On the day of the emperor's eldest son, Zhaoyang, he ordered a banquet to be held in the Zijin Palace, inviting all rooms of the harem and princes and nobles.

The tent in the palace dances the dragon, and the curtain flies the colorful phoenix; The golden light is radiant, and the jewelry is shining; The incense of the lily is burned, the stamen of the periwinkle is inserted in the bottle, the cigarette smoke is swirling, the flowers are colorful, and it is lively and prosperous.

All the concubines present were dressed in red and green, and they were extremely beautiful, competing for Bo Yulin's favor.

The queen is dignified and beautiful, calm and luxurious, and the concubine is plump and fit, bright and proud; Shun concubine Shuyi leisurely, calm and calm; The good concubine has shy eyes, gentle and elegant, Yi Concubine is delicate and bright, innocent, Li Concubine is graceful and graceful, Chu Chu is moving, the jade concubine is red and delicate, the language is smiling, the face of the concubine is like a hibiscus, ice muscle and jade bones, in addition, you are always there, promised, or win with posture, or win with demeanor, each has its own touching place. Warblers and swallows, full of fragrant wind.

Lu Yuan looked around, and her heart was wonderful, she didn't have any outstanding dress today, her clothes were a fine brocade of clouds and geese with blue water, extremely cold light green, like dew dyed, and the style was also the simplest. The comb is a cloud bun, there are a few beads in the hair, one step shakes, the painting is Yuanshan Dai, and the makeup is also light, which is good and hateful.

However, in today's flowers, clothes and temples, the simpler it is, the more it can move people's hearts.

Sure enough, Yu Lin's gaze swept over everyone, stayed on her, and said with a smile: "Yuanyuan's dress today is fresh and refined, which makes people feel very refreshed when they see it." ”

Lu Yuan bowed with a smile and said, "The emperor praised it falsely, the concubine is just lazy." ”

The jade concubine next to her spent a morning decorating carefully, thinking that she would be glamorous today, but she didn't want the emperor to pay attention to her at all, and just praised the Ying concubine sitting next to her, her heart was sour, and she cast a jealous look at Lu Yuan, Lu Yuan just didn't know.

Yu Lin turned to Concubine Zhen again, and said with concern: "Concubine Zhen has just been pregnant, and she can't drink alcohol, so bring the prepared milk tea." Concubine Zhen nodded and smiled at the emperor.

After the feast, the delicacies are accompanied by light songs and dances, and they are very lively. Yu Lin was in a good mood at first, but after a few songs and dances, he felt that there was no new idea, and he was happy.

The queen observed the words and looked at the looks, and waited for the opportunity to say: "There are so many dances in the music room, no wonder the emperor feels tasteless, and the concubines and concubines lined up a dance, although the dance is not good, but it is very new, I don't know if the emperor wants to see it?" ”

Without commenting on it, the queen gestured to Yuqiu with her eyes, and Yuqiu walked quickly to the door of the hall and slapped her face a few times. Everyone's eyes were attracted and they looked out of the hall.

A woman walked in from outside the hall, slender and slender, with light steps. What is surprising is that this woman is not wearing silk and satin, but a thorn cloth skirt, with only some plain colors on it, and a straw hat woven of cattail grass on her head, and a thin veil hanging from the brim, so shadowy that you can't see the face inside. The woman also carried a small basket with a few fresh mulberry branches hanging from green leaves.

She walked slowly to the front of the temple and danced, singing a soft tune as she went.

"The name of the beautiful woman is not sorrowful, and she picks the head of Nanmo. Sleepy to the waterside, should go to the palace tour. Store leaf green silk cage, climb a purple cinnamon hook. When the envoys asked, the five horses were also delayed. ”

Although the woman's singing voice is not very beautiful, her voice is clear and clear, and she sings in a low voice, which makes people very comfortable to listen to. The dancing is not unusual, but it is natural and graceful, and it is also pleasing to the eye.

Yu Lin was stunned for a while. Some of the concubines present were disdainful, some sat like pins and needles, and some were jealous. The queen on the side had a soft smile on her lips and watched silently.

After a dance, the woman Ying Ying bowed, Yu Lin stood up, walked down the throne, walked to the front of the temple, stretched out his hand to pull it up, and asked with a smile, "Who are you?" ”

The woman gently lifted the veil, revealing a delicate face, with muscles like white snow, waist like bundles, teeth like shellfish, a little powder, and a shy smile.

"You're... Ann promised? Yu Lin asked hesitantly.

An Lingyue curtsied again, and her voice was like a swallow: "It is the concubine, the emperor can remember the concubine, it is the blessing of the concubine." ”

Yu Lin continued: "Your singing and dancing are very good, tell me, what song did you sing and dance just now?" ”

An Lingyue smiled and said: "The concubine just sang "Mo Shang Sang", and danced the mulberry picking dance, which is the dance danced by folk women when they pick mulberry leaves in the field to feed silkworms. Because before the concubines entered the palace, they often followed their aunts to pick mulberry leaves and feed silkworms to spin, so they made up this dance, hoping that the emperor would like it. ”

Yu Lin sighed for a while, and said: "I vaguely remember that once I went to Bixiu Palace and saw a woman spinning yarn on the porch, which was very interesting, I thought about summoning it the next day, but I forgot it for a while because I was busy with government affairs, and I thought it would be you." ”

An Lingyue lowered her eyebrows and said respectfully: "It's the concubine, the concubine is just idle and bored to pass the time, so that the emperor can laugh." ”

Yu Lin laughed heartily and said: "I thought that my harem was full of brocade clothes and jade food, and I was pampered, but I didn't expect that there would be a woman like you, and your cloth dress really made my eyes shine." Your position was sealed when you first entered the palace, and it should be promoted as soon as you are promoted, and you will be named Chang Presence, your name is Ling Yue, so take the word Yue as the title. ”

As soon as the words fell, the jade concubine on the table stood up and said loudly: "Your Majesty, An promised not to go to bed yet, how can she be promoted?" ”

Yu Lin looked displeased, and said: "I can promote whoever I want to be promoted, can you still talk about it!" ”

Concubine Yu hurriedly lowered her head and said, "The concubine doesn't dare." ”

Seeing An Lingyue standing dumbfounded, the queen said with a smile: "What are you doing standing stupidly, don't thank you quickly." ”

An Lingyue came to her senses, and hurriedly knelt down to thank her, and the other concubines also stood up and said together: "Congratulations to Yue Chang." ”

An Lingyue returned the gift to the concubines, and Yu Lin pulled her into the table.

After the singing, dancing and feasting, the head of the Internal Affairs Office, Cao, walked up to the palace with a few little eunuchs, and busily prepared for the Zhou ceremony.

Grasping Zhou, also called "trial child", is a ritual in the popular baby first birthday ceremony of the big banquet folk, and later the court also imitated the folk, becoming a very important ritual held when the child is one year old to predict the future and temperament.

In front of the palace, there is a big case, on which there are seals, Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism and scriptures, pens, ink, paper, inkstones, abacus, coins, account books, jewelry, flowers, rouge, food, toys and so on.

The queen motioned to the nurse to bring the little prince Zhaoyang, who wore a bright yellow dragon cloud pattern Shu brocade cardigan robe, and wore a beautifully embroidered and lifelike tiger head hat.

The nurse put Zhao Yang on the big case, Zhao Yang sat motionless at first, probably afraid of the unfamiliar environment around him, and after a while he slowly became familiar with it, and began to babble and crawl around.

The queen and Yu Qiu teased on the side of the big case, and Zhao Yang found the objects on the table, and one turned around and crawled towards the target.

Yu Lin and the queen watched expectantly, and Zhao Yang crawled up to the large pile of things, grabbed a string of pearl necklaces and played with them in his hand, giggling as he played.

Yu Lin's face changed suddenly, his eyes were full of gloom, he glanced at the queen fiercely, and walked away angrily.

The queen couldn't hide the disappointment and panic on her face, and hurriedly stepped forward to snatch the necklace in Zhao Yang's hand, but Zhao Yang just didn't let go, and between the snatches, the chain was broken, and the crystal round pearls were scattered all over the ground, Zhao Yang was so frightened that he cried, and Yuqiu hurriedly signaled the nurse to take him away.

The sudden situation overwhelmed the concubines in the hall, and they all sat on their seats in a daze, neither staying nor leaving, and the atmosphere was very embarrassing.

Concubine Zhen showed a smug smile on her bright face, and there was a look of disdain hidden in her eyes, she took the milk tea in front of her and drank it all, and left the hall first, and the other concubines also left the table one after another and quietly left the hall.

The queen was pale, and staggered out of the Purple Gold Palace, the nurse held Zhaoyang, and Yuqiu and others followed behind.

Lu Yuan was a little unbearable, stepped forward, curtsied, and said: "Niangniang, catching Zhou is just a game to imitate the folks, if you judge the character and future of a child based on this alone, it is hasty and even ridiculous." The status of the little prince is noble, since he was a child, there will be a master to teach him to read, and his aunts will teach the rules, and he will definitely become a dragon and phoenix among people in the future, so today's affairs, Niangniang don't have to take it to heart. ”

The queen barely showed a smile on her face, and said, "What Concubine Ying said is right, this palace didn't take it to heart, you don't have to worry too much." ”

The queen and her party left in a hurry, and An Lingyue finally came out of the Purple Gold Palace, looked around, lowered her head and quietly followed the queen.

Concubine Yu approached and said with a smile: "My sister is often the closest to Sister Ying Concubine on weekdays, why did she climb the high branch of the queen today?" ”

Lu Yuan silently glanced at An Lingyue's distant back, only smiled slightly, and did not speak, and left with Shun Concubine, Yi Concubine and others, Yu Concubine was bored, and stomped her feet behind and said: "Knowing people, knowing faces, but not hearts, Sister Ying Concubine will have to polish her eyes in the future." After speaking, he went back to Bixiu Palace hatefully.

When the queen returned to Kunyi Palace, she was so angry that she rushed to reprimand the nurse, and the nurse Jin Niang didn't dare to distinguish half a sentence even if she had all kinds of grievances in her heart. Yuqiu, An Lingyue and others persuaded each other with kind words for a long time before the queen calmed down and calmed down.

She glanced at An Lingyue and said in a deep voice: "Today, you finally got face in front of the emperor, and our plan is considered a success." ”

An Lingyue bowed her knees and said respectfully: "The concubine thanks the queen for her support, and she will do her best to serve the queen in the future." ”

The queen seemed to be a little tired, and said lightly: "Go back to the palace quickly, the emperor just sealed your permanent position today, and you will be buried tonight, so go back and prepare quickly." ”

An Lingyue knelt down again and saluted, before leaving Kunyi Palace and returning to her Bixiu Palace.