Chapter 75: The Palace
Kangxi acted quickly.
The next day, the decree to renovate the Yongshou Palace was passed back to the Forbidden City.
The Imperial Household Department had just completed the renovation of the Changchun Palace and now they had to start repairing the Yongshou Palace without stopping.
The six palaces, which had been quiet since Kangxi left the palace, began to discuss again. Although Kangxi's decree did not clearly state why the Yongshou Palace was to be rebuilt, everyone in the palace was shrewd and anyone could guess that it was most likely prepared for Concubine Jin.
No, maybe she will be called Concubine Jin soon.
In Changchun Palace, Nianxue was arranging flowers with Concubine An.
"Your Highness, yesterday there was an imperial decree from Changchun Garden saying that the Emperor wanted to rebuild the Yongshou Palace. Today, the whole palace was told that this was in preparation for Noble Lady Jin to be promoted to concubine."
Nian Xue spoke cautiously, glancing at Concubine An's expression from time to time, as if she was going to stop talking immediately if she noticed that Concubine An's expression was wrong.
But fortunately, Concubine An looked calm, as if this matter had nothing to do with her.
But how can it not matter?
Concubine Zhang Jia has left, and now Noble Lady Jin is also leaving. There are fewer and fewer people staying in her Changchun Palace. I am afraid that it will really become a cold palace in the palace.
Concubine An picked up the scissors and cut off the extra branches, but she was not satisfied no matter how she trimmed them.
Concubine An put down the scissors in frustration, "Forget it, Nianxue, help me go to the inner room to rest, I am tired."
"Yes, madam."
Nian Xue no longer mentioned the matter of Yongshou Palace, and instead helped Concubine An into the inner hall.
After Anpin removed the pearls and gemstones on her hair, took off her palace clothes, and lay down on the bed, she told Nianxue to go out and not to wait on her.
Nian Xue couldn't persuade Concubine An, so she retreated and closed the palace door.
Concubine An was the only one left in the palace.
She slowly closed her eyes and her thoughts began to surge.
Concubine An was always happy to see Yuying's favor. But she didn't expect Yuying's promotion to be so fast. In just half a year, the emperor actually intended to make her a concubine. Did the emperor really like her so much?
Concubine An was puzzled.
Even though she has a good complexion, she shouldn't be so quick.
Could it be possible that someone like the emperor could be truly sincere?
She had been in the palace for decades, and she had been insincere with Kangxi for a while. She was originally the daughter of a general, and she hated people who were hypocritical.
At first, she had feelings for the emperor, but before her feelings could grow deeper, the emperor had already withdrawn his gaze from her.
She also couldn't learn the tricks of vying for favor, or perhaps the emperor was not worthy of her doing that for him.
The emperor withdrew his favor from her suddenly, but she was not out of favor. At least the emperor would come to her palace every month, which was a luxury for many people.
When did the emperor stop liking to come?
It was probably when she became increasingly cold towards the emperor, with no trace of emotion in her eyes. Nian Xue and the others thought she was heartbroken by the emperor, but that was not the case.
It was she herself who didn't want to please the emperor anymore.
Yes, to please.
All she did was to please.
She could clearly see the coldness and worry in his eyes, but she had to pretend not to see it. It was also difficult for the emperor, who clearly disliked her, but still pretended to favor her.
He is the most hypocritical person in the world.
After thinking it through, Concubine An no longer cared. Why should she go in person to compete for favor? There were other people in her palace.
Perhaps the emperor also saw the mockery in her eyes, and she and the emperor actually ended up hating each other.
I don’t know when this noble lady Jin will be able to see clearly.
In this palace, if you want to live well, you have to fight for favor. But if you want to live a carefree life, you have to be a ruthless person.
Concubine An fell asleep.
The smell of medicine lingered in Chengqian Palace for a long time.
Zichang was about to cry when she saw Tong Jia, who had been sitting in the palace since she heard the news about the reconstruction of Yongshou Palace.
"My lady, I beg you to go back to bed and lie down. Why are you ruining your body?"
Other people in the palace only knew that Yongshou Palace was going to be rebuilt, but they didn't know anything else. However, as the Imperial Noble Consort and Kangxi's cousin, she naturally knew more than others.
In his letter to her, Kangxi said that the Yongshou Palace was indeed reserved for Yuying. Kangxi also said that he would make Yuying a concubine.
Tong Jia stared at the letter, tears in her eyes.
"Zi Shang, you said that it's not enough that my cousin loves her alone, and now he wants to make her a concubine. My cousin actually wants to make her a concubine!"
Tong Jia's voice became sharp.
"How long has she been a noble? Who in this palace hasn't endured it year after year? Why did she get the position of concubine so easily?"
"I don't agree. I'm going to go find the Empress Dowager!"
"Your Highness!" Zishang quickly pulled Tong Jia away, "Why do you have to think so much? What difference does it make whether it is conferred earlier or later? It is just a matter of the emperor's words. Moreover, no matter how she conferred the title, it will not be better than you. Why did you bother to go to the Grand Empress Dowager and make the emperor unhappy for no reason? The most important thing for you now is to take care of your health, the rest is not important."
"Ahem..." Tong Jia covered her mouth, "Does my cousin really like her that much?"
"Empress!" Zichang exclaimed.
Tong Jia was coughing up blood.
"Take care of yourself first! Look at how thin you are now. You will be worried when the Fourth Prince comes back from the garden."
Zichang tried to persuade him again.
"It's just a concubine, it's not a big deal, madam. In this palace, there are many concubines, not to mention concubines, and they all got through like this."
"I don't care about status!" Tong Jia said sternly, "My cousin hasn't stepped into my Chengqian Palace for a long time."
Tong Jia's voice became light and her gaze fell into the void.
Zichang looked at her anxiously, and no matter how she tried to persuade her, she could not persuade him. She could see clearly that their queen had devoted her heart to the emperor. But the emperor did not love her.
It doesn't matter if he doesn't love her, what she fears most is that the emperor falls in love with someone else. But Concubine Jin made the empress feel so alert.
She watched as Tong Jia was complacent and stubborn.
What was known to all the six palaces naturally could not be hidden from the Empress Dowager in the Cining Palace.
At this moment, the Grand Empress Dowager was having a meal with the Queen Mother.
"Xuanye told me to be sensible. Is this what he meant by being sensible?" Xiaozhuang slammed the chopsticks heavily on the table.
The Queen Mother beside her also put down her chopsticks.
Seeing this, Empress Xiaozhuang said, "Qiqige, you continue eating and don't worry about me."
The Queen Mother shook her head. "Why is my great-aunt so angry?"
Xiaozhuang looked at the Queen Mother, not knowing what to say. Was she afraid that Xuanye would follow in Fulin's footsteps? But the Queen Mother never cared about these things, and talking about them would only cause more trouble.
Xiaozhuang adjusted her mood and said with a smile: "I am not angry. Qiqige, are you full?"
The Queen Mother nodded.
"When you're full, take the meal away." Xiaozhuang signaled the palace maids to do so.
When the Empress Dowager returned to Shoukang Palace, Xiaozhuang was sitting in the center of the hall with a gloomy expression.
Su Moer, who was standing by, saw this and comforted her: "Gege should trust the emperor. After all, the emperor has done a good job over the years, right?"
"Then let's wait for Xuanye to return to the palace and explain it to me in person."
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