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Mingxiu rushed over with Lüzhu in a panic. Seeing that many concubines were already sitting in the room, she stopped her hurried steps, took a deep breath to calm herself down, and then began to walk in.
"Greetings, Imperial Noble Consort." Ming Xiuxiu walked up to the Imperial Noble Consort and bowed to her in greeting.
Consort Tong nodded, gesturing for Mingxiu to sit in her seat.
"Sister Mingfei, did you rest well last night?" The Imperial Noble Consort looked at Mingxiu with a rosy complexion and spoke gently.
Mingxiu nodded. "Very good. Thank you, Imperial Noble Consort, for arranging this place for me. It's so cool and comfortable to sleep in. I almost overslept this morning. It's so comfortable!" Mingxiu said with a smile.
Since taking care of the Fourth Prince, Consort Tong seems to have become much gentler. It wasn't very noticeable before, but it's especially obvious since she returned from outside the palace. She hasn't bothered Mingxiu at all since Mingxiu returned.
Mingxiu said she was still a little unaccustomed to it. Was this the legendary "having a child makes everything alright"?
"Haha, I really have to thank Your Highness the Imperial Noble Consort. I slept very well last night. Changchun Garden is indeed very cool!" Consort Hui chimed in with a laugh.
The Imperial Noble Consort nodded, her expression very gentle.
After a while, all the concubines had arrived, and the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager came out from the inner room.
After the ceremony, the Empress Dowager looked at the concubines sitting below, smiled and nodded, and gave Mingxiu a special look.
"The area outside the palace is different from the palace. Here, everyone doesn't need to be so strict. You're just here today to pay your respects, and you don't need to come again. Just relax here," the Empress Dowager said gently, looking at the concubines below.
The Empress Dowager stood by, smiling. In such situations, he was usually an appendage of the Empress Dowager and would not utter a word.
After seeing all the concubines nod, the Empress Dowager continued, "You are all the Emperor's concubines. Your most important task is to produce heirs for the Emperor and the royal family. However, you cannot monopolize the Emperor. You should visit the Emperor more often and go to visit the other concubines in the harem. This is what a qualified concubine should do, right?"
As soon as the Empress Dowager finished speaking, all the concubines sitting below looked at each other and finally turned their gazes to Mingxiu.
Mingxiu's eyes twitched. She knew without a doubt that this topic was deliberately brought up to her. It must be because when Kangxi went on his tour, he only took her with him, and now that he's back, she's coming to his palace, which displeased the Empress Dowager.
Mingxiu was speechless. The Empress Dowager was too petty. What's the use of telling us if you don't tell your grandson? It was clearly your grandson who asked for it himself.
Mingxiu muttered to herself, but dared not utter a sound on her face.
Upon seeing this scene, Consort Tong rose and said, "Your Majesty, I will obey the Empress Dowager's decree and will certainly offer more advice to Your Majesty."
After she said that, everyone naturally followed suit.
Mingxiu lowered her eyes and stood up to reply along with everyone else.
The Empress Dowager glanced at Mingxiu, then at Consort Tong. After seeing that both of them had calm expressions on their faces, the Empress Dowager finally looked away.
She also found it a bit strange. Given the Imperial Noble Consort's personality, if someone could gain such favor from Emperor Kangxi, she would have already started taking action. Now, it seems like she's become a different person.
However, the Empress Dowager didn't say anything at the moment. In her heart, the one she hated the most was not Consort Tong, but Mingxiu. The concubines in the harem existed to please the emperor and to continue the family line, but there should never be a situation where the emperor had exclusive favor in the harem.
Although Emperor Kangxi now frequently visits other palaces and the harem is well-balanced, his recent tour only included Consort Ming, and his frequent visits to her palace upon his return are noteworthy.
The Empress Dowager felt a vague unease in her heart, fearing that a situation similar to that of Consort Dong'e would occur again, so she came out specifically to give Consort Ming a warning.
Consort Yi was a little plump because she had just given birth and her body had not fully recovered yet, but her complexion was very rosy. Seeing that no one was speaking, she was about to say something when she saw the Empress Dowager glance at her.
She immediately stopped talking and sat obediently in her seat. From the moment she sent her son to the Empress Dowager to be raised, it was already destined that she and the Empress Dowager would be on the same side.
The Empress Dowager would never harm her, so she still has to listen to the Empress Dowager.
Everyone sat quietly for a while, and soon the palace was filled with the sounds of conversation again. Mingxiu lowered her eyes and sat quietly below.
Consort Hui glanced at Mingxiu with some concern. The Empress Dowager's words were clearly meant for her. She wondered if Consort Mingxiu would feel bad.
Ming Xiucai wasn't upset. She kept her head down to prevent herself from accidentally swearing. It was clearly a man's problem, but in the end, it was all blamed on the woman. She just felt a little uncomfortable.
She glanced up slightly and saw Consort Hui's worried eyes. Mingxiu smiled gently and gestured to her that she was alright.
After sitting for a while, everyone dispersed. Mingxiu was still in a bad mood because of what had just happened, so she went straight back to Linxiang Mountain.
On the way, Green Bamboo looked at her mistress with some worry. Mingxiu didn't say a word. After returning to the room, she immediately ordered people to close the door and told them to close the door as soon as the Emperor came and not to let him in.
Although the servants below were somewhat worried and didn't know what had happened, they had no way to refuse Mingxiu's request and could only timidly nod in agreement.
Mingxiu grew angrier the more she thought about it on the way back. Why should she have to bear the consequences of the trouble caused by the man? Although she had a lot of fun going out, she knew that someone would definitely target her when she came back.
But I still feel uneasy.
She lay on the bed for a while, feeling down, to adjust her mindset. When she stood up, she realized she was in a bad mood and didn't want to be alone.
"Green Bamboo, see what His Highness the Crown Prince is doing now? If he's not busy, have him come over and chat with me." Ming Xiuxiu waved her hand, she desperately needed good news to cheer herself up.
Green Bamboo nodded, glanced at Mingxiu, and then went out to find His Highness the Crown Prince.
When Yinreng came in, he saw Mingxiu sitting below, playing with something in her hand.
“Mother Ming, I’m here!” Yinreng said loudly as he walked in.
Upon hearing the sound, Mingxiu threw down what she was holding and beckoned for Yin to throw it over.
"Mother Consort, what are you doing?" Yinreng asked curiously, looking at the things in front of him.
Seeing Yinreng's curious expression, Mingxiu said with a grin, "Come, come, this is something I just made, something really good."
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