sjar Chapter 354: Favored Foreign Banquet Begins
Chapter 354: Favored Foreign Banquet Begins
Every day during the New Year's Day was bustling with activity. The Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month soon passed, and on the 16th day of the first lunar month, the annual banquet for foreign vassals was held.
On this day, Kangxi brought six concubines above the rank of concubine in the harem, as well as princes and court officials to the Ziguang Pavilion.
The Ziguang Pavilion is located in the western suburbs of the capital, not in the Forbidden City. It was where Kangxi met with vassal states and Mongolian princes, and displayed portraits of meritorious officials.
The annual banquet for foreign vassals is mostly held here. Along the way, with the imperial guards clearing the way in advance, they soon arrived at the Ziguang Pavilion.
Kangxi got down from the imperial sedan chair and immediately knelt on the ground.
However, Kangxi turned around in front of all the court officials and foreign envoys who came to greet him, and stretched out a bony hand. The next moment, the curtain of the dragon chariot was lifted from the outside.
A white and slender hand was stretched out, and a concubine walked out with her back bent. The emperor immediately grasped the concubine's hand and gently helped her get off the dragon chariot.
Foreign ministers, concubines, and envoys saw this scene, and a sentence emerged in their minds.
Concubine Xian was indeed favored, and the emperor even openly favored her.
After reaching this conclusion, some ministers with ulterior motives felt heavy-hearted. The Emperor was so obviously fond of Concubine Xian, could they really use the most beautiful woman in the White Tribe to break the harem structure?
It was not the first time that the concubines in the harem saw the emperor favoring Concubine Xian, but they still felt a little uncomfortable.
Among them, Imperial Concubine Nianhulu clenched her handkerchief tightly and gritted her teeth secretly, saying, "Imperial Concubine Xian, I will let you be proud for a while, but you won't be able to laugh at the foreign vassal banquet."
The envoys of the Bai tribe looked at each other in bewilderment. This person was the favorite concubine of the Qing Emperor. She was even more favored than what they had investigated!
Kangxi waited until Shi Nanxi stood still before letting go of her hand. The two stood side by side, and Kangxi glanced at everyone.
I just want you to know that I favor Concubine Xian. What the superior likes, the subordinates will like even more. From now on, everyone knows what to do.
"No courtesy, please get up."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Afterwards, Kangxi took Shi Nanxi and entered the Ziguang Pavilion first, and the others followed closely. As soon as they arrived at the Ziguang Pavilion, the banquet would not start immediately.
Kangxi took Shi Nanxi to the eastern warm room in the rear hall to rest.
"Are you feeling dizzy? Do you want to take a nap?"
Kangxi was worried that Shi Nanxi would get carsick.
Heather Brooke shook her head.
"I'm fine. I'm in the capital. The roads are all paved with bluestone. It's not bumpy at all."
"That's good. If you feel unwell, call the imperial physician. I'll ask Court Judge Lu to be on standby. You two should serve the imperial concubine carefully."
Kangxi gave detailed instructions, and the last sentence was directed at Nanny Yang and Hongying. The two of them immediately bowed in response. Shi Nanxi looked at Kangxi with a smile and did not reject his kindness.
At this time, Liang Jiugong came in holding Fochen and reported:
"Your Majesty, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is here with his princes."
Upon hearing this, Shi Nanxi did not wait for Kangxi to speak, and said:
"Your Majesty, please go and do your work. I have Nanny Yang and Hongying here with me."
Kangxi pursed his lips:
"Okay, if you're bored, you can go out for a walk, but remember to bring your eunuchs and guards with you."
After all, there are foreign officials here, as well as envoys from Mongolia and vassal states, so you should be careful when going out.
Kangxi touched Shi Nanxi's hand, looked at her again before leaving.
After everyone left, Shi Nanxi leaned back on the couch. The manager here knew they would come today and had already lit the charcoal in the room, so it wasn't cold at all.
"My lady, I just took a closer look, but I didn't see anyone who looked like the most beautiful woman in the description!"
"Maybe he didn't come out!" Shi Nanxi yawned, a little lazily.
Hongying muttered:
"You didn't come out to greet the Emperor when he arrived. You really don't know etiquette."
Even though the emperor later confessed to the empress and arranged a fate for the most beautiful woman, she still disliked her and was always finding fault with her.
Shi Nanxi shook her head without saying anything, and closed her eyes slightly, preparing to have a good rest, recharge her energy, and attend the foreign vassal banquet in the best condition.
But after a while, there was a sudden noise outside the door, and Xiao Ruzi walked in with a strange expression on his face.
"What's wrong? What happened? The queen is still resting." Hongying frowned when she saw Xiao Ruzi coming in.
Xiao Ruzi glanced at the empress who was resting with her eyes closed, made a bitter face, and whispered:
"Sister Hongying, I didn't mean to disturb Her Majesty's rest. There was a little maid outside who claimed to be a maid from the Bai tribe and told her that as long as I reported the Bai tribe, Her Majesty would definitely summon her."
When these words were spoken, Hongying and Nanny Yang were both startled, and Shi Nanxi also opened her eyes and looked over.
"Oh, the person who came claimed to be a messenger from the White Tribe?"
Seeing the reaction of the empress, Xiao Ruzi felt relieved. Fortunately, he did not dismiss her casually. He bowed and said:
"Yes, he is waiting outside now."
"Xuan come in."
"It's the lady."
Soon, a thin and small palace maid followed Xiao Ruzi in. Shi Nanxi looked at the other person. She had an ordinary appearance, with a hint of nervousness in her expression. It seemed that she was just a person who was simply helping the other party to pass on the message.
Sure enough, after the person came in, he didn't even dare to raise his head, and immediately knelt down with a plop.
"Your servant pays respect to Her Majesty Noble Consort Xian. May Your Majesty be blessed with good health."
Shinanxi raised her hand.
"No need to be polite, stand up. What message does the maid from the White Tribe want you to convey to me?"
The visitor stood up cautiously.
"My queen, she said she came from afar just to survive for her tribe and she has no ill will towards you. As long as the Qing Dynasty can accept her tribe's dependence and not let her tribe perish, she can marry anyone."
Shi Nanxi narrowed her eyes. The implication was that this number one beauty didn't care whether she could enter the palace or not. It seemed that the other party had asked about her.
"Apart from these, is there anything else to say?" Shi Nanxi asked.
The visitor shook his head.
Shi Nanxi nodded slightly without saying anything. Hongying stepped forward, gave him a purse as a reward, and personally sent the person out.
After everyone left, Nanny Yang asked in a low voice:
"Madam, who is that?"
"That person is a smart man, and he is also a very affectionate person."
She was smart enough to dispel her guard in advance and tried to make friends with her. She also attached great importance to her tribe, which could be heard from her words that she could marry anyone.
I just don't know whether these words are true or false, or just to confuse her.
Time passed quickly and the foreign vassal banquet was about to begin. Shi Nanxi led Concubine Niuhulu and four concubines to their seats.
During this time, Concubine Niuhulu saw Shi Nanxi and said softly:
"Does Concubine Xian look happy today?"
Shi Nanxi kept a smile on her face.
"Today, the Emperor is holding a banquet for foreign vassals. This is a day for our Qing dynasty to show off its power. Of course, I am very happy. Could it be that Concubine Niuhulu is not happy?"
Imperial Concubine Niuhulu smiled and gritted her teeth:
"Of course I am happy too." Bitch, you are so sharp-tongued, you will be embarrassed later.
After the concubines took their seats, Kangxi arrived soon after, and the banquet for foreign vassals officially began.