"Dong has been arranged to go to Zhongcui Palace. Tsk, the Emperor is quite considerate of Consort Dong."
In a side hall of Qixiang Palace, Xiuning, who had heard the commotion, chatted and laughed with Chunyu.
Xiuning recognized that this Consort Dong, who had emerged from the Qianqing Palace, was the same person who was conferred the title of Consort Duan in the sixteenth year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign.
Speaking of which, this person also gave birth to a princess in the tenth year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, but unfortunately the princess died before she had lived for two years.
"Your Highness, His Majesty has recently become obsessed with the 'buku' (a type of Japanese opera), and rarely even visits the inner palace. Is there something special about why Lady Dong is able to serve him at this time?"
Chunyu was puzzled as to how this person could surpass so many concubines in the harem and win the emperor's favor alone.
"What's special about it?"
Aside from family background, gaining favor in the early years of the Kangxi Emperor's reign was extremely difficult. "Perhaps it was possible, but who knows?"
Shrugging indifferently, Xiu Ning suddenly thought of the Empress in Kunning Palace, "When I went to pay my respects these days, the medicinal fragrance in Kunning Palace had faded considerably."
Upon hearing this, Chunyu hesitated, "This servant feels that nothing has faded, and the small kitchen in Kunning Palace is still brewing medicinal soup every day." Could it be that her mistress is mistaken?
Xiuning shook her head. "The smell of medicine on the Empress is already very faint."
It can be said that the medicinal fragrance currently lingering in Kunning Palace is just a smokescreen. In fact, the Empress has already been diagnosed with pregnancy and is just waiting for a good opportunity to reveal the news.
Besides Xiuning, Consort Shu of Yongshou Palace also had a vague idea that the Empress was pregnant.
However, Consort Shu was unsure whether the Empress was pregnant now or later. She only knew that the Empress would have two sons, and that the eldest son died before the Crown Prince Yinreng was born.
"Your Majesty, you haven't had breakfast yet, and your body can't take it. Please have some soup first."
Cuizhi earnestly advised her master, and this scene played out every day.
"Cuizhi, have you arranged anyone for the Dong family?"
Consort Shu waved her hand, feeling nauseous at the sight of all that soup and liquid.
"Your Majesty, rest assured, not only Madam Dong, but also Eunuch Kang next door has bowed his head."
Cuizhi placed the soup on the table and told Consort Shu about the latest developments.
"Well done," Consort Shu said with satisfaction. She looked up and glanced out the window. "The sky has been gloomy lately, and I can't help but feel uneasy. Keep a close eye on the movements in the inner palace, especially those next door. Make sure to keep a close watch on them."
Consort Shu's focus was still mainly on the palace. As for the issues outside the palace and the court, Consort Shu only knew that Ao Bai was bound to get into trouble. She also reminded her father to cut ties with Ao Bai. As for the rest, no matter how anxious she was, it was useless.
The advantages and disadvantages of knowing one's own destiny are manifested here.
Even if we take a step back and assume that Ao Bai's affair really involved Niohuru, Consort Shu was still able to be made Empress in the sixteenth year of Kangxi's reign, which meant she had a secure position as Empress, so she wasn't too afraid.
What Consort Shu didn't know was that all she knew was a few lines of text on paper. To truly reach the sixteenth year of Kangxi's reign safely required immense courage and perseverance.
...
May 16th
The sky was overcast, and the air was unbearably muggy.
Xiuning sat on the corridor outside the side hall, with Chunyu fanning her beside her.
"My lady, I've discovered that Eunuch Kang has designs on the neighbor. Should we take precautions?"
Kang Gonggong was the head eunuch of Qixiang Palace, responsible for the daily errands and arrangements of the entire palace.
Chunyu had previously complained to Xiuning that compared to the talkative Eunuch Kang, Granny Li was much more sincere.
“Be on guard. When the opportunity arises, kick Kang Gonggong and all his disciples and followers out of Qixiang Palace.”
Xiuning spoke casually, showing no sign of how much effort it would take to get rid of a head eunuch who had been running the Qixiang Palace for many years.
Chunyu didn't think much of it. With so many connections at their disposal, they were only dealing with a minor eunuch. What could possibly go wrong?
The two, master and servant, chatted idly until a light rain began to fall outside. Only then did Xiuning get up and go back to her room with Chunyu's help.
The harem quieted down because of the rain, but the passion in the Qianqing Palace would not be extinguished.
The comfortable life he had enjoyed over the years had made Ao Bai overconfident, and he didn't even think that Kangxi would do anything to him. So when he received the message from Kangxi that he wanted to see him, Ao Bai went to the palace alone and was immediately captured by the guards that Kangxi had arranged in advance.
The whole process was thrilling. After all, Ao Bai had been on the battlefield in his early years and still had some skills. The guards risked many injuries to successfully capture him.
After taking him down, Kangxi immediately summoned his ministers and took the opportunity to announce the crimes that Aobai had committed over the years, listing them one by one. Among them were thirty major crimes. Some clever people, sensing the opportunity, asked Kangxi to execute Aobai's family.
However, because Ao Bai had saved someone's life, Kangxi could not go too far. He spared Ao Bai's life but imprisoned him. However, many of Ao Bai's subordinates and his cronies were executed.
Meanwhile, Ebilun, who was ill at home, did not escape Kangxi's purge. Kangxi not only stripped Ebilun of his various titles, but also dismissed several ministers from the Niohuru clan.
This turned Ebilun's fake illness into a real one, and he was bedridden and unable to get up.
Kangxi used this opportunity to intimidate the ministers of the previous dynasty and began his path to personal rule.
The world has changed!
"It was gloomy before, but after this rain, everything is fine."
They were talking about the weather, but Xiuning said it as if it had some other hidden meaning.
When Ao Bai got into trouble, Ebilun also suffered misfortune, and Consort Shu in the harem was also affected.
Just then, the Empress announced the good news that she was pregnant. Not only did she temporarily exempt everyone from the daily greetings, but she also gave rewards to everyone in the harem like a generous benefactor.
Moreover, the Emperor, Empress Dowager, and Grand Empress Dowager all presented gifts to the Empress, which indirectly demonstrated their deep concern for the Empress's pregnancy.
"Look at this, one show after another, it's really dazzling."
Xiu Ning sighed, thinking to herself that the Empress had seized the opportunity well. The Emperor was in a good mood right now, and his happiness had doubled. Kun Ning Palace was likely to become a popular place for the Emperor to visit.
The news of the Empress's pregnancy not only made the Empress happy, but also the Emperor and the ministers of the court. Even the concubines in the harem were happy after the initial sourness had subsided.
For a time, the entire harem entered a period of flourishing, with women wearing increasingly festive clothes and even encountering the emperor more frequently.
The increasingly daring actions revealed the madness of the crowd, and it was Consort Nara who fired the first shot in the harem.
When the Empress was five months pregnant, Consort Nara announced her pregnancy during a greeting.
Well, all Xiuning can say about this is that her courage is commendable.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
