The difference between the concubines in the imperial harem and the wives of officials is like heaven and earth. It is only natural that Lady Chen felt constrained in the palace and dared not speak the truth.
Sun Miaoqing said, "Those ministers outside always think that we concubines only know how to enjoy wealth and honor and don't know the hardships of life."
"But little did they know that behind the Emperor's achievements, the concubines in the harem also played a significant role."
"Just as Lord Chen was able to rise to the rank of Second-Rank Vice Minister before the age of fifty, his wife must have played a significant role in that."
These words struck a chord with Madam Chen. While Mr. Chen's luck was unbelievably good, she and her family had also contributed over the years.
Otherwise, in the decade or so after the late emperor, the princes were all vying for the throne, and Master Chen had always held a position with real power. How could he have so easily escaped?
Many schemes in officialdom begin in the inner quarters. If she had just narrowed her eyes even slightly, her whole family might be out in Lingnan right now, clearing land!
"Thank you for your praise, Your Highness. I was only thinking of my own family. Your Highnesses are truly role models for women."
“When the emperor first ascended the throne, the national treasury was empty. During that time, my master often sighed about this after returning home.”
"Your businesses, Consort Cheng, provided smallpox vaccines for the entire capital, a truly great act of charity that saved lives. And the Honey Shop business has benefited countless people."
"Many people outside the palace have spontaneously offered you sea lanterns and longevity tablets before the Buddha, praying for your long life and good fortune."
Consort Xin said with a smile, "Those people are all grateful people, so Your Highness's efforts have not been in vain."
Sun Miaoqing was delighted to hear this, even feeling a little smug. It felt so good to be praised, and even though she knew the truth, she couldn't help but feel intoxicated by it.
After feeling smug, he mentally patched up his feelings, reminding himself that he could only be happy for a short while and couldn't get carried away.
Madam Chen continued to flatter, "As the saying goes, 'Sow good seeds, reap good fruit.' These are all the results of Consort Cheng's good deeds."
"And there's Consort Hua assisting in managing the inner palace, first the selection of concubines, then the Emperor's birthday celebration, then the New Year's Eve celebration, and all those palace banquets, big and small, in between."
"She accomplished so many important things in such a short time, and saved a lot of money. As the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, the Master often marvels at the Imperial Concubine's keen insight and wisdom, saying that none of them can compare to her."
"Compared to the ladies, what are my little skills worth?"
"Speaking of which, my husband isn't the only official in the court without concubines. It's just that I'm very straightforward and prefer to act rather than talk, which is why I stand out."
“Like the wife of Yang, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, she is a truly insightful person.”
Although a physician is not as high as a vice minister, he is still a fourth-rank official and works in the Ministry of Personnel.
Equivalent to a deputy minister or director of the Ministry of Personnel, the level of the position depends on who you compare it to, but the actual power and influence are certain.
He had no concubines or maids at home, and he was well-behaved outside, even more honest than Minister Chen.
Unlike Madam Chen, who was known as the shrew of Hedong, this wife of Physician Yang was a famous virtuous woman in the capital.
She also kept her husband under strict control; words like jealous and fierce were never associated with her. Outsiders spoke highly of her.
If you ask Madam Chen, even the Empress could do that.
Consort Hua thought the name sounded familiar, but Songzhi reminded her of it.
This Mrs. Yang and her second sister-in-law's family still have some kinship ties, but the relationship is distant and they don't have much contact anymore.
The Imperial Noble Consort sighed, "So it was her. She's quite a formidable person."
The group chatted and laughed. Before leaving, Consort Hua gave Madam Chen a lot of things to take back with her, and Sun Miaoqing also added a few bottles of perfume. Only then did they have someone escort Madam Chen out of the palace.
Madam Chen returned home in a daze, carrying her belongings. This trip to the palace was nothing like what she had imagined.
She said that the empress and imperial concubines are all women, and if there were no other people involved, they should stand on the side of women.
However, the concubines' actions clearly showed a lack of respect for the emperor, indicating that the emperor's life in the harem was not easy.
*
Mingseju
An Lingrong was helping the chubby orange cat solve the nine-linked rings. It took them an hour, and they were just a little short of solving it completely.
A young eunuch whispered a few words in Su Peisheng's ear, and Su Peisheng instinctively frowned. After considering how to reply, he stepped forward to report.
"Your Majesty, Vice Minister Chen's wife has already left the palace."
The chubby orange-haired man didn't even look up, fiddling with the nine-linked rings in his hand, and asked casually, "Well, did Consort Hua give him a good scolding?"
Su Peisheng pouted. If he had been reprimanded, would he have been able to keep quiet just now?
Moreover, Consort Cheng is also in Yikun Palace. Do you really not know whether she will give a stern reprimand or just joke around?
However, since the emperor had asked, Su Peisheng had no choice but to tell the truth.
"It should be no. The people below reported that the two imperial concubines and Madam Chen hit it off immediately and almost became sworn sisters."
"The group chatted and laughed intimately, and gave Madam Chen many gifts to take back with her."
The chubby orange cat stopped fiddling with the nine-linked rings abruptly, snorted angrily, and said...
"If it weren't for Chen Shulin's desperate pleas, I would have sent this shrew, who doesn't respect hierarchy and stands above men, to a nunnery to eat vegetarian food and chant Buddhist scriptures."
"Not only is there no punishment, but there are also generous rewards. Doesn't this encourage such an unhealthy trend?"
"Consort Hua has always been the most understanding of my thoughts. This time, she must have been deceived and instigated by someone!"
These words were spoken with great emphasis and intonation. If it were anyone else, they would surely be terrified and live in constant fear.
Those around them felt a degree of pity. After all, having made such a bad impression on the emperor, how could they expect to get along well in the future?
Unfortunately, those in the imperial court are tired of hearing this. They might take it seriously once or twice, and even half-believe it three or four times, but this has happened so many times already.
It's just to appease the emperor; it's something they're used to doing.
An Lingrong advised, "Your Majesty, please calm down. You are a man of great importance, busy with countless affairs of state. Why get angry over matters of the women's quarters?"
"If you get sick from getting angry, I'll be heartbroken."
Su Peisheng said, “Your Majesty, what the noble lady said is true. You are the ruler of the world and the hope of tens of millions of people. Everything that passes through your heart and hands is a matter of national importance.”
"Such a trivial matter is best taken as a joke and let bygones be bygones; it's not worth getting angry about it."
The big orange cat said, "Only the two of you know how to care about me, unlike some people who are afraid that I will live too long and are always thinking about how to make me angry to death!"
An Lingrong was annoyed, feeling suffocated by having to please a man who couldn't lay eggs every day.
If he weren't so petty, no one could really drive him crazy!
Once she becomes the principal wife and raises the Fourth Prince, she won't care about him anymore.
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