Usurpation (Part 2)

  After finishing breakfast, a palace maid came out and reported: "Your Highness, the Fourth Imperial Concubine has come to pay her respects."

  "Please come in, Fourth Lady." Because of this one daughter-in-law, Empress Xi did not make a big show of receiving her greetings in the main hall of Chengqian Palace, except for that one time on the second day after the grand wedding.

  "The daughter-in-law pays respects to her mother-in-law, wishing her good fortune." Yunzhu wore a pale blue cheongsam with purple water crystal inlaid buttons and a silk sea-pink flower pattern. The entire outfit had no trim, only using purple silk thread to embroider wave patterns at the seams, giving this cheongsam a noble and elegant flavor amidst its delicate innocence. Paired with the azure enamel hairpin on her intricately styled two-bun hairstyle, her whole being exuded an ethereal quality that made people feel as though they were greeted by the gentle spring breeze of a clear blue sky on a sunny day, soft yet touching.

  This kind of beauty isn't something that can be possessed just by taking good care of oneself and restoring one's youthful appearance... A hint of imperceptible jealousy flashed through Xi Fei's heart, and her smile seemed especially warm, "Get up quickly."

  Looking at Yunzhu's eyes, it was as if looking at a golden Buddha with a sincere and reverent gaze. "Sit." Seeing Yunzhu sit down in the chair beside him, he took the teacup from Xiahe's hands and asked again: "I heard that Hongli had sent a letter yesterday, did he say anything?"

  The news spread quickly! Yunzhu smiled lightly, without any change in her expression: "It's just to ask about the Emperor and Empress Dowager's well-being, as well as to inquire about Yonghuan's situation, and to talk about the environment in the northwest that is different from the capital city." The tender words of affection couldn't be mentioned, nor could some sensitive topics related to military affairs be discussed. Yunzhu gave a perfunctory answer. "Also said to want to find a suitable gift for Mother, and discuss with my wife which ones are good."

  The last sentence obviously made Xi Fei's mood a lot better, she glanced at her and asked tentatively: "Oh? He didn't ask you to keep it a secret?"

  "What's there to keep secret, Father has always been filial and often tells me about his childhood with Mother. Mother's kindness and Father's deep affection for her are truly a match made in heaven, who could have predicted it?! Cloud Pearl's eyes sparkled as she smiled mischievously, "What place under the sky can compare to the prosperity and richness of the capital city? As a wife, I'm just a simple woman with limited experience, what good ideas could I possibly come up with? All I can say is 'the gift may be small but the thought is grand'."

  "Can the clever ideas in my mind be used on this head? Nonsense!" Although she said so with her mouth, Empress Xi was still very delighted in her heart and couldn't help but laugh for a long time. She took out her handkerchief to dab at the corners of her eyes and said: "I'm glad he has such thoughts, why bother him to laboriously find some gift? You go back and tell him to focus his efforts on official duties and not neglect important matters."

  If I don't say a few words that you like to hear, perhaps I'll be scolded for delaying Emperor Qianlong's "official business". Yunzhu also understood Empress Hui's subtle intentions and responded with a few words before saying: "A few days ago, Mother promised that the daughter-in-law would arrive tomorrow at Xiuyun Temple to offer incense to Father. Does Mother have any other instructions?"

  "Are the preparations and personnel arrangements in place?"

  "The wife is preparing to bring two senior palace maids and Ye Lao Lao, Feng Yi to go, the accompanying guards will be arranged by General Manager Chang."

  "One less, hmm, bring Shang Ayi along too, she's been to Yunyun Temple with me before and is familiar. Empress Xi still thought that Ye Ayi was sent by the Queen to control her son in Qianxi, so she didn't want her to be too close to Yunzhu, and added Shang Ayi who was sent by herself. After thinking for a moment, she said: "Tomorrow, there will also be Madame Fucha and others going, let General Manager Chang send more guards, it's safer."

  "Yes." Originally, Ye Ye had leaves, but considering her connections with the Emperor and Empress, An An's heart didn't think that Xi Fei would even guard against this. This trip is worth a few incense sticks, no need to calculate.

  "It's about time, let's go and pay our respects to the Empress Dowager." Xifei said calmly, putting down her teacup after glancing at the grandfather clock. The Empress Dowager was a huge mountain weighing on her head, always making her feel uncomfortable. When would she finally be able to become the most important person in the harem and rely on her son's power to gain prestige?

  Understanding her mind knot, Yunzhu rarely talks about the Empress in front of her. The few times she accompanies her to pay respects to the Empress, she is unwilling to become a topic of contention between them.

  The Empress, Urna, as a proper lady, had also raised Hongli for a period of time. She wanted to use Yunzhu to suppress the arrogance of Xi Fei, but she couldn't bear the emperor's favoritism towards Yunzhu. At every major ceremony that required the empress to preside over and make an appearance, she would have her follow behind her, as if thinking that she would soon die and take her place...

  Although she could understand, it didn't mean that Yunzhu was willing to back down. It was a joke that Yongzheng had taught her the royal etiquette, and not that she herself was eager to suffer hardships, originally not happy to waste good time on tedious palace affairs and being a super luxurious wooden puppet, Yunzhu received training and copied scriptures, and the next day, Yongzheng already knew everything.

  Looking at the new materials presented by the sticky stick, Yongzheng silently sighed.

  When Honghui died, his power had greatly increased, and the sticky situation was gradually maturing. Only then did he pay attention to the back house, but he didn't expect that in the past, with a heart thinking it was safe and peaceful, the mansion actually concealed so many astonishing private struggles, causing himself to lose one child after another, even his only son, whom he had placed great hopes on, also got trapped!

  After a thorough introspection, he hardened his heart again, took in Fu Jin and made an effort to make the princesses in the mansion pregnant. On one hand, he secretly protected his children by dividing the power; on the other hand, he used the relationship between the back palace and the front court to influence the previous dynasty. Until he ascended to the throne, he began to look for a daughter-in-law who was suitable for Hongli in all aspects. He knew she was intelligent, gentle but not without means, only wondering if she was suitable for this harem, could she bear the heavy responsibility of being the mother of the heaven, and could she protect her children in the struggle among these women... He still wanted to observe slowly, see how she would behave.

  She's quite clever, knowing that there are people around her who have been sent by herself, she quietly reveals her grievances to herself. Yongzheng hooked his lips, and it's not easy for her to stand up against her mother-in-law as a daughter-in-law! He thought about refining her, but Yongzheng sighed and picked up the ball she kicked back - after all, he couldn't let her whisper that he can't even discipline his wives properly?!

  This daughter-in-law never feared her emperor's identity, and often made sarcastic remarks about herself without being polite. After Yongzheng received the report from the sticky stick, he couldn't help but cry and laugh. Although she didn't say anything pleasant, her words also showed respect and concern for him, which warmed his heart. Despite being annoyed by her lack of seniority, he wouldn't use his authority as an elder or emperor to deal with a junior like her!

  On the contrary, he was increasingly dissatisfied with the queen. The affection that had once been so intimate, the respect for his legitimate wife, were slowly eroding, while Xi Fei... Ah, I hope she can control herself! Decades of caution shouldn't be ruined by "greed" in one morning.

  Every time Yunzhu causes trouble, Yongzheng will also follow up with one or two small things to let Su Peisheng come and scold him, deducting monthly expenses, copying scriptures... The empress and Xi Fei tried a few times and realized that the gentle and lovely little white rabbit was actually a snow fox who was good at hiding its sharp claws, not taking any losses.

  Unfortunately, behind her stood the current and future supreme rulers of the Qing Dynasty.

  The Empress Ulanara still had to consider that she had no children of her own, and the family's status still relied on the emperor's nostalgia for past relationships, so she didn't dare go too far. Xi Fei was more complicated.

  With her own status and having a son like Hong Li, it's only natural that the emperor would hold his daughter-in-law in high esteem. Although she had smoothly taken charge of palace affairs and gained face, there was one daughter-in-law who was too formidable, hard to control, and disobedient. This Fuca Yunzhu not only won the emperor's favor but also gradually took over her son's important position in his heart. In the future, she would give birth to a legitimate grandson - the person who would inherit everything from her son. Thinking about it, it was unsettling. This wasn't a filial and obedient daughter-in-law, this was an enemy coming to snatch away all her glory!

  Xi Fei, with her extremely sensitive heart, was facing Yun Zhu in a complicated way. She couldn't bring herself to dislike her - after all, Yun Zhu was currently a great help in opposing the Empress Dowager, and the Fuca family had considerable influence in the imperial court, supporting Emperor Qianlong. However, she couldn't help but be on guard, facing everything that had been painstakingly built up, as well as the glory that might be hers in the future. She was not about to give up now that it was within her grasp - a life of obscurity in a corner of the harem was something she had already had enough of.

  She had been watching for so long, but still couldn't see through Yunzhu. She was not competitive or jealous, and was broad-minded and generous, even when it came to her children, she didn't seem to care much...

  The Empress Xi, who was extremely patient, would not have truly made a move without understanding the enemy's fatal weakness. Moreover, she and the Emperor knew that Yunzhu was born with a phoenix fate, being the incarnation of Ling Guang Sheng Jun. If they harmed her, wouldn't it bring about unfavorable consequences? Wouldn't it provoke the Emperor's displeasure?

  She was just a concubine, she didn't have a strong enough family, and she still had a son waiting to inherit the throne, so she couldn't afford to make any mistakes. Now that the "Miraculous Jade Orchid Fruit" that could restore her youth was in Yunzhu's hands, she had to ask favors from the Empress, which made things even more unbearable. Even the tactics she used to suppress the Empress in the past were no longer usable. Was there anyone who felt as suffocated as she did?!

  "Her Majesty the Queen is safe and sound." Consort Xi led the way, accompanied by Consort Qi, Imperial Concubine Yu, and other consorts, to pay their respects and inquire after the queen's well-being.

  "Sisters, please rise." The queen smiled as she enjoyed the respect of the concubines below her. Her eyes paused for a moment when they swept over Xi Fei. Since the emperor had ordered Xi Fei to take charge of palace affairs, the two could be said to be at odds with each other, only maintaining a superficial relationship. For their own interests, one was deeply wary of the other, and the other wished the first would die as soon as possible... It was simply ironic compared to their cooperation in the past, but that's just how things were.

  After all the consorts had paid their respects and inquired after her health, Yunzhu stepped forward to pay her respects: "Your daughter-in-law wishes you good health, Your Majesty. May you have a long life."

  "Get up quickly." The queen said to one side of the peony, "Let the Fourth Imperial Concubine take a seat."

  A small embroidered stool was placed in front of the empress, and Yunzhu smiled slightly before sitting down quietly, ignoring the jealous glances from the other consorts. The position was quite forward, but the embroidered stool wasn't something people sat on at the imperial court, so the empress must have intentionally put it there to provoke others.

  Having is better than not having. After getting the Yulan fruit, the queen's attitude towards her was no longer so cold, and she gradually restored her dignified, gentle and elegant demeanor. Of course, these palace concubines' attitudes that changed like modern weather forecasts were none of Zhenzhu's concern - you do your thing, I'll do mine.

  Her calm and collected attitude made the Empress and Consort Xi so angry that they almost vomited blood: Does this palace not even enter your eyes?! It also delighted Yongzheng, who was secretly watching.

  After sitting down, Yunzhu said to the Empress: "Empress, tomorrow my daughter-in-law will go to Xiuyun Temple to burn incense. Does the Empress have any instructions?" She didn't visit Jingren and Chengqian Palaces every day to pay her respects. Since the beginning of the year when the Empress's body was not suitable for labor and needed "quiet nursing", this rule was established, visiting once every five days. Xi Fei also followed this rule and changed it to visiting once every five days, setting the date on the same day. As a result, after Yunzhu paid her respects, she would take her daughter-in-law to pay respects to the Empress, showing that the daughter-in-law was still close to herself. On the one hand, it poked at the Empress's eyes, and on the other hand, it prevented the Empress from having more opportunities to win over Yunzhu.

  Yunzhu was delighted with this good news and also took the opportunity to make Hongli's concubines less annoying in front of her.

  The Empress Dowager said: "Take more eunuchs and guards with you, pay attention to safety, if there's anything lacking, just notify the Imperial Household Department, the Empress will be in charge..."

  Is this implying that she's in charge of the palace affairs but doesn't take care of anything? Xi Fei almost gritted her teeth in anger, how dare she put on a kind motherly face in front of her, does she think she can do without her daughter-in-law?!

  Because Yongzheng liked Buddhism, many concubines in the palace worshipped Buddha. Ning Concubine and others talked to Yunzhu about their past experiences of going to temples to burn incense, with some flattery in their conversation. During this time, it was impossible for the changes in the Empress and Xi Concubine not to be noticed. After secretly investigating, they finally obtained some information: the Fourth Lady had a miraculous medicine that could restore youth, and the Empress and Xi Concubine became younger after receiving her filial piety.

  Although I don't know if such a miraculous medicine really exists in this world, but if I can get some of it and make myself more youthful and beautiful, wouldn't the possibility of being favored by the emperor and getting pregnant with the dragon's son be greatly increased?

  When Hai Gui Ren entered the palace, it was still early days and she didn't know the depth of things. Thinking about the possible flesh and blood in her belly and the emperor's recent favor, she smiled coyly: "It's good that Fourth Lady is kind to Buddha, praying for blessings, protecting the imperial family's bloodline safe and sound, don't just disappear without a word again."

  In an instant, the queen and Xi Fei's faces changed slightly.

  At the banquet for the Empress Dowager's birthday in March, Su answered that she had returned to the Zhongxian Palace and miscarried a two-month-old fetus that night... Because there was no news of Su's pregnancy before, it could only be attributed to her carelessness, eating something she shouldn't have eaten, which caused the fetus to become unstable and fall. In Hai Gui Ren's words, on the surface, it referred to Hong Li and Hong Xiu who were far away in the northwest battlefield, but in reality, it was referring to Su's miscarriage. One sentence with multiple meanings made the Empress Dowager, Xi Fei, and Yu Bin feel uncomfortable at the scene.

  "Sincerely worship Buddha, the ancestors will naturally bless." Yunzhu replied lightly. This was a matter of Yongzheng's harem, and as a daughter-in-law, she didn't want to get too involved in it. Moreover, having entered this imperial palace and become an emperor's concubine, shouldn't they have expected these things? In the face of success or failure, what's there to say?

  A spiritual force swept imperceptibly over Haigui's body, and a hint of enlightenment flashed in Yunzhu's eyes. Is she pregnant? No wonder she risked offending people to shut up the Empress and Xi Fei with her words, she's actually quite clever.

  "You will leave the palace tomorrow, go back and prepare." The empress did not want to continue on this topic, "I have important matters to discuss with your mother and the others."

  Yunzhu got up and gave the empress a courtesy, saying: "Thank you, Your Majesty. I'll take my leave now." She also paid her respects to Empress Xi and Concubine Yu, but Concubine Yu and Concubine Li stepped aside to avoid her. Only Empress Xi sat steadily and nodded her head, saying: "You may go."

  As they walked out of the palace gate, Yunzhu supported Suwen's hand and heard the empress's voice inside asking: "In two months, it will be Hongye's grand wedding, but Hongye is still in the northwest... Xi Fei, does the emperor have any instructions?"

  "Your Majesty, I was just thinking of asking you to make a decision. The preparations for the grand wedding in the Inner Court and the Ministry of Rites are almost complete. Can't we have the groom present at his own wedding?" Whether or not Hongxu returns, it's all good news for Hongli. She doesn't want to offend Yu Pin after all, and it wouldn't look good if it reached the Emperor's ears either. After all, she's not the mistress of the six palaces, so why take on this thankless task?

  The queen gritted her teeth in secret, this Xi Fei still hasn't been blinded by power. "Where's Yu Bin?"

  Yu Eunuchs Geng hesitated for a moment, and respectfully said: "This matter should still be decided by the emperor." She was more inclined to let her son stay in the northwest to establish greater merit and become king earlier. The wedding could also be postponed, and the Imperial Observatory could choose another date. It would be pointless to summon her son back from the northwest without knowing when he would have the opportunity to make a name for himself. However, she couldn't say this out loud. After thinking about it, she decided that putting her son's future in the emperor's hands was the most appropriate course of action.

  "In that case, let's go to the Qianqing Palace with Imperial Concubine Yu and discuss it with the Emperor..."

  Yunzhu walked further and further ahead, her voice growing fainter. She let out a soft sigh, a hint of a smile playing on the corners of her lips. Before long, Wu Zaku would be entering the palace to keep her company, and having only one imperial son's consort was still too eye-catching for this imperial palace.