The late emperor had a concubine named Yue, who loved to attend operas at Changyin Pavilion. During her time of favor, countless opera troupes were welcomed and sent off at Yonghua Palace, just to make her smile. After the new emperor ascended the throne, the concubines all moved out of the capital to mourn the late emperor, and Changyin Pavilion gradually fell into silence.
Because Xie Yanci disliked lewd music, the concubines pandered to his tastes and didn't dare to make a fuss about it. Thus, the once bustling palace gardens were reduced to fallen leaves and maids sweeping the streets.
Under the Queen's arrangement, Jin Han asked people to prepare the largest performance venue in Changyin Pavilion in advance.
Wei Shuyi ordered Wen Yu to find a way to pass the message to Chengqian Palace -
"Miss, this Fifth Young Lady is indeed quite resourceful. Although they are all subordinates of the Imperial Concubine, there are still some who are willing to work for her. I have already met her. All that is missing is the Emperor's personal visit to Changyin Pavilion."
"That's good."
Wen Yu moved the small stove to the inner hall. When the weather turns cold, he can cook some nourishing soup in the house. It is fragrant and can also keep you warm, killing two birds with one stone.
As she worked, she asked, "Young lady, why did you accept the Fifth Miss's surrender? She's much more formidable than the Imperial Concubine. Aren't you afraid she'll bite you in the back in the future?"
"That's not something I can stop alone." Wei Shuyi stood in front of the painting. "If she dares to ask the Queen Mother for help, she can ask the Queen for help. Everyone in charge of the harem has been persuaded by her. Even if I strongly oppose it, it will be useless. It's better to go with the flow and do her a favor."
Wen Yu squatted down and continued to fan the fire: "This servant has always felt that this Fifth Young Lady is difficult to deal with. If the Emperor really takes a fancy to her, who knows what chaos the harem will be in!"
"The Queen can stop Rong Zhaoyi from snatching the child, and Qu Yuexi can restrain Concubine Jin. Right now, the last person we have to be wary of is the Queen." Wei Shuyi reached out and stroked the blood-stained lotus painting. "She is the easiest link to deal with. I hope I can keep the child."
"Girl? Is there anyone else who can stop the Queen?"
"Yes, by herself."
Wen Yu didn't understand. "Huh? The Empress was really looking forward to having a son! She was eager for you to send the child to Fengluan Palace. Why would she suddenly change her mind?"
"I was the one who acquiesced to the Queen's permission for the Fifth Miss Qu to enter the palace. Even if others knew, they would think I was a flatterer, relying on the Queen to make the final decision. When the time comes, Imperial Concubine Jin will suffer a loss, and the blame will surely be placed on the Queen! As for how they fight openly or secretly, I don't care. I just need to know that if the Queen has her heart set on something, Imperial Concubine will definitely make her give up the idea. That's enough."
Wen Yu's frown finally relaxed. After opening the casserole and putting in the washed vegetables, he said, "Well...what if the Imperial Concubine is too busy dealing with her own sister and can't get away, and doesn't target the Queen? What should we do?"
"Then it depends on our Prime Minister."
"Him?!" Meng Ruhui.
This is a name that is engraved in her heart and cannot be forgotten.
The entire Wei family was in trouble, and he was the one who fanned the flames. The unnecessary burning that night was also his way of venting his personal anger.
In that brief encounter in front of Fengluan Palace that day, she had offended the old Prime Minister, and he must have hated her to the core! Furthermore, the matter of the eldest prince implicated the next emperor, so he would surely do something about her before the birth!
In this way, the queen's handle was handed over by her father.
Wen Yu did not ask any more questions, but carefully poured the hot soup into the bowl: "Miss, try it, this is the vegetable soup that I just learned to make from Liang Cairen."
"How has she been these past few days? She's always locked herself in the house. It's really unlike her."
"I heard that Lady Liang had severe morning sickness and could barely eat a single bite of food. She relied entirely on vegetable and meat soup to survive." Wen Yu recalled what she had seen before. "When I last visited her, she was indeed very haggard."
"Then I'll go..."
"My lady, the good lady has instructed me not to worry too much. Furthermore, with the changing seasons, she has relapsed from her old illness. Please don't go to her, lest you get infected too, as it would be bad for the heir to the throne."
After hearing this, Wei Shuyi gave up the idea of visiting.
The candlelight on both sides of the narrow path flickered. She looked at the palace of the talented man not far away and felt inexplicably uneasy.
——
Xie Yanci was "tricked" by the Queen into going to Changyin Pavilion, with the reason being: the Queen Mother had found a drama troupe to kill time and hoped that they would accompany her to enjoy the performance.
However, when he arrived at the place, he did not see the Queen Mother.
The Queen also arrived late. "Your Majesty! My mother's knees are aching again today. Perhaps it's because of the strong wind. I can't come here to listen to the opera for the time being."
"How is it now?" He was half-believing and half-doubting. "I have sought out famous doctors to treat my mother. This situation shouldn't happen again."
"Uh, good, much better!" The Queen took the initiative to tug at his sleeve, motioning him to sit down. "Your Majesty is old, so it's inevitable that she'll have a headache or a fever. But we can't let down the specially prepared performance. How about Your Majesty accompany me for a while?"
There is something inexplicable everywhere.
If it were someone else, Xie Yanci could have just walked away without any unnecessary explanation.
But she was the queen, the queen who always had a cold face and could not say auspicious words. Her efforts to act obedient and graceful aroused his curiosity.
"Then... I'll accompany you to see it."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
When the curtain opened and Qu Yuexi danced with her sleeves and descended in mid-air, it was like a dream and truly stunning.
Abandoning the traditional dress of palace dancers, she wore a charming dance dress with a wide neckline, like a charming blooming red plum.
Her slender waist dances lightly, and her eyes are full of radiance.
The Queen would occasionally glance at Xie Yanci and noticed that his expression remained normal, as if he were admiring flowers and grass. She couldn't help but get anxious: "Your Majesty, look! This is the first time I've seen someone descend from the sky and dance! Does it take years of martial arts training to achieve this feat?"
"There are palace maids on both sides of Changyin Pavilion pulling thin ropes, which will be untied after you land. Even if you don't know martial arts, you can still do it."
The Queen was immediately choked up and could only find other topics to talk about: "I heard that Your Majesty doesn't like to listen to opera, so I specially prepared alternative songs and dances. I wonder..."
"Hmm? Didn't you call me here because my mother wanted to hear some opera?"
"Uh, well... yes! But my mother wasn't feeling well, so I changed my mind at the last minute! Your Majesty, the Fifth Young Lady has been a skilled dancer since she was young, and is famous throughout the capital. I want to see her too!"
Xie Yanci did not expose her little thoughts and continued to stare intently at the beauty on the stage.
The dance is good, but it is constrained by that framework and there is not much novelty.
Through the rosy veil, he suddenly remembered the Huxuan dance of that day: Xie Yanqing's part, he had no interest in appreciating. The figure of another woman playing the pipa overlapped with the image of a flying fairy from the Western Regions he had seen, so much so that his memory of past song and dance performances faded, leaving only the "Lotus Flower Goddess" of that day.
"Your Majesty? Your Majesty! It's over! Miss Qu has been standing there for a long time, performing the formal ceremony. How about... letting her get up first?"
Xie Yanci looked away uncomfortably: "Well, get up."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
