The Regent's Concubine is Crazy

"Master, this palace is so majestic! It is indeed a palace."

Shangguan Ziling sighed: "Well, it's just glamorous on the surface, but in reality it's just a beautiful cage. The women living in this palace are really pitiful and pathetic!"

"Master, you can't say that. Look at those rich young ladies, they are all dressed up beautifully and shyly. How many rich young ladies are vying for the title of Crown Princess? Didn't the beauties in the imperial harem also try their best to live in the cage you mentioned?"

"Everyone has different pursuits, and there is also family honor and disgrace, so women in ancient times were miserable. For the sake of a man, they used conspiracy and intrigue, framed others, and fought for power. This palace really made me uncomfortable and depressed."

Yun Youyou looked at Shangguan Ziling and said, "Ziling, what are you thinking about?"

"without".

Yun Youyou said in a fierce tone: "Zi Ling, I'm telling you, don't be stupid."

Shangguan Ziling didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She leaned close to Yun Youyou's ear and whispered, "You haven't even married yet, but you're already acting like an elder sister-in-law!"

Yun Youyou’s face turned red and she stammered, “You, you, I’m doing this for your own good.”

Shangguan Ziling laughed, and Yun Youyou said angrily: "Okay, you are playing tricks on me."

After the two of them played for a while, most of the ladies who came to the palace had arrived. The ladies who knew each other gathered in groups of three or four to chat, and the ladies did the same.

"The Queen has arrived!" A clear announcement sounded, and everyone stood up. The Queen, dressed in gorgeous clothes, walked slowly in, surrounded by palace maids. She had a kind face, beautiful eyebrows and eyes, and her every frown and smile showed the majesty of the royal family. Behind her, the three queens Shufei, Xianfei, and Defei also came one after another, and the five princesses followed closely behind. Everyone knelt down and shouted: "Long live the Queen!" The sound echoed in the palace for a long time.

The queen walked gracefully to the high seat and sat down gently. She glanced at everyone and said gently, "Ladies and ladies, there is no need to be polite. Please sit down." Her words exuded a sense of majesty and affinity. Everyone obeyed her orders and sat down in their seats. For a moment, the hall fell silent.

The queen smiled and said, "Today at the banquet, everyone should be more casual and don't be too reserved."

"Yes"

The Queen smiled and said, "There is no need to be so reserved. It is still early. Why don't you all compete in talent? I will give this phoenix hairpin to whoever wins first. I wonder which daughter will be the first to come."

Everyone was whispering when they heard this. The Minister of Rites Du Meilan stepped out and leaned forward slightly, saying, "I am an incompetent servant. I am sorry to show you my ugliness." The Queen smiled faintly and said, "Okay, then Miss Du will go first."

Du Meilan walked onto the stage gracefully. She was wearing a long emerald green dress, which swayed gently with her steps. Her face was elegant, and her eyes were full of confidence and calmness. She walked to the guqin, leaned forward slightly, and gently placed her hands on the strings of the guqin. It was a familiar and intimate feeling.

She began to play, the sound was melodious, like a mountain stream, clear and transparent. Her fingertips danced on the strings, the agility and elegance made people can't help but admire it.

The sound of her piano echoed in the banquet. The queen looked at her and just smiled faintly.

"Ai, it seems that the Queen doesn't like Du Meilan, but the song was played well, it sounds nice, Master Ai."

"It's just so-so, not that great," said Shangguan Ziling.

Du Meilan's performance ended. She leaned forward slightly, saluted the queen, and then quietly stepped aside.

The queen had a smile on her face and said lightly: "Good, who's next?"

Du Meilan had a look of disappointment on her face. The Queen didn't even look at her for long. Du Meilan walked back to her seat disappointedly and sat down.

As Du Meilan's performance ended, Fan Qingqing stepped out gracefully, bowed, and said, "Your servant will perform the dance."

The queen nodded and gave her permission. Fan Qingqing quickly went downstairs to change into a set of gorgeous clothes specially prepared for dancing. The clothes were probably made of silk, embroidered with exquisite patterns, and tied with a flowing ribbon around her waist, which added a bit of lightness and beauty to her dance movements.

After changing her clothes, Fan Qingqing returned to the center of the banquet hall and began to dance, with court musicians accompanying her.

Her dance may be a combination of traditional court dance steps and some innovative elements, making the whole dance look both regular and innovative. Her dance posture is elegant, her body rises and falls with the rhythm of the music, and every turn and every wave of her sleeves seems so natural and smooth, as if she is telling stories one after another with her body language.

The Queen also stared at her intently, obviously very interested in the performance.

When the dance was over, the queen praised: "Miss Fan's dance is creative and good."

Fan Qingqing was very happy and bowed: "Thank you, Her Majesty, for your praise."

The Queen glanced at Concubine Shu and said, "Concubine Shu was also a dancer, and even the Emperor praised her very much. Concubine Shu, what do you think of Miss Fan's dancing?"

Concubine Shu said perfunctorily: "It's OK!"

The Queen smiled and said, "In my opinion, Miss Fan's dancing is no worse than that of Concubine Shu back then."

Concubine Shu looked unhappy and remained silent.

Shufei is the biological mother of the eldest prince and has always been at odds with the empress. The empress was embarrassing Shufei, and everyone kept their heads down and said nothing.

"Tsk tsk tsk, it turns out that where there are women, there is struggle," Shangguan Ziling pouted and said to the little fat boy in the space.

"Master, you are also a woman."

Then several young ladies came up to perform, and the queen always had a faint smile on her face.

The last person to perform on stage was a woman named Ruan Feiyin. She wore a light pink long dress, the hem of which rippled slightly with her light steps, as if her name was like a flying musical note.

Ruan Feiyin walked to the stage and bowed slightly to the empress and the guests to show respect. Then, she gently raised her hands and placed them on a delicate konghou. The konghou is an ancient plucked string instrument with an ethereal and distant sound that can be fascinating.

Her fingers slid skillfully over the strings of the konghou. At first, it was just a gentle test. Gradually, the notes became richer and more passionate. The sound of the konghou was like the gurgling of flowing water and the tinkling of wind chimes. Her performance seemed to be telling an ancient legend and depicting a magnificent landscape painting.

As the music rises and falls, Ruan Feiyin's body sways gently, her expression focused and peaceful, as if the whole world is immersed in the music she created. Her performance is not only an artistic expression, but also an expression of emotion.

When the last note slowly faded in the banquet hall, the whole place was silent, followed by thunderous applause. The queen's eyes flashed with appreciation, and she smiled and nodded, obviously very satisfied with Ruan Feiyin's performance.