There's no palace power? That would balance things out.
In the main hall of Qixiang Palace, Xiuning appeared calm. Even though she knew that the Emperor had divided the power of Jingren Palace between Consort Ping and Consort Hui, she was still able to sit calmly and drink tea.
Chunyu glanced cautiously at her mistress, "Your Majesty, are you not angry?"
The lady is a Noble Consort, and she even has a title. You could say she's the most powerful woman in the harem.
But this is how she ended up being treated.
"What's there to be angry about?" Xiu Ning chuckled and shook her head. "I'd be angry if the Emperor really gave me control of the palace."
Because that would prove that the emperor truly had no feelings for her, only full of exploitation and scheming.
What are the benefits of making oneself the rightful number one concubine in the harem? Will it attract more jealousy, more targeting, or more hatred?
Xiu Ning couldn't bear to even think about the scene, because she was human and couldn't possibly be fully committed every moment. If she made a mistake, others would seize the opportunity to target and antagonize her, and any mistake would definitely cause a huge uproar.
"That's fine. I only hold a high position in name only, without any real power in my hands."
Chunyu looked puzzled, thinking to herself, "Is it really okay for my master to be so unworthy of the title?"
When the imperial decree of investiture was issued, Chunyu thought that her mistress was the hidden empress in the harem, but she was wrong.
Of course, that's overthinking it. If Kangxi still had feelings for Xiuning, then he would never have made her empress.
This is different from loving her and giving her the best. The situation in Kangxi's harem was more complicated than that of the emperors after him. If he had sent Xiuning to the throne without thinking, the final result would probably have been that Xiuning would have withered and fallen as quickly as the previous empress.
There are too many things in the imperial harem that can kill invisibly, and the harem is closely related to the imperial court.
Why did Emperor Kangxi divide palace power between Consort Ping and Consort Hui? Wasn't it for the sake of the Crown Prince and himself?
Consort Ping was a relative of the Crown Prince, while Consort Hui was forcing the Yehenara clan to split, but in essence, she wanted to maintain stability and balance.
Xiuning had already seen through Kangxi's intentions, which is why she said such a good thing.
Xiuning's current position serves primarily as a mascot to suppress the influence of Jingren Palace.
Xiu Ning, along with Consort Ping and Consort Hui, as well as Consort Yi and Consort Jia, and even Consort Tong, were all pawns used by Emperor Kangxi to maintain a balance of power in the court.
Ha, we're all just pawns, who's more noble than whom?
...
The summer heat is intense.
It's that unbearable summer again. The good news is that we're not in the Forbidden City this time. The bad news is that Xiuning is pregnant and shouldn't use too much ice.
Xiuning sat half-sitting on the laid-out bamboo mat, with Chunyu beside her, who was blowing on her.
Large beads of sweat rolled down her temples and were wiped clean with a handkerchief. Xiu Ning opened her mouth slightly, trying to use various methods to reduce the heat in her body.
There's nothing I can do. I'm almost four months pregnant, in this in-between stage of pregnancy, and there's nothing I can do but endure it.
"Your Highness, I've washed some fresh fruit, would you like to try some?"
Xuan Ying brought in a fruit platter. The fruit on the platter was crystal clear and still had water droplets rolling off it.
Xiu Ning waved her hand, casually picked up a piece, and put it in her mouth to chew.
It must have been chilled in cold water; you can still taste the slight coolness on top.
Xiu Ning comfortably squinted her eyes and ate two more. "Put them away," she said. Even though they weren't iced, eating too many was still bad for a pregnant woman's stomach. Xiu Ning had been paying close attention to her diet lately to protect the baby in her womb.
Xuan Ying responded with a "yes" and turned around to take the tray of fruit with her.
Beside her, Chunyu quickly reached out and helped Xiuning up from the bamboo mat.
"Go take a shower. I feel uncomfortable even when I'm not moving, and I don't know what to do if I start moving."
Xiuning was also helpless; it was just too hot this year.
If Emperor Kangxi hadn't made prior arrangements to leave the Forbidden City for a summer retreat, they probably would have fainted from the heat.
Even now, living in the summer palace is not very comfortable. Changchun Garden is still nowhere to be seen, and the villa is too small for movement. In addition, there are many concubines and imperial children coming over. The reason why Xiuning does not go out is because she is afraid of being affected.
“My lord, you have already washed twice today. If you wash again, you are very likely to catch a cold.”
Chunyu looked worried and wanted to advise her master to be patient for the sake of their offspring, but seeing the beads of sweat on her master's body, she couldn't bring herself to say it.
Ugh, it's just too hot.
"Let's just give it a quick wipe first," Xiu Ning wasn't one to ignore advice. Considering her condition, she knew she couldn't wash too much, so she could only try to endure the discomfort for now.
Chunyu helped her to the side hall to wipe her body clean. After a while, Xiuning came out in a clean and comfortable outfit.
call
That's the downside of summer; you have to change clothes frequently and always have to prepare several extra outfits. Fortunately, she brought summer clothes and fabrics with her when she came to the palace, and the qipao at this time of year wasn't too form-fitting or revealing, otherwise Xiuning would have been really worried that she wouldn't have enough to wear.
"Yinlu and the others haven't returned yet? Send someone to look for them. It's hot, don't linger outside all the time."
Xiuning looked up at the sky, where the scorching sunlight poured down relentlessly.
If it weren't for the trees providing shade in her courtyard, the perceived temperature would probably have been even higher.
Chunyu nodded, "Your Majesty, rest assured, this servant understands."
Feeling a bit tired and sleepy, Xiu Ning gave a delicate yawn and then went back to her room for a short rest.
When Xiuning opened her eyes again, it was no longer as hot as before, and Yinlu and the others had been found and brought back by Chunyu.
She got up, put on her shoes, and stepped out of bed. Supporting her pregnant belly, Xiu Ning began to look around.
"Your Majesty, who are you?"
Chunyu was puzzled. Could it be that something was wrong with the house?
Xiuning shook her head. "It's nothing. Did anything happen at the villa today?"
Chunyu supported Xiuning's arm, "No, everyone is staying in the yard, and almost no one has come out."
The mistress and servant walked around the main hall. Just as Xiuning was about to rest on the couch, a cheerful voice suddenly came from the doorway, "Your Majesty, Eunuch Liang from the Imperial Household Department has come to deliver a reward."
Xiuning looked up. "Quickly, invite them in."
As they were talking, Liang Jiugong led a large group of people into the main hall.
"Eunuch Liang"
"This servant greets Consort Jing."
Liang Jiugong bowed respectfully, then explained with a smile the purpose of his visit and meticulously introduced the items he had brought.
"...It was all because His Majesty cares for the Empress that he specially sent this servant to deliver it, saying that it must be delivered to the Empress."
After speaking, Liang Jiugong stepped back, and the trays that the palace servants had been holding were placed on the Eight Immortals Table.
Looking at all these treasures, Xiu Ning smiled and thanked Emperor Kangxi for the gifts. Then she invited Liang Jiugong to have a cup of tea.
Liang Jiugong naturally did not stay. He had many things to do, and Xiu Ning was not the only pregnant woman in the villa. Not to mention those far away, there was Consort Yi who was about to give birth, Consort Jia who was also heavily pregnant, as well as Consort Wuya and Consort Guoluo, all of whom required him to arrange manpower to run errands.
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