Yunyi looked up at Qingdai, then looked back at her book. Although she wasn't angry, she still lectured her: "What kind of manners are you in such a hurry? Speak slowly and don't rush."
Qingdai stopped in her tracks, suppressed the joy on her face, bowed to Yunyi, and slowly walked over, much more composed than before.
"Your Majesty, someone from the palace has arrived. The Emperor wants you to go to the front courtyard to receive the imperial decree!" Qingdai's face was full of excitement as she said this.
Knowing the situation clearly, Yunyi guessed that the imperial decree had probably arrived to appoint her as a secondary consort.
Last year, Hongli was granted the title of Prince Bao by the Emperor, and everyone moved out of the palace to live there.
Yunyi gave birth to Hongli's fourth son last year when he was conferred the title of Prince. Now she has two sons and a daughter.
Logically speaking, Yunyi has the most offspring, with two sons and a daughter, and she is the apple of Hongli's eye. It should have been easy for her to be made a concubine.
However, due to the influence of the Niohuru clan, Hongli delayed promoting Yunyi to a higher rank, allowing her to remain a Gege (a concubine rank).
This year is the twelfth year of the Yongzheng Emperor's reign. Some time ago, Gao Bin was commended by the Yongzheng Emperor for his meritorious service in flood control. It was through this opportunity that Hongli had a reason to submit a memorial requesting the sealing of the imperial edict.
Several days ago, Hongli had subtly hinted at this news. Now, hearing that someone from the palace had come to deliver an imperial edict, Yunyi guessed that it must be the edict appointing her as a secondary consort.
Sure enough, when she hurried to the front courtyard, the eunuch Chen, who was delivering the decree, read out the imperial edict of promotion.
"Now there is Lady Gao, a maidservant of Prince Bao, daughter of Gao Bin, the Grand Canal Commissioner. She is gentle and virtuous, and has rendered meritorious service in ensuring the continuation of Prince Bao's lineage. Her father also made meritorious contributions to flood control in the previous dynasty. Now, Lady Gao is hereby conferred the title of Consort of Prince Bao, and we hope that she will have a bright future..."
Yunyi didn't know what the people present were thinking, but she was genuinely happy.
As the saying goes, people strive for higher positions. If one can become a concubine, who would still want to remain a lowly princess?
As she bowed her head to receive the imperial decree, Empress Fucha felt a pang of sadness, but she quickly suppressed it.
Years of education taught her that as the principal wife, she should be magnanimous and tolerant.
Lady Gao was not that arrogant and domineering. As a concubine, what could she possibly be dissatisfied with?
Furthermore, she was the prince's favorite woman and had given birth to two sons and a daughter. After being a princess for so many years, it was time for her to be promoted.
She told herself this in her heart, and by the time Yunyi received the imperial decree, Fucha Fujin's complexion had returned to normal. Facing the newly appointed Consort Gao, she was able to sincerely say words of celebration.
Whether their intentions were genuine or not, the other princesses all stepped forward to congratulate Yunyi in front of Hongli.
With other matters to attend to, Hongli couldn't go to Madam Gao's place. He whispered to her that he would come over that evening, which brought a smile to her face.
Hongli, quite pleased with this, coughed lightly, put his hands behind his back, and left, with Li Yu following closely behind.
After Hongli left, his wife, Lady Fucha, told everyone that they could go back.
On the way back, Qingdai was still chattering happily, saying that since their mistress had become a concubine, everyone in their courtyard had benefited from this.
From now on, when they go out, they will be servants in the concubine's courtyard. Not only will their masters be treated better, but the treatment of these servants will also be improved.
But what made Qingdai happiest was not this, but that her mistress had become a concubine, and she was no longer that lowly princess.
Qingdai was a maid sent by the Gao family. She had served the original owner, Gao Yunyi, since she was a child. She was loyal to Gao Shi and the Gao family. Seeing Yunyi climb to a high position and have the glory she has today, Qingdai was happy from the bottom of her heart.
Back in her own yard, little Anning ran over with her short legs, stopped in front of Yunyi, and gave her an adorable bow.
"Your daughter congratulates Mother on becoming a secondary consort! Mother is overjoyed!"
Yunyi picked up her beloved little girl and kissed her, smiling contentedly.
I thought to myself, it's definitely better to have a daughter; my daughter is just so well-behaved.
Just as the mother and daughter were getting close, the wet nurse came over carrying the Fourth Prince Yongxuan.
Yongxuan was born in the eleventh year of the Yongzheng Emperor's reign. He was born last year and is not even a year old this year. He is still unable to walk.
Since one hand cannot hold two children, Yunyi held her daughter and asked the nanny to bring her son inside.
She went to the bedside, put the two little ones on it to play, and sat on the edge of the bed watching them.
Qingdai was also serving nearby. Seeing this scene, the corners of her mouth turned up slightly. This scene was so nice.
But then, as if remembering something, Qingdai became a little unhappy again.
Yunyi turned around and saw that her expression had changed. "What's wrong? Who offended our Qingdai? Why is she looking so upset?"
Hearing the teasing, Qingdai protested softly, "Your Highness, you're talking nonsense. This servant didn't have a bad expression."
"Alright, alright, I misspoke. Miss Qingdai, could you please tell me what happened to you just now?"
With a sigh, Qingdai expressed her worries: "My lady, I heard that the Emperor is going to bestow a concubine upon the palace during this selection of consorts."
Yunyi knew about this matter. In Hongli's harem, apart from his primary consort, Lady Fucha, who was of noble status and came from the Manchu Bordered Yellow Banner, there were other women in the family.
The others were either Manchu bannermen or Han bannermen, and even the Su family, a pure Han Chinese, did not have high social status.
For the past few years, Hongli has been the unanimously recognized, both inside and outside the court, as the hidden crown prince and the future emperor.
His backyard should have at least a few more Manchu girls of noble status.
Hongli was afraid that the arrival of a concubine would wrong his beloved Gao Gege, so when Gao's father made meritorious contributions, he submitted a memorial requesting an official title without consulting his mother.
If Gao is promoted to the rank of secondary consort before the secondary consort enters the mansion, then Gao will be the first secondary consort of Prince Bao's mansion. Even if another secondary consort is later granted a marriage by the emperor, Gao's status will still be more noble.
Yunyi was curious about this future concubine, wondering if Nara would still enter the household after history was changed.
Consort Xi in the palace is not in a good mood right now. After Empress Xiaojingxian passed away in the tenth year of Yongzheng's reign, Niohuru was promoted from Consort Xi to Consort Xi, and was the de facto ruler of the harem.
She originally thought that as the future Empress Dowager, she could suppress Lady Gao, but she never expected that her son would disobey her and directly ask Emperor Yongzheng for permission to promote Lady Gao to the rank of secondary consort.
Lady Gao is currently a secondary consort, so once her son ascends the throne, she'll undoubtedly be a concubine.
Consort Xi couldn't stand this. Over the years, Lady Gao had given birth to several children, but she had never let her climb the social ladder, keeping her firmly under her control. Now, however, she hadn't managed to keep her under control.
When Consort Xi learned that the imperial decree to promote her to the rank of secondary consort had been sent to Prince Bao's residence, she was so angry that she smashed several tea sets in the palace.
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