"Has Concubine Zhao gone to change her clothes? Why haven't we seen her for so long?"
"What do you know? Look, apart from Concubine Shu, the protagonist of today, which other concubine would be so silly as to stay in the hall? The Furong Pavilion is so big. There are plenty of places to have fun!"
"Exactly. Look, aren't the concubines and noble ladies left in the hall all from the faction of Grand Tutor Wang or those close to his faction?"
"Then what about us? My husband is not that spineless. Every bone in his body is loyal to His Majesty!"
"Don't be so impatient. Who said that just because we're staying in the hall we're in cahoots with them? The sun is so scorching outside. I heard there will be acrobatic shows later. Why go out?"
"Who's impatient? It's just that the weather is so hot that I'm a bit irritable. You said, when will Concubine Zhao grace us with her presence? Will it be like this morning..."
"Are you trying to get yourself killed? Royal affairs are not something we can gossip about. If someone hears you, you'll be in trouble!"
This whispered conversation in the corner of the hall didn't attract anyone's attention. With the Queen Mother absent and Concubine Shu being gentle by nature, the hall was bustling.
Concubine Shu was playing leaf cards with some respectable princesses of the royal clan. She was very sophisticated, chatting and laughing merrily.
From time to time during the conversation, they could convey signals, and even a simple card deal could show their attitudes.
Don't think this is just a simple card game. There are many intricacies and it's very complicated.
If Concubine Shu hadn't come from a noble family and had the opportunity to serve the Queen Mother and receive guidance from the Queen Mother and Nanny Dou, she might have shown her timidity.
Fortunately, these princesses of the royal clan didn't deliberately try to make things difficult for Concubine Shu. So, after a game of leaf cards, both sides were quite satisfied.
But for these shrewd princesses, they were only satisfied with the card game.
As for other things, there was nothing.
As the sun gradually set, more and more people gathered in the main hall.
After all, the birthday dinner of the Great Yan Dynasty was the highlight.
Ling Shan and Yu Shiwei, who had been the topic of discussion, rowed their small boat towards the pavilion in the middle of Mingyue Lake and then into the depths of the lotus flowers.
All they could see were the bright pink petals in full bloom, and some had even formed lotus seeds.
After mooring the boat, Ling Shan took the bunch of lotus flowers that Yu Shiwei had picked herself, then got out of the boat shed and sat on the edge of the boat with Yu Shiwei, propping their hands on the boat board.
After sitting for a while, they looked at each other and then, in tacit understanding, took off their shoes and socks and put their feet into the cool lake water.
From time to time, they played with the water, picked lotus pods, peeled the lotus seeds and ate them. Occasionally, they could also see groups of small fish in the lake.
The whole afternoon was extremely pleasant, and they even felt a bit reluctant to leave when it was time to return.
As expected, by the time Ling Shan arrived, the Queen Mother was already there.
Yu Shiwei had gone ahead and was waiting in the hall. In full view of everyone, Ling Shan appeared in front of everyone after redressing her makeup.
The Queen Mother's face darkened.
Even Concubine Shu's face stiffened for a long time. Who couldn't tell that this was intentional?
But since the Queen Mother didn't scold her, others naturally wouldn't try to draw attention to themselves.
After another round of banter, veiled mockery and confrontation like this morning, Ling Shan sat in the right seat.
As if she didn't know there was anything wrong with what she had done, she even raised her glass and smiled at Concubine Shu, whose lips were stiff.
It seemed like she was showing off. With her eyes curved, her charming face was extremely dazzling.
Concubine Shu gritted her teeth so hard that she almost broke them before she managed to suppress the surging anger.
She was waiting.
Today was her birthday. Even if His Majesty didn't like her and hated the Queen Mother, he should at least give her and the Ning family some face, right?
Concubine Shu thought that His Majesty might bestow gifts later or even come in person...
Just thinking about His Majesty's extremely handsome face coming in person to support her made Concubine Shu's cheeks flush.
Especially her eyes, which sparkled with a shy light.
Just as she was thinking, Liang Jiusi appeared at the door of the hall with his entourage.
A look of surprise flashed across Concubine Shu's shy face, and her fingers unconsciously tightened the soft brocade handkerchief.
"This old servant pays respects to the Queen Mother, to Concubine Shu and wishes Concubine Zhao good health."
The Queen Mother glanced at Liang Jiusi, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw Concubine Shu's shy face. An inexplicable sense of unease welled up in her heart.
That ungrateful Jun Wuyuan was so stingy that he didn't even want to spend a single silver coin. How could he be so kind as to come and save face at this time?
"Get up. Does His Majesty have any important instructions for you?"
Liang Jiusi got up, quickly curled the corner of his lips, and replied in a way that made the Queen Mother's heart sink:
"Replying to the Queen Mother, this old servant is here by His Majesty's oral order. His Majesty is busy with state affairs in the court and has no time to spare. By chance, he remembered that today is Concubine Shu's birthday, so he specially bestows a dish of pickled fish to congratulate Concubine Shu on her birthday."
As soon as he finished speaking, the whole hall fell into an awkward silence.
The Queen Mother's eyelids twitched, and a flash of anger crossed her eyes.
Concubine Shu's shy peach - blossom - like face instantly lost its color and turned paler and paler.
It was Ling Shan who immediately understood the deep meaning behind Jun Wuyuan's act.
She curved her lips, and a short but obvious laugh escaped from her naturally red lips. It was not difficult to hear the mockery in it.
If Jun Wuyuan's gift was like a sharp blade stabbing into Concubine Shu's heart, then Ling Shan's mockery was a humiliating follow - up blow.
The kind that kills without shedding blood.
"This humble concubine... this humble concubine thanks His Majesty for his gift!"
Concubine Shu forced a smile through gritted teeth and thanked His Majesty in a somewhat decent manner.
When the imperial pickled fish was really brought in front of her, Concubine Shu's eyes welled up with emotions. She bit her lip so hard that she tasted blood before she could suppress the humiliation that welled up in her throat.
Your Majesty, what does this mean?
Pickled fish!
Pickled fish?
Hahaha.
Your Majesty, is he saying that she is very redundant?
She was, after all, a noble lady from a famous family who entered the palace and was nominally His Majesty's concubine. How could he...
Concubine Shu's eyes were filled with a hint of red from hatred, and she was extremely vicious.
But Liang Jiusi stabbed another knife into Concubine Shu's heart.
"Concubine Zhao, His Majesty is very busy with state affairs. He is worried that you won't have an appetite for dinner, so he specially bestows a dish of 'Hundreds of Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix'. He specifically told this old servant that he must watch you eat it before going back to report."
Whoosh—
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the hall couldn't help but gasp.
What does it mean to support someone's face?
This is what it means to be a favored concubine!
Although everyone in the hall knew that Concubine Zhao was highly favored, they never expected that the emperor would be so considerate.
He even remembered her meals. The contrast was so strong. How could it be simply summarized by the word "favored"?
It seemed that he really held her in the palm of his hand...