Shen Shuzhao seemed to see the four masters sitting still inside through the heavy and cumbersome tents of the four public cars, each with a tiger in their hearts, but they all chose to be silent, like the enemy waiting for the coming in the green bamboo forest, so he was lucky and waited with bated breath. Her fingers moved slightly, and the jade curtain that had been lifted quickly slipped down, so her face suddenly fell into the shadows, looking cold and ruthless.

"Let's go."

She said firmly. "Go to Ganquan Palace, it is urgent."

The little eunuch lifted the sedan chair again and walked forward with heavy footprints one by one. So the convoy headed by Concubine Yan slowly followed behind them, forming an extremely strange picture, that is, it was clear that this road was very spacious, but the palace concubine behind her was reluctant to go forward first.

Ganquan Palace is located on the high mountain in the evening, echoing the Changle Palace on the fairy mountain, the sky slowly sinks into darkness, and every time the team goes to the road ahead, the sky is a little darker.

Finally, when I arrived, it was completely dark.

Shen Shuzhao and the others got off the sedan chair, and the convoy behind them, which was like a fierce beast pressing the docile sheep to the trap, finally stopped. She looked around in a hurry, carefully observing the surrounding terrain, in front of the towering white marble ladder in front of the winding rockery, around the rockery is the clear pond reflecting the moonlight, smelling a faint lotus fragrance, although the scenery is beautiful, she has no intention of appreciating.

When the fire burned her brows, Shen Shuzhao secretly held Shen Zhuangzhao with one hand, and after Concubine Yan and the others got off the car, she and the other palace people retreated backwards, and when they retreated into the shadow of the rockery with the moonlight on their backs, they said in a low voice in Shen Zhuangzhao's ear: "Hold Concubine Yan." ”

Before Shen Zhuangzhao could react, the concubines and others behind him had already walked over. And the good-looking concubine stopped in front of them, looking at Shen Zhuangzhao from head to toe with contempt and meanness, and then smiled without a smile: "These are the three nieces of the Queen Mother, they really look good." ”

Shen Shuzhao: "Concubine Yan is praised." ”

"The Queen Mother's birthday banquet, you are the mother's family who accompanied the emperor's special grace into the palace, and you are happy to meet today, so let's go together?" The tone in which Concubine Yan spoke when she looked sideways was so contemptuous. Concubine Ling, who was standing behind her, echoed: "Miss Shen and the palace have a lot of unfinished words last time, the long ladder of Ganquan Palace is too long, and we will relieve the stuffiness on the road together, how can it?" ”

Without saying a word, Shen Shuzhao knelt down directly, and said in a sincere tone: "The folk girls don't dare to be. ”

"Why don't you dare? Miss Shen Er is too restrained, this palace is not the harsh person you have met, but just going to Ganquan Palace for a banquet together. ”

The meaning of Concubine Yan's words alluded to the encounter between Concubine Xi and them that day.

"The women of the people are more respectful than obey their fate." Shen Shuzhao got up after speaking, and by the way, picked up the pebbles scattered on the ground near Su Xiu's shoes and hid them in his arms.

Concubine Yan was in the mood to watch a good show, and walked up the steps happily.

They walked cautiously behind the concubines, although they were used to accompany the chat, but among the people here, only Concubine Ling dared to answer the words of the concubines. Shen Shuzhao looked at the backs of the four of them vigilantly, for fear that there would be another business trip. The young imperial concubines and women walking in front of them are all from powerful families - they are also prosperous and lossless with the Xiao family.

Officials and officials shelter each other, they are all grasshoppers on a rope, and if the Xiao family does not fall down for a day, these people will always survive.

Bypassing the rockery and coming to the clear pond, Shen Shuzhao took advantage of no one to steal Shen Zhuangzhao's cuffs, Shen Zhuangzhao turned around, but saw her look of glancing at the pond, recalling her words, and immediately understood in his heart.

"Concubine Yanniang, did you choose Chang'e?" Shen Zhuangzhao said.

Concubine Yan turned around: "Huh? ”

Shen Zhuang Zhao stepped forward respectfully and leaned under her: "When the folk girl first saw the Niangniang's juan yarn embroidered gold silk crescent white dress, and the rare spirit snake bun on the plate, the first thought of the folk girl was that Niangniang was a fairy descending to earth, and Chang'e was born. ”

Concubine Yan listened to Shen Zhuangzhao's exaggerated praise with a smile and a word, and the two walked one after the other. Shen Shuzhao was very satisfied in her heart, compared to the dull third sister, the eldest sister Shen Zhuangzhao really made her feel much more at ease.

When everyone was talking halfway, a few stones were thrown down when no one cared, Shen Zhuangzhao forgot to look at the road while talking, and when she stepped on it inadvertently, it was already too late, "Ah! When Concubine Yan and the others turned around, they only saw Shen Zhuangzhao falling towards the pool in a panic, and in the confusion, she struggled to pull on the moonlight skirt that she had just admired.

"How dare you ......" Before Concubine Yan's words fell, she was taken into the water with others. The surrounding palace people began to panic, anxiously looking for something for the two to catch. But the pool was very deep, and they didn't know the nature of the water, and they tossed in the middle of it. Yan Concubine surfaced all at once, and desperately called for help. The palace people who finally rushed to Xi Shui hurriedly entered the water to rescue them. After Concubine Yan went ashore, her makeup was ruined, and the wolf was unbearable, she kept coughing, and then looked at Shen Zhuangzhao viciously. But Shen Zhuangzhao herself was so wolfy, so she glared in the direction of the other Miss Shen.

She saw a sarcastic smile on the corner of Shen Shuzhao's mouth.

It's like looking at the funny eyes of the reservoir dogs.

Concubine Yan was furious, it was a silent mockery, she hated this kind of look.

"Concubine Yan, you better hurry back and change your clothes, the birthday banquet is still an hour away, don't delay." Shen Shuzhao said with a light smile.

Since the queen is playing with them, then don't blame her directly. Anyway, the secret fighting has risen to the surface, and those who can solve it don't need to plot and plot.

Concubine Yan said angrily to Shen Zhuangzhao: "Why did you frame this palace!" How dare you pull me into the water too! ”

Shen Zhuangzhao's eyes turned slightly red when he heard this, and Chu Chu said: "The people's daughter didn't mean it, she just ...... Ahem, I didn't see the road under my feet...... ruined the mother's makeup and clothes, the folk girl knew that she was wrong, please forgive the mother! Then she prostrated and knelt and kept kowtowing.

Concubine Yan was about to have a seizure, so Concubine held her shoulder and shook her head. Concubine Yan calmed down, and when she weighed the pros and cons, she put down a cruel sentence of "Wait for the palace to come back and convict you" after being helped up by the palace maids, and then returned to the palace. Shen Shuzhao hurriedly said: "Why don't you hurry up and help the eldest sister go back to Changle Palace to change clothes, what should I do if I catch a cold?" ”

Shen Zhuangzhao was also sent away. In an instant, the two sedan chairs went home at the gate of Ganquan Palace and left in a hurry. Shen Shuzhao watched them walk away, but when he turned his head again, he saw Concubine Ling looking at him thoughtfully. For a moment, Shen Shuzhao remembered the countless times in her previous life when she secretly found her admiration for herself, so she subconsciously avoided her gaze guiltily.

"Concubine Ling, please go forward." She bowed her head and bowed.

Concubine Ling didn't say much and walked up directly, which made Shen Shuzhao breathe a sigh of relief and hurriedly followed. The steps on the jade steps were slow, Shen Shuzhao stabilized the chaotic heartbeat, everyone came to Ganquan Palace, the door was open, she stood behind Concubine Ling, but she already felt that the light was dazzling, after a bright candle, countless familiar figures and faces reappeared in front of her.

One qiē is back again......

She calmed down.

came to the Queen Mother's side, and when the Queen Mother saw that Shen Zhuangzhao was not there, she couldn't help but be surprised: "What about your eldest sister?" ”

Shen Shuzhao told her everything that happened just now, and the Queen Mother closed her eyes slightly when she learned about it, and raised her eyebrows: "Her father lost power in the court, so she put the abacus on the harem, but it's a pity that she forgot that the mourning family in the harem is the one in power, and these are just small fights by juniors." ”

"Queen Mother...... You mean losing ground? Shen Shuzhao was puzzled.

The Queen Mother smiled slightly and said: "The mourning family has discussed with the emperor, and after the mourning family gets this jade seal, let all the ministers in the court and the central government play to support the emperor's favored virtuous ministers - Zhongchang promoted Guo Ju to the general of the tiger Ben, and at the same time promoted the left general Yan Lunyi to the general of the fourth grade." There's more, but it's enough for you to know these two. ”

Shen Shuzhao suddenly realized that the emperor had already reached some kind of agreement with the queen mother in private, and the emperor wanted to postpone the son of the Xiao family as the eldest Sima will be the reason for the queen mother to nominate his own person, and also sent a fake imperial treasure to please him; The queen mother got favors, so she wantonly used her own ministers in the court to create power for the emperor, which seemed to be a good deal.

It's just that...... She suddenly felt a chill in her heart, between mother and son, is she going to calculate to the point of being like a family because of her royal background?

"Concubine Xi may make a big move today, otherwise the queen will not calculate that the eldest sister will collide with her." Shen Shuzhao said after thinking about it.

The Queen Mother pursed her lips and smiled: "You just remember that every step of everyone's plan in this harem is for a reason and prepared." ”

Then she looked out the door and continued: "Let's see, what the Xu family behind Concubine Xi is going to play." ”

At this time, people gradually arrived, and a notice came from outside the hall - "The eldest princess has arrived." Shen Shuzhao immediately cheered up when she heard this, and Wei Yang appeared at the door of the hall, she was a little happy, but her face did not show anything. The Queen Mother glanced at her: "What are you happy about?" Because Kunyi is here? ”

Shen Shuzhao covered up in a panic: "Queen Mother...... Courtiers are not. ”

The Queen Mother's eyes became more and more meaningful: "The mourning family has watched Kunyi grow up since she was a child, and the mourning family is very clear about anything that happens around her. ”

Shen Shuzhao faintly felt that something was wrong in her heart, so she didn't even dare to breathe too loudly.

"So...... The mourning family knows what kind of person she will get along with, and you happen to be the one she likes. The Queen Mother smiled faintly, "Get closer to her, she has become silent since she was a child, although she is indifferent and lonely in the eyes of outsiders, but in the eyes of the mourning family, she is still the gentle child who will cry for the bird when she sees it hurt." If you know her, you'll understand. ”

Then the Queen Mother sighed softly, although Shen Shuzhao didn't understand what happened during the period, she knew that this incident must have had a great impact on Wei Yang, and she was deeply worried when she thought of the various mysteries that shrouded Wei Yang. But she was also secretly glad that she still had time to get to know Wei Yang...... Fortunately, she still has a lot of years to get to know this woman who didn't know anything about her in her previous life.

In the sea of people, Wei Yang came to meet her, and she wanted to step forward to greet her, but she thought that there were others beside her, so she restrained herself and wanted to rush over and take her hand. The Queen Mother's understated words came over: "If you want to go, go over." Shen Shuzhao was stunned at first, and then looked at the Queen Mother in disbelief, seeing that she looked normal and had no other intentions, so she lowered her head and said cautiously: "Back to the Queen Mother, the courtiers just went to catch up with Her Royal Highness the eldest princess, and will come back soon." After speaking, he walked towards Wei Yang in small steps.

Here, Wei Yang smiled, looked at Shen Shuzhao warmly, and walked over with hidden joy in his eyes. She walked through the bustling crowd, walked past the clear lotus carpet embroidered with five-stemmed lotus flowers, and walked to her side after staring at Wei Yang for a long time when she came, the cold fragrance was faint, it was the fragrance that seemed alienated and indifferent, which reminded her of the decadent flower fragrance she smelled on the sedan chair when she was sent to the palace as a concubine, but now it has become the smell she likes to smell the most.

"Eldest Princess."

"Sookaki."

She looked at Wei Yang gently: "The affairs of the eldest sister have been prepared." ”

Wei Yang said: "That's good." ”

Both of them knew what they were talking about, Shen Zhuangzhao became a palace concubine, Shen Shuzhao didn't have to be a concubine, she was still free.

At this time, I don't know who coughed on the side, it was so close at hand, Shen Shuzhao looked for prestige, and saw the good concubine standing there with an embarrassed face. At tonight's birthday banquet, the concubine wore a purple glow color thousand-colored cicada wing gauze skirt, which made her weak flower appearance even more pitiful, Shen Shuzhao looked at the lotus lotus butterfly gilt gold and silver hairpin on her hair with great interest, and said: "You rarely wear purple clothes, and sure enough, what you wear has a different flavor." ”

The good concubine was so stunned that the hosta trembled slightly, and she stroked the green silk extremely embarrassed: "Really...... The second lady is inevitably too elevated as a concubine. Compared with the concubine, the second lady is even more beautiful and unforgettable. ”

Shen Shuzhao was stunned for a moment, and then was amused by this girl who spoke calmly and shyly, in fact, the good concubine was as old as her, maybe she was born a little younger than herself, no wonder she felt that she was very kind, probably because she was only sixteen years old, she had not yet understood the way to survive in the harem, so she was excluded and neglected, and she was still defenseless against the next person, "The courtier knows that she is just the posture of Pu Liu, and the mother doesn't say these words that make people blush anymore." ”

Concubine Liang quietly lowered her head, her fingers spared the green silk tail, Shen Shuzhao no longer looked at her, and said to Wei Yang: "The eldest sister is on her way here, and the courtier deduces that Concubine Xi may have something important. ”

"Tonight is not destined to be peaceful." Wei Yang said flatly.

"The foreshadowing for more than a month is just for the eldest sister to be canonized by the emperor, and now everything is enough, only the east wind is owed."

"Well, the opposition in the court is gradually decreasing, and even King Liang has spoken out for the queen mother to take a concubine for the emperor. It seems that the queen mother has done a lot of work, and it is imperative to choose a concubine this time. ”

Shen Shuzhao nodded, as long as she and Wei Yang looked at each other, they could understand what they were thinking. It's an amazing feeling.

Wei Yang took the initiative to take her hand: "I'm embarrassed for you these days." ”

"The courtiers are not embarrassed." Shen Shuzhao stared at Wei Yang directly and frankly, "What the courtier means, if it's for you...... and the Queen Mother, it is worth it for the courtiers to pay anything. ”

With her hands clenched, she increased her grip on Wei Yang.

The temperature coming from the palm of the hand is always cold, but the heart is hot.

Wei Yang suddenly smiled a little desolately: "Lone knows." ”

Shen Shuzhao asked, "What's wrong?" ”

"Nothing." Wei Yang's fingertips groped on the back of her hand, covering every inch of skin gently, carefully, so cherished. Shen Shuzhao just remained quiet, watching Wei Yang stagger the topic, and then the two went silently.

She's hiding something from herself.

This was Shen Shuzhao's first thought.

But what's the use of knowing, you can't force the other party to say it, right? She sighed and whispered aggrievedly, "Okay, nothing is nothing." It's just, don't treat me badly. ”

The good concubine listened to their conversation becoming more and more wrong, and blinked incomprehensibly at the two people who had changed their atmosphere all of a sudden. Shen Shuzhao realized that she was changing her words again: "The courtiers have just lost their words, the concubine and the princess are not surprised, the courtiers still have to stay by the queen mother's side to serve, go first." ”

Retracting the hand held by Wei Yang, she turned her back and left.

Concubine Liang looked at Shen Shuzhao's back and couldn't help but say, "The concubine can see that the second lady is ...... I really like Your Highness. ”

Wei Yang looked at Shen Shuzhao walking away and was a little distracted, and only after a while did he react and asked, "What?" ”

"The concubine is just a one-sided statement," the concubine said embarrassedly, "but...... The princess is probably an important person in the second lady's heart. ”

"She is an orphan cousin, so she should naturally be cherished." A faint smile tugged at Wei Yang's lips, "In the same way, she is also a very important person to Lone. ”

"That's good." The good concubine said softly and enviously.

Wei Yang remembered that she was always alone, so he comforted her: "A good concubine should also have such an important person, whether it is a husband, a friend or a relative, this relationship is very rare." The encounter between people is full of fate, and there will be something in the end. ”

The good concubine glanced in the direction of the Queen Mother, Shen Shuzhao was leaning over to listen to what the Queen Mother was ordering, and her eyes seemed to be shrouded in a melancholy of a mist in the south of the Yangtze River, "...... Maybe. Who can tell when it will come? ”

Wei Yang didn't answer, and then the two walked towards the banquet.

Half an hour later, the Queen Mother's birthday banquet went very smoothly.

Except for the Queen Mother, who suddenly claimed that she had a headache and discomfort, she rested in the apse for a while, so that everyone was worried in the outer hall and talked to each other in a low voice. Fortunately, the eldest lady of the Shen family and the belated concubine finally came to the Calyx Hall before the Queen Mother was in good health.

After the Queen Mother came out, she said that there was no big problem, and the birthday banquet was still the same, and everyone expressed their concern before taking a seat. Shen Shuzhao and the others sat opposite the palace concubines, close to the Queen Mother, second only to the eldest princess Wei Yang. The emperor and queen are on an equal footing with the queen mother, and they are on a high platform and accept the attention of everyone. At the beginning of the Qianqiu Banquet, the palace ladies served hot dishes and soup dishes, each of them was 20 hot dishes, cold dishes and eight desserts.

Each dish has a lot of research, the first dish is the Nine Dragons containing pearls, with cinnamon, tomato, camphor leaves as spices, with golden ingredients, put into the gilded cloud dragon tray, smell ten miles of fragrance. This is to respect the Son of Heaven and commend the Queen Mother's meritorious service.

The second dish is the nine phoenixes in the sky, by the red prawns on the porcelain plate on the bottom, around the presentation of the lamb poured with delicious and tender juice, the tail of the phoenix is even more lifelike, this dish is the noble status of the phoenix in the praise of the queen mother. There are many more dishes to choose from.

Shen Shuzhao was used to eating these delicacies from the mountains and seas in her previous life, so she only reached out and begged for a fruit bowl to eat, which was set up before the meal, and there were ten plates of candied fruits and melons and fruits on the table.

After a good meal, the emperor invited all the artists of Shangle Mansion to come to juggle for the queen mother, for the birthday banquet of the queen mother, these celebrities tried their best to win the queen mother's heart, and there were always soft exclamations whenever the performance was exciting. These royal ladies are too out of place because they have the Son of Heaven in the place, but the praise is still endless.

The Queen Mother looked at the emperor with satisfaction: "Wu'er, you are attentive." ”

The emperor is gentle and elegant: "The queen mother's thousand autumns are only once a year, and the sons just want the queen mother to remember today's happiness forever for the rest of her life." ”

Then he raised his wine glass and saluted: "My son wishes that the queen mother will be a hundred years old and worry-free." Empress Xiao beside him also stood up, and saw that the queen was dressed in a gold and silver silk silk bird and phoenix embroidered court dress, and she was dignified and decent, and she toasted the queen mother with her husband. But in the happy atmosphere of everyone, although the queen was smiling, she was still a little depressed, presumably the matter of the court and the concubine made her worried.

Shen Shuzhao calmly looked at this woman who had fought with her in her previous life, in fact, didn't they live under the control of the family all their lives? She drank all the wine in the wine glass, and she hadn't seen her for a long time, Xiao Mengru.

After the whole banquet, the queen's appearance was very decent. Even her people are too, just echoing the Queen Mother. Shen Shuzhao found that the queen had never swept her eyes to the three sisters of the Shen Mansion from beginning to end, and when the other palace concubines secretly looked at and compared the beauty of this famous eldest lady of the Shen family, the queen did not look at them properly.

Her arrogant side face, raised delicate Danfeng eyes, and sharp nose line seem to give people a feeling that she gently glances at you, and it is just a charity for you.

The queen looked straight ahead calmly and generously, but it was the emperor, like everyone else, who always looked in the direction of the eldest sister from time to time. Although it is only occasional, it undoubtedly proves that Shen Zhuangzhao's overly superior appearance is still an attraction for a man with a hundred flowers.

And the queen was not different about this, she faintly raised the pure gold inlaid coral armor on her fingertips, and looked at it carefully. Occasionally, when there was a movement from the stage, she took a casual look.

The third sister, Shen Xiaozhao, lowered her voice and said to the eldest sister: "The queen mother looks too oppressive, and it doesn't seem to be easy to ......provoke at all" As soon as she finished speaking, she saw a fierce gaze from the queen on the high platform glancing coldly at the two of them, so frightened that the third sister immediately stopped whispering and sat obediently in her position. This is also the first time that Shen Zhuangzhao has looked at the queen's gaze.

A person of the queen's mother's status has always been a person of the same age as the emperor in her impression, and even because of the identity of the middle palace mother and the affairs of the harem for many years, she seems too stable and mature, and Shen Zhuangzhao looked at her face carefully, surprised that she was only seventeen years old. is still a splendid girl's age, but the premature palace life restricts the girl to become an old woman-like person, and her gestures are all mature that do not match the age.

"The queen is so young." Shen Zhuang Zhao said.

Young? Shen Shuzhao saw that the queen looked back at them because Shen Xiaozhao whispered to her, and couldn't help but sigh in her heart, although the queen is young, her means are not immature.

The queen withdrew her gaze from Shen Zhuangzhao's face, and looked away from her white face, raising her head even more proudly.

-- It's just a vase.

The queen thought so.

This was figured out by Shen Shuzhao with his understanding of her.

The so-called knowing oneself and knowing the other side can win all battles, she knows what the queen's temperament will think, just as the queen can solve the trap she set for her well every time.

After thinking about it, she suddenly glanced at her eldest sister worriedly.

This great beauty who has lived in the gentle words of everyone in the Shen Mansion since she was a child and has been held in the palm of her hand - can she calmly compete with the queen step by step after entering the palace?

After the performance, the Queen Mother said: "Today's mourning family is on the rise, it is better for the concubines to perform separately, anyway, everyone sitting here is a family, a small family banquet, close the door and show yourself." ”

Hearing the old birthday star say this, the concubines who want to compete for favor are eager to try, such as Gu Meiren and others; Those who don't want to compete for favor are blushing and thinking about reasons for resignation, such as good concubines and the like.

The rosewood box that the female imperial chief took to draw lots, in fact, what each concubine performed, the queen mother chose what they were best at, and asked the female imperial chief to change the note in the cuff when she reached into the camera obscura.

Concubine Yu and Concubine Yan performed a dance, Concubine Xi improvised an ink painting, and the concubine sang a song, which was considered to be passing, and several Gu beauties sang while dancing and singing more sultry.

When it was Shen Zhuangzhao's turn, she first humbled herself, and then the palace maid set up the seven-stringed yaoqin for her. Shen Shuzhao, who was sitting, closed her eyes and wanted to listen quietly. Although she hates Shen Zhuangzhao's sometimes invincible arrogance, she is indeed a talented woman who plays and sings very well. Sure enough, Shen Zhuang Zhao played the strings, a piece of palace businessmen lingering sounds, curbing the clouds around the beam, and then she lightly opened her lips, the sound of heaven and sound, as if telling a love that could not be begged, the lotus girl fell in love with the scholar who passed by chance one day on the shore, but the scholar only had beautiful scenery in his eyes, even if she finally turned into a beautiful woman and lotus flowers were written into the poem by the scholar, but he still had no intention of seeing her, and the end was the story of the woman who has been depressed and unhappy and died alone.

Shen Zhuangzhao's singing is poignant and lovable, making people want to take her into their arms and vow to love her well.

Shen Shuzhao saw the emperor holding his lower forehead and listening to it with great interest, and knew that the good talent that Shen Zhuangzhao had cultivated in the Shen Mansion since he was a child and was taught by the best musician in the palace by the Queen Mother this month had already worked.

After the song ended, the emperor sighed with emotion: "There are beautiful women in the north, and they are independent and left behind." Today, my cousin appeared with the guqin, which made me understand that my cousin was also so hidden. ”

Shen Zhuangzhao accepted the emperor's praise with a shy face, and suddenly a woman sobbed faintly, looking for prestige, it turned out to be Concubine Xi.