The snow in the north comes and goes as fast as it comes, not as lingering as in the south, but overnight, it is already a white glass world, the wind blows very tightly, and there are still goose feather-like snowflakes falling outside the window, like butterflies fluttering towards the moon window, bumping between the panes, and flying to the other side, the days still pass without surprise, as if there is no change.

After Ziyu learned of my difficult situation, from time to time, she would send the eunuchs in Yonghe Palace to Jingren Palace to send some Qinggang charcoal to help me. Princess Rongshou and Concubine Yu are also openly and secretly helping.

I know very well that the world has always been "icing on the cake, but it is difficult to send charcoal in the snow", and only when you are in trouble can you see the sincerity of people, and I can't help but have a deeper friendship with them in my heart.

There are good and bad things in life, and whenever these things happen to be bumped into by Longyu, she will always use this to taunt me, and my embarrassment has become her greatest pleasure in these days. Although I hated it, the time was not yet ripe, so I had to endure it. Get up early every day to go to Ningshou Palace to ask for peace, Cixi sees my situation, and she always taunts in front of everyone: "Concubine Zhen is the most favored by the emperor, but if there is any good thing, the emperor must take care of Concubine Zhen first, I am afraid that there are many more good things in Jingren Palace than in Ningshou Palace." ”

I was naturally unhappy when I heard this, and my chest felt like it was blocked by a big rock, but there was no other way but to continue to endure.

In the thirtieth year of the Chinese New Year's Eve, the family banquet was set up in the Qianqing Palace, and the Wanshou sky lantern was opened early, which was lit every night in the wax moon, almost day and night, and the Wanshou Baolian was hung on the left and right behind the Wanshou sky lantern, and each Baolian was embroidered with gold silk on both sides. The longevity light is reflected on the golden characters embroidered by Baolian, and the glittering golden light emitted makes the originally dim palace particularly transparent, creating a strong joyful atmosphere for the coming of the New Year. Under the eaves, the Zhonghe Shaole is furnished, the Qianqing Gate is furnished with the Dan Majesty Dale, and the Jiaotai Palace is furnished under the eaves of the Zhonghe Shaole.

In the Qianqing Palace, the banquet table for each person is arranged according to a strict hierarchical order: the golden dragon banquet table is set up in front of the emperor's throne, on the ground on the left side, the banquet table of Cixi is placed in the east of the west seat, and the banquet table of the rest of the queens and concubines is arranged on the left and right, east and west, facing north, and the seats are Longyu, several concubines, Princess Rongshou, Ziyu and me.

At the time of the unitary, everyone entered the banquet, and Longyu led me and Ziyu to salute Zai Xiang and Cixi at the seat, and after the ceremony, they all sat down to eat. After a while, because the palace was lively, I first called a group of famous actors in the capital to come out and perform two miscellaneous plays at the front desk, one for "Joy in front of the Palace", and the other for "Qiao Baixi".

In the Qianqing Palace, the piano and the silk and bamboo are harmoniously rewarded, and the laughter and laughter of the harem concubines, around the beams endlessly, although the heavy snow outside gradually stops, but it falls between the heaven and the earth, the branches and leaves of the poplar trees seem to be silver, like a silver snake crawling on the tree, the sky is sluggish but blended into the fog, the banquet is more than half a tour, I see that the time is almost up, my eyes look at Zai Xiang lightly, after a while, Zai Xiang sighed lightly, drank a glass of wine by himself, but did not say anything.

Cixi was slightly drunk and turned her head to stare at Zai Xiang and asked, "In the thirtieth year of the Chinese New Year's Eve, what did the emperor lament and sigh?" ”

Zai Yan shook his head and said softly: "Back to Lafayette's words, it's nothing." ”

Cixi didn't know why, at this time, Princess Rongshou smiled and said: "Lafayette, the emperor must be tired of watching these dramas." ”

Cixi also nodded when she heard this, "No wonder the emperor sighs, these drama mourners also feel that they don't have much heart when they look at it, they are amazing at first glance, but they are also very boring after watching too much." ”

Zai Xiang drank another glass of wine, and did not say much.

Cixi suddenly asked: "This year's family banquet is organized by the Ministry of Internal Affairs?" ”

Li Lianying said with a smile: "I think it is Lord Rong Lurong who does it personally." ”

Cixi sighed lightly, leaned on the backrest, and said to Li Lianying: "Go, call Ronglu to the mourning family." ”

Li Lianying pondered for a moment, and then retreated.

Cixi tilted her body, Rong'er hurriedly added a goose feather brocade pillow to Cixi, Cixi's face was slightly better, and soon, Li Lianying led Ronglu up, Cixi added a sip of wine and asked, "You organized this banquet today?" ”

Rong Lu snorted, leaned over and said, "It's the slave who does it." ”

Cixi's face was stunned, and she slapped the table and said, "You really did it single-handedly?!" ”

Rong Lu saw that Cixi's face was ugly, and he knelt on the ground busily, "Yes...... It's a minion. ”

Cixi snorted, squinted her eyes, and sighed, "How much silver went into your own pocket in this scene?" ”

Rong Lu trembled and kowtowed, "Lafayette, the slave doesn't dare." ”

Cixi frowned slightly, stared at Rong Lu and said, "You don't dare? ”

Rong Lu's speech became more and more stumbling, "Today...... This...... All the horns at this banquet are famous horns in the capital...... Minion...... The minions really didn't dare. ”

Cixi sneered, "There are countless big and small banquets in the Qing Dynasty, which banquet is not invited to the famous characters in the capital?" ”

It is impossible for Rong Lu to be by Cixi's side for so long, and he still can't see that Cixi is not satisfied with the arrangement of this family banquet, raised his eyes slightly, kowtowed two heads in succession, and cried: "Slaves are guilty!" Slaves are guilty! Slaves are guilty of deception! ”

Zai Yan's expression was grim, and he hurriedly asked: "What is the 'crime of bullying the king'?" ”

Rong Lu's face turned purple with fright, "This family banquet is not all run by the slaves. ”

Zai Yan pretended to be puzzled and asked, "Oh? ”

Rong Lu said: "The slave has been doing a lot of things inside and outside the internal affairs house recently, and he really has no time to take care of this family banquet, so most of this family banquet is actually organized by Lord Yang Lishan Yang, and the slave just does the overall planning." ”

Zai Yan took a shot, "Bring Yang Lishan to me!" Only half a cup of tea, Fan Yonglu led the Minister of Internal Affairs Yang Lishan Yang into the Qianqing Palace, this Lord Yang looked very kind, dark skin, thick lips, a pair of small eyes, looking at everything around him firmly, his mind was clear and there were no distracting thoughts, and his honest and honest appearance was full of simplicity and unpretentiousness. ”

Yang Lishan replied: "It's a minion." ”

There was a hint of heat in the wine sliding through his throat, and he looked at the best scene of the Qianqing Palace today, and there was no lack of laughter in his heart.

Zai Yan stared at Yang Lishan and said: "It seems that Lafayette is really wrong today, Lord Rong, it turns out that most of the silver used to buy the family banquet is all in your pocket!" ”

Rong Lu sighed softly.

Yang Lishan immediately said in horror: "The slave is wronged!" ”

Cixi's eyes already contained a cold meaning, "If it weren't for this, how could this banquet be so boring today, do you think you can fool the mourning family and the emperor in this way?" ”

Yang Lishan hurriedly said: "Please also ask Lafayette to listen to the slave's explanation." ”

Cixi raised her eyebrows and said, "What else is there to explain!" He said sharply: "It must be the last time that I still hold a grudge!" ”

Yang Lishan kowtowed and said: "Lafayette Mingjian, how dare the minions, the minions had prepared an excellent thing but before it could be presented, Lafayette and the emperor were already furious," and said, "The slave also begged Lafayette and the emperor to give the minions a chance to see this thing, if they can't satisfy Lafayette and the emperor, it's not too late to dispose of the minions!" ”