The Queen Mother did not expect that Concubine Duan came here just for Zhen Huan.

She suppressed her doubts and tried to test the waters:

"You have never been involved in the affairs of the harem, so why would you want me to persuade the emperor to take Zhen into the palace?"

Concubine Duan said softly:

"Empress Dowager Rong Bing, I have followed the Emperor for many years. The old people in the palace know a thing or two about what the Emperor is thinking. The Emperor has an unprecedented ambition. I and others really don't want the Emperor to suffer because of this. Moreover, we are also concerned about the reputation of the royal family. The Emperor has visited Anqi Temple twice in half a month. The villains in the world often like to make up stories. I don't know how this action will be interpreted by those who don't know the inside story. It is better to take precautions before the rumors start."

This far-fetched statement actually made the Queen Mother nod repeatedly:

"Before you came, the Queen was also talking to me about this. What you said makes a lot of sense, but everything must be done with a legitimate reason. If it is not done properly, the censors will slander the royal family."

Seeing the Queen Mother's unconcealed expression and the Queen's excited expression beside her, Concubine Duan suddenly felt annoyed. Wasn't it the Queen who was the driving force behind Zhen Huan's return to the palace? In order to avoid being criticized, the two of them pretended to be ignorant and wanted to offer some advice, so she said bluntly:

"The Emperor's original order was to have Zhen Huan cultivate her hair without hair and not to leave without an imperial decree. But if Zhen Huan's cultivation was to pray for the Empress Dowager's longevity, then her return to the palace this time was to obey the Emperor's order. I think that will silence the gossip."

This reason was crude and simple, without any thought put into it, yet the Empress Dowager and the Queen did not refute it at all and completely agreed with it.

Later, Concubine Duan was too lazy to deal with it anymore and left on the grounds of feeling unwell.

After everyone left, the Queen Mother sighed:

"There are smart people in this palace, but I understand. After all, the emperor is their god, and there is nothing wrong with guessing his intentions."

Seeing the Queen's anxious look, he couldn't help but sigh:

"I know you are anxious. I will ask the emperor to come for dinner tomorrow. You should come too so that we can finalize this matter as soon as possible."

This is what the Queen was waiting for. She smiled, but what she said was a different plan:

"Thank you, Madam Queen, for your kindness, but I think the status of the Zhen family is debatable."

"Although Li is imprisoned, we must still consider the dignity of the Third Prince. Her position as a concubine cannot be changed."

"The four consort positions are now full. What position do you think would be best for Zhen?"

The Queen Mother saw through her little thoughts. Her niece was always confused about these things. She suffered so much loss, but she still didn't understand the preciousness of human heart:

"I know you want to control her completely, but if she doesn't have any hope, how can she be loyal to you? Queen, you have to sacrifice before you can gain."

"The concubine position is full, but there is a noble concubine above it, so why not just move it over?"

This made the queen's face change drastically:

"No, I asked her to return to the palace to provide checks and balances. She has been appointed as a noble concubine since she arrived. Wouldn't that just make her greedy?"

The Queen Mother glared at her in dissatisfaction:

"Queen, please calm down. Did I ever say that I wanted Zhen Huan to be my imperial concubine? You have joined forces with the emperor and the emperor to bring the deposed concubine back to the palace. You must have known nothing about the emperor's thoughts. It's just that you catered to his wishes and the emperor just went along with it."

"But the emperor is a man of give and take. If he is tricked by you, he will always make up for it in other places. In this case, you should be more thoughtful and promote someone who is irrelevant to the overall situation to the position of imperial concubine, so that the emperor can ignore your selfishness."

The Queen finally understood and asked, "Are you talking about Concubine Duan?"

The Queen Mother nodded: "She has followed the Emperor for a long time, and she is kind and non-competitive. Why not give her a push?"

The Queen understood it completely. Even if Concubine Duan was promoted to Imperial Concubine, it would not pose any threat to her. A person with poor health, no children, and a weak family background would be in name only if she sat in the position of Imperial Concubine.

They thought very carefully, but they forgot about the emperor's autocratic will.

On the second day in Shoukang Palace, after listening to the Queen Mother's speech, the Emperor frowned and thought for a long time before nodding:

"I was reckless and didn't consider the royal family's reputation. Or maybe the Empress Dowager loves her son. Since she has come up with a perfect plan and Zhen is a filial person, I will ask her to issue an imperial decree to summon her to the palace. Her title and position will remain the same as before."

The Queen Mother was a little dazed by these words. She was asked to issue an imperial decree, which she found ridiculous. She had a bad impression of Zhen Huan in the beginning, and she didn't expect that after all the twists and turns, she would have to take care of Zhen Huan in every way. She wanted to refuse, but when she saw that the Emperor had a smile on his face but cold eyes, she had no choice but to nod in agreement.

When the emperor saw that the queen mother agreed, the smile on his face deepened a little, but the smile still did not reach his eyes, and he continued:

"As for the Empress Dowager's proposal to confer the title of Imperial Concubine."

The emperor paused deliberately at this point, and the queen's heart immediately tightened. Then she heard the emperor say:

"The Imperial Concubine's responsibilities are too heavy. She has to assist the six palaces in meeting with the ladies of honor, and assist the Queen in the annual festival sacrifices. It is difficult for her to have free time. Yuebin is weak and it is really not suitable for her to work so hard."

As he spoke, he glanced at the two of them, and without waiting for the Queen Mother and the Empress to offer their opinions, he continued with rapid fire:

"In my opinion, Feng Ruozhao is the best in terms of seniority, and Concubine Wen is also good in terms of people's heart and ability. What do you think, Madam?"

The empress dowager was unwilling to do so, but the emperor acted as if he was negotiating a business deal, and was determined not to give up until he achieved his goal. The empress dowager thought that it would be better for Feng Ruozhao to take the throne than An Lingrong, so she spoke reluctantly:

"I like An's daughter, but firstly, she is young, and secondly, her family background is too low. I am afraid she can't control those noble ladies who are proud of their status. Feng is kind and peaceful, and she is fair and just. The emperor also said that she is more experienced. Let's choose her."

After saying this, he comforted the emperor:

"As for Concubine Wen, let her gain experience for a few more years. If the emperor is lucky enough to promote her, I will not object."

The emperor achieved his first goal, but he felt bitter in his heart. The Empress Dowager really had good intentions for the family. He glanced at the Empress who was forcing a smile and the Empress Dowager who had to be kind, and smiled and replied:

"I will do as the Empress Dowager has said. However, I am thinking that since there is a happy event in the palace, we might as well mention other people. The eldest princess is about to reach the age of marriage, and her birth mother's position cannot be too low. Concubine Xin will be promoted to concubine. The Xia family has been quite useful in the past two years. Concubine Ming will also be promoted to concubine. And Concubine Hui, who has served the Empress Dowager wholeheartedly for many years, should also be promoted to Concubine Hui."

After these words were spoken, the Queen's forced smile froze. What did the Emperor mean?

The emperor seemed to understand what she was thinking and added:

"I'll have to trouble the Queen to promote her to the rank of imperial concubine and bring Zhen back to the palace. As for the canonization of the Imperial Concubine, I'll have the Ministry of Internal Affairs pick an auspicious day, and the Queen will be able to help with the arrangements when the time comes."

Facing the emperor's sharp gaze, the queen felt very uneasy. All the concubines in the harem had been promoted. What could she use to win people's hearts in the future?

There was only one concubine of low rank left, Kang Changzai, but as a maid offered by a royal family, it was the best she could achieve by being promoted to a noble lady.

Before the queen could digest this information, the emperor dropped another bombshell:

"Empress Mother, my son is already past the age of knowing his destiny, and since the Dzungar Khanate has not yet been destroyed, his energy is really limited. From now on, my son will no longer participate in the imperial selection. If there are any marriages in the royal family in the future, they can directly report to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs will represent the royal family to bestow the gifts."

The last sentence made the Queen Mother and the Empress stunned for a moment, and then the Queen Mother objected sharply:

"Emperor, the selection of concubines is related to the continuation of your descendants and the stability of your country. It is not your personal concern. You must not act on impulse."

The emperor was well prepared and came up with his argument:

"Empress Mother, my son's offspring have often died over the years, which shows that the fate of children is determined by heaven. The heavens have already determined the number of my offspring, and I cannot force it."

"Besides, one person can rule the world. My son already has four princes. A capable person can naturally shoulder this heavy responsibility. My son went through many hardships in the past. I don't want the next generation to repeat the same mistakes. I hope the Empress will understand."

"Also, there are many young people in my son's harem. If the heaven has mercy, it will surely give him another son. Please don't worry too much, Madam."

The Empress Dowager was terrified by these words. Her two sons had fought to the death for the throne. The Emperor brought up this topic now. Could it be that he still hadn't gotten over the years of anger?

The Queen was delighted, as the Emperor's words seemed to imply that among the four princes, the eldest, the Third Prince, had the greatest chance. After Zhen Huan entered the palace, the two would find a chance to officially register the Third Prince under her name, and in another two years, she would help him plan a good marriage. By then, with the joint efforts of the former court and the harem, the throne would not be impossible to achieve.

This thought warmed the Queen's heart again. She lowered her head to hide her throbbing ambition, and then sang the praises of the Emperor in a very virtuous manner:

"Your Majesty is wise, this will make the harem harmonious and united. I will urge all the sisters to serve you wholeheartedly and give birth to more children for the royal family."

The bait was indeed useful. The Emperor looked at the Queen meaningfully:

"It is my blessing to have such a virtuous queen. Now that these matters have been settled, the Queen will work with Concubine Jing to take care of them."

The Queen was a little confused. Why was there another incident involving Concubine Jing? Before she could react, the Emperor quickly said:

"My son is unfilial. I have relied on the Empress Dowager for many things in the harem. It was all her hard work. But you have to take care of your health and don't work too hard."

The words sound nice, but the underlying meaning is that the empress dowager should enjoy her remaining years in peace and not interfere in the affairs of the harem.

The Queen Mother suddenly felt suffocated. Her son really would not suffer any loss. After today's conversation, he had paid back the principal and interest in full. A half-hearted promise made the Queen completely go astray and no longer care about helping her.

The Queen Mother had a thousand words in her heart, but in the end she only said one sentence:

"The Ai family knows."

At this moment, the smile on the emperor's face became genuine. He had won a great victory this time. All his goals had been achieved, so he left with satisfaction:

"My son still has some memorials to review. I'll come and pay my respects to the Empress Dowager when I have time."

Having said that, he left Shoukang Palace like a gust of wind.

The Queen finally came to her senses at this moment. On the surface, they were the ones plotting against the Emperor, but in reality they were completely defeated.

From forcing the Empress Dowager to issue an imperial decree, to the selection of the Imperial Concubine, then to the conferring of titles on the six palaces, to making it clear that there would no longer be any selections in the future, to the final ambiguous remarks about the Crown Prince, the Emperor controlled every step of the way.

The Queen Mother had no choice but to obey her. After the Emperor was no longer constrained by the previous dynasty, his power grew stronger and stronger, and the Queen felt more and more unfamiliar with him.

Thinking about it now, today's actions have completely marginalized her as the queen. From now on, she will only have a nominal title and will no longer have real power.

The changes in the Queen's expression could not escape the Queen Mother's eyes. The Emperor's arrangement today also made the Queen Mother really sober. It would be difficult to rely on the past affection to maintain the glory of the Uya family. On the contrary, the Queen's constant thought was a safe way. At least the Third Prince had a soft heart and could take into account the feelings of many parties. With his protection, the Uya family could last for a long time. There was also the younger son, who might have the opportunity to make achievements. Thinking of this, the Queen Mother said softly:

"Empress, the Emperor often says to be patient and avoid haste. You should think about this principle carefully."

That night, the aunt and niece finally reached an agreement.

As the imperial edict was passed down, there was a joyful atmosphere in the harem. No matter whether Zhen Huan returned to the palace or not, their promotion was a real benefit. Not only themselves, but also their families could benefit from it. All those who were given titles praised the emperor.

The one who was most surprised and delighted was Feng Ruozhao. She had always been worried that Zhen Huan would snatch Zi Ning from her when she returned to the palace. Now, the palace has always been a place where the humble serve the superior. With the title of noble concubine, Zi Ning will stay with her forever.

She put aside her anxiety of the past few days and went to Jingren Palace with great enthusiasm to discuss with the Queen about bringing back Zhen Huan.

On the second day of April, all things should be done.

After an absence of three years, Zhen Huan returned to the Forbidden City again, but this time the emperor and his concubines did not come to welcome her in person. She just returned to the palace through the Shenwu Gate according to the system of concubines.

When the Queen was arranging accommodation for her, she took a tough attitude and said that since the Emperor had issued an edict that her title and position would remain unchanged, her residence should not be changed. She was determined to arrange Zhen Huan in the Yongshou Palace.

After An Lingrong got the news, she laughed silently. The Queen was stupid enough to use Concubine Qi to disgust Zhen Huan. Then she had the opportunity to find Zhen Huan to test the cooperation.

After paying respects to the Queen Mother and the Empress and listening to a lot of instructions, Zhen Huan dragged her tired body back to Yongshou Palace.

As soon as I stepped into the gate of Yongshou Palace, I heard continuous cursing in the side hall:

"How shameless! How dare you come so close to me? If something like this happened in my family, I would have ended it with a white silk scarf. But some people are so seductive and seductive. Bah! How unlucky!"

Hearing Concubine Qi's clear scolding, Liuzhu immediately became angry. She had just returned to the palace. If she just endured it, what would happen in the future? She was about to fight back, but was stopped by Jinxi:

"Liu Zhu, don't act rashly. Did she mention any names? Besides, she's hoping you'll make a scene. Only when you make a scene will she have a chance."

Liu Zhu was still angry: "But her mouth is really dirty."

Zhen Huan said calmly:

"A mad dog barking at the sun, it's worthless, let's go."

After saying this, he calmly led the two of them into the main hall, and the palace maids who had been waiting in the hall all knelt down.

Zhen Huan's eyes were wet. The scene was just like when she first entered the palace, except that the old people were harder to find.

That night, everyone in the harem was watching with interest to see whether the emperor would go to Yongshou Palace.

As a result, the emperor stayed in the Palace of Tranquil Longevity.

It was still dark, but the Jingren Palace was brightly lit, and people from the harem came to pay their respects.

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