An Lingrong after rebirth

Chapter 123: Hosting a Palace Banquet

The emperor nodded at the sound of no abnormality, and reached out to pull Zhen Huan, "Get up, it's so cold, kneeling down will always be uncomfortable."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"Zhen Huan stood up with the emperor's strength, and was pulled into the main hall by him. The emperor came so early today, I wonder if he has had breakfast?"

The emperor shook his head and said no. He came right after the court session. "The red date milk you asked He to send yesterday is good. It's sweet but not greasy. I'm thinking about it now."

"The emperor's words made Zhen Huan feel mixed emotions. It turned out that it was not the emperor who wanted Huanbi to die, but Huanbi who sent food to the emperor under her own name that led to what happened last night."

I had misunderstood the emperor, but if that was true, then Huanbi's thoughts were even more frightening. Zhen Huan was thinking in a turbulent manner, but she didn't show it in front of her.

She smiled and said, "I remember that the emperor doesn't like sweets." This milk must have its unique features to make the emperor like it.

Jin Xi, "Go inform Sister He and ask her to make another bowl. Then go to the small kitchen and ask them to prepare breakfast. The atmosphere in Sui Yu Xuan is getting better and better."

An Lingrong has been very busy these days. Ever since she went to Xianfu Palace, Concubine Jing seemed to be getting closer to An Lingrong and would visit her in Yanx Palace every day.

When she came to the Yanxi Palace, she held the Sixth Prince tightly and refused to let go. All the things that were supposed to be done by Concubine Jing were handed over to An Lingrong. At first, seeing that Concubine Jing handled everything in an orderly manner, An Lingrong didn't think there was anything wrong.

"Now that it's in my hands, it's in disarray. The servants in the Ministry of Internal Affairs are quite dedicated, but they have to ask Concubine Jing for her opinion on everything."

At first, Concubine Jing spoke carefully and An Lingrong listened, but slowly, Concubine Jing explained these complicated matters to An Lingrong in detail.

After a while, An Lingrong gradually began to have some ideas about the affairs handled by Concubine Jing. November passed in a blink of an eye, and the weather in Zijing City gradually became colder.

"It was just after noon that day. Concubine Jing was holding the Sixth Prince beside her, while An Lingrong was holding an account book and discussing this month's expenses with the eunuchs from the Ministry of Internal Affairs."

Flipping through the pages one by one, An Lingrong nodded and was about to speak, "The heavy door curtain was pushed open from the outside, and the Emperor walked in, his hands hanging down. What was he busy with?"

An Lingrong and the other were both surprised that no one had informed them, but they quickly stood up and knelt down, saying, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you."

The emperor waved his hand and walked to the couch and sat down. "Never mind, Concubine Jing is here today?" After thanking her, An Lingrong said, "Concubine Jing comes here every day these days."

If it weren't for the queen, I alone wouldn't be able to take care of the Sixth Prince so well. "After hearing this, the emperor's eyes flashed a little and nodded. Jingfei is a good person."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Concubine Jing said. "I am here to help look after the Sixth Prince, but Concubine Shu is even busier than me!" The Emperor turned around and glanced at the account book in An Lingrong's hand.

"When I came in, I saw Concubine Shu looking at the account book. Is it from the Imperial Kitchen of the Ministry of Internal Affairs?" Yes! I have been lazy these days, so I will let Sister Concubine Shu take care of the palace affairs for the time being.

I didn't expect my sister to understand everything at once, which saved me a lot of trouble! I can now have time to play with Sixth Prince.

"The Emperor smiled. Did he not expect Rong'er to have this ability? Does she have such a talent?"

An Lingrong knelt down and said, "Sister Jingfei, please stop praising me," but she forgot how embarrassed I felt when I first looked at the account book.

Your Majesty, if it weren't for Sister Jingfei's detailed explanation, I would definitely not be so familiar with it! The emperor was happy to see that the relationship in his harem was so harmonious.

"After hearing this, she smiled and said, Rong'er is studious, and Concubine Jing is also patient. I know that you are both good."

"Thank you very much for the compliment, Your Majesty," An Lingrong said with a smile, causing the emperor to smile again.

...............

The New Year is almost over and the New Year's Eve palace banquet is just around the corner. Are you interested in hosting it, Rong'er?

"The Emperor's sudden words made An Lingrong slightly stunned. Today, she and Concubine Jing had been working on this cover for a long time before the Emperor came to see it in person."

"I had planned to do this more often so that the emperor would take the initiative to mention that I should learn to manage things, but I didn't expect that the first thing he said was about the palace banquet?"

An Lingrong naturally wanted to accept it, she knew that this was a test from the emperor. "The New Year's Eve palace banquet is considered the biggest palace banquet of the year. If we do well, we will win the emperor's favor."

"It will be easier to handle palace power in the future, but if I really agree, will the Queen and Concubine Hua let me live so easily?"

But if it doesn’t work, it will inevitably make the emperor…

His eyes turned slightly and said, "Your Majesty, aren't the Empress and Concubine Hua responsible for such important events as the New Year's Eve Palace Banquet?"

"I have never done this before. If something goes wrong, it would be embarrassing for me, but I don't want to embarrass the emperor because of me."

An Lingrong spoke in a coquettish tone, "It made the emperor chuckle, but he didn't seem dissatisfied."

The Queen is not feeling well. Although Concubine Hua has never complained of illness or pain, I see how tired she is all year round and I want to find someone to help her.

"Rong'er has never assisted in managing the harem, but she can do such a good job in helping Concubine Jing. If you can also host the palace banquet, you can learn to do the work of a housekeeper next year!" It can also make Concubine Hua feel more relaxed.

The emperor's words sounded nice, but An Lingrong understood that this was to promote Concubine Jing, but failed to achieve the effect of competing with Concubine Hua, which made the emperor a little dissatisfied.

With a smile on her face, An Lingrong glanced at the silent Concubine Jing and said, "Your Majesty, how about this, Concubine Jing will host the palace banquet this time."

"I will help you and learn the twists and turns involved. With such thoroughness, I'm sure nothing will go wrong. Does Your Majesty think this is a good idea?"

"The Emperor thought about it and nodded. Although An Lingrong helped Concubine Jing, she had never done it herself. The New Year's Eve palace banquet is important and cannot be missed. If two people work together, it will be safer!"

Rong'er is very thoughtful and will do as you say.

After hearing this, the two of them responded in unison, "We obey your order."

…………

Inside Yikun Palace

"Hua Fei sat calmly, while Song Zhi knelt below, trembling and not daring to speak. After a while, Hua Fei swept the teacup on the table to the ground with one palm."

"Bitch," Concubine Jing, this bitch, does she really think that she can get away with this by involving Concubine Shu, this vixen?

"Hurry up and speak up, Your Majesty, Your Majesty is favored by the Emperor. Didn't Eunuch Su say that? The Emperor feels sorry for Your Majesty's hard work in managing the palace affairs in recent years."

I just thought that this time it would be handled by Concubine Jing and Concubine Shu. I feel sorry for the Concubine.

What Songzhi said finally touched Hua Fei's heart.

The anger on Concubine Hua's face subsided a little, and she snorted coldly, "The Emperor certainly values ​​me, but I cannot swallow this anger that he gave up the New Year's Eve Palace Banquet so easily."

Songzhi's eyes turned and said, "Your Majesty, why don't I ask Concubine Cao to come over? She always has a lot of ideas." Hua Fei nodded and said, "Go ahead!"

"Songzhi stood up and stepped back, exhaled, and hurried out of Yikun Palace." Concubine Hua was angry, and Songzhi did not dare to be negligent. He hurried and finally invited Concubine Cao to come in a cup of tea.

Paying respects to Empress Hua, wishing good health and happiness to Her Majesty. Hua Fei leaned on the soft pillow restlessly, "Get up, I'm sure Songzhi has already told you about this." Do you have any good ideas for this matter?

Concubine Cao thanked the emperor and sat down. After thinking for a while, she said, "Your Majesty, I think you shouldn't do anything about this matter. Concubine Hua raised her eyebrows. Do you mean that you want me to watch Concubine Jing and Concubine Shu become increasingly powerful and sit back and do nothing?"

Concubine Cao didn't care about Concubine Hua's attitude. She lowered her head and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, the Emperor has asked Concubine Jing and Concubine Shu to host the palace banquet. I guess they are trying to show off their abilities in front of the Emperor."

"The New Year's Eve Palace Banquet is important, and the Emperor takes it very seriously. If anything goes wrong, the Emperor will not let it go easily. He will definitely investigate it carefully."

If anything is found out and the Emperor gets angry, it will be of no benefit at all. Why should Your Majesty bother with this?

"Hua Fei frowned, and it was obvious that she was moved by Concubine Cao's words. She was so angry that she couldn't understand these things for a while, but after Concubine Cao said a few words, she made it clear."

But even if she figured it out, she still felt very upset to have to swallow her anger. Seeing Concubine Hua's expression, Concubine Cao knew what she was thinking.

After a change of mind, he spoke again, "Your Majesty, you cannot touch Concubine Jing and Concubine Shu. Has Your Majesty forgotten that the person in Sui Yuxuan spoke disrespectfully to Your Majesty a few days ago?"

Yes, I forgot about this. "Hua Fei sneered, Zhen and Chun Changzai are two foxy girls, they have had too many good days. I have endured it for so long, I don't want to endure it anymore."

Concubine Cao pulled the corner of her mouth with a forced smile and said, "Your Majesty is right." No one knew about the conspiracy in Yikun Palace, and An Lingrong was now busy with justification.

"Although it's only the middle of November now, it's less than a month until the New Year's Eve Palace Banquet. For two people who have never hosted a palace banquet, it's naturally very nervous."

The New Year's Eve palace banquet is not only for the concubines in the harem, but also for the princes, ministers, and female relatives. There are countless ingredients to be used.

Just counting the ingredients used in the Golden Dragon Banquet for the emperor, "there were 35 catties of pork, 3 chickens, 5 ducks, 3 geese, 35 pork elbows, 15 catties of mutton, 4 catties of donkey meat, deer tails, and countless more."

"Chickens and ducks must be classified into fat and lean, pork must be classified into domestic and wild, and deer tails and venison are extremely precious. An Lingrong and Concubine Jing must review each and every one of these items."

Only after inspection and verification that there are no problems will it be handed over to the Imperial Kitchen of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for storage. The dishes and ingredients for the different people attending the palace banquet are different depending on their status.

An Lingrong and the other person were so busy that they finally prepared the ingredients before the tenth day of the twelfth lunar month.

The two of them felt a little more relaxed. One afternoon, Shen Meizhuang, who had not been out for a long time, stepped into the Yanx Palace, giving An Lingrong, who was busy all the time, a surprise.

An Lingrong came forward, helped Shen Meizhuang to sit down beside the couch, and said with a smile, "Sister Mei, I have been busy with the New Year's Eve palace banquet these days."

"Apart from greeting you, I haven't seen you for a long time. I haven't had a good chat with you. I wonder how you are these days!"

Shen Meizhuang nodded. She knew Rong'er was busy, so she didn't come to disturb you. Don't worry, I'm fine. An Lingrong looked down at Shen Meizhuang's increasingly obvious belly.

"My sister's belly is almost six months old now, and it seems to be getting bigger. Yes, it's just that it's not full-term yet, but my feet are swollen every morning when I wake up, and it's really uncomfortable."

"An Lingrong shook her head helplessly. This little guy always tortures people."

That's right, when I was pregnant with Xiaoliu, I didn't have morning sickness and my feet didn't swell, but why is it different for me?

Although Shen Meizhuang sighed, there was no sign of complaint in her voice, and her tone was sweet. Concubine Jing watched the two of them being intimate from the side.

She smiled and said, "Look at you two, you are closer than real sisters." What the Queen said was, I don't have any real sisters in my family, but since I entered the palace, Sister Mei has taken good care of me.

"I think even if it's true, sisters are no more than this! An Lingrong's words made Shen Meizhuang smile. Rong'er is right. We are closer than real sisters."

"Yes! You two have a good relationship and you both got pregnant one after another. This is indeed a rare blessing. In the future, you will support each other in this palace and will definitely be able to gain a firm foothold."

The position of Concubine Jing and the title of Concubine made her one of the three most precious concubines in the harem. She also had the power to assist in managing the harem, so naturally her position was more deeply rooted.

An Lingrong understood what Concubine Jing meant. It was just two words: "child". The other party's advantage over Concubine Duan is that.

Concubine Duan is like a poisonous snake. As long as there is a possibility of giving her a child, she will do it without hesitation as long as there is a chance. But Concubine Jing is different. She also wants a child, but she can control her desire.

Knowing how to protect herself, she never gets involved in the affairs of the harem. This time, An Lingrong mentioned the issue of palace power because of you, the Sixth Prince. She was also forced into a corner by Concubine Hua and had no way out, so she was eager to find an ally.

An Lingrong had a son, and everyone in the harem watched her rise to fame. An Lingrong was also close to Shen Meizhuang, and they both became pregnant at about the same time.

As soon as Shen Meizhuang entered the palace, she lived in Xianfu Palace. She still believed that since the two of them had a good relationship, there must be no problem with their character.

This made her feel relieved and willing to help this time.