latelenovela Chapter 183 Are you willing to serve the Emperor?
Chapter 183 Are you willing to serve the Emperor?
After Su Nuannuan returned from Anning Palace, she saw Jasmine busily tidying up things in the courtyard.
"This servant greets Your Highness." As soon as Jasmine looked up and saw Su Nuannuan return, she quickly put down what she was doing and hurriedly stepped forward to greet her.
Su Nuannuan nodded slightly, her gaze falling on Jasmine, and said softly, "Come in with me." After speaking, she turned and walked into the hall.
Jasmine dared not be negligent in the slightest and followed closely behind Su Nuannuan into the main hall. Only after Su Nuannuan had taken her seat steadily in the main seat did she cautiously stand still, head bowed.
Su Nuannuan picked up the teacup beside her and took a sip, then turned her gaze to Jasmine and asked three questions in a row: "Where are you from? Do you have any other relatives still alive? What kinds of talents do you have?"
Jasmine was slightly surprised upon hearing this, but she maintained a respectful demeanor and answered truthfully, "Your Majesty, I am from the capital and have no relatives left. As for my talents, I only know how to sing a few ditties." With that, she lowered her head even further.
"Oh? So, do you still dance?" Su Nuannuan asked with great interest.
Jasmine hesitated for a moment, then replied in a low voice, "This servant's dancing skills are clumsy and unworthy of such a refined occasion." Although she was puzzled as to why the Consort Zhuang was asking such a question, she still answered each question politely.
However, Su Nuannuan did not stop there, and immediately posed an even more crucial question: "Then, would you be willing to serve the Emperor?"
Upon hearing Su Nuannuan's words, Jasmine was startled, her face turning deathly pale. She trembled all over, as if enveloped by an invisible fear.
Immediately afterward, her knees buckled, and she knelt down on the cold, hard ground with a thud. She kowtowed repeatedly at lightning speed, crying out in panic, "This servant dares not have the slightest improper thought. Please, Your Majesty, spare my life!"
Su Nuannuan stared expressionlessly at Jasmine, who was kneeling on the ground and kowtowing repeatedly, and asked in a calm but authoritative tone, "What if I insist on letting you have such improper thoughts?"
Upon hearing this, Jasmine was completely stunned. She slowly raised her head in astonishment and looked at Su Nuannuan, who was sitting above her, incredulously.
Seeing Jasmine remain silent, Su Nuannuan frowned slightly, her eyes revealing a hint of dissatisfaction and doubt, and asked, "What? Don't you want to?"
Finally, after Su Nuannuan pressed her repeatedly, Jasmine's trembling voice, like a withered leaf in the wind, came from beneath her lowered head: "This...this servant is willing."
"If you're willing, you're willing; if you're not, you're not. I'm not going to eat you." Su Nuannuan snorted lightly, looking at Jasmine, who was still kneeling on the ground and kowtowing, with slight displeasure.
"However, let me make this clear beforehand: this matter is entirely voluntary, and I will absolutely not force you. So now I'll ask you one more time: are you truly willing to serve His Majesty?"
After hearing this, Jasmine took a deep breath, trying to calm her extremely nervous and afraid emotions. Then, she slowly raised her head, her eyes still filled with fear, but with a hint of determination than before.
She gritted her teeth, mustered her courage, and answered loudly, "Your Majesty, this servant is truly willing! However... this servant knows that I am of mediocre appearance and am afraid that I will not be able to catch His Majesty's eye."
Su Nuannuan nodded slightly, indicating that she understood Jasmine's concerns. Then, she waved her hand and instructed Yaoqin, who was standing to the side, "Alright, since Jasmine has expressed her feelings, you should take her downstairs to rest."
"Yes, Your Highness." Yaoqin replied respectfully, then turned and walked to Jasmine's side, saying softly, "Miss Jasmine, please come with me."
"Your Majesty, do you intend to let this Jasmine maidservant gain favor?" Jinse asked, looking at Yaoqin and Jasmine as they left, her face full of doubt.
"Yes, I just proposed to the Empress that we hold a talent selection, and she agreed. However, whether it should be a large-scale general election or a relatively small-scale selection has not yet been finalized."
But regardless of the form of the selection, it takes a certain amount of time to prepare and organize. However, what's troubling is that recently, for some reason, the Emperor has been staying at my palace almost every night.
Such frequent favors are really too much for me. If this continues, I will eventually be worn down by the Emperor.
Therefore, I must find a way to arrange for someone to distract the Emperor. Su Nuannuan frowned slightly, her face showing helplessness.
Upon hearing this, Jinse couldn't help but mutter to herself, "My good empress, listen to what you're saying! If these words were to accidentally reach the ears of the other concubines, they might even want to kill you."
Although Jinse was inwardly cursing her mistress, she maintained a calm expression and asked in a composed tone, "Then, Your Majesty, do you have any other special arrangements for Jasmine?"
Su Nuannuan nodded slightly, a faint smile appearing on her lips, and replied softly, "Yes, of course. Jasmine said she's good at singing little tunes. After Cheng'er and Yao'er finish their classes, I'll invite them over so we can all enjoy her singing and have some fun."
If her voice is truly that outstanding, then there's no need for me to expend any more effort to train her individually.
She then slowly stood up and walked gracefully into the inner room.
Upon entering the inner room, one sees Su Nuannuan sitting elegantly on an exquisite small couch, her lips slightly parted, softly calling out, "Tingyu." Though her voice was not loud, it clearly reached every corner.
Almost instantly after she finished speaking, a dark figure appeared as swiftly as a ghost, knelt on one knee, bowed to Su Nuannuan, and respectfully said, "Your subordinate is here."
Su Nuannuan looked at Tingyu and slowly gave the order: "Go and investigate the background of that palace maid named Jasmine carefully. Be sure to report all the information to me before dinner tonight."
"Yes!" Tingyu answered without hesitation. After receiving the order, she returned as swiftly as she had arrived, disappearing into the darkness in the blink of an eye, as if she had never been there at all.
After Canglan Jingcheng, Canglan Jingyao and Tingxue finished their martial arts practice, Su Nuannuan immediately summoned Jasmine and asked her to sing a little song for everyone.
After Jasmine's melodious singing ended, Su Nuannuan praised Jasmine's exceptional voice.
"Truly a naturally beautiful voice. In the next few days, you only need to take good care of your body and hands, and patiently wait for the right opportunity to gain the Emperor's favor," Su Nuannuan said to Jasmine with a smile.
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. I will certainly live up to your expectations." Jasmine quickly knelt down to express her gratitude.
Before dinner time, Tingyu had already quietly returned and handed Su Nuannuan a detailed document about Jasmine's identity.
Meanwhile, the Emperor, who was reviewing memorials in the Imperial Study, learned that Su Nuannuan was unable to serve him due to illness. After a moment's thought, he selected Consort Qin and, after dinner, rode in his imperial carriage to Consort Qin's palace...