Zhen Huan and Nian Shilan became taboos in the palace, just like the Fourth Prince who was raised in the Old Summer Palace and was not favored by Yinzhen. Except for Concubine Qi, who was the smartest one, everyone else kept silent about this matter.

"Oh, I thought Wanpin was the most favored one, but I didn't expect that Shen's sister is so lucky. She has become a noble concubine. She is even younger than when Nian was a noble concubine, right?"

Ever since Ye Bingshang was named Imperial Concubine, Concubine Qi suddenly became panicked. The Third Prince was not favored by the Emperor, and she was old and ugly. Seeing Ye Bingshang surpassing her and becoming Imperial Concubine and still enjoying great favor, how could she not be anxious?

So even though Ye Bingshang's position was higher than Concubine Qi's, Concubine Qi still refused to call Ye Bingshang "Royal Concubine". She even came up with the idea of ​​calling her "Sister Shen".

Before Ye Bingshang could speak, the Queen stopped her: "Concubine Qi, don't break the palace taboos. You are so old, but you still can't control your mouth."

Ye Bingshang was not serious. It was not worth damaging her long-established image for a fool. She smiled and said, "If we talk about luck, Concubine Qi is the luckiest. The Third Prince is the eldest son, tall and strong, and very filial."

But there are no other advantages.

These words were not said politely enough. Even Concubine Mi and Noble Lady Qi, who were with Concubine Qi all day, could hear something wrong. However, Concubine Qi still thought that Ye Bingshang was complacent because she bowed to her.

"That's right. The Third Prince is the most filial and he is tall and strong." It was rare for Concubine Qi to hear someone praising the Third Prince. She was instantly delighted and in high spirits. "Alas, the Sixth Prince and the Third Princess are still young, so Concubine Lan can't understand it yet."

Ye Bingshang had been smiling faintly and remained silent. Seeing that the Queen's eyes were looking at Concubine Qi more and more unfriendly, she thought that she could not bear it any longer, so she found an excuse to leave at the right time.

She also has children to take care of, two at that.

In fact, since Zhen Huan left the palace, another thing happened to Ye Bingshang. The last little dot of love in her heart and the soul of Shen Meizhuang suddenly disappeared, and the ghost orchid that she had nurtured for a long time also withered for no reason.

Ye Bingshang was surprised at first, but then she had a guess in her mind that the extra love was most likely not brought by her, but by Shen Meizhuang, so they existed and disappeared together.

It was her soul that brought her own love when it came to this world and occupied this body together. However, this ghost orchid that suddenly withered was a bit strange.

It should have been a very terrifying thing, but Ye Bingshang vaguely felt that it was a good thing. She only half-heartedly wished in her heart that Shen Meizhuang could be reborn into a good family in the next life, and then let it go.

Zhen Huan's request to leave the palace to practice cultivation did not cause much commotion in the palace. It was far less memorable than Nian Shilan's self-immolation a few days ago. No matter how tragic or resolute it was, it could not compare to the madness before Nian Shilan's death.

Not long after, Concubine Duan, who had been strong until then, finally died of exhaustion when she saw that it was hopeless to adopt Wen Yi. When Ye Bingshang and Yinzhen found out, they both breathed a sigh of relief, each for their own reasons.

Yinzhen knew Duan Fei's pulse history. Many imperial doctors said that she would not live long, but she had not died. He felt that if she lived any longer, she would become a spirit.

Ye Bingshang was glad. Seeing that Wen Shichu often went to Ganlu Temple, she guessed that Wen Shichu would definitely overlook the cause of Concubine Duan's illness. So she decided to go all out and asked Wei Lin to activate Chi Huan, which had penetrated deep into Concubine Duan's bones, and send her to the underworld to settle accounts with Nian Shilan in advance.

After going through so much trouble, does she have to keep her and wait for Zhen Huan to return to the palace? Ye Bingshang is not doing charity, and she never thought of letting go of Concubine Duan, who is good at disguise and has great ambitions.

Fortunately, the death of Concubine Duan was laid out long enough in the early stages and did not attract the attention and suspicion of smart people like Yinzhen and the Queen. This was all thanks to Nian Shilan, who was a good sword to both the Queen and Ye Bingshang.

Concubine Duan's funeral was very simple. Although she was buried according to the etiquette of a concubine, it was obvious that the masters above her did not take it very seriously and showed that they just wanted it to be good enough.

When people inside and outside the palace saw this, they realized that the higher-ups did not like Concubine Duan very much. The situation of the already declining Qi family, Concubine Duan's family, became even more difficult.

The core struggle for power has nothing to do with the Qi family anymore.

The situation in the palace has become a confrontation between the Queen and Noble Concubine Lan Ye Bingshang, but unlike the arrogance and tyranny of Concubine Hua in the past, the two appear to be in harmony, one virtuous and tolerant, the other respectful and dignified.

Not only were the Empress Dowager and Yinzhen very satisfied with this phenomenon, but the concubines under them could also live a slightly more peaceful life.

Ye Bingshang knew that she was born in the Han army banner, and according to the rules of the Qing Dynasty, she could not become the queen. Even if Yinzhen promoted her to a higher banner, she could only be promoted to the Imperial Noble Consort at most, and the orthodox Manchus, that is, the barbarians, would definitely oppose her.

To be promoted to Imperial Noble Consort, one usually had to be without a Queen. So before the Queen fell, Ye Bingshang simply didn't even touch the palace power.

It is not legitimate for a concubine to assist in managing the six palaces. If she does not do it well, she will definitely be wrong. If she does it well, she will be suspected of being too power-hungry, which will easily cause Yinzhen and the queen's trump card, and the queen dowager will not trust her. This thankless task should be left to the queen herself.

Yinzhen also came to pretend to test her.

It was after an ordinary lunch. Ye Bingshang took a copy of the Analects and read it to the two children in a gentle tone, while Yinzhen was working on the side, so that neither of them was delayed.

"The Queen is in poor health. It would be too tiring for her to manage so many affairs in the harem alone. I intend to grant you the power to assist in managing the six palaces. What do you think?" Yinzhen did not even raise his head, and spoke in a normal tone, as if he was not asking casually.

Ye Bingshang followed his lead, not even raising her head or putting down the book in her hand, and replied casually, "Although my position is higher than the other sisters, my health is not good, and I have to take care of two children, so I really can't take care of it."

Everyone in the palace knew that she was frail and sickly, and some people were skeptical at first, but she remained in favor for several years, and she often took off her green card herself when she was sick.

The concubines and the queen in the palace did not believe that the favored concubine would push away the emperor's favor on her own, so they all believed that Concubine Lan was weak.

Yinzhen naturally knew more about this matter, and he often worried that the poisoning would really affect Ye Bingshang's lifespan. However, as one of the nine princes who had fought for the throne, he still did not believe that anyone would give up the power they had obtained.

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