When Consort De, of the Uya clan, returned from paying her respects at Chengqian Palace, her complexion was unpleasant, and the resentment in her eyes could not be concealed.
"Granny, it's been several years, why is there still no sign of pregnancy in my belly?"
"I've been taking the medicine my family gives me every single day of these past years, so why...?"
"And that debt collector, the Fourth Prince, I've been trying to win him over for so long, but he still ignores me."
"Does he really think I care about him that much? I'm so angry!"
"Consort Tong... she's older than me, yet she has the nerve to complain about my age and say I'm wasting His Majesty's time. In the entire harem, Consort Tong is the one who has wasted His Majesty's time the most. She even has the nerve to say I can't have children. At least I have four living babies. What does she have?"
"She's just arrogant and domineering because she's related to His Majesty's maternal family. She looks down on everyone in the palace. I really don't know what His Majesty sees in her."
"Granny, I don't want to live like this anymore. His Majesty has come to visit me even less this month. So many young and beautiful women have entered the harem over the years. If I can't get pregnant and give birth to a prince, where will I have a place in the harem?"
Consort De, of the Uya clan, looked displeased. After speaking through gritted teeth, she stared intently at Granny Uya, wanting her to make a decision.
Granny Wuya also felt a sense of foreboding; she had had too many unpleasant days in the past few years.
Consort De, your temper is getting worse and worse. You used to pretend to be gentle in front of the palace maids and eunuchs, but now you don't care at all.
If anyone gets angry, the palace maids and eunuchs of Yonghe Palace will suffer.
I wonder where Consort De learned this from?
I enjoyed watching palace maids and eunuchs pick up the broken pieces of porcelain one by one with their bare hands, until their hands were red and raw before they would stop.
Granny Wuya didn't dare to offer too much advice, for fear that Consort De would take her temper out on her.
Every time Consort De, of the Uya clan, saw those palace maids and eunuchs, she could only swallow her anger and silently pick up the broken porcelain shards, her hands covered in blood, and she felt extremely satisfied.
Small shards of stone can easily get stuck in flesh and blood, causing unbearable pain. Yet, one dares not make a sound, or one's hands will be crippled.
Standing behind Consort De, Wuya, Granny Wuya watched the palace maids picking up the broken porcelain shards below. The bright red blood dripping onto the moon-white porcelain shards created an unusual beauty.
Granny Wuya felt that she was becoming abnormal. Although she used to be strict with her subordinates, she did not have the habit of tormenting people.
The little palace maid bit her lips so hard they were almost raw, but she didn't make a sound; only blood dripped down her face along with her tears.
Consort De, of the Uya clan, is in an even worse mood today; I wonder if this palace maid's hand can be saved.
Such punishment, which did not elicit any cries of pain, went unnoticed in the palace. When palace maids were found to be injured, it was only because they had been careless while working.
Their entire families were in the hands of Consort De, Uya. Even if they were to be killed, they would have no chance to resist, let alone pick up porcelain shards.
Consort De, of the Uya clan, glanced at the hand, which was now devoid of any healthy flesh, before speaking with satisfaction.
"Go down and get some good wound medicine from Qingmu. Don't say that I have mistreated you; you can't even do a small thing right."
The young palace maid hurriedly left the palace, and then other eunuchs and maids cleaned up the mess.
Granny Wuya knew that Consort De had not only neglected the Fourth Prince, but also because of Consort Tong's mockery during the greetings, saying that she was too old to have children and should not even think about taking over the Emperor.
Most importantly, with the increasing number of young and beautiful concubines in the harem, Consort De, of the Uya clan, gradually lost favor.
Consort De, of the Uya clan, left Chengqian Palace with a completely changed expression. She was indignant the whole way, especially after encountering the Fourth Prince, who was returning to Chengqian Palace.
The Fourth Prince simply greeted the concubines and left without saying a word, treating them exactly the same way he would treat any other concubine in the harem.
They did not treat Consort De, of the Uya clan, as their own mother at all.
Granny Wuya suppressed her distracting thoughts and spoke meekly with her head bowed.
"Your Highness, the Fourth Prince is probably afraid of being punished by Consort Tong, which is why he doesn't dare to get close to you near Chengqian Palace. This is for your own good. Otherwise, if the Consort Tong finds out, she will definitely find another reason to punish you."
When she was favored in the past, she could cry and complain to Emperor Kangxi, but now she wouldn't dare to speak ill of him or complain to him.
Having heard this so many times, even Emperor Kangxi was no longer willing to come to Yonghe Palace, a fact that Consort De, of the Uya clan, deeply understood.
They could only suffer the bullying for nothing and swallow their grievances.
These past few years have been tough. No matter how well Consort De, of the Uya clan, has maintained her appearance, she can't compare to the younger, prettier concubines.
In particular, Consort Tong, who was a few years older than her, looked younger and more beautiful.
In the past few years, the Imperial Noble Consort has had everything she wanted. Since the Empress is no longer in the palace, no one dares to give her a hard time. As long as she doesn't go too far, Emperor Kangxi won't say anything.
Even though they were just a few low-ranking concubines, it was their ability to win a smile from their cousin that mattered.
In recent years, the Imperial Noble Consort has looked younger and younger, especially when she wears elegant cheongsams, which makes her seem otherworldly, like a pure and aloof fairy from heaven.
With jet-black hair and snow-white skin, she wore a moon-white silk cheongsam with a subtle lotus pattern, and a simple five-blessing hairpin adorned her hairline. Her whole demeanor was aloof and serene, like a white peony petal glistening with dew in spring, drawing people closer.
No wonder His Majesty likes her too, even though the Imperial Noble Consort is arrogant and domineering, he is willing to spoil her.
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