As the Grand Secretary marched in a grand procession towards Xianfu Palace with the imperial edict, the imperial concubines also received the news. Even though there were reports of several other concubines being promoted, these were overshadowed by the news of Consort Wan's promotion and caused no stir whatsoever.
Consort Yi smiled and accepted the imperial edict for Consort Guo—now that Consort Guo was to be mentioned, she also had someone deliver a purse. As soon as the eunuch delivering the edict left, a look of melancholy appeared on her face.
Is Consort Wan favored? Not really. She even looks at the Emperor with disdain when he mentions him occasionally. But is she unfavored? The Emperor visits Xianfu Palace every few days to say a few words or sit for a while... and now with her promotion.
Of course, Consort Yi was unaware that Emperor Kangxi had intended to promote the eleventh prince before his birth. Perhaps this promotion was mainly for the eleventh prince and the woolen thread...? But if it was related to the eleventh prince, then what about Consort Wuya of Chengqian Palace? Consort Yi was somewhat confused, and then she thought of Chengqian Palace again.
Apart from the Imperial Concubine appearing at the New Year's banquet, no one else in Chengqian Palace had even seen a shadow of the Twelfth Prince.
It's obvious that this might not be a good thing.
Consort Yi stopped thinking about unlucky things and instead instructed her nanny to tell her sister, who was recuperating, the good news. She then ordered people to prepare gifts and considered whether to go and offer her congratulations now or wait until Consort Qi moved to the palace.
Xianfu Palace was completely silent.
Upon hearing the imperial edict of promotion, not only was Wan Anran stunned into place, but the palace servants also gaped and burst into silly laughter.
Consort Xuan was the first to come to her senses.
Despite her sighs, she had long anticipated this day. Xuan Pin's eyes held a mixture of joy and disappointment. She stepped forward, and Xuan Pin playfully scolded, "What are you still standing there for, Qi-mei? Hurry up and thank the Emperor!"
Wan Anran finally came to her senses.
She bowed deeply to receive the imperial edict, her heart filled with mixed emotions as she held it. She had spent the entire year she had been in this world in Xianfu Palace, a place where all her joys, sorrows, and fears of the past year were kept. The more she thought about it, the more her nose stung, and her eyes reddened slightly.
In the future, I will actually have to move out of the palace?
Wan Anran felt like she was carrying a small drum in her heart, her mind in turmoil and unable to find peace.
Seemingly sensing her unease and anxiety, Consort Xuan smiled and stepped forward to hug her: "You, think about where you're staying?"
"...Chuxiu Palace?"
"Isn't Chuxiu Palace right behind us?" Consort Xuan said with a smile.
Chuxiu Palace is located east of Xianfu Palace and north of Yikun Palace. Just a few steps from Xianfu Palace, you can see the side gate of Chuxiu Palace. The location of Chuxiu Palace is even better than that of Xianfu Palace. If you want to go back to Xianfu Palace for a visit, it's just a short trip.
Wan Anran finally calmed down.
She led the group around the Chuxiu Palace, which was still under renovation. Upon seeing Consort Qi leading the group, the head eunuch rubbed his hands and quickly stepped forward to greet her: "This servant greets Your Highness Qi!"
The warm attitude was something Wan Anran had never seen before. She composed herself and said calmly, "I've come to take a look. You can continue with your business."
The head eunuch sighed.
A short while later, he came running forward again, carrying a stack of blueprints: "Please take a look, Your Highness. These are the blueprints for the renovation of Chuxiu Palace. If there's anything you'd like to modify, please let me know, and I will handle it perfectly."
The head eunuch's enthusiasm was almost overwhelming.
However, his suggestion quite appealed to Wan Anran. She wouldn't be the only one living in Chuxiu Palace; her own son, Mao Tao, would also be there. Shouldn't they prepare some toys for the child? Thinking of this, Wan Anran smiled and replied, "Then thank you..."
"My surname is Zhuang. Master Qi, you can call me Xiao Zhuangzi," Steward Zhuang replied respectfully.
"Then I'll have to trouble Eunuch Zhuang." Although Steward Zhuang said this, Wan Anran didn't address him that way. The eunuchs in the palace were of lowly status, so they were all very concerned about their reputation. It was better to use a proper title than a nickname like "Little Zhuangzi."
Manager Zhuang's smile became even more enthusiastic.
He handed the blueprints to the palace maid Haitao with both hands, then took a few steps back and followed behind.
Wan Anran walked around Chuxiu Palace with great interest.
We can put a swing here, a children's slide, or a sandpit here. We can also put some toys for running and jumping, and plant some flowers and plants here.
Wan Anran had originally planned to plant a few tomato plants to try them out that year, but she didn't get the chance. Let alone trying this unknown plant, even if Wan Anran wanted to touch the tomato fruit, a group of palace servants would look like they were about to faint.
Wan Anran muttered to herself as she walked.
The courtyard of Chuxiu Palace appealed to her deeply—just think how much money it would have cost to own such a large piece of land in Beijing in her previous life, land that she could do whatever she wanted? Wan Anran was certain that it was definitely not something she could earn.
While she was still a little apprehensive, Wan Anran's mind returned to calm as she walked through Chuxiu Palace. Perhaps this was also her chance to leave the beginner village and grow on her own?
Thinking of Wan Anran, he pushed open the door and entered.
Chuxiu Palace has been largely renovated, and a lot of furniture has been placed inside. As Wan Anran walked around, she had many thoughts on her mind and couldn't help but chat with Hai Tao and the other two.
Manager Zhuang, who was following behind, was very nervous.
The renovations of Chuxiu Palace and Jingyang Palace began before the new year. The blueprints for Chuxiu Palace were clearly intended for the imperial concubines, while Jingyang Palace largely retained the appearance of the front hall and study. The renovations seemed to be intended to provide the emperor and his concubines with a quiet place.
Was the Chuxiu Palace renovated for the imperial concubines?
Consort Wan, who was not considered a favored concubine in the palace, was naturally not taken seriously by Steward Zhuang. He did recall the rumors that had been circulating in the palace—that the Emperor intended to bring Hesheli's daughter back into the palace.
Manager Zhuang's heart stirred slightly.
After inquiring about the ages of the Hesheli family's daughters, Steward Zhuang began to rack his brains... His previous attempts at inquiries were simply a case of his brain being filled with water and he becoming completely muddled.
Manager Zhuang was extremely frustrated.
He cautiously observed Consort Qi, fearing she might notice something amiss. Fortunately, Consort Qi didn't offer any opinions until the very end, simply smiling and saying she would carefully consider the revised drawings before giving them back to him. Only then did Steward Zhuang feel relieved.
He just didn't expect that Wan Anran would bring up this matter as soon as she returned to Xianfu Palace: "The furnishings and decorations in the room are somewhat different, and something feels strange..."
Consort Xuan: "What do you mean?"
She took a sip of tea, a faint smile playing on her lips.
Wan Anran pondered for a moment.
She slowly said, "The furnishings and decorations in the palace are all fixed. For example, when I first arrived at Xianfu Palace, I couldn't even collect all the decorations on the antique shelf. The tables, chairs, sideboards, and vases were all the same as those in the Qing Palace—from Lady-in-Waiting to Noble Lady, the colors and patterns were all the same."
Consort Xuan agreed with this.
She placed the teacup on the table: "In the six palaces of the East and West, each palace has a fixed number of utensils. As concubines, we can use more styles, but the layout and furnishings are still largely the same."
"Then why is there a difference in the planning of Chuxiu Palace even though it is still under renovation?" A flash of inspiration struck Wan Anran, and her eyes lit up: "It's as if it already had an owner!"
"How is this possible?" Noble Lady Nara was somewhat shocked.
Consort Xuan smiled and shook her head: "How could it not be possible?"
"Consort Xuan...Does Sister Xuan know?"
"Of course." Consort Xuan smiled and looked at Wan Anran meaningfully: "The fact that Hesheli wanted to send the young lady to the palace is not just a rumor, but a fact."
Wan Anran and Nara Guiren were both stunned.
Wan Anran was truly puzzled: "Why would the Hesheli clan send another girl into the palace?" Thinking about it, it seems there was such a girl in history? Her name was... Consort Ping? Her presence seemed to be very low.
Consort Xuan sighed: "Thinking of the Crown Prince, how else can we say that we can get closer to the Hesheli clan?"
The Crown Prince is now quite close to the Empress because of the eldest princess, which is not good news for the Hesheli clan. What if the Crown Prince becomes close to the Niohuru clan and later marries a Niohuru woman... Wouldn't the Hesheli clan then be used as a stepping stone for the Niohuru clan?
Her previously restrained heart was suddenly stirred; Hesheli had been racking her brains lately.
Hearing Consort Xuan say this, Wan Anran became even more puzzled: "Since everything has already been prepared for Hesheli, then what?"
Consort Xuan waved her hand: "Heh, this is just some people acting on their own initiative. At least His Majesty has not shown any intention to bring Hesheli into the palace."
The inner palace was peaceful and quiet.
After Empress Niohuru and Emperor Kangxi overcame the awkward period, their relationship improved considerably. With the addition of the Crown Prince and the eldest princess, it was a harmonious period for the emperor and empress.
Unless something unexpected happens.
Otherwise, it would have been extremely difficult for Hesheli to enter the palace at this time.
Wan Anran seemed to be deep in thought.
No wonder the steward looked at me like a mouse before a cat, he was so scared and afraid that I would come after him!
However, Hesheli did not expect this.
The Chuxiu Palace, which they had destined for the Hesheli clan, ended up becoming their own residence.
Wan Anran sighed.
She banished these chaotic thoughts from her mind and clapped her hands together, saying, "Today is my big day, what are we waiting for?"
Of course we should celebrate!
With wine and meat served and songs and dances played, Xianfu Palace was instantly filled with noise. Since it was still the New Year, Wan Anran simply had people bring flour and other ingredients and busily made all sorts of ancestral dumplings: pork, chicken, shrimp, crab, fish, chili, scallion, and even garlic and cilantro fillings... a veritable culinary mashup.
Anyway, Consort Xuan shook her head when she saw it.
She tried to escape, but Wan Anran held her tightly: "Sister Xuan, today is my joyous occasion—shouldn't you give me some face?"
Xuan Bin:…………
Since Consort Qi had said so, what could Consort Xuan do? She could only watch freedom slip away from her and sigh sadly: There is always a desperate path waiting for you to walk and try.
wrong.
Consort Xuan decided she couldn't just surrender. She closed her eyes, smiled, and took Consort Qi's hands in hers: "On such a wonderful day, we should invite the other sisters to come and see."
For example, Consort Yi.
She had been struggling with when to offer her congratulations, but upon hearing the invitations from Consort Xuan and Consort Qi, she was overjoyed and happily went to their door with gifts.
The only regret is that Consort Guo has been unwell lately and cannot attend the gathering. Consort Yi smiled and talked for a long time, her gaze involuntarily falling on the various-looking steamed buns: "These are... made by you?" They look so strange. If the Imperial Kitchen dared to make them like this, they would probably have to go home and eat their own food tomorrow, and they would also get a beating before leaving.
"yes."
"I think I often made this with my family before I entered the palace." Consort Yi got excited as she talked about it, saying, "It's good to boil it in water, it's good to eat it dry, it's also delicious to fry it in oil, and it can also be fried in a frying pan until it's crispy on the outside and tender on the inside!"
Consort Xuan smiled absentmindedly.
She picked one up, placed it on a spoon, and offered it to her with a smile: "Little Yi, would you like to try one?"
Consort Yi was somewhat puzzled by Consort Xuan's enthusiasm.
However, she still opened her mouth slightly and ate it in one bite. The rich flavor of scallions burst out the moment she bit into it, recklessly filling every part of her mouth.
Consort Yi's face turned the color of scallions.
Her eyes were blazing with fury as she stared at Consort Xuan, who quickly shifted the blame: "It was all Consort Qi's doing."
Wan Anran shirked responsibility: "I did it, but Sister Xuan knew perfectly well that she was giving it to Sister Yi to eat!"
"It's your fault."
"It's your fault!"
Wan Anran and Consort Xuan stared at each other, neither willing to concede.
For the sake of her image, Consort Yi swallowed it with great difficulty.
She picked up a handkerchief and wiped her mouth, revealing a rare gentle smile. Behind Consort Yi, it seemed as if black lilies were blooming, looking exceptionally terrifying and astonishing: "In my opinion, such a fine thing should be enjoyed by my sisters and cousins together."
You two must eat too.
Consort Yi's eyes blazed with murderous intent; she was ready to ensure that Consort Xuan and Consort Qi met the same fate—no! Even worse. Consort Yi used a spoon to scoop up a garlic-flavored steamed bun with the aroma of fertility and approached Wan Anran and Consort Xuan step by step.
Whoever eats that... will die, right?
Wan Anran and Consort Xuan's pupils dilated in shock, and they both retreated guiltily.
Consort Yi was pursued.
Wan Anran and Consort Xuan escaped.
This can't go on! Seeing Consort Yi approaching, Wan Anran suddenly had a brilliant idea. She reached out and hooked her arm around Consort Yi's shoulder, her face beaming with delight: "I understand! Sister Yi, that's a wonderful idea!"
What do you know?
Consort Yi stared at Consort Qi with a bewildered expression.
Wan Anran called out to the palace servants, "Hurry up and go to each of the palaces to invite all the sisters to come to Xianfu Palace!"
Consort Yi: ...? ? ?
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