Chapter Twenty-Five
The political landscape of the palace is always unpredictable. With Consort Yu's investiture ceremony imminent, the Emperor has spent several days residing in Kunning Palace. Consort Yu, however, shows no sign of worry. She's not stupid; she's not vying for the Empress's favor. Her two daughters are still under the Empress's care! Everyone expected a showdown between Consort Yu and the Empress, but aside from daily greetings, Consort Yu has never been seen alone, and there have been no reports of the Emperor reprimanding either the Empress or Consort Yu. However, news of Consort Ling being reprimanded by the Emperor in Kunning Palace has spread like wildfire.
Consort Ling, having been repeatedly reprimanded by the Emperor, could no longer suppress her burgeoning anger. She couldn't smash things in the palace; if she did, going to the Imperial Household Department to repair them would invite criticism from Consort Jia and Consort Chun. Forcing down her rage, Consort Ling raised an eyebrow. She couldn't remain in a weak position any longer; she needed to devise a plan. Was she now solely reliant on the Fifth Prince? Thinking of the Fifth Prince, Consort Ling's anger intensified. The Fu family members were all fools; how could they not even understand how to manipulate a prince's psychology? First, there was Fu Erkang, who could have been promoted to a higher rank, yet he dared to break into the palace at night. Did he think the Emperor's harem was his own backyard? Not taking his head was already a favor to Consort Ling; how dare he express dissatisfaction with her? Didn't he consider what brought the Fu family to its current position?
"Greetings, Consort Ling." A palace maid was led by Dongxue to Consort Ling.
"What is your relationship with Wei Xia from Chang****?"
“This servant is related to Wei Xia by marriage.”
Consort Ling looked at the palace maid who had entered and asked, "How long have you been in the palace?"
"Your Majesty, this servant has been in the palace for four years." The palace maid trembled slightly. The other palace maids all said that Consort Ling was capricious. She was just a lowly palace maid. If she could endure until next year, she would be released from the palace. Her family had already arranged a marriage for her.
Consort Ling nodded. "It's the fourth year." She recalled that she herself had become a Noble Lady in her fourth year in the palace. A Noble Lady, huh? It seemed there were very few below the rank of Noble Lady in Yanxi Palace who could attract the Emperor's attention. Consort Yu, the foster mother of the two princesses, looked like Huixian. Thinking of this, Consort Ling frowned. "Dismissed!" After dismissing the maid, Consort Ling looked at Lamei. "Where did Granny Liu go?"
"Yes, this servant heard it from the people who were watching outside. They even saw Granny Liu being burned before they left." Lamei didn't know why Consort Ling suddenly asked about this, but she still answered respectfully.
Dead? But why did she think this Granny Xia looked so much like Granny Liu? Was she just imagining things? Consort Ling thought and thought, perhaps she was just imagining things; when she entered the palace, Imperial Noble Consort Huixian had already…
"Your Majesty!" Dongxue returned to report after seeing off the palace maids.
"Dongxue! Those concubines and ladies-in-waiting in Yanxi Palace haven't seen the Emperor for far too long!" Consort Ling shook her handkerchief, perhaps she should avoid her sharp edge now.
"Your Majesty means..."
"I think that palace maid from earlier is quite good. She hasn't made any mistakes in all these years in the palace. I only have you and Lamei by my side, which seems a bit lacking. I can't be promoted to head palace maid, but I can't do without a few close and considerate people by my side."
"It is her good fortune that the Empress has taken a liking to her."
"From now on, let her work in the main hall. Mo Xia, let's call her Qiu Xiang!"
~~~
When the Empress heard about the affairs of Yanxi Palace, she never hid it from the three princesses who had grown up. When the Fourth Princess heard the name Qiu Xiang, she was drinking tea and ended up spitting out the whole cup of tea.
"What are you doing, Fourth Sister?" Lan Xin asked after seeing that the palace maids had finished tidying up.
"Perhaps Fourth Sister remembered the time when we played acrostic poems a few days ago."
Lan Xin's eyes darted around, perhaps thinking about the acrostic poem, and she covered her mouth with her handkerchief and laughed.
The Empress looked at her three daughters and said, "Tell me what you're laughing about."
“Your Majesty, I know. The sisters are saying: ‘I paint the blue river flowing gently, the maple leaves are thick on the Aiwan Pavilion. The autumn moon shines warmly on the Buddhist temple, the incense smoke curls around the scripture tower.’ It’s a poem by Tang Yin.” They didn’t hide it from the Twelfth Prince when playing the acrostic poem game, and the little Twelfth Prince guessed many of them as well.
The Empress's eyes flickered, and she smiled.
"Fourth Sister said that Qiu Xiang's real name was Lin Nu'er, her courtesy name was Jinlan, and her pen name was Qiu Xiang. She was a famous courtesan in Jinling brothels, and she was proficient in playing the zither, playing chess, writing calligraphy, and painting. Due to her unfortunate family experiences, she had no choice but to fall into prostitution, but later she reformed herself."
"This matter must not be mentioned again. I am tired. Fourth Brother, take your younger sister and brother to Cining Palace and spend more time with the Empress Dowager."
"My daughter understands."
~~~~
The grandeur of the investiture ceremony for Consort Yu aroused Consort Ling's jealousy. While Consort Ling's own investiture was also grand, preparations had taken months, whereas Consort Yu's ceremony was completed in less than a month, yet its scale surpassed even Consort Ling's. Watching the Empress Dowager, the Empress, and the two Noble Consorts, Chun and Jia, receive Consort Yu's obeisance, Consort Ling twisted her handkerchief, making a vow in her heart: one day, she would make Consort Yu kneel before her.
The ceremony proceeded smoothly. Consorts Chun and Jia, watching Consort Ling wring out her handkerchief, smiled smugly. "Consort Ling has finally met her match," they thought. "Look at how quickly Consort Yu rose to power, and then look at Consort Ling..." The two consorts smiled smugly, but also somewhat troubled. Consort Yu's rapid rise threatened their positions. If Consort Yu became the next Consort Ling, then they…
Back in Yanxi Palace, Consort Ling began plotting how to get the Emperor to visit her. She hadn't received his favor for a month, which made her extremely uneasy. She had to win his favor, she had to get the Emperor to visit Yanxi Palace more often, and make him notice her more.
The Fourth and Fifth Princesses, along with Lanxin and the Twelfth Prince, frequently visited Cining Palace. Whenever Consort Ling thought of the Twelfth Prince, a sinister glint would flash in her eyes—the legitimate son. Consort Ling summoned Dongxue and instructed the kitchen to prepare some snacks; she intended to offer them to the Empress Dowager and cultivate a relationship with the Fourth and Fifth Princesses. Little did she know that the Emperor greatly favored these two princesses.
The lively atmosphere in Cining Palace had barely subsided when preparations for Qing'er's dowry began. Although Qing'er had made a mistake, the Empress Dowager still felt sorry for her, and the dowry she prepared was no less than that of a Heshuo Gege. The Twelfth Prince spent his days keeping the Empress Dowager company, his childlike words endearing him to her. The Fourth Princess sat obediently beside the Empress Dowager, while the Fifth Princess and Lanxin helped Qing'er embroider small items. The sudden arrival of Consort Ling displeased the Empress Dowager. If it weren't for Consort Ling, Qing'er wouldn't be in her current state. It's true, the Empress Dowager and the Emperor are mother and son; they're exactly alike when it comes to shifting blame. "If you don't want to see her, just say I'm tired and need to rest!"
Consort Ling heard everything clearly from behind, secretly resentful, yet daring not to offend the Empress Dowager, she could only grit her teeth and stand outside. Whether it was good fortune finally turning to her, or simply a stroke of luck, Consort Ling, who hadn't seen the Emperor for several days, saw a bright yellow dress while waiting. A thought struck her, and she immediately adopted the demeanor of a neglected wife, saying, "Granny, this servant only wishes to deliver these pastries to the Empress Dowager. Since the Empress Dowager has already retired for the night, I entrust you to pass them on."
Standing outside, Emperor Qianlong watched Consort Ling's actions, thinking that her previous petty tricks were nothing more than jealousy. He realized he had indeed neglected her recently. Looking at Consort Ling's efforts to please his mother, the Empress Dowager, Qianlong automatically imagined that she, being a bondservant of the Manchu bannermen, was uneducated and spoke without thinking; she simply wanted to relieve his worries. Thinking this, Qianlong felt how virtuous Consort Ling was, truly worthy of being from Empress Xiaoxian's side. "Wu Shulai, today you've removed Consort Ling's green plaque."
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Wu Shu glanced at Consort Ling and then followed the Emperor.
~~~
Upon returning to Yanxi Palace, Consort Ling received an imperial decree that the Emperor would be visiting that evening. Consort Ling's smile was absolutely radiant. Yanxi Palace was brightly decorated, in preparation for the Emperor's arrival.
Having just been granted the title of Consort Yu, Consort Yu heard that the Emperor was going to Yanxi Palace tonight, and her face fell. Standing in the courtyard, Consort Yu looked in the direction of Yanxi Palace. "Granny Xia, you said that this Changxi Palace was once the residence of Imperial Noble Consort Huixian."
"Your Majesty, this is indeed the residence of Imperial Noble Consort Huixian." She lived here for ten years.
"Granny, do you think I'll fall out of favor?" Before entering the palace, Consort Yu had heard many things about palace life. Consort Ling was actually from the same background as her, but... now her status was higher than Consort Ling's. Consort Ling, the Imperial Noble Consort Huixian, ascended to the Emperor's bed not long after her death. Some said that Consort Ling, who served Empress Xiaoxian, resembled Huixian, but from Granny Xia's eyes, she was certain that Consort Ling had only used tricks to rise to power, and that she had made those remarks for Feng Mang's sake. She, on the other hand, was the true substitute. She didn't just resemble Huixian in appearance, but even in talent. If it were only because she resembled Huixian, how could she have won the favor of that god-like man?
"Your Majesty!" A sense of worry flashed through Xia Mama's mind.
"I was just saying that. Today is my special day, yet I've been overshadowed by someone of humble origins. How can I accept this?" Consort Yu was resentful. In this long palace, the only person she could trust was Granny Xia. Since entering the palace, her mind had been consumed by the Emperor, no longer thinking of her daughter. She couldn't compete for the Empress's favor. She even had to push the Emperor towards the two Noble Consorts. She wasn't a snobbish person and couldn't easily offend anyone. But Consort Ling was different. She willingly yielded, but to compete with her for... Consort Yu's lips curled into a dazzling smile. Consort Ling, I'll see how you win the Emperor's favor tonight.
"Your Majesty!" Before she knew it, Consort Yu had collapsed to the ground. Startled, she cried out, "Consort Yu is pregnant!" "Quickly! Summon the imperial physician! Go and inform the Empress and the two Noble Consorts!"
Chaos reigned in the Chang'an Palace. When the Empress, heavily pregnant and supported by Rong Momo, arrived, Consorts Chun and Jia were already there. The Empress glanced at the people in the palace. "Have you informed the Emperor?"
"Not yet, the situation inside is still uncertain. Should we wait a little longer?" Consort Jia looked at the imperial physician who was taking the pulse inside the curtain.
"Granny Rong, go and invite the Emperor."
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