This year's winter was extremely cold. The charcoal fire was weak early in the morning, so it was so cold that people didn't want to get up.
Jiang Mingwei wore a light green dress with gray mouse fur at the collar. She sat in front of the dressing mirror and had the servant girls put on her makeup. She carefully looked at the person in the mirror. Recently, she had gained some weight and her cheeks were no longer sunken. Mrs. Jiang and the servant girls were very satisfied. Jiang Mingwei felt that she was too fat and her face was too big. In addition, she didn't sleep well last night. Her eyes were puffy and she looked very listless. She looked even less attractive.
Jiang Mingwei could only let the servant girls use powder to make her face as white as possible to highlight her facial features. She examined her makeup and suddenly thought of something. She asked, "Recently, has there been any movement next door?"
Jiang Mingwei was really worried about this. She would ask once every other day. At first, the servant girls were eager to participate. Later on, they were asked too many times. When they heard Jiang Mingwei ask, they were terrified.
They really didn't know what Jiang Mingwei wanted to hear.
All the servant girls lowered their heads and pretended to be mute. The most dignified servant girl had no choice but to test the waters, "This servant also didn't hear anything special. This year's winter is cold. Many people don't go out. These few months, even An Wang Fei didn't go out. "
After Jiang Mingwei heard this, she wasn't satisfied. She didn't know what she wanted to hear, but no matter what, it shouldn't be Mu Mingtang's lack of reaction.
During this period of time, King Jin's residence was bustling with noise and excitement, and there was an endless stream of horses and carriages. It was rare for Jiang Mingwei to be able to hold her head up high. She wholeheartedly waited for the news to reach Mu Mingtang's ears and let Mu Mingtang have a good taste of envy and jealousy. However, she secretly observed for a month or two. An Wang Imperial Residence was as quiet as before. Jiang Mingwei couldn't help but ask the servant girls. She only heard the servant girls say that Mu Mingtang never went out. She didn't even show her face these few months.
She didn't show her face for a month. What was next door doing?
Jiang Mingwei wasn't satisfied. After a while, she asked casually, "What about An Wang?"
"An Wang?" The maids looked at each other and whispered, "I've never heard anyone mention Prince An, so there shouldn't be anything special about him."
This was even stranger. Jiang Mingwei frowned even more. During this period of time, the Emperor had made it clear that he was supporting Xie Xuanji. It was understandable that Mu Mingtang, a woman, had not made any moves. But how could Hsieh Hyun-chen have done nothing? Could it be that he was not panicking?
Jiang Mingwei thought for a long time, but he didn't understand what the couple next door was doing. Why was each one more mysterious than the other? During this time, the servant girl had already finished putting on Jiang Mingwei's makeup. Jiang Mingwei looked around and was generally satisfied, so he took out the earrings and put them on himself.
This pair of earrings was given to her by Xie Xuanji. Jiang Mingwei had always regarded them as a dignified wife. Usually, no one else was allowed to touch them. She had to wear and take them off herself. She put on one earring and turned to put on the other one. She asked, "Where is Wangye?"
Jiang Mingwei didn't specifically mention his title. The "Wangye" she spoke of was Xie Xuanji. The servant girls on both sides unconsciously held their breaths. The oldest servant girl was worried and said carefully, "Wangye stayed in Concubine Wanyan's courtyard last night. Today, he sent word that Concubine Wanyan will come later to pay respects. If Concubine Wanyan has been waiting for a long time, please eat first. "
After she finished speaking, everyone fell silent. Jiang Mingwei snorted coldly. She looked at herself in the mirror and suddenly felt dispirited.
What was the use? Today was the fifteenth day of the month. She had specially dressed up elegantly. First, it was to suppress those restless women. Second, it was a woman who dressed up for her lover. But Xie Xuanji had specially sent someone to speak up for Wanyan Duo. Concubine Wanyan would come later. Wasn't everyone well aware of why she would wake up late?
Jiang Mingwei's expression clearly turned bad. The servant girls didn't dare to be unlucky and all tensed up to do their jobs. At this time, a servant girl outside came to report that Concubine Lian had come to pay respects.
The first and fifteenth day of the month were important days. Xie Xuanji had to stay in the main room. The next two mornings were important days. All the concubines and concubines had to come to pay respects to Jiang Mingwei. Jiang Mingwei wanted to use her status as the main wife. Every day, she had the concubines come to set rules for her. But the first and fifteenth day of the month were undoubtedly the most strict.
These two days, no one dared to ask for leave.
Jiang Mingwei nodded condescendingly. A servant girl led Lian Han in. Last year, Lian Han was the insufferably arrogant favored concubine. This year, she had fallen out of favor. When Lian Han was at her peak, she dared to compete with Jiang Mingwei. Not only did she try to steal Jiang Mingwei's favor, she even wanted to take away Jiang Mingwei's stewardship. Now that the wheel of fortune had turned, favor had turned to a foreign concubine. Lian Han had fallen out of favor. Only now did she remember to curry favor with Jiang Mingwei.
Jiang Mingwei was undoubtedly very disdainful of this. But after the satisfaction, he also felt a subtle sadness.
Lian Han had once been so favored, but she had fallen to such a state. After a few years, what would happen to her?
Jiang Mingwei had an indescribable sigh. It was rare that he did not make things difficult for Lian Han when he saw her. Not long after, all the concubines with status in the fu had arrived. Lian Han looked around and asked, "Why is Wanyan ce fei late today?"
Lian Han said this specially for Jiang Mingwei to hear. Of course, Lian Han knew that Wang Fei was gnashing her teeth at this favored and influential ce fei. It was like a fishbone stuck in her throat. Lian Han wanted to curry favor with Jiang Mingwei. Some things that Jiang Mingwei could not say, she would shout them out.
After Lian Han's words came out, everyone went silent. Jiang Mingwei stroked the fingernails on his hand and said faintly, "Wang ye just sent word that ce fei is inconvenient and may be late. Forget it, let's not wait for them. Set the table. "
The women present were all experienced. When they heard this, they understood. Lian Han was inwardly angry at herself for saying the wrong thing. When she served Jiang Mingwei food, she was especially attentive.
The distance between wife and concubine was like a natural chasm. No matter how favored a concubine was, she did not have the right to sit in front of the wife. When the wife was eating, they also had to stand to the side to serve tea and water for the mistress.
But today, before Lian Han could start, there was a sound from outside. The women in the room heard the sound and stood up, "Wang ye is here."
Before they finished speaking, a yahuan's greeting came from outside. Jiang Mingwei was overjoyed and immediately went to greet them. Xie Xuanji lifted the curtain and entered. Jiang Mingwei saw him and happily called out, "Wang ye." Her smile hadn't faded when she saw Xie Xuanji turn around and take the initiative to support another person behind him.
Jiang Mingwei's smile gradually faded. Wanyan Duo saw Jiang Mingwei and bowed her head in greeting, "Wang fei."
"So it's ce fei." Jiang Mingwei's tone was very cold as she said, "Everyone has been waiting for ce fei for a long time. Quickly come in."
Xie Xuanji was here. Naturally, the breakfast had to be adjusted. Jiang Mingwei led Xie Xuanji to a seat and explained, "This concubine originally thought that wang ye wouldn't come to eat breakfast here today and had them set the table first. Please forgive me for neglecting wang ye. "
Xie Xuanji waved his hand and said it was fine. Jiang Mingwei said a few more words of apology before sitting down next to Xie Xuanji.
The room was full of women. Other than Xie Xuanji, they were all women. Only Jiang Mingwei and Wanyan Duo had the qualifications to sit. Actually, Wanyan Duo also didn't have the qualifications. It was only because she was a foreign princess and also had the status of ce fei that she was able to sit at half the table.
The concubines who had been lifeless suddenly came to life and fought to serve her. Many of them looked at Wanyan Duo. All the women in the inner courtyard knew that wang ye had asked for water last night. Asking for water meant that one was favored. Now that there were so many people in the inner courtyard, each person couldn't finish their turn in a day. The main wife, Jiang Mingwei, only had it for two days, but Wanyan Duo had it for several nights. The concubines looked at her with jealousy and hatred.
Wanyan Duo pretended not to know and ate calmly. After the meal, several people washed their hands. Xie Xuanji suddenly talked about the outside world, "It's almost the New Year. This year, natural disasters have been happening non-stop. Fuhuang wants to hold a big New Year's Eve banquet. He wants to hold it for three days in a row."
Jiang Mingwei wasn't surprised when she heard this. This year's winter had been troublesome. Even now, the disaster victims in the capital hadn't been settled yet. Since ancient times, the palace had always valued ghosts. It wasn't hard to understand that the emperor wanted to use this opportunity to get rid of bad luck.
Jiang Mingwei nodded, "This concubine will remember. Other than New Year's Eve and the Lantern Festival, is there anything else we need to pay attention to? "
Xie Xuanji was now the emperor's most important son. In this kind of big banquet, Jiang Mingwei was the focus of everyone's attention. Of course, she couldn't be careless.
Xie Xuanji paused for a moment and said vaguely, "Recently, it seems that there hasn't been any movement from second brother for a long time."
Jiang Mingwei heard this and couldn't help but frown. What a coincidence. She had just mentioned the couple next door. Why did Xie Xuanji also ask about them?
Jiang Mingwei didn't know if it was a coincidence or Xie Xuanji's intention. For a moment, she didn't answer. Instead, Wanyan Duo heard it and said, "That's right. Wang An and Wang Fei An haven't been out for a long time. I don't know if they're doing well. The people outside can't hear anything. It's really worrying. "
Xie Xuanji looked at Wanyan Duo with praise and nodded, "That's right. This prince also has the same idea. Imperial father specially told me to pay my respects to second brother and to pay attention to his condition. Now that I haven't seen him leave the residence for a long time, I feel uneasy. Why don't we take advantage of the New Year to go take a look? If second brother has any instructions, we can also help. "
Jiang Mingwei finally realized that the emperor was suspicious of Hsieh Hyun-chen. The spies that he had planted in Wang An's residence were all destroyed. Therefore, he wanted Xie Xuanji to go investigate the situation. Jiang Mingwei glanced at Wanyan Duo with hidden displeasure and said magnanimously, "Your Highness is right. This concubine hasn't seen sister-in-law for a long time and misses her. There's no time like the present. Today is the perfect time to pay my New Year greetings. "
At this moment, Mu Mingtang had just woken up in Jade Qilin Hall.
She rubbed her waist. She really didn't have the strength to get out of bed. Hsieh Hyun-chen was addicted to the taste and became more and more unrestrained. Mu Mingtang fainted from exhaustion every time. When she woke up the next day, her waist and legs would be sore.
Yesterday, Hsieh Hyun-chen was especially excessive. When Mu Mingtang woke up, her waist couldn't exert any strength. Hsieh Hyun-chen said that he would help her rub it, but as he rubbed it, it changed. She was powerless to resist and was kneaded for a while. It was only now that she got out of bed.
Mu Mingtang leaned against the dressing table and did her hair. As she did her makeup, she covered her mouth and yawned. When the servant girls saw the princess consort's misty eyes and her weak appearance, they all blushed and didn't dare to look.
Mu Mingtang didn't pay attention to what kind of hairstyle she had done today. She leaned on the dressing table with one hand to rest and accidentally fell asleep. When she woke up, she found that it was quiet beside her. The servant girls behind her had long disappeared. There weren't any servant girls in the room.
Hsieh Hyun-chen was sitting beside her and was playing with the tassels in her hair. Seeing her open her eyes, he smiled and said: "You're awake?"
When Mu Mingtang saw him, she became angry. She changed her position and closed her eyes, not wanting to pay attention to him.
Hsieh Hyun-chen didn't mind and skillfully changed to the other side, asking: "Are you really that sleepy? You can fall asleep in the time it took to comb your hair? "
"How long did I sleep last night? Why do I feel sleepy, don't you know?"
Hsieh Hyun-chen didn't know what to say. He gently wrapped his arm around Mu Mingtang's waist and asked: "Are you still tired?"
Mu Mingtang closed her eyes and didn't want to pay attention to him. Hsieh Hyun-chen felt wronged. It really couldn't be blamed on him. It was just that Mu Mingtang needed more training. He almost coaxed her, saying: "Okay, it's my fault. Eat first. You can go back and sleep for a while. If you can't sleep, I can accompany you. "
"No need." Mu Mingtang flatly refused, "I can sleep. I'll go by myself."
"How can that be?" Hsieh Hyun-chen righteously refused, "I remember the last time I was sleepy, I pulled you to accompany me. Now it's your turn to catch up on sleep. How can I not repay your kindness? We'll go back and sleep in a while. Let's go eat first. Yes, you're so sleepy that you can't walk, then I'll carry you. "
Mu Mingtang was angry and amused. She opened her eyes and pushed his hand: "Stop it, let go!"
When Hsieh Hyun-chen saw this, he wanted to hug her even more. The tassels in Mu Mingtang's hair were loosened by Hsieh Hyun-chen just now. Now that Mu Mingtang hid back, the tassels swayed and tottered. The two of them were playing when they suddenly heard a maidservant report from outside: "Prince, Princess, Prince Jin, Prince Jin, Princess Consort, and Concubine Consort have arrived."
As soon as the voice fell, the tassels finally couldn't bear it and fell to the ground. Mu Mingtang frowned and muttered to herself: "What are they doing here?"
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