Chapter 6: The Palace Intrigue

  On the second day, Daiyu dressed up properly according to the rank of Gu Lun and Shuo Gongzhu, and set off on the road to the palace with Xueyan and Chunxiang. Zijuan sighed as she watched Daiyu's back, thinking that her mistress was still distant from her, wondering what she had done wrong.

  "Cough, cough." A coughing sound came from behind, Zijuan turned her head and saw "Lin Guanjia".

  "Follow me." Lin Fang led the way in front, while Zi Juan followed behind him with some confusion.

  Daiyu gazed out of the carriage at the increasingly distant palace gates, feeling a mix of emotions, and had a sense of entering the palace was like entering the deep sea. The thick red wooden gate closed behind her, and freedom was now out of reach. Daiyu shook her head, how could she have such feelings? It was really laughable. How could this place trap her? What Daiyu didn't know was that many years later, she would willingly clip her own wings for someone and stay in the palace.

  "Is it Princess Dye Heart on the carriage?" A somewhat familiar voice rang out.

  "Yes, Shu." Xueyan pulled open the curtain and went to greet her. Daiyu looked through the gap and saw that it was Su Malan, and Hengzhuang had actually sent Su Malan to pick her up. Was this a declaration of her status? After all, those princes like Yongzheng had to show respect to Su Malan. Thinking of this, Daiyu smiled and stood up to greet her.

  "Grandma is good."

  "The princess doesn't have to get off the carriage, the Empress Dowager has an edict, considering the princess's weak health, let her take the carriage directly to the Yongshou Palace."

  "Thank you for your concern, elder. Please get on the carriage." Daiyu made way and Su Malan got on the horse-drawn carriage.

  After about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, the carriage came to a stop. Sumalaguo got out first, followed by Chunxian and Xueyan. Many palace maids were already standing beside the carriage, respectfully calling out, "Welcome, Princess Dixin and Shuogong."

  Daiyu slowly got down from the carriage and entered everyone's line of sight, although her face was expressionless and cold, but Daiyu's weak image made people feel a sense of tenderness.

  "Princess, this way." Sumala led the way in front and brought Daiyu into Xiaozhuang's room.

  "Daiyu has arrived. I was just talking about you with the Empress Dowager." Daiyu had just entered the room and hadn't even had time to pay her respects when the benevolent voice of Xiaozhuang spoke up.

  "Daiyu greets the ancestors and Empress Dowager." Daiyu performed a grand ceremony. This was a very unfamiliar palace for her. "Get up, come over here." Xiaozhuang beckoned to Daiyu with her hand, and Daiyu obediently walked over.

  "It's no wonder the ancestors praised her, she's indeed a good child." The empress dowager looked at Daiyu with satisfaction, but there was something strange in her eyes that made Daiyu feel uneasy. What she didn't know was that just now, Xiaozhuang and the empress dowager were discussing making Daiyu her own great-granddaughter-in-law, and the empress dowager had also started to think about it, wondering which one would be suitable. Both thirteen and fourteen were of a suitable age, but still needed to consider the ancestors' opinion.

  "Thank you for your praise, Empress Dowager."

  "What's all this 'Empress' business? Let me hear you call me 'Mother'." The Empress Dowager grasped Bao-yu's other hand, speaking with great warmth.

  Daiyu lowered her head, covering up the discomfort that flashed in her eyes. She was an assassin and didn't like others to be so close to her, especially strangers. "Huang Ma." Daiyu quickly raised her head and called out.

  "You see, what's wrong with that?" The Empress Dowager obviously misunderstood Daiyu's actions, but it was Xianzhuang who had been staring at Daiyu whose eyes flashed a hint of doubt and unfamiliarity.

  "The Empress Dowager, De Fei, Hui Fei, Yi Fei and Rong Fei have arrived with the consorts to pay their respects." A maid stepped forward to report.

  "Let them all come in, have they posted yet? Today is indeed a full house." Xiangzhuang said with some jest, Daiyu furrowed her brow, the matter of her entering the palace had not been concealed, these imperial consorts were clearly all here for her, she must be cautious, these women were experts at scheming.

  "To the Empress Dowager, the Empresses asked for her well-being." Under the lead of the four consorts, all the concubines knelt down. The room was filled with a sea of dark heads. Daiyu sneered and smiled, this is the love of the emperor, Kangxi truly loves widely.

  "Everyone, please get up." Empress Dowager Ci Xi waved her hand and the kneeling people all stood up. They looked at Daiyu with more or less curious eyes. However, no one was foolish enough to look for trouble with Daiyu, who was a princess of the imperial family and outranked them in status. Even if she were younger than they, they couldn't expect her to pay respects to them, let alone that the Emperor had given her an edict exempting her from performing rituals.

  "This must be Princess Dai Xin. Look at how much the ancestors are protecting her." A woman with a somewhat gloomy gaze spoke up, and after finishing, she covered her mouth with a handkerchief and smiled.

  "This is Consort Hui, you are so careless." Consort Hui was Mingzhu's sister and the birth mother of Zhenguo Duke, she entered the palace very early and stood at the top of the four consorts without falling, having a unique ability.

  "The princess is indeed soft and weak, very lovely." A beautiful woman spoke up, looking like she was only in her twenties. However, as soon as Daiyu saw what she was wearing, she knew that she was one of the four consorts, and the most beautiful one at that. Daiyu quickly confirmed her identity.

  "The princess has been wrongly praised."

  "The women of Jiangnan are all like this, that's why they're especially likable." Huifei said with a hint of meaning, her eyes drifting over Mi Fei's face, a flash of murderous intent passing by, this damned southern barbarian had monopolized the emperor's favor.

  Daiyu followed her gaze and saw a slender little face, which should be the birth mother of the 15th brother. She indeed looked good and had the capital to hook people. However, this Consort Hui came up and scolded herself together with others. It's really unclear what to say about her. No wonder later generations evaluated that Yongzheng's failure also had factors related to Consort Hui.

  Empress Xiaozhuang frowned, but didn't say anything. However, she was somewhat displeased with Consort Hui in her heart. She casually swept her gaze around and saw that Imperial Noblewoman Liang was standing behind Consort Hui, nodding humbly. Empress Xiaozhu had an idea, "It's about time for some changes in the palace. Promote Imperial Noblewoman Liang to Imperial Noble Concubine Liang and grant her residence in Chengde Palace."

  "Thank you, Empress Dowager." Lady Lianggui knelt down somewhat excitedly. Calculating the time she spent with Kangxi, it was even longer than that of Consort De. However, as a member of the Xinzhengku, she had never received further promotion or appointment, and could only secretly catch glimpses of her son in private.

  "Emperor Mother, Lao Ba is also capable, it shows that Liang Gui Fei taught him well. I think I'll directly confer the title of Liang Fei on him." Kangxi's voice exploded in the room, and as people looked around, Kangxi appeared with his imperial sons, making the already crowded room even more cramped. Daiyu rolled her eyes, this is just perfect... really perfect. Daiyu's gaze swept around the room, and met with Yin Zhen's, for a moment they didn't look away from each other. He seems thinner...