The Empress Dowager didn't say much, just asking a few questions like "Is the Emperor well?" and "Is the Crown Prince well?" The Empress smiled and replied that everything was fine. The Empress Dowager nodded slightly and said: "The six palaces are in harmony, it can be seen that the Empress is managing properly, I am very relieved."
The queen hastily said: "Your Majesty's praise is misplaced, I dare not take credit."
The empress dowager turned her eyes and said, "Two months ago, a dozen new concubines were selected to enter the palace. I haven't seen them yet." After a pause, she ordered, "All of you come forward."
Lin Wan expected that the Empress Dowager would summon the new imperial consort, although she did not interfere with palace affairs, but there were so many people in the palace, and what kind of people they were, the Empress Dowager still needed to understand some.
Lin Yan walked forward with the crowd, her eyes still fixed on the crimson gold embroidered carpet under her feet. She didn't want to make any eye-catching moves; Bai Liangdi, who was standing at the front, was dressed in a complex and dazzling outfit that caught everyone's attention.
The empress swept her eyes over Bai Xiuyi, but didn't say a word. She then turned to the back row and scrutinized each person one by one, finally fixing her gaze on Jia Gui Ren beside Lin Yuan.
Jiā Guì rén jīnrì chuān zhe yuè bái sè de ruǎn jǐn gōng zhuāng, fà jì zhǐ yòng shù dài gāo gāo wǎn qǐ, lián zān zi dōu wèi yòng.
Translation:
The noble lady is wearing a moon-white soft brocade palace attire today, her hair bun is only tied up high with a ribbon, not even using hairpins.
Lin Yan hooked her lips, Jia Gui Ren Zhou Shi, has always been a person with constant careful thoughts.
But I don't know if such small thoughts can really achieve their purpose?
The empress dowager looked at her twice and said: "At the age of 16 or 17, is this dress too plain?"
Jiaguiren raised her eyes in surprise, looking at the Empress Dowager. She was certain that the Empress Dowager had just spoken to her. The Empress Dowager was known for being aloof and never spoke to ordinary consorts.
Today is the first time I've met Her Majesty, and she actually noticed me? It seems that this outfit wasn't wasted after all. The Empress Dowager is the person whom the Emperor respects the most, even Concubine Xiang and Concubine Rou have been trying to curry favor with her, why shouldn't I also harbor such hopes?
Jia Gui Ren suppressed her delight and replied, "Concubine Hui, I have recently read some Buddhist scriptures and deeply feel that simplicity and plainness are the way to cultivate one's character."
After saying this, Lin Yan clearly saw countless dagger-like eyes flying over.
Now all the women are secretly scolding in their hearts - do you like simplicity and plainness?! When you usually dress up to seduce the emperor, why didn't you look simple then?!
Whatever you pretend to be, whatever you play at!
However, no matter how hard she tried to think of a way out, the only thing Jiagui needed now was the empress dowager's approval. She ignored the danger brought by her own provocative actions and waited eagerly for the empress dowager to speak.
The Empress Dowager picked up her tea cup and took a sip of hot tea, then said: "Very well, you come to Changle Palace tomorrow to serve. And who are those two by your side? They're also dressed in mourning clothes, let them come along too."
The imperial consorts were all shocked.
Lin Wan was even more shocked, and it wasn't until a moment later that she realized the Empress Dowager was not pointing at her - she was dressed as usual today, although not as gorgeous as Sheng Fei, but also not as simple as Su Dan. The Empress Dowager was pointing at two concubines standing to the right of Jia Gui Ren, Wang Chengyi and Ye Chengyi.
Wang Chengyi wore a walnut-colored outfit, looking ten years older. Ye Chengyi's family background was not good enough to serve in the palace with silver money, and after being favored once, she was thrown away and her days were spent in hardship, with a hint of poverty in her clothes and decorations.
This time the audience with the Empress Dowager ended in shock. Everyone was secretly wiping away tears, and a few low-ranking new consorts somehow managed to gain favor with the Empress Dowager? The cunning eyes of Consort Jia were not very clever after all!
What's even more hateful is that Wang Chengyi was just following in the footsteps of Jia Gui, learning from her ways, and yet she also got this good fortune? These old people have been struggling in the harem for many years, but they couldn't even get the favor of the empress dowager! And that Ye Shi, who is clearly not favored by the emperor, somehow managed to get lucky?
Is it that in the future, coming to Chang Le Palace to pay respects, as long as one dresses modestly and cleanly, they can win over her old ladyship's favor? The imperial consorts secretly made their own little plans, thinking that from now on, every time they came over, they wouldn't wear any hair accessories or jewelry, or perhaps even wear a nun's robe!
The empress dowager nodded at two attendants and then didn't say much. After a short while, the empress dowager said "I'm tired", and the empress led everyone to withdraw.
Lin Wan and the other consorts saw off the Empress outside the Chang Le Palace gate before they could leave.
Naturally, she could see the consorts' gritted teeth all along the way.
Thinking of Jiagui people's future road will not be too smooth.
