sjar Chapter 39: Set a trap for Ping, special gift
Chapter 39: Set a trap for Ping, special gift
The next day, in Changchun Palace, Concubine Ping looked at Hongying kneeling on the ground, narrowed her eyes, put down the teacup, and said in an emotionless tone:
"You said your Second Princess is bedridden due to a cold and can't pick beans for the young prince anymore?"
Hongying bowed her head and replied cautiously:
"To answer your Majesty, the Second Princess had a fever last night. When she was unconscious, she was still thinking about picking Buddhist beans for the little prince. She kept talking in her mouth. But this morning, the high fever has subsided, but she is weak all over and keeps coughing. But she heard that once the Buddhist ceremony begins, it cannot be stopped, so she thought of dragging her sick body to Changchun Palace.
But before leaving, she was stopped by the eldest princess, who said that the emperor had ordered that she attend the birthday banquet of the crown prince in two days, and that she must be in good health to attend, otherwise it would be against the emperor's order, which is a serious crime. The second princess then shamefully asked this servant to come and apologize to you. "
The news that the Emperor had ordered the two princesses of the Shi family to attend the Crown Prince's birthday banquet spread throughout the harem, so how could Concubine Ping not know about it?
That Grand Princess Shi is really good at taking advantage of her position to pressure others. After saying this, how could she dare to delay Shi Nanxi's recuperation any longer!
When she thought about how she had finally held Shi Nanxi in her hand, but she escaped from her grasp again in just one day, she tilted her head and secretly glanced at Xinlian.
It was all this slut's own decision. Xinlian shrank her neck in fear.
Seeing this, Concubine Ping became even more angry, but she said:
"She is a good child. She did not forget to do what I told her to do even when she was sick. It was because I suddenly received the emperor's visit yesterday that I neglected Princess Shi Er. Since she is bedridden, she should just focus on recuperating. I will find someone else to pick the Buddha beans."
Hongying secretly breathed a sigh of relief, kowtowed again and said:
"I thank the Queen for her tolerance on behalf of the Second Princess."
After saying this, seeing that Concubine Ping had no other instructions, he retreated cautiously. But just as he retreated to the door, Xinlian caught up with him.
"Miss Hongying."
"Aunt Xinlian." Upon hearing that, Hongying quickly turned around and bowed.
Xinlian pursed her lips and said:
"Yesterday's incident was caused by my failure to make timely arrangements, which led to Princess Shi Er getting caught in the rain and catching a cold. The Empress said that Princess Shi Er fell ill after returning from Changchun Palace, so she asked me to bring a fifty-year-old ginseng to Princess Shi Er to nourish her body."
Humph, if the Empress had not angered the Emperor yesterday and was worried that this matter would get to the Emperor's mouth and cause more trouble, why would she have to humble herself and apologize, and even ask the Empress to use ginseng to shut up that Second Princess Shi.
Hongying knew it was definitely not like what Xinlian said, but she also practiced it with Shi Nanxi, and immediately looked flattered and said:
"What happened yesterday was just a coincidence. It has nothing to do with Aunt Xinlian, and even less to do with Changchun Palace. My Second Princess is weak to begin with, so how could she be ashamed to take the ginseng given by Concubine Ping."
This was pleasant to hear, but it was embarrassing in the end. Xinlian continued with a straight face:
"How can I take back your Majesty's order? Please follow me."
"Yes, Aunt Xinlian."
Hongying then followed Xinlian. On the way, she thought of Ergege's other instruction and thought the timing was right, so she started talking for fun:
"Aunt Xinlian looks about the same age as me, but she is already a first-class maidservant beside the head of a palace. How enviable."
Xinlian glanced at her and said, "I look young, but I'm actually a few years older than you."
After hearing this, Hongying deliberately used her eyes to secretly look at Xinlian's skin, then touched her own face, and whispered enviously:
"If Aunt Xinlian hadn't told me, I wouldn't have been able to tell. Aunt Xinlian is actually older than Hongying. She looks like she's the same age as Hongying. She's really well maintained."
After saying this, he muttered to himself:
"I don't know if I'll have the chance to be with a good master and maintain myself properly."
Then he said casually as if he had let it slip:
"Fortunately, the eldest princess has prepared a special gift for the second princess. She will surely make a splash at the Crown Prince's birthday banquet and win a bright future. I can also benefit from it."
After saying that, he quickly covered his mouth, looking nervous, but Xinlian narrowed her eyes. A special gift? She secretly made a note of this in her heart.
Then he took out a fifty-year-old ginseng from the warehouse and handed it to Hongying. After taking it, Hongying immediately left in a hurry, while Xinlian turned around and went back to the main hall.
At this time, the main hall was in a mess. It turned out that Concubine Ping had just sent Hongying away, and then she received news from Hesheli Mansion that her third brother was sentenced to exile three thousand miles away.
"How could this happen? How could this happen? Doesn't the emperor care about my feelings at all? Why, why, I only have this one brother from the same mother!"
"It's all because of that bitch, that unlucky jinx. If it weren't for her, none of this would have happened."
Concubine Ping was unwilling to admit that it was she who had injured the little prince yesterday and angered the emperor, so she put all the blame on Shi Nanxi.
When Xinlian heard this, she immediately thought of the news she had just heard unexpectedly, and hurriedly went to Concubine Ping's ear and whispered a few words.
After hearing this, Concubine Ping's face turned grim and her eyes turned red as she said:
"My third brother is about to be exiled, and that little bitch still wants a good future? Dream on! I will make sure you never have a chance in your life."
After saying that, he gave Xinlian a few instructions.
Hongying returned to Chuxiu Palace and reported back to Shi Nanxi about what happened in Changchun Palace. Shi Nanxi nodded and praised:
"Well done, very responsive."
Hongying's face turned red because of the praise.
At this time, Shi Nanxi asked:
"You have been in the palace for many years, how many friends do you have? They should be trustworthy. Ask them to help keep an eye on whether anyone from Changchun Palace will come into contact with anyone from Yuqing Palace in the next two days. You don't need to ask about the specifics, just to see if there has been any contact, and if so, what the other party's identity is."
As he said this, he turned sideways and took out a few pieces of silver from the bedside and gave them to Hongying. Hongying took it, thought for a moment and said:
"I have a few friends I can talk to. They are bondservants like me. Their families are either deserted or in similar circumstances to mine. However, they are trustworthy. One of them happens to be cleaning the Yuqing Palace. I will go and ask her to keep an eye on him."
"Thanks for your hard work."
"Second Princess is in a serious condition, but it's just a matter of running errands."
At this time, there was a noise outside the door. Hongying quickly put away the silver and stood up.
The next moment, Shi Rongyue came in excitedly, holding a package, and lifted the bead curtain. When she saw Hongying, she quickly waved her hand.
Hongying glanced at Shi Nanxi, who nodded slightly, and then she left.
Shi Rongyue sat down on the bed, carefully took out the package, and mysteriously untied the cloth covering it.
Only then did Shi Nanxi discover that what was wrapped inside was actually a glass bottle, with the opening of the glass tied into a bow with gold thread wrapped around it several times.
There is a big paper star in the bottle. What’s more exquisite is that this paper star is suspended in the air and is covered with blue paper, just like the starry sky.
At the very bottom there was a little man cut out of colored paper, and if you looked closely it was the outline of the crown prince. This was exactly what Shi Rongyue had said to the crown prince yesterday - his royal mother had turned into stars in the sky and was looking at him.
"How is it? This birthday gift is called the Glass Star. I guarantee that the prince will like it and will look at you with new eyes."
It is indeed a good idea. I will not let it be sent to the prince.
"Sister, you are so beautiful, you are so amazing,"
Shi Rongyue is proud:
"So you must not make any mistakes on the birthday banquet." After saying that, he thought for a moment and said, "I will keep this and I will personally hand it to the steward of Yuqing Palace the day after tomorrow."
Shi Nanxi nodded obediently and watched Shi Rongyue turn around to hide the gift. Her eyes were deep and unfathomable for a moment, and the next moment they returned to their usual timid and cautious self.