Chapter 105 Encounter in the Imperial Garden
August 19th.
It was the day when Quan Minghe was going to paint a picture for Yan Xin.
Shen Yuning knew that Quan Minghe had never recorded the birthdays of any women in the harem. In addition, he did not care about the women in the harem, so Li Ming would never report the birthdays of the emperor's concubines to His Majesty.
Since she already knew that Quan Minghe was going to paint for Yan Xin today, she would not tell Quan Minghe that today was her birthday.
"Lan Ying, are Concubine Yan's men still guarding outside our palace?"
"Your Majesty, I have been waiting outside since this morning. I think I want to see if you will go to Weiyang Palace and invite His Majesty to spend your birthday with you."
Lan Ying bowed her head and answered respectfully.
Shen Yuning curled her lips slightly, as if she was smiling: "Your Majesty has not even sent a birthday gift today. I guess you don't even know my birthday. In my opinion, if Your Majesty wants to enter the harem, he will probably have to wait until dinner time."
Lan Ying couldn't bear it, so she gently advised, "Your Majesty, are you really not going to tell His Majesty that today is your birthday? His Majesty loves you very much. If he knew, he might come to Yaohua Palace to accompany you."
Shen Yuning said nothing, but just shook her head slightly, with a meaningful and unpredictable smile.
At this time, the sun was high outside the palace, and the scorching sun was baking the earth, but in Yaohua Palace, because of the ice basin placed there, a hint of cool air spread, dispelling some of the heat.
Shen Yuning held a round fan made of purple crystal butterfly wings, dreamy brocade and inlaid with chalcedony and peacock feathers in her hand and shook it gently.
The breeze blew through her hair, causing a few strands to flutter gently.
Her eyes fell on the table, where was placed the birthday gift Ye Jinshu had prepared for her - a Lingxi Huanmeng colored glass lamp.
This lamp is a rare treasure. It is carefully carved from deep-sea cold crystal glass. The glass is clear and pure, without any flaws or impurities.
The sunlight shines through the window onto the glass cup, refracting colorful light.
The body of the lamp is carved with delicate and exquisite Lingxi patterns, which are lifelike, and Lingxi's eyes are inlaid with rare blue cat's eye stones.
Special spices were lit in the cup, and curls of smoke rose up, lingering on the spiritual patterns for a long time, and turned into all kinds of wonderful scenes, like the clouds and mist in a fairyland, or like a mysterious spiritual realm emerging.
If there was no mission to complete, a man like Ye Jinshu, who was affectionate and loyal and had no other women around him, might have been her perfect match.
Shen Yuning's hand slid slowly along the patterns on the glass cup, but her eyes gradually became vague, as if she was lost in thought.
pity……
In this world, she only uses men and does not show any true feelings to them.
They were just pawns to achieve her goals.
Shen Yuning collected his thoughts and whispered, "Lan Ying, go ask His Majesty if he will come to Yaohua Palace for dinner tonight."
“Yes.”
Lan Ying took the order and turned to walk out of the palace.
As night falls, the moonlight pours down like water.
Shen Yuning changed into a gorgeous palace dress, got into the sedan chair, and headed towards the Yuehua Pavilion in the Imperial Garden.
At the same time, the palace maid who had been hiding in a corner outside the Yaohua Palace, seeing Concubine Shen finally step out of the palace gate, quickly disappeared into the night like an agile civet cat, and hurried back to report to her master...
"Your Majesty, Concubine Shen invited His Majesty to dinner today, but His Majesty refused."
"But it seems that Concubine Shen still ordered the palace servants of Yaohua Palace to place the carefully prepared dinner in Yuehua Pavilion in the Imperial Garden. Now that Concubine Shen has gone there, it seems that she can only spend her birthday alone tonight."
Su Xin raised her chin slightly, her tone full of undisguised gloating.
Yan Xin flicked her handkerchief and sneered, "Concubine Shen, you are nothing more than that."
"Your Highness, I will change you into the skirt His Majesty sent you. It's almost time to go to Weiyang Palace."
As Su Xin spoke, she took the skirt out of the closet, held it in both hands, her eyes full of amazement.
"Your Highness, the dresses His Majesty sends you every year are all exquisite. Now that your face has recovered, you will be more beautiful than a fairy in the sky when you wear this silver silk cloud pattern inlaid with pearls and white silk with wide sleeves."
Yan Xin had a love-hate relationship with this white dress. She clearly hated being someone else's substitute, but if it weren't for this similar face, His Majesty would probably not even open his eyes to look at her.
Now, her only role in front of His Majesty must be painting.
For two years, she thought she could wait for His Majesty to soften his heart towards her, but what she ended up doing was that she had already used up all of His Majesty's favor towards her.
Yan Xin felt sad.
Now she could only accept the fact that His Majesty had a dead Bai Yueguang in his heart.
But as long as I can stay by Your Majesty's side for a long time, why should I worry about not being able to touch Your Majesty's heart?
She won't give up.
In the Weiyang Palace, Quan Minghe sat casually on the couch with a book in his hand.
Yan Xin walked into the hall and knelt down to salute, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you."
Quan Minghe glanced at her and said calmly, "Get up."
After saying this, he put down the book in his hand, stood up from the couch, and prepared to go to the studio to paint as usual.
However, Yan Xin stepped forward and stopped him softly, "Your Majesty, I really like the skirt you sent me today. Now that the moon is high outside, the beads on the skirt will surely shine even more brightly under the soft moonlight."
She paused slightly, a hint of anticipation flashing in her eyes, "How about your Majesty go to the Imperial Garden to paint tonight?"
Quan Minghe's gaze stayed on her for a moment, and he looked at her intently, but did not answer immediately.
Yan Xin continued softly, "In the Imperial Garden, the hibiscus, crabapple, and trumpet creeper are now in full bloom. I think it would be very beautiful if these flowers were used as the background in your Majesty's painting."
When she mentioned flowers, Quan Minghe couldn't help but think that Xixi was also a flower lover. He nodded in agreement.
At this time, in the Yuehua Pavilion in the Imperial Garden, Shen Yuning was sitting there, and the table in front of her was filled with exquisite dishes.
Suddenly, Concubine Yan's gentle voice was heard.
"Your Majesty, the hibiscus flowers here are so beautiful, would you like to paint here?"
Quan Minghe didn't care about the location of the painting, so he nodded.
Li Ming immediately directed the palace servants to quickly put the table with the painting supplies in order.
Yan Xin walked to the front of the flowers and suddenly seemed to see something.
Pretending to be surprised, he asked, "Your Majesty, look, that figure in the pavilion in front, is that Concubine Shen?"
Quan Minghe turned his head slightly in the direction Yan Xin pointed, and sure enough, it was Shen Yuning.
Why did she come out to dine here today?
The palace maid beside Shen Yuning seemed to have noticed something and whispered something in her ear.
After all, Quan Minghe was the emperor, and his travels were very grand. More than a dozen palace maids and eunuchs followed him in an orderly manner, and behind him followed closely the guards with upright postures and stern expressions. Such a scene was bound to attract attention.
Shen Yuning also followed the voice and headed in their direction.
Yan Xin really did not disappoint her, and it was worth it for her to come out for this meal.
Since she met the emperor in the imperial garden, as the emperor's concubine, she naturally had to go over to pay her respects.
Shen Yuning knelt and saluted, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you."
"Get up."
When Shen Yuning stood up, his eyes inadvertently glanced at Yan Xin.
For a moment, a barely perceptible surprise flashed in his eyes.
Yan Xin was not wearing a veil tonight, and it was the first time she saw her face clearly. It was surprisingly similar to her previous self.
Although the facial features do not appear to be very similar upon closer inspection, when put together, there is always an indescribable sense of similarity.
strangeness.
Quan Minghe didn't expect to meet her in the imperial garden, and see the undisguised loneliness in her eyes.
He frowned slightly, "It's getting colder at night, you should go back and rest early."
Yan Xin walked up to Quan Minghe and took his arm in an intimate manner.
"Your Majesty, I remember that today is Concubine Shen's birthday. Your Majesty, look, the moonlight is so beautiful, and the flowers are so gorgeous. After Your Majesty finishes painting for me, why don't you also paint a picture for Concubine Shen as a birthday gift?"
Quan Minghe was shocked when he heard Yan Xin mention Shen Yuning's birthday.
She invited him to dinner tonight because today was her birthday?
"I will not disturb your majesty and my sister's pleasure."
Shen Yuning politely rejected Yan Xin, then looked at Quan Minghe, "It's been a while since I came out, it's time to go back to the palace and rest."
After saying this, she knelt again, turned around and left respectfully.
Yan Xin was very proud of Shen Yuning's lonely look at this time.
Quan Minghe wanted to call her, but he didn't know what to say for a moment and frowned.
Forget it. After I finish the painting, I will go to Yaohua Palace and give her the birthday gift.
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