On the second day, Shen Lanxin carried a box of things and came to Qifang Palace to visit Concubine Qi with Tread Snow and Qiuyue.

"Niangniang, Princess Yuanxin asks to see." The palace people came to pass the word.

Concubine Qi was sitting on the couch sipping the new tea that Guo Zheng brought back from outside, when she heard a soft voice.

She just took a sip and put it down. The look was full of doubt, "Why did she come?" ”

"Maybe Princess Yuanxin is here to thank Niangniang, a few days ago, Niangniang rewarded her with a pair of opal hand beads and a sachet, the sachet was embroidered by the mother herself, the affection is much more valuable than the opal hand beads, the mother gave it to her, so blessed others can't ask for it? Princess Yuanxin is not a fool, so she should naturally come to thank her mother. It was Guo Zheng next to him who spoke.

Qi Guifei smiled meaningfully, and said slowly: "Invite her in, just let her taste the new tea you brought back." ”

After a while, the palace people entered the hall with Shen Lanxin.

As soon as she entered, Shen Lanxin's eyes fell on Qi Guifei's body far away, she sat on the couch, separated by a bead curtain in the middle, so her appearance was not very real, when she got closer, although Qi Guifei was already close to forty people, not to mention her beauty, the skin was like a shelled egg, Shen Lanxin was a little stunned when she saw it, no wonder her father loved her so much.

Not only Shen Lanxin, but who in the palace is not amazed by the beauty of Concubine Qi, although her mother is also a beauty, but she is less charming and delicate than Concubine Qi.

Shen Lanxin gave a bow to Concubine Qi very elegantly.

"You're Princess Yuanxin?" Concubine Qi didn't let her get up immediately, but just looked at her slowly.

Shen Lan lowered his head and said, "Yes, Niangniang." ”

Qi Guifei smiled faintly, waved her hand and said, "Sure enough, you are delicate, get up." He immediately instructed the palace maid beside him, "Go and make a cup of tea." ”

"Yes, sissy." After receiving the order, the palace maid hurriedly went to make tea.

Shen Lan saw that there was a handsome eunuch standing next to Concubine Qi, especially his eyebrows, which were particularly eye-catching, the eyes of the two collided inadvertently, and there was a faint sense of violence between his eyebrows, and his gaze was faintly gloomy, which made Shen Lan's heart chill.

Concubine Qi looked at Shen Lanxin and asked with a smile, "You came to the palace today, but is there something wrong?" ”

Shen Lan retracted his gaze without a trace, stood straight in front of Qi Guifei, and said without humility or arrogance: "Yuan Xin came today to thank Niangniang!" ”

"Oh?" Concubine Qi already knew the purpose of her coming, but she pretended to be surprised.

"The opal hand beads and sachets that Niangniang gave to Yuanxin Yuanxin like it very much, thank you Niangniang for the reward." After saying that, Shen Lanxin saluted Qi Guifei again, Shen Lanxin didn't know what rules in the palace, he only felt that it was not strange to have many people, and besides, it was the noble Qi Guifei in front of her, so of course she had to be more careful in her behavior.

Concubine Qi smiled slightly, feeling that this princess was quite sensible, "Yes, it is a great joy for you to return to the palace now, this palace treats you like her own daughter, and if there are any good things, it is natural to reward you." ”

Shen Lanxin smiled slightly: "Niangniang's heart, Yuan Xinxin has received it, but I think Niangniang's gift is too valuable, Yuan Xin really doesn't know how to express his gratitude, Yuan Xin has nothing to give a gift, Niangniang is deeply favored by her father, naturally there is nothing missing, so Yuan Xin made a plate of lotus paste cake in the kitchen this morning, and brought it to Niangniang to taste, I hope Niangniang will not dislike it." ”

After speaking, he took the food box in Qiu Yue's hand, put it on the table, opened the lid and took out the fragrant lotus paste cake.

"You made it yourself?" Qi Guifei glanced at it, a little surprised, she didn't expect this girl to make dim sum, she was really ingenious.

Shen Lan said with a smile: "Yes, please also ask the mother to taste it, how does it taste?" ”

Shen Lanxin came to Qi Guifei with a plate, Qi Guifei reached out and took a piece, put it in her mouth, nodded and smiled: "Well, yes, it melts in your mouth, it is fragrant and sweet." ”

Lan Xin smiled: "It's good if Niangniang likes it!" ”

Concubine Qi wiped the corners of her mouth with a silk scarf, and said with a smile: "You kid really have a heart, and you actually made lotus paste cake and gave it to the palace, this kind of heart is really rare." ”

Shen Lanxin looked at the ice silk brocade handkerchief in her hand, and quietly put the lotus paste cake back on the table, at this time, the palace maid made tea and brought it over.

"Don't stand and talk, sit down quickly, this is the new tea brought back from outside by the palace people of this palace, how about you taste this tea?"

Shen Lanxin didn't refuse, but carefully picked it up, blew it, took a sip and drank it.

Qi Guifei asked, "How is it?" ”

Shen Lanxin put the tea back on the table and said, "Yuan Xin doesn't know much about tea, I just feel that this tea has a strong but not astringent taste, but a sweet aftertaste." ”

When Concubine Qi heard this, she couldn't help but praise: "You girl is really a good tongue, go back and bring some back." ”

Shen Lanxin smiled and said, "Thank you, Niangniang." ”

Concubine Qi asked, "Now that you have returned to the palace, are you still used to life in the palace?" ”

Shen Lan said in his heart: "Thank you for your concern, it's okay." ”

"That's good, with your mother's care, presumably everything has been taken care of, and there is no need to worry about this palace, I don't know where you lived in the past?" After speaking, Qi Guifei subconsciously glanced at Guo Zheng, and just met his gaze.

When it came to the place where she lived, Lan Xin suddenly felt a trace of vigilance in her heart, why did she suddenly ask this?

Shen Lanxin said without thinking: "Niangniang, Yuan Xin was adopted by a farmer in a remote mountain village before, and later his adoptive parents died of illness one after another, so Yuan Xin lived alone. ”

Qi Guifei looked at her expression, her expression was normal, and there was no abnormality in the slightest.

Qi Guifei's eyes were full of pity, and she couldn't help but sigh lightly: "Then you must be very hard for a girl to live alone?" ”

Shen Lanxin smiled and shook his head: "Yuan Xin doesn't feel hard, it is just an experience." ”

Qi Guifei smiled, "You can see that the queen is blessed to give birth to a sensible daughter." After speaking, he looked at Guo Zheng with a smile.

At this time, Guo Zheng smiled and said: "Niangniang's words are good, the queen is a person with deep blessings." ”

Shen Lanxin glanced at Guo Zheng, then moved his gaze to Qi Guifei's face, and said: "The queen mother is indeed blessed, if it is blessed, I am afraid that I will already die in the hands of thieves." Speaking of this, Shen Lanxin's gaze wandered back and forth on the faces of Qi Guifei and Gao Zheng, Guo Zheng's expression did not change at all, but Qi Guifei's expression changed slightly, and when Shen Lanxin confirmed again, her expression was covered by a smile.

Qi Guifei sighed deeply and said: "Back then, King Annan intended to assassinate your father, and even the palace and your mother were almost poisoned by him, so it can be seen that it is not a pity for King Annan to die, but now the murderer has long been corrected, and you have lost it again, and you will finally have peace of mind in the future." ”

Shen Lan said lightly: "What Niangniang said is very true. ”

At this time, Qi Guifei's snow-white cat came out of nowhere and pounced on the lotus paste cake on the table.

Shen Lanxin, who was already afraid of cats, saw the big and fat cat, and immediately took two steps back in fright.

Qi Guifei couldn't help but be a little unhappy when she saw this scene, this cat always came out at any time, she made a color to Guo Zheng, Guo Zheng stepped forward to pick up Qi Guifei's cat and sent it to Qi Guifei's hands.

"I'm scared of you, it's a cat raised by Hongu, and its name is Edelweiss."

Qi Guifei stroked the edelweiss as if she was holding a treasure.

Shen Lan said lightly: "Niangniang's cat is really good. ”

"This cat is a gift from the emperor to my palace." Qi Guifei lowered her head and looked at the edelweiss and said lightly.

was originally a very ordinary sentence, but Shen Lanxin found that Guo Zheng's expression had changed subtly.

Shen Lanxin's eyes flashed with a glimmer of light, and he smiled slightly: "Who in the palace doesn't know that the most favored by the father is you, I'm afraid that if the mother wants the stars and the moon in the sky, the father will find a way to pick them for you, as for the gold and silver mountains, it is not a problem, if it is replaced by other people, I am afraid it will be beyond the reach of the dust, Yuan Xin thought, the love of the mother for the father and the emperor should be the same, right?" ”

Shen Lan stared intently at Qi Guifei, trying to catch something from her expression.

Qi Guifei's expression was normal, and there was no wave on her face, "That's natural, your father is not thin on this palace, not to mention that this palace has a deep relationship with your father, so naturally he will leave the best for your father." ”

Shen Lan stared at her, but he couldn't see the slightest abnormality, so he smiled: "Niangniang is empathetic, no wonder she can get the favor of my father for many years." ”

Qi Guifei smiled slightly, but did not speak.

Shen Lan looked at Guo Zheng quietly, a trace of jealousy flashed on his face, she recalled that day in Princess Rongchang's mansion, Gao Qian was this kind of look, and her heart couldn't help jumping.

Out of Qifang Palace, Shen Lanxin couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "Who is that eunuch beside Concubine Qi?" ”

Taxue said: "Princess, that person's name is Guo Zheng, and he is the guard eunuch of Concubine Qi. ”

"Guo Zheng? Guarding the eunuchs? Shen Lan thought thoughtfully, and glanced at Qifang Palace again as he walked.

Shen Lanxin originally wanted to try to test Concubine Qi, but Concubine Qi was cunning and cunning, and her words were not leaky, and it was more difficult to find clues on her body than to ascend to the sky.

But it's not in vain, somehow, Shen Lanxin felt that Guo Zheng was very problematic, and just mentioned that Concubine Qi and her father had a deep relationship, Gao Zheng's expression changed, what does this mean? And she didn't know him, but his cold eyes made people feel their hairs stand on end when they looked at it.

"Princess, are we still going to Fengyi Palace?" The sound of snow breaking her thoughts.

Shen Lan thought for a while and said, "Go back to Tongxiang Palace." ”

After Shen Lanxin left, Guo Zheng remembered what Qi Guifei said just now, and he couldn't help but feel a faint pain in his heart, she was trampling on his feelings and his self-esteem, thinking of this Guo Zheng was furious, he withdrew all the people in the house, and locked the door with his backhand.

Seeing this, Concubine Qi asked, "What are you doing here?" ”

Guo Zheng couldn't hide his anger, stared straight at her and said, "What am I doing?" Don't you tell me that you have feelings for that man? ”

Qi Guifei naturally understood that the man in his mouth was referring to the emperor.

Qi Guifei frowned slightly, and said angrily: "What are you crazy about?" ”

Guo Zheng pressed her step by step, "I'm crazy, I'm going crazy, do you know how I feel when I watch you with other men every day?" Even my own son has to call others a father, how can you make me embarrassed! ”

Guo Zheng has been staying in the palace as a eunuch for so many years, in order to see the woman she loves, her own woman has become the emperor's concubine, and now even his own son has to call him his father, how can he bear it.

As soon as the words fell, Qi Guifei's face immediately changed, she hurriedly reached out to cover his mouth, and scolded in a low voice: "Are you crazy? So loud, you don't want to die! ”

Guo Zheng grabbed her hand and said, "For you, I can do nothing." With that, he pressed her down on the bed, put him on top of her, and kissed her.

Qi Guifei didn't keep resisting and beating him, but gradually her hand hugged him tightly.

The weather is getting hotter and hotter, and the sky that was originally cloudless suddenly becomes gray.

Lan Xin and Taxue were rushing back from the Hundred Gardens, but before they could get out of the Hundred Gardens, the torrential rain poured down.

Taxue hurriedly covered the top of Shen Lanxin's head with his hand, and said, "Princess, let's go to the pavilion next to us to avoid it before leaving." ”

The two of them ran to the nearby pavilion in three steps and two steps, and in just a moment, the two of them were drenched.

Taxue hurriedly took out a handkerchief and wiped the water droplets on Shen Lanxin's face, and said worriedly: "Princess, are you okay?" ”

"It's okay, it's raining so much." After speaking, Shen Lanxin squatted down and twisted the rain on the skirt, "

Taxue blamed herself: "It's the slave and maid who are careless, I already knew that I brought the umbrella out, and the princess was drenched in the rain, if you were infected with the wind and cold, the mother would definitely not spare the slave and maid." ”

Shen Lan couldn't help but laugh when she heard her words, but she also knew how important she was in the heart of the queen mother, otherwise she wouldn't be able to say such things when she stepped on the snow, "Look at what you said is so serious, I'm just drenched in the rain, how can I be so delicate and contracted the wind cold, besides, do you know the weather?" ”

Treadsnow shook his head.

At this time, the two didn't notice that there was also a person sitting on the other side of the pavilion, and it was a woman, and the woman's eyes looked at it, and then shouted: "Princess Yuanxin." ”

Shen Lan heard this, turned around and looked at the other side, only to see a woman in a light blue dress looking at her with a smile.

Seeing Shen Lanxin's slightly suspicious expression, Taxue reminded her in her ear: "She is Concubine Chen." ”

Shen Lan walked over with a smile in his heart and saluted Concubine Chen.

Concubine Chen stretched out her hand to help her, and said softly: "Don't be bound by these etiquette, come and sit down." ”

Shen Lan smiled in his heart: "Xie Niangniang." ”

Shen Lanxin glanced at Concubine Chen, although her appearance was not as bright and moving as Qi Guifei, and her dress was not as gorgeous as her, but her beautiful and refined appearance that did not eat fireworks in the world was in stark contrast to Qi Guifei.

Concubine Qi is dressed gorgeously and brightly, Concubine Chen is elegant and refined, and the queen is in between.

I heard the eldest brother say that the most favored in this harem is the queen mother, Qi Guifei and the concubine in front of her, it is said that Concubine Chen has a quiet temperament and never competes for favor, so her father will favor her.

Shen Lanxin and Concubine Chen sat face to face.

"How does Concubine Chen know that I am Yuanxin?" Shen Lanxin looked at Concubine Chen and asked.

Concubine Chen smiled, with a little gentleness between her eyebrows, "Who will be the long-lost daughter who is not the queen who can protect the snow every inch?" ”

Shen Lan lowered his eyes and smiled lightly, yes, what a simple question.

Shen Lanxin said with a smile: "Yuan Xin hasn't thanked Concubine Chen for the gift from Niangniang, I wanted to visit Niangniang for a long time, but I didn't want to be unable to pull away, but I didn't expect to see you here today." ”

After hearing this, Concubine Chen smiled kindly, as if she didn't care if she came to thank her or not, "Do you still like the gift of this palace?" ”

Shen Lanxin smiled unabated, "Yuan Xin likes it very much, thank you for your kindness." ”

"If you like it, it's fine." After speaking, Concubine Chen glanced sideways outside.

"Is Niangniang also blocked by this rain?" Shen Lanxin glanced at her and also looked outside.

Concubine Chen immediately retracted her gaze, "Yes, this palace was about to go to the queen's mother, and I didn't expect it to rain halfway through." ”

Shen Lanxin looked outside again, and said thoughtfully: "I'm afraid everyone will not expect this rain." ”

Concubine Chen looked at her carefully, and when she saw her delicate face, she really looked like the queen of the year between her eyebrows and eyes, and couldn't help but say: "This palace originally thought that Princess Yuanli's appearance was already very similar to the queen mother of the year, but I didn't expect to see you today to know that your current appearance and the queen of the year are simply carved out of the same mold." ”

Listening to her words, Shen Lanxin smiled peacefully.

At this time, a trace of longing appeared in Concubine Chen's eyes, and the smile on her face gradually deepened, and said: "I think that when this palace entered the palace, he was only eighteen years old, and Yuan Shi was only four years old. ”

Shen Lanxin's smile paused, and then asked, "Did Niangniang enter the mansion with Concubine Qi and Niangniang?" ”

Concubine Chen shook her head and said, "This palace entered the mansion a year earlier than her. ”

It turned out that Concubine Qi was the last to enter the palace, that is to say, her father married her in the year she ascended the throne, and in a short period of time, he named her a concubine, and she really liked her.

Shen Lanxin smiled, "It is said that the old man is the most popular, and it seems that the last person to enter the door is naturally the most favored." ”

When Concubine Chen heard this, her eyes were full of envy, "Concubine Qi's grace is comparable to others, except for your mother who was married back by the emperor in a sedan chair." ”

"A side concubine was carried back to the palace in a sedan chair?" Shen Lan couldn't help but feel a little surprised.

Concubine Chen smiled and said, "Either say, how can others compare." ”

Shen Lanxin looked at her calm expression, but felt that her father loved Concubine Qi so much, wouldn't the queen mother and her be jealous at all? But Concubine Chen's expression when she spoke didn't look like jealousy, if she asked rashly, she would definitely be disrespectful to her, but she was really ...... In the end, she couldn't help but ask: "Niangniang, aren't you jealous?" ”

Originally, she thought that Concubine Chen would be angry, but instead of being angry, Concubine Chen smiled very calmly.

In fact, she was not surprised that Shen Lanxin would ask this, she knew that a girl of Shen Lanxin's age would not understand the women in the palace, she said lightly: "It's not so much jealousy, it's more envy, if such a concubine in the palace wants to be jealous, wouldn't she be tired to death." ”

After speaking, Concubine Chen stood up and walked to the edge of the pavilion, sighed lightly, and said: "Since the moment I married him, I have known that he has never belonged to this palace. ”

Her words were like something poked in her heart, I don't know why I felt that her words sounded a little sad, but I felt that there was some truth, Shen Lan still wanted to ask something, Concubine Chen suddenly said: "Hey, it seems that the rain has stopped, and the palace should leave." ”

Shen Lanxin swallowed back his words and said with a smile: "Niangniang, walk slowly, be careful of slippery roads." ”

"You're soaking wet, you have to finish the ginger soup when you go back." After speaking, without waiting for Shen Lanxin's response, he left in a hurry with the maidservant.

Looking at the back of Concubine Chen's departure, this Concubine Qi is really not simple, but in her opinion, the queen mother and Concubine Chen are not simple, there is really no one who can be so generous.

Taking advantage of the fact that the rain stopped, Shen Lanxin and Taxue also returned to Tongxiang Palace.

The rain fell intermittently for a day and a night, the raindrops on the leaves sparkled like crystal, and the surrounding flowers and trees suddenly took on a new look, and everything seemed to be vibrant.

Shen Lanxin was pruning the flower branches in the yard, cutting off a few of the flowers that were too dense and inserting them into the vase.

She sniffed it and felt that the flowers after the rain were exceptionally fragrant.

Shen Lanxin plugged in and looked at Qiu Yue next to him, "Look, is it good-looking?" ”

Qiu Yue praised without hesitation: "Princess, your flower arrangement skills are really getting better and better, you see that the middle one is the best, just like you, princess." ”

Qiu Yue was originally the most clever girl in Fengyi Palace, and the queen transferred her to Shen Lanxin to know how attentive she was.

Shen Lan glanced at her and smiled sweetly: "Qiu Yue, when did you become so good at talking?" ”

Qiu Yue smiled and said, "Princess, what the slave said is true. ”

Shen Lanxin smiled at her, and said, "But I always feel like something is missing?" ”

Qiu Yue tilted her head as if she was thinking, and suddenly her eyes lit up, and she said, "It would look better if there were purple hydrangeas." ”

Hearing her say this, Shen Lanxin really felt that the purple hydrangea was missing.

"Qiuyue, you go to the Hundred Gardens to help cut two flowers and come back!"

When Qiu Yue heard this, she immediately replied, "The slave and maid will go." After saying that, he ran away like a gust of wind.

Shen Lanxin glanced at her, smiled, and said to herself, "This girl is quite fast!" ”

At this time, Princess Yuanjing passed by here with her maidservant red beans, and saw a palace maid squatting there not far away to cut something.

"Who's doing what?" Princess Yuan Jing asked casually.

Hongdou's eyes were sharp, and at a glance, he knew that it was Qiu Yue beside Shen Lanxin, so he leaned close to Yuan Jing's ear and whispered: "Princess, that is the Qiu Yue of Tongxiang Palace." ”

She stopped suddenly.