Chapter Forty-Five

Before leaving the palace, He Ya, who had just gotten herself into a lot of trouble, said to her sister, "Sister, Consort Yi and Lady Hu are so annoying, and the Fifth Prince is really bothersome." After saying that, she left the palace, leaving He Rui completely bewildered.

"Baozhu, find out carefully who offended Heya during her meal." Watching Baozhu leave, Herui wondered if it was Consort Yi or Lady Hu who had provoked Heya. However, both of them were on the Fifth Prince's side. What exactly was the Fifth Prince trying to do? Was he openly trying to win her over while secretly undermining her? Unable to figure out what the Fifth Prince was up to, Herui decided to wait until Baozhu had found out before making a decision. But whatever the reason, anyone who dared to bully Heya should be prepared to pay the price.

Consort Yi was unaware that Lady Hu had offended Princess Heya. If she had known, she probably would have already taken Lady Hu to Yongshou Palace to apologize.

He Rui was in her room preparing to question Bao Zhu, whom she had inquired about, when Rong Mama came to invite her to the main hall, saying that the Empress had summoned her. He Rui asked Rong Mama in a low voice what the Empress wanted to do with her. Rong Mama replied in a low voice, "Your Majesty noticed that Princess He Ya's expression was not good when she left the palace. Please go and ask the princess if she said anything."

He Rui sighed inwardly; the Empress was truly meticulous. Following Rong Momo into the main hall, after paying his respects, He Rui's face remained grim.

"He Rui, come sit beside me," the Empress hurriedly said, "Your complexion is not good. Did He Ya say something?"

"Your Majesty, Heya didn't say anything." She only asked me to avenge her. He Rui didn't mention the last part, because if the Empress intervened, it would be seen as "jealousy." He Rui was plotting how to kick the Fifth Prince out of the palace so that Heya could take revenge herself.

Seeing that He Rui was unwilling to speak, the Empress didn't press further. He Rui was more composed than He Ya and knew what he could and couldn't do. However, the Empress was still worried and, after speaking privately with He Rui, finally let him return to his room to rest. "Granny Rong, did you get anything out of him?"

"Your Majesty, I have found out. During lunch, Madam Hu made some unpleasant remarks about the Prince Consort's name."

"Oh, this Hu woman is really bold." The Empress raised an eyebrow. She could roughly guess Consort Yi's intentions. She snorted and said, "Granny Rong, pass the conversation to Granny Xia."

Rong Momo hurriedly agreed.

He Rui knew perfectly well that Baozhu must have said something to Rong Mama, but he said nothing. After thinking for a moment, he figured the Empress couldn't intervene, but the mother who wanted to make amends could! He Rui thought Xia Yuhe was truly a master of palace intrigue, climbing from a lowly concubine to a high-ranking consort in a short time; she was even more powerful than Consort Ling. Since she wanted to make amends, he might as well reveal the matter to her.

Consort Yu, listening to Granny Xia's gossip, felt displeased. She thought Ziwei's husband was quite good. Hu Shi, just a concubine of a prince, dared to comment on even a princess's husband. Consort Yu was uncomfortable. Although Ziwei was nominally the Empress's daughter, she was still her own flesh and blood; how could she allow a servant to speak ill of her daughter? The Fifth Prince was well past the age of establishing his own residence; why was he still lazing around in the palace? "Granny," she said, "I, as a concubine, don't think things through."

"Does Master mean...?" Granny Xia was taken aback by her master's inexplicable opening statement and didn't know how to respond.

"The Fifth Prince is already fifteen. Although he hasn't finished mourning yet, shouldn't he move to the Prince's Residence and prepare to establish his own residence outside the palace?" Consort Yu, being clever, recalled the matter of the prince establishing his own residence outside the palace and thought of taking this opportunity to talk to the Emperor that night. However, before talking to the Emperor, Consort Yu felt that she should still discuss it with Granny Xia.

"Your Highness, you can't say too much about what happened before." Granny Xia was startled by her mistress's words. Everyone in the palace could see that the Emperor treated the Fifth Prince with special favor, practically considering him a hidden Crown Prince. If Consort Yu were to bring this up with the Emperor, she might end up losing everything she had gained.

"Is that so!" "Nanny, this harem is, after all, a place for women. It just doesn't feel right for a prince to live here." Then let's create something!

"What does Your Highness mean?" Granny Xia cautiously glanced at Consort Yu. Who said Consort Yu was incapable of vying for power or using cunning? Looking at Consort Yu's usual calm expression, her eyes were filled with calculation.

"Granny, I should also do something to retaliate against those who have been plotting against me." Consort Yu took the Ninth Princess from the wet nurse.

Granny Xia stared blankly at the smiling Consort Yu.

~~~~

Living in the inner palace as a prince presents certain inconveniences. Even with numerous rules, some inconveniences are unavoidable. He Rui and Consort Yu shared the same idea: He Rui's goal was to get the Fifth Prince out of the palace; whether he established his own residence or was punished was none of her concern. Consort Yu's goal was even clearer: she didn't want to let either the Fifth Prince or Consort Yi go.

The plan was slowly being set up. Consort Yu was thinking about how to win over Consort Yi's people. He Rui was scheming to get the Fifth Prince to get close to one of the Emperor's women in the harem, so that the Emperor would happen to see it. Of course, all of this was done in a way that would arouse the Emperor's suspicion.

Scheming against others requires the right timing, location, and people. Consort Yu hesitated for a long time while choosing someone to serve Consort Yi, asking Granny Xia many times in the process. Granny Xia only offered suggestions without explicitly recommending anyone. While Consort Yu hesitated, Consort Yi herself delivered the problem to her doorstep.

That day, the concubines of the harem went to Yongshou Palace to pay their respects to the Empress as usual. Outside Yongshou Palace, Consort Yu bumped into Consort Yi whispering something to a palace maid beside her. Consort Yu couldn't see the maid's expression, but from Consort Yi's somewhat high-pitched tone, Consort Yu was certain that Consort Yi wasn't saying anything pleasant. Looking at the maid, Consort Yu thought that perhaps this person could be used, but Consort Yu wouldn't rashly send someone to directly win her over. "Sister Yi, what's wrong? I could hear your voice from afar."

Upon hearing Consort Yu's voice, Consort Yi immediately bowed and paid her respects. "I encountered an ignorant servant. Your complexion is as good as ever, sister."

Consort Yu felt awkward listening to Consort Yi's words, but she didn't show it. "If a servant makes a mistake, he should be punished. There's no need to hold a grudge against a servant. I just saw the head maidservant from the Empress's side come out. It's time to go in and pay her respects." After saying that, Consort Yu took Xia Mama's arm and walked in front of Consort Yi.

Consort Yi was angered by Consort Yu's condescending tone and behavior, and naturally, it was the servants who suffered when their mistress was angry. Consort Yi couldn't do anything to the servants now; this was at the gate of Yongshou Palace, and everyone knew that the Empress was extremely strict about the rules. If the Empress found out about the private punishment of the servants, things would get very serious.

After the morning routine of paying respects to the emperor at Yongshou Palace and Cining Palace, Consort Yu returned to Changsi Palace and asked Granny Xia whether Consort Yi's actions at the entrance of Yongshou Palace were for show or if something had truly happened.

Granny Xia sent someone to inquire, and soon received the news. There was a maid in the Chang'an Palace who was from the same hometown as the palace maid who had been scolded by Consort Yi that morning. That maid had accidentally knocked over something Consort Yi had given to the young prince at the entrance of Yongshou Palace that morning. The maid in the Chang'an Palace carefully recounted the punishment her fellow villager had received.

Consort Yu listened intently, her brows furrowing. "Granny, how could there be such terrifying methods in this palace?" A needle prick leaves no visible wound, and a sudden prick might not feel painful, but repeated pricks... Consort Yu found the thought terrifying.

"Your Highness is kind and forgiving, not punishing our minor mistakes. But not every concubine in the palace is like Your Highness." The old nanny in the palace certainly knew that pricking maids with needles was a common method used by the concubines to discipline their servants. Nanny Xia sighed inwardly; the maid whom Consort Yu had chosen was inefficient and clumsy.

Consort Yu did not mention the matter of trying to win over that palace maid again; she was preoccupied with the punishment of pricking someone with an embroidery needle.

When the Emperor arrived, Consort Yu's face showed a hint of fear. She hesitated before speaking to the Emperor, then fell into deep thought. Qianlong looked at Consort Yu with suspicion, then at Granny Xia.

Terrified by the Emperor's gaze, Granny Xia knelt on the ground, praying in her heart, "Your Majesty, please come back to your senses soon! Otherwise, the lives of us servants may be in danger."

Whether it was because Consort Yu heard Granny Xia's prayers, or because Heaven heard them, Consort Yu snapped out of her daze when the Emperor's face darkened. "Your Majesty, this servant finds it terrifying." Consort Yu looked up at the Emperor, her face filled with fear. "This is the first time this servant has ever heard of such a terrifying thing."

Looking at the expression on Consort Yu's face, the Emperor felt an overwhelming surge of affection and pulled her into his arms. "With me here, what is there for my beloved consort to fear?"

The servants who had been kneeling on the ground quickly withdrew and left the room. Granny Xia worried that Consort Yu might end up hurting herself.

Granny Xia's worries were completely unnecessary. Consort Yu spoke skillfully, making Qianlong deeply appreciate her kindness. The existence of such private punishments within the palace was alarming and needed thorough investigation. Looking at Consort Yu's eyes filled with admiration as she held him in her arms, Qianlong was captivated.

The next morning, Emperor Qianlong arrived at Yongshou Palace in a flurry. Although he wore a smile, his words were sharp. He first criticized the Empress for her lax management of the harem, then seemed to realize that if punishments were carried out behind closed doors, the Empress would be unaware of it. Moreover, he noted that the Empress hadn't managed palace affairs for the past year, leaving them to the Empress Dowager and two imperial concubines. The Emperor then offered a few words of subtle praise to the Empress.

The Empress was stunned by what she heard, and her face turned pale. After the Emperor left, the Empress asked Rong Mama, "Did the Emperor sleep in the Chang'an Palace last night?"

"Your Majesty, it is Chang ****."

The Empress's face darkened further. Consort Yu had actually dared to speak ill of her in front of the Emperor. "Granny Rong, send someone to ask Granny Xia what happened yesterday." The Empress suppressed her anger, determined to find out what had happened first. If Consort Yu had really said something... the Empress gripped her teacup tightly, determined not to let her off the hook.