PFC Chapter 348: Nanxi Glory Rongyue is in Trouble
Chapter 348: Nanxi Glory Rongyue is in Trouble
The next day, the first day of the Lunar New Year, they ate buns, or dumplings. This time, the Empress Dowager and the concubines still had breakfast with Emperor Kangxi.
After breakfast, Kangxi changed into imperial robes and went to the Hall of Supreme Harmony to take the throne to accept the New Year's Day worship from princes and officials.
The harem was not easy either. When Kangxi held an external banquet after accepting the New Year's Day court ceremony, the harem also had to hold an internal banquet. The participants included princes, officials, wives of royal relatives, as well as princes, wives of princesses and princesses.
There was a banquet inside, and everyone ate while enjoying the dancing and acrobatics.
At this time, the hearty voice of Prince Yu's wife rang out in the hall:
"Imperial Mother, you were like this when I wished you a happy new year last year, and you are still like this this year. I don't even dare to call you Imperial Mother now. You are too young."
Women of all social status like to be praised for their youth, and the Empress Dowager is no exception. She immediately pointed at Prince Yu's wife and laughed:
"You, you seem to be so sweet-mouthed today that you can only flatter me."
Upon hearing this, Prince Yu's wife admitted openly:
"If I can make the Empress Dowager smile, not only my mouth will be filled with honey, but my entire face will be filled with honey as well."
"I told you you're fat and you're out of breath!" The Queen Mother scolded, but the smile on her face grew deeper and deeper.
Others followed suit and flattered the Empress Dowager. The scene was extremely lively for a while, and the topic turned to Concubine Xian.
Hearing that she was mentioned, Shi Nanxi looked over and happened to meet everyone's gaze. A concubine of a king spoke first:
"As expected of you, the Imperial Concubine Xian, who was personally appointed by the Emperor. I saw her up close today and was truly astonished by her beauty. Your Majesty has good taste!"
"That's right. I heard that the list of people who were appointed to the six palaces yesterday was drawn up by Concubine Xian. Concubine Xian is truly virtuous and kind. The Emperor is so lucky, and the Empress Dowager is so lucky!"
Hearing these compliments, Shi Nanxi smiled slightly, her manners were dignified and proper. She did not speak rashly, but looked at the Empress Dowager.
The Queen Mother smiled unchanged, glanced at Concubine Xian, and when their eyes met, she smiled even more deeply and agreed:
"I also think Imperial Concubine Xian is good, virtuous and filial. I like her very much. The Emperor really has good taste."
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone's expressions changed slightly. Stone Mother, who was standing at the bottom of the table, looked at her second daughter who was enjoying such great success, but she felt a little uncomfortable.
He is obviously a sickly person who is unlucky in everything. He is stupid and timid. How did he become like this?
Thinking of the letters from the chief of the Guaerjia clan and her own master before she came here, she felt mixed emotions.
They all emphasized that Concubine Xian was Rongyue's supporter, Guanyinbao's future guarantee, and also the future of the Guaerjia family, and asked her to restore the mother-daughter relationship with Concubine Xian.
It sounds nice, doesn't it? Isn't it just asking her to please her second daughter?
This dealt a heavy blow to the self-esteem of Shi Mu, who had always been arrogant and disdainful of her second daughter. She felt extremely ashamed and angry, but she had to do as the clan leader and the master told her to do.
Compared to Shi Mu, Shi Rongyue, as the prince's wife, who sat closer to the front, felt more complicated when she saw Shi Nanxi being flattered and treated like a celebrity.
All that filled my mind was the image of Shi Nanxi wearing the imperial concubine's dress, dignified, elegant, and noble.
The auspicious dress she wore was more gorgeous and precious than the one worn by her concubine. The phoenix hairpin on her head represented her noble status. More importantly, her face, eyes, skin, and figure were all beautiful.
Obviously, when the two of them stood together at the beginning, she was more eye-catching with her brightness and elegance. But even though they were not standing together now, Shi Rongyue was sure that if they stood together, everyone's eyes would definitely turn to Shi Nanxi first.
And the look in her eyes.
Her eyes were the same as before, as if reflecting the tiny stars, clear and pure, without any calculation or turbidity.
Her skin is fair, delicate and shiny, without any blemishes. Unlike her, whose face is prone to oiliness and acne due to pregnancy, the acne is gone but acne marks remain, which cannot be covered even with rouge.
The most important thing is her figure. She has gained two sizes more weight than before. She wants to control her food intake, but she can't do it at all and just wants to eat.
Shi Rongyue sat there blankly, her eyes turning red unconsciously. How did it become like this? Wasn't she a time traveler?
A unique and blessed time-travelling woman, why does she feel that she is worse than the native Heather Creek?
In her mind, she was the heroine, the winner in life who would win the man and children and become the empress dowager, but her idea of being the winner in life wavered again.
The fourth lady accidentally saw this scene and immediately frowned. It was New Year's Day, and she was crying? How unlucky! No, was she doing it on purpose? She wanted to act pitiful and get sympathy from others?
Thinking of this, the Fourth Lady's heart trembled, and she immediately told something to Nanny Chang beside her. Nanny Chang took a look and quickly sent a maid over to remind her.
Shi Rongyue was reminded and immediately came back to her senses. She lowered her head and wiped the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief. She felt that everyone around her was laughing at her and her face was burning with pain.
Not to mention Shi Rongyue's doubts about life, Shi Nanxi smiled and spoke after the Empress Dowager praised her:
"To be able to please the Empress Dowager, it must be because I had great luck in my previous life. That's why I am so blessed in this life. I will have to accumulate more luck in this life and please the Empress Dowager in the next life."
"You, you are another one with honeyed lips, hahaha~" The Queen Mother smiled brightly upon hearing that.
Seeing this scene, everyone had a new understanding of Concubine Xian. Everyone was talking to each other, and Shi Nanxi was calm and handled the whole process appropriately.
Even after the banquet is over, no one can leave. They have to wait for the Empress Dowager to ascend the throne in the front hall of the Cining Palace and accept the ceremony of three bows and nine kowtows from the princes and ministers. After the male members of the family have kowtowed, the female members of the family will kowtow too. Only then will the New Year's Day itinerary be truly over.
At this time, the women had not yet come to kowtow. Everyone was waiting in the eastern warm room of the Cining Palace, talking in low voices in groups of three or four.
At this time, someone saw Shi Rongyue with a big belly, and remembered her identity, and couldn't help whispering to her.
Shi Mu was surrounded and did not notice this scene for a while. Shi Rongyue was pregnant and was very sensitive at this time, so she noticed it immediately.
He was already filled with shame and indignation, and now he felt as if he was being tortured to death. He could no longer bear it, so he found an excuse to change his clothes and left the East Warm Pavilion.
"Concubine, please slow down. Those people are just jealous of your pregnancy. Don't bother yourself with them!"
Nanny Gu supported the concubine and felt anxious and distressed when she saw that she looked pale.
After leaving the warm room, a gust of cold wind blew towards him, which calmed Shi Rongyue's boiling emotions a little. But the next moment, he became boiling again when he heard the words coming from behind.
"Second Lady, I heard that the Crown Prince spends ten days a month resting in the main courtyard. He really dotes on you!"
"Yes, I heard that when you returned to your parents' home, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince personally gave you a return gift. The phoenix hairpin on your head was also worn by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince himself. It was really thoughtful."
"That's the Second Lady's blessing."
The flattering voices were getting closer and closer. Someone saw Shi Rongyue's figure in front of him and immediately recognized her. He blurted out:
"Isn't that Shi Cefu Jin?"
All of a sudden, everyone looked at Shi Rongyue.