Chapter 159: Promoted to Imperial Concubine
Yun Wan talked about the Yun family with Emperor Jingxuan.
"But what did they do to anger His Majesty?" she guessed.
After much thought, this is the only way.
He held his wife on his lap and in his arms until they were tightly fitted together. Emperor Jingxuan's brows were filled with satisfaction. When he heard this, his voice was hoarse and tinged with strong desire.
"I made the mistake of offending my wife."
His breath was scorching hot, and the touch caused Yun Wan's skin to heat up, her blood to surge, and a blush to appear.
She reached out and pressed the corner of his lips, her eyes as charming as silk: "I am speaking seriously, please don't talk nonsense."
His broad, lean back slowly sank, and he parted his thin lips slightly, easily taking the green jade finger in his mouth. He gently rubbed it with his teeth, and spoke in a slightly slurred and low voice: "I am speaking seriously."
Dissatisfied with her focusing on others, Emperor Jingxuan raised his eyelids slightly and asked softly, "Madam, how would you like to celebrate your birthday this year?"
birthday?
Yun Wan was stunned.
If he hadn't told her, she would have almost forgotten that her birthday was in half a month.
"How?" Yun Wan shook her head slowly, "I don't know either."
She hadn't celebrated her birthday seriously for many years. When he suddenly asked her about it, Yun Wan couldn't think of an answer for a moment.
Emperor Jingxuan pecked her between the eyebrows and asked, "Madam, how did you celebrate your birthday in the past?"
Frowning slightly, Yun Wan thought carefully, "I remember that when my mother was still alive, she would take me out of the house on that day, order a table of my favorite dishes at a restaurant, and then take me to parade, watch a play, and buy me the birthday gifts I wanted."
Such memories are beautiful but also short-lived, briefly making Yun Wan occasionally doubt whether it is true or just her imagination?
The time that Cen spent with her was too short. Since she could remember, what impressed Yun Wan most was her gentle voice, smile, and her lonely back when she occasionally sat alone by the window.
"Later, when I went to Yangzhou, my aunt would get up early on my birthday and make me a bowl of longevity noodles. She would put two eggs in it and sprinkle it with chopped green onions..."
Thinking of this, her eyes brightened and a smile played on her lips: "After dinner, my uncle will carry me on his back and take my cousin out to buy me new clothes, and then we'll go see a variety show. In the evening, my aunt will prepare a table of delicious food to celebrate my birthday."
That was one of the few profound memories, and Yun Wan carefully hid it in her heart, unwilling to forget it.
As for her father, he never shows up on her birthday.
Her tone and expression unconsciously revealed nostalgia and happiness, which Emperor Jingxuan noticed.
"It sounds carefree and beautiful, but Madam, only I can accompany you on your birthday this year. I will celebrate it for you." His tone was affectionate and strong.
"Since Madam can't figure it out, how about leaving it to me?"
Yun Wan nodded.
Emperor Jingxuan made up his mind: "Invite my aunt to the palace and leave my cousin alone. Let him stay at home and concentrate on preparing for the exam, so as not to affect his success in the exam."
He called her aunt and cousin fluently, even though he was seven years older than her cousin.
.......
Half a month passed in a flash, and the capital city became colder and colder. The first thing the palace maids did on duty every day was to clear the snow from the roads.
It snowed intermittently for a long time. On Yun Wan's birthday, the sky suddenly became gloomy and the sun came out, a rare sight.
The warm winter sun makes the body and mind feel comfortable. The whole palace, especially Qiyun Palace, is extremely lively. The palace people have happy faces and smiles all the time.
Today is Empress Yun's birthday, and everyone knows that His Majesty wants to celebrate her birthday in Chenxi Palace.
Since a few days ago, the corridors leading to the Dawn Hall from various palaces have been hung with lanterns, brocades, and velvet flower pots shipped in from outside the palace, making them look lifelike.
The Dawn Hall where the banquet was held was decorated with pots of carefully cultivated flowers, clusters of flowers, bright candlelight, and rows of East China Sea night pearls for lighting, which was a very pleasing sight.
At the beginning of the You hour, the invited ladies of the capital entered the palace in an orderly manner in their respective carriages. The ladies, led by Princess Yongshou, got off the carriages in front of Zhenghua Gate.
The noble lady, who could sense the joy of the festivities by looking at the ornaments in the palace, sighed, "The palace hasn't been this lively for a long time."
Princess Yongshou smiled and said, "I'm afraid there will be more excitement in the future."
This simple sentence made the ladies present think deeply, wondering if Princess Yongshou knew something.
The guests gathered, night fell, and the banquet began.
When the time came, Emperor Jingxuan, wearing a royal robe and a crown, appeared with Yun Wan, who was also wearing a gorgeous palace skirt and adorned with gold hairpins.
There was a little tail following behind the two of them. After bathing and changing clothes, Asui was carefully dressed up like a little fairy. He held Jiang Fusheng's hand and followed closely behind the two of them.
Knowing that it was A Niang's birthday party, he behaved properly in formal occasions, with a serious expression on his soft little face. Such a contrast made the female relatives like him.
Lin Xiu, who was arranged in a position that was neither conspicuous nor backward, was now thinking of Asui and no one else.
Although they were far apart, she could tell at a glance that Asui was a handsome girl, just like Yunwan.
After everyone shouted "Long live the emperor and a thousand years for the empress", Emperor Jingxuan ordered everyone to stand up and took Yun Wan's hand to sit down.
Asui sat in the seat at the lower right, sitting side by side with the third prince Pei Qian. The three of them shared a long desk, so they were not bored.
Before the banquet officially began, Emperor Jingxuan gave Jiang Fusheng a look, and he understood what he meant. He turned to the crowd and began to announce his decree:
"By the grace of Heaven and the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims: Concubine Yun is well-educated, virtuous, and talented, beautiful and intelligent, gentle and virtuous..."
The imperial edict was densely written with dozens of words of praise, as if the emperor wanted to write down all the beautiful words in the world to describe women. Jiang Fusheng's mouth was dry when he read it, and everyone was stunned when they heard it.
"For your meritorious service in governing the inner court, I hereby grant you the title of 'Zhao', a promotion to the First Rank Noble Consort. I decree this!"
Then came another list of rewards, so long it was mind-numbing.
Jiang Fusheng breathed a sigh of relief when the last word fell, finally finishing reading.
Imperial Concubine!
He was also specially granted a title!
Concubine Li suddenly withdrew her hand, her expression visibly worsened, and her armored fingers tightly gripped the armrest.
"Zhao" means bright hope, which just matches the "Chang" in your Majesty's name, which shows his intention.
She had been in the palace for so many years, and was only given the title of Imperial Concubine after giving birth to the Crown Prince. Why was Yun Wan promoted to Imperial Concubine and given a title just on her birthday?
Will there be a place for her in this palace from now on?
Concubine Lu also looked unhappy, especially when she received vague glances from people around her, as if they were laughing at the stupid things she had done.
"Congratulations to Her Majesty the Consort Zhao! Congratulations to Her Majesty the Consort Zhao! May Her Majesty remain youthful and happy forever!"
Led by Princess Yongshou, the female relatives came to congratulate.
Yun Wan: "Thank you all, today is my birthday banquet, please make yourselves at ease."
Emperor Jingxuan clapped his hands and said, "Reward!"
The female members of the family were all smiling happily, and Yun Wan's birthday party officially began.
"Madam, do you like this title? I chose it myself."
After Emperor Jingxuan drank some wine, his narrow and long eyes became surprisingly bright.
Yun Wan nodded, her eyes flickering with tiny bits of joy: "I like it. Your Majesty, thank you for your trouble."
Chang and Zhao, the eternal daylight and the bright moon, have the same meaning.
She thought that at most it was just a few more titles.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com