eurekapd Chapter 212: Greetings is a big show
Chapter 212: Greetings is a big show
"Master, we servants will follow your orders on what to do." Chu An understood that his master was going to retaliate.
"Qiuyue, use 100 taels of silver to create momentum and bribe some servants in the palace who are good at passing messages. Compile various versions of jokes and doggerel about what the servant Jiuma has done since he entered Zheng Fuxuan, and spread them as stories in the palace. The more exaggerated, the better." Shen Zhiyao said with a smile.
"Master, will this be effective?" Qiuyue was a little skeptical.
"Jiuma is Hu Xiaoyi's personal eunuch. If he behaves in a domineering manner, it will not only make Hu Xiaoyi seem incompetent, but more importantly, Jiuma represents Zheng Fuxuan... There are many people in the palace who dislike her. How can she miss this opportunity?" Shen Zhiyao said.
Zhe Ni understood completely that his master's trick was to kill people invisibly!
Because arranging things took up her time, Shen Zhiyao ate a few bites of breakfast in a hurry and then hurried to Fengyi Palace to pay her respects to the Queen.
Sure enough, everyone knew about the interception and were eagerly waiting to make fun of Shen Zhiyao and Hu Xiaoyi.
As soon as Shen Zhiyao entered the front hall, everyone looked at her with gossipy eyes and half-smiles.
"Look, Jin Shuyi is amazing! Hu Xiaoyi just got promoted yesterday, but the emperor went to Cuiweixuan. I heard that Hu Xiaoyi even asked someone to go and invite the emperor to express her gratitude, but they failed! She is really Jin Shuyi, we can't compare to her!"
As Zhang Concubine said this with exaggeration, her pair of gloating eyes kept looking back and forth between Shen Zhiyao and Hu Xiaoyi.
Hu Xiaoyi seemed relatively calm, but her expression was not very good. However, Shen Zhiyao still looked as if nothing had happened.
As long as you are not embarrassed, it is others who are embarrassed.
The Queen sat on the throne, watching their performance with great interest. It was not yet time for her to pay her respects, but she was happy to watch the show.
Of course, what the queen was more looking forward to was Shen Zhiyao's next reaction.
Shen Zhiyao covered her lips with a handkerchief and smiled, as if she was listening to someone else's story, and teased, "What Concubine Zhang said, who can be as powerful as Hu Xiaoyi? I heard that the emperor turned over your card a few days ago, and she also called the emperor away. Can you say that you have healed the scar and forgotten the pain?"
Shen Zhiyao looked at Zhang Bin's slightly distorted face, which had turned the color of pig liver, and added: "I am a petty person, not as generous as Zhang Bin."
"Haha, Jin Shuyi, you're too kind..." In order not to lose face, Concubine Zhang had to force a smile.
Is there anyone in the palace who is truly magnanimous?
The so-called magnanimity is nothing but a helpless way to save face when one has no ability and cannot win the fight.
Zhang Concubine was teased by Shen Zhiyao like this, and the scar of being intercepted was opened again. She didn't hate Shen Zhiyao who was vicious, but hated Hu Xiaoyi who intercepted her more...
"However, it's a good thing that Hu Xiaoyi can be promoted. There were few movements in the palace before, and everyone had few opportunities. Now that the newcomers can play a lubricating role, the old people can also benefit from it." Concubine Wanxian said with a smile.
Shen Zhiyao laughed inwardly when she heard this. Although Concubine Wanxian's words seemed polite, they still pierced the lungs of the old people. The old people have been in the harem for a long time, but they have to rely on the newcomers? How is this different from eating other people's leftovers?
Concubine Wei, who had been silent all this time, suddenly laughed and said, "I forgot that now, the first-rank imperial concubine and the second-rank imperial concubine are both vacant. It would be great if the high-ranking ladies could be promoted..."
Shen Zhiyao couldn't help but look at the smiling Concubine Wei. As expected, the Queen Mother's people spoke more sharply and hurtfully.
Concubine Zhao, who was sitting on the side seat, suddenly frowned: "Isn't it just a promotion from a talented person to a concubine? You said that, and I thought it was a high position!"
Hu Xiaoyi was criticized by so many people, all of whom were of higher status than her. In order to maintain her elegant and noble personality, she couldn't talk back casually. She felt so aggrieved.
Shen Zhiyao looked at Hu Xiaoyi's increasingly embarrassed expression, and laughed in her heart: "You can endure the breast nodules for a while, but you can take a step back and deal with the uterine fibroids. Just bear with it!" I wish you, the vicious woman, will "win the prize" soon.
Shen Zhiyao only used one sentence to elicit so many comments from everyone. The queen was very satisfied with this fighting power.
Having watched enough of the show, the queen put down her teacup and coughed twice. Everyone fell silent and looked at the queen in unison.
"Sisters in the palace should still pay attention to harmony, especially the concubines with higher positions, who should set an example for those with lower positions." The queen said lightly.
Although the words were light, they were like a slap in the face to Concubine Zhao, making her face burn. The Queen was obviously making a veiled comment about herself!
At this time, the Queen gave Concubine Zhao a sharp look.
Concubine Zhao wanted to retort, but was frightened by the queen's eyes, so she gritted her teeth and said, "The queen is right. We, the high-ranking concubines, should take the lead."
"Yes." The queen nodded with satisfaction, and then said meaningfully: "The concubines of lower positions should not relax their requirements on themselves. Only by restraining themselves and returning to propriety can they have the opportunity to make further progress. They should not act recklessly just because they have some favors."
Everyone was secretly happy when they heard this, as it was obviously aimed at Hu Xiaoyi.
After hearing this, Concubine Zhao's expression finally looked better, and she felt less resentful towards the Queen. Although the Queen was a bit powerful, she was fair after all, and she was not targeting her.
This time it was Hu Xiaoyi's turn to be in the hot seat. She ignored the gloating looks from everyone and psychologically, she temporarily retreated into her "turtle shell".
"However, in my opinion, Hu Xiaoyi is really favored. She can play the piano very well. We can't compare with her. She deserves to be favored." Concubine Zhuang said with a smile.
At this time, Concubine Zhuang brought the topic back to Hu Xiaoyi, which was obviously a deliberate move.
Shen Zhiyao was extremely happy upon hearing this, and there was a little more favor in her eyes when she looked at Concubine Zhuang.
Concubine Wan Xian echoed, "Who says it's not true? In my opinion, the emperor will give Hu Xiaoyi a courtesy name sooner or later. After all, she is deeply favored by the emperor! There are many sisters with famous names in the palace, which is also a good thing."
After hearing these words, Concubine Zhao, who had just felt better, felt upset again. She was considered a senior figure in the palace, and the prince she gave birth to was already more than four years old, but he didn't even have a name. How could she not be angry?
This was extremely embarrassing for someone as petty as Concubine Zhao.
Finally, the queen first said some polite words to congratulate Hu Xiaoyi on her promotion, and then gave her some rewards.
Concubine Zhao was very unhappy, but she had to agree with the Queen and gave a symbolic reward.
But when Shen Zhiyao looked at the rewards given by the Queen and compared them with those given to her, it was obvious that she was really perfunctory towards Hu Xiaoyi.
"Well, we have spent a lot of time today and I am also tired. If there is nothing else, let's all go." The queen waved her hand.
Everyone hurriedly bowed and said goodbye, then followed them out.
As per convention, Shen Zhiyao still did not leave, but stood there looking at the queen with a smile.
Concubine Zhuang didn't leave either. When she saw Shen Zhiyao staying again, she glared at her in annoyance.
The queen looked at the two of them and couldn't help but feel a headache...
Shijin, who was standing aside, was also speechless, thinking: You two ladies don't fight for the emperor's favor, but fight for the queen all day long, it's really... there's no one else...