Chunman Palace

Chapter 37

On the beautiful Mid-Autumn Festival, when the setting sun was setting, Emperor Xuan Yin invited all his concubines to a banquet. Lin Qingyu and Mu Pingting prepared gold osmanthus sticks and mooncakes of several flavors at Li Jin Xuan, and went back to the palace to change their clothes.

Lin Qingyu picked out a clear water thin smoky skirt, wearing a butterfly swing on her head, swaying gracefully, and the white jade earrings are exquisite and unique, giving her a fresh, elegant, tranquil and beautiful temperament.

Seeing the bright lights outside the house, Lin Qingyu called Shang Mo'er and Lingqiao to go outside the house, but met Xin who had just left the house and agreed, thinking that the emperor had released his restraint during the Mid-Autumn Festival, and didn't want to meet people, so he quickened his pace to go to the banquet.

On the white pine stone steps, a man in a dark blue robe caught her attention.

The man's sword eyebrows and star eyes, his heroic appearance, gave people a dignified and serious sense of oppression, his face was cold and sharp, like a sword covered with cold dew.

Lin Qingyu felt for a moment that the man in front of her was somewhat similar to Xuan Yin, she couldn't help but stop and look a few more times, and found that the man was wearing a long knife at his waist, he should be a royal guard or something.

The man on the stone steps seemed to have noticed that someone was staring at him, he tilted his head slightly, and looked at him suspiciously, his face was like ice and stone, looking cold and alienated.

She had never seen such a person, as if everything in the world had nothing to do with him, resigned and independent.

Such people make her a little scared and at a loss... She is definitely not good at getting along with such people.

Just like the Jade Buddha made of cold jade, it can be seen from a distance but not played with, and it is disrespectful to look at it a few more times.

Just when she was lost in thought, she suddenly heard someone calling her name: "Qingyu, what are you doing here, why don't you go in?"

Mu Pingting and Chang Xiuru changed their clothes and walked towards her together.

Chang Xiuru was wearing a pleated skirt of honey-colored scattered flowers, with an elegant demeanor, "Sister Mu and I were going to look for you in your palace, but you walked so fast and didn't wait for us." She turned her gaze and glanced at you. Passing by the figure of the man, he jokingly said, "So I'm here to enjoy the beauty of spring."

"Spring scenery? Where can there be spring scenery?" Mo'er was full of confusion.

And Lin Qingyu blushed, not knowing whether it was shame or annoyance.

Mu Pingting knew that Chang Xiuru's joke was a bit too much this time, and she was a little displeased: "Okay, Xiuru, don't tease Qingyu, as a concubine, you must be cautious in your words and deeds, and you must never say such words again !"

Chang Xiuru also knew that what she subconsciously said was not very safe, and knew that Lin Qingyu was suspicious, afraid that she would think wildly again, so she pretended to apologize: "Sister is used to playing around before, it doesn't matter what you say, sister Lin, please don't take it to heart!"

She handed a palace lantern to the maid beside Lin Qingyu and said, "I don't know when it will be after the banquet, why don't you even bring the lantern, how can you go back in the dark."

Lingqiao took the palace lantern and saluted, "Thank you, Madam Chang Concubine."

Mu Pingting was very pleased and said: "Don't forget to toast the emperor and empress later, but the empress is still ill and will replace it with chrysanthemum tea. The three of us pay the same respect, let the empress have a drink."

Lin Qingyu's expression slowed down a bit, a touch of emotion flashed in his eyes, and he thanked people with a slight smile: "Sister, I would like to thank the two sisters for their concern. Qingyu is clumsy, and I have to trouble my sisters for everything. I am really sorry."

Mu Pingting smiled lightly and said, "They're all sisters, so what's the point of doing so much?"

"Let's go in quickly, the emperor might be waiting impatiently." Chang Xiuru urged the two of them to pick up their pace, glanced at the man on the stone steps inadvertently, and immediately froze in place.

When the two were walking forward, Chang Xiuru suddenly stopped Mu Pingting and said, "Sister Mu...! That seems to be an old friend."

Lin Qingyu looked back in doubt, only to see Mu Pingting glanced up, her eyes sparkled brightly, and then lowered her sad eyes, looking lost.

She couldn't help caring softly: "Sister Mu, what's wrong with you?"

"It's okay, call Shang Xiuru, let's go." Mu Pingting's voice sounded hoarse.

She concluded that Mu Pingting must know this man.

It's just an old dream in the past, and it has nothing to do with Jingui now.

At the Mid-Autumn Festival night banquet, the hall is full of osmanthus. There is a full-blooming golden osmanthus in front of each person's table, a pot of chrysanthemum sake and osmanthus wine, and a plate of mutton slices, steamed duck meat, fried chicken with white mushrooms, and elephant-eye steamed buns. .

Everyone sat down, tasted the cinnamon, and waited for the banquet to begin.

Seeing a vacancy on the seat, Xuan Yin pointed to it and asked, "Who is there?"

Li Qiao glanced at the people's fingers and said: "Go back to the emperor, the concubine Ji said that she is ill and cannot attend the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet."

The empress was sick and weak, and she still held her spirits and sat beside Xuan Yin, smiling weakly: "The number of people is correct in this way, when will the emperor plan to start the banquet?"

Xuan Yin pondered for a moment, and said: "Today's Mid-Autumn Festival means reunion. In order to show the unity of the harem, I specially released the restraint that Lin Changzai and Xin promised. Wrong mind."

When Lin Qingyu and Xin agreed to get up and thank them, Xuan Yin added: "Xin promised to behave badly, and after the banquet, he will still go back to the palace and be confined."

Xin Ying's face was like ashes, and he replied weakly: "Yes".

"Sit down, don't be restrained, eat and drink to your heart's content, and dance and dance."

Xin promised almost fell on the seat.

The confinement these days is going to drive her crazy. Not only is her food and clothing shortened, but she also doesn’t get any news from the outside world. She has nothing to do but stay in the house all day long.

Seeing Xinyue's downcast appearance, Concubine Min taunted: "Xinyue, don't cry, if you are so unlucky on this great day, it will ruin the emperor and empress's good intentions."

Xin promised that he didn't expect Concubine Min to cross the river and tear down the bridge like this. Although he was angry in his heart, he was afraid of being punished, so he smiled and said: "The concubine is just happy. Is Concubine Min wrong?"

This smile is uglier than crying, so Concubine Min couldn't help sneering, she raised her hand to cover her red lips and said, "Don't be greedy when you promise, I just kindly remind you to be cautious in your words and deeds, and follow the rules." Then, her eyes fell on Chang Xiuru: "Don't be like some people who don't understand dignity."

Chang Xiuru saw that people pointed out something, got up and held up the wine cup and respected Concubine Min: "Concubine Min is involved in the affairs of the Six Palaces, and she has not made any mistakes in her administration so far. She is really conscientious and admirable. My sister respects you here. sister."

Even the emperor and empress didn't toast, but came to respect herself first. Concubine Min sighed in her heart at Chang Xiuru's stupidity, raised her glass with a smile on her face, but didn't drink a drop of wine: "Sister Chang's kindness is appreciated by me. It's just that in terms of status, the emperor and empress have not been toasted yet, so it would be unreasonable for me to receive this gift." She put down the wine cup in her hand, showing a little condescension.

Chang Xiuru smiled sweetly: "What Concubine Min said is that the emperor and empress are naturally the most honorable people in the world in terms of status, but in terms of hard work during this period, Concubine Min has worked the hardest in the harem. This wine should be I respect you." After finishing speaking, he raised his wine glass again.

Concubine Min glanced at the front seat, seeing that the emperor and the empress were having a happy conversation, she didn't notice this, and raised a glass to Chang Xiuru with some hesitation.

Chang Xiuru drank it all in one gulp, and then filled up Shuang'er again, gesticulating with Mu Pingting and Lin Qingyu's eyes.

The three of them smiled knowingly, and stood up at the same time to congratulate: "The courtiers and concubines wish the emperor and the empress a happy Mid-Autumn Festival, and they will be united forever. I wish the empress and empress a speedy health."

The queen's eyes lit up when she heard the words, and said with a kind smile: "Okay, okay, you three really have a heart." She hesitated for a moment, and took up the cup of wine.

Xuan Yin snatched it away, and said down: "You remember the queen, I am very relieved, but the queen is still ill, and it is not suitable to drink alcohol. Let me drink for the queen."

"But sisters are so kind, how can I shirk it." The queen had no choice but to take up the chrysanthemum tea and said down: "I will thank the three sisters with tea instead of wine." Then raise a glass and drink.

The singing and dancing are over halfway, and the night is dark.

All the concubines continued to toast Xuan Yin, saying all the auspiciousness.

After enjoying the wine, Xuan Yin was in high spirits, and took everyone to the imperial garden to enjoy the moon.

(End of this chapter)