PFC Chapter 182: Undercurrents Surge, Nara Reveals Her Face
Chapter 182: Undercurrents Surge, Nara Reveals Her Face
Kangxi was still thinking about Shi Nanxi, but that didn't mean he couldn't see that Concubine Guo's proposal to draw lots to perform talents was not simple.
He stroked the jade ring and glanced at Concubine Guo, who lowered her eyes and avoided the emperor's gaze.
The sisters have been in the palace for many years. Even if they want to deal with Concubine Xian, they are not reckless. To embarrass and frame Concubine Xian in front of the Emperor is simply courting death.
It was just to let the new concubines show up and stir up trouble in the harem. If someone could take away the favor of Concubine Xian, it would be even better. But this was only the apparent purpose. The real purpose was to increase the hatred between someone and Concubine Xian and kill someone with a borrowed knife...
Concubine Guo glanced at Concubine Niuhulu vaguely. Although she didn't understand why her sister was sure that as long as the hatred between Concubine Niuhulu and Concubine Xian was increased, Concubine Niuhulu would really take action against Concubine Xian, she believed her sister.
Kangxi looked at Concubine Guo and thought of Concubine Guo Luoluo who was far away in the Forbidden City. He narrowed his eyes and said in a voice without emotion:
“That does sound interesting.”
This is the proposal adopted by Concubine Guo.
After hearing what Kangxi said, Concubine Hui looked around and finally her eyes fell on Concubine Guo. Since Concubine Guo must have been prepared when she made the proposal in public, she smiled and pushed the matter onto her.
"Since it was Sister Guo who proposed the talent show by drawing lots, how about you be responsible for drawing the lots?" It would not be her fault if anything went wrong.
Concubine Guo was naturally prepared. Upon hearing this, she stood up, bowed, and said respectfully:
"Since Concubine Hui has spoken personally, I will boldly take on the important task."
Shi Nanxi glanced between Concubine Hui and Guiren Guo, then lowered her eyes slightly, with a hint of thought in her eyes.
She has also recruited some palace maids and eunuchs these days. She doesn't need them to do anything harmful, but only to help her gather information.
Based on the information, she knew that Wusu, the new lady in Huifei's palace, was very much loved by Huifei. Huifei also had experience in recommending Liangpin. Shi Nanxi guessed that Huifei's lotus viewing banquet was not simply to appreciate the lotus, but to promote Wusu.
But after she came to the waterside pavilion, she didn't find Wu Su's consent, which meant that Concubine Hui must have made other arrangements, but now...
Shi Nanxi took a sip of iced milk tea and glanced at Concubine Guo out of the corner of her eye. She was Concubine Guo Luoluo's biological sister. She and Concubine Guo Luoluo had a deep grudge that would not disappear just because Concubine Guo Luoluo stayed in the palace.
He watched as Concubine Guo instructed the palace maids around her to prepare paper slips, and then she wrote down the names of the concubines herself, then crumpled the paper into balls, broke them up, and shook them in a tube.
Shi Nanxi pondered, thinking that Concubine Guo would not suggest drawing lots to perform talents for no reason. She was also the one in charge of drawing lots, so it would be very easy for her to cheat.
There are two possibilities.
One type came directly at her, wanting to take the opportunity to embarrass her. Everyone knew that she grew up on a farm and had never received any instruction from a noble lady.
However, this plan was too obvious. Kangxi was present and Concubine Guo was of too low a status to dare embarrass her in public.
However, Concubine Guo is of low status, and there are other people of higher status present, so this is killing someone with a borrowed knife.
Another possibility is that in addition to her, five other newly-entered concubines were also present in the waterside pavilion today. It is very likely that one of them had defected to the Guo Luoluo sisters and deliberately proposed the drawing lots performance in order to allow her to show her face, catch the eye of Kangxi, and share her favor.
There are two situations, Shi Nanxi doesn't know which one it is, but she has a way to deal with either one.
In addition to being vigilant and cautious, the emotional turmoil she had planned for her and Kangxi was about to break out. Concubine Guo's proposal came at the right time, and Shi Nanxi withdrew her gaze.
At this time, a person came in from the waterside pavilion. She was pretty, innocent, and full of lively aura. She immediately recognized the other person's identity. It was Wu Su Da Ying who had not appeared.
Others noticed, too.
"Isn't that Wu Su from Concubine Hui's sister's palace? Why did she come only now?" Rong Fei looked at Hui Fei meaningfully and asked.
Concubine Hui looked at Wu Su who came in and agreed.
A look of kindness.
"Wusu promised that she was young and playful, and had a weak temper. We didn't want her to be disrespectful in front of the emperor, but when she heard that there was a talent show by drawing lots, she insisted on coming over. We had no choice but to ask someone to bring her here."
Shi Nanxi regained her composure and wanted to chuckle when she heard Concubine Hui's words. No matter how young Wu Su was, she was still Kangxi's concubine. Why was Concubine Hui looking so kind?
You put yourself in the position of an elder for no reason, it's like there is a generation difference between you and the elder. If you don't look old, who will?
No wonder among the four concubines Hui, De, Yi and Rong, Hui was ranked first, but Kangxi rarely went to Hui's palace.
Which man wants to deal with a woman who looks like an old mother?
Wu Su agreed to hear the conversation between the leaders. He was not afraid at all. He bowed with a happy face and his voice was as clear as a yellow oriole.
"I promised Wusu to meet the emperor and all the ladies. I was just flying a kite outside the waterside pavilion. Kites are so much fun."
"Kites are fun. Why did Wusu Da Ying come to the waterside pavilion?" Imperial Concubine Niuhulu saw at a glance that Wusu Da Ying wanted to attract the emperor's attention, and she curled the corners of her mouth.
Wu Su agreed as if he could not hear the hidden meaning of Concubine Nianhulu's words. He scratched his cheek cutely and looked towards Concubine Guo with his big watery eyes.
"I have never played the game of drawing lots to show off my talent, and I really want to join in the fun."
The cute expression, innocent temperament, and crisp voice made her look pleasing to the eye. However, Kangxi just glanced at her and said indifferently:
"Now that you're here, sit down."
"Thank you, Your Majesty. Your Majesty is so kind." Wu Su agreed, smiling with a pair of cute fangs, and quickly took his seat.
I have to say that Wu Su promised to be young and his acting skills are not to be mentioned.
I came to this conclusion after watching the entire Shi Nanxi.
When everyone was present, Concubine Guo took out a bamboo tube and shook it for a while, then put her hand into the tube, and soon the first person to perform a talent came out.
"The first performance talent is Nara Changzai." Concubine Guo opened the paper ball and announced.
Nara Changzai was a new concubine who entered the palace this year. She was assigned to Pingpin Palace and came to Changchun Garden with the Emperor and Concubine Xian in the second batch.
Seeing that the first person picked by Concubine Guo was Nara Changzai, everyone speculated whether Nara Changzai had defected to the Guo Luoluo sisters, which led to Concubine Guo's behavior?
Facing the looks of everyone, Concubine Guo remained calm.
La Chang was dressed gorgeously today, and she was quite stunning right from the start. She bowed gracefully to the emperor first.
"Chang Nara is a person of limited talent and learning. Her handwriting is barely acceptable. Today, she has made a fool of herself in front of the emperor."
As they were talking, a palace maid had already brought the pen, ink, paper and inkstone. Nara was concentrating and calming down. After she finished writing, she carefully unfolded the paper facing everyone, and saw that it read:
The lotus leaves are endless and green, and the lotus flowers are red in the sun. (From Yang Wanli, Song Dynasty)
Concubine Hui narrowed her eyes. Could it be that she guessed wrong? Concubine Guo just wanted to take advantage of her lotus viewing banquet to let Nara Changzai show up in front of the emperor?
I thought so in my heart, but I pretended to be surprised:
"I didn't expect that in addition to Concubine Xian's sister and Concubine Wang, Nara Changzai's handwriting is also so good. Look at this flowing and graceful style, it is really amazing, and the poem is also very appropriate. Your Majesty, please take a look. Am I right?"
When Kangxi heard Concubine Hui's words, he looked over. Her handwriting was considered pretty good among the Manchu concubines. He glanced at Concubine Guo, and then at Nara Changzai, who looked a little nervous.
"It's really not bad." After saying that, he added in his heart that it was far inferior to the little girl's handwriting.
Although it was just a simple sentence, Nara Changzai looked surprised. She clenched her fingers tightly, thinking that her decision to join the Guo Luoluo sisters was the right one.
Shi Nanxi looked at this scene, and the current situation was consistent with her second guess.
Nara's mistress, Pingpin, lost her prince and was demoted and confined by Emperor Kangxi. She fell out of favor and did not come to Changchun Garden this time.
It's not surprising that Nara Changzai has no backing and relies on Concubine Guo Luoluo, the only concubine who didn't have a new member this year, but is this really just to make Nara Changzai show up?