Chapter 23 Travel List
March is here in the blink of an eye, spring is here and everything is in harmony.
When paying respects that day, Yueli walked into the hall at exactly the right time.
As soon as she entered the palace, she felt that today seemed particularly lively. Even Concubine Rong, who had been sick for the past few days, had already taken her seat.
Not long after Yueli sat down, the queen came out.
Soon she knew the reason for all the excitement.
"This year's spring hunt is scheduled for the eighth day of the third lunar month, lasting five days. Your Majesty will be accompanied by several concubines."
As soon as the queen finished speaking, the concubines below couldn't help but start talking.
Zhao State values military power, and the six arts are indispensable for ordinary men. If you can come out on top in the hunting ground, you will definitely leave a good impression in front of Your Majesty.
Even women from aristocratic families would devote themselves to riding and shooting. It can be said that there was no concubine in the palace who was not good at riding and shooting.
Except Yueli.
She only knows how to be romantic.
Riding and shooting would make her palms rough and calloused, and the mothers in Chunfeng Pavilion would never let her do that.
Concubine Jin's eyes showed joy. She hadn't seen He Yanchen since their last chance encounter in the lotus pond. If she could follow him to the enclosure this time, she would definitely be able to defeat that little bitch Yue Li in riding and archery.
Concubine Jin winked at Cui Zhaoyuan, who understood and asked, "Who will Your Majesty bring with you on this spring hunt?"
She asked a question that everyone was concerned about, and the concubines immediately pricked up their ears.
The Queen smiled and said, "I have already prepared the list and am just waiting to present it to Your Majesty for his review."
"I'll let you know before this evening."
Compared to the others, Yueli's expression was very calm.
She was not worried that she was not on the list. If she was not on the list, she would go to He Yanchen to make trouble.
There's always a way to follow.
The queen was very efficient. Before evening, the list of people accompanying the emperor had been announced to all the palaces.
"Master, the Queen sent two sets of riding clothes." Lian Qiao walked in holding a tray, on which were two sets of newly made riding clothes.
Yueli was a little surprised: "Are there other palaces too?"
Lian Qiao shook her head. "This time, the accompanying guests include Concubine Jin, Zhaoyi Shen, Concubine Rong, Jiang Ronghua, and Concubine Zheng. The Empress said this is your first time going, so His Majesty specifically instructed the Shangfu Bureau to accompany you."
"The Queen was worried you didn't have enough riding clothes, so she sent over two ready-made sets."
There are still ten days before the spring hunt, and the Shangfu Bureau has enough time to make riding clothes. There is no need for the Queen to go to the trouble of sending them to her separately.
Moreover, the queen only sent it to herself and not to anyone else, and she also pointed out that it was He Yanchen who took care of her. I always felt like she was trying to make herself hated.
"Isn't the Queen going hunting?"
Lian Qiao said, "The Empress Dowager has to take care of palace affairs. Plus, the Empress Dowager's birthday is next month, so we're going to have a grand celebration this year. I heard that the princes from all over the country are going to come to Beijing to celebrate. Such an important matter can't go wrong, so the Empress Dowager will naturally stay in the palace to oversee it."
Yueli said "oh" and didn't ask any more questions.
"Master, should we take this riding uniform with us?"
Yueli glanced at it and said calmly, "It's best not to touch things given by others."
Lian Qiao nodded hurriedly: "I understand. I will put it at the bottom of the box right away."
*
The concubines who were able to accompany the emperor were all busy, while the others who could not seemed particularly lonely.
In the Hehuan Palace, Concubine Li looked coldly at the coming and going of people in the side hall where Concubine Zheng lived. The Shangfu Bureau specially sent people to make decisions for her, making the palace where she lived seem particularly deserted for a while.
Cui Yu comforted her, saying, "My lady, don't be too sad. Concubine Zheng has never been favored. She was only able to go because of Concubine Jin's advice."
"She is the eldest prince's biological mother. Her name is still recorded in the imperial edict. Concubine Jin has no choice but to bring her along."
Li Jieyu was not comforted at all: "Concubine Zheng is of such a lowly background, but now she is riding on my head just because she gave birth to a prince. How could she be so lucky? When she was in the palace, she was just a concubine, and yet she got pregnant."
Cui Yu didn't dare to speak. She could discuss the concubines with Li Jieyu, but she didn't dare to say anything when it came to the prince.
Moreover, although Concubine Zheng is of humble origin, her father is at least a minor official. There are people of even lower origins in the palace, and they have already surpassed you.
Once you enter the palace, what is more important than your family background is favor and offspring.
Li Jieyu was getting annoyed with waiting, so she decided to just turn a blind eye and led her people to the Imperial Garden.
As the sun was setting, the Imperial Garden was quiet, with only Concubine Li sitting in the pavilion sulking.
"Sister Li, why are you here alone?"
A cold voice came from not far away. Li Jieyu looked up and found it was Rong Jieyu.
Rong Jieyu had the same position as her, but she had no title, so she was called sister.
The two of them had never had much of a friendship. To be precise, it was because Concubine Rong had a cold personality and always kept to herself, looking like she didn't want to make friends with anyone.
Rong Jieyu walked into the pavilion and sat across from Li Jieyu. "Sister, are you unhappy about the matter of accompanying the emperor?"
Li Jieyu snorted coldly: "Rong Jieyu, there's no need to show off in front of me."
"Sister, you're joking." Rong Jieyu poured herself a cup of tea. "I'm on the list this time simply because my brother made a contribution a few days ago, and His Majesty has granted me the grace to meet my family."
When Li Jieyu heard this, she felt inexplicably relieved.
She said, "It's a good thing to be able to go to the hunting grounds after all. Sister Rong comes from a military family, and her riding and archery skills will surely impress His Majesty."
"Does being good at riding and shooting mean you can win favor?"
Li Jieyu was stunned: "What do you mean?"
Rong Jieyu chuckled, "Even though Yu Ronghua is not good at riding or shooting, His Majesty still wants her to accompany him."
"For a military commander, horseback archery skills are the foundation of his career. For us, they are nothing."
Li Jieyu rarely fell silent.
That's true. Even if we perform well in the paddock, we will only get a few words of praise from His Majesty.
"That vixen, I don't know what your Majesty likes about her?" Li Jieyu gritted her teeth.
Rong Jieyu smiled: "Sister Li, you are joking. Yu Ronghua is beautiful, which man doesn't like her?"
After sitting for a while, Rong Jieyu said, "I'll come and talk to you another day. There are many things to prepare for the trip, so I have to go back and keep an eye on them."
"Although this enclosure is guarded by imperial guards, it is in the wilderness and there is no guarantee that wild beasts will break in. Sister, you must bring a few palace maids who are more agile."
Li Jieyu frowned: "There haven't been any accidents in previous years?"
Rong Jieyu whispered, "Sister, don't you know that during the reign of the late emperor, a black bear broke into the hunt during an autumn hunt?"
"I heard that the late emperor's concubine was frightened by that black bear. She couldn't even run away, and her face was disfigured by its sharp claws."
Li Jieyu shuddered: "What...what do those servants do for a living?"
"When it comes to life and death, who can care so much?"
Rong Jieyu stood up leisurely and said, "Sister, I will take my leave now."
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