The Legend of the Concubine in the Harem

Concubine Song Shu's appearance was somewhat different from what Xie Yuzhen had imagined.

Before entering the palace, Xie Yuzhen heard from the palace servants who served her that Concubine Song Shufei had served the emperor when he was still the crown prince. She was just a lady-in-waiting, and although she was loved by the emperor, she had to take contraceptive medicine after each sleepover. It was not until the empress and the emperor got married that she was promoted to a concubine and stopped taking the contraceptive medicine that was harmful to her body.

After the emperor ascended the throne, after several years of being childless and only three princesses were born in the harem, Concubine Song Shu, who had been recuperating for many years, gave birth to the emperor's eldest son. However, only three months after giving birth, she became pregnant again and gave birth to the third prince.

After years of taking cold and harmful contraceptive drugs, she was still able to give birth to two sons in a row and raise them all. She was promoted from a lady-in-chief to a concubine and was favored by the emperor. Xie Yuzhen once thought that Concubine Song was a strong and beautiful woman with stunning beauty. When he saw her today, he was surprised to find that she was indeed beautiful, but not domineering, and more of a gentleness that was just right.

However, this beauty that made Xie Yuzhen marvel was filled with a hint of illness that could not be wiped away. Even though she put on makeup to enhance her complexion and adorned herself with flowers, she could not completely conceal the fact that she was ill.

"Miss Xie is indeed beautiful. I feel ashamed of myself." Concubine Song Shu met Xie Yuzhen's gaze and spoke softly.

Xie Yuzhen stood up and bowed: "Your Majesty, you are too kind."

She had a faint smile on her face, without any sign of impoliteness.

Concubine Song Shu looked away, and no one mentioned Qiu He who was demoted to pound rice, as if this palace maid had never existed from the beginning.

"In terms of appearance, Wen Baolin is not inferior to Lady Xie, and his lively energy makes me happy when I see him. Am I right, Your Majesty?" Concubine Li was sitting below Concubine Deng. She was not so polite when she spoke. She directly pulled Wen Baolin over and criticized Xie Yu for being really old.

But Concubine Song Shu was not willing to follow her lead: "Oh, really?"

She turned her gaze to Wen Baolin who had stood up: "He is good-looking, but who in this palace doesn't have a beautiful face? If you really envy Wen Baolin's youthfulness, you might as well put more effort into your own face, Concubine Li."

Concubine Song was a few years older than Concubine Li, but from her appearance, she looked no more than twenty years old. Even though she looked a little sickly, she was still young and beautiful. Concubine Li, on the other hand, was much more mean, especially the area between her eyebrows, which was often squeezed by her two eyebrows, leaving marks.

Seeing that she was so disrespectful to her, Concubine Li frowned even more. When she opened her mouth to say something, Concubine Deng coughed lightly, "Miss Xie is indeed outstanding, and Wen Baolin also has his own style, but you can't just praise these two. Your Majesty, when I was reviewing the selection a few days ago, my eyes were dazzled. When I saw you sisters today, I don't know where to look. I really can't bear to miss any of them."

She spoke swiftly and said only nice things, and she smoothed things over.

The Queen then nodded and said, "I don't ask for you to be as harmonious as sisters, but I also hope that there will be less quarrels."

She deliberately glanced at the silent Concubine Li and said, "If you have time to argue, you might as well copy a few more volumes of scriptures for your mother."

Then he looked at Concubine Song Shu: "Since you are not feeling well, you should listen to the doctor's advice and rest in the palace instead of making a fuss over trivial matters."

Concubine Li's face turned pale, but she didn't dare to say anything more.

Concubine Song Shu pursed her lips, lowered her head and nodded, then started playing with the jade pendant hanging around her waist, looking very well-behaved.

Xie Yuzhen was watching with great interest. She was very curious about the Queen. Previously, when she was interacting with the Emperor outside the palace, this man had reminded her many times that she should respect the Queen. He also said that the Queen was a fair and not so serious person, and told Xie Yuzhen not to be afraid.

Xie Yu had never expected that the queen was such a straightforward person, and he couldn't help but envy her for not giving face to anyone - at least no one in this palace.

I don’t know if I can be as majestic as her when I become the queen in the future.

The Queen turned around and said, "I summoned you all to the throne today to recognize someone."

As soon as she finished speaking, all the new concubines stood up.

The female officials came out and introduced the high-ranking concubines to everyone.

Starting from Concubine Deng and going down in order, every time the female official sang out the name of a concubine, Xie Yuzhen and others would kneel down and salute.

The emperor had been on the throne for many years, and there was only one general election when he first ascended the throne, so he did not have many high-ranking concubines.

The four wives of the first rank were only Concubine Deng and Concubine Song.

There were only two first-rank concubines: Concubine Ning Lu and Concubine Li.

For some reason, Concubine Ning did not appear in the palace, but the previous concubines all looked as if they were used to it, and none of the new concubines wanted to be the first to ask this question.

Among the nine concubines of the second rank, there was only one, Liu Shuyi.

Continuing on, there were only three concubines of the second rank who needed the new princess to pay a visit.

They were Concubine Chen from Zhaohua Palace, the strange concubine that Xie Yuzhen had seen outside Kunning Palace.

Concubine Chen had a blank expression on her face and showed little interest in meeting the new concubine. Just like when she met Xie Yuzhen, she just nodded casually.

Concubine Zhu of Zhaoyang Palace seemed even more mean-spirited than Concubine Li, and she snorted with disdain at Xie Yuzhen who was at the front.

Since she divorced her ex-husband in court and successfully clung to the emperor's throne, Xie Yuzhen has seen such looks and attitudes many times. She does not regard Zhu, who had long fallen out of favor and was only granted the title of noble concubine because of her status as an old lady in the palace, as a very important opponent. She only needs to smile pretending to be ignorant and look at Zhu Guipin frankly, which is enough to make the latter's eyes widen and she almost say something inappropriate in front of the empress.

Unfortunately, although she was angry, she still endured it in the end.

Xie Yuzhen was a little disappointed, and the idea of ​​causing trouble was brewing in her mind.

The new concubines finally paid their respects to Concubine Qian of Jiangyun Palace. Concubine Qian's attitude was much better than Concubine Zhu's, but she also frowned, with an expression of uncontrollable disgust towards Xie Yuzhen: "Even in the palace, I have heard of the name of Lady Xie. You have betrayed your husband's family, which is already unvirtuous. Since you have entered the palace, you should still fulfill your duties as a woman..."

coming.

Xie Yuzhen's eyes lit up.

However, before she could say anything, a clear female voice suddenly came from outside the door: "Qian, is it unvirtuous to divorce your husband? In the past, Empress Cao of Emperor Taizong was also married for the second time. Not only Empress Cao, but also Consort Yude of Emperor Xianzong and Empress Zhanghui of Emperor Mingzong were married for the second time. Are you also accusing our ancestors of being unvirtuous... accusing me of being unvirtuous?"

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice, and Xie Yuzhen saw a woman in a lake blue palace skirt striding in. She walked straight past Concubine Qian who was standing there in a daze, bowed to the queen, and then walked to the empty seat below Concubine Song Shufei and sat down.

Xie Yuzhen's eyes became brighter and brighter.

This is Concubine Ning Lu, Lu Yinggui!

This was a precedent in our dynasty where the censors and court officials could only repeatedly complain about her lack of respect, but could not use her second marriage as an excuse to stop her from entering the palace!

"I thought you wouldn't come." Once again, it was beyond Xie Yuzhen's expectations that Concubine Lu Ning's attitude was not respectful, but the Queen seemed to have a very close relationship with her. Her voice softened a lot and she spoke jokingly.

Concubine Lu Ning looked at Xie Yuzhen without hesitation: "I am just curious, curious about my cousin... His Majesty has gone through a lot of trouble in the Shanggong Bureau to welcome her into the palace, what kind of woman is this?"