early August
The temperature in the Yuanmingyuan Garden dropped a bit, and everyone became more relaxed after the sweltering heat of July.
Thanks to Chen Yuwei's experience of taking several children on trips, the other concubines who stayed in their courtyards also had the desire to travel, and they went out more often on weekdays.
As more people come out, they are bound to bump into each other once or twice. And with more meetings, even people who are not familiar with each other in the palace can exchange a few polite words.
After a while, everyone noticed that the relationships within the harem had suddenly become much more harmonious.
Of course, this may also be related to the fact that everyone else is out of favor, and Lu Xuening is the only one who is far ahead.
After all, they were rivals in the palace before. It was already considered restraint for them not to roll their eyes when they met. How could they possibly exchange a few words in a calm and peaceful manner?
Now, in the Old Summer Palace, everyone is in the same boat. The eldest brother doesn't laugh at the second brother; they can still take the opportunity to ease their relationship and become fair-weather friends.
However, such situations are rare. Everyone still had their pride, so as not to fall out again after returning to the palace, they all stopped short of a fight, showing an exceptional level of tacit understanding.
"Have you heard? The Emperor will be holding the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet at the Yuanmingyuan Garden this year."
"How come I haven't heard about it? The news is spreading everywhere in the Yuanmingyuan."
It's strange, though. In previous years it was held in the palace, even during the mourning period for the late emperor. Why is it being held at the Yuanmingyuan this year?
"It would be inconvenient for the court officials to come over," she said. "Besides, there's nothing wrong with holding a festival banquet at the Yuanmingyuan, but the Empress Dowager still has two pregnant concubines in the palace. We can't just ignore them."
In other words, the two concubines could be disposed of at will under the pretext of having offspring, but the Empress Dowager could not. The Qing Dynasty ruled the country with filial piety, and Hongli could not take the risk of adding another layer to his already bad reputation.
"Shh, keep your voice down and don't talk nonsense," a concubine quickly interrupted. "There are special considerations for staying at the Yuanmingyuan this time. The Empress Dowager has agreed to come from the Forbidden City to attend the festival banquet. You know nothing about it."
The concubine who was inexplicably rebuked: ...
"Ha, I don't know, but even you, who do know, couldn't come up with a single clue."
"Hey, what are you saying? It's just jealousy."
"Jealousy? That's ridiculous. My sister isn't favored, what do I have to be jealous of?"
"..."
Before Chen Yuwei could finish listening to the commotion, the concubines in the distance started chasing each other and running away.
Watching the other person's retreating figure disappear, Chen Yuwei sighed softly, "Those must have been the new concubines the Emperor brought in when he came to the Yuanmingyuan."
At such a young age, she looks so lively and cheerful; it's truly enviable.
Xia He supported her mistress's arm and smiled as she introduced the backgrounds of the concubines who had just run past.
She was a palace maid from the Yuanmingyuan Garden, but after receiving the emperor's favor a few times, she thought she had climbed the social ladder.
He wanders around the garden aimlessly all day, and it's only because the other ladies don't mind that he's so carefree; otherwise, we wouldn't be able to enjoy this much freedom.
If she were kept in the palace, who knows how she would hide or even try to escape from the walls of the Qianqing Palace and gain a proper status as a concubine in the harem.
Unlike the Old Summer Palace, which is just missing a pair of wings to fly into the sky.
Chen Yuwei turned around, her protruding belly becoming more and more obvious. She supported her belly with one hand and walked step by step toward the pavilion not far away, stepping on the light falling on the ground.
"It's better to be more relaxed. People like them probably shouldn't go back to the palace with the Emperor."
Without favor, and being the master of the house, life in the Yuanmingyuan was not easy.
After all, to live well in the palace, favor and money are indispensable.
It must have surpassed the Yuanmingyuan, which was not a palace but was comparable to one.
"The Emperor decreed that the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet this year shall be held at the Yuanmingyuan Garden."
"Get ready, the Empress is probably getting impatient and wants to unleash a big surprise together with the Emperor."
On this joyous occasion, the Emperor will announce that the Empress is pregnant... Tsk tsk, Chen Yuwei can already imagine the ugly expression on the Empress Dowager's face.
Hahaha, so funny, so interesting! A battle of wits between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, a mother and son playing mind games—it's truly the deep and unpredictable world of the royal family once you enter the palace. In any other high-ranking family's inner court, you wouldn't be able to play these games so skillfully.
Xia He knew perfectly well what her mistress meant by "preparation"—it was simply a congratulatory gift to celebrate the Empress's pregnancy.
Originally, this grand gift should have been arranged upon returning to the palace, but unfortunately, the emperor was determined to protect the empress and the imperial heir, and was unwilling to let the empress bear any risk.
For example, even the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet was arranged at the Yuanmingyuan Garden, for fear that the Empress's pregnancy was less than three months along and that it would affect the stability of the fetus.
Shaking her head silently, Xia He felt that given the Empress's health condition, it would be difficult for the Emperor to have a healthy prince. She had heard many rumors about this.
"Your Majesty, rest assured, this servant will make proper arrangements and will not give Her Majesty the Empress any opportunity to find fault."
Not long after Xia He finished speaking quietly, they arrived at the pavilion.
Chen Yuwei sat down on a round stool to rest, using the handkerchief that had been laid out.
Chen Yuwei left home early today and walked a lot, and she could vaguely feel some soreness in her ankles.
After telling Xia He what was going on, Xia He was so scared that she immediately reached out and touched herself. Fortunately, there was nothing seriously wrong, but she couldn't continue shopping from now on.
Chen Yuwei clicked her tongue, slightly regretful, "After returning to the palace this time, the next time I can come will be next year. I wonder what the Yuanmingyuan will look like next year."
And they might not come again next year, after all, there are quite a few summer palaces around the Forbidden City.
While other places may not be as spacious and grand as the Old Summer Palace, they each have their own strengths and unique scenery.
Emperor Hongli enjoyed life and was prone to getting bored with the old and seeking the new.
Yuanmingyuan? Who knows if it even ranked in Hongli's heart?
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