Time flies by in the busyness of the new emperor's accession to the throne, and after a month of adjustment in the Asari Palace, everything has become orderly. Chu Xiangwan got up early in the morning, because today was the first draft after the new emperor ascended the throne, and she, as the highest-ranking woman in the palace, wanted to accompany the queen mother and the emperor with Fang Xiaozhou.

"Qian'er, just dress up as usual today." Chu Xiangwan commanded lightly.

"Miss, it's not good if the clothes are too clear, it's better to put on the golden step that the emperor rewarded." Qian'er felt that the girls in today's draft must be dressed up in a fancy way, if the young lady was dressed too plainly, wouldn't she be robbed of the limelight by others.

"I'm just a guest today, if I wear that golden step, wouldn't it be too ostentatious?" Chu Xiangwan still remembered that when Huangfu Jingwen put the step shake on her head, he said to her: "Xiang Wan, only your flower and moon appearance can be called this step shake." ”

Chu Xiangwan immediately knelt down and refused: "Please ask the emperor to take back the step shake, this step shake must be worn by the concubine or above, and the concubine does not dare to bear it." ”

Huangfu Jingwen helped her up and comforted: "You don't need to be afraid, this is my intention, although I can't make you queen now, but in my heart, you are my only queen and my only wife." ”

Although Chu Xiangwan accepted this step shake at that time, she never put it on, and she intuitively felt that this was the most direct manifestation of Huangfu Jingwen's affection, it was too heavy, and she was still hesitating. Huangfu Jingwen asked her why she didn't wear this step, and she only replied that it was too precious for fear of losing her grace. The Queen Mother of the draft is also here today, and she really doesn't need to wear this step to become the target of public criticism.

Like the last canonization ceremony, Huangfu Jingwen sat in the center, the Queen Mother sat on the left side of the emperor, and Chu Xiangwan and Fang Xiaozhou sat on both sides. Originally, the queen was supposed to attend such an occasion, but because Huangfu Jingwen did not canonize the queen, Chu Xiangwan and Fang Xiaozhou were allowed to come. Batches of show girls in the hall came in and went out, Chu Xiangwan looked at the show girls standing in the hall, all of them were young and beautiful, and their eyes were full of longing and hope for the royal family, just like themselves back then, although they were unwilling to marry into the royal family, they always had the reverie of a person who was willing to be a heart-to-heart, but now at the age of nineteen, she has long lost the girlish feelings she had at the beginning.

"I still remember the first time I saw you in the Imperial Garden, it was beautiful and refined, and people will never forget it." It turned out that there was not only Chu Xiangwan who remembered that year, and Huangfu Jingwen turned his head sideways and whispered to Chu Xiangwan.

Chu Xiangwan just smiled back at Huangfu Jingwen. The Queen Mother coughed and glanced over here.

This draft was actually proposed by the Queen Mother, in order to hold the power of the important ministers of the court tightly in her hands, and the list of selected candidates was already in the hands of the Queen Mother, so the whole process was carried out very quickly, and a total of nine show girls were selected. The new concubines who entered the palace are not high, and Huangfu Jingwen said that these high-ranking women are already from rich and noble backgrounds, and if they are given high positions again, they may be spoiled in the future. The Queen Mother also felt that it made sense when she heard it, so two of them were named Chongyuan, two of them were named Jieyu, four of them were named beauties, and one of them became the head of the nine concubines, Fang Xiaohan.

When Huangfu Jingwen saw the canonized list, he asked the Queen Mother why Fang Xiaohan was selected, and the Queen Mother's answer at that time was, "Fang Shangshu came to beg for mourning, saying that Xiaohan was rejected by Huangfu Jingyao, and others did not dare to ask for marriage again, so they could only marry into the royal family so that they would not be gossiped." This matter was originally proposed by the mourning family, but they didn't want Huangfu Jingyao to be so ignorant, and the mourning family couldn't bear it." Huangfu Jingwen had repeatedly contradicted the Queen Mother because of Chu Xiangwan's affairs, so he no longer objected. Therefore, Fang Xiaohan became Yun Zhaoyi, and since then there has been another Fang family member in this palace.

The rookie entered the palace, each person had different positions, and the time was also different, and after the last batch of three talented people entered the palace, the palace was busy preparing for the Hundred Flowers Banquet. In fact, what needs to be prepared in the palace, what should really be prepared are those newcomers.

On the third day of entering the palace, everyone came to the Empress Dowager's Cihe Palace to meet the Empress Dowager and listen to the teachings.

The Queen Mother sat in the center of the main hall, Chu Xiangwan and Fang Xiaozhou stood at the front, leading everyone to bow and bow, and read loudly: "The Queen Mother is Chitose Chitose Chitose Chitose." The concubine was taught by the Queen Mother, and she was overjoyed. ”

"Since you are all born into a family, you should also be familiar with the etiquette of the court, and Mama should have taught you well. The mourning family tells you that in the palace, the most important thing is to serve the emperor well. ”

The crowd said yes.

"Also, don't provoke trouble, if the mourning family knows, never spare." The Queen Mother's voice was majestic.

Everyone knelt on the ground, and they didn't dare to come out. They knew the harshness of the Queen Mother, but they were still very nervous when they really saw such a scene. Everyone has their own little abacus in their hearts, they think, fortunately, they were born in a high family, as long as they get the emperor's favor, I believe that the queen mother will not be too embarrassed.

"Calm down." The Queen Mother finally let everyone get up.

"Yun Zhaoyi, come over and take a look at the mourning family." The Queen Mother beckoned to Fang Xiaohan.

Fang Xiaohan stood up, walked softly and weakly in front of the Queen Mother, knelt down and said, "Say hello to the Queen Mother, and wish the Queen Mother good health and a long life." ”

"Quickly help Yun Zhaoyi up, the ground is cold, yo, why do you look like you've lost a lot of weight," the Queen Mother was very distressed about Fang Xiaohan's appearance, the maid helped Fang Xiaohan up, the Queen Mother took Fang Xiaohan's hand and continued: "Child, we are a family, don't be so polite." ”

When everyone heard this, they were very jealous in their hearts, who called the sisters of the Fang family to have the same surname as the Queen Mother? Of course, it is a "family", in the future, in this palace, I am afraid that it will be the world of the Fang family sisters.

Chu Xiangwan looked at Fang Xiaohan, she had some doubts in her heart, on the day of the canonization ceremony, Fang Xiaohan looked at Huangfu Jingyao's eyes, she could see it clearly, how could she be willing to enter the palace all of a sudden? Is it the same as yourself, you can't help yourself? If it's really the same as himself, then there is just another poor person in this palace.

The Queen Mother spoke up again: "You have entered the palace, according to the custom, the palace will hold a hundred flowers banquet, the banquet will show the talents of each person by drawing lots, who wins the Oiran that day, can get the first chance to sleep." ”

Everyone's eyes began to shine again, their faces were full of confidence, they received the teaching of qin, chess, calligraphy and painting since childhood, and they all compared themselves to the talented women in the capital, as long as they won the emperor's favor at the Hundred Flowers Banquet and got the opportunity to sleep on the first night, the future prospects are limitless.

There were a lot of people in the palace at once, and it seemed to be very lively. In the past two days, the newlyweds have been busy practicing their talents, and the sound of silk and bamboo orchestras in each palace is heard. Today, the Hundred Flowers Banquet was held in the Jianlan Pavilion in the north corner of the Imperial Garden, and this war without gunpowder was just for the sake of competing for the high emperor.

In the evening, the imperial garden was brightly lit, and a cool breeze was blowing slowly on the lake, and everyone was already sitting down in the Lan Pavilion. Today, all the princes and family members were present, and Huangfu Jingyao came alone and sat with the youngest seventh brother, Huangfu Jingxin. The concubines also arrived, each of them wore exquisite makeup and gorgeous clothes, hoping to take the lead in the Hundred Flowers Banquet, only Chu Xiangwan was still the most light and elegant dress, and did not compete with others.

Huangfu Jingxin whispered to Huangfu Jingyao: "Fourth brother, I still like Sister Xiangwan's dress the most. Although it is plain, it has a unique style. Elegant and graceful, far better than those warblers and swallows, no wonder the royal brother likes her so much. ”

As soon as Chu Xiangwan appeared, Huangfu Jingyao's eyes had already swept away. He stared at the moon-white figure and said suspiciously, "Sister Xiangwan? Huangfu Jingyao didn't understand why this younger brother spoke in an intimate tone.

"Yes, when Concubine Yan was the crown princess, she respected the emperor like a guest, and she was also polite and thoughtful to our brothers, you are far away at the border and have little contact, so I don't know."

Huangfu Jingyao wanted to say, "How could I not know this person? This is the only woman I love in this life, but she is kind to everyone, but she is cruel to me. But he couldn't say these words, and even his gaze on her couldn't stay for too long, he could only endure and plan, but he believed that the time of patience would not be too long.

Chu Xiangwan has participated a lot in the night banquet in the palace, since she married Huangfu Jingwen, she knows that she can't return the same love as Huangfu Jingwen, so in front of outsiders, she has always played a good wife, and Huangfu Jingwen raised her eyebrows. Therefore, she is already familiar with attending such an occasion and putting on the most decent and dignified smile. However, when Huangfu Jingwen ascended the throne and Huangfu Jingyao returned, everything was messed up, she couldn't face Huangfu Jingyao freely, and she could no longer pretend to be an outsider. Just like every time Huangfu Jingyao's gaze stopped at her, it made her tremble.

"Xiang Wan, why are you walking so slowly, come, I will lead you." Huangfu Jingwen turned around and saw Chu Xiangwan lagging behind, stopped his steps, and stretched out his hand.

Chu Xiangwan was still in a daze, and was suddenly grabbed by Huangfu Jingwen's hand, and she was very uncomfortable all of a sudden, she felt that the eyes of the audience were fixed on them, those new concubines all had jealous eyes, and there was one person who made her feel uncomfortable, in order to avoid more embarrassment, she could only take two quick steps and Huangfu Jingwen to reach the seat.

"Yo, the emperor and Concubine Yan are so affectionate," King Lu teased, "but also, Concubine Yan's face is charming, who else in the palace can compare?" These vulgar fans around the minister can't be compared. "Huangfu Jingbian is different from other princes with families, he brings his own princesses, and his amorous and lustful are well-known in Beijing, so what he brings with him is the concubine he recently married.

"The prince said with a smile, the palace is just a guest tonight, and the new sisters are the protagonists. Besides, the younger sisters are young and beautiful, and this palace cannot be compared. Chu Xiangwan didn't like this emperor Jingbian the most, but if she didn't speak at this time, then the days in the harem would be endless, and she just wanted to live her life quietly.

But the trees want to be quiet and the wind doesn't stop, and where you want to be quiet in the palace, you can be quiet. The Queen Mother was the first to not let Chu Xiangwan go. "Why is it that before the banquet has even started, someone here has started to talk drunk?" As soon as the Queen Mother entered the Imperial Garden, she heard the Huangfu laughing respectfully, and she looked unhappy.

When everyone saw the Queen Mother coming, they all got up and knelt down.

When Fang Xiaozhou saw that his backer was coming, he immediately greeted him, held the hand of the Queen Mother, and said with jealousy: "Queen Mother, you are finally here, if you don't come again, I'm afraid the concubines will have to go down to the court to beg." ”

The Queen Mother's face was not good, she patted Fang Xiaozhou's hand: "The mourning family knows, how can you take King Law's drunken words seriously?" You are all mourning and the emperor elected to the palace, even if some people want to deliberately compete for favor and make waves, there are still mourning families. ”

These words were clearly said to Chu Xiangwan, everyone was a little proud, Chu Xiangwan was favored by the emperor, but she had no heirs, and she was not treated by the queen mother, so the days of scenery in this palace would not last long. Chu Xiangwan didn't care about other people's eyes, she didn't care about this, and the Queen Mother's unwarranted criticism was not a day or two, she was already used to it.

"Queen Mother, it's the sixth brother who said drunken words, and it's not about Concubine Yan's mother." Huangfu Jingxin couldn't stand it anymore and said out.

"King Min, although you are young, you are almost at the age of marrying a wife, it is unreasonable to maintain a palace concubine like this, you must know how to avoid taboos." The Queen Mother is so powerful, she set up a great defense in one sentence, so that Huangfu Jingxin can't speak again.

Huangfu Jingyao knew that he couldn't speak at this time, and if he spoke for the evening, it would only hurt her.

"All right, Queen Mother, let them all get up. Now that everyone is together, it's time for the Hundred Flowers Feast to begin. Huangfu Jingwen spoke.