A month has passed in the blink of an eye.
Emperor Kangxi would visit Cining Palace every few days to show his filial piety to the Empress Dowager, and he would also often stay overnight in the palaces of Consort Wan and Consort Ning.
The wind direction in the palace changed suddenly.
That afternoon
Emperor Kangxi accompanied the Empress Dowager as they strolled in the Cining Palace Garden.
With a solemn expression on her aged face, the Empress Dowager said, "The Emperor is busy with the affairs of the previous dynasty and works hard every day. He doesn't need to come to my Cining Palace to keep me company so often."
Emperor Kangxi was taken aback.
After a moment's thought, Kangxi said, "It is my duty to be filial to my grandmother. The affairs of the court are demanding, but that does not prevent me from spending time with her."
"Um."
The Empress Dowager responded with a sound of agreement, but frowned and remained silent.
An hour later, Kangxi rose to take his leave and departed from Cining Palace. The Empress Dowager sat on the soft couch, lost in deep thought, feeling that something was amiss.
After a long while, the Empress Dowager said in a deep voice, "Su Ma, go and find out why the Emperor has suddenly been coming to my Cining Palace so frequently."
"Yes, Empress Dowager."
Sumalagu responded but did not leave.
With a slight frown, Su Ma La Gu pondered for a moment, then quickly looked up at the Empress Dowager and respectfully said, "Your Majesty, in addition to frequently visiting our Cining Palace, His Majesty also often goes to the palaces of Consort Wan and Consort Ning."
"Consort Wan and Consort Ning, although they are still only consorts, their favor with Your Majesty is almost catching up with that of Noble Consort Yu."
Swallowing hard, Su Mala Gu forced herself to say, "His Majesty has probably come to his senses!"
The Empress Dowager frowned.
After a while, the Empress Dowager spoke in a deep voice. "Such a thing has happened? However—"
"It is a blessing for the Emperor to frequently visit Consort Wan and Consort Ning's palaces. If they were to conceive and give birth to a royal heir, that would be the best outcome. However…"
After a pause, the Empress Dowager continued.
"If Consort Wan and Consort Ning are not fortunate enough to bear children for the Emperor, raising the children of lower-ranking concubines in the future would be extremely beneficial for them and for the Khorchin people."
"In the past, I didn't think highly of them, always thinking they were petty and unfit for refined tastes. But unexpectedly..."
"After going around in circles, they actually caught the emperor's eye and gained his favor."
With a soft sigh, the Empress Dowager's thoughts drifted away.
He murmured to himself, "Fate is cruel!"
In Yanxi Palace
Consort Hui's face was grim as she spoke in a cold voice, "His Majesty has gone to Consort Wan's palace again. Only half the month has passed, and His Majesty has already visited Consort Wan's palace three times and Consort Ning's palace twice. This palace—"
"His Majesty has not stepped into my Yanxi Palace for more than half a year."
With a ferocious expression, Consort Hui gritted her teeth.
"If this continues, Consort Wan and Consort Ning will become pregnant sooner or later. When they are promoted to the rank of Consort, they will be on equal footing with me. Where will I have a place in the harem then?"
Consort Hui clutched the handkerchief tightly in her hand, her heart seething with hatred.
A cup of tea, a quarter of an hour later
Consort Hui's eyes hardened, and she slammed her hand on the table with a 'bang,' saying in a deep voice, "I will absolutely not allow Consort Wan and Consort Ning to ever again ride roughshod over me. They—"
"You must never get pregnant."
Chengqian Palace
Consort Que sighed softly and said slowly, "The Emperor's thoughts are truly unfathomable. But so be it, since I was too young and the process was too intense when I first received the Emperor's favor, I have damaged my health and cannot conceive."
"What do I care about which of the concubines in the palace is favored or who is pregnant? What I need to do now is to wholeheartedly assist Consort Yu in managing the affairs of the six palaces and securing my position as Consort."
With a gentle smile, Consort Que continued.
"I am a Noble Consort, the Emperor's cousin, and I come from the Tongjia clan. As long as I do not make any mistakes, my position as Noble Consort is secure. Why should I care about which concubine the Emperor favors in the palace?"
Behind Consort Que, the palace maid with her head bowed and lowered her eyes suddenly changed her expression, her eyes darting around.
October 8th
At Tong Guowei's residence, his wife, Lady Hesheli, and Consort Que's aunt submitted a petition to visit Consort Que in the palace. The palace servants reported this to Xu Lejin.
Almost without hesitation, Xu Lejin readily agreed, and Tong Guowei's wives and concubines entered the palace.
October 10
When Tong Guowei's family entered the palace, Empress Hesheli looked at the high and mighty Consort Que in her brocade robes and made no attempt to hide her jealousy. She was seething with hatred in her heart.
Why, why is it like this?
Her two daughters entered the palace. The elder daughter spent many years in the palace, holding the rank of concubine, but without any official title. After her death, the emperor erased all traces of her time in the palace. The younger daughter…
Her second daughter was the one she had high hopes for, but she died in the palace after only one or two years.
Until her death, her second daughter was only known as Consort Gong.
The Consort Que before me is a lowly illegitimate daughter born to a foot-washing maid. What virtue or ability does she possess to be granted the title of Consort and to assist in managing the six palaces?
Consort Que spoke softly to her birth mother with a smile, leaving Empress Hesheli standing aside.
After a long while, Consort Que covered her mouth and said in a coquettish voice, "Oh dear, I forgot, Mother also came to the palace today."
"I was so busy talking to my aunt that I didn't even see my mother. Please forgive me, Mother."
Hesheli's face turned from white to green, her molars grinding together as she spoke in a cold voice. "This humble woman dares not. Your Highness the Imperial Concubine is no longer what she once was; she is now high above you. This humble woman has no time to spare in showing Your Highness the respect she deserves, how could she possibly blame you?"
Consort Que nodded slightly, her playful gaze sweeping over Hesheli.
After a short while, Empress Hesheli spoke coldly, "Your Highness, I entered the palace this time on the orders of my husband. He said that although Your Highness holds a high position, you have no children. Your Highness is young and may find it difficult to bear an heir, so he specially selected several young and fertile women from your family."
"Flying catkins, delicate and graceful, with a beautiful voice, have not yet met the Imperial Concubine."
Behind Hesheli, three graceful and distinctive women stepped forward, their lotus-like steps light as they bowed to Consort Que. Their voices were so sweet and charming that they made one's body go weak.
Consort Que's expression changed, and she looked meaningfully at Empress Hesheli...
Evening
Liu Ying bowed as she entered the palace and softly reported to Xu Lejin, "Your Majesty, Lady Tongjia, the concubine of Consort Que, has already left the palace. However, the three young ladies who accompanied Lady Tongjia into the palace today have remained in the palace."
Xu Lejin nodded without saying anything more.
After a pause, Liu Ying carefully added, "Her Majesty Consort Que appeared calm and had three young ladies arranged to stay in a room in the rear hall of Chengqian Palace."
“Sang’er, who serves Consort Que, secretly left Chengqian Palace under the cover of night. Our people watched from a distance and saw that Sang’er went towards the side rooms.”
Xu Lejin pursed her lips and frowned.
"Isn't that the living quarters of the palace eunuchs? Sang'er is Consort Que's dowry maid, what is she doing in the wing rooms for no reason?"
"Liu Ying, have someone keep a close watch on Chengqian Palace. Report any movement to me immediately."
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