Translator: 549690339
Jiang Ning thought for a moment and said, âLet Gucheng accompany me.â
Logically, this is the Imperial Palaceâs backyard, where ordinary men cannot enter and exit at will.
But even in the harem, there needs to be guards.
As the only guard of the Princess Consort, Gucheng has the same privileges as the Imperial Army and can move freely within the harem.
With Gucheng around, Huang Ying felt relieved.
âShould I inform the Crown Prince?â Huang Ying asked again.
âWhere is he?â
âAfter lunch, His Highness went out. This servant is not sure of His Highnessâs whereabouts.â
Those who followed Li Hongyuan were Sanli and two other young eunuchs.
Jiang Ning said, âBeing a Crown Prince is indeed different. He just moved in and is already so busy. Iâm afraid I wonât see him much in the future.â
Huang Ying smiled and said, âAll beginnings are difficult. At first, there will always be a lot of things to prepare. Once the busy times are over, His Highness will definitely spend more time with you. You havenât been to Prosperity Palace, Iâll accompany you there.â
âConcubine Xian resides in Prosperity Palace?â
âYes.â
Jiang Ning was admiring the scenery of the East Palace when she suddenly asked, âHuang Ying, what would happen if I donât go to Concubine Xianâs place?â
âProbably⦠you would be accused of not following the elders.â
âAlright, letâs go there.â
After all, she had just moved into the East Palace and needed to be a good child for a few days.
Since she was free anyway.
On the way, Jiang Ning asked Huang Ying, âHow many concubines are there in this harem?â
Huang Ying laughed, âThis servant canât say for sure. Although I have been in the harem for several years, new people enter almost every year. By my estimation, there must be more than a hundred of them.â
âQuite a number, it seems that the harem is quite spacious.â
âBesides those high-ranking concubines with status, the lower-ranked ones canât possibly occupy a place all to themselves. Some of them live together with three or four others.â
âReally, they are after all the Emperorâs women, living like that must be quite stifling.â
âOr why do you think they all fight for the Emperorâs favor? Only by winning his love can they get better food, clothing, and expenses.â
âOver a hundred women, even if he changes one every day, it would take three to four months to go through them all.â
âHow could he have one per day? The Emperorâs health must also be taken into account. In this harem, Concubine Jin is the most favored, spending seven or eight days a month with her. Others get much less. Some young concubines who entered the palace at the age of fifteen or sixteen, have grown old without even seeing the Emperorâs face, which is not uncommon.â
âThatâs too miserable.â
âOnce you enter the palace gate, itâs as deep as the sea.â Huang Ying held her hand, âAre you tired? Let Gucheng bring the wheelchair.â
Although Guchengâs shadow was not visible, he must be around.
Jiang Ning raised her head and smiled, âItâs okay, Iâve been sitting all afternoon, itâs a good time for a walk.â
It was April, with warm weather and butterflies flying everywhere.
Walking in the palace was quite comfortable.
As one of the Four Concubines, Concubine Xian was a concubine the Emperor took when he was still a prince. Apart from the Empress, she has the oldest status.
Sheâs also old in age.
But she was quite beautiful when she was young. Although she has aged, her former beauty is still noticeable.
The Prosperity Palace was decorated very simply, completely different from the splendid Splendid Palace.
There were peach trees planted in the courtyard, with blossoms in full bloom.
Concubine Xian was sitting on a swing under the peach tree.
If one ignored her somewhat old face, it would be a quite picturesque scene.
When the palace maid saw Jiang Ning, she whispered, âYour Highness, the Princess Consort is here..â