After Youqing finished speaking, she felt exhausted.
Rather than engaging in verbal sparring with everyone here, it's better to stay at Jiangxue Pavilion.
Just when Youqing thought it was about time, Consort De spoke up. This time she wasn't addressing Youqing directly, but it was still somewhat related to her.
"Consort Cheng doesn't look well; perhaps she's not sleeping soundly?"
Consort Cheng had applied makeup to her face and lipstick to her lips. To be honest, there was nothing wrong with her complexion, and her health was also unremarkable.
Consort De's words were rather inexplicable.
Consort Cheng was also baffled and puzzled: "Why does Consort De say such a thing? I don't quite understand."
Consort De chuckled and said, "Oh, so Consort Cheng didn't know. I thought Consort Cheng knew!"
Consort Cheng was even more confused. What did she know?
Consort De continued, "My maids once witnessed Consort Cheng's maids bullying Consort Shu's maids. Now that you've met Consort Shu, I thought Consort Cheng would feel guilty and uneasy!"
Consort Cheng looked at Consort De with a blank expression; she truly knew nothing about this.
Everyone watched with expressions of anticipation, wanting to see the nobleman's reaction as well as Youqing's.
After her initial surprise, Consort Cheng realized that this was not without reason. Consort De would not make up something out of thin air without cause, so this matter was probably true.
She glanced at Consort Shu and then asked, "Consort Shu, is what Consort De said true?"
It's true, of course. Being bullied is really nothing to talk about.
Logically speaking, since she asked the question, she was only bullying a palace maid. For the sake of face, she should have let the matter drop.
But Youqing wasn't the type to care about appearances; she valued substance over appearances.
As for saving face, that's something to consider only after you've achieved substance.
"Now that Consort De has mentioned it, I do recall that such a thing did happen. At that time, I was living in Jingyang Palace, and the maidservant next to me bumped into the maidservant next to Noble Lady Cheng."
She hadn't forgotten the slap mark on Sangzhu's face.
Consort Cheng was taken aback upon hearing this, then her face turned cold. She thought Consort Cheng was being too calculating: "With so many people serving you, it's hard to discern their true intentions. If it's true, I'll apologize to my sister. If it's verified later, I'll personally lead people to Jiangxue Pavilion to apologize to my sister."
Youqing said, "Then I'll wait for Consort Cheng to verify it."
They did not refuse to make her apologize.
Consort Cheng's face was grim.
Everyone felt that the Emperor's new favorite was somewhat different from what they had imagined; he seemed rather petty.
An ordinary person in You Qing's situation would feign forgiveness to show their magnanimity and tolerance. If they really felt they couldn't get over it, they would have plenty of ways to retaliate in private.
However, no one could find fault with her.
At this moment, Consort Tong spoke up: "We're all sisters, let's not let trivial matters ruin our harmony. Let's choose a play!"
The performances offstage have been completed; it's time to watch the show onstage.
Upon hearing this, everyone turned their attention away from the play and began discussing the play's subject.
They quickly settled on two plays in quick succession. On stage, the actors sang, and although Youqing didn't know how to appreciate opera, she could still discern some beauty in them if she looked closely.
Even though I couldn't understand the language, I could tell that every smile, frown, and gesture of the people on the stage was full of charm, immersing the audience in the performance.
Nowadays, it's rare to see opera stages. People often say that opera is a traditional Chinese art, a treasure left by our ancestors, but it doesn't have a large audience, giving people the impression that although it's impressive, it's too highbrow for the general public.
Even in modern times, she couldn't appreciate this kind of art, especially when an old man in the park was playing a tape recorder with the volume turned up to the maximum. She couldn't understand what it meant and just found it so noisy that it gave her a headache.
Looking at it now, it's not that it's unappreciable. Only by looking closely can you discover that the singing style is only one part of the opera; there's also the makeup, costume, and movements...
She preferred the costumes and stage presence of opera performers.
Especially when you get up close, it's an indescribable beauty.
You can't feel it just by listening to the opera, nor can you feel it by watching the opera on TV.
Traditional opera is a product of the stage; how often can modern people see it in person?
The play ended abruptly as it was being performed, and after listening to it, it felt like a dream.
After the performance, everyone smiled and praised the actors, giving them tips. Youqing followed suit and gave ten taels of silver as a reward. It wasn't that she didn't want to give more, but rather that she had limited funds.
Emperor Kangxi frequently visited her, so the Imperial Household Department naturally took good care of her, providing her with the best food and supplies. However, her monthly allowance was still based on her rank, so her funds were limited.
Sometimes, looking at the huge pile of rewards, Youqing wished she could exchange them all for money. The items were beautiful and exquisite, and she couldn't use them all. They would just sit in the storeroom collecting dust, and she would have to spend time and energy to take care of them.
Its only use is to occasionally replace damaged items, or to give as gifts or social obligations.
When Consort Cheng saw that Youqing had given her ten taels of silver, a hint of contempt flashed in her eyes. Ten taels of silver, she really had the nerve to give it away.
"Sister Shu, do you not like today's play? Why are you being so stingy?"
Youqing said, "The play that the Imperial Noble Consort invited is naturally excellent, but it cannot compare to the generosity of Consort Cheng. Besides, ten taels of silver is enough for an ordinary family to live on for a year. How come it is considered stingy by Consort Cheng?"
Noble Lady Cheng had nothing to say.
Ten taels of silver was too little in her eyes.
Those who could enter the palace all came from relatively good families. In fact, even Youqing's father's family lived a comfortable life, but that comfort did not reach her.
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