Chapter five hundred and sixty seventh asking for grace
When Ling Ruo led Hongli to Chuxiu Palace, he happened to meet Nian at the door who had also just arrived. A hint of haggardness could be seen from under the makeup. It seemed that Nian was very unhappy when Fupei was not around.
Better off.
Ling Ruo would not have any sympathy for her. Thinking of what she had done to him in Tongzhou and outside the palace during the six months, these were not even retributions, they were just minor punishments at best.
Hate returned to hate, but the etiquette should still be thorough. She let go of Hongli's hand and bowed politely. After her, Hongli did the same.
Nian's face was very ugly. In the past few days, she seemed to have fallen from the clouds of heaven into hell. Fu Pei didn't say anything when she saw her, and Yinzhen never set foot in Yikun Palace since then, making Yikun Palace a strange place.
It's like a cold palace.
In the past, no matter how busy Yinzhen was with state affairs, she would visit her every few days to inquire about her welfare. Also, she should have been responsible for hosting this family dinner, but the queen blocked it and said she would handle it personally.
As for the Queen's so-called headache, it happened to be cured at this time.
Nian was extremely hateful and impatient. Such impatience made her hate Ling Ruo even more deeply. She wanted to take revenge and take back all the grace and glory that belonged to her.
She wants to prove that she is Yinzhen's most cherished woman, not Niu Hulu!
Forbearance is just for better revenge.
Thinking of this, the first smile appeared on Nian's face in the past few days. She looked at Ling Ruo as if she were looking at the best sister. She raised her hand and gently said, "Sister and Fourth Brother, please get up quickly.
Such a salute makes me uneasy."
Ling Ruo looked at Nian in surprise. She knew very well the hypocrisy behind that smile, but the fact that Nian could laugh in that situation was enough to frighten her. She moved her steps slightly and avoided them without leaving a trace.
Nian's cold hands said, "I haven't gone to pay my respects to the imperial concubine in recent days. Is the imperial concubine always doing well?"
Nian nodded meaningfully and said, "I'm very nice. I'm worried about you, my dear sister." After saying a few more unintentional words, the two of them walked in one after the other.
The main hall of Chuxiu Palace is quite large, with a total of six tables placed inside. Countless palace people shuttled between the banquets, bringing pots of delicious food to the banquet.
Those concubines who came early saw Nian and Ling Ruo coming in and hurriedly stood up and saluted, and soft words could be heard in the palace. Regardless of whether Nian fell out of favor or not, she was still the noble concubine in the harem, the most respected among the queens. She has not been deposed for a day.
, those people must not neglect for a day.
"Sisters, please take a seat." After saying this, Nian went straight to the first table on the right. Among the six seats, the first table on the left was the most important, and there were only three seats, one for the Queen Mother.
, the emperor and the queen. Even though Nian is a noble concubine, she is not qualified to sit at this table.
After Nian sat down, she looked at the door from time to time. Her eyes that were cold just now were filled with expectation. Ling Ruo knew what she was looking forward to. Nian had never seen Fupei since he was given to the queen to raise. Now the palace is closed.
For the family dinner, Fupei will definitely come here with the queen, and mother and son will really take this opportunity to meet each other.
Wen Ruyan and Guarjia were sitting at the second table on the left. Fourteen-year-old Han Yan was sitting next to E Niang. Her facial features had grown. It could be said that Ling Ruo had watched Han Yan grow up.
Therefore, he was very close to Ling Ruo and Hongli. He stood up and bowed, then moved to the chair moved by the palace attendants next to him. He bent his eyes and said, "Empress Xi and fourth brother, please sit down."
"Why don't you call me aunt?" Ling Ruo led Hongshi to sit down in the chair.
Han Yan stuck out her bright red tongue and said in a sweet voice: "Eniang said that the palace is not as good as the palace, and we can no longer be as casual as before. We must call Empress Xi."
Ling Ruo smiled and glanced at Wen Ruyan and said, "As for your mother-in-law, you have strict rules. I think my aunt is more agreeable to me."
Wen Ruyan placed a cup of mare's milk just served by the palace servants in front of Hongli and said softly: "No matter what the name is, it's the same. Don't let others scratch the sore spot because of your carelessness. That's the truth."
Next to her, Guarjia pursed her lips and said to Ling Ruo: "Didn't Concubine Nian eat you alive when you came in just now?"
"She is thinking that she is afraid that my meat is too hard and her teeth will be bruised if she doesn't eat it." Ling Ruo said in a sweet voice while stroking the delicate embroidery on the skirt of her clothes.
"Concubine Nian's life has been difficult these past few days. It's a shame she can endure it." Wen Ruyan said casually.
Ling Ruo wiped the milk stains from Hongli's mouth without saying anything. After a while, Yubi also arrived and sat at the same table with them at Ling Ruo's signal. In this way, there were seven people at this table, plus
Two of the people at the table were children, so it was more lively than the other tables.
"The Queen Mother has arrived!" The eunuch's shrill voice came one after another from outside the palace door. Ling Ruo and other concubines quickly dressed and stood up, lowering their heads and waiting solemnly for Wu Ya's arrival.
Wu Yashi came today wearing a flag uniform embroidered with iron and red embroidered with the Five Blessings Pattern. Her bun was meticulously pulled up. There was no gold or silver, only emeralds and sapphires as decorations. It was simple and plain, but also revealed endless grace and splendor.
"Welcome to the Empress Dowager, may you live a thousand years!" All the concubines bowed and saluted with endless awe and envy. In every dynasty and every generation, countless women would enter the palace, but they could stand out from the crowd and finally sit down.
But there is no one among them who reaches the throne of the Queen Mother.
"Everyone, get up." The Queen Mother's voice was calm and quiet. With the support of the palace servants, she slowly walked to the first table on the left. When she passed by, Ling Ruo quickly looked up and found that even at this time,
There was still a trace of deep loneliness hidden in the Queen Mother's eyes.
Is it because of Brother Fourteen? Ling Ruo didn't know, and even if she knew, she couldn't say anything. It was Yinzhen's decision to put Yunzhen under house arrest, and Yinzhen's original intention was for Yunzhen's good, but unfortunately, not many people understood it.
Wu Yashi had just sat down when a high-pitched voice came again, "The Emperor has arrived! The Queen has arrived!"
In the lanterns, Yinzhen, who was dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, came side by side with Nala, who was embroidered with red embroidered dragons and phoenixes. Fupei followed behind them. Except for Wuya, everyone bowed and saluted as before. Fupei
Nian's appearance made Nian extremely excited, and he tried his best to restrain his urge to rush forward and hold Fu Pei in his arms.
After the ceremony, everyone sat down again at Yinzhen's signal. In this way, the three most distinguished people in the harem were all present. After Yinzhen and the others entered the palace, New Year's music began to play leisurely.
"Emperor's mother!" Yinzhen and Nala saluted Wuya together. After answering the salutes, the New Year's Eve banquet of the first year of Yongzheng officially began.
It was snowing at night, bringing with it the unique coldness of winter nights, but this did not hinder the bustle of the Chuxiu Palace. Although it was a little tight, the queen still managed the family banquet very well. The female eunuchs served the dishes in an orderly manner.
liquor.
Halfway through the journey, Nala suddenly stood up with a smile and said: "Taking advantage of the excitement today, I would like to ask for a favor from the emperor and the emperor."