The Virtuous Concubine

No one cared about what Noble Lady Wei was thinking, as if she was swallowed up by the grandeur and solemnity of the palace. While she was still unsettled, the Grand Empress Dowager had quickly examined the other concubines who had been favored and given titles. Some of them were so nervous that they crossed their fingers, while others were so excited that their faces flushed. However, under the Grand Empress Dowager's cold and icy gaze, their enthusiasm and expectations turned into silent shrinking.

Just as the atmosphere in the hall cooled down and Yipin and Huipin were joking and trying to please each other, the Grand Empress Dowager spoke slowly, her voice echoing in the hall: "Today, I have summoned all the people in the harem, firstly to meet the newcomers, and secondly, to announce an important news. The Emperor has decided to confer titles on the harem again to show the grace of the royal family and reward those who have made contributions."

As soon as these words came out, the air in the hall seemed to freeze for a moment, and then whispers rose and fell. Especially those concubines who had given birth to princes and princesses, their eyes were shining with excitement and expectation that could not be concealed, and they all hoped that they could take this opportunity to take a step forward and become a concubine, or even a queen!

The Empress Dowager's eyes were as sharp as an eagle. She looked around and took in everyone's emotions. "In the harem, virtue is the foundation of success. The Emperor will reward you according to your conduct. I hope you will take good care of yourselves and not disappoint the Emperor and I."

As the person with the highest position in the harem, Concubine Tong walked out and saluted, saying that she accepted the order: "I will follow the instructions of the Empress Dowager. Everyone in the harem will take this as a lesson and cultivate virtues diligently."

The Empress Dowager saw that the news had been released and was unwilling to deal with these people: "Let's stop here today. I have to go to worship Buddha." She said without paying attention to the crowd, and stood up directly, letting Su Malagu help her go to the small Buddhist temple next to the main hall. Her figure gradually faded away, leaving the concubines looking at each other in bewilderment and imagining the upcoming grand ceremony.

The system didn't understand: "Why did the Queen Mother do this today?"

Malu waited until they left the Cining Palace and got on the sedan chair before answering the system's words: "One purpose is to warn Concubine Wei. She was in the limelight a while ago and caught the eye of the Empress Dowager." Malu knew it very well, because Emperor Shunzhi's favoritism towards Concubine Dong E left her with a huge shadow. Whenever Kangxi was a little special to anyone, Xiaozhuang was always the most anxious one.

If Yang Mao had not gotten the upper hand from the Mongols and was pregnant, Xiaozhuang would probably not have let her go. Then she would be one more person to copy the Rules and Instructions for Women.

"But there is a deeper purpose," Malu continued, her eyes looking towards the Yonghe Palace in the distance, "The Empress Dowager is using the news of the Grand Conferment to disrupt the situation in the harem and put everyone back to the starting line. From now on, the harem will definitely be in chaos."

Malu's tone revealed a hint of gloating, wondering if Kangxi had the blessing to enjoy the favors of such beauties. However, her mind quickly turned back to herself, feeling a little disappointed.

Today, I deliberately made my clothes into a waist-hugging style to show my belly, but no one noticed! Didn’t anyone suspect that she was pregnant with twins? Not even one? Even if they said that she was pregnant in the wrong month, she would have an excuse to naturally expose this matter, but in the end, everyone went to see Concubine Wei... It’s really infuriating.

Although the system had been immersed in the harem with Malu for such a long time, it still couldn't understand: "Doesn't the Empress Dowager care most about balance and the stability of the harem? Why did she cause trouble?"

Ma Lu smiled softly: "Have you not seen through the Grand Empress Dowager's methods? The balance of the harem is not so much about keeping everything the same, but about checks and balances. Concubine Wei and I have already broken the balance of favors, and among all the people in the harem, only Concubine Tong has a high position, which obviously does not meet the Grand Empress Dowager and Emperor Kangxi's definition of harem balance."

After listening to this, the system seemed to understand something: "I see, so the news of the Great Restriction of the Harem was released to stimulate everyone to compete for favor and restore the pattern of flourishing in the harem. Then the Great Restriction of the Harem can also reshuffle the cards and better observe everyone's nature. Only in the changes can we see who has a trump card and who is a fence-sitter who only changes with the wind."

Malu nodded: "That's right, you're not stupid!"

"I just don't know if the Empress Dowager informed Kangxi before she told us this." Malu continued, her voice even had a hint of expectation, "If Kangxi and the Empress Dowager disagree on the conferment of the harem and they quarrel, then the scene will be even more interesting."

The system and Malu were discussing heatedly here, while the noble lady Wei at the back of the team was in dire straits. She didn't know how she was going to get through the book copying stage! She subconsciously didn't want to ask her father for help. There was a voice in her heart telling her that doing so would bring danger to her family, but the maids around her could only recognize a few words roughly, far from being able to guide her to write the Women's Rules and Women's Commandments thirty times. What should she do?

If she asked Huipin for help... Concubine Wei looked up at Huipin, who was almost invisible in front of the team, and sighed, giving up the idea. As the mother of the current eldest prince, Huipin's status was very high among the concubines. Concubine Wei lived in the same palace with her, and she could have followed beside her sedan chair, but when she wanted to follow, she was politely rejected by Huipin.

Huipin's words were gentle and polite: "Noble Lady Wei, you are a favorite in the eyes of the Emperor. I would feel uneasy if you followed my sedan chair like a palace maid. It is better to arrange them according to their ranks, otherwise the concubines in front of them may have objections." Huipin's words sounded very nice, but the look in Noble Lady Wei's eyes made it clear the real reason - it was because she was being bullied by the Empress Dowager, and Huipin wanted to keep her distance from her.

Originally, according to her favor, she still had value to Huipin, but who let the Empress Dowager cut off her green card and directly removed it? The words had to be copied before they could be put back. After Wei Guiren copied these, it was unclear whether she would still have a place in the palace!

Concubine Wei was now extremely helpless, but she had no choice but to grit her teeth and return to Zhongcui Palace with a lot on her mind. The dusk inside the palace walls was just like her mood at the moment, dim and unclear. She sat in her own palace, looking at the afterglow of the setting sun outside the window, with an indescribable feeling welling up in her heart.

Looking at the furnishings in the palace, I used to think they were so gorgeous, but now I feel how cold these dead things are. Those magnificent decorations were once the proof of her favor, but now they seem particularly dazzling, as if they are mocking her former innocence. Seeing her so depressed, Cuixiu, the close maid beside her, felt a struggle in her heart.

Cuixiu was given to Concubine Hui when Concubine Wei was still a concubine. In fact, it was a clear line placed by Concubine Hui next to Concubine Wei. Concubine Wei accepted Cuixiu, which was equivalent to surrendering to Concubine Hui. Originally, the relationship between the two was quite harmonious, and Cuixiu naturally had nothing to worry about. But today, Concubine Hui... rejected Concubine Wei in this way, and it is unknown how the relationship between the two will be in the future.

What about herself? Cuixiu felt that she was caught between the two people, and was in a dilemma. She was afraid that Concubine Wei would vent her anger on her, and she was also afraid that Concubine Hui would abandon Concubine Wei directly, and she would become a useless chess piece. She held the paper and pen she had just taken from the Ministry of Internal Affairs in her hand, and whispered to comfort her: "Concubine, don't be too sad. Who can predict what will happen tomorrow? If the emperor thinks of you, maybe he will forgive you this crime."