After the imperial decree of investiture was issued, the Changchun Immortal Hall was bustling with activity, welcoming and sending off guests.
Consort Qi, accompanied by Cui Guo and two young palace maids, carried a box of uncut rubies and a pair of auspicious diamond bracelets.
The two-tone cat's-eye stone set in the bracelet is as enchanting as a coastline under the aurora borealis.
Having seen many fine things, Sun Miaoqing couldn't help but take a second look at the bracelets.
In the past, Consort Qi's attire was not particularly outstanding, and compared to Consort Hua, it was like comparing heaven and earth.
Unexpectedly, she was quite wealthy and had accumulated many valuable possessions. Indeed, before Consort Hua entered the palace, Consort Qi had been favored for a long time.
Although she had fallen out of favor due to her advanced age, she was still someone who had given birth to a prince, so she was never shortchanged in terms of food, clothing, and daily necessities.
Sun Miaoqing said with a smile, "I'm already very happy that Sister Qi Fei could come. Why did you bring such a generous gift?"
Consort Qi curtsied and said, "It's never wrong to be overly polite. Congratulations on your promotion, Your Highness."
Sun Miaoqing helped Consort Qi up and sat her down to the side, and instructed Liuli to bring over some more fruit.
Consort Qi said enviously, "My sister is so lucky. She has only been in the palace for such a short time, yet she has already surpassed so many others."
Sun Miaoqing said, "I was just lucky. I don't have the same good fortune as Consort Qi. Everyone in the palace knows that the Third Prince is the most filial son."
"For us women, after marriage and before having children, men are more important. But after having children, they become our precious children."
"Sister Qi Fei, do you think what I said is right or wrong?"
Consort Qi smiled and said, "Your Highness is right. My whole life has been for the sake of the Third Prince."
[A mother like Qi Erha is both admirable and pitiful. It's all the fault of the feudal patriarchal society for oppressing women so severely, causing them to lose their sense of self.]
[They spend their entire lives revolving around their husbands and children, never thinking about what they want, and no one ever asks them what their expectations are.]
Let's just say what she wants to hear for now. If there's a chance in the future, I wonder if we can let them live their own lives.
When Consort Qi heard Sun Miaoqing say that the Third Prince was filial and that she was destined for good fortune, she was truly delighted.
She poured everything into her son, and praise meant nothing to her. But praise for the Third Prince made her happier than honey.
Furthermore, the prevailing notion of male superiority and female inferiority, with women's sole purpose being to continue the family line, highlights the idea that husbands and children are everything. For thousands of years, this has been the way people have lived...
How did she lose herself...?
Qi Fei's mind was a complete mess. She could understand every word Sun Miaoqing was saying, but she couldn't figure out what it meant when put together.
But when it comes to choices...
The imperial selection process was a set of rules, and whether someone was selected or not, and who they were betrothed to, depended entirely on the emperor's will.
Consort Qi always felt that her greatest fortune was being given to the fat orange to be a princess.
Those girls who participated in the imperial concubine selection at the time and were given to princes like the Crown Prince, the Eighth Prince, and the Ninth Prince are still living unknown lives now.
There were also a few who were favored by the late emperor, but they remained only as concubines until their deaths.
Having neither children nor favor, she lived a worse life than a palace maid, at least a palace maid could leave the palace and get married when she reached a certain age.
But if she had the choice, would she still want to marry the emperor?
Consort Qi fell into deep thought, deeply conflicted. What does it mean to live authentically?
Sun Miaoqing saw that Qi Erha, who had been perfectly fine just moments before, had suddenly lost his composure. He stood there, his face changing unpredictably, sometimes pale, sometimes pale.
"What's wrong, Consort Qi...?"
"Sister Qi Fei...?"
Sun Miaoqing called out several times before Consort Qi finally reacted.
"It's nothing. I just suddenly thought of something and neglected the Imperial Concubine. I deserve to die."
Sun Miaoqing asked, "Sister, is something troubling you? Why don't you tell me?"
"Two heads are better than one. If there is anything I can do to help, I will certainly not refuse."
Qi Fei's eyes lit up, and all her previous worries vanished instantly. She knew she wasn't as clever as others.
So there's no need to force yourself to think about things you can't understand; the things at hand are more important.
Consort Qi quickly replied, "With Your Highness's words, I am at ease."
"Your Highness, as you know, the Emperor doesn't like the Third Prince. Every time he sees the Third Prince, he gets angry after only a few words."
“Hongshi is an honest boy, but when he’s in front of the Emperor, he’s like a gourd with its mouth sawed off.”
"Actually, I know that the Third Prince takes after his mother. Apart from his filial piety, he has no talent in studying, so it's no wonder that he is not valued by Father Emperor."
"I know this is asking the impossible, but parents everywhere have the same heart. I beg Your Highness to have mercy and show me the way!"
Consort Qi, dejected, shared her innermost thoughts with Sun Miaoqing.
She had long since given up hope that the Third Prince would become the Crown Prince. She hoped that after the Emperor passed away, she could rise to the position of Empress Dowager by virtue of her son's status.
He only hoped to become a wealthy prince, so that he could take her out of the palace to retire and live a carefree life.
However, unlike princes of previous dynasties, princes in the Qing Dynasty did not have fiefdoms to support them. If they were not given important positions and had ways to make money, their lives would not be very comfortable.
If she, as the mother, doesn't plan ahead for the Third Prince, and just waits for the eldest son to make arrangements, by the time he remembers he has such a son, it will be too late!
Qi Erha is really going to great lengths for her son, but shouldn't she ask Da Pang Ju for help with something like this?
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