frightfiction Chapter 1227 How could I not care about the dignity of Concubine Chen (137 million reward points)
Chapter 1227 How could I not care about the dignity of Concubine Chen (137 million reward points)
"The noble ladies, maids, and concubines in the palace were all overjoyed!"
Kangpin's eyes fell on the booklet, on the cloud brocade satin that symbolized the position of a concubine, and her fingertips gently stroked the gorgeous patterns.
Her voice was filled with her usual gentleness: "This is a happy occasion!"
"The Fifth Prince is weak. If I could hold a higher position, the Imperial Hospital might be able to devote more attention to the cause."
Cai Ju smiled and said, "Your Majesty cares so much about the Fifth Prince, His Majesty must have seen it all."
……
Low-level palace.
Several regulars and maids gathered around a charcoal brazier, their faces filled with uncontrollable excitement and anticipation.
They were of low status and could only stand far behind when paying their respects to Concubine Chen.
The news of the Great Conferment of the Six Palaces was like a blessing from heaven to them!
"I heard that even the promised concubines can be promoted to concubines this time!"
"If I could become a noble, life at home would be better..."
"What the palace lacks the least is servants who flatter the powerful and look down on the weak. If they can really be promoted, let's see if they dare to deduct it!"
"..."
Everyone was talking at once, full of beautiful fantasies about the future.
However, one of the more cautious maids, after looking around, lowered her voice and asked with a hint of hesitation: "Then...what about Concubine Chen? Is she...not being promoted?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the place beside the charcoal brazier instantly became quiet.
Everyone looked at each other in bewilderment, their excitement seemingly washed away by a bucket of cold water. Their excited eyes were invariably tinged with suspicion.
Yes, what will happen to the high and mighty Concubine Chen?
Watching her former "subordinates" wearing higher crowns?
"Forget it, forget it. Noble Concubine Chen is not someone we can criticize. It's better not to bring trouble upon ourselves!"
……
Yanxi Palace.
The hall was filled with the crisp fragrance of pine and cypress, echoing the biting snow outside the window.
Concubine Xue sat upright on the heated kang by the window, dressed in a plain silver-grey palace dress, topped with a matching bodice trimmed with silver fox fur. She wore no luxurious adornments except for a plum blossom hairpin inlaid with kingfisher feathers, her hair as pure and cool as a plum blossom in the snow.
A military book was spread out on the small table in front of her. Her fingertips were twisting the corner of the page, but her eyes were fixed on the century-old pine tree covered with snow in the courtyard outside the window, as if it was not disturbed at all by the noise of the outside world.
Yu Mei came in with a cup of freshly brewed ginseng tea, placed it quietly on the kang table, and whispered, "My Lady, please warm yourself with some ginseng tea."
"There are rumors out there that His Majesty is going to seal off all six palaces."
Xue Fei withdrew her gaze from the ancient pine tree and fell on the teacup filled with steam. Her expression was indifferent, and even her eyebrows did not move.
She picked up the teacup, and her white fingers against the warm celadon made her look even more elegant.
"Ah."
Concubine Xue only responded with a single sound, her voice as clear and calm as the icicles frozen under the eaves.
It seemed as if the news that was enough to stir up the six palaces was just an ordinary snowflake floating across the Yanx Palace.
Yu Mei observed her expression and said carefully, "Your Majesty, I've heard from various sources... that everyone seems to be guessing that Noble Concubine Chen... isn't going to be among those being promoted this time..."
Xue Fei's fingertips gently stroked the wall of the warm teacup.
She slowly raised her eyes, and a barely perceptible ripple finally crossed her cold eyes that always seemed aloof.
It's not gloating, nor is it worry, but a kind of understanding that is almost insightful.
Concubine Xue placed the teacup back on the table with a very slight clinking sound: "Thunder, lightning, rain and dew are all the grace of the king."
Her voice remained calm, yet it was a bit colder than the snowy wind outside the window: "The favor bestowed upon Her Majesty the Imperial Concubine Chen has long transcended her position. Whether she is promoted or not is merely icing on the cake for her, or perhaps a minor inconvenience."
Xue Fei paused and glanced towards the inner room.
The second princess was playing quietly in the warm room with her wet nurse.
Deep in Xue Fei's eyes, there flashed a trace of a mother's deep consideration.
"As for others..."
Her voice lowered, with a sober air of detachment: "Climbing higher isn't always a blessing. Standing on this cusp of a storm isn't easy."
After she finished speaking, Xue Fei picked up the military book again and said no more.
For her, whether it was promotion or her daughter's decent future, she could not be involved in the vortex of whether Concubine Chen would be promoted.
All she wanted was to be protected and watch her daughter grow up safely in the quiet place of Yanxi Palace.
Yu Mei understood, said no more, and quietly stepped aside.
……
Changchun Palace.
Concubine Liang knelt on the cushion, facing the gilded Buddha statue, twirling the smooth sandalwood Buddhist beads on her wrist.
The Buddhist temple is filled with the scent of sandalwood, creating a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere.
Ruoji walked in quietly, knelt down behind her, and reported the latest developments in the palace in a low voice.
"...Everyone is talking about how Concubine Chen might have to watch someone else get promoted this time."
Concubine Liang twirled her Buddhist beads with her fingers, then paused for a moment, imperceptibly. Beneath her drooping eyelashes, her gaze was as deep as an ancient well.
She slowly raised her eyes and looked at the compassionate face of the Buddha statue. The corners of her lips unexpectedly drew up a very cold arc, like a fine crack on the surface of ice.
"Amitabha!"
Concubine Liang's voice remained calm and cold, carrying a solemn and compassionate look: "Ranks and declines are all determined by fate. Your Highness, Concubine Chen, is blessed with great fortune and is naturally protected by Heaven."
She chanted the Buddha's name, but her heart was filled with cold calculations...
If Consort Chen was really excluded from the grand ennoblement, it would be a sign of a subtle change in the emperor's mind!
Has the crimson coral tree that once caught everyone's attention begun to gather dust?
Concubine Liang quietly quickened the speed of her Buddhist beads. A thought that had been dormant for years once again surfaced in her mind.
New Year’s Eve is a big day.
What’s more, this New Year’s Eve also marks the 500th anniversary of the founding of the Great Zhou Dynasty, which is a very significant event.
Even His Majesty was delighted and prepared to confer titles on the six palaces.
So... could she take this opportunity to ask His Majesty to posthumously confer the title of prince on her eldest prince who died young in the palace?
If she could, not only would the eldest prince's status be more respectable, but she could also earn back some honor and bargaining chips.
Concubine Liang lowered her eyes, looking pious, but her heart was in turmoil.
wrong!
She twirled her Buddhist beads with her fingers, and in the shadows where no one noticed, she suddenly listened.
Your Majesty has not neglected Concubine Chen recently.
Zhongcui Palace is still the most magnificent place in the palace.
The Fourth Prince was the daughter of the Emperor, and the Emperor often visited her.
That unique grace showed no signs of diminishing with the return of autumn hunting or the approaching end of the year.
The emperor's love for Concubine Chen was as deep as the ocean, but there was never any sign of it cooling down.
Then why... was she the only one excluded from the grand conferral of titles on the six palaces?
Isn't this a slap in the face of Concubine Chen in public and undermining her authority in charge of the six palaces?
Your Majesty is such a protective person, how could he not consider the dignity of Concubine Chen?
unless……