The Concubine of Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty

Chapter 491 Concubine Ma Jia is not a fool

After having a meal with the Empress Dowager at Cining Palace, the Emperor and Empress Dowager left together only after the Empress Dowager prepared to take a nap.

After leaving the Cining Palace, the Emperor and Empress did not separate. They traveled together in their imperial carriage and phoenix palanquin to the Kunning Palace. It was not until after the midday rest that the Emperor's carriage was respectfully escorted away from the Kunning Palace.

Chengqian Palace was always bustling with activity, and Qinrou had no other thoughts. With the servants all by her side, she was naturally safe and sound.

Even when she fell into a deep sleep, because the Empress had not given any instructions, all the concubines in the palace still had to go to Kunning Palace to pay their respects.

Today is different from the past!
In the blink of an eye, everything could have changed. Who could have imagined that Qinrou would rise to the rank of concubine during the morning audience?

Because Qin Rou had only recently been granted the title of Consort, and the title of Consort had only been officially established by imperial decree, the Imperial Household Department had not yet prepared all the necessary items for the Consort, such as sedan chairs and palanquins. However, the title and rank had been determined.

The hierarchy is also fixed!

No matter how unwilling the concubines were, when Qinrou arrived at Kunning Palace with a group of servants, they still had to bow and greet her, whether they wanted to or not.

"Your Highness, Consort Rou!" The concubines all bowed in unison.

Qin Rou looked up, her expression unchanged, her temperament unchanged, and said, "Rise."

With a simple sentence, she was granted the title of Consort. Qin Rou remained the same Qin Rou, unchanged in the slightest, only now her rank was elevated, making her even more noble.

The concubines rose one after another, each with a complex expression, some favored, some not... Which concubine in the harem didn't have the ambition to rise in rank?

Who doesn't dream of becoming a concubine?

Even knowing they can't get the position, who doesn't still harbor fantasies? Even if they can't become concubines, deep down they don't want others to surpass them and rise to a higher position.

There's nothing more to it than resentment and unwillingness! A reason that couldn't be simpler.

Even though the concubines had mentally prepared themselves after the imperial edict was issued, when they actually went to pay their respects, deep down they still felt resentment and unwillingness to accept it!
Why can't 'she' sit in this position? Heaven is unjust! The Emperor is unjust too! And why is Consort Rou so lucky?

There was silence for a moment.

Deep within everyone's heart dwells an indomitable soul.

Consort Wusuli, following behind Qin Rou, shrank back slightly.

Qinrou was the head of Chengqian Palace, and Consort Wusuli was also under Qinrou's control.

Rather than being sensible, she was more cowardly. Her first act of surrender was to come to Zhenshunzhai to wait for her when she fell asleep, showing herself to be a palace maid of Chengqian, thus becoming one with Consort Rou forever.

First and foremost, I must follow Qinrou and accompany the Empress to Kunning Palace for the morning and evening greetings. Today is the beginning; for the rest of my life, day after day, year after year, through the cycle of seasons, nothing will change.

"Congratulations on Your Highness's conferment of the rank of Consort! You shall be the Head Consort of Chengqian Palace!" Consort Ezhuo, in her straightforward manner, was the first to offer her congratulations with a smile.

Surprising? Of course it's surprising.

The concubines in the palace, those who entered the palace early, have been there for ten or six or seven years, and they all believe that they will be concubines for life.

Overnight, an imperial edict was issued, pointing to another path. How could this not stir up a storm of emotions!
However, this path was paved by someone else, and they were filled with jealousy and envy, knowing that the hope was slim, yet still harboring ambitions.

One has two.

Consort Ezhuo had mixed feelings, but in the end she accepted it.

She was a Manchu, and fortunately, she was granted the title of Manchu Consort. Thinking about it that way, it's not so hard to accept.

However, once one thing leads to another, and once a position is established, there will inevitably be another! If Consort Rou can rise to the top, someone else will surely follow suit. She has no favor whatsoever, and given her current situation, rising to the top is as difficult as ascending to heaven!
If Consort Ezhuo wants to give it a try, she'll need to find allies. Or rather, a powerful backer.

Consort Fei Mo glanced at Consort E Zhuo as if casually, and congratulated her with a smile: "Congratulations, Your Highness, on your promotion to the rank of Consort."

People's hearts are unfathomable. Among the many concubines in Kunning Palace, everyone has their own little thoughts and plans, which is inevitable!
In the palace, no one has formed an alliance yet everyone is forming one.

For example, Consort Lan and Consort Wen were close; Consort Ezhuo and Consort Feimo also had more to talk about.

"Thank you!" Qin Rou nodded, accepting the verbal congratulations. The congratulatory gifts from various palaces had also been delivered to Chengqian Palace this afternoon.

Consort Ezhuo and Consort Feimo may have their own ulterior motives, but their words and actions were all attempts to curry favor, and Qinrou would not offend them.

She acts impulsively, but she doesn't act without considering the consequences.

Consorts Fei Mo and E Zhuo took the lead, and the other consorts also composed themselves. Of course, there were also consorts whose faces showed resentment, unwillingness, and indignation.

I'm feeling very upset! My mental resilience is too weak!

Consort Yehenara also smiled and said, "A few days ago, Consort Ma Jia received the Emperor's decree to personally raise the Third Princess. This servant was particularly envious. Now I realize that the one who should be more envious is you."

"The little princes and princesses in Your Highness's womb will not need to be sent to the prince and princess academies for education like the princes and princesses we are waiting for," said Consort Yehenara, seemingly with genuine joy.

Once a concubine holds the position, she can personally raise and educate her children.

What they desperately sought and found impossible, appeared effortless and readily available to others.

Same people but different fates.

Who wants to accept their fate? Human determination can overcome destiny. Only through human determination can we conquer nature!
Consort Ma Jia's expression was already complicated, and the mention of herself by Consort Yehenara only fueled her anger. How happy she was when the Emperor granted her permission to raise the Third Princess! Now, she felt even more aggrieved and resentful.

She gave birth to two princes and a princess for the emperor! The eldest prince and the fourth prince were both born from her womb.

Cheng Rui is the eldest son of the emperor, Prince Saiyinchahun, who is also the emperor's eldest son in the current sense. Doesn't she deserve the rank of a concubine?

On the other hand, Consort Ma Jia was well aware that Consort Yehenara was no good person, and that her mention of her today was nothing more than an attempt to sow discord and kill someone by using another's hand.

Consort Ma was not lacking in intelligence, but even after seeing through everything, she still felt wronged and resentful. It was simply a matter of resentment in her heart.

The words spoken by Yehenara Concubine were nothing more than the truth.

“This servant’s belly is unworthy, unlike Your Majesty’s; this servant is deeply grateful for His Majesty’s grace, that His Majesty allows this servant to care for the Third Princess himself. No one else has received such favor.”

Consort Ma Jia was not exactly a fool.

In the palace, a fool can never enjoy lasting favor.

She saw through Yehenara's concubine's schemes.

Moreover, the best thing about Consort Ma Jia is that she is also pragmatic.

She was not willing to be a pawn for Consort Yehenara, a stepping stone for the many concubines in the harem. Everyone wanted her to clash with Consort Rou, but she refused!
There were also subtle implications in the words.

Consort Yehenara has always been cunning and wicked!
They are greedy and insatiable, lacking any sense of propriety, and they covet the rank of concubine without even considering whether they are fortunate enough to have it. If they were like Consort Rou, pregnant with twins, the Emperor would be overjoyed and would inevitably be promoted to the rank of concubine.

If your own stomach is uncooperative, don't blame others for being lucky!