It is not yet June, but there is already a festive atmosphere in the palace, because the fourth prince's birthday party is coming soon.

Not long after Concubine Xian and Concubine Zhuang and others came out of Yangxin Hall after paying their respects, they heard the young concubines’ voices behind them, occasionally mixed with the soft and soothing voice of the imperial concubine. You don’t have to look back to see that.

It was the concubines who surrounded the imperial concubine as she left the palace.

Xianzhuang and others hurriedly got off the chariot and moved respectfully to both sides. Waiting until the imperial concubine and the concubines walked away towards the imperial garden, chatting and laughing, they got on the chariot again, and asked people to get up and leave in a hurry.

After leaving the Yangxin Hall, on a section of the palace corridor, the sedan chairs of the second concubine of Xianzhuang were walking back and forth.

If it were in the past, Concubine Zhuang would definitely have refused to succumb to second place and would have to fight to be the first to come. And Concubine Xian must have been afraid that the image of her business for many years would be damaged, so she gave in and tolerated it, in exchange for a good reputation that she could not compete with or compete with.

But looking back now, Concubine Zhuang seems to be out of interest and no longer wants to argue about the length of time, and Concubine Xian no longer seems to care so much about maintaining her tolerant and generous image.

Outside the palace corridor, palace people carrying trays came and went from time to time.

The palace ladies all had smiles on their faces, and they would bow and say hello to each other when they met. Even though they were sitting high in the sedan chair and couldn't hear what the palace ladies in the distance were saying, they also knew clearly what the palace ladies were saying.

In one sentence, it must be 'Fourth Prince Da'an.'

Concubine Xian turned her eyes numbly, looking blankly at the long palace corridor covered with colorful silks.

Even before the Fourth Prince's full moon banquet, the palace was already as lively as the New Year's Eve.

Not to mention the grand decorations in the palace, even outside the palace, no matter the courtiers, nobles, relatives or the poor people's homes, they were ordered to tie red silk in front of the door. Not to mention all kinds of rare tributes, all kinds of rare treasures were rushed from all over the country

Even the envoys from various vassal states came to the capital to congratulate.

A prince's birthday banquet alone is almost comparable to the emperor's Qianqiu Banquet.

Such a large-scale operation is unprecedented.

As for why the Holy One acted in such a grand manner, many people in the court can guess.

Concubine Xian's spirit suddenly became weak.

When the fourth prince was three years old, he officially gave his name and entered the Royal Jade Butterfly School. Until then...the Holy One was also telling them that no one could compete with them, and no one could compete with them.

She looked at the eldest prince standing next to her, wondering whether she felt sad or numb.

She had been fighting for so many years, and she had planned and planned to sacrifice her own father to pave the way for the eldest prince, but in the end, everything went in vain.

Concubine Zhuang was also looking at her prince at this moment.

She had given up on competing for the heir apparent long ago, so she didn't feel too uncomfortable about the Holy Emperor's obvious intention to pave the way for the fourth son of the emperor. Rather than feeling uncomfortable, she felt more anxious and apprehensive.

She couldn't help but think of the current situation in the palace again.

Nowadays, the harem is said to be divided into two parts of the world, but its name is just to give the queen a little favor. Anyone with a discerning eye can see the emperor's love for the imperial concubine day after day. Even the imperial concubine occupies the emperor and refuses to let the harem get wet and wet.

, the Holy One also let it go, and no one in the harem dared to say a word.

This resulted in the concubines being somewhat perfunctory when greeting the empress on the 15th day of the lunar month, but on the 26th day of the lunar month when greeting the imperial concubine, they were extremely solemn.

The former serves as the back and serves as the back, but the former has become useless.

This has resulted in a situation where one family dominates the harem today.

Of course, she didn't dare to be dissatisfied because of this. After all, even the queen pretended to be deaf and dumb, not to mention her little concubine, how could she dare to challenge the authority of the imperial concubine beyond her own capabilities? She just felt a little scared.

Because in her opinion, the harem that seems peaceful and peaceful now is actually full of storms.

She had never heard of any concubine in any dynasty or generation living in such harmony. Every time she saw the imperial concubine chatting and playing happily, she would feel vaguely frightened.

Who knows what kind of dirty place the palace is?

Who would believe that the imperial concubine has no purpose this time?

Although she was not sure what the imperial concubine's purpose was, but after she gave birth to the fourth son of the emperor, such a change happened, how could she not think too much?

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but hug the second prince tightly.

Now she keeps to herself and doesn't dare to get involved in anything. All she wants is for the other party to see that she won't fight for it, that she doesn't threaten him, that he knows her interests, and that he can be kind to her and the second prince in the future.

She doesn't ask for anything else, she just wants peace and quiet.

In the imperial garden, Wen Yin sat on a wicker chair, slowly feeling exhausted.

After drinking the small half bowl of ginseng soup for a while, my pale lips gained a little color.

"Your Majesty, it looks like the color is not very good, but you were tired from riding a horse just now?"

Lan Cairen took the concubines off their horses and came towards Huang Luo Umbrella. Under the sun, her cheeks showed a healthy blush after exercise.

Other concubines also gathered around and asked after him.

Many of these greetings and greetings were sincere, but there were also many that were hypocritical due to her lustful power. Wen Yin didn't pay much attention to it, and she didn't know clearly in her heart that in a harem with many monks and few flesh, there was a man who dominated the harem.

How can people not be hated at all?

"By the way, the Holy One told me yesterday that we will hold a polo match in the harem next month during the Fourth Prince's Full Moon Banquet." Wen Yin tilted her eyes and signaled to Nian Xia to bring him another cup of ginseng tea, "

You must practice hard during this period, the Holy Spirit is very good at telling the truth, and the winning team will get a grand prize."

Lan Cairen was the first to say in surprise: "Really? That concubine boldly said it first. I want to be on the same team as the imperial concubine!"

Not to be outdone, the other concubines expressed their intention to join the imperial concubine's team.

Wen Yin took the tea bowl, looked at them and said with a smile: "I'm afraid your wish will come true. The fourth prince's birthday banquet is coming soon, and I don't have enough time to do it. How can I do it? This time it depends on you.

.”

After saying this, she smiled and drank the ginseng tea, not looking at the different expressions. But she could feel the joyful atmosphere of many concubines trying their best to hide their pressure.

Indeed, they are all young and beautiful women. Which one can really be willing to spend the rest of his life alone in a lonely palace?

If there is a chance, there are still people who would like to compete.

Who wouldn't want to be wealthy and favored by the emperor?

Everyone in the palace knew that the emperor's favor for her was growing day by day. If she was present, it would be difficult for the emperor's eyes to fall on anyone else. But what if she was not present?

Who knows, which one can become the second her?

The corners of Wen Yin's lips curled up slightly for a moment, and it disappeared in a flash.

On the way back, Wen Yin asked Nian Xia to accompany her for a short walk.

"Nian Xia, I'm really afraid... the time will drag on for too long."

The low words made Nian Xia startled. Cold sweat broke out on her back, and her mind kept recalling the day when she was riding a horse. The empress only rode for a while, and when she got off the horse, her palms were dripping with sweat.

"I'm really scared, Nian Xia. I'm really scared that I won't be able to achieve what I want by then."

Wen Yin clenched her hands tightly. She was afraid and unwilling.

Even though he was gradually stepping into the trap he had set for her, the result was far from what she wanted. And the time she was given was running out, and she was really afraid that in the end, it would have little effect and not achieve what she wanted.

Results.

Nian Xia listened silently all the way without saying a word.

If she had just entered the palace, maybe she would have advised the empress to look away now, think about the mistress, think about the grandma, and think about the days when she is now doting the crown in the harem, maybe it is not impossible to go on... But now,

After witnessing what the empress had gone through, she couldn't even utter a single word of advice.

All in all, as long as the empress can go away now, she will stay with her as a slave as long as she can.

The two walked silently for a while.

When she stopped, Wen Yin said in a low and silent voice: "I am now the hollow tree, and it has long been infested with cavities, rotten, and hollow. Nianxia, ​​you and grandma can

If so, do it well."

Nian Xia's lips trembled again and again, but in the end she didn't say anything and just lowered her head deeply.

Most likely, the court affairs went smoothly. When Zhu Jing returned to Yangxin Hall in the evening, he had a contented smile on his face.

"Did something good happen today, Your Majesty? Why are you so happy?"

Wen Yin took the initiative to take his hand in, and at the same time motioned to the palace servants to set the dishes on the table, "You have been working hard in Qinzheng Hall for a whole day again today. I also know that you are busy with government affairs recently, so I didn't go over to disturb you. I just don't know.

, can you eat this meal on time?"

Zhu Jing liked the familiarity in her tone, and the smile on his eyebrows couldn't help but grow a little more.

"You don't dare not eat on time. If you don't believe it, ask that slave."

Before Wen Yin could glance behind him, Feng Bao, who was waiting behind him, had already taken a half step forward alertly and said quickly: "Back to the imperial concubine, this lunch table is for the noon hour. It's used.

Fresh mushrooms and cabbage, braised golden hook fins, crystal elbows, auspicious jade rolls... Your Majesty has a great appetite, and he used half a bowl more red rice porridge than usual."

Zhu Jing then smiled and asked, "Are you relieved this time?"

Wen Yin glanced at him and didn't respond. She just pulled him to sit down at the table, took the wet handkerchief handed by the palace attendant and gently wiped his hands with her eyelashes.

Zhu Jing lowered his eyes and looked at her gentle and meticulous way of wiping his hands, and there was a soft color in her dark eyes that even he had not noticed.

"You didn't have much fun in the imperial garden today? Why did you get back to the palace in less than half a day?"

"Everyone in the palace is supporting me, so how can I not be happy? It's just because I don't have a part in the polo match. It's boring to stay there for a long time. It's better to go back to the palace and do something else.

things."

"A Yin, I don't mean to restrain you, but the imperial doctor has told you not to overwork your body yet. When your body is well taken care of in the future, I will do whatever you want."
To be continued...