Chapter 345: Chapter 345

"This is absurd! Matters concerning the imperial consorts are not something we should investigate. Eldest Brother, you should be more careful and not speak recklessly just to satisfy momentary curiosity..."

The Crown Prince, not yet ten years old, already carried the dignified authority of an heir apparent. As soon as he finished speaking, the two younger princes behind him instinctively straightened their small bodies. Being lectured by his younger brother made Yinzhi feel uncomfortable for a moment.

Knowing he had spoken out of turn, the Eldest Young Master quickly closed his mouth in frustration.

Even so, that burning curiosity still made him restless.

At eleven or twelve years old, it was the age of curiosity. The Qing palace princes matured particularly early, especially since he had recently heard by chance that his mother was already selecting palace servants to introduce him to worldly matters, waiting just a few more years...

Out of novelty, when paying respects, Yinzhi had secretly glanced a few times, but hadn't found anything particularly remarkable.

Precisely because of this, he was especially curious about this legendary favored consort who could make his wise and mighty Emperor Father "disregard rules."

That's why he had momentarily lost control and spoken carelessly among his brothers, never expecting to be reprimanded by his younger brother.

Frustrated, when passing by a stone pier, Yinzhi couldn't help but give it a hard kick.

Yinzhi and Yin Zhen exchanged glances.

It seemed Eldest Brother was really curious. Ah, this... now they were getting curious too. What should they do?

Fortunately, this opportunity came soon enough.

Another Mid-Autumn Festival arrived. As the evening banquet approached, bright lanterns were lit early throughout the palace. By the Tinglan Waterside Pavilion, palace servants occasionally passed through.

Thousands of lanterns, glazed tiles containing kingfisher blues—it was truly a magnificent scene.

Yet all this splendor completely lost its brilliance when one person arrived.

Pearls and jade as ornaments, kingfisher feather inlays as pendants, the priceless Yunling brocade seemed to naturally belong on this person. Though covered in pearls, jade, and fine silks, there was an indescribable quality of being untainted by worldly dust.

Everyone instinctively froze for a moment. They finally witnessed what true "six palaces' powdered and painted beauties paling in comparison" really looked like.

"This... this person, could it be that Consort Chen?" Below, a noble lady unconsciously widened her eyes.

Throughout the banquet, occasional whispers could be heard.

As this person slowly approached, the originally lively banquet seemed to fall silent for a moment.

As Consort Chen, this was An Ning's first time attending a palace banquet, and her first time dressing so magnificently. Today she was specially adorned, to the point that not only were the officials and noble ladies below stunned.

Even the palace consorts who had previously encountered her couldn't help but stand with their jaws dropped.

"Oh, my dear Consort Chen!" Not far away, Imperial Consort Yi was the first to react. As the person approached, she deliberately exaggeratedly covered the corner of her mouth and moved aside:

"Hai, if I'd known there would be a celestial beauty sitting beside me today, I definitely wouldn't have chosen this seat no matter what."

"Look how she makes the rest of us pale in comparison! What a waste of the several hours I spent preparing in my room!"

As she spoke, she deliberately raised her handkerchief to cover her lips.

Despite saying this, the moment An Ning took her seat, this woman still leaned over with an intoxicated expression.

Feeling her left hand being suddenly tightly grasped and occasionally rubbed, An Ning remained speechless for a moment, then withdrew her hand and nodded slightly in greeting:

"Ai!" Guo Luoluo quickly responded.

Tsk, truly a great beauty—even her voice is exceptionally lovely!

Looking at a beauty under lantern light, the more you look, the more intoxicated you become.

In any case, at this moment, Guo Luoluo was truly deeply intoxicated, even unconsciously entertaining the absurd thought of how wonderful it would be if she were His Majesty.

And at this moment, quite a few people were having similarly absurd thoughts.

Meanwhile, Consort Shu nearby, her originally somewhat haggard face, couldn't help but freeze for a moment when she saw the person.

This... this is the historical Consort Liang?

Ah! Such a beauty—how could Kangxi bring himself to say those words "born of a lowly woman from Xin Zheku," and how could he bear to let such a beauty remain an unnamed, rankless concubine and Noble Lady for over ten years? Especially when she had borne a clever prince.

For the first time, Lady Guargiya entertained the thought that perhaps they had the wrong person. Maybe there was more than one beautiful palace servant from Xin Zheku with the surname Wei?

But moments later, remembering her matron's previous warnings, she shook her head heavily again.

Precisely because she had no son could she reach her current position as Consort Chen, receive His Majesty's such great trust, and be entrusted with official duties.

Matron Gui was right—given Kangxi's suspicious nature as an emperor, perhaps it really was !

Yet thinking this way, during the banquet, Lady Guargiya's heart grew confused again.

Earlier, she had always thought it was because of this person's status that she dragged down the Eighth Prince's unfortunate fate.

But now, with her butterfly effect, the historical Consort Liang didn't have the Eighth Prince, yet was instead promoted to consort rank over a decade earlier, granted the title "Chen," and enjoyed favor surpassing all others in the six palaces.

Looking back at the original situation...

So ultimately, who was really dragging down whom?

But if Consort Liang wasn't the Eighth Prince's burden, then, then...

As if thinking of something, Lady Guargiya shook her head violently, refusing to acknowledge any of the possibilities.

Perhaps they were dragging each other down!

Yes, they were dragging each other down.

Lady Guargiya kept telling herself—yes, no matter what, status couldn't be changed. In this life, her Little Ba had a birth mother like herself, so things would definitely be different!

That astonishingly talented and virtuous Eighth Virtuous Prince shouldn't bear the slightest stain, let alone the original sin brought by birth.

Noticing the gaze that had been frequently directed her way since earlier, she didn't need to guess its meaning. Lightly swirling the white jade cup in her hand, as if savoring exquisite wine with slight intoxication, An Ning couldn't help but curve her lips slightly.

Throughout the banquet, many people unconsciously picked up their wine cups.

So this is the legendary Consort Chen. Not far away, several young princes couldn't help but freeze for a moment.

The legendary Moon Goddess Chang'e probably looked !

The Emperor Father really...

Is this the benefit of being an emperor?