For three consecutive days, there was continuous autumn rain.
The gloomy sky seemed to have been cut with a knife, and heavy rain poured down on the world. The cold water vapor, accompanied by the cool wind, penetrated into the hall along the gaps in the doors and windows.
Shen Dingzhu has a delicate body and cannot be kept warm or cold. She has been a little haggard since no one has been taking care of her these days.
Someone outside came regularly to bring her meals. Every time Shen Dingzhu wanted to ask about Grandma Song's injury, the guards outside the door were like stone men, silent.
She finally knew that Xiao Langyan wanted to trap her in this quiet and lonely place.
This was the punishment he gave her.
Recently, Xiao Langyan issued an order in the court to postpone the day of ancestor worship. He said that the road to the mountain to worship ancestors was not easy due to the continuous heavy rain.
There are smart ministers in the court who have learned the news that the emperor and Concubine Shen had a conflict. I am afraid that it is for this reason that the emperor has no intention of worshiping his ancestors, so he postponed it.
For a while, there were all kinds of speculations.
But no matter what, if Concubine Shen falls out of favor, it will be a good thing for many families who want to send their daughters to the palace.
Without Shen Dingzhu, Xiao Langyan devoted all his energy to government affairs. The ministers all felt that the emperor was in a bad mood recently, and his methods of handling government affairs were often more cruel and ruthless.
When everyone went to court cautiously, they were all afraid of causing trouble for the emperor.
It was at this time that Xiao Langyan agreed to the request of the Ministry of Rites.
As early as the second year after he ascended the throne, the Ministry of Rites continued to advise, hoping that the emperor would fill the harem and spread its branches as soon as possible.
This was also a way for emperors to stabilize their power.
But Xiao Langyan was not a womanizer. When he was the prince, there was only one concubine in the mansion, Shen Dingzhu. When he became the emperor, he symbolically accepted several concubines from important family backgrounds, but he never entered the harem. .
It wasn't until Shen Dingzhu was brought back to the palace that he seemed to have "lust" again.
Shen Dingzhu has been neglected recently, so the Ministry of Rites found an opportunity and continued to submit memorials, suggesting that the emperor consider continuing to have concubines and appointing a queen.
Xiao Langyan did not refuse as harshly as before this time. Instead, he calmly threw the fold to Xu Shou and ordered: "Take it to Concubine Cui De and ask her to hold a chrysanthemum appreciation banquet. According to the list drawn up by the Ministry of Etiquette, invite ladies from various families. Enter the palace and admire the chrysanthemums."
Xu Shou accepted the order and asked a lot: "Will the emperor also attend?"
Xiao Langyan raised his thin eyes and gave him a cold look.
Xu Shou was caught by his gaze, and a cold sweat broke out on his back: "I'm talking too much, I'm going to do it now."
He secretly cursed himself for being confused. Since the emperor is willing to choose a lady who pleases him as his concubine, of course he must attend! Xu Shou subconsciously thought that Xiao Langyan was still the same as before, and would refuse anything for Shen Dingzhu.
"Wait." Xiao Langyan stopped him.
Xu Shou turned around and said, "The Emperor has other orders?"
Xiao Langyan pursed his thin lips into a thin line and tightened his jaw.
He turned his head and looked through the half-open window, past the layers of dense rain, at the distant corner of Yaoguang Palace.
"Have all the people in her palace settled down?"
Xu Shou naturally knew who this "she" was. Concubine Shen's name was now like a ban. The emperor himself would not mention it, let alone others.
Xu Shou lowered his head and said hurriedly: "According to the emperor's instructions, we separated them and arranged for them to go to various departments in the palace. There were also dedicated people to watch over them, but Nanny Song didn't wake up. Doctor Cen said her condition was not optimistic. When I rolled down the steps, I kowtowed."
Xiao Langyan withdrew his gaze: "Ms. Song is an old man in the palace. It would be a pity to die. Let the hospital take care of her."
Xu Shou lowered his head: "Yes."
…
Shen Dingzhu was lying on the table, with her black hair disheveled. The floor and the table were covered with calligraphy she had practiced, and there were countless sheets of paper.
A beauty is like a puppet that has lost half its soul, staring blankly at its own words on the paper.
At this time, someone seemed to be talking loudly outside the door, distantly.
"What's the use of being favored again? I'm afraid I never imagined that I would fall so miserably! I heard that the emperor has prepared to send the princess to the queen's knees to raise her as soon as the queen enters the palace. Some people, like bamboo baskets, All is lost, it’s really a turn of events, it’s ridiculous, you deserve it!”
Shen Dingzhu listened numbly, but tears fell from his eyes, soaking the paper completely.
She could tell that it was Du Jieyu's voice.
When she was favored before, Du Jieyu claimed to be ill and hid far away. Now that she was imprisoned in Yaoguang Palace, Du Jieyu miraculously recovered from her illness.
The sounds from outside kept coming, and no one stopped Du Jieyu from taunting her. As long as she didn't get close to Yaoguang Palace, the imperial army would naturally leave her alone.
At this moment, a fierce female voice shouted: "This is close to the emperor's bedroom, Du Jieyu is yelling here, how unbecoming it is!"
Du Jieyu, who was covered in thorns, looked back and saw Concubine Cui De coming with the palace attendants. She had a serious look on her face and was wearing a luxurious dress that looked like a bird in front of her. She really had the power of a high-ranking empress.
Du Jieyu knew that Cui Lianfu was now highly valued by Xiao Langyan. She curled her lips and said: "I am leaving now. I am just bored in the palace, so I came here to shout and talk casually, so as not to waste time." I also felt depressed."
Concubine Cui De looked sternly: "You just recovered from illness, and you were here to enjoy the breeze. Then you feel unwell again, and the emperor also doesn't allow you to go out. Isn't it even more depressing?"
Thinking of Xiao Langyan's methods of rectifying herself, Du Jieyu's expression changed and she looked panicked.
Concubine Cui De raised her voice again and said at a level that Shen Dingzhu could hear: "The emperor only banned Concubine Shen. Even the palace servants of the empress did not criticize her harshly and arranged for her to serve in various departments. Therefore, I advise you not to do so." Being too arrogant will save you from getting reprimanded someday, and you don’t know how.”
Du Jieyu didn't dare to talk back and walked away dejectedly.
Shen Dingzhu heard Cui Lianfu's words, and her wet eyes revealed a hint of relief. She made Xiao Langyan angry, but fortunately he did not take his anger out on Shen Bi and the others.
Cui Lianfu glanced at the closed palace door, sighed and left.
"Your Majesty, Concubine Shen is out of favor now. Even Du Jieyu has run away. Guiren Tong and Guiren Zhang in the palace are also trying to please Eunuch Xu who is beside the emperor every day. Everyone is trying hard to win favor. Why are you standing still?" Cui The maid next to Lian Fu was confused.
The thin autumn rain hit the paper umbrella, making a crisp crackling sound.
The oncoming wind carried water vapor, blowing the hem of Cui Lianfu's skirt, and she looked forward with determination.
"I don't want to fight at this time because I know what I want."
"It's also because I don't believe that Concubine Shen has fallen out of favor like this. The emperor may be angry with her, but we are outsiders and don't know why they quarreled."
"If it is true that the emperor completely dislikes Concubine Shen, as the rumors in the palace say, then why did he just ground her, but did not deprive her of the title, nor put her in the cold palace? It can be seen that the emperor just wants Concubine Shen to bow her head. Believe it or not, Concubine Shen only needs to show weakness If you give in, she will definitely regain favor.”
"We'll see if she's willing." At this point, Cui Lianfu breathed out slowly and clenched her fists.
She has an excellent family background and talent. When she first entered the palace, she really fantasized about living a life of pampering and pampering. After all, what woman wouldn't be tempted by an emperor who was so handsome and young?
Unfortunately, after experiencing several setbacks and Xiao Langyan personally eradicating her desire for favor, Cui Lianfu saw that with Shen Dingzhu around, it was impossible for Xiao Langyan to care about other people.
Shen Dingzhu is like the most dazzling hibiscus blooming in the flower garden. People who enter the garden look at her at first sight, and after looking at her, they are reluctant to look at other flowers.
So Cui Lianfu is no longer chasing the position of beloved concubine. What she wants to do is to be the one with the highest position in the palace!
Thinking of this, Cui Lianfu straightened her back, her true emotions blocked by the water curtain under the paper umbrella. When she returned to her palace, she called the palace maid to arrange seats for the chrysanthemum viewing banquet.
Soon, the day of the chrysanthemum viewing banquet arrived. Although the weather was gloomy, it could not stop the enthusiasm of the ladies.
Cui Lianfu followed the list of the Ministry of Etiquette and invited sixteen high-ranking ladies to the palace to admire the chrysanthemums. They all refused. They must have heard that Concubine Shen had fallen out of favor and it was a good time to enter the palace, so they all dressed up beautifully. Beautiful and ostentatious, each has its own characteristics.
At first, everyone could still laugh and talk to each other, but when Xiao Langyan appeared, all the ladies suddenly fell silent, lowered their heads one by one, and half of their faces turned red in embarrassment.
Xiao Langyan was wearing a black gold dragon robe. Under the jade crown, there was a cold and handsome face, but the thin eyes under the sword eyebrows were like a calm ocean.
He glanced at the whole palace of warblers and swallows. Although they didn't speak, he felt the noise in advance and frowned coldly.
"Sit down." Xiao Langyan said calmly after taking his seat on the dragon chair, and then Concubine Cui De thanked the other ladies and sat down.
The chrysanthemum appreciation banquet was in the main hall, where many varieties of rare chrysanthemums were placed, and there were all kinds of them. The ladies were allowed to write poems first, and then they drank wine with each other.
After a meal, several harp girls came forward with their guqin in their arms and played it against the rain. Amidst the gentle sound of silk and bamboo, Sun Qingya stood up and walked to Xiao Langyan's royal table, wanting to propose a toast to him.
The ladies all opened their eyes in surprise and secretly observed her with bated breath.
This Sun Qingya is so brave, she dares to propose a toast to the emperor, and Concubine Cui De is still here!
When everyone looked at Cui Lianfu, they saw that her expression was dull and there was only a faint smile on her lips.
"Your Majesty, today is the chrysanthemum viewing banquet. Qingya would like to borrow a glass of wine. Thank you for allowing Qingya to see so many rare flowers and chrysanthemums."
She was indeed bold, because she had met Xiao Langyan several times in advance, and there were already rumors in the court that Xiao Langyan wanted her to be the queen. Therefore, she thought that she was different from the ladies here.
So I dared to stand up and toast.
Xiao Langyan didn't have any special expression, but just when he held the wine cup with his big palm, a gust of autumn wind blew from behind Sun Qingya.
He suddenly smelled a familiar fragrance.
Xiao Langyan frowned: "What kind of incense do you smoke?"
Sun Qingya was startled. She saw Xiao Langyan's expression changing unpredictably, like the dark clouds outside the palace.
She lowered her head and smelled her sleeves, feeling a little suspicious: "The elegant incense is an ordinary spice, I don't know its name."
