Chapter Twenty-Four
Recently, Princess Qing'er has become the focus of gossip in the capital. Being deep within the palace, Qing'er is naturally unaware of what's happening outside. When Princess Consort Xue Ru of Prince Shuo entered the palace to thank the Empress Dowager and the Empress, she finally met this meddlesome princess. Previously, her son Haozhen was a model citizen among the Eight Banners, but now, shortly after their betrothal, someone has submitted a memorial accusing Prince Shuo of poor upbringing and claiming that Haozhen was openly intimate with a courtesan in public. Princess Consort Xue Ru of Prince Shuo was displeased with Qing'er, but since Qing'er was a princess of the royal family, chosen by the Emperor, she couldn't show her dissatisfaction in the palace. She put on a polite expression and respectfully spoke a few words to Qing'er.
Recently, Qing'er seemed to have become smarter; she immediately sensed Xue Ru's ill intentions. Qing'er knew that her previous affair with Fu Erkang had become a laughing stock, but why did she see the hatred in the eyes of the Prince Shuo's wife? Qing'er's eyes flickered. For a prince of a different surname, marrying a princess of her status was already a favor from the Emperor; what could the Prince Shuo's wife possibly complain about? Qing'er didn't know that the Prince Shuo's wife was after Lan Xin, the Empress's daughter. Although the princess was an adopted daughter, she would inevitably marry a Heshuo princess, and the Empress was extremely strict about rules; how could she possibly be having a romantic night with a guard like Qing'er?
How could the Empress Dowager not see the hidden resentment in the eyes of Prince Shuo's wife? The Empress Dowager asked in confusion, "Fucha, is there something you are dissatisfied with?"
Princess Consort Shuo was startled and knelt down with a thud. "This servant dares not."
"I wouldn't dare. I see how audacious you are. Do you think that just because the Emperor has issued an imperial decree, the princess will marry into your family? You're just a servant. Do you think you can bully your master?" The Empress Dowager reprimanded Xue Ru gently.
Kneeling on the ground, Xue Ru was terrified. She had forgotten that the imperial edict stated that Qing'er was nominally a Doro Gege, but her stipend was that of a Heshuo Gege. Qing'er was backed by the Empress Dowager. Xue Ru trembled, cursing Qing'er in her heart. "This servant wouldn't dare!"
"I see you're quite bold! Don't think I'm unaware of what's happening outside just because I'm in the palace. I'll give you two days to deal with that singer, or else..." The Empress Dowager gently tossed the teacup forward, and Xue Ru froze, then kowtowed repeatedly.
In the past, Qing'er would definitely have pleaded for Prince Shuo's wife, but now she stands silently beside the Empress Dowager.
~~~~
Fourth Princess was surprised that Qing'er was betrothed to Fucha Haozhen, and even more surprised that Qing'er was only granted the title of Duoluo Gege. Hearing that the Prince Shuo's wife had arrived at Kunning Palace, Fourth Princess, along with her two younger sisters and a tiny twelfth prince, eavesdropped at the entrance of a side hall. Fourth Princess observed the Prince Shuo's wife's appearance; with that look, it was no wonder the Prince Shuo had chosen a dancer as his concubine.
"Fourth sister, what are you looking at?" The two-year-old twelfth prince tugged at the hem of the fourth princess's skirt and peered out, also wanting to know what was outside.
Fifth Princess looked down at Twelfth Prince and said, "Little Twelfth Prince, I am the Fifth Sister, not the Fourth Sister."
"It's clearly Fourth Sister, ah, Fourth Sister, are you going to play the guessing game again?"
Standing on the other side, the Fourth Princess looked at Yongqi with a smile. Ever since she noticed Yongqi's difference, she would intentionally or unintentionally make him guess who was who between her and the Fifth Princess. Judging from the current situation, Yongqi could tell that he was actually teasing the Fifth Princess just now. Lanxin made a shushing gesture and turned to listen to the sounds outside.
"Your Majesty, I'm innocent! That Qing Gege is too arrogant. How can she be as understanding as Lanxin Gege? I..."
The Empress snorted coldly, "Fucha clan, what do you take Kunning Palace for? What do you take the imperial princesses for? Guards, clean this servant's mouth."
The Fourth Princess looked at the Princess Consort of Prince Shuo and thought, "Is Xue Ru a fool?! To speak ill of the princess beside the Empress Dowager to the Empress, isn't she courting death?"
Lan Xin and Fifth Princess looked at Prince Shuo's wife and said bluntly, "Fourth Sister, is she stupid? How dare she speak ill of Sister Qing'er in front of the Empress Dowager. Doesn't she know that Sister Qing'er's ancestors were also descendants of the royal family? Although they have now left the family."
"Stop looking. I heard that Prince Shuo's wife is using all sorts of tricks to compete with the concubine for his favor." Fourth Princess thought Prince Shuo was a complete idiot for marrying such a wife and treating her like this. Shaking her head, Fourth Princess waited to see how Qing'er would behave after marrying Prince Shuo.
Lan Xin and the Fifth Princess exchanged a glance. The competition for favor, however fierce, couldn't compare to the drama within the palace! Seeing the Fourth Princess's expectant look, the two decided to remain silent and follow their fourth sister to watch the spectacle. The three women of Kunning Palace tacitly avoided mentioning Qing'er's affairs, but privately, the Fifth Princess and Lan Xin looked down on Qing'er's behavior. The Fifth Princess felt Qing'er's judgment was truly questionable. Although she disapproved of her mother's actions, her mother had climbed to the very top, while Qing'er… even if she chose the lowest rank, she should at least find someone with potential. This Fu Er Kang, a mere bondservant, was truly incomprehensible; Lan Xin didn't think as much as the Fifth Princess. In Lan Xin's view, Qing'er's status and behavior were a disgrace to the royal family.
The Fourth Princess, holding the Twelfth Prince, pointed to the Princess Consort of Prince Shuo outside and said, "Little Twelfth, do you see that woman? You have to look carefully. You can't find a wife like that in the future. A wife like that is very likely to ruin the family."
The Twelfth Prince stared wide-eyed at the doorway at the Princess Consort of Prince Shuo, whose face was swollen from being slapped. "Her face is flat and ugly."
~~~~
There wasn't much to prepare for a Doro Gege's wedding, but a Heshuo Gege's wedding was different. Although Qing'er was a Doro Gege, the Emperor had explicitly stated in his edict that she would be marrying with the rank and privileges of a Heshuo Gege, so the preparations were considerably more extensive. Qing'er's wedding was scheduled for October, and the next busy period would be the investiture ceremony for Yun Pin's promotion to Imperial Concubine. In early April, the mistress of the Chang'an Palace, of the Irgen Gioro clan, received her official Imperial Concubine title—Yu Fei.
When the Fourth Princess listened to Consort Yu, she lowered her eyes and remained silent.
“The pepper smears are intensely fragrant.” Fifth Princess casually uttered this sentence.
Fourth Princess's lips twitched. Xia Yuhe, Xia Yuhe, the meaning of "depression" is really hard to define your future path.
The Empress glanced at the two of them and said, "What are you so jealous about! Are you envious because Qing'er is getting married? I will definitely choose a good consort for you next year."
"Empress Mother, I want to get married after I turn eighteen." The Fourth Princess looked directly at the Empress with great pride. The Fifth Princess looked at the Fourth Princess with admiration, "Empress Mother, I also want to get married after I turn eighteen. Empress Mother, you mustn't be biased."
"Aren't you afraid that the best ones will be taken by someone else?" The Empress looked at the two identical faces. Now she could tell which one was the older sister and which one was the younger sister.
“Empress Mother, Lan’er can get married first. Lan’er can get married when she is sixteen.”
"Pfft, Lanxin, you're only a few years old and you already want to get married." The group teased Lanxin, who blushed and lowered her head.
"Your Majesty, Consort Ling is coming this way." Rong Mama raised an eyebrow as she looked at Consort Ling walking towards Kunning Palace in the distance.
"Empress Mother, Fourth Sister will take the younger sisters to the side hall to rest." Fourth Princess floated up and led Fifth Princess and Lan Xin to the side hall.
The Empress, five months pregnant, struggled to sit up straight as Consort Ling entered. If she wasn't mistaken, Consort Ling had come to complain. Xinyue had bumped into the Fifth Prince, and he was still bedridden! The Fifth Prince was already weak; how could he withstand Xinyue's impact? She couldn't understand Consort Ling's thinking. The Emperor and Empress Dowager had already decided to kill her, yet Consort Ling had spared Xinyue. Was it really necessary to go to such lengths to show her mercy? As for the Fifth Prince, the Empress frowned. After transferring Fu Erkang away, Consort Ling had actually sent Fu Ertai to the Fifth Prince's side as a tutor, effectively ousting the Fifth Prince's original tutor and giving him fifty lashes. The Fifth Prince, haha, she should really thank Consort Ling for easily eliminating a formidable rival for her son.
"This servant greets Your Majesty the Empress. May Your Majesty be blessed." Consort Ling entered slowly and respectfully greeted the Empress.
"Rise!" The Empress had no intention of making things difficult for Consort Ling; Consort Ling was currently in a precarious situation, and she didn't want to get involved. "Prepare a seat for Consort Ling."
"Thank you, sister." Consort Ling shifted her position and sat down on the chair brought by a palace maid. Consort Ling looked at the Empress's pregnant belly with jealousy. She had come to have a heart-to-heart talk with the Empress, hoping to be on the Empress's side. That way, if the Empress were to take action later, she could step back and let the Empress remove all obstacles, and then she…
The Empress did not ask Consort Ling's purpose; she waited for Consort Ling to speak for herself.
Consort Ling thought that the Empress would surely ask her what she had come for, but she waited and waited and the Empress did not ask.
Inside the main hall, the two remained silent, guessing each other's intentions, until a voice rang out, "The Emperor has arrived!" breaking the silence in the Kunning Palace. The Empress, supported by Rong Momo, struggled to her feet to greet the Emperor. Consort Ling, surprised to see the Emperor in Kunning Palace, hesitated, deciding it was unwise to offend the Empress at this moment, and put on a gentle smile. Unbeknownst to Consort Ling, the three princesses and one prince had clearly observed the change in her expression.
The Emperor, with a hearty smile, entered the main hall but stopped abruptly upon seeing Consort Ling. He frowned, looking at Consort Ling and then at the Empress's expression. The Empress did indeed appear weary; her expression lacked its usual seriousness and smile, instead displaying a rare weakness that the Emperor had never seen before. "Consort Ling," he said, "I remember telling you to reflect in Yanxi Palace. Why have you come to Kunning Palace for reflection? Is this your palace? Or do you aspire to be the mistress of this palace?"
Consort Ling was startled by the Emperor's question. Although she had the intention, she dared not say it to his face and immediately kowtowed to the Emperor, saying that she dared not.
"Your Majesty, Consort Ling is just here to visit me, but I am not well enough to properly entertain her."
"Hmph! It seems I must issue a decree that, apart from the usual greetings, no one should disturb the Empress's recuperation." Qianlong glared at Consort Ling. "Consort Ling, is there anything else?" Consort Ling is becoming increasingly tactless.
"This servant...this servant..."
"Since everything's alright, let's cancel the order!"
"..." Consort Ling bit her lower lip and left Kunning Palace. Once she was a distance away, she turned back to look at Kunning Palace; sooner or later, she would live here.
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