The imperial concubine is charming and charming, and only seeks power and wealth

It was early June, and the temperature was a little hot for early summer, but not unbearable.

The two walked hand in hand along the long palace road, and then they arrived at the Imperial Garden.

Just after turning a corner, the palace maid leading the way suddenly stopped and bowed deeply, "This servant greets Her Majesty the Concubine."

In the past few months, two concubines in the palace have become pregnant.

One is Concubine Zhao, who entered the palace in the early spring of this year, and the other is Concubine Xian.

She is Jiang Lingyue's cousin. This time when she entered the palace, Jiang Lingyue had no plans to meet her.

But I didn't expect to see it as soon as I entered the palace.

The virtuous concubine was wearing a lavender palace dress, holding her belly which had not yet shown any signs of pregnancy. She was accompanied by several concubines of lower rank, who were accompanying her in appreciating the flowers. When she heard the greetings, she glanced over here nonchalantly.

Recognizing Jiang Lingyue at a glance, she curled her lips and was about to say something when her expression suddenly froze. She then hurriedly bowed, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you."

Following the Concubine Xian's gaze, I saw a slender figure at the side, who had appeared there at some point.

Everyone was shocked, and the servants and concubines of lower rank all knelt on the ground.

Chen Ziwei clasped his hands and bowed his head to perform the salute of a subject.

Jiang Lingyue also performed the ceremony according to the rules, looking at her nose and her heart, without looking sideways, and she did not dare to raise her head to peek at the emperor's face.

A pair of boots embroidered with auspicious clouds appeared before his eyes, and then left quickly without stopping.

Then, the emperor's voice came from above.

"No gift."

Jiang Lingyue straightened her knees, still not daring to look up, but she could vaguely feel the emperor's gaze on her.

Liu Rong immediately understood and stepped forward, "Whose girl is this?"

"She is the eldest daughter of the Jiang family and my fiancée," Chen Ziyi replied with a bow. "Today, I have brought my fiancée to the palace to pay my respects to Empress Shuyi."

fiancée.

He was brought into the palace and met his elder sister.

Human nature.

Upon hearing this, Concubine Xian covered her lips and smiled, "Then Mr. Chen will be my cousin-in-law from now on."

Of course she knew Chen Ziwei and knew that he was a close minister of the emperor and a well-known young man in the court.

If nothing unexpected happens, the future is limitless.

As the biological mother of the prince, it is certainly better to be on good terms with important officials in the court than to be on bad terms with them.

In a word, it seems like she and Jiang Lingyue are very good sisters.

His Majesty the Emperor said "Oh" and turned his head to look at Jiang Lingyue.

A young girl dressed in tender green stood beside neatly trimmed flowers, very well-behaved. She did not have any inappropriate ambitions after seeing the emperor because of her outstanding appearance.

She just stood there with her head lowered, not even raising her eyelids.

She has porcelain-white skin, a slender figure, and is more beautiful than a flower.

The young emperor unconsciously pursed his lips, unable to notice.

He said, "Is this my beloved concubine's sister?"

"Yes," Xianfei said with a smile, "My aunt was the mistress of the Jiang family, but she passed away after giving birth to Mingzhi. Lord Jiang's current wife is his second wife."

She explained Jiang Lingyue's life experience in a few words.

She passed away after giving birth to a daughter.

Then this girl lost her mother at birth.

Living under the stepmother.

The emperor lowered his eyes, seemingly unconcerned. He gently waved his hand at Chen Ziwei and said, "Go ahead. Don't keep your elder sister waiting."

"My minister retire."

Chen Ziwei bowed and Jiang Lingyue held her breath and concentrated, then bowed as well.

The two men retreated.

Only after she walked a long way did she pat her chest and take a deep breath.

Chen Ziyi laughed, "Why are you so scared? Your Majesty is forgiving and kind, a wise ruler. Even if I were a little disrespectful, he wouldn't punish a girl like you."

As long as the girl does not flatter and seek favor, and does not offer herself to his majesty, he has never sent a girl to his majesty's house.

Jiang Lingyue said, "It's not that I'm afraid. It's just that I'm in awe of the emperor and his father, meeting him for the first time. Besides... His Majesty exudes such great dignity."

This is the emperor who holds the power of life and death. Standing right in front of her, how can she not be nervous?

Chen Ziwei held her hand and comforted her as they walked forward.

After a while, we arrived at Baohua Palace.

The palace eunuchs had been waiting outside long ago. When they saw them coming, they hurriedly bowed and said, "This servant greets Master Chen and Miss Jiang. Please come in. The Empress is looking forward to seeing you two."

Inside, Chen Shuyi, who had received the message, stood at the entrance of the hall. Seeing her brother coming, her face lit up with joy. She quickly glanced at Jiang Lingyue beside him, taking a subtle look at her. She said with a smile, "What a beautiful young lady! You have a great taste."

The latter sentence was naturally said to his younger brother.

Chen Shuyi personally welcomed the two of them in and sat in the main seat herself.

Jiang Lingyue folded her hands at her side and knelt in greeting, "Your humble servant greets Her Majesty Shuyi."

"No need to be so polite," Chen Shuyi said with a smile, "Lunch is ready, let's talk for a while."

She could not say that she was satisfied or dissatisfied with her sister-in-law Jiang Lingyue.

As long as my brother likes it.

She entered the Eastern Palace for the sake of her family, and now she has ascended to the position of Shuyi. Although she is only in her early twenties, she feels that she can see the end of her life at a glance.

This is how her life will be, and it’s good that her brother can have a complete life.

The brother and sister chatted about family matters for a while, with Chen Shuyi basically asking questions and Chen Ziqi answering them.

Before they could say a few words, a notification came from outside the hall.

——Your Majesty has arrived.

Chen Shuyi was startled and quickly stood up to greet him.

Before reaching the palace gate, the emperor had already walked in.

The palace maids knelt on the ground.

Another series of greetings.

The emperor sat at the top and said, "No need to be so polite."

Chen Shuyi followed closely beside him, a respectful smile on her face, "Why is Your Majesty here?"

"I was bored and heard that your place was bustling, so I came to take a look." The emperor nodded to the chairs below and said, "Everyone, please sit down."

It is a great favor for the concubines and their families to enter the palace and for the emperor to appear in person.

Chen Shuyi's smile widened. Just then, a palace maid came forward to serve tea. She took it personally, presented it, and then sat down slowly.

"Your Majesty knows my younger brother. He is very picky and refused to marry even after he turned twenty. Now that the marriage is finally settled, I want to see what kind of girl can win over such a stubborn man like him, so I summoned her to the palace to meet her."

The voice was gentle, like the spring breeze and drizzle, coming slowly.

Jiang Lingyue felt relieved after hearing this. When her name was called, she stood up and bowed again.

The emperor glanced over.

The air seemed to stagnate for a moment, and he asked, "When is the wedding?"

Jiang Lingyue was stunned, not knowing whether he was asking herself or Chen Zilu.

She subconsciously raised her eyes and met a pair of deep eyes.

He was wearing a black dragon robe and a jade belt around his waist. He looked to be in his early twenties, but he had a restrained aura that made people afraid to look directly at him.

This is the current emperor, with a face as cold and clear as jade, young and majestic.

Her heart skipped a beat and she quickly lowered her eyes, not daring to look straight in the eye.

"Your Majesty," Chen Ziyi, standing beside him, had already spoken, "The wedding is at the beginning of next month, in twenty-five days."

The number of days is so specific that it can be seen that people are really looking forward to it every day.

The emperor paused and didn't ask any more questions.

The emperor's personal presence, even if he was not here to question anyone, made the originally warm and cozy atmosphere of family conversation in the palace a little tense.

Chen Shuyi brought up the topic again.

All of them revolve around the newlyweds who are about to get married.

Chen Ziwei answered quickly, without stopping his hands. He picked up a lychee from the fruit bowl, slowly opened it, and without caring that the emperor and the elder sister were watching, he handed it directly to Jiang Lingyue's mouth.

Lychees grow in the south and are rare in the capital. Even for a wealthy family like the Chen family, it is difficult to get them. Jiang Lingyue, who has never left the capital, has never seen one.

She felt a little embarrassed and wanted to reach out to take it herself, but Chen Ziwei avoided her.

"There's juice, it'll get your hands dirty."

There was indeed juice, and his fingers were stained with the sweet juice. He insisted on feeding her, and Jiang Lingyue could only suppress her embarrassment and opened her mouth to take half a bite.

The chilled lychees were sweet and juicy, a taste she had never tasted before. They burst from her mouth, and her eyes lit up.

Chen Ziyi chuckled, fed her the remaining half, and then put his palm to her lips, "Spit out the core."

He took care of every detail of a lychee, from the shell to the core.

Chen Shuyi had never seen her brother caring for others like this. After being startled for a moment, she hurried to look at the emperor next to her, fearing that she would lose her manners in front of the palace.

But His Majesty the Emperor was used to keeping a low profile, and even the ministers in the court who were best at guessing his intentions couldn't figure out anything, so how could she possibly see any clues?

Not noticing anything wrong, Chen Shuyi smiled and said, "If Yueyue likes it, I have a basket here. You can take them back later."

This was a tribute sent to the palace by local officials.

It was difficult to preserve and very precious. As a second-rank concubine, she only got a small basket.

Chen Ziwei thanked him, picked up another one and started peeling it.

Jiang Lingyue felt really embarrassed and quickly grabbed his wrist, "I don't want to eat anymore."

Her face was flushed, her lips were tightly pursed, and her eyes were sparkling with the shyness of a girl.

The girl's charming eyes flickered. Chen Ziyi was stunned for a moment, then he brought the freshly peeled lychee to her lips and said with a smile, "I won't peel any more after you finish this."

After eating the second lychee, Jiang Lingyue's face was already as red as a rosy cloud.

Seeing her situation like this, Chen Shuyi smiled and waved her hand, saying, "The view at the entrance of Baohua Palace is nice. There are a few red koi fish in the pond next to the rockery. This weather is perfect for being lively. Don't stay here and go take a look."

Jiang Lingyue felt as if she had been pardoned. She stood up, bowed, and walked out.

The two left.

Chen Shuyi faced the emperor sitting at the head of the table and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, would you like to stay for dinner?"

No one answered for a long time.

Chen Shuyi was slightly startled and raised her eyes slightly, only to see that the ring on the emperor's hand was fastened tightly.

Suddenly, he stood up, said, "I have important things to deal with," and strode away.

This was the first time the emperor had set foot in Baohua Palace in three years since he ascended the throne. He came like a whirlwind, coming and going quickly, leaving only a faint scent of ambergris.

Chen Shuyi stood there stiffly, somewhat confused by what was happening.

Is it because his younger brother is his beloved minister and he came to the palace to visit, so the emperor personally showed up to show his favor to the Chen family?

——But this was not her brother’s first time entering the palace.

The emperor had never visited in person before.

still is……

Jiang Lingyue's bright face flashed through Chen Shuyi's mind, and she immediately denied it with a frown.

Absolutely impossible!

Outside Baohua Palace.

Qi Junyi walked down the stairs and slowed down his pace.

Behind him, Liu Rong, who had witnessed his master's series of abnormal behaviors today, was terrified.

Sharing the master's worries is the duty of a servant.

He hesitated for a few moments, considering whether to speak or not, when suddenly, the girl's coquettish voice was brought to him by the breeze.

"Why are you feeding me in the palace?"

Both the master and the servant looked sideways.

Not far ahead, on the viewing pavilion, a girl in green was holding a few baits in her hands and complaining to her lover.

Beside her, Chen Zihui explained softly, "Eldest sister loves my wife and her family. If I treat you well, she will treat you well too. We are going to get married soon, so there is no need for you to feel uncomfortable."

What's wrong with feeding you a fruit?

He just wanted to be nice to her in front of everyone, and it would be best if the whole capital knew how much he valued her.

Wife is Qi.

No one can look down on him, not even his family.

Jiang Lingyue was a little moved, but also speechless.

She turned around to look at him and whispered, "His Majesty is here too. Aren't you afraid that he will think you are obsessed with love and unable to shoulder the heavy responsibility?"

Chen Ziwei was stunned when he heard this, and then he couldn't help laughing.

"Yueyue is such a good wife,"

He put his arm around her shoulders and said, "However, Your Majesty doesn't care about the affairs of your subjects in the backyard."

There are only a few emotions and desires.

What is the purpose of being an official?

Humans are not plants or trees, so everyone has some selfish desires.

They are ministers, not saints.

The two of them were so close that the summer breeze blew their clothes together.

Chen Ziyi pinched a few baits in her hand and threw them into the pond, saying with a smile, "As long as I'm here, you don't have to worry about anything. Just marry me."

He knew the anxiety in her heart.

She was afraid that she would not be a good wife of the Chen family, and she was also afraid that she would not please her mother-in-law.

Getting married is a woman’s second life.

The first time, she made a wrong choice and was treated coldly in the Jiang family.

The second time, she fell into his arms, and he would never let her lose.

Lovers are talking sweetly.

They had no idea that the emperor was watching them quietly not far away.

His face was expressionless, only his eyes grew darker.

Behind him, beads of sweat appeared on Liu Rong's forehead.

If, just now he was just speculating.

Now, the emperor stood here motionless, looking at the scene over there, which confirmed his thoughts.

Really...the iron tree is blooming.

But it hit the minister's fiancée.

Or, the fiancée who is about to get married.

What is going on!

Liu Rong's heart was beating in his throat, and he saw his master restrain the coldness in his body, turn in another direction, and leave quietly without disturbing him.

He breathed a sigh of relief and hurried to catch up.

I thought it was just a small episode. After Miss Jiang left the palace, as a woman in the harem, she would not be able to perform the imperial duties many times in the future.

This episode will soon be over.

After all, their Majesty is used to being cold-hearted and emotionless. At the age of twenty-three, he has never treated any woman differently. After a long time, he will definitely forget about my wife.

But things are often not as we wish.

The next day, Liu Rong discovered that his emperor, who was diligent in governing the country, was frequently distracted.

When attending court, his eyes always seemed to fall on Chen Ziwei.

When reviewing memorials in Guang'an Hall, he also lost his previous concentration.

It's like I have something on my mind and don't know how to make a decision.