The incident involving Consort Guo sparked a trend in the harem, with lower-ranking concubines and palace maids aspiring to higher positions following suit, believing that Emperor Kangxi favored this type—bold and passionate. This scene then unfolded in the Imperial Garden.
"This servant greets Your Majesty!" A maid, dressed in her finest attire, kept throwing flirtatious glances at Kangxi. It was unclear where she got the information that Kangxi would be passing through here!
"Oh! Your Majesty, don't go!" The palace maid, still swaying and quickening her pace to block Kangxi's steps, suddenly seemed to stumble and fell straight towards him.
"Your Majesty, this servant loves you!" The palace maid was unaware that Kangxi avoided her when he saw her intention, and Liang Jiugong caught her just in time.
"Get rid of it! I don't want this to happen again!" Kangxi's anger surged, and he forgot what he had planned to do that day. He turned and went back to the Qianqing Palace.
"Yes, I knew it! Where do all these oddballs come from?"
Liang Jiugong was furious. To make an example of her, he ordered the palace maid to be beaten to death! The news spread throughout the palace within two hours, and all the concubines and palace maids who had designs on her immediately gave up their plans.
"Beat her to death? Send someone to her house and give her plenty of money! Also, bring her younger brother to the estate and give him a job. This is my final act of respect for her!"
Consort Yi had anticipated this outcome from the beginning. This was just a scheme she had set up. There was no other way; the matter concerning Consort Guo had too great an impact, and if she didn't take action soon, it would affect her as well!
"Yes, this servant will go and deliver the message right away!" The message Qingfen went to deliver was not to Consort Yi's father, but to Consort Yi's mother, whose family also had some connections in the palace.
"The atmosphere in the harem has been corrupted, but after this, things shouldn't be so chaotic!"
The Empress Dowager may not concern herself with anything, but that doesn't mean she doesn't pay attention to the dynamics of the inner palace. She has also taken over some of her aunt's (Grand Empress Dowager's) connections.
"To be honest, it was Consort Guo who started this whole thing. It was supposed to be a private matter between the women of the house, but it's become common knowledge!" Juhua thought. If the Empress Dowager were still alive, none of this would have happened! Consort Guo's grave would be overgrown with weeds by now.
"How's the investigation into Granny He going?" The Empress Dowager never believed that Su Ma La Gu had committed suicide without giving a single explanation. She suspected Granny He. As for why it was her, Granny He had been there the night Su Ma La Gu committed suicide, and she even had a very bold idea.
"There's still no progress. Granny He is too stubborn. Granny Jingqi has used all her methods, but she just grits her teeth and hasn't said a word to the person behind the scenes!" Juhua sometimes admires Granny He. Under such severe torture, she still holds her ground and doesn't say a word even when her closest relatives die in front of her.
"Could it be that I'm mistaken?" Or does the person behind the scenes have some leverage over Granny He that makes her so loyal?
"But Eunuch Liu saw that Granny He went to Aunt Su's place, so there must be some hidden story, but I don't know what it is!" Juhua felt that things shouldn't be like this, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it!
"Then let's investigate slowly! Start with the imperial concubines, one by one, don't let any of them slip by. The fox will eventually show its tail!"
She refused to believe that they couldn't find out. Her aunt was in such good health, how could something happen to her so easily? Besides, how could they explain the medicine bottle found at Granny He's place? The only ones who could have such a deep grudge against her aunt were the concubines in Shou'an Palace.
That evening, Emperor Kangxi issued a decree that caused a stir in the harem: he resumed the imperial concubine selection process and appointed a palace maid as a concubine, ordering the Imperial Noble Consort to arrange her accommodations.
"My lady, this is clearly just to upset you. Why not arrange for her to stay in one of the many palaces? I don't know what the Imperial Noble Consort is really thinking."
Furong angrily recounted that tonight was the day that Consort Liu would move into Yongshou Palace, and it was also the day she would serve the emperor. The Imperial Noble Consort, holding the Empress's seal and covering it with the imperial edict, issued a decree that left no room for reneging.
"I'm not angry, why are you angry! It's just a small favor, just arrange it far away in the back hall. Prepare both the east and west halls!"
It seems that people will be coming in here soon. After all, it wouldn't make sense for the Imperial Noble Consort not to send some people in when Emperor Kangxi was selecting concubines!
"Yes, this servant just feels that it's not very kind of them to only notify us when everyone has arrived!"
Furong thought to herself, "At least they notified the main hall first and then had the main hall prepare a place for us to move in."
"Alright, hurry up and make the arrangements!" All that nagging was interrupting her painting! Wanyi, in a good mood, finished the last stroke. She was living a comfortable life with no one bothering her; she was thoroughly enjoying herself!
June arrived at a leisurely pace, and the talent show was underway. All the women hoped to enter the most luxurious and prestigious place in the world, and women from all over the country who met the requirements flocked to the Forbidden City.
"Tomorrow is the palace selection, I wonder how many people will be chosen!" The Imperial Noble Consort looked at the rows of young women walking back in the distance.
"Your Highness, what good is it to keep more? They are just low-ranking concubines, they can't surpass you!" Ningdong thought the Imperial Noble Consort was jealous again, so she quickly comforted her!
"I was just sighing. Let's go back!" The Imperial Noble Consort hadn't come specifically to see the candidates; she was just out for a stroll and happened to run into them. With that, she turned and left Jin'an Palace.
Meanwhile, Wanyi was coming out of the Hall of Mental Cultivation. She was only in charge of the preliminary selection of the imperial concubines, so she had nothing to do today. Emperor Kangxi summoned her to accompany him. She spent an afternoon in the Hall of Mental Cultivation with Emperor Kangxi, and then left in high spirits.
"Let me take a walk! My arms are a bit stiff from drawing all afternoon; a walk will help them stretch!"
Wanyi gestured for the sedan chair bearers to go back first. The Hall of Mental Cultivation was not far from the Palace of Eternal Longevity, and she planned to walk back herself.
"Your Highness, please wait! This Your Highness!" Suddenly a clear voice rang out, and someone appeared in front of Wanyi, blocking her path!
"How dare you! Who dares to block Consort Chen's path!" Furong shouted at the man who looked like a guard carrying a knife.
“Your humble servant greets Consort Chen. I had no intention of offending you, and I beg your forgiveness. I only came up to ask if this sachet was dropped by Your Highness!” Bayar Haojie presented the light purple sachet with both hands.
"It is indeed my sachet, but I don't know how it got rubbed off. I'm so sorry to have troubled you, Your Excellency!"
Wanyi glanced at her side and found that the sachet she had brought with her when she went out was gone. Today, Wanyi was wearing a purple cheongsam, so naturally she would wear something of the same color.
"It's just a small favor, no trouble at all!"
Bayar Haojie said excitedly. He was a member of the Manchu Bordered Yellow Banner and had heard of Consort Chen, who was the most favored concubine in the palace. He thought she was very beautiful when he saw her today.
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