Smack!
The moment Tongjia sat down, she slapped her hand onto the table. Turbulent emotions churned beneath her eyes.
The maids standing behind her all lowered their heads, not daring to breathe too loudly.
Seeing her mistress like this, the nanny had no better solution. She dismissed everyone from the room and brought over a freshly brewed cup of ginseng tea.
Keeping her voice low, she said worriedly,
“Your Highness, don’t keep bottling up your frustration over what happened at Cining Palace today.”
Tongjia said nothing.
Her fingers unconsciously rubbed the jade bracelet on her wrist, her expression distant.
The nanny placed the tea on a side table beside her and continued,
“The Grand Empress Dowager’s words weren’t directed at Your Highness. She only wishes for the imperial family to prosper as soon as possible. His Majesty still has too few heirs. Besides, Your Highness is the Noble Consort—the highest-ranking woman in the Six Palaces. You also have the Fourth Prince under your care. There is truly no need to be anxious.”
Tongjia lifted the tea and took a sip.
The warmth slid down her throat, but it failed to dispel the chill in her heart.
“Nanny, why do you think that is?”
“Hm?” the nanny asked, puzzled.
“In terms of favor, ever since I entered the palace, no one in the harem has ever surpassed me. Even when the Niohuru clan’s daughter ranked above me, the Emperor’s affection for me never diminished.
Later, Consort Yi entered the palace. Though I may not have been more favored than her, we were at least equals.
“So why is it that Consort Yi can become pregnant? Consort Rong can become pregnant. Even a bed-climbing palace maid from my own palace can bear child after child.
Why is it that I can’t?”
Nanny Li’s eyes reddened.
“Your Highness, what are you saying? You are kind and virtuous. How could Heaven be blind to that? It’s only… only that the time has not yet come.”
The time has not yet come.
Tongjia didn’t even know how many years she had been hearing those words.
Seeing her mistress sinking deeper into her obsession, Nanny Li hurriedly bowed and said,
“The favor other women receive must be carefully won and maintained. They need children to secure their positions.
But Your Highness is different.
Your dignity and status were determined from the very beginning.
As long as Lord Tongjia makes no mistakes, you will forever be the Emperor’s cousin. You will never need to struggle for these things like the others.
Whether you have children or not is not truly important.
A child would only be the icing on the cake.”
Tongjia laughed softly.
Her fingers brushed the gold-and-kingfisher hairpin at her temple.
“Yes. They rely on children to maintain favor.
But the one thing this palace never lacks is women who can bear children.
And me?
I am the Emperor’s cousin.
I am the niece of Empress Xiaokang.
Which one of those advantages isn’t something others could never obtain, no matter how desperately they wished for it?”
The nanny finally relaxed and smiled.
“As long as Your Highness can think this way, this old servant can rest easy. Earlier, I was worried that you might—”
“I won’t.”
Tongjia interrupted her.
“I’d like to rest for a while. You may leave.”
The nanny bowed and slowly withdrew.
Tongjia set down the cup of ginseng tea.
Her eyes grew increasingly lost.
“But…
I still want a child of my own…”
Her voice was as light as a passing breeze beyond the window, disappearing completely into the air.
Meanwhile, Shulan sat in Yonghe Palace, staring blankly into space.
Unless something unexpected happened, she would probably spend the rest of her life here.
Since she still had many years ahead of her, she wanted to remodel things according to her own preferences.
Before she could think of any concrete plans, however, officials from the Imperial Household Department arrived.
“What arrangements would Your Ladyship like for the Sixth Prince’s full-month banquet?”
“That’s right, Your Ladyship. Do you have any particular requirements for the Sixth Prince’s celebration?”
Only then did Shulan realize that her confinement period ending also meant Little Six had reached his one-month milestone.
Sitting on her couch, she listened to the report and thought for a moment before shaking her head.
“There is no need for extravagance. Follow the standard regulations for imperial princes.
“As for large gatherings and noisy entertainments, cancel them. There’s no need to disturb the child.”
The supervising eunuch immediately bowed.
“Your Ladyship, according to precedent, the gifts sent by the various consorts… and the gifts bestowed by His Majesty… should all be displayed prominently…”
Though he left the sentence unfinished, Shulan knew exactly what he meant.
It was basically showing off.
She shook her head decisively.
“No need.
Store His Majesty’s gifts carefully in the treasury.
As for the gifts from the consorts, select a few elegant pieces and place them in the inner chambers. That will be enough.”
The eunuch blinked in surprise, clearly not expecting such instructions.
Still, he dared not argue and quickly withdrew.
After he left, her personal maid Suyun couldn’t help asking,
“Your Ladyship, the Sixth Prince’s full-month celebration is a joyous occasion. If we’re too low-key, won’t people think Yonghe Palace is showing weakness?”
Shulan chuckled.
“Showing weakness?
Then what? Should we flaunt everything?
Wasn’t Consort Rong flashy enough back then?
And what did she gain from it?
Five sons, yet only one survived.”
Seeing Suyun’s startled expression, Shulan shook her head.
“As long as the Fourth Prince’s genealogy remains unchanged, he is still my son.
Look around the harem. Besides me, who else has two sons?
The tallest tree catches the strongest wind.
It’s better to be cautious.”
No sooner had she finished speaking than Liang Jiugong arrived.
Behind him, two young eunuchs carried a gilded lacquer box.
Beaming, he bowed.
“This servant congratulates Consort De!
His Majesty’s gifts for the Sixth Prince’s full-month celebration have arrived—
a red-gold longevity lock, a pair of white jade bracelets…”
Shulan quickly instructed Suyun to step forward and express thanks for the imperial favor.
She also had silver rewards distributed to the eunuchs.
Liang Jiugong casually weighed the silver in his hand, though his expression remained unchanged.
“Your Ladyship, the young prince’s name has also been decided.
His Majesty says to use the name that was previously chosen.”
A flicker of emotion passed through Shulan’s heart, but her face remained calm.
“Thank you for making the trip, Eunuch Liang. Another day, I’ll have Suyun send you some newly acquired tea.”
Liang Jiugong’s smile widened.
After exchanging a few more polite remarks, he finally took his leave.
Shulan watched him depart and sighed softly.
Returning to her room, she found Little Six happily entertaining himself.
She reached out and gently touched his tiny hand.
“Little Six, you have a name now.”
Her voice was soft and affectionate.
“I just don’t know whether that name will bring you fortune or misfortune.”
At that moment, Suyun entered carrying a list.
“Your Ladyship, this is the inventory of gifts sent by the various consorts. According to the schedule provided by the Imperial Household Department, we can begin preparations.”
Because Shulan’s requirements were so simple, there was much less work for the Imperial Household Department.
All they really needed to do was prepare the banquet tables.
As for Yonghe Palace’s own preparations, Shulan only instructed Suyun and a few trusted maids and eunuchs to handle the details.
There was only one guiding principle:
Dignified, but not ostentatious. Peaceful, but not neglectful.
Without having to arrange opera troupes or acrobatic performances, preparations for the full-month banquet were completed quickly.
Now all that remained was to wait for the various consorts and their attendants to arrive.