bookcurios Chapter 132 Nanzhu
Chapter 132 Nanzhu
On June 27, the 18th day of the 6th month of the Mingde reign, the Emperor of Chu prayed in the Kun Palace and issued an edict of self-criticism.
On July 1st, the King of Chu and his concubine walked to the Dengtian Pagoda, took off their fine clothes, dressed in plain clothes and ate vegetarian food to pray for the people.
On July 6, the Emperor and Empress of the Imperial Palace, expressing their gratitude for the Heavenly Grace, raised 200,000 silver coins. The Emperor was delighted and added the character "De Shou" to their names.
Empress Zhou was once loved and respected by the Emperor of Chu. After she lost her son and left the palace, her name has not been heard for many years.
Now the imperial decree for Empress Zhou has been changed to "the virtuous, intelligent, kind, virtuous and long-lived Empress."
As soon as the news came out, a fundraising wave swept the capital.
First it was the emperor and empress, followed by Concubine Ning, who donated 50,000 taels of silver and received a reward from the Emperor of Chu: he was given the name "Zhen".
Seeing this, other concubines in the palace also followed suit and donated spontaneously. Even Concubine De, who had not seen the Emperor of Chu for a long time, received a word of praise from him.
Because the Emperor of Chu had been in a very bad mood these days, the concubines in the harem did not dare to approach him.
Now that they knew the Chu Emperor's attitude, they were like chickens with their blood pumped up, and they all worked together, each wanting to please the Chu Emperor.
Especially those pretty concubines who have been in the palace for only a few years, they have family support and money.
Just that Concubine Xin donated 80,000 taels of silver, immediately surpassing Concubine Ning and surpassing everyone in the palace.
The Emperor of Chu summoned her several times, and Concubine Xin was like a peacock with its tail blown off, feeling very proud.
"Your Majesty, that Concubine Xin is truly despicable. If you didn't know her, you would think she was a noble concubine. Today, when I went to the main kitchen, everyone was fawning over me. Their faces were truly annoying."
Zhishu complained with dissatisfaction on his face, fanning the imperial concubine who was reading a book.
Concubine Ning slowly turned a page before speaking:
"Oh? What's going on? Has something been deducted from our palace?"
"That's not the case. Our palace is not something that anyone can bully. Even if Concubine Xin donated another hundred thousand or eighty thousand, she can't compare with our palace."
"That's all, Concubine Xin is still young, so it's normal for her to have a bit of a temper. It doesn't matter to you, and besides, it's all to help His Majesty, so I'm happy."
"The Queen is very wise."
Concubine Ning threw the book in her hand lightly, and Zhilan beside her quickly caught it.
"I think this girl is pretty. Concubine Xin is petite and pretty. His Majesty is very proud of her now. Don't let her ruin your mood."
Zhilan droops her eyebrows
"By the way, there aren't many rewards from the palace this year. There are still some South Pearls that His Majesty gave as a gift during the New Year. Let's give them to Concubine Xin to play with."
Zhilan took the order and went downstairs. When she arrived at the warehouse, she was instructing the people below to take things out. The little palace maid who followed her looked at Zhilan from time to time.
Zhilan caught sight of him from the corner of her eye and said with some amusement, "Look at you, you're so naive."
Chu Rong came forward to serve Zhilan tea and water.
"Good aunt, please teach me. I am stupid and don't understand some things."
Zhilan looked up and down at Churong in front of her. He was about fourteen or fifteen years old and had a very good figure. His appearance was not very outstanding, with a round face and rosy cheeks, but he looked quite handsome.
"Then tell me what you don't understand?"
Chu Rong knew that he wanted to teach her, and she immediately became excited.
"Your Majesty gave Concubine Xin a "Female Portrait." This servant saw that she was trying to impress him. But why did she also give her a South Pearl? Although this South Pearl is not expensive, it was also given to Your Majesty by His Majesty."
Zhilan opened the brocade box that was presented to her from below, took a look, and only closed the lid after finding that it was not damaged.
Chu Rong took a quick glance and found that South Pearls were indeed not expensive, but these South Pearls, which were bigger than an adult's fist, were quite rare.
What's more, the moment it was opened, the South Pearl was shining under the sunlight.
Zhilan Churong took the things and walked out with some young palace maids, saying as she walked:
"You were still young, and you were probably still breastfeeding when I entered the palace, so you don't know that the harem ten years ago was much more 'lively' than it is now. Back then, the concubines in the harem were competing with each other for beauty, and there was a lot of coming and going."
Zhilan did not answer Churong directly, but instead talked about the past.
"Ten years have passed, and the palace is much better than before. The main ladies are mostly old, so the concubines who came in later are quarreling and making trouble. However, compared to previous years, this quarreling makes the palace more lively, so most people turn a blind eye."
"Look, at this age, His Majesty is in a state of worry. With the Empress away, only the four ladies-in-waiting are in charge of the harem's internal affairs. But there are some things they can't interfere with. The Imperial Concubine gave me 'Women's Appearance'. The first sentence of this book, 'Women obey their husbands' wishes and their minds are focused on family harmony,' is a warning to the Imperial Concubine. Some things should be kept to themselves. Excessive involvement will only anger His Majesty and the consequences will outweigh the gains."
"Three were presented as tribute this year. Two were sent to the imperial palace, and this one was given to Her Majesty. Now Her Majesty has given it to Concubine Xin as a consolation. After all, Concubine Xin's family has contributed a lot of money, and blindly demanding it will only chill the hearts of the concubines in the harem."
Churong stood respectfully beside Zhilan, listening to what Zhilan said, as if thinking about something.
"Your Majesty is deeply concerned about Your Majesty."
At this time, they had arrived outside the Lanfang Palace of Concubine Xin. Zhilan tilted her head and said the last sentence meaningfully.
"You've been by my side since I entered the palace. Sometimes, not fighting can lead to success, and only by not understanding can you be safe. I know you are a man of insight, so think carefully about what I'm saying."
After the group left Lanfang Palace again, inside the palace.
"Wow! This South China Pearl is more than twice as big as the one my father sent me a few days ago."
The one who is speaking is Yupin
"That's right, Concubine Xin is so lucky. She has won the favor of His Majesty and now has been rewarded by the Imperial Concubine. I am so envious of you."
"Yes, yes."
Several women in brightly colored clothes gathered together, chatting and laughing, and in the middle was Concubine Xin.
Xin Guipin, dressed in a pink palace gown, with her hair in a fairy-like bun and a head full of pearls and jade, said, "What kind of blessing is this? It's just a covert attack on me. 'Female Beauty' is just a bunch of sour words written by those sour people to besiege us women..."
Before she could finish her words, the person next to her covered her mouth. Fortunately, she had just sent the servant away. If these words got out, would they still be alive?
"My dear sister, please be careful. Can you say such things? If others hear us, we can only end our lives with a white silk thread to avoid bringing trouble to our family."
Concubine Xin was furious, but she was not angry at the imperial concubine, nor at the book.
She is only nineteen, trapped in this palace with high walls and unable to see any light. How many more years will this life last?
ten years? Twenty years? Thirty years?
In this life, she, no! Not only her, but also the sisters around her will be trapped to death in this square palace wall.
"Death is a relief, but who among us would care?"