Chapter 41: The Poetry Gathering, Stunning

The colorful sedan chair traveled far.

“Mistress, you have no connection with this Jieyu Song, and you haven’t offended her, why did she suddenly come to pick a fight?” Lianrui looked puzzled.

Ning Wanyin said calmly, “The Emperor’s favor is enough to make everyone in the palace an enemy. I don’t need to do anything extra.”

“You’re right…” Lianrui suddenly realized.

Back in Lingsxue Pavilion.

Ning Wanyin was about to go to the small kitchen to get the ginseng soup when Xia Yong quietly came in to report:

“Mistress, I caught her!”

Since Lingsxue Pavilion followed the palace rules of Changchun Palace and added a group of eunuchs to guard in three shifts, it became very difficult for the palace maids and eunuchs in Lingsxue Pavilion to contact the outside world.

In order to investigate the spies lurking in Lingsxue Pavilion, Ning Wanyin deliberately found an excuse to send these palace maids and eunuchs out on errands every few days.

They would either go to the Internal Affairs Department to get something, or deliver something for her to Concubine Shun.

But these palace maids and eunuchs didn’t know that every time they went out, Ning Wanyin would send Xia Yong to follow them secretly to see if they met any outsiders.

After rounds of testing, the person she sent out today was…

The third-rank palace maid Caiye.

She was responsible for pruning and sweeping the flowerbed.

Ning Wanyin sent her to the flower house in the Internal Affairs Department today to get some summer-blooming sunflowers.

“Caiye went to Qionghua Garden quietly before going to the Internal Affairs Department.” Xia Yong reported, “This servant didn’t dare to scare her, I don’t know what she said inside. But as long as the mistress gives the order, she will be captured immediately, and we will definitely be able to interrogate her!”

Qionghua Garden was Lady Xue’s residence.

Besides the twelve main palaces, there were also some courtyards in the palace, which were added during the previous Emperor’s reign because there were too many concubines.

Among them, there were two, although they were smaller, only with the specifications of a side hall, but they were good because they were independent, without having to share with others, which was a good place for concubines of lower rank.

Lady Xue and Lady Cen each occupied one.

“Don’t touch her for now, from now on, Lianrui, Xia Yong, you two are responsible for keeping an eye on her, report anything immediately.” Ning Wanyin’s eyes flashed, she said, “Call Little Guizi and Lüju over, they will follow me to serve recently.”

Lianrui and Xia Yong accepted the order at the same time, “Yes.”

Later, Ning Wanyin quietly called Lianrui over and instructed her to do something in private.

…

As dusk fell, Tinglan Palace in the Imperial Garden was brightly lit.

Ning Wanyin specially changed into a quince-red brocade dress embroidered with sea棠 flowers, with a layer of smoke-colored ice mist gauze over it, and a set of red gold butterfly head ornaments, she was extremely eye-catching among the group of beauties.

She arrived neither too early nor too late.

Most of the concubines had arrived, and soon, the Emperor arrived as well.

All the concubines bowed to Helian Qi.

After the greetings.

Helian Qi’s gaze swept over everyone, his first glance fell on Ning Wanyin. All the concubines in the palace were beauties, each with their own unique charm, but the person he had in his heart naturally attracted his attention.

Helian Qi’s gaze lingered on Ning Wanyin for a moment, then he withdrew his gaze and asked Noble Consort Shu, “Why isn’t Consort Zhuang here?”

“Consort Zhuang said she’s sick.” Noble Consort Shu replied.

This was a clever way to say it. She said she was sick, but who knew if she was really sick?

Everyone knew that Consort Zhuang didn’t know many characters and wasn’t good at poetry.

According to the rules of the poetry gathering, everyone had to write a poem.

Those who couldn’t write would be punished with a cup of wine.

Consort Zhuang, being of high rank, being punished with wine in public…

Many concubines showed a mocking expression…

Everyone felt that Consort Zhuang was deliberately pretending to be sick to avoid embarrassment.

Helian Qi, however, felt that she wouldn’t be afraid of being embarrassed by drinking, so he instructed Wang Degui, “Ask the imperial physician to check on her.”

Wang Degui accepted the order and retreated.

Helian Qi looked at Noble Consort Shu and said, “Let’s begin.”

“Yes.” Noble Consort Shu accepted the order and looked at everyone, “The ancients used literature to educate and civilize, they studied and then learned etiquette… You women are the role models for all women in the world, you cultivate your character with virtue, value literature and etiquette… Now, following the old tradition, we hold a poetry gathering to make friends and demonstrate our literary virtue.”

As the host of today’s poetry gathering, Noble Consort Shu recited a long passage.

“Yes.” All the concubines stood up and bowed.

Noble Consort Shu was in a good mood.

At this moment, she stood on the high platform, with the Emperor behind her and the concubines who obeyed her in front of her…

Although she was a concubine, she felt like an empress without a crown.

Her gaze swept over Ning Wanyin, and Noble Consort Shu’s mood sank a little. She would never allow Ning Wanyin to share her power!

Noble Consort Shu quickly withdrew her gaze and looked at Helian Qi, “This concubine will start with a poem…”

The poetry gathering had no theme, everyone was free to write, many people had prepared their poems in advance.

The palace maids and eunuchs presented pens and ink to the concubines…

Song Qingzhi was confident, she handed in the poem she had been working on for several days.

She was next to Ning Wanyin, seeing that she hadn’t touched the pen and ink in front of her, Song Qingzhi immediately asked loudly, “Why isn’t Lady Ning writing?”

“I’m not in the mood to write poetry today.” Ning Wanyin replied calmly.

Everyone looked at Ning Wanyin.

Song Qingzhi was also stunned, she didn’t expect Ning Wanyin to be afraid of writing poetry…

Then her literary talent must be at the bottom.

“The Duke of Shou’an’s Mansion is a famous and noble family, how could Lady Ning not understand literature? I heard that the Emperor gave you a dragon-patterned inkstone, Lady Ning must be very talented.” Song Qingzhi stared at Ning Wanyin, pressing her step by step.

The entire grand hall fell silent.

This was truly a case of praising someone in public but killing them in private, putting Ning Wanyin on the spot.

If she didn’t understand literature, it meant either she was poorly educated or she was wasting the Emperor’s gift.

Ning Wanyin glanced at her, you want to shine, then write a good poem yourself, why do you have to use me as a stepping stone?

Ning Wanyin wasn’t incapable of writing poetry. But who would want to let outsiders know their true abilities?

Writing a stunning poem at this poetry gathering today, besides letting others know that you are talented in literature, making it easier to set up traps against you based on what you are good at and what you are not good at, what other use is there?

As for impressing the Emperor and gaining his admiration, is it important for her, who is already the Emperor’s pawn?

She only needs to secure her position and do what she’s supposed to do.

If something doesn’t bring her a benefit that she finds appealing, Ning Wanyin won’t do it.

“Thank you, Jieyu Song, for your praise, but I really can’t write today.” Ning Wanyin directly stood up, picked up the wine cup in front of her, bowed to Helian Qi, “This concubine will punish herself with a cup.”

Helian Qi didn’t care about these minor details, he picked up his wine cup and drank a cup with her.

Song Qingzhi angrily clenched her handkerchief. The Emperor didn’t even show any disdain for Ning Wanyin’s lack of literary talent, he even drank with her, giving her enough face…

Soon, the concubines’ poems were handed in one after another.

Noble Consort Shu glanced at them and handed Song Qingzhi’s poem to Helian Qi, “Your Majesty, look at the poem Jieyu Song wrote, she is truly the number one talented woman in the capital, this concubine thinks this is the best poem of the day.”

Helian Qi picked up the poem and looked at it, he nodded slightly, “Hmm…”

Song Qingzhi was overjoyed, at this poetry gathering, she had stunned everyone, the Emperor always loved talent, he would definitely look at her differently…

She glanced at Ning Wanyin who was sitting next to her, full of pride.

But the next moment, she was a little dissatisfied. Because there was no expression on Ning Wanyin’s face, she couldn’t see any envy or jealousy.

It made her feel like her victory wasn’t as happy.

“Your Majesty, this concubine just finished writing a poem, with bamboo as the theme.” Suddenly, a beauty stood up from among the concubines, bowed to the Emperor, and then directly recited, “Holding onto the green mountain, never letting go, rooted in the broken rock. Through thousands of grindings and ten thousand strikes, it remains tough, no matter the east, west, south, or north wind.”

As soon as she opened her mouth, she captivated the entire audience.

Even Ning Wanyin couldn’t help but look at her, this poem was truly stunning!