"Oh! My stomach hurts!" Consort Yi touched her stomach with one hand and placed the other hand on Qingfen's hand behind her. Qingfen held Consort Yi firmly.
Amidst the chaos, there was nowhere to even report that Consort Guo was hemorrhaging. Everyone was anxiously waiting for Consort Yi to come out. However, the imperial physician's examination left them all quite disappointed, as it turned out to be just a miscarriage.
Consort Guo didn't even get to see Emperor Kangxi one last time. It was fortunate that Emperor Kangxi didn't go to see her, otherwise he would have offended her eyes. Consort Wen did go to see her, and she has only been able to eat a little bit these past few days.
Emperor Kangxi, lost in thought, had not yet issued the imperial edict to bestow the title of Empress, but he had already ordered the Imperial Household Department to prepare the auspicious robes for the concubines, causing a stir among the other concubines and noble ladies. This was the prelude to a grand conferment of titles upon the six palaces! Everyone was fawning over the Imperial Noble Consort, hoping to glean some information from her.
"I am already content with being a concubine. I only wish that Kejing stays healthy!"
Since the news of Emperor Kangxi's intention to elevate the Imperial Noble Consort to Empress, the area in front of Yongshou Palace has become much quieter. Only Consort Duan would occasionally come by, bringing Princess Duanjing to play with Yinzhen.
“There’s a saying that goes, ‘A mother’s status rises with her son’s,’ and similarly, a son’s status rises with his mother’s. Now that your position has risen, who would dare to bully Duanjing? Besides, in just a few years, Kejing will be able to get married. Don’t you want her to stay in the capital?” Wanyi felt that once her status rose, she would have power and influence to protect the people she wanted to protect.
"Can a princess stay in the capital?" Consort Duan asked incredulously. She had been blinded by the rules, after all, princesses of the Qing Dynasty were supposed to go to pacify Mongolia.
"Why not? It all depends on what you do!" Wanyi said seriously, after all, many princesses in the later period did not marry into Mongolia.
"But I don't know what to do! Should I go to Chengqian Palace like them? I can't do that!"
Those who grovel and fawn, doing everything they can to please, may not necessarily get the results they want.
“Sometimes not competing is also competing. Look at Consort Rong, Consort Hui, and Consort Yi, they haven’t made a single move!”
Wanyi was naturally aware of their attempts to curry favor with the Imperial Noble Consort, but none of the three had been reported to have sent anything to Chengqian Palace.
“But they have a strong foundation!” Consort Rong has two children, Consort Hui is raising the eldest prince, Consort Yi is pregnant, and she only has one child, Duan Jing. Her family is not very powerful either. She doesn’t seem like the kind of person who should be made a concubine.
"It's all up to people. Bring Duanjing over to play more often when you have time, especially stay for lunch. I'll cook you something delicious!"
Yi Jing herself intended to win over Consort Duan, as having someone of her own in the rank of Consort would be much better than not having one.
"Won't this bother Sister Chen?" Consort Duan said somewhat embarrassedly. She always returned to Yongshou Palace around noon, and Consort Wan only thought to be lenient with her because she was sensible.
"I like Duanjing! Besides, Duanjing and Yinzhen get along so well. It would be good for everyone if the two siblings could develop a closer relationship."
Wanyi thought that even if Duanjing didn't marry into the Mongol family, she could still win over people for Yinzhen in the capital.
"Then I thank you very much, Sister Chen!" Consort Duan said gratefully. In the future, Duan Jing would have a princess's residence in the capital, and she could be brought out of the palace to live a life of luxury.
Shou Kang Palace
"Emperor, which concubines do you intend to promote?" The Empress Dowager didn't bother with pleasantries with Kangxi; she asked him as soon as he sat down.
"I am also considering it. Consort Rong and Consort Hui must be promoted. They have served me for many years and have given birth to children. Even if they have not worked hard, they have made contributions. Consort Yi is also acceptable. Her family has made the greatest contribution among the Three Feudatories." Kangxi only mentioned those who were to be promoted to imperial concubines, and did not mention the others.
"That's a good consideration. But what about the concubines below?" The Empress Dowager was most concerned about those who could rise to the rank of concubine, especially those she had won over.
"I am also considering this. The priority this time is to select four consorts to help manage the harem! The Imperial Noble Consort is pregnant and not in good spirits, the Noble Consort Chen is busy raising the princes and princesses, and the Noble Consort Wen is too young to handle it."
Kangxi thought the Empress Dowager had summoned him for some reason, but it turned out to be about the rank of concubines. He didn't hide anything and told her directly, since there was such a thing as an imperial edict for investiture.
"I believe that the concubines below have not been promoted for a long time, and they should also be promoted." The higher they climb and the more they possess, the more their ambition will be stimulated, thus motivating them to keep climbing higher.
"Let it go this time. I plan to bestow titles upon the six palaces after I officially appoint the Empress, so that we can all celebrate together."
Emperor Kangxi was not actually very satisfied with the Imperial Noble Consort becoming Empress; he could only decide whether to give birth to a prince or a princess after she gave birth to one.
"Very well!" Knowing that she couldn't say much in front of Emperor Kangxi, the Empress Dowager didn't keep him any longer. After leaving, Yinzhen went to Yongshou Palace.
"You really taught Duanjing very well. Look at my fourth prince, he's like a lively monkey, never stopping."
Wanyi kept berating Yinzhen, and every time Yinzhen heard it, he would roll his eyes inelegantly, thinking, "Mother, I understand what you're saying."
"Duanjing is naturally an obedient and well-behaved girl. I would have preferred her to be more lively!"
As Consort Duan spoke, she carefully embroidered the flowers in her hands, while Consort Wan showed off her tea ceremony skills, which she hadn't practiced in a long time.
"Come, have a taste!" Since Consort Duan was mentioned to Wanyi, she came to Yongshou Palace to report every day, and even met Emperor Kangxi twice during that time.
"I had no idea that you, sister, possessed such abilities!" Consort Duan had a sordid affair with Consort Wan in the past, but as time went on, she gradually became more tactful.
"There's a lot you don't know!" Wanyi said proudly. Since Kangxi wasn't around, she learned all sorts of things in different ways. She didn't have to be an expert, but at least she could do something presentable.
"No wonder the Emperor adores you so much, sister. Now I've also grown fond of this place. Not only are you incredibly talented, sister, but you're also exceptionally kind to others!"
Consort Duan realized a truth: as long as she didn't intend to harm Consort Chen, who was even willing to relinquish the Emperor, how could such a person be defeated by the Imperial Noble Consort? It's just a matter of who will ultimately win!
"Is it really that good there?" Wanyi asked somewhat embarrassedly. Most of the people who had harmed her were dead, and with no one to bother her anymore, she was naturally happy, and her temper improved. So she became gentle with them.
"I was only gone for a short while, and I never expected that I, a noble concubine, would be kidnapped?"
Kangxi thought to himself, "If it were a man, I could kill him, but this is another of his concubines, so this is going to be difficult."
"Greetings, Your Majesty! May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings and peace!" Wanyi put down the ceramic cup in her hand, stepped forward to greet Kangxi, and bowed.
"Get up! I can hear your jokes from far away. What are you talking about?" Kangxi was somewhat gossipy.
“We’re talking about Yinzhen and Duanjing, who else could we be talking about!” Wanyi retorted naturally. This bold way of getting along was something that Duanpin, who had seen it before, still couldn’t get used to.
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