Chapter 84 Chapter 84...Acting?
After the Queen passed away, the Phoenix Seal was held by the Grand Empress Dowager of the Cining Palace for a period of time.
At the end of April, probably for the purpose of examination, the Grand Empress Dowager transferred the Phoenix Seal to the Empress Dowager.
However, the Empress Dowager only knew Mongolian, and did not understand Manchu or Chinese. She was unfamiliar with all the affairs and palace rules and procedures in the harem. Although she had the help of the Empress Dowager's confidants, many mistakes were still made in just two months.
Helplessly, the Empress Dowager had to take the Phoenix Seal back.
She wanted to welcome another empress into the palace for the emperor, but the emperor politely declined.
The Grand Empress Dowager had no choice but to turn her attention to the harem. After observing for a while, she saw that Concubine Tong had organized the third-day bathing banquet of the little prince born to Concubine Ling quite well, and the full-month banquet was also prepared in a grand manner without being extravagant or wasteful.
And she didn't show any jealousy towards Lingpin at all, unlike when the queen was still around...
Ahem, the Empress Dowager was finally satisfied. She felt that Concubine Tong had made a lot of progress in the past two years and was still capable of taking on important responsibilities, so she called her over.
…
Therefore, it is now Concubine Tong of Chengqian Palace who holds the Phoenix Seal and is in charge of the affairs of the six palaces.
However, she has always been lazy. On the second day after she got the Phoenix Seal, she summoned all the main ladies of each palace except Li Shuyao to Chengqian Palace. As before, she asked them lazily if they had time to come and help her.
The death of Niohuru seemed to have taken away all the fighting spirit she had in the first half of her life.
She now sits firmly on the throne of the number one in the harem, and is also the emperor's cousin. Even if someone else in the harem is favored, she can never compare to her weight in the emperor's heart.
For her, palace power was just a little icing on the cake.
Sometimes, she even disliked the tedious and tiring palace affairs.
Hearing what Concubine Tong said, several concubines looked at each other subconsciously.
They didn't dare to take on palace affairs before, probably because the late queen was still alive. They were afraid that they would be involved in the contest between the late queen and Concubine Tong, and unknowingly become pawns in their hands, so they refused in every possible way.
Now that the late queen has passed away, Concubine Tong still seems to be completely indifferent to the power of the palace...
It was only at this time that they began to believe that Concubine Tong really did not mean this.
So one by one, they began to feel a little excited.
After all, that is palace power.
Among the people present, probably only Concubine Yi, Guo Luoluo, acted relatively calm.
But this is also reasonable. Concubine Ling in Changchun Palace is still in confinement. Except for visiting her every afternoon, the emperor spends the rest of the time either staying in Chengqian Palace or Yiku Palace.
As for the new favorites, their vision is always not as long-term as those "old ones".
Moreover, judging from the degree of favor that Yipin and Lingpin enjoy now, even if they don't have any palace power at all, who in the palace would dare to look down on them?
Not to mention that they have princes by their side.
——Although Concubine Yi was only two months pregnant, she had been as close to Concubine Ling of Changchun Palace as one person since she entered the harem. In addition, the two palaces were very close to each other. Isn’t Concubine Ling’s child equivalent to her, Guo Luoluo’s, godson?
So it doesn’t matter whether Concubine Yi’s baby is a boy or a girl.
After confirming that what Concubine Tong said was true and without any excuses, several concubines quickly began to divide up the palace affairs one after another.
While no one was paying attention, Guo Luoluo Qingyao quietly walked to the side of Concubine Tong, and a hint of hesitation flashed across her pretty face.
Then she clenched the silk handkerchief in her hand and whispered to Concubine Tong, "Your Majesty, there's been a rumor going around in the palace lately. Have you heard anything about it?"
Concubine Tong lazily raised her eyelids and said nonchalantly, "Hmm? What rumors?"
A few days ago, she was summoned to the Cining Palace by the Empress Dowager. When she came back, she brought two large boxes of account books, which she read without sleep for several days before she finished them.
As soon as she finished reading it, she couldn't wait to call the seven concubines to Chengqian Palace, intending to wait until they finished dividing the palace affairs, and then she would go back to her bedroom to have a good sleep.
Get some rest so that you can go to Changchun Palace tomorrow to visit the little prince born to Concubine Ling.
There is also the day after tomorrow, and the day after that, until the full moon banquet is over. She will have about six or seven days to play alone with the little prince born to Concubine Ling.
Otherwise, when Concubine Ling comes out of her confinement, where will she be able to get a share?
She heard that newborn babies can only recognize people by smell. Counting the days, she found that she had not been to Changchun Palace for a full half month. If she didn't go, what would happen if little Yinzhen forgot about her?
She must take advantage of these last few days to make Yinzhen, who is still in his infancy, remember her scent deeply!
Qingyao said, "That's right. The palace ladies are all talking about you planning to adopt Shuyao's child. They also say that you are the Imperial Concubine and Shuyao is just a small concubine, so there is no way she can compete with you."
"Oh, by the way, they also said that you have already sought the Emperor's grace, and after you adopt Yinzhen, you will also change his jade disc..."
Concubine Tong listened, her face suddenly darkened, and she frowned and asked, "Have you found out where this rumor came from?"
Qingyao shook her head slowly.
He didn't know what he remembered, so he asked again: "Then, Madam, what do you mean by this..."
Have you never thought about this?
Qingyao finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Concubine Tong gave her a look of displeasure, "Do I look like someone who can't have children?"
Qingyao shook her head in denial.
Concubine Tong then said, "Yes, since I can give birth, why should I envy other people's children? Besides, Lingpin and I have no grudges against each other, and she has always been respectful and obedient to me. How could I bear to separate them from their child?"
Qingyao nodded repeatedly after hearing this, then sighed, "Yes."
So rumors really cannot be believed.
Concubine Tong extended a finger and tapped Qingyao's forehead twice. "So where did you first hear the rumor?"
Qingyao said uncertainly, "It seems to be near the Yanxi Palace..."
"impossible!"
The concubines who were discussing heatedly nearby stopped the topic at some point.
While drinking tea as if nothing had happened, he quietly pricked up his ears and eavesdropped on the conversation between Concubine Yi and Concubine Tong.
When Concubine Yi heard that the rumor first spread from near the Yanx Palace, Concubine Hui denied it without thinking.
Concubine Yi was stunned for a moment.
Huipin said, "I've been so busy tutoring Baoqing lately that I don't have time to spread rumors about the Imperial Concubine."
"Also, Lingpin was kind to me in the past, and I quite like her. How could she repay kindness with hatred and do something that even an animal wouldn't do?"
Yipin heard: "..."
She thought to herself, Huipin’s way of scolding people is really sophisticated.
As Huipin was speaking, she slammed the table in anger.
Concubine Tong had no choice but to speak out to comfort her, "Yipin only said that she heard it near the Yanxi Palace, but she never said that the rumor came from the Yanxi Palace. Huipin, don't worry..."
"How can I not be anxious?"
Without waiting for her to finish, Concubine Hui stood up and bowed to Concubine Tong, "I will go back and find out who is so bold as to cause chaos near the Yanxi Palace!"
She left as soon as she finished speaking, so fast that Concubine Yi and Concubine Tong had no time to stop her.
Then one could hear the sound of "dong dong" as Huibin stepped out of the bottom of the flower pot in anger, and it disappeared after a while.
Concubine Yi withdrew her hand from the air that was about to stop her and looked at Concubine Tong hesitantly.
Concubine Tong thought for a moment and said, "Forget it, let her be."
She then asked the concubines sitting below, "What about you? Have you heard similar rumors?"
Only Concubine Rong and Concubine Duan nodded.
As for the others, the word "confused" was written all over their eyes and expressions.
Concubine Tong asked Qingyao again, "Then, where is Concubine Ling?"
Qingyao thought for a moment and said, "She's still in confinement after giving birth. Even if Nanny Yan heard such rumors, she probably wouldn't tell her."
Otherwise, how could Shu Yao have a good confinement period?
With her temper, she would have come running to ask Concubine Tong angrily, right?
Then I will get a negative answer from Concubine Tong...
Then she would become even angrier, holding Concubine Tong's hand, and begging her to take charge of the matter for her, to pull out the palace maids who had spoken ill of her son, and to send them all to climb Mount Tai!
Qingyao imagined in her mind how Li Shuyao would react after hearing the rumor, and then she curved her eyebrows and revealed a faint smile.
Concubine Tong probably thought the same thing as her. Her fingertips trembled slightly twice, and then she raised the corners of her lips.
The concubines sitting below also had different thoughts.
After a while, Concubine Tong came out of her thoughts.
He warned Qingyao, "Concubine Hui and I will investigate the rumors. You are pregnant now, so don't worry about it."
"If you have nothing to do on weekdays, you can go to Changchun Palace more often to accompany Lingpin, and keep an eye on the people in Changchun Palace. Don't let those with ulterior motives spread rumors in front of her."
Qingyao quickly knelt and saluted, "Yes, I understand."
…
After returning from Chengqian Palace, Qingyao was thinking about what excuse she could use to visit Li Shuyao.
Coincidentally, before she could come up with an excuse, Tian Jiarou came to invite her.
Qingyao went there happily.
Before she even entered the delivery room, she heard Li Shuyao complaining, half genuinely and half fakely, "Yinzhen is so naughty..."
The next second, the baby's unique clear cry was heard.
Li Shuyao was a little flustered for a moment, "Oh, don't cry, don't cry, mother was just talking nonsense..."
Yinzhen completely ignored her and continued crying as if he had suffered some great injustice.
Qingyao listened with her heart in her throat.
Li Shuyao muttered in the delivery room, "Okay, okay, mother won't say you're naughty anymore. You're the most obedient baby, okay?"
Yinzhen's crying seemed to have become quieter.
Instead, Yue Shu's voice came out in a panic, "Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Please be gentle!"
"The imperial physician said you can't shake the little prince so hard!"
"Eh? Not possible?" Li Shuyao said in surprise.
Then she looked down at the swaddling clothes in her arms. She clearly didn't use much force. She just sat on the bed, hugged Yinzhen and twisted around a few times, that's all...
Is this not okay?
Yue Shu's voice sounded firm, "Not yet. If Your Majesty wants to do it, you have to wait until the little prince is three months old..."
"Wow--"
Yue Shu quickly changed her words, "Three, three months is not enough, it has to be six..."
“Wow! Wow—”
Yue Shu inside, "..."
She glanced at Li Shuyao with some embarrassment, and finally closed her eyes, "No matter how old the little prince is, this is not allowed!"
Yinzhen's crying suddenly stopped freely.
Li Shuyao: “?”
Qingyao outside: "?"
...acting?
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