Consort Zhou, who had been talking incessantly like a peacock in the main hall, was finally interrupted.
If it weren't for the Emperor and Empress sitting next to the Empress Dowager, Consort Zhou would probably have already sat down next to the Empress Dowager.
The people only refrained from making a scene because they thought the Empress Dowager was pleased by Consort Zhou.
After Consort Chi spoke, Consort Zhuang lowered her head and took a sip of tea: "Consort Zhou, have a cup of tea. You must be thirsty after talking so much. It's kind of Her Majesty the Empress Dowager to be pleased, so you should reward Consort Zhou with a cup of tea."
Empress Dowager Zhou first glanced at Consort Zhuang, and then lightly looked at Consort Zhou below.
"We can have tea now. Let's wait until we get to the Chui Gong Hall and punish that slippery fellow with three cups of wine first. Your Majesty, let's go."
The Empress Dowager slowly stood up.
Pei Yuanhui, who had been sitting in a round-backed chair and pretending to be asleep with his eyes slightly closed, raised his hand upon hearing the sound and steadily supported the Empress Dowager.
"Your son is helping you." This finally sounded somewhat respectful.
Empress Dowager Zhou nodded with a smile, and then waved to the Empress beside her.
"The Empress should come along too. How are you feeling? I haven't heard you say a word all day."
Although the Empress Dowager doted on her niece, she could still distinguish between proper and improper situations, and she also had to consider her reputation.
Consort Zhou quieted down after being looked at by the Empress Dowager.
Seeing this, Consort Cao gave a couple of ambiguous hums from the side. After the Empress Dowager was helped out by the Emperor and Empress, she immediately stood up and followed.
They followed behind Consort Chi and Consort Zhuang.
Huo Yiyun's face immediately fell when she was beaten to it.
However, she couldn't argue with Consort Cao, especially since Consort Cao was pregnant.
Huo Yiyun subconsciously glanced back and saw Huo Qinghe quietly waiting for the high-ranking concubines to walk forward.
Huo Qinghe stood properly. It had been a while since I'd seen her, and you could see some flesh on her chin, but she was still beautiful. Standing there quietly, the charm of her pointed chin was enough to make people unable to look away.
She's a natural beauty.
Huo Yiyun was a beat slow to look away, and Ruan Jieyu, who had already caught up, was beside her.
She nodded politely: "Please, Consort Yi."
Huo Yiyun gave a soft "hmm," raised her chin, and then took Cuiqiao's hand and walked out.
The lower-ranking concubines followed them out. Fortunately, Cining Palace was not far from Chuigong Hall, otherwise the midday sun at the end of June would have been unbearably hot.
Even before they reached the Chuigong Hall, the lively commotion could already be heard.
From afar, one could see a large number of people outside the Chuigong Hall.
Empress Dowager Zhou was getting old, and her eyesight was failing, but she could still hear the voice clearly from afar.
Given Empress Dowager Zhou's current status, seeing her family members is as simple as saying a word.
However, since this was the emperor's intention, Empress Dowager Zhou still managed to hold back two tears and took Grand Tutor Zhou's hand as they entered the Chuigong Hall.
Today could definitely be called Consort Zhou's most powerful day, but after seeing Grand Tutor Zhou, Consort Zhou inexplicably fell silent and became quiet after taking her seat.
The people in the court are open-minded. Although there are foreign officials in the Chuigong Hall today, they are seated separately on the left and right sides by the concubines and foreign officials and their wives. They are not afraid of offending or clashing with each other.
Although Huo Qinghe's rank wasn't the last, she still sat in a slightly later position.
Right in front of her was her beloved elder sister, Consort Yi, Huo Yiyun; beside her was Lady Meng, who was also a beauty; and next to her was Consort Xu, who was of a lower rank.
The first row consisted of those of noble rank and above, the middle row included those of noble ladies and beauties such as Huo Qinghe, and the back row included some ladies-in-waiting.
Huo Qinghe wasn't very familiar with anyone around her, so she just quietly lowered her head and counted how many lotus petals were on the teacups on the table. She didn't really listen to the Empress Dowager and the Emperor's pleasantries.
Being neither too close nor too far away, Huo Qinghe could only hear a little bit of what was being said.
Finally, the banquet began, and palace maids from the music troupe filed in from outside, singing and dancing continuously.
Now it's even harder to hear what's being said.
Finally, when it was time for the imperial concubines to present their gifts, the music and dance were gone, and we could finally have a moment of peace and quiet.
Surrounded by people who were completely absorbed in the music, Huo Qinghe could only pretend to be engrossed in listening as well.
Birthday gifts are presented from the lowest to the highest rank, naturally so that the Emperor and Empress can present their gifts last.
Huo Qinghe's birthday gift was neither particularly special nor particularly bad compared to other birthday gifts.
Huo Qinghe was already very content with the Empress Dowager's words, "Your intentions are acceptable."
Seeing that she wouldn't have anything to do for the time being, Huo Qinghe used the excuse of changing her clothes to quietly slip out of the back hall.
At this moment, everyone's eyes were on the birthday gifts presented by others, and indeed no one paid attention to Huo Qinghe's departure.
Huo Qinghe still pretended to change her clothes once.
"Granny Wang suggested earlier that the young lady eat some cakes to fill her stomach, and she was absolutely right. By the time she starts eating, the food on the table will probably be cold..."
It's rare to see a green locust tree like this, rambling on and on.
Huo Qinghe, supported by her, chuckled upon hearing this: "We'll eat it when we get back after the luncheon."
Green Locust wanted to say something more, but Huo Qinghe stopped her by raising her hand.
"Smell it, it smells so good!" she said, slightly twitching her nose, clearly searching for the source of the fragrance.
Green Locust instinctively took a sniff as well.
"It smells like flowers, but I can't smell anything else at all." Green Locust sniffed for a while.
Emerging from behind the Chuigong Hall, you'll find the pool where Huo Qinghe fell into the water last time. To the side are stone steps, and following those steps leads to the artificial hill in the Imperial Garden.
Huo Qinghe stopped in front of the stone steps: "Who's there?"
She hesitated for a moment, then saw two figures sitting on the stone steps.
The person turned their face to the side, and Huo Qinghe immediately recognized who it was upon seeing the profile.
She curtsied and said, "May Lu Xiaoyi have many blessings."
This Consort Lu was also a former servant of the Prince's residence, but she was far less favored than Consort Chi, Consort Huo, and Consort Cao.
However, Lu Xiaoyi's rank was ultimately higher than Huo Qinghe's.
Lu Xiaoyi remained seated, holding a half-eaten locust flower cake in her hand.
"Little sister is out too? Would you like some locust flower cake? I just had it made by the imperial kitchen, it's still warm."
As if afraid that Huo Qinghe would worry about poisoning, Lu Xiaoyi finished the locust flower cake in a few bites after she finished speaking.
Seeing this, Huo Qinghe smiled gently and reached out to take the locust flower cake that Lu Xiaoyi handed over.
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