When Wanxia came in and saw that Shanxiu was still asleep, she didn't ask any questions. Anyway, the Empress was kind and didn't require everyone to pay their respects every day. It was also cold outside, so let her sleep if she wanted. Wanxia was too lazy to serve her anyway.
As the evening glow faded away, Shan Xiu felt like crying again for some reason.
But she held back. She had just looked in the mirror and saw that her eyes were already red and swollen. If she kept crying, she wouldn't be able to hide it anymore.
She hugged herself under the covers, telling herself over and over again, "You did nothing wrong. Hongshi loves you, and you love him too. You two are a perfect match." Then she remembered something the Emperor's men had said when they were training her: "What will she do then?"
Shan Xiu is now unsure if it's just her imagination, but if, if one day the Emperor no longer needs her, could he set her free?
Perhaps then, she could be with Hongshi openly and honestly...
She was once dazzled by the splendor of the palace and longed to become a true imperial concubine, but the emperor's indifference was like a bucket of cold water poured over her head, making her realize her true identity.
Her brother was originally placed in a camp outside the capital by the emperor, but last year he was sent to the front line in Qinghai by the emperor, who said that he should make good contributions to pave the way for his future. But now it has been almost a year and she has not received any news from her brother.
Perhaps her brother is already dead.
She has no relatives left in this world.
There's only Hongshi left.
In this world, only Hongshi truly loves her.
Shan Xiu hugged herself, repeatedly trying to comfort and reassure herself. Gradually, the soreness in her body became less pronounced, and she finally fell asleep.
Two heavy snowfalls occurred in December. Yinzhen was initially very happy, as a good snowfall foretells a bumper harvest, and this should be a good winter, ensuring a good harvest next year.
So for the New Year's Eve banquet that year, Yinzhen ordered it to be more grand, and he also summoned Hongshi, Hongli, and Hongzhou to write the character "福" (fortune) with him, which was then distributed to the special princes and important officials.
Of course, Prince Lian did not exist.
Prince Lian, Yinzhi, was frequently reprimanded by the Emperor that year. On the second day of the eleventh month, the Emperor reprimanded him for being cunning because he was frugal in all matters. On the thirteenth day of the eleventh month, Yinzhi was reprimanded again for not providing travel expenses to the Khorchin Taiji and others who came to the capital when he was in charge of the Court of Colonial Affairs.
That same year, Yinzhen finally dealt with one of his brothers—Yunxi, who was originally ranked tenth, had committed a grave offense of disrespect and had his title stripped, his property confiscated, and he imprisoned.
During the search of Yunqi's home, private correspondence between him and Ninth Prince Yintang was discovered. The letters contained words of regret for lost opportunities and even mentioned various things about Yinti, which angered Yinzhen. However, because Yintang was still in Qinghai, he could only suppress the matter for the time being, but he secretly made a note of it.
With punishment comes reward, and the one who received the reward was naturally Prince Yi, Yinxiang. From the first year of Yongzheng's reign, when he took over the management of the Ministry of Revenue, Yinzhen pursued the collection of arrears everywhere, showing no mercy and showing no leniency. His efforts to rectify the finances were remarkably effective, and he was rewarded with an increase in the number of imperial guards for his merits.
That day, Qian Shengyan was accompanying Yinzhen in the Hall of Mental Cultivation to review memorials when she heard Prince Yi requesting an audience. She intended to take her leave, but Yinzhen stopped her: "We are all family relatives, there is nothing to be ashamed of. You have been to their residence before, so there is no need to be too concerned."
Despite saying that, Qian Shengyan didn't dare to act arrogantly. After Yinxiang came in and bowed to her, Qian Shengyan stepped aside and curtsied back halfway.
"It's been a long time since I've seen the Imperial Concubine. The Fujin was just mentioning it a few days ago, hoping to visit Yongshou Palace this year to pay her respects," Yinxiang said with a smile.
Qian Shengyan replied with a smile, "That's perfect. I've been free these past few days, so having the Fujin come over earlier will allow her to spend more time talking with me."
After a few casual words, it was clear that Yinxiang had political matters to discuss with Yinzhen, so Qian Shengyan made an excuse and left the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
New Year's Eve is just around the corner, and there are many things to do in the inner palace. Even though the palace banquet has been delegated to Ulanara, Yinzhen refuses to let anyone touch the account books and other documents. Qian Shengyan has to check them one by one, which is very troublesome.
She sighed and asked Qingxue, "Has Consort Guo arrived?"
"They should already be in the palace," Qingxue said. "Green Willow went to invite them just before we came to the Hall of Mental Cultivation."
"Hmm..." Qian Shengyan sighed again.
There were only a few people in the harem, and after searching around, there weren't many who could actually do the work. Qian Shengyan was worried. Thinking back to history, Emperor Yongzheng actually waited until the fifth year of his reign to hold a selection of consorts, and that was mainly to choose consorts for Hongli and Hongzhou. She felt a headache coming on.
How can we get him to do less work and indulge more in women—well, indulging in other women?
We should have more concubines like Lady Guo.
Qian Shengyan returned to Yongshou Palace with a sigh, and pulled Qingxue, Lvliu, Foerguochun, and Guo Shi together to check the account books.
Fortunately, when Qian Shengyan was reviewing the monthly accounts before, she found the records too complicated, so she made them into tables. Just like she had done at the Yuanmingyuan, she recorded the personnel of each palace and hall in the register and made tables to calculate the monthly allowances, which made it much clearer.
In less than two days, the year-end accounts were settled, and Qian Shengyan breathed a sigh of relief. However, before leaving Yongshou Palace that day, Guo looked at Qian Shengyan with a hesitant expression.
Seeing her like this, Qian Shengyan knew she had something to say, so she waved for the others to leave and pulled Guo Shi down to sit, asking, "What's wrong, Consort Guo?"
"Your Highness..." Guo seemed hesitant to speak, but after a moment, she seemed to have made up her mind, "It's about Consort Xiang..."
"Huh? What happened to her?" Qian Shengyan had almost forgotten about this person.
Since the end of the year was already busy, Yinzhen stayed in the Yangxin Hall almost every day, only occasionally going to Changchun Palace to give instructions or staying overnight at Yongshou Palace.
Because he still needed to maintain Shan Xiu's status as a favored concubine, Yinzhen even took two days to visit Chengqian Palace, and then returned at night.
Therefore, since this concubine, Xiang, has not yet been favored, Qian Shengyan thought that she wouldn't cause any trouble while she was in the Li family's palace, so she didn't pay much attention to her.
"As Your Highness knows, I used to live with Consort Yu and we got along quite well. Sometimes I would go and talk to her. That day, when I was on my way back, I heard someone crying behind Zhongcui Palace. I ordered someone to check and found out it was Consort Xiang."
Guo stammered, "I asked a few more questions and learned that she was originally engaged, but because of... that she was forcibly sent to the palace."
"Do you want to ask the Emperor to grant you permission to leave the palace?" Qian Shengyan asked.
Guo was somewhat embarrassed; her knuckles, gripping the handkerchief, were turning white. She murmured, "Since the Emperor has no intention of favoring me, why... why return it..."
She couldn't continue, but Qian Shengyan understood what she meant.
Guo was empathizing with the situation.
However, the difference is that Lady Guo has no lovers outside the palace, and now that she holds a position in the palace, she can also bring some benefits to her family, while Consort Xiang is a completely pitiful person.
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