Summer wraps autumn, water keeps wind

Bi Xin waved her to come in, Liu Fu was going to wait in the side hall, Bi Xin said, but he dismissed her with a few words, there is no need to go to the side hall.Concubine Rong walked gracefully into the palace, dressed in brocade and satin, with fragrant cheeks and bright wrists, she bowed to the emperor gracefully, saying: "Wanfu Jinan" and bowed to Prince Xuan again, saying: "Prince Wan'an" Liu Fu also returned a salute.

Sitting on the couch, the emperor said nonchalantly, "Is there something wrong with Concubine Rong?"

Concubine Rong was overjoyed and said: "I heard that the emperor rewarded my elder brother and gave me a letter, and my concubine came to thank you." The emperor said lightly: "Your ear report is well-informed."

Concubine Rong said again: "The courtiers and concubines dare not neglect the emperor's affairs, and the etiquette must never be neglected." Turning with affection, she said softly: "The ministers and concubines ordered the small kitchen to prepare some dishes, although it is not as good as the imperial dining room. It's good, but it's also delicious, would the emperor like to have dinner?"

The emperor said: "Concubine Rong is too modest. Everyone in this palace knows that the dishes of Chuxiu Palace are exquisite and luxurious." Concubine Rong took it as a compliment, and hurriedly saluted: "It's just small." The emperor said: "No, I still have a memorial to I'll see you next time, go back and rest." Concubine Rong was secretly disappointed, but she didn't dare to reveal it, she saluted and reluctantly left the palace.

Liu Fu took a sip of the tea that was served, and said slowly: "I seem to remember that it is not the time for Yunjin to pay tribute, why is Concubine Rong wearing a new dress? I think it was specially rewarded by the emperor, and she is really the favorite of the sixth palace." Well." Bi Xin half-jokingly said: "Why are you jealous first? I haven't been jealous yet. I haven't seen such a fine brocade this year, but she has it first." Bi Xin also took a teacup to drink Drink half a cup.

Rou Yan, holding the peony in her hand, walks in the imperial garden, the jewels and emerald steps shake softly, and the golden thread on the brocade is even more radiant in the twilight. "Why didn't the emperor take a second look at me when I changed into the brocade newly offered by the Jiangning Weaving Mansion?"

Shaorui said flatteringly: "In the harem, the empress is the most favored, and the emperor rewards the empress is the best, and today he rewarded King Yi, only the empress's family was the most favored in the previous harem. It seems that the emperor is busy with government affairs. It will come in a few days."

Rou Yan also felt reasonable and relieved, suddenly remembered something and asked: "I don't quite understand the rules of the palace, I just saw that the hair crown on Prince Xuan's head is red gold with dense dragon patterns, and I haven't seen anyone except the emperor." The prince has worn such an expensive hair crown before, so if the prince wears a golden crown with a dragon pattern, it may be suspected of usurping."

Zhao Shilong at the back bowed and took two steps up to answer: "Your Majesty, I don't know, the prince can wear a golden hair crown, if he is highly valued by the emperor, it is common to use a dragon pattern, besides, Prince Xuan's status as a king of politics is more valuable, it is really not It's too far. However, as a rule, most of the hair crowns made by the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the prince are inlaid with silver and inlaid with fine dragon patterns, and the red gold dragon patterns are dedicated to the emperor's daily wear. I heard a few days ago that the Ministry of Internal Affairs gave The emperor brought in the new clothes and accessories of the current season. The emperor asked, can the palaces send them away? The slaves returned later. The palaces are different from the imperial palaces, and it is not time to send them. The emperor said that Ji Ji sent them a lot of money. The border is tight. Since the emperor, except for a few uncles and old princes, everyone in the royal family who has titles has been frugal. Then I picked some hair crowns and accessories from the clothes that were presented to Prince Xuan, and told my subordinates not to I gave the same one to Prince Xuan, and just sent some ordinary clothes when the time comes. He also said that Prince Xuan grows taller every year, and clothes are indispensable, but accessories don’t need to waste too much money. In the future, whatever is short, everything will be from the emperor. It’s buckled inside. The red gold inlaid with red and yellow gemstones and the dragon-pattern embossed hair crown was rewarded by the emperor.”

Listening to Zhao Shilong's detailed explanation, Rouyan asked again: "Brother, did you also reduce the cost?" Zhao Shilong smiled happily: "Except for a few old princes, the only ones among the princes who have not reduced the cost are the old prince and Yi Wang. The speed shows that the grace is generous." Only then did Rou Yan feel much more at ease, and returned to the palace.

Wan Zhao lit half a piece of sandalwood, leaning against a ray of evening wind in the setting sun, her aching knees allowed her to sit, a few steps away from the Buddhist altar, with her eyes slightly open, holding the "Lotus Sutra" slantedly in her hands Recite non-stop, calm the mind and calm down.

Qin Huan came in with a smile, blessed and said: "It's a happy event for the empress, the emperor asked you to serve dinner." Wan Zhao stopped chanting, didn't get up, stroked her hair bun, leaned loosely and said: "Prepare The clothes you wear inside are fine, don’t need extravagant accessories, keep it plain and simple.” Qin Huan said with a promise and went.

At dinner time, outside the Zichen Hall sang "Concubine Ning is here to see you." Wan Zhao slowly entered, followed the etiquette, and the palace people all retreated without accompanying them.I saw that Wan Zhao was wearing a light blue mandarin duck and water flower palace dress, which was very simple and elegant. Only a few folds of purple double-petaled begonias at the cuffs were refreshing. And a pair of plain silver inlaid with jade beads and tassels, simple yet dignified.

Bi Xin said with a pleasant expression, "I don't see you for a while, why have you lost a lot?"

Wan Zhao smiled and said: "The concubine is also afraid that her complexion will be bad, and the emperor will be bored."

"Seeing you always reminds me of the quiet and peaceful years in the past, but it's not bad that you are dressed elegantly in the concubine's position, but it's a bit simple."

Wan Zhao held on to a fine porcelain long-handled soup ladle, filled a bowl of freshly scented bamboo raw tires, and handed it to the emperor, saying, "Not to mention that my concubines want to wear gorgeous things that are not suitable for worshiping Buddhas, but I only heard that the border is tight. Also be frugal in spending, and concubines dare not be extravagant."

The emperor nodded in approval, and praised: "It is indeed a lady from a famous family, and she is like a great family." After a little taste of the soup, he said: "I came to you this time to discuss the matter of frugality in the harem. I don't know what you think?"

Wan Zhao said seriously: "The concubine thinks that the national treasury is tight now, and although the harem's frugal money is not much, it is still doing a little bit for the frontier."

The emperor nodded to indicate to continue, and Wanzhao said: "There are only a few concubines in the harem, and their status is not considered high. There is really no need to have too many palace people serving them. Freddie."

Putting Yin means letting the maids out of the palace.Usually, the release of yin is only done when the world is amnesty, because not all court ladies can go out of the palace when they are old, and many of them work alone until they die, so it is also a major event to accumulate blessings and virtues.

"What else?"

"The concubine thinks that the concubines and palace people's share can be reduced by [-]% first, and then restored to the original state when the war slows down and the treasury is full. But naturally there is no need to reduce it for the queen mother, it's just..." Wan Zhao said softly: " Concubine Rong's uncle and elder brother are serving in the front line, so naturally they can't disregard her dignity." Wan Zhao left his seat and made a big salute, "This concubine would like to save Concubine Rong's statute. Please the emperor withhold [-]% of the concubine's statute to preserve Concubine Rong. Decent, with An Chen's heart."

"I am very happy that you can think of me like this, but it is not reasonable for you to be a concubine with her. Don't worry. After this matter, you should resume your right to assist the Sixth Palace, and you and Concubine Rong should help the Empress Dowager together."

Wanzhao sat down slowly and said, "I heard that the emperor didn't withhold King Yi's expenses, and this will deduct Concubine Rong's share. Aren't you afraid that my younger sister will be jealous?"

The emperor picked some crystal shrimp stewed green beans with ebony chopsticks carved with silver patterns, ate them carefully and said: "King Weiyi and King Yi are not members of the royal family, so I don't need to charge him for it, but Concubine Rong is a concubine in the harem. Do your best for me." After dinner, the emperor ordered Hao Sheng to send Concubine Ning back to the palace.

Concubine Rong went to the Palace of Compassion and Ning to pay her respects.After saluting and sitting down, the Empress Dowager wore black and blue tuanshou five-bat satin, a forehead belt inlaid with white jade beads wrapped around her head, playing with agarwood hollowed-out golden ruyi in her hand, and lazily leaned on the bright yellow phoenix couch. pillow.

Rou Yan held the round fan with embroidered patterns of white jade fan bones and said indignantly: "Yesterday, my concubine went to invite the emperor to have a meal. Don't look at that concubine Ning who is usually quiet, who knows that she used some tricks to snatch it away. Hu Mei emperor is not counted. , and still blindly be top-notch, trying to think of something to put the shackles and reduce the status, but the emperor listened to it. Fortunately, the queen mother has not touched your status, otherwise you don’t know what is good or bad.”

The Empress Dowager squinted at Rouyan's brocade dress, which was embossed with fine feathers on the peacock's tail and densely woven with gold threads. If she walked in the sun, it would be shining brightly, like a concubine or fairy.

"The Ai family looked dazzled at Concubine Rong's brocade. Concubine Ning was originally from Jinling, so I'm afraid there is not such a good brocade, but the Ai family seems to remember that it is not the day when the brocade enters the palace."

Rou Yan said with a slight smile: "The courtiers and concubines sometimes change into new clothes, but the Empress Dowager Bo Huang just smiled."

The Queen Mother sneered coldly and said, "What? Concubine Rong's uncle and elder brother killed the enemy on the battlefield, and Concubine Rong can still dress so extravagantly? It's really ridiculous."

Concubine Rong's complexion suddenly changed, she bowed down and said: "The concubine is confused."

"Confused? The emperor is worrying about the military pay, and your brocade clothes are dangling with jewels. Concubine Ning is trying to please the emperor and advocate frugality in the harem. Which one do you think the emperor prefers?"

Rou Yan's tight body felt cold, her rosy face faded, and she turned slightly pale, she bit her lip and dared not answer.The queen mother threw down Ruyi and said: "The emperor refused to marry in the name of keeping filial piety. The first emperor originally wanted Liu Shi, the daughter of Liu Yunxun, a cabinet scholar, but it was delayed when Liu Shifu fell ill for a while. Wait for the filial piety soon. When it’s full, let’s mention the issue of the Empress Dowager, if the Emperor thinks of the late Emperor, he is not allowed to take advantage of others, and you should make up your own mind.”

Rou Yan hurriedly said: "It's all due to the kindness of the Queen Mother, Rou Yan begged the Queen Mother to teach and teach me."

"Ai's family is old and not the emperor's biological mother. The matter of the harem depends on whether you can live up to your expectations. However, the only high-ranking concubines in the palace are you and Concubine Ning. If the emperor wants to establish a queen in the palace, he must be among the two of you. Although You have the same status and share the sixth house, but you are more noble than her in terms of family background, but Concubine Ning is smart." The Queen Mother gave Concubine Rong a meaningful look: "Fortunately, she has no children. You can weigh it yourself. "

Concubine Rong walked out of the Compassionate Ning Palace in a daze, the person with the dangling gold thread on her sleeve couldn't open her eyes, almost fell down.Shao Rui and Rou Yan walked up the long street very slowly. "What if I really don't want to be favored by the emperor?" Rou Yan whispered softly.

Shao Rui hurriedly said: "It is important to be favored by the emperor, but winning the post is the real guarantee. The queen mother is right. Concubine Ning's family background is not as good as that of the empress, and she has no children. As long as the empress gives birth to the eldest son of the emperor before Concubine Ning, The next seat must be yours." Rou Yan secretly bit her lip, and said: "It would be great if it was that easy." Shao Rui accompanied her with a smile and said: "Your Majesty Hong Fu, there must be a chance."