Chapter 29 Returning the Phoenix Seal to Accept Concubines
Seeing that it was getting late, Fanghua stopped talking and led them to Cining Palace to pay their respects.
When Fanghua and the others arrived, the Empress Dowager and Empress Dowager Jue Shao had already had breakfast.
Upon learning that they had come to pay their respects, the Empress Dowager instructed Su Ma to personally escort the Empress and the others into the main hall.
"Greetings to the Empress Dowager. May the Empress Dowager enjoy boundless happiness and good health."
"Greetings to Your Majesty the Empress Dowager. May Your Majesty be blessed."
"Alright, get up, all of you." The Empress Dowager's face was full of smiles when she saw them arrive. "Fanghua, you've just finished your postpartum confinement. There's no need for you to run around in this cold weather."
After Fanghua led everyone to their feet, she immediately curtsied again and said, "It has been a long time since I have come to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager. I was just thinking of the Empress Dowager."
"You've become even more lively since having a child," the Empress Dowager teased the Empress, completely forgetting that there were still several people standing there.
"It's all thanks to the Empress Dowager's favor. The Empress Dowager can't possibly dislike such a granddaughter-in-law."
"Haha, I don't mind at all, I don't mind at all. I love you so much."
The Empress Dowager smiled broadly and pointed at the Empress, saying to the Empress Dowager beside her, "I've spoiled the Empress with this look. She's so graceful. Look at her, doesn't she look like a girl from our grasslands?"
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager smiled and said in Mongolian, "Your Majesty is right. The Empress's personality is very pleasing, and I like her very much too."
In Mongolian, Fanghua naturally knows how to say it.
She is fluent in Manchu, Chinese, and Mongolian.
If she had lived, there would have been no Consort Yi later on.
However, it must be said that it is indeed rare to find someone with her personality in the imperial harem.
"Listen to this, listen to this. I was just about to tell you something about her, but you've already fallen for her."
Seeing the Empress chatting so happily with the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager, Niohuru and the others were filled with envy.
They did try to please the two men, but unfortunately, the two men were indifferent to them.
Niohuru clan was disliked by the Empress Dowager because of her adoptive father, Ao Bai.
She usually avoids getting too close to them, for fear of implicating her family.
About half an hour later, the Empress Dowager left the Empress behind and sent the rest of the people back.
Although the Empress was puzzled, she wanted to hear what the Empress Dowager wanted to do.
If it weren't for the fact that Kangxi was currently unable to defend the court, she would have wanted to send that old codger away immediately.
"Empress, I have something to discuss with you." After taking a sip of tea to moisten her throat, the Empress Dowager began to speak about serious matters.
"Grandmother, please speak freely. Your granddaughter-in-law will certainly not refuse to do what is necessary." Fanghua's words were very pleasant to hear, and no one could find fault with them.
Upon hearing her words, the Empress Dowager gave Su Ma a wink, and soon Su Ma brought out a wooden box.
The Empress Dowager took it and opened it.
As soon as it appeared, Xiao Feng's voice rang in Fang Hua's mind, "Master, it's the Phoenix Seal, it's the Phoenix Seal! Master must take it back! This thing is my vessel, you must take it back!"
Hearing Xiaofeng's excited yet anxious tone, Fanghua knew that this thing was very important to her.
"Don't worry, since she took it out, she probably meant to give it to me."
Xiao Feng quieted down after hearing this.
“Before, when you were pregnant, your Empress Mother and I took care of the palace affairs. Now that you have finished your confinement, it’s time for you to take over the palace affairs. Your Empress Mother and I are getting old, and it’s time for us to enjoy our retirement.”
After saying that, she took out the Phoenix Seal and placed it in Fanghua's hands. "You are the Empress I personally chose. I know you better than anyone else. I am most at ease entrusting the Phoenix Seal to you. It is also a blessing for the Emperor to have your assistance."
She had said all the nice things, but Fanghua knew it wouldn't be that simple.
"Grandmother is too kind to her granddaughter-in-law. Everything I have is taught to me by Grandmother herself. Without Grandmother's help, I wouldn't have the ability." As she spoke, she tried to push the phoenix seal back.
The Empress Dowager gripped her hand tightly. "Alright, you're not an outsider. I know you very well. You've managed the affairs of the inner palace before. You are the Empress, and the Phoenix Seal is rightfully yours." She then pushed the hand back with a forceful gesture.
“I know you are a filial son, but your mother and I are getting old and our health is failing. You will eventually have to stand up for yourself and can’t rely on us for everything.”
Fanghua looked at the two of them for a long time, and finally accepted the Phoenix Seal under their firm gazes.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I will certainly not fail the entrustment of my Empress Dowager and Empress Mother." This was considered an acceptance of the matter.
"Good, good, good, it's great that you think that way."
The Empress Dowager also praised Fanghua, then fell silent, simply smiling as she looked at her.
As Fanghua had expected, after she accepted the Phoenix Seal, the Empress Dowager made her demands.
"His Majesty has been ruling in his own right for some years now, and the harem is empty. Fanghua, as the Empress, you should also worry about His Majesty and his children."
"As you know, Chengrui is no longer useful. His Majesty is now without children, only Chenghu and the eldest princess. I am thinking of selecting some servants for His Majesty to enter the palace this year. What do you think?"
Ah, so that's where she was waiting.
But so what? He's just a newbie; he'll have to get in sooner or later.
She is no longer the naive girl who knew love in her past life.
“Grandmother is right. There aren’t many people in the harem who can serve the Emperor right now. Apart from Consort Niohuru, there’s only Consort Zhang. We really should bring in some new people.”
Fanghua remained unfazed and smiled as she continued, "I wonder if Grandmother has any favorite young ladies from prominent families? I'll have someone inquire about them."
Upon seeing her agree, a hint of surprise flashed in the eyes of the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager. They had thought about how to persuade the Empress to be magnanimous, but they never expected that the Empress would agree to the Emperor taking a concubine without saying a word.
What were all their preparations beforehand?
Is this a joke?
"Is Fanghua feeling unhappy?" Finally, the Empress Dowager couldn't help but ask, her eyes full of concern. "If you are feeling sad, you can tell your grandmother. Your grandmother will never let you suffer."
Pretense and insincerity.
If someone truly cared for her, why would they let her take concubines for the emperor?
"What did Grandmother say?" Fanghua raised her head and looked at the two of them, her eyes revealing the sorrow they wanted to see.
Her voice choked with emotion as she said, "I know that the Emperor is the Emperor of all the people under Heaven, not just Fanghua's husband. Even if there is unhappiness or grievance, it is Fanghua's responsibility to bear it. After all, Fanghua is the Empress, the Queen of the country and the mother of all the people."
That's a rather harsh statement.
Who could blame her for seeing two women before her who were both disliked by their husbands?
If Emperor Kangxi truly refused to take anyone else into the palace because of her, tomorrow would likely be her death day. How could they bear to see a woman obtain what they so desperately desired?
"Mother of all people, Queen of the nation"—these words express her helplessness and sorrow, as well as her virtue and magnanimity.
At least in this matter, neither of the two men in front of her is as good as her.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com