Changsheng: Peak at the Beginning

Chapter 1087 Zhen Huan Enlarged to 13

The news of the general election in the second year of Yongzheng's reign spread throughout the world. Even though some ministers had some complaints in their hearts, as long as they thought about the big move that Big Fat Ju had made in conjunction with the royal family a few years ago, and thought about Big Fat Ju's rare offspring, they had nothing to say.

Except for Nian Shilan, everyone in the harem is looking forward to the election.

Just after the 100-day mourning period for the late emperor, Concubine Xin and Concubine Fang miscarried one after another. Concubine Cao, the only one who managed to give birth to a child, not only survived a near-death experience, but she was also unable to give birth again in the future, and the one she gave birth to was a princess. There were people who were murmuring behind their backs, but their stories were interrupted by Jiang Xinxin's sudden change.

Later, Nian Shilan became more and more courageous after more setbacks. Big Fat Ju took the opportunity to divide Jiang Xinxin's palace power and put Jiang Xinxin under house arrest in disguise. The palace was stable for a while. Although others like Xin Changzai and Jingpin felt that the stable life was too peaceful and made them uneasy, the life without calculations but still without lack of rules was really good.

Then came the previous dynasty's large-scale actions of confiscating property and exterminating clans, and the harem was purged of so many palace maids and eunuchs. After finally looking forward to the New Year, Fat Ju, whose private and national treasuries were both full, did give generous New Year gifts to the concubines in the harem. This first New Year in the palace was indeed a comfortable one.

As for the beauties selected in the election, they all agreed that with the Queen and Concubine Hua around, it would be impossible for a new favored person to appear. Moreover, most of the people in the harem were concubines who had fallen out of favor. All their shares had not been deducted in the past year, and they even received generous annual rewards. Their lives were really good.

The first thing Nian Shilan did when she got the news was to look at the crystal glass mirror. It was a gift from Da Pangju during the New Year. The one-foot square lens was carefully embedded in the dressing box and could be seen by lifting the lid.

The beauty in the mirror was originally in her prime, but she herself frowned and looked gloomy. Even so, Nian Shilan in the mirror had another kind of charm that made people feel pity for her.

"Songzhi, do you think I'm getting old? Is the Emperor starting to get tired of me?"

Nian Shilan stroked her charming face, her watery eyes filled with fear.

Songzhi started to flatter her almost immediately: "Your Majesty, what are you talking about? You are the favorite concubine who is more worthy than the Manchus, Mongols and Han people combined! This glass mirror is a rare item that only exists in the West. Even the generals can't get it. The emperor got it and sent it to you immediately!"

Songzhi's flattery really made Nian Shilan feel much better, but the decree for the general election had already been issued, and Nian Shilan could no longer be in a good mood when she thought about so many new people coming to the palace.

"But this election is the first since the emperor ascended the throne. Those people outside the palace will definitely try their best to curry favor with him..."

Songzhi continued to flatter skillfully: "That's not even half as good as the Empress!"

"Who in the palace doesn't know how much the Emperor loves the Empress? As for the previous palace power issue, if the Empress hadn't interfered, how could Concubine Qi and Concubine Duan be compared with the Empress?"

"It can be seen that in the emperor's heart, the queen is the mistress he wants."

Songzhi didn't want to say this at first, but she couldn't persuade Nian Shilan if she didn't say this. Besides, even if it seemed that the emperor didn't come to Yikun Palace very often, the emperor didn't go to the harem very often. So Nian Shilan was almost the only one favored by him, and this was an honor.

There is also the unique Huanyi incense in the mansion, which contains many precious ingredients. Only because their queen is favored can it be lit every day.

The general election was scheduled for April, and Da Pangju handed over the palace selection to Jiang Xinxin. Jiang Xinxin would not save money for Da Pangju, so all the beauties who passed the preliminary selection were brought to the palace to learn the rules. Shen Meizhuang, Zhen Huan, and An Lingrong all passed the preliminary selection.

All the noble ladies of marriageable age had come in. With so many people, things would naturally get more chaotic. However, everyone still remembered the bloodstains that had not yet dried in Caishikou before the New Year, so no one dared to show up in the palace.

Half a month passed quickly, and before Jiang Xinxin could react, she was already sitting at the top with the Queen Mother and Big Fat Orange to participate in the palace selection.

Big Fat Orange had no intention of picking more people, so he kept two daughters from the Manchu clan, Fucha and Guwalja, and one from the Mongolian clan, Borjigit, and the rest went to the Han Army Banner.

Jiang Xinxin could still endure it during the morning, but in the afternoon, she was determined not to pretend to be a clay Buddha anymore and directly postponed the palace selection in the afternoon. The empress dowager, on the other hand, was very interested and pulled Fatty Orange to watch it together.

Jiang Xinxin didn't say much, but just reminded Da Pangju and the Queen Mother, "There are many men in the royal family who need to get married. For example, the prince is already in his twenties. Even if he is not married properly now, he should be given a few concubines to serve him, and the position of concubine should also be considered."

"I heard that when the late emperor was still alive, he told Prince Guo about Meng Jingxian, the daughter of Duke Meng. Later... But the girl has exceeded the age of selection, and has had difficulty finding a husband. The royal family should give an explanation. They can't bully Duke Meng's mansion because there is no successor."

Big Fat Orange looked at the Queen Mother without saying anything. It was the Queen Mother who took the initiative to mention Meng Jingxian in front of the late Emperor, wanting to marry her to Prince Guo. No one knew what the late Emperor had considered at that time, but he actually tacitly agreed to let Meng Jingxian, a woman from a Han Army Banner, become the legitimate wife of the prince.

But later, Prince Guo himself strongly opposed it, and the late emperor gave up the idea of ​​issuing an immediate decree to grant the marriage. However, the late emperor's idea actually got out, and Meng Jingxian's reputation was ruined from then on. She could only pray for help from Prince Guo.

Big Fat Orange still believes that the Queen Mother's move was to help him weaken Prince Guo's power, so she proposed to marry Prince Guo to a wife who was from a Han army banner. Otherwise, looking at the wives of other princes and brothers, if they were not from a big Manchu family, then their family must be very powerful. Only the fifth prince Heng married the daughter of a minor official because he had the support of the Mongolian power behind the late Queen Mother.

There is also Prince Dun, whose descendants are from the Niuhuru clan, so the late emperor arranged a Mongolian wife for him.

The Queen Mother was embarrassed by what Jiang Xinxin said, but if she didn't properly settle Meng Jingxian, her own reputation would be ruined. But she could never bow to Jiang Xinxin.

So the Queen Mother said: "After all, although Meng was born in a duke's mansion, she is only a Han army banner. I'm afraid she can't be the first wife, but the position of concubine is not bad."

Jiang Xinxin sneered out loud: "When Concubine Shu was in favor, the Queen Mother wanted to match Prince Guo with a Han Army Banner girl named Meng as his first wife. Now that Concubine Shu has become a nun, this same Meng is no longer worthy of being Prince Guo's first wife."

Big Fat Orange picked up the teacup to hide the corners of his mouth that he could not suppress. The Queen Mother's face turned black. "The Queen wants to pity that Meng, but she might as well worry more about the emperor's offspring. No matter what happens in the future, you are the legitimate mother. Why do you want to let the emperor's offspring wither?"

Jiang Xinxin still had that dead look on her face. She turned to look at the Queen Mother and said, "It's probably because the Queen Mother blocked the Emperor's fate of having children. Otherwise, when the late Emperor was alive, the Queen Mother alone gave birth to three sons and three daughters for him. Although there were only two sons and one daughter, Princess Wenxian died in her prime, and the Emperor alone had few children."

"I wonder if the Queen Mother has some secret recipe for having a child or maintaining good health, and she only gave it to Fourteenth Brother and never gave it to the Emperor or Princess Wenxian."