The sun was shining high, and there were all kinds of carriages in the empty field in front of the door outside Miaoyin Hall.

The imperial concubines followed Noble Concubine Hui into the hall. They sat on the armchairs one by one with dry mouths, humming.

"Oh, what's the matter? I got up at four o'clock in the morning to dress up. I haven't eaten yet."

Jieyu Jiang held a honey-colored handkerchief with her thin white fingers, pressed it on her chest, bowed her head, and retched twice.

Concubine Liang sitting opposite her saw the scene, raised her eyebrows wisely, pretended to make a fuss, covered her mouth and nose, and exclaimed, "Oh, sister, what's the matter? Are you pregnant?"

Jieyu Jiang's face turned red and her anger was unbearable.

"You can really tease me. His Majesty hasn't been to my Feihong Hall for half a year. How can I be pregnant?"

"I'm just kidding. You can't tell?"

Concubine Liang disapproved and smiled scornfully.

Jieyu Jiang threw her handkerchief on the table and complained, "Hum, I've been starving all morning. I thought there would be a good meal until noon. I've wasted time here for a long time. I'm starving."

"Yes," said Meiren Qi, twisting her slender waist, leaning on the armchair, and holding her head in her hand.

"I also got up early in the morning. Princess Huaishu was really willful. She had no appetite after her long journey. Why did she ignore others? We dressed up for a long time to meet her. Her casual words made us unable to eat lunch."

"You are right..."

"She's so rude!"

The concubines were full of gossip. It was so noisy.

Noble Concubine Hui was pained by the noise, and finally couldn't bear it. She waved her hand and said, "Well, well, sisters, stop talking. I know you have worked hard to prepare for this grand ceremony. Hongjing, go and ask the small kitchen to prepare meals. Today I invite you to have lunch in Miaoyin Hall."

All the concubines were happy and got up to thank the Noble Concubine for her generosity.

Soon, delicious dishes were put on the table.

The concubines sat down and ate happily.

A gust of wind rushed into the hall. It turned out that Li Xiao, the chief eunuch in Miaoyin Hall, hurried in. He leaned over to the side of Noble Concubine Hui and whispered to her.

Then, her charming face turned from white to red and her face was serious.

Concubine Liang quietly turned her clear eyes, and her smile was cold.

"Oh, what's the matter? What did Lord Li say that surprised Noble Concubine Hui? Tell us and let's discuss it for you."

Chief Eunuch Li bowed down and looked embarrassed.

Noble Concubine Hui lowered her face, pinched her chopsticks with her fingers, and the palm of her hands burst into a cold sweat.

"Your Grace, what's the matter with you?"

"Is there something difficult that happened?"

Because the imperial concubines were eating here, when they noticed that Shi Yuanqing looked different, they put down their chopsticks and showed concern.

Noble Concubine Hui sighed and shook her head with a bitter smile.

"It's nothing serious. Someone just saw the imperial carriage passing on the palace road..."

"Ah?" Meiren Jia raised her face and wondered.

"Did Princess Huaishu leave the palace so soon? Why didn't His Majesty accompany her in the Qinming Hall for a while?"

Noble Concubine Hui was dejected and said, "Several pairs of eyes can see clearly that what sits on the imperial carriage is not His Majesty, but Lady Yun."

A word blew up a thousand waves, and the table became noisy.

There were more than a dozen women who were jealous, angry, sad and wronged. They had all kinds of expressions.

Concubine Liang showed a fine smile. Her cunning eyes swept the faces of the concubines with a unique sharpness. She finally looked at the desolate and lonely face of Noble Concubine Hui.

"Seeing that it's getting late, sisters, don't disturb Your Grace afternoon sleep. We'd better break up separately."

"Well, you all go back. Let's get together another day."

Noble Concubine Hui felt her limbs weak and her heart cold, so she followed the meaning of Concubine Liang and stopped asking everyone to stay.

The concubines looked at each other, got up and withdrew from Miaoyin Hall.

Looking at the mess on the table, Noble Concubine Hui was in a bad mood and ordered the maids to clean up. When she raised her eyes, she saw Concubine Liang Su Mao turning back from outside the hall.

"Why don't you go with them? Did you leave something?"

Noble Concubine Hui reluctantly cheered up and spoke weakly to Concubine Liang.

Concubine Liang, Su Mao, was the daughter of Su Changxuan, a bachelor of the cabinet. She was a quick talker.

Noble Concubine Hui didn't like such a woman.

Concubine Liang smiled shyly, "I was really worried when I saw your bad complexion at dinner. I wanted to come back and talk to you, my sister."

Anyway, she was depressed and couldn't sleep well. Shi Yuanqing didn't drive her away, but turned to the corner table and said, "Sit there."

"Thank you. After you."

Concubine Liang smiled softly and reached out to help Noble Concubine Hui.

They were sitting at each side of the table respectively, and a maid brought hot tea.

Concubine Liang just sipped the scented tea a little, then put the cup eagerly, said with a sharp voice, "Sister, do you allow the woman who lives in Jingyang Palace to be domineering?"

Noble Concubine Hui bowed her head in silence. She lifted the lid of the cup and swept the tea floating on the hot water.

Thinking of Concubine Liang's usual behavior, Noble Concubine Hui smiled without expression and said, "She's just riding on the emperor's imperial carriage. How can she be said to be arrogant and domineering? I think it must be His Majesty's arrangement. Without his approval, she, a rank-third concubine, will never dare to be so indulgent."

Concubine Liang teased. She repeatedly rubbed the pine beads on the silver nail on her little finger. She looked out of the hall as if she didn't care about everything.

"If it's the emperor's intention, it's more terrible. Sister, you just think about it carefully, that woman is just a concubine in the third rank. She won the limelight in the palace without the favor of His Majesty.

Today she is ill, but she can coax His Majesty to send her back to the palace in an imperial carriage. Later, when she recovers, if she could be favored by His Majesty, I'm afraid there will be no place for our sisters! "

Noble Concubine Hui's expression was stiff for a moment, and then she tried her best to hide her frightened and uneasy expression and forced out a smile.

"What you said is a bit serious. The mother's family of Lady Yun was killed by Lord Shen as early as the Wans' maladministration. At present, she is poor and helpless in the palace. She can't make waves on her own."

Concubine Liang lowered her head, sighed and said, "Hey, I don't need to worry about it either. Sister, you are in charge of the imperial harem and devote yourself to it all day. Even if you are promoted to empress in the future, we will be happy for you.

But now there is such a person who can live a good life in the imperial harem without doing anything. Not to mention her food and clothing, her honor guards are better than yours.

I'm anxious. I don't want your hard-earned reputation to be occupied by others. I'll tell you something from my heart. But, sister, you don't appreciate it."

Concubine Liang wiped the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, and she squeezed out a few tears as she spoke.

Noble Concubine Hui immediately blushed and embarrassed, and urgently comforted her, "Sister, you must not do this. I have wronged you."

The chief maid Hongjing also came over and flattered, "Your Grace, my master has always regarded you as her sister. You plan for her wholeheartedly, and she keeps it in mind. But my master is different from Lady Yun. How can we bother ourselves arguing with that woman in low class?"

Concubine Liang sucked her nose and said, "Sister, you are reasonable and don't care about it, but the palace is full of snobs. I'm afraid people in the palace will inevitably talk about it for a long time. I advise you that there is always respect and inferiority etiquette in the traditional rules and rules in the palace. Sometimes you need to let those people know your strength. In this way, they don't dare to say anything."

"This..." Noble Concubine Hui hesitated.

The chief maid Hongjing nodded, "Master, I think Concubine Liang's words are very reasonable."

Noble Concubine Hui nodded and looked at Concubine Liang, "Well, I'll leave it to you. Remember, be moderate, don't scare her, and don't hurt her."