bookcurios Chapter 1414 The two brothers made an appointment
Chapter 1414 The two brothers made an appointment
This feeling of being excluded made Concubine Kang more uncomfortable than direct cold treatment.
Chu'er held the fifth prince steadily and stood beside Concubine Kang.
Unlike other lively and playful royal heirs, the fifth prince still nestled quietly in Chu'er's arms.
Although his face still had a hint of the paleness of his illness, he was clearly in much better spirits. His eyes, which had always been dull and lifeless, now brightened a little and were quietly surveying their surroundings.
Since the last time Master Huichen entered the palace to pray and pointed out that the resentment in the cold palace needed to be resolved through good deeds, the emperor subsequently issued an edict to pardon some of the guilty women.
Miraculously enough, the Fifth Prince, who had been bedridden with recurring illnesses, actually began to get better day by day.
The fever subsided, the night terrors decreased, and even the imperial physician, when he took his pulse, said it had returned to a steady state.
When those who were attentive saw this change, they naturally became more respectful and convinced of Master Huichen.
Some people in the palace were discussing privately, saying that Master Huichen was indeed an enlightened monk, and his words of advice and his rituals could actually reach the ears of the gods and bring blessings to the royal heir!
Just as the atmosphere in the hall was changing, Li Changde's voice was heard from outside: "Your Majesty has arrived--!!!"
Everyone instantly calmed down, stood up, turned towards the palace gate, and knelt respectfully: "Your Majesty, long live His Majesty!"
Nangong Xuanyu ignored the others and walked over to help Shen Zhinian up, then said calmly, "Everyone, stand up."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Everyone thanked him and stood up to return to their seats.
The ceremonial officer sang loudly: "The auspicious time has arrived——!!!"
"The Sixth Prince's Grasping Ceremony has begun!!!"
A long table covered with bright red brocade had already been set up, with gold seals, jade ruyi, scrolls, abacus, small bows and arrows neatly placed on it. These various objects, symbolizing different futures, were shining brightly.
Although Concubine Xuan's position is not as high as Concubine Zhuang and Concubine Xian, as the biological mother of the Sixth Prince, she was arranged to sit in the main seat next to Shen Zhinian today.
The wet nurse placed the Sixth Prince on one end of the long table. The little fellow opened his big black eyes, looked curiously at the dazzling array of things in front of him, and began to crawl forward using his hands and feet.
Xuan Fei's heart instantly rose to her throat. She subconsciously reached out and tightly grasped Shen Zhinian's sleeve, her voice filled with uncontrollable nervousness: "Sister Imperial Concubine, I wonder what Jin'er will grab..."
Shen Zhinian sensed Concubine Xuan's nervousness and gently patted the back of her hand, saying softly, "It's good to grab anything. Children's hearts are the most genuine."
"Sister will know soon."
The other concubines and clan members also looked at the small figure with smiles, with expectations that were either sincere or for fun.
Only Concubine Kang looked at this familiar scene with a dazed look for a moment.
She seemed to be back at the fifth prince's first birthday ceremony.
At that time, Sui'an stretched out his little hand and clearly grasped the longevity lock, which symbolized health and longevity.
But the next moment, he trembled all over due to the sudden high fever, and the golden lock slipped from his weak hands and fell to the ground...
That sound still seems to hit her heart.
Concubine Kang was filled with guilt and sorrow.
She subconsciously turned her head and looked at the Fifth Prince who was held in Chu'er's arms. He still looked thinner than other children of the same age. Her eyes fell on his little face which was gradually losing its sickness.
The earnest look in Sister Haopin's eyes when she entrusted Sui'an to her before her death seemed to be right in front of her.
Yet, she had taken advantage of the child's weakness for her own selfish reasons...
Concubine Kang quickly lowered her eyes to hide the pain surging in them.
She clenched her hands quietly on her knees and made a heavy oath in her heart to Concubine Hao and to herself.
There really won’t be a next time!
The Sixth Prince's chubby little hands lingered over the dazzling array of objects for a moment, and finally he grabbed a warm and smooth white jade horse sculpture, held it tightly in his hand, and laughed with his little mouth wide open.
"Got it! Got it!"
The hall was immediately filled with fitting compliments, and auspicious words, as if prepared long ago, rushed out one after another: "The Sixth Prince has captured the Jade Horse. He will surely be a brave warrior in the future, and will achieve great success on horseback!"
"Success will come immediately. What a good omen!"
"It can be seen that the Sixth Prince has lofty ambitions and is extraordinary!"
"..."
When Concubine Xuan saw the Sixth Prince grab such an object, she was slightly stunned at first, then burst into laughter. She turned her head to Shen Zhinian beside her and said jokingly, "Sister Imperial Concubine, look."
"Ah Xu grabbed a travelogue when he turned one, and Jin'er grabbed a pony today. Could it be that the two brothers have made a pact to travel the world together and see everything when they grow up?"
Her words were obviously joking, and no one took them seriously.
Because the Imperial Noble Consort is the Vice Empress and holds a high position. The Fourth Prince is of noble status and will surely have high hopes placed on him in the future. How could Your Majesty really allow him to travel around?
Upon hearing this, Shen Zhinian only smiled, and reached out to gently tap Concubine Xuan's forehead, with a somewhat intimate tone: "You can make up many stories about these two children just by picking them up."
Her eyes swept over the jade horse that the Sixth Prince was tightly grasping, and she smiled warmly: "No matter what Jin'er grabs, it would be best if she is safe and healthy and grows up smoothly."
Concubine Xuan smiled and said "yes" without saying anything more.
The following process was carried out step by step, one item at a time, in an orderly manner.
Until the ceremony was over, the noise gradually subsided.
The emperor left first, and the guests stood up and left one after another with their own thoughts.
The bustle in Chengqian Palace gradually faded away.
Concubine Xuan held the sleeping Sixth Prince in her arms, her face revealing an unconcealable satisfaction.
……
The inner halls of Yongshou Palace were always elegant, and Shen Zhinian preferred to adorn them with seasonal flowers. Therefore, every day, a palace maid dedicated to this task would go to the imperial garden to select and trim the freshest and most beautiful branches and bring them back.
Bingqiao took some time to think and found an excuse to swap jobs with the palace maid in charge of this matter.
From then on, she had a legitimate name and often traveled between Yongshou Palace and the Imperial Garden, carrying a bamboo flower basket.
She always calculated the time the emperor might pass by, and stopped by a bush with a wide view and easy access to flowers. She slowly and methodically trimmed the branches, but out of the corner of her eye she kept a constant eye on her surroundings.
One day, two days, three days...
Many days passed, and apart from the patrolling guards, the humble servants, and the occasional low-ranking concubines strolling around the Imperial Garden, the bright yellow figure, the symbol of supreme power, was never seen again.
Bingqiao's hand holding the scissors would sometimes pause slightly, looking at the dazzling flowers, and anxiety and loss would inevitably arise in her heart.
But she quickly calmed herself down.
His Majesty was constantly busy with affairs of state. Even the high-ranking ladies in the harem were not likely to see him for months at a time. How long had she, a maid, waited?
Thinking of those concubines who were alone in their empty rooms, waiting anxiously, Bingqiao's sense of frustration faded.