The colorful banner goes far.
"Master, you have never had any contact with Concubine Song, and you have never offended her. Why did she suddenly come here to pick a fight?" Lian Rui looked puzzled.
Ning Wanyin said calmly, "Your Majesty's favor is enough to make enemies all over the palace. There is no need for me to do anything more."
"What you are talking about is..." Lian Rui suddenly realized.
Return to Lingxue Pavilion.
Ning Wanyin was about to go to the small kitchen to get some ginseng soup when Xiao Xiazi quietly came in and reported:
"Master, I've caught him!"
Ever since Lingxue Pavilion followed the palace rules of Changchun Palace and had an additional group of eunuchs taking turns to guard it, it became very difficult for the palace servants in Lingxue Pavilion to contact the outside world.
In order to investigate the spies lurking in Lingxue Pavilion, Ning Wanyin deliberately found an excuse to send these palace servants out on missions at regular intervals.
Either she would go to the Imperial Household Department to get something, or she would deliver something to Shunpin on her behalf.
But these palace servants didn't know that every time they went out, Ning Wanyin would send Xiao Xiazi to follow them secretly to see if they met any outsiders.
After these rounds of tests, the person she sent out today was...
The third-class palace maid was picking leaves.
She is responsible for pruning and sweeping the flower beds.
Ning Wanyin sent her to the greenhouse of the Imperial Household Department today to bring back some sunflowers that bloomed in summer.
"Before going to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Caiye secretly went to Qionghua Garden." Xiao Xiazi reported:
"I dare not alert the enemy, so I don't know what she said when she went in. But as long as the master gives the order, we can immediately arrest her and interrogate her clearly!"
Qionghua Garden was the residence of Concubine Xue.
In addition to the twelve main palaces, the harem also has some courtyards, which were added during the previous emperor's reign because there were too many concubines.
Two of them, although smaller and just side halls, have the advantage of occupying a separate courtyard and do not need to live with others. They are excellent residences for concubines of lower positions.
Xue Zhaoyi and Cen Jieyu each took one.
"Don't touch her yet. From now on, Lian Rui, Xiao Xia Zi, you two are responsible for keeping a close eye on her. Report any problems immediately." Ning Wanyin's eyes flickered as she said:
"Call Xiao Guizi and Lu Ju over. They will serve me these days."
Lian Rui and Xiao Xiazi responded at the same time, "Yes."
Later, Ning Wanyin quietly called Lianrui over and asked her to do something alone.
…
At dusk, the Tinglan Palace in the Imperial Garden was brightly lit.
Ning Wanyin specially changed into a brocade dress embroidered with red crabapple, covered with a misty gauze, and put on a set of red and gold butterfly headpiece. Among the beauties, she was extremely outstanding.
She left neither early nor late.
Most of the concubines arrived, and soon, His Majesty also arrived.
All the concubines saluted Helian Qi together.
The ceremony is over.
Helian Qi glanced at everyone and saw Ning Wanyin at first sight. The concubines in the palace were all beauties, each with their own merits, but the one he cared about naturally attracted his attention.
Helian Qi paused for a moment on Ning Wanyin, then looked back at Concubine Shu and asked:
"Why didn't Concubine Zhuang come?"
"Sister Zhuang Fei said she was ill," replied Concubine Shu.
This is a very clever statement. She said she was sick, but who knows if she was sick?
Everyone knew that Concubine Zhuang could not recognize many words and was not good at poetry and calligraphy.
According to the rules of the poetry meeting, everyone has to write a poem.
If you can't write it, you have to drink a glass of wine as punishment.
As a high-ranking official, Concubine Zhuang was punished by drinking wine in public...
Many concubines showed mocking expressions, thinking that Concubine Zhuang was pretending to be sick because she was afraid of being embarrassed.
Helian Qi thought that she would not find drinking shameful, so he instructed Wang Degui:
"Please ask the imperial physician to take a look."
Wang Degui took the order and withdrew.
Helian Qi looked at Concubine Shu and said, "Let's start."
"Yes." Concubine Shu accepted the order and looked at everyone and said:
"The ancient sages used literature to educate people, and only after reading did they know etiquette... You women are role models for women all over the world, cultivating yourself with virtue, valuing literature and etiquette... Now we follow the old system and establish poetry gatherings to show off literary virtues."
As the host of today's poetry gathering, Concubine Shu read a long passage in a very eloquent manner.
"Yes." All the concubines stood up and saluted.
Concubine Shu was in a very happy mood.
At this moment, she was standing on a high platform, with the emperor behind her and the concubines in front of her obeying her orders...
This feeling of holding great power, although she is a concubine, she is an uncrowned queen.
As she glanced at Ning Wanyin, Concubine Shu's mood darkened. She would never let Ning Wanyin take away her power as queen!
Concubine Shu quickly retracted her gaze and looked at Helian Qi and said:
"I would like to start with a poem..."
There was no title for the poetry reading, everyone was free to write as they pleased, and many people prepared in advance.
The palace maids presented the writing brushes to the concubines...
Song Qingzhi was confident and handed in the short poem he had been thinking about for several days.
Ning Wanyin was sitting next to her. Seeing that she did not touch the writing brush in front of her, Song Qingzhi immediately raised her voice and asked:
"Why doesn't Lady Ning write?"
"I'm not in the mood to compose poetry today." Ning Wanyin replied calmly.
Everyone looked at Ning Wanyin.
Song Qingzhi was also stunned. She didn't expect Ning Wanyin to not dare to write a poem...
Then her literary talent must be at the bottom.
"The Shou'an Marquis's Mansion is a famous and prominent family. How could Lady Ning be ignorant of literature? I heard that His Majesty gave you a piece of smoke ink with a dragon pattern. Lady Ning must be extremely talented." Song Qingzhi stared at Ning Wanyin and pressed on.
The entire hall fell silent.
This is really a case of openly praising but secretly attacking to set Ning Wanyin up.
She is illiterate, which is either because of poor upbringing or because she has failed to live up to the reward bestowed upon her by His Majesty.
Ning Wanyin glanced at her and said, "If you want to stand out, then just write good poems yourself. Why do you really need me to be a stepping stone for you?"
It's not that Ning Wanyin can't write poetry. But who would want to let outsiders know their true identity?
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