Emperor Kangxi did not attend the baby's third-day celebration banquet due to state affairs, but the gifts brought by Liang Jiugong were enough to give Consort Hui and her son Yinti face.
Like a peacock victorious in a contest, Consort Hui flaunted her triumph without restraint, which disgusted all the other concubines who came to visit.
"Tch, no wonder he comes from a humble background, he has no sense of propriety at all."
Consort Jia glared fiercely at Consort Hui not far away, and when she talked about the conflicts between them, there were countless examples.
It's only because Consort Jia has been seriously unwell lately, otherwise this person might have rushed up to mock Consort Hui. After all, Consort Jia feels good seeing others suffer.
"What's there to be reserved about? Consort Hui just had a grandchild, she's much better than the rest of us."
Consort Yi picked up a wine cup from the side and pretended to fill it to the brim.
Sitting here for a long time, it's easy to get emotionally affected by Consort Jia's words. Besides, Consort Yi and Consort Hui don't get along. However, Consort Yi is reluctant to confront Consort Hui because her two sons are still young.
"The Emperor has many grandchildren. Consort Hui is currently in the lead, but she won't be able to keep laughing until the end."
Consort Jia replied, reaching out to pour herself a cup. "People can't defy their fate, Consort Hui." Ha, a figure ridiculed in the harem, yet she thinks she's so great, but she's nothing more than an extra to serve others.
Don't assume that Consort Jia is targeting Consort Hui; in fact, Consort Jia understands the situation perfectly well.
Her health had deteriorated, and she no longer expected her family to be able to send another young lady to the palace to help her. Moreover, her own son, Yin'e, was not very intelligent, so she simply stopped competing and fighting for it. She only wanted to ensure that Yin'e obtained the title of Prince and live out her life in peace.
Children and grandchildren have their own blessings. Anyway, when the time comes, she will close her eyes and not be able to see anything. What difference will it make to her whether things are good or bad?
Xiu Ning looked at Consort Jia beside her with a surprised expression, thinking to herself that since she fell ill, this person seemed to have a great enlightenment. With such a non-competitive and non-aggressive demeanor, could it be that she has figured things out?
Consort Jia understood, especially when she was lying alone in bed feeling helpless. She thought back to all the things she had done before.
When the night is deep and quiet, it is the best time to contemplate life.
As the fog slowly lifted, Consort Jia saw many things clearly, including why her daughter couldn't be saved and why her own health was slowly deteriorating in the harem...
All these consequences stemmed from the previous causes. Ultimately, it was my own excessive greed that led to my mental imbalance, allowing others to seize the opportunity to take advantage of and scheme against me. I can't blame anyone else for that.
The three of them sat together, and it was easy for them to chat.
Consort Yi immediately stopped accepting the offerings and whispered to Consort Jia while eating.
Consort Jia would occasionally reply with a few words, then look at Consort Hui with a deep gaze, as if trying to etch her into her mind.
Xiuning shook her head helplessly. She said that she hadn't really seen through things. Everyone was involved, and who could guarantee that they were an outsider?
...
“My lord, you have been in a bad mood ever since you returned from the prince’s residence. Is there anyone who doesn’t know their place? Should I send someone to keep an eye on them?”
The master's behavior indicates he has become angry; the only thing Chunyu can do is to find the culprit.
She quickly filtered through the list of people who had appeared at the Prince's residence that day, and then listed the most suspicious individuals separately. As long as Xiu Ning gave the order, she would arrange for people to be sent.
"Need not"
Xiuning thought of Consort Jia, but in the end she waved her hand to stop Chunyu from acting.
"It's not the worst yet," so there's no need to get into trouble at this time.
Turning around, Xiu Ning thoughtfully thought of Consort Ping, who was more than six months pregnant.
Today was a lively day, but Consort Ping did not participate.
It's understandable, really. Ever since Consort Ping and her group returned from their southern tour, they've been staying in their bedchamber and not coming out.
Even though Emperor Kangxi bestowed gifts upon Consort Ping because of her pregnancy, the gifts were sent to her palace. Even now, almost a month after everyone returned to the palace, countless disputes arose because of Consort Ping, but she herself did not personally get involved in most of them.
It seems that Consort Ping herself was well aware that her pregnancy was extremely important, so hiding away and not seeing anyone was the best way out.
Unfortunately, Consort Ping's actions had both advantages and disadvantages, making it difficult to take care of Yinxiang, who was raised by her.
As far as she knew, Consort Ling had already begun to contact Yinxiang through Consort Zhangjia, and was just waiting for the right time to bring him under her care.
However, this was a difficult time to seize, because Consort Ping was still pregnant, and the mother-son relationship between Consort Ping and Yinxiang seemed genuine. If something went wrong and Consort Ping was provoked too much, causing her to miscarry or have a premature birth, the anger of the Hesheli clan would be difficult to bear.
If Xiuning can think of these things, Consort Ling will definitely think of even more.
After all, compared to Xiuning, Consort Ling had no other advantages besides her superior family background.
Moreover, this family background is significantly diminished by the presence of Consort Hui and her son, Yinti.
"Chunyu, find an opportunity to send some people to Consort Zhangjia's side in Yonghe Palace."
Although Consort Zhangjia died young, she was a woman who gave birth to three imperial heirs. Although she did not enjoy a high position during her lifetime, she was posthumously honored as Consort Min. Furthermore, because of the incident of shaving her head on the 100th day after the mourning period, the Third Prince Yinzhi in the original timeline was changed from Prince Cheng to Prince Beile.
However, Lady Magiya died even earlier than Lady Zhangjia. Yinzhi was not even born before he died along with Lady Magiya, which saved them from the conflicts that followed.
“Consort Zhangjia is the key to the future. The fate of the Thirteenth Prince must be decided by his birth mother.”
Whether or not she asked was merely a formality; Consort Zhangjia's status was too low to interfere with Yinxiang's affairs.
Upon hearing this, Chunyu nodded in agreement, "This servant understands."
"Alright, help me back to rest," Xiu Ning waved her hand, pressing her slightly throbbing forehead with one hand. "I got up early today and have been feeling unwell. Perhaps it's because I've been putting too many ice basins in these past few days. Have someone move some out later. Anyway, the weather isn't hot, so I can bear it..."
He kept muttering to himself, his voice growing softer and softer until he went inside and could no longer be heard.
...
In a dimly lit room in a side hall of Yonghe Palace.
"Your Highness, there is no more ice in the palace. You and the little princess will have to endure it for the next few days."
"Endure? How to endure? What's the best way to endure?"
My little princess is less than ten days old, and I'm still in my postpartum confinement period myself.
If the ice supply is cut off now, how can we expect to survive in this weather? It's like asking my daughter and me to die.
Why are my life and my daughter's life so miserable? Let's just bring Xiao Liu along and end it all.
"My lady, this is absolutely unacceptable! How can you utter such discouraging words?"
"Why not? If we can't make ends meet anyway, it's just a matter of enduring a couple more days."
"My Lord"
"alright"
"..."
On the bed, a woman in a qipao had a flushed face and was breathing heavily as she spoke, clearly unwell.
Beside the bed was a palace maid dressed as a servant, sweating profusely, trying to persuade the woman in Manchu attire without success.
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