After that day of heart-to-heart talk, Lingrong and I gradually became close to each other again, and we often went to the Queen's Palace together to greet and serve. www.
There were no major hostile moves, and Xuan Ling seemed satisfied with the peaceful scene in the harem.
More than ten days after the Dragon Boat Festival, the weather gradually became hot, and several palace officials could not bear the hot breeze even if they shook their feather fans. So Xuan Ling issued an order to move the palace, family members, and relatives to the Taiping Palace in Xijing to escape the summer heat.
All the concubines walked together, except for the concubines who were not favored and had little status, only Meizhuang did not follow her to the Taiping Palace. She excused herself to Xuan Ling and said: "The Queen Mother never leaves the Zi'ao Palace to escape the summer heat. I wish I could
I will stay in the palace to accompany the Queen Mother on behalf of the Emperor, and serve you wholeheartedly to fulfill your filial piety as a minister."
Xuan Ling was naturally unable to reject such an upright official title, so he only commended and rewarded Meizhuang for her words and deeds, and allowed her to stay in the palace.
When we arrived at the Taiping Palace, the ministers and chamberlains had already arranged everything. Xuan Ling still lived in the cool and quiet Nanxun Palace with green water, the Queen lived in the Light and Wind Jiyue Palace, and I stayed in the Yifu Palace near the lake with lotus flowers as before.
Yuruntang, where Zhuang once lived, is now occupied by Lingrong.
On the first day after I went to Taiping Palace to escape the summer heat, I went to sit at the mausoleum. However, the eunuch led me not to the "Fanying Pavilion" where the mausoleum used to live. Along the winding path, I asked:
"Can't An Xiaoyuan live in Fanying Pavilion anymore?"
The eunuch said with a smile: "To tell you that Miss An is now living in Yurun Hall. Your Majesty, Miss An and your Majesty have always been close to each other. They live close to each other and take care of each other. The road to the Emperor's Palace is also close to each other."
I said "Oh" and said, "I still have something to do, so I won't go to An Xiaoyuan for now. Please step back." The eunuch said with a smile, stood up and left.
Jin Xi held my hand and walked back slowly. Seeing my stunned expression, she asked tentatively, "Are you feeling sad about Shen Ronghua?"
I stopped walking, nodded and said: "In the past, Meizhuang was very proud of the spring breeze, but now Yurun Hall is occupied by mausoleums. It is true that things have changed and people have changed. I am afraid that if I pass by, I will inevitably touch the scene and hurt my feelings."
Jin Xi said: "It is very rare for the empress to value the love between sisters in the palace. However, the empress should also be aware that there are many mistresses in the palace. Today you will be favored, and she will be favored tomorrow. There is no guarantee. Although the empress cares about Shen Ronghua,
There’s no need to be sentimental about this.”
I smiled sadly: "Jin Xi, I always like to worry about these little things."
Jin Xi smiled and said: "My Majesty is indeed prone to being sentimental sometimes. But only gentle-hearted people can think too much, and cold people will not." She looked slightly serious, "But this time Little Master An lives in Yurun Hall, firstly,
Because he is close to the empress, it is convenient for the emperor to attract good fortune. The empress cannot fail to see that the favor of young master An is no less than that of Shen Ronghua back then."
I looked at her and said, "What do you want to say? Mobile phone visit: wàp."
Jinxi thought for a moment and said softly: "I don't understand why the empress is estranged from the young master An, but it must be related to the fact that the young master fell out of favor and fell ill again; I also don't know why the empress and the young master An gave up their past feud and reconciled, but it must be
It has something to do with the fact that the mistress personally prepared the medicine for you when the empress was cold this time. Although the servant does not know why, the mistress did not take care of her for a day when she fell out of favor, and now she has prepared the medicine for you in person. It is really difficult to fathom the repeated intention. "
Jin Xi's words hit the nail on the head, and they also reflected the deep and unspeakable concerns in my heart. I said, "Do you also think she is unpredictable?"
Jinxi answered softly: "Yes."
I slowly walked to the shade of a tree and sat down, "I don't think so. When I was ill, she cut her flesh to treat me. In fact, why did my illness end up like this? However, no matter how cold people's hearts are, there is always a trace of amiability. Lingrong
, she also has her own concerns and reluctance. Even though I once had a grudge against her, I can't help but be moved by her concerns."
Jin Xi said: "I don't know what Concubine An is referring to, but please hope that I can be half as fierce and ruthless as Concubine Hua." Seeing my silence, Jin Xi thought I was angry and immediately knelt down without changing her expression.
Said: "Please forgive me for being talkative. My fault is that my heart is too soft and I worry too much about others. People with soft hearts are often burdened by their soft hearts. I hope your Majesty will think twice."
I was silent, the wind was very light, and the rustling blew through the shade of the lush trees above my head. The sound of the leaves touching each other suddenly became a pleasant sound. But my heart was not happy and relaxed. Meizhuang and I gradually
However, Lingrong's closeness often brings up old grudges, and Jinxi thinks that I am weak-hearted and not strong enough to fight against the enemy. Although I have received Xuanling's favor and love, all this does not make me truly
Peace of mind.
I brushed the ribbon on my skirt and said, "Being friendly but being careful is the true way to treat people in the palace. Jin Xi, the palace is too cold. The relationship between husband and wife cannot be relied on, and the relationship between master and servant is also there."
Repeatedly, if all the love between sisters in the past is ignored, what kind of love in the palace can be enough to warm the heart. Although Lingrong sometimes behaves unexpectedly, she is still somewhat sincere to some people."
Jin Xi lowered her head in silence, and said after a moment: "If nothing happened later, Young Master An did have a lot of affection for the Queen after she entered the palace."
I said, "I understand that people's hearts are fickle, so I will naturally be careful."
So Jinxi stopped talking and just accompanied me back to the palace to rest.
However, there will still be visits to Lingrong after all, even if she now lives in the old palace of Meizhuang.
It was a cool early morning, so I took Huanbi and Liuzhu to the Yurun Hall of the mausoleum. The courtyard was covered with thousands of bamboo poles, creating a sense of coolness. This scene was very familiar. My eyes were slightly blurry, and everything looked like this.
Yesterday, as if it was the year when I first received my blessing, I and Meizhuang had fun together at the dusk after the hot summer, lighting lotus lanterns in each water tank in Yurun Hall.
Time has changed, and now the beloved concubine who lives here is a mausoleum. Walking under the long mica steps, the original verandah was filled with the chrysanthemums that Mei Zhuang loved. Chrysanthemums originally bloomed in autumn. Of course, because of Mei Zhuang's
Zhuang was favored and loved chrysanthemums. Xuan Lingte asked the gardener to cultivate new ones, which can bloom as usual in summer, which is really a miracle. At this time, these chrysanthemums have completely disappeared, and the eunuch is leading the little palace maid to replace the flower pots.
He scolded: "Return all those chrysanthemums to the flower garden, and put all the flowers that the young master likes on the porch. The pots must be arranged neatly and beautifully."
I felt slightly unhappy and said to the eunuch: "It would be a shame to send those chrysanthemums back. Let's move them all to the Yifu Pavilion in this palace."
When the eunuch saw that it was me, he hurriedly said with a smile: "If your Majesty likes me, I should obey your orders. However, these flowers are blooming out of season and have no fragrance. Why don't I ask someone to replace them with fresh fragrant flowers and send them to my Majesty in person?"
…”
He kept chattering on and on, trying to be smart. He didn't realize that my expression had changed. Juqing happened to open the curtain and bring water out of the dormitory. Seeing the unhappy look on my face, he quickly guessed the reason and hurriedly scolded the prisoner.
He said: "You can do it when your Majesty tells you to do it. How can a slave be so talkative? Just do whatever your Majesty tells you. Do you want to cut out your tongue?"
The eunuch was so frightened that he did not dare to leave, so he led the people and the flower pots away in dejection.
I laughed: "When did you girl become so sharp-tongued?"
Ju Qing greeted her and said with a smile: "Your Majesty has raised your servant to serve the young master. How dare you not do your best?" She opened the bamboo curtain of Concubine Xiang and said, "The young master has just gotten up."
The hall was quiet, and the smell of benzoin from last night had not yet dissipated. The bamboo curtains around the dormitory were half-rolled, and the morning light filtered in with a thin, bright and warm color.
There was no maid around, and Lingrong didn't notice that I came in. She was sitting alone in front of the dressing table by the window. Her long hair was combed and smooth, and spread over her small shoulders like black silk. It had not yet been gathered into a bun.
All the pearl hairpin rings were neatly arranged in front of her. She just had no intention of looking at them. She leaned on the half-opened vermilion carved window sill. Her hair made her face as petite as a lotus petal, and her face was as bright and clear as a white lotus on the water. Lingrong was wearing loose pajamas.
, half-closing her eyes and concentrating on thinking, her body became thinner and thinner, as if she was burdened with endless sorrow. For a long time, a tear slowly slipped from the corner of her eye.
I quietly walked to her side and whispered: "Why is my sister crying?"
Lingrong heard my voice, and her beautiful green eyes suddenly opened. She was frightened, and she hurriedly wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, and said with all her strength, "Sister, you came very early."
I held her down to prevent her from getting up, and said with a smile: "It's so early, sister. I'm afraid she didn't wake up and was still dozing off."
She took my hand and sat down, softly covering up: "I didn't sleep well, it was just a nightmare last night."
I played with an ivory silk fan on her desk. The white jade fan handle was decorated with red bats made of honey wax, emerald leaves, and mother-of-pearl pink flowers. It was extremely delicate and elegant.
I took it, shook it gently, and said slowly, "Do you want to hide something from me if your sister has something on her mind?"
She hesitated and finally said: "Mr. Zhen..."
My face gradually became gloomy and I stopped talking. Lingrong looked sad, "Does Master Zhen really want to be so cruel? After all, he is his only son..."
I shook my head resolutely: "My wife got involved in prostitution when she was pregnant, and she abandoned her and her son for a firework, which caused criticism. Dad doesn't have such a son, and I don't have such a brother." I couldn't hide my sadness: "What's more?
It was he who said that he would rather have a good appearance than an official title, and his sister-in-law has returned to Ning's family to live. It is unbearable for my brother to ignore ethics and morality like this."
Lingrong was sad: "In this way, his reputation in life will be ruined."
My anger calmed down and I said sadly: "My brother destroyed it himself."
Lingrong's eyes were filled with watery mist: "Sister, why are you still angry with the young master? He has no choice but to do it. Don't you think he is very pitiful? Sister, do you know that the women in the palace are laughing at him?
People in the capital also despise him. Everyone calls the young master 'Bo Xing Zhen Lang' with contempt. Sister, you are his biological sister, don't you have anything to worry about?" Ling Rong spoke quickly, his voice in his throat.
respite.
There was a suppressed heaviness in my tone, and I looked at her closely: "It's not that I don't worry about my brother, but that he ignores all my concerns. He abandoned his parents who raised him for twenty years for a firework, married his wife, and gave birth to his unborn child.
Children and all ethics in the world. Why has he ever worried about us?" My eyes became scrutinizing and inquiring, "I wonder if my brother has ever worried about you?" I looked at her slightly parted lips in surprise and said with a smile:
"Perhaps the woman named 'Jiayi' really looks a bit like you?"
Lingrong was deeply uneasy and too shy to look at me. She called me, "Sister."
I stroked her shoulder, calmly suppressing her uneasiness, and said: "The world of men is not something we women can get involved in and speculate on. No matter what kind of person the woman my brother is obsessed with is, our thoughts are only in the harem, outside.
We are powerless to stop it, and they have no idea."
My sense of powerlessness gradually increased in my own words. The world of men is really something that women cannot fully experience and understand. Just like Xuan Ling, do I really understand him? Will he really understand my feelings? I'm afraid not.
Bar.
Lingrong's eyes were innocent and confused, like a frightened deer. After a while, his voice was weak and almost silent: "I'm just worried about him...Sister, I'm worried about him."
I can't tell her what's true or false in this world, and she doesn't need to know. So what if she knows? Worry more? She shouldn't worry. She is the emperor's woman, the emperor's favorite concubine, and will be for the rest of her life.
How can the emperor be distracted from worrying about the man next to him, worrying about him day and night?
However, Lingrong's worry affected my thoughts. I silently tied her up into a fragrant bun decorated with jade hairpins, flower pearls, golden combs and golden pearls, mixed with fresh flowers. I said calmly: "
Smile again, the emperor will like you very much."
She was just silent. The gardenia on the dressing table was blooming just right. The fragrance of the flowers dispelled the heavy smell of burning spices overnight, and it was quite refreshing. Lingrong sighed: "Actually, sister knows very well what the emperor likes and dislikes.
What, why do you still fall out of favor?"
I tied up the last soft strand of hair for her and smiled to myself, "Because although I know, sometimes I can't do it."
Her eyes looked at me for a moment, "What about Sister Mei? She must know what she knows, so why does she also fall out of favor?"
My eyebrows furrowed slightly and I said calmly: "Because she doesn't want to."
Lingrong didn't ask any more questions. She chose a dress for herself, put it on, and sat down with her face calm. Her expression was as calm as ever. Afterwards, I said, "Don't worry, no matter what happens, it will pass."
Lingrong nodded solemnly and suddenly smiled, full of charm.
The days in Taiping Palace were a bit boring, and even the time was busy. Many of the trivial rules in the palace were abolished here. There were not many concubines accompanying them, only the Queen, Concubine Hua, Concubine Duan, Concubine Jing, Concubine Xingui, and Concubine Cao Jie
Yu, Concubine Tian, Concubine Shen, Lingrong and I, Qin Fangyi, who came here together, has long since disappeared from people's memories, and no one mentions it again.
Perhaps it had been a long time since she had a new favorite. After Xuan Ling lived in the palace for a month, she hired a maid named Qiao to dress her. Not long after, she was promoted to the title of Cai Nv, and she was quite favored. There were many young and beautiful maids in the palace.
Firstly, they longed for one day to be able to fly on a branch and become a phoenix, and worked hard for this. And there were often not a few palace maids who became palace concubines. For example, Princess Shun Chen, the biological mother of King Pingyang, was a palace maid in the past.
Just like the beautiful lady in the past.
This is an ordinary thing, and no one would pay too much attention to it. But when Cao Jieyu told me that Mrs. Qiao was a close maid in Concubine Hua's palace, I paid attention.
Cao Jieyu said: "Hua Concubine is afraid that she will fall out of favor again in the future, and she will lose the help of Li Gui's concubines, so she has already planned to recruit more people. However, Qin Fangyi is useless, and Hua Concubine is not willing to use women from high-ranking official families for her own purposes, for fear of
In the future, there will be too many favors to control, so I chose this Joe."
The water pavilion used for summer vacation was very cool and secluded. I flicked my nails and asked, "What kind of person is Mr. Qiao? Has Sister Cao ever paid attention to it?"
She smiled, stretched out her broad butterfly sleeves, and said, "Your Majesty, do you want to hear the truth?" Seeing that I was just looking at the water filled with green lotuses, she added, "My Majesty, Your Majesty, I am too impatient. I made a mistake this time."
I said "Oh", narrowed my eyes slightly, looked at her and said, "How do you say that?"
Cao Jieyu said: "Although Mrs. Qiao is somewhat clever and pretty, she is just a mediocre talent and cannot become a great person. Concubine Hua wants to use her to divide the favor between you and An Xiaoyuan, the empress.
It’s really not a wise move.”
I never thought that a mere Qiao family could compete with us. I just sighed: "Concubine Hua is at her wits end."
There was a faint smile on the corner of Cao Jieyu's lips, and she said lightly: "In the past, she never allowed the beautiful maids around her to approach the emperor rashly, but now..."
I smiled and said, "Today is different from the past."
The days passed slowly like this. The palace was not as good as in the palace, and because of the Queen Mother's warning, I did not dare to get involved in political affairs. Therefore, after all, I could only hear a little bit about King Runan's affairs, not much. Life in the palace was peaceful.
It's free and leisurely, and there are no rules and regulations, so you can do whatever you want. Just think of it as giving your tired body and mind a little peace.
On the first day of July, a night banquet was held in the palace. The queen was on the left, Lingrong and I were on the lower right, and Xuan Ling was in the middle, watching the singing and dancing party together. The wine was in full swing and the dancing was gorgeous. Xuan Ling was sent to express condolences to the queen mother.
The messenger has returned and immediately reported that the Queen Mother is in good health. Xuan Ling was very happy and said repeatedly: "The Queen Mother is in good health, and I can feel at ease." After saying this, he wanted to reward the imperial doctor who treated the Queen Mother.
Lingrong raised his glass with a smile and said: "The Queen Mother's health has improved. In addition to rewarding the imperial doctor, the emperor should also reward a person generously?"
Xuan Ling thought for a moment and asked, "Who is it?"
Lingrong said with a smile: "Has your Majesty forgotten that Shen Ronghua has been accompanying and caring for the Queen Mother?" Then he looked at the messenger.
The envoy said respectfully: "Shen Ronghua took care of the Queen Mother in every possible way. He often took care of her clothes and did it herself. She even tasted the medicine before giving it to the Queen Mother. The Queen Mother repeatedly praised Rong Hua for her filial piety."
Xuan Ling suddenly realized it and said happily: "It is true. Shen Ronghua serves day and night, and it is very hard work." Immediately, he passed the decree: "Go to Zi'ao City to report my order, and recruit the Shen family of Ronghua to serve as Jieyu of the third grade, and her salary will be doubled.
"
The queen smiled and said sincerely: "The emperor rewards and punishes appropriately, and he should be filial to his mother and should be followed by everyone in the world."
Xuan Ling smiled happily and said to Lingrong: "I should thank Rong'er for reminding me." He also said: "Rong'er has been with Xiaoyuan for a long time and is so humble and decent. It is really rare. So she promoted her to the fifth rank concubine.
'stop."
Lingrong quickly stood up to thank him, but the queen asked: "What is the title of the title?"
I poured a full cup of wine for Xuan Ling. He was in great spirits, raised his head to drink, and said casually: "Let's use our last name as our nickname."
Lingrong was stunned for a moment, and traces of displeasure quickly flashed across his face. He quickly maintained his smile and thanked her tactfully again.
The Queen and I looked at each other and couldn't help but look at each other. From time immemorial, concubines were given titles. Whenever they met nobles, concubines, noble concubines, concubines, madams and fourth concubines, they all had titles. They were proud of it and behaved arrogantly. Only those who were not favored or were favored by others.
People with poor family backgrounds often use their surname as a title. Lingrong is not unpopular, so the fact that she is not given a title can only be because of her meager background.
An concubine, this position was originally quite glorious, but because of the change of title, this honor and favor has dimmed. I felt pity in my heart, comforted Lingrong with my eyes, and was about to give Xuan Ling some advice on this.
Concubine Hua's eyes quickly glanced at me, and she smiled grandly and said to Xuan Ling: "Actually, the word 'An' in the An family is very good. It is better to choose peace and joy than to think of another title." As she spoke,
He looked at Ling Rong with a sarcastic look.
Lingrong just pretended not to see him. I thought about it, and there was no need to say it anymore. When Concubine Hua opened her mouth, Xuan Ling would naturally not refuse. Besides, it was not a big deal. I am afraid that Lingrong himself would not want to get a title.
Xuan Ling had a bad impression. At this moment, she must be feeling very uncomfortable. Could she resent her family background and be deeply ashamed of it? It would naturally be difficult for someone as sensitive as her to accept this. And
Xuan Ling didn't care about all this. He just relied on his intuition and remembered Ling Rong's not-so-prominent origin and family background.
By this point, the night banquet was no longer interesting to her.
I sighed, but secretly I felt a little relieved that even I felt inexplicably happy. In Xuan Ling's heart, that was all.
Later, Concubine Xin Gui mentioned this matter in front of me, still with a hint of anger and gloating: "Although my sister is on good terms with Concubine An, I am not afraid to say to her - your sister An is really good at catching people and playing tricks."
. Shen Jieyu worked so hard to serve the sick and was only promoted to one level, but she was promoted to one level because she mentioned Shen Jieyu's contribution. Who do you think is proud of it?" She pressed the powder on her nose with a silk cloth, feeling quite happy.
He said: "Fortunately, the emperor is wise. Although he entered the concubine position, he did not even give her a title. I saw her crying in anger on the way back. She still pretends to be nonchalant."
The weather was so hot that it seemed like fire. I held a piece of ice in my mouth and slowly waited for it to melt. Then I said, "Sister Xin, why do you keep talking about Sister An? I have never seen her offend you. She was already sad because she didn't have a title.
Sister, why do you have to complain all the time?"
Concubine Xin Gui knocked her melon seeds and said: "I wholeheartedly accept Shen Ronghua's promotion to Jieyu, which is what she deserves. If it hadn't been for those turmoils in the past, I'm afraid she would have been the concubine long ago. I just can't stand An.
The concubine’s charming look always looks pitiful, as if she has been wronged so much. It’s hard for me, sister, how can you still live in harmony with her?”
The words, if said to be jealousy, are more like disgust coming from the bottom of my heart.
Women from wealthy families often look down on women from poor families. The so-called opposition between wealthy families and poor families is not only true in the court, but also in the harem.
Concubine Xingui said again: "Although Concubine Hua is domineering, it is not too much to speak out about the title title this time. Concubine An was so doting on those days, it was really outrageous, dominating the emperor all day long, we can't even see the shadow of the emperor."
No. It's better that the emperor often came to sit in our palace when he doted on his sister and Shen Jieyu."
I said: "Sister, what you said is serious. The emperor is so focused on her that he will inevitably neglect us. Please relax, isn't this how everyone is here?"
Concubine Xingui snorted to show her disdain for Lingrong and said: "Sister, have you forgotten how she seduced the emperor when you had a miscarriage and fell out of favor? The emperor almost never said anything after my sister and concubine Tian had a miscarriage.
I went to visit you, but I was still completely bewildered by her..."
I didn’t want to listen anymore, so I interrupted loudly: “Sister—why do we need to mention the past things again?”
Concubine Xingui curled her lips, "Although my sister doesn't want to mention it again, who wouldn't feel sorry for you?"
She didn't say any more, and started talking about Shuhe Diji's recent painting lessons. She usually talked a lot, and her language was fluent, and she talked a lot. I listened carefully, but my mind was a little wandering. It turned out that
That was the reason for the inexplicable joy at that night's banquet.
I couldn't help but laugh at myself. It turns out that I am also such a petty, ordinary woman who is easily jealous and resentful.
However, what is puzzling is that Xuan Ling's love for Ling Rong has gradually become less intense since this little title turmoil, but it is also slightly better than ordinary people. The harem began to be dominated by Ling Rong, and Concubine Hua and I shared the inheritance.
The situation began to turn into a prosperous and prosperous situation. Many concubines who had been neglected for a long time saw their beauty again and were gradually brought to Ziao City to escape the summer heat.
Most of these favored concubines have rich family backgrounds and family backgrounds, such as Concubine Duan, Concubine Hua, Concubine Li Xiurong, I, Concubine Xingui, Concubine Mei Zhuang, Concubine Wang Mu and Concubine Zhao Yun. Although Lingrong was a little sad about this change,
, but it’s still bland after all.
In the Taiping Palace, there was a lot of excitement and excitement.
That day, I led Liu Zhu to get up early and go to Fanyue Lake to collect the fresh morning dew on the lotus for making tea. Lotus leaves covered the sky, lotus towered above, and the water sparkled like gold. During the boating trip, it was like searching among the green leaves and red flowers.
On the deep road, I occasionally break lotus pods and peel fresh lotus seeds to eat, which is also my daily pleasure.
As the boat was twisting and turning, I suddenly remembered that Concubine Duan lived in Yuhua Pavilion by Fanyue Lake. With a thought in my mind, I said, "Come with me to visit Concubine Duan."
Before approaching the palace, I heard the sound of a pipa playing in the distance, which was smooth and graceful. When I saw it, I put my palms up and smiled, and said to Concubine Duan: "I never knew that the empress has such pipa skills. The empress hides her skills so well.
.”
When she saw me coming in, she just smiled and nodded, and after finishing the song, she looked fascinated and said: "Back then, Queen Chunyuan taught me the pipa with her own hands. It's a pity that I wasn't talented enough, and what I learned was only three or four out of ten. I really can't play the pipa."
An elegant hall.”
My admiration and fear for Queen Chunyuan are even greater. Concubine Duan's pipa skills are so perfect that she is not as good as Queen Chunyuan. Queen Chunyuan's pipa must be played so superbly, like the sound of nature.
I just laughed: "Your Majesty has such skills, no wonder she can win the emperor's favor."
Concubine Duan smiled faintly, asked me to sit down, and said: "I don't need to hide anything from my sister. The emperor only came to my place to listen to the pipa. With my weak body, I have no power to serve the emperor for the night." Her smile was hidden in the two shallow faces.
In the pear vortex, "Now there are many concubines in the Taiping Palace, and all of them are quite favored. How come my sister still has the grace to come to my place?"
I took a sip of tea and said with a smile: "A momentary favor is nothing. My sister is very smart, so she can naturally think of the reason." I recollected the lingering fragrance of the tea: "This autumn is another three years of the show girl competition.
I don’t know how many new people are going to enter the palace, these are really insignificant.”
Her eyes were as clear as water, and she said: "My sister can be so calm and relaxed because she can always accompany the emperor to know the political situation."
I said humbly: "I'm just a prostitute, what can I know? I just have to keep to myself. Isn't the empress also treating her indifferently?"
Concubine Duan smiled silently, looking at the blue sky as clear as glass, lost in thought. I just slowly picked the water chestnuts to eat, and we all enjoyed ourselves. After a long time, Concubine Duan looked at me and said, "It's not Concubine An's business.
This is just the beginning, I guess we won’t be able to stay out of it in the future.”
I sighed and said, "When someone rises, someone will fall. The emperor deliberately did not give An's concubine a title in order to calm the anger of the high-ranking women in the harem for being favored by her."
Concubine Duan sighed in despair, and then said calmly: "There is no difference between the harem and the political situation."
I just smiled, as if I hadn't heard anything. I just felt that this summer was so long, so long, the sound of cicadas chirping endlessly, and the days seemed like they would never end.