vstars Chapter 268 Concubine Hu's Dance
Chapter 268 Concubine Hu's Dance
Lan Qingwu just looked at Lan Qingtong coldly, not wanting to say a single word to this confused cousin.
Madam Lan's face suddenly turned cold. "The Queen's banquet is not for random people to come and have fun! Qingtong, if you want to invite them, you can go back and prepare now. Don't let us women of the Lan family delay you!"
Madam Lan's blunt words were like a slap in the face, hitting Madam Lan Er and Lan Qingtong. Lan Qingtong's eagerness to recommend her husband's sister was obvious, while the other women in the Lan family remained silent. They could still distinguish between close and distant, important and insignificant. Madam Lan Er's face burned, and Lan Qingtong's face turned green and red.
The hall was completely silent. Lan Qingwu suddenly chuckled, "If your husband's sister becomes successful, will she still remember you? The Lan family seems too small to accommodate you."
Lan Qingtong's face suddenly turned pale. "What do you mean?"
Lan Qingwu said bluntly: "I didn't expect that after all these years, you are still so stupid!"
Ru Han, who was standing behind Lan Qingwu, stepped forward and said, "Fourth Miss, you are being so rude to the Empress, you and I. If we were to meet other noble families in the Imperial City, it would only bring shame to the Empress. Fortunately, there are maidens in Fengqi Palace who teach us the palace rules and etiquette. Someone, please ask Fourth Miss to go to the side hall!"
Lan Qingtong looked at the two palace maids approaching her and said in shock, "I'm not going! I'm not going!"
Ruhan said softly, "If you make a scene in Fengqi Palace, and His Majesty later asks who disturbed the Empress, then that's not a matter of learning palace rules and etiquette!"
Lan Qingtong didn't dare to speak anymore. She didn't even dare to look up at Lan Qingwu. She could only slowly follow the palace servants out of the hall. However, she still held a glimmer of hope. She kept staring at Madam Lan Er, wanting Madam Lan Er to plead for her.
Madam Lan lowered her head and no longer looked at Lan Qingtong. Ruhan took a few steps back and moved behind Lan Qingwu.
After Lan Qingtong left the main hall of Fengqi Palace, Madam Lan Er took a deep breath and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, it is my fault that I did not teach Qingtong well. Please forgive me!"
Lan Qingwu didn't even shout, but just said, "It's okay! If Second Aunt can't teach you, someone else will!"
Madam Lan Er's expression became even uglier, and a dark light flashed in her lowered eyes.
Madam Lan naturally understood her sister-in-law's temperament and said directly, "Sister-in-law, do you know that Qingtong wants to offer her sister from her husband's family as a gift? Do you agree with her betrayal? Our Lan family has produced a queen. This is not only an honor, but also a thorn in the eyes of other families and a thorn in the flesh. The Lan family is now like a cliff. If they don't move forward, they will fall into the abyss. I didn't expect that our own family would stab us first! If you don't know, you might think you are not a Lan family wife and the fourth girl is not a Lan family girl!"
Second Madam Lan was truly panicked. Blinded by resentment and jealousy, she hadn't considered this at all. Especially since shortly after Lan Qingwu entered the palace, Qingtong, who wanted to come to the Imperial City, was punished by her grandfather and made to kneel. Second Madam Lan had never been able to let it go, and this time she tacitly allowed Lan Qingtong to bring her two younger sisters to the Imperial City. If Second Master Lan knew...
Second Madam Lan looked at Lan Qingwu's solemn expression and felt a chill in her heart. She quickly spoke again, "Empress, sister-in-law, it was I who failed to discipline Qingtong. After returning to the mansion, I will take Qingtong to apologize to her father! I also apologized to Second Master for my poor discipline."
Lan Qingwu glanced at Madam Lan, who said, "This is a private matter in our Lan Mansion. Please don't disturb the Empress. Sister-in-law, why are you still bowing? Why don't you get up and sit down!"
Madam Lan sat down in a dusty and uneasy state, without any of the calculations she had when she came.
After that, Lan Qingwu stopped paying attention to Madam Lan Er. She straightened up slightly and said, "You are all my close relatives. I have prepared some things for you sisters and elders. Ru Ping——"
Ru Ping knelt and saluted: "I am ready!"
All the women of the Lan family stood up and saluted, saying, "Thank you, Her Majesty, for the gift!"
After Lan Qingwu called out, Madam Lan and Madam Lan San livened up the atmosphere again.
At noon, everyone had lunch. Afterwards, Lan Qingwu gave them tea, and after everyone had digested their food, Lan Qingwu let them leave the palace.
After the women of the Lan family left the palace, Lan Qingwu was also tired, so Ruping helped him back to the bedroom to rest.
Emperor Shenwu arrived at Fengqi Palace in the evening. He entered the bedroom and saw Lan Qingwu reclining on the bed to rest. Emperor Shenwu went forward and hugged Lan Qingwu: "What's wrong? Are you tired?"
Lan Qingwu shook his head gently: "Fortunately, Brother Heng, the baby in my belly moved a little just now. She must have heard the voice of her father."
Emperor Shenwu was overjoyed. His big hand gently stroked Lan Qingwu's belly and said, "My little princess must be very smart!"
On the second day, Emperor Shenwu took Lan Qingwu to Qiufeng Pavilion to enjoy the scenery.
It was the season of spring when flowers were in full bloom. The emperor and empress sat together, admiring the beautiful sight of hundreds of flowers blooming in the distance.
The two held hands and whispered to each other from time to time. When they looked at the beautiful flowers again, they saw a woman dancing among the flowers.
The bright flowers and the graceful dancing posture of the woman, who was as graceful as a startled swan and as agile as a flying dragon, immediately caught Lan Qingwu's eyes.
The woman danced gracefully like a swallow nesting in its nest, soaring high like a magpie startled at night. Her beautiful dance moves were graceful and soft, her agile flight was as light as the wind. Her demeanor was unparalleled. This woman was, surprisingly, Concubine Hu.
Concubine Hu danced faster and faster, her jade-like hands lingering gracefully, her skirt fluttering, her pair of watery eyes as white as smoke seemed to want to speak but could not, her eyes dancing with light, and she looked like a flower in the mist, hazy and ethereal, flashing with beautiful colors, yet so far away.
Lan Qingwu looked towards Emperor Shenwu, only to see that his eyebrows and eyes remained motionless, as he looked at the woman dancing among the flowers with an unfathomable expression.
When Concubine Hu finished her dance, she prostrated herself on the ground: "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you! Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you, the Empress!"
Amidst the flowers, Hupin's delicate and charming face stands out, and her beauty is as charming as the flowers.
Lan Qingwu said softly, "This scene seems familiar. The same Autumn Wind Pavilion, the same stunning dance. The only thing that's different is the beauty."
Emperor Shenwu's heart skipped a beat: "Really?"
Thinking of the peerlessly beautiful beauty, Emperor Shenwu felt a little upset, and he winked at Li Xiang.
Li Xiang walked directly down from the Qiufeng Pavilion. He respectfully walked to Hupin's side and bowed, saying, "I am here to convey His Majesty's order: Please ask Hupin to return to the palace."
Concubine Hu did not insist and bowed again: "I obey your order. I will take my leave!"