vstars Chapter 129: Palace Morning Meeting
Chapter 129: Palace Morning Meeting
After Meng Qi left, Lu Qingqing lay on the imperial concubine's couch and was about to take a nap, but suddenly learned that the queen would summon all the concubines to the Fengyi Palace for a morning meeting tomorrow morning.
Xiaotao stepped forward and handed Lu Qingqing a soft pillow.
"My dear, you will feel more comfortable leaning on this pillow."
Lu Qingqing lay lazily on the couch, her slender, soft white hands hooked on the two strands of black hair hanging from her temples, circling them casually, looking a little listless.
she thought to herself.
A few days after returning from the autumn hunt, the queen started to get restless again. Li Xuansheng had just informed the queen of her pregnancy, and she must have announced the news at tomorrow's morning meeting.
It was just as she expected.
The next morning.
After Lu Qing practiced in the morning, she came to Fengyi Palace early. Before the queen finished dressing up, she admired the osmanthus tree in Fengyi Palace in the courtyard.
I don't know if it's because of the good feng shui of Fengyi Palace, or because the palace servants take good care of it, but the two osmanthus trees in the Queen's Palace are in bloom. In the autumn breeze, the osmanthus flowers fall like golden feathers, and the fragrance is intoxicating.
Lu Qingqing was lost in thought as she admired the falling osmanthus flowers when suddenly a sweet female voice came from behind her.
"Mr. Ming, I didn't expect you to come so early."
Lu Qingqing looked back and saw Shu Guiren, who was supported by her maid and approaching her step by step.
In the harem, if the Empress and Concubine Shu, who are of high rank, suddenly attacked Lu Qingqing, it would be a serious threat to her.
But Shu Guiren was always like a fighting cock, provoking him at every turn, just like the mosquitoes and flies buzzing around him.
Not very harmful, but annoying.
Lu Qingqing was tired of dealing with Concubine Shu, so she just bowed coldly to her and nodded with a smile.
"The best wishes to you, Lady Shu."
However, Concubine Shu still refused to give in.
She boasted that her birth was nobler than Lu Qingqing's, and her appearance was no worse than Lu Qingqing's. But during the autumn hunting trip, the emperor insisted that Lu Qingqing accompany him on the imperial carriage.
Obviously, she and Lu Qingqing are both nobles, but the emperor is so partial to one and neglects the other. He must have listened to Lu Qingqing's instigation!
Shu Guiren couldn't swallow this humiliation. She glanced at Lu Qingqing with mockery in her eyes, covered her lips with a silk handkerchief, and half-hidden a scornful smile.
"Ming Guiren returned from the autumn hunt and rode in the same carriage with the Emperor. How enviable! Although we are also Guiren, we are far behind!"
Lady Shu said this with a sour tone.
Lu Qingqing originally wanted to keep silent, but the more she looked at Shu Guiren's sarcastic and shrewd face, the more she wanted to put a damper on her prestige.
Since she has said so much, the worst that can happen is that I just admit that I have received the grace of the Lord. What's the problem?
Lu Qingqing raised the corner of her mouth with a hint of smile, raised her delicate chin, took two steps forward, and approached Shu Guiren.
"You are right! My grace is indeed beyond your reach. So what?"
After hearing this, Shu Guiren stood still like a stone statue, her eyes wide open with a look of disbelief.
Why is Lu Qingqing so arrogant?
How could she admit it so openly?
Do you still have the virtue of a queen or a concubine?
Shu Guiren wanted to mock Lu Qingqing over and over again in her heart, but she didn't dare to open her mouth, and her little face was puffed up with anger.
"you you……"
She pointed at Lu Qingqing's back as she swaggered into Fengyi Palace, and was unable to utter a complete sentence.
Concubines from all palaces arrived one after another and went into the hall to pay their respects to the Queen.
The queen sat on the phoenix throne with a kind face.
Her round, puffy face was covered with thick makeup, trying to hide the fatigue caused by pregnancy.
"Sisters, please stand up."
After the concubines from all the palaces took their seats, the queen took a sip of tea leisurely.
Lu Qingqing sat at the back, carefully observing the queen's every move.
Every time the queen remained silent and swayed for too long, she was always holding back on what she was going to fart about. She had more or less guessed what the queen was going to fart about today.
However, when she looked carefully, she unexpectedly found that the Queen's personal maid Ayun was not in Fengyi Palace. Lu Qingqing looked around to find Ayun, but was interrupted by the Queen.
The queen finished her tea, cleared her throat, and put on a gentle and kind look.
"I have called all the sisters to come to this morning meeting because I have great news to announce to you."
"Mrs. Ming has been pregnant for more than two months."
As soon as the Queen finished speaking, there was an uproar in Fengyi Palace.
Two concubines, such as Concubine Zhuang and Xu Guannv, who were on good terms with Lu Qingqing, immediately showed delight on their faces and cast their eyes in the direction of Lu Qingqing with joy and excitement.
However, some of the other concubines were whispering to each other, while others had fierce expressions on their faces, as if they were angry.
The queen looked at the chattering women in the room and had no intention of stopping them. Instead, she observed the reactions of the concubines in the various palaces with great interest.
After waiting for the conversation to subside, the Queen continued:
"It is a great joy that Lady Ming is pregnant. I have already sent the gift to Yinglan Pavilion yesterday."
"According to this palace's opinion, we are all sisters in the harem, so why don't we each send some gifts to Noble Lady Ming to express our congratulations."
After the Queen said this, Concubine Xian was the first to stand up and respond.
Today, Concubine Xian was wearing a green silk palace dress, which made her look elegant, low-key and solemn. She said softly:
"Your Majesty, your suggestion is very good. After hearing the news, I also wanted to send a gift to Noble Ming to express my blessing."
After Concubine Xian said this, the other concubines had to obey even if they were unhappy.
After Lu Qingqing expressed her gratitude to all the queens, she finally realized that the Queen's assembly today was intended to make her, who was pregnant, the target of public criticism in the harem!
Once I get pregnant, it is a favor for the harem to send me gifts, not my duty. After the Queen Mother issued this order, I wonder how many unwilling gifts will pile up in my palace!
Therefore, as soon as the morning meeting was over, Lu Qingqing was the first to slip out of Fengyi Palace. If she left later, she would probably be surrounded and questioned by the other concubines.
Return to Yinglan Pavilion.
Lu Qingqing sat on the chair with a sad face, looking around at her small and exquisite palace. She thought:
There are many concubines in the harem. If everyone gives him a gift, his Yinglan Pavilion will become a warehouse.
She was worrying when Lu Panpan came over and told her another piece of news.
"Sister, when you went to Fengyi Palace to pay your respects today, Ayun, who was beside the Queen, came."
Upon hearing this, Lu Qingqing's spirits instantly perked up.
No wonder she didn’t see Ayun in Fengyi Palace today. The Queen is dividing her forces into two groups and is going to send Ayun to steal the house!
She asked, "What is Ayun doing here?"
Seeing that there was no one around, Lu Panpan leaned close to Lu Qingqing and whispered in her ear.
"She came to persuade me to become a concubine."