kvmb Chapter 380 With sinister intentions
Chapter 380 With sinister intentions
"Your Majesty, that's right."
The emperor frowned and asked, "Then why is it a fake flower and not real?"
Xiaohui complained in her heart: Could it be that the Queen only wants to give you false good luck?
She was shocked when she thought of this.
The longer Xiaohui followed the empress, the bolder she became, and she almost ignored the emperor.
intolerable!
She quickly calmed herself down.
She answered earnestly and respectfully, "Your Majesty, this is a flower that Consort Zhao saw on the road. She couldn't bring it back, and if she did, it would have wilted, so she couldn't present it to Your Majesty. So, she asked me to carve and paint it."
"It turns out that you can't give real things, so you gave fake ones. Empress Zhao is really thoughtful." A concubine suddenly praised.
Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw that it was Lan Zhaoyi.
Lan Zhaoyi carefully examined the flower in the emperor's hand and smiled curiously, "I just wonder what kind of precious flower it is that Concubine Zhao was so insistent on presenting it to Your Majesty?"
Xiao Hui quickly replied, "Our Concubine Zhao said she narrowly escaped death several times on her way back to the palace, and at one point, she couldn't hold on. Suddenly, at dawn, just as the sun was rising, she collapsed by the roadside and saw this flower. This purple orchid isn't rare, and there are many in the mountains and fields, but they all have three petals. If there are four petals, the elders in the countryside say they bring good luck. So, when the Concubine saw this flower, she regained her courage and believed she would be able to return to the palace. With the blessing of Your Majesty, she finally returned. Upon her return, the Concubine ordered me to carve this good-luck flower for Your Majesty, wishing you everlasting happiness and longevity."
In the past, Xiaohui would get nervous after speaking a few words in front of the emperor.
At this time, I can answer questions fluently.
Moreover, she looks honest and what she says is easy to believe.
So, all the concubines present went to take a closer look at the small purple flower.
The petals are as thin as cicada wings, and the goose yellow stamens are slender and distinct, delicate and elegant. Although it is a wood carving, it is vivid and lifelike, and can be mistaken for the real thing.
If it wasn't said to be carved, anyone would think it was a real flower at first glance.
A small flower with four petals, a lucky flower in folklore?
No wonder there is a legend in the palace that Concubine Zhao has extremely good fortune, and she can even see lucky flowers on her way to escape.
"So that's how it is. Empress Zhao's luck is truly extraordinary," Lan Zhaoyi sighed with envy. "There are so many sisters in our palace. If only everyone could be as lucky as Empress Zhao, could receive His Majesty's favor, and be able to turn danger into safety. I really need to go to Chunxi Palace more often someday to share in Empress Zhao's blessings!"
Concubine Kang continued, "Then you should wait until Concubine Zhao is well again. I went to see her yesterday, and she was exhausted before she could even say a few words."
Concubine Shun immediately agreed, jokingly saying, "That's right, Sister Lan, don't just focus on your good luck. Sister Zhao really needs to rest and recuperate."
"Look at what the two majesties are saying!" Lan Zhaoyi laughed. "Am I so ignorant as to delay Madam Zhao's recovery? I simply envy her good fortune. She has abundant good luck, while the rest of us in the palace can only hope for the grace and blessings of His Majesty."
"The meal is ready, Your Majesty. May we serve?"
At this time, Cao Bin suddenly spoke.
He bowed and asked cautiously.
This is his duty. Lunch is ready, if you don't eat it quickly, it will get cold and hurt your spleen and stomach.
The emperor put the small purple flower back into the box and nodded: "Bloom."
So the palace maid stepped forward and opened the lids of the plates and cups one by one.
A table of delicious imperial meals filled with color, fragrance and flavor was laid out. The Emperor began to eat, while Concubine Kang and Concubine Shun waited on him. The rest of the people, not even qualified to serve, stood by according to their rank, waiting with bated breath.
After a while, the emperor finished eating and stood up to leave.
The dishes on the table that had not been touched were removed and moved to the side hall.
The concubines then went to the side hall. Those in higher positions sat down, while those in lower positions continued to stand, and everyone ate together.
Xiaohui took her leave as soon as the banquet started and returned to Chunxi Palace with her food box.
After telling Fei Wan about the refusal by Concubine Hui and Concubine Qing, Fei Wan nodded, having expected things to turn out this way.
Concubine Hui already had the power to lead troops, and Concubine Qing had the mysterious divine stone, so they each had their own power. If they became empresses at this time, what would they gain except being suspected and alienated by the emperor?
After all, the emperor was no longer at the beginning of his reign. Although he had experienced the catastrophe in the capital, the empress dowager's power, which had been suppressing him, had collapsed, and the royal family and nobles who might have been plotting behind the scenes no longer dared to act rashly. As for the civil servants who were jumping around in the court, no matter how much they did, they had no military power and were not to be feared. The emperor's balancing act could naturally suppress them.
So the current emperor only needs a virtuous wife who can take care of the domestic affairs.
Naturally, neither Concubine Hui nor Concubine Qing was suitable.
They were able to see the problem in advance and withdraw early, which was a wise move.
——Of course, the truly wise one was Imperial Concubine Qing. Concubine Hui was probably only interested in leading troops and didn't want to be a concubine's housekeeper.
"Your Majesty, Consort Lan is acting a little strange today."
Xiaohui laid out all the dishes bestowed by the emperor, and while doing her work, she repeated Lan Zhaoyi's words.
"She seems to be trying to instigate the other ladies, making them jealous of your good fortune. Fortunately, Concubine Shun and Concubine Kang refuted her, and it happened to be when Eunuch Cao invited us to dinner. Otherwise, who knows what she would have said. I don't think she has good intentions."
Concubine Shun and Concubine Kang were both on good terms with Chunxi Palace, and Cao Bin gradually began to do more good deeds that required little effort.
Fei Wan thought to herself that she had more and more helpers and was gradually becoming more successful, which was a good thing.
As for Lan Zhaoyi...
"Not only is she trying to sow discord, she's also deliberately trying to exaggerate my 'lucky' traits. She has real intentions," Fei Wan said.
Xiao Hui was puzzled: "What's your intention?"
Xiang Yi helped Fei Wan sit up and leaned against the soft chair by the dining table, also puzzled. "She has bad intentions, but why does she emphasize the good fortune of the Empress? Many people in the palace have said that you are lucky these past two days. If you become the Empress, you can bring blessings to the harem. Isn't she helping the Empress?"
Fei Wan drank the sweet soup Xiang Yi fed her and said softly, "You must understand that in the imperial palace, the only person who can truly bless the harem is His Majesty."
Xiang Yi paused holding the spoon, "She's trying to make His Majesty fear the Empress?!"
"It hasn't come to that. Your Majesty won't be wary of a weak and incapable concubine." Fei Wan smiled faintly, "But the favor I've received because of my pure kindness and beauty will surely be viewed with suspicion by His Majesty. If this rumor of good fortune spreads long enough, he'll subconsciously wonder, is it because Zhao Qing is so lucky that she's favored by me? In reality, she might not really be that good. Especially if I happen to cause His Majesty's displeasure in some way, this suspicion will creep into His Majesty's heart like a venomous snake, slowly lurking and growing stronger."
Fei Wan narrowed her eyes, her face slightly cold. "Besides, His Majesty was supported by the Queen Mother. Although the Queen Mother's death was due to treason, he is suspected of matricide. Does that mean he is completely at peace? He is mentally unstable right now, and he hates having someone with extremely good luck around him. He's afraid that the emperor's dragon energy will be affected."
Xiang Yi gritted her teeth: "Lan Zhaoyi has sinister intentions!"
Xiao Hui exclaimed softly, "Then... this servant shouldn't be offering the 'lucky flower' at this time!"