dognovel Chapter 984 Why Didn’t Concubine Chun Come?
Chapter 984 Why Didn’t Concubine Chun Come?
Handan whispered, "Your Majesty, I heard that the Queen Mother's condition is getting worse. There are even rumors in the palace that the Queen Mother may not survive this winter..."
Shen Zhinian had already deduced from Nangong Xuanyu's previous words and behavior that he could no longer tolerate Queen Mother Liu, and was not surprised by this result.
But on the surface, she still behaves in a way that no one can find fault with.
Shen Zhinian looked at Madam Xiao and instructed, "Although the Empress Dowager cannot attend the palace banquet tomorrow, she must follow the proper etiquette."
Madam Xiao said, "I understand. I will send someone to deliver the gift to the Cining Palace tomorrow to let the Empress Dowager know your filial piety."
Shen Zhinian nodded.
Then, she looked at Fuqiu and said, "If the Queen Mother passes away, the status of the Duke Dingguo Mansion will definitely plummet. And without the pressure of the word 'filial piety', Your Majesty will have to be even less merciful when dealing with the Duke Dingguo Mansion."
"Even we know that the Queen Mother is dying, so the Duke Dingguo's Mansion will know it even better. Have they done anything unusual recently?"
Fuqiu is responsible for all news outside the palace.
Now Shen Zhinian’s channels for obtaining intelligence include not only Shen Maoxue but also the forces she has secretly cultivated.
Fuqiu said respectfully, "Your Majesty, our people have only found out that Duke Dingguo and his officials have been meeting with court officials frequently recently."
"As for what they are discussing or plotting, I have no way of knowing..."
After all, the Duke Dingguo Mansion was a powerful force that had been entrenched in the Great Zhou for hundreds of years. Shen Zhinian never expected that the people he had trained in a short period of time would be able to understand their details.
In response, she nodded slightly and said, "I understand."
Anyway, she just wanted to find out some basic information so that she could be prepared. How to deal with and get rid of the Duke Dingguo Mansion was something Nangong Xuanyu should worry about.
In his previous life, this man had done this. In this life, Shen Zhinian was not worried that Nangong Xuanyu would fail.
……
August 15th, Mid-Autumn Festival.
This grand palace banquet was held in the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
The Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Household Department had already arranged the venue in advance.
For people of different identities, there are certain requirements for seating, banquet tables, tableware, etc.
The emperor used a gold-lacquered carved table covered with a bright yellow tablecloth embroidered with dragon patterns. The table was surrounded by a table skirt with "sea and river cliff" patterns. In front of the table were a pair of enamel incense burners and candlesticks, symbolizing "the eternal stability of the country."
The three words "Mid-Autumn Banquet" are engraved on the gold base of the bowls and plates. Each set has twenty-four pieces, and the seal character "Long Live the World" is engraved on the bottom of the bowls.
The queen used silver-lined tableware. Since there was no queen in the palace, there was no need to prepare it.
The concubines used porcelain enamel to paint the outer wall, and the pattern of Chang'e flying to the moon was painted.
The prince used silver cutlery.
Copper enamel or plain porcelain was used for wares below the rank of prince.
Tablecloths are divided into apricot yellow, stone blue and other colors according to their grade, and the distance between them and the emperor's banquet table must be three meters to show the status of the emperor.
Ministers used copper, tin or plain porcelain tableware according to their rank.
These things may seem simple to prepare, but in fact, every detail requires great effort to arrange. Otherwise, if you use the wrong things, it will be a crime of usurpation!
The entrance to the Hall of Supreme Harmony is decorated with pine branches, osmanthus flowers and colorful lanterns.
Under the eaves hangs a revolving lantern of a toad from the Moon Palace made of colored glaze, and between the beams hang draped silk curtains embroidered with a jade rabbit pounding medicine and Chang'e on a cassock tree.
There is also a custom of eating mooncakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival in the Great Zhou Dynasty.
All mooncakes are made in advance in the imperial kitchen.
The reunion cake exclusively for the emperor is the largest, made of refined flour, honey, etc. The surface is printed with "Fu Lu Shou Xi" twined branches, and the filling is Northeast pine nuts, Tibetan saffron, Jiangnan rose sauce, etc. It weighs ten kilograms and requires eight imperial chefs to make it together.
The Baihua mooncakes eaten by the concubines were six inches in diameter, with five colors on the surface, corresponding to the five elements of gold, wood, water, fire, and earth. The filling was a five-nut filling consisting of walnut kernels, almond kernels, olive kernels, melon seed kernels, and sesame kernels. There were floral patterns such as peony and rose printed on it.
The rewards given to the ministers were red mooncakes, made with sesame oil and flour, stuffed with brown sugar, eight pieces per box, wrapped in yellow silk and placed in a rosewood box.
The Great Zhou had the custom of worshipping the moon god.
Therefore, the Mid-Autumn Festival is not only a reunion banquet, but also a grand moon worship ceremony!
As early as ten days ago, the Imperial Astronomical Observatory had planned the auspicious time for the moon worship, which was the first quarter of the Xu hour. They also marked the position of the moon god using the Purple Star as a reference.
After being presented to the emperor for his approval, it was made into a yellow notice and posted at the gates of each palace, requiring all concubines to be present on time.
The Construction Department had already built a moon-worshipping platform five feet high and eight feet in diameter with white marble in the square in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony. On the platform was a red sandalwood altar covered with moon-white brocade.
Zhan Weiran led the imperial guards and set up three levels of sentry posts from the Meridian Gate to the Hall of Supreme Harmony, strictly forbidding anyone to approach!
Now that there is no queen in the palace, Shen Zhinian will lead the concubines.
The concubines first gathered at Zhongcui Palace, and then followed her to the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
Everyone arrived one after another, and Nanny Xiao received them in the main hall.
Handan stood behind Shen Zhinian, helping her dress up.
The moon worship ceremony was a solemn occasion, so Handan dressed Shen Zhinian elegantly. Then she carefully applied makeup to cover up the innate charm on her face, making Shen Zhinian look beautiful and dignified.
finally--
Handan put down the last stroke and said with a smile, "Okay."
"My lady, you are so beautiful tonight!"
Shen Zhinian looked at the beauty in the bronze mirror and curled the corners of his lips in satisfaction: "I am always satisfied with your craftsmanship."
"Let's go."
Handan and Fuqiu immediately supported her on both sides and walked outside.
No matter what the concubines thought, when Shen Zhinian said this, they had to maintain the most respectful attitude and stand up to salute: "Your servant/concubine greets Her Majesty the Imperial Concubine Chen, may Her Majesty be blessed with good health!"
The eldest princess stood beside Concubine Zhuang, biting her lip, tears gradually welling up in her eyes.
Empress Chen is still as beautiful as before.
But why would such a beautiful lady like Chen want to kill Sister Xiyan...
The eldest princess wanted to rush up and question him, but she remembered what Xiao Caizi said, and she couldn't implicate Concubine Zhuang's mother.
Shen Zhinian looked around and frowned slightly, then set his eyes on Concubine Wang and asked, "Why didn't Concubine Chun come on such an important day?"
Wangpin is the head lady of Yikun Palace, and Concubine Chun lives in her palace, so she is naturally under her jurisdiction. Concubine Wang should also take responsibility for Concubine Chun being late today.
Concubine Wang had long expected that Shen Zhinian would ask her, and she couldn't help but feel unlucky and cursed Concubine Chun in her heart!
She stood up, bowed, and said respectfully: "Replying to the Queen Concubine Chen, when I went out today, I went to Shuixi Pavilion to remind Concubine Chun. But she said she was not feeling well and would be here later."
"I don't know why she hasn't come yet."
Damn Concubine Chun, if you want to be late, just be late, but don’t implicate her!