Chapter 31 Fifteen
The next day, afternoon.
"The Queen Mother has a reward!"
"Give me a set of porcelain gourds with two handles, a set of jewelry inlaid with gold and jade and oriental pearls, twenty pieces of winter silk embroidered with brocade, and three boxes each of ginseng, donkey-hide gelatin, and bird's nest..."
As the eunuchs sang, boxes and boxes of rewards were brought into the main hall, a dazzling array of gifts.
Su Ci knelt down.
"Thank you, Empress Dowager, for your reward!"
The eunuch who delivered the imperial edict hurriedly gave him a helping hand and nodded with a smile.
"Congratulations to Su Zhaorong. His Majesty has instructed that other concubines in the harem not be allowed to disturb Zhaorong's rest, so the Empress Dowager has also specifically instructed that you should rest well before returning to Baorong Palace to express your gratitude."
"I am terrified. Thank you, Her Majesty, for your consideration."
Su Ci stood up, and Guyu stepped forward and stuffed a heavy purse into the eunuch's hand.
"Oh, thank you Su Zhaorong. I won't bother you anymore and will take my leave first."
"Take care, father-in-law."
The eunuchs who delivered the imperial decree left in a mighty procession. Fulu and the others were overjoyed and knelt before Su Ci.
"Congratulations, Master! Congratulations, Master!"
"No need to be polite."
Su Ci smiled and waved her hand: "Everyone has worked hard these past two days. Go to Shaoyao to get five taels of silver as a reward, and then go to the kitchen and tell them to add a few more meat dishes for everyone."
"Thank you for the reward, Master!"
"Well, get out and work, Fulu. You and Yanyu go register these rewards into the warehouse."
"yes!"
…
Guyu helped his master back to the study, looking a little nervous.
"Master, are you unhappy?"
"Why wouldn't you be happy if you received a gift?"
Su Ci walked to the window and stared at the lush green backyard outside: "I just can't figure out what he means."
Guyu poured a cup of tea and asked, "Master, are you talking about His Majesty?"
"Well, two days have passed since yesterday. If he doesn't like it, he exempted me from saying good morning for two days and forbade anyone to come to disturb my rest. But if he likes it, he didn't summon me or come to see me, not even a word. What does this mean?"
"Hmm... maybe he's busy with work?"
Su Ci pursed her lips and shook her head, thinking carefully about the passage about Xuan Yi in the original novel.
"Is there ever a day when the Emperor isn't busy? He can't be so busy that he doesn't even have time to pass on a message...hiss, could it be that he's reflecting on himself..."
Guyu frowned in surprise.
"It is only natural for Your Majesty to visit the concubines. Why should you reflect on this?"
Su Ci recalled a conversation between Xuan Yi and the Queen Mother in the original novel, and her watery eyes narrowed slightly.
Although she is a supporting role, she considers herself an actor who takes her role very seriously. Therefore, when reading the original book or script, she will habitually try to immerse herself in each character and deepen her understanding based on the lines and inner dialogues.
Xuan Yi was thrown into a dry well in the cold palace when he was young. It was done by a concubine who was once the favorite of the previous emperor. Although he was rescued and survived in the end and the concubine was demoted, the shadow of his childhood could never be erased.
Therefore, Xuanyi had a deep-rooted aversion to the emperor's exclusive favoritism towards concubines. During the years since he ascended the throne, except for visiting the queen's palace on fixed days, he had never shown favoritism to other concubines.
Perhaps Xuan Yi didn't see her because he was upset and needed time to sort things out...
Su Ci raised her eyebrows and smiled, then walked to the easel and sat down.
"Guyu, go out and get busy."
…
Early the next morning, Su Ci took Guyu Fulu out of Yufu Palace.
When she entered Zhaohua Palace, many concubines were already waiting under the eaves. When they saw Su Ci, their eyes lit up and they gathered around her, asking about her well-being.
"Thank you all for your concern, I'm fine."
Su Ci responded with a smile, and glanced at the three concubines who did not come to curry favor with her.
She only recognized Liu Xiuyuan, who was glancing at her with squinted eyes, holding her head high and looking very proud.
proud?
The door opened and two palace maids came out.
"My dear ladies, the Queen is waiting."
Su Ci's eyes turned slightly, and she followed the two Zhaoyi into the main hall.
"This concubine pays her respects to Her Majesty the Queen."
"No need to be polite."
After everyone sat down and had tea, the Queen smiled and looked at Su Ci: "Su Zhaorong, are you feeling better?"
"Thank you for your concern, Madam."
Su Ci raised her eyes, a hint of shyness on her face: "Your Majesty has given me many good medicines, and I am much better now."
The queen's face froze slightly, then returned to normal in an instant. She glanced at the red coral accessories on the lower half of Su Ci's belt.
"That's good. I hope you can bring His Majesty a son and more blessings as soon as possible. Then I will be relieved."
“…Thank you, my lady.”
Su Ci's cheeks flushed slightly, and she inadvertently looked up at Liu Xiuyuan across from her, her pupils flashing slightly.
This person was not mentioned in the original novel, but according to the information Guyu had inquired, the daughter of the Minister of War had a high status, but for some reason she had never served in the queen's bedchamber. She and Wei Zhaorong were the queen's closest people.
Wei Zhaorong was demoted and confined to her house, which was tantamount to abandoning her. The highest-ranking person around the Queen was Liu Xiuyuan...
"Today is the fifteenth day of the lunar month. After paying respects at Baorong Palace, please follow me to the Buddhist temple to pray for blessings."
"Yes, Queen."
Su Ci raised her eyebrows slightly.
I almost forgot today is the fifteenth.
The Queen couldn't get pregnant anymore. Looking at Liu Xiuyuan's smug look, she must be the lucky one tonight...
***
Baorong Palace.
After all the concubines paid their respects, Su Ci stepped forward alone and paid her respects.
"Thank you, Empress Dowager, for your reward. May you be blessed with good health!"
"Haha, no need to be polite."
The Queen Mother sat back on the phoenix chair, her gaze slowly falling on the woman standing below.
The beauty was wearing a plain palace dress with elegant patterns embroidered on the hem. Although not gorgeous, she looked exceptionally beautiful. Her eyebrows were like distant ink, her eyes were like autumn water, her lips were red without any makeup, and her face was white without any powder. She was like a fresh lily, and she was particularly eye-catching among the concubines around her who were dressed in gorgeous clothes.
"Su Zhaorong has served Your Majesty meritorious service and deserves to be rewarded. Please sit down."
"Thank you, Empress Dowager."
The Queen Mother looked at the Queen meaningfully.
"Today is the fifteenth day of the lunar year. Please accompany me to the Buddhist temple to chant sutras and pray for blessings."
Everyone stood up.
"yes."
After walking out of Baorong Palace, Su Ci lowered her eyes thoughtfully, whispered a few instructions to Guyu, and watched her quietly retreat from the team with a slight smile on her lips.
Palace fighting, if you can't do it openly, then the tricks and tactics used in secret are the same...
Worshiping Buddha in the palace is nothing more than kneeling down, and the palace maids do everything. Su Ci followed everyone in kowtow and praying, then stood up and waited to go back to take a nap.
Liu Xiuyuan took out a roll of brocade from her wide cuffs.
"Empress Dowager, this is a Buddhist scripture written by me personally. I wish to offer it before the Buddha to pray for the good health of you and your Majesty."
Several low-ranking concubines from the Queen's party also took out the Buddhist scriptures they had copied.
"Well, okay, let's carefully offer them before the Buddha."
"Thank you, Empress Dowager."
Liu Xiuyuan handed the brocade cloth to Nanny Xue for offering, kowtowed devoutly, stood up, and looked at Su Ci with a smile.
"I heard that Su Zhaorong was very talented even when she was still a boudoir girl, and her calligraphy was beautiful. I wonder if you have the honor to see it?"
Oh, isn't it coming?
"Liu Xiuyuan is overpraising you."
Su Ci smiled modestly, a little embarrassed. "I did intend to copy Buddhist scriptures to pray for the Empress Dowager and Your Majesty, but I'm afraid my handwriting is too embarrassing to show to others, so I had to find another way and present the Empress Dowager with a portrait of Guanyin."
…
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