Chapter 44 Falling into the Water
In April in the capital, the spring trees are in full bloom, the leaves are hanging down and casting shade, and the weather is gradually getting warmer.
The birthday banquet was held in Chonghua Hall. At the hour of You, Yueli got dressed and took Lianqiao to Chonghua Hall for the banquet.
Today, I heard that many court officials and even several princes came to Beijing to celebrate the birthday. Yueli was rarely dressed so formally. She wore a sky-blue palace skirt and a set of headgear in the same color, which made the woman's beautiful eyebrows and eyes even more radiant.
When going from Zhuoyu Palace to Chonghua Hall, you will pass by the lotus pond. Unlike the bleakness in winter, the flowers near the lotus pond are in full bloom, and there are layers of ripples in the water. You can vaguely see small fish wagging their tails.
Yueli stopped and watched for a while. When she raised her head, she saw Concubine Lin and the eldest princess walking towards this direction not far away.
"Greetings, Her Majesty." Yue Li had little contact with Concubine Lin and didn't have much impression of her.
Concubine Lin had the type of appearance that the Empress Dowager liked the most, dignified and elegant, and even the eldest princess was taught by her to be like a little adult.
When Concubine Lin saw her, she smiled softly, "Yu Ronghua, there's no need to be so polite."
She bent down and said to the eldest princess, "Jia De, pay your respects to Empress Yu."
Princess Jiade had her hair in two playful buns and was plump and white, like a little snowball. She tilted her head back and said crisply, "Hello, Empress Yu."
"Princess, you're fine." Yueli smiled.
She had never been around children, nor did she want to get along with these princes and princesses. Although He Yanchen didn't care much about his only son and daughter, they were royal heirs after all, and she didn't want to have anything to do with them.
"Is Yu Ronghua also going to Chonghua Palace?"
Yueli hummed, and Concubine Lin was not good at speaking, so she just nodded, and then the atmosphere became cold.
As they were about to leave the lotus pond, Yueli saw a row of palace maids carrying lotus lanterns coming towards them. She asked Lianqiao, "Are we going to release river lanterns tonight?"
Lian Qiao shook her head: "I haven't heard of it..."
Concubine Lin said at the right moment, "It was when the Empress Dowager paid her respects yesterday that she mentioned wanting to see the river lanterns, so the Empress arranged this."
A quarter of an hour later, the two arrived at Chonghua Hall.
Yue Li's seat was below Rong Jieyu. As soon as she sat down, she saw a woman of a foreign race sitting opposite her. The woman's dress was so conspicuous and different from others that people couldn't help but want to take a second look at her.
"That is the Saintess of Xijue, named Le Yue."
Perhaps Yueli's gaze was too obvious, so Concubine Rong began to explain to her.
"I heard that this saintly lady has a book to present to the Queen Mother and Your Majesty today. I wonder what kind of rare thing it is." Concubine Rong sneered faintly, "I'm afraid she has other intentions."
The saint did not try to be mysterious by covering her face with any veil. She was truly beautiful, the kind of beauty that radiated and was unconcealed.
Yue Li curled her lips. She was quite confident in herself and didn't think that the saint could surpass her in appearance. However, no matter how beautiful a face was, one would get tired of it eventually. She was afraid that He Yanchen would suddenly want to try something new.
She lowered her eyes and fiddled with the grapes in front of her in annoyance.
There had never been any Western Saint in her previous life. It was not so much that she was worried about falling out of favor, but rather that she was upset because she felt that this matter was completely out of her control.
Soon, a voice came from outside:
"Your Majesty has arrived—"
"The Empress Dowager has arrived—"
Everyone stood up and saluted. The Queen Mother seemed to be in a good mood. After saying a few polite words, she told everyone not to be restrained and called in the actors to perform.
The concubines and ministers all presented their gifts. When it was Prince Pingnan's turn, Yueli looked over.
Prince Pingnan walked into the hall and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, Queen Mother, I am on a visit to Western Jue. The King of Western Jue heard about the Queen Mother's birthday banquet and, although he cannot attend in person, he has sent the Saint Maiden to present gifts to Your Majesty and the Queen Mother."
Le Yue stood up from her seat. Xijue's clothes had a wild and bold style, and coupled with her beauty, many people present were vaguely attracted to her.
She walked into the hall with her chin slightly raised, not at all timid by the scrutiny. The Queen Mother had known that Xijue was going to offer a treasure, so she gave her some face and asked, "I wonder what the Saint is going to offer?"
"Your Majesty, there is a book in the West that records all the wonders of the world, including everything in the world."
With a pious attitude, she signaled her servant to present the book.
Upon hearing this, He Yanchen raised his eyelids and looked at the book with interest.
Is there nothing in the world that does not exist?
Le Yue said, "This is a sacred object from my Western Jue. Your Majesty, please allow Le Yue to pray for blessings before offering this object."
He Yanchen nodded, and then several Western Jue women brought by Le Yue entered the hall one after another. Amidst the waves of strange music, Le Yue's movements looked like both dancing and praying. In short, it looked very strange in Yue Li's eyes.
She curled her lips and subconsciously looked in the direction of He Yanchen.
Amid the music, He Yanchen leaned lazily on the throne, nonchalantly turning the wine glass in his hand. He seemed to feel Yue Li's gaze and raised his eyes to look over.
The woman was in a bad mood and kept struggling with the grapes in front of her. He Yanchen inexplicably read a kind of resentment in her eyes.
What a jealous person.
The man chuckled faintly and raised his hand. Ji Ming immediately understood and stepped forward, bowing: "What are your commands, Your Majesty?"
The man pointed to the plate of yellow peaches on the table and said, "Send it to Yu Ronghua."
There was an extra portion of yellow peaches on the table. I tasted a small piece of moon pear, and the sweet juice burst in my mouth, it was fragrant and delicious.
She raised her head and unexpectedly met the man's gaze. He Yanchen raised his eyebrows slightly, as if asking her if the food tasted good.
Yueli was coaxed into submission again.
It was not until Le Yue stopped and the hall returned to peace that the man at the top said calmly, "I appreciate the kindness of King Xijue."
He Yanchen was not interested in Le Yue, but was very interested in the annals.
Ji Ming knew it well and quickly took the book from Le Yue.
Le Yue seemed to be unconcerned with He Yanchen's attitude and said respectfully, "I wish the Empress Dowager a long and healthy life, and I also wish that Da Zhao and I, Xi Jue, will be together forever."
This incident passed quickly, and when the banquet was about to end, the Queen said, "Your Majesty, Mother, I have prepared river lanterns in the lotus pond. Would you be so kind as to come and see them?"
The Queen Mother was pleased and said, "The Queen is thoughtful."
She looked at He Yanchen with a hint of expectation in her eyes: "Your Majesty, are you willing to go with me?"
He Yanchen put down the wine cup in his hand, stood up and said indifferently: "The Queen Mother is joking. Since it is her birthday, let's go together."
The Queen Mother heard the coldness in his words. Now he didn't even call her "Mother". The Queen Mother closed her eyes to hide the sadness in her heart.
Since the Queen Mother had spoken, the rest of the people naturally had to follow.
Palace lanterns had already been hung around the lotus pond, and various lanterns were floating on the water. The lights were lush and the water was sparkling, which was very beautiful.
Yueli stood by the water admiring the view. She was about to turn around and talk to Lianqiao, but she saw Yipin approaching her.
Logically speaking, Concubine Yi was only one rank lower than hers, so she should stand with her, but Jiang Ronghua was standing beside her just now, and when Jiang Ronghua went to the other side to talk to Rong Jieyu, Concubine Yi unknowingly moved closer to her.
Yueli frowned. Concubine Yi was pregnant and she didn't want to have anything to do with her.
Just as she was about to move away unnoticed, Yipin suddenly pounced towards Yueli without any warning.
The accident happened almost in an instant.
With a "splash", water splashed everywhere. Lian Qiao reached out in vain to grab Yue Li, but the corner of her clothes slipped from her palm.
"Princess Yi fell into the water!"
There was a sudden commotion around the lotus pond, and Yipin's palace maids screamed, drowning out Lianqiao's voice.
He Yanchen subconsciously looked over here and saw Lian Qiao's pale face under the moonlight, but did not see the woman's figure.
"Concubine Yi fell into the water, hurry up and save her!" Concubine Yi was pregnant, and everyone's eyes were on her. Seeing her struggling in the water, the Queen hurriedly called the palace servants to save her.
Yueli couldn't swim, and she flapped her wings in fear, stirring up the mud at the bottom of the water and making the surface turbid.
The palace skirt absorbed water and became heavy, dragging her down. Yue Li tried weakly to raise her head to breathe fresh air, but the pool water was inhaled into her nostrils, making her feel extremely uncomfortable.
“Help…Help…”
She heard everyone calling Concubine Yi's name, and saw He Yanchen walking towards her anxiously.
He will go to save Concubine Yi.
After all, she had his child.
After all, she was the one who was abandoned since childhood.
Yueli's head was spinning. She recalled how her mother, five years old, had stood with her and her three-year-old brother in front of the Spring Breeze Pavilion, leaving her there alone. Her mother had said she was older than her brother and should be more sensible, and that the family didn't have the money to raise two children.
When she was fifteen, Chunfeng Pavilion wanted to send a girl to the prefect, and the man chose her over her sister Xueying. He said Xueying was in poor health and she should be more sensible.
They all want her to be sensible and they all want to abandon her.
Yueli couldn't tell whether the water on her face was from the pool or tears.
Just as she stopped moving her hands in vain and sank her body inch by inch, a pair of strong arms wrapped around her waist.
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