As autumn deepens, the fragrance of osmanthus fills the palace, and the golden stamens are like stars in the mortal world.
I haven't seen Song Heng since the last time we met on the street, but he has been summoned by the Queen Mother.
I took Xiao Cui to the Cining Palace. It was the first time that I saw only the Empress Dowager and the old nanny in the main hall of the Cining Palace.
As a concubine who suppresses Empress Hua, I am indeed a good chess piece, but if I cross the line, I will be the first one to be suppressed. I know this very well.
The Empress Dowager glanced at Xiao Cui, and I told her to wait for me outside the palace. Xiao Cui had no choice but to purse her lips and retreat. The Cining Palace was no longer bustling with concubines as before, but rather solemn and quiet.
The Queen Mother still had a kind face. She sat in the upper seat and smiled at me gently: "Sit down."
I sat down cautiously, and a maid placed stacks of delicious pastries on my table and brewed a cup of hot tea for me.
Thinking of how I feasted on the feast when all the concubines gathered together that day, I felt a sense of sadness that "the hero is no longer the same as he used to be".
The Cining Palace was so quiet at this moment that one could even hear the sound of the Empress Dowager blowing the tea leaves.
After a long while, the Queen Mother's voice came: "Mu Jieyu, these snacks are not to your liking?"
I quickly shook my head and looked at the empress dowager's kind face with a smile on my face: "I ate a little too much at lunch today, and I'm still a little full now."
She smiled and didn't ask any more questions. Then she placed the teacup on the sandalwood table, picked up a green orange from the fruit bowl and began to peel it. The old nanny was about to take it, but the queen mother gently blocked her with her hand: "No need, I can do it myself."
"The tribute of oranges from Nanling is arriving early this year," the Empress Dowager muttered to herself. "It's autumn again."
I replied respectfully, "Yes."
The Queen Mother did not continue. While peeling the tangerines, she looked up at me kindly: "Don't you have nail polish on, Concubine Mu? Then peel some tangerines with me."
As soon as I finished speaking, the nanny had already brought down a plate of green tangerines. I reached out and picked up the one on the top: "Yes."
If I had known this earlier, I wouldn't have bothered to ask Xiao Cui to paint my nails with Impatiens. Watching the Empress Dowager peeling the orange peel gracefully, I could only watch quietly and imitate her carefully.
I used to just break the orange in half by hand, peel it, and then pull off the skin to eat. But now, I have to learn to peel the orange peel like a flower, leaving the bottom of the fruit, and the round golden flesh is like a jewel held in the center of the flower.
It looks really good.
I was just about to peel off the last piece of green peel when a maid came in quickly: "Empress Dowager, His Majesty has arrived."
The Queen Mother put down a peeled tangerine and looked towards the door: "The second tangerine hasn't been peeled yet."
Song Heng, dressed in a dragon robe, exuded awe and dignity. The beads on his head made a crisp sound due to his slightly faster steps, which was particularly clear in the quiet Cining Palace. "My son greets the Queen Mother."
"Get up," the Queen Mother said slowly, "Concubine Mu and I are peeling the new tribute green tangerines from Nanling, so it's a good time for you to have a taste."
"Yes." Song Heng sat directly in a seat between me and the Queen Mother, and the nanny brought Song Heng another cup of tea.
He reached out and picked up a green tangerine from my plate, broke it open with his hands, and took out a piece of flesh to taste: "This year's Nanling tribute tangerines are truly top-quality."
The Queen Mother smiled and said, "Concubine Mu and I haven't eaten yet, but you took the first bite."
Song Heng glanced at me sideways, then smiled at the Queen Mother in the palace: "It's just that I'm anxious."
"You wouldn't have gotten so anxious over a green tangerine before." The Queen Mother paused, and Song Heng paused as well. Then the Queen Mother changed the subject: "When the green tangerines arrive, autumn will also be here."
Song Heng said respectfully, "Yes, the Queen Mother's birthday banquet is coming soon. Is there anything that the Queen Mother needs this year? I will do my best to do it."
"You work tirelessly, your affairs tied up in your hands. Don't worry about my affairs anymore. The Ministry of Rites manages everything very well every year." The Queen Mother took a sip of tea and then, as if thinking of something, said, "I still remember last year at my birthday banquet, Concubine Mu said she wanted to dance for me this year. Concubine Mu, please don't worry too much."
I almost forgot about it if you hadn't mentioned it! There's also a plot line! In the book, I danced at the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet and stunned everyone, and that's when I began my so-called life of being favored by the Emperor.
Now it seems that it is just a superficial performance, but this dance is quite mysterious and I really need to go back and think about it.
"I understand." I replied respectfully.
"A few days ago, you and I went to worship Buddha, but were robbed by bandits. Are you hurt?" The Queen Mother said kindly.
I was stunned for a moment, and inexplicably thought of what the Queen said to me that day about the "Shougongsha". I didn't know why the Queen Mother said this. Was she also suspecting that I would insult the royal family?
My hand holding the green tangerine moved involuntarily, and soon another hand came over. Song Heng took advantage of the situation and took the tangerine from my hand, which still had a piece of skin left. "My mother, when Ah Fu left, Concubine Mu was still tied to the couch. The imperial physician later checked and found nothing wrong. I'm sorry for the trouble, mother."
After saying that, he tore off the last piece of peel and handed the orange, crystal-clear orange back to me: "My Queen Mother cares so much about you, I can't take your orange away anymore. Thank you so much, Queen Mother."
I quickly came to my senses and took the orange: "Thank you, Her Majesty, for your concern. Thank you, Your Majesty."
The Queen Mother glanced between the two of us calmly: "I'm glad you're okay."
"Alright, I'm tired too," the Queen Mother put down her teacup and stood up, accepting the support from the head nanny. "You all should go and do your own things."
It's actually over now. I'm really confused today. After leaving the palace gate, Xiao Cui ran forward to greet me, and when she saw Song Heng beside me, she quickly bowed.
Song Heng and I walked side by side in the palace, and he was the first to speak: "What did the Queen Mother talk to you about before I came?"
I told her everything, then we chatted about snacks and peeled an orange. I couldn't yet guess if these trivial things had any deeper meaning. After all, the Queen Mother was the queen of the palace battles back then, and I was just a weak female supporting role.
He paused, frowned, closed his eyes, and then turned to me and said, "Go back to Chenshuang Pavilion first."
Before I could respond to him, I saw him hurriedly returning the way he came.
Then he suddenly turned around and looked at me firmly: "I suddenly remembered something about the birthday banquet and need to go to the Cining Palace to find my mother. I will take care of it."
Seeing me nod, he turned around again and walked away quickly.
The faint fragrance of early osmanthus drifted in with the breeze. I watched his bright yellow figure getting farther and farther away, still holding the orange he handed me in the hall. I peeled off a slice, and the sweet and slightly sour juice exploded in my mouth. It was just right. But maybe I ate too much at lunch, and I didn't feel as happy and excited as before when I ate something delicious. I just felt an inexplicable taste.
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