Chapter 284
The next morning
-The concubines came one by one to greet Empress Xu
Empress Xu sat on the phoenix chair, smiling as she exchanged pleasantries and spoke with the concubines
Princess Wang smiled and said, ”In two days, it will be the Flower Appreciation Banquet
This year, my concubine has prepared two pots of top quality peonies to compete for the title of Flower Champion
At that time, if my concubine wins, Empress Mother can’t be stingy and will have to give my concubine a good reward”
These words were said with humor and wit
Empress Xu lost her smile when she heard this, “Oh?
You speak with such certainty, it seems that this year is the year that rare new peonies are cultivated”
The other concubines also chimed in, “What kind of new products has Sister Wang produced?
Later on, we will go to sister Wang’s place to admire them first”
Beauty Wang became the center of attention and was quite pleased with herself, raising her lips and smiling, “Please allow me to keep you all in suspense, so that we can all appreciate it in detail at the Flower Appreciation Banquet in two days’ time”
Wei Jieyu smiled and said, “Being said so by sister Wang, even my concubine feels curious in her heart
It seems that we will have a feast for our eyes at the Flower Appreciation Banquet two days from now”
There were also concubines who were not used to Wang Meiren’s complacent and wild appearance and deliberately said, “Every year, this flower leader comes from the Empress Dowager’s Pepper Palace, so I’m afraid it’s not right for Wang Sister to put out such a statement early on!”Yes, the Empress Mother has a lot of talent around her
-I’ve heard that Lady Ling, who joined the palace not long ago, is good at planting peonies
It’s rare that we’ll have to see it this year”
Empress Xu tugged at the corner of her lips and said in a bland manner, “Everyone, don’t be anxious
There are only two days left, so go back and get ready
At that time, this palace will invite His Majesty to be the judge and choose this year’s flower girl!”
The moment these words came out, everyone was energized
The Emperor was on the couch recovering from his illness, and hadn’t entered the harem for a few months
It was rare to have such a good opportunity to pander, so of course they couldn’t let it go easily
After some jokes, the concubines left one by one
Empress Xu is also a pinchy person with a good face, she didn’t show it at that time after listening to Wang Meiren’s words, but as soon as Wang Meiren left, she immediately instructed, “Ruilian, go to the peony room and take a look
Let Ling Jingshu present the new peonies for the Palace to see”
Rui Lian answered with a smile
As soon as she stepped out of the Peony Room, she bumped into Ling Jingshu and her group
Ling Jingshu was holding a pot of peonies in her hands, and several palace maids behind her were also carefully holding flower pots
Rui Lian smiled, ”Ah Shu, you’ve come at the right time
The Empress Mother is urgently calling you in to take a look at this year’s new peonies!”
Ling Jingshu pursed her lips and smiled, “Good, I’ll go in now
-”
Ling Jingshu led the palace maids in a lineSlave servant meets Empress Dowager!”
Ling Jingshu was holding a flower pot, so it was inconvenient for her to salute, so she bent over slightly
Empress Xu gave a casual hmmm, her eyes fell on Ling Jingshu’s hands, and then suddenly brightened up, “Jingshu, is this pot in your hands this year’s new peony?”
Ling Jingshu answered yes with a smileQuickly move it over to me”
A trace of eagerness flashed in Empress Xu’s eyes
Ling Jingshu answered and busily placed the flower pot in her hands on the table
Turning her head again, she commanded, “All of you put the flower pots on the table and move carefully”
Six pots of new peonies were neatly placed on the table
Empress Xu did not sit any longer and stood up with great interest, looking at them one by one
While looking at them, she praised, “This year’s new peonies have grown really well
What is this pinkish-white one?”
Ling Jingshu smiled and said, “This pot is Fragrant Jade, with plain colored flowers and a compelling fragrance”
Then, one by one, the other several pots of peonies were introduced
When it came to the last pot, the introduction was particularly grand: “Your Highness, this pot of compound-colored peony, commonly known as Er Qiao, is also known as Luoyang Jin
The leaves and branches are each different in color, the flowers are extremely large, the branches and leaves are lush, and the aroma is particularly enticing”
Luoyang brocade!
Empress Xu recited it several times in her heart, her eyes filled with admiration, her eyes burning as she praised, “Good, the flowers bloom well, and the name is also well named”
Ling Jingshu smiled without missing a beat, “To be favored by Empress Xu, it is not in vain for the slave girl to take good care of this pot of peony
I only hope that at this year’s Flower Appreciation Banquet, this pot of Luoyang Brocade will be able to take the top spot and add color to Her Majesty’s face”
Empress Xu was all smiles as she nodded her head, “Ms Wang just bragged in front of this palace, saying that the courtesan beside her has raised a new variety this year, and that she wants to compete for this year’s Flower Champion
Although this palace does not intend to fight for this headline, however, now it seems that with this pot of Luoyang brocade, this flower leader she is not going to be delusional”The slave girl has never seen the peonies in the bedchamber of Princess Wang, and does not dare to say which is better or worse”
Ling Jingshu smiled and said, “However, in this palace, besides Empress Dowager, who else can overwhelm the beauty of the peonies!”
Everyone can kiss the horse’s ass, but it’s rare to kiss it so sweetly and comfortably and so pleasing to the ear
Empress Xu was in a happy mood and said with a smile, “This palace has always felt that you are silent and do not like to talk, I did not expect you to say flattering words to this kind of beautiful to the ear”
Ling Jingshu pretended to be aggrieved and argued, “The slave girl’s words are from the heart, the Empress said so, but it is really wronged slave girl”
Empress Xu was amused and laughed, and then looked at the pot of peonies with compound colors, the more she looked at it, the more she felt like it
When she came forward, the distinctive fragrance was even more refreshing
Empress Xu smiled and commanded, “Rui Lian, this pot of Luoyang brocade is really liked by this palace, you will move this pot of peony to this palace’s bedchamber now”
Rui Lian smiled and chimed in, “Yes, slave girl obeys”
She also poked fun at Ling Jingshu: “Every year, Empress Dowager would keep the peony that won the flower championship in her chambers for a period of time
This year, before the Flower Appreciation Banquet had even begun, this pot of Luoyang Brocade caught the eye of the Empress
This is a great credit”
Empress Xu smiled at her words and said, “When you say it like that, this palace can’t move this pot of peonies for nothing”
Casually pulling off the jasper cui bracelet on her wrist, “Jingshu, this pair of bracelets will be rewarded to you
As long as you are dedicated to your duties, this palace will never treat you poorly”
Ling Jingshu’s face was grateful and touched, “Thank you, Empress Xu, the slave girl will definitely do her job with all her heart, and will never be negligent”
Empress Xu was in a good mood, and after a few jokes, she asked Ruilian to move the peony pot into the bedchamber
Ling Jingshu’s heart that had been hanging for more than half a month also quietly fell
She had done all that Wei Yan had asked her to do
The potion in the porcelain vase was used on the pot of Luoyang brocade without missing a single drop
The vial was also quietly thrown into the lake water of the imperial garden by her
After using the potion, the flowers bloomed extraordinarily daintily and the fragrance was extraordinarily strong
Other than that, she tended to the peonies every day and there was nothing unusual about them
What exactly did those potions do?
What exactly was Wei Yan trying to do?