In order to retrieve the medicated oil that the Empress usually used, Su Mo'er walked very fast as soon as she left the palace. The journey to the Imperial Physician's Office went smoothly, but the return journey was not so good.
Su Mo'er walked to a corner of a rockery and happened to hear a palace maid's voice: "Consort Zhuang."
The name "Consort Zhuang" caught her attention and made her stop in her tracks.
She squinted and secretly approached the artificial hill to listen to the conversation of the women dressed as ordinary palace maids.
"Wow, the Emperor's reward for Consort Chen is too good! Not only are there those treasures, but the Emperor even bestowed the character 'Chen' upon her."
"Compared to Consort Chen, Consort Zhuang, who is Consort Chen's sister, is far inferior to her."
"This position in the Fifth Palace is not only the lowest, but she may also be able to stay in the palace because of her sister's presence."
"That can't be, right?"
"Why not? Look at the previous Crown Prince's wife, Zhalute, wasn't she also driven out of the palace?"
...
Listening to the discussions inside, and hearing Consort Chen's astonishing rewards, Su Mo'er grew increasingly angry. She glared at the palace maids inside who were talking happily, but due to the Empress's previous teachings, she suppressed her anger and did not argue with the few bolder maids inside. She stormed back to Yongfu Palace.
Upon returning to Yongfu Palace, Consort Zhuang noticed the sudden anger emanating from Su Mo'er.
She raised an eyebrow and asked, "What's going on?"
Su Mo'er no longer concealed anything and told her mistress everything the palace maids had said.
After listening to Su Mo'er's story, a hint of malice flashed in Consort Zhuang's gentle eyes. "Forget it, why bother arguing with them?"
"Anyway, I did benefit from my sister's fame."
“Your Highness, but they are making fun of you. I feel sorry for you, even though you have protected Consort Chen from a lot of trouble in the past.”
Su Mo'er stomped her foot and said angrily.
Consort Zhuang raised an eyebrow and beckoned to Su Mo'er with her hand, "Su Mo'er, you did the right thing. Just pretend you didn't hear what people were saying."
"Your Majesty, you've allowed those people to say that?" Su Mo'er asked, puzzled.
Consort Zhuang smiled confidently: "Look, even you feel sorry for me, so won't my good sister and the Emperor feel sorry for me too?"
Su Mo'er's eyes lit up. "Your Majesty, you are so clever!"
"Um."
Consort Zhuang looked at Su Mo'er, who had finally stopped being angry, as she walked out of the palace, and a bitter smile appeared on her face that was hard to read.
When she saw the way Huang Taiji looked at her sister in the clan, she knew that her sister's appearance must be very much to Huang Taiji's liking.
Therefore, she deliberately had people from her clan persuade her sister to come to the palace. Her scheme worked; her sister did indeed receive extraordinary favor from Huang Taiji upon entering the palace, and logically, she should have been happy. (Here, the author sets up the narrative: Hailanzhu's entry into the palace was Empress Xiaozhuang's doing. Hailanzhu's husband before entering the palace was not harmed by Bumbutai, but by Huang Taiji's schemes; Empress Xiaozhuang merely went along with it.)
If things have actually gone according to her plan, why is she unhappy?
Huang Taiji really doted on his sister; it's truly enviable.
And then there's my sister. She clearly already guessed that Huang Taiji was the one who harmed her husband, yet she still called him "Your Majesty" so gently and affectionately. Perhaps she had already forgotten about that poor former brother-in-law.
Ultimately, her sister was just as selfish and despicable as she was.
But Huang Taiji still regarded her as a kind and beautiful young woman, and Consort Zhuang wanted to laugh whenever she thought of the information she had investigated.
But unfortunately, for her own sake and for the sake of the Khorchin tribe, Consort Zhuang regarded herself as a silent mute.
When she had a prince...
Consort Zhuang couldn't help but touch her now flat stomach. With her older sister around and those powerful figures, it wasn't impossible for her son to ascend to that position.
Thinking of this, a burning ambition ignited in Consort Zhuang's eyes.
—
The various schemes within the palace had no effect on Qingyin, who resided in the Yehenara Mansion.
Since Huang Taiji became emperor, Nan Chu has been even busier, returning to his previous hectic pace, and he can no longer even find time to have lunch with Qing Yin.
Seeing the man's disappointment, Qingyin gave him a shy hug, which made Nan Chu take several cold showers that night.
Alas, the beautiful and angelic Consort can now only be admired but not "eaten," it's truly agonizing.
But when he was working, the thought of his obedient wife waiting for him in the mansion would rouse him.
The few junior officials who took a moment out of their busy schedules to glance at their superiors couldn't help but admire their commander. As expected of a commander with a military background, he certainly had great stamina.
While Nan Chu was busy, Qing Yin's "spies" planted in the palace were finally reaping the rewards.
The wife of Physician Hu, who had previously treated her, came to deliver a visiting card.
Qingyin quickly invited Madam Hu in.
—
Madam Hu was a Han Chinese woman. Although she was not beautiful, she was not ugly either. She had fair skin and a gentle temperament that made her very approachable.
Stepping into the spacious and magnificent Yehenara Mansion, even the worldly-wise Madam Hu felt a sense of unease.
Could it be that her family is lying to her, having become acquainted with this Lady Zhalute and developing a good impression of her, and then bringing her to this mansion? She's been standing here for ages, and the guards at the door are burly and look quite fierce (the guards, who are inherently fierce-looking, are trying their best to smile at this Lady Hu, who is said to have connections with the Lady), showing no sign of friendliness whatsoever.
If the guards knew what Madam Hu was thinking, they would probably be in tears. Oh, he even smiled (a terrifying grin). Isn't that kind enough?
Madam Hu was in a state of turmoil. If she hadn't already arrived and sent someone to inform them, she probably would have sneaked back home by now.
Footsteps sounded at the main gate.
The maid who had just informed the Fujin returned and greeted Madam Hu with a kind smile, "Madam, please come in quickly. Our Fujin is already waiting for you in the east courtyard."
"Oh, yes."
Madam Hu followed closely behind the pretty maid, catching glimpses of the mansion's scenery along the way. Looking at the beautiful rockeries and landscapes, Madam Hu couldn't help but sigh at the sheer size and grandeur of the Yehenara Manor.
If these ornaments were in her home, Mrs. Hu wouldn't even dare to imagine how happy she would be.
Madam Hu originally thought that the decorations and scenery along the way were already amazing enough, but when she followed the maid into the east courtyard of the Fujin, she realized what true luxury was.
Have you ever seen walls made of jewels and gold, and windows... that are made of glass too? The light shines through, making the luxury inside the room exceptionally obvious.
The shimmering, seven-colored pearls, the ancient relics and calligraphy and paintings by famous people, the bear carpet on the ground, and the faint, unknown fragrance in the air.
Without anyone telling her, Madam Hu knew that these spices were definitely not ordinary.
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