Although the Forbidden City is magnificent and boasts a wealth of exotic flowers, rare plants, and exotic animals, for security reasons, it is not suitable for living in any of its gardens.
Few emperors throughout history have enjoyed living in the imperial palace. For example, the late emperor preferred the Changchun Garden to the Forbidden City.
The May sun felt a bit scorching, and some empresses who were sensitive to the heat had already started using ice.
Knowing that the emperor was preparing to go to the Yuanmingyuan Garden to escape the summer heat, the inner palace suddenly became lively. Everyone wanted to go with him, even if they didn't have to serve the emperor in bed, they could still find some relief from the heat.
The Hall of Mental Cultivation, the Yikun Palace, and the Xianfu Palace all became lively, with everyone wanting to add their names to the list.
Chen Meizhuang was so annoyed that she couldn't do anything about it. Zhen Huan was playing chess with the big fat orange, so she could only invite An Lingrong to come to Chuxiu Palace to keep Sun Miaoqing company.
"It's so much more peaceful here. All the concubines want me and Consort Jing to put in a good word for them so they can go to the Yuanmingyuan to escape the summer heat."
"But I am merely a noble person. Although I manage the Imperial Garden, how can I possibly interfere with the Emperor's wishes?"
"Even if the Emperor gave instructions for the three of us to draft a list first, in reality, it still depends on Consort Hua's opinion."
"Being of low rank, one has no say. Consort Jing and I are caught in a dilemma, unable to agree or disagree."
Sun Miaoqing's eyes were tinged with a smile, like the blush of a blooming hibiscus, her right hand supporting her chin.
He tapped a few fingers of his left hand lightly on the mahogany table with silver-edged corners, and said slowly,
"That's true. Even if all the names are added, in the end it all depends on the Emperor's wishes."
"After all, not many concubines went to the Yuanmingyuan. The palace ladies living behind the Yangxin Hall don't need to worry. They can all go if nothing unexpected happens."
Even the lowest-ranking concubines selected through the imperial concubine selection process would still be a minor consort. Even a low-ranking concubine would have two or three maids and a eunuch to serve her.
The palace maids were all originally palace maids. Although they served the emperor, unless they were given the rank of "dare" (a high-ranking concubine), they were often worse off than ordinary palace maids.
At least ordinary palace maids could leave the palace and marry when they reached a certain age. But those who had served the emperor could not expect to leave the palace alive; they could only endure their lives in the palace until they grew old.
During the day, she had to do the same things as the other palace maids, and at night she had to serve the emperor in bed. Just thinking about it made her feel like she was being cheated!
An Lingrong said, "The birth mothers of the princes and princesses will definitely go with them. There's no need to say more about the Empress Dowager, the Empress, and Consort Hua."
"With the addition of my older sisters, that should be about it."
With the favor these people enjoy, they have absolutely no worries about this matter.
"The Empress Dowager said that she was old and not feeling well enough to move around. So she wanted to stay in the palace to recuperate and would not go with them."
“I often visit Shou Kang Palace, and the Empress Dowager’s health is indeed much worse than before.”
After Shen Meizhuang finished speaking, a hint of worry flashed in her eyes. In just a few months, the Empress Dowager's health had suddenly deteriorated.
When she first entered the palace, the Empress Dowager was already over sixty years old. But she looked only a few years older than her mother.
But now the skin on the Empress Dowager's face and hands was very loose, and her figure was hunched over, as if she had crossed ten years in an instant.
An Lingrong noticed that Shen Meizhuang's mood had suddenly dropped, and knew that the Empress Dowager's health was not good.
Because of his relationship with Shen Meizhuang, he couldn't say anything, but he felt a bit smug inside.
Who told the Empress Dowager to take her anger out on all the concubines in the palace?
She and the others have never forgotten those seven days of forced kneeling, or the injuries that took half a month to fully heal.
Right now, apart from Shen Meizhuang, everyone in the palace, including the Empress, her own niece, is probably very happy.
An Lingrong held a silk handkerchief in her hand, gently covering the corners of her upturned lips. She glanced up and saw that Sun Miaoqing across from her was also suppressing a smile.
After inwardly rejoicing, Sun Miaoqing said, "Although the Yuanmingyuan is beautiful, the number of imperial physicians there is limited compared to the past. We can't bring all the medicines from the Imperial Hospital with us. The Empress Dowager is not in good health, so it's better for her to stay in the palace."
"Sister Mei, your filial piety towards the Empress Dowager and your magnanimity put all of us to shame."
Shen Meizhuang knew that the concubines harbored many grievances behind her back, and she also knew that Sun Miaoqing and An Lingrong held grudges against the Empress Dowager.
Actually, she also felt that the Empress Dowager had acted inappropriately. Those words shouldn't have been mentioned in front of the two of them, but she hadn't paid attention.
The Empress Dowager had always favored her. After kneeling in the Baohua Palace for two days, she had Aunt Zhuxi send her many ointments and cotton sachets tied to her knees.
Except for Consort Duan, who was recuperating from illness and whose life was uncertain, and was therefore exempted from punishment, none of the other concubines were spared.
At this point, if the Empress Dowager only spares her, it would truly harm her.
Perhaps at first, she still harbored some resentment? But after that day, it all vanished, and she only remembered the Empress Dowager's affection for her.
Shen Meizhuang said, "It was my fault, I shouldn't have said those things. Consort Cheng is very magnanimous, please forgive me this time!"
An Lingrong said with a smile, "Since Sister Mei has said so, Sister Sun, why don't you put it down quickly?"
"Speaking of which, the Empress Dowager is also our elder, so of course we hope she can live to be a hundred years old."
[Living to a hundred is out of the question, but it's true I'll outlive you, Sister Mei. I've lived a life of glory and wealth, enjoying all the riches and honors imaginable.]
[If a different son had become emperor, perhaps she could have secretly been intimate with her beloved Longkodo.]
[Wait a minute, the Empress Dowager is so determined to make her youngest son emperor, could she really be harboring such a secret ambition?!]
[But what good are such thoughts? He still poisoned Longkodo with his own hands. He always loved himself the most. He is indeed a role model for us all.]
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