Chapter 6
In Chengqian Palace.
The noble imperial consort leaned on the couch and asked the maid to massage her legs first. After removing her make-up, her complexion was not very good. She held her stomach and couldn't conceal the tiredness between her brows.
In addition, she received the news that the emperor rewarded Consort Yi…
Thinking of the Chinese milkvetch in the storeroom, the noble imperial consort's face sank. She sneered, "How good is Consort Yi! She is truly blessed, unmatched by anyone."
She had been coveting that red coral for a long time, and she even specially equipped a pedestal, just waiting for the emperor to reward her with it. Then, she could enshrine it in the main hall and enjoy everyone's envious eyes.
She really didn't care whether the object was good-looking or precious. What mattered was the symbolic meaning it represented.
One plant went to the Empress Dowager and one plant went to the Great Empress Dowager. It stood to reason that the last should be rewarded to the Empress. But as the mother of the country had not yet been established, she, the noble imperial consort, was the most powerful in the harem.
The noble imperial consort was the same as a deputy empress, so the red coral should belong to her!
She was cut off by Yikun Palace. What kind of virtue did Consort Yi possess?
She recalled how she gave Consort Yi special treatment when she paid her respects today, and even assigned her a good job. The imperial noble consort felt as if she had been deceived and panicked.
It was rare to see Mrs. Guo Luoluo be pleasing to the eye, but she didn't expect…
She and Mrs. Wuya were birds of a feather, being cheap servants who climbed into beds. There wasn't a single good thing about them!
"For the sake of Consort Yi, cousin actually…" The noble imperial consort had a bitter taste in her mouth. She murmured about the past. "In the 21st year, the emperor sent the empress dowager to visit Shengjing. He didn't take anyone with him. He only asked Consort Yi to accompany him, and he even lived in the private residence of the third official…"
The third official was the father of Consort Yi. He was the leader of the Bordered Yellow Banner. On the surface, his official position was not high, but he controlled the military defense of Shengjing. He had great power and had won the trust of the emperor.
Shengjing, the origin of the dynasty.
What an honour was it to live in a private residence?
This was an honor that Mrs. Tongjia did not have!
"Cousin… He… is too much." The noble imperial consort closed her eyes and was unable to tell whether the feeling was jealousy or envy.
How nice would it be if she received this kind of pampering?
Her morning sickness reappeared and the imperial noble consort felt uncomfortable. Her complexion changed. She could barely suppress it, even after eating 5-6 sour plums.
"Imperial Noble Consort needs to take care of the little prince. Don't get angry." The wet nurse, Mrs. Zhen, had served the imperial noble consort since childhood. How could she not understand her master's anger?
Pregnant women were inherently sensitive and could not stand stimulation. She took a jar of sour plums and persuaded her. "No matter how favored Consort Yi is, she is just a concubine. How can she compare to you? The master said that wives and concubines are fundamentally different."
As soon as the words 'wife' and 'concubine' came out, the imperial noble consort's expression softened.
That's right, it was hard for a concubine to attend to others, so it would be hard for her to last long. She wanted to be the mother of the world, and would accompany her cousin and become his wife who stayed by his side.
Father once said that the empress should be virtuous, graceful, and magnanimous. She firmly remembered this sentence and never forgot it, not even for a moment.
Even though she admired her cousin and hated all the concubines who were deeply favoured, she still endured and did not dare to show her emotions at all.
She was going to be the empress…
When all was said and done, heirs were the most important thing. The most urgent thing was to give birth to a little prince.
The imperial noble consort sighed softly. She touched her lower abdomen, her eyes loving. "What wet nurse said is that children are important. As for those women, there is plenty of time to clean up."
Good times only lasted so long, so could Consort Yi still go to heaven?
Wet Nurse Zhen was very relieved to see that she had figured it out. "Imperial Noble Consort is wise."
The master and servant chatted about the arrangements for the Longevity Festival. A report came from outside, saying that the fourth prince was asking to see her.
Yinzhen was six years old. He had just entered school. Not long after living in his older brother's house, he would come to Chengqian Palace to greet the imperial noble consort when he had time.
Hearing this, the imperial noble consort smiled. She straightened up and said, "Let the fourth prince come in."
Yinzhen walked over like a little adult, with brisk steps. When he saw the imperial noble consort, his immature face was full of admiration. "Son greets mother."
The imperial noble consort quickly excused him from those courtesies. She then pulled him to her side, held Yinzhen's small face, and looked him over. "You lost weight. Is studying difficult? The weight you had has been lost so easily."
Then, she asked carefully, "Is Su Peisheng taking good care of you? If the servants don't take good care of you, remember to tell mother."
Yinzhen pursed his lips, and looked very happy because of the closeness the imperial noble consort showed him. "Thanks for the care, mother! Studying is not hard. They are all as they should be, and they serve me well."
"That's good."
The imperial noble consort touched Yinzhen's forehead. She was about to say something else when Yinzhen suddenly smiled shyly, and whispered, "Mother, can I touch your belly? I heard that a younger sibling is in there."
His eyes were bright and full of anticipation.
The imperial noble consort was startled. She subconsciously turned her body, covering her lower abdomen with her hands in a protective gesture.
After doing this, she felt her heart thump. She was just in time to see Yinzhen's eyes dim, his fingers tangled together.
His mother was afraid that he would hurt his younger siblings?
"…" The imperial noble consort opened her mouth. She lost her voice for a moment and was unable to speak.
Wet Nurse Zhen felt bad, so she quickly stepped forward to smooth things over. "Fourth prince should know that the noble imperial consort has been pregnant and her health has been bad. It's not that you are not serious, but that she is afraid of getting you sick…"
Hearing that the imperial noble consort was not in good health, Yinzhen immediately shifted his attention. He anxiously asked, "Is mother sick?"
"Mother is pregnant and mother's body is weak." The imperial noble consort felt a little uncomfortable, so she could only follow Wet Nurse Zhen's words. "It doesn't matter, the imperial doctor has prescribed some medicine… After mother recovers, Yinzhen can touch his sibling."
After finally comforting Yinzhen and watching him leave, the imperial noble consort clenched her hands tightly in worry. A trace of cruelty appeared in her beautiful eyebrows.
"Check! Who said this to the fourth prince!"
After sending Kangxi away, Yun Xiu seemed to be sending off a burden. She relaxed, washed, and changed clothes casually. She lay down on the bed and closed her eyes after a while.
She didn't have the dream that predicted the future anymore and had a good night's sleep.
There was no need to pay her respects the next day, so Yun Xiu slept until the sun was up. She then asked someone to bring breakfast.
Because of her pregnancy, Kangxi gave Yikun Palace a small kitchen. The noble consorts did not have this grace, nor did Consort De. Only the imperial noble consorts and the Consort Yi could enjoy this – one by virtue of status, and the other by favour.
With a small kitchen, everything was much more convenient. One could use it whenever one wanted to eat. There was also no need to worry about whether the food was safe, which saved a lot of effort.
Perhaps because of her open mind, Yun Xiu's appetite improved day by day. For breakfast, she had a bowl of fish porridge, a stack of spring rolls, and many side dishes. Her complexion was rosy, which was a stark difference from yesterday's sleepiness.
Just when the imperial doctor came to check her pulse, Wet Nurse Dong led him to another place and asked cryptically, "The consort's condition yesterday… Is there something wrong?"
"Consort Yi's womb seems very healthy, and there is no sign of stagnation. Consort Yi is fine." The imperial doctor stroked his beard and said firmly, "Pregnant women often suffer from insomnia, so just relax and catch up on sleep. There is no need to worry."
She was very healthy!
Wet Nurse Dong sighed in relief.
On the other side…
Rui Zhu watched helplessly as Yun Xiu picked up the 'semi-finished' uniform, rummaged through the box, and slowly stuffed it under the cage in the corner.
She was taken aback. "…"
This was the birthday gift that the consort was going to give to the emperor. It should be completed soon. Every stitch and thread had the consort's painstaking efforts in each. Why was it stuffed into the box?!
Wen Yuan wanted to speak but stopped. "Consort?"
"No embroidering. I'm clumsy and not good at these things." Yun Xiu dismissed it lightly. She then smiled. "Changing it to another congratulatory gift is fine. If the embroidery is too shabby, the emperor won't like it."
Wen Yuan and Rui Zhu agreed on the surface, but inwardly they did not agree.
The emperor would be happy with whatever the consort sends, right? Even more so if it was something made by hand!
But their master ordered it and they had no choice but to obey. They regretted it for a moment, and then suppressed their doubts in their hearts.
They stuffed the clothes into the basket. Having settled one concern, Yun Xiu picked a set of clothes and changed into a cerise palace dress, with exquisite embroidered edging. It was embroidered with confederate roses, giving it a fresh and majestic feeling.
There were emerald and silver hairpins in her black hair. She wore two pink pearl earrings. There was a little rouge powder on her face, her eyebrows were lightly brushed, and her lips were red. After a while, a bright and charming Consort Yi appeared in the bronze mirror.
Yun Xiu was thinking about the fifth prince, Yinqi. When she was dressing, she ordered Wen Yuan to go to Cining Palace in person, and report to the Empress Dowager and the Great Empress Dowager.
Wen Yuan followed her orders and left. After an hour, someone came from Cining Palace, and it was the Empress Dowager's most prestigious servant, Wet Nurse Qian.
Wet Nurse Qian swiftly lifted the curtain, with a smile on her face. She saw Yun Xiu and said, "This old servant pays respects to Consort Yi. Coincidentally, the prince was worried about the consort. The Empress Dowager said that the consort is quite far along in pregnancy, so it is important to be careful. Let this old servant escort you to Cining Palace."
"How can this be?!" Yun Xiu quickly supported Wet Nurse Qian.
Thanks to Little Five's blessing, the empress dowager took good care of her. After she was pregnant with this child, the empress dowager was even more attentive. How could she not be grateful?
"How are the empress dowager and revered elder doing?" Along the way, Yun Xiu asked a lot of caring words, and Wet Nurse Qian answered them one by one. Wet Nurse Qian said with a smile, "Revered elder is in good health, and had some more milk cakes this morning… "
That was to say, the great empress dowager was in a good mood, and when the great empress dowager was in a good mood, the empress dowager would naturally also be in a good mood.
Yun Xiu knew it in her heart. After getting off the sedan chair and entering the outer room, she raised her eyebrows and smiled. "This consort pays respects to the revered elder and the empress dowager—"
She spoke fluent Mongolian.
An old but kind voice spoke. "Listen, Girl Yi is here."
The younger voice was very happy, and also replied in Mongolian. "Don't do those empty rituals. Come in quickly, come in quickly."
Yun Xiu supported her stomach and entered the inner hall with a smile on her face.
The scent of sandalwood burst out, and her vision suddenly brightened up. The two elders facing her were sitting cross-legged on the heated brick bed.
The great empress dowager was on the left twisting a string of Buddhist beads. Her hair was already gray and she had deep wrinkles. She was a kind old lady, and she looked at Yun Xiu with kind eyes.
It was this revered elder who single-handedly raised the emperor and was the emperor's closest and he was the most filial to this grandmother.
The empress dowager on the right is also surnamed Mrs. Bo'erjite. She was born in the Ke'erqin Grasslands. She was the grandniece of the great empress dowager and Lord Shunzhi's successor for empress.
She was dressed in indigo-coloured clothes, and she looked to be in her early forties. She had a round face and a smile on her lips, exuding a friendly aura.
Although this was the emperor's aunt and not his biological mother, the deep affection between mother and son was truly a model to the world.
The emperor displayed genuine filial piety and had the blessings of the revered elder. Although the empress dowager was a widow, she lived a very happy life. She grew flowers, prayed to Buddha, and teased little Yinqi. The days went by like this.
Seeing the beautiful Consort Yi, both of her eyes lit up, and the great empress dowager waved for her to sit.
When the old madam was old, she liked fresh juniors and good looks. It just so happens that Yun Xiu had both.
This "freshness" did not just refer to wearing this type of clothes—
The two empress dowagers were born in the grasslands, and experienced the tragedy of Consort Dong'e of the late emperor. They didn't like the lifestyle of the boudoir and hated weak women who cried the most. Consort Yi, who was born in Manchuria and was neat and elegant, caught their eyes.
Because of the fifth prince, Yun Xiu was the most eloquent in Cining Palace, and soon learned fluent Mongolian. This made the two of them admire her even more.
Seeing the great empress dowager waving, Yun Xiu stepped forward to take a seat casually. She pursed her lips and said with a smile, "The revered elder is full of energy today, and this consort can't tell that the revered elder is a great-grandmother at all!"
This made the great empress dowager feel at ease. She pointed at Yun Xiu and smiled. "You have such a clever mouth! We even said that We can't tell that you are a mother. Look, nothing has changed except your stomach."
This was a disguised compliment and Yun Xiu seemed a little shy. This made the great empress dowager laugh.
The empress dowager also laughed and glanced at Yun Xiu's waist. "Has it been five months?"
"Answering the empress dowager, that is correct," Yun Xiu said. "In a few months, we will be able to add a younger brother or sister to our Little Five. Revered elder and the empress dowager can have fun."
As soon as these words came out, people felt from the bottom of their hearts that this child would be close to Yinqi after birth, as well as the great empress dowager and the empress dowager.
Wet Nurse Qian thought that Consort Yi was really a smart person!
Chapter 7
"Nonsense. What kind of joke is this?" The great empress dowager scolded her. "Princes and princesses are honourable and to be respected, but you are describing them as if they are toys."
The empress dowager smiled and pointed at Yun Xiu. She suddenly remembered something, and asked with concern, "Didn't you wake up in the middle of the night the day before yesterday? Did you see the imperial doctor? Did you sleep well yesterday?"
The empress dowager remembered that someone had reported this incident to her.
Yun Xiu was moved and quickly replied, "Thank you for your concern. It is fine. I slept peacefully last night…"
The empress dowager told her to pay attention to her body. She smiled and agreed. After chatting for a while, the great empress dowager patted Suma Lagu's hand. "Where's Yinqi?"
The old lady's heart was clear. Consort Yi must have missed her son, and she was happy that mother and son spent more time together and got along.
Motherly hearts all over the world were the same!
Yun Xiu's eyes lit up. Seeing this, the two empress dowagers' hearts softened a little.
Suma Lagu smiled and said, "Revered elder, the prince is playing in Nuan Pavilion, so this old servant will bring him here."
Just as she was talking, a chubby little kid rushed outside wearing crimson red clothes. He had delicate eyebrows, white and tender skin, and was really cute.
Yinqi stopped in his steps before rushing to Yun Xiu. His eyes sparkled, and he shouted happily: "Mother!"
It was a five-year-old Yinqi!
Yun Xiu's eyes turned red instantly.
In the dream, Yinqi was outside the fight to be the heir. He was honest and responsible, so he could have obtained an important position… But he was busy running around boosting the reputation of Consort Yi. Later, he pleaded to everyone for Yintang. In the end, he caught the attention of the new emperor and was put into an idle job for the rest of his life.
Since Little Nine was young, he had taken good care of his parents and had made them happy. But when Yinqi was raised by the empress dowager, the affection between mother and son was lower. However, the child was pure and kind, and displayed filial piety.
Yun Xiu's regret in the dream was that she doted too much on Yinzhen and gave birth to a demon king. But, it was the opposite for Yinqi. She only hated that she didn't spoil him enough when he was young, and didn't plan for him when he grew up.
Fortunately, the heavens sent her a precognitive dream and gave her a chance to redeem herself!
In front of the two empress dowagers, Yun Xiu controlled her emotions. She quickly suppressed her tears and smiled softly.
This child knew that she was pregnant, so he stopped in time for fear of hurting his younger siblings.
How could she not love him?
Yun Xiu took Yinqi's hand, touched his chubby round face, and looked at her son with soft eyes. "Yinqi has grown taller and stronger. Tell mother, what have you eaten recently?"
Yinqi spoke Mongolian fluently, but stumbled a little in Manchu. He said happily, "Yinqi ate a lot! The imperial nanny gave some barbecue, and the revered elder gave some milk cakes…"
While talking, Yinqi stared at Yun Xiu's face. He forgot his words, and said in a daze, "Mother, you look so good today."
Yun Xiu was taken aback. What did he say?
The child's words made everyone in the room laugh.
The great empress dowager laughed. "Our Yinqi is only five years old and already knows what is considered good-looking!"
Suma Lagu looked at Yun Xiu gratefully.
Every time Master Yi came, there would always be one witty remark followed by another. With the fifth prince beside her, the revered elder's spirit improved a little. The revered elder was already old and had lived a long life. Her energy was not as good as before, so for her to laugh so heartily was indeed rare.
Not only did Suma Lagu think so, but Kangxi, who brought the little prince Yinreng to pay his respects, was quite surprised.
He stopped the little eunuch's announcement and asked, "Who's inside?"
"Answering the emperor, it is Consort Yi."
Yinreng followed behind him. In an instant, he felt his father's breath soften a lot.
The Crown Prince thought secretly that everyone said that Consort Yi was favored. It turned out that these words were not groundless.
……
Faced with the laughter, Kangxi stepped into the room with big strides. The prince followed closely behind.
"The emperor is here and so is Yinfeng." When the empress dowager saw Kangxi and the prince, her eyes narrowed as she smiled. She said kindly, "There's no need to be polite. Sit down quickly, sit down quickly."
Yun Xiu's smile froze. Why did the emperor come to Cining Palace at this time? It didn't make sense.
She calculated the time, and deliberately avoided the time of the next visit, so it stood to reason that she would never meet him anywhere.
This luck!
She had no choice but to let go of Yinqi's slender hand. She stood up and said, "This concubine greets the emperor and the crown prince…"
The chubby Yinqi followed to pay his respects.
The crown prince quickly said, "Greetings, Consort Yi and Fifth Younger Brother."
A ten-year-old child with a cute and innocent voice, along with a well-mannered demeanor could be called outstanding.
"Forgo the formalities." Kangxi immediately understood that Consort Yi came to see Little Five.
Kangxi's eyes lit up when he glanced at Yun Xiu. He felt happy. He turned his head and said with a smile, "Revered Elder, Empress Mother, it is too late for Us to test the knowledge of the princes."
After explaining, he said again, "It's just that I heard laughter all the way out there… What was interesting? We shall come and listen too?"
"It's not Yinqi!" The empress dowager said cheerfully. "This child knows what beauty and ugliness is at such a young age." As she spoke, she recounted Yinqi's childish words.
The little prince shook his shoulders, pretending to be serious. He tried not to laugh out loud.
Kangxi was amused. He beckoned Yinqi to come forward and stroked his head. This rare act of intimacy made Yinqi grin and call him Imperial Father.
No one saw the emperor's small movements——while responding, he glanced at Yun Xiu.
Within that glance, there seemed to be deep approval.
Only Liang Jiugong lowered his head quietly, feeling a little sour…
Consort Yi took a light breath, her jade-like face blushed indistinctly.
How aggravating!
Here it was again. Who could resist such eyes?
Yun Xiu wanted to run away, but Yinqi was here, so she couldn't. She thought of a compromise. She held her belly and gave her blessings with a smile. "The emperor must have something important to do here. This consort wants to take Yinqi to play in the side hall. Revered elder, what do you think?"
The great empress dowager was satisfied with Yun Xiu's understanding of basic principles, so how could she disagree?
Smiling, she dispatched a bunch of palace servants to wait on her, and told Yinqi, "Your mother is pregnant with a younger brother, so don't let her get tired, okay?"
Yinqi replied loudly, "Yinqi can help!"
He hadn't seen his mother for a few days, and he had a lot of things he wanted to say to mother in private.
The mother and son went away hand in hand. Yinqi was bouncing around, lively and robust like a calf. Kangxi watched them with a gentle expression.
Too many princes died in their early years. Counting from Yinti, it was not easy to raise any of them, let alone for them to be healthy, disease-free, and disaster-free.
Little Five looked dignified and strong, and he was not afraid. The sound of him calling 'Imperial Father' was full of spirit, which made people feel comfortable.
It's just that Yinqi was raised under the empress dowager. He grew up so big and could speak Mongolian fluently, but he stumbles with Manchu. As for Chinese, he couldn't understand a single word.
At the start, he was naturally lower than his brothers.
Consort Yi never complained to him, nor did she interfere with Yinqi's upbringing. Every time he came to the Cining Palace to visit Yinqi, he coaxed the revered elder and empress dowager to smile, and never took credit for it.
Thinking of this, Kangxi turned his head and said to the little crown prince in a harmonious voice, "You should take care of your fifth younger brother in the future. In about a year, Yinqi will start studying."
The crown prince quietly withdrew his gaze from Yun Xiu and nodded.
He thought that Imperial Father really loved Consort Yi. There was boundless envy——
Although fifth younger brother was not with his mother, but his mother still remembered him. If his empress mother was still there, would she treat him so well?
……
After Yun Xiu and Yinqi left, the great empress dowager's first words were, "Consort Yi is a good one."
The empress dowager nodded in agreement.
Kangxi rubbed his jade finger as he smiled. He didn't speak. The great empress dowager suddenly understood it a little, and smiled at him. "You."
After taking a sip of tea, Kangxi talked about the talent competition with the two empress dowagers. The crown prince sat to the side and listened carefully.
"The imperial noble consort and the noble consort are pregnant, so it is not appropriate for them to worry about it. We think that this year's talent competition will not be a big deal. We will leave it to revered elder and empress mother to see if there is any suitable noble daughter to marry into the imperial clan. As for the harem, no one will enter for the time being…"
It was for this.
The great empress dowager suddenly burst into laughter. "Qiqige, look, the emperor even ordered this old lady to come."
Qiqige was the empress dowager's name.
It had always been the empress' duty to host the talent competition. The emperor was filial, so this was to give face to her. The empress dowager laughed. "Imperial Mother, I don't care about these things. How do I know what the process is? It won't be right if you are not there. Just respond to the emperor."
The great empress dowager thought about it, and waved her hands in response.
Kangxi sighed in relief and Suma Lagu nodded slightly.
The revered elder's spirit was not as good as before, and she had no energy after being idle all day.
It was a coincidence today, but Consort Yi couldn't come every day, could she?
With something to focus on, her spirit would be very different.
The child that Kangxi cherished the most was undoubtedly Crown Prince Yinreng.
He was raised by him personally since he was a child. Yuqing Palace was repaired for him, for after he grew up. He was doing his best to care for his everyday life.
When he was free, Kangxi would take the crown prince by his side and teach him how to behave. He also taught him in the study room, where famous scholars gathered, showing him different points of view.
The crown prince was smart and realised his status early on. He intended to be a perfect and unstoppable prince.
Apart from older brother Yinti who is not very good at matching orders, third older brother Yinzhi and fourth older brother Yinzhen, who were already studying, were relatively close to the crown prince. Yinzhen, in particular, would talk to the crown prince when he had larger issues.
The crown prince also liked this younger brother, and would share with him anything delicious and fun.
Yinzhen obviously felt that the imperial noble consort's attitude towards him was still the same after she became pregnant, but her intimacy was not as good as before.
He kicked the pebbles. After school, he whispered these words to the crown prince.
How could the crown prince not know what the imperial noble consort thought?
There was a big difference between adopted children and biological children.
Great Uncle often said that if the imperial noble consort gave birth to a prince, his position as crown prince would be threatened.
"We can't predict whether it will be a boy or a girl. We will discuss this matter later. We have to separate the imperial noble consort and the fourth older brother while she is pregnant…"
"The adopted son of the imperial noble consort may be equivalent to half a legitimate son, so we have to guard against it!"
……
Although he recalled Suo Etu's words, the crown prince couldn't bear Yinzhen's disappointment. He pondered for a while. "Fourth younger brother, the imperial noble consort doesn't want to get close to you, so you need to take the initiative to get close to her."
He thought, if he could touch his younger brother or younger sister, then fourth younger brother would always be happy, right? A few days ago, Consort Yi got along with fifth younger brother like this. Fifth younger brother was very happy.
It was not a threat. Was there any need to worry about an unborn baby?
Great Uncle worried too much!
After returning from Cining Palace, the crown prince was touched by Yun Xiu's mothering actions and looked forward to hearing the good news from his fourth younger brother.
Unexpectedly, after school, Yinzhen had his lips pursed and was in a sullen mood. When he saw the crown prince, he called out "Second older brother" in a low voice.
"What's the matter?" The crown prince was startled. He dismissed the palace guards, then dragged him into a corner.
Yinzhen recounted the situation in Chengqian Palace yesterday. He said in a low voice, "Mother protected her belly and avoided my hand…"
Children who grew up in the royal family would not remain naive. Looking back now, how could Yinzhen not know that Wet Nurse Zhen had lied?
All of a sudden, all kinds of grievances entered his heart.
But he couldn't say it, so he could only hide in bed and cry secretly at night.
"Second older brother, will mother treat me well when she has her own child?" Yinzhen sobbed softly, expressing the fear hidden in his heart. "…Mother De has a sixth younger brother so she doesn't need me anymore. I only have mother."
When he was four years old, he learned that the noble consort was not his mother. Yinzhen's sky collapsed. In addition to being sad, he had expectations and yearning for his biological mother and he even secretly ran to Yonghe Palace.
He was disappointed.
Mother De looked at him with indifferent eyes, not like the eager eyes mother had. When she looked at sixth younger brother, it was completely different.
"Mother said that Mother De doesn't like me at all, that she even hates me…"
After that, Yinzhen understood that noble consort mother was not his biological mother, but she was better than his biological mother!
But now, was he even going to lose noble consort mother?
Yinzhen's eyes were red. The crown prince was at a loss and felt that he had come up with a bad idea.
It was a mistake!
Chapter 8
Seeing that his comforting words had no effect, the crown prince yelled heavily, "Fourth younger brother!"
Yinzhen hiccupped and looked at him with teary eyes.
"Isn't it good to have two mothers? Look at the orphan, the orphan's mother left early!" The crown prince faintly understood the dispute between the imperial noble consort and Consort De. He wiped his face while regretting his idea. He then looked into Yinzhen's eyes and said, "You are much better than second older brother."
Yinzhen stood there dumbfounded.
The crown prince sighed. His handsome face was serious.
He said in a low voice, "Sometimes, don't only listen to what you want to hear. It can be difficult to discern what is the truth."
He didn't expect his six-year-old younger brother to understand. He just needed to memorise it in its entirety. At such a young age, he was extremely serious. If there was a right and wrong to everything, then wouldn't fourth younger brother be the one who was sad in the end?
Yinzhen stopped the tears and looked at the crown prince blankly. "Second older brother…"
The crown prince's heart softened, and he touched Yinzhen's bald head.
Fourth younger brother was sandwiched between his adoptive mother and biological mother, so his life would not be easy.
The more he thought about it, the more distressed he became. The crown prince made up his mind to go to Qianqing Palace to see Imperial Father.
Qianqing Palace, Xinuan Pavilion.
"Imperial Father." The crown prince was a little awkward. He dallied for a long time before saying, "Your son has something to ask."
The half-grown boy always regarded himself as an adult. He was mature during the day, so it was rare to see such a mood.
Kangxi was reviewing papers, He covered his smile and glanced at him calmly. "Speak."
The crown prince gritted his teeth and told him about Yinzhen's worries. After he finished speaking, he lowered his head and said listlessly, "Fourth younger brother has no appetite recently, and your son couldn't… That's why… then your son reported it to Imperial Father. Your son wanted to make fourth younger brother happier."
The pavilion suddenly fell silent.
Liang Jiugong was startled. Crown prince!
Why did he need to get involved in the affairs of the harem and between the concubines?
It didn't matter if this issue was considered large or small, but he shouldn't come up with this. In case the emperor decides that you are going to the boss to speak ill of someone, this…
Kangxi put down his pen and looked at the crown prince calmly for a long while, which made Yinreng more anxious. He clenched his palms tightly and called 'Imperial Father' in a low voice.
Unexpectedly for Liang Jiugong, after a while, Kangxi raised the corners of his mouth, got up, and patted the crown prince on the shoulder. Kangxi said with a sigh, "Baochang has grown up."
The words were full of joy.
Kangxi ascended the throne when he was young and did not have his imperial father looking after him. After a few years, his biological mother left him. Kangxi was determined to be a good father, and what he wanted to see most was brothers and sisters respecting each other.
He loved the crown prince the most, but he also had a fatherly heart for the other princes and princesses.
For the sake of Yinzhen, Baochang impulsively sought help from him, imperial father, knowing that he shouldn't bother him about such things, but it was an important matter for him.
How could he not be moved by the care the crown prince had for his younger brother?
Good, good.
"Imperial Father knows." Recalling Yinzhen's sadness, Kangxi's eyes darkened. When he looked at the crown prince, his temperature returned. "Baocheng, it is not for you to worry about these things. The important thing is to study. Do you understand? "
After all, he would test the crown prince's studies.
The prince quietly sighed in relief, a little happy. The nervousness he had previously of answering questions disappeared. His recitation was fluent and his explanations were clear.
Imperial Father praised him for the first time for growing up!
Was it because he helped his fourth younger brother?
In a daze, the little crown prince realised something, and he had an epiphany.
In the future, he just wanted to treat his younger brothers better.
"Consort, how could the emperor forget you? Tonight's dinner is said to be served in Yonghe Palace…" Wet Nurse Wu laughed so hard that her face wrinkled. She quickly urged the palace staff to put on Consort De's makeup.
Consort De smiled happily, touched her belly, and said softly, "Have you told the imperial dining room yet? Don't neglect to go."
During this period of time, she didn't live very well.
In Chengqian Palace when she paid her respects, she made a mistake by offending Consort Yi, and Consort De regretted it. In addition, Kangxi did not come to the Yonghe Palace for four or five days. She was worried that the emperor would hate her. It was only now where she finally felt relieved.
"Consort should relax. Who dares to be negligent?" Wet Nurse Wu was busy tidying up the area. "Because of the sixth prince and the little prince in your stomach, everyone should respect Consort."
These words reached Consort De's heart.
Yinzuo was smart and clever, and the emperor liked him very much. Didn't the word "zuo" reflect the emperor's expectations?1 Thinking of her youngest son who came to pay her respects just now, Consort De's smile deepened. She had kindness on her face.
As the sky darkened, Kangxi's sedan chair stopped in front of Yonghe Palace.
Consort De was dressed in light green clothes, with some light makeup. It made her look even more elegant. Although she was not as beautiful as Consort Yi and didn't have her natural beauty, in the harem, her appearance was among the top .
As soon as she saw Kangxi, Consort De looked aggrieved, her eyes red. "Your Majesty, your concubine made a mistake a few days ago. I have been introspecting for a long time in front of the jade ruyi you rewarded…"
Kangxi stood with his hands behind his back. He looked at her lightly, and after a few breaths, his face softened. "Get up."
After all, she was his concubine who had two sons. She was also pregnant now, so it was good to teach her a little lesson.
Consort De raised her eyes and gratefully acquiesced.
After entering the inner room, she stood aside and served Kangxi to eat. It was as if she had become the gentle and considerate Noble Lady Wuya back then.
When Mrs. Wuya was a noble lady, she always served meals in this position. It had been so many years!
Kangxi recalled the past. His complexion became more relaxed.
Consort De was overjoyed. The emperor still remembered the past…
The atmosphere was just right. She pursed her lips and smiled. She was about to say something when she saw Kangxi point to the dining table. He put down the bowl and chopsticks and said casually, "Yikun Palace's eight-treasure duck tastes better."
Consort De's smile froze.
Yikun Palace's duck tasted better?
He was used to the tribute dishes from the imperial kitchen. After eating it for so many years… For him to suddenly say it was not good… Could it be that the small kitchen in Consort Yi's Palace was much more delicious than other places?!
Consort Yi, Mrs. Guo Luoluo! She really haunted her.
Consort De took a heavy breath, forced a smile, and agreed in a warm voice. "What the emperor said is true. Next time, your concubine will let the cook in the imperial dining room improve."
Kangxi paused. When he looked up, Consort De smiled gently, without appearing to be forced at all.
He hummed, feeling uneasy.
If this meekness passed, it would appear fake.
If it was Xiuxiu, wouldn't she lose her temper with him?
Thinking of this, Kangxi knocked on the dining table. He cut directly to the point. "The imperial noble consort is getting closer to the due date, and I'm afraid she won't be able to take care of Yinzhen. We were thinking of letting Yinzhen go back to Yonghe Palace to live…"
Consort De never expected that the emperor would tell her about this!
Because she was unprepared and was shocked, her face showed no joy, but a trace of repulsion.
How could this be?
How could the imperial noble consort agree?
Although it was a subconscious reaction, Kangxi saw it all.
Consort De quickly shifted her expression into a surprised smile. Her expression soon became flawless…
But it couldn't hide the truth of that moment.
Kangxi closed his eyes. He tapped his fingers faster and faster. His eyes were cold and he said with a smile, "We were just joking with you. Cousin loves Yinzhen, so she absolutely refused."
Because one was standing and the other was sitting, no one saw the coldness in the emperor's eyes.
Consort De was anxious for a while, but was soon distracted by the title of 'cousin'.
Her nails were deeply embedded in her palm, covering up her unwillingness and hatred.
That's right. The emperor and Mrs. Tongjia were cousins. Their love was inherently different from others. If Mrs. Tongjia did not let go, the emperor would never return Yinzhen to her care.
If that was the case, then what was the emperor's intention in saying this? Was he trying to test her?
Could it be that the nail she planted was discovered by the imperial noble consort, and she made whispers, saying that she coveted Yinzhen?
"Since Yinzhen has been brought up by the imperial noble consort, how can your concubine disregard the rules and snatch him away?" Consort De thought things over again and smiled softly. "I just miss him often, and occasionally send someone to Chengqian Palace to inquire about him… It's all your concubine's fault. Please forgive your concubine…"
After thinking about it for a while, this is what she went with.
Kangxi waved his hand and stopped her words. He left Consort De there, got up, and left immediately.
The palace people knelt down on the ground. Before Consort De had time to salute, the emperor disappeared.
She was shocked and her face suddenly turned pale.
When Wet Nurse Wu hurried into the palace, Consort De took her hand and asked eagerly, "The emperor has returned to Qianqing Palace?"
Wet Nurse Wu opened her mouth, and said with difficulty, "This old servant listened and heard that it was driving to… Chengqian Palace."
Chengqian Palace! The residence of the imperial noble consort!
Consort De felt dizzy all of a sudden…
Since returning from Cining Palace, Consort Yi had been in a good mood. Living in peace, raising the baby in peace, teasing the fourth princess Yi'erha from time to time, and chatting with Noble Lady Le, Yikun Palace was peaceful.
As night approached, the bedroom was lit with candles. In front of the bronze mirror, Yun Xiu removed the beaded hairpin. Her black hair fell straight down, carrying a burst of fragrance. A strand of hair brushed over her rosy cheeks and finally stayed on her red lips.
Pushing aside the loose hair as she looked in the mirror, Yun Xiu suddenly realized that she had eaten and drank well recently. It was as if she had gained some flesh… Except for the increasingly protruding lower abdomen, everything else had grown to where it should.
Wet Nurse Dong laughed and said, "When Consort was first pregnant, Consort often felt ill and ate less, so Consort lost some weight. Now, it's just right!"
She was telling the truth.
Wet Nurse Dong had been in the palace for so many years. What beauty had she never seen? Only Consort Yi could be called the beauty among beauties.
Apart from her stunning appearance, she would not lose to anyone in terms of her slender figure. Even if she was pregnant, her demeanor remained undiminished.
Yun Xiu nodded at her, smiled, and was about to answer. Rui Zhu lifted the curtain and came in, gave her greetings, and said softly, "The emperor had dinner in Yonghe Palace first… It took less than half an hour. Then, the emperor went to Chengqian Palace."
"Less than half an hour?" Wet Nurse Dong was surprised. "Did Consort De offend the emperor?"
This could be regarded as a slap in the face. It was enough to make the consort unable to hold her head up!
"Yonghe Palace, Chengqian Palace." Yun Xiu's focus was completely different from that of Wet Nurse Dong.
She was thoughtful. "…The emperor went for the sake of the fourth prince."
The only thing that could involve the two palaces was the matter of the fourth prince, Yinzhen.
Speaking of the fourth prince, Yun Xiu recalled the dream. Yinzhen ascended the throne as emperor, and after that…
She, Little Five, and Little Nine all had a bad ending.
Yun Xiu closed her eyes and said nothing, curling her fingers slightly.
Complaints? Naturally, she felt resentment.
But who she blamed was the new emperor in her dream, not the six-year-old fourth prince. She wouldn't be so tasteless to deal with children of Yinqi's age.
What's more, if he was in the position of the new emperor… Little Nine was indeed guilty of treason, and there was nothing to wash away. At most, the methods were more brutal!
Winners and losers had been like this since ancient times.
Forget it. It was good for it to be out of sight.
She had already said that Mrs. Wuya could not be the empress dowager. Yun Xiu smiled slightly, touched her lower abdomen, and whispered softly, "If mother helps the crown prince ascend the throne…"
After thinking about it, the possibility of her being the empress dowager was very, very small.
Yinqi had already lost his position. As for Yinzhen?
According to his personality in the dream, he became the new emperor, and the Qing Dynasty fell to ruin.
Little Eleven, Yinxuan, had been in poor health since he was a child. If he could maintain a healthy life in this life and compete, then he may not even be successful. Which of his brothers was not a human being?
The safest way was to support the crown prince.
Let him be free from the constraints of his mother's family, not be threatened by party struggles, and avoid the rift between father and son…
In the new dynasty, no matter what, she could safely become a consort dowager. If she was lucky, she could even add a noble consort dowager!
Yun Xiu held her chin and smiled lightly.
1.(祚) Zuo: The Zuo in Yinzuo means 'the throne' or 'blessing'.
Chapter 9
The imperial noble consort ate alone. When she learned that Kangxi was coming, she quickly cleaned up her appearance, covered her mouth, and smiled for a long time. She felt a sense of joy in her heart.
Mrs. Wuya, that lowly servant girl, was so stupid that she angered her cousin. If she knew that the emperor had come to Chengqian Palace, what kind of ugly face would she have?
The imperial noble consort happily went out of the palace to greet the emperor. She looked at the tall and majestic emperor with undisguised admiration in her eyes.
She gently raised her smile, stroked her lower abdomen, and performed the woman's bow in a proper manner.
Kangxi smiled slightly, and asked first, "Did you sleep well recently? Is the morning sickness serious?"
"Answering the emperor, this concubine sleeps and eats well. The morning sickness is not that bad. This child loves this concubine and only occasionally moves. This child is very well-behaved," the imperial noble consort replied softly, with a satisfied look on her face .
It was impossible to say that she was not uncomfortable.
Perhaps, because her constitution was not easy to conceive, and this pregnancy was quite difficult, so she often had to eat pickled plums to relieve the morning sickness.
Regarding this child, Chengqian Palace was very careful in every matter. They even asked the imperial physician to check the imperial noble consort's pulse every day. She did not know how much anti-abortion medicine she drank.
She had worked so hard to raise her until now, and now it had been six months. The imperial noble consort's rosy complexion became paler day by day. Her body became bloated and spots appeared on her cheeks. She was really not good-looking, and this all had to be covered up carefully with makeup.
Nevertheless, she felt happy.
This was her own child with her cousin! No matter what price she had to pay, it was worth it.
Kangxi saw the imperial noble consort's smile and saw that she was obviously tired.
His heart softened. Kangxi patted her hand, and said in a gentle voice, "Whether it's a boy or a girl, they are all well-behaved. If a little princess is born, she must be very like you. At that time, how much will she be doted on…"
The corner of the imperial noble consort's mouth flattened and the hands resting on her stomach tightened, Little princess?
Her heart fell to the bottom, but she still kept a smile on her face. "This concubine is also looking forward to it!"
…..
After finally clearing up her mood, the imperial noble consort never expected that the emperor would then talk to her about Yinzhen.
"Yinzhen is still young. Even though he has gone to school, he still can't leave his mother." Kangxi spoke in a deep voice with implications. "You are heavily pregnant, and it is inevitable to lose sight of other things… I'm afraid that the servants will cheat and neglect the fourth prince. There is no need for you to deal with these things."
The imperial noble consort's fingertips trembled. Her posture should be fine, but she almost couldn't keep her smile.
To lose sight of other things?
Did this mean that he thought she would only pay attention to the child in her womb and neglect Yinzhen?
After Kangxi finished speaking in his deep voice, he gave a few words of comfort. After drinking a cup of tea, he got up and went back to Qianqing Palace.
The imperial noble consort watched his back from a distance. Her lips were trembling and she was about to fall backwards. This startled Wet Nurse Zhen, who quickly went to support her. "Imperial Noble Consort!"
"The emperor is dissatisfied and took the opportunity to warn Us…" The imperial noble consort's face was livid. She muttered to herself, "How can a servant do this? It's just an excuse."
She was dizzy for a while and she continued to feel cold.
Cousin finally came to Chengqian Palace, stepping all over her heart.
Little Princess? Hehe. A Little Princess!
"Why can't We give birth to a prince?!" The imperial noble consort clenched her clothes tightly. Her chest heaved and her expression was grim. "Since We got pregnant, Cining Palace has obviously become a lot colder. The emperor actually has such an attitude… What is he afraid of? Is he afraid that my son will threaten the crown prince?!"
And Yinzhen. Said to be her son, but had the jade document1 changed? No!
Consort De was his genuine mother.
It was in vain for her to take care of the child herself and love him so much. When had she ever treated this child poorly?
The emperor actually accused her of this.
What a joke!
As soon as this remark came out, Wet Nurse Zhen turned pale with shock and lost her voice. "Imperial Noble Consort! What are you saying!"
"What are you talking about?" The imperial noble consort smiled coldly. "It's just the truth!"
After, her lower body became wet for a while, and she vomited out all the meals she had just eaten…
Chengqian Palace suddenly became chaotic.
In the bedroom.
"Imperial Noble Consort is having a difficult pregnancy, so don't get angry and think too much." Imperial Physician Liu had rushed over and managed to stop the imperial noble consort's bleeding. He shook his head and sighed. "Nowadays, warming and tonic prescriptions have little effect and can only be supplemented with strong medicinal materials."
Physician Liu was proficient in gynecology, and was sent to the palace by the Tong family to help the imperial noble consort with the pregnancy. To give face to his mother's family, Kangxi turned a blind eye and acquiesced to the matter.
Strong herbs?
It would hurt you eventually.
The imperial concubine's complexion was sallow. She closed her eyes and said nothing. After a long time she said in a hoarse voice, "As long as I can keep my little prince, anything will be fine."
The four palace ladies stood guard and couldn't stop crying. After Imperial Physician Liu turned to decoct the medicine, Wet Nurse Zhen held the imperial noble consort's hand. Her eyes were red. She said, "Imperial Noble Consort, why are you bothering?"
For the current plan, they must not make the imperial noble consort feel resentful towards the emperor. When there was resentment, the heart would scatter!
If things went on like this, how could the child be protected?
Thinking of this, Wet Nurse Zhen wiped the corners of her eyes. "In the eyes of this old servant, the emperor has absolutely no intention of punishing you. The emperor loves the fourth prince and says that there is a trickster! Think about it, is the emperor telling the truth?"
The imperial noble consort slowly opened her eyes.
After being reminded, her expression froze. She suddenly remembered something.
Yes, there were cunning servants.
The last time she strictly checked Yinzhen's servants, she removed several moles from Yonghe Palace.
It was nothing more than sweeping the courtyard, but one was actually a wet nurse who raised Yinzhen from childhood!
The wet nurse came from the Imperial Household Department and belonged to Consort De.
Consort De…
The imperial noble consort tightly clenched Wet Nurse Zhen's hand. Her eyes shone with unprecedented coldness.
"Has Imperial Noble Consort forgotten? The emperor went to Yonghe Palace first, and then came to Chengqian Palace." Wet Nurse Zhen held back her pain and lowered her voice. "If Consort De did not provoke him, who would believe it? The emperor was probably annoyed by Consort De about this matter. If you move you had a miscarriage, wouldn't Imperial Noble Consort fulfill her wish? Don't be tricked by villains…"
What she said was right! That was it.
The cause and effect have emerged.
The imperial noble consort suddenly had a burst of strength. Her eyes were astonishingly bright.
She held a palace lady's hand, stood up with difficulty, leaned on the soft pillow, and slowly revealed a smile, which was so clear and shallow that it made people shudder.
"My little prince is almost here… Mrs. Wuya, we have to suffer together." The imperial noble consort muttered softly. "The one in her belly is not enough. Doesn't she love Yinzuo the most? We will help her."
After the emperor left, Chengqian Palace invited an imperial physician. Within a short time, news spread throughout the Forbidden City.
Kangxi's face was livid and there was a sign that a storm was about to come. Liang Jiugong stood aside in fear and lowered his head deeply.
The imperial noble consort said such a thing in the front hall, and she didn't hide it from people. She was really, really…
"We never knew that the imperial noble consort has such a heavy heart," Kangxi said lightly. "Threatening the position of the crown prince? We really never thought about it that way."
There were many princes and only a few princesses in the palace. There were 8 princes, but there were only 3 princesses in total.
He just said "Little Princess" casually, but Mrs. Tongjia reacted like this. He was so suspicious. His guard was high!
The revered elder summoned him and asked, if the imperial noble consort gave birth to a prince, what should she do if she gets greedier?
How did he answer?
"They are all Our children. How can We not feel pain? The position of the crown prince will never be shaken, and there will be no second legitimate son. Besides, the grandson will take good care of them."
Mrs. Tongjia was so sure that he would be afraid? Afraid that her son would compete with Baocheng?
Going one step further, did she suspect that he would not look after his own son?
……
"Imperial Noble Consort, what do you think of Us?!" Kangxi laughed angrily and dropped the paperweight heavily, making a loud 'bang'.
The palace people knelt on the ground, trembling. No one dared to persuade him. "Your Majesty, calm down."
After getting angry, Kangxi quickly calmed down. He tapped his jade finger, and for some reason, a bright face of joy and anger appeared in his mind, dispelling his mood.
"Liang Jiugong, go to Yikun Palace and invite Consort Yi…"
Before he could say the words 'to accompany Us', Kangxi paused. He suddenly realised that the night was already dark, and Xiuxiu should be asleep.
Liang Jiugong climbed up tremblingly, completing the unfinished words of the emperor in his heart, and then felt infinite awe towards Yun Xiu.
From now on, it was his duty to meet his master's needs. If Master Yi told him to go east, Liang Jiugong would never dare to go west!
"…Tomorrow at noon, We will accompany Consort Yi to Qianqing Palace." After finishing speaking, Kangxi strode out of the study and went to the inner room, sending out orders left and right. "Prepare the water for a bath!"
The next day, early morning.
Yun Xiu was sleeping in Zhengxiang. Wen Yuan's voice kept ringing, "Consort, Consort…"
She slowly opened her eyes, then half-closed them again. Her voice was hoarse. "What's the matter?"
"Consort De came earlier and said that she wanted to discuss with you about the selection of congratulatory gifts. The maidservant said that Consort was not awake, but Consort De said that it was okay and for Consort to sleep peacefully." Wen Yuan hung up the curtain and whispered, "Consort De is now sitting in the front hall. Ruizhu went to prepare tea and snacks."
Choosing the gifts?
This was something that was arranged. The imperial noble consort arranged for her to take charge, and Consort De was to assist her.
As the Wanshou Festival approached, the birthday gifts of concubines from the various palaces entered Yikun Palace. She asked someone to tidy up a side hall for these.
She counted the days and realised that Consort De should be coming. "…"
Yun Xiu woke up instantly, and slowly sat up. "What time is it?"
While helping her out of bed, Wen Yuan replied, "It's just past six in the morning. As soon as Consort De arrived, this servant woke you up."
"Six in the morning…" Yun Xiu closed her eyes. "It's really interesting."
Put aside the fact that this was interesting for the time being. The last time they were at Chengqian Palace giving their greetings, she had disrespected Consort De. What attitude would Consort De have towards her today?
With these thoughts, her drowsiness disappeared in an instant.
After washing, Yun Xiu sat in front of the bronze mirror. The corners of her lips curled up slightly. "Just use the sapphire hair ornaments that the emperor bestowed, and match it with the treasured blue qizhuang2. Quickly."
When she thought of Consort De's plain attire, Wen Yuan snickered and agreed. She began to dress Yun Xiu quickly.
……
After drinking a cup of hot tea, Yun Xiu arrived.
As soon as Yun Xiu entered, the dazzling and clear blue gemstone caught everyone's eyes. When one looked closely, the head ornament and earrings were all treasures among the tributes.
On the treasured blue clothes, there were embroidered large light purple irises, inlaid with thin gold thread. When it was viewed from different angles, the brilliance changed and it was extremely eye-catching.
Then, a melodious voice called out, "Younger sister Consort De has been waiting for a long time. What We are wearing today must be different from yours, right?"
Consort De's smile froze before she had time to complete it.
1.(玉牒) Jade Document: documents that record the genealogy of the imperial family.
2.(旗裝) qizhuang: a type of Manchu clothing.
Chapter 10
"Older sister was joking." Consort De froze for a moment, then raised her impeccable smile again. She put down the teacup, got up, and greeted Yun Xiu.
She praised very sincerely, "…Only older sister can afford this hair ornament, and the colour matches the clothes very well…"
The voice was very gentle, as if her grievances had melted away, and as if the two had never had any disagreements.
Yun Xiu swept her gaze over Consort De and smiled. She suddenly became interested.
Last night, the emperor left Yonghe Palace within the time it took to flick his sleeves, humiliating Consort De greatly. The harem was waiting to see her be made a joke of.
Looking at her now, she seemed to be fine. She had no emotion at all.
Being poked at a sore spot regarding her clothes, her expression only changed slightly. She even called her older sister affectionately.
This kind of character was tolerable!
In her heart, she must hate Yun Xiu to death, right?
Yun Xiu didn't care what Consort De had up her sleeve. How long could she endure it for?
The so-called stretching out her hand and not tearing through face… Mrs. Wuya's attitude was kind. She naturally treated others with courtesy, and she would never do stupid things that others could take advantage of.
Who here couldn't act?
"The congratulatory gifts are all piled up in the side hall. They are so dazzling, so it's extremely difficult to choose. We have people prepare a list of gifts and names. This is much more convenient. What do you think?" Yun Xiu restrained her arrogance and spoke slowly in a tone of negotiation.
This was the Mrs. Guo Luoluo she was familiar with.
She was widely known to have this kind of mood and spirit, even if it was considered extremely unpleasant to look at. But this time, she was kind of restrained!
Consort De let out a sigh of relief, and said softly, "It's all up to older sister to decide. Younger sister is just an assistant."
Yun Xiu glanced at her with a half-smile.
Was this tone of voice to seek peace, or to show weakness?
She could adapt to whatever the circumstances required, showing traces of the previous Noble Lady Wuya.
When they arrived at the side hall, two Chinese ceramic stools1 were brought in. Yun Xiu motioned to the eunuch to read the long gift list.
"Noble Imperial Consort of Chengqian Palace has gifted Wu Daozi's famous painting 'Whistling of the Wind in the Pines'… Noble Consort of Yongshou Palace has gifted a piece of Auspicious Cloud inkstone… Consort Hui of Yanxi Palace gifted a congratulatory poem written by the eldest prince…"
The gifts were all expensive or delicate things.
Yun Xiu lazily took a bite of the flaky pastry.
Consort Hui was ingenious. She used the eldest prince to please the emperor. Perhaps she would win first place.
Consort De held a gentle smile. Her complexion changed slightly when she heard the words eldest prince.
For the sake of her son, Consort Hui really did everything she could!
"Consort De of Yonghe Palace gifted a pair of pink porcelain with a fish pattern…"
After reading for a long time, apart from the master of the first palace, only Concubine Hesheli of Chuxiu Palace had a brilliant gift. It was a Chinese cedarwood screen with a picture that she personally embroidered of thousands of miles of rivers and mountains.
Yun Xiu ordered someone to take out the screen. She looked at it for a long time, and praised it. "The embroidery and stitching is very good. She put in a lot of effort."
Consort De smiled. Wasn't it more than a lot of effort?
Concubine Hesheli had been in the palace for a year and she was not very favoured. Although she could enjoy the status of a concubine, she was still just a concubine. The position of the crown prince's maternal aunt was empty, but the crown prince never got close to her. Wasn't that a concern?
Consort De knew who was eager to compete for favour.
After the gift list was read out, she turned her head and smiled. "What gift has older sister prepared? Maybe it will open my eyes."
Consort De believed that Yun Xiu had prepared something good, kept it hidden, and was just waiting for the birthday banquet to reveal it. So she kept her displeasure restrained and suppressed the drooping corners of her mouth.
These words were just a test, but Yun Xiu smiled and said generously, "How could it open your eyes? It's just a few volumes of Buddhist scriptures that I copied by hand. Have you never seen it?"
After she finished speaking, she looked at Consort De in surprise.
Her twinkling peach blossom eyes were full of doubts, which made Consort De choke. Consort De was secretly annoyed and was unable to say anything for a while.
Buddhist scriptures were too common!
This was a quite well-behaved gift. It wasn't brilliant and it was very different from what she expected.
"It was I who branched off…" Consort De lowered her eyes and said softly.
Wen Yuan and Rui Zhu lowered their heads, suppressing their laughter. They sighed helplessly in their hearts.
How could the consort have transcribed it herself?
However, after she had randomly copied a few paragraphs, she asked a few of her confidants to imitate the handwriting, saying that it must be completed within three days. It was nothing more than her going through the motions.
Even though the money had been increased for many months, and they had received many rewards, they still couldn't help but feel anxious.
If the emperor knew, then what?
It was disrespect to the emperor and it was also the crime of deceiving the emperor… Wen Yuan's heart was miserable.
Wet Nurse Dong almost had a heart attack too, but she couldn't persuade the consort to change her mind. She was so worried!
Aside from Consort De being annoying from time to time, the atmosphere in Yikun Palace was harmonious.
The imperial noble consort sent people to keep a close eye on the other side of Yonghe Palace. As soon as Consort De left, Chengqian Palace got the news.
Heading to Yikun Palace… The imperial noble consort's eyes lit up, and she appeared excited.
Wet Nurse Zhen was worried, but she couldn't express it.
The state of the imperial noble consort was obviously wrong!
The imperial noble consort hated Consort De so much that she lost her composure in this regard. She couldn't wait for Mrs. Wuya to fall from grace.
She wanted Consort Yi and Consort De to fight. As everyone knew, there was an exception to everything. What if it didn't go according to the imperial noble consort's wishes… Then what?
After a while, Wet Nurse Zhen's worries became true.
They originally thought that Consort Yi and Consort De were at odds with each other, but unexpectedly the two got along well. The task of selecting the congratulatory gifts was successfully completed.
Yikun Palace sent people to hand over a note, saying that it was for the imperial noble consort to take a look at everything. Wet Nurse Zhen had sharp eyes and found the little eunuch from Yonghe Palace among them!
The imperial noble consort was greatly disappointed and upset. She immediately dropped the teacup. She recalled the reward of red coral not long ago and felt hatred towards Yun Xiu.
"Consort Yi! Useless thing." The imperial noble consort held on tightly to the seat. A cold light flashed through her eyes. She thought for a moment, and finally said, "Go, call Yuan Changzai. We have something for her…"
Finally, the selection of congratulatory gifts was completed. It took more than 4 hours.
Although it took a long time, Yun Xiu did not feel tired.
From time to time, she took a sip of pear juice, chatted with Consort De, and quickly solved the task assigned by the imperial noble consort.
Although the people next to her were not pleasing, they could always be amusing, right?
As Consort De had fulfilled her task of assisting, she knew that Consort Yi would not keep her for dinner. Consort De stood up slowly with her waist supported. She had a smile on her face. She was about to say goodbye: "It's almost noon. It's getting late…"
Before she finished speaking, an announcement sounded outside. Liang Jiugong hurried into the side hall with a horsetail whisk in his hands.
"This servant pays respects to Consort Yi…" He was smiling with a very earnest attitude. There was a faint hint of flattery.
Yun Xiu rubbed her stomach. Somehow, she had a bad premonition.
What was the emperor going to do?
Seeing that Consort De was here, Liang Jiugong was taken aback for a moment. He quickly restrained his expression, and resumed his majestic chief executive appearance. "…This servant pays respects to Consort De."
After paying his respects, Liang Jiugong was quite annoyed.
After coming down to court, the emperor summoned ministers to discuss matters in Qianqing Palace. They talked about many secrets. Whoever asked to see them was blocked, so he didn't know that Consort De had come to Yikun Palace.
It was his fault that such an accident occurred!
Fortunately, the family responded quickly…
How could Consort De not notice the change in Liang Jiugong's tone?
What a great steward who could adapt to the wind.
Recalling the scene of Kangxi leaving with a flick of his sleeve last night, her heart felt as if countless holes had been poked in it. The wind blew everywhere, leaving a rush of coldness.
The emperor… wanted to reward Mrs. Guo Luoluo again?
Consort De was still smiling as she stood still. Her eyes darkened a lot. "Excuse me. Mr. Liang, what is this?"
Yun Xiu raised her eyebrows, and had the demeanour of someone just watching the show. She suddenly felt relieved.
Forget it, she could just be a moth.
……
Liang Jiugong glanced at Consort De, hesitating for a moment. Logically speaking, Mistress De should ignore it.
It was just that Consort De didn't intend to leave at all. As a servant who served others, he didn't dare to offend.
…How could Consort De be happy when the emperor summoned Consort Yi to accompany him?
When the time came for her to vent her anger, Liang Jiugong did not want to be the target!
Consort De didn't look so blank in the past.
Liang Jiugong twitched his lips and plastered a fake smile on his face. Well, since Consort De wanted to hear it, then he would tell her as well.
"His Majesty invited Master Yi to accompany His Majesty in the carriage. His Majesty also said that if Consort has not eaten yet, one will be provided in Qianqing Palace…" Liang Jiugong bowed and smiled. "His Majesty is waiting for Consort."
While Consort De's heart was overwhelmed with jealousy and envy, Yun Xiu had opened her eyes slightly and secretly scolded Kangxi.
Accompany him in the carriage to Qianqing Palace! She really didn't want this honour.
What happened to the emperor recently?
She raised her baby in Yikun Palace peacefully and never curried favour. She wished she could avoid him, so what happened?
It was inexplicable. It was both a reward and being able to accompany him. If this happened a few more times, all the hatred in the palace will be directed towards her.
Consort Yi took a deep breath, and said a few words. "Thank… Thank the emperor."
When Kangxi first saw Yun Xiu, he put down the memorial and smiled slightly.
The folds between his eyebrows stretched, diluting the sense of majesty. He saw the sapphire head ornament in her hair and was amazed. After that feeling passed, a touch of joy and satisfaction welled up in his heart.
Throughout the morning, Kangxi was not in a good mood.
When discussing matters, his expressionless and sullen face made the courtiers tremble. It almost had them bowing down to worship him.
But now, it was completely different.
The crystal-clear gemstones were dazzling, and the iris gold threads were faintly discernible… The slightly dull atmosphere changed and the room was filled with brilliance in an instant.
Kangxi stretched out his hand towards her, and the previous unhappiness was gradually washed away.
In order to see him, Xiuxiu did not hesitate to dress up. She only wore gifts from him.
"Normally, Xiuxiu is pretty enough." Kangxi raised the corners of his lips and praised her. He then said softly, "It is fine to see Us casually. There is no need to tire yourself out, is that clear?"
1.(繡墩) Chinese ceramic stool, like the one below: