Two days later.

The cherry blossom viewing banquet was held as scheduled.

Empress Xu arranged all the trivial matters to the female officials around her. Everyone also lived up to Queen Xu's expectations, and the preparations were well organized.

The place for the cherry blossom viewing feast was set up next to a rockery in the Imperial Garden. On the side of the rockery is a pool of clear water, which raises a lot of valuable fish. A circle of weeping willows is planted on the edge of the waterhole, and the long willow branches sway gently in the wind, with a soft and enchanting attitude.

There was a large pavilion next to the willow tree, and several tables and chairs were placed inside and outside the pavilion. The table was filled with fresh fruits and refreshments.

Several musicians sat on the other side of the rockery and played melodious music. Across the rockery, it will not be too noisy and noisy, but also add a bit of leisurely artistic conception.

The concubines followed Queen Xu into the pavilion and sat down separately. The concubines with a slightly lower rank could only sit a little farther away from the gazebo. Fortunately, the surrounding trees are shady, blocking most of the sunlight.

Behind each of the concubines stood two maids, each holding a flower pot with a gauze made of light yarn. faintly can't see the true face of the peony.

The concubines looked around and laughed in a low voice, which was quite interesting.

Empress Xu cleared her throat and said unhurriedly, "Everyone be quiet first." The palace personally opened its mouth to invite yesterday, and the emperor has already promised that he will definitely come to today's flower viewing banquet. Wait patiently. ”

As soon as the words fell, an attendant ran to report: "Queen Qi, the emperor has arrived!" ”

Queen Xu hurriedly stood up, and all the concubines also got up separately and took over with Queen Xu.

When the emperor travels, even in the palace, the battle will never be small. The palace maids and guards were surrounded by people who accompanied them, and they were mighty.

"The concubines see the emperor." Empress Xu saluted respectfully. The voices of the concubines are even more coquettish and lovely.

"The queen doesn't have to be polite. Ladies and gentlemen, let's get together too! ”

The emperor fell seriously ill at the beginning of the year, and he has been recuperating so far, and he looks healed on the surface, but in fact, the dragon body is still weak. There was a sickly pale look on his face.

The concubines naturally won't tell the truth, and after they took their seats, they had to compete with each other to flatter. This one said, "The emperor's dragon body is very happy", and the other said, "The emperor looks very good today, and the concubine is so happy."

One race is charming and moving, the emperor sees it in his eyes, and the dragon's heart is happy: "Today's flower viewing banquet lives up to its name." All of you love the concubine to fight the flowers, I will come to enjoy the flowers today and judge the Oiran. Such elegant things are really in line with my heart. ”

Fighting flowers and appreciating flowers are all two words and two lights.

The concubines pretended to be shy on the surface, but they were eager to try it in their hearts.

Empress Xu's phoenix eyes flashed, and she said with a smile: "The emperor has such a good reputation today, the big guy has to show his kindness, don't sweep away the emperor's interest." Wang Meiren, didn't you say that there are new peonies for us to enjoy? Why don't you just start with you? ”

Everyone's eyes looked at each other in unison.

Wang Meiren liked to be in the limelight the most, and she didn't shirk it, and got up with a smile: "The concubine will be ugly first." ”

……

Wang Meiren is so confident and confident, which also makes everyone curious.

I saw Wang Meiren leading the two palace maids to the middle of the pavilion, and first unveiled the first gauze cover, revealing a pot of pink peonies: "This pot is called Silver Powder Jinling." ”

Everyone looked at it and couldn't help but praise it one after another.

This pot of silver powder Jinling has four flowers blooming on one plant. The delicate pink petals are layered on top of each other, like a beauty's first makeup, delicate and bright. Sure enough, it is a rare treasure.

Wang Meiren was secretly complacent in her heart, and opened her mouth and smiled: "Although the silver powder and gold are good, they are not as rare as this pot of Lantian jade. Please the emperor and the queen mother to enjoy the tasting. ”

As he spoke, he lifted the second veil.

This pot of peonies is an extremely rare blue color. The petals are warm and thick, and they shimmer in the sun with a mysterious and moving color. I don't know if it's intentional or coincidental, Wang Meiren also wore a blue palace dress today, standing next to the peony, looking particularly delicate.

"The name of this Lantian jade is worthy of its name." The emperor glanced at Wang Meiren and praised it with a smile.

Wang Meiren was happy in her heart. Shane stepped back.

Empress Xu snorted softly in her heart. No wonder Wang Meiren is so arrogant this year, it turns out that she has planted a rare peony like Lantian jade.

Fortunately, Ling Jingshu planted Luoyang brocade, otherwise, this year's Oiran is afraid that it will really be robbed by Wang Meiren, where will she put the face of the dignified queen?

As soon as Wang Meiren's two pots of new peonies moved out, the other concubines couldn't help but be secretly disappointed. The peonies they prepared were also carefully prepared, but compared with this pot of Lantian jade, they inevitably dwarfed.

The first case is red, royal yellow, white jade inlaid with gold, purple line jade...... Pots of delicate and beautiful peonies are presented in front of everyone, which is dizzying.

It's a pity that they are slightly inferior to Lantian Yu.

The smug color in Wang Meiren's eyes became stronger and stronger, and she pretended to be respectful and said: "I don't know what kind of peony the queen has prepared this year?" ”

Empress Xu smiled quietly: "Ruilian, Jingshu, the two of you stand in the middle and let the big guy see the peony in your hand." ”

Queen Xu holds her own identity, so she can't be like ordinary concubines, so she simply lets the female officials around her appear with peonies.

……

Ruilian and Ling Jingshu stood in the middle of the pavilion with flower pots in their hands with smiles.

Everyone felt that their eyes were bright.

Ruilian is the most useful person around Queen Xu, with good appearance and temperament, and she is not weaker than the concubines present. Everyone is also very familiar with her.

The girl next to Ruilian looks even better than Ruilian, without fat powder, but her appearance is terrifying. Dressed in a light green palace dress, he stood there pretty, with a smile on his lips.

The emperor likes beauty the most, and when he saw such a beauty, he couldn't help asking: "Queen, who is this female official?" How come I've never seen one? ”

Empress Xu said with a smile: "Her surname is Ling, her maiden name is Jingshu, and she is the niece of Lord Ling of the Ministry of Industry. The concubine had a close relationship with her and summoned her to the palace to accompany her. When she entered the palace at the beginning of the year, the emperor's dragon body was weak. In the past few months, she has been serving flowers and plants in the Jiaofang Palace, and she has never gone out to walk around, so it's no wonder that the emperor hasn't seen her. ”

The two pots of peonies presented today are also carefully taken care of by her. The emperor may wish to appreciate it carefully. ”

As he spoke, he instructed Ruilian: "Ruilian, open the veil." ”

Ruilian respectfully responded and unveiled the veil: "This pot of peonies is called Xiangyu." ”

The emperor's gaze swept over Ling Jingshu's pretty face and fell on the peony in Ruilian's hand.

The fragrant jade is a pale pink color, and the flowers are large and bright.

The crowd praised one after another. Peony flowers are beautiful in big terms, and this pot of fragrant jade flowers is bigger than the mouth of the bowl, which is indeed rare. As for the aroma, there are many peonies here, and the aroma is too strong to show it.

Next, it was Ling Jingshu's turn to have the peony in her hand. (To be continued.) )