"What copying of scriptures?" Yinzhen was unaware of what had happened that day. Qian Shengyan recounted Ulanara's request when she paid her respects at Changchun Palace that morning, but did not mention that Shan Xiu had mentioned her.
Yinzhen snorted coldly, "The Empress really knows how to give me a hard time." After saying that, he told the little eunuch who came to deliver the message to go back first, and told the Imperial Noble Consort to take good care of her illness. It was late tonight, and he would visit her again tomorrow.
Whether Lady Nian is truly ill or feigning illness, since Nian Gengyao is currently fighting a war abroad and has portrayed her as a favored concubine, she should at least go and see her. However, if she does go, it would seem as if she is disrespecting the Empress.
The two are vying for power, making it difficult for any other emperor to be in charge.
Qian Shengyan finally spoke up for Ulanara: "With the position of Imperial Noble Consort still in place, the Empress will never feel at ease."
"Hmph." Yinzhen said this, but he knew it in his heart.
But he... only acted willfully once. When Qian Shengyan gave birth to Hongshan, he was happy and wanted to promote her to a higher rank, to make her a Noble Consort. Was that not allowed?
As a result, not only did a group of people start grumbling, but Nian Gengyao also submitted five consecutive days of greetings, with every sentence mentioning "the Imperial Concubine in the Palace." What did this mean? This was a blatant threat!
After becoming emperor, even wanting to promote the woman he loved had to endure so much nagging from others, and he had no choice but to listen. In the end, Yinzhen acted impulsively, and coupled with the earnest advice he had received from Qian Shengyan at Yonghe Palace that day, he promoted several people under the guise of praying for the Empress Dowager's well-being late at night. Although it was somewhat rash, Yinzhen felt he did not regret it.
He said in a deep voice, "When my late father was alive, he set the rules for the harem: one Imperial Noble Consort, two Noble Consorts, four Consorts, and six Concubines. I have not overstepped his authority."
Qian Shengyan knew he was being stubborn, and she also knew why he was doing this. But the presence of the Imperial Noble Consort made Ulanara even more uneasy, and it did indeed damage the Empress's reputation. She guessed that Yinzhen had been ridiculed quite a bit in the court as well.
Although it is said that one should not concern oneself with matters that do not concern oneself, if the Empress is in disarray, the harem will also be unstable.
Qian Shengyan pondered whether she should think of a way to give Yinzhen a reason to demote Shan Xiu.
As she was thinking, it seemed that Yinzhen had changed his mind again. He called Su Peisheng in, gave him some instructions, and then lay back down on the bed.
Qian Shengyan couldn't help but look at him: "Does Your Majesty still want to go and see the Imperial Noble Consort?"
“I’m going,” Yinzhen said casually.
Qian Shengyan: ?
"If Su Peisheng is gone, it's the same as if I am gone." Yinzhen said, picking up a book that was placed aside, clearly indicating that he would not sleep for the time being.
It's estimated that they'll have to wait for Su Peisheng to return.
Qian Shengyan waited by, pondering her plan and wondering what could possibly demote a concubine, let alone an imperial concubine of that rank…
Before she could figure it out, Shan Xiu herself handed over her leverage.
Yinzhen and Qian Shengyan waited for a while, but instead of Su Peisheng, they saw Zhang Defu.
The young man rushed over in a hurry and stood outside the door, calling out through the curtain, "This servant, Zhang Defu, requests an audience with the Emperor!"
"Zhang Defu?" Qian Shengyan sat up in surprise. "Where is Eunuch Su?"
Yinzhen also sensed something was wrong and summoned the person in. He asked a few questions through the curtain and learned that Su Peisheng was still in Yikun Palace. He said that he had caught a petty thief stealing something on the spot and asked the emperor to go and deal with him.
"What thief?" Yinzhen asked, puzzled. As he got out of bed to put on his shoes, Qian Shengyan busied herself getting him an outer robe. Then Zhang Defu said, "It's Xu Quan, the eunuch from the Imperial Noble Consort's palace. He said he stole a lot of the imperial gifts that the Emperor bestowed upon the Imperial Noble Consort."
"Ha, what audacity! They dare to touch a gift bestowed by the emperor." Yinzhen sneered. He was about to say that such a person should be sent to the Censorate and beaten to death, but then he realized that Su Peisheng had invited him over in the middle of the night. But then he thought about it and understood the reason.
If he really was a eunuch who stole things, Su Peisheng is now the chief eunuch, why would he need to send the emperor over specifically to catch a thief?
Sensing something amiss, Yinzhen put on his cloak and was about to leave when Qian Shengyan hurriedly followed. After hesitating for a moment, she called Qingxue over and asked her to call Xiaoshunzi to go and check.
She decided not to go; it would be too conspicuous.
When Yinzhen returned in the middle of the night, he was covered in cold sweat. Su Peisheng was still nowhere to be seen, and Zhang Defu was also not in the group.
Seeing that Qian Shengyan was still waiting for him, Yinzhen paused for a moment, then softened his expression and said, "Didn't you say you were sleepy? Why aren't you asleep yet?"
Seeing his expression, Qian Shengyan knew he didn't want to tell her what had happened, so she didn't ask any further questions. She smiled and helped him take off his cloak, and then the two of them went back to sleep.
The next morning, Qian Shengyan couldn't wait to call Xiao Shunzi over as soon as she got up, but at the same time, she also received an imperial decree from Yinzhen.
She said she dreamt of the Emperor last night, lamenting that the grandson of the Emperor was catching a cold, which she found unbearable. After the Emperor woke up in the middle of the night and investigated, he discovered that the sixth prince, Fu Hui, had caught a cold due to the lack of care from the palace servants. The Emperor was furious and had already punished all those who had served the sixth prince. Now, because the Imperial Noble Consort was not kind to her son and was not strict with her subordinates, she was demoted to the rank of Noble Consort.
Qian Shengyan: ...
This guy made an imperial edict that was so convoluted, even dragging Emperor Kangxi into it, that Qian Shengyan almost believed it.
But after asking Xiao Shunzi, Qian Shengyan learned that seven or eight parts of the imperial edict were actually true.
"Yesterday, just as Eunuch Su arrived, he heard Prince Fu Hui crying. Eunuch Su went to check the side hall first and saw that the charcoal fire in the hall had gone out, but the people serving Prince Fu Hui were nowhere to be seen. Eunuch Su then went to look for the Imperial Noble Consort..."
Xiao Shunzi slapped himself on the cheek as he finished speaking, "Oh dear, now it's Consort Nian. Eunuch Su went to look for Consort Nian, only to find her chatting and laughing with palace servants, showing no signs of illness. Moreover, Eunuch Su was standing outside the window when he happened to see Consort Nian reward a young eunuch with a royal Hetian Ruyi scepter because he thought the young eunuch was good at telling jokes and had handsome features..."
Qian Shengyan: ...
Goodness, Shan Xiu is really having a lot of fun in the palace.
“Those were Consort Nian’s exact words; this servant wouldn’t dare make them up,” Xiao Shunzi quickly said, seeing Qian Shengyan’s expression change. “Eunuch Su happened to hear those words…”
Qian Shengyan was speechless again.
This was exactly what Su Peisheng had heard...
No, it's probably because Shan Xiu doesn't usually know how to be casual, which is why Su Peisheng overheard a few words.
It's likely that she knew perfectly well that Yinzhen wouldn't come to see her, so she became even more relaxed, ignoring Fu Hui and joking and indulging with the palace servants. In addition, last night she sent someone to invite Yinzhen, but Yinzhen initially refused, so Shan Xiucai probably acted even more like this.
Tsk, what a cruel twist of fate. She hadn't even made a move yet, and the Imperial Noble Consort had already gotten her removed. How incredibly understanding...?
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