sbdcsierra Chapter 1245: The Imperial Concubine Treats Concubine Xuan More Intimately (142 Million Rewards)
Chapter 1245: The Imperial Concubine Treats Concubine Xuan More Intimately (142 Million Rewards)
Her fingertips gently brushed the second princess's soft hair without saying much, but this silent intimacy and tenderness was worth a thousand words.
The detached tranquility of Concubine Xian was as if the undercurrents caused by the change of power in the palace had nothing to do with her.
For her, being the head of the four concubines was more like a natural recognition rather than a goal to strive for.
This kind of mentality really fits the word "virtuous".
As the virtuous concubine took her seat, more eyes filled with speculation and expectation were cast towards Li Changde who was announcing the decree.
The six palaces have been conferred titles, and the positions of Imperial Noble Consort, Noble Consort, and Virtuous Consort have been determined. Now it is the turn of the next people.
Consort Kang, Consort Xuan, and Consort Dun were all titled consorts. They each raised the fifth, sixth, and third princes.
Who will be the next one?
Li Changde didn't keep everyone waiting too long.
He cleared his throat and began to issue the next decree. His voice rang out clearly: "By the grace of Heaven and the Mandate of Heaven, I decree: Concubine Xuan, Sun, is of a gentle and kind nature, and a good domestic servant. She has served the Emperor diligently and nurtured the Sixth Prince with compassion. I hereby promote her to the rank of Concubine Xuan. This is my decree!"
Although this was expected, Concubine Xuan was still completely stunned when the decree came down...
She knelt on the ground in a daze, forgetting to react for a moment. Her delicate hands, accustomed to plucking strings, unconsciously clenched the corners of her clothes.
Concubine? !
She became Concubine Xuan? !
This great news brought a strong sense of dizziness to Concubine Xuan...
She was just a little girl sold to the palace by her cruel parents for money. In the palace, she practiced hard and wore out her fingers before she learned to play the pipa.
Fortunately, she was promoted from a servant girl to a singing girl serving at banquets.
By chance, she got the opportunity to serve the emperor in bed and became a concubine of the lowest rank.
In the past, she never dared to dream that she would become a concubine one day!
The humility in the palace, the cautiousness after entering the palace, the contempt and disdain she received because of her background...
Countless images flashed through Concubine Xuan's mind, and her gaze finally fixed on the bright yellow imperial edict in Li Changde's hand.
Zhu'er, who was kneeling beside her, turned pale with anxiety. She hurriedly reminded Xuan Fei in her ear and tugged at her sleeve inconspicuously: "Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Thank you quickly!"
Concubine Xuan suddenly came to her senses and bowed deeply.
Her forehead touched the cold gold brick, and the chill finally made her confused thoughts clear up a little.
Concubine Xuan's voice trembled uncontrollably: "Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace! Long live Your Majesty!"
When she was finally supported by Zhu'er and stood up weakly, her eyes subconsciously looked up at the honorable position.
At this time, Shen Zhinian's gaze was also on her.
Eyes facing each other.
There was an encouraging and gentle smile on Shen Zhinian's lips, and her eyes seemed to say that she deserved this position.
There was no condescending pity, nor any disdain for her humble origins. There was only a pure understanding and affirmation that seemed to see through all her efforts and difficulties.
This glance, like the warm sun in winter, instantly dispelled the fear in Xuan Fei's heart. It turned into a surging warm current that rushed straight into her eyes.
Xuan Fei felt a lump in her nose and hurriedly lowered her head to hide her eyes that had suddenly turned red and the tears that were about to burst out.
The feeling of confusion and helplessness in her heart caused by the change of her status was soothed and made more reassuring by the silent warmth of her sister, the Imperial Noble Consort.
It turns out...her efforts, her obedience to the law, and everything she did for Jin'er were not unnoticed.
She was no longer the little singer who was looked down upon in the palace.
She is Concubine Xuan, the mother of the Sixth Prince!
This heavy recognition made Concubine Xuan straighten her back a little.
She had just sat down with an excited and dazed look when some of the lower-ranking concubines sitting in remote seats exchanged knowing glances with each other.
Their eyes swept over Xuan Fei's face, which was slightly flushed with excitement, and a trace of contempt and jealousy that was difficult to conceal flashed in the depths of their eyes.
Concubine position!
This is a position that many people dream of!
Concubine Xuan...what right does she have?
She was just a crude maid who was sold to the palace. She relied on her excellent pipa playing skills to get the chance to sleep with the emperor and luckily climbed up to the upper class.
In terms of family background, her parents were commoners, not even ninth-rank officials.
In terms of talent, what else does she have besides those skills that are similar to those of a singing girl?
In terms of scheming and tactics, she was even more mediocre, and was often ostracized when she was in the palace.
If not... if she hadn't taken refuge with that person early on, clung to the Imperial Noble Consort's thigh, and received her protection and some favor. With her background and abilities, how could she have achieved what she has today?
How could she have surpassed many concubines with better family backgrounds and qualifications than her and ascended to the position of imperial concubine in one step?!
Several narrow-minded low-ranking palace concubines couldn't help but feel jealous.
They could almost imagine how Concubine Xuan humbled herself and tried to please the Imperial Noble Concubine in every possible way.
This high position obtained through connections made them both despise and go crazy with jealousy!
However, all the criticism and contempt were suppressed in the hearts of the people, and no one dared to show it.
Concubine Xuan was a newly promoted concubine, and if they showed any dissatisfaction at this moment, it would be tantamount to seeking their own death.
These low-ranking concubines could only swallow their resentment and jealousy, trying hard to maintain respect on their faces, even with a bit of flattering smile, as if they were happy for Concubine Xuan.
Amidst the subtle undercurrents, Li Changde's voice rang out again, drawing everyone's attention back: "By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims: Concubine Zhang Kang, gentle and kind, strictly abides by palace rules. She raised the fifth prince with great kindness. A veteran of the Qian Palace, she is diligent and frugal. She is hereby promoted to Concubine Kang. This is decreed!"
Concubine Kang's gesture of thanking the emperor was obviously much calmer than Concubine Xuan's just now.
While her family wasn't particularly high-ranking, her father was a legitimate fifth-rank official. She herself was a veteran of the Imperial Residence, possessing extensive experience. Raising the Fifth Prince was a further achievement.
Although being crowned as a princess was a great joy for her, it seemed more like a natural outcome.
Concubine Kang held a dignified posture, bowed deeply, and spoke with proper gratitude: "Your Majesty, your concubine Zhang, thanks you for your grace! Long live Your Majesty!"
However, as she stood up, her eyes inadvertently swept over the newly promoted Concubine Xuan not far away. The joy in her heart was eventually overshadowed...
Concubine Xuan.
Concubine Kang.
Even among the six palaces, the two of them were still equal.
In terms of seniority in the imperial palace, she was much older than Concubine Xuan.
In terms of background, her father was an official, while Concubine Xuan's parents were just ordinary people.
In terms of her foundation in the palace... Concubine Kang believes that she is much more stable than Concubine Xuan, who can only play the pipa.
The only difference is that the Imperial Noble Consort treats Concubine Xuan more intimately.