The Emperor is probably preoccupied with the affairs of the previous dynasty, and has not entered the inner palace for several days in a row.
However, everyone in the inner palace is well-informed, and within two days, the six palaces in the east and west all knew that Consort Chi's father and younger brother were highly valued by the Emperor and had been sent to quell the unrest in the north.
The imperial court has always valued civil officials over military ones. Consort Chi's father was a military general, but despite his outstanding military achievements, he could only hold the rank of Deputy Privy Councilor, a second-rank official. However, the Chi family had many talented individuals, among whom General Yulin was Consort Chi's younger brother.
For a time, Consort Chi was the most popular woman in the world.
I heard that Consort Fu, who lived with her, received a lot of training in following the rules.
However, as the head of the palace, Consort Chi could not find a single fault in her admonitions to Consort Fu, especially since she also held the power to assist in the management of the six palaces.
In contrast, the other elderly people in the palace were much more low-key.
Huo Yiyun only sent someone to deliver a message, the gist of which was to tell Huo Qinghe not to make any rash moves during this period. She also sent two sets of tonics, but Huo Qinghe didn't touch them much.
As April drew to a close, the Emperor was preoccupied with affairs of state and had little time for the inner palace, so Huo Qinghe settled down to study the pipa for a while.
Granny Wang was quick to act; she found a pipa within two days.
Huo Qinghe herself couldn't really tell how good it was, but it did look somewhat similar to the one her maid used to use.
When she was a child, she often heard her stepmother play the harp and pipa, but she never got to be taught these instruments by her stepmother. When she was at the Huo family mansion, she would play the instruments according to the scores left by her stepmother when she was free, but she was afraid of disturbing the eldest daughter-in-law, so she was not very proficient and was only a mediocre player.
Huo Qinghe secretly brought some musical scores with her when she entered the palace this time, and now she can openly learn them.
Every day, Huo Qinghe would sit behind Yanliang Pavilion, holding her pipa and practicing, so that the main hall wouldn't hear her commotion from a distance.
It's said to be more upright and aboveboard, but in reality, it's not that upright and aboveboard at all.
With Consort Zhou in such a high position, who knows how many troubles will arise once she is released from confinement.
However, before Consort Zhou was released from confinement, there was something even more important: the Empress Dowager had finished her Buddhist rites for the late Emperor in the suburbs of the capital and returned to the capital.
Empress Dowager Zhou returned to the capital on April 29th.
Since the Emperor himself went to welcome the Empress Dowager back to the palace, the concubines naturally could not be negligent. Apart from Empress Xue and the Emperor going to the palace to personally escort the Empress Dowager, the concubines, led by Consort Chi, arrived at Cining Palace early in the morning to wait for her.
Apart from Consort Ma, who had been unwell, and Consort Ming, who was quite pregnant, all the concubines were present, and Huo Qinghe took this opportunity to get to know them.
Oh, and Consort Zhou, who is under house arrest, didn't come either.
Consort Cao was the first to mention Consort Zhou: "When Her Majesty the Empress Dowager returns, she won't see Consort Zhou, and she'll probably start questioning her again."
Consort Chi waved the round fan embroidered with spring water and koi in her hand: "Consort Cao, what nonsense are you spouting now?"
Consort Cao didn't seem to mind being reprimanded: "After all, Consort Zhou's confinement was decided by Your Highness, so I'm naturally not in a hurry."
Consort Chi paused in her fanning motion, her phoenix eyes narrowing slightly, a hint of displeasure flashing in them.
Huo Yiyun spoke up calmly at this moment: "Why bring up someone who is not here for no reason? Consort Cao is so concerned about Consort Zhou, why don't you wait until the Empress Dowager arrives and then go to the Empress Dowager to say it?"
In the verbal battles among the high-ranking empresses, no one below the rank of Noble Lady dared to interrupt.
They all lowered their heads, looking down at their noses and pretending to be quails.
Consort Fu was unusually quiet today. Having been neglected for nearly a month, she was no longer the arrogant and frivolous woman she had been when she went to pay her respects to Empress Xue.
Today, she even took the initiative to stand behind Lady Xie, who was also a noblewoman, and thus stood in front of Huo Qinghe.
From Huo Qinghe's perspective, when she looked down, she could easily see the red marks on the back of Fu Guiren's folded hands, which seemed to be burn marks.
Her pupils contracted slightly as some unpleasant memories flooded her mind.
Huo Qinghe could no longer hear the sounds from ahead, and she didn't know when the Empress Dowager had arrived.
Fortunately, Meng Meiren on her other side pulled her back, and Huo Qinghe came to her senses and bowed with everyone else; otherwise, she would have truly become the center of attention.
The Empress Dowager was helped to her seat at the head of the table by the Emperor and Empress Xue, one on each side. Huo Qinghe and the others were actually standing quite far away. When she stood up, she first gave Consort Meng a grateful smile.
Consort Meng smiled back, and the two quickly stood up straight and listened attentively to what the Empress Dowager was saying.
"The arrival of this new beauty in the palace adds a bright spot. It's just that my old eyes are failing me now, so I can't see her very clearly. Where is Consort Zhou? Tell her to come and talk to me. I've been away from the palace for many days, and I'd like to hear Consort Zhou say something to amuse me."
The Empress Dowager was not young, but she looked quite energetic, with a few strands of white hair at her temples, and when she smiled, she looked like a kind and gentle old woman.
Pei Yuanhui didn't say anything, but when he looked up, he met the gaze of Consort Chi below.
[Sure enough, the Empress Dowager questioned Consort Zhou as soon as she returned. I refuse to believe that the Empress Dowager wouldn't know what's been happening in the palace lately. The Empress, too, acted as if she hadn't heard anything; who is she waiting for?]
Why is the Emperor looking at me like that? The confinement is over, does the Empress Dowager want to bring up old grievances again? It's so annoying!
Consort Chi stepped forward gracefully, her gentle smile completely contrasting with her inner grumbling: "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, Consort Zhou recently broke the rules and was punished with half a month of confinement, which has not yet been lifted."
Upon hearing this, Empress Dowager Zhou's scrutinizing gaze fell upon Consort Chi. She exclaimed, "Oh! What has Consort Zhou done this time? This is truly unbecoming. I must punish her severely."
Empress Xue finally stopped pretending to be mute and replied with a smile: "It's just that Consort Zhou is impatient. A few days ago, she punished Consort Huo's maid without permission. Her confinement will be lifted soon, so there's no need for you to go to such trouble."
Empress Dowager Zhou said "Oh" again: "Consort Huo? I remember there is only one Consort Yi in the palace..."
Seeing this, Consort Chi retreated and left everything to Empress Xue, waiting to watch the show.
Huo Qinghe's eyelids twitched when Empress Xue mentioned her; well, she knew she had something to do today.
She didn't move, waiting for the next few words from the people above.
Empress Dowager Zhou frowned upon hearing what Empress Xue said: "What could be the reason for this all of a sudden?"
This does seem to indicate a desire to get to the bottom of things.
Empress Xue twitched the corner of her mouth and gave the Emperor a look.
Pei Yuanhui sat quietly to the side, his eyelids even half-closed, showing no intention of getting involved whatsoever.
Empress Xue quietly took a deep breath.
What a mess, so many bad things.
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