The subsequent songs and dances were also carefully choreographed by the palace music troupe, but because of the previous performance, everyone felt bored and uninterested.
After all the performances were over, Emperor Xuande stood up and said, "I will go change my clothes. Please follow me later to pay homage to the late empress."
August 15th is the anniversary of the late queen's death. In previous years, after the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet, the emperor would go to Fengxian Hall to pay homage.
This was the first time that he brought his ministers to offer sacrifices in such a grand manner.
Song Wanwan, in the crowd, lowered her eyebrows and let out a mocking smile. The emperor's deep affection made her laugh. How could he, with such deep affection and loyalty, not even know the actual anniversary of the death of her aunt? But she would not say anything; this was the Song family's secret.
Before Emperor Xuande left the hall to change his clothes, he instructed Shen Zhixiu, "Mr. Shen, please prepare a memorial. You will read it on my behalf today."
From this order, it can be seen that the emperor had suddenly decided to take his ministers to pay homage to the late queen. It is unknown what prompted him to change the previous custom.
Seeing the puzzled expressions on everyone's faces, Concubine Xian snorted inwardly, thinking that it was probably because the song "Phoenix Seeking Phoenix" had touched the emperor's heart. This was why she suddenly decided to ask Shen Zhixiu to prepare a memorial.
After so many years of death, the emperor has become more and more affectionate. However, this deep affection has not stopped him from taking concubines one after another. Judging from the look on his face when he looks at these two Western Yue women, I'm afraid he's already itching to have them.
The virtuous concubine saw through the emperor's emotions. The heart is the heart, the body is the body. Thinking about it is ridiculous, but also sad.
After Emperor Xuande left, Shen Zhixiu went to Fengxian Hall. The main hall of Fengxian Hall enshrined the ancestors of the Great Zhou Dynasty, while a side hall dedicated the deceased empress. It was said that the emperor would stay here during the New Year holidays.
Shen Zhixiu went there early to prepare the sacrificial text, but others did not need to go there now.
Su Qingyu had nothing to do, so she wandered around, chatting with ladies she knew or looking at rare flowers and plants.
When passing by the small garden of the east side hall, I saw the young eunuch beside the prince talking to a palace maid under a tree not far away.
She didn't care at first, but the maid's clothes were much simpler than those of ordinary maids. She had been to the palace many times and had never seen a maid dressed like this, so she took a few more glances.
The two exchanged only a few words before hastily parting ways. Su Qingyu didn't stop either, and walked to the other side.
Not far away, Lady Wang, wife of the Marquis of Loyalty, and Song Wanwan were sitting in the pavilion. When they saw her coming, they greeted her from afar.
Su Qingyu walked forward and chatted with Mrs. Song for a few words.
The Song family was already on good terms with the Shen family, and Song Wanwan was very fond of Su Shunci, and she also had a good impression of Su Qingyu. The three of them had a very enjoyable chat. When talking about Su Shunci being kicked out of the Su family, Song Wanwan even assured Su Qingyu that she would often visit and take care of her.
After a while, a palace maid suddenly came over, bowed to the group, and whispered a few words into Song Wanwan's ear.
The smile on Song Wanwan's face froze, and then she said, "You go first, I'll be there soon."
After the maid left, Su Qingyu stared at her back for a long time. Wasn't this the person she had just seen? Half a quarter of an hour ago, she was talking to the Crown Prince's personal eunuch. Why did she seem so close to the Song family now?
But she didn't dare to ask this question, for fear of offending others.
Song Wanwan didn't hide it from her, and said to Wang in front of her, "Mother, I'm going to Fengxian Hall. Zimei said that two copies of the "Rebirth Sutra" I delivered a few days ago are missing. I'm going to see what's going on."
Then he said to Su Qingyu, "Madam San and my mother, please sit down and wait. I will go and take a look first."
After Song Wanwan left, Wang said, "Although this girl has never met her imperial aunt, she would copy scriptures and send them to the palace every New Year and death anniversary to show her filial piety to her aunt."
Su Qingyu nodded in praise, "Young Miss, your filial piety is commendable. Was that palace maid just now the one who served the late empress in Fengxian Palace?"
Wang nodded and said, "That's right. The Song family has given her a lot of money over the years. I don't ask for anything else, just to be more devoted to the late queen."
These things were not a secret, and Wang did not deliberately conceal them.
Su Qingyu suddenly realized why she was dressed so plainly. It turned out that she was serving in Fengxian Palace. But since she was serving the late queen, how could she have any connection with the prince's people?
Su Qingyu exchanged pleasantries with Wang while pondering the matter. She didn't know what was going on, so she didn't dare to tell her rashly.
But I didn't dare pretend I didn't see it. If something really happened, it would be too late to regret it.
For a family like the Song family, any incident would involve the political situation, and in turn affect Shen Zhixiu and the Shen family.
After much thought, Su Qingyu found a reason to separate from Mrs. Wang.
Then she deliberately took a small path, not attracting anyone's attention, and walked towards Fengxian Hall.
At this time, in a side hall of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Li Chaoyun was sitting opposite the sisters Vasha and Vali. She seemed extremely interested in the music they were playing, and soon the three of them were talking excitedly.
Sent to a foreign country, Vasha and Vali had lived in fear for the past few days. They were overjoyed to see that this foreign princess was very friendly to them and liked their music.
After a while, Li Chaoyun's maid Qiandai came in and whispered in her ear, "Princess, the Third Master has gone to Fengxian Hall. There are no people between here and the back door at this time."
Li Chaoyun knew the time was almost right, so he said to Vasha and Vali, "I know a place perfect for drumming. How about I take you there? We're going to have a blast today."
The two sisters did not know the rules of the Great Zhou harem, and since they were simple-minded, they naturally believed what Li Chaoyun said.
Li Chaoyun led them out of the back door carefully and headed towards Fengxian Hall. Fortunately, Fengxian Hall and Taihe Hall were close together, and Li Chaoyun was familiar with the palace, so he avoided all the guards and palace servants walking around.
In an inconspicuous side hall of Fengxian Hall, Li Chaoyun finally walked in quietly with Vasha and Vali.
After entering, Qiandai first threw a piece of incense into the incense burner, and then nodded at Li Chaoyun.
Li Chaoyun said to the two sisters, "I'll go get my own drum and show it to you. You wait in the room and don't wander around. The rules in this palace are very strict. If you wander around, you will be killed."
The two sisters nodded hurriedly, promising not to wander around and wait for her to come back.
Li Chaoyun stood up with satisfaction and walked outside.
I wonder what the emperor’s reaction would be when he comes to Fengxian Hall to pay homage to the late queen and finds out that his trusted minister has slept with the saint who was sent as tribute from Xiyue.
And this man had just said righteously not long ago that these two women were only qualified to serve the emperor.
Today, she cleverly didn't touch Shen Zhixiu, but only made moves on the two women. When the time comes, as long as she can lure Shen Zhixiu over, the two will naturally tangle with him.
There were two women like this, and she didn't believe that Shen Zhixiu could really handle it.
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