Chapter 348: Guar Jia Wen Yuan 32
Chapter 348: Guar Jia Wen Yuan 32
"Yuan'er, do you like it?" Yinzhen saw that she was staring at him intently, with smiles in the corners of her eyes and eyebrows.
"I like it. The emperor is so kind to me."
"My Yuan'er deserves the best of everything in the world." Yinzhen said, taking out a brocade box from his sleeve and handing it to her.
"These are the South China Sea pearls that I specially ordered people to find for you. Each one is round and plump. I hope you like them."
Wen Yuan opened the brocade box and saw a crystal clear pearl necklace inside. It emitted a soft glow under the candlelight and was extremely beautiful.
The pearl necklace made Wen Yuan's skin look even whiter and more delicate, like the finest mutton-fat jade, making people want to touch it. Yinzhen was so fascinated that he couldn't help but lower his head and kiss her neck, saying softly: "You are so beautiful, my Yuan'er, you are the most beautiful woman in the world."
Wen Yuan was a little flustered by his sudden intimacy, but she quickly calmed down and pushed him shyly, "Your Majesty, this is my birthday party. What if others see you like this?"
"I can do whatever I want with my woman. Who dares to interfere?" Yinzhen said domineeringly, but there was a hint of doting smile in his eyes.
As night falls, Yongshou Palace is brightly lit, with music and singing and dancing.
"I, your concubine, respectfully wish Your Majesty, happiness as vast as the East Sea and a life as long as the Southern Mountains!"
The concubines all had smiles on their faces and spoke respectfully, but their eyes could not hide their jealousy and unwillingness.
She pretended not to see it, picked up the wine glass, and said calmly: "Sisters, please don't be polite. Today is my birthday. There is no need to be formal. Just eat and drink to your heart's content."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Only then did the concubines dare to stand up and take their seats.
Amid the singing and dancing, Yinzhen suddenly stood up, raised his wine glass, and said in a loud voice: "Today is Yuan'er's birthday. I have specially prepared a gift for Yuan'er. Please move to the Imperial Garden."
Wen Yuan was puzzled. What kind of gift couldn't be given in the palace at this late hour of night?
But looking at Yinzhen's gentle eyes, she still suppressed her
Although the concubines were jealous, they had no choice but to stand up and follow the emperor and his concubine to the imperial garden.
The Imperial Garden was brightly lit at night, but it lacked the usual laughter and joy, and seemed particularly quiet. Wen Yuan was led by Yinzhen through the winding corridor and walked to the center of the Imperial Garden.
"Your Majesty, where are you taking me?" Wen Yuan couldn't help but ask, with a hint of coquettishness in her tone.
Yinzhen stopped and turned to look at her, his eyes full of doting smiles: "Don't worry, we'll be there soon."
Wen Yuan's heartbeat gradually quickened with the sound of Yinzhen's footsteps, and an inexplicable expectation surged in her heart.
When she reached the center of the Imperial Garden, she realized that the flowers that usually competed with each other for splendor had been removed, leaving only an empty and flat lawn. In the center, a tall frame stood there, hung with all kinds of lanterns, illuminating the entire Imperial Garden like daylight.
"Your Majesty, this is..." Wen Yuan looked at Yinzhen in confusion, and her doubts grew even more.
Yinzhen did not answer, but smiled mysteriously and clapped his hands. The next second, there was a sound of flapping wings. Wen Yuan looked up in surprise and saw dozens of white pigeons flying up from the shelf, each with a small red lantern tied to its feet.
They circled and danced in the air, and those originally ordinary lanterns were magically arranged into four big words "Happy Birthday".
"This..." Wen Yuan covered her mouth in surprise. She had never seen such a scene before and was deeply moved.
"Do you like it?" Yinzhen looked at her gently, his eyes full of pampering.
The concubines around him suppressed their jealousy, put on smiles on their faces, and came forward to say compliments.
"The Emperor really dotes on His Majesty. I am so envious!"
Inside the Sui Yu Xuan, Zhen Huan stood by the window, stroking a budding crabapple tree with her slender jade fingers, but her eyes fell on the direction of the imperial garden in the distance, where the lights were brightly on and the sounds of stringed instruments could be heard from afar, making the Sui Yu Xuan even more deserted and lonely.
Jin Xi came in with a bowl of bird's nest porridge and said softly, "My lady, it's late, it's time to rest."
Zhen Huan retracted her gaze, turned around and took the bowl of porridge, saying indifferently: "It's so lively, I think it's the concubine's birthday."
Xiao Yunzi observed Zhen Huan's expression and saw that she looked normal, so he bravely said, "My lady, I heard that the emperor prepared a special gift for Concubine Qi in the Imperial Garden tonight, and he also specially summoned all the concubines in the harem to come over, saying that he wanted everyone to witness it together..."
Zhen Huan gently put down the bowl in her hand, walked to the window and pushed open the window frame.
Dozens of white pigeons were circling and flying in the night sky, each with a small red lantern tied to its feet. The lanterns were shining brightly in the night, forming the four big words "Happy Birthday".
Zhen Huan did not say anything, but just quietly looked at the white doves flying in the night sky, her eyes were deep and unfathomable.
The four words "Happy Birthday", composed of countless flashing red lights, deeply hurt Zhen Huan's eyes.
The handkerchief in her hand was twisted into pieces, her knuckles turned white, but she was not aware of it.
Jing Xi looked at Zhen Huan's forbearing appearance, and the thoughts in her eyes were unpredictable.
Ever since the imperial concubine entered the palace, the emperor seemed to have become a different person, with only her in his eyes and heart. In the past, the emperor treated his young mistress so tenderly and considerately, but now he seemed to have forgotten the way of Sui Yuxuan. How could this not make people feel chilled.
"My lady, don't be sad..." Jin Xi comforted her.
"The Emperor was only temporarily bewitched by the Imperial Concubine. When he comes to his senses, he will naturally remember your kindness."
Jin Xi was a little uncertain. She didn't know how many times she had said these words.
Zhen Huan smiled bitterly and put down the crushed crabapple petals in her hand.
"Understand? If he really understood, how could he allow that arrogant woman to be so presumptuous! I have seen through it. In this deep palace, it is normal for new people to laugh and old people to cry. Now, I have ended up in this situation, and it is my own fault."
"My lady, please don't underestimate yourself." Huanbi said anxiously.
"You are such a smart person. That imperial concubine is just beautiful in vain. Once her novelty wears off, the emperor will naturally remember your gentleness and understanding."
"Gentle and eloquent?" Zhen Huan repeated self-deprecatingly.
"The thing that the harem lacks the most now is gentle and eloquent women. I am whatever the emperor wants, but in the end, I still end up being discarded like a worn-out shoe?"
She turned around suddenly, with a sharp look in her eyes.
"I will never sit still and wait for death!"
Two months passed quickly and Zhen Huan was released from house arrest.
To Zhen Huan, these two months felt like two years.
Outside the Suiyu Pavilion, the scenery remained the same, with swaying tree shadows and melodious bird calls, as quiet and peaceful as ever. However, Zhen Huan's state of mind had undergone a drastic change.
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