"Your Majesty, I have heard that the concubines in the harem are still living in the estate to escape the summer heat. It is already October, and it is time for them to return to the palace."
Upon hearing this, Emperor Kangxi said, "The estate was prepared as a temporary palace. It should be more comfortable for them to live there than in the palace. I do not wish to return to the palace. Let them live better on the estate than in the palace."
This means they don't want the concubines to return to the palace.
The Empress Dowager frowned upon hearing this: "Emperor, tell me the truth, do you not intend to let them return to the palace?"
After a long silence, Kangxi said, "I do indeed have this plan."
The Empress Dowager was furious: "What you're doing is no different from dismissing the harem. No concubine in the harem intends to live in the imperial palace forever. Besides, many of the concubines have given birth to your children. You should also consider them and their families when you do this."
"I know, I will make it up to you."
Emperor Kangxi knew that childbirth was difficult for women, so he allowed those who wanted to marry to do so, and for those who did not, he would raise them well. As for their families, he would provide them with more compensation.
Kangxi could offer nothing else.
"You want to compensate? What will you use to compensate? I think you've been bewitched. Don't forget what you promised your mother. You moved into Muqing Garden and ate and slept with the same man every day. I let it go. In the end, you knew your limits and didn't do anything out of line. I don't agree to the concubines not returning to the palace."
Kangxi's expression also darkened: "Empress Mother, I have my own plans."
The mother and son parted on bad terms.
After Kangxi left, the Empress Dowager couldn't help but sigh, "What kind of things has the Emperor done?"
The old nanny beside her comforted her, "Your Majesty, why worry? I think His Majesty knows what he's doing. Since His Majesty has made this decision, he must have some thoughts on it."
"The late emperor was a man of great vision, but he was still bewitched by Consort Dong'e and did some outrageous things. I'm so afraid! After all, he is his own son, we share the same blood. But I never expected him to be even more infatuated than his father, neglecting the harem for the sake of a man."
Back then, Consort Dong'e was the most favored concubine in the harem, and her influence was overwhelming. However, this still couldn't stop Emperor Shunzhi from staying overnight in other palaces. He mostly favored Consort Dong'e, but he never had exclusive favor with her.
Thinking of this, the Empress Dowager said again, "It was also because of the sins committed by Lady Wuya back then. If it weren't for her, Consort Shu would not have died. If she hadn't died, why would the Emperor have another man by his side?"
The Empress Dowager had lived in Muqing Garden for so long that she had noticed things that even the young princes could perceive. She had known about Youqing's existence for a long time, but she didn't know much about it.
"Your Majesty, please don't overthink it. In my opinion, there's always a way out, and things will work themselves out. Let's see what His Majesty does!"
"I hope so."
The Empress Dowager was genuinely worried. Although she didn't manage affairs, she was still in the position of Empress Dowager, and there were Mongolian concubines in the harem. She couldn't just sit idly by.
However, she couldn't compare to the Empress Dowager in this matter; she could only leave it to fate and hope that Kangxi wouldn't do anything foolish.
After leaving the Empress Dowager's place, Kangxi went to his study, prepared some things, and instructed, "Send these things to the estate in the west for Consort Wenxi. She knows what to do."
Things have come to this point, everything that needed to be done has been done, and only the final step remains.
Liang Jiugong knew what these things were, but he really didn't expect His Majesty to bring them all out.
“Zha”
That evening, Consort Wenxi received a letter from Emperor Kangxi. The letter was quite thick. Consort Wenxi opened the envelope and read it page by page. The more she read, the more somber her expression became. After finishing, she fell silent for a while and said in a low voice, "Granny, summon Consort Hui, Consort Rong, and Consort Yi tomorrow! I have something to say to them."
Seeing that Consort Wenxi's expression was not right, the nanny, being the most perceptive among her mistress's attendants, asked, "Your Highness, did His Majesty say something?"
Consort Wenxi frowned: "We'll talk about it later. First, send someone to inform the other courtyards!"
She couldn't very well tell a nanny about this.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
After the old woman left, Consort Wenxi sighed and muttered to herself, "Now there's really no going back."
The things on the table were nothing other than the shameful deeds that Emperor Kangxi had discovered the concubines in the palace over the years. If he were to investigate them thoroughly, all the people who came tomorrow would lose their ranks.
There are also some things Consort Wenxi did herself, which didn't warrant death, but they weren't exactly good things. In the harem, if you want to climb the ranks and live a better life, it's always hard to keep your hands clean.
Not only that, but there were also some things her sister did, which was the most serious issue. If we investigate further, although her sister had passed away, her position was still being talked about.
Consort Wenxi realized that Emperor Kangxi's intention was not to directly expose the evidence, but rather to use it as a warning.
Kangxi was naturally unwilling to let the evidence come to light. He himself came from the palace and knew that the palace could not tolerate truly good people. If this evidence were to come to light, it would not be good for the royal family's reputation. Kangxi would not do such a thing.
The next day, the three consorts gathered at Consort Wenxi's residence.
The youngest, Consort Yi, couldn't contain herself and asked, "Why did Your Highness send us here?"
Her attitude wasn't exactly respectful. Well, although Consort Wenxi held a high rank, she had no sons and wasn't as confident as the others.
Consort Wenxi didn't care about her attitude and said directly, "Yesterday I received some things from His Majesty. My sisters, come and take a look!"
"Granny, present the things to the younger sisters."
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