"Good, good, let me see the little prince!" Kangxi excitedly leaned closer.
When the others learned that Wanyi had safely given birth to the prince, they were filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred, and they all cursed Wanyi for having a postpartum hemorrhage.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations on the birth of your son!" The Empress led the way with a series of congratulatory messages, which startled the young prince.
"Alright, Consort Wan, of the Suozhuolun clan, you have rendered meritorious service in giving birth to the prince and in saving the Emperor. In accordance with the decree of the Empress Dowager, I hereby promote you to the rank of Consort and change your title to Chen."
Emperor Kangxi originally intended to bestow the title of Imperial Noble Consort upon Wanyi, but considering that the most outstanding person in the forest is the one whose family is just beginning to rise to prominence, it would be better for her to keep a low profile. Emperor Kangxi had considered all aspects for Wanyi.
"This servant thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness on behalf of my mistress!" Furong immediately knelt down to express her gratitude.
"Congratulations, Consort Chen!" Empress Niohuru was genuinely grateful. The higher Consort Wan's status, the more advantageous it would be for Consort Wen, and the more she would be protected.
"Yes! Throughout history, many concubines whose titles include the character 'Chen' have been favored. His Majesty truly adores Consort Chen!"
Consort Tongjia's vision was a little blurry as she thought, "When was it? My cousin treated me the same way. How did I behave? I was spoiled and willful, and I even targeted the Empress, which led to the loss of my cousin. What virtue or ability did I, Suo Zhuolun, possess to deserve my cousin's love and favor?"
"It's obvious to everyone that Consort Chen is favored by the Emperor. All of us sisters combined can't compare to Consort Chen even a fraction of her favor!"
When Consort Jing spoke, what was initially some dissatisfaction with Consort Wan turned into strong dissatisfaction. Even Consort Yi fell silent. After all, who wouldn't envy someone with a son, favor, and a high rank? Who wouldn't be driven mad with jealousy?
"If any of you can give birth to a prince, I will promote them in rank or bestow upon them greater rewards!"
Emperor Kangxi made empty promises. If a concubine did not win his heart, what good would it do if she gave birth to a prince? She would still be a concubine if she was a concubine.
"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!"
What could the concubines do but express their gratitude? In their hearts, they were all plotting to win over the Emperor so that they could conceive a child as soon as possible while Consort Chen was in confinement.
"Wah, wah..." Suddenly, the little prince in Granny Kong's arms started crying, and Kangxi asked anxiously.
"What's wrong with my prince? Why is he crying?" This is Wan'er's child, born to me. Seeing my poor prince crying like this, my heart aches.
"He must be hungry. The Imperial Household Department has already prepared a wet nurse, who should have arrived by now. Nurse Kong, please take the prince down to feed him!" Empress Niohuru said dignifiedly and virtuously, speaking calmly and clearly.
"Yes, this servant will take the young prince down right away!" Kangxi said awkwardly after Kong Mama left.
"I was mistaken. Newborn babies are most prone to hunger. Your Majesty is very thoughtful," Kangxi couldn't help but praise.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. I have been inquiring and paying close attention since Consort Chen became pregnant, so I naturally found out."
The Empress did not take Kangxi's praise seriously; she still remembered the matter of Consort Guoluo! Being able to stay with him was already the greatest act of her forbearance.
"Your Majesty the Empress doesn't have to endure the pain of childbirth, yet she is the legal mother of all the princes and princesses in the harem. It's only right that she pays more attention to them!" Consort Tongjia openly mocked the Empress as a hen that couldn't lay eggs.
"As the Empress, it is perfectly legitimate for me to do these things. However, Consort Gui doesn't need to worry about it!" Hmph! I even heard the child call out "Imperial Mother." You are nothing, so what are you so arrogant about!
"Some people just can't see their place. Only those in positions of authority should fulfill their duties. They spend all day thinking about things that don't belong to them, without feeling ashamed at all." When Consort Wen saw someone bullying her sister, she could still remember her sister's advice, but after Consort Tongjia's repeated verbal attacks, she could no longer hold back.
Consort Wen's words immediately angered Consort Tongjia and made her very embarrassed, while the others were happy to watch the show.
"Sister Wen, you really love to joke. Everyone has their own duties and responsibilities!" Consort Jing felt embarrassed for Consort Tongjia, but she had to step in to help her out. Her weakness was in the hands of the Noble Lady, lest the Noble Lady get upset and push her out.
"Sister Wen is still very young and doesn't understand these things. She was just saying what came to mind!"
Consort Chang also spoke up for Consort Wen, Niohuru, holding her hand tightly, afraid that this troublemaker would jump out again and the Empress would come after her.
"Sister Wen, please think of Her Majesty the Empress!" Chang Daying said in a low voice as she looked at Consort Wen, who seemed hesitant to speak, thus silencing her completely.
“What Consort Wen said makes no mistake; she is indeed fulfilling her duties in her position!” Kangxi agreed, but Consort Tongjia heard it as Kangxi blaming her for meddling.
"Greetings, Your Majesty the Emperor, Your Majesty the Empress, and all the ladies and consorts of the palace!" At this moment, Imperial Physician Lu walked in, followed by two eunuchs, who were carrying a tray with a pair of vases on it.
"Get up! Did you find anything wrong?" Kangxi looked expressionlessly at the two eunuchs behind him, which frightened the two eunuchs so much that their legs went weak, but they still insisted on not kneeling down.
"Your Majesty, I have examined Consort Wan's frequently used items and discovered that the exterior of these two white-glazed vases is made with a mixture of musk and pigment. In particular, when water is added and flowers are placed inside, the scent is released, complementing the fragrance of the flowers. It is very difficult to detect the secret behind this!"
He only discovered it after a maidservant from Consort Wan's side deliberately spoke to him a few more times! It seems this was also her doing!
"How did Imperial Physician Lu discover it?" Consort Tongjia asked curiously. Since it was so difficult to discover, how did he manage to find it? She wondered who was behind it, as they were extremely meticulous. Meanwhile, Consort Jing, who was standing below, turned pale when she saw the pair of vases, and her mind went blank.
"Your Majesty, I discovered it by chance when the palace maids were throwing away withered flowers." As for how it happened by chance, I won't go into details!
"Why would Yongshou Palace use withered flowers! Could it be that the palace servants have been neglecting her because Consort Chen is pregnant and not in good spirits?"
Consort An felt that given Consort Chen's methods of managing her subordinates, such a thing shouldn't have happened! However, it would be good if Emperor Kangxi could punish a few of them!
"Yes! These servants who are so arrogant and domineering are unacceptable. Your Majesty, why don't you have the Imperial Household Department replace the servants to serve Consort Chen?" Consort Tongjia thought to herself, "Let's see how she replaces Consort Chen's trusted confidants this time, humph!"
"The conviction must be determined by the three judicial departments. Shouldn't we ask what the matter is before we can proceed?" How could the Empress offend Consort Chen, let alone the Emperor, just because of her few words?
"The Empress is right. Let's summon them and investigate first, lest we create new injustices in the harem!"
The palace servants only have their mistress to deal with this. If it's really as the Consort said, and Wan'er is too kind-hearted to take action, then he'll have to do it himself.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
