Dong Gong Mei

Chapter 81 The Empress Dowager's Hongmen Banquet
The cold style of this morning is biting from the outside. The sky outside is not yet bright. The ground dragon in the courtyard collided with the cold air outside. Obscure floating in the sky.

The auspicious beast lampposts on both sides are quietly lit, with lifelike tigers and leopards carved on them, with eyes like copper bells, vigilantly guarding everything in this courtyard.

Everyone did not speak.

Just waited motionlessly.

After about two cups of tea, a line of neat footsteps stepped over, followed by crisp applause.

"Clap clap clap,"

"Clap clap clap,"

"Clap clap clap."

Three high-fives form a section, and three sections form a group, without any rush, from the gate, around the shadow wall, through the outer courtyard, and through the hanging flower gate, to the inner courtyard.

With the sound of this high five, the old lady's expression suddenly became solemn.

Obviously not one person, but a group of people.

Zhao Xiwei has not seen many royal family members.

I couldn't help thinking of the scene of welcoming Princess Jiangxia last month. At that time, the old lady and several ladies were chatting and laughing. Although the atmosphere was very solemn, it was not as dull as it is today.

Then I remembered the scene where the prince appeared at Lianhua Temple not long ago.Although the majesty is overwhelming and makes people dare not look directly, there is no such grand pomp.

The more you think about it, the more curious you become: who is it here today?
"Clap clap clap."

The unhurried beat fell to the last one, and finally stopped.

Zhao Xi counted slightly, from the beginning to the end, there was no more, no less, exactly nine nine eighty-one sounds.

After a while of arranging the sleeves, a servant stepped into the courtyard with his head held high.

He was wearing a red round-neck robe, a golden sable cicada on his head, and a white whisk in his hand. He was surrounded by a few servants before appearing in front of the female family members of the Zhao residence.

Seeing the person coming, the old lady hurriedly bowed and saluted: "My concubine Zhao Yang, I have seen Eunuch Chang."

Zhao Xiwei and others also saluted obediently: "I have seen Eunuch Chang before."

The inner waiter had his hands behind his back, his attitude was very arrogant, and when he saw everyone waiting to salute, he was not humble, but said lukewarmly, "Mrs. Zhao, we have come to congratulate you, the winter solstice is coming soon, Chang Xin. The palace is going to hold a plum blossom banquet, according to the empress dowager's order, when the lady of your house is invited to enter the palace on time, don't miss the time."

Hearing the word Queen Mother, Zhao Xiwei's heart skipped a beat.

A bad premonition came up.

The old lady's attitude was very respectful, and she hurriedly gave another big gift: "The concubine Zhao Yang has led the female family members of the Hefu to thank the Queen Mother for her grace."

He also personally stepped forward and ordered Eunuch Chang: "It is difficult for you to make this trip early in the morning, please go in and have a cup of hot tea."

"You don't need to drink tea."

Eunuch Chang threw the whisk away, smiled neither yin nor yang: "Mrs. Zhao, the queen mother misses you very much. Yesterday, I mentioned it to our family, saying that you taught your daughter well, and cultivated such a virtuous concubine Shu. His daughter, and he has raised a capable son like Xiangye, one is a model of concubines and concubines in the harem, and the other is an example of civil and military affairs in the Manchu Dynasty.

Listening to the tone, there is a sense of elastic pressure.

Zhao Xi tensed his heartstrings slightly.

It seems that the empress dowager's dissatisfaction with Zhao's residence has reached its peak, and even the superficial Taiping refuses to disguise.

The fact that my father took him home was just a fuse. The real reason was that my father refused to stand in line.

And because of this, this crack is irreparable.

It hurts myself.

The queen mother is dissatisfied, and will not directly attack the father who is the prime minister, but will only turn her anger on herself.

Zhao Xi lowered his eyes slightly to analyze, but heard Eunuch Chang's voice suddenly resounding above his head: "Our family heard that your house just picked up a concubine from the countryside, who is it?"

Zhao Xiwei's heart thumped, as if falling straight down from a cliff.

It's time to come, it's finally here.

The old lady's eyes flashed slightly, but she quickly put on a smile again: "It's just a girl who can't stand on the stage, and it's not worth mentioning by my father-in-law."

As he spoke, he called out, "Sister Wei, you haven't come up to meet Eunuch Chang soon."

Zhao Xiwei stopped thinking, took a step forward, bowed his knees and gave a slow salute, his voice was calm as usual: "My servant Zhao Xiwei, I have seen Eunuch Chang."

"Yeah." Eunuch Chang walked around Zhao Xiwei for two steps with the whisk in his arms, and then said with a smile: "As expected, he was born with a national beauty, no wonder he caught the eyes of the wangfei, even if the queen mother saw it, she was afraid that she would Take pity on you."

This is extremely presumptuous and rude, but he is the inner servant beside the Queen Mother, not to mention Zhao Xiwei dare not refute, even the old lady has to laugh: "Father-in-law praised, how can she deserve it."

Then Eunuch Chang smiled meaningfully and gave the little servant behind him a look.

The little maid came up holding a red lacquered wooden box.

Eunuch Chang lengthened his tone and said, "This was specially given to Miss Zhao by the Queen Mother."

Zhao Xiwei didn't raise his head, and he didn't know why, but he respectfully bowed again: "I thank the Queen Mother for her grace, and the Queen Mother is a thousand years old."

Eunuch Chang was very satisfied with her attitude: "Yes, it's a good material, and it's not a waste of our family's advice."

After speaking, the little servant presented the gift to Zhao Xiwei.

Everyone's pupils shrank suddenly.

Even the old lady swayed.

It's a pair of knee pads.

Knee pads are specially used for servants!
He was talking about going to a banquet, what does it mean to reward a pair of knee pads, and only Zhao Xiwei was rewarded.

Even if you think about it with your toes, you know what the Queen Mother has in mind.

To accept or not to accept this hostile reward, that is the question.

If you don't accept it, then it proves that the Zhao family is openly against the queen mother.

Take it, this is to treat Miss Wei as a sheep and send it to the Queen Mother to be slaughtered.

No matter which choice you choose, it is difficult to open your mouth.

The old lady was about to speak, but Zhao Xiwei took the lead and received the reward: "Thank you, minister and daughter."

The old lady's heart was suddenly twisted.

This child, at a young age, has such determination.

It is a pity that it is not a direct descendant. If it is direct descendant, it would be great.

Eunuch Chang was also very surprised.

I didn't expect this girl to be brave.

He glanced at Zhao Xiwei one more time, and said without a smile: "The palace is not as good as the countryside. When you enter the palace this time, remember to be cautious in your words and deeds, otherwise, if you break the rules, then the queen mother will be this time. It's a waste of time with knee pads."

It seems that this is a Hongmen banquet.

It's just that what should come can't be avoided. Zhao's residence is in this position, and it is impossible for it to be smooth sailing forever.

"Thank you father-in-law for the point." Zhao Xiwei said respectfully and calmly: "The ministers and daughters must be cautious in their words and deeds, and do not forget the teachings of the father-in-law."

Eunuch Chang laughed, and stopped talking nonsense, and got up to leave.

(End of this chapter)