Chapter 255 Birthday

On the way back to Yanning Palace.

Tingchun looked at Yunqin on his shoulder for several times, but couldn't help asking, "Master, didn't the emperor say anything?"

The people in the palace were not stupid. They could see that except for the first few quarrels, their master and the emperor had not even quarreled since then, but they kept creating the illusion of quarrels.

They didn't dare to ask what their master wanted to do, but today was different.

"Master, today is your birthday."

"The emperor didn't say anything, so he probably doesn't know." Yun Qin glanced at her, unbuttoned her sleeves, revealing the red sandalwood box on her lap, "Who cares if he knows or not? I've already received this gift."

What could be more affordable than a box of large South China pearls?

Seeing the joy on her face, Tingchun also smiled and said, "Then today, we servants will celebrate the master's birthday well."

The Empress had just had another "quarrel" with the Emperor. Even if the Emperor knew it was the Empress' birthday, he might not come to Yanning Palace.

"good."

Yun Qin smiled at her, but when she saw someone coming, she immediately put away the smile on her face.

You can't just finish an argument with the emperor and then turn around and joke with the palace maids, right?

After returning to Yanning Palace, Rong Xin was also shocked to see Yun Qin bringing back such a large box of pearls.

"I have only seen a pearl like this in Su Yiyan's place, inlaid on the top of the crown. She is usually so precious to me, and the emperor actually gave you so many."

Yun Qin played with the pearls with a smile on her face, "After all, I worked hard and made great contributions."

After all, she saved Concubine Shen and the princess, so she felt at ease accepting these South Pearls.

She grabbed a few and pushed the rest in front of Rong Xin, "Sister, pick a few and give them to Jing, and give the rest to you, sister."

"Aqin, don't talk nonsense. This is a South Pearl. It's not something you can use with your normal status." Rong Xin glared at her.

"Then keep it for fun."

If good things cannot be shared, the happiness in your heart will be halved.

Rong Xin glared at her again and reached out to close the box. "Such fine beads should not be left covered in dust. I will send them to the Ministry of Internal Affairs some other day and have them make you a set of headgear. It will definitely be dazzling."

Seeing Yunqin was about to ask for more, she continued, "If I meet someone smaller than this later, I'll ask Aqin for it."

After hearing what Rong Xin said, Yun Qin had no choice but to give up.

In previous years, Yun Qin celebrated her birthday simply, and this year she didn’t plan on having a grand celebration. However, compared to the past, she could use the kitchen as she pleased.

So she made herself a simple cake.

Rong Xin had eaten it before, but no one else in Yanning Palace had ever seen such a snack, so they were surprised.

Fortunately, Yunqin was a big boss, and almost everyone in Yanning Palace got a piece of it.

He made everyone happy. Apart from the birthday gift prepared for Yunqin, he also gave her kind words without charge.

Yun Qin distributed a lot of red envelopes, and everyone in Yanning Palace was very lively.

When Xu An arrived, Yun Qin was sitting on the couch looking at the birthday gifts that the palace people had sent her. There was a handkerchief, a knotted brooch, and a wooden hairpin that she had polished by hand.

They were just some simple little things, but Yunqin was very happy and looked at them over and over again.

Xu An came in and saw her so happy, and couldn't help but asked with a smile: "Why are you so happy, Madam?"

"Nothing." Yun Qin motioned Rong Xin to put the things away, and then asked, "Father-in-law, is there anything you need to come here at this time?"

Xu An smiled and said, "Your Highness, the Emperor asked me to invite you over, saying that he has something important to discuss with you."

After hearing his words, Yun Qin's first reaction was that Concubine De had taken action.

It's a bit strange that she is so impatient this time.

"Please wait for a moment, eunuch, so that I can change my clothes."

Yun Qin immediately changed her clothes and left with Xu An, taking Rong Xin and Xiao Shunzi, who were on duty tonight.

It was already dark, and lights were turned on on both sides of the palace road. Xiao Shunzi and Rong Xin were holding lanterns in their hands, so they didn't feel it was dim.

Not long after walking, Yun Qin realized something was wrong, "This doesn't seem to be the way to Tongming Palace."

Xu An didn't look at her, but just said, "The Emperor is waiting for the Queen in the Yu Garden."

Guarding the garden?

Yun Qin was quick-witted and immediately raised her eyebrows slightly, realizing that Huo Jinchi probably wanted to do more than just talk to her.

Although she had some expectations in her mind, she was still surprised when she arrived at Yu Garden.

Starting from around a rockery, all the way to the pavilion in the center of the lake, lanterns were lit. No lights were on anywhere else, making this road lit by lanterns appear even brighter and clearer.

The sedan chair stopped at the lakeside. Yun Qin held Rong Xin's hand and walked down. Then she heard Xu An say, "The Emperor is waiting for you in the pavilion. Go quickly."

Rong Xin tactfully let go of her hand and stepped aside.

Yun Qin glanced at her with helplessness in her eyes, and walked onto the stone plank path leading to the pavilion in the middle of the lake.

She was now certain that Hawking Chi must have known that today was her birthday and had deliberately arranged this.

Yun Qin was complaining about being old-fashioned in her heart, but at the same time she couldn't help but feel her heart beating faster.

After all, this was the first time she had experienced such a thing in two lifetimes.

There were lanterns lit on the plank road. Yun Qin looked as she walked and slowly realized that there seemed to be something painted on these lanterns. After taking a closer look, she realized that they were all herself.

There are pictures of her reading and writing, holding an umbrella in the rain, admiring plum blossoms in the snow, and even standing under a ginkgo tree with her brows furrowed, which makes a smile gradually appear on her face.

The pavilion was covered with white gauze all around, and when Yun Qin was still looking inside with curiosity, a hand suddenly stretched out from behind the curtain and pulled her in.

Yun Qin cried out in surprise, and when she looked up she saw Huo Jinchi's smiling eyes.

Before she could get angry, her eyes were attracted by the revolving scrolling lights above his head.

The lamp was very large, with a three-story structure, and every detail was exquisite. What attracted Yunqin even more was the scenes depicted on it, which were all bustling street scenes in the city.

As the pattern rotates, the scene in each painting seems to move.

"This is the scene of the Lantern Festival." Seeing her staring intently, Huo Jinchi smiled and said, "Many fireworks are set off every year."

Yun Qin then noticed that there were fireworks blooming in every painting.

"I know you want to see a fireworks display..."

Before he could finish his words, a "bang" sound came from far away outside!

Yun Qin immediately opened the curtain and looked over, only to see a firework explode into the sky on the mountain closest to the imperial palace, followed by one after another exploding in the dark night sky.

"Did the emperor prepare this?" Yun Qin turned around in surprise.

Huo Jinchi nodded and put his arm around Yun Qin's shoulders. "In front of other people, you and I are having a serious argument. It's inappropriate to set off fireworks in the palace. I can only ask people to go outside the palace."