If she wanted to come back, there was indeed no reason for her to be respectful to me, because although I was in charge of the six palaces, I was still a concubine, and Murong Shu was a noble concubine, above her, so how could she submit to her?
Concubine Shu was currently sitting in the palace sulking. She was angry that those people who usually showed her courtesy were now turning to Concubine Xian. She was still a concubine, but they were leaving her out in the cold?
She felt extremely uncomfortable, but she didn't dare to vent her feelings at the moment, for fear that someone would tell the emperor about her affairs, and then she would have no chance of turning things around.
Let Concubine Xian take charge of the situation temporarily.
Even if the queen was legitimate, what would happen? Didn't she die? And didn't her child look sick and dying?
Concubine Shu thought about it over and over again and tried to comfort herself.
At this moment, the palace maid outside came to report that Concubine Xian had arrived.
Concubine Shu said "please", but she did not stand up. Concubine Xian came in and saw Concubine Shu sitting on the imperial concubine couch. She hurriedly bowed and said, "Greetings, sister."
"Look how polite you are. Please sit down." Concubine Shu then stood up and gave her her seat.
Xian Fei sat down with a smile on her face: "How is your health, sister?"
"It's snowing now, and I'm suffering from postpartum disease. My whole body aches and I can't go anywhere. I can't compare to you. You're in good health, I'm so envious." Concubine Shu's words seemed to be an explanation, but also seemed not to be an explanation. Anyway, Concubine Xian felt a little better after listening to them.
"It's time for my sister to take some treatment. I have an old prescription and will have someone send it to her later." Concubine Xian said with a smile.
"Yes, I haven't congratulated you yet, but you have power now."
"No way, sister and younger sister both know that my power is only temporary, and the emperor's misunderstanding of sister is also temporary. We are just waiting for time to pass and the misunderstanding to be resolved. My golden book and golden seal are just kept temporarily for sister. When the time comes, they will all belong to sister, and it will not be a temporary appointment, but a real one." Concubine Xian lowered her voice and expressed her submission.
Her words made Concubine Shu feel a little more comfortable, but she also knew very well that everyone in the palace wanted a high position. The woman in front of her was her cousin, but it was the same for everyone. Power and wealth would only make you feel comfortable and at ease if they were in your own hands. What belonged to others would always belong to others.
"Sister, don't say that. You should manage it well and don't disappoint the emperor. The emperor trusts you very much now. When you come here, don't let people gossip about it. If it gets to the emperor's ears, it will implicate you. I don't want that. We are cousins, closer than others. I hope you will manage this golden book, and I don't want it to fall into the hands of others, right?"
"Sister's teachings are very true, but I am not afraid of being implicated. Besides, it was not sister who did that. One day, the truth will be revealed. When the emperor wakes up, he will naturally be twice as good to sister..."
The two sisters didn't know whether they were sincere or not, and they were having a very happy chat.
After Concubine Xian left, Concubine Shu threw the teacup she was drinking from against the wall and broke it into pieces. She said nice things, but who knows when the Emperor will forgive her? By then, having tasted the sweetness, will she still be willing to give up power?
This pair of sisters, who were originally close and shared common interests, suddenly had a rift because of the emperor's decision.
When Concubine Xian returned to her palace, she felt uncomfortable thinking about Concubine Shu's appearance. She made all kinds of excuses, which showed that she was disdainful of her power. Did she still think that it was the same as before? She condescended to show her kindness, but she still ignored her!
At this moment, the lady-in-chief from the palace came to see her and said that the New Year was almost over, so should the share be paid according to previous years? Now that the queen was gone, what should be done with the maids in her palace?
Xian Fei was in a dilemma. She had not intervened in the issue of the maids in Feng Palace before, and it was none of her business whether they should be kept or not. But now someone asked her about this matter, and she didn't know how to answer for a moment, so she said, "Let me discuss this matter with the emperor. There are rules for other matters, and there is no need to make exceptions. Also, the prince has already married, so please don't be too stingy with the prince's consort..."
Who wouldn't know how to use other people's money to buy good things?
Concubine Xian was very proud of her decision.
The female official asked about a few more things. In fact, most of them were the old rules of the palace. They were nothing special. She had been in the palace for so many years and she had seen and understood them.
After doing all this, she stretched and a look of joy appeared on her face. It turned out to be just like that. Everything was quite simple.
After a while, someone came back with another matter about the palace maids in the harem being sent out when they reached the age of retirement. The virtuous concubine had no say in the matter, so she asked for the list back and went to find the emperor.
As soon as she mentioned the issue of the maids in the Phoenix Palace, the emperor said, "All the maids in the Phoenix Palace will remain, and all the furnishings will remain the same. No changes may be made."
The emperor's tone was very cold.
The virtuous concubine felt a little aggrieved, as if she was the one who wanted to touch something in the Feng Palace, and it was difficult to explain, so she asked two more questions and then said goodbye.
After leaving the imperial study, she sighed deeply, thinking that the emperor asked her to be in charge of the six palaces, but it was really just about managing things. His attitude towards her had not changed at all, and was still indifferent. It seemed that no one could replace the queen's position in his heart. People said that the emperor had been to the island in the middle of the lake several times, and now it was frozen, and he would not even let a guard follow him, and could only walk on the ice. It was really worrying.
However, she was not the only one who was worried, but he didn't pay any attention to her.
The joy that Concubine Xian had felt earlier in taking power was completely dissipated, and she returned to her palace feeling depressed.
Dongfang Yan was waiting for her with a happy face. When he saw her coming back, he immediately stepped forward and said, "Mother, look, this is what everyone gave me..."
Yan Ruyu looked at the pile of gifts on the table, including gold, silver, jewelry, calligraphy, and paintings, and was stunned: "Who are you all?"
"There are a lot of people here, and they are planning to treat me to a meal. They used to follow Prince Kang, but now they know about me, Prince Ning." Dongfang Yan said proudly.
The virtuous concubine did not say anything. Dongfang Yan had never been so excited before, because he had never been valued so much. He usually took the gifts and told his mother which one was given by so-and-so, and which one was given by so-and-so. He was happier than children when they received gifts during the Chinese New Year.
Finally, Concubine Xian spoke: "Yan'er, do you know why they are like this?"
"Of course I know. It's because my mother is in charge of the six palaces, so the position of empress is just around the corner. As for future events, they have all thought about it very well. The prince is difficult to approach now and he is sick. Why don't those people make plans for themselves?" Dongfang Yan was stunned for a moment when he said this, and a bitter smile appeared in his eyes. "I think they are not happy for me, but are speculating on my possible future."
"It's good that you know. You are an intelligent child for thinking this way. Remember in the future, it's their problem if they try to please you. You just don't have to offend them. But you must be more cautious in your daily actions and not give others a handle. Your father hates it most for the prince to make friends with powerful officials. You must not give others a handle to blame you. Do you understand?" Concubine Xian is also a smart one and has a thorough understanding of the problem.
It's a pity that she is not the emperor's person, so there is nothing she can do. All the women in the palace are jealous of the queen and they all want to compete with her.
But they don’t know that the word “fate” is the most deceptive thing. It is fate, and it does not distinguish between people, or their talents, qualities or appearance. As long as they are in love, they will not care about anything else.
The news that Concubine Xian was in power caused a huge uproar in the imperial palace. When the empress dowager heard about it, she was so angry that she overturned everything around her, and the bowls and plates were broken all over the floor. The maids were so scared that they didn't know what to do. They just knelt on the ground and didn't dare to try to persuade her.
The Queen Mother took a few deep breaths and felt relieved. She looked at the mess and said, "Let's clean it up. But whoever dares to reveal anything about what happened today will have no good life."
Those palace servants did not dare to reveal it even without her order.
After a while, the Queen Mother's anger subsided a little, and she gave a bitter smile. She was so old, why would she waste her good life getting involved with them? Let those people jump around, but no matter what, no one dared to dethrone her, right?
However, it was really unexpected that the emperor didn't think of me at all.
He also supported the virtuous concubine. What did he mean?
Could it be that he has a crush on Dongfang Yan?
After thinking about it, this is a possibility. After all, the position of the crown prince is unstable in everyone's eyes, and the crown prince will not live for many years, so it is not excessive to plan for the successor now.
When she thought of Dongfang Yan, the empress dowager's eyebrows drooped. She didn't like it.
She didn't like either Concubine Xian or Dongfang Yan, whom the emperor chose.
But at this moment, she was laughing at herself in her heart for not being able to keep her temper. After so many years in the palace, how could she not know that she was most afraid of losing her temper.
Even the Empress Dowager couldn't keep her temper.
Finally, everything quieted down, and a palace maid announced that Concubine Xian had arrived.
The Queen Mother saw that the house had returned to its original state, so she asked her to come in.
The Queen Mother looked at Concubine Xian, whose features were gentle and not very impressive. She thought she was worrying too much. Perhaps the Emperor gave her the Golden Book just because she didn't want to show off.
"Empress Dowager, how are you feeling recently? I was just worried some time ago but didn't dare to disturb you. Now that the New Year is approaching, the palace is purchasing things. If there is anything your Majesty wants, just tell me." Concubine Xian said with a smile on her face.
"Look at my palace. What is missing? It's just that I feel sorry for your filial piety. You are a good child. You know how to think about me... I remember that I spent the New Year in Mount Wutai last year. The winter there was also very cold, just like it is now. I didn't expect that another year has passed so quickly. So many things have happened this year... Have you asked the emperor if the palace still follows the old custom? This year, the queen has just passed away, so we can't be too festive..."
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