lcionline Chapter 203 Shen Zhinian and Meng Bin meet on a narrow road
Chapter 203 Shen Zhinian and Meng Bin meet on a narrow road
It's because of the palace rules.
Even if the other person is just an eight or nine-year-old child, as long as she is half a grade higher than her, she has to politely call her "sister".
In the end, Mengpin could only suppress her anger and said to Madam Xiao with a dry smile, "I was confused for a moment."
"Don't blame me, Sister Roupin."
Concubine Meng wanted to show off her seniority in front of her and suppress her, but she forgot that the rules in the palace are the most important.
Shen Zhinian's slow voice came from the warm sedan chair: "Mengpin, you are too polite. Since we are sisters, why should we be so polite?"
She said so, but from beginning to end, she didn't even lift the curtain of the warm sedan chair. She really didn't take people seriously!
Mengpin is already 23 years old this year, but she has to bow her head and call herself "sister" in front of a little girl who is not even 17 years old. It is really embarrassing.
Because this is telling everyone that it doesn't matter if she married His Majesty in the Qiandi Residence? She is still not as good as a newcomer!
Although it was already the 16th day of the first lunar month, the temperature was still very cold. Shen Zhinian was fine sitting in the warm sedan, but she was freezing in the sedan chair.
Mengpin said with an unpleasant expression, "We can't delay going to the Cining Palace to pay our respects. Let's get going!"
This then involves a new problem.
The palace road was not wide enough to allow the two processions to advance at the same time, so they had to be separated into a front and a back.
Mengpin didn't want to confront Shen Zhinian at this time. But Nanny Xiao had just given her a warning. If she gave in again, how would the people around her look at her?
Will they still take her as their master seriously in the future?
Thinking of this, Mengpin smiled and said, "I don't dare to compete with Sister Roupin for the road, but half of my team has already come out, and it's not good to retreat."
"I've always heard that Sister Roupin is kind and generous. She shouldn't argue with me over such a small matter, right?"
With Shen Zhinian's current status and position, she needs to behave like a favored concubine in order to make people respect her.
Besides, she didn't enter the palace to be bullied, so why should she tolerate people who are not kind to her?
As for whether the news would affect her image in Nangong Xuanyu's heart...
After the incident with Liu Ruyan, Shen Zhinian was certain that although Nangong Xuanyu did not love her deeply, he at least loved her.
Therefore, she no longer needed to be as careful as she was when she first entered the palace to maintain a perfect image. She had already begun to slowly show her true self to Nangong Xuanyu.
So, what’s wrong with being a little spoiled?
"I originally thought that Concubine Meng was someone who knew the rules. It seems that my sister didn't listen to anything that Madam Xiao said just now."
Mengpin's smile froze on her face. She didn't expect Shen Zhinian's attitude to be so tough!
Isn't she used to pretending to be kind in front of His Majesty? Isn't she afraid that these words will get to His Majesty's ears and make His Majesty think she is hypocritical?
Without waiting for Concubine Meng to speak, Madam Xiao said expressionlessly, "There is a limit to the superiors and subordinates, and there is a difference between the noble and the humble! Concubine Rou is half a level higher than you, so it is Concubine Meng who should give way!"
"Otherwise, if we delay paying respects to the Empress Dowager, it will be Concubine Meng's fault!"
Even though Mengpin was unwilling, she knew she was not in the right and did not dare to make a big deal out of it: "…Return everything!"
After Shen Zhinian's procession left in a grand procession, her people followed behind carrying the sedan chair.
Chunying walked beside the sedan chair and said indignantly, "It turns out that Concubine Rou only pretends to be kind in front of His Majesty, but is so domineering in private!"
"So what?"
In her first confrontation with Shen Zhinian, she was completely defeated without even seeing the other person's appearance.
Mengpin looked at the sedan chair going away in front of her and said through gritted teeth, "Who told her to be Roupin, while I am just a concubine without even a title."
"A rank higher than mine can crush someone, and the same goes for a rank lower than mine. Even if I make a big fuss, no one will stand by me."
Chunying's eyes were red. "When Your Majesty was serving His Majesty, Concubine Rou was just a little girl whose hair had not yet grown out. Now she is superior to Your Majesty and has become her elder sister. Seeing this, I really feel sorry for Your Majesty..."
Mengpin's face was as gloomy as water: "I will not always be inferior to Roupin!"
The royal heir in her belly is her greatest support!
As long as she can give birth to a boy, he will be your Majesty's eldest son and his status will be extremely noble. Of course, she will also be honored as a mother because of her son!
Not long after, Shen Zhinian and Mengpin's teams arrived at the Cining Gate one after another.
Madam Yuan, who was beside Empress Dowager Liu, had already brought people here to wait: "This old servant pays respects to the two ladies!"
"No need to be so polite, Mammy."
Facing Empress Dowager Liu's confidant, Concubine Meng's attitude was very polite, even to the point of being attentive.
Seeing the sedan chair behind Nanny Yuan, she asked curiously, "What is this..."
Nanny Yuan said politely, "The Empress Dowager heard that Concubine Rou was attacked and injured her foot during the enthronement ceremony yesterday, and she has difficulty walking. So she specially ordered this old servant to bring a sedan chair and carry Concubine Rou in."
The smile on Mengpin's face suddenly became extremely stiff.
Anyone's carriage could only stop at the Cining Gate, and then walk through the long and narrow square to the main hall of the Cining Palace. However, the Empress Dowager made an exception and ordered the sedan chair to wait here. She was too partial to Concubine Rou!
"The Queen Mother is thoughtful."
Shen Zhinian smiled slightly, ignoring Mengpin's ugly expression, and with the help of Handan and Fuqiu, he sat on the sedan chair.
At the same time, her mind was racing.
It is said that the late emperor loved beauties, and the number of concubines in the harem was several times that of Nangong Xuanyu. To be able to fight among so many beauties, Empress Dowager Liu was definitely not a kind person.
She doesn't take extra care of herself out of kindness.
Empress Dowager Liu either felt that she was Nangong Xuanyu's favorite concubine and wanted to use her to let Nangong Xuanyu see her attitude and deepen the relationship between mother and son.
Either she wanted to consolidate her alliance with Concubine Liu by showing goodwill, so that she would put all her efforts into dealing with Jiang Wange.
No matter which possibility it is, at least in the short term, Empress Dowager Liu will not do anything that is detrimental to her.
After figuring out the twists and turns, Shen Zhinian leaned back on the sedan chair in a relaxed manner.
Soon, the team crossed the square.
Shen Zhinian got off the sedan chair and walked into the Cining Palace one after another with Concubine Meng.
Empress Dowager Liu was wearing a phoenix robe and sitting in the main seat, with an expression that exuded majesty without even being angry.
"Your Highness the Queen Mother, I pay my respects to you. May you live a thousand years and a thousand thousand years!"
Empress Dowager Liu signaled Nanny Yuan to help Shen Zhinian up, and said softly, "Princess Rou's injuries have not healed yet, so the six solemn ceremonies will be waived. Get up."
Shen Zhinian smiled faintly: "Thank you, Queen Mother."
Concubine Meng, who was still kneeling on the ground, felt a mouthful of blood choking in her throat!
Concubine Rou was pricked by a needle. If the imperial physician had gone a little later, her wound would have healed. What do you mean by the injury has not healed yet?