Chapter 459 Just a pawn
At this moment, all the concubines in the harem seemed to have rushed over upon hearing the news, and they all bowed. After the ceremony, Shu Yan took the initiative to approach Tang Qianran and began to flatter her, "Oh my, the Third Prince is getting cuter and cuter. His eyebrows and features are exactly the same as the Emperor's, so dashing and heroic. His mouth is as beautiful as the Imperial Concubine's."
Song Qing said, "How can such a young child show such heroic spirit and be so cute?" If the Emperor looked like this when he was a child, even the Empress Dowager would probably not approve.
Tang Qianran was naturally pleased when someone complimented her. Ignoring Song Qing, she added, "Shu Ronghua will also have a child with His Majesty in the future, and it will definitely be very beautiful."
A hint of disappointment flashed in Shu Yan's eyes. "I am not as fortunate as the Noble Consort. I have been in the palace for two years and have not yet seen the Emperor."
It's as if it's saying that back then, the Crown Prince doted on his Crown Princess and didn't give other concubines a chance, and even complained a bit. Now that the Empress is pregnant again, and the Crown Prince has ascended the throne as Emperor, he still goes to the Empress's palace every day. Most of the concubines who entered the palace have never been summoned by the Emperor.
Tang Qianran said casually, "Now that the Empress Dowager is in charge of the Imperial Household Department, I heard that the Empress Dowager will arrange for all the ladies who have never served the Emperor to meet him. All of you sisters will have your chance in the future."
Suddenly, Tang Qianran realized she had said the wrong thing. Her face flushed with embarrassment, and she repeatedly bowed and apologized, "I didn't mean that Your Majesty the Empress was unfair before..."
Jiang Fenghua remained calm. Her opponents had never been the women of the harem.
She exuded an aura of coldness and authority, her icy gaze fixed on Tang Qianran. She then glanced at the other concubines and said in a deep voice, "The Empress Dowager has decreed that the Imperial Household Department will handle the selection of concubines. New women will be added to the harem. Every woman who enters the harem will have the opportunity to appear before the Emperor as often as Consort Tang did back then."
Consort Song was already resentful that Tang Qianran had obtained the title of Imperial Consort. She said sarcastically, "This concubine would also like to learn from Imperial Consort how to dress up as a palace maid and go to Taihua Palace to serve His Majesty ink and brush and please His Majesty."
"However, I heard that Your Highness has been grinding ink for half a year but Your Majesty has not favored you. It is clear that to win His Majesty's favor, one must at least be pleasing to His Majesty in appearance, otherwise one will not be able to arouse His Majesty's interest."
Doesn't Consort Tang know who the Emperor likes? She's only a Consort, isn't she? With her looks, she thinks she can act tough in front of the Empress? She's really overestimating herself.
Tang Qianran was furious that Song Qing was still going against her. "Song Qing, you are now Consort Shu, and I am Consort Gui..."
Gao Qingtong quickly changed the subject, "Your Majesty, I guessed that this time Your Majesty's baby will be a prince. When I was pregnant with the Second Princess, I had a feeling that it would be a princess. And indeed it is a princess. My intuition is very accurate."
It wasn't just Tang Qianran who gave birth to a prince in the harem; the Empress gave birth to two princes this time.
Suddenly, no one wanted to curry favor with Consort Tang anymore. Although the Empress Dowager had asked her to assist in managing the harem, the power in the harem would eventually fall back into the hands of the Empress. The Empress was only pregnant, and the Emperor felt sorry for her and didn't want her to be overworked, so he temporarily let Consort Tang manage the harem.
Jiang Fenghua smiled and said, "Stop crowding around, it's getting late. Come with me to pay our respects to the Empress Dowager!"
"Yes," everyone answered in unison.
Consort Song and Consort Gao were seen flanking Jiang Fenghua, chatting and laughing together.
Shu Yan and Tang Qianran lagged behind. Shu Yan whispered, "The Empress Dowager has not handed over the power of the various palaces to the Empress. The Empress Dowager values the Consort more. In the future, I will have to rely on the Consort to put in a good word for me with the Empress Dowager."
Tang Qianran glanced at her face; she was pretty and charming. "Don't worry, Shu Ronghua, I will advise the Empress Dowager to let you serve the Emperor as soon as possible."
Shu Yan said, "Thank you, Your Highness."
"Now that the Empress is pregnant, it is the perfect time for the concubines to seize the opportunity to serve the Emperor. With the Empress Dowager's support, she will be happy if the concubines give birth to more imperial offspring," Tang Qianran added.
Tang Qianran still hasn't figured out her place. The reason she was able to compete with Zhu Zhenzhen for the position of concubine was simply because she was just right to be Jiang Fenghua's pawn. Now, Jiang Fenghua could turn her into a useless pawn at any time.
In this life, the only person who can be Jiang Fenghua's opponent and play chess with her is the emperor; everyone else is just a pawn on their chessboard.
Upon arriving at Cining Palace, Jiang Fenghua led the group in bowing to the Empress Dowager, saying, "Your Majesty, we pay our respects. May Your Majesty be well."
The Empress Dowager, dressed in a magnificent gown, sat upright in the main seat. She casually glanced at the concubines below, exuding an air of majesty and nobility, and said in a deep voice, "You may all rise."
"Thank you, Empress Dowager," the crowd said in unison.
The Empress Dowager then said, "Please sit down!"
Jiang Fenghua straightened up, and Granny Wang helped her sit down in the seat below the Empress Dowager. At this time, Tang Qianran also sat down on the other side of the Empress Dowager according to the rules.
Tang Qianran carried the child to the Empress Dowager and smiled, "The Third Prince knew he was coming to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager, so he got up early. Third Prince, wake up and pay your respects to your grandmother."
Whether intentionally or not, the Empress Dowager said, "Let me hold my little imperial grandson."
The Empress Dowager held the Third Prince in her arms and felt that his eyes were half open and half closed, as if he wanted to sleep but was forced to get up.
Tang Qianran said, "They probably want to sleep again. The wet nurse said that all babies are sleepy and they get sleepy again after playing for a while."
"That's how children are; they need to sleep more to grow." The Empress Dowager said with a loving expression. "Is the Third Prince no longer coughing? I've been worried about him."
"I'm much better now, there's nothing serious." Tang Qianran said respectfully.
Song Qing and Gao Qingtong couldn't bear to see such a young child get up so early and suffer like this. In fact, even if Consort Tang didn't bring the child to Cining Palace to pay respects, the Empress Dowager wouldn't say anything, since the child was still young and didn't understand anything. But since she had been promoted to the rank of Consort, she always wanted to show off with the Third Prince.
The Third Prince was only a month old when Tang Qianran frequently took him to Cining Palace, which caused him to catch a cold intermittently from the cold wind, and he has not recovered.
Jiang Fenghua sat demurely to one side, never using her child to gain favor, no matter how much her mother loved her.
The other concubines were also praising the Third Prince for being cute, but Granny Wang and Jiang Fenghua exchanged a glance, feeling that Consort Tang's child looked too listless.
Jiang Fenghua also glanced into the Empress Dowager's arms and felt something was amiss. She recalled that she had wanted to touch the child earlier, but the wet nurse had held the child and backed away, preventing her from touching him.
The Empress Dowager then had the child returned to Tang Qianran and said in a deep voice, "The Lantern Festival is in five days. This is the first Lantern Festival since the Emperor ascended the throne. Consort Tang, please take extra care to urge the Imperial Household Department and the Ministry of Rites to prepare a good banquet for this event." She gave Tang Qianran an opportunity to be listed as a guest.
Tang Qianran quickly bowed respectfully, "Your Majesty and I will certainly live up to the expectations of the Empress Dowager and the Emperor and make the Lantern Festival a lively and joyous occasion."
Consort Song seized upon the loophole in her words and flattered her, saying, "I have heard that the envoys from various countries have not yet returned. They should wait until they have celebrated the Lantern Festival in Shengjing before leaving. They should also come to the palace to attend the banquet at that time. Consort Tang must have prepared wonderful programs to entertain the guests, so that they can see the majesty and style of our Great Zhou Kingdom."
Upon hearing this, everyone looked at Consort Tang with expectant eyes.
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