PDLP Chapter 401 Palace Trivia
Chapter 401 Palace Trivia
Luo Yu only knew that not all developments would be so smooth.
Fortunately, Zhu Jinyou's approval document had been sent to Heishui City, and Luo Yu was relieved.
But she still didn't know how to face the Queen Mother.
After Zhu Jinyou took the position of regent, he was so much busier than before that he couldn't spare any spare time to visit Luo Yu, let alone spend time alone with him.
Luo Yu didn't care. After all, he had good food and drink in the palace and could just spend the winter in a daze.
The Spring Festival is just around the corner, and the royal family will be holding many grand activities, such as sacrifices, banquets, staying up all night, and worshiping gods and Buddhas. The people in the palace are already busy. Although the emperor is still asleep, the festive atmosphere cannot be lost.
Luo Yu had nothing to do, so she sent the draft of the painting to Bai Lingyi and wrote a letter asking Fang to prepare her dowry. She would be engaged and married to Ning Wang Zhu Jinyou after the new year. This was supposed to be a happy thing, but she wrote it in the letter without any excitement, as if she was just writing about someone else's family.
The day before New Year's Eve, the palace was more lively than ever before.
The whole city was brightly lit at night, as bright as day. The palace was also filled with festive joy, with big red lanterns hung high. Wherever you went, it was bright. The eunuchs and maids in the palace were all dressed in festive colors, all of them were beaming with joy, and were very enthusiastic when they saw their masters.
This was the first time that Luo E experienced such a lively occasion. Xia Liang had to take care of the emperor every day, and it was very tiring, so Luo E invited her to go for a walk in Yichun Garden together. The emperor was watched by several personal guards.
Along the way, I saw many palace servants walking towards Yichun Garden. It turned out that the palace started setting off fireworks on the night before New Year's Eve every year, and the fireworks lasted until the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. Each show lasted for the duration of one stick of incense, and people in the palace who had free time would go to watch.
The two of them finally squeezed to the lakeside and found a spot with a good view. Xia Liang pointed to a pavilion reserved for concubines and young princes and said, "Sister, let's sit over there. Look, they even have charcoal and snacks ready. You can tell at a glance that this is high-end treatment."
Luo Yu smiled gently: "We should stay here. There's a group of women over there, chattering and it's scary."
Xia Liang smiled slyly: "I'll just stand over there, I guess no one will dare to be arrogant with me."
As the two were talking, they heard a familiar voice calling them.
"Miss Luo Yu, Miss Xia Cao, you are back?"
It was the Fifth Prince Zhu Shengzhi. His face, which had been cold just now, immediately lit up with smiles upon seeing the two girls. He wanted to rush over and hug them, and his little face flushed with excitement, as if he had found his long-lost sister.
Xia Cao was very casual. She gestured at the little prince's head and muttered, "How come you've grown so much taller in just half a year?"
The Fifth Prince didn't care about the brat Xia Liang mentioned. Instead, he missed the casual and free-spirited interactions with the two girls.
"Miss Xia has become much prettier, and Miss Luo Yu is still as beautiful as ever."
Luo Yu chuckled: "You are so mature at such a young age. Don't call me sister Luo Yu. Just call her Sister Xia."
The fifth prince rubbed his head embarrassedly. He was just about to talk about the bumper watermelon harvest in October when he saw fireworks suddenly fly into the sky and explode in a circle. The shouts of everyone drowned out what he wanted to say.
The fireworks lasted for a while, and the fifth prince got a plate of candied fruit from somewhere and handed it to his two sisters.
Xia Liang stuffed one into his mouth and mumbled, "His Royal Highness the Fifth Prince is truly caring."
"There will be a surprise for you all at the palace banquet tomorrow."
Zhu Shengzhi thought about it and decided not to tell Luo Yu about growing watermelons. It would be better to let them marvel at it tomorrow.
Xia Liang laughed carelessly and said, "Why do we have to wait until tomorrow to discuss this?"
At this time, a palace maid came over and called the Fifth Prince: "Your Highness, the Imperial Concubine is calling you over."
"Hey, tell Mother, I'll be right there."
The little palace maid did not move. She lowered her head and said nothing, not daring to look at Luo Yu and the others.
For some reason, the eunuchs and maids in the palace were still very afraid of the two girls.
Luo Yu smiled and told the Fifth Prince to go quickly so as not to implicate the servants.
The fifth prince was kind-hearted by nature. When he heard what his sister Luo Yu said and looked at the little palace maid, he realized that his sister did not want the little palace maid to suffer, so he immediately followed the little palace maid.
On the way, he muttered to himself, "My mother just told me to go out and play with other people, why is she calling me back in less than a quarter of an hour?"
The eunuch following behind couldn't help but sigh. Of course, one shouldn't be with someone they shouldn't be with. With so many people talking, it's not a good thing. Concubine Mo was already in a precarious position, and she couldn't afford to add to the gossip. Furthermore, Miss Luo and Miss Xia were in awkward positions within the palace, and no one knew whether the future would benefit them or harm them. No one dared to provoke them, but no one dared to get too close to them either.
Xia Liang ate half of the candied fruit on the plate and looked at where the concubines were sitting from afar. The Queen was not there. Concubine Wan was sitting in the position with the best view, with several palace maids serving her behind her. The other concubines seemed to dare not even breathe beside her.
"Sister, you said that Concubine Wan doesn't have any children, but everyone is afraid of her? Is it because everyone knows that she and Prince Ning are having an affair?"
Luo Yu was almost choked by her words, and then looked over. Among all the beauties, Concubine Wan was still the most eye-catching one.
"Perhaps, the person behind her is the Queen Mother. If the Queen Mother hadn't promised her something, do you think she would dare to be so high-profile in the palace under the current circumstances?"
"Sister, are you going to the banquet in the palace tomorrow?"
Luo Yu sneered and said, "Of course I will go. Zhu Jinyou is even planning to announce our marriage!"
"Then I won't go. I don't like this kind of occasion, and I'm not too sure about the Emperor."
"Well, it's okay. I can go alone." Luo Yu looked at the four caring bodyguards following behind him and said with a wry smile, "It's not that easy to get rid of me now!"
The two of them were talking and laughing when they looked up and saw that the fireworks were almost over. They saw only a few faint flames blooming in the dark sky and then drooping down with their last breath. Some of the people watching had secretly dispersed without any reluctance to linger.
No matter how beautiful the past is, it’s over and people are gone!
Xia Liang and Luo Yu planned to take a walk around. Although it was cold outside, it was better than sitting in the house.
Not long after walking, a soft and charming voice reached Luo Yu's ears: "Sister, wait for me."
Luo Yu and Xia Liang recognized the voice as Concubine Wan's, but they ran as fast as they could, pretending not to hear it.
Their philosophy is not to conflict with anyone in the palace, let alone show any mercy, because if they can't win, they can always avoid it.