in2ebook Chapter 147: Shi Mu's partiality to Kangxi (revised)
Chapter 147: Shi Mu's partiality to Kangxi (revised)
"Nanxi, you and your elder sister are twins and have the deepest relationship. You also married into the royal family together. However, you are the head of a palace, so mother is more confident about you than your elder sister..."
Shi Mu paused and did not continue speaking. Instead, she changed the subject:
"Fortunately, you will be entering the palace soon. Mother doesn't want you, a younger sister, to worry about her affairs. When the time comes, I, an old woman, will have to hand over the card and go to see her more often."
After the words were spoken, the atmosphere suddenly became quiet. Those present were all smart people and they immediately understood the deeper meaning behind the words.
Shi Mu's words seemed to be instructions to the two sisters who were about to enter the palace, but her attitudes were very different. In summary, she was caring and loving to Shi Concubine, but cold to Concubine Xian. She also reminded the other party not to interfere in Shi Rongyue's affairs, and only wanted to use the other party's identity to take advantage of her.
It was extremely biased. Everyone's face remained unchanged, but they were all shocked and confused in their hearts.
One is just the prince's concubine, and the other is the emperor's Concubine Xian. What does Madam Shi think?
Upon hearing this, Shi Nanxi looked around and finally her eyes fell on Shi Mu.
This woman was clearly skeptical when Shi Rongyue was canonized as the Fourth Prince's concubine, but after talking with Shi Rongyue, she quickly stopped being skeptical and even treated Shi Rongyue better.
Although he had only known Shi Mu for a short time, he knew that she truly loved Shi Rongyue, but he also knew that she was a person who cared a lot about reputation and interests.
In everyone's eyes, Shi Rongyue's future is ruined. Logically, Shi's mother should be angry, blame her, and despise her. Even if she still has a mother-daughter relationship, she shouldn't fight for her like this. There is only one answer.
That is, Shi Mu knew that Shi Rongyue's future was not actually ruined. Based on this, it can be inferred that Shi Rongyue may have told Shi Mu in some way that the crown prince would be deposed in the future and the next emperor of the Qing Dynasty would be the Fourth Prince.
Instead of being implicated by the future deposed crown prince, she gets married to the future emperor, which is why he will continue to love and value her.
But didn’t Shi Rongyue say that the Fourth Prince would have to wait more than thirty years before he could ascend the throne?
I wonder if Stone Mother will live long enough to see that day.
A hint of teasing flashed through Shi Nanxi's mind.
Not knowing that Shi Nanxi already knew the truth, Shi's mother seemed reserved but was actually waiting for an answer in a condescending manner. Shi Rongyue, under her red veil, also looked very proud.
However, how could Shi Nanxi possibly do as they wished? She did not rush to answer, but glanced at Grandfather Shi.
Grandfather Shi was old and frail, with old injuries. He had been bedridden for most of the year and had long since stopped caring about things. He was a smart man, and although he didn't know what would happen in the future, even if he did, he would not agree with Mother Shi's approach.
Even if the Fourth Prince could ascend the throne in the future, it would take many years. Shi Rongyue was just a concubine. How could he not be close to the existing Empress Xian and instead promote a concubine?
He immediately put down his hand that was stroking his beard, looked at the Stone Mother, coughed lightly, and there was a hint of warning in his eyes.
"Old lady, Empress Xian entered the palace later than Concubine Jin, and is even less familiar with the palace. She also has to take care of the affairs of Chuxiu Palace. You should not disturb her often."
Without waiting for Shi Mu's reaction, he announced directly:
"The auspicious time has arrived. Concubine Xian, please bid farewell to Empress Xian and get on the sedan chair."
Shi Mu's face froze when she was looked at, as if she was stabbed by a sharp blade. She trembled all over and dared not speak again.
Shi Rongyue, wearing a red veil on her head, bit her lips tightly, secretly cursing Grandfather Shi for being partial. She could only kneel down in frustration to bid farewell to Shi Nanxi, and then went out and got into the sedan chair.
Everyone present glanced at each other inconspicuously. Although they didn't say anything, they had all kinds of thoughts in their minds. They stole a glance at Shi Nanxi, and Shi Nanxi went straight back to the backyard when he saw this.
"My lady, don't mind it. From now on, we will just ignore the sign handed over by the lady and see how they can meet again."
As soon as Hongying entered the yard, she couldn't help but clench her fists and utter harsh words, saying that she had never seen a mother like this.
Shi Nanxi's lowered eyes showed no fluctuation, but her hands were tightly clenched with a handkerchief, fully showing that she was uneasy.
Xiao Ruzi, who was standing by, glanced at the empress, winked at Hongying, and then said softly:
"Hongying, don't be impulsive. If you do that, it will make Her Majesty appear unfilial and will affect Her Majesty's reputation if it gets out."
Hongying received Xiao Ruzi's look and turned to the empress. Seeing the empress's look, her eyes turned red with heartache.
I know that Xiao Ruzi is right and that I cannot ruin the Empress' reputation because of that mother and daughter, but it is really frustrating to watch the Empress being bullied and not be able to fight back.
Shi Nanxi didn't care about Shi Mu, but the Qing Dynasty ruled the world with filial piety. As a daughter, she was naturally in a lower position. No matter what she felt inside, she couldn't openly disobey her. But Shi Mu and the other woman thought they couldn't do anything to them, which was a big mistake.
She didn't speak, pursed her lips, walked to the soft couch by the window and sat down, facing the two of them. She was silent for a long time before turning around and saying with some effort:
"Xiao Ruzi is right. If mother hands you a sign in the future, just take it. As a daughter, I just want to let mother see my elder sister to ease her longing for me. It's just a simple favor."
"But you are also the madam's daughter! Why does the madam only care about the eldest princess?" Hongying couldn't help but say.
The room fell silent again. Shi Nanxi stopped talking and looked out the window again. Her expression could not be seen, but she wiped the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief.
Seeing this, Hongying bit her lower lip tightly, feeling very annoyed, knowing that she had touched the empress's sore spot again. She looked at Xiaoruzi, and Xiaoruzi saw the red eyes of the empress and shook her head at Hongying.
However, the two thought that Shi Nanxi was sad, but in fact she knew that since her enthronement, there were many people from the Imperial Household Department and sent by Kangxi in the Shi Mansion, especially in her yard, and they were just putting on a show.
And what she said just now was sincere. As long as Shi's mother handed over a sign to enter the palace to visit Shi Rongyue, she would definitely cooperate.
They are just sisters, and it was she who summoned Shimu to the palace. Yet she was not liked by Shimu. Instead, she was full of care and concern for her elder sister with whom she had a falling out. Wouldn't others use this as an excuse to laugh at her?
But they are just a few jokes, not very effective, and cannot be compared to any real benefits.
She just wanted to let Kangxi know that she - Concubine Xian - was innocent, pitiful, and unloved, and had nothing but him. Then the patriarchal emperor Kangxi would have to include herself in his protection circle.
On the other side is the Qianqing Palace.
Liang Jiugong entered with a cup of hot tea and replaced the cold tea. As soon as he turned around, he heard the emperor's voice, which was indistinguishable from his emotion:
"Is today the day when the fourth son marries his concubine?"
Liang Jiugong bowed and said carefully:
"Your Majesty has a good memory. It's today." Not knowing what the emperor's attitude was, he didn't dare to say more.
Kangxi lowered his head to review the memorial. His expression could not be seen. He only slightly exerted force on the red brush in his hand. The words on the memorial were still beautiful, but a little more sharp. After finishing, he put down the red brush, took a sip of tea, and asked calmly:
"Have all the brothers gone to the wedding?"
Liang Jiugong's heart tightened and he bent even lower.
"Your Majesty, the eldest prince and the thirteenth prince went to the banquet. The other princes were busy and did not come to congratulate in person, but sent people to deliver gifts. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince...did not go and did not send anyone to deliver gifts."
Kangxi pursed his lips into a straight line and paused before saying:
"The prince was so busy with his studies that he forgot to send a gift. Please pick out an appropriate gift and send someone to deliver it on his behalf."
"Whoo."
Liang Jiugong quickly agreed. Kangxi put down the teacup and his eyes accidentally swept across a shelf on the Duobao Pavilion. Thinking of the little girl he hadn't seen for a month, he called Liang Jiugong again.
"Has there been any news from your master Xian today?" Although the two of them kept in touch after the draft, they did not communicate much for the sake of Shi Nanxi's reputation.
Liang Jiugong stopped, he had not received any news today and was about to report, when Xiao Fuzi winked at him outside the door.
He quickly apologized to the emperor and went out quickly. After hearing what Xiao Fuzi said, he was so scared that he wiped his sweat.
I hurried into the palace and repeated what Shimu had said at the farewell ceremony. After that, it was a long time before I heard the emperor speak. His tone was calm, as if he just sighed:
"What a deep love between mother and daughter!"
However, it was this tone that made Liang Jiugong's scalp numb, and he knew that the emperor was really angry.
Kangxi's eyes were as deep as the abyss. Shi Mu didn't care about the little girl, but he did. She didn't love him, but he did.
Slowly stroking the jade ring, he ordered in a deep voice:
"Send a message to Elder Liu, asking him to check Empress Xian's pulse tomorrow, and you are to personally arrange things for Chuxiu Palace."
Arrange it personally? Liang Jiugong looked up in confusion.
Kangxi said a few words when he saw this.
Liang Jiugong's heart was suddenly shaken, but he remained expressionless. After he walked out of the door, he turned back to glance at the hall.
Could it be that even a man as wise and brave as the emperor cannot escape the love curse of the Aisin-Gioro family?