Ming Dynasty: A mere unruly commoner is rebelling against the heaven?

Chapter 90 Beautiful scenery and pleasant occasions!
Ms. Liu had already introduced to Zhang Wan'er what it meant to go to bed.

They were worried that the emperor would overdo his health, so after a certain time, the eunuchs in the Jingshifang would shout outside the emperor's bedroom, "Time's up."

The first two times can be ignored, but when it comes to the third time, the concubine must leave the emperor's dragon bed.

But everyone knows that being disturbed during sleep is very annoying.

Therefore, this kind of rigid regulation can only be applied to those weak emperors.

When facing a powerful emperor, the eunuchs in the Jingshifang would often ask the emperor in advance what time they would call him to bed so as not to spoil his mood.

And Zhu Youtang was precisely the powerful emperor who held enormous power.

Fu Dahai really didn't dare to anger Zhu Youtang, so he asked this question.

But it was obvious that Zhu Youtang didn't even want to hear the sound of being called to bed.

Zhu Youtang stared at Fu Dahai and sneered, "Whoever dares to make any noise outside the palace tonight, I will pull out his tongue!"

Beads of cold sweat suddenly appeared on Fu Dahai's forehead.

"I understand, I will resign."

As Fu Dahai spoke, he stepped back repeatedly and bowed as he left the Qianqing Palace.

After coming outside, Fu Dahai took a deep breath of cold air, and the cold sweat on his body became even colder when the cold wind blew.

While Fu Dahai was scared, he was also glad that he had asked an extra question and saved a tongue.

At the same time, he quickly called the eunuch from the Jingshifang and passed on Zhu Youtang's order.

"From now on, when your majesty is sleeping, no noise is allowed outside the palace!"

"Whoever dares to make a sound will have his tongue cut off. Do you understand?"

The eunuchs in the Jingshifang nodded repeatedly: "I heard it clearly, thank you for the reminder, eunuch!"

In the east warm room of the Qianqing Palace, Zhu Youtang got on the bed first, squinted his eyes, and ordered: "The lights are too bright, turn off two of them."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The palace maids who were attending the palace extinguished the two lanterns closest to the bed out of the eight lit lanterns in the east warm room.

The lights near the dragon bed suddenly dimmed and the atmosphere began to become ambiguous.

Zhang Wan'er's heart was pounding, and she felt shy and expectant at the same time.

Even, a little anxious.

Zhu Youtang was half lying on the bed and waved to Zhang Wan'er.

Zhang Wan'er said shyly, "Your Majesty..."

She slowly climbed onto Zhu Youtang's dragon bed, snuggled into his arms, and put her face on his chest.

Zhu Youtang hugged Zhang Wan'er's shoulders and squeezed them gently, causing her to cry out.

The palace maids on both sides hurriedly stepped forward to lower the curtains of the dragon bed, then knelt on the ground, waiting to be ordered.

Inside the Qianqing Palace, red candles flickered and there were faint gasps.

In Jingren Palace, Chen Yuanyuan suddenly woke up from her dream.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty..."

Gu Hengbo, who was standing by, quickly opened the bed curtain and said anxiously, "My lady, what's wrong with you?"

Chen Yuanyuan looked at Gu Hengbo and tears suddenly flowed down her face.

"Yongbo, I dreamed of His Majesty."

Chen Yuanyuan looked out the window, in the direction of the Qianqing Palace, and murmured to herself, "Is Concubine Kang now in the Qianqing Palace, accepting the emperor's favor?"

Gu Hengbo felt a little distressed when he saw Chen Yuanyuan, who was distracted.

In this light, is it a kind of luck that I was not chosen by His Majesty?

Without hope, there will be no expectations, no hopes, and no disappointments.

Just like Chen Yuanyuan now, because she has the hope of serving His Majesty in bed.

She just hoped that His Majesty would summon her to bed and that His Majesty would favor her.

In the end, I was deeply disappointed.

Gu Hengbo sighed deeply, not knowing how to comfort Chen Yuanyuan. He could only hug Chen Yuanyuan and stroke her back gently.

Chen Yuanyuan was not the only one in the harem who couldn't sleep.

Liu Rushi was also unable to sleep. She sat on the soft couch in the hall, leaning quietly on the window frame, looking out the window, not knowing what she was thinking.

Then she blinked, stood up from the couch barefoot, and walked to the table.

Brushes, ink and rice paper have been laid out on the table.

He picked up the brush and wrote beautiful words on the rice paper.

Dreams are a sad road.

Hibiscus tears, cherry language.

The flower petals on the curtain are all misled by human hearts.

Let’s not talk about the wind and rain tonight.

If you want him to come, can he come?
Arrange endless ecstasy.

Crumpled red paper and green silk quilt.

There is no way to keep him, so let him go.

There is still a lot of time left, and people are getting closer, but I am worried about returning.

The poem was finished, but it only made the beautiful woman sigh.

Suddenly, a faint sound of Kunqu opera came from Zhongcui Palace where Dong Xiaowan lived.

"What can we do about the beautiful scenery? Who can enjoy the pleasure?"

"Flying in the morning and rolling up in the evening, clouds and mists, green pavilions, raindrops and wind, painted boats in the mist."

"People in Jinping think this time is worthless!"

This is a passage from "The Peony Pavilion".

Among the eight of them, only Dong Xiaowan sang Kunqu Opera the best.

And "The Peony Pavilion" is Dong Xiaowan's forte.

"Just don't let your longing for me down, I will walk through three lives in the Peony Pavilion."

Lady Gu sat in front of the window, whispering this poem.

She smiled slightly, as if she was breathing a sigh.

"I wonder which concubine has such a refined taste."

"This Peony Pavilion is sung really well." "It's a pity that the people who should have heard it the most didn't hear it."

……

The next day.

The morning light is dim.

Zhang Wan'er woke up from her dream and her cheeks blushed when she thought of what happened last night.

Let’s not talk about how fierce the wind and rain were last night. Even after the wind stopped and the rain stopped, Zhang Wan’er was ready to get up and sleep on another bed.

Zhu Youtang also held her back and let her sleep in his arms all night.

Looking at Zhu Youtang's eyebrows beside her, Zhang Wan'er couldn't help but chuckle.

"What's so funny?"

When Zhu Youtang opened his eyes, he saw a face as pretty as a flower.

"It's not something funny, it's just that I feel very happy to be with Your Majesty."

"Heh, you do know how to talk."

"This is my true feeling, I dare not speak nonsense."

Outside the Qianqing Palace, the morning bell of the Bell and Drum Bureau rang.

A large number of eunuchs from the Imperial Kitchen and palace maids from the Imperial Clothing Bureau have entered the East Warm Pavilion.

"Your Majesty, it is already three quarters past midnight."

"understood."

Zhu Youtang patted Zhang Wan'er beside him and said, "Get up and have dinner with me."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Zhang Wan'er smiled sweetly and obediently followed Zhu Youtang to stand up.

With the help of the palace maids from the Shangyi Bureau, Zhu Youtang and Zhang Wan'er changed into their regular clothes and had breakfast together.

Then Zhang Wan'er said goodbye to Zhu Youtang and left the Qianqing Palace.

The first record was also recorded in the "Cheng'enlu" of Jingshifang.

On October 13th of the first year of the Hongzhi reign, the emperor had sex with Concubine Kang.

If Zhang Wan'er becomes pregnant with a royal heir in the future, the records in this book "Cheng'enlu" can accurately reveal the time of her pregnancy.

On his way to Hongde Hall, Zhu Youtang suddenly remembered something: "Fu Dahai."

"The slave is here."

Fu Dahai hurried forward to listen to the order.

"Go to the inner treasury and pick out some jewelry for Concubine Kang. Give her... ten boxes."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Zhu Youtang walked straight into the Hongde Hall without stopping.

Fu Dahai first went to find the eunuch of the Imperial Stables, and after registering, he was brought into the imperial treasury to select jewelry.

In Zhu Youtang's treasury, there were several thousand boxes of jewelry seized by the East Factory during the house searches.

Fu Dahai was dazzled by the choices. After selecting ten boxes of jewels, he hurried to Xianfu Palace with his eunuchs.

As soon as Fu Dahai entered the gate of Xianfu Palace, he saw Runqiu, the head maid of Ciqing Palace, leading a group of young eunuchs to move boxes of gifts into Xianfu Palace.

"Empress Kang, this is a gift from the Ciqing Palace, especially this jade bracelet. The Empress Dowager specifically instructed me to hand it to you personally."

"This is what the Empress Dowager brought from home when she entered the palace. She has been carrying it for more than 20 years. It is so precious!"

Runqiu said this and took out a small wooden box from his arms.

Open the wooden box to reveal a jade bracelet inside.

Zhang Wan'er opened her mouth in surprise and declined, "This is too expensive, isn't it? How can I accept such an honor?"

Runqiu presented the wooden box to Zhang Wan'er and said, "The Empress Dowager and Concubine Kang hit it off immediately and sent this servant to deliver it to me."

"If Concubine Kang doesn't accept it, it will be ugly."

Zhang Wan'er had no choice but to accept it: "I am flattered by the Empress Dowager's kindness."

When Runqiu saw Fu Dahai coming with gifts, he didn't stay long. He exchanged a few words of greeting, put down the gifts and left.

Fu Dahai stepped forward and said, "Just now, His Majesty asked me to bring a gift to Concubine Kang. Do you think it suits your heart?"

As Fu Dahai was speaking, a young eunuch came forward and opened the box in his hand.

"Here are a pair of cloisonné bracelets, four gold and silver rings, five pairs of jade earrings, and two pearl necklaces..."

Fu Dahai was just announcing the names of the gifts when another person came to the gate of Xianfu Palace to deliver a gift.

The person who came this time was the eunuch in charge of Renshou Palace, and he also brought a lot of gifts.

There are incense, sachets, hand warmers, vases, and silks of various colors.

In Xianfu Palace, there was an endless stream of palace maids and eunuchs coming and going.

They all came to give gifts to Concubine Kang. It was such a grand occasion and very lively.

Compared with the bustling Xianfu Palace, the palaces of the other four concubines were much quieter.

Changchun Palace, one of the Six Western Palaces, is closest to Xianfu Palace and has the best understanding of the grandeur of Xianfu Palace.

"It's so noisy. It won't let anyone quiet down so early in the morning."

Chunya, who was sweeping snow in the yard, complained dissatisfiedly.

But she was immediately stopped by Lady Gu behind her: "Chun Ya, be careful with your words!"

"Kangpin is the first to accept the emperor's grace. As his sisters, we should also show our appreciation."

"Chun Ya, take the box of Luozidai on my dressing table to Xianfu Palace."

Chunya opened her eyes wide: "But that box of Luozidai is very valuable, and it was brought back from home by the young lady..."

"Go quickly!" Mrs. Gu urged.

"Oh."

Chunya curled her lips and had to take Mrs. Gu's Luozidai and go to Xianfu Palace to congratulate.

Chen Yuanyuan, Liu Rushi and Dong Xiaowan also sent their palace maids with gifts to Xianfu Palace to congratulate.

In just one night, Zhang Wan'er showed that she was the most favored among all the harems.

The gap in status between Zhang Wan'er and other concubines was already as huge as heaven and earth.

(End of this chapter)