First Concubine

Chapter 99 Wedding ceremony (3)

"Hey, Sister Guifei, are you mocking Concubine De for pretending to be sick?" Where is Concubine Shu really sick? It's just a way to invite favors.

 Concubine De was the original Xiang Fei. The prince got married, the emperor granted pardon to the whole world, and granted a large number of concubines to the harem. All the concubines with children were promoted. Last night, she suddenly asked for leave from the queen, saying that she should not go out much because of the cold.

The imperial concubine smiled and stroked the eight-tailed phoenix hairpin on her head, unable to conceal her arrogance: "No, it's just that my sister rarely attends such occasions, so I'm not going to ask you this question. Please don't give me any clues that I'm not with anyone." You must know that peace and tranquility in the harem are the blessings of the world. I dare not cause trouble at will, and my sister should not deliberately stir up trouble. "

"You..." Concubine Shu looked at the queen aggrievedly.

The queen has a headache. These women fight like cockfighting **** all year round. Is it interesting? Aren't you tired?

Concubine Shu saw that the queen was ignoring her, so she made peace with herself: "I really want to see the crown prince, and I really want to eat the lychees in the queen's palace, but I'm afraid that if I come late, my sisters will divide them up."

The queen followed her words and said kindly: "There are floods in the south this year, so the tribute lychees are less than usual, so I didn't send them to your palace one by one, in case someone doesn't like them and it would be a waste."

The two stood up and thanked her, and the queen added: "Governor Jiang's wife has done a good job this time. The people think highly of her. A few days ago, someone even wrote a book to invite her to be his wife. Long Live Lord, let me watch. OK, let me ask you what you mean."

Concubine Shu spat out the pills in her mouth, and the palace maid put away the veil containing the pills. She asked softly: "But Shui Lingyu, the third lady of the Shui family?"

The queen put down the hot tea cup and filled it with the maid. She reached out to take it and found that it was slightly hot. She frowned and took her hand away, no longer looking at the cup. She said kindly to Concubine Shu, "It's her, she's not that old." Although he is old, he is very hard-working and does not mind the mess of the victims. At first, they cooked porridge and gave it to them. Later, they organized many doctors to take turns to treat the patients. I think Governor Jiang did not marry the wrong person this time. "

　　I said I was asking them what they meant, but in fact I was just letting them know in disguise.

Concubine Shu smiled and said: "I think it's very good. Complying with public opinion is to appease the people."

The imperial concubine rubbed the handkerchief in her hand and raised her eyebrows slightly: "I don't know what high-quality incense the ancestors of the Shui family burned? The daughters they gave birth to have a bright future. The palace concubine and her family alone have two , In addition, the eldest concubine of the Zhenbei Palace and the eldest concubine of the Pingnan Palace are so glorious that even the Yao family has never had such brilliance. "

Why doesn’t the queen understand what she means? He didn't get angry, his smile remained the same and his tone was as usual: "My daughters are all the best."

The word "daughter" was emphasized. Everyone couldn't help but think of Shui Minyu and Shui Minhui in Shangshu Mansion. They shook their heads. What's the use of daughters no matter how capable they are? The sons who really carry on the legacy, Shui Minyu and Shui Minhui, have mediocre qualifications and are obviously not the material to be officials. The prosperity of the Shui family can only last for one or two generations.

The queen is the queen. The imperial concubine said a lot of sharp words. The queen clearly only said one sentence, but she still agreed with the imperial concubine's point of view, but it made people disperse the jealousy and envy in their hearts.

When Shui Linglong and Eunuch Zhang entered the Weiyang Palace, they happened to see Princess Mo walking towards them holding down a maid with tears streaming down her face. After the two looked at Eunuch Zhang, they hurriedly bowed to Shui Linglong. Princess Mo smiled and said: "Slave Mo Ju has met the Crown Princess."

Shui Linglong smiled lightly and said, "Miss Mo, you don't need to be polite."

Ms. Mo was blessed again, so she took the little palace maid who couldn't even serve tea and ended up scalding the queen to the Shenxing Department.

Shui Linglong stood at the door of Baifang Pavilion, thinking that after being reborn for more than half a year, she would finally have to deal with women who are at the pinnacle of power. These people are not just those who play tricks in the house and poke you without any pain. Women and children, they hold the power of life and death in their hands. They can lift you to heaven in one word, kick you to jail in the blink of an eye, and bring misfortunes and blessings all at the same time.

Shui Linglong took a deep breath and slowly walked into the bright and open hall.

As soon as Bingbing opened her eyes and saw the bright sky outside the window, her expression suddenly changed with fright. She sat up suddenly and touched the place next to her where Yunli had been lying. It was surprisingly cold. It seemed that he had been away for a long time. When did he leave? Last night he tormented her like crazy for most of the night. She had never seen such a desperate look in his eyes, but in fact, it was just Linglong's wedding...

I thought I didn’t mind, but now my heart hurts as if I was being pricked by needles.

"Princess, my servant will help you change your clothes. The queen is waiting in a hurry." The maid Yue'e stood outside the screen and said cautiously.

Bingbing rubbed her sore waist: "Where is His Highness the Crown Prince?"

"His Royal Highness is in the study. He said that he would accompany you to the palace after you have finished washing yourself."

 What are you doing when you enter the palace together? See Linglong? Bingbing smiled bitterly and called Yue'e to come in and serve.

Although she was in a bad mood, her appetite was very good, especially when she was with Linglong. She actually learned to eat spicy food, and now she doesn't like anything spicy. For breakfast, she had a bowl of beef noodles mixed with some chopped chili peppers. It was so spicy that she burst into tears. Non-stop.

When Yun Li came in, he saw her crying while eating noodles. He stared at her and said gently: "If you can't eat spicy food, don't eat it. You are used to eating light food. How can you compare with Linglong?"

Bingbing put down her chopsticks, wiped her tears and lips with a handkerchief, bowed respectfully, lowered her eyebrows and said, "Yes, I will never be compared to Linglong. I am self-aware. Your Highness, please rest assured."

Yun Li's thick eyebrows frowned. Why did the Crown Princess's words sound a bit strange? He was simply referring to eating chili peppers. She seemed to be... insinuating something else? But he didn't take it too seriously. He just looked at Bingbing and said slowly: "Let's go into the palace after we're full."

Your Highness, actually I haven’t eaten enough...

In the Baifang Pavilion of Weiyang Palace, Shui Linglong performed three kowtows and nine bows to the queen. After the ceremony, she was soaked all over, but her expression was calm and elegant from beginning to end. The queen showed a little satisfaction. Eunuch Zhang ordered: "Bring me my purple and gold Ruyi Hairpin."

Purple gold jewelry is so precious that even the first-grade concubines only have a few pieces in their palaces. Especially those with the word "ruyi" in them are often gifts from the late emperor.

Shui Linglong knelt on the ground, took the brocade box with both hands, bowed again, and said, "Thank you, Queen, for the gift. I am deeply grateful!"

 “Flat body, given a seat.”

Shui Linglong thanked her again and again, stood up, and saluted the noble concubine and concubine Shu in turn.

The imperial concubine raised her eyebrows lightly and rewarded her with a pair of jade bracelets.

Concubine Shu smiled beautifully and gave her a luminous cup.

Shui Linglong thanked them one by one and sat down at Concubine Shu's bed.

The imperial concubine couldn't hide her arrogant smile and said: "Don't you say she is a concubine? I learned the rules very well, no worse than the legitimate daughter."

Shui Linglong’s smile was as usual, without any fluctuation.

Concubine Shu turned her beautiful eyes, covered her face and said with a smile: "How does it compare to your third prince's concubine?"

Concubine Shu is really capable of stirring up trouble. Although the third prince's concubine was chosen by Concubine De, it was the queen, her aunt, who agreed to marry her. If she said Shui Linglong was better, it would be a slap in the queen's face; The princess is better, Shui Linglong, the person involved, was present, so she couldn't help but feel unhappy after hearing this.

Shui Linglong drank the tea in the water and glanced at the imperial concubine out of the corner of her eye, wondering what she would answer.

A trace of joy flashed in the eyes of the noble concubine. It seemed that it was reasonable for the concubine Shu to say such a thing, or it was part of her plan. She shook the cup and smiled wildly: "Concubine Shu, this is a good question. , One day I will call the three princes and concubines into the palace to compete with the crown prince, and ask the queen to be the judge. I will give a pair of luminous pearls to whoever is the winner. "

 Cunningly kicked the ball to the queen!

Shui Linglong blinked. No wonder the third prince could go against Yun Li. He has such a shrewd mother!

The queen smiled faintly: "You are really not a loser. A pair of night pearls want to seduce the third daughter-in-law to bring the emperor's grandson to see you!" It seemed that Concubine Shu's conversation was to enable the concubine to see her grandson.

The imperial concubine choked, and then, as if she had been told something, she shyly twitched the corner of her lips: "Nothing can be hidden from the eyes of the empress!"

 The smoke of a war that almost ignited was extinguished by the Queen with ease.

Shui Linglong took a sip of tea. The queen is really a master of palace fighting.

Everyone chatted for a while. The queen looked at Shui Linglong and said gently: "Before you came, we were discussing the matter of your third sister. Your third sister has benefited the people in Jiangnan and her reputation has spread far and wide. Some officials gave her a discount. What do you think about your third sister’s request?”

　　A woman always follows her husband's family status when she gets married, but the queen refers to her as "her third sister". Is this trying to get close to her? Shui Linglong stood up and said with a shy smile: "I think that in order to reward the third sister, I have to reward the other two people first."

"Oh, who?" The queen became interested, the noble concubine and the concubine Shu pricked up their ears, and even the concubine Xian, who was as indifferent as water, also looked sideways at Shui Linglong.

"The first person is the current empress. The empress is a mother-in-law to the world and a model for all women in the Zhou Dynasty. The third sister's noble virtue must be the result of correctly learning the spirit of the empress." She emphasized "correct learning", which is what she told For others, it is not the fault of the queen, the mother of the country, that some women have shortcomings in virtue, but the way they learn is wrong.

Everyone couldn't help but look a little surprised. Concubine Shu was about to seize the loophole in her words to make trouble, but at this moment she was speechless.

 The queen smiled and nodded.

Shui Linglong shook her sweaty hand and continued: "The second person to be rewarded is Governor Jiang. The husband is the wife's guide. The husband loves the country and the people and acts upright, and the wife can learn from it. If Governor Jiang is like an ordinary man, They all believe that women and children should not be exposed to the public, so my wife’s third sister will not have the opportunity to get to know the victims up close and listen to their voices, let alone rescue them.”

He spoke eloquently, seemingly praising the Queen and Governor Jiang, but in fact he praised Shui Lingyu every time. He also cleverly pushed Shui Lingyu's only shortcoming that was questioned by the old civil servants on Governor Jiang, and had a direct bearing on the lives and deaths of the victims. Closely integrated, in this case, what's wrong with "showing one's face"?

The queen's eyes flashed with deep surprise and deep regret. She ordered her father-in-law Zhang to threaten Shui Hangge like that, intending to kill her son's infatuation, but unexpectedly, Bingbing married her. At that time, she didn't. It felt too big, and now as soon as I heard her talk, I felt that I had missed a treasure.

 The queen collected her thoughts and smiled: "What a clever mouth you have!"

Shui Linglong blessed her body and sat down on the seat.

The queen told Eunuch Zhang: "Put a basket of lychees newly brought into the palace to the imperial concubine."

 “Yes!” Eunuch Zhang responded respectfully.

Shui Linglong stood up again and thanked her.

The imperial concubine looked at Shui Linglong, her eyes twinkling with meaning.

"Mother, the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess are here." The eunuch's announcement sounded outside the door.

The Queen's eyes flashed, she raised her hand calmly, and said to Mr. Zhang: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess are invited to have an audience -"

Yunli and Bingbing entered Baifang Pavilion and saluted the Queen: "See you, Queen Mother."

 “Flat body.”

 The third concubine stood up and gave the two people the state ceremony, and the two gave the third concubine the home ceremony.

Yunli and Bingbing sat down on the chairs opposite the third concubine and Shui Linglong. The little palace maid served tea. Bingbing winked at Shui Linglong with her right eye. She was as cunning as a fox and was jealous, but it was also true that she liked Shui Linglong.

Shui Linglong also looked at Bingbing while drinking tea, but inadvertently encountered Yunli's fiery gaze, and she quickly lowered her eyes.

The queen's seemingly gentle but sharp eyes swept away, and the smile on her lips condensed, and she said: "The prince came just in time, Xiao Qi just made a fuss about going to your father to recite lessons, your father has so many things to do, how can he have time to give me Is he a master? You go to the inner hall to check his homework." There is no room for rejection!

Yunli's thick eyebrows frowned, and he reluctantly withdrew his eyes from the charming face that was like a peach blossom. He thought that she had completed the transformation from a girl to a woman last night, and thought of the car waiting for her at the gate of the palace. In the carriage, he felt a sudden loss in his heart. He gathered his emotions, stood up and said, "Yes, I will leave."

The imperial concubine lowered her eyes and said nothing, just drinking tea quietly.

Concubine Shu's eyes rolled around. She smelled a smell that made her blood boil. What could it be?

The queen looked at Shui Linglong and said, "Now that you have entered the palace, go and see your aunt and sister!"

Does this allow her to visit Shui Chenxiang? Shui Linglong was slightly startled. The queen treated her so well today, she was almost flattered.

After Shui Linglong left, the queen looked at Bingbing again, her smile still the same, but with an imperceptible sternness: "Are you feeling better?"

Bingbing bit her lip and replied bravely: "It's better. My son has been taking medicine seriously."

The queen wanted to ask, "Has this month's monthly letter arrived?", but the words came to her lips: "The third princess feels bored in the palace, so you can go and accompany her to relieve her boredom."

"yes."

After all the guests left, the queen leaned back on the chair as if she was extremely tired: "Do you think I have acted too hastily? After all, she is still young. It is normal for her monthly letters to be irregular. I am also a mature woman at her age. It comes and goes for a month, and it doesn’t get better until I’m sixteen.”

Eunuch Zhang understands that although the queen is asking, she doesn't want you to answer. The birth of the emperor's eldest grandson by the third prince's concubine has a great impact on the prince. The queen is eager for the prince to also spread the good news, but the prince's monthly letters are irregular. , it’s not easy to conceive, it’s been four months since the wedding and there’s not even a single bubble.

Shui Linglong left Weiyang Palace and walked towards the Leng Palace. She decided to visit Shui Chenxiang first and then Shui Lingyue. Well, she admitted that she would not want to deal with Shui Lingyue at all if the queen hadn't spoken.

The sky was gloomy, and the dark clouds were like hills pressing above my head. Just looking at it made me feel like I was breathing heavy.

Haunted weather!

Shui Linglong wiped the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief and stared at the road in front of her. Unexpectedly, she suddenly bumped into a **** when she was approaching the imperial garden!

Zhifan was not Ye Mao and did not have that level of skill. She followed Shui Linglong and heard Shui Linglong cry out in pain. When she planned to use her skills to stop him, it was already a step too late. Shui Linglong was knocked backwards and leaned against her body. on her body.

Zhi busy stabilized her figure: "Miss, are you okay?"

Shui Linglong rubbed her slightly aching shoulder and looked at the person who came. He was about twenty years old, with thick eyebrows and big eyes. He was very handsome.

Zhifan also looked at him, feeling as if he had seen him somewhere before, but couldn't remember it for a while.

The **** hurriedly bowed and apologized: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I didn't do it on purpose!" He didn't even raise his eyes to look at Shui Linglong!

Shui Linglong found that he was not in a normal panic, as if he was being chased by venomous snakes and beasts. Judging from his clothes, he was at least a fourth-grade chamberlain. Shui Linglong estimated that he should be the **** in charge of a certain palace empress. This kind of person is still It's better not to offend. Shui Linglong waved her hand: "It's okay, you can go."

The man didn’t say thank you and walked away!

Zhi Fan glared at the man displeasedly, then bent down to pick up the purse he knocked off: "Miss, you have lost your things."

While speaking, the ribbon at the mouth of the purse unraveled, and the two jade pendants fell to the grass. Zhi Fan picked them up and handed them to Shui Linglong, and said in surprise: "Huh? The half-moon-shaped one has writing on it, so special."

The man suddenly stopped and turned around. When he saw Shui Linglong and the jade pendant in her hand, his face... instantly turned pale!

 (End of this chapter)