Chapter 196: Keeping Yourself Secure
According to Kang Yubin,
The death of Concubine Xiao was purely an accident.
Ever since Concubine Xiao gave birth to a little prince suffering from shingles, Xiao Jingheng has kept silent on the matter on the surface, but this child is not included in the Jade Records, and now that he is full-term, he doesn't even have a name. Anyone can see and know that this child is not favored by the Emperor.
The servants in the palace are used to flattering the powerful and looking down on the weak.
Gradually, the servants who served Lady Xiao became lazy.
When doing things in daily life, we should be as perfunctory as possible.
The imperial physician said that it was the height of summer now, and the water from the Ganquan well was the clearest at four o'clock in the morning. Taking some water from the well and mixing it with medicinal powder to bathe the little prince was the best way to relieve psoriasis.
However, there were only six places with sweet spring wells in the palace, and the nearest one was nearly a quarter of an hour’s walk from Zhaochun Palace where Concubine Xiao lived.
At first, Concubine Xiao ordered the palace maids to fetch water.
But later she discovered that in order to save trouble, the palace servants had simply found a well and filled it with water, and then brought it back as sweet spring water to fool people.
Without favor, Concubine Xiao could not maintain her authority even if she got angry in front of these palace servants. If she offended them again, it would be bad if the villains tried to trip her up in secret.
So she had to swallow her grievances and do everything herself for the sake of her children.
She would get up before three o'clock every morning and rush to the sweet spring well on the east side of the Imperial Garden to fetch water into the palace.
This morning, she accidentally fell into the well.
But the place was very remote, and there was not a single person in sight early in the morning.
She had gone there to fetch water to save her child's life,
Unexpectedly, she lost her life in that pool of well water.
After listening to Kang Yubin's words, Song Zhao felt nauseous and stuffy in his chest.
The concubine said angrily:
"Those dog slaves are doing chores and are asking their masters to serve them? How ridiculous! No wonder I keep saying that those lowly guys are dogs that can never be tamed!"
After hearing what the Concubine Chen said, Kang Yubin's face looked a little unhappy.
He stood there awkwardly, but was given a cold look by Concubine Chen.
"If you tell me what I'm saying, all the servants in Zhaochun Palace will be fined for half a year! All eunuchs will be sent to work in the Four Treasurys, and palace maids will not be allowed to leave the palace until they are 25 years old! I don't think they dare to bully their master anymore!"
Kang Yubin agreed, bowed and left.
Yu happened to meet Xiao Yinzi at the palace gate.
Xiao Yinzi came at this time, naturally with Xiao Jingheng's order,
After he had completed the formalities to the Concubine Chen, he said:
"Your Highness, I'm sure you already know about Concubine Xiao's affairs. The Emperor was too busy with government affairs to leave, and now you are in charge of the affairs of the six palaces. The Emperor means that Concubine Xiao's affairs after her death will be handled by you at your discretion."
Song Zhao sensed something strange in Xiao Yinzi's tone.
But the Concubine Chen did not think there was anything wrong with it, and instead asked:
"It's really pitiful that Concubine Xiao got into this situation. She should be given a proper funeral. But as for the eldest prince..."
Xiao Yinzi said hurriedly: "The emperor said that this matter is left to you to handle with full authority. Just follow the previous examples in everything."
The Concubine Chen was silent for a moment, then said coldly, "I understand, you can go down now."
As soon as Xiao Yinzi left the palace, she looked at Song Zhao and said helplessly:
"Following previous examples? The late emperor's Concubine Jing died of complications during childbirth after giving birth to the fourth prince. The fourth prince was born sickly, so the late emperor sent him to the Summer Palace to be raised. What happened later? Didn't he die before the age of two?"
Yes, he died before he was two years old.
It was for this reason that Xiao Jingheng asked Concubine Chen to follow previous examples and handle this matter.
If Concubine Chen sent the little prince to the Summer Resort as well, given his current condition, I'm afraid he wouldn't even live half a year.
By the time the baby dies prematurely, it was Concubine Chen's idea, so what does it have to do with him, Xiao Jingheng?
It was obvious that Xiao Jingheng didn't want to leave the unlucky child alive.
But Concubine Chen could not see the truth in this, and said worriedly:
"After all, he is the emperor's child. He is a life. How can we just let him go like this? No, we need to think about this matter carefully."
She raised her hand and called over two palace servants, and told them:
"Go and call back all the concubines in the six palaces. I have something to say to them."
While waiting for someone to arrive, Song Zhao whispered to Xiao Fuzi,
"It's time for me to take the pregnancy-preserving medicine. The Empress Chen wants to talk to us now, so I'm afraid she can't get away for the time being. Changle Palace is not far away, so you can go and get it for me."
Xiao Fuzi took the order and retreated.
Not long after, the concubines returned one after another.
When everyone was present, the Concubine Chen did not beat around the bush and went straight to the point:
"Noble Lady Xiao had an accident, and someone has to take care of her child. Both I and Concubine Yi are pregnant, so it's inconvenient for us to keep the child by our side. Concubine Hui herself is still childish, and she doesn't consider her.
The rest, Concubine Ying, Concubine Yun, and Concubine Yao, the three of you discuss and give me a clear answer, who will be the adoptive mother of this child?"
As soon as the Concubine Chen finished speaking, everyone around her immediately looked embarrassed.
First, Concubine Yao said, "I can't raise him. You know that I have a muddle-headed personality, and Concubine Chen's child needs to be taken care of. I'm afraid I can't handle this heavy responsibility."
Ying Fei said: "Hasn't there been such an example in the previous dynasty? Since the biological mother can't raise the child and the child is sick, then send him to the Summer Palace to be raised."
Her voice got lower and lower, and she muttered softly at the end,
"The emperor doesn't like him anyway, so whoever keeps him at this time would be unlucky, right?"
At the moment, Xiao Jingheng was irritated with Concubine Yun because of the Queen's affairs, and it was impossible for her to offend Xiao Jingheng's taboo at this time, so she also followed Concubine Ying's words and said:
"I also think what Concubine Ying said makes sense, so why not..."
“Alright, alright!”
The Concubine interrupted them impatiently, rolled her eyes at each of them, and said unceremoniously and wantonly:
"You all only care about yourselves, and you still have the audacity to say that you are afraid of bad luck? You don't even look at how ugly you are, as if if you don't raise this child, the emperor will be happy to look at you more."
After letting out her anger, she sighed briefly again, her fingertips pressed against her temples, her brows slightly furrowed.
"Well, then send the child to the Summer Resort and tell two imperial doctors to stay there to take good care of him. Let him fend for himself."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com