A life of ups and downs is pure joy

Hehuan Hall in the Tokyo Imperial Palace.

Zhuang Ge'er lay on the table and recalled the strange dreams she had in the past few days. There was always a group of people calling her, but she couldn't hear what they were shouting, and she couldn't see everyone's faces clearly, but she could feel that they were very anxious.

Wandong asked all the serving palace maids to leave, and then looked at Zhuang Ge'er who was alone in a daze without saying a word.

She guessed that if the Dasheng wedding procession came today, her master would feel even worse if he knew about it.

"Master, the Lord will not be joining you for breakfast today. He said he has something important to attend to."

Late Winter said tentatively.

"it is good."

Zhuang Ge'er came to her senses and nodded in response.

"Master, the weather is nice today. I will accompany you to the Imperial Garden this afternoon."

Late Winter said caringly.

Zhuang Ge'er raised her head and glanced outside. It was a rare sunny day. Although she was a little afraid of the various concubines in the harem, it was not a bad idea to just run away.

"Okay, let's go for a walk."

The Imperial Garden was not far from the Hehuan Palace. Zhuang Ge'er and Wan Dong, along with two little palace maids, arrived after walking through a few long alleys and passing a few palaces. The garden was full of begonias and various kinds of chrysanthemums.

Zhuang Ge'er vaguely felt that this scene was very similar, as if she had seen it often, but then she couldn't remember it.

"My Lord, these flowers are so beautiful."

Wan Dong couldn't help but sigh as she looked at the sea of flowers in front of her, and the two little palace maids behind her couldn't help but grin.

"I never thought that in this season when all the flowers have withered and even the leaves have fallen, the flowers in the imperial garden are still so beautiful."

Zhuang Ge'er was also shocked by the sea of flowers in front of her and sighed.

"Do you like chrysanthemums or begonias?"

Late Winter asked.

Zhuang Ge'er thought for a moment and looked at the flowers in front of her.

"Begonia."

Several people continued to appreciate the flowers.

In the long alley, Fang Duoduo, Hepin He Hui and several concubines dressed as beauties were walking slowly towards the imperial garden.

"Our Empress doesn't like chrysanthemums, so all the most beautiful autumn chrysanthemums in the palace have been moved to the Imperial Garden."

He Hui's voice is rather shrill, and she is used to holding a handkerchief when speaking.

"That will give us a good view."

"That's right, but that's because our Empress Xian doesn't like it, otherwise the Chaoyang Palace wouldn't have been allowed to choose first."

Lady Gu said flatteringly, Fang Duoduo said nothing but just smiled.

"Our Lord is so busy with affairs of state that I haven't seen him in a year. Not everyone is as blessed as Empress Xian."

Zhou Huanyi also spoke quickly, but saw that Fang Duoduo's smiling face suddenly fell.

He Bin glanced at Zhou Huanyi and said unhappily.

"Sister Zhou, is it because you live too far from the Imperial Library that your ears and eyesight aren't working well? It's been two months. Have you seen Jun go anywhere other than the Hehuan Palace?"

"Empress Xian, I..."

Zhou Huanyi looked at Fang Duoduo somewhat awkwardly.

"So what if your Majesty goes to Hehuan Palace? She hasn't even been canonized in two months. It's just a temporary novelty for your Majesty."

"Yes, yes, no matter what, she can't be compared with Empress Xian. Everyone knows that for so many years, the emperor's favorite in the entire harem is Empress Xian."

When Zhou Huanyi heard Lady Gu finish speaking, he quickly continued.

As they were talking, they arrived at the Imperial Garden. When they looked up, they saw Zhuang Ge'er admiring the flowers with the palace maids.

Concubine Xian Fang Duoduo stopped and looked at the woman over there.

"Why don't you leave?"

Concubine He stopped curiously and then looked in the direction Fang Duoduo was looking.

"Who is she?"

The concubines asked curiously.

"The master of Hehuan Palace."

Fang Duoduo murmured.

"Just in time for me to go see what this vixen looks like."

Concubine He was furious and quickened her pace to walk in that direction. Seeing this, Fang Duoduo smiled slightly and followed slowly.

Wan Dong turned around and saw a large group of concubines coming towards her, so she whispered a reminder to Zhuang Ge'er who was still admiring the flowers beside her.

He Bin came over and looked up and down at Zhuang Ge'er, who was wearing white.

"who is this?"

Hepin asked deliberately.

"My lord, this is the master of Hehuan Palace."

Wan Dong said quickly.

Zhuang Ge'er also looked at the woman in front of her who was full of malice towards her in surprise, a little confused as to why.

"Hehuan Palace? Has there been any canonization?"

Hepin sneered and then asked.

"For now... it has not been canonized yet."

Wandong replied with some stammering.

"Since you haven't been canonized, it's really unruly. Forget about not being polite when you see me. I'm not such a particular person."

He Bin finished speaking slowly, then changed the subject and raised her voice.

"But you didn't even bow and kneel before Empress Xian. I'm afraid you don't understand the etiquette, do you?"

Concubine He looked straight at Zhuang Ge'er, her eyes then moved to the center of her eyebrows.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. The Lord has said that our master is exempt from kneeling before everyone, including the Lord and the Queen."

Wan Dong raised his head and said arrogantly.

"When did the Lord say that? Did he issue an order? Have you ever heard of such an absurd order?"

Concubine He laughed out loud, then asked the concubines around her loudly, only to see everyone looking at these servants as if they were laughing at a joke.

"The Lord himself said so in Hehuan Palace. If you don't believe me, you can go to Chaoyang Palace and ask."

Wan Dong quickly defended himself.

He Bin looked at Zhuang Ge'er who had been silent, turned around and slapped Wan Dong.

"You, slave, are so bold! You refute me three times for every word I say. Do you think you, the Hehuan Palace, are the masters of the harem?"

When Zhuang Ge'er heard the crisp sound of slapping, she suddenly looked at Wan Dong and then pulled her back.

"Does it hurt?"

Zhuang Ge'er didn't expect that the concubine in front of her would hit someone as soon as she said so, and she didn't react for a while.

"How can you hit someone so casually?"

Zhuang Ge'er looked at He Bin angrily and said.

"Oh, you're not dumb. I don't know the rules. So what if I hit you?"

Hepin said unhappily.

"If your Majesty wants to make trouble for Zhuang Ge'er, why would she take it out on a servant? This is rather unbecoming of a noble lady."

Zhuang Ge'er's soft voice stung He Bin's eardrum like a needle.

"Your eloquence made me underestimate you."

After saying this, He Bin continued.

"It's been quite some time since I entered the palace. I'm afraid I haven't learned the rules well. Nanny Chen, if you don't teach me the rules now, I'm afraid your Concubine Xian will be embarrassed."

Seeing that Concubine Xian remained silent, Concubine He walked around and looked at the nanny behind her and said.

"Sister, forget it. Since the Lord has said so, there is no need to perform this ceremony."

Concubine Xian Fang Duoduo lowered her head and smiled faintly, then stepped forward and spoke softly with a gentle look on her face.

"Sister, what you said puts us in a difficult position. If the Hehuan Palace waives the formalities today with no apparent reason, and the other palaces follow suit, what etiquette will there be in the harem?"

After Concubine He finished speaking, the other concubines all echoed her.

"Humph, if she is really that powerful, why hasn't she even been canonized as a beauty in two months?"

"That's right, Your Majesty is the most respectful of etiquette. How could he allow her to break the palace rules like this?"

"What a joke! I've never heard of any eunuch issuing an order with such great ability."

"Yes, the Queen must bow when meeting the Emperor. Why should she be an exception?"

Fang Duoduo looked at the concubines around her who were all looking at Zhuang Ge'er in the crowd with dissatisfaction, and felt very happy in her heart.

"Madam Chen, the Queen is kindhearted. As a matron of etiquette, don't you know the rules?"

Seeing that Zhuang Ge'er had become the target of public criticism, Concubine He looked at Nanny Chen with both pride and anger.

"I know."

The old woman called a few palace maids, came forward, held down Zhuang Ge'er and the others, and asked them to kneel down.

The old woman was very strong. Zhuang Ge'er felt that she had lost control and fell to her knees. Her knees hit the ground so hard that it hurt, and she couldn't help but frown.

Wan Dong wanted to look up and explain himself, but Zhuang Ge'er pulled his sleeve.

Looking at the situation today, with His Majesty and the Prince not here, I am sure I will suffer a great loss. If this girl continues to speak, she will be severely punished. For now, I can only bear it and keep silent.

"Seductive creature, that's a sign of a demonic flower growing on your forehead. No wonder His Majesty is so distraught. I think we should send someone to the Hehuan Palace to perform a ritual. Maybe we can kill one or two of these mischievous vixens."

Concubine He said angrily as she looked at the birthmark on the forehead of the kneeling woman.

"Now that the ceremony has been completed, please ask Sister Zhuang to get up. If His Majesty knows..."

Fang Duoduo hurriedly spoke upon seeing this, but was interrupted by He Bin before she could finish her words.

"Your Majesty is currently busy with the young prince's marriage and receiving the princes and princesses of Dasheng. How could he have the time to care for this matter? Besides, she doesn't understand the palace rules. We are only teaching her the rules. Your Majesty, let's go over there and enjoy the flowers."

"Yeah, yeah, don't let her get upset."

Zhou Huanyi hurriedly stepped forward to support Fang Duoduo and said flatteringly.

"What about them?"

Fang Duoduo asked with difficulty.

"Since we are learning the rules, we must behave properly. You guys should watch them and kneel for three hours."

After giving the order, Concubine He took Fang Duoduo away. The other concubines looked at Zhuang Ge'er proudly, held their heads high and followed Fang Duoduo and Concubine He.

"My Lord, you have suffered."

Wan Dong saw the two palace maids who were watching the people turned away, so she whispered.

"The wedding procession has arrived. Are they arriving today?"

Zhuang Ge'er's mind was full of what He Bin had just said, so she asked.

"Master, yes, I arrived early this morning."

Wan Dong said in embarrassment.

"It's finally here."

Zhuang Ge'er felt a little uncomfortable in her heart, after all, he was going to marry someone else.

Tears also flowed down her cheeks.