"Is Concubine Zhao still happy with the water lilies?" the emperor asked when he saw Gao Dezhong coming back.

"Your Majesty, Concubine Zhao loved the water lilies very much and immediately asked the eunuchs of Taoyu Pavilion to move the water lilies into the house." Gao Dezhong answered honestly.

"Yeah," Feng Jin nodded after hearing that, and waved his hand to let Gao Dezhong leave.

A banquet was held in the Empress' Jingyang Palace to celebrate Concubine Shugui's birthday. Zhuang Yuyan arrived at a perfect time and was not noticeable among the other concubines. After she sat down next to several concubines of similar status, the concubines at the same table started chatting with her.

"Sister Zhaopin looks in good spirits today," said Jiang Xianpin, who was sitting at the next table, with a smile.

"Same here, sister," Zhuang Luyan replied with a smile. Although she didn't know whether Concubine Jiang Xian was just being polite or had other intentions, she didn't want to guess too much.

Concubine Yan was sitting above Concubine Zhao. When she heard the conversation between the two, she turned her head to look at Zhuang Yuyan and said with a smile, "Sister Zhao, you look really good. Maybe your birthday is coming soon and you are in a good mood."

As expected, this kind of words that sounded nice but actually contained hidden ulterior motives really made Zhuang Luyan feel overwhelmed. She smiled at Concubine Yan and said, "Today is the birthday of Concubine Shu Gui, and there is so much excitement. I am a naive person, and I got a little happy when I saw the excitement. I made a fool of myself."

Concubine Yan smiled but didn't really smile: "It's the birthday of Concubine Shu, of course everyone is happy." After saying that, she looked away, as if she had no interest in talking to Zhuang Yuyan anymore. Concubine Jiang Xian and Concubine Wang on the other side looked at each other, both pretending not to see the confrontation between the two.

"The Queen has arrived."

Zhuang Yuyan stood up and saw the empress appear in a phoenix robe. The corners of the luxurious robe sparkled in the candlelight. She paid her respects to the empress along with the other concubines. When she saw the empress move Concubine Shugui's seat below hers, she lowered her eyes and looked at the ground.

"Today is Concubine Shugui's birthday. We are all sisters, so there is no need to stick to the rules. Let's just have a good time," the Queen helped Concubine Shugui sit down by the hand, and asked all the concubines to sit down as well. She then gave a look to He Yu beside her, who understood and waved for the musicians waiting outside to come in and sing and dance.

The first dance was Magu Celebrating Birthday. The woman dancing the dance had a lithe body and graceful dancing postures. Even someone like Zhuang Yuyan, who had no dancing talent, found it very enjoyable to watch.

"I think this dance is quite good, auspicious and graceful," the Queen said after the dance was over, "He Yu, enjoy it!"

"Your servant thanks the Empress," the woman who played Magu bowed respectfully.

Seeing the empress presenting gifts, other concubines followed suit one after another. Zhuang Yuyan was also very happy, so she also presented some gifts. Looking at the age of the dancer, she was probably no more than fifteen or sixteen years old. But for some reason, she always felt that the smile on Concubine Shugui's face was a little stiff.

After peeling a longan and putting it in her mouth, Zhuang Yuyan was in a good mood because of its sweet taste. After Magu's birthday celebration, several dancers came up with pipa in their hands.

"In the early years, your sister Shuguifei was the most beautiful in the harem with her pipa dance. Although these dancers are not as good as you, I think they are still good to watch," the queen said, and then she clapped her hands to let the dancers start.

As expected of the court's exclusive dancers, these women's dance was so beautiful that it gave people a feeling of floating in the air. Zhuang Yuyan glanced at Concubine Shu Gui in her gorgeous attire, and wondered how beautiful Concubine Shu Gui's dance was back then?

The sound of the pipa was like falling pearls. Zhuang Yuyan was just enjoying herself when she heard the eunuch's sharp voice coming from outside.

"The Emperor has arrived!"

Now the singing stopped, the dancing stopped, the concubines stopped flattering each other, and even the Empress stood up to greet him.

Feng Jin arrived at the harem and looked at the beauties all over the room with a smile on his face. "My beloved concubines, there is no need to be so polite." After saying that, he took the empress's hand and walked towards the throne.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." The concubines stood up and stepped aside. After the Emperor and Empress took their seats, they sat down again, but they were much more reserved than before.

Zhuang Yuyan covered her mouth with a handkerchief and spit out the longan seeds. Then she sat there quietly, determined not to attract attention.

"Today is Concubine Shugui's birthday, so I came to see her," Feng Jin smiled at Concubine Shugui and presented her with a bunch of things.

The concubines were jealous and resentful, but seeing that even the Empress was dissatisfied, they all smiled and said auspicious words. What they were thinking in their hearts was probably only known to them.

The queen brought the wine cup to Feng Jin, who took a sip and looked at the dancer standing quietly on the side, "You should dance the same way as before."

"Yes," the dancers bowed and started dancing again. Feng Jin watched for a while, put down his wine glass and said, "This dance is still a little worse than Concubine Shu Gui's."

The Queen heard this and said with a smile: "The dancing posture of Concubine Shugui is really rare. These girls have worked hard to dance with some of her charm."

"Well," Feng Jin nodded, "in terms of dancing style, Concubine Shu is the best and Concubine Yan is second." After saying that, he gave Concubine Shu a glass of wine, but did not give any reward to Concubine Yan.

Seeing Concubine Shu Guifei drinking the wine shyly, Zhuang Luoyan couldn't help but sigh that even people who don't drink would force themselves to drink the wine given by the emperor.

After listening to the music for a while, Feng Jin glanced at the concubines sitting below, and noticed Concubine Zhao who was peeling longan shells. She looked so comfortable eating longans while listening to music, which really gave people a leisurely and carefree feeling. Feng Jin couldn't help but take a few more glances at her.

After eating almost the longan in front of her, Zhuang Yuyan wiped her hands with a hand towel with some regret and listened to the music seriously. Although she didn't quite understand the meaning of the ancient music, it was good to appreciate the beautiful woman's voice.

"I think this longan is quite good," Feng Jin peeled a longan and put it in his mouth, and said to the queen, "Everyone should give another longan."

The Queen agreed, and everyone present had another plate of longans.

Seeing an extra plate of longans, Zhuang Yuyan continued to peel them and listen to music with a smile. She also stole a glance in the direction of the emperor. Seeing that no one at the table was paying attention to her, she used the same tricks she had used to get into dinner parties. She seemed to eat slowly, but she would definitely not be soft-handed when it came time to eat fast.

Because Concubine Shugui drank a few extra glasses of wine, her cheeks were slightly red as she looked at the musicians singing below with a dazed look in her eyes. She thought of the time when she had astonished the emperor with her pipa dance. Now that there are more and more newcomers, she wondered if the emperor would ever forget her?

After the banquet, Feng Jin left with the slightly tipsy Concubine Shugui, and the other concubines also paid their respects obediently and left.

The empress sat on the phoenix throne, looking at the silence in the hall. Her eyes swept over the wine cups and fruit plates in front of the emperor, only to see that the longans on the plate, which the emperor had praised very well, had not been touched much.

"I am tired, please settle down." The queen's face was as calm as water. She helped He Yu stand up, looked at the plate of longans again, and walked away.

"Master, the emperor rewarded you with some fragrant pears, saying that they can reduce internal heat and fever." Tingzhu came in carrying a food box with four fragrant pears neatly placed inside.

Zhuang Yuyan was stunned for a moment, then she felt relieved. It would be good to eat some pears to relieve internal heat in such a hot day.

Seeing that the master liked it, Yun Xi picked a pear and peeled it. While peeling, she thought that the master had eaten so many longans tonight and his body was prone to getting irritated, so eating a pear would be good for the body.