Consort Qing: "Your Highness, Consort Shu, you're exaggerating. I never bullied Xinying. I just wanted to give her some pointers because she's naive. She should learn from Rou. Rou needed help walking on her first day of serving the Emperor!"
Consort Ying knew that the act of sowing discord was blatant and aboveboard, and Ji Huan was also aware of it, but Consort Ying couldn't possibly be indifferent to it.
Ji Huan glanced at Consort Qing with displeasure: "Sister Qing is so eloquent, something that we newcomers can't match."
Consort Qing smiled, completely unconcerned about Ji Huan's displeasure: "Sister Rou is quite the joker. I'm not good with words, and I can hardly be considered eloquent."
After saying that, Consort Qing looked at Consort Ying with a worried expression: "Oh dear, Consort Ying, what's wrong? Why is your face so pale all of a sudden? Are you sick? If you are sick, you can't hide your illness and avoid seeking medical treatment!"
Consort Ying quickly shook her head. Her situation was already not good. If she fell ill, her green plaque would be removed, and it would be difficult for her to get back on the throne.
"Thank you for your concern, Sister Qing. I'm fine."
After she finished speaking, the Empress, supported by a palace maid, slowly walked out from behind the screen.
Everyone stood up and said, "We greet Your Majesty the Empress. May Your Majesty be blessed with longevity and good health."
"Please rise, ladies, and sit down to talk!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress."
After everyone was seated, the Empress spoke: "I just heard what sounded like Consort Ying speaking. If you were feeling unwell last night when you served the Emperor, do not push yourself."
The Empress's words conveyed a similar meaning, making her concern even more apparent, and Consort Ying's complexion regained some color.
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am in good health."
"That's good. Now that you've served the Emperor, serve him well and help the royal family have more children."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Then the Empress routinely inquired about the concubines who had children, leaving Consort Xian and Consort Chun behind, while the rest of the concubines returned home.
In the afternoon, Ji Huan heard Li Hu say, "Your Highness, Her Majesty the Empress has divided the palace affairs into two parts and assigned them to Consort Xian and Consort Chun respectively."
Ji Huan: "I understand!"
Knowing that Empress Fucha was in poor health, and thinking about what would happen next year, she felt that she had to do something, as the bondservant servants in Qianlong's harem were beginning to gain influence.
The success of Lady Uya in the Kangxi Emperor's harem truly inspired many bondservant families.
Changchun Palace.
"Your Majesty, you should rest."
"I'm used to it, I can't rest. Over the years I've diligently managed the harem, and now that I don't have to, I feel a little unaccustomed to it."
"Your Majesty, His Majesty is only thinking of Your Majesty's health."
"I know, I understand Your Majesty's intentions, it is precisely because I understand them that I feel uncomfortable."
She gave birth to the Seventh Prince at an advanced age, which damaged her health, and the Seventh Prince was also frail. She felt extremely guilty about this and was deeply troubled by it.
Emperor Qianlong knew about her situation, which is why he handed over the power of the palace to Consort Xian and Consort Chun. Empress Fucha did not find this inappropriate, as she was indeed short of energy.
That night, Emperor Qianlong did not summon any new concubines to his bedchamber. When Consort Ying found out, she couldn't help but cry.
During the day, she could comfort herself by saying that what Consort Qing said was all lies, that the Emperor didn't dislike her, but compared to Ji Huan who had served the Emperor for five consecutive days, she had only had one.
She felt ashamed that there was such a difference between the two newcomers.
"Rose, how's the investigation into Xianfu Palace going?"
"My lady, the investigation is still ongoing. It's not easy to get close to the people around Consort Rou."
"Then take more silver."
Before entering the palace, she was a pampered princess, a girl of high status and privilege. She had never suffered any hardship or injustice.
The Emperor Qianlong's differential treatment made her feel humiliated. She felt that they were all laughing at her. She couldn't bring herself to throw a tantrum or act out with the Emperor Qianlong. But she wasn't going to let go of the other person who made her feel humiliated, Ji Huan.
Xianfu Palace.
Shuxiang: "My lady, recently the people from Zhongcui Palace have been inquiring about our situation."
"Zhongcui Palace? It should be Consort Ying. Have her inquire and ask her to go easy on you."
A favored concubine can't be called a favored concubine without stirring up some bloodshed and turmoil. Xianfu Palace is indeed too quiet. She is used to the occasional "little surprises" from Lady Liu at home, and she is not used to the quiet now.
The next day, Ji Huan woke up to Qing Yin saying, "Your Highness, the Empress has sent someone to say that you don't need to pay your respects today."
"What happened?"
"Her Majesty the Empress is ill."
"Has anyone said when the custom of paying respects to the deceased will resume?"
"No, Her Majesty the Empress will send someone to tell her once she recovers."
"Since Her Majesty the Empress is ill, are any concubines needed to attend to her?"
"Her Majesty the Empress has always been considerate of her concubines. When she is unwell, she never asks the concubines to attend to her."
"Since we don't need to pay our respects today, let's copy some scriptures to pray for the Empress's blessings!"
Ji Huan got up, dressed up, and spent the whole day copying Buddhist scriptures.
During the Empress's illness, Emperor Qianlong did not summon anyone to his bedchamber, nor did he need to pay his respects to her; the inner palace was indeed very peaceful.
Having sincerely copied the Buddhist scriptures, Ji Huan felt a surge of excitement when she heard that Consort Ying had successfully bribed a eunuch by Consort Wang's side to poison her. She felt that the palace intrigue had finally begun.
In reality, there were very few arrogant and domineering people in the imperial harem. Emperor Qianlong was an emperor with great power, and imperial power was highly centralized in his hands. It was even less likely that there would be anyone in his harem who would be arrogant and domineering because of their family background. Even if there were, they would have already turned to dust.
Even though Ji Huan had been in the palace for quite some time, she still felt that it wasn't quite real.
Hearing that Consort Ying was going to poison her, she finally felt a little more hopeful about life in the harem.
"Sending Buddhist scriptures to the Zhongzheng Hall for worship and to pray for the Empress is not as grand as doing it in a big way. It's a quiet affair. Besides, even if the eunuchs around the Prince make a move, we can let him off the hook. Among the new people sent by the Imperial Household Department, aren't there two disloyal ones? We can find an opportunity to let them get in touch and clean up the parasites around us."
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