On New Year's Eve, Shen Xingwan wore something rare and gorgeous. She wore a smokey butterfly skirt. The hem of the skirt looked like clouds at sunset when she walked. It was extremely beautiful.
The old lady even changed into dark red clothes, and the house was filled with red lanterns, making it a festive scene.
The four of them got up before dawn and entered the palace to greet the nobles in the palace and attend a banquet.
The rule of Daqi is that the emperor will banquet courtiers and family members on the New Year's Eve.
Shen Xingwan and the eldest lady took a carriage. The eldest lady said in a good mood, "When I go to the palace to see Concubine Xian this time, I can leave with peace of mind after the year."
Concubine Xian?
When the eldest wife talked to her about Lu Chuan, it was the bargaining chip that impressed her the most, but she has never been there since she came to Beijing.
"Concubine Xian is a smart person." Shen Xingwan said.
The situation in the harem has changed unpredictably. Previously, Concubine Lu was the most favored harem.
Later, Sister Jiang Youbai won the first place and became very popular for a time.
Now, the imperial concubine relied on her newly-confessed Wan Zhaoyi to win back the victory.
Concubine Lu's faction was fighting fiercely with the prince's faction.
No matter how the situation changes, this concubine is always within the range of being favored but not jealous. In addition, she is firmly in the position of concubine, so her life should not be too comfortable.
A woman who can do this in the harem has an extraordinary character.
The eldest lady sighed, "That child... what a pity."
Concubine Xian, who came to the palace five years ago, is actually the eldest wife’s goddaughter.
Her mother was the eldest wife's handkerchief, but unfortunately she died young.
Before she died, she was worried about her only daughter, so she entrusted the young Concubine Xian to the eldest lady, hoping that the eldest lady would take good care of her.
The eldest wife has treated Concubine Xian almost as another daughter for so many years.
When Concubine Xian's father wanted to send her to the palace, the eldest wife was against it.
It's a pity that Concubine Xian is someone else's daughter after all, so her objections are of no use.
The eldest wife was a little sad. Her two daughters died tragically when they entered the Lu family. Once they entered the palace, they were as deep as the sea.
The high-ranking nobleman behind him has no choice but to do so, and sometimes it is difficult to say whether he is lucky or unlucky.
After entering the palace, the old lady and the eldest lady went to see the Queen Mother.
Shen Qingran and Shen Xingwan went to see the queen.
Xie Zhuohua came before them and winked at Shen Xingwan as soon as he saw her.
Shen Xingwan tugged on Shen Qingran's sleeves, and the two of them walked over and stood next to her.
The queen came out soon, and everyone saluted the queen and said auspicious words.
The queen asked the maids to serve tea and chatted with these ladies and gentlemen for a while, leaving only those close to her and dispersed the others.
Of course Shen Xingwan was left behind along with Xie Zhuohua.
The queen led the two of them into the inner chamber, waved the palace attendants away, and then said cautiously, "You two must be careful in every move you make in the palace today."
"What happened?" Xie Zhuohua asked.
The queen said solemnly, "It's hard to say."
There is no definite evidence for some things, but she has been in charge of the harem for many years and has seen countless dirty things involving intrigues. She is keenly aware of something wrong from some clues.
Shen Xingwan and Xie Zhuohua looked at each other and nodded obediently, "We are not going anywhere today, nor are we wandering around."
The queen herself was very busy, one thing after another, but she left the two of them drinking tea in Kunning Palace.
Nothing happened until the dinner started.
At the dinner, Shen Xingwan and Shen Qingran sat behind the old lady together.
Xie Zhuohua sat further forward, as the representative of the Queen's mother's family.
The most eye-catching person at the dinner was none other than the young Fosang King Li Xi.
The young King Fosang exuded nobility, and his peach blossom eyes shone brightly in the night, stirring the hearts of countless girls.
Shen Qingran couldn't help but whisper to Shen Xingwan, "Look at him, he's like a peacock, spreading his tail everywhere."
This is the Master Shen Qi they are familiar with, a romantic and uninhibited butterfly.
After a familiar process, by the time the banquet started, Shen Xingwan was so tired that he lost the desire to talk.
After all, it is a New Year celebration, where the king and his ministers have fun together. In addition, the new King Fusang has an audience, and the atmosphere is lively.
When the emperor raised a toast, those under his glass had to drink too. Halfway through the banquet, most of the people at the table were a little tipsy with their hair dyed.
"I'm going to sober up." Shen Qingran said softly.
Shen Xingwan nodded, "Be careful, don't collide. You shouldn't collide."
Shen Qingran nodded to show that she understood, and was not too worried. As a concubine who had been favored for a long time, she had not seen enough, and there was no way to plot against her.
Shen Xingwan took a sip of the hangover soup newly served by the palace maid. Three programs on the stage had passed and Shen Qingran had not returned yet.
Shen Xingwan felt a little uneasy.
I told the eldest lady and took Qinghong to find someone.
For such banquets, a row of rooms is usually reserved for these noble ladies to deal with emergencies.
For example, the hair is messed up and the makeup is messed up and needs to be reorganized, and the clothes are dirty and need to be changed again.
Shen Xingwan led the people to the nearby Jingchenzhai, which was a courtyard specially arranged for the ladies and ladies to use tonight.
Halfway through, I met the eldest maid next to Concubine Xian. The eldest maid's eyes lit up when she saw her, "My lady, please come with me."
Shen Xingwan looked at her suspiciously.
The eldest maid saluted and said, "Thank you, Miss. You are in the Empress's Palace. I was originally going to find the Empress, but I didn't expect to meet the Empress here first."
Shen Xingwan frowned, "What's wrong with Zhuohua?"
The palace maid said with some embarrassment, "Thank you, Miss Xie, it's not a good couple. I'd better go and see for myself."
After the palace maid finally left these words, she continued to look for the queen.
Shen Xingwan hesitated for a moment and then went to Yihe Palace where Concubine Xian lived. Of course, just in case, she specially left the path.
On Zhang Huatai's side, Eunuch Lin came trotting all the way and did not dare to step forward rashly. Fortunately, Eunuch Zhou, the chief internal officer standing behind the emperor, saw him at a glance.
Quietly walked over and asked him what was wrong.
After a while, Eunuch Zhou walked up to the emperor and whispered a few words. The emperor's hand holding the wine glass was stunned for a moment, and he turned to the queen and told the queen, "Over there in the lotus pond, something happened to the fourth prince. Go and take a look. "
As soon as the queen got up, she saw Wan Zhaoyi walking towards her holding the hand of the palace maid. She saluted the queen and said, "Several ladies in Jingchenzhai who went to touch up their makeup were frightened. Your Majesty, you'd better go and have a look."
After saying that, he turned to look at Concubine Lu with a sweet smile on his face, "Congratulations to Concubine Lu, you are going to have a wonderful daughter-in-law."
The imperial concubine returned without moving.
The queen was one head and two big. What had happened? Looking at Xie Zhuohua's position, she found that she was not there.
My heart skipped a beat, and I hurried away with the people.
What Wan Zhaoyi said was so suggestive that the future Sixth Prince and Concubine heard it clearly and immediately turned pale.
Mrs. Tao held her daughter's cold hand distressedly, gritted her teeth and said, "My mother's hair is messed up. I will accompany you to dress up again."
You have to figure out what's going on.
The emperor still drank and chatted with his ministers. Such harem matters were not enough to make him lose his composure on such a day.
