Chapter 77: The verbal battle during the greeting
Since she wanted to outshine everyone else, Xu Lanshan had to think carefully about how to choose the dance, how to choreograph it, what props and clothes to prepare, and how many people to dance with her...
She was performing for him anyway, so he just had to give the order and have the Shang Gong Bureau prepare for these things.
Xu Lanshan wasn't worried about anything going wrong. If something did go wrong, the Shang Palace Bureau wouldn't be able to escape.
Tampering with the Emperor's birthday banquet—isn't that just intentionally trying to displease the Emperor? Even the Shang Gong Bureau wouldn't dare, and I don't think even the most mischievous concubines in the harem would dare to do that.
There is still plenty of time at the moment, so Xu Lanshan is not so anxious about this matter. She slowly perfects her ideas in her mind, discusses them with the system, and then takes some time every night to enter the space to practice her dance. Dancing will be relatively simple, as the Shanggong Bureau has professionals. It’s just a matter of lining up and stringing together the movements. It won’t take much time, and it’s not too late to talk about it after returning to the palace.
That night, Concubine Yu invited Emperor Yuan Yong to stay at Qingxiaxuan.
The next morning, it was time to pay respects to the Queen. Xu Lanshan always felt that this was a good thing. She had been promoted to a noble lady, and many people were jealous of her. Concubine Yu had taken a small part of it.
The next morning, Xu Lanshan took Yuchan to Changchun Palace to pay her respects.
Before leaving, Yu Chan looked at Yu Xing and said, "Sister Yu Xing hasn't knelt yet in this hour. Kneel down now."
Yuxing, who was in a relatively good mood early in the morning, suddenly lost her expression and glared at Yuchan angrily but without saying a word.
Yu Chan, who was always gentle and kind, was now unyielding towards her: "Sister Yu Xing, what are you still standing there for? Get down on your knees!"
Seeing that Xu Lanshan had a dull expression and didn't seem to say anything, Yuxing felt disappointed and angry. She lowered her head and walked to a corner and knelt down.
Yu Chan said, "Sister, please don't be ungrateful for the blessings you have. Your Excellency is asking you to remember this lesson for your own good. If anything had happened the other day, you would have lost your life! You must remember this."
Xu Lanshan: "Let's go."
Yuchan: "Yes, my lord!"
Yu Chan followed Xu Lanshan out and couldn't help but whisper, "Yu Xing is narrow-minded. If the master behaves like this, I'm afraid she will harbor resentment. Master, why don't you just find a chance to get rid of her? Then both the servant and the master will feel at ease!"
Xu Lanshan said calmly, "She was given by the Queen. How can I just send her away? If I send her away, the Queen might not give her another one. Let her hate me, don't worry about it. Let her do whatever she wants. As long as she doesn't do anything harmful to me, just pretend you didn't see anything. Everything is her own choice!"
Yuchan seemed to understand but not quite. She always felt that something was going to happen, but she didn't dare to think about it. She replied "yes" in a low voice and said no more.
When paying respects that day, Xu Lanshan was successfully given a lot of cold stares. Even Concubine Yu looked at her with a bit of unfriendly eyes.
Xu Lanshan pretended not to see it. While waiting to be paid her respects, she lowered her head to drink tea and said a few words to Concubine Bai. After paying her respects, she felt even more relaxed with the Queen's presence.
Anyway, the queen will protect her now.
At least it won't make things too difficult for her.
Concubine Lian glanced at him and sneered, "Last time when we paid our respects, Concubine Chen was sitting below Concubine Bai. Who knew today that Concubine Chen would be sitting above Concubine Bai? They're actually sitting right next to each other, so it didn't hinder the two of you from chatting happily!"
Lady Bai lowered her head awkwardly and said nothing.
Concubine Rou, Concubine Lin and others all covered their mouths and laughed secretly. Concubine Deng also forced a smile, but it was too forced.
Concubine Lian's words were meant to mock Concubine Bai, but they applied the same to her.
Because today Concubine Chen was also sitting above her.
Neither she nor Concubine Bai had a title. Although both were noble ladies, they were naturally not as good as Concubine Chen.
Neither Noble Bai nor Xu Lanshan spoke. Concubine Lian suddenly felt very bored and sneered again, "It's fine that Noble Bai was speechless out of shame, but why didn't Noble Chen say a word? For such a happy occasion, is it possible that Noble Chen is still not satisfied?"
Xu Lanshan had no choice but to speak up. She couldn't let Concubine Bai go against Concubine Lian. That would be too unfair.
"Your Highness, Concubine Lian has said everything. I have nothing to say..."
"Shut up! What do you mean? What? You've just become a noble, and you dare to contradict me? Humph!"
"Empress Lian, you are not satisfied if I don't speak, and you are not satisfied if I speak. I dare to ask what you want from me."
Concubine Lian was nearly driven mad by her anger, "Even though you're a noble lady now, you still have to bow when you see me. I can still teach you a lesson! Don't be too proud, be more reserved!"
Xu Lanshan could no longer tolerate it and stopped indulging her: "Yes, whenever I see Lady Lian, I will stay away from her and will never dare to displease her."
No matter what she said, Lian Fei's attitude towards her would not change.
"you!"
Concubine Yu burst out laughing and teased Concubine Lian, "Sister Lian, you've finally met someone with a sharp tongue today. Unlike us, who always leave you speechless, let me give you a taste of that."
Xu Lanshan quickly smiled and begged for mercy: "Empress Yu, please be merciful. If you say that again, I will be truly ashamed!"
Concubine Yu was startled and couldn't stop giggling.
Concubine Lian snorted angrily, "You frivolous, filthy-tongued thing! I want to see how long someone without a family's protection can thrive, like a tree without roots!"
Xu Lanshan: "Everyone knows that I come from a humble background, and I know it even better. I can only ask for the emperor's protection!"
Concubine Lian: “…”
Concubine Deng couldn't help but smile and join in the fun: "Concubine Chen has truly impressed us today..."
Xu Lanshan thought to herself, this annoying person finally spoke. She had been waiting for her to speak today! After all, whether it was Concubine Lian or Concubine Yu, Xu Lanshan couldn't confront them head-on. Her words to Concubine Lian were actually quite gentle, neither soft nor harsh - at least compared to Concubine Lian's words, they seemed quite gentle!
Finally, when the annoying person finally spoke, Xu Lanshan immediately sighed and said with suppressed anger, "I'm sure Lady Deng knows what happened the night before last! I don't know who is so cruel as to want to kill me! I was hoping for a peaceful settlement, but what's the point? I just ended up nearly getting killed! In that case, I might as well just say whatever I want and have it over with!"
Concubine Deng choked, feeling a little ashamed and angry. She thought to herself, "Why are you saying this to me? It's not me who harmed you."
Concubine Deng could only grit her teeth and say something polite: "Concubine Chen was frightened that night, but fortunately, fortunately, nothing happened..."
The others all looked unhappy. Regardless of their inner thoughts, because the Emperor was protecting Xu Lanshan, they dared not publicly gloat over her misfortune.
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