To be honest, the Empress Dowager was a rather capricious and contradictory person.
Perhaps because she grew up in Mongolia, the Empress Dowager had a cheerful and unrestrained personality in her youth, like a wild horse running freely across the grasslands.
Until bad news came from the palace: her aunt, who had been in the palace for several years, was deposed by the emperor and demoted to Consort Jing. In order to stabilize the Mongol tribes, and to preserve the wealth and glory of Mongolia, the Empress Dowager herself was forced to be sent to the Forbidden City by her father as a sacrifice for the marriage alliance. It was because of this that the Empress Dowager's personality gradually became more composed.
Life in the palace was very difficult. The Empress Dowager was not favored by the Emperor, and her great-aunt preferred her aunt, who was Consort Jing, to herself. The Empress Dowager lived alone in this huge palace, lonely and helpless, and endured several painful years before the Emperor died and the new Emperor ascended the throne.
It could be said that the Empress Dowager never tasted happiness in the palace. Apart from her girlhood, which was gradually fading from her memory, there was nothing else worth reminiscing about.
The Empress Dowager was a contradiction, but her experiences made it possible for people to accept her changes.
Xiuning had spent several years with the Empress Dowager. While she wouldn't say she understood the Empress Dowager completely, she could still get a pretty good grasp of her.
Xiu Ning patted Ning Chuge on the shoulder and told her daughter to relax.
"Don't worry too much. The current changes are exactly what they expected."
Ning Chuge, things are constantly changing. If you feel confused at times, try putting it aside for a while and looking ahead.
In the original timeline, the Empress Dowager personally raised Consort Yi's fifth son, Yinqi, and Consort De's ninth daughter, Wenxian. However, Yinqi eventually married a woman from the fallen Tatara clan, making him feel inferior among his brothers. Wenxian eventually married Tong Guowei's grandson, Shun'an Yan, which led to her untimely death.
It's fair to say that neither of them fared well. Could it be that this was entirely their own fault, and had nothing to do with the Empress Dowager? Not necessarily.
Xiu Ning stood up and looked around the room. Although she had helped decorate when Ning Chuge moved in, several months had passed and some of the decorations had changed.
“Mother, I only want to do my best. Over the years, although my grandmother has had her own selfish motives, she has never harmed me in the slightest. It’s just that now that there is a fifth brother, I am a bit petty.”
Just like how I had a good relationship with her on a normal day, I later discovered that I could also be good with other people.
Ning Chuge's words sounded somewhat disheartening, after all, since her birth, both Emperor Kangxi and others had treated her extremely well.
Who knew that the Empress Dowager would change her attitude after raising Yinzhen? She was initially persuaded to stay, but she was allowed to move into the princess's residence. This made Ning Chuge reflect on her gender for the first time. No matter how well she performed or how well she pleased the Empress Dowager, she was still no match for Yinzhen, who was a prince.
"You should accept the facts, calm down, and then adjust your mindset."
Logically speaking, Ning Chuge should have been able to understand this feeling long ago.
However, Xiu Ning did well in this regard. Even after giving birth to Yin Yi and Yin Lu, she did not neglect Ning Chu Ge, which caused the exceptionally proud Ning Chu Ge to eventually stumble in front of the Empress Dowager.
"They say that a great man doesn't concern himself with trifles. You may be a woman, but you are no less than a man. Your mother believes in you."
Things will get better and better. So what if the Empress Dowager doesn't value her anymore? Xiu Ning believes that with Ning Chuge's personality, she is destined not to be limited by such petty love affairs. She will be the most courageous eagle, showing her most successful self on the vast grassland.
...
It was already getting dark when I left the princess's place.
It's still early spring, and even though Xiuning is wearing a thick cloak, she still feels a bit chilly.
Left with no other choice, Xiu Ning was carried back to Qixiang Palace in a sedan chair by palace servants.
As the sedan chair came to a stop, Xiuning saw Liang Jiugong with a fawning smile on his face.
Xiuning: ...
"This servant greets Consort Jing. His Majesty has sent me to invite Your Highness to the Qianqing Palace. I wonder if Your Highness is able to accompany me there at this time?"
After hearing Liang Jiugong's purpose for appearing at the palace gate, Xiuning smiled brightly, "Please go first, Eunuch."
Without even entering her home, Xiuning boarded the sedan chair again and headed towards the Qianqing Palace.
On the way, Liang Jiugong and Xiuning briefly discussed what Kangxi was currently doing.
"I hope Your Highness will wait in the side hall. I have already instructed the palace servants to prepare food and pastries. Please do not take offense."
"How could that be? Your Excellency is working hard. His Majesty is busy with many affairs of state. It is thanks to Your Excellency's help in handling these daily chores that I am able to stay in the side hall. Please tell His Majesty that I am fine."
Since there's a whole night to waste anyway, Xiuning is exceptionally considerate and understanding in this regard.
The sedan chair stopped at the entrance of Qianqing Palace. Xiu Ning got out of the sedan chair and followed Chun Yu to the side hall to wait, while Liang Jiugong, who had brought Xiu Ning there, turned around and went into the main hall to report to Kangxi.
Emperor Kangxi was in a bad mood all day. He sat in his chair, rubbing his temples as he flipped through the memorials presented to him.
"Your Majesty, Consort Jing has arrived and is now resting in the side hall."
Liang Jiugong bowed slightly, speaking in a perfectly measured tone.
Kangxi raised his head and gently pinched his neck with both hands.
"Consort Jing has arrived. I still have official business to attend to. Let her have her meal first."
Kangxi also had some feelings for Xiuning, so he didn't make Xiuning wait for him.
Upon hearing this, Liang Jiugong quickly responded with a "yes," and at the same time, he brought a cup of hot tea to Kangxi's side.
"Go to Jingren Palace and tell the Consort that the baby's third-day celebration at Yonghe Palace is temporarily canceled. As for the full moon banquet, let's see how things go."
The newborn son of Wuya Chenglin was in poor condition, and Kangxi was worried that if the child were to be brought out again in such weather, it would only make things worse.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I understand."
Liang Jiugong left, carrying the teacup that Kangxi had finished drinking from.
Upon leaving, Liang Jiugong called over the young eunuch who was waiting nearby, whispered a few words to him, and then waved his hand.
Soon, palace servants brought the prepared dinner from the imperial kitchen into the side hall.
"master"
Seeing this, Chunyu turned her head and softly called out to Xiuning, who was sitting on the tatami mat.
Xiuning got up and went to the octagonal table. She looked down at the dishes on the table and smiled. "Since they've been delivered, let's set out and eat."
Without any pretense with Kangxi, Xiuning picked up her bowl and chopsticks and started using them immediately.
Xiu Ning chewed the steaming food, the delicious flavors of the dishes combined with the fragrance of the rice instantly filling her mouth.
Hmm, after a busy day, Xiuning hasn't had a proper chance to sit down, rest, or have a meal.
It must be mentioned that Kangxi was perceptive in this regard; she hadn't wasted all those years of pandering to him.
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