Dong Gong Mei

Chapter 885 Jade Banquet

Zhao Xiwei took a last look at the hall. She was tall and slender, like a pine or a cypress.

People like this are very good.

But it's better to leave it to another woman...

He bowed lightly, turned around, stepped back, and walked out of the palace.

Li Xuanye stood in the hall, watching her leave step by step.

Yuan Ce was guarding outside the door, his heart in his throat, fearing that his master would have an attack and everyone would be affected.

however……

Li Xuanye was neither angry nor sad. He just stood there for a while, then turned around and sat down behind the imperial desk. He spread out the rice paper, picked up the brush, dipped it in ink, and wrote calmly.

There was no trace of emotion.

As the sun moved westward, the palace servant who delivered the meal arrived at the door but did not dare to go in.

The whole hall was silent, with only the rustling sound of papers turning.

The courtiers in charge of sorting out official documents all knelt down beneath the imperial desk. Although they were all thinking about getting off duty, no one dared to speak first.

Yuan Ce stepped forward and said quietly, "Your Majesty, it's time to eat."

"Click" the imperial pen fell on the table, and the courtiers were so frightened that their bodies froze.

Li Xuanye raised his head from the imperial desk and was startled: "What is this?"

The palace maids lined up in a row, each holding a black lacquered and gold-painted tray.

The leading female official bowed her head and replied, "Your Majesty, this is a jade banquet, specially prepared by the imperial kitchen, with seasonal flowers and fruits, and eight delicacies from land and sea as ingredients, symbolizing the right time and right place, and peace in the world. Your Majesty has just ascended the throne, so this banquet should be held to celebrate."

After he finished speaking, the palace maids came in like a stream, presenting the dishes one by one.

The female official introduced the names of the dishes while setting the table. At the end, she brought out a small jade bowl filled with crystal clear ice and a cool breeze.

The female official nodded and said, "It's hot in early summer, so I specially made a breeze rice to cool you down." Seeing that the emperor didn't say anything, she carefully asked, "If your majesty doesn't like it, then we can change it to eight-treasure rice."

Li Xuanye had been raised in the palace since he was a child, so he was naturally familiar with the imperial cuisine. He didn't want to hear the female official's questions anymore, so he tapped the imperial table with his finger and said, "That's it."

"Yes." The female official breathed a sigh of relief.

When the feast was served, an eunuch came forward, tried the dishes one by one with silver chopsticks, and then bowed and said, "Your Majesty, please enjoy your meal."

Li Xuanye had no appetite.

He glanced at the people sitting below him and saw the servants holding a thick stack of documents and about to leave, so he ordered them, "You guys stay and have dinner."

The four courtiers bowed and said hesitantly, "Your Majesty, we are only fifth-rank officials. It would be disrespectful to eat with Your Majesty. We..."

Li Xuanye didn't want to listen to their nagging, so he waved his hand and said, "Back off!"

The courtier was as if he had been pardoned and retreated with the documents in his arms.

Li Xuanye looked at the table full of delicacies from land and sea and suddenly felt that something was missing.

The palace maids who were serving the meal stood quietly with their heads down; no one dared to look at him, let alone make a sound.

Yuan Ce pondered for a long time, not knowing what His Majesty was thinking. When he was about to ask -

"Yuan Ce."

Suddenly someone called out from above, "Call He Liangdi here."

Yuan Ce shuddered and looked up in shock: "Your Majesty?"

  Did he hear it wrong?

Call He Liang Di? He Liang Di has been left out in the backyard since she was chosen. Today, the sun is rising from the west, and they actually want to call her to have dinner together? ?

"Hmm?" The emperor glanced at him coldly, and Yuan Ce felt a chill on his back. He quickly said "Yes, sir", and disappeared in a flash.

When Yuan Ce arrived on command, He Manzhi was doing needlework by the window.

The new emperor has not yet held the ceremony, nor has he conferred titles on his concubines. Anyway, she is the only woman with a title.

She accepted her fate. She had nothing to do and was idle all day long. It didn't matter if she was not favored.

The nurse and the maid stood on either side, helping her to weave the silk thread while telling her what they had learned. The most important thing was Zhao Xiwei: "...It was said that His Majesty had pardoned her and she had already left the palace..."

He Manzhi was stunned and stopped moving the needle.

  Li Xuanye pardoned Zhao Xiwei?

She persuaded her father to help secretly because she was afraid that Gu Yong's family would become too powerful and Gu Yuci would suppress her in the future.

In addition, she also knew that His Majesty's mind was not on her.

She didn't have any outstanding talents or beauty, and the royal family was inherently heartless. It was impossible for her to get this kind of love that was like trying to get something out of nothing in her life.

  In that case, why not go with the flow and do a favor?

Considering her father's influence, as long as she handed him a letter and gave him some advice, it wouldn't be a 100% sure success, but there would be a 60% to 70% chance of it working.

But unexpectedly, Zhao Xiwei actually left the palace...

  So, is it that Your Majesty has cut off the emotional ties, or is it that she refuses to turn back?

He Manzhi thought about it and couldn't help but sigh: "From being in harmony to parting ways, I guess it's also because of the love that didn't last long..."

The nurse stopped pulling the thread and said, "My lady, if you have time to think about whether other people are affectionate or not, you might as well go out and walk around more, to the Imperial Garden, the Imperial Kitchen, the Lotus Pond, and show your face. If you happen to run into His Majesty, he can take a look at us. Miss He is also a beauty as beautiful as a flower!"

Mrs. He has a reckless temperament, and the servants who follow her speak directly from their hearts.

"That's right!" The maid also encouraged her, "You are the only one in His Majesty's harem now, this is a good time to gain fame! When the new concubines are selected in the future, there will be a lot of beautiful women, and it will be difficult to stand out then!"

"Forget it." He Manzhi shook her head and continued to sew. "I know what kind of person I am. I won't think about it anymore."

She was embroidering a pattern of mandarin ducks and lotus flowers. The lotus leaves were pink and green, and the mandarin ducks looked lifelike. The nurse praised her repeatedly: "Look, what a good craftsmanship! If His Majesty knew about it, he would definitely like it!"

He Manzhi smiled slightly, feeling bitter in her heart.

What kind of person was Li Xuanye? What kind of a proud son of the emperor? How could he be interested in a girl who could only do embroidery?

Thinking of him, my heart suddenly became knotted and I was overwhelmed with endless sorrow.

I can’t continue embroidering this pattern.

What about the mandarin duck and lotus patterns? She would never be able to use such patterns in her lifetime.

Just as he was secretly regretting, he suddenly heard the message: "Your Majesty has spoken! Summon Concubine He to see you—"

"what?"

The three people in the room were shocked. The nurse was delighted and snatched the embroidery from her hand, "Quick, quick, get dressed!" She then ordered the maid, "What are you still standing there for? Go and prepare your clothes!"

"No need!" a voice came from the corridor, "Lady Liang, hurry up, His Majesty is waiting for you to dine together!"

"Waiting for meal?" The wet nurse's eyes lit up. She hurriedly picked up the hairpins and earrings and put them on He Manzhi. She also changed her into a light pink wide-sleeved shirt.

After a quick makeover, although she was not a stunning beauty, she did have some of the delicate and pretty demeanor of a pretty girl from a small family.

The nurse looked her up and down and nodded: "Very good, very good, our young lady is really pretty!"

He Manzhi tugged at his sleeves and said, "But since His Majesty is summoning me to dinner, I'd better wear something light."

"Ouch!" The nurse blinked and lowered her voice, "My silly young lady, don't you see the sky? It's already this late, finish your meal and stay if you can!"

He Manzhi's face flushed red: "Nanny..."

"Oh, don't dawdle. His Majesty will be angry if the food gets cold!" The nurse pushed her and said, "Go quickly!"