freenovelworld Chapter 314: Undercurrents and Promotion to Imperial Concubine
Chapter 314: Undercurrents and Promotion to Imperial Concubine
"Wow, it's so beautiful. Is this a music box?"
"It should be. Hey, are the two little people carved inside the sphere the Emperor and Empress Xian? It seems so!"
"It's the Emperor and Empress Xian. It depicts the two of them playing the piano together and watching the sunset. With the music, it's really a very artistic conception. The Emperor really put a lot of effort into it!"
Shi Nanxi didn't hear the discussions below. Her eyes fell directly on the music box, and her heart beat uncontrollably.
She really didn't expect that Kangxi would give her a music box. What's more important is that the scene engraved on the music box was exactly the scene where the two of them were in harmony in Yuyin Pavilion.
"Like it?"
A low voice sounded in her ears, and Shi Nanxi's thoughts turned back. She looked at Kangxi, and her clear and moist almond-shaped eyes seemed to have crushed the stars, with twinkling stars.
"Yes, I like it very much."
"nice! You love it."
Kangxi laughed happily. It was worth it that he had thought about this gift for a long time. He drew the picture himself and sent it to the Ministry of Internal Affairs for production.
Shi Nanxi also curved her eyes, turned around and instructed Hongying:
"Hongying, put the music box away separately and place it by my bed when I get home. I want to listen to it every day."
As soon as these words were spoken, Kangxi smiled even more happily. Seeing that the gift he had prepared with all his heart was given out and that the recipient also valued and liked it, he suddenly felt an extra sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.
Next year, no, every year after that he will prepare good gifts for the little girl’s birthday.
However, Kangxi and Shi Nanxi were happy, but the concubines present were not so happy.
Concubine Niohuru looked at the exquisite music box and clenched her back teeth tightly.
Why? Why did the emperor only give her a ruby coral on her birthday last year, but gave Concubine Xian a music box on her birthday?
One of them is just one of the items in the emperor's private collection, and the other was carefully prepared by the emperor. Anyone with a discerning eye can see the emperor's attitude towards them.
Why? Why is this happening?
Didn’t he say that the emperor only dotes on his concubines but doesn’t love them?
Why should Concubine Xian be treated specially?
Why wasn't this special person her?
The other concubines were equally uneasy.
Although on the surface everyone has no objection to the Emperor favoring Concubine Xian alone, how could anyone be willing to accept it secretly?
They were all waiting, waiting for Concubine Xian to fall out of favor.
As the saying goes, beauty may not fade away but favor may fade away. No matter how much the emperor likes Concubine Xian, he will get tired of her one day. They were just waiting for the day when Concubine Xian falls out of favor. They were very confident about this before and did not believe that the emperor would always favor Concubine Xian.
But now, looking at the music box and thinking about the recent news from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, everyone became a little uncertain.
No matter how uneasy the concubines were, as Hongying put away the music box and the eunuch in charge of ceremonies announced the next gifts again, everyone was a little confused at this moment.
When the gift session was over, the music of stringed instruments started up again, and the dancers came in with nimble steps and graceful dance moves. The palace servants came in one after another carrying plates, and the scene was filled with the sound of toasts.
Shi Nanxi, who was sitting at the table, saw that the time was almost up, so he picked up a piece of tofu with chopsticks and put it into his mouth. After swallowing it, he glanced at Xiao Ruzi, who was serving him, without leaving a trace.
Xiao Ruzi nodded imperceptibly.
Shi Nanxi retracted her gaze, wiped her mouth, then moved slightly closer to Kangxi and asked in a low voice:
"Your Majesty, why did you think of giving me a music box? Besides, the scene in the ball is not..."
She bit her lower lip lightly, too embarrassed to say the following words.
Kangxi put down his wine glass upon hearing this, leaned forward, and said in a low voice mixed with a smile:
"I didn't know what to give you at first, but one day, we were walking around the Imperial Garden and passed by Yuyin Pavilion. I suddenly remembered the day when we expressed our feelings to each other during the re-election period. I chased you to Yuyin Pavilion, and we played the piano together and watched the sunset."
Thinking of that scene, Kangxi's eyebrows softened. His big hand, which was blocked by the table, gently held Shi Nanxi's hand and whispered:
"Fortunately, I chased after him that day. It was the best decision I have ever made in my life."
The little hand was wrapped in Kangxi's warm big hand. Shi Nanxi lowered her head, seeming a little shy, but did not pull her hand away.
Kangxi tightened his grip upon seeing this and chuckled softly.
The emperor and his concubine are so close, and people who see this below are having doubts. It seems that Concubine Xian is more favored than the rumors say. It seems that she needs to spend more time with the Guwaljia clan after she returns.
As a result, things became lively on Shimu's side. This woman was Concubine Xian's biological mother. If she wasn't trying to please him now, when would she?
However, facing the flattery of these people, Shi Mu felt very bitter, but she did not dare to show any bad expression on her face. She felt very aggrieved.
On the other side, the atmosphere among the brothers was also very subtle.
"Empress Xian is really loved by the Emperor. I heard that the Ministry of Internal Affairs has already made a royal concubine's dress for Empress Xian. Tsk tsk tsk, she is made a royal concubine without a child. If Empress Xian gives birth to another little prince, the Emperor will love her even more. Will he do the same as Emperor Taizong..."
Before the eldest prince finished speaking, the prince suddenly put down his wine glass and said calmly:
"Brother, you'd better be careful with your words. You know that Concubine Xian is favored. If someone hears you, I'm afraid you will be scolded by the Emperor."
Hearing this, the eldest prince's sarcastic mouth flattened. Didn't he know why he was called the prince?
Humph, he is indeed a mean person. No wonder Concubine Shi would rather be a mistress to the Fourth Prince than be the Crown Princess.
"That's right, Prince Second Brother." He said this, but the next moment, he deliberately looked at Fourth Prince and said loudly:
"Old Four, you are really capable. You have a child at the age of thirteen. I have to admire you. Let me toast to you!"
After saying that, without waiting for the Fourth Prince to speak, he raised his head and drank it all in one gulp. After he finished it, he glanced at the Crown Prince with contempt.
The prince's face remained gentle, but his hand almost crushed the wine glass. The Fourth Prince, who was being toasted, did not look at the prince or the eldest prince. He picked up the wine and drank it with an expressionless face.
No matter how turbulent the undercurrents were, the entire birthday party seemed lively on the surface. As time passed, the birthday party was about to end.
Kangxi glanced at Liang Jiugong, who immediately turned his head and looked behind him. A young eunuch came over with a tray.
When the people below saw this scene, they stopped involuntarily. Some of them had already guessed that it was the imperial decree for Concubine Xian's promotion, while others were confused.
Although Shi Nanxi had known for a long time that Kangxi would promote her to the rank of imperial concubine today, when the moment really came, her heart still beat uncontrollably.
Liang Jiugong took the imperial edict and opened it.
Read aloud:
"The Emperor, in compliance with the Will of Heaven, proclaims: Concubine Xian is chaste, gentle and obedient. Since entering the palace, she has been virtuous and filial to the Empress Dowager. She is both virtuous and talented, and has won my heart. Today, on the auspicious day of her birthday, Concubine Xian is promoted to Noble Concubine Xian. The Ministry of Rites is ordered to select an auspicious day as soon as possible to hold the canonization ceremony. I decree this."
There was silence in the hall at first, and then everyone left their seats and knelt on the ground in unison. The next moment, congratulations like a tsunami came:
"Congratulations, Her Majesty the Concubine Xian. May Her Majesty the Concubine Xian live a thousand years, a thousand years, a thousand thousand years."
At the same time, the cold palace.