Chapter 65: Delicate
On the night of Chinese Valentine's Day, the stars are shining brightly and the moonlight is like water spreading over every palace and hall.
That night, a family banquet was held in the palace. Not only the empress, concubines, princes and princesses were present, but also married royal relatives came to celebrate the Qiqiao Festival with the emperor.
At this time, the Chunxi Palace was decorated with lights and colorful palace skirts of concubines, which looked like a picture of spring with hundreds of flowers in full bloom.
There is a bridge right in front of the entrance of Chunxi Palace. The water under the bridge reflects the candlelight, sparkling and extremely beautiful.
Lady Bai stood on the bridge, gazing at the star-speckled river and said, "Xia Zhu, the imperial palace is so beautiful, isn't Kyoto even more prosperous?"
Xia Zhu smiled and said, "That's right, my lady. The Imperial Palace is adorned with verdant trees and golden groves, and is resplendent and magnificent. Every August, the Emperor returns to the palace, and you can witness its splendor then."
Lady Bai lifted a braid from her chest and smiled. "It's beautiful, but it's just a square city. You'll get bored if you stay there for too long. It's not as good as our grasslands, which are boundless and can be galloped on horseback."
As she was speaking, she caught sight of a beautiful woman walking towards her.
She had an extremely charming appearance, and I didn't know what kind of gauze she was wearing, but it was as smooth as jade under the moonlight, which made her look more lively and ethereal.
Liu Yuetang also noticed the woman in grassland clothing. She walked up to her and bowed, "I guess this must be Lady Bai."
When she saw her bowing on her behalf, Lady Bai knew which lowly concubine it was.
She raised her head and looked down at Liu Yuetang: "Which concubine are you?"
Liu Zheng felt unhappy when she heard this.
As both were beauties, my lady bowed to her out of courtesy.
She, on the other hand, looked down on others with a look of contempt and arrogance.
Then, she bowed and said, "My lady, our lady is Lady Liu from Liuyin Palace."
"Lady Liu?" Lady Bai looked at Liu Yuetang in surprise.
Could it be that she is the Concubine Liu who caused Sister Yu to be confined to her house?
She is indeed extraordinary, with such a charming appearance.
She forced a faint smile: "Oh~ So you are Miss Liu."
"I've heard so much about you!"
Liu Yuetang could sense the unkindness in her words, but she still smiled and said, "Miss Bai, you're too polite. I'm just a little beauty, not a famous lady."
"I've long heard that Lady Bai is skilled in horseback riding and archery, and that she has a sturdy figure. Seeing her today, I can see that her reputation is well-deserved."
Lady Bai glared at her with disdain, "We women from the grasslands are certainly not as artificial and weak as you women from the Central Plains."
Liu Yuetang's eyes lit up with a smile, "Miss Bai is right. I'll take my seat first then."
When Bai Meiren caught a glimpse of the sneer on Liu Zheng's lips, she felt something was wrong.
She raised her eyes to look at Liu Yuetang, and saw that she had a graceful figure, exquisite curves, and a waist so slender that it could only be held in one hand.
She immediately understood that Lady Liu was saying that she was as tall and strong as a man, without any trace of the delicate demeanor of a girl.
She was so angry that she snorted coldly, unwilling to suffer this loss in silence.
So, Bai Meiren quickly stepped forward and walked behind Liu Yuetang.
He looked at the hem of her skirt that was dragging on the ground and stepped on it quickly.
The sudden resistance of leaving caught Liu Yuetang off guard and she leaned back.
Seeing this, Liu Zheng was shocked and hurriedly grabbed Liu Yuetang.
Before she could stand firmly, a strong wrist lifted her up steadily.
Liu Yuetang turned around and saw that it was Bai Meiren.
She smiled provocatively, "Miss Liu is too delicate and frail. She'll fall down even when she walks."
She raised her eyebrows and said, "Luckily, I have my strong hands to protect you, otherwise I'm afraid you would be laughed at."
Liu Yuetang was about to speak when she saw Xiao Heng walking briskly forward.
When she came to his side, he looked her over and said, "Miss Liu, are you okay?"
Liu Yuetang bowed and said, "This concubine pays her respects to the Emperor."
"I am fine, I am sorry to have caused Your Majesty to worry."
Lady Bai also bowed to Xiao Heng, then stepped forward and took his arm, her voice unconsciously softening a bit: "Your Majesty, why are all the beauties in your palace so delicate?"
"If I hadn't protected Lady Liu just now, I'm afraid she would have embarrassed Your Majesty."
The family dinner was attended by all the royal nobles, and if one lost manners and fell, it would surely cause a laughing stock.
"It is my fault for being impolite. I was a little dizzy and almost lost my balance, which led to my falling. Please forgive me, Your Majesty." Liu Yuetang knelt down, her delicate face slightly drooping.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Heng hurriedly asked, "Why are you dizzy? I'll call the imperial physician over immediately."
Liu Yuetang quickly stopped him: "I am fine, Your Majesty. I may have gotten a heat stroke from being in the sun during the day."
Seeing that almost everyone at the banquet had taken their seats, Xiao Heng said, "Then don't be so stubborn. If you really feel unwell, leave early."
"Yes, I understand." Liu Yuetang smiled.
Under the delicate light, her face looks even more charming and attractive.
Xiao Heng said calmly: "This dress suits you very well."
After saying this, he walked towards the hall, and Bai Meiren followed him in a trance.
Did she see it wrong just now? Why did she feel that the emperor cared so much about this Concubine Liu?
Isn’t it said that the emperors of the Central Plains treat their concubines like their subjects?
In just a moment, Bai Meiren understood.
If a minister is loyal, won't he also receive a word or two of concern and praise from the emperor?
As she was thinking, she felt her wrist loosen and Xiao Heng distanced himself from her a little.
She looked up in surprise, only to see the emperor walking forward with steady steps, his face showing nobility and majesty.
Then everyone stood up and saluted.
While sitting down, Liu Zheng supported Liu Yuetang and asked in confusion, "My lady, why didn't you tell the emperor the truth? It was clearly Lady Bai who nearly caused you to fall."
Liu Yuetang lowered her voice and said, "Do you think the Emperor would make the decision for me in this situation? Putting aside the question of whether the Emperor would believe me or not, I didn't fall and get hurt in the end, so he won't punish her severely."
Liu Zheng frowned tightly: "Then... my young master can only suffer this loss in silence?"
"How could that be?" Liu Yuetang raised her eyebrows slightly, as if smiling.
"Didn't she say I was a delicate woman? Then I'll let her see what delicate means."
Hit the snake at its most vulnerable part.
If you want to attack, you must hit the enemy's vital point with one move.
After Xiao Heng sat down, he realized that Concubine Zhao was also there. He said with some surprise, "Concubine Zhao is here today too."
Concubine Zhao was wearing a red and golden gauze dress today. Her hair was piled high with pearls and jades, shining brightly, and her whole body exuded nobility and coolness.
The Queen smiled gently, "It is rare for Concubine Zhao to dress so brightly."
Concubine Zhao ignored the Empress and said softly to Xiao Heng, "Today, as we are praying for wisdom, I am reminded of the time when I celebrated festivals with the Emperor when I was young."
Xiao Heng's thoughts were a little vague, and his eyes dimmed slightly when he thought of something.
After a moment, he smiled faintly at Concubine Zhao again: "It's been so many years in a flash."
Seeing this, Lady Bai couldn't help but feel curious. Who is this Concubine Zhao?
Why did the emperor look at her so differently?
She looked around at all the concubines sitting there. They were all beautiful, graceful and pretty, and were no less beautiful than the concubines of the king on the grassland.
On the contrary, I looked out of place sitting here in my grassland clothes.
It seems that it is not easy for her to make a name for herself in this harem.
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