The winter in Beijing is no better than that in Wuzhou. It cools down very quickly, and even the season is longer than in the south. The charcoal fire in Luomeixuan has never stopped.
The palace servants of Luomeixuan responded to the palace servants who brought the charcoal fire and found a place to store it.
The two palace maids put down the bamboo baskets, and the one with a cherry-pink coat sighed, "It's just winter, and your majesty is so close to Luo Meixuan. The few of us who are waiting on him have also taken advantage of it."
"No, I'm afraid that the white girl from Cining Palace will be jealous," the other one patted the dust on his hand, "But if he is so doted on, why doesn't he give her a promotion anymore? Instead, he keeps calling him Chonghua Palace."
It was suppressed."
The pink-haired girl made a silent gesture and said in a nervous tone, "Master has a close relationship with that lady, so don't talk nonsense."
Finally finding a nice sunny day today, the Queen Mother summoned a group of concubines to go to the theater to watch the play.
Ruan Yuyi put on a feather-wrought cloak and went out, when someone from the imperial kitchen brought food.
The young eunuch smiled, his face full of joy, as if it was a great good thing to bring something to her, "My lord, your majesty asked your servant to bring this delicious food. You can use it before you go."
Mu Xiang took the food box. Ruan Yuyi opened it and stirred it with a spoon. The flat food inside was like pearls and jade, colliding with each other and swimming.
She looked at the little eunuch, "Why did you suddenly make this and send it to me?"
He lowered his hands and smiled and replied, "My lord, it's the winter solstice, so don't you have to eat this?"
She was in a daze for a moment. It turned out that it was already the winter solstice, and it had been some time since she entered the palace. These days, no matter whether they were good or bad, they all passed by the same way, regardless of feelings or waiting for others.
——I don’t know if my mother-in-law also made this kind of flat food, and how it has been lately.
The broken silver she rewarded sent the young eunuch away.
The porcelain bowl was full of food, so she thought of sharing it with Mu Xiang Mu Ling.
Mu Xiang turned around, knocked on the door and came in, "Miss, I don't know where this wood spirit has gone. I haven't seen her. I asked the servant, and the people around me said they haven't seen her."
She rubbed her hands and felt that the meridians on her hands were more active. She didn't know what kind of theater fan the Queen Mother was, but she had to bring all the people in the palace to accompany her to enjoy the cold weather on this cold day.
Ruan Yuyi didn't think much and just said, "Then just leave some for her."
Mu Xiang responded loudly, "When she comes back, I will be happy to talk to her. It's really becoming more and more frivolous."
When they arrived at the theater, the concubines all sat down, all dressed up, but the Queen Mother was nowhere to be seen.
She retracted her hands in the wide sleeves, and they were quite warm. She said she had brought them for the sleeves, but suddenly she thought that the concubines next to her had not used them either. If she had used them alone, she would inevitably be criticized.
So I gave up.
Bai Zhiqi also came. She sat in the middle, waved to Ruan Yuyi, and said in her soft voice, "Sister Ruan, come quickly, I've reserved a seat for you."
Ruan Yuyi looked around and found that because there were very few concubines in the palace, the place was extremely empty, and there was no place where she was needed.
She didn't criticize Bai Zhiqi, she just declined with a gentle voice. She turned her head to meet Shu Fei's eyes, then gathered her cloak and sat down next to her. She breathed a sigh of relief and hid her hands in her sleeves.
.
Concubine Shu glanced sideways at her and started chatting with her naturally, "It's a strange day this year. It's getting colder faster than in previous years."
"It wasn't like this before?" Since she didn't grow up in the capital like Concubine Shu and the others, she didn't really know.
Concubine Shu twirled the bracelet on her wrist, "My sister is from Nan Province, right? At this time in previous years, there was no need to wear feathers."
Although it was sunny, the sunlight that fell down was as clear and moist as water, and it didn't bring much warmth.
The two of them chatted back and forth, from the cold weather to the banquet on the solstice.
She took a moment and wanted to ask clearly about the sweet-scented osmanthus cake. She licked her lips, and suddenly felt that it was unnecessary. Concubine Shu had never told her that there was anything inappropriate there, she just asked her to give it to her.
His Majesty sent it, and it was all her own wild guessing from beginning to end.
If I ask now, it will spoil the atmosphere.
Just as they were thinking about it, a maid came with a booklet and said that Miss Bai wanted them to order some drama.
Ruan Yuyi frowned slightly when she heard this. According to etiquette, before the Queen Mother arrived, even if they only obeyed the word "filial piety", they should not order first. This Bai Zhiqi is the niece of the Queen Mother, so she is naturally more affectionate and has the capital to be willful.
And if they made a move first, the Queen Mother might suspect them of being disrespectful and get angry.
Concubine Shu is also considered to be half the lord of the first palace, so how could she not understand this truth, "Let's put it back first, and it won't be too late to order it later."
After receiving the words, the palace man went back to reply.
Not long after, Bai Zhiqi led him over again. She bowed slightly as a salute, "Sisters, why don't you give your sister a piece of thin noodles? It's only fair that everyone should share some."
Ruan Yuyi said warmly, "We have to wait until the Queen Mother comes."
I don't know whether Bai Zhiqi really didn't understand the reason, or he had to embarrass her, but his face was full of grievances, "Sister dislikes me, and feels that I stay in the palace and use food and clothing in vain, just like a moth. This
I just don’t want to pay attention to it.”
There is indeed such gossip in the palace.
She vaguely remembered herself when she was still in the Cheng family. At that time, she was staying in her own courtyard and didn't know what was going on outside. It was inevitable that she would talk about it.
Concubine Shu's voice brought her back to the present, "You are worrying too much. The Queen Mother's niece is not open to criticism from others. I don't criticize her. I just want to save some face for the Queen Mother. Why are you here to say anything?"
Concubine Shu spoke calmly, her eyes were firm and not wandering, and her hair was adorned with gold hairpins and jade hairpins, which seemed to be shining with a captivating light.
Bai Zhiqi knew that she was in a high position and was a little afraid of her. She mumbled a few words but couldn't reply, so she had to turn around and walk away, with the hem of her skirt rippled out like flowers under her body.
On the stage, people in the theater troupe were playing with props back and forth, and there were also a few people in costumes gesticulating with each other and looking at the playbook.
The Queen Mother had lost her power and always liked to put on airs over these trivial matters. She waited for a long time before a few concubines came. Even people from the theater troupe came to inquire several times.
Everyone stood up and saluted.
The feisty concubine had long been unhappy, and secretly spat, "This is the time to show off her power. If not for the sake of the eldest princess, Your Majesty would have killed her long ago."
The maid standing beside her lowered her hands and closed her eyes, not daring to answer the question.
The Queen Mother sat down to order the show, and it was another quarter of an hour before it started.
The Queen Mother herself was more interested in the word "love" than the concubine, and when she started to play, she also preferred some playbooks of talented people and beautiful women. She sang babblingly while she watched quietly from below.
The actress who was playing the role of a woman on the stage had a slender figure similar to that of a young student on the stage. She had a graceful figure and a handsome face. As soon as she walked up from the side, it goes without saying that she was the protagonist.