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  Lan Xiang had been hearing people praise Hao Zhen for the past few days, saying how kind-hearted he was, how talented and how handsome. She felt conflicted in her heart, and listening to such words only made her feel annoyed.

  She ran to pour out her heart to Mingfei, but Mingfei furrowed her brow: "Who mentioned Haoran in front of you?"

  Lan Xing looked at Ming Fei's face and hesitantly covered it up, saying: "The daughter also doesn't remember very clearly, just that someone said so."

  Mingfei snorted: "You've really improved, using this kind of talk to deceive Mother?"

  Lan Xing smiled dryly a few times, seeing Ming Fei staring at her intently, knowing she couldn't avoid it anymore. She then pulled on Ming Fei's arm and coquettishly said: "Good mother, if daughter says something, you mustn't take it to heart."

  Ming Fei raised an eyebrow and said: "As soon as you finish this sentence, I know which one it is. What's the point of covering up?"

  The only thing that can make Lan Xiang so protective is the sachet of fragrant grass her mother gave her before she passed away.

  Lan Xing was stunned for a moment, lowered her head and twisted the handkerchief, saying: "It's what Xiang Cao said, but she absolutely didn't have any other thoughts!"

  Ming Fei poked Lan Xins forehead: "She has no mind, she was taken advantage of because of this lack of mind and didnt realize it. Do you really not understand why someone would keep bringing up Hao Zhengs goodness in front of you? Its because someone wants you to marry Hao Zheng so they can benefit themselves!"

  Lan Xing bit her lip and said: "That vanilla..."

  Ming Fei said faintly: "You just let people go ask her, where did she hear these words from."

  Lan Xing nodded slightly.

  According to Vanilla herself, this was said by a small eunuch named Luo Wanfang from the Imperial Guard, who claimed to have heard it from people in teahouses outside.

  But Luo Wanfang was still ownerless, and upon further investigation, it was discovered that a young eunuch named Xiao Wangzi from the Imperial Concubine Wei's palace had been spreading rumors. The name itself sounded quite talented, but this matter couldn't be used as evidence to punish others. Mingfei could only temporarily suppress the issue, but she severely punished Xiangcao by giving him ten slaps: "If you dare to spread such indecent words to the princess again, no matter who told you to do so, I'll get rid of you!"

  The Empress Dowager slapped Xiangcao, and Huifang finally knew that things had gone wrong. She immediately retreated and sent another letter to Xueru. As soon as Xueru saw Huang Zongxi, she became angry, and the mother-son duo was in a state of tension.

  Kangxi received the news one after another, and every day Mingfei accompanied the concubines to pay respects to Xiaozhuang. Xiaozhuang specially kept Mingfei behind each time, discussing with her the deeds of those people above, revealing their own character.

  Xiang Zhuang took a look at the paper and said to Ming Fei, "Nuo Mu Tu is a quiet child, looking at this, he doesn't say much in a day, I'm afraid he's not a person who will cause trouble. Zhi He is better, he seems filial to his mother and gentle with people around him."

  Mingfei took a look and smiled, saying: "Other maids don't dare to say it, but I think Nuo Mu Tu is more filial. When his mother was coughing and many medicines didn't work, he didn't say much but turned around and went to search for folk remedies everywhere. Later, he indeed found a useful one, and it seems like he got beaten up and suffered a lot. In my opinion, being filial depends on what you do in the end."

  Empress Xiaozhuang nodded slightly: "What the Imperial Consort said is reasonable. It's not just about what one says, but also about what one does."

  Lan Xiang sat quietly on the side, occasionally interjecting: "His kindness to those around him may not necessarily be a good thing. He has no clear distinction between respect and contempt in his heart. In the future, who knows if he'll become one of those men who dote on their concubines and abandon their wives!" It's safer to speak less, at most you'll just say fewer words, it won't cost you any flesh.

  Mingfei smiled lightly and said: "Really underestimated our Princess Lanxian, didn't expect to have such insight, come here, Mother wants to ask you a question."

  Lan Xing finished speaking and immediately regretted it, her face red with embarrassment, she wished to bury her head in her clothes. Seeing Ming Fei calling her, she had no choice but to sit down with a stiff upper lip.

  Mingfei pulled her hand, but said to Xiaozhuang beside her: "Which one does the old ancestor like?"

  Filial and Villainous both looked about the same at this moment.

  Mingfei smiled and then asked Lanyin, "I and the old ancestor both think that the two are about the same, but you can't possibly marry two of them. You say it yourself, which one do you want to marry?"

  Seeing Orchid Fragrance wanting to hide, Ming Fei pulled Orchid Fragrance's hand and said: "If you don't say anything today, what if we arrange a marriage for you with someone you don't like? The princess of the imperial family cannot divorce, once it is decided, there is no room for regret."

  Lan Xing didn't speak, and Ming Fei coughed and said: "Then it's settled with Qi He. I'll go tell your father now, let the emperor..."

  "Let's go!"

  The sound was like a burst from some dark place, bringing with it the joy and excitement of seeing light again, as well as a few threads of unknown fear trembling.

  Everyone was stunned, and it was Empress Dowager Ci Xi who reacted first, embracing Lan Yin in her arms and laughing loudly: "Poor Lan Yin, you've been bullied by your mother like this. Your mother doesn't care about you anymore, but Grandmother cares." Lan Yin's face turned bright red as she buried herself in Empress Dowager Ci Xi's arms, looking like she wouldn't lift her head again.

  Mingfei covered her mouth with a handkerchief and laughed: "Today I was finally able to play the role of a bad person for a while."

  Lan Xing herself said that the person she wanted to marry was not someone who would have much connection with her, because her conversation with Lan Xing was not fake. Empress Xiaozhuang's eyes were so bright, how could she not see it? As long as she didn't have a close relationship with her, then she wouldn't have a close relationship with the Tong family either, and this was exactly what she wanted.

  Lan Xing just married someone she wanted to marry, not someone others wanted her to marry.

  After the Dragon Boat Festival in the palace, it's time for the Imperial Consort's birthday banquet. However, the Imperial Consort doesn't plan to hold a grand celebration. Although some subordinates sent gifts, the Imperial Consort donated them all to the common people who were still suffering from disasters. This move has led to other noblewomen following suit.

  His Majesty, the Empress Dowager and the Grand Empress Dowager all bestowed heavy rewards to congratulate Imperial Consort Fang on her birthday.

  Mingfei had on her head a hairpin with golden threads and red gemstones, alongside a hairpin with green jade and coral, and a small amount of rose-petal rouge on her cheeks. Her ears were adorned with red jade earrings, and around her neck was a peacock-green jade necklace. She wore a gown with gold-embroidered buttons and peony flowers, over which she wore a cloak with cloud-patterns. On her wrists were coral bracelets.

  This attire exudes grandeur and elegance, with a subtle yet refined beauty. Her eyebrows and eyes are like a painting, shining brightly, outshining all the other imperial consorts and ladies-in-waiting.

  Mingyue followed closely behind He Shenli, looking through the crowd at her sister walking beside Xiaozhuang, and couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration in her heart. It was no wonder that such a person had won Kangxi's favor.

  She couldn't help but think that such a person would have a refreshing and elegant aura, but it might be too cold. Men might like women like that, but when it comes to daily life, they prefer more charming ones. Women like that can make men comfortable, she thought, looking down at her own figure, as long as she grasps the lower half of a man's body, she won't have trouble grasping his heart.

  Everyone crowded around Xiaozhuang and entered the second floor of Rufangzhai, where several Buddhist beds were arranged along the windows. In front of the beds were tables with various fruits, pastries, and snacks on them. Opening the carved window revealed a well-built theater stage opposite, offering a great view.

  Mingfei was attending to Xiaozhuang on the couch, and when she turned around to receive the tea brought by the palace maid, Xiaozhuang smiled and pulled her saying: "Today is your birthday, you don't have to attend to me, just sit and enjoy the play, relax."

  Minfei still handed the tea to Xiaozhuang, and sat down beside her, slowly fanning her with a silk fan. Behind Xiaozhuang, several elderly imperial consorts smiled and flattered Xiaozhuang and Minfei: "The noble consort is truly thoughtful and filial to the empress dowager, serving tea and fanning her, the empress dowager is indeed blessed."

  Several imperial consorts nearby also chimed in with some auspicious words, and Empress Xiaozhuang felt relieved in her heart. She patted Mingfei's hand and said: "I've always known that the noble consort is a good person, very filial to me, and manages the harem well too - magnanimous, kind, yet not lacking in propriety, truly an exemplary inner palace assistant to the Emperor!"

  Xiao Zhuang's words are too thought-provoking, how can it be heard that Ming Fei is being treated as an empress, and the noble consort is just a concubine, where does the word "virtuous wife" come from?

  The crowd fell silent for a moment, then burst out laughing again. However, the gaze towards Mingfei changed, and some of the noble ladies began to inquire about Mingyue, Minglan, and the two unmarried sons of the He family, Heshelie.

  Mingfei stood up with some trepidation and said: "I am also because of the old ancestor's favor and the emperor's love that I have today's status, really can't bear the old ancestor's praise, otherwise I would be ashamed."

  Xiao Zhuang glanced at Ming Fei a few times before smiling and saying: "If you don't want to accept this praise, then the old ancestor will take it back."

  Mingfei didn't understand what Xiaozhuang was going to do, but she still felt a sense of relief in her heart. Before Kangxi passed away, she never wanted to be the empress dowager. When she became the empress dowager, it would be the day when the Tong family collapsed. There had never been an imperial dowager from an outer clan who was powerful and strong-willed, as the emperor could not tolerate it.

  The palace maid brought the playbill over, and Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang and Mingfei both selected a few scenes. She also asked Mingfei's mother to select one scene, as well as other imperial consorts, but not many people actually made a selection.

  Before long, the actors on the stage began to sing in harmony.

  Minfei's seat was behind the price position, and Minfei turned her head to see that Yihuan was still there. She said to Peiyu beside her, "Go let Yihuan go down and rest, it's too noisy here." Minfei's voice was not loud or soft, and Hengzhuang and Fuchun on the side just heard it. She would naturally not be the one who did good deeds without leaving a name, she wanted to let the whole world know that she was very low-key.

  Pei Yu responded and then in a short while, Ming Fei saw Pei Yu return. When she turned her head to look back, all she saw was the receding figure of Yi Pin leaving, only then did she shift her thoughts elsewhere.

  That sister who came from across the border, Mingyue, was sitting quietly behind He Xiali, not like a local girl. The bangs in front were left thin, making her look a bit rustic by modern standards. Mingyue's bangs were thicker, and when she lowered her head, her facial expression couldn't be seen from the front. From Mingfei's angle, her originally round face looked a bit gaunt at this time, apparently due to weight loss. The cherry blossom-colored cheongsam on her body was obviously taken in at the waist, making her look more slender and elegant.

  A thirteen-year-old young lady, also a noblewoman, her skin was fair and delicate, it could be said that she passed the test. Mingfei couldn't tell if she had a personal space or not. After thinking for a moment, she ordered the servant to "go and invite Second Miss over."

  The bright moon was somewhat surprised that the imperial concubine had invited her over, as she had heard from others that the imperial concubine's relationship with her was not good when she was at home. She glanced at He Xiali, who furrowed her brow and whispered, "Go for a little while."

  The bright moon was low, she had forgotten everything, and even the etiquette and rules were not remembered. In her previous life, she was just a cashier in a supermarket, and everything she did in He Xier's eyes could only be described with two words: "coarse". He Xier despised her for losing face, so he invited a governess to teach her etiquette. If the governess wasn't tormenting her according to He Xier's intentions, being an ancient noble lady would really not be easy.

  Mingyue gave Mingfei a polite bow, and Mingfei looked her up and down again, smiling as she pulled Mingyue's hand to sit beside her. "I heard that sister hasn't been feeling well for some time," she asked, "are you better now?"

  The bright moon respectfully said: "In response to Your Highness's words, I have already recovered, thank you for remembering me."

  Ming Fei raised an eyebrow, respectfully almost stiffly?

  She had Pei Yu bring some pastries for Ming Yue to try: "Little sister, try some, this flavor is quite good."

  The bright moon thanks for the favor, take it and eat it.

  Mingfei carefully observed Mingyue's demeanor, she was following the rules, but this movement couldn't help but appear a bit stiff and awkward, still faintly revealing the original host's bearing. Seeing that Mingyue had many accessories on her head and hands, either precious stones or pure gold, Mingfei roughly guessed that Mingyue's previous life shouldn't be too noble, probably from the common people class.

  She smiled and said a few more interesting things, seeing Mingyue also following in laughter, but the smile never reached her eyes, and there was still a hint of vicissitudes in those eyes. Mingfei guessed that she had crossed over at an older age, at least after experiencing married life.

  Most mature women no longer yearn for love, so what is Mingyue seeking? Is it power and status or a lifetime of peace and stability?

  After watching a few plays, the crowd strolled and played in the Imperial Garden again. Amuru was careless and twisted her ankle, Mingfei had someone carry her back to her own Changchun Palace, and Mingyue volunteered to take care of Amuru.

  Mingfei had no reason to refute, so she smiled and agreed, also letting Peiyu and Zhixi follow, and invited the imperial physician to take a look at Amur.

  He didn't feel at ease either, and also had Ju Xiang follow them, to keep an eye on these two people, absolutely cannot let Ming Yue play any tricks.

  The author has something to say: After watching a giant python's horror, the plot is so stupid and absurd that it can't stand scrutiny, it really makes one speechless, in internet slang, it's just a piece of trashy writing.

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