The rebirth of a concubine: Gong Du will become the Queen Mother

On the second day, the breakfast at Xinghuaxuan was both at the right temperature and delicious.

Just after breakfast, someone from the Fashion Bureau came, bringing several summer clothes with them.

The female official of the fifth rank, Shangfu, was dismissed from her post yesterday, and today the official of the sixth rank, Si Yi, is here.

After the people from the Shangfu Bureau left, the Department of Internal Affairs sent people again to complete all the records for the Shuncai people.

After sending these people away, Shuncai said: "Go and get my jade bonsai."

The jade bonsai was given to her by her mother, the Empress Dowager, when she was still in the palace. It's not big, but it's very delicate. It's carved from a whole piece of natural jade.

Looking at the entire harem, it can be said to be a rare good thing.

The master and servant took the jade bonsai into the door of Xiangying Residence.

Jiang Shiying was sitting idle in the inner room. When she heard that Shun Cai wanted to see her, she raised her eyebrows and said, "Invite her to the small hall, have a cup of tea, and then send her out properly."

This means that even though I am too lazy to see her, I still give her dignity.

After half a cup of tea, Ah Yuan entered the inner room and said, "Shuncai sent me a jade bonsai. He said he wanted to thank you for your help. I accepted it on your behalf."

Jiang Shiying nodded.

A Yuan was a little puzzled: "Shuncai has such a good thing, and I think there is no shortage of money. Even if you use money to open the way, you won't let the Shangfu Bureau drag her summer clothes until now, right?"

Jiang Shiying smiled and said: "The appetites of those people in the Sixth Bureau and Thirteenth Division can't be fed no matter what. If she has been in this position and is not favored, money will open the way once, and she will have to do it again." This is the case again.

It was originally hers, but in the end it turned out to be something she bought with money. Besides, it’s fine in the short term, but in the long run, even the gold and silver will be spent. Now after this experience, those slaves have to think about today's lesson no matter how much they want to punish others. "

A Yuanruo realized something: "The empress said that day that it is better to show kindness than to show power. Does it apply to this matter as well?"

Jiang Shiying smiled and rolled her eyes: "We, A Yuan, are little boys who can be taught!"

···

Two days later it was Chinese Valentine's Day, and the Queen Mother held a begging banquet in Yingtai Hall.

This day is a festival for my daughter’s family. This night's banquet was attended only by the concubines of the harem and the female relatives of the clan.

Jiang Shiying arrived not too early.

When she sat down, there was only a quarter of an hour left for the palace banquet to begin.

The seat to her right has always been empty. Across this and to the right sat Ning Guifei.

Jiang Shiying frowned slightly. Is this empty seat reserved for Qin Xiurong?

She also thought that Qin Xiurong had lost his beloved daughter and was still immersed in grief and would not attend such a happy occasion.

Another cup of tea passed, and as the palace banquet was about to begin, Qin Xiurong entered the palace under the direct or covert gazes of everyone.

She wore a moon-white dress and applied a thick layer of powder on her face, but she still couldn't hide the black spots under her eyes.

After sitting down, he gently lowered his eyelids, with a cool and cold attitude, completely different from before.

After a while, a young eunuch sang a promise "The Queen Mother is here" loudly.

Everyone in the palace stood up and respectfully bowed to the Queen Mother.

After the Queen Mother came to the top, took her seat, and started calling, today's palace banquet officially began.

After the third glass of wine was served and the fifth plate of food was served, Aunt Qingshan, who was standing to the left of the Queen Mother, clapped her hands.

After two "papa" sounds, the music stopped and the actors in the palace left the stage one after another.

Soon, the Yingtai Hall became quiet.

Then, the Queen Mother, who was sitting high on the throne, straightened up and said slowly: "Today is Chinese Valentine's Day, which is also a time for begging for luck. When the Ai family was still in the boudoir, every year on this day, they would go through needlework with their sisters. It's a coincidence. Today, let's also learn from folk customs and hold a needle-threading competition. Whoever wins, the Ai family will have a lucky draw."

After the words fell, Princess Cheng, who was on the other side of the clan's female family members, said, "The emperor's sister-in-law treats us all as little girls today."

King Cheng is the late emperor's younger brother and today's uncle. In front of the emperor and the queen mother, they were all quite close and respectable. Therefore, when Princess Yicheng spoke to the Queen Mother, they were not unfamiliar, but rather intimate.

The Queen Mother smiled and pointed at her and said, "Aren't you just a little girl in front of the Ai family?"

Princess Cheng said: "My sister-in-law has not touched needlework for many years. When she heard about this competition, she was timid. Today, I said to the emperor's sister-in-law, the little girl, she must give it a try. If she is lucky, she said If you don't, you can win the lottery from the emperor's sister-in-law."

The Queen Mother was amused by her and frowned: "Even if you lose, the Ai family will reward you extra."

Princess Cheng stood up, bowed seriously, and said, "Then my sister-in-law will thank the emperor's wife for the reward first."

Not long after, two rows of little palace maids were seen entering the palace, taking away the cups, plates, and food on the tables of the participating women's families and replacing them with silver needles and colorful threads.

Among the concubines in the harem, only the things on Jiang Shiying's table were untouched, which was very conspicuous.

Even if others saw it, they just pretended not to see it.

However, in the royal family seat, Princess Huiming was very sharp-eyed. Just as Aunt Qingshan was about to announce the rules of the competition, she heard her loudly say: "Isn't the pure concubine not participating in this skill contest?"

Before Jiang Shiying could speak, Princess Cheng said: "Pregnant women should not use needlework. Huiming, you have never given birth, so maybe you don't know about this."

The second half of this sentence pierced Princess Huiming's heart and made her eyebrows jump. But at this time, she did not want to confront Princess Cheng, and only stared at Jiang Shiying: "I don't want to let go of this matter." This is indeed the first time I’ve heard of it. But if the pure concubine doesn’t do needlework, maybe it’s not just because she’s pregnant, right?”

There was no special expression on Jiang Shiying's face, and she said, "Oh? Princess, why do you think I don't participate in this skill match?"

Princess Huiming's voice was sharp and mean: "I heard that Concubine Chun is not good at needlework. She can't even hold a needle steady, let alone thread a needle."

Jiang Shiying raised her eyebrows: "Hearing what the princess said, you really hope that I will participate in the Silver Needle Match?"

Princess Huiming said: "It's the Qiao Qiao Festival. Which girl's family doesn't fight for tricks? If the queen is worried about being timid, it doesn't matter if she doesn't participate."

At this point, she covered her lips with a handkerchief and laughed.

The Queen Mother frowned and was about to scold her when she heard Jiang Shiying chuckle twice.

This laughter made everyone look at her.

She turned to look at Qin Xiurong and said, "Borrow it."

Then, he leaned forward and picked up three needles from Qin Xiurong's desk.

Everyone was wondering, what was she doing with three needles? Doesn't it prove that I don't know anything about needlework? Then why not get colored thread?

The next moment, she gently raised her right hand, and three silver needles came out. In less than a breath, the three needles were inserted into Princess Huiming's bun.

One in the middle and one on each side.

All this happened so fast that Princess Huiming herself only saw three silver needles coming towards her, but she didn't know where the needles landed.