"My dear sister, are you settling in well since you're new here?" the Empress asked with concern.
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am well," Rong Yang replied respectfully, but inwardly she was on guard.
The Empress seemed quite pleased with what she heard. After chatting about everyday matters for a while, she changed the subject and started talking about the rules and responsibilities of the inner palace.
Her words contained both instruction and guidance, from which Rong Yang benefited greatly.
While the Empress was speaking, the other concubines listened quietly. After the Empress finished speaking, the atmosphere in the hall became inexplicably oppressive.
Upon seeing this, Consort De quickly smiled and said, "Your Majesty, you've said so much at once. Don't frighten Consort Xian."
My dear Consort Xian, Her Majesty the Empress is kind and benevolent. You only need to live a peaceful and stable life in the palace from now on. You don't need to worry about anything else.
"Once you've settled in for a few days, be sure to go out and hang out with your sisters more often. There are only a few people in this palace; getting together and playing together makes life more fun."
“Yes…” Consort Zhao chimed in, “Our Emperor is not obsessed with beautiful women, and he doesn’t bring in many new concubines. The harem is quite deserted.”
Rong Yang nodded with a smile.
She was new to the area and didn't know much about it, so she didn't talk much and mostly just listened to what they were saying.
They talked animatedly, and when they got to the part where they were having fun, they would burst into laughter without any regard for their image.
Rong Yang watched from the side and felt that this greeting ceremony in the harem was actually just the concubines from different palaces getting together to chat.
When the time was almost up, the concubines from all the palaces took their leave one after another. Rong Yang, seeing the situation, also prepared to get up and leave.
The Empress called out to her, "Consort Xian...please stay for a moment."
Rong Yang paused, then sat back down and asked, "Your Majesty, is there anything else you require?"
The Empress smiled and said, "The rules I just told you were just formalities. You are the eldest legitimate princess of the Southern Dynasty, and you should know the court rules better than anyone else, so those words are meaningless."
The Empress's smile remained unchanged. She paused for a moment, looked at Rong Yang, and continued, "What I am about to say is what you should remember well."
Upon hearing this, Rong Yang quickly rose and knelt down, saying, "Your Majesty, please speak. I will remember it well."
"Get up..." the Empress sighed. "I don't like kneeling all the time, especially not for a beauty like you. I can't bear to do that."
As she spoke, she had the head palace maid beside her help Rong Yang sit up properly before slowly saying, "You came to Da Jing for a marriage alliance because the Southern Dynasty was defeated in battle; this is a matter of state."
But once you enter the inner palace, you won't be involved in the affairs of the court anymore. I may not be good at other things, but I can still make decisions in this small area of the inner palace. So no matter how much the court has against you, as long as you don't make any mistakes, I will ensure your safety.
Before you even arrived in Dajing, I heard that your sister, on the banks of the Muyang River, in front of my father and the soldiers of Dajing, told Dajing to cherish you dearly.
Your father, the Emperor, also sent a letter of state, asking His Majesty to treat you well.
Even if they didn't do these things, you wouldn't make any major mistakes in Dajing.
Because I am also a woman, I can understand the pain of possibly never seeing one's loved ones again, and I can also understand your fear of leaving your homeland.
I also don't quite agree with the idea that sending women to marry after a defeat is inherently unfair.
But this is a matter of great importance to both countries, and it is not something that I, a mere woman, can influence.
All I can do is pity you and cherish you.
So as long as you behave yourself, I will not make things difficult for you.
You can still live a carefree life of luxury in this harem.
Our Emperor is a good emperor. Knowing him as I do, he would never stoop to making things difficult for an innocent woman.
Even if the Southern Dynasty breaks the treaty one day and starts fighting with the Great Jing again, as long as you don't get involved, they won't make things difficult for you.
To be honest, just based on His Majesty's gentlemanly conduct, you are already much luckier than most princesses sent for political marriages.
You should cherish it.
You must understand that once you enter the Great Jing Palace and become His Majesty's person, no matter how much you miss the Southern Dynasty, you must not harbor any improper thoughts.
If something goes wrong, no one will protect you.
"Consort Xian... these words may be unpleasant to hear, but if you remember them, they can save your life in crucial moments and allow you to live out the rest of your days in peace. Do you understand?"
Rong Yang listened with her head down, suppressing the complex emotions in her heart, and replied gently, "Your Majesty, I understand."
"Um…"
The Queen nodded…
"Although His Majesty and I require all the sisters in the palace to be wholeheartedly devoted to the royal family, we are not heartless people. Therefore, we allow the sisters in the palace to send a letter home every month."
You are no exception.
However, the palace was strictly guarded, and anything sent out, whether a letter or a physical object, had to be inspected.
To put it simply, you can only report your safety to the Southern Dynasty, letting them know regularly each month that you are safe and sound in the Great Jing palace.
Rong Yang listened carefully to the words and finally replied respectfully, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty and Your Highness."
"Um…"
The Empress seemed tired and raised her hand. "That's all I wanted to say. Just remember it. I'm exhausted. You should go back to Minghua Palace and rest."
I had someone inquire about that infertility medicine, and it is indeed mild, but it needs to be taken for three consecutive days. You still need to take good care of yourself, so I will exempt you from paying your respects for the next few days. Unless there is something serious, you don't need to come over.
I am not one to care about empty formalities. If I excuse you from paying your respects, I truly mean it. I have no intention of testing you or setting a trap for you so you can go back to His Majesty and complain. I am not that bored.
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