On her first day back in the palace, Consort Jia was so angry that she was practically full before she could even catch her breath.
Originally, she had worked hard at the summer palace for a long time and finally gave birth to her child, which was a clear explanation to her family. She thought she could rest and take good care of her child when she returned to the palace. But she never expected to be betrayed when she came back, and it happened suddenly without any warning.
Sudden?
Consort Jia had a sudden inspiration and looked hesitantly at the palace servants around her, including Yunling, who had won her favor at the summer palace.
Yunling, who had been keeping her head down, immediately perked up when Jiafei looked at her.
"Your Majesty, this servant knows her mistake," Yunling immediately slid to her knees, kneeling decisively and cleanly. "This servant failed to have someone keep a close eye on the situation in the palace at all times, which allowed Wanliuhashi to find an opportunity and thus cause the great mistake before us."
This servant dares not beg for mercy; I humbly beg Your Majesty to punish me.
She knelt on the ground and kowtowed twice, ignoring the red swelling on her forehead and not bothering to defend herself.
This behavior caught Consort Jia off guard.
However, Consort Jia had seen her share of storms. She suspected Yun Ling, but without clear evidence, it was indeed difficult to deal with her.
Besides, Yunling was a trusted confidante whom she had carefully observed and transferred to serve by her side.
If one's trusted confidant were to betray them, the resulting problems would be minor, but the humiliation would be truly painful.
Consort Jia pondered in her heart, but her expression softened considerably. "What are you saying?"
"I don't blame you, but it's unacceptable that you, having spent so long at the summer palace, are completely unaware of everything that happens inside Yongshou Palace."
After all, it was her own dereliction of duty. Lady Wanliuha was pregnant for ten months, not ten days, and as a result, Consort Jia was kept completely in the dark and knew nothing about it.
Ha, without the help of those treacherous, colluding, and opportunistic lackeys, Consort Jia wouldn't believe it.
Yunling knew, of course, that she was to blame for Wanliuha's actions, but there was a way to be punished.
It would be best to suffer some financial loss, but it would be worse to suffer some physical injury. The worst thing would be to suffer both, and in the end, one would not be able to stay by the master's side to serve.
Yunling didn't really betray Consort Jia; she was just greedy and covetous of money, thinking she could earn as much as possible.
"This servant knows her mistake and begs Your Majesty for punishment."
Yunling lowered her head, waiting for Consort Jia to give her the final arrangements.
Consort Jia looked down at him, a dark glint in her eyes. "First, deduct three months' salary, then go down and receive ten slaps as punishment."
Also, please take good care of Wanliuha.
The fact that she could secretly give birth to the child and hand it over to the Empress Dowager to raise, while also squeezing out Yinzhen's adopted son from his lower position, forced Consort Jia to raise her regard for this person.
Since Consort De and her son at the summer palace are essentially useless, I can focus more of my attention on those around me.
...
The day after Consort Jia returned, news came from Yikun Palace that Consort Guo Luoluo had given birth.
The message arrived early in the morning, so all the concubines who could come rushed over.
Xiuning arrived at the perfect time; as soon as she entered the palace, she saw Consort Yi arranging manpower.
"Yifei"
"May Consort Jing be well."
Consort Yi smiled and curtsied, then invited Xiuning to sit down wherever she pleased.
Xiu Ning sat in the first chair on the left, opposite Tong Jia Rong Yue who had arrived earlier than her, and next to her was Consort Jia, who had just returned to the palace the night before.
Well, it's true what they say, enemies are destined to meet. Xiu Ning's relationship with these two is worse than the other. After sitting down, she immediately lost the desire to talk and could only fidget with the jade bracelet on her wrist.
The jade bracelet is made of excellent material and was a treasure bestowed upon it by Emperor Kangxi.
Whenever Xiuning goes out, she wears this precious jade bracelet on her wrist as long as her clothes match. After all, showing off is also a kind of art. Xiuning doesn't follow the high-profile ways of some people, but she also can't let others look down on her.
"Consort Jing has such refined tastes."
Beside her, Consort Jia, unable to hold back her words, spoke up, revealing a face that seemed to be smiling but not smiling.
Having not seen each other for half a year, Xiu Ning was actually somewhat unfamiliar with Consort Jia. After all, they rarely had the opportunity to meet. In the harem, there was neither the custom of paying respects to the emperor nor any social interaction; being able to meet on a daily basis was purely a matter of luck.
"Unlike Consort Jia, who just returned to the palace yesterday, why are you here so early today?"
Jiafei was furious last night, and Xiuning knew all about it. Since they lived next door to each other, she couldn't miss any commotion.
“I was worried after my sister gave birth, so I came to check on her.”
Consort Jia flicked her handkerchief and then asked Xiu Ning beside her, "Where is Consort Jing? Why is she here so early as well?" Her words were laced with ill intent.
“Alas, my thoughts are the same as Consort Jia’s,” Xiu Ning smiled brightly.
Consort Jia: ...
"I never expected that I could be so in sync with Consort Jing. It's truly beyond my expectations."
"There's no such thing as perfect understanding; it's just that we always prioritize the bigger picture, since we're all like family."
"..."
Xiuning and Consort Jia chatted back and forth, with Consort Yi occasionally adding reminders. The whole scene was both chaotic and stable, maintaining a delicate balance.
...
"Your Highness, something terrible has happened! Consort Guoluo is having a difficult labor, and both mother and child are in danger. Please, Your Highness, make a decision quickly."
The midwife's voice was like a bomb crashing down on the main hall, causing Consort Yi, who had been sitting in her chair, to jump up.
Pointing at the midwife kneeling on the ground, he trembled, "Say it again, how could this happen?"
The midwife looked up cautiously at Consort Yi, and then simply recounted the story of Consort Guo Luoluo's difficult childbirth once again.
"This is really a difficult birth," Xiu Ning, a mere spectator, blinked.
"Consort Yi, now is not the time to ask questions. You should make a quick decision: save the mother or the child."
Tong Jiarongyue took over the conversation, her tone tinged with schadenfreude.
“Yes, Consort Yi, time waits for no one. If we are too late, it will cost Consort Guoluo and her son their lives.”
Jiafei added that she and Tong Jiarongyue were mainly there to watch the drama unfold.
Consort Yi was put on the defensive by the two men's words, and even when she asked the midwife to save both mother and child, it seemed weak and powerless.
Emperor Kangxi had already entrusted Consort Yi with the entire responsibility for Consort Guoluo's childbirth, so now this decision could only be made by Consort Yi herself.
"Try to save both mother and child; if that's not possible, then save the child."
This is not a choice at all. The women in the harem are merely tools for reproduction. Abandoning the unborn prince to protect the tool would be pointless, even if Consort Guoluo survived.
As if all her strength had been drained, Consort Yi sat back down in her chair after finishing her speech.
She supported herself with one hand on the side, and the overall atmosphere around her became heavy.
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