mtl008 Chapter 185 God’s Will
Chapter 185 God’s Will
Promotion is a great joyous event. As the ladies who came to pay their respects left one by one, the good news spread quickly throughout the palace like wings.
An Lingrong took the bright yellow imperial edict presented by Baoque with both hands, and her heart finally felt a little relieved.
"Congratulations, my master! Congratulations, my master! Eunuch Su has come personally to announce the decree, appointing you as Imperial Consort. The Emperor, pitying you for your confinement, has sent the Sixth Prince to receive the decree on your behalf."
A happy smile spread across the steady Baoque's face.
Several others wanted to come together to congratulate, but they were afraid that too many people would disturb the imperial concubine's peace, so they only sent her.
"Bao Que, go and convey this decree: everyone in Yonghe Palace will receive an extra quarter of their monthly salary and two sets of thick winter clothing. As for the new group of people sent by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, their rewards will be halved."
"And let Baoge stew a big pot of mutton soup to warm everyone up."
"My Lord is so kind. I thank you on behalf of all the palace servants for your reward."
Baoque kowtowed respectfully to express his gratitude.
Although the Imperial Household Department distributes winter clothes to the palace maids as per routine every year, most of the people in charge there are corrupt and naturally do not care about the low-ranking palace maids.
The palace ladies appear glamorous on the surface, but they all have their own hardships behind the scenes.
Baoque's brother once told her that every winter someone would collapse in an unknown corner.
When he first entered the palace, he almost couldn't survive the cold winter.
My younger sister is following a kind master who has repeatedly told her to serve the empress and the young masters well.
An Lingrong called Baoque to her side again and gave her some gentle instructions.
"Go to the storeroom and select three decent gifts. Once the Queen Mother and Empress's gifts arrive, send them out."
"You will deliver the gift from Yikun Palace in person."
The person given as a reward by the emperor will arrive soon, and she still has some things to explain to Concubine Hua.
In her previous life, Zhen Huan's road to becoming a concubine was bumpy, which made her realize that thunder, rain and dew are all the emperor's grace, which is unpredictable.
She and Concubine Hua are both in high positions, so they have to be cautious and careful in every step.
An Lingrong already has two princes, so it is inevitable that she will be targeted by those ministers who are eager for quick success and instant benefits.
When the emperor came to visit Yonghe Palace a few days ago, he discovered this problem at the instigation of the queen.
Xiao Xia Zi also reminded her privately that the emperor was extremely suspicious and the newcomer sent this time was most likely intended to monitor her.
An Lingrong had already figured it out. Before her son grew up, the position of Imperial Concubine was the limit of her promotion.
She did not deceive the emperor that day, and in the next few years, she planned to devote all her energy to her three children.
She doesn't plan to have any more children for at least the next three years.
The emperor likes checks and balances, and having Concubine Hua restrain the queen gives her a chance to catch her breath.
An Lingrong once had a deep discussion with Concubine Hua about this issue.
She said self-deprecatingly that fortunately she still had some value in the eyes of the emperor, otherwise her fate would be like Concubine Duan who was lying half-dead in Yanqing Palace.
The emperor did not take Concubine Duan's life as Concubine Hua had guessed, but instead sent people to strictly guard Yanqing Palace, so that even Concubine Hua could not enter.
According to Jixiang, who served Concubine Duan, Concubine Duan was suffering from hysteria and did not dare to allow anyone to visit her for fear of disturbing the masters.
After An Lingrong accompanied Hongzhan for lunch, she still did not receive any reward from Shoukang Palace.
It seems that what Xiao Xiazi said is true. The Queen Mother really does not give the Emperor face at all.
Su Peisheng reported to the emperor with a bitter face that the empress dowager had not given any reward. The emperor was furious after hearing this and threw the memorial in his hand heavily on the table.
"Su Peisheng, convey my order to have Hongchun leave immediately for the imperial mausoleum to attend to Yunti's illness!"
Hongchun is the eldest son of the fourteenth prince, and the length of time he stays in the imperial mausoleum depends entirely on the attitude of the empress dowager.
When the Queen Mother heard the news, she was so angry that she tore off the Buddhist beads she often played with in her hand.
"Zhuxi, Yinzhen, this rebellious son, wants to force me to submit!"
Sun Zhuxi lowered his head, thinking about how to properly respond to the Queen Mother's words.
After dinner yesterday, the Emperor and the Empress Dowager had a secret conversation in the inner room. No one knows the specific content, but the result was obviously not pleasant.
The emperor left angrily, and the empress dowager was so angry that she smashed the teacup.
The Empress Dowager was good at forbearance when she was in the late emperor's harem. Now that there is no one to suppress her, even practicing Buddhism cannot change her stubbornness.
"Zhuxi, go to the storehouse and select four insignificant rewards. Also, send out the four pairs of Shu-embroidered palace shoes that I'm going to send back home."
The Queen Mother ordered calmly, but her tone revealed a hint of anger that was difficult to conceal.
"Yes, I obey your command." Sun Zhuxi did not dare to delay and immediately went to the warehouse to prepare.
In folk culture, "shoes" is synonymous with "evil", so giving shoes to non-relatives often means sending away evil spirits.
The Queen Mother was expressing her dissatisfaction with the Emperor in her own way.
The rewards from Shoukang Palace were delivered to Yonghe Palace as soon as they arrived, and Jiang Fuhai from Jingren Palace arrived right after.
Next, Xiao Linzi guarded Yonghe Palace, while Baoque and the other two went to Yiku Palace, Xianfu Palace and Suiyuxuan respectively to deliver gifts.
Songzhi led Baoque inside and presented the gift from Concubine Shu to her master.
Concubine Hua quickly glanced at the pair of jade ruyi on the tray. The quality seemed not to be the best, so she spoke in confusion.
"Is it possible that Sister Shu Guifei's Yonghe Palace is unable to make ends meet?"
"Replying to the Imperial Concubine, our master is trying to avoid suspicion, so he doesn't want to send expensive gifts."
Baoque gave Songzhi a look, and she knew that Concubine Shu must have something to convey.
After Songzhi stood guard at the door, Baoque reported in a low voice.
"My Lady, my master has told me to tell you that the enthronement ceremony has not yet been completed and everything is still uncertain."
"Your Highness, you are incredibly beautiful, and this is what the Emperor values."
She whispered a few more words, but Songzhi, who pricked up her ears, couldn't hear clearly.
But she saw the queen's face change drastically, and then she looked thoughtful.
"Master, are you okay?"
Concubine Hua waved her hand unhappily.
"Songzhi, I'm very upset and want to calm down."
The medicine prescribed by Jiang Cheng can help with pregnancy. An Lingrong said that if she wanted to have a child, he would give her a better prescription.
If we were to ask who in the palace has the most thorough research on assisted pregnancy methods, the Empress must be the leader.
In her previous life, An Lingrong injured her body because she took Xiji Pills to win favor. The Queen was not on guard against her and spread the fertility-aiding recipe that she had researched for many years in front of her.
She remembered the ingredients and dosage clearly.
Although An Lingrong took the opportunity to absorb most of the musk in Concubine Hua's body, it does not mean that she will become pregnant immediately after recuperation.
Giving her the prescription was just a cover, she still had to use the pills.
The night was dark, and Concubine Hua tossed and turned for a long time before she closed her eyes exhausted.
Half asleep and half awake, her lost child and her deceased brother appeared before her one after another.
When she woke up in the morning, she lay in bed, staring blankly at the top of the curtains, as if recalling her dream from last night.
After washing up, she called Songzhi to her side and said softly:
"The medicine I drank has the effect of helping with pregnancy."
"My Lady, you finally figured it out!"
When Songzhi heard this, a hint of joy flashed in her eyes.
After the emperor stopped using the musk in the Huanyi incense, Songzhi advised the queen to take care of her health and give birth to a child as soon as possible to support her in the future.
"I have never given Jiang Cheng such an order."
What Concubine Hua meant might be that the emperor ordered Jiang Cheng to do this!
Because of Jiang Cheng's self-willed behavior, the master and servant, who had too much imagination, had a secret conversation and felt that they could not afford to offend the emperor.
It was unanimously decided to continue taking the medicine!
As for whether you can conceive a child, you can only leave it to God.