The Concubine of Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty

The Empress Dowager led the way, followed by the imperial carriages of the Empress, Consort Niohuru, and Qinrou, along with the servants who attended to their mistresses.

The imperial carriage, in a grand procession, set off from Ciren Palace, then moved to Cining Palace, and headed towards Cining Palace.

Go and pay your respects to the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager was even more familiar with Cining Palace than with Ciren Palace. Upon entering the palace, Sumalagu was waiting to the side. Even with the Empress Dowager leading the Empress, Consort Niohuru, and Consort Rou in such a grand procession, Sumalagu remained unfazed.

With a smile, Su Ma La Gu stepped forward and bowed, showing great intimacy. She said to the Empress Dowager, "The Grand Empress Dowager knew that the Empress Dowager and the Empress would be bringing their concubines to Cining Palace to pay their respects, so she specially instructed this servant to wait here for your arrival."

"Your Majesty is very kind," the Empress Dowager replied in Mongolian.

Qinrou understood this Mongolian phrase. She didn't know much Mongolian, only a few phrases she'd crammed at the last minute. Unfortunately, this was the most common phrase, right on her must-learn list. So, Qinrou tried hard to understand it, and she did.

The Empress Dowager often visited Cining Palace. When she came here, she felt as if she were at home, even more at ease than when the concubines went to pay their respects to her.

In addition, since the Empress Dowager's Mandarin was not very good, she relaxed a lot when she arrived at Cining Palace and spoke Mongolian as freely as she would on the Khorchin grassland.

The servants who served in the Cining Palace and Ciren Palace, need not speak fluent Mongolian, but must be able to understand it fluently.

Only in this way can one obey the master's orders and act accordingly.

Su Ma La Gu was an old servant who served the Empress Dowager and was her absolute confidante. She was kind and patient, and even the Empress Dowager was inferior to her in some ways.

The Empress Dowager was easygoing; seeing Sumalagu there instantly made her feel much more relaxed. Mongolian was ingrained in her very being; her body might not even realize it before she blurted it out.

"Please follow me." Su Mala Gu smiled and respectfully asked the Empress Dowager and other masters for permission.

Su Ma La Gu spoke Mandarin.

"Alright!" The Empress Dowager switched to somewhat broken Mandarin, keeping it short and concise, without any major errors in pronunciation.

Led by Sumalagu, several ladies who had come to pay their respects were led into the palace. Qinrou silently followed at the back; her status was the lowest, and the distinction between noble and lowly was clear!

Qinrou had no particular thoughts. She didn't ask for anything else, she just hoped that today would pass peacefully and she would be grateful.

Sumalagu did not lead the group to the main hall. At first, Qinrou did not know where Sumalagu was leading them. It should be the main hall, but the further they went, the more she could tell that it was not.

It wasn't until they reached their final destination that they realized this was the Empress Dowager's bedroom, where she usually rested.

It's not as grand and dignified as the main hall, but it's more comfortable.

Qin Rou suddenly tensed up and became even more cautious.

She followed steadily behind Consort Niohuru, never falling behind.

The servants were busy inside the Empress Dowager's palace, and the whole place was in chaos. The Empress Dowager, the Empress, and Consort Niohuru were puzzled as they made their way there, especially after entering the side room.

Qin Rou was even more shocked!

What are they busy with in the Empress Dowager's palace?

However, there was one advantage: the servants were no longer concerned about the Empress Dowager, the Empress, Consort Niohuru, and Qinrou's entourage entering from outside the palace. Qinrou also carefully made way for the servants in Cining Palace who were now in disarray.

Amidst the chaotic atmosphere, the group entered the room. The Empress Dowager, seeing Su Ma La Gu's figure, immediately ordered, "Su Ma, quickly look for it for me. One of my pair of gold-inlaid pearl earrings has fallen off somewhere."

Eastern pearls were extremely precious in the Qing Dynasty. Only the three most noble women in the world—the Grand Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager, and the Empress—could wear the finest Eastern pearls.

As for the lower-grade pearls, those of inferior quality, they were also graded, and only the principal empress could rightfully possess them.

And it was precisely because of this level of prestige that the Eastern Pearl became a symbol of the 'Mother of the Nation'.

"This servant will search immediately." Su Mala Gu didn't dawdle. Seeing the chaotic scene inside the palace, it seemed like they were about to dig up the Cining Palace and then collapse it. Her face showed some anxiety. She quickly bowed and joined the search team.

"How could the Empress suddenly disappear? Did the servants not collect it properly?" The Empress Dowager looked at the servants who were scrambling around in the hall searching for the earring, her puzzled and worried expression unable to be concealed.

A pair of gold earrings inlaid with pearls was not considered precious to the Empress Dowager. Despite her high status to this day, she has held countless pearl earrings in her hands.

However, the Empress Dowager ordered the servants to search in a grand manner. Although the Empress Dowager was puzzled, she had already learned not to ask for the reason.

The Empress Dowager always had her own reasons for doing things. But she was also very concerned and quickly inquired.

Upon hearing the Empress Dowager's question, the Empress also showed great concern, her worried and attentive gaze falling upon the Empress Dowager.

Even Consort Niohuru and Qinrou couldn't help but prick up their ears, eager to hear the reply.

The palace concubines' clothes, jewelry, ornaments, and utensils were all inventoried and guarded by servants the day before, not to mention precious items like pearls.

The Eastern Pearl in the Empress Dowager's possession could not be that bad. If it were lost, not only would the servant in charge lose his head, but the other servants would also be implicated.

Surely no one would be so audacious as to replace the Empress Dowager's favorite pearl earrings!

This is clearly unreasonable. Qin Rou felt like she was going to scratch her head in frustration. Even if the servants in the palace were audacious, they wouldn't dare to act like this.

How many generations has the Qing Dynasty lasted?

The Empress Dowager was furious and said angrily, "This useless servant! It was still here when we took inventory last night. I just said I wanted to wear it, but when we took it out, there was only one. I don't know where the other one is."

"Your Majesty, please calm down and don't worry," the Empress Dowager quickly poured a cup of tea and offered it to the Grand Empress Dowager, comforting her, "This servant was not careful in his work, but it's fine to send him away. The earrings must still be in this palace; they can't have grown legs and run away."

If the servants fail to perform their duties properly, it is a serious offense! Even beating or killing them would be justified. But it is not worth angering the Empress Dowager over such a trivial matter.

"Your Majesty, I will also have the servants help you look for it," the Empress Dowager immediately agreed. She then gave a look to the servants serving nearby, who quickly joined the search for the earrings.

"Grandma, don't get too upset. I'll have Huan Yan and the others help look for it and see if we can find it faster." The Empress, of course, couldn't sit still and quickly expressed her opinion.

Without the Empress needing to give Huan Yan and the others a signal, the servants immediately got to work.

Consort Niohuru and Qinrou also expressed their opinions.

Especially Qin Rou, who was visiting Cining Palace for the first time, had no idea about its layout or what it contained. She had no clue where to begin looking for clues and could only observe from her own small corner of the palace. (End of Chapter)