The palace maid opened the incense burner with a lotus pattern, put in the spices that the palace lady had just presented, and carefully lit it.
Behind the soft light blue gauze lay a woman who had just woken up. She had been reading late yesterday and rested casually on the hibiscus couch.
The sunlight outside shone on a porcelain vase with peach blossoms in front of the window. Xie Xuanzhao rested his head on his hands and admired it for a while before getting up and asking the palace maid to help him wash and dress.
A snow-white little ball stumbled out from behind the gauze curtain. Xie Xuanzhao bent down to pick it up, curled up his red lips and smiled, "Little thing, running around again." His voice was low and sweet, with the light tenderness and lingering feeling of a woman's clear voice.
This Snowball is a Persian cat that Xie Xuanzhao raised after entering the palace. Its eyes are as blue as gems, its fur is shiny and smooth, and it is raised very preciously.
Xie Xuanzhao gently combed its snow-white fur with his hands as he walked outside. "Could you ladies wait until breakfast to come over?"
"Those who have just come here are sitting outside now." The palace maid stood respectfully with her hands hanging down and lifted the pearl curtain for her.
Ever since Qiu Zhaorong fainted during the morning greetings because she had not eaten breakfast, Xie Xuanzhao ordered them to have breakfast before coming to pay their respects, and they would rather be late than come on an empty stomach.
Later, the concubines learned that the queen liked to sleep in, so they became much more relaxed. They didn't have to get up early, and they were naturally happy.
Xie Xuanzhao sat at the first seat in the hall, looking at the beauties below, squinting his eyes in enjoyment, and his mood became better.
This was a pleasing sight in the dull palace, so she would hold a tea party or flower party every now and then, inviting them to sit down, or go to the imperial garden in groups to stroll.
Whether it was food or clothing, Xie Xuanzhao never treated these concubines unfairly. He made sure to run his territory prosperously so that everyone could enjoy excellent benefits.
It's just a pity that not everyone can satisfy these. Xie Xuanzhao remembered that not long ago, in order to gain the emperor's patronage, someone actually reported the empress to the emperor behind her back, saying that the empress misused the national treasury's money and pursued a luxurious life.
The emperor used this as a pretext to order a reduction in the expenses of Chenshen Palace.
Xie Xuanzhao knew that someone had set him up behind his back, and he was very upset, but he never found out who had reported him.
Thinking of this, she rubbed her brows with a headache. These ungrateful little bastards couldn't even tell the good from the bad.
Kang Zhaoyi, who was sitting closest to her, saw her rubbing her brows in pain, so she cautiously approached her and said in a somewhat flattering tone, "Sister, can I rub your shoulders for you?"
Xie Xuanzhao put down his hand and looked at the beautiful woman in front of him with some concern. Ever since he helped her severely punish the treacherous minister who had been harassing her, Kang Zhaoyi's eyes looked at him differently.
It's too hot.
Xie Xuanzhao knew what this meant, and she felt even more distressed. She had inadvertently turned a girl gay. This was a complete mistake!
Out of a sense of responsibility towards Kang Zhaoyi, Xie Xuanzhao waved his hand with a cold expression, "No need. Kang Zhaoyi, please sit back down."
Kang Zhaoyi sat back in her seat somewhat disappointedly, but she still stared at the queen without any hesitation.
This was the first person who treated her well sincerely. After Kang Zhaoyi saw the Queen Mother stand up domineeringly, redress her injustice, and kill the disgusting man, she decided to be the Queen Mother.
It turned out that she had misunderstood her before. When Kang Zhaoyi thought about how she treated the queen with hostility when she first entered the palace, she felt very guilty.
Xie Xuanzhao didn't look at Kang Zhaoyi, but looked at the concubines who came to pay their respects, and finally his eyes fell on a little girl sitting in the corner.
This little girl is Yu Cainu. She has been in the palace for some time. Like other concubines, her favor from the emperor was short-lived. Soon she was thrown into a corner and no one cared about her.
Xie Xuanzhao had actually been keeping an eye on her. It was very difficult for a young concubine with no relatives or family background to survive in the harem, so Xie Xuanzhao would prepare clothes, jewelry and bonuses every month, and specially order his capable maid to deliver them personally, for fear that they would be intercepted by someone with ulterior motives.
Logically speaking, Yu Cainv should have lived a life without worries about food and clothing, but after not seeing her for a few days, she looked much more haggard, with a faint dark aura lingering between her eyebrows, and her whole body seemed to be shrouded in the aura of "bad luck".
Xie Xuanzhao felt something was amiss and was about to ask about it when a palace maid outside the corridor suddenly announced, "Princess Yue has arrived."
Kang Zhaoyi looked at the clepsydra beside her and reminded the queen, "Sister, it's already the Si hour."
It’s almost lunch time.
Several concubines also began to whisper, "This is too much. They actually came so late. This shows that they don't take the Queen seriously."
"You're so arrogant when you're paying your respects for the first time. You're really too proud."
Xie Xuanzhao frowned slightly as she listened to all the discussions. It seemed that this was another difficult concubine to deal with.
Xie Xuanzhao married the emperor when he was not yet an emperor. On their wedding night, the groom did nothing but fell asleep.
Xie Xuanzhao initially thought that he was not interested in romantic matters. Later, when she caught him flirting and doing those things with a handsome little servant in the study, she suddenly realized that the emperor was the same kind of person as herself.
Originally, the two of them lived in peace and harmony, so Xie Xuanzhao didn't mind. However, not all of the emperor's male favorites were homosexuals; most were forced into sexual favors or were forced to pursue them for wealth and fame. One time, one of the favorites even set his sights on Xie Xuanzhao's personal maid, exploiting the emperor's favor and beginning to grope her.
After Xie Xuanzhao learned about it, he was furious and took out the python skin whip that had been kept in the bottom of the box for a long time and beat his male favorite until he was covered with bruises.
When the emperor found out, he thought the queen was just jealous. He secretly resented her and began to take in many beauties one after another, just to make things difficult for his wife and to anger her to death.
Xie Xuanzhao smiled without saying anything. If those male favorites dared to extend their claws into the harem, she would beat them up. If they did it again, they would be beheaded.
This time, the emperor used the same old trick and took in another beauty to make things difficult for himself.
After several attempts, it was almost the same routine, creating a domineering concubine to confront him. Xie Xuanzhao was getting a little fed up with it.
Just like at this moment, this new favorite concubine is putting on airs and being late on purpose, isn't that an old trick?
Xie Xuanzhao yawned somewhat boredly, then signaled the concubines to be quiet, "Let Concubine Yue come in."
Several palace maids rolled up the pearl curtain and entered one after another, making a grand scene.
These are all palace maids sent by the emperor, so they know how to show the aura of the favorite concubine.
Liu Qinglan's attention was all on the melon seeds in his hand, and he had no idea of the emperor's good intentions.
So the people in the hall who were holding their breath waiting for the new favorite concubine to appear saw this scene: a girl in a light blue palace skirt came skipping in, holding a handful of melon seeds in her hand.
Lulu realized it later and turned around with a stiff neck, only to see her master happily cracking melon seeds and spitting out the shells everywhere!
Several concubines who were born into wealthy families twitched their lips in disgust, thinking she was just an uneducated little girl.
Seeing these people staring at her blankly, completely unaware of her unique painting style, Liu Qinglan hesitantly stretched out her hand, revealing her palm. "Do you want some melon seeds? I can only give you one, no more!"
An expression of conflict and reluctance appeared on her fair face.
Xie Xuanzhao's eyelids suddenly twitched. Where did the emperor get such a girl? She was so innocent and almost uneducated.
It is totally incompatible with the strict rules of the palace.
Lulu gently tugged at her own queen's sleeve and said, "Don't forget to pay your respects."
Liu Qinglan reluctantly stuffed a handful of melon seeds into Lulu's palm and asked her to help him keep it. Then he picked up the jade ruyi and walked towards the queen at the top.
Finally met the rumored palace boss.
Sitting on the magnificently carved seat was a woman in a phoenix skirt, with long, flowing hair, phoenix eyes and red lips. She was beautiful and graceful, so beautiful that it was breathtaking.
Liu Qinglan opened his eyes slightly and stood there in a daze.
This queen was much more beautiful than in the painting, and she looked like a fairy concubine. The key point was that there was a faint purple aura lingering around her.
Purple Qi came from the east, a most auspicious aura. She was actually able to make the purple Qi gather and protect her body, which showed that her luck and fortune in this life were beyond words.
This is a blessing that can only be obtained after several lifetimes of cultivation.
Liu Qinglan was holding the jade ruyi, completely mesmerized. It was so beautiful!
Xie Xuanzhao narrowed his eyes slightly, a little displeased. This little concubine looked fair and tender, but she was unexpectedly stupid. The emperor was really too much, actually bullying a little fool.
Unaware that she was being categorized as idiotic, the little fairy Liu couldn't help but move closer, hoping to rub against the Queen's purple aura. A touch of this luck would be beneficial to the fairy's cultivation.
When Liu Qinglan thought about having to deal with the Queen in the future, he swallowed and began to think about currying favor with her.
At this moment, she had completely forgotten that she was a spy sent by the emperor, and she only wanted to please this stunning beauty!
Xie Xuanzhao's eyes gradually turned sympathetic, and he spoke in the tone of a child, "Princess Yue, what are you holding in your hands?"
Her voice was so nice, too! The Willow Fairy, her limbs limp, took a few steps forward and said softly and sweetly, "Sister, this is a gift for you."
Kang Zhaoyi glanced at her and snorted coldly, "You're so familiar, you call me sister already."
Xie Xuanzhao loved being called "sister" by girls. She narrowed her eyes in satisfaction and waved at the fair-skinned girl, "Give it here, let me take a look."
Liu Qinglan ran over happily holding the jade ruyi in her arms as if she were presenting a treasure. If she showed her white tail at that moment, it would definitely wag its tail all over the sky and she would be so happy!
Xie Xuanzhao took the fine jade ruyi, which was warm and comfortable to the touch. She played with it for a while, feeling somewhat satisfied. "This is a good gift, Yuepin, you..."
She turned her head to look at Liu Qinglan who was standing next to her, and suddenly noticed that her face was white, tender and smooth, with a light blush on her cheeks, not sure if it was rouge or the natural color of her skin. At this moment, Liu Qinglan's elf-like dark eyes were looking at her expectantly.
Xie Xuanzhao felt a strange feeling in his heart, and the previous unhappy emotions disappeared, replaced by a warm and tender feeling.
She didn't know how gentle her phoenix eyes were at that moment.
Liu Qinglan was shocked. Oh no, she must have drawn the "gentle and honest" talisman instead of the "tender and affectionate" talisman!
It’s all my fault for not learning the skills well enough!
Liu Qinglan was feeling frustrated when the beautiful woman in front of him suddenly opened her lips and said with white teeth and red lips, "Princess Yue, why are you blushing?"
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