Ever since Concubine Xian was reprimanded for the matter of the head palace maid De Chun, the emperor's favor had waned. Later on, the emperor no longer stepped into the harem.
She was unhappy because of this. Unexpectedly, there was an inexplicable rumor in the palace that she was about to be made empress.
This rumor was so convincing that even the officials of the Ceremony Directorate heard about it. Gradually, she began to believe half of it.
Coincidentally, one day, Concubine Xian felt stuffy and went out for a walk. She passed by the old Phoenix Cry Palace.
That place had been sealed off. The craftsmen were busy building a new palace behind the curtains. Exquisite treasures were sent in like flowing water. There was an endless stream of eunuchs and palace maids. The rare red gorilla felt was pulled in by large carts. For a moment, it was bustling with noise and excitement.
Concubine Xian looked at the endless carts transporting the red gorilla felt. She was a little confused and asked the palace maid beside her, "What is the emperor doing? Why is he spending so much high-quality cloth?"
What they didn't know was that the scarlet color was extremely rare. It was made by dyeing the cloth with the blood of orangutans. It was usually used by nobles to make cloaks and cloaks to wear on snowy days. It was rarely seen by ordinary people.
The color was very red. It was gorgeous but not demonic. High-quality red gorilla felt was very valuable. It was the same price as a veil.
Usually, it would only be taken out of the warehouse during winter. What was it used for in this spring weather?
The palace maid hurriedly knelt down and said, "This servant doesn't know. Does Concubine Xian want to ask the person in charge?"
A woman's voice was heard, "Sister, you don't know. This is used to lay the carpet."
Concubine Xian turned around and saw Ding Zhaorong with two palace maids. He waved a jade feather fan and leisurely walked over. When he got close, he ordered the servants to leave and affectionately held Concubine Xian's hand. He smiled and said, "This is high-quality gorilla felt. It's said that even the imperial concubine didn't use this material to make clothes. Now, it's used to pave the floor of the new palace. I don't know if it's enough.
The emperor said that if it's not enough, we can use the large woolen material to pave the inner palace. "
It should be known that this kind of cloth was usually used as a tribute from a small country. Eight or ten bolts a year was already a lot.
Concubine Xian had never seen such luxury. She sighed and said, "Even our ancestors have never seen this!
I wonder if living in such a palace will be a blessing! "
Ding Zhaorong said in a low voice, "Sister, do you really not know who this new palace is for?"
Concubine Xian hesitated and pointed in the direction of the Hall of Purity. "Could it be …"
Ding Zhaorong sighed and looked a little sad. "It's a pity that sister is so beautiful. Even if she becomes the Empress, she will only be suppressed by others!"
Concubine Xian was stunned and scolded, "Don't talk nonsense!
If those gossipers hear about it, neither of us will have a good ending! "
Ding Zhaorong was not angry. Instead, he laughed. He looked around and leaned forward to ask in a low voice, "Sister, are you really stupid?
Since the Emperor had already decided, he even ordered people to pick a date. He was just waiting for the auspicious day to be carried in through the main gate.
I'm the mother of the nation, yet I have to tolerate a boy who's not even thinking clearly. I'm actually willing to do so! "
Concubine Xian remained silent.
"Sister, think about it. Even if you become the Empress, you will only be in a distant corner of the Cold Palace. Who lives in the real Empress' palace?
I'm afraid that your title of Empress is only recorded in the history books!
Who in the palace doesn't know that the real Empress is the one in the Hall of Purity? "
Concubine Xian was still silent. Ding Zhaorong knew that she had changed her mind. He patted her hand with a smile and said in a low voice, "Come and find me when you've made up your mind. For you, sister, of course, I'm willing to do anything …"
Then she turned around lightly, her dress fluttering. She walked away leisurely in the spring light.
At night, there was a grand banquet in the Ripple Palace. Fireworks filled the sky, and the atmosphere was magnificent.
Concubine Xian's palace was not lively to begin with, and now it was even more desolate. Although the sound of fireworks was close to her ears, she was completely isolated from the liveliness.
Concubine Xian sat in front of the bed in a daze. She felt lonely and couldn't help but feel sad. She silently wiped her tears with a snow-white silk handkerchief.
Xiaoshu Ting App
Her personal palace maid knew what she was thinking. She leaned over and said in a low voice, "Niangniang, this servant asked around. They said that the banquet in the Ripple Palace just ended."
Concubine Xian was surprised and happy at the same time. Then she thought about it and became sad again. "Who knows if the Emperor is here or not?"
The palace maid said with tears in her eyes, "Whether he's here or not, we have to invite him to know."
"It's a pity that I …" Concubine Xian was halfway through her sentence when she heard Ding Zhaorong's words during the day. She felt a stab in her heart.
She was the daughter of a local official. It wasn't easy for her to climb to such a high position. She originally thought that she could hold her head high, but who knew that she would still be controlled by others. How could she be satisfied?
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but order the palace maid, "Go, ask someone to invite the Emperor!"
The palace maid agreed and left.
Concubine Xian's palace was about the time it took to burn a stick of incense to walk to the Ripple Palace. She was in a hurry to get there. She jogged all the way to the Ripple Palace's entrance. Looking around, she saw a bright yellow dragon carriage stopped at the entrance. Qianwandi was carrying a child wrapped in a snow fur coat and was about to step onto it.
The child was crying like a kitten, and his face was covered in tears.
Qianwandi was also a bit drunk. The alcohol rushed to his head. He used his palm to rudely wipe away his tears. His rough palm rubbed Mingde's face until it was blood-red.
The palace maid didn't dare to go forward directly. She could only secretly give the little eunuch outside some broken silver. She asked, "Where is the Emperor going?
Did he flip the sign tonight? "
The little eunuch weighed the silver in his hand and smiled. "In the past two or three years, when did elder sister see the Emperor flip the sign?"
"Then …"
The little eunuch looked at her clothes and understood. "Concubine Xian is from the palace, right?
Go back and tell Concubine Xian not to wait and to rest early.
The Emperor was so drunk that he couldn't see clearly. Fortunately, we left early. Didn't you see that little noble lady crying like this … "
After the palace maid went back, she angrily exaggerated the story to Concubine Xian and added a lot of unbearable details. When Concubine Xian heard it, her face turned red and white. For a long time, she couldn't say a word.
The palace maid took the opportunity to persuade her. "Concubine Xian, what Ding Zhaorong said during the day is right!"
"I am indignant!
The one in Qing Zhen Hall looks like that. It's fine. But how can Ding Zhaorong compare to me?
In addition to family background, in terms of status, in terms of imperial favor, in terms of appearance, she is so much worse than me!
Why does she have to teach me everything? She even has to teach me how to confer the title of Empress? "
The palace maid hurriedly pulled Concubine Xian. "Concubine Xian, be careful. The walls have ears!"
Concubine Xian was silent. Her face was extremely indignant.
The palace maid carefully looked at her face and whispered, "Concubine Xian, think about it. Now is not the time to be angry.
You have to secure the position of Empress first. The rest of the people can be slowly … After removing the one in Qing Zhen Hall, won't you be the best in the harem, Concubine Xian?
At that time, you don't have to be afraid of Ding Zhaorong! "
Concubine Xian sat there for a long time. The palace maid poured tea and fanned her. After a while, she said coldly, "Come in."
A few palace maids and nannies filed in from outside. "We're here!"
Concubine Xian stood up with a stiff face. "Prepare the carriage!
I'm going to see Ding Zhaorong! "