After the opera, her face darkened. Next came the fireworks display, which was meticulously arranged by the Imperial Household Department. Ji Huan was so tired from watching it that she felt the fireworks were mediocre due to the lack of technical skill. However, everyone else was completely engrossed in the performance.
Fireworks are beautiful, but she's seen better ones.
The fireworks display ended quickly, and nothing else happened during that time.
The dinner party began.
Ji Huan was very curious. The birthday banquet was about to end, but Consort Xian was still perfectly fine. Could it be that she wasn't planning to do anything to Consort Xian, or perhaps...
She looked at the protagonist of the day, Consort Chun, or perhaps the person behind the scenes didn't want to ruin this birthday banquet?
She enjoyed the exquisite dinner prepared by the imperial kitchen. The food was delicious, and the Qing Dynasty's culinary culture was quite similar to that of modern times. In fact, the ingredients available were more abundant, and the flavors were more diverse. While eating with satisfaction, Ji Huan secretly kept her attention on Consort Xian.
Even after we finished eating and were about to leave, nothing happened.
As she prepared to leave, Ji Huan was highly focused. She didn't think there was anything wrong with her intelligence; anything could happen as the time got closer to the end.
"System, please keep an eye on Consort Xian, who is pregnant."
Originally, they were hoping to save the situation, try to gain a good reputation, and perhaps even get a promotion, but it was late at night, and the palace servants were carrying lanterns, but the overall lighting was still dim.
She dared not approach Consort Xian again.
She is indeed favored now, but she is still just a minor noblewoman. This time, she is among the lowest-ranking people at the Yuanmingyuan, with little experience, and she is quite afraid of being used as a pawn.
So she ended up at the very back.
Consort Qing was with her.
"Why isn't my sister walking faster?"
Ji Huan raised an eyebrow: "I just ate a lot, so walking slowly will help digestion. Besides, there are so many empresses ahead of me, so it wouldn't be appropriate for me to walk ahead of them."
"That's true, but it's dark here, so it's better to walk slowly for safety," Consort Qing replied with a smile.
Ji Huan smiled and replied, "Who says otherwise!"
She had barely finished speaking when she heard a sharp scream.
"Ahhhhhh"
"Who bumped into me?!"
Several concubines fell one after another.
The incident happened so suddenly that Ji Huan and Consort Qing were stunned. Emperor Qianlong and the Empress, who were walking in front, were also stunned when they heard the commotion behind them, but they quickly came to their senses.
Emperor Qianlong stormed over, furious: "What's going on?"
Before the concubines who had fallen to the ground could get up and were about to answer, they heard Consort Xian clutching her stomach and saying, "My stomach hurts, it hurts so much."
Then Consort Xian's personal maid exclaimed, "Blood! Your Highness is bleeding!"
Many of the women present had been pregnant, and upon seeing this, they immediately knew that Consort Xian had likely suffered a miscarriage.
Ji Huan's outward expression of fear and panic was similar to that of Consort Qing. In reality, she was not particularly calm inside; it was all too sudden, and she was completely unprepared.
"System, I want to know what happened during the chaos just now?"
"It was a maidservant from Consort Chun's side who tripped Consort Xian's maidservant, and that's when you saw it."
The flowerpot was unstable and soon a large section of it collapsed. Consort Xian fell down from the three steps. Normally, she would have been fine after some rest, but Consort Xian was pregnant and then she miscarried.
Hearing that it was Consort Chun, Ji Huan wasn't surprised. If she were to make the arrangements, it would be best to do so during the fireworks display, when everyone's attention would be on the fireworks. If she caused some trouble, it could ruin Consort Chun's birthday banquet.
Killing two birds with one stone.
However, the result was that Consort Xian suffered a miscarriage after her birthday banquet. Although it might have been a bit unlucky for Consort Chun, the process was beautiful. As for the result?
She's practically a victim herself, so who would suspect her?
Furthermore, no one publicly knew that Consort Xian was pregnant.
Ji Huan was impressed by Consort Chun's methods. She had given birth to two sons and a daughter, and raised them all successfully. Her background was among the lowest in the harem. She was of commoner origin, a proper Han Chinese, not a member of the Han Banner Army. She entered the Prince's residence as a concubine and was only given a bondservant status by Prince Bao, Emperor Qianlong.
If she hadn't used her skills, she wouldn't have had two sons and a daughter, and wouldn't have risen to the position of a Noble Consort.
As Emperor Qianlong and the Empress approached, they roughly understood what was going on. The Empress hurriedly said, "Someone, carry the sedan chair and send Consort Xian back. Quickly, go and fetch the imperial physician."
Hearing the Empress's thoughtful arrangements, Emperor Qianlong nodded. Looking at the chaotic scene, he immediately said, "You all go back first. I will go with the Empress to Consort Xian's place."
Consort Chun had already gotten up, her face pale, and said softly, "Your Majesty, I'd like to go and see Consort Xian as well!"
Seeing that she looked unwell, and remembering that it was her birthday and that she had fallen earlier, Emperor Qianlong comforted her, saying, "Jingyan, you should go back first. The Empress and I will go. Today is your birthday, and I will come to see you tomorrow."
Consort Chun said considerately, "Consort Xian's health is more important. Your Majesty, please spend more time with her. I'm fine here."
"I know you are sensible. I will visit you again tomorrow. I saw you fell just now. I will have Li Yu take you home. I will also have someone call an imperial physician to examine you."
"Then I thank Your Majesty for your concern."
After Emperor Qianlong appeased Consort Chun, he took the Empress to Consort Xian's place.
Consort Qing, still shaken, grabbed Ji Huan's hand and asked, "Is Consort Xian perhaps pregnant?"
Ji Huan shook her head: "Who knows! But did you see clearly what happened just now, sister?"
Consort Qing shook her head: "It's pitch black. Although we're in the back, there are quite a few people in between! How could we possibly see what's going on? Consort Xian is an upright person, and she's managed the harem's expenses much more strictly. I hope she's alright!"
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