When Princess Xitala received the imperial edict at home after the talent show ended, she was completely bewildered.
She knew that she had been summoned by Consort Yi several times, but she thought she would only be a secondary consort. She never expected that she would become the primary consort.
When her father heard about it, he called her into his study.
"I only heard from outside the palace that Consort Yi of Chuxiu Palace is very favored. You must have met her during the selection of concubines. Did you find her easy to get along with?"
Princess Xitala thought for a moment: "The Empress has a kind and gentle face, just like Guanyin in the world. She is very kind to me. She has called me to visit many times. I just didn't expect that she would be the primary consort. I heard from the nannies and maids in the palace that the Fourteenth Prince is very favored. I thought that I would at most be a secondary consort."
With her status, she could easily become the primary consort of an ordinary member of the imperial family, but she herself felt that becoming the primary consort of a prince was impossible.
"Could it be that the Emperor's favor towards the Fourteenth Prince is not genuine?"
This was Xitala Gege Ama's first thought.
Princess Xitala disagreed: "Father, I don't think so. Although I haven't spent much time with Consort Yi, her demeanor and bearing are something that can only be achieved if she is truly favored. Moreover, I learned from the nannies that Consort Yi's relationship with the Crown Prince has long since cooled."
"When the Empress's younger sister first entered the palace, many people thought she was there to take care of the Crown Prince. Unexpectedly, she gradually became a favored concubine and even had a son. It seems the Emperor really cares for the Crown Prince..."
He didn't say anything more after that.
"Regardless of what the Emperor thinks, the imperial decree has been issued. Father has met Fourteen twice and found her to be of extraordinary bearing. She should be well prepared for marriage."
"Yes, Father."
Princess Xitala knew what she had to do. This marriage was not her choice, but no matter what kind of marriage it was, she would manage it well after she married into it.
The selection of Yinyu's consort also caused quite a stir in the harem.
The first person to arrive was Consort Cheng.
"What's going on? Why would the Emperor choose Princess Xitala as his consort for the Fourteenth Prince? Why didn't you try to dissuade him?"
"Don't worry, sister. I chose Princess Xitala."
Consort Cheng was puzzled and looked at her with a "don't lie to me" expression: "What are you thinking? Everyone else is thinking about how to choose a consort with an outstanding family background for their son, so why did you choose one with an unremarkable family background? Won't the Fourteenth Prince have any objections?"
"Fourteenth Prince also knows this, and he has no objection. When a couple lives together, they have to see if they are compatible. Yinzhi doesn't like to deal with worldly affairs, so finding a wife who likes to worry is just right for him. As for family background? Which princess's family background can compare to that of the royal family?"
"I'm glad you don't mind. You thought it was the Emperor's idea!"
That's one good thing about Consort Cheng; even though she didn't understand, she still showed respect.
Over the years, she had come to admire Wu Lingzhu. Since she had been chosen to serve the emperor, Wu Lingzhu had never lost favor. There were countless concubines in the harem, but Wu Lingzhu was the only evergreen.
Since she had chosen to be with her, she had no intention of changing her allegiance.
The Crown Prince's situation seemed to be deteriorating, but everyone knew that Consort Yi's relationship with the Crown Prince was not good.
She couldn't help but recall the time many years ago when Emperor Kangxi was seriously ill, and how Consort Yi had completely ignored the Crown Prince—what a wise choice she had made!
The happiest people about this matter were the Eighth Prince and his wife, whose family background was not particularly distinguished.
Wu Lingzhu often gave Consort Liang a cold shoulder, which made the Eighth Prince feel that she looked down on them. The reason was that Wu Lingzhu had spoken ill of Consort Liang in front of the Empress Dowager, which almost led the Crown Prince to bestow two concubines upon the Eighth Prince.
"Your Majesty, the Fourteenth Prince's wife is Princess Xitala. Isn't it said that Father Emperor dotes on the Fourteenth Prince? What's going on? Why didn't Consort Yi make a fuss?"
The Eighth Prince smiled and said, "Father Emperor probably only dotes on the Fourteenth Brother because of his young age. Now that he's getting married, he naturally won't treat him like a child anymore. Besides, there are even younger brothers below him!"
The reason why the Eighth Prince was happy was that Yinyu's wife's family background was not as good as his wife's. However, it can't be said that it was not as good as his wife's. In fact, the Eighth Prince's wife's family background was not particularly good either. Her father was even a criminal who was beheaded. The main reason was that her maternal grandfather was Prince An.
Emperor Kangxi arranged for the Eighth Prince to marry his wife in order to eliminate the influence of Prince An's faction.
Who knew that the Eighth Prince would be so cunning, using this connection to take over the other party's power.
Yinyu received far more fatherly love than the Eighth Prince, and it's fair to say that few of these imperial fathers didn't envy him.
As a result, a wife of average family background was chosen for him, and the Eighth Prince felt that Yinzhi's favor was nothing more than that.
Now that Kangxi is giving him an important position, the Eighth Prince feels like he has defeated Yinyu.
Meanwhile, at Yonghe Palace, Consort De summoned the Fourth Prince, Yinzhen.
"The Fourteenth Prince's wife has been chosen. Although the Emperor dotes on his youngest son, he values you sons who are already capable of performing your duties. You should learn from the Eighth Prince and not be so sullen. How did Consort Liang become Consort Liang? It was all because the Emperor valued the Eighth Prince. Your mother raised you and doesn't ask for anything else, but at least make something of yourself and don't make me lose face in front of others..."
Consort De was naturally resentful that her two sons were still consorts, since even the noble ladies she looked down upon were now on equal footing with her.
It's impossible to rise in rank through favor, but one can do so through one's son.
Yinzhen felt awkward: "Mother, please pay more attention to Sixth Brother. He's sick again. Recently, Honghui has also fallen ill, and his wife has to stay home to take care of him. I apologize on behalf of my wife..."
Consort De got angry again upon hearing this and gave an irrelevant reply: "What's the use of having such a son?"
The mother and son parted on bad terms.
The next day, Consort De sent a nanny to the Fourth Prince's residence and summoned the Fourth Prince's wife away. During this time, Honghui's condition suddenly worsened. The imperial physician was knocked unconscious after bumping into the Eighth Prince's wife's carriage next door, and Honghui died.
When the Fourth Prince's wife received the news, she was completely stunned; she was still in Yonghe Palace.
Consort De also heard the news, and then panicked, she fainted.
The Fourth Prince valued Honghui highly. Yesterday, he told his wife to take good care of Honghui and not to come to pay her respects. However, she summoned his wife to the palace, and Honghui died young.
Although the Eighth Prince's wife was involved, Consort De could not be said to bear no responsibility at all. With her mother by her side, she could come up with more solutions.
As for the imperial physician, he was also used by Consort Li's second son!
After listening to Chunying's explanation, Wulingzhu finished speaking.
"The Fourth Prince's residence is going to be in chaos."
This matter involves the Eighth Prince's wife, Consort Li, and Consort De. The Fourth Prince's wife usually seems like an easy-going person, but that doesn't mean she has no temper or ability.
Consort Li is about to die.
The Fourth Prince now had no choice but to fight the Eighth Prince.
The relationship between the Fourth Prince and Consort De is also doomed.
Has the Emperor said anything?
"The Emperor summoned the Eighth Prince and reprimanded him. Then he sent two palace maids to the Eighth Prince, ordering them to enter his residence as secondary consorts. The Eighth Prince's wife was placed under house arrest for a year, and Consort De was also placed under house arrest, with no word on when it would end. In addition, the Emperor bestowed two princesses upon the Fourth Prince, both of whom were selected as imperial concubines this year, saying it was to help the Fourth Prince have more children!"
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