Chapter 21 Reward
“…”
Yan Zhaoyi took a deep breath and put down the teacup, with a hint of disdain in her eyes.
"I heard that when you were in your boudoir, you didn't enjoy poetry, books, or songs, and never attended any poetry gatherings. You just loved to stay in the backyard with the servants, planting flowers and plants, chatting and playing. People outside said you were simple and innocent, and seeing you today, it really is true."
This is a roundabout way of calling her a wild monkey and a horny person.
Song Zhaoyi covered her mouth and sneered, "Sister Yan Zhaoyi is right. Unlike us legitimate daughters, we usually follow the rules and follow the teacher to study and write. How can we have the leisure time to plant flowers and plants? I really envy Su Zhaorong."
"By the way, Sister Su, there are few flowers and plants in my palace, and the gardener is not very capable. Since you are well versed in this field, if you have time, why not come to my palace and give the gardener some pointers?"
"OK."
Su Ci's eyes curled up slightly, and she leaned slightly sideways like a cat playing with a mouse, with a sly smile: "Sister, you don't know, but I know more than just planting flowers and plants, there is also..."
"Zhaorong, Eunuch Zhuang from Funing Palace is here!"
Zhuang Yu is the chief eunuch close to His Majesty, and the Queen has to be polite to him whenever she sees him.
Su Ci's eyes turned, and she changed her expression and stood up.
"Please invite Eunuch Zhuang in."
Zhuang Yu led a few young eunuchs into the hall in small steps. He took a quick glance with his shrewd little eyes and then looked at Su Ci with a smile.
"Su Zhaorong, His Majesty has a reward."
Su Ci was slightly stunned, quickly wiped the slightly red corners of her eyes, walked forward and knelt down, followed by Yanyu Guyu and others who knelt down and bowed their heads.
Zhuang Yu glanced at Yan Zhaoyi and others, then stood aside.
"Zhaorong Su, born into a distinguished family, is a gentle and kind person. I grant you a special reward to show my gratitude to you!"
"Give me a golden peacock skirt, a peach blossom beaded satin skirt, a pair of South China Sea pearl hairpins, a pair of jade bracelets inlaid with gold, and fifty rolls of brocade silk for your daily needs!"
"Give me a bronze mirror carved with auspicious animals, a pair of Yue kiln celadon vases with two handles, two jars of Lanling Golden Jade Tribute Wine, and an imperial lotus-patterned sachet!"
"Give me two scrolls of calligraphy with poems inscribed by Master Li, a Chengni inkstone, two Xuanzhou purple-hair brushes, and ten sheets of Yanyun rice paper!"
“…”
Su Ci put her hands on her forehead and bent over.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace!"
The eunuchs put down the gift boxes one by one, and Zhuang Yucai bowed with a smile.
"Congratulations, Su Zhaorong. His Majesty has instructed that since you are entering the palace for the first time today, you are bound to be tired. Therefore, you are allowed to return to Jingming Palace at noon tomorrow to express your gratitude."
Su Ci stood up and glanced at Guyu: "Yes, thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty. Thank you for your help, Eunuch Zhuang."
Zhuang Yu also took the purse handed to him by Guyu with both hands, and bowed with a smile.
"You are too polite, Zhaorong. I will take my leave now."
"Eunuch Zhuang, take care."
“…”
Yan Zhaoyi glanced at the boxes of imperial gifts with a cold expression.
"It's getting late, I won't bother my sister anymore."
The others also stood up with stiff expressions and said goodbye one after another, leaving very neatly.
I was afraid that when Su Ci showed off again, I would not be able to help but overturn the table.
***
The master is honored, and the servants will naturally benefit as well. Shaoyao Lianxin, Fulu Fushou all knelt down with joyful expressions.
"Congratulations Zhaorong!"
"Well, get up, Shaoyao. These snacks haven't been touched. Take them away and let everyone enjoy them. Yanyu and Fulu Fushou, put these away."
"yes."
Gu Yu poured some tea for Su Ci and asked in a low voice, "Master, shouldn't you seek stability when you first enter the palace? Why do you want to arouse their jealousy?"
Su Ci leisurely took a sip of tea and put it down, then reached out to open the small wooden box that Qin Zheng had brought her.
"It's right to play it safe, but we have to consider the situation. They've already hit me right in the face. If I show weakness today, they'll just take advantage of me later..."
On the unfolded paper, the vermilion characters were vigorous and powerful, as agile as a dragon.
The sentence is acceptable, but the wrist strength is weak, the pen strokes are shallow and the characters are unstable and disorderly.
“…”
Guyu could not read many words and could only see the master's frozen smile.
"Uh, Master, what did His Majesty say?"
"criticize."
You stinky man, who told you to read? You’re pretending not to understand, right?
Su Ci curled her lips and threw the paper back on the lid of the box, continuing the previous topic.
"I only heard from Nanny Qin that Yan Zhaoyi is the legitimate daughter of the Runan Marquisate, Song Zhaoyi is the legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister, and Wei Zhaorong is the granddaughter of His Majesty's Grand Tutor. But I don't know much about the others present today. Have you asked Nanny Xue about this?"
Guyu nodded: "I have inquired carefully. Liu Xiuyuan, who is present today, is the daughter of the Minister of War, Sun Xiuyi is the daughter of the Vice Minister of Works, Wu Chongyuan is the daughter of the Chief Censor, and He Jieyu was selected to enter the palace. Her father is a local county magistrate."
"Well, take some small change and go out more often to learn more about the relationships between the concubines."
"I'll remember this."
"Okay, go serve dinner. I'm already hungry after a few cups of tea."
"yes."
Su Ci stood up and walked into the tidied study, picked up a copy of calligraphy and looked at it, touched the fine rice paper, and sat down behind the desk thoughtfully.
"Master, do you want to practice calligraphy?"
"If you don't want to practice calligraphy, bring me my can of charcoal."
"oh!"
Yanyu excitedly went to get the jar filled with short briquettes of charcoal and considerately moved the lampstand closer.
"Master, are you painting His Majesty again?"
"No, a picture of myself."
Su Ci raised the corner of her mouth slightly, spread out the cut rice paper, took a thicker piece of charcoal and swept out the basic lines.
She has loved painting since she was young and started learning sketching in junior high school. Later, she dropped out of school to work and learn makeup, which also came in handy when designing makeup. She often practiced.
But there were no colored brushes in ancient times...
"Yanyu, go pick some flowers. Deep red, pink, and two green leaves."
"yes!"
…
Funing Palace.
After serving the king dinner, Zhuang Yu walked out of the hall and sighed with some melancholy.
He came back from Yufu Palace with the imperial decree and told His Majesty that Su Zhaorong seemed to have been bullied. He also clearly saw His Majesty frowning, and was secretly glad that he probably wouldn't have to endure the Empress Dowager's glare today.
But why is there still no movement...
Qin Zheng raised her eyes: "What's wrong, father-in-law?"
Zhuang Yu glanced around and lowered his voice: "Your Majesty is staying in Funing Palace again tonight. I still have to report to the Empress Dowager..."
Qin Zheng found it a little funny.
"Your Majesty is diligent in government affairs. Except for the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month when he goes to the Queen's Palace, he almost always stays in Funing Palace. This is not the first time you have to reply to the Queen Mother, so why are you worried?"
"Oh, Ma'am, you don't know. The Queen Mother cares about His Majesty, so she can't help but feel that those of us who serve her are not doing our best. My family is also trembling with fear and guilt..."
"Mammy is well."
Qin Zheng turned her head to look at Yanyu who was kneeling and bowing at the bottom of the stairs. Seeing the familiar wooden box in her hand, her expression lit up with joy.
"Eunuch, please go and do your work first. I will stay here to guard His Majesty."
Zhuang Yu also saw the box, and his eyes lit up immediately: "Haha, good..."
It seems that Su Zhaorong is a smart one...
Inside the hall.
Xuan Yi, dressed in a blue and gold uniform, stood in front of the bookshelf, holding a framed picture with his sketch on it.
…
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