The days passed by uneventfully.
After Xuan Ling left that afternoon, he never came again. He stood me up again. According to Little Shunzi, Xuan Ling had been in the Tangli Palace ever since and did not come out. Even when Tian Liangdi went to invite her, it was useless.
"Hate until the time of return, the moon is bright and the people lean against the tower.”The moon is bright and the person is leaning against the building. Hehe, I can't stop the chill in my heart in broad daylight. After entering the palace for more than a year, I don't know how many words I've written, how much paper I've used, how much ink I've used, how much thought and effort I've put in to go from my barely written handwriting to my delicate and elegant demeanor. I don't know! I only know that when I pick up the pen every day, my heart seems to be able to calm down and I don't have to think about anything.
How much effort and effort did I put in to practice my graceful dance moves? How many bruises were there on his body? The night is long and I dance alone, but no one admires me. I don't even know. I only know that if I don't have talent, graceful dance, moving voice, and beautiful face, Xuan Ling will only forget me. How pitiful. What was the difference between serving people with sex and being a prostitute?
Xuan Ling, I have never understood your heart. I only hope that I, An Lingrong, will spend my entire life and not be destroyed because of you.
"Young Master, Hui Ronghua is here to visit you.”Bao Juan reported with a smile.
I continued to practice my calligraphy and said,"Please."”
Mei Zhuang held Cai Yue's hand and walked in with a faint smile. Seeing that I was concentrating on practicing calligraphy, she couldn't help smiling lightly and said,"Others are all eagerly waiting for the emperor, so it's hard for you to be able to practice calligraphy with a calm heart!"”
I didn't change my expression and said," Practicing calligraphy is also practicing the heart. The words are correct and the heart is calm.”He then casually instructed Baojuan,"Sit down and watch the tea."”
Mei Zhuang sat at the table next to me, her eyes were filled with melancholy as she looked at me and sighed,"If I had half of your quietness back then, I wouldn't have fallen into such a situation."”Bao Juan served a cup of hot tea and bowed.
I didn't even raise my head as I wrote the last stroke seriously. I said indifferently," Since ancient times, it has always been the case that the river flows thirty years east and the river flows thirty years west.”
Mei Zhuang laughed mockingly. But I think fate is never fair.”
I continued to write,"That's because you've been treated unfairly, so you're feeling emotional."”I heard her sigh sadly. I paused for a moment before continuing,"The world is heartless and treats all living things as straw dogs." Most women only knew about the love between men and concubines, or the sadness of spring and autumn, or the love of their husbands and children, so there was a saying about the fate of a beautiful woman.”
Mei Zhuang smiled foolishly,"Isn't this the fate of a woman?" However, it was not so easy to be the concubine of an emperor.”
I said with a cold expression,"One must be content to live well." Since she was the emperor's concubine, even if she died, she would still be the emperor's concubine. This was fate.”
Mei Zhuang's face turned pale as if someone had said what was on her mind. She said in a panic,"I know all this, but I'm just unwilling."”
My tone was still cold. Whatever you think has nothing to do with me.”
Mei Zhuang looked at me with tears in her eyes.”Then, he sighed," Now, I go to Ji Ning Palace every day to serve the Empress Dowager. It can be considered as another way out.”
I was still unmoved." You're a woman as elegant as a chrysanthemum. Unfortunately, you're too obsessed with the so-called love, so you can't let it go.”
Mei Zhuang smiled faintly and said," I'm just a layman. Speaking of which, Huan 'er and I don't understand it as well as you."”
I said coldly,"Since you chose to serve the Empress Dowager, you should know that the Empress Dowager likes to worship Buddha." I heard that you are also devoted to Buddhism. However, how could a secular person like you, who only knows how to stir up dust, calm down and worship Buddha?”
Mei Zhuang was startled and choked. She then defended herself,"I'm just worshipping Buddha to seek peace of mind."”
I raised my eyebrows in disdain and said,"There was such a Zen story." Fan Zhi held the flower in both hands and offered it to the Buddha. He put it down. Fan Zhi put down the flower in his left hand. The Buddha said, Put it down. Fan Zhi put down the flower in his right hand. The Buddha still said,"Put it down." Fan Zhi said,"I've already put down the flowers in my hands. What else can I put down?" The Buddha said: Put down your outer six dusts, inner six roots, middle six consciousnesses, and give them up until there is no place to give up. This is where you put your life. Mei Zhuang, what do you understand now?"
Mei Zhuang was in a daze, not knowing what she was thinking.
I said disdainfully,"Since you're a secular person, you should do secular things. The so-called peace of mind is just a trick to deceive yourself."”
Mei Zhuang smiled awkwardly." Not everyone can see it as clearly as you. Live freely."
I didn't agree with him." You think you're the most innocent person because you've been wronged. It's true that I pity you, but you're not the most pitiful person. Look at the women of the Cold Palace, which one of them isn't more pitiful than you, and then look at the Imperial Consort Shu of the previous dynasty, what happened in the end?”
Mei Zhuang lowered her head and said nothing.
I ridiculed,"If the feeling of cherishing flowers is defined by the emperor, then it is a big mistake." You were wronged and imprisoned in Chrysanthemum Hall, while I was neglected in Lan Yi Pavilion. The only thing between us was that I had someone to serve me. I wasn't wronged. I only had a cup of hot tea. No matter what kind of situation a person was in, they would have their own goals. Even for someone like me who was once down and out, I still hoped that the weather wouldn't be too cold that winter, and that the ink wouldn't condense too quickly so that I could practice my calligraphy smoothly. What about you, Mei Zhuang?"
Mei Zhuang sobbed softly. After a while, she said hatefully," I shouldn't have suffered such grievances. It's the emperor who doesn't believe me!”
I looked at her with a hopeless expression and said coldly," Do whatever you want. That's all I have to say to you. You're not in good health. Go back. Baojuan, send the guests off."”
Mei Zhuang stood up and looked at me in disbelief. She muttered,"Ling Rong-"
Baojuan had already bluntly said,"Hui Ronghua, please go back."”
After Mei Zhuang left, Xu Wanhai went forward to report,"Young Master, the Empress Dowager has given Tian Liangdi a pair of bracelets today, and Wan Guipin a red gold and Ruyi hairpin."”After a pause, he continued,"The emperor also rewarded many beauty products for removing scars."”
I said without changing my expression,"Oh? Got it."
Xu Wanhai curtsied and probed,"The Empress Dowager seems to have some other intention in bestowing the red gold box and Ruyi hairpin to Wan Guipin?"”
Bao Juan smiled." This is just a matter without a shadow. However, Hui Ronghua surprised this servant today!”
Xiao Shunzi had just returned from outside and saw that I was still practicing calligraphy. She hurriedly bowed and sighed,"Little Lord, the Emperor has decreed that Tian Liangdi be named Tian Concubine."”
I lightly said,"Tian Pin is blessed to be pregnant with my elder brother."”
Little Shunzi was surprised. "But this way," I interrupted coldly before he could finish,"before Wan Guipin's coronation, everything will be fine. Let's wait and see."”
Bao Juan and the others looked at each other helplessly, but they could not do anything to me.
It was night. I tossed and turned on the bed but couldn't sleep. Tomorrow is the day of Zhen Huan and Consort Jing's coronation.
Mei Zhuang no longer has the heart to compete for favor. Zhen Huan is pregnant with a dragon child. I'm afraid that Tian Pin, this male fetus, will have a hard time in the harem. I avoid the world with my sick body all day long. This is not a long-term solution. Xu Wanhai and the others hope that I will be pregnant with a dragon child, but I...
A warm body covered me, and I panicked reflexively. Without waiting for me to say anything, Xuan Ling had already hugged me tightly and muttered," Can't my face fall asleep?”
Xuan Ling, I relaxed and let him hug me. I said coldly,"What are you doing here?"”
He rubbed my hair and dotingly said,"I missed you so I came. Are you blaming me for breaking the promise that day?"”
I shut my eyes and pretended to sleep.
Xuan Ling hugged my arms tighter and tighter. I couldn't help but feel the pain and roar,"It hurts!"”
Xuan Ling bit my ear and said innocently,"Otherwise, why would my face care about me?"”
I glared at him angrily and said unhappily," You were the one who let me down first. Now you're blaming me?”
Xuan Ling's face sank. His dark eyes flashed with a light that I couldn't understand.”
I said coldly,"If you weren't the emperor, would you still be lying next to me?" I'm the emperor's concubine!"
Xuan Ling couldn't help but laugh helplessly. Zhen's Ling Rong has always been eloquent, and is also a talented and extraordinary woman. Zhen has you like a treasure!”Under the flickering candlelight, his face was so gentle and handsome. His sharp eyebrows were also filled with gentleness. There was a tenderness in his eyes that could not be dispersed, and there was a smile on his lips. I don't understand this man.
I gently caressed his face and asked uncertainly,"Why does the Emperor treat his concubines so well?" Why did Bianci always see gentleness in the Emperor's eyes?”
Xuan Ling only felt her breathing stop, not knowing how to answer.
I looked at him expectantly. Although I didn't know what he would say, I was looking forward to his answer at this moment.
Xuan Ling slowly sighed and said hesitantly," Ling Rong, one day, you will understand that you are tired. Let's rest."
Looking at his tightly shut eyes, I don't know why I actually feel disappointed.
The next day. Ancestral Temple.
Today was a good day for Zhen Huan and Consort Jing. Everyone in the harem was filled with a happy atmosphere, especially the servants of Tangli Palace. Their faces were red and their smiles did not decrease. They were also proud.
The title of noble concubine was different from the previous titles. In the past, it was just a verbal order from Xuan Ling or an imperial edict to the six palaces. Only the noble concubines and above were considered to have proper noble status in the palace. They had to offer sacrifices to the ancestral temple and be given golden books and seals. The golden seals of the first grade and four concubines were called "golden treasures." However, the ancestral temple was only opened for worshipping the heavens, after the ceremony, and during major festivals. Usually, consorts would be conferred titles in the Imperial Ancestral Temple in the palace.
I wonder if I will have such a glorious day?
At the auspicious time, Zhen Huan knelt behind Concubine Feng and offered sacrifices in the solemn ancestral temple. She listened to the congratulatory words of the four parallel prose read by the Secretary of the Palace. Li Lianji, the Minister of Revenue, and Chen Xilie, the Assistant Minister of the Yellow Gate, took out a box carved with red paint and gold and dragon and phoenix characters, covered it with a red silk mud gold handkerchief, and issued a four-page golden book. Concubine Jing was given an eight-page golden book. Then he put the gold seal in a small box with brocade ribbon and handed it down. The gold seal was carved with precious seal characters, four inches and nine minutes wide and one inch and two minutes thick. It was a golden plate with a phoenix button. Consort Jing and I shouted "Long live" three times and then went to Zhaoyang Hall to pay our respects to the Emperor and Empress.
The Empress was wearing a purple gold and phoenix dress with wide sleeves and a tight lapel. She sat upright beside Xuan Ling. The cuffs and collar of the dress slightly revealed the edge of the golden-red silk middle dress. The almond-gold moonlight dress was dazzling. The white plain brocade with apricot yellow peony patterns flowed quietly on the ground, making her even more noble and dignified.
The Empress 'expression was serious and solemn as she said in a clear voice," Consort Feng, Consort Zhen has been bestowed by the heavens. I hope that in the future, I will cultivate my virtue and self-restraint, live in harmony in the palace, serve diligently, and continue to have descendants."”
Zhen Huan and Concubine Jing bowed their heads three times and respectfully agreed,"I am very happy to receive the teachings of the Empress."”
Zhen Huan's face was covered with a white scarf, so the condition of her wound could not be seen. A pair of watery eyes revealed pride and joy. I didn't need to look to know how smug her smile was under the veil.
I hope the concubines in the harem won't disappoint me.
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。