Changsheng: Peak at the Beginning

Chapter 206: Legend of Zhen Huan 76

Concubine Xi would certainly not be so crude in her methods. She did this just to give Concubine Jing a warning and also to make her let down her guard.

If the rules of the Imperial Hospital had not changed, she would certainly be able to get more convenience through Wen Shichu, such as giving Concubine Jing drugs. But because the rules of the Imperial Hospital had changed, each visit by two or more doctors had to be made together, so giving drugs had become one of the means that could not be used in the harem.

Originally, Concubine Xi wanted to destroy Concubine Jing's image of being virtuous and gentle by sowing discord between Concubine Jing and Princess Wen Yi. Then, if she could get more influence from the Emperor, she might be able to replace Concubine Jing and be promoted to Concubine. But now that she has tried it, she has found that the mother-daughter relationship between Concubine Jing and Princess Wen Yi cannot be sown by external forces.

Since the result of the test was not satisfactory, Concubine Xi was not in a hurry. After all, Concubine Jing was old, and Princess Wen Yi was not young either. Maybe Princess Wen Yi would marry far away in the future. By that time, Concubine Jing would be old and sad about her adopted daughter marrying far away. It would be reasonable for something to go wrong when she was bedridden.

After figuring out all this, Concubine Xi regained her shrewdness. She even had the leisure to go to the imperial garden, pick a bunch of seasonal flowers, put them in a vase, and asked Cui Jinxi to deliver them to the emperor.

If it were somewhere else, Cui Jinxi would certainly be happy to run errands, but the Imperial Court was not a bad place, but there happened to be a man named Su Peisheng in front of her who had a good relationship with her. And recently it seemed that Su Peisheng was no longer satisfied with a simple relationship of fellow townsmen and wanted to take a step further with her.

Cui Jinxi was not aloof, but she really could not develop any romantic feelings for a eunuch. Even though she knew that he would be alone in the future, she really had no such intentions towards Su Peisheng.

It would be fine for her, but she had to consider that her rejection of Su Peisheng would bring negative impact on Concubine Xi, so she could only pretend to be nice to Su Peisheng.

However, Su Peisheng, who was in the imperial presence every day, gave all the small amount of energy that was left for the emperor to Cui Jinxi.

He watched coldly from the side. The emperor did favor Concubine Xi the most in the harem, but based on his understanding of the emperor, if Concubine Xi could not find a way to get closer to the emperor, then she would sooner or later repeat the same mistake.

Su Peisheng had never thought of betraying the emperor, so he tried to find out indirectly whether Cui Jinxi had the intention to leave Concubine Xi. However, Cui Jinxi misunderstood Su Peisheng's meaning. She thought that what Su Peisheng meant by the future was to leave the palace and be his wife, so she thought that her tactful refusal was actually completely cutting off her own retreat.

Cui Jinxi had no intention of leaving Concubine Xi, and Su Peisheng was worried that Concubine Xi would fall from grace in the future and implicate Cui Jinxi. He also understood Cui Jinxi's personality. She seemed gentle, quiet and steady, but in fact she was not someone who was content with mediocrity. Otherwise, she would just go to an empty palace and be an idle housekeeper. With him, Su Peisheng, looking after her secretly, she could live a leisurely life without having to worry about anything and still having money.

In this case, Su Peisheng could only try his best to give Concubine Xi more convenience without harming the interests of the emperor.

The sun is strong in June, but a rain from time to time can dilute the heat.

The Fourth Prince's marriage could not be delayed any further, so the Emperor asked Yi Xin to hold a small talent show in the Old Summer Palace to select candidates for the Fourth Prince and the Fifth Prince.

This time, the talent show was conducted on a voluntary basis. Girls of appropriate age could sign up on their own. Those who did not sign up could marry on their own. Those who were not selected could also marry on their own.

However, before the marriage, the emperor had already chosen a wife for the Fourth Prince Hongli, not a woman from the Fucha clan, but a woman from the Dong E clan.

After all, the only eligible girl of the Fucha clan was Yixin's cousin, the Empress Fucha Langya in Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace. If Yixin was a concubine, even a royal concubine, as long as she was not the Empress, the Emperor would have to consider the issue of seniority and would never assign Langya to his sons as their legitimate wife.

Therefore, Langya in this life had her own mother who had chosen her partner early on. She married Prince Yunxi, who had originally fallen in love with Zhen Yurao and was also the legitimate youngest son of the late emperor. She became the legitimate wife and became sisters-in-law to Yi Xin and Prince Ding's wife from cousins.

This Dong E was the niece of the late emperor's ninth prince's wife, Dong E. Her great-great-grandfather was the same person as Prince Cheng's wife's great-grandfather. Her family background was very extraordinary, only slightly inferior to Fu Cha Langya.

The Fifth Prince's wife is still Wu Zaku, the candidate that Concubine Yu personally picked for her son. The reason was that she was as good-looking as Dong E and had many brothers and sisters in her family.

What else could the emperor do? He originally looked down on Wu Zaku's background, but Concubine Yu and the Fifth Prince both agreed. He could only say some angry words in front of Yi Xin, but in the end he still chose Wu Zaku as his daughter-in-law.

The positions of the principal wives for the two princes have already been decided, and the only thing left is to choose concubines and princesses.

Gao Bin's only daughter, Gao Xiyue, was unable to come because the emperor had not yet given the Gao family a banner, and as a bannerman they were not allowed to appear at occasions like general elections.

However, the emperor came and talked to Yi Xin, asking her to choose someone from the royal family for Gao Xiyue so that he could grant the marriage and let Gao Xiyue become his principal wife.

The twenty or so beauties who finally came before Yi Xin, Concubine Xi and Concubine Yu were all high-end talents with good family backgrounds, good looks, character and means.

Concubine Yu was fine. After all, her daughter-in-law was a candidate that she and her son had discussed together. So when she looked at the concubines with outstanding family backgrounds, she did not feel any fluctuation in her heart. She was focused on appreciating the youthful and lively energy of the concubines.

However, Concubine Xi couldn't help but feel that Dong E's appearance was too outstanding. After all, when she was just selected, she dared to say in front of the governess that Concubine Hua, who was at the peak of her career at the time, was a "noble and talented woman" who used her beauty to please men.

Because of Yi Xin's presence, this small election did not result in the princes coming in person to look at the concubines, so Concubine Xi asked Yi Xin in front of all the concubines, "Your Majesty, these concubines are really more beautiful than each other. I can't compare."

Not to mention Yi Xin and Concubine Yu, even the concubines standing in the front who heard these words couldn't help but glance at Concubine Xi.

Yi Xin reminded Concubine Xi unhappily, "Concubine Xi, at least use your brain before you speak. Today we are here to add a concubine to the two princes, and the emperor has expressly cancelled the election!"

Concubine Yu ignored this part and pointed at Wu Zaku, who she had been favoring, and said, "Your Majesty, I like this Wu Zaku. Not only is she beautiful, but I heard that she has many brothers and sisters at home. I want to share in this blessing and have many grandchildren, and enjoy the blessing of having children and grandchildren around me."

Yi Xin couldn't help but laugh and said, "Then you should give the jade ruyi to her quickly and take her away as soon as possible. Let's watch her for a while longer, or we might dilute the blessing of your daughter-in-law."

Concubine Yu ignored the joke and stood up, gave the jade ruyi representing the legitimate wife to Wu Zaku, and then left with Wu Zaku.

Turning around, Yi Xin saw that Concubine Xi was still pretending to choose, and couldn't help but say, "It is said that the Fourth Prince is not your biological son, but from my point of view, Concubine Xi, you are really a loving mother to the Fourth Prince. Aren't you very careful in choosing a daughter-in-law, for fear of making a wrong choice?"

Concubine Xi could no longer pretend and could only reply, "Your Highness the Queen is right. I am not the Fourth Prince's biological mother after all. When the Fourth Prince came to me, he was already old, so there was some estrangement between mother and son."

The jade ruyi in Concubine Xi's hand was soon given to Dong E, and the emperor picked out two of the remaining beauties to be given the title of princess to the fourth and fifth princes. The marriage of the two princes was arranged for the beginning of next year and the second half of next year respectively. Fortunately, the mothers of the two princes were both concubines, and Yi Xin also gave them the qualification to prepare their own weddings, thus getting rid of the matter.