Chapter 169 Chips
The virtuous concubine slowly fiddled with the lid of the teacup, her voice gentle, but every word pierced her heart:
"That's right. Our sister Qin is of noble birth and very righteous. She knows that Your Majesty is busy with many things every day and is worried about your stress. Naturally, she wants to find some fresh and sweet flowers to relieve your worries. But this beauty Jiang... I heard that she has been receiving the grace of the emperor for seven days straight. Can her body still withstand it?"
Her words and deeds directly pointed out that Concubine Jiang was a foxy woman who seduced the master, and she also implied that Concubine Qin was old and her beauty had faded, so she could only rely on flattery to maintain her favor.
The low-ranking concubines sitting below were all silent and lowered their heads, wishing they could shrink into the cracks of the ground, for fear of being used as pawns by the two high-ranking ladies.
The atmosphere in the palace was tense, and the eunuch announced again: "Concubine Yu and Concubine Jiang have arrived!"
Everyone's eyes instantly focused on the door.
I saw the beautiful Concubine Yu walking in gracefully, dressed in a goose yellow palace dress. She was born in the Pingjiang Marquis Mansion and there was a sense of pride between her eyebrows.
Half a step behind her was the newly favored Lady Jiang, who was timid and charming in a pink palace dress.
As soon as the two appeared, they immediately became the focus of the whole audience and became living targets in the eyes of Concubine Shu and Concubine Xian.
"Heh, Sister Yu's legs are really fast."
Concubine Shu sneered, her eyes flicking between Concubine Yu and Concubine Jiang. "You're hooking up with a new noble so soon? It seems the family education at the Pingjiang Marquis's Mansion is very aware of the current situation."
Yu Meiren raised her eyebrows and replied without showing any weakness: "You are joking, Madam Shufei. I just saw that Sister Jiang had just arrived and was unfamiliar with the place, so I brought her here to pay her respects to Madam Guifei as a token of my appreciation."
"You, Your Majesty, are so angry. Did you not sleep well last night? Or did Your Majesty go to see some new sister again?" She deliberately emphasized the word "new" to hit Concubine Shu's sore spot.
"You!" Concubine Shu was so angry that her face turned blue.
The virtuous concubine added coldly, "Sister Yu, you're still so clever with your words, but you can't make your way in the palace just by talking. Some people think they've climbed up the ladder and forget their own weight."
Just as the verbal battle was about to escalate, the sound of jingling bells could be heard from behind the screen.
Jiang Qingning stood behind the screen, taking in all the attacks and threats in the hall, but he felt confused and uneasy in his heart.
Why did Concubine Qin summon her into the palace?
Why let her see this scene of infighting in the harem?
A pair of warm hands gently covered the back of her slightly cold hands.
Jiang Qingning raised her eyes and met Concubine Qin's phoenix eyes with a soothing smile.
"Don't worry."
Concubine Qin lowered her voice so low that only the two of them could hear, "My foolish brother, all I ask for is your safety and well-being, so that I can have an extra bargaining chip to protect myself in this game of chess."
She picked up the last red gold and kingfisher phoenix hairpin and firmly pinned it into her towering bun. The person in the mirror instantly radiated brilliance and looked naturally majestic.
"As for what the bargaining chip is..." She stood up, holding Madam Qian's hand, a hint of deep meaning appeared on the corner of her lips, "Follow me out, and you will know."
Concubine Qin patted the back of Jiang Qingning's hand with undeniable comfort, then turned and walked gracefully towards the screen exit, her voice returning to her usual grace: "Well, my sisters are all here, and I am sorry for being slow."
As Concubine Qin appeared in the main hall, the tense atmosphere suddenly froze.
The sarcasm on Concubine Shu and Concubine Xian's faces quickly faded, replaced by respectful smiles. Together with Concubine Yu, Concubine Jiang, and a group of lower-ranking concubines, they all stood up, bowed their heads, and knelt in unison, their voices merging into a gentle torrent:
"Your humble servant/concubine pays homage to Her Majesty the Imperial Concubine. May Your Majesty be blessed with good health and happiness!"
The hall was completely silent.
Everyone's eyes were focused, either explicitly or implicitly, on the woman behind Concubine Qin, who appeared with her, wearing a simple and elegant palace dress but whose cold and elegant demeanor could not be concealed.
Jiang Qingning stood there, like a green lotus isolated from the noisy and muddy stream, instantly becoming the most eye-catching existence in this Shura field.
Concubine Qin smiled and raised her hand: "Everyone, get up."
Her eyes slowly swept across the crowd, finally landing on Jiang Qingning. With obvious intimacy and respect, her voice clearly spread throughout the hall:
"This is the fiancée of He Ning, the crown prince of Zhenbei, and the eldest daughter of the Jiang family, Jiang Qingning. I'm sure you all have met her on the day of His Majesty's birthday. I summoned her to the palace today because I'm fond of her gentle and polite demeanor, and have specially summoned her to speak with me."
She gently took Jiang Qingning's hand and brought her to the center of everyone's attention.
"Jiang family..." Concubine Xian murmured, with a gleam in her eyes.
Concubine Shu's eyes were even more blazing.
Concubine Qin took in everyone's reactions, and the smile on her lips deepened, with a calmness that seemed to be in control of the overall situation.
She held Jiang Qingning's hand slightly harder, her voice was not loud, but loud enough for everyone to hear clearly:
"Qingning, although her father and brother are far away in Lingnan defending the border for the country, her loyalty and bravery are witnessed by heaven and earth. Your Majesty also often remembers the hard work and great achievements of General Jiang and his son. Now that she is about to marry into the royal palace, I think there must be more elders in the capital who will cherish her."
Concubine Shu and Concubine Xian sneered in their hearts at the same time.
Concubine Qin was openly promoting Jiang Qingning, and she wanted to use the power of her elders to push Jiang Qingning to a higher position.
What this position represents is the possible return of military power to the Jiang family father and son, and the tremendous power brought about by the marriage with the Zhenbei Palace.
Concubine Qin glanced at Concubine Shu and Concubine Xian, with a hint of unquestionable meaning: "Sisters, tell me, is this true?"
Jiang Qingning stood beside Concubine Qin, feeling the burning gazes from all directions. His heart suddenly became clear, but then sank into a cold abyss in an instant.
She understood.
The purpose of Concubine Qin's summons today was nothing else but to use the countless eyes in the harem and the forces behind them to turn the Jiang family's father and brother behind her into the most conspicuous chips in this chess game.
Whoever can speak for the Jiang family father and son in front of the emperor, whoever can rescue them from Lingnan, will be the benefactor of the Jiang family, and whoever can take advantage of the opportunity to get the Zhenbei Palace.
Concubine Qin is using the entire harem to set up a game, forcing all those who covet this power to compete and completely muddy the waters.
A chill ran from the soles of my feet to the top of my head.
She looked at the greed and calculation flashing in the eyes of Concubine Shu and Concubine Xian, and the complicated expressions of Concubine Yu, Concubine Jiang and others.
Jiang Qingning took a deep breath, suppressed his surging emotions, and raised his eyes to meet those gazes, whether bright or dark.
She saluted the palace concubines, and her voice echoed clearly in the silent hall:
"Your humble servant, Jiang Qingning, is deeply grateful for the kindness bestowed upon you, Your Highness. I feel humbled and unworthy. My father and brother are stationed at the frontier, which is my duty as a subject, and I dare not boast of my merits. Qingning, a delicate and graceful girl, is already overwhelmed by the grace of heaven to marry into the royal palace. It is truly a great honor for me to see the golden faces of you all today."
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