Chapter 383 Yixiu 61
"Your arrangement is excellent. Although the concubines this time have different backgrounds, they are all daughters of meritorious officials. Moreover, the emperor has always advocated the unity of the Manchus and the Han people, so it would be unwise to show a huge disparity and avoid unnecessary resentment."
But putting a girl from a prominent Manchu family and a girl from a Han army banner in the same position of noble lady, while only giving the other girl from a Han army banner the position of a maid is much more obscure.
This method of differentiation is quite clever.
"I remember that Concubine Nian is now living in Zhongcui Palace. Why didn't you give Concubine Nian a place to stay as well?"
Ever since the fourteenth prince won a great victory and returned to the court this year, Yinzhen has been quiet and seemed to be treating his younger brother as usual, but he has gradually begun to use the Nian family again. Not only did he promote Nian Shilan, he also relied on Nian Gengyao. Nian Gengyao was also a man of real talent, but he had an arrogant temper. He had been restrained before, but recently he showed signs of dying and was very unfriendly with Prince Xun.
However, although Nian Shilan became a concubine, the emperor never set foot in Zhongcui Palace. The empress dowager meant to throw little Nian in there to keep her sister company and cause trouble.
"Zhongcui Palace is a bit too remote after all. Concubine Qi mentioned earlier that she felt lonely living alone in Changchun Palace, so I decided to let Noble Lady Nian move in."
The main reason was that Hongshi should get married in the next one or two years. Yixiu saw that Li's confused mind was blocked again and she had been restless recently. When she spoke now, she meant that she wanted to take Guaerjia to her palace. She thought that everyone knew her idea, so Yixiu simply gave both Concubine Nian and Concubine Wu to her to make a more lively couple.
Besides, she also wanted to see whether the play of the Nian family could be performed, so it was naturally better to separate the two first.
"Chengqian Palace is a bit out of the way, but it's spacious enough for Noble Lady Guaerjia to live alone. It's also close to Zhongcui Palace, so when Concubine Nian comes out to pay her respects, she'll have someone to accompany her."
Well, the contrast was even more tragic, both for Nian Shilan and the three newcomers.
"Okay, this arrangement is very appropriate. I don't think there is anything else that needs to be changed, so let's do it this way."
After meeting the Empress Dowager, Yixiu's smile was quite sincere. She chatted with the Empress Dowager for a while about family matters, then took Jianqiu back to Yongshou Palace. She then sent someone to the Yangxin Palace to invite the Emperor. Only after Yinzhen gave his approval could she give the order.
These newlyweds will enter the palace at the end of November, and then it will be the Emperor's birthday. Because of these happy events this year, the Emperor has decided to hold them on a grand scale. As the Queen, even if she has called on Concubine Yu, Concubine Qi and Concubine Mao to help, she can no longer be lazy.
At this moment, Yixiu was only glad that Xinpin's second child was due in February. She was also a decent person and had been staying in her own palace since the baby was seven months old, which really saved her a lot of trouble.
………
In a blink of an eye, it was three days after the new bride entered the palace. Yixiu took a break from her busy schedule and spared this morning to welcome the debut of these fresh flowers.
"I finally get to meet someone new today. I'm tired of seeing my old face every day."
Concubine Yu sat in the first chair on the right, with her usual bright smile on her face. Concubine Mao, who was sitting across from her, laughed and said, "Go away, who are you mocking by calling me old in front of you? I still feel young."
Perhaps because her daughter has been healthy and accompanying her all these years, Song has become much more cheerful and can even joke with Concubine Yu, whom she is familiar with.
"Oh, sister, what do you think? Aren't you getting younger and younger as you get older? When someone new comes in later, I'm afraid they won't be able to tell who's older between us."
Seeing that they were talking heatedly, Concubine Qi also interrupted: "It's just that there's a new person coming into the palace, and you're so happy."
Although she meant it to be a joke, it was a pity that it sounded sour, making it difficult for others to accept it. Concubine Yu could only laugh it off, but she couldn't help sighing in her heart.
Why bother? She's already old enough, her son is getting married, and hasn't she been recklessly entertaining those evil thoughts these past few days? Why does she still have time to be jealous of these newlyweds?
Yu Fei and Mao Fei exchanged glances, and they both stopped talking and looked at the Empress at the top of the table: "Your Majesty, please have someone call those newcomers in quickly, so that we don't have to worry too much."
Yixiu had seen enough of the show, so she gave them face: "In that case, let them in."
So the three of them were slowly led in.
According to the rules, Noble Lady Guaerjia and Noble Lady Nian stood in front, one on the left and one on the right, and Concubine Wu followed behind Noble Lady Nian. The three faces of spring flowers and autumn moons, each with a different appearance, were reflected in everyone's eyes. They were full of youthful breath, and that kind of vigorous vitality made people feel that the room became brighter because of their arrival.
"Greetings to Her Majesty the Queen, may Her Majesty be blessed with good health and happiness."
The three of them saluted together. Yixiu waited until they finished their ceremony and then called out to them neatly and had someone lead them to meet the masters of each palace.
Everyone then became alert, their eyes wandering between Concubine Nian, who had remained silent until now, and the newly appointed Noble Lady Nian, trying not to make it too obvious that they were enjoying the show.
Little did she know that their behavior also caught the eyes of Noble Lady Nian. She only thought twice in her stomach, and when she thought about the behavior of her cousin from the next room in the past, she guessed that Nian Shilan must have not gotten along well with her colleagues in the past.
After all, although they were separated by a branch and their family was not as prosperous as the one over there, everyone knew that this concubine had not been favored in recent years.
The masters of various palaces were willing to watch the show of a concubine who had been out of favor for many years. I really don’t know how many things that angered God and man this cousin had done in the past.
"Hey, isn't this Noble Lady Nian the sister of Concubine Nian? Why is Concubine Nian so cold?"
It was Concubine Qi who jumped out first, but this time her words were agreed by everyone.
Even the usually good-natured Concubine Mao couldn't help but say, "After all, we are sisters from the same family. Now that we have entered the palace to serve the Emperor, we should be closer. Why is Sister Nian so strict?"
"Oh, what makes you say that, Sister Maopin? Don't you all know my personality? I've always been like this. Besides, she's just my younger sister from the next room. In the past, we couldn't even sit at the same table at home. Where does the affection come from?"
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