bookrandom Chapter 12 The Legend of Zhen Huan (11)
Chapter 12 The Legend of Zhen Huan (11)
"Your Highness, I am Consort An Lingrong from Yanxi Palace!" Consort An Lingrong said somewhat timidly.
"We're in the same palace!" Wangyou looked at Fucha Yixin.
"She's from the same palace as me, but I haven't seen her much!"
"Alright!" Wangyou seemed to remember who An Lingrong was. A natural-born chemist, but unfortunately born at the wrong time!
"Are you here to visit the Imperial Garden too?"
"I was on my way to visit Sister Zhen at Suiyu Pavilion, and I thought I'd come and take a look when I passed by the Imperial Garden!"
"Oh, okay? Let's go together!" Wangyou thought that when it comes to having fun, the more people, the better.
"This concubine thanks Your Highness the Virtuous Consort and Noble Lady Fucha!"
"Alright, get up!"
Yi Xin didn't say anything. Fu Cha Yi Xin and Wang You had grown up together, so she didn't have any contempt for anyone. However, they were indeed not very familiar with each other.
"The autumn scenery is so beautiful, I feel like playing the piano!" Wangyou looked at the small patch of maple trees and became somewhat interested.
"You don't mean to play that piece, do you?" Fucha Yixin felt a chill run down her spine, for some reason.
"Don't you think this scene and that piece of music go perfectly together?" Wangyou could tell at a glance that Yixin wanted to refuse. "Xiaoxiazi, go to Chengqian Palace and get my pipa!"
"Yes, sir!" Xiazi accepted the order and hurried towards Chengqian Palace.
“If you insist on doing this, then I’ll go get my zither too. Little Li, go to Yanxi Palace and get my zither!” Seeing Wangyou’s good mood, Fucha Yixin was not to be outdone. After all, the two of them had played together before.
"An, if there's anything you want, you can send someone to get it!"
"This concubine is not skilled in music, so I will not embarrass myself!" An Lingrong was quite nervous at first, but she found that these two people were really down-to-earth, as if she was not the one who was aggressive on the day of the Jingren Palace greeting.
Soon, Xia Zi and Li Zi brought over Wang You's pipa and Fu Cha Yi Xin's zither, respectively.
The palace maids and eunuchs quickly cleared the area, and in no time, fruits, snacks, and tea were all prepared.
Wangyou and Yixin adjusted the music, smiled at each other, and simultaneously plucked the strings.
"Young Master An, please sit here!"
"it is good!"
Just as everyone was about to listen attentively, a high-pitched and stirring zither sound rang out, as if a thousand troops were rushing towards them, soldiers were constantly fighting on the battlefield, and people were falling down from time to time. The zither sound suddenly became difficult, filled with deep sorrow.
Seemingly out of the soldiers' hatred for the death of their comrade, the music eventually became melodious and low, yet also carried a soaring tone that pierced through the darkness, along with the joy of victory and the remembrance of the departed.
The sounds of the pipa and the zither stopped almost simultaneously, but the people inside and outside the garden remained inside for a long time.
An Lingrong was stunned when the first note of the zither fell. She didn't even bother to eat or drink the whole time, she just listened to the zither. Now she finally came to her senses.
"Bravo!" A cheer suddenly came from the shadows.
"Your Majesty, shouldn't you be reviewing memorials in the Hall of Mental Cultivation? How come you have time to stroll in the Imperial Garden?" Wangyou greeted the visitor with a proper bow, after all, one should still give others face in public.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects! May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings and peace!" Consort Fucha and Consort An hurriedly knelt down to pay their respects.
"Get up, both of you!" Yongzheng said with a smile. "You two played this piece, 'Ambush from Ten Sides,' with great passion and emotion. However, Consort Fucha's zither playing was a little hesitant, not as powerful as the pipa!" Yongzheng's comments were fair, and he didn't overpraise her.
"Your Majesty, Consort Xian only loved to play this one piece when she was in her boudoir. I am far inferior to her!" Fucha Yixin said with a smile.
"Jiaojiao, you can't possibly only know this one song, can you?" Yongzheng suddenly said with a smile.
"Your Majesty, leave room for maneuver when we meet, so that we may meet again in the future!" Wangyou smiled. Although she could play many pieces, she only loved this one, and she did not intend to play any others.
"I believe that if Jiaojiao were to play any other piece, it would sound wonderful!"
“Your Majesty, you are mistaken. When it comes to other pieces, Sister Yixin is still the best. Her piano skills are unparalleled!” Wangyou had no particular thoughts at first, but seeing Yongzheng suddenly gave her some ideas.
It's impossible for a woman to enter the harem without serving the emperor, and the emperor can't just leave a group of concubines hanging around. Otherwise, not only the harem would be in turmoil, but the court would also be in an uproar.
"If you agree, then that's wonderful!" Yongzheng said with a smile, taking Wangyou's hand. "I came all this way specifically to see you. Have you had your fill of sightseeing?"
"It's getting late, and I really should go back!" Wangyou didn't want to drive the Emperor away in public, so she could only go along with him.
"Yixin, Consort An, I'm leaving now. Let's play together another day!"
"Respectfully seeing off His Majesty, respectfully seeing off Consort Xian!" The two watched Yongzheng and Wangyou leave. "Let's go, let's go back too!"
"The Virtuous Consort is truly favored!" An Lingrong said enviously.
"Let's go, it's only right that Sister Wangyou is favored!" The two returned to Yanxi Palace together, and for a moment they felt a sense of sympathy for each other.
More than half a month passed, and Yongzheng either went to Chengqian Palace or Yangxin Hall, but did not go anywhere else.
Countless tea sets were changed in the imperial harem!
"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Consort Xian! Her Majesty is one month pregnant!" Zhang Mi said respectfully.
"Reward her!" Upon hearing the confirmed news, Yongzheng was overjoyed. This was his first child since ascending the throne. "Reward Chengqian Palace with the monthly allowance for the first and second half of the year. You all must take good care of your empress!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Your Majesty, for your generous gift!" Everyone in Chengqian Palace was overjoyed, but the others were not so happy.
Wangyou then had someone give Physician Zhang a large red envelope.
The following day, an imperial edict was issued, and Yongzheng directly promoted Wangyou to the rank of Imperial Concubine, bestowing upon her the double-character title of Shuxian.
When Wangyou received the imperial edict, she was speechless upon seeing the two characters. Although they were both words describing beauty and unique in terms of meaning and value, what did they have to do with the name Shuxian?
However, once the imperial edict was issued, there were no changes, and Wangyou had no choice but to accept it.
Wangyou guessed that the cement and glass recipes she gave must have worked, and since she was pregnant, she simply gave them to her as a reward.
"Your Highness, this is a piece of warm jade specially selected by the Emperor, who said it will be good for your health if you wear it!" Su Peisheng said respectfully, holding a jade box.
Wangyou took out a piece of warm jade, about the size of a child's fist, which was inside. It was warm and smooth to the touch and felt wonderful to hold and polish.
"Please thank His Majesty for me, and tell him that I really like this piece of warm jade!"
"This servant has remembered!" After seeing off the messengers who delivered the imperial decree and the gifts, Wangyou was exhausted.
The investiture ceremony was to be held two months later. Wangyou had a headache and felt exhausted just thinking about the process.
In the afternoon, the congratulatory gifts from various palaces arrived.
"This concubine greets Your Highness, the Noble Consort Shuxian. May Your Highness be well!" Fucha Yixin said with a smile as she walked over.
"Get up now!"
"Thank you, Your Highness!" Fucha Yixin stood up and sat down next to Wangyou. "I wanted to come yesterday, but I thought His Majesty would be with you, so I didn't come!"
"Just thinking about the investiture ceremony two months from now gives me a headache!" Wangyou complained.
"You're talking nonsense again. I know you don't like things that are too troublesome, but this is a blessing that many people would rather die for!" Fucha Yixin was a little envious, but not jealous. All she wanted in her life was to arrive safely in the palace.
"It seems so!" The two chatted for a while longer, and then Consort Fucha had dinner with Wangyou before returning home.