mtl008 Chapter 159 Negotiation
Chapter 159 Negotiation
"Snapped!"
Lou Yong'er was startled. It turned out that the emperor had overturned the teacup, and the white porcelain cup was broken into pieces and lay in the cold place.
"I think you have gone mad. I originally wanted to restore your position as concubine, but now it seems that it is completely unnecessary." After saying this, the emperor turned around and left.
Lou Yong'er sighed and chased after him.
Huanbi watched her leave with resentment, "She keeps calling you Emperor. I thought she was just showing off!"
Cui Jinxi hurriedly covered Zhen Huan with the quilt again, twisted the bedding, and turned back disapprovingly, "Miss Huanbi, there are so many people talking, please restrain yourself."
"I thought Zhen would restrain herself, but she turned a blind eye to her own and Zhen Yuandao's mistakes, and even ignored her sisterhood with you." The emperor took Lou Yong'er's hand and kneaded and played with it casually.
"Sister Wan is so anxious that she is losing her mind. Your Majesty, please don't mind."
Lou Yong'er forced a smile, the dark black between her brows was very eye-catching, and the pair of gold and jade dragonfly hairpins on her head shone brightly in the sunlight.
"You have always been good friends with her. You speak for her all day long, but she never says a word to you." The emperor said lightly.
Lou Yong'er pursed her lips, lowered her head and said nothing.
Even in the next few days, the emperor did not see Lou Yong'er.
The lights in Cunju Hall flickered. Shen Meizhuang sat quietly sewing a handkerchief. Caiyue also sat down for a rare occasion and imitated her, threading the needle.
After a long moment, Shen Meizhuang sighed, "It was easy for Lingrong to do it before, but now that it's my turn, I realize how tiring it is."
"I have my maidservants and Caixing do the embroidery to supplement my expenses. You are so noble and noble, how can you do this every day?"
"The emperor has Concubine Lou, Concubine Qi, Concubine Chun, and Concubine Ling by his side. How can I compare with them in terms of being annoying? There is nothing to do anyway, and I can't let you work on your own." Shen Meizhuang said this, with no less gloom on her brow.
Yes, it was said that a clean official could earn a hundred thousand taels of silver in three years, but working under the emperor, who hated corrupt officials the most, two hundred thousand taels of silver had already drained Shen Zishan's family coffers. Fortunately, it was only two hundred thousand taels. If it had been four hundred, Shen Zishan would have had to ask his relatives for help, which would have aroused the emperor's suspicion.
Caiyue hesitated and said, "Young Master, why don't you go out and about? I heard that although the Emperor didn't visit Concubine Wan after she gave birth, he still allowed her to enjoy the share of a concubine. And Concubine Qian, her share plus the little prince's share is definitely more than enough, and you and her have never had any disagreements. Moreover, when you were under house arrest, I went to the imperial kitchen to spend money to improve the food, and I heard the eunuch in the imperial kitchen say that Concubine An also spent money."
"There's still this... Never mind. We haven't seen each other for a long time. I always feel uncomfortable seeing her. Come with me to see Huan'er."
Although Zhen Huan was in low spirits, she felt a little happier after seeing Shen Meiyu.
As they were talking, Zhen Huan suddenly grabbed Shen Meizhuang's sleeve and said, "Sister Mei! Why are your clothes so thin? And why are there patches on the cuffs?"
Shen Meizhuang hurriedly pulled back her sleeves, secretly blaming Caiyue for picking such clothes for her to change into.
"It's not a big deal if the clothes are lost. I thought I'd put them in the bottom of the closet, but I wore them by mistake today."
Zhen Huan's nose was sore, "Sister Mei, tell me the truth, are your family members also very sad?"
When Shen Meizhuang heard her use the word "also", she didn't know what to say. After hesitating for a moment, she just said no.
"There's no such thing as having or not having something. I saw it, and I can't just ignore Sister Mei! Jinxi, take some bright clothes and jewelry to Cunju Hall, and seal some silver." Zhen Huan took Shen Meizhuang's hand and said seriously, "Sister Mei, don't refuse. This is the red envelope I gave you."
Cui Jinxi knelt down with a sad face, "My lady, although you have the allowance of a concubine, it only covers your food and expenses. The Imperial Household Department sent you only the clothes and jewelry that you would normally wear as a concubine. There are only a few pieces of clothes that I used to wear as a concubine. This..."
Zhen Huan was slightly startled, and Shen Meizhuang quickly spoke up, "Well, it's not like I don't have New Year's money, so you don't have to worry about me."
The two of them were embarrassed for a while, and then Shen Meizhuang spoke:
"It's not a good idea for us to continue like this. We can't waste our years in the harem. We can't leave the Forbidden City anyway, and in the end we won't even be able to be a concubine."
Zhen Huan's face was bleak. She interrupted Shen Meizhuang, "Sister Mei, I understand what you mean, but I'm pregnant, and the Emperor still imprisoned my father. I really can't face him calmly."
Her gaze swept across the soft, smoke-covered curtains and the golden cup and glazed flower cup behind Zhen Huan, and a hint of obscurity flashed in Shen Meizhuang's eyes. "Huan'er, this East Side Hall is far inferior to Chunxi Palace. Do you expect Longyue to pay her respects to you in this small side hall when she grows up?"
A look of struggle flashed across Zhen Huan's face.
Shen Meizhuang sighed, "Never mind, I haven't asked you what Longyue's nickname is yet."
Zhen Huan was silent for a moment, then opened her mouth and said, "Wanwan."
Shen Meizhuang nodded. "Long Hair Binding the King's Heart, what a good name. Even if it's for Longyue, you have to cheer up. Look at Lingrong and Lou Yong'er. Although they are not favored, they are both living a comfortable life."
"I saw Lou Yong'er from afar a few days ago. What she was wearing on her hands and head, which one of them wasn't exquisite?"
Zhen Huan bit her lip. That day, Lou Yong'er's makeup, clothes, every frown and smile were too glaring.
The emperor would rather favor a woman who imitated her than spare her family. "Water windows low beside painted railings open," he wondered. In the past, Lou Yonger had never uttered such a poetic poem.
......
"Concubine Wan finally found out the news about her father. The emperor seemed very unhappy and hasn't come for a few days." Suochun muttered, adjusted the hairpin, and kept trying new hair accessories for Jiang Ruyin.
"She can't do the same as the likes of Concubine Qi. Perhaps Concubine Lou is trying to show the emperor the deep love between sisters." Fu Qiu made a guess. "But it's not your Majesty's style to be schemed against like this. I need this servant to investigate and give a warning."
Jiang Ruyin shook her head, but there was no sign of displeasure on her face.
"Why are you blaming the concubines? Although these people are not easy to deal with, they don't want to be hated by the emperor. Doesn't Concubine Wan have a palace maid with all-powerful hands and eyes by her side?"
"Cui Jinxi?" Shu Dong lifted the curtain and stepped into the room. "I've inquired about this person before. She used to serve Concubine Shu and is from the same hometown as Su Peisheng, who serves the emperor. The incident involving Wanpin's father was indeed done by Concubine Qi."
Jiang Ruyin took out two hairpins from the makeup box. Seeing the two ivory animal-head hairpins inside, Jiang Ruyin paused and took out the other two hairpins.
One is a double-strand hairpin with gold and amber camellia pattern, and the other is a hairpin with twin roses wrapped in silk.
"These two hairpins are New Year gifts for you two. I asked you to fill out the big red envelopes a few days ago. Each of you can take one as your lucky money."