Consort Yi leaned against the soft couch.
She lazily squinted her eyes, while two palace maids gently folded fans at her feet, and another palace maid peeled freshly picked grapes and fed them to Consort Yi.
Life is exceptionally pleasant.
A young palace maid pushed open the door and entered, causing Consort Yi to straighten up. She looked up with interest: "Has a letter arrived from the palace?"
The palace maid respectfully replied, "Yes."
She then carefully reported the information she had gathered to Consort Yi, the contents of which were truly shocking. Consort Yi's almond-shaped eyes widened in surprise as she covered her mouth at the end: "Yongshou Palace has been sealed off? Consort Miao has lost both her child and her unborn child?"
The palace maid replied softly.
Consort Yi stared in disbelief, and after a long while, she gasped, "This, this, this... could this have been done by someone?"
Don't blame her for her first reaction; after all, just looking at how Miao Chang was being raised like a fat pig, you could tell that Consort An certainly didn't have good intentions from the start.
As for Consort Jing who came after her.
Tsk... Consort Yi thinks there's a high chance someone tampered with things, but she doesn't know how much effort Consort Jing put in.
Consort Jing is now filled with regret.
She'd fallen into a trap, gaining nothing and ending up covered in mud, with no way to explain herself. Even though the Emperor hadn't punished her, just seeing her step into the Imperial Garden terrified the other concubines. They bowed their heads in greeting and then huddled in corners like quails, practically ready to scatter and flee...
Consort Jing felt a bitter taste in her mouth.
She had no time to wander around outside. Consort Jing hurriedly returned to Yongshou Palace and smashed bottles and jars all over the floor in anger.
How can we live like this?
Consort Jing grew increasingly angry, while the palace servants were also filled with anxiety and worry. Granny Zeng became more and more suspicious: "Your Highness, in my opinion, it must have been Consort An who tampered with things."
"I agree, but what's the use?" Consort Jing felt bitter. She wiped her eyes and said resentfully, "Consort An is carrying the Emperor's child. It's like she's wearing a talisman. What can I do before the child is born? Look at the Emperor, he seems to have no idea about it."
“Your Highness, if Consort An has made a move, there must be some clues.” Granny Zeng comforted Consort Jing, and then gritted her teeth and whispered, “If Consort Miao’s child is not suitable, Consort An’s child will do.”
Consort Jing was startled.
Her voice was hoarse: "What does Granny mean—"
Granny Zeng said softly, "If we find out Consort An's fault, the Emperor will certainly not leave the child in Consort An's care. Your Highness, a Consort is a Consort, and above her are Imperial Concubines."
If we can find out what Consort An did.
Who knows, she might not only be able to hold the child born to Consort An, but also be promoted in one fell swoop? Consort Jing had little hope of getting the latter, but the former made her somewhat tempted.
He has been out of favor for a long time.
The concubines under her command are all useless. If she could adopt the child born to Consort An, it would truly fulfill her wishes.
Having made up her mind, Consort Jing no longer hesitated.
She carefully instructed her trusted confidants, deciding to turn the entire palace upside down.
On the surface, the palace appeared calm, but beneath the surface, a turbulent undercurrent was brewing. Consort An was restless, staring at her ever-growing belly with no joy, but rather growing fear and dread.
What if I gave birth to a monster myself?
Just thinking about the outcome terrified her. Instead of gaining weight, she became more and more haggard and thin, losing two large circumferences compared to before her pregnancy. Her original oval face became more prominent, with sunken cheeks and a sallow complexion—good heavens! She looked a full ten years older.
When Consort An paid her respects, her appearance startled Empress Niohuru. She frowned deeply and said, "Consort An, you should go back to Yongshou Palace and get some rest. Look at your complexion."
Consort Jing chimed in, "Sister An, you must be careful with the child."
This child will be hers in the future.
Consort Jing smiled enigmatically. After the palace servants inquired around and recalled the events, they gradually revealed some clues. For example, someone had seen Consort An's servants deliver medicine to her several times before Consort Miao became pregnant; another person had seen Consort Miao mention that her pregnancy was all thanks to Consort An when she paid her respects...
All sorts of things came together.
The answer is obvious—perhaps Consort Miao's miscarriage was due to something Consort An fed her? Of course, since Consort An herself was also pregnant, Consort Jing suspected that something had been added.
Of course, Consort Jing doesn't intend to say anything now.
Such a thing must be dealt a fatal blow at a good time.
Consort An forced a smile.
She murmured in response, "This concubine thanks Your Highness for your concern."
Consort Tong glanced at Consort An.
After the concubines withdrew, she couldn't help but let out a soft snort: "If you ask me, it must be Consort An who has something to hide."
The Empress glared at the Imperial Concubine.
Consort Tong looked quite well; her pretty oval face had become much rounder, and the sharpness and ruthlessness in her eyes had faded, making her appear much gentler and more docile.
That's why the Empress was happy to chat with her a bit more when she came in, and the atmosphere was quite harmonious, which brought a slight smile to Emperor Kangxi's face as he entered.
As the Emperor entered, the Empress and Consort Tong rose to greet him. The Emperor pulled the Empress aside, then gently instructed the Consort to sit down, and began to speak with a smile about the Mid-Autumn Festival.
"Your Majesty, I must also prepare to welcome Your Majesty."
"That's right, the Empress Dowager is very concerned. The Empress should comfort her properly." Kangxi couldn't hide his worry. After the deaths of both mother and son, the Empress Dowager's spirits had been low, and Kangxi feared that she might also be unable to withstand the shock.
"Your Majesty, I understand."
"And then there's the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet..." Kangxi rambled on for most of the time, while the Empress nodded with a smile, agreeing to the Emperor's instructions one by one: "Your Majesty, please rest assured that everything will be taken care of by your concubine."
"I trust you the most," Kangxi said with a gentle smile, nodding. Seeing that it was getting late, he exchanged a few more words with the Empress before leading Consort Tong outside.
"Your Majesty..."
Granny Zhou kept muttering, "You're just going to watch Consort Tong lead the Emperor like that? The family even said they'd..."
Seeing that the Empress's position was secure, Niohuru rekindled her old ambitions. The Empress was born to a concubine, and her mother had a daughter who was now a rare beauty with bright eyes and white teeth.
Most importantly, during last year's draft, Niohuru happened to have contracted smallpox and did not participate, thus avoiding the devastating earthquake disaster.
Those girls from last year's imperial concubine selection.
No matter how high the quality, the emperor naturally had no intention of keeping her after such a natural disaster, and hastily bestowed the marriage upon her.
As a result, the palace is still filled with a group of old people.
Even emperors are men, and after a while, they'll crave simple porridge and side dishes. Niohuru was thinking the same thing. Sending young Niohuru to the palace meant that even if she didn't give her child to the empress, it would at least provide a safety net.
Empress Niohuru understood her family's intentions perfectly well. A hint of mockery flashed in her eyes: "I will not allow my fifth sister to enter the palace. With me backing her up, she would be more than qualified to be the primary consort in a royal family. Why should she come to the palace as a mere concubine?"
Even if the Fifth Sister is beautiful, the Emperor won't even glance at her because of her presence, and might even develop a dislike for Niohuru.
Having spent so many years together, the Empress had long understood the Emperor's thoughts and methods. She waved her hand: "As for the child..."
The Empress hesitated for a moment: "If things go quickly, it will take another three to five years; if things go slowly..." then there's no point in thinking about it.
Granny Zhou nodded with a smile.
No matter how important family matters are, the most important thing is to make your mistress happy. As a palace maid serving the Empress, Granny Zhou was full of confidence and quickly relayed the Empress's words.
The Empress's mind was now focused on palace affairs.
Meanwhile, in the West Garden, everyone packed their luggage and prepared to return to the palace. When Wan Anran arrived, she didn't have much luggage, but she had a lot more to take back to the palace: dried sweet potato chips, lotus leaves, canned peaches made from freshly picked peaches, and wine made from grapes (which she hadn't opened yet to taste), all of which filled two large carts.
That's right.
Before leaving, Wan Anran didn't forget to call over Consort Xi, the eldest princess, the second princess, and the third princess. The five of them hid in the courtyard, ready to have a delicious meal of fried stinky tofu.
Consort Xi tasted it later.
Stinky tofu may smell bad, but it's so delicious! Consort Xi was captivated by the stinky tofu after only a few struggles. The five of them looked at the freshly made stinky tofu with heavy hearts and tears in their eyes: After returning to the Forbidden City, stinky tofu will have to say goodbye to everyone!
Thinking of this, all five of them felt extremely sad.
They ate until they were stuffed, and only then were they satisfied. After seeing the three princesses off, Wan Anran and Consort Xi chatted and laughed as they walked back, but before they even reached their room, they heard a commotion outside.
Wan Anran frowned slightly and sent someone to inquire.
Before long, Zisu brought in a palace maid—and when she looked up, it was Consort Wei. She knelt down and kowtowed twice to Wan Anran: "Consort Qi, I beg you, Consort Qi, to do me justice!"
Consort Xi's face darkened.
Consort Wei was someone she recommended, yet she came to Consort Qi for help first? Isn't this a blatant slap in her own face?
Wan Anran was also taken aback.
To be honest, she had already forgotten about Consort Wei. After all, Consort Wei was not of high status, and she had only met Wan Anran once. Moreover, she was not favored by the Empress Dowager and had not been summoned even once in the past two months.
It is beautiful, indeed.
However, the beauty was too ambitious, which was not Wan Anran's type. Since the Emperor returned to the palace two months ago, Wan Anran had completely forgotten about her until she saw the person in front of her.
Wei agreed to lose weight.
Her already small face appeared even paler and weaker, her frail appearance as pitiful as the autumn moon. She was forced to change into palace maid attire to beg for help, indicating that she had been tormented by Consort Yi quite a bit during this period.
Wei agreed to stand up shakily.
But when she looked up and saw Consort Xi, all color drained from her face, and her former confidence vanished completely. Consort Wei instinctively cried out, "Consort Xi!"
Consort Xi chuckled.
Wei Yingying, who had only risen halfway, suddenly collapsed to her knees and knelt down again. In that instant, countless thoughts raced through her mind, swirling on her tongue, but under the indifferent or mocking gazes of Consort Qi and Consort Xi, she couldn't utter a single one.
The room fell silent for a moment.
Wan Anran looked up at Wei Daying and said, "Get up and speak."
Wei agreed to stand up shakily.
She had only risen halfway when she knelt down again. This time, Wei Yingying bit her lip and said in a trembling voice, "Master Qi, this servant, this servant, this servant is pregnant with the emperor's child!"
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