11
Yun Xiu hesitated for a moment. She put aside the faint resistance in her heart and stretched out her hand, which Kangxi took.
Liang Jiugong quickly moved the seat to be with the emperor's. Afterwards, he smiled at her courteously and immediately stepped aside.
Yun Xiu: "…"
Yun Xiu felt that everything exceeded her expectations.
Something even more wrong was coming!
The emperor had a gentle expression, a gentle voice, and said something like that…
She was stunned for a while. She almost got goosebumps.
Yun Xiu knew that her love for Kangxi was not so easy to give up. As long as she stopped competing for favour, he would be out of sight. And, after a long time, those feelings would surely fade away.
Wasn't that how feelings were in the world?
These days, what she talked about and thought about were the children, making plans for the future, and ensuring she lived a fulfilling and comfortable life without leaving Yikun Palace.
Even without the emperor being the 'centre of her universe', after she gets used to it, there would be nothing wrong with it.
But at noon today, Liang Jiugong suddenly conveyed the emperor's order to let her accompany him…
Even the imperial noble consort has never accompanied him to Qianqing Palace.
She had changed. Could it be that the emperor had also changed? Not to mention how much friendlier he was, but his sweet talking skills were even better.
These words and smiles have always been something that could only be shown to those who you love. The level of intimacy was fully on display.
She didn't do anything, but she was treated like this. Why?
Yun Xiu couldn't figure it out, so she had to be vigilant secretly. She would not indulge in it. On the surface, she lowered her head shyly. She automatically ignored the first half of the sentence that was praise, and instead pondered the meaning of the second half.
Tire herself out?
Why would she tire herself out?
Before she could figure out why, Kangxi brushed her hair and smiled softly. "Raise your head."
His voice was low and joking.
Yun Xiu squeezed the veil and resisted the urge to resist.
Because she kept a straight face when she bowed her head, she would not be able to pretend to smile for a while. Consort Yi had no choice but to give into despair. Just like that, she met a pair of deep phoenix eyes.
From Kangxi's point of view, Yun Xiu's fine eyebrows were in a slight frown, as if she dazedly felt deep disapproval. It was as if she was refuting his words, silently expressing her resistance. It painted a very vivid picture.
No one dared to show such a look in front of him. He was used to concubines who were small and gentle.
The emperor didn't get angry at all. Instead, he laughed loudly. "You."
Xiuxiu was never afraid of him. She had the deepest and most sincere affection for him and always greeted him with her best side, without any neglect.
He was afraid that she would be tired, so he advised her to dress up casually, but she disagreed and even lost her temper.
It was said that a woman was a person who pleases herself. Thinking of this, Kangxi felt a little joy in his heart. All the depression that accumulated yesterday completely dissipated.
The emperor pulled Yun Xiu to sit down, covered her belly with his big hands, and coaxed her. "It's Our fault! We won't say anything. Just do whatever you want."
Yun Xiu: "…"
She made preparations early on. She only waited for the emperor to get angry, thinking that even if she was reduced to a joke in the harem, she would never regret it.
But what kind of scene was this?
Yun Xiu's face was expressionless. She was in a trance. She opened her mouth and ended up losing her voice, which was rare.
They seem to have been on the same page from the beginning to the end.
The child in her stomach seemed to know about his mother's predicament and hit her with either a hand or foot, she didn't know, and it happened to hit Kangxi's palm. He was surprised and immediately made a cooing sound.
Yun Xiu came back to her senses. Her face flushed suddenly. She was hungry.
With a flash of a smile in his eyes, Kangxi turned his head and glared at Liang Jiugong who was in the corner. "Did you not get the meal yet? You don't have any foresight at all. The little prince is hungry!"
The tone was completely different from when he coaxed people.
This servant would just keep his head down and be almost invisible to everyone! The meal that should have been served a long time ago was delayed until now.
Liang Jiugong moved his feet from the side of the pillar, wanting to cry but he had no tears.
Well, it's all our fault—
The emperor and Consort Yi got along very tenderly, so who dared to disturb them?
The thick atmosphere made his teeth sore. He wished he could hide in the ground.
Who dared to interject at this time? Too long?
He was afraid the emperor would chop him up!
When Kangxi reprimanded him, Liang Jiugong could only accept the blame and smile apologetically. "Yes, this servant has no foresight… Please forgive this servant's sins, Your Majesty, Consort. This servant will bring the food over…"
After saying that, he ran away with the wind under his feet and disappeared in an instant.
Yun Xiu was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing. She managed to shake off the uneasiness in her heart and relaxed a lot. "What did the emperor scare him for? The chief eunuch has worked hard and has always served you with all his heart."
Smiling with annoyance, she seemed to have regained the mode of getting along with the emperor in an instant, and relaxed.
Kangxi raised his eyebrows. "When did Liang Jiugong win the attention of Consort Yi…"
After he finished speaking, he smiled, leaned forward, and gently pressed a kiss on her forehead. "This is punishment."
Yun Xiu suddenly opened her eyes wide.
"… Baocheng has been running frequently to Cining Palace recently, and he said that he would teach Yinqi Chinese." Kangxi admired the beauty's shocked appearance, and then changed the subject with a smile. "We didn't believe him at first. Unexpectedly, Yinqi has mastered all those simple forms of address."
Yun Xiu didn't have time to worry about the kiss, so she shifted her attention to her eldest son.
She was pleasantly surprised. "Yinqi can speak Chinese?"
Then, she was very grateful. "Thanks to the crown prince who doesn't dislike him and cares about his younger brother so much. This concubine doesn't know how to thank…"
As she said that, she thought about it carefully, and smiled with a blush. "The crown prince has everything he needs and I really can't think of anything to give him. Wouldn't it be better for Your Majesty to refer to the details for me?"
This series of words are all from her heart. How could Kangxi not know?
Every word and every sentence spoke to his heart.
He was even more satisfied with the crown prince. He knew how to respect his elders and love his brothers. A child who was only ten years old could take charge of his own affairs, which made him very proud.
What family's children could be guaranteed to be excellent?
And Consort Yi. She was Baocheng's concubine mother. The imperial noble consort and noble consorts were also his concubine mothers.
With regards to the crown prince, they couldn't avoid it. Except for special occasions, they had to respect him… They did not dare to talk about him normally.
If they wanted to contact him, they needed a reason.
Even Mrs. Hesheli, the crown prince's aunt, was no different from these people.
What's more, Mrs. Tongjia's resentment toward him and the crown prince…
Today, Consort Yi said that she wanted to give Baocheng a gift because he taught Yinqi Chinese. She also praised him for caring for his younger brother.
For a moment, the emperor couldn't describe the feeling in his heart. He only felt tender and soft. His gaze towards Yun Xiu became softer.
Kangxi waved his hand and said with a smile, "The crown prince is his older brother. This is what he should do. As for a gift, there is no need…"
Yun Xiu's expectant eyes were still on him, so he paused and immediately changed his words. "…There is no need for Xiuxiu to bother. We will send it for you."
The news that Kangxi summoned Consort Yi to accompany him quickly spread throughout the six palaces, causing waves.
The current emperor was wise, powerful, talented, and not a greedy person. Since his ascension to the throne, he had never let his concubines accompany him to Qianqing Palace.
But now, this was an exception. The emperor had been busy with political affairs and hadn't a concubine to serve him for many days. But now, he let the pregnant Consort Yi accompany him… How could it not be shocking? !
For a while, people had a new understanding of Yun Xiu's favor.
The eyes of the concubines were all focused on Yikun Palace. The gazes were filled with bitterness, malice, and more envy.
The lowly mistresses, at most, would only feel envious for a while, hoping that one day they would be favoured like Consort Yi. Even if they were pregnant, the imperial family would not be diminished at all.
As for the ladies above the rank of concubine, most of them were tearing embroidered handkerchiefs and throwing teacups. They were jealous and envious, and they hated Yun Xiu, considering her a vixen in their hearts.
……
Consort Hui, who lived in Yanxi Palace, just discussed this matter with her confidant.
"Consort Yi is really good at making the emperor think about her all the time." She lifted the lid of the tea and blew on it with a calm expression. She clicked her tongue lightly. "She is also the first person."
The palace lady, Ying'er, massaged her back, and said, puzzled, "There are so many beauties in the palace. The emperor doesn't lack beauties to favour, but he just chose Consort Yi, who is five months pregnant. Consort, this is against the rules…"
She knew that Consort Hui had gradually lost her desire to compete for favour. In recent years, she had devoted herself wholeheartedly to the eldest prince. Therefore, she dared to mention these things, which could be regarded as bold and presumptuous remarks.
"The rules?" Consort Hui flicked her fingernails and sneered. "The emperor likes her. That is the rule. Did you see Empress Dowager and Great Empress Dowager object? No! Maybe they tacitly approve of this and are happy to see it happen."
With the fifth prince by the empress dowager's side, Consort Yi naturally had an advantage. In addition, going to Cining Palace twice in three days, joking and amusing the empress dowager and great empress dowager, wouldn't this behaviour win their favour?
Consort Hui seemed to have remembered something. "Look at Consort Yi, and then look at the others. Their appearance is not much worse, but their intelligence is not at all comparable."
Speaking of this, Consort Hui became annoyed. "…That stubborn people overestimated her. Staying in the palace all day is really a waste of that good skin!"
Ying'er knew who her master was talking about.
That person came from a lowly background and was easy to handle, but she never wanted to compete for favor, nor was she willing to be used by the Consort.
The strength in her hand eased a little, and Ying'er persuaded, "Consort, calm down. Noble Lady Liang has no intention of making progress, so just let her go, but add one more person when paying respects."
Seeing Consort Hui sneer and remain silent, Ying'er lowered her voice again. "The eighth prince has been raised by Consort. When he grows up, he will help the eldest prince. As for Noble Lady Liang, she is the eighth prince's biological mother, so don't treat her coldly."
As soon as these words came out, Consort Hui's expression softened a lot. "You are right."
If Yinti was involved, she could show 120,000 points of patience.
Speak of the devil and he will arrive. Just when school was over, a loud and powerful voice came from outside the hall."Mother!"
Consort Hui suddenly showed a happy smile. "Yinti is here."
She waved her hand to tell Ying'er to stop the massage. Consort Hui was about to get up, but Prince Yinti had already entered the inner room like a gust of wind.
The twelve-year-old boy already had the makings of heroism in his youth. He grinned, thinking that something happy had occurred.
Consort Hui was stunned. "Yinti, what are you doing holding your eighth younger brother? Mischievous!"
In Yinti's arms was the two-year-old eighth prince, Yinhu.
He was at the age of babbling. The eighth prince was still not able to walk well. At this moment, he was hugged by his older brother like a sack, with eyes like black grapes. He twisted his body slightly.
The panting wet nurse finally followed him in and stood aside in fear. She feared that if the eldest prince was careless, the eighth prince would fall…
"Mother, your son is happy." Yinti said with raised eyebrows. "Your son's score surpassed the crown prince's in today's riding and archery competition!"
12
As soon as he finished speaking, Consort Hui was startled. She ignored the eighth prince. Her delicate face changed and she was surprised and delighted all of a sudden. "Really? My son really surpassed the crown prince?"
Yinti nodded.
Boundless pride filled Consort Hui's heart. She praised him and couldn't wait to speak. "…Tell mother about the competition."
In the early years, the palace established a rule that when a prince reaches the age of six, he would go to the study room to study. He would study in the morning to educate himself, and practice horseback riding and archery in the afternoon.
Because Kangxi cared a lot about his sons' studies, he often came to watch the exams in person. None of the princes dared to slack off.
Every school test, whether it was reading or riding and archery, the crown prince always came out on top. In addition to the crown prince's own intelligence and diligence, of course, there were also the subjective wishes of the teachers…
Yinti had been unconvinced for a long time.
He liked to practice martial arts, and he didn't think he was suitable to be a great Confucian scholar. His level of writing was not as good as that of the crown prince.
He lost in the aspect of 'text', but in terms of riding and shooting, he was on par with the crown prince's accuracy, and even sometimes surpassed him!
When the father emperor asked about it that day, the masters said that the crown prince's riding and shooting should be the first.
Relying on his status as the crown prince, Yinreng overwhelmed him everywhere. Even now, the masters' judgment was unfair. How could Yinti feel content after seeing father emperor's eyes of approval towards the crown prince?
In order to win the undisputed first place, Yinti gritted his teeth and practiced desperately. Finally, in today's competition, he defeated the crown prince so much that they could no longer announce the result "against his will".
Recalling the bluish complexion of the little crown prince, Yinti smiled and hugged the little eighth prince even tighter. He rushed to Consort Hui's side, sat down on the seat, and said happily, "Mother, during today's competition…"
Yinti spoke excitedly, and casually held the eighth prince in his arms beside the table. However, where he could not see, the sharp corner of the table dug into Yinhu's waist.
Although it was early spring, the weather had not yet warmed up. Yinhu wore thicker clothes, but the baby's skin was delicate. How could it withstand such continuous friction?
Two-year-old children can already express their emotions. The eighth prince wrinkled his face slightly. His complexion was pale and he wanted to say that it hurt. But, he carefully looked at his happy older brother, and the proud Mother Hui… He ended up holding back and silently lowered his head.
No one noticed this. Only the wet nurse noticed.
The people around eighth prince were all Consort Hui's people. She put her hands into her sleeves and hesitated to speak. She thought for a while, but still did not make a sound to remind either of them.
Because of the eldest prince's happy event, the consort was very interested. If she disturbed her, it would not be as simple as being punished!
Besides, the eighth prince wore three or four layers of clothes, so it shouldn't be a problem. At most, he would just get a small bruise and it would be fine within two days…
The next day, in the top room of the side hall of Yanxi Palace.
Noble Lady Liang sat facing the mirror. She touched the hairpin in her hair, pursed her lips and smiled. She said to the maidservant, Xiang Ling, "How about this outfit? Will Yinhu like it after seeing it?"
If the beauty of Consort Yi was bright and magnificent, the beauty of Noble Lady Liang was pure and graceful.
She had arched eyebrows and apricot eyes, which were bright and clear. She also had the misty temperament of a Jiangnan woman. There was a hint of timidity in her soft beauty, which made people feel pity for her.
"The eighth prince will definitely like it," Xiang Ling replied with a sigh in her heart.
Her master was good everywhere. She had a kind personality. She had a stunning appearance despite her low background.
It didn't matter if one was born to a low background. Didn't Consort De have a lowly background, but she was one of the four consorts?
If the emperor loved you, no one would care about your origin.
With a heavenly appearance, if Noble Lady was willing to compete for favour, how could she not win? She was such a beauty. She was tempted to see it!
Noble Lady just didn't want to fight.
Since the birth of the eighth prince, the noble lady had become more secluded. She looked like she was only focussed on her son. She embroidered clothes, shoes, and socks for him… Obviously, she can't raise him herself, but she was very satisfied.
Your Majesty has already forgotten about the noble lady.
The noble lady didn't care at all… Look, even dressing up carefully was for the eighth prince.
Last night, Consort Hui's eldest maid, Ying'er, came to spread the word, saying that the consort was kind, and that the eighth prince was allowed to stay in the side hall for the day. The noble lady was so happy that she didn't know what to do. She tossed and turned at night and couldn't sleep. Today, she woke up early, looking forward to the arrival of the eighth prince.
Seeing this, Xiang Ling felt a little sad.
Her master and the eighth prince didn't spend much time together. They always had to act according to Consort Hui's face, and suffered a lot of grievances.
And those diabolical servants! Deceiving their superiors and deluding their subordinates, neglecting their duties… She was the only servant who served in the side hall all day.
If her master was favoured, then with regards to the eighth prince, when her master wanted to see him, wouldn't she be able to see him whenever she wanted? If only she could be favoured half as much as Consort Yi…
Xiang Ling was full of thoughts, and soon, the wet nurse came to the side hall holding the eighth prince.
Presumably because of Consort Hui's order, the wet nurse withdrew after handing the child over to Noble Lady Liang.
Noble Lady Liang hugged Yinhu like a rare treasure. She was overjoyed and said softly, "Yinhu, call mother…"
Yinhu vaguely knew that Mother Hui was just his adoptive mother, but mother was different. She was extremely beautiful and had a pleasant smell on her body.
It's just that mother was hard to see.
He raised his head obediently, and called out softly, "Mother."
Noble Lady Liang replied with a smile. Her eyes suddenly turned red, as if she was about to shed tears.
Yinhu immediately became anxious, raised his tender little hand, put it on Noble Lady Liang's white jade-like face, and quickly said, "Mother, don't cry!"
Noble Lady Liang's heart warmed up, and she quickly said, "Okay, mother won't cry. Mother will take you to play."
The mother and son talked a lot, which dispelled the strangeness in Yinhu's heart and he gradually relaxed.
The side hall was full of laughter and joy. When Xiang Ling saw this, she was both happy and bitter. "This servant will go get a cup of fruit juice." After saying that, she quickly lifted the curtain and went out.
When she came back, the laughter was gone.
Noble Lady Liang hugged the eighth prince and wept silently. Xiang Ling was shocked and dropped the teapot in her arms: "Master, what's wrong?!"
Noble Lady Liang wept silently, beckoning her to come forward. She then lifted the clothes around Yinhu's waist, revealing the large patch of bruises, which was shocking in comparison with his white and tender complexion.
Xiang Ling gasped, her hands shaking. "This, this…"
Noble Lady Liang closed her eyes. A stream of tears rolled down, and she choked up, incoherent. "Such a big injury… It's okay to be injured, but… They didn't even apply medicine and turned a blind eye… Yinhu is only two years old!"
"Don't worry! This servant will go to the Imperial Hospital right now." After being shocked, Xiang Ling turned around and was about to go out.
Noble Lady Liang shook her head, and called out hoarsely, "Come back."
"Master!" Xiang Ling said anxiously, "Then when? Such an injury cannot be ignored!"
Noble Lady Liang continued to shake her head.
She wiped her tears indiscriminately, lowered her head, and asked her son gently, "Why does it hurt there? Can Yinhu say it again?"
Yinhu's dark eyes were filled with uneasiness. He hesitated for a moment, and whispered, "Eldest brother hugged me. Mother, don't cry."
"…" Xiang Ling fell silent.
Noble Lady Liang smiled bitterly. "Eldest elder brother is a child, how can he know how to take care of children? But Consort Hui doesn't care, and the wet nurse doesn't care. Xiang Ling, if we get the imperial doctor, there would be no place for us in Yanxi Palace!"
Xiang Ling opened her mouth. What she said was quite correct.
If an imperial physician was invited and then there were rumors that 'Consort Hui was unkind to the eighth prince' or 'the eldest brother was unkind to the younger brother', Consort Hui would be furious. She didn't know what Consort Hui would do then.
Unless her master moved out of Yanxi Palace, then the eighth prince would not be raised by Consort Hui.
But how was that possible?
"Under the box next to the dowry, there is a plaster that was bestowed by the emperor…" Noble Lady Liang wiped away her tears, and said softly, "Go and get it."
Xiang Ling forced a smile and said in a low voice, "Master, things from two or three years ago are no longer usable."
Noble Lady Liang was startled, smiled wryly, and slowly clenched her hands. "You're right…"
After a while, she seemed to have made up her mind, and said, "Xiang Ling, quietly, go to Yongshou Palace to see the noble consort."
Yesterday, after paying her respects to Consort Hui, when she was leaving, she vaguely heard Consort Hui say, "She is a member of Niu Gulu's family. She is worthless. How dare she hurt Kuixu…"
Kuixu was the second son of Nalan Mingzhu and the cousin of Consort Hui. Niu Gulu's family name. In the harem, only the noble consort had this surname.
Noble Lady Liang repeated, "Go quietly. I was lucky enough to meet the noble consort. Just tell the truth and ask her to give you a bottle of good medicine…"
After, the tears gathered and rolled down her cheeks again.
Chengqian Palace.
The imperial noble consort looked at the woman in front of her with an unreadable expression. Gorgeous in appearance, graceful in figure, and still in her youth. She made people feel ashamed.
Her gaze was cold, as if looking at an object, which made Noble Lady Yuan grit her teeth and become more uneasy.
Mrs. Yuan was a bannerman of the Han army. She entered the palace when she was 19, and it had been three years since then.
Because her grandfather and father served in the Green Camp, they made great contributions when they were fighting in the Revolt of the Three Feudatories. She had an outstanding appearance. When she was drafted, she was granted the title of Noble Lady for the first time, and she was bestowed with living in the side hall of Chengqian Palace.
On the second day after entering the palace, the emperor turned over her signboard. Noble Lady Yuan was overjoyed, but she was stopped halfway by the imperial noble consort. Until now, she still hadn't slept with him.
In addition, the imperial noble consort suppressed them everywhere, making people feel like they couldn't speak up.
What could she do?
Chengqian Palace was run by the imperial noble consort with an iron fist, so she had to be calm and honest in the morning and evening. Even when paying her respects, she did not dare to show any resentment.
Noble Lady Yuan knew very well that she would not have a bright future.
Gradually, she accepted her fate and got used to the lifeless and boring life in the side hall.
But today, the imperial noble consort suddenly called her to go to the main hall. The expression in the imperial noble consort's eyes made her feel nervous and uneasy.
The imperial noble consort caressed her belly, and suddenly laughed. "It's a rare beauty. What's even rarer is that she has a 30% resemblance to that vixen… Wet Nurse, what do you think?"
Wet Nurse Zhen suppressed her surprise and nodded slightly. "Imperial Noble Consort is correct."
Why didn't she find out before?
This Mrs. Yuan had a good appearance and temperament. She was unexpectedly similar to Consort Yi. Although she was not as good as Consort Yi, no matter what, Consort Yi was pregnant and couldn't sleep with him…
Noble Lady Yuan was from Chengqian Palace, so she was enough to help the Consort.
"Let someone teach her Consort Yi's daily words, deeds, and manners carefully!" The imperial noble consort put away her smile and turned to look at the terrified Noble Lady Yuan. She said calmly, "The Longevity Festival banquet, We will push you to the front of the stage. At that time, don't disappoint Us."
13
In the side hall of Yikun Palace, Noble Lady Le brushed a few pieces of smooth brocade, and said with a gentle smile, "Older sister still misses me. Tidy this up, send it to the princess to make some summer shirts for Yi'erha… "
The palace lady, Qinglan, held a tall pile of cloth, and said in disapproval, "These fabrics are quite precious. Consort Yi said that they are all reserved for master to make new clothes. As for the princess, why should you bother?"
Noble Lady Le covered her mouth and smiled, pointing at her. "Your mouth is really…"
The masters and servants were chatting and laughing. Suddenly there was a report from outside, saying that someone had come to Chuxiu Palace. It was a palace lady next to Concubine Hesheli.
"Concubine Hesheli?" Le Guiren smiled and understood instantly. "Please come in."
……
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After seeing off the visitor, Qing Zhu asked while refilling tea, "Master, Concubine Hesheli sent Xihu Longjing to you yesterday, and invited you to enjoy the flowers today… What does she want?"
"Not sure." Noble Lady Le pondered for a while. "Perhaps she sees that older sister is favoured and wants to make friends with me."
Little Hesheli entered the palace when she was 13. It had been 3 years since and she remained in the position of concubine, and had not yet had a title conferred.
Although she was the concubine sister of Empress Renxiao and the crown prince's aunt, she didn't have enough confidence to walk in the harem. First, she had no official position, second, she was not favoured by the emperor, and third, her greatest reliance—the crown prince, was neither distant nor close to her.
Even with the support of the Hesheli family, so what?
Noble Lady Le smiled and said, "I see. She is a little anxious. She hasn't seen the emperor for a long time, so how long should she wait before she is conferred a title? Is it possible that Suo Etu will submit the notebook in person and beg the emperor to give her the position of imperial concubine?"
As soon as Yun Xiu entered the hall, she heard her younger sister's mischievous words.
With a puff, Yun Xiu's peach blossom eyes smiled brightly. "You, why do you dare to say anything?"
"She has status here. She is Soni's granddaughter, Gabula's daughter, and is a good concubine, but she wants the status of an imperial concubine." Yun Xiu raised her chin. "It won't be long before we go to congratulate her."
In the dream, Mrs. Hesheli directly jumped from concubine to a consort, breaking the structure of the four consorts. At that time, she was only seventeen years old.
She was much younger than the fourth consort.
With the crown prince around, the emperor would always praise her, so what was the rush?
Mrs. Hesheli in her dream was not as impatient as she was now, where she invited Yun Shu to enjoy the flowers, and to come to Yikun Palace for a while.
Imperial Consort Niu Gulu told her that this concubine was very interesting. The smile on her face was exactly the same as that of Empress Renxiao!
What a generous heart!
In order to compete for favour, the women in the harem fight like black-eyed chickens1, using whatever they had at their disposal. No, her accompanying him to Qianqing Palace a few days ago just so happened to hit their sensitive nerves. Those who tried to sound her out by giving gifts to express their goodwill… Well, they sprung up like mushrooms after rain.
At the same time, there was no shortage of malice.
She was afraid that the imperial noble consort and Consort De hated her. She did not know what methods they would use against her.
Although she was not afraid of intrigue, let alone scheming, but the number of times they attacked her was too much. It was really annoying and she felt a little hot inside.
Yun Xiu sneered when she thought of this and scolded Kangxi again.
Recently, the emperor sought her to accompany him twice in three days. The rewards flowed into Yikun Palace. Then, the number of times the emperor even entered the harem was much less!
Who knows what kind of medicine he took.
Fortunately, the emperor still had a conscience, so he sent additional staff from Yikun Palace, all of whom were trusted confidantes of Qianqing Palace. The imperial physician, who usually checked the pulse everyday was also replaced by an imperial physician who was always on call, which made it much more convenient.
Otherwise, she didn't have the face to meet the emperor.
Instead of listening to the sweet talk and feeling her heartbeat speed up, then trying to calm down afterwards, it was better to close the palace door and go to bed to have a sweet dream.
It was… troublesome.
March passed by in a flash. Soon came the Longevity Festival, the birthday of the current emperor.
Longevity Day was a day of universal celebration, and the palace was full of joy. The Imperial Household Department made preparations early on. Apart from birthday celebrations, the emperor held banquets and rewarded all the officials with gifts
There was a banquet for the hundreds of officials from the previous dynasty, so naturally there were family banquets in the harem.
The family banquet was held in the main hall of the Qianqing Palace. It was grand yet warm, and it was a rare occasion in a year for unfavoured concubines to meet the emperor.
The high-ranking concubines and young masters, including the princes and princesses, all attended, hence the word "reunion".
After noon, the imperial dining room became busy. Consort Hui and Consort Rong sent people to monitor the various procedures closely, or personally supervised them. There was no room for mistakes.
After consulting Kangxi, the main hall of Qianqing Palace was arranged in an orderly manner.
Within two hours, dozens of desks were placed in order. The cluster of seats positioned around the main seat designated the positions of the emperor, the great empress dowager, and empress dowager.
"Have you checked everything?" The imperial noble consort was wearing a large apricot-yellow dress, embroidered with dragon, phoenix and auspicious patterns. At first glance, it was almost bright yellow. On her head was a golden silk phoenix hairpin, inlaid with a large Eastern pearl. When it was observed from a distance, it gave off an air of luxury.
Wet Nurse Zhen said softly, "Send someone to inspect the dishes and the soup. There cannot be any 'accidents'."
The imperial noble consort smiled slightly. Only then was she satisfied.
After receiving a bowl of pitch-black medicinal soup, she endured the bitterness and drank it. She frowned for a long time, then said, "Consort Hui and Consort Rong have done their duty and saved Us a lot of energy. We should reward them later."
She did not mention the selection of congratulatory gifts. The imperial noble consort put a candied fruit into her mouth and suddenly asked, "You said that this medicine from Imperial Physician Liu can really stop nausea?"
During this period of time, she ate a lot and vomited a lot, which made her lose a lot of weight.
But during today's family banquet, she must not make a fool of herself in front of everyone. The imperial noble consort had no choice but to ask Imperial Physician Liu and get such a medicine.
Wet Nurse Zhen was taken aback and sighed inwardly. She said with a smile on her face, "Consort can make a judgment on Imperial Physician Liu's medical skills. How can this old slave evaluate them?"
Such a drug that went against nature was effective enough, but it would eventually hurt the body.
It was 30% a poison… It was just that the consort wouldn't listen to any persuasion, and she couldn't do anything about it, so she could only silently worry.
The imperial noble consort smiled in satisfaction. She then seemed to think of something, and something flashed through her eyes. "Is Noble Lady Yuan dressed up?"
"Answering Imperial Noble Consort, she should be soon. The peach red auspicious gown increases the similarity from 30% to 50%…" Speaking of this, Wet Nurse Zhen smiled sincerely. "Just look at the back. They are really similar!"
The imperial noble consort slightly raised the corners of her lips. When she thought about how Consort Yi would react during the dinner, she felt joy in her heart.
After enjoying herself, the sourness hit her. She closed her eyes and murmured, "We finally learned from Consort Hui and did the most disdainful thing of trying to curry favour."
Consort Hui's appearance could only be considered delicate. As the eldest prince grew up, every time the emperor came to Yanxi Palace, she would occasionally let the beautiful Little Changzai and Little Xu go to serve him.
When she thought of that Noble Lady Yuan, who was suppressed so much and was about to be favoured, the imperial noble consort clenched her hands tightly, suppressing the deep gloom in her eyes. "It's still advantageous for her… But just wait for the future…"
The sky was getting dark. The lights were brightly lit. The family banquet in Qianqing Palace slowly kicked off.
First, the concubines entered the palace one after another. Then, the princes and princesses gathered together. Finally, the emperor invited the revered elder and the empress dowager to sit together.
Every festival, attending in the palace required auspicious clothes, which were grand.
As Yun Xiu was pregnant, she came here with Noble Consort Niu Gulu.
The auspicious clothes of the two were both dark. One was crow blue, the other was ochre. They were unexpectedly harmonious. From a distance, it seemed to blend together.
The imperial noble consort glanced at them and said curiously, "It's not like you to be so low-key. Didn't you wear peach red last year? I thought that you would wear light yellow this year."
Yun Xiu smiled slightly. "What's so unusual? I'm pregnant and it's not a good thing to be in the limelight. I'd like to give up the honour of dazzling everyone to my younger sisters."
"…" The imperial noble consort was speechless and spat at her, "You are becoming more and more unscrupulous. Don't spoil Little Five!"
The corners of Yun Xiu's lips curled up slightly, and she blinked with an innocent look.
Crow-blue clothes were something she seldom wore. If such a dark colour was not imposing enough, it would be difficult to compel people. If it was worn by a young woman, it would appear too mature.
Yun Xiu was not.
The gorgeous colour was still the same, full of charm, and a little more solemn. Amidst the solemnity, there was a trace of extravagance. It highlighted the contours of her face and allowed her to appear graceful and poised.
After the noble consort finished joking, she looked at her with admiring eyes. "…Among those who are dressed in red and green, it is hard to say any are better than you."
In private, the two were very friendly.
They were both born in a wealthy Manchurian family. They were both outspoken and of a similar age. The most important thing was that the noble consort didn't care much about the emperor's favour.
The harem was lonely and these words were not false. Playing leaf cards2 and talking about gossip about the harem when they had time… Yun Xiu and the noble consort gradually became acquainted with each other. They were less restrained and more casual.
Hearing this, Yun Xiu pursed her lips and smiled. She was about to say something when a gentle and smooth voice came from behind. "Older Sister Noble Consort, Older Sister Consort Yi."
Consort De, dressed in an auspicious indigo-color sea cliff pattern dress, arrived with the support of the palace servants.
Consort De smiled slightly. Her eyes fell on Yun Xiu's auspicious clothes. It was as if she wanted to praise Yun Xiu. "Older Sister Consort Yi's outfit…"
In the middle of speaking, it was as if she remembered some bad memories, and her words came to an abrupt end.
Yun Xiu knew very well that Consort De was afraid that she would make trouble again.
She held back her laughter and asked, "What about this outfit?"
Consort De's smile froze slightly. She swallowed her original words, and after a moment, she quickly returned to her natural state.
It was at this time that the imperial noble consort's ceremonial carriage stopped in front of Qianqing gate. The voices of people giving their greetings sounded out one after another, much to Consort De's relief.
"Greetings to the imperial noble consort. Hope that the imperial noble consort is blessed…"
"You are excused." The imperial noble consort waved her hand. Her eyes fell on the noble consort and her party not far away. She smiled inexplicably, turned around, and said indifferently, "Aren't you following?"
The bright and beautiful Noble Lady Yuan appeared in front of everyone.
Her appearance was second to none. Her words, deeds, and manners were very similar to a certain person…
There was a sudden silence all around.
The noble consort frowned. Consort De was taken aback, then smiled. She stared at Yun Xiu vaguely, and said in a low voice, "This…Older Sister Consort Yi, is that Noble Lady Yuan? She looks very much like you."
Yun Xiu withdrew her gaze and glanced at her without showing any anger. She said with a half-smile, "It seems that there is no conclusion yet, so why are you so excited? If one didn't know, one would think that Noble Lady Yuan was your long-lost sister."
After she finished speaking, she suddenly said, "I was thinking about it. One is surnamed Wuya and the other's surname is Yuan. Even if you were real sisters, they should not have two different surnames. Older Sister Noble Consort, don't you think so?"
1.(烏雞眼) black eyed chicken: a term used to describe people who glare at each other and are extremely jealous.
2.(葉子牌) Leaf cards: I think this is a dice/card game.
14
How could one be sisters with two different surnames?
These words were poisonous and sharp. Consort De's complexion instantly turned livid and it was extremely ugly.
The noble consort couldn't bear it any longer. She coughed, covered her mouth with a handkerchief, and concealed her gushing smile.
Yun Xiu's mouth was really…
Biological sisters who had been separated for many years… This sentence jabbed at Consort De's heart, and would infuriate her to death.
… Mrs. Wuya might not be able to swallow her anger.
The noble consort guessed right. No matter how good-tempered Consort De was, she was still trembling with anger. The look she shot Yun Xiu was sharp like a sword, and was full of a shocking coldness. "What do you mean by that? "
The noble consort wanted to speak, but Yun Xiu made a gesture for her to stop.
"We saw that you are very interested in Noble Lady Yuan, so We were just joking with younger sister." Yun Xiu stroked her sleeves calmly, showing a regretful smile. "We didn't expect younger sister's reaction to be so strong… I made a mistake with my words, sorry."
After all, her display of regret turned into a slight apology. She nodded towards Consort De, then left the imperial noble consort and her party, and went inside first.
Consort De just watched Yun Xiu walk away. "…"
She swayed, gritted her teeth, and said in her heart, Consort Yi!
The imperial noble consort's smile froze. The corners of her eyes drooped slightly, and even the pleasure of seeing Consort De tapered away.
According to her status, Consort Yi should be courteous to her and let her go first, but now, Mrs. Guo Luoluo was ignoring her.
That presumptuous –
The imperial noble consort's breathing suddenly dropped. Noble Lady Yuan, who was standing at the side, clearly felt it. She lowered her head in trepidation, but she couldn't stop mocking her secretly.
The imperial noble consort thought she had a plan and that everything was under control. She didn't expect that Consort Yi didn't follow the script. Consort Yi was talking and laughing freely, and was not provoked in the slightest.
Noble Lady Yuan sneered. So what if she wore pink?
They may look similar at first glance, but anyone could tell the difference. There was a world of difference between her and Consort Yi, who was the most favoured in the harem.
It was just Mrs. Tongjia who was living under a rock.
Seeing the heavy breathing of the imperial noble consort, Noble Lady Yuan's eyes gradually brightened and suddenly an unprecedented fighting spirit was ignited.
Originally, she had given up and decided
She was a transparent person. She was not the type to resist, so she would only accept things and be at the mercy of others.
But why?!
At home, she was also the noble daughter favoured by the elders. Why was Mrs. Tongjia so arrogant? It was not enough to win her favour, but she made her into someone else's shadow.
What did she think of her? A dog that came and went when it was called?
Even if she was willing to be a pheasant to compare to the phoenix who was Consort Yi, she didn't want to be a fake plaything and be controlled by Mrs. Tongjia!
If she could do it, so could she. She would wait and see…
"Sit next to Noble Lady Nala." The imperial noble consort ordered Noble Lady Yuan lightly, pointing to a seat quite in front. "Always pay attention to your words and deeds."
Noble Lady Yuan, who was submissive, suddenly remembered something. She hesitated for a moment: "Imperial Noble Consort, Consort Yi is pregnant and she is quite popular with the empress dowagers. If this concubine sits at the front and something bad happens, the revered elder will hold you accountable…"
Wet Nurse Zhen glanced over coldly. What right did she have to speak here?
"…What you said makes sense." The imperial noble consort stared at Noble Lady Yuan for a while, then smiled and said softly, "Then sit back and don't let the emperor see you. Understand?"
Mrs. Yuan was a rare soldier. If she was used well, she could take away Consort Yi's favour and hurt her.
But at the family banquet, if her cousin met Mrs. Yuan and took into account Consort Yi's face, he would most likely vent his anger on herself…
This pawn still had some brains.
Noble Lady Yuan responded in a low voice, bowed her head, and took her leave.
Because of the gorgeous auspicious clothes and familiar behaviour, more than one concubine noticed Mrs. Yuan. But, because she always had her back turned, they couldn't see this person's face clearly.
"Could it be Consort Yi?" Concubine Jing asked softly.
"It's not her." Concubine Duan shook her head and nodded her chin. "Consort Yi is on the other side. She is the one in the crow blue dress."
Concubine Jing suddenly became curious. "Who is that? With the imperial noble consort… is it Noble Lady Yuan who lives in Chengqian Palace?"
As they were guessing, Noble Lady Yuan had already sat at the end, occupying a table by herself. There were Noble Ladies who had no achievements and no children, or had a weak sense of presence. Concubine Jing lost interest in an instant.
Noble Lady Yuan was usually unfavoured. She was truly a transparent person not worthy of attention.
…
Concubine Hesheli sat at the bottom of the section where the concubines were seated. She looked very young. Her face was rather immature, but she was very dignified.
She kept staring at Yun Xiu from the corner of her eye. After a while, she lowered her eyes. Nobody knew what she was thinking.
After the concubines were seated, there was the sound of a quiet whip from outside the hall, followed by a drawn out voice. "The emperor has arrived—the great empress dowager, the empress dowager, and all the princes have arrived—"
Kangxi was dressed in auspicious, bright yellow clothing. He strode forward majestically, with an aura of authority and grandeur. He stopped from time to time and said with concern, "Revered Elder, please slow down."
The great empress dowager leaned on the cane in her left hand, and was supported by the empress dowager on her right. She could not walk sluggishly, and she couldn't help but laugh. "We are fine."
Soon, they arrived at their seats. Facing the sound of greetings from all the palaces, the great empress dowager sat down slowly, and then waved behind her. "Baocheng, come, take care of imperial grandmother's crutches…"
The crown prince smiled and said yes. The eldest prince behind him curled his lips, looking a little annoyed.
Starting from the eldest prince, a series of little beans lined up neatly, dressed in festive red clothes. They followed the crown prince.
Except for Little Seven, Yinyou, who had bad legs and feet, and Little Eight, Yinsi, who was not skilled in walking and was being hugged by the wet nurse, the rest of the princes walked steadily, including the sixth prince, Yinzuo.
Consort De's eyes lit up when she saw Yinzuo. Yun Xiu was the same, with her heart full of Yinqi.
As soon as Yinqi entered the hall, he looked around, trying to find his mother.
After looking for a long time, his eyes suddenly met the high-ranking Yun Xiu. Yinqi was taken aback, and then shouted in surprise, "Mother!"
As he said that, he took Yinzhen's hand. "Let's go, fourth older brother, let's go to mother."
That "mother" was spoken in Chinese.
The fifth prince's voice was loud and clear. This abruptly interrupted the conversation between Kangxi and the great empress dowager. In an instant, the hall was completely silent.
Yun Xiu was surprised and wanted to apologise. Kangxi laughed loudly and nodded to Yinqi in a gesture that indicated that there was no intention of blaming her. "You should go to your mother. Revered Elder, for today's banquet, We will let the princes go eat with their mothers."
Kangxi turned and asked, "You see?"
After he finished speaking, he cast his gaze towards Yun Xiu, and quickly retracted it. There was a deep smile in his eyes.
The old madam looked at Yinqi lovingly, nodded, and said, "Just listen to the emperor."
Yinqi thanked him loudly, excited, and then tugged on the sleeve of the fourth prince, Yinzhen.
Yun Xiu had a complete view of Yinqi's small movements, and was relieved, annoyed, and found it funny. When did Little Five and the fourth prince get along so well?
Could it be because of the crown prince?
Yinzhen glanced at the crown prince. After receiving an affirmative glance, he suppressed his joy and walked towards the imperial noble consort's table.
Consort Hui greeted the eldest prince and eighth prince with joy. Consort Rong took the third prince's hand. Concubine Daijia of Yonghe Palace hugged seventh prince on her lap.
Consort De beckoned to the sixth prince with a kind smile. How could she care about her unhappiness with Yun Xiu?
Noble Lady Yuan could be found at any time. Yinzuo should be first!
Yinzuo was four years old, jade white and very cute. He looked a little muddle-headed.
Seeing that Yinzhen was walking towards the imperial noble consort, Yinzuo suddenly stopped him. "Fourth older brother, you should sit with me beside mother…"
There was a bit of grievance within the words. His voice was full of confusion and doubt, neither high nor low. This made Yinzhen stop and he fell silent.
The imperial noble consort's complexion suddenly changed. Consort De's heart skipped a beat. She wanted to stop him, but it was too late.
All the eyes in the hall fell on Yinzuo.
Qianqing Palace was as quiet as death. It was completely different from the atmosphere in which Yinqi spoke just now.
"Fourth older brother hasn't greeted mother for a long time," Yinzuo continued. "You stay in Chengqian Palace all day long and don't play with me…"
The concubines all exchanged looks.
The sixth prince's words… Was he accusing the fourth prince of caring about his adoptive mother and disregarding his biological mother?
"Yinzuo! What nonsense are you talking about?" Consort De let out a low cry. She then knelt on the ground with a pale face, taking care with her stomach. "A child's words mean no harm. Asking the emperor to forgive us. It's all this concubine's fault!"
Yinzuo was at a loss for a moment.
The one who was even more at a loss than him was Yinzhen.
He couldn't move anymore. He stood alone on the spot, pursed the corners of his lips, and slowly lowered his head.
Yinqi grabbed Yun Xiu's clothes nervously, his face full of worry. The crown prince suddenly panicked. How could such a good family banquet become like this?!
It was all a mess, a mess!
He gritted his teeth and was about to get up and intervene when the imperial noble consort suddenly choked up and shed tears.
"This concubine, in order to raise Yinzhen, works hard all day and night for fear of being inattentive." She choked up with sobs and crouched down. "…Asking the emperor, revered elder, and the empress dowager to decide!"
15
The imperial noble consort was choked with sobs and had burst into tears. When she raised her head, half of her makeup was gone. How could she show a graceful appearance?
She clutched her lower abdomen, and said those words, asking the emperor to make a decision. She showed a rare fragility, which was unexpectedly heart-wrenching.
The imperial noble consort smiled wryly. "… Consort De finally gave birth to Yinzhen, and this concubine was constantly involved. This concubine didn't want him to make him play with Yinzuo. What she said today really pierced this concubine's heart… What Consort De said, that a child's words mean no harm, how can the sixth prince be blamed? These words seemed to have been said unintentionally…"
Consort De's pleas were stuck in her throat instantly. She slowly knelt down, closed her eyes, and felt like she was falling into an ice cellar.
The imperial noble consort said that Yinzuo's words meant no harm, so the blame would never fall on her.
The implication was that it was his mother who taught these words to him.
She was also to blame for her negligence. When Yinzuo asked Yinzhen curiously, she smiled kindly and said in a flat tone, "Your fourth older brother regards Chengqian Palace as his home. How can he remember mother?"
She just said it casually. She didn't think that Yinzuo would take it seriously.
No, not seriously.
How old was Yinzuo? He would not remember so clearly.
It must be the imperial noble consort's nails that led Little Six to say such a thing!
…
After thinking about it for a while, Consort De understood the cause. Why didn't she realise earlier that this was a trick set up by the imperial noble consort?
The imperial noble consort was using Yinzuo as a bait to disrupt the family banquet. She didn't even give her face, just poured dirty water on her, and charged her with two crimes.
First, she instigated Yinzuo with ulterior motives. Second, making her seem like she was disrespecting the imperial noble consort. The intention was to sever her and Yinzhen's mother-child relationship.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, how could the emperor spare her!
The Tong family was the maternal family of the emperor. Even though Mrs. Tongjia couldn't please him, the emperor would never punish her severely.
——Killing one thousand enemies and harming oneself by eight hundred… How was this something normal people do?
Right now, excuses were useless. Little Six's words were evidence.
No, don't get confused. She hadn't lost yet…
Her fingernails dug into her palm, causing a burst of pain. Consort De didn't say a word. She fell down, as if accepting her fate.
Consort Hui gasped and couldn't help but clench the embroidered handkerchief tightly and anxiously. Consort Rong was the same.
The dinner party was jointly arranged by them. They thought it would be harmonious. They didn't expect that it would turn out like this!
Consort Rong recalled that today was Longevity Day and the birthday of the emperor. Her heart sank and she quietly looked up.
Sure enough, the emperor's expression was livid. How could he still have the warm expression from just now?
Kangxi laughed angrily, glanced at the imperial noble consort, then paused. After, he glanced at Consort De.
One was pregnant for seven months, and the other was pregnant for five months.
It was also specially selected for today!
Very well.
The great empress dowager had lived in the harem all her life. How could she not see the tricks behind this matter?
The old madam sighed lightly, fearing that the emperor would do something irrational in his rage. She quickly said, "Yinzhen, Yinzuo, you are both good boys. Come sit by Revered Elder!"
The great empress dowager's words were like rain from the sky, saving the fourth prince who bowed his head and clenched his fist, and the sixth prince who was about to cry.
Kangxi was startled. He suddenly came back to his senses, feeling a little ashamed in his heart.
He also blamed himself for neglecting the affairs of the harem. He troubled his imperial grandmother who had to worry so much.
When he looked at the two children, his anger eased a little. His impression of the imperial noble consort and Consort De hit rock bottom.
He glanced at Liang Jiugong while he tapped the desk with his fingers.
Liang Jiugong understood instantly, and said, "The meal——"
Palace people filed in one after another. The stagnant atmosphere gradually dissipated.
…
"Revered Elder…" Yinzuo wiped his tears away. His crying voice was interrupted by the great empress dowager halfway through.
The great empress dowager took Yinzuo's hand, touched Yinzhen's bald head, and showed a kind smile. "Don't cry, revered elder is here. Come, eat a snack to cushion your stomach."
Yinzhen took the snack silently and stuffed it into his mouth with red eyes.
The great empress dowager sighed.
The two brothers obviously had the same biological parents, but they were very different from each other. She looked at them and it seemed that Little Four had resisted Little Six.
It was not worth using a child to make a show in order to hand out punishment!
The great empress dowager's eyes sharpened. She turned to the imperial noble consort and Consort De, who were kneeling in the centre of the hall.
Because the emperor didn't call for them to get up, they were still kneeling on the ground. They were already a little shaky at this moment.
The floor tiles were icy cold. After kneeling for a long time, the chill was piercing to the bone. Because the imperial noble consort had been prepared, she wore thick knee pads and drank a bowl of strong anti-abortion medicine. Right now, the situation of the imperial noble consort was much better than that of Consort De.
Consort De felt scared.
Her lower abdomen was cold, and there was a feeling of falling. Although it was not obvious, it scared her out of her wits.
If this baby could not be kept, what face would she have to gain a foothold in the harem?!
The day that the emperor walked away from the Yonghe Palace, Consort De obviously felt that the emperor's feelings were not as good as before.
Don't even compare her with Consort Yi. Even the noble consort who was not favoured very much had been rewarded by Qianqing Palace, but she had nothing. People considered her a joke!
Without favour, she had to rely on her children.
Would the servants in the Imperial Household Department treat her respectfully, as usual?
She still had deeper thoughts hidden in her heart.
Yinzuo was alone with no one to help him. In the future…she would have to give birth to a younger brother for him so that she could better plan for the future and truly respond to the word "zuo" of "Guozuo".1
After losing a little princess last year, Consort De took this child very seriously. She even made up her mind to hand him over to the empress dowager to raise after he was born.
If the child was a prince, then he could be invincible like Yinqi. He could help Yinzuo better in the future. If the child was a princess, she may be able to avoid Fumeng's fate.2
She had considered all aspects, but that was assuming that the child would be safe and sound.
Consort De bit her lip, feeling ruthless.
If something happened to this baby, even if she tried her best, she would let Mrs. Tongjia die without a place to bury her!
Wet Nurse Wu, who was at the other end, quickly noticed Consort De's abnormal state and was extremely anxious.
She gritted her teeth and was about to step forward to plead for mercy. The great empress dowager seemed to have noticed something. She slowly looked away, and waved her hand. "Imperial noble consort, Consort De, get up. On such a joyous day, there should be no mentions of punishment.. This matter will be discussed later."
Kangxi picked up green bamboo shoots with his chopsticks. Without raising his head, he said, "Your grandson will listen to imperial grandmother."
Consort De froze for a moment. The discussion was postponed?
The imperial noble consort's expression froze. She looked at Kangxi in disbelief. Kangxi seemed to be aware of her, and slowly raised his head. He glanced at her.
Suddenly, the imperial noble consort felt regretful, as if… she was getting farther and farther away from her cousin.
Then, she looked at Consort De, who had pale lips and was extremely weak. There was inconspicuous redness at the corners of her robe. The imperial noble consort gradually strengthened her expression, smiled slightly, and touched her belly.
It was all worth it.
After giving birth to a little prince and becoming the empress, who else could compete with her?
It was said that she hated Consort De because of Yinzhen, and Consort Yi because of the emperor's favour. It was true, but not entirely true.
Now, the noble consort, Consort Yi, and Consort De were all pregnant, and they were not too far behind her.
If they gave birth to a prince and won the favour of the emperor, how many threats would they pose to her?
The emperor's most doted on young son… One was enough!
No one could compete with her prince, no one.
Seeing that Consort De could not keep the baby, even if it was born, it would be weak. It would be nothing to worry about. Noble Lady Yuan exerted herself for Consort Yi. As for Noble Consort Niu Gulu…
She had to think hard and come up with a surefire way.
Consort Yi, accompanied by her son, watched the good show all night and enjoyed it with great relish. Not only did she eat satisfactorily, but she also drank several cups of warm juice.
When the dinner party was over, Yun Xiu bent down, held Yinqi's round cheeks. She leaned forward and kissed him. "Little Five, sleep tight, and do not kick the quilt at night, do you hear me?"
"Mother, Yinqi didn't kick the quilt." Yinqi opened his big black grape-like eyes and hummed, "Younger brother will!"
While they were talking, he secretly thought that mother's kiss was so fragrant. Next time, he had to kiss her back.
Yun Xiu pinched his fat face, and couldn't help but laugh. "Your younger brother's hands and feet haven't grown up enough yet, so it's too early for him to kick the quilt."
The empress dowager happily stood aside, praising Yinqi in Mongolian, and giving testimony. "Our Yinqi doesn't kick the quilt. Imperial grandmother knows best…"
When Kangxi helped the great empress dowager, he just saw this warm scene and heard Yinqi's words about not kicking the quilt.
The emperor was startled for a moment, then smiled. His gaze fell on Yun Xiu, and he didn't look away for a moment.
Today, the desk where Xiuxiu sat was too far back.
Sitting in front were the imperial noble consort, the noble consort, and Consort Hui. She was not in the limelight. She just ate in silence, with her head down so that he could not take a good look at her.
His heart fluctuated, and suddenly, Kangxi had an impulsive thought.
Maybe it was because the night was too dark. That impulse gradually started taking over. It was only because of his discipline as an emperor did he manage to suppress it.
Hold up. The pattern of the harem had been established and now was not the time.
"Imperial grandmother, your grandson will help you." Kangxi stopped in a place where Yun Xiu couldn't see. He said with a smile, "About the dispute over the dinner party that you worried over… Your grandson is very sorry…"
The great empress dowager waved her hands and said with a smile, "You, it was busy in the previous dynasty, and the imperial noble consort is pregnant again, so We have to take action! Don't say such things."
When mentioning the imperial noble consort, the great empress dowager shook her head and sighed. "She obviously doesn't care about the other child… and neither does Consort De. Between them, how can Little Four be happy?"
Kangxi stood with his hands behind his back and fell silent.
After a while, he cupped his hands and said solemnly, "We ask imperial grandmother to promise Us…"
On the first and fifteenth day of the lunar new year, or on major festivals, the emperor always stayed in Kunning Palace. This was a custom that had been handed down.
Since Empress Xiaozhao passed away, and a new empress had not yet been established, on the 15th day of the Lunar New Year and the New Year's Eve, the place where the emperor went was changed to the imperial noble consort of Chengqian Palace.
Today was Longevity Day. Logically speaking, after the dinner, the emperor should come…
The imperial noble consort suppressed the slight uneasiness in her heart. She asked her servants to inquire continuously. When it was time to go to bed, the imperial sedan finally arrived.
Hearing the report, she breathed a sigh of relief. She then felt a strong sour feeling, and turned to look at Noble Lady Yuan.
"Serve the emperor well." After a long pause, the imperial noble consort said coldly, "If something goes wrong, you will have a lot to answer for!"
Noble Lady Yuan respectfully agreed.
…
When the emperor strode into the main hall, besides the imperial noble consort who had tidied up, there was also a familiar figure greeting him.
"…" Kangxi almost thought that he had gone to the wrong place. He subconsciously raised the corners of his lips.
Then, he took a closer look and saw that it was a strange and beautiful woman, who had a 30% resemblance to Xiuxiu. She even imitated her behavior and clothes!
Having been in power for many years, what hasn't Kangxi seen? But now he was stunned. He couldn't restrain his smile in time. He pointed at the imperial noble consort and was speechless.
Liang Jiugong's heart thumped.
Seeing that smile, the imperial noble consort thought that the emperor was surprised by Noble Lady Yuan's appearance, and she was quite satisfied with it.
With great difficulty, she suppressed her sourness, and plastered a virtuous smile on her face. "Greetings to the emperor. This concubine is too old to serve, so this concubine found a beauty from the side hall. Noble Lady Yuan is comparable to Consort Yi…"
Before she finished speaking, Kangxi picked up the teacup beside him and smashed it down.
The imperial noble consort was startled. She took a few steps back, her face paling suddenly. "Your Majesty?"
"Ridiculous." Kangxi laughed angrily, feeling that this was unbelievable. "She is comparable to Consort Yi? What do you take Us for? What do you take Yun Xiu for?! She is just a fake and she is worthy of being compared to Consort Yi?!"
Under the shocked and flustered eyes of the imperial noble consort, Kangxi took a few steps forward. He approached her, and asked softly, "In your eyes, are We like a monkey in your garden? One who can be led by the nose? Are you holding a monkey show?"
His phoenix eyes were deep, containing a shocking chill.
"No…" The imperial noble consort's tone was broken. She backed away muttering.
Noble Lady Yuan had retreated to a corner a long time ago, biting her lip at this moment. Her head was lowered. She was able to hide a trace of a smile at the corners of her mouth.
Kangxi laughed, stared at the imperial noble consort, and said, "You want to be Mu Xieli, but I don't want to be Gao Wei. Cousin, if you don't want to be the imperial noble consort, how about We help you? "
1.(國祚) Guozuo: the Zuo in Yinzuo's name is the same as the Zuo in Guozuo. Guozuo is the period over which a dynasty endures.
2.Fumeng: I think this was a princess who was married off to form an alliance between Manchu and Mongolia, but I'm not sure.