After the rebellion was successful, I realized that this place was the Red Mansion

Chapter 42: Jia Yuanchun, the Concubine of the New Dynasty

Jia Yuanchun had been in the palace for more than ten years and for the first time she experienced what it was like to be a queen.

She returned to the main hall of Changchun Palace. This was the reception room she used to receive concubines and sisters and for daily interactions after she was awarded the title of Consort Xian De. However, since Prince Qian had sat there, she didn't dare sit anywhere else and just placed a chair at the first seat below.

Just as she sat down, a eunuch came to report: "Your Majesty, this is the list of concubines in each palace and the account of the gifts given by the late Emperor Shun and the Emperor. Please review it!"

All the clothes, ornaments, and treasures bestowed by the emperor were not given to concubines, but only for their enjoyment and would be taken back after their death.

Therefore, the palace kept account books of what each concubine had in the palace. Once the accounts were reconciled, everything would be clear. Everything on the books would be taken back without leaving anything behind.

Those that are not on the account must be carefully identified and then awarded to the concubine's family or left to their children.

But that was for the concubines who had died. Now, King Qian ordered the confiscation of property, and all the property of the concubines in each palace was taken back!
Just seeing a dozen young eunuchs coming with account books made Jia Yuanchun feel shocked. In such a huge palace with more than 200 concubines, how many things would have to be confiscated?

Looking through the account books of the old concubine Fengzao Palace again, Jia Yuanchun saw an extremely familiar treasure:
"A gilded bronze hand warmer, a sapphire spittoon with a lotus pattern, an ivory statue of Guanyin from the South China Sea, a nine-story pagoda inlaid with gold and gemstones, and a gold-enamel Western-style pocket watch..."

She had seen and come into contact with all these when she was a female historian in Fengzao Palace.

Thinking that the old empress dowager would also go to the Eastern Palace to live with the retired emperor, many concubines, and those Taoist priests, Jia Yuanchun couldn't help but shed tears.

But even though she felt extremely reluctant, she did not dare to disobey King Qian's order.

Just like yesterday, she did not dare to disobey the orders of the Emperor and Empress of Shun Dynasty.

"The accounts are in the palace. Go check them and come back after you've finished your inventory."

Holding back tears, Jia Yuanchun ordered them, "According to Prince Qian's order, all belongings must be confiscated, leaving only three or two sets of clothing for each concubine to keep warm. Everything listed in the accounts must be counted and taken back, and no one is allowed to take it away."

"Yes, Your Majesty." The eunuchs accepted the order and asked, "Your Majesty, since the concubines have moved to the Eastern Palace, would you like to leave a maid by your side to serve them?"

Jia Yuanchun thought carefully. The Eastern Palace was not big, and there were more than 200 concubines. How could there be room for so many palace maids?

Thinking about Prince Qian's words and deeds, speculating on his preferences, and considering the ages of the old concubine, the empress dowager, and the concubines, Jia Yuanchun said to them: "For the time being, those who are concubines and above are allowed to bring one palace maid into the palace, and the old concubine and the empress dowager are allowed to bring one more eunuch."

After a pause, Jia Yuanchun said, "I will report this to Prince Qian later. If he disapproves, I will order the palace maids and eunuchs to come out."

"Yes, madam!"

The eunuchs and palace maids received orders again.

Seeing that they were about to leave, Jia Yuanchun could not help but remind them again: "Many of the old concubines, the Empress Dowager, and the concubines are already very old. Do not use force, lest they become angry and angry and cause accidents."

The eunuchs left.

Jia Yuanchun was giving orders in Changchun Palace, and the eunuchs and palace maids came to report one after another. Even Baoqin said happily, "This is the first time I've seen such a bustling atmosphere in the Empress's palace!"

Of course she was happy to hold the qin. The queen had been in the palace for ten years and finally she could hold her head high!
Jia Yuanchun stopped her, "You may seem powerful now, but it's nothing but a passing cloud. Not to mention the Empress, even if Prince Qian ordered me to manage the harem, I wouldn't dare get involved in the profits. I'm just following Prince Qian's orders to relocate the concubines."

Baoqin said, "Your Majesty, you are too cautious. Prince Qian clearly loves you, which is why he entrusted you with this important task. All you have to do is complete the task and report it to Prince Qian, and he will naturally be appreciated... I heard that Prince Qian is not married yet and has only one concubine at home!"

After hearing this, the eunuchs in charge of Changchun Palace, as well as the female officials Caipin and Zhaorong, all looked over.

In the past, they had shared the same fate as Empress Yuan. Now, it was a blessing in disguise. They could stay in Changchun Palace and serve the concubines of the new dynasty. They didn't have to wait in the "cold palace" and wait for Prince Qian to take a concubine before they could serve her.

As he was speaking, a eunuch outside shouted, "The late Concubine Shunhui has arrived!"

Jia Yuanchun hurriedly stood up and went outside to greet them, but was stopped in time by the female official Caipin, who said, "Your Majesty is a concubine of the new dynasty appointed by Prince Qian himself. How can you go to greet someone from the old dynasty?"

Jia Yuanchun was startled. This was indeed a violation of etiquette. She then remembered that she had previously referred to the old concubine and the empress dowager, not to "old obedience." She sat down again, and Concubine Hui had already rushed in, her face filled with anxiety. Upon seeing her, she burst into tears and said, "Yuan girl, you've gotten so proud now, but you don't care about us. You let the eunuchs come to our palace to steal things, causing chaos outside, and you sat there quietly. The old concubine cried until she was almost blind, and you didn't do anything. You have such a cruel heart!"

Upon hearing this, Yuanchun couldn't help but burst into tears. She said, "Your Majesty, why do you have to scold me? I am only following the orders of Prince Qian. I don't want to see the old concubine suffer. But your Majesty, you must know that a new emperor appoints new ministers... It's no use for your Majesty to beg me!"

Concubine Hui hurriedly grabbed her hand and said, "Go and ask Prince Qian! The emperor has already agreed to surrender, and you have been chosen by him as his concubine. Go and ask him to let us, the concubines of the old dynasty, leave the palace and grant us a small house with three courtyards to spend our old age. That's all. I dare not ask for more!"

Yuanchun was silent. She knew that even if Prince Qian was willing, she couldn't disturb him now.

"The former Concubine Shun, please return!"

Caipin and Zhaorong gave orders with cold faces, and then several eunuchs came up and asked Concubine Hui to go out, crying all the way.

Yuanchun couldn't bear it and started crying again.

"Miss."

Suddenly, a eunuch came to report. She wiped away her tears and sat upright on the chair and asked him, "What's the matter?"

"Princess Qinghe went to the Queen Mother. She couldn't bear to see her living in the Eastern Palace with the concubines, so she said she would go and plead with Prince Qian for mercy."

Yuanchun was a little surprised. Prince Qian had just arrived in the capital and was busy stabilizing the political situation. If she disturbed him now, she might not be able to get anything done and would be reprimanded instead.

But on second thought, Prince Qian seemed to be more indulgent towards the Empress and Princess Qinghe, and he also wanted to take them both as concubines. In addition, Qinghe had a gentle appearance, and if she cried and begged Prince Qian, maybe he would show leniency.

"Go tell the princess," Yuanchun ordered, "before she goes to see Prince Qian, it's best to ask the Empress first!"

Prince Qian allowed the old people in the palace to keep calling the Queen, the Princess and her virtuous concubine by the same names.

"Yes!"

The eunuch left in a hurry.

An hour later.

Qinghe brought Shuyu and a dozen eunuchs and palace maids to the Qianqing Gate, the main gate of the inner court.

"stop!"

The guards of the Qian Emperor who were guarding the Qianqing Gate stopped them. A eunuch hurried forward and pointed at the princess, whose beautiful face was covered with a palace fan, and said, "This is the concubine appointed by the Qian Emperor himself. She is the late Princess Qinghe of Shun. She didn't have a concubine title yet, so she was still called Princess Qinghe. The princess wishes to see the Qian Emperor. I hope you gentlemen will go and inform him!"

The guards knew nothing about what was going on in the inner court, but they knew that His Royal Highness Prince Qian had been to the harem once before, so they did not dare to order Princess Qinghe to go back, let alone ask her to put down the fan and check her face.

After discussing for a moment, they said, "We'll send a few people with you. His Highness should be in the Linjing Palace. Let's go!"

The eunuch bowed and thanked him hurriedly, then ran back to tell the princess.

Qinghe lowered his head, walked lightly with lotus steps, passed through the Qianqing Gate, and headed towards the Linjing Palace, followed by several of Prince Qian's personal guards.

She felt mixed emotions.

She was no longer a princess, but the consort of Prince Qian. Relying on this identity, she was able to leave the palace. Otherwise, she would not be able to move a single step.

This chapter is the main text of Jia Yuanchun, so don’t talk about water.

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(End of this chapter)