A woman of noble birth is about to experience joy and is two months pregnant.
The news spread quickly throughout the palace, and Emperor Kangxi, the Grand Empress Dowager, and the Empress Dowager soon learned of it.
The Imperial Concubine was quite pleased with the arrangement that Consort Zhi would rest in Yanxi Palace to prepare for childbirth, without having to kneel before the spirit tablet every day, and only having to copy the Lotus Sutra three times.
Day 5
The concubines in the harem still knelt in Kunning Palace to pay their respects to the Empress.
On this day, the Empress was kneeling in the palace to mourn. Consort Miao, who was pregnant, staggered a few times, but fortunately Consort Xiu, who was nearby, caught her in time.
Miao Chang was able to avoid falling to the ground because of this.
However, the fact that Consort Miao almost fell still caught the attention of the Imperial Concubine.
After weighing the pros and cons, the Noble Consort, Consort Hui, Consort Jing, and others discussed the matter and ultimately decided that Consort Miao should rest for a while in the side hall. Afterward, she would not have to continue kneeling before the coffin, but could simply fold paper ingots for the Empress in the side hall.
Day Six
Unfortunately, the weather turned bad; the sky was overcast early in the morning, and a strong wind picked up in the afternoon.
Those above the rank of Imperial Concubine and Consort were alright; they could still kneel in the main hall of Kunning Palace.
Meanwhile, the lowly ladies-in-waiting, concubines, and palace maids knelt in the outer courtyard, swaying precariously in the wind.
Dusk falls
After a day of kneeling before the mourning rites, the concubines, exhausted, returned to their respective palaces to rest, supported by their maids.
When the Imperial Concubine returned to Xianfu Palace, her face was so gloomy it seemed to drip water.
"The Empress's funeral is so exhausting; I am utterly drained."
"The most comfortable person in the palace is Consort Yu. Because she is pregnant, she has received the favor of the Emperor and the Empress Dowager and does not have to kneel before the Empress's coffin every day."
With a look of indignation on her face, the Imperial Concubine spoke in a deep voice, "I, as an Imperial Concubine, am not even as good as her, a mere Consort. It is utterly despicable!"
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger! Your Majesty, please calm your anger!"
Lingyan and Lingrou immediately knelt down and said softly, "Your Majesty, although Consort Yu has been granted permission by the Emperor and the Empress Dowager not to kneel before the coffin every day, she is still far inferior to Your Majesty."
"Your Majesty, although you have been working hard these past few days, you will have made a great contribution after the Empress's seventh day memorial and after the Empress's funeral."
Lowering her voice, Lingyan murmured softly, "The harem cannot be without a mistress for a day. Your Majesty, you are now a Noble Consort, the most powerful person in the palace, and you have the potential to become the new Empress in the future."
“Even if there are rules that require three years of mourning, one can first establish her as an Imperial Noble Consort, and then appoint her as the new Empress after three years.”
Upon hearing this, the Imperial Concubine's face lit up with joy.
In an instant, the Imperial Concubine regained her composure and spoke sternly, "Until His Majesty issues his decree, everything is uncertain. You are my dowry maids, people who serve by my side."
"From now on, you must be careful with your words and actions. If anyone in my palace discusses this matter in private, I will not let them off lightly."
Ling Yan and Ling Rou responded respectfully, "Yes."
On the morning of the seventh day, a light drizzle began to fall from the sky. In Kunning Palace, the young concubines, young ladies-in-waiting, and palace maids, after discussions among the Consort, Consort Hui, and Consort Jing, moved from the courtyard to the corridor of Kunning Palace.
Although I didn't kneel directly in the rain, the early autumn rain, mixed with wind, was a light drizzle.
The ladies-in-waiting, concubines, and palace maids were half-soaked by the rain and looked utterly disheveled.
Xu Lejin saw this, sighed softly, and said nothing more.
In the afternoon, Kangxi was invited to Cining Palace by the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager.
With a solemn expression on her aged face, the Empress Dowager looked at Emperor Kangxi and said, "After the Empress passed away, I learned that before her death, she requested that the Emperor take her younger sister, Niohuru, into the palace, which displeased the Emperor."
"However, the empress is, after all, a formally appointed empress who has undergone the investiture ceremony and is the mother of the nation. Although she is not as good as Empress Hesheli, who was your first wife, a second wife is still a wife."
"The Empress has been dead for seven days. After today, the seven-day mourning period for the Empress will be over, and the Emperor should consider giving her a posthumous title."
Emperor Kangxi nodded thoughtfully.
"Grandmother's teachings are correct; it is indeed time to give the Empress a posthumous title."
"Heseri died after childbirth and was posthumously honored as Empress Xiaocheng. Now Niohuru has passed away. When Niohuru was a concubine, she was given the title 'Zhao'."
"I hereby posthumously confer upon her the title of Empress Xiaozhao, of the Niohuru clan."
The Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager exchanged a glance.
"As long as the emperor posthumously honors the empress, silencing the gossips of the people and officials, the empress's posthumous title is a minor matter; as long as the emperor is pleased, that's all that matters."
"Besides the matter of the Empress's posthumous title, I would also like to ask the Emperor about his thoughts on the next Empress?"
Emperor Kangxi looked surprised and looked up at the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager then added, "The harem cannot be without a mistress for even a day. With the Empress gone, to avoid unnecessary disputes, I urge the Emperor to appoint a new Empress as soon as possible."
"Below the Empress is the Imperial Noble Consort, who is equivalent to the Empress. During the Empress's mourning period, it is not appropriate to establish an Empress, but it is permissible to establish an Imperial Noble Consort. This is to announce the royal family's decision to the world."
Kangxi remained silent.
The Empress Dowager, standing to the side, opened her mouth several times, wanting to persuade Kangxi to elevate the Consort to the rank of Imperial Noble Consort, but under the stern gaze of the Empress Dowager, she swallowed back the words that were on the tip of her tongue.
Fifteen minutes later
Kangxi looked at the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager and said, "Grandmother and Mother, I know that you are thinking of the country and the people, but after careful consideration, I have decided not to establish an Imperial Noble Consort or an Empress for the time being."
"Firstly, Empress Xiaocheng died after childbirth and Empress Xiaozhao just passed away. There are already rumors circulating among the people that I, the ruler of the country, am cursed to be unlucky in marriage. To silence the gossip of the people, it is best not to establish an Imperial Noble Consort or an Empress."
"Secondly, with the Three Feudatories still not pacified, hastily establishing an Imperial Noble Consort or Empress would affect the Three Feudatories."
"Thirdly, among the concubines in the harem, although the Noble Consort comes from a noble family, she has no children and has never given birth. The lower-ranking Concubines, Lady Magiya and Lady Nara, come from somewhat humble families and are not worthy of the responsibilities of Imperial Noble Consort and Empress."
After saying this, Kangxi stood up, lifted his robe and knelt down, looking sincerely at the Empress Dowager and saying, "Grandson begs Grandmother to grant my request that I temporarily refrain from establishing an Imperial Noble Consort or an Empress."
The Empress Dowager showed a look of resentment.
After frowning for a long time, the Empress Dowager said in a deep voice, "What the Emperor said is not without reason. I hereby grant the Emperor's request that he temporarily refrain from establishing an Imperial Noble Consort or an Empress."
"We will discuss everything when the Three Feudatories are pacified and the world is at peace."
Half an hour later, Kangxi's figure left Cining Palace and disappeared from the sight of the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager.
With a soft sigh, the Empress Dowager murmured to herself.
"The Emperor has grown up. He knows that the country and its people are of utmost importance, and he also knows how to use retreat as a means of advance, threatening me now. Huang Taiji, Fulin, do you see this? Xuan Ye has grown up."
“The Aisin Gioro family has already produced two generations of romantics. The Qing Dynasty cannot withstand any more turmoil. If you are watching from heaven, you will surely protect Xuan Ye and prevent him from repeating your mistakes.”
"It's good that the harem doesn't establish an Imperial Noble Consort or an Empress. Although I have wronged the Khorchin, I am old, and I have lost my husband and son. I cannot bear to see my son suffer the loss of my own son!"
"Empress Dowager, do you understand what I mean?"
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