Chapter 219: Advancement to the Imperial Concubine
Wen Li'er's heart started pounding when she saw Yan Shixu's uncertain gaze.
She touched her face and thought about how her face had become rounder now. She lowered her head and subconsciously exerted force with her hands, feeling a little awkward.
Yan Shixu walked up to her, hugged his son with one hand, and took the sunflower in her hand with the other hand.
"Are you trying to destroy the flower?"
Wen Li'er was stunned and quickly lowered her eyes to look, only to see that the roots of the sunflowers in her hands had been broken by her.
Wen Li'er quickly let go of her hand and looked at her son with some guilt.
Xiaoxiao had no idea what "ruthless hands destroying flowers" meant, and continued to clap his hands and say, "Flower arrangement flower."
Yan Shixu casually inserted the two sunflowers with broken legs into a gilded silver vase with a pattern of linked birds, and told Qingzhu to place the vase on a small table next to the bed, so that it would be pleasing to the eye.
He put his son on the ground again and let him go out to play with Yongtai.
Xiaoxiao was also very familiar with Yongtai. He stretched out his little hand to grab Yongtai's robe, looked up and said, "Taitai, go play~~~"
Yongtai was always called Taitai by the eldest prince, but he didn't think that it damaged his dignity as the eunuch in front of the emperor. He happily went out holding Xiaoxiao's hand.
Just kidding, calling him like that means the eldest prince is close to me, and only a ghost would dislike that.
In the bedroom, Yan Shixu walked up to Wen Li'er and looked at her face carefully.
Seeing the faint bruises under her eyes, he couldn't help but frown.
"Is the baby in your belly bothering you? What did Miss Ziyun say when she came to the palace to check your pulse yesterday?"
Wen Li'er saw that he had strayed from the topic and quickly said, "The child is very well behaved and has not troubled me. He is also very healthy. Your Majesty, don't worry."
Yan Shixu felt relieved and asked again, "Then why didn't you sleep well?"
Wen Li'er naturally wouldn't say that it was because of his talent show that made her so anxious and unable to sleep.
"Your Majesty, I read a little late last night..."
Upon hearing this, Yan Shixu reached out and pinched her face, lecturing her, "When can't you read? You're reading for so long at night, be careful not to damage your eyes."
Wen Li'er quickly admitted her mistake: "I won't do it again next time."
"That's more like it. Are you sleepy today? Do you want to sleep a little longer?"
Wen Li'er shook her head: "I got up late today and have already slept well."
Yan Shixu then said, "I happen to be free today, so I'll accompany you for a walk in the Imperial Garden."
Wen Li'er hasn't been to the Imperial Garden for a long time.
Firstly, her belly was already so big that she didn't dare to risk going out; secondly, she was really too lazy to walk so far.
But with the emperor by my side, it would naturally be different.
Wen Li'er nodded like a chick pecking at rice.
"Okay, okay."
After Wen Li'er packed up, the group left the Bixi Palace.
Seeing that the emperor was personally supporting the imperial concubine, the palace servants just followed behind them quietly, acting like qualified moving wooden stakes.
In the Imperial Garden, the July sunshine shines through the gaps between the sycamore leaves, giving the flowers in the garden a golden edge.
Wen Li'er walked slowly forward holding Yan Shixu's arm, and she felt a sweet fragrance in her face. When she looked up, she saw the crabapple trees in full bloom.
The edges of the petals are rouge-colored, while the center of the flower is dotted with golden stamens, just like the blush on the cheeks of a drunken beauty.
"Why is this crabapple tree still blooming in July?" Wen Li'er stretched out her hand in surprise, her fingertips just about to touch the velvety petals.
Yan Shixu picked a branch and put it on her temples.
"The newly-minted Begonias from the south are said to be using ice cellars to control their flowering period."
I see.
Yan Shixu took Wen Li'er around the Nine-Curve Corridor, where clusters of crape myrtles were blooming freely beside the Taihu rocks.
The branches stretched out like peacock tail feathers, and the deep and light purple and red colors swayed in the wind. Occasionally, the falling petals stained Wen Li'er's skirt, which looked like a pattern carefully embellished by an embroiderer.
Yan Shixu leaned over to brush away the petals for her, but Wen Li'er suddenly tugged at his sleeve.
"Your Majesty, look!"
Then three or two blue-tailed butterflies were startled from the flowers and fluttered around the two of them.
Wen Li'er stretched out her soft white palm towards the butterfly, and a blue-tailed butterfly actually landed on her fingertips.
Wen Li'er stared at the butterfly in her hand with sparkling eyes and smiled happily.
"Your Majesty, this butterfly is not afraid of people."
Yan Shixu laughed. With her soft appearance, it would be strange if butterflies were afraid of her.
The blue-tailed butterfly stayed on Wen Li'er's fingertips for a long time. Seeing its companion fly away, it flapped its wings and followed.
Wen Li'er looked in the direction the butterfly flew away, and saw double-petaled lotus flowers blooming brilliantly in the lotus pond in front of her.
The jade-white petals wrapped in golden stamens float among the green leaves like glass lamps.
The hibiscus trees by the pond were not to be outdone. Their bowl-sized flowers were crowded together on the branches, and they bloomed in the morning and closed in the evening, casting crimson clouds all over the ground.
The most wonderful thing is the jasmine field behind the rockery.
Flowers like fresh snow are hidden among the green leaves, and their stamens, still wet with night dew, are filled with a faint fragrance.
The palace maids had already picked up cages filled with gilded silver threads and hung them at the four corners of the pavilion.
When the wind blows, the fragrance mixes with the sweetness of honeysuckle by the pond, wrapping people into a honey-like dream.
Wen Li'er was surrounded by such a beautiful flower landscape, and she felt that the depression she had felt in the previous month had completely disappeared.
"Your Majesty, the Imperial Garden is so beautiful."
Yan Shixu reached out and plucked the small yellow flower that had fallen from her black hair. He smiled and said, "If you like, I'll come with you again when I'm free."
Wen Li'er nodded repeatedly.
At this moment, three young women in brocade dresses walked out from the flower-filled path ahead.
A group of palace maids followed behind.
The person in front was Xie Zhenrong, and behind her followed two beautiful girls. At first glance, she was truly more beautiful than flowers.
Especially the woman on the right wearing a light blue waisted skirt.
She is extremely beautiful, like a fairy who has descended to earth from this world.
As she stood there, all the flowers in the imperial garden lost their color in an instant.
Nangong Ziyun's face has a kind of cold beauty, a beauty that feels distant and makes people afraid to approach.
The person in front of me has a graceful demeanor, is unforgettable when I see her, and can also make people feel a warm touch, and I can't help but want to get close to her.
Xie Zhenrong stepped forward to greet Yan Shi.
"Your Majesty is in a good mood today. I have also summoned two beautiful ladies to enjoy the flowers. Why don't we join them?"
Now that the selection has passed the re-selection, only after the final selection is over can the selected girls be named concubines and be eligible to enter the imperial garden.
But there are exceptions. For example, the Grand Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager or the Queen are qualified to summon the promoted beauties to appreciate flowers and recite poems.
Wen Li'er, with her big belly, was about to bow to Xie Zhenrongfu, but was held back by Yan Shixu.
"The Imperial Concubine is having stomach problems, so please excuse these formalities."
Xie Zhenrong said with a friendly smile: "Your Majesty is right, Sister Wen, there is no need to be so polite."
As she spoke, she waved to the two women kneeling not far away.
"Why don't you come forward and meet the Emperor and the Imperial Concubine?"
After hearing what was said, the two women dared to stand up and kneel down to salute.
"Your Majesty, I, Chen Yian, respectfully wish you good health and long life."
"Long live your servant, I wish our emperor a long life."
Wen Li'er and Yan Shixu looked at Wan Suihuan at the same time.
His surname is Wan and his name is Suihuan, but he has no intention of trying to please others.
But the name is indeed interesting.
Yan Shixu then asked, "Are you the daughter of Zuo Pushe Wan Shoucheng?"
"Your Majesty, this is the subject."
Yan Shixu nodded and didn't ask any more questions.
He said to Xie Zhenrong, "I will leave first. Queen, please enjoy the flowers at ease."
After saying that, he helped Wen Li'er leave.
Xie Zhenrong looked at the backs of the two people leaving, and his gaze fell on Chen Yian and Wan Suihuan again. His eyes were deep, and it was unknown what he was thinking.
Chen Yian and Wan Suihuan lowered their heads, both looking gentle and respectful.
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