0p0 Chapter 120 Gift
Chapter 120 Gift
Back at the Yanxi Palace, breakfast was already served. Liu Zhu came in carrying a food box and placed a bowl of noodles in front of An Lingrong. "This is the longevity noodles my queen ordered me to make. It's still hot, my lady. Please enjoy it."
After saying this, he moved to An Lingrong's side and whispered, "Happy birthday, young lady, and may you be safe and happy."
"Thank you, Sister Zhen, and thank you, Liu Zhu." An Lingrong said with a smile.
After breakfast, Caixing and Juqing grabbed An Lingrong and helped her change her clothes and put on makeup again.
She donned a light red palace gown with flowing patterns, the fabric smooth and delicately patterned. Her hair was carefully divided into two sections, and a delicate jade hairpin made of seven treasures was gently inserted into her hair, firmly securing it. The jade's warm luster complemented her hair, adding a touch of elegance and nobility. She then topped it with an exquisitely crafted hollow red coral headband and, finally, a pair of silver-embroidered soft satin flat-soled shoes. The height of the soles accentuated her upright and graceful figure.
"My lady, the Queen sent me a red gold hairpin for a long and blessed life early this morning, and she wants you to wear it today!"
"Okay, wear it!" An Lingrong had given up struggling and let Caixing do whatever he wanted on her head.
Caixing looked at it carefully and took out a pair of jade bead earrings.
Only after An Lingrong's hair was decked out with pearls and jade did Caixing nod in satisfaction.
Ju Qing cleverly brought a mirror. An Lingrong pinched her voice, raised her head, pointed at herself in the mirror and said, "What a peerless beauty, so beautiful that she can eclipse the moon, shame the flowers, sink the fish, and make the geese fall. Hehehe!"
Caixing and Juqing looked at each other and nodded at the same time.
Just praise yourself, why do you have to put it in this tone?
A little later, the Imperial Household Department also delivered the customary rewards. These rewards did not require the Emperor's instructions; they were given by the Imperial Household Department according to palace rules to show respect and care for the concubines. Not long after, the Empress and other concubines also sent gifts as usual.
An Lingrong took a quick look and found that they were just some common jewelry and clothes in the palace, nothing special. She waved her hand and said to Xiao Luzi beside her, "Take them to the storeroom!"
After packing everything, she took Caixing and Juqing to Yonghe Palace.
Shen Meizhuang and Zhen Huan were playing chess. When they heard the noise, they looked up and their eyes lit up. "Rong'er, you look so beautiful in this color!"
Zhen Huan echoed, "You usually dress simply and don't like jewelry, but seeing you today really makes me shine!"
An Lingrong sat next to Shen Meizhuang and said, "Sister, don't think that you don't have to give me a gift just because you praise me a few times!"
Zhen Huan said in surprise, "Didn't I send you longevity noodles?"
"Yes, I also gave her a hairpin!" Shen Meizhuang agreed.
"Is this considered a gift?" An Lingrong pouted, very dissatisfied!
"Yes!" They both nodded.
The maids serving on both sides covered their mouths and laughed.
"I don't believe it, dear sister, please take it out quickly!" An Lingrong walked to Zhen Huan, hugged her arm and shook it hard.
Jinxi was frightened by what she saw.
"Okay, okay, stop shaking me. I'm feeling dizzy, Huanbi." Zhen Huan said helplessly.
Huanbi stepped forward and presented a huge box.
Zhen Huan opened the box, revealing a jade cabbage as long as her forearm. "Does Rong'er like it?"
"Wow!" An Lingrong was stunned.
The white part of this piece of jade is carved into vegetable stems, and the green part is carved into vegetable leaves. The two insects resting on the leaves are katydids and locusts, which symbolize many children and grandchildren. Each antennae is clearly visible.
Jade is warm to the touch, crystal clear, elegant, transparent and flawless.
Shen Meizhuang also took out the gift she had prepared and pushed it in front of An Lingrong.
An Lingrong's jaw dropped in shock, "This is..."
Shen Meizhuang smiled and said, "It's just a makeup box!"
An Lingrong murmured, "Picking gold into silk, weaving it with skillful hands, inlaying it with jade and emerald green, it is a unique masterpiece."
This box required several craftsmen to complete several processes including wax carving, engraving, filigree inlay, bead blasting, water grinding, quality inspection, etc., plus welding technology, as well as the details and embellishment of engraving and gemstones.
The country is beautiful, and the phoenix is coming.
(A video on Douyin shows a makeup box made by a craftsman called Feng Lai Yi. I was stunned at first sight. This is every girl's dream box, a true luxury. That's why I wrote this so that readers don't get hung up on the historical context. Promoting traditional Chinese crafts is everyone's responsibility.)
"What are you doing? How can I accept such a valuable thing!" An Lingrong slammed the lid shut.
Zhen Huan smiled and comforted her, "No matter how valuable the item is, it's a token of our sisterly love!"
An Lingrong waved her hands, "I've never given such expensive gifts to my two sisters!"
"But what you gave us is much more valuable than this!" Shen Meizhuang pointed to her belly.
Zhen Huan nodded, and seeing that An Lingrong wanted to speak more, she teased, "Ah, Rong'er has always been decisive and straightforward. Why are you being so long-winded today?"
An Lingrong stopped being pretentious and happily accepted the two gifts.
After a while, Concubine Jing came as invited.
After exchanging greetings, they sat down and talked.
An Lingrong stood up and bowed solemnly, "I am now in the cold palace. I thank Your Majesty for taking care of me. Your kindness is deeply appreciated."
Jingpin helped her up and said, "You are too polite, sister. I only accepted Sister Hui's request because I trust you. Moreover, the money for the arrangement was all paid by Sister Hui. I am just doing my best to help. Don't mind it, sister!"
An Lingrong promised, "If Your Majesty needs me in the future, I will do my best to help you."
"That's too much! There's no need to be like this!"
Being used to seeing An Lingrong's playful and smiling face, they were a little uncomfortable to see her suddenly look so serious.
After she finished speaking, Concubine Jing took out a box and handed it to An Lingrong. "Today is a double celebration. First, I congratulate you on your vindication, and second, I congratulate you on your birthday. This is a gift from me, so I hope you won't dislike it."
An Lingrong opened the box with great joy, and inside were two pieces of paper. Zhen Huan and Shen Meizhuang also went to look at them curiously. When they saw the words on the paper clearly, they both laughed.
This is An Lingrong's IOU, two of them totaling one hundred taels.
"Do you like it, sister?" Jingpin asked with a smile.
"Thank you, sister. I, I like it..." An Lingrong tried hard to force a smile, but that smile was uglier than crying.
Concubine Jing, Zhen Huan and Shen Meizhuang looked at each other and laughed heartily.
"Alright, alright, I won't tease you anymore! Hanzhu." Jingpin took the box Hanzhu handed over, "This is a white jade nine-tooth comb. It can smooth your hair, open up your meridians and relax your collaterals. It's good for your health and also auspicious!"
"Thank you, Sister Jingpin." An Lingrong stroked the delicate pattern of joy on the comb, and it instantly turned into a smiling face.
"Haha, I like this one too!" An Lingrong put the IOU into her purse.
After giving the gifts, the four of them sat at the table and started playing poker.
When playing cards with smart people, An Lingrong holds on to a principle: as long as I don't try to be the landlord, I won't lose badly.
After playing a few rounds, An Lingrong took out the still-warm IOUs from her purse, gave one back to Concubine Jing and one to Zhen Huan, and then asked, "Sisters, are you tired of this game? I know other ways to play, and there's another kind of cards. I'll ask the Imperial Household Department to make them when I have time."
She was talking about Mahjong, but Mahjong is more difficult to play and the rules are a bit complicated.
An Lingrong then told them about another way to play poker: upgrade, also known as eighty points.
After explaining the rules, the three of them began to give in to each other!
"Sister Jingpin is the best at playing cards. She should be on the same team with Rong'er."
"No, no, Hui is still the best fighter. You should be in a group with Wen!"
"Oh, I've already lost a few games. Huan'er is still the smartest and is the most suitable team for Rong'er!"
"No, no, no, you fought well..."
"You are still the best..."
"I think you're the smartest..."
An Lingrong: “…”
Seeing that the three were about to fight, An Lingrong had no choice but to make a suggestion: rock-paper-scissors, the loser would be in the same group with her.
"rock-paper-scissors!"
"rock-paper-scissors!"
"rock-paper-scissors!"
Shen Meizhuang patted her weak hands and cast a resentful look at An Lingrong.
Zhen Huan and Concubine Jing are eager to try!
An Lingrong patted her chest and said confidently, "Don't worry, sister, I will take you to fly!"
Half an hour later, Shen Meizhuang pointed at An Lingrong's nose and said, "Huan'er doesn't even have a heart card, and you're still playing a heart?"
An Lingrong blinked her innocent eyes, "Ah, it's gone? I didn't know!"
Shen Meizhuang said with a look of disappointment, "Last round, Sister Jingpin played a heart, and she played a diamond. Don't you remember?"
"I don't remember! Maybe the color is the same and I didn't see it clearly?" An Lingrong was honest and begged for mercy!
"You..." Shen Meizhuang's face flushed, obviously she was very angry.
"Sister, sister, don't be angry, I was wrong!" An Lingrong quickly stood up to comfort Shen Meizhuang, then looked at Zhen Huan and said, "Sister Zhen, how about we team up? I'm afraid you'll be angry and give birth prematurely!"
Zhen Huan blinked innocently and said, "But I'm pregnant too!"
An Lingrong looked at Concubine Jing again, and Shen Meizhuang and Zhen Huan also looked at her with burning eyes.
Jingpin reluctantly stood up and exchanged seats with Shen Meizhuang. What a miserable life! It was her fault that she was not pregnant!