mtl008 Chapter 174 The Good Show Fails
Chapter 174 The Good Show Fails
However, in the end, everyone was disappointed. The Empress Dowager turned around, looked at Shi Nanxi, and soon cried out.
"Get up. I'm not in the palace. You can't find anyone to pay your respects to. How can I blame you, Madam Hu?"
The woman who was called, Madam Hu, lowered her eyes and walked forward to bring a cup of tea to Shi Nanxi, who took it.
When she felt the rim of the cup was neither warm nor cold, she felt relieved. It seemed that her performance yesterday was not in vain. She bent her knees and immediately knelt down to serve tea to the Empress Dowager.
"I wish the Empress Dowager a long and prosperous life."
The Empress Dowager put down the Buddhist beads with a calm expression, took the teacup, took a sip, and nodded slightly.
"Get up, and behave yourself in the palace. Serve the emperor well and give birth to a heir for him as soon as possible."
Seeing this scene, everyone's expression remained unchanged, but they were extremely puzzled. Why did the Queen Mother react so calmly? Wasn't it like this yesterday?
The Empress Dowager put down her teacup and looked coldly at Concubine Xian who stood up, but she was thinking about what Madam Hu had said yesterday, saying that Concubine Xian insisted on coming to pay her respects even though she was clearly not feeling well.
After Shi Nanxi stood up, she did not sit down, but looked at Nanny Yang. Nanny Yang immediately took out a box, walked forward and opened it. Several books suddenly appeared inside. Shi Nanxi took them out personally, and everyone realized that they were Buddhist scriptures.
"I have heard that the Empress Dowager loves to worship Buddha. This is the Vajra Gold that I copied in my spare time. I am offering it to the Empress Dowager. I wish the Empress Dowager good health and happiness and longevity."
Shi Nanxi bowed and wished, then gently put the Buddhist scriptures back into the box. Nanny Yang bent over and held up the box.
The Empress Dowager at the top was a little surprised, and a complicated look flashed across her face. She didn't expect Concubine Xian to present her with Buddhist scriptures. She pursed her lips.
She didn't make things difficult for Concubine Xian because she was quite polite, and she didn't even prepare any gifts for her.
After thinking for a while, the Empress Dowager clutched the Buddhist beads and glanced at Nanny Hu. Nanny Hu immediately stepped forward to take the box and put it back into the inner room. When she came out of the inner room, she was holding a palm-sized box in her hand.
When she got there, she gently opened the box, revealing a pair of emerald teardrop earrings. They were moist and green, in excellent condition, and very suitable for wearing in summer.
"Take it. You have fair skin and it will make your complexion look better."
Shi Nanxi gave the gift out of courtesy, and of course also to please the empress dowager. She did not expect that the empress dowager would return the gift, and immediately said with gratitude:
"Thank you, Queen Mother. I like it very much."
The others present had different feelings when watching this scene. When Shi Nanxi took the box and sat down again, Concubine Niu Hulu's eyes flickered slightly and she smiled and said:
"Oh, it seems that the Empress Dowager likes Concubine Xian very much. I like her too. I remember when the Emperor celebrated his birthday, I heard the Emperor and the Empress Dowager praising Concubine Xian, saying that the scripture she presented was written in a pious style. I was full of yearning and regretted that I couldn't appreciate it. I didn't expect that I would become sisters with Concubine Xian in the end. It's such a great fate."
As soon as these words were spoken, there was silence in the hall for a moment. It seemed that Concubine Nianhulu was praising Concubine Xian for their fate, but in fact she was reminding the Empress Dowager that Concubine Xian secretly seduced the Emperor and had an affair with him during the re-election period.
The eyes of high-ranking concubines such as Concubine Hui flickered slightly, and they followed suit in praising while subtly glancing at the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager's indifferent expression became even colder. They looked at her and admired Concubine Nianhulu's good methods in their hearts, but they praised her even more loudly.
"I don't know how Madam Shi trained these princesses. Not only is Concubine Xian well-educated and well-mannered, but Concubine Shi is also obedient and filial. She often pays respects to me these days. I really like her very much."
When Concubine De's voice sounded, her usually gentle face showed obvious joy. It seemed that she really liked Shi Rongyue.
However, when the Empress Dowager heard Concubine De mention Shi Rongyue, her expression became completely expressionless. Concubine De seemed not to notice and continued to praise Shi Rongyue.
Looking at this scene, the initiator of the topic, Concubine Nianhulu, picked up the tea bowl to cover the smile on her lips. She was worthy of being the Defei who climbed up from a palace maid. Even if she didn't know about the dirty work between the Empress Dowager and Shi Rongyue, she could accurately point out the place that the Empress Dowager hated the most.
Now let’s see how Empress Xian responds.
How does Shinanxi respond?
She had known that she would face this situation as early as when she came to Changchun Garden. She immediately pretended to be frightened and her face turned pale.
"My sisters are too kind to praise me. I just grew up on a farm. I don't know anything else and I'm not in good health. I just practice calligraphy to kill time. This is barely acceptable. I don't deserve your praise. As for my eldest sister..."
She paused, her long eyelashes casting a shadow under her eyes.
"Eldest sister is in good health. She is able to serve mother on my behalf and make up for my regret of not being able to enjoy the company of mother. She is indeed very filial."
Regarding Shi Rongyue, Shi Nanxi did not mention anything else except filial piety.
Unexpectedly, Shi Nanxi reacted so quickly. Concubine Niuhulu pulled the corners of her mouth down and put down the tea bowl.
"Sister is so modest, it's just..."
As soon as she opened her mouth, the Empress Dowager, who had been silent all this time, suddenly interrupted Concubine Niuhulu:
"Empress Xian is indeed modest. I like modest young people. With young people in the palace, it will be more lively and lively."
The Empress Dowager mentioned Concubine Xian, but she glanced at Concubine Nianhulu.
Having lived through two dynasties, even though she had been protected by the deceased Grand Empress Dowager in the first half of her life, she was still respected by the Emperor after the death of the Grand Empress Dowager, which showed that she was a smart and sensible person.
She was unwilling to interfere in the emperor's harem, but she would not be used as a tool by others.
Concubine Nianhulu was startled by the look on her face, and the others noticed something as well. The hall fell silent again.
At this moment, the emperor's arrival was announced from outside the door. The next moment, Kangxi strode in. He seemed not to look away, but his eyes glanced at Shi Nanxi when he passed by her.
Seeing her look, he pursed his thin lips, his expression unchanged, lifted his skirt, and knelt down to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager.
The expressionless empress dowager showed a trace of heartache and joy on her face after seeing the emperor kneeling to pay his respects.
"Emperor, please get up quickly. You are so polite. You just came back yesterday and rested all night. How are you feeling today?"
"Thank you for your concern, my dear Queen Mother. I have rested for a night and have recovered my energy."
Kangxi stood up, turned around and sat on the chair. Others hurriedly paid their respects to the emperor. After the ceremony, Kangxi did not immediately ask what had just happened, but greeted the empress dowager and chatted leisurely.
The two talked about Prince Yinzhen, who died young from Concubine Ping. The Empress Dowager sighed and comforted Kangxi.
"Yinzhen is a man of little fortune. You are still young, and there will be many more princes in the future."
"I know." Kangxi picked up the tea bowl and said in a low voice. Then he seemed to remember something and changed the subject:
"By the way, what is the Empress Dowager talking about that is more lively and exciting?"