Before the night banquet started, Bao Zhu followed Qi Junce and the concubines to the palace gate to greet the Queen Mother who was out to worship the Buddha.
Baozhu was wearing heavy palace clothes, and the inner clothes had already been soaked in the sun. Standing a little unsteadily, Concubine Cheng moved to Baozhu's side at some point.
"Sister, if you bear with me, the Queen Mother's team will be here soon." Concubine Cheng explained warmly, thinking that Baozhu was impatient with waiting.
Baozhu smiled and nodded. This empress dowager was originally a concubine who was not very favored during the reign of the late emperor. She only gave birth to a good son, Qi Junce, and was hit by war.
It turned out that the late emperor's concubines and princes died and disappeared, but she suddenly became the noble queen mother.
It's just that Baozhu doesn't know much about this person. He only knows that he is a reclusive person.
"Sister Cheng Fei, what kind of person is this Queen Mother? You have a lot of seniority in the palace, you should know that, right?" Bao Zhu asked in a low voice.
Concubine Cheng looked around cautiously, and after making sure no one noticed them, she leaned close to Baozhu's ear and said, "The Queen Mother is the most lenient person, so don't worry."
Bao Zhu nodded, actually not really looking forward to such a person who has nothing to do with him.
The procession entered the palace in a mighty manner, with a soaring phoenix on top of the bright yellow sedan chair. There were more than a hundred people in the procession including the palace maids alone, and the scene was so huge.
Hey, this is not a place to worship the Buddha. The Buddha is so extravagant that even the Buddha dare not look at it. Baozhu thought silently.
Before the team had even finished entering, Qi Junce couldn't wait to greet them, and the concubines followed closely behind.
"My mother is in good health. My mother has been gone for more than half a year. I miss you so much." Before anyone got down, Qi Junce saluted the sedan chair and said.
The concubines bowed respectfully, and an aunt with gray temples helped the queen mother get out of the sedan chair. From Baozhu's perspective, she could only see a pair of shoes with a huge dongzhu on top.
"Okay, okay, everything is fine with the Ai family. Emperor, you have lost weight." The Queen Mother signaled the emperor to stand up so that Baozhu could loosen his sore waist.
In front of her was an elderly woman who looked exactly like what she had imagined. At first glance, Qi Junce's features were very similar to those of the Queen Mother.
Although the Queen Mother is old, her skin is still white and smooth, with a few wrinkles, which are harmless. When he smiled, the tail of his eyes looked like the tail of a koi fish, and he held a string of Buddhist beads in his hand.
"Everyone, please stop standing and go back to the palace. The sun is shining brightly." As soon as the Queen Mother said this, Bao Zhu breathed a sigh of relief. It's so hot to see you here as a loving mother and a filial son.
After everyone sat down in Shoukang Palace, Baozhu could take a sip of water and worry about when he could return to his Weiyang Palace.
The Queen Mother looked around with a smile, holding the Emperor's hand and never letting go.
"Queen," the Queen Mother turned to the Queen and said, "You have worked hard these days."
When the queen was called upon, she quickly stood up and said that this was what a minister should do.
Baozhu was wandering in his mind, but he could feel a gaze suddenly falling on him. Sure enough, the Queen Mother's voice suddenly sounded.
"You are the woman sent by the Mi Gen Kingdom. Are you a noble concubine now?" The Queen Mother's voice was a little colder than before, which gave Baozhu a sense of crisis.
Baozhu stood up respectfully and said, "Concubine, Mi Genguo Song family, pays homage to the Queen Mother. I wish the Queen Mother a long life, good health and good luck in everything."
Baozhu lowered his head obediently, but heard a cold snort coming from the seat.
"Everyone talks about the girl of Mi Gen. The prince of Li Kingdom. Jun Ce, this woman is really better than the previous imperial concubine." The Queen Mother said lightly.
Qi Junce was a little embarrassed. He didn't know why the Queen Mother mentioned the person who had made mistakes before, so he could only stand up and said: "Baozhu is well-behaved and serves his children very wholeheartedly..."
Before Qi Junce finished speaking, the Queen Mother interrupted him.
"Baozhu? The emperor shouted very affectionately. It seems that the Song family's favor is really extraordinary." The Queen Mother's words were somewhat hostile. Baozhu bit his lip, thinking about how to respond.
"Isn't that so?" Concubine Shu's voice suddenly sounded, "You don't know, Queen Mother, that no one in the palace knows how popular Concubine Song is."
The knees that had been bowed were already a little sore, and Baozhu felt a little unable to stand. But at this time, the silence suddenly came down, and Baozhu didn't know whether he should speak.
"Okay, get up." The Queen Mother's words made Baozhu breathe a sigh of relief, and she felt much better after standing up straight.
"Raise your head and let Aijia take a look." the Queen Mother said.
Baozhu took a deep breath and slowly raised his face. The Queen Mother's eyes met her, and those gleaming eyes made Baozhu feel uncomfortable all over.
The Queen Mother broke out into a smile and waved her hand to signal Baozhu to sit down again. Then he picked up the tea and took a calm sip. Baozhu's heart was a little pounding.
"Prince Mi Gen is so thoughtful that he is willing to give away such a beauty. No matter what, as long as you serve the emperor wholeheartedly and do your best for him, the Ai family will love you well." The Queen Mother's words seemed to relieve the embarrassment just now. , Baozhu naturally also knows how to observe words and emotions.
"Your Majesty will take the lead in all concubines, and they will definitely live up to the Queen Mother's instructions." Baozhu stood up and answered, and this period was finally over.
There were still two hours before the banquet started. The Queen Mother said she was tired, so the concubines slowly dispersed and went back to their respective palaces.
Back at Weiyang Palace, Bao Zhu grabbed the tea cup and drank it all. Hai Tang hurriedly said that your concubine should be slower.
Bao Zhu let out a long sigh of contentment and muttered that it was really tiring to welcome people. Then they called Yue Nu and the four of them into the palace, saying mysteriously that they had something to ask.
"We have been in the palace for more than a month. Do any of you know why the imperial concubine sent by Mi Gen Kingdom was deposed?" Baozhu asked seriously.
Haitang, Azi and Ayan were both a little frightened and didn't know why Baozhu suddenly asked this.
Yue Nu held up her face and said with some confusion: "Girl, didn't the master say it when we were in Mi Gen Country? He died of illness, not deposed."
Baozhu sighed helplessly and poked Yue Nu's head.
"Silly Moon Slave, if he died of illness, then why did the prince send another tribute girl in a hurry? And why did everyone in the palace avoid talking about it, and..."
Bao Zhu swallowed his saliva and continued: "Furthermore, she gave birth to three sons in a row, so she is considered a meritorious figure. But one of her children was given to a prince who made a mistake. This is really not normal."
Yue Nu frowned when she heard this, "The girl is right, it seems that the matter with the Imperial Concubine may not be that simple."
At this time, the youngest Ah Zi suddenly spoke in a low voice, "I heard... I just heard."
Baozhu leaned forward curiously, and also lowered his voice and said: "It doesn't matter, just tell me, we are all our own people here."
After being encouraged, Ah Zi spoke again: "I heard that the imperial concubine killed the emperor's heir, and even caused the death of two other concubines, so..."
Bao Zhu was shocked by A Zi's words, it turned out to be so. No wonder Qi Junce treated himself like this at the beginning. Those fears and concerns were all traceable.
"Then why was she still given the honor of being an imperial concubine after her death?" Haitang asked after hearing this.
"Because she is the link between Mi Gen and Li. Even if it is for the sake of face and diplomatic relations between the two countries, she will be given the honor after death." Ayan, who was silent, suddenly opened his mouth to explain.
Bao Zhu now understands everything in his heart, and it seems that he will have to be extra careful in his actions in the future.
At the night banquet, all the concubines tried their best to give gifts to please the Queen Mother. Especially Concubine Shu's jade sculpture of Guanyin, which is all green and has a green body. Baozhu couldn't help but exclaim in his heart.
He really spent a lot of money to please the old lady, and it was priceless at first glance. The Queen Mother's face wrinkled with laughter tonight, and she kept talking about it.
It was Baozhu's turn, and Baozhu devoutly presented the bracelet that had been consecrated by Dayin Temple in Migen Kingdom to the Queen Mother.
Legend has it that Dayin Temple in the Mi Gen Kingdom had three monks who attained enlightenment and ascended to heaven. Their golden bodies did not decay for a hundred years, so it was called one of the three holy temples in the Eastern Continent.
Not to mention a bracelet like this, even a little incense ash can be sold for ten gold. Therefore, it is very valuable and has a very good meaning.
Bao Zhu expected that this would be to the Queen Mother's liking, and sure enough, the Queen Mother couldn't put it down after holding it in her hands, and said it was good.
It seemed that the prejudice against Baozhu was lessened during the day. From the corner of his eye, Baozhu saw the unhappy look on Concubine Shu's face.
Halfway through the banquet, the Queen Mother looked around and noticed that someone was missing.
"Emperor, didn't you say that Liulang would come back?" the Queen Mother asked with concern.
Baozhu is chewing beef, Mukuro? Qi Jun made a move, it seemed that this was the King of Yangcheng he was talking about.
Only then did Qi Junce react, but then he put on a calm expression and said, "Mother, Liu Lang has always been a disorganized child. It's not like you don't know that."
The Queen Mother sighed and mumbled something that Baozhu didn't hear clearly.
Suddenly, a burst of white pigeons rushed in from outside the palace and headed straight for the Queen Mother Qi Junce. Ma Dong was so frightened that he screamed for help.
But the white pigeon did not rush towards them. Instead, as if it had been trained, it circled above Qi Junce and the others, and actually stayed in front of them all.
Baozhu looked at it curiously, and the white doves began to slowly change their formation, forming a big longevity sign.
Just as everyone was watching with curiosity, a clear voice sounded.
"My son is late. Does your mother still like this gift?"
Baozhu searched for the sound and saw a thin young man striding from the door. She is dressed in moon-white clothes with dark lines.
He did not put his hair into a high bun, but let his hair fall loosely and tied it in an awkward knot at the back of his head.
The cheeks are a little thin, perhaps because of running around, and the skin is like ears of wheat in late autumn.
The androgynous face, if applied with makeup, would look like a living beauty. Baozhu felt that the appearance of King Yangcheng was unexpectedly good-looking, so stunning.
King Yangcheng strode to the Queen Mother, saluted and said that he was late. Then with a wave of his hand, the group of white pigeons dispersed and flew out again.
"Sixth brother, you are late, but you will have to punish yourself with three drinks." The queen maintained her usual dignity and said with a smile.
King Yangcheng lowered his eyes and smiled, then ran to the Queen Mother's side, sat at the Queen Mother's feet like a child, and rested his head on the Queen Mother's knees.
The Queen Mother smiled from ear to ear and stroked his head, "That's natural. It's not like the Queen Mother doesn't know my drinking capacity." King Yangcheng replied.
These words made Qi Junce laugh, and the queen nodded in response.
Baozhu sat down, silently looking at the happy family in front of him.
"This Yangcheng King is really interesting." Baozhu said softly.
