newbobooks Chapter 196 The Legend of Zhen Huan, Consort Qi 9
Chapter 196 The Legend of Zhen Huan, Consort Qi 9
Zhen Huan and Consort Duan talked for a long time until the sound of a door opening came in.
Jinxi rushed in, first bowing to Consort Duan, and then hurriedly said, "Consort Xiang has passed away."
Zhen Huan and Consort Duan exchanged glances. Zhen Huan stood up and said, "Jinxi, go and make the arrangements first. I'll be there shortly."
After Jinxi left, Consort Duan cried like a cat, "Just a few days ago, I heard that Consort Xiang was unwell. How could she have died so suddenly?"
Zhen Huan said softly, "Imperial Physician Wen once told me in secret that the Emperor and Empress Dowager could no longer tolerate her and had someone around them drug her. In addition, Consort Xiang betrayed Nian Shilan, and the Emperor could not tolerate such a traitor."
Consort Duan forced a smile, but her lips immediately fell into sorrow: "It's such a pity for Wenyi. She lost her mother at a young age, and she has to suffer like this at such a young age."
After pondering for a moment, Zhen Huan understood what Consort Duan meant. She came to Consort Duan and said, "I think that if the princess could be fostered under Your Highness's care, she will surely be well-behaved and sensible in the future, and I believe the Emperor would not have any objections."
Consort Duan thought to herself, "We've finally reached this point. All that talk was for this, wasn't it?"
"I really like Princess Wenyi, but this is not something we can decide."
“Your Majesty, you love the princess so much that you must treat her as your own daughter. I am willing to do my best for Your Majesty.”
Having achieved her goal, Consort Duan finally smiled and said, "If I could raise Princess Wenyi, I would definitely treat her as my own daughter."
Unfortunately, Consort Duan and Zhen Huan's plans fell through.
A few hours before Cao Qinmo passed away, she asked Yueqing to invite the Emperor, saying that she had something important to tell him. If the Emperor did not come, she should give him the letter; if the Emperor did come, she would speak to him personally.
Upon hearing Yueqing's message, the Emperor decided to go and see Cao Qinmo in person. He hadn't gone to see Nian Shilan when she died, and he felt a void in his heart.
When the Emperor arrived at Qixiang Palace, Feng Ruozhao was by the bedside, playing with Wenyi in her arms. Cao Qinmo quietly watched the two of them, staring at Wenyi, tears welling up in her eyes from time to time.
When the Emperor arrived, he saw this heartwarming scene. Feng Ruozhao, carrying Wenyi, stood up to pay his respects to the Emperor. Cao Qinmo remembered, but unfortunately, she no longer had the strength.
"Please trouble Consort Jing to check on Wenyi's meals," Cao Qinmo said.
Feng Ruozhao took her leave with Wenyi in her arms, knowing that Cao Qinmo had something to say to the Emperor.
"It's been quite a while since His Majesty visited Wenyi." Cao Qinmo stared at the emperor high above the heavens. Was there anything in this world that His Majesty couldn't obtain?
Cao Qinmo did not expect the Emperor to answer her, and continued, "I am afraid I will not be able to survive this winter. As Your Majesty has seen, Consort Jing is gentle and kind and treats Wenyi very well. I would like to ask Consort Jing to raise Wenyi."
The Emperor didn't want to say anything, but he was lying that you would definitely get better. Cao Qinmo was smart, and now she was looking for a foster mother for Wenyi, so she probably knew something.
"Looking back, if it weren't for Consort Dunsu, there wouldn't be Wenyi today. Your Majesty should understand how difficult it is for women in the harem to give birth to a child. But Consort Dunsu often threatens me with Wenyi's life, putting cassava flour in her mouth and feeding her sedatives. The hatred in my heart..."
At this point, Cao Qinmo burst into tears. She was on the verge of death; could the Emperor really kill her now?
Cao Qinmo wiped away her tears and said, "If Your Majesty asks me whether I regret it, my answer is yes. It's just that I couldn't raise Wenyi to adulthood myself. After I die, in this harem, the only ones left who can raise Wenyi in terms of seniority are Consort Duan and Consort Jing."
"Your Majesty, may I have one wish?" Cao Qinmo spoke slowly, finally getting to her real purpose.
The Emperor glanced at Cao Qinmo, whose face was deathly pale, and nodded, signaling Cao Qinmo to speak.
"I beg Your Majesty to allow Consort Jing to raise Wenyi. I will use this wretched life to atone to Consort Dunsu in the underworld."
The Emperor stared at Cao Qinmo, sensing the kindness Cao Qinmo showed to Wenyi, something he could never have in his life. He nodded and said, "I will consider it."
Cao Qinmo knew that the Emperor was already interested in making a move, so she dared not say anything more or provoke him. Instead, she said a few soft words: "Thank you, Your Majesty. Before I die, Your Majesty came to see me. My life has been worthwhile."
"You should rest well. I still have matters to attend to."
After the Emperor left, Cao Qinmo exchanged a few more words with Feng Ruozhao.
Cao Qinmo died within a few hours. When the emperor heard the news, he remained silent for a long time.
After dealing with the affairs of the previous dynasty, the emperor remembered that before Cao Qinmo passed away, he asked him to entrust Wenyi to Consort Jing for upbringing, so he got up and went to Jingren Palace.
Thinking that he hadn't seen Zhen Huan for a long time, he sent someone to invite her to Jingren Palace for a chat.
Not long after they sat down, Zhen Huan lifted the curtain and entered, respectfully saying, "May Your Majesty and Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings."
"Get up quickly!" the Emperor said.
"Since you're late, I'll punish you by making you peel walnuts. You're not allowed to eat them yourself," An Lingrong joked, trying to show the Emperor how close she was to Zhen Huan.
"It was cold outside, so I changed to a hand warmer. But it got cold halfway there, so I went back to change to another one, which caused the delay," Zhen Huan sighed as she looked at the Emperor.
The Emperor gently touched Zhen Huan's hand and said, "It's a bit cold. Warm it up before you eat."
Seeing the Emperor and Zhen Huan's intimacy, Yi Xiu's smile faded slightly.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Yixiu responded with a forced smile and turned to look at the Emperor: "Recently, because Consort Jin was pregnant, she was promoted in rank, which reminded me that there are many vacancies in the positions of concubines in the palace. Does Your Majesty intend to select a few of my sisters to fill the vacancies?"
Of course, Yixiu didn't mean any good. She just didn't like the Emperor making an exception for Consort Jin. If they were to be promoted together, they would also be under the Emperor's notice. In addition, she, as the benevolent Empress, was the best person to do the job of using titles to win people's hearts.
The Emperor thought of Wen Yuan, that little girl. He went to see her the day before yesterday. She certainly knows how to enjoy herself. She's pregnant, and the Empress has been exempted from paying her respects. She spends her days eating, drinking, and having fun. He can't let the child she's born learn to be so playful.
The Emperor turned his head, glanced at Yixiu, and said calmly, "Tell me what you have to say."
Yixiu stated her purpose: "According to the harem's regulations, there should be one Imperial Noble Consort, two Noble Consorts, four Consorts, and six Concubines. The number of others is uncertain. Currently, there are only three Consorts: Duan Consort, Jing Consort, and Qi Consort, and only two Concubines: Wan Concubine and Jin Concubine. The number of people is insufficient."
The Emperor pondered for a moment, then thought that Consort Jin had not yet received her promotion ceremony. He glanced at Consort Wan out of the corner of his eye. Consort Jin was already pregnant and had encountered so many things, which was too conspicuous. Consort Wan was smart. If he could get Consort Wan to help block the view, Consort Jin's safety would be more secure.
"Noble Consort, Noble Consort, let's not rush. But we can add another Consort. Let's choose an auspicious day and promote Consort Wan to the rank of Consort," the Emperor said, enunciating each word clearly.