Anguo Temple is a royal temple. Ordinary people are not allowed to enter to worship Buddha. Only royal relatives and high-ranking officials can enter.
Shen Wei asked Cai Ping to bring the person over.
Shen Wei was drinking tea comfortably. After a while, she heard the sound of rustling footsteps. Under the guidance of the palace maid, Tan Tai Rou came to the sightseeing pavilion on the back mountain of the temple.
"Your Highness, I pay my respects to the Imperial Concubine Chen and wish Her Majesty a long and healthy life." Tan Tai's soft and gentle voice sounded, soft and gentle, like a small bell hanging under the eaves.
Shen Wei put down the teacup and said, "Stand up, no need to be so polite."
Tan Tairou stood up respectfully.
Shen Wei didn't offer her a seat, so she asked her to stand. Tan Tairou had her hair combed into a bun like a married woman, wore a dark green cloud-patterned gown and skirt, and wore light makeup. Her beautiful eyes and eyebrows showed the mature charm of a woman.
Her attitude was neither humble nor arrogant, and she looked very dignified.
Shen Wei said, “When I was conferred the title of Imperial Concubine, you gave me a natural ruby, which was very beautiful.”
Tan Tairou lowered her eyes and said calmly, "Your Highness, you are a beautiful lady. I am overjoyed that Ruby has won your favor."
Shen Wei narrowed her eyes and suddenly asked, "Where did you get this ruby?"
This rare ruby is unique to the Southern Chu State and is rare and expensive. Tan Tairou was a girl from a small family. Even if she married Minister Yan, it would be unlikely for her to have access to such a treasure.
Tan Tairou replied calmly, "I was traveling in Jiangnan a year ago and accidentally saved a merchant from Nanchu. The merchant gave me this item out of gratitude for saving his life. I have kept it well and specially gave it to you on the auspicious occasion of the consecration of the Queen."
Shen Wei laughed secretly.
Obviously, Tan Tairou was lying. The people of Southern Chu were quite adventurous, and merchants traveled around various countries on the mainland to make a living. Even if Shen Wei wanted to investigate further, it would be difficult to find the so-called supplier.
No one is found and there is no evidence.
Shen Wei's sixth sense has always been sharp. She always feels that there are suspicious points about Tan Tairou, and she doesn't look like the daughter of a minor official at all.
Chen Wei chatted with Tan Tairou for a few words, rewarded Tan Tairou with a plate of tribute oranges, and sent her away casually.
...
Tan Tairou left Qiuting and, with the help of her maid, got back into the official sedan chair for the return journey.
The carriage moved slowly.
Inside the car, Tan Tairou took out a tribute orange and peeled it slowly. The tribute orange has a thin peel and delicious, plump flesh. It is a special supply to the royal family, with less than a hundred oranges offered each year.
Tan Tairou thought back to Chen Wei in Qiuting. The table in front of Shen Wei was piled with the thin peels of tribute oranges.
It can be seen that the emperor was quite fond of this concubine who came from a peasant family.
The maid said, "Madam, Concubine Chen treated you very distantly and didn't even offer you a seat."
Tan Tairou tasted a slice of orange and said calmly, "Noble Concubine Chen and Princess Zhaoyang are close friends. I married Yan Yunting, and Princess Zhaoyang married far away out of spite. It is understandable that Noble Concubine Chen doesn't like me."
The maid pursed her lips and muttered in dissatisfaction: "Then why should we go to see her? It's just asking for trouble."
If you both hate each other, why bother meeting each other?
Tan Tairou handed the remaining half of the orange to the maid and smiled: "The master gave her the precious rose ruby. I was just curious and wanted to see what was so special about her."
The natural ruby, priceless, was given to the imperial concubine of Qing Kingdom.
Tan Tairou had never looked at Chen Wei straight in the eye before. All we know is that Chen Wei was once an ordinary maid in the palace, and she fought her way up to become the emperor's favorite, holding power in the harem and being the most favored among the six palaces.
Today, she took the initiative to meet Chen Wei. Tan Tairou took a closer look and found that the imperial concubine was indeed beautiful and smart, and every word she said was a trap.
A woman who can reach a high position in the harem must have extraordinary scheming and means.
"She is scheming and beautiful, but she is Emperor Qing's woman after all." Tan Tairou peeled another orange and wondered, "Does the master want to win her over? Or is he interested in her?"
The maid couldn't understand it either.
The carriage continued to move slowly and arrived at the Yan family's house an hour later. Tan Tairou got out of the car and happened to meet Yan Yunting who was going out.
Yan Yunting was wearing a red official uniform, his handsome face was serious, and he was holding two volumes of files in his hands.
Tan Tairou walked over and asked softly, "Husband, today is a day off. Are you still going to the Ministry of Rites?"
Yan Yunting nodded calmly: "I still have some chores to deal with. You don't have to wait for me for dinner. I will stay at the Ministry of Rites tonight."
Tan Tairou pursed her lips slightly, a hint of sadness flashed across her beautiful eyes. She said softly, "The bedroom of the Ministry of Rites is empty. I'll have someone decorate it with a set of quilts and furniture later. It's cold in autumn, don't catch a cold."
Every word she said was full of concern.
Yan Yunting was moved. After getting married, Yan Yunting always thought of Zhaoyang who married far away, and regretted that he did not stop Zhaoyang from marrying far away, so he gradually distanced himself from Tan Tairou after marriage.
But Tan Tai was gentle and dignified. She did not complain and silently endured her husband's estrangement. She managed the entire Yan family in an orderly manner and was praised by everyone in the mansion.
Yan Yunting felt guilty. He had let Zhaoyang down and failed to be nice to Tan Tairou. So he held Tan Tairou's hand and said, "When I am done welcoming the princess of Donglin Kingdom, I will definitely accompany you. As for Zhaoyang... I will try hard to slowly forget her."
Tan Tairou shook her head gently and said considerately, "Princess Zhaoyang is a beautiful girl, so it's understandable that your husband can't forget her. As long as your husband has Rou'er in his heart, I'll be satisfied."
Yan Yunting felt more and more guilty.
With a wife like this, what more could a husband ask for?
Tan Tairou pretended to be casual and asked, "My husband, when will the Princess of Donglin Kingdom that you mentioned arrive in Yanjing?"
Yan Yunting replied: "One month later."
Princesses from other countries who come from afar will most likely enter the palace as concubines. Yan Yunting was an official from the Ministry of Rites, so naturally he had to be prepared to welcome a foreign princess.
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