The Job of an Imperial Concubine

After a few swing dances, it was almost noon, and it was the cold food banquet. Although the food presented was kept away from fire, the imperial chefs still had the ability to make them taste delicious.

While eating, he watched the beauty sitting on the swing playing the flute. The sound of the flute was so melodious that even Zhuang Luorou, who was not good at it, couldn't help but listen to it. On the contrary, the other people present did not look at the flute player at all, as if it was commonplace.

Probably because I am used to seeing and hearing it, and after going through all kinds of pomp and circumstance, this kind of small scene is really nothing. Zhuang Luoyan picked up the wine bottle and took a sip. In such a place, status means fate.

"Zhao Xianrong likes this song?" the queen said suddenly, looking at Zhuang Luoyan with a smile, "These are all actors raised in the palace, you are the master of the palace, if you like it, I will call someone to perform for you in the palace It's also possible."

"The concubine listened to this very beautiful song, so she couldn't help being distracted, which made the empress laugh." Zhuang Luoyan put down the wine bottle and smiled respectfully at the queen.

"This song is called Hundred Flowers Drunk, and the tune is really melodious and beautiful. You didn't know it when you entered the palace. The song sung by Concubine Rou back then was the sound of nature. Although the sound of the flute is beautiful, it is better than the song sung by Concubine Rou back then. Son, it’s still a lot worse.” When the queen said this, she glanced at the emperor, “I mean, there’s no one in the palace with a more beautiful voice than Concubine Rou, what do you think, Your Majesty?”

"Concubine Rou's voice is indeed the voice of nature," Feng Jin seemed not aware of the empress' words with ulterior motives, "not to mention Zhao Xianrong, even I haven't heard Concubine Rou sing for quite some time."

Concubine Rou got up and forced a smile: "Thank you, the emperor and the queen, for the praise, the concubines are terrified."

A few days ago, she had been treated coldly by the emperor because of borrowing Xihe's servants. Now, although the empress talked about her as a singer, the emperor gave her a look, so now I don't know whether it is annoyed or happy.

Feng Jin glanced at her timid appearance, stopped talking, and pointed to the two dishes in front of him, "I remember that Concubine Shu likes sweets, so this plate is for Concubine Shu. This plate of gold, stone, emerald and silver flowers Zhao Xianrong likes to eat, Take it to her."

The so-called Jinshi Cuiyinhua is actually preserved green pepper eggs. Zhuang Luoyan got up and thanked her, and then directly took a piece and threw it into his mouth, without being so gentle.

Concubine Shu is much more refined than Zhuang Luoyan. Now Su Xiuyi is reprimanded by the emperor because of Zhuang Luoyan. Concubine Shu is Su Xiuyi's cousin, and Concubine Shu's family once visited Zhuang Luoyan's elder brother. dealt with.

Both of them were the most proud people in the palace, and neither of them dared to rush to offend, so they watched the two fight with cold eyes.

"The taste is really sweet. I thank the emperor for the reward." After taking a sip, Concubine Shu smiled softly again, and stood up to thank the emperor.

"My concubine likes it, so I use a few more mouthfuls." Feng Jin smiled lightly, turned his eyes, saw that Zhuang Luoyan had spent three or four yuan, and said, "Zhao Xianrong, although this gold, stone, emerald and silver flower is delicious. , your wound has not healed, so don't be greedy for food and drink."

Reluctantly glanced at the green pepper preserved egg, Zhuang Luoyan raised her head to look at the emperor, stood up and saluted, her voice was softer than when she was thanking her, "Yes, your majesty, my concubine has lost her composure."

Feng Jin wanted to say a few more words, but seeing her pale face due to excessive blood loss, she could only shake her head helplessly, "You are weak, so you don't need to be so polite, please sit down."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Zhuang Luoyan sat down, ignoring the envious or jealous eyes of the concubines around her, gently sliding her index finger over the foot of the wine bottle, and suddenly raised her head, meeting Concubine Shu's gaze.

Showing a faint smile at Concubine Shu, Zhuang Luoyan raised the wine glass, took a sip slowly, the two eyes collided, and then moved away from each other again.

"Your Majesty, the spring is just right today. After dinner, why not paint a picture of the spring together? Would it be a little bit more elegant?" Concubine Shu looked at the emperor and smiled sweetly.

Feng Jin nodded when he heard the words, "Today is indeed a rare and fine weather, reciting poems and painting with concubines, it can be regarded as stealing half a day of leisure."

Everyone knew in their hearts that Concubine Shu wanted to embarrass Zhaoxianrong. After all, in the harem, everyone knew that Zhaoxianrong's paintings were bad, and even the emperor said it was ugly.

Everyone looked at Zhao Xianrong at this moment, but saw that the master was eating his meal calmly, without any hint of anger. Many people felt in their hearts that this Zhao Xianrong was calm and calm. of.

After eating, the palace servants have already prepared tables, chairs, benches, pens, ink, paper and inkstones, as well as brushes, paints and stones of various colors, just waiting for the masters to pick up the brushes and write poems.

Some people say that a painting is like a person, so a person who is good at painting is more holy and noble in people's mind. Most of the concubines in the harem are from some family background, so they have naturally learned piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, even if they are not proficient, they will know something to add some elegance.

Those who were born in a humble background would naturally not have a high status, so whether they paint or not is no longer that important. Among the concubines, there are some who are of poor status and painting skills, only Concubine Yan Gui and Concubine Zhao Xianrong.

Concubine Yan Gui was born not very well, and Zhao Xianrong is really not good at it, so many people are waiting to see the jokes between the two.

Zhuang Luoyan didn't care about other people's thoughts, and picked up a pen to outline it on the silk, not at all as bad as others had imagined in the past.

Concubine Shu glanced at Zhuang Luorou, lowered her head with a half-smile, and carefully outlined a magnolia flower.

Feng Jin is the emperor, for him playing music, chess, calligraphy and painting is just a pastime, so he is not obsessed with it, he just simply outlines a rock, with a half-bloomed orchid beside the rock.

Not long after the emperor finished painting, the other concubines naturally had to stop writing one after another to watch each other.

The queen's paintings are quite satisfactory, and a picture of peonies is noble and magnificent, which shows the demeanor of her family's birth. Feng Jin praised it twice, then went to look at the paintings made by other concubines.

As the most beloved concubine in the harem, Concubine Shu is not only charming in dancing, but also capable of piano, chess, calligraphy and painting.

Zhuang Luoyan put down her pen, glanced at the concubines who were surrounding Concubine Shu and said flattering words, and smiled.

When Jiang Guipin glanced at the painting in front of Zhuang Luoyan, there was a trace of surprise in his eyes, and then he smiled and said: "The painting of the empress is amazing."

"Just don't be ashamed," Zhuang Luoyan hooked the corners of her lips, women in the harem sometimes can't treat themselves as a water basin, and just pour out what is there. The so-called surprise, is it only effective when the other party is not expecting it?

When the emperor came to Zhuang Luoyan's case, he was a little surprised by the painting that he had no expectation of his painting skills. There is only a red begonia, a remnant rock and a butterfly on the silk, and there is a poem by Ouyang Xiu in the blank space beside it. Although the painting skills are far inferior to that of Concubine Ning, it has an indescribable meaning.

"This year's flowers are better than last year's. It's a pity that next year's flowers will be even better. Who do you know?" Feng Jin read this sentence slowly, took a deep look at Zhuang Luoyan, and then smiled: "Although Aifei's paintings are not considered It is chosen, but the implication is rare. Waiting for next year, I don’t know if the painting skills will be better.”

"I know that my painting skills are not as good as others, but it's just a trick of the class." Zhuang Luoyan smiled.

Concubine Shu Gui who was at the side was a little uncomfortable. The emperor specifically mentioned what next year is, so it is possible that Zhuang Luorou had to make such a promise because Zhuang Luorou had inscribed an unknown word.

Is this Zhuang Luoyan's provocation to her original "flowers without hundred-day red"?

The empress seemed quite happy to see Concubine Shu faceless, and immediately said: "I look at Zhao Xianrong's fresh and lovely painting, and it's a bright spot for my eyes. It can be seen that Zhao Xianrong was painted with insufficient care in the palace lantern back then."

"Your Majesty praised it absurdly. The concubine likes that kind of chubby painting, and the painting skills are not good enough, so I painted like that on the palace lantern that day." Zhuang Luoyan smiled lightly, "I made everyone laugh."

"Zhaoxian's appearance is really hidden," Concubine Shu also said with a smile, "If you didn't paint together today, I'm afraid even the emperor would not know that you have such painting skills."

"Your Majesty's words are serious. I really dare not defile the Emperor's eyes with this concubine's shameful paintings." Zhuang Luoyan looked at the Emperor, "Concubine is not a person who loves to paint, so the Emperor has never seen concubine's paintings."

"It's true," Feng Jin raised his head and said to Concubine Shu, "I see that she can sit but can't stand. It's embarrassing for her to do things like painting."

The smile on Concubine Shu's face faded again, "But doesn't the emperor just like sister Zhao's lazy temperament?"

Feng Jin smiled when he heard this, turned around and walked towards Concubine Ning without continuing the conversation.

Everyone naturally followed and saw that Concubine Ning's canvas was a picture of green bamboo, but with a few strokes, she could paint the charm and shape of bamboo. Even a layman like Zhuang Luoyan felt that Concubine Ning's painting skills It is better than other women.

The crowd naturally gave a burst of admiration, and Concubine Shu said: "Concubine Ning's paintings are inferior to those of us. I remember that Concubine Ning imitated Gu Kaizhi's painting of Luoshen Fu two years ago, just like the original painting. I am afraid that this level of imitation skills can only be achieved by Gu Kaizhi's rebirth. Others must not be able to tell that it is not a real painting."

"The imperial concubine is absurd, the concubines are just bored in their free time, just pretending to play, how can they be so powerful." Concubine Ning smiled, her expression was indifferent, without any complacency.

"Why is Concubine Ning so modest?" Concubine Shu paused, and then suddenly said, "If you don't mention this concubine, you will almost forget it. Your Majesty, Concubine Ning is good at painting and imitating paintings. Why don't you show her that peacock?" Who exactly copied the picture to deliberately frame Zhao Xianrong?"

Nearly a month has passed since this incident, and the emperor and empress have agreed that Zhao Xianrong was framed by someone with a heart. Why does Concubine Shu bring up this matter again? Is she trying to say that Zhao Xianrong was not framed, or is there something else?

Feng Jin's brows moved slightly, he looked at Concubine Shu again, tapped Concubine Ning's painting table with his index finger, seeing Concubine Ning respectfully put down the brush that was still in her hand because of his action, she retracted her hand again, and said to Ning Concubine The concubine said, "Concubine Shu mentioned this, and I want you to see it too. Queen, let someone present the peacock tail." Speaking of this, Feng Jin suddenly paused, "After all, Zhao Xianrong was with me that day. The kite that was released, the kite that flew away was the lead that I cut with my own hands."

As soon as the emperor said this, the complexions of the people present changed slightly. The emperor's words did not mean that Zhao Xianrong was not the one who was looking for the paper kite that day. return?

Why was the emperor's silence before that?

The concubine who had bullied Zhuang Luoyan before took advantage of the situation and felt more and more frightened, her face gradually turned pale, and the bustling Royal Garden suddenly became dull.

Zhuang Luoyan didn't expect the emperor to say such a sentence, his eyelids moved, and his eyes continued to fall on the green bamboo picture of Concubine Ning.