Upon leaving Fengxiang Palace, Consort Ning asked, "What's wrong, Sister Jin? You don't look well. Are you ill?"
"No, it's just... a little hot for a moment." How could it be hot so early in the morning?
Consort Ning sighed, "Don't be sad. That's how it is in the harem. At least you're supporting yourself. I... sigh. Never mind, I'm going back."
After saying that, she left.
After seeing her off, Jin Lingyi also went back.
Yes, at least she can support herself, and she might be able to gradually rise in rank with the help of her child. But what about Consort Ning?
She no longer even has the right to raise children.
Despite being the birth mother of the eldest prince, she only received the rank of Jieyu, and now she rarely sees her child.
Moreover, Consort Ning was practically out of favor.
At least for the past two months, His Majesty has not visited her Zhishuang Pavilion.
With these thoughts in mind, Kim Bong-yi slowly returned home.
Ye Xiaoyi went to Feiluan Palace.
Smiling, she said, "I've come to see you, sister. You had a cough a few days ago, are you feeling better?"
"You've arrived just in time," Consort Ye said calmly.
She came only after she was fully recovered.
"Sister, you're blaming me for being late, I really am. But His Majesty stayed here with you for the past few days, so it wouldn't be appropriate for me to come," Ye Xiaoyi said with a smile.
These words pleased Consort Ye greatly.
"Fine, what are you doing here?"
"It's nothing, just wanted to sit with you, sister. I haven't had a proper conversation with you since I officially entered the palace. Her Majesty the Empress Dowager also hopes we get along well. That's why I'm here," said Ye Xiaoyi.
Consort Ye didn't like to hear this, but she didn't refute it.
"Now, Consort Luo is pregnant, and Consort Qu is also pregnant. Consort Luo has a grand princess, so if she has another child, she will have both a son and a daughter, and she will definitely be promoted. Consort Qu has always been favored, so if she gives birth, she will also be promoted. If you could give birth to a prince, that would be the most noble prince."
Ye Xiaoyi sighed, "But this is too difficult."
"You know it's difficult, so why did you say it?" Consort Ye rolled her eyes at her.
“Yes, sister, please don’t be angry. Now that His Majesty favors you, you naturally have many opportunities. It’s harder for me. But it’s alright, the Empress Dowager has said that our Ye family only needs one capable daughter. Just focus on giving birth, and I’ll assist you. It’s just that…”
"What?" Consort Ye asked impatiently.
"Alas, I haven't been able to gain a foothold either. With four newcomers, it was already difficult for me to stand out. Now that Consort Qu is pregnant, His Majesty's attention is even more divided. Not to mention me, even here with my sister, I'm afraid His Majesty is visiting less often," Ye Xiaoyi sighed.
Aunt Lu frowned but didn't say anything.
Consort Ye said impatiently, "Alright, you've seen me, so let's not talk about this anymore. If you want to win favor, do it yourself. I can't help you."
He then stood up and waved for people to go back.
Ye Xiaoyi wasn't upset at all; she even smiled apologetically, "Yes, I'll go back now. Don't be angry, sister."
After she left, Consort Ye snorted, "Why would my aunt, who carefully selected this person, want to see me? Is she incompetent herself?"
Granny Lu knew that she hadn't yet understood Ye Xiaoyi's meaning, but she dared not leave it unattended.
So he said, "Your Majesty, it's best to avoid seeing her in the future. This Ye Xiaoyi is quite cunning."
"Yes, it's rare to see such a thing," said Consort Ye.
Granny Lu sighed and said, "Your Highness, Consort Ye keeps mentioning Consort Qu because she wants you to take action."
I have to make it clear.
She was taken aback, and after a moment she said, "She wants me to get Qu Meiren pregnant?"
"Yes, that Ye Xiaoyi is indeed cunning." She certainly couldn't do it herself, but it would be much easier if the Imperial Concubine were to take action.
If Consort Qu miscarries, she certainly won't be able to serve the emperor for a while.
She might even be rejected because of the miscarriage.
Wouldn't that give newcomers more opportunities?
Consort Ye should have been furious, but she wasn't.
She simply sat down and took Granny Lu's hand, saying, "Granny, they...they look down on me."
Granny Lu said with a heavy heart, "How could that be? They... they think Your Highness is too powerful. They can't do these things, but you can."
Consort Ye fell silent.
She didn't say she was going to see the Empress Dowager, nor did she look for anyone else.
After a moment of silence, she said, "I will have my own children eventually, I don't need them. Granny is right, it was my fault. I will think more carefully about everything I do in the future, things will get better... things will get better. I will have a son."
"Oh, it's good that Your Highness has come to her senses, it's good that you've come to your senses." Granny Lu's eyes welled up with tears.
Whether Consort Ye has come to her senses or not, no one knows.
But there are always some people who just can't understand it.
Shuanzi stormed back to Zhaochun Palace in a rage.
"What's going on?" Yan Nangui was sitting on the veranda drinking tea.
"Your Majesty... there are some unpleasant rumors circulating outside." Shuanzi said awkwardly.
"Tell me, who's been courting death?" Yan Nangui sat up straight.
"This..." Shuanzi swallowed hard. "This servant doesn't know who it is, but outside... people are spreading rumors about you... saying that you had a... relationship with His Majesty back then, which is how you got into the manor..."
"You were pregnant with His Majesty's child...it was because of that that..."
The wild geese returned south and smiled.
"That's quite a gesture."
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger." Everyone knelt down.
"It's alright, Shuanzi, go and tell the Empress everything. I'll see how she handles it."
Shuanzi agreed and got up to go to the Empress.
After hearing this, the Empress first dismissed Shuanzi.
She actually knew about it that morning, but she hesitated and didn't know how to handle it.
"Now that Consort Yan has come to ask me, what do you think I should do?" the Empress asked Su Jin.
Su Jin thought for a moment: "You suspect that this matter is related to the Empress Dowager?"
"Yes, although it certainly wasn't done by the Empress Dowager's people, but there's something behind this..."
“This servant thinks it’s impossible. No matter how much the Empress Dowager schemes, she wouldn’t ruin His Majesty’s reputation, would she? If this gets out, will His Majesty not care about his reputation? You should issue an edict to investigate thoroughly, at least to prevent this from getting out of the palace,” Su Jin said.
The Empress nodded: "You're right, then let's hurry. But I still feel there's someone behind us..."
“That’s the next step. You should focus on the present. This is a very important matter, and I’m afraid even His Majesty will have to personally intervene,” Su Jin said.
The Empress nodded and, as expected, issued an order to arrest all those who spread rumors.
However, by lunchtime, the rumors circulating in the harem had been brought under control.
However, no matter how well it is controlled, various thoughts will still arise in people's minds.
This is beyond our control. All we can do is try not to let anyone bring it up again.
The wild geese flying south signify great anger.
Those who served her all knew.
But the angrier she got, the less she showed it.
Upon hearing this, Shu Chengfeng immediately smashed the paperweight.
It was quite a big deal.
"Investigate this thoroughly for me."
Yun Ji hurriedly agreed.
They first controlled the rumors circulating in Beichen Palace, but fortunately, the rumors were all in the inner palace.
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