The Empress Dowager finally got to the point, and Consort Yi quickly nodded with a smile.
"Yes. The Imperial Concubine is in a difficult position to accept this task. Consort Rong has been serving the Emperor for many years, and although she is an Imperial Concubine, she is younger than us."
"Tell the Imperial Concubine that since she has taken over the Phoenix Seal, and now holds the highest position in the harem, she should manage the harem well for the Emperor and not distract him. What does it matter if she is younger? The Emperor bestowed the title of Imperial Concubine upon her based on her age," the Empress Dowager said bluntly.
Tong Wanyan sat to the side, smiling faintly without saying a word. She understood now that Consort Yi had come today for the sake of the Imperial Consort.
The relationship between these two was unusually good, especially considering that they were related to Yinzhen and Yin'e.
What Tong Wanyan could see through, the Empress Dowager understood as well.
Ultimately, it's not a bad thing. Let Consort Yi use her little trick to let her go.
Consort Yi obtained an imperial decree from the Empress Dowager on behalf of Consort Gui, which will give Consort Gui more confidence in her actions in the future.
After flattering the Empress Dowager for a while, Consort Yi prepared to return to Yikun Palace.
The harem was not solely managed by the Imperial Concubine Gui; she was also assisted by Consort Hui and Consort Yi.
With over a thousand people in the Forbidden City, there are always various matters to attend to, making it a very busy place.
The Empress Dowager understood how tiring this job was, so she naturally didn't try to keep Consort Yi.
Consort Yi arrived in a ostentatious manner and left in a grand manner, leaving Tong Wanyan with nothing but admiration.
The Empress Dowager smiled and said, "What, are you envious of Consort Yi?"
Tong Wanyan shook her head: "I am already living a very good life, and I have nothing to envy about others. I just admire Consort Yi. She is always so radiant and heroic. You can spot her bright spot in a crowd at a glance."
"Consort Yi has had a tough time, and none of the concubines in the harem have had it easy. That's why I thought that if I could protect you for a few years, I would let you have a few years of peace. Even if you feel tired in the future, you will still have something to cherish in your heart." The Empress Dowager lovingly touched Tong Wanyan's hand.
"I am lucky; I always encounter elders who protect me," Tong Wanyan said sweetly to the Empress Dowager with affection.
After crawling around the side hall, Tana, all chubby, crawled all the way to Tong Wanyan's legs, and with a silly grin, hugged her legs and said, "Mother."
Just two words, and he was spitting as he spoke.
Tong Wanyan bent down and easily picked up the chubby little dumpling into her arms. Despite the mild weather, the little dumpling was covered in sweat, which showed how mischievous it was.
"Beautiful Mother." Tana nestled obediently in Tong Wanyan's arms, her little belly sticking out proudly.
The Empress Dowager couldn't help but laugh when she saw her: "Has Tana gained weight again? I see her running around all day, making a ruckus, and she's getting fatter and fatter."
"Good fortune." Tana keenly heard the word "meat" and quickly raised her head to pat her belly.
The Empress Dowager raised an eyebrow: "You clever little thing."
“At home, the master often talks about Tana and Hongzhao. Last time, the Fourth Prince defended Tana, saying that having more flesh meant good fortune, and she remembered that,” Tong Wanyan explained.
The Empress Dowager couldn't stop laughing: "Yinzhen is right. Tana has been chubby since birth, and her fortune is exceptionally good."
“She’s truly blessed, and she can eat a lot too. Please wait a while; once she’s rested, she’ll start complaining of hunger. I can’t always be there to watch over her, and her wet nurse, seeing her hungry, can’t bear to feed her. The little one is so clingy, it’s really something.” Tong Wanyan took a handkerchief and wiped Tana’s sweat.
The Empress Dowager waited expectantly. After a short while, Tana, being very accommodating, looked at the Empress Dowager with watery eyes and said, "Eat milk cake."
She was so clever; she knew that the Empress Dowager favored her the most, and that the Empress Dowager was the most powerful, even her own mother had to listen to her.
Therefore, when she wanted food at Ning Shou Palace, she only asked the Empress Dowager for it.
When it comes to doting on Tana, no one in the entire palace can compare to the Empress Dowager. Even Yinzhen, who occasionally had some principles, would restrain Tana.
The Empress Dowager, smiling sweetly, couldn't resist the sweet, childlike whining of Tana and hurriedly ordered milk cakes to be made for her. Not only that, Tong Wanyan overheard the Empress Dowager mention five or six kinds of pastries, enough for Tana to choose from.
Tana, having enjoyed sitting happily in Tong Wanyan's arms, suddenly turned into a butterfly and tried to pounce into the Empress Dowager's embrace.
With his clever and shrewd manner, he seemed to know how to share his favors equally, which made the Empress Dowager extremely happy.
The Empress Dowager said, "I know that Tana is the most attached to me."
Tong Wanyan nodded in agreement: "Tana knows that you love her the most."
After having lunch with the Empress Dowager, Tong Wanyan took Tana, who was full and satisfied, back to Yuqing Palace.
She joked with Chunque, "I feel like Tana and I are like poor relatives who are always begging for food. Today we go to this house to eat a meal, tomorrow we go to that house to get a drink. Especially Tana, she can eat so much. Her dowry will have to be generous, so her husband's family won't be impoverished by her."
Chun Que smiled but didn't say anything. Speaking of eating, Tong Wanyan herself was a big eater.
Just because Chunque doesn't speak her mind doesn't mean Tong Wanyan doesn't know.
She said proudly and smugly, "Before I got married, nobody knew I was like this. Now that I'm married to you, Master, can't Yuqing Palace even provide me with some food?"
“Not only am I well-fed and clothed, but you guys are all plump and healthy too,” Tong Wanyan teased deliberately.
Chunque touched her wrist, which was adorned with a jade bracelet, and measured it with her fingers; it seemed she had indeed gained a little weight.
"He who eats another's food is bound to him," and Chunque, who had also been fattened up, suddenly lost the courage to talk about her appetite. The cooking in the Yuqing Palace's small kitchen was so good that even their meals as servants were better than those of some of the concubines and high-ranking officials in the harem.
They eat well every meal, and Tana often feeds them leftover pastries; it's no wonder they're all a bit plump.
On the other hand, Tong Wanyan is more beautiful every day. She still has a slender waist and graceful figure, like a fairy who drinks only dew every day.
Tong Wanyan spent the whole morning with Tana. Since Yinreng wouldn't be back for lunch, she brought Hongzhao along so the two babies could take a nap together.
The two chubby little ones were exceptionally well-behaved. They were mischievous and playful with others, but they were incredibly obedient in front of Tong Wanyan, and were extremely good at flattering and ingratiating themselves.
In the afternoon, Tong Wanyan listened to Ling Mama and some stewards report to her on the affairs of the inner courtyard. The accounts were handled clearly and in an orderly manner.
And so it went, day after day, and time flew by.
This year, the Aisin Gioro family had an exceptionally large number of happy events.
Three months after Yinzhi's wedding, Princess Rongxian got married on the eighth day of the sixth lunar month.
Emperor Kangxi bestowed upon her the title of Princess Rongxian of the First Rank. On her wedding day, she wore a phoenix crown, adorned with precious and luxurious jewelry, and a bright red wedding dress embroidered with phoenixes in gold thread, making her dazzling.
When Emperor Kangxi's most beloved daughter got married, the palace was inevitably bustling with activity.
In addition to the dowry provided by the Imperial Household Department, there were countless additional dowries. As usual, Yinreng gave two chests of additional dowries, the contents of which were valuable, showing his sincerity.
Before her marriage, Princess Rongxian repeatedly instructed Consort Rong and Yinzhi not to oppose the Crown Prince and to be filial to their father, the Emperor, in all things. Only after receiving their promises did she feel at ease enough to get married.
Having been married off to the southern desert, she could no longer scheme for Consort Rong and Yinzhi in the palace, or occasionally speak well of them to Emperor Kangxi.
From now on, they will ultimately have to rely on themselves.
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