The news that the emperor specially rewarded Zhao Fei's mother's family spread quickly throughout the harem. The concubines in the harem were jealous, but they could not resist the fact that she was so ambitious and had the means to win the emperor's heart. The emperor was willing to pamper her like this, and they could only watch helplessly.
On New Year's Eve, the Zhuang family was awarded the word "Fu" by the emperor. The people in the harem were in a very strange mood, but the servants in the palace became more polite to everyone in Xihe Palace.
On the first day of the new year, the three masters of the harem had to be worshipped by different people. Because Zhuang Yuyan was getting more and more pregnant, she cancelled most of the activities, even the kneeling ceremony, and only showed up at the final big gathering.
The officials of various noble families thought they understood the emperor's dilemma. After all, the emperor had few children. Now that Concubine Zhao was pregnant, she was favored by the emperor and the birth of the child was relatively good. It was inevitable that they would be more careful with the child. However, when the child was born, if it was a prince, the Zhuang family would be prosperous in the future.
Zhuang Yuyan was holding a bowl of walnut and peanut milk and drinking it intermittently. After a long time, she only drank half of the bowl. She looked at the snow outside the window, which was getting heavier and heavier. She put down the bowl impatiently and said, "Take the food down."
Yun Xi, who was standing at the side, hurriedly picked up the bowl and handed it to a young palace maid, and carefully adjusted the cushion behind Zhuang Yuyan's body, "Madam, are you feeling unwell somewhere?"
"It's okay," Zhuang Yuyan supported her waist and slowly stood up. The bigger the baby in her belly got, the more suffering she suffered. She couldn't sleep well at night because of the fetal movements, and she couldn't sit or sleep for a long time during the day. Although her limbs were not swollen, her legs and feet would cramp occasionally, which was so painful that she wanted to cry.
Recently, a lot of bone soup has been stewed in the kitchen to make up for the loss of energy. This made her feel like vomiting every time she drank the soup. Today was the third day of the New Year, but she did not feel the joy of the New Year, but rather an indescribable irritability.
Yun Xi knew that women tend to get angry easily after having children, so she carefully supported Zhuang Yuyan and said, "Madam, I heard that there are new jugglers in the palace. How about calling them to the side hall to perform for you?"
"Okay," Zhuang Luoyan nodded, suppressed the inexplicable feeling of irritation in her heart, and let Yun Xi make the arrangements.
Soon the jugglers came. They were all smart and knew that Concubine Zhao was pregnant. They all wore strange clothes and did not perform anything scary. Instead, they performed some interesting folk jokes.
Soon after the performance began, Concubine Zhao was amused by them, so they performed more vigorously. The music bureau kept many singers, dancers and artists of all kinds. It was a great blessing to be able to win the favor of the master. They were just jugglers, and their skills were looked down upon. Now that they had the attention of Concubine Zhao, shouldn't they be proud?
Jugglers from the public are always relaxed and capable of performing, and are more lively than those in the palace. After watching the show, Zhuang Yuyan was in a very good mood and said to the leader, "You performed very well. Go back and think of more interesting things. I will call you back next time."
The leader was overjoyed when he heard this. He knelt down with a thud and kowtowed repeatedly to express his gratitude.
"Stop kowtowing. It's not easy for you either." Zhuang Luoyan motioned for them to stand up, and let Yun Xi give them some silver snacks before saying, "I have seen many jugglers outside the palace in my early years. They risked their lives to make a living. People like us cannot understand the hardships they go through."
When several jugglers heard this, they were so excited that they uttered incoherent words. They thought that Concubine Zhao was gentle and kind, no wonder the Emperor doted on her so much.
"Your Majesty, we just received news that Concubine Shu Gui's brother has been thrown into prison by the Emperor," Ting Zhu hurried in, panting and pleading, "Concubine Shu Gui is kneeling at the main gate of Qianzheng Palace, begging to see the Emperor."
"What?!" Zhuang Yuyan stood up and looked at Tingzhu in surprise. Concubine Shugui only had one legitimate brother, who had impeached her brother. Why would the emperor put him in prison at this time? It was the third day of the New Year, and the court had not yet started. How big a mistake did Lord Su have to make to provoke the emperor to issue such an order?
After hearing Zhu's first words, several jugglers hurriedly retreated, leaving only Zhuang Luoyan's people in the side hall. She frowned and thought in confusion that although the Su family had become more and more arrogant in the past year, they had not yet lost their sense of proportion. The emperor's move against the Zhuang family was tantamount to a slap in the face of Concubine Shugui, and the structure of the harem was about to change.
"Is there any news from Qianzheng Palace?" Zhuang Luoyan's frown slowly relaxed. "And is there any news from Jingyang Palace?"
"This matter has spread throughout the harem, but the emperor refused to see Consort Shugui, and there was no movement from the empress. However, I noticed that the servants in the Jingyang Palace were less active today."
Zhuang Yuyan heard this and said thoughtfully, "Tell the people in our palace not to talk nonsense or move around randomly. Anyone who moves around randomly will be sent back to the Palace Department."
"Don't worry, Madam. Fubao has already given the order," Tingzhu hesitated for a moment and said, "But I just ran into the eldest prince outside and vaguely heard him mocking Concubine Shugui."
Concubine Xian and Concubine Shu have never been on the same page. The eldest prince was raised under Concubine Xian and must have been influenced by her. But when the eldest prince said this now, was it because someone instigated him or because he lost his temper?
"How can he have nothing to do with us?" Zhuang Luoyan sneered, "At this time, there are many people who are trying to take advantage of the situation."
Yunxi and Tingzhu felt a tingling sensation in their hearts and said yes in a deep voice.
On the fourth day of the first lunar month, Concubine Shugui asked to see the emperor again and knelt in front of the Qianzheng Palace for two hours, but the emperor still refused to see her.
On the fifth day of the first lunar month, Concubine Shua again requested to see the emperor and begged him in Qianzheng Palace, but was finally ordered to leave by the emperor.
On the sixth day of the first lunar month, the emperor sent people to guard the Anqing Palace where Concubine Shugui lived. Concubine Shugui could not leave the palace, but it was said that Concubine Shugui was kneeling inside the gate of Anqing Palace, looking very wolfish.
On the seventh day of the first lunar month, the heavy snow had just stopped and all the concubines went to the Jingyang Palace to pay their respects. Only Su Xiuyi, the cousin sister of the Su family, came; the most beautiful concubine Shugui claimed to be ill and did not come.
Zhuang Yuyan sat on a carved chair, listening to the conversations of the concubines around her in silence.
"I guess Concubine Shu Gui is in a bad mood right now," Concubine Yan Gui smiled with a schadenfreude, "I wonder if Su Xiuyi has visited Concubine Shu Gui?"
"It's not long since Concubine Yan was released from confinement, why haven't you learned the rules yet?" Zhuang Yuyan raised her eyebrows and glanced at Concubine Yan with the corners of her beautiful eyes. She smiled but with a hint of contempt, "How about I ask the Empress to keep you under my care for a few more days?"
"You!" Concubine Yan's face changed, but she couldn't do anything to Zhuang Yuyan. She couldn't compare to Zhuang Yuyan in terms of status or favor, not to mention that she was punished for bullying Zhuang Yuyan. Now, looking at the other party's condescending look, she felt depressed but didn't dare to say a word.
"Zhao Fei is right. You, a mere concubine, are actually discussing the affairs of a concubine. This is really against etiquette," the queen took a sip of tea. "In that case, remove the crescent-shaped plaque as a warning."
Zhuang Yuyan smiled and bowed her head to the empress, saying, "Your Majesty, you are wise."
When Su Xiuyi saw this scene, she hated the bitch Yan Guipin for her harsh words, and she also hated that Zhuang Yuyan had suppressed the matter. In the end, she took two deep breaths and didn't say a word.
The queen glanced at the women sitting below and raised her teacup: "It's still cold today, let's go back."
The group of people left. After leaving the palace, there was no concubine around Concubine Yan. She looked at Zhuang Luoyan sitting in a sedan chair and left with a sullen face. She sneered, "She just got pregnant, but she chose to sit in a sedan chair. Everyone else sat in a sedan chair. Even Concubine Xian was not as ostentatious as her!"
Some people around heard it and moved further away. The little palace maid who was supporting her turned pale with fright. This sedan chair was given by the emperor. When the master said this, didn't she complain about the emperor's decree?