Ultimately, it was Consort Zhangjia's own fault.
Consort De's face was full of bitterness. "There's no use saying these things now. It's just that the children are crying so much that they can't be seen by anyone. Consort Zhangjia has really committed a terrible sin."
Even if Consort De really wanted to raise the children well, as a mother herself, she couldn't bring herself to abandon Yinzhen and die young.
The imperial harem is a difficult place. Without a biological mother, even the best foster mother is still a barrier.
Xiuning stood up. "Consort De, please rest first. I came here to visit Consort Zhangjia."
"Now that it's almost time, we won't delay Consort De any longer."
Serious matters still need to be done, and Xiu Ning doesn't want to drag things out and cause trouble.
Seeing this, Consort De did not insist on keeping her. She smiled and saw Xiu Ning out, then stood at the door and looked at the side hall not far away.
Turning around, her expression returned to calm, Consort De walked to the Buddhist shrine in the inner room and lit incense and candles.
The fragrance of sandalwood wafted out, like a white ribbon, wrapping around Consort De.
Consort De took a deep breath, then went to her study to retrieve Buddhist scriptures and began to copy them carefully.
Elsewhere, Xiu Ning, who had already entered the side hall, finally saw Consort Zhang Jia.
At this moment, Consort Zhangjia lay on the bed, her whole body exuding a smell of decay.
The two little princesses who were taking care of Consort Zhangjia were both wiping away tears and unwilling to leave.
It was only after Consort Zhangjia herself spoke up that the inner room was vacated.
Consort Zhangjia
"Your Highness Consort Jing, please forgive me for my rudeness."
After speaking, Consort Zhangjia couldn't help but cough. Her thin body was like a thin sheet of white paper, which could be easily broken with a gentle fold.
To be honest, Xiuning had made the necessary preparations before coming here.
But when she saw the current situation, it was really not within Xiuning's imagination.
How did it turn out like this?
Looking at him lying on the bed, he seemed to be on his deathbed, like an old man in his seventies or eighties, frail and nearing the end of his life.
Consort Zhangjia was once a favored concubine of Emperor Kangxi.
Xiu Ning sighed inwardly, knowing that this was probably why Consort Zhangjia had chosen to endure before the New Year, but couldn't resist calling the imperial physician after the New Year.
Those who rely on their beauty to please others will eventually lose their charm and become complacent.
All of this was simply due to Consort Zhangjia's love for her son.
Consort Zhangjia knew she wouldn't survive, so she wanted to pave the way for her three children, including Yinxiang, one last time, hoping to gain more favor from the Emperor.
“Consort Zhangjia, I came here today because I heard about your health and came specifically to see you.”
Xiu Ning sat down on the round stool next to Consort Zhangjia, her expression unchanged.
Consort Zhangjia nodded upon hearing this, "Your Highness, it is my honor that you could come."
"It's also my fault for being so ill; I should have left much earlier."
If she had left earlier, she would have suffered less, and Yinxiang's three children would have been better off without her as a burden.
But she couldn't bear to part with them. She had gone through so much to give birth to three children, and she didn't want to miss their growth. Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned, and her health failed her. Consort Zhangjia had no choice but to pass away first.
“You… sigh,” Xiu Ning sighed. She had no reason to criticize Consort Zhangjia, because everything was Consort Zhangjia’s choice.
"No matter what, your family will be going to the palace tomorrow. You should have a good get-together then."
This is a one-time opportunity; who knows when the next one will come?
After hearing this, Consort Zhangjia smiled and thanked Xiuning, saying, "The Empress Dowager De told me about this before."
"This concubine is deeply grateful to Your Highness for your kindness. In this lifetime, I can never repay Your Highness's immense grace and virtue. I only wish Your Highness a peaceful and prosperous life."
After saying such a long thing, Consort Zhangjia coughed for a long time.
Xiu Ning looked on with reluctance, but she didn't say much. She only advised Consort Zhangjia not to think too much, to let go of her burdens, and that everything would be alright.
Consort Zhangjia smiled bitterly to herself. She knew her body was incurable; if she could recover, her family members outside the palace would never be allowed into the inner palace.
Because Consort Zhangjia's health was really poor, Xiuning only sat for a short while in the side hall.
After leaving behind the medicinal herbs she had brought and offering a few words of comfort to the princess who was crying bitterly, Xiuning led her people away.
As soon as I stepped out of the room, I heard the previously suppressed sobbing grow much louder.
Xiu Ning turned her head, a faint sadness in her expression. Another familiar character was about to leave the show.
Soon, in a few more years, she will be able to break free from this oppressive harem.
Therefore, she needs to be on her guard. One wrong step can lead to many more, and she absolutely cannot afford to make any mistakes.
After returning from Yonghe Palace, Xiuning never left the gate of Qixiang Palace again.
During this time, Xiuning wrote another letter and sent it to Emperor Kangxi, who was still on his way.
Consort Zhangjia's departure is just a matter of days; let's finalize her rank and posthumous title now to avoid any last-minute chaos.
On the afternoon of the same day that Emperor Kangxi's reply arrived, news came from Yonghe Palace that Consort Zhangjia had passed away.
Xiuning still held in her hand the imperial edict from Emperor Kangxi conferring the title of Consort Zhangjia, posthumously elevating her to the rank of Consort, with the title of Min and the posthumous name of Jing.
A single word, "respect," and a single word, "sensitivity," buried a vibrant life.
call
"Chunyu, take this imperial decree and send someone from the Imperial Household Department to carry it out."
Kangxi has not yet reached his destination, so he certainly won't be able to return.
Moreover, Yinxiang did not travel with them, but stayed in the palace to take care of Consort Zhangjia, which saved Yinxiang the time of running back and forth.
None of the other people who went beyond the Great Wall had a good relationship with Consort Zhangjia.
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