Harem: Biography of Concubine Qin

Chapter 66 Birthday Banquet 1
On the day of Wanshou Festival, the courtiers went to the gate of Qianqing early in the morning to present the emperor's birthday.

The voices of the courtiers shouting long live could almost reach the harem, and the entire palace was filled with joy.

After accepting the congratulations from the courtiers, the emperor ascended his seat in the Qianqing Palace and began to write the blessing characters in black ink on the square white paper with his own hands, and distributed them to the courtiers and the inner palace.

First, it was given to the empress dowager and the concubines, and then to the courtiers.

Everyone stood in a row at the bottom, waiting for the emperor to finish writing, Li Dequan called an adult's name to come forward to receive the blessing.

The minister whose name was called first knelt down at His Royal Highness to thank him, and then stepped forward to lead the words to retreat.

Whether it is a concubine or a courtier, they are all proud to receive the blessing written by the emperor himself.This is the first time for the Chen family to receive the word of blessing, because Chen Wenyi was young and had not yet separated from the family, and the emperor did not bestow it on him alone.

Chen Wenxin naturally got it in the harem, and all concubines and above concubines also got the bestowal.The emperor's work was well done, and the emperor walked around the palaces a few days ago, making everyone more happy.

"The emperor has grown older recently, and has become more thoughtful, so we can't complain anymore."

On the way to Qianqing Palace to ascend the throne, Concubine Rong said this to De Concubine when she saw her.

She had a happy smile on her face, which surprised Concubine De.

Concubine Rong has always looked down on her because of her mother's family's prominence, but today she would take the initiative to talk to her in such a pleasant manner?
Chen Wenxin saw it from a distance, but did not follow.

I just laughed secretly in my heart, it seems that the emperor's appeasement policy is very useful.

The emperor personally went to the Palace of Compassion and Ning to respectfully invite the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager usually said that she was too old and sick to go out of the palace, and she would definitely show up on the Emperor's Longevity Day.Not only to celebrate the emperor's birthday, but also to let the courtiers see the emperor's filial piety and the empress dowager's kindness.

The mother of the heavenly family is kind and filial, so she can set an example for all the ministers and thousands of people in the world.

When all the concubines arrived at the Qianqing Palace, the courtiers had already sat down.In order to express the etiquette that the concubines in the inner palace should not be seen by foreign officials, a thin layer of gauze curtain is separated between the seats of concubines and foreign officials.

The vague gauze curtain is just a symbolic function, and there is no rule in the Manchus that women should not show their faces.

Elder princesses are young and have not yet been canonized, so they all sit with their mother and concubine.

Concubine Tong and her second elder brother are in the first place on the left, which is the most honorable position among concubines.

Concubine Hui is naturally the first one on the right, and next to her are the elder brother and the fifth princess.

Down below are Concubine Rong and Concubine De, taking the third elder brother and the fourth elder brother, respectively occupying the second place on the left and right.The seventh princess of Depin was young and did not appear in the state banquet.

Further down are Chen Wenxin and Yipin, sitting third on the left and right.

The difference from before is that Chen Wenxin lives on the left side of Concubine Tong, while Concubine Yi lives on the right side of Concubine De's lower head.

That is to say, Chen Wenxin is defined as being more noble than a concubine as a concubine.

This is naturally the definition of the emperor, and a row of seats at this state banquet is the dignity that the whole palace and even the courtiers and common people must agree with.

The emperor's original intention was to rank her under Concubine Tong, that is, the most honorable position among concubines.

But Chen Wenxin would rather die than follow, and firmly stated that he could not be ranked ahead of Concubine De and Concubine Rong.

Just kidding, these two concubines are old people in the palace, and they have a prince, so she is not angry to death when she is told that this yellow-haired girl will come from behind?
She persuaded the emperor, "Even if you don't look at the faces of these two empresses, please ask the emperor to look at the faces of the two elder brothers and don't make them ugly."

The emperor was always annoyed by her refusal of his favor.

Which concubine in the palace doesn't ask for these graces, she is fine, if she wants to give it, she doesn't want it!

But this time the emperor had to admit that what she said was reasonable, not for the concubine De and Concubine Rong, but also for the third and fourth elder brothers.

When he was young, his mother and concubine were not favored. Huang Ama favored Concubine Dong E, and even the fourth elder brother who was born to Concubine Dong E was very fond of him.

Obviously he was born before the fourth elder brother, the eldest brother died young, and the second elder brother Fuquan was on top.But when the fourth brother was born, Huang Ama announced it to the world.

Said that the fourth brother is his first son of the emperor.

The fourth brother is the first son, so what are he and the second brother?
Aren't they Huang Ama's sons?
The people in the palace are the ones who are most able to figure out the holy will and watch people order dishes. Everyone thinks that the late emperor's love for Concubine Dong E will definitely make her fourth elder brother the crown prince.

At that time, he was still the emperor of the third elder brother, even if he was an elder brother, he could not get the courtesy that an elder brother should have.

Everyone thought that he was not favored and that he could not become the future emperor.

Even the mother clan of his concubine Tong Jia's family abandoned them and wanted to support the fourth elder brother.Only the veteran minister at that time, Soni, was particularly optimistic about him, saying that the third elder brother was a valuable talent, worthy of being a prince.

Later, the fourth brother died early, Concubine Dong E also left early, and Huang Ama also left with her.

With the support of the emperor's grandmother, he ascended the throne as the emperor, and those who had treated him rudely were scared out of their wits.

When he was 12 years old, he was about to get married, and his grandmother asked him which lady he wanted to marry.He thought of Sony's words back then that the third elder brother is a valuable talent and worthy of being a prince, so he ignored his biological mother Tong Jia's words and married Sony's granddaughter Hesheli as the queen.

The Empress Dowager was very satisfied with his choice, Sony was a meritorious minister who supported him to become emperor, and marrying his granddaughter was exactly what the Empress Dowager thought.

He will never forget how Tong Jia's family treated him and his mother and concubine.

Even if he finally welcomes the daughter of Tong Jia's clan into the palace, he can only be named a noble concubine.

The emperor has experienced it himself, how could he let the tragedy that happened to him happen to his son again?

He agreed with Chen Wenxin's opinion and ranked her after the two concubines who had sons.However, it is still unknown whether Yipin's belly is a boy or a girl, and whether she can be raised safely.

She has a hot temper, so she can't be put on Chen Wen's heart.

The emperor finally ranked Concubine Yi as the last concubine, and Chen Wenxin couldn't help but shirk it.

As far as Concubine Rong and Concubine De are concerned, they are already very happy that the emperor can rank them ahead of Chen Wenxin.

After all, Chen Wenxin lives in Yikun Palace, so it is possible for the emperor to rank her ahead of the two of them according to this position.

Concubine Rong had inquired with the Qianqing Palace in private and said that the Ministry of Internal Affairs originally ranked Concubine Qin at the top of all concubines.The excerpts were sent to Yikun Palace. After reading it, Concubine Qin didn't stamp the phoenix seal, but sent it to Qianqing Palace to persuade the emperor to change the order.

These words were found out from Qianqing Palace, so naturally there is no falsehood.

Concubine Rong's mood was extremely complicated, and she didn't know how to face Chen Wenxin.

At such a young age, she has such a bearing that she can bear it without competing for favor.The emperor ranked her in a high position, how dare she refuse?
Concubine Rong felt uncomfortable, she didn't know whether to thank her or hate her?

Maybe both.

After Chen Wenxin sat down, she saw the fourth elder brother next to Debi who was facing her, smiling at her all the time.

She smiled and blinked at the fourth elder brother, and was spotted by the concubine De, only to realize that her son was smiling so brightly at the concubine Qin.

De concubine knew that the fourth elder brother and concubine Qin had a good relationship, and concubine Qin also contributed to the fourth elder brother's return to Yonghe Palace.

If she hadn't found out about Concubine Tong's harsh treatment of the fourth elder brother in the garden, and gained the emperor's attention for the fourth elder brother, the emperor would not have discovered Tong Guifei's tricks.

Now seeing the eye contact between the fourth elder brother and the concubine Qin, she knows how good the relationship between the two is.
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The fourth elder brother was still indifferent to her biological mother.

Concubine Qin is also cold-tempered in front of outsiders. How can these two indifferent people smile so happily at each other?
Concubine Qin treats the fourth elder brother well, does she really just like him?

Concubine Qin used to live in her Yonghe Palace when Chen Chang was there. Perhaps she is the one who knows Concubine Qin best among the concubines in the palace?

She doesn't think Concubine Qin is an insidious person, but she can't trust Concubine Qin completely.

The fourth elder brother is her only son, she can't let others have the slightest chance to separate their mother and child.No one would want to replace her.

She stared at Chen Wenxin, as if she wanted to see through him with her own eyes.

She hoped that Chen Wenxin was really innocent.Then she might be able to use the fourth elder brother as a link to form an ally with Concubine Qin.

Chen Wenxin didn't know Debi's thoughts at all, she looked down at the lower head through the thin gauze curtain behind Zhang Chang.

Near the gate of the main hall, I saw Chen/Xihai and Zheng Shi who were sitting upright and not looking sideways.

They are all wearing formal dresses today, Mrs. Zheng is also wearing a gold embroidered gown with three grades of gentlemen, and cumbersome gold and jade ornaments on her head, which can't be seen clearly through a layer of gauze.

She couldn't help but smile, this couple is really well-behaved, they don't even raise their eyes.

I don't know if there is a tacit understanding between mother and daughter, or if Zheng is also secretly looking for Chen Wenxin.Just when Chen Wenxin was about to move her eyes away, Zheng raised her head slightly and cast a smiling look in her direction.

Mrs. Zheng tugged on Chen/Xihai's sleeve quietly, and Chen/Xihai followed her gaze and felt comforted to see that Chen Wenxin was at the top.

Outside the hall came the eunuchs' loud announcements one after another, wave after wave.

"The emperor is here, the empress dowager is here!"

(End of this chapter)