Hairpin Phoenix

   Chapter 696 Extraordinary New Year

   New Year is coming soon.

   This is also the first New Year after Yongjia Emperor went west. In the palace, mourning for the late emperor was to be done, neither lanterns and lanterns, nor red or green. As far as the eye can see, a plain.

  There was no big banquet in the palace, only a simple family banquet. Li Jing, the emperor, has neither concubines nor favored beauties. There is only one queen in the harem. Li Jue, Li Xuan, and Li Cong are the three children, the Queen Mother Qiao, the concubine Wang and the little princess, and the young Li Min. .

   After the meal, there was no silk and bamboo singing and dancing, and everyone gathered to talk and then dispersed.

  On the first day of the new year, the imperial wives of the third rank and above in the capital will enter the palace one by one to see them.

  Lu Mingyu was dressed in a plain-colored palace suit, with no makeup applied, and his face was bright and clean. The ladies of the imperial orders thought of the great achievements the Empress had made, and they became more respectful when they saluted.

   "Mrs. Qiao, please take a seat." Lu Mingyu said with a smile, and the palace servant on the side stepped forward quickly and helped Mrs. Qiao to take a seat.

  The number of seats in the Jiaofang Hall is limited, and those who are eligible to sit are all honored and respected ladies.

  For example, Mrs. Qiao, as the wife of the first assistant of the court, Mrs. Qiao Ge, the mother of the empress dowager, the grandmother of the emperor’s direct relative, and the first lady of the court, is naturally qualified to be seated.

  Lu Mingyu spoke, but Madam Qiao didn't feel too embarrassed. She smiled and thanked her for her grace. With the help of the palace servants, she took the seat under the empress's head.

  The next ones who were seated were Mrs. Puyang Hou and Mrs. Dongping County Prince.

   Mrs. Puyang Hou was repeatedly instructed by Puyang Hou that she was very honest and calm when she entered the palace today. Thanking the queen for her grace, she sat down carefully, smiling but not speaking.

   Li Yan, the prince of Dongping County, has made many contributions and is the confidant of the new emperor. Lu Mingyue also married into the palace of Dongping County. Lu Mingyu wanted to give some respect to the princess of Dongping County, and when she spoke, her tone was very gentle: "Mrs. Dongping County, sit down and talk!"

  Dongping County King's wife was flattered and laughed again and again: "Thank you for your grace."

   Today, Lu Mingyue also entered the palace. When she helped her mother-in-law to take a seat, she raised her head and glanced at the phoenix chair.

  Lu Mingyu winked at Lu Mingyue.

  Lu Mingyue pursed her lips and smiled. It was inconvenient to talk too much on these occasions. She stood by her mother-in-law honestly. It was only two steps away from Lu Mingyu.

   Then there are the ladies of Shangshu.

   Among them, the most eye-catching is Shen Lan.

   A group of imperial madams are mostly in their forties and fifties, and there are many with white hair in their sixties. There is only Shen Lan, but in her twenties, her eyebrows are curved and her black eyes are smiling.

   However, who made the family's life good, married into the Lu family and became a daughter-in-law, the queen's mother-in-law's sister-in-law! The Queen's concubine deliberately raised her, and specifically called Shen Lan to sit beside her, a position higher than Mrs. Puyang Hou's.

   Mrs. Puyang Hou can laugh affectionately, what else are they dissatisfied with?

   Palace banquet at noon, the dishes are warm and delicious.

  Shen Lan is not the first year to enter the palace to greet her, and as soon as she eats the imperial meal, she notices a subtle difference.

   She smiled at Lu Mingyu in a low voice: "Every year when I go to the palace for dinner, this dish is a bit cold, no matter how delicious it is, it's a bit unpleasant. This year's imperial meal is hot."

  Lu Mingyu also smiled: "It can be seen that the imperial dining room has taken care of it and won a generous reward."

   It can also be seen that Lu Mingyu, the queen, has done a smooth and comfortable job, and she is in charge of the harem, and no one dares to neglect and slack off.

   Aunt and sister-in-law looked at each other and smiled, everything was silent.

After the palace banquet was over, Lu Mingyu left Shen Lan to talk to Lu Mingyue, and the rest of the officials ordered their wives to leave one by one.

   Mrs. Shen was in a happy mood, and her steps were very brisk.

  Lu Mingyu became the queen, the King of Xingyang led the troops to fight outside, and Lu Fei led the troops to guard the Xingyang barracks. The Lu family is extremely wealthy, and her daughter Shen Lan is also exceptionally beautiful.

   Being a mother, I am naturally happy in my heart.

   As for what happens in the future, we will talk about it later! Anyway, there is nothing to worry about right now.

  …

  In the hall of Jiaofang, Lu Mingyu greeted Shen Lan and Lu Mingyue to drink sweet soup with a smile: "Second sister-in-law, fifth sister, Qiyun made this Lantern Festival with sweet-scented osmanthus wine. Come and drink a bowl while it's hot."

  Shen Lan was not polite and responded with a smile.

  Lu Mingyue ate a bowl and asked for another bowl.

  Lu Mingyu smiled and joked: "The fifth sister can still eat like this."

  Lu Mingyue winked playfully: "It's rare to eat the sweet soup made by Qiyun herself, so don't eat more. I missed this time, I don't know when I want to eat it next time!"

   Qiyun pursed her lips and smiled: "Fifth Miss is making fun of slaves again."

Lu Mingyue smiled and said, "I'm not joking with you. Who doesn't know that Aunt Qiyun is the most trusted person around the Empress, and it's hard for idle people to flatter yourself. Not to mention the soup made by Aunt Qiyun herself. Soup."

   Everyone couldn't help but laugh out loud.

   Qiyun has served Lu Mingyu since childhood, and the master and servant have a deep affection. In the eyes of the Lu family, Qiyun is no different from her family.

   After joking, Lu Mingyu asked Shen Lan with concern: "I haven't seen my second brother for a while. Is he okay now?"

  Being a queen also has many inconveniences. For example, you can no longer go out of the palace and go back to your mother's house as you used to. Lu Fei is a foreign minister and cannot enter the harem unless he is specially summoned.

Shen Lan replied with a smile: "He can eat and sleep, he is healthy, there is nothing wrong with him." After a pause, he lowered his voice and said, "He went back to the mansion a few years ago, and told me that he would not come back in the new year. Someone's watching."

  Lu Lin led the army to fight, and Zheng Zhong also left with Lu Lin. There are still 50,000 soldiers in the Xingyang barracks.

  Lu Mingyu nodded slightly and sighed softly, "Second brother who has worked hard, you have worked hard too."

  The husband and wife were not able to get together during the New Year.

Shen Lan said softly: "Listen to what you said, it's too outlandish. He is a military general and has his responsibilities. I have good arms and legs, and I am in charge of the house in the Lu Mansion, and the food is delicious. I can sleep well, go to the palace, please be safe, and be able to sit next to the empress. Today, I don’t know how many people are jealous. Just like me, if it’s too hard, I’ll be struck by lightning.”

   Shen Lan is still so understanding.

  Lu Mingyu's heart was hot, and he didn't say more.

The    family, I have said a lot, and I really see it.

   She is now the Queen of the Middle Palace, so she should take care of her family more.

  Lu Mingyue whispered: "Fourth sister, Li Hao was sent to the border, and the escorts along the way were from the Xingyang Army. There shouldn't be any accidents along the way!"

  If Li Hao had an "accident" on the way to the distribution, the account could be counted on Lu Mingyu.

   However, with Lu Mingyu's domineering and his hatred of Li Hao, he might not mind this mere "notoriety".

  Lu Mingyu's eyes flashed, and he said lightly: "There will be no accidents on Li Hao's road. After reaching the border, he will slowly atone for the evil he has done!"

   (end of this chapter)