Resting Snow Palace's Hall of Understanding.
Ever since Mu Fei lost her child and was betrayed by Furen Yaohua, while it was not obvious in front of outsiders, she could not help but feel down in front of her own people.
Palace Attendant Xu did not know what had happened between them and only silently accompanied them. Maybe it was because Mu Fei had helped her, or maybe it was because she had no one to rely on, but in this half a month of companionship, Mu Fei slowly started to look at her more.
Palace Attendant Xu served Imperial Consort Mu with the medicine and then presented the candied fruits that she usually liked to eat. She didn't say much. Imperial Consort Mu took the handkerchief and wiped the corners of her mouth before asking: "What do you think of the brocade consort's decision to side with Yan fei?"
Palace Attendant Xu honestly replied, "The Consort Yan in qie's eyes is not someone who would reach out to other palaces. Qie has not interacted much with the brocade concubine and cannot speak carelessly."
Palace Attendant Xu helped Mu Fei cushion a high pillow so that she could sit more comfortably. "You are implying that the brocade concubine has great ambitions and wants to kill three birds with one stone, other than ben gong, Lady Wen Yu and Consort Yan?"
Palace Attendant Xu respectfully said, "With the present situation in the palace, who would be able to resist coveting that position?"
Mu Fei coughed. Palace Attendant Xu hurriedly served tea, but she grabbed her wrist and asked, "What about you, do you not want it?"
Palace Attendant Xu was frightened by her cold gaze and unconsciously shook her head. Then she hesitantly said, "This lowly concubine … does not know."
Mu Fei stared at her for a long time. Then she slowly let go and collapsed back on the couch. She smiled self-deprecatingly and said, "Not just you, even ben gong does not want it. That person might be of noble descent, but with our background, who would truly want to be a concubine? " A teardrop slowly slid down her temple and into her hair, disappearing without a trace. Palace Attendant Xu was speechless. Some people, some matters, and some situations were destined to be unsolvable.
"Forget it. If there is an imbalance of benefits, then there is bound to be competition. The imperial concubine only started the battle first. Who knows who will be laughing the loudest in the end!" Consort Mu opened her eyes again. Her eyes were still red, but there was no longer any weakness of self-pity.
Palace Attendant Xu put the teacup back on the low table next to the bed. Looking at the ripples from the tea that blurred her reflection, her heart also became a blur. Everyone had a goal, but what about her?
On the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month, the mid-autumn festival, the day of family reunion, the Emperor held a family banquet in the Yunxiao Hall. All the members of the royal family attended. On the high throne in the hall, the Emperor sat alone. Bai Suyan looked down at the emperor who was sitting on the throne with a jade crown and court attire. She thought, "It's lonely at the top. Isn't he cold?"
Luoshuanga looked around and saw that there was another empty seat. He asked, "Why is Second Brother not attending this year? Is it because he hasn't recovered from the cold he caught during the change of season? What are the imperial physicians doing? It has been so long, but Second Brother is still sick and can't get out of bed. "
Consort Guan Weilan, who had already married into Prince Youan's Mansion as a concubine, stood up and bowed. She said, "Your Majesty, Prince Youan got cold during the change of season. The imperial physicians said that Prince Youan's body is weak, and this illness has caused a lot of complications. He might not recover until a year and a half. Your Majesty, please forgive us." However, she looked even more slender and haggard than when she was at the selection in March.
"Concubine, you are too serious. So, Liang Yu-an, send Prince Youan's feast to his mansion. On this day, the family should eat from the same pot."
"I thank Your Majesty on behalf of Prince Youan."
As soon as Secondary Consort Guan sat down, Madam Wen Yu asked lazily, "What's wrong? Secondary Consort Guan is the only one who came from Prince You 'an's Mansion. Where's Secondary Consort Yun? I haven't had the chance to meet the three most talented girls in Yan Jing. I was thinking that I could finally use tonight as an excuse to let them compete. Why isn't Secondary Consort Yun here?"
King Xiaoyao Luo Shuangqi was a person who liked to watch a show. He also asked, "That's right. I have never seen the three most talented women of Yanjing here. Speaking of which, Concubine Zhao doesn't seem to be in the main hall either?"
Although it was a family banquet, the space was limited. There were many members of the royal family, and not everyone was qualified to sit in the main hall. Besides, the concubines in the harem were women of the inner court. Even the uncles and sisters-in-law who lived under the same roof had to avoid arousing suspicion. Therefore, except for the two most powerful madams and Concubine Mu and Bai Suyan, the rest of the people were divided into different side halls.
Concubine Guan had to get up and greet again, saying, "Sister Yun is serving Prince Youan in the mansion, so she can't be here."
Lady Wen Yu ignored her and only sighed. Luo Shuangqi just wanted to join in the fun and didn't listen to her at all. He turned his head and whispered to his wangfei. Bai Suyan looked at Concubine Guan's fearful appearance. She pitied her as a concubine who couldn't get up and down. It was very awkward, so she asked her to sit down.
Song and dance followed one after another. Toasts were exchanged. There were people who frequently raised their cups to congratulate the Emperor on the throne. They talked about the peace of the world, the prosperity of the people, and the strength of the country. There were also people who congratulated Qiumi, Liu Country, and Yuan Country in advance. It was as if they had already signed the treaty and these two countries were already in the bag.
After three rounds of wine, Bai Suyan didn't drink much. She saw Lady Wen Yu drinking cup after cup without restraint. At this time, she was already drunk. The corners of her eyes were red and her phoenix eyes were slightly closed. She looked very charming. She couldn't help but worry that she would lose her composure in public.
She didn't know where the voice came from, but it suggested a riddle. It was appropriate to guess riddles during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Lady Wen Yu said drunkenly, "That's right, Your Majesty, without Concubine Yun, why not let Yaohua furen and Concubine Zhao compete. Chenqie is really curious, who is better between the two of them, Your Majesty ~"
This "Your Majesty" was so sentimental that it made people's bones melt. Bai Suyan couldn't help but shiver. She peeked at Luoshuanga's expression.
Luoshuanga's expression didn't change, but he was obviously moved. He turned to ask Yaohua furen, "Yaohua, what do you think?"
Yaohua furen bowed and said, "Chenqie will naturally obey Your Majesty's orders."
"Summon Concubine Zhao."
Liang Yu-an accepted the order, "Summon Concubine Zhao —"
The voices of the eunuchs came one after another, "Summon Concubine Zhao —"
The place where the concubine was receiving the banquet wasn't far. In the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Concubine Zhao was wearing a purple dress. She was gentle and charming without losing her heroic spirit. She leisurely walked to the hall, "Chenqie greets Your Majesty. May Your Majesty live ten thousand years."
"Dispense with the formalities, please sit."
The eunuchs were alert and had already prepared a small cushion. After Concubine Zhao bowed and sat down, it was Lady Wen Yu who spoke first, "Ben gong has heard of Yanjing's Three Great Talented Women in my boudoir and has read many masterpieces. Unfortunately, I have never had the chance to personally see the three of them compose poems at the same time. I feel deeply regretful …" She supported her forehead with her hand as if she would fall asleep in the next moment.
Concubine Zhao smiled and said, "Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival Family Banquet. In this hall, there are many scholars who are skilled in poetry and songs. Concubine Zhao is only a martial person and doesn't dare to embarrass herself in front of everyone. Please forgive me."
"Lady Wen Yu's words have aroused ben gong's curiosity," Yaohua furen looked at Concubine Zhao and smiled sweetly, "Ben gong also wants to know who is better than Concubine Zhao meimei. However, Concubine Zhao meimei is right. In this hall, there are many scholars. We women of the inner residence don't dare to show our slight skill in front of experts. Why don't we follow the previous suggestion and guess riddles?"
Concubine Zhao couldn't decline and raised her hands, saying, "Then we will follow niangniang's suggestion and ask niangniang to go first."
Yaohua furen said, "Then we'll start with the most old-fashioned one. Clouds cover the Mid-Autumn Festival, rain drenches the lanterns."
Before Concubine Zhao could answer, Luo Shuangqi laughed and answered, "It really is old-fashioned. This is something I've heard since childhood and its whereabouts are unknown."
Concubine Zhao raised an eyebrow, saying, "Then meimei can also do an old-fashioned one, 'Spring filled the garden for fifteen nights.'"
This time, it was Lady Wen Yu again. Like a child, she raised her cup and answered, "I know, the flowers are full and the moon is full." It looked like she was really drunk.
Luo Shuang shot a glance at her and said, "It seems that Lady Wen Yu is drunk. Help her down to rest." Fortunately, she didn't make much of a fuss. She allowed Heye and the palace maids attending the banquet to help her out.
Yaohua furen wasn't affected and continued, "A sun looms in the sky beside the mountain, incense buries in the rain a lonely person." It was a very elegant poem.
Concubine Zhao said, "Concubine is a rough person. If my interpretation isn't wrong, I can directly break it down according to the literal meaning. 'Mountain' and 'Sun' put together is' Zhong '. The second line,' Rain 'means there is no sun.' Incense 'removes the' Sun 'and leaves only the' He 'character. A lonely person is a person. Even though I don't know how to put together the' Fire 'character, the answer is the Mid-Autumn Festival."
Yaohua furen said, "Meimei is intelligent. It's meimei's turn."
Concubine Zhao said, "Three thousand dotes on one body."
Bai Suyan's first reaction was to think of Bai Juyi's Song of Everlasting Regret. She then rejected it. Thinking carefully, from the literal meaning, it should be the two characters' Dugu '. As the saying goes,' Three thousand dotes on one body 'is too vulgar.
"Dugu and Murong, are meimei satisfied?" At the same time, Yaohua furen also gave her answer. Bai Suyan heard it and suddenly realized that she had been too rigid about the riddle. This riddle was originally taken out of context from the Song of Everlasting Regret. How could it be separated from the poem itself? "The Han Emperor's love overturned the country, the imperial court sought for many years but could not obtain it." Wasn't it "Murong?"
Concubine Zhao and Madam Yao Hua's battle over the riddle of the poem was still ongoing. Originally, the two of them held an indifferent attitude, but after all, they were both proud and arrogant people. Unknowingly, they had developed a competitive spirit, and slowly, there was a hint of jealousy.
"Stretching out one's head to welcome the spring."
"'A branch of red apricot leaves the wall,' tears by the pillow divert."
"Xiang, where did the human face go?" Concubine Zhao made the first move.
"Lost all face," Yaohua furen's expression didn't change. She didn't hold back, "Looking at the five peaks from ten thousand zhang high."
"Looking down on all the mountains," Concubine Zhao narrowed her eyes, "Half moon at night, the slanting water crisscrossing."
"Impetuous floating."
Bai Suyan raised an eyebrow. Was it necessary? One boasted that she was the most talented woman. The other directly mocked her. Not only was she mocking her impetuous temperament, she was projecting that she was floating on the surface. No matter how she thought about it, the word "floating" wasn't a good word.
Luoshuanga looked at the two of them fighting without end. Even though it was elegant, tactful, and sarcastic, after all, they were in the hall. He cleared his throat and said, "It really opened my eyes. I couldn't resist the itch to test my skills. Just now, I thought of a riddle in a hurry. This will be the final game. Please listen to the riddle, 'Raising a cup to look at the bright moon.'"
Yaohua furen and Concubine Zhao didn't speak. Bai Suyan also inwardly twitched her mouth. Mu fei covered her mouth and smiled. Luo Shuangqi laughed out loud, saying, "His Imperial Majesty is cheating. Other than His Imperial Majesty, who dares to say 'I am the best in the world.' This is clearly making things difficult for others."
Luoshuanga smiled, "Isn't it still eldest imperial brother who said it?"
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
