Chapter Twenty-Three
The words "bondservant slave" infuriated Emperor Qianlong. "Go and summon Consort Ling to me!"
The Empress lowered her eyelids, pondering whether to leave. Although she was pleased to see Consort Ling humiliated, judging from past experiences, Consort Ling always managed to escape unscathed in the end. The Empress didn't think staying would be a good thing. Just as the Empress was about to speak, she heard Qianlong roar again, "Go and summon Consort Chun and Consort Jia to me! Can't you manage the harem properly? They don't even know when a guard has entered!" The Empress knew the Emperor was taking his anger out on her, so she lowered her head and remained silent, waiting for him to scold her as well. But she waited and waited, and the Emperor didn't reprimand her. The Empress began to feel suspicious.
Qing'er knelt on the ground, feeling deeply ashamed. Thinking back on her days in the palace, she suddenly felt like a fool. Consort Ling was truly cunning! A princess marrying down, if she were a bondservant, she would inevitably be elevated to a Manchu banner. The Fu family… Qing'er bit her lower lip. Qing'er had no more tears left to shed; what she needed now was to figure out how to appease the Empress Dowager and the Emperor's anger.
First to arrive were Consort Jia and Consort Chun. Upon entering, they immediately recognized the Emperor's intentions regarding the guards' intrusion into the inner palace, and both felt truly wronged. They knelt before the Emperor to beg for forgiveness, secretly cursing Consort Ling in their hearts. Little did they know that the one who had entered the Cining Garden was Consort Ling's nephew.
After being forced to kneel by the two imperial concubines, Emperor Qianlong found himself unable to reprimand them. He couldn't very well expect them to guard the garden in the middle of the night to see if any guards had entered the palace. The more Qianlong thought about it, the angrier he became, and he vented his anger on Consort Ling. He reprimanded Consorts Jia and Chun a few times before calling them to get up.
The Empress Dowager had been angry all day, but seeing Qing'er's remorseful expression, she felt pity. Remembering how Qing'er had been by her side at the beginning, the Empress Dowager's heart softened. She sighed, "Qing'er, do you know you were wrong?"
"Qing'er knows she was wrong, please punish her, Empress Dowager."
"Fine, I'll forgive you this time because you were too trusting and naive. Go to the Buddhist hall and reflect on your actions for three days."
"Thank you for your forgiveness, Your Majesty. I have no way to repay you." Qing'er kowtowed to the Empress Dowager again. She knew that the Empress Dowager had let the matter go lightly since she had only been punished for three days. Qing'er's eyes reddened again, and she made a silent decision in her heart that she must take revenge on Consort Ling.
After Qing'er went to the Buddhist hall, Consort Ling arrived. Consort Ling had put on makeup, and her originally delicate face was now deathly pale. Everyone in the room except for Emperor Qianlong could see that Consort Ling had applied a heavy layer of powder. The Empress Dowager was even angrier. The Empress and the two Noble Consorts all thought that Consort Ling would probably get away with it again this time.
Emperor Qianlong was indeed susceptible to her delicate demeanor. Looking at Consort Ling's expression, he thought to himself that she didn't know what kind of person Fu Erkang was, and must have been manipulated by the Fu family. However, the idea that he was a bondservant was awkward for Qianlong, so he used this as an excuse to reprimand him. Consort Ling bit her lower lip, her eyelids trembling, and then secretly glanced at Qianlong a few times, without uttering a word of rebuttal. Qianlong felt a pang of heartache. This sight reminded him of Empress Xiaoxian, and he sighed inwardly. Consort Ling was a bondservant; naturally, she knew little. Why make things difficult for her? It was all the Fu family's fault. He slammed his fist on the table and issued an imperial edict: Fu Erkang would be given fifty strokes of the cane, and Fu Lun would be fined three years' salary.
The Empress Dowager's gaze towards Consort Ling changed. Chun and Jia now truly understood who their real rival was. The Empress Dowager remained calm, pondering whether Consort Yun's rank should be raised. If a childless bannerwoman could rise to a higher rank, then Consort Yun, a legitimate and favored exception registered under the Blue Banner, should also be promoted.
Having moved on from the long, quiet night, everyone returned to their respective palaces. The Empress, feeling unwell, and Qianlong, remembering the two princesses, accompanied her to Kunning Palace. Along the way, the Empress didn't mention the earlier incident, but instead brought up Consort Yun. The Empress noted that there were currently Consorts Yu, Shu, and Ling, leaving one vacant. She thought that Consort Yun, now pregnant and still the head of her palace, should be promoted to the rank of Consort to avoid gossip.
Emperor Qianlong was somewhat displeased upon hearing the last sentence, but he still approved of promoting Consort Yun to the rank of Imperial Concubine. He patted the Empress's hand, indicating that the Empress should discuss this matter with the Empress Dowager.
~~~
The imperial decree promoting Consort Yun to Imperial Concubine once again shifted the political landscape of the harem. A dark cloud hung over Yanxi Palace, while the Chang'an Palace was bustling with activity. Preparations for Consort Yun's investiture ceremony couldn't begin until after the Qingming Festival. Looking at Consort Yun's smiling and radiant demeanor, the other concubines felt a mixture of envy and jealousy.
Although Consort Ling wasn't directly implicated in Qing'er's affair, the Emperor indirectly punished her with confinement. Consort Ling's absence from the palace was inconsequential, but Consort Yun, as if she were targeting Consort Ling, casually remarked when the Emperor entered the palace, "Your Majesty, does Consort Ling dislike this servant?"
Emperor Qianlong was enjoying the favor of his beloved concubine, and upon hearing Consort Yun's words, he asked without much thought, "Why would my beloved concubine think such a thing? You are my concubine, and Consort Ling is also my concubine. How can there be any question of liking or disliking?"
"When I was conferred the title of Consort, all my sisters and cousins came to pay their respects. Because of her pregnancy, the Empress had the Fourth and Fifth Princesses send me silks, satins, and medicines, and also increased my allowance. Consort Jia and Consort Chun sent many decorations, as did Consort Yu and Consort Shu. All the other younger sisters also came to pay their respects. Only Consort Ling didn't come to see me, and... I'm not trying to find fault with Consort Ling, but I just feel that she might not like me." After speaking at length, Consort Yun looked at the Emperor with teary eyes.
Upon hearing this, Emperor Qianlong was immediately displeased. How could Consort Ling be dissatisfied with my promotion of a concubine, without even offering a token of appreciation? It was too petty of her. "Consort Ling is truly too petty. My beloved consort, please don't take it to heart." Seeing Consort Yun's somewhat hurt expression, Emperor Qianlong felt great pity for her. He cursed Consort Ling in his heart and rewarded Consort Yun with some toys before finally seeing a smile appear on her face.
~~~~
After Consort Yun was promoted, the Empress Dowager proposed finding a husband for Qing'er. While those in the palace were unaware, rumors circulated in various households outside the palace that a princess in the palace had a "love affair on a snowy night" with the eldest son of Grand Secretary Fu. Those who knew the inside story wondered which princess it was and hesitated.
The Empress was quite serious about finding a suitable match for Qing'er. Of course, she didn't select anyone from the Nara family, not even from collateral relatives. After some careful selection, she came up with a few names.
When Fourth Princess saw Fucha Haozhen's name on the list, her lips twitched, but she didn't say anything. Fifth Princess and Lan Xin noticed Fourth Princess's unusual expression and quickly asked what was wrong. Fourth Princess pulled her two younger sisters into the side hall, "I ask you, if you had to choose, one who captured a white fox and then released it, and the other a respectable warrior, which would you choose?"
"Caught the white fox and then released him? Is he an idiot?" Fifth Princess curled her lip, looking very disdainful.
"Fourth sister, under what circumstances did he catch the white fox?"
"Many people hunt together in the Emperor's hunting grounds."
"Lan'er thinks this person is very cunning. Regardless of whether it's true or not, releasing the white fox will leave a lasting impression."
The Fourth Princess nodded immediately after Lan Xin's words. She was truly cunning; acting independently easily drew attention. Fucha Haozhen might not be just a ranter, but that was irrelevant to her. Looking at Lan Xin again, Fucha Haozhen had now appeared. If the Empress Dowager took a liking to him, Qing'er would marry him. Had that little white flower appeared yet? Was the plot going awry?
~~~
Fourth Princess's worries were completely unnecessary. At this moment, Fucha Haozhen was holding Bai Yinshuang and roaring at a woman, "How could you be so vicious? My Bai Yinshuang is so beautiful."
"Me, vicious?" The woman pointed at her own nose, her face full of anger. She had only helped Bai Yinshuang up, but the woman had fallen down. Before she could even help her up, she was called vicious. "Grandma, I'll let you call me vicious if you want."
"Little Swallow, what are you doing?" Liu Hong, who was shopping, hurriedly stopped Little Swallow. "Sir, Little Swallow is being unreasonable, please forgive her!" Without waiting for Fucha Haozhen's approval, she grabbed Little Swallow and ran off. Little Swallow angrily cursed all the way.
As fate would have it, Fucha Haozhen was caught in the act of embracing Bai Yinshuang in the street by Fuheng, who happened to be passing by. Fuheng's servant chimed in, "Master, that's the eldest son of the Prince Shuo family. Should we invite him over?" The servant, seeing the two embracing, immediately turned to block his master's view, but Fuheng had already seen everything. Fuheng was furious, his face turning red with anger. He had disgraced the family. Upon returning home, Fuheng submitted a memorial criticizing the eldest son of the Prince Shuo family, leaving him utterly incompetent. However, Fuheng's memorial came too late. Emperor Qianlong, having just attended court, had Li Yu announce the imperial edict, betrothing Princess Qing'er to Fucha Haozhen. Considering Princess Qing'er's years of service to the Empress Dowager, her dowry was to be in accordance with the rank of a Heshuo Princess.
After the imperial edict was read out and some political affairs were discussed, the court session ended. The ministers began to congratulate Prince Shuo, but Fuheng alone snorted coldly at him.
Emperor Qianlong returned to his study to review the memorials. The eunuch who had presented the imperial edicts was astute; knowing that Fuheng was the emperor's favorite among the court officials, he placed Fuheng's memorial at the top. The first memorial Qianlong read was Fuheng's, and this immediately became a topic of discussion. "Prince Shuo, good, good, good! I just issued an edict to betroth the princess to your family—what an honor! And what kind of son have you raised?" Qianlong was furious. "Guards! Drag Prince Shuo out and give him twenty strokes of the cane, and deduct two years' salary. Give him a severe beating! What kind of good son have you raised? Tell him that if I can give the princess to their family, I can give the princess to someone else."
Prince Shuo, who had just thanked the ministers, was suddenly dragged out by the guards and severely beaten twenty times in front of the palace. The eunuchs watched as Prince Shuo was beaten, repeating the emperor's words.
The ministers looked at each other, completely baffled.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
