The Empress Dowager stroked the agarwood beads and said, "Shufei, if you really think so, then persuade the Emperor to give up this idea. It is better than letting the whole country laugh at this matter and losing the Emperor's face."
Concubine Shu spoke slowly and steadily, unraveling the mystery: "Empress Dowager, why don't you obey the Emperor's wishes? When Sheng Xiyan enters the palace, I will definitely discipline her. A mere concubine is nothing to worry about. This matter will make the Emperor unhappy and cause estrangement between mother and son. It's not worth it. I am willing to obey the Empress Dowager's orders in the future, and I have no second thoughts."
The Empress Dowager raised her eyebrows and looked up and down at the respectful concubine in front of her. After a long while, she said, "No wonder Concubine Shu has such a say in the Emperor. She is a person who knows the big picture. I will not take care of this matter anymore. You should go and report to the Emperor."
Concubine Shu kowtowed and said, "I thank the Empress Dowager for her kindness."
After she left, the Empress Dowager instructed, "Send a letter to Rongguo Mansion, asking Yunluan to prepare for entering the palace."
The head nanny served tea and said, "Yes, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager. Her Majesty has given this favor to Concubine Shu so that she can be used in the future. It's a win-win situation."
The Empress Dowager raised her teacup and drank. "The Emperor and I are playing Tai Chi, so let Concubine Shu get the best of it. The little widow is a minor concubine when she enters the palace, and she won't be able to make a big move in the future. I just hope Yunluan can enter the palace as soon as possible so that I can see her every day."
The head nanny knew that the Empress Dowager loved Miss Su Yunluan as if she were her own daughter, a love far greater than that for her niece, Concubine Liang.
In the Yangxin Palace, Xuan Ling was reviewing memorials.
"Your Majesty, the Concubine Shu comes to see you."
Xuan Ling wrote a comment on a memorial and then said, "Announce it."
Concubine Shu saw a pot of flowers at the door and asked, "What kind of flowers are these?"
"Your Majesty, it's tuberose."
Concubine Shu walked closer and smelled a faint fragrance. She remembered that the fragrance seemed to be the smell of Sheng Xiyan's body when he gave her acupuncture that day.
Eunuch Fu came out and said, "Madam Shufei, the Emperor invites you in."
Concubine Shu calmed down, stroked her hair, walked into the hall, and saw Emperor Xuanwu leaning on the throne.
"Your Highness, I pay my respects to you."
"Your Majesty looks tired. Can I massage your temples?"
Xuan Ling closed his eyes and leaned against the throne, saying solemnly, "No need, what brings you here?"
Concubine Shu came closer and said softly, "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has agreed to allow Xiyan to enter the palace."
The emperor said nothing, as if he was sleeping peacefully.
Concubine Shu stopped and stood, waiting quietly.
After a long moment, Xuan Ling slowly opened his eyes. His eyes shone with an impenetrable light like obsidian. He said calmly, "This is your contribution. There is a reward. Go to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and choose a top-quality item."
Concubine Shu bowed and said, "I, your concubine, relieve the emperor's worries without asking for anything in return."
Xuan Ling stood up and stood in front of the carved window. "You and the Queen should discuss Sheng Xiyan's entry into the palace. It will be scheduled for ten days later."
As Concubine Shu was about to leave, she turned back and asked, "I'd like to ask, so I can report back to the Empress, what rank does the Emperor wish to confer on Xiyan?"
She tentatively said, "I think the sixth rank talent or beauty is appropriate. Any lower would be a bit unfair to Xiyan."
The emperor put his right hand behind his back and fiddled with the antique ornaments on the rosewood stand with his left hand. "It's suitable for a sixth-rank noble."
Concubine Shu tried her best to maintain a smile, "I thank the emperor for his kindness on behalf of Xiyan. I will take my leave."
When I went out, I smelled the fragrance of tuberose again. My head hurt more and my breath became more upset. I really wanted to kick the pot of flowers away.
The next day, the Empress Dowager submitted a memorial requesting Su Yunluan to enter the palace as a concubine. Xuan Ling approved it, and the mother and son tacitly reached an exchange of conditions.
Two days later, in the East Suburb Palace.
The two experienced maids saluted and said, "Young Master Sheng, we old servants were sent by the Empress to teach you the rules of entering the palace."
It is a good thing to learn the palace rules, which is better than entering the palace at a loss. Sheng Xiyan smiled and said, "I understand. Let's get started."
As concubines in the harem, they need to learn how to salute, greet, sit, etc. correctly to ensure that they can display appropriate etiquette in various occasions.
This learning process took several days, with students going over and over again on etiquette such as greetings, walking postures, sitting down, and dining.
In the middle of the night, Hua Xia massaged her arm and said, "The young master has fallen asleep. The nurse assigned by the steward is very attentive and takes good care of him. Madam, this must be the emperor's order. I didn't expect the emperor to be so kind and to care about our young master."
Sheng Xiyan suddenly remembered and quickly lowered her sleeves, "Hurry, I haven't painted the emperor's portrait today, I have to hurry."
Hua Xia quickly lit two more butter lamps for her and spread out the drawing paper. There were already several finished drawings in the box next to it.
After painting for a long time, Sheng Xiyan fell asleep on the painting out of exhaustion.
When I woke up the next morning, I saw that the paintbrush had fallen on the painting, and the painting that was about to be finished was ruined.
He crumpled it into a ball. Because it was a portrait of the emperor and had a black spot on it, it was extremely disrespectful. Sheng Xiyan burned it directly as if he had done something bad.
The next few days were spent learning the rules of palace life, such as daily waking and bedtimes.
Finally, learn the code of conduct for specific holidays or important occasions.
On the second day of the countdown to entering the palace, Sheng Xiyan brought her generals to the gate of the palace and waited eagerly. When it was almost noon, they finally saw the carriage arrive.
The curtain of the sedan chair was opened, and the young man and girl shouted with joy: "Sister! Sister!"
Yesterday she tentatively asked the steward of the palace whether she could notify her family to meet her. Unexpectedly, the steward agreed immediately and went to pick her up at the address she gave early in the morning.
The steward saw clearly that although this mistress was a widow with a child, the emperor cared about her very much. Even though the emperor stayed overnight here and did not let this mistress sleep with him, he instructed that everything should be done according to her wishes when he left early in the morning.
It is naturally very reasonable to see family members. After all, once you enter the palace, it is like entering a deep sea, and it is not easy to meet with family members.
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!
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