How could a newcomer compare to Consort Shu? That's like trying to provoke someone of a higher rank.
Furthermore, the Emperor's summoning of Consort Shu was merely out of consideration, and it is completely different from summoning new concubines. Wu Shulai is just like Hongli in this regard, deceiving himself and applying double standards, which is extremely excessive.
As a slave, Xia He was part of a community with shared interests with the other party in this situation.
She nodded to whatever Wu Shulai said, since her mistress wouldn't suffer any loss. Whether the emperor favored the new concubines or not was none of their business in Yikun Palace.
"It's not a big deal to delay for a few days; I think the new concubines will understand."
Although the Empress did not mention it during her greetings, the Empress Dowager certainly knew.
This is a rule-breaking arrangement, and given Fucha Jinyi's style of doing things, she's sure to get back at the Empress Dowager.
Half of the new concubines are the Empress Dowager's people. If the Empress Dowager makes a scene, the Empress is no match for her.
Wu Shulai nodded, which was considered an affirmation of Xia He's half-guess.
"It was the Empress Dowager who brought up this matter, and the Emperor values filial piety the most."
"..."
Exhausted from a night's work, Chen Yuwei returned to the palace from the Hall of Mental Cultivation when it was already broad daylight.
Instead of staying to talk with Hongli, Chen Yuwei lied and said there was something going on in the palace, and was simply carried back in a sedan chair.
On the way, when no one was around, Xia He briefly told her master the information she had gleaned from Wu Shulai.
Chen Yuwei touched her chin, her beautiful nail polish gleaming in the sunlight.
"Whether the Empress Dowager's intentions are genuine or feigned, the new concubine's postponement of her nightly service has caused the Empress considerable resentment."
She went through countless hardships to enter the palace and become a concubine, but she still had to wait.
Anyone would feel bad in that situation.
Xia He shook her head. "Her Majesty the Empress is busy with the prince's affairs, big and small. If no one reminds her of something like the new concubine's night of service, she might not remember it for a while."
With their own son almost gone, who has the time to care whether the concubine serves the master or not?
Moreover, when a new concubine is to serve the emperor, the green plaques are made by the Imperial Household Department itself. The empress only needs to tell the emperor the specific time and have someone prepare them.
Fucha Jinyi couldn't arrange who Hongli slept with; that was something Hongli had to consider himself.
With Yonglian's situation not improving anytime soon, Fucha Jinyi wished he could just live in the Prince's residence, so who would have time to worry about other matters?
Chen Yuwei sighed, "So, if Her Majesty the Empress doesn't handle this situation in time, she'll easily suffer this injustice in silence."
Even if the Empress openly revealed that it was arranged by the Empress Dowager, would the newcomer dare to resent the Empress Dowager? It's just a case of picking on the weak, with the Empress taking the lead.
All things considered, being the Empress of the Qing Dynasty was indeed not an easy job.
Fortunately, neither of her two missions had anything to do with becoming empress, otherwise she was sure the mission results would be greatly compromised.
The master and servant returned to Yikun Palace in hushed tones.
Yikun Palace hadn't seen its master for only one night, so there was basically no change.
Only Zhuo and Fuling couldn't find her, and Chen Yuwei was already used to crying out a couple of times as a daily routine.
On the eighth day of the ninth month, the new concubines changed into their new clothes and all went to Changchun Palace to pay their respects.
Elderly people like Chen Yuwei were also present.
Fucha Yixin rubbed her squinty eyes and forced a smile as she greeted the newlyweds.
They bowed and greeted him, then bestowed gifts and spoke words of praise.
Chen Yuwei truly embodied the phrase "background person," avoiding speaking whenever possible, unlike Gao Hongshan and Hui Fa Na La Tan Yin, who drew most of the newcomers' hatred onto themselves.
Hui Fa Na La Tan Yin is alright. She's quite upright and mostly talks about palace rules and regulations. Although it's annoying, it's based on facts. If you look closely, no one else can do anything about her.
Compared to Hui Fa Na La Tan Yin, Gao Hong Shan was more carefree, giving off a more unrestrained and domineering vibe. After all, everyone knew Gao Bin's abilities in the court, and Gao Bin alone deserved 80% of the credit for Gao Hong Shan's ability to establish herself in the harem.
Gao Hongshan is very confident, and sometimes she even dares to talk back to Fucha Jinyi.
As these newly arrived concubines approached, Chen Yuwei smiled and saw Consort Hui, who was being reprimanded by Gao Hongshan and looked indignant but didn't know what to say. She shook her head and sighed that Niohuru and the Empress Dowager didn't know how to choose people. At least this Consort Hui, on whom so much hope was placed, was really not good enough.
However, these were all matters of Niohuru's own family affairs, and Chen Yuwei had no say in them.
With her shoulders leaning back in the chair, Chen Yuwei picked up the teacup beside her and took a sip.
Then, his gaze fell on Jin Xiangling, who was diagonally below him.
Sure enough, Jin Xiangling occasionally reached out to cover her abdomen, a subconscious action that revealed her condition. She didn't reveal it at the moment, probably because she wanted to be on the safe side.
Unfortunately, next month might not be as good as this month. Hopefully, Jin Xiangling won't make things worse.
He raised an eyebrow, and with a clatter, the teacup landed steadily on the table.
Gao Hongshan's lecture ended just in time, "Go back now. You can't do this again next time. Once you're in the palace, you have to abide by the palace rules."
"Consort Hui, you are of the Niohuru clan; you must not disgrace the Empress Dowager."
Consort Hui nodded in agreement with a frustrated expression, her dejected appearance making Gao Hongshan smug.
The assessment was correct; Gao Hongshan's intelligence is indeed written all over her face.
He groaned inwardly. Sure enough, Gao Bin fell and Gao Hongshan died. It was disrespectful to the palace intrigue if such a person could live even one more day in the harem.
After listening to the witty banter among the crowd for a while, Fucha Jinyi then led her entourage to the Cining Palace to pay her respects.
"We should also go and meet the Empress Dowager, since all the younger sisters have just arrived."
"There's no time like the present, let's all go together."
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