When Concubine Xian heard the first sentence, she felt a little happy. When she heard the second sentence, her smile froze on her face, but it returned to normal in an instant.
"How can I ask you to part with this painful thing? But I'm curious about your reason. Is the piano broken?"
She looked at Su Qingyu inquiringly. She wouldn't say the piano was broken just because she couldn't bear to part with it, right?
Su Qingyu shook her head and said, "The zither is not broken, it's intact. But I can't tell this reason in public. Can I tell Her Majesty quietly?"
The virtuous concubine naturally agreed. After Su Qingyu said this, she became even more curious.
Su Qingyu walked to the side of Concubine Xian, leaned over and spoke in her ear in a voice that only the two of them could hear.
"These days, Third Master and I have been practicing playing the Luqi together, and this zither has been kept in the bedroom."
"The Third Master said that day that this zither could be considered our...bedroom pleasure item."
When Su Qingyu said this, her voice lowered a little. At the end, her voice was as soft as a mosquito, and she was shy and unable to speak.
"I think it would be a grave sin of disrespect if I gave this zither to Her Majesty the Consort."
Su Qingyu's words made Concubine Xian blush, and she couldn't help but recall the scene when she and the emperor played the piano together in the bedroom.
He smiled and said to Su Qingyu, "You two newlyweds seem to have a good relationship. Go back and sit down. I'm just asking."
Su Qingyu retreated and sat down again, then turned around and whispered to Su Shunci beside her, "Are you nervous about entering the palace for the first time?"
Su Shunci shook her head. "My third cousin said that I should just do my best. Occasions like palace banquets can also help me improve my interpersonal skills and adaptability."
Su Qingyu: ...
The third cousin was very kind-hearted and even taught her younger sister on her behalf.
Ever since Concubine Xian entered, Su Xiangling had been observing them quietly. After much deliberation, she felt that Concubine Xian should be informed of her fate. As long as Concubine Xian believed even a little, she would be able to enter the Eastern Palace, and the rest of her life would naturally be easier.
But how to let the Concubine know about this was a difficult problem. She couldn't just tell the Concubine directly that she had a Phoenix destiny. Putting it through someone else's mouth? That would seem a bit contrived and would come across as inferior.
Su Xiangling pinched the purse at her waist, and when she thought of the contents of the divination, she couldn't help but feel happy.
After everyone had finished their performances, Concubine Rong asked the young ladies and gentlemen to go boating and pick lotus seeds to eat in the middle of the pond.
Su Shunci and Shen Yue went out to play, while Su Qingyu and several other ladies accompanied the two ladies to talk.
Su Xiangling also sat at one side, listening to everyone gossiping about the capital. Even though she couldn't get a word in, she didn't move.
Su Qingyu was a little curious. Why did Su Xiangling seem to be in a trance like the old monk today? At a time like this, shouldn't she be befriending the noble ladies in the capital? Back in Qianzhou, she'd been quite affectionate with the daughters of the imperial officials.
It wasn't until Concubine Xian stood up and said she was going to change her clothes that Su Xiangling got up and followed her. Only then did Su Qingyu understand.
It seems that Su Xiangling is aiming for the position of Concubine Xian, but the He family already has a daughter entering the Eastern Palace. Do Second Uncle and Second Aunt want to send Su Xiangling in as well?
Su Qingyu stood up and followed Su Xiangling not far away.
Since Concubine Xian is now in charge of the harem, Su Xiangling naturally cannot get close to her, so she has been wandering outside the hall where Concubine Xian changes her clothes.
Su Qingyu was standing behind a bush not far away and saw Su Xiangling throwing a purse into the grass.
Soon, the virtuous concubine came out, surrounded by palace maids and eunuchs.
Su Xiangling pretended not to notice that Concubine Xian had come out, and was still looking for something with her head down.
Until a palace maid coughed lightly and said, "Who is this person in front of you? Why don't you greet the virtuous concubine without paying your respects?"
Su Xiangling was startled and then knelt on the ground in fear.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I did not mean to offend you."
Concubine Xian had no impression of Su Xiangling and guessed that she must be a young lady from one of the families attending the Lotus Banquet today.
Then he asked, "Who are you from? What are you looking for?"
Su Xiangling replied respectfully, "In reply to the Empress Xianfei, I am Su Xiangling, daughter of the Su family of the Pingning Marquisate. I just returned to the capital from Qianzhou with my father and mother a few days ago. I am looking for a purse. That purse is related to my life."
The virtuous concubine had just asked casually, but after hearing her say that, she became a little interested.
"Oh? How does it concern your life?" He then instructed the people around him, "Help to look for it too."
For a moment, everyone around Concubine Xian bent down and began searching on the grass.
Su Xiangling began to explain, "Inside that purse was a hexagram written for me by a hermit. I couldn't understand it, but I remember what the hermit said. He said that if I lost the hexagram, my life would be in jeopardy."
In fact, Su Xiangling made up the last sentence casually, just to arouse the interest of the Concubine Xian, so that she could see the hexagram written by the expert with her own eyes.
Sure enough, when Concubine Xian heard this, she became even more interested. There were few new things and fun things in the palace, and it was rare for someone to talk about something that interested her.
Soon, Su Xiangling's purse was found by a little palace maid.
The young palace maid handed the purse respectfully to Concubine Xian. Concubine Xian opened the purse and found a very short bamboo slip inside.
There are two lines of words engraved on it: The phoenix returns to the north, soaring straight up to the ninth heaven.
The virtuous concubine's expression changed, and she looked at Su Xiangling inquiringly.
"That person said, what does this hexagram mean?"
Su Xiangling shook her head. "He didn't say anything. He just said he had waited for many years, and this hexagram was finally revealed."
The virtuous concubine stared at Su Xiangling for a long time, and seeing that she didn't seem to be lying, she handed the purse over again and said, "Keep it well, don't lose it again."
After thinking for a while, he said, "Help me go back."
Su Xiangling was overjoyed. She walked up to Concubine Xian and took her arm as they walked towards the waterside pavilion.
Su Qingyu didn't hear clearly what the two said, but what was certain was that Concubine Xian changed her attitude towards Su Xiangling after seeing her purse.
She looked deeply at Su Xiangling's waist, then turned around and walked back.
Afraid that the people around Concubine Xian might notice something, she deliberately took a detour. When she returned, she heard Concubine Xian praising Su Xiangling.
"I just met this girl from the Su family on the road and chatted with her for a while. This girl's temperament is just right for me."
After the virtuous concubine finished speaking to the Rong concubine, she turned to look at Su Xiangling, "Come to the palace more often to talk with me in the future. You look very attractive."
Su Xiangling knew that this move was the right one, and lowered her head shyly, "Yes, I obey your command. Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty."
When Shen Yue, Su Shunci and others came back from rowing, Concubine Rong ordered lunch to be served.
The confused ladies from the aristocratic families were surprised to find that the second daughter of the Su family had become a favorite of the virtuous concubine.
After lunch, the two ladies gave out gifts of fabrics and jewelry. Su Xiangling received the most, attracting everyone's attention.
In Zhaohua Palace, Concubine Xian's slender hands were soaked in warm water with rose juice.
The senior palace maid Jinxiu asked softly, "Madam, do you really believe that divination?"
"Could it be that Miss Su is putting on a show herself in order to rise to a higher social status?"
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