"It is Cheng's fault for causing you all this trouble!"
Zhao Cheng quickly cupped his hands to Deng Fugui, then bowed to everyone and said, "Please put aside your grudges today and enjoy a drink here. After the banquet, please take your gifts home, and I will personally apologize to each of you later!"
Li Lu cupped his hands and said, "Young Prime Minister, you are too kind! It was my oversight that almost ruined everything!"
"Alright!" Cai Qiong laughed, displaying the most carefree demeanor, and said, "Since the Prince Consort has arranged a banquet for us here, then consider it our way of offering our congratulations!"
As he spoke, Cai Qiong surveyed the surrounding scenery and laughed loudly, "Isn't this kind of special feast more enjoyable than the one at the Right Prime Minister's residence?"
Chai Xin chimed in, "Lord Cai is absolutely right! I think it's excellent!!"
"In that case, everyone must drink to their heart's content! I toast you all with this wine jug!" Zhao Cheng picked up the jug and drank it down in one gulp.
Jia Shensheng stood up, gazing at the golden wheat field before him. With his hands behind his back, he declared loudly, "Wheat fields may block our path, but they cannot hinder our hearts; let us drink heartily on this spot, for it is a testament to our brotherhood. Tell me, are a thousand cups of wine too few? When will we reach Yun Jing?"
"Is a thousand cups of wine not enough?"
"I ask when we will arrive in Yunjing!"
Cai Qiong's eyes lit up, and she exclaimed, "Great!"
As she spoke, Cai Qiong walked to Jia Shensheng's side, grabbed his hand, and exclaimed, "Your Highness, I'll use this poem as an excuse to drink a pot of wine with you. After today, I'll be waiting for you in Yun Jing!"
“It’s a deal!” Zhao Cheng replied boldly, while secretly glancing at Jia Shen Shen.
I wondered if my poetry skills could possibly improve on the same level?
...
Jing Palace.
The Imperial Garden.
Wen Tai, Mu Shanyue, Xu Shouli, and Du Yuhe waited outside for a long time before being summoned by the emperor. Only then did they straighten their official robes and follow Lü Lu inside.
From afar, they could see Yuan Xiu sitting casually on a rock, with He Yin standing beside him.
Behind Yuan Xiu was a row of eunuchs and palace maids, while in front of him was a slender woman singing and dancing.
The four stopped beside the woman. Just as they were about to pay their respects to Yuan Xiu, Yuan Xiu raised his hand and waved, indicating that they should wait aside.
The four then stepped back, lowered their heads, and secretly glanced at the woman.
The woman appeared to be seventeen or eighteen years old, with outstanding looks and a captivating beauty. She not only had almond-shaped eyes but also a small red mole between her eyebrows.
She's a real beauty.
Moreover, her singing voice was indeed beautiful, and her dancing skills were far superior to those of the dancers in the palace.
Facing the emperor, the young beauty was completely at ease. After her dance, she knelt down in front of Yuan Xiu, looked up at him directly, and chatted and laughed with him, indicating that they were already familiar with each other.
Yuan Xiu leaned forward, closing the distance between himself and the woman, and asked, "He Wu, your singing and dancing are indeed superb. I ask you, can you comb hair?"
"Huh?" He Wu was taken aback, not expecting Yuan Xiu to ask this.
He Yin coughed lightly and said sternly, "Answer whatever His Majesty asks you."
He Wu quickly nodded and said, "Yes."
"Is it combed well?"
“My brother… I’m the one who usually combs my brother’s hair.” He Wu glanced at He Yin.
"That's fine!"
Yuan Xiu turned his head and found Lü Lu, saying, "Lü Lu."
"This old servant is here."
"The young lady He Wu is talented and beautiful, and her inner qualities suit my taste perfectly. She is hereby conferred the title of Noble Consort Yi and shall move into the palace immediately. You shall make the necessary arrangements yourself."
"This old servant obeys the decree!"
He Yin gave He Wu a meaningful look and said, "Aren't you going to thank her?"
Overjoyed, He Wu prostrated herself on the ground and said, "This humble woman thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness."
Yuan Xiu reached out and lifted He Wu's chin, asking with a smile, "Still calling yourself a commoner?"
He Wu thought for a moment, then said, "Your Majesty, I... Your Majesty, I thank you!"
"That's more like it..." Yuan Xiu chuckled, waved his hand at Lü Lu, and said, "Take Consort Yi with you!"
"Consort Yi, please come with this old servant." Lü Lu led He Wu away.
Yuan Xiu put his hands behind his back and vigorously wiped them on the dragon robe.
The four people who had just entered were stunned as they watched He Wu's departing figure.
A mere candidate for imperial concubine was directly promoted to the rank of Imperial Concubine?!
Our emperor really doesn't play by the rules!
Xu Shouli was only slightly surprised, but didn't have any other thoughts. Mu Shanyue, Wen Taihe, and Du Yuhe, however, were different.
Back then, the veteran officials, led by Mu Shanyue, pressured Yuan Xiu to select concubines. Yuan Xiu wasn't as assertive then as he is now, and was forced to agree. Seeing Yuan Xiu compromise, Wen Tai quickly sent a concubine as well. To balance the court, Yuan Xiu selected one concubine from the veteran officials' selection and one from Wen Tai's, bestowing upon them the title of Imperial Concubine.
Yuan Xiu never established an empress, so the harem was mainly occupied by these two imperial concubines.
When Yuan Xiu agreed to establish an empress, all the officials assumed that the empress would be one of the two imperial concubines. However, Yuan Xiu hesitated to make a decision, leading the officials to speculate that it was because the decision was difficult to make.
It's not appropriate to use Li Wentai's people; the Left Prime Minister's office already has enough power.
Yuan Xiu, a man who admires mountains, was unwilling to compromise with these old ministers; it would be a loss of face for him!
Good heavens, Yuan Xiu has now directly bestowed the title of Imperial Concubine upon a young woman.
The meaning couldn't be clearer!
Yuan Xiu abandoned the two imperial concubines and wanted to directly establish this newly appointed imperial concubine as empress!
Having figured this out, all four of them looked at He Yin without prior arrangement.
His expression was complicated.
This Consort Yi is He Yin's younger sister!
Although He Yin was born into a prominent family in Changsui, he entered officialdom through the imperial examination and achieved outstanding results, becoming the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice at the age of twenty-five.
In less than three years, he was promoted to Minister of Justice.
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