Chapter 039 Chapter 39
Chapter 39
Qiyue lowered her head to tie the empress's hair, but she was a little absent-minded and accidentally used too much force in her hands. When she realized it, she had already grasped the wooden comb tightly and knelt down, saying, "Your Majesty, please forgive me."
The queen said calmly, "Get up."
But Qiyue gritted her teeth and said what she had buried in her heart for a long time, "Your Majesty has promoted Yingcairen and has been tolerant of Defei and Shufei for so many years. Your Majesty has always been..."
The queen slammed the jade hairpin in her hand on the table, her face filled with anger, "Shut up!"
Ran Xia had already driven out all the palace servants. When she entered the hall again, the empress was sitting in the same place, but her eyes were closed, and no one knew what she was thinking.
Seeing that the time was almost up, Ran Xia saw Qi Yue kneeling on the ground, and sighed in her heart, saying, "Your Majesty, it's getting late, and all the concubines in the six palaces have already arrived."
The queen put back the jade hairpin she had just taken, and ignored Qiyue who was kneeling on the ground. She just said to Ranxia, "You come."
Until Ran Xia helped the Queen put on the Phoenix Crown, the Queen had no intention of letting Qiyue get up.
When passing by Qiyue, the Queen softened her tone and said, "You two are my dowry, so you should know clearly what happened back then. I promoted Yingcai because the Emperor likes her. If you say something like today again, you don't have to serve me anymore."
There was pleading in Qiyue's eyes, but the queen only glanced at them and quickly withdrew them, saying, "You kneel here for an incense stick of time, and then you stand up by yourself. You don't need to come near to serve me today."
After saying this, the queen walked out of the inner hall directly without giving Qiyue any chance to refute.
Ruan Jun sat in her seat. She was not feeling well today and she couldn't even eat the cakes.
There are several people between Wen Yunu and Ruan Jun. Although she often goes to Ruan Jun's place recently, she gradually finds that Ruan Jun does not treat her as well as before. She doesn't know why she treats Ruan Jun like this, and there is a hint of grievance in her eyes.
Today is the new year and all the concubines in the harem are dressed extra grandly and gorgeously, except Ruan Yun who still looks her usual self.
When the queen came out of the inner hall, the first thing she saw was Ruan Yun, who was as pretty as a lotus in clear water.
The concubines stood up to pay their respects. The empress sat dignified and raised her hand, saying, "Everyone, stand up."
Shufei has always been the most impolite one. Today, she had a disagreement with Ruan Yun again, but she didn't gain any advantage yet. She was in the worst mood.
The Queen ignored Concubine Shu's rudeness, and then looked at Concubine Shu and asked softly, "Is the little princess feeling better today?"
Ever since the last incident of stopping taking hemp leaves, the originally healthy little princess began to become weak. The queen granted Shen Chongyi grace and allowed her not to come to Fengyi Palace to pay her respects. This was also the first time that everyone had seen Shen Chongyi since that day.
In the past, Shen Chongyi had a gentle and quiet appearance, but perhaps because the little princess had been ill and not in good health in the past few days, Shen Chongyi also looked particularly haggard.
He stood up and said, "Thanks to the Queen Mother Lao for her concern, I have gotten much better in the past few days and even said that I want to attend the palace banquet together."
The Queen nodded and said to Shen Chongyi with great concern: "It's important to take care of the little princess, but you also have to take care of yourself. If you get sick, the little princess will probably recover more slowly."
As she spoke, Ran Xia handed a ginseng to Shen Chongyi's maid, and the queen said, "This is the thousand-year-old ginseng presented as tribute this year. The emperor gave it to me, but the little princess' illness has dragged on for such a long time. You should take it back and let the little princess recover."
Shen Chongyi's eyes were full of love, and she hurriedly thanked the empress. When she sat down, she felt a sharp gaze from the side. Shen Chongyi didn't dare to look, so she could only lower her head and pretend nothing happened.
Ruan Yun found it very interesting. It seemed like something happened between Concubine Shu and Yu Ronghua.
Unfortunately, she didn't watch the show for long before the Queen told everyone to leave.
As usual, Concubine De stayed behind to talk to the Empress about the New Year's Palace Banquet in the evening. Concubine Shu walked very fast, and Ruan Jun didn't want to bump into her, so she walked out of Fengyi Palace slowly.
But just as she was about to leave, Chunqing came running over with an anxious look on his face, saying, "My lady, please don't leave yet. The imperial guards of the Concubine Shu have not left yet, and it looks like they are waiting for you, my lady."
Ruan Yun's face was wrinkled. Concubine Shu was vindictive and arrogant, and she would not let go of that incident so easily. Remembering the emperor's attitude towards Concubine Shu when she stopped taking hemp leaves, and Shen Chongyi's strange reaction, Ruan Yun decided to stay as far away as possible.
The Empress was somewhat surprised to hear the news of Ruan Yun's return. Seeing this, Concubine De couldn't help but say, "Concubine Shu has been favored by the Emperor for many years, and Yingcai has suddenly gained favor. Concubine Shu is not happy for a while, Your Majesty..."
It was rare for Concubine De to make her words so clear. The Queen took up the rosary and said, "I have gotten used to it over the years."
Tong Ranxia said: "It's cold outside the palace, let Yingcai come in."
Concubine De immediately stood up and said, "The eldest prince is taking a day off today. He said he was painting a picture for me to see when I get back. I will bring the eldest prince to pay my respects to the queen another day."
The Queen nodded slightly, and Concubine De walked directly out of Fengyi Palace, and happened to meet Ruan Yun in the outer hall.
Ruan Yun saluted with Concubine De and was helped up by Concubine De herself. She said with a smile, "Sister, you don't have to be so polite."
Seeing Ruan Yun's hands were red from the cold, Concubine De's eyes flashed with pity and said, "Sister, you can't stand the cold. Please go in quickly. The Empress is waiting for you."
After a pause, Concubine De smiled shyly:
"My elder sister got a piece of silver mink fur some time ago. The eldest prince doesn't like to use it, and it's a bit inappropriate for me to use it now that I'm older. After seeing my younger sister today, I think it's suitable for me to make a hand copy for her."
Ruan Yun said in a sweet voice: "Sister, please don't tease me. How can I use such a good thing?"
"My sister is more beautiful than a flower and the emperor dotes on her so much. If she gets frozen, everyone will feel sad." Defei looked at Ruan Yun tenderly and said as she took the hand warmer.
Wang Yi whispered, "It's getting late. I'm afraid the eldest prince will be getting impatient soon."
De Fei patted her forehead and said, "I feel that my sister is kind and I am willing to chat with her. Tomorrow I will have someone send the silver mink fur to her. Please don't refuse it."
Having said that, Ruan Jun had no choice but to accept the call. She could only watch Concubine De leave.
Today was the first time she had spoken so much to Concubine De. Although Concubine De looked kind, none of the women in the deep palace were simple, not to mention that Concubine De still had the eldest prince, who was the only prince of the emperor.
Entering the inner hall, there were floor dragons and charcoal basins burning, making it especially warm. The Queen glanced at Ruan Yun with a half-smile, which made Ruan Yun feel embarrassed. She wanted to greet him but was stopped by the Queen, who said, "Don't be so polite. Just come over here."
Her thoughts were seen through by the Queen. Ruan Yun was shy for a long time before she sat down beside the Queen. Seeing that the Queen still had a smile on her lips, she held her face with her hands and said coquettishly, "Your Majesty, please don't look at me like that. I'm..."
The Queen covered her lips with a handkerchief and smiled, "Shufei is usually not like today. What did you say?"
Ruan Yun immediately retorted, "That was not what I wanted to say. It was clearly the Concubine Shu who was deliberately making things difficult for me. Besides, if the Emperor knew about it, I would be punished again."
There was a gleam of surprise in the Queen's eyes as she looked Ruan Jun up and down. She looked good, so how could the Emperor be willing to punish her?
But before she could finish her words, a man came from behind the huanghuali wood carved green stone screen with the Twelve Prefectures of Guangyun and looked at Ruan Yun with a face as dark as a pot.
Ruan Jun was so startled that she stood up and forgot to salute. When did the emperor come?
The queen was only slightly surprised but soon calmed down and said, "Your Majesty is well."
Yan Shiyu nodded and went towards Ruan Yun, but the woman looked around like a frightened rabbit, not daring to look up at him. The agate earrings fell on her earlobes, and soon her earlobes turned as red as agate, as if they were dripping with blood.
When Ruan Yun saw the emperor coming, she immediately made way for him. Ran Xia brought a stool and placed it behind Ruan Yun. The queen wanted Ruan Yun to sit down, but Ruan Yun said, "I remember that I haven't practiced calligraphy today, so I won't bother the emperor and the queen here."
After saying this, she timidly raised her eyes and looked towards Yan Shiyu. Yan Shiyu snorted lightly, and Ruan Jun walked out of Fengyi Palace in a panic.
The Queen took the tea herself and placed it beside Yan Shiyu's hand, saying, "Yingcai has a lively personality, and every time she speaks, it makes me happy."
Yan Shiyu closed his brows slightly, bent his knees and sat on the beauty's backrest, his finger bones clearly tapping on his knees from time to time.
What kind of lively personality is that? She clearly needs a lesson! She dares to say anything outside and even dares to frame him. She is really spoiled to the point of being lawless!
The Queen did not wait for Yan Shiyu to say anything, and said indifferently: "But the Emperor also knows that Concubine Shu is bound to feel wronged. Today, she is just acting like a little girl."
Speaking of this, Yan Shiyu opened his eyes, frowned and said, "She is often bullied?"
In the past, when she was in front of him, she was either too tired to grind ink or unwilling to serve him a cup of tea. She never got up to serve him every morning. She would be unhappy at the occasional noise and would fall asleep again after a while. Why was it that she didn't have that kind of authority when she was around others, and didn't say anything when she was wronged!
There was an indescribable feeling of suffocation in the chest, and Yan Shiyu let out a faint breath. The queen smiled and said, "There are always differences in status among concubines, so it is inevitable that there will be quarrels."
Yan Shiyu thought for a moment and said nothing, but just drank the ginseng soup that was handed to him.
The queen saw that Yan Shiyu looked a little tired, so she said gently, "Your Majesty has finished his lunch, why don't you stay in my palace to rest for a while?"
Yan Shiyu nodded. Although the Yellow River flood and the war in the south have now been resolved, there is no guarantee that the next year will be as stable as it is now. The refugees have no place to stay, and the officials have been drinking and having fun for many days, and have been corrupt. If the assessment is not carried out, it will be even more difficult.
…
Swiss Court.
Ruan Jun felt a headache whenever she thought of the emperor's eyes. She had practiced the ten characters every day before, but she always dodged and it was good enough if she could submit one character to the emperor every day. Unfortunately, she couldn't slack off today.
I felt so miserable with my face broken that I felt like I needed a doctor to look at the paper in front of me.
As luck would have it, what she said to the Emperor was heard by him, and the people in Fengyi Palace didn't even pass on the message. This directly led her into a fire pit.
Ying Ning came in with a cake and placed it next to Ruan Yun's hand and said, "My lady, don't you want to eat the snacks made by me the most? Come and try this apricot curd. It has just been brought out from the small kitchen. It is the most delicious."
Ruan Yun sighed and said, "Tell me, what if the emperor gets angry and takes the small kitchen back?"
Ying Ning placed the apricot cheese on the tray and said gently, "Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven. How could he do such a thing?"
Ruan Jun had no intention of using Xingruo. She only wanted to keep her small kitchen, so she wrote all ten pages today without missing a word.
She told Yingning to put the things on the table away. She picked up the apricot curd and a sweet aroma wafted into her nose. Yingning's cooking skills were indeed good.
Tingxu happily opened the curtains and ran in, bringing in a cool breeze. After rubbing his hands, he stood beside Ruan Yun and said, "My lady, the Ministry of Eunuchs sent a lot of fireworks."
There was a gleam in Ruan Yun's apricot eyes. She didn't even bother to eat the apricot curd and let the palace maid put on her cloak before she hurried outside.
Ying Ning saw that Ruan Jun didn't have a heater in her hands, so she shook her head and asked someone to prepare one.
The people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs placed the fireworks under the corridor, and Ruan Yun couldn't hide the smile in her almond-shaped eyes.
The eunuch said, "These are fireworks sent by the Emperor. In the entire palace, only the young lady has this special honor."
Tingxu took out some small change from his sleeve and stuffed it into the eunuch's hand, "Today is the New Year, this is a reward from Yingcai for you."
The eunuch was delighted to receive the reward, and he led his men away.
Ruan Jun had a smile on her face. The Emperor would definitely stay with the Empress tonight and would not come to her place. Even if she played for a while longer, no one would bother her. It was truly a great day.
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