The Imperial Garden is very large, with many pavilions and corridors. If you get tired while walking around, it is very easy to find a place to rest.
Xiu Ning has been in the palace for many years and has visited the Imperial Garden quite often. After all, the harem is only so big, and apart from the concubines' own residences, there are not many places where they can move around freely. The Imperial Garden is one of the most popular places in the harem.
Xiuning sat down in a pavilion and wiped her fingers with a handkerchief.
She came out today with the intention of visiting Ning Chuge and Yin Yi at the Princess's and Prince's residences, but due to a momentary lapse of judgment, she ended up resting alone in the Imperial Garden.
Xiu Ning herself was fine, but Chun Yu, who was by her side, was puzzled.
Chunyu couldn't understand her master's code of conduct. He would go to see the young master but wouldn't leave, and he wouldn't stroll around the Imperial Garden. What was he after?
Before Chunyu could figure it out, Xiuning said, "I'm fine here, you can go and have a look around."
Hmm? Let her go shopping by herself, leaving her master alone?
"Master, this isn't good," Chunyu stammered, not expecting it to turn out this way.
"It's alright, I'll rest here for a bit," Xiuning waved her hand and dismissed Chunyu with a few words.
Although Chunyu inwardly refused, what could she do when her master appeared so resolute? So she obediently nodded and turned to leave.
rustling—rustling—rustling
A gentle breeze rustled the leaves as Xiuning sat on a round stool, her temples fluttering in the wind before slowly falling back down.
Xiu Ning reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her face calm, until a figure in a qipao appeared before her.
"Consort Jing, isn't it a bit too boring to hide here all by yourself?"
"How could that be? Your Majesty is already here. Your Majesty, I'm not bored at all waiting for you."
Xiu Ning stood up and looked at Consort Jia, who had walked up to her. The two smiled at each other, and everything was understood without words.
Gone was the arrogance she had shown towards Wuya Chenglin; Jiafei's expression seemed much more normal now.
Walking over to Xiuning and sitting down, Jiafei's tassels swayed slightly. "I thought you would leave."
Xiu Ning smiled faintly, "How could I leave when Consort Jia herself gave me this hint?"
Finally, when she left, Consort Jia's eyes were too calm. Xiu Ning felt something was wrong from the beginning. Staying here to wait was just going with the flow. Unexpectedly, she actually waited for Consort Jia.
"Consort Jing has always been eloquent. In my opinion, no other concubine in the harem can compare to her."
After speaking, Consort Jia took out a handkerchief from her sleeve and wiped her fingers.
Seeing this, Xiuning didn't say anything.
"Why aren't you saying anything?" Consort Jia asked calmly.
"Your Majesty, I will wait for Consort Jia," she said, "but the initiative is entirely in Consort Jia's hands."
"As expected, trying to gain an advantage over Consort Jing is as difficult as climbing to heaven."
She is a clever and cunning woman; no wonder she has been favored for so many years and protected her children.
With a sigh of relief, Jiafei asked earnestly, "How about we cooperate?"
Xiuning remained calm, "On the aspects of cooperation..."
"This time, the six palaces are being granted a grand title," Consort Jia said, emphasizing each word.
Xiuning feigned ignorance, "If nothing unexpected happens, Consort Jia will surely get what she wants, so why would she need to cooperate with me?"
With Tong Jia Rongyue around, Consort Jia's rank couldn't be low, otherwise how could she compete?
“But what I want is not the position of Imperial Concubine,” Consort Jia said, fidgeting with her fingers. What she wanted, or rather what the Niohuru clan had always longed for, was a prince with Niohuru blood.
Unfortunately, the Emperor has not yet allowed Consort Jia to become pregnant.
Consort Jia had been in the palace for many years, and even though she held the rank of Consort, she could only endure and wait for an opportunity.
This grand bestowal of titles upon the six palaces gave Consort Jia hope.
If possible, Consort Jia would rather give up her title of Imperial Noble Consort than leave a son for the Niohuru clan.
At this time, Niohuru had no idea that the prince she had gone to such lengths to give birth to would ultimately become someone else's dowry, and he had very little thought of protecting himself.
"What Consort Jia wants shouldn't be told to me," Xiu Ning thought to herself. She wasn't some wish-granting deity who could grant Consort Jia's wishes.
In the original timeline, how did Consort Jia give birth to the Tenth Prince, Yin? It was through the sacrifice of Consort Jia's elder sister, Consort Shu, during her short reign as Empress.
But this place is different. Consort Shu did not become the Empress Dowager and was replaced by a time-traveling woman. In the end, she even caused trouble for a group of people before she died.
It would be good enough if the Emperor didn't take his anger out on Niohuru. To expect the Emperor to let Consort Jia get pregnant out of consideration for Consort Shu? That's just wishful thinking.
...
"Your Majesty, this servant thinks I just saw Consort Jia, you..."
As the Spring Festival Gala approached from afar, its eyes couldn't help but wander around.
Xiuning stood up, without explaining her time alone with Consort Jia, and said, "It's getting late, let's go back to the palace."
Chunyu nodded in agreement and helped Xiuning leave.
Xiuning was carried back to Qixiang Palace in a sedan chair that was waiting outside the Imperial Garden.
Throughout the journey, Chunyu seemed hesitant to speak, but she wisely refrained from asking any questions and simply followed Xiuning's instructions diligently.
Seeing this, Xiu Ning asked Chun Yu to bring Yin Lu over, and at the same time arranged for her to deliver things to Ning Chu Ge and Yin Yi.
There are some things that don't need to be told to others, even if Chunyu is extremely loyal to her.
"Does the host really want to cooperate with Consort Jia?"
The system, not wanting to be left out, popped into her mind. It was Xiu Ning's partner, and they were always automatically bound together. Naturally, the system knew everything Jia Fei said.
“The conditions offered by Consort Jia are very attractive,” Xiu Ning did not deny it, after all, making her a Noble Consort would be much more useful than the title of Consort.
"But this might not necessarily succeed."
The system believes that the most important factor in this matter is the Emperor's attitude. As for Consort Jia, she can at most play a role in pushing things forward.
How will you know if you don't try?
Xiu Ning smiled slightly; of course, she wouldn't place all her hopes on Consort Jia.
But Consort Jia is right. If she wants children, she has to sacrifice her rank, just like Tong Jia Rongyue sacrificed her rank as Imperial Noble Consort and even Empress for the sake of having children. The Emperor will not like a greedy woman.
“The harem still needs to be balanced. If the emperor wants to help the crown prince secure his position, then there needs to be someone who can constantly counter Jingren Palace.”
Ke Jingren Palace is already a Noble Consort, and the son of a Noble Consort is no less noble than the Crown Prince.
If Consort Jia voluntarily gave up her position, the Emperor would surely promote another Consort. Why wouldn't that person be her?
From some perspectives, she was more suitable than any of the other concubines in the harem.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
