Chapter 209 She longed more and more for a child of her own.
The new regulations of Lihe Palace had only been in effect for a few days. On the surface, the inner palace seemed calm, but many things had already changed in secret.
Shui Xian's establishment of the Discipline Office, which strictly prohibited high-ranking concubines from bullying or deducting money without cause, acted like shackles, firmly binding Consort Huang, who was known for her flamboyant behavior.
They dared not openly confront the Imperial Noble Consort, who was enjoying the Emperor's favor and wielded considerable power.
His resentment and unwillingness, like an undercurrent, quietly flowed into the Cining Palace.
When Consort Wan served the Empress Dowager, she couldn't help but sigh a few times.
She even brought Consort Huang with her today.
"Your Majesty, you have no idea how things are in the palace these days... Sigh, those of us who entered the palace earlier seem to have forgotten how to perform our duties. Even disciplining a few low-ranking concubines who don't know any better is being watched and recorded. If we're not careful, we'll be accused of bullying them..."
Consort Wan held up her jade hand adorned with jingling bracelets and gently massaged the Empress Dowager's legs, her tone aggrieved.
Consort Huang chimed in, "Yes, the Imperial Noble Consort is kind-hearted and considerate of her servants. But if the palace loses its rules and regulations, and the distinction between superiors and inferiors is blurred, then over time, I'm afraid people's hearts will fall apart."
The Empress Dowager half-closed her eyes, fiddling with her prayer beads, and did not express a clear opinion, only saying lightly, "Since the Emperor has entrusted her with the power of assisting in governance, he must have his reasons. You should all behave yourselves."
The Empress Dowager's face was tense. She was furious whenever she mentioned Shui Xian. Prince Duan was currently imprisoned in his residence. Even though it was due to Prince Duan's own fault, the Empress Dowager, who never blamed her youngest son, still blamed Shui Xian. If it weren't for her bringing that vixen sister into the palace...
The more she thought about it, the more upset she became.
However, when she thought of Emperor Zhaoheng's protective attitude towards Shuixian, the Empress Dowager still managed to suppress her dissatisfaction with Shuixian.
Consort Huang had made a rare request to Consort Wan today, hoping that the Empress Dowager would protect her, but unexpectedly, the Empress Dowager didn't even step forward...
Consort Huang lowered her eyes, secretly harboring resentment towards Narcissus and Consort Lin...
——
Although Consort Lin was temporarily spared from danger thanks to Narcissus's protection, Consort Huang felt even more humiliated by the incident and held all her anger towards Consort Lin, believing that she dared to act so recklessly because she had climbed up Narcissus's social ladder.
On this day, Narcissus was busy checking the recent expense accounts of each palace at the Lihe Palace, and temporarily exempted the morning meeting.
Huang Guiren seized this opportunity and ambushed Lin Changzai, who was alone, on a secluded path leading to the Imperial Garden.
"Oh, who do we have here? Isn't this our Lin Da Changzai?"
Consort Huang blocked the way in a sarcastic tone, looking Consort Lin up and down.
"What, now that you've climbed onto the high branch of Imperial Noble Consort Jin, do you really think you can become a phoenix on a branch?"
Consort Lin's face paled, and she lowered her head, trying to avoid the question: "Greetings, Consort Huang. I have other matters to attend to..."
"stop!"
Consort Huang shouted sharply, taking a step closer, her gaze sweeping coldly over Consort Lin, her eyes full of mockery.
"Don't think that just because Consort Jin protected you once, you're someone important! She's just using you and me to establish her authority and as pawns for everyone in the harem! You really think you're something special?"
She grew angrier as she spoke, her gaze sweeping over Consort Lin's slender waist. Remembering that she'd heard Lin frequently visiting the Imperial Medical Bureau, her jealousy flared even more, and she sneered:
"I heard you've been going to the Imperial Medical Bureau quite often lately? What, seeing the splendid birth of Consort Jin's child, are you also having wicked thoughts and wanting to have a prince like her?"
Consort Lin tried to evade, but Consort Huang persisted.
"Ha, I advise you to give up on that idea as soon as possible! With your background and your meager fortune, you think you're worthy of bearing a dragon's offspring? It's utterly delusional. Keep dreaming!"
Lin Changzai trembled all over as she was scolded, her eyes red and tears welling up, but she bit her lip tightly, not daring to refute or cry out loud.
Just as Consort Huang felt relieved and was about to curse again, two old nannies dressed in dark brown palace attire with expressionless faces walked over from around the corner. They were the nannies from the newly established Discipline Department of Narcissus.
They held booklets and pens in their hands, clearly having observed and noted down Consort Huang's words and actions.
When Consort Huang saw them, she fell silent like a defeated rooster. A look of panic flashed across her face. She glared at the two old women with a fierce expression, then gave Consort Lin a hard look before reluctantly leaving with her maids.
As Lin Changzai watched Consort Huang's departing figure, and then glanced at the two old women who nodded slightly to her before turning away, she was filled with mixed emotions, including lingering fear and a complex mix of feelings that were difficult to describe.
——
The following morning at the assembly, the concubines took their seats in order.
Narcissus flipped through the records presented by the Discipline Office, her gaze lingering on a particular line for a moment.
He then raised his eyes, his gaze lightly landing on Consort Huang standing behind him. His tone was calm and even, yet it carried an invisible pressure:
"Consort Huang".
Consort Huang's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly stood up: "This concubine is here."
Shui Xian gently put down the booklet in her hand, looked at her, and spoke in a gentle voice that sent a chill down Consort Huang's spine: "I see that you seem to have some different opinions on the newly established rules of the harem?"
Shui Xian's voice grew colder, "If you feel that I have acted unfairly in any way, you can raise it directly at the morning meeting and we can discuss it together. Why... always have to go behind my back and find fault with lower-ranking concubines? Isn't this behavior beneath your dignity and also damages the harmony of the harem?"
Her words were brief and to the point, not repeating Consort Huang's harsh words, but the meaning was clear enough. All eyes in the hall were focused on Consort Huang, filled with various expressions.
Consort Huang's face flushed red and then turned pale, wishing she could disappear into the ground. She stammered, "This concubine...this concubine wouldn't dare, this concubine had no such intention..."
Shui Xian gave her no chance to argue and directly pronounced the verdict in a clear and calm voice: "Since you dare not, yet you have repeatedly acted improperly and bullied the concubines, it seems that you have never taken the palace rules and my words to heart."
As the Imperial Noble Consort who assisted in managing the six palaces, Shui Xian had the authority to punish the concubines.
"From this day forward, Consort Huang will be fined half a month's allowance and ordered to copy the 'Admonitions for Women' ten times. She must submit the copy to the Palace of Lihe in three days. I hope you will reflect on your mistakes and be careful with your words and actions."
Being publicly punished with a monthly allowance and forced to copy it is a blatant slap in the face!
Lady Huang's face drained of color, yet she dared not refute, and could only grit her teeth and kneel in gratitude.
"This humble servant...accepts the punishment and thanks Your Majesty for your instruction."
Shui Xian nodded slightly, no longer looking at her, and turned to discuss with Consort De the preparations for future palace affairs, as if she had just dealt with a trivial little episode.
However, after this incident, all the concubines realized once again that the role of Imperial Noble Consort Jin in managing the six palaces was by no means a mere formality.
She wields real power and will use it ruthlessly to uphold the rules she sets.
Those who were originally hoping for a lucky break or secretly resentful now have no choice but to put aside their thoughts and reconsider.
——
Evening, at Lihe Palace.
When Emperor Zhaoheng entered, he saw Shuixian sitting under the lamp, rubbing her temples, with several thick account books spread out in front of her.
He stepped forward and naturally reached out to massage her temples. As an emperor, he made such a gesture of serving others, but Emperor Zhaoheng felt it was perfectly natural.
Emperor Zhaoheng said with concern, "These trivial accounts can be checked by the Imperial Household Department or by the capable matrons under you. Why do you have to trouble yourself?"
Narcissus lowered her hand, leaned against him, and smiled sweetly.
"His Majesty has entrusted the management of the harem to me, how could I not do my best? These accounts may seem trivial, but they can reveal whether the expenditures of each palace are fair and whether there is any corruption."
"It doesn't matter if I'm tired, I just hope that there will be less strife and more peace in the harem, so that Your Majesty can have one less thing to worry about in the court."
Upon hearing this, Emperor Zhaoheng was deeply moved. He tightened his arms around her, pulling her into his embrace, and said in a low, gentle voice, "With Xian'er here, I am indeed much less worried."
He personally massaged her shoulders, and the two nestled together under the lamp, the atmosphere warm and tender.
As for Consort Lin...
After spending time with Emperor Zhaoheng, Shuixian turned her attention back to the recent dispute between Consort Lin and Consort Huang.
Shui Xian knew that simply protecting and punishing Lin Changzai would not fundamentally solve her predicament.
Consort Huang and others dared not openly oppose him, but it was hard to guarantee that they wouldn't vent their resentment on the even weaker Consort Lin.
To prevent future troubles, Shui Xian directly ordered Lin Changzai to move out of the Chuxiu Palace, which was crowded with people and rife with disputes.
Shui Xian arranged for her to stay in a relatively quiet palace room that was far away from the palace where Consort Huang and the others were located.
Upon receiving the imperial decree, Consort Lin was filled with gratitude towards Narcissus, almost to the point of worshipping her as a deity.
She felt that the Imperial Noble Consort was not only beautiful and kind-hearted, but also fair in her dealings, and so considerate and protective of a low-ranking concubine like herself.
However, after moving into the new palace, Consort Lin gradually noticed that the atmosphere around her seemed a little strange.
The lower-ranking concubines who lived together were polite on the surface, but their eyes held a sense of distance.
The sisters who used to exchange a few words with each other at Chuxiu Palace have gradually lost contact with each other.
She seemed to be invisiblely isolated in this harem.
With Consort Huang's instigation, she was labeled as a "direct descendant of the Imperial Noble Consort".
Immense pressure and boundless loneliness eroded her day and night like a tidal wave.
Within this deep palace, there is no favor, no one to rely on, and even the only seemingly friendly alliances are so fragile.
She longed more and more for a child of her own, a blood relative to rely on, a hope that would allow her to gain a foothold within these cold palace walls.
She secretly went to the Imperial Medical Bureau again.
This time, she didn't go to the highly sought-after Physician Ana, who was said to be able to help women conceive. Instead, through some secret channels, after several twists and turns, she found Physician Xu, who was said to have ancestral secret recipes that could help women have children.
The physician Xu gave her a prescription to nourish her body. The only side effect of this medicine was that if she took it continuously, it might cause a pregnancy-like pulse.
When Physician Xu gave her the tonic, he specifically reminded her, "If you need someone to take your pulse while you are taking the medicine, please be sure to mention it!"
Seeing the serious look in Physician Xu's eyes, Consort Lin nodded blankly, unaware that she was stepping into a trap...
...
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