vrcanaries Chapter 1271 Stopping Concubine Zhuang
Chapter 1271 Stopping Concubine Zhuang
Shen Zhinian readily followed suit and replied with a smile, "Yes."
"Your Majesty is very thoughtful. I will certainly bother you from time to time in the future, but I'm afraid you will find me annoying."
Nangong Xuanyu heard this, a faint smile flashed across his eyes, and he pinched her cheek: "When have I ever disliked you?"
He paused, then added, "Nian Nian has been tired all day, so go get settled early. I'm afraid you'll be busy tomorrow."
Because after the palace was moved, all the concubines in the harem had to come and pay their respects according to etiquette.
Shen Zhinian nodded and said, "I understand."
Nangong Xuanyu said no more and looked around the newly decorated palace again to confirm that there was nothing wrong before turning around and leaving with Li Changde and others.
"I respectfully send you off to Your Majesty!"
The hall instantly became quiet, with only Shen Zhinian and a group of trusted palace maids remaining.
The lights are bright, illuminating everything new.
Nanny Xiao led the palace maids to kneel down, her voice filled with uncontrollable joy: "Congratulations, Your Majesty, on moving to Yongshou Palace!"
Shen Zhinian accepted their congratulations, his eyes swept across this palace that symbolized the harem's highest honor and favor, and nodded slightly: "Everyone, get up."
"Tomorrow we'll be busy, so be careful and don't make any mistakes."
Everyone responded in unison: "Yes!"
They all knew that tomorrow was just a routine congratulations after the Empress moved to the palace, and the concubines from all the palaces would come to pay their respects and congratulate her, which would be considered as the full etiquette.
Although it was also grand, it was far less formal and cumbersome than the first time the concubines in the harem paid homage to the Empress after she was named Imperial Noble Consort.
But still, everything needs to be treated carefully!
……
Water Creek Pavilion.
Concubine Chun stroked Gao Long's belly with a cold look in her eyes. There was no warmth of a soon-to-be mother, only disgust and impatience.
She looked at Yingxiang and whispered, "The cleaning of the paths in the West Six Palaces is now really being done by Concubine Zhuang's people. Are you sure it's foolproof?"
Yingxiang nodded heavily, looking both excited and nervous: "Absolutely true!"
"I've found out that the leader is an old eunuch under Concubine Zhuang. He loves to be sneaky and deceitful, and he withholds the wages of his subordinates to curry favor with his superiors."
"I have bribed one of his frustrated eunuchs with money. Tomorrow he will cover the bluestone road we must pass with a thin layer of ice and moss that is barely noticeable..."
The corner of Chun Guiren's mouth curled up into a vicious smile: "Good! Very good!"
She looked down at her round belly, as if it contained not flesh and blood, but a disgusting burden. "I've endured it for so long, and finally I can get rid of this evil creature!"
"It shouldn't have come!"
Concubine Chun never felt the slightest bit of maternal love for this fetus. All she thought about was His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin.
Even though she knew that she had damaged her foundation due to medication in her early years and would not be able to give birth to a child even if she became pregnant, she only wanted to have the child of His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin.
This child with imperial blood was just a task and a tool to her.
……
The next day.
As the day dawned, Yongshou Palace was ready.
The concubines from each palace arrived on time according to their rank.
When they stepped into the Yongshou Palace, they felt the majesty and splendor that were different from other places. When they thought about the fact that this was a palace adjacent to the Yangxin Palace, and that only those who were extremely favored by the emperor were allowed to live there throughout the ages, they naturally felt mixed emotions.
Concubine Zhuang is dignified and calm.
The virtuous concubine is aloof and reserved.
Concubine Xuan, Concubine Kang, Concubine Dun and others were also very polite.
Tongpin is still so low-key that she has no sense of existence.
However, when some people glanced at the brand new and expensive furnishings in the hall, they couldn't help but reveal complex expressions of envy or jealousy.
Everyone knelt and saluted: "Your humble servant/concubine pays homage to Her Majesty the Imperial Noble Consort. May Your Majesty be blessed with good health!"
"Congratulations to the Imperial Noble Consort on her move to Yongshou Palace, may you live a long and blessed life!"
Shen Zhinian said calmly, "Everyone, get up."
"Give me a seat."
The concubines took their seats one by one: "Thank you, Your Majesty the Imperial Concubine!"
Concubine Xuan looked at Shen Zhinian, who was sitting on the throne with increasing dignity, and recalled the mutual support they had given each other when they were in Zhongcui Palace. A faint sadness that things had changed and people had changed passed through her heart.
But that trace of sadness was quickly replaced by a more genuine sense of relief.
The Imperial Concubine deserves all this, and she is sincerely happy for her.
The hall was filled with fragrance, laughter and greetings, and on the surface it looked harmonious.
No one knows that a carefully planned "accident" is quietly approaching...
Everyone congratulated, left gifts and then left one after another.
The noise in Yongshou Palace gradually dissipated.
The main ladies had their own sedan chairs waiting for them, carefully supported by palace servants as they sat on them. Although the procession was not grand, it still showed the dignity and grandeur of the main lady of the palace.
The concubines of lower rank could only leave in groups of three or four on foot, and their figures looked somewhat thin on the wide palace road.
The only conspicuous exception is Concubine Chun.
She held Yingxiang's hand and walked slowly towards the sedan chair given by the emperor himself. She sat on it with a reserved attitude, which made her posture even more arrogant.
A few nobles and attendants who had fallen behind gathered together, watching Concubine Chun's figure as she rode away in a carriage. They couldn't help but whispered sourly, "Look at how frivolous she is! She's just a tribute, but she really thinks she's the master?"
"Hush! Keep your voice down! He is now blessed with special grace from His Majesty and has a lot of money in his belly. We can't compare to him."
"Humph, I wonder what luck she has!"
"..."
Concubine Chun seemed to have sensed something, and she turned her head slightly, looking over with a half-smile.
The low-ranking concubines who were gossiping were so frightened that they immediately fell silent, lowered their heads and acted submissive, not daring to look at him any more.
No matter how much they despised her background in private, no one dared to offend the popular and dragon-born Concubine Chun.
Concubine Chun sneered, too lazy to bother with these ants.
She turned her gaze and looked at the procession of Imperial Concubine Zhuang in the distance. She gently patted the armrest and signaled the eunuchs carrying the sedan chair, "Hurry up and catch up with the Imperial Concubine."
"Yes!"
The eunuchs did not dare to delay and quickened their pace. Soon they caught up with Concubine Zhuang's sedan chair.
Concubine Chun raised her voice and shouted, "Your Highness!"
Concubine Zhuang's sedan chair stopped at the sound.
She sat upright, looking at Concubine Chun who had caught up with her. Her face still had that gentle look of compassion for the world, and she asked in a calm tone, "What's the matter, Concubine Chun?"
Concubine Chun gently stroked her bulging belly with one hand, a touch of homesickness and sadness appearing on her face. Her voice softened a bit, "To answer your Majesty, my hometown is far away in the Western Regions. Although it's not as prosperous as the Central Plains, it still boasts endless grasslands, snow-capped mountains that never melt, gurgling streams, and endless flowers covering the mountains and plains."
Having said this, she paused for a moment, looked at Concubine Zhuang, and pleaded cautiously, "Now the palace is reducing flower expenses according to regulations. The allowances of each palace have been reduced, and the flowers allocated to the concubines in the palace are even fewer..."