What Yunrong saw was a rather modern studio. Yunrong didn't know how Yinzhen had managed to make it, but she liked it very much.
There is a studio in Yongshou Palace, but it is too small and lacks many things. She needs many things that can only be found in her own laboratory. She can't just disappear during the day, so her work efficiency is greatly reduced.
It was only after seeing this studio that Yunrong understood why Yinzhen had always asked about equipment.
Yunrong initially thought he was just curious or for some other reason, but she never expected that Yinzhen would have so many practical experimental tools made in private. Although they couldn't compare to those in her laboratory, they were still very touching and surprising.
Yunrong: "I..."
Yunrong was about to say thank you.
Yinzhen: "Don't stand on ceremony with me. Let's find some time to move the palace."
Yunrong: "I'll listen to you."
Then the news that the Empress was going to move into Kunning Palace spread like wildfire. Logically speaking, it was the rule for the Empress to live in Kunning Palace, and no one could say anything about it. However, Kunning Palace was not a place that would be uninhabited for a long time.
Moreover, Kunning Palace is a symbol of status in every respect. Furthermore, the late Empress had planned to move in, but it never happened. Everyone thought that Kunning Palace would be an empty palace during the Emperor's reign, but it turned out to be occupied.
The emperor doted on the empress alone, and all the unruly women in the harem were dealt with, so no one caused any trouble. Now that the empress has moved palaces, it has naturally become a hot topic.
Yunrong herself didn't hear anything, after all, no one dared to gossip in front of their master.
Those around Yunrong had heard about it, but they could only administer minor punishments, which had only a moderate effect.
Bai Xiang: "Master, everyone in the palace is talking about your move, and there's a lot of speculation. Do you think I should..."
Yunrong: "Are people in the palace so idle? If that's the case, let's find them something to do. I just recently compiled a list of preventative measures for some common diseases. Since they're so free, let's give the order to find some literate female teachers and eunuchs. They will be tested in a month. Those who pass the test will be rewarded with ten taels of silver, and those who fail will be dealt with accordingly."
Bai Xiang: "Your Majesty has the best ideas. This servant will go and do it right away."
Yunrong: "We in the palace also need to hurry up and learn. I don't want any unqualified people to appear in the palace, do you understand?"
Bai Xiang: "This servant understands."
Just as they were discussing why the Emperor had suddenly tidied up Kunning Palace and made the Empress move in, they were startled by a sudden imperial edict. Everyone in the palace, from top to bottom, had to learn the manual issued by the Empress. Even those who were illiterate had to follow along, and there would be an assessment in a month.
As two concubines whose status in the harem was second only to the Empress, Consort Duan and Consort An dared not show their dissatisfaction with the Empress, but that did not mean they were without dissatisfaction.
Since being conferred the title of concubine, the two have been sticking together for mutual support. Over the years, they have had no unnecessary conflicts of interest, so their relationship has become increasingly better.
Consort An often went to Consort Duan's palace to talk to her and relieve her boredom.
Consort An sighed and said, "Sister Consort Duan, when will this end?"
Consort Duan didn't know what she was thinking, she just said: "At least the Empress treats the harem relatively well and doesn't deprive us of anything. The Emperor doesn't like us, so we were already sidelined before the Empress entered the palace. After the Empress entered the palace, we were promoted to help the Emperor balance the harem. The Empress has the Emperor's attention, so at least the harem is peaceful! This is better than before."
Consort An was well aware of this principle, but seeing the Emperor's daily favor towards the Empress, she could not help but feel resentful.
Consort An's expression changed slightly upon hearing Consort Duan's words, but she quickly recovered and said with a hint of self-deprecation, "It seems my sister is having hysteria. When she first entered the palace, she always thought she could win the Emperor's favor. Later, she realized her situation and understood that she was nothing. Now her life is relatively stable, but for some reason, she feels like there is no hope."
Consort An's words were truly from the bottom of her heart, and Consort Duan felt bad upon hearing them. Not only Consort An, but she felt the same way.
The Emperor no longer favors them, and the Empress is not harsh to others, but life is becoming more and more mundane, which is really agonizing!
Consort Duan sighed: "Sister, it's fine to say these words, but don't take them too seriously."
Consort An: "I know, I only dare to say such things to you, elder sister. I wouldn't dare to say them to anyone else!"
Consort Duan: "It's good that my sister knows."
Consort An: "Sigh! Speaking of which, the Empress is quite capable. Back then, it was obvious to everyone that the late Empress wanted to move into Kunning Palace, but the Emperor acted as if he didn't know. Now, the Emperor is sending what the late Empress longed for to the Empress. I wonder if the late Empress, if she were alive, would appear in my dreams in the middle of the night."
Consort Duan was displeased as Consort An's words became increasingly outrageous: "Consort An, watch your words."
Seeing that Consort Duan's tone was a bit harsh, Consort An knew that she had indeed gone too far: "Sister, don't be angry. I'm just feeling a bit upset right now. It's just the two of us sisters here, and I know my limits."
Consort Duan: "I know what you mean. Since the Empress has given the order, we should just have the people in the palace carry it out. Besides, I have read the booklet that the Empress issued. It is beneficial to us and has no disadvantages. In addition, the Empress has dealt with the harem quite a bit in the past. We could endure it before, so there is nothing we cannot endure now."
Consort An knew she had a problem with her mindset, but she was truly fed up with the dullness of the palace.
The Emperor never sets foot in any other woman's palace except for the Empress. Although life was a bit tough before the Emperor's exclusive favor for the Empress, at least there was some hope. Even having unrealistic dreams every day was much better than the current life where you can see the end from the beginning.
Consort An: "Sister Consort Duan, I really feel that there is no hope in living like this. If I weren't afraid of implicating my family, I would like to smash my head against a pillar and die."
Consort Duan said to Consort An, "Princess An, please don't say such discouraging things." Then Consort Duan said to Consort An in a very low voice, "No one can always have a smooth life. God is fair. Sometimes a person's life is too smooth in the first half, but they may be unlucky in the second half."
She would have thought these words made sense in the past, but now they didn't seem convincing. However, she still had some thoughts in her mind, thinking that if the Empress suddenly passed away, perhaps the harem wouldn't be such a stagnant place.
Consort An sighed again and said, "I hope so!"
They felt wronged, but they were powerless to do anything about it, nor did they dare to do anything. Consort Hui and Consort Rong were examples of what had happened. And looking at the families of Consort Hui and Consort Rong, they hadn't dared to cause any major disturbances in recent years.
Yinzhen had no idea that his unique affection for Yunrong made the women in the harem, though they dared not do anything, curse her quite a bit. Although Yinzhen would pay attention to the movements in the harem, he would not use his manpower to eavesdrop on the conversations of the women in the harem.
As long as they don't have any ulterior motives, he doesn't mind taking good care of them.
In fact, Yinzhen did not want to keep everyone in the palace, but he did not have a good reason to send them all out of the palace. Yinzhen had already made up his mind that once the Yuanmingyuan was completed, he would take Yunrong and his children to live there, which would avoid a lot of unnecessary trouble.
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