After leaving Yongshou Palace, carrying many rewards, Anning sent Baiguo to deliver the items back to Changchun Palace, and took Chunlan, who was familiar with the palace, to Chengqian Palace.
Inside Chengqian Palace, Consort Tong, upon hearing that Anning had come to pay her respects, asked, "What time is it?"
"Your Majesty, it's just past Chen Shi (7-9 AM)."
"She arrived early and seemed quite well-behaved; she truly deserves to be the person my sister valued back then."
Upon hearing this, the nanny standing nearby quickly reminded her, "Your Highness, Consort Shu has already entered the inner palace; you cannot say such things."
Consort Tong said nonchalantly, "There are no outsiders here, so there's no need for you to be so cautious. I was just expressing my feelings. Let's go and see Consort Shu."
Compared to Consort Wen's frail health, Consort Tong looked much healthier.
Although she didn't receive much imperial favor, she held some power, and everyone in the harem gave her, Emperor Kangxi's cousin, some respect. In addition, she was unpretentious, knew how to get along with people, and was easygoing. She never indulged in imperial romance, and she didn't have any children to cause trouble, so she lived a good life and was in good health.
"Your humble servant, Consort Shu of Changchun Palace, of the Ulanara clan, greets Your Highness, may Your Highness enjoy boundless blessings and peace."
"No need for formalities, please rise!"
Like Consort Wen, Consort Tong did not make things difficult for her. She smiled and asked her to sit down, then gave her a reward and chatted with her for a while. Her attitude was friendly, like that of a close elder in the family.
After leaving Chengqian Palace, Anning looked around and, seeing that no one was there, couldn't help but whisper to Chunlan, "Both of the Imperial Concubines are extremely kind people!"
Chunlan smiled and said, "The Emperor's harem has indeed become much more peaceful in recent years, so Your Majesty can rest assured."
"With you all here, I naturally feel at ease."
“It’s still early and not too hot yet. Would Your Highness like to take a walk in the Imperial Garden?” Chunlan thought the weather was nice today and not too hot. She was also worried that Anning would be too bored staying in Changchun Palace, so she suggested this.
An Ning immediately refused, "No, let's go back."
She couldn't stand the thought of the Imperial Garden being such a place, a hotbed of accidents in novels and TV dramas, a tiny place where all sorts of trivial matters occurred. She was scared!
Back at Changchun Palace, Anning finally had time to ask about the rewards given to her by Consort Wen and Consort Tong.
Both of them were very generous, wearing fashionable fabrics and jewelry and accessories newly made by the Imperial Household Department.
"Please trouble you, Granny, to check and register the gifts from the two empresses and store them in a separate storeroom. In the future, the gifts sent by the concubines of the harem will be stored in one storeroom, and the gifts from the emperor and empress dowager will be stored in a separate storeroom."
Granny Wulan was very pleased to hear this. Anning's caution showed that she was intelligent, which would make protecting her less difficult.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
After tidying up the things, Granny Wulan went inside to report. Anning then heard a commotion outside, but there was no sound of a whip. At this hour, Emperor Kangxi was still holding court.
Before she could even ask, Xiao Xizi came in with a cheerful expression.
"Your Majesty, Eunuch Wang from the Imperial Household Department has come to deliver rewards to you. There are more than ten palace servants delivering the rewards. Congratulations, Your Majesty!"
Anning knew that after serving the emperor in bed, if the emperor was satisfied, he would send a reward, the amount of which depended on his level of satisfaction.
Upon hearing this, An Ning blushed in front of everyone.
"Your Majesty's favor is too great. I should go out to receive the reward. Please come with me."
After saying that, he stood up, and the people around him, all with happy expressions, followed him out.
When Eunuch Wang, who was also Wang Shun who escorted Anning to Changchun Palace when she first entered the palace, saw him again, his smile was much more obsequious than the first time they met.
"This servant greets Your Majesty, may Your Majesty be blessed with longevity."
"Eunuch Wang, there's no need for such formalities. Please rise."
"Thank you, Your Highness. This servant has come today to present you with a reward. These were all ordered by His Majesty himself, and Chief Steward Liang personally went to His Majesty's private treasury to find them."
An Ning's eyes were filled with joy: "I am deeply grateful for His Majesty's favor."
Then Wang Shun began to read out the rewards.
The newly delivered items from Jiangnan included fashionable brocade and silk, jewelry, rouge and face powder, jade and porcelain, antique ornaments, several sets of the Four Treasures of the Study, some valuable calligraphy and paintings, the rumored rare snail-shell ink, and even a considerable amount of rare fruit…
These are all top-quality items. An Ning's smile grew wider as she listened. These are all rare treasures!
"Thank you for the Emperor's gift. It's kind of you to make this trip, Eunuch. Please come in and have some tea."
Wang Shun smiled and waved his hand: "This servant still has duties to perform before Your Majesty. This servant will drink Your Majesty's tea another time. This servant should go back now."
“Serving the Emperor is of utmost importance. Granny, please see Eunuch Wang off for me.”
After seeing Wang Shun off, An Ning smiled and said, "I'll trouble you, Granny, to check everything and pick out a few ornaments that the Emperor will like to put in the room. After registering the jewelry, put it in the jewelry box. Also, make a few new clothes and register the rest and put them in the storeroom."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
An Ning was happy, but she still had some commoner mentality. If it weren't for the fact that the dowry given by the Ulanara clan was so valuable, she probably wouldn't be so calm right now.
The imperial antique looks expensive. It's fortunate that she experienced the apocalypse; otherwise, given her pre-apocalyptic mental fortitude, she probably would have already shown her weakness and been suspected.
With Emperor Kangxi's generous reward, the other concubines in the harem followed suit. Consorts of the rank of concubine sent their own rewards, and concubines of the same rank as her sent their own gifts.
Changchun Palace was bustling with activity all day long.
Seeing the lively scene ahead, Xia Yingying couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy, so she went to find Chen Changzai again.
When Chen Changzai saw it was her, his hand holding the needle and thread paused: "Why are you here again, little sister?"
"What do you mean by that, sister? Are you saying you don't welcome your younger sister?"
These words were unpleasant to hear, but Chen Changzai had no intention of breaking ties with Xia Yingda.
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