There used to be a rule in the Hundred Flower Garden. Every year, the Empress or the Empress Dowager in the palace would choose a famous family to host the Hundred Flower Feast. Since the Empress Dowager was sent to the palace to recuperate, and the Empress disappeared for several years for no reason, this rule has not been continued. Ye Zhen wanted to hold a banquet in the Hundred Flower Garden. There was a lot of sensation in the capital. Everyone knew why the Empress held this banquet. She wanted to choose a study companion for His Royal Highness and the Princess.
In addition to study companions, would she also choose a few young and beautiful concubines for the Emperor? This idea was not only thought of by one person. Many people had the same idea. After all, the Empress had been married to the Emperor for many years. Even if the Empress was beautiful, she would eventually get tired of it. Besides, there were also times when a beautiful woman's love would fade away.
"Mother, why hasn't the Empress come yet?" In a corner of the Hundred Flower Garden, a budding girl looked forward. They came here early, but so far they had not seen anyone from the palace.
"Sit down, the Empress will come when she comes." Madam Ruan gave her daughter a warning look.
Ruan Xiuzhen whispered, "Mother, will the Emperor also … come to the Hundred Flower Garden today?"
"Have you forgotten what your father said? Forget what grandfather said to you from your mind. Don't mention it again. " Madam Ruan snapped. She didn't want to bring her daughter to the Hundred Flower Garden today. She was afraid that she still had strange thoughts in her heart. At home, she clearly said that she didn't think about it anymore. These days, she would follow her to a blind date. How could she say such a thing?
"Mother, I was just curious. I didn't think much." Ruan Xiuzhen whispered. Her delicate face was clear and bright, without the shyness and expectation she had when talking about the Emperor.
Madam Ruan looked at her for a while, then nodded with relief. "Today, we are here for Brother Mao. If he can become the study companion of His Royal Highness, he will naturally not have to worry about his future. You are his aunt. Keep an eye on him. Don't offend people you shouldn't offend."
Last time in the hunting ground, Ruan Zimao was present. Because of this, the Ruan Family was still trembling with fear. After a few days, Ruan Jinghua personally went to the palace to apologize. Fortunately, the Emperor did not blame him, and the Empress still told them to attend the banquet. They only hoped that the Prince would not take it to heart.
"Mother, children are forgetful. How old is the prince? He won't remember what happened in the hunting grounds." Ruan Xiuzhen comforted her.
I hope so.
Madam Ruan looked up and did not see her grandson. "You sit here. I'll go check on Brother Mao. I don't know where he went."
"Mother, what are you worried about? Sister-in-law must have taken him to see someone." There was a hint of disdain in Ruan Xiuzhen's tone. Her sister-in-law, Madam Lin, did not come from a noble family. Whenever she had the chance in the capital, she would befriend those noble madams. She had no idea that they were laughing at her behind her back.
If it weren't for the fact that his father only entered the cabinet in his middle age, how could he have arranged such a marriage for his eldest brother?
Ruan Xiuzhen felt that with her current identity and appearance, she would definitely marry a more noble person in the future. However, the person she wanted to marry the most was difficult to get close to.
"Sister Zhen, why are you sitting here alone?" A gorgeously dressed woman came over and interrupted Ruan Xiuzhen's contemplation.
Ruan Xiuzhen looked up and immediately stood up. "Sister Jing."
The person who came was none other than Lu Jing, the current concubine of the Fifth Prince. She looked at Ruan Xiuzhen with a smile. "I saw you from afar. I saw several young girls chatting over there. Why don't you go over?"
"They were talking about food and fun. I'm not interested." Ruan Xiuzhen frowned and said. "Sister Jing, did you bring Brother Bang here?"
Lu Jing looked down at Ruan Xiuzhen. She was a student at the Women's College. She was the daughter of the Ruan family. At that time, she heard that the Old Master of the Ruan family intended to send her to the palace. Ruan Xiuzhen was a famous talented woman in the Women's College. Whether it was her identity or appearance, she was a candidate for the position of Imperial Concubine. The most important thing was that at that time, everyone thought that Lu Yaoyao was dead.
The position of Empress was left vacant. No matter who it was, they all wanted it.
That was why she got close to Ruan Xiuzhen. She thought that if Ruan Xiuzhen really became a favored concubine in the palace in the future, she might be able to help her son become a Crown Prince.
Who would have thought that Lu Yaoyao would actually come back …
"Brother Bang was clamoring to come early in the morning. I really had no choice but to follow him." Lu Jing said helplessly.
Ruan Xiuzhen curled her lips. "Brother Bang is obviously smart and quick-witted. He's much better than the other one. Otherwise, Fifth Wangye wouldn't dote on him so much. If His Majesty were to personally choose a prince to study with today, he would definitely choose Brother Bang."
"Then I'll take your blessing." Lu Jing's smile was bright. She was not praising her son, but compared to Fifth Wangfei's son, he was so much smarter. Fifth Wangfei seemed to be a resourceful person, but she actually raised such a silly son.
"Sister Jing, I heard that … Her Majesty is your sister?" Ruan Xiuzhen lowered her voice. She had never heard Lu Jing mention the Empress. She only heard that the Third Branch of the Lu Family didn't interact with the other two branches. She didn't know why.
Lu Jing's brow rose and she looked meaningfully at Ruan Xiuzhen. "Yes, the Empress is my third uncle's daughter. What about it?"
"I'm just a bit curious. I heard that the Empress is so beautiful that the Emperor has never favored any of the other concubines in the palace." Ruan Xiuzhen said with a red face.
It seemed that this little girl hadn't given up. Lu Jing looked at her with a faint smile, "That's not it. The Empress also has times when she is helpless. In the past, Shu fei was in the limelight and forced the Empress to go to Cheng De Villa to avoid her limelight."
Ruan Xiuzhen's eyes lit up. This meant that the Empress wasn't unbeatable.
Lu Jing didn't know the truth of the past. She only knew that Lu Yaoyao had once fallen out of favor. She was extremely happy. As for the Emperor taking Lu Yaoyao back, it was most likely for the sake of a pair of children. She didn't see the so-called deep love.
"It seems that no matter how beautiful she is, there will be a time when she gets tired of looking at her." Ruan Xiuzhen said in a small voice, still looking forward to it.
If Ruan Xiuzhen could really enter the palace to compete for favor with Lu Yaoyao, it would only be good for her. "Yes, men like fresh and young."
The Fifth Wangye used to treat her like the palm of his hand, but now he only went to the room of the fifteen or sixteen year old concubine every night. It was useless no matter how jealous she was. She had already seen through men's conduct.
She could only rely on her son.
Lu Jing was thinking of giving Ruan Xiuzhen a few more words when the sound of the Empress' arrival came from not far away.
...
(Nine-headed Bird Academy)
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