However, her pipa playing was a bit chaotic today, and even she found it jarring to listen to.
It was difficult for Green Cloud and Green Ink to pretend to be completely absorbed in the moment.
Her mind wasn't on playing the pipa at that moment, so naturally she couldn't play it well. After a while, Huo Qinghe put the pipa away.
The pipa was still in her arms. Huo Qinghe's face was small, and even holding the pipa, half of her face was obscured: "Since Consort Cao is celebrating her birthday, shouldn't we send her a congratulatory gift?"
Huo Qinghe belatedly remembered this matter, and when she asked the question, she had already mentally considered what she could give.
She was currently short of money, since most of the gifts bestowed by the Emperor and Empress could not be given away.
Of the maids, Luyi is now in charge of registration and bookkeeping. She responded and was already getting ready to get the booklets.
Huo Qinghe stopped her: "Women are bound by many taboos when they are pregnant, so please refrain from taking any medicines or tonics. Find the pair of white jade bracelets that my eldest sister gave me from the storeroom. I'm afraid I might disturb Madam Cao while she's pregnant, so just tell her that it's a small token of my appreciation."
The greenery responds to the sound.
Huo Qinghe plucked the pipa onto her left forearm, and upon seeing this, Lüyun cleverly stepped forward and carefully took it from her, while simultaneously flattering her: "My lady plays the pipa so well, it sounds like celestial music."
Huo Qinghe glared at her, but her expression didn't change much: "All you ever do is sweet-talk. When the Dragon Boat Festival comes, you'll be the first one not allowed to eat any zongzi."
Green Cloud quickly begged for forgiveness, and the master and servant laughed as they returned to the front hall from the covered walkway. Just then, Green Locust, Changsheng, and Baosheng returned with their lunch.
Green Locust glanced at the pipa in Green Cloud's arms, then smiled and bowed: "The Imperial Kitchen said that with the Dragon Boat Festival approaching, Consort Chi has added two dishes to each palace as a festive treat. Also... just like the past few days, today Lady Yi had the kitchen prepare sweet soup with white fungus and chestnuts."
"It sounds delicious. I'll just have one bowl, and you can share the rest," Huo Qinghe waved her hand.
Ever since she was first summoned to the emperor's bedchamber, Huo Yiyun has been having the imperial kitchen prepare all sorts of nourishing soups for her every day, treating Huo Qinghe like a fool.
Sometimes, it was Cuiqiao, Huo Yiyun's attendant, who would personally bring the soup. Naturally, Cuiqiao would watch Huo Qinghe drink it before leaving.
In just half a month, Huo Qinghe felt that her face had become fuller.
However, this situation cannot continue indefinitely, and she needs to think of a solution.
With the Dragon Boat Festival approaching, zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) were already on the table a couple of days earlier. Huo Qinghe tried two of them and found that they tasted better than the ones she had at the Huo residence. They were also hot, making them the best zongzi she had ever eaten since she could remember.
Because of the Dragon Boat Festival, the Imperial Academy was also granted leave. The day before yesterday, when Cuiqiao brought soup, she was just talking about this matter. She mainly told Huo Qinghe how lively and harmonious the mansion was.
Huo Qinghe didn't believe it, but on the surface she still had to pretend to be grateful.
Back when they lived in the manor, Huo Qinghe and her brother could avoid eating leftovers during festivals. Now that she's in the palace, life is better, but she rarely gets to see her brother anymore.
Huo Qinghe didn't show any signs of homesickness and even gave Luhuai and the others a reward of silver.
While Green Locust and the others were having a good time, Huo Qinghe played the pipa under the moonlight behind the pavilion.
Granny Wang was the only one who remained relatively calm. She stayed by Huo Qinghe's side and only approached her when Huo Qinghe was tired of playing the piano.
"Tomorrow is the Dragon Boat Festival, it's getting late, shall I help you back to rest, madam?" I'll have to be on my best to deal with people tomorrow.
Huo Qinghe handed her the pipa and rubbed her wrists: "Speaking of which, I don't even know where the Chuigong Hall is."
Wang Mama then explained, "The Chuigong Hall is located behind the Empress Dowager's Cining Palace, and it's quite close to the Imperial Garden. Small banquets in the palace are often held in the Chuigong Hall. However, it's rather small, so if a noblewoman wants to come to the palace, it's usually in the Zichen Hall."
"Will the Emperor come too?" Huo Qinghe asked.
Granny Wang shook her head: "This servant does not know. His Majesty has never liked these family banquets. Such banquets were rarely held in the previous dynasty, and no one can say for sure whether His Majesty will attend."
Huo Qinghe glanced at Granny Wang with some surprise: "A family banquet..."
Under the cover of night, her face seemed veiled in mist, and the palace lanterns under the eaves accentuated the beauty's eyes, which seemed to hold a spring-like quality. When she spoke, she slightly raised her pointed chin, exuding a captivating charm.
Even Wang Mama, an old woman who had spent many years in the palace, was slightly stunned by that glance.
Granny Wang quickly regained her senses, and shook her head helplessly: "This year, I'm afraid the Empress Dowager will be attending the banquet for the Dragon Boat Festival. I wonder what will happen then..."
She naturally couldn't reveal the discord between the Emperor and the Empress Dowager.
As she walked forward, the maids' voices drew closer. They were preparing hot water for the clean room. Hearing their laughter, Huo Qinghe's expression softened.
"Will all the concubines arrive tomorrow?" she asked again.
Wang Mama heard this too, and she responded first: "Yes, apart from a few old servants from the Prince's residence who are not in good health, everyone will be present at all the family banquets in the palace, since it is a rare time to have a lively gathering."
The emperor's harem was neither too large nor too small.
Aside from Empress Xue, the only concubine among the former retainers of the Prince's residence is now Consort Chi. The others include Consort Zhuang, Consort Ming, Consort Huo, Consort Cao, Consort Lu, Consort Shen, and Consort Qin.
The seven new talents selected in the last general election have not changed much in rank now. There is still Consort Lin at the rank of Consort, but there are no more Noble Consorts or Consorts. There are many more below the rank of Consort.
As Huo Qinghe listened to Granny Wang recount the list of palace concubines, she was astonished. Her only thought was that the national treasury was still full.
With more people comes more trouble; you'll eventually see what kind of people they are.
Huo Qinghe wasn't in a hurry to find out the character of any of the palace concubines from Granny Wang.
She wasn't asking Wang Mama about this today out of curiosity.
Because tomorrow is the Dragon Boat Festival, the maids in the clean room prepared a bath with mugwort water. After Huo Qinghe finished bathing, she felt that her whole body smelled of mugwort, but it was not unpleasant.
The fifth day of the fifth lunar month is the Dragon Boat Festival.
The maids were busy early in the morning. Since both lunch and dinner were in the Chuigong Hall, there was no need to go there early.
Huo Qinghe arrived very early. She was heading towards the Chuigong Hall via the Imperial Garden, but when she passed through the Imperial Garden, she vaguely saw a familiar figure.
Today, Granny Wang and Green Locust are serving us.
Granny Wang recognized her at a glance and subconsciously glanced at Huo Qinghe.
Huo Qinghe had already looked away: "Let's go."
Huo Qinghe remembers that last time in the Imperial Garden, the Emperor had Consort Fu come to feed the fish every day.
But she also remembered that the Emperor said that Consort Fu should feed the fish until before the Dragon Boat Festival, and now it should be considered that the Dragon Boat Festival has passed.
Driven by her instinct to seek advantage and avoid harm, Huo Qinghe did not linger.
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