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Translator: Jalyss
Editor: Odyssey
Chapter 15
The imperial noble consort was choked with sobs and had burst into tears. When she raised her head, half of her makeup was gone. How could she show a graceful appearance?
She clutched her lower abdomen, and said those words, asking the emperor to make a decision. She showed a rare fragility, which was unexpectedly heart-wrenching.
The imperial noble consort smiled wryly. “… Consort De finally gave birth to Yinzhen, and this concubine was constantly involved. This concubine didn’t want him to make him play with Yinzuo. What she said today really pierced this concubine’s heart… What Consort De said, that a child’s words mean no harm, how can the sixth prince be blamed? These words seemed to have been said unintentionally…”
Consort De’s pleas were stuck in her throat instantly. She slowly knelt down, closed her eyes, and felt like she was falling into an ice cellar.
The imperial noble consort said that Yinzuo’s words meant no harm, so the blame would never fall on her.
The implication was that it was his mother who taught these words to him.
She was also to blame for her negligence. When Yinzuo asked Yinzhen curiously, she smiled kindly and said in a flat tone, “Your fourth older brother regards Chengqian Palace as his home. How can he remember mother?”
She just said it casually. She didn’t think that Yinzuo would take it seriously.
No, not seriously.
How old was Yinzuo? He would not remember so clearly.
It must be the imperial noble consort’s nails that led Little Six to say such a thing!
…
After thinking about it for a while, Consort De understood the cause. Why didn’t she realise earlier that this was a trick set up by the imperial noble consort?
The imperial noble consort was using Yinzuo as a bait to disrupt the family banquet. She didn’t even give her face, just poured dirty water on her, and charged her with two crimes.
First, she instigated Yinzuo with ulterior motives. Second, making her seem like she was disrespecting the imperial noble consort. The intention was to sever her and Yinzhen’s mother-child relationship.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, how could the emperor spare her!
The Tong family was the maternal family of the emperor. Even though Mrs. Tongjia couldn’t please him, the emperor would never punish her severely.
——Killing one thousand enemies and harming oneself by eight hundred… How was this something normal people do?
Right now, excuses were useless. Little Six’s words were evidence.
No, don’t get confused. She hadn’t lost yet…
Her fingernails dug into her palm, causing a burst of pain. Consort De didn’t say a word. She fell down, as if accepting her fate.
Consort Hui gasped and couldn’t help but clench the embroidered handkerchief tightly and anxiously. Consort Rong was the same.
The dinner party was jointly arranged by them. They thought it would be harmonious. They didn’t expect that it would turn out like this!
Consort Rong recalled that today was Longevity Day and the birthday of the emperor. Her heart sank and she quietly looked up.
Sure enough, the emperor’s expression was livid. How could he still have the warm expression from just now?
Kangxi laughed angrily, glanced at the imperial noble consort, then paused. After, he glanced at Consort De.
One was pregnant for seven months, and the other was pregnant for five months.
It was also specially selected for today!
Very well.
The great empress dowager had lived in the harem all her life. How could she not see the tricks behind this matter?
The old madam sighed lightly, fearing that the emperor would do something irrational in his rage. She quickly said, “Yinzhen, Yinzuo, you are both good boys. Come sit by Revered Elder!”
The great empress dowager’s words were like rain from the sky, saving the fourth prince who bowed his head and clenched his fist, and the sixth prince who was about to cry.
Kangxi was startled. He suddenly came back to his senses, feeling a little ashamed in his heart.
He also blamed himself for neglecting the affairs of the harem. He troubled his imperial grandmother who had to worry so much.
When he looked at the two children, his anger eased a little. His impression of the imperial noble consort and Consort De hit rock bottom.
He glanced at Liang Jiugong while he tapped the desk with his fingers.
Liang Jiugong understood instantly, and said, “The meal——”
Palace people filed in one after another. The stagnant atmosphere gradually dissipated.
…
“Revered Elder…” Yinzuo wiped his tears away. His crying voice was interrupted by the great empress dowager halfway through.
The great empress dowager took Yinzuo’s hand, touched Yinzhen’s bald head, and showed a kind smile. “Don’t cry, revered elder is here. Come, eat a snack to cushion your stomach.”
Yinzhen took the snack silently and stuffed it into his mouth with red eyes.
The great empress dowager sighed.
The two brothers obviously had the same biological parents, but they were very different from each other. She looked at them and it seemed that Little Four had resisted Little Six.
It was not worth using a child to make a show in order to hand out punishment!
The great empress dowager’s eyes sharpened. She turned to the imperial noble consort and Consort De, who were kneeling in the centre of the hall.
Because the emperor didn’t call for them to get up, they were still kneeling on the ground. They were already a little shaky at this moment.
The floor tiles were icy cold. After kneeling for a long time, the chill was piercing to the bone. Because the imperial noble consort had been prepared, she wore thick knee pads and drank a bowl of strong anti-abortion medicine. Right now, the situation of the imperial noble consort was much better than that of Consort De.
Consort De felt scared.
Her lower abdomen was cold, and there was a feeling of falling. Although it was not obvious, it scared her out of her wits.
If this baby could not be kept, what face would she have to gain a foothold in the harem?!
The day that the emperor walked away from the Yonghe Palace, Consort De obviously felt that the emperor’s feelings were not as good as before.
Don’t even compare her with Consort Yi. Even the noble consort who was not favoured very much had been rewarded by Qianqing Palace, but she had nothing. People considered her a joke!
Without favour, she had to rely on her children.
Would the servants in the Imperial Household Department treat her respectfully, as usual?
She still had deeper thoughts hidden in her heart.
Yinzuo was alone with no one to help him. In the future…she would have to give birth to a younger brother for him so that she could better plan for the future and truly respond to the word “zuo” of “Guozuo”.1
After losing a little princess last year, Consort De took this child very seriously. She even made up her mind to hand him over to the empress dowager to raise after he was born.
If the child was a prince, then he could be invincible like Yinqi. He could help Yinzuo better in the future. If the child was a princess, she may be able to avoid Fumeng’s fate.2
She had considered all aspects, but that was assuming that the child would be safe and sound.
Consort De bit her lip, feeling ruthless.
If something happened to this baby, even if she tried her best, she would let Mrs. Tongjia die without a place to bury her!
Wet Nurse Wu, who was at the other end, quickly noticed Consort De’s abnormal state and was extremely anxious.
She gritted her teeth and was about to step forward to plead for mercy. The great empress dowager seemed to have noticed something. She slowly looked away, and waved her hand. “Imperial noble consort, Consort De, get up. On such a joyous day, there should be no mentions of punishment.. This matter will be discussed later.”
Kangxi picked up green bamboo shoots with his chopsticks. Without raising his head, he said, “Your grandson will listen to imperial grandmother.”
Consort De froze for a moment. The discussion was postponed?
The imperial noble consort’s expression froze. She looked at Kangxi in disbelief. Kangxi seemed to be aware of her, and slowly raised his head. He glanced at her.
Suddenly, the imperial noble consort felt regretful, as if… she was getting farther and farther away from her cousin.
Then, she looked at Consort De, who had pale lips and was extremely weak. There was inconspicuous redness at the corners of her robe. The imperial noble consort gradually strengthened her expression, smiled slightly, and touched her belly.
It was all worth it.
After giving birth to a little prince and becoming the empress, who else could compete with her?
It was said that she hated Consort De because of Yinzhen, and Consort Yi because of the emperor’s favour. It was true, but not entirely true.
Now, the noble consort, Consort Yi, and Consort De were all pregnant, and they were not too far behind her.
If they gave birth to a prince and won the favour of the emperor, how many threats would they pose to her?
The emperor’s most doted on young son… One was enough!
No one could compete with her prince, no one.
Seeing that Consort De could not keep the baby, even if it was born, it would be weak. It would be nothing to worry about. Noble Lady Yuan exerted herself for Consort Yi. As for Noble Consort Niu Gulu…
She had to think hard and come up with a surefire way.
***
Consort Yi, accompanied by her son, watched the good show all night and enjoyed it with great relish. Not only did she eat satisfactorily, but she also drank several cups of warm juice.
When the dinner party was over, Yun Xiu bent down, held Yinqi’s round cheeks. She leaned forward and kissed him. “Little Five, sleep tight, and do not kick the quilt at night, do you hear me?”
“Mother, Yinqi didn’t kick the quilt.” Yinqi opened his big black grape-like eyes and hummed, “Younger brother will!”
While they were talking, he secretly thought that mother’s kiss was so fragrant. Next time, he had to kiss her back.
Yun Xiu pinched his fat face, and couldn’t help but laugh. “Your younger brother’s hands and feet haven’t grown up enough yet, so it’s too early for him to kick the quilt.”
The empress dowager happily stood aside, praising Yinqi in Mongolian, and giving testimony. “Our Yinqi doesn’t kick the quilt. Imperial grandmother knows best…”
When Kangxi helped the great empress dowager, he just saw this warm scene and heard Yinqi’s words about not kicking the quilt.
The emperor was startled for a moment, then smiled. His gaze fell on Yun Xiu, and he didn’t look away for a moment.
Today, the desk where Xiuxiu sat was too far back.
Sitting in front were the imperial noble consort, the noble consort, and Consort Hui. She was not in the limelight. She just ate in silence, with her head down so that he could not take a good look at her.
His heart fluctuated, and suddenly, Kangxi had an impulsive thought.
Maybe it was because the night was too dark. That impulse gradually started taking over. It was only because of his discipline as an emperor did he manage to suppress it.
Hold up. The pattern of the harem had been established and now was not the time.
“Imperial grandmother, your grandson will help you.” Kangxi stopped in a place where Yun Xiu couldn’t see. He said with a smile, “About the dispute over the dinner party that you worried over… Your grandson is very sorry…”
The great empress dowager waved her hands and said with a smile, “You, it was busy in the previous dynasty, and the imperial noble consort is pregnant again, so We have to take action! Don’t say such things.”
When mentioning the imperial noble consort, the great empress dowager shook her head and sighed. “She obviously doesn’t care about the other child… and neither does Consort De. Between them, how can Little Four be happy?”
Kangxi stood with his hands behind his back and fell silent.
After a while, he cupped his hands and said solemnly, “We ask imperial grandmother to promise Us…”
***
On the first and fifteenth day of the lunar new year, or on major festivals, the emperor always stayed in Kunning Palace. This was a custom that had been handed down.
Since Empress Xiaozhao passed away, and a new empress had not yet been established, on the 15th day of the Lunar New Year and the New Year’s Eve, the place where the emperor went was changed to the imperial noble consort of Chengqian Palace.
Today was Longevity Day. Logically speaking, after the dinner, the emperor should come…
The imperial noble consort suppressed the slight uneasiness in her heart. She asked her servants to inquire continuously. When it was time to go to bed, the imperial sedan finally arrived.
Hearing the report, she breathed a sigh of relief. She then felt a strong sour feeling, and turned to look at Noble Lady Yuan.
“Serve the emperor well.” After a long pause, the imperial noble consort said coldly, “If something goes wrong, you will have a lot to answer for!”
Noble Lady Yuan respectfully agreed.
…
When the emperor strode into the main hall, besides the imperial noble consort who had tidied up, there was also a familiar figure greeting him.
“…” Kangxi almost thought that he had gone to the wrong place. He subconsciously raised the corners of his lips.
Then, he took a closer look and saw that it was a strange and beautiful woman, who had a 30% resemblance to Xiuxiu. She even imitated her behavior and clothes!
Having been in power for many years, what hasn’t Kangxi seen? But now he was stunned. He couldn’t restrain his smile in time. He pointed at the imperial noble consort and was speechless.
Liang Jiugong’s heart thumped.
Seeing that smile, the imperial noble consort thought that the emperor was surprised by Noble Lady Yuan’s appearance, and she was quite satisfied with it.
With great difficulty, she suppressed her sourness, and plastered a virtuous smile on her face. “Greetings to the emperor. This concubine is too old to serve, so this concubine found a beauty from the side hall. Noble Lady Yuan is comparable to Consort Yi…”
Before she finished speaking, Kangxi picked up the teacup beside him and smashed it down.
The imperial noble consort was startled. She took a few steps back, her face paling suddenly. “Your Majesty?”
“Ridiculous.” Kangxi laughed angrily, feeling that this was unbelievable. “She is comparable to Consort Yi? What do you take Us for? What do you take Yun Xiu for?! She is just a fake and she is worthy of being compared to Consort Yi?!”
Under the shocked and flustered eyes of the imperial noble consort, Kangxi took a few steps forward. He approached her, and asked softly, “In your eyes, are We like a monkey in your garden? One who can be led by the nose? Are you holding a monkey show?”
His phoenix eyes were deep, containing a shocking chill.
“No…” The imperial noble consort’s tone was broken. She backed away muttering.
Noble Lady Yuan had retreated to a corner a long time ago, biting her lip at this moment. Her head was lowered. She was able to hide a trace of a smile at the corners of her mouth.
Kangxi laughed, stared at the imperial noble consort, and said, “You want to be Mu Xieli, but I don’t want to be Gao Wei. Cousin, if you don’t want to be the imperial noble consort, how about We help you? ”
1.(國祚) Guozuo: the Zuo in Yinzuo’s name is the same as the Zuo in Guozuo. Guozuo is the period over which a dynasty endures.↩
2.Fumeng: I think this was a princess who was married off to form an alliance between Manchu and Mongolia, but I’m not sure.↩
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