Chapter 217 Twin Orchids
In a courtyard to the north of the backyard of the East Palace, there are lanterns and colorful decorations, making it very festive.
The main room, decorated with red candles, is no different from the bridal chamber during the wedding.
Although having a concubine is not like marrying a wife, it requires a lot of fuss, but there is nothing wrong with dressing up the courtyard where you live.
In the bedroom of the main house, Rulan was wearing a green wedding dress, while Minglan was wearing a red dress.
In ancient times, the wedding dress was red for men and green for women. Minglan was used as a dowry and was not qualified to wear wedding clothes.
In addition to the two of them, there were also two personal maids, Magpie and Xiao Tao, in the house.
In addition to the personal maids, the two of them brought two old ladies with them when they entered the East Palace.
Speaking of it, it was already a bit over the top. When the Crown Princess married into the East Palace, she brought two old ladies and two maids with her.
The rest of the concubines, except Yu Yanran, are all an old woman and a maid.
The reason why Yu Yanran is special is that she entered the palace first and there is no comparison.
Zhang Guifen is the principal concubine, and the other concubines must not surpass her.
If you think about it seriously, Minglan's dowry belongs to the maid, and the servants who followed also belong to Ru Lan. She has brought more people than the crown princess, so it is naturally considered an overstep.
However, Zhang Guifen specially sent someone to the Sheng family to inform him that Minglan could also bring an old woman and a maid into the East Palace like a concubine.
Ru Lan was a little nervous and whispered to Minglan.
Minglan was actually in a state of confusion, talking to Rulan at random.
The two people talked a little bit out of tune, but because both of them were nervous, they only talked to relieve the tension.
At this moment, Cui’s mother walked in in a hurry.
"Two girls, His Royal Highness has sent someone here."
Hearing this, Ru Lan and Ming Lan stood up quickly.
Mother Hua led the way, and several maids came in carrying trays.
On the palace maid's tray in the front, there was a folded wedding dress.
On the tray held by the palace maid in the back, there were some jewelry.
A palace maid who looked like a female official folded her hands in front of her lower abdomen, squatted slightly and saluted: "I have seen Sheng's side concubine!"
"No courtesy."
Rulan had learned etiquette from Grandma Kong before. Before entering the palace, the palace sent her to the Sheng family to teach her for more than a month. Although she was a little nervous, she knew how to deal with it.
"This wedding dress was given to Miss Sheng Liu by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, and these jewelry are for Miss Sheng Concubine and Miss Sheng Liu."
After the female officer finished speaking, she looked towards Several palace maids carrying trays said: "Serve Concubine Sheng and Miss Sheng Liu to change clothes and make up."
"For me?" Minglan said in surprise.
"Go back to Miss Sheng Liu, it's exactly what His Highness the Crown Prince specially requested. Concubine Sheng Liu, please sit down and let them help you change your clothes and make up." said the female officer.
"Excuse me, lady officer, my sister and I have maids. Just ask them to help us dress and change clothes." Minglan said.
"In this case, the slaves will retreat first."
The female officer did not insist when she heard this and bowed.
"Xiao Tao, quickly get some money for the female officer and several palace maids to have tea." Minglan quickly ordered.
"Yes!" Xiao Tao responded, ran to the cage to get some silver, and gave it to the female officer and several palace maids.
The female officer and the maid thanked the reward, resigned and left.
Mama Hua shook her head slightly, her girl was far behind compared to the sixth girl.
Ru Lan was so nervous that she didn’t know what to say, but Miss Six knew how to reward her.
Ru Lan didn't know what Hua's mother was thinking. After the palace maid went out, she stepped forward to pick up the wedding dress and unfolded it. She was a little disappointed and said: "I thought the wedding dress made by the palace was very gorgeous. No. I think it's not as good as what I have."
After all, she is just a side concubine, not the main wife.
If she were getting married normally, her wedding dress would probably be even more gorgeous.
I didn’t expect that the one specially prepared by His Highness the Crown Prince was not even as good as what she had on her body.
After saying that, he stuffed it into Minglan's hand and said: "I just said that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince likes you, and he has remembered to make you a wedding dress. Please put it on quickly and see if it fits you."
< br>Minglan held the wedding dress and felt very complicated.
Zhao Xing can remember to ask someone to bring her a wedding dress, and he also knows not to make it particularly gorgeous, which shows how delicate his thoughts are.
However, the better Zhao Xing treats her, the more frightened she becomes.
"What are you doing so stupidly? Hurry up and change your clothes. I will choose these jewelry first." Ru Lan urged and stepped forward to choose the jewelry.
Minglan came to her senses, shook her head slightly, and asked Xiaotao to help her change clothes.
After the clothes were changed, Minglan felt them and found that they fit her perfectly.
Zhao Xing probably didn’t know her size. He probably asked Yu Yanran.
She and Yu Yanran had learned how to work as girls, and Yu Yanran also made clothes for her. Although it was all in the past, the last time the Crown Princess invited them to the East Palace, Yu Yanran asked her about her current size.
By the time the two of them finished dressing up again, it was already dark.
Wearing the jewelry sent by the palace maid, after carefully dressing up, it looks even more attractive against the backdrop of red candles.
At this time, the palace maid outside came in and saluted: "Concubine, the Shangshan Bureau has delivered the meals. Do you want to pass them on?"
There are six bureaus in the East Palace. It is in charge of food, clothing, housing and transportation, and the Shangshan Bureau is in charge of supervising the production and delivery of meals.
"Pass the meal, I happen to be a little hungry too." Ru Lan said.
“Yes!” The palace maid responded and retreated.
After a while, several eunuchs came in carrying food boxes.
After saluting, he came to the table, opened the food box, took out the food and put it on the table, then bowed and left.
As soon as the people left, Rulan took Minglan and sat down to eat. Although there was food delivered at noon, Ru Lan didn't eat much because she was nervous.
At the end of the day, she also relaxed. She was very hungry, so she looked a little unsightly when eating.
Mother Hua had no choice but to remind her several times to no avail, so she had no choice but to let the magpies go outside to guard her.
Otherwise, if His Highness the Crown Prince comes over and sees Ru Lan eating like this, he may leave a bad impression.
After Lan Minglan finished eating, Hua’s mother and others started eating the remaining food.
The good thing about personal maids is that they basically eat what the master eats.
Of course, the master must eat the leftovers.
After Mother Hua and Mother Cui finished eating, they called the palace maid, put away the things, and asked Xiao Tao and Magpie to open the window for ventilation.
"Mom Hua, when can I take a bath? I'm sweating a lot and I feel so uncomfortable."
Ru Lan took out an ice cube from the basin where the ice cubes were placed and played with it in her hand. , there were bursts of coolness.
"Don't worry, girl, His Highness the Crown Prince is not here yet. Although His Highness the Crown Prince may not come tonight, you still have to wait. Girl, do you remember all the things I taught you before? If you forget, I will ask Magpie to take the picture album. Come and take a look," Hua's mother said.
Ru Lan's face turned red when she heard this and said, "Remember, Mother Hua, why did you bring the picture album?"
Mother Hua knew that Ru Lan was shy, so she didn't say much. He said, but looked at Minglan and said: "The sixth lady will be waiting by the side. As for Magpie and Xiaotao, if His Highness doesn't say anything, you will stay and wait by the side."
General Generally speaking, after a woman gets married, her personal maids will almost always become companions first, and then become concubines.
Because they have to wait on the side during sex. If the hostess can't bear it or has menstruation, they have to do it.
Minglan is a dowry, and this is what she does.
"Yes." Minglan blushed and nodded in a low voice.
Mother Hua wanted to give some more instructions, but a palace maid came in to report, and His Royal Highness came down.
"Quickly, tidy up the two girls." Mother Hua urged.
Although it is explained that Lan is just a dowry, Hua’s mother, as an old man next to Mrs. Wang, was later sent to Rulan Courtyard, so she knows some things.
What's more, the prince specially sent someone to bring Minglan a wedding dress. She naturally understood what this meant.
Therefore, Minglan cannot be treated as a real dowry.
Xi Que and Xiao Tao hurriedly checked and arranged the clothes for their girl.
Hearing footsteps coming from outside, they quickly stopped and stood behind their respective masters.
Zhao Xing walked around the screen and entered the inner room, where he saw Rulan and Minglan in wedding clothes.
There is no phoenix crown or fan to cover her face. After all, she is not marrying a matchmaker, but just taking in a concubine.
If Zhao Xing had not sent some jewelry, the two of them would have worn even less jewelry.
“Meet His Highness the Crown Prince!” Rulan Minglan bowed and saluted.
Zhao Xing looked at the two of them and said, "No courtesy!"
The two men straightened up and lowered their heads slightly, not daring to look at Zhao Xing.
"I'm going to take a bath first."
After Zhao Xing finished speaking, he entered the bathroom, and the accompanying maid followed in, leaving Ru Lan and Ming Lan uneasy, neither sitting nor standing. .
After about a stick of incense, Zhao Xing walked out of the bathroom, wearing trousers and a thin silk coat, exposing his chest.
Rulan and Minglan saw it from the corner of their eyes and their faces became even redder.
"You two go take a bath." Zhao Xing came to the bed and sat down.
"Yes!"
The two of them responded and took the maid into the bathroom.
Zhao Xing smiled and lay down on the bed, with some expectation in his heart.
The wait was extremely long. I don’t know how long it took, but Zhao Xing felt a little drowsy. When he heard a sound of footsteps, he instantly regained his energy and looked towards the bathroom.
Ru Lan and Ming Lan were wearing obscene clothes, with their heads lowered. They didn’t know whether it was because they had been washing for too long, or they were shy, or maybe it was because of the red candles shining on them. The skin on their jade arms was very rosy.
The two of them came to the bed with their heads lowered, not knowing what to do for a while.
"You all go down." Zhao Xing looked at Hua's mother and others and said.
“Yes!” Hua’s mother and others bowed and left.
"You also go down."
Zhao Xing looked at the accompanying maids. These people are all serving him personally. Usually when he takes a bath or invites his concubines to sleep with him, they also He will stay in the house, ready to serve.
However, Rulan and Minglan had just entered the palace and were very shy. If there were others around, it would only make them even more nervous and shy.
“Yes!” After hearing this, several palace maids bowed and left.
When he heard the sound of the door closing, Zhao Xing could feel their tense bodies relax a little.
"Come up." Zhao Xing said.
Hearing the words, Ru Lan quickly climbed onto the bed, but Minglan made no move.
"You come up too." Zhao Xing said while looking at Minglan who didn't move.
"Your Highness, slave..."
Minglan wanted to say something more, but suddenly felt her hand being held by someone.
Zhao Xing exerted slight force, and Minglan fell into his arms.
Zhao Xing put one hand around Minglan's soft waist and the other hand around Rulan.
This night, two orchids bloomed, and the orchid fragrance was particularly moving.
(End of this chapter)