"Noble Lady He, are you getting used to living in the palace?" the Imperial Noble Consort asked routinely, after all, this was a noble lady from Khorchin, and she had to maintain a respectable appearance.
"Your Highness, everything is fine, just like on the grasslands. Thank you, Your Highness, for your concern!"
When Consort He first entered the palace, she thought she wouldn't be used to it. But when she arrived at her residence, she found that the furnishings were similar to those in the yurts of the Khorchin Mongols. How could she not be moved by this, having traveled far from home?
"It was Sister Chen's idea after all!" Consort Wen said, unable to bear seeing Consort He only expressing gratitude to the Imperial Noble Consort.
"Thank you, Noble Consort Xie Chen!" This was the helpless sentiment of someone in a lower position.
"It seems that Consort Chen came up with this idea because she was reminded of the late Consort Chun. The two were once as close as sisters, inseparable."
Consort Rong was quite envious of the sisterly bond between Consort Wan and Consort Guo. It is said that there is no true affection between sisters in the harem, but Consort Rong saw the most precious one.
"Yes! If Consort Chun hadn't gone yet, there wouldn't be anything between Consort He and Noble Lady He! But is Consort Chen thinking that Noble Lady He is also from Khorchin, and using this to express her longing for Consort Chun?" Consort An's annoying voice rang out.
“Chunmei is Chunmei, and He Guiren is He Guiren. How can they be confused? Anpin is disrespectful to the rank of Consort. Therefore, you are punished by going to Fengxian Hall to pray for Chunmei. What do you think, Imperial Noble Consort?”
Wanyi didn't even glance at Consort An. She hated Consort Chun's betrayal the most; how dare she covet her Fourth Prince! This was her fate.
"Your Highness Consort Chen, I only mentioned that you miss Consort Chun. How did that become me being disrespectful to Consort Chun?"
Consort An retorted, arguing that she had merely mocked their fragile sisterly bond, and how could she be so easily accused?
“Consort An is right. Managing the harem requires clear rewards and punishments, and we must not wrong anyone!”
The Imperial Noble Consort was somewhat protective of Consort An, since Consort An was on her side now, and she had to treat her well so that people would be willing to risk their lives for her.
"Consort An is comparing a deceased imperial concubine to a noble lady. Isn't that just gossiping behind her back? Aren't you afraid that Consort Chun is watching you from behind?" Wanyi said sinisterly, as if Consort Chun was watching them.
"These supernatural and bizarre tales are not to be believed! How can you, a noble consort, speak such nonsense?" The Imperial Noble Consort was startled. She had been afraid of ghosts and monsters since childhood, so she rebuked her sternly.
"Is that so? Consort An should go and pay her respects later, so that the ancestors may bless her!" Wanyi was not afraid of Imperial Noble Consort Tongjia at all.
"Since Consort Chen insists, Consort An may go to Fengxian Hall to pray for blessings for two hours!" For some reason, the Imperial Noble Consort suddenly said to Consort An.
"Yes, Your Highness, I obey the decree." Consort An reluctantly rose and bowed.
"Once you enter the harem, you are all sisters. You should get along well, serve the Emperor wholeheartedly, and bear children for him!..." The Imperial Noble Consort saw that it was almost time and began her normal instructions.
"We concubines will respectfully follow the teachings of the Imperial Noble Consort!" Wanyi casually rose and performed a curtsy, as did all the other concubines.
The Imperial Noble Consort said a few more casual, meaningless words and then let them leave.
"Sister Chen, none of these newcomers to the palace seem to be easy to deal with!" When they reached the long street and saw that there were no people around, Consort Wen whispered to Consort Wan.
"None of those who make it into the palace are easy." During the month that the selected ladies lived in the palace, countless others were sent out.
"That Consort Sun looked somewhat familiar before, but after seeing her attire today, I realized that she actually resembles Sister Chen by five or six points. I wonder what the Imperial Noble Consort is planning!" Consort Wen offered her analysis of what she had witnessed during the palace selection.
"So what? She just wants to disgust me. With me, the real one, here, she's just a fake."
Wanyi felt offended, but wasn't she also helping her? The more she imitated Consort Sun, the more she realized that Consort Sun was not her. Her appearance only highlighted the better version of herself.
“Sister is right, no counterfeit can replace you!” Consort Wen said happily, after all, Consort Chen didn’t seem to mind that she hadn’t told her about Consort Sun.
"How is it?" the Imperial Noble Consort asked Ningdong, who was rubbing her head, with a headache.
"Everything has been arranged, we just need the right opportunity!" Ning Dong said softly, afraid of disturbing her master who was resting with his eyes closed.
"Yes, banquets are the perfect place for chaos and easy action. This time, I will ensure that the Suo Zhuolun clan will never have a chance to recover." The Imperial Noble Consort couldn't help but laugh at the thought of Wanyi's fate.
"Does Your Highness intend to make a move at the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet?" Ningdong asked excitedly.
"That's right, we'll hold a grand celebration this year. Even if the Emperor wanted to protect Suo Zhuolun, he wouldn't be able to. It's hard to silence the public's opinions."
If she has anyone to blame, it's because she's qualified to be empress! After she gets rid of Consort Chen, the next one will be Niohuru.
"Go and make preparations. The Emperor will be coming to our Chengqian Palace tonight. We must serve him well. Whether we can have a grand Mid-Autumn Festival celebration depends on tonight."
Today is the first day of the ninth month in the Gregorian calendar. Every year on the first and fifteenth of the month, the Emperor would spend the night at Chengqian Palace. The Imperial Noble Consort had already planned ahead. She used the excuse that she had been having bad luck lately and wanted to hold a grand Mid-Autumn Festival banquet to drive away the bad luck.
"Yes, I'll go right away!" she said, and then began to prepare.
Meanwhile, Wan Yi was oblivious to the danger that was about to befall her, having been busy cultivating a relationship with her son.
On the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month, Wanyi got up early to prepare herself and her son. The Emperor led his ministers to offer sacrifices at the outer court, and then around six or seven o'clock in the evening, they went to the Moon Altar to worship the moon. The concubines, on the other hand, first paid their respects to the Imperial Noble Consort, and then went to the Empress Dowager's palace...
"Our Yinzhen is so handsome!" Wanyi exclaimed as she looked at Yinzhen, who was dressed in a red robe as if it were New Year's, with a little red hat on his head. He looked incredibly cute.
"Granny Kong's craftsmanship is as good as ever! The Fourth Prince loves it!" Furong praised. When Granny Kong was making this dress, she always said that she was too old and that it didn't look very good.
"I'm glad Fourth Prince doesn't mind!" Granny Kong was amused by Yinzhen's innocent smile, her heart melting. He was fair-skinned, chubby, and very handsome.
"The Fourth Prince likes it so much he wouldn't mind. If Granny Kong has too much free time, she can make more!" Wanyi suggested.
"Good!" As the head maidservant by the prince's side, Granny Kong was accompanied by a maidservant.
"Time is running out, let's go!" Wanyi saw that it was almost time to pay her respects, so she quickly picked up Yinzhen and they got into the sedan chair together.
Along the way, Yinzhen looked around as if he had never seen the world before, or exclaimed in surprise, making Wanyi laugh.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
