Chapter 12

The Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager parted on unfriendly terms.

Borjigit only dared to take a deep breath after returning to the Chuxiu Palace. The tense atmosphere in the Cining Palace still made her scalp tingle at the mere thought, and she wanted nothing more than to hide in a crack in the ground.

When the Grand Empress Dowager’s sharp gaze swept over her, Borjigit felt like a field mouse caught in the eyes of a hawk; even breathing seemed a mistake.

Thankfully, she had returned unharmed.

Secretly, Borjigit rejoiced in her heart—today, the Grand Empress Dowager’s suspicion was not directed at her.

Years ago, she and Consort Hui had entered the palace on the same day. Consort Hui was from the same clan as the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager, both hailing from the Khorchin Borjigit clan. Consort Hui had always overshadowed her, but her health was frail, and she did not enjoy much fortune. She passed away within six months of entering the palace.

Although Borjigit came from the Zaruud tribe, there were no Khorchin consorts in the palace now. With her Mongolian heritage and surname, the Grand Empress Dowager could not treat her harshly, and the Empress Dowager would surely protect her.

After all, she was the only one the Empress Dowager could rely on at the moment.

Sitting in her chamber, Borjigit grew irritated by the noisy commotion outside and asked sharply, “What is all the noise out there?”

Cui Zhu replied cautiously, “Today the Emperor bestowed gifts upon Hesheli Gege. She is currently in the courtyard distributing silver to the palace maids who serve her.”

Borjigit was astonished. “Without reason? Why would the Emperor reward her?”

After entering the palace, Hesheli had not gained favor. Could she have used some trick to capture the Emperor’s attention?

Borjigit’s face flushed and paled in turns, her breathing growing heavier.

Cui Liu, who had accompanied her to Cining Palace, understood best. Her mistress was both frightened and shocked today, and with the provocation from next door, she might do something rash again. She signaled Cui Zhu to keep silent.

“Gege, Hesheli Gege is the younger sister of Empress Renxiao and the maternal aunt of the Crown Prince. The Emperor only favors her out of respect for the Crown Prince,” Cui Liu reassured her.

The Crown Prince, the Crown Prince—after all, Hesheli still benefited from the imperial heir’s favor!

Borjigit suddenly stood and headed for the door but stopped just short, clenching her fists and restraining herself.

If only she had a child of her own, Hesheli would never enjoy such glory.

But the Fourth Prince was young and hard to please; she still had to think of a plan.

—

In Chengqian Palace,

Tong Jiahe was holding a brush, trying hard to recall the cartoons she had watched as a child. The Fourth Prince was at an age obsessed with toys, so she planned to draw some patterns and ask Consort Su to help turn them into dolls.

Pu Yu had never seen a consort so anxious over such matters, and he smiled, advising, “Your Highness need not rush. Take your time.”

The Emperor had been dining with Consort Tong frequently in recent days. Though he did not stay overnight, their relationship had softened significantly, appearing no different from before.

Tong Jiahe stood and looked at the ice stored in the hall, asking, “Is there enough ice at Consort Su’s place?”

Pu Yu smiled and replied, “Consort Su sent word that even after sharing with Consort Wang, there is still some left.”

—

In the rear hall of Chengqian Palace lived three consorts: Consort Su, Consort Chen, and Consort Wang. Their relationships had been decent until Consort Chen caused a disturbance, after which Consort Su ceased contact with her.

Tong Jiahe never meddled in the relationships among the consorts.

Each consort had her own way of getting along.

Since Consort Su was friendly with her, she naturally distanced herself from Consort Chen.

Consort Wang remained on good terms with Tong Jiahe and had entered the palace the same year as Consort Chen. They maintained a decent friendship, though out of consideration for Tong Jiahe, Consort Wang did not appear too close to Consort Chen.

In the rear hall, Consort Chen was filled with regret.

Who would have thought that after a bout of illness, the favored consort had become even more generous? She heard that Consort Wang was already enjoying ice. Even if she could not match Consort Su, her treatment should at least be equal to Consort Wang’s.

The ice from the Imperial Household Department melted within half an hour. The palace operated on twelve hours a day; without ice, she had to endure the heat, her chambers like a steaming sauna.

If it had not been for the promised benefits blinding her… she would not be in this situation!

She had sent messengers several times to plead with the favored consort but was rejected each time.

The favored consort refused to see her.

Consort Chen clutched her trusted maid’s hand, tears falling as she pleaded, “Go again, you must get a meeting with the favored consort.”

The maid was troubled. She had tried multiple times herself, but recently, even Pu Yu, the favored consort’s chief maid, was unreachable. The person now dismissing them was an unfamiliar second-rank maid.

So she had to beseech her, calling her “elder sister.”

Most importantly, Consort Chen was miserly—she never let others touch her private silver or jewelry; even her closest maid did not know where she hid her money.

These days were hard; she always expected her maids to front expenses for the Imperial Household Department.

“But there isn’t enough silver?” The maid hesitated, and Consort Chen, aware of the reason, quickly coaxed, “Once my monthly allowance arrives, I will reimburse you.”

The maid lowered her head even further.

Consort Chen’s words were almost daily refrains. Each time the allowance came, she pretended to forget, then dangled promises again after a few days.

The more people, the faster the ice melted. Consort Chen looked at the ice in the room, heart aching, and began dismissing the others.

“Everyone, please leave; too many people make me dizzy.”

The dismissed young maids looked numb, observing those around them—whether from Consort Su’s or Consort Wang’s quarters, their faces were bright with happiness.

The favored consort was generous, and the rear consorts lived comfortably. Now, what better future was there in the palace than serving the favored consort? At worst, serving Consort Su was not bad—no great wealth, but no suffering.

Such fortune was beyond their reach; they only hoped their saved silver could get the Imperial Household Department to find them a better place. Anywhere would be better than staying with Consort Chen.

—

That day, after Tong Jiahe spoke, two young maids left that very night. Their good looks meant the Imperial Household Department quickly found them new posts.

—

Consort Hui had long instructed the Imperial Household Department to watch for beautiful young maids. Just then, Shiliu, the chief maid of Consort De, came by and took an interest in these two.

Consort Hui’s eldest brother was the first son, favored by the Emperor; Consort De was a favored consort on par with Consort Yi. Neither side wanted to offend the other, so the two maids were separated—one assigned to Zhongcui Palace and the other to Yonghe Palace.

When Shiliu led the maid back, Consort De was cautiously handing the Sixth Prince to the wet nurse.

“It’s hot here; bring the Sixth Prince back to the side hall to sleep,” she said.

Recently, Kangxi often stayed overnight at Yonghe Palace. Consort De tried every means to please him, even using less ice in her quarters according to his preference.

Seeing Consort De sweating at her temples, Shiliu advised, “Your Highness, you dislike the heat, but using some ice privately won’t be noticed.”

Consort De shook her head. “The Emperor dislikes eunuchs reporting to him when he comes to the harem. What if someone visits Yonghe Palace...”

Shiliu nodded and sent someone to guard the door, mentioning the maid they favored today.

“She truly has good looks. I privately inquired—she was released from Consort Tong in Chengqian Palace.”

Consort De frowned. “Consort Tong’s person?”

“Not exactly. She was originally a maid cleaning the front hall courtyard, never entering the favored consort’s chamber or having a chance to speak with her,” Shiliu explained. “The other maid who left with her went to Consort Hui’s palace.”

Consort De lowered her eyes, silent.

Why did the favored consort expel these maids?

Consort De pondered long, suspecting the favored consort was afraid.

After being neglected by the Emperor for a time, then tricked by Consort Chen, she now dared not keep beautiful maids nearby and thus sent them away early.

Seeing Consort De’s silence, Shiliu felt uneasy, wondering if she had been reckless today.

Consort De met her anxious gaze and, after a moment, spoke softly, “Keep her here for now. She’s just a young maid. Once she officially enters the Imperial Household Department, she’ll be unrelated to the past.”

Shiliu finally relaxed. Her mistress was kind-hearted and gentle. In this cutthroat harem, if she did not take initiative, others would scheme against her. Shiliu could only push her forward.

“At your age, Your Highness, you need not use maids to secure favor. Zhongcui Palace’s approach was too ruthless.” Shiliu disdained Consort Hui’s methods but had to admit they were effective.

Consort Wei was a maid Consort Hui had promoted to secure favor. She served the Emperor several times, became pregnant, struggled to give birth to the Eighth Prince, and the Emperor eventually allowed Consort Hui to raise the child.

Consort De kept her doubts to herself and quietly instructed, “Keep watch outside the hall for a while. Observe carefully. If necessary, promote her.”

She was curious: if a maid from Chengqian Palace was accepted into the harem by the Emperor, would the proud favored consort still bow to him again?