From a distance, it was already dark outside the Chengqian Palace, but the light snow was still falling sparsely. It had been falling all day and showed no sign of stopping; on the contrary, it was falling heavier and heavier.
The trees, which had already been cleared by the palace servants during the day, were now covered with a blanket of white snow, making them look like they were wearing a snow-white winter coat from a distance.
The pure white moonlight shone down from the sky, making Chengqian Palace appear exceptionally warm and inviting.
The maids serving outside Consort Tong's bedchamber could faintly hear the woman's soft moans and the man's heavy breathing.
The older palace maids and eunuchs seemed to have long been accustomed to it, their faces showing no emotion.
The younger maids were already blushing, keeping their heads down and not daring to move.
The red candle on the table had burned halfway, and the two intertwined figures on the large bed had not yet stopped, the red waves rolling even more violently.
In a flash, they found themselves in the West Hall of Chengqian Palace, inside the Fourth Prince's room.
The charcoal fire warmed the whole room, the candles in the hall had long been blown out, and the Fourth Prince was sleeping properly on the big bed, with a satisfied look on his face, clearly having a good dream.
Near his belly slept a rolled-up little dumpling, its tiny mouth snoring softly.
This harmonious scene between master and pet is frozen in that moment.
That was the five-year-old Fourth Prince and his three-month-old puppy, Duofu.
The first night we spent together in the same bed was exceptionally harmonious.
Before dawn, in Consort Tong's bedchamber, Liang Jiugong, along with his eunuchs and maids, was already serving Emperor Kangxi with toiletries.
At Kangxi's signal, everyone moved very slowly and quietly, not daring to make a sound, for fear of waking Consort Tong who was still asleep.
Looking at the fair, jade-like arm exposed on the bed, my cousin was exhausted.
Kangxi's eyes darkened slightly. He was quite satisfied with last night; his cousin hadn't been so proactive in a long time.
"Liang Jiugong, send the pair of gold-threaded white jade rings from my imperial treasury to my cousin."
"Yes, Your Majesty, I will give the order immediately. We will make sure to send it over before the Imperial Concubine wakes up." Liang Jiugong, who was serving nearby, hurriedly responded upon hearing Kangxi's order.
Before leaving his bedchamber, Emperor Kangxi glanced at Consort Tong, who was still asleep behind the bed curtains. A pang of heartache flashed across his eyes. He had been having an affair last night and had exhausted his cousin. He turned to the maid standing at the door and gave her some instructions.
"Your mistress is tired, let her sleep, and she is exempt from paying her respects today."
After saying this, he boarded a sedan chair and left Chengqian Palace, heading towards Yangxin Hall.
Early this morning, everyone in the harem knew that Emperor Kangxi had stayed overnight at Chengqian Palace yesterday, and they were all furious, but there was nothing they could do.
This morning I heard that the Emperor had excused Consort Tong from paying her respects, and another batch of ceramics was accidentally broken in the main halls of the inner palace early this morning.
Inside the Kunning Palace, Empress Niohuru heard the news early in the morning. She angrily tore up her handkerchief and slammed her hand hard on the dressing table.
"Haven't she always been aloof and proud, disdaining to compete for favor? How come she's lowered herself to learn these lowly tricks for winning favor?" A hint of mockery flashed in Empress Niohuru's eyes, her tone filled with disdain.
"That's right, Your Majesty. I heard that His Majesty really likes the little puppy that the Fourth Prince is raising."
"Moreover, Consort Tong raised the Fourth Prince with the intention of securing his favor. After raising him for so many years, didn't she still want her own child?"
"Consort Tong only dotes on His Majesty because she is from his maternal family; otherwise, why would His Majesty favor her so much?"
Seeing the Empress's actions, Du, the wet nurse beside her, felt a pang of heartache and quickly took the Empress's hand off the dressing table.
"Your Majesty, why are you doing this? It's not worth harming your health for her sake."
When the wet nurse, Granny Du, saw her hands covered in red marks, she couldn't hide the heartache on her face. She quickly instructed her maid, Du Juan, to fetch the Jade Melting Ointment.
"Now, you are the Empress of the Great Qing Dynasty. In the end, she was just a favored concubine. After she passes away, she won't even have the right to be buried next to His Majesty. Why be angry with her?" The wet nurse, Granny Du, comforted Empress Niohuru, who still looked resentful and angry.
After Dujuan, Empress Niohuru's natural maid, returned with the medicine, she gently applied it to Empress Niohuru while speaking with keen insight.
“Your Majesty, what the nanny says makes sense. Consort Tong only dares to be so presumptuous because she is His Majesty’s cousin. His Majesty still favors her a bit, but Consort Tong is older than His Majesty. This year, the imperial harem has been selected for new young and beautiful concubines. Someone will eventually be able to take away her favor.”
"Your Majesty, you are now the Empress, and you are His Majesty's wife."
When Empress Niohuru heard what my wet nurse, Granny Du, and my personal maid, Dujuan, said, her tightly furrowed brows relaxed slightly, and a smile appeared on her face.
"Yes. I am now His Majesty's wife. So what if I am not favored now? I am the rightful Empress of the Great Qing Dynasty. Who can surpass me in public?"
In the front hall of Kunning Palace, many concubines had already arrived to pay their respects to the Empress.
Those of higher rank sat dignifiedly in their respective positions, while the concubines of lower rank could only stand behind, waiting for the Empress's arrival.
"It's almost time, Dujuan, help me out. My sisters must be getting impatient." Empress Niohuru put on the bright yellow phoenix robe that only empresses could wear, and wore the phoenix crown that represented her status as empress, and walked slowly towards the front hall.
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