The 26th year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign was a very important year, because in that year, the Empress Dowager Borjigit Bumbutai, who had held power for many years and served three generations of emperors, passed away at the end of the year in the Cining Palace.
The Empress Dowager was a woman with a legendary life; if her deeds were to be told, it would take three days and three nights to finish.
Before entering the palace, Xiu Ning had conducted a simple analysis of the Empress Dowager based on the timeline and concluded that she was a person who could accomplish great things.
Later, after Xiuning entered the palace and began to have daily contact with the Empress Dowager, she gradually came to understand the Empress Dowager's character and methods through everyday examples.
How should I put it? They have a knack for striking the right balance between soft and hard approaches, which is probably the result of experiencing a lot.
There were no major conflicts between the two of them. In fact, the Empress Dowager had even worked with her briefly. Of course, the final outcome of their cooperation was that both of them tacitly agreed not to mention it and simply continued to govern their own affairs.
Right now, Xiuning is standing in the courtyard of Qixiang Palace, listening to the bad news sent from Cining Palace. She can only sigh at how time flies and how things have changed.
No matter how powerful a person was in the past, they eventually have to accept getting old and accept their fate.
"My lord, I have ordered the sedan chair to be prepared. It is time for us to depart."
Chunyu walked quickly to Xiuning and lowered her voice as she spoke.
"In that case, let's hurry over there, lest we delay the Empress Dowager's care for her."
Xiuning turned around; already dressed up, she didn't need to dress up again.
Xiu Ning calmly extended her hand to Chun Yu.
Chunyu bowed slightly, carefully helping her master step over the steps in front of the palace gate.
Not far below the steps was the imperial concubine's palanquin, with many palace servants and eunuchs standing on either side. When they saw Xiuning come out, they hurriedly bowed and knelt down.
"This humble servant greets Her Highness the Noble Consort."
"No need for formalities, please rise."
These were all elderly people she had served for a long time, and Xiuning didn't have the airs to play around with them.
With a wave of her hand, Xiu Ning let Chun Yu help her into the sedan chair. She steadied herself and gestured to Chun Yu that she could lift the sedan chair.
With a shout of "Lift the sedan chair!" the sedan chair, which had been lying flat on the ground, was lifted up. Xiu Ning settled herself in, rested her arms on the armrests beside her, and gazed lightly into the distance.
To be honest, she's been going to Cining Palace to take care of the sick quite a few times lately.
Alas, having lived a life of luxury for many years, Xiu Ning is truly unaccustomed to serving others, especially an elderly person who is nearing the end of their life.
It's already September, and the palace has just finished celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Unfortunately, the festive banquet failed to preserve the lively atmosphere in the palace; instead, the atmosphere became increasingly oppressive and somber as the Empress Dowager's condition worsened.
Xiu Ning, who is not in charge of palace affairs, does not have the same deep feelings as Tong Jia Rongyue and the others. She heard that there has been a lot of chaos in the Imperial Household Department and other places recently, and even a few major incidents have occurred, which are suspected to be related to the treacherous officials and rebels hiding among the people in the south.
These messages were all sent in by the Hittara clan outside the palace.
Xiuning would occasionally use this as a topic of conversation with the system in her mind, and incidentally, she could also trick the system into revealing more truthful information.
The system had long turned a blind eye to Xiu Ning's freeloading behavior, as long as Xiu Ning was able to complete the task. After all, they were all in the same group, and the system would not harm Xiu Ning if she benefited.
The journey from Qixiang Palace to Cining Palace was not far, taking about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn before the sedan chair slowed down.
Looking up at the palace gate with the three large characters "Cining Palace" written not far away, Xiuning called out to Chunyu.
"Stop the sedan chair"
The eunuchs carrying the sedan chair stopped quickly and smoothly placed the sedan chair on their shoulders to the ground.
Xiuning slowly walked down from upstairs. "Everyone, wait here."
After giving her instructions, Xiuning, accompanied by Chunyu, turned and walked into the gate of Cining Palace.
There were palace servants guarding the entrance. When they saw that it was Xiuning who had entered, they quickly bowed and greeted her.
Xiu Ning waved her hand dismissively, "Is Aunt Su Ma here?"
"Your Majesty, Aunt Su Ma is currently serving the Empress Dowager in the main hall, and Consort Tong has not left either."
Tong Jia Rongyue was the concubine who served the sick before Xiu Ning, because she held some palace affairs and needed to come to the Empress Dowager for instructions from time to time.
Of course, whether it was a genuine request for instructions or a sham request, nobody knows.
Xiu Ning nodded and told the palace servants to quickly inform the emperor.
She came to take care of the sick; it was impossible for her not to go in.
The palace maid turned and hurried toward the main hall, while Xiu Ning followed behind, carrying Chun Yu at a leisurely pace.
After a while, Sumalagu came out of the main hall with the palace servants.
"This servant greets Her Highness Consort Jing."
"Aunt Su Ma, you're too kind."
Xiu Ning gave a curtsy. She didn't need to do this with other maids, but the person in front of her was Su Ma La Gu, a maid who had been respected by Kangxi her whole life. Even if she was a Noble Consort, she couldn't act arrogantly.
"Your Majesty has come to visit the Empress Dowager, but the Empress Dowager is currently in the palace talking with Consort Tong and is not in a position to receive guests. Please go to the side hall to rest for a while."
Instead of leading Xiuning inside, Sumalagu turned and went directly to the side hall next door.
Upon hearing this, Xiu Ning blinked, thinking to herself that she couldn't listen to what the Empress Dowager and Tong Jia Rong Yue were saying. Could it be that something had really happened in the harem?
While obediently listening to her instructions, Xiu Ning kept moving, but she still remembered to ask the system to find out the situation for her.
After all, at such a crucial moment, it was still the Empress Dowager and Tong Jia Rongyue who were involved. Tsk tsk, there were so many conflicts between the two of them.
Xiu Ning hadn't been in the side hall for long when she heard a noise at the door. Su Mala Gu bowed respectfully to Xiu Ning, saying, "Your Highness Consort Jing, the Empress Dowager is very kind."
"Thank you for your help, Aunt Su Ma."
Xiuning got up and Chunyu helped her out the door.
The main hall was quiet and serene, with a faint scent of sandalwood in the air. Xiuning followed Sumalagu and stepped into the inner room.
Consort Jing
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to the Empress Dowager."
"Please sit down."
The Empress Dowager lay half-reclined on the bed, covered with a quilt embroidered with scriptures, with a soft pillow behind her for support.
Xiuning sat on the round stool that Sumalagu had brought over and reached out to take a bowl of dark, medicinal soup.
"The Empress Dowager seems to be in better spirits these past two days, so it seems the prescription given by the imperial physicians is effective."
As she spoke, Xiu Ning stirred the herbal medicine in her hand to cool it down. She then scooped up a spoonful, blew on it, and then smiled as she offered it to the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager opened her mouth and drank the medicine, swallowing it with a slight movement of her throat.
"Hmm, I feel a bit more energetic, but I'm still a long way from being fully recovered."
After speaking, the Empress Dowager cleared her throat. She didn't have a chronic illness; it was simply due to old age and organ failure. The prescriptions given by the imperial physicians were all nourishing and strengthening formulas.
Unfortunately, the Empress Dowager's foundation was already broken, and no matter how much she drank, it was only a temporary fix and a pure delaying tactic.
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