frightfiction Chapter 534: Story of Yanxi Palace Er Qing 67
Chapter 534: Story of Yanxi Palace Er Qing 67
Fu Heng took a step back suddenly, as if Concubine Chun was some kind of monster that he could not avoid. His eyes were flustered and flickering, and he did not dare to look directly into Concubine Chun's questioning eyes. He opened his mouth, wanting to explain, but he did not know where to start.
"There is nothing between me and the Imperial Concubine!"
"Nothing?" Concubine Chun laughed out loud as if she had heard some huge joke, her laughter was shrill and sad.
"Fu Heng, Fu Heng, you are really getting better and better at acting! Do you dare to look into my eyes and say it again?"
Fu Heng avoided Concubine Chun's gaze and dared not look at her.
He knew that Concubine Chun was right, but he didn't dare to do that because he felt guilty and was afraid.
"What are you afraid of?" Concubine Chun pressed on step by step, her tone sharp: "Are you afraid that I will tell the emperor that you are still thinking about his woman? Or are you afraid that I will expose your hypocritical mask and make you unable to raise your head in front of the emperor again?"
"That's enough!" Fu Heng growled, finally unable to bear it any longer: "Concubine Chun, stop making trouble! This matter ends here, just pretend nothing happened!"
Fu Heng almost fled from Changchun Palace. He did not dare to look back, for fear that if he did, he would see Concubine Chun's face full of resentment.
The night wind was cold, but it could not blow away the depression in his heart. He hurried along, replaying everything that had just happened and Concubine Chun's heart-piercing questions in his mind.
"What are you afraid of? Are you afraid that I will tell the emperor that you are still thinking about his woman? Or are you afraid that I will expose your hypocritical mask and make you unable to raise your head in front of the emperor again?"
Fu Heng closed his eyes in pain. He couldn't deny that Concubine Chun had hit his soft spot. He was indeed afraid, afraid of losing everything he had now, afraid of being disliked by the emperor, and even more afraid... Er Qing would be hurt.
"Er Qing..."
This name was like a curse, lingering in his mind. Fu Heng suddenly stopped and covered his face in pain. He didn't know what was wrong with him. He had already chosen to give up, but he still couldn't help thinking about her and caring about her...
The Forbidden City was decorated with lanterns and colorful lights everywhere, and the atmosphere was filled with joy. The Queen Mother's birthday was approaching, and all the palaces were busy preparing for the birthday gifts. There was even an undercurrent of excitement in the harem, hoping to take this opportunity to win the Queen Mother's favor and move up to a higher level.
"The Emperor has arrived——"
Following the eunuch's shrill voice, Emperor Qianlong, surrounded by his concubines, entered the Cining Palace. The Queen Mother sat at the head of the table, with a kind face, but her majesty could not be concealed.
"Greetings to the Empress Dowager. I wish her a long life and good health!" Qianlong saluted respectfully, and the concubines behind him also knelt and saluted. For a moment, the Cining Palace was filled with fragrant breezes and the chirping of beautiful women.
The Queen Mother smiled and gave Qianlong a light support, "The Emperor is thoughtful, please get up quickly."
"Empress Dowager, this is the snow lotus that was newly tributed from Jiangnan this year. It is extremely nourishing and beauty-enhancing. Your son has specially ordered someone to make ginseng tea for you to try." Qianlong personally picked up the teacup and handed it to the Empress Dowager.
The Queen Mother took the teacup, took a sip, and praised, "The Emperor is thoughtful. This snow lotus ginseng tea is indeed fragrant and pleasant."
Seeing that the Empress Dowager liked it, Qianlong also showed a gratified smile on his face. He turned his head and looked at the concubines behind him: "You have all prepared it carefully, right? Why don't you present it quickly and make the Empress Dowager happy too."
For a time, concubines from all palaces competed with each other to present rare treasures to the empress dowager. Although the empress dowager did not show her emotions, the smile in her eyes and eyebrows could not deceive people, and it was obvious that she was very satisfied with this year's birthday gifts.
When it was Er Qing's turn, she stepped forward calmly and bowed: "I heard that the Empress Dowager believed in Buddhism, so I specially ordered someone to embroider a picture of the Thousand-armed Guanyin. May the Buddha bless the Empress Dowager with a long life and good fortune, and may everything go well."
As they spoke, two palace maids slowly came over carrying a huge portrait. As the portrait slowly unfolded, the golden and magnificent Buddha light suddenly filled the entire Cining Palace. The Guanyin in the painting had kind eyes and was lifelike, with fluttering clothes, as if she would walk out of the painting in the next second.
The Queen Mother took a closer look and saw that this "Thousand-armed Guanyin Picture" was not only exquisitely painted, but also full of pious respect in every stitch. The Queen Mother smiled even more and praised repeatedly: "Good, good! Erqing, this birthday gift of yours is really appreciated by me!"
Qianlong's eyes fell on Erqing, with a bit of inquiry and... a hint of barely perceptible grievance.
He coughed lightly, breaking the atmosphere of admiration in the Cining Palace, and said quietly: "Qing'er's birthday gift is indeed thoughtful. But why do I remember that Qing'er is good at sewing, but she has never embroidered anything for me?"
The Empress Dowager looked at Qianlong with a smile, her eyes full of mischief: "What's wrong with the Emperor? Isn't it because Qing'er has spent all her attention on me and neglected the Emperor?"
A burst of laughter suddenly rang out in the Cining Palace. The concubines covered their faces one after another, but their eyes looked back and forth between Qianlong and Erqing, trying to guess what the emperor and empress were thinking.
Qianlong was embarrassed by the empress dowager's teasing, and pretended to be unhappy and said: "You are joking, Queen Mother. Qing'er is so filial, I am so happy, how can I blame her?"
After that, he looked at Er Qing deeply, the look in his eyes was complicated and hard to read, with inquiry, unwillingness, and a hint of resentment that he himself didn't even notice. But Er Qing seemed not to see it, still standing there with her head lowered and a perfect smile on her lips.
A subtle atmosphere of awkwardness permeated the Cining Palace. The concubines lowered their heads and looked submissive, but they could not hide the whispers in the corners of their eyes and eyebrows.
Everyone knows that the emperor dotes on Er Qing. Now that the emperor is jealous, they, the concubines, naturally have to be careful with their words and actions to avoid getting into trouble.
The Queen Mother took in Qianlong's expression and laughed in her heart. This emperor, who seemed quite shrewd on weekdays, how come he became so childish when he encountered Er Qing's matter?
She coughed lightly and tried to smooth things over, "Your Majesty, you are joking. Qing'er has always been a filial child. I usually rely on her company."
Er Qing's fingers gently hooked on Qianlong's sleeves, like a willow branch brushing across the water in spring, creating ripples.
She raised her head slightly, her eyes moving, as if she had a thousand words to say, but they only turned into a coquettish voice: "Your Majesty, do you dislike me? I am stupid and only know a little bit of needlework. How can I compare with those clever sisters in the palace?"
When Qianlong looked at Erqing's cute and lovely appearance, the inexplicable displeasure in his heart instantly disappeared.
He stretched out his hand and scratched Er Qing's nose, saying lovingly, "You clever little thing, you only know how to make me happy with words. How could I dislike you? I just thought that as the ruler of a country, I am not as lucky as the Empress Dowager. I can't help but feel a little jealous to receive a gift embroidered by you personally."