The Job of an Imperial Concubine

The news that the emperor specially rewarded Concubine Zhao's mother's family quickly spread throughout the harem, and the concubines in the harem were envious and jealous, but they couldn't stand up to others, and they had means to win the emperor's heart. The emperor was willing to pamper her like this. It's just watching.

On New Year's Eve, the Zhuang family got the blessing word from the emperor again, and the mood of the people in the harem was so strange. It was just the slaves in the palace who treated Xihe and the palace more politely.

On the first day of the new year, the three masters of the harem were going to be worshiped by different people. Zhuang Luoyan canceled most of the activities because the movement in her belly was getting louder and louder. on, made an appearance.

The officials of various families thought they understood the embarrassment of the emperor. After all, the emperor had few children. Now the pregnant concubine Zhao was favored by the emperor, and the birth was not bad. It was inevitable that she would be more careful when she had a child. It was just waiting for the child to be born. Prince, the Zhuang clan will prosper in the future.

Zhuang Luoyan held a bowl of walnut peanut milk and drank it one mouthful after another. After drinking for a long time, she only drank half of the bowl. Looking at the snow that was getting bigger and bigger outside the window, she put down the bowl impatiently: "Bring the things go down."

Yun Xi, who was standing on the side, quickly picked up the bowl and handed it to a little maid, and carefully adjusted the cushion behind Zhuang Luoyan, "What's wrong with your mother?"

"It's okay." Zhuang Luoyan stood up slowly with her waist supported. The bigger the fetus in the womb, the more troubles she suffered. The fetal movement did not sleep well at night, and she couldn't sit or sleep for a long time during the day. Although her limbs were not swollen, occasionally Legs and feet cramped, it was so painful that I wanted to cry.

Recently, a lot of bone soup has been stewed in the kitchen to make up for it, which made her feel nauseous after drinking the soup. Today is the third day of the new year. What she feels is not the joy of the new year, but saying no out of irritability.

Yun Xi knew that women tend to get angry after having a child, so she carefully supported Zhuang Luoyan and said, "Madam, I heard that there are new jugglers in the palace, why don't you send them to the side hall for you to juggle?"

"Alright," Zhuang Luoyan nodded, suppressing the inexplicable irritability in her heart, and let Yun Xi make arrangements.

After a while, jugglers came in. These jugglers were all smart, they knew that Concubine Zhao was pregnant, they all wore weird clothes, and instead of performing thrilling things, they performed some interesting folk jokes.

Not long after the performance started, I saw Concubine Zhao being amused by them, so they performed more vigorously one by one. There are many singers, dancers and various entertainers in the Yuefu. It is a great blessing to be able to gain face in front of the master. These jugglers are originally despised crafts, and now they have Zhao Concubine Empress's eyes, still not elated?

Jugglers from the folk are always open and able to act, but they are more lively than those in the palace. Zhuang Luoyan was already in a good mood after watching a play, and said to the leader: "You guys are acting. Well done, think about more interesting things when you go back, and I will call you back next time."

The leader was overjoyed when he heard the words, knelt down with a bang, and kowtowed to thank him.

"Stop knocking, it's not easy for you," Zhuang Luoyan signaled these people to get up, and asked Yun Xi to reward them with silver snacks before saying, "I have seen many jugglers outside the palace in the early years, and they earn money with their lives. Yelling, the pain in it, we people can't understand it."

When several jugglers heard this, they were all so excited that they could not speak coherently. They felt that this Concubine Zhao was soft and kind, no wonder the emperor loved her so much.

"Your Majesty, the news just came that Concubine Shu's elder brother has been thrown into prison by the emperor," Ting Zhu hurried in at this time, a little out of breath, "At this moment, Concubine Shu is kneeling at the main entrance of Qianzheng Palace and begging to see the emperor. .”

"What?!" Zhuang Luoyan stood up and looked at Tingzhu in surprise. Concubine Shu only had one direct brother, the one who had impeached her own brother. How could the emperor put him in prison at this time. This is the third day of the Lunar New Year, and the court has not yet opened. How much mistake must this Mr. Su make to provoke the emperor to issue such an order?

When the jugglers heard Zhu's first sentence, they retreated in a hurry, so only Zhuang Luoyan was left in the side hall. She frowned and thought in a puzzled way, although the Su family has been in the past for nearly a year He became more arrogant, but not to the point of losing his sense of proportion. If the emperor moved the people of the banker, it was tantamount to slapping Concubine Shu in the face, and the layout of the harem was about to change.

"Is there any news from Qianzheng Palace?" Zhuang Luoyan slowly let go of her brows, "There is also Jingyang Palace, is there any movement?"

"This matter has been spread throughout the harem, but the emperor refused to see Concubine Shu, and there was no movement at the empress's place, but the slaves were watching. The servants in Jingyang Palace moved less in the palace today."

Hearing this, Zhuang Luoyan murmured: "Tell us people in the palace not to talk or walk around indiscriminately, but anyone who walks indiscriminately will be sent back to the palace."

"Your Majesty, don't worry, just now Fubao has given orders," Ting Zhu hesitated, and said, "But just now, my servant met the First Prince outside, and vaguely heard the First Prince mocking Concubine Shu."

Concubine Xian and Concubine Shu have never been on the same path. The First Prince was raised under Concubine Xian, so he must have been influenced by Concubine Xian, but now that the First Prince said something like this, whether someone provoked him or he couldn't hold back.

"He has nothing to do with us," Zhuang Luoyan sneered, "At this time, there are many people who are fishing in troubled waters."

Yun Xi and Ting Zhu's heart shuddered, Shen claimed yes.

On the fourth day of the first lunar month, Concubine Shu begged to see the emperor again, and knelt in front of Qianzheng Palace for two hours, but the emperor still did not see her.

On the fifth day of the first lunar month, Concubine Xuan begged to see the emperor again, and begged in Qianzheng Palace, but was still driven away by the emperor's order.

On the sixth day of the first lunar month, the Anqing Palace where Concubine Shu lived was guarded by the emperor. Concubine Shu was unable to leave the palace gate, but it was rumored that Concubine Shu was kneeling inside the gate of Anqing Palace, looking very embarrassed.

On the seventh day of the first lunar month, when the heavy snow had just stopped, all the concubines went to Jingyang Palace to pay their respects. The Su family's cousins ​​only came to Su Xiuyi, and the concubine Shu, who was crowned in the Sixth Palace, said she was ill.

Zhuang Luoyan sat on the carved chair, listening to the conversation of the concubines around her, she remained silent.

"I think Concubine Shu is not in a good mood right now," Concubine Yan smiled gloatingly, "I wonder if Su Xiuyi has visited Concubine Shu?"

"My concubine Yangui has not been locked up for a long time, why haven't I learned the rules yet?" Zhuang Luo frowned, and the tails of her beautiful eyes swept towards Concubine Yangui, smiling but with a bit of disdain, "It's not as good as my palace Please ask the empress for orders, and let me take care of you for a while?"

"You!" Concubine Yangui's complexion changed, but she was helpless with Zhuang Luoyan, she was no match for Zhuang Luoyan in terms of status and favor, not to mention she was punished for insulting Zhuang Luoyan. Now looking at the other party's aloof appearance, I feel depressed but dare not say a word.

"Concubine Zhao is right. You, a little noble concubine, are talking about the concubine's affairs. You really don't follow the etiquette." The queen took a sip of tea, "In that case, the crescent moon card is withdrawn as a punishment."

Zhuang Luoyan smiled and bowed her head to the Queen, "The Queen's Majesty has learned a lesson."

Seeing this scene, Su Xiuyi hated Yan Guifei, a slut who spoke harshly, and also hated that Zhuang Luoyan suppressed this matter, and finally took two deep breaths, but did not say a word.

The queen glanced at the women sitting below, and raised the teacup: "If it's still cold today, let's all go back."

One kind of people retreated out of the palace gate, and there were no concubines around Concubine Yan. She watched Zhuang Luoyan leave in a chariot with a livid face, and said coldly: "I just have a lump in my stomach." However, she especially rides in chariots, and everyone else rides in chariots, not even Concubine Xian is as ostentatious as her!"

Someone around heard it, and they were farther away. The little maid who was supporting her turned pale with fright. This chariot was bestowed by the emperor. Doesn't the master have a grudge against the emperor's decree by saying so?