OBS Chapter 239: Departure to Beijing to Show Power
Chapter 239: Departure to Beijing to Show Power
Since returning to Fanglou to watch the opera, Shi Nanxi arranged several more opera performances. Because Huifei and Wusu promised to be punished by Kangxi, there were no more problems in watching the operas later. Time passed quickly, and after a few autumn rains, the weather became colder.
Kangxi decided to return to the Forbidden City. Coincidentally, the Fourth Prince was also about to get married, so at the end of August in the lunar calendar, everyone set off for Beijing.
On the way back to Beijing, Kangxi wanted to discuss state affairs with his ministers. Shi Nanxi did not stay in Kangxi's carriage as he did when he came, but stayed in his own carriage.
Because of the motion sickness experience on the way here, he asked the Imperial Hospital to prescribe motion sickness medicine before setting off this time. The carriage was also very comfortable, but Shi Nanxi still couldn't get used to sitting in an ancient carriage. At this moment, he leaned on the pillow with a listless look on his face, closing his eyes to rest.
"Hey, Ninth Brother, don't ride so fast, wait for me!" As soon as I heard the contented yet childish voice, I knew it was the Tenth Prince.
At this time, the impatient voice of the Ninth Prince sounded outside the carriage:
"Old Ten, I've told you so many times not to eat so much. Now you can't even ride a horse."
Having said this, the man pulled the reins and sighed, then stopped the horse outside the Heath Creek carriage.
In the carriage, Shi Nanxi frowned and opened her eyes, her brows and eyes were pale and tired.
"My lady, you are not feeling well. Would you like me to call the imperial physician?"
Hongying held Xixi in her arms and asked nervously when she saw the empress's look.
Shi Nanxi didn't say anything, but waved her hand to indicate that it was not necessary. She then lifted the curtain of the carriage and looked outside. She was immediately met with the rosy-lipped and white-teeth face of the Ninth Prince.
To be honest, the Ninth Prince's appearance was one of the best among all of Kangxi's princes. Unfortunately, his handsomeness was dragged down by three points because of the arrogance and domineering look in his eyes and eyebrows.
At this moment, the Ninth Prince was impatiently waiting for the Tenth Prince. Suddenly, he realized that someone was looking at him. He subconsciously turned his head and met the gaze of Concubine Xian in the carriage. His handsome phoenix eyes suddenly became gloomy.
"Hey, isn't this Xian'e Niang? Why isn't she on the emperor's carriage this time?"
Ever since they had an unpleasant encounter with Concubine Xian in Changchun Garden, the maids sent by my mother watched him even more closely. Except when paying respects to the Empress Dowager, they were forced to avoid her at other times, for fear that he would offend her again.
For the Ninth Prince, who had been a descendant of the emperor since childhood and had always had his way, this kind of humiliation was like trampling on his face, and was more painful than beating him.
But his mother was really angry, and he could not resist. So during the few months in Changchun Garden, except for the first time when he paid his respects to Concubine Xian and Shi Rongyue alone, all other times they met were in public places. This was the second time he met Concubine Xian alone.
The Ninth Prince had been suppressing his anger, so when he saw Concubine Xian, he couldn't help but act sarcastic.
Shi Nanxi raised her eyebrows. This naughty boy's temper remained the same. She had met him alone on the second day after arriving at Changchun Garden to pay her respects, but she had never met him alone since then. She thought that he was detained by Concubine Guo Luoluo and was deliberately avoiding her.
No one was looking for trouble, and she was too lazy to pay attention to him. She didn't expect to meet him today. She looked at the other person, a small person, but with a weird look. She didn't tolerate him. It happened that she would officially face Concubine Guo Luoluo after returning to the palace this time.
She had a deep hatred with that man. When she returned to the palace this time, she didn't know what conspiracy the other party had prepared for her. She might as well strike first and use the Ninth Prince to intimidate Concubine Guo Luoluo.
She had made up her mind, but her face remained unchanged. There was surprise in her eyes. She did not take his rude words seriously, but replied softly:
"The Emperor is discussing matters with his ministers, and I, a woman from the harem, cannot disturb them."
As she spoke, she glanced at the wet ground, frowned slightly, and could not help but remind:
"Ninth Prince, it rained last night and the ground is still wet. You are still young, so please be careful when riding a horse."
The Ninth Prince looked sarcastic when he heard this.
"You don't have to pretend to be kind and think that just because I call you Xian'er Niang, you are really my mother. I'm telling you, don't try to act nice in front of me."
These words happened to be heard by the Tenth Prince who came rushing over. He opened his mouth, thinking that Ninth Brother might be going a bit too far. However, since he and Ninth Brother had grown up together and had a better relationship, he remained silent.
After hearing what the Ninth Prince said, Shi Nanxi laughed inwardly. As expected, the Ninth Prince would reveal his true nature if provoked a little.
In the carriage, Hongying couldn't bear to see this and wanted to say something, but Shi Nanxi secretly held her hand. However, her face seemed to be hurt by the words of the Ninth Prince. She bit her lower lip subconsciously, and forced herself to keep a faint smile, still whispering softly:
"I am the one who talks too much."
After saying this, he nodded slightly to the Tenth Prince and let down the curtains.
Outside the carriage, the Ninth Prince snorted coldly, thinking that she was sensible. The Tenth Prince scratched his head and wanted to say something, but the Ninth Prince glanced at him and said, "Why don't you leave?" Then he clamped the horse's belly, and with a snap, the pony rushed forward.
Seeing this, the Tenth Prince forgot what he was going to say, and quickly whipped his horse whip, shouting anxiously:
"Brother Jiu, Brother Jiu, wait for me!"
In the carriage, Shi Nanxi laughed happily when she heard the sound coming from outside. She no longer looked like she was forcing herself.
"Empress?" Hongying wanted to ask something.
Shi Nanxi stretched out her index finger and gently placed it between her lips. Hongying immediately shut up. Shi Nanxi smiled with satisfaction, then she felt like taking Xixi and slowly stroked its hair.
The conversation between Shi Nanxi and the Ninth Prince was not hidden and soon spread to the carriages of all the masters.
Kangxi had just finished a meeting and his eyes were tired. He picked up the tea bowl to drink some tea to moisten his throat. Then Xiao Fuzi on the shaft of the carriage lifted the curtain, as if he wanted to report something to Liang Jiugong.
Kangxi glanced at this scene, put down the tea bowl, and said casually:
"what's up?"
Seeing the Emperor asking, Xiao Fuzi hurriedly recounted the story of Concubine Xian's encounter with the Ninth Prince. After she finished speaking, there was no sound from the Emperor for a long time. Xiao Fuzi and Liang Jiugong both lowered their heads and looked at each other, secretly complaining that the Ninth Prince only remembered to eat and not to be beaten.
Sure enough, after a while, the emperor's voice could not be told:
"The older the Ninth Prince gets, the more unruly he becomes. I have given him my order to go back to the carriage and stay put. When he returns to the palace, he must copy the Palace Rules ten times and the Book of Filial Piety ten times and submit them to me for inspection."
Xiao Fuzi was about to leave when he heard the emperor say:
"Empress Xian is weak and prone to motion sickness. Send her to the imperial carriage."
"Yes." Xiao Fuzi quickly obeyed the order.
After Kangxi's two oral orders came down, the news quickly spread throughout the team, and the concubines were no longer surprised by Concubine Xian's favor.
In a carriage at the rear of the team, Nanny Zou, who was specially sent by Concubine Guo Luoluo to look after the Ninth Prince, turned pale. The Ninth Prince did not want to ride in a carriage and wanted to ride a horse. Seeing that the Ninth Prince had not caused any trouble recently and that he was on his way back, she went with him once. Unexpectedly, this time, the Ninth Prince got into trouble.
After that, she no longer dared to let the Ninth Prince leave her sight. The Ninth Prince was almost mad with anger, but he did not dare to disobey the Emperor's orders, so he could only huddle in the carriage like a quail.
In the Forbidden City, Concubine Guo Luoluo and Concubine Ping, who were unaware of the situation, led a group of concubines to welcome the emperor at the gate of the inner palace.