Chapter 242 Change

In the Lihe Palace, all the concubines gathered.

The heir of Prince Duan was brought into the palace and raised by the Empress Dowager's side, which made many people's minds start to wander.

Previously, when Shui Xian was the Imperial Noble Consort and acting as the Phoenix Seal, many people couldn't stand her lowly birth and often made excuses not to come, so as to avoid having to pay their respects to her.

Today, however, they all gathered together, hoping to find out why the Empress Dowager had suddenly brought the Prince Duan's heir into the palace.

Now that the Empress is confined to Kunning Palace, they might have the opportunity to adopt the heir of Prince Duan...

Today, Narcissus is dressed in a deep purple palace gown, dignified yet elegant. From her high position, she can clearly see the expressions of everyone below.

What were they thinking? Did Narcissus not know?

She deliberately summoned them here to take advantage of their eagerness to find out what was going on, while actually telling them what she wanted to say.

Narcissus's gaze swept calmly across the area below. After a brief pause, she began to announce the new policies:

"Firstly, starting this month, the expenses of the six palaces will be reduced by 30%. Each palace will be allocated its own budget, and all expenses except for necessary expenditures will be reported and verified. The money saved will be used to support free clinics run by imperial physicians outside the palace, purchase medicines, and provide relief to people infected with the disease."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the several concubines below, who were known for their extravagance, changed slightly, but none of them dared to voice their opposition.

They had assumed the discussion was about the heir of Prince Duan, but to their surprise, Shui Xian started by talking about cutting expenses.

"Secondly, we will strictly investigate any instances of palace staff withholding or delaying the distribution of their allowances. Once verified, no matter who is involved, they will be severely punished according to palace regulations without exception! The Imperial Household Department must submit the monthly records of the distribution of palace staff allowances to this palace for review."

"Thirdly, I wish to establish a 'Women's Handicraft Workshop' in the palace. Any palace maid with skills in embroidery, weaving, etc., may apply. The embroidery produced will be accounted for by the Imperial Household Department. Of the money earned, 20% will go to the Imperial Household Department and 80% will go to the maid herself."

This third policy instantly stirred up waves in the hearts of all the concubines.

However, their changing expressions could not compare to those of the palace servants standing by and behind them.

"Her Imperial Noble Consort is benevolent!"

It was unclear which clever palace maid was the first to shout out from outside the hall, but soon, a wave of gratitude and discussion spread like a tide.

The concubines in the hall had different expressions. A hint of appreciation flashed in Consort De's eyes, while Consort Wan's hands on her knees tightened slightly, but she had to force a smile of agreement: "Your Highness the Imperial Noble Consort cares for the palace servants and is considerate of their plight. This is truly a blessing for the six palaces. We will certainly comply."

Narcissus anticipated this reaction; having served as a maid, she naturally understood the helplessness of such a position.

If she had a way to make money beyond her master's control, she wouldn't have been left without any choice but to be sent to the emperor's bed without any room for resistance.

How much of her agreement was voluntary and how much was out of helplessness, only Narcissus herself knows.

As Narcissus felt the gratitude of the palace servants, she narrowed her eyes slightly and felt that among the palace servants she saw against the backlight, there seemed to be a reflection of herself from back then.

——

Returned from Reiwa Palace.

Consort Wan could no longer maintain her smile, and she suddenly slammed an inkstone off the table.

"Streamline expenditures, strictly investigate embezzlement, and establish a women's needlework workshop? Ha!"

Her chest heaved violently, her eyes burning with jealousy.

"What a clever way to win people's hearts! She uses palace money to gain fame outside the palace, and uses the hard-earned money of palace servants to exchange for their gratitude! She really knows how to be a good person! What do we all look like in comparison?"

Consort Huang, who was on good terms with her, whispered, "Sister, calm down. She's currently very powerful, and even the Empress Dowager... We should avoid her for now."

"Avoid? Why should I avoid?"

Consort Wan gritted her teeth, but helplessly slumped down.

"She now holds the imperial seal, and the emperor listens to her every word... what else can we do?"

She was filled with resentment, but she knew clearly that any open resistance at this moment would be futile and might even bring about her annihilation.

Inside the Palace of Rites.

Narcissus slowly took a sip of the warm ginseng tea.

Tinglu stepped forward quietly and whispered, "Your Majesty, Consort Wan threw a huge tantrum after returning home and smashed a cup."

Now that Shui Xian has taken control of the Phoenix Seal, she has already placed her own people in key positions.

Without even raising her eyelashes, Narcissus simply said, "Let her be."

How could she not know what Consort Wan was thinking?

But now, Wanfei's jealousy and complaints are like the chirping of ants in her eyes, insignificant and harmless.

At this moment, she was thinking about something more important.

Narcissus put down her teacup and instructed Yinzhu:

"Make preparations, before dinner I will go to Cining Palace with the Emperor."

At Cining Palace, the issue of Prince Duan's heir is ultimately a problem that urgently needs to be addressed.

Night once again quietly enveloped this enormous imperial city.

As night fell, the Lihe Palace was brightly lit, but not glaringly so; the warm light bathed everything in the palace in a soft hue.

Narcissus sat in front of her dressing table, gazing at her reflection in the mirror.

She did not choose overly luxurious or elaborate clothing, but instead opted for a sky-blue palace dress with delicate silver thread embroidery of lotus scrolls on the hem and cuffs.

Her hair was styled simply, adorned only with a few small pearl hairpins, which made her black hair look like clouds and her skin like snow.

"Your Majesty, isn't this a bit too plain?"

Yinzhu asked softly from the side.

Narcissus smiled slightly, looking at her calm, water-like eyes in the mirror.

"Today is a family dinner, and harmony is the most important thing."

What she needs is a demeanor that leaves no room for criticism while subtly dispelling any hostility.

As they were talking, Emperor Zhaoheng stepped into the hall.

He had clearly just finished dealing with official business, and there was still some fatigue between his brows.

But when Emperor Zhaoheng saw the narcissus, dressed in its finest attire, under the lamplight, his weariness was instantly replaced by amazement.

He stepped forward, waved to dismiss the palace servants' formalities, and his gaze fell on Narcissus's simple hair.

"Xian'er looks beautiful today."

Emperor Zhaoheng said in a low voice, reaching down to untie a small brocade pouch from his waist and taking out a jade hairpin that was entirely emerald green and flawlessly lustrous.

The jade hairpin has a simple design, with only a half-open magnolia bud carved at the top. The carving is exquisite and lifelike.

"I think this magnolia hairpin suits you well."

As he spoke, he gently and personally placed the jade hairpin into Narcissus's hair.

Narcissus could feel the warmth of his fingertips. She slightly raised her eyes and met his deep gaze, where her image was clearly reflected.

He leaned down and whispered in her ear in a voice only the two of them could hear: "If the Empress Dowager shows any displeasure or says anything inappropriate at dinner tonight, Xian'er, do not worry. I will take care of everything."

The protection conveyed in those words is like the strongest support.

Narcissus's heart stirred slightly. She lowered her eyelashes and softly replied, "Your Majesty, I understand. Thank you."

Meanwhile, the scene inside the Cining Palace was quite different.

The Empress Dowager was facing the bronze mirror, her fingers trembling slightly as she stroked the few new strands of white hair that had appeared at her temples.

The woman in the mirror still showed glimpses of her former beauty, but the fine lines around her eyes and the lingering melancholy between her brows indicated the aging brought on by successive blows.

She looked at herself in the mirror, her eyes filled with sadness and a sense of desolation, as if everything had changed.

"Grandmother! Grandmother! I want to go out! The palace is no fun at all! I'm so bored!"

Prince Duan's heir, Cheng Ge'er, was dressed in a brand-new blue robe, but he ran around the palace without any decorum. He would pull at the curtains and kick over the embroidered stools. Several nannies followed behind him, panting and exhausted. They had to use all their coaxing words to finally calm him down and put him on a brocade stool next to them, where they offered him snacks and fruit.

The Empress Dowager turned her head and looked at the little face that was almost identical to that of her youngest son, Xiao Yirui, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

That was the only bloodline left by her most beloved youngest son, and it was her only remaining solace.

But looking at the child's spoiled and unruly nature, and the arrogance revealed in his eyes that were exactly the same as Yi Rui's, she felt a sharp pain in her heart, as if she could see the beginning of her son's destruction.

Love and pain, expectation and fear, intertwined, almost tore her apart.

"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, Consort Wan has come to pay her respects."

Palace servants were sent to spread the word.

Soon, Consort Wan walked in gracefully. She was dressed simply today, with just the right amount of worry on her face.

She first performed the proper bow, then inquired about the Empress Dowager's health with concern, before her gaze inadvertently fell on Cheng-ge'er, who was being held down by the nanny.

"Oh my, His Highness is so lively and adorable. Look at that little face, so full of energy."

Consort Wan, with a hint of deliberate flattery, said, "Speaking of which, His Highness the Crown Prince and the Empress Dowager are truly of one mind. Look at those eyebrows and eyes; they are so similar to those of Prince Yirui when he was young. If he could stay by the Empress Dowager's side for a long time, serving her and fulfilling his filial duties, it would be a wonderful thing, and it could also alleviate the Empress Dowager's pain of losing her son."

Her words were gentle, yet every sentence implied that the prince should stay.

The Empress Dowager glanced at Consort Wan but did not reply, though her gaze clearly deepened.

She gazed out the window into the distance. If she remembered correctly, Emperor Zhaoheng was to come to Cining Palace tonight...

......