August 15, Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet.
　　Madam Wei was taken into the palace and settled by Queen Wang. She was pregnant. As her cousin, Queen Wang took great care of her sister and let her participate in the palace night banquet.
　　This is the day of family reunion, but such a reunion day does not belong to Zheng Yuheng.
　　Dong Lingjiu drank two cups of wine at the night banquet, and Queen Wang sat beside her. While listening to her daughter-in-law telling her anecdotes in the capital, she waved her hand and whispered to Ruixue: "Where is he?"
　　Li Ruixue naturally knew who this "he" was referring to, and whispered respectfully: "Talking to Xuan Duzhi in the garden."
　　Dong Lingjiu nodded.
　　Because the emperor was also there, Zheng Yuheng took the initiative not to follow the attendant, but stayed with Xuan Jingyun in Jinfang Garden outside Fude Hall. I don't know if they were admiring the moon.
　　The young doctor Zheng was so sensible that Dong Lingjiu felt a little worried. She stroked and turned the red coral beads in her hand, thinking that the young doctor would feel wronged again when he returned - Dong Lingjiu had already investigated his family background and had figured it out long ago. Even the several secret methods of the stepmother did not escape her keen eyes. The
　　Queen Mother's branches and vines were rooted in the imperial city. She had been working hard for more than ten years. It was easy for her to investigate the officials' night talks, not to mention those not-so-subtle conspiracies.
　　But Dong Lingjiu did not immediately hand the evidence to Zheng Jie.
　　With her grasp of human nature, if she really wanted to deceive herself, then even if the evidence was overwhelming, she could find an excuse not to believe it and would not achieve a fatal effect.
　　Dong Lingjiu was waiting for an effective opportunity.
　　At first, although she knew about Zheng Yuheng's family background, she only nodded slightly and did not comment, because she had seen too many miserable people in the world, and it was inevitable that she would be numb to ordinary suffering.
　　But today, Dong Lingjiu couldn't help asking him where he was and if he had anyone with him.
　　Wang Wanrou saw that she was a little distracted, and asked carefully: "Mother? Are you missing father?"
　　Dong Lingjiu said: "Why do you say that?"
　　Wang Wanrou said: "This is the first Mid-Autumn Festival without father."
　　Queen Wang sat on the left side of Dong Lingjiu, and all the concubines were there, while the little emperor was on the throne on the right, slightly separated from the empress dowager. When
　　the two mentioned the late emperor, even Meng Cheng turned his head.
　　Dong Lingjiu smiled and sighed, with a slightly tired tone: "Yes, when he was here, I was in charge of the palace banquets. These trivial affairs are really annoying. In terms of presiding over such affairs, mother is not as good as you."
　　Wang Wanrou was flattered, her eyes lit up, and she leaned over and tentatively pressed against Dong Lingjiu's arm. The phoenix pattern on her clothes was printed on the black-bottomed gold-stamped gorgeous clothes on the empress dowager, shining brightly and confusing people.
　　She said sweetly, "Your Majesty, you are too kind. I still have many things that I am not considerate of, and I need your guidance. If you hadn't allowed me, I would not be able to bring my cousin to the palace to take good care of her."
　　Dong Lingjiu then praised her a few more times and brushed off the topic. Queen Wang was very happy, showing the coquettish demeanor of a little girl. Although her behavior was still very well-behaved and careful, her expression could not hide the changes. She actively reported her work to Dong Lingjiu and discussed harem affairs.
　　Dong Lingjiu nodded as she spoke, occasionally saying a word or two.
　　The little emperor, who was listening attentively, didn't hear anything useful. Looking at his first wife leaning against his mother, the distance between them was getting closer and closer. He thought inexplicably, "The queen is not so tender and gentle to me, right?"
　　Meng Cheng was puzzled and couldn't figure it out. Isn't it said that mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law are enemies in the world? How come his mother and the queen sister get along so well? He has practiced all the skills of a good man who can please both sides and comfort each other, but he has nowhere to express his feelings?
　　The little emperor drank a glass of wine and just cleared his throat. He wanted to remind the queen that she should sit next to him. What wife should not sit next to her husband? But before Meng Cheng could say anything, a soft and tender voice came up to him.
　　He turned his head and saw the white-skinned and plump Concubine Li coming forward. It was clearly the Mid-Autumn Festival, and she was wearing thin clothes. Her warm arms naturally came to him and she said in a soft voice: "Your Majesty, I will pour wine for your Majesty."
　　Meng Cheng: "..."
　　Her hands, which had never touched spring water, just picked up the wine cup and poured half a cup, and her feet slipped. She fell into Meng Cheng's arms with a cry of "Ah", and apologized repeatedly, saying: "Your Majesty, I accidentally poured it into your arms. Will the queen be angry?"
　　Meng Cheng gritted his teeth: "..." Don't go too far.
　　Meng Cheng closed his eyes and advised himself in his heart that Concubine Li was the granddaughter of Minister Gan, who had served in the court for decades and was a senior official. He must not let the old minister worry about the affairs of the harem.
　　After he had advised himself, he reached out to help Concubine Li up and said, "The queen is generous and will naturally not argue with her beloved concubine."
　　Concubine Li had been spoiled since she was a child and was raised by Minister Gan when she was young. The generations were particularly close. She had never suffered and was particularly good at making trouble. She could not read the emperor's expression at all. She leaned on his arm and handed him a glass of wine, saying sweetly, "Your Majesty, you drank my wine. The queen will not be jealous, will she?"
　　Meng Cheng drank a glass of wine anxiously and turned his head to see that his queen did not even look at him, let alone being jealous.
　　He said, "... Queen, you are virtuous and kind..."
　　"That's because I'm not virtuous enough." Concubine Li was about to cry, "You don't love me, and the Queen and the Queen Mother have never loved me..."
　　When Dong Lingjiu was mentioned, Wang Wanrou came back to her senses. She turned her head and glanced at Concubine Li, because her acting was so poor that it didn't even make people angry, but just made people feel very funny, funny to the point of being a little stupid and cute.
　　But Queen Wang still scolded with a stern face, "Don't talk nonsense, what are you talking about? Concubine Li, come here to pay your
　　respects to the Queen Mother." Concubine Li lay beside Meng Cheng. To be honest, she was a little afraid in her heart, but she turned her head to look at the concubines below who were looking forward to it, and remembered her promise to break Queen Wang's outrageous favor, so she made up her mind secretly and moved over slowly and laboriously.
　　Dong Lingjiu glanced at her and thought about the time when he was choosing a concubine for Cheng'er. Because of Concubine Li's outstanding appearance, simple and innocent personality, and the status of an old minister, she was admitted to the East Palace and became a concubine.
　　In fact, Concubine Li had rarely seen Dong Lingjiu. The
　　Empress Dowager's Cining Palace was busy from morning to night. Even when she received concubines, she only received the Queen. She was exempted from the morning and evening visits to Queen Wang, let alone meeting other people. The first few times they met, except for the initial appearance, were mostly at the Qianqiu Banquet and various palace banquets.
　　At various festivals and banquets, except for today, Concubine Li had never stepped forward to compete for favor so hard, but sat quietly, so naturally there was no chance for her to talk to her.
　　Concubine Li did not dare to look directly at her, and said timidly: "I pay my respects to the Empress Dowager."
　　Dong Lingjiu smiled and said: "I have never loved you?"
　　Concubine Li wiped her tears and simply acted coquettishly and pitifully: "I also want to see the Empress Dowager and show my filial piety to her. But I am not as good as the Empress Dowager, who can see you all the time..."
　　Dong Lingjiu was almost amused by her. He turned around and whispered to Wang Wanrou, "Is she always like this?"
　　Queen Wang whispered, "Your Majesty will be quiet for three days after you go there."
　　Dong Lingjiu was surprised and asked, "Three days?"
　　Queen Wang nodded and said, "She is simple-minded. The concubines tell her everything. Concubine Li always helps the weak when she sees injustice. She thinks it is her fault that Your Majesty cannot treat the weak equally, so..."
　　Dong Lingjiu could not help but be silent for a while and repeated, "Seeing injustice... help the weak?"
　　These eight words did not match the delicate girl in front of him.
　　Dong Lingjiu was also confused by Meng Cheng's harem.
　　Before she expressed her opinion, Concubine Li saw the Queen whispering to the Queen Mother. She was afraid that she would be slandered, so she took the lead and said, "Your Majesty, I have also copied Buddhist scriptures for you to pray for you, hoping that the Queen Mother will live a long and healthy life. You can't just love the Queen."
　　Dong Lingjiu waved at her and smiled helplessly, "Hmm? Then do I have to love Yun'er too?"
　　Concubine Li Gan Yun'er blushed, moved forward, sat around the Queen Mother, secretly glared at Queen Wang,
　　and chattered like a little swallow. Dong Lingjiu took the wine poured by Wang Wanrou, smiled as she watched the two quarreling and bickering, joked with them a few more times, and reached out to appreciate the Buddhist scriptures copied by Gan Yun'er. Although the handwriting was ordinary, it could be seen that every stroke was very attentive.
　　She casually asked the chirping little swallow: "Why don't you like the Queen?"
　　"Of course it's because..." Concubine Li blurted out, then she was stunned for a moment, bit her lip, and said carefully, "I, I and the Queen are like sisters."
　　Wang Wanrou glanced at her lightly, snorted, and whispered: "Stupid."
　　Although Gan Yun'er didn't hear it, she guessed it by looking at her mouth shape. She immediately hugged Dong Lingjiu's arm and cried: "The Queen - the Queen Mother - she scolded me! She always humiliates me!"
　　Dong Lingjiu was stunned for a moment, patted her shoulder and was about to speak, Gan Yun'er got into her arms and said in her usual monotonous way of acting coquettishly: "Queen Mother, if I come to toast the Queen, the Queen will not be angry, right?"
　　Wang Wanrou: "You-"
　　"If the Queen drinks the wine I toast, the Queen will not be jealous!" She said quickly.
　　Wang Wanrou was so angry that her face turned red. Her fingers trembled as she pointed at her and said, "You are unreasonable."
　　Concubine Li had tears in her eyes. She pretended to be scared. She looked at Dong Lingjiu like a little white rabbit and wiped her eyes with a handkerchief: "You see, the queen is always so mean to me."
　　Dong Lingjiu: "..."
　　She suddenly felt that it made sense for Meng Cheng to dislike his harem.
　　They seemed to be fighting in the palace, but they also seemed not to be fighting in the palace.
　　It was really confusing.
　　“What else can I say?” Dong Lingjiu raised his hand and poked Concubine Li’s forehead with his fingertips. “If it were a queen with a bad temper, you would have been confined to your house, fined, or slapped in the face and punished with a cane.”
　　Concubine Li shrank back and said, “I… I am different from those vulgar women and beautiful girls. I have backbone. Even if it is His Majesty, the Son of Heaven, if he does something wrong, I will advise him the same way.”
　　Wang Wanrou said in a gloomy tone, “Yes, Concubine Li has always advised like this. I won’t be angry, will I? I won’t be jealous, will I? If you leave me, you won’t advise me anymore?”
　　Gan Yun’er was about to retort, but when she saw Dong Lingjiu staring at her, she couldn’t help but look pitiful: “Your Majesty…”
　　"Alright, alright." Dong Lingjiu felt a headache from hearing the two of them quarreling. "Stop quarreling, sit still. She is the Empress of the Central Palace, how could you offend her and why don't you apologize?"
　　Concubine Li was intimidated by her authority and did not dare to go too far. "I was wrong... I respect the Empress very much..."
　　The singing and dancing were going on peacefully. In the interval between the strings, Meng Cheng on the other side stroked his chin and said to the eunuch serving beside him with a very difficult expression: "That's my Empress, right?"
　　The eunuch flattered: "Oh, your Majesty, what are you talking about? Of course, that is the first wife of our Great Yin!"
　　Meng Cheng pointed to the other side, "That is my Concubine Li, right?"
　　The little eunuch hurriedly said, "That is your Majesty's Concubine Li, who is charming and beautiful, and the most beautiful woman in the harem."
　　Meng Cheng pondered for a moment and murmured, "That is indeed my harem..."
　　On such a beautiful night with a full moon, why don't they come to accompany me, pour wine with my mother, and act coquettishly? !