Chapter 57 Shield
As expected, when Concubine Shu said she was full, Emperor Xuanwu, Empress Zhu, and several princes and princesses turned their heads to look at Jiang Xinyue, who had already stuffed half a chicken leg into her mouth.
The difference between people is really huge.
Jiang Xinyue's movements were gentle and elegant, but she actually finished a chicken leg very quickly. Then she blushed and smiled embarrassedly, saying, "Sister Shufei doesn't care about food, but I can't. I love eating the most."
She praised the host who prepared the banquet for the good dishes. In the hearts of the people outside the palace, whether it was the emperor or the concubine, they were all masters. Someone replied to her, "Madam Shufei is very good, and Madam Zhen is also very good. It is a blessing to be able to eat. Madam Zhen is a blessed person."
Madam Shufei and Madam Zhen were immediately close.
The people at the table also echoed. Jiang Xinyue didn't take it seriously. If she was not favored today, she would be ridiculed and mocked.
Emperor Xuanwu looked at her lovingly: "Don't praise her, she is not to be praised. Who can you complain to if you eat all the money?"
"Your Majesty~"
Jiang Xinyue took another big mouthful of rice with a pout, dissatisfied with the emperor's ridicule in public. Her angry expression was no different from that of an innocent child.
"Look, she is still talking nonsense."
At the table of ministers, the Minister of Honglu Temple poured a glass of wine for Jiang Shaoqing, and signaled to the emperor's table with his eyes: "Zhen Zhaoyi has been in the palace for more than half a year. She has made rapid progress from a talented person. Her promotion speed is comparable to that of the heaven. Brother Jiang will be successful in the future, but don't forget us old guys!"
The officials of Honglu Temple raised their glasses one after another, and their attitude was much more attentive than before.
Jiang Shaoqing shook his head humbly: "No, no, it's all because of you who promoted me that I am where I am today. I am making progress together with my colleagues...making progress together."
At 3 p.m., all the processes of spring plowing were completed. Jiang Xinyue sighed that it was fortunate that it was not summer plowing, otherwise those of them who had never suffered such physical hardship would probably have fainted from heatstroke.
When they returned to the palace, there were not as many people on the street as when they left the palace. After all, each family had their own things to do, and it was impossible for them to just watch the excitement for a whole day.
"Aunt...Aunt, look, father is there! Right in front of the eldest sister's carriage."
Aunt Ruan wore a veil on her head and was supported by Jiang Junze and Jiang Xinyan to move forward. The people around were not too crowded. Seeing that the group of people were dressed in rich clothes, they made way for them.
Jiang Xinyue opened the window leaf with telepathy, and saw at a glance the beautiful face of Aunt Ruan, which would haunt any man.
She finally understood that the original body's top beauty was indeed 80% like the original body's biological mother. It seemed that her cheap father was attracted by this appearance, so he ignored the eyes of others and asked the Marquis of Ruyang to give the lowly dancer to him as a concubine.
You know, the Great Yan Dynasty had clear hierarchy, officials were officials, and civilians were civilians. The people were divided into lowly people and good people, and the dancers in the Marquis's mansion were lowly.
Although it is very common for singers and dancers to be concubines nowadays, it was a very degrading thing more than ten years ago, and some literati and scholars even despised it.
Jiang Xinyue had to sigh again that her cheap father had a far-sighted vision and foresight. It was not
until she met Aunt Ruan that she realized that her face was nine points like her biological mother's and only one point like her adopted father's.
"Sister Yue..."
Aunt Ruan waved at her with tears in her eyes. Jiang Xinyue also responded enthusiastically with a smile on her face. Her state told Aunt Ruan that there was no need to worry about her, and she was living very well in the palace. Empress
Zhu and Emperor Xuanwu rode in a dragon chariot carried by sixteen people. The open-air dragon chariot had only pearl curtains hanging down, so that the people could pay homage to the emperor.
"Is that Zhen Zhaoyi's sister-in-law?"
Because the dragon chariot was very high and the line of sight was not blocked, Empress Zhu turned her head and saw Jiang Xinyue sticking her head out of the carriage from behind.
Looking at the eye-catching mother and her two children in the crowd, she pointed to the emperor and said, "Jiang Shaoqing's children are all good-looking."
Emperor Xuanwu glanced over there and knew exactly what the empress was planning. He was annoyed for no reason: "Zhen Zhaoyi saved you just now."
Empress Zhu was choked by him and her heart choked for a moment: "Your Majesty has a lot of misunderstandings about me. I have no other intentions. I just sighed."
The emperor nodded coldly, seemingly accepting her explanation. As for whether she really had no other intentions, only she knew. No matter
how beautiful Zhen Zhaoyi's sister was, he would not have any other thoughts. He always liked Zhen Zhaoyi and didn't want to see her sad. Since
ancient times, when sisters fought, which one could end up well?
Put yourself in her shoes. If he were Zhen Zhaoyi, he would definitely not want his sister to compete with him for the same husband.
After entering the palace, the towering vermilion gate blocked any inquiring eyes. Jiang Xinyue walked out of the carriage with the help of Shuangjiang.
Emperor Xuanwu held Concubine Shu in one hand and said to Jiang Xinyue: "Zhen Zhaoyi, go back to the palace to rest first. I will come to accompany you later." He
meant that Hexi Palace would light the lights tonight.
Jiang Xinyue bowed obediently: "Yes, I will take my leave."
Empress Zhu looked at the backs of the emperor and Concubine Shu, and a bit of displeasure appeared in her dark eyes. She flicked her sleeves, sat on the sedan chair and turned back to Yikun Palace.
While taking a bath, Jiang Xinyue analyzed the current power in the harem, which can be roughly divided into four factions.
One faction is the Empress Zhu, including Consort De and Consort Liang; one faction is Consort Li Gui, including Consort Jin Zhaoyi and Zhang Wanyi; one faction is Consort Shu and Consort Rong of the Empress Dowager; and finally, there are the scattered concubines like Jiang Xinyue, who are independent and attached to the high-ranking master on the surface, but in fact they are independent and take it as their mission to conquer the emperor. They do not belong to any faction.
The emperor seems to favor Consort Li Gui, but in fact, the one in his heart is Consort Shu. He can only say that he feels fresh and likes Jiang Xinyue a little, and perhaps he even suspects that he has set her up as a shield for Consort Shu. Consort
Shu's behavior at the dinner table today might be intentional, to embarrass her.
Although Consort Shu had shown goodwill to her before, the hearts of people in the harem are unpredictable. They were sisters one moment, and they might turn swords against each other the next.
Behind Concubine Shu is an ambitious Empress Dowager, who must use the greatest malice to speculate on Concubine Shu's behavior.
"The Emperor has arrived--"
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you. Long live the Emperor."
Jiang Xinyue was wearing a white embroidered cheongsam with embossed patterns, her hair loose, and she was standing tall and making jokes.
Emperor Xuanwu helped her up: "If I live a long life, can't I grow old with my beloved concubine?"
Jiang Xinyue raised her head from his arms. Her original height was only up to Emperor Xuanwu's chest, but within half a year she had grown to his chin. This gave the emperor a sense of accomplishment that he had raised a concubine for himself.
"This is what I really think. Your Majesty, please don't joke."