In a side hall of the Qianqing Palace, Emperor Kangxi frowned in deep thought, while Prince Yu, Prince Gong, and Prince Chun exchanged bewildered glances…
“Your Majesty, in my opinion, since Consort Zhao’s appointment as Empress has been questioned by the court officials, why don’t Your Majesty postpone the appointment of an Empress and first determine the ranks of the concubines in the harem?”
Prince Gong, Changning, carefully considered his words before speaking.
Upon hearing this, Prince Yu's face showed disapproval. "Fifth brother, the Emperor is the Son of Heaven, and the Emperor's word is law. The court and the harem already know that Consort Zhao is the designated Empress. If we change her now, wouldn't the Emperor be seen as changing his mind at will?"
"I remember that the decision for Consort Zhao to become Empress was made by His Majesty and His Majesty. It cannot be changed now because of a few words of advice from the court officials."
Emperor Kangxi nodded thoughtfully.
The youngest prince, Prince Chun, smiled and said, "Second brother, imperial brother, you don't understand what fifth brother means."
"Fifth Brother's idea is to postpone the matter of making Consort Zhao the Empress, and first determine the ranks of the concubines in the harem. Once the ranks of the concubines and consorts in the harem are determined, the ministers in the court will see that the Emperor's intention is clear, and they will naturally not obstruct Consort Zhao from becoming the new Empress."
Emperor Kangxi, Prince Yu, and Prince Gong nodded.
After a long while, Kangxi spoke in a deep voice, "In the previous dynasty, the court officials were divided into nine ranks. The same should be true in the harem. However, the harem is not the same as the previous dynasty, so let's reduce it a bit."
"The Empress resides in the central palace, serving as the mother of the nation."
"Below the Empress, there is one Imperial Noble Consort, two Noble Consorts, four Consorts, and six Concubines. Below them are Noble Ladies, Attendants, Ladies-in-Waiting, and Palace Ladies. The number of Noble Ladies, Attendants, and Ladies-in-Waiting is not fixed, while Palace Ladies are promoted from palace maids."
"The rank of Imperial Noble Consort is equivalent to that of a secondary empress. If the empress is alive, no Imperial Noble Consort will be appointed. Above the rank of Consort, she may reside in a palace as the principal consort and raise princes and princesses."
Prince Yu, Prince Gong, and Prince Chun exchanged glances, pondered for a moment, and then stood up and said in unison, "Your Majesty is wise, may the Qing Dynasty last forever."
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