After watching a few swing dances, it was almost noon and it was time for the Cold Food Banquet. Although the food served was kept away from fire, the chefs were still able to make them look good, smell good and taste good.

While eating, they were enjoying the beautiful woman playing the flute on the swing. The sound of the flute was so melodious that even Zhuang Yuyan, who didn't like it, couldn't help but listen to it. On the contrary, the others seemed to be used to it and didn't even look at the flute player.

Perhaps she was used to seeing and hearing such things, and after experiencing all kinds of pomp and circumstance, this kind of small scene was nothing. Zhuang Yuyan took a sip from the wine bottle. In a place like this, status meant life.

"Does Zhao Xianrong like this song?" The Queen suddenly spoke up and smiled at Zhuang Yuyan. "These are all actors employed by the palace. You are the master of the palace. If you like it, you can summon them to the palace to perform for you."

"When I heard this beautiful song, I couldn't help but get distracted. I'm sorry to have embarrassed Your Majesty." Zhuang Yuyan put down the wine bottle and smiled respectfully at the empress.

"This song is called Hundred Flowers Drunk, and the tune is indeed gentle and beautiful. You didn't know this because you entered the palace late. When Concubine Rou sang this song, it was the sound of nature. Although the sound of this flute is beautiful, it is still far inferior to the song sung by Concubine Rou back then." The queen said this and glanced at the emperor. "To be honest, there is no one in the palace with a more beautiful voice than Concubine Rou. What do you think, Your Majesty?"

"The voice of Concubine Rou is indeed heavenly," Feng Jin seemed not to realize that the Queen's words had a hidden agenda. "Not to mention Zhao Xianrong, even I haven't heard Concubine Rou sing for quite some time."

Concubine Rou stood up and forced a smile, saying, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your praise. I am so terrified."

A few days ago, because of the matter of borrowing a servant from Xihe Palace, she had been treated coldly by the emperor. Although the queen now spoke to her as if she were a singer, it at least made the emperor look at her, so she didn't know whether she was angry or happy at this moment.

Feng Jin looked at her timid look and stopped talking. He pointed at the two dishes in front of him and said, "I remember that Concubine Shu Gui likes sweet food, so this one is for Concubine Shu Gui. This one is what Zhao Xianrong likes, so give it to her."

The so-called Golden Stone and Green Silver Flower was actually green pepper and preserved egg. Zhuang Yuyan stood up to thank him and directly picked up a piece and threw it into her mouth without any politeness.

However, Concubine Shugui is much more gentle than Zhuang Yuyan. Now Su Xiuyi was reprimanded by the emperor because of Zhuang Yuyan. Concubine Shugui is Su Xiuyi's cousin, and Concubine Shugui's family has also been involved in Zhuang Yuyan's brother. No matter how the two of them act on the surface, they have already been at odds with each other in their hearts.

Both of them were the most powerful people in the palace, and no one dared to offend them, so they just watched the fight between the two with cold eyes.

"It tastes really delicious. Thank you, Your Majesty, for your gift." After taking a sip, Concubine Shugui smiled softly again and stood up to thank the emperor.

"If my beloved concubine likes it, then eat more." Feng Jin smiled faintly, and then he saw Zhuang Yuyan had already eaten three or four pieces, so he said, "Zhao Xianrong, although this golden stone jade silver flower is delicious, your wound has not healed yet, so don't be greedy."

After glancing at the preserved egg and green pepper reluctantly, Zhuang Yuyan looked up at the emperor, stood up and bowed, her voice a little softer than when she thanked him, "Yes, Your Majesty, I lost my composure."

Feng Jin wanted to say a few more words, but seeing her face turn pale due to excessive blood loss, he could only shake his head helplessly, "You are weak, there is no need to be so polite, sit down quickly."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Zhuang Yuyan sat down and ignored the envious or jealous looks of the concubines around her. She lightly stroked the leg of the wine jar with her index finger, and suddenly raised her head, just in time to meet Concubine Shugui's gaze.

Giving Concubine Shu Guifei a faint smile, Zhuang Yuyan raised the wine glass and took a sip slowly. Their eyes met and then looked away again.

"Your Majesty, it's spring time today. Why don't we paint a picture of spring together after it's finished, which will add some elegance to the painting?" Concubine Shu Gui looked at the emperor with a charming smile.

Feng Jin nodded upon hearing this, "Today is indeed a rare good day. Reciting poems and painting with my beloved concubines is a chance to relax for a while."

Everyone knew that Concubine Shugui wanted to embarrass Zhao Xianrong. After all, everyone in the harem knew that Zhao Xianrong was a terrible painter. Even the emperor said that her paintings were ugly.

Everyone looked at So Hyun-yong at this moment, but saw that she was eating her meal calmly, without any sign of anger. Many people felt in their hearts that So Hyun-yong was a person who could keep her composure.

After the meal, the palace attendants had already prepared tables, chairs, benches, pens, ink, paper, inkstones, and various brushes, paints, and stones, just waiting for the masters to pick up their pens and paint and compose poems.

Some people say that a painting is like its creator, so people who are good at painting should be considered holy and elegant in people's eyes. Most of the concubines in the harem have some family background, so they have learned the arts of music, chess, calligraphy and painting. Even if they are not proficient in them, they will know how to add some elegance.

Those who were born in a low position naturally did not hold high positions, so whether they painted or not was not that important. Among the concubines, the only ones who had some status and were not very good at painting were Concubine Yan Guipin and Concubine Zhao Xianrong.

Concubine Yan was born in a poor family, and Concubine Zhao Xianrong was really not good at this, so many people were waiting to see the two of them make a fool of themselves.

Zhuang Yuyan didn't care about what others thought. She picked up the pen and started sketching on the silk. She was not at all the bad at it as others had thought.

Concubine Shugui glanced at Zhuang Yuyan, lowered her head with a smile, and carefully outlined a magnolia flower.

Feng Jian was the emperor, and calligraphy and painting were just pastimes for him, so he was not obsessed with them. He just simply sketched a rock with a half-opened orchid next to it.

Soon after the emperor finished painting, the other concubines naturally stopped painting one after another and watched each other.

The empress's paintings were quite standard, and her painting of a peony was dignified and majestic, showing her noble family background. Feng Jin praised it twice and went to look at the paintings made by other concubines.

As the most favored concubine in the harem, Concubine Shugui not only had a charming dancing style, but was also very skilled in music, chess, calligraphy and painting.

Zhuang Yuyan put down her pen, glanced at the concubines who were surrounding Concubine Shugui and saying flattering words to her, and smiled slightly.

When Concubine Jiang glanced at the painting in front of Zhuang Yuyan, a hint of surprise appeared in her eyes, and then she smiled and said, "Your Majesty's painting is amazing."

"I just hope you don't embarrass me." Zhuang Yuyan curled her lips. Sometimes women in the harem can't treat themselves as a basin and pour out anything. The so-called surprise, does it have to be when the other party is not expecting it, to be effective?

The emperor walked to Zhuang Yuyan's desk and was surprised by her painting skills, even though he had no expectations. On the silk was a red crabapple tree, a broken stone, and a butterfly, with a poem by Ouyang Xiu in the blank space next to it. Although her painting skills were far inferior to those of Concubine Ning, they carried an indescribable meaning.

"The flowers this year are more beautiful than last year. But it's a pity that the flowers next year will be even better. Who can compare with me?" Feng Jin slowly recited this sentence, looked at Zhuang Yuyan deeply, and then smiled and said, "Although my beloved concubine's painting is not the best, the meaning is rare. I wonder if my painting skills will be better by this time next year."

"I know my painting skills are not as good as others, I am just showing off my skills in front of an expert." Zhuang Luyan smiled.

Concubine Shugui on the side felt a little uncomfortable. The emperor specifically mentioned what next year was. Could it be that he had to make such a promise just because Zhuang Yuyan wrote a poem that made no sense?

Was this Zhuang Luoyan's provocation to her original statement that "no flower lasts forever"?

The Queen seemed to be very happy to see Consort Shugui lose face, and she said immediately: "I find this painting of Sohyeon-ryong refreshing and pleasant, and it is a refreshing sight. It is obvious that the original painting of Sohyeon-ryong by the Palace Master was not carefully enough."

"Your Majesty, I am sorry for the compliment. I like those chubby paintings, and my painting skills are not good enough, so I painted like that on the palace lantern that day." Zhuang Yuyan smiled faintly, "I am sorry to have embarrassed you all."

"Zhao Xianrong is indeed a hidden talent," Concubine Shugui also smiled and said, "If we hadn't painted together today, I'm afraid even the emperor wouldn't know that you have such painting skills."

"Your Majesty, you are too kind. I dare not let your Majesty see my shameful paintings." Zhuang Yuyan looked at the emperor, "I am not a painter, so your Majesty has naturally never seen my paintings."

"That's true," Feng Jin raised his head and said to Concubine Shu Gui, "I see that she can only sit but not stand. Painting is really difficult for her."

The smile on Concubine Shu Gui's face faded a little, "But doesn't the emperor like Sister Zhao's lazy nature?"

Feng Zhen smiled upon hearing this, but did not continue the conversation. He turned and walked towards Concubine Ning.

Naturally, everyone followed and saw that there was a picture of green bamboo on Ning Fei's canvas. With just a few strokes, she had captured the bamboo's aura and shape. Even Zhuang Yuyan, an amateur, felt that Ning Fei's painting skills were indeed better than other women.

Everyone naturally praised her. Concubine Shugui said, "Concubine Ning's paintings are beyond the reach of the likes of us. I remember two years ago, Concubine Ning imitated Gu Kaizhi's "The Goddess of Luo River" and it was just like the original painting. With such imitation skills, I'm afraid that only Gu Kaizhi could be reborn, and no one else would be able to tell that it was not a real painting."

"Your Highness, I am too kind. I was just bored and imitated it for fun. I am not that great." Concubine Ning smiled calmly, without any complacency at all.

"Why is Concubine Ning so modest?" Concubine Shugui paused and suddenly said, "If you don't mention this, I would have almost forgotten it. Your Majesty, Concubine Ning is good at painting and imitating paintings. Why not let her see who copied the peacock painting to deliberately frame Zhao Xianrong?"

Nearly a month has passed since this incident, and the Emperor and the Empress have already tacitly acknowledged that Zhao Xianrong was framed by someone with ulterior motives. Why did Concubine Shugui bring up this matter again? Does she want to say that Zhao Xianrong was not framed, or does she have other intentions?

Feng Jin's eyebrows moved slightly, and he looked at Concubine Shu Gui again. His index finger tapped Concubine Ning's painting table lightly. Seeing Concubine Ning respectfully put down the brush she was still holding because of his action, he took his hand back and said to Concubine Ning, "Since Concubine Shu Gui mentioned it, I also want to let you see it. Your Majesty, have someone bring up the peacock tail." At this point, Feng Jin suddenly paused, "After all, Zhao Xianrong released the paper iris with me that day, and the fuse that flew away was cut by me personally."

When the emperor said this, the faces of several people present changed slightly. Didn't the emperor's words mean that the person who was looking for the paper ibis that day would definitely not be Zhao Xianrong? After all, the emperor had let go of something with his own hands, so how could Zhao Xianrong be so stupid as to find it back?

Then why was the emperor silent before?

The concubine who had taken advantage of her situation to bully Zhuang Yuyan before became more and more frightened the more she thought about it, and her face gradually turned pale. The originally lively Yu Garden suddenly became dull.

Zhuang Yuyan didn't expect the emperor to say such a thing. Her eyelids moved and her gaze fell on Concubine Ning's painting of green bamboo.