The First Empress - Chapter 2
Chapter 2 The Novice Entered the Palace
A month later, the new beautiful ladies had all entered the palace. After their aunts had taught them the rules and etiquette of the palace, it was time to pay their first visit to the Empress and the concubines of the palace.
The harem of the Great Calendar Dynasty imitated the old system of the Tang and Song Dynasties, and the Empress had three ladies under her, namely, Imperial Concubine Shu and Imperial Concubine De. There were four second-grade imperial concubines, nine third-grade Zhao Yi, Zhao Rong, Zhao Yuan, Xiu Yi, Xiu Rong, Xiu Yuan, Chong Yi, Chong Rong, Chong Yuan, and nine concubines. Those above the rank held the position of Palace Mistress and Eunuchs, and there were also nine Jieyu, Beauty, and Talent, collectively known as twenty-seven wives of the twenty-seven generations, as well as well as Baolin, Yu, Cai, and Cai.
The ranks of the selected beautiful ladies this time were not high. They were just the likes of Bao Lin and the Imperial Maiden. Only the Lan Clan’s beautiful lady was the daughter of the current Prime Minister, Lord Lan Zhenglin. It was said that she possessed both talent and skill, and her beauty was impressive. As a result, she was awarded the rank of a rank five beauty as soon as she entered the palace.
At that moment, the eunuch of Kun De Palace led a group of newly promoted palace concubines to kneel down three times and kowtow nine times to the Empress. After the ceremony, he prolonged his voice and introduced them one by one, “Everyone, Lord, see you, Concubine De–”
“Everyone, Lord greets Imperial Concubine Rou, Imperial Concubine Shun, Imperial Concubine Yi-”
“Little lords, greet Lian Zhaoyi and Chen Chongyi-”
“Everyone, see you, Lord …”
The rookies bowed and bowed again and again, and their well-decorated bright faces were filled with proper courtesy. The concubines accepted their kowtows safely, and they also transformed the resentment in their hearts into a graceful and proper smile on their faces.
When the introduction reached Bu Linglong, the eunuch’s voice stopped.
Logically speaking, the newly promoted Treasure Forest and the Imperial Daughter should pay their respects to Bu Linglong and Bu Cai Ren. However, there was another blue beauty in the saluting team-Blue Beauty’s position was higher than Bu Cai Ren’s by one rank. It was only right that Bu Cai Ren should pay her respects in turn.
The atmosphere in Zhaoyang Main Hall instantly became mysterious. Everyone was staring coldly at this good scene-the old man at the Emperor’s hidden residence was not as respectable as the new beautiful woman. It could be seen how weak that old man was!
Bu Linglong only felt her face burning. She thought that she must look ridiculous now. She sat upright in a chair with the other concubines, but it turned out that she was not worthy of sitting here. She had to salute the daughter of the noble Prime Minister’s first wife!
She stood up in a panic and looked at the woman in the first row of luxurious clothes. Her face was so red that it was almost bleeding. After hesitating for a moment, she finally gritted her teeth and lowered her head to bless herself–
“Sister, what are you doing? Sister has just entered the palace. She is young and ignorant. How can she accept Sister’s gift?”
The body that was about to fall was supported by a pair of white jade-like hands. A refreshing fragrance came from it. Bu Linglong raised her head in disbelief and saw that the blue beauty’s smile was bright, like the rising sun, without a trace of shade or impurities.
Blue Beauty pulled Bu Linglong, who was in a daze, and bowed to each other.
“Sure enough, it’s a girl from everyone. She understands etiquette very well.” The Empress, however, sat on the throne and smiled approvingly at Concubine Lan. “The rest of you should also learn more from Concubine Lan. Don’t be proud just because the Emperor left behind a token and lose the rules that concubines should have, understand?”
The other beautiful women then blessed the Empress once again, “Concubines, remember what the Empress taught you.”
Imperial concubine Rou, who was sitting at the top of the empress’ right, suddenly smiled and said, “Yes, Blue Beauty is the daughter of the Prime Minister. She came from this place. How can she not know how to be polite?” Unlike Bu Cai Ren, a small family from the Peng Clan, not to mention not knowing how to take the initiative to salute a supreme being, he even had a demonic aura in his name. He was like a geisha, truly embarrassing the royal family. ”
Bu Linglong glared fiercely at Imperial Concubine Rou in an instant, her gaze filled with hatred as if she wanted to kill someone!
Bu Linglong, one step at a time.
Her name was filled with parents’ unlimited expectations and good wishes for their daughter. Such a beautiful and well-intentioned name was wantonly thrown into the dirt by other women today, mocking and violently trampling on it.
Concubine Rou was shocked by Bu Linglong’s gaze and unconsciously shrieked, “Concubine Bu, what kind of gaze is this? There is a difference between the superiority and inferiority of the palace. This palace will only teach you a few words. Do you still want to continue causing trouble?”
Offend? Bu Linglong smiled miserably and suddenly realized that she didn’t have the capital to commit such a crime.
If Imperial Concubine Rou wanted to make things difficult for her, it wouldn’t be harder than squeezing an ant to death.
She powerlessly swept her gaze over the imperial concubines in the seats and saw an undisguised mockery and indifference. Only Chen Chongyi stared at her with a serious expression and shook her head slightly.
She closed her eyes and tried her best to suppress the hatred in her heart, but the hatred was so deep that it almost swallowed her up. She walked step by step to the Empress, and then knelt down upright. Her pure white forehead touched the icy cold ground. Her head was covered with jeweled hairpins that concealed her untamed expression. She knelt there with a slender and delicate figure that looked exceptionally pitiful.
“Everything today is my fault,” she whispered, her numb voice almost unlike her own. “I beg the Empress to offend me.”
The Empress remained silent, and the Zhaoyang Palace was as quiet as death. Bu Linglong was still kneeling, her knees aching. She could not see Imperial Concubine Rou’s expression, nor could she see Chen Chongyi’s expression, nor could she see the expressions of the blue beauties and the newly promoted beautiful women. She could only see the black jade green brick in front of her, a pure green mass spreading out, and it was so green that it turned black.
Finally, she heard the Empress say indifferently, “Get up. Today is a joyous day, and I don’t want to punish anyone. Concubine Bu, go back and copy two copies of the Women’s Instructions. Calm down.”
Imperial concubine Rou immediately said anxiously, “But Your Highness, Bu Cairen has clearly offended this concubine …”
The Empress looked at Concubine Rou with a smile and said with a rare sharpness, “Sister Concubine Rou, please say less!” The people present were all sisters who served the Emperor, so how could they be divided into large families and small families from the Peng Sect? Even the Emperor did not dislike Concubine Bu’s background, could it be that it was his younger sister’s turn to dislike him? “My younger sister was the most favored concubine in the palace, but now she is inferior to Concubine De in terms of position. Has my younger sister ever properly guessed the Sacred Will?”
These words were utterly merciless. Imperial Concubine Rou’s expression suddenly changed. Her face stiffened for a long time, but she did not dare to make a move against the Empress of the Central Palace in the end. She only gouged out Bu Linglong fiercely and turned her back to refuse to speak.
The Empress ignored Imperial Concubine Rou and Bu Linglong. She drank a sip of tea calmly and instructed, “This palace is tired. Sisters, let’s disperse.”
On the way back to the palace, Qin’er held Bu Linglong tightly, as if she wished she could protect her Lord with her own body. Her eyes became redder and redder, and her clear tears fell on the back of Bu Linglong’s hand.
Bu Linglong smiled helplessly. She didn’t expect that the little maid beside her would not be able to withstand such humiliation before she cried. “Silly Qin’er, what are you crying for? I’m fine myself,” she comforted Qin’er warmly.
Qin’er cried and said, “How can this servant watch Little Master being humiliated in public …” She thought for a moment, “Even though Imperial Concubine Rou was domineering in the palace, she did not feel much sadness for Little Master. Why did she … want to …”
“Didn’t you hear what the Empress said?” Bu Linglong sighed faintly. “Back then, she was more favored than anyone else in the palace. After entering the palace, she must have been looking forward to the throne of the noble consort. Who knew that the Emperor would not confer the title of noble consort on her and let Imperial Concubine De suppress her? How could she not be angry?” She didn’t make things difficult for me because she didn’t have me in her eyes. To attack me today is just to see me being so easy to bully. Anyone can step on it. ”
Qin’er said hatefully, “Then … shall we just let her bully us?”
‘”Yes,” Bu Linglong said indifferently. Her face was expressionless, but there was a bright light in her eyes. “We still have to be bullied by her for a long time, but not forever. Nothing will never change.”
“It’s that Concubine Lan,” Bu Linglong thought thoughtfully. “He came from the Bell Cauldron Clan, but he doesn’t have the slightest bit of pride. I wonder if he’s really kind-hearted or scheming …”
“Little Lord, look!”
Qin’er suddenly couldn’t care less about crying. She hurriedly tidied up Bu Linglong’s dress and whispered in Bu Linglong’s ear, “Look over there …”
Bu Linglong raised her head and looked at the distant Yan Mu Pavilion. Immediately, her gaze was completely fixed.
A sour and joyful feeling faintly streaked across her heart, as if it was a strange throbbing that filled her exhausted heart.
Why did he appear here at this time?
