Chapter 126 Paying Respects at Jingren Palace
"Your Highness, Aunt Jianqiu from the Empress's side has arrived."
Upon hearing Huanbi's words, Zhen Huan and the other two exchanged glances and hurriedly came out of the house. They saw Jianqiu leading a group of people, carrying a lot of things in her hands.
"Greetings, Consort Wan." Jianqiu bowed to Zhen Huan, and when she saw Shen Meizhuang and An Lingrong walking out with her, she showed some surprise. "Greetings, Noble Lady Shen and Consort An. I didn't expect you two ladies to be here as well."
“Aunt Jianqiu, please rise,” Zhen Huan hurriedly helped Jianqiu up and explained, “I am an old acquaintance of the two sisters. I was excited when I first entered the palace and chatted with them for a while. Please forgive me, Aunt.”
"It's alright. It's a good thing that the ladies get along well. I'm here to deliver the reward on behalf of Her Majesty the Empress. Since Consort Shen and Consort An are also here, I'll mention it as well. Please come to Jingren Palace for an audience three days from now at dawn."
"Thank you for reminding me, Aunt." The three of them bowed in unison to express their gratitude.
Seeing that the three were clearly in favor of Zhen Huan, Jianqiu didn't say much. She nodded and continued gently, "This servant is in charge of delivering rewards to the Eastern Six Palaces, while Xiuxia is in charge of the Western Six Palaces. Consort Shen's rewards should have already arrived at Xianfu Palace."
"Thank you, Auntie." Shen Meizhuang stepped forward to express her gratitude.
Jianqiu nodded slightly, said nothing more, and then left after having someone separate the rewards for Zhen Huan and An Lingrong.
After Jianqiu left, Shen Meizhuang also bid farewell, saying, "Sister Huan, Sister An, I'm going back now."
"Sister, go ahead." Zhen Huan understood Shen Meizhuang's concerns, and An Lingrong smiled gently at her as well. Watching her leave Zhongcui Palace, An Lingrong turned around and prepared to go back as well.
"Sister, Lingrong should go back too."
"Go ahead, come find me if you need anything. We'll go to Jingren Palace together in three days."
"good."
After the two parted ways, An Lingrong walked back to Ningxiang Residence, feeling somewhat uneasy. Unexpectedly, she bumped into the aunt beside the Empress, and wondered if she would be mistaken for being in cahoots with Zhen Huan and the others.
Knowing her family background was extremely humble, An Lingrong walked with extreme caution, afraid of doing anything that might displease the Empress. Judging from Jianqiu's attitude, it was relatively gentle, but one wonders if she noticed Consort Shen's inappropriate behavior, and whether the Empress would mind.
An Lingrong was not wrong. After delivering the rewards and returning to Jingren Palace, Jianqiu reported the matter to Yixiu.
"This servant even made a special inquiry. Consort Shen did indeed rush to Consort Wan's place as soon as she finished packing. Together with Consort An, the three of them gathered together, and it was clear that Consort Wan was the one in charge."
“Isn’t this Consort Shen above Lady Wan in terms of family background and rank? She’s from a prominent family, so how come she is like this…” Xiu Xia, who was standing to the side, couldn’t help but have questions after hearing Jian Qiu’s report. She had a lot to say about Shen Meizhuang.
Yi Xiu's expression remained unchanged. Looking at the flowers in the courtyard, she smiled and said, "With Consort Shen like this, I find Consort Wan particularly interesting... No rush, we'll see her in three days, Jianqiu."
"This servant is here."
"The peonies in the courtyard are all a bit crooked. Tell the gardener to fertilize them properly so they can bloom again next spring."
"yes."
...
Time flew by, and the day for paying respects arrived. Zhen Huan and An Lingrong set off early and arrived at the gate of Jingren Palace together. Soon, all seven people who were to enter the palace had arrived. Under Jianqiu's direction, they lined up according to their Manchu, Mongol, and Han status and gracefully entered the palace.
"This concubine greets Your Majesty the Empress. May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings and peace."
"Rise, all of you. How are you settling into life in the palace, my dear sisters?" Yixiu sat at the head of the table, gazing at the beautiful and delicate newlyweds in the hall. Her face wore a dignified and kind smile, but a touch of melancholy inevitably arose in her heart.
"Thank you for Your Majesty's care, everything is fine." As the leader standing in the first row, Consort Fucha was the first to respond to the Empress's words, and the others nodded in agreement.
Just then, a haughty and charming female voice suddenly came from outside the hall.
"I'm not too late, am I?"
The woman was slender and graceful, with delicate skin, a face like a peach blossom glistening with dew, and a pair of almond-shaped eyes that slightly upturned, exuding an indescribable charm. Adorned with pearls and jade, and dressed in magnificent attire, she was second only to the Empress.
When the elderly people sitting on both sides stood up and bowed, the newlyweds realized that this was Consort Hua, who was the emperor's most favored concubine.
"Greetings to Consort Hua."
"Greetings to the Empress."
"Rise, sister."
After Yixiu finished speaking, Nian Shilan stood up and sat down in the head seat on the right. To say she lacked manners was one thing, but she had only arrived just in time to pay her respects, and her bow was perfectly acceptable. However, to say she was polite was another; her words and actions revealed an undisguised casualness and perfunctoriness.
"Sister Huafei, you're so late. Are you feeling unwell?" Li Jingyan was the first to speak after Nian Shilan entered. Everyone could hear the sarcasm in her words, which drew stares from those on both sides. Li Shi really has no memory. Has she forgotten why she doesn't even have a title?
Didn't you see that as soon as Nian Shilan arrived, Geng Shanyun, Geng Guiren, Liu Qingxue, and Liu Changzai all wished they didn't exist?
Nian Shilan glanced at Li Jingyan indifferently, having long since disdained to argue with such a fool, but that didn't stop her from showing off. Extending her slender fingers, she looked at the exquisite and vibrant nail polish on them and said casually, "It was just that Garudai was being naughty last night, insisting on painting my nails, and His Majesty indulged her. The two of them played around for quite a while. That's why His Majesty insisted that I rest a little longer this morning."
After showing off her fingernails, Nian Shilan smiled and looked at Yixiu, "Your Majesty won't be angry, will you? After all, although I was a little late, I didn't miss the time for my morning greetings."
"His Majesty's love for his children is well known. Now that his new sisters are keeping him company, I imagine the palace will soon be filled with more children's laughter."
Yixiu retorted casually, saying that the Emperor did not only value Galudai. Compared to his fondness for the imperial heir, with Honghui around, Yixiu was not worried at all.
Nian Shilan clicked her tongue in disapproval and said nothing more. Seeing this, Jianqiu stepped forward and began to instruct the newlyweds on proper etiquette.
"All the young ladies bowed deeply to Her Majesty the Empress."
May Your Majesty the Empress enjoy boundless blessings and peace!
"Rise, all of you," Yixiu said with a smile. No matter how many new concubines there were, her position as Empress was secure and no one could shake it. "Also, please meet all the concubines."
"All the ladies pay their respects to Consort Duan."
"May Your Highness Consort Duan enjoy boundless blessings."
"Get up," Qi Yuebin said with a gentle smile. "From now on, we'll all be sisters, so let's get along well."
"All the ladies pay their respects to Consort Hua."
"May Your Highness Consort Hua enjoy boundless blessings."
"Rise," Nian Shilan glanced at the newlyweds bowing their heads, and casually remarked, "I've heard there's a Lady Qiu, quite interesting?"
"This concubine is Lady Xia, a lowly maid." Xia Dongchun stepped forward with a smug look on her face.
Nian Shilan looked her up and down and gave her a strange smile. "Consort Qiu is indeed... very good at dressing up. Her hairpin and clothes are quite luxurious."
"These were all bestowed by Her Majesty the Empress. I dressed up specially for today's audience."
Seeing Xia Dongchun's smug look, Nian Shilan found it amusing. She glanced at Yixiu, as if mocking her taste, and said, "Qiu Changzai does know how to repay kindness... Get up."
"Thank you, Consort Hua."
Seeing that Xia Dongchun hadn't caught on to Nian Shilan's sarcasm at all and happily returned to the group, Yixiu suddenly felt a toothache. She shouldn't have watched Xia Dongchun's antics just to watch the fun; she felt her aesthetic sense had been tainted, and then she was ridiculed by Nian Shilan.
"I've heard there's another Consort Wan?" Compared to Xia Dongchun, this newcomer with the title "Wan" attracted more attention from Nian Shilan. As soon as she said this, the elders present unconsciously looked at Rouze sitting there.
Rou didn't show it on her face, but she was already filled with hatred in her heart.
"This concubine, Zhen Huan, a palace maid, greets Consort Hua."
"Raise your head and let me see if you are worthy of this title?" Nian Shilan leaned against the table, propping her chin up with one hand, and lazily looked at Zhen Huan.
Not understanding what Consort Hua meant, Zhen Huan lowered her eyes and cautiously raised her head.
When Nian Shilan saw Zhen Huan's face, she was first taken aback, then couldn't help but laugh, "Not bad, not bad, a beauty indeed. No wonder she received the title 'Wan'. Alright, get up."
"Thank you, Consort Hua."
Seeing how easy-going Nian Shilan was, the others were somewhat skeptical. Only Consort Xi, sitting below Consort Hua, was startled upon seeing Zhen Huan's appearance, then suddenly realized. Consort Hua really loved watching the drama unfold... Well, she wanted to see this spectacle too.
Nian Shilan stopped causing trouble. Under Jianqiu's guidance, the newlyweds only needed to bow to the last concubine.
"All the ladies pay their respects to Consort Song."
"May Your Highness, Consort Song, enjoy boundless blessings."
"Get up," Song Wan'er gently called out, without saying anything more. However, influenced by Nian Shilan, she glanced at Zhen Huan's appearance. Then, she paused, turned her head, and met the surprised Qi Yuebin's gaze.
The two exchanged a smile, then remained silent, pursing their lips.
Seeing that neither Qi Yuebin nor Song Wan'er intended to expose her, Nian Shilan smiled and thought, "Ulanara Rouze really doesn't have any good interpersonal relationships."
"The formalities are over. Now, ladies, why don't you meet the others? I imagine Consort Wan is eager to see them too." Nian Shilan raised an eyebrow and looked at Rouze with a sarcastic tone.
Upon hearing the same title, the still-naive Zhen Huan couldn't help but look up in surprise, only to be met with a familiar face filled with shock and anger.
"you……"
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