In the afternoon, at the Qianqing Palace
Liang Jiugong bowed and entered the hall, reporting to Emperor Kangxi, "Your Majesty, news has come from Yikun Palace that today, after Consort Yu paid her respects to Consort Zhao, she encountered Consort Tong on the long street."
"Consort Tong subtly mocked Consort Yu, saying that Consort Yu was neither talented nor beautiful. Consort Yu then praised Consort Tong, saying she was a beauty of unparalleled grace."
Swallowing the words that were about to come out of his mouth, Liang Jiugong hunched his body slightly, his face full of flattery.
Emperor Kangxi paused for a moment, his imperial brush hovering over the memorial. A drop of bright red ink fell onto the memorial, standing out vividly against the white paper and black characters.
"A beauty of unparalleled grace? Although Consort Tong is young and beautiful, she is far from being a beauty of unparalleled grace."
After a pause, Kangxi continued, "Although Consort Yu is not a peerless beauty, she has delicate features and a fair complexion, and is not without talent or beauty."
"Before Consort Tong entered the palace, I only thought she was young, beautiful, lively and charming. Now that she has entered the palace, I find that she is nothing special. Consort Tong is not even as good as her sister. Although the former Tongjia clan was jealous and somewhat domineering, she would not be so stupid."
Liang Jiugong lowered his head, wishing he could cover his ears.
After pondering for a moment, Kangxi put down his imperial pen and sighed softly, "Uncle and Consort Tong have ultimately failed to live up to my good intentions! The Tongjia clan is my maternal family. I originally thought that after my mother's early death, I would elevate them to the Manchu Plain Yellow Banner and summon Consort Tong to the palace, so that in time the Tongjia clan could become a powerful maternal relative."
"I never imagined that Consort Tong would be so utterly incompetent."
Liang Jiugong nodded obsequiously, not daring to utter a sound.
Emperor Kangxi stood up, walked back and forth in the Qianqing Palace with his hands behind his back. After a cup of tea, he stepped out of the Qianqing Palace, stood under the corridor, and looked up at the sky for a long time.
"Liang Jiugong, prepare the carriage for Yikun Palace."
Liang Jiugong respectfully agreed and immediately instructed the eunuchs and palace maids to prepare.
Just as the imperial carriage left the Qianqing Palace and was about to turn into the Western Six Palaces, Consort Tong, dressed in a bright red palace gown and sporting an exaggerated hairstyle, appeared and blocked the imperial carriage.
"Your Majesty, I wish you a long and peaceful life."
Consort Tong struck a pose she thought was very attractive, her phoenix eyes fluttering as she flirted with Emperor Kangxi, who sat on the imperial carriage.
Emperor Kangxi was taken aback and was about to speak when his gaze fell upon Consort Tong, who was dressed in a bright red palace gown.
His face darkened instantly, and Kangxi rebuked her sternly, "Consort Tong, you are a consort, how can you wear bright red? I have been pampering you these days, and you have become more and more presumptuous."
"Take off your clothes now!"
Consort Tong looked on incredulously.
"The Emperor? My cousin?"
Kangxi raised his voice and said coldly, "Take it off..."
Consort Tong's face was pale and flushed. Reluctantly, she took off her bright red palace dress, lowered her head, and knelt pitifully on the marble slab.
Emperor Kangxi's entourage did not stop and continued to move forward.
As they approached Yikun Palace, Kangxi spoke in a deep voice.
“Liang Jiugong, remember this: Consort Tong is arrogant and disrespectful to her superiors, and has a domineering nature. Effective immediately, she is relieved of her power to assist in managing the six palaces. The allowances for Consort Tong’s palace shall be distributed by the Imperial Household Department according to her rank as a concubine.”
Liang Jiugong respectfully agreed.
Cining Palace
The Empress Dowager's eyes were clear as she looked at Su Ma La Gu, who was respectfully reporting below.
With a soft sigh, the Empress Dowager spoke in a cold voice, "Consort Tong is indeed foolish. How dare she accept Consort Yu's description of her as a beauty of unparalleled grace? She even went so far as to change into a bright red palace dress and block the Emperor's carriage."
"Now, Consort Tong is reaping the consequences of her own actions. Not only has she lost the power to assist in managing the six palaces that she had worked so hard to obtain, but although she is still a consort, her status has been reduced by one rank."
The Empress Dowager, standing to the side, slowly raised her head, her brows furrowing slightly.
After a moment of contemplation, the Empress Dowager said softly, "Your Majesty, I just heard Su Mala Gu say that Consort Tong is a beauty of unparalleled grace. This was said by Consort Yu. Consort Yu has been serving the Emperor in the palace for three years. She knows what she should and shouldn't say."
"Consort Yu praised Consort Tong for her unparalleled beauty, so what about Consort Zhao?"
The Empress Dowager nodded.
"Indeed, as you think, I am also very curious as to why Consort Yu suddenly said that Consort Tong is a beauty of unparalleled grace. Although Consort Zhao has always been at odds with Consort Yu and frequently causes trouble for her, they have not completely broken off relations."
"Now that Consort Yu has said that Consort Tong is a beauty of unparalleled grace, is this a formal declaration of war against Consort Zhao?"
The Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager fell into deep thought.
As evening fell, Emperor Kangxi left Yikun Palace, and a saying spread throughout the harem: 'Consort Zhao is elegant and dignified, radiant as the moon; Consort Tong is beautiful and radiant, like a dazzling pearl.'
In the darkness of night, after hearing Sumalagu's report, the Empress Dowager smiled deeply and said in a weary tone.
"What a fine line! 'Consort Zhao is graceful and noble, like the radiance of the bright moon; Consort Tong is beautiful and radiant, like a bright pearl.' Consort Yu's words are so subtle yet impactful, comparing Consort Zhao to the bright moon and Consort Tong to a bright pearl."
"The bright moon and the bright pearl, though only one word apart, are worlds apart. The bright moon shines and bestows its blessings upon the world, while the bright pearl is as dazzling as a firefly. Consort Zhao should be happy now."
The Empress Dowager smiled gently and said softly, "What Your Majesty says is very true. Not only will Consort Zhao be happy, but Consort Tong will also be so angry that she can't sleep or eat."
“Your Majesty, although Consort Yu comes from a humble background, she is intelligent, quick-witted, eloquent, and blessed with good fertility. No wonder the Emperor is willing to dote on her and like her.”
"If I were born a man, I would still like such an interesting woman, even if she is not stunningly beautiful."
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