How did my host die?

Speaking of An Da Ying, the emperor asked how Concubine Shen was doing.

Sister Mei is much better now, thank you Your Majesty for your concern.

That's good, you three have a good relationship. If you have nothing to do, go visit them more often for me.

I understand, but Your Majesty, please don't be angry with Concubine Hua. Your Majesty has already punished her, so don't be angry.

Concubine Hua has gone a little too far this time. I will go to see her after the house arrest is over. Don't worry, you are still so kind and intelligent. Very good, I like you.

Well, since Your Majesty has nothing to do, I will go back first. Your Majesty, you should also have more rest.

OK, you go back, I'm busy now. I'll come to see you in the evening.

By the time Concubine Hua's house arrest was over, Noble Lady Shen and Lady An were almost well, and the Emperor also went to see Concubine Hua.

Huan'er, look at her, she is not allowed to have any contact with her. Has all my suffering been in vain? I can only endure it like this. The emperor is too partial. We still have to be favored to survive in this harem. The most important thing is to have a child, said Concubine Shen.

Sister Mei, I know everything you said. You should also pay attention to the emperor. Lingrong seems to be much more distant from us. It doesn't seem like you and I have a close relationship since we were young, said Wanpin.

Yes, I also feel that Lingrong has become much more distant. After returning to the palace, she and I still live together. Let's take it slow in the future. Everything will be fine. She will understand.

Concubine Hua is now under house arrest and is no longer as arrogant as before. I don't know if she has figured it out or what. However, she still humiliates people she hates when she meets them, such as Concubine Wan, Concubine Shen, Lady An, Concubine Duan, and others.

An Da Ying, after her voice recovered, she sang alone in the garden. She was seen by the emperor and gained his favor again. In the garden, the emperor also let Concubine Wan, Noble Lady Shen, An Da Ying, and Concubine Hua stay overnight.

Duoduo often gives out rewards here.

The Emperor went up to the palace, and Concubine Jing was sitting, holding Yuanyuan and talking to Duoduo. The Emperor has been very busy recently, with many beauties on his left and right, and it was very lively. It was heard that after An Dan won favor by singing in the garden, many ladies were in the garden, hoping to meet the Emperor by chance. The garden was very lively, but the Empress did not go to see it.

Why am I going there? I just want to meet you by chance. Your Majesty, I am not. Will I be disliked if I go there? But Your Majesty, it doesn't matter who you favor. Why make such a big fuss? Fortunately, it's in the garden. If it was in the palace, wouldn't the Imperial Censor impeach me?

Now in the garden everyone is singing, playing the piano, dancing, doing all kinds of things, all wanting to be favored, said Shunpin.

I went there once, and they thought I was going to meet the emperor by chance and asked me what I was going to perform. I was so angry. How could I possibly perform? I am not a kabuki. I don’t know what those people were thinking. The emperor’s woman actually learned kabuki methods to win his favor. Wouldn’t it be shameful if I didn’t go? They were all ladies from aristocratic families.

You are wrong. This is the garden. There are not so many rules. You think those people are stupid. In fact, they just want to be favored and have a child. There are rules in the palace. You can't do this. You can only wait for the emperor to remember you. It's different in the garden. As long as you don't go too far, the queen mother won't say anything. Besides, it's just a group of people in the garden, dancing and singing, which is harmless.

An Da Ying was lucky, but the emperors who came after her were nothing new to her.

Yes. I heard that no one succeeded, but they still didn't give up. However, I heard that the emperor always asked Wanpin, Shen Guiren, and An to accompany him, Jingpin said.

That’s no big deal, there’s only one person staying overnight, said Shunpin.

The emperor is the supreme ruler, the world belongs to him, so what does it matter if he has a few women to accompany him? Besides, each of them has her own strengths. Concubine Wan is proficient in poetry and songs, Noble Lady Shen plays the piano well and is gentle, and you have also heard An Da Ying's singing, it's so beautiful. The emperor is so lucky, said Duoduo.

Isn't Your Majesty worried? asked Jingpin.

What are you worried about? The emperor has neither rewarded me nor forgotten me. Besides, I am content to have them. The emperor's favor is too fleeting. It's there if you have it and it's not there if you don't. Life still has to go on. I am lucky to have given birth to three of them in one breath. Otherwise, I don't know how I would have lived in the future.

Yes, life is not easy. I have been a concubine since our emperor ascended the throne, but I am not favored and am also bullied. Those palace maids and servants act according to the person they are in. Only I know how it feels. It is better to be with the empress and play with the children every day, so that life is not so difficult. What's more, those promised ladies must have an even harder life. It happened that the emperor brought all the children with him when he came to the garden this time, so we have to find a way to keep him. Even if there are no children, it would be good to raise their status. At least more monthly salary will make life better.

Is life so difficult? Why don’t I feel that way? I think it’s okay, said Shunpin.

How many people can compare to you? Your Fucha family is a big family, you have people in the palace, and your family also gives you money. Your life must be good. What's more, you are a Manchu concubine, the emperor will not treat you too harshly. There are not many people in the Empress's maternal family, so they won't make things difficult for you. Look at Concubine Xin, her parents' home is far away, and although she gave birth to a princess, she couldn't raise her by herself, and she is still just a noble lady. You can see that this is for those who have children. Those who don't have children and whose parents' home is far away must have a harder life, Jingpin said to Shunpin.

Oh my God, is it so difficult? I just found out today that it’s true that once you enter the palace it’s like entering a deep sea. Fortunately, my mother’s family is powerful, otherwise I wouldn’t be able to stay in the palace, Shunpin said, patting her chest.

Jingpin is right. I entered the palace when the late emperor was still alive, and I was still a palace maid at that time. Although palace maids cannot be executed at will in the palace, it is hard to say what happened behind the scenes. I have seen some who were a little bit pretty, and they were all dealt with by the late emperor's four concubines, Hui, Yi, De and Rong. They were all accidents, but who knows if they were accidents or not.

Then how did you escape, Your Majesty, asked Shunpin.

I was working in a flower shop, and I rarely went out. I walked with my head down every day, and I didn't dare to look up. That's how I got away with it. Besides, there were usually no people in the flower shop, so as long as the nanny didn't make things difficult for you, it would be fine. I was lucky, but I gave half of the monthly interest to the nanny, so I was able to get by.

Well, in this palace, you still have to have money in your hands. Look at Concubine Hua, isn’t it because she has money that she can bribe so many palace maids? Otherwise, her monthly salary would not be enough, isn’t it all given by her parents’ family, said Jingpin.

So sister, you have to be grateful that you have such a good maternal family.

Although my family is also in Beijing, there are few promising people, so naturally no one can help me. So I have been an invisible person in the palace for these years and never dared to show my face, Jingpin said