The First Empress - Chapter 107

Chapter 107 During The Banquet
Sure enough, the next day, she received news that Ji Zhuhua had summoned her. Linglong was neither humble nor arrogant, and she stared straight into Kun De Palace. Ji Zhu Hua sat upright like a clay sculpture. His entire body emitted a sense of strangers not entering. Seeing Ling Long arrive at Kun De Palace, he only smiled and said, “There’s no need to bow. Come over and chat.”

In her hurry, Linglong could only bend her knees and salute. She walked to Ji Zhuhua’s side. Ji Zhuhua asked Pei Lan to pour hot tea and let Linglong sit down.

“This time, Concubine De is in charge of the autumn banquet. This palace is not feeling well, so you should help Concubine De. Concubine De is sick for a long time. You must be careful not to let Concubine De work too hard.” Ji Zhuhua said earnestly as he looked at Linglong.

Linglong’s gaze landed on Ji Zhuhua’s face, but she inadvertently saw a dazzling white strand in Ji Zhuhua’s hair. “This concubine will help Concubine De. However, this concubine still has one thing she doesn’t know.”

Ji Zhuhua smiled bitterly. “This palace naturally knows what you don’t understand. Recently, this palace’s body has been suffering from some illnesses. I’m happy to retreat to the second line, but I’ve just been busy with you guys.”

Linglong smiled obediently and said, “When the time comes, I will still need the Empress to give me some guidance. After all, it is a big matter.”

“What big things and small things? It’s just a matter of pushing the waves forward. It’s good that you guys have made a name for yourselves.” Ji Zhu Hua’s smile was filled with loneliness. Ling Long hurriedly handed over a plate beside her hand. “It’s almost Mid-Autumn Festival. I hope it will be a long time. Has the Empress prepared the moon cakes so early?”

Only then did Ji Zhuhua sweep away the haze and said indifferently, “The full moon is not round, it’s just an opportunity.”

As he said that, he instructed Pei Lan to install the moon cakes. “This palace wants servant to install some for you. Don’t forget it when you go back.”

Linglong hurriedly thanked her and took away the moon cakes that the Empress had packed when she left.

When the Empress saw Linglong leave, she remembered that there was something important that she hadn’t asked. That was the list of the entire banquet. This was what he needed the most. However, after thinking for a while, his position had already been emptied, so these things probably wouldn’t let him know in advance.

Actually, what Ji Zhuhua was thinking wasn’t wrong. It was indeed only at the end of the list that she finally understood.

Only then did Ji Zhuhua understand what the Emperor meant. He took out a piece of paper and wrote on it, “Things have changed. If they have changed again, continue to do so.” After he finished writing, he asked Pei Lan to carry the pigeon over. Pei Lan stuck the letter on the pigeon’s feet. Only then did he release the pigeon from the corner tower. The green-robed young master below the corner tower smiled after Pei Lan left.

Pei Lan quickly arrived at Ji Zhuhua’s side. “Your Highness has always been well-versed in detail, but why is it so concise this time?”

Ji Zhuhua sneered, “There are eyes everywhere. I have to guard against them.”

Pei Lan nodded cooperatively.

“Was the moon cake that I asked you to put on just now” Flower and Full Moon “or” Good Fortune in Pairs “?” Ji Zhuhua suddenly asked. She had already prepared the moon cakes. One of them had the words “Flower and Full Moon” written on it, and the other was “Good Fortune in Pairs”.

The so-called “good moonlight” has medicine. This medicine has no smell, no color, and after eating it, it will slowly be unable to conceive a child. And the “good thing in pairs” is just an ordinary moon cake. Pei Lan did not know what Ji Zhuhua meant. She had already thought about it just now, so she pretended to be “full of flowers and moons.”

“That’s fine. Anyway, Bu Jieyu’s mind is rather heavy. Everyone knows that she won’t take it back to eat. Didn’t you see it just now? Even Bi Luochun from this palace only took a sip.” Ji Zhuhua was slightly dissatisfied. In the past, her desire to control herself was unprecedentedly good. Now, Linglong seemed to be a little unwilling to be under her control.

After a while, Perrin suddenly said, “It was Concubine Jie Yu who sent the decree to Concubine De. Concubine, think about it. Is there a lot of stuff going on here?”

Ji Zhu Hua smiled. Lin Lang’s laughter was like a collision of gold and jade. “This palace can only tell you this. Bu Jieyu doesn’t dare to make friends with anyone yet, but–” Ji Zhu Hua was slightly stunned. “This may be a precursor.”

Perrin said, “The Empress can’t let Bu Jieyu think that she can fly alone after leaving the Empress.” Ji Zhuhua thought for a moment before smiling. “It doesn’t matter even if I’m empty, but it makes it easier for me to take action. However, I don’t want to take action now. It’s better to teach Bu Jieyu first, so as not to let Bu Jieyu eat inside and steal outside.”

Perrin smiled fiercely, “Your Highness …”

“When the time comes, I’ll punish them first. After all, they haven’t really been under Wu Chen, and I won’t kill them all.” Ji Zhuhua smiled sinisterly.

Pei Lan nodded, “Your Highness is indeed kind-hearted.”

Two days later, the banquet was about to arrive. Linglong arrived in school for the Emperor’s son. Huiqi had already handed over the banquet list and asked, “Have you prepared a place?” Linglong bent her knees and said, “How about Tongming Palace?”

Huiqi clapped his hands and said, “Alright, Imperial Concubine De is planning everything. Help me.”

Linglong looked at the list and said, “Are we going to have the Ministry of Rites send a decree for them to prepare early today?”

Hui Qi nodded his head, “It’s better to be early than late. When the time comes, they’ll all be here, so let’s hurry up and obey the authority.”

Linglong nodded and went to Concubine De’s palace.

Imperial Concubine De finished reading the list over and over again before smiling.

Afterwards, Ji Zhuhua found Linglong and asked, “Did you prepare any programs at that time? The women in the harem are getting weaker and weaker. You are the only one who went to the Golden Jade Hall. Did you prepare them long ago?” Linglong was completely unprepared, but Ji Zhuhua had already asked this. Linglong quickly cut off, “Naturally, I’m prepared. I want to play a tune when the time comes. I’m deeply regretful that the jade flute that the Empress gave me has not been played for a long time.”

Ji Zhuhua seemed to recall something and said, “Do you know Golden Lotus Dance?”

“This concubine has only heard of Golden Lotus Dance when she was young, and she hasn’t studied it yet.” Only then did Linglong understand what Ji Zhuhua meant. Ji Zhuhua was just giving her a chance to show off. She wanted to let herself understand the situation. Even if she was with someone else, she couldn’t forget the opportunity to promote herself.

“The Golden Lotus Dance was performed by a dancer on a six-inch golden plate. The difficulty is simply too high, concubine …” Linglong said.

Ji Zhuhua said, “If you can’t do it, then don’t do it. Although Jinghong Dance is good, it is too popular. There is no charm that it should have. This palace has Lan Zhaoyuan try to see if she can dance the Golden Lotus Dance. There is no other way.”

Linglong was shocked. She was making enemies for herself. She hurriedly nodded and smiled. “There’s still time. I will definitely live up to everyone’s expectations. Although the Golden Lotus Dance is difficult, no one can see any flaws as long as it looks like it. I will study hard from now on. I won’t worry about dancing around at the banquet. Your Highness will be fine.”

Only then did Ji Zhuhua feel satisfied, “It’s good that you know. This palace is safe here, so you can learn from it easily.”

“This concubine will,” Linglong said as she helped Ji Zhuhua up. Ji Zhuhua asked, “Is it a banquet in Chongming Palace?”

Hearing this, Linglong hurriedly replied, “Originally, it was the Chongming Palace. But later, the Emperor said that the Chongming Palace was not spacious enough, so he chose the Tongming Palace. The Tongming Palace was also far from the water pavilion, and the night was not very cold.”

Ji Zhuhua smiled and said, “It’s better for you to think carefully. You’re a capable person. Go back and don’t forget to agree to this palace.”

“I don’t dare to forget.” After Linglong finished speaking, she went to her own Yunluan Palace. Hearing this, Qin’er was so anxious that she couldn’t do anything. She could only hurry up and find a six-inch golden plate for Linglong.

Sheng sighed and lifted the red on an agate plate on the table and poured it on the ground. “Your Highness, it’s not appropriate to delay. Let’s just use this one.”

Linglong took off her shoes and socks and stood barefoot on the agate plate. She only felt that the plate was too small. An inch of land could not be swirled around. The Golden Lotus Dance required a large amount of movement. Wasn’t it difficult to ride a tiger now?

Just as she tried, Qin’er felt that something was wrong. Before she could help, Linglong had already fallen to the ground.

“Your Highness, Your Highness, are you alright?” Qin’er was so anxious that she couldn’t do anything. She hurriedly helped Linglong up. Li Sheng took the safflower oil and slowly kneaded it on Linglong’s feet. She said, “Your Highness is a smart person. Naturally, she knows what the Empress means. Now that she has agreed, she can only head on. This Golden Lotus Dance …”

Linglong gritted her teeth and slowly pushed Li Sheng away. Then, she endured the intense pain and stood on the agate plate again. “This palace will definitely dance well. Close the palace door. Don’t let anyone know that this palace is practicing dancing.”

Qin’er naturally knew that Linglong was a strong person, She could only lay a thick brocade carpet on the ground and stare at Linglong. She carelessly helped Linglong up. Linglong was not discouraged at all. After a day or two, she finally had a preliminary scale. Ordinary people would not be able to see anything wrong with it. The dance could only be described as “stunning”.

Apart from Qin’er and Li Sheng, the others didn’t know what Linglong was doing. No one knew what Linglong was doing, even the Emperor was covered in drums.

Linglong still went to the study room to report every day. Hui Qi didn’t notice anything wrong with Linglong’s foot. Linglong had sprained her ankle countless times today, but every time she danced on the tip of the knife, she endured intense pain. After practicing, she would come over to Hui Qi’s study room to take a look at the memorials. It was truly unspeakable.

But Linglong’s faith told Linglong that she could not lose or be defeated like this.

She vaguely remembered reading a book when she was young. A person was not born to be defeated. You can destroy her, but you cannot defeat her. Linglong smiled bitterly. Was this saying too shallow? You can’t destroy her, let alone defeat her. Linglong knew what she should do.