When I arrived outside Chengxian Palace, there were already many people there. I hadn't seen them for a month, so I naturally couldn't hide from everyone's eyes. I first went to pay my respects to the newly promoted Jing Jieyu and Lan Ronghua. I also greeted the Yi Concubine and the others who were already of the same rank. I raised my spirits and chatted with the others. Even those who needed to greet me were warmly received by me. It was as if I had really just recuperated for a month due to illness. My mouth was filled with words of gratitude for the Empress Dowager's kindness and longing for the sisters.
The auspicious time was approaching, and there was a rumor that Wen Lang had arrived. Only then did everyone disperse and Lin Li came to receive him.
Wen Lang seemed to have come straight from the imperial court. His bright yellow dragon robe was a little dazzling under the sunlight. He didn't look at me, but called out and went straight in. Everyone followed him in and lined up in the hall according to their grades.
Seeing that Wen Lang seemed to have something on his mind and was thinking about something with his head half lowered, before everyone could be surprised, a ceremonial officer reported loudly,"The auspicious time has arrived!"
As the music started, everyone turned to look outside the hall.
I was slower than the others for a while and met Wen Lang who had raised his head. I read a bit of joy from his eyes at that moment and felt relieved. I smiled slightly and turned around to look at Chen Yanyu.
Chen Yanyu, dressed in a fuchsia gown, walked in from outside Chengxian Palace. The large pattern woven with gold thread on the gown and her head full of pearls made her look dazzling. Six tourmaline flower hairpins were scattered on the left side of her hair bun, and a golden sparrow was swaying on the right side of her hair. This was a symbol of status.
According to the rules, the fourth rank could wear a golden sparrow, the main seat and above could wear a buyao, the fourth imperial concubine and above could wear a golden phoenix, but it could only be inserted diagonally at the side of the temple. Only the empress could wear a golden phoenix in the middle of the bun to show her dignity.
Chen Yanyu's eyes were still looking straight ahead, her face elegant and graceful. She walked steadily past her like a queen. Her feet swayed slightly, just like the two feet long gown embroidered with a large golden peony, outlining her firm and straight back.
After everyone knelt down, the ceremonial officer read out a long letter of conferment. Wen Lang then handed the golden book to the ceremonial officer before handing it to Chen Yanyu. She held the golden book in her hands and was led by the ceremonial officer to kneel six times, kneel three times, and bow three times. The ceremony was completed.
I looked at her figure, not knowing if she was having a beautiful dream in her heart. She was dreaming of holding a golden seal in her hand and wearing a red golden phoenix dress. It was the highest dream of every concubine, the exclusive color of the Empress.
Wen Lang stood up and walked out of Chengxian Hall. Chen Yanyu, who was already Rong Guipin, followed behind him. Only then did everyone stand up. As usual, when the Emperor left, the newly appointed concubines should go to the Empress Dowager or the Empress to pay their respects. However, since this was the only main position in the harem, it was necessary to share the affairs of the harem with the Empress Dowager. Wen Lang wanted to personally bring Rong Guipin to Renshou Palace.
Seeing them leave in the palanquin, everyone immediately turned to Yongxiang Palace to wait and formally pay their respects to the first noble consort of the harem.
"ChenQie greets the emperor, greets consort Rong Guipin!”
After waiting for about an hour, Wen Lang and Rong Guipin arrived at Yongxiang Palace. Rong Guipin finally smiled. She greeted the crowd demurely and said some polite words about how sisters were deeply in love and how they helped each other.
"Concubine Yu is also here. Is your body much better?”I naturally couldn't hide from her eyes and was asked a few questions.
I quickly bowed." Thank you for your care, Your Highness. ChenQie has recovered."”
Rong Guipin smiled faintly." That's good. The Emperor missed you very much when I didn't see you for a month."”
That one sentence attracted everyone's attention to me, causing a sharp pain on my back for a moment.
Of course, I couldn't say anything more. I could only say perfunctorily,"It's ChenQie's fault for troubling the emperor.”
I didn't hear a reply. I raised my head and met Rong Guipin's eyes. I knew that I couldn't hide from her, so I simply looked at her generously and put on a respectful and friendly smile, even though I was facing a pair of deep probing eyes.
However, in just a short moment, Rong Guipin withdrew her gaze. There was no trace on her face as she smiled gently."Younger Sister Yu's body is fine, from tomorrow onwards you can restore your name tag.”
Although it was a favor that went along with the flow, I couldn't ignore it. However, she didn't wait for my thanks and looked at everyone."The Empress Dowager has given Bengong the task of assisting in the harem. I hope that all the sisters can help each other in the future.”
After saying that, he turned to look at Wen Lang. Wen Lang, who had not spoken all this time, said calmly,"All of you must listen to Guipin's instructions with all your heart.”
Rong Guipin seemed very satisfied and smiled brightly. Wen Lang said,""At night, we will hold a banquet in the Taiping Palace Hall. He Jie Yu and Rong Hua will also be present.”
Jing Jie Yu and Lan Rong Hua were very surprised and quickly thanked him.
I didn't understand why Wenlang had arranged this. Logically speaking, Rong Guipin should be the main character of tonight's banquet. It was inappropriate to forcefully drag in Jing Jieyu and Lan Ronghua. Rong Guipin didn't show anything on her face, so she must be embarrassed.
Wen Lang didn't say anything else, only saying that he still had court matters to attend to and then left.
I looked at Wenlang's back, a little confused and a little disappointed.
It was almost noon, and after four hours, everyone was hungry. Rong Guipin quickly dismissed everyone.
This was the first banquet in the harem after Wen Lang ascended the throne, and it was prepared very grandly and luxuriously. Although everyone knew that today's banquet was for the conferment of Rong Guipin, they were all reluctant to give up this opportunity to compete for beauty. If the first promotion was still based on the order of position, almost everyone had a share, then the future emperor's favor would fall on individual ability. After all, it was only a conferment of such a main position, and so many palace positions were empty. It was really a great temptation.
Especially when the Empress Dowager and Wen Lang appeared at the same time, not everyone was qualified to participate. If they could win this time, glory and wealth were just around the corner. Many women who had only seen the beauty of heaven once in their entire lives had no one to rely on after their beauty passed away. They either died of old age in the palace or were sent out of the palace. They were all extremely miserable.
I looked at these graceful women, some singing and dancing, some playing the zither, using the name of congratulations, and others using themselves as reality. They displayed their proud talents to the fullest, making this gorgeous banquet even more exquisite and dazzling. He felt a little regretful. He didn't know how many of them were blooming and how many were heroic.
I remained quiet and low-key in a corner, sipping the sweet wine in my cup bit by bit. I didn't get hot or cold. Although I didn't open my mouth, I smiled along, so that no one would pay special attention to me.
I didn't act like this because I was confident in my future, nor did I completely disdain the disputes in the palace. Instead, on such a day, I had an inexplicable sense of nobility. I didn't want these fights to taint my birthday.
Just like that, after happily watching some exquisite performances, the Empress Dowager returned to the palace in advance. Following that, some of the women who had lost in terms of talent and appearance and those of lower status also left in twos or threes. I picked up the opportunity and left with Yuan Yan. The two of us walked together.
It was still early and the moon was very bright. Yuan Yan and I walked very slowly and chatted. I heard her still grumbling about Wang Yiyao and laughing at her."Look, you're really a vengeful person. I won't dare to offend you in the future.”
Yuan Yan was a little embarrassed for a moment, but then she said frankly,""It's not that she holds a grudge, but I just don't like her hypocritical appearance!”
I thought of the matter of Wang Yiyao becoming a noble. Just as I was about to ask Yuan Yan, a concubine who was faster than the two of us overtook us from not far away. She was alone, and there was no servant girl following behind her.
This isn't anything strange, but Yuan Yan tugged at my sleeve and whispered,""It's Noble Han."
Song Bining, the woman that I had never provoked, perhaps still felt conflicted. I only nodded and didn't reply. Unexpectedly, Yuan Yan suddenly called out to her."Noble Han!"
Song Bining stopped and turned around. Logically speaking, with my status, she should have taken the initiative to come forward and greet me, but she just looked at us and didn't move.
Yuan Yan had already walked over." Noble Han, it's rare to see you go out. It's rare to meet you. Shall we go the same way?"”
Yuan Yan warmly invited me and turned her head to look at me. I had no intention of expressing goodwill, but I also didn't want to put on airs and reject people from a thousand miles away. I could only step forward.
Song Bining bowed to me, her tone formal and distant."Concubine Yu has left so early."
I looked at this famous talented girl from the capital and smiled."Isn't Lady Han the same?"
She looked at me playfully." ChenQie saw that the moonlight was very good and wanted to come out for a walk."”
"It's much better than staying inside," I said.”
After saying that, the two of them looked at each other speechlessly, and the corners of their mouths slowly curved up.
Yuan Yan couldn't stand being ignored. Yu 'er is really powerful, Han noble people can rarely chat with people.”
Song Bining had already let down her guard." Since it's just a casual chat, we naturally have something to talk about. Why should we bother with those people who are waiting to see us make a fool of ourselves?"”
Yuan Yan clapped her hands and praised,"Well said, noble!" That's exactly how it should be."
I said,"I've long heard that Sister Song has outstanding talent, and Yu 'er is fascinated."”
Song Bining's expression froze. She looked at me with a smile and said leisurely,""You call me big sister, but do you want me to call you little sister Yu 'Er?”
I shivered when I heard this. For a moment, I didn't know if her words were a reminder or a warning.
There was no malice on her face, but one could see curiosity and intelligence in her eyes."Yu 'er, perhaps we can get along.”
Hearing this, I couldn't be pretentious anymore." In that case, today is Yu 'er's birthday. Can you two come to Yu' er Garden to sit down?"”
The two of them were very surprised and happily agreed. I called Ring Bell, who followed behind me, to go back and take care of it. Then, I chatted and laughed with the two of them all the way back to Jinghe Palace.
Originally, the servants in my courtyard had prepared to celebrate my birthday. They didn't want to catch up with the palace banquet, so they had to give up. They didn't expect me to bring back guests. Because I wasn't the host, I couldn't add a small kitchen in Jinghe Palace, so I couldn't prepare any wine and dishes at the moment.
Fortunately, Song Bining and Yuan Yan were free and easy. They decided to replace wine with tea to reminisce about their friendship.
At this moment, someone reported that Chang Yuan from the Qian Yuan Palace wanted to see me. The two of us looked at each other and saw that they were also puzzled. We couldn't help but feel nervous.
After Chang Yuan entered, he bowed to the three of us."This servant greets master Yu Pin, noble Han, Qi Chang is here.”
Then she said to me,"Mistress Yu Pin, the Emperor said that he couldn't come personally today. He sent a servant to bring a table of wine and dishes to congratulate Mistress on her birthday."”
Then, he called for someone to bring in a few large boxes of various dishes and snacks and placed them on the table one by one.
Just as he was about to thank the Emperor, Chang Yuan said,"The Emperor said that this is not a reward and there is no need to thank him." This servant is in a hurry to go back. Please enjoy your meal.”After saying that, he knelt down and went to rest.
The three of us looked at the table full of dishes. Yuan Yan smiled."Yu 'er is really lucky. Whatever he wants, he gets!”
"The Emperor treats you differently," Song Bining said calmly.”
"It's not what you think."”
"So what?" Song Bining raised her cup." Congratulations on your birthday, Sister."”# Daguan Review Passed: Daguan Time:111420183: 48PM #Cancel Review All: wdd201302 Time:111420185: 56PM #
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