Ning Wanshuang's favor was restored almost overnight.
When she was in disgrace, even the flowers in the palace withered along with her.
Now that she has risen to power again, the inner palace can't wait to move the best things to Yonghe Palace.
Those who had looked down on her now live in constant fear.
After Yonghe Palace was renovated inside and out, its former splendor was restored in about a month.
Today is also the day when the rear palaces return to Yonghe Palace to pay their respects to Ning Wanshuang.
The rear palaces have all witnessed Ning Wanshuang's arrogance and tyranny, so no one dares to be late,
except that Rongyue's seat remains conspicuously empty.
Ning Wanshuang then asks Consort Hui, "All the palaces have come today to pay their respects to me, where is Noble Consort Tong from your palace?"
Consort Hui says, "I don't know either... I went to bed early last night and didn't see Sister Tong this morning when I got up. I thought she had already come to pay her respects to Eldest Sister."
Li Changzai says, "Replying to Noble Consort, Noble Consort Tong was picked up by the Luanming Imperial Litter last night."
"She was picked up?" Ning Wanshuang asks in puzzlement, "His Majesty dined in my palace last night. When the eunuchs presented the name plaques, I clearly saw His Majesty had chosen Kang Daying's plaque. How did the Luanming Imperial Litter go to Zhaochun Palace instead?"
This Kang Daying is also a pitiful one. Since entering the palace, she has been like an invisible person, favored by Xiao Jingheng only once before being completely neglected.
If it weren't for the Empress Dowager persuading Xiao Jingheng yesterday to be fair, I'm afraid Xiao Jingheng would have forgotten her existence after another year or two.
When this matter is mentioned, Kang Daying also feels wronged.
She lives in Yao Hua Palace together with Consort Yao, who speaks up for her, "Kang Daying was all dressed up yesterday, but at the last minute the eunuchs said His Majesty changed his mind and went to pick up Noble Consort Tong, telling Kang Daying to rest well. Look at how pitiful our Kang Daying is, with eyes red from crying all night last night."
Seeing Kang Daying's red eyes now, everyone can't help speaking up for her,
"That Noble Consort Tong already has abundant favor, how can she also seize Kang Daying's favor? This is going too far..."
"The Noble Consort must restrain her, otherwise if everyone curries favor and fights for affection in the future, won't it become chaotic?"
Amidst the discussion among the rear palaces, Rongyue finally arrives fashionably late.
She looks exhausted and can't help yawning when paying her respects to Ning Wanshuang.
Ning Wanshuang looks her up and down and says coolly,
"Yonghe Palace has just been refurbished. Today is the first day the rear palaces resume paying their respects to me. What is the meaning of you arriving so late?"
"The Noble Consort forgives me," Rongyue perfunctorily salutes and says, "I did want to come, but after attending His Majesty last night, His Majesty felt I was tired and allowed me to go back to the palace and rest longer, so I came late. My sister wouldn't nitpick such a small matter with her sister, right?"
Her words and deeds are frivolous, obviously showing the arrogance from favoritism.
But Ning Wanshuang is not annoyed with her and says with a smile instead,
"You and I both serve His Majesty, of course His Majesty's wishes are more important. It's just that others will inevitably gossip about you for arriving late, which would wrongly make my sister suffer."
"To avoid resentment among the rear palaces, starting today, you shall move from Consort Hui's palace to live with me. This way, even if you want to rest for a while after attending His Majesty, you can do so in the side halls here in my palace without delaying paying your respects to me."
As soon as she says this, although the rear palaces do not speak, they are all waiting to see Rongyue make a fool of herself.
Who doesn't know Ning Wanshuang's domineering character?
If Rongyue really moves to live with her, not to mention having to look at Ning Wanshuang's face all the time openly and secretly, even if Xiao Jingheng flips Rongyue's name plaque in the future and the eunuchs make the Luanming Imperial Litter stop at the gate of Yonghe Palace, Ning Wanshuang can also pretend to have gotten on the litter and forcibly keep Rongyue in the palace.
In this way, Rongyue's favor would be completely cut off.
Rongyue can also see what calculations Ning Wanshuang is making. She quickly says,
"My humble self is grateful for the Noble Consort's kindness, but since entering the palace, this concubine has lived with Consort Hui. Now my mistress is pregnant, so I must attentively serve at my mistress's side. If I, an ungrateful person, go to enjoy blessings in the Noble Consort's palace at this time, wouldn't that be ungrateful?"
Ning Wanshuang smiles, "It would be too tiring for you to serve His Majesty while still taking care of Consort Hui. It is best that the unattached concubine Li Changzai stays to take care of Consort Hui, isn't it, sister?"
Consort Hui was still eating the snacks on the table when Ning Wanshuang suddenly asked her a question. Just as she wipes her mouth to reply, she hears Ning Wanshuang continue to speak first,
"If my sister has no objection, then it's settled. All right, let's disperse for today. Noble Consort Tong, stay behind. Have your palace maids go back and pack your daily necessities. From now on you will live here in my palace."
Rongyue shows an expression of embarrassment and displeasure. In the eyes of the other rear palaces who see it as they walk out the gate of Yonghe Palace, they want to laugh their teeth out in their hearts.
But after everyone left, Rongyue's distressed look disappears. Instead, she deeply salutes Ning Wanshuang,
"Thank you, Noble Consort."
Ning Wanshuang waves her hand carelessly at her. "No need for formalities when no outsiders are around."
She gestures for Rongyue to sit beside her and says again, "Song Zhao has told us about Consort Hui's identity. We must guard against her. Staying with me is much better than living in her palace."
Rongyue nods in agreement, her gaze deepening,
"Repaying trickery with trickery. Since Consort Hui likes to act, we might as well act out a good play with her. Hope the external arrangements can be done as soon as possible, so Zha'er's innocence can be restored sooner."
These days, Song Zhao has actually been secretly contacting Rongyue and Ning Wanshuang through Qin Tai.
In her letters, she told them about the matter of Consort Hui, asking them to be careful and to ensure their own safety first, and discuss everything else later.
Song Zhao did not ask them to help plan anything for her or to curry favor with Xiao Jingheng.
But Rongyue and Ning Wanshuang still did so without consulting each other.
Not for anything else, but because imperial favor is the only way for palace ladies to gain the power of discourse.
In order to save Song Zhao from dire straits,
they must first gain Xiao Jingheng's favor. Only then will they have the chance to speak up before him in the future.
*
In the fourth month of the sixth year of Qiyuan, good news finally came from Jiangnan.
The raging epidemic for months was finally brought under control, and the post-disaster reconstruction work was also proceeding in an orderly manner under Prince An's proper arrangements.
When he returned to report on his duties in early May, he first introduced a Jianghu doctor to Xiao Jingheng,
"Reporting to Imperial Brother, this is Doctor Zhang. This epidemic was cured all thanks to Doctor Zhang's outstanding medical skills. He even came up with a formula to treat the epidemic before the Imperial Medical Bureau's physicians, saving the people of Jiangnan from dire straits."
Having been introduced by Xiao Jingyan, Doctor Zhang quickly knelt down and kowtowed to Xiao Jingheng,
"Your humble subject Zhang Hangche kowtows to greet my Emperor. Long live His Majesty, long live, long live!"
"Rise and exempt from ceremony," Xiao Jingheng laughs loudly. "I have heard of your deeds. Prince An also contracted the epidemic in Jiangnan earlier, which you cured. You have rendered outstanding service this time. I do not wish to bury such talented man. Would you be willing to remain in the palace to serve me? The position of Vice Director of the Imperial Medical Bureau is still vacant. If you are willing, you can fill that post."
Zhang Hangche is overjoyed, repeatedly kowtowing,
"This humble one is deeply grateful for Your Majesty's grace! In the future, serving Your Majesty, I shall serve to the utmost, and ensure Your Majesty's health!"
Delighted by this, the eunuch takes him to prepare for his duty to enter the palace.
When only the two brothers remain in the hall, Xiao Jingyan bows with cupped fist to Xiao Jingheng and says solemnly,
"Imperial Brother ordered me to investigate the breach of the Chidong Embankment. I also have clues about it now. After detailed investigation and verification, there are indeed irregularities, as expected. This breach of the Chidong Embankment is by no means a natural disaster, but a deliberate sabotage!"
[To be continued, must finish another update tonight. Continue tomorrow.]
