The Virtuous Concubine

Malu was very satisfied with the progress she made every day. Now embroidery and calligraphy had become something she loved from the bottom of her heart and a way for her to express herself implicitly. She had to be careful and cautious about too many things in the deep palace, but when she was embroidering and writing, she was free and light.

When Malu was about to take a bath, Bai Fu came in from the front, looking a little hurried. She softly but anxiously conveyed Concubine Tong's order: "Your Majesty, Concubine Tong sent someone to inform that everyone in the harem should first gather at her Chengqian Palace at noon tomorrow, and then she will lead everyone in the harem to the Cining Palace to pay respects to the Empress Dowager, and repeatedly emphasized that no one should be absent."

Malu couldn't help but feel a little curious. Wasn't this too sudden? She asked, "Did you say what it was about?"

Bai Fu shook her head, indicating that she had inquired, but the one who came to inform was only a second-class maid, so she couldn't tell any news. Malu sighed softly. She knew that this must be no good, but she didn't know who it was aimed at. She nodded, indicating to Bai Fu that she understood. "Tell the person who comes that I will definitely attend on time."

After Bai Fu took the order and left, Bai Xia began to get busy, preparing for tomorrow's dressing. This was the first time that her master officially appeared in front of the Grand Empress Dowager, and every detail had to be carefully taken care of to ensure that it was flawless. Ever since Bai Xia learned that the Grand Empress Dowager had prevented her master from being promoted to the position of concubine, she felt that the Grand Empress Dowager was not an easy person to get along with, and she could not be careless in paying respects this time.

A group of people were busy showing different gorgeous clothes for Malu to choose from. Bai Xia suddenly put down a red gold hairpin in her hand, as if she had just realized: "Does the Empress Dowager dislike our master very much?"

Bai Fu, who was standing by, was so angry at Bai Xia's outspokenness that she almost fell backwards. Could she say such things in front of her master? She glared at Bai Xia fiercely, secretly blaming her for her recklessness, but her face remained calm as she gently reminded him, "Bai Xia, it's better if your mouth is rotten, so that you don't get beaten with a stick by the people from the Ministry of Punishment."

Seeing her two maids being so close, Malu also laughed: "The Empress Dowager doesn't look down on me at all. She looks down on everyone in the harem equally except the Mongolian concubines."

There was a hint of playfulness in Malu's words, but the joke was very real. She gave birth to the fourth prince and was given the title of concubine by wearing woolen clothes, but the Empress Dowager didn't even bother to give her a glance. In the harem, only Empress Hesheli, Empress Niuhulu and Concubine Tong could knock on the door of the Cining Palace.

As for the unlucky Concubine Yi, she sacrificed a son to get some good looks, which was just a loss-making deal. Ma Lu knew that in the eyes of the Empress Dowager and Emperor Kangxi, the concubines were just pawns on the chessboard and could become victims of the power struggle at any time.

Bai Xia and Bai Fu were relieved after hearing their master's carefree words. Bai Xia also regretted it. She just suddenly remembered that her master had never met the Grand Empress Dowager properly, so she blurted it out. She was afraid that her master would be sad after she said it, but fortunately her master was open-minded.

Malu didn't pay any more attention to this matter. Anyway, Bai Xia was careful outside, so there was no need to say anything to make her feel guilty. She turned around and faced the jewelry on the table, carefully selecting each one. Finally, with the help of everyone, they chose a lake green palace dress embroidered with pink lotus flowers, which was suitable for her age and elegant. Finally, Bai Xia and Bai Fu also helped to choose a set of simple and exquisite green jade jewelry, which could set off her temperament without being too ostentatious.

After finishing all these, Malu had no appetite for dinner. After taking a bath, she fell directly on the bed. She was not worried about having to watch the verbal battles between the women in the harem tomorrow. She would just treat it as watching a palace fighting drama. What she was worried about was the sudden summons from the Empress Dowager and whether others would find out that she was pregnant with twins.

The Empress Dowager always claimed that she did not interfere in the affairs of the harem, but now she suddenly wanted to summon all the concubines in the harem, and she did not issue the decree herself... but through Concubine Tong's mouth, which was very intriguing. She tossed and turned in bed, with a lot of thoughts. What was the Empress Dowager's intention? What role did Concubine Tong play in this process? These questions were like a tangled mess in her mind, making it difficult for her to fall asleep.

Since I couldn't sleep anyway, I might as well open the video to see what these people were planning! After this idea came up, Malu asked the system to open the video. If it was any later, Concubine Tong would probably be asleep. Sure enough, the Empress Dowager had already gone to bed. Only Su Malagu was still awake in the side room next to her, but she was also an old lady in the palace and sat there without saying a word.

Seeing that he couldn't see anything, Ma Lu switched to Chengqian Palace and saw Concubine Tong half leaning on the bed and talking to her trusted maid Liuying. Liuying's face was filled with joy: "Your Majesty, your health has obviously improved recently, and your complexion has become much rosy. It's great. It seems that the western medicine given by the emperor is really useful."

Hearing this, Concubine Tong smiled coldly: "Yes, Your Majesty, I am grateful for your grace."

Liuying was not intimidated by Concubine Tong's abnormal behavior. Instead, she said more eagerly, "Your Majesty, your recovery is the greatest good news for us. There are many people in the palace, and if you recover, you will naturally be one step closer to having a child and becoming the empress. I just don't know if this Western medicine has any health-enhancing or pregnancy-aiding properties?"

Concubine Tong looked at Liuying and said, "Don't you understand yet? The emperor will not let me, nor will he let the daughter of the Tong family, have children. No matter how much health-preserving and pregnancy-aiding medicine you take, it's useless. I can't change the emperor's mind." After saying this, she looked through the window lattice at the twinkling stars in the night sky, but her eyes were dead silent.

Liuying bit her lower lip and said hesitantly, "But if we don't do anything, the Tong family will send your half-sister, Miss Xiaoye, in... It is said that the Niuhulu clan is also preparing to send another person in. The Ministry of Internal Affairs has begun to prepare the palace and clothing system for the little Niuhulu. This news cannot be false."

Her voice got lower and lower, but every word was like a heavy hammer, hitting Concubine Tong's heart. Concubine Tong's face changed slightly, and her eyes finally showed some ripples: "Oh! Do you really think this harem is a nest of gold and silver? Is she worthy of being called a lady? This bitch is not even named Tong! How could she be sent in?!"

Her tone revealed obvious dissatisfaction and anger, and she was obviously extremely unhappy and threatened by the entry of this "bastard sister" into the palace. But Ma Lu felt that this passage contained a lot of information, so the Tong family sent a fake sister in?

Seeing that Concubine Tong was very emotional, Liuying tried to comfort her: "Your Majesty, please calm down. No matter what, we have to stabilize our position first. Although Miss Xiaoye is of humble origin, she came in under the name of the Tong family after all, which is also a help to you. What's more, you are now the highest-ranking one in the harem, and you may be able to make further progress tomorrow. Even if she comes in, you can do whatever you want with her."

Concubine Tong finally calmed down, but her chest was still heaving violently, which frightened Liuying so much that she quickly took another dose of medicine for Concubine Tong to take, and then turned off the lights after a while. Seeing this, Malu also turned off the video and carefully pondered what he had just heard.