Chapter 41
Consort Ling felt wronged, but she couldn't openly say in front of so many people that it was He Ya Gege's fault. The fact that the Emperor had given so many pearls to He Ya Gege showed how much he favored her. Consort Ling didn't want to make the Emperor dislike her even more at this moment, but she wouldn't let He Ya Gege off easily either. Consort Ling wrung out her handkerchief; she would remember this incident.
He Ya Gege had no idea what Consort Ling was thinking, and even if she did, she wouldn't care. Knowing the palace hierarchy clearly, He Ya Gege looked down on Consort Ling, a concubine who had risen from the rank of a servant. The lantern incident was a warning from He Ya Gege to Consort Ling: don't harbor unrealistic hopes.
He Rui Gege merely watched the two of them coldly, sighing inwardly. If she hadn't interfered, would Ziwei still be as close to Consort Ling as in the original novel, constantly trying to sow discord between them and the Empress? Would she be badmouthing the Empress? Ziwei was the kind of person who formed bonds based on first impressions, and Consort Ling in the original novel had this advantage. Now, following the rule-abiding Empress, Ziwei naturally followed suit. Thinking about He Ya's impending marriage, He Rui Gege suddenly felt a pang of loneliness and reluctance.
After the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the New Year celebrations were considered over, and the wedding with Princess Ya was put on the agenda. Princess Ya was also moved from Yongshou Palace to Jingyi Pavilion in Jianfu Palace, where she would be married.
Your Majesty and the Empress, out of consideration for the special bond between Consort Rui and Consort Ya, have granted Consort Rui permission to accompany Consort Ya at Jingyi Pavilion until Consort Ya's marriage. The Empress Dowager has also bestowed some gifts upon the two of them and has instructed Lan Xin to frequently visit her two elder sisters at Jingyi Pavilion.
Consort Ling had been keeping a low profile lately. She desperately wanted to subtly criticize Princess Ya in front of the Emperor, but she hadn't seen him since the Lantern Festival. This worried her greatly. If the Emperor came, even if he only wanted to vent his anger on her, she knew she could make him believe she was wronged. But… not only could she not see the Emperor, but she had also been punished by him for having Dongxue feign illness to summon him. This made Consort Ling very agitated. She staggered to Cining Palace to apologize to the Empress Dowager, but before she could even enter, the Empress Dowager found a pretext for her illness and ordered her to return to Yanxi Palace, also sending the imperial physician with her. It's unclear what the physician said upon returning, but the Empress Dowager, using her illness as a pretext, confined her to her quarters. Consort Ling gritted her teeth in resentment. She realized that the Empress Dowager no longer favored her as she had when she first gained the Emperor's favor. Consort Ling knew in her heart that her humble origins were her biggest problem, but she had mentioned it to the Emperor several times without receiving his approval. Touching her belly, Consort Ling's mind raced, trying to figure out how to change her current unfavorable situation.
In Yongshou Palace, the Empress listened to Rong Momo recount the Empress Dowager's confinement of Consort Ling. After the New Year, the Empress Dowager had taken over the management of the harem. The Empress knew the Empress Dowager intended to reorganize the harem, but she never expected that Consort Ling would be the first to be dealt with, not only having her green nameplate removed but also being confined. She wondered who would be next. "Rong Momo," she said, "the weather is getting warmer. Take a few maids and go visit the princess."
"Yes, Your Highness!" Rong Mama responded, then added, "Your Highness, shall we also ask Seventh Princess to go and take a look?"
Thinking of Lan Xin, who was caring for the Empress Dowager, the Empress nodded and said, "Go early. It's springtime, and the weather is dry. Bring something to soothe your throat."
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Rong Mama responded and withdrew. The Empress narrowed her eyes; she needed to be more disciplined and keep a low profile from now on. Leaving aside the future marriages of Lan Xin and the Seventh Princess, even her current marriage to Ya had likely already aroused envy in some. She could roughly guess what was happening ahead; some people in the harem were probably getting restless. The Empress lowered her brows; Yongshou Palace needed to be carefully monitored.
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Jianfu Palace, where the emperor began his year-round writing, boasted beautiful scenery, and Emperor Qianlong greatly favored it. After the two princesses moved in, Qianlong visited even more frequently. When Rong Momo led the palace maids into Jingyi Pavilion, the emperor was chatting with the two princesses, listening to Heya and Herui's incoherent poetry recitations, which Qianlong found delightful. Upon seeing Rong Momo enter, the Seventh Princess, who was walking in front, respectfully greeted them. Her childlike voice, coupled with her small body performing the proper movements, made her incredibly adorable. The Seventh Princess further pleased the emperor, who then picked her up.
He Rui looked at the Seventh Princess in the Emperor's arms. The original Fifth Princess was very much loved by the Emperor, and the original Seventh Princess was also very favored by the Emperor, and was betrothed to Fu Heng's family. Now, the Seventh Princess is also very much loved by the Emperor.
"He Rui, are you blaming me in your heart?" Qianlong sighed as he looked at He Rui, who was lost in thought. He hadn't seen He Rui stand out lately. Had he learned to hide his true self, or was he resenting his sister's marriage first?
"He Rui doesn't know what Your Majesty is referring to. Whatever it is, He Rui won't blame Your Majesty. Your Majesty has your reasons." He Rui stood up, bowed slightly to the Emperor, and spoke softly. Although she couldn't change the Emperor's decision, she had whispered in Ziwei's ear that after marrying into the family, she shouldn't rush to have children, but wait until she was over eighteen. He Ya blushed when she heard this, but still nodded in agreement.
"Haha, if He Rui says he doesn't understand what I'm saying, I don't believe it. But He Rui, I understand it less and less now."
He Rui's smile froze for a moment. What did the Emperor mean? "He Rui is foolish."
"Haha, I think He Rui is very clever, how can you say he's foolish!" Emperor Qianlong laughed as he put down the Seventh Princess, who then ran to He Rui's side.
"He Rui doesn't understand." He Rui was no longer calm. What did the Emperor mean? Could it be that she had done something recently that aroused the Emperor's suspicion?
"Haha, He Rui, you're just too cautious. It's not your fault, though. You've been in charge since you were little, you must have suffered a lot of grievances, which makes you so careful. My words are nothing more than casual conversation, don't get any ideas. Do you know what your title means?"
“Rui means profound and insightful. Father Emperor is praising He Rui, and He Rui feels unworthy of such praise,” He Rui said respectfully.
"I am ashamed, He Rui. I am very reluctant to let you marry into Mongolia," Qianlong stood up and walked out. He Rui immediately got up and followed, while He Ya and the Seventh Princess walked far behind. He Ya guessed that her father was comforting her sister who was about to be married off to a distant place. He Rui, however, dared not think too simply and could only obediently walk behind and listen silently. "You two sisters, you are much smarter than He Ya. Although He Ya is somewhat clever, she is too weak."
Ziwei is weak? He Rui scoffed inwardly. Clever? Ziwei's cleverness is hardly clever at all.
"Compared to Heya, you put me at ease. Mongolia is in a bit of chaos right now, with constant warfare. You won't be living there after you marry into the country. It's just a gesture of goodwill. Sancheling has just submitted to the court, so I naturally want to show my respect for Sancheling. I've also considered Harichagai; he's a good choice."
Not bad? Just according to your judgment? Thinking back to their brief encounter in the hunting grounds, He Rui nodded inwardly. Sometimes you can make a good judgment.
Walking behind the Emperor, Wu Shulai listened to his words and immediately understood. The Emperor's favor and affection for Consort He Rui was something Consort He Jing hadn't received when she married. Wu Shulai began to calculate. Having served the Emperor for so many years, how could he not be adept at reading between the lines? Did the Emperor truly not know what he was doing? Or was he simply unwilling to make it clear? Wu Shulai knew he couldn't use his cleverness any longer; he needed to assess the situation carefully.
He Rui strolled with Emperor Qianlong through Jianfu Palace, pondering the Emperor's intentions. He Rui thought and thought but couldn't figure it out. Could it really just be casual conversation?
After seeing Qianlong off, He Rui looked at He Ya, who shook her head. Rong Momo thought for a moment, "Princess, we cannot presume to know the Emperor's intentions. This servant believes that the Emperor was trying to appease you."
"No wonder she's an old nanny from the palace!" The two sisters sighed inwardly. After seeing Seventh Princess and Granny Rong off, the two sisters looked at each other and smiled.
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In Changchun Palace, Consort Yu sat quietly. Ziwei was about to marry, and she felt a pang of sadness. Only now did she realize that Ziwei was already a grown woman. Although she knew Ziwei was safe with the Empress, she was still her own flesh and blood. Now that Ziwei was getting married, she wouldn't even be her mother anymore; how could she possibly be among her daughters bidding farewell? Consort Yu sighed. Granny Xia shook her head, sometimes thinking Consort Yu was quite clever, but now she saw her as somewhat foolish.
"Your Majesty, the Emperor has chosen you for his concubine today," Xia Mama whispered to her mistress.
"Granny." Consort Yu raised her hand and helped Granny Xia to her feet. "I feel a little down."
"This servant thinks Your Majesty is overthinking it. Why not ask His Majesty's opinion when he comes?"
"What does Granny Xia mean?" Consort Yu stopped and looked at Granny Xia.
"Your Majesty, at this time, the threat to the palace is... and she is also the foster mother of two princesses. His Majesty will not forget this."
"You're absolutely right, Granny. I was just being foolish." Consort Yu smiled. "Granny, give the order to prepare some of His Majesty's favorite dishes, something light and simple."
"Yes, sir!"
Emperor Qianlong went directly from the Hall of Mental Cultivation to the Changchun Palace. Looking at Consort Yu, who had a beautiful smile on her face, Emperor Qianlong asked her with a smile what made her so happy.
"Your Majesty, this servant is thinking that Princess Ya is about to get married, and this servant is happy for her." Consort Yu smiled and steered the conversation to her daughter.
"I..." Emperor Qianlong recalled Consort Yu's awkward status and understood her thoughts. Consort Yu was not qualified to have the princess come to pay her respects, but seeing Consort Yu's genuine happiness for her daughter, he would mention it when he paid his respects to the Empress Dowager tomorrow. The promotion to Imperial Noble Consort was not something the Emperor could simply grant; there were censors overseeing it, and the Empress Dowager and Empress in the inner palace.
Consort Yu did not immediately ask the Emperor for an answer. Seeing that the Emperor had taken her words to heart, she quickly changed the subject, which made the Emperor feel even more guilty.
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