Chapter 307: Prayer Ceremony (1)

Qingfeng pretended to be sick by imperial decree, refusing all summons and greetings, and actually spent a few days in peace. The autumn begonias in the courtyard also bloomed. In these ten days, she was busy fiddling with her flowers, and life was very comfortable.

After becoming pregnant, she was more sleepy than usual. If Yan Hongtian stayed in her palace, she would always be woken up in the morning, and she would get up at the *si* hour (9-11 AM) after lying in bed for a while. These days Yan Hongtian hadn't come over, and she always got up at the *wu* hour (11 AM-1 PM). But today, just as the sky was brightening, Fuling stood by her bed and called her to get up. Qingfeng closed her eyes and asked in a murmur: "What time is it?"

Fuling replied in a low voice: "It's almost the *chen* hour (7-9 AM)."

The *chen* hour... the *chen* hour? Qingfeng's eyes finally struggled to open a slit, and she asked in confusion: "Doesn't the celebration start at the *wu* hour?" Fearing she would forget the time, she had asked Fuling last night. The celebration was at the *wu* hour, so why get up so early?

Qingfeng clearly hadn't slept enough. Fuling smiled slightly, and while letting the palace maids behind her prepare things, she explained: "It starts at the *wu* hour, but you have to start preparing now, otherwise it will be too late." In previous years, Yilan Palace started preparing at the *mao* hour (5-7 AM). If it weren't for the fact that the master was pregnant, she wouldn't have come to call her to get up so late.

Too late? Qingfeng was puzzled, but at this moment, seven or eight palace maids had already poured into the inner chamber. Qingfeng couldn't sleep anymore, so she struggled to sit up straight. Seeing that she had finally gotten up, Fuling nimbly took the towel, mouthwash, and tea cup handed over by the palace maids, helping her groom herself. By the time Fuling had finished tidying up, Qingfeng was also awake.

Lifting the curtains, Qingfeng saw the things the palace maids were holding: gold hairpins, emeralds, pearls, various ornaments, and a gorgeous azure gown. Thinking that today was a special day, Qingfeng understood the reason why Fuling had called her to get up early in the morning, so she didn't say much more, obediently letting Ruyi dress her, and then sat in front of the bronze mirror, letting Fuling apply powder and paint on her face.

Qingfeng guessed that this tossing and turning would definitely not end so quickly, but she never expected that it would be more than an hour later by the time Fuling was done.

Carefully checking it once, without a single imperfection, Fuling smiled and said: "It's done."

This "it's done" was simply heavenly to Qingfeng. Having sat motionless for so long, her waist was stiff. With Fuling's support, Qingfeng slowly stood up and stretched her waist and neck. Just as she stood up, the few people standing behind her let out a light gasp. Qingfeng looked up and saw that those young faces were full of amazement.

Having been dressed for so long, Qingfeng knew she must be beautiful, but when she saw the person in the bronze mirror, Qingfeng couldn't help but be startled. A floor-length azure long dress made her already slender figure look even taller. Layer upon layer of skirt hems, under the comfort of the autumn wind, were like fluttering waves. The belt was tied below the chest, making the protruding belly less obvious. Seven or eight purple-gold long hairpins were inserted into her high hair bun, and an emerald glaze long hairpin with tassels hung to her shoulders, swaying slightly without even moving, making a pleasant and soft tinkling sound. She also wore three emerald and gold bracelets on each hand, making her hands look slender and white. Fuling also applied lake-blue stickers on her forehead and the corners of her eyes. Her eyes flowed with charm, and paired with the delicate makeup, the scars on her face were not so striking. She stared at herself in the bronze mirror for a long while before sighing faintly: "Is it necessary to be so gorgeous?"

"It is necessary." The celebration held every three years was absolutely the grandest feast for Qiongyue. The Empress started preparing half a year in advance every time. The master was currently the only consort, so she must not be impolite in front of others.

Fuling had been in the palace for many years and knew her master's temperament of disliking ostentation. The fact that she still dressed her like this must have had her reasons. Accustomed to following Fuling's suggestions, she didn't say anything more and smiled: "Let's go."

Qingfeng only took Fuling and Ruyi out of Qingfeng Palace. Staring at the three distant backs, Lan'er pouted, full of resentment. Fuling was one thing, but now even a new little palace maid was more favored than her—how could she be reconciled! Lan'er was sulking in the courtyard. Xia Yin walked up to her calmly and handed the flower shears to her. Lan'er glared at Xia Yin and said angrily: "Sister Xia Yin, you're actually able to stay calm!" In these days, she occasionally had the opportunity to enter the room to serve, but Sister Xia Yin hadn't been able to serve in front of the Lady for a long time, yet she wasn't anxious, and wasn't afraid of ending up as a low-ranking palace maid!

Xia Yin smiled bitterly: "As servants, we must know our place. Who the master favors is whose blessing it is. If you don't have that ability, who can you blame?"

Growing others' ambitions and destroying her own prestige, Lan'er snorted coldly and didn't take the flower shears, running back to her room in a rage. At this moment, there was no longer the calm and indifferent look on Xia Yin's face; she lived in fear every day. Qingfeng clearly had precautions against her, but she neither made things difficult for her nor drove her away. She didn't know what Qingfeng was thinking. The master's side had been silent, and if this continued, she would go crazy.

Walking on the palace path, Qingfeng finally understood how grand this celebration was. Previously there was only one palace lantern from afar, but now there was a bright red lantern every few steps. Except for the female officials with ranks, the palace maids were all dressed in dark red skirts, and the eunuchs were all dressed in dark blue clothes. There were several times more palace servants and guards coming and going on the palace path than usual.

Seeing that she wasn't walking toward the direction of Zhengyang Palace, Fuling asked: "Master, aren't you going over to find the Emperor?"

"What for?" Qingfeng snorted lightly: "At a time like this, the only person who can stand by the Emperor's side is the Empress. What's the point of me going over?" She would attend this celebration, first, because she was curious about what the Qiongyue celebration, famous among the six kingdoms, was like, and second, because she guessed that her sister would definitely enter the palace, and it would be great if she could see her. She didn't care about Yan Hongtian at all!

Qingfeng didn't even feel the sourness in her tone, but Fuling heard it clearly. Looking at each other with Ruyi, both were smart enough not to say much. After all, Qingfeng was right; there were not many concubines in the harem who could attend the celebration. Except for the Empress who could walk to the main seat with the Emperor, no one else was qualified, and even the Empress Dowager could only sit on the side.

The celebration was held in front of Ganyang Hall. When Qingfeng arrived, the originally vast open space in front of the hall was already full of people, very lively. The East Gate of the Imperial Palace faced Ganyang Hall, and the palace gates were wide open. Carriages were parked outside the palace gates. Officials below the fifth rank could only stand in the place close to the East Gate. Qingfeng only saw a sea of black heads behind, and couldn't see anything clearly. In front of Ganyang Hall, she finally saw a few familiar people. It seemed that only officials of the third rank and above could sit in the front with the envoys of various countries. On the long white jade steps of Ganyang Hall, a bright yellow dragon chair was placed in the very middle. Beside the dragon chair was a scarlet long bench. Who would sit in that high position went without saying. Qingfeng only glanced at it and looked away.

The celebration hadn't started yet. The officials were greeting each other, and the envoys were flattering each other, very lively. Fortunately, the officials and the female relatives were separated, and Qingfeng walked directly toward the direction where the female relatives were.

Just as Qingfeng walked to the place where the female relatives were resting, everyone saw her and knelt to pay their respects: "Greetings, Consort Qing, may Your Ladyship have ten thousand blessings and good health."

Qingfeng nodded slightly and smiled generously: "Rise, everyone. Today is a celebration, the whole world is rejoicing, so there is no need to be formal."

"Thank you, Your Ladyship."

Qingfeng saw her sister at a glance and, regardless of the people kneeling around, smiled and greeted her, helping up Zhuo Qing, who hadn't paid her respects seriously, and called out happily: "Sister."

Zhuo Qing had long seen the gorgeously dressed Qingfeng. She was already a young and beautiful woman, and under such careful dressing, she was naturally beautiful. Fortunately, Zhuo Qing was also someone who had seen many beauties, so she secretly praised her, but only carried a faint smile on her face, saying: "You look quite spirited."

Qingfeng smiled helplessly. With such dressing, it would be strange if she didn't look spirited. Looking left and right and not seeing her little sister's figure, Qingfeng asked: "Why don't I see little sister?"

"She..." Zhuo Qing hesitated for a while and smiled faintly: "It's not convenient for her to come over."

Qingfeng frowned slightly. Her eldest sister had already married Lou Xiyan. As the Prime Minister's wife, she could naturally come and had to come. But it was indeed inconvenient for her little sister to come like this, following Su Ling without a name or status. What did Su Ling mean? Would he marry her little sister as his legal wife? Qingfeng looked at the place where the officials gathered. Lou Xiyan was in purple, full of nobility, and could be seen at a glance. Not far behind him, Su Ling stood among the crowd, dressed in a dark silver long gown, with a jade belt around his waist and black boots on his feet. He was low-key yet luxurious, not as unruly as before, full of elegance, but... his complexion was a bit haggard.

Following Qingfeng's gaze, Zhuo Qing had already guessed what Qingfeng was thinking. Gently patting her hand, Zhuo Qing smiled: "Don't worry, Su Ling won't treat her badly." Now she was more worried about Gu Yun's thick nerves; when would she finally be enlightened.

Qingfeng didn't know about the affair between Gu Yun and Su Ling, so she naturally wasn't as optimistic as Zhuo Qing, still replying worriedly: "I hope so."

Zhuo Qing didn't say anything more and let it pass with a smile. Seeing that she was six months pregnant and still so slender, just as she wanted to ask how she had been lately, she saw her beautiful and elegant female official rush to her side with a slightly panicked expression, calling out in a low voice: "Master..."

Qingfeng was too happy to see her sister and didn't notice when Fuling had walked away from her side. But seeing the anxiety and panic in Fuling's eyes, she knew something must have happened. Smiling apologetically at Zhuo Qing, Qingfeng walked a few steps away with Fuling and asked: "What's wrong?"

Fuling stepped forward, leaned close to Qingfeng's ear, and whispered: "Consort Hui started having stomach pains this morning. It is estimated that she is about to give birth..."

"What?!" Giving birth now?

Qingfeng panicked. This low cry attracted several surprised gazes. Qingfeng hurriedly collected her mind, pulled Fuling a few steps away, lowered her voice as much as possible, and said urgently: "Take the midwife to deliver the baby for her quickly."

Fuling looked troubled, but still nodded and replied: "Yes."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 308 =====