"Once you enter the palace, you are no longer a child. There are many things you cannot do as you please."
"Your Majesty's words, I remember them all."
Xi Jiaorong's smile was like the warm sunshine in early spring. Zhu Beifeng was involuntarily infected by her smile and smiled along with her.
"I can paint fans, Your Majesty, come and see."
Xi Jiaorong naturally pulled him to the desk. There were two big blue cows painted on the plain white fan. Next to the blue cows was a meadow with two children running on the ground and a kite floating under the blue sky.
"Your Majesty, please guess which poem this fan I painted is based on?"
"In February, the grass is long and the warblers are flying. The willows on the bank are swaying and the spring smoke is intoxicating. The children come home early from school and are busy flying kites in the east wind."
"Your Majesty is knowledgeable and has a strong memory. I admire you."
Xi Jiaorong's writing is brilliant. With just a few strokes, she can sketch out different scenes. She integrates the scenes into poetry. Zhu Beifeng guesses the poems according to the intention on the fan. When he encounters a poem that he is not familiar with, Xi Jiaorong reminds him in a tactful way. For a while, the Qianqing Palace was filled with happy laughter.
Shuangxi knocked on the door and reminded him, "Your Majesty, it's time for you to rest."
Xi Jiaorong put down her pen, washed up, and slowly climbed onto the bed.
The two of them talked in low voices for a long time, and Zhu Bifeng promised to have lunch with her at noon tomorrow.
Xi Jiaorong smiled brightly. After serving the emperor in court the next day, she took the painted fan back to paste it.
The concubines who came to pay their respects at the Cining Palace had already arrived, but Xi Jiaorong's seat was vacant. Because she was not there, everyone started to talk about her.
Sun Shurong was the first to speak. "Since Concubine Xi is now favored by the Emperor, she is naturally eager to curry his favor. How could she have the time to come to the Cining Palace to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager? If you want to talk about filial piety, you have to look at us."
Concubine Chen said, "Speak less."
"I'm not wrong. The rules of morning and evening visits were set by our ancestors. Xi Fei is acting recklessly and disregarding the Empress Dowager. Isn't she taking the lead in destroying the harem's morale?"
Concubine Zhen held Xiaoyu's hand and slowly walked out of the side hall.
"Sun Shurong, you have a good eloquence."
"Princess Zhen, I am your concubine... your concubine."
Sun Shurong had neither courage nor wisdom, and she had nothing good except her sharp tongue. Concubine Zhen was in a high position of power, and as soon as she looked at Concubine Zhen, her eyes immediately became gentle, and her arrogance disappeared without a trace.
"You are in the harem together, so you should live in harmony."
"I will follow the instructions of the Concubine Dowager."
"Sun Shurong, I heard that you like camellias. I have two camellia plants growing in my side hall. Please stay and enjoy the flowers with me later."
Sun Shurong suddenly felt something was wrong, but she still answered with a stiff upper lip: "Yes, Madam Dowager."
Gu Yingxia came out from behind the screen, holding two large white radishes, and said happily, "Good morning, everyone."
"Good morning, virtuous Concubine Dowager." All the concubines said in unison.
After waiting for a while, Chuchu opened the curtain and Gu Yinwei came out to meet everyone.
Jiang Yuan quietly looked up at Empress Dowager Hengle. Her skin was as delicate and white as a freshly peeled egg. She was tall, with natural green eyebrows and natural red lips. Her every move could not conceal her nobility.
The two concubines looked very kind and spoke softly. They would not punish the concubines easily unless they made mistakes like Sun Shurong.
"Who just said that Concubine Xi doesn't have Ai Jia in her eyes?"
Gu Yinwei's voice was not loud, but it was very intimidating.
Concubine Chen couldn't help but lower her head. People who feel guilty always make more small movements than others.
"Xi Fei has been waiting by my side since early this morning. Please come out, Xi Fei."
Bian Tao held Xi Jiaorong's hand. Xi Jiaorong had a dull expression and looked very tired.
Qi Yu'er was born with a pair of fox eyes. Her eyes can see many things that ordinary people cannot see. Although Xi Jiaorong's face, figure and dress have not changed at all, she instinctively feels that this Xi Jiaorong in the Cining Palace is a fake.
Gu Yinwei sensed something strange and looked at Qi Yuer deeply. Qi Yuer raised her face and smiled at Gu Yin.
Gu Yinwei sighed in her heart: "It's really rare, Qi Yu'er actually has a pair of discerning eyes."
Ordinary people do not have spiritual roots and need to practice day after day to gain the ability to see the big picture from the details. However, Qi Yuer is born with this ability, which shows that she is a child blessed by God.
Mei Qingqing sat upright, as if waiting for Gu Yinwei's next words.
"The harem is a long place, and everyone needs to bear with each other." After Gu Yinwei finished speaking, Gu Yingxia took over and added a few words: "I don't want to see you fighting each other, nor do I want you to kill each other."
Gu Yingxia said a lot of polite words, hoping to intimidate her subordinates, but Sun Shurong and Chen Fei were obviously not convinced. These words would not have any effect on their behavior, but Gu Yingxia had to say them.
Chuchu and Bian Taolin led the palace maids to serve tea to the concubines, while Xi Jiaorong sat there with an expressionless face.
After a cup of tea, the concubines stood up to say goodbye, but Xi Jiaorong sat still.
Sun Shurong said, "Xi Fei, let's go together."
Concubine Zhen said, "Sun Shurong, don't be in such a hurry to leave. I have something to talk to you about."
Upon seeing this, Concubine Chen immediately quickened her pace and hurried out of the gate of Cining Palace.
She was afraid that Concubine Zhen would keep her and nag her in her ear.
When Mei Qingqing stepped over the threshold, Chen Fei pushed her anxiously. Mei Qingqing kicked her on the acupuncture point, and Chen Fei's whole body softened and she fell to the ground.
"Mei Fei, you dare to kick me?"
"What a joke! You tripped and fell, and I helped you up, but you falsely accused me."
"you……"
"Princess Chen, please pay more attention to your feet when you walk, and don't always look around. I am kind enough to support you today, but you won't be so lucky tomorrow."
"Let go, I will walk away by myself."
Qi Yuer looked up at the sky. She really wanted to go back to her bedroom to eat. She was so hungry. Why hadn't the person in front of her left yet?
Qi Yu'er turned around and glanced at the main hall of the Cining Palace. The lotus cake that the empress dowager had just given her was so delicious that she wanted to have another piece.
Concubine Chen glared at Concubine Mei and left quickly.
After leaving the Cining Palace, everyone dispersed.
Qi Yuer was planning to go to the Inner Court to find a new dining table, and on the way she saw Xi Jiaorong carrying a food box and walking towards the imperial study.
She felt a little strange, "Xi Jiaorong was in the Cining Palace just now, why is she here again now?"
"Xi Fei, where are you going?"
"I'm going to give the emperor a fan."
"You're really fast on your feet."
"You have to hurry when you are on duty for the Emperor. I ran all the way here from the bedroom."
Qi Yu'er's heart skipped a beat. Xi Jiaorong said that she ran all the way here from the bedroom, which meant that the dull Xi Fei in the Cining Palace just now must not be her.
I don’t know what secret method Empress Dowager Hengle had, but she was able to find an imposter in such a short time to rescue Xi Jiaorong.
"Sister Qi Fei, I won't talk to you for now. See you later."
"Okay, see you later, Concubine Xi."
Xi Jiaorong walked briskly, holding a newly made fan in her hand, and flew towards the imperial study like a dancing butterfly.
Before entering the palace, Qi Yuer had heard her mother say that Xi Jiaorong and the emperor had been childhood sweethearts, and because of their childhood affection, the emperor naturally favored her more.
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