Don't be a salted fish, the daily life of the concubine in the palace

Anguo Temple is a royal temple. Ordinary people are not allowed to enter to worship Buddha. Only royal relatives and high-ranking officials can enter.

Shen Wei asked Caiping to bring the person over.

Shen Wei was drinking tea in a relaxed manner. After a while, she heard the rustling of footsteps. Under the guidance of the palace maid, Tan Tairou came to the sightseeing pavilion on the back hill of the temple.

"Your humble servant pays homage to Imperial Concubine Chen and wishes Her Majesty a long and healthy life." Tan Tai's soft and gentle voice sounded, soft and gentle, like a small bell hanging under the eaves.

Shen Wei put down the teacup and said, "Stand up, no need to be so polite."

Tan Tairou stood up respectfully.

Shen Wei did not offer her a seat, so she stood. Tan Tairou had her hair combed like a married woman, wore a dark green cloud-patterned gown, and had light makeup. Her beautiful eyes and eyebrows showed the mature charm of a woman.

Her attitude was neither humble nor arrogant, and she looked very dignified.

Shen Wei said, "When I was appointed as the Imperial Concubine, you gave me a natural ruby. It was very beautiful."

Tan Tairou lowered her eyes and said calmly, "Your Highness, you are a beautiful lady. I am overjoyed that Ruby has won your favor."

Shen Wei narrowed her eyes and suddenly asked, "Where did you get this ruby?"

This kind of rare ruby ​​is unique to the Southern Chu State and is rare and expensive. Tan Tairou is a daughter of a small family. Even if she marries Minister Yan, it is unlikely that she will have the channels to obtain such a treasure.

Tan Tairou replied calmly, "I was traveling in Jiangnan a year ago and accidentally saved a merchant from Nanchu. The merchant gave me this item out of gratitude for saving his life. I have kept it well and specially gave it to you on the auspicious occasion of the consecration of the Queen."

Shen Wei laughed secretly.

Obviously, Tan Tairou was lying. The people of Nanchu were quite adventurous, and the merchants traveled around the countries on the mainland to make a living. Even if Shen Wei wanted to investigate further, it would be difficult to find the so-called merchants.

No one is found and there is no evidence.

Shen Wei's sixth sense has always been sharp. She always feels that there are suspicious points about Tan Tairou, and she doesn't look like the daughter of a minor official at all.

Shen Wei chatted with Tan Tairou for a few words, rewarded Tan Tairou with a plate of tribute oranges, and sent her away casually.

...

Tan Tairou left Qiuting and, with the help of her maid, got back into the official sedan chair for the return journey.

The carriage moved slowly.

Inside the car, Tan Tairou took out a tribute orange and slowly peeled it. The tribute orange had a thin peel and delicious flesh. It was a special supply to the royal family, and the number of tribute oranges offered each year was less than a hundred.

Tan Tairou thought back to Shen Wei in the Autumn Pavilion. The table in front of Shen Wei was piled with the thin peels of tribute oranges.

It can be seen that the emperor was quite fond of this concubine who came from a peasant family.

The maid said, "Madam, Concubine Chen treated you very distantly and didn't even offer you a seat."

Tan Tairou tasted a slice of orange and said calmly, "Noble Concubine Chen and Princess Zhaoyang are close friends. I married Yan Yunting, and Princess Zhaoyang married far away out of spite. It is understandable that Noble Concubine Chen doesn't like me."

The maid pursed her lips and muttered in dissatisfaction: "Then why should we go to see her? It's just asking for trouble."

If you both hate each other, why bother meeting each other?

Tan Tairou handed the remaining half of the orange to the maid and smiled: "The master gave her the precious rose ruby. I was just curious and wanted to see what was so special about her."

The natural ruby, priceless, was given to the imperial concubine of Qing Kingdom.

Tan Tairou had never looked at Shen Wei straight in the eye before. She only knew that Shen Wei was once an ordinary maid in the palace, and fought her way up to become the emperor's favorite, holding the power of the harem and being the most favored among the six palaces.

Today, she took the initiative to pay a visit to Shen Wei. Tan Tairou took a closer look and found that the imperial concubine was indeed beautiful and smart, and every word she said was a trap.

A woman who can reach a high position in the harem must have extraordinary scheming and means.

"She is scheming and beautiful, but she is Emperor Qing's woman after all." Tan Tairou peeled another orange and wondered, "Does the master want to win her over? Or is he interested in her?"

The maid couldn't understand it either.

The carriage continued to move slowly, and arrived at the Yan family's house an hour later. Tan Tairou got off the carriage and happened to run into Yan Yunting who was leaving.

Yan Yunting was wearing a red official uniform, his handsome face was serious, and he was holding two volumes of files in his hands.

Tan Tairou walked over and asked softly, "Husband, today is a day off. Are you still going to the Ministry of Rites?"

Yan Yunting nodded calmly: "I still have some chores to deal with. You don't have to wait for me for dinner. I will stay at the Ministry of Rites tonight."

Tan Tairou pursed her lips slightly, a hint of sadness flashed across her beautiful eyes. She said softly, "The bedroom of the Ministry of Rites is empty. I'll have someone decorate it with a set of quilts and furniture later. It's cold in autumn, don't catch a cold."

Every word she said was full of concern.

Yan Yunting was moved. After getting married, Yan Yunting always thought of Zhaoyang who married far away, and regretted that he did not stop Zhaoyang from marrying far away, so he gradually alienated Tan Tairou after marriage.

But Tan Tai was gentle and dignified. She did not complain and silently endured her husband's estrangement. She managed the entire Yan family in an orderly manner and was praised by everyone in the mansion.

Yan Yunting felt guilty. He had failed Zhaoyang and failed to be good to Tan Tairou. So he held Tan Tairou's hand and said, "I will accompany you after I finish welcoming the princess of Donglin. As for Zhaoyang... I will try hard to forget her slowly."

Tan Tairou shook her head gently and said considerately, "Princess Zhaoyang is a beautiful girl, so it's understandable that your husband can't forget her. As long as your husband has Rou'er in his heart, I'll be satisfied."

Yan Yunting felt more and more guilty.

If a wife is found like this, what else can a husband ask for?

Tan Tairou pretended to be casual and asked, "My husband, when will the Princess of Donglin Kingdom that you mentioned arrive in Yanjing?"

Yan Yunting replied: "One month later."

Princesses from other countries who come from afar will most likely enter the palace as concubines. Yan Yunting is an official in the Ministry of Rites, so he naturally has to be prepared to welcome foreign princesses.

Tan Tairou stopped asking questions and smiled as she escorted Yan Yunting to the carriage. The gentle smile on Tan Tairou's face slowly faded away until the carriage of Yan Mansion disappeared from sight.

She wiped her hands with a handkerchief and walked into the Yan Mansion.

...

...

Afternoon, Mei Fei's Yuxiu Palace.

The scorched yard was blocked by wooden boards, and outsiders were forbidden to enter. Although imprisoned, Liu Ruyan still sat in the study, opening a volume of the Book of Songs and reading it slowly.

When she read "At the banquet of the children, talking and laughing happily", Liu Ruyan's heart was filled with ripples.

She thought of the scene when she first met the emperor and felt sad.

The footsteps of a palace maid were heard outside the house, and the palace maid told Liu Ruyan: "Master, the lady is here. The Liu family asked the emperor for mercy and came to the palace to visit you."

Liu Ruyan put down the book in her hand, a little surprised.

A moment later, a middle-aged woman in simple clothes walked into the study anxiously.

Liu Ruyan's eyes were dazed. She hadn't seen her mother for two or three years and for a moment she could not recognize her.

Madam Liu was born into a family of scholars and looked about the same as Liu Ruyan. She entered the palace in a hurry, dressed casually, and didn't even have time to wear earrings, and her face was bare.

"Mother." Liu Ruyan called softly.

Mrs. Liu was anxious, but she did not forget the distinction between high and low. She first bowed to Liu Ruyan and then asked the outsiders to leave.

In the huge study, only Liu Ruyan and Madam Liu were left.

Madam Liu anxiously stepped forward and saw the Book of Songs in Liu Ruyan's hand. Madam Liu frowned and asked, "What's the matter with the things you dug out in your yard?"