The third princess grinned at her mother, lowered her head happily, scooped up the glutinous rice balls herself, and put them into her mouth with big mouthfuls.
After lunch, Grandma Chen coaxed the third princess and took her to wash the flour on her hands, wipe her head and face, and change into new clothes.
After tidying up, the three princesses stuck to the dressing table in Er Niang Nuan Pavilion and refused to leave.
She grabbed a cup of rouge and imitated the one Ji Ling drew for her at the New Year's Eve reunion banquet. She carefully traced a plum blossom for herself, and it actually still looked somewhat similar.
Ji Ling conveniently opened the gold nugget box, found the smallest thin gold nugget piece for her daughter, and fixed it between her eyebrows. Only halfway through, Qixi brought in two bowls of sweet soup after the meal.
It happened that the glutinous rice balls served at noon were also sweet, and the third princess clamored to eat them, but Ji Ling served her a bowl with her own hands. After a few mouthfuls, the third princess became tired of the sweetness, put down the spoon, and ordered Grandma Chen to
Pour her a cup of fragrant tea.
Ji Ling picked up her daughter's bowl and tasted it.
The sweet soup is made of lotus root powder, with lotus seeds added to it, the lotus heart is pure and bitter, and rock sugar is added, and the two are combined into one, which is fragrant and refreshing.
Grandma Chen poured tea for the third princess, and she was thinking about the last time - in order to coax the third princess to sleep quickly, she said, "If the princess is disobedient, the queen will not like you."
As a result, the look on Concubine Chen's face as she stared at her that day... Grandma Chen is still deeply impressed to this day.
The inner hall of Kunning Palace.
Rong agreed to stand next to the mirror and tied up the last strand of hair for Ulanara with his own hands. He also smoothed the swallowtail and said with a smile: "Queen, this hairstyle is elegant and elegant, and it is most suitable for you."
Already."
Ulanara looked at himself in the mirror for a long time, then reached out to stroke his cheek, shook his head and said: "There is no need to coax me to be happy! When you are old, you are old. No matter how exquisite your hairstyle is, it is useless."
Rong promised to put down the comb and comforted her: "Your Majesty is not old at all, Feng Yi's demeanor is even better than before. What's more, your Majesty is the Queen of the Middle Palace. She has no intention of competing with her appearance, so why bother competing with the other masters in the palace who are competing for beauty?"
Compare?"
The queen lowered her eyebrows and looked at the comb next to her. Suddenly, she felt a silver gleam between the teeth of the comb under the sunlight.
Rong promised that his eyes were sharper than hers, and he had seen it a long time ago. He quickly stretched out his hand to hide it, but Ulanara had already reached out and picked it up.
It's hair as white as snow.
The Queen was feeling unwell in the morning, so she only said that she would not ask for greetings. At this time, she heard the news from the palace that Concubine Xi and Concubine Yu had come to visit the Queen and were waiting outside.
Ulanala wondered how these two people got together. She walked out and saw Xibi wearing a fresh red flag dress. Because it was the New Year, she also used warm colors on her hairpins, which looked two-dimensional.
Under the radiance, she looks much more delicate than usual. She has a gentle and quiet temperament, and she usually wears cool and plain clothes, but it is rare to dress like this.
The palace maid behind Xi Concubine held two brocade boxes in her hands.
When Concubine Xi came forward, she knelt down respectfully and said, "Concubine, I would like to pay my respects to the Queen. May the Queen be blessed with peace and prosperity!"
Concubine Yu followed and bent down to say hello.
Uranala sat down on the phoenix throne and said in a gentle voice: "Xi concubine, get up, sit down and talk."
Xi Concubine was helped to stand up by the maid next to her, and she signaled to the palace servants to bring the brocade box to her, and then said: "The Queen is not feeling well. This is a concubine's wish. Although the Queen does not have to pay her respects, I still want to
I will send it to you personally to replenish your health."
With a smile on her lips, the queen leaned forward and said: "Xi concubine is interested, I have nothing to do. It's just a new year, and many things are waiting for me to take care of. I'm tired for a while. I should have nothing to do after a few days of rest."
"
She paused, glanced at Concubine Yu, and said with a smile: "Concubine Yu, the fifth elder brother has made great progress in his studies recently, and the emperor mentioned it twice in front of me!"
Hearing this, Concubine Yu smiled and said, "Thank you for your care, Queen! I haven't seen my fifth brother for a while, and I miss him so much!" As she spoke, she picked up the handkerchief and wiped the corners of her eyes.
The queen nodded and said: "Fourth and fifth elder brothers are now growing up day by day. However, our emperor only drafted a girl once after he ascended the throne, and never mentioned it again. In the past three years, there was only one draft for a girl.
This is the rule of our ancestors. If it were left to the previous dynasty, I'm afraid I won't be able to stand in this crowded place in Kunning Palace!"
She paused, sighed softly, and said: "I always think about when to urge the emperor. Even if there are no newcomers in this palace, I am the emperor's mother, and I still have to give it to the fourth elder brother and the fifth elder brother.
It’s up to me to pick two good ones!”
Now even Xibi couldn't sit still.
She raised her head and looked at the queen.
Ulanara was just teasing people, and the matter only got off the ground. She lowered her head and smiled, picked up the teacup, and then changed the topic again.
Various thoughts came to Xibin's mind in confusion, and she was silent for a while. She listened to the queen's words about the fourth elder brother and fifth elder brother going to school. As she spoke, she intentionally or unintentionally mentioned the fourth elder brother and fifth elder brother.
Brother compared.
Concubine Yu felt a lot of discomfort in her heart when she heard this.
She paused, glanced at Xi Bin, then suddenly changed the topic, raised her eyes sideways, looked at her with a smile and said: "Xi Bin has always been quiet and gentle, she must have stayed in the lake and water of Yuanmingyuan for a long time, and then
I always accompany Concubine Cheng to recite sutras all day long, and I live a life like a fairy! Now that we are back in the Forbidden City, are we still used to it? I am afraid that during this Chinese New Year, with the gongs, drums, shengxiao and flutes, Xibi only thinks that we common people are noisy.
Is it tight?"
Xi Concubine didn't even look at Concubine Yu. She lowered her head gently and took a sip of tea, and said with a smile: "Concubine Yu is really good at teasing concubines. Her mind is calm and her voice is calm. Nothing happens outside her body. Concubine is here.
When I was in the Old Summer Palace, I served the Dowager Empress. Now in the Forbidden City, I serve the Empress Dowager Shun. It’s the same everywhere.”
Uranala interrupted the conversation between the two of them at the right time and chatted a few more words. Concubine Yu resigned first, but Concubine Xi stayed and spoke a few more words - her voice was gentle, no matter what words she said,
Listening to that voice always makes people feel like taking a breath of spring breeze.
After Concubine Xi left, Rong promised to whisper: "Empress, concubine, I heard... the concubine's eyesight has become more and more serious recently, and she has almost reached the point where she is bedridden and unable to get up."
Uranala looked at the supplements left by Xibi and ordered the palace servants to bring them to her. While untying the brocade clasp of the box with her own hands, she said calmly: "Concubine Cheng has an eye problem and her legs and feet are not flexible anymore."
?”
Rong promised to make gestures, and said in the Queen's ear almost in a low voice: "If you can't see your eyes, you won't dare to walk - won't your movements be awkward? Plus, at this age, if you are not careful, you will knock.
How can I bear it if I hit it? But a concubine - Empress Xi Bi has served her for so many years, and she has fulfilled her filial piety. If it weren't for..."
Ulanara didn't say anything, and his enamel armor slowly brushed the wild ginseng in front of him. After a while, he said: "This ginseng... although its appearance is ordinary, it is warm and mild, and it can do everything for the human body, so I just use it reluctantly."