Ji Ling went back to bed in the morning and slept for a full two hours, plus washing, dressing up, and changing clothes. It was almost noon at this time, and the floor tiles outside the Changchun Palace reflected a scorching light, which was thick and rough.
The eunuchs kept pouring cold water on the courtyard.
The windows in the main hall are divided into upper and lower sections. The upper section is facing the sun. At this time, they are tightly closed and hung with bamboo curtains, but the lower section is open to facilitate ventilation in the hall.
The palace in Changchun is deep and vast. When Ji Ling walked in, she felt the echo of her footsteps. The palace maid who led the way took her to the guest seat and sat down, then she said respectfully: "Ji Guiji, please wait a moment. I will be here soon."
Go and report to Concubine Qi.”
As soon as she turned around, she saw the cabinet door curtain moving. Concubine Qi had been supported by the palace maid and walked out. She said with a smile: "What else do you want to report!".
Today she wore a black jade inlaid jasper pearl flower on her flag head, and beside her were dots of light golden velvet flowers. She wore a sapphire blue flag dress, graceful and generous, with a blue dress half draped over her shoulders.
cloak.
Ji Ling said: "I, Ji, send my regards to Concubine Qi. May Concubine Qi be blessed!" As soon as she finished speaking, Concubine Qi held her arms and helped her up.
Concubine Qi said with a bit of anger: "How come Sister Ji is so polite when she comes to my Changchun Palace!" After saying this, she looked at Qixi with a smile on her face, who was also saluting next to her, and said with familiarity: "
Qixi, please get up too!" He said, tightening his cloak.
Ji Ling felt a little strange and said: "Concubine Qi,...this weather...".
Concubine Qi lowered her head and glanced at the cloak she was wearing, sighed, and smiled again: "Oh! After all, I am getting older and my temper is not strong. I have been sitting in the cabinet for a long time, and my body feels cold.
”.
As she spoke, she took Ji Ling to the cabinet.
The cabinet had a narrow entrance, but was extremely spacious inside. At this time, two palace maids opened the door curtains for them, one on the left and the other on the right.
When they entered the house, four or five other maids knelt down and saluted, saying: "Greetings to the auspicious nobleman, and good luck to the auspicious nobleman!".
Concubine Qi led Ji Ling to the west Kang mat. There were light green backrests on the left and right sides, and a small red sandalwood table in the middle. There were some flower-like embroidery work on it, which seemed to be half-finished.
Concubine Qi led Ji Ling to sit down, and then she smiled and said: "Sister Ji, you must be surprised. I called you here...what exactly is it for, right?".
Ji Ling took the crushed fruit milk brought by the palace maid, stirred it with a spoon, looked up at Concubine Qi, nodded, and said: "No! Please give me some advice from Concubine Qi."
Concubine Qi smiled, raised her palm and clapped it twice. Ji Ling heard the person guarding the door and turned around. After a while, she heard footsteps outside, the door curtain was lifted, and a palace maid walked away with a young eunuch.
Come in.
The eunuch was wearing a mud-colored robe and black boots. He had a thin face. As soon as he came in, his eyes rolled around, and he immediately knelt down and said: "My slave, Xiao Lezi, pays my respects to the master, and to the noble nobleman!" After he finished speaking,
He lowered his head and waited with bated breath for Concubine Qi to speak.
Concubine Qi glanced at Ji Ling and said with a smile: "Sister Ji, the emperor loves my sister so much that he has arranged a new dining room in the east courtyard of Jingyang Palace. No one in the Sixth Palace knows about it. I heard that Eunuch Su also gave me a gift.
In accordance with the emperor's decree, my sister was given a number of eunuchs as handymen, so I thought that there might not be enough manpower in my sister's new dining room..."
When she said this, she paused, lowered her head and took a sip of crushed fruit milk. Then she raised her head, pointed at Xiao Lezi and said, "Come forward."
Xiao Lezi was originally kneeling, but now he took three or four steps forward on his knees. Concubine Qi said: "Raise your head and let Mr. Ji have a look!".
Xiao Lezi raised his head. Because the slave could not look directly at his master, he lowered his eyes and clenched his hands slightly at his side.
Concubine Qi pointed at him with a smile and said: "Sister Ji, this is my little wish, let this little Lezi go to your kitchen to help!".
Another one?
In this case, there would be too many people in the east courtyard, which would make it even more eye-catching...
Ji Ling thought this and was about to refuse, but then she thought that this was Concubine Qi's good intention after all.
Concubine Qi seemed to have seen through what she was thinking, and said with a smile: "Sister Ji, you don't have to worry, the new kitchen and the eunuchs are all the emperor's wishes. Who in the Sixth Palace dares to say 'no'? Besides, but
It’s about adding a cook. I mentioned it to the emperor last time, and the emperor agreed.”
She paused and said: "Qixi usually comes to my place to bring meals. It seems that your favorite, sister, is the hot and sour dishes. They are all made by this little Lezi. Even though he is young, his master has served him
Toffee’s people! You can’t be more confident in your craftsmanship.”
As she spoke, she turned away with a smile and urged: "Xiao Lezi, why don't you kowtow to your new master?".
Xiao Lezi immediately kowtowed with a bang and said with a smile on his face: "This slave kowtows to the master!".
Concubine Qi smiled and covered her mouth with a handkerchief, and said to the palace maid next to her: "This little piece of fun has a really good name, and it makes people happy when they look at it." The palace maid smiled and nodded in agreement: "Isn't it right! Master?
.”.
Ji Ling saw that Concubine Qi had already talked about this, and if she refused any more, she would appear to be petty, so she smiled and said, "That would be disrespectful for me to refuse. Thank you very much, Concubine Qi."
Concubine Qi smiled happily and said, "Don't thank me too much! Sister Ji."
…
The two of them were sitting and talking like this. Seeing that it was already noon, Concubine Qi ordered someone to pass the meal to the cabinet. Ji Ling was not allowed to leave at all, and she just kept her for an hour's lunch.
After the meal, he kept chatting with her for a long time.
Ji Ling only knew that Concubine Qi was warm, kind and generous, but he did not know that she was also a talkative person who talked endlessly about things in the palace.
After such a visit, by the time Ji Ling left Changchun Palace, there was already a faint sunset coming up from the sky, and the strands were spreading out among the clouds, glowing with a pale golden light. Occasionally, the wind would pass by, blowing away the sunset from the sky.
Floating clouds, the golden sunlight suddenly burst out from behind the clouds, making it dazzling.
Qixi raised her neck, put up the arbor with her hands, squinted at the sun, estimated the time in her mind, and said: "Master, when we get back, it will probably be time to turn on the lanterns."
Ji Ling nodded and saw Xiao Lezi following behind with a well-behaved look on his face, so he told Qixi: "After we go back, let Xiao Fenzi make arrangements for him. From now on, he will be a member of our east courtyard."
.
Several people walked through the corner gate of Yongshou Palace, turned north, and felt that their field of vision suddenly broadened.
This is a road along the palace walls east of Yikun Palace and Chuxiu Palace. If you follow this road straight to the north without turning, you will reach the west side of the Imperial Garden.
Passing by a T-shaped remote path, Ji Ling suddenly heard something moving inside.
