mesbooks Chapter 118: Kangxi is anxious
Chapter 118: Kangxi is anxious
In a blink of an eye, it is the end of the month, and tomorrow is the Emperor's birthday. This is a huge festive event for the entire palace. The Ministry of Internal Affairs has started preparations early, and now, before tomorrow even arrives, everywhere is decorated with lights and it is lively and busy.
Chuxiu Palace is no exception, but the most important thing for the girls is the re-selection on the second day after the Wanshou Festival. In addition to being selected by the nobles, their performance in Chuxiu Palace for one month will also be taken into consideration, which reflects the comments of the teaching nanny.
Among them, although Nanny Yang has always been serious, upright and impartial, she is also the most fair and will not deliberately smear others for personal grudges.
On the contrary, it was another Nanny Zhang who seemed easy to talk to, but when she just entered the Chuxiu Palace, she was warned by the Empress Dowager and turned to curry favor with Princess Shi. Later, when Princess Ulanara, Tong Jia, Dong E and other princesses were frequently summoned by the nobles, they were overly flattering.
This resulted in her having a bad reputation, and now at the last minute, few concubines would give gifts to Nanny Zhang in private in order to ask for favors.
"The day after tomorrow will be the day for the re-selection. I don't know if I can pass. No, I have to give Madam Yang a gift. I will give her the ivory comb set that I brought into the palace specially."
Wuling Agge thought for a long time and decided that he should give a gift.
Her personal maid thought for a moment and asked:
"Is Madam Zhang going to send it off?"
"What did that person send?"
Wuling Agge was disdainful:
"She only knows how to curry favor with those princesses with big names all day long, but in the end, they still don't like her. I heard that she wanted to serve Princess Shi after the selection, but she didn't expect that Princess Shi would reject her.
That's right, if I were a princess, I wouldn't accept such a person who flatters the powerful and bullies the weak. Anyway, that person is just a joke, don't worry about it."
"What the princess said makes sense. Let's go quickly before other princesses get there first."
After the master and servant left in a hurry, Nanny Zhang came out from the corner with a sinister look on her face.
It was all Shi Rongyue's fault. If it weren't for her, how could she have been criticized by the Empress Dowager in the early stage of the re-election, so that she lost face and could not control the concubines. She had to please Shi Rongyue and those princesses from big families. As a result, she served them wholeheartedly, but was met with ridicule and rejection.
Thinking about the fact that she was about to have a re-election a few days ago, and that after the re-election was the palace selection, she sincerely requested to stay by his side and serve him in the future, but she didn't expect that the other party would refuse without even thinking:
"Madam Zhang, what are you talking about? Forget about the re-election period. But after the selection is over, how could I keep someone like you by my side? It's impossible."
When Aunt Zhang thought of the scene at that time, she still felt a burning pain on her face. She clenched her teeth, and a flash of shame, anger and cruelty appeared in her eyes. Since you are so unkind, don't blame me for being unjust.
As she thought about it, she narrowed her eyes, and the image of Azao whom she met by chance last night emerged in her mind. Because he could not help Socholuo Gege get the broad bean powder, he was slapped by Socholuo Gege and secretly hid under a tree crying.
Ah Zao was crying so sadly at that time that she didn't notice her behind her at all. However, if the other party couldn't get the broad bean powder, she could help get it.
The corners of Nanny Zhang's mouth suddenly twitched strangely. As for the uses of broad bean powder, she had been immersed in the palace for decades and had seen too many intrigues.
Don't think that only the ladies fight. The palace maids also fight. She once saw a palace maid who was appreciated by a noble because of her good hair combing skills. As a result, the palace maid in the same room became jealous and, knowing that she was extremely dissatisfied with broad beans, she deliberately added broad bean powder to her food.
The palace maid who was combing her hair fainted immediately after eating. Because she was a palace maid, she was not qualified to call the imperial physician, which led to the lack of timely treatment and her sudden death on the spot.
And since there are palace maids who are allergic to broad beans in this world, she is not the only one. What does Princess Sochorolo want to do with broad bean powder? She thought about it and knew it was to deal with Shi Rongyue.
Although she was surprised that the other party was also allergic to broad beans, since they were a common enemy, she decided to help Gege Socho Luo.
Thinking of this, she looked at Shi Rongyue's house again, a sinister smile flashed in her eyes, and she turned and walked towards Socho Luogege's house.
Hongying stood by the window. After Nanny Zhang left, she turned and walked towards the desk.
Recently, after listening to the opera, Shi Da Gege, who lived in the same room, would come back with her painting supplies and go out again. Today was the same. She was not in the room this time. Only Er Gege was copying the Diamond Sutra on the desk.
She leaned over and recounted what she had just seen. After hearing Hongying's words, Shi Nanxi put down the pen in her hand, looked at the Diamond Sutra copied on the table with a faint expression, and asked softly:
"Madam Zhang went to Gege Suochuolo's room. It seems that she heard Ah Zao's crying last night."
Ever since she saw Socho Luo Jiahui's condition that day, she knew that the other party would not give up, so she asked Azao to pay more attention to her actions. Sure enough, not long after, when Socho Luo Jiahui accidentally learned that Shi Rongyue was allergic to broad beans, she was immediately attracted to her.
But now she is isolated in Chuxiu Palace, and the servants are not obedient to her. If it were not for her uncle, the deputy general manager of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, she might be ridiculed and laughed at in person.
When Azao found out that Socho Luo Jiahui was moved, he immediately passed the news to her. At the same time, he also heard that Socho Luo Jiahui's uncle had sent someone to pass on a message, severely reprimanding Socho Luo Jiahui.
The other party also warned Socho Luo Jiahui to be honest and behave herself in her last days in the palace, and that a good family would be chosen for her after the re-election, and she should not take any action on her own.
After receiving this news, Shi Nanxi sighed in his heart.
That person is worthy of being the deputy chief steward of the Imperial Household Department. Although he is cruel and ruthless, he is decisive and knows how to make choices.
But how could Suochao Luo Jiahui be willing to lose her chance of great wealth from now on? And Shi Nanxi would not let Suochao Luo Jiahui, who had attacked her many times, leave the palace and marry someone else unscathed.
So after learning the news, she asked A Zao to deliberately reveal the news that Socho Luo Jiahui was secretly making broad bean powder to that Nanny Zhang. Now everything has turned out as she expected.
But the news that Socho Luo Jiahui "accidentally" obtained was really... too timely!
Thinking of this, Shi Nanxi remembered that at the end of today's study, Shi Rongyue happened to come back from the play. When she turned around, she found that Ulanala Hesui looked at Shi Rongyue differently than before.
At that time, she thought that the other party might have discovered the affair between Shi Rongyue and the Fourth Prince. Now that she thought about it, the other party was also present when Shi Rongyue accidentally revealed the news that she was dissatisfied with Candou.
As for how Ulanala Hesui "accidentally" revealed the news to Socho Luo Jiahui without being suspected, she didn't know, but she had no doubt that the other party could do it.
She is the future wife of Emperor Yongzheng and also the Empress Xiaojingxian of the Qing Dynasty. Even though she is only ten years old now, she should not be underestimated.
But these were all caused by Shi Rongyue herself. More importantly, she remembered everything Shi Rongyue did to her. Forbearance does not mean that she will have to endure it forever. It’s just that it was inconvenient to do it before. Now she can do it, but she... will not do it herself.
Thinking of this, Shi Nanxi slowly spread out her hands and looked down. Her hands had slender, long fingers, white and clean. How could they be stained with dirt?
"Then what should we do, Second Princess?" Hongying was worried that the Second Princess would finally soften her heart and remind the First Princess.
Shi Nanxi withdrew her hand.
Said softly:
"Ever since Shi Rongyue used the aphrodisiac on me, I no longer regard her as my elder sister. Moreover, didn't Zixia say that she secretly kept some of the aphrodisiac she gave me before? Now she is getting close to the prince every day, so who knows what new ideas she has.
If she really was tricked by Socholuo Gege into eating broad bean powder, she might even accidentally save the reputation of the women of the Shi family."
In ancient times, everyone prospers together, and a woman's reputation is more important than anything else. This is especially true in the Qing Dynasty, which was the most stringent toward women in all dynasties. Shi Rongyue could seek death, but the premise was that she would not be implicated.
"Second Princess is right to think so." Hongying heaved a sigh of relief upon hearing this, and then said bitterly:
"I would rather Princess Socholuo succeed in her plan. Otherwise, what if you enter the harem for the first time and the eldest princess's affairs affect you?"
Hearing this, Shi Nanxi was startled, then immediately lowered her head, bit her lip and said, "What do you mean by entering the harem for the first time? Don't talk nonsense."
However, even as he said this, his face turned completely red.
Seeing this, Hongying covered her mouth and laughed foolishly. Shi Nanxi was embarrassed and annoyed by her laughter and immediately scolded:
"You damn girl, stop laughing."
"Yes, yes, Second Lady. I won't laugh anymore." Hongying nodded in agreement, but the smile on her face got deeper. Finally, Shi Nanxi was so annoyed that she could only say:
"Don't make any more noise. I still need to copy the Diamond Sutra for the Emperor!"
Seeing this, Hongying stopped smiling and looked at Ergege distressedly: "Ergege, you have copied it more than ten times. It is enough for a birthday gift. Why don't you take a break?"
Shi Nanxi picked up the pen again, dipped it in ink and started writing again.
"No amount of kindness is enough. The more the better."
She wrote this with 100% sincerity in her heart to thank God for allowing her to be reborn after death. Anyone who sees it will definitely feel the piety in her writing and will be deeply moved.
Upon hearing this, Hongying stopped talking and started grinding ink for the Second Princess.
On the other side, in the Palace of Heavenly Purity, Kangxi looked at the imperial edict on the table, and the corners of his mouth could not help but curl up. Then he thought of something and ordered Liang Jiugong:
"Send a message to Concubine Niu, saying that having so many concubines in Chuxiu Palace will easily cause trouble, so we should wait until the day of the re-selection to see them all together. There is no need to delay any further. The selection will be held directly in the palace the next day. Also notify the Ministry of Internal Affairs to renovate Chuxiu Palace and plant more peach trees."
Liang Jiugong couldn't help but look up after hearing this. The emperor was too impatient.
In the past, we would only look at two flags every day during the re-selection, but now we have to rush to see them all in one day, as well as the Chuxiu Palace.
Today, in the entire palace, only Chuxiu Palace and Jingren Palace are without a main queen. Jingren Palace was the palace where the emperor's biological mother, Empress Xiaokangzhang, lived before her death, and her spirit tablet is still enshrined there.
Therefore, only Chuxiu Palace can be arranged for the Empress to live in, and Taohua is exactly what Shi Ergege likes. Isn't this Sima Zhao's intention, known to everyone?
Kangxi noticed Liang Jiugong peeking, but he didn't get angry. Instead, he laughed and scolded:
"Hurry up and go. If you are late, I will fine you your monthly salary."
"Your Majesty, I have already been fined one month's salary. You cannot fine me any more. I will go right now, right now!"
Liang Jiugong pretended to beg for mercy and quickly retreated.
After Liang Jiugong left, the hall became quiet. After a while, a meow interrupted the silence. Kangxi looked in the direction of the sound and saw Xixi looking up at him on the ground. He raised his phoenix eyes slightly and waved to it.
"Xixi"'s cat eyes lit up, and it immediately jumped forward and landed skillfully on its owner's lap. Kangxi touched "Xixi"'s little head and suddenly spoke softly:
"Xixi, she is going to enter the palace."
"Meow meow?" "Xixi" was confused. Isn't it in the palace?
Kangxi chuckled softly at this and said, "It's not you."
"Meow meow meow."
"Xixi" doesn't understand, but that doesn't stop it from tilting its little head back and calling softly. It knows that its owner likes this action the most, so it can just call like this as long as the owner doesn't understand.
Sure enough, the next moment, I heard the owner praising it:
"You're so good. I'll give you double the dried fish today."
"Meow meow meow." The little fish understood.
Kangxi chuckled again when he saw this.