After the Dragon Boat Festival, at the end of the month, the meaning of summer becomes more and more intense.
The daylight is long, especially the afternoon sun is scorching, and even the wind is intoxicatingly warm, making people feel tired all over.
The Hall of Nourishing Heart.
Xiao Chenzi was standing at the entrance of the palace, talking to Jingtian. Although they were under the shadow of the eaves of the palace, both of them felt hot. They couldn't help but retreat a little further into the cool inner palace, and looked at someone from a distance.
The little eunuch ran over, stretched out his waist, and said hastily to little Chen Zi: "Brother Chen, the third elder brother is here!"
Xiao Chenzi was startled and said: "Third Brother?"
Jingtian asked from the side: "Who else?"
The young eunuch replied: "It's just the third elder brother and two servants, and there's no one else around."
Before Xiao Chenzi said anything, Su Peisheng heard the noise and walked over.
He looked down the stairs, and sure enough he saw that the third elder brother was already striding here with someone. Su Peisheng didn't have time to think about it, a smile was already on his face, he took three steps and two steps at a time, and stepped down quickly.
Go up the steps, go up and say hello to Third Elder Brother, and say in a soft voice: "I'm going to say hello to Third Elder Brother, why is Third Elder Brother here?"
The third elder brother did not answer him, but turned his head slightly and glanced into the palace. He raised his feet up the steps and said, "Where is Huang Ama?"
Su Peisheng trotted after him, and when he saw that he was about to go straight in, his heart skipped a beat. He stretched out his hand to stop him, pointed inside, and whispered: "Third Brother, the Emperor is discussing important matters in the Nuan Pavilion.
"Brother, please come with me and sit down for a while. When the emperor comes out, I will call you brother immediately."
The third elder brother frowned, looked inside, and suddenly whispered: "Who is inside?"
Su Peisheng smiled and answered the question inappropriately: "Third Brother, there are many people in Nuan Pavilion. The Emperor may not be able to come out for a while, so please don't be anxious."
As he spoke, he turned sideways and stretched out his hand to guide Hongshi.
The third elder brother just shook his head and said calmly: "I will wait here for Emperor Ama."
Su Peisheng was startled. He didn't show anything on his face. He just bowed his waist and smiled apologetically. He almost lowered his voice and said, "Brother has been standing here for a long time. It's hard to see the people coming and going..."
Hongshi stood with his hands behind his hands and turned his face away, indicating that he was too lazy to listen to his ramblings.
Su Peisheng slowly straightened up, his face still respectful, and said: "When the Emperor is finished, I will come immediately to report."
…
Chengqian Palace.
Ji Ling rolled up her sleeves and sat in front of the dressing table, making loose powder with pearl powder - cosmetic supplies were really tight, and she had not been able to enter that mysterious space for a long time.
In the summer, I sweat a lot, so I consume the most loose powder.
We can only be self-sufficient.
Although pearls are said to nourish the skin, pearl powder is actually very drying. When used on the face in winter, it can easily absorb moisture from the skin.
Fortunately it's summer, and with a moisturizing base underneath, it's still usable.
She was concentrating on what she was doing under the window, when she heard Qixi hurried in and said quickly: "Master, Princess Shushen wants to see you."
Ji Ling was startled, wondering what Shushen was doing here at Chengqian Palace? But no matter what, the princess cannot be left waiting outside in the summer.
She put down the jar of pearl powder in her hand, carefully closed the jar lid, and then walked out, nodding and saying: "Princess, please come in."
Princess Shushen walked in gracefully.
When she arrived in front of Ji Ling, she said: "Concubine Chen."
Ji Ling asked Qixi to help Princess Shushen sit down.
Then she ordered people to quickly serve a bunch of sweet candies, pastries, and fruits.
Seeing Princess Shushen's eyes turning on the colorful candy plate in front of her, showing a bit of childishness, Ji Ling lowered her head, took a sip of hot tea, and couldn't help but smile like an aunt, thinking: After all, she is still a little girl.
Child, little princess.
Princess Shushen pursed her lips and said in a soft and gentle voice: "Ms. Chenbi, a while ago, the third sister celebrated her birthday, and Princess Hehui and I didn't have a few words with the empress. This is Princess Hehui and me.
A piece of my heart for the queen."
As she spoke, she turned around and ordered the maid next to her to bring up the brocade box she was holding.
It's already been a month since the third princess's birthday, and Shushen mentioned it so abruptly at this time. It was obviously because she came to see her this time and it was so unexpected that she chose such a topic.
Ji Ling was thinking about it when she saw that Princess Shushen had stood up and opened the two brocade boxes herself. One of them was a hairpin inlaid with jewels, and the other was a brocade handkerchief.
The hairpin is very gorgeous, in the shape of a butterfly, inlaid with light green gems all over the body. The antennae of the butterfly are also made of gems. Holes are drilled at the bottom, thin copper wire is threaded through, and wound into a very elastic spring. With a slight move, it swings.
Trembling endlessly.
In addition, although the brocade handkerchief was beautifully embroidered, compared with the butterfly hairpin, it suddenly looked much shabby.
Putting the two gifts together, it was clear at a glance which one was from Princess Hehui and which one was from Shushen herself.
Princess Shushen said with a smile: "My Majesty is deeply loved by Emperor Ama. This butterfly is bright and moving, and it is most suitable to be placed on my hair."
The feeling of being given a gift by such a young child...
Ji Ling was really ashamed.
She really didn't want to accept it, and originally wanted to politely refuse, but seeing the faint worry on Princess Shushen's face, fearing that she might refuse, she held back her words.
If not, just return the favor later.
In the Nuan Pavilion, the third princess woke up and didn't see E Niang, so she cried loudly.
The wet nurse quickly took her out and walked to the concubine's side. Ji Ling raised her hand to take the daughter, put her hands under the third princess's armpits, touched her little face, and kissed her again.
Grandma Chen followed her out of the Nuan Pavilion. Thinking that the empress was pregnant and could not hold the child for such a long time, she whispered a few more reminders.
When Princess Shushen saw the third princess, her eyes lit up, she pursed her lips and smiled, and said plainly: "Your Majesty, the third sister grows up so fast!"
She tilted her head towards the third princess.
The third princess also turned her head and looked at the young lady curiously.
Suddenly, Princess Shushen sighed softly and said: "Concubine Chen, look at this butterfly hairpin, how beautiful it is. The butterfly is flapping its wings and is so lifelike. Sister He Hui has always liked such free and carefree patterns.
"
Ji Ling heard her say the word "freedom" and thought of the Manchu-Mongolian marriage arrangement with Princess Hui a while ago. Suddenly her heart moved, and she somewhat understood why Princess Shushen came here this time.
Sure enough, after Princess Shushen said a few words, she turned the conversation to the matter of marriage.
She first tried her best to describe how unwilling Princess Hehui was, how painful it was, and how embarrassed she was. At the end of the sentence, tears filled her eyes, and she lowered her head and wiped it with a handkerchief several times.
"My appearance in front of the empress is really unbecoming and makes the empress laugh! Just because sister Hehui and I grew up together, we are as close as others. Moreover, looking at my sister like this now, I think of what will happen in the future.
, it is inevitable to feel sad..."
Ji Ling listened, nodded, and kept her mouth shut without saying a word.
She raised her hand and told Qixi to bring face wash and handkerchief to Princess Shushen.