After "Madam Zheng" bowed her head and stood still behind her, it was Queen Wang who drew the first flower lot.
　　As the queen, she was the role model for all the concubines. It was destiny that the dice could hit her. And this flower lot was even more wonderful. There were four words written on it, which were "national beauty and heavenly fragrance".
　　Aunt Ruixue on the side stretched out her hand and spoke on behalf of the Queen, reciting the poem on the stick: "The beauty is so heavy in the smoke that it is difficult for it to bloom, the red buds should beware of a touch of sandalwood. This stick is for the king of flowers, the crown of all flowers, except the peony. Let's all drink a cup together."
　　Before Li Ruixue finished speaking, Wang Wanrou immediately stood up and said to her: "How dare your son go beyond your mother's position? Although I accidentally threw this stick, your mother is the elder and you are the younger. How can your mother drink for you? We should all toast to your mother with a glass." As soon as
　　she finished speaking, everyone felt that what she said made sense and they all stood up and raised their glasses.
　　Although Dong Lingjiu did not care about toasting, he also knew that if he did not fulfill Wang Wanrou's filial piety, she would probably be restless, so he said: "In this case, the queen is the most beautiful woman in the country and does not need to drink. The rest of you should have a drink for the queen's sake."
　　All the concubines present raised their glasses and drank, and said a few auspicious words to Dong Lingjiu and Wang Wanrou in turn, then sat down again and continued to roll the dice.
　　At this time, Mu Xuehua on the side could not help but turn around and say to Dong Lingjiu: "I am still okay at the table. Although I am a little older, I am also a female relative and cannot surpass the rank of the imperial concubines. But you, the emperor's sister-in-law, how dare they let you drink?"
　　Dong Lingjiu said: "Would I put on airs of an elder for a mere glass of wine? I see so many people, the flower sticks may not be drawn to you and me, but just watch the children play."
　　Mu Xuehua smiled and shook her head, glanced at her desk, and said: "Why did the Zhao maid go to rest, leaving this blind little girl behind? Look, your queen mother's cup is empty, and you want her to pour it by herself?"
　　The second half of the sentence was said to this "little girl".
　　Since the princess spoke, he couldn't pretend to be dead, so he took a half step forward, lowered his head and eyebrows, although he believed that the other party could not see him, but his heart was beating like a drum, and he poured wine for Dong Lingjiu with unfamiliar movements.
　　"Go and watch your fun," Dong Lingjiu said to her indifferently, "They dare not persuade me to drink, but they may not dare to persuade you, and they are even taking care of my people."
　　Mu Xuehua turned her head, pretending to be hurt, turned her head and looked forward, and said slowly: "Even a bird next to you can't say it..."
　　The wine slid into the cup. Dong Lingjiu looked at his hands, which were slender and white, but obviously wider than those of ordinary women, and lowered his voice and said: "Who gave you the idea?"
　　Zheng Yuheng naturally couldn't "betray" his friend all at once, and couldn't help but hesitate for a few minutes. During this brief hesitation, Dong Lingjiu raised his eyes and carefully examined his face. Although his face was covered, his eyes were still black and white, as clear as a cold spring, so she could tell at a glance.
　　Dong Lingjiu stretched out his hand, pressed his wrist to stop the force, and the wine was just full. If he didn't pay attention, it would overflow. Her fingers rested on the throbbing blood vessels in front of her wrist bones, and her fingertips gently scraped the throbbing blood vessels, saying softly: "How stupid."
　　If Dong Lingjiu hadn't stopped him, the wine would have overflowed from the cup. Zheng Yuheng immediately came back to his senses, his ears and face were red with shame, and the place where she held him was like a fire, and the hot breath burned into the blood vessels, making people's heartbeats chaotic and their thoughts floating.
　　Zheng Yuheng replied very softly: "...I miss you."
　　Just these two words made Dong Lingjiu stunned for a moment, and suddenly withdrew his hand and covered his fingers with his sleeves.
　　At this time, the dice rolled twelve, and Mu Xuehua, who had been idle just now, really showed up in this life and it was her turn to draw the flower lottery.
　　Mu Xuehua picked one from the lottery tube with her own hands, took out one from the most central ones, and spread it in front of her. The personal maid from the palace stepped forward and read out for her: "'Hidden in the world, beautiful and chaste, outstanding among the frost. Whoever gets this lot will live a long and strong life, and his old age will be like spring. Drink a cup of chrysanthemum yourself, and the next person will drink a cup."
　　Due to the arrangement of the seats, Dong Lingjiu and Mu Xuehua were next to each other. According to the direction of counting the dice just now, her next person was Empress Dowager Dong.
　　This fortune was very much to her liking. Mu Xuehua couldn't help but smile. She raised her glass to toast him and said, "The old age will be like spring, and there will be many children and grandchildren. I don't know how this fortune knows what people mean and flatters them? You have to drink this cup, sister-in-law. This is a good omen."
　　Dong Lingjiu has not been busy these days, so she is naturally relaxed. She said to her, "I told you that you wanted to drink. Today, these little guys didn't get you drunk, but you drank a cup first and took me with you."
　　"Auspicious omens are rare." Mu Xuehua said, "If the queen is cultivating her health, just let the maid next to you drink a cup. After all, I will lose face."
　　Since she said so, Dong Lingjiu had to shake her head and sigh, and drank a cup with her.
　　The two have known each other for many years. Without any conflict of interest, they can be said to be the people who know each other best. What does this cup of wine count for?
　　Mu Xuehua rolled the dice again, and people were chosen according to the points. After three rounds of drinking, the atmosphere was joyful. Everyone on the field drew a lot. Several concubines who could not drink much had already blushed. They were drunk and the atmosphere was much more lively. No one noticed Zheng Yuheng.
　　In addition to pouring wine, he couldn't help but get closer, touching her clothes. While no one was paying attention, he gently put his hand under the table and touched the back of Dong Lingjiu's hand through the fabric.
　　It was clearly just a very hidden and careful touch, but because it was in public and the atmosphere was so great, even if you couldn't touch the real skin, it made your heart beat faster. There was a kind of fear and throbbing of being afraid of being discovered and extremely eager.
　　He rubbed over little by little, his movements seemed to be "accidental", carefully concealing his purpose, but the next moment, Dong Lingjiu suddenly turned over her hand, grasped his fingers in her palm, and suddenly clenched it.
　　Zheng Yuheng's heart was about to jump out of his chest, and he was so flustered that sweat oozed from his forehead. He only felt the softness of her palm, and the fragrance that was softer and sweeter than sandalwood, which penetrated into his mind and made his muscles, bones, and mind soft and greasy.
　　Dong Lingjiu grabbed his fingertips and squeezed them slightly, but on the surface, her eyes were calm, and even the smile on her lips did not change at all, showing her ability to hide her emotions.
　　But Zheng Yuheng always felt that her heart was not as calm as it seemed on the surface. She squeezed her hand with more force than usual, and her nails gently left a thin mark on the palm of her hand...
　　Then, Dong Lingjiu raised her eyes and glanced at him for a moment.
　　This hasty moment allowed Zheng Yuheng to glimpse the hidden and shaking waves in her eyes. It was like a gurgling stream, the sound of which had never changed, but as the mountains moved and the magma surged, the stream became warm and hot, with wisps of white mist, flowing over the rocks like a veil - the sound of the spring was still ding-dong, but in the ears, it sounded like a lover's whisper, with the mist dispersed when she spoke.
　　Zheng Yuheng didn't realize that Dong Lingjiu had let go, and still kept his hand in her palm, even slowly stroking it and reaching into her fingers.
　　At this moment, the drunk Concubine Li read the flower lot and couldn't help saying, "No, I don't want this useless rose. You are all incompetent. It's been so long and no one has had good luck. Let the Queen Mother take the lot?"
　　The girls of lower rank than her dared not answer. Queen Wang was not suitable to drink during her pregnancy, so the maids around her did it for her. She was clear-headed and knew the character of Concubine Li. She was too lazy to pay attention to her drunken talk and just coaxed her casually: "You haven't thrown it yet. Who has better luck? Is it better to have your 'Four Seasons Blooming Red Snow'?"
　　Red Snow is the nickname of the Chinese rose. When Concubine Li heard her say that, she immediately turned from anger to joy. She nodded repeatedly and said to herself: "That's right, it will come naturally to me."
　　After that, she moved her jade wrist and threw the dice. Everyone followed and counted together. They didn't believe that she could hit the target in one go. They all smiled. As a result, she threw the dice so confusedly and it actually landed on Dong Lingjiu.
　　Everyone at the table looked at her and couldn't help but laugh. Ruixue also clapped her hands and said with a smile: "It's really accurate. Please draw a flower stick, Madam?"
　　As soon as she said this, Zheng Yuheng pulled back his hand as if he was burned, and poured wine silently and "obediently".
　　Dong Lingjiu also came back to his senses. Seeing that there were still many flower sticks left in the stick tube, he also rolled up his sleeves and raised his hand to draw one.
　　"Begonia", "Osmanthus", "Orchid" and other flowers had been drawn out one by one at the table. Most of them couldn't think of what they would be, so they leaned out to guess.
　　Dong Lingjiu lowered his head to check the flower sticks. Mu Xuehua, who was standing beside him, couldn't wait any longer. She followed her and looked over. With the close distance, she quietly recited the few words on her stick.
　　——"The realm of transformation is true".
　　The realm of transformation is a Buddhist term. The "Avatamsaka Sutra" says that "the ten directions of the world are the realm of Buddha transformation". It just so happens that the Buddhist Pure Land loves lotus in the water the most. Washing away the dust and getting rid of falsehood is the phrase often used by poets and madmen to describe the gentleman among flowers. These four words can also describe the lotus, but it seems to be more than the flower-based one, with a different charm.
　　Looking down, there is a poem, which reads: "Who can feel the hatred without love? When the moon is bright and the wind is clear, it is about to fall."
　　After reading this sentence, Mu Xuehua was a little puzzled - this flower sign was really just for fun, how could it be said that someone would appreciate it when the moon is bright and the wind is about to wither? The emperor's brother and sister-in-law are so loving, and they have been a couple for twenty years. If they appreciate it, someone would have appreciated it long ago.
　　"... Those who get this sign have hatred but no love, and can get good fortune, and have love but no hatred, and can get liberation." Dong Lingjiu's eyes paused on the sign for a moment, then moved down and looked at the end. It said, "Everyone at the table drinks one cup in turn, and the lotus can only be drunk."
　　As she read, Mu Xuehua slowly read it out. After she finished reading this sentence, everyone looked at each other in surprise... So many people had to drink one cup in turn, at least a dozen cups would be enough, and they really had to get drunk.
　　Naturally, there were a few people at the table who were quick-witted. Just as they were about to speak to smooth things over, they saw Dong Lingjiu raise his hand to suppress it, stroking the flower sign in his hand, and smiled: "Since it is chosen by destiny, how can we not follow it? There is no need to be taboo, let's start with the queen."
　　Wang Wanrou immediately stood up. Originally, the maid wanted to drink on her behalf, but was stopped by her. She drank the only glass of wine at the table and said to Dong Lingjiu: "My mother is in a good mood, so Peony will drink one cup with her."
　　Then she drank it all in one gulp, wiped the corners of her lips with a handkerchief, and sat back down.
　　Dong Lingjiu naturally drank one cup with her.
　　Then Concubine Li stood up, her cheeks flushed, and said, "I am sorry, I have caused my mother a lot of trouble. Rose will drink one cup with me." After that, she drank slowly in two or three gulps, and was a little drunk, so she was helped to sit back.
　　Afterwards, the concubines followed their positions and drank with Dong Lingjiu. Dong Lingjiu accepted all the drinks and responded calmly, showing the demeanor of being able to drink a thousand cups without getting drunk.
　　At the end, it was naturally Mu Xuehua who accompanied her last. She raised her wine glass and said with a smile: "The emperor's sister-in-law also said that these children wanted to get me drunk, but unfortunately I don't have the dignity to accompany them one by one. It's just that the lottery says to get drunk. What should I do for the emperor's sister-in-law to be considered drunk?"
　　Dong Lingjiu said: "If it's not enough, you can have another round."
　　Mu Xuehua said: "With such a heroic spirit, I shouldn't teach you to get the gentleman among flowers, but the hero among flowers. Don't stop until you are drunk. I can accompany you alone, please let them go."
　　Dong Lingjiu smiled as before, with a gentle look in her eyes: "How do you know I'm not drunk? Although I can't drink enough, there is a saying in the world that people get drunk even if they don't drink."
　　"Great solution," Mu Xuehua praised, "The emperor's sister-in-law is so kind, chrysanthemums will accompany you."
　　Dong Lingjiu naturally drank with her.
　　At this moment, the moonlight has arrived, and the cool breeze and dew, with the coolness of today's rain, swept through the palace.
　　After this round, many concubines were a little drunk. It was getting late, so Dong Lingjiu decided to end the banquet and let them go back to have a good rest.
　　Everyone bid farewell in turn. Dong Lingjiu had instructed to take special care of the queen, so Yue Wan sent someone to clean up the seats and wine utensils, while Aunt Ruixue took someone to send Queen Wang back to Fengzao Palace.
　　After everyone left, Mu Xuehua was thinking about her grandson and was happy enough today. She didn't stay to talk and returned to the west side hall.
　　The maids of the Cining Palace approached one by one, filed in, and took away all the things. Dong Lingjiu held her forehead and closed her eyes to take a nap, quietly listening to the movements, and suddenly said: "Bring a basin of warm water."
　　"Yes." A maid responded and left.
　　Soon, the wine utensils, cakes and flower sticks were all cleared away, leaving only a wooden table in front of Dong Lingjiu. She did not move, and there was only a basin of warm water next to her. The
　　palace servant who fetched water was about to help Dong Lingjiu wash, so she said, "No need, you go down, tell Zhao Qing to deal with the aftermath, and there is no need to come over."
　　"Yes."
　　After she left, Dong Lingjiu personally rolled up his sleeves and said, "Kneel down."
　　Even if he didn't mention the name of the person, Zheng Yuheng knew that this sentence was directed at him. He was a little guilty of "going up to the roof to tear off the tiles", and was worried that she would get drunk after drinking so much wine, so he knelt down in front of her honestly.
　　Dong Lingjiu did not punish him, but dipped the towel into the warm water and twisted it slightly. Her hands seemed a little unfamiliar and inconvenient to do this.
　　The towel was wet and not dry, with a warm heat, gently wiped his cheek, wiped off the makeup, revealing his handsome eyebrows and eyes as bright as the morning star.
　　As her makeup was removed, her fingers occasionally touched his cheek.
　　Zheng Yuheng closed his eyes and let her move. He felt the tapping and touching of her fingertips, and his heartbeat tightened rapidly. He restrained his desire to get close to him regardless of the atmosphere.
　　Dong Lingjiu's hand paused for a moment, wiped off the remaining makeup, bent his fingers to lift his chin, and whispered: "... This is my beautiful man."