Chapter 155 Cherry Yogurt
"My Lord, what should I do about this?"
Shisu carefully checked the dance costume inside and out. After seeing that there was nothing strange inside, he dared to send it to Shen Fu.
Shen Fu lowered her eyebrows and took a look. The Zhou family was indeed worthy of its noble family background and profound foundation. This dance costume that Zhou Shuyun casually took out was not an ordinary item.
Wujinyun embroidery refers to an embroidery method popular in Lizhou. Using thread that is three points thinner than ordinary silk thread, the embroidered patterns are naturally more delicate and lifelike.
And this dance costume is extremely gorgeous. The skirt is as thin as a cicada's wing, like light silk.
It clearly looks like a plain skirt, but if you look down, you can see large patches of peonies embroidered on the hem of the skirt.
From the size of a thumb, it extends to half the size of a palm below the hem of the skirt. From budding to suddenly blooming.
The whole dress is so elaborately crafted that it makes you feel like you are surrounded by peonies.
Chen Fu reached out and touched the peonies blooming at the hem of her skirt: "It's really extremely beautiful."
The dance costume Zhou Shuyun gave was a big deal.
Shisu was also stunned. This dance costume was so beautiful. It was so pretty just to look at it.
She didn't even dare to imagine how stunning it would be if worn by the young lady.
"My lady, do we still want this dance costume?"
It's hard to tell whether Lady Zhou is an enemy or a friend. She sent such a dance costume for no reason, and it's hard to guess what she was thinking.
Shen Fu thought about it carefully twice before saying, "Put it away for now."
Regardless of what Zhou Shuyun was thinking, Chen Fu was indeed lacking such a piece of clothing right now.
The dance at tomorrow's dinner was a done deal, and since it had been postponed, we might as well make it a grand spectacle.
******
The palace servants were busy for a long time, and finally the dinner was held as scheduled.
As soon as it got dark, lanterns were lit over there.
It was a windless night. When Chen Fu walked over in her cloak, Manager Zhou in front of her bent over and nodded as he explained to Chen Fu, "In previous years, it was held at the Lotus Heart Lake. This year, it's different. His Majesty specifically ordered that we can't get close to the lotus pond."
Along the way, we passed by a lotus pond. The lake was calm and there was not even a lotus flower.
As Master Zhou spoke, he glanced at Chen Fu behind him and said, "From my humble opinion, it's all because of the young lady. The young lady is allergic to lotus, so His Majesty is like this."
Facing the blatant flattery of this head clerk Zhou, Shen could only force a smile on his face.
This person was almost punished by His Majesty because of her before. Shen Fu understood what Manager Zhou meant almost instantly.
I was afraid that she would bring up old issues.
After figuring out Manager Zhou's reason, Shen Fu just smiled at him without saying much.
Seeing that he couldn't get any good out of Shen Fu, Manager Zhou gave a few dry laughs and bent his waist even more.
When Chen Fu arrived, concubines from various palaces were arriving one after another.
She was not late, and Shen Fu was about to find a place to sit down when she saw her. Before she could bend down, the maid leading the way in front of her hurriedly said, "Concubine Shen, your seat is over there."
After the palace maid said this, the noisy sounds around seemed to die down a little.
Chen Fu followed the maid's hand and saw that her seat was placed high up.
Next to her was Concubine Xiang, who had an angry look on her face.
The positions in the harem are arranged according to rank. Although Chen Fu is only a concubine now, she is ultimately only one level lower than the noble concubine who is the head of a palace.
There are few concubines in Yuquan Mountain this year, and Chen Fu has just been promoted to a higher rank, just below Xiang Guipin.
Now, everyone seemed to clearly understand how favored Shen Fu was.
One is Concubine Xiang, who has a noble family background. Her father was a founding hero, and her elder sister is the late Concubine Dunhe.
She had been in the palace for many years, and only with the third prince by her side could she securely sit on the throne of the noble concubine in the palace.
And Chen Fu, a beauty who was selected into the palace this year, has only served His Majesty for a few months, but she is already ranked below Xiang Guipin.
I have to say that grace and glory are really good things.
As long as His Majesty likes it, all this wealth and glory will be at your fingertips.
And Shen Fu is the best example.
"Concubine Shen, please come this way." The maid stretched out her hand and led Shen Fu forward.
Chen Fu looked ahead and saw Concubine Xiang sitting on a chair, looking at her with eyes that were almost filled with rage.
The concubines around her all looked at her with eyes full of jealousy.
"Concubine Shen." The palace maid leading the way stepped forward and urged again.
Chen Fu retracted her gaze and walked forward with the palace maid.
She had just sat down when a sneer came from the side: "What kind of a jerk are you? You are worthy of sitting next to me."
Chen Fu didn't need to look to know that it was Concubine Xiang who was speaking to her.
At the dinner tonight, Chen Fu didn't want to cause any trouble with Xiang Guipin. But unfortunately, the people around her seemed to hate her so much.
From the moment she sat down, Xiang Guipin's gaze was like a knife, sinking deeply into her.
Shen Fu wanted to pretend she didn't know, but there was no way.
"Don't you know who you are? Do you think you have the favor of His Majesty for a few days and dare to climb over my head?"
Xiang Guipin kept cursing, and Chen Fu just felt a headache after listening to her. She rubbed her eyebrows a few times with her hand in annoyance, then turned and said to Concubine Xiang.
"Keep your voice down, ma'am."
Xiang Guipin had not yet finished her angry curse when she heard these words and her throat was choked. Then he came back to his senses, and his eyes suddenly scolded Shen Fu: "Who are you? How dare you give orders to me?"
She slapped the table with one hand and pretended to sit up from the chair.
Shen Fu looked at her like this, but she wasn't afraid at all. She turned around and said with a smile, "I am a concubine of low status, so I dare not give orders to the Majesty."
"But at this evening's banquet, there are concubines watching from all sides. Besides, I don't know when His Majesty will come. If he sees the Empress in this state, I'm afraid it will be bad."
Shen Fu smiled brightly, and her expression was gentle as she said this. Facing Xiang Guipin's raised hand, Chen Fu was not afraid at all.
"Your Highness, forget it." The maid behind Xiang Guipin advised, "It might not be good if His Majesty comes and sees it later."
Everyone knows that Concubine Shen is favored nowadays. Even Concubine Shu was punished by His Majesty to be confined to her house for confronting Concubine Shen.
Their master is not favored, so why bother to go against Concubine Shen?
Concubine Xiang was shaking with anger, and the palace maid beside her grabbed her sleeve and tried hard to pull her back.
Obviously, Concubine Xiang also figured out the pros and cons of the matter. Her hands were shaking and her face was flushed.
Seeing Chen Fu's smiling face, he reluctantly put his hand down.
"I will spare you today." Xiang Guipin put down her hand with an angry look on her face, and she did not forget to leave a cruel word when her palm fell.
Shen Fu looked on in silence with a slight smile on her face. She raised the teacup beside her and took a sip, looking fearless.
Most of the concubines in the harem had arrived when His Majesty and Concubine Rong hurried over.
Now that the throne of Queen is vacant, Concubine Rong, as the person with the highest rank in the harem, has been in charge of it.
His Majesty also respected him very much and showed him all the proper respect and courtesy.
Seeing His Majesty and Concubine Rong coming in one after another, the banquet fell silent for a moment, and then everyone hurriedly stood up and saluted.
"Your Majesty, your concubine pays homage to His Majesty. You are here to see Concubine Rong." Upon seeing this, Chen Fu also hurriedly stood up with everyone else, bowed and knelt.
Xiao Yu stood on a high seat. The emperor was wearing a dragon robe today. There was a dark golden dragon pattern embroidered on the black robe. A nine-clawed golden dragon soared into the sky among the clouds, and its outstretched sharp claws exuded ferocity.
Wearing a purple gold jade crown on his inky long hair, His Majesty had a slightly gloomy face, and his cold eyes were full of imperial majesty.
"Everyone get up." The narrow eyes looked down until they fell on Shen Fu, and the coldness in His Majesty's eyes melted a little.
Concubine Rong was standing beside His Majesty and saw clearly the change in His Majesty's eyes at that moment.
Her eyes followed His Majesty and fell among the crowd. For today's dinner, the concubines from all palaces were putting their best effort into dressing up.
Only Shen Fu was wearing the same clothes as usual. She was still wearing a plain dress, gentle and graceful.
Simple colors, as light as water.
But Shen Fu's face was too dazzling, with every detail of her features being exquisite. Even if she was dressed simply, she would still be noticed in the crowd at a glance.
She is really a beauty!
Even though Concubine Rong had seen Chen Fu countless times, no matter how many times, she was still amazed by her face.
No wonder she was able to capture the heart of His Majesty in such a short period of time and make him never forget her.
Concubine Rong stroked the jade bracelet on her wrist, turned around and smiled gently at His Majesty: "Your Majesty, shall the banquet begin?"
Xiao Yu withdrew his gaze from the people below, lowered his eyebrows and looked down, then he said after a pause: "Let's start."
As the dinner began, the sound of stringed instruments rang out instantly. As the drinks flowed, the dancers danced to liven up the atmosphere.
Chen Fu was thinking about what she would do later, so she sipped the plum wine in her cup while looking at the singing girls below.
The dinner was nothing more than music and dancing. Chen Fu had seen it countless times in Suzhou before, and there were many better ones than this one.
Today, I was just thinking about the fact that I would have to go on stage later, so I felt a little nervous. Only then did I think of drinking a few glasses of wine, so that I wouldn't be stage-frightened later.
Chen Fu had a relaxed look on her face, watching the dancers very seriously.
But the Emperor sitting in the front was different.
He looked at Chen Fu several times, but Chen Fu didn't even look at him.
She was either watching the dancers or drinking, she was living a leisurely life. When I didn't go to see her these few days, she didn't think of me at all.
Xiao Yu just found it funny, and a hint of amusement appeared at the corners of his eyes.
After all, he treated Shen Fu differently. Even though they hadn't seen each other for a few days, he still missed her.
Shen Fu, on the other hand, seemed to be having a good time these past few days.
Xiao Yu's eyes swept back and forth over Shen Fu. He raised his hand holding the cup, and took the opportunity to look at Shen Fu again.
But I saw her lowering her head and eating the fruit, looking very serious.
Chen Fu enjoyed the dish of agate grapes sent as tribute from Chaozhou and the dish of cherry yogurt with ice.
"Lin An." Xiao Yu smiled and turned to call behind him. Lin An immediately stepped forward and said, "What do you want, Your Majesty?"
Xiao Yu lowered his head and looked at the untouched cherry curd on his desk. He pointed at it with his fingertips and motioned to Lin An: "Bring it over."
Lin An glanced at His Majesty, and then followed His Majesty's gaze to look at Concubine Shen, who looked relaxed and at ease.
My mind instantly became clear as a mirror. Without saying a word, I picked up the fruit plate and quietly walked downstairs.
Although His Majesty's actions seemed subtle, they did not escape the eyes of those who were paying attention.
Concubine Rong tasted her fruit and instantly felt that the grapes were a little sour. She put down the silver fork in her hand, turned around and said to His Majesty.
"Since Sister Shufei is not here this year, the banquet seems a lot quieter." If Sister Shufei was here just now, she would have gone crazy seeing His Majesty looking at Concubine Shen several times.
"oh?"
Xiao Yu raised his glass and took a sip: "Lonely? I don't think so."
When Concubine Rong heard His Majesty say this, the smile on her face immediately deepened.
With His Majesty's attitude, it seems that Concubine Shu will not be released in the short term.
Concubine Rong smiled and raised the wine cup in her hand to toast His Majesty:
"Today's dinner, I wish His Majesty the Long Live."
Xiao Yu still had to give face to Concubine Rong. He raised the wine cup in his hand, tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp.
The two men sat on high seats. Although the people below seemed to be attending a dinner, every move of the Emperor could not escape the eyes of those below.
Seeing Concubine Rong toasting His Majesty, naturally some people started to get restless.
The first one to stand up was Concubine Xiang. Just when she was sitting below, she noticed that the Emperor looked at her from time to time.
Although Xiang Guipin knew that His Majesty was probably looking at Chen Fu behind her, she couldn't help but feel agitated when she met His Majesty's gaze again and again.
So what if His Majesty looks at that little bitch behind her?
Xiang Guipin stood up, holding up the wine cup, and said softly, "I also wish His Majesty a long and prosperous life."
She held up the wine cup, and after she finished speaking she gave His Majesty a seductive smile.
Xiao Yu just gulped down a glass of wine, his head felt a little dizzy, and he was about to take a break.
Seeing Concubine Xiang approaching with the wine glass raised, she tapped the table twice with her fingertips, and finally raised the wine cup out of courtesy.
His Majesty was the second one to drink the wine he had offered. After Concubine Xiang sat down, her chin almost reached the sky.
God knows, in the past I had to wait until the end before it was my turn, but today it is His Majesty who is giving me face.
Concubine Xiang was so proud that she didn't know what to do after gaining face. She glanced around and subconsciously glanced at Chen Fu beside her.
"Concubine Chen." His Majesty did not like to drink, and in the past he would just touch the toast with his lips no matter who offered it.
This is the face that Xiang Guipin has given herself today, which is also what she is proud of.
Thinking about how His Majesty treated her and how she had just been at a disadvantage in front of Shen Fu, Concubine Xiang naturally felt dissatisfied.
"Concubine Shen, why are you toasting to His Majesty?" Concubine Shen was favored only because of her good looks.
Without family background and foundation, shouldn't you just stand aside in such occasions?
Chen Fu was drinking plum wine leisurely, but she felt a headache after hearing this.
She put down the teacup in her hand and was thinking about how to reply to her, when she saw Lin An coming over.
He held the tray with a bowl of cherry sorbet in both hands: "This is for you from His Majesty."
"Your Majesty said that this thing is cold in nature, and asked me to remind you to only eat one more bowl, otherwise you will have a stomachache and Your Majesty will be distressed."
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