I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 458: Jade Dragon Song

Moon Festival.

The moon is bright in the sky and the breeze is gentle.

The lights in the rear courtyard of Chonghua Palace in the imperial city were bright, as bright as day.

In the pavilion in the middle, there are two tables with seasonal fruits neatly placed on them, as well as glass pots filled with the popular sour plum juice.

Queen Chen, dressed in a palace dress and a jacket embroidered with a gold-edged phoenix, spoke to Xue Baoqin, Song Liuli, Xu Youlian, Zeng Wan'er, Wang Lan'er, Dong Linglong and Ge Xiuyun who were sitting in a circle.

"Today should be a good time for the whole family to reunite and enjoy the moon together, but I'm really sorry that you're detained in Chonghua Palace.

I have asked someone to set up two tables of fruits, and we will enjoy the moon together here, worship the moon, and eat and drink."

"Yes, madam!"

The seven ladies sat at one table surrounding Chen, while the female officials around Chen and the seven ladies' personal female officials sat at a table next to them.

After chatting for a while, Wang Laner looked around, pointed at the moon in the sky, and suggested to Chen with a smile: "Madam, the moon is bright in the sky, it's such a beautiful sight. It's boring for us to sit here. Why don't we recite poems to the moon, so that this romantic scene will not be in vain."

Chen smiled and said, "Okay, okay! I know that each of you is a top female scholar, so feel free to write and let me open my eyes."

Dong Linglong and Ge Xiuyun said quickly, "Your Majesty, we are from the south of the desert, we are uneducated and can only speak Mandarin reluctantly. We only like to read the chapters of the novels. We really can't write poems. Please forgive us."

Chen found what the two were saying interesting and laughed, "Okay, okay, I will pardon you two. Come eat and drink with me and be my commentator."

"Thank you, empress."

Seeing that no one objected, Wang Laner stood up and said loudly: "I proposed this, so I will sing a song first.

The light rain washes the bright moon, and the white clouds cover the guest’s clothes. Thousands of pine and locust trees gather together, and the sheng and crane fly to the sky.

Dong Linglong and Ge Xiuyun quickly clapped their hands and cheered: "Good, good poem!"

I don’t know what’s so good about it, but it sounds nice anyway.

Chen smiled.

Song Liuli smiled coldly in her heart. Wang Lan'er boasted that she came from a scholarly family and was raised in an official family. She was full of poetry and books, and had a high opinion of herself. She looked down on the daughters of nobles who were blessed by their ancestors, and even more so on the daughters of common people and merchants who came from humble backgrounds.

What happened tonight was meant to establish authority but also to slap someone in the face.

The four girls looked at each other, and Zeng Wan'er said, "My queen, my father is only a scholar, and I have not read much since I was young, so I can only put together a few words to make a poem. 'The clouds move over the peaks, and the lake waves are clearer in the moonlight. The beauty seems to have washed off her makeup, and through the veil, she can see her beautiful evening makeup.'"

"Good!" Chen's eyes lit up, and the other women quickly applauded.

Wang Laner's expression changed slightly, and the smile on her lips looked a little forced.

Xu Youlian continued, "My lady, it's my turn now.

'Thick as autumn clouds, light as smoke, green all the way to the three lakes. Sitting on the awning under the slanting moon and flowing water, the cool color follows people to get on the boat.'"

Chen's eyes brightened, "Good, wonderful poem!"

The girls immediately clapped and cheered loudly.

The smile on Wang Lan'er's lips became more forced.

Song Liuli and Xue Baoqin looked at each other, and Song Liuli took the initiative to say, "My lady, I am not very knowledgeable, and I have only been able to put together a poem after much contemplation.

"The moon is cool in the sky, and the sound of the flute makes people happy. The sound is close to the green clouds, and the fragrance spreads to the deep red lotus. The moon is vague in the distance, and it is half sunny and half cloudy. The peach blossoms are not visible in the floating stream."

Chen was even happier, and the other girls were whispering about Song Liuli's poems. The smile on Wang Lan'er's face disappeared.

Xue Baoqin didn't say much, and directly said: "'The mist and water are boundless, and I am floating in a light boat. A sound of the moon is lingering across the river, and someone is singing with me across the river. The Changgan song and the steps in the West Garden are all lingering. The Yulong song is played, and the autumn of the sea and sky is vast.'"

Chen clapped her hands and exclaimed, "All the poems are well written, and full of literary talent. After choosing so many, this palace is also very embarrassed, but I will still comment on them."

She pondered for a while, and finally spoke again under the expectation of the girls.

"I think that among you, Song Liuli is the most exquisite in writing poems about the moon, while Xue Baoqin is the most powerful."

Zeng Wan'er and Xu Youlian quickly echoed, "Your Majesty is wise, and you hit the nail on the head!"

Wang Lan'er smiled and said, "Your Majesty is absolutely fair and your comments are just as they should be."

Chen glanced at the faces of the girls and said, "We have admired the moon and written poems. Let's have a good chat."

"Yes!"

After chatting for a while, Wang Lan'er couldn't help but say, "My queen, the chrysanthemums in Chonghua Palace are blooming, golden and brilliant."

Chen nodded and said, "I saw them when I came here yesterday afternoon. They are really beautiful. Everyone says that Chonghua Palace is full of beautiful scenery these days, so the flowers here bloom earlier and more beautifully than those in other places."

Wang Lan'er regained her confidence and continued Chen's words, "Your Majesty is right. In addition to appreciating the moon during the Mid-Autumn Festival, we must also appreciate chrysanthemums. Yesterday, several of us sisters held a chrysanthemum appreciation meeting and agreed to write a poem about appreciating chrysanthemums.

It just so happens that the Queen is coming tonight, so why not ask the sisters to write down the poems they have prepared about appreciating chrysanthemums and ask the Queen to comment on them."

Everyone looked at each other, still coming?

Wang Lan'er is still not reconciled.

Song Liuli looked at Xue Baoqin and found that she, who was always lively, was not the first to respond as usual. Then she asked the palace maids and eunuchs to set the table and spread the paper and ink.

He just sat absent-mindedly in his seat, neither uttering any agreement nor any objection.

Song Liuli found it very strange.

Xue Baoqin was the most lively and cheerful of the seven girls, intelligent yet straightforward. She used to be the one who talked the most and laughed the most happily at gatherings.

At yesterday's chrysanthemum-appreciating party and tonight's moon-viewing party, everyone was quiet and seldom smiled, with eyes that showed they were worried.

what happened?

Could it be that he went to Xiyuan to watch a play a few days ago and quietly left the theater during the show and something happened?

In the past few days, Wang Lan'er, Zeng Wan'er, Xu Youlian, and myself have all tried to find out information from Xue Baoqin, Dong Linglong, and Ge Xiuyun, but not a single word was leaked!

The more this happens, the weirder it seems!
The palace maids and eunuchs brought in a few tables and placed them in the open space under the pavilion. They also lit a few windproof candlesticks and placed them next to them to make the open space brighter.

The girls found a table, picked up their brushes, dipped them in ink, and wrote their own poems about chrysanthemums on white paper.

Dong Linglong and Ge Xiuyun, who were exempted from writing poems, stood behind Chen. They looked at Wang Laner, who was writing poems with great pride and enthusiasm, and felt a little worried.

The two girls also understood what Wang Lan'er was thinking tonight. It was nothing more than a few days ago when Xue Baoqin and the two of them were watching a play in Xiyuan, and they quietly slipped out in the middle of the play. Wang Lan'er noticed something was wrong, and tonight she took the opportunity to slap Xue Baoqin in the face.

Seeing how confident she was, Dong Linglong and Ge Xiuyun couldn't help but worry about Xue Baoqin.

Xue Baoqin came from a noble family and was the youngest daughter. She was loved and cared for by her parents and sisters since childhood. She even learned riding and shooting. Before entering Chonghua Palace, she followed her father, Xue Han, Marquis of Yangwu, to hunt in Xishan and Nanyuan several times.

He has a very cheerful and straightforward personality.

Dong Linglong and Ge Xiuyun entered Chonghua Palace and could not get along with the other girls due to their different languages ​​and living habits. They felt lonely. It was Xue Baoqin who took the initiative to chat with them, taught them Mandarin, and then talked about riding, shooting and hunting, and they found a common language.

The two girls soon became Xue Baoqin's little followers and always liked to stay together.

They had never seen Xue Baoqin so talented in writing before. Dong Linglong and Ge Xiuyun also felt that the Queen Mother was giving face to Miss Xue for the poem she wrote while appreciating the moon just now.

Miss Song's lyrics are the most exquisite, which means they are the best written.

Miss Xue’s poems are the most powerful. What kind of comment is this?

Is it good or bad?
Those must be the words that the Queen Mother said to comfort Miss Xue.

Soon, the five girls finished writing their own poems about appreciating chrysanthemums, put down their brushes, pressed the manuscripts with paperweights, and returned to the pavilion to sit down.

Chen stood up and walked to the open space, stopping at each table for a few minutes to appreciate the poems of the five women.

On the last table was a poem written by Xue Baoqin. After reading it, Chen couldn't help but turn her head and glance at Xue Baoqin. There was an indescribable light in her eyes, as if she saw through something.

Xue Baoqin blushed slightly when she was stared at by her and lowered her head.

"Well, Miss Xue's poem about appreciating chrysanthemums is the best."

Chen picked up the paper and read it aloud.

"'Looking at the west wind with melancholy thoughts, the red reeds and white reeds break my heart. The empty fence and old garden have no trace of autumn, but the thin moon and clear frost are aware of my dreams. My heart follows the geese flying far away, and I sit alone listening to the anvil in the evening. Who will pity me for my yellow flower disease and comfort me that there will be a time for Double Ninth Festival.'"

When Song Liuli heard this, he understood!

Who will pity me for my yellow flower disease and comfort me that there will be a time for Double Ninth Festival?

A few days ago, Xue Baoqin sneaked out while watching a play, met His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, and talked to him.

What girl is not pregnant?
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has seen him himself. He has an upright figure, a handsome appearance, and a dignified appearance like a rosy cloud. He is unforgettable at first sight.

Xu Youlian, Zeng Wan'er and Wang Lan'er were all smart people. After listening to this poem, they all guessed some hidden secrets.

The two girls, Xu and Zeng, had complicated expressions, but Wang Lan'er's face turned pale and looked a little ugly.

"Your Majesty, the eunuch Wan Gonggong, who holds the seal of the inner palace, is here to convey the emperor's order."

"The Emperor's order?"

Chen understood as soon as she heard it. Whatever the emperor's order could be, it must be the Crown Prince's intention.

Her mind suddenly brightened and she began to understand a little.

"Call in."

Wanfu walked in and bowed to Chen first: "Your servant greets the Queen."

"Is the emperor's order conveying an imperial edict?"

"Yes, Madam. The Emperor gave his order orally, and then the Imperial Household Department drafted the edict, using the imperial seal."

"Then declare it."

"Yes!"

"The Emperor has a decree!"

Xue Baoqin, Song Liuli, Xu Youlian, Zeng Wan'er, Wang Lan'er, Dong Linglong and Ge Xiuyun knelt on the ground in turn.

"The Emperor, in compliance with the Will of Heaven, proclaimed: The seven stars of the Big Dipper surround the palace of Taiwei. The two daughters of Yu Shun are the images of the principal wives. If it is the will of Heaven, we must carefully seek out virtuous and wise women. So we can help spread the teachings and make the Zhou Dynasty prosperous.

The seven daughters of Chonghua Palace are candidates for the crown prince. They are gentle, kind, and harmonious. They are the gifts of festivals and are naturally bright and kind.

Baoqin of the Xue family was given a red jade ruyi, while Song family was given a colored glaze green jade ruyi. The other five daughters, Xu, Zeng, Wang, Dong and Ge, were given a white jade ruyi.

Admire this! "

"Thank you, my concubine!"

Dong Linglong and Ge Xiuyun were confused, but they understood that the emperor, the eunuch, gave them a white jade ruyi during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Sister Xue was given a red jade ruyi, and Sister Song was given a green jade ruyi.

Although I didn't understand what it meant, I knew that Sister Xue and Sister Song were different and stood out from the crowd.

Dong and Ge could not understand the confusing and roundabout words in the decree, but Xue, Song, Xu, Zeng and Wang understood it clearly.

The main palace is red and the secondary palace is green.

Giving the red jade ruyi to Xue Baoqin meant that her position as the Crown Princess was already decided, while Song Liuli giving the green jade ruyi was meaningful.

At this time, she was just one of the prince's concubines, but once the prince ascended the throne, she would definitely be a noble concubine, and her status would be much higher than that of the other women.

Although Xu Youlian and Zeng Wan'er felt a little disappointed, they quickly accepted their fate.

Only Wang Lan'er's body shook and she almost fainted.

At this point, Song Liuli suddenly realized that Xue Baoqin was the most powerful person in Chonghua Palace, and she was indeed the daughter of a noble family. Although she didn't know what happened that day, she could find a way to sing a song to attract the prince's attention. Then Xue Baoqin would also use other methods to please the prince.

Behind her is Marquis Yangwu and the entire noble family, including the prince's uncle and cousin. It is said that they grew up together and must understand the prince's temper and know how to prescribe the right remedy.

It seems that Xue Baoqin's method was correct.

She got the red jade ruyi!

The next morning, the edict issued in the name of Emperor Longqing was sent to the Ministry of Rites, and a copy was also given to the Cabinet.

Zhang Juzheng was in charge of the Ministry of Rites. When he saw the recruitment document in the imperial edict, his face changed and he did not speak for a long time.

Gao Gong also heard the rumor and got it confirmed by his ally, the Minister of Rites Ge Shouli. He sneered in his heart.

Uncle Zhang, you were a little impatient. Now you're embarrassed!
But if you are embarrassed, I will feel happy.

(End of this chapter)