The dragon boat stopped halfway, and everyone disembarked to rest temporarily at the palace in the area.
Xiuning was supposed to be resting, but unexpectedly, she was summoned by someone sent by Emperor Kangxi.
Before Xiuning could even see Kangxi, she found that there were already people in the reception hall.
Hmm? What does this mean? If he had something to do, Kangxi wouldn't have needed to send Liang Jiugong to summon her.
"Eunuch Liang, who is that ahead?" Xiu Ning pointed forward gently with her jade-like hand, her brows slightly furrowed.
Liang Jiugong stood less than three meters behind Xiuning. Hearing this, he was taken aback for a moment, then bowed and said, "Your Highness, that man is the local prefect. He heard that an auspicious omen was presented today, so His Majesty summoned him on short notice."
Auspicious omen?
Xiu Ning raised an eyebrow, said nothing more, and went directly with Liang Jiugong to the side hall next door where they would stay.
The Emperor is in contact with high-ranking officials, and it is inappropriate for a concubine from the harem to go there, even though the official is only requesting an audience temporarily and is doing so through such unorthodox means.
Indeed, in Xiuning's eyes, the idea of auspicious omens was nothing more than pandering to the rulers.
After all, this isn't the cultivation world, so there aren't any rare and precious treasures to be considered auspicious omens. They're mostly just tools for currying favor with the rulers and seeking personal gain. Auspicious omens arise under these circumstances.
The concept of auspicious omens has multiple interpretations and is not limited to a fixed category, but it generally refers to various unusual and rare items, such as some medicinal herbs and wild animals, which can all be called auspicious omens.
Without inquiring with Liang Jiugong about the auspicious omen presented this time, Xiuning sat quietly in the round chair, waiting for Kangxi's summons.
Unexpectedly, Kangxi did not send anyone to announce his arrival, but instead walked in alone.
"Your Majesty, I have come to pay my respects."
"This humble servant greets Your Majesty, long live the Emperor!"
"No need for formalities. Except for the Imperial Concubine, all of you may leave."
Emperor Kangxi was clearly in a good mood and waved for Liang Jiugong and the others to leave.
Xiu Ning observed the expression on Kangxi's face, smiled, and tentatively inquired about what had just happened.
The fact that Liang Jiuneng could tell Xiuning about the auspicious omen proves that Kangxi didn't have many taboos about this matter.
Therefore, even though Xiuning asked the question, Kangxi was not angry. Instead, he discussed with Xiuning the century-old Ganoderma lucidum that the prefect had personally sent.
While century-old Ganoderma lucidum is not common, it can still be found in some remote mountains and forests. Moreover, the Imperial Medical Academy in the capital city gathers all kinds of precious medicinal materials from all over the world. Century-old Ganoderma lucidum? It is just one of the many good medicines used to treat diseases.
“The wonder of this Ganoderma lies in its place of growth,” Kangxi said, pulling Xiuning’s wrist as they walked toward the bed. “It is said that it grew under a withered tree, but after the Ganoderma was picked, the withered tree came back to life and was reborn.”
Xiu Ning's eyes lit up with admiration after hearing this. "Such a wonderful meaning, no wonder Lord Zhizhou wanted to present it to the Emperor."
Even if this century-old Ganoderma lucidum wasn't picked from under a dead tree, it still has to be given this name.
Emperor Kangxi laughed heartily, "It's nothing more than a minor matter."
Emperor Kangxi understood that the prefect's words were not very credible, but he could indeed produce a century-old Ganoderma lucidum. Moreover, the appearance of this auspicious omen was a subtle compliment to his governance of the country. If the Qing Dynasty were not thriving, where would these auspicious omens come from?
Listening to the tone of the voice, Xiu Ning understood that the prefect would probably be transferred away from here soon and rise to prominence.
An earlier Emperor Kangxi might not have appreciated such flattery, but now, having ruled for nearly thirty years, guided by his own ideology of absolute power, he is no longer the timid young emperor he once was.
Xiuning disliked being dampened when things were going well, especially since Kangxi was no ordinary person and could easily get into trouble if he wasn't careful.
Since Kangxi is happy, Xiuning should share his joy.
Having figured out what she should do, Xiuning began to express it in her words.
Kangxi patted Xiuning's wrist. "I will have people rest here for two days. Would you like to come with me for a walk?"
Going out? It probably refers to going into the city.
Xiuning nodded, "I haven't gone out yet," because she hadn't accompanied the last southern tour.
"This time I really want to see it properly. I've heard that while the items from the common people can't compare to those from the palace, they have their own unique charm."
Kangxi still wore an air of superiority and self-satisfaction, after all, all the good things in the world were in the national treasury.
...
Another day passed, and Xiuning changed into the folk clothes sent by Liang Jiugong, and then went out discreetly with Kangxi.
On this occasion, Kangxi was ostensibly traveling incognito, but in reality, he was already surrounded by government officials who ensured that everything they saw and heard along the way was safe and sound.
Throughout the vast city, there is a beautiful scene of people living in peace and contentment.
This prefect was truly a remarkable man; no wonder he came up with the idea of sending auspicious omens to please Emperor Kangxi.
Xiu Ning looked down at the clean and tidy bluestone pavement and the energetic appearance of the vendors around her. She understood perfectly well that the best way to deal with bureaucracy was through formalism.
Everyone's acting; it's just a matter of who can make their performance more convincing.
"Madam, we've arrived."
Emperor Kangxi stopped at a teahouse and called Xiuning over with a smile.
When they are away from home, they always need to have an alias.
Emperor Kangxi is portrayed as the straightforward and forceful Master Huang, while Xiuning is transformed into Madam Huang.
Xiu Ning, who felt she had gotten the better deal, smiled slightly and followed Kangxi into the teahouse.
The teahouse was bustling with activity, and the main hall was filled with people who came to drink tea and watch the opera. They were calling out to the storyteller on stage to give another performance, while their hands were constantly moving.
Given his status, Emperor Kangxi naturally could not sit downstairs with the common people.
The group went up to the second floor and asked for a separate empty room. Kangxi and Xiuning then sat down.
The storyteller's voice could be heard from afar. Xiuning listened carefully; it seemed to be about some events in the Qing Dynasty.
Well, they mostly originated from some trivial matters among the common people, but it cannot be denied that behind these trivial matters, they were all praising the current ruler, Emperor Kangxi.
Was it arranged by that prefect? That's quite ingenious.
Seeing that Kangxi's expression was unreadable, Xiuning thought to herself that sometimes, being an emperor was really great. Even flattery was something people racked their brains to find ways to achieve. It truly brought the one-man rule to its peak.
Not only Xiuning, but also others around her, such as Liang Jiugong, understood the storyteller's flattery.
Since that's the case, Liang Jiugong simply seized the opportunity to flatter Emperor Kangxi for his effective management, saying that not only the capital but also the surrounding areas are now peaceful and prosperous, all thanks to the Emperor.
"You good-for-nothing, spouting nonsense."
He casually remarked, and Kangxi's face beamed with a smile, clearly pleased.
But this joy didn't last long. The storyteller abruptly changed his tone and his face turned cold.
Xiuning was surprised because the storyteller had recklessly started talking about the late emperor's harem, and even mentioned Kangxi's deceased birth mother, Empress Xiaokangzhang.
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