Concubine Ning's personality was similar to her title, she was peaceful and harmonious, a woman who could easily make people feel at ease. Zhuang Luoyan did not have much contact with her, so she did not say much while sipping tea.

Now she is at the center of the storm, and although she has to guard against being framed by someone with ulterior motives, no one dares to be rude to her. This kind of scene where everyone treats her with caution makes it very easy for people to feel spiritually satisfied. It is no wonder that such a woman wants to be the most favored in the harem, because power, luxury, and vanity are all based on the emperor's favor.

"The tea here at Concubine Ning is always a little more flavorful," Concubine Xian Gui smiled and put down the teacup, "Even if the tea leaves in my palace are the same, they can't brew this flavor."

"That's the truth. Usually when the emperor comes to my palace to drink tea, he always praises the tea here," said Concubine Rou, smiling. "After drinking it today, I really feel that the tea in my palace is just hot pot water."

"Sister Xian Guifei and sister Rou Fei have left me with no place to hide my face after hearing what she said," Although Concubine Ning's voice was not as sweet as pearls falling on a jade plate, it gave people an indescribable feeling of comfort. Combined with her gentle and graceful temperament, even Zhuang Luoyan, as a woman, could not help but feel a little fond of her.

Something like affinity can be considered a powerful weapon in the harem.

She picked up the teacup and blew gently. The taste was very light but with a lingering plum fragrance, which reminded her of some time-traveling heroines in her previous life who attracted the attention of some important people by making good tea. Thinking of this, she felt that she was too incompetent. In terms of talent, she could not recite poetry, paint, or even make tea, sing or dance, and could not even recite many of the thirty-six strategies in "The Art of War". In terms of emotions, she had not made any man lose his appetite or sleep, which really did not meet the minimum standard of the time-traveling clan.

"What is Zhao Xianrong thinking about that makes her so absorbed?" Concubine Rou tilted her head slightly to look at Zhuang Yuyan. This angle made her seem to be looking down on her.

"I just remembered that when the emperor came to my place, he also disliked the tea I made. I didn't know why at first, but now I finally know." Zhuang Yuyan took another sip reluctantly, "The emperor's stomach has been pampered by Concubine Ning. A vulgar person like me can't make good tea for the emperor."

"You are too polite, Empress Zhao Xianrong. Everyone knows that the food made in your palace kitchen is extremely delicious." Concubine Yan was embarrassed because of the previous promotion, so she was very upset when facing Zhuang Luoyan, who entered the palace later than her but was already Xianrong. "Even if you don't have delicious tea, you have delicious food to keep the emperor's stomach."

Is this a subtle hint that she relies on delicious food to keep the emperor's stomach, rather than for some other reason?

Zhuang Luoyan looked back at Concubine Yan lazily, "Concubine Yan likes the food here. If you have time in the future, will you dine with me?"

You laugh at me for relying on delicious food to keep the emperor, and I laugh at you for not even having delicious food. Zhuang Yuyan has never shown such virtues as kindness and nobility when attacking her opponents.

"Thank you for your kindness, Empress Xianrong. I don't care about food," Concubine Yan Gui smiled stiffly, "It's better not to bother you."

Concubine Shu Gui watched the women flirting with each other idly, blowing the tea stems in the tea. After Concubine Yan Gui finished speaking, she slowly spoke: "It seems that Concubine Yan Gui still likes food, otherwise why would she remember the small kitchen in Zhao Xianrong's palace." She put down the teacup gently and glanced at it. "Even the emperor said that Zhao Xianrong loves food. Naturally, your appetite cannot compare to Zhao Xianrong's."

Concubine Xian's eyebrows twitched. Concubine Shu's words really didn't give face to Concubine Yan. Although Concubine Yan learned dancing from Concubine Shu, it was a pity that it was difficult to paint the bones. Some things could not be imitated by imitation. Therefore, Su Ruizi was Concubine Shu, and she, Xue Zhenyao, was just a concubine.

It's no wonder that Concubine Shu Guifei was rude in her words. No one likes someone to step on their old path to climb up. It's no wonder that Concubine Yan Guipin didn't know what's good for her at this moment and insisted on talking too much. Others didn't give her face.

After Concubine Shu Gui's words, Concubine Yan Gui's face became even uglier. Concubine Shu Gui's words were implicitly pointing out that she was not as good as Zhuang Yuyan, but she could not refute it.

"It's actually not a rare thing. It's just made from plum blossoms that bloom when it snows. You guys are exaggerating about it," Ning Fei's soft voice echoed in the house. "After all, it's just a novelty."

Concubine Ning successfully dispelled the awkward atmosphere in the room. Zhuang Lu Yansi had no idea that she was part of the awkward atmosphere. She took another sip of tea and said, "I am a layman who doesn't know how to taste tea. I just think this tea tastes particularly good."

"Looking at the way Your Majesty drinks tea, I also believe that you don't know how to taste tea," Jiang Guipin smiled, covering her mouth, "I am rude, please forgive me, Your Majesty."

"I know you want to talk about the story of the cow chewing a peony," Zhuang Luoyan smiled and shook her head, "For me, the fact that Concubine Ning's tea tastes good is the greatest truth, right or not?"

"The flavor of tea and the elegance of plum blossoms are not so easy to taste," Xu Zhaorong smiled faintly, "Empress Xianrong is really honest."

If there is one woman among these that Zhuang Yuyan cannot stand, then Xu Zhaorong ranks second and no one else can rank first. This kind of affectation is really annoying. I'm afraid she has forgotten the joke that happened in the Plum Garden a few days ago.

"Being honest has its advantages. If you are always sad about the passing of spring and autumn, people will think you are hypocritical," Concubine Rou sneered. "People like us are vulgar and naturally don't understand what character is. No wonder Xu Zhaorong goes to appreciate the character of plum blossoms in the severe cold every day."

When Concubine Rou said this, there was a burst of laughter in the room. It seemed that everyone had not forgotten Xu Zhaorong's joke a few days ago, so everyone couldn't help laughing.

Looking at Xu Zhaorong's ugly face, Zhuang Yuyan sighed in her heart. Even if God doesn't take away the hypocritical people, there will be others to take them away. People with the temperament of Concubine Rou probably can't stand Xu Zhaorong's behavior, so what she said was really hurtful.

Concubine Shugui smiled and shook her head, looking at Zhuang Yuyan in a joking manner: "It can be seen that you have wasted the plum blossoms given to you by the emperor. Fortunately, you don't know how to make this plum blossom tea, otherwise those poor plum blossoms would have gone into your stomach."

"Empress Shugui, please give me some face, otherwise I will not be able to stay here." Zhuang Luyan blushed and picked up the teacup to hide her embarrassment.

"I think what my beloved concubine said makes a lot of sense. Fortunately, those poor plum blossoms did not enter your stomach."

As soon as the emperor's voice came out, the women stood up and greeted him.

Feng Jin reached out to help Concubine Shu Gui up, then turned to look at Zhuang Yuyan, "You should drink less, otherwise I will feel sorry for this good tea for Concubine Ning."

Concubine Shugui also joked a few words, then looked at the woman in red following the emperor, "Isn't this Concubine Zhen?" She looked her up and down, "The Empress has good taste. This red dress is perfect for Concubine Zhen."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kind praise," Zhen Cairen looked at the concubines in the room with envy. They were all people of some status in the harem. She thought that in the near future she would be able to be like these women and have the servants in the harem serve her carefully, instead of kneeling down and paying respects whenever she saw a concubine of a slightly higher status as she did now.

"I just happened to meet Lady Zhen in Yu Garden. I heard that Concubine Ning invited the concubines to have tea, so I came to take a look," Feng Jin sat down at the head of the table and took the tea from Concubine Ning. "You all take a seat. I'm not here to dampen your mood."

With you here, these women have lost all interest in drinking tea. Zhuang Yuyan sat down in her original seat, glanced at Zhen Cairen who was sitting at the last seat, and remained silent.

"Just now I heard that Concubine Zhen is also good at making good tea. Unfortunately, I have never tasted tea better than the one provided by Concubine Ning." Feng Jin took a sip of tea and turned to look at Concubine Ning. "It is really good tea. No wonder some vulgar people would rather drink a few more sips than be laughed at by a cow chewing a peony."

"Your Majesty, thank you for your compliment," Concubine Ning smiled at Concubine Zhen, "Why not let me taste Concubine Zhen's tea, too."

"Well, let her make some tea and try it." Feng Jin put down the teacup and spoke nonchalantly.

When Zhen Cairen heard this, she couldn't hide her joy on her face, and after paying her respects, she got busy.

Zhuang Luoyan sighed secretly in her heart. This talented lady Zhen was still too simple-minded. She only thought about getting the emperor's attention, but she never thought that this was Concubine Ning's tea-tasting party. There was no room for her to show off her tea skills. She didn't even show any humility. I don't know if she was too confident or didn't take Concubine Ning seriously.

Under the sight of all the concubines, Zhen Cairen made tea in a very graceful manner. Her fair hands holding the purple clay quilt, paired with her red dress, she was indescribably bright and charming.

By the time the tea was served to everyone, the plum blossom tea that Concubine Ning had originally brewed had become so cold that not a single bit of heat remained.

Feng Jin took a sip first and nodded in approval, "Although it's not as clear as Concubine Ning's, it still has some flavor."

Concubine Ning smiled and said, "Your Majesty has chosen me. Lady Zhen's tea also has a special flavor."

Zhuang Yuyan took a sip and found the tea tasted good, but it was brewed in the wrong place.

"We've almost finished our tea, so please take these tea sets away." Feng Jin put down the tea, and he didn't look like he liked the tea brewed by Zhen Cairen very much.

"Yes," Zhen Cairen was delighted to receive the emperor's praise, and hurriedly asked the palace maid beside her to put away the tea set, "Lu'er, take the tea set away."

Feng Jin watched the tea set being accepted quietly, and then talked to the concubines for a while. After about another stick of incense, he turned to Concubine Ning and said, "It's getting late. I should return to the palace."

The concubines all stood up to see him off. Feng Jin stood up and took two steps, then suddenly stopped and pointed at Luo Er who had returned to the house: "Mr. Zhen, this palace maid is by your side. What's her name?"

Zhen Cairen thought that the emperor had taken a fancy to Luo'er. Although she was unwilling in her heart, she still replied respectfully: "Your Majesty, this is my maiden by my side, Luo'er."

"Which thread?" Feng Jin frowned slightly.

"Your Majesty, it is a piece of silk." After Zhen Cairen answered, there was no response from the emperor for a long time. She could not help but look up cautiously, but saw that there was no expression on the emperor's handsome face.

"Come here, drag this maid named Luo'er out and beat her to death with a stick," Feng Jin glanced at Zhen Cairen calmly, "ask the Palace Department to assign Zhen Cairen a new maid."

Lady Zhen watched with a pale face as Luo'er was dragged away by the powerful eunuch. She was unable to come to her senses for a long time and had no idea how Luo'er had displeased the emperor.

"The tea party is over, and it's time for me to go back," Shu Guifei left without even looking at Zhen Cairen.

Everyone left one after another, and when Zhen Cairen came out of Concubine Ning's palace in a daze, she felt cold all over.

"She doesn't even know who she is, yet she dares to call herself by this name. She deserves to be beaten to death. This Zhencai is really arrogant. She dares to let the maidservant beside her call her by this name. She is really not worthy of being in public."