In the past few months, although His Majesty and the noble concubine Niangniang deliberately blocked and even punished three or four palace maids and eunuchs, the rumors that the Emperor Taishang had died are still faintly circulating, and there are even rumors that the current saint has killed his father and usurped the throne.

It's been two months, and sooner or later I still have to announce the death of the emperor, but now I can't respond to the rumors.

Li Chun thought about it, the eighteenth day of the first month was the birthday of the emperor, so he ordered a banquet to be held in Xingqing Palace on this day, and gave the emperor the honorific title, so that everyone could take a look at the emperor from a distance through the curtain, and then immediately announced that the emperor was seriously ill, and it was logical to announce the death of the emperor in a few days.

After all, it is also a well-known fact that the Emperor Taishang is not in good health and can hardly show up in winter.

This matter of organizing the banquet naturally fell on the head of the noble concubine Guo Nianyun.

Nian Yun received the order, and when he ordered someone to call Xiao Cairen over, he said: "The Emperor's Longevity Day, on the eighteenth of this month, Your Majesty asked the palace to do it." My sister has been studying these days, and Bengong thinks that it can't be done just by seeing, so it's better to come and help Bengong. ”

Xiao Meiyi was a little surprised, she thought that the concubine would let her follow for a year or two first, but she didn't expect to let her interfere in practical things so soon, so she excused herself: "In the palace, Mei Yi should do her best." It's just that Mei Yi and her three younger sisters studied palace affairs together, but the mother only asked Mei Yi to be an assistant, which ......"

The concubine smiled slightly, "Good sister, to be honest, you are the only one who is optimistic about this palace." The pothos often says that among the few of you, only my sister is talented and intelligent, and she is a material that can be made! ”

Everyone loves to listen to these beautiful words, Xiao Meiyi was overjoyed, bowed her head and said, "Niangniang praises." ”

The concubine went over affectionately and took her hand: "Actually, this time for the Longevity Festival, the palace didn't know that His Majesty was going to do a big thing, so it was in a hurry." If this palace asks you to join me, I am afraid that they still have a lot of things that are not clear, but it will help them. This time, Bengong simply just called you, and next time there are some things that don't matter, just ask them to do it. ”

Xiao Meiyi heard that this explanation was reasonable, so she put her mind at ease.

Nian Yun immediately said a few things to her to do, and said: "The Emperor Taishang likes to wear white and lighter patterns, so the clothes should not be embroidered too fancy, and you must tell the Shangfu Bureau to look at them from time to time." The Emperor Taishang is not in good health, and his diet should be light, but he doesn't like sweets, and he should put less sugar in porridge and water snacks......"

Xiao Meiyi said that she had written it down, and said: "Niangniang has a good memory, and she remembers these trivial things clearly." ”

The concubine smiled: "After a long time, I naturally remember it." In the past, when he was in the East Palace, the Emperor Taishang had a great influence on His Majesty, and His Majesty also put the Emperor Taishang first. ”

Xiao Meiyi was a little confused, she had heard some rumors before entering the palace, His Majesty seemed to be incompatible with the Emperor, so that when His Majesty was the prince before, the prince of the previous dynasty was in charge of the country, and there was a white hemp internal order in the back, which seemed to be a confrontation.

The concubine seemed to see through her thoughts at a glance, and said with a smile: "You probably don't know, the emperor has been in poor health for the past two years, and it is inevitable that some people around him will do something inappropriate behind his back." If it is really as rumored outside, there is a gap between father and son, and His Majesty has not added many guards to Xingqing Palace, how can the Emperor be so low-key? ”

The Emperor Taishang has been the crown prince for more than 20 years, and there are many courtiers who support him, and now those courtiers are doing things for His Majesty, so it seems that the relationship between His Majesty and the Emperor Taishang is indeed not what is said in the streets.

The concubine said: "Your Majesty is the eldest son of the Emperor Taishang, and naturally his feelings are extraordinary. The capital is a heavenly family without a father and son, but over the years, this palace has seen a special case. When the palace first entered the East Palace, the power that was originally in charge of the seal was not in the palace, and it was the Emperor Taishang who had an eye for the palace, so he took care of their family affairs for more than ten years! ”

Xiao Cairen said goodbye to the concubine, and began to make a small calculation in his heart. Since she has divided some things to do this time, she should make good use of the power in her hands.

If according to what the concubine said, the Emperor Taishang is still very influential in front of His Majesty, then she will find a chance to meet the Emperor Taishang and coax the old man, maybe there will be an accident?

Taking a step back, even if what the concubine said is not true, she is just seeing the emperor, and there is nothing to lose. The Emperor Taishang, a sick old man, would not do anything to her.

Xiao Meiyi, who had made up her mind, first set out to do a few things that the concubine gave her, she was a clever person, these things were not difficult to do, and they were done quickly.

On the way back to Penglai Palace, she thought all the way, and she must find a way to go to Xingqing Palace before the Wanshou Festival.

When she arrived at Penglai Palace, Xiao Cairen first handed over a few things she had done, and then said tentatively: "Niangniang is afraid that she hasn't been to see the emperor for a few months?" ”

The concubine said: "No, I have seen it on the Thousand Autumn Festival of Queen Taishang, and it has been more than two months!" ”

Xiao Cairen smiled, "In this case, Mei Yi thinks that it is appropriate to go and measure the size of the Emperor Taishang again." I want to come to the Emperor Taishang to live comfortably in the past few months, but I am afraid that I am wide and fat, and I am afraid that it will not be suitable according to the original size! ”

The concubine paused, and said: "No need, this matter has always been handled by the palace, and the size of the Emperor Taishang has not changed for more than ten years, how can it be changed in just two months?" This one, you don't have to worry about your sister. ”

Xiao Cairen didn't want to give up just like that, and said: "Since it is the Emperor's Halloween Day, Mei Yi still thinks that it is appropriate to ask the Emperor Taishang in person." If Niangniang feels troublesome, why don't Mei Yi go on behalf of Niangniang? ”

The concubine shook her head: "Mei Yi, the palace has been in the East Palace for more than ten years, so she naturally knows what to do, and my sister doesn't have to disturb the emperor." Seeing that Xiao Meiyi's face was still a little unwilling, she said: "It will take some time to go back and forth from Xingqing Palace, and now that the time is so tight from the Wanshou Festival, my sister should stay in Daming Palace to help the palace." ”

Xiao Meiyi tried her best to find an excuse to meet the emperor, but the noble concubine Niangniang was biased and shirked in every possible way and didn't let her go. Xiao Meiyi muttered more and more in her heart, could it be that the concubine deliberately didn't let her see the emperor?

On the day of the Wanshou Festival, early in the morning, the concubine took Xiao Meiyi and a few palace maids to Xingqing Palace.

On this day, the officials above the fifth grade and the princes and princes all arrived at Xingqing Palace, and the lively atmosphere did not reduce the last Empress Taishang's Qianqiu Festival banquet.

When the hundred officials gathered, sure enough, the emperor was carried in from the apse by the inner attendant. However, it is said that because of the cold weather, the emperor's leg disease recurred, and it was not suitable to meet the ministers, so he only set up a warm pavilion in front of the main hall and accepted the ministers to bow through the curtain.

The steps are very high, in order to prevent the wind, the curtain is also very thick, only a faint silhouette can be seen, wearing a white dragon robe embroidered with a five-clawed golden dragon, wearing a golden crown, but the sharp-eyed courtiers can still confirm that the figure is the emperor.

Wait for the ministers to shout in unison: "Long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor, long live, long live!" ”

The Emperor Taishang didn't seem to move at all, Li Zhongyan leaned his ears over, listened for a while, and said: "The Emperor Taishang dictated: All the Qing's families are exempt from courtesy, and they are flat!" ”

Empress Taishang and Li Chun also said flat, and everyone got up and sat down in order. Those with sharp eyes have already found that Empress Taishang's spirit is not very good this time, her eyes seem to have no focus, and her complexion is withered.

Everyone sat down, Li Chun led everyone to salute three glasses of wine to the Emperor Taishang, Li Zhongyan knelt down in front of the Emperor Taishang and listened for a while, and said: "The Emperor Taishang has been in poor health recently, and it is not suitable to drink, so he ordered the servants to drink on his behalf." ”

took the wine glass brought by the little eunuch and drank three glasses in a row.

At this time, Li Zhongyan said again: "The Emperor Taishang's edict: I am not in good health, and I can't accompany you for a long time, please take care of yourself, you must eat and drink well, and you don't have to be formal." ”

After that, because a few little eunuchs raised their shoulders, they went out of the apse again. Empress Taishang also got up at this time and confessed, and left first.

During the whole process of the Emperor's appearance, no one saw the Emperor's face, and no one heard the Emperor's voice. However, the Emperor Taishang can still sit there in a good manner, at least the rumors in the market are still self-defeating.

Subsequently, the ministers gave the emperor the title of "Emperor Ying Qianshengshou Taishang", and changed the name of the year to Yuanhe, and that year was the first year of Yuanhe.

After the emperor left, the dishes of the feast were served, but as soon as the dishes were served, some people frowned.

The first dish to come up was roast mutton, but this mutton didn't seem to be fresh, even if a lot of cinnamon, star anise pepper and other ingredients were added, you could still smell a distinct peculiar smell, and it didn't even seem to be roasted at all.

This is the first dish of the feast, and when such a situation occurs, Nian Yun immediately frowned.

Li Chun's face was not very good-looking, and he turned to Nianyun: "Concubine, who is in charge of the dishes for this big banquet?" ”

Xiao Meiyi, who was driving with her, was embarrassed at this time: "It's a concubine......"

Nian Yun hurriedly left the table and stopped in front of her first, "It's the concubine's fault, it's the concubine's poor preparation, so I ordered someone to replace it." ”

Without waiting for her to order, the green pothos had already ordered the palace people who passed the vegetables to immediately remove the mutton. This time, the palace people were very fast, and they immediately changed to a delicious steamed fish.

Li Chun's face turned slightly pale, he looked at Xiao Meiyi, then at Nianyun, and still reprimanded: "Concubine, Xiao Cairen is inexperienced, don't you have any experience?" I told you to teach her well, you have been organizing your father's birthday banquet for more than ten years, how can you still make such a low-level mistake? ”

Nianyun hurriedly knelt down: "It's all bad for concubines, please punish one concubine for your majesty." ”

Li Chun glanced at her: "Today is the Emperor's Thousand Autumn Festival, Xiao Cairen is a first-time offender, so he will not be punished." I will fine you three years' money, and use it to add a pot of good wine to Zhongqing to make amends, and in the future, you must not do it again. ”

Nian Yun hurriedly kowtowed: "Yes, Your Majesty has punished you, and the concubine bowed to thank the Holy Grace." ”

Rao is mutton that has changed its flavor has been withdrawn, and there is still an unpleasant smell intertwined with the smell of smell and ** in the hall, and Nianyun hurriedly ordered someone to light sandalwood in the hall.

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