Concubine's true colors

Chapter 307 Seeing Empress Xue Again
On the birthday of Emperor Ming's birthday, preparations were made for more than two months.

Today is the day when the whole country celebrates together during the Great Zhou Dynasty, and inside and outside the imperial city, the decorations are all completely new, and there is a festive and peaceful atmosphere everywhere.

Because Emperor Ming is the lord of a country, and even the emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty, his birthday is celebrated in a completely different way from that of ordinary people and aristocrats of aristocratic families.

First of all, Emperor Ming woke up early in the morning, and the first thing he did was not to be congratulated by everyone.

Instead, they bring all the officials, civil and military, to offer sacrifices to the heavens, so that on this auspicious day, they can seek peace and prosperity for the country and the people in the coming year.

Because worshiping heaven is a major event and also a matter of the previous dynasty, concubines and concubines in the harem are not allowed to participate, and even Empress Xue is not allowed to attend according to the ancestral system.

The regulations for offering sacrifices to heaven are extremely cumbersome and time-consuming, so the state banquet is officially held in the afternoon.

So today's Xiao Jinxuan, although the sun is already high, is still sitting in front of the dressing table, calm and relaxed, letting Gong'e help her tidy up her appearance.

Yesterday because she felt sorry for Zhu Xin, she didn't sleep by her side all night, so when she entered the palace with Zhou Xianyu, Xiao Jinxuan didn't wake her up.

Instead, he entrusted Zhu Xin to Princess Cheng An, and asked her to bring Zhu Xin to her when she came to the banquet today.

Also because of this reason, although Gong'e put her hair in a bun and put on powder makeup, it is indeed much more exquisite and delicate than Zhu Xin.

However, Xiao Jinxuan was still not comfortable with it, so it was a waste of time to clean up and dress up.

Therefore, although she got up early this time, she was in front of the dressing table, and she still hasn't finished taking care of it.

Just like the Ruixue bun that Gong'e gave her just now, although it was indeed beautiful, it was too fancy and cumbersome. Xiao Jinxuan had a cold temper, so she naturally couldn't like this kind of bun.

After finally being satisfied with the hair bun, those maids took out many luxurious but unusually heavy gold hairpins, as well as the big red gemstone step, and they were about to wear them in her hair.

The bright red gold color, and the dazzling brilliance of gemstones, Xiao Jinxuan didn't like extravagance, and she didn't like jewels, she immediately frowned naturally.

Reaching out from the dressing table, she picked up the worry-free hairpin that Zhou Xianyu gave her, she couldn't help but smile knowingly, and then passed the hairpin into her hair.

In fact, in her eyes, the luxurious pearl hairpin is not as good as the worry-free hairpin, because this hairpin was made by Zhou Xianyu, and the ruined knife was made by her.

Just when she was about to ask Gong'e to bring some not-too-obtrusive accessories, there was a loud noise outside the door, which attracted Xiao Jinxuan's attention.

After questioning, it turned out that it was Zhou Xianchen who wanted to come in to look for her, but was stopped by the eunuchs outside. The Ninth Prince was upset for a while, so he started making noise endlessly.

Zhou Xianchen is already ten years old now, it is indeed against the rules to casually go in and out of a woman's room at such an age.

It's just that for this Ninth Prince who is the same age as Xiao Wenyao, Xiao Jinxuan looked at him as if he saw his younger brother.

So after a smile, she told the eunuchs outside not to stop her.

Without much time for the conference, Zhou Xianchen ran in happily with a smile on his face. Because today is a state banquet, as a prince, he naturally had to dress up.

Zhou Xianchen was already extremely lovable, just like the good fortune boy, with a pink face and two big dimples when he smiled.

Although he is a boy, he is very handsome. When the other party grows up, he must be a handsome prince who fascinates countless girls.

And looking at Zhou Xianchen at this meeting, as soon as he got close to Xiao Jinxuan, he grabbed Xiao Jinxuan's sleeve, and then said with a smile:
"Sister Xuan, you're not as fast as Chen'er this time. Look at me, I'm all dressed up. We're leaving in a while. My sister has to be faster."

Xiao Jinxuan, who was wearing a white jade-painted golden peony ball in front of her forehead, smiled affectionately, then nodded, indicating to Zhou Xianchen to play for a while, and he can fix it right away.

After Zhou Xianchen looked Xiao Jinxuan up and down for a few times, he immediately ran out with his calves, and without much effort, he came back again with a new embroidered shoe in one hand.

When he got close, he handed this pair of luxurious palace shoes with blue-field jade soles to Xiao Jinxuan.

Then he squatted down with a smile on his face, and personally helped the newly-acquainted sister change the embroidered shoes on her feet, and then said very proudly:

"Sister Xuan. Don't look at Chen'er's age and still laugh, but she is also very sensible. Yesterday I would not tell my concubine about Eighth Sister. I was just scaring her for fun. You can see that Chen'er will wear it for you." As for the shoes, Sister Xuan, do you think I am fine?"

Looking at Zhou Xianchen who was lowering his head and seriously putting on the shoes for himself, Xiao Jinxuan smiled, but her eyes were slightly moist.

Zhou Xianchen, who happened to raise his head at this scene, saw it squarely, and immediately asked in a panic:
"Sister Xuan, could it be that I hurt you? Why are you still crying when you look so good? If I make you uncomfortable, then Chen'er will take it off for you."

After lightly pulling Zhou Xianchen back, Xiao Jinxuan shook her head with a smile, and looked at her extremely dignified self in a splendid dress in the bronze mirror, showing a trace of melancholy.

"My sister was not hurt by you, but just remembered some past events. Before, my sister never thought that one day I would sit in this palace to dress up and wear such luxurious clothes. Because when my sister was young, not only did she often eat If I don’t have enough food, if I do something wrong, I will be beaten severely. I have a younger brother who is about the same size as you. Once I was beaten so badly that I couldn’t even bend over to put on shoes. Brother Yao Just like you Xianchen just now, you personally put the shoes on for me, and thought of this younger brother who is far away in Yangzhou for a moment, so my sister is just a little sentimental."

If he made a slight mistake, he would be scolded and punished. As a prince, Zhou Xianchen naturally had never experienced what kind of life this is.

However, he has seen how those eunuch Gong'e who did wrong things were punished.

Knowing that Xiao Jinxuan had such a tragic experience in the past, Zhou Xianchen couldn't help crying.

Immediately, I saw him straightening his small chest, and then said with a hint of tears:

"Sister Xuan, don't worry about your younger brother. Since he is about the same size as me, why don't you go to the palace to serve as a school boy for Xianchen, and accompany me to study and practice calligraphy, and study with my master. My sister has my seventh brother to protect her." Now, your distant brother, the prince, is protecting him, so no one will dare to bully you siblings in the future."

Xiao Jinxuan was still very moved by Zhou Xianchen's childish but sincere words, and pulled him to her side, she said with a slight smile:

"It's good that Xianchen has this heart. After a while, brother Yao will go to Beijing. If you are really satisfied with seeing him at that time, then I can serve you as an attendant and study in the palace. I will do this." My sister is naturally happy, but it's too early to say these things, I've finished my makeup now, let's hurry to the Liangfei empress's place, and it's important to rush to the palace banquet together."

After meeting with Concubine Liang and Xiangping, they went to the palace, and without much effort, they arrived at Yunhai Palace where the palace banquet was held today.

But at the entrance of the main hall, they met Queen Xue and Concubine Hui, and both sides stopped in front of the hall.

After everyone paid homage to Empress Xue, before the other party asked everyone to get up, Concubine Qian Hui, who was following beside her, said with a smile:

"This one is really novel. If I'm not mistaken, this woman in a palace dress with a phoenix tail pattern is Miss Jinxuan from the handsome mansion. If I read correctly, it's rare to participate in it once." The state banquet, the rules and regulations have been overstepped, a minister's daughter dared to use the phoenix tail decoration, just based on this one, it is not an exaggeration to take you down now, and execute you in public according to the palace rules."

Concubine Liang is one of the four concubines under the empress, so she only needs to curtsy, not kneel down to pay her respects.

Therefore, upon hearing Concubine Hui's words, Concubine Liang stood up directly, and said with a smile:

"I haven't seen Concubine Hui for a long time. I don't know the last time Yu'er hurt my sister's wrist. It's a good thing now. It's also fortunate that Xianyu is now with the emperor, participating in the sacrifice to heaven, otherwise my sister's words would be shocking." After listening to this child, I am afraid that my sister's other wrist will also be abolished."

Although Concubine Liang is benevolent, she is also the most lenient master in this palace.

But to be able to survive to this position today, she is naturally not a soft persimmon who only knows how to give in and let others slaughter her.

Concubine Hui is just a third-rank concubine. In this harem, there are more than a dozen or twenty such concubines who are favored and not favored.

However, one of the four concubines, Liang Concubine, is the only one in this palace, and she is the most honorable under Empress Xue. Last time Concubine Hui almost caused poisoning and wounding at her lychee family banquet come out.

So Concubine Liang, who has always been good-tempered, saw that Concubine Hui was going to make trouble again just after they met. She directly exposed the pain of the other party, and in this way, she was also warning Concubine Hui that she had better think about the consequences before speaking.

After hearing Concubine Liang's words, Concubine Qian Hui's face immediately flashed a trace of panic, and she subconsciously clenched herself tightly. Now she can no longer even hold the writing brush, and her right hand, which has been completely crippled and hurt her veins, .

Concubine Hui couldn't help thinking of Zhou Xianyu's horror, and couldn't help shivering immediately.

However, Xiao Jinxuan had a hatred for killing her relatives and for scrapping her wrists, so she immediately looked to Empress Xue for help, hoping that the other party could support her and make decisions.

But looking at Concubine Hui's expectant eyes, Empress Xue's expression didn't change at all, and she didn't say anything to defend her.

Today's concubine Hui, after the death of her elder brother Qian Ming, Qian Yunhong of the Marquis of Huai'an, is not very close to her aunt. Like his father, he continued to work for the Prince's faction.

Therefore, without the support of Concubine Qian Hui from her mother's family, the reason why Empress Xue still keeps her by her side is to raise a loyal pug.

Which little concubine in the palace is unruly, and Concubine Hui can help her solve a lot of troubles without her doing anything.

But if she was to fight against the good concubine for the sake of a useless concubine Hui, perhaps in the past for Qian Ming's sake, Empress Xue would indeed help her a little bit, but how could she do such a thankless thing now.

Therefore, it can be seen that instead of paying attention to Concubine Hui, Empress Xue walked up to Xiao Jinxuan in a few steps and helped her up from the ground herself.

She looked at Xiao Jinxuan's glazed bracelet containing Gu liquid on her wrist without any trace of her eyes.And the very obvious red spot on the back of the opponent's hand.

Immediately, Empress Xue's eyes flashed with satisfaction, and when she looked at the other party, she also showed a hint of a deep smile.

(End of this chapter)