Half an hour later
The concubines left Yikun Palace and walked along the long street.
Consort Hui paused, gazing in the direction of Yonghe Palace, and spoke coldly, "Consort Wan, with her sickly constitution, has actually received the Emperor's favor and been granted the title of Consort. I wonder if Consort Wan has the fortune to live up to that expectation on the day of her investiture ceremony..."
"Oh."
With a cold snort, Consort Hui then looked at Consort Xin, Consort Qi, and Consort Xin with disdain, and said, "The palace is becoming more and more chaotic. Former palace maids have now become consorts."
Consort Xin and Consort Qi's faces turned bright red, while Consort Xin lowered her head slightly.
Consort Que glanced at Consort Duan, who lowered her voice and said softly, "Sister Consort Hui, please be careful with your words. Most of the concubines in the palace were originally palace maids. Your Highness, Consort Hui, and I were all palace maids selected from the Imperial Household Department."
"Now Consort Hui is saying on the street that Consort Xin, Consort Qi, and Consort Xin were once palace maids, but aren't we the same?"
Consort Hui's face turned pale and then red, her molars grinding together as she glared fiercely at Consort Duan, raising her hand as if to strike her.
Consort Que stepped forward, stopping Consort Hui, and coldly rebuked her, "Consort Hui, Consort Duan is a concubine of the same rank as you, a fellow imperial consort. How could you hit her? Consort Hui, do you even have the Emperor's eyes, or the Imperial Noble Consort's eyes?"
He gave a stern and harsh rebuke.
Consort Hui's old face was ashen, and her raised hand was caught in a dilemma, unsure whether to lower it or not.
Consort De and Consort Jin exchanged a glance and giggled, covering their mouths.
Consort He raised the corners of her mouth in a contemptuous smile and said to Consort De and Consort Jin, "Consort De and Consort Jin, I have prepared tea and snacks in Changchun Palace. Would you two do me the honor of sitting in my palace?"
Consort De and Consort Jin smiled and agreed.
After bowing to Consort Que, Consort Duan, and Consort Ning, Consort De and Consort Jin followed Consort He to Changchun Palace with smiles on their faces.
After the Lantern Festival
On this day, Consort Que arrived at Xu Lejin's palace with a grave expression and respectfully reported, "Your Highness, news has come from Yonghe Palace that Consort Wan's condition seems dire, and she could be in danger at any moment..."
After a pause, Consort Que spoke softly.
"Last year, Consort Wan was exorcised by a shaman, which left her exhausted. Although she recovered thanks to the best efforts of the imperial physicians, His Majesty issued an edict to announce to the world that the ceremony for conferring the title of Imperial Noble Consort would be held, and that the imperial harem would be greatly honored."
"When the news reached Yonghe Palace, Consort Wan fainted..."
Nodding slightly, Xu Lejin said, "I never expected Consort Wan to be so temperamental. Now, His Majesty and I only hope that Consort Wan can hold on until the investiture ceremony."
After a slight hesitation, Xu Lejin continued, "The Imperial Observatory has already selected an auspicious day, the seventh day of the fourth month, a month after my investiture ceremony. It's a good day to hold the investiture ceremony for Consort Wan, Consort Ning, and others."
"Um,"
Consort Que responded faintly.
During this grand promotion of the six palaces, Consort Que was not among those receiving a promotion, hence her indifferent demeanor.
Of course, this was also because Consort Que knew in her heart that while the Emperor was on the throne, she could only be a Consort and would not be able to take any further steps forward.
As for what happens after death, perhaps she will be promoted to Imperial Noble Consort, or perhaps not.
January 26
In the morning, Xu Lejin leaned back on the soft couch and instructed Ruhua, Nongying, and others to carefully oversee the affairs of Yikun Palace.
In addition, we must be extremely careful about the food, clothing, housing, and transportation of the Fourth Prince, the Seventh Princess, the Twelfth Princess, the Fourteenth Princess, and others.
Yu Ludai, now nine years old, was moved to the Princes' Residence by the palace servants after careful consideration. He was given a separate small courtyard.
In her Yikun Palace, the east and west wing rooms next to the main hall are now occupied by the Tenth Prince, the Eleventh Prince, and their two daughters born last year. There is simply no room left for the older Yulu Dai.
Just after giving the orders, Liu Ying ran into the hall and knelt down before Xu Lejin with a thud, her face solemn. "Your Majesty," she said, "Consort Wan passed away early this morning."
"、、、、"
Xu Lejin was stunned upon hearing this.
Consort Wan?
She had previously mentioned to Consort Que that she hoped Consort Wan would live to see the day of her investiture ceremony, but unexpectedly, Consort Wan passed away just ten days later.
Although she and the other concubines in the harem knew that Consort Wan's passing was inevitable, they did not expect it to happen so soon.
With a deep sigh, Xu Lejin said in a solemn voice, "Have the Imperial Household Department make arrangements immediately regarding the passing of Consort Wan. Also, issue an imperial decree ordering Consort Que and Consort Duan to handle the matter. As for the Princes' quarters, have the Twenty-Third Princess kneel before Consort Wan's coffin."
"The twenty-third princess is young, so she only needs to kneel for half an hour each day."
Liu Ying respectfully agreed and quickly withdrew.
Yanxi Palace
Consort Hui learned from the palace servants that Consort Wan had passed away, and a wicked, cold smile appeared on her lips.
After a moment's hesitation, Consort Hui said solemnly, "Cunxin, have our people destroy the evidence. I don't want the Imperial Noble Consort to trace Consort Wan's death back to me."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Cunxin bowed his head in agreement.
A moment later, Consort Hui smiled and murmured, "Heh, Consort Wan has the fate to be named a Consort, but she doesn't have the fortune to enjoy the honor of being a Consort."
"The position of Imperial Concubine can only belong to me. Anyone who becomes an Imperial Concubine is an eyesore to me and blocks my path, and I will never let them go."
Her face was contorted and terrifying; Consort Hui was no longer the gentle and virtuous woman she once was.
Cunxin trembled slightly, looked down at her toes, and felt uneasy and anxious.
After a cup of tea
Consort Hui said coldly, "Is there still no news from Yinti's second residence? Haven't the concubines, princesses, and maids in Yinti's harem conceived yet?"
Cunxin lowered her head and replied tremblingly.
Upon hearing this, Consort Hui's old face darkened, and she spoke coldly, "The First Prince already has a son and a daughter. Lady Guarjia Shi gave birth to the First Prince's eldest son, and the First Prince's concubine recently gave birth to her eldest daughter."
"Why does my Yinqi have no offspring yet? Even a concubine's daughter would be fine."
With a sharp slap, Consort Hui slammed her hand on the table, making a crisp sound.
With a ferocious expression, Consort Hui said in a deep voice, "Summon the Second Prince's nannies to see me. I want to ask them how they have been serving the Second Prince. It's been years, and he hasn't had a single child."
"yes."
Cunxin bowed his head in agreement.
At Yonghe Palace, Consort Wan passed away, and the entire palace was draped in mourning. Princess Urina, the Twenty-Third Princess, knelt before the coffin, dressed in mourning clothes.
Consort Ning looked at the Twenty-Third Princess with heartache. After half an hour, she hurriedly had the palace servants help the Twenty-Third Princess up. She choked up as she spoke, "Poor child, your mother has passed away. From now on, you are Consort Ning's child. Consort Ning will definitely love you as if you were her own."
"Wow,"
The twenty-third princess burst into tears and was embraced by Consort Ning.
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