"I wonder if the Empress Dowager is in the palace?"
At the entrance of Cining Palace, Tong Jia Rongyue calmly inquired about the whereabouts of Empress Xiaozhuang from Su Mala Gu.
Su Mala Gu didn't know the purpose of Tong Jia Rongyue's visit, but considering the recent situation in the harem, she could roughly guess what it was.
To tell the truth, Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang was worshipping Buddha in the small Buddhist hall when Su Mala Gu bowed and led Tong Jia Rongyue into the main hall.
She ordered a palace servant to serve tea, and Su Mala Gu smiled and told Tong Jia Rongyue to wait a moment.
"I have nothing to do here, so please go ahead and attend to your business, Granny."
As an old servant of the Empress Dowager, and in someone else's home, Tong Jia Rongyue dared not put on airs in front of Su Mala Gu.
The two exchanged a few amicable words, and then Sumalagu turned and left the main hall.
Thump thump thump—thump thump—
Pushing open the door to the small Buddhist shrine, Su Ma La Gu walked slowly to the Empress Dowager. "Your Majesty, the Imperial Concubine has arrived."
The Empress Dowager was chanting sutras while her eyes were closed, holding a string of prayer beads in her hands. "Oh, did you mention the purpose of your visit?"
Sumalagu shook her head, "She only said that she hadn't been here for a long time and wanted to pay her respects."
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager chuckled softly, "Greetings?"
The Tong family probably hates me to death, so why have they only come to pay their respects?
When Kangxi's birth mother passed away, Lady Tong suspected that she was dissatisfied and secretly took action. Even now that Kangxi has been in power for several years, Lady Tong still harbors hatred towards her lineage.
The Empress Dowager expressed her understanding of this idea, after all, it was her own daughter who was missing, and a daughter who had already become the Empress Dowager.
However, despite her understanding, the Empress Dowager still felt somewhat annoyed with Lady Tong.
After Tong Jia Rongyue entered the palace, the two of them are now in a state of non-interference in each other's lives in the harem. The Empress Dowager does not believe at all that Tong Jia Rongyue came to pay her respects today.
Sumalagu didn't quite believe it either, but seeing that her mistress said so, she simply told her what was happening in the harem.
Logically speaking, the Empress Dowager should have known about it, and even had a pretty good grasp of the situation at the Qianqing Palace.
However, since they haven't crossed the Empress Dowager's bottom line yet, she hasn't taken any action.
"So, the Imperial Concubine came here to deal with matters concerning the Qing Palace."
The Empress Dowager turned around and glanced lightly across the entire room.
Su Ma La Gu bowed slightly and held the Empress Dowager's arm. "That's how it should be. Apart from occasionally summoning Consort Jing of Qixiang Palace twice, the Emperor doesn't go anywhere else."
The Imperial Concubine's relationship with the Emperor had already deteriorated after giving birth to Prince Yinyu.
Now that the Emperor has pulled this stunt, it's understandable that the Imperial Concubine was frightened.
When do people think of filing a complaint? It's when their own interests are threatened.
Tong Jia Rongyue originally had no connection with the beauty hidden in the Qianqing Palace, but unfortunately the emperor abandoned her for the sake of the beauty.
Su Mala Gu felt that Tong Jia Rongyue was still too impatient. Even if she came to Cining Palace to talk things out with her master now, what benefits would she gain? There were too many people around the emperor waiting to inform on him and send someone to sabotage him.
Slightly shaking her head, Su Mala Gu said nothing, waiting for the Empress Dowager to express her opinion.
The Empress Dowager did not keep Sumalagu waiting for long. She only stood in the room for a while before stepping out of the room.
"Go see the Imperial Concubine. If she really wants my help, it's not impossible."
Having an excuse to confront Kangxi is a good thing for her. As for how much Tong Jia Rongyue will be affected later, that's none of her business.
Sumalagu helped the Empress Dowager into the main hall, and Xiaozhuang also saw Tongjia Rongyue sitting on a round stool.
"Your Majesty, I have come to pay my respects."
"Please sit down."
The Empress Dowager was helped to sit on the couch by Su Mala Gu, with Tong Jia Rong Yue, who was slightly reserved, beside her.
"I heard from Su Ma that you came here specifically to see me. How thoughtful of you."
"It's all what I should do," Tong Jia Rongyue said with a shy smile.
"Where is there any distinction between what is right and wrong? The fact that he can think of his old woman like me at a time like this shows his filial piety."
With a wave of her hand, the Empress Dowager spoke eloquently, not only putting Tong Jia Rongyue on a pedestal but also making it difficult for her to speak.
With a slightly stiff expression, Tong Jiarongyue chatted with the Empress Dowager about everyday matters, and in the end, she still brought up the matter of how few of the Emperor's concubines entered the harem.
However, Tong Jia Rongyue was smarter. She didn't say that the Emperor didn't come because someone was hiding in the Qianqing Palace. She only said that she was worried about the Emperor's health. "The affairs of the court are busy, and I, a mere woman, cannot help. I want to show my concern but I am afraid of overstepping my bounds. Therefore, I have come to the Cining Palace to ask the Empress Dowager for help. Your Majesty is the ruler of the country. You should balance work and rest and take care of your health."
Empress Dowager: ...
The Empress Dowager looked speechlessly at Tong Jia Rongyue, who had a concerned expression on her face, not knowing what to say.
However, saying this is only slightly better than directly accusing the Qing court of having women hidden in the palace.
"I understand the Imperial Concubine's concerns."
The Empress Dowager moved the Buddhist prayer beads in her hands, and with Su Ma La Gu's help, she stood up. "I will speak when the Emperor arrives."
Upon hearing this, Tong Jia Rongyue's expression brightened with joy, but then she hesitated, twisting the handkerchief she was holding into a pretzel. "Am I being too talkative?"
"As a concubine, your primary duty should be to care for the emperor's health. Noble Consort, you have done well."
"With your words, I am at ease."
"..."
"Have you sent them away?"
As she fiddled with the Buddhist prayer beads in her hand, the Empress Dowager saw Sumalagu return and asked her a question.
Sumalagu nodded, "Even when she left, she didn't forget to emphasize the matter of the Qing Palace." It's hard to say whether to say she's stupid and unaware of her own stupidity or too smart and appearing foolish.
"It is evident that the Qianqing Palace had too much influence on her, so they disregarded the dignity of concubines and insisted on suppressing her."
The Empress Dowager thought of Shumulu, who was from the time when the late Emperor was alive.
However, Shumulu was not clever, and at that time her relationship with the late emperor and his son was not good, so they could only compromise and let Shumulu become a favored concubine who could not bear children.
"What exactly is going on at the Qianqing Palace?"
Looking up, the Empress Dowager's expression was calm, completely unlike the excitement she had shown back then.
After pondering for a moment, Sumalagu told her master about the matter at the Qianqing Palace.
"In my opinion, His Majesty is probably attracted to that person because of her beauty."
However, that man isn't very clever, and he's surrounded by palace maids who have been summoned to his bedchamber; it might be difficult for him to leave the Qianqing Palace.
“If she can’t get out, then we’ll help her get out,” the Empress Dowager declared decisively. “The Emperor is different from the late Emperor; he hates things that are out of his control.”
Juechan is of lowly status, and her current favor is solely due to her outstanding beauty. However, if she goes against the Emperor's wishes, even the most beautiful face will bring her no benefit.
Therefore, solving the problem with Juechan is simple: just get her pregnant.
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