Concubine Lian had a good temper and the Empress Dowager liked her very much. The atmosphere in Ci'an Palace was very harmonious. However, Concubine Xian, who was sitting next to her, suddenly covered her chest and vomited repeatedly.
This attracted everyone's attention for a moment, and the empress dowager's face turned visibly colder.
We are not blind. As pregnant women, everyone can see that the Queen Mother prefers Concubine Lian. But as for Concubine Xian, to put it bluntly, even if she really gives birth to a prince in the future, I am afraid the Queen Mother will not like her very much.
Concubine Xian's face was filled with panic. She quickly stood up and saluted: "I have been disrespectful. I beg the Queen Mother to forgive me."
Everyone was present at the moment, and the Queen Mother didn't want to make the situation awkward. She forced a smile and said, "You're pregnant, so there's no need to perform formalities. Besides, it's normal for women to be defensive. Nanny Song, go make another cup of honey tea and bring it to Concubine Xian to make her feel better."
"yes."
Nanny Song left as she was told. Concubine Shu smiled sweetly at the Empress Dowager and said, "Today is your birthday. I have prepared a great gift for you. Please accept it, Your Majesty."
As she spoke, Mo Xiang brought out a gift box made of bright yellow silk. After the palace maid took it, opened it, and handed it to the empress dowager, two pieces of warm jade lay prominently on the silk.
Moreover, they are all natural and have not been carved. They are lustrous and do not contain any impurities. The most rare thing is that there seems to be a light mist around the warm jade, which makes it obvious that they are priceless treasures at first glance.
Zhuang He, the Concubine, leaned in close and sighed, "Nuanyu is rare, especially when they are a pair. Concubine Shu, where did you find them?"
Concubine Shu raised her eyebrows proudly at Fu Qianyu: "How could this concubine have found it? This warm jade knew it was the Queen Mother's birthday, so she brought it to your door on her own."
The Queen Mother was overjoyed at these words and said with a smile, "Girl, are you smearing honey on your lips today?"
After some banter, Concubine Shu turned her gaze to Fu Qianyu again and said, "Your Majesty, I'm going to offer my gift to the Empress Dowager before you. Will you be angry?"
"How could that be?" Fu Qianyu lowered her eyes and paused at her, then said calmly, "Today is the Queen Mother's birthday. As long as it makes her happy, I can do anything."
"Your Majesty is truly gracious. I wonder what gift you've prepared for the Queen Mother? Why not show it to us first?"
Fu Qianyu turned her head and winked at Lingyun. Lingyun understood and lightly clapped her hands towards the outside. Soon, Xiangyue and Baozhan came in one after another.
Xiang Yue was holding a scroll in her hand, while Bao Zan was holding a scripture.
When the scroll was unfolded, there was a painting of Guanyin on it. Upon closer inspection, it seemed to be embroidered with silk thread. The Bodhisattva had a peaceful face, holding a pure bottle in her hand, and was compassionate to the world.
Baozan was holding a blood scripture. The empress dowager recognized at a glance that this blood scripture was written by the eminent monk, and there was no surprise on her face.
Concubine Shu didn't understand this and sneered at the sight. "Empress Dowager, you are the mistress of the six palaces after all. How dare you offer such a humble gift to the Empress Dowager? It's just a copy of the sutra. The library has as many as you need. Are you just trying to please the Empress Dowager?"
Concubine Zhuanghe asked, "Empress, is this the Blood Sutra copied by Master Wuyou himself?"
Fu Qianyu nodded slightly. "Yes, a few years ago, Master Wuyou was traveling around and happened to pass by the Fu family. My father invited him to stay for a while. Before he left, he left this blood sutra. I know that your mother loves to worship Buddha, so I'm offering this to you. I hope your mother will accept it."
Concubine Zhuanghe smiled and said, "Master Wuyou is a highly accomplished monk who doesn't give gifts easily. It must be that your family has a connection with him. What about this painting of Guanyin?"
Lingyun knelt and said, "In reply to the Concubine, this Guanyin painting was embroidered by our Queen herself, stitch by stitch. To prevent it from being contaminated, the Queen has been observing a vegetarian diet for three months."
"I am very pleased with this gift." The Queen Mother was pious before the palace maids and solemnly instructed them, "Carefully enshrine the Guanyin statue and this blood sutra in the Buddhist temple."
"yes."
When Concubine Shu saw this scene, her face turned red with anger.
She had spent a huge sum of money to get that pair of warm jades, and she thought that this would please the Queen Mother, but she did not expect that the Queen would easily steal the limelight.
"Master Wuyou has been traveling around the world for so many years. Who knows whether this blood scripture is real or fake? Queen Mother, please don't be fooled."
As soon as she finished speaking, the Queen Mother's face darkened in displeasure.
Instead, Concubine Zhuanghe smiled and explained to Concubine Shu, "You are still young, so it's natural that you don't recognize it. In the early years, the late emperor once obtained the master's calligraphy. I and the Empress Dowager have both examined it. This scripture is indeed the master's handwriting. Queen, you are indeed thoughtful."
"I am also offering flowers to Buddha."
The Queen Mother's face was full of love: "You manage all the affairs of the six palaces, and now you are willing to give this blood scripture to me. I am really happy."
"As long as the Queen Mother likes it."
Not long after, a palace servant came in to report that the banquet was ready and asked the Empress Dowager to move over. The Emperor still had some government affairs to attend to and would probably have to finish them before he could come.
The empress dowager took Fu Qianyu's hand and stood up with a smile, and the group headed towards Yuqing Palace.
After helping the Empress Dowager get into the sedan chair, Fu Qianyu turned around when she heard Concubine Shu ask her from behind, "In the past, Miss Peirong always served the Empress. Why isn't she here today?"
"Pei Rong is ill, so I'll let her rest in the palace."
Concubine Shu raised her eyebrows slightly: "So you are sick."
After leaving behind these unclear words, Concubine Shu turned around and left, twisting her waist.
The arrangements for tonight's dinner were all made by Fu Qianyu and Hui Jieyu. Even every bowl and dish on the table had been checked several times by the two of them.
Concubine Hui didn't dare to sit down and told Huaying to go to the small kitchen and keep an eye on everything. Learning from the previous experience, there must not be any mistakes in the diet of Concubine Lian and Concubine Xian.
When gongs and drums sounded on the stage, an announcement was made outside that the emperor had arrived.
Everyone stood up.
Zhao Yuancheng arrived late and apologized to his mother: "Today is your birthday. I wish you happiness as vast as the East Sea and a long life as long as the Southern Mountains."
The Queen Mother's face was flushed and she smiled brightly, "Get up."
As he spoke, Zhao Yuancheng ordered Zhu Yu to bring in the prepared gift, which was a red coral that was nearly two meters tall.
Red coral is the incarnation of Tathagata Buddha and is regarded as a symbol of wealth and auspiciousness.
The Queen Mother's eyes were filled with joy, "You and the Queen are truly thoughtful."
Zhao Yuancheng had long known that the blood scripture presented by the queen was indeed a perfect match for the red coral, and he gave the queen a gentle look.
They smiled at each other, their affection expressed without words.
Seeing this, Concubine Shu was filled with anger and snorted coldly, "I'll let you be proud for a while, and then you'll know how powerful I am."
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