mtl008 Chapter 183 The hatred deepens and Nanxi sneaks away
Chapter 183 The hatred deepens and Nanxi sneaks away
The talent show continued, and with Nala Chang being praised by Kangxi, everyone became more eager to try.
The second person to be picked out was Consort Nianhulu. Consort Guo smiled slightly and spoke as if unintentionally:
"I don't know what the Imperial Concubine will perform, but I have heard that in addition to being good at riding and shooting, you are also good at playing the zither. Do you have the honor to hear it today?"
As Manchu noble ladies, many were good at riding and shooting, but few were good at playing the zither. Concubine Niuhulu was one of the few, and she was famous for her skill in playing the zither.
"Oh? Playing the piano?" Kangxi heard this, a trace of nostalgia appeared on his face, and he said with some emotion:
"I remember that when Empress Xiao Zhao was still alive, I heard the Imperial Concubine playing the zither at her place. The sound of the zither was faint and lingering, and it was very beautiful. But after the Imperial Concubine entered the palace, I never heard it again."
When Concubine Nianhulu heard the emperor mention that she played the piano in her eldest sister's palace, her heart almost beat fast.
His face showed a look of reminiscence and a bit of loss.
"I didn't expect that the emperor still remembered my childhood. My elder sister was still alive at that time, and I loved playing the piano for her the most. Unfortunately, later on..."
After a pause, as if realizing that she had lost her composure, Concubine Niuhulu wiped her eyes with a handkerchief, slowly stood up and said:
"I haven't played the piano for many years, so I'm a little rusty. I hope Your Majesty and my sisters will forgive me later."
Concubine Niuhulu bowed to Kangxi and walked towards the small waterside pavilion. Shi Nanxi looked at Concubine Niuhulu's back. She didn't know if it was a conspiracy theory, but she always felt that when Kangxi mentioned Empress Xiaozhao just now, Concubine Niuhulu's expression was unnatural for a moment.
With a clang, the sound of a piano rang out. Shi Nanxi suppressed her guess in her heart and looked towards the small waterside pavilion.
I saw Concubine Niuhulu gently plucking the strings of the zither, and the melodious sound of the zither rang out, and the atmosphere became quiet.
I have to say that it sounds much better than hers. Shi Nanxi looked at the concubines around her who were listening attentively and sighed in her heart.
However, she did not forget the role she had to play recently, and she immediately collected her thoughts, looked at Concubine Niuhulu playing the piano, bit her lip subconsciously, and then deliberately glanced at Kangxi who was sitting at the top with a look of inferiority.
I wanted to see if he was also fascinated by what was being said, and thought that the imperial concubine played the piano well, and then remembered her poor piano skills, and acted like a green tea girl.
Kangxi, who was already paying special attention to the little girl, noticed the gaze and looked back. The two of them looked at each other quickly in mid-air for a second.
The next second, Shi Nanxi looked away like a frightened little white rabbit in the forest.
When Kangxi saw this scene, he raised his eyes slightly. Is this little girl feeling inferior?
The imperial concubine’s skill in playing the piano was excellent, but he could hear some absent-mindedness in her music.
If one has a frivolous attitude, no matter how good his skills are, he will not be able to play the piano well. On the contrary, the little girl started learning the piano late, but she has a serious attitude and is very focused when practicing every day. She cannot compare with the imperial concubine now, but she will surpass her sooner or later.
Kangxi curled the corners of his mouth, so there was no need to feel inferior.
At this time, Imperial Concubine Nianhulu had just finished a song "High Mountains and Flowing Water". She looked up and saw the smile on the emperor's lips. She was startled for a moment, then misunderstood.
Her face suddenly turned red, as if it was stained with rosy clouds. The usually noble and elegant Concubine Nianhulu rarely showed a little girl's mood.
"This is the first time I've heard the Imperial Concubine play the piano. It really sounds wonderful. No wonder she is known for her piano skills in the boudoir. I've really learned a lot today. What do you think, Imperial Concubine Xian?"
Just now, when Rong Fei was listening to the zither, she accidentally saw the emperor and Concubine Xian looking at each other. She also saw Concubine Nianhulu blushing because of the emperor's smile. She immediately realized that Concubine Nianhulu had misunderstood, so she rolled her eyes and deliberately asked Concubine Xian.
Shi Nanxi didn't expect Rong Fei to ask her. She looked at Concubine Niu Hulu and praised sincerely:
"I also think that the Imperial Concubine plays the zither very well. Compared to my sister's crude zither skills, they are like mountains and rocks. I couldn't bear to move even after listening to them just now."
"Sister Xian, are you really reluctant to move? Then how did I see that Sister Xian was clearly peeking at our emperor?"
Rong Fei covered her lips with a handkerchief, giggled, and deliberately joked:
"It seems that our emperor's heroic performance has surpassed the imperial concubine's piano!"
Shi Nanxi didn't expect that her action of peeking at Kangxi just now was seen by Rong Fei, and she also told it in public.
She was stunned at first, then when she reacted, she suddenly lowered her head, her thick eyelashes trembling violently, as if she was too ashamed to look up.
Kangxi, on the other hand, looked very open-minded. He looked at the shy little girl. He held the wine glass in his big, bony hands and raised his phoenix eyes slightly:
"What Rong Fei said is biased. It's not that I am inferior to the Imperial Concubine, but that Empress Xian is a studious person. She is also learning the zither now. Seeing that the Imperial Concubine plays the zither well, she wants me to give her some pointers. That's why she came to me."
Shi Nanxi never looked up, and others thought she was too embarrassed to do so. However, Concubine Rong, who had started the trouble, readily admitted her mistake and looked at Concubine Nianhulu with a smile.
The blush on Concubine Nianhulu's face, which was rarely shy, quickly faded away. Listening to the conversation, she knew very well that the emperor's smile just now was not because of her, but because of Concubine Xian.
I suddenly felt a burning sensation on my face, as if everyone saw how self-conceited I was just now, and they must be laughing at me in their hearts.
Bitch! Bitch! Seducing the emperor in public again!
Concubine Nianhulu was cursing Concubine Xian madly in her heart, but she looked calm, thanked everyone for their praise, and returned to her seat.
Concubine Guo saw everything, she didn't expect that the Imperial Concubine would have a grudge against Concubine Xian now. She curled her lips implicitly and drew lots again. This time she drew Wusu Da Yan, which meant it was Concubine Hui's lotus viewing banquet.
As soon as the draw results came out, Wu Su hurriedly raised his hand in agreement.
"I am here, I am here."
"Wusu promised not to be rude." Concubine Hui looked at this scene, quickly put down the tea bowl, and made an apologetic gesture towards Kangxi.
"Wusu's promise is innocent and lively. Please forgive Wusu's impoliteness, Your Majesty."
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty. I was just too happy and that's why I was so rude. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
After hearing what Concubine Hui said, Wu Su seemed to realize that he had been rude, and hurriedly apologized, but he looked innocent and pure.
Kangxi was experienced and he knew what Huifei was doing at a glance. She was another concubine. They had different personalities, looks and identities, but the same roles. He felt a little disgusted at how she treated him.
If Shi Nanxi knew, she would definitely understand Kangxi, or this is the general mentality of men: he may not love you, but if you act like you don't love him and push him to others, he will definitely feel uncomfortable.
What's more, Kangxi was the emperor and he was a domineering emperor. It was his business what kind of woman he wanted. It was not the turn of a concubine to decide for him.
Kangxi was in this state of mind, but after all, he had been in love with Concubine Hui for many years, and he also had the eldest prince, so he didn't say anything, but said calmly:
"No problem, go and perform!"
"Thank you for your forgiveness, Your Majesty. I will go and perform my talent." Wu Su agreed and patted her chest with her little hands. A bright smile appeared on her pretty face again.
"I wonder what talent Wu Su has agreed to perform. You are the new sister entering the palace, and the sisters in the palace don't know you very well." Rong Fei asked with a smile, still showing her character of enjoying watching a good show.
Wu Su agreed with a sly glint in his eyes.
"The talent that I am going to perform is definitely beyond the imagination of Concubine Rong, and I am afraid that no one here can guess it."
Seeing Wu Su agreeing with pride, everyone present became curious, and Shi Nanxi stroked the cup in his hand.
As expected of Concubine Hui, this Wu Su dared to be no simple person. She glanced at the person at the table, and sure enough, even Kangxi was attracted by these words.
"Oh, Wu Su promised to perform dancing, playing the flute, painting, chess, or embroidery?"
However, what these concubines said was denied by Wu Su.
This is even more curious.
Concubine Hui saw that the emperor's attention had been successfully attracted, and a trace of satisfaction flashed in her heart. Wu Su's agreement was indeed quite smart, and she came out and said:
"Okay, Wu Su agreed. Stop keeping everyone in suspense. Tell us what talent you want to perform."
Wu Su agreed and stuck out his tongue shyly, then cutely put his hands behind his back and announced with his chin slightly raised:
"What I am going to perform is——"
She looked at everyone present, with the corners of her mouth raised high:
“Fly a kite.”
As soon as the words came out, people in the room immediately started talking.
"Flying a kite? Wu Su agreed that you were joking, right? Is this also a talent?"
"Although I've never heard of it that way, but...if flying a kite well is considered...a talent?"
"Nonsense!" Concubine Hui pretended to be angry.
Wu Su agreed but was eager to try: "My lady, flying a kite also requires skills, just look at my skills!"
Wu Su agreed and asked the palace maid beside her to bring the kite she had just flown outside.
Then he really ran to the corridor outside the pavilion and flew a kite. It must be said that Wu Su Da Ying was indeed quite good at flying kites.
With good skills, being by the water and following the wind, a colorful butterfly-shaped kite soon flew into the air.
Everyone stood up and walked to the waterside corridor to watch. Concubine Hui looked at the kite in the sky and said to Kangxi:
"Your Majesty, it seems that Wu Su's agreement is not ridiculous. Although flying a kite is not an elegant talent, it is still somewhat interesting."
Shi Nanxi, who was separated from Kangxi by two people, looked at the kite in the air, and then looked at the innocent Wu Su Ying who was standing in the corridor.
The other party's performance was wonderful, and now it's her turn. Who said that others set up the trap? She has to follow the direction set by the other party. She already has what she wants, so goodbye.
The next moment, Shi Nanxi bit her lower lip again, which was her usual behavior when she was nervous and afraid. Her clear, watery almond-shaped eyes dimmed. Unlike others who were whispering to each other, she stood there silently looking at the kite in the sky, her face slightly pale.
Then he looked at Kangxi who was looking at the kite, endured the soreness in his eyes, turned around, took Nanny Yang and Hongying and quietly left the crowd.
Kangxi was about to reply to Concubine Hui's words, but out of the corner of his eye he noticed Shi Nanxi's leaving figure and immediately asked:
"Empress Xian, where are you going?"