Cora Ruan and the Painter's Secret Chapter 8

At the end of the year, all the female officials in the harem got new clothes. In previous years, the eunuchs and maids all had their share. This year, there was a war in the desert, so the Queen Mother felt free to reduce her harem to make up for the rations of the three armies.

Chaoyisi was not as greedy as in previous years. If the Ministry of Revenue did not have enough money to hold him accountable, it would be a serious crime of beheading Colby, and no one would be willing to carry out this matter with his head on his head.

The late emperor's official banquet was held before the New Year's Eve. Emperor Renzong liked to have a lively event. After Queen Xia's death, the official banquet was changed to the New Year's Eve.

Cora Ruan couldn't hear anything about Reese Ruan's visit to the imperial study yesterday. None of the Concub!nes in the harem knew about it. Only Queen Elara would get some news from the Empress Dowager.

Cora Ruan arrived at the Grand Master's Mansion, and Grand Master Ruan also entered the palace. Aunt Reese Ruan entertained her and talked a lot. The Grand Master's Mansion was more humane than the palace.

After attending a palace banquet for Xiao Meng, Empress ordered the Clothing Bureau to make new clothes for her, and the food and clothing expenses were all according to the standards of a princess.

"The second lady's clothes are really beautiful." Sydney Sang supported her and praised her.

Cora Ruan looked at her with a smile. Xiao Meng had a very good taste. The brocades she chose were all plain colors that she usually wears. Even the newly given brocade belt was embroidered with bamboo knots.

The banquet was also held in Anmingyuan, and the Jiaofang Si arranged new music. Some went to the official banquet in the front hall, and the other part went to the harem to show to the Concub!nes.

The Meng family raised the girl to be a queen and a mother who respected the world since she was a child. Margot Meng was unambiguous in doing things at a young age and made proper arrangements. Anmingyuan was originally used to entertain foreign ministers and their families.

In previous years, the visits of envoys from the State of Jing would be arranged here, and today officials and their families were also invited.

On the way, Sydney Sang talked about the affairs in the palace, which made it easier for her to recognize people today. "In the early years, before I entered the palace, I heard that Your Majesty had six heirs. In the early years, the eldest prince and the second prince conspired to rebel, which led to the death of the eldest prince in the palace." During the chaos, the second prince's biological mother was Queen Xia, so he was spared the death penalty and was imprisoned in Huayan Temple." Sydney Sang spoke in a low voice.

Cora Ruan had heard some inklings of these past events, but he didn't know everything. Before Queen Elara entered the palace, Empress Xia had died many years ago, and she had a son and a daughter in the palace.

In the Yongning Palace where she lives, the previous owner, Princess Jin Huan, and the second prince are twins.

Cora Ruan bumped into several Concub!nes as soon as she stepped through the gate of the harem. The Queen Mother was in the front hall today, and the Concub!nes in the harem seemed to be on friendly terms with each other, but secretly they had their own plans.

She had met a few people when she first entered the palace. They were all women from official families. She was young and had just entered the harem last year. There were many Concub!nes in the harem, and the one who was named by everyone was also the biological mother of several princes and princesses.

As for these childless people, they only know the same clothes. In the winter, the dazzling scenery of Anmingyuan is created by the harem Concub!nes.

Cora Ruan smiled and nodded. Sydney Sang bowed and retreated behind Cora Ruan. Then he saw a man following him, with a golden crown and straight hair, gray clothes and white lining, sword-shaped eyebrows and pure eyes.

"I've met the third prince." Sydney Sang's words brought Cora Ruan back to reality.

Cora Ruan then saluted, and Camden Chen stopped beside her. Under the skin of a saint, he did not look like a snake-hearted person.

Sydney Sang saw Camden Chen staring at Cora Ruan and said hurriedly: "This is the second girl of the Ruan family."

Camden Chen moved his eyes away and said, "I'm sorry." He held his hands and saluted, gentle and elegant, without any hint of evil.

Camden Chen's biological mother was Concub!ne Zhang, who often worshiped Buddha in the harem. Cora Ruan had met her on the day she entered the palace. Camden Chen's eyebrows looked very much like Concub!ne Zhang. It was not unusual for the prince to appear in the harem.

"Miss Ruan Er is mute and can't speak. You don't have to be polite. Is the injury better?" Camden Chen's voice was calm.

Sydney Sang answered for Cora Ruan: "Second Miss Ruan's injury is much better. The wind and cold have fallen recently."

"That's good. My wife has hosted a banquet, and we are waiting for Miss Ruan to go to the river bank to enjoy the sky lanterns on Lantern Festival night." Camden Chen took the initiative to invite and agreed with the etiquette. The banquet was hosted by the third princess.

Not in the palace but by the river, Cora Ruan knew the custom of Chilin. Whether it was a girl from an aristocratic family or a noble lady, the rules and etiquette were not as strict as those in Xunzhou.

Drinking, writing poems and being free and easy will not cause gossip. She had already guessed that the third princess was going to have a banquet. Reese Ruan also said that there was no harm in going.

Cora Ruan agreed and went to the banquet to settle the old feud, but when she looked at Camden Chen in front of her, she always felt that something was wrong.

Before entering the palace, my mother said that there were many rules in the palace, but after entering the palace, I realized that the rules restricted the brain, not the behavior.

Once the arch has passed, tonight's game will continue late into the night. Chi Lin's daughter likes to stay up all night, which is completely different from Xunzhou.

Sutton Shi got Margot Meng's order to paint the banquet in Anmingyuan tonight and send it to the Taishi Courtyard. The purpose was obvious. If Cora Ruan became the imperial Concub!ne, then the portrait would be kept in the Taishi Courtyard forever.

As soon as she crossed the corridor, she bumped into Cora Ruan. Sutton Shi glanced at her but said nothing else. Just as he was about to go around her, Cora Ruan grabbed his arm.

Sutton Shi lowered his eyes, raised his eyebrows and asked, "Is there something wrong with Miss Ruan?"

Cora Ruan looked at Sutton Shi's eyes and moved away unconsciously, and the jade pendant in his sleeve slipped out.

Sutton Shi could tell at a glance that it was something she had thrown. Cora Ruan let go of her arm and did not bend down to pick it up in a hurry. Instead, he observed Sutton Shi's expression.

Sutton Shi's eyes narrowed, but she put it away very quickly. This jade pendant was a certificate of communication with Jing Guo. She had never lost it. She saved Cora Ruan and lost it in Yongning Palace that night. Rather than throwing it away, it was Cora Ruan who lost it. Cora Ruan reached out and picked it.

"Put away the girl's things. This white jade is fragile. You are lucky today." Sutton Shi knelt down and picked it up and handed it to Cora Ruan.

Cora Ruan remembered seeing the white mask in a trance that night. She mistakenly thought it was Sutton Shi who entered the bedroom. After all, if she died, the art gallery would be investigated. But today's test, nothing could be seen. It was still Sutton Shi. Wine is disguised too well.

"Huh?" Shi Jiutou looked at her slightly, and the hand he extended was still hanging in the air.

Cora Ruan reached out and pinched one end of the jade pendant, and found that Sutton Shi's grip was tight and he had no intention of giving it to her.

"Miss Ruan Er's painting will be sent out in two days. I wonder if the heavy snow will delay the delivery. Changing the road may not. There is more than one road to Xunzhou anyway." Sutton Shi said before letting go of the jade pendant.

Cora Ruan stared at Sutton Shi for a while. When the other person's eyes showed a smile, people were inexplicably curious about the face under the mask.

Sydney Sang, who was beside him, was confused when he heard this, and couldn't help but feel sorry for Miss Ruan, who couldn't speak, and couldn't even respond to other people's words.

Sutton Shi walked far away before looking back at Cora Ruan to make sure that Cora Ruan hadn't noticed him. He had to get the jade pendant back. Cora Ruan was shaking in front of Margot Meng and the Queen Mother, so he might be noticed.

Once a jade pendant is engraved with words, it has a purpose. It is different from ordinary ornaments. Cora Ruan, a woman in a boudoir, may not understand this.

"Your Highness." Nolan Nan came from behind the rockery, panting and looking around.

The surrounding eunuchs and maids were busy with things at hand and didn't pay much attention to this place. Sutton Shi came back to his senses and walked forward, "What happened?"

"Xiao Meng met with the supervisor of Bihaiying. Lou Min was defeated and lost the city. It seems that he wants to ask Alden to borrow troops." Nolan Nan lowered his voice.

Sutton Shi never let anything affect her mood. She asked, "Is the person gone?"

"Left Chi Lin early in the morning, Reese Ruan mobilized 100,000 cavalry to assist, and left without waiting for the official banquet tonight."

Sutton Shi slowed down her pace. The eunuchs and maids passing by would salute when they bumped into her, but she didn't bother to respond. There are many crabapples planted in Anmingyuan, and after spring comes the emperor will come to admire the flowers. At this time, these dead branches can only be deCora Ruanted with palace lanterns to not look sad.

As long as there is a war, the palace will cut back on food and clothing. The palace lanterns were taken down by the court ceremony director last year, and they were hung up after cleaning.

She doesn't like Begonia, it reminds her of her master's corpse rotting in the back of the rockery in Anmingyuan a few years ago. It was a hot summer and it was completely different from today.

In the past few years, except for the imperial decree of the royal family, she has not taken the initiative to step into this place. The red light is so ironic. The Queen Mother did not investigate after the death of her master. She has never offended anyone, and has never had any problems with anyone.

She has not been able to find out the strangeness of his death in recent years, but the grudge has been recorded there.

"Chilin only has 300,000 cavalry, and 100,000 are guarding the land of Yichuan. That means that apart from the shadow guards, Chilin now only has 100,000, and no heavy troops can be mobilized." Sutton Shi looked at him visually. Ahead, attention all around, making sure no one is listening.

They were discussing the political affairs of dead people lively, but no one would think of it.

Nolan Nan said: "Nu Guai, a few days ago the Queen Mother approved the military pay that had been delayed for half a year by the Wentai general. She also took this into account. If the Queen borrows troops..." Nolan Nan is not sure about Jing Guo Will the emperor respond?

"She can borrow it, but I guess she wants the Ruan family's scriptures." Sutton Shi answered before Nolan Nan asked.

The scriptures of the Ruan family are so large that most students cannot read them. Only the girls of the Ruan family can read them. It is precisely because of this that they are respected by scholars all over the world and can firmly sit as the head of the family among the five families of the Yingnan family. .

"What should we do? The Ruan family didn't even give it to the court. This is the foundation of the Ruan family. Will it be released at this time?" Nolan Nan was in trouble.

The country of Jing has always been lacking in the field of literature. The queen manages the country well but is still young. The Ruan family's scriptures are not only the support of the family, but also the support of the Dayuan Dynasty.

Most of the students in the Hanlin Academy are students of the Ruan family, and they will eventually become officials in the court. This thing is really hard to get.

Sutton Shi said: "Although Taishi Ruan has this surname, he was adopted by the ancestors of the Ruan family out of kindness. He valued the family members and would not speak out even if the dynasty collapsed. That's why Chuhuaizhou was appointed as the envoy." I went to Jing State. Chu Huaizhou was once a student of the Meng family. This is the biggest concession for the Queen Mother. "

"Then your Highness wants to help the Queen exchange scriptures?" Nolan Nan asked.

Sutton Shi looked at her and asked, "Who do you think I am now?"

Nolan Nan remained silent for a moment, pursed her lips and lowered her head, "I know I was wrong."

"Did Li Weiyan ask you to find out what I said about the scriptures?"

"Your Majesty ordered it." Nolan Nan replied weakly.

"Let her borrow troops, and I'll try the scripture thing." Sutton Shi knew that Emperor Jing couldn't force her. The two had known each other for many years. Although she had been in Chilin for many years, she would return to Jing in previous years.

Sutton Shi cannot collapse the Dayuan Dynasty. Li Weiyan said, "If she becomes the emperor of the Dayuan Dynasty, then Jing will always be the backing of the Dayuan Dynasty." This sentence seems to have been in the hearts of the two of them since they were nine years old.