Chapter 103: The Empress Dowager's Birthday Celebration

  The Empress Dowager originally didn't think much of the Queen, and now she felt that she had grasped a handle, so she hurriedly interrogated her: "What kind of congratulatory gift is this? You're being too perfunctory, Your Majesty!"

  "Your Majesty, the Shaqima pastry is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, sweet and delicious, with a hint of osmanthus honey fragrance. Its golden yellow color also symbolizes the sun's universal nourishment of all things. I hope Your Majesty's spirit can also be as universally beneficial to the people as the sun."

  The Empress was speechless. I presented her with a saccharine smile.

  The Duke took it from me and handed it over to the Empress Dowager.

  The empress dowager took one bite and indeed had nothing to say.

  Because I had never seen such a delicious dish before, I ate several more bites. Soon, I caught the empress's slightly furrowed brow.

  Haha, sticky teeth!

  "Cough...cough..." The Empress Dowager coughed twice, "The Queen's gift is very much liked by me, next one."

  After several concubines and consorts finished presenting birthday gifts, they arrived at Tanggu Fort.

  The other consorts actually didn't hold any hope. Because what they sent were either silk, satin or pearls and jade, completely lacking in originality. This can't be blamed on them, after all, these were the usual gifts they had been sending in previous years.

  "Your Majesty Empress Dowager, the thing your servant sent is called poker cards."

  As soon as this was said, Lin Xuan and I were both shocked at the same time.

  Poker!

  Lin Xuan: Could it be that she also crossed over?

  Me: Poker cards? Didn't I give them to you casually? Tangtang, this is blatant plagiarism!

  The poker cards were presented, all of which were carved from high-quality white jade. Just by looking at them, you could tell that they would feel smooth to the touch. Moreover, each card was thin as a cicada's wing and extremely delicate.

  "The Empress Dowager has been living in the palace for a long time and rarely has any entertainment. Therefore, I have specially created this deck of cards, here are the rules." After saying that, someone presented a piece of paper with dense writing on it.

  I think it should be something like a landlord fight!

  I'm looking at Táng Gǔ with complex emotions right now, I don't know what to do.

  The empress dowager was very pleased after reading it.

  The gift originally given by the empress was impeccable, fresh and delicious with a good omen. The cyan jade was none other than hers. Now finally came out a gift that could rival the empress's sachima. It could dampen the empress's sharp spirit. She was naturally overjoyed.

  "The birthday gift of Princess Tang is indeed unique and unparalleled, comparable to that of the Empress. However, compared to the Empress', Princess Tang's gift can be used multiple times and its materials are more exquisite. So, it's slightly better, therefore, I've decided to give the cyan jadeite to Princess Tang."

  The empress dowager has spoken, I should be happy instead.

  But I noticed that Táng Gǔxī thanked and returned to her seat. She gave me a meaningful glance.

  Tanggu, what do you mean?

  You can laugh with a knife hidden in your smile. But why you...

  Is this your true nature? Or is there some unspoken sorrow?

  Tang Guo, you've really changed a lot.

  This birthday really caught me off guard.

  Of course, there were also unexpected ones. As soon as the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet was over, she hurried back to the palace. According to the palace maid of Xiao Zhu Palace, the Empress Dowager later secretly dismissed all the palace maids and didn't know what she was doing in the inner hall.

  The scene of Empress Dowager hastily picking her teeth keeps flashing in my mind.

  He burst out laughing with a "hahaha".

  Lin Xuan had to stay behind as the Empress to accompany Jun Qinzhu in dealing with those envoys. I couldn't bear such dullness and retreated out of there.

  Who would have thought that just after leaving the grand hall, I passed through the imperial garden and met a palace maid who was walking quickly with her head down. She rushed past me in a flurry, and for a moment, she bumped into me in her haste.

  "Are you all right?" I supported her.

  She didn't answer, but instead handed me a note and hastily left.

  Staring at her back, I was perplexed, and unfolded the note -

  Meet at the Imperial Garden tomorrow afternoon.