Chapter 496 The Queen is Happy
Because they were going to enter the palace today, all the girls dressed up carefully.
Baoyu and Daiyu are in the lead. Baochai is wearing a long coat with a pink satin cross collar and gold edging, and an orange pleated skirt. She can be described as beautiful and the most beautiful among all the beauties.
Daiyu, standing aside, was wearing a white cross-collared middle garment, a white jacket with a pastel-green collar embroidered with bamboo leaves and plum blossoms, and a silver-gray silk horse-faced skirt with scattered flowers. She looked much plainer than the others, but with her demeanor and appearance, she seemed even more naturally gifted and beautiful.
The rest of the women were also all graceful and charming in their own way.
Even the two young ladies, Wang Xifeng and Keqing, showed a unique and stunning beauty.
Keqing wore an indigo-colored embroidered collar with a blue-colored embroidered outer lining, a white jacket with a side-opening and a stand-up collar, and a satin cape with ultramarine embroidery and a white-colored lace border. Wang Xifeng wore a narrow-sleeved red satin jacket with gold-thread butterflies and flowers, a colorful carved silk coat in dark blue and silver mice, and a emerald-flowered crepe skirt. One was graceful and unparalleled, while the other was a goddess who had descended to earth, making the two women very interesting.
"My son was indeed born in a land of women. I'm afraid the Jia family is the only one in the whole of Shenjing that has such beautiful daughters."
The queen looked around with joy. Seeing that everyone was still prostrating themselves on the ground, she quickly stood up and said, "Stand up!"
When everyone stood up, the Queen said with a smile, "I have no special intention today. I am just bored in the palace, so I want to talk to you little girls. Have fun. You two girls, come over and sit next to me. Everyone else, please sit down. There is no need to be restrained by your status in my presence."
Daiyu glanced secretly at Baochai, and then the two of them walked forward side by side and gave the Queen another blessing.
The Queen helped her two daughters-in-law up and pulled them to sit beside her. "I told you to come to the palace when you are free. Since you refused to come, I had no choice but to issue an imperial decree to invite you here."
Baochai hurriedly said, "Your Majesty's kindness is deeply appreciated by us sisters. However, as Your Majesty is the Queen Mother, how dare we come here for no reason and delay Your Majesty's important affairs?"
"Girl, what's the big deal? If you guys come, I'll be so happy, why delay?"
"Since you are here today, please stay and talk with me. I will send you back after dinner."
Everyone naturally responded.
"And you girls, I have granted you imperial edicts, so why don't you come into the palace?" The queen said to Yuanyang and the other two with a smile.
The three of them hurriedly bowed, "Your Majesty is kind and virtuous. Without a decree from the Empress, we dare not disturb her peace!"
"Without you coming, I have peace and quiet, but it's a pity that the peace is too great. The reason I gave you the imperial edict is, firstly, because that child asked for it, and I naturally had to grant it. Secondly, it is to give you a status so that you can enter the palace and talk with me. This will definitely not happen again in the future. We women are only separated by a palace gate, how can we be so estranged from each other?"
"You little girls are all good. I am so happy to see you!"
"Yuanchun, go get some refreshments for them."
"I have met you before, but we have never spoken to each other. Now, tell me first, who are ?"
The ladies hesitated for a moment, and Yingchun stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Highness, I am Jia Yingchun, a concubine of the Jia family!"
Tanchun stepped forward, but the Queen smiled and said, "You just came into the palace with that child a few days ago. I already remember you, Jia Tanchun!"
Little Xichun looked around, then stepped forward, sticking her butt out and kowtowed, "My Lady, do you know me?"
The Queen laughed heartily, "Let me guess, you are that child's fourth sister, named Xichun!"
Little Xichun got up, giggled and nodded.
Baoqin had met the Queen at the Xue family before, and Shi Xiangyun stepped forward to greet her, "Shi Xiangyun, daughter of the Shi family, pays homage to the Queen!"
"Well, he told me that there's a sister of a historian who's very lively and outgoing, and she aspires to be a heroine, right?"
Xiangyun smiled shyly, which was rare for her. Why did her third brother even say this to the Empress?
Finally, Wang Xifeng and Keqing stepped forward and saluted, "Wang Xifeng, the daughter of the Wang family, pays her respects to the Empress / Jia Qinshi pays her respects to the Empress!"
"Hmm!" The queen nodded slightly. She did not point out Wang Xifeng's little thoughts. Moreover, it seemed that she was a smart one and knew the reason why she asked her to come.
"Get up! You two are good people, especially you. I heard that you help that kid manage the business outside? You are a good helper. If you were in the palace, Yuanchun, the Minister of Fengzao Palace, would not have her turn."
Wang Xifeng glanced at the Empress secretly, and seeing that she was not angry, she felt relieved and said, "Your Majesty, I am too kind. I was just acting recklessly. How can I compare with the ladies-in-waiting in the palace? If I were in the palace, I would definitely cause trouble for Your Majesty."
"Besides, my old lady has long told us that the Empress is the most benevolent and charitable person in the world! Although I can't read a few words, I know that the Empress is the mother of the country and a role model for all women in the world. Being able to see the Empress once or twice is a blessing accumulated over several lifetimes. How dare we even dream of serving her?"
"I think the Queen is the compassionate Guanyin Bodhisattva from heaven, who has come down to earth to save all living beings. If I could serve the Queen, wouldn't I also be a female official in the celestial palace?"
"Haha!" Wang Xifeng's words made the Empress burst into laughter. She waved her hand, asked Wang Xifeng to come forward, and took her hand and said, "I heard you were good at talking before, but I didn't believe it. Now that I see you today, you've said all the good things in the world. No wonder your old master likes you so much. If you were in my presence, I would definitely like you too."
Hearing the Queen's words, Wang Xifeng felt proud. It is said that flattery never wears out, and even the Queen likes to hear good words.
The ladies stayed with the Queen in Fengzao Palace for a full half day, and only returned after they had their meal with her.
Because it was getting late, the girls stopped making a fuss and returned to the Jia Mansion. After everyone left, Baochai followed Daiyu back to her previous courtyard.
Inside the side room, Baochai sat lost in thought, her face filled with confusion. The Empress's treatment of them all was unbelievable, like that of a monarch and her subjects; she was far too gracious. What surprised her most was that when she mentioned Yuanchun, Tanchun, and Jia Cong, there seemed to be .
At least those words didn't sound like they were talking about brothers and sisters, but rather like they were talking about the relationship between himself, Daiyu and Cong'er.
Moreover, not only that, even the expressions and correspondence between the eldest sister and the third sister were somewhat strange.
