Changchun Immortal Hall
Sun Miaoqing held the imperial edict with satisfaction; she had finally secured her position as a Noble Consort.
Clothing and food are secondary; the main concern is that there will be far fewer people who need her to pay her respects in the future.
The burden on her knees has been greatly reduced, and she is no longer afraid of rheumatism and bone pain in her old age.
Su Peisheng said ingratiatingly, "This servant congratulates Your Highness, the Imperial Concubine. Counting from the time of the late Emperor, you are the first person to become an Imperial Concubine after only one year in the palace."
Sun Miaoqing smiled and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Eunuch Su, Linglan."
Linglan took out a large red purse with a ruyi pattern and handed it to Su Peisheng.
"Your Majesty, please have some tea, Father-in-law."
Su Peisheng smiled and said, "This servant thanks Your Highness for the reward."
"There's one more thing. His Majesty said he left a jade pendant with Her Majesty before. Now that Her Majesty is a Noble Consort, he has instructed me to take that jade pendant back."
Sun Miaoqing asked blankly, "Did His Majesty leave a jade pendant with me? When did this happen? I can't remember at all."
Su Peisheng's smile immediately froze. "Oh, Your Highness, please think again. Do you really not remember where you put it?"
Sun Miaoqing said, "I really don't remember such a thing. If you don't believe me, ask Liuli and Linglan. They know about my affairs."
"Have you seen the jade pendant that the Emperor dropped?"
Linglan and Liuli shook their heads and said in unison, "This servant did not see it."
Sun Miaoqing said, "Eunuch Su, you see, I don't remember this at all. His Majesty must have made a mistake. Please explain to His Majesty and see if it has been misremembered."
Su Peisheng was speechless. Was Consort Cheng not going to admit her mistake?
He knew very well what happened that day. The Emperor had promised to make Sun Miaoqing a concubine, but Sun Miaoqing said that words were not enough and insisted that the Emperor give her his personal jade pendant as proof.
The jade pendant will be taken back whenever she is made a concubine.
The Emperor has already issued the decree to promote her to the rank of Imperial Concubine, but she's denying it now...
Su Peisheng thought to himself, "What are the Empress and the Emperor up to now?"
"Your Highness, please don't tease me. That jade pendant is His Majesty's beloved possession, which he has worn for many years."
"If we suddenly can't find it, I won't be able to explain it to the Emperor."
Sun Miaoqing wasn't afraid of that. Once something good was in her pocket, did she really expect her to hand it over?
It's not that easy!
"Just tell the truth, Eunuch Su. If His Majesty doesn't believe you, let him come and find it himself and see if it's really left with me."
Forget it, I knew it wouldn't be that easy. The Emperor dug his own hole, so he'll have to fill it himself. This servant's abilities are limited...
Su Peisheng said with a wry smile, "Since that's the case, if Your Highness has no other instructions, this servant will go to other places to deliver the decree. I will take my leave for now."
Sun Miaoqing nodded, "Please take care, Eunuch Su. Liuli, see Eunuch Su out."
"Yes, sir. This way, please, Eunuch Su."
After handing the decree of investiture to Linglan, Sun Miaoqing went inside and sat down on the soft couch by the window.
While swinging her legs, she ate crystal grapes that were a tribute from Xinjiang, and also shared a small bunch with Lily of the Valley.
After Liuli returned from seeing Su Peisheng off, she also gave her a bouquet. Liuli said happily, "This servant thanks Your Highness, the Noble Consort."
Linglan said, "Your Highness has now been granted the title of Imperial Concubine, and your wish has been fulfilled. This servant congratulates Your Highness."
Sun Miaoqing said, "It can be considered as having achieved a small goal, but since the investiture ceremony has not yet been held, it cannot be considered legitimate."
Liuli said, "How could that be? The Emperor has already issued the decree to confer upon you the title of Imperial Concubine. How could it possibly change?"
Sun Miaoqing recalled the day Zhen Huan was conferred the title of imperial concubine in the drama. The imperial decree had already been issued, and all that was missing was to go to the Empress's palace to receive instruction.
Because of a piece of clothing worn by the late Empress Chun Yuan, the chubby orange cat flew into a rage. Not only did he say that the etiquette was not up to par, thus disqualifying her from being made a concubine, but he also made Zhen Huan take off her clothes and walk back to Suiyu Pavilion wearing only her undergarments.
When Sun Miaoqing watched the drama before, she didn't understand the humiliation it depicted. Only after experiencing it herself did she realize that appearing in public wearing only her undergarments was no different from being naked.
Imagine walking naked through most of the inner palace from Gyeongin Palace back, surrounded by countless people watching and laughing at you...
If this had happened to her, Sun Miaoqing felt she would be a thousand times, ten thousand times more ruthless than Zhen Huan.
She didn't dismember the big fat orange and make it into a specimen because of her compassion!
Sun Miaoqing said, "The harem has suddenly gained two new imperial concubines, and neither of them is the one the Empress Dowager has taken a liking to."
"Once we return to the Forbidden City, the Empress Dowager will probably try to find a way to pick a fight with me and Consort Hua."
Linglan said, "So that's what Your Highness is worried about. I don't think there's anything to worry about."
"The Emperor will make all the decisions. No matter how unhappy the Empress Dowager is, she cannot make the Emperor break his promise."
"Besides, the Empress Dowager is taking medicine every few days and is always bedridden. She probably doesn't have the strength to go against you and Consort Hua."
Sun Miaoqing said, "I also hope it will be so, but with Consort Hua leading the way, there is no need to worry too much."
"Even if the Empress Dowager has the time, Consort Hua can keep her busy."
Liuli smiled and nodded in agreement, but thinking about what happened with the jade pendant earlier, she couldn't help but hesitate before asking,
"Your Majesty, when I was seeing Eunuch Su out just now, he said he was taking a jade pendant, which was a favorite of Empress Xiaoyiren and was given to him by His Majesty on his birthday."
"His Majesty has never left his side all these years. If Your Majesty remembers where you put it, please keep it safe so as not to upset His Majesty."
"That jade pendant is indeed a treasure, but His Majesty wishes to take it back. Why doesn't Your Majesty grant him this favor?"
Sun Miaoqing finally understood why the relationship between Da Pang Ju and the Empress Dowager was so bad.
Neither of them, mother and son, are easy to deal with!
In the past, in order to win over Longkodo for the throne, he repeatedly called Longkodo "uncle" in front of others.
Although the Empress Dowager was unhappy, she must have understood why, and could find reasons to justify it, all for the sake of seizing the throne.
Even after he ascended the throne, he still wore that jade pendant on his person, never letting it out of his sight. Every time the Empress Dowager saw it, she would get angry and couldn't possibly be happy!
The chubby orange cat probably felt that since the Empress Dowager favored her youngest son, he would favor his adoptive mother, so that neither of them would take advantage of the other...
Although he is not the Yongzheng Emperor as recorded in history books, he is remarkably consistent in this respect.
After all, Emperor Yongzheng was known for his pettiness because his birth mother favored him, and he would go to pay his respects to Lady Uya every day at the hour of Yin (exactly 3 AM)...
Sun Miaoqing said, "I have my own plans. If Your Majesty really wants to go back, then come and get it yourself."
"I won't tolerate him!"
Some things should be taken seriously. If such a great achievement is only given to her as a concubine, then she would be at a great disadvantage.
The uncle also deserves credit for this. It's illogical to reward meritorious officials without providing any tangible benefits, only extending them to the harem...
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