As dusk fell, all the palaces fell silent.

However, the demons and monsters lurking beneath this silent night, their unspeakable secrets, have only just begun to unfold.

Consort Ma Jia lay pale-faced on the couch, her hands folded over her lower abdomen, her eyes fixed on the bright, moonlit night.

"Your Highness, why are you doing this to yourself? Among the concubines in the palace, you were the first to serve the Emperor. You and the Emperor grew up together and have borne the most imperial offspring. The Emperor has feelings for you."

The palace maid Caiwei lowered her head, carefully choosing her words, and spoke softly.

Consort Ma Jia slowly raised her hand and touched the fine lines at the corner of her eyes. "I was the Emperor's first woman, but all these years, I have only been a concubine in the palace."

"This is my sixth child for the Emperor, isn't it? Chengrui died young, my second child was miscarried at only three months, and then there was Saiyinchahun, the third princess, and the fifth princess. I've given birth to one child after another, but what about their rank?"

“To this day, I am still a concubine. Consort Zhao and that one in Chengqian Palace, they are just born into good families. They have never given birth or had children, yet they hold the rank of consort. What virtue or ability do they have?”

Taking a deep breath, Consort Ma Jia said sadly, grasping Caiwei's hand and choking back tears, "Caiwei, I'm not reconciled, I'm not reconciled! I also want to be a consort!"

"Your Highness, you are carrying the emperor's child. The imperial physician has advised you not to experience great joy or sorrow. Your Highness must think of the child in your womb!"

Caiwei felt helpless, but on the surface, she had to comfort Consort Ma Jia with concern.

Consort Ma Jia responded softly, stroking her lower abdomen with a loving expression, and murmured, "Offspring are of utmost importance. If this child is a prince, the Emperor will surely bestow upon me the title of Consort."

"At that time, I will be on equal footing with Consort Zhao and that person in Chengqian Palace."

Caiwei lowered her eyes and remained silent.

The following afternoon.

The Empress Dowager sent someone to the Qianqing Palace to invite Emperor Kangxi to the Cining Palace for a conversation between the grandfather and grandson.

"Your Majesty, I heard that yesterday, Lady Ma Jia accidentally ate something cold and suffered a miscarriage? A palace maid serving Lady Xu Mu'er was thrown into a well and drowned, and several eunuchs also died in the Imperial Garden?"

Emperor Kangxi looked up at the Empress Dowager, his expression grave and he remained silent.

The Empress Dowager then added, "I have also heard that the Emperor reprimanded Consort Zhao yesterday for her lax management of the palace and negligence in discipline? He also bestowed ginseng and lingzhi upon Lady Ma Jia?"

Emperor Kangxi nodded with a stern face.

“Grandma, Niohuru is in charge of the palace, but she has made the harem a mess. With the harem in turmoil, how can I govern the affairs of the court with peace of mind? I have only punished Niohuru with half a year's salary, and I have not stripped her of her power in the palace.”

A hint of anger flashed across the Empress Dowager's aged face.

With a slap on the table, the Empress Dowager said coldly, "In the harem, the only high-ranking concubines are Niohuru and Tongjia. Tongjia is ill, and the Emperor has stripped Niohuru of her palace power. Does he intend to hand over the affairs of the six palaces to the concubines below?"

"Among the concubines, apart from Li and Wanyan, who were formally selected to enter the palace and know a few characters, the rest are all palace maids who don't know many characters. How can they manage the six palaces?"

Emperor Kangxi was speechless.

After hesitating for a moment, Kangxi spoke respectfully, "Grandma's teachings are correct. I am only angry with Niohuru."

Half an hour later, Kangxi left Cining Palace.

The Empress Dowager watched Kangxi's departing figure, lost in thought.

After a long while, the Empress Dowager said, "Su Ma, what do you think of the Emperor's affairs in the harem? In the past, with Empress Hesheli as a comparison, Niohuru was considered dignified and composed. But now..."

"Your Majesty, although Consort Zhao is the Empress Dowager and the Emperor's chosen successor, she has no children and the Emperor does not favor her much. It is normal for Consort Zhao to be worried."

Su Ma La Gu hesitated for a moment, then spoke again, "Consort Zhao and the Empress entered the palace in the same year, and are now nearly twenty-five years old."

"If Her Majesty the Empress's son, Prince Chenghu, were still alive, he would be six years old now. Consort Zhao has been in the palace for many years, but there has been no news of her pregnancy. Seeing that there are more and more princes and princesses in the palace, Consort Zhao is very anxious!"

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager glanced at Sumalagu.

"You've always been cold to the concubines in the harem, so why are you speaking up for Niohuru now? I understand that Niohuru longs for a son, but..."

"I absolutely forbid that Niohuru, relying on her power in the palace, will act recklessly and harm the imperial heirs."

Sumalagu looked terrified and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, please calm down. This servant only pities Consort Zhao, who has served the Emperor for many years but has no children."

"She is the Empress Dowager, the Emperor's chosen successor. In the future, all of the Emperor's children will have to call her Empress Mother. All the princes and princesses will be her children."

Sumalagu responded repeatedly with "Yes," a sigh flashing in her weathered eyes.

at night

Emperor Kangxi rested in the west side hall of Xu Lejin's Yikun Palace.

In the hazy darkness of night, Kangxi gazed at the rooftop, pondered for a long time, and then spoke in a deep voice, "The palace maids that I had Liang Jiugong send, are you finding them easy to serve, my beloved consort?"

Xu Lejin was stunned for a moment.

"Your Majesty, Lianzhi is careful and cautious in her work, hardworking and conscientious, and doesn't talk much. I like her very much, and I thank Your Majesty for your care and favor."

A faint smile appeared on Kangxi's lips as he said loudly, "My beloved consort has worked hard to give birth to Baoshou and Wuxiha. Although Lianzhi is still young, she was very composed when serving in front of the emperor. Now that she is serving my beloved consort, I can rest assured."

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!