The wives of the concubines are empresses

When Concubine Wen's wife, Li Youwen, saw that his dish was fermented glutinous rice dumplings, she looked at the other three concubines and found that they were all the same.

"Your Majesty, why are ours fermented glutinous rice dumplings?"

Shangguan Wanjun was just tasting lotus seed soup. Fresh lotus seed soup tastes more fragrant.

"Why, you don't like it? Don't you four treat it the same?"

"But Your Majesty, you are a lotus seed soup."

The two adults who were just beginning to taste the soup suddenly didn't know whether to eat it or not. So they and the empress were the only ones who made the lotus seed soup?

Hao Guifu, Gao Zihao and the other two concubines looked at each other in surprise.

Shangguan Wanjun frowned after hearing this. "It's just a few lotus pods, and we can't make more than a few bowls. Besides, we three peeled them, and it's good enough that you have something to eat. You dare to show off to me? Are you itching for a beating?"

Faced with the threatening look from the empress, Concubine Wen Li Youwen, who wanted to speak, was quickly covered her mouth by Concubine Qiao Su Kangqiao.

"Woo woo woo." Concubine Wen's wife, Li Youwen, stared at him with wide eyes.

Concubine Qiao's husband, Su Kangqiao, laughed awkwardly and said, "Your Majesty, don't bother with him. I think these fermented glutinous rice dumplings are also quite good and more filling."

Mr. Haogui - Gao Zihao also said: "I think it's not bad."

General Nan Shaoan laughed heartily, picked up the fermented glutinous rice balls and drank them in one gulp, which stunned everyone.

"It's delicious, Brother Li, drink it quickly and don't waste food. We don't get this kind of treatment in the army."

Shangguan Wanjun continued to savor her lotus seed soup with her head down. Seeing that she ignored him, Wenpinfu - Li Youwen picked up the fermented glutinous rice dumplings and started to eat them with a wronged look on his face.

The two adults looked at each other and then decided to lower their heads and get to work.

It turns out that it’s not just women who have troubles, men also have troubles.

After having the lotus seed soup, Shangguan Wanjun let them leave.

Before leaving, the wife of Shen Qiu, the director of the Ministry of Rites and Shrines, was rewarded with a pearl and gold hairpin.

The two adults left the palace and were heading in the same direction, so they went together.

"Master Shen, your family's fortunes may be about to change."

"Why do you say this, sir?"

The Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites laughed and guessed, "Based on my analysis, the Emperor might be interested in your second son."

"But……"

"You mean to say that the Empress can't be my daughter-in-law? Even though she is in name, at least not on the surface."

Shen Qiu, the director of the Ministry of Rites and Shrines, said, "That's exactly what's going on."

"That's why I said that your family's fortunes are about to change." He looked around, then lowered his head and spoke to him thoughtfully.

"I'm afraid the Emperor is looking for husbands for several of his personal ladies-in-waiting. Look, Lady Liuli was doing well by his side, and I haven't heard she'd done anything wrong. And suddenly, he's been sent out to serve as an official, alongside Lady Liu from the Hanlin Academy. It's hard to say if the Emperor isn't deliberately trying to bring them together. As the saying goes, 'Those who are close to the water get the moon first,' don't you think? "

Shen Qiu, the director of the Ministry of Rites and Shrines, fell into deep thought: Is this really the case?

Thinking of what the emperor said, "Do you mind if your daughter-in-law is older than your son?" and listening to his boss talk about Lady Liuli, he actually felt that his boss's analysis was very reasonable and well-founded.

He reacted quickly and bowed to express his gratitude: "Thank you for your advice, sir."

"polite."

"Sir, I would like to go home. Is that possible?"

The Left Vice Minister of Rites waved his hand and said, "Go ahead."

"Thank you, sir."

Watching his departing back, the Left Vice Minister of Rites smiled.

Shen House

The doorman was puzzled when he saw his master hurried back in his official uniform.

"Master, why did you come back so suddenly?"

"Where are the madam and the others?"

"It should be in the backyard."

Shen Qiu, the head of the Ministry of Rites and Shrines, said, "Then I'll go to the backyard to find Madam."

Seeing him rush in, the doorman was puzzled.

"What are you doing in such a hurry, Master?"

"lady."

The voice of Shen Qiu, the director of the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Shrines, shuttled between the courtyard, corridor, and backyard, and a dignified lady walked out of the main house.

"Master, shouldn't you be in court at this time? Why are you back so suddenly?"

Shen Qiu, the director of the Ministry of Rites and Shrines, walked up to the lady with a few big strides, holding a brocade box.

"Ma'am, come and sit down."

Mrs. Shen was puzzled by this. Her master was acting very strangely today.

"Master, what happened?"

Shen Qiu, the director of the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Shrines, took out the pearl and gold hairpin from the brocade box and looked at his wife with a smile on his face.

"Madam, what do you think of this hairpin?"

"It's quite exquisite and beautiful. Why did the master think of giving this to me?"

Shen Qiu, the director of the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Shrines, took the hairpin and put it on her head, and found that it suited his wife very well.

"It looks great. This is a gift from the Emperor himself. Madam, please wear it."

Mrs. Shen, who hadn’t been happy for long, was surprised: “Ah, a gift from the emperor?”

"Correct."

Mrs. Shen was so frightened that she quickly reached out to take it down, but Shen Qiu, the director of the Ministry of Rites and Shrines, stopped her.

"Madam, what are you doing?"

"Master, didn't you say it was a gift from the Emperor? I'd better keep it well."

"Hey, this hairpin is meant to be worn. Its value is lost if it's left lying around."

Mrs. Shen was a little hesitant. This was the first time in her life that she had received an imperial gift, and it was given by the Empress herself. She was flattered.

"Don't say but. The children will be here soon and I'll have something to say."

Seeing her master like this, Mrs. Shen gave up the idea of ​​taking off the hairpin and putting it away.

"Then I will obey you, Master, but what do you want with the children?"

Shen Qiu, the director of the Ministry of Rites and Shrines, smiled mysteriously: "Madam, you will know in a moment."

His two sons and two daughters soon arrived at their yard one after another. Both Jian's parents were there, and the four of them kept bowing respectfully.

"I have met my father and mother."

Shen Qiu, the director of the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Shrines, raised his hand and looked at his second son. He believed his boss's words in his heart and knew that he still had to restrain the people in his family.

"Yier, your father must remind you that you should be more low-key in your behavior and actions recently. You must not do things that should not be done there, especially between men and women. It is best not to have casual contact, so as not to ruin your reputation."

Young Shen Yi frowned. "Father, I understand, but why are you suddenly bringing this up today? Could it be that your political enemies are targeting our family?"

Mrs. Shen was anxious when she heard this: "Master, this can't be possible."

"No, but you are indeed being watched."

Mrs. Shen was shocked: "Ah, is he considered to be a son-in-law by someone's family?"

I have to say that as a mother, Mrs. Shen is still very sensitive.

"Not a son-in-law, but a husband."

Mrs. Shen rolled her eyes at her master for once: "Master, it's the same as if you didn't say anything. This is your own son, you can't cheat him."

"How could I, your husband, have betrayed him? He has now caught the Emperor's eye. This is his blessing."

Master Shen was shocked: "Ah, the emperor has taken a fancy to my second brother?"

"You wish! The Emperor has so many husbands, how could he possibly fall for a silly and foolish second brother like you?"