"Sister, speak up. I'd like to hear what you have to say to me," Consort Hui said, walking up to a peony bush and looking at the most vibrant blossoms.
"Sister, do you still prefer peonies?" Consort Rong also saw the peonies.
"Yes, I have always loved peonies. I remember my sister prefers chrysanthemums," Consort Hui said with a hint of disdain.
"It's a pity that you, sister, are not qualified to be the queen of flowers!" There was no sarcasm in Consort Rong's calm eyes.
"You!" Consort Hui frowned. "If you've come here to mock me, then please leave!"
“Sister, I haven’t come here today to mock you. I have come to tell you a story from the past,” Consort Rong said, unmoved.
"What past events?" Consort Hui asked.
"Does Sister still remember how your Third Prince died?" Consort Rong asked. "If your Third Prince were still alive, then Prince Yi would not be the Third Prince."
Consort Hui frowned and said, "Didn't the Third Prince die of a cold? What exactly are you trying to say?"
Consort Rong said, "It wasn't just my sister's third prince, but also my fourth and sixth princes! They all died from some kind of cold."
Consort Hui said, "Even the Empress's eldest son, Yinyou, is gone. Alas, the children in the palace are said to be the most noble in the world, but their lives are indeed the most vulnerable to the cold."
As she said this, her eyes were filled with sorrow, as was those of Consort Rong. She had given birth to four princes for Emperor Kangxi, but only the third prince survived.
"What exactly does my sister want to say?" Consort Hui composed herself, raised an eyebrow, and asked.
"I've come today to tell you that your eldest prince might still be saved this time," Consort Rong said, walking to a tea tree and stroking a beautifully blooming camellia.
"You, you would be so kind?" Consort Hui asked suspiciously, looking at Consort Rong's retreating figure.
"Hehe, whether you believe it or not, sister, I never intended to be your enemy. It's just that we've been manipulated by someone, and her son is now the Crown Prince!" Consort Rong said.
"Empress Hesheli!" Consort Hui exclaimed in surprise.
"That's right, it's our Empress whom the Emperor can never forget! She was gentle, kind, and virtuous. The Emperor gave her so many posthumous titles, but unfortunately, she did too many things, and even Heaven didn't want to let her go." Rongfei's eyes, which had been calm just moments before, immediately filled with resentment.
"You mean she's the culprit?" Consort Hui asked incredulously.
“That’s right. So, the younger sister came to tell the older sister that she wanted the older sister to know how our good empress behaved. If the emperor knew that the empress he respected and remembered most was of such a character, would he still protect the crown prince in every way because of her affection?” Consort Rong said with a faint smile, but her smile was tinged with sadness.
"Do you really want the Emperor to forgive Yinqi?" Consort Hui looked at Consort Rong in disbelief. Years of life in the palace had made her distrustful of everyone.
“Sister, I hate her and her son even more than you do! My son was just manipulated into bringing those two people in and saying those things. Even if it wasn’t him, it would have been someone else,” Consort Rong said.
Consort Rong's words are true. In this palace, who can truly be happy with whom? Everyone is just waiting to see who will suffer first.
"Do you have any evidence? She's been dead for so many years, and those who served her are either dead or have left the palace," Consort Hui said.
"It depends on whether you want to look for them or not. They're not all dead. Quite a few didn't leave the palace back then," said Consort Rong.
Consort Hui plucked a peony flower, a glint of shrewdness flashing in her eyes. Finally, she tucked the peony into her sideburns and asked, "Do I look good wearing this flower?"
Consort Rong looked at Consort Hui and said, "Beautiful, extremely beautiful. Much more beautiful than Hesheli."
Actually, Emperor Kangxi married two women: Empress Heseri and Consort Hui, a member of the Nalan family. Kangxi initially favored Consort Hui, who was radiant and stunningly beautiful in her youth. Empress Heseri, however, was chosen because she came from the powerful Sony family, a lineage that had served three emperors, and was designated as Empress by Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang.
"You must have come prepared, since Yinqi committed a crime. I only have one son, and I must save him!" Consort Hui said through gritted teeth.
“If it weren’t for the fact that my sister’s birth was not as good as that of the Hesheli clan, I’m afraid my sister would be the empress!” Consort Rong said.
"There's no need to say any more. I know in my heart whether I can be the Empress. Tell me, is there any evidence left of Hesheli's treachery?" Consort Hui said.
“That’s great! Sister, do you remember that Granny Qin? She was the head nanny in the princes’ quarters back then, but for some reason, she was inexplicably removed by the Empress.” Consort Rong said.
"Yes, after Granny Qin left, Granny Li came in. Ever since Granny Li came in, the children have been dying one after another. I really wonder, whose side is that Granny Li on?" Consort Hui said.
"Back when Granny Qin was still in the Prince's quarters, Granny Li was already there. However, Granny Qin was in charge, and Granny Li was her partner. Think about it, Granny Qin was doing a good job, so why was she suddenly demoted and Granny Li took her place?" Consort Rong said.
"You mean, the Empress deliberately replaced Granny Qin and put Granny Li in her place?" Consort Hui asked.
“That’s right. This Lady Qin is still in the palace. However, she is already an old woman.” Consort Rong said, “But she is not dead; she is in the Cold Palace.”
"The Cold Palace?" Consort Hui asked.
“That’s right. If she hadn’t hidden herself in the Cold Palace back then, she probably wouldn’t have survived. She went to the Cold Palace to avoid trouble. I never expected that she would stay there for more than 30 years,” Consort Rong said.
"You mean she knew about Hesheli's harmful deeds?" Consort Hui asked.
"I have already met with her and told her that Hesheli has long since turned to ashes. I also promised her the benefits of a peaceful old age before she agreed to report Hesheli to the Emperor," Consort Rong said.
"Why don't you go and say it yourself?" Consort Hui asked.
“If I were to speak of it, the Emperor would only suspect my motives, because I have no grounds. But it’s different for you, sister. Yinqi used witchcraft to harm the Crown Prince. If you could bring up these old stories, perhaps you could ease the Emperor’s guilt towards Empress Hesheri. Just think, the good Empress he remembers was actually such a vicious and wicked woman in secret!” Consort Rong said with a light smile. She recalled how she had been neglected by Emperor Kangxi for three years simply because she had offended Empress Hesheri. Three years of a woman’s most beautiful years!
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