Today, Empress Dowager Hesheli brought Jingrou to thank Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang for Jingrou's title of County Princess. This was their first visit to the palace since receiving the imperial decree.
Because of the person she had just met, Hesheli was somewhat unsettled on the way.
After marrying Prince An, Hesheli did not have much contact with her maternal family. Even though she had a particularly close relationship with her brother in the past, she tacitly reduced some contact with him.
It's not that the feelings between the two people have faded over time, but rather that they have to avoid something.
One was a prince wielding power, and the other was a powerful family that had risen to prominence since the reign of Emperor Shunzhi. Their marriage was something the emperor was wary of.
If they continue to act as if they are very close, they will definitely not please either side.
However, during festivals, the two families maintained regular exchanges of etiquette, and Hesheli and her sister-in-law had a very good relationship.
Hesheli's few interactions with her maternal family were always open and aboveboard; she never secretly exchanged letters, leaving no room for suspicion.
She knew that her brother was ambitious and was currently engaged in a fierce power struggle with the eldest prince's maternal grandfather, Nalan Mingzhu, in the imperial court.
But this was a matter of court politics, and she couldn't interfere. She also couldn't persuade her brother, but she never expected that her brother would have such close ties with the Crown Prince...
Although Empress Hesheri came from their family, there's a saying that once a daughter is married, she's no longer considered part of the family. Since she married into the royal family, they shouldn't have such a close relationship.
I wonder how many times this person has entered the palace. Just look at how openly he sent his confidant into the palace to find the Crown Prince. You can tell he's got nothing to lose!
Moreover, judging from the conversation between Fang Tai and the eunuch beside her, the two are very familiar with each other, which means it must be more than just their first time in the palace!
Although the Crown Prince's mother's surname is Hesheli, the seven-year-old Crown Prince has been too close to his maternal grandparents' family. Wouldn't the Emperor have something to worry about?
As Hesheli thought about this, her face grew increasingly grim. Of course, she cared about the rise and fall of the Hesheli family and couldn't let her brother act so recklessly.
******
Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang had been feeling a bit weak lately. When they arrived, she had just been given a pill, so Hesheli didn't stay long before leaving with Jingrou.
After leaving Cining Palace, Empress Hesheli, holding Jingrou's hand, went to Yikun Palace to visit Consort Yi. She had troubled Consort Yi for quite some time, and now that she was in the palace, Empress Hesheli naturally felt obligated to visit her.
Consort Yi finally had the chance to bring up what had happened in the palace before, including her plan to arrange a palace maid for Jingrou.
Hesheli frowned. Neither Jingrou's wet nurse nor her maids had mentioned this matter to her. Even little Zhuzhu, who chattered incessantly in front of her every day, hadn't mentioned it…
With Consort Yi around, she felt at ease and didn't deliberately inquire about what was happening in the palace. After all, someone of her status shouldn't be asking too many questions.
In addition, there were some matters to attend to at home, leaving her with no time to spare.
Unexpectedly, this happened. Although it seemed harmless, the First Prince's attention to Jingrou was really untimely and unpleasant.
Consort Yi sighed, "It was probably because the First Prince was curious when Yinqi went to the study last time! But I have already spoken to Consort Hui and this will not happen again."
Hesheli nodded. "If Your Majesty would like to arrange a palace maid to accompany Zhuzhu, that would be the best outcome. I trust the maid who has been cared for by your side."
She spoke up like this. She could see that Consort Yi was one of the smart ones in their Guoluo clan, unlike her clueless father. If she could arrange someone to be by Zhuzhu's side, Hesheli would certainly feel at ease.
I cannot refuse a gift from my elders. If Consort Yi really wanted to do something, she wouldn't need to inform me; she would have already arranged it right next to Zhuzhu.
Consort Yi smiled contentedly. She had thought that the people on Prince An's side might harbor resentment or prejudice against Guo Luoluo because of their previous badwill towards her, but who would have thought that they were so magnanimous!
As for the candidate, Consort Yi had already carefully selected one, who was her most trusted second-class palace maid.
If her head maidservant reached marriageable age, she planned to promote her to first-class. Therefore, the second-class maidservant was actually a prospective head maidservant, who had also been carefully trained by her.
Now that they needed someone, Consort Yi thought for a long time and still felt that this person was the most suitable and reliable.
From then on, a palace maid named Jinse followed Jingrou.
Jingrou thanked them in a childish voice. After they finished their conversation and were about to get up, Jingrou suddenly received a notification from the system.
Daily task points +2
A daily task? Jingrou thought about it carefully. It should be the task that requires her to contact someone with high merit.
Then… Jingrou’s dark eyes fell on her maternal grandmother and Consort Yi. Who exactly helped her gain points?
Jingrou had no idea. At this moment, she poked the system, but the system didn't respond at all. It had failed her at the crucial moment and she didn't know where it had gone to have some fun.
Moreover, she knew that even if the system were there, it probably wouldn't give her any valuable answers.
The system always acts mysteriously, as if you're charged per word to talk to it, and rarely reveals any valuable information.
But no matter who it is, they are two people who are very close to me. I'm sure there will be many opportunities to spend time together, which will earn me some points!
Although one or two points are few, she spends a lot of time in contact with Consort Yi, Hesheli. Little by little, she accumulates wealth, doesn't she?
Jingrou was overjoyed and very happy when she saw Hesheli off—she had to stay in the palace to finish her afternoon lessons, so she couldn't leave the palace first.
She skipped and hopped, holding Hesheli's hand, and swaying back and forth.
"You've taken on a new palace maid, and you're so happy?" Empress Hesheli smiled and patted her head.
Jingrou tugged at the two people beside her. One of them was trained by her maternal grandmother. Although her understanding of palace rules and such was definitely flawed, she already had a deep affection for them.
One was bestowed by Consort Yi, representing her deep affection, and the other was a reliable and dependable person, so Jingrou liked both of them.
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