The Legend of the Concubine in the Harem

Who could have thought that just a simple audience would cause Qian Shunyi, a senior concubine, to lose her position as the head of Jiangyun Palace. She was pitifully carried out of Kunning Palace by palace servants, and she didn't even get to see the emperor. She had to hurry to clear out the furnishings that were only available to a noble concubine in her own palace and move them to a side hall.

"Then Lady Xie doesn't seem to be a quiet person. I heard that you, Meng Ronghua, had conflicts with Lady Xie before you entered the palace?"

On the way back to Zhaoyang Palace, Concubine Zhu's tone was full of regret, but her expression was full of gloating. Several new concubines who were assigned to Zhaoyang Palace followed her silently.

When Meng Ronghua heard the host call her name, she couldn't help but think of the difficulties the noble concubine had faced her yesterday. She felt indignant, but she was of low rank, not favored by the emperor, and had to make a living under the other party. So she had to put away her resentment and answered respectfully: "I just told the truth during the selection. Who knew that Lady Xie would not give up... The noble concubine also saw it today. This person, she, may be mentally abnormal because of that incident..."

Concubine Zhu sneered: "No matter how abnormal she is, she can't resist His Majesty's love for her. Look at the way His Majesty loves her, and then look at you who are not doing well!"

She suddenly stopped, and Meng Ronghua, who was following her, bumped into Concubine Zhu without noticing.

"Your Majesty!" Zhu Guipin's personal maid hurriedly supported her.

Meng Ronghua was shocked and quickly knelt down to apologize: "I didn't mean it, please forgive me, Your Majesty."

Concubine Zhu sneered again: "I thought you were born in the Meng family, and that etiquette was passed down from generation to generation, and you were the most disciplined. How come you can't even walk properly after entering the palace?"

She lifted Meng Ronghua's chin and looked at the girl Xian Yan's face with jealousy in her eyes: "Tsk tsk, you are still a little young after all. Well, since your family has never taught you well, then as your master, I can only teach you a thing or two myself."

Hearing her insult her family background and upbringing, Meng Ronghua bit her lower lip fiercely, shaking with anger: "I accept the guilt, please punish me, Your Majesty."

Seeing this, Concubine Zhu tutted her tongue twice and said in a low voice with a hint of regret: "Didn't you have the guts to file a complaint in front of the Empress last night? Why are you silent now that you are in the palace? If you had jumped out to pick on Mrs. Xie at that time, maybe Qian Shunyi wouldn't have ended up like this."

It's not that she had any deep feelings for Qian Shunyi, she just regretted not having seen a bigger drama.

She disliked all the women in the palace and wished she could see them fighting with each other so that she could get away with it.

After listening to Concubine Zhu's words, Meng Ronghua was filled with horror.

She wanted to sue Xie Yuzhen in front of the Queen Mother, but she had only complained to her personal female official in private. However, this female official was her own family and she grew up with her and was her confidant. Moreover, the female official's parents and relatives were still in the Meng Mansion and would never betray her.

The only possibility was that Concubine Zhu had secretly arranged someone outside her own house so that her private complaints could be heard.

Thinking of this, Meng Ronghua became more uneasy.

She was indeed frightened today by Xie Yuzhen's crazy behavior, so she did not act as expected. Now that Concubine Zhu casually revealed her secrets, she was even more terrified.

After all, she was only a girl of sixteen or seventeen years old. Meng Ronghua was panicked for a moment. Her frightened and speechless appearance made Zhu Guipin feel bored: "You will be punished to kneel here for an hour."

She looked at the two new concubines who were huddled like quails behind Meng Ronghua and said, "Miss Xia, Miss Chen, you two will stay here to watch over me. You can leave only when the time comes."

After saying this, Concubine Zhu felt that a lot of the depression in her heart had dissipated. She was the emperor's concubine when he was in the palace. She was already quite old, but had never given birth. In the past year or two, she had rarely been favored by the emperor. In order to have the emperor come to her palace more often, she shamelessly asked the empress to assign her a few new concubines.

But when the new concubines came before her, Concubine Zhu could not help becoming jealous of their youth and beauty, so she wanted to control the new concubines even more, constantly suppressing them, fearing that they would surpass her.

The two concubines Chen and Xia were of ordinary birth, so Concubine Zhu did not care much about them. On the contrary, Meng Ronghua came from a prominent family, and his father and brother were both in the court. This made Concubine Zhu, who actually did not have a high birth, feel like she was facing a formidable enemy. In just two days, she came up with many excuses to torment Meng Ronghua.

Especially after seeing Xie Yuzhen fainted and the emperor carrying him away so anxiously, the imbalance in Zhu Guipin's heart reached its peak.

After she had given instructions to the new concubines, she was about to turn around and leave when she saw a eunuch who usually followed the emperor passing by with his men. The group of palace servants were holding a lot of rewards, which made Concubine Zhu very curious. She stopped the leading eunuch and asked, "Where are you going, Eunuch Xi?"

Eunuch Xi stopped and bowed slightly, saying, "I am following your majesty's orders to deliver the reward to Shouning Palace!"

Send reward?

Concubine Zhu pinched her palm and said, "Thank you, Lady Xie, you are fine. Why is she not with us?"

This road is the only way from Kunning Palace to Shouning Palace, but she has not seen Xie Yuzhen passing by yet.

Eunuch Xi had a smiling expression on his face: "To answer the noble concubine, Concubine Xie is pregnant. Because she fainted before, it is not suitable to move her now. His Majesty has ordered someone to carry a sedan chair to send her back to the palace. She is still behind."

"Thank you, Talented Lady?" Concubine Zhu couldn't help but raise her voice, "Pregnant?!"

She pinched the skin of her palm almost instantly: "Didn't she just enter the palace maid's bedroom yesterday, how come she is pregnant?!"

Meng Ronghua, who was kneeling beside her, couldn't help laughing when he saw her so broken down: So what if she is a noble concubine? She is just an old aunt who can't give birth to a child. As long as she waits for the emperor to favor her, she will be favored, and then give birth to a son, and be promoted to a concubine or a royal consort. Sooner or later, she will climb above this old hag!

With malicious intent, Meng Ronghua slowly spoke, "When Concubine Xie was outside the palace, she was very favored by His Majesty. Moreover, she became pregnant and gave birth to a child only one year after marrying into the Marquis' Mansion. I think her body is also very healthy, so it is natural for her to become pregnant."

Concubine Zhu was so angry that she blurted out, "She can get pregnant, but whether she can give birth or not..." She suddenly stopped talking, raised her hand and slapped Meng Ronghua in the face. The latter was completely unprepared and had never expected that Concubine Zhu would actually hit someone.

"You!" Meng Ronghua glared at Concubine Zhu hatefully.

Concubine Zhu was breathing heavily, and she realized that she couldn't help but use her violence. Although she was the mistress, she could still control the concubines by setting rules. If she was more sinister, she would use some sinister means that would cause pain but no visible scars, but Concubine Zhu obviously didn't have that brains.

Meng Ronghua covered her face and refused to kneel again: "Concubine Zhu, you punished the concubine privately and slapped me without authorization. I ask the Queen to make the decision!"

She ran away crying.

Concubine Zhu woke up from her dream and felt something was wrong: "Are you all dead? What are you still standing there for? Hurry up and stop Meng Ronghua!"

For a moment, the palace road was in chaos and confusion.

A sedan chair was slowly coming over from the other side. Xie Yuzhen heard the noise outside and lifted the curtain to take a look: "It's so lively. Oh, I really want to make it more lively. Unfortunately, for the sake of my precious daughter, it's better not to take risks."

So she decisively ordered to change direction and go back to Kunning Palace to find the emperor and empress.