PFC Chapter 211 Hui Liang Provokes Wang Dong's Thoughts
Chapter 211 Hui Liang Provokes Wang Dong's Thoughts
Xiaofang, who was beside Concubine Tong, was about to speak, but Concubine Tong suddenly caught a glimpse of Concubine Hui, Concubine Liang and others walking towards her from a distance.
She quickly covered Xiaofang's mouth, winked in the direction of Concubine Hui, then pulled Xiaofang and hid behind the flowers beside her.
Concubine Hui has been in a bad mood recently. The eldest prince is both talented in literature and martial arts, but he prefers martial arts. He is extremely brave and has fought in wars with the emperor. He has always valued an old review bow of the emperor and asked the emperor for it several times, but the emperor never gave it to him.
It would have been fine if the emperor had kept it and not given it to anyone, but I didn't expect that the emperor actually gave the Grand Review Bow to the Crown Prince yesterday. The eldest prince was very disappointed and unwilling to hear about it.
As a mother, she naturally felt distressed when her son was sad, but she had no ability to make the emperor change his mind.
Liangpin was supporting Huifei. She knew that Huifei had been in a bad mood recently and was very cautious. At this moment, she suddenly saw Wang Shufei in front of her who was concentrating on looking at the lake and didn't even notice them coming.
She subconsciously followed her gaze, and her eyes suddenly became determined.
That is—the Emperor and Concubine Xian?
After making sure that she was not mistaken, she looked at Concubine Wang who had a face full of resentment. Liangpin leaned close to Concubine Hui's ear and reported in a low voice:
"Your Majesty, the Emperor and Concubine Xian are boating on the lake, and Concubine Wang is watching from the front. She looks very sad."
Concubine Hui came back to her senses and looked towards the lake. Sure enough, she saw a sailboat in the lake. The Emperor and Concubine Xian were standing at the bow. She retracted her gaze and looked forward again, and sure enough, she saw Concubine Wang with a sad face.
The corner of her mouth twitched slightly. Concubine Wang was a beauty from Jiangnan who was brought back by the Emperor during his southern tour in the 28th year of Kangxi. She was good-looking and talented. Her beautiful handwriting alone surpassed many Manchu concubines in the palace and she was quite favored by the Emperor.
However, she has been in the palace for two years and is still a concubine. She is not even a formal concubine. The higher-ranking concubines in the palace do not take her seriously. The emperor just wants something new. Oh, now that Concubine Xian is here, even the novelty is gone.
Concubine Hui turned her gaze to the sailboat in the lake. She had good eyesight and could see the people on the boat from quite a distance.
Looking at the emperor holding the cat, I don't know what he said to Concubine Xian at this time. Concubine Xian seemed unhappy and turned her back to the emperor to get angry. Seeing this, the emperor came over, put his arms around Concubine Xian's waist, and lowered his head to coax her.
I have never seen the emperor coaxing others so thoughtfully and gently. The emperor really treats Concubine Xian differently.
Concubine Hui's first reaction was that it was fortunate that Concubine Xian was born late, otherwise she had entered the palace earlier and the structure of the palace might be different now.
She narrowed her eyes and glanced at Concubine Wang who was still staring at the boat with resentment, and a hint of deep thought flashed in her eyes.
She had no grudges against Concubine Xian, nor did she compete with her for favor; it was just that they had different positions.
Firstly, she had to make plans for the eldest prince. She had to let the emperor come to her palace more often to increase his respectability. However, the previous concubine who was planned to be supported, Wusu, was still under house arrest, and was considered half-disabled by Concubine Xian. A new suitable candidate still needed to be carefully searched for.
Secondly, the palace power that was removed from Concubine Nianhulu was divided between her and Concubine Derong. How could she be willing to give up such a fat piece of meat? Now at the beginning, she can still use learning palace affairs to pass the time with Concubine Xian, but later Concubine Xian will definitely be unwilling and want to fight for power. She is favored by the emperor, and maybe she will really take it away.
All in all, she couldn't let Concubine Xian continue to favor her alone, so Concubine Wang was a good choice...
"Let's go and see what Concubine Wang is looking at." Concubine Hui said and walked towards Concubine Wang.
Concubine Liang was also looking at the Emperor and Concubine Xian on the lake. When she heard Concubine Hui's words, she concealed the complexity in her eyes and withdrew her gaze.
"My lady, Concubine Hui and Concubine Liang are coming this way." Baojuan noticed the two concubines approaching and quickly reminded them.
Wang Shufei came back to her senses after hearing this. She turned around and saw Huifei and the other two approaching. She quickly bowed and saluted:
"Concubine Wang greets Empress Hui and Empress Liang."
Concubine Hui looked kind:
"Sister, please get up quickly. What are you looking at? You are so absorbed in it that you didn't even notice that I and Concubine Liang have arrived."
Concubine Wang stood up, pursed her lips and said:
"To reply to your Majesty, I am looking at... the Emperor and Empress Xian."
Concubine Hui pretended to be surprised and looked towards the lake. It seemed that she had just seen the boat on the lake. The boat was getting farther and farther away, but she could vaguely see the figures of the emperor and Concubine Xian. She cried out:
"It's really the Emperor and Concubine Xian. I thought the Emperor would rest in the Jiujing Sanshi Hall after a tiring day, but I didn't expect that he would bring Concubine Xian to the Back Lake for boating. The Emperor really loves Concubine Xian."
Concubine Wang looked at the boat that was getting farther and farther away, bit her lip, and whispered in agreement:
"Yes, the emperor really loves Empress Xian." If only the emperor loved her, she would definitely not be as jealous and domineering as Empress Xian.
Concubine Hui seemed not to notice Concubine Wang's envy and jealousy, and continued:
"Sister Xian is delicate, but gentle and kind, and has beautiful handwriting, which has been praised by the Emperor and the Empress Dowager. It is only right that the Emperor should have some pity for such a beauty."
Just because you are in poor health and have talent, you should be pitied by the emperor. I am also talented, but I am weak and delicate, Concubine Wang suppressed the words that were about to come out of her mouth.
"Your Highness is absolutely right."
His expression became more and more frustrated and unwilling.
Concubine Hui covered her upturned mouth with a handkerchief. When she put it down, she seemed to finally notice Concubine Wang's disappointment. She seemed a little embarrassed, coughed lightly, and glanced at Concubine Liang.
Liangpin understood and spoke softly to comfort Wang Shufei:
"Empress Xian is very good, but the princess is not bad either. I still remember when the emperor brought you into the palace two years ago, I felt that you were indeed a beauty from Jiangnan. You were beautiful, had a good temperament, and your handwriting was elegant and graceful. You don't know that when I talked about you with Concubine Hui, we both felt sorry that you were not assigned to the Empress's palace."
Concubine Wang also thought of that time. There were so many beauties from Jiangnan at that time, but the emperor only brought her back to the palace. Now, after only two marriages, she has fallen out of favor with the emperor. Concubine Wang looked more and more lonely.
"Your Majesty, you are too kind. My talent is just ordinary, and only my calligraphy is barely acceptable."
Concubine Hui seemed to disagree:
"Sister, you are too modest. You look like a scholar and you have read a lot of books. How come you are not talented?"
Liangpin followed suit and raised her eyes. The two of them sang in unison. Concubine Wang was stunned. She gently lowered her eyelashes and bit her lip and said:
"I haven't read much since I entered the palace, so I don't have any interest in books. I'm ashamed of your praise, my ladyships."
"You haven't read much?" Concubine Hui pretended to frown.
Liangpin knew Huifei best, and immediately responded:
"What difficulties does the concubine have?"
At this time, Baojuan interrupted:
"I've already finished reading the book that the young master brought. There are no other books to read, so I haven't read much."
Concubine Hui suddenly realized.
"I see. This is not difficult. This is Changchun Garden. It is not as strict as the imperial palace. If you want to read a book, there is Qingxi Book House. There are many books there."
Concubine Wang was startled when she heard this: "Qingxi Book House? Would it be inconvenient?"
She was about to reject it, but Liangpin, who had a tacit understanding with Huifei, spoke first and said casually:
"What's the inconvenience? Sister Xianfei goes there often."
Empress Xian has indeed been to Qingxi Book House frequently recently, and even the Emperor... the Emperor? Concubine Wang's heart moved, but she did not deny it on her face.
They talked for a while, watched the boat go farther and farther away, and then left.
After everyone left, Concubine Tong and her servant came out from the flowers.
Tong Guiren looked at the backs of the two people as they left.
Turning his eyes,
Suddenly said:
"Let's go and pay our respects to the Imperial Concubine."
……
Soon it was time to pay respects to the Empress Dowager, Shouchun Yong.