A wisp of cigarette smoke slowly leaked out from the Guishou gilt copper Eight Immortals Ding, and the smell of Canaan incense filled the palace in the Year of the Crane for many years. The palace maids who walked lightly held their breath, lest the sound startle the Empress Dowager Ning'an, who was resting on the crested couch.

Since the queen mother ascended the throne of the saint, she has been in the palace of the Year of the Crane. It is also very rare to see the concubines of the inner palace, except for the occasional queen and Xian, Shu and the two ladies sit and talk together, and several Zhaoyi concubines who rank among the nine concubines are also rarely seen. In addition to greeting the Empress Dowager or summoning one or two every day, most of them are the two purple-clothed palace orders around him to pass the word on their behalf.

The Green Branch Palace Commander on duty is the Queen Mother's personal maid for many years, and her face has shallow wrinkles. Standing on the edge of the couch, holding a beauty fist, gently beating the legs with the Queen Mother.

The Empress Dowager Ning An is half a hundred years old, but she is extremely well maintained. The sideburns are still black and thick, the skin is still fair and soft, and only the corners of the lips and eyes are slightly wrinkled. Half-closed, he asked, "Green Branch, what time is it?" ”

"Back to the Queen Mother, it's almost five o'clock. But I want to wait for you to get up and walk. Midoriwig asked softly.

"No need, the mourning family is just a little sleepy in the past two days, and I think the weather is getting hotter. Today is the day of the re-election, the queen's body has always been weak, who will take care of the re-election? ”

Green Branches have served the Queen Mother for many years, and when they saw her asking, they knew that something was wrong. "It is the virtuous concubine Niangniang of Songxian Palace, who presided over the Yingxiang Hall with Song Zhaoyi of Hanzhu Palace and Shen Xiurong of Hepu Palace. It starts at three o'clock. What does the Queen Mother command? ”

"Tell someone to tell Concubine Xian that although it is a national election to fill the harem, but for the sake of panning for gold in the sand, there is no need to bother waiting for idle women. Since the founding of this dynasty, the harem has always been quiet and harmonious, and the good and bad of Mo Lang have disturbed the auspiciousness.

Also, when the official family ascended the throne, there was already a woman in the palace once. In order to stabilize the royal foundation, the head of the mourning family chose the daughters of several important ministers, which was somewhat arrogant. This time, I chose more of the usual ones. As long as the character is superior, gentle and quiet. ”

Green Zhi waited for a while, and saw that the Queen Mother had closed her eyes again and was speechless. Hurriedly beckoned to change into a red-clothed Shang Gong came over and continued to beat the Queen Mother, and he brought two Zhonggong Commanders to the Yingxiang Palace to spread the word.

At this time, the flowers outside the Yingxiang Hall are gathering the ladies who came to the re-election today, although they are all in order, standing solemnly and waiting for the call. There are always some sneaky glances around, or the secret whispers of acquaintances.

Zangjiao and Mo Lanyi and other low-born people were all ranked behind, and they saw Duanmuying and Gu Panxi standing in the front from a distance, with slender backs and gorgeous clothes. Zangjiao still wears a decent dress today, and there is no outstanding makeup. Mo Lanyi took great pains to put on makeup, and her original seven-point delicate appearance added three points of beauty.

Seeing Zangjiao looking at her with a smile in her eyes, two blushes appeared on her face, and she lowered her head and muttered: "Today I listened to my sister's words and picked it up, if you laugh, I don't follow it." "My sister looks so good like this, how can she laugh at you." Zangjiao bent her eyebrows and smiled.

Mo Lanyi lowered her head and said softly: "My sister has a beautiful appearance, why don't you want to dress up carefully." I heard my sister say that she didn't want to enter the palace that day, did she really think so? I feel sorry for my sister. The tone was quite sincere.

Zang Jiao smiled at her: "It's not that I don't want to enter the palace, but I feel that it is forbidden to wait with me in the deep palace, such as the Milky Way is very far away." Just follow the will, don't let the family get involved. If I don't pass today's election, I will go home with joy. If you really win the election, you have to spend your days in the palace with peace of mind. ”

The two of them whispered behind them, and when they saw the door of the Yingxiang Hall slowly open, two green-clothed officials came out and preached loudly: "By the grace of the saints, the re-election lady will listen to the announcement." The six of them entered the hall together, worshiped the virtuous concubine Niangniang, and worshiped Song Zhaoyi and Shen Xiurong.

If there is an inquiry, we will respond respectfully. Whoever is suitable, give the magpie Dengmei Qingyu Ruyi, Jin Bao forest position. Choose an auspicious day to enter the palace, temporarily live in Sixuan to receive etiquette. Wait for the general election in seven days. ”

After the inner house finished reading, the dust was shaken, and the waiters entered in an orderly manner according to the order. Although he only entered the hall to inquire about the advance and retreat, it was also slow, and when it was Jin Zangjiao and Mo Lanyi's turn to enter the temple, it had already passed three or two hours.

The virtuous concubine Niangniang has been serving for many years since the time of the sage prince, and she is nearly thirty years old. Although she has nothing to do, she acts gently and peacefully, and the Queen Mother also likes her to be virtuous and dignified. Personally give the palace name to praise the virtuous.

Song Zhaoyi and Shen Xiurong were both concubines promoted by the saint when he ascended the throne, and they were naturally much younger than the virtuous concubines, one was slender and beautiful, the other was beautiful and white-skinned, and the palace costume sat around the head of the virtuous concubine.

Concubine Xian sat on the golden silk nanmu rose chair in the hall, and her fair face was slightly tired. Looking at the six flower-like women who were bowing respectfully, he waved his jade hand slightly, and the red-clothed Shanggong beside him said: "Wait for the ladies to be exempt from courtesy, and you are allowed to look up." ”

Zang Jiao and the others immediately stood upright and solemn, raising their heads slightly. Concubine Xian's expression was faint, her eyes swept slightly on the faces of the women, and she pointed at Zangjiao and Mo Lanyi and said, "These two can give Ruyi, and the rest is just that." ”

Zangjiao's heart jumped, her face did not move, and she bowed steadily: "The little girl Jin Xie Niangniang is rewarded, and I wish Niangniang a long blessing." The voice is clear and soft, like the beginning of the jade flute, and the willows are singing.

I saw that the corners of Song Zhaoyi's eyes were slightly raised, and her eyes were staring at her like a sharp needle, which was fleeting. Moranyi also bowed and thanked her. It's just that his body trembled slightly, and he was obviously surprised to the extreme.

After Zangjiao and Mo Lanyi took Ruyi and retreated, Shen Xiurong, who was sitting on the right, smiled at Concubine Xian and said: "Niangniang's eyes are like pearls, and the little girl of the Jin family is full of appearance and voice like a warbler." After seeing these many ladies, if you talk about the complexion, only Gu Hanyi, the daughter of Qingzhou history, can be compared. It's just that although the Mo family is delicate and moving, it is a little slender and cowardly. ”

Concubine Xian shook her head slightly, frowning slightly: "People say that I have a lot of beauty in the southern kingdom of Chu, but I can't see Er'er." The queen mother's holy will, so that many people choose to be docile and gentle, these two daughters are quite suitable, always chaste and quiet, and the saint's harem can be peaceful. You and I still have three days of fatigue, so let's pass on the next batch quickly. ”

The concubines of the Yingxiang Palace were busy, but the Zhaoyang Palace, the main hall of the inner palace, was bursting with a faint fragrance, faintly containing a hint of medicinal energy. The palace commanders all bowed their eyebrows and bowed their heads respectfully.

The queen in a light yellow soft satin robe is sitting opposite the table with the emperor wearing a bright yellow round neck embroidered dragon thin satin robe, leaning on the embroidered dragon and phoenix Chengxiang big pillow on the couch in front of the window to play double tricks.

The queen's face is slender and weak, her eyebrows are extremely beautiful, and her faint phoenix eyes are slightly smiling. It's just that his complexion is a little invincible, his cherry lips are faintly pale, and he is playing with a chess piece in his hand.

The current sage Zhao Jing, who was sitting opposite, was only about thirty years old, with black hair tied up with a white hosta, a resolute and handsome face, and a slender and strong figure. The gestures calmly reveal the noble and majestic atmosphere of the emperor.

smiled and said to the queen: "Miao Rong has won the dice roll, why is the chess piece not falling." "The voice is like a dragon and a phoenix, extremely gentle and beautiful. Queen Miaorong's phoenix eyes rolled, and she smiled and threw down the chess pieces in her hand: "Sister Huaizhen of Songxian Palace is working for the official family in the Yingxiang Palace, but the concubine is just lazy here, it is rare for the official family to be lazy together, and the concubine is a little unbearable." ”

Zhao Jing shook his head and pointed at the queen and said with a smile: "Miaorong is becoming more and more cunning like a fox, obviously I don't want to see my harem and add beauty to call it sick. ”

If others are said like this by the official, it is a big crime of jealousy, but Queen Miaorong is deaf to the smile, and it is obvious that the two of them are used to laughing like this.

The queen's phoenix eyes sank slightly, and she said with a straight face: "The concubine's body is not as good as before, and in the past two years, she feels that she is not as good as a day." The positions of the two concubines in the palace are still missing, and the number of nine concubines has not been full. The heir only has one concubine and one princess, and one of the princes born by the concubine.

The queen mother summoned her concubines several times to speak, but she complained about the heirs of the official family. But this birth and raising is not the master's for the concubines, and now they should have entered more beautiful ladies to serve the officials. ”

"It's just that the queen mother has always been picky, and Miao Rong is afraid that the woman she chooses is not in line with the queen mother's wishes, and she will be reprimanded by the queen mother." I simply threw this matter to Concubine Xian, yes or no? Zhao Jing grimaced and continued the queen's words.

"Jinglang Mingjian, that's exactly what the concubine thinks. The queen did not panic and smiled, like a flower. Zhao Jing sighed, pushed away the double land disk and caught the queen's slender hand

"Miaorong, why the queen mother cares most about this harem heir, you also know. My father is a younger brother and a younger brother, and I have only one bloodline, and you have not been born for many years. Your mother's Chen family is only a generation of scholars and nobles, and when your father drove the crane, there were ministers who asked the emperor to inherit the unification.

At that time, the queen mother was worried about internal and external troubles, and often sighed that if she had more children, she would not be forced to be humiliated to this point. It was also the Song family, the Shen family and others. With the full support of their fathers, Fang Ping'an succeeded to the throne. After all, the queen mother is a woman, and it is inevitable that she will feel a little nostalgic. I have been married to you since childhood, you and I have been through ups and downs for decades, sharing weal and woe, and I will not fail you. ”

Empress Miaorong listened to the emperor's heart-to-heart soft words, her eyes were full of tears, and she hurriedly covered her face with her sleeves and said: "How did Jinglang mention this, how could the concubine ever be jealous." The concubines in this harem have never done anyone evil, and they only hope that they can get a few sisters with good looks this time to spread out for Jinglang. The concubine was satisfied. ”

Zhao Jing waved his hand, the palace people all saluted and quietly withdrew from the palace, Zhao Jing sat down next to the queen, gently took her in his arms and said softly: "You have lost a lot of weight in the past year, how can you be so good, summoning the imperial doctor to diagnose and treat these many times, and said that there is no disease." I think it's too worried, relax your mind in everything, and I will never wronged you. ”

The queen buried her face in Zhao Jing's warm embrace and sobbed softly. The fragrance of Chinese medicine and flowers in Zhaoyang Palace is mixed, and the flowers and trees outside the window are colorful in light and shadow, reflecting on the two most noble people of the Zhao Dynasty.