Upon returning to the residence, the imperial physician examined Heyue's pulse.
Of course, Heyue couldn't possibly lift her trouser leg for the imperial physician to examine. After Hailan examined Heyue's leg, she relayed the situation to the imperial physician, who then pressed around Heyue's knee to assess the condition and said there was nothing seriously wrong; applying hot compresses would suffice.
After the imperial physician left, Heyue complained, "What does His Majesty mean by this? He punished me and then sent the imperial physician back. I don't understand what I did wrong. It's completely inexplicable."
Thirteen ruffled her hair and asked, "Did you go to the Empress Dowager's place today?"
He Yue nodded, puzzled: "Yes, what's wrong?"
"That's it." Thirteen sighed: "You met the Emperor when you came out. I suppose the Empress Dowager asked you to persuade the Emperor to let Fourteenth Brother return. The Emperor knew the Empress Dowager's intentions, so he naturally did not want to grant her wish and punished you under some pretext."
"The news of your punishment by your fourth brother must have already spread throughout the palace. If the Empress Dowager finds out, she'll naturally assume you pleaded for your fourteenth brother, angering the Emperor. Why would she bother with you then?"
"But I didn't ask the Emperor, how did he know?" Heyue was still puzzled.
Thirteen chuckled: "The Emperor was just refused when he paid his respects to the Empress Dowager, and then you came out. It seems you accidentally gave yourself away and let the Emperor see something. How could the Emperor not guess the Empress Dowager's thoughts?"
He Yue understood, but was also extremely frustrated. She had been trying to figure out how to bring it up, only to find out that the Emperor already knew.
Thirteen's smile gradually disappeared: "However, the Emperor should also be warning you that you should not meddle in things you shouldn't, lest you bring trouble upon yourself."
Heyue pouted: "Do you think I want to care? It's just that the Empress Dowager threatened me with Xuanxuan and Yaya, saying she would bring them to Yonghe Palace."
Thirteen's face immediately darkened: "Really?"
He Yue nodded: "Of course it's true."
Thirteen thought for a while with a gloomy face, then breathed a sigh of relief: "Don't worry, I will talk to the Emperor. No matter what, the Emperor will not let the Empress Dowager see Xuanxuan and Yaya."
He Yue was relieved, but then suddenly asked, "By the way, has Rashid left?"
Thirteen nodded: "I just sent the imperial physician back to report to the Emperor. Why are you asking about him?"
“I feel that Hailan still hasn’t forgotten Rashid. Hailan has never married all these years, and I always feel that I’ve wronged her. She has this intention, but I have never been able to help her make the decision. Do you think I should grant her wish? I can’t let her spend her whole life by my side.”
Thirteen pondered for a moment and said, "I think the Emperor intends to promote Rashi. With his skills and loyalty, becoming a deputy commander is no problem. Although Rashi's first wife is no longer alive, given his status and future achievements, Hailan is acceptable as his concubine, but far from being his second wife."
He Yue thought about it and agreed; it was indeed a disservice to make Hailan a concubine.
However, Hailan is also very stubborn. She has been devoted to Heyue all these years, and you can tell from the fact that Heyue has proposed marriage to her several times but has been rejected each time.
In February, the thirteenth prince was officially granted the title of Grand General of Pacification, and Emperor Yongzheng personally saw him off at the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
All the princes, beile, beizi, dukes, and ministers of the second rank and above, dressed in python robes, gathered outside the Meridian Gate to see off the thirteenth prince.
The procession was exactly the same as that of the Fourteenth Prince back then.
The Empress Dowager must be furious again.
After Thirteen left, Heyue's days suddenly became boring.
Since the last time, Heyue has visited the palace less often, to avoid getting angry every time she had to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager, or being threatened by the Empress Dowager to do this or that.
As for the children, knowing that they were favored by Emperor Yongzheng, no one dared to make things difficult for them.
Moreover, judging from the children's expressions and words, they were not unhappy at all, and seemed to have a lot of fun in the palace.
Furthermore, Heyue heard that Hongtun and Hongli were very close. Hongli was the son of Consort Xi and the future emperor, so Heyue naturally did not stop them from seeing each other.
Heyue was worried that Hongtun and Hongmian would really die young, and her biggest concern every day was for the two of them. She asked the imperial physicians in the palace to examine their pulses and make sure that there was nothing wrong with their health, but Heyue was still not at ease.
If there are no health problems, then it can only be an accident.
Heyue reminded Hongchang to take good care of his younger brothers in the palace and to prevent them from causing trouble.
Hongchang, however, was extremely impatient, always saying that someone so old could not possibly get into trouble.
Enraged, Heyue chased after him with a stick, cursing him for being heartless and unfilial. Only then did Hongchang beg for mercy and reluctantly agree.
Heyue sternly warned him that the palace was not like other places, and that he could be harmed if he was not careful. Only then did Hongchang take it more seriously.
In her spare time, Heyue would go to talk to Yuxiu and Sixth Sister, and also listen to some gossip about the palace.
I heard that the concubines and princesses from Yongzheng's former residence were all brought to the palace and given official titles.
Consort Nian was made a Noble Consort, Consort Li was made a Consort Qi, Princess Niohuru was made a Consort Xi, Princess Geng was made a Consort Yu, Princess Song was made a Consort Mao, Princess Wu was made a Consort Ning, and the remaining concubines were made Noble Ladies or Attendants.
Among them, Lady Li was the first woman to enter the palace. She gave birth to three sons and one daughter for Yongzheng. Although only the eldest princess and the third prince Hongshi survived, she should be the first among Yongzheng's women besides the empress.
But to everyone's surprise, Lady Nian, who entered the palace many years later than Lady Li, was suddenly promoted to Imperial Concubine, while Lady Li was only a Concubine.
Many people believe it is because of Nian Gengyao, after all, Nian Gengyao was a favorite of Emperor Yongzheng and was now fighting on the front lines with Prince Yi.
However, in the eyes of all the women in the harem, Lady Nian had truly outshone Consort Qi.
It seems the palace intrigue is about to escalate again.
Because Niohuru gave birth to the fourth prince Hongli, was a Manchu concubine, and came from a prominent family, she was naturally granted the title of concubine.
Lady Geng was only a concubine because she gave birth to the Fifth Prince Hongzhou, but because she was from the Han Banner Army.
The other concubines were still childless.
This is only a formal recognition of their status; the official investiture ceremony is yet to come.
Previously, because the late emperor's concubines had moved to the palace and the empress dowager refused to move, Yongzheng's concubines had not yet entered the palace.
Now that the Empress Dowager has finally moved into the Cining Palace, the space for the East and West Six Palaces has been freed up.
The six principal consorts moved into their respective palaces, while the other concubines and lower-ranking ladies moved into side halls of various palaces, and the harem finally settled down.
He Yue was not surprised at all that Lady Nian was made a Noble Consort.
Although Nian Gengyao was not granted the title of Grand General this time, nor was he as arrogant and domineering as in history, his family is still favored, and he now has a son, who is pregnant with another child.
In a place like the imperial harem, favor is everything. Without favor, unless you are like the Empress, or like Consort Qi or Consort Xi who have sons to rely on and hold a position in the palace, you are nothing.
This is reality.
It's no wonder that all the women in the harem tried every means to win the emperor's favor; even if they didn't win the favor, they still hoped to have a son.
Even if she gets old and loses her beauty, and a new woman becomes the favorite, she can still live well and won't be fawned over or looked down upon.
Not only was Lady Nian favored, but she also had a son, making her a unique figure in the harem. One can only imagine how envious and jealous the other women in the harem must be.
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