The Beloved Imperial Consort

On the fourth day of February in the twelfth year of Zhanghe, Emperor Yuan Cheng hosted a banquet in Jingtai Palace to celebrate the Queen Mother's 60th birthday. All the princes and clans, court ministers, and harem concubines were all present.

The Empress Dowager Jin sits on the right head of the emperor, wearing a bright yellow phoenix robe, embroidered with light red peonies, a phoenix crown and emerald jewels on her head, a jade ring ring finger in her left hand, and a gold crystal finger guard in her right hand. The Empress Dowager's eyes were clear, her expression was kind, and she was talking with Emperor Yuan Cheng very intimately.

All the concubines were all well-dressed, with smiles all over their faces, talking and joking for fun. The princes sat down according to age, accompanied by a female family member of sufficient rank.

Zong Zhenglin wore a dark red prince's dress which was rare today, which made him less indifferent and more handsome. Mu Xiyao's pink concubine's formal attire, with a fur-trimmed double-breasted jacket on top, and a fairy-length skirt on her lower body. The lower abdomen was slightly swollen, and she looked even more slender and graceful due to pregnancy. Zong Zhenglin wanted to put a cloak on her.

The Sixth Highness looked solemn and sat upright. Fortunately, there was the gentle and charming Concubine Mu side beside him serving tea and toasting, and talking sideways to him from time to time, which made it seem that the sixth prince was more relaxed. Otherwise, it would be as embarrassing as Emperor Yuan Cheng had imagined.

Mu Xiyao's small hand was held by Zong Zhenglin, and she was watching the dance performance of the actors in the Yinyue Pavilion in the center of the main hall. The song "Avalokitesvara Happy Birthday" opened Mu Xiyao's eyes, and she felt that it was somewhat similar to the modern "Avalokitesvara", but I have two more baskets on hand.

"Your Highness, do you like dancing?" Mu Xiyao saw others dancing happily, and she was also very moved.

"Oh? Can the side concubine meet?" This was the first time Zong Zhenglin heard Mu Xiyao mention singing and dancing. I have never seen her skipping in normal times, but when I think about it carefully, she should be able to cope with such difficult movements in the morning, so she should have some foundation.

Then she squinted her eyes and said meaningfully, "Jiaojiao gave birth to a baby, would you like to dance for this hall?"

When Mu Xiyao heard him call him by his usual affectionate nickname in public, her face was very hot, she gave him a look, and then she responded shyly with her head tilted.

The subsequent opera "Bon Peach Blessings" was sung even more lively, and for a while, the audience changed cups and cups, applauding again and again.

Mu Xiyao didn't like drama art, so she was dizzy watching it, relying on Zong Zhenglin's low-pitched complaints to see if she could understand it.

Zong Zhenglin didn't want Mu Xiyao to say that he didn't understand so bluntly, so he was stunned for a moment, squeezed her little hand in a funny way, and wrapped her waist underneath, letting her rest on his own.

It was the first time for the other princes to see Zong Zhenglin getting close to a woman, and they were very surprised. Later, seeing that the two were very close, Zong Zhenglin would occasionally serve her food with a gentle expression, and he couldn't help but glance a few more times in surprise.

After a closer look, I realized that she was indeed a beauty. Delicate and weak, with pink cheeks and bright eyes, looking forward to life. Especially the charm of the whole body, which is light and graceful, so soft and charming. That figure is even more curvaceous, even if she is pregnant, it doesn't affect half of it. He understood somewhat in his heart that this was probably the legendary Mu family who was very favored. Now she should be Zong Zhenglin's side concubine.

The crown prince and the eldest prince glanced uncontrollably a few times, and sighed that it was a pity. Such a beautiful woman was actually pointed to the wood of the sixth child. If I gave it to myself... I can't help thinking about it.

The fourth prince also looked at him appreciatively, and sighed, no wonder his younger brother came to ask for a prescription, he looked very handsome.

The fifth prince, Zong Zhengming, was in a very complicated mood. It turns out that this is Namu's family. Sure enough, the person has the same character, very beautiful and agile. Live up to his thoughts on her that day. If Zong Zhenglin hadn't intervened during the draft, she would have been his concubine now. For a moment, he was secretly annoyed, and made a strong note for Zong Zhenglin.

The fifth prince and concubine next to him also looked at Mu Xiyao, and heaved a sigh of relief. Thanks to the wrong person at the time, otherwise, which man wouldn't like a woman with such a look when she entered the mansion? Didn't you see that the most solemn and majestic sixth prince was fascinated by her? Please ask for a promotion? Can't help but secretly rejoice.

Zong Zhenglin naturally felt the vague gaze of the fifth prince. He is sitting with the old god in his arms, and he is not afraid of flying knives. Since everyone has entered his house, what can he do?

It was just the other few eyes that were obviously coveted, which made Zong Zhengming very displeased. Jun's face turned slightly chilly.

Zong Zhenglin's expression changed, and Mu Xiyao, who was watching the singing and dancing, immediately felt a sense, and looked at him suspiciously and blinked. The man adjusted his posture, took her into his arms, kept his eyes fixed on the front, and squeezed her small hand with his big hand to caress her.

After getting the birthday banquet and entering the presenting link, all the talents cheered up one after another, secretly thinking of competing.

The prince first appeared on the stage, and what he presented was the original painting "Dan Bird Picture" by Qin Xu, a painter in the reign of Xuande. This picture is a work sealed by the painter in his later years. It has long been lost, and now it is reappeared. Its value is inestimable. And Danniao itself is auspicious in fairy tales, which means very auspicious.

The queen mother smiled and nodded, praising the prince for his sincerity and filial piety. Emperor Yuan Cheng had seen it, and he also appreciated Qin Xu's handsome and noble painting style.

Afterwards, the First Prince Zong Zhengchun presented a bracelet made of seventy-two Zimo Xiangtan Zhangzhang beads. This camphor bead is very rare, and it is only produced on the sandalwood and camphor trees that are more than a hundred years old in the precipitous mountain stream. But today, there are less than half a hundred camphor trees in the mountain stream, and even less than one hundred-year-old tree exists. In addition, this bead comes with light sandalwood, which has the effect of calming the mind, helping sleep and prolonging life, so it has a price but no market, and is extremely expensive.

The queen mother got the bracelet, and smiled and praised the eldest prince for his thoughtfulness and thoughtfulness.

Afterwards, the Buddhist scriptures presented by the fourth prince Zong Zhengyun and the real golden statue presented by the fifth prince Zong Zhengming made the Empress Dowager very happy, praised the two for their filial piety and sincerity, and signaled the eunuch behind him to invite the scriptures and portraits into the Buddhist hall of the Empress Dowager Feng'an Palace.

When it was the turn of the sixth prince Zong Zhenglin to offer gifts, he saw six young eunuchs carrying three pots of the most unusual five-needle pine bonsai. The pine trees are very common, and the flowerpots are nothing new. Although pine trees have always had the meaning of longevity, they were too common at the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, and the number was also very strange. This unusual gift aroused the interest of the Empress Dowager and Emperor Yuan Cheng.

Zong Zhenglin stood in the hall with a tall and straight figure and a calm voice.

"My grandson specially found three five-needle pine trees for my grandmother this time, and they were transplanted from three places." Slightly turned to let the eunuch who was carrying the flower pots step forward to put them down, and then continued, "The first one is from Xinzhou. Jiangcheng." As soon as the words fell, everyone saw that the Queen Mother froze, staring at the cedar in a daze.

Zong Zhenglin went on to say, "The latter two trees come from Haicheng, Fuzhou and Taishan, Qinzhou respectively. Although these three pines are common, my grandson hopes that they can always be with my grandmother, and that my grandmother will live a long life like a green pine."

The Queen Mother received Zong Zhenglin's words, and looked at the three potted plants for a long time. It wasn't until there were tears in his eyes that he silently wiped them away with a silk handkerchief. Then he gave Zong Zhenglin a loving nod, and gave him three good compliments very forcefully. He immediately ordered someone to carefully carry it back to the palace, which meant to put it in the palace and watch it every day.

Emperor Yuan Cheng was also quite emotional, and praised for the first time at the birthday banquet, saying that the sixth prince was filial and obedient to his sons and grandchildren, sincere and pure.

There are many smart people sitting below, and after thinking about it, they can taste the beauty of the sixth prince's ordinary things.