Chapter Forty-Six
Rong Mama didn't dare let anyone else ask the questions, so she went herself. Listening to Xia Mama recount what had happened yesterday, Rong Mama's lips twitched. Consort Yu was truly beyond words. Back at Yongshou Palace, Rong Mama organized her thoughts several times, but in the end, she simply repeated Xia Mama's exact words.
The Empress, listening to what Rong Momo had said, began to ponder. Was Consort Yu truly naive or feigning innocence? Since the Emperor had spoken, let's investigate! Consort Yi, the Empress frowned; if this wasn't handled properly, it might lead to gossip.
"Your Majesty, the ladies of the palace have arrived," Rong Momo whispered to the Empress.
"Summon them!" The Empress looked up at the door, her expression no longer as smiling as it had been a few days ago.
Some in the harem had heard rumors of the Emperor's outburst at Yongshou Palace that morning, and each of them entered to pay their respects with their own hidden agendas. Seeing the Empress's stern face, some became more intrigued. Just as the concubines were trying to gauge the Empress's intentions, the eunuch outside announced, "Imperial edict has arrived!"
The concubines, who were about to speak, exchanged glances, each with a hint of anticipation in their hearts. Were they about to witness the deposition of the empress? The princes and princesses who came to pay their respects all frowned.
With a stern face, the Empress led the concubines to the courtyard and knelt down to receive the imperial decree.
The imperial edict didn't contain what everyone had imagined. Instead, it transferred the management of the harem, previously held by the Empress Dowager, to the Empress. The edict praised the Empress's abilities in managing the harem and bestowed upon her some gifts. The concubines, who had been eagerly anticipating her arrival, were somewhat disappointed. He Rui, observing the various expressions on the concubines' faces, smirked and let out a soft snort. He Rui could roughly guess what these women were thinking, but he hadn't expected them to be so open about it.
The Empress paid no attention to the expressions of the concubines. After receiving the decree, she looked up at Consort Yi and said, "Consort Yi, I want to ask you for someone."
Consort Yi was taken aback. Everyone was guessing why the Emperor had been angry with the Empress, but the intention behind the imperial edict was obvious: the Emperor was indirectly apologizing to the Empress. So what was the reason for the morning's outburst? No one understood. When the Empress got up, she didn't say anything else but asked Consort Yi for people, leading others to guess that the morning's events were likely caused by Consort Yi. Consort Yi felt a pang of anxiety. Although she didn't know what the Emperor had found out about, she had a strong, uneasy premonition. "This servant is terrified, I don't know what Your Majesty is referring to..."
"Xia Lian, who is by your side." The Empress specifically requested her name, without giving Consort Yi a chance to object. "Granny Rong, take Xia Lian to Cining Palace. Sisters, let's go! Go and pay your respects to the Empress Dowager."
Consort Yi's hand trembled slightly. She leaned on the nanny beside her, her heart pounding. Her mind kept flashing back to her, "It's alright, it's alright," as she suppressed her unease.
Standing in a corner, the Fifth Prince looked at Consort Yi. He didn't know what she had done, but her pale face gave him a bad feeling. After leaving Yongshou Palace, the Fifth Prince slowed his pace and whispered a few words in Xiao Luzi's ear. Xiao Luzi acknowledged and immediately withdrew.
"Baozhu, take a eunuch and follow Xiao Luzi." The Fifth Prince's actions were seen by He Rui, who then instructed Baozhu to follow.
~~~
In Cining Palace, the Empress, accompanied by concubines, princes, and princesses, paid their respects to the Empress Dowager. After the greetings, the princes and princesses were led to the Imperial Study. Although He Rui was eager to know the inside story, he tactfully withdrew. On his way to the Imperial Study, he saw Baozhu and Lady Xilin Gioro respectfully waiting for him. Lady Xilin Gioro was a relative of E Yue within five degrees of kinship, making her E Yue's niece by seniority. After some questioning, He Rui realized that the woman beside her was not the future wife of Prince Rong. He Rui had previously asked Lady Xilin Gioro her maiden name, to which she shook her head shyly. He Rui felt that women in ancient times were truly tragic; from birth to old age, they only had surnames, not given names. For her to have a name like "Rose," though not particularly beautiful, was something to be grateful for. He Rui was very excited and wanted to help Lady Xilin Gioro choose a maiden name—Xuan.
At this moment, Xilin Jueluo realized that her mistress had something to ask Baozhu, so she slowed down a few steps. Palace affairs were not something that servants like them should listen to. Baozhu, on the other hand, treated Xilin Jueluo as one of her own and did not think of guarding against her at all. She reported Xiao Luzi's whereabouts to her mistress in great detail.
After receiving the Fifth Prince's order, Xiao Luzi immediately ran towards Consort Yi's palace. Xiao Luzi was fast, but the eunuch following Baozhu was no slower, keeping pace with her into Chonghua Palace. The eunuch, though serving He Rui, was still a close associate of the Empress, and Xia Lian was someone the Empress desired. Since Xiao Luzi arrived at Chonghua Palace before Rong Mama could harm Xia Lian, the eunuch couldn't possibly stand idly by and grabbed Xiao Luzi's hand. When Rong Mama arrived, she saved Xia Lian. Xia Lian looked at Xiao Luzi with terror, and seeing Rong Mama enter, she cried out, "Auntie, save me!" and knelt before Rong Mama.
When Rong Momo saw the eunuch holding Xiao Luzi's hand, she wondered why a eunuch from Yongshou Palace was there. However, taking people to Cining Palace was a serious matter, so she had someone help Xia Lian while the eunuch dragged Xiao Luzi out of Chonghua Palace. The remaining noble ladies and maids in Chonghua Palace sensed something was wrong and immediately followed Rong Momo with their maids, not wanting to be implicated.
After Baozhu finished reporting, she cautiously looked at her master.
He Rui didn't give any further instructions, sighing inwardly that there was a good show to watch but he wouldn't see it.
Upon entering the study, He Rui noticed the Fifth Prince constantly looking out, seemingly searching for someone. He Rui led Lady Xilin Gioro towards the princess's private room, thinking to himself, "You won't be able to wait for Xiao Luzi to come back and serve you again." Lady Xilin Gioro had only just overheard some of the conversation; a little thought was all it took for her to realize that Xiao Luzi was acting on the Fifth Prince's orders to deal with a palace maid. Although she didn't know the full story, Lady Xilin Gioro already felt no goodwill towards the Fifth Prince. The ladies-in-waiting who served the princesses were all daughters of high-ranking officials in the Eight Banners. Before entering the palace, they had all received guidance from their fathers, and they all had their own agendas. Every time they returned home, they would report to their fathers and clan leaders about the princes in the palace.
Today in the Imperial Study, the Fifth Prince made quite a few mistakes, which greatly displeased his tutor. He Rui thought to himself, it would be strange if the Fifth Prince could listen to the lesson calmly.
As soon as school ended, the Fifth Prince was the first to leave, hurrying back to Jingyang Palace. He Rui slowly strolled out of the study, watching the Fifth Prince's figure with a smile on his face, and asked Lady Xilinjueluo in a good mood, "Did you understand everything in today's lesson?"
"Yes, Your Highness, I understand everything."
"Go back early, and remember, don't say anything." He Rui led Baozhu toward Yongshou Palace, eager to know what would happen next.
Inside Yongshou Palace, the Emperor and Empress were talking in the main hall. As soon as He Rui entered Yongshou Palace, a palace maid whispered a reminder. He Rui nodded, greeted the Emperor and Empress outside the main hall, and awaited their summons.
"He Rui, you've finished your studies? Come in quickly." A moment later, Qianlong's voice came out. He Rui listened to Qianlong's voice and analyzed his mood. He cautiously and respectfully entered the main hall.
"What did the master teach you today?" Qianlong asked, looking at He Rui's serious expression.
"Greetings, Father Emperor! Greetings, Mother Emperor!" Just as He Rui was thinking of replying to Qianlong, the voices of the Eleventh and Twelfth Princes rang out from outside.
"Come in, both of you!" Upon hearing his two sons' voices, Emperor Qianlong's expression hardened, as if he had just thought of something.
After the eleventh and twelfth princes entered, they respectfully greeted their two elders. Emperor Qianlong's expression changed slightly, and after asking about their studies, the three of them withdrew.
"Your Majesty, it is because I have not managed the harem properly that this has happened. Please punish me." The Empress pleaded guilty, but her mind was clear.
Emperor Qianlong did not help the Empress up. He was thinking about how to deal with what had happened today. If this were just a matter of a master disciplining a servant, it would be easy to resolve. But his son, whom he valued, had interfered in the matter.
The Empress didn't urge the Emperor to make a decision. She was thinking about the smallpox vaccination that her mother had mentioned when she came to the palace the next day. All the princes and princesses in Yongshou Palace needed to be vaccinated to prevent anyone from taking advantage of the situation. Given the Emperor's high regard for Yongqi, there wouldn't be a replacement for him anytime soon. Yongxing and Yongqi were almost old enough to go to the Southern Third Palace, so she had to be careful and make sure nothing happened to them.
Emperor Qianlong did not hesitate for long before making a decision: "The fifth prince is of marriageable age. Although he is supposed to be observing mourning for his mother, he should also have a secondary consort. The Empress should keep an eye out for him during the imperial concubine selection this year."
"That's good."
"Yongqi is also at the age where he should be trained. Back in the day, when I was Yongqi's age, I was already able to handle affairs on my own."
The Empress lowered her head and remained silent, waiting for the Emperor to speak next.
"Consort Yi is unkind, so she is demoted to the rank of Consort. Considering Yongqi's filial piety, he is allowed to live in seclusion... He will be moved to the Southern Third Palace and will be released from the palace after the imperial concubine selection." After saying this, Qianlong sighed. Yongqi had truly disappointed him.
~~~~
The imperial decree demoting Consort Yi to the rank of concubine caused the other palace ladies to sigh that Consort Yi had run into bad luck and offended someone she shouldn't have. The Empress and Consort Yu were not people Consort Yi could touch; she had dared to overestimate herself. Consort Yi fell ill after her demotion and never recovered, losing the Emperor's favor. Consort Yi's actions, however, gave Consort Ling an opportunity. She had a chance encounter with the Emperor, and then, while reciting Buddhist scriptures for the late Empress, she was "coincidentally" caught by him, thus gaining his favor again. This time, Consort Ling was determined to conceive again, and to give birth to a prince. As for the Fifth Prince, she would try to win him over if possible, but avoiding direct confrontation; she would observe him first and proceed step by step.
Consort Ling had finally come to her senses. After listening to the gossip, He Rui made his own assessment. The Empress, however, paid no attention to Consort Ling's favor. She, along with Consort Yu and Consort Chun, busied themselves with the imperial concubine selection. Before the selection, the Empress had explained to the two that she would be choosing several women to be the princes' wives. Consort Chun took it very seriously. Consort Yu remained silent, indicating that she would leave everything to the Empress's decision.
The Empress harbored a slight resentment towards Consort Yu. Looking at Consort Yu's appearance, she couldn't vent her anger. Considering Consort Yu's background and the two princesses, the Empress chose to ignore her resentment.
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