“The Emperor cannot choose someone of too low a status.” The Grand Empress Dowager naturally had her own considerations. If the status was too low, raising them would provide little help to the Khorchin, so it would be better not to raise them at all.
“Of course,” Kangxi understood this well. However, the only two princes in the harem at the moment were not suitable, so he would have to wait and see. After sitting and chatting with the Grand Empress Dowager for a while, Kangxi planned to get up and leave. He glanced around but still didn’t see his cousin anywhere. It seemed he wouldn’t see her today. Oh well, he had plenty of time to see her in the future. He couldn’t make it too obvious, or the Grand Empress Dowager might suspect something. After all, she was the one who couldn’t stand the Emperor having any romantic thoughts.
After the Emperor left, the Grand Empress Dowager turned to her niece: “I asked the Emperor to give you a child, so you will have hope in the future.”
“Aunt, is it true?” The Empress Dowager’s voice was somewhat incredulous at this moment. She hadn’t expected that the reliance her aunt spoke of would be this! A child! Thinking of having a child to bring joy to her later, a smile appeared on the Empress Dowager’s delicate face.
“Of course, it’s true.”
“You were right there just now, so you naturally heard my conversation with the Emperor.” Seeing the long-lost smile on her niece’s face, the Grand Empress Dowager also felt relieved. So be it. She couldn’t let Qiqige return to the grasslands, so she would give her a child, giving her hope for the rest of her life.
“However, you might have to wait three years.” The Empress had just passed away, and the Grand Empress Dowager didn’t think much of the current concubines’ status. She would have to carefully select during the next selection. Moreover, the princes born to the current concubines were not very healthy. Since she wanted to choose a good one for Qiqige, naturally, the mother’s health should also be good, so the child would be healthy.
“I understand,” the Empress Dowager nodded obediently. Although she very much wanted to have a child immediately, she also understood the importance of the matter.
“It’s getting late, you should go back.”
“Yes.” Before coming today, the Empress Dowager was as gloomy as ever, but when she left Cining Palace today, a faint smile remained on her face. The Grand Empress Dowager glanced at the sky outside the hall, then turned and instructed, “Go and bring Tongjia Gege over.” Since the Emperor had left, there was no need to have someone continue copying Buddhist scriptures.
“Yes, Grand Empress Dowager.”
East Wing Hall Lanzhu was still diligently copying Buddhist scriptures, her expression exceptionally peaceful. The delicate brush strokes of her small script fell on the snow-white rice paper, giving a sense of calm and tranquility. Standing beside Lanzhu was Liu Xia; today, she had only brought her out.
“Gege, would you like to rest your hand? This servant can massage your wrist for you?” Seeing that Gege hadn’t stopped writing since she came in, Liu Xia naturally felt distressed. After such a long time of copying, Gege’s wrist must be uncomfortable.
“No need, just a little more,” Lanzhu shook her head, not stopping her brush. She was the type to finish what she started, so she wouldn’t do things half-heartedly. Just as Lanzhu finished the last stroke, footsteps sounded outside the door. Lanzhu put down the brush in her hand, then turned to look outside the door, only to see Nanny Xing walking in, bathed in the morning sunlight.
“Tongjia Gege, the Grand Empress Dowager has called for you.”
“Understood, Nanny Xing, I’ll get up now.” Lanzhu neatly placed the copied Buddhist scriptures aside, then stood up with Liu Xia’s support. Outside, the sun was already quite bright. When Lanzhu stepped out of the room, her eyes squinted slightly against the bright light. Walking through the corridor under the eaves, Lanzhu returned to the main hall.
“This servant greets the Grand Empress Dowager.”
“Lanzhu is here, come over quickly.” The Grand Empress Dowager liked juniors who knew their place. But this fondness was mixed with many impure things.
“I originally wanted you to come to the palace to play today, but I didn’t expect to trouble you with copying Buddhist scriptures for me.” The Grand Empress Dowager affectionately patted Lanzhu’s small hand.
“It’s my honor to copy Buddhist scriptures for the Grand Empress Dowager.”
“What a good child.”
“Su Ma, go and bring the largest box from my dressing table.”
“Yes, Master.” At this moment, Lanzhu still sat upright, her eyes lowered, looking at the white jade bricks in front of the Grand Empress Dowager’s feet. Su Ma Lagu went in and soon came out holding a long black ebony carved jewelry box. Just then, the sound of light footsteps came from outside the hall, and the three Gege who had gone to the Imperial Garden to pick flowers for the Grand Empress Dowager also returned.
“This servant greets the Grand Empress Dowager.”
“You’re all back, come and sit.” The Grand Empress Dowager waved them over. Guarjia Gege walked in front and handed over the large red peony in her hand.
“This servant picked two peonies. This bright red color matches your status, Grand Empress Dowager.” It wasn’t that Guarjia Gege didn’t want to pick better ones, but it wasn’t the peony season now, so even if she wanted to, she couldn’t.
“Good, good, good.” Following her, Hesheli Gege picked two black chrysanthemums, and Niohuru Gege picked two pink hibiscus flowers.
“All good children.” The Grand Empress Dowager first gave the jewelry box Su Ma Lagu brought to Lanzhu.
“This set of head ornaments was given to me by Emperor Taizong when I was young. This pink color suits a young girl like you.” As soon as the Grand Empress Dowager finished speaking, Lanzhu clearly felt the eager gazes of the other three. Lanzhu looked at the pink-purple jadeite head ornaments on the table, her lowered eyes showing a slight ripple.
“How can this servant accept such precious jewelry from the Grand Empress Dowager? You would look much better wearing this color than I would.”
“I’m old and can’t carry this color anymore.” The Grand Empress Dowager was amused but still firmly pushed the jewelry box towards Lanzhu.
“A gift from an elder cannot be declined.”
“Then… this servant thanks the Grand Empress Dowager for the reward.” Lanzhu felt uncomfortable under the gaze of the other three Gege, but her smile remained unchanged.
“Nanny Xing, go and bring the remaining three boxes.” Having achieved her goal, the Grand Empress Dowager naturally didn’t forget the other three Gege. However, the jewelry boxes the other three Gege received were of a lower grade, made of redwood, clearly inferior to the one in Tongjia Gege’s hands. Seeing that the Grand Empress Dowager had no intention of opening them, the three naturally didn’t dare to open them either.
“It’s getting late, if you don’t leave the palace now, it’ll be too late. I won’t keep you today.”
“Nanny Xing, see the four Gege out of the palace.”
“Yes, Grand Empress Dowager.” Lanzhu and the others stood up with their rewards, bowed, and took their leave. They walked in silence until they left Cining Palace, where four sedan chairs were already waiting outside.
Outside Shenwu Gate, Lanzhu nodded to the three Gege and was the first to board her family’s carriage. Once the curtain was lowered, Lanzhu’s straight back finally relaxed a little. Liu Xia picked up a cushion and placed it behind Gege, then silently began to massage her waist.
After a while, Lanzhu came to her senses: “Liu Xia, that’s enough, you don’t need to massage anymore.”
“I’ll take a short nap, remember to wake me when we get home.” Once out of the palace, Lanzhu’s delicate and beautiful face showed a hint of fatigue.
“This servant will remember.” Liu Xia took a blanket and gently covered Gege, then knelt by her side to keep watch.
Half an hour later, Lanzhu woke up to Liu Xia’s gentle call, her eyes gradually clearing as she looked at the void for a moment.
“Are we home?”
“In response to Gege, we’ve already reached the gate.” After Gege sat up, Liu Xia smoothed out a crease behind her, then lifted the curtain and got off the carriage first. When Gege came out, she offered her hand. After Lanzhu got off the carriage, she saw Nanny Yun waiting at the gate with her mother. Her eyes lit up instantly, and she ran over with small steps.
“Eldest Miss is back, Madam has been waiting for you.”
“Nanny Yun.”
“Let’s go in quickly.” Lanzhu also had things to discuss with her mother, so she didn’t hesitate and headed straight to her mother’s main courtyard after entering the residence. This round trip to the palace had taken almost until noon.
When Lanzhu arrived at the main courtyard, Hesheli Shi, who had been anxiously waiting, immediately noticed her.
“Why are you back so late today?”
“Are you hungry?” Lanzhu took her mother’s hand: “Mother, I’m not hungry right now, don’t worry, I have something to tell you.” Hearing this, Hesheli Shi waved everyone else out of the room:
“Nanny Yun, go guard the door, don’t let anyone in.”
“Yes, Madam.” Once everyone had left, Lanzhu spoke: “Mother, the Grand Empress Dowager probably wants me to enter the palace.” Lanzhu knew she would be selected, but she never thought entering the palace was a possibility. The Tongjia clan had already produced an Empress Xiaokangzhang, so theoretically, it was impossible to produce another Empress. But Lanzhu was inherently resistant to becoming a concubine. So she always thought she wouldn’t enter the palace. Who would have thought the Empress would pass away so early, changing everything?
“Oh, my child, I knew this would be the result.” Hearing her daughter’s words, Hesheli Shi’s other half of uncertainty also settled. She had guessed it when the Empress passed away. As the Emperor’s maternal family, if the Empress were still around, they might have been able to maneuver a bit, but now, it would be very difficult. The deep palace was not a good place to stay. How could her gentle daughter compete with the scheming concubines?
“Mother, don’t cry.”
“If I must enter the palace, so be it. With Father and Uncle around, I won’t be wronged in the harem.” Seeing her mother cry, Lanzhu sensibly comforted her. If there was no choice, then why not face it bravely instead of adding to her mother’s sadness?
“Silly girl, being a concubine is not easy.”
“Mother, apart from Consort Zhao, with my status, even if I enter the palace three years later, I won’t be a low-ranked concubine. You don’t have to worry about me being beneath others.” Lanzhu understood clearly. As the Emperor’s cousin, she believed she had some childhood friendship with the Emperor, so her status shouldn’t be too low, right? However, Lanzhu was only thirteen years old and couldn’t quite guess the Emperor’s thoughts.
“Don’t worry, Mother will try to fight for you, see what your father plans.” Hesheli Shi said, wiping her tears. However, Lanzhu shook her head:
“Mother, there’s no room for negotiation. Today in the palace, the Grand Empress Dowager summoned four Gege, but she singled me out. This means my entry into the palace is already a foregone conclusion. Let’s not trouble Father.”
How could Lanzhu not understand the Grand Empress Dowager’s actions today? The Grand Empress Dowager was afraid she would start too high, making it easy for her family to dominate the palace later. So it was better to reveal her first, warning everyone.