Kangxi sat alone on the dragon throne in the Palace of Heavenly Purity, silently brooding for a long time, until Liang Jiugong’s cautious voice came from beside him: “Your Majesty, you should rest now.”
“It’s almost the hour of the ox. Your body can’t take this.”
Yesterday at the hour of the rabbit, the Empress began her labor, and the Emperor has not closed his eyes for almost a day and a night. Even though the Emperor has always been in good health, Liang Jiugong feared that the Emperor might not be able to hold on.
To say something treasonous, Liang Jiugong’s master has always been only the Emperor. Even though the Empress is also a master, in Liang Jiugong’s eyes, she is far less important than the Emperor.
“I’m fine. Go inform those outside the palace that tomorrow… today’s morning court is canceled, and it will be the same for the next five days.” Kangxi’s tall figure was half-hidden in the shadows, making his already cold and handsome face even more inscrutable.
“This servant will go now.” Liang Jiugong was about to turn and leave but stopped in his tracks.
“Your Majesty, please don’t find this servant’s words bothersome, but the Empress’s funeral arrangements and the Seventh Prince are all waiting for your instructions. You must take care of your health.”
“This servant will say something unpleasant: even if the Empress were still here, she wouldn’t want you to be like this.”
Something in Liang Jiugong’s words seemed to touch a nerve in Kangxi, who looked at him with dark eyes, staring for a long time: “You talkative dog servant! Do I need you to console me?”
“Now get out and deliver the message!”
Being scolded by his master, Liang Jiugong felt a sense of relief in his eyes. It was good that his master could still scold people; he was just afraid that his master would keep everything bottled up inside and harm his own health: “Yes! This servant will go now!”
The next day at the Tongjia Residence
Before dawn, Lanzhu got up with the help of her maids, as today she had to go to the palace to mourn the Empress, so her attire and accessories had to strictly follow the rules. Making a mistake at this time was not like usual.
“Eldest Miss, early this morning, Madam sent over the clothes.” Liu Qiu came over holding a moon-white qizhuang.
The qizhuang had no patterns on it, completely plain white.
“Did Father come back yesterday?” Lanzhu washed her hands and handed the handkerchief back to Liu Xia.
“In response to Eldest Miss, Master returned around the fourth quarter of the hour of the pig yesterday,” Liu Chun said from the side.
Lanzhu frowned slightly upon hearing this: “Then let’s hurry up.”
When Lanzhu was ready and arrived at her mother’s main courtyard, the courtyard was already full of people.
Lanzhu looked around but did not see her father’s figure; it seemed he had already gone to the palace.
The two concubines, who were not often seen, were also standing in the courtyard, along with the other children under her father’s knee. Lanzhu saw them all today.
As she stepped into the main courtyard, everyone inside looked over and then made way for her in the middle.
“Greetings to the Eldest Miss.”
“Hello, Sister/Big Sister.”
Lanzhu nodded slightly in response. She was the eldest daughter under her father’s knee. Years ago, her mother had given birth to an older brother, but he had been gone for a long time.
Lanzhu was the legitimate eldest daughter, but her brother Longkodo was not the legitimate eldest son. The current eldest son was Dekexin, born to Xiao Yiniang, five years older than Lanzhu.
Additionally, Xiao Yiniang had a daughter, Minghui, seven years younger than her, now not even six years old.
The last one was Hongshan, born to Zhao Yiniang, seven years younger than Lanzhu.
Including her, there were five children in the Tongjia Residence.
Compared to other residences, the Tongjia Residence was relatively peaceful.
“Yujin is here.”
“Then let’s go.” Hesheli Shi turned her head.
Not everyone could enter the palace to mourn.
At least, apart from the legitimate children, the other offspring of the Tongjia Residence could not enter the palace, including the eldest son Dekexin.
Lanzhu followed behind her mother and got into the front carriage with her, while her brother went to the one behind.
Inside the carriage, Lanzhu immediately noticed the faint dark circles under her mother’s eyes and frowned: “Mother, did you not listen to your daughter’s advice again yesterday?”
Hesheli Shi patted her daughter’s hand reassuringly: “No such thing!”
“Mother rested well.”
“It’s just that your father came back late, so I woke up for a while in the middle.”
Lanzhu didn’t believe her mother’s words but didn’t ask further.
Sigh!
Later, she could only work harder to make more calming and sleep-aiding pills for her mother.
Along the way, Lanzhu vaguely saw many carriages heading towards the imperial palace through the gap in the carriage curtains.
When they arrived at the palace gate, many eunuchs were already waiting to receive them.
As Lanzhu and her mother got off the carriage, she also saw the ladies from various families bringing their legitimate daughters and sons into the palace.
There was not much conversation; everyone just nodded symbolically and followed the eunuchs silently into the palace.
In just one night, the Forbidden City was already covered in plain white, and there was no trace of a smile on the faces of the palace people.
But as they walked, Lanzhu felt that the path was a bit off.
She often entered the palace, and although she didn’t come to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility often, she roughly knew the way.
This was clearly not the way to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility!
But to say that the eunuchs led them the wrong way?
That was impossible!
At this time, how could eunuchs, who had become as shrewd as spirits, make such a small mistake?
Such an opportunity to show their faces was generally only given to favored or well-connected eunuchs.
Soon, Lanzhu knew the result.
The leading eunuch took them to the Palace of Heavenly Purity, not the Palace of Earthly Tranquility.
Everyone suppressed their shock and put on a facade of sorrow as they entered the Palace of Heavenly Purity.
Indeed!
The Empress, who should have been laid to rest in the main hall of the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, was ordered by the Emperor to be placed in the Palace of Heavenly Purity.
But no one dared to show any other expression.
Lanzhu followed her mother and knelt before the spirit hall, beginning to mourn with her mother’s movements.
Their position was neither at the front nor the back, neither good nor bad, and there were no cushions under their knees. Fortunately, Lanzhu had her mother and brother bring knee pads; otherwise, in this weather, kneeling for less than an hour would make their legs completely numb from the cold.
Lanzhu’s father held the position of Grand Minister of Internal Affairs, already a first-rank official, but in front of them were consorts and princesses, as well as the wives of the imperial clan. Of course, the legitimate sons of princes and officials were on the other side; here, only the women were kneeling.
When Lanzhu’s legs were about to lose feeling, a eunuch’s sharp voice came from above.
“Rise!”
Lanzhu helped her mother up and then followed the eunuchs to the side hall to rest.
Compared to Lanzhu’s still rosy complexion, Hesheli Shi’s face was much paler, with even her lips devoid of color.
Lanzhu was a bit worried about her mother’s health, so she took advantage of the time when her sleeve was covering her, took out a pill from her pouch, and gave it to her mother.
Hesheli Shi caught her breath and then patted her daughter’s hand: “Mother is fine, Yujin, don’t worry.”
“I wonder how my brother is doing over there?”
“Your father is there.”
In the side hall, hot tea and snacks were already prepared on the small table.
After all this fuss, Lanzhu was already past the point of hunger, but her mother needed to eat something to replenish her strength; otherwise, the afternoon mourning would be even harder.
Lanzhu picked up the teacup from the table, sniffed it under her nose, and then handed it to her mother.
“Mother, have some tea to warm up.”
“Yes.”
Beside Hesheli Shi was Jueluo Shi, the wife of Tong Guogang, a distant relative of the imperial family.
The relationship between Hesheli Shi and Jueluo Shi was quite harmonious. After all, their husbands were brothers and both Grand Ministers of Internal Affairs, and the two families still supported each other.
“Sister-in-law.”
“Is your health unwell, sister-in-law?” Jueluo Shi frowned as she looked at Hesheli Shi’s complexion.
In today’s situation, she feared her sister-in-law’s health might not hold up.
“Thank you for your concern, sister-in-law. I’m much better now,” Hesheli Shi said gently, putting down the teacup.
“Lanzhu, are you tired today?” Upon hearing this, Jueluo Shi nodded and then looked at her niece beside Hesheli Shi.
“Lanzhu has grown up and become even more beautiful.” Jueluo Shi’s praise was sincere.
She had no daughters, and she truly cherished her niece Lanzhu.
After all, Lanzhu’s temperament was genuinely endearing, and no one who had interacted with her disliked her.
“Auntie…” Lanzhu blushed slightly and lowered her head, looking even more delicate and charming in her moon-white qizhuang.
Jueluo Shi looked at her niece’s face, wanting to smile, but considering today’s situation, she couldn’t bring herself to smile. She just gently patted her niece’s slender, fair hand: “After this is over, remember to come and play with Auntie, Lanzhu.”
“I will.”
Compared to the harmony here, the atmosphere among the consorts was not so good.
Currently, there were only ten consorts in the palace. Apart from Niohuru Shi, who was granted the title of Consort Zhao upon entering the palace, the other nine were all concubines.
And today, only eight were present.
Among them, Concubine Ma Jia had just given birth to a prince last month and had not yet completed her confinement. Concubine Zhao Jia was nearly ten months pregnant and could give birth at any time, so she naturally did not come.
Now sitting in the highest position was naturally Consort Zhao, Niohuru Shi. With the Empress’s passing, she was the highest-ranking consort in the palace.
Then there was Concubine Nara on the left, who had a surviving Fifth Prince, Baoqing, who was not yet three years old and was raised outside the palace.
He couldn’t enter the palace today. Originally, Concubine Nara planned to use today to alleviate her longing, but she didn’t expect her son not to come, leaving her very disappointed.
However, thinking about it, Concubine Nara could understand. Besides, the Empress had just given birth to the legitimate Seventh Prince, Baocheng, yesterday. Among the seven princes born in the harem, only her Baoqing and the legitimate son Baocheng, born yesterday, survived.
Obviously, Baoqing was not suitable to appear at this time!
Her Baoqing held the position of the eldest son, and there were surely people who were displeased with him.
The right seat originally belonged to Concubine Ma Jia, but since she wasn’t here, it was taken by Li Shi.
In terms of status, if it weren’t for Concubine Nara having given birth to a prince, the left seat wouldn’t have been hers to sit in.
The seating of the consorts was closely related to their rank, family background, and offspring.
Now, apart from Consort Zhao, everyone was a concubine, and no one’s position was higher than anyone else’s, so they had to compare in other ways.
Apart from rank, offspring were more important than family background.
It’s often said that a mother is honored by her son.
Below Concubine Nara were Concubine Dong Shi, Concubine Wang Jia Shi, and Concubine Nala Shi.
Below Li Shi were Concubine Zhang Shi and Concubine Guoluoluo Shi.
Currently, the only surviving princes and princesses in the palace were the Fifth Prince Baoqing, born to Concubine Nara, and the Seventh Prince Baocheng, born to the Empress.
As well as the Third Princess born to Concubine Ma Jia and the Fourth Princess born to Concubine Zhang Shi two months ago.