During the selection process, the young women seemed to be engaged in an internal power struggle, with everyone involved being secretly investigated by Consort Tong.
"Fourth Prince, I'm going to the palace today. Something happened at Chuxiu Palace a few days ago, so Mother needs to handle it personally. All the wives must go with me!" Qingyan said helplessly.
Yin was on leave today, and they originally planned to take the twins and Hafeng'a on a picnic in the countryside. However, Consort Tong issued an imperial decree at the last minute, ordering all the primary consorts to enter the palace, so the picnic could not be completed.
“Mother, we’ll wait for you to come back, and then we’ll go together!” Yiken’e said directly.
They had been longing for this for a long time, hoping that their male parents would have time to be by their side.
Every time I'm about to go out, something comes up that delays my plans.
"Fourth Sister, I'm going now. You stay home and take good care of the three children!" Qingyan changed into a rose-red palace dress and went straight out.
"Okay, go and come back quickly!" Yin promised.
Qingyan boarded the carriage and hurried towards the palace. On the way, she even encountered a carriage from the Yin family residence.
"Sister-in-law, where are the two children?" Qingyan asked curiously.
In the past, when Lady Yin Genjue Luo left the mansion, she would take her two children with her. Even Consort Hui would not allow the two children to stay by Yin's side.
They were all afraid that Yin wouldn't have much patience and might just do something to the child.
"They've been placed in the residence, where two experienced aunts are taking care of them!" These two were specially dispatched to Lady Yin Genjueluo by Consort Hui. In the event of a similar situation, these two would be able to ensure the safety of the children in the residence.
Doshihui is too young and can't speak yet. Yin doesn't have much patience, so he will definitely be ruthless towards him.
"Sister-in-law, you can rest assured now. Big brother is probably playing with Songkelierha, while Doshihun is just watching from the sidelines!" Qingyan smiled.
Yin Genjue Luo nodded: "Master has been quite good lately, and he's been able to help me take care of the children. Normally, I definitely wouldn't receive such treatment."
"Little darling, what is the purpose of your summons, Your Highness?" Lady Yin Genjue Luo was also completely bewildered. Previously, the young ladies selected for the imperial concubine selection had become increasingly unruly, so Consort Tong had directly punished one of them with a cane as a warning. However, the effect was indeed not ideal.
"Sister-in-law, these young ladies-in-waiting are much bolder than us," Qingyan said chuckled, "they even dare to spread news from inside the palace."
Qingyan's words made Yin Genjueluo Shi slightly nervous. This year, her family had eligible young women for the imperial concubine selection, and each time, some of them would be taken down by those around them.
Three years ago, during the imperial concubine selection, a girl from the Yin Genjueluo clan was framed by her roommate, so she could only be directly eliminated during the second selection.
Otherwise, this young lady would certainly have achieved something; she was someone the family had high hopes for, and she was better than the woman from the Yin Genjue Luo clan.
"I hope nothing else goes wrong. The last incident caused the family to lose face completely," said Yin Genjue Luo Shi.
"No, I've observed that the young women in this selection process are all very composed. There shouldn't be any attempts to frame them!" Qingyan could only offer the positive aspects in the end. "I can't help but say that," Qingyan said helplessly.
Inside the palace, Consort Tong had Shu wait at the door. Her face showed a solemn expression. In each imperial concubine selection, there would be women from the same family as the one in power.
"Your Majesty, are you really going to target the Ulanara clan's imperial concubines?" Shu Zhu was puzzled. Consort Tong and Qing Yan had a very good relationship, so why did this matter of the imperial concubines cause so much trouble?
Consort Tong took a sip of her tea and looked outside the palace. If this matter hadn't been so serious, Consort Tong wouldn't have handled it personally.
What woman in the palace doesn't fight? If they didn't fight, they would feel uneasy.
"Your Majesty, the Fourth Princess Consort has arrived!" Shu noticed that Qingyan and Lady Yingenjueluo were slowly walking over, while Consort Hui sat in the subordinate position, looking at Consort Tong.
"Imperial Noble Consort, please don't get angry. We don't know whose fault it is this time." Consort Hui heard that something had happened again at Chuxiu Palace, and that the Empress Dowager had even summoned Consort Tong and scolded her.
"Alas, I have no choice. Which of these young ladies doesn't have a powerful background? What can I say?" Consort Tong said regretfully.
It was rare for Consort Hui to hear Consort Tong complain; Consort Tong rarely spoke of palace affairs on ordinary days.
Qingyan followed in the footsteps of Lady Yingenjueluo and stepped into the hall of Chengqian Palace, just in time to hear Consort Tong complaining.
"Mother, how are you feeling?" After bowing, Qingyan's first concern was whether Consort Tong had been angered.
The young ladies-in-waiting in the Chuxiu Palace all hoped that the high-ranking imperial concubines would get into trouble, so that they could have more opportunities to impress Emperor Kangxi.
"It's alright, little darling, you might have embarrassed yourself again today." Consort Tong revealed who was to be punished.
Qingyan smiled, realizing that the man was merely from a collateral branch of the family, yet his ambitions were sky-high.
"Mother, don't worry, Father won't blame you. On the contrary, he'll say you handled it well!" Qingyan quickly reassured her.
Later that evening, the imperial concubines and primary wives arrived. Consort Tong instructed Shu to go to Chuxiu Palace and summon all the young ladies-in-waiting.
The servants of the Imperial Prison carried over benches, and they held long sticks in their hands.
"I've summoned you all here today because I have some questions to ask you," Consort Hui spoke first. "A couple of days ago, jewels were stolen from Chuxiu Palace. Who among you was the first to know?"
The concubines of the Ulanara clan were the victims, but even so, Consort Tong still found their whereabouts suspicious.
“It is your servant!” Ulanara Fangning quickly stepped forward and said.
Qingyan looked at the girl in front of him. She was only sixteen years old, but she had a calm and composed demeanor, which suggested that she had received careful upbringing from her family.
However, the Ulanara clan did not place much importance on the training of the imperial concubines, making this woman an exception.
"You are from the Ulanara clan, and you are from the same family as your fourth sister-in-law?" Dong E's expression was very strange.
Qingyan glanced at Dong Eshi but said nothing. Dong Eshi was clearly planning something.
Among the royal wives, who didn't know that the Dong E sisters of the Third Prince's residence always caused trouble for their own interests?
"Third son's wife, you shut up too!" Consort Tong was very protective of Qingyan, and immediately came to her defense after discovering the problem.
"Third Sister-in-law, not everyone can share the same sisterly affection as you," Fifth Princess Consort chimed in from the side.
The Third Prince's wife always ignored the Fifth Prince's wife; now it seems that only the silent dog bites.
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