Chapter 777: Toothache from the Sourness
As soon as these words were spoken, all the concubines present became excited, and they all looked at the emperor with expectant eyes.
Most of the women who are chosen to enter the palace have their own talents. This is a good opportunity for them to show their skills, and no one wants to miss it.
Concubine Lao saw all the performances of the younger concubines and knew in her heart that Concubine Jing was deliberately trying to win people's hearts.
Since Concubine Jing herself was not favored, she tried every means to get others to share Concubine Gui's favor, at least to prevent Concubine Gui from dominating the harem.
Concubine Lao had no good feelings towards either Concubine Jing or Concubine Gui.
She turned her head to look at Concubine Li who was sitting next to her and spoke softly.
"I remember that Sister Li Fei was best at dancing, especially the Western Region Hu Xuan Dance. I haven't seen Sister Li Fei's graceful dance for a long time, and I miss her so much. I wonder if I will have the honor to see Sister Li Fei's dance tonight?"
When Concubine Li heard this, her face immediately darkened.
The other concubines also showed strange expressions when they saw this.
Among the many concubines in the palace today, Concubine Li has the most plump figure. When she was thin before, her dancing was naturally pleasing to the eye, but now asking her to dance with that fat body will only make people laugh.
It was obvious that Concubine Lao's words were a mockery of Concubine Li.
Concubine Li sneered: "We are all concubines, why should I dance for you? Is it because you have one more title than me?"
When the title was mentioned, Concubine Lao's expression immediately froze.
What she hates most now is people using her title to make trouble.
Concubine Lao lowered her eyes and spoke softly.
"Sister Li Fei, you are overthinking. I just thought that tonight is New Year's Eve. It's a great day. If Sister Li Fei can dance to liven up the atmosphere, the emperor will be happier. Since Sister Li Fei doesn't want to, then forget it. Just pretend I didn't say anything. Why is Sister Li Fei so aggressive?"
Concubine Li showed a sneer on her face: "Oh, you still know that the emperor is here? The emperor hasn't even spoken yet, but you're already pointing fingers at me. What? Do you think your status is higher than the emperor's?"
These words could be either light or heavy, and Concubine Lao's expression changed immediately.
She wanted to refute, but was interrupted coldly by the emperor sitting at the top.
"Shut up."
Everyone fell silent immediately.
They thought that the emperor would scold Concubine Li and Concubine Lao next, but they waited for a long time and the emperor did not speak again.
They looked up cautiously, only to see the emperor sitting at the top, his handsome face still expressionless and frighteningly cold.
At this time, the imperial concubine was leaning on the emperor, her head tilted to one side and resting on the emperor's shoulder, her rosy lips slightly parted, and her thick eyelashes drooped, casting a small silhouette on her fair face.
The imperial concubine actually fell asleep.
The concubines were all very surprised. In front of so many people, the imperial concubine actually fell asleep leaning on the emperor!
What surprised them even more was that the emperor not only did not push her away, but instead had someone put a coat on her, as if he was afraid that she would be cold.
It's simply blatant favoritism!
Concubine Jing couldn't help but say: "Your Majesty, what is happening to the Imperial Concubine..."
Luo Qing glanced at her coldly.
Concubine Jing stopped talking abruptly and dared not say another word.
At this time, she already understood that the emperor scolded Concubine Li and Concubine Lao not because he didn't want to see them quarreling, but because he didn't want them to disturb the imperial concubine's sleep.
The emperor didn't care at all what they thought or saw. In his eyes and heart, there was only the imperial concubine.
It really is that all the love and affection is concentrated on the imperial concubine alone.
Concubine Jing had already faced the reality and knew that she would never be favored again, but she couldn't help feeling jealous at this moment.
There is no woman who would not want to receive such undisguised favor from the emperor.
She is no exception.
At this time, the hall was completely silent.
Concubine Lao knew that she should lower her head and pretend that she saw nothing, but her eyes were uncontrollably fixed on the Imperial Concubine.
Her eyes were filled with jealousy and resentment.
If she could, she would really like to rush up, pull the imperial concubine down, and take her place herself.
But the fact is that she can't do anything.
She could only sit here motionless, watching the emperor carefully care for another woman. All the favors she had dreamed of were monopolized by the imperial concubine, and she couldn't get even a little bit.
She couldn't help but grab the hem of her sleeves, and the soft fabric was deformed and deeply wrinkled.
Concubine Li felt that the scene of the emperor doting on the imperial concubine was too irritating, so she simply turned her eyes away and avoided looking at it.
Just at this moment, a palace maid came in with a teapot, refilled the emperor and concubines with hot tea, and served them various cakes and fruits.
Princess Li grabbed a handful of roasted melon seeds.
A melon seed was cracked open with a slight snapping sound.
Normally, most people would not notice this sound, but now that the hall is utterly silent, this sound seems particularly clear.
In an instant, everyone looked at Concubine Li.
Concubine Li paused while cracking melon seeds.
She was afraid that the emperor would scold her, so she waited for a while, but the emperor didn't say anything. It seemed that the emperor had no intention of stopping her from eating melon seeds, so she plucked up her courage and ate the second and third melon seeds...
In the quiet hall, no one spoke, and the only sound could be heard was the crackling sound of people cracking melon seeds.
Those who didn’t know would think that a rat had sneaked into the hall.
Just when everyone thought this weird atmosphere would continue, the imperial concubine suddenly woke up.
She rubbed her sleepy eyes and asked in a muffled voice.
"Who is eating melon seeds?"
Everyone looked at Concubine Li again.
Concubine Li paused in her action of cracking melon seeds. She wanted to throw away all the seeds in her hand, but everyone was looking at her. She couldn't clear the charges even if she threw away the seeds. She had no choice but to speak.
"I was eating melon seeds. I disturbed the Imperial Concubine's rest. It was my fault. Please punish me, Imperial Concubine."
Concubine Li felt extremely wronged. Just now, she and Concubine Lao were arguing but failed to wake up the Imperial Concubine. Now, she was just eating some melon seeds and actually woke up the Imperial Concubine.
This doesn't make sense!
Xiao Xixi sniffed: "The melon seeds seem to smell quite fragrant."
Luo Qinghan silently pushed the plate of melon seeds towards her.
Xiao Xixi immediately grabbed a handful of melon seeds and started eating them happily.
Seeing that the Imperial Concubine had no intention of punishing her, Concubine Li breathed a sigh of relief and continued to eat her melon seeds.
In the silent hall, the sounds of two people cracking melon seeds rose and fell continuously.
Everyone's expressions were indescribable.
Xiao Xixi turned around and saw that the emperor was neither eating nor talking, so she took the initiative to hand him the melon seeds she had cracked.
"Your Majesty, please eat too."
Luo Qinghan didn't hesitate much. He opened his mouth, bit the melon seeds she handed over, and ate them with an expressionless face.
The series of actions were extremely natural, as if they had done it many times before.
When the concubines saw this scene, they all felt so sour that their teeth ached.
(End of this chapter)
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