Chapter 376: Chapter 376
After washing up and doing her makeup, by the time An Ning changed her clothes and came out, nearly an hour had already passed.
In the outer chamber, several Grand Imperial Consorts had been waiting for quite some time.
Besides familiar faces like Consort Rong, Consort De, and Consort Yi, even the usually low-profile Consort Cheng was present—and all were Grand Imperial Consorts who had borne children. In that instant, An Ning had already guessed their purpose.
Sure enough, after the customary pleasantries, Consort Yi—who was typically the most straightforward and quick-tongued—spoke up first.
Hearing their underlying meaning, An Ning wasn't particularly surprised: "Grand Imperial Consorts leaving the palace to be supported elsewhere—our dynasty has no precedent for this before. Besides, this matter should ultimately be decided by the Emperor..."
As her words fell, seeing varying degrees of disappointment appear on their faces, An Ning gently twirled her teacup and continued: "However, since you sisters have made the effort to come here, I will mention this matter to the Emperor later. As for whether it can be accomplished..."
Before An Ning could finish speaking, Consort Yi hurriedly spoke up with a smile: "For Your Majesty the Empress Dowager to even help us speak of it is already a great kindness. Whether it succeeds or not, we your servants can only feel gratitude, and would never dare harbor even the slightest complaint..."
Looking at Consort Yi, who had spoken so hastily, her expression carrying traces of weariness and gloom, An Ning's eyes couldn't help but flicker with some complexity.
Women in the palace had always maintained themselves exceptionally well. While the Imperial Hospital might not excel in other areas, they certainly had no shortage of excellent prescriptions and miraculous medicines. Coupled with all sorts of nourishing treasures to preserve health and youth, it wasn't that each was stunningly beautiful, but it was hardly unusual for them to appear ten or twenty years younger than their actual age.
Even worse off was Consort De beside her.
Admittedly, while Emperor Kangxi hadn't acted much like a decent person in daily life, he did show some consideration toward his longtime companions. During his occasional visits, he provided at least passable emotional support.
Of course, most importantly, An Ning lifted her head to glance out the window—this vast rear palace was truly too lonely and dreary.
With the new Emperor ascending the throne, and him not being one with a good temper either, plus his habitual residence in the gardens, the various princes' entries into the palace were no longer as casual as before.
Moreover, the former mistresses of entire palaces had now become powerless Grand Imperial Consorts, forced to squeeze together with a large number of low-ranking consorts and attendants.
Thus, An Ning could understand their urgency at this moment, and when she spoke again, her tone was much gentler.
Although she didn't give a definite reply, she still allowed them to see a glimmer of hope. Led by Consort Rong, when they spoke again, their faces unconsciously showed some rare, genuine smiles.
Their previously deflated spirits finally improved considerably.
An Ning secretly cursed in her heart: What a tragedy!
She knew that if they had come to beg her now, the various Princes must have already submitted memorials requesting this matter earlier. They had likely been withheld by now.
Actually, given Yinreng's relationship with his brothers before—not to mention Third Prince who had always been his follower, or Fourth Prince who was half a follower—even toward Fifth Prince and others, while there was some condescension as Crown Prince, he had still maintained some brotherly affection. Being broad-minded by nature, he would never have blocked them over such trivial matters.
But then Old Kangxi had to go and depose him once, after which these brothers, except for the Thirteenth Prince, either grew restless with ambition or prudently protected themselves while hiding their own schemes. Their originally thin bonds of affection had probably diluted tenfold.
Then again, considering the Empress's maternal family that had been schemed against and nearly unable to recover even now...
Sigh, no wonder these people were anxious to distance themselves to ensure their own preservation.
Who would have thought that a deposed Crown Prince could be reinstated, and then smoothly ascend the throne? What kind of game was this!
Silently sipping her light tea, while inwardly complaining, An Ning noticed that Consort De, who had remained quiet all along, finally spoke. Clearly different from the others, the Uya clan's purpose for coming wasn't about leaving the palace, but rather about the Fourteenth Prince establishing his own residence outside the palace.
It turned out that early in the year, the Fourteenth Prince had already gotten married smoothly. However, due to various busy matters, he had never been assigned his own residence. Now that the new Emperor had ascended the throne, having an adult younger brother who had long been married still living in the palace was indeed rather inappropriate.
"Sister De wishes to retire and be supported in the Fourteenth Prince's residence?"
An Ning's question carried some curiosity. After all, compared to the Fourth Prince who had already been enfeoffed as a Prince in the forty-seventh year, the Fourteenth was still just a youngster!
The only noble title he held—Beizi—had been casually given by Yinreng after he assumed the throne.
Moreover, Prince Yong had already submitted a memorial requesting to support her in retirement.
Pulling this move now—wasn't this slapping her eldest son's dignity right in the face? Especially since even her own Consort position had been originally conferred by Kangxi out of regard for Prince Yong.
Unfortunately, when it came to stubbornness, the woman before her was no less determined than her own son. She even stated directly: "Replying to Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, the Fourteenth is still young and inevitably acts without sufficient steadiness. He still requires my constant supervision." Finally, she even said bluntly: "If the Beizi Manor does not meet regulations, I wouldn't mind leaving the palace a bit later!"
Wow! Taking a small sip of tea, An Ning couldn't help but click her tongue inwardly:
What an absolutely stubborn constitution—now she understood where that Prince Yong got his obstinacy from.
But thinking back to that scene many years ago, then looking at the extremely stubborn Consort De before her...
This... wasn't this just another cycle!
She just wondered what Prince Yong's reaction would be when he learned of this.
Sigh, when it all came down to it, it was still Old Kangxi who hadn't acted like a decent person.
After seeing off the various Grand Imperial Consorts, when Yinreng came over that evening, An Ning casually mentioned this matter.
Unexpectedly, his immediate reaction was: "A-Ning, are you saying you want these people to simply leave the palace?"
Before she could voice her confusion, she saw him smile and say: "Although we spend most of our time residing in the gardens, during festivals or when important events occur, we inevitably have to return to the palace for a period."
"The palace is rather dull after all. I've noticed you don't interact much with those consorts either, so I thought having some familiar people around would at least give you someone to talk with when you're bored."
Aside from occasional greetings, did she have any extra interactions with these people?
And, with the frequency of his visits... was she actually bored?
Perhaps seeing her expression was truly too speechless, the man beneath her soon laughed: "Since that's the case, it just so happens that Third Brother and the others submitted memorials a month ago. Tomorrow I'll order the Imperial Household Department to go over—once everything complies with regulations, I might as well issue the decree straight away."
So you knew those were from a month ago! And now it's already the thirtieth.
Silently sipping her light tea, while inwardly complaining, An Ning noticed that Consort De, who had remained quiet all along, finally spoke. Clearly different from the others, the Uya clan's purpose for coming wasn't about leaving the palace, but rather about the Fourteenth Prince establishing his own residence outside the palace.
In the past, he would never have acted so capriciously.
And this mental state of his...
But soon, she no longer had the mind to ponder these matters:
"A-Ning said before that I was too rigid. Now that several months have passed, I wonder if you've noticed any improvement?"
Well, actually, there's no need to overcorrect that much...
In her dazed state, An Ning couldn't help thinking to herself.