Chapter 77: He Dang cut the West Window Candle (3)

Two days passed quickly. The palace was preparing for a ceremony to welcome the Queen Mother. I urged on the side. Shen Xiyao handed me the arrangements for the ceremony in the harem, and I naturally handled it carefully.
The concubines in the harem are greeted according to their ranks and are only at rank 5 or above. After all, the empress dowager is tired, and her heart will become irritable when there are more people.
I thought, except for the emperor and Yu Wang, the Queen Mother most wanted to see Linglong.
Well, noble Liu, naturally should go.
After passing the decree and going to Ye Ting, Guiren Liu even said that his grade was not enough and he shouldn't be there.
I was a little puzzled for a while, shouldn't she be willing to go.
"Niangniang, wouldn't it be okay if Concubine Liu didn't go? The queen mother seemed to like her better before." Hui Ju said while tying me a shawl ribbon, it was already the next evening.
The wind was very cold. Shen Xiyao and the minister were discussing matters in the imperial study room. I have time to persuade Liu Guiren.
I looked at Hui Ju and shook my head: "Liu Guiren must go, regardless of whether the queen mother liked her or not, but she is Linglong's biological mother after all. If she does not go tomorrow, it is equivalent to telling the queen mother that I am a queen. Incompetent."
I briefly explained, Hui Ju nodded as if he didn't understand, and took a step back: "Niang Niang, all right."
I looked down at myself, my homely clothes, plain and simple, and smiled and said, "Then let's go. Don't bring any guards, and don't make a big battle."
Ye Tingli was surprisingly quiet. Although it was time for dinner to fall gradually, there was no half of a person on the corridor and I walked gently by, and occasionally heard some slight noises from the room.
I was puzzled, but I didn't care. I walked slowly in the wooden corridor with chrysanthemum petals, and there was no sound from the soft embroidered shoes.
Hui Ju walked quietly behind me, and I watched the sun gradually fade away, and there was still a blush in the western sky. But the surrounding area was dark, and there was wind blowing, and Qingyuetang was not far in front. A faint candle was burning inside, and people were shaking on the windows.
Seeing the figure, I was stunned, a little hesitant at my feet, when I walked outside the door, there was a voice from inside.
I stopped and took a deep breath. Hui Ju walked up to me, looked inside in doubt, and looked at me in surprise. I smiled helplessly and turned around.
The sun went down in an instant, there was no light in the sky, I only saw the cold light of Qiuyue and the cold wind.
There are two people talking inside, one is Liu Guiren, excited but stubborn. The other is Shen Xiyao, calm and patient.
Inside, his voice was gentle, and I heard that he was persuading Concubine Liu to meet the Queen Mother tomorrow. I didn't hear what I said, but some words still floated into my ears.
"The queen mother must also want to see you tomorrow."
"Are you trying to embarrass me?"
"Linglong is my first child after all."
"...Know the general"
...
I didn't listen, Hui Ju gently grabbed the hem of my sleeve, and I retracted the foot that I had already taken. The last sentence was heard in this quiet night.
"On the Queen's side, I will go and talk to her."
My heart tightened, and there was the voice of Liu Guiren's soft smile and her soft words.
"The concubine must go to welcome the Queen Mother tomorrow."
I grabbed the silk paw in my hand hard, the peony pattern on it was twisted into a ball, and my hand was loosened weakly, and I walked quickly under my feet, trying to get out of the long darkness, Hui Ju was tight behind me follow.
Back in the Kunning Palace, it was already time for the lanterns. I was sitting in the Dongnuan Pavilion by myself, Hui Ju stood quietly and carefully beside me, and kept quietly looking at me.
I stared at the beating candlelight for a long time, until my eyes felt a little sore, and then I took my gaze back.
Hui Ju called me timidly: "Niang Niang."
I looked up and smiled at her: "What's the matter?"
Hui Ju didn't speak, her lips moved, and I smiled slightly, "Is it because of things in Qingyuetang?"
Hui Ju didn't speak, and I smiled again: "The emperor is a man of affection. Liu Guiren was wronged before. She should be released. My palace has mentioned it to the emperor several times, but the emperor has passed by. Noble Liu came to go back to Zhaoyang Palace. That’s fine."
I stretched out my hand and fiddled with the hair on my temple. Looking at the already dark night for a long time, I turned my head and said to the still silent Hui Ju: "It's late at night, let's settle it. Although the queen mother arrives at noon, she still has to get up early to prepare. "
Hui Ju looked at me and said softly, "Manny, aren't you waiting for the emperor? Didn't the emperor say that he came tonight?"
I stood up and didn't look at her. I walked to the bronze mirror and sat down. I took off a tin flower on my head, light purple with a shining luster.
I looked at Hui Ju in the mirror and smiled and said, "The emperor will not come tonight."
Before he could speak, Xiao Xizi announced outside the door: "Niang Niang, Grandpa Zhang is here."
I watched Hui Ju smile slightly, Hui Ju pursed her mouth.
I said to the outside: "Just say anything outside."
"Niangniang, because the emperor has not finished discussing state affairs with several ministers, let the minions come over to tell Niangniang not to wait. The emperor is resting in the Hall of Nourishment."
I replied in a very calm voice: "I have a father-in-law, and please ask the emperor to pay attention to the dragon body."
Zhang Dehai responded and went down. I put away the smile on my face, and Hui Ju stepped forward to change my clothes.
I can sleep peacefully all night, although there is a slight discomfort in my heart, but, after all, he is an emperor, how can I expect him to be the only one in his heart.
What's more, I am a queen. I can't be jealous, complain, or annoy. I should remind the emperor that he should be covered in rain and dew, and look for new and talented women to spoil him.
I can only watch and accept with a smile. Be a decent and virtuous queen.
Li Ri got up early in the morning. After washing, Hui Ju and the others brought on the palace costumes to be worn at today's ceremony.
It was a crimson-red gold and silver luan bird's dress towards the phoenix, faintly mixed with dark red ruyi, which can only be seen when it is turned.
The jewellery is precious but not luxurious. A red golden Jingfu long silk phoenix hairpin hangs from numerous pearls, a pearl emerald coral tourmaline phoenix dotted emerald multiple treasure hairpin, the same fan-shaped hairpin inlaid with precious stones, and a pair of gilt enamel lotus flowers. Earrings, there are many small flower hairpins from the leaves.
After wearing it, I only feel very heavy, but the person in the mirror turns around and raises his hands, radiant and graceful.
Looking at myself in the mirror, I frowned. Although this is not the first time I have worn such luxurious dresses and jewelry, this body is too grand today, and the queen mother is not a fan of extravagance. If I wear this body , Isn’t it the first time I gave the Queen Mother the impression she didn’t like.
But in such a grand ceremony, not dressing like this, it doesn't seem to be my queen's identity.
After hesitating, Hui Ju and the others looked at me amazingly and smiled. I smiled at them, and stretched out my hand to pluck the pearl emerald coral tourmaline phoenix dot Cui Duobao hairpin on their heads.
"Niang Niang, you..." Hui Ju stepped forward to stop me, and I put down my hand and looked at her with puzzled eyes.
Hui Ju said: "Niang Niang, these jewelry were sent by the emperor before with this court dress. Why don't Niang Niang use it?"
I retracted my gaze: "My palace knows it was sent by the emperor, but my palace really doesn't like such a complicated dress, as long as it doesn't break the rules."
Stopped for a while and continued: "If the emperor blames it, this palace will explain to the emperor. Don't worry."
After all, I found a small white jade hairpin made of white jade and put it in the previous position, and reduced the small hairpin on the head. The golden gauze outside the clothes was also taken off and replaced with light red. .
Later, when I look at myself, he is still noble, but less luxurious and more charming.
Hui Ju looked aside and nodded and chuckled.
At noon, all civil and military officials followed the emperor to a long pavilion ten miles away to meet the Queen Mother Fengjia. I led the concubines and waited at the Upper and Lower Tianguang Hall near the gate of the imperial palace.
All the concubines looked nervous. I saw the concubine He and Li concubine whom I had never seen recently. They were still gentle and quiet, a bright and moving concubine, and some other concubines on the fifth rank.
My gaze swept lightly, but Liu Guiren was not seen. I was curious.
In the early morning, Shen Xiyao came to Kunning Palace to have breakfast with me.
He never spoke, I just didn't know.
Finally, at the end of the breakfast, when the lady of the clock took down the dishes, he slowly said: "Ville, I have something to tell you."
I saw his slightly dodging gaze, and I understood. But on the surface, he didn't make a difference, and only handed him a silk towel: "The emperor wipe his hands."
"The queen mother is back today..." Before he could speak, I smiled and said: "It just so happens that the concubine has something to tell the emperor."
He looked at me in surprise: "What's the matter with Wei Er?"
I took a cup of tea from Huiju and offered it to him, and then knelt down in front of him: "The concubine has a merciless request."
He was taken aback by me, and he quickly reached out to help: "What's wrong, you are not fully healthy yet, get up quickly."
I lowered my eyes and said, "The emperor promises his concubines first."
He has stood up: "I promise." He said he wanted to help me.
I laughed: "The emperor hasn't listened to the concubine."
"Go ahead." He said busy.
"The concubine thought, when the queen mother returned to the palace today, she would naturally want to see Linglong the most, except for the emperor and the king."
As I said, I looked up at him and continued: "Liu Guiren is Linglong's biological mother. Although he was downgraded to a nobleman by mistake before, his concubines thought that there were still many doubts in the matter and should not be offended. Now the queen mother is back. Although Guiren Liu is not a fifth-rank, as the birth mother of Emperor Ji, you should still meet. Not to mention..."
I paused and said, "Di Ji is the emperor's first heir. It is of great significance, so it is time for Liu Guiren to go."
I leaned over and bowed down: "So the concubine asked the emperor Enzhun to make an exception, and Guiren Liu to attend the reception ceremony for the queen mother.
Shen Xiyao lifted me up personally, his eyes filled with approval: "The queen is very true, and I am approved."
After that, Zhang Dehai was told to inform Liu Guiren to prepare.
I sneered in my heart. Guiren Liu, I'm afraid he would be ready long ago.