Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Legend of Zhen Huan - Fang Jiachunyi 27

Fearing things might get out of hand, they gave him the secret medicine from the previous dynasty. After all, bondservants have some secret medicine recipes.

Consort Wan wouldn't suspect anything, because she had given birth prematurely again this time.

Consort Wan learned during her pregnancy that she was a substitute for Chun Yuan, and that it was arranged by the Empress.

Consort Wan also gave birth prematurely because of this, but she kept it a secret and pretended not to know.

She now has too many concerns: Hongyang, Longyue, the Zhen family, Consort Hui, and Consort Xian.

She couldn't go to Ganlu Temple to practice Buddhism like in the original story.

Perhaps the Emperor was angry with Consort Wan because of Zhen Yuandao, or perhaps the Emperor did not want to appoint another Consort.

Consort Wan remains a consort, but enjoys the privileges of a Noble Consort and has not been promoted. Fang Jiachunyi remains the only Noble Consort.

Spring passed and autumn came. With the Empress's support, Consort Qi was promoted to Imperial Concubine Qi.

Longkodo died, and the Empress Dowager fell seriously ill, so she exempted the concubines from attending to her.

Consort Hui served him daily and was promoted to Consort Hui, occupying the last of the six consort ranks.

The Empress Dowager also bestowed Yonghe Palace, where she had previously resided, upon Consort Hui.

Nowadays, in the imperial harem, the position of Imperial Noble Consort is usually not established when the Empress is present, leaving one vacancy for both the Noble Consort and Consort positions.

A young girl dressed in blue gallops on horseback, her superb horsemanship is truly admirable. The girl has a beautiful and spirited appearance, with a touch of wildness in her temperament.

"Time flies, it's the start of summer again. This year, the horse training program has a different performer, a young girl."

Consort Xin drank the peach blossom wine, her eyes filled with a hazy, intoxicated look.

"This woman reminds me of the Imperial Noble Consort Dunsu during my time as a prince. She was just as heroic and spirited when riding a horse."

Consort Jing was also somewhat drunk; the saying "when a person dies, it's like a lamp going out" does hold some truth.

She harbored resentment towards Consort Dunsu, but that resentment has now faded.

Fang Jiachun glanced at the emperor, who was staring intently at her on the platform. There would be another stand-in in the palace.

She exchanged a glance with Consort Wan, who had also noticed the Emperor's expression, and smiled gently.

Perhaps because she was a substitute, Consort Wan subconsciously looked at the Emperor after hearing Consort Jing's words.

Sure enough, the concubines received an imperial decree as soon as they returned to the palace. The horse trainer was conferred the title of "Da Ying" and the Empress Dowager arranged for her to enter the Chunxi Palace.

The Emperor doted on Consort Ye so much that it almost became his exclusive favorite.

"This Consort Qi..." Consort Xin had a lot to say. Under the real-name system for administering the infertility-preventing soup, Consort Qi remained as simple-minded as ever for ten years.

"Consort Ning has also suffered."

Consort Ning was originally Lady Ye, who was promoted to Consort Ning despite being wronged by Consort Qi.

Based on her own experience, Consort Jing believed that for women, especially those in the imperial harem, not having children was a very painful thing.

"Consort Ning may not have felt bitter. She has been taking contraceptives. I heard that she was saved by Prince Guo when she was at the Yuanmingyuan."

Fang Jiachun gave a subtle hint, and Consort Xin and Consort Jing understood what she meant.

Consort Jing: "Even if you don't feel the bitterness for a while, you might not feel it later."

Unwilling to have children and unable to have children are two different things. Life in the harem is very long, and she might change her mind at some point.

But because of Consort Qi, she had no hope for the rest of her life.

"I don't know why Consort Qi committed suicide out of fear of punishment. With the Third Prince around, she would at most be demoted."

Consort Xin found it strange; Consort Qi was timid, so it was odd that she would give Consort Ning a potion that would prevent her from having children.

The Third Prince was, after all, a grown-up prince, while Consort Ning, despite her status and position, was merely a horse trainer and not even a bondservant.

Even if she gives birth to a prince, she will not be a threat to the Third Prince.