Consort Shu, of the Niohuru clan, was made Empress Dowager three years after Emperor Kangxi's first wife, Empress Hesheli, died in childbirth.
However, she was not very lucky. She only served as empress for a little over half a year before dying of illness in Kunning Palace.
However, the Niohuru clan was a prominent and powerful family, and it was impossible for them to have only one empress.
Even if the empress is gone, Niohuru will still have to send someone to the palace.
The final choice was the Empress's younger sister, who would later become the Consort Wenxi, wife of the Tenth Prince, Yinzhen.
Consort Wenxi entered the palace in the nineteenth year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign and was granted the title of Consort in the twentieth year of his reign, but without any official title. She died in the palace in the thirty-third year of his reign (the records seem to indicate that Wenxi was her posthumous title, and that she was initially only granted the title of Consort, without any official title).
It's worth mentioning that Consort Wenxi was quite old when she entered the palace, and it can be said that she chose to postpone her entry into the palace purely in order to smoothly get through the mourning period for the Empress.
Right now, the Empress seems to be in better health than Consort Shu, and she will definitely outlive Consort Shu.
There is no problem for Xiao Niohuru to enter the palace next year, but given that it is extremely rare for a family to have two high-ranking concubines, Xiao Niohuru's highest rank after entering the palace will be Noble Lady (refer to the Yi Consort and Guo Luoluo sisters).
However, Niohuru would certainly not be willing to accept just being a Noble Lady, because Consort Shu could not bring benefits (offspring) to their family like the younger Niohuru. So it is not impossible for Consort Shu to simply give way to the younger Niohuru in advance.
Tong Jia Rongyue's guess startled Qianli. She thought to herself that there was no need to go to such lengths. Why would someone so high-ranking concubine be targeted like this? What if the newly arrived Niohuru clan member was not as good as Consort Shu?
"This is just my guess, it doesn't count," Tong Jia Rongyue got up and walked around the main hall a couple of times, then turned and waved to Qianli, "The imperial physician said that Consort Shu's health might only last a few more months?"
With only half a year left until next year's imperial concubine selection, if Consort Shu can pull through, the young Niohuru will have to remain in a low position for at least a few years. This would be a huge loss for the Niohuru clan. What if the young Niohuru gives birth to a child? Would she have to hand the child over to the ailing Consort Shu to raise? Given the arrogance and virtue of noble families, the young Niohuru would certainly not want to.
"The imperial physician said that if Consort Shu can take the medicine as much as possible to prolong her life, it could last up to a year; if she does not take the medicine in time, it could last as little as three months." At this point, it all depends on Consort Shu herself; if she does not want to live, she will definitely die quickly.
Tong Jiarong seemed thoughtful, "Three months."
It was the New Year of the fifteenth year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, and things were going relatively smoothly in the previous dynasty. Although the number of soldiers killed or wounded on the battlefield remained high, the Qing Dynasty was frequently reporting victories, which made the ministers very happy. Perhaps the Emperor would even bestow a grand title upon the six palaces next year.
Wait, a grand investiture of the six palaces?!
A vague idea began to form. "Qianli, do we have people planted in Yongshou Palace?"
Tong Jiarong rested her index finger on her chin, wondering if she could use Consort Shu's final madness for her own purposes.
Qianli's nod gave Tong Jiarongyue hope, and her eyes lit up. "Tell our people to keep a close eye on Consort Shu's daily diet, and if this continues..."
"Blah blah blah," Tong Jiarong relayed her plan to Qianli, "Make sure things are done properly."
Qianli hesitated, "What if Consort Shu doesn't fall for it? Wouldn't all our efforts have been in vain?"
"Consort Shu will most likely do it," because women who enter the palace will undergo some changes. They suffer in the palace day after day, and have to do their best to seek benefits for their families. When necessary, they have to sacrifice themselves without complaint. Who wouldn't go crazy in that situation?
This is Consort Shu's final act of revelry before her death. Will she ruthlessly take revenge on everyone or continue to be squeezed dry by her family? Tong Jia Rongyue thinks Consort Shu will most likely choose the second option.
Because Tong Jiarong insisted, Qianli had no choice but to make arrangements according to her mistress's wishes.
Unbeknownst to them, their arrangements were noticed by Chunyu of Qixiang Palace.
Chunyu immediately told Xiuning the news. As neighbors of Yongshou Palace, they were the first to know that Consort Shu was unwell.
"I don't quite understand Consort Tong's arrangements," Chunyu said, looking at her mistress with curiosity. She wondered if Consort Shu's illness was related to Niohuru. But that didn't make sense.
"The interests of large families are complex and intertwined. The Niohuru clan is not limited to the lineage of Ebilun."
Given Consort Shu's current situation, no amount of additional resources from the Niohuru clan will bring any benefit.
So, based on this, will the Niohuru family continue to increase investment? The wisest choice would be to cut losses in time.
"Next year is the year of the imperial concubine selection. I heard that the number of women participating in the selection is more than half again as many as ten years ago, including many noble ladies from prominent Manchu families," Niohuru clan must have had this idea as well.
Xiu Ning wasn't stupid; she could think of all the possibilities that Tong Jia Rongyue could think of, and her associations were even more meticulous than Tong Jia Rongyue's.
The poisoning of Consort Shu was not the work of one person alone; there must have been the involvement of many forces, otherwise it wouldn't have taken so long to manifest.
Furthermore, based on Xiu Ning's speculation, Consort Shu definitely wouldn't survive until next year's imperial concubine selection, so "we'll also help Consort Tong and see what Consort Shu's last wishes are, and try our best to fulfill them."
Since she could use a dying man to do her bidding, Xiu Ning certainly wouldn't want to dirty her own territory.
As for whether Consort Shu will retaliate against those who used her, that depends on whether Consort Shu is clever and resourceful enough.
In the imperial harem, the victor is king, the loser is a bandit. Everything is decided by the final outcome.
Not long after Tong Jia Rongyue intervened, Xiu Ning also arranged for people to directly intervene. Not only did two new forces suddenly appear in the small Yongshou Palace, but with the spies that were already there, the entire Yongshou Palace was a complete mess.
...
"Sister Caiyue, Her Majesty is calling for you."
Caiyue, who was tidying up her things, was startled by the maid's words and turned around, patting her chest as she asked, "What does Your Majesty want with me?"
Recently, Consort Shu has been calling her more frequently, and most of the calls are related to sending her to the Emperor's bed.
From initially trembling with fear to now taking it all in stride, Caiyue can only say that Consort Shu's promise was quite clever; she was practically choking on it.
The young palace maid shook her head blankly, but she did reveal a piece of information to Caiyue: "Her Majesty instructed the kitchen to prepare the Emperor's favorite ginseng chicken soup."
What soup did the emperor like to drink?
Caiyue's heart stirred, and she nodded before hurrying towards the main hall. "I'm going to see Your Majesty. Please help me organize these things and wait for me to return."
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