Chapter 26 Consort Hui Gets a Glimpse of Palace Power
By mid-February, the Empress had fallen into a coma and could no longer be given medicine; her condition was clearly deteriorating.
The sound of the clapper echoed twice and then paused in the Forbidden City.
The eunuchs, bowing low as they set off from Kunning Palace, made their way through the snow to the various palaces. At each location, they knelt down with a thud, their voices filled with unconcealed grief: "Her Majesty the Empress... has passed away."
When Yanxi Palace received the news, Yunyun was preparing a meal to be sent to the Imperial Study.
After Baoqing moved to the East Third Residence, she was always worried that he wasn't eating well or sleeping well, and that the food sent by the kitchen wasn't to his liking.
Fortunately, the palace rules weren't that strict, so it was still okay for the mother to send things to her son.
Therefore, Yunyun would occasionally send a eunuch to deliver things over, sometimes it was pastries and cakes unique to Yanxi Palace, and sometimes it was clothes and shoes that she had sewn herself.
Fuling was the first to react. She removed all the jewelry from Yunyun's head, and then took off her small double buns, simply tying them up with a silver hairpin.
Lingzhi also covered Yunyun's embroidered shoes with a white cloth and helped her change into a linen robe.
Having already experienced the death of Empress Renxiao, everyone knew that the Empress would be here in the next few days, so they made preparations.
Under the arrangement of the head palace maids and eunuchs, the entire Yanxi Palace was mobilized.
In less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, the eunuchs of Yanxi Palace had already nimbly taken down the colorful palace lanterns hanging in the corridor and replaced them with plain white silk lanterns.
The paper-cuts pasted on the window frames were all torn down, and even the blue-and-white glass vase on the table was replaced with a plain porcelain vase. The entire Yanxi Palace was devoid of any color.
The palace maids quickly composed themselves, each with their eyes lowered and their faces bearing just the right amount of sorrow.
According to etiquette and rank, the concubines needed to quickly proceed to the palace where the Empress resided.
Almost as soon as she finished dressing, Yunyun got into the sedan chair.
At this solemn time in the palace, it is best not to leave any impression of disrespecting the Empress.
The eunuchs carrying the sedan chair knew what was important and rushed along the palace road. At this point, they didn't care about the comfort inside the sedan chair; getting there as soon as possible was the best course of action.
As soon as he lifted the curtain and stepped out of the sedan chair, he saw Consort Rong standing at the bottom of the steps, her eyes red-rimmed, clearly having just arrived as well.
The two nodded to each other, and according to their rank, Yunyun followed Consort Rong into the main hall of Kunning Palace.
The hall was already filled with people kneeling, each finding their own place. Yunyun gently touched the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief soaked in chili water, and tears streamed down her face.
The weeping in Linlian lasted for four days.
Every day from dawn to dusk, the concubines of each palace were required to kneel in the main hall of Kunning Palace and mourn according to etiquette.
The frequency and timing of the crying were also carefully considered. Every day, eunuchs would bring documents from the Imperial Household Department to inform the concubines of the specific schedule for the next day.
Yunyun felt her knees were sore and numb, and even her eye sockets were swollen and painful.
Crying is also a physically demanding task.
She subtly rubbed her knees, dabbed at the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, and looked up at Consort Tong kneeling at the head of the table.
There were seven concubines, all kneeling together. Yunyun blended in without being noticeable. Occasionally, when her throat was tired from crying, she could just open her mouth without making a sound to rest for a while.
However, with Consort Tong in such a conspicuous position and with ceremonial eunuchs watching over her, she couldn't make even the slightest move.
She was already fair-skinned, but she's become even paler these past few days, and her lips look completely bloodless.
Suddenly, a panicked commotion erupted from the rear: "Something terrible has happened! Uya has fainted!"
The crowd paused in their crying, and all eyes turned to look behind them.
Consort Wuya, whose rank was already low, was kneeling at the very end of the row. At this moment, she was slumped softly on Consort Zhang's shoulder beside her, her face as pale as paper.
That shout came from Consort Zhang.
She was practically invisible in the palace, and now that everyone's eyes were on her, she wished she could faint along with Wuya.
The Imperial Household Department was well-prepared. In the dead of winter, the concubines were delicate and prone to fainting or kneeling for long periods when they were crying.
Several of Empress Renxiao fainted around that time.
They are ready.
The imperial physician, who was standing guard by the side of the hall, calmly stepped forward and squatted down next to Wuya to take her pulse.
He had medicine readily available in his medicine cabinet.
The guarantee is that once Uya agrees to eat it, she will regain her senses and continue crying.
However, this pulse—
The imperial physician stroked his goatee, his brows furrowed as he pondered for a moment.
Consort Zhang was even more terrified. Could it be that Consort Wuya was gone for good?
Fortunately, things hadn't gotten to that point. The imperial physician raised his voice slightly, just enough for everyone in the hall to hear clearly, "This young lady's pulse is smooth, a sign that she is pregnant, and has been pregnant for more than two months."
These words immediately caused a slight commotion in the hall.
After the grand ceremony of establishing the imperial harem, this was the first woman to show signs of pregnancy.
The ground was icy cold, and it was not appropriate to make the pregnant woman kneel for a long time. All eyes fell on Consort Tong.
Because she holds the highest rank here.
Consort Tong could not ignore Consort Wuya, so she gritted her teeth and ordered, "Summon two strong and sturdy old women to carry Consort Wuya to the low couch in the side hall to rest, and send someone to the imperial kitchen to bring some warm and soft food."
Although she secretly wished that Consort Wuya's pregnancy would end, Consort Tong still asked with concern, "Consort Wuya suddenly fainted. I wonder if this will harm the imperial heir in her womb?"
The imperial physician was very confident in his medical skills.
"It's alright, this servant will prescribe two doses of medicine to help with the pregnancy for Princess Wuya."
Consort Tong's smile was forced and insincere.
Having witnessed Consort Tong's dramatic breakdown, Yun Yun and Consort Rong's eyes met again.
Consort Rong: Is Consort Wuya really pregnant?
Yun Jun nodded slightly in affirmation.
Consort Rong: We were right? Soaring to the top?
Yun Jun nodded slightly in affirmation again.
This child is likely to be the future Emperor Yongzheng, and Wuya is poised for a meteoric rise to power.
After dealing with Wuya's matter, Consort Tong said to everyone in a deep voice, "Keep going, don't let this small matter disrupt the rules."
Consort Rong secretly pursed her lips.
It's such a small matter.
You must be the one in the worst mood right now.
As dusk fell and the day's weeping came to an end, the concubines walked out in twos and threes.
Consort Rong deliberately slowed her pace and walked alongside Yun Jun. "Tell me," she said, "did Consort Tong sleep well tonight?"
As she spoke, she gestured with her chin, indicating that Yun Jun should look ahead.
Consort Tong boarded the sedan chair with a look of exasperation on her face, while Consort Wuya followed behind like a timid, submissive victim.
Consort Rong's voice held a hint of schadenfreude as she lowered her tone, "Do you think Consort Wuya truly has no feeling about her pregnancy at all, or—"
There's no need to say more.
Either Uya agreed that the first three months of pregnancy were unstable and didn't want to reveal it, and this was an accident.
Either she did it on purpose this time, or she did it in front of everyone to make it difficult for Consort Tong to harm her.
There were already people serving the emperor in Kunning Palace, so it's estimated that news of Uya's pregnancy has already reached Qianqing Palace by now.
The next morning, just as Yunyun changed into her mourning clothes, Fuling came in with hot water and curtsied, saying, "Your Highness, I heard from the Imperial Household Department that last night the Qianqing Palace issued an imperial edict, appointing Physician Li, who is skilled in obstetrics and gynecology, to take charge of Wuya's pregnancy care, and also rewarding her with a box of ginseng."
Physician Li.
Yunyun racked her brains, and she seemed to have a vague recollection of it.
He was the one who was in charge of treating the Ninth Prince before, wasn't he?
It's unclear whether Physician Li's position has been promoted or demoted since he was put in charge of the princes and then the pregnant women.
——
According to custom, after the Empress's mourning period lasted for twenty-seven days, the concubines were able to relax. The Imperial Hospital, on the other hand, prescribed a lot of medicine to treat injuries from falls, making a small fortune.
For Consort Tong, there was one thing that was so important that she completely forgot about the pregnant Consort Wuya.
That is the ownership of palace power.
Empress Niohuru herself assumed power after Empress Renxiao's death, having initially held the rank of Consort; now, she herself holds the rank of Noble Consort…
Consort Tong believed that she was the only one who could take the lead.
Everyone could see through Consort Tong's intentions. Consort Tong, who was always arrogant and disdainful, actually took the initiative to care for the concubines during her mourning period, and her attitude towards them could be described as kind.
She has the air of a matriarch.
Either they've lost their minds, or they think that with Empress Niohuru gone, it's their turn to take the throne.
However, the Empress Dowager had other ideas.
Cining Palace.
The Empress Dowager leaned against the heated kang, her withered fingers gently tracing the phoenix seal, and sighed softly, "The Empress was frail, and she has passed away so soon."
The Empress Dowager was fairly satisfied with Empress Niohuru. She came from a prominent family, was capable and shrewd, could secure her position as empress, and had no children, so she would not pose a threat to the crown prince.
Unfortunately, his health was really poor; he was a man of little fortune.
Seeing her dejected expression, Sumalagu, who was standing by her side, stepped forward and said softly, "Now that the Empress has passed away, the affairs of the inner palace will have to be taken care of by you, my lady."
After the Empress's death, the Phoenix Seal was temporarily sent to Cining Palace.
However, Su Ma La Gu also clearly saw that her mistress had no interest in managing the emperor's harem. As long as no one like Consort Dong E emerged, her mistress was too lazy to give the others a second glance. The emperor was taught by her mistress, so he would not stumble in matters of the harem.
As expected, the Empress Dowager sighed, "I am already quite old. I should leave the affairs of the harem to Xuan Ye's concubines to manage themselves."
This has always been the case in the imperial harem.
The Empress Dowager herself had risen through the ranks of the harem and knew everything about the affairs between the concubines. She had helped manage Shunzhi's harem, but now she was tired of it and decided to leave Xuan Ye's harem to him.
But what about Consort Tong...?
The Empress Dowager frowned.
Having only been in the palace for a year or two, and still quite young, she lacks sufficient experience in terms of shrewdness and handling complex palace affairs. It would be necessary to arrange for two people to assist her.
-
This was the first time Yun Yun had received an imperial edict from the Empress Dowager.
She was a little confused.
"Master?" Fuling had just seen the eunuch who came to Cining Palace to deliver the imperial decree out the door when she turned around and saw her master still standing there. She called out softly.
Yun Jun snapped out of her reverie, a rare look of worry on her face. "What do you think the Empress Dowager wants to see me at Cining Palace?"
She was very clear about her own capabilities. If the Empress Dowager had even a trace of memory of her, it was probably only because of Baoqing's influence.
After careful recollection, she realized that she hadn't made any mistakes while crying for the Empress.
Could it be that something happened to Baoqing?
The more she thought about it, the more convinced she was that her guess was correct. What else could the Empress Dowager have to summon her to Cining Palace besides Baoqing?
Yun Jun urged as if her pants were on fire, "Quickly change my clothes."
She was still wearing her usual robes, which seemed rather inappropriate for her to meet the Empress Dowager.
Although Fuling didn't know why her mistress had suddenly become anxious, she still subconsciously comforted her, "Mistress, there's no need to worry. I noticed that the eunuch who came to deliver the imperial edict looked calm. Although he didn't say the specific reason, I think it shouldn't be anything bad."
While comforting her, he helped Yunyun change her clothes.
She truly deserves to be the most reliable head maid in Yanxi Palace.
When they arrived at the entrance of Cining Palace, they saw Consort Rong also getting off the sedan chair with the help of a palace maid. Their eyes met and they both paused for a moment.
Consort Rong wore a simple snow-gray satin embroidered robe without any patterns or colorful embroidery, and only a few elegant hair flowers on her head.
Concubines were required to observe a year of mourning for the Empress, during which time they wore plain clothes and could only wear simple and elegant accessories. Yunyun dressed similarly.
The two huddled together, and Consort Rong whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Sister, you also just received an audience? I wonder if today will be good or bad..."
The Empress Dowager held immense power, and Rong Pin felt somewhat uneasy about being suddenly summoned.
Once inside the Cining Palace, the two could no longer exchange any further words.
Yunyun felt half relieved.
Baoqing was in the Prince's quarters, while Rongpin's princess was raised in Zhongcui Palace. The two children had no contact with each other, so it was unlikely that something would happen to them at the same time.
It couldn't possibly be that Baoqing went to Zhongcui Palace and beat up the Third Princess.
The two followed the palace maids from Cining Palace to a side hall.
There were only two concubines.
Fortunately, before she could even take a couple of sips of her hot tea, Consort Tong walked in.
"May Your Highness the Imperial Concubine enjoy boundless blessings."
"Get up."
The Cining Palace was governed by strict rules, and the three of them sat in a side hall without uttering a word.
The silence didn't last long. A young eunuch's voice came from the palace entrance, "The Empress Dowager invites the three masters to the warm pavilion for a talk."
The three of them quickly got up and followed the little eunuch toward the warm pavilion.
The palace maid guarding the entrance to the warm pavilion saw the three of them, curtsied, and gently lifted the curtain.
The Empress Dowager sat on the heated kang (a traditional heated platform bed), with a gilded tray on the kang table. The contents of the tray were covered with a bright yellow cloth, making them difficult to see clearly.
Not daring to look too long, Yunyun followed behind Consort Tong and bowed, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to the Empress Dowager. May the Empress Dowager enjoy boundless blessings and peace."
"Get up."
The Empress Dowager's attitude was amiable, so it seemed that nothing bad was being done to her.
Yun Jun breathed a sigh of relief.
Seeing the three people standing in front of her like statues, the Empress Dowager raised her hand, and a palace maid brought out three sandalwood stools inlaid with enamel and placed them on the left side of the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager smiled and said, "No need to be so formal, please sit down."
First, she inquired about Baoqing's well-being, then showed concern for the Third Princess. Finally, the Empress Dowager looked at Consort Tong, her tone gentle and mature, "You've had a hard time lately. The Empress has just passed away, and there are many trivial matters in the harem that you've had to attend to."
Consort Tong felt a surge of warmth in her heart.
The Empress Dowager spoke slowly and deliberately, “There are many affairs in the inner palace. I am getting old and my energy is inevitably failing. I must hand over the inner palace to you.”
Consort Tong had a premonition of what the Empress Dowager was about to say, but she still flattered her, saying, "Your Majesty seems to be in good health. Besides, how can my management compare to Your Majesty's personal supervision?"
These words imply that the power of the palace is already within their grasp.
The Empress Dowager smiled happily.
She had heard similar platitudes countless times and was already adept at ignoring them.
"It's not good for the Phoenix Seal to always be kept by me. Matters of the inner palace should be resolved by the inner palace. That's what the Emperor also thinks."
The fact that Emperor Kangxi was involved tells us that the matter had already been decided.
Consort Tong was overjoyed. Her cousin believed that she could take control of the Phoenix Seal, which meant he trusted her.
As for Consort Hui and Consort Rong, who were also sitting to the side, they had already been ignored by Consort Tong.
They assumed that the Empress Dowager had summoned them casually to give them some instructions about the children.
After all, elderly people always like to be surrounded by their children and grandchildren, and the Empress Dowager was no exception in this regard.
Just as Consort Tong was filled with anticipation, the Empress Dowager spoke of the upcoming arrangements for the harem, saying, "Consort Tong has the highest rank, so it is only right for her to be in charge. I will have someone send the official records and account books to Chengqian Palace. However, you are young, and there are many people under your command, and your mind is also complicated, so there will inevitably be areas that you cannot attend to."
She paused, then turned her gaze to Yun Jun and Consort Rong, her tone becoming increasingly gentle.
“Consort Rong and Consort Hui have both served the Emperor for many years. They are both capable of bearing children and have upright character. I think it would be better to have them as your assistants to help manage the affairs of the six palaces, so that you can have an easier time.”
Consort Tong's smile froze for a moment, then quickly returned, as she spoke sweet words, "The Empress Dowager's consideration is very thoughtful. I thank the Empress Dowager for her consideration. From now on, I will get along well with my two younger sisters and manage the harem together, so as not to let down the Empress Dowager and the Emperor's trust."
Yunyun and Consort Rong also quickly stood up to express their gratitude.
This was a completely unexpected surprise for them; who would have thought that one day they would be able to touch the power of the harem?
Especially Consort Rong, whose favor with the Emperor had faded. Although the Emperor was not entirely fickle and would visit her palace once a month, it was nothing special.
She also has the Third Princess and the Tenth Prince outside the palace.
The princess is fine; she's kept in Zhongcui Palace, where she's well cared for and will never be mistreated.
The tenth prince was different.
If he stays outside the palace for five years, who knows what the palace will be like? Although a mother's status is elevated by her son's, a son's status is also elevated by his mother's.
Now it's different. With palace power, no matter how much or how little, it's a right, and people will show more respect to those below.
Yunyun shared the same thought.
If the previous head of Yanxi Palace was like a group leader, only able to manage his own small area.
Having palace power means entering the management level of the harem, no longer being an ordinary employee.
This is a right that can generate real benefits.
Who wouldn't be tempted?
Looking at the three of them, the Empress Dowager gave them a few more admonitions, "Remember, only when the harem is harmonious can the emperor be at ease in the court. This is also your duty."
The three men respectfully agreed.
They chatted casually with the Empress Dowager for a while, and then the three of them left at Sumalagu's signal.
But they never found out what was on that tray.
-
After leaving Cining Palace, Consort Tong called them back, "Once the account books are delivered, I will send someone to inform my two younger sisters to come to Chengqian Palace for a chat. We need to come up with a plan for how to distribute the funds to avoid any trouble in the future."
Neither Yunyun nor Consort Rong had any objections.
After watching Consort Tong board the sedan chair, Consort Rong nudged Yun Jun's hand, a knowing glance exchanged between them, and asked, "Would you like to go to Zhongcui Palace for a while?"
The power has already been handed to them; it would be foolish not to fight for it now.
They understood the Empress Dowager's thoughts to some extent.
Empress Niohuru never offered any assistance in managing palace affairs. The reason she brought up this argument was simply to have the two of them check and balance Consort Tong.
However, the weight of this balance still needs to be earned by oneself.
Consort Tong has a powerful family background and is favored by the emperor; if they were to go head-to-head, neither of them would stand a chance.
But it would be different if the two joined forces.
Consort Rong was a former favorite concubine, and the Emperor still had some affection for her. They also had children, so they had some influence in the palace. If they joined forces, they might be able to get what they wanted.
This is also an opportunity for them to demonstrate their abilities to the Empress Dowager.
If Consort Tong's family were truly allowed to dominate, what use would the Empress Dowager have for them?
Only when a true balance of power is formed between him and Consort Tong.
The power of the palace can be given away easily now, but it may not be so easy to take it back later.
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Author's Note: Updates are scheduled for 9 PM every night. There might be occasional chapters released at other times, haha.
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