"Sister Chen, you are my Chuxiu Palace, will you let anyone in?" Consort Wen asked with feigned concern. She wondered if the Imperial Noble Consort would let such a good opportunity slip by.
"Whether we enter or not, we are all principal consorts of the palace, personally appointed by the Emperor. How can we, as newly arrived low-ranking concubines, possibly challenge our position?"
In fact, Wanyi was also a little worried, but she understood that instead of thinking about things here, it was better to deal with things as they came!
"Alright! I was just asking. It would be so unpleasant if we brought in someone who's a handful."
Or what if she gets a particularly favored concubine? Even if she is a Noble Consort, she would probably have to give way to her!
"You! You're too idle all day long. Find something to do and stop thinking so much!" Wanyi continued her embroidery.
"Embroidery is something I can't learn. There aren't many butterflies left in the Imperial Garden. Otherwise, it would be great to go butterfly catching! They're beautiful, and we can catch some to keep as pets."
This year, there were an unusually large number of butterflies in the Imperial Garden. She kept quite a few in the small garden of Chuxiu Palace, but now that the flowering season is slowly over, there are fewer butterflies. Consort Wen also released quite a few butterflies into the small garden of Yongshou Palace.
"Come on! Do you want to move all the butterflies in the Imperial Garden to your place?" Wanyi really couldn't understand why she liked butterflies so much; she was really obsessed with them.
"Sister, you don't understand the beauty of butterflies. I've read about it in ancient books. Butterflies love flowers. When butterflies are covered in flower fragrance, I catch them and let them swarm around me. Then I'll be covered in flower fragrance, so I don't need the perfumes from the Imperial Household Department. Those perfumes aren't very good anyway. Natural ones are much better."
The scented powder produced by the Imperial Household Department was actually quite good, but it wasn't very practical to use. It was similar to modern laundry detergent—would it really work well to apply it while bathing? Laundry detergent even produces foam! However, scented powder was easier to apply than flower petals, so it was quite popular.
"You're just talking nonsense!" Wanyi didn't believe this person's twisted logic. He talked a lot of nonsense, but all he really did was like butterflies.
On the stage next to Lijingxuan
On the stage, a performer dressed in theatrical costume is putting on a great show, his clear and precise pronunciation demonstrating his hard work.
"Beautiful women, fleeting years, I've searched everywhere for answers. In my secluded chamber, I pity myself. But let us not betray our love, for we walk the path of three lifetimes at the Peony Pavilion."
"Good!" After a while, a viewer appeared in the audience. Emperor Kangxi, who had nothing to do, was just strolling around when he was drawn over by the opera.
"Your Majesty, I, Li Jingxuan, have agreed to pay my respects to Your Majesty and wish you good health!"
Consort Li bowed to Emperor Kangxi with delight. She practiced Kunqu opera in her spare time, hoping to have more performances when serving the Emperor. She never expected to receive such a surprise. How could she not be happy? Since she was granted the title of Consort, she did not know where she had offended the Imperial Noble Consort and was sent far away to Lijing Pavilion, which was next to Jiangxue Pavilion.
"Get up! But how long have you been practicing? I hear it's quite good."
With a fan in his hand, Emperor Kangxi walked to his seat below the stage, and the servants around him immediately busied themselves, serving tea and snacks.
"Your Majesty, it has been more than half a year." Consort Li stepped down and approached Emperor Kangxi. Her voice was sweet and charming, and it was thanks to this voice that she had the honor of serving the Emperor.
"To reach this level in half a year is quite impressive!" Emperor Kangxi exclaimed, marveling at Li's talent in this area!
"I studied for a few years when I was young, but I stopped after I entered the palace. Now it's quite difficult for me to learn."
Li Yingyi modestly replied that it was actually the result of her practicing day and night for the past six months, and she hadn't stopped even during the national mourning period; it was just that the method of practice was different.
"That's because you have talent. Go change your clothes! Have a meal with me!" Kangxi said in a good mood, after all, having a meal outdoors here seemed quite nice.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I will go right away."
Being able to dine with the Emperor meant that she could enjoy his favor for a while. This period of hardship was not in vain. The Imperial Household Department was known for its favoritism and oppression. As a concubine who came from a palace maid background, she didn't have much money to bribe officials, so you can imagine how difficult her life must have been.
Consort Tong, who hadn't seen the Emperor for many days, also kept a close watch on his whereabouts. However, she was pregnant and dared not leave the palace for the sake of her child. She had the imperial physician examine everything she imported and used, which helped her avoid many schemes and evil deeds.
"The stage! Consort Li is really lucky. It seems she'll be favored for a while." Consort Tong rubbed her forehead with a headache. After having her meal with Yinzhen, the news had spread throughout the harem.
"Does Your Highness have another headache? Should I go and fetch the imperial physician?" Imperial Physician He had practically become Consort Tong's resident physician. He shamelessly ignored the sarcasm and ridicule directed at the others.
"No need, it won't help anyway. This is a normal reaction during pregnancy. Just add some apricot blossoms; the smell will help relieve it."
She had been suffering from severe headaches since she was five months pregnant, but after accidentally smelling the fragrance of apricot blossoms, she felt much better, and many fresh flowers appeared in the house.
"Yes, this servant will go to Huayu Pavilion to get it right away, and also get some fresh ones for our courtyard!"
They all said that Consort Tong was carrying a princess, and even Consort Tong herself thought so. However, one of the people who orchestrated this thought differently, and this is what she said.
“It’s impossible for a child to be 100% a princess before she’s even born. It’s just that she was born into the Nara clan!” How could Consort Hui, who was also from the Nara clan, gamble on that 50% chance?
"It's August now, and September will be autumn, when the weather will be cool. Based on last year's experience, we should stock up on some charcoal first. We should report this to the Imperial Noble Consort, and whether or not we stock up is her business."
Wanyi flipped through the account books, wondering what the Imperial Noble Consort was up to. Suddenly, she was given these account books from the Imperial Household Department, which were several months old, and she had to finish reading them within a limited time. Wasn't this making things difficult for her?
"The flower room records have increased so much in the last few months!" Wanyi looked through the records with a puzzled expression. Granny Kong, Furong, and Consort Wen all put down their account books and gathered around.
"Have you finished watching? What are you doing here?" Wanyi looked at them with suspicion as they gathered around. She knew exactly what they were thinking. They had been watching for days, how could they not be tired of it?
"Sister Chen, may I have something to eat first?" Consort Wen was currently looking at the purchase ledger, which was messy and numerous. Furong was looking at the repairs, Granny Kong was looking at the clothing, and Wanyi was looking at the flower room decorations and hairpins.
"You've already eaten three times, and there are only two months' worth of accounts left. You're not going to give up halfway, are you? I only called you on because I saw that you are intelligent, capable, and have the power to assist in managing the six palaces. You won't let me down, will you?"
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