Ruyi went out to inquire and finally found out what had happened. She said to Ning Yuxi, "My Lord, I just heard that the Emperor plans to keep those red fruit trees alive for a few more days, and then bring them out for the whole palace to enjoy on the eldest princess' birthday."
Yes, the eldest princess is now favored by the emperor, and the emperor has ordered that her birthday in a few days should be celebrated with great fanfare.
But now the power to manage the harem is still in the hands of Concubine Xin and Concubine Rong, so this time the eldest princess' birthday banquet will be organized by them. The queen is just watching from the side, and she must be feeling sick to her stomach, haha.
Ning Yuxi thought with gloating pleasure.
The next morning, Ning Yuxi went to Fengluan Palace to pay her respects. Sure enough, everyone was talking about the precious elixir.
When Rong Fei saw her, she smiled and said, "Sister Yi Fei is here. The sisters are discussing the precious Dan fruit. I am from Western Chu, but I have never seen such a precious fruit.
I heard that Concubine Yi got that fruit from the Empress Dowager yesterday. I wonder what it tastes like. Is it really as delicious as the rumors say?"
Ning Yuxi raised her eyes and glanced at her, sneering in her heart. This Concubine Rong was really making her uncomfortable all the time. No one had ever seen or eaten such a thing, and she told her about what she had eaten at the Empress Dowager's place, wasn't she just trying to make her hate her?
However, Concubine Rong is now worthy of being the one in charge of the harem. Everyone knows that she ate the elixir fruit at the Empress Dowager's place yesterday.
She said calmly, "If Rong Fei wants to know what the fruit tastes like, then go ask the Emperor or the Empress Dowager to give it to you. With Rong Fei's current power, eating the fruit should be a piece of cake, right? Why bother asking me?"
Rong Fei's expression froze for a moment, but she quickly adjusted herself: "I was just envious of you for being able to eat that fruit. Since you don't want to tell me, then I won't ask."
As she spoke, her expression became lonely and a little aggrieved.
Ning Yuxi really wanted to roll her eyes: "If Concubine Rong really wants to know, you can ask Sister Xinfei, who manages the harem with you. Sister Xinfei is an old lady in the palace and gave birth to the second prince.
In previous years, Concubine Xin would have received a portion of the tribute fruit. Why would Concubine Rong go so far away? Could it be that she felt that Concubine Xin was not favored now and had not tasted the fruit?"
She had consulted Ruyi and Luoying last night to find out who the tribute fruits were distributed to. The lower-ranking concubines did not get any, but all the higher-ranking concubines except Qinpin got some, because Qinpin had no children and was not favored.
Ruyi and Luoying both entered the palace at the age of thirteen or fourteen, and they must have known about it after being in the palace for five or six years.
When Ning Yuxi said this, Concubine Xin's face fell. She looked at Concubine Rong unhappily. Although she and Concubine Rong were not on good terms, but as Concubine Yi said,
She now manages the harem together with Concubine Rong and they meet often. If Concubine Rong wanted to know about the fruit, she would ask Concubine Yi instead of her. Who knows if she doesn't think that Concubine Yi is not favored by the emperor and looks down on her?
People often care about things the most when they have nothing. Since she was not favored by the emperor, she hated it most that others would use this as an excuse to look down on her.
She looked at Concubine Rong with a stern expression: "It's just a fruit. If Concubine Rong wants to know, you can come and ask me. Do you really look down on me as Concubine Yi said? Do you think I haven't eaten that fruit?"
Concubine Rong wanted to roll her eyes. Was this about the fruit? She was just trying to use the elixir to make others envious and hate Concubine Yi, to draw hatred towards her. This Concubine Xin was just a pig-brained person who kept nagging at a fruit.
However, Concubine Xin was an old lady in the palace, and she had the Second Prince by her side. She was also managing the affairs of the harem with her, so she couldn't offend her too much. She had to explain, "Sister Xin, you misunderstood. I never meant to look down on you..."
Before she could finish her words, Concubine Xin interrupted her impatiently, "Alright, I know whether you are good or not. You are indeed from a poor and remote village. It's just a Dan fruit, but you are so concerned about it. I am almost tired of eating it before."
As she spoke, Concubine Xin looked at Concubine Rong with disdain.
Concubine Rong was almost vomiting blood. This Concubine Xin must have something wrong with her brain. She kept talking about a broken fruit. In order not to get angry to death, she gritted her teeth and decided to shut up and not argue with her.
Just then a eunuch shouted, "The Queen has arrived."
Everyone stood up and saluted the queen.
Ning Yuxi felt the Queen's gaze fall on her for a moment, and she was probably worried about the Queen Mother rewarding her with the elixir fruit.
However, her gaze quickly shifted away and landed on Concubine Xin and Concubine Rong: "The day after tomorrow is the eldest princess' birthday. How are Concubine Xin and Concubine Rong preparing?
Even though we're just celebrating for her, we can't be careless. Furthermore, since this is your first time hosting a palace banquet, you must be more attentive and don't let the Emperor and me down."
Upon hearing this, Concubine Xin and Concubine Rong immediately said respectfully, "Yes, Your Majesty, we will take good care of it and will not let the Emperor and Empress down."
The Queen looked at them meaningfully for a moment before she slowly said, "That's good."
Just as Concubine Xin and Concubine Rong were relieved, they heard the Queen speak again, "Oh, by the way, Siam sent a tribute of red fruits yesterday. The Emperor plans to let the sisters taste them together at the eldest princess' birthday banquet. These fruits are very precious. Concubine Xin and Concubine Rong must keep an eye on and take good care of those red fruits."
The two of them nodded in agreement.
The Queen took a sip of tea and said, "In that case, you may all disperse. I still need to go to Chonghua Palace to check on the eldest prince's studies."
Chonghua Palace is where the princes move out from their mothers after they turn five years old. Now only the eldest prince and the second prince live in Chonghua Palace.
When Concubine Xin heard that the Empress was going to Chonghua Palace, she also thought of her Second Prince. Thinking about going with the Empress, she flattered him, "With the Empress always supervising the First Prince's studies, no wonder the First Prince's studies are so good and the Emperor often praises him."
Unexpectedly, the Queen said with a forced smile, "I am free now. Unlike Concubine Xin, who is currently managing the affairs of the harem, I can naturally visit the eldest prince from time to time."
Concubine Xin choked and looked at the queen's deep eyes. She was so scared that she lowered her head and pretended to be a quail.
The queen ignored her and left.
On the way back to the palace, Ning Yuxi saw teams of busy palace maids and eunuchs walking towards Changle Palace, some carrying flower pots, and some moving tables and chairs.
This time the birthday banquet for the Grand Princess was held in her Changle Palace. She had been living in Changle Palace with her mother, Concubine Liu. Now that Concubine Liu was gone, she was left alone.
She didn't move out either. She should have moved out, but now that she was valued by the emperor, she naturally didn't have to move.
She recalled the way the Queen looked at Concubine Xin and Concubine Rong just now, as well as her attitude towards them. She guessed that the eldest princess' birthday banquet would not be peaceful.
After all, the Queen's house arrest has been lifted, but after so many days, the Emperor has not said that he will return the power to manage the harem to the Queen. It is still managed by Concubine Xin and Concubine Rong. The Queen is not only unhappy, but she is also probably angry in her heart.
She might very well use this banquet to do something to take back the power to manage the harem. Thinking of this, Ning Yuxi's eyes flashed.
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