"Get up, all of you. Today is the day of the palace banquet, so behave yourselves." Empress Dowager Xin looked at the women kneeling on the ground. These were all her son's women, but apart from Guan Zhiyue, none of them were pleasing to her.
Having been through that time myself, I naturally know what kind of temperament these people have. Her good daughter-in-law is someone who doesn't like to crowd together or engage in open and covert struggles, so she naturally has to show her authority and properly discipline these women.
"Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager." The crowd began to get up from the ground and took their seats in their designated places according to their rank. Those of lower rank stood behind the imperial concubines and consorts.
Guan Zhiyue looked at the people who were standing in a haphazard manner, and then glanced at the Empress Dowager sitting next to her. The Fourth Madam sat obediently on both sides of the lower seat, with her head bowed and eyes lowered. Guan Zhiyue felt shocked by the sight of all the women in the room. This was practically a group fight.
"So many women, all for a pickled cucumber, tsk tsk tsk, I've really broadened my horizons." Guan Zhiyue silently complained in her heart.
Little Tuantuan heard Guan Zhiyue's thoughts and said with a smile in the space: "Master, don't forget that you yourself are also a contender for this pickled cucumber."
Guan Zhiyue: "..."
"You're kidding me! I'm not interested in this cucumber."
"You're not interested, but these women are very interested. You're a thorn in their side. If you don't believe me, look up at the second woman in the third row on your left, near the door. She looks like she wants to devour you alive."
"Oh dear, if that look could kill, Master, you'd be dead by now, probably with grass growing half a person's height on your grave." Little Tuantuan teased Guan Zhiyue playfully in the space.
Guan Zhiyue looked in the direction Xiao Tuantuan pointed and saw a girl who looked about sixteen or seventeen years old. She was wearing a light green dress and had her hair styled in a pretty bun. Judging from her appearance, she should be one of the eighth-rank maids. She was the lowest-ranking maid among the emperor's women, yet she had the kind of look in her eyes that wanted her dead.
"Doesn't she know that if she kills me, she won't be able to rise to the position of Empress with such a low rank?" Guan Zhiyue continued to chat with Xiao Tuantuan using her consciousness.
Xiao Tuantuan said speechlessly, "What if some people don't want the empress position, or what if they want something else?"
Guan Zhiyue felt a headache coming on, so she called the girl over to her.
"Ahem, the second sister in the third row on my left, near the door, come forward. I feel more comfortable with you. Come forward and speak to me." Guan Zhiyue raised her hand to cover her mouth and coughed lightly before speaking.
As soon as Guan Zhiyue spoke, everyone turned their attention to the woman who had been named.
The woman whose name was called walked to the center under everyone's gaze and knelt down in the middle of the hall with a thud. "This humble concubine greets Your Majesty the Empress."
“Raise your head, are you Huan Nu?” Guan Zhiyue asked.
The woman in green slowly raised her head, looked at the two most noble women sitting on the phoenix couch, and slowly replied, "Yes, Your Majesty, this humble concubine is Huan Nu."
"How long have you been in the palace?"
"Your Majesty, this humble concubine has been in the palace for three years."
"Three years, and you're still only at the level of a lowly woman?" Guan Zhiyue asked.
Guan Zhiyue's words caused all the women below the rank of Fourth Consort to lower their heads in sadness. They were extremely upset. If it weren't for the fact that the Emperor had no interest in these things, he would have been on the battlefield when he was a prince, and after killing his father and ascending the throne, he was busy restoring order to the court. The number of women in the harem had indeed increased, but he hadn't taken a liking to any of them.
The woman in green, somewhat embarrassed, glanced at Guan Zhiyue and then at the Empress Dowager, before gritting her teeth and saying, "Your Majesty, this humble concubine has not yet served you in bed."
Guan Zhiyue: "..."
Guan Zhiyue felt somewhat embarrassed after hearing this reason. So many beautiful women, yet none of them had ever slept with that scoundrel? What was going on? Could it really be true, as rumored, that the Emperor had homosexual tendencies?
"Ahem, as all the sisters know, I have just been seriously ill and am quite weak, so it is not suitable for me to do that. All the sisters must put in a lot of effort and use all their skills to try to have many children by this time next year."
"My sisters all have heavy responsibilities. I hope you can take good care of yourselves and give the Empress Dowager and the Emperor more sons and grandsons."
When Madam Guan arrived at the entrance of Cining Palace with her mother-in-law and Guan Zhiyue's younger cousin, she heard Guan Zhiyue say these words. Madam Guan was surprised to hear that her daughter was unwell and not suitable to serve the emperor.
Her heart ached. In this palace, besides her family's powerful backing, the only other way to maintain her position was through her children. Now, her own child was suffering from health problems...
The two old ladies exchanged a glance, their eyes revealing a hint of sigh and regret.
"Madam Guan, Madam Fan and her family have arrived." The eunuch's announcement interrupted Guan Zhiyue, who was still encouraging the concubines to try harder to have children.
Before long, more and more announcements came in, and soon a large group of people, including this lady, that noblewoman, that princess, and that prince, flocked in.
Empress Dowager Xin looked at everyone and nodded to Guan Zhiyue. Guan Zhiyue then understood Empress Dowager Xin's meaning and looked at the concubines and said, "Sisters, it is rare for you to see your families. Take your families back to your respective palaces and have a good chat. In the evening, concubines of the fifth rank and above will bring their families to attend this year's New Year banquet."
After receiving the order, the concubines rose, knelt, and then led their families to their respective palaces.
After everyone left, Guan Zhiyue looked at her maternal grandmother. She hadn't visited her grandmother's house the last time she went home to visit her family. Now, looking at her maternal grandmother, her aunt, her own grandmother, and her aunt's little cousin, tears welled up in her eyes. Guan Zhiyue didn't know whose tears they were, but she was certain they weren't hers.
"This old lady, along with my mother-in-law and her family, pays respects to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, may you live a thousand years! Her Majesty the Empress, may you live a thousand years!" Madam Guan and Madam Fan, along with Lin Miaolian and Fan Qingqing, knelt together in the center of the hall.
Guan Zhiyue quickly got off the phoenix bed and helped the two elderly people up. Looking at the two elderly people with tears in their eyes, she felt a mix of emotions.
"Grandmother, maternal grandmother, aunt, little cousin, how are you all?" Guan Zhiyue reached out and touched Fan Qingqing's head. The thirteen-year-old girl had already grown very tall. In two more years, she would be of marriageable age and would be a young lady.
Guan Zhiyue turned to look at Empress Dowager Xin, who was sitting on the phoenix couch, and said, "Mother, your daughter-in-law would like to take my grandmother and the others back to the Cold Palace to catch up with them."
Empress Dowager Xin nodded in agreement and then said, "Go, go! I'm tired and need to rest, otherwise I won't have the energy tonight."
"Yes, thank you, Mother. You should go and rest now. I won't disturb you any longer."
After Kwan Chi-yuet and her entourage knelt in worship, they followed Kwan Chi-yuet towards the Cold Palace where she currently resided...
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