At this time of year, the pond water has just been changed, and there are few aquatic plants on it, only a crystal-clear river surface.
Xiu Ning held Chun Yu's hand, with Xuan Cao and Xuan Ting by her side. All three of them kept their eyes fixed on Xiu Ning, afraid that something might suddenly run out and threaten their master.
Just then, another noise came from the pavilion. Xiu Ning looked up and saw that Consort Shu had arrived.
There was only one reason everyone came: the Empress Dowager had invited them to admire the flowers, but the flowers and the organizers were a little slow to arrive.
Cining Palace Main Hall
The Empress Dowager stood by the window, with Su Ma La Gu beside her, her head slightly bowed.
"The Empress and the others have all gone to the Imperial Garden?"
The Empress Dowager's voice remained calm as always, no different from usual.
"My lord, everyone has arrived, including the two Mongol concubines."
After replying, Su Ma La Gu's eyes flickered. "Isn't it a bit unsafe to have such a large entourage?" Putting so many concubines, including pregnant women, in the same place at once could easily cause public opinion in the court if things get out of control. And the court is not exactly stable anymore.
"If we don't lure these people out, where in the harem will there be a truly safe place?"
Since the beginning of the year, incidents have frequently occurred in the harem, and people have been arrested one after another, but they are only small fry. The real big fish are still hiding in the shadows and have not yet shown themselves.
The Empress Dowager rubbed the Buddhist prayer beads in her hand. Did she not know that relying on the Empress and others to fish was a very dangerous thing? But there was no other way. The court needed excitement, and the harem needed a purge. This was the final solution she and Kangxi came up with.
"Have those around them protect the Empress and the others as much as possible. For the sake of the greater good, some sacrifices are necessary."
Her gaze suddenly sharpened, and the Empress Dowager turned and walked towards the inner room. "Help me change my clothes. It's time to go."
If she, the main character, doesn't appear in the Imperial Garden, how can the other characters continue their story?
Today's flower viewing party, it wouldn't be wrong to say that it was her arrangement, since it was a plan that went with the flow, but the plan itself was dangerous.
At the same time, Emperor Kangxi in the Qianqing Palace was also feeling somewhat uneasy.
The matter concerning the Imperial Garden was decided upon by the Empress Dowager and him together.
Everything is ready now, and we're just waiting for those people to make their move so that they can be wiped out in one fell swoop.
"Have all the personnel been arranged? Be sure to remind them to prioritize the safety of the Empress Dowager and the Empress, and as for the traitors, try to leave them alive."
Standing behind his desk with his hands behind his back, Kangxi looked at Liang Jiugong beside him and patiently explained and emphasized again.
Liang Jiugong bowed, "This servant obeys the decree."
...
Imperial Garden
Xiuning straightened up and breathed in the air that was wafting around her.
"Let's go back, someone's coming."
As she spoke, Xiuning looked into the distance and saw figures appearing in the previously empty passageway.
The concubines in the pavilion rose one after another, especially the Empress in the center, who led the way out of the pavilion, saying, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to the Empress Dowager."
The Empress Dowager waved her hand, "Get up, all of you."
"yes"
After bypassing the crowd, the Empress Dowager entered the pavilion and then gestured to the palace servants behind her to put down the several pots of peonies they had brought.
"I didn't originally intend to call you out, but I thought the weather was nice today, and the Empress and Consort Nara will be giving birth in two months," the Empress Dowager said, her gaze softening as she looked at their pregnant bellies. "Moving around more will be good for your delivery."
The Empress and Consort Ma both agreed.
"Alright, you pregnant women shouldn't stand, please sit down."
The Empress Dowager chuckled and mentioned it, then called over Consort Shu and Consort Tong, saying, "I don't know much about these flowers and plants. You two take a look and see what kind of variety this is. The people in the flower shop said that the petals are very brightly colored and quite beautiful."
"Your Majesty, this flower is Wei Zi, a type of peony. It is said to be very precious, not only because it is extremely beautiful when it blooms, but also because it is very rare..." Consort Tong began, speaking softly to the Empress Dowager.
Consort Shu stood aside, forcing a smile, but upon closer inspection, one could see the stiffness at the corners of her mouth.
After Consort Tong showed off her talents, the other concubines, who had a keen eye, quietly explained the properties of the flowers in the pots behind her.
The Empress Dowager welcomed everyone; she would respond cheerfully to anyone who spoke.
Seeing this, the scheming concubines were naturally more willing to curry favor, and the two sides went back and forth, gradually making the atmosphere more heated.
Just as the Empress Dowager and her concubines were chatting happily, a sharp sound suddenly came from not far away, followed by someone shouting "You dog!"
The once harmonious scene instantly descended into chaos.
A noisy crowd, chaotic footsteps, a pregnant woman clutching her stomach and wailing, a servant lying on the ground in agony...
Xiuning immediately pulled Chunyu down to squat down, and at the same time asked the system to help her with the pregnancy.
Special times call for special measures. Right now, Xiu Ning doesn't care how many points she'll lose; she has to protect the baby in her belly.
"Master, let me help you." Before Chunyu could finish speaking, her body was pinned down by the servant who had fallen down.
"Quiet! Don't make a sound!"
Xiuning gripped Chunyu's arm tightly, clenching her teeth while staring intently at everything around her.
However, in just a short period of time, both sides had already become bloodthirsty.
Everywhere you looked, there were people dressed as guards fighting each other with people dressed as eunuchs and palace maids. The concubines huddled in the pavilions, trembling with fear. There were bloodstains on the ground and all you could hear were low moans.
...
"My lady, my lady, everything is alright now." Chunyu helped Xiuning up and hurried back.
Only Xuan Cao remained by their side; Xuan Ting, who had been seriously injured in the fight, had been taken away for treatment.
"Xuancao, Chunyu, you two go down and rest first."
There are still some calming medicines prescribed by the imperial physicians left in the palace. You were quite disturbed in the Imperial Garden today, so drink a bowl before going to bed to prevent waking up in the night.
Upon entering the Qixiang Palace grounds, Xiuning dismissed Xuancao and Chunyu, and refused the request to fetch the imperial physician, using the excuse of feeling unwell to return to her inner chamber.
'System, is today's calamity related to the rebellion of the vassal kings on the frontier?'
Xiuning slipped on her shoes and got into bed, while simultaneously lowering the curtains that were hanging beside the bed.
'There is a connection, but it also includes those who were originally anti-Qing and pro-Ming forces, as well as those who took advantage of the situation.'
Furthermore, both the Emperor and the Empress Dowager were aware of this matter; everything was within their expectations.
The system silently deducted points and, incidentally, informed Xiuning of the information it had discovered.
Xiu Ning leaned back on the soft pillows, her expression no longer as blank as before. 'How are the other pregnant concubines doing? Things are happening too fast,' she thought, finding it hard to pay attention even if she wanted to.
The system told the truth: 'The situation is not good. Consort Ma Jia has been stabbed in the waist, the Empress has fallen, and Consorts Dong and Zhao Jia have both suffered minor injuries. It depends on the abilities of the imperial physicians.'
Xiuning: ...
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