mtlumby2d Chapter 169 Qingying
Chapter 169 Qingying
Hongshi nodded quickly: "I will follow your mother's instructions."
Concubine Qi patted his hands and said, "Go ahead, choose carefully, and don't be impulsive."
Hongshi bowed again, turned around and walked towards the flower viewing venue. Concubine Qi looked at his back, her eyes full of joy and expectation.
Among the pavilions and towers, silks and satins fluttered in the wind, and exquisite cakes and fruit wines filled the tables.
The most eye-catching ones are the daughter of Shangshu Xilda and the youngest daughter of Shangshu Tian Wenjing.
The other ladies, dressed in pink, were lively and reserved, while the other ladies were also gathered around them.
Hongshi straightened his clothes and came out from the back of the hall. At the same time, Concubine Qi also returned to the main hall.
Seeing Hongshi approaching Linxi Pavilion, Jiang Ruyin cast a playful look at Concubine Qi, and saw that she was looking out of the palace without blinking.
Jiang Ruyin laughed and suggested, "The scenery is beautiful, and it's not a good idea for us to stay indoors all the time. Why don't we move the seats to the front porch and add two more ice basins?"
Concubine Qi quickly agreed, "Yes, yes, I see some young ladies are sweating. Come, add ice basins to Yanshou Hall and Hanqingzhai as well."
Silda's wife was the first to kneel. "Thank you for your concern, ladies and gentlemen. I would be grateful if you would not accept my kindness."
When Concubine Qi saw that it was Dong E's mother who was talking, she happily moved over and wanted to sit with her.
Dong E came from a distinguished family. Her father had served as Minister of Personnel, Minister of Rites, and Minister of War, a man of great shrewdness and influence. She herself was also more beautiful than a flower, and she was always reserved, hiding half her face with a small fan. Seeing Hongshi's elegant appearance, she couldn't help but blush.
Tian was younger, with a pair of delightful, round eyes. She chatted cheerfully with the girls around her, occasionally fiddling with the purse rings on her dress. Her father, the Governor-General of Henan and Shandong provinces, was highly regarded by the emperor. Even though she was a Han bannerman, the emperor's pro-Han stance meant no one dared to deny Tian the title of legitimate wife.
Hongshi bowed slightly and said with a smile: "It is a great honor for Hongshi to have you all here today."
Dong E gently waved her small fan, bowed slightly, and said in a soft voice: "Third Prince, you are too polite. It is our blessing to be able to participate in today's event." After that, her cheeks flushed slightly, and her eyes were full of shyness.
Tian blinked her round eyes, bowed generously, and said in a crisp voice, "Third Prince, even though we added an ice basin in this room, it's still a bit stuffy."
Hongshi was stunned for a moment, then nodded repeatedly, "Miss Tian is absolutely right, the weather is really getting a bit hot."
Tian smiled brightly and gestured around, "Third Prince, look here, the scenery is pleasant, the breeze is gentle, it's much more comfortable than inside the house."
Hongshi looked in the direction she pointed and nodded in agreement, "Indeed, Miss Tian has a very refined taste."
Dong E, who was standing by, covered her lips lightly and said with a faint smile, "Third Prince, it would be wonderful if we could compose poems and couplets here on such a beautiful day."
Hongshi had not expected this, and gritted his teeth, "Miss Dong E is truly talented."
Although Concubine Qi was still sitting, her eyes were fixed on Hongshi. Her body leaned forward slightly, and her hands were unconsciously clasped in front of her, clutching the handkerchief tightly.
When she saw Hongshi talking to Dong E, who lowered her head shyly and blushed, Concubine Qi grinned and quickly covered her mouth with a handkerchief.
While Tian was talking to Hongshi lively and making playful gestures from time to time, Concubine Qi frowned slightly, revealing a hint of worry, fearing that Hongshi would not like such a lively and playful woman.
Seeing Hongshi's reaction, Dong E was somewhat disappointed, but she was not discouraged. She just smiled and said, "Third Prince has an extraordinary demeanor. I just thought of a line from a poem, 'Seek where the water ends, and turn around to see a gentleman.'"
Hongshi listened carefully to this sentence and searched carefully in his mind. He exhausted all his life's learning. Seeing that it seemed that he had not learned this poem, he immediately laughed heartily and said, "Turning around to see a gentleman, good poem, good poem!"
Concubine Qi was so happy that she wanted to jump up and spin around clapping and cheering. She also chatted enthusiastically with Dong E's mother.
Although Hongshi himself did not like to show off his literary talent, he quite appreciated talented women. After chatting with Dong E for a while, Hongshi turned around slowly and found that Tian had run to the rockery to watch a magpie up close.
Jiang Ruyin held up her chin and looked at Madam Tian. She was considered older among the ladies. At the moment, she was sipping tea calmly, as if she didn't care much about the comings and goings of her daughter, who was born in her old age.
Look at Tian again, and she and two other young girls are standing on the left and right, ready to catch the birds playing on the branches.
Jiang Ruyin pinched her chin, feeling somewhat bored.
Anyone with a discerning eye could see that Hongshi was trying to please both sides, but Dong E didn't seem to care much, while Tian's mother and daughter were much more casual.
Suddenly, a sharp laugh was heard from the west wing, attracting everyone's attention. The women immediately covered their mouths and dispersed in twos and threes, revealing the girl in the middle. When Nian Shilan stood up, two of the women actually knelt down in a daze.
Jiang Ruyin frowned and said, "What happened over there?" Then she stood up holding Fu Qiu's hand.
Is it really that courageous to laugh and joke around in the palace? If nothing is revealed, we will just pretend we didn't see it.
Nian Shilan had the same idea. After sitting there for a long time, she just wanted to walk around when she was forced to take charge of the situation. Her face twisted for a moment and she walked towards them with a sour face.
The girl in the middle was no more than twelve or thirteen years old. She was wearing an apricot-red shirt and stood quietly with her hands folded on her belly, oblivious to the gazes of those around her.
Until Nian Shilan and others came closer.
The girl lifted the hem of her skirt and bowed slowly. "I am Qingying of the Ulanara clan, daughter of Fourth Rank Commander Nerbu. I greet the Imperial Concubine, the Fang Concubine, the Duan Concubine, the Qi Concubine, and the Jing Concubine. May your Majesty be blessed with good health and eternal youth."
Jiang Ruyin stood behind Nian Shilan and looked over with her head tilted. This seemed to be very different from the Qingying she had in mind.
The Qingying in my memory had a delicate, round face, always tilted her head, and had a proud disposition. But the girl named Qingying before me had an oval face, always with downcast eyes, fair cheeks, and full, round lips.
When Nian Shilan heard that the surname was Ulanara, she immediately raised her eyebrows in displeasure and lazily turned her head to look at the two women who had collapsed to their knees first, "Tell me, what happened?"
One of the women in colorful clothes shuddered and was immediately glared at by Nian Shilan.
The woman trembled all over, kowtowed uncontrollably, and shouted:
"Your Majesty, please spare me! Your Majesty, please spare me! I was just chatting and joking with Qingying for a few minutes, and I lost my composure because I was careless!"