That night, Wang died of illness.
When the news reached the inner palace, the Empress wept bitterly.
Meanwhile, those around her were still in the torture chamber, and now they were all serving the lower-ranking palace maids. The entire Fengxiang Palace was filled with unease.
Because of the Empress Dowager's message, everyone is now paying their respects at Ruining Palace.
Fortunately, Ruining Palace is not far from Zhaochun Palace; Yan Nangui can reach it in just a few steps.
I stopped riding in a car when I got pregnant, since it was dangerous, so I usually walked.
Everyone except Wan Jieyu, who was in postpartum confinement, had arrived.
The Empress Dowager didn't wait long before coming out.
After everyone paid their respects and took their seats, the Empress Dowager first asked Consort Chenhui a question.
"Consort Chenhui, how are you feeling?"
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am doing well," Yan Nangui said.
"That's good. It's a blessing for you to be pregnant. Take good care of yourself." The Empress Dowager waved her hand, inviting her to sit down.
After thanking the Empress Dowager, Yan Nangui sat down.
"I have heard about what happened yesterday. As the Empress, I am truly disappointed in you. You have all suffered these years."
A few people chimed in, but no one dared to say that he was dead.
Yan Nangui thought the Empress Dowager was too impatient.
The more this is the case, the less likely Shu Chengfeng is to depose the empress.
Consort Jing was of noble birth and had a son and a daughter. If the empress were deposed, she would be the most popular choice to succeed her in court.
But with her personality, how could she possibly be an empress?
If you make her empress, the harem will be a sieve.
At least Empress Ning, though ruthless, was still capable of managing affairs well.
Shu Chengfeng was well aware of this, so the most likely explanation was that the Empress was imprisoned but not deposed.
It can be taken out and used during holidays.
As for who is in charge, the responsibility may be shared among everyone.
The Empress Dowager may not be unaware of this, but being in the midst of it, she wouldn't be so objective.
Perhaps the Empress Dowager was not satisfied with everyone's answers, so she called out, "Consort Chen Hui, what do you say?"
"Your Majesty, I don't know how to say this. Over the years, I have always received the Empress's care. Although many things are unclear and there is no concrete evidence, perhaps it was the Empress who did it, or perhaps it wasn't. If I were to kick someone when they're down, it would be disheartening. Besides, what the Empress does is none of my business," Yan Nangui said.
The Empress Dowager snorted, but she was satisfied with Consort Chen Hui's attitude.
At least she didn't covet the position of empress.
"Consort Xiangxian, what about you?" the Empress Dowager asked again.
"That's what I think too. Over the years, I've received a lot of care from Her Majesty the Empress. But the truth is still unclear, so I can't say anything," said Consort Xiangxian.
"Well, you all get close to the Empress. She's so vicious and has harmed people, and you still say these things?" Consort Jing said angrily.
"Consort Jing, you've become agitated. Making such statements without concrete evidence is a grave crime, as it slanders the Empress," Yan Nangui gently reminded her.
"Alright," the Empress Dowager interrupted Consort Jing when she saw that she was about to speak.
"Consort Chenhui is right. You should also remember the rules. The Empress's matter still needs to be thoroughly investigated, but it won't be cleared up in a short time. I will no longer concern myself with the affairs of the inner palace. As the head of the four consorts, Consort Jing should take over. However, she has never managed such matters before. Now that she has taken over all at once, she won't be able to manage them well. Consort Xiangxian, you have experience, so the two of you can take over together. Consort Chenhui is pregnant. Does she have any objections to my arrangements?"
"Your Majesty has no objection. Even if I have children in the future, I will not dare to interfere. I am willing to step down," Yan Nangui said.
"Hmm, you're sensible, that's good. Too many people can easily lead to chaos, so let's leave it at that. If the Emperor is dissatisfied, then come and speak to me," the Empress Dowager said.
Everyone agreed.
After everyone dispersed, Consort Jia and Yan Nangui walked ahead.
"With Her Majesty the Empress in this state, I'm afraid she won't be able to get out anytime soon. If Consort Jing were to take charge of the inner palace, well... with her temper." Consort Jia had also suffered from this before.
"I'm afraid it's already a done deal. It doesn't matter, as long as you don't provoke her, she won't harm you. Come on, the weather's nice, let's go sit in the Imperial Garden," Yan Nangui said.
Consort Jia smiled and said, "Great! The peonies are all in bloom. It's the perfect time. The white peonies that you like, Sister, are all in bloom."
Yan Nangui smiled and said, "Then let's go take a look."
"Sister, how about you draw it after you see it?" Consort Jia asked.
“I’m not good at painting flowers and plants, that’s fine. I’ll ask Wen Guirong to paint them for me later,” Yan Nangui said.
They went to the Imperial Garden, chatting and laughing.
Behind them, Consort Yi and Consort Huo were walking together, escorting Song Lingyi.
"Consort Chenhui has always had a bad temper, but she gets along well with this Consort Jia," said Consort Yi.
"Yes, that's rare," Huo Congfei said with a smile.
"Alas, she's someone whose temperament is hard to fathom. Who would have thought she'd be pregnant? Look how nervous His Majesty is. I remember when Consort Wen was at the height of his favor, His Majesty wasn't this nervous when she was pregnant," said Consort Yi.
She has already given up, even though she gave birth to two princesses, and she is not young anymore.
His Majesty hasn't stayed overnight here for more than half a year. Even when he does come, he just visits the eldest and third princesses, has a meal, and then goes back.
However, compared to her, Consort Huo was really... about the same. She was also destined to serve the emperor only once every six months.
Previously, the Empress Dowager had been eager to elevate him, but unfortunately, while she had elevated his rank, she hadn't been able to win his favor.
His Majesty's dislike is simply dislike.
She's not even as good as Song Lingyi. At least she gave birth to a princess. Although she was still not favored after giving birth, having a child at least gave her some hope.
Not long after entering the Imperial Garden, they saw people ahead.
Upon seeing them, those men hurriedly came to pay their respects.
It was Yang Baolin and Feng Baolin, who had come to stroll in the Imperial Garden. These two women, who had been out of favor for millennia, each brought a palace maid with them.
"No need for formalities," Yan Nangui said with a smile.
Yang Baolin smiled apologetically: "Your Majesty is not even three months pregnant yet, so you should move around less. I have never been pregnant before, so I don't really know much about this. I just remember my mother saying this when she was pregnant when I was a child."
"It's alright, I'm just taking a stroll." Yan Nangui smiled.
They smiled a few times and said a few words, then went to the other side.
After walking a distance, Feng Baolin said, "I hope Consort Chenhui's baby will be a prince."
"Yes, let's have a prince."
Over the past few years, the two of them have received considerable care from Zhaochun Palace.
I am grateful.
Although they knew that Zhaochun Palace was taking such good care of them, they wouldn't be letting them suffer for nothing.
But sometimes it's good to be useful, otherwise if you get forgotten and never remember it, how will you live?
At least I have my current rank because His Majesty promoted me based on a casual remark from this concubine.
Although it's only one level apart, the difference in treatment is like night and day.
They are people who don't seek affection, can't they at least ask for a more comfortable life?
Now, of course, everyone hopes that Consort Chenhui will give birth to a prince soon.
Because in such a vast palace, apart from this one empress, no one else thought of the two of them.
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