Changsheng: Peak at the Beginning

Chapter 1089 Zhen Huan Enlarged to 15

What happened in Jingren Palace soon reached Big Fat Ju's ears. Although he hated Jiang Xinxin for doing things as she pleased without considering him at all, he also felt relieved for a moment because Jiang Xinxin was able to suppress Nian and the Nian family every time.

But today, she punished Nian Shilan to kneel in public, reprimanded the women of the Nian family, and almost eliminated two of Nian Shilan's confidants. Fatty Ju also became suspicious of Jiang Xinxin, and asked Su Peisheng to convey an order to the Yikun Palace, demoting Concubine Nian to Concubine Nian, and confining her to her home for three months, not allowing anyone to visit her. She also gave the embroidery room affairs that were formerly in the hands of Concubine Yinduan to Concubine Jing.

In late May, the ladies who had been assigned positions were about to enter the palace, and Jiang Xinxin in the palace also facilitated it and spread the basic situation in the palace. When the newlyweds were learning the rules in the palace, all they heard was "Empress Nian is so beautiful and graceful" and "She is the most favored in the six palaces." Only then did they realize that even such a powerful Concubine Nian was no match for the Queen of Jingren Palace.

Therefore, after the newlyweds entered the palace, they did not dare to move around casually, just like Concubine Hui and Concubine Wan, who did not dare to take a single step out of the palace where they lived.

Jiang Xinxin was very satisfied with this. She couldn't understand why, in Yixiu's memory, before the newlyweds had formally paid their respects to the Queen, Shen Meiyu and An Lingrong dared to leave the palace to visit others at will, and Zhen Huan even dared to give An Lingrong a palace maid in private.

However, after carefully searching Yixiu's memory, it was discovered that all the inappropriate behaviors of Shen Meiyu, Zhen Huan and An Lingrong at the beginning were indulged by Yixiu and she helped to clean up the mess. For example, Xiao Yunzi built a swing for Zhen Huan in the Imperial Garden, which was tacitly approved and cleaned up by Yixiu.

Therefore, other people either habitually ignored these inappropriate actions, or had already seen clearly that someone in a high position was secretly doing something and did not dare to speak out easily. These things just passed smoothly without causing any trouble.

The newlyweds came to the audience. Concubine Hui and Concubine Wan entered the Jingren Palace chatting and laughing, and followed by this Concubine Rou. When Huichun saw the three young ladies coming in, she quickly stepped forward and knelt down to greet them. "I am Huichun, a first-class maid in the Jingren Palace. I greet Concubine Hui, Concubine Wan, and Concubine Rou."

Concubine Hui reached out her hand to help Huichun up, saying, "Aunt Huichun, get up quickly."

Huichun then introduced to the three of them, Concubine Zhen, Noble Lady Fucha, Noble Lady Guaerjia and Concubine Fangjia, who had arrived earlier. They greeted each other and the atmosphere seemed good. However, it was unexpected that when the newlyweds were lined up, Noble Lady Hui and Concubine Wan actually rushed directly to the front row.

Huichun lowered her voice and reminded him: "The order of the harem is determined by rank. Concubine Hui should be ranked with Concubine Zhen, followed by Concubine Fucha and Concubine Guaerjia, then Concubine Wan and Concubine Fangjia, and finally Concubine Rou."

Concubine Hui and Concubine Wan looked at each other and turned back quietly. Sure enough, they saw that Concubine Zhen was very impatient. Concubine Fucha and Concubine Guaerjia were also indignant and even looked at her with contempt. However, Concubine Fang Jia, who was just over fourteen years old, had a small round face and was still childish, and her eyes were full of curiosity and confusion.

Concubine Hui and Concubine Wan were so embarrassed that their faces turned red. Huichun cursed in her heart, but she still smiled and reminded them: "The Empress has urged us to hurry up, young ladies."

There was no time to apologize, so Chang Zai Wan quickly retreated to the third row and stood with Chang Zai Fang Jia, and Huichun led everyone to the main hall.

Nian Shilan was only a concubine now, without a title yet. She had to sit below Concubine Jing, with the empty seat opposite her being Concubine Cao. One can imagine how she felt, especially when she saw the outstanding appearance of Concubine Hui who was in the lead. She almost crumpled the handkerchief in her hand to pieces.

When the newlyweds met the empress, they had to kneel three times and kowtow nine times. However, it was very inconvenient for either the mandarin-style or the hairpin-style to do so, so everyone just had to kneel down and wave their handkerchief to show their respect, and there was no need to kowtow three times on the ground.

Seeing that everyone had problems with their positions, Jiang Xinxin didn't say anything more and directly introduced the old ladies in the harem to everyone: "This is Concubine Qi, who gave birth to the third prince. She lives in Changchun Palace and is in charge of the flowers and plants in the harem;"

Everyone knelt down and saluted towards Concubine Qi. Concubine Qi was so happy that she was about to say a few more words, but out of the corner of her eye she saw Nian Shilan rolling her eyes. She was about to complain when she saw Jiang Xinxin seemed a little impatient, so she quickly called out.

Jiang Xinxin pointed at Jingpin and said, "This is Jingpin, she lives in Xianfu Palace and now manages the embroidery room in the palace;"

Everyone saluted to Concubine Jing again. Concubine Jing stood up and saluted with Concubine Zhen, and then she started calling out.

Jianqiu quickly led Concubine Zhen to sit opposite Concubine Jing.

Jiang Xinxin introduced Concubine Nian: "This is Concubine Nian, she lives in Yikun Palace and is in charge of the kitchen."

Everyone saluted Nian Shilan, but Nian Shilan didn't let them go so easily. She just pretended not to see the fresh newcomers in front of her. When she looked at the queen, she was still resentful, "The queen is really a role model for women in the world. The newcomers she selected are all beauties."

Jiang Xinxin didn't respond at all, and just called out, "All of you, please stand up. The other two are Concubine Cao, the birth mother of Princess Wenyi, who lives in Qixiang Palace; and Concubine Xin, the birth mother of Princess Shuhe, who lives in Chuxiu Palace."

Everyone greeted each other according to their positions. Jiang Xinxin didn't have much to say. She just asked them to abide by the palace rules and give birth to an heir for the emperor as soon as possible, and then she prepared to leave.

But unexpectedly, the empress dowager, who always claimed to be ill, sent someone to say that everything was ready. That meant that Jiang Xinxin should take people to Shoukang Palace to pay her respects.

Even the newlyweds already knew that Nian Shilan was punished with house arrest. When she appeared in Jingren Palace today, no one had heard the news that the Emperor had pardoned her. They just thought it was the Queen's good deed that saved Nian Shilan from losing face in front of the newlyweds.

And this is indeed the case, but the affair between Nian Shilan and Jiang Xinxin was seen by everyone. Wan Changzai couldn't help but criticize Nian Shilan's arrogance in her heart, and even expressed her dissatisfaction and resentment towards the queen directly in Jingren Palace. However, she realized the power of the queen even more, because the queen was too lazy to show any mercy to Nian Shilan, her favorite concubine.

But once we entered Shoukang Palace, the situation seemed to become a little delicate.

Wan Changzai watched coldly. It was obvious that the Queen Mother had no intention of getting close to the Queen. Even though the Queen was sitting closest to her, she never brought up topics for the Queen. Even when she did, her questions were clearly meant to be a reprimand. They even rarely made eye contact.

The empress was even more arrogant than the queen mother. It seemed that Shoukang Palace was no different from her Jingren Palace. While the queen mother was talking to Concubine Qi, Concubine Nian and the newlyweds, the empress could directly order the palace servants in Shoukang Palace to change the tea and snacks.

It had only been a few days since she entered the palace, but Wan Changzai had already deeply felt the difference between the imperial palace and the ministers' residences.

No matter what the newlyweds thought, Jiang Xinxin insisted on her own way and did not change her mind at all. She just cared about how Nian Shilan was appeased by Da Pangju. As a result, she went out to eavesdrop personally and found out that Da Pangju had actually pushed the musk in the Huanyi incense onto the late Concubine Duan.

Nian Shilan was only half satisfied with this result. Because she was determined to confront Jiang Xinxin, she became more and more dependent on Da Pangju, and always wrote letters back to the Nian family to urge Nian Gengyao to make achievements so that she could be restored to her position.