“Thank you, Your Majesty! Your Majesty values me so much, hosting a banquet for me and even fetching my mother on my behalf. I don’t know how to express my gratitude.”
Ning Wanyin looked at Helian Qi, her eyes filled with affection.
“For me, besides my mother, only Your Majesty is the most important person to me. On my birthday, whether others offer congratulations is not important to me. I only care about seeing Your Majesty.”
“If I could have a meal alone with Your Majesty, that would be the happiest thing in the world for me!”
Helian Qi was taken aback.
He knew that the imperial concubines enjoyed the grand spectacle of a stage being set up and the entire palace coming to offer congratulations, but Ning Wanyin told him that she only wanted to be alone with him tomorrow.
Ning Wanyin has always been virtuous and generous, only occasionally and unintentionally revealing her feelings for him: All she wants is him.
“I misspoke.” Ning Wanyin said, hurriedly lowering her head.
“Your Majesty is busy with state affairs; I shouldn’t have spoken so presumptuously… I will obey Your Majesty’s orders.”
Helian Qi’s expression softened. He took her hand and said, “Then so be it. I will send someone to fetch you for lunch tomorrow at noon.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty!” Ning Wanyin replied happily.
The more people there are, the bigger the scene, the easier it is for trouble to happen.
On her rare birthday, Ning Wanyin just wanted to take a break and didn’t want to spend all her time and energy on guarding against the concubines causing trouble.
Helian Qi had lunch in Lingxue Pavilion and then returned to Qianxin Palace to review memorials.
Xiao Guizi couldn’t help but say: “Your Majesty, hosting a banquet at Xianyin Pavilion is a favor that countless concubines eagerly await! This is such a pity…”
“His Majesty is accompanying the Master; that is an immense favor! What is there to regret! You mustn’t say such nonsense!” Lian Rui retorted.
Xiao Guizi could only nod and shut up. He thought to herself, “But His Majesty will definitely attend the banquet at Xianyin Pavilion, so what difference does it make? Why insist on being alone together?”
The news reached Jingxi Palace.
Shu Fei, who was striking the wooden fish in front of the Guanyin statue to worship Buddha, suddenly slammed her fist heavily on the wooden fish with a loud thud.
“Your Majesty—” Zhen Zhu said in a panic.
She knew that her master had arranged everything perfectly, and everything was ready except for the final touch, but Ning Wanyin suddenly overturned the table.
All her arrangements had gone to waste. How could she not be angry?
“Just to show off her difference from the other concubines in front of the Emperor, all she needs is His Majesty’s company? She certainly has a lot of tricks up her sleeve for vying for favor.”
Shu Fei gritted her teeth.
“To win favor, she even dismissed her mother, ha—”
Shu Fei felt a surge of resentment and closed her eyes to continue striking the wooden fish. This time, however, the sound of the wooden fish was exceptionally loud and disruptive.
It took almost half an hour for Shu Fei to calm down.
She said, “Since that’s the case, then let’s continue to observe and wait for the next opportunity.”
…
On June 17th, the sky is clear.
Early in the morning, Ning Wanyin had just finished washing and dressing when Wang Degui led the eunuchs from the Imperial Household Department to carry in chests and boxes, filling the courtyard.
“His Majesty has decreed that, to celebrate Ning Jieyu’s birthday, she shall be bestowed with a gold-inlaid jade lotus crown, a set of brocade robes embroidered with lotus patterns, a red beaded tassel necklace with jade tassels, and a pair of gold-carved lotus hairpins…”
A long list of gifts, spanning three pages, included jewelry, vases, and decorative items.
Ning Wanyin led the palace maids of Lingxue Pavilion in bowing and expressing their gratitude, “Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty!”
Wang Degui picked up the tray carried by a young eunuch beside him and presented it to Ning Wanyin.
“Your Majesty has another gift. Please, Ning Jieyu, open it yourself…”
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sarcastisaurus On CFRFGC Chapter 90