The sound of hurried footsteps was mixed with fierce scolding: "Everyone needs to be more agile with their hands and feet! What are you doing?"
"You blind thing, be careful! These are things more valuable than your life, who cares if you touch them?!"
Concubine Ming frowned slightly.
Qing Lingyi also followed the sound.
I saw a line of palace people filing in, holding various gift boxes and trays, which were neatly stacked on the ground under the command of the leading palace maid.
The woman who came in from the back had black hair and snow-skinned skin, with long and narrow phoenix eyes, and the tail of her eyes pointed upward with a bit of charm and arrogance. She was wearing a skirt embroidered with gold threads made of blue pearls, her hair was like a pile of crows, and her hairpins were floating on her temples.
Qing Lingyi was silent and unconsciously rubbed his right wrist.
I knew I would see her when I entered the palace today, but I didn't expect it to be so soon.
This is Princess Huayang, a flower of wealth and honor in the world who is held in the moonlight by stars. She is the daughter of the current queen and her status is extremely noble.
She was the only princess in this dynasty, and the emperor doted on her very much.
Needless to say, the daily expenses for food and clothing were worth mentioning. The silver dot emerald carnation hairpin she wore today was worth as much as a large courtyard in the prosperous area of Suidu.
Hua Yang entered the palace and looked at Qing Lingyi.
The two looked at each other.
Hua Yang curled his lips sarcastically, about to say something.
Concubine Ming smiled elegantly and said: "It's just my birthday, why bother the princess to come in person and mobilize so many people?"
Huayang had no choice but to turn his attention away from Qing Lingyi.
When she came here, she had a mission on her back.
Hua Yang raised his face and said: "The mother-in-law said that she and the Ming Concubine have served the father for many years, and they have long regarded the mother-in-law as a sister. The mother-in-law attaches great importance to the mother-in-law's birthday, no matter how big or small. But now the mother-in-law I am in charge of the affairs in the palace and I really can’t leave, so I asked me to do it for you and bring you gifts.”
The last sentence is particularly important: "It's all a small gift, I hope Concubine Ming will accept it."
Qing Lingyi was shocked. Is this a small gift?
Just what she saw at this glance, the auspicious Buddha, the three friends of Suihan, the white jade flower arrangement, and the green jade Ruyi, were all extremely valuable, not to mention there were other bigger boxes.
The queen's move really meant that her family was extremely wealthy. To them, these were just a few drops that slipped through their fingers.
It is said to be a "send", but it is more like a "reward".
Concubine Ming remained calm and still smiled: "Your Majesty, I have troubled you. I originally planned to keep everything simple, but Your Majesty said that birthday banquets are rare, so it is better to organize a lively and lively one. In this way, I have troubled the Queen. I I feel really sorry."
Qing Lingyi listened and couldn't help but look at Concubine Ming.
I have really seen the big world.
Concubine Ming called to the maid next to her: "Go, take another plate of lychees that my brother sent urgently from Lingnan and bring it back to the princess."
Huayang wanted to politely refuse, but Concubine Ming said first: "Lingnan is not as prosperous as Suidu, but the advantage is that there are many fruits. It is the lychee fruit season recently, and my brother sent me some. I just entered the palace last night. . I hope the princess will not dislike it and take it back to express my gratitude to the Queen."
Concubine Ming's brother is the military governor of Lingnan.
Although Lingnan was located in a remote area, it attracted great attention from the emperor.
Last year, the Tubari invaded, and the five prefectures in Lingnan were in danger.
Thanks to the Ming Jiedushi's stubborn resistance and the reinforcements led by Cheng Yang arrived, the southwest border was defended.
The meaning of Concubine Ming's mentioning this is obvious.
No matter how rich they are, the Ming family has real power and royal favor.
Qing Lingyi listened with emotion.
After all these years, the concubine Ming and the empress are still fighting fiercely overtly and covertly.
While they were quarreling with each other, Cheng Zheng leaned over and asked curiously: "Do you have a grudge against Princess Huayang?"
Qing Lingyi was extremely calm, "No."
Cheng Zheng didn't believe it: "No grudge, why is she looking like that?"
Qing Lingyi looked calm, "You also know that I have been living in the Yongxing County Government Mansion since I was ten years old. Your Majesty respected Zuo County Duke's talent and learning, and specially sent Princess Huayang to the County Government Mansion, where she studied for three years. So. She and I are classmates."
She caught sight of Hongxiu from the corner of her eye, paused for a moment, and said, "There is no such thing as hatred. That kind of look is a special way of getting along between our classmates."
Cheng Jun on the side laughed.
It's obvious that they have grudges and have a special way of getting along, what a mess.
Only a fool would believe this rhetoric.
"That's it!" Cheng Zheng looked like he suddenly realized.
“……”
Cheng Jun silently took back what he just said.
Huayang didn't refuse the plate of lychees, and felt really unhappy. He saw Qing Lingyi chatting and laughing with people over there, and he was even more angry.
"Yo, who do I think this is?"
Hua Yang pulled up his red lips and smiled maliciously, "Qing Lingyi, I haven't seen you for a long time, and I heard that you are getting married. - Oh, do I have to call you my wife now?"
This was a mockery, and she was waiting for Qing Lingyi's reply.
but none.
Instead, Qing Lingyi lowered her eyes: "The princess is right."
Hua Yang didn't expect that she would be so cowardly after getting married, so he snorted contemptuously.
"I'm thinking of you as a classmate," Huayang said, "I'll give you something."
Her personal maid, Bai Lu, walked forward quickly holding a book.
Qing Lingyi turned his eyes and saw the words "Shuidian News" on the cover, and his expression changed instantly.
She couldn't help but touch her right wrist.
There is a scar on the inside of the wrist. It is very small and cannot be seen without looking carefully.
It was scratched by her fingernails during a fight with Huayang when she was eleven.
"As we all know, the most famous storyteller in Suidu today is called Ban Zhanmian. Her storybooks can be sold out in just one day. I wonder if you have read "Water Palace"? This one is about it. Special addition." Hua Yang said, the proud smile on his face widened a little.
Qing Lingyi gritted his teeth with hatred.
The two of them fought back then just to "half-cover their faces" and the book "Water Palace".
Because this so-called half-covered face is none other than Huayang.
The books she wrote were widely circulated in Suidu and had some influence. For example, the woman called herself "nujia" because she had read the Huayang dialect version.
But "Water Palace" is very special.
Huayang wrote in it about a woman named Yan Qing who seemed to have no salt and no shame. She had affairs with many men. She was often invited to the water palace to spend the whole night having sex. She even got pregnant before marriage and gave birth to a daughter. She didn't follow the rules of a woman and drowned her in the pond.
At that time, Qing Lingyi could tell at a glance that the heroine was based on her mother, Qing Yan.
She was so angry that she tore up the book on the spot and struggled with Hua Yang.
After that time, the two of them were on the same level. Even if they no longer fought, they would always choke each other when they met.
The reason why Qing Lingyi didn't choke her today was because she married Cheng Yang and didn't want to cause trouble to him.
She never expected that Hua Yang would write that book again.
"Mrs. Cheng, why don't you accept it quickly? This is the princess's kindness."
Bai Lu urged with a playful smile: "When you go back, you must read it carefully. Don't imitate Yan Qing and corrupt the morals. It would be a shame to die!"
