OBS Chapter 228 Cha Cha Xi's First Concubine
Chapter 228 Cha Cha Xi's First Concubine
Not long after Shi Nanxi sat down, the Empress Dowager walked in from outside. The concubines hurriedly stood up and saluted. They only stood up when the Empress Dowager reached the throne at the top.
The Empress Dowager still held the Buddhist beads in her hand and looked like a kind mother. She turned the beads in one hand and looked at the concubines below her. Her gaze paused on Concubine Xian.
When Concubine Hui saw Concubine Xian sitting in front of her, she almost couldn't suppress her anger. Seeing the expression on the Empress Dowager's face, she immediately pretended to joke:
"Empress Dowager, why do you keep looking at Concubine Xian? But now that Concubine Xian is here, you can't see me anymore?"
After saying this, he pretended to be aggrieved and sad.
The Empress Dowager glanced at Concubine Hui. The palace maids had reported to her everything that had just happened in the palace, and now she knew the hidden meaning behind Concubine Hui's words.
But the matter of changing seats had little to do with Concubine Xian. It was the competition between Concubine Hui and Concubine Nianhulu that led to this result. What's the point of looking at her with grievance now?
The Queen Mother thought to herself that she never interfered with the Emperor's harem, so she pretended to know nothing and said cheerfully:
"I just saw that Concubine Xian's face was getting more rosy, and I thought that she was in good health, so I was relieved, so I looked at her a few more times. How come I didn't see you anymore? You, as a madam, should be more calm."
Concubine Hui's heart sank when she heard this. The Empress Dowager was not going to intervene. Was she really going to let Concubine Xian take over?
She clutched the handkerchief tightly, but looked annoyed:
"Empress Dowager, even though I am a maid, I am still a child in front of you. Sister Defei and Sister Rongfei, do you think so too?"
When Concubine Rong was mentioned, she cursed Concubine Hui in her heart. If she hadn't insisted on competing with Concubine Nianhulu, how could the situation have turned out like this? The matter is done, but she doesn't want Concubine Xian to climb over her head.
With a turn of her eyes, Rong Fei looked at De Fei. This concubine ranked before her and was always scheming, so she thought it would be better for her to take the lead. She just looked at De Fei without saying anything.
Defei was also in a bad mood when being watched. She had worked hard to climb up from a palace maid to the position of Defei. There were only Concubine Nianhulu and Concubine Hui ahead of her. Of course, she didn't want to be suppressed by Concubine Xian for no reason.
But the Empress Dowager obviously would not intervene. No matter what she said, Concubine Xian would not be able to climb to the position of the first concubine. Concubine De took a deep look at Concubine Xian who seemed to be restless. The current situation was inevitably caused by this person. Concubine Nianhulu and Concubine Hui were competing with each other, but this person took advantage of it.
Concubine De's thoughts were revealed. She looked at everything, but her face remained unchanged. Her expression was still gentle and soft, and she spoke in a slow and soft tone:
"Sister Huifei is right. Not only us, but even the emperor is a child in front of the empress dowager. However, sister Xianfei is virtuous and kind, and the emperor praises her endlessly. She is also young, so we should give way to her. Otherwise, if we compete with her for the empress dowager's favor and it gets out, it will really make us anxious."
As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere fell silent again for a moment, and Concubine Hui's face looked a little embarrassed.
Concubine Rong also frowned, and Concubine Nianhulu, the instigator, also looked gloomy. Could it be that these people were really planning to let Concubine Xian take the lead?
She glanced at Empress Xian, who was in the first position on her right, and for some reason she felt like she was shooting herself in the foot.
The expressions of other people on the scene also flickered. Among them, Concubine Xi was touching her newly dyed hair and taking the scene in. She looked at Concubine Xian and gave a subtle wink. This person obviously benefited from it, but she was perfectly hidden behind. It was really amazing.
Feeling the many gazes on her, Shi Nanxi kept pursing her lips and didn't say anything. She wouldn't speak at this time.
Now that she has taken the position of the first concubine, no one can let her go. She glanced at Concubine Hui who was embarrassed, and a smile flashed through her mind. She decided to collect some interest first.
Finally, it was the Queen Mother who broke the silence.
"You kids!"
She shook her head helplessly and stopped talking about this topic. Instead, she talked about the First Concubine's pregnancy, and then about the Fourth Prince's upcoming wedding. The atmosphere of paying respects in the hall seemed to have returned to normal.
After talking for a while, the Empress Dowager said she was tired and sent everyone away. However, Shi Nanxi stayed behind on the pretext of reporting on the progress of rehearsing a new play.
"Empress Dowager, please change seats today..." After Shi Nanxi and others left, he immediately stood up and wanted to apologize.
However, the Queen Mother raised her hand to stop the topic just as Shi Nanxi started:
"Don't be nervous, Concubine Xian. I know everything. You changed your seat today because you were forced into a difficult situation. It has nothing to do with you."
"Empress Dowager~" Shi Nanxi looked at the Empress Dowager with emotion and self-blame, but still spoke out her "heartfelt words":
"I have just entered the palace, I have little experience, and I have not made any contributions to the royal family. How can I be honored to sit in front of Sister Huifei? Next time I pay my respects, I will change my seat. I am disrespectful today, please do not blame the Empress Dowager."
The Empress Dowager was slightly moved. Concubine Hui had the eldest prince, who was her eldest grandson. Of course she loved him and didn't want him to lose face because of Concubine Hui.
When I first heard what Empress Xian said, I was really moved. But when I saw Empress Xian's sincere expression with tears in her eyes, my heart slowly dispelled.
The child was a sensible one. She had to do what she did today because she was forced by Concubine Nianhulu. However, she was sensible and she could not take it for granted to hurt her reputation. Otherwise, if she changed her seat next time when paying respects, Concubine Xian would lose all her face.
"Your child, I just said that it has nothing to do with you, and the Imperial Concubine's suggestion is not wrong. Since the Emperor has promoted you to the Imperial Concubine's rank, you are the first among the concubines. Don't blame yourself."
As for the real reason why the emperor promoted Concubine Xian, she heard from the emperor that saving the drugged emperor was a great achievement. If it were not for the palace secret that could not be made public, Concubine Xian would have been promoted to a noble concubine.
Shi Nanxi looked at the Empress Dowager with tears in her eyes, then realized that she had lost her composure, and quickly lowered her head to wipe her eyes with a handkerchief. The Empress Dowager's heart softened, and she changed the subject and asked about the progress of the rehearsal of the new play.
Shi Nanxi quickly reported that the Queen Mother was very happy to learn that they would be able to watch the new play soon.
By the time Shi Nanxi left Shouchunyong, half an hour had passed.
"Your Majesty, are we going back to Dan Ning Residence directly?" Hongying suppressed the excitement in her heart and asked the Queen. From now on, her Queen would be the first concubine.
Shi Nanxi was also happy, but she was still outside Shouchun Yong. She remained calm, looked up at the sky, and said:
"Let's go back to Danning Residence first. Before I paid my respects, I asked the kitchen to cook some wolfberry and pork bone soup. It is very nourishing. I will send it to the emperor."
The master and his servants returned to Danning Residence and quickly went to the Nine Classics and Three Affairs Hall carrying the soup.
Wu Su, who had just been released from house arrest, agreed to see Concubine Xian. She was filled with resentment, but after noticing where the other party was going, she rolled her eyes and immediately returned to Yunya Pavilion where she was staying. She wanted to tell Concubine Hui.
Shi Nanxi, who was unaware of her whereabouts, arrived at the Nine Classics and Three Affairs Hall and found out that Kangxi had not yet left the court.
"Your Majesty, the Emperor might need a while. Why don't you go to the side hall and wait for a while. I will report to the Emperor as soon as he leaves the court." Xiao Fuzi said attentively.
Shi Nanxi smiled and nodded:
"It's okay. State affairs are more important. I will go to the side hall to wait for the emperor."