"Chunyu, send someone to wait at the door. You never know what kind of unexpected surprise you might receive."
Xiuning said something completely nonsensical. Although Chunyu couldn't quite understand it, she knew that there was a deeper meaning behind her master's actions, but she just didn't know it.
Chunyu nodded, "Yes, this servant understands."
"Go," Xiu Ning waved her hand, turned her back to Chun Yu, and pondered the next developments. If nothing unexpected happened, things would soon get unsettled with Consort Ping again.
The unexpected joy that Xiuning mentioned occurred less than two hours later.
It turns out that Tong Jia Rongyue's busy schedule in the palace had affected her health.
Left with no other choice, after consulting with Emperor Kangxi, Tong Jia Rongyue simply transferred one-third of her palace power to Xiu Ning, saying that Xiu Ning would temporarily manage it.
When Chunyu received the relevant account books, she was a little confused. Then she realized what her master meant by "a reprimand".
"With the Emperor handling things this way, the fate of the Thirteenth Prince becomes somewhat unusual."
In other words, Kangxi might not simply hand over Yinxiang to someone in the harem. Just like how Consort Ping caused trouble and ended up getting caught up in it herself, the possibility of anyone taking over Yinxiang is not low. It even includes Xiuning and Consort Yi, who already have two sons.
"Master, is the Thirteenth Prince truly important?"
Chunyu hesitated. Logically speaking, regardless of his background or anything else, the Thirteenth Prince was not the most outstanding prince in the harem and did not have much value to be used.
Xiuning nodded and then shook her head. "It's not that the Thirteenth Prince is important; there are other things involved."
Xiuning tapped the table. She couldn't possibly tell Chunyu about the power struggles between the various families outside the palace and the emperor, nor did she need to explain.
No matter what explanations are given, no matter how much value Kangxi attributed to Yinxiang, he was merely a dispensable pawn to Xiuning.
The value of a chess piece is to be used in the game of chess. If the game of the harem is to continue, a player like Xiuning is indispensable.
Yinxiang?
Yinxiang was pitiful, but since he was a prince, there was nothing he could do.
...
"Your Majesty, Consort Tong has sent word that the previous cooperation has come to an end, and she will not interfere in anything that follows."
Inside the bedchamber, beside Consort Ping, a maidservant with a troubled expression relayed the message sent by Tong Jia Rongyue to her mistress.
After a long pause, Consort Ping spoke, her voice devoid of any emotion, "What did Consort Rong say?"
The maid shook her head. "Consort Rong refused. She said she did not want to raise Prince Yinxiang."
Consort Ping continued, "What about the others? Did they send letters to their families outside the palace?"
The maid did not answer immediately, but spoke after a while, "The others have the same opinion as Consort Rong. The letter has been sent to the families outside the palace, but the families have not yet replied."
Consort Ping: ...
Consort Ping closed her eyes slightly. "Yinxiang, it seems that my mother-son relationship with Yinxiang is about to end."
Clearly, none of the people she approached wanted to take over, and Consort Ping couldn't possibly hand over Yinxiang to Consort Ling and others who were clearly her adversaries. So, it seemed there was nothing else she could do next.
"Your Majesty, things are not at their worst yet, you need not worry."
The maid wanted to persuade her again, after all, Prince Yinxiang was a child she had watched grow up, and their affection seemed genuine. If anything were to happen to him, her mistress might not be able to bear it.
"It doesn't matter whether it's sooner or later, the Emperor hasn't conferred many titles of concubine or imperial consort over the years."
Upon careful consideration, very few families could afford to raise Yinxiang.
There were also family demands involved; even if Yinxiang could no longer generate profits for them, they could not simply send him away to aid the enemy.
The underlying meaning of this statement is that if you can't have it, you should destroy it.
Consort Ping rubbed her nose wearily, but her heart remained uneasy.
Although others saw her as having successfully outmaneuvered Consort Hui's faction and helped the Hesheli clan gain the upper hand, the Emperor turned around and used court affairs to warn the Hesheli clan, making things difficult for her. Moreover, Kangxi also suppressed Tongjia Rongyue, who had been cooperating with her.
What exactly does the Emperor mean? Does he really not want her to be pregnant and give birth? Is it true that Hesheli cannot have two princes of her blood?
Consort Ping was filled with questions. She was unwilling to give up her child, which she had finally managed to conceive.
"Your Majesty, perhaps Shou Kang Palace?"
Before the maid could finish speaking, Consort Ping's eyes lit up when she mentioned Shou Kang Palace, but then quickly dimmed again.
"No, the Empress Dowager already has the eleventh prince under her care."
Yinxiang and Yintao were only a few years apart in age. Moreover, the Empress Dowager had just abandoned Yinzhen before raising Yintao. This whole affair was something that happened when the Grand Empress Dowager was still alive, so how could she dare to do it again?
The maid tilted her head, thinking to herself, "Where in the harem can I find a suitable candidate?"
“Your Majesty, perhaps the Empress Dowager of Yonghe Palace can also raise Prince Yinxiang.”
The maid had a sudden inspiration and realized that Yonghe Palace, where Consort Zhangjia was located, did not lack a principal position, but this principal position was somewhat peculiar, as it had always been kept in the summer palace and had not returned to the palace.
Consort Ping seemed to be deep in thought. "You mean, Consort De?"
Yes, Consort De was the principal wife of Yonghe Palace, but because of what happened back then, she was disliked by the Empress Dowager and offended Tongjia Rongyue. With the Emperor's tacit approval, she could only stay in the summer palace, where she stayed for several years.
Even now, Consort De has not returned to the palace. Even when Yinzhen went to visit her, he always left and returned in a hurry, clearly indicating that someone had given him instructions.
"Your Majesty, if Consort De returns, or if she can send Prince Yinxiang to the summer palace, the danger you face will be greatly reduced."
Because Consort De was born in Yonghe Palace, in other words, Consort De had a natural right to raise the children born in Yonghe Palace first. However, in recent years, Consort De has not been in the harem, and Tong Jia Rongyue has always held real power. No one is willing to offend Consort De for her sake, so Consort De has been tacitly ignored by everyone.
But Consort De's appearance really caught Consort Ping's eye.
Judging from the current situation, Consort De is the person that Consort Ping finds suitable.
First, Consort De had offended a powerful figure in the harem and was powerless to resist. Second, as the principal consort of Yonghe Palace, she had natural jurisdiction over Consort Zhangjia. Finally, Consort De had her own children and would not care much about Yinxiang, her illegitimate son. This would allow Consort Ping to maintain her relationship with Yinxiang and also gain support for her unborn child in advance.
call
After thinking it over, Consort Ping felt that Consort De was a good choice. If she could hand over Yinxiang to her, it would benefit Consort De, herself, and even her family outside the palace.
"I've figured it out. The Emperor won't allow the Hesheli and Guarjia clans to get involved with other princes again."
Excluding the concubines who already have princes, we must finalize the arrangement for Yinxiang to be raised by Consort De before the Emperor issues his own decree.”
Consort Ping's eyes narrowed, and she beckoned to her maid, "Help me to Yonghe Palace. We should go see Consort Zhangjia, who is still in confinement."
No one can say anything good about changing a son's adoptive mother; only Consort Zhangjia, his biological mother, is the most suitable.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
