Chapter 13: Reactions of Each Palace
Xu Lanshan burst out laughing, "You guys really know how to talk, so keep it to yourself for now."
"Yes, my lord."
Since the Ganyuan Palace sent the reward, the Empress would naturally not leave it out.
Song Ronghua was promoted and Xu Changzai was given a title. The Queen sent congratulatory gifts yesterday, and the concubines in the other palaces also expressed their gratitude to her to varying degrees.
Last night, Xu Changzai served the emperor in bed for the first time, and this morning the emperor gave her another reward. Naturally, the empress would not miss out when she heard about it.
However, when the young eunuch found out what kind of reward the emperor had given to Xu Changzai, the queen was a little stunned - this was too much!
The queen sneered, it was just a bedchamber, why was she rewarded so much?
Nanny Yan observed the Empress's expression and understood what she was thinking. She smiled and said, "I think the Emperor must be enjoying the novelty. After all, this is someone he likes, so there must be something different about her, right? But no matter how different she is, she is just a helpless little palace maid..."
The Queen Mother was being too kind to her by arguing with such an ant-like thing.
"Madam, you're right," the Queen couldn't help but laugh. She felt relieved, and the slight fear and displeasure she had felt towards Xu Lanshan immediately vanished. "Then I'll see how long she can keep the Emperor in her sight. I hope she's lucky."
He immediately ordered Nanny Yan to prepare two pieces of pretty and bright Huanhua brocade, a pair of golden hairpins inlaid with pearls and hibiscus stones, and two palace-made embroidered round fans with flowers and birds.
After a moment's thought, she chuckled and said, "She was originally a palace maid, so I guess she's short of money. I'll prepare a box of thirty or forty hollow gold and silver cakes the size of a finger, so she can use them as gifts. I wouldn't mind doing her a favor."
"Yes, Your Majesty, you have always been kind-hearted. I hope that Concubine Xu is a good person who will remember Your Majesty's kindness and not disappoint You."
The Queen smiled and shook her head: "This is just the beginning!"
A box of gold and silver cakes was nothing to her, it really was nothing. She just said it on a whim.
The Queen's gift arrived and Xu Lanshan expressed her gratitude.
After looking at them one by one, he was very happy to see the box of gold and silver cakes. But he was also a little worried.
It's obvious that the Queen is doing her a favor, but the favor of a superior is not so easy to obtain.
But considering the Queen's kindness, Xu Lanshan couldn't possibly refuse. She had to be extra careful from now on.
After Fengwu Palace sent the gifts, Consort Shu of Jinyuan Palace smiled and told Nanny Xu to prepare two gifts and send them over as well. "This Concubine Xu is truly blessed. The Emperor actually values her so highly!"
Nanny Xu was disdainful and said contemptuously, "She is a traitor with corrupt personal ethics and low character. Who could look up to her? The Emperor is only interested in her for a while. When the Emperor forgets about her, she will suffer! Don't worry, Your Majesty. I understand the seriousness of this matter. I only said this to Your Majesty. I won't say a word outside of our Jinyuan Palace. I will also discipline the people below and stop them from talking nonsense."
Concubine Shu smiled with satisfaction: "I know you are a mature person. I am very relieved to leave Jinyuan Palace to you. If I were to say, this palace will probably be bustling for a while. Let's just watch the show!"
Nanny Xu also laughed and said, "Your Majesty is right. No matter how lively she is, we should just watch the show. The eldest prince is the emperor's only prince, and Your Majesty has the eldest prince. Just take good care of him and don't worry about anything else. Apart from the Empress, who else can surpass Your Majesty?"
Concubine Shu was most pleased to hear this. The smile on her face deepened and her eyes became gentler.
That's right, as long as the eldest prince is good, no one can surpass her! She is now the emperor's only prince.
But having only one prince is still not enough. It would be great if she could give birth to one or two more princes for the emperor... It would be best if all the princes were born by her alone!
In Baohe Palace, Concubine Yu lazily leaned against the imperial concubine couch. After listening to Aunt Fang's detailed report, she raised an eyebrow and sneered, "Our Empress is truly virtuous! No wonder she's the Empress! Well, let's just follow the crowd. Pick out two inconspicuous items and send them over."
Aunt Fang knew her master's temperament and smiled helplessly at her master's complaints, "Yes, my lady!"
Upon hearing the news, Concubine Lian of Yuming Palace rudely slammed her thin porcelain landscape-painted teacup onto the table carved with gilded plum blossoms. She gritted her teeth and cursed, "The Emperor has rewarded that lowly maid again? She doesn't deserve it!"
Nanny Xi said hurriedly, "Master, calm down. That was just a toy. Don't you know the Emperor's temper? After a while, he won't even remember her anymore. The Empress and the other palaces have sent gifts, so we can't miss any this time. Otherwise, those little villains will laugh at the Empress for being so petty."
When Xu Lanshan was appointed as a concubine, all the "sisters" in the harem sent gifts. Even Song Ronghua sent gifts reluctantly, but Concubine Lian did not.
She looked down on Xu Lanshan because she was born a palace maid, and she simply did not acknowledge the existence of such a "sister".
If I don’t send it this time, it will indeed be too conspicuous.
Concubine Lian felt aggrieved, but she didn't reject Madam Xi's words. She just said impatiently, "Madam, please do as you wish. Humph, I want to see how long she can be so proud! What will be the final outcome! When the time comes, I will punish her and let all the slaves in the palace see what happens when they seduce the emperor! Humph, you born lowly bitches, how dare you touch the emperor? You are unworthy!"
Aunt Xi comforted her again and again.
The two senior palace maids, Chunqi and Chunxian, wished they could disappear right there and were trembling with fear.
Concubine Lian frowned slightly, "Did Madam give instructions to the Imperial Kitchen yesterday?"
Speaking of this, Nanny Xi was also very puzzled and said quickly, "Of course I gave the instructions, and the Imperial Kitchen did as I was told. I guess they wouldn't dare to mess with the Empress' affairs. Perhaps Concubine Xu is in good health and has some luck."
Concubine Lian snorted. Although she was unwilling to accept it, she had no choice but to give up. She said angrily, "How many servants in this palace are honest? There are so many who pretend to obey their masters but secretly disobey them. Madam, please pay more attention to me from now on."
"Yes, my lady!"
Several major figures sent gifts, while some of the other concubines sent gifts and some did not. Xu Lanshan asked Yuchan to record them one by one in a book, so that she could return the gifts in the future.
She made a small fortune.
Xu Lanshan did not leave the Cuiyinxuan courtyard that day. She slept for more than an hour in the afternoon. After getting up, she chatted with Yuchan and Xiaofuzi.
No one came from Ganyuan Palace to deliver the message.
If the emperor wanted to summon her to sleep with him, he should have sent someone over long ago.
Xu Lanshan secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She was a little palace maid who had "betrayed her master" to ascend to the throne. She had just served the emperor in bed last night. If she served the emperor in bed again tonight, it would be too conspicuous and Concubine Lian would tear her to pieces.
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