They didn't stay in the carriage for long before switching to a boat.
Ji Huan doesn't get seasick, but thinking about the lively scene that's about to unfold, she invited Physician Sun and then reported that she gets seasick, so she doesn't have to participate in any activities on weekdays.
Emperor Qianlong even came to visit her personally, which was quite considerate in a way.
Of course, I'll take a look this time.
The scenery along the way was exceptionally beautiful, and even though this trip to Shandong was intended to comfort the Empress, it couldn't stop Emperor Qianlong from taking his lavish concubines with the officials who presented them to him along the way.
They just slept; no one stayed behind.
Empress Fucha was fully aware of this. As the empress, she had managed the harem for many years and possessed considerable connections and abilities. How could she not know about Qianlong's actions?
She coughed, and her face paled even more.
A palace maid rushed forward and said, "Your Majesty, perhaps we should call a royal physician over!"
Empress Fucha shook her head: "I can't call out. His Majesty is in high spirits, and I can't spoil the fun."
Upon hearing this, the palace maid couldn't help but huff and puff, "Your Highness, you should think more about yourself! The Emperor... he doesn't care about your health at all; he's having too much fun to think about anything else!"
This palace maid was Empress Fucha's confidante and was very displeased with Qianlong's actions, but since he was the emperor, she could only mutter a few words in private.
"I'm used to not discussing the Emperor."
Having grown accustomed to Qianlong's philandering, the fact that her children were dying one after another had taken away all her energy and spirit.
Before the Seventh Prince's accident, although she was weak, she could still recover. The Seventh Prince's untimely death was a huge blow to her, and she couldn't bear it. The fact that she was able to come out this time was because she had taken medicine, which was essentially draining her life force.
In fact, she was indeed tired.
A philandering husband, seemingly affectionate but actually heartless, suffers the loss of his young children, a tragic tragedy of a parent outliving their child.
Her heart was dead, and she couldn't muster any more energy.
Empress Fucha was extremely disappointed by Qianlong's actions, but she was not surprised. This realization made it impossible for her to feel sad for a while.
Just then, a palace maid entered.
"Your Majesty, Consort Shu has arrived."
Empress Fucha coughed again: "Consort Shu is a worry-free person. She must have something to say if she comes. Let her in."
The personal maid said worriedly, "Your Highness, you are not feeling well. Perhaps you should wait until you feel better before seeing Consort Shu. I believe Consort Shu will understand."
Empress Fucha shook her head: "When will my health be fully recovered? Let Consort Shu come in. I also want to talk to someone."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
When Consort Shu entered, she saw Empress Fucha's haggard face, which she could not hide. She hesitated for once, worried that if she spoke, Empress Fucha might faint from anger.
However, considering that things had come to this point, she knew she had no choice but to back down.
"Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress. May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings and peace."
"Get up, you've come at the right time. Keep me company for a while!"
Consort Shu nodded: "Yes, Your Majesty."
After sitting down, Consort Shu said with concern, "Your Majesty, you don't look well. Should we call the imperial physician to come and take a look?"
Empress Fucha shook her head: "No need, I'm in this condition and taking medicine! They say no one comes to the palace without a reason, you didn't come here just to gossip, did you!"
Consort Shu shook her head, then glanced at her personal maid, indicating that she had some private matters to discuss.
Empress Fucha was taken aback, then said, "Moyu has been with me since childhood, there's nothing she can't listen to."
Consort Shu breathed a sigh of relief, dismissed her maid, and sent her out to keep watch.
With only three people left in the cabin, Consort Shu stood up and suddenly knelt down, startling Empress Fucha and Moyu.
Mo Yu frowned: "Consort Shu, what are you doing?"
Consort Shu looked sorrowful: "I beg Your Majesty the Empress to help us in the selection of those to enter the palace."
Empress Fucha was stunned: "What do you mean by that?"
Consort Shu began to explain: "The First Prince's birth mother was a bondservant. Although Your Majesty's Second Prince and Sixth Prince were born, they did not grow up. The Third Prince and Sixth Prince were born to Consort Chun, who was originally a commoner but later became a bondservant."
The Fourth Prince and the Eighth Prince were born to Consort Jia, who was also of bondservant origin. The Fifth Prince was born to Consort Yu, who was born into the Mongol Banner. It can be said that among the concubines selected to enter the palace through the imperial harem selection, only Consort Yu still has a child, and she is also from the Mongol Banner.
I didn't think much of it before, but later I accidentally learned that the concubines in the harem were conspiring to prevent us Manchu concubines from having children. My palace is almost being marinated in filth.
"The miscarriage of Consort Xian was not an accident, and the smallpox of the Seventh Prince is even more suspicious. Your Majesty, if this continues, the bondservant men will control the imperial heirs. In the long run, this harem will become their domain. I beg Your Majesty, for the sake of us both being from the Manchu Banner, please help me!"
Empress Fucha was stunned when she heard this, and her face turned a shade paler.
Mo Yu, who was standing to the side, was also dumbfounded.
What's going on here? She had suspected that the death of the Seventh Prince was suspicious, but according to Consort Shu, wouldn't the death of the Second Prince also be mysterious?
It took Empress Fucha quite a while to come to her senses.
"You should go back first. I need to think about this carefully."
Knowing that it was time to stop, Consort Shu stood up upon hearing this and said, "This concubine takes her leave."
After saying this, he bowed and left.
Empress Fucha appeared calm, but her heart was far from at peace.
After a long while, Mo Yu said with a complicated expression, "Your Majesty, what Consort Shu said may not be true. She probably has ulterior motives."
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