As the Yuan Dynasty approaches, the Ministry of Rites begins to get busy, and the new emperor is also busy preparing for the sacrifices. Every year at this time, the palace must prepare cattle and sheep ritual vessels to offer sacrifices to heaven and gods.
Natural disasters have struck suddenly this year, so the Ministry of Rites has taken it more seriously and wishes to pray for good weather among the people.
But no matter how important the affairs of the previous dynasty were, after being reduced to layers of palace walls and falling into the harem, they could only be heard casually.
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In the Cining Palace, the Queen Mother was leaning on the couch, holding a pillow in one hand.
It's still a bit cool at this time of year, and the Queen Mother is very afraid of the cold, so she is still using the hand stove. At the same time, the new nun is holding a small copper fire chopstick, playing with the charcoal in the hand stove, and then passing it back to the Queen Mother.
She glanced at it, hooked the handle and took it, "Why aren't you here yet?"
The nun lowered her hands, and after hearing the words, she quickly asked tentatively, "Slave, do you want to go take a look?"
A look of impatience appeared on her eyebrows, "Look, you don't need to go to such a thing in person, just send it away." After the nanny who had been following her was sent out of the palace, she
Look at this newcomer who is so unpleasant to look at.
It was fine if she didn't speak, but when she spoke, it always made her feel upset.
Grandma nodded, and as she was walking out the door, she happened to meet the person who was waiting for her. She looked happy and hurriedly ushered them in.
The maid who arrived was wearing a newly-collared palace dress, and she shrank back timidly. After being invited twice by the grandma, she followed her inside. As she walked away, she quietly asked, "Why did the Queen Mother come to ask for a maid?"
?The little master still needs someone to take care of him, he cannot live without people."
The little master she was talking about was the crazy beauty Li in the palace people's mouth.
This morning she was going to the well to fetch water, but she didn't expect someone who claimed to be with the Queen Mother to come suddenly, saying that the Queen Mother wanted to see her. She had to put down her work first, put on the brand new clothes brought by the visitor, and hurried here.
Mammy tilted her head slightly and said with a smile, "Don't worry, girl, it's a great thing. As for Li Meiren, someone new has taken care of her."
What does this mean? Can she no longer stay with the little master?
Huaping wanted to ask, but the soft curtain had already been lifted, so he suppressed all the doubts and anxieties in his heart.
On the Arhat's bed, an old woman with a dignified and solemn expression was reclining. She allowed herself to draw a screen and bowed, and instead of lying flat on her back, she asked nonchalantly, "What's your name?"
"Go back to the empress, slave Huaping." Huaping didn't dare to have any objections, and just knelt obediently and secretly speculated on the Queen Mother's intentions. The Queen Mother's cold face really frightened her, and now her forehead was covered with a thin layer of thin film.
sweat.
"Come." The Queen Mother waved to her.
She stood up, secretly moved her numb legs, and walked closer slowly, not daring to raise her head.
The Queen Mother handed her a piece of fruit. She was startled and looked at the Queen Mother, "This..."
"From now on, is it okay for the Ai family to accept you as their adopted daughter?" The Queen Mother pushed her hand and motioned for her to eat. Her tone softened a bit and said, "Your name is not good. Ordinary girls do not have such a name."
Before she could say a word, Huaping knelt down and kept saying, "I don't dare." She was so frightened that even her folded hands were trembling.
The Queen Mother said softly, "Why don't you dare?" She glanced at the nanny standing by her side, who stepped forward to help the painting screen up.
"Sister Qi is no longer around, and Xue'er is gone, leaving the Ai family alone."
She let out a long sigh. Although this move had another purpose, the loneliness could not be faked. She lowered her eyebrows and her hair was covered with silver threads. The wind blew in through the window and could not move the ravines on her face.
.
"If you still care about the Aijia, just think of it as accompanying the Aijia. Anyway, I won't need you for a few more years."
Having said that, Huaping couldn't refuse, so Nono had no choice but to agree.
The Queen Mother calmed down her downcast expression and smiled with satisfaction, "From now on, you will live in Cining Palace temporarily. As for the name - use the word 'painting' and the surname of the Ai family, okay?"
White painting.
For Huaping to be able to appreciate this name, it was indeed a great gift. If it were not presented to her in front of her, being the adopted daughter of the Queen Mother would be something that palace maids like them would never dare to think about.
She was seized with joy for a moment, thanked him endlessly, and her restraint just now disappeared a bit.
The Queen Mother nodded slightly and said to the nanny on the side, "He is a sensible child." He is obedient enough to be easy to handle.
Mammy agreed, "That's right. There is nothing wrong with someone who protects the Lord so loyally."
Then, with a golden mouth, the Queen Mother rewarded many white hairpins and jade hairpins that she had only seen in Li Meiren's dressing room. The pearls and jade were shining in the light of the day, which was very eye-catching.
Bai Hua stared at the light, his heart moved slightly, and he couldn't move his eyes away for a while.
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At this time, in the Temple of Heaven, the palace people had laid out the sacrificial vessels, and all the officials were standing there, and everything was ready.
Jiang Huaiyang was standing at the foot of the steps, but he did not move.
"Your Majesty, the auspicious time is coming soon." Wen Zhi reminded in a low voice.
He only responded lightly, still waiting for something. He was not a believer in God, but he had to do such things to appease the people, but to achieve other goals, it was just a matter of smooth sailing.
The sky was a bit gray, and raindrops fell on people's skin, bringing with it an unbearable chill. The ministers below secretly closed their sleeves.
One of them winked at the Minister of Rites and asked him to remind him again.
The Minister of Rites glared at the man, then hesitantly stepped forward and whispered a few words to Jiang Huaiyang.
"Concubine Jin has not arrived yet?" he asked.
The Minister of Rites pursed his lips and said, "Your Majesty, why don't you wait. Although Concubine Jin is very popular among the people now, the participation of women is not in compliance with the regulations." This is not the first time that he has persuaded the new emperor like this, but it seems to be in vain.
tongue.
Jiang Huaiyang glanced lightly, his eyes were as cold as a deep pool in winter, "What about women?" Could his needlework be better than theirs? When it comes to reading and holding swords, there are all women who are outstanding.
.
The Minister of Rites still didn't understand anything, so he sighed secretly, lowered his hands and stepped aside.
The rain is still pouring down, and the surrounding rocks and paths are covered with a dark color. Only the new shoots are so wet that they look like emeralds, and the mountains are lovely.
Seeing that the auspicious time is approaching, some ministers inevitably become anxious, and there is a rustling commotion below.
Suddenly the rain stopped and the sky suddenly appeared. The golden light broke through the clouds and fell, making the area around the Temple of Heaven brighter. While the ministers were marveling at the scene, a sedan chair came to greet the light.
A hairpin with glass beads hanging down from her head was swaying as she walked. The woman in white clothes was reflected in the light, making her skirt as light as mist. Every step caused the skirt to float slightly.
Her eyes were sparse and slightly lowered, as if she was gazing at the ministers. When the weather came, her whole body seemed to be staring at a layer of gold. Her beauty was so beautiful that it didn't look like anything in the world.
All the ministers and palace people turned their faces and looked at him. Some were as stunned as if they were frozen, while others who believed in God worshiped in panic.