Such a scandal occurred in Chengqian Palace.
Under the strict suppression of Emperor Kangxi and the Empress, the reign of Emperor Kangxi hastily ended with Consort Gong falling ill and Longkodo sneaking into the palace at night to visit his sister, disregarding palace rules and being exiled to Ningguta for five years.
A guard, several eunuchs, and palace maids died in Chengqian Palace, and the death also implicated Wei Zhu, a young eunuch in Qianqing Palace.
In the blink of an eye, half a month has passed.
The somber atmosphere in the palace gradually dissipated as time went by.
February 2nd
In the afternoon, Ru Hua ran into the palace and reported to Xu Lejin, "Your Majesty, the Emperor has decreed that the ceremony for the investiture of the Empress will be held in ten days, and has also ordered the Empress to move into Kunning Palace immediately."
Xu Lejin nodded and spoke softly.
"As expected, the Empress performed the investiture ceremony and entered Kunning Palace, so that her position could be legitimate."
Changing the subject, Xu Lejin asked, "Your Highness Consort Gong, how is the situation now? Has the Tong family outside the palace been making any unusual moves these days?"
Ru Hua glanced quickly at Lian Zhi behind Xu Lejin.
"Your Majesty, although Consort Gong is confined to Chengqian Palace, she is doing well."
"Outside the palace, at the Tong family residence, Lord Tong Guowei personally saw Longkodo off from the capital, then submitted a memorial acknowledging his illness and requesting to recuperate. However…"
"But what?"
Xu Lejin looked up at Ruhua and asked softly.
Ru Hua swallowed hard and whispered, "Lord Tong Guowei has ordered people to select young and beautiful women of suitable age from the Tongjia clan."
Xu Lejin nodded calmly.
That old man Tong Guowei is truly still up to his old tricks. The former Consort Tongjia died in the palace, and Consort Gong has only been in the palace for less than two years before this happened.
Below Consort Gong, Tong Guowei had three illegitimate daughters. The eldest was only eight or nine years old, and the other two were only two years old.
At this time, Tong Guowei's intention to select young and beautiful women of suitable age from the Tongjia clan is as clear as day!
However, Tong Guowei's behavior was rather unseemly.
Three days later
When the Empress moved into Kunning Palace, she formally received the concubines for the first time there.
"Your Majesty, Consort Shou in my palace suddenly caught a cold yesterday and is feeling unwell. I was worried about Consort Shou's condition, so I told Your Majesty. The other ladies in the palace then took the liberty of exempting Consort Shou from her morning greetings, allowing her to rest and recuperate."
Consort Hui looked up at the Empress and spoke softly.
The Empress nodded. "Yes, Consort Hui's arrangements are quite reasonable. Although it is a bit presumptuous of her to do things her own way, it is understandable given that she is thinking of the health of the women in the harem."
“I remember that Consort Shou used to be in Consort Gong’s palace. After Consort Gong fell ill and was bedridden, Consort Shou and the noble lady were moved to Yanxi Palace and Yonghe Palace respectively.”
"Consort Hui and Consort Jing, you are the principal consorts of Yanxi Palace and Yonghe Palace, so please take good care of the other consorts below you."
Consort Hui and Consort Jing stood up and respectfully replied, "Yes."
Half an hour later, Xu Lejin and Consort Xuan walked hand in hand down the long street.
Consort Xuan spoke softly, saying, "There are more and more concubines in the palace now. Although the Emperor has not issued an edict to select noble ladies from aristocratic families to enter the palace, there are already several palace maids who have been promoted to the rank of Lady-in-Waiting or Palace Ladies."
Xu Lejin smiled faintly and said nothing more.
At that moment, the voice of a woman in a light blue palace dress came from behind the two of them.
"Your Highness Consort Yu, Your Highness Consort Xuan, please wait."
Xu Lejin and Consort Xuan paused and turned around, their expressions indifferent as they watched the new favorite of the palace, Consort Yin, walk quickly toward them.
Yin Changzai's surname is Chen, and her given name is Liu'er.
With a respectful expression, Yin Changzai curtsied to Xu Lejin and Consort Gong, saying, "This humble servant, Chen Shi, greets Consort Yu and Consort Xuan. May Consort Yu and Consort Xuan be blessed."
Xu Lejin and Consort Xuan exchanged a glance.
With a calm expression, Xu Lejin spoke softly, "Yin Changzai, please rise. There's no need for such formalities."
With the help of a palace maid, Consort Yin stood up, her face beaming with a smile, her cherry lips slightly parted. "I am deeply grateful for His Majesty's favor. I have been favored by His Majesty for a month, but I have not had the opportunity to pay my respects to Consort Yu and Consort Xuan."
"Oh, really?"
Xu Lejin raised an eyebrow, her gaze turning to Consort Yin with amusement. "Consort Yin, is it because you've been serving the Emperor so diligently that you haven't had a chance to pay your respects to me and Consort Xuan?"
Her face turned pale, and Yin Changzai's complexion changed from white to bluish.
After a long while, Consort Yin finally spoke hesitantly, saying, "Your Highness Consort Yu, please forgive me. This humble servant has worked hard to serve His Majesty. Your Highness Consort Yu and Consort Xuan have not been summoned by His Majesty for a long time, so naturally you are unaware of the hardships you have endured."
His words were full of provocation.
Xu Lejin sneered, looking at Yin Changzai with disdain and contempt.
Consort Xuan, however, had a cold face and rebuked in a deep voice, "Consort Yin, are you implying that I and Consort Yu are not favored by the Emperor?"
"You, a mere concubine, are arrogant and domineering because of your favor. Who gave you the audacity to mock me and Consort Yu?"
Yin Changzai smiled charmingly.
"Your Highness, please do not be angry. Although I am of lowly status and my voice carries little weight, I am a Consort Yin, personally appointed by His Majesty. My courage is naturally given to me by His Majesty."
"In the palace, a concubine who is not favored is considered lowly."
After speaking, Yin Changzai raised her chin, like a proud peacock.
Xu Lejin gently patted Consort Xuan's hand and said calmly, "Consort Xuan, there's no need to argue with Consort Yin. Consort Yin is arrogant because of the Empress's favor and doesn't respect us. The Empress will teach her a lesson."
If a dog bites us, are we supposed to bite it back?
Upon hearing this, Consort Xuan couldn't help but laugh out loud, while Consort Yin, with her haughty expression, turned ashen-faced, her shimmering eyes filled with venom.
Xu Lejin returned to Yikun Palace.
Less than an hour later, Ru Hua rushed into the palace, her face beaming with joy, and reported to Xu Lejin, "Your Majesty, the Empress has punished Consort Yin, confining her to Yongshou Palace for six months and fining her three months' salary. In addition..."
"In addition, Her Majesty the Empress also punished Yin Changzai by making him copy the 'Palace Rules' fifty times."
Nodding slightly, Xu Lejin spoke calmly, "Everything was as expected. Consort Yin, a mere lowly consort, dared to openly provoke me and Consort Xuan, relying on the Emperor's favor."
"Her Majesty the Empress has just moved into Kunning Palace and is about to undergo the investiture ceremony. It is the perfect time to establish her authority and prestige as Empress."
"Yin Changzai deserves to be punished."
Ruhua and Lianzhi exchanged a glance and smiled in agreement.
In the late afternoon, Ru Hua lowered her voice again and happily reported to Xu Lejin.
Emperor Kangxi issued an edict demoting Yin Changzai's rank from Changzai to Daying.
"Consort Yin? The palace is in turmoil right now. Consort Yin is arrogant because of the Emperor's favor. She openly spoke ill of me and Consort Xuan in the street. Even if the Emperor dotes on her, what can he do about it?"
"Demoting her from a low-ranking official to a concubine is a severe punishment. I only hope that from now on she will sincerely repent and behave herself."
Lianzhi lowered her head and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty is kind. Consort Yin was punished because she brought it upon herself."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
