On August 15, the 19th year of Yonghe, on the viewing platform, Cui Guifei, who had disappeared from everyone's sight for a year, finally returned. She was wearing a tender yellow palace dress, with her head looking at the fairy nine hairpins, except for the regular hairpin on the left side with a second-grade hairpin, and only a crystal clear jade hairpin on the right side. Such a simple dress really surprised the concubines.

Directly opposite Cui Guifei, sat Dong Guifei, who had also been grounded for a year. Dong Guifei was dressed in a red palace dress of the concubine, with her head holding her temples, a second-grade hairpin on the right side, two emerald bead flowers in the middle of the hairpin, and a tassel made of ruby pendant on the left side. The whole person is dressed up gorgeous and noble, and between the gestures, he shows the grace that he should have as a concubine.

When the moon passed half a day, Dong Guifei picked up the glass cup and paid tribute to Cui Guifei. Cui Guifei smiled and drank all the wine in her cup.

A year ago, they were both losers. A year later, they were both winners. At this time, sitting on the platform again, the two of them actually felt a trace of pity for each other.

Concubine Liang sat in the seat where Concubine Dong Guifei was in charge, although she had a smile on her face, she was extremely unhappy in her heart.

When the queen was there, the concubines in the harem were the highest in the harem except for the queen. thought that after helping Empress Dowager Cui bring down Queen Wang, even if she was not sealed, she would get the real power of the six palaces. But she didn't want to, after Empress Dowager Cui used her, she threw her aside, but supported Cui Guifei and Dong Guifei together. With this mentality, how could she be able to eat and appreciate the moon?

Concubine Hui sat at the bottom of Cui Guifei, and she was the most interested in sitting among the concubines. The eighth prince has already left the palace to build a mansion and get married, and even the child is one year old. The second princess even got a good marriage, and she just waited for the wedding to take place. She herself is in the position of a noble concubine, and she is less than the lower but more than the lower. In the bloody harem, she can be said to be the one who walks the most smoothly and laughs the most.

Therefore, she was in a happy mood and frequently toasted with the Empress Dowager Cui, and the words were continuous, which made the Empress Dowager Cui smile.

Halfway through the palace banquet, Li Chenyang, the king of Xiang, said that he was drunk and left the table. Princess Xiang got up and wanted to leave with King Xiang, but was glared back by King Xiang.

Concubine Liang saw that King Xiang was very drunk, so Emperor He Yonghe asked King Xiang to go back to his palace to sober up, and then leave the palace with Princess Xiang after the palace banquet.

The concubines spoke again, the wind rose, Empress Dowager Cui smiled at the old age, and said to Emperor Yonghe and the concubines, "You are slowly happy, and the mourning family is lacking." ”

As soon as Empress Dowager Cui left the table, the concubines present all put their minds on Emperor Yonghe, just to find out who the next queen was, and they could stand on the opposite side.

It stands to reason that Cui Guifei is the niece and granddaughter of Empress Dowager Cui, and she has suffered great grievances in this incident, so there is no doubt that she will be named the queen. But Cui Guifei is still young, and she has no heirs under her knees......

As noble as Cui Guifei's identity is Dong Guifei, and Dong Guifei also has King Ping under her knees. But the crown prince is still there, if Emperor Yonghe establishes Dong Guifei as the queen, then the crown prince will ......

Until the end of the palace banquet, Emperor Yonghe did not reveal the slightest tone. Cui Guifei and Dong Guifei frequently raised their glasses to each other, just like other concubines.

When Empress Dowager Cui returned to Yongshou Palace, it was already three o'clock, she removed her makeup and cleaned her face, and after she was crooked on the bed, Lingxi served a bowl of warm goat's milk.

After the Empress Dowager Cui finished drinking, she stretched her brows and exhaled a long breath, "Peace......

Mama An chuckled and rubbed the legs of the Empress Dowager Cui, and said, "The Empress Dowager can be stable for a few days." ”

Empress Dowager Cui squinted her eyes and exhaled a few breaths gently, "Ling'er, the mourning family supported Concubine Dong together, do you understand?" ”

Lingxi took the bowl handed over by the Empress Dowager Cui, knelt down and kowtowed to the Empress Dowager Cui, "The slave understands!" ”

Empress Dowager Cui supported Dong Guifei because in the entire harem, only Dong Guifei had the ability to contain Cui Guifei, just like when Queen Wang was still there, Empress Dowager Cui used two concubines to contain Queen Wang.

This is the way of checks and balances in the harem.

Emperor Yonghe did not seal the queen, but ordered Cui Guifei and Dong Guifei to jointly assist in the harem. Dong Guifei was originally introverted and didn't like to come out, so naturally she let Cui Guifei do everything. But I didn't think that Cui Guifei would be like a different person since she came back, and she respected Dong Guifei in everything. The two of them have a discussion, and those who don't know really think that there is a deep sisterhood between them.

Emperor Yonghe was happy, only when his backyard was peaceful, he had more thoughts to manage the affairs of the court.

The harem was peaceful, and Empress Dowager Cui watered the flowers in the Yongshou Palace every day, pruned and pruned the branches, and rarely went out of the palace to go around.

King Rui has not entered the harem for half a year to greet the Empress Dowager Cui, and during the Mid-Autumn Festival, Lingxi glanced at Li Chenfeng from a distance, and saw that he came alone, and did not bring Princess Rui.

The child in Guan Qiao'er's womb had a miscarriage when she was four months old, although there is no evidence that this matter was done by Princess Rui Ge Yuhe, but the discerning people are clear in their hearts.

One afternoon, Empress Dowager Cui suddenly came to be interested in writing, and Lingxi waited on the side to grind. Lingxi's hands have fed birds, made tea, rubbed shoulders, and pinched legs, but he has never touched ink or held a pen.

Empress Dowager Cui saw that Lingxi's grinding technique was unfamiliar, and said to Mama An with a sense of understanding, "Ling'er didn't learn the rules in the Internal Service Bureau. ”

Mama An smiled, "Exactly, Ling'er was sent in by Uncle Guo's mansion." I didn't learn the rules in the palace......"

Empress Dowager Cui took the brush and muttered for a while, and said, "Illiteracy must not be successful, although a woman is virtuous if she is not talented, but this knowledge is also very important to women." ”

Lingxi was silent. There is a big difference between the writing of the Great Shun Dynasty and traditional Chinese characters, and she has been troubled by this, but there is no way out. If Empress Dowager Cui can allow her to learn calligraphy, of course it would be great.

The three masters and servants were talking, Zhiqiu came in to reply, and King Rui came to say goodbye.

Empress Dowager Cui put down the pen in her hand, and a kind smile appeared in the corner of her eyes, "Hurry up and invite King Rui in." ”

Lingxi went out to invite King Rui after blessing Empress Dowager Cui, and Mama An served Empress Dowager Cui to sit down on the low kang in the inner hall.

In an instant, Lingxi led King Rui into the inner hall.

After Li Chenfeng, the king of wisdom, greeted the Empress Dowager Cui, he sat down opposite the Empress Dowager Cui.

I haven't seen him for a few months, and Rui Wang's temperament has become more and more calm, although his lips are still always with a gentle smile as before, but it gives people a different feeling.

Zhiqiu came in and went out again after serving tea.

After taking a sip of tea, King Rui said to Empress Dowager Cui with a smile, "The imperial grandmother has a smile in the corner of her eyes, there must be something happy about it, let's listen to Feng'er, and let Feng'er be happy." ”

Empress Dowager Cui replied with a smile, "Naturally, Feng'er came to see the mourning family, and the mourning family was happy." As he spoke, he instructed Lingxi, "Go and prepare some sweet pastries." ”

Ling Xifu retreated, and when she came back with Zhixue with four kinds of pastries, Empress Dowager Cui and King Rui were already laughing, and Mama An was standing aside with a smile in the corner of her eyes.

Lingxi served the pastries in large quantities and went down with Zhixue.

Empress Dowager Cui pointed to the honey cake with candied fruit as the filling and said to King Rui, "Taste the wind, see if it's still not the taste you like." ”

Rui Wang took the wet handkerchief handed over by Mama An and cleaned his hands, then pinched a piece and took a bite gently. After chewing it carefully for a while, he swallowed it, pulled out a bright smile and said to Empress Dowager Cui, "This honey cake is still so fragrant, so sweet, and it tastes the same as what Feng'er ate when she was a child." ”

Empress Dowager Cui was happy to see King Rui eating happily, and after sighing, she said to King Rui, "The food in the palace is not very good, but after all, you are used to snacks, what kind of person, what kind of food, this is all determined by birth." ”

Rui Wang threw the remaining half of the honey cake in his hand into his mouth, and after swallowing it, he pursed his lips and replied with a smile, "I'm not a child anymore, I feel a little tight after two more bites." ”

Empress Dowager Cui's smile was fixed on her face, and she didn't know what she was thinking.

King Rui raised his eyebrows and glanced at Empress Dowager Cui, but did not speak. After eating a cup of tea, he said slowly, "Imperial grandmother, if Feng'er doesn't change her taste, can you eat the sweetest piece?" ”

Empress Dowager Cui chuckled in her heart and put away the smile on her face. With his eyes closed, he leaned on the kang pillow behind him, and after his chest rose a few times, he said to Rui Wang, "The mourning family is old......

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Outside the Changle Palace, Lingxi was wrestling with Concubine Liang.

Since the queen was abolished, after Cui Guifei returned to the palace, Concubine Liang came to Yongshou Palace from time to time to sit. Empress Dowager Cui doesn't like Concubine Liang, so naturally she won't be courteous. But Concubine Liang didn't seem to be able to see the thoughts of Empress Dowager Cui, so she still came every three or two days.

Empress Dowager Cui had a headache about this. When she was in a good mood, she was allowed to sit in the hall, and when she was not good, she let Lingxi send her away.

King Rui is here today, and Empress Dowager Cui naturally will not meet Concubine Liang. Therefore, Lingxi did not go to the inner hall to report, but directly replied to Concubine Liang, who was standing on the cloister and wearing a light green cloak, "Concubine Liangniang, King Rui came to ask for peace today, and it is inconvenient for the Queen Mother to meet Concubine Liangniang." ”

Concubine Liang was not dissatisfied in the slightest after hearing this, but asked with a smile, "When did Prince Rui come?" ”.！

Lingxi replied respectfully, "I've been here for a while. ”

Concubine Liang nodded slightly, the aqua blue tassel swayed lightly, and said, "Then I will leave in a while." This palace came to see the Queen Mother today to discuss important matters, so let's wait. ”

Lingxi heard Concubine Liang say that there was something to discuss, so he didn't dare to send it away, and said to Concubine Liang after Fu Yifu, "Concubine Liang, please wait a moment, and the slave will report it again." ”

Concubine Liang nodded, and said to Lingxi gently, "Then trouble Ling'er girl." ”

Lingxi just wanted to turn around and enter the Changle Palace, but saw that King Rui had already walked out of the Changle Palace. Although there was still a faint smile on his face, he could feel the chill emanating from his body.

When King Rui saw Concubine Liang, he arched his hand at Concubine Liang and spoke. Concubine Liang has been in the palace for many years, and she also knows the character of King Rui. After greeting King Rui, he smiled at Lingxi and said, "Then the palace will go in." ”

As he spoke, he raised his feet and entered the Changle Palace.