Crossing the Unknown Country

Chapter 294: Concubine Mei tries to regain her favor

Most of the courtiers soon separated and returned to their own carriages, while a small number of them went to certain places together to continue their secret talks.

They all knew that if the emperor agreed to trade, then the person sent to negotiate would have a good job. If he did a good job, he could leave a deep impression on the emperor.

As long as the trade is officially opened, it will be a historic event, which will definitely be recorded in history books. For some civil officials, this is a great opportunity, and who doesn't want to be such a capable official?

Some ministers began to get restless, thinking about who would be the most suitable person to nominate, whether they could give it a try, and whether their own interests could be guaranteed.

The concubines in the harem also got the news at the first time, and they were all wondering whether there was such a candidate in their family.

They are all waiting for the emperor to make a decision so that they can recommend him. There is no danger in this matter, only benefits, so everyone wants to get involved.

Among them, Imperial Concubine Mei was the most anxious. Her standing in front of the Emperor was no longer as good as before, although it had improved recently. The first thing she thought of when she got the news was that she must let the Ninth Prince go with her this time, so that he would be taken seriously by the Emperor after the matter was accomplished.

The Ninth Prince will be married in two years. If he finds a good helper, there may be opportunities in the future. Imperial Concubine Mei always believes that opportunities are for those who are prepared. If her family had not found the best master to teach her carefully, how could she be both beautiful and talented, and how could she surpass the Queen? She was favored in the Prince's Mansion and was favored in the palace for so many years.

She knew how to judge the situation. If it weren't for her brother's family holding her back, she would have always been able to suppress the queen and the concubines. In the palace, the queen was always just a decoration, and she had the final say. People in the palace were most good at following the emperor's mood and obeying whoever was favored.

She tried every possible means to win back the emperor's favor. This was not just to get the emperor to come to her, she had been using seductive techniques for a while. She practiced a new dance diligently in the palace, with a red gauze wrapped around her chest and a red gauze long skirt outside, dancing barefoot, like a flying goddess.

She knew that Concubine Rong had a good voice, and the emperor often asked her to sing for him. She thought that it was because of her graceful dancing that the emperor took a liking to her at first sight, and he had never forgotten her for so many years. Her advantage was dancing, so she might as well dance a new dance.

Her clothes were all fumigated with special spices, and she prepared to make two identical dance costumes. One set was always prepared, waiting for the emperor to come one day, and she would wear it again to make him bewitched by her.

Now she finally got her chance, the emperor finally remembered to turn over her card. That day she put on the specially smoked dress, painted a red plum blossom petal on her forehead, and had flaming red lips, making her look passionate and beautiful.

When the emperor came in a sedan chair, she had already prepared a banquet and asked the musicians to wait next door. They would start playing behind the screen. Concubine Mei didn't want these people to see her dressed like this, as only the emperor could see it.

The emperor walked in lightly. She was already waiting outside the house in her cloak, looking at him with admiration. The emperor smiled and said, "Mei'er, let's go in together. Let me take a good look at you. Why have you lost some weight?"

Imperial Concubine Mei smiled and said, "I am not thin, it is you, Your Majesty, who is thin. It must be because you are too busy with state affairs. You must take care of your health. We all rely on you!"

The emperor actually liked talking to Concubine Mei the most, because she could always speak to his heart. Unlike the queens, they were always timid and cautious when seeing him, and dared not speak loudly. If he didn't pay attention, sometimes he couldn't hear clearly. He was also a man who needed a woman who could speak normally.

Concubine Rong was not bad either, but she was still young, and she was not as dignified and decent as Concubine Mei in her speech and actions. At first, he liked her very much, but after a while, he felt that he missed Concubine Mei. However, because the things that happened in their family made him angry, he left her alone for a while.

Later, I heard from the chief eunuch Han Yong that "Concubine Mei has been very lonely recently. She stays in the courtyard and practices dancing every day. She doesn't interact with other concubines. I heard that she hasn't contacted her family for a long time."

The emperor thought it was about the same, so he turned over her card. As he expected, Concubine Mei did not blame him, but spoke to him as usual, as if they had always been the same.