Compared with Noble Consort Shu who was haughty by dint of the Emperor's pampering, Consort Shu, whom Sheng Weiqiao had once met in the Buye Tower, was more obedient.
Consort Shu sat straightly with her head slightly down. She put her hands on her knees and sometimes patted Emperor Xuanjing's hand holding her waist, motioning him to behave himself.
Consort Shu wore a veil last time when Sheng Weiqiao saw her. Therefore, it was also the first time that Sheng Weiqiao had seen her appearance. Though she and Noble Consort Shu were half-blooded sisters, they did not look like each other.
Consort Shu had dusky arched eyebrows and the almond-shaped eyes of a phoenix. With snow-like skin and peachy cheeks, she had a beautiful appearance. She did a peach makeup with blood-red lips and a begonia-patterned sticker between her eyebrows. Her cheeks were slightly red by the blush, and her hair was neatly braided.
In the middle of her bun, there
Rong Shuihe did not know what had happened those days. Therefore, seeing Sheng Weiqiao's gesture, Rong Shuihe rubbed his chin and muttered to himself, "Well, does sweetie mean that she wants me to send the jade hairpins early? If I send them late, she will give me hell?"He felt that they did have a mutual affinity. If not considering Senior Master Sheng's attitude, he would have looked all around to find Sheng Weiqiao as soon as he had arrived!Rong Shuihe did not know his imminent tragedy at all. He almost pulled through the following things including the return of Gongsun Yingjiang and Meng Shuangliao who were taken back by the Empress's servants, the arrival of Emperor Xuanjing and Shu Sisters, the greeting between those courtiers and the Royal Family led by the Empress Dowager, the courtiers' blessing to the Royal Family, the opening of the banquet, and the usual pleasantries at the beginning of the banquet... Finally, after several rounds of drinking,
Rong Shuihe slit his eyes. He looked up to see the two men, one tall and one short, stand nearby. The tall one seemed to be nigh on eighteen. He was in red, wearing a gold belt and a white jade coronet carved with the cloud. His face was familiar, and his clear complexion, which was typical of the privileged nobles, somehow reddened.He waddled towards them as he fiddled with his hand fan, and wine was smelt on his breath. Obviously, he was drunk.While the short one was near thirteen. His features resembled those of Princess Qingfang, and despite his effort to assume maturity, he manifested some kind of naivety. He was dressed in the uniform of a Marquis' Young Lord and on his neck was a silver torque to which a longevity lock was attached. He tugged the sleeve of the man in red, beckoning him not to cross the line.However, he didn't look friendly as he rested his eyes on Rong Shuihe. Precisely, his expression was a mixture of aloofnes
Empress Dowager Meng was now chatting with Consort Dowager Mo in the side hall.They had a squabble before several juniors just now, but privately, they weren't on bad terms. More precisely, they could never sever ties with each other. They were both the consorts of the Deceased Emperor who lived until now and was privileged because of a son whose family kept stirring up troubles... Honestly, they never trusted each other, and they would never come to a reconciliation.But they were the only ones who could understand each other.Therefore, they squabbled with each other, and they vied with each other, but they also talked intimately with each other when there was a truce.The Empress Dowager ridiculed Consort Dowager Mo, "See? I did give you an opportunity, but your daughter-in-law doesn't want your grandson to see you! Your incompetence shall take the blame, but not me!"Consort Dowager Mo said without looking
When Empress Dowager Meng heard that the Empress had come over, she was slightly stunned. It was not until Chi Zuosi threw her a meaningful glance that she understood it was Chi Zuosi who had sent someone over to inform the Empress."Bijun will sooner or later move to Xin Shou Palace. Since both the Emperor and I are getting old, it's essential to let her observe beside us as we deal with some matters. Just in case someday when we pass away, she's the only one to be in charge of such a big imperial harem. It may be awkward if she doesn't know how to deal with such matters." The Empress Dowager thought and frowned, saying, "It's enough that she just came alone. Why did she take a bunch of people with her, Kangzhao and Jiaxiang in particular...? This is actually thoughtless."Actually, Empress Meng was Empress Dowager Meng's niece and daughter-in-law. Though somewhat dissatisfied with her, Empress Dowager Meng still considered her feelings, saying immediately
In fact, Empress Meng and others stared at the fan Sheng Weiqiao held, saying, "Kangzhao, should I speak up for Prince Mizhen later? Anyway, they're on Gaomi King's side. Whoever prevails on this matter will be the same for our Meng Family."The reason why Empress Meng asked was that Rong Shuihe had grown up in the Sheng Family for several years no matter what he had gotten along with Sheng Weiqiao. Though she was forced not to stay so close to him now as the Sheng Family needed to stay away from the disputes of the imperial court, how could years of obsession disappear so quickly?However, before Sheng Weiqiao came here today, she was eager to see Rong Shuihe was in trouble. First impression was strongest. She thought that he was on a blind date with one of the Zhao Sisters. Now as she heard that it was on the date that he encountered the uncle and nephew of the Yuan Family and got provoked, she sneered immediately, "He's a frequent liar. Though he said wi
Rong Shuihe had already set his mind, so he directly walked to Princess Gaomi's side, pulled her sleeves and said, "Your Grace, it's not a big deal. Yuan Liujin just lost his temper after getting drunk. He was uncontrolled. Since you have already punished him, let's just forget it. Today is such a happy day. We can't spoil it because of such a thing."Princess Gaomi was originally very angry. When she heard that, she looked at him seriously. Confirming that he did not suffer losses and that he refused to pursue it, she said with a gentle expression, "You are so generous, so I will agree with you."But when she faced the boys from the Yuan Family, she suddenly changed a severe attitude with a cold face, "If you bully my son again, I will definitely punish you!"Yuan Liujin was helpless and forced to smile. He stopped Yuan Kai trying to help him. Princess Gaomi explicitly biased Rong Shuihe, so Yuan Kai might have no good consequences if he tried
Gaomi King thought this order was already benevolent because his son had been living outside for many years.In fact, Yuan Liujin was beaten to the point of vomiting blood. Yuan Kai was even punched and kicked by a manservant in front of the Zhao Sisters and other servants. Now, Gaomi King only wanted his son to expel his servant after simply punishment.After all, it was Yuan Liujin who provoked Rong Shuihe first. Gaomi King did care about his own son. So he thought that could be forgiven.But as the eldest son of royal Princess and Marquis, Yuan Kai was formally conferred as Young Lord of Huai Yuan Marquis. Now, he was bullied by a manservant. If this manservant got no punishment, Gaomi King would even be dissatisfied with the grievance of his grandson, not to mention the Yuan Liuguang couple cared about their son.After hearing that, Rong Shuihe sneered and stared at him coldly for a while. He said, "Xi has been with me since he
With eight branches of river running through the area, Shanglin Palace was blessed with abundant water and vegetation.However, all the branches paled in comparison with Chunbo Lake, which covered the broadest area among the whole waterscape.Unlike its name, Chunbo Lake was far vaster and far more majestic than a regular lake. One wouldn't be able to see the other side concealed behind the misty air without sharp eyesight.The wind from above the waves felt humid. The blank expanse of the water and the gulls and the reeds scattering in the view composed a vivid picturesque scene."I'd rather call it sea!" In fact, even the nobles who toured in Shanglin Palace had no access to the region on the fringe of the lake where the national navy encamped if Emperor Xuanjing didn't give them permission.Therefore, it was also the first time for Empress Meng and her nieces to spot the expanse of Chunbo Lake. Despite her concern o