Zong Zhengjin furrowed his brow and sank into deep thought for a moment.

  The empress dowager was also unhurried, holding her teacup and waiting slowly.

  "The Empress Dowager's wish, I'm afraid I won't be able to fulfill," Zong Zhengjin said in a light tone, his cold and stern voice seeming to contain many things, exuding an air of nobility.

  The empress dowager heavily slammed her cup on the table and coldly snorted, "Is Your Majesty trying to go against the House of Wei?"

  Zong Zhengjin stood up and smiled slightly, "As the Son of Heaven, I am naturally unmatched. What do you mean by these words, Mother?"

  "Your Majesty, don't you really remember the kindness of Ah Qiu's upbringing? Who helped you get your throne?"

  Zong Zhengjin leaned back, raised an eyebrow, "Is that so, my good empress dowager? How could I not remember your teachings? Don't worry, I will naturally provide for you in your old age, and the allowance of Cining Palace will not be reduced by a single penny."

  This was the virtuous imperial concubine who everyone had once praised, in front of him she was a kind mother, showing him love and care, but behind his back she was like this, surprisingly not having changed for many years.

  At the beginning of the plot to seize the throne, she made a lot of effort. However, that's how it was; each took what they needed. She first used him to gain her father's favor and later used him to become an honorable empress dowager, stepping on others' corpses to get where she is today.

  The empress dowager was infuriated by his nonchalant demeanor, gently stroking her chest, "You wretched child, if I had known you would turn out like this, I would not have agreed to let the late emperor raise you."

  Zong Zhengjin sneered, "Is that so? But I remember it was you who begged the Emperor to raise me."

  The Empress Dowager was furious and laughed, "I didn't expect the Emperor to be so unfilial. I'm afraid that Concubine Xi's sister will not be able to rest in peace when she finds out about this in the underworld."

  Zong Zhengjin's face changed, "How dare you discuss My Empress Dowager"

  "Hmph, the most correct thing I've done in my life is raising you, Empress Hui's good son. I won, I won, she ultimately lost, haha."

  Zong Zhengjin frowned, sensing that there was more to her words. Just as he was about to ask again, Liu Moumou heard a commotion and walked in, kneeling down. "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager is unwell, please return first."

  Furrowed his brow, scolding a servant was pointless, so he let out a cold snort and turned to leave.

  Drunken Cloud Pavilion

  "Master, Her Majesty the Empress has sent an invitation," said Dai Man, walking in with a red card and bowing.

  Su Jing took it over, glanced at it a few times, and saw that the narcissus in the imperial garden had bloomed ahead of time. So she gave it a beautiful name - hosting a flower appreciation banquet. "Is every palace participating?"

  Dai Man was always enthusiastic about inquiring about various messages, Su Jing had reminded her to know a "degree", and then she also let her be, after all, she lived in Zuiyun Valley for a long time, not seeking to see the world, so it didn't matter. For these small pieces of news, knowing them in time was necessary. The latest chapter of this book, please search 800

  "Returning to the main topic, Her Majesty the Empress has sent people to all the palaces. I heard that even Du Guiren of Xianqing Pavilion is also included. Her Majesty specifically instructed that if Mistress Du's body is not suitable, she should not be forced, as it is most important to ensure a safe pregnancy."

  If she doesn't go, then they will be forced to go, who dares not attend the Empress's flower banquet?

  "Let's get ready then, it wouldn't be good to be too rude."

  "Yes," Daiman replied, "the master doesn't need to be greeted tomorrow, which means we can sleep in a bit later."

  Su Jing hooked up the corner of her mouth, "This is probably the only benefit that this flower banquet can bring to your master."

  The empress, taking pity on the various consorts and not wanting her sisters to be overworked, specially permitted that the next day they did not have to go to the Kunning Palace for their morning greetings, but only had to attend the banquet in the Imperial Garden in the afternoon.

  What good reputation has she monopolized?

  "Master, have some swallow's nest," said Ting Yao as she came in from outside.

  Su Jing took it over, "Why is Huang Yan this month's share?"

  Yao nodded, "The palace division that came from the province is just this. I argued with him for a couple of sentences at the time. They said that the blood swallows offered to the emperor were very rare and had all been allocated to Kun Ning Palace, Chonghua Palace, and Cining Palace. The other palaces didn't have any."

  "What about the white swallow then?" Su Jing asked casually as she scooped with her spoon.

  "They were also distributed among other high-ranking concubines, and some were given by the Emperor to Ning Shunyi a few days ago."

  Su Jing raised an eyebrow, took a sip, and the taste was actually not much different, only that she was used to eating more delicately usually, but now it felt somewhat unfamiliar.

  "If you don't eat, the servant has made some chestnut cakes, please have some," Yao Guan observed her expression and thought that she was also unwilling to use them.

  Su Jing shook her head, "Don't waste it, in the past when we were at the Su residence, weren't these things used just the same?"

  A bowl of bird's nest is nothing compared to the fast food she ate in her past life, it's countless times better.

  Yao listened, but felt a bit heartbroken. In her life, she had been pampered by the old master and mistress at home, and in the palace, the emperor was also good to her, yet she still had to suffer these grievances.

  Ting Yao walked out with an empty bowl, and as soon as she saw Su Shunian walking into the gate of Zuiyun Pavilion, she handed the bowl to Yunxiang beside her and walked over. "Su Gonggong."

  "Listen, Yao Niang, Zhen Zhu is here." Su Shuangyan said with a smile.

  Yao smiled and said, "Master has just used something, let Su Gonggong inform the servant to pass on a message."

  "This is natural," Su Shun replied, not missing the unnatural tone on Yao's face when she had just come in. He beckoned to a little palace maid who was standing by, "What did Zhen use just now that someone made which didn't meet her expectations?"

  Jingxiang wasn't stupid either, "Master Su, just now Master used the yellow swallow's nest personally made by Yao sister."

  Su Shun nodded slightly, thinking he was overthinking, but just as he took a step forward, he suddenly remembered, "You said it was Huang Yan"

  Among swallow nests, blood swallow is the best, white swallow is second, and yellow swallow is the worst.

  Of course, this is only for the swallow's nest tribute to the royal family. Even if it's Huangyan, which is the worst in the palace, it's sometimes better than the white swallow on the outside market.

  Yunxiang nodded slightly.

  Su Shun remained silent until Zhen Fei came out and said, "I pay respects to Master Zhen."

  "Sir Su, no need for excessive courtesy, I don't know what brings you here today."

  Su Shunan carefully sat on the embroidered stool brought by the palace maid, with only half of her buttocks touching it. This was also something she dared to do in Zuiyun Pavilion. It wasn't that she didn't want to stand for a while, but rather, it was the master's intention, and as a servant, accepting it was a sign of respect towards the master. Both were comfortable with this arrangement.

  "Back to the master, His Majesty allowed me to come and give you a pot of narcissus. Master, take a look, this is freshly cultivated from the imperial garden. If you like it, feel free to enjoy it."

  This is a subtle hint that this flower has no problem and is safe.

  "It's indeed a lovely flower, I really like it. Please help me thank the Emperor, Su GongGong."

  "Don't worry, Master Zhen, I will pass it on," Su Shun said with a slight bow, "I'll take my leave first."

  Su Jing walked over and touched the petals of the narcissus, "Go get some water."

  Watered it personally and said, "Will see it again tomorrow."

  The queen had just sent out invitations to the concubines in the palace to admire the narcissus, and the emperor immediately had someone send her a pot of such precious flowers, what a slap in the face.

  There will be another good show tomorrow.

  Chonghua Palace

  "Tomorrow, you can go," said the young lady. Qingyi knelt on the ground, holding onto the beauty's legs and gently massaging them.

  The Empress Shu threw the letter on the table, "Go, why don't you go?"

  Even if it had become a fact that she was incompatible with the empress, after all, it wasn't openly displayed. The empress was still the empress, and Shu Guifei, no matter how much favor she gained, was just a concubine.

  Besides, tomorrow is a good opportunity to give the empress a hard time, why not take it?

  "Go and get that five-colored silk dress for me. The empress rarely has the thought to host a banquet, so I should make myself look presentable."

  Qingyi knew what her mistress meant, "No matter how she dressed up, she was extremely beautiful."

  "You always use these words to coax me," Consort Shu sneered, then seemed a bit dazed. "I've already passed my twentieth year, and can't be compared to those new palace maidens."

  Beauty is fleeting, she will not leave you nor abandon you, but in the end it's just a dream.

  "What are you talking about, Princess? You and I were almost the same age before we got married, and compared to Liang Yu, there's no difference at all."

  Shu Gui Fei suddenly remembered that it was a long, long time ago, and smiled, "Compared to Li Liang Yuan, she wasn't any worse. But compared to Zhen Pin..."

  "It's also not bad," Qing Hui didn't expect her to ask about Su Jingyu, and for a moment she didn't know how to respond.

  When she first entered the palace, she saw Zhen Bin for the first time in the Kun Ning Palace of the Empress Dowager. At that time, she only felt that she was very young and beautiful, but not outstanding. Compared to her own mature charm, she couldn't compare.

  It was just a few days ago that she caught a glimpse of her, and her appearance had been etched in her mind ever since, unable to forget for a long time, and it was even more stunning than when her own wife was at her best.

  "Zhen Niang is still young, and her beauty is different from yours, doesn't the Emperor favor you especially?"

  "Qing Gui Fei gently shook her head, 'Qing Xie, you've followed me for many years, how could you not know that I'm not a weak person, why do you need to comfort me so anxiously?'"

  "Time flies, beauty fades, this is the natural law. I am just an ordinary person and cannot escape the trend. Nor do I care. What Your Majesty cares about me is not this plain face."

  "The slave's humble opinion is that Your Ladyship has both talent and beauty, with a heart as pure as orchids and a mind as clever as lan. You are not only beautiful on the outside but also wise on the inside. The Emperor must have noticed more than just your appearance," Qing Xiang said, secretly annoyed at herself for bringing up that topic.

  The Empress smiled slightly, "Alright, alright, you've said all the nice things. Others still think I'm a talented and beautiful woman."

  "The princess is just like this in my heart."

  "Ji'er is also like that in my heart," said Zong Zhengjin, walking in with his hands behind his back and a smile on his face.

  The Empress Shu was startled and hastily got up, "Your concubine pays respects to Your Majesty, why has Your Majesty come at this hour?"

  Palace Concubine (Yi) / 33 / 33265

  Gong Shu