Chaos in the Chu Palace

Chapter 58
On New Year's Eve, Chu Huotian took the queen and other concubines and ministers to the Taimiao to worship the ancestors early in the morning.The ancestor worship ceremony was grand and cumbersome. Chu Huotian was wearing a bright yellow embroidered five-claw golden dragon robe, the same color bright yellow gold-edged embroidered cloud dragon boots, a pearl crown on his head, a jade belt on his body, and a tall and straight body, like a god. .The queen wore a thorny red phoenix dress with tails, embroidered with nine phoenixes showing auspiciousness, a golden crown and jade hairpin, holding a handful of emerald jade Ruyi, and followed Chu Huotian. Behind her was a long team of concubines in the harem, all the way Go to Taimiao.

The ancestor worship ceremony took a whole morning. Ouyang Ruo and all the concubines could only wait outside the Taimiao because they were not the main family. But he didn't dare to move.Fortunately, Wan Zhaoyi and Yu Chonghua, who were pregnant, didn't come, otherwise this whole morning would be quite exhausting.The day passed in such a chaotic way, and at night there was a palace banquet, which was divided into the outer court and the inner court. The outer court was naturally presided over by Chu Huotian, and the inner court was to entertain some royal family members.

The entire Chu Palace was full of singing and dancing, laughter and laughter, and the palace people came and went in a hurry, and they were all very busy. At the quarter of Haishi, it was already midnight, and Chu Huotian brought all the civil and military officials, concubines, and concubines to watch the fireworks on the city wall. .The cold wind on the city wall is fierce, but it can't blow away the enthusiasm of the people. Under the city wall, there are ordinary people like a sea tide. On this New Year's Eve, it is heard that the emperor wants to have fun with the people and watch the new year together. All the young and old in Chujing are there Waiting in the square square to see the holy face.Seeing Chu Huotian appear on top of the tall city wall and tower, three shouts of long live like a mountain roar and tsunami swept over.Ouyang Ruo stood on the side of the city wall, looking at Chu Huotian in the middle of the crowd.

Behind the beaded curtain of the crown, his face was in a trance from a distance, and he couldn't see clearly.

But he must be proud.Now the whole country of Chu belongs to him.This splendid country and mountains are all his, connecting the 26 counties of Huadi, the great rivers and mountains.The people below are still shouting long live, prostrating and worshiping, one by one...

Chuning and Niannian came like this.

On the first day of the new year, as usual, it was to greet the emperor and the queen. Although all the concubines and concubines had a rest later than usual the night before because of the New Year's Eve, no one dared to neglect the New Year's greetings on the first day of the new year.Ouyang Ruo's Huayan Palace is relatively remote, so she got up early and asked Wanhui, Mingying and other maids to help tidy up.

Today she picked out a purple thin cotton pleated long dress, with a light purple silk thread embroidered with a dark pattern of Roland pattern on the surface, and silver thread interspersed in the embroidery thread, and there is a faint shimmering light when walking and shaking, which is very eye-catching. , the neckline is a lapel, with a thin circle of snow-white snow fox fur on the side, which is unparalleled in elegance.A head of ink-like long hair was combed half up in a bun, but a strand of hair was parted on each side of the temple. It was combed half close to the face with wood shavings, very elegant. On the head, there was only a simple golden step, and it was It is decorated with pearls of various colors, which is elegant and does not make people feel too plain.Because she was just a concubine, she wore silver armor on her fingers, which were decorated with several colored gemstones, but they were also dazzling.Even a light makeup on the face, and it's done.

Ouyang Ruo looked at the big bronze mirror with rhombus and grapes on one side, and was relieved after carefully checking that there was nothing inconsistent with the palace rules.Putting on a crimson satin light fur cloak, she checked that it was still early, then put it on her shoulders and walked all the way to the central palace.When I got there, I found that I was not the first one.On the left hand side of the main seat is Mrs. Liu Guo. She is wearing a rose red wide pleated dress, on which is finely embroidered a picture of a hundred birds in spring with gold and silver thread. , It looks very graceful and luxurious from a distance.There are two golden phoenix beads on the hairpin. The pearls are huge, as big as a thumb, and they seem to be the same as the big east beads that the queen often wears on the phoenix crown.In the rest, there are many pearls and flowers, each of which is round and huge.

Ouyang Ruo hurried forward to greet her New Year greetings.Mrs. Liu Guo came forward to help her up with a smile and said: "Sister Ouyang is getting more and more beautiful. I am envious and jealous as a sister."

Ouyang Ruo hurriedly said with a smile: "Madam Liu Guo, don't make fun of the concubines, Madam Liu Guo is luxurious, and the concubines really dare not compare with her."

Mrs. Liu Guo pursed her lips and smiled, put her hands on her arms and walked forward. The golden armor on her fingers was inlaid with cat's-eye emeralds, which shone with a green luster at first glance, like eyes.Ouyang Ruo didn't dare to sit beside her, so he stiffened his arms and led her to sit on the seat.

Mrs. Liu Guo pulled her to sit beside her, but Ouyang Ruo even said she didn't dare.She made a gesture and said angrily: "It's still early, my sister just sit down for a while, and I'm afraid they won't succeed? Besides, it's not a matter of time before my sister will be promoted, so what's the point of sitting down first?"

Ouyang Ruo felt a chill in his heart, so he could only laugh dryly, "Mrs. Liu Guo was joking."

Mrs. Liu Guo really had something in her words, which is really puzzling.

Mrs. Liu Guo turned her face and said with a smile: "By the way, Wan Zhaoyi came to me a few days ago to discuss that she wanted you to help her when she gave birth, and I also want to find a suitable person to take care of her, otherwise those servants I don’t worry about those with rough hands and feet.”

Ouyang Ruo was puzzled but said: "Returning to Mrs. Liu Guo, Madam Wan Zhaoyi said that she was still uneasy about giving birth for the first time, and wanted to find someone familiar to take care of her. The concubine had no choice but to agree."

Mrs. Liu Guo smiled, her brows and eyes were very gentle and she said repeatedly: "It's good that Sister Ouyang is here, and the servants will be handed over to you to order."

Ouyang Ruo quickly agreed.The two talked for a while before Ouyang Ruo retreated to his seat.

After a while, everyone was assembled, and the emperor and queen also came out. After three long live, Chu Huotian rewarded a lot of things according to the position and rank as usual.

Seeing that everyone was beaming with joy, the Empress suddenly opened her mouth: "Today is the first day of the new year. I have calculated the date for celebration, and I want to move the palaces of the sisters, because it will be another four months. , the newcomer will enter the palace, and I'm afraid there will be too many people to live in." As she spoke, she read the brocade noodle booklet in her hand with the little servant beside her.

Because Yu Chonghua was pregnant, she moved to Huanbi Palace to live with Wan Zhaoyi, saying that it was convenient for Yiying to take care of her. Ouyang Ruo also moved to Yunxiang Palace, and the other wives remained unchanged.Ouyang Ruo didn't know where Yunxiang Palace was, but he saw jealousy in the eyes of several concubines, so it must be good.

Seeing that the servant had finished reading, the queen received the courtesy of several others and said: "This treatment is to welcome the newcomers into the palace. The lords in the palace should also prepare well. The servants must teach well what should be taught."

After she finished speaking, all the concubines said yes.Ouyang Ruo looked tired because he didn't sleep well last night and got up too early this morning.Chu Huotian didn't talk much on the throne, and the empress alone did the talking. He glanced at the people below, paused on Ouyang Ruo's face, and suddenly said: "That's it for today. Last night's old age watch I'm tired, go back early and rest."

The queen was a little surprised, and after a pause, she said, "That's right, let's all step back."

Everyone retreated, and Ouyang Ruo and Wan Zhaoyi went hand in hand.

Ouyang Ruo remembered what he had just said to Mrs. Liu Guo, and asked Wan Zhaoyi softly, "Did sister go to see Mrs. Liu Guo?"

Wan Zhaoyi's brows were full of worry, she shook her hand and said, "Yes, but I didn't say it clearly, I only said that the first time I had a baby, I was very worried. She is so smart, so she will understand."

Ouyang Ruo sighed in his heart: "Sister, let's relax, it's not certain that you will be born a dragon or a phoenix, so don't scare yourself."

Hearing the words, Wan Zhaoyi pulled her to walk a few steps quickly, leaving the palace people behind her far away, and then said mysteriously: "Qin imperial physician has seen it, it is Longzi."

When she said this, she squeezed Ouyang Ruo's hand tightly, almost sweating.Ouyang Ruo was shocked. In the Chu Palace, it is not allowed to determine the gender of a pregnant concubine.

"Sister Lin is not crazy? What if someone finds out..." Ouyang Ruo's face turned pale. She knew that some people with excellent medical skills could tell the gender of a fetus in the womb, but very few doctors would do this, just because Many people believe that this is a leak of heavenly secrets and they will be punished by heaven.

Seeing a small pavilion ahead, Wan Zhaoyi pulled her into it, and said in a low voice, "I begged him several times before he would show it to me. And I made an oath, so he reluctantly helped me see it. "

Ouyang Ruo was speechless for a moment, and asked the palace man to take a cushion and put it on the stone bench, and helped her to sit down.

Wan Zhaoyi looked at the tall buildings and high pavilions in the distance, with vermilion walls and green tiles, sighed lightly, and suddenly smiled again: "Sister Ouyang, don't worry, I will live a good life, and I still have to watch my children one by one. When I grow up, I can talk and laugh... I will have children when I grow up. Thinking about this, I have the courage to continue." After she finished speaking, she stroked her belly lovingly, and a kind smile appeared on her face.

Ouyang Ruo looked at her, and suddenly touched his mind, but was speechless.

At this time, a few servants walked up the road, walked to the front of the pavilion and said: "The House of Internal Affairs asked the concubine Rou to go there, saying that the palace has changed, and the servants of the palace will pick a few people to serve, please take a step over to have a look Pick something you like."

Ouyang Ruo just felt a little strange, and asked, "Why so fast? Didn't the empress say that the matter of moving to the palace will be discussed after the Lantern Festival?"

The servant seemed to have thought about it a long time ago, and said: "The head of the House of Internal Affairs, the father-in-law, said that those palace servants still need to be trained for a while, so please choose them first, and then teach them one by one."

Ouyang Ruo thought about it and made sense, so she said goodbye to Wan Zhaoyi and asked Wan Hui and other palace officials to go with them.

Ouyang Ruo was led by them, but they were not walking in the direction of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but strange scenes that had never been seen before gradually appeared on both sides.Her heart trembled, she stopped and shouted: "Where are you taking me? This is not the way to go to the House of Internal Affairs. Do you want me to be the one to deceive you?!"

Wan Hui also looked around vigilantly after hearing the words.

The three or four little servants looked at each other, and when they turned their heads and saw Ouyang Ruo's gloomy face, they knelt down and said in a trembling voice: "I don't dare, this servant is taking your mother to Yunxiang Palace, there are people waiting for your mother..."

"Who is that person?" Ouyang Ruo calmed down and continued to ask.

"I don't dare to say this, my maidservant, please forgive me..." The servant kowtowed bitterly.

"Your Majesty, I see that they don't dare to come up with any tricks, let's go and have a look." Seeing that they seemed to have difficulties, and seeing that it was Qing Tianbai Ri who forgave them for not daring to play tricks, she said this to Ouyang Ruo.

(End of this chapter)