As time goes by, the morning sun rises and sheds the first ray of sunshine in the morning, and the thick palace gates of the Forbidden City slowly open under the warm and sunny morning sun in early autumn.
The Sibeile Mansion's carriage drove quickly on the official road, and finally stopped steadily outside the Shenwu Gate. Ling Ruo held Mo Yu's hand and got out of the carriage, looking at the Forbidden City so close at hand and feeling filled with emotion. She once thought that this
The magnificent palace would be her final destination, but fate played a huge joke on her, making all her efforts and sacrifices a joke.
The guards in charge of guarding the city gate put away their swords and stepped back after verifying Nala's identity, allowing them to enter the palace to see the concubine. The coachman pulled a carriage containing birthday gifts and followed slowly behind.
The concubine of De liked quietness, so when she was granted the title of concubine by the Jin Dynasty, she chose Changchun Palace, one of the six west palaces, which was relatively secluded to live in. It was a long way from Shenwu Gate, and Mrs. Li was pregnant and had to stop and go.
, it took nearly half an hour to arrive outside Changchun Palace.
From a distance, he saw Yinzhen, who was dressed in an azure embroidered four-dragon court uniform, waiting there. Along with him was his 13th elder brother, Yinxiang. Yinxiang was slightly startled when he saw Ling Ruo walking at the end, and his eyes quickly glanced around.
Yinzhen passed by with a calm expression. He still remembered that the woman waiting in the study was his fourth brother's princess. He didn't expect her to come too. It seemed that his fourth brother liked her very much.
Nala led everyone forward to salute and then smiled at Yinxiang and said, "Thirteenth brother is also here to congratulate Concubine De on her birthday?"
"Yinxiang has met the fourth sister-in-law." Yinxiang had a good impression of this generous and kind fourth sister-in-law. He cupped his hands and said: "Yinxiang's biological mother died early, and it was Concubine De who raised her and took care of her. Now it's her birthday, how can I
If you don’t come, besides, I have prepared a big gift for Concubine De.”
Yinxiang's biological mother was Zhang Jia, the imperial concubine of Emperor Jingmin. She died of illness not long after giving birth to Yinxiang. After that, Yinxiang was raised by Nala, who was the concubine of De at that time, until she left the palace and built a mansion.
Because of this, he and Yinzhen have a very good relationship.
Yinzhen patted Yinxiang on the shoulder and said, "Eniang must be very happy to know that you remember her like this. Okay, let's go in and don't keep Eniang waiting."
"Master Beile." Nian called softly and stepped forward to hold Yinzhen's arm. Her delicate and picturesque eyebrows lightly crossed the silent Ling Ruo, and she said sweetly: "Only my direct descendant Fujin can enter and leave the palace.
Why did Ling Gege come with us to congratulate Concubine De on her birthday this time?"
Yinzhen glanced at her and said casually: "Why, Su Yan has a problem with this?"
Nian's heart trembled. She was a smart person, otherwise Yinzhen would not have given her the right to take care of the affairs of the house. Therefore, almost in an instant, she could hear the dissatisfaction hidden behind Yinzhen's inadvertent mind.
, thinking of Yinzhen's moody character, he smiled and said: "I have no objections, I just feel that it is inconsistent with the palace rules."
Yinzhen stroked her shining beads hanging on her cheeks and said with a half-smile: "If Su Yan feels that it is inconsistent with the palace rules, just treat her as an accompanying maid. Isn't that a problem?"
When Yinzhen said this, it meant that he had already decided on the matter, and no one could change what Yinzhen decided. Any more words would only make him angry. Nian carefully put away all his dissatisfaction and said with a smile.
Then he followed Yinzhen and walked to Changchun Palace.
Nara didn't say a word from beginning to end, and his expression didn't even change at all, as if he had already expected such an ending.
Li glanced at Ling Ruo thoughtfully. In this occasional glance, she caught the way Yinzhen looked at Ling Ruo, as soft as the breeze blowing on her face. After a brief shock, she smiled and lowered her head.
Caressing her slightly protruding belly, she finally confirmed her suspicion. Niu Hulu Lingruo had never fallen out of favor!
Although Changchun Palace is located in a remote place, Concubine De is now one of the four concubines in the harem, and together with Concubine Yi, has the power to co-manage the harem, so her birthday is not deserted, and the palace can be seen from time to time.
The concubines came to congratulate them, but most of them turned back.
The gatekeeper was Xiao Xiazi, the eunuch who had been with Concubine De for many years. When he saw Yinzhen and the others coming, he hurriedly greeted her and said loudly: "I would like to say hello to the Fourth Master, to the Thirteenth Brother, and to Si Fujin, Nian."
Fujin, Li Fujin greets you!" He didn't know Ling Ruo, and Ling Ruo's dress was plain, so he just thought she was one of Fujin's favored maids.
"Well, is the fourteenth brother here?" Yinzhen asked as he dusted off the corner of his robe. He and the fourteenth brother Yitin were from the same mother, and both were children of Concubine De.
"Replying to the Fourth Brother, the Fourteenth Brother has not arrived yet." Xiao Xiazi said with a smile. As soon as he finished speaking, he received a blow on the back of his head, but it was Yinxiang. He smiled and said: "Why don't you wait inside and come out to guard the door?
Yes? But you want to ask for a reward?"
Yinxiang grew up in the Imperial Concubine's palace and was very familiar with Xiao Xiazi. He was also outgoing and informal, and often mingled with his subordinates. He was completely opposite to Yinzhen, who always had a serious face and was stern.
Xiao Xiazi rubbed the back of his head and grinned: "Look what the Thirteenth Master said, how can a slave be this kind of person? You don't know that since yesterday, our palace has never been quiet. Everyone from inside and outside the palace has come here.
Congratulations to my birthday, the master and his wife were so disturbed that they asked the servants to guard the palace gate, and all those who were not familiar with her were sent back." He paused and then laughed and said: "Of course it would be better if I could ask for some rewards along the way.
.”
"You're such a slave dog." Yinxiang cursed with a smile, took out a piece of silver from his money bag and threw it to him. The dog also took out a piece of silver and gave it to him at Yinzhen's signal, which made Xiao Xiazi smile.
He took the flowers, thanked her hurriedly, and then led them in.
Both Yinzhen and Yinxiang grew up here. Even after they left the palace and built their mansion, they often came to say hello. They walked straight in without any further notification.
After entering the main hall, Yinzhen clapped his sleeves and led everyone to kneel down to the woman sitting in the middle, "My son, please give your regards to E Niang, may E Niang be blessed."
Concubine De was sitting in the main hall drinking tea at this time. When she saw them coming, she couldn't help being happy. She put down the tea cup and said, "They are all members of my family. No need to be polite. Get up. Why are you two here together?"
She is seven years younger than Kangxi, and is now in her mid-forties, but because she is well-maintained and pampered, she still looks like someone in her thirties, dignified, noble, and well-mannered; who would have thought that thirty years ago,
De Fei Shang was just an official woman with a humble status, responsible for serving tea and water and other small tasks.
"I just met my fourth brother outside, so we came together to congratulate the queen on her birthday. Wouldn't the queen be surprised?" Yinxiang said, half truthfully and half falsely.
Concubine De smiled and said: "You can remember me and come to congratulate me on my birthday. I'm not happy enough, so why should I be surprised? Sit down quickly." The palace maid who had been smart as she spoke brought tea to everyone.
After thanking each other, they sat down respectively. There were four chairs on the left and one on the right. Yinzhen and Yinzhen
Xiang sat on the left and right, Nala and others naturally sat under Yinzhen, followed by Nian and Li. As a result, Lingruo lost his seat. Although Yinxiang's place was vacant, he couldn't sit there.
, Concubine De did not notice her, Ling Shu simply stood beside Li with her hands down.
"Your Majesty has been kind to Yinxiang in raising her up. Isn't it right that Yinxiang should not miss her on her birthday?" Yinxiang said with a smile.
Concubine De said with emotion: "It's been so many years. I wonder if you still remember. I still remember that you were so young when you came here and couldn't even walk. At that time, I had just given birth to Shi Shi, and I was very busy.
In fact, if you really want to talk about it, the fourth child should be the one taking care of you."
Yinzhen's expression was cold for a moment, and then he said calmly: "No matter what, it is the thirteenth brother's blessing to be taken in by E Niang. He should be filial to E Niang now."