The crabapple tree is fragrant in the tent, and the bright moon is in my arms

A loud announcement came from outside: "The Imperial Concubine has arrived."

The concubines stood up and saluted again, turning their eyes to the queen who remained expressionless.

Zhaoyue raised her eyes quietly. The queen still looked haggard. No matter how beautiful she was, she could not withstand the ravages of illness. Her face was too thin.

As Concubine Gao walked over, her steps were like lotus flowers, and the gold-thread and pearl hollow hairpins on her bun swayed. Her appearance was not eye-catching, but rather gentle and charming.

When she smiled, there were dimples on her lips, which showed her amorous feelings. She spoke in the soft voice unique to Jiangnan women: "Please forgive me, Queen, I am late."

The Queen raised her hand and smiled: "It's raining today. My sister has worked hard to serve Your Majesty. There is no need to be polite. Please sit down."

Yesterday, His Majesty rested in her Yanxi Palace, and the concubines sitting below all looked unhappy.

Concubine Gao sat down and looked at them kneeling in a crowd without saying a word.

The chief eunuch beside the queen spoke up: "This is Concubine Gao."

Zhao Yue and her group bowed: "I pay my respects to the Imperial Concubine. May the Imperial Concubine be well."

She then said softly, "Sisters, please stand up."

Concubine Ling glanced at the hairpin on Concubine Gao's head and said, "The hairpin on your head is really beautiful. Even from a distance, it can't hide its brilliance."

Caiyue, the personal maidservant beside Concubine Gao, said, "This was given to you by His Majesty the other day. I heard that the pearls inlaid in it are priceless."

"They are just some material possessions. If you like them, His Majesty also gave you a pair of earrings. I will give them to you later."

Concubine Ling: "Your Majesty favors your younger sister, so I will not take away her favor."

The Queen looked at them and said, "Your Majesty is young and beautiful, so it's natural for His Majesty to favor her. Now there are more sisters in the palace. They should live in harmony. If the harem is healthy and peaceful, His Majesty will be relieved."

"Yes, I will remember your majesty's teachings."

Lanpin looked at them and suddenly said, "I heard that there are several beautiful ladies in this year's selection who are both talented and beautiful. Let me take a look."

Concubine Qi raised her eyes and said, "I have heard about it too. Who are Concubine Ning and Concubine Zhao?"

Zhaoyue and Ning Ruxin took a step forward and saluted to the queen with their cheeks lowered.

When they raised their heads, everyone's heart skipped a beat.

The Queen's expression remained unchanged: "Zhao Changzai is dressed plainly, but her beauty cannot be concealed. Ning Changzai is gentle and beautiful, and she is somewhat similar to Concubine Gao. Standing here, you make this palace brighter. His Majesty will definitely like you."

Concubine Ling's eyes flashed with jealousy: "Concubine Ning looks really beautiful in this outfit, especially this silver hairpin, it doesn't look like something a concubine can wear."

Zhaoyue breathed a sigh of relief. In her previous life, she dressed ostentatiously and was first mocked by Concubine Ling. Then, Concubine Gao took it to heart and she suffered a little before serving the emperor.

Now that her arrogance is gone, Ning Ruxin's situation is immediately reversed.

Qipin had always had a good relationship with Lingfei, and she said, "Sister, you don't know that Ning Changzai is the legitimate daughter of the Minister of Revenue. I'm afraid these things are commonplace to her, and they are not considered good things."

Ning Ruxin's face turned pale, and she immediately explained, "I brought this hairpin from the mansion, and it was given to me by my mother. This is my first time paying respects to you, and I am very nervous. Wearing this hairpin is like having my mother by my side, and I want to feel at ease. I hope your majesty will forgive me."

Concubine Gao picked up the teacup that was offered to her and looked at her. As the Queen said, both of them had beautiful faces, but hers was more gentle, while Concubine Ning was more lively.

In comparison, Ning Ruxin was younger and more youthful, and was actually slightly better than her.

The Queen frowned slightly and gave Concubine Ling a warning look: "Okay, it's not a crime or not, it's just some pearl hairpins and jewelry. If Concubine Ling likes to study these, why don't you ask His Majesty to reward you? Get up, Concubine Ning, there are many rules in the palace, so pay more attention in the future."

"Yes, I will keep this in mind."

Concubine Ling was angry: "Please be at peace. You speak as if we sisters want to eat you."

She turned her head away and said nothing more.

Concubine Gao cast her gaze towards Zhaoyue. Her appearance was stunning, and no one in the palace could be as charming as her. But so what? His Majesty, the Queen Mother, always liked gentle women.

Not enough to be afraid of.

She smiled faintly, "Mrs. Ning and I have a connection. I heard that she saved a servant yesterday. She also said that the weather was getting colder and it was not easy for the palace servants to work, so she lit a brazier for them under the palace wall.

They all say that if a person is beautiful and kind, his blessings will last forever."

Zhaoyue glanced at Ning Ruxin in surprise. She was not so conspicuous in her previous life. Could she be crazy?

Ning Ruxin's face turned even paler now, without a trace of blood left. She stood there with her hands clenched tightly in her sleeves.

Concubine Qi smiled with a fake smile: "I don't know when the power of leading the six palaces and the responsibility of managing the harem were added to the position of Ning Changzai."

Zhao Yue couldn't bear to listen any more. She saw Ning Ruxin's body shaking a few times and almost falling down.

She probably didn't know why the day of paying respects to the Queen turned into a meeting to criticize her.

Although he had no grudge against her in this life, Zhaoyue still felt a little happy.

Concubine Gao spoke softly, but her words always harboured murderous intent that made it hard to guard against. Yet she looked harmless.

Such people are the most terrifying.

The queen sighed, realizing that they just wanted to make an example of someone to scare the monkeys. She wanted to find someone to suppress the arrogance of the newcomers and tell them the rules of the palace.

She could not favor Ning Changzai either, so she coughed a few times and said, "Ning Changzai is thoughtful. I remember that Lanpin was also considerate of the servants. On hot days, she ordered people to make some sour plum soup to cool down. When His Majesty heard about it, he praised her repeatedly, but she didn't think it was a good story.

But Concubine Ning, you have just entered the palace, so you must be careful with your words and actions. I think you have a kind heart, so I will punish you by copying the palace rules fifty times."

Ning Ruxin then stopped trembling, pursed her lips and responded, with some color returning to her face.

Aunt Xunqiu, who was standing next to the queen, said, "It's time for the queen to take medicine. Ladies, please go back."

"Concubine, please retire."

It was finally over. Zhaoyue walked out of Fengyi Palace and looked at the beautiful figure in front of him. He was supported by a maid. He looked depressed and must have not recovered yet.

Taoxi opened her umbrella and said, "My lady, you were so calm just now. It was the first time for me to see so many distinguished masters. I didn't dare to breathe."

The rain was a little lighter, but it was still dripping. The bluestone of the palace path became more translucent, and the bottom of the flowerpot was a little slippery. Zhao Yue held her hand and walked very slowly: "There will be many more days to pay respects in the future. Are you scared now?"

"I am not afraid. As long as the young lady is fine, I will be relieved. The situation of Concubine Ning just now made me tremble with fear."

Zhao Yue squeezed her hand, signaling her not to say anything more. She looked serious and said, "Taoxi, you are not in the mansion now. You must follow the rules in your words and deeds in the palace. In the future, you must carefully consider everything you do and say. Do you think?

If I were wearing that red dress and that hairpin today, and standing there in this situation, would it still be her?"

Taoxi's heart trembled, and she reacted, biting her lip: "Little, little master... I'm sorry... Taoxi knows she was wrong."

"You're not wrong, the one who's wrong is... In short, simplicity is good, but it doesn't apply here." Zhao Yue thought about the ending of her previous life and wiped away her tears with heartache.

Taoxi immediately smiled: "Taoxi understands, the young master has become much more stable than before. Taoxi will be careful with her words and actions in the future and will not cause trouble for the young master."

"I'll make you a plate of osmanthus cake when I get back."

"Thank you, my lady. I want the one with more sweet cream, hehe."