Zhen Huan and colleagues Mi Wan Ling Xin

Sitting next to the emperor with a straight face, maintaining a just right smile as always.It's just that today, her smile inexplicably makes people feel that there is a hint of sadness from time to time.For more than ten years since entering the palace, the queen has never been favored by the emperor. Since the child she gave birth to as a noble concubine died, she has not given birth to a boy and a half girl. The palace people privately rumor that the queen has lost another child. Ability.

Although the emperor was polite and respectful to the empress, after all, he didn't have the kind of affection for Empress Chunyuan, so it could only be regarded as a respectful guest.The queen mother is always indifferent to the queen, perhaps because she minds that the queen is born of a concubine, unlike the queen of Chunyuan who is born in the royal family.But Gu Mi knew the reason.

From north to south on the ground level, the east and west are relatively close to the banquet tables of relatives, wives and concubines.Palace rules are strict, relatives and noble men are not allowed to meet and gather with concubines for non-major festival banquets.Today's Wen Yi's birthday was a family banquet, so it was naturally informal.Below the left hand of the empress are the seats for relatives, nobles and female relatives.There are four red sandalwood tables in a row, namely Qishan Wang Xuanxun, Runan Wang Xuanji, Qinghe Wang Xuanqing and Pingyang Wang Xuanfen.Qishan Wang Xuanxun had a round face with long eyebrows, a bloated complexion, and an air of pampering and wealth.King Qishan's concubine is also extremely beautiful, she looks much younger than him, presumably the royal concubine passed away a long time ago, this is Xinna's continuation.Runan Wang Xuanji's concubine is Shen Yanghou's daughter He Shi, she is not very good-looking, and she doesn't seem to have the arrogance of a woman from an aristocratic family, she just looks at her husband quietly with a smile, and doesn't talk to others.The Runan King had a hulking back and a hulking waist, his eyes often exuded the sharp light of a falcon, and his face always had an aloof and indifferent expression, and he seemed to feel the chill.He lost his mother and concubine since he was a child, and he was not favored by his father and emperor. He was cold-hearted and kind-hearted. He was known to be arrogant, but he was extremely affectionate and caring for this concubine, almost to the point of obedience and obedience.For this reason, people secretly nicknamed them "husbands who fear their wives", but they are also a surprised couple.During the banquet, I saw that the emperor was very close to the Runan king and his wife, and knew that it was because of the tense war in the Southwest. Among the close relatives, the only one who could rely heavily on the Runan king was the Runan king.It's just that Fei Fei's birth will turn Xuan Ling's situation a little bit in the future, and King Runan is in danger!

In the first seat on the right were Cao Qinmo, who had just been canonized as Jieyu, and Gu Mi, Shenmeizhuang, who was pregnant.Today's banquet is not only to celebrate Wenyi's first birthday, but also to celebrate Gu Mi's Shenmei Zhuang's pregnancy.Empress Wen Yi is young, so they are the real protagonists today, and even Concubine Duan and Concubine Cui, who are far above them, can only take the second place.Concubine Hua, who fell out of favor, shared the third seat with Feng Shuyi, and the fourth seat was occupied by Zhen Huan and An Lingrong.And the other concubines are even behind the two of them.

Shen Meizhuang is wearing a crimson embroidered "Xinglin Chunyan" brocade dress, apricot yellow strands of gold thread-stitched gauze skirt, all inlaid gold ornaments, especially a red gold and ruyi hairpin on the hair bun, the whole body is decorated with lotus, double happiness, and bats, On the head of the hairpin are the two immortals of Hehe, which symbolizes many children, many blessings, and good luck.It was specially sent by the Queen Mother when she heard that there was a happy event in Meizhuang. The pearls and emerald jade, the bright red gold, are even more noble and incomparable.It appears that the eyebrows are radiant and full of energy.Cao Jieyu was wearing a lotus-purple top, emerald blue and gold branches and green leaves and a hundred flowers on the floor skirt, and her hair was full of pearls and emeralds, which was also gorgeous and eye-catching.Because her lower abdomen was slightly protruding, Gu Mi was wearing a goose-yellow breast-length Confucian skirt, with an embroidered gold cloak, a falling horse bun with a green cloud crescent crescent hairpin and a green snowy hairpin, decorated with some pearls. Wearing pearl tassel earrings, the whole person looks fresh and elegant without losing respect for the banquet.On the wrist is a string of South Sea Buddhist beads, which were enshrined by the Queen Mother in front of the Buddha for many days. After hearing that Gu Mi was happy, she specially sent someone to send it here. Compared with Shen Meizhuang, it is obvious which one is better.

Concubine Hua hadn't seen Xuan Ling since the day she entered the Taiping Palace and greeted everyone with greetings.Today, I just put on a light makeup and sat silently.Fortunately, Fung Shu-yi is the most lenient and non-controversial person, and she doesn't make things difficult for her.When the banquet was about to start, Concubine Duan came in, supported by two or three maids on the left and right, and bowed tremblingly.The emperor hurriedly left his seat to help her, and said, "It's not an urgent matter for you to come here even though the sun is so bright outside."

A smile appeared on Concubine Duan's pale face: "Emperor Ji Wenyi's first birthday is a big event, and I will definitely come to congratulate her. I haven't seen Wen Yi for a long time."

Cao Jieyu hurriedly asked the wet nurse to carry Wen Yi to Concubine Duan.The weather was hot, and Wen Yi only wore a multicolored silk apron embroidered with the pattern of "Danfeng Chaoyang" in bright red, which made her look more like a dough ball.Concubine Duan looked at Wen Yi showing a very gentle and kind expression, she stretched out her hand and wanted to hug her, but for some reason she forcibly stopped her hand, stared at Wen Yi for a long time, smiled slightly and said: "I really want to hug you Wen Yi's, I'm afraid I'll fall on her instead. I'm also powerless." He said to the palace maid who was supporting her: "Auspicious."

The little court lady named "Auspicious" hurriedly presented a golden lock and a necklace of gold silk and eight treasures to Cao Jieyu.The golden lock is nothing more than a thumb-sized emerald in the middle of the collar, the watery emerald green is about to drip, and anyone with a discerning eye can tell that it is the old pit fine waxy jadeite from the Onan Kingdom. beloved.

Sure enough, the emperor said: "This collar is very familiar, like your dowry when you entered the palace." He also said: "I am still a child, how can I give her such a precious thing."

Concubine Duan coughed a few times to one side, until her face flushed strangely, Fang smiled and said: "The emperor has a good memory. It's just that the concubine has been ill for many years, so it's a pity to let it go. Wen Yi is so cute, it's just right for her .”

Cao Jieyu obviously did not expect Concubine Duan to give such a generous gift, she was surprised and happy, and quickly thanked Wen Yi: "Thank you, Concubine Duan."

Concubine Duan gently stroked Wen Yi's cheek and sighed: "The last time I saw her was the full moon, she was already so big. She has beautiful features, and she must be a beauty when she grows up."

Cao Jieyu gave way with a smile: "Your Majesty is absurd, please come to the table quickly, Your Majesty."

Concubine Duan stood and talked for a while, already out of breath and dripping with sweat.The maids hurriedly helped her to sit down.

Concubine Duan Qi Yuebin, the woman who has been in the palace to serve the emperor for the longest time and has hidden the deepest.Her appearance is not inferior to Concubine Hua's, but her complexion is as pale as paper, thin and cold, and her body limply leans on the maid's body after sitting for half an hour. The burden, not to mention the numerous pearls hanging from the red gold Jingfu long cotton phoenix hairpin on the topknot, was so heavy that she couldn't even lift her head.She doesn't look like the daughter of General Huben, who was born in a generation of generals.Looking at Concubine Hua next to her, she looked quite different.Concubine Duan and Concubine Hua are both descendants of generals. In contrast, Concubine Hua has the demeanor of a general and tiger girl, acting decisively and fiercely, deterring the harem.Even if you lose power, you will not lose your charm.At first glance, Concubine Duan looked like a very weak person, she was just weak and slender, her body was so weak that she needed someone to support her when she moved, she couldn't speak a few words and she was out of breath.Gu Mi sighed softly in her heart, that bowl of safflower is really amazing!

Concubine Duan and the others nodded and met, looked at her and Shen Meizhuang a few times, but when she turned her head and saw Zhen Huan, she was slightly taken aback, then she smiled meaningfully at Zhen Huan, turned her head and said to the emperor with a nonchalant smile: "The emperor has to do it again." Beautiful."

The emperor didn't speak, but just laughed.The queen said with a smile: "My sister has not seen strangers for many years, so she still has the eyesight of the past."

This was said without thinking, everyone was just joking and didn't take it to heart, and Zhen Huan didn't think about it.Gu Mi raised her plain hand and used a handkerchief to cover up the clear cold arc at the corner of her mouth, Zhen Huan's pure face was a trick bigger than her space!

After Zhen Huan sobered up after leaving the banquet, she tidied up her clothes and quietly returned to the banquet. Xuan Ling happened to see her and asked, "Your maid said you went to change clothes. Why did you go for a long time?"

"The concubine woke up after being drunk for a long time."

"I'm a little drunk too, so I'll ask someone to serve melons and fruits to relieve the bar." The maid had already brought fresh fruits of various colors from the well water, and the melons and fruits contained in the snow-white porcelain plate still had glistening drops of water. Very attractive.

The queen laughed and said: "It's nothing else, this lotus root is newly dug out of the lake, it's very crisp and tender." Everyone smiled and thanked them for tasting.

Cao Jieyu walked over and said with a smile: "Although today's singing and dancing is grand, it's just too rigid. It's a family banquet, and all the people here are relatives, why don't you think of something relaxing?"

Xuan Ling said: "You are the master today, let me hear what you have in mind."

"My concubine thinks that the sisters in the palace must have some merits to serve the holy driver. Why not write down these merits and draw lots on paper. Whoever catches something will perform in public to entertain the guests. What does the emperor think?"

Xuan Ling nodded and said, "This idea is fresh. Just follow what you said."

Cao Jieyu hurriedly went down to prepare, but after a while, she brought a square bottle with blue pattern, "Ming Gui and Shen Ronghua are pregnant, so it's not suitable to work hard, let my concubine do the job of drawing lots."

Xuan Ling said: "Why, you, the one who came up with the idea, don't act out a part yourself?"

Cao Jieyu said: "I don't have any skills, I only know how to play beads, it's really hard to be elegant. I have already made up my mind, no matter what the sisters perform, I will give a string of beads to show my heart. Your Majesty, do you agree?"

"That's barely enough."

Shen Meizhuang said from the side: "What if the drawn paper is not a certain sister's strength, what should I do?"

Cao Jieyu smiled and said: "Even if it's not a good thing, Fu Mao always knows something. Besides, they are sisters who meet every day, so you can do whatever you want."

The banquet has been going on for half a day, and I'm tired of listening to silk and bamboo vocal music. Seeing Cao Jieyu mention this idea, I feel