Jingyang Palace was built in the 18th year of Yongle in the Ming Dynasty, that is, when Zhu Di was in power. It was originally called Changyang Palace, which had the auspicious meaning of "long with Xu Yang". In the 14th year of Jiajing, it conflicted with the word "chang".
The royal family changed its name and started calling it Jingyang Palace.
The main hall of Jingyang Palace is the second courtyard. The main entrance faces south and is called Jingyang Gate.
After entering Jingyang Gate, you will find the main hall where Mao Bin lives. There are three parts in total. The roof of the verandah with yellow glazed tiles is different from the roof forms of the other five palaces in the East Sixth Palace. Five animals are placed on the eaves of the main hall, quietly
Looking down at everything happening under the roof.
Jingyang Palace has been relatively deserted since the Ming Dynasty, and a queen was once placed under semi-house arrest. Since the Qing Dynasty, it has been the most inconspicuous of the six east palaces in the Forbidden City.
The reason is simple: Jingyang Palace is too far away from the emperor.
The Yangxin Palace is at the southwest of the West Sixth Palace, and the Jingyang Palace is at the northeast of the East Sixth Palace. They form a diagonal line. Compared with the Yongshou Palace and the Yikun Palace that are right next to the Yangxin Palace...
If the emperor wanted to go to Jingyang Palace, he would have to walk around for a long time.
Although it was on top of a dragon chariot with eunuchs carrying the sedan chair, the cold wind was howling in winter and the sun was blazing in summer. As an emperor, who would want to waste such a long time?
Let’s go back to Mao Bin, the owner of the main hall of Jingyang Palace.
Ever since the last Hai Guiren incident, Mao Bi knew that Concubine Nian was very happy to finally get rid of Hai Guiren, a young and beautiful potential threat.
Concubine Nian was also very satisfied with herself: she was able to do things efficiently, she could be patient, and she knew how to act decisively when it was time to take action. She also knew how to use provocation to let that idiot Concubine Ning take the lead.
Not only did Hai Guiren get rid of, but his hands were also clean and he could kill without blood. Naturally, the concubine Nian behind him would not be involved.
But from a selfish point of view, removing Hai Guiren is not a good thing for Mao Bi.
Although Hai Guiren is domineering, she is stupid, and although she is beautiful, she is arrogant. Such a woman cannot become popular even if she is favored.
On the contrary, because of the presence of Noble Hai, the emperor came to Jingyang Palace more often, which was an opportunity for Mao Bin.
But what Mao Bi didn't expect was that a second Haigui, Ji Changzai, would appear in Jingyang Palace so quickly and quickly replace Haigui's position, becoming the reason that attracted the emperor to Jingyang Palace.
At this time, when Ji Ling was mentioned and she saw the forced smile on Yin's face, Maobin's heart sank: No! You shouldn't compare Hai Guiren to Ji Chang Zai.
The Emperor's regard for Ji Chang Zai seems to be completely different from that of Hai Guiren.
Before Ji Ling could get close, two palace maids on the steps had already opened the door curtains of the main hall, one on the left and one on the right. Mao Bi was weak, and even though it was the spring season, she still didn't dare to take off her winter clothes, and the room was also dim.
Sitting on the warm charcoal basin, Ji Ling could only feel a burst of moist heat coming to his face, mixed with the faint fragrance of agarwood.
Although she had only slept with him twice, she was already very familiar with the fragrance on Yin's body.
Agarwood is agarwood. The resin it contains is heavier than water. It sinks when it enters water. It has an quaint aroma and elegant taste. It is very rare. It has been listed as the first among all fragrances since ancient times.
Ji Ling did not raise her head, but walked forward quickly, bowed her head and saluted quickly: "I am Ji's family, please send my regards to the emperor, and please send my regards to Concubine Mao. I am late to come, please forgive me.".
Then she heard Yin say: "It doesn't matter, get up." As soon as she finished speaking, Ji Ling saw a pair of flowerpot-soled shoes walking in front of her. She raised her head and met Maobin's smiling face, "Sister Chang Zai, please hurry up."
Get up, you are usually the most lively and funny, talking and laughing! Why is my sister so reserved and serious when the emperor comes? I don’t know, I thought my sister is not happy that the emperor is here!”
Ji Ling was held by her wrist and did not struggle. He just let her pull her. He looked directly into Mao Bin's eyes and said with a smile: "My queen is used to making fun of me! When I saw the emperor coming, I was so happy that I didn't even know what to say."
That’s why I’m clumsy and clumsy, and I’m not as relaxed and casual as my empress.”
Mao Bi did not expect that Ji Chang, who had always been bedridden and taciturn, would become sharp-tongued and responsive in just a few months; she never expected that Ji Ling, who had always been timid, would have the courage to attack her.
She shouted back.
Maobin looked directly into Ji Ling's eyes.
Ji Ling saw that her eyes were unruffled, so deep and dark that they could not see the bottom at all. Her hands were still holding her affectionately, and her fingertips were slightly cold.
Yin looked at Ji Ling, smiled and said: "I came here to see Mao Bin, and asked you to come and meet me by the way.".
Mao Bi chuckled in her heart.
There are two plates of snacks on the table. One plate is gold and silver cakes, which have a strong milk fragrance. The white-faced steamed buns are fried in the pan first. When the aroma is revealed, they are put out, cut into thin finger-long strips, and placed in the pan.
Rolled in milk, sprinkled with icing sugar, chopped dried fruits, and dotted with several large green cherry blossoms.
The other dish is the lotus cake improved by the Qing Dynasty.
This lotus cake is a folk pastry snack in Hangzhou. It is made into the shape of lotus petals with flour and sugar. When it is rolled in oil, the petals of the lotus will be completely opened. It is full of charm, graceful and beautiful, and tastes crisp and delicious.
The plate is azure, and the lotus cake is divided into two colors. The lower layer of petals is rubbed with rose juice during the making, showing a light cherry pink color, and the upper layer is added with egg yolk, revealing a glutinous goose yellow color.
Just like the stamens of a lotus, the two colors echo each other and make people move their index fingers.
When Yin looked at Ji Ling's eyes sweeping over the two plates of pastries, her eyes suddenly lit up, especially when she paused for a moment on the plate of lotus pastries. She swallowed a mouthful of saliva, although she quickly lowered her head.
But it still didn't escape Yin's eyes.
Yin glanced at the table calmly.
From his perspective, there were only two plates of simple snacks on the table, which Mao Bi was eating when he came in just now.
In terms of taste, the gold and silver cake was the bottom of the Qing palace dim sum. In his opinion, it was too rough: fried steamed bun slices were wrapped in some milk and turned into gold and silver cake.
There is also the lotus cake, the tips of the petals are slightly browned, which shows that the heat of this pot is not very good, and the leaves below can be seen to have changed color. It should not be the most delicious time just after it is taken out of the pot.
Yin turned back, picked up the tea cup, and took a sip of tea. A thought rolled through his mind: Could it be that Ji's life in Jingyang Palace was not as smooth as it seemed?
After sitting here for a while, Maobin watched the sky darken. At dinner time, what no one expected was that Yin pointed out that he wanted to go to the west courtyard of Jingyang Palace for dinner.
All the slaves in the west courtyard were so busy! Qixi and Xiao Fenzi carried all the meal boxes and went to the Changchun Palace dining room to pick up meals with great fanfare.