Concubine Mei drank the medicine for several days, and on the day of her birthday party, she showed up dressed grandly and appropriately.
The emperor personally organized a birthday banquet for Concubine Mei, and all the officials of the third rank and their families attended the banquet in the palace. The emperor entertained the officials, and Xie Mingxi hosted a palace banquet in the harem.
Since it is Princess Mei's birthday banquet, the palace banquet should be held in Hanxiang Palace.
Hanxiang Palace, which had always been quiet and almost deserted, was extremely lively today.
Concubine Mei was sitting at the top, and Xie Mingxi was sitting below Concubine Mei with a smile on her face. Several concubines in the palace also came to the banquet.
Concubine Xian has white hair and looks old. Concubine Jing is not much better than Concubine Xian. Her forehead is full of wrinkles at the corners of her eyes, and her smile can almost catch mosquitoes.
After experiencing the pain of losing her son, she was able to endure it. The tenacity of Concubine Xian and Concubine Jing is quite admirable. Perhaps it was also because she lost her son and grandson.
The biggest wish of the two concubines is to watch their grandson grow up with their own eyes. It is best to get married and have children before they can go west with peace of mind.
In comparison, Princess Duan looks much younger and more energetic.
Her son, Prince An, was alive and well. The only regret was that he kept observing filial piety one after another and the marriage was delayed. He was now twenty years old. Concubine Duan shamelessly went to the emperor in person to ask the emperor to marry her natal niece to Prince An.
Sheng Hong had a good impression of the honest and peaceful King An, so he readily issued a decree to marry him. The wedding date would be next month.
Logically speaking, when Prince An got married, Queen Xie Mingxi should handle the marriage. However, Princess Duan could not trust anyone and insisted on handling it herself.
Xie Mingxi was so happy that she allocated money from the Ministry of Internal Affairs to Concubine Duan, and then stood back and did nothing.
Concubine Duan has been busy for several months, keeping Prince An's Mansion neat and tidy. People get old easily when they are idle, but Concubine Duan is very busy and energetic, and she looks particularly young and energetic.
Concubine Duan was flattering Concubine Mei with a smile: "...there is no one more blessed than Sister Mei in this harem."
Isn't that right? Not to mention the deceased concubine Shu, who among the concubines here has never given birth to a son?
But only Concubine Mei's son sat firmly on the throne.
Even though Mrs. Mei had lived a miserable life for more than ten years before, her days of glory and honor were all behind her!
Everyone likes to hear good words. Concubine Mei was no exception. She smiled and said, "What you said makes sense, but I can't help it. I am indeed blessed. I have a good son..."
He glanced at Xie Mingxi from the corner of his eye and immediately added: "I also have a good daughter-in-law."
Xie Mingxi: "..."
It’s really hard for Mrs. Mei.
Xie Mingxi maintained a decent smile and answered casually: "My mother-in-law is kind, tolerant and reasonable. It is my daughter-in-law's blessing to have such a mother-in-law."
Mother-in-law and daughter-in-law looked at each other and smiled.
Everyone secretly shook off the goosebumps on the ground, smiled on their faces, and cheered up to welcome the flattery.
Of course, the words spoken on such occasions cannot be taken seriously. Anyone who takes them seriously is a fool.
…
All the imperial ladies entered Hanxiang Palace one by one to congratulate Princess Mei on her birthday.
The birthday gifts everyone prepared were naturally precious and rare things. A five-foot-long coral, a palm-sized mutton-fat jade, a round and transparent Hepu pearl of the same size...
All kinds of rare treasures were presented to Concubine Mei.
Concubine Mei was not a money-grubber, but she was also filled with joy when she saw it.
Who doesn’t like the feeling of being famous and sought after by everyone?
After more than twenty years of silence and forbearance, she finally endured the day when all her hardships came to an end.
Ah Luo, Ji Ge'er, Sister Rong, and other cousins also took a day off from the academy to celebrate the birthday of Princess Mei.
"It's my grandmother's birthday today, and A'luo personally prepared a gift for her." A'luo, wearing a vermilion skirt, was full of energy, smiling brightly, and came forward holding a scroll.
After the death of Empress Dowager Yu, A Luo changed her name to Grand Concubine Mei.
No one questions it, and no one talks too much.
After the death of Empress Dowager Yu, the most respected person in the palace was the biological mother of the Emperor. According to the rules set by the ancestors of Da Qi, Concubine Mei could not be named empress dowager, but the honor she should enjoy would not be less.
Concubine Mei also loved her smart granddaughter very much. She smiled and said, "How could grandma not like the gift A Luo prepared?"
When I opened the scroll, I saw hundreds of characters of longevity written in various fonts on the scroll. These characters were arranged cleverly. At a glance, it turned out to be a big character for longevity.
Concubine Mei was overjoyed when she saw it, and praised her repeatedly: "A'luo's handwriting is getting better and better. She can write in so many fonts, and they even make up a big Chinese character for longevity. A'luo is really smart!"
A Luo was very proud of being praised.
In fact, this birthday gift was Brother You's idea for her. However, it was inconvenient to say it in front of everyone, so she just accepted Mrs. Mei's praise shamelessly.
Next, Brother Ji and others also sent congratulatory gifts one by one.
Brother Ji has grown into a handsome young man, Brother Lin is handsome and sunny, and Brother Ting is extraordinarily handsome. They all stand in front of you, they are really lovable.
While Princess Mei was overjoyed, the word "adoption" unexpectedly flashed through her mind, and she couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
Concubine Mei's secret lamentation could not be seen by anyone.
Only Xie Mingxi noticed Mrs. Mei's sudden loss of concentration.
Xie Mingxi remained calm and reminded with a smile: "The children took special leave today to celebrate the birthday of the mother and concubine. Should the mother and concubine also have some rewards?"
Concubine Mei came back to her senses and smiled again and again: "What you are reminding me is. Look at me. I was so happy that I forgot about it for a moment. Let's watch and enjoy the harp."
The children were all smart and well-behaved, and they all said in unison: "Thank you, Princess Dowager."
…
Hanxiang Palace was bustling for most of the day, and it didn't stop until Shenshi.
In the evening, Sheng Hong led his wife and daughter to Hanxiang Palace and had dinner with Concubine Mei. The mother and son had a tacit understanding, and they were reconciled as before.
A'luo is a very keen and sensitive child. After returning from Hanxiang Palace, she quietly said to her father: "Father, when my grandmother looked at me today, her eyes were a little complicated, as if she was regretting something. Doesn't my grandmother like me very much?
"
Sheng Hong smiled and rubbed A'luo's hair: "A'luo is so smart and lovable, loved by everyone, how could your grandmother not like her?"
A'luo said flatly: "But today during the day, grandma looked at cousin Ji, cousin Lin, and cousin Ting more than she looked at me."
Sheng Hong: "..."
Xie Mingxi answered the question at the right time: "Brother Ji, they all grew up in the palace. Your grandmother treats them the same as she treats you. We, Ah Luo, have a broad mind and we won't be jealous over such a trivial matter!"
Ah Luo was indeed a little shy and quickly changed the topic.
Sheng Hong and Xie Mingxi looked at each other in tacit understanding.
Let A Luo grow up without any worries! It's not time to clarify everything with her yet.
Wait a few years, when A Luo grows up, and then explain their plans to her.
