To Hold One’s Joy

  Chapter 470 Summoning

  The back position has been vacant all the time, Concubine Xiao Gui is the actual hostess of the harem, and the seven or forty-nine newly-elected noble ladies will naturally go to Yuhua Palace to pay their respects.

  Looking at these flower-like girls, Concubine Xiao Gui looked indifferent, and dismissed them lazily.

   Some of the noble ladies who left Yuhua Palace were relieved, while others were unhappy.

  They also grew up holding in the palm of their hands at home, but the way Concubine Xiao looked at them was like looking at a cat or a dog, how could it be comforting.

  Among them, the noble girl surnamed Li, who was conferred the title of Concubine An, was the most dissatisfied.

  Concubine An is a girl from the Li family of the descendant family. Empress Li, who died of illness for many years, is her elder sister.

  In her opinion, Concubine Xiao is simply a king without tigers and monkeys in the mountains. If the clan elder sisters were still around, how could concubine Xiao be so proud, looking at them was like looking at ants.

  Thinking about the decline of the Hou family and the glory of Concubine Xiao, Concubine An couldn't help it.

  She has beauty, talent, and background.

  Compared to Concubine Xiao Gui, what she owes is nothing more than an opportunity. Now that she enters the palace, she is determined to get Li Shi back.

  In Yuhua Palace, Concubine Xiao Gui lay on her side on the beauty couch, and casually asked Tao Hong: "Is that concubine An a girl from the Li family?"

  Tao Hong hurriedly said: "Exactly."

   Concubine Xiao Gui pursed her lips and smiled: "Looks like a spiritual person, a bit like when I first entered the palace."

  Tao Hong smiled and said, "A little concubine, how can I compare with your empress."

  Concubine Xiao Gui restrained her smile, and said lightly: "You are wrong. When I first entered the palace, I was just a young servant, far from being a concubine."

  Tao Hong pursed her lips and smiled: "But her title is An, the emperor must want her to live in An An, so don't make your empress unhappy."

  Concubine Xiao Gui was obviously pleased by these words, she stroked her swollen belly and chuckled softly.

  Everyone knows the purpose of the emperor filling the harem. Speaking of which, the choice of concubine is still because of her.

  She gave hope to the emperor only after she was pregnant, and then gave hope to those struggling families.

  Are you angry? not at all.

  She had figured it out before that no amount of petting was rootless duckweed, and men would change at any time for profit. After all, the child in her womb is the biggest reliance.

  But these people who gave birth to the idea don't know how her child came about.

Thinking of this, Concubine Xiao straightened her face, played with the orange-yellow tangerine and said lightly: "I want to eat beggar chicken, let Nanny Dou tell Miss Luo that I am pregnant and cannot eat it outside. Come in for food and drink, please invite her cook into the palace."

  Nurse Dou took orders and left.

  The snow stopped, and the pavement of Qingxing Street was swept out, revealing the wet bluestone slabs, with knee-high snow piled up on both sides of the road.

  There seems to be a lot of snow this winter.

  A small sedan chair with green curtains stopped not far away, and Aunt Dou walked into a wine shop.

  When the female shopkeeper saw Madam Dou coming in, she rushed up to greet her: "You are here, drink a cup of hot tea to warm up."

  Nurse Dou took off the heavy clothes and handed them to the little maid who followed, and asked, "Is Miss Luo there?"

  The female shopkeeper handed a cup of wolfberry and red jujube tea to Aunt Dou, and said with a smile, "It's only morning, and my boss hasn't come yet."

   "What about Xiugu?"

   "Xiu Gu didn't come either."

  Nurse Dou took a sip of tea, and the slightly sweet tea made her breathe a sigh of relief: "Please also send someone to the Luo Mansion to say that the imperial concubine called Xiugu into the palace to cook."

   "Then wait a moment." The female shopkeeper went to the back and called the strong man to deliver the letter.

   "Concubine Xiao called Xiugu into the palace to cook?" After receiving the news, Luo Sheng frowned slightly, feeling a bad premonition.

   It has almost become a routine for Yuhua Palace to send people to fetch beggar chickens every month. There was only one time when Xiuyue was invited into the palace, and that was the time when she used cakes to imply that she would give birth to a precious child early.

   Concubine Xiao called Xiuyue into the palace this time just after the concubine selection ended, so she couldn't help but think about it.

   It is certain to ask Xiuyue to enter the palace to beat, but I am afraid that it is not just as simple as beating...

  I hope she treats the heart of a gentleman with the heart of a villain.

   "Be careful after entering the palace." Luo Sheng told Xiuyue seriously.

  Xiuyue nodded: "Miss, don't worry, the servant girl knows."

  The two master and servant rushed to a restaurant, and Mother Dou had already drunk her third cup of wolfberry and red date tea.

   "Miss Luo is here." Upon seeing Luo Sheng, Aunt Dou smiled kindly.

Going out of the palace once a month, eating, drinking, and entertaining at the wine shop, even a naturally cold face will have a smile, not to mention that Mother Dou's cold face is not born, it is the identity of the old mother in the palace that has to be brought out of.

  Luo Sheng pointed at Xiuyue and said: "Gu Xiu can only do things but not talk, please take care of Mother Dou after entering the palace."

  Nurse Dou, who received an ingot of gold, smiled and said, "Miss Luo, don't worry, our mother likes Xiugu's craftsmanship very much."

  Watching Xiuyue leave with Nanny Dou, Luo Sheng thought about it, and got into the kitchen to get busy.

  In Yuhua Palace, Concubine Xiao Gui, who was dozing off, opened her eyes when she heard the report: "Bring someone in."

   Not long after, Xiuyue came to Xiao Guifei and bowed her knees.

   Concubine Xiao nodded slightly, her tone was gentle: "There is no need to be too polite. Tao Hong, take Xiugu to the dining room."

   All the ingredients used for the beggar's chicken in the dining room had been prepared, and with Xiuyue's skillful cooking skills, she presented the finished beggar's chicken without making Concubine Xiao wait too long.

  The maid took the beggar chicken, cracked open the mud shell, peeled off the lotus leaves, and presented the chicken to Concubine Xiao Gui.

  Tao Hong stepped forward to take it, and handed a pair of silver chopsticks to Concubine Xiao after tasting it.

   Concubine Xiao took a bite of the golden-roasted chicken. It was tender and crispy, with an attractive aroma.

  Delicious is really delicious.

   But Concubine Xiao took a few mouthfuls but suddenly turned her head and felt nauseated.

  Xiuyue kept Luo Sheng's advice in mind, and seeing Concubine Xiao was so concerned, she couldn't help mentioning it.

  Although she has never been married, she still has this bit of common sense. Concubine Xiao's month has passed the time of embarrassment.

  Concubine Xiao Gui is like this, is it because of her special constitution, or is she trying to attract something else?

  Just turned around this thought, and saw Tao Hong walking quickly to the desk, and took a glass cup over: "Your Majesty, have a few sips of plum juice."

   Concubine Xiao Gui wiped the corners of her mouth, took a few sips from the cup, her face calmed down, and she said to Xiuyue, "I just laughed."

  Xiuyue hurriedly said she didn't dare.

   Concubine Xiao took a few more sips of plum juice, and asked unhurriedly, "Can Gu Xiu know how to make plum juice?"

   "Very rarely." Xiuyue replied after deliberation.

  Concubine Xiao Gui smiled: "The plum juice that was tributed from the south suits the taste of this palace. Peach red, give Xiugu a cup to taste."

  She looked at Xiuyue, with a faint smile: "Xiugu, taste this tribute plum juice, and see which one you make tastes better."

  Taohong walked up to Xiuyue step by step with a light red plum juice in her hand, and said with a smile, "Xiugu is lucky today."

  White hands, clear glass, rippling red liquid.

  Xiuyue clenched her fist hard and then released it, reaching out to take the cup of plum juice.

  (end of this chapter)