Day 2
The first thing Emperor Kangxi did at the morning court was to appoint Consort Zhao, of the Niohuru clan, as Empress.
By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: I, the Emperor, believe that the Empress Dowager, in fulfilling her duties within the palace, relies entirely on gentleness and virtue. To assist in governing the inner court, she is especially needed for virtuous and capable women. Therefore, I have reviewed the old regulations and established new ranks.
Consort Zhao, of the Niohuru clan, is virtuous and gentle, well-versed in etiquette and propriety, and holds a high position in the inner palace, where she is renowned for her virtuous conduct. May you further cultivate your feminine virtues, diligently and cautiously serve the women of the palace, forever uphold the imperial decrees, and continue to receive the emperor's favor and enjoy lasting blessings.
By the grace of the imperial edict and the bestowal of official titles, you are hereby appointed Empress by the Empress Dowager. The grand ceremony for your investiture as Empress will be held on an auspicious day, and you will reside in the Kunning Palace.
Respectfully yours.
Upon the issuance of the imperial edict, even those civil and military officials in the court who harbored discontent had no choice but to bow and kneel, offering their congratulations to Emperor Kangxi, Empress Niohuru, and the Qing Dynasty for its long and prosperous reign.
When the imperial edict reached the inner palace, Xu Lejin, Consort Xuan, and other concubines were paying their respects at Chuxiu Palace.
Everyone was stunned for a moment, then stood up and respectfully knelt before Empress Niohuru, saying in unison, "Your concubines/maids pay their respects to Your Majesty the Empress. May Your Majesty live a thousand years!"
The Empress beamed with joy and spoke with a smile.
"My sisters, please rise. There is no need for such formalities. I am overjoyed to receive His Majesty's great favor today and be named Empress."
After a pause, the Empress instructed the palace maids Caiyue and Lianxing: "Caiyue and Lianxing, take out the jewelry I have prepared and give it to all the sisters so that the whole palace can celebrate together."
"Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress."
Xu Lejin, Consort Xuan, and others took their seats in order.
A moment later, Caiyue and Lianxing presented the jewelry they had prepared to the various concubines and other ladies-in-waiting. Xu Lejin received a set of pomegranate flower jewelry inlaid with gold and jade.
The Empress looked at Xu Lejin with a smile and said gracefully, "Consort Yu is blessed with good fortune. She has given birth to the most children in the palace, second only to Consort Ma Jia."
“Pomegranates produce many seeds. I hope that Consort Yu will bear many children for the Emperor and help the family line continue.”
Xu Lejin nodded and smiled.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I will follow your teachings."
The Empress nodded, turned her head to look at Caiyue and Lianxing, and softly instructed, "Consort Tong and Consort Ma are currently under house arrest. Caiyue and Lianxing, you two will later send this set of gold-inlaid jade hibiscus jewelry to Consort Tong at Chengqian Palace."
"Orioles also have many offspring, so the set of jewelry with oriole patterns was sent to Consort Ma Jia at Zhongcui Palace."
Caiyue and Lianxing respectfully responded.
Xu Lejin overheard the Empress's words and, where no one could see, rolled her eyes, thinking to herself that the Empress had only just become the new Empress and was already eager to bestow favors upon everyone.
While bestowing favors, they did not forget to be sarcastic.
Her pomegranate flower jewelry set has a good meaning, but it is ultimately an ordinary and mundane item. In contrast, Consort Ma Jia's oriole-patterned jewelry set...
The Empress was blatantly mocking Consort Ma Jia, calling her nothing more than a plaything.
Just like the title given to An Xiaoniao in "Empresses in the Palace," it's deliberately meant to disgust people.
Afternoon
Empress Niohuru's temporary residence in Chuxiu Palace was visited by an uninvited guest: Consort Xiaohesheli, accompanied by palace maid Shaoyao and a somewhat unfamiliar palace maid Lankou.
"Your Majesty, I apologize for disturbing you; it was not my intention." Consort Xiao Hesheli smiled radiantly, her alluring phoenix eyes gazing at the Empress.
The Empress's expression darkened slightly. "Consort Xiao Hesheli, please speak freely. Today, I have received the Emperor's great favor and been appointed as the new Empress. There are still many things to attend to."
His words, spoken in a casual tone, conveyed both impatience and a subtle warning to Consort Xiaohesheli.
“Your Majesty, this maid Lanco, who serves me, used to serve Consort Fan Jia. After Consort Fan Jia suffered a miscarriage, she was too heartbroken and was banished to the Cold Palace by the Emperor. Lanco also went to the Cold Palace with her.”
"At the beginning of this year, after Consort Ma gave birth to the twelfth princess, she was so angered by a palace maid named Huanxi that she vomited blood and fainted the next day."
"The palace maid named Huanxi, for some unknown reason, was rumored throughout the palace to have fallen into a well and drowned out of fear of punishment, but her body was never found."
As Consort Xiaohesheli continued her rambling, the Empress's expression grew increasingly grave, her heart pounding in her throat.
Immediately afterwards, Consort Xiao Hesheli said, "My maid Lankou saw Huanxi in the Cold Palace and spent some time with her. Huanxi was pushed into a well, but by chance, she was rescued and thrown into the Cold Palace."
"Afterwards, Huanxi went mad from excessive fright. In her madness, Huanxi revealed many things, which Lancôme happened to overhear and remember."
The Empress's face turned from white to pale, but she forced herself to remain calm.
"I don't understand what Consort Xiaohesheli means. Huanxi, the maidservant of Consort Majia, offended her mistress, which is a capital offense. She was spared by chance and it is normal for her to hide in the Cold Palace."
"Since Huanxi has gone mad, the ramblings of a madman are naturally not to be believed."
Upon hearing this, Consort Xiaohesheli chuckled softly and spoke in a low voice.
"Your Majesty, if you don't want people to know, then don't do it in the first place. If the Emperor and the Empress Dowager knew that our noble and dignified Empress had once plotted to harm the imperial heir and kill the concubines, what would the result be?"
"Consort Ma was lucky to escape with her life, but what about the other concubines?"
Upon hearing Consort Xiaohesheli's words, the Empress felt a chill run down her spine.
After a long while, the Empress gritted her teeth and was about to speak, but Consort Xiao Hesheli spoke first.
Consort Xiao Hesheli covered her mouth and said, "Your Majesty, I have no other requests. You are now the Empress, a woman of noble status. I am but a lowly person and have no power to speak. I dare not contend with you."
"I have been in the palace for a little over a year and am still inexperienced. Now that His Majesty has decided on the ranks of the harem, he will surely promote the concubines. I only hope that Your Majesty the Empress can put in a good word for me so that I can be granted the rank of Concubine and become a Lady of a Palace."
Consort Zhao's face turned ashen.
Consort Xiao Hesheli murmured, "A concubine's title in exchange for Her Majesty the Empress's peace of mind seems like a very good thing. Otherwise, Her Majesty the Empress might not be able to keep the position she just obtained."
"you……"
The Empress's face was grim, and her eyes were filled with venom as she looked at Consort Xiao Hesheli.
After a long silence, the Empress said in a deep voice, "I can put in a good word for you with the Emperor, but whether it works or not is up to him. Consort Xiao Hesheli, how can you guarantee that no one else knows about this matter besides you?"
"Your Majesty, what I need is a clear answer from you, not a vague evasion. I believe that Your Majesty has been in the palace for many years and will have a way to help me achieve my wish."
After a pause, Consort Xiaohesheli's smile widened, "As for Her Majesty the Empress's concerns, I can assure you that no third person will know."
"Alright, I agree."
The Empress agreed in a deep voice and ordered someone to escort Consort Xiaohesheli away from Chuxiu Palace.
Inside the main hall of Chuxiu Palace, all was silent except for the Empress's heavy breathing. After a long while, the Empress spoke in a cold voice, "I have been hunting geese all day long, but now I have been pecked in the eye by a goose."
"That vile woman, Xiao Hesheli, is just as hateful as the late Empress."
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