freenovelworld Chapter 254: Xixi is missing and the tiger is away from the mountain
Chapter 254: Xixi is missing and the tiger is away from the mountain
On the other side, in the east room of the main hall of Yanbo Zhishuang Palace, Kangxi was discussing matters with his ministers.
The Jiangnan Salt Inspector suddenly died of illness while in office, and now there is an urgent need to transfer a suitable person to Jiangnan to take up the post. Although the official rank of the Salt Inspector is only sixth grade, it is a lucrative job. Every one of them is the emperor's confidant and is a top priority.
At this time, those who were discussing matters here were all important officials of the court. Everyone recommended candidates one by one. Among them, the Manchu officials were headed by Soetu, Nalan Mingzhu, and Tong Guowei.
The Han ministers were headed by Chen Tingjing and Li Guangdi.
Kangxi sat on the throne, stroking his jade ring slowly, listening to everyone talking, and glancing vaguely at Guarjiatuhai.
Guaerjia Tuhai is the patriarch of this generation of the Guaerjia clan. He is a low-key and shrewd person. Recently, he has attracted much attention because of the rise of Empress Xian.
"Why doesn't Lord Guaerjia speak?" Kangxi suddenly spoke.
The other people in the hall stopped talking instantly and looked over. Their faces remained unchanged, but they had their own thoughts in their minds.
Guarjiatuhai was suddenly called, and his reaction was still neither humble nor arrogant, but respectful and polite. He bowed and said:
"Your Majesty, I am still thinking about suitable candidates. I have thought of a few, but after hearing the recommendations from you gentlemen, I feel that some of them are inferior, so I did not speak."
Kangxi nodded slightly and said nothing. He then asked other people, but even so, the people present glanced at Guarjiatuhai vaguely.
Guarjiatuhai remained unmoved, with his eyes lowered as if listening attentively.
The post of Jiangnan Salt Inspector was too important and it took a long time to decide. Everyone wanted to push their own people to the position. Kangxi rubbed his eyebrows and suddenly remembered something. He turned his head and whispered to Liang Jiugong.
"I need to meet here. Send someone to inform Concubine Xian and tell her not to wait around and go to the hot spring first. I will come over when I am done."
Liang Jiugong immediately nodded and left.
The ministers who were nearby saw Liang Jiugong leave, just took a glance, and started discussing again.
On the other side, Shi Nanxi received a message from Kangxi and without waiting for Kangxi, she took Xixi to take a hot spring bath directly, but the master and pet were not in the same hot spring.
Shinanxi was bathing in the hot spring reserved for emperors, so Xixi couldn't be brought here. Xixi used the small hot spring in the west wing, and Hongying was with her.
At the same time, in the side hall of Wanhe Songfeng Palace, in the misty hot spring pool, Chen Da Ying was soaking in the hot spring with his back to others.
Yue Er walked in and said unhappily:
"My lady, the Imperial Concubine has sent someone to ask you to deliver something to the Emperor again. This time it's a very popular soap in the capital."
Chen Da Ying turned her head when she heard that. Her beautiful face looked even more stunning in the mist. She said unintentionally:
"It's so late, the emperor is either dealing with government affairs or with Empress Xian. Why send soap at this time?"
Upon hearing this, Yue'er quickly explained:
"My lady, the emperor is indeed discussing politics with his ministers right now, but it will be over soon. When it's over, he will go to the hot spring pool. You need to wash before entering the pool. The imperial concubine recently got a kind of soap that is very effective for cleaning the body. It also leaves a fragrance after use. It is said to be very popular in the capital. I want you to present it to the emperor on her behalf."
Chen Da Ying, who had his back to Yue Er, had his eyes slightly flickering, but said:
"Is Concubine Xian here? I'm worried that I might make her unhappy."
Yue Er was a little indignant when she heard this, but she still explained:
"Before the emperor held a meeting, he sent someone to inform Empress Xian to bathe in the hot spring together. However, the emperor was delayed by something, so he asked Empress Xian to go first and the emperor would go later."
"Then I'm sure I'll be able to meet Empress Xian this way?"
Chen Da Ying's brain worked quickly. He stood up from the pool and asked Yue Er to wipe his body with a towel while speaking with sorrow:
"Hey, I don't know if my past actions would cause Empress Xian to misunderstand me. I really don't want to compete for favor!"
Yue Er was wiping Chen Da Ying's body. When she heard this, she pouted indignantly:
"Empress Xian is not the Queen. Even if she is the Queen, she cannot stop you from sending gifts to the Emperor. You are also the Emperor's concubine. If Empress Xian is really unhappy, it means that she is narrow-minded and jealous."
As he spoke, his hand accidentally touched the young lady's smooth skin, and he said:
"I'm afraid you'll snatch the emperor away with your beauty!"
"Yue'er!" Chen Da Ying frowned and reminded.
Yue Er curled her lips and said no more. She had to help the young lady change her clothes and obey the orders of Concubine Niu Hulu. Suddenly, Yue Er remembered something and said casually:
"I heard that Concubine Xian took the Persian cat to another small hot spring pool. Really, she actually took a cat to a hot spring pool. I don't know what Concubine Xian was thinking. She wasn't afraid of anything happening. After all, the cat was the emperor's cat."
Hearing this, Chen Da Ying's heart moved and she suddenly had an idea. She held Yue'er's hand and whispered something in her ear.
Upon hearing this, Yue'er agreed immediately, raised her hand to take the sachet and lowered her head to hang it around Chen Daying's waist, so she didn't see the curve of Chen Daying's mouth.
Shi Nanxi, who was being talked about, came to the hot spring pool with great interest. The water in the hot spring was about ten degrees. It was a bit cold when she first stepped in, but after entering, she felt warm and comfortable. She sighed and leaned against the pool in a relaxed manner.
Fruits, cakes, wine, tea and other food and drinks are placed by the pool and can be easily obtained.
Because she didn't like being served while taking a bath, Nanny Yang stood outside the door and watched. As for Hongying, she helped Xixi take a hot spring bath in another small hot spring pool.
No one disturbed her. Shi Nanxi had been riding in a carriage today and was exhausted. She felt a little sleepy as she soaked in the comfortable hot spring pool. After an unknown amount of time, she suddenly heard voices coming from outside.
She was awakened, slowly opened her eyes, frowned and called out:
"Madame Yang."
Hearing the noise, Nanny Yang walked in.
"My lady, am I disturbing you?"
Shi Nanxi did not answer, but asked:
"What happened?"
Nanny Yang pursed her lips and said:
"Xixi is missing. She was soaking in the hot spring just fine at first, but she suddenly ran away for some reason. Hongying came here to ask if Xixi is there."
Hearing that Xixi was missing, Shi Nanxi woke up completely. She turned around and asked:
"Xixi is usually very well behaved, but she doesn't like to take a bath and she doesn't run around."
Thinking that Xixi didn't like water and this was a strange place, she might be a little scared. Thinking of this, she couldn't stay any longer, so she got up, quickly put on her clothes, and hurried out.
"I'll go take a look."
Just as Shinanxi left the hot spring pool, Kangxi arrived.
After he came in, he didn't see Shi Nanxi. He vaguely remembered that Liang Jiugong seemed to have reported that Xixi was taking a hot spring bath in the small hot spring pool. He thought that Shi Nanxi went there when he was not there. Thinking that she would come over soon, he cleaned himself first and didn't send anyone to call her.
Just at this moment, Chen Da Ying came over here wearing a thin cloak and gracefully holding a tray.