The Virtuous Concubine

She knew that although Niuhulu's death gave her more opportunities, her cousin's intentions were really hard for her to figure out.

Her cousin said he loved her, but he favored the maidservants over her; her cousin asked her to believe him, but in the end she could only be a concubine and pay respects to other women.

If she believed in her cousin's love, she might not be able to become the queen. But if she didn't have her cousin's love, like Niuhulu and Hesheli, what would happen if she became the queen?

Kangxi walked through the long Yongxiang Lane and came to Chengqian Palace. He stopped the announcement and went to the inner room where Concubine Tong was alone. Through the gauze curtain, one could see the flickering candlelight inside, and Concubine Tong's figure was looming on the window paper.

Kangxi gently lifted the gauze curtain and saw Concubine Tong sitting in front of the mirror, gently combing her cloud-like hair. There was a faint smile on her face, and she seemed to be thinking about something happy.

"Cousin." Kangxi called softly.

Concubine Tong raised her head and saw Kangxi, with a hint of surprise in her eyes: "Your Majesty, cousin, why are you here?"

Kangxi walked up to her and gently held her hand: "I came to see you. Thank you for your hard work in presiding over the funeral of Niuhulu."

Concubine Tong smiled generously and appropriately: "Your Majesty, you are too kind. After all, she is my sister, and I should give her a good send-off."

Kangxi looked at her, and a warm current surged in his heart. In this harem full of calculations and power struggles, Concubine Tong's love and persistence for him were like a clear stream, making him feel extremely at ease and warm. What's more, she seemed to have become much more sensible now?

Kangxi frowned when he thought of this. He had seen Concubine Tong's joy when she was alone, so he thought he should wait and see if his cousin's character had changed.

Sure enough, after the two men exchanged a few words of greeting, Kangxi began his test.

"Cousin, I heard that you have been very attentive in handling funeral ceremonies recently, and everyone in the palace has praised you highly." Kangxi said gently, but his eyes were sharply observing Concubine Tong's reaction.

Concubine Tong said with some pride: "Your Majesty, you are too kind. I am just handling it according to the old rules. Now that Niuhulu is gone, I have the highest position in the harem, so I should naturally do my best to take on this matter."

Kangxi nodded and continued to test: "I know that in the harem, only my cousin can do such a thing well. The death of Niuhulu also has an impact on the structure of the harem. Cousin, what do you think about this?"

Concubine Tong was delighted, thinking that Kangxi was hinting at her! She quickly said, "Don't worry, cousin. You have made me the concubine, so I have no choice but to do my duty. Your Majesty, cousin, just focus on the front court. I will naturally handle all matters in the harem properly."

Kangxi's eyebrows flashed with displeasure, but he soon regained his composure. He suppressed his dissatisfaction and said calmly: "I am very pleased that my cousin thinks this way. The harmony of the harem is of great importance to me. I definitely have high hopes for you."

Concubine Tong felt that she had heard the deep meaning in Kangxi's words, and she answered happily: "I understand, and I will act prudently and live up to the emperor's trust."

Kangxi nodded slightly, and without saying anything more, he stood up and left Concubine Tong's palace. His heart was not as calm as it seemed. Concubine Tong's answer made him uneasy as always. He needed a steady and self-disciplined harem master, not a person who was too proud and might affect the stability of the harem due to selfishness.

Kangxi walked and thought, then turned to his advisor and said, "Arrange for him to enter the palace!"

The consultant understood that the moment Concubine Tong opened her mouth, she once again lost the chance to become the empress. Concubine Tong was also a little uneasy after Kangxi left. From Liuying's expression of regret, she realized that she might have caused the emperor to "misunderstanding" her.

Malu was busy attending the Queen's funeral. She had never thought that Kangxi would bring the child out to mourn without considering that the child was still so young! Xiao Si'er would not cry unless he was extremely uncomfortable. He was well-behaved at other times, but he was unfilial when he was mourning, even though the child had never seen Queen Niuhulu many times since he was born.

There was no other way, Malu could only ask the system to buy a very mild tear-inducing recipe, make it and rub it on a towel to wipe the child's face, and this was how he barely got through. Why was he barely getting through?

I still blame the child for not having any expression on his face, but the tear-inducing formula is very effective, and tears are falling. To others, it looks like the child is crying without any expression, which is scary. But if you really say that he is not sad, these tears are like free money.

Malu herself also used this handkerchief, and she almost cried herself dry. Later, she learned her lesson and used half of the things the system gave her. This way, the crying effect was just right. Although the Empress Dowager was crying in the Qianqing Palace, she actually did not come to Kunning Palace to burn incense. . . So Malu thought this old lady was inexplicable, and her acting was a bit comedic.

The Queen's spirit is in Kunning Palace, why go to Qianqing Palace to cry? It's far away.

Only the Queen Mother came over to light a stick of incense and then left. Kangxi also stood there for a while and then went back to deal with government affairs. As for Concubine Tong, she stayed a little longer, and after dealing with all the matters, she also left. Only the people below needed to cry every day. Even the main concubine in the harem had to come and cry for seven days, and then wear plain linen clothes for twenty-seven days before changing into regular clothes.

During these 27 days, you cannot eat meat, drink alcohol, or watch plays. In short, you cannot do anything. Malu looked at these rules and couldn't help but feel a little funny. Does this sadness have to be expressed in these ways? How can these rules restrain true grief?

But rules are rules, and Malu knew that she could only do her best within this framework. She looked at the palace maids and eunuchs crying their hearts out outside Kunning Palace, and she couldn't help but feel a little sympathetic. These people might not really understand the queen, and they might not have deep feelings for her, but the rules required them to do so, and they could only do it.

Malu sighed softly, she knew she was no exception. She picked up the handkerchief and gently wiped the corners of her eyes, letting her tears flow. She was not crying for the queen, nor for the rules, she was crying for this ruthless harem, crying for the souls bound by the rules.

After a long wait, with the cries becoming increasingly rare and faint, the mourning period finally ended, and the palace returned to its former prosperity and bustle. Kunning Palace was also closed again due to the Queen's departure.

Malu also started planning the small kitchen.

In fact, she didn't want to make a big fuss at all. She thought she could just find a corner room, set up a stove, and cook noodles or barbecue. After all, sometimes she really wanted to have a midnight snack, but after she tried it once or twice, Bai Xia and Bai Fu both felt that it was too simple and unworthy of their status. It would be better to build a big kitchen and have someone special to manage the ingredients and cooking.

Malu didn't think so. It was only when the system reminded her that she had five more children to take care of and a bigger kitchen was a step in the right direction that she started planning. However, as she was planning, Malu thought it would be better to open up another piece of land so that she could grow something. The courtyard in front must not be touched. If the emperor planted potatoes, sweet potatoes, and peppers as soon as he came in and applied fertilizer, he would fall out of favor in a minute. She could only make some plans in the garden in the back.