The next second, Wan Anran regained her composure. She smiled and agreed, then quietly withdrew before Consort Xuan could react.
If not now, when?
By the time Consort Xuan came to her senses, Consort Wan was nowhere to be seen in the hall. She was both annoyed and amused, and couldn't help but complain to Granny Xia, "Tell me, what was Consort Wan thinking? How could she display jewelry on the antique shelf?"
Granny Xia suppressed a laugh: "I never expected this either!"
Consort Xuan clicked her tongue in amazement for a moment, then turned back and instructed, "Lady, go to the east wing and see if Consort Wan has arranged the Emperor's gifts properly."
If it were truly a private order from the Emperor, the eunuch delivering the decree wouldn't have said it in front of her. Consort Xuan figured it was probably because the Emperor was worried and wanted her to keep an eye on things!
Granny Xia agreed.
This time, Wan Anran obediently followed orders—even the landlord of the Forbidden City, Uncle Kang, had spoken, so how could she not comply? Not to mention Hai Tao and Zi Su.
The two engaged in a heated argument in the east wing, each determined to place every decoration in its most perfect position. To be honest, Wan Anran watched for a while and couldn't see much difference.
She looked at the peach blossoms and perilla leaves.
In the end, Wan Anran decided to keep quiet and leave the matter entirely to the two of them.
As for her, she began to ponder the Emperor's words.
Should he offer himself up? What should he offer the Emperor? Wan Anran sat upright on the soft couch, pondering deeply, but couldn't come up with a solution after a long while: Should he offer a purse? Or should he sew an inner garment for the Emperor?
The skillful Ju Bai immediately provided several answers.
Almost every concubine would make something for the emperor, such as purses, fan covers, watch covers, thumb ring covers, etc. These are the most common items. Others would make things like inner garments and boots. There were all sorts of things.
Of course, it's not easy to please the emperor.
If a concubine's gift could be hung on the emperor's belt or worn by him, it would be a source of great pride that would be talked about for a month without losing its appeal. The concubines vied with each other for this, and the gifts they sent to the emperor were so numerous that they could change them every day for a year and still not finish.
Wan Anran's face scrunched up as soon as she heard it.
Given her skill level, isn't this like comparing an amateur to a professional master? And then Kangxi made a statement, which made Wan Anran feel uneasy.
After Haitao and Zisu finished arranging the decorations, Wan Anran and Ju Bai still hadn't come to a conclusion. The most important question was still what the Emperor had taken a fancy to. The four of them looked puzzled, pacing back and forth in the room for a long time without finding an answer.
When Granny Xia arrived, she saw this scene.
Her face went blank, and she almost thought she had wandered into a shamanistic shrine by mistake. Granny Xia subconsciously took a half-step back, looked up and carefully examined the inside and outside of the room, and only after confirming she hadn't come to the wrong place did she enter the east wing again: "This servant greets Miss Wan."
The arrival of Granny Xia brightened Wan Anran's eyes.
She greeted her joyfully, and the first thing she said after calling out was, "Granny Xia! You've come at the perfect time!"
The words that Granny Xia wanted to say were swallowed back down her throat: "...Huh?"
Hai Tao was a little puzzled: "My lady, if none of us know, how would Granny Xia know?"
There was one more thing Haitao didn't say.
If the three of them had spent so long and still couldn't figure it out for their master, but Xia Mama did, then the three of them might as well just dig a hole and jump in right there! Although Zisu and Jubai didn't say anything, they obviously thought the same thing, and their gazes toward Xia Mama were filled with a bit more hostility.
Granny Xia looked innocent and bewildered.
Wan Anran shook her head: "That's wrong. As the saying goes, those in the thick of it are confused, while bystanders are the judges. We might not be able to see the situation clearly because we're in the thick of it, but Granny Xia could probably tell at a glance!"
I see!
Haitao, Zisu, and Jubai instantly realized what was going on. Their hostility vanished, and instead, they all looked up at Granny Xia with expectant expressions, just like Wan Anran.
Granny Xia: …………
She felt uneasy inside, but forced a smile: "Is there anything I can help you with, Miss Wan?"
"Granny, the Emperor says he wants me to deliver something..."
Wan Anran blushed slightly: "But this young mistress doesn't know what to give!"
What's so strange about that?
Granny Xia subconsciously replied, "Your Highness can make simpler items, such as fan covers, watch covers, thumb ring covers, glasses cases, purses, satchels, key pouches..."
That's exactly what we were talking about!
Before Haitao, Zisu, and Ju Baihua could utter a word, the expectation in their eyes had vanished.
It seems that placing your hopes on Granny Xia is not a good idea after all.
At this moment, Granny Xia's fighting spirit was aroused. She thought for a moment and said, "Young Master Wan, was it the Emperor who suggested sending gifts?"
Wan Anran nodded.
Granny Xia circled the room three times, her gaze finally settling on a pile of messy furs in a bamboo basket. The furs, cut in half, were beginning to take shape… Granny Xia's heart skipped a beat: “Young Master Wan, are these insoles?”
Wan Anran nodded.
Wan Anran had intended to use this fur to make insoles, but after cutting it halfway through, she was interrupted by other things and completely forgot about it. It had been sitting in the basket for several days.
Anyway, I'm not in a hurry to use it.
But why is Granny Xia bringing this up now? The question had barely formed in her mind when Granny Xia's resolute voice rang in her ears: "That's right! His Majesty must have seen the insoles you were only half-finished making, Your Highness. If I'm not mistaken, that's what he's talking about!"
Haitao, Zisu, and Jubai all gasped in surprise.
Why didn't they think of that? Hai Tao's eyes reddened, and she covered her mouth, whispering, "It's all because this servant is useless. Look at these insoles, they're clearly not made to the young mistress's size!"
Wan Anran's troughs are mostly empty.
The size is indeed wrong; it's because I was inexperienced and cut it wrong the first time I made it!
Zisu also lowered her head: "We servants...we servants didn't even realize that Your Highness has always been so deeply, so deeply concerned about the Emperor. We servants are really...we are really unworthy to serve Your Highness."
Wan Anran remained expressionless.
No, I didn't, don't talk nonsense.
Ju Bai clenched his fist tightly.
Her voice was firm: "It's alright! His Majesty has already seen Your Highness's intentions. All we need to do is serve Your Highness well so that Your Highness can wholeheartedly focus on making the insoles!"
Everyone nodded emphatically.
Even Granny Xia looked at the three of them with a sense of admiration, saying, "That's right, that's right!"
Wan Anran looked around at the bustling scene before her, a hint of confusion on her face—was she the only one who thought the Emperor wasn't talking about insoles? But looking around, Wan Anran couldn't find anything else that would catch the Emperor's eye, so she finally nodded and said, "Alright, then let's try our best to finish it as soon as possible!"
That's what they say.
After seeing off Granny Xia, Wan Anran went to the study to practice calligraphy.
Also in the same room as her was the Ninth Prince, Wan Fu.
Wan Fu rested his head on the desk, looking as wilted as a winter cabbage. Ever since Wan Anran came in, he had been sighing incessantly.
Writing is something that requires concentration.
Especially for a beginner like Wan Anran, she couldn't even hold her breath for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea before she put down her pen. Wan Anran looked distressed: "Wan Fu, tomorrow is New Year's Eve, why are you sighing for no reason?"
"Wan Changzai, would you like to attend the New Year's banquet?"
"No need to go," Wan Anran said calmly.
Wan Fu's eyes lit up: "Then do you want to go?"
Wan Anran glanced at him sideways: "This isn't something I can just go to whenever I want!"
Only those of noble status or above can attend the New Year's banquet.
As for the concubines, unless they receive permission from the Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, or the Empress, they can only stay in their respective palaces and wait for the evening family banquet.
Wan Fu chuckled to himself.
He jumped off the stool and hopped over to Wan Anran in a few quick steps: "Wan Changzai, then I'll give you my spot, okay?"
Wan Anran's lips twitched.
This kid is really delusional! She reached out and pinched Wan Fu's soft, doughy cheek: "You! You're always talking nonsense. Be careful, or I'll tell your mother!"
Wan Fu got anxious: "If you don't want to go, then don't go. The one who snitched is a bad person."
Wan Anran drawled, "Oh—really?"
She bent down and stared at Wan Fu: "Why do you suddenly not want to go? You seemed so excited a few days ago?"
Wan Fu was sullen and unhappy.
He lowered his head and spoke softly, "Anyway, I'm not good with words and I'm not smart, and I can't remember the rules. If I go and make a mistake, my mother will scold me, and she'll compare me to the Crown Prince... I don't want to go!"
Wan Fu muttered to himself.
For example, when people went to the Cining Palace to pay their respects to Grandma Wukuma and Grandma Huangma, everyone was always indifferent, especially the concubines who would always praise themselves for a few words and then subtly praise the Crown Prince's excellence.
To prepare for the grand palace banquet, Consort Xuan and his mother had the nanny carefully instruct him on how to kowtow. Don't underestimate the art of kowtowing; there's technique to it—how to kowtow loudly, how to kowtow gracefully… not to mention the need for a princely demeanor in every gesture!
Wan Fu angrily exclaimed, "I can't understand a word they're saying!"
Wan Anran gently rubbed Wan Fu's head.
Wan Fu is lively, active, romantic, and innocent. She is slightly spoiled due to the flattery of the palace servants, but she is not domineering or bullies them. Overall, she is a very adorable child who fits the bill perfectly and would be praised in later generations.
Unfortunately, Wan Fu was born in the Qing Palace.
The palace needs more sensible and intelligent princes, so the ordinary and unremarkable Wan Fu seems a bit lacking.
Especially when compared to the Crown Prince.
Wan Fu squatted on the ground, growing more and more frightened and frustrated as she thought about it: "If I make a mistake, everyone will laugh at me... and then laugh at Consort Xuan and my mother..."
After thinking for a moment, Wan Anran squatted down as well: "How about this? If you encounter anything you don't understand, just tell His Highness the Crown Prince—"
Wan Fu looked at Wan Changzai expectantly.
She cupped her hands to her lips and said in a high-pitched voice, "Brother, help me!"
Wan Fu was so frightened that his hair stood on end.
He was skeptical, and couldn't help but show a look of disgust: "Like this? Will it work? Won't we be laughed at?"
Wan Anran patted her chest.
She nodded emphatically: "Don't worry! This trick is guaranteed to work!"
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