The Changle Hall was built very early, and it also covers an extremely wide area, which is most suitable for such a large-scale banquet. The wide hall of the carved gallery and painted building, the smooth and neat bluestone slab floor, and the finely carved white jade carved poles, all show the luxury and grandeur of the royal family.

In the middle of the main hall, there are three golden chairs depicting dragons and phoenixes, facing north and facing south, and at a glance you know that they are prepared for the emperor and queen mother. It's just that the three golden chairs are empty at this moment, and it is obvious that the three most noble masters in the world will not arrive so early.

However, the next one is a concubine, and the relatives are close to each other, and the banquet table set up by the ladies is seven, seven, eighty, eight, eight. In addition to the queen, four of the five concubines have come, and their positions are all ranked at the bottom of the queen's golden chair.

It's just that the last of the five chairs is still empty, and a discerning person can know at a glance that this is the hottest concubine in the palace today, and she has not yet appeared.

The palace maids shuttled through it with all kinds of delicacies, and the guests were close to each other, so they sat together in groups and gossiped about homely things. Coupled with the sound of silk and bamboo wind music faintly coming from the Huxin Pavilion not far away, the whole Changle Hall is very lively.

Concubine Jiang Rulan is dressed up gracefully and gorgeously today, wearing a soft smoke Luo Yuehua skirt embroidered with rose-red and Tilian, and her tall flying fairy bun is full of pearls and emeralds, and she is more and more dazzling.

She picked up a sweet osmanthus brew in front of her and took a sip slowly, and Mrs. Jiang, who was sitting beside her, stared at the chair that was still empty, and suddenly smiled and whispered: "I have heard that our extremely favored concubine Niangniang is from a merchant family, and she acts quite recklessly, so it seems that the rumors are true. Take a look. These four concubines have already arrived, but she is late, which is too rude. ”

Concubine Shu smiled when she heard this. She put down the crystal cup in her hand, took out the brocade and pressed the corner of her mouth, and said sarcastically: "She is now a saint, the queen mother is a bodhisattva, and our queen mother is famous for her virtue, how can she blame her for such a trivial matter." ”

"What's more," said this, her beautiful eyes looked around among the close relatives and nobles sitting opposite. The sarcasm on his lips became stronger and stronger: "This Mid-Autumn Festival is supposed to be a day of family reunion. We can talk about the joy of family here, but unfortunately her mother's brother and sister-in-law have left for Jiangnan a month ago. Now there is no one close to be found in this Chang'an City. I'm afraid that she is touching the scene in the Xiaoyao Pavilion at the moment! The emperor only has full pity for her, where will he blame her for her rudeness. As she spoke, she frowned slightly, and there was a hint of disgust on her face.

Madame Jiang smiled slightly, very lightly. Said very lightly: "Don't worry. No matter how proud she is now, it's a pity that there is no powerful mother's family to support her, and there is no son and half a daughter inside, no matter how good her face is, she will decline one day. Seeing that the triennial draft is coming, she will eventually be replaced by a fresher and more moving newcomer. Only the royal heirs are truly enduring emperors. ”

How can Concubine Shu not understand these truths, but unfortunately a woman is still a woman after all, and this hurdle in her heart is always unpassable, so Concubine Shu is silent.

Mrs. Jiang sighed slightly. immediately changed the topic: "Ruxue has practiced the Hu Xuan Dance in the mansion in the past few months, and she must be favored by Prince Rui this time." ”

Concubine Shu heard this. The gloom on her face finally dissipated a little, and she stretched out her hand to pull Jiang Ruxue, who was sitting on the side, but had been unknown, and whispered lovingly: "Ruxue's posture is unparalleled, and she knows everything about piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, and she is one of the most suitable candidates for Prince Rui and Princess Rui in the heart of the Queen Mother." When the ladies of various provinces perform their performances, they must use the piano to chant poems and splash ink to paint. Ruxue's whirling dance will definitely amaze the audience and take the lead among these noble girls. ”

It turned out that Prince Rui's extremely difficult family affairs had become a heart disease for the Queen Mother, and when Prince Rui was looking for Xuanyuan Zhenren outside, he had a period of time when he went deep into the mountains and mountains and cut off contact with the outside world. This incident deeply stimulated the Queen Mother, and made her make up her mind to secretly characterize this Mid-Autumn Festival family banquet as a concubine selection conference, and she must finalize Prince Rui's marriage in the fastest time, and she will definitely not allow him to be sloppy again.

A few years ago, Concubine Shu mentioned her own beautiful and gentle sister in front of the Queen Mother, and the Queen Mother also summoned Jiang Ruxue once on a whim. If it weren't for the oolong incident that happened by mistake later, Prince Rui and Jiang Ruxue's family affair would almost have been completed.

Now that Prince Rui has finally returned, that oolong incident has been forgotten by most people. Seeing that the last chance was just around the corner, Concubine Shu and the entire Jiang Mansion had been secretly planning for this matter for a long time and would not let it go. So Jiang Ruxue, who had been hiding at home for a long time, carried the hopes of the Jiang family and was finally ready to make her debut.

Concubine Shu thought that everything was under control, but she didn't know that the girl in front of her with slightly red cheeks and low eyebrows and a light smile had her own plans in her heart.

Seeing that Jiang Ruxue lowered her head and was silent, Concubine Shu only thought she was shy, and only smiled slightly and didn't take it to heart. After she turned her head and whispered a few words to Mrs. Jiang, she suddenly frowned and said, "What's the matter with that girl at Chu Qing, it's just that it takes so long to change a pair of dancing shoes." ”

When Madame Jiang heard this, she also glanced around, and saw that the seats for the banquet were basically full, and she was afraid that the emperor and queen would arrive immediately, so she said with some worry: "That girl enters the palace for the first time, don't go around and get lost, in case you collide with a nobleman, it will not be good." ”

Concubine Shu showed a trace of impatience in her eyes, so she ordered the palace maid beside her to look for it. Who knew that Jiang Chuqing had not yet been found, and the queen had already arrived with the queen mother. After everyone got up and saluted, the queen and the queen mother sat on the main seat. At this moment, the still empty Panlong red gold chair is particularly eye-catching.

Concubine Shu couldn't help but subconsciously glance at the equally empty seat below, and a contemptuous smile appeared on the corner of her red mouth. The smile on the corner of her mouth had not yet receded, and the eunuch's unique sharp voice sounded in her ears: "The emperor has arrived"

A dry palace eunuch surrounded Zhu Xian and appeared at the door of the main hall. Everyone in the hall, except for the queen mother, got up again and bowed their heads in unison, and after three shouts, the hall immediately became silent.

"Your Majesty, let me go." A slightly immature female voice sounded in alarm, and this voice seemed so abrupt in the silent hall.

I heard Zhu Xian say with a slight smile: "I was quite bold just now." How did you turn into a rabbit this time? All right, arise y'all. Although everyone was amazed, they stood up obediently. I just saw a petite woman wearing a moon-white embroidered pink cherry blossom pleated dress. jumped out of Zhu Xian's arms in front of everyone's eyes, and she was also carrying a marquee lantern depicting the pattern of the Eight Immortals crossing the sea.

The woman's delicate face was slightly immature, with apple-like cheeks with a touch of red, and a double-ringed bun on her head, and a youthful breath came to her face.

Xu was injured in her right foot, and when she jumped out of Zhu Xian's arms, she only dared to land on the ground with her left foot. Because of his unsteady stagnation, he has been bouncing on the spot trying to stabilize his center of gravity. Look, it doesn't look like a jade rabbit spirit fluttering down from the Moon Palace!

After seeing the woman's face clearly, the smile on the corner of Concubine Shu's mouth could not be maintained, and she glanced at Madame Jiang, who was also surprised. Hurriedly stepped forward and shouted: "Chu Qing, don't be rude, don't hurry up to the emperor, the queen." The Queen Mother pleaded guilty. ”

Jiang Chuqing shrank her shoulders slightly. Obviously, he was afraid of this eldest sister with a prominent status. She slowly lowered her right foot and wanted to salute, but she didn't know if it had hit the injury, but she suddenly grinned, and her eyes were almost red.

Zhu Xian laughed, waved his hand casually, and said, "Okay, okay, she just fell from a tree and sprained her foot, where is it polite." Don't blame her. ”

Jiang Chuqing was overjoyed and looked coquettish. said crisply: "Thank you, Your Majesty." ”

Zhu Xian laughed, and it was not easy to talk to her in front of everyone, so he walked straight to the Panlong red gold chair that belonged to him and sat down. Immediately after Concubine Shu, two palace maids helped Jiang Chuqing, who was unsteady on her feet, to Mrs. Jiang and sat down.

After raising a toast, more than a dozen women immediately came out and began to dance, and the sound of silk and bamboo wind music was heard on the lake again, and the banquet immediately became lively......

Empress Guo looked at the scene in front of her condescendingly, the corners of her mouth kept pouting with a proper smile, and her dark eyes flashed with an unknown light. For some reason, such a smile made Concubine Shu feel a chill in her heart inexplicably. She secretly gritted her silver teeth, pinched Jiang Chuqing's arm, and asked in a low voice with a blushing face: "What happened, hurry up and make it clear to me." ”

Jiang Chuqing saw that her face was not good, so she shrunk her neck, raised the marquee in her hand and said timidly: "I, I, just saw that this marquee hanging on the tree was very beautiful, so I wanted to climb up and take it off." Unbeknownst to him, a large group of people happened to pass underneath. Originally, I wanted to hide in the trees and wait for the people to pass before coming out. Who knew that the branch I was clinging to happened to be broken, so I fell in front of the emperor with a lantern and sprained my foot. ”

Concubine Shu's eyes were slightly cold, obviously not believing her words. Jiang Chuqing seemed to feel that what she said was not detailed enough, and she continued to whisper carefully: "It's just that I didn't know that he was the emperor at that time, and I was afraid that my mother would be in a hurry to find him, so I was anxious and afraid. So he grabbed his robe and forbade him to go, and lied that he had caused me to fall, and that he had to take care of bringing me to my mother. He didn't refute it, and he came with me in his arms. I also saw you saluting him, and I knew that he was the emperor. I don't know if it's because of the drink, but her apple-like cheeks are more and more rosy.

Concubine Shu couldn't help but be furious when she heard this, she lowered her voice and shouted angrily: "Isn't there a palace maid following you, how could she let you climb a tree?" still dare to hold on to the emperor, who gave you such a big guts. ”

Jiang Chuqing shrank her neck aggrievedly, and whispered: "I don't know, that palace maid sister suddenly said that she had a stomachache and wanted to go to the toilet halfway through." I waited for a long time and didn't see her come out, and I was afraid that my mother would be anxious if she waited for a long time, so I wanted to find it back from memory. Who knew that the roads in this palace were almost the same, and I got lost as I walked. ”

"You troublemaker!" Concubine Shu has eaten Jiang Chuqing's heart raw at the moment. She knew that Jiang Chuqing had never told the truth, but no matter what the truth was, Jiang Chuqing had indeed successfully attracted the attention of the current emperor.

Even if Concubine Shu didn't raise her eyes, she felt countless curious, angry, contemptuous, or sarcastic eyes around her on her side. There is no need to guess that she also knows that these people must think that now that Concubine Li's holy family is thick, she wants to sacrifice her sister to regain the sacred heart.

Concubine Shu was full of grievances at the moment, she had never had such a thought so far. This time, taking Jiang Chuqing into the palace was also requested by Jiang Ruxue. Because the Hu Xuan Dance requires two people to work together, Jiang Chuqing is her indispensable dance partner.

Now it's a good thing, Jiang Chuqing sprained her foot, not only could she no longer cooperate with Jiang Ruxue to dance the Hu Xuan dance, but she was also carried back to Changle Hall by Zhu Xian himself. Inexplicably, she was saddled with a reputation for flattery and pets, her pretty face was flushed, and her heart was as disgusting as swallowing a fly.

Jiang Chuqing's eyes turned red when she heard this, she pulled the corner of Mrs. Jiang's clothes, and said aggrievedly: "Mother, you have to believe me, I really didn't mean to. ”

Madame Jiang really wanted to slap her to death at this moment, but it can be seen that Concubine Shu has an angry face, and she doesn't notice that the emperor has frowned and looked over here several times. Mrs. Jiang's heart jumped suddenly, and she hurriedly pulled Concubine Shu and said, "If you have anything to say, wait until the banquet is over!" Concubine Shu was stunned for a moment, and then gradually restrained the anger on her face.

Jiang Chuqing shrank aside in fear, and lowered her eyebrows as if she didn't dare to speak. didn't know that her pretentiousness fell into the eyes of Zhu Yi and Guo Chengsi on the other side. Guo Chengsi said in surprise: "I remember that her temperament doesn't seem to be like this? ”

Jiang Chuqing's appearance obviously evoked some bad memories of Zhu Yi, and he rolled his eyes and said: "I've only seen her once, do you know what kind of character she is?" What does it matter if she is good? Come, drink! ”

Guo Chengsi knew that he was unhappy about choosing a concubine who couldn't escape tonight, so he also put aside the doubt, and accompanied Zhu Yi, Zhu Fei began to drink one cup from the left to the other.

Not long after the banquet, at the half-joking suggestion of the Queen Mother, the school-age ladies in each house began various talent shows. Sure enough, just as Mrs. Jiang predicted, most of them reflected noble temperament and elegant performances such as stroking the qin and chanting poems, splashing ink and painting.

Although the music is good, although the painting is wonderful, it is much more visible, and there is always a lack of novelty. In contrast, Jiang Ruxue's carefully prepared Hu Xuan dance with light movements, rapid rotation and distinct rhythm is particularly eye-catching.

Without Jiang Chuqing's cooperation, Jiang Ruxue wore a colorful half-arm narrow-sleeved Hu suit and went on the field alone. When she danced to the sound of drums, she was like snowflakes fluttering in the air, like fluffy grass fluttering in the wind, and even the galloping horses felt slower than her, and even the rapid whirlwind seemed much inferior. She spins left and right tirelessly, and she turns around non-stop.

She spun so fast that the cheers and exclamations erupted around her. Even the three people who sat at the top of the table were dazzled, and applauded Jiang Ruxue with a smile.

It's a pity that no matter how well she dances, Mrs. Jiang and Concubine Shu know that the scene when Zhu Xian came in with Jiang Chuqing in her arms has completely dispelled the Queen Mother's idea of letting Jiang Ruxue be Prince Rui's princess.

Because Zhu Xian has obviously become interested in Jiang Chuqing, if Jiang Ruxue is made the princess of Rui at this time, then the three young ladies of the Jiang Mansion will not all become royal women, which will definitely not be allowed. Now that Jiang Ruxue dances better, it will only make their hearts more and more angry.

The drums beat faster and faster, faster and faster, and Jiang Ruxue also spun faster and faster, and the audience was amazed that they could barely distinguish her face from her back. At this moment, Jiang Ruxue stumbled under her feet, and her slender body rushed straight into the arms of Guo Chenghe, who was stunned, like a milk swallow throwing into the forest. (To be continued......)