A Crossover of Film and Television: Miao Miao's Life Transmigration

Liu Jingyao was the head of Yongshou Palace. Consort Hai, along with young maids and concubines, would pay their respects to her. Then, Liu Jingyao would lead Consort Hai to pay their respects to the Empress. This was the custom in all the palaces.

The various ladies of the harem are as follows: the Empress resides in Chuxiu Palace; Consort Qi and Noble Lady Guo reside in Changchun Palace; Consort Xi and Consort Chun reside in Zhongcui Palace; Noble Lady An and Consort Gao reside in Yanxi Palace; Consort Ning and Noble Lady Li reside in Qixiang Palace; Consort Yu and Consort Na reside in Jingren Palace; and Noble Lady Zhang and Consort Gu reside in Jingyang Palace.

Consort Mao previously lived in Xianfu Palace, but now that she has passed away, the main hall of Xianfu Palace is empty. Yikun Palace is where Consort Nian lived, and the Emperor also left Yikun Palace empty. Chengqian Palace and Yonghe Palace have always been empty, one being where the Emperor's adoptive mother lived and the other being where his birth mother lived.

When Liu Jingyao arrived at Chuxiu Palace with Consort Hai, many concubines were already there. Liu Jingyao first bowed to all the concubines, then exchanged greetings with Consort Ning, and finally sat down on a chair according to their respective ranks.

Since the death of the Third Prince, Consort Qi's daughter-in-law, Lady Dong'e, had been recuperating in seclusion in the palace. Consort Xi brought Lady Fucha, the primary consort of the Fourth Prince, and Consort Yu brought Lady Wuzhaku, the primary consort of the Fifth Prince.

Consort Yu and Consort Xi chatted together, Consort Qi sat quietly, and Consort Ning and Noble Lady Li chatted.

Liu Jingyao sized them up. Consort Ning was young but beautiful. Consort Yu was pretty and delicate. Consort Xi was ordinary but dignified. Who would know that Consort Xi was a person who loved luxury? Consort Qi was getting old. In addition, the death of the Third Prince in the fifth year of Yongzheng's reign was a heavy blow to her. Consort Qi's complexion was not good, and she covered her face with a lot of powder.

Not long after, the Empress came out from the inner chamber.

"Your humble concubine pays respects to Her Majesty the Queen."

The concubines rose and bowed.

"Get up!"

The Empress said gently, "As you all know, the harem will soon have a few more younger sisters. His Majesty has already agreed to the selection of concubines."

Consort Qi remained indifferent, while Consort Yu smiled and said, "I've heard that the Fifth Prince's residence hasn't had any new concubines for a long time."

Consort Xi said, "Yes, the Fourth Prince's residence didn't have any new recruits last time, so this time we need Her Majesty the Empress to select a good candidate for the Fourth Prince."

The Empress nodded and smiled: "It's time to add some new people to the Fourth Prince's and Fifth Prince's residences. I've already discussed it with the Emperor. This selection of candidates is mainly for the imperial family and the two princes."

The Fourth Prince's primary consort, Lady Fucha, showed no outward expression, but the Fifth Prince's primary consort, Lady Wuzhaku, had a rather dark expression.

The Empress changed the subject, looked at Liu Jingyao, and said gently, "Look, I had forgotten that Consort Qian was promoted to the rank of Consort by His Majesty after giving birth to the little prince."

Then, Liu Jingyao stepped forward and formally greeted the Empress, Consort Qi, Consort Xi, and Consort Yu, and performed the same greeting as Consort Ning.

After Liu Jingyao finished her salutations, the Empress said, "It is the duty of the concubines in the harem to bear children for the Emperor. As long as they have made a contribution to the birth of a child, neither the Empress nor the Emperor will treat them unfairly."

After she finished speaking, the concubines glanced at Liu Jingyao intentionally or unintentionally, especially Consort Guo, Consort An, and Consort Hai. Their gazes were the most unfriendly. A year ago, Liu Jingyao was just a lowly concubine, but now she has transformed into a concubine. Who wouldn't want to have that?

The Empress gave them some other instructions and then dismissed them.

In recent years, the Empress's health has been poor, so Consort Xi and Consort Yu have been assisting in managing the inner palace. It is now the ninth year of the Yongzheng Emperor's reign, and Liu Jingyao remembers that the Empress passed away in the ninth year of the Yongzheng Emperor's reign.

On her way back, Liu Jingyao kept thinking that the Empress was in poor health. After the Empress passed away, Yongzheng might not appoint another Empress, or he might appoint one. The most qualified one was Consort Xi. Consort Xi was from the Niohuru clan. Although she was from a collateral branch, she was still a member of the prominent Manchu Niohuru clan.

Liu Jingyao is now considering whether or not to save the Empress, weighing the pros and cons. But even if she were to save the Empress, how should she do it?

I don't know if the health-preserving pills will work. I gave the Emperor one during his postpartum period, but it had no effect at all. I wonder if it worked for the Empress, who is also my wife.

Liu Jingyao sat in a palanquin, with Consort Hai following her. Because Liu Jingyao was the last to come out, when she passed Yikun Palace, she found Consort Ning of Qixiang Palace ahead of her.

Liu Jingyao greeted Consort Ning, and Consort Hai and Consort Li returned the greetings to both of them.

Consort Ning was a stunningly beautiful woman. Consort Hai and Consort Li were both conferred titles by the Emperor after his ascension to the throne. They entered the palace a few years before Liu Jingyao and were quite attractive; otherwise, why would the Emperor have conferred the title of Consort? Unfortunately, she was never able to conceive a child.

Consort Ning was an elder in the household, a member of the Bordered Yellow Banner of the Han Army, and her father was a prefectural military pillar, a fifth-rank official.

Consort Ning smiled and said, "I ran into you in the Imperial Garden last time, but I didn't say hello much. Now you're my equal. I heard that Consort Qian has only served me once. I wonder if Consort Qian has any secret methods for getting pregnant?"

Consort Hai and Consort Li both pricked up their ears.

Liu Jingyao was taken aback upon hearing this, but quickly recovered and said, "There's no such thing as a secret to getting pregnant. I was just lucky. However, I heard a doctor say that being healthy can help you conceive faster. I wonder if that's true?"

Liu Jingyao continued to deceive, saying, "If you are healthy, walk around more and move around more. When the time is right, you will naturally get pregnant."

Consort Ning was taken aback by Liu Jingyao's words and paused for a moment before saying, "So that's how it is."

Liu Jingyao pressed on: "If Consort Ning doesn't believe it, she can ask the imperial physician. Surely what the imperial physician says can't be false."

Consort Ning pondered for a moment, then, with a look of joy on her face, said, "Thank you for the reminder, Consort Qian." Noble Lady Hai and Noble Lady Li remained silent to the side.

During Liu Jingyao's pregnancy, the imperial physician Lin, who had been taking care of her pregnancy, had become loyal to her, making her movements more convenient. She would not allow the imperial physician Lin to do anything dangerous.

As long as the concubines who had a good relationship with her asked Physician Lin for a prescription to help them conceive, and after they drank the prescription for a period of time, a pill for conceiving a child or a girl would be mixed in. The pill was colorless and tasteless, and even the imperial physicians and doctors of the entire Qing Dynasty would not be able to detect it.

When some women become pregnant and others don't, they won't blame Physician Lin. It will only be a problem between the Emperor and himself. The Emperor is inherently infertile, and he has already had Physician Lin examine his pulse. Physician Lin has told Liu Jingyao some basic information.

Seeing that they were all skeptical, Liu Jingyao said nothing more and turned to Consort Ning, saying, "Consort Ning, since there is nothing else, I will return to Yongshou Palace first."

Seeing that she had been delayed for a while, Consort Ning quickly said, "Sister, you should go back now."

After Liu Jingyao left with Consort Hai, Consort Li said sourly, "Consort Ning, I wonder what kind of luck Consort Qian had to conceive the Emperor's youngest son. I heard that the Emperor goes to Yongshou Palace to see the Sixth Prince whenever he has free time."

Consort Ning scolded, "Shut up! How dare you, a mere Noble Lady, speak ill of Consort Qian? If word gets out, I won't be able to protect you."

Consort Li was still resentful when she heard Consort Ning's reprimand. Who doesn't come to the palace for the sake of imperial offspring and family honor? Unfortunately, she hadn't conceived after several years in the palace, and her family had given up hope on her. Recently, the money her family sent had decreased significantly.

Rumors had circulated that Consort Qian was pregnant, but she hadn't conceived for several years, and her family was considering giving up on her. Now, during the imperial concubine selection, it's said her family plans to send a fertile girl into the palace. (This isn't the author's opinion; in ancient times! In ancient times! Every girl was a treasure!)