klisemfg Chapter 210: Chronicles of Yongzheng's Harem 8
Chapter 210: Chronicles of Yongzheng's Harem 8
After coming out of Jingren Palace, Jiayue just felt a headache.
She was not a newbie who knew nothing. She had seen a lot of the ways of the world, but compared to the harem, it could only be said that she had little experience.
It was just a greeting, but she could feel the turbulent waves from it.
I don't know whether the queen's feelings are true or false.
Concubine Nian looks weak and silent.
Concubine Xi, who looks honest.
Concubine Qi, whose silence is piercing.
Yubin looks gentle.
……
To be honest, she just felt that the road ahead was long and she didn't know where the end was.
But Keren always wanted to live. She was a doctor and was unwilling to take other people's lives lightly, so she cherished her own life especially.
She knew that she had entered the vortex of the harem, and even if she was not the ultimate winner, she could not be a loser.
After returning to Chuxiu Palace, Jiayue asked someone to bring Hongzhao over, and then asked casually: "Is there any news from the palace recently?"
Baochun paused, then said, "I heard from Shoukang Palace that there will probably be a beauty pageant next spring."
Jiayue fell silent after hearing this.
Kangxi died in winter, which was the end of the year, and Yinzhen ascended the throne not long after the New Year. Now it is the first year of Yongzheng, and it is autumn, the end of September.
"Early spring next year!"
Baochun thought she was sad, and hurriedly comforted her: "Your Majesty, although the new bride is fresh, our emperor is a man who cherishes old feelings, so your Majesty does not need to worry."
Jiayue smiled and said: "I am not worried about the emperor's favor. In the past, my favor was mediocre. Now that I have Hongzhao, it won't be worse than before. The emperor values his offspring, so he will be more respectful to the mother of the heir.
Even if there is a newcomer, I am not afraid, but the newcomer's entry into the palace may disrupt the current situation. Moreover, I don't know the newcomer's background. I am just afraid that there will be a disturbance in the harem, which will affect Chuxiu Palace."
"Your Majesty's thoughts make sense. There are so many concubines in the harem, and it is indeed easy for trouble to arise."
For example, in the early period of Kangxi's reign, when Kangxi first came to power, he did not have enough control over the harem, and many children and concubines died.
Now when I talk about it to the old maids in the harem, they all look very secretive.
"It's just a rumor. It's still unknown whether he will be selected or not. Don't think too much about it. We'll talk about it when the time comes."
This kind of thing is not something she can control.
However, I think the imperial concubine will have a hard time next year.
It is not difficult to see from memory that Yinzhen's feelings for Concubine Nian were real. Of course, in Jiayue's view, the emperor's true feelings were just that, but it was already rare.
As a concubine favored by the emperor, it would be difficult for her to accept it.
The news that Jiayue could get would naturally be available to Concubine Nian of Yikun Palace as well.
After paying her respects, Concubine Nian heard about this and her face looked unhappy.
In the past, she was almost the only one favored in the palace. In her eyes, she and Yinzhen were like husband and wife, and Yinzhen treated her differently.
The selection meant the entry of new people into the palace, which meant that her favor was no longer as great as before. After all, it was impossible for Yinzhen to select the daughter of an official into the palace as a decoration.
The key point is that Yinzhen is almost forty years old now, and he is not young anymore. Those important officials may not send their daughters to the palace because of his age, but those with low official positions will always find ways to send their beautiful daughters to the palace to fight for a rich and prosperous future.
Although she is beautiful and talented, she is not confident enough to think that she is the best in the world.
The women in the prince's harem and the concubines in the emperor's harem are of two different qualities.
Others have their own ideas.
At this time, in the Yangxin Palace, Yinzhen rarely did not read the memorials. He promised the Empress Dowager yesterday that he would agree to the selection of concubines next year.
Offspring is indeed an issue he needs to consider.
Hongshi was not young anymore, only in his teens, with average talent and character. He felt it was inappropriate for such a son to be the heir to the throne.
As for Hongli and Hongzhou, they are still too young and have just started school. It is hard to say what their future will be like.
Not to mention Hong Zhao, who is still breastfeeding.
Although having more sons would lead to more conflicts, having too few sons would make it even more of a problem as he could not choose a suitable heir.
But he thought of Concubine Nian, and murmured: "Su Peisheng, I remember that the Ministry of Internal Affairs has just sent a box of high-quality South Pearls. Concubine Nian looks good wearing pearls. You can send it to Concubine Nian. I think Concubine Nian will like the painting of Guanshan Snowy Clearing by Dong Qichang. Send it to Concubine Nian as well."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
When Concubine Nian received the gifts, she thanked with a smile. After Su Peisheng and his men left, she returned to the house and the smile on her face faded.
"Although the South Pearl is beautiful and the calligraphy and painting are also my favorites, I am really not happy that the emperor gave these to me at this time. I am afraid that the selection of talents is not groundless. There will really be new people in the harem next year."
As she spoke, Imperial Concubine Nian frowned slightly, a trace of sadness surged into her heart, and she felt extremely uncomfortable.
Wen Mei, the trusted palace maid standing by, couldn't help but feel sad as well, but the emperor's heart was unpredictable and no matter how high the imperial concubine's rank was, it was not higher than that of the emperor.
I could only comfort her: "Your Majesty, the Emperor ascended the throne, but his foundation is not stable. The selection of concubines is just a move to win the hearts of the people. I know how much the Emperor loves you. Even if there is a new person, the Emperor's heart is always with you!
This box of South Pearls and calligraphy and paintings can explain it. After all, the Emperor has never given these to the Empress. If I were to ask you, in the Emperor's heart, he probably regards the Empress as his wife."
Wen Mei's consolation was indeed very soothing. Concubine Nian had a good family background and she was truly sincere to Yinzhen. However, she was born in the Han Army Banner and there was an age gap between her and Yinzhen, so she was destined to be only a concubine.
She really wanted to be Yinzhen's wife. Although she was not in name only, Yinzhen believed that she was a good wife in his heart.
Concubine Nian glared at her and said, "Don't talk nonsense, the Queen is still here!"
Wen Mei knew that she was fine, and immediately smiled and said: "What I said is all true, Madam, don't worry, I know my limits and won't spread rumors outside."
"You are a man of measure. Hang the painting in the study. As for the South Pearl, send it to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and ask them to make a set of jewelry for it."
"Yes, ma'am."
Concubine Nian was temporarily comforted by a reward, and then she went to the Yangxin Palace and had lunch with Yinzhen.
Autumn passed quickly, winter came, and the first year of Yongzheng's reign also came to an end.
This was the first full year of Yinzhen's reign. Although it was not the first time he celebrated the Chinese New Year, the last time he celebrated the Chinese New Year happened to be not long after Kangxi's death, so there was not much joy. Now, although the national treasury was not well-off, this year's Chinese New Year must be celebrated in a lively manner to highlight the new atmosphere after the new monarch ascended the throne.
Jiayue didn’t know what happened in the previous dynasty, but under the leadership of the queen, the harem celebrated the New Year in a lively manner.
On the evening of the first day of the Lunar New Year, Yinzhen stayed in Jingren Palace, which meant that Yinzhen began to visit his concubines.
To be honest, although it was not her turn yet, she couldn't escape this kind of thing, so Jiayue couldn't help feeling a little nervous.
She was not some ignorant person, but the man was Yinzhen, a historical figure, and she felt something was strange about it.
As for refusal, she had never thought of this possibility. Rejecting the grace was not like she thought her life was too comfortable and she was looking for death.
With a sigh in her heart, she quickly accepted it.
On the first day of the New Year, he went to the Queen's place, and on the second day, he went to Concubine Nian's place. After that, for many days in a row, Yinzhen stayed overnight in the Yikun Palace every day.
The concubines in the harem did have complaints about this, but they dared not say much. Although Concubine Nian was not domineering, she was a favorite concubine, and who would not want to know the consequences of offending a favorite concubine?
As for the queen, she was quite open-minded about it.
"It's a good thing that the Imperial Concubine is favored. I remember that the Imperial Concubine has been recuperating and looking forward to having a baby. If she can get pregnant before the new bride enters the palace, it will also be a good thing for the new bride.
Isn't there a good pregnancy-preserving prescription in my dowry list? I will try to let the Imperial Concubine know. It is also my duty to help the Emperor have more children."
If she is pregnant, she can’t sleep with the emperor. If she can’t sleep with the emperor, the newlyweds are waiting!
The trusted nanny beside her nodded: "I will arrange it as soon as possible and make sure that the imperial concubine will get pregnant before the new bride enters the palace."
The queen nodded nonchalantly: "Madam, I can rest assured that you will do your job well."
As for the pregnancy-maintaining medicine, it is naturally a good thing since it can be included in her dowry. However, the prerequisite is that the mother's body can withstand it. With Concubine Nian's body, even if she can get pregnant, she may not be able to give birth.
Concubine Nian, who was still a concubine in the Qiandi Palace, once gave birth to a daughter, but the daughter died shortly after birth.
And the baby she had last year also didn't survive. Although that was because of someone's conspiracy, her baby might not have survived even if no one had plotted against it.