in2ebook Chapter 262 Meeting the Imperial Concubine
Chapter 262 Meeting the Imperial Concubine
The Second Prince was unwilling in his heart, but he couldn't help but say it out loud: "Mother, you said that my father is in his prime and he doesn't like the Crown Prince, so there are many variables in the future. If my son can marry a girl from the Zuo family, he may be that variable!"
The Imperial Concubine shook her head. "That's absolutely impossible. The Crown Prince is now the heir apparent. Without sufficient reason, your father can't depose him. But your father loves the third son and wants to depose the Crown Prince and make him the heir apparent. Once the third son grows up, they're bound to quarrel. If we get caught up in that, you'll definitely be the first one to be thrown out!"
The Second Prince said dejectedly, "So, my son, is there nothing else you can do except wait?"
"That's called being prudent and protecting yourself," the imperial concubine said. "My son, you must listen to me. The daughter of the Si family is as beautiful as a fairy, and the county lady is very favored. Think about it, Rongpin was disdained by the emperor just because she criticized Princess Qin and the county lady. This shows how much the emperor values the Si family. You will be right to marry the daughter of the Si family."
The Second Prince bowed his head and replied, "My son agrees, Mother."
The imperial concubine patted his shoulder with relief and said, "Mother knows that it is unfair for you, a prince, to marry the girl from the Si family. But mother will find a way to let the girl from the Gui family be your concubine."
The Second Prince's eyes finally showed a hint of joy.
Because of the imperial concubine's thoughtfulness, the emperor stayed overnight in her palace, which made the imperial concubine feel proud.
But it was not too pleasant, because that night, the palace maid came to report to the imperial concubine.
"Rong Cairen has been dancing in the flowerbed outside the Imperial Study for half the night."
The imperial concubine gnashed her teeth to the point of breaking, and asked angrily, "This bitch is always using these unpresentable tricks. Has the emperor favored her?"
"No, I heard that the emperor didn't even look at her."
However, Rong Cairen was a resilient person. She sang songs outside again the next day. Her singing was so gentle and moving that it made people want to cry when they heard it.
The imperial concubine was busy asking, "Has the emperor found favor with you?"
The maid still shook her head: "Don't worry, Your Majesty. The Emperor has never even glanced at Concubine Rong."
The imperial concubine lowered her eyes for a long time before she said, "Never mind. It's only a matter of time before the emperor favors Concubine Rong again."
She no longer relied on her looks to attract the emperor. As long as she managed the harem well, the emperor would not treat her unfairly.
"How many times can you win the favor of using your beauty to please others? It seems that there are still too few people in the harem, which makes the emperor feel bored. How about changing the small election next year... to a general election?"
The imperial concubine guessed correctly. On the third day, the emperor had planned to go to Concubine Xin's palace, but when he left the Qinzheng Palace, he saw Rong Cairen dancing and singing in the moonlight from afar, and he stopped.
Eunuch Wu looked at the emperor's face and said, "Your Majesty, Rongcai is very talented, but it's autumn now, and it's so cold. Rongcai hasn't worn shoes yet, so I'm afraid she'll catch a cold."
The emperor looked down and saw Rong Cairen's bare feet. He couldn't help but think of the girl under the sun and moonlight.
My heart moved slightly.
On the second day, Rong Cairen was re-appointed as Rongpin and moved back.
But it seemed that the emperor's unfailing favor was a thing of the past, and he went to the harem less and less frequently. Moreover, he favored everyone equally, not only Rongpin, but other young concubines as well.
Before long, it was time for the annual autumn hunting, and all the princes and nobles had to participate, and the Si family was no exception.
Si Xingzhi was a little excited and said to Si Muyan, "I haven't seen Xiao An for half a month. I wonder how he is doing."
The tutor actually has days off, which are once every ten days. Originally, my younger brother should go home during the ten-day break, but news came from the palace that he was not used to the palace for the first time, and the teacher asked him to study more and could not leave the palace for the time being.
Si Xingzhi was really worried because he couldn't see his son and couldn't get any news.
Later, when she was the daughter of the Du family, Marquis Xuanping, she met the second sister when she went out to listen to an opera. She exchanged a few words with the second sister and mentioned that her eldest brother had entered the palace and met the young master, and she also praised the young master.
No matter how stupid the second sister was, she knew that the girl from the Du family was deliberately leaking the news to tell them that her younger brother was fine.
I breathed a sigh of relief immediately.
But after all, I didn't really see anyone. Now that I go hunting, I'm happy to see my son.
The hunting lasts for four days. The first day is to settle down at the hunting ground, and the second day is the official start.
Just as the two sisters Si Muyan had rested, a palace maid came over to deliver a message.
"The Imperial Concubine is thinking about the three young ladies of the Si family. If you have time today, please invite them over to chat."
Si Muyan quickly agreed and asked the palace maid to wait for a moment as she and her two sisters still needed to change clothes.
After entering, the younger sister told her that the imperial concubine wanted to adopt her as her daughter in Shoukang Palace, and also told her two elder sisters what the empress dowager had said.
"The Empress Dowager won't let us into the palace. I think the Imperial Concubine has some plans. Sisters, you'd better be careful."
Si Muyan nodded: "I understand."
But the second sister was absent-minded and out of shape.
The younger sister pushed her and said, "Second sister, what's wrong with you?"
The second sister finally came to her senses. Her eyes were red and she shook her head reluctantly: "Nothing... Let's go quickly, otherwise the Empress will blame us if we delay the time."
The three of them dressed up a little and followed the palace maid to where the imperial concubine was staying.
When he entered the room and paid his respects, he found that besides the imperial concubine, there was also a man in luxurious clothes standing in the hall.
The imperial concubine apologized profusely, "Oh, look at my poor memory! I actually forgot to send for Miss Si. However, since they are relatives, it's no big deal. Ren'er, come and meet your three cousins."
Si Muyan lowered her eyes, Xiao Jingren, this is His Royal Highness the Second Prince.
She brought her two younger sisters to meet the emperor carefully and cautiously, so naturally nothing would go wrong.
The second prince was very polite. He just glanced at the three girls, lowered his eyes to return the greeting, and stepped aside.
The imperial concubine asked the three girls to sit down, chatted with them for a while, gave each of them a gold hairpin, and ordered someone to send them back.
After leaving, the second sister asked in confusion, "I thought the Imperial Concubine was going to do something, but she didn't say anything. She just called us over to chat and give us gifts?"
Si Muyan shook her head: "He called us over to show us to the Second Prince."
The second sister was even more confused: "This... Although our Si family is a marquisate, our previous experience of exile made the nobles in Kyoto look down on us. How could the Second Prince look down on us?"
She didn't need to worry, she was a widow now. Although widows in the Great Zhou could remarry, it was impossible for them to marry into a higher social status. Her father wouldn't be happy about it because the family background was too low.
At the very least, she would have to wait until her sisters got married before it would be her turn.
Besides, she had no intention of getting married at all.
The younger sister said, "I don't understand the Imperial Concubine's thoughts, but the Empress Dowager warned me that the Imperial Concubine would definitely have other ideas. Big sister, I will not be the Imperial Concubine."
Si Muyan looked at her younger sister with a lot of inquiry in her eyes.