Chapter 2666
Being an Empress Isn't Easy 12
Chapter 2666 Being an Empress Isn't Easy 12
Looking at the scene before her, Xi Ning thought it was all so hypocritical.
But that's how the world is; after doing many tasks, you can roughly discern the patterns in people's words and actions. Now, no matter what kind of exterior she wears, her inner self already possesses centuries of experience.
Even if I'm stupid, I can still survive. As long as I survive, I'll gradually accumulate experience and go from knowing nothing to understanding everything.
After watching several more performances by the young women, Liu Cheng said he had other official business to attend to and left.
She also made up an excuse, saying that her child was still young and needed someone to take care of him, and left.
The young ladies who had not yet showcased their talents were inevitably disappointed, and could only bid them farewell.
In fact, all of this was pre-arranged. If all 28 women were to be showcased, even if each woman only had five minutes, it would still take more than two hours, and the emperor would sit and watch from beginning to end after finishing his meal.
Those who are shown up first either have connections or have been paid a lot of money; bribes are everywhere.
In the evening, just after Xining finished dinner, Zhang Shanzhong came running over.
Zhang Shanzhong said with a fawning expression, "Your Majesty, His Majesty will be visiting you tonight. Please make the arrangements."
What, you want to come over?
What made you decide to come over tonight?
Perhaps a new person has arrived, and he's afraid she'll get jealous, so he's staying overnight.
After thinking for a moment, Xining used the same old approach: "Please inform Your Majesty that I am not feeling well today and cannot serve you. Please go to one of the other sisters and show your favor to all."
"This~" Zhang Shanzhong was stunned. He had refused for more than two months. If this continued, the Third Prince would be one year old. Was he still not feeling well?
Xi Ning gave a wink, and Qiu Shi, who was beside her, immediately went up and secretly slipped her a silver coin.
"This, I can't possibly accept this." Zhang Shanzhong smiled and hid the silver in his sleeve.
Xi Ning said slowly, "There are only a few heirs in the palace. I am also worried for Your Majesty. Now that the new concubines have arrived, Your Majesty should spend more time with them and see which one you like. But please do not forget the elders, Your Majesty, and let them also produce offspring for Your Majesty as soon as possible."
Zhang Shanzhong understood; the Empress truly didn't want to. After all, the Emperor's limited offspring was a stark reality. Ministers in court had raised this issue dozens of times, almost to the point of impeaching the Empress.
Now that the Crown Prince is about to come of age and she has two other princes protecting her, the Empress's position is as secure as a Great Wall. Therefore, she is also afraid that the ministers will say that she is not virtuous and is jealous. If there are a few more pregnant women in the palace, she can also wash away the reputation of being jealous.
He immediately bowed respectfully and said, "This old servant understands and will go back to report."
Upon hearing the reply, Liu Cheng was taken aback. He had been worried that the Empress would be angry, so he tried to appease her first. After all, the Duke of Zhenguo was still needed to guard the border.
Since that's been said, there's nothing to worry about.
After much deliberation, he first went to visit Consort Qian, who was pregnant with the emperor's child but still very young, and therefore could not serve him in bed. Then he summoned Consort Chen to serve him in bed.
Seeing Consort Chen today reminded me of her. Her fingers were like scallions, her speech and manners were dignified and graceful, and she was gentle and kind. Summoning Consort Chen first can be seen as not forgetting an old friend.
The next day, news came that Consort Chen had won the Emperor's favor and was promoted to the rank of Jieyu, and moved to Chuxiu Palace.
Finally, another person moved from the Yeting Palace to the main palace. Only those of the rank of Jieyu or above could live in the Chuxiu Palace, while those below the rank of Meiren lived in the Yeting Palace.
Currently, only Consort Xiao, one of the four consorts, occupies one palace. Consort Cui also occupies one, but there are only two main consorts in the seven palaces.
Chuxiu Palace comprised four halls, six pavilions, six gardens, six halls, six residences, six pavilions, six towers, and six study rooms, yet it housed only two people. Indeed, there were far too few people.
Xining ordered someone to select fifty taels of silver and two bolts of silk from the storeroom and send them over, and also prepared a bolt of silk as a gift for each of the young ladies.
Soon after, the young women came to express their gratitude.
The lack of formality seemed indifferent, so she simply donned her queenly attire, pretended to sit in the main seat, and let them in.
After entering and bowing, Xining had tea served. Luckily, the young ladies had come together; otherwise, she would have been exhausted trying to serve them one by one. The tea was a proper brew, the new tea that had just been harvested this year for the Qingming Festival. The young ladies picked up their teacups and took a sip; some of them were only pretending, afraid there might be something in the tea.
A short while later, Chen Jieyu also came over to express her gratitude.
After bowing, Chen Jieyu took her seat.
Xi Ning deliberately said, "Seeing Consort Qian looking so radiant today, it's clear she's received the Emperor's favor; she looks completely different."
The young women sitting behind couldn't help but show envious expressions. To enter Weiyang Palace, one first needed the opportunity to be summoned to the emperor's bedchamber; only then could one climb the ranks.
Consort Chen blushed and said, "Your Majesty is teasing me. If it weren't for Your Majesty's guidance, I wouldn't be where I am today."
Yesterday, the Empress gave up her opportunity, telling the Emperor not to forget the elderly. During the talent show, she mentioned Consort Qian again. It seemed casual, but she made sure the Emperor took it to heart; otherwise, he wouldn't have summoned Consort Qian last night.
Once Chen Jieyu said that, it was clear that she wasn't confused.
As for those young women, it's unknown how many understood and how many were oblivious.
Xi Ning smiled and said, "That's because you're good-looking and have skillful hands. How could His Majesty not notice you? Don't rush over like this in the future. You just finished serving His Majesty last night. You should rest well and focus on getting pregnant as soon as possible."
Consort Chen understood perfectly what the Empress meant by "skillful hands." Her hands were beautiful; the Emperor had held and played with them while speaking to her the previous night. Had the Empress not praised her embroidery skills, the Emperor would never have noticed her hands.
I've served the emperor twice before, so I should have been careful.
Consort Chen immediately said, "I am but a plain-looking woman. If it weren't for Your Majesty's magnanimity and your guidance and care, I would never have had the chance to serve Your Majesty. I truly do not know how to express my gratitude. I only have my incompetent embroidery skills, which I hope will earn Your Majesty's attention."
He then ordered a palace maid to bring over a tray containing embroidery.
Qiu Shi presented the tray with both hands. Xining looked at it and saw a purse and a sachet; the embroidery was indeed quite good.
She picked up the sachet, brought it close, and sniffed it: "Hmm, cloves, mugwort, and even jasmine. The jasmine is blooming?"
"Your Majesty is indeed learned and talented." Consort Chen replied with a smile, "As soon as I entered Chuxiu Palace, I saw two jasmine buds. I didn't dare to pick them openly, for fear of being disapproved. I picked them secretly, Your Majesty, please don't punish me."
"I won't punish you." Xi Ning laughed. "Flowers are meant to be seen. Right now, there are only a few people in Chuxiu Palace, so nobody really cares about them. But don't do this when more people live there in the future."
Then she said to Qiushi, "Go and hang it by my bedside."
"Yes~" Qiu Shi handed the fruit to the maid beside her and asked her to take it inside.
Previously, the Empress always had a stern face, and the concubines didn't dare to breathe loudly, finishing their greetings and leaving immediately. But today, it seems the Empress is not as simple as she appeared.
The person could smell the sachet and immediately identify its contents. If something inappropriate was found inside, the imperial physician would be summoned on the spot to examine it; such a crime as plotting against the Empress was no small matter.
The message also hinted that there would be many more women entering the Chuxiu Palace in the future. Looking at the newly arrived women, their thoughts were barely concealed; they were filled with anticipation for the future, and some had already begun to scheme.
"Alright, I won't keep you any longer. I'm also canceling the daily greetings. What you need to think about is how to serve His Majesty well and how to ensure the continuation of the royal family's lineage."
It's all about having many descendants, spreading the family line, repeating it over and over again, so you won't say I didn't do my best.
Everyone knelt down: "We respectfully obey Her Majesty the Empress's decree."
After everyone left, Xi Ning was about to go inside and take off the heavy phoenix crown headdress when she heard screams from outside.
"Oh no! Someone fell into the water!"