Chapter 202 Qi Jia Shi is not doing well.
Madam Tong sighed inwardly, but showed no sign of it on her face. She gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and said softly.
"Alright, Mother is here now. Quickly take Mother inside to rest. Mother is a little tired from the journey to the palace."
Tongjia came to her senses and nodded quickly.
"It was my oversight, Mother, please come in."
As he spoke, he personally helped his mother into Chengqian Palace.
Once inside the bedchamber, the palace servants were dismissed, and the bedchamber doors were gently closed, isolating the outside world.
Tong Jia's forced composure crumbled instantly, and she threw herself into her mother's arms.
The fear, resentment, and lingering dread that had been suppressed for months burst forth like water from a burst dam, and she began to sob softly.
"Mother... I suffered immense injustice in the palace... and I didn't even have a single person who could truly help me..."
Madam Tong gently patted her daughter's back, her voice steady and reassuring.
“Your mother knows that you must be worried because your maid left so suddenly. As soon as the Emperor agreed to allow you to visit him in the palace, your father immediately made arrangements to let your mother come in to see you.”
She felt her daughter's body trembling slightly and knew that it was not as simple as losing a nanny. She asked in a low voice.
"Tell your mother, besides what happened to the nanny, what other grievances have you suffered? Is it... that the Emperor treats you badly?"
Tongjia shook her head vigorously in her mother's arms.
Madam Tong's eyes flashed, and she lowered her voice even further.
"That...is the Empress?"
Tongjia's body stiffened. Although she did not raise her head, her reaction said it all.
Madam Tong sighed, her tone tinged with seriousness.
"As expected, it was her. In this harem, who else could make you suffer grievances without daring to speak out, or even complain to your family? Besides the Empress, who else could it be?"
She gently lifted her daughter's face and looked into her red eyes.
"Now do you know how powerful it is? Who was it that said in the manor that the Empress's background was nothing special and not worth paying attention to?"
Tongjia lowered her head in shame, her voice barely audible.
"Mother, please stop teasing your daughter... It was your daughter who was ignorant and arrogant back then."
Seeing that her daughter knew she had made a mistake, Madam Tong decided to stop while she was ahead and her expression turned serious.
"Your father studied the Empress carefully back when she was still Consort Jin. She is arrogant, ruthless, vindictive, and her actions are often unpredictable and illogical. The Hesheli family of the previous dynasty suffered a lot at her hands, and now that Guargia Tuhaijian is in the Emperor's favor, her position is becoming more and more secure. If you rashly provoke her, it's no wonder you suffer losses."
She paused, her tone softening.
"However, this setback may not be all bad for you. At least it has helped you to temper your temper and let you know that you can't do whatever you want in the palace just because of your family background."
Tongjia nestled against her mother and quietly admitted her mistake.
"My daughter knows she was wrong and will never dare to be so reckless again."
Madam Tong stroked her daughter's hair and gave her earnest advice.
"However, there is one good thing about the Empress. As long as you don't provoke her, and you even lower yourself to flatter and respect her, she will protect you. Moreover, she doesn't care whether you are favored or not, and it seems that she doesn't care whether the concubines give birth to imperial offspring."
She held her daughter's hand, her eyes filled with longing.
“Daughter, listen to your mother. In the future, even if you can’t truly respect the Empress in the palace, you must never be her enemy again. Your most important task now is to stabilize yourself and give birth to a prince or princess for the Emperor as soon as possible. Only in this way will your position be truly secure, and you will have something to rely on and hope for in the future.”
After listening, Lady Tongjia pondered for a moment and nodded solemnly.
“My daughter has remembered it.”
Mrs. Tong felt somewhat relieved and then said...
"Of course, if the Empress deliberately makes things difficult for you without any reason, or dares to harm your life, you don't need to tolerate it. Immediately send a message home. Our Tongjia clan is not a soft persimmon to be manipulated!"
"Um!"
Tongjia agreed again with a heavy heart, feeling much more at ease.
Madam Tong then revealed a satisfied smile.
She turned slightly to the side and waved to a stern-faced old woman who had been standing silently by the screen with her hands at her sides.
"I was so busy talking to you that I almost forgot the important matter. Look, who brought this for you, Mother?"
The old woman immediately stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
"This old servant, Madam Ma, greets the young master. May the young master be blessed with good fortune and peace."
Only then did Lady Tongjia notice the old woman and exclaim in surprise.
“Granny Ma? How come you’ve come to the palace too? Look at me… I was so happy to see Mother that I forgot all about you.”
Granny Ma said respectfully.
"Young master, you flatter this old servant."
Mrs. Tong patted her daughter's hand and said.
"Your Granny Ma is the most trusted old servant by my side. She is very cautious and thorough in her actions, and she is also very meticulous. From now on, let her stay in the palace to serve you personally. Listen to Granny Ma's advice in everything you do, so that I can feel more at ease at home."
Looking at the calm and capable Granny Ma, Tongjia felt a long-lost sense of security welling up in her heart.
With her mother comforting her and a capable and trustworthy nanny by her side, she immediately felt much more confident and quickly agreed.
"Daughter thanks Mother for her thoughtful arrangements."
————————
Life in the harem was uneventful, flowing by like a gentle stream.
Two months later, at dusk, the Kunning Palace was brightly lit.
Jiang Nan sat upright on her throne, her gaze sweeping calmly over the concubines who came to pay their respects.
Her gaze paused briefly on the empty space to her right and behind.
That was Qi Jia's seat, which had been vacant for over a month.
"Is Qi Jia's cold still not getting better?"
Jiang Nan's voice was calm and emotionless, as if she were just asking a casual question.
The concubines below all lowered their heads, none daring to speak easily.
They knew that Qi Jia's illness had come on too strangely, so its resolution was naturally difficult.
Some of the more perceptive ones had already unconsciously glanced at Uya, who was also in Yonghe Palace.
Jiang Nan took in everyone's reactions.
Without even asking, she was certain that it was the work of Uya.
They're probably using the same method they used to poison the old nanny who served Lady Tongjia.
Since the imperial physician had already determined it was an acute cold, she was too lazy to investigate further. She had said she wouldn't take it into account, and she meant it.
You can't just impulsively slap yourself in the face for fun.
A subtle, unreadable expression flickered in her eyes.
"I heard that Lady Qi Jia is not well. Since you are sisters in the harem, it is only right and proper that you go and visit her."
His gaze slowly swept over the crowd below the steps, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger, yet carrying an undeniable authority.
"You may all come with me."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The concubines responded in unison, each with their own thoughts.
Jiang Nan, supported by Chunlan's hand, stood up and walked gracefully out of the hall.
The concubines quickly followed in order of rank, and the group silently passed through the palace road, heading towards Yonghe Palace.
Uya followed in the group, her palms slightly sweaty with nervousness.
The Empress's sudden suggestion to visit her in the hospital made her feel somewhat uneasy.
Despite her confidence that she had handled the situation cleanly, Zhu Xi repeatedly assured her that there would be no mistakes.
But facing the Empress's unfathomable gaze, she still felt an invisible pressure.
She could only force herself to remain calm and follow him with her head bowed.
Tongjia followed behind Consort Niohuru mechanically, her expression shifting between light and dark.
Another acute cold?
The familiar cause of the illness instantly reminded her of the old nanny who had died mysteriously.
Even if she wasn't perceptive, she should have noticed something amiss by now.
Both the incident involving the old woman and Qi Jia were mostly orchestrated by Wu Ya.
A cloud of doubt swirled in her eyes. She abruptly turned to look at Wuya, who had her head bowed, her gaze filled with undisguised scrutiny.
Regardless of whether it was her or not, today she, Lady Tongjia, will see things clearly!
If it really was her who harmed the nanny…
Tongjia clenched her handkerchief, her eyes surging with hatred.
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