Chapter 184 The Conflict over Yonghe Palace

They hurriedly stood up and defended themselves in unison.

"Your Majesty is wise! I would never dare to have such a thought."

Jiang Nan chuckled as she looked at their panicked expressions.

"Oh? Perhaps... I'm just overthinking things, and I'm judging others by my own petty standards."

She drew out her words, her gaze sharp.

"But human nature is unpredictable. Who can guarantee that there won't be one or two people who think they are extremely clever and believe that their methods are so secretive that they can deceive everyone?"

"This humble servant would not dare! Your Majesty, please calm your anger!"

The concubines once again apologized in unison, their heads bowed even lower.

The Empress's words, though spoken casually, were clearly a warning!

"Everyone, get up and sit back down. There's no need to be nervous."

After they sat down again, they looked at Ma Jia and smiled gently.

"If Lady Ma Jia's pregnancy is successful and the baby is born safely, it will be a great achievement for her, whether it is a prince or a princess. She will definitely be granted the rank of concubine. I would like to congratulate you in advance."

Upon hearing this, Ma Jia rose excitedly and bowed deeply.

"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty. I will certainly keep to my duty, focus on my pregnancy, and never dare to disappoint Your Majesty's high expectations!"

"Yes, take good care of yourself."

Jiang Nan nodded, gesturing for her to sit down.

His gaze swept over the crowd again, his tone both encouraging and encouraging, as if he were stirring things up.

"You all need to work harder. His Majesty is in his prime and bestows his favor equally upon all. There are only seven positions available for concubines in the harem, and there are not many vacant ones. Every time one is promoted, there is one less opportunity."

Her words were like a boulder thrown into a lake.

Upon hearing this, the concubines subconsciously exchanged glances.

His eyes instantly filled with vigilance, calculation, and a more blatant sense of competition.

Yes, there are only a limited number of concubines, but there is only one emperor!

Whoever gets pregnant first will climb to a higher position and receive better treatment.

When one person receives more favor, others naturally receive less.

The facade of harmony that had been maintained was shattered by Jiang Nan's casual remark.

Jiang Nan took in the changes in everyone's expressions and was very satisfied.

That's more like it!

This harem needs some competition, some sparks, some lively rivalry to keep things interesting!

If everyone is lifeless and harmonious, what's the point of her being the empress?

Wouldn't that just turn us into a bunch of wooden figures being managed as decorations?

"Alright, that's enough for today. Everyone, you may leave."

Jiang Nan waved his hand with satisfaction.

"Your Majesty, I take my leave."

The concubines, each with their own thoughts, bowed and withdrew.

Everyone is on edge, either thinking about how to win favor and maintain it, or how to guard against others.

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Inside the east wing of Yonghe Palace, the lights were dim and the atmosphere was somewhat somber.

Concubine Qi Jia sat on the kang by the window, gazing at the deepening twilight outside.

His brows were slightly furrowed, and he looked preoccupied.

Yunxiu, the personal maid, tiptoed in, placed the food box on the table, and quietly reported.

"Master, dinner has been brought back. Would you like to have some first? Your health is important."

Qi Jia waved her hand, somewhat absentmindedly.

"Let's just leave it there for now, I don't have much of an appetite."

Seeing this, Yunxiu's face showed worry, and she cautiously asked.

"Your Majesty, you've been looking downcast ever since you returned from your meditation session at Kunning Palace... But... but what did Her Majesty the Empress say today that embarrassed you?"

Upon hearing this, Qi Jia laughed self-deprecatingly and shook her head.

"I am just an insignificant concubine, without favor or children. The Empress has sharp eyes and she probably hasn't even given me a second glance, so how could she possibly make things difficult for me?"

She sighed, her voice filled with worry.

“I’m worried about the future. Sister Ma Jia is pregnant and on the verge of becoming a concubine. The Emperor might just make a grand announcement about the six palaces at any time… But what about me? The Emperor only visits Yonghe Palace a few times a year. How easy is it for me to conceive a royal heir? I thought that Yonghe Palace was in a remote location, with little competition, so I could have some peace and quiet and build up my seniority. But I never expected… that another woman from the Uya clan would be brought in!”

When she mentioned Uya, her tone couldn't help but carry a hint of resentment and anxiety.

"Today in the palace, Her Majesty the Empress seemed to treat her differently, praising her frankness in public. This is clearly an intention to elevate her! She lives in our Yonghe Palace. If she gains power in the future, where will Qi Jia have a place to stand? I'm afraid the Emperor will forget her completely, and her future will be hopeless."

Yunxiu found her master's words reasonable and was also anxious for her master, so she hurriedly asked.

"Then... Master, do you have any plans? We really can't just sit here and wait to die."

Qi Jia's eyes flashed, revealing a ruthless determination.

"Plans? Of course I have them. I've been preoccupied since I came back, thinking about how to get out of this mess. Although I'm just a helpless concubine, but..."

She lowered her voice.

"Today I was in a daze, but something the Empress said really woke me up."

"What did Her Majesty say?"

Yunxiu asked curiously.

"Her Majesty said that as long as we don't cross her bottom line, she won't care if one or two of us concubines in the harem secretly kill each other, and she might even turn a blind eye!"

Qi Jia's voice carried a hint of unusual excitement.

"Your Majesty...she's happy to watch the show!"

Yunxiu was startled and turned pale.

"My lord! Do you mean... to deal with Consort Wuya...?"

She made a throat-slitting gesture, not daring to say anything more.

Qi Jia silently acquiesced, then her eyes flashed with a sharp light.

"The struggles in the harem are always a matter of life and death. Once we make a move, we must be ruthless!"

She paused, a calculating sneer curling at the corner of her lips.

"Although Her Majesty the Empress outwardly appears to be indifferent, if things really get out of control, she might very well use the pretext of a thorough investigation to give us a warning. Open confrontation is absolutely out of the question; we have to resort to underhanded tactics! More importantly, before we take action, we need to find a backer, a sharp enough weapon to shield us from the storm!"

Yunxiu was somewhat bewildered.

"A powerful backer? My lord, we have no connections in the palace. Who can we turn to for support?"

Qi Jia stood up, walked to the window, her gaze seemingly piercing through the night, looking towards the direction of Chengqian Palace, her tone resolute.

"Far away, yet right before our eyes. Isn't that Princess Tongjia in Chengqian Palace a ready-made backer?"

"You mean Princess Tongjia?"

"But... Her Majesty the Empress clearly treated her... Moreover, Lady Uya came from her palace, and she hates Lady Uya to the bone. If we align ourselves with her, wouldn't that be openly making ourselves enemies of Lady Uya? What if Her Majesty the Empress finds out..."

Qi Jia interrupted her and analyzed the situation.

"You only know one side of the story. It's precisely because Her Majesty the Empress dislikes the Tongjia clan, and the Tongjia clan hates the Wuya clan, that we should align ourselves with them now, as it's like sending charcoal in snowy weather! The Tongjia clan has suffered a great loss in front of the Empress and has lost face. They are most isolated and helpless and need support the most. If I go to express my loyalty now, she will truly remember my kindness!"

The more she spoke, the clearer her thoughts became, as if she were seeing a glimmer of light in the darkness.

"As for Her Majesty the Empress... she just wants a good show! Her elevation of the Uya clan and suppression of the Tongjia clan today may not be because she genuinely likes the Uya clan. She's just looking for some fun and giving the Tongjia clan a warning. As long as we don't go too far and don't directly challenge the Empress's authority, Her Majesty might... be happy to see it happen?"

Suddenly, the image of the Empress Dowager enjoying the spectacle when she was unconscious flashed through her mind.

Her words were full of instigation, every sentence was meant to fan the flames, and she clearly hoped that these concubines would fight each other to the death.

Yunxiu listened to her master's analysis and found it quite reasonable, but she still hesitated.

"But Master, this is ultimately a bit risky..."

"adventure?"

Qi Jia turned around, her eyes gleaming with a gambler's light.

“In this deep palace, if I don’t take risks, I can only grow old and die in obscurity like this. I, Qi Jia, am not willing to accept this! Tong Jia is the emperor’s cousin and comes from a prominent family. If she is willing to say a few good words for me in front of the emperor, perhaps I can get a concubine position.”

"Think about it again. The Emperor just happened to arrange for Lady Wuya to be in our Yonghe Palace. This is clearly a ladder that God has arranged for me. Since we're going to deal with her anyway, why don't I curry favor with Princess Tongjia, take the initiative to show my loyalty, and promise to help her deal with Lady Wuya? I can both take advantage of her power and do her a huge favor. It's a sure-fire way to make money. Only a fool wouldn't do it!"

She made up her mind and gave instructions to Yunxiu.

"Alright, no need to hesitate. We'll skip dinner. Go and prepare a decent gift right away. It doesn't have to be expensive, but it should show your sincerity. We'll go to Chengqian Palace to pay our respects now!"

Seeing that her master had made up her mind, Yunxiu stopped trying to persuade her and quickly agreed.

"Yes, Master! This servant will go and prepare right away. Going at this time will show that you truly care about Princess Tongjia."

Qi Jia straightened her clothes, a smug smile appearing on her face.

"That's right. Providing help in times of need makes the fire burn warmer and leaves a deeper impression. Go and prepare!"

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Qi Jia: Prepare hot flatbread and send it to Chengqian Palace.