Upon hearing Queen Mother Cui's voice, the two of them fell silent and bowed respectfully.
Although the path is remote, the place where it can be detoured happens to be directly opposite the pavilion. Empress Dowager Cui was sitting in the middle, and several noble ladies were sitting on the left and right below.
Xie Hengwu took a quick look and found that they were basically the ladies he had met at the Yuanri Palace banquet, and they were not strangers either.
Seeing Xie Hengwu, all the girls also stood up and returned the courtesy.
"No need to be formal, please sit down."
Empress Dowager Cui said kindly, she was wearing black fox fur today, and her temperament was particularly graceful.
The girls thanked each other together, and Xie Hengwu took the seat closest to Empress Dowager Cui.
Seeing that everyone was gathered, Queen Mother Cui raised her hand and said, "Bring it up."
Several young eunuchs entered the pavilion holding a potted plant as high as one person. The plum tree in the potted plant was in full bloom in the cold weather, and the red petals were slightly golden near the stamens. Blossoms are dotted on the branches, as if the setting sun is sprinkling gold.
"What a delicate plum blossom!"
Cui Lujin had the closest relationship with Empress Dowager Cui, so she naturally complimented her first.
The other girls all agreed, making Queen Mother Cui smile all over her face.
"Okay, okay, don't flatter the Ai family. This is a phoenix that has been carefully cultivated in the flower house. It is a rare sight in a hundred years. You are very lucky to be able to see it today."
"It is the Queen Mother's numerous phoenixes and profound blessings that have allowed these century-old flowers to bloom. We are also blessed by her."
The speaker was the daughter of the Minister of Rites. She inherited her father's ability to write brilliantly and speak like a lotus flower. She spoke very eloquently, and she had a lot of success in the circle of noble ladies.
Mrs. Cui's smile deepened when she was told that. She waved her hand and said, "Okay, you guys should stop flattering the Ai family."
She looked at Xie Hengwu and said with a smile: "According to the Ai family, this year the Emperor's harem finally has a new member. This flower is also blooming. It means that our Jiang Dynasty will be more prosperous, doesn't it?"
Several eyes immediately fell on Xie Hengwu. Her heart skipped a beat and she bowed down in fear: "The Queen Mother is so flattering that I am too ashamed to deserve it."
Empress Dowager Cui's eyes flashed with amusement, and she rebuked half-truthfully: "What's the shame? As soon as you come, the phoenix dew will open. Isn't it destined to you? Just work hard and get ready as soon as possible. It is to spread the branches and leaves for the emperor."
Then he saw Xie Hengwu's face turn red, and replied in a low voice: "Thank you, Queen Mother, for your teaching. I will obey your decree with all my heart."
Empress Dowager Cui raised her hand: "Get up, don't keep bowing."
Cui Lujin lowered her eyes and thought for a while, then said for a moment: "Auntie, have you ever thought about where this phoenix hanging dew should be placed?"
"The people in the flower house said that this flower is too delicate to be planted in the plum garden. The Ai family is getting older, so they don't have to keep the precious flowers in their own palace."
"It's you..."
Empress Dowager Cui's eyes wandered over the faces of the girls and she said with a smile: "You are still young. At your age, you should be matched with some good flowers."
Except for Xie Hengwu, everyone’s eyes lit up.
If you can keep this rare flower in your own house, it will create a good reputation.
"The Ai family heard that you formed a poetry club?"
Cui Lujin pursed her lips and smiled: "It's just a joke at my daughter's house, it's nothing."
"No matter what, it doesn't matter. When the Ai family was in the temple, grandma often mentioned your poems. Isn't that famous line composed by Qiaoqiao?"
"Qiaoqiao" was the daughter of the Minister of Rites who spoke earlier. She smiled shyly and said softly: "The Queen Mother is teasing my daughter. A few rough sentences will only make you laugh."
"How can you be so generous? Even the gentlemen from the Hanlin Academy praise you for your talent, so don't be humble."
Another girl wearing a golden jade bustier smiled and nudged her. The bustier tassel swayed slightly and hit her temples.
The girls laughed together and ignored Xie Hengwu, intentionally or unintentionally. Xie Hengwu watched quietly from the side, looking very lonely.
This was not a topic she could get involved in.
As she expected, these noble ladies would secretly exclude her even if they didn't show their behavior clearly.
Xie Hengwu was indifferent to this scene, with a smile on her face, but in the eyes of others, it seemed that she was lonely but had to force a smile.
Queen Mother Cui saw that it was almost done and interrupted them in time.
"Okay, don't talk only about yourselves and leave others aside." She smiled, "Since we have formed a poetry club, you can write poems today, and the winner can take the Phoenix Chuilu back."
Cui Lujin looked at the other girls cryptically, and then looked at Xie Hengwu worriedly: "Aunt, I know that Xie Meiren is a master of the konghou, but I don't know if she is proficient in composing poetry. Why not... let's change to music and music, right?" "
Qiaoqiao was a little unhappy: "Sister Cui is very partial to taking such good care of Xie Meiren."
After saying that, her arm was lightly hit. Qiaoqiao snorted softly and said: "...Okay, let's change the music to music. It's not a difficult thing to do."
"It's just that pen and ink are easy to find, but those musical instruments are not easy to carry?"
Every move they made was to accommodate, but every move they made was forcing.
Although it is not difficult for Xie Hengwu, even if he really doesn't know poetry, he will be a little embarrassed at most, but it doesn't matter.
"Heng Wu, look..." Queen Mother Cui hesitated, her eyes falling on her.
Panic flashed in Xie Hengwu's eyes, and he whispered: "Ms. Cui, you're welcome, music and art are really troublesome, and I'm embarrassed to work you ladies, so why not... just compare poems as before."
Cui Lujin frowned and asked again: "Are you serious?"
Xie Hengwu nodded quickly.
"Go get some pen and ink. The Ai family also wants to see how far your poetic skills have improved."
All the girls agreed.
--
During the lingering fragrance of plum blossoms, I could only hear the rustling sound of the pen tip scratching across the paper.
Xie Hengwu didn't have a good rest last night. Although the fragrance of the phoenix dew was gentle, her head felt dizzy when she smelled it. She stared at the paper for a long time without thinking.
However, she had no intention of winning the first prize, so she simply let herself be in a daze.
Seeing the other girls' attentive looks, Xie Hengwu secretly felt funny.
She didn't want this so-called rare flower, Phoenix Dew, which had no practical benefit other than attracting attention.
Maybe attention is a good thing for them, but not for her.
Not only that, because it is a so-called century-old treasure, you have to take great pains to take care of it. If it is slightly wrong, it will be used to make a fuss, and any ominous name will be attached to it.
It can be described as thankless.
Although he didn't understand why Empress Dowager Cui would arrange such an incident, Xie Hengwu always felt that she would give him the plum tree in the end.
If that's the case... just write something casually.
Xie Hengwu stared down at the blank paper, his pen tip soaked in ink leaving a small halo of ink on the paper.
Because he was worried that whatever he wrote might be used by Empress Dowager Cui, Xie Hengwu simply didn't write anything.
If Queen Mother Cui dared to give it to herself like this, then it would be too deliberate.
Qiaoqiao was the first to start writing and the first to stop writing. She looked around and met Xie Hengwu's eyes.
Xie Hengwu didn't dislike her selfishly, so he smiled at her.
The beauty's smile was like clouds breaking through the moonlight, making everything around her look much darker. Qiaoqiao was startled, her face turned red for no reason, and she averted her eyes in a panic.
I didn't look carefully just now, but when I take a look at it, this beauty... is really beautiful...
Xie Hengwu took her reaction into his eyes and looked back with satisfaction.
She had just expressed her dissatisfaction with herself most obviously, and she was indeed a little girl with no thoughts. Compared to Cui Lujin, it's still a little worse.
As for the one with Jin Yubu Yao, he is probably the closest to Cui Lujin, and the other few haven't said anything much yet, so it's hard to tell.
The girls stopped writing one after another, and the nuns beside Queen Mother Cui came forward to put away the papers on which the poems were written one by one.
When it was Xie Hengwu's turn, Mammy paused obviously.
She first thought that Xie Hengwu had pressed the side with the poem down, so she turned the paper over. Unexpectedly, the other side was also completely white, with at most a few extra ink spots in the upper right corner.
Mammy looked confused and asked hesitantly: "Have you really finished writing the beauty? Why don't you think about it again...?"
Xie Hengwu shook his head and smiled calmly: "The other ladies have stopped writing. How can I continue writing alone? Wouldn't it be a violation of the rules? Take it away, mama. If I do this, I have finished writing."
Grandma frowned, took the blank paper from her in confusion, and handed it to Queen Mother Cui for restoration.
Mammy put Xie Hengwu's portion at the bottom. Xie Hengwu saw her little move clearly and didn't care.
Queen Mother Cui read it very quickly and made one or two comments at the same time. The decent smile on her face clearly paused on her lips when she saw the last picture.
Like Mammy, Queen Mother Cui also turned over the paper, but saw nothing.
Cui Lujin couldn't see clearly what was going on above her from her seat. She could only see that Queen Cui looked strange and remained silent for a long time. Then she asked, "Auntie, what good sentences did the beauty write to open my eyes?"
Empress Dowager Cui narrowed her phoenix eyes, and after a long time she slowly said, "Why don't you miss a word about beauty?"
All the girls were startled, either surprised or ridiculed, and several eyes looked at her again.
Cui Lujin covered her mouth and said in surprise: "How could it be? Didn't the beauty just say that she has some knowledge of poetry? Even if she is not very good at it, she should be able to write a thing or two."
The girl wearing a gold and jade robe answered and muttered: "Yes, since the Queen Mother issued the decree, I should write something. But... there is nothing, isn't it contempt for the Queen Mother?"
Her voice gradually became softer as Cui Lujin stared at her: "What nonsense are you talking about? How could the beauty despise my aunt? It must be that the beauty didn't understand it for a while. Just give the beauty some more time."
Queen Mother Cui's face gradually darkened as the two sang and harmonized.
Xie Hengwu waited patiently for them to finish their performance, and then heard Queen Mother Cui's slightly cold voice: "Hengwu, do you have something to say?"
Xie Hengwu stood up and bowed solemnly to Empress Dowager Cui. His soft voice was unhurried and said: "Replying to the Empress Dowager, I am not despising your empress. I really have nothing to say when I leave."
Queen Mother Cui raised her eyebrows: "Oh?"
"As the Queen Mother said, Feng Chui Lu is a rare flower that can only be seen in a hundred years. If such a strange flower is written in ordinary words, its brilliance may be stained."
"I know that my poetry is crude, so I didn't write it."
A noble lady chuckled: "The beauty is too careful. Even if she doesn't do well, the Queen Mother is kind-hearted, so how can she blame the beauty?"
Xie Hengwu ignored the sarcasm in her words and said warmly: "My lady is absolutely right, but even if the Queen Mother is so generous and doesn't mind, I feel guilty in my heart. Besides, such exotic flowers are more suitable for all ladies, so I won't show my shame." ”
She spoke so carefully that it was hard for people to say anything else, otherwise it would make them look aggressive.
Cui Lujin glanced at Queen Mother Cui, who lowered her eyes and didn't know what she was thinking.
After a while, she said: "Okay, please stop talking. Heng Wu, get up first. If you can't do it, you can't do it. The Ai family won't blame you."
Xie Hengwu thanked him softly and returned to his seat quickly.
This flower cannot be arranged to Shi Cui Palace.
Empress Dowager Cui felt regretful and casually named a noble lady, Qiao Qiao.
Qiaoqiao was overjoyed and thanked her repeatedly. The ladies around her congratulated her, but there was a hint of jealousy in their eyes.
Qiaoqiao didn't realize it, but she might be enjoying being envied and jealous by everyone.
Xie Hengwu sat quietly aside as before, lowering his eyes and caressing the delicate dark patterns woven with silver thread on his sleeves.
Her plain white fingertips traced the cuff pattern. She felt that the time was almost up, so she raised her head and saw Cui Lujin looking at her.
There seemed to be an invisible barrier between the bustle on the side and Cui Lujin. She also sat quietly, her eyes like a deep lake, and underneath her calm appearance was an abyss.
Xie Hengwu looked at her for a few seconds, then suddenly raised his lips with a provocative smile.
There seemed to be sparks where their eyes met.
