HCB Chapter 148 The Crown Prince Requests to See Concubine Xiao
Chapter 148 The Crown Prince Requests to See Concubine Xiao
Concubine Xiao smiled brightly.
"Then the prince came here today for that matter too?"
"It is said outside that the Imperial Concubine is intelligent and wise, and her heart is kind and gentle. It is true. Yes, what He An wants is exactly what he wants."
“Hehehe…” When Concubine Xiao heard the rare praise from the prince, she covered her mouth and laughed, showing her charming charm.
But the prince seemed not to see it. He waited for her answer with his brows furrowed without raising his eyelids.
After a moment, Concubine Xiao stopped laughing and said,
"Your Highness thinks too highly of me. I am going to disappoint you. Alas! I have not been feeling well recently and cannot sit for long. Your Highness, please go back! Madam Yao, please see you off."
Without waiting for the Crown Prince to speak again, Concubine Xiao stopped him from speaking. She stood up, put her hand on the arm of the senior palace maid, and walked out of the living room first.
The prince's face remained calm. He left a gift that pleased the other party before taking his leave.
*
In the inner hall, Aunt Yao looked at the prince who had left and asked in confusion:
"Your Majesty, why don't you help him again? This prince came to you secretly to ask for help for the first time on New Year's Day!"
"Nurse, Mr. Zhuge was visited three times at his cottage. I don't want him to look down on me. Don't worry, he will come again for that woman."
Concubine Xiao laughed and walked out.
"My Lady, who is Mr. Zhuge?"
"Nanny, you have read too little and you won't understand even if I tell you."
Nanny Yao choked and her face became a little stiff.
Concubine Xiao didn't look at her. After she went out, she stood on the bluestone slab in the yard, looked up at the night sky, and ordered,
"Hang a few more lanterns in the yard. It's too dark."
"Yes, Madam Concubine."
The little palace maid hurried to light the lantern.
*
Concubine Xiao suddenly kicked her legs without any scruples, swung her arms and started walking with big strides, complaining as she walked,
"Alas! My health is not as good as it used to be. Back then, I was the undisputed first place winner in the 400-meter race!"
"My lady, when did you ever run such a long distance? How come I didn't know?"
Aunt Yao was no longer surprised by Concubine Xiao's often abnormal behavior, but when she heard her mention the running race, she couldn't help but ask another question.
Upon hearing this, Concubine Xiao paused and realized that she had been a little carried away.
In order to cover up, he walked with big strides while whispering slogans "One, two, one, two, three, four..."
Then he waved to the young palace maids and eunuchs who were waiting beside him with their heads bowed.
"All of you follow along. Let's exercise together. It will be more fun with more people."
"Yes! Your Majesty the Imperial Concubine."
Soon, a dozen servants followed her.
Looking at her small team, Concubine Xiao was excited, as if she had returned to the unforgettable days of her previous life with red armbands. She waved her hands while directing and teaching:
"Look at how young you are, but you are all skinny. How can you not exercise to keep fit? Just follow me for more walks in the future. Ah ah ~ Hey, what's up?"
Before the servants in Ruyi Palace could respond, Concubine Xiao cried out in surprise.
"Your Majesty? Your Majesty the Concubine?"
The good team was disrupted suddenly because Concubine Xiao didn't look at the road and accidentally stepped on empty air.
"You blind slaves, what's the point of keeping you? Get down on your knees. Ouch my feet?!"
The Ruyi Palace is quite lively with such a moody and restless master.
*
In the next few days,
Just as Concubine Xiao expected, the prince was not discouraged after being rejected twice.
In the evening of that day, Prince Liang Hean, who knew everything, came to visit quietly again.
The living room of Ruyi Palace.
This time, the prince asked Eunuch Fu to bring a big piece of stuff.
"Your Highness, I found a bunch of red corals by chance when I was traveling with An. I think you will like it. I hope you will accept it."
When Concubine Xiao looked at the bunch of large, bright red coral branches on the tray after Eunuch Fu lifted the red cover, she was suddenly reminded of her life at the seaside in her previous life.
She cried out in surprise.
"Oh, it's so beautiful. Your Highness, you are too polite. I like it very much."
Then his tone of voice softened.
She stopped pretending to be polite and got straight to the point.
"Prince, matters may be big or small, but if I can help you, I will do my best. Sit down and talk."
"Thank you, Your Majesty the Concubine."
The prince glanced around the hall. Concubine Xiao was also curious about his plan, so she raised her hand and waved away the palace servants.
"My lady, may I wait here for you to add more tea?"
Nanny Yao was worried about the prince being here, and she glared at Concubine Xiao.
But Concubine Xiao was unmoved and said bluntly:
"Madam Yao, the prince has something to say to me, all of you please go down!"
"Here!"
*
With no other options available, Madam Yao had to leave the living room, and saw Eunuch Fu standing at the door, looking at her with a smile.
"Humph! You have bad intentions."
Nanny Yao glared at him, snorted, and turned her head away.
Eunuch Fu rolled his eyes at the sky, and the two of them stood aside, ignoring each other.
Concubine Xiao looked at the door and said with a smile,
"Prince, why don't you just speak frankly?"
"Thank you very much!..."
When the prince left, half an hour had passed. Concubine Xiao smiled and personally escorted the prince out the door.
As for what the two were talking about, outsiders had no idea.
Anyway, some people saw Concubine Xiao going to the Qianqing Palace for several days in a row to ask for an audience with Emperor Kun.
**
A dozen days later, it was the end of June.
The selection in the palace has officially begun.
The Daliang State held the selection every two years as scheduled. The main purpose was to appease and check and balance the officials of all ranks in the court.
The emperor would also grant one or two beautiful girls to the princes and royal relatives of the right age, including the crown prince and the second prince who had already reached adulthood.
The beauties from Daliang had already arrived at the palace one after another as per the required time.
The first day after entering the palace is the screening stage, and several high-ranking concubines will come forward to check first.
On this day, because of unspeakable jealousy, Concubine Xiao, who seldom participated in the selection, dressed up beautifully, like a young girl of 28 years old, and walked into the hall with a swaying figure, supported by the palace servants.
"Greetings to the Imperial Concubine, may the Imperial Concubine be blessed with good health and happiness."
The servants in the hall knelt down and paid their respects.
"No need to be polite. Everyone, get up!"
Concubine Xiao smiled and seemed to be in a good mood.
*
The host today are Consort Xian, Consort De and Consort Wan.
"Why did Sister Imperial Concubine come here today?"
Concubine De and Concubine Xian both bowed quickly and asked with a smile.
Concubine Wan also stepped forward, knelt down, and bowed with a flattering smile.
"My Lady, these delicate flowers have lost their color since you came!"
"No gift."
Concubine Xiao smiled and gave him a false helping hand.
"I am not as beautiful as you say. Time is merciless and I have become an old lady!"
"Your Highness, please don't be so modest. If you say you are old, I and your servants will have to cover our faces and won't be able to face anyone!"
Defei and Xianfei also complimented her.
"Oh, you all have clever words, and you only know how to make me happy."
Feeling complimented, Concubine Xiao was so delighted that she laughed and sat down on the main seat they had vacated.
**