Chapter 242 World Ten (Thirteen)
Inside the Jiaofangsi, Baoshan was rehearsing a dance with the other dancers, her sleeves fluttering and her waist slightly tilted. Le Niang walked behind Baoshan, holding her slender waist with one hand and adjusting the movement of Baoshan's arms with the other.
Le Niang was quietly pointing at the precious fan when she saw a group of people marching into the Jiaofangsi.
Le Niang knew the man in the lead. He was the most respected palace maid beside Empress Dowager Zhong.
Le Niang smiled gently and walked slowly towards me, "Sister, why are you here when you're not serving the Empress Dowager?"
The senior palace maid smiled and said that Empress Dowager Zhong was bored in the palace and suddenly wanted to enjoy some stringed instrument music and watch the dancers dance.
Le Niang said hurriedly, "In that case, I will select a few dancers and take them back with you to perform for the Queen Mother."
After saying this, Le Niang was about to point out a few people, but the senior palace maid stopped her. Seeing Le Niang's puzzled expression, the senior palace maid explained, "Don't bother. I heard there's a rising star in the Jiaofang Bureau who can dance with the wind. I wonder who she is?"
Bao Shan, who was originally standing behind the dancers, timidly replied, "I am a servant."
The senior palace maid first heard a soft and timid voice, and then a woman with a delicate figure, fair skin and beautiful face walked out from the back row.
Everyone in the Jiaofangsi was wearing the same dress, but when put on Baoshan, the dress added a touch of softness, making Baoshan look even more graceful and delicate.
The senior palace maid nodded slightly, turned to Le Niang and said, "That's the dancer."
Le Niang's eyes flickered slightly. "My Baoshan dance skills are immature, and I'm afraid it won't satisfy the Empress Dowager. Why not pick a few more people to go with us..."
The senior maid refused: "She alone is enough."
Baoshan didn't have time to change into new clothes and followed the senior palace maid out of the Jiaofangsi.
Baoshan was not unfamiliar with the road to the Empress Dowager's palace.
Ever since she was free to roam the palace, Baoshan had often visited Yinhua. She knew this route by heart. But Baoshan didn't show it, following closely behind the senior palace maid. She didn't glance around, nor did she ask questions. Her docile and obedient demeanor actually endeared her to the senior palace maid.
Arriving at the palace gate, the senior palace maid turned to Bao Shan and said, "Wait here first."
The treasure fan is gentle and should be.
After the head maid left, Baoshan timidly raised her head and met Yinhua, who was on duty outside the palace with a look of concern in her eyes.
Yinhua didn't know when Empress Dowager Zhong became interested in watching the dance.
Moreover, if they were going to enjoy a dance, they should have called most of the dancers from the Music Bureau, so why did they only call Baoshan?
Yinhua was full of doubts. If there were no other maids around, she would definitely walk to Baoshan and ask her carefully.
But Baoshan just shook her head gently. Yinhua could clearly see the meaning hidden in her gentle eyes like water.
Baoshan told Yinhua not to break the rules and to do her duty properly.
In a moment, the senior palace maid came out of the hall and called out, "Follow me."
Led by the head palace maid, Baoshan walked into the inner hall.
The deeper they went, the quieter Bao Shan felt the surroundings became. She could only hear a delicate voice, which she thought must be the voice of Empress Dowager Zhong.
The rest of the palace servants seemed to be holding their breath, not even making the slightest noise.
Bao Shan stopped walking, only to hear Empress Dowager Zhong ask, "Are you a dancer from the Jiaofangsi?"
Baoshan's waist softened, and her voice was gentle: "Yes. Your servant Baoshan greets the Empress Dowager."
Empress Dowager Zhong held a silver fork in her hand, on which was pinned a brightly colored piece of watermelon.
She gently shook the silver fork, her voice lazily lingering, "At the banquet that day, I heard that your dancing skills moved with the wind, and everyone who saw it praised you. Today, let's show you our dancing skills again here."
Hearing this, Bao Shan bit her lip lightly, her eyes trembling slightly as she spoke timidly, "A dance that moves the wind requires a gentle breeze. But the Empress Dowager's palace is magnificent, yet there is not even a breeze, making it difficult to dance."
Empress Dowager Zhong didn't care much: "It's okay, just dance casually."
Baoshan responded softly.
Baoshan didn't know why Empress Dowager Zhong called her here, but it was not just to watch the dance.
In the past, Baoshan had performed dances at banquets, mostly showing off her graceful figure with subtle and charming moves.
But now, in front of Empress Dowager Zhong, he absolutely cannot do that.
Baoshan thought carefully and came up with a simple and traditional dance, which she performed in a proper manner.
Empress Dowager Zhong looked at the lithe Baoshan, whose every move revealed her fragility. Her steps were as light as a lotus, and she exuded graceful beauty in every way.
When the song was over, Empress Dowager Zhong called out, "Come forward."
Baoshan responded and took a few steps slowly.
Empress Dowager Zhong said again, "Come before me."
There were steps made of ink-black stones in front of her. Baoshan had to lift her skirt with one hand and walked slowly to Empress Dowager Zhong.
She bent her knees and knelt lightly on the marble floor.
Empress Dowager Zhong stretched out her soft hand and stroked the side of Baoshan's face.
Then, he slowly raised it and carefully looked at the delicate eyebrows and eyes of the treasure fan.
Bao Shan didn't dare look directly at Empress Dowager Zhong, so she could only lower her eyelids, and her long eyelashes fluttered against her cheeks like butterfly wings.
Empress Dowager Zhong had to admit that the precious fan was beautiful, and it was a beauty that could easily make men soft-hearted and impulsive.
Empress Dowager Zhong looked at Baoshan's porcelain-white face, and the image of Concubine Shu suddenly appeared in her mind.
There is not even a trace of similarity between Bao Shan and Shu Fei, from their eyes, nose, and mouth.
Only the aura and pitiful posture around him made Empress Dowager Zhong feel extremely familiar.
Even though Concubine Shu had passed away many years ago due to suicide, Empress Dowager Zhong, looking at the treasured fan in front of her, could not help but think of how Concubine Shu had gently and thoughtfully framed her in front of Emperor Shuncheng.
As a result, Empress Dowager Zhong, who had never suffered any hardship, became a mocked concubine in the cold palace. If it weren't for the Zhong family behind Empress Dowager Zhong, if she was just a poor and helpless little girl, framed by Concubine Shu, she would definitely never be able to leave the cold palace.
Bao Shan noticed that the aura of Empress Dowager Zhong was becoming increasingly cold, and the palm of his hand stroking her cheek also increased its strength.
But Baoshan could only endure it silently until Empress Dowager Zhong coldly let go of Baoshan.
Queen Mother Zhong's voice was filled with chills. Looking at the unsightly red marks on her fair face, she couldn't help but frown, "Did I use that much force?"
Baoshan shook her head quietly and explained softly.
Upon learning that Baoshan's skin was delicate, Empress Dowager Zhong frowned even more.
Even if she was as favored as the Concubine Shu, she didn't have such delicate skin. I never thought that a little dancer could have such good skin.
Queen Mother Zhong raised her voice: "Do you think I am moody and arrogant?"
Bao Shan trembled and said, "No, the Empress Dowager is a noble lady, so she has her own principles in doing things."
Baoshan's pitiful appearance made Empress Dowager Zhong a little dazed.
If it were Concubine Shu, she would definitely say she didn't dare but hide her wit in her words.
It was with this trick that Concubine Shu made the former Concubine Zhong suffer a lot.
Shu Fei would certainly not be like Bao Shan, who timidly said that the Empress Dowager had her own deeper meaning, but she was stupid enough to understand it.
But in the eyes of Empress Dowager Zhong, all the weak and pitiful women in the world were like Concubine Shu, pretentious, hypocritical, and gentle on the surface, but unknown how vicious and cruel they were inside.
Therefore, although Empress Dowager Zhong felt that Baoshan was different from Concubine Shu, she still did not have much affection for the weak Baoshan.
When Empress Dowager Zhong thought that Chu Boyu might be fond of the precious fan, she couldn't help but think of Emperor Shuncheng's great favor for Concubine Shu. For a moment, she couldn't help but wonder: Could it be that all men in the world are unable to resist this weak woman?
Just as he was thinking about it, the senior palace maid came to report that it was Prince Gong Chu Shi who came to pay his respects.
Empress Dowager Zhong frowned and wanted to let Chu Shi go back as usual.
But her eyes fell on the precious fan, her eyes flickered, and the words on her lips became: "Let Prince Gong come in."
The senior palace maid was surprised, but did not show it on her face.
Chu Shiji was outside the palace, with a guard standing beside him. The head maid said, "The Empress Dowager wants His Royal Highness Prince Gong to come in."
A flash of surprise flashed across Chu Shi's eyes, but was soon replaced by delight. He pushed the wheel with both hands and slowly entered the hall. The guard wanted to lend a hand, but then he heard the head maid say, "The Empress Dowager only allowed Prince Gong to come in and pay his respects."
Chu Shi turned sideways and ordered, "Wait outside the hall."
The door to the Empress Dowager's palace had a slightly raised threshold. For an ordinary person, this step wouldn't be a problem, but for Chu Shi, who was unable to walk, it was extremely difficult.
When Chu Shi pushed his wheelchair over the threshold, a thin layer of sweat appeared on his forehead.
Chu Shi was born with a handsome face, and now his cheeks were pale, which made people feel even more pity for him. When the senior palace maids saw this scene, they couldn't help but feel pity and sympathy.
But the head maid always abided by her duty and did not dare to lend a hand, for fear of angering Empress Dowager Zhong.
Chu Shi came to the hall and first greeted Empress Dowager Zhong. He turned his eyes slightly and saw Bao Shan standing beside Empress Dowager Zhong with a timid look.
Chu Shi's expression remained normal, and he chatted with Empress Dowager Zhong about some trivial matters. Empress Dowager Zhong responded hastily, seemingly unintentionally saying, "You are also at the age to get married. Do you have a girl in mind?"
Chu Shi shook his head, with a helpless smile on his lips: "Not really."
Empress Dowager Zhong asked again: "What kind of temperament do you prefer in women? Lively or dignified, or -"
Empress Dowager Zhong pointed at the treasured fan and said, "How does the treasured fan look like this?"
Whether the Queen Mother said it casually or really meant it, Baoshan did not dare to respond.
She is a dancer, so naturally she has no right to be picky.
Not to mention pointing her to Chu Shi, even if she was asked to point her to any guard or to a eunuch as a concubine, Bao Shan had to obey, otherwise it would be against the emperor's wishes.
But Baoshan's body trembled slightly and her eyes dimmed, which was enough to show her uneasiness in her heart.
Hearing what Empress Dowager Zhong said, Chu Shi actually raised his eyes and looked at the treasure fan carefully.
She seemed to be extremely timid, not even daring to raise her head, her watery eyes staring quietly at the embroidered shoes on her feet.
What kind of woman is Baoshan?
A woman with a timid temperament and a weak figure needs constant care and protection to avoid being bullied.
Chu Shi's mind was filled with thoughts, but his expression was gentle: "If the Queen Mother thinks it's good, then it's good. No matter what kind of woman she is, as long as she is chosen by the Queen Mother, she is the best among people and is qualified to be my son's wife."
Having said that, Chu Shi thought that Empress Dowager Zhong would not give the treasure fan to him.
After all, Chu Boyu blamed the doctors of two dynasties for the sake of the precious fan.
If he knew that the woman he loved had been given to someone else by Empress Dowager Zhong...
After thinking about this, Chu Shi really wanted to ask Empress Dowager Zhong to give him the treasured fan.
Chu Shi wanted to see whether Chu Boyu, who knew everything, would use those methods on Empress Dowager Zhong.
But after Chu Shi finished speaking the respectful words, he lowered his eyelids. He looked like a truly obedient son who was extremely obedient to Empress Dowager Zhong's words.
After hearing this, Empress Dowager Zhong lightly passed over the matter and thought that such an important matter as choosing a wife should be decided by Chu Shi.
If Chu Shi has someone he likes, he can come to her and ask for mercy.
When Chu Shi left, the treasure fan was still waiting in the hall.
As soon as Chu Shi's wheelchair crossed the threshold, the guard took it and slowly walked forward.
After leaving the Empress Dowager's palace, Chu Shi thought of Empress Dowager Zhong's words and felt that they were extremely ironic.
The woman of your heart?
Which woman in the capital would willingly marry a prince with crippled legs, disliked by the empress dowager and the emperor, and destined to have no chance of restoration?
Chu Shi thought to himself that ever since his legs were broken by his biological mother, Concubine Shu, he no longer had any chance to fight for power and had completely become an abandoned pawn.
People like this deserve to live out their lives alone.
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