"Your Highness, Consort Ping has arrived."
The maidservant who was taking care of Consort Zhangjia entered the room and whispered that Consort Ping had arrived at the door.
Consort Ping asked, "What's she doing here? Has something happened to Yinxiang again?"
Consort Zhangjia was still a few days away from the end of her postpartum period. At this moment, she was sitting on the edge of the bed in her nightgown, her brows furrowed slightly.
The maid shook her head. "My lady, Consort Ping came in, and I couldn't stop her." So, they didn't have time to analyze why Consort Ping had come, because she had already barged in with her entourage.
Consort Zhangjia: ...
This is the suffering of low-ranking concubines; they have no right to refuse the coercion from high-ranking concubines.
When Consort Zhangjia became pregnant after serving the emperor, she did consider who to entrust the child to in order to maximize the benefits for both mother and child. However, all of this was useless when Consort Ping crushed her and the Zhangjia clan with absolute power.
Consort Zhangjia had no choice but to smile and hand over Yinxiang to Consort Ping to raise. She couldn't show any emotion, especially since Consort Zhangjia was just a bondservant, and Consort Hesheli could easily crush her family.
The past was too painful for Consort Zhangjia to recall.
Seeing Consort Ping walk in unimpeded, Consort Zhangjia felt a momentary surge of anger, but she quickly calmed herself down as she lowered her head.
"This humble concubine greets Consort Ping."
Consort Zhangjia
Consort Ping, with her round belly protruding, calmly looked at the woman in her nightgown kneeling on the bed.
It must be said that, despite still being in confinement, Consort Zhangjia's beauty remained undiminished, and even the slight dishevelment around her added a unique charm to her.
Hmm, is this what a beauty looks like? No wonder she's been able to have three children in the last few years.
While feeling sentimental, Consort Ping also felt a subtle sense of superiority. After all, no matter how beautiful Consort Zhangjia was, she was just a concubine who had risen from a palace maid. Even after giving birth to three children, she still couldn't get a clear rank from the Emperor, which was quite tragic.
This pleased Consort Ping, whose looks were inferior to those of Consort Zhangjia and who was now pregnant, as the concubines in the harem were, in the end, rivals in love.
If your rival is doing well, you'll definitely be the one who suffers.
"I wonder what brings Consort Ping here?"
Consort Zhangjia lowered her head slightly, and the wisps of hair on her forehead, thanks to the light, successfully obscured her facial expression.
Just as Consort Ping was arrogant in front of Consort Zhangjia, Consort Zhangjia was not calm and collected in front of Consort Ping.
After all, there were conflicts between the two, but these conflicts were not apparent when Yinxiang was raised by Consort Ping.
But now that Yinxiang is about to change his adoptive mother, Consort Zhangjia no longer needs to suppress her resentment towards Consort Ping.
"Consort Zhangjia, is it not because there is nothing wrong that I cannot come here?"
Consort Ping's words were amusing. She sat down on a round stool that had been brought over by a maid, supporting her pregnant belly.
"This concubine dares not. Your Majesty's arrival is welcome, but I am still in my postpartum period and the room is unclean. I am afraid it may offend Your Majesty."
Consort Zhangjia was somewhat shrewd; she knew that she could be sarcastic and mocking, but not openly or indirectly. The gap between them was still too great. If Consort Ping spared even a little attention for her, Consort Zhangjia would be in deep trouble.
"Ha, at least you have some self-awareness."
Consort Ping spread her sleeves and lightly fanned her mouth and nose, her eyes clearly showing disdain.
Consort Zhangjia: ...Damn it, I was just being polite, and she's ungrateful!
Consort Zhangjia was furious at Consort Ping's words, but she was in a weak position and dared not refute them. She was extremely frustrated.
Consort Ping came with a request, not to cause trouble, so after exchanging a few words to vent her frustrations, she stopped and prepared to get down to business.
“I’ve come here because I need you to do something,” Consort Ping said, not treating Consort Zhangjia with any equality, since the two of them could never be equal. “I’m pregnant and my energy is limited.”
Since Yinxiang is still young, and considering his future prospects, I will choose a new foster mother for him.
Consort Zhangjia, do you have any suggestions regarding the selection of Yinxiang's adoptive mother?
Consort Ping finished speaking in a low, melancholic tone, her eyes sweeping over the other person.
Provoked by Consort Ping's gaze, Consort Zhangjia pursed her lips and said, "Everything is up to Your Highness. I am incompetent and have no suggestions."
Suggestions? They were just meant to appease her. Did she really dare say she'd hand the child over to Consort Ling? The next news she'd receive would likely be of Yinxiang's death.
Having lived in the imperial harem for many years, Consort Zhangjia was no naive little rabbit; she was well aware of the despicable methods employed by these powerful families.
"Really no suggestions?"
As if speaking casually, Consort Ping first asked a question, then chuckled, "I remember that Consort Zhangjia and Consort Ling get along very well. Why not entrust Yinxiang to Consort Ling to raise, so as to satisfy Consort Zhangjia's maternal heart?"
Consort Zhangjia's eyes suddenly widened. She shook her head repeatedly in shock and refused, "Consort Ling and Consort Hui are from the same lineage. If Yinxiang is entrusted to their care, it would be to make an enemy of Your Majesty. Please reconsider, Your Majesty."
The violent pounding in her chest was right before her eyes. If Consort Zhangjia hadn't been confident that her contact with Consort Ling hadn't given Consort Ping any leverage, she would have thought she had been exposed.
Consort Ping was of course unaware of the secret affair between Consort Zhangjia and Consort Ling. She said these words only to test Consort Zhangjia.
It would be better if she didn't have it, but even if she did, she could still intimidate her. Anyway, her goal was simple: to make Consort Zhangjia obedient and work for her. Nothing else mattered.
“Consort Zhangjia, the position of principal consort in Yonghe Palace is vacant. The one who is far away in the imperial palace should return soon.”
The voice was neither loud nor soft, but it felt incredibly heavy in Consort Zhangjia's ears.
...
"Do they really say that?"
In the main hall of Qixiang Palace, Xiuning straightened up, the unfinished words of the system still lingering in her mind: Consort Ping wanted to invite Consort De, who was far away in the summer palace, back.
"If you're bold enough, you won't be afraid of being devoured in the end. That creature is a man-eating beast that won't spit out its skin."
Consort De has never been weak; her current weakness is merely a form of self-preservation.
The purpose was to reduce the difficulty of his life in the summer palace.
If Consort Ping were to send this man-eating beast back to the Forbidden City, the Forbidden City would certainly be twice as chaotic as it is now.
"Host, this is the message the system has received. Please prepare accordingly."
The system only works because it's paid, so it doesn't worry about others causing trouble.
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