Early in the morning, an uninvited guest arrived at the princess palace where Jiang Ruan resided.
Lu Zhu lifted the curtain and looked at Jiang Ruan, who had just finished washing up and stood up. "Miss, Beauty Wang has come to deliver the clothes for the Imperial Astronomer's religious ceremony tomorrow."
When the Imperial Astronomer held a religious ceremony, the womenfolk in the palace also had to participate, and their clothes were also very particular. However, they were all delivered by the people from the department of clothing. This was the first time an imperial concubine of the Emperor had come to deliver. Although it wasn't against the rules, his attitude was a little too friendly.
Lu Zhu obviously thought the same and said, "This servant remembers that Miss does not have any friendship with this Beauty Wang."
Jiang Ruan brushed away the small blanket beside her and said, "What do you think of Beauty Wang?"
"She looks amiable and speaks very straightforwardly." Lu Zhu thought for a moment. "However, those who are unaccountably solicitous are hiding evil intentions. Miss should be more careful. "
Jiang Ruan smiled faintly, "It's good that you know."
Although Lu Zhu was clever, she had a kind nature and did not know what kind of place the palace was. If the Jiang fu was said to be a wolf's den, then the palace was a tiger's den. How could there be lambs living in a tiger's den? For example, this Beauty Wang. She slowly raised a smile. She did not know what it would be like to see her again after so many years.
"Let's go and meet this Beauty Wang."
As they walked to the front hall, they heard a warm and somewhat cheerful voice, "Hong 'an Junzhu."
Jiang Ruan looked up and saw palace maids attending to a young woman in the prime of her youth. She wore a silk dress embroidered with gold and silver threads and had her hair combed into a tassel bun. It was neither cumbersome nor overly plain. Her pretty face was bright and confident, and her smile was as sincere as fire.
This appearance made it easy for people to have a good impression of her. They only felt that this person's thoughts were clear and straightforward. The woman looked at Jiang Ruan and stood up to pay her respects. She smiled and said, "I already knew that Junzhu was born with unparalleled beauty. Originally, I thought that the clothes for the religious ceremony were too plain. Seeing Junzhu's elegant demeanor, I expected that Junzhu would also wear the most splendid colors."
As a woman, how could she not love to hear her appearance praised? If it was someone else who heard these words, they would probably feel close to this woman as well. Jiang Ruan only glanced at her indifferently and smiled warmly, "Beauty Wang need not be so polite."
He actually changed the topic, as if he didn't hear the overly enthusiastic praise.
Beauty Wang stared blankly. She had not expected that Jiang Ruan would have such a reaction. Her brows furrowed but very quickly relaxed.
Jiang Ruan sat down on the soft couch and Beauty Wang also sat down. She instructed a palace maid to bring over a small wooden chest containing the clothes and said, "These are the clothes that were sent over from the Si Yi Palace. When concubine was returning, I was going to pass by here, so I brought them over to Junzhu. Junzhu won't blame concubine for being nosy, right?"
A trace of disdain flashed through Lu Zhu's eyes. She came from the streets, so she was very familiar with the roads. After a few days in the palace, she had already figured out who lived in every place in the palace. Beauty Wang's courtyard was thousands of miles away from here. On the way? Who was he trying to fool?
"Beauty Wang's kind intentions, why would I blame you?" Jiang Ruan said indifferently.
It seemed that she did not expect Jiang Ruan to be such a thorn, unmoved by force or persuasion. If it was someone else, they would not have been so distant. Beauty Wang could not think of how she had offended this Junzhu. Presumably, it was because of Jiang Ruan's temperament. She paused and laughed, "Why are you calling me so distant? I am a few years older than Junzhu. If Junzhu doesn't mind, how about calling me Junzhu Meimei? When Junzhu looks at me like this, I really look like the little sister in my fu. "
Jiang Ruan glanced at her with a smile that was not a smile, "Beauty Wang, etiquette cannot be abolished." Taking the tea that Lu Zhu handed to her, Jiang Ruan took a sip. After seeing enough of the wonderful expression on Beauty Wang's face, Jiang Ruan said, "This Junzhu only has an older brother, but I don't have an older sister."
Beauty Wang clenched her fists tightly and smiled extremely reluctantly, "It is concubine who has been rude …"
Jiang Ruan smiled and did not speak, which made Beauty Wang feel even more helpless. Everyone in the palace knew that she was straightforward and sincere. Most of the concubines were on good terms with her, and she was considerate and thoughtful. She did not expect that today, she would run into a snag with Jiang Ruan. She looked at Jiang Ruan's beautiful face, and a trace of jealousy flashed in her eyes.
Lu Zhu also felt a little strange. Although Jiang Ruan usually treated people coldly and alienated, she would not show it so obviously on her face. In the end, she would leave some leeway. It was the first time that she faced a strange concubine coldly like today.
Jiang Ruan put the lid back on the rim of the cup, and memories of her previous life surfaced in her mind.
This Beauty Wang was also considered a capable person in the palace. Among a group of women, her beauty could only be considered average, and she did not have much power. However, by virtue of her personality, she managed to become a beauty. When she was conferred the title of Beauty Ruan, this Beauty Wang specially came to congratulate her. Later, she was given the cold shoulder, and when the other concubines came to trample on her, only Beauty Wang comforted her every day. She also used to regard Beauty Wang as a trustworthy person until one day, when Pei 'er was seriously ill. She went to ask for an imperial physician to treat him, but inadvertently heard Beauty Wang instruct the imperial physician to ignore her.
It turned out that Beauty Wang saw that she was beautiful and was afraid that one day, she would gain the upper hand. People in the palace were used to stepping on the weak and flattering the strong. On the surface, Beauty Wang acted like a close sister, but behind her back, she did not hesitate to stab her with a knife.
She just did not know what happened to her in her previous life. But now, looking at this person who she once thought she could trust, she felt that every move was a shoddy act. At first glance, she felt disgusted and did not even have the mood to play along.
In the end, Beauty Wang was also considered a character in the palace. When had she ever suffered such a cold face for no reason? Seeing Jiang Ruan's indifferent appearance, she secretly resented her, but did not continue to humiliate herself. She stood up and said, "Now that the clothes have been delivered, Junzhu should at least take a look. If there is anything wrong, when you return, let the people in the Si Yi palace hall change it."
"No need," Jiang Ruan smiled, "I trust the clothes that Beauty Wang personally handled."
These words were nothing, but Beauty Wang felt that there seemed to be a special meaning in those words. Subconsciously, she looked at Jiang Ruan and met Jiang Ruan's bright eyes. There seemed to be a hint of mockery in those eyes, which startled Beauty Wang. She quickly turned her head away and hurriedly said, "If that's the case, then this concubine will take her leave first."
Jiang Ruan glanced at her lightly and did not get up to send her off. She only instructed Dewzhu, "Dewzhu, send Beauty Wang off."
After Beauty Wang left, Jiang Ruan opened the small wooden box on the table and picked up a palace satin plain white silk dress from inside. When the Imperial Astronomer performed rituals, the clothes were divided into several grades according to their grade, and they could not be made too brightly colored. This dress was plain and clean. If Jiang Su Su saw it, she would definitely like it very much, because it made her, a little white flower, look even more lovely and moving, elegant and refined. As for Jiang Ruan …
She threw the dress to Tian Zhu, "Is there anything wrong with it?"
Tian Zhu put the dress under her nose and sniffed it. She frowned slightly and pondered for a while. Then, she walked to the side and picked up an oil lamp, lighting it with a match. Then, she took the dress and put it on the oil lamp to smoke it for a while. After a while, a trace of red gradually appeared on the snow-white dress.
There was more and more red, like blood seeping out from the fabric. The more one looked at it, the more frightening it became. Jiang Ruan was not surprised and only asked, "What is this?"
"Bi Luo Xiang. The hotter it is, the redder it becomes," Tian Zhu said coldly.
Jiang Ruan nodded in understanding. When the Imperial Astronomer performed rituals, it was inevitable that there would be some incense. Once the Bi Luo Xiang was lit in the main hall, and her dress had such a blood-red color, she would definitely be locked up as an evildoer. The ending could be imagined. It had to be said that this kind of thing was extremely sinister. The Emperor had always attached importance to such things. If he made a fuss about this matter, he could indeed put her to death.
If someone like Tian Zhu was not by her side, she would definitely not have discovered the problem. Tian Zhu asked, "Master, do you want to change it?"
"There is no need to beat the grass and startle the snake," Jiang Ruan said indifferently, "This dress is so valuable, it cannot be wasted. Since others have sent such a good gift, it is only natural that we return the favor. "She smiled coldly," I also want to see who will emerge as the winner of this ritual. "
…
After Beauty Wang left, she first returned to her own small building. After resting for a while, she pretended to unintentionally wander to the Hall of Dreams.
The palace maids of the Hall of Dreams welcomed her in. When Beauty Wang entered the hall, Imperial Consort Chen was leaning on a soft woolen couch and tying her hair. Beauty Wang had always been curious as to why Imperial Consort Chen, who was in such a high position, still tied her hair like an ordinary woman. Now, it seemed that she somewhat understood why the Emperor favoured Imperial Consort Chen. It was because any man who entered the Hall of Dreams would see a woman who was like an ordinary young married woman, gently tying her hair. It was as if all worries and troubles had gone far away, leaving only the tranquility and elegance of this corner of Jiangnan.
However, a trace of ridicule flashed in Beauty Wang's eyes. The woman in a man's eyes and the woman in a woman's eyes were naturally different. The Imperial Consort Chen that the Emperor saw was gentle, elegant, graceful, and aloof from worldly affairs. However, the Imperial Consort Chen in Beauty Wang's eyes was brimming with ambition and extremely frightening.
"You've come, sit." Imperial Consort Chen smiled and pointed to the seat next to her, looking very amiable.
"Qie shen does not dare." Beauty Wang also smiled and only said, "The clothes have already been sent over."
"Oh," Imperial Consort Chen did not even raise her head and continued to seriously tie her hair, her ten fingers flying in the silk thread, "What do you think of Hong An Junzhu?"
"She is not someone who is easy to get close to," Beauty Wang thought for a moment, "Qie shen wants to be more intimate with her but Junzhu always gives me the cold shoulder. That is why qie shen left early. Junzhu's expression was very scary. "
After listening to Beauty Wang's words, Imperial Consort Chen raised her head from the silk thread and looked at Beauty Wang with some surprise. She smiled and said, "This is strange. That Hong An Junzhu has always been a gentle person and would not easily treat others coldly. Since she is well-mannered, why would she treat meimei like this? It seems that Meimei Wang must have done something wrong to make our Junzhu unhappy. "
Beauty Wang smiled, "Perhaps it is so. Qie shen is slow-witted." In his heart, however, he was thinking that if Hong 'an Junzhu was a person with a gentle appearance, then the one in front of him was the true smiling tiger. Usually, she looked gentle and harmless, but many women in the Inner Palace had been defeated by her hands.
Imperial Consort Chen smiled with satisfaction, "So, it has been hard on Meimei Wang this time. Meimei has been doing her best in the Palace every day. When I go back and see His Majesty, I will put in a good word for meimei."
"Qie shen thanks jiejie." Beauty Wang smiled and said a few words to Imperial Consort Chen. Her words were lively but respectful. Indeed, after a while, Imperial Consort Chen was very happy. Beauty Wang only got up and left when it was dark.
After Beauty Wang left, Chen gonggong walked in front of Imperial Consort Chen and asked, "Niang niang, this servant has inquired. The clothes were kept by Hong An Junzhu and nothing was found."
"Good." Imperial Consort Chen raised her hand and looked at the bright red nail polish on her white and tender fingers, "I want to see who can save her this time."
"The Zhao family might cause trouble in the future." Chen gonggong reminded.
"There is Wang Yi that idiot." Imperial Consort Chen said lightly, "It has nothing to do with us."
…
That night, many people in the Palace were sleepless, but Jiang Ruan slept early. GuGu Yang, who served the Empress Dowager, came over once and explained to her what to pay attention to when the Imperial Astronomer performed the ritual. Jiang Ruan complied and GuGu Yang carefully instructed Tian Zhu and Lu Zhu before returning to the Palace of Compassionate and Peaceful.
This was the first time the Imperial Astronomer performed the ritual of observing the stars at night. Being in charge of the good and bad luck of the year, the Emperor attached great importance to this matter and all the palace women had to participate.
Regardless of others, Jiang Ruan's day was as usual. Other than Lu Zhu quarreling with Jin Er, who had been transferred over by Xiao Shao, everything else was very peaceful.
In the evening, when it was time to preside over the ritual, Jiang Ruan changed into the clothes that Beauty Wang had sent to the Si Yi Palace last night. After Lu Zhu helped her freshen up, she followed the young eunuch who led the way to the celestial observatory platform.
Jiang Ruan followed behind the palace women. Although her relationship with the Empress Dowager was not shallow, the women in the Palace still faintly isolated her. On the other hand, Princess Rong Ya and Shu Fei's daughter, Princess Yi, were high and aloof. They were surrounded by a group of imperial concubines and spoke to them like pearls in the palm.
At the forefront of the womenfolk were Empress Dowager Yi De and the Empress, followed by Imperial Concubine Chen, Concubine De, Shu Fei, and Xian Fei. At the male side of the banquet were the princes and the princes, with the Emperor sitting at the highest position.
Empress Dowager Yi De saw that Jiang Ruan was left behind by the palace women and frowned slightly. She said coldly, "Hong An, come to aijia."
Jiang Ruan stepped forward. Princess Rong Ya and Princess Yi's eyes flashed with jealousy at the same time. Only then did the men seem to notice Jiang Ruan. Jiang Ruan walked up to Empress Dowager Yi De. Empress Dowager Yi De reached out to hold her hand. Such an intimate appearance shocked everyone. Although they knew that Jiang Ruan was favored, Empress Dowager Yi De was cold and aloof. Such an intimate action was something that even Princess Yuan Rong had rarely received.
Jiang Ruan smiled. Her gaze fell on a familiar figure at the men's banquet. She could not help but be slightly startled. The black brocade robe was clearly Xiao Shao. Only members of the imperial family could participate in the Imperial Astronomer's religious ceremony. Why was Xiao Shao also here?
Xiao Shao was also stunned when he saw Jiang Ruan. Jiang Ruan was dressed in a white silk dress made of palace satin. Her jet-black hair was coiled into a gourd bun with a white jade hairpin. She did not have any ornaments, nor did she have any makeup on. Jiang Ruan had always preferred bright red clothes. Tomorrow, she would present herself in a bright and moving image. But now, she was so plain and clean, as if she had been washed clean. She was different from Jiang Su Su's delicate and charming appearance. Jiang Ruan's white dress actually made her gentle smile appear somewhat cold and detached. Her faintly discernible upturned eyes seemed to contain a trace of sharp mockery. If the red-clothed Jiang Ruan was said to be a red fox, then the white-clothed Jiang Ruan was like a nimble snake. The word "pitiful" had nothing to do with her. Instead, there was a kind of frightening coldness.
A blood-red plum blossom suddenly turned into a snow-white pear blossom. Many people's gazes were already on her. Xuan Li was no exception. He looked at Jiang Ruan with a somewhat absent-minded gaze. He felt that this woman was so otherworldly and different from other women that he could not help but want to make her his own. It was a very beautiful thing to see that indifferent gaze infatuated with him.
The Emperor's eyes also flashed with a trace of amazement. However, Jiang Ruan was still too young and too cold. Men always liked a softer temperament. The Emperor had never liked Jiang Ruan. On the contrary, Imperial Consort Chen looked at Jiang Ruan and revealed a faint smile.
Beauty Wang also looked at Jiang Ruan from afar. She did not know why, but tonight her heart was beating very fiercely, as if she had an ominous premonition. When she saw that Jiang Ruan was indeed wearing the white silk dress made of palace satin, she was relieved. As long as she wore this dress, and the Si Yi Palace had not made any other dresses, today's matter was absolutely safe.
Jiang Ruan slightly raised the corners of her lips. Seeing that the Emperor had announced the start of the ceremony, the people of the Imperial Astronomer burned incense and washed their hands. Green smoke slowly rose from the huge incense burner. Hui Jue, dressed in a monk's robe, stood beside the supervisor, silently chanting scriptures with a benevolent look on his face.
Ling Tai Lang was measuring the stars when he heard a 'dong' sound. The huge tortoise shell placed at the front suddenly split open from the middle, and a sudden crack appeared on the shell.
"Great misfortune …" The supervisor's eyes widened and he wanted to say something, but his voice was interrupted, "Not good, Your Excellency!" It was the Registrar of the Imperial Astronomer's Records. With a panicked expression, he staggered over from the observatory and said, "Two stars accompanying the moon, two stars accompanying the moon! Great misfortune! "
The Emperor stood up and asked in a low voice, "What happened?"
The Registrar of the Imperial Astronomer suddenly knelt on the ground and repeatedly kowtowed, "Your Majesty, two stars accompanying the moon, a great misfortune!"
"What?" The Emperor frowned. The Imperial Astronomer had been performing rituals for so many years, but since he ascended the throne, this was the first time he had encountered an image of a great misfortune. After steadying himself, he said, "Explain clearly to me, what is two stars accompanying the moon?"
The supervisor seemed to have recovered from his shock and knelt down, "Replying to Your Majesty, two stars accompanying the moon is a great misfortune. The country's demon star is the calamity of the country's demise. "
"Demon star?" It was Imperial Consort Chen who spoke. She tilted her head in confusion, "What demon star?"
"The person who brings chaos to the country." The supervisor wiped his sweat, "This person is the reincarnation of the demon star. Two stars accompanying the moon is a warning from the heavens, an omen of the country's demise!"
"Then where is the demon star?" Imperial Consort Chen seemed a little nervous.
"This … the heavens are merciful, perhaps they will send down a warning. This subject … this subject is willing to burn a joss stick and ask the heavens for their will. "
Jiang Ruan smiled slightly. Finally … She had waited.
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