0p0 Chapter 36 Choosing a Concubine
Chapter 36 Choosing a Concubine
After waiting for a whole night, Jiang Xing only received the news that someone had died of poisoning. He felt extremely unwilling to accept this.
Feixing just reported that someone was dead, but the messy death left him with an impression.
This man had been to the Longchuan Palace three years ago, twice, and recommended himself to be the palace's medical officer.
Feixing felt that the palace was not short of medical officers, so he politely declined the offer.
The man was dressed in this rather messy way at that time, so Feixing didn't remember it until he died in this state.
Jiang Xing didn't know about these little things, but the fact that he was able to reach out so far to place someone next to him, and even let that person commit suicide by poison after being discovered, showed that it was an extremely sophisticated plan.
He didn't dare to let his guard down for a moment, and as for Brother Lu, he still didn't dare to trust him absolutely.
He hadn't slept all night, and his eyes were now covered with dark circles.
Inside the bedroom, he waved to Feixing and said, "Go find a box of women's powder, something whiter."
Feixing paused and gave him a wary look.
Jiang Xing raised his fist and gritted his teeth, "If you're pretending to be sick, at least act convincingly. Push the wheelchair over to me!"
Fei Xing was surprised: "Your Highness is going to go to the selection site in person?"
Jiang Xing's eyes shone. "I hadn't originally planned to go. But Doctor Xu committed suicide by poisoning himself and refused to reveal any information. I must go there myself and pick one who is easy to control and can be used by me!"
……
Song Wu was urged to get up early in the morning because it was an important event for Prince Jin to choose a concubine. The old lady sent several maids to watch over her and watch the maids wash and dress her up.
Mrs. Li prepared a soft, water-red, gold-threaded crabapple silk dress for her, accessorized with an extremely pretty peach-pink hairpin and a pair of crabapple hairpins. When she was done putting on her makeup, Sang Luo and Xiao Kui couldn't help but exclaim, "Young lady, she really looks like a fairy!"
Because Song Chuchu also wanted to run for election, the Bo Mansion reserved the most spacious and comfortable carriage for the two of them to travel together.
It takes about half an hour to walk from the Earl's Mansion to the Jingyang Palace where the concubine selection will be held today. Song Wu wanted to lean on the cushion and take a nap, but Song Chuchu kept talking to her.
As soon as he got on the carriage, he started burning incense and making tea, as if he wanted to have a good chat with her.
Seeing Song Chuchu's joyful expression, Song Wu said lazily, "Second Miss is very happy today."
Song Chuchu handed her a cup of tea: "How can I not be happy? That's His Royal Highness Prince Jin, and he's said to be a handsome man!"
Song Wucai chuckled, but suddenly she felt a sharp pain in her right hand, causing her to scream.
She had just casually taken the teacup that Song Chuchu handed to her, but Song Chuchu let go of the teacup without her holding it firmly, and the scalding hot tea flowed all over her hand, causing blisters on her right hand instantly.
Sang Luo, who was in the front of the carriage, heard the shout and immediately got into the carriage. When he saw Song Wu's burned hand, he became angry.
While she was busy bandaging Song Wu, she glared at Song Chuchu with a cold look.
Song Chuchu has been apologizing to Song Wu since she was scalded. Now, seeing Sang Luo's attitude, she kept begging for mercy. She looked cautious and pitiful as if she had done something wrong, which made her maid Ginkgo very unhappy.
Of course Song Wu knew that every step Song Chuchu took must be well prepared.
In her previous life, she also participated in the selection of concubines and was familiar with every step of the selection process. Now that she had burned her right hand, it must be because there was something behind her and she was afraid that her hand would cause harm.
Song Wu endured the pain in his hand and put on a cold smile, "It's okay. Since you're already injured, Miss Second must seize the opportunity today."
These words were so explicit that Song Chuchu froze all over. She quickly pretended not to understand and asked Ginkgo to come in and help Sang Luo clean up.
After entering Chengtian Gate, palace maids came to greet Song Wu and the others.
They followed him through the corridors and aisles of the beautiful buildings, high walls and deep palaces. When they arrived, two or three noble ladies were already waiting there.
"Sister Song Wu!"
As soon as Song Wu walked into the hall, she saw Lu Yuehe greeting her enthusiastically.
"Yuehe!" Song Wu also walked towards her with a smile.
Song Wu's bandaged hand was particularly conspicuous, and Lu Yuehe saw it at a glance: "What's wrong with your hand? Is it injured?"
"I got burned accidentally in the carriage just now, it's nothing serious."
Song Chuchu bowed to Lu Yuehe and pretended not to know her, saying, "I guess this must be the fourth young lady of the Duke's Mansion, right?"
Song Wu didn't expose her, and solemnly introduced the two of them. They had both participated in the event in their previous lives, so how could they not know Lu Yuehe?
After the two of them greeted each other, the three of them chose three adjacent seats and sat down.
Song Chuchu's face was full of self-blame: "It's all my fault. I was not careful enough when I handed the tea to my sister in the carriage just now. I didn't hold it firmly, so my sister's hand was injured!"
Lu Yuehe's eyes turned cold, she smiled slightly and didn't say anything.
When most of the people had arrived, Song Wu glanced around the venue.
There weren't many women who came to participate in the selection of concubines, only seven or eight at most, and that included people like Lu Yuehe who came to support the event.
Song Wu understood about 70% of it in his heart. It seems that no one is optimistic about His Royal Highness Prince Jin!
Almost none of the noble ladies she had known in the circle of nobles in the capital came. Except for Lu Yuehe, those who came were the daughters of ministers below the fourth rank.
After all, he is just a playboy, and his life is hanging by a thread. It is no wonder that everyone knows that he is here to choose a concubine for good luck.
She carefully looked at the expressions of the girls who came to choose concubines. Except for her, Lu Yuehe and Song Chuchu, no one else had a smile on their face. She thought that their families wanted to make a living for them, so they were pushed out to participate in the selection like them.
Sunlight streamed through the delicate window lattices onto the magnificent hall. Following the eunuch's shrill announcement, not long after, the empress dowager slowly walked in, surrounded by a group of palace maids.
She wore gorgeous clothes with golden threads, a towering phoenix crown, a huge golden phoenix on her skirt, a dignified gait and a majestic posture, all of which revealed the royal dignity and majesty.
"Welcome, Her Majesty the Queen Mother!" Everyone present saluted in unison.
"Stand up." The Queen Mother's voice was soft, but it reached everyone's ears clearly. "Today we are selecting a concubine for Prince Jin, and it is also related to the glory of the royal family. I hope all the beauties will show their talents to the best of their ability and live up to my high expectations!"
When Song Wu heard this, she knew how much importance the Queen Mother attached to this concubine selection ceremony. After expressing her gratitude along with many other noble ladies, she slowly raised her head and stood up.
"Yuehe." The Queen Mother looked at Lu Yuehe lovingly and extended her hand to beckon her, "Come to your aunt."
However, just as Lu Yuehe responded with a smile, the Queen Mother stared straight in the direction of Song Wu beside her, so surprised that she forgot to breathe.
The Queen Mother and Song Wu looked at each other, and Song Wu quickly lowered his head to show respect.
As soon as Lu Yuehe saw the Queen Mother's expression, she knew what was going on. She quickly stepped forward and whispered in her ear:
"Aunt, that's the eldest daughter of the Zhongyi Marquis's family. She's the daughter Mother adopted a while ago. Her name is Song Wu. Mother said she looks very similar to my eldest sister. I'm sure Aunt couldn't tell them apart at first!"
The Queen Mother finally came to her senses and nodded repeatedly: "Resemble! It's so similar!"
She smiled and looked at Lu Yuehe: "Your mother came to the palace a few days ago and told me about this girl. It seems that she does have some connection with the Duke's Mansion."
"His Royal Highness Prince Jin has arrived—"
The eunuch's shrill voice sounded again.
Everyone held their breath and looked towards the palace gate.
The Queen Mother was stunned. Didn’t you say you wouldn’t come?
Didn’t you say that you could just let her make the decision?
Song Chuchu was also puzzled. In the previous life's selection of concubines, Jiang Xing himself did not show up, so why was he here now?
When the Queen Mother saw Jiang Xing in the wheelchair with dark circles under his eyes and a pale face, she felt so distressed that her eyes instantly turned red.
Although she knew that Jiang Xing was pretending to be sick, what mother could bear to see her child looking sick?
For so long, except for the time she visited with the emperor, she couldn't even meet her son alone.
Although she had called him back urgently this time because she had something important to tell him, something happened on the way back, and she had to be wary of every pair of eyes around her.
And now she couldn't help but suspect that someone was using Yun Ce's life to remind her not to act rashly!
Jiang Xing called out to the Queen Mother in a weak voice, "Mother."
The Queen Mother quickly stood up, went to the wheelchair and looked around carefully, then held his hand, tears streaming down her face.
There were people watching, following, and guarding her at all times. She couldn't even say a word to her son in private, and could only endure the longing in her heart again and again.
Many of the women who came to participate in the election followed the Queen Mother in crying.
But after all, thinking of the royal majesty and the fact that there were two eunuchs from the emperor's family beside her, the empress dowager quickly returned to her seat.
Jiang Xing was pushed towards the Queen Mother. The wheelchair turned slightly. When he looked up, he saw Song Wu. He and his wheelchair stopped involuntarily.