After walking around the princess's and princes' quarters, it was already dark when Xiuning got up to return to the palace.
In the vast darkness of the night, Xiu Ning sat in the sedan chair, her gaze deep and unfathomable.
"Get off the sedan chair"
"Master, we've arrived."
Chunyu spoke softly, her outstretched hand gently supporting Xiuning's arm.
"Everyone has been running around all day and is tired. Remember to go back and ask Granny Du for a reward."
"This servant thanks Master for the reward."
"..."
Xiuning walked past the palace servants kneeling all around her and stepped through the gate.
With Xiuning's return, the once dim and quiet Qixiang Palace gradually became lively.
After the candles were lit and gently placed, Xiuning entered the main hall and took off her outer garment.
"Go to the side hall and see if Bu'er and Dai are asleep," Xiu Ning casually instructed, then sat down in front of the dressing table and used the bronze mirror hanging in front of her to remove some of her headdresses and jewelry.
Spring Rain came and went, followed by the wet nurse carrying Bu'er and Dai.
Xiuning stood up and beckoned to the wet nurse, "Were Bu'er and Dai good today?"
The wet nurse handed Bu'er and Dai to Xiuning, curtsied, and said, "The young master is very well-behaved."
"Buer and Dai, do you miss your mother?"
Mother
A soft, sweet voice came from Xiu Ning's arms. Bu Er and Dai were nestled in Xiu Ning's arms, tiny and looking very cute.
Despite being quite old by age, Boer and Dai are growing slower than other children.
Because of this, Xiu Ning even suspected that Bu Er and Dai had been attacked or that their bodies had been harmed by some kind of trickery. In the end, she simply spent her points to ask the system to take action and check again and again. She concluded that Bu Er and Dai's bodies were all normal, except that their physical growth was a little slow.
Therefore, Xiuning doted on Buer and Dai, and would hold and coax the children whenever she had a chance, which made Buer and Dai even more shy.
Burying her little head in her mother's arms, Bu'er and Dai rubbed their eyes again. They had just woken up and were still a little dazed.
The little boy's bewildered look softened Xiuning's heart even more. "Tell your mother in detail what you did in your room today?"
Boer and Dai grinned, then explained in their childish voices what they had done.
This little girl is different from her three older siblings. She acts very seriously and speaks very formally. Coupled with her innocent little face, she makes people want to tease her.
Xiuning sat on the tatami mat, while Buer and Dai swayed on her body. Not far away were lit candles and several plates of pastries and snacks.
Soon after, the sounds of the mother and daughter playing together could be heard.
Meanwhile, Yongshou Palace, separated from Qixiang Palace by only one wall, seemed like a world apart, eerily silent as if no one was alive.
In the darkness of night, a figure hurried toward the main hall.
Yunling served by Consort Jia's side for several years, experiencing both doubt and punishment, but ultimately she secured her position as Consort Jia's personal maid through her outstanding abilities.
However, the situation at Yongshou Palace has deteriorated rapidly in the past two years. Yunling was anxious about it, especially after the Tenth Prince Yin'e moved to the Princes' Residence. Yongshou Palace lost its spirit.
Sigh, Master is still too greedy.
Muttering to herself, Yunling steadied the medicine in her hand and turned to enter the hall.
"Has Your Majesty rested?"
There were young palace maids guarding the entrance to the palace, so Yunling simply asked them a question.
The young palace maid nodded and then shook her head. "Sister, Her Majesty just lost her temper again."
Yunling felt a lump in her throat. She said she was fine, but a sense of unease began to rise within her.
What exactly happened? Ever since the little princess died young, the master's mood has not been good, and his health has also been frequently affected. If this continues... Yunling thought of what the imperial physician had said before and felt uncertain.
Carefully entering the inner room, Yunling glanced at Consort Jia, who was lying on the bed with her eyes closed, and said, "Your Majesty, the medicine is ready."
Consort Jia opened her eyes upon hearing this and said, "Bring it to me."
Yunling bowed her head and replied, "Yes," then handed the medicine she was holding to Consort Jia.
"Cough cough, cough cough cough"
While stirring the herbal medicine in her hands and coughing softly, Consort Jia's face was as pale as paper. "Send the two maids who were previously assigned to serve me back to the Imperial Household Department immediately, and we will select new ones."
Upon hearing this, Yunling felt a chill in her heart. She narrowed her eyes and lowered her head to cover herself. "Your Majesty, although those two little palace maids are not very sensible, they are at least arranged by the family."
"How about I transfer them to do menial work, and then select people from Yongshou Palace?"
Consort Jia pondered for a moment, "Very well, but don't make the same mistake again this time."
"Yes, I understand."
After finishing her sentence, Yunling forced a smile and started talking to Consort Jia about things outside.
The best way to distract someone is to bring up something else.
Over the past few years, Yunling has become adept at using this method to deal with Consort Jia.
She knew what Consort Jia cared about and what she didn't care about, so she could always pinpoint the key points in a few words, thus preventing Yongshou Palace from being affected by Consort Jia's anger time and time again.
"Ha, hahahaha, good, serves you right, you really deserve it!"
"Hmph, I'd like to see what kind of help an empress dowager with no real power can offer them after she leaves."
After speaking, Consort Jia coughed twice, her eyes revealing a fanaticism that contrasted sharply with her facial expression. It has to be said that her mentality had long been distorted.
Seeing this, Yunling took a step back without making a sound.
Consort Jia was not paying attention to Yunling, so she did not notice the other party's subtle actions.
"Your Majesty, you don't need to lower yourself to their level. They are just shallow-minded people."
Their only way out in the future will depend on the Empress Dowager's efforts.
The Empress Dowager and the Emperor were not biological mother and son; it was the Grand Empress Dowager who raised the Emperor.
Once the Empress Dowager is gone and the relationship cools down, how much favor will she inherit? In the end, she will probably only be able to act according to the Emperor's wishes.
Consort Jia laughed wildly, "If the Empress Dowager could win it, why would the Grand Empress Dowager need to pave the way for her at this time?"
He was nothing more than a good-for-nothing who couldn't compete with others during the reign of the late emperor, but came from an excellent family.
In any case, Consort Jia looked down on the Empress Dowager. She believed that without the Grand Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager was just a puppet with an empty title and body, and would not pose a threat to anyone.
After all, family members know their own affairs. Without the Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager is nothing. Wanliuha thought she had found a backer for her son, but in reality, this backer was empty inside and could not stand at all.
Having anticipated the future fate of Wanliuha and his mother, Consort Jia let out a long sigh of relief.
Hmph! No matter how cunning you are, if you can't see through the ways of the harem, you'll ultimately be defeated by her.
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