"You here..." Prince Chen lowered his head and got closer and closer to Jiuzhu's face.
What is your Highness doing? Although Miss Ming is his fiancée, this is the gate of the palace, and your Highness's behavior may be a little disrespectful.
"It turns out it's a carp flower ornament." Prince Chen stood up straight and asked, "Why did you draw the carp flower ornament so plump?"
"My mother said that the ladies in the palace all like to wear flowery makeup. Today is the Queen's birthday, so I specially painted a carp, which has a good meaning." Jiuzhu moved her forehead closer to the Prince of Chen so that he could see it more clearly: "I used gold powder to decorate the tail. The carp tail is dotted with gold, which means prosperity, happiness and longevity. Doesn't it look good?"
"Did you draw it yourself?" Prince Chen looked at her fair face. She looked so petite, so why did she like to draw puffer fish?
"Yeah." Jiuzhu is very confident in his craftsmanship.
"It's... okay." Seeing the girl still looking at him eagerly, Prince Chen added, "You are dressed well today."
Jiuzhu smiled happily: "Since His Highness has agreed, then Her Majesty will definitely be satisfied."
Prince Chen felt something was wrong when he heard this. Whose fiancée was she?
After listening to the conversation between the two, Xiang Jin took back her step.
It was her fault for thinking too much and overestimating His Highness. There was no dignity or solemnity at all, just two "ten-year-old" kids chatting.
"Let's go. I'm going to see my mother too. You come with me." Prince Chen threw the whip to his attendant and strode ahead.
After walking for a while, he looked back at Jiuzhu who was following him at a distance. He stopped and waited for Jiuzhu to come closer before asking, "What's wrong with you?"
You used to be able to break an inch-wide dogwood branch with your bare hands, why are you walking so slowly today?
Don't you want to go with him?
Jiuzhu tugged at the hem of her skirt, embarrassed to let others hear her, and whispered, "The hem is a little long."
Seeing her blushing cheeks, as if she was a little shy, Prince Chen walked up to her and lowered his voice: "No wonder the women in the palace walk so slowly, it turns out that it's because of their skirts that they are dragged down."
Jiuzhu suddenly realized that she was not the only one who had trouble walking in this long, wide-sleeved palace dress.
"There was a concubine in the palace who wore a skirt with a two-meter-long hem at the annual banquet. On the way back to the palace, a strong wind blew and the hem of her skirt wrapped around her whole body, which made many people watch the excitement."
"Two zhang..." Jiuzhu heard of such a long skirt for the first time: "How much fabric does it take?"
Prince Chen estimated Jiuzhu's stature and said affirmatively, "I can make two sets of clothes for you."
Jiuzhu sighed, the queen in the palace is different, she can even wear such long clothes.
Xiangshen looked away, pretending not to hear the two people's whispers. As long as she couldn't hear what they were saying, she would always be the most well-behaved Aunt Xiangshen in Mingyue Palace.
"There is a staircase ahead." Prince Chen suddenly stopped and stretched out his arm in front of Jiuzhu.
"Ah?" Jiuzhu was stunned for a moment, then hesitantly reached out her hand to support King Chen.
Prince Chen: “…”
"Your skirt is too long, hold me and walk." He sighed, "I'm not asking you to hold me."
He is a grown man, but he can walk up a few steps without the help of a little girl.
"Oh." Jiuzhu responded, put her hand on the Prince's arm, and said with a smile: "Thank you, Your Highness."
After walking down the stairs, Prince Chen said with a choked voice: "Let me lend you my arm to hold on to, so you don't cry if you get hurt from the fall."
"I don't like to cry." Jiuzhu explained seriously: "Really."
Prince Chen: “…”
Xiang Jin lowered her head, slowed down her pace, and took a few steps away from the two people.
Being too close, she could easily hear what His Highness and Miss Ming said, and she was afraid that she would not be able to hold back her laughter.
As the first female official in Mingyue Palace, she also needs to maintain her reputation.
"Your Majesty, His Highness and Miss Ming have arrived."
"Come in quickly."
"Mother, no need to greet me, I came in by myself." Prince Chen walked into the room and said, "Bring me some breakfast. I was so busy going to the palace today that I didn't even have time to eat breakfast."
"Greetings, Her Majesty." Jiuzhu knelt down and saluted Concubine Su.
"Hurry up." Concubine Su personally helped Jiuzhu up and praised: "Jiuzhu is really beautiful today, especially this flower headdress, it is very interesting."
"I drew this flower ornament myself." Jiuzhu was very happy to hear Concubine Su praising her.
"That's just right. I just don't know what kind of flower ornaments to choose." Concubine Su held Jiuzhu's hand and said, "Draw one for me, just like yours."
"Okay." Jiuzhu rolled up her wide sleeves and said, "Drawing is what I am best at."
Prince Chen still didn't understand why she started drawing flower ornaments after just a few words.
If you can draw a carp as a bighead carp, do you have the nerve to say that you are good at it?
Seeing that the two of them had already gathered together to discuss whether to use gold foil or gold powder for the fish tail, the King of Chen sighed. One dared to speak, and the other dared to actually draw it. I don't know who is the bravest.
"Your Majesty is as pretty as a fairy. Any flower ornaments will look good on you." Jiuzhu gently used a brush to blur the fishtail and praised sincerely: "People say that flower ornaments complement people, but Your Majesty is the person who complements the flower ornaments."
Concubine Su was coaxed into laughing: "You are so sweet-mouthed, did you put honey on before leaving the house this morning?"
"No honey, but I love to tell the truth." After adding some gold powder, the fishtail gold painting came out. Jiuzhu put down the brush and half-knelt in front of Concubine Su Gui: "When I first saw Your Majesty, I really thought that Your Majesty was a fairy who fell from the sky."
"If I am a fairy, Jiuzhu is the most lovable fairy in front of Queen Mother Yaochi." Concubine Su turned to look at her son who was eating breakfast in silence: "Du Qing, am I right?"
"Whatever you say is what it is. Just be happy."
Anyway, he was wrong and he shouldn't be sitting here.
There was no empress in the palace. As the highest-ranking concubine in the palace, Concubine Su would go to Feifeng Hall at 4:00 pm every year on her birthday to receive congratulations from ladies of the third rank and above.
Shen arrived at Feifeng Palace at a certain time, and after exchanging greetings with the ladies present, she took her seat quietly, as if she would not speak unless there was something to say.
Everyone noticed that Shen did not bring her daughter into the palace, and they were secretly shocked. They wondered to what extent the Ming family was dissatisfied with Prince Chen's marriage that they did not even bring their daughter to congratulate Concubine Su on her birthday.
The female relatives exchanged glances, and no one approached Shen.
Concubine Su is not a considerate person. The Ming family is so disrespectful to her that the situation at the meeting might be a bit awkward.
Sun Caiyao sat behind her mother. She looked at the calm Madam Ming and felt mixed emotions.
The world is full of people, all for profit. Everyone present was afraid of offending the imperial concubine, and even Shen didn't dare to approach...
There was applause from outside the hall, followed by an eunuch announcing something.
"The Royal Concubine has arrived."
Sun Caiyao quickly stood up and bowed towards the door.
Led by the concubines, the ladies all bowed in unison: "Congratulations to the noble concubine, and wish her a long life of health and happiness, and a long and peaceful reign."
"Bow, kowtow."
"Bye."
"rise."
Sun Caiyao stood below, listening to the ceremonial officer reading the birthday message that the emperor had personally written for Concubine Su, and recalled many things about Concubine Su.
In the early years, some civil officials accused Concubine Su of being unworthy of receiving the homage of a royal consort. His Majesty was furious and personally held a banquet for Concubine Su to celebrate her birthday. Since then, His Majesty has written a birthday verse for Concubine Su every year and opened the main gate of Feifeng Hall to allow Concubine Su to receive the homage of a royal consort.
Among all the concubines in the palace, only Concubine Su was favored. Some people accused Concubine Su behind her back, calling her a seductive concubine, but no one dared to complain in front of her.
"Thank you for congratulating me on my birthday. Please take a seat." Concubine Su sat at the top. She looked at everyone and said, "I thought it was just a birthday and we shouldn't have made such a big fuss. But your majesty said that I am the master of Mingyue Palace and all the ladies and husbands are the backbone of Dacheng. I should hold a banquet to entertain the ladies and thank them for taking care of the harem so that they don't have to worry about the future and can work for Dacheng wholeheartedly."
The women and family members even said they dared not.
"It is my husband's fortune to be able to contribute a little to the country."
"Your Majesty is so considerate of us, we are deeply moved."
Concubine Ning sneered in her heart, wondering who was she showing off to? Everyone knew that His Majesty was trying to save face for Concubine Su and wanted to celebrate Su's birthday with the same standards as the Empress.
No matter how much they try to save face, the Ming family doesn't even want to bring their daughter into the palace.
Concubine Ning looked at Concubine Su with a sneer, but she found a girl of fifteen or sixteen standing behind her. The girl had a pretty face and was wearing an embroidered palace skirt. Even the flower ornaments on her forehead were similar to Su's.
Who is this person?
"Jiuzhu." Concubine Su waved to Jiuzhu, asked her to come to her side, gently held her hand and looked at everyone: "This child is young, kind-hearted, and innocent. Please take good care of her in the future."
The ladies who didn't know Jiuzhu were wondering who this little girl was and why Concubine Su Guifei could support her personally.
Ming Jiuzhu? !
Sun Caiyao almost lost her balance when she looked at Ming Jiuzhu whose hand was held by Concubine Su Guifei.
How come she is with the imperial concubine?
Why is the imperial concubine so close to her? !
Sun Caiyao's mind was in a mess. By the time she reacted, the ladies were already praising Ming Jiuzhu. Even the strange flower ornaments on her brow were praised with words like "smart and radiant" and "full of blessings".
In a flash, she turned her head and looked at Ming Jiuzhu's mother, Shen.
Shen still had that calm look on her face. She wasn't happy that Ming Jiuzhu was supported by Concubine Su, nor did she show any dissatisfaction because Ming Jiuzhu was close to Concubine Su.
Concubine Ning, who was sitting in the first seat on the left, looked at Miss Ming who was holding the teacup for Su and smiled coldly.
After all, those who are kept outside are not as good as the real daughters of noble families. She is so shallow and has such flattering behavior. She is not afraid of bringing disgrace to the family's reputation.
After the ladies of honor had finished their greetings, they were taken to the Mingyue Palace by the palace maids to watch a play and drink tea. Concubine Su was still sitting at the top, waiting for the princes and princesses to come in and pay their respects to her.
Jiuzhu wanted to leave with her mother, but was kept by Concubine Su.
"Jiuzhu, you don't have to leave." Concubine Su smiled at Jiuzhu, "You will spend more time with them in the future, so it will be good for them to get to know you sooner."
It sounded like these words were telling them to be more careful and not to offend Jiuzhu.
Jiuzhu nodded blankly and walked back to Concubine Su: "Oh."
As expected of a fairy-like lady, she speaks with such authority.
Soon the princes and princesses entered the palace. Jiuzhu saw Prince Chen, who had changed into a robe with four-turn dragon patterns. She lifted the hem of her skirt, walked down the steps, and bowed to the princes and princesses.
The King of Qi nodded slightly to her, very gracefully.
Prince Chen glanced at the steps and raised his eyebrows at Jiuzhu. Why did she walk so fast when she went down the steps? If she fell, it would be painful and embarrassing.
Jiuzhu thought that His Highness was greeting her, and smiled at him with her beautiful eyes.
Prince Chen: “…”
well.
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