Sitting on the Xuanling throne, he gently waved a folding fan, and on his left and right were the Empress Dowager and Empress Duan.
The concubines stood up and saluted, "Your servants (concubines) pay their respects to the Emperor, to the Empress Dowager, and to the Empress."
"Please sit down, everyone."
Today, except for Concubine Shu who said she was taking care of the Second Prince, all other concubines gathered together, even Concubine De who seldom went out.
Such beautiful scenery and elegant activities are indeed necessary to attend.
Because the stream forms a circle and is winding and wavy, the view is blocked.
Xuan Ling looked for Sheng Xiyan as usual. Looking around, he saw a beautiful woman standing under the top of a weeping willow tree, holding her chin in her hand and staring blankly.
A stunning phoenix bun.
Wearing a blue shirt and an apricot-yellow skirt, she leans against the jade railing alone, silently touching her lips.
She doesn't seem to be in a good mood. Is it because she hasn't recovered yet?
Xuan Ling wanted to excite Sheng Xiyan, so he said, "My beloved concubine, how about playing a duet with me?"
Sheng Xiyan was playing with hibiscus petals in her hand. She was not familiar with the title "Chen's beloved concubine" and did not react.
Lin Xiuyi turned around and reminded, "Sister Sheng, the emperor is calling you."
Um?
Sheng Xiyan looked up, and everyone looked at her, including the Empress Dowager and Queen Duan.
Xuan Ling smiled beautifully, "My beloved concubine, I invite you to play a song with me."
The palace maid presented a long brocade box, which revealed a seven-hole flute, which Xuan Ling held in his hand.
At the same time, the palace maid brought another long brocade box to Sheng Xiyan.
Inside was a jade flute carved with a phoenix dancing in the sky.
The concubine next to her exclaimed, "Wow, this jade flute is so beautiful."
Sheng Xiyan slowly took out the jade flute, and an idea popped into her mind. She wished the pattern on it was a phoenix courting a phoenix.
If I don't see you for a day, I miss you like crazy.
The phoenix flies high in the sky, and the four seas seek it.
I wish to match my words with my virtue and walk hand in hand with you.
Not being able to fly has led me to ruin.
Sheng Xiyan resonated strongly with the passionate, unrestrained and deep emotions expressed in this poem.
Once there is resonance, sadness arises.
Xuan Ling looked at her with a long gaze, picked up the bamboo flute, and placed his slender fingers on the hole.
Sheng Xiyan stood up and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, I'm truly sorry, my throat is uncomfortable and I can't play the flute today."
I couldn't help but start to resist everything about being a mentor and friend to Xuan Ling.
Xuan Ling put down the bamboo flute, concerned about whether her throat was still sore from a heat cold.
"My beloved, please take a seat. Someone, bring a plate of loquats to Consort Chen, and have the imperial kitchen prepare Sichuan Fritillary and Snow Pear Juice."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The Empress Dowager looked displeased. Her favoritism was too obvious, as if no one else existed.
"Emperor, let the competition begin. I really want to see the concubines' creativity."
Empress Duan said with a smile, "Your Majesty, I see the musicians have brought a guqin. Don't waste it. Why not ask Lanxi to play some music for everyone to liven up the atmosphere and make the flower arrangement competition more interesting?"
"Permitted."
Lanxi bowed and saluted, then walked with lotus steps to the round plate of Qushui Liushang and sat cross-legged in front of the guqin, with her perspective just in front of Xuanling's right.
Concubine Jia sarcastically said, "Oh, those who know medicine are different. There are those who can play the flute, and there are those who can play the guqin?"
Dun Guiyuan said, "See? Her medical officer uniform must have been altered on both sides of the waist. Otherwise, how could she have such a thin waist? Vixen."
Eunuch Fu announced: "Today's prize for the 'Jin Dong Tian' bamboo tube flower arrangement competition is a gold-inlaid stone bead nail set."
The concubines excitedly picked flowers from the small buckets in front of them.
Melodious music sounded, Lanxi played the guqin gracefully, and Queen Duan smiled and looked at Xuan Ling.
The emperor picked up the tall glass cup and drank a cup of Bamboo Leaf Green. His dark eyes involuntarily swept towards the person behind the willow tree.
When the lychees were newly served, he ordered without hesitation, "Bring a plate to Consort Chen's table."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
It has become a habit for him to pay attention to her.
Yumo, Jiangjiang, and Lewen, three little babies, came over to eat grapes.
"May the Emperor Father be blessed, the Empress Dowager be blessed, and the Empress Mother (the Empress) be blessed."
Xuan Ling came back to his senses, "Be good, eat."
Looking at Jiang Jiang eating grapes, he asked himself, "Is this how you treat your mentor and friend?"
What is a confidant?
The friendship between gentlemen is as pure as water.
We should not be demanding, force, jealous, or clingy with each other.
Xuan Ling averted his gaze, emptied his mind, and turned to watch the three children playing.
Jiang Jiang blinked her bright eyes and leaned close to whisper in his ear.
"Father, I secretly saw... Mother picking up all the flowers... and playing with them all."
Le Wen was also squeezed on the other side, Meng Meng asked, "What?...
Jiang Jiang said it again in her ear,
Le Wen said childishly, "Then Madam Chen will definitely not win the prize."
Xuan Ling hugged them both and asked, "Do you want Yanyan to win?"
The two babies said in baby voices, "I miss you, I miss you."
Xuan Ling ordered, "Xiao Fuzi, have the guards rush to the flower room to cut some fresh flowers, including peonies, lilacs, orchids, daphne, lotus, tea roses, and plum blossoms. Hurry up."
"Yes, I'll go right away."
Eunuch Fu ran out quickly, saying that what the emperor wanted were the expensive flowers grown in the greenhouse.
He repeated it to the guards, "That's right, that's it. Go quickly and come back soon, the emperor is waiting!"
"Yes, Eunuch Fu."
The imperial guards disappeared like lightning and rushed to the greenhouse.
When the Queen Mother saw Jiang Jiang, she couldn't help but call him, "Come here, little guy."
Just turned her head, gave a sweet and innocent smile, with her little mouth open and a small dimple on her right cheek.
The head nanny bowed and said with a smile, "Madam, the young master actually has a dimple too."
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
