Three days later, Yin took Qingyan to Chenggan Palace to pay his respects. Consort Tong looked very unwell. Imperial Physician Yan was hiding his true identity so well that outsiders would hardly know he was actually the Empress Dowager's henchman if it weren't for the unexpected situation.
"Mother, are you feeling unwell?" After Yin and Qingyan bowed to each other, she gave Yin a wink.
Over the past few years, Qingyan has sent many gifts to Consort Tong, and those products for her health and beauty were all of high quality.
"Little darling, how are you feeling?" Lan Ya regretted not asking Physician Yan for a final diagnosis after her interrogation of him. The medication she had taken over the years had probably ruined her health.
"Your Majesty, I have recovered!" Qingyan replied.
She felt she was merely a passerby and that it was best to say as little as possible about matters within the palace.
Yin smiled with satisfaction. The more Xiao Guai kept quiet, the more guilty Kangxi would feel, because his negligence had led to Xiao Guai getting into trouble.
"Fourth Prince, go and do your errand." Consort Tong noticed that Yin always protected Qingyan. In the deep palace, no woman could receive a man's protection at all times.
"Yes, Mother, let Xiao Guai stay with you in the palace." Yin gave Xiao Guai a few more instructions before leaving Chenggan Palace.
After Yin left, Consort Tong could no longer maintain her composure, and Qingyan easily saw through her disguise to reveal her exhaustion.
"Little darling, a matron from the Imperial Household Department will be coming to report something later. Just watch and listen, and don't say anything!" Consort Tong wanted to guide Qingyan slowly through the palace intrigues.
She nodded. These were things that should have been given to her by the Jue Luo clan, because the relationship between her and her mother was not good, and Consort Tong stepped forward to discipline her.
Today is the fifth day of the month, the time when the imperial concubines should come to pay their respects. When the Empress Dowager was alive, none of the imperial concubines dared to be late. Today, however, they did not send their greetings on time. Qingyan couldn't help but complain, "These people are really something else."
"Your Majesty, please have your breakfast first. The other ladies must have been delayed by something!" When the Empress Dowager Mengshi came to pay her respects for the first time, it was already much later than expected.
Consort Tong gave a cold smile. Xiao Guai was just trying to comfort her. Which woman in the harem wasn't eyeing her own position?
"Little darling, let's have our meal." Qingyan definitely didn't have breakfast when she came over.
Qingyan helped Consort Tong to the dining table, where many of Qingyan's favorite dishes were laid out. Since Qingyan entered the palace, Kangxi and Consort Tong's meals had also come from Yin's small kitchen. Kangxi was happy that he no longer had to abide by the rule of not eating more than three times a day.
While the two were having breakfast, Consort Yi, of the Guo Luo Luo clan, arrived at Chenggan Palace. Seeing that there wasn't a single concubine in the vast hall, she couldn't help but reveal a sarcastic smile.
Consort Tong holds a high position, but what does it matter if she has her adopted son, the Fourth Prince?
Didn't everyone just embarrass her?
"Shuzhu, where is the Imperial Concubine?" Consort Yi was somewhat arrogant and looked down on Imperial Concubine Tong because she had raised three princes.
"Your Highness, Consort Yi, Princess Ulanara has come to pay her respects. The Master is speaking with her." Shu Zhu replied respectfully, though she held Consort Yi in low regard.
What?!
Consort Yi raised her eyebrows. It was already time for the concubines to pay their respects, yet this lady was still keeping her company.
In the inner chamber, Qingyan heard Consort Yi's voice and a contemptuous tone, as if no one was as high in status as her.
"Little darling, let's go out after we've finished using it." Consort Tong sneered. She couldn't hold back anymore. No wonder, her father, the Fifth Prince Consort, was only a fifth-rank official.
"Yes!" Qingyan understood why Consort Tong was gloating. Consort Yi's arrogance was far too much, and Kangxi was well aware of it. With the Empress Dowager present, she absolutely could not be allowed to have absolute power; otherwise, it would be uncertain whether Lanya would still be alive today.
Consort Yi had already drunk two cups of tea when Consort Tong, accompanied by Qingyan, finally emerged from the inner room. Consort Yi's expression instantly turned extremely unpleasant.
When Qingyan paid her respects to Consort Yi, she deliberately pretended not to know.
Consort Tong frowned. Even if Lady Guoluo made things difficult for Qingyan, she had to consider the place.
"Guo Luoluo, when you see me, don't you pay your respects?" Consort Tong was furious. If Consort Yi didn't know her place, she shouldn't blame her.
When Consort Yi realized that the situation was getting out of control, her mood immediately soured. Consort Tong was showing her no respect whatsoever. In front of Qingyan, she, a palace consort, was considered high and mighty, but Consort Tong had completely trampled her underfoot.
"Yes, Your Highness, I pay my respects!" Consort Yi gritted her teeth to stop herself from cursing. She was truly furious. Why did Consort Tong have such a low opinion of her?
"The rules of the palace must be followed. No matter how high your status is, you will still be bound by them. Little darling, get up first!" When Consort Tong was in a bad mood, she would suppress the concubines. Kangxi understood Consort Tong's wickedness and couldn't turn a blind eye to it.
Qingyan stood obediently to the side. She saw the resentment flashing in Consort Yi's eyes, the resentment from being made difficult by Consort Yi could not be dispelled.
The rumors had been fueled by Consort Yi behind the scenes, but out of consideration for her good relationship with the Tara clan, she swallowed her anger.
Consort Yi didn't care; she lived in the moment and wouldn't care about the infamy behind her back.
"Your Majesty, what use am I? The Empress Dowager is no longer here. Besides me, who else came on time for the first time to pay their respects?" Consort Tong had not been called to rise. Consort Yi waved her handkerchief and stood up directly, looking Consort Tong straight in the eye, and said sarcastically.
Consort Tong slammed the teacup down on the high-legged table, a hint of bitterness flashing in her eyes. Consort Yi, relying on her merit of giving birth, often disobeyed her orders.
Consort Hui stood at the door, caught in a dilemma because of Consort Yi's words.
"Consort Hui, please come in. Is everything alright in the eldest son's courtyard?" Consort Tong was very kind to Consort Hui, knowing that there was a reason for her visit.
"Your Highness, the servant who wanted to climb into the bed has also been brought here. Consort Yi, your tone is quite arrogant, so presumptuous even in front of the Noble Consort." Consort Hui bowed respectfully before slowly sitting down.
Consort Yi was speechless. Why was Consort Hui standing next to Consort Tong?
"Hmm, send her directly to the Criminal Division. Normally, a servant like that would be beaten to death." Consort Tong looked at Consort Yi with disdain.
"Your Majesty, I must ask Consort Yi. This palace maid claims to be from the Guo Luoluo family." Consort Hui's bottom line is Yin. There's been some unruly behavior in her son's courtyard, and the signs are directly pointing to Consort Yi.
What?
Consort Yi was stunned. Previously, she had her family send a group of servants to the palace, many of whom were assigned to the princes' quarters.
"This... was assigned by the Imperial Household Department, Consort Hui, you can't just say it was dispatched by me!" Consort Yi was anxious. If Emperor Kangxi found out about this, he would definitely be suspected.
Consort Hui coldly watched Consort Yi retort, but in her heart she was plotting how to give her a blow.
At this moment, Qingyan sat to the side, completely ignored by the three women, and she watched the drama unfold with amusement. (To be continued. If you like this work, please vote for it on Qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)
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