There were many ridiculous things in this world, but to be judged as a good child after saying only eight words, even Fan Xian, who was almost seventeen years old, felt that this matter was ridiculous to the extreme. This palace was indeed different from other places. The judgments of the high and mighty nobles seemed to be too arbitrary and dependent on their own preferences.
Although Fan Xian did not know the relationship between Lady Liu and Yi Guipin, it did not prevent him from learning from Wan'er that Yi Guipin was a highly favored concubine. Otherwise, she would not have been able to give birth to an eight-year-old prince, despite the Emperor's reputation of cultivating his moral character and keeping away from women.
As they chatted in the palace, Yi Guipin seemed to really like Fan Xian. The expression on her face grew happier and happier. Fan Xian was tactful, and picked out a few jokes he remembered from his previous life to listen to them. Suddenly, there was a burst of bell-like laughter in the palace hall. Fan Xian found that Lady Guipin's temperament was straightforward and ruthless. He did not know how she was able to maintain such a temperament in this shameful palace. He could not help but be surprised and admire her.
After chatting for a while, the sun had already gradually risen. Lady Liu smiled and asked, "Where is the Third Prince?" Yi Guipin sighed and said, "That child is still very afraid of strangers. As soon as he wakes up, he shrinks himself in the back of the palace and doesn't want to come out. I'm afraid he won't show his face until it's time to eat." Lady Liu laughed and said, "It turns out that our Third Prince is quite shy."
Although there was a difference between master and subject, Lady Liu and Yi Guipin were still sisters, so their words were not as particular. Yi Guipin stretched out her slender index finger. Her nails were painted red and looked very attractive. She pointed at Fan Xian and said, "Isn't this one of yours also shy?"
At that moment, a shy smile appeared on Fan Xian's face, just in response to Yi Guipin's words.
"Well, sister, you and Ruoruo can stay here and chat with me." Yi Guipin seemed to know that Lady Liu did not want to go to the empress and the eldest princess, so she made the decision to keep them as guests. "I will let Xing'er take Fan Xian to those palaces."
Madam Liu's expression darkened slightly. She bowed and said, "How can this be done? Today I received the imperial edict to enter the Palace and be the first to see Guipin niangniang. I was originally worried that I would offend those niangniang. If I enter the Palace and don't visit those niangniang, I'm afraid it would be somewhat disrespectful. " Hearing these words, Yi Guipin snorted and said, "Sister, I think it's best if you don't go. Originally, it was just to summon Fan Xian into the Palace. You should keep me company and talk. I want to see who in the Palace dares to make irresponsible remarks."
Yi Guipin was a cheerful noblewoman with a trace of naivety, but when she lost her temper, she still appeared very dignified. The entire Palace quieted down. Fan Xian coughed lightly and said, "Auntie … Second Madam, I will go by myself. You and my sister can keep Aunt Liu company and talk for a while."
Hearing him say this, Madam Liu had no choice but to agree. She and the serving girl called Xing 'er escorted Fan Xian outside the Palace. In a quiet voice, she warned him of a few things to take note of, and without anyone noticing, she moved to Fan Xian's shoulder. In a voice as quiet as a mosquito, she said, "Everyone in the Palace has been informed. There will be people in each Palace to receive you. Don't be too nervous."
Fan Xian's heart trembled, and he complied. Turning around, he saw that his sister had followed him out, looking at him encouragingly. For some reason, his heart was filled with warmth. He smiled and thought, "When a mother-in-law looks at a son-in-law, the more she looks at him, the more she likes him. Furthermore, I was born with such a beautiful body. Dealing with a few resentful women in the Palace should be a piece of cake."
After the candidate for the Emperor's son-in-law had left Yi Guipin's Palace, Madam Liu said a few words to Fan Ruoruo, and then entered the inner chambers with Yi Guipin. Yi Guipin quietly looked into her eyes and said, "Four years ago, I advised you not to listen to the advice of those two Palaces. Now, Fan Xian is still alive and well, but you have chilled Sir Fan's heart. Sister, you have been intelligent your whole life. How could you have made such a mistake? " Madam Liu stood where she was, speechless for a long time. Her eyes gradually became resentful, and she quietly said, "You also know that as mothers, don't we think for our children? The Third Prince is still young, so you can stay out of it. In a few years, I'm afraid you will understand why I made such a big mistake. "
— — —
Xing 'er was a young girl of about 13 or 14 years of age. As they walked through the Palace, Fan Xian noticed that the girl's head was always lowered. He couldn't help but tease her. "Can't you see where you're going?" Xing 'er giggled, revealing her small teeth. "Master Fan, it's best not to talk too much in the Palace." Fan Xian smiled bitterly and shook his head. He knew that there were many rules in the Palace, but he didn't think that even a young girl would be so cautious and self-restrained.
Fan Xian followed behind Xing 'er, looking at the clothes she wore. His eyes swept over the girl's undeveloped waist, and then immediately turned to the buildings of the Palace. There was a smile on his face, but his brain was working quickly, trying to memorize the complicated scenery of the road in his mind, in preparation for that matter in the future.
As they walked, they passed by flowers and trees, and stepped on stones and grass. Although the Palace was large, there was a time when they would arrive. Although there were many palaces, not all of them were so grand that they could shake one's heart. Looking at the quiet courtyard in front of him, Fan Xian took a deep breath and followed Xing 'er inside. This was the residence of the Second Prince's birth mother, Imperial Concubine Shu. This Imperial Concubine seemed to love peace and quiet. The courtyard was also decorated very simply and elegantly. Apart from a few pink flowering trees, there were no other decorations. A bamboo curtain covered everything inside, but it could not hide the fragrance of books seeping out from the curtains.
"Greetings, Concubine Shu."
"Master Fan, please sit."
Without exchanging pleasantries, Fan Xian and Concubine Shu sat apart from the curtain. Without any warning, Concubine Shu suddenly asked in a clear voice, "Ten thousand miles of sorrowful autumn, always a guest. Master Fan, when you were young, you were often in Danzhou. Do you think the capital is only a place for guests?"
Fan Xian was a bit surprised, but he answered with a straight face. Using this as a starting point, he and Concubine Shu sat down and discussed the Dao. They talked about all the classics and poems in the world, until their mouths were a bit dry. Only then did they tacitly stop talking. Fan Xian felt some lingering fear. He really didn't think that the Second Prince's mother was a talented woman of the Palace. She was so knowledgeable that he almost couldn't deal with her. He couldn't help but think, what kind of person would a prince be raised by such a woman?
"Don't be nervous." Concubine Shu's temperament was very gentle. Through the bamboo curtain, he could faintly see that there was only a wooden fork on her head. She was so plain that she was out of place in the Palace. "Wan 'er grew up in the Palace. Before His Majesty took her as his adopted daughter, we had nothing to do, so we raised her like a daughter. There is no one in the Palace who doesn't like her. So if Master Fan wants to marry the most precious pearl of the Palace, we can't help but watch. "
Fan Xian's back was covered in a cold sweat. Although he usually had some understanding, it was only today that he truly felt his fiancée's position in the Palace. Concubine Shu was gentle and light. She seemed to be quite satisfied with Fan Xian's way of talking. After a while, she let Fan Xian leave. But before they parted, she said quietly, "I like to read, and His Majesty has collected some rare books for me. I have already let the palace servants select some of the precious ones and make copies. Master Fan, if you want to go to the other concubines, I will have them sent to Yi Guipin."
Fan Xian's heart trembled. He knew that this was a generous gift. He knew that this concubine was giving it on behalf of the Second Prince. He didn't dare to say anything more. He calmly bowed and left.
After leaving Concubine Shu's courtyard, Fan Xian wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. The palace maid leading the way, Xing 'er, was a little familiar with him. She walked on her tiptoes, hopping and skipping. She looked back at his expression and asked curiously, "It's not hot today."
Fan Xian smiled bitterly and shook his head. He had thought that entering the Palace today was just a courtesy visit. He didn't know that it was even more tense than the Palace examination. Presumably, the concubines in the Palace were very curious about Lin Wan 'er marrying him, so they wanted to see Fan Xian's literary and martial talents. Next, the two of them went to the Great Prince's birth mother, Ning the Talented. Fan Xian knew that although this woman's position was not high, and she was only a talented person, he knew from Wan 'er that it was because she was from Dongyi. So Fan Xian purposely treated her with respect.
Ning the Talented was nearly forty years old, but she still retained her charm. Her expression was very gentle, like that of a Dongyi woman. These years, the Great Prince had been in Chuxu, and she had no one. It was inevitable that she would be lonely. Fortunately, when Lin Wan 'er was in the Palace, she often came here to play, so her feelings for Wan' er were not the same as those of the other concubines. She looked at Fan Xian coldly. Her phoenix eyes were cold. "You are Fan Xian!"
Fan Xian knew that this noble lady had once saved the Emperor on the battlefield, and had raised a prince who was good at war. She was certainly a very dignified person, so he wasn't surprised. He calmly replied, "I am."
"Hmm." Ning the Talented looked him up and down. Unexpectedly, she didn't say anything. She only coldly said, "Treat Wan 'er well."
Fan Xian liked this clean and efficient feeling. He happily replied, "Please do not worry, Concubine."
"That incident on Niulan Street must have been strange. I don't believe you could kill an eighth-level ace." Ning the Talented looked him up and down and snorted. "Looking at your thin and weak appearance, you don't look like someone who is good at fighting." Fan Xian was startled. Could it be that he had just finished taking an exam in literature, and now he was about to take an exam in martial arts? But Concubine, you are a forty-year-old lady. There is a difference between master and subject, and between men and women. Surely you wouldn't go so far as to beat him with your fists?
"But since Ye Ling 'er admits that she is no match for you, I will have to make do with it. That's all for today. Go to another palace; don't waste too much time." Having said this, Ning the Talented had nothing else to say. She chased him out of the palace hall.
Fan Xian rubbed the back of his head and looked at the tightly shut wooden door. He thought to himself, His Majesty really is a lucky man. The women lying by his side are so colorful. There is Yi Guipin, who is the bright and innocent type, Lady Shu, who is the intellectual and virtuous type, and he even has a wild girlfriend like Ning the Talented? But he already knew that Lady Shu was very talented, and that Ning the Talented was probably a person who was rough on the outside but meticulous on the inside. Add to that the unfathomable empress, and the fact that His Majesty was able to put all these women in one large room and live in peace for so many years, it had to be said that His Majesty, the Emperor of the Kingdom of Qing, was very powerful.
At least, Fan Xian didn't have that kind of ability.
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