Chapter 838: Consort Shih Pin

"Mother?"

The Third Princess’s voice was tender.

A three-year-old child, still doesn’t quite understand what a mother is.

Usually, the Empress Dowager doesn’t pay much attention to her.

Occasionally when she’s happy, she’ll bring her out to amuse.

When she’s not happy, she just... ignores her.

Sometimes, she might not see the Princess even once in ten or half a month.

Normally accompanying the Princess.

Besides a few little maidservants, there’s the wetnurse nanny, the teaching sister, and those people.

So, the Third Princess still doesn’t quite know what the concept of a mother is.

Consort Shih Pin wiped her tears desperately.

"A mother is someone who cherishes you very, very much!"

She has decided, first to play the emotional card, to wash away the bad image of herself in the Emperor’s heart.

To plot other things later.

The position of a consort is good enough.

Although not as high as the Noble Consort position, it’s still a main position of a palace, with her own residence.

No need to stand out in any affair.

Plenty to raise the Princess.

Shih Wanxin thought, this status is really suitable for concealing one’s light and nurturing strength.

All these years, living in the limelight constantly, was enough.

In the future, she will raise the Third Princess and present herself as if time is peaceful and serene.

Doesn’t the Emperor enjoy the dishes from Noble Consort Xian’s place?

She can too.

She can make stews and broths by hand, sew clothes by hand, do many things by hand.

She can disguise herself as everything, a kind image he desires!

Having thought it through.

Shih Wanxin’s mindset became much more peaceful.

She can no longer live in Xifu Palace.

Such a residence close to Zhaochen Palace, grand and magnificent, luxurious and elegant.

A consort position is unqualified to own it.

So...

She moved to the Precious Stream Pavilion behind Yaoyue Palace.

It’s still empty there.

The place isn’t as big as the Yaoyue Palace in front where Consort Yun Pin stays, but at least there are no side halls here.

Only she and the Princess reside here alone.

It’s quite good.

...

After moving to the new residence, Consort Shih Pin.

Her entourage significantly reduced.

The service of a consort isn’t as extensive as that of a Noble Consort.

However, Ying Qiu by her side, and the few maidservants trained by Ying Qiu are trustworthy.

The wetnurse nanny and sister by the Third Princess’s side are also trustworthy.

Overall, life isn’t as good as before, but isn’t bad either.

After all, she’s the only one in this matter who retreated unscathed.

Even the ending for the Empress Dowager isn’t as good as hers.

Noble Concubine Shih was demoted.

All the palace matters no longer have anything to do with her.

Xia Ruqing simply couldn’t spare the energy to manage the harem affairs.

So.

The power of The Six Palaces was jointly managed by Consort Ning and Consort Hui.

Both of them served the Emperor in the Eastern Palace.

Now, they are considered the most senior and both raised Princesses.

Therefore, this matter had almost no objections.

Aside from these ’old’ matters in the palace.

There’s also the matter of the Fine Ladies in the palace.

The selection has been through two rounds, with the arrow on the string ready to release, not selecting isn’t an option.

Zhao Junyao endured extreme impatience.

Symbolically selected two and placed them in the harem.

Both are Ladies, not even Honored Ladies.

Handled the selection, and that was that.

Actually, if it hadn’t been through two rounds, he wouldn’t even have wanted to select these two.

’Obviously wasting people!’

’The women in the harem are already numerous enough, enough that his head is about to explode!’

’So, really unnecessary!’

Therefore, he only selected two.

Afterwards.

Zhao Junyao secretly calculated in his mind.

The selection occurs once every three years, with him choosing two each time.

How many more women will enter the harem then?

This answer, if calculated with him living to sixty years old, would be twenty-three.

Hmm... doesn’t seem like a lot.

Then try to control it to within twenty.

He finally understood, having more women is useless, good women matter.

If the harem were all like Xia Ru.

Then having dozens or hundreds wouldn’t be a problem.

But the problem is, among dozens or hundreds, not even this one emerges.

Then sorry, he can only decline them.

...

After the selection ended and the Fine Ladies entered the palace, arranging their residences.

Everything went on track, and June was already halfway through.

The days had reached the hottest period, everywhere in the palace used ice.

Even Chenchen, who usually loved doing morning exercises, had only been practicing calligraphy in recent days.

Zhao Junyao returned from court, went to Duanning Palace as usual.

In Duanning Palace, many towering trees were planted.

There are two rooms almost always under the shade of trees.

So Xia Ruqing asked people to clean those two rooms.

Then moved in with the children.

Indeed, the entire room became much cooler.

Xia Ruqing then laughed.

"My residence has become much more upscale now, I can even avoid the summer heat in my own palace, not bad, not bad!"

Zi Yue and Zi Su smiled beside her.

"Consort, it’s indeed your wisdom; if you asked the maidservants, they wouldn’t find such a courtyard!"

Duanning Palace, with its numerous courtyards, really quite challenging for her.

Xia Ruqing just laughed.

Chatting casually with them.

For example: Has Henger’s rash gotten better?

Or: Have Yeye’s insect bites healed?

Such trivial matters.

Sipping tea, chatting idly.

Actually quite enjoyable, since it’s not hot.

When Zhao Junyao came in.

He saw just such a scene.

She only wore two layers of thin gauze, holding a round fan, leaning on a beauty couch.

Sipping tea and smiling charmingly.

That little figure, terribly enticing.

Of course, even more enticing was the pink undergarment hidden under her gauze, and under it, that pair of... jade rabbits?!

"Greetings to the Emperor!"

Xia Ruqing saw him and smiled while rising.

"You’re becoming more casual now, not even allowing a notice, always making me worried about when you’ll suddenly appear!"

Zhao Junyao embraced her.

"What is there for you to worry about?!"

"Don’t want me to come?"

Xia Ruqing’s face turned red.

"No..."

Seeing this situation, the servants quickly left.

Xia Ruqing looked embarrassed: She was actually feeling hot!

Zhao Junyao sat beside the ice basin.

Li Shengan specifically called someone to wield a fan opposite the ice basin.

Fanning towards the ice basin and the Emperor, creating a cool breeze he enjoyed the most!

Only one remained, the rest all withdrew.

Xia Ruqing personally poured him a cup of cold tea and said.

"Emperor, this is cooling tea I requested from the Imperial Medical Bureau!"

"When feeling chest tightness and shortness of breath from the heat outside, drinking a cup of such cold tea will immediately refresh you!"

Zhao Junyao, especially sun-struck, felt somewhat dizzy.

So he tried sipping a couple of times.

Hmm...

The taste wasn’t pleasant, but the aftertaste seemed somewhat good, with a hint of medicinal aroma.

Not bad!

Then, Zhao Junyao drank cup after cup.

In less than a quarter of an hour, a whole bowl of cold tea was consumed.

With someone fanning cool air, and someone making cold tea.

These days were simply carefree.

Summer wasn’t that intimidating after all!