The concubines left Chengqian Palace one after another, and Chengqian Palace, which had just been especially noisy, instantly became especially quiet.
The Imperial Noble Consort pressed one hand on the armrest of the throne, while looking at the doors of the main hall, breathing very heavily.
Xia Lan hurriedly changed to a cup of warm ginseng tea and handed it over, carefully advising, “Imperial Noble Consort, please do not be angry. Getting too angry will harm your health.”
Ever since the Eighth Princess died young last year, the Imperial Noble Consort’s health had been good one moment and bad the next. However, whenever winter came, she would surely fall ill frequently. If she still could not control her emotions, how could her body be raised back to health?
The Imperial Noble Consort was furious. She could not even listen to Xia Lan’s words. With a sweep of her hand, she knocked over the teacup. “How can I not be angry? Such a good Consort Zhao, such a good Jingren Palace. Is this the gift my cousin promised to bring back for me before he went on his southern inspection?”
At the sound, Xia Lan’s face went deathly pale. She hurriedly called the others to withdraw, and along with that shut the hall doors. Then she knelt by the Imperial Noble Consort’s feet and earnestly tried to persuade her, “Imperial Noble Consort, please be careful with your words. This servant knows you are displeased in your heart, but no matter how unhappy you are, you cannot say it so openly. Otherwise, if the Emperor hears of it, he will surely develop a rift in his heart toward you.”
Not to mention that the Emperor had only conferred rank on one concubine, even if he conferred rank on two or three, her own imperial consort still had to smile and do well the things the Emperor had instructed her to do, and she could not have the slightest dissatisfaction.
The Imperial Noble Consort only felt as if she could not breathe in her chest. She rubbed her chest, and with a cold laugh, tears suddenly fell without warning. “Back then, when my cousin brought me into the palace, he told me that I was the empress he wanted in his heart. But in the end, he let the Niohuru clan sit on the position of Empress, pressing me down firmly, and I became the laughingstock of the entire capital.”
“Later I accepted it. Watching the bellies of the concubines in the harem all bulge one by one, I also wanted to have a child of my own, but my cousin used the excuse that my body was not good and favored that slut of the Uya clan, not only making me raise her son, but also all the way promoting the Uya clan to the rank of consort. He made me watch every day as the Uya clan was pleased under my very nose, stabbing at my eyes.”
“And now, my cousin has given the Jingren Palace I begged for over so many years to another woman.”
As she spoke, the Imperial Noble Consort laughed in anger. The entire main hall of Chengqian Palace was filled with the Imperial Noble Consort’s laughter. “Hahaha, what I truly wanted in my heart, my cousin has never given me. Instead, he gave everything I wanted to others one by one. How unfair my cousin is to me, how ridiculous.”
Xia Lan’s lips moved, and hearing the Imperial Noble Consort speak of her grievances, she herself was also indignant on the Imperial Noble Consort’s behalf.
But what good was grievance, no matter how great? Who in this palace had not suffered grievance? Whose days were truly satisfactory and as one wished?
Fortunately, after venting herself, the Imperial Noble Consort did not say anything she should not have said. She wiped the tear marks from her face with the back of her hand, ordered people to bring warm water, and washed off the thick layer of powder she had put on to brighten her complexion, revealing a haggard, sallow face. “Since my cousin has given Jingren Palace to Consort Zhao to live in, then have Xu Qing tidy it up properly. I hope Consort Zhao can withstand the blessing of this Jingren Palace.”
Xu Qing was the chief steward of the Internal Affairs Office, and also a person of the Imperial Noble Consort’s.
Xia Lan’s expression tightened. While handing over a slice of ginseng, she said, “This servant understands. Xu Qing is a clever man. He knows what to do.”
The Imperial Noble Consort raised the fingers of her hand wearing a tortoiseshell guard, pinching the thin slice of ginseng. “Remember, you must properly elevate Jingren Palace. Everything inside must be the best.”
The earthy smell of ginseng spread in her mouth, making it very hard to swallow, yet the Imperial Noble Consort’s brows relaxed. The harem, after all, was still under her control.
So what she could not obtain, she would rather destroy.
Although the Imperial Noble Consort held the phoenix seal and the memorials to the Central Palace, that did not mean Chengqian Palace was airtight.
The matter of her smashing a teacup in Chengqian Palace was known to all the concubines who had eyes and ears there. It was just that Xia Lan had reacted quickly, so their eyes and ears did not know exactly what the Imperial Noble Consort had said.
But this was enough for them to mock the Imperial Noble Consort in their own palaces.
The first to receive the news was Defei Uya clan, who lived right next to Chengqian Palace in Yonghe Palace.
At that time, Imperial Concubine Zhangjia was also in the main hall chatting with Defei to pass the time. After hearing the news, she secretly glanced at Defei several times, then ingratiatingly said, “The Imperial Noble Consort is still so petty and cannot tolerate others.”
Defei leaned against the brocade cushion on the heated kang under the window, holding a tangerine in her hand and peeling it, saying lightly, “After all, she is the Imperial Noble Consort. It is better to be careful.”
Imperial Concubine Zhangjia smiled and nodded in agreement, but inwardly she did not think so. If Defei truly thought that way, she would not have waited until she had spoken before saying something mild and painless to chide her. Wasn’t she just waiting to vent her dissatisfaction through her mouth?
She took a sip of tea to moisten her throat, then looked at the plate of tangerines on the kang table beside Defei, and flattered her with a smile. “Imperial Consort still, as always, has the Emperor’s favor. These tangerines are tribute goods and are scarce in number. In the palace, only the principal consorts can be allotted some. But the quantity is not much. Yet you have quite a lot here, which shows the Emperor keeps you in mind.”
These words suited Defei’s liking very much. Defei smiled and shot Imperial Concubine Zhangjia a reproachful look. “What nonsense are you talking? It is just that Yinzhuo likes to eat them, so the Emperor told the Internal Affairs Office to send more over. I am only benefiting from Yinzhuo’s light.”
Ever since the Sixth Prince, after turning one year old, was bestowed by the Emperor with such a noble name, Defei had always called him Yinzhuo, Yinzhuo, fearing that others would overlook the Sixth Prince, who was highly valued by the Emperor.
Imperial Concubine Zhangjia’s gaze darkened. Her hand, without a trace, touched her own belly, and she sighed inwardly that her belly was un争气, not as capable of bearing children as Defei.
Back then, she and Defei had both been palace maids, and both had served the Emperor. It was just that she did not have Defei’s good fortune in pregnancy, so today Defei was the lofty one, while she was merely a tiny imperial concubine who relied on Defei and made a living under Defei’s hands.
Noticing Imperial Concubine Zhangjia’s movement, Defei handed over the peeled tangerine, and with a handkerchief, wiped the juice from her fingers. “Relax. When the Emperor returns to the palace and comes to Yonghe Palace, you should also come and show your face more often, serve the Emperor a few more times, and then the child will come.”
In winning people over, she had always refused to fall behind others. She had also climbed up from being a servant girl, so of course she knew what they needed.
Imperial Concubine Zhangjia was overjoyed and hurriedly knelt to thank Defei. “Thank you, Imperial Consort, for raising me up.”
Defei had someone help Imperial Concubine Zhangjia up and smiled faintly. “What is there to thank? Since you live in Yonghe Palace, you are a person of Yonghe Palace. If you are well, I am happy to see it succeed.”
Imperial Concubine Zhangjia covered her heart, which was beating thump-thump with excitement, and it took quite a while before she calmed down. Just as she was about to stuff the tangerine into her mouth, she suddenly remembered something and said hesitantly, “Imperial Consort, that Consort Zhao…”
After all, she was a newcomer brought back by the Emperor. If her looks were truly exceptional, then where would there still be her chance to receive imperial favor?
Defei was not worried about this at all. “No need to worry.”
In this palace, she and Consort Zhao were both principal concubines from the booi class. Naturally, they should get closer, so as to avoid being bullied and mocked by those concubines who prided themselves on coming from Manchu noble women joining forces.
Therefore, if she could pull Consort Zhao into her own camp, that would be even better.
As for whether she worried that one day in the future Consort Zhao would stand on equal footing with her, or even step on her head?
That was truly overthinking it.
Right now, among the high ranks, the four consorts were already full. Only the noble consort position was still empty. The Emperor could neither disregard the rules he had set and make an exception to promote Consort Zhao to consort, nor disregard ancestral rules and promote Consort Zhao over the rules to noble consort.
So, on this matter, no matter how Defei calculated it, she felt it was a good deal.
On the twenty-seventh day, the imperial carriage passed by waterway, and it was estimated that it would arrive at the Southern Garden dock outside the capital around midnight.
After the guard reported the news, Kangxi waved him away. Turning his head, he saw Cao Yue frowning, looking very gloomy and unhappy.
Kangxi covered his mouth with his fist and coughed lightly once. “Why are you unhappy? Is your body uncomfortable again?”
These past few days on the boat, whenever he had free time, he would drag Consort Zhao into mischief. Every time, he had to bully her until her eyes were filled with tears and she begged softly before he would stop.
Once or twice was fine, but after many times in a row, Cao Yue did not get enough rest, and her mood could not get better either. Since yesterday, she had been throwing a tantrum and refusing to let Kangxi near her body again.
Cao Yue shook her head. Her small face was full of worry. “I am not uncomfortable. I am just a little anxious.”
She knew that the danger level of entering the palace this time was no less than a dragon’s den or a tiger’s lair, but she was not afraid at all. Having lived two lifetimes, she did not believe she could not beat those people.
It was just that not being afraid aside, showing weakness was showing weakness. After all, men, especially men who had become emperors, hoped even more that their women would rely on them, so as to show their inner vanity and pride.
Cao Yue did not make it explicit, but Kangxi also knew what Cao Yue was anxious about. Smiling, he pulled her into his arms, his chin brushing against the dark hair on Cao Yue’s crown. “Do not panic. With me by your side, you can return to the palace with complete peace of mind.”
These days, whenever he had nothing to do, Kangxi liked to hold Cao Yue in his arms, breathing in Cao Yue’s sweet fragrance and feeling the soft woman in his embrace. Kangxi felt extraordinarily satisfied.
This was his woman.
Cao Yue obediently answered with an mm-hm, rubbing against Kangxi’s chest like a kitten. Kangxi’s heart felt as if someone had lightly scratched it with a feather, itchy, yet especially comfortable.
He picked up a piece of peach blossom cake from the blue-and-white porcelain plate and fed it to Cao Yue’s lips. “You did not eat much at breakfast, and after so long, you must be hungry. This is peach blossom cake made by the imperial kitchen using peach blossoms picked from your estate. Though the taste cannot compare to the one made on your estate, it is still passable. Try it?”
Cao Yue took a small bite of the peach blossom cake from Kangxi’s hand. The taste was indeed ordinary, but…
After swallowing that bite of pastry, Cao Yue broke free from Kangxi’s arm and looked at him in confusion. “When did Your Majesty taste the peach blossom cake made at my estate?”
Kangxi did not understand why Cao Yue would ask this. He nodded and said, “That day, I had dinner at your estate, and one of the desserts was peach blossom cake. The taste was indeed good, only it was too sweet. Thinking about it, it must be your preference.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Kangxi saw that Cao Yue suddenly became somewhat uncomfortable, and he asked in bewilderment, “What is it? Is there some problem with that peach blossom cake?”
Cao Yue lowered her head, stammering, embarrassed to look at Kangxi. Kangxi then moved his gaze to An Ning not far away. “You say it.”
An Ning looked at Cao Yue twice, then curtsied slightly. “Replying to Your Majesty, that peach blossom cake was originally a pastry made by the Empress personally that day. It was originally intended to be sent back for the old madam. Perhaps the steward of the kitchen was too busy and overlooked it, so…”
In short, that peach blossom cake was not for you to eat. It was purely an accident that you could eat it.
Kangxi was stunned for a moment, then suddenly laughed. “I was wondering why that peach blossom cake tasted so unusual. So it was Yue’er’s handiwork.”
He did not doubt the truth of An Ning’s words at all, because a woman like Consort Zhao, who did not care much about anything, would not tell a lie about something like this.
Cao Yue lowered her head even more. “My craftsmanship is poor, and I have made the Emperor laugh.”
Kangxi was very much in disagreement. “Why should Yue’er be modest? If I had known earlier that Yue’er had such skill, I would not have been thinking of this peach blossom cake for so many days.”
These words were naturally to coax Cao Yue. His taste was rather heavy. Eating peach blossom cake once was fresh, but after eating it again he felt it was too cloying.
But because it was her, he was willing to spend some effort coaxing her, so as to win a smile from the beauty.
After returning to Kangxi’s embrace again, Cao Yue hooked her fingers around Kangxi’s belt, and in her soft voice there was unease. “Then after returning to the palace, I will make it for you again. You must remember to come to Jingren Palace to see me, and do not forget me. Otherwise, I will be sad.”
Kangxi curved his index finger and lightly hooked the tip of Cao Yue’s nose, his tone very indulgent. “Yue’er may rest assured. Even if I forget anyone, I will not forget you.”