Children of Loulan

The Kunning Palace was bustling with activity, with the maids and eunuchs all busy thanking the newlyweds. Due to the large number of people, the main palace could not accommodate so many people, so the queen ordered all the tables and chairs to be placed outside the palace. In a short time, the entire courtyard of the Kunning Palace was filled with neatly arranged tables and chairs.

At this moment, the queen was in the inner room of the main hall, letting Auntie Taji and Mulian dress her up. She stared at herself in the mirror and couldn't help but sigh softly! Auntie Taji asked with concern: "My queen, what's wrong with you? Are you not satisfied with your makeup and hair today?"

The queen replied leisurely, "No matter how exquisite my makeup and hair are, they can't hide my aging. In the blink of an eye, I'm already over thirty."

Aunt Taji quickly comforted her, "Madam, people always need to grow up. Although those teenage girls look young and energetic, they are actually still ignorant.

After entering the palace, all matters must be arranged by you, and their fate is in your hands. And looking at the entire harem, who can compare with your nobility? So, you don't have to worry at all. No matter who the king favors, no one can surpass you, your majesty!"

The queen smiled and glanced at Aunt Taji: "After so many years, the one who understands my thoughts best is still Aunt Taji."

At this moment, the maid outside reported: "Your Majesty, the masters of all palaces and courtyards have arrived, and they are waiting outside the palace gate."

The queen responded, "Well, bring them all in!"

After the maid left as ordered, the queen looked at herself in the mirror and gently stroked her hair.

"Mammy, please introduce me to the person who saved you later."

Mammy replied respectfully, "Yes, Madam!"

The queen slowly stood up, with Aunt Taji supporting her.

"Let's go, this is their first visit, we can't keep them waiting for too long!"

The courtyard of Kunning Palace was already crowded with people. The forty-three new beauties who had entered the palace, plus the six existing wives, concubines and their personal maids, a total of more than a hundred people were standing there in an orderly manner.

As the queen had not yet appeared, the women began to whisper to each other in groups of three or four. Hanguli also secretly observed the surroundings while listening to Dar whispering in her ear:

"My dear, only the six ladies and Concubine Ru are here today. None of the other concubines are here."

Hanguli responded: "Well, I think there must be many new concubines today, and they are not favored to begin with. Even if they come, I am afraid no one will pay attention to them!"

Dar immediately said, "My dear, I saw the beautiful lady from the west."

Hanguli was about to say something, but was interrupted by a sudden shout of "Silence..." This was a shout from a eunuch, and instantly stopped everyone's discussion. Everyone stood up straight and bowed their heads respectfully.

Then, another eunuch shouted, "The Queen has arrived!" Upon hearing this, everyone knelt down and saluted to show their respect.

"Your Majesty, may your Majesty live a thousand years and a thousand thousand years!"

As the call for respect rang out, the entire palace became solemn and everyone's face was filled with respect and caution.

The queen sat at the top, her eyes were calm and majestic, making people dare not look at her easily. She waved her hand gently and said, "Stand up!" Although her voice was not loud, it was full of power.

Everyone answered in unison: "Thank you, Your Majesty!" Then they slowly stood up, but still kept their heads down, not daring to look up at the person above them.

The queen looked around, a hint of satisfaction flashing in her eyes. She said softly, "Sisters, please take a seat!"

Everyone bowed again: "Thank you, Her Majesty!" and then sat down carefully.

After everyone sat down, Hanguli raised her head slightly and secretly glanced at the person at the top. At the entrance of the inner hall, there was a large chair, and on the chair sat a woman dressed very elegantly. Due to the distance, she could not see the woman's appearance clearly, but could only see her luxurious dress and shining jewelry. Hanguli secretly exclaimed in her heart: "She is worthy of being the mother of a country!"

Just when Hanguli quietly withdrew her gaze, the queen spoke again: "My sisters, you have come here at the cost of many hardships, all for the sake of ensuring that Loulan has successors. I would like to thank you all here!" Her voice was clear and pleasant, as beautiful as the sound of nature.

After a brief pause, she continued, "Since we have come to the palace, my sisters should treat this place as your home. If you encounter any problems in the future, you can come and find me!"

Everyone responded in unison: "Yes, I thank the Queen!"

The queen nodded slightly to show her satisfaction, and then continued, "Well, since we are all family, I have a few words from the bottom of my heart that I want to tell my sisters!"

Everyone answered in unison again: "I am willing to listen to the Queen's teachings!"

The queen coughed lightly, cleared her throat, and said solemnly: "Well, I hope that after entering the harem, you sisters will think wholeheartedly about how to serve the king and how to give birth to his children. As for other unnecessary thoughts or ideas, it is best to abandon them all. If I find that someone has heresy or improper thoughts, then I will never forgive them easily. Do you understand?"

Everyone nodded in agreement: "I will follow the Queen's instructions and will strictly follow the Queen's will!"

The queen chuckled and said, "My sisters are so insightful, I am relieved. Oh, by the way, you have been away from home for more than half a year, and you haven't reported your safety to your families yet. How about this, each of you write a letter home and hand it to me within two days tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, and I will send someone to deliver the letter to your family!"

Everyone: "Thank you, Queen!"

After everyone thanked him again, a woman dressed as a lady smiled and said:

"Oh, the Queen really cares for these new sisters. Since the Queen is so gracious, I wonder if an old friend like me can also take advantage of it!"

The queen glanced at the person who was speaking, and the corners of her mouth rose slightly. "You are the only one who is good at joking. Why, when did you need my permission to write a letter home?"

The lady covered her face and chuckled: "How can it be the same? In the past, I had to find someone to deliver it myself, but this time it's Your Majesty who sent someone to deliver it. I want to take advantage of this!" As she spoke, she cast an expectant look at the queen.

The queen was amused by her: "Well, if you want to take advantage, then come along. Anyway, I don't need a letter from you."

The lady was overjoyed when she heard this: "Thank you, Your Majesty! I will write this letter well and live up to your kindness." After that, she and other sisters bowed to the queen to express their gratitude.

The queen chuckled and said, "Okay, okay, I'll give it to you. Just bring it over tomorrow or the day after tomorrow and I'll send someone to deliver it to you!"

The lady was overjoyed when she heard this. She quickly stood up and bowed, saying in a sweet voice, "Then I would like to thank the Queen first!"

Seeing this, the queen couldn't help but laugh and said, "You are the one with the most tricks!"

After that, the queen turned her gaze to the other ladies and concubines, and said slowly: "If you also want me to deliver the letter for you, just deliver it to me when the time comes."

Upon hearing this, several ladies stood up and saluted, saying in unison: "We, the concubines, thank you, Her Majesty the Queen!"

Concubine Ru also nodded and said, "I thank you, Queen, but I don't have much contact with my family now, so I won't bother you anymore!"

The queen stared at Concubine Ru and said earnestly, "Sister Ru, there is no need to be polite. Although we are both the king's wives and concubines and both have children, it is good to keep a proper distance from your family. You still need to show some concern occasionally."

Concubine Ru replied respectfully: "I will follow the Queen's instructions. I will remember it!"

The queen nodded slightly to show her satisfaction, then turned to look at the ladies and said:

"These new sisters have already met Concubine Ru and Concubine Xian on the day they entered the palace, but they have not yet met you! Now, while all the sisters are here, let them get to know you properly!"

The queen mentioned Concubine Xian at this time, and many people present knew that Concubine Xian was under house arrest by the king because she dared to contradict the queen mother, and she was now under house arrest.

The lady who had just spoken spoke again:

"In that case, let me introduce myself first!"

She turned around gracefully and glanced at every newlywed present.

"I am the head of the Taichang Palace, Madam Ji!"

Everyone shouted in unison: "Meet Madam Ji!"

Immediately afterwards, several other ladies stood up and introduced themselves one by one.

"I am Madam Hu!"

"I am Madam Mei!"

"I am Madam Han!"

"I am Madam Wei!"

"I am Madam Zhao!"

As the ladies introduced themselves one by one, Aunt Taji quietly came to the queen's side, pointed to where Hanguli was, and said to the queen in a low voice:

"My lady, that person standing over there is Hanguli, the Lady Li!"

Since everyone's eyes were focused on the ladies at this moment, the queen did not hide anything, but stared at Hanguli from head to toe.

This beautiful lady was a little thin, with slightly sunken cheeks, but the teardrop mole at the corner of her right eye made her originally ordinary appearance look quite delicate and pitiful.

However, the queen noticed that Hanguli seemed a little sick and listless. She turned to look at the nanny and asked in confusion:

"Mammy, why do I feel like she seems...sick?"

The nanny quickly replied, "I mentioned this to the queen last time. She had been in danger twice and was greatly frightened. She has been haunted by nightmares recently, so this is the case!"