HCB Chapter 133 Adoptive Mother
Chapter 133 Adoptive Mother
New Year's Eve,
The snow in Yimei Garden has not melted yet, and countless red plum blossoms are blooming proudly in the cold wind, but no one appreciates them.
Under the magnificent eaves of the palace, big red lanterns sway in the wind, and light and shadows dance on the white marble steps.
The Qianqing Palace's high, broad dome was supported by gilded and painted beams and pillars. The golden bricks paved the floor, gleaming in the candlelight. In the center stood several rows of long tables, covered with brocade tablecloths embroidered with gold thread, upon which exquisite delicacies were arranged in various categories.
The Queen was recuperating, and on either side of the Emperor's Golden Dragon Banquet Table were the head banquet tables of Consort Hua Nian Shilan and Consort Fang Jiang Ruyin, with the rest of the concubines sitting in order at the back.
The Central Southern Palace and Qingyin Pavilion were singing the Shengping New Year's Eve song that they had been rehearsing all year.
The emperor had a dull expression as he drank cup after cup. The few cups of hot food Su Peisheng brought with his chopsticks were already completely cold.
If the emperor is like this, how can any concubine dare to smile and laugh?
Only the princes and princesses who were in the second seat were talking intimately without noticing anything.
Hongxuan fed Hongning with great interest, Shuhe and Wenyi chatted with each other, the youngest Xinhe grabbed the end of Hongshi's braid, and Hongshi begged for mercy bitterly.
Although his children lived in harmony, the emperor sighed deeply.
This morning, Jiang Ruyin's men came to inform that Su Changzai and her son had both died. Before she could ask any further questions, she was called to Shoukang Palace.
The Queen Mother talked about Jiang Ruyin from the moment she was born to the present day, and mentioned whether she could manage the palace affairs well.
The emperor had been staying in Yongshou Palace these days and had quite a few opinions about palace affairs. He agreed to the idea of decentralization, until the empress dowager mentioned Concubine Duan. The emperor immediately understood the empress dowager's deep meaning:
Supporting Concubine Duan aroused Concubine Hua's fighting spirit, and just waited for both of them to be defeated, and then released the Queen.
He frowned and agreed to the Queen Mother's proposal. He was already starving, but he learned from Jiang Ruyin that Su had been dragging her feet from yesterday afternoon until the second watch today, just to have her child born on New Year's Eve. She had hurt herself and the child.
The emperor was so angry that he almost tore up the imperial edict of promotion that had not yet been officially issued, and ordered that Su be buried with only the promised ceremony.
I still felt unsatisfied and couldn't laugh at the night banquet.
The song "Blessing of the Brightness" was sung in the venue.
The concubines should have accepted the dresser's blessing with a smile on their faces, but in the face of the emperor's cold face, no one dared to go up and say auspicious words.
Jiang Ruyin gave Hongxuan a look, and Hongxuan blinked. He happily pulled Hongshi and the nanny holding Hongning to the hall to toast the emperor: "I wish your Majesty good health and a long-lasting rule!"
Hongxuan spoke in a baby voice, and Hongshi hurried to follow.
The emperor accepted it with pleasure, a look of relief on his face.
Seeing this, all the concubines stood up and congratulated the emperor.
The most important concubine, Concubine Hua, mechanically stood up and toasted with a forced smile, but the gloomy look on her brow remained unchanged.
The one sitting at the last table had a look of hesitation in his eyes and brows, and bowed hesitantly.
Apart from the emperor, these two people are the most eye-catching.
Colorful fireworks suddenly burst into the distant sky, and the light illuminated the entire palace.
In this strange atmosphere, the palace banquet ended.
Because of the Empress Dowager's warning, the Emperor returned to the Palace of Tranquil Longevity alone.
Looking at the emperor's back, Jiang Ruyin tilted her head and ordered: "...Send a bowl of dumplings to the emperor..."
......
"Empress Fang said that Your Majesty didn't send chopsticks very often in the evening, so she specially sent you dumplings made by herself and also prepared some side dishes."
The emperor felt relieved by these words and couldn't help but say, "You are more eloquent than before."
Su Peisheng was shocked and quickly agreed with the emperor.
The emperor glanced at the table and asked, "Is this what Concubine Fang sent?"
Su Peisheng smiled shyly and said, "The cold braised pork kidney, fried mushrooms, and black-bone chicken stew with red dates were all made and sent to the small kitchen by Concubine Fang's order."
The next day, the weather was sunny and the snow began to melt.
Su Peisheng brought Concubine Duan in a sedan chair. Concubine Duan seemed to know what the emperor wanted to do. She was wearing a lotus-green fox fur cloak today, and her lightly powdered face revealed a frail and gentle beauty.
When she bowed gently, even the emperor sighed.
"You are not feeling well, so you don't need to bow."
Concubine Duan's eyebrows softened as she said weakly, "It has been a long time since I last saw Your Majesty. I cannot be disrespectful."
The emperor put down his pen and relaxed. He suddenly remembered that when Concubine Duan first entered the palace, they also had a tender and sweet experience.
Unfortunately, the next person to enter the mansion was the stunningly beautiful Nian Shilan.
The emperor also sat on the Arhat couch and warmed himself by the four-legged bronze stove with twelve beasts.
Seeing that Concubine Duan's hand was white and slender, the emperor shook it and found it was indeed cold.
Concubine Duan's cheeks flushed slightly, "Your Majesty..."
The emperor sighed and asked, "Are you used to living in Yanqing Palace?"
Concubine Duan's eyes flickered as she suppressed her smile. "Yanqing Palace is very quiet. I don't need so many people to take care of me even though I'm always sick. I've gotten used to it over time."
The emperor nodded, feeling a surge of guilt. "I'll have the Imperial Household Department fill up the Yanqing Palace. You're an old man by my side, and you can't fall behind others."
Concubine Duan placed her hand over the emperor's and said softly, "Your Majesty, Sister Hua has just lost her brother. You cannot let her suffer any more. Forget it. This is all I am good with."
The door opened and closed, and Zhen Huan's clear voice rang out, "This concubine and Sister Duanfei are in perfect sync."
Everyone knows that Zhen Huan has the privilege of freely entering and leaving the Palace of Tranquil Longevity and the Imperial Study.
The emperor quickly withdrew his hand, but Zhen Huan bowed with a smile as if she didn't notice.
"Han'er, no need to be polite."
Xiao Xiazi quickly brought a plum blossom stool, and Zhen Huan sat down below the emperor.
Concubine Duan continued to warm her hands calmly by the stove and said gently, "From the first time I spoke with Sister Wan, I knew she was an elegant lady. The Emperor needs such a woman by his side."
"There is no one in the harem who is not well-educated and well-mannered. I am just a humble concubine who is lucky enough to be favored by the emperor."
As she spoke, Zhen Huan looked up at the emperor, but saw that he was still in a daze and his smile faded.
The emperor thought of the first time he saw Jiang Ruyin. He was stunned by her beauty at first sight and thought she must be a gentle and elegant girl. He never expected that she was completely different from what he imagined.
Thinking of this, the emperor couldn't help but laugh.
Zhen Huan silently changed the subject, "Just now, I saw that the Emperor and my sister were talking happily, and I felt relieved. A few days ago, my sister Duan Fei was ill again. I saw that Yanqing Palace was deserted, so I thought of talking to the Emperor about this matter."
The emperor came back to his senses and agreed, "Wanpin also feels the same way, so don't refuse. Shilan's mindset is different now, and she won't care about these things."
Concubine Duan pursed her lips and said yes, but Zhen Huan was not giving up yet.
"Yong'er has been feeling anxious these past few days, fearing that Xinhe would be adopted by another concubine. As we talked, we all felt that Concubine Duan was a decent person and a suitable adoptive mother. Yong'er can now feel much more at ease. What do you think, Your Majesty?"
Concubine Duan didn't show it on her face, but her eyes swept over Zhen Huan coldly.