The most beautiful lady in the harem

Chapter 199: Acidity

The matter of preparing kites for the Empress Dowager Cixi was not concealed, and many people in the harem knew about it. The maid said, "My lady, those are kites sent by the Kite Shop in the capital, and they are for the Empress Dowager Cixi's Thousand Years Banquet."

"Where did you get so many kites? You're quite attentive." Qin Huaijin looked at his father-in-law who was moving things in front of him, with a sour look in his mouth.

How great must the genius in this palace be to have to buy so many kites? Can the sky be filled with so many kites?

"I heard that it's because the Empress Dowager Cixi is from Lu that so many kites were prepared," said the maid.

Qin Huaijin snorted, "There are quite a few ideas. This Defei is close to the Empress Dowager Cixi, and my sister is really good at judging people and serving them well. She won over Defei and also pleased the one in Yongshou Palace."

Qin Huaijin had a hidden meaning in his words, thinking that Qin Liuse could gain more favor from the Empress Dowager Cixi only if she clung to Concubine De's thigh.

Although she was the Empress Dowager Dong's person, she had been in the palace for a long time and knew that the Empress Dowager Dong and Emperor Yongjia were not that close.

Otherwise, she would not have not received the favor of Emperor Yongjia until now.

After all, there is a layer of separation between the belly and the heart. If she can gain the favor of the Empress Dowager Cixi and she can push it, then Emperor Yongjia will naturally take a few more glances at him.

Qin Huaijin is considering finding a new way.

If only she had the chance to establish a relationship with Concubine De and the Empress Dowager Cixi.

"Go and take a look at where these paper birds are placed." Qin Huaijin looked at Chuntao and whispered.

Following Qin Huaijin's instructions, Chuntao carefully followed behind when the team transporting the kites reached the end.

Chuntao followed, and Qin Huaijin took the other maids back to Shuyuexuan.

Soon, Chuntao came back with news.

"My beauty, those kites are all kept in the warehouse of the Shanggong Bureau." It is a place specially used for storing things.

Qin Huaijin touched his temple and felt that since he had this opportunity, he must not miss it.

Meanwhile, in Concubine Xiao De's palace, the eunuch who had finished his work ran back to report to Qin Liuse, "Concubine De, Zhaoyi, all the things have been delivered to the palace."

Qin Liuse nodded. Although the items had already been put into the warehouse, she was afraid that something might go wrong at this critical moment, so she couldn't help but remind him again, "Is the warehouse locked? Is there anyone taking turns to guard it?"

The eunuch nodded and said, "Everything has been arranged according to Zhaoyi's instructions."

If the Qianqiu Banquet only had one item, flying kites, it would naturally not be enough.

Flying the kite was a surprise for the Empress Dowager Cixi.

Of course, opera performances are indispensable on an old man’s birthday.

In addition to the opera troupe, the Empress Dowager Cixi loved flowers, so she also prepared a lot of unique new flowers, ready for everyone to feast their eyes on.

This flower-viewing banquet is indeed more torturous than the opera troupe and the kites, because the flowering period can be estimated, but it is difficult to calculate, and it is also prone to various accidents.

So in order to have the flowers in full bloom by that time, Qin Liuse instructed the flower shed master on the mountain outside the capital to grow them in different time periods in advance.

This is the only way to ensure that flowers bloom a few days before and after the Qianqiu Banquet.

When the time comes, pick out some that are about to bloom and send them in one or two days in advance.

The flower shed was built next to a hot spring on a mountain outside Beijing. In addition to cultivating precious flower species, they also planted green leafy vegetables that are only available in other seasons in the winter, which were exclusively for the consumption of the royal nobles.

Therefore, some flowers that cannot be seen in this season can be cultivated.

Qin Liuse would send people to the mountains outside Beijing every day to inquire about the growth of flowers in order to make adjustments to the plan.

After the flower master over there came back with accurate information on which flowers would bloom at the Qianqiu Banquet, Qin Liuse further confirmed the gardening arrangements with Concubine Xiao Defei.

--

It was rare for the Empress Dowager Cixi to hold a birthday banquet, and this was the first time since Emperor Yongjia ascended the throne.

She has always been low-key and never leaves her house. This is a rare opportunity for everyone to get close to the Empress Dowager Cixi in Yongshou Palace.

From time to time, concubines would visit the Yongshou Palace under the pretext of delivering birthday gifts.

However, not everyone could see the Empress Dowager Cixi. But since it was her rare 60th birthday, the Empress Dowager Cixi often sat in the main hall this time, giving everyone the opportunity to come in and pay their respects.

In order to please the Empress Dowager Cixi, Qin Huaijin specially presented a great gift, a top-quality white jade Buddha statue.

The Empress Dowager was naturally very happy, so she asked someone to reward Qin Huaijin with some small things and then talked to her with a smile.

Qin Huaijin looked like a well-behaved younger generation. "We two sisters from the Qin family can both enter the palace to serve the emperor. We are really honored. My sister can share the emperor's worries. As an elder sister, I am naturally very pleased."

Although he hated Qin Liuse, he knew that the Empress Dowager Cixi liked her, so he kept talking about her, hoping that the Empress Dowager Cixi would love her as well.

The Empress Dowager smiled, and then another concubine came to present a gift, and Qin Huaijin had no chance to gossip in front of her.

But Qin Huaijin had come all this way, and it was not her intention to return empty-handed.

Seeing that Concubine Xiao De was about to leave, Qin Huaijin quickly said goodbye and followed her.

After leaving Yongshou Palace, he hurriedly called out to catch up with her, "Empress Defei."

Upon hearing this, Concubine Xiao De slowed down her pace and looked back. She realized that it was Qin Huaijin calling her, so she asked her what was the matter.

Qin Huaijin smiled and said, "Nothing, it's just on the way, so I thought of going with my sister."

Qin Huaijin also knew that Concubine Xiao De was a taciturn person, otherwise she wouldn't be so difficult to approach.

She smiled and looked at the clothes on Concubine Xiao De, praising her, "Sister, the clothes you are wearing today are so beautiful. They make you look especially beautiful when you walk."

Concubine Xiao De said indifferently, "Really?"

Qin Huaijin's face froze for a moment, but he soon smiled again, thinking that someone like Concubine Xiao De was difficult to approach.

I couldn't help but think, with such a temper, it's no wonder that the emperor doesn't want to favor her. Who can stand such a cold person?

But in his heart, he wanted to build a good relationship with her, so he had to put on a smiling face and said in a flattering way, "Dear Concubine De, you have been working so hard these days. I wonder if my sister has caused trouble for you. She is young, so if she has done anything wrong, please bear with her."

Concubine Xiao Defei usually practices sword dancing to exercise her body, so her walking speed is not slow.

Hearing this, he said to Qin Huaijin, "Qin Zhaoyi does things in an orderly manner, so it's not troublesome."

Qin Huaijin didn't know how to respond for a moment and could only nod in agreement with a smile.

He kept smiling and flattering Concubine Xiao De all the way, but all he got was her indifferent response.

When they arrived at the gate of Concubine Xiao De's palace, Concubine Xiao De took the initiative to look at her and said, "I'm here, Lady Qin should go back and rest early."

Then he smiled slightly, turned around and went into his own palace.

Qin Huaijin was left standing at the door in a daze.

Qin Huaijin had never been treated so coldly by anyone before. For a moment, he felt extremely uncomfortable and was about to jump up and down.

Chun Tao had also been listening all the way here. Seeing her master's grim expression, she asked, "Beauty, let's go back."

Qin Huaijin pressed his fingers in hatred and said angrily in a low voice, "I didn't know, I thought she was the queen. Why are you so arrogant? You deserve to be ignored by the emperor your whole life!"

As they walked, he remembered something and asked Chuntao, "What about the warehouse? Is it done?"

Chun Tao said in embarrassment, "They are guarding closely over there, and I haven't found a chance to take action yet."

This time, Qin Huaijin did not lose his temper or make things difficult for her. This matter had to be done quietly, so she couldn't be impatient.

Otherwise, if anyone were to catch any clue, it would be the end of me.