"In this sweltering heat, you still have to make the trip. I don't know if you genuinely feel sorry for the young prince who just returned to the palace, or if you just want to show off your pride to yourself."
Before Xiuning even entered the room, she heard Consort Shu making sarcastic remarks again.
Indeed, I don't know when it started, but Consort Shu adopted a sharp and mean persona. Whenever she went out, she would never hold back her words.
To be honest, it's okay to hear it occasionally, but saying it every day eventually becomes unbearable.
Xiuning couldn't help but roll her eyes, and at the same time signaled Chunyu to help her quickly take a detour.
It wasn't that she disrespected Consort Shu or didn't want to talk to her much; it was just that Consort Shu was a chatterbox and too prone to offending people. Xiu Ning didn't consider herself a particularly likable person, but she wasn't exactly universally disliked either. Therefore, she had to stay away from Consort Shu. If she couldn't afford to offend her, she could at least avoid her. She should run away if she could.
"Hitara, why have you left?"
Unable to dodge successfully, Xiu Ning smiled, turned around and curtsied to Consort Shu, "Greetings, Consort Shu. There were many people on the road and I didn't notice you. Please forgive me."
Consort Shu: ...
Consort Shu glanced around and saw that it was indeed very chaotic, with palace servants moving about busily everywhere.
She stood in the middle of the road, holding Caiyue's hand, but still couldn't stand out because there were so many people coming and going. They would block her view or obscure her, and she was basically the kind of person who would be ignored if you weren't paying attention.
“It’s not a matter of forgiveness,” Consort Shu walked up to Xiu Ning, her eyes unfriendly. “Consort Xitala looks quite well; it’s truly enviable.”
Upon hearing this, Xiu Ning offered a perfunctory compliment, saying, "Empress Shu is no exception; I am not even half as good as Your Highness."
Consort Shu feigned innocence, saying, "The little mouth of Xitala Changzai is indeed very talkative."
Xiu Ning lowered her head, "What I have said is the truth, and I dare not deceive Your Majesty."
Consort Shu merely raised an eyebrow at this, saying, "I hope that what Xitala Chang thinks in his heart and what he says in his mouth are exactly the same."
"Caiyue, it's time! We can't be late for such a joyous occasion. Let's go now."
She whispered a reply, "Yes," and then helped Consort Shu leave.
Xiu Ning watched Consort Shu's retreating figure, then turned to ask Chun Yu, the maid beside Consort Shu, "Is it the newly replaced one? She's quite loyal." Otherwise, given Consort Shu's temperament, this person would probably have already been sent away from Yongshou Palace.
Chunyu added in a low voice, "I heard that this person is highly valued by Consort Shu, and she is the one who handles matters in Yongshou Palace on a daily basis."
Xiuning looked down on Consort Shu's attention. Consort Shu seemed to be mentally unstable right now, showing concern today and losing it tomorrow, completely unreasonable.
"It might be the connections of the Niohuru clan," but Consort Shu was surrounded by people from the Niohuru clan, so from another perspective, Consort Shu was also bound by her family.
“No, she’s from the Wanliuha clan,” Chunyu said, unable to help but purse her lips. “This person wasn’t originally named Caiyue; it was Consort Shu who changed her name.”
Her original name was Wan Ning, which sounded poetic and gentle. But it was changed to Cai Yue, which immediately lowered the quality by more than one level.
Taking the opportunity, Chunyu simply told Xiuning the story.
Xiu Ning wasn't too shocked, because she was completely captivated by Wan Liuha's surname.
Who could have imagined that, after Yongzheng's own mother, Uya Chenglin, was transferred to Kunning Palace and then used tricks to be transferred back to Qianqing Palace, and later, Yin Tao's birth mother, Wanliuha Wanning, changed her name to become Consort Shu's personal maid, would Yin Si's birth mother, Juechan (Wei Shi), who was originally assigned to Xin Zhe Ku, also change her life trajectory?
Xiuning asked some more questions about Caiyue, and then confirmed that she was Yintao's birth mother, and like Wuya Chenglin, she came from the bondservant banner.
How did she get involved with Consort Shu? Does Consort Shu know about Caiyue's future trajectory?
"Have people keep an eye on Yongshou Palace as much as possible, especially on the people and things around Consort Shu," Xiuning thought she had to keep an eye on Consort Shu before she officially left the palace. Otherwise, if Consort Shu were to launch a counterattack before her death and hurt her even a little bit, she would suffer a great loss.
In Xiu Ning's eyes, those whose fates were already sealed were destined to be eliminated; this included Consort Shu and the Empress.
Chunyu nodded in agreement, then helped Xiuning to the main hall of Chuxiu Palace.
Originally, as a concubine, Nara was not allowed to hold a welcoming banquet in the main hall. However, this time the situation was special. The emperor allowed it, and the empress's objection was ineffective. The main hall, which had never been inhabited, was temporarily requisitioned.
...
At the banquet, the Emperor was absent due to other matters. Although the Empress attended, she made it clear that the main characters of the day were Consort Nara and her son Baoqing, and that she would abdicate in favor of a more virtuous woman.
Consort Nara smiled and said, "Your Majesty the Empress is too kind to this humble concubine."
The Empress chimed in, saying something very reasonable: "Consort Nara, you are Baoqing's birth mother, and this welcoming banquet was specifically held for Baoqing. It is only right and proper that you should be the one to host it."
Consort Nara waved her hands repeatedly, saying, "This concubine is truly unworthy of such praise."
The Empress extended an invitation, saying, "Consort Nara, please do not refuse again."
"..."
The two of them chatted back and forth, exchanging pleasantries that everyone found unbearable. Finally, when everyone couldn't take it anymore, Consort Nara reluctantly stepped forward, offering a few auspicious words to start the conversation, followed by the serving of fruit wine and dishes.
Xiu Ning's main strategy was to remain uninvolved, eating her food with her head down while occasionally glancing at Consort Nara, who stood gracefully in the center of the hall.
Bao Qing was also present.
Perhaps because she had just returned and was rather reserved, she didn't speak much during the banquet. After about fifteen minutes, Consort Nara sent her back on the grounds of her health.
Of course, Consort Shu inevitably launched into a barrage of sarcastic remarks, but everyone tacitly ignored each other, thus quickly moving on to the next topic.
A banquet takes a lot of time.
Xiu Ning rubbed her shoulders and kneaded her wrists. The aftereffects of sitting in the chair left her feeling sore and stiff all over, making her uncomfortable.
"My lady, please be careful."
Chunyu bowed as she helped Xiuning into the sedan chair, supporting Xiuning's arm and waving to the eunuchs to hurry up and get going.
The sedan chair slowly returned to Qixiang Palace. Xiuning didn't even eat; she immediately had Chunyu give her a massage to relax.
After massaging for about fifteen minutes, Xiuning waved her hand, finally feeling some sensation return to her body.
Chunyu felt sorry for her. At today's welcome-home banquet, her master had been nothing more than a background figure, supporting Consort Nara the entire time.
But that makes sense; it's only natural for Consort Nara to be pleased that her own son has returned.
"Prepare hot water, I'll take a bath before bed tonight," Xiu Ning said, getting up and sitting down at the octagonal table. She picked up the teapot and poured herself a cup of tea. "Go ask the palace servants who are watching over us if the Emperor has made any moves to Chuxiu Palace."
Chunyu responded with a "yes," turned and went out, but returned in a hurry a short while later. "No, the Emperor is still attending to state affairs. It was the Empress who led people to the Qianqing Palace."
"The Empress?" Xiuning turned to look at Chunyu. "What is she doing? Is she going to report on today's welcoming banquet?"
Xiu Ning shook her head. That really is just someone with nothing better to do than make trouble for themselves.
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