The First Empress - Chapter 81

Chapter 81 Hundred Gardens
Linglong raised her head slightly and said, “This concubine greets Your Highness.”

Ji Zhuhua had already briefly mentioned what he should have asked just now. If he wanted to ask again, Linglong would be suspicious. He changed the topic and handed over a list that was about to be drawn up. “Help this palace take a look. In a few days, there will be a Hundred Flowers Banquet. Do you have any additions for these people?” Hearing this, Linglong was relieved.

However, a new problem arose. Why did he have to help him think about it?

However, now was not the time to be puzzled.

Linglong took the piece of red paper that was sprinkled with mud and gold and read all the names in an instant. Because it was the harem’s banquet, it was naturally the concubines of He Palace, Prince Fu Jin, and the Imperial Mandate’s wife who took the lead. Therefore, the Empress only asked casually and did not really have the intention of letting her arbitrate. Linglong had always known better than herself. After reading it, she hurriedly handed the paper to Ji Zhuhua and said, “Your Highness will definitely draw up a good date and a list. Your concubine has seen it and there is nothing wrong with it.”

Hearing this, Ji Zhuhua observed Linglong’s expression.

Linglong only felt that the light in her eyes was like a bolt of lightning on a clear day, carrying with it a kind of inquiry and speculation, “Don’t you think there’s something missing?”

Linglong thought for a while. The Empress was naturally in a high position. However, since she was looking for him, there must be a problem. Linglong was called here to fill the gap. Therefore, she frowned and thought for a moment.

“There doesn’t seem to be a Seventh Princess? The wives of other officials of the Third Stage and above are also incomplete.” Linglong did not dare to be arbitrary. After she finished speaking, Ji Zhuhua indeed nodded and drew a brush with thick ink and heavy colors. Only then did the list of names be drawn up.

Linglong had only been in the palace for two years, so she didn’t know much about these festivals, but when it came to festivals, she couldn’t help but think about them. The first thing he thought of was the previous’ Cold Elimination ‘, the banquet of the Hongmen Sect, the banquet of wine without good wine without good feast!

Could it be that this time, the Hundred Flowers Banquet in the Closing Palace was also like this?

Linglong thought for a while, and there was no such thing as “borrowing a knife to kill someone” that could be mentioned on the stage recently, so she asked, “Your Highness, this concubine is dull, I don’t know what a Hundred Flowers Banquet is.”

The Empress explained the origins of the Hundred Flowers Banquet. It was originally a harem banquet that had been popular since the previous dynasty. The Hundred Flowers Banquet was called the Hundred Flowers Banquet as its name implied. Li Qinglian, the exiled immortal, had the “Banquet of Flying Flowers”. Now, in April, flowers of all colors competed for beauty. One was to pray for blessings, and the other was to gather the concubines of He Palace and the Imperial Lady, so that the Empress could use the banqueen’s banqueen’s banquet as a stunt to begin her training. Apart from the Spring Festival Banquet, it was also a relatively large unusual banquet. The banquet of the Tian Clan was originally a pun. Only then did Linglong get a slight enlightenment.

The so-called Hundred Flowers Banquet was just to let all these women go to the harem while the bees and butterflies were busy with the flowers, so that they could be a good helper and not cause trouble for their husbands. Thinking of this, Linglong loosened her brows. In short, there was no such thing as a blade, sword, or shadow. Now, she was relieved.

However, Linglong did not expect that after the Red Pink Legion joined forces, it would be almost wishful thinking to end the banquet without any disturbance.

Ji Zhuhua changed the topic and surprised Linglong. “You’ve done a good job these past few days. Listen to the Emperor.” She put away her fan-like mind and looked at Ji Zhuhua. “The Empress praises you absurdly. This is all my duty.”

She naturally knew that it was impossible for the Emperor to tell Ji Zhu Hua that he had arrived at the Seventh Prince’s Mansion’s Longtan Tiger’s Cave. Naturally, he had also mentioned everything in one stroke. The joints and interests in the middle could not be understood by her. Otherwise, many things would have been done in vain.

“This concubine is just praying for blessings. Strangely enough, I haven’t dreamed of Concubine Heshu since I came back.” Linglong was even more clever, changing the topic so much that she couldn’t get it right. Ji Zhuhua’s smile was mixed with a trace of exhaustion and bitterness. “Raise your head three feet, there is a god. Besides, you are also a person of the Emperor. Naturally, you should stay away from dirty things.”

When Linglong thought of the last time she went to Baohua Temple to dip a willow branch in water and nod her head, her heart suddenly became much clearer. Perhaps there was something she really couldn’t see.

“That’s right. No matter how I put it, this concubine is still from the Emperor. The Emperor’s Heavenly Fate is a dragon and phoenix amongst men. Naturally, I will not be afraid of her.” At this point, Linglong observed Ji Zhuhua’s expression. Ji Zhuhua’s expression was a little tense, but he quickly revealed a charming Xi Ning smile and said, “It’s good to know this.”

Linglong couldn’t help but think of the humiliation and delay that Concubine Heshu had suffered in prison. Ji Zhuhua didn’t treat his cruelty as a thing at all? Or could it be that the cruelty instigated by the Emperor was not cruelty?

Linglong didn’t want to think too much. She said two more words about the banquet’s display and the time of the banquet. Even if it was settled, seeing Ji Zhuhua, she could make a long story short and guess that her spirits weren’t very good. She casually found a reason and left.

Linglong felt a chill surge out of her heart. She walked into the flower shadow and paused. She saw a bright yellow sun shining through the mottled tree shadows. Half of the ground was filled with hope and half with suppressed deathly silence. She couldn’t help but yearn for such a vigorous red color.

“Concubine, is your body uncomfortable?” Qin’er saw Linglong’s weariness and hurriedly came over to help her, her worried expression overflowing.

Linglong insisted on walking outside the flower shadow. The sun shone on her white dress.

Linglong said, “It’s fine, let’s go back.”

Qin’er looked behind her and couldn’t help but ask, “Is Your Highness unwilling to participate in these things?”

“Naturally, I’m unwilling. If anything happens, this matter will be related to me. The list was drawn up by me. In case a calamity descends from the heavens, the first one to bear the brunt will be me, right?” Linglong asked back. This kind of plan of killing two birds with one stone seemed like only Ji Zhuhua could execute it.

Qin’er snorted contemptuously, “Your Highness, you risked your life to deliver a letter to her. She actually repaid her kindness with grievances. Her heart is truly punishable.” Qin’er was also very angry, and her nose and lips were all pouted.

The temperature in Linglong’s finger slowly disappeared. Qin’er only felt that it was cold. She continued to ask, “Concubine, are you alright now?”

Linglong took two steps and said, “I’m fine. I can only tell you two things you said just now. If a person can keep a secret, there’s only one thing. That secret will never be revealed.”

Qin’er’s watery eyes looked at Linglong and waited for her last sentence. Linglong said coldly, “Only if you commit something and are killed, there will be no day when the secrets will float!”

Qin’er almost fell, “Hasn’t the Empress been helping us?”

Linglong had always thought so. The Empress was clearly helping her, but why did she push herself into the political storm again and again? Thinking of this, Linglong couldn’t help but feel a little disdainful.

“Let’s take a step-by-step look. There’s no other way.” Linglong could only comfort herself and Qin’er, who was beside her, who was worried. Qin’er was obedient and said, “When the boat reaches the bridge, it will naturally straighten out. Your Highness, don’t worry about it anymore.”

Actually, according to Linglong’s plan, she would quickly go to Hui Qi’s place to mention it. If she went to Hui Qi’s place and told him about this matter, it would be equivalent to setting up a case. Anything that happened in the future happened randomly, and there was no suspicion that it was his own plan.

However, the fact that he had gone to Huiqi now naturally relieved him of his suspicions, and undoubtedly made Ji Zhuhua hate him a third more. Thinking about it, Linglong felt that she was in a dilemma, so she could only return to Yunluan Palace first.

Just as he walked out, Eunuch Lu nodded and bowed in front of him.

Linglong was surprised. Looking at this, she was probably walking towards her. Linglong hurriedly stopped. Eunuch Lu also stopped just in time. He bowed slightly and said, “Eunuch, you can’t. Eunuch is a famous person beside the Emperor. If you have anything to say, just say it directly.”

Eunuch Lu naturally knew that courtesy could not be crippled in the palace. Seeing Linglong’s courtesy, he said, “Your Majesty is looking for the Empress everywhere. Is Empress Jieyu just out of Kunde Palace?”

Linglong thought that it would be better to rush earlier than to rush earlier, so she slightly brought a sentence, “This palace was urgently summoned by the Empress and helped draw up the list of the Hundred Flowers Banquet.” Then, she asked, “What did the Emperor call me for?”

“Looks like there’s still something to do. Your Highness just needs to follow this old servant.” Linglong nodded and said, “Eunuch will go first.”

Eunuch Lu walked in front with his cat on his waist. Because Linglong was a female member of the Imperial Palace, he naturally maintained a certain distance from Eunuch Lu. However, Eunuch Lu still heard Linglong’s conversation with Qin’er. When they arrived at Qianhe Palace, Eunuch Lu first went in to inform him.

“Why aren’t you here?” Hui Qi was a little anxious, but he didn’t mean to blame her.

Eunuch Lu said, “It was the Empress who asked Concubine Jieyu to help with the list of the Hundred Flowers Banquet.”

“Is the Hundred Flowers Banquet coming?” Huiqi looked sideways and Eunuch Lu did not dare to raise his head. “As usual, it is April. Now, there are still three to five days left.”

Only then did Huiqi wave his hand, “Let Jieyu in.”

Linglong slowly stepped into the high threshold. Seeing Huiqi standing looking at an ancient painting, he hurriedly saluted, “Your Majesty greets me. Long live Your Majesty.”

“You and I don’t need to observe the courtesy of the monarchs and subjects. Besides, there’s no one else here.” After saying that, Eunuch Lu and Qin’er hurriedly walked out and closed the door. Linglong felt a little depressed, and the chirping of birds outside the window seemed to be faintly cut off. The solemn atmosphere in the room became even more serious.

Linglong had always been smart. After judging the situation, she understood that the Emperor had something to say. Furthermore, it was probably something that no one else would listen to. Thus, she asked, “Does the Emperor have anything to say?” Huiqi thought for a moment and handed over a piece of paper. “Do you remember these three names?”

Linglong took the list and smiled, “It was a coincidence today. I finished reading the list in the morning, and now I’m here to look at the list again.” This sentence was naturally a pun. He told the Emperor from the side that he had helped draw up the list in the morning, so if anything unexpected happened at the banquet in the future, he could not help himself.

Huiqi nodded, “Look at this list, it’s more than a hundred times more important than yours.”

Linglong hurriedly looked at it. There were only three names on it. They were all Pushe’s names. One was in Hanoi, and two were outside the pass.

“These names aren’t on the chessboard.” Linglong still remembered those names.

Huiqi frowned. “Do you remember clearly?”

Linglong nodded heavily. The names on them were all compound names. If there were any, Linglong would definitely remember them that day. Huiqi laughed out loud when he saw this. “You did it again, you know?”

“Concubine, I don’t know.” Linglong really didn’t know.

Huiqi stopped laughing and said, “These three men are heavily armed. I intend to drink a cup of wine to release my military power. From what you said, there is no such thing on the list. It can only mean that they are from the neutral faction. I will take back half of the troops on hand and then make a move. I will definitely subdue my subordinates.”

As Linglong listened, Huiqi suddenly changed the topic, “Otherwise, kill him!” He cleanly waved his hand and slashed in the air.

Linglong was secretly shocked. The Tian Clan had always been like this, and there was nothing incomprehensible about it. Fortunately, Daddy was only an imperial edict from the Imperial Academy, thus avoiding these neutral and unneutral matters.