Days passed by, and the most favored person in the palace was still Shu Gui Fei. The Emperor would spend 7 or 8 days a month staying in Chonghua Palace, while Su Jing Bian could get 5 or 6 days. Occasionally, he would visit Changchun Palace to see the Second Princess. As for others, they hardly got any because the Emperor would spend almost 10 days resting in Qianqing Palace.

  Su Jing had already become the most favored person in the palace, aside from Shu Gui Fei, and was also the object of everyones jealousy and resentment.

  Before long, it was September 15th, which is Su Jings birthday.

  Zong Zhengjin had asked her what she wanted, but at the time he asked this question was on the bed. Su Jingci was tossed around by him and was dizzy, without any strength to think. Whatever he said afterwards, she didnt hear clearly.

  Zichen Hall

  "Your Majesty, Her Majesty the Empress requests an audience."

  Zong Zhengjin was lying on the couch, enjoying the music and dance, and nodded slightly when he heard this.

  Before long, the empress walked in, "Your subject has come to pay respects to Your Majesty."

  The music and dance continued uninterrupted, Zong Zhengjin raised his hand and waved it, "Does the Empress have any important matters?"

  Since the last disturbance of asking for peace, after being thoroughly slapped in the face by the emperor, the empress was indeed ill for several days, but it was a heart disease.

  Afterwards, she also calmed down a lot and seemed to have learned her lesson, returning to being the empress she once was.

  "I have come this time to ask Your Majesty how to arrange for Sus sisters birthday?"

  Although today is her birthday, the empress actually didnt want to hold a celebration for her, unfortunately she couldnt resist her being favored, last time on the first day of the month, the emperor even stayed overnight in the Qianqing Palace, completely forgetting about this empress.

  Following ancestral rules, on the first and fifteenth of each month, the Emperor should stay overnight in the Kunning Palace.

  "Shes of a lower status, so theres no need to make a big fuss. Just host a small banquet and let everyone have a lively time," Zong Zhengjin said casually, seemingly focused on the music and dance.

  The queen glanced at those dancing girls and musicians, and her eyes lingered on one of the dancers for a moment, who was indeed quite pretty.

  Without changing his expression, he withdrew his gaze. "As Your Majesty said, its just that Sister Su has been in the palace for some time now, should her position be elevated?"

  She finished speaking and quietly observed his expression.

  Zong Zhengjins expression didnt change at all upon hearing this, "Mm, then lets upgrade."

  The queens heart skipped a beat. Could it be that the emperor had already been thinking of promoting her, but only casually mentioned it because she brought it up?

  Drunken Cloud Villa

  Su Jing waved her hand to dismiss the palace maids who had come to present their gifts, rubbed her waist, returned to her inner chamber, and drank several mouthfuls of water. "Go help me bring some pastries over, Im hungry."

  Dai Man heard and nodded, then hastily left.

  "Master, you mentioned the Emperor..." Yáo leaned in and whispered.

  Su Jingxi helped her massage her legs and rubbed her waist, "I dont know, anyway he shouldnt have forgotten."

  She was previously under house arrest and had thought of making a comeback through this Dongshan, but now its no longer needed.

  Xiang Ya nodded, with the emperors current favor towards her master, she should not have forgotten, and even if she had forgotten, the people below would remind her.

  As expected, Su Shunian soon arrived with a group of eunuchs, "Your humble servant pays respects to Young Master Su."

  "Mr. Su, please get up quickly."

  "This humble servant wishes Miss Su a happy birthday, and hopes that Miss Su will be safe and smooth," said Su Shun, bowing again with a smile.

  Su Jings eyebrows and eyes also showed a smile, "Thank you, Su Gonggong, for your kind words. Please take this small thing to drink tea with, I hope you wont despise it."

  Su Shunan took over the bundle, "I dont dare, I dont dare, Ill just bask in Young Masters good fortune today, thank you, Young Master."

  "These things were specially picked out from the store by His Majesty for me, would you like them, young master?"

  Su Jing knew that the emperor himself had a private treasury, and most of the things he rewarded people with were usually taken from the palaces savings, unless the emperor himself spoke up, only then would it be taken out from his own private treasury.

  He walked over, took a few glances and said, "I like it very much. Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness."

  "Its natural, young master, and theres this. His Majesty has ordered that you open it personally," Su Shunxian took a scroll from the small eunuch behind him and handed it to her.

  Su Jing raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued, and carefully opened it. It was a painting, the person in the painting was her, under the tree in the courtyard, sitting on a pear blossom bench, with slightly lowered eyelids, and the gentle breeze blowing up her waist-length hair, with scattered fallen leaves on the ground, the entire picture was harmonious and warm.

  Next to it is a line of small characters, "May people live forever", as well as the signature and date.

  Time is gentle with her, she only thought of this phrase, she never thought he would paint the serenity and peace on her face so meticulously.

  "I will trouble you to report this to His Majesty, and I will personally thank him."

  Su Shuang nodded, he also saw the full picture of the painting now. The emperor had been using his spare time to paint for several days, and the Zichen Hall was often littered with discarded paper. Although he thought it was good when he picked it up, the emperor was still not satisfied.

  "Dont worry, young master, Ill tell the Emperor about it. The Emperor still needs people to serve him, so Ill go back first."

  Su Jing nodded and said, "Slow down, sir."

  "Watching his back go out, Listen to Yao, get someone to take this frame up and hang it in the inner room, be careful not to damage it."

  Su Shuang faintly heard this sentence, and his heart was delighted. He could feel the joy in Su Guis tone, and he thought to himself that he could return with a good report.

  "Master, the Emperor treats you really well," said Xiang He with a happy face after hanging up the painting.

  Su Jing furrowed her brow, as if deep in thought. "Yes, Your Majesty has been good to me, I naturally know that. But if others dare to be bad to me, I will also know."

  Xiang was drenched in her icy tone from head to toe and hastily knelt down, "Your humble servant dares not have a second heart, I hope Master will see clearly."

  Su Jings words were so straightforward that if anyone present still couldnt understand, they would be truly stupid.

  "I hope you all remember the outcome of the early summer, if someone wants to be the second early summer, I will satisfy him," she said, seeing the slaves kneeling on the ground, regardless of whether they were truly afraid or pretending to be, she didnt care. If a few words could make someone lose their rebellious heart, then she still didnt have that ability.

  Man is eternally greedy, unless the profit is not big enough, unless he has not been given what he wants.

  However, if someone dared to really do something, she would have a way to make them thoroughly remember the consequences of provoking her.

  He spoke slowly and calmly, "Today is my birthday, so Ill give each of you ten taels of silver to share in the joy."

  "This slave thanks the master for his reward."

  "Everyone get down."

  Ying Xiang brought in a cup of tea and said, "Master, try some. Its the new batch of Junshan Yinzhen tea that was just bestowed by the Emperor."

  Su Jingxiang took a slight interest, brought it over to lightly sniff, and lightly sipped a mouthful. "Refreshing and fragrant, rich and mellow, indeed not bad."

  This is true, Su Jing did not drink old tea, nor did she drink the inferior tea that was allocated to her according to her rank from the palace. So a few days ago, Zong Zhengjin came over and found out that every time he drank tea, it was always just two types, both of which were what he had previously rewarded her with. With a wave of his hand, he ordered Su Shunyan to send her many new tribute teas the next day.

  Yao smiled and said, "The master cant drink too much, or he wont be able to eat dinner tonight."

  Su Jingxi also smiled and glanced at the painting on the wall, "Prepare your evening dress and jewelry for tonights banquet."

  Dai Man walked over to the wardrobe and said, "Which one would Master like to wear? Today is Masters birthday, why not wear something auspicious?"

  Su Jingxiao lost her smile, "Isnt what I usually wear cheerful enough for you?"

  She loves bright colors, and the clothes she wears every day are all the brightest colors that her status can wear. Zong Zhengjin also noticed this, and the fabrics he rewarded were also bright colors.

  "It was a mistake of the slave girl for a moment, that today the master wears this ancient smoke pattern blue sky jacket or this evening glow..."

  Su Jing shook her head, "I want to wear that one, lets change our taste for today."

  "Master, isnt it a bit too plain?" Dai Man somewhat disagreed.

  Su Jing walked over to the dresser, "Today Im the main character, no matter how plain I am, people will notice me. Dont worry, besides, my master is as beautiful as a flower..."

  Xiang Yao and Dai Man exchanged a glance, each turning away, pretending they hadnt heard anything.

  Not all birthdays of imperial consorts in the palace can be celebrated with a banquet, unless they really hold high positions and are favored by the emperor.

  Like Su Jings entry into the palace, Shu Feis birthday was only celebrated with gifts from each palace, and after the emperors usual rewards, there were no other arrangements, just like Yu Xuanmeis July birthday, which was forgotten by everyone.

  Those who were favored, such as Consort Shu, would host banquets and invite theater troupes to celebrate their birthdays. Even if they were not of high enough rank, the emperor would still allow people to gather together to help them celebrate, as in the case of Su Jing.

  At dusk, Guan Yu occupies the main hall of the palace.

  "Her Majesty the Queen has arrived."

  "The concubines pay their respects to Her Majesty the Empress."

  The queen wore a peony and phoenix patterned lotus flower brocade jacket, with only one red kingfisher feather hairpin inserted obliquely on her high peony bun, and nothing else. The phoenix patterned shoes with pearl embroidery were under the hem of her skirt, appearing and disappearing as she walked.

  Such a dignified and noble makeup, put nicely, is attaching great importance to this banquet, put badly, its just showing off.

  Everyone was attracted by the queens dress, but the clever ones thought that everything on the queens body was something that these concubines couldnt wear, and wondered what the master would think later.

  "All the sisters, please get up quickly. Today, taking advantage of Su sisters birthday, all the sisters sit together and chat, also because I have been busy with palace affairs recently and had no time to hold a banquet to share the feelings of sisters."

  Xian Fei sneered in her heart, the Empresss words made it clear that Su Jings birthday was not a big deal, and the reason for holding a banquet was just to get all the sisters together, also to show off the Empresss noble status as the legitimate wife.

  "The princess said that today, sisters must have a good time and return home."

  The queen slightly hooked the corner of her mouth, she had always liked this feeling of being admired by others, even if it was Xian Fei, who had been in a high position for over a decade, still had to rely on her as the queen.