Chapter 2665
Being an Empress Isn't Easy 11
Watching the young women dance in wooden clogs was beautiful, but it got boring after a while. If there weren't so few other entertainment options, even professional athletes wouldn't be considered top-tier, according to Xining, who had watched the national team perform.
But claiming illness and leaving midway through the process might be a psychological blow to the other girls. These are teenagers, in the prime of their lives, about to enter this cutthroat palace; they should be taken care of if possible.
After the dance ended, the young lady bowed, but did not immediately leave the stage.
Unlike the other concubines, she stared at the emperor with eyes that seemed to electrify him.
Although the other young ladies-in-waiting timidly glanced upwards at the emperor, they dared not linger for long.
Only if the emperor or some noble person thinks it is good and speaks up will there be an opportunity to leave a reply.
Consort Xiao glanced at the Empress, who was staring at a plate of freshly presented tangerines on the table, seemingly lost in thought.
His gaze swept quickly over the Emperor and Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager picked up her tea, took a sip expressionlessly, and then sipped slowly.
Liu Cheng remained silent, his handsome face obscuring the view.
Consort Xiao then turned to Cui Zhaorong, who was holding a dried apricot and looking at her with a provocative gaze and a half-smile.
"Tch, even the Empress and the Empress Dowager don't care, what's the point of her talking?" But she couldn't stay silent, so she glanced at Zhang Shanzhong standing beside her, giving him a meaningful look.
After seeing this, Zhang Shanzhong thought for a moment, hesitated, opened his mouth and closed it again, but finally didn't say anything.
After waiting for a while, Liu Cheng finally spoke: "What's your name?"
The young woman was overjoyed and immediately knelt down, her eyes shimmering even more: "I am Liu Ruyan."
"Pfft~" Xi Ning almost burst out laughing, but finally managed to hold it in.
Liu Cheng kept his eyes straight ahead, his face expressionless: "Liu Ruyan has behaved improperly in front of the palace. She is hereby expelled from Weiyang Palace and returned to her original position."
Liu Ruyan was terrified and forgot all about exchanging glances. She kept kowtowing and pleading, "Your Majesty, spare me! Your Majesty, spare me! I dare not do it again!"
She was dragged away by guards on both sides, her pitiful pleas for mercy fading into the distance and eventually disappearing from sight.
Cui Zhaorong threw down the apricot he had only half-eaten, a disdainful smile on his lips: "With looks like that, she dares to flirt in front of His Majesty, she really doesn't know what's good for her."
Consort Xiao was furious. Saying that they weren't pretty was not only a slap in the face, but she was the one who presided over and organized this selection. If they weren't pretty, and they were still chosen for the palace, it would either question her judgment or her motives.
Xi Ning finally spoke: "This woman is not as bad as Cui Zhaorong described; she is quite beautiful to me. It is His Majesty's wisdom that he was unmoved by such a beautiful woman and even banished her from the palace. Keeping such a seductive woman with ulterior motives around would indeed be a disaster, which shows His Majesty's brilliance. His Majesty has always devoted himself to the country and its people, and it took him three years to hold a selection of consorts after ascending the throne. The lack of heirs in the palace is also my fault as Empress. Today, you sisters have all seen that His Majesty is truly a wise ruler and worthy of admiration."
The repeated praise of a wise ruler made Liu Cheng feel very comfortable. Although there was no obvious change on his face, he could hardly suppress the smile on his lips.
"As women of the imperial family, our behavior represents the imperial family, and we must not be impetuous. I hope that in the future we will guard against arrogance and impetuosity, put His Majesty and the Empress Dowager first, serve His Majesty well, and help the imperial family to prosper as soon as possible." The Empress's voice, neither too loud nor too soft, calm yet quite dignified, slowly echoed in the hall.
Now everyone had no choice but to stand up and bow to the Empress: "We will respectfully obey Your Majesty's teachings."
"Get up." Xi Ning showed no smugness, remaining as serene as a deity seated to the side: "Next, continue."
Next was playing the piano. Perhaps still frightened by what had just happened, she played several wrong notes. But stopping would be even more embarrassing, so she could only hold back her tears and continue playing, trembling and forcing herself to keep going.
The Empress remained seated quietly, offering no comment or criticism, as if she were an outsider. The Empress Dowager and Liu Cheng, however, couldn't help but glance at the Empress a few more times; she seemed like a completely different person after not seeing her for several days.
Every word she spoke was for the emperor and for the sake of their offspring, and she even subtly reminded him to be filial to the Empress Dowager, a stark contrast to her usual impetuousness and foolishness. Her dignified and authoritative demeanor just now made her seem like a true Empress Dowager.
However, judging from her behavior in February, it seems she has truly become indifferent to fame and fortune, and only wants to stay in her position as a wife and mother. This is good, much better than before when she would make a scene at the drop of a hat. Otherwise, sitting in this position with the same attitude as Cui Zhaorong would be embarrassing.
A young woman carrying a cloth-covered tray came forward, knelt down, and said softly, "This humble woman is not skilled in music, chess, singing, or dancing; I only know needlework. I have brought some embroidery, and I hope Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager, and the Empress will forgive me."
Liu Cheng said, "Bring it here."
The tray was brought over first to Zhang Shanzhong, who lifted the cloth, gently turned it over, and then nodded.
The tray was placed in front of Liu Cheng's desk. Liu Xiu glanced at it and saw that it was probably a handkerchief or sachet, with exquisite embroidery of red cloud patterns on a black background.
Xi Ning spoke up: "I am not good at needlework, but I have heard that Consort Chen's embroidery skills are excellent. May I let Consort Chen take a look?"
It was indeed inappropriate for an emperor to examine embroidery in front of everyone. With Liu Cheng's approval, the tray was placed back on Consort Chen's table.
Consort Chen was overjoyed. Seeing the Empress looking at her with encouraging eyes, she knew that this was the Empress's way of reminding her to seize the opportunity.
So she placed her hands on her sides, knelt down, and gave a slight bow: "Your Majesty, I obey your command."
Then, she carefully picked up a sachet with both hands. The embroiderer needed to take care of her hands, so they couldn't be rough at all. Chen Meiren's hands were extremely beautiful. Liu Cheng could see her jade-like soft hands from afar. The way she held the sachet was like a half-open magnolia bud.
While Chen Meiren appeared to be carefully examining the embroidery, she was actually making quick calculations in her mind.
After putting it down, she smiled and said, "The embroidery is excellent; you really put a lot of thought into it."
Xi Ning chuckled inwardly. First, she praised him, then implied that he had prepared everything in advance; this young lady had been preparing for a long time and was quite shrewd. She hadn't misjudged Consort Chen; now it was time to see how she would perform.
Lady Chen then asked, "What other patterns can you embroider?"
The young woman, who had been keeping her head down, quickly replied, "I can embroider anything with a pattern. My family is poor, and my mother and I make a living by selling our embroidery."
Cui Zhaorong scoffed, "Another embroiderer."
Consort Xiao almost burst out laughing. If Cui Zhaorong hadn't had a good father, with his hateful behavior, he wouldn't have survived this long.
Chen Meiren remained silent, lowered her head slightly, and a look of loneliness and grievance appeared on her face.
From the high platform, Xi Ning could see clearly. From this angle, in this posture, it was truly endearing. It seemed that Consort Chen had paid a price for sending the etiquette instructor; she had learned quite a bit.
In February, a group of women were jumping around, trying to show their faces and increase their status. Only Chen Meiren was either learning the new rules or doing embroidery. This kind of patient person is no worse than Qian Jieyu. As long as she seizes the opportunity, she will climb up.
Xi Ning said slowly, "Upon entering the palace, it's natural to feel the pain of being away from home. Consort Chen's embroidery skills are exquisite; many of His Majesty's undergarments, belts, and small items were embroidered by her. I've decided that this young lady will live next to Consort Chen. Consort Chen currently resides in the Yeting Palace, and this young lady will also move there in the future, making it convenient for the two of you to embroider together. I also greatly admire Consort Chen's embroidery skills; you should learn more from her."
The young lady immediately bowed to Consort Chen: "As long as Sister Chen doesn't mind that my embroidery is crude, I would be more than happy to accept it."
"Of course, of course." Chen Meiren seemed still sad, but her smile was gentle and beautiful. (End of Chapter)