Chapter 61 Time Flies Like an Arrow

The blind date banquet that the empress and the noble concubine had discussed for a long time... the official name was the literary meeting called by Princess Zhaoqing, and it was held by the lotus pond on the mountain behind the palace three days later.

Regarding the selection of the location, the concubines had a heated discussion.

In the final decision on this place, apart from the large location, wide view, pleasant scenery, far away from the concubine's residence, etc., the most important thing is that although the place is covered with towering old trees and covered with shade, the terrain is generally very flat.

The Zezhi Tower, which was originally built to overlook the lotus pond, was installed with a gauze curtain, so that it can hide behind it and spy on most of the banquet scene.

No matter how secretly observed.

After all, this banquet is held for the lifelong event of the children. It is impossible for the elders to stay at the banquet all the time, making the juniors unable to let go, so why observe?

"It's just that I don't invite their elders this time. Is it inconvenient to ask questions?" Originally, the noble concubine's proposal was based on the reason that Princess Xincheng was going to marry far away.

It’s just that Xie Kuo, the princess of Xincheng, is of course a more thoughtful girl. After all, she was born in a humble family and was raised in the palace. You can live in the scene; secondly, it is only convenient to invite female relatives, but it is not convenient to invite men.

So after careful discussion, it was rejected.

Afterwards, the plan of the queen and the noble concubine is to invite the elders and female relatives of the noble sons and new scholars in the imperial capital to the banquet. At that time, the empresses and concubines will be with the elders, and the princess and prince will be with the younger generations to observe each other.

But after the discussion, it was changed to Princess Zhaoqing as the leader, and of course all the unmarried and high-ranking young ladies were invited.

In this way, all the elders of these people were stopped outside.

Concubine De was a little tangled at this moment, and whispered, "What if the child is good, but the mother and sister-in-law are not a good friend, then..."

"What does that matter?" Gu Zhen disapproved, "No matter how difficult it is to get along with each other, it's still dealing with ordinary people. The royal blood can tolerate their presumptuousness?"

Concubine De immediately looked at Yun Fenghuang, and Yun Fenghuang actually thought so too, but Concubine De was hers after all, and the Queen was hit with a soft nail in public, she couldn't just follow what the Queen said, making it seem like she was Scared of the queen.

Immediately, he said lightly: "Isn't this year's banquet just for this year? It's about the lifelong affairs of the emperor's heirs. How can it be easily decided? It is necessary to investigate again and again. See the children first now, and wait for the next time." , Goodbye to the elders is the same. After all, the elders are present, maybe something happened, so Yuan came back? There are no elders here today, even if there is guidance in advance, when we have a few problems to get over, we can see Wouldn't it be good to see their own talents change?"

"It's still the concubine who is considerate." Concubine De praised quickly when she heard this, and glanced at the queen seemingly intentionally or unintentionally.

Gu Zhen sneered slightly, he didn't bother to get angry with Concubine De, so he just said: "That's it. Regarding the topic, I, Concubine Gui, Concubine Shu, and Concubine De will each come together. You should think about it carefully in the past two days."

So it came to the day when the banquet began, and by the lotus pond, there were beautiful clothes and girls, and the nobles were like clouds.

Simply being today's host, Princess Zhaoqing has been used to being in the limelight and being a host since she was a child. Regardless of her status or her bearing and ability, she was able to control the situation. Although it was a bit messy at first, it soon calmed down. Looking down from Zezhi Building, everything is in order.

The male and female guests occupy one side of the seats, all of them are beautiful and brightly dressed, which is very pleasing to the eye.

It's just that even though she is fat, swallows and thin, with different styles, Princess Zhaoqing, who occupies the main position, is still a well-deserved jewel. No matter her appearance or demeanor, she can easily crush anyone present.

As a result, the gazes of many young people couldn't help lingering on her, with a secret connection.

Although the queen and other concubines have always been unhappy that Yun Fenghuang has been favored for many years, looking at it at this time, I have to admit that she is really good at training children.

Because in terms of pure beauty, in fact, the seventh emperor daughter born by Yi Xingen is no worse than her elder sister... This pair of sisters with the same father and mother have very similar appearances. .

But the Seventh Prince has also dressed up with care today, wearing a peach red bottom with embroidered twigs, oleander pinch gold silk narrow sleeves, a phoenix tail skirt, a double spiral bun, bright hairpin rings, gorgeous and gorgeous, looking It looks like a rich and noble flower in the world, but it is still annihilated in many elaborate decorations, and it is not as eye-catching as Zhaoqing's outstanding.

"I still remember the appearance of the emperor's eldest son and the emperor's eldest daughter when they were full moon." The banquet was just started at this time, and everyone was polite, except for their appearance, there was nothing to look at.

In the Zezhi Building, the concubines took a few glances, and then sat down first, and waited for the atmosphere to become lively after drinking for three rounds, before looking at the details.

But the queen suddenly spoke, and said with some wistfulness, "That day seems to be still in front of us. In a blink of an eye, the children are going to discuss marriage."

She sighed softly, reluctant but had to admit, "I'm getting old before I know it."

"What did the empress say?" Although Yun Fenghuang and other concubines of the enemy often said that the empress was "that old thing" in private, at this moment in front of her face, she still had to persuade her hypocritically, "The empress is in her prime, But how old is it? Don’t believe me, ask someone to take a mirror to look at it, isn’t the empress still the beauty of the country when she entered the palace as a concubine?”

This is of course talking nonsense with open eyes. Gu Zhen was selected into the palace back then and held a high position. Although he mainly relied on his family background, his appearance is not bad.

But in these years, he has experienced the situation of mental and physical exhaustion. Huafa was born early, and the best way to maintain the beauty at this moment can't keep the haggard corners of the eyes and brows.

The most important thing is that after frequent defeats, one's heart will be hit one after another. The spirit that was lively and flying when she was a girl has long since been exhausted. Apart from the grace and luxury cultivated by years of pampering, it is the exhaustion that is trying to hide.

While comforting the queen, everyone subconsciously went to look at Yunfenghuang.

Calculated that this favorite concubine entered the palace at the age of fifteen, it has been thirteen years since now, and it is also the year when she is about to stand.

It is of course impossible to say that she looks like a girl, after all, she is also a mother.

It's just looking at the pink face, peach cheeks, full of energy, and the completely opened eyebrows and eyes. Although it is not a girl's delicacy, it is just a grown woman's charm and elegance.

She is wearing a light blue palace dress today, and her skin is more fair and delicate, like frozen jade, radiant and radiant.

... It's no wonder that the Son of Heaven is still in his favor.

I couldn't help but peek at Concubine An...

To be honest, Concubine An will come to Zezhilou today, which surprised Liugong.

It's not that she is specifically rejected, but because the master has made a lot of troubles, and now he has no heirs under his knees.

This kind of banquet was held purely to find spouses for the emperor's heirs, what was she doing here?

Are you still thinking about the soft-hearted and filial sixth prince, or are you here to watch the fun?

It just so happens that Concubine An is also wearing a green dress today, but it is pine green.

This color was originally extremely white.

Among the many concubines in Chunjia, Yuan Lianniang's beauty was never regarded as the best. But because of his good background, there is no problem with his skin being white and black. In the past few years, due to many things, it was said that her face was damaged. This news has been spread for a long time, but there has been no certainty. But judging from the fact that she was wearing a veil indoors at the moment, which tightly covered her entire face, it was probably true.

At this moment, the pine green color only lined a part of her neck.

It's pretty white.

But that kind of whiteness is not the fairness of Concubine Min Gui's skin that is more radiant than snow, but lifeless, revealing the exhaustion and depression accumulated over the years, without any vitality.

"Concubine An is getting old too..." The queen couldn't help thinking, "That's right, she is as old as Bengong, and she is many years older than Concubine Min... These years have not been happy. Concubine Cui Shu is also .”

Since Chunjia came to power, Concubine Cui Shu, who was originally not high-profile, became more and more low-key.

She is wearing a crimson red dress today, and the hairpin and hairpin she wears all show the traces of trying her best.

Hearing everyone's sighs at this moment, he just quietly apologized, without saying a word.

Obviously, the memory of being severely beaten in the palace fight is still fresh.

"Your Majesty, don't say you are old. You are the same age as His Majesty." The concubines fell into the atmosphere of reminiscing about the past, and Zezhi House was filled with melancholy for a moment.

It was Yun Fenghuang who rounded things up with a smile, "Your Majesty is in the prime of his life, aren't you too?"

These words made everyone awe-inspiring.

That's right, Gu Zhen is the same age as Chun Jia.

If Gu Zhen is old, isn't the emperor also old? So for an emperor who considers himself a man of age, what is your intention when you say he is old?

Especially since Chunjia hadn't established a crown prince yet, it was hard not to arouse an emperor's instinct to defend the throne when he made insinuations that he was not young.

"Your Majesty, try this water chestnut. The people below caught it fresh from the lotus pond, but it is sweet." Concubine Shu stuffed the peeled water chestnut to the queen, and then gave it to the noble concubine, "The imperial concubine also has a look. The water on this mountain is good, and the aquatic products grown taste good.”

Finally diverted the topic.

Afterwards, no one dared to talk about their age, but they chatted about the outstanding children who attended the banquet today.

"I saw Miss Jue in a daze just now, is Miss Jue one of the banquets today?" Concubine De took the lead to ask, "I remember that the gold hairpin inlaid with precious jade, gilt tortoise and titled treasure was originally a thing in the palace. , is it the empress who rewarded Miss Jue?"

The queen nodded slightly: "It's Jue'er. She accidentally bumped into the eleventh princess earlier. Although Concubine Jing is magnanimous and doesn't care about it, this child is still very guilty and uneasy. She couldn't sleep for several days and nights in the palace, and finally asked herself to go back and reflect. Seeing her sincerity, Bengong agreed. These days, she stayed at home in the mansion and copied many scriptures to pray for blessings for the Eleventh Emperor. She sent someone to send them to Bengong yesterday. Send it to Concubine Jing."

Concubine Jing's eleventh princess is still young, so she didn't come here today.

In fact, even if the eleventh princess is young, she can come here first to inquire about some news.

After all, the princess grows up very quickly.

The key is this occasion, as long as anyone with a brain knows, don't look at the moment when the empress and the imperial concubine are talking and laughing, and getting along harmoniously.

Later, if you can't say it, you will turn your face.

Those who have older heirs under their knees have to be present for the heir's lifelong event, those who don't, or those whose children are still young, as long as they have a little brain, they want to hide.

At this moment, Concubine Jing didn't thank Concubine Jing on the spot, praising Gu Jue for being virtuous, virtuous and kind-hearted, but there were also others who praised Gu Jue casually, which seemed to have exposed the injury of the eleventh princess.

The one who was brought up next was Concubine Shu's niece.