Su Mala Gu was a maid who had followed Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang since childhood. From Khorchin to Shengjing and then to the Forbidden City, she was always there for her.
Therefore, Su Mala Gu held a different position in Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang's heart. Her power was not as simple as that of an ordinary nanny. With her around, Yunyi could do many things.
Moreover, Ren Xiaozhuang would never have imagined that Su Mala Gu would be Yun Yi's person, and she would not have any suspicion of Su Mala Gu.
As for Qimuge and Wurina by her side, their loyalty is beyond doubt, but Yunyi will often need to entrust Sumalagu with tasks, so she can't keep sending the two of them out.
If they weren't dismissed, they would be puzzled as to how their mistress could command the obedience of Su Ma La Gu, who served the Empress Dowager. How could Yun Yi explain this?
To avoid trouble, Yunyi used loyalty talismans on Urina and Muge, making things easier for them in the future.
The loyalty charm worked quickly; Su Ma La Gu's expression changed only slightly before she returned to normal, showing no difference from usual.
But Yunyi knew that at this moment, she felt a sense of mystery and enigma.
After asking Sumalagu, Yunyi decided to first understand all of Xiaozhuang's forces before making her own plans based on Xiaozhuang's existing power.
After listening to Sumalagu's report, Yunyi couldn't help but sigh, "As expected of Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang, she has people all over the palace, as well as the families of imperial relatives and ministers outside the palace."
This is good; the larger Xiaozhuang's sphere of influence, the easier it is for her to do whatever she wants.
After pondering for a while, Yunyi adjusted her original plan in her mind, and then gave instructions to Sumalagu.
After everything was arranged, Yunyi sent Sumalagu back.
None of this was known to outsiders. Sumalagu's visit to Consort Jing was at the behest of Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang. Everything was perfectly reasonable, and no one would suspect anything was amiss.
Back at Cining Palace, Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang summoned Sumalagu for questioning, and the answer she received was that everything was fine.
Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang put down her teacup, but she was not particularly pleased with the answer.
"Sigh! It seems Meng Guqing is still blaming me for giving up on her back then."
Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang thought this way because after Yunyi transmigrated, she requested to move to Shuangyue Palace to live, far away from the hustle and bustle of the palace.
After being diagnosed with her pregnancy, she told Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang that she didn't want others to know about it and that she wanted to take the child back to Horqin after giving birth.
Out of guilt, Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang agreed to her niece's request. After all, Meng Guqing's personality was not suitable for the palace, and letting her go back was the best course of action.
However, since her niece was pregnant, Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang had her own requirements. If it was a prince, she would not let them leave. Only if the child was a princess could she let the mother and daughter leave together.
Yunyi understood that if she gave birth to a prince, Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang would definitely not let her go. This child was of the bloodline of the Borjigit and Aisin Gioro clans, and Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang would definitely support this child to ascend to the throne.
As the prince's birth mother, if she returned to her parents' home, it would become a stain on the child's reputation, so Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang would not allow him to leave the capital.
But it doesn't matter. Yunyi already has a plan for this. She will definitely give birth to the child safely and then return to Khorchin with the original owner's wishes.
The seemingly peaceful imperial palace is actually a hotbed of intrigue. Yun Yi lives in the most remote Frost Moon Palace and is secretly stirring up trouble.
She was a deposed empress and no longer posed a threat. Everyone knew she was ill or too ashamed to face anyone, so they requested to live in Shuangyue Palace. Therefore, no one paid her any attention.
Tong Yurou thought so too. Not long after she entered the palace, the Empress was deposed, and then she moved to Shuangyue Palace, where news of her illness spread.
Having not had much contact with the Empress, Tong Yurou's impression of this deposed empress, now known as Consort Jing, was entirely based on what others had said; she was not actually familiar with her.
That night, Emperor Shunzhi, in high spirits, visited Consort Tong's Chengqian Palace.
Like Dong E, Tong was a well-educated and knowledgeable young woman.
Emperor Shunzhi admired Han learning and preferred delicate, scholarly girls. However, almost all of his concubines in the palace were Mongolian concubines chosen by his mother, with a few Manchu concubines as well.
It was under such circumstances that Dong Eshi could capture his heart at first sight and remain unforgettable to him.
If they couldn't have Consort Dong'e, Consort Tong would be their substitute.
Therefore, when Tong Yurou entered the palace, although she was a Han girl and only received the rank of concubine, she was still considered favored.
Touching her belly, which wasn't showing yet, Tong Yurou wasn't sure if she was pregnant, but fearing something might happen, she didn't dare serve the emperor. Instead, she pushed the palace maid next to her to take her place.
Since Consort Tong said she was unwell and unable to serve the emperor, Emperor Shunzhi did not make things difficult for her and obediently went to the side hall to be served by the palace maid.
At this moment, the beautiful palace maid was unaware that her fate was about to change; she would lose her son, but she would be able to save her life.
Whether this change was good or bad for her, Yunyi didn't know which outcome she wanted, but for the sake of her plan, this palace maid had no other choice.
She turned down the favor of the palace maids around her and endured another month of pregnancy until she was three months pregnant and it was confirmed that the pregnancy was safe before she revealed that she was pregnant.
Since there was no empress in the palace, people did not need to go to Kunning Palace to pay their respects. Instead, they went to Cining Palace to pay their respects on the first and fifteenth of each month.
Tong Yurou was a concubine of the Han Banner Army, and had the lowest status in the palace. Moreover, she was only a concubine after entering the palace, but she was very favored, so her situation was not very good.
Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang looked at the concubines below, most of whom were Mongolian concubines, and she gave them the same old, tired answer.
There are few heirs in the palace, so you should all work hard to serve the Emperor well, produce offspring for the royal family, and ensure the continuation of the imperial line...
The concubines below were all very respectful on the surface, but they were suffering inwardly. The emperor never came to see them, so how were they supposed to get pregnant? This was just making things difficult for them.
After saying these words, Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang changed the subject to other matters. The concubines below breathed a sigh of relief, and the atmosphere in the hall immediately became much more relaxed.
Those who were lively started chatting to make Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang happy and liven up the atmosphere.
Just as things were getting lively, a sudden sound of retching rang out in the hall.
Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw that it was Consort Tong sitting in the back, who was somewhat flustered.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me, it was my rudeness!"
Empress Xiaozhuang, who had given birth to three daughters and one son, was no stranger to this reaction. She secretly guessed what was going on, but was not sure, so she asked a few questions.
Tong Yurou didn't speak, but the palace maid beside her answered, saying that her mistress had been sleepy and had a poor appetite lately.
Now Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang was truly convinced that she had guessed correctly; these were definitely symptoms of pregnancy.
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