Chunman Palace

Chapter 74
In the blink of an eye, it was New Year's Eve, and the palace gradually revealed a festive atmosphere.The annual rewards for the twelfth lunar month have also been distributed, and the living room in the Yaohua Pavilion has been completely renewed, with auspicious lanterns of five blessings hanging, and the word "Fu" is close to the door.

The snow fell heavily, and the chill became more intense under the bright red light. Lin Qingyu put his hands into the hand warmer, watched the heavy snow falling outside the window, and the courtyard was gradually covered with white, feeling a little lost.

On this day, she was invited to attend the inner court family banquet as usual, and before going to the banquet, she pondered over the booklet for a while.

The New Year's banquet was more grand and prosperous than before, but when the concubines and concubines sat on the banquet table, it was not as lively as the previous small banquets, but rather deserted, with an atmosphere of singing and dancing.

Lin Qingyu's expression was indifferent, and he just listened to the music and tasted the pastry in front of him. He occasionally bit into a piece of crispy pastry. : "It's so crispy."

Mu Pingting glanced at her, held out the plate of dim sum on her face, and offered it to someone, saying, "My sister likes it, so I'll give you this plate too."

Lin Qingyu raised her sleeves to cover her face and finished eating one, looking at the person's face with dismay, she said, "Sister, why don't you eat it? This dim sum tastes pretty good, much better than the lukewarm dishes on the front."

"I don't have an appetite." Mu Pingting smiled palely, looked down at the dishes on the table, and lowered her head deeply, but she didn't even want to look at them.

The Braised Shark Fin, Pork Loin, Stewed Fat Duck, Shredded Osmanthus Fish, etc. that were previously served are all prepared first and warmed up before serving.Not to mention anything else, just take this pouch tenderloin as an example. It was deep-fried in hot oil, and it was crispy and delicious when it was just out of the pan.

No wonder Mu Pingting has a bad appetite.

It's just that tonight I have to eat the food from the banquet, Lin Qingyu turned his eyes away, and landed on the plate of honey-soaked greengage on his table, then looked at the pears beside him, and had an idea in his mind.

"Although my sister has a bad appetite, it doesn't feel good to be hungry, why don't you try this?" Lin Qingyu said while bringing the plate of fruit to Mu Pingting.

"Thank you sister." The kindness was hard to come by, Mu Pingting dug a piece of pear with a silver spoon, the taste was cold and sweet, the fruity aroma was rich and refreshing, and the juice slid down her throat, making her index finger move.

She couldn't help wondering: "My good sister, what is this? Why do pears have the sour taste of green plums."

Lin Qingyu smiled and said: "This greengage is the most sweet and sour appetizer. My sister poured the sugar water of this honey-soaked greengage on the peeled tribute pear meat. Doesn't it taste good?"

Mu Pingting didn't care about eating, she bent her eyes and said with a smile, "My sister is so thoughtful, it's hard for you to take care of me."

Lin Qingyu replied with a sweet smile: "My sister takes care of my younger sister a lot, so it's right to do these small things for my sister."

"Tonight's singing and dancing has a new trick, it seems that Lefang has also put a lot of thought into it." Mu Pingting ate another pear, and then drank a sip of dark fragrance soup.

Lin Qingyu said lightly: "Yes, there are large and small banquets in the palace, and the music workshop must always be prepared with new and clever ideas. It's really not serious. It's just that the emperor doesn't seem to be very interested. After finishing speaking, she looked up.

Mu Pingting lazily said: "This New Year's Eve seems to be a bit cooler, the Empress Dowager still won't attend the banquet in the palace, and said that she will stay with the Eldest Princess in Ganquan Hall to watch the new year."

"The empress dowager... really cares about the eldest princess."

"Why doesn't the Queen Mother care about her biological daughter?"

While talking, the music changed slightly, and a slender woman slowly walked into the hall, her long veil swaying with her dancing posture, looking mysterious and bewitching.Her eyes are glamorous, as if emitting a narrow and deep light like a firefly in the dark, her figure is entangled like a willow branch swaying in the wind, and the golden accessories on her body jingle, exuding a fast-paced and psychedelic music.

Such a strange dance of Loulan.

Everyone was shocked.

So is Lin Qingyu.She clearly remembered telling the queen that she wanted her dance to be ahead of Fu's promise. Now why did Fu promise to dance the Loulan dance first, but she didn't mention herself?
After the dance was over, Xuan Yin clapped his palms and praised: "Very good, this Loulan dance has a special flavor, but it is pleasing to the eye."

The queen laughed and said, "If Fu hadn't agreed to this dance today, the concubine would not have known how novel Loulan's dance is! It's really graceful and intoxicating."

"Not bad, reward."

The queen nodded, and said again: "Actually, before the New Year's Eve banquet today, the Qing nobleman once told his concubine that he would perform a song and dance! He said that he had carefully prepared for a long time. Would the emperor be interested in watching it?"

Lin Qingyu was startled.

Xuan Yin lowered his eyes, and said dully: "Singing and dancing is enough for today, in my opinion, there is no need for it."

The queen insisted: "But Qing nobles have carefully prepared it. If the emperor doesn't read it, I'm afraid he will be sad! The emperor might as well take a look, maybe he will like it."

Xuan Yin has always treated her with extra courtesy, now that the queen made such a request, he could not refuse, so he just said: "Okay."

The queen looked at Lin Qingyu with a kind smile in her eyes: "Master Qing, if you want to perform a singing and dancing performance, I have already won it from the emperor for you, why don't you go quickly?"

Lin Qingyu said awkwardly: "Yes... Concubine Rong Chen, please change into a dress first."

Xuan Yin waved his hands and said, "Go."

On the way back to the palace, Lin Qingyu was worried. She didn't know whether the queen really forgot her request for a while or did it on purpose, and she quickly searched for this method in her mind.

What she was going to perform was a solo dance, but before that she also invited people from the music workshop to perform the opening dance.

Returning to Yaohuayue in a hurry, Lingqiao was even more anxious than Lin Qingyu, she only took out those jewelry boxes, and said anxiously: "What should I do, the little one should follow the style of dressing up before?"

Mo'er couldn't hold back anymore and said, "Why the empress? You clearly told the empress in advance that you will be performing on stage at the fourth show of the band, but Fu agreed to appear on the third show. Yes! This is really..."

Lin Qingyu said: "It doesn't make any sense to say these things now. The matter has come to this point, so let's think about how to deal with it. Although I planned to integrate the Loulan dance into the Central Plains dance before, the emperor just watched the dance of Fu's promise. I will definitely watch it if I do this." from."

Mo'er suggested: "Why don't you change to an ordinary dance? How about not seeking merit but seeking no fault?"

Lin Qingyu laughed at people's whimsy, and said with a broken smile: "The empress has said that I have prepared this song and dance for a long time, if I only prepare ordinary songs and dances, I am afraid that I will be accused of deceiving the emperor! And not to please the emperor, it would be useless to dance several times. "

After a long time, she suddenly thought of something, and ordered: "First help me to dress up, my appearance should be fresh and elegant, don't use heavy or dark colors, just wear the wide-sleeved lotus embroidered with silver flower sleeves."

"Your servant understands." The two took the order, and put on the jewelry for the man as instructed.

In the Hall of Supreme Harmony, everyone had been waiting for a long time, and the sound of singing and dancing was low and indifferent, which made people feel dejected.

Mu Pingting frowned, and looked worriedly at the entrance of the hall from time to time, the embroidered handkerchief in her hand was already dripping with sweat.

Finally, a clear sound of the piano broke the silence in the hall.

I saw many women in pink skirts lightly stepping into the hall, their sleeves lifted, as delicate as spring peaches in bud, and a touch of water-colored gauze Tsing Yi passed through the eyes of everyone, leaving a sense of freshness, which made people feel refreshed. Refreshing.

Sweeping among the peach blossoms, I saw Lin Qingyu standing slowly like green water and succulents, her arms were waving, and her fragrance was bursting, and the faint medicinal fragrance seemed to emanate from the hairpin on her head, fascinated everything in the palace , The light gauze dances, and the mist spreads a piece of illusion.

Lin Qingyu didn't turn around and dance, but parted her red lips lightly under the peach pink surroundings, her voice was soft and sweet, and she could only hear that the singing was based on the tune composed by Zhou Dunyi's "Ai Lian Shuo".

"The blue sky and green water are pure and turbid, and the clear ripples are not stained by dew. The center of the lake has just opened, and the dark fragrance is floating in the water. The water is clear and shallow, and the red color is reflected in the moonlight. Lotus? Don’t wait for the blue flowers to cover up, let’s wait for the blue flowers to be beautiful. For the first time, the fish play in the water, the lotus heart is pure and sweet.”

Originally, "Ai Lian Shuo" only used "the silt is not stained, and the clear ripples are not demonic." The two sentences highlight the nobleness of the lotus, and the integrity of not going with the world. Now it is used to describe the blooming lotus in the water and the lone lotus in the lake. The contrasting scene of the lonely and cold moon adds a bit of sorrow.

This song came out slowly from her mouth, the fairy sound was calm and gentle, and the lingering sound was lingering and endless.For example, the scene of thousands of lotuses in summer seems to dissolve on her dress, the lotus in the center of the lake blooms like snow, and the voice of the beauty sings like a breeze. I feel that the lotus is weeping and the pandan is weeping, which is better than the usual ones at that time. There are a lot of embroidery.

This song is even more suitable for the occasion, the singing voice is leisurely and moving, and suddenly a Xiao sound comes along, which makes the singing voice more beautiful.

At some point, Mu Pingting took out the Zizhu flute, and began to play it along with the melody of the singer, surrounded by the voice of the luthier in the band, the harmony between the piano and Xiao was even more harmonious.

Lin Qingyu's clothes swayed gently, and her sleeves fluttered like frost, and her slender figure was even more graceful amidst the waves.

The singing stopped leisurely, Xuan Yin was obsessed with watching it, and said after a long time: "The dance of Qing nobles is already extraordinary and refined, I didn't expect to have this skill, but I have never heard of it before."

The queen looked at Xuan Yin softly, with a faint smile on her mouth: "I have never heard of noble people with such skills. Today... this is an eye-opener for me." She paused. After a pause, he said again: "Compared to the sisters in the palace, the nobles of Qing Dynasty are not considered popular, but they are proficient in singing and dancing skills. It is really Lin County magistrate who teaches daughters well."

Lin Qingyu smiled humbly: "The concubine dare not accept the praise of the empress. These skills are just the results of the concubine's recent hard work, not overnight. The concubine is stupid and can only work hard to make up for the lack of talent."

The queen said happily: "Well, the Qing nobles are not considered high-born, and it is really rare to be able to compose such dance music."

Xuan Yin's expression was slightly sad, then he looked up at Lin Qingyu and said: "The singing of Qing nobleman can be said to be rare in the world."

Lin Qingyu lowered her eyes slightly, like a lotus in a cool breeze, her skin was like jade.The water hibiscus and sapphire hairpin in her hair trembled slightly like weeping dew, looking lovely and charming.

"Thanks to the emperor's love, the skills of the courtiers and concubines are insignificant. It's all Sister Mu's Fengming Xiaoqu that makes the courtiers and concubines not look clumsy."

Xuan Yin's eyes moved slightly, and he raised his voice and said: "Concubine Jin's Xiao Qu is also good, the nobleman's voice is melodious and pleasant to listen to, and Xiao Qu is just the icing on the cake, but the combination of the two makes for this heavenly sound."

Lin Qingyu smiled lightly and said, "Does the Emperor know why the concubine made this song?"

"Why?"

"It's all because of the water lotus hairpin on my concubine's head." Lin Qingyu slowly raised her eyes, with tenderness in her eyes, and said, "It can be seen from a distance but not played with. Although the lotus is noble and beautiful, it is difficult to feel the warmth of the world. Minister Every time my concubine reads this sentence, I always feel the same, I feel that the lonely lotus in the lake is very lonely, and the pain in the lotus heart is probably the sadness when the lotus blooms."

Xuan Yin was startled, his face became even more smiling, his eyes were full of affection and he said: "Your Qing nobleman's opinion is really unique, Zhou Dunyi said that lotus can be seen from a distance and should not be played with, but you said that lotus is rare in the world because it is untouched and pityed. , so it bears a bitter lotus heart? It's very interesting."

Concubine Lan couldn't help saying: "This is a very strange opinion! However, according to my concubine's opinion, everyone's mood will have different meanings when reading this "Ai Lian Shuo". Can you use this to express your feelings? In this analysis, the reason for Lianxin's bitterness is all Zhou Dunyi's fault!" After speaking, Lan Fei burst into laughter.

Mu Pingting couldn't help but said, "Sister Yuyan stop talking, I'm afraid Sister Qingyu is embarrassed."

Lin Qingyu heard this, her cheeks blushed tightly, and said in a low voice: "Sisters are used to laughing at me..."

Such admiration of each other's boudoir names made them seem extraordinarily cordial and friendly, and the atmosphere in the hall was set off to be ambiguous and intimate, and the joyful atmosphere made the New Year's Eve banquet look happy and harmonious.

"Okay, okay, this is the excitement that the New Year's Eve banquet should have." Xuan Yin couldn't help laughing.

Lin Qingyu lowered her head and said shyly: "The concubine just expressed her feelings, which made the emperor laugh."

"Master Qing, it's very good. Your songs and dances tonight really win my heart! Come here, and enjoy the luan, phoenix and feather clothes."

The phoenix feather clothes belonged to the concubine Xi Yuan of the former dynasty. The clothes were decorated with the wings of kingfishers. The embroidery pattern was embroidered with peacock silk thread and gold thread. It was made of brocade. The most exquisite embroiderers took seven to seven 49 days to make.

Wearing a phoenix feather garment, standing in the sunlight sparkling, the whole body is bright and moving, showing the bright color of the clothes, showing emerald and luxurious appearance in every gesture, like a phoenix branch lightly fluttering its wings, and the colorful clothes fluttering with the breeze , It is as quiet as a virgin, and as moving as a phoenix flying.

Lin Qingyu was overjoyed, and saluted: "My concubine, thank the emperor for his kindness!"

Xuan Yin nodded, glanced at the audience, and said: "It's not early tonight, let's go, the Qing nobles are going to Huachen Palace to sleep."

Everyone said in unison: "Yes."

(End of this chapter)