Chapter 105 Longevity Festival
Because of the Empress Dowager's matter, Xiao Heng had no intention of celebrating his birthday. However, as it was the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, and the Empress had carefully prepared for many days, he agreed to have a small celebration.
At the family dinner, apart from the empress and concubines, only Princess Duanrou attended.
At the banquet, all the concubines were dressed in their best attire, and each of their faces was charming and bright.
The concubines brought out their gifts and lifelong skills, eagerly hoping to win Xiao Heng's favor today.
The gift from the Empress was an authentic work of a master, the gift from Concubine Zhao was a nightgown embroidered by herself, and the gift from Concubine Yu was the rarest, a famille rose porcelain with a coiled dragon pattern, of which there are only two in the world.
When it came to Liu Yuetang, Xiao Heng looked at her with some anticipation.
After all, Liu Yuetang always gives him some unknown surprises.
But what she took out in the end was the most inconspicuous sachet.
Concubine Yu couldn't help but sneer, "What's so special about Concubine Xi's sachet?"
Liu Yuetang nodded and replied, "To answer your Majesty, this sachet was embroidered by me personally. It doesn't have anything special about it."
Xiao Heng picked up the sachet and looked at it carefully. It was embroidered with golden dragons and auspicious clouds. The pattern was exquisite and the stitches were delicate and smooth. There was also a faint scent of tranquility emanating from the sachet.
"The Emperor dotes on Concubine Xi so much, yet Concubine Xi only embroiders a sachet for the Emperor. How petty!"
Upon hearing this, Liu Yuetang quickly stood up and was about to answer when she heard Xiao Heng say, "The gift doesn't have to be expensive. As long as it's thoughtful, there's no need for pettiness."
"I think this sachet is very good."
Although, Xiao Heng was also a little disappointed that Liu Yuetang's gift was a sachet.
But then she thought again, she seemed to have never embroidered anything for herself. This sachet was her first embroidery, and she made it stitch by stitch.
Although it is not expensive, it is made with care.
Seeing Xiao Heng say this, Concubine Yu no longer embarrassed Liu Yuetang and nodded, saying, "Your Majesty is right."
After Liu Yuetang sat down, she felt a sharp light falling faintly on Xili's head. She looked up and around, and happened to meet Zhao Fei's eyes.
Concubine Zhao turned away her eyes with disdain, raised her wine glass and toasted Xiao Heng.
Liu Yuetang lowered her eyes. Xiao Heng defended herself in public, and all the concubines in the six palaces were jealous.
But only Concubine Zhao still had a hint of sadness in her cold eyes.
Among so many women present, I think only Concubine Zhao truly loves Xiao Heng, loves him as a person, not his status.
That kind of look can't be faked.
But because of this, she and Concubine Zhao are bound to be incompatible.
She held the spoon and slowly stirred the porridge in the bowl, thinking about the future.
Seeing this, Concubine Ning thought that Liu Yuetang was depressed because of what Concubine Yu had just said.
Then she spoke softly, "Xi Jieyu no longer cares about what others think. No matter how well you do, there will always be people who are dissatisfied with you."
Liu Yuetang turned her head and saw Concubine Ning looking at her gently.
This was also her second time meeting Concubine Ning. It was said that the eldest princess had been in poor health since childhood and was raised by Concubine Ning herself.
The eldest princess was also very attached to Concubine Ning. After she was born, she would cry incessantly if she couldn't see Concubine Ning.
Therefore, the Queen exempted Concubine Ning from paying her respects and allowed her to concentrate on taking care of the eldest princess.
Ningpin's appearance was not considered stunning in the palace, but she could easily stand out in the crowd. She was pure and otherworldly, as if all the sorrows in the world could be dissolved by the gentle frown on her brows.
Her calm and composed face didn't look like that of a woman from the harem at all.
Liu Yuetang smiled slightly and said softly, "Yes, thank you, Concubine Ning, for your guidance."
Ningpin stroked the earrings dangling from the eldest princess's bun and said gently, "You're welcome, Concubine Xi. Your eyes look a lot like my sister's. I just thought of her when I saw you."
The eldest princess raised her head and looked at Concubine Ning, her voice soft and sticky: "Mother, why is it that even if you do well, people are still not satisfied?"
Ningpin looked at her daughter with eyes as bright as water and smiled warmly: "Because we can't make everyone happy."
She picked up the apple on the table and said patiently, "It's like the apple on the table. Yuan'er likes to eat it, but some people don't like to eat it."
The eldest princess nodded: "I understand, my daughter."
Concubine Ning held her and shook her, then continued, "Yuan'er, remember, it's right to make others dissatisfied with you! If others are satisfied with everything about you, it means you've been suffering."
The eldest princess giggled, her round eyes narrowed into crescents: "With mother here, Yuan'er will not suffer any loss."
Ningpin's eyes were full of kindness and love. She raised her hand and touched the eldest princess's face: "You..."
When the mother is calm, the child will be at peace. Liu Yuetang suddenly understood the meaning of this sentence.
It turns out that the smile of a child who receives mother's love is so happy.
Just when Liu Yuetang was in a trance, a sound of retching suddenly came from the hall.
When Liu Yuetang heard the sound, she looked over and saw Su Nanqing leaning over with a handkerchief covering her lips, almost vomiting the food in her stomach.
Fortunately, she tried her best to be patient and did not lose her composure.
But when the concubines saw this scene, they almost lost their composure.
The delicate eyebrows painted by Yu Fei were immediately frowned.
"What happened to Su Baolin?"
Su Nanqing quickly stood up and lowered her head in fear: "I have been disrespectful. I beg the Emperor and the Empress to forgive me."
In this palace, whenever someone feels nauseous and vomits, the first thing people think of is pregnancy.
The queen's eyes lit up and she quickly ordered the palace maids to call the imperial physician.
Then he looked at Su Nanqing with joy: "How many days have you been like this?"
Su Nanqing couldn't help but think about that when she heard that, her heart pounding: "When I went to bed last night, I felt a little nauseous."
"Your Majesty..." The Queen turned to Xiao Heng.
"I guess there is another happy event in the harem."
A hint of joy flashed across Xiao Heng's eyes: "Let's wait until the imperial physician arrives."
He looked at Su Nanqing, his tone obviously softened a bit: "Su Baolin, please sit down first."
After Su Nanqing sat down, she tightly grasped the silk in her hand.
I felt excited and nervous.
If she wasn't pregnant, it would have been a joke.
Every time there was a banquet, the queen would call a royal physician to wait outside, just in case of emergency.
The person who came was Doctor Shen. After paying his respects, he took Su Nanqing's pulse through his handkerchief.
The hall was silent for a moment, and all eyes fell on Su Baolin, who was always ignored.
After a long moment, Doctor Shen, with a look of joy on his face, loosened his handkerchief, bowed to Xiao Heng and said, "Congratulations, Your Majesty. Miss Su's pulse is flowing freely, like beads rolling on a plate. This is a positive pulse."
Su Nanqing's pupils suddenly lit up, as if starlight was surging in them. She withdrew her hand tremblingly and looked at Xiao Heng.
He was so happy: "Good! Very good!"
The Queen smiled and leaned forward, "Congratulations, Your Majesty! Today happens to be your birthday, which is double the joy."
As soon as the Queen finished speaking, all the concubines followed suit and saluted: "Congratulations, Your Majesty. Congratulations, Your Majesty."
Beneath all the smiles, the concubines were gritting their teeth and their mouths were stiff.
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