The Empress Dowager's hearty laughter echoed out of Cining Palace and spread throughout the palace.
Kangxi and Xu Lejin learned of it immediately.
Kangxi smiled and said in a deep voice, "The Imperial Concubine has unknowingly relieved my predicament. Liang Jiugong, convey my decree that I will go to the Imperial Concubine's palace tonight."
"Your servant obeys the decree."
Liang Jiugong respectfully agreed, thinking to himself, "The Imperial Concubine is truly favored; she has so many children."
The Imperial Concubine truly deserves the title of the most powerful woman in the harem!
Chuxiu Palace
Upon hearing the palace maid's report, Consort Wen's face contorted with rage, and she nearly ground her teeth to powder.
"That vile woman, that vile woman, the Imperial Concubine! It's bad enough that she bewitched the Emperor, but she even managed to trick him into bestowing upon her sister the title of Princess Consort of the Prince of Duoluo!"
"My elder brother and mother just sent a message to the palace the other day, asking me to speak to the Emperor on my behalf to secure the position of Princess Consort for my fourth younger sister. I haven't even had a chance to make any plans yet, but the Imperial Concubine..."
Out of anger, Consort Wen spoke recklessly.
The wet nurse glanced at Consort Wen, sighed softly, and secretly pondered in her heart that Her Highness was becoming increasingly out of control.
These outrageous and disrespectful words were uttered carelessly.
perhaps,
The old lady's idea is correct. For the sake of the glory of the Niohuru clan, the Fourth Princess must enter the palace!
The wet nurse considered quickly for a moment, then lowered her voice and said, "Your Majesty, the Emperor's decree has been issued, and the matter is settled."
Looking down at her toes, a strange light flashed in the wet nurse's eyes. She spoke softly, "Your Highness, the old lady sent a message to the palace the other day, wishing to visit you. I wonder what Your Highness thinks?"
"Is it my mother? Or my legal mother?"
Consort Wen paused for a moment, then turned her head to look at the wet nurse.
The wet nurse smiled and said, "Both of the old ladies wish to visit Your Highness in the palace."
"Um."
After frowning and pondering for a long time, Consort Wen said, "Since Mother is also going to the palace, then let Mother and the others prepare to enter the palace."
"Three days later is the Laba Festival. Let Mother and stepmother enter the palace at noon on that day."
"Yes, I will give the order right away."
The wet nurse smiled and agreed, secretly plotting something in her heart.
After a short while, Consort Wen asked in a deep voice, "Among Consorts Ling, Lu, Dong, and Ye, has any of them become pregnant with the emperor's child?"
The wet nurse sighed regretfully.
"Your Majesty, none of the ladies-in-waiting and concubines are fortunate enough to conceive."
Consort Wen frowned and nodded.
After a moment, Consort Wen spoke, "I remember that His Majesty did not like them. He only had them serve him once when I recommended them?"
"Since they were not fortunate enough to conceive and become pregnant with the emperor's child, then..."
With a cold laugh, Consort Wen's icy and ruthless voice rang out in the main hall of Chuxiu Palace.
"Since they are useless, let them fend for themselves and not waste resources. Also, Granny, go to the Imperial Household Department and select some young, beautiful, and strong palace maids to be trained."
Within three days, the commotion in Consort Wen's palace had spread throughout the inner palace.
December 8th
When Consort Wen's mother and stepmother entered the palace, Consort Wen's fourth younger sister, the fourth princess of the Niohuru family, was also there. She was the legitimate daughter of Ebilun's third wife, Bayara.
Consort Wen's face darkened. She looked at her stepmother and stepmother and said coldly, "Why did you bring Fourth Sister into the palace, Mother and Stepmother? Fourth Sister is the age to stay at home and be a proper young lady."
Shushu Jueluo's expression changed slightly, and she opened her mouth to say something, but Bayala interrupted her.
With a stern face, Bayara said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, it was your elder brother's idea for me to bring Lanyin into the palace."
"Your Majesty, your health is now compromised, and you are unlikely to conceive again. For the sake of the Niohuru family's honor, Faka and I have decided to send Lanyin to the palace to assist Your Majesty."
Shushu Jueluo was still pondering how to tell her daughter about the family's decision, while Bayala was straightforward and stated the purpose of her visit to the palace.
Consort Wen was stunned, surprised, and shocked, her eyes wide open.
Niohuru Lanyin, who was quietly following behind Bayara, blushed and glanced at the decorations in Chuxiu Palace out of the corner of her eye. She fantasized that it would be wonderful if she could enter the palace and live in such a magnificent palace!
"Mother, is this really my eldest brother's intention? Is he really going to abandon his daughter?"
Consort Wen stared intently at Shushu Jueluo Shi as if grasping at a lifeline.
At this moment, Consort Wen wished that none of this was real.
Her elder brother, who was born of the same mother, did not intend to send his younger sister to the palace.
Inside the Chuxiu Palace, time passed by, minute by minute.
Yikun Palace
As evening approached, Liu Ying hurried in from outside and reported to Xu Lejin in a low voice, "Your Majesty, the two old ladies of the Niohuru family have already left the palace, but the fourth princess of the Niohuru family, the younger sister of Consort Wen, has remained in the palace."
Xu Lejin paused in her hand movements.
"Wenfei's younger sister stayed in the palace?"
Liu Ying nodded and pondered for a moment before saying, "That's right. Consort Wen said she missed her family, so she left Fourth Princess Niohuru in the palace for a few days."
With her brows furrowed, Xu Lejin was deep in thought.
After a moment, Xu Lejin suddenly realized, a meaningful smile appeared on her lips, and she said softly, "The fourth princess of the Niohuru family is in her prime. Her temporary stay in the palace is not what it seems."
"I imagine that before long, there will be another concubine in the palace."
Yanxi Palace
Consort Hui learned from the palace servants that Consort Wen's younger sister had stayed in the palace.
Consort Hui's expression shifted slightly, and she said thoughtfully, "Consort Wen herself cannot bear children, so she recommended several palace maids, but they received only lukewarm favor. Yesterday, she went to the Imperial Household Department and selected several young and beautiful palace maids. Today..."
"Today, I left my younger sister in the palace again."
Consort Hui pondered for a long time before speaking in a cold voice.
"The concubines in the harem may seem to have endless glory, but only they know the bitterness they suffer behind the scenes. Consort Wen is bound by her family, and so am I."
"Consort Zhi and I have completely broken ties. Consort Lan suffered a miscarriage and died. Consort Na remained unmoved by my offer of favor. My maternal clan, the Yehe Nara clan, has also been frequently sending letters to the palace, asking me to recommend palace maids in order to secure my favor."
With a soft sigh, Consort Hui murmured.
"Compared to Consort Wen's Niohuru clan, which directly sent Consort Wen's younger sister to the palace, my maternal clan is relatively friendly towards me, only asking me to recommend palace maids."
"Alright, alright. Cunxin, go to the back hall tomorrow and see how those palace maids I had trained are doing."
He deliberately raised his head to look at Consort Hui, and stammered, "Your Majesty..."
Consort Hui shook her head, her face filled with sorrow.
"This step was inevitable sooner or later; let nature take its course. I've put so much effort into training them, hoping they won't disappoint me and would gain the Emperor's favor in one fell swoop."
"Yanxi Palace needs some more people!"
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