Consort Yi, who was recuperating during her pregnancy, gradually disappeared from public view.
Consort Guo, who was once overshadowed by her, gradually became active on the stage. The palace concubines did not have much of an impression of Consort Guo in the past. At most, they remembered that she looked similar to Consort Yi, but her personality was much more introverted, and she hardly spoke in public.
However, without Consort Yi's protection, Consort Guo's brilliance gradually became impossible to conceal. For example, although she still lived in Yikun Palace, most of the palace staff spoke highly of her compassion and kindness. Furthermore, even the mischievous Sixth Prince, Yinqi, had recently been rumored to be bullying the palace staff.
As for taking care of Consort Yi, she did a very good job, leaving a good impression on the powerful figures in the past few days, while also increasing the other concubines' vigilance towards her.
More dangerous than Consort Yi.
Consort Xuan gave a cold review, glancing at Wan Anran with a reproachful look, and couldn't help but mutter a complaint: "All that talking to you was for nothing!"
Wan Anran leaned back in her recliner.
She swayed leisurely, the weather growing colder day by day since the Emperor's birthday celebrations, and Wan Anran increasingly disliked moving around, except when she went out to pay her respects. She nestled indoors by a warm brazier, munching on newly presented winter dates.
The green and red jujubes were about half the size of a palm, with a crisp texture and a sweet taste that warmed the heart. The taste was no worse than what I had eaten in my previous life.
She squinted her eyes contentedly.
Consort Qi lazily looked at Consort Xuan: "Why bother with her? I think Consort Guo is quite good, and she's done a good job teaching Yinqi."
Consort Xuan rolled her eyes at her.
She simply sat down, casually picked up a jujube, and took a bite: "It's not that I like to meddle, but I just feel that Consort Guo might rise to power. With her cunning and calculating nature, if she were to ascend to the rank of Consort—"
"Concubine position?"
"Don't you know?" Consort Xuan turned her head to look at Consort Qi, her brows furrowed. "The palace is preparing ceremonial robes and utensils."
At first, it was thought to be prepared for Consort Guo, Consort Hesheli, and Consort Tong, but rumors circulated within the Imperial Household Department that a batch of high-quality cat's-eye stones had been used by the Guangchu Division. Cat's-eye stones were gemstones used in the crowns of imperial concubines, and this news immediately caused a stir among the concubines.
It has been four years since the last grand conferment of titles upon the harem. Is this time a promotion to the rank of Consort? The Emperor once said that there would be one Empress, one Imperial Noble Consort, two Noble Consorts, four Consorts, and eight Concubines, leaving only four vacant Consort positions. Currently, the Concubines in the palace are: Concubine Qi, Concubine Duan, Concubine Rong, Concubine Hui, Concubine Yi, Concubine Xi, Concubine Xuan, Concubine Guo, and the concubine Hesheli, who holds the rank of Concubine.
Consort Yi was undoubtedly a top contender in the past.
Now that she has faded into obscurity and Consort Guo has risen to prominence, rumors are circulating in the palace that the Emperor might just bestow the title of Imperial Consort upon her.
Consort Xuan didn't actually care.
After all, as a member of the Borjigit clan, she had little affection for the emperor and dutifully fulfilled her duties as a palace concubine...
That's what they say.
That doesn't mean Consort Xuan would allow Consort Guo to leap two ranks and climb above her! Consort Xuan gave Consort Qi a complicated look and muttered, "You're one thing, but Consort Guo, with her deep scheming, is no good!"
Wan Anran froze: ...
Consort Guo's deep scheming is no good, but mine is...? Why does that sound like an insult to me?
Wan Anran puffed out her cheeks in protest.
She decided to show Consort Xuan her power, and taking advantage of Consort Xuan's complete lack of vigilance, she started tickling her until Consort Xuan begged for mercy before she finally let go, satisfied.
The two of them were sweating profusely from all the commotion.
Wan Anran then replied with a grin, "Don't worry, that won't happen."
"...?" Consort Xuan rarely expressed doubt.
"Sister Xuan, really, why don't you calm down and think it over?" It was rare to see Consort Xuan so spirited, and Wan Anran found it rather endearing. She rested her chin on her hand and drawled, "Sister Xuan, think about it carefully. Considering the Emperor's personality—"
"Given the Emperor's personality?" Consort Xuan blinked.
She was an intelligent person by nature, and now she was only being stirred by the rumors circulating in the palace. After thinking carefully about what Consort Qi said, her brows quickly relaxed, and her previous restlessness vanished.
Consort Xuan's eyes lit up: "...Two consort ranks, could it be that His Majesty won't promote Guo Luoluo this time!?"
Wan Anran said confidently, "That's right."
One is in a high position and the other is in a low position.
Unless one of Consort Guo dies or commits a serious offense and is demoted, the Emperor will not promote either of them this time.
Moreover, although the Kangxi Emperor stated that there was one Empress, one Imperial Noble Consort, two Noble Consorts, four Consorts, and eight Concubines, in reality, there were always six Consorts in the later period, and even more than eight Consorts in the later period.
Both Consort Xuan and Consort Hesheli are potential candidates for this position, but it remains to be seen who will ultimately succeed.
Consort Xuan beamed with joy.
She patted her chest and said, "Now I'm relieved."
"And Consort Hesheli..."
"Consort Hesheli was the younger sister of the late Empress and the aunt of the Crown Prince. She came from a distinguished family, so it was normal for her to be made a consort."
Wan Anran: ...
No, aren't you going to try to struggle a little?
Consort Xuan really didn't have the slightest intention of struggling.
In a good mood, she changed the subject: "Did you receive a gift from Prince Gong's wife?"
Wan Anran nodded: "It's a set of red agate jewelry, the begonia flower design is very beautiful."
It's just too expensive.
When Wan Anran first received it, she was quite startled and went to Kunning Palace to ask the Empress. She was only relieved when Empress Niohuru told her to accept it.
Hearing Consort Xuan mention it again, Wan Anran asked with some curiosity, "Is there some other reason behind this?"
"Do you know that last month the Emperor issued an edict to strangle the youngest son of Princess Kechun and behead her grandson in the marketplace?"
Wan Anran nodded.
Everyone in the palace knew about this, but no one ever showed it outwardly. Apart from sighing for Princess Kechun and chanting Buddhist prayers, one can only lament the misfortune of women in this era.
But what does this have to do with Prince Gong?
He's the Emperor's own brother, surely he can't possibly be in contact with rebels? Wan Anran picked up a jujube and slowly took a bite, while looking at Consort Xuan with a puzzled expression.
Consort Xuan had a complicated expression.
She lowered her voice: "Have you forgotten? Prince Gong once took a concubine."
"...?" Wan Anran really couldn't remember.
"It's Lady Wu, a concubine of Prince Gong!"
Wan Anran thought for a moment and finally remembered the person. She couldn't hide her doubt: "...Hasn't this happened a long time ago?"
"It's all because Prince Gong has lost his mind."
"..." Wan Anran, having eaten a mouthful of melon, couldn't help but complain: "It was clearly Prince Gong's own good deed, yet his wife had to beg for help everywhere."
The same thing happened last time.
How could they do it like this! If it had succeeded, that would have been one thing, but not only did it have no effect, it also caused Prince Gong's wife to apologize again and again, which is a bit unacceptable.
Wan Anran held Prince Gong in utter contempt.
Consort Xuan nodded in agreement: "That's right!"
What saddened Wan Anran even more was Princess Kechun. Her marriage was tragically hopeless, and after her youngest sons were all killed, the Emperor ordered her to recuperate in the princess's residence. Calling it recuperation was an understatement; she was essentially imprisoned until her death. She received no care whatsoever, and Wan Anran never even saw her during the holidays.
For example, in the Kunning Palace, Kangxi complained bitterly to the Empress about this matter. Unfortunately, since things had come to this point, he could do nothing but vent his anger, and even his good mood after the suppression of the Three Feudatories had diminished considerably.
This story circulated in the palace for a while, but was quickly overshadowed by the heavy atmosphere of the New Year.
The Cining Palace was bustling with activity.
The Sixth Prince, Yinqi, danced with joy, shouting to everyone he met, "I'm going to have younger brothers and sisters!"
He was as proud as a little peacock, only lacking the chance to perform a tap dance on stage. His joyful smile infected everyone, making all the palace concubines and servants in the hall laugh uproariously.
The Empress Dowager, who had initially been worried but had allowed Consort Guo to bring the Sixth Prince after being persuaded by the Empress and Consort Qi, could no longer maintain her serious expression. She laughed so hard that she slumped onto the soft couch, complaining of a stomachache.
Yinqi bounced around like a little rabbit.
His eyes sparkled: "After my younger siblings are born, I want to change their clothes and take them to catch caterpillars!"
Yinzhen: ...
Fourth Princess: …………
Both of them simultaneously showed disgust: "Then forget it..."
As victims of the clothing swap, they silently shed tears for Yinqi's younger siblings. As for the caterpillar, it's unlikely any young prince or princess would like it.
Speaking of younger siblings.
The Empress Dowager thought for a moment and said, "Speaking of which, Yinqi does indeed have a younger brother."
"……Why?"
“Like the Seventh Prince born to the Imperial Concubine, and the Eighth Prince born to Consort Wei,” the Empress Dowager replied with a smile.
Yinqi opened his eyes wide.
He asked incredulously, "I have—a younger brother?"
Yinqi hopped around energetically like a little rabbit.
He shouted loudly, "I want to see my little brother! I want to see my little brother!"
"Hmm..." The Empress Dowager hesitated.
"I want a younger brother!" Yinqi's temper flared up again. His eyes were filled with tears, and he looked at everyone present with a pitiful expression. It seemed that he was about to put on a show of crying, making a scene, and threatening suicide.
The Empress Dowager frowned.
Just as Yinqi was about to cry, Consort Guo squatted down in front of him and said, "Sixth Prince, we made a promise, didn't we? If you cry while playing, not only will you not be able to play together tomorrow, but you will also have to change your storybook to the Three Character Classic tonight."
Yinqi looked at Consort Guo with a look that suggested he was about to cry.
Consort Guo is different from her mother—for example, if she doesn't eat vegetables, Consort Guo won't let anyone take them away; she'll stay up all night watching her eat them before allowing her to sleep. She even embroiders vegetables all over her clothes and pants...
Yinqi got goosebumps.
He silently withdrew his tears and obediently replied, "...I won't cry anymore."
Yinzhen and the Fourth Princess opened their eyes wide.
Wan Anran couldn't help but laugh. She turned her head and asked, "Speaking of which, the Eighth Prince is over a year old now, and I've only seen him once or twice, and from afar at that."
"I remember he'll be two years old after the New Year, won't he?"
The Empress Dowager was not very familiar with the Eighth Prince. After thinking for a moment, she instructed the palace servants: "Go to Qixiang Palace and have Consort Xi take the Eighth Prince to Cining Palace so that I can see him. Children of this age should be brought out to broaden their horizons and strengthen their courage."
Yinqi cheered.
The fourth princess wrinkled her nose and muttered under her breath, "I hope it's not like Yinqi..."
"Fourth sister, what do you mean by this?"
"Yinqi should know that himself!" The Fourth Princess crossed her arms, not afraid of Yinqi's questioning at all.
Yinzhen ignored their argument.
He frowned slightly—indeed, Yinzhi was not Yinqi's temperament, but rather a much worse one.
Yinzhen still remembers it to this day.
What happened when I first met Yinzhi in my previous life.
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