mtl008 Chapter 240: Welcoming the Holy Emperor
Chapter 240: Welcoming the Holy Emperor
Seeing the solemn team from afar, a hint of joy flashed in Concubine Guo Luoluo's eyes. Although she had taken the initiative to stay in the palace, she was used to going to Changchun Garden every year, and she was not used to staying in the palace this time.
She missed her three children and also the emperor—she hadn’t seen the emperor for several months!
The team stopped in front of them. Concubine Guo Luoluo, Concubine Ping and others stepped forward, flicked their handkerchiefs, and bowed gracefully:
"Your Majesty, I respectfully welcome you back to the palace. Long live the emperor. Long live the emperor. Long, long live the emperor."
The curtain of the bright yellow imperial carriage was lifted, and Kangxi leaned out of the carriage, stepped on a stool, and got out of the carriage. Concubine Guo Luoluo and Concubine Ping were standing at the front. They caught a glimpse of the familiar bright yellow clothes out of the corner of their eyes, and the smile on their faces deepened.
Kangxi glanced at the concubines and did not immediately ask them to get up. Instead, he turned around and stretched out a large hand with distinct joints towards the carriage. The next moment, a soft and boneless small hand stretched out and was placed in his hand. He held it tightly, and then he carefully helped the person down.
"Be careful, are you feeling dizzy now?"
Hearing the emperor's gentle concern, the concubines' hearts skipped a beat. Out of the corner of their eyes they saw a piece of sky-blue clothing beside the emperor.
The next moment, a familiar thin female voice sounded:
"Your Majesty, I am much better now, you don't have to worry."
Shi Nanxi got down from the imperial carriage with a pale face. Her frail body was limp and weak, and she was obviously a little unsteady. However, she did not lean on Kangxi in public. Instead, she stood firm with a determined look on her face.
After saying that, he looked at the concubines who were still paying their respects. His eyes fell on Concubine Guo Luoluo, who was in the lead, and then he glanced at Concubine Ping beside her.
"Your Majesty, please let Concubine Guo Luoluo and Concubine Ping get up first. They must be tired after waiting for the emperor here."
Kangxi's eyes were gentle. The little girl herself was not feeling well, but she still reminded him to wake people up. How could he not favor such a kind-hearted girl!
His heart was moved, but he said nothing. Instead, he looked at Guo Luoluofei and the others and said:
"Everyone get up!"
Looking at the intimate interaction between the two, if Concubine Guo Luoluo had not been so scheming and had not been operating in the palace for more than a decade, she would have almost failed.
She slowly stood up and met Shi Nanxi's weak and pale face. She had guessed it from the azure corner of clothes she had just seen. It was indeed her!
Even though she had guessed that the other party would return, she had never expected that their first official meeting would be like this. Guo Luoluofei secretly let out a sigh of relief, controlled her expression, and asked with concern:
"Thank you, Your Majesty, and thank you, Sister Concubine Xian. Sister Concubine Xian looks unwell. Are you okay?"
When the word "sister" came out of her mouth, Guo Luoluofei felt really upset.
Shi Nanxi looked at Guo Luoluofei. Compared with the first time they met, her appearance had not changed much. She was just a little less arrogant and a little more profound.
"I'm fine, I just feel carsick. Fortunately, I'm in the emperor's carriage and have the imperial physician with me. I'll be fine after a rest."
After she finished speaking, she paused and pursed her lips, seeming a little uncomfortable.
"Sister Guo Luoluo has more seniority than me, so you should still call me your sister from now on."
After hearing this, Concubine Guo Luoluo narrowed her eyes. What did this guy want to do when they met just now?
Although he was alert in his heart, he smiled cheerfully:
"Although I have more seniority than you, you have a title. According to the palace rules, I should call you sister. Do you think there is anything wrong with calling me your younger sister?"
Shi Nanxi seemed anxious after hearing this.
"Sister Guo Luoluo, please don't misunderstand me. There is nothing wrong with you. It's just that I am honored to be the Concubine Xian by the grace of the Emperor. Calling you Concubine Hui is also a sister's honor."
As she spoke, she leaned over and grabbed Kangxi's hand, looking at him with her wet almond eyes, asking for confirmation:
"Your Majesty, is this how you testify for me?"
Kangxi looked at the anxious and embarrassed little girl, and then looked at Concubine Guo Luoluo who was smiling brightly. He knew that the reason why the little girl was entangled with the address was because during the re-election period, Concubine Guo Luoluo had summoned the little girl many times and gave her several rewards.
Now, she suddenly heard the other party calling her sister, she felt ashamed and embarrassed, but Concubine Guo Luoluo was not innocent either. During the re-election, she first tried to give the little girl to the fifth brother, and the key point was to make her a concubine. Later, when it failed, she wanted to marry the little girl to her own nephew, and she even met him in private.
He disregarded the palace rules and thought of the past. He also remembered the behavior of the Ninth Prince on the way back. He was unhappy, but his face did not change. Instead, he gently patted Shi Nanxi's hand and said:
"Yes, yes, you are sensible. You can call Concubine Hui and the others sisters. However, Concubine Guo Luoluo does not have a title, and you have a title. It is not good to cross the line. Just call them in private. In public, you should follow the rules."
This statement seems to be impartial on the surface, but it is clearly biased towards Shi Nanxi inwardly, otherwise it would be directly agreeing with Shi Nanxi calling her sister.
Everyone present heard it, and Concubine Nianhulu and others who got off the carriage at the back looked at Concubine Guo Luoluo and laughed at her.
She, Guo Luoluo, has come to this day. It’s her fault for inviting Concubine Xian. She deserves it!
Guo Luoluofei's pupils suddenly shrank, and her sharp nails dug deeply into her flesh. The stinging pain reminded her to stay rational at all times.
"Your Majesty is right. Sister Concubine Xian, please do not be modest."
Shi Nanxi opened her mouth when she saw this, but finally did not refuse. Too much is as bad as too little. Concubine Guo Luoluo could endure it, but Concubine Ping next to her could not. Ever since she saw Shi Nanxi getting off the imperial carriage, there was some uncontrollable resentment in her eyes.
How could a sickly person from the village of Shinanxi be worthy of riding in the same carriage with the emperor? The emperor even helped him off the carriage himself! Why?
At this moment, she couldn't help but said in a sharp voice:
"Your Majesty, although according to palace rules, Concubine Xian has a more respectful title than Sister Guo Luoluo, but Sister Guo Luoluo has been with you for more than ten years and has given birth to three princes. She is much older than Concubine Xian and has more experience. She deserves to be called Sister Guo Luoluo."
When Concubine Guo Luoluo heard what Pingpin said, she was not grateful at all. Instead, she wanted to strangle her to death. What did she mean by "she is much older than Concubine Xian"? Even if it was true, she didn't want to say it in public. Moreover, the matter that she had finally put behind her was brought up again by Pingpin. She would not get any good out of it.
As expected, after Pingpin finished speaking, Kangxi said in a deep voice:
"The palace has its own rules. It seems that Pingpin still hasn't learned the rules well during her stay in the palace. Go back and copy the rules ten times."
After saying that, he ignored her, turned to look at the Queen Mother, and patted Heather Xi's hand again.
"I will send the Queen Mother back to the palace first, and then I will go to Chuxiu Palace to see you."
Shi Nanxi nodded obediently, pulled her hand out quickly and neatly, placed it in the hand of Nanny Yang beside her, and leaned half of her body over.
The empress dowager was old and had been traveling all the way. She was in low spirits and looked exhausted. She seemed not to have seen the confrontation between the concubines just now. It was difficult to help either the mother of the fifth prince whom she raised or the Concubine Xian whom she liked a little. When she heard the emperor's words, she nodded slightly.
After the Emperor and the Empress Dowager left, leaving behind a group of concubines, Shi Nanxi looked around and did not stay any longer, bowing softly.
"Sisters, I am feeling unwell, so I will leave first."
"Farewell, Empress Xian."