The concubine is extremely cautious

"Thank you, Your Majesty! Your Majesty values ​​me so much, holding a banquet for me and picking up my mother for me. I don't know how to express my gratitude." Ning Wanyin looked at Helian Qi, her eyes full of affection:

"To me, besides my mother, only Your Majesty is the most important person. I don't care whether there are others who congratulate me on my birthday. I only care whether I can see Your Majesty."

"If I could have a meal alone with Your Majesty, it would be the happiest thing in the world for me!"

Helian Qi was startled. He knew that the concubines all liked to put on a stage and have the whole palace come to congratulate them...

But Ning Wanyin told him that she only wanted to be alone with him tomorrow.

Ning Wanyin had always been virtuous and generous, and only occasionally revealed her affection for him inadvertently:

She just wanted him.

"I've spoken out of turn." Ning Wanyin said, and lowered her head hurriedly:

"Your Majesty is busy with state affairs, and I should not be greedy and speak rashly... I will obey your Majesty's orders in everything."

Helian Qi's expression was gentle. He held her hand and said, "That's as you wish. I will send someone to pick you up for lunch tomorrow at noon."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Ning Wanyin responded happily.

The more people there are and the bigger the scene, the easier it is for trouble to occur.

It was a rare birthday, and Ning Wanyin just wanted to give herself a day off. She didn't want to be on guard against the concubines causing trouble from morning to night, which was stressful and stressful.

Helian Qi had lunch in Lingxue Pavilion and returned to Qianxin Palace to review memorials.

Xiao Guizi couldn't help but say:

"Master, holding a banquet in Xianyin Pavilion is a favor that countless concubines have been eagerly looking forward to! This is such a pity..."

"Your Majesty, it is a great grace that you accompany the master! What's the pity about it? Don't talk nonsense like that!" Lian Rui retorted.

Xiao Guizi could only nod and shut up. She thought, but if the banquet is held in Xianyin Pavilion, His Majesty will definitely attend, and there is no difference, why must we be alone together?

The news was passed back to Jingxi Palace.

Shufei, who was beating a wooden fish to worship the Guanyin statue, suddenly hit the wooden fish hard with a bang.

"Empress——" Pearl looked panicked.

She knew that her queen had arranged everything, and everything was ready except for the east wind. However, Ning Wanyin actually overturned the table.

All the arrangements went down the drain.

How can I not be angry?

"As long as His Majesty is with her, she wants to show that she is different from other concubines in front of the Emperor. She has many tricks to win favor." Concubine Shu gritted her teeth:

"In order to win favor, even my mother disappeared, huh——"

Concubine Shu felt aggrieved and closed her eyes and continued to beat the wooden fish. However, this time, the sound of the wooden fish was particularly loud.

After half an hour, Concubine Shu finally calmed down and said:

"In that case, let's just wait and see and wait for the next opportunity."

……

June 17th, sunny.

Early in the morning, Ning Wanyin had just finished washing up.

Wang Degui led the eunuchs from the Imperial Household Department and brought in boxes and crates, filling the courtyard.

"Your Majesty has ordered that, in celebration of Concubine Ning's birthday, she be given a gold-embellished jade lotus crown, a set of brocade embroidered lotus-patterned auspicious clothing, a jade necklace with red beads and tassels, and a pair of gold-engraved lotus hairpins..."

There were all kinds of things, including jewelry, pearls, jade, vases and ornaments, and the gift list was three pages long.

Ning Wanyin led the palace maids of Lingxue Pavilion to pay their respects and express gratitude, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your great grace!"

Wang Degui picked up the tray held by a eunuch beside him and presented it to Ning Wanyin:

"Your Majesty has another gift. Please open it yourself, Concubine Ning..."

There was a scroll on the tray.

Ning Wanyin privately thought that it was an ancient painting treasured by His Majesty. When she unfolded it, a picture of summer lotus scenery appeared before her eyes.

The lotus pond, the palace beside the pond, and the small bridge are all very familiar scenes in the painting.

"Isn't this Lingxue Pavilion?" Ning Wanyin was surprised, and her eyes finally fell on a seal on the right side of the scroll.

This is the emperor's private seal.

Wang Degui said with a smile, "Congratulations, Concubine Ning! This is the painting of lotus scenery in Lingxue Pavilion that His Majesty painted yesterday, specially for Concubine Ning!"

Ning Wanyin was very shocked, and recalled what she had said to the emperor a few days ago:

I want to paint the lotus flowers in Lingxue Pavilion as a souvenir.

The emperor actually took it to heart.

"Concubine Ning, this is the first time that His Majesty has painted a picture for a concubine. His Majesty's affection for Concubine Ning is truly unmatched!" Wang Degui was also very shocked in his heart and praised her sincerely.

Ning Wanyin came back to her senses, her face full of joy, "Look, I'm so happy. Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace!"

"Lianrui, quickly hang this painting in my bedroom. From now on, I will see your Majesty's paintings every day."

"Yes." Lian Rui replied happily.

Wang Degui smiled and said, "Your Majesty is discussing matters with the ministers. I will come to pick up Concubine Ning and take her to the Danqing Waterside Pavilion at noon."

Danqing Water Pavilion is located in the Taihu Lake, with water as a curtain. It is now the coolest place in the palace.

"Thank you, eunuch." Ning Wanyin stuffed a bag of heavy reward silver into Wang Degui's pocket.

After Wang Degui left.

As usual, Ning Wanyin rewarded everyone in the palace and stood in the bedroom, admiring the emperor's paintings.

It has to be said that the emperor's painting skills are superb.

The scene of the lotus pond is vivid and lifelike.

"Master, His Majesty really loves you. I heard that in the past, on the birthdays of concubines, His Majesty always gave gifts from the treasury and never prepared them himself." Lian Rui said happily.

Ning Wanyin pursed her lips and said, "Your Majesty really treats me very well."

If the emperor wants to pamper someone, he will naturally pamper you to the sky.

But he also controls your life and death.

As a person who is highly regarded, you should be more aware that if you step on empty air and fall down, you will be smashed to pieces.

The emperor's special treatment of her now was all due to her hard work and careful planning.

Ning Wanyin naturally wouldn't be moved by this.

However, she should show that she is very moved.

"Lianrui, go prepare three lotus lanterns." Ning Wanyin ordered.

Lian Rui obeyed the order.

The master and servant were talking.

Xiao Guizi reported:

"Master, Lady Ying and Lady Tang are here to congratulate you!"

"Invite them in."

Although Tang Miaoling had sent Ning Wanyin a birthday gift several months ago, she actually didn't know the exact day of Ning Wanyin's birthday. She only found out about it today when the emperor's reward spread throughout the palaces.

She didn't have time to prepare any good things in advance, so she brought two kilograms of her favorite tea to celebrate.

The guests and hosts took their seats.

Wei Yingya's palace maid was carrying a long, square bamboo box that was as tall as a person.

She untied the silk threads that bound the bamboo box, and her followers removed the bamboo strips that sealed the box...

Revealing a nine-layer pastry that looks like a small tower.

"What is this?" Tang Miaoling's eyes widened. She had never seen anything so strange before. "It tastes sweet. Is this something to eat?"

Wei Yingya proudly introduced:

"Yes, this is a nine-layer birthday cake that I specially made for you! Congratulations to Concubine Ning!"

"Wow, such a tall pastry, it looks like a pastry tower. Miss Ying, you are so amazing!" Tang Miaoling was stunned.

This dessert is so tall!

Ning Wanyin was also very surprised. Wei Yingya had to get up in the middle of the night to make such a complex and huge dessert...

"Thank you, Miss Ying. Thank you for your concern." Ning Wanyin expressed her gratitude.

Wei Yingya originally wanted to prepare candles and sing a birthday song, but then she thought that the ancients went to bed early at midnight, so it would be better not to have these foreign customs.