Little Cardamom - Chapter 49

Ming Tan originally thought that the Nanlu tributes from the palace were just ordinary rewards, and each family had quite a few.

It wasn’t until a few days later that the Nanlu Mission escorted the surrendered Princess Yongle to leave the capital, and Empress Zhang found an opportunity to call her into the palace to talk, and only then did she know that it was not.

“I wanted to call you into the palace a few days ago, but firstly I was busy with Princess Yongle’s surrender, and secondly I thought you were shocked, so it is better to rest more in the palace.

“Speaking of which, I really wronged you a few days ago. The Duke of Pingguo’s hospitality was not good enough. I should compensate you for the Duke of Pingguo’s residence.”

“Your Majesty is serious, the ministers and concubines have nothing to do, but they are not feeling well. A few days ago, they got some snow green from Cangshan Mountain. I wanted to invite Hanmiao and the others to come to the house to have a meal. Is it because they are not feeling well and it is inconvenient to invite guests?” .” Ming Tan responded with a smile.

She didn’t make much money for Duke Pingguo’s mansion, after all, the Holy Majesty reprimanded Duke Pingguo for “not strictly governing the family”, if she bluntly said that she would not do anything about Duke Pingguo’s affairs, she would have paid a little bit of flattery. A little mention of the meaning of the chapter can be just right to show that she has no grudges against the Pingguo government.

After hearing this, Empress Zhang flicked the teacup lightly, and said with a smile: “Speaking of the snow and greenness of Cangshan Mountain, Qizhi really loves you very much. The emperor came to Changchun Palace the day before yesterday and told this palace that if you were rewarded in the past, the capital of Qi It was a refusal, but this time Nanlu’s envoy paid tribute, but he specially asked for a box of silk and satin, a box of gem hairpin father and son for you, and later heard that Nanlu also paid tribute to Cangshan Xuelu, so he also had to leave halfway. I think that Zhao Yebai is also for you.”

etc…

Those things were not rewarded by His Majesty, but the husband asked for them on his own initiative?

Seeing her expression, Queen Zhang teased softly: “Why, you don’t know?”

Ming Tan shook his head, a little embarrassed, half of the backs of his ears were red.

Fortunately, Empress Zhang didn’t deliberately humiliate her anymore, and only told her aunt who was standing by her side: “The princess loves tea, so I will give the princess all the nectar that I got this year.”

“Yes.” The aunt who stood there answered.

Ming Tan was still shy, but he didn’t forget to follow the steps, stood up and thanked him: “‘The only thing known in the qin is Lushui, and in the tea it is Mengshan.’ Thank you for your kindness.”

Concubine Shu, who was sitting beside her, chuckled lightly: “Princess Dingbei has a good appearance, a good temperament, and a good talent for learning. No wonder King Dingbei loves her so much.”

“Ms. Concubine Shu is absurdly praised.” Ming Tan slightly nodded, dignified and slightly shy.

This time when Empress Zhang called her to talk, it happened that several concubines came to Changchun Palace to pay their respects. Concubine Shu, who just spoke out, was heard to be an old man in the Eastern Palace of the Holy One. She had been with her for many years, and although her favor gradually faded, the Holy One has always treated her kindly because of the affection in the past, and she seemed a bit unwilling to fight.

A woman in green clothes sitting at the bottom took Concubine Shu’s words smoothly, and added: “His Royal Highness King Dingbei is really a person who loves talents.”

“…”

There was a sudden silence in the hall.

When Ming Tan heard this, he thought it was just a compliment, and didn’t think there was anything wrong, but for a moment, the hall was so quiet that it was a little awkward and strange.

She looked at it calmly, and found that several eyes fell on Lan Fei, who had been quiet on the opposite side intentionally or unintentionally. Lan Fei was also turning the lamp, and it seemed that because of these words, her movements subtly paused for half a breath.

Ming Tan didn’t know much about Daxian’s harem, but he also knew that since Concubine Yu was imprisoned in the cold palace, Concubine Lan was the most proud in the harem.

This concubine orchid was deeply favored by the Holy Grace, and she was promoted to two ranks in less than a year. She still jumped from nobleman to imperial concubine without achieving anything.

I heard that this Concubine Lan is extremely talented.

Ming Tan didn’t know why, thinking back and forth, he always felt that something was wrong.

But before she could figure it out, Empress Zhang made up a few words to get rid of the topic, and then talked about the arrangements for going to the palace this year to escape the summer heat.

“The emperor came to Changchun Palace the day before yesterday and talked about going to Yongchun Garden to escape the summer heat. Look at this day, it’s so vicious early in the morning. It’s time to move.”

The fast-talking green-clothed woman just now asked with some expectation: “Empress, when shall we set off?”

“No surprises, it should be half a month later, and I have drawn up a list of entourage, but what the emperor means is that this time the harem will not bring many people, only Concubine Shu, Concubine Lan, Concubine Li, and Concubine Chun are ordered. There is Mrs. Mu.” Empress Zhang glanced at her lightly, “Concubine Zhuang stays in the palace to take care of the palace affairs, noble lady, you are from Concubine Zhuang’s palace, so you should also stay in the palace to accompany Concubine Zhuang.”

Oh, it turns out that the concubine in Cuiyi is a noble person.

Ming Tan didn’t make a sound, and secretly calculated… only five people were ordered, and including this noble lady who didn’t plan to bring along and Concubine Zhuang who left behind to take care of the palace affairs, there were seven concubines. Quite few, so the total number of concubines in the harem is at least twenty or thirty.

Just as she was thinking about this, Queen Zhang looked at her again: “By the way, Wangfei, the emperor has also arranged a residence for your prince. If you have time, you might as well stay with him in Yongchun Garden. Yongchun Garden is the most quiet and beautiful. That’s okay, it’s also good to relax.”

Ming Tan bent his lips hastily, stood up and politely said: “Yes, the Holy Majesty and the Empress are bothering.”

…

Ming Tan entered the palace for the first time, and came out of Changchun Palace around noon. Before she could breathe a sigh of relief, Jia Gui who came out behind did not shy away and said mockingly: “How long has it been since Your Majesty came to Changchun Palace? The day before yesterday, I came to sit down for a while, and the Empress mentioned it over and over again like this!”

Ming Tan: “…”

Is it okay to mock the queen like this in the harem?

Just when Ming Tan was wondering, someone came up to talk to her: “Princess Dingbei.”

She turned her head: “Concubine Shu.”

Concubine Shu smiled, looked at Mrs. Jia not far away, and thoughtfully explained her doubts: “Mr. Jia is a girl from the Du family in Longxi. She has entered the palace not long ago. She has a straightforward temper. If there is any offense , I don’t think it was intentional, the princess doesn’t have to take it to heart.”

Longxi Du’s family, a century-old family.

No wonder he was so reckless when speaking in the palace.

It’s just that Mr. Jiagui offended her, could it be that Mr. Jiagui said earlier that “His Royal Highness King Dingbei is really a person who loves talents”?

Ming Tan couldn’t help recalling the delicate atmosphere at that moment. It seems that all the clues are pointing to… Lan Fei.

Concubine Shu seemed to think of something, and smiled softly: “The empress said, the concubine loves tea? There also happens to be some newly acquired green snow in the Jingting Pavilion in this palace, why not wrap it up and give it to the concubine. In this harem, Concubine Lan is the one who is best at tasting tea. This wooden tongue of this palace has never tasted anything good, so giving it to the concubine will save me from ruining it for nothing.”

It’s Concubine Lan again.

Ming Tan seemed to understand something, after a moment of silence, she replied calmly: “Concubine Shu is too polite, since Concubine Lan is the one who is best at tasting tea, it would be more appropriate to give this tea to Concubine Lan .”

Concubine Shu still smiled softly, but with a little bit of reluctance and self-deprecation: “I have some in this Palace, how could Concubine Lan not have them?”

Ming Tan laughed softly when he heard the words, his voice was still soft and clean, but it sounded meaningful: “The lady has it, how do you know that the ministers and concubines don’t have it?”

Concubine Shu was startled.

But Ming Tan didn’t fight with her any more, bowed to her, and left straight away: “There are still important matters in the mansion, so I won’t stay any longer.”

Just now in the Changchun Palace, the first person to praise her for her talent was Concubine Shu, and then the noble lady quickly answered, and it was Concubine Shu who first looked at Concubine Lan, and then reminded her that noble lady Jia was guilty of what she said. Concubine Concubine Shu’s meaning, mentioning that Concubine Lan also loves tea – all kinds of things, this Concubine Shu is quietly guiding her to think, does her husband have something to do with Concubine Lan?

It is true that Concubine Lan and her husband are indeed very suspicious, but this concubine Shu is not a good friend who has been quiet for a long time.

They are all concubines of the emperor, and they can fight as much as they want in the palace. It has nothing to do with her, and they can do whatever they want. Do you want to use her hand to deal with Lan Fei? Sorry, no way.

Although she didn’t pick up on Concubine Shu at all, Ming Tan still couldn’t care less. When she returned to the mansion, she sent someone to find out about Concubine Fan Lan’s details immediately.

Concubine Lan’s details are not difficult to find out, she was born in a decent official family, her grandfather was the most prominent in her family, because her grandfather was an official worship minister of the Ministry of Rites, and also held the title of Taifu, the teacher of Prince Min Cong.

Isn’t Prince Min Cong her father-in-law who passed away many years ago?

Ming Tan was lying on the couch, leaning on the leading pillow to doze off, thinking of this, suddenly there was a very slight noise, someone opened the curtain and entered the room, the sound of footsteps was very familiar.

Jiang Xu lifted the curtain of the bed, just in time to face Ming Tan who opened his eyes.

“Husband, why are you back at this time?” Ming Tan was slightly surprised, she had never seen Jiang Xu return home at noon.

“There is nothing in the army, so I went back earlier.” Jiang Xu responded calmly, and glanced at her briefly.

It’s sweltering in the summer, and Ming Tan was dressed too lightly when taking a lunch break indoors. Under the neck and shoulder bones, a large area of ​​snow-white skin was exposed, and near the undulating hills, the smoky pink soft gauze enveloped her exquisite figure , the belt around her waist is half loose, and her slender waist seems to be too tight to hold.

Jiang Xu’s eyes darkened slightly, and his voice lowered a bit: “Why didn’t you sleep?”

“Some can’t sleep.” Ming Tan didn’t feel anything, but got up and hugged Jiang Xu’s waist, and said lazily and coquettishly, “Is your husband sleepy? Why don’t you sleep with A Tan.”

Jiang Xu didn’t refute, Ming Tan took care of him to loosen his clothes, and talked about the matter of entering the palace today.

She didn’t think about anything else, but she just wanted to have a lunch break with her husband, and by the way, it was best to ask her husband what the relationship between Concubine Lan and him was. .

After Jiang Xu got on the bed, Ming Tan obediently rubbed his arms into his arms, still muttering about making the groundwork, laying the groundwork, laying the groundwork… Just now we talked about Nanlu’s tribute.

“By the way, my husband, is that Zhaoyebai pony also given to me?”

Jiang Xu said “Yes” and said, “I’ll teach you how to ride a horse when I have time.”

“…”

No need.

Why do you always want to teach her to do something unladylike!

She directly avoided the topic and said: “I heard what the empress said, I went to the stables after I came back from the palace, and the little pony is really beautiful, snow white, without a single hair, I like it very much! Hmm… Then let’s call it ‘Little White Rabbit’ from now on, shall we?”

White Rabbit.

That is obviously a jade lion.

He didn’t respond, his eyes fell on the gaps in Ming Tan’s clothes that were becoming more and more messy, his Adam’s apple was rolling up and down, and suddenly he was holding onto something, Ming Tan paused, looked up at him in disbelief, he gently squeezed and rubbed slowly , the warm breath sprayed in her ears, and her voice was low, with a faint smile: “Well, it is indeed a little white rabbit.”

The author has something to say: Jiang Qizhi met ghs!

Note: “The only thing known in the qin is Lushui, and it used to be Mengshan in the tea.” From Bai Juyi’s “Qin Tea”