Surprised, "So, there's a dragon boat race in the palace?"

Lin Xiuyi said, "It wasn't like that in previous years. I don't know why it's so grand this year. It's really nice. It feels like I'm back in my boudoir, touring the capital during the Dragon Boat Festival."

Lady Min came over, wearing a pink silk shirt and skirt. "Greetings, Sister Sheng."

Sheng Xiyan took her hand and said, "I haven't seen you for a while. Are you okay?"

"I had a cold, so I didn't go to see my sister. Sister, what's with that bun on your face today? It makes your face look so small."

Sheng Xiyan said with a smile: "My skillful Hua Xia combed it, so it's a butterfly bun, right? Sister Gao, yours is a flying fairy bun, right?"

Gao Shurong said: "I originally wanted to wear my hair in a Chaoyun bun, but I found that my face has become rounder recently, so this Feixian bun makes my face look smaller."

"Not round, just right."

Several people were standing at the guardrail beside Jade Lake, fanning themselves with round fans and chatting. The one coming over from the left was Shen Wanrong. She hadn't been out for a long time and had been protecting her pregnancy.

"Chen Wanrong is more than seven months old, right?" Lin Xiuyi asked in a low voice.

"Almost. Do you think her belly is pointed or round?"

“It seems to be pointed?”

"So that's the prince? I'm so envious, he's so lucky."

"Not necessarily. There's a chance things will turn around when the baby is born."

The one coming over from the other side was Lian Zhaoyi, and next to her was Yun Guirong.

Gao Shurong whispered, "You don't know, do you? Yun Guirong shaved both eyebrows and drew them on, otherwise she wouldn't be able to go out and see people."

As the person with the highest position here, Lian Zhaoyi naturally has a different aura.

She raised her slender eyebrows slightly, and her eyes stayed on Shen Wanrong's belly for a moment. Shen Wanrong was not in a good mood, and she touched her belly nervously. The palace maid helped her to sit on the stone chair over there.

Lian Zhaoyi turned her attention to Sheng Xiyan again and came over to say hello.

"Sister Sheng's beauty is truly outstanding in the harem. No wonder the Emperor dotes on her. This flower-shaped full moon brocade fan is truly priceless. Sister Sheng is so lucky."

A higher-ranking official can crush a person to death. Several people became humble and submissive, and even Gao Shurong didn't dare to say a word.

Lian Zhaoyi's father is the Minister of the Chancellery, and now she is pregnant with the emperor's heir. If she is lucky and gives birth to another prince, there is a great possibility that she will be promoted to the position of concubine.

Sheng Xiyan bowed and said with a polite smile, "Hello, Empress Zhaoyi! You look rosy, and the heir to the throne must be in good health."

As the saying goes, "Don't hit a smiling person." Lian Zhaoyi stroked her bulging belly and said with a smile, "The Emperor said so too. He also said that after I get pregnant, my face will be as beautiful as a crabapple."

Several concubines echoed: "Yes, the crabapple flowers are beautiful."

Yun Guirong glanced at Sheng Xiyan coldly without saying a word.

Sheng Xiyan ignored her and waited until Lian Zhaoyi went to rest before chatting with Gao Shurong and the others.

Lin Xiuyi whispered, "Did the Emperor say her face was like a crabapple blossom?"

Gao Shurong smiled and said, "Is it possible? The emperor has indeed become gentler. Sister Sheng, the emperor praised the dress you helped me pick out that day. Thank you."

Sheng Xiyan smiled and said, "It's because Sister Gao is pretty that her skirt looks beautiful."

. . . . .

The center of the Imperial Garden was also decorated in a very grand manner.

Empress Duan and several concubines were making rice dumplings, and realgar wine was placed on the table.

Concubine Shu laughed and said, "This really creates a festive atmosphere."

The rice that Concubine Jia was wrapping leaked out, so she simply gave up wrapping it. "Eating zongzi will only make you fat. I won't eat it."

Concubine Liang was a new official who had just taken office. Her dress was also very eye-catching. She said with a smile: "Sister Luan, you would look better if you were fatter. You are too thin now. You have no breasts and no buttocks."

Concubine Jia grabbed a handful of rice and threw it at her, "Vulgar, as if you have any."

Empress Duan praised: "Liang Fei, you have worked the hardest today. You should eat more rice dumplings later."

Concubine Shu smiled but her heart was not. Concubine Liang joked, "Sister Concubine Shu is also frugal. Let her eat mine."

While wrapping rice dumplings, several people looked towards the bluestone road to see if Xuan Ling had arrived.

Suddenly, I heard someone shouting not far away, "Oh no! Someone fell into the water!"

Empress Duan asked hurriedly, "Where did the sound come from?"