Chapter 400 Yixiu 78
As soon as Concubine Hua returned to Bitong Academy with Concubine He and Concubine Wan, Su Peisheng came to invite them in person.
Nian Xiwen felt the envious gazes of the two and smiled bitterly inwardly. She feared no one would believe that Concubine Hua, the most favored of the emperor, treated with great courtesy by even the Empress, would actually feel apprehensive when summoned by the Emperor.
Rongxue combed her hair and looked in the mirror. Her eyebrows and eyes were graceful, and her face was even more beautiful than the Empress's in the past. A smile spread across her face: "The Empress's beauty is stunning. In recent years, she has become more dazzling like a pearl."
"Your mouth is becoming more and more flattering." Nian Xiwen also smiled, and the face in the mirror instantly became lively.
"Okay, don't keep the emperor waiting."
Over the years, everyone has seen that her favor with the emperor has not diminished, and recently she has even blossomed, with the appearance of being the only favorite. However, they don't know that she is always tense in her heart. Even after becoming a concubine, she still feels like she is walking on thin ice.
After getting herself ready, Concubine Hua got on her sedan chair and went to the Qinzheng Palace. When she arrived, she found that her father and cousin were there.
She couldn't help but secretly hate herself for being too cautious. For fear of causing taboos, she never dared to spy on the emperor's news, so she didn't know in advance that the emperor had specially invited her and the Nian family to a banquet.
Nian Xiwen looked across at his father, who seemed oblivious to anything amiss. When Nian Gengyao mentioned how he had shielded the emperor from a sword, he actually echoed his sentiments.
Nian Xiwen coughed violently twice, and when the emperor turned his gaze, she quickly stood up and said, "I have lost my composure."
The emperor waved his hand, motioning her to sit down, and looked at Nian Xiwen with concern: "Why are you coughing? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?"
Both Nian Gengyao and Nian Jiyao noticed how much the emperor valued the imperial concubine, and they both smiled smugly at each other.
Only Nian Xiwen managed to make it through the banquet, but collapsed as soon as he got back. Lying on the couch, he could no longer bear the thought of his cousin and father's behavior today, and lay prostrate on the couch, wishing he could vomit out all his bile.
Rongxue was about to call the imperial physician, but was stopped by Nian Xiwen: "I just ate some mutton today and couldn't digest it. I will be fine after vomiting it out. Why ask them to prescribe that imperial medicine and make me suffer?" Nian Xiwen knew that he had a heart disease and it was useless to call the imperial physician.
"Where's Fupei?"
The three-year-old Sixth Prince Fupei was very lively and clever, and had always been favored by the Emperor. Nian Xiwen valued her son more than her own life.
"My brother woke up this afternoon and ran into Wan Chang in the yard. He played there for a while, but now she has fallen asleep."
Nian Xiwen relaxed on the couch for a while, and only sat up when he felt better. He asked Rongxue to support him and went to see the patient himself.
With her Fu Pei around, the emperor will probably be willing to spare the lives of his father and brother for the sake of the prince.
She gently patted her son's small chest, and seeing that he was fast asleep, her face was filled with the glow of motherhood.
Coming out of the side room, she happened to see Xiao Xiazi taking Wan Changzai away. Seeing her anxious look, Nian Xiwen smiled kindly, "It seems you are loved by others. Go quickly and don't keep the emperor waiting."
She sincerely wanted to be kind to others, and gaining the emperor's favor was not a simple matter. Just look at the flowers in the palace that bloomed and withered over the years, and now all that are left are a few familiar old people.
It’s still early for these newcomers.
Besides, there was no grudge between the Zhen family and theirs. It was just that crazy Concubine Zhen...
"What on earth has Concubine Zhen been going on lately? She's vying for favor with a maid for the position of Palace Master. When did she become so humble?"
Concubine Hua, who woke up from a rare nightmare without nightmares, was in a good mood which became worse and worse after hearing Rongxue's words.
"Your dislike for me and Concubine Jing before at least had a reason. But what's wrong with you now? Why are all these newcomers picking on my palace?"
Nian Xiwen suspected that Nian Shilan was jealous of her favor but could not do anything to her. Now that she saw that Wan Changzai in her palace was also favored, she was going to take revenge for both old and new grudges.
However, in reality, Nian Shilan's hatred for Zhen Huan was destined from the moment she saw her for the first time and heard her first words.
Five parts appearance and five parts temperament are enough to evoke the emperor's nostalgia for the past when Wanwan had not changed; it is also enough to ignite the anger that Nian Shilan has suppressed for many years.
This time, Nian Shilan successfully snatched the emperor away from Wan Chang, and she felt a long-lost sense of relief.
She lay on the couch, smiling as she ate watermelon. The red-fleshed watermelon, chilled in well water, was cool and delicious, making her feel even more refreshed.
Just then Songzhi walked in, bowed and whispered, "Your Majesty, An Da Ying is here."
"Let her come in."
Nian Shilan yawned, still lying on the couch without getting up. When she heard An Lingrong greet her, she just called out casually.
An Lingrong felt embarrassed when she saw that Concubine Zhen ignored her, but she could only force herself to sit on the embroidery stool. Seeing a round fan on the small table, she hurriedly picked it up and fanned Concubine Zhen.
Nian Shilan finally opened her eyes and gave her a straight look: "Why are you here now? It's so hot outside, why don't you stay in your room?"
"I have already embroidered the double lotus flower that Your Majesty requested yesterday, so I wanted to present it to you as soon as possible."
An Lingrong spoke quickly, and Baojuan beside her handed the embroidery pattern in her hand to Songzhi. Before Songzhi handed it to Zhenpin, Zhenpin glanced at it and told her to take it away.
"It's quite pleasing to the eye, but the color combination is too vulgar."
Nian Shilan picked up another piece of watermelon and put it into her mouth. She glanced at An Lingrong who was sitting on the embroidered stool and rolled her eyes. "Your outfit is even more vulgar. You look like the same kind of person as Xia Dongchun. You're not even as good-looking as her."
"I am not very knowledgeable and don't understand much about this."
In fact, An Lingrong was not completely ignorant, but she had never had good clothes and good materials in the past. Now that she had entered the palace, even if the clothes were worse, they were still better than those at home. What's more, Zhenpin had the same aesthetic taste, and the materials she occasionally appreciated were nothing more than those in rich colors.
She gradually developed this aesthetic taste for precious and gorgeous things.
But she looked like a beautiful girl from a small family. It was summer now, and she was wearing a light red gauze shirt embroidered with pomegranate patterns. Not only did she not have the charm of Concubine Zhen, but she looked a bit rustic.
Now that Nian Shilan had said that, An Lingrong felt even more inferior. She lowered her head and shrank her body, appearing even more timid.
"Alright, seeing you like this makes me angry. If someone doesn't know me, they'd think I'm always harsh on you. No wonder you're being bullied by that Concubine Xia and I have to take care of you."
Seeing her like this, Nian Shilan became angry and snatched the round fan from An Lingrong's hand, then sat up and fanned herself: "If you are so good at acting pitiful, why don't you act in front of the emperor? Why do you act in front of me all day? You are so hypocritical."
Then she thought about how she had kidnapped the Emperor yesterday, and now she was afraid she would have to compensate that Concubine Wan. She couldn't do it again, so she suddenly tilted her head and smiled, "Never mind, I'll give you a break today. Let me ask you, do you want to be favored by the Emperor?"
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