace and mobilize the concubines who are interested to go. This way, the old concubines' place will be more lively.

As soon as he mentioned it in the Cining Palace, the four concubines' eyes lit up and they agreed with both hands and feet.

He always leads his palace people and Concubine De to dance, so it's no longer new after a while.

With their old bones, they are already very familiar with a few dances. The Cining Palace is their home ground, so naturally they want to lead the young and blooming concubines to dance.

After getting permission, Qu Watanabe prepared to take Zhiyi and the fourth, fifth and sixth princes to distribute flyers in various empresses' palaces after school at noon.

The leaflets were written by themselves as well as by palace maids from Shunning Palace and Cining Palace, and the handwriting was different.

There is a sentence written on each one: Dancing is going on in the Cining Palace, in the evening, His Majesty is not here, come if you love me.

Qu Dubian stood in front of the gate of Shunning Palace and patted the money bag on his waist. "If the palace servants go to distribute flyers, they may be kicked out directly. We have the advantage of status, so we must make good use of it. Each person who successfully distributes a flyer will be rewarded with ten coins."

"When handing out flyers, be polite. If the ladies are not convenient, do not disturb them. Introduce in detail the business of our Cining Palace... the palace culture. If the ladies clearly express that they are not interested, leave immediately."

"Ladies who are hesitant, please take note and wait for the second publicity."

The Sixth Prince: "Xiao Qi, we are not short of money. We will help you to send it as a joke. We don't charge any money."

"No, Sixth Brother, how can you say you don't need money?" Qu Watanabe said righteously, "You are very short of money. Think about it, is all your money given by your mother and father? Have you ever earned any money yourself?"

The fifth prince thought for a moment and said, "Sixth brother, we have never earned any money ourselves. Only Xiaoqi gets 20% of the milk tea money every month."

Qu Watanabe: "Yeah, if you make them angry, will they stop giving you money? Without money, how can you give bonuses to the palace servants around you? The key is that you will lose face!"

The Sixth Prince had a deep understanding: "Yes."

"It's different now. The money you earn from handing out flyers is your own. You earn it through labor, and you can do whatever you want with it."

The Sixth Prince fell into deep thought, and immediately he had an epiphany.

He hugged his copy of the leaflet tightly.

"Xiao Qi, thank you for giving me this opportunity. I will try my best."

Qu Dubian looked at the Fifth Prince again, and the Fifth Prince waved his hand, "I'll go."

The fourth prince negotiated with him, "I'll give you half."

Qu Watanabe: "Brother, don't be corrupt. Don't you want to use the money you earn to buy a small pillow?" He leaned closer and blinked, "It's soft, I bought it myself, a small pillow~"

The fourth prince: “…”

Although I know this is my brother's trick, I still can't help but feel a little moved. Damn it.

Qu Watanabe: "Didn't Concubine Yi forbid you to make small decorations on your bed? You made the money yourself, so she will have nothing to say, right?"

The fourth prince stood silently, "I will try my best."

Qu Watanabe: "Okay! Sister!"

Zhiyi raised her hand: “Yes!”

Qu Watanabe solemnly taught Dahei to her, "You are the patrol inspection team. You will supervise whether they are lazy or not. You have to complete the important tasks."

Zhiyi: "Don't worry, leave it to me."

After a speech to motivate the employees, the leaflet distribution team officially set off. Qu Dubian watched them walk away, then turned around and went back to Shunning Palace.

He lay down leisurely on the rocking chair next to the vegetable garden, with his legs spread out.

Ye Xiaoyuan sat on a small stool next to the rocking chair and couldn't help but smile: "Your Highness, you're not going out?"

Qu Dubian winked at him and said, "They are young, and young people should do more work. Besides, who would work if they were paid?"

Ye Xiaoyuan said happily: "Yes, Your Highness is right."

I'm afraid only the young prince would be willing to pay a few taels of silver to buy a prince to work for him.

"Come on, Xiaoyuan, let's eat some fruit."

Qu Dubian plucked a bunch of grapes and handed it over, then plucked another bunch and threw it back casually: "Six six!"

Yi Twelve caught the grapes, landed next to a tree far away in the vegetable garden, and sat down cross-legged.

-

In one afternoon, the three princes ran all over the harem.

There are few concubines in the main position, but the number of noble ladies and maids added together is not small.

Some of them had long given up hope in the emperor and only wanted to live in peace until the new emperor ascended the throne.

Only the imperial concubines and imperial concubines were allowed to live in the palace. The rest of the imperial concubines and below, especially those without children, were either forced to leave the palace to be supported, or were granted grace to leave the palace and return to their families, or go to guard the tombs.

Live your whole life.

When they received the flyers, what first caught their attention was not the princes' babble of explanation, but the slogan on it: Dancing is going on in the Cining Palace, it's dusk, your majesty is not here, come because you love me.

Concubine:?

They had heard that there were dances in the Cining Palace from time to time, but why did they emphasize that His Majesty was not there?

Could it be that he was reminding them that those who were interested in dancing could come, but those with other intentions, such as wanting to meet His Majesty by chance, should not go.

Is that the implication?

Those who were interested politely asked, "When are we going?"

Zhiyi replied, "Xiaoqi is training the musicians, and the past three days are in the preparation stage. Ladies, you can gather at Cining Palace in the evening three days later."

-

Zhiyi and the fourth, fifth and sixth princes distributed flyers, and Qu Watanabe asked people in the palace to collect clothes of different styles.

It wasn't until the morning three days later that he finally started to move.

Most of the musicians in the music hall were women, the relatives and descendants of criminal officials, or families with musicians for generations. There were also men, but unless the emperor was present, male musicians were generally not allowed to enter the harem.

Qu Watanabe was quite disappointed at the time. How much fun would this lose?

There are so many beautiful sisters, aunts, and concubines in the harem, and they are all taking care of their stepfather and the late emperor. What's wrong with seeing a young handsome man?

People just take a look, not talk about it, how stingy.

Since the male musicians couldn't get in, he thought of a way to get in from the female musicians.

Qu Dubian borrowed Nanny Su from the Cining Palace. This Nanny had served many concubines and was proficient in all kinds of makeup. Her makeup skills were so advanced that they were breathtaking.

Nanny Su took the indigo and lengthened the eyebrows of the head musician.

Qu Dubian directed from the side: "Yes, yes, make your eyebrows sharper, and tie them into a high ponytail later... Yeah, handsome! This beautiful sister has very heroic features, and she will change into a guard's uniform later."

The female music manager lowered her head in embarrassment.

Qu Dubian walked to the side of another female musician and said, "Madam Guo, please be steady. This lady has a plain appearance and is not suitable for heavy makeup. She will wear a scholar's outfit later."

There were also musicians who knew how to put on makeup themselves. After they roughly knew what effect the Seventh Prince wanted, they began to put on makeup for each other.

Qu Dubian strolled with his hands behind his back and his eyes narrowed.

It was like returning to the backstage makeup scene before a performance in my previous life.

Nanny Su sighed dejectedly amid the flying powder.

She originally served the dowager concubines and taught the etiquette and rules to the new concubines, princes' wives and princesses. She became idle in her later years.

I didn't expect that even when I'm almost at the end of my life, His Majesty the Seventh Prince would still be able to squeeze out a new career path for me.

When they were almost done with their makeup, Qu Du clapped his hands and said, "Pretty sisters, you should accompany the concubines later. Also, the ladies in the harem are all very lonely, and they can't be as free as you. My father is not very capable. If you can make them happy, I will give you a reward!"

The head female musician asked, "What do you mean by making the concubines and the ladies happy?"

Qu Dubian smiled and said, "You will know in a moment."

-

afternoon.

At dusk.

The weather is not so hot anymore.

Some concubines, holding leaflets, walked towards the Cining Palace in groups of three or four, looking quite anxious.

Lady Rong was among them.

In fact, it was mainly because the Seventh Prince pulled other princes to promote the matter, which aroused the curiosity of the high-ranking concubines, but they were unable to let go of their pride for the time being - they really couldn't let go and dance in front of their elders.

So Concubine Rong was sent by Concubine Lan to find out what was going on.

She also mentioned Ding Changzai, the new concubine in the palace. Ding Changzai has been quite favored in the past two months and came here just to join in the fun.

Ding Changzai said, "I saw a lot of sisters on the road, all of them came here, will there be too many people later?"

Noble Lady Rong: "What's the big deal? We are all here to watch the fun out of boredom. We are also giving face to the Seventh Prince."

Ding Changzai asked curiously, "The Seventh Prince is very favored?"

"Hmph, no matter how favored he is, he won't have as bright a future as my son, the Fifth Prince," Concubine Rong didn't want to say more to her. She pulled her and walked a few quick steps to the gate of the Cining Palace.

There was a stall at the door, displaying various kinds of flowers.

Qu Watanabe was very polite and extended her hand: "Ladies, please choose the flowers you like. If you think any of the music sisters like them, you can give the flowers to them later."

Noble Lady Rong: "Should we send them flowers?"

Qu Watanabe: “Yes.”

Rong Guiren and Ding Changzai each chose a piece and said, "Let's see how well it can be played."

When all the concubines who came here had chosen their flowers, Qu Dubian stepped aside with a smile and said, "Ci Ning Palace Square Dance Orchestra, welcome everyone!"

The door of the Cining Palace opened instantly.

Several hands reached out and pulled the stunned concubines outside in.

There are handsome guards, romantic scholars, shy students, domineering generals, indifferent zither players... At first glance, they are all dressed as men, but a closer look reveals soft hands and necks without Adam's apples.

It's obviously a woman.

These people gently pulled their sleeves and praised them with a smile:

"My lady, today is so beautiful."

His fingers gently tapped on the branches they were holding, "If I can please the ladies later, can you give me the flowers?"

Warm, fragrant, soft, and full of affection.

The cheeks of Concubine Rong and other concubines turned red instantly.

If it were a man, this would definitely be against the rules and violate palace regulations, but, but -