Chapter 72: The Emperor’s Unique Affection for You

“Thank you, Your Majesty! Your Majesty values me so much, you have arranged a banquet for me and you are going to pick up my mother for me. I don’t know how to express my gratitude.” Ning Wanyin looked at Helian Qi, her eyes full of affection:

“For me, besides my mother, only Your Majesty is the most important person to me. On my birthday, I don’t care if anyone else comes to congratulate me. I only care if I can see Your Majesty.”

“If I can have a meal alone with Your Majesty, that would be the happiest thing in the world for me!”

Helian Qi was startled. He knew that the concubines all liked to have a grand celebration with a stage and the whole palace coming to celebrate…

But Ning Wanyin told him that she just wanted to be alone with him tomorrow.

Ning Wanyin was always virtuous and generous, but she only occasionally revealed her affection for him unintentionally:

She only wanted him.

“I have spoken out of turn.” Ning Wanyin said, hurriedly lowering her head:

“Your Majesty is busy with state affairs, I shouldn’t be greedy and talk nonsense… I will follow Your Majesty’s orders in everything.”

Helian Qi’s expression softened, he took her hand and said, “Then as you wish. I will send someone to pick you up for dinner tomorrow at noon.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty!” Ning Wanyin replied happily.

The more people there are, the bigger the scene, the easier it is to cause trouble.

Rarely on her birthday, Ning Wanyin just wanted to take a break for herself, she didn’t want to be wary of the concubines making trouble from morning till night, it was too much trouble.

Helian Qi had lunch in Lingxue Pavilion and returned to Qianxin Palace to review memorials.

Xiao Guizi couldn’t help but say:

“Master, holding a banquet at Xianyin Pavilion is a great favor that countless concubines are eagerly waiting for! It’s such a pity…”

“His Majesty accompanying the Master is a great favor! What’s so pity about it! Don’t talk nonsense!” Lianrui retorted and stopped him.

Xiao Guizi could only nod and shut his mouth. He thought, but His Majesty will definitely be present at the banquet in Xianyin Pavilion, there’s no difference, why do you have to be alone?

The news spread back to Jingxi Palace.

Shufei, who was chanting sutras in front of the Guanyin statue, suddenly hit the wooden fish heavily with a thud.

“Your Highness—” Pearl looked flustered.

She knew that her mistress had arranged everything, and everything was ready, but Ning Wanyin actually overturned the table directly.

All the arrangements were in vain.

How could she not be angry?

“Just because His Majesty is accompanying her, to show that she is different from other concubines in front of the emperor? She has so many tricks to compete for favor.” Shufei gritted her teeth:

“For the sake of competing for favor, she even disappeared her mother, huh—”

Shufei felt a pang of frustration in her heart, she closed her eyes and continued to beat the wooden fish. But this time, the sound of the wooden fish was particularly noisy.

After half an hour, Shufei calmed down and said:

“If that’s the case, then we’ll continue to observe and wait for the next opportunity.”

…

June 17th, sunny.

Early in the morning, Ning Wanyin had just finished washing up.

Wang Degui led the eunuchs from the Internal Affairs Department, carrying boxes and cages, filling the courtyard.

“His Majesty has ordered, to celebrate Ning Jieyu’s birthday, he has bestowed a gold-inlaid emerald lotus crown, a set of brocade embroidered lotus pattern auspicious clothes, a red bead tassel with jade pendant, a pair of gold-carved lotus hairpins…”

A long list of jewelry, jade, vases, and ornaments, three pages long.

Ning Wanyin led the palace maids of Lingxue Pavilion to bow and thank him, “Thank you for Your Majesty’s grace!”

Wang Degui picked up a box beside him,

A young eunuch holding a tray presented it to Ning Wanyin:

“Your Majesty has another gift, please open it yourself…”

On the tray lay a scroll.

Ning Wanyin thought it was an ancient painting treasured by the emperor, but when she unfolded it, a summer lotus scene painting came into view.

The lotus pond, the palace by the pond, the small bridge, the scenery in the painting was very familiar.

“Isn’t this Lingxue Pavilion?” Ning Wanyin was surprised, her gaze finally falling on a seal on the right side of the scroll.

It was the emperor’s private seal.

Wang Degui chuckled, “Congratulations, Ning Jieyu! This is a painting of the lotus scene in Lingxue Pavilion that His Majesty personally painted yesterday, specially made for Ning Jieyu!”

Ning Wanyin was very shocked, remembering what she had said to the emperor a few days ago.

She wanted to paint the lotus flowers in Lingxue Pavilion to commemorate them.

The emperor actually kept it in mind.

“Ning Jieyu, this is the first time His Majesty has personally painted for a concubine. His Majesty’s affection for Ning Jieyu is truly unmatched!” Wang Degui was also very shocked in his heart, and sincerely flattered her.

Ning Wanyin came to her senses, her face full of joy, “Look, I’m so happy I’m stunned, I thank Your Majesty for his grace!”

“Lianrui, quickly hang this painting in my bedroom. I want to see His Majesty’s painting every day.”

“Yes.” Lianrui replied happily.

Wang Degui smiled, “His Majesty is discussing matters with the ministers, I will come back to pick up Ning Jieyu to go to Danshuiqiushe at noon.”

Danshuiqiushe is located in Taihu Lake, with water as a curtain, it is the coolest place in the palace now.

“Thank you, Eunuch.” Ning Wanyin gave Wang Degui a bag of heavy silver.

After Wang Degui left.

Ning Wanyin, as usual, rewarded the whole palace, standing in her bedroom, admiring the emperor’s painting.

I have to say, the emperor’s painting skills are superb.

The magnificent scene of the lotus pond is vivid and lifelike.

“Master, His Majesty is truly devoted to you. I heard that before, on the concubines’ birthdays, His Majesty always sent things from the treasury, he never prepared anything personally.” Lianrui said happily.

Ning Wanyin’s lips twitched slightly, “His Majesty is indeed very kind to me.”

If an emperor wants to favor someone, he can naturally spoil you to the heavens.

But he also holds your life and death in his hands.

As someone who is lifted to the clouds, you should be more sober, if you take a wrong step and fall, you will be shattered to pieces.

The emperor’s special treatment of her now is all thanks to her step-by-step calculations on the edge of a knife.

Naturally, Ning Wanyin would not be moved by this.

However, she should show that she is very moved.

“Lianrui, go prepare three lotus lanterns.” Ning Wanyin ordered.

Lianrui agreed.

While the two were talking.

Xiao Guizi came to report:

“Master, Ying Meiren and Tang Meiren have come to congratulate you!”

“Please invite them in.”

Although Tang Miaoling had sent Ning Wanyin a birthday gift a few months ago, she didn’t actually know the exact date of Ning Wanyin’s birthday. It was only today that the emperor’s reward spread throughout the six palaces that she knew.

She didn’t have time to prepare anything good in advance, so she brought two pounds of her favorite tea to congratulate her.

The guests and host took their seats.

Wei Yingya’s palace maids carried a square bamboo box that was as tall as a person.

She untied the silk threads that were tied around the four sides of the bamboo box, and the attendants removed the bamboo strips that enclosed the four sides…

Revealing a nine-layer pastry inside that looked like a small pagoda.

“What is this?” Tang Miaoling’s eyes widened, she had never seen such a strange thing, “The sweet smell, is this something to eat?”

Wei Yingya introduced with pride:

“Yes, this is a nine-layer birth… cough, a nine-layer birthday cake! To congratulate Ning Jieyu!”

“Wow, such a tall pastry, it’s like a pastry tower. Ying Meiren, you are so amazing!” Tang Miaoling was amazed.

This pastry is so tall!

Ning Wanyin was also very surprised, such a complex and huge pastry, Wei Yingya must have gotten up in the middle of the night yesterday to start making it…

“Thank you, Ying Meiren, you have gone to a lot of trouble.” Ning Wanyin thanked her.

Wei Yingya originally wanted to prepare candles and sing a birthday song, but then she thought, ancient people went to bed early at midnight, these foreign customs should be omitted.