Hmm? There really is a hidden story?
Yinzhen glanced at Qian Shengyan, and Qian Shengyan looked back at him with a puzzled expression.
Qian Shengyan certainly didn't believe that Lady Guo would dare to speak ill of the Emperor or insult the Consort, but judging from Lady Guo's current situation, it seemed that she really had some unspeakable secret.
Qian Shengyan then tugged at Guo Shi, whose face turned bright red. Seeing Consort Nian's smug expression, Guo Shi felt a pang of resentment.
She looked around, then bowed and curtsied to Yinzhen, saying, "Your Majesty, please dismiss everyone. This matter... it's not that I can't speak of it, but... but..."
Yinzhen pondered for a moment, then nodded to Su Peisheng, who responded and led the others away, while he himself stood guard at the door.
At this moment, only a personal maid remained in front of the three women, and there was no one else. Guo Shi no longer hesitated and said directly, "What I said at the time was based on my own experience. I don't know why the Noble Consort said that I was insulting her."
Dan Xiu raised her eyebrows, about to say something, when Guo respectfully bowed deeply to Yinzhen and Qian Shengyan and continued, "At that time, I was saying that Consort Xi was easy to get along with, never withheld our allowances, and always gave us things. We didn't lack anything during our year in the palace, and we always had leftovers."
"At that time, I thought that if Consort Xi had continued to manage the affairs of the six palaces, even without the Emperor's favor, I could still live well in this inner palace." After saying this, Guo knelt down and kowtowed to Yinzhen. "I have spoken ill of Consort Xi and the Emperor. I deserve to be punished. I know I was wrong."
Qian Shengyan: ...
She watched as Shan Xiu's face turned pale and then red, and she couldn't understand what had offended her.
If Shan Xiu was just taking her anger out on Guo Shi, then why did she so confidently make a scene in front of the Emperor?
Yinzhen did the same, turning to look at Shan Xiu, who awkwardly knelt down: "Your Majesty..."
"Tell me, how did Consort Guo insult you?" Yinzhen was genuinely curious.
Guo's words, upon closer examination, were somewhat disrespectful, but overall they were not wrong. In fact, he felt that what he said was quite right, and he was even a little proud of it.
Could he have chosen the wrong person to manage the harem?
Even someone like Consort Guo, who has no favor and no children, can live a good life, yet her expenses haven't increased much. Doesn't this prove that Qian Shengyan manages things very well?
The more Yinzhen thought about it, the happier he became. He couldn't even wait for Shanxiu's reply and immediately wanted to reward Qian Shengyan: "Consort Xi has done such a good job in managing the harem. I should think carefully about what to reward you with."
Qian Shengyan: ...
Shan Xiu: ...
Guo kowtowed again: "Your Majesty is absolutely right. I sincerely admire Consort Xi."
Qian Shengyan: ...
No, no, that's not true.
She tilted her head and glanced at Shan Xiu, then laughed: "We were just talking about Consort Nian, how did we end up talking about me? Did Consort Guo say something wrong that made Consort Nian uncomfortable?"
"No, I must have misheard," Shan Xiu said, trying to remain calm.
Qian Shengyan, however, wouldn't let her off the hook: "Oh? That year, Consort Nian, did you mishear that sentence?"
Shan Xiu: ...
In fact, Qian Shengyan had guessed some of what Guo had said. She guessed that the remark about "lacking the Emperor's favor" had reached Shan Xiu's ears, making her feel embarrassed. She also knew that Guo might not have been insulting her, but taking this opportunity to teach Guo a lesson and vent her anger was acceptable.
Qian Shengyan then turned to face Yinzhen. Yinzhen glanced at her helplessly and said, "Consort Nian has bullied other concubines without cause. She is hereby punished with half a year's monthly allowance and confined to her quarters for three months as a warning to others." He paused, then emphasized, "This must not be repeated. Consort Nian, do you know your mistake?"
"Your Majesty, I know I was wrong. I thank you for your great kindness." Shan Xiu looked indignant, but there was nothing she could do.
Yinzhen glanced at her again and continued, "From today onwards, the Sixth Prince Fu Hui will be moved to the Southern Third Palace."
"Your Majesty!" Shan Xiu was stunned, looking at Yinzhen in disbelief. Yinzhen, however, sneered: "What?"
"Your Majesty..." Shan Xiu paused, tears streaming down her face, "Your Majesty, I cannot bear to part with Fu Hui. I beg you, Your Majesty, please allow me to raise Fu Hui..."
"Mothers born to concubines are not allowed to raise their own children. This is a rule established by my late father," Yinzhen said coldly. "Originally, I raised Fuhui in Yikun Palace because she was young. But now you have repeatedly made mistakes and have not shown any remorse. Now that you are to be confined, do you expect my princes to be confined with you?"
"Your Majesty..." Shan Xiu pursed her lips. She disliked Fu Hui and even wanted to find a chance to kill him, but the prerequisite was that Fu Hui had to stay in her palace! If he was moved out, how could she reach him?
“Hongzhou was only two years old when he lived alone in Xifeng Xiuse of Yuanmingyuan. If he can do it, so can Fuhui.” Yinzhen snorted, “It will also prevent you from spoiling him too much and corrupting the prince.”
What else can Shan Xiu say?
She could only bow and agree, her hands clenched into fists hidden in her wide sleeves.
With her fingernails piercing her palm, Shan Xiucai finally realized what was wrong—she thought Fu Hui wasn't just a facade, or a facade used by her, but the Emperor was now telling her that wasn't the case.
Whether Fu Hui lived or died was entirely up to the Emperor; it had nothing to do with her.
Shan Xiu closed her eyes and swayed slightly for a moment. Yinzhen waved his hand to shoo her away: "Alright, go back and arrange the relocation of Fu Hui to the palace."
"Your Majesty, I obey." Shan Xiu, supported by a palace maid, had only taken a few steps back when Yinzhen spoke again: "Wanxia was personally chosen by me. She is the eldest aunt of Yikun Palace. She is familiar with palace affairs. In the future, Consort Nian can often have Wanxia by her side to avoid repeating today's mistake."
Dan Xiu's breath hitched, but she could only bow and agree.
Sunset was the thing she hated most!
That man knew her background and showed her absolutely no respect whatsoever! He was always interfering and meddling, it was so annoying!
Who is really in charge here?
Dan Xiu left Yangxin Hall in a huff, and soon after, the imperial edict punishing Consort Nian by confining her to her quarters spread throughout the palace.
Guo had already returned home, but Qian Shengyan was kept behind by Yinzhen and, as he requested, washed his brush and ground his ink.
"I'd like to experience what it's like to have a beautiful woman by my side." He said with a smile, and without any hesitation, he opened Nian Gengyao's memorial, glanced at it, and then sneered. He took another piece of paper and wrote down Shan Xiu's experiences of the day.
Finally, he sighed, "I am uneasy about the way the Consort is behaving. Perhaps it is my fault that the Consort has made mistakes again and again. I am truly ashamed and have no face to see you, my beloved minister."
Qian Shengyan, who accidentally witnessed the scene: ...
Is it really appropriate for an emperor to write this?
It's sad that later generations, upon seeing Yongzheng's various imperial edicts, would almost want to crown him "the most lovable emperor."
She originally thought that writing this was enough, but then she saw Yinzhen dip his brush in ink and continue writing: "I miss you very much, and I also have court matters to discuss with you. Lianggong, when will you return to the capital?"
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