Long Harem Road

Chapter 63

In mid-June, the sun was scorching hot, the earth was like a steamer, and the heat was so hot that people couldn’t breathe. After lunch, the sky was still blue and clear, and soon the sky was dark, dark clouds, and pouring rain. Downpour.

Thick raindrops hit the bluestone slabs, and the sky and the earth were covered in mist like a layer of light veil. The heavy rain gradually became smaller, but it never stopped.

The empress sat at the head of the main hall of Kunning Palace, looking at the concubine who was either smiling or smiling, or the concubine who was quiet and elegant, there was a trace of sarcasm in her eyes.

This is only the second draft, and the team in this harem is already so huge. Because of the large number of people, unless it is the first time to serve the bed, currently only concubines who are at the sixth rank or above are eligible to come to Kunning Palace to pay their respects every day.

If we say that the 33 beautiful women who entered the palace this year are two extremes, the four have outstanding family background and appearance, and were named Jieyu, and the remaining 29 people, except Zhou Wan'er, who is a concubine daughter of the Minister of the Ministry of War, are all of low birth, and even some Ten of them came from folk gentry families.

The emperor is most concerned about the four respected family members, and the rest of the beauties are just icing on the cake. This is the queen's intelligence. They are all of ordinary family background, easy to handle vases, they are really virtuous.

"The weather was sultry and hot the past few days. My sisters came here every day to say hello. You have worked hard. It coincides with today's sunny day after the rain. The air is clear and the lotus flowers in the imperial garden are in full bloom. My palace invites all the younger sisters to gather in the imperial garden in the afternoon to meet the new sisters who have entered the palace. Get to know."

The queen picked up the blue and white porcelain teacup beside her, took a sip, cleared her voice, and said with a smile.

"Invited by the empress, the concubine will naturally arrive on time. I have been looking forward to the opportunity to appreciate the demeanor of the new sisters. I heard that the younger sisters this year are all as beautiful as flowers and delicate as flowers."

Concubine Le Ma Leling answered the words with a smile on her face. She had just given birth to the fifth prince in less than two months, and she was slightly plump than before, with a soft complexion. Those who didn't know probably thought that she was a good subordinate who followed the queen's footsteps, but they didn't know The person Concubine Le hates the most is the queen.

Baozhu quietly tastes the tea. This is the Junshan Silver Needle that just paid tribute this year. The tea has a high aroma and a mellow taste. The soup is yellow and clear. , become an interesting view.

The queen is willing to do so. Treating Concubine An with such good tea is probably to show the status of the empress in the palace. Even this flower viewing banquet is probably to let the newcomers know who is the real master of the harem. It seems that the newcomers a few days ago The arrangement of the palace is quite exciting to the queen.

With Concubine Le taking the lead, everyone expressed that they would live up to the love of the Empress, and went to the flower viewing banquet on time. The Queen's goal was achieved, so they stopped talking, dismissed the crowd, and arranged for the capable confidant, Nanny Zhang, to prepare for the banquet.

"The concubine De concubine is here!" Following the eunuch's chanting, Baozhu appeared in the imperial garden with joy and joy. Beloved concubine.

Wearing a light-colored butterfly skirt, long hair rolled up, white magnolia and jadeite hairpins inserted obliquely, face brushed with thin powder, soft skin like suet, beautiful but not enchanting, charming but dignified.

Although the clothing and accessories are simple, they are low-key luxury. The long skirt is as thin as a cicada's wings, and the red jade drop bead earrings complement the crimson bead chain on the fair wrist.

Baozhu put her slender hands on the big palace maid next to her, and said with a smile, "We're all sisters, you don't have to be polite, I'm not too late." Everyone hurriedly said politely that it was not too late, and no one noticed Zhou Wan'er's expression hiding in the corner Complicated, like envy, jealousy, and resentment.

Baozhu stopped talking, walked gracefully to the right side of Concubine Zhang Shu who was relaxing and sat down, smiled and said in a low voice, "Your sister is here early?"

Concubine Zhang Shu nodded slightly, the corners of her mouth curled up, her eyes were smiling, and she teased, "The empress's invitation will naturally arrive on time. My sister is really 'low-key' today. Sister Luo Jin knows it very well. I am afraid that only the queen mother and the queen are in the palace. Only then?
Tsk tsk, and these earrings and bead chains are all prized by the emperor's inner treasury. They are all rare treasures. My sister is uncharacteristically today? ", Concubine Zhang Shu leaned close to Baozhu's ear and whispered, although she meant to be teasing, Baozhu could hear the worry in her tone.

Baozhu caressed the bead chain on Hao's wrist, feeling cool and refreshed, she curled her lips and said, "Sister, don't worry, everyone knows that my sister is a favorite concubine, so don't come up with some favors." Concubine style."

After speaking, she raised her eyebrows and glanced at Zhou Wan'er, who was not eye-catching in the crowd. Concubine Zhang Shu followed Baozhu's gaze and saw Zhou Wan'er in a light green gauze dress.

It was rumored in the palace that Zhou Wan'er deliberately imitated Concubine De, she had nose and eyes, but today she saw a little bit of similarity, but it was similar in shape but not in spirit, with a dazzling pearl in front, how could the emperor pay attention to a fake?

Concubine Zhang Shu sighed slightly, she was another one who couldn't see her identity clearly, they probably still have fantasies about the emperor nowadays.

While chatting with Concubine Zhang Shu, Baozhu looked at the soft-spoken newcomer, and didn't care to appreciate the graceful and lovable lotus in the lotus pond. I have to say that the emperor is really picky. This ring is fat, swallows and thin, each has its own merits.

Liu Xuan'er and Liu Jieyu, who was born in Liu Guogong's mansion, sat alone in front of the case with a blank expression, and did not talk to the concubines on the left and right. Her small, white and tender melon seeds had dark eyes on her face and a cool demeanor, like an invisible barrier, automatically interacting with her surroundings. Yan Xiaoyan's concubines were isolated.

Baozhu couldn't help laughing to herself, the little girl who was as delicate as a flower at the age of sixteen or seventeen had grown up with rich clothes and rich food, but she had developed a cold and iceberg beauty, hehe, I guess the emperor who likes to challenge passion will like it.

Next to Liu Jieyu is Zhou Miaotong, the daughter of the Minister of War, Zhou Jieyu. She has picturesque eyebrows, elegant temperament, a smile on the corner of her mouth, and a pair of clear eyes that look forward to shining. She is neither too close to others nor difficult to get along with.

The moment Baozhu looked at her, Zhou Jieyu raised her eyes and showed a friendly smile. Baozhu nodded slightly. This should be a smart person, and a smart person would not do anything stupid.

Next to Liu Jieyu, the girl with a bright smile is the granddaughter of Taifu Gu. Taifu Gu is Zhao Zhen's mentor. Although he is old and has retired for a long time, he is highly respected by the emperor. The emperor must pay more attention to Gu Jieyu.

Gu Jieyu has been loved and loved by thousands of people since she was a child. She looks like a lotus, lively and cute. She looks like a simple-minded little girl. Baozhu frowned slightly. She can be called the granddaughter of the old fox's emperor's teacher. She is really innocent ?
Yao Mengjie, who was being chatted with by Gu Jieyu all the time, looked a bit delicate. She was slender and slender, with a goose fat face, with the softness and delicateness unique to Jiangnan women, and a pair of big watery eyes. pity.

Yao Jieyu's father was the governor of Jiangnan from the second rank. Although he was not an official in the capital, he was in charge of the three prosperous Jiangnan provinces, and he was also a humerus minister that the emperor liked very much.

Compared with the four Jieyu, the rest of the newcomers are slightly inferior in bearing and clothing, but they all have exquisite facial features and the freshness of Xiaojiabiyu.

"The noble concubine has arrived! The virtuous concubine has arrived!"

The noble concubine and the virtuous concubine arrived at the same time, one was bright and gorgeous, the other was elegant and refined, and the newcomers who had been hit by the concubine's pearl were hit again. None of them was a well-known beauty in the local area.

After entering the palace for only a few days, the original complacency had been ruthlessly shattered, and she couldn't help wondering if she could really win the favor of the emperor and reach the sky in one step.

"The empress is here!" With a chanting, the big boss finally arrived late. Her dignified red palace attire showed her incomparably noble status, sweeping over the curtseying crowd majestically.

There was a hint of joy in the queen's eyes, so what about being favored, what about being young and beautiful, don't you have to obediently bow to the palace? "Get up."

"Thank you, Empress!"

"Sisters, don't be cautious. Since you have entered the palace, you are sisters. I hope that all the sisters will serve the emperor with all their heart and efforts, and strive to spread their branches and leaves for the emperor as soon as possible." The queen unconsciously glanced at Yang Mei, who had a big belly, and said humanely.

"Yes!", the newcomers were a little shy, except for the four Jieyu, only two Baolin who were born in the south of the Yangtze River were summoned by the emperor to attend the bedchamber. The emperor has a long way to go, and there are so many beauties waiting to be watered. Baozhu couldn't help but secretly sympathized with the emperor.

While talking, the maids filed in one after another, crispy and delicious fruits and snacks were brought to the table, and the dancers who had been prepared for a long time came out one after another.

After the song ended, the concubine Xian who was sitting at the head suddenly said, "I heard that Zhou Baolin wrote a poem during the palace selection. It is unique, majestic, and full of joy. I wonder if we have the honor to invite Zhou Baolin to perform it? "

Baozhu raised her eyes and glanced at Concubine Xian who was sitting diagonally opposite, but she saw a smile on the corner of her mouth. She looked at Zhou Wan'er with a smile, and she was a little puzzled.

"The concubine has heard for a long time that the concubine Xianfei has great literary talents, so she dare not make mistakes. If the concubine likes it, the concubine dare not refuse, and I hope that the concubine can show mercy."

"Come here, and I will serve you with pen and ink. Zhou Baolin is too worried. Even the emperor appreciates the poems, so how dare I judge them rashly. I just want to see them. Does Zhou Baolin think that I am not worthy of appreciation?"

Concubine Xian's tone was light, but she had a unique momentum, her every word was heartbreaking.

"Since Concubine Xian is interested in appreciating it, my younger sisters should also want to see it. Zhou Baolin will work harder and perform it again." The queen glanced at Concubine Xian who had always been indifferent to the world, suppressed her doubts, and shook her head. A roundabout.

"Yes!", Zhou Baolin bit his lower lip tightly, and walked to the prepared paper and ink, as if he was very humiliated by Concubine Xian for using his poems as a pastime.

Baozhu couldn't help but find it funny, her face was calm, but her thoughts were turning back and forth, Concubine Xian was always on her own, did she really just want to appreciate this poem this time?Could it be...?
Impossible, if the traitor belongs to Concubine Xian, she is even less likely to be exposed, so what is her purpose?

Baozhu raised her eyes to look at Concubine Xian, but saw that she just smiled lightly, Baozhu was more sure that Concubine Xian should know something, and her actions today seemed to be helping her, Baozhu was even more puzzled.

It is undeniable that Baozhu intends to exercise the privilege of being a concubine today, to give Zhou Wan'er a little excitement. No matter what her purpose of entering the palace is, stepping on her position without any punishment, hmph, that would be too damaging to her image as a concubine. up.

Besides, it's easier for people to show their feet when they are humiliated, isn't it?Zhou Wan'er is a poisonous snake. Although the emperor doesn't care much about his status, it doesn't mean that Baozhu doesn't care. If such a person can't kill the grass, once he has a chance to turn his back, it will be a disaster for him.

If the counterfeit wants to get one step closer, the best way is to kill the predecessors and take the position herself. Baozhu believes that Zhou Wan'er must think so, and even worse than that, how can she be soft-hearted?
Before you figure out your real purpose of entering the palace, I am willing to accompany you to the end, but you are just a little concubine Baolin, let's see who is better.

(End of this chapter)