This must be a goblin.
Concubine Zhang really wanted to tear off Concubine Quan's unchanging mask and see what her heart was like.
Concubine Zhang, who claimed to be sick yesterday, refused to take medicine, "I'm not sick, I don't want to take medicine."
Concubine Quan Xian did not force her, and brought over a bowl of porridge instead, "Your Highness must be hungry, eat something first."
It is said that a phoenix that has fallen to the ground is no better than a chicken, except for Concubine Zhang, who has an extremely strong self-esteem. The more frustrated she is, the more she does not want to bow her head in front of her opponent and appear weak.
Concubine Zhang took the bowl of porridge, put it heavily on the table, and sneered, "You came here to laugh at me, to see me bow my head, cry, and ask me to speak well of you in front of the emperor. Humph, you miscalculated. Even if I starve to death, I will not eat the food you sent me."
Concubine Quan Xianfei said, "This was sent by Concubine Hu."
Concubine Zhang was really hungry at this time. She drank the porridge to have strength to quarrel with Concubine Quan. Concubine Zhang was unwilling to fall behind others throughout her life. Even though she lost the power in the harem, she was still a concubine and could not show weakness in front of Concubine Quan.
Concubine Quan Xianfei said: "Don't worry, your Majesty, I am just taking over the power of the harem. When your Majesty recovers from her illness—"
"I'm not sick." Imperial Concubine Zhang interrupted. I am the emperor's woman, an imperial concubine. I want to have a child, or be crowned as the empress. It's just a normal woman's thought. What's wrong with me
Concubine Quan agreed with Concubine Zhang, "Okay, Concubine is not ill. When Concubine has figured it out, the Emperor will lift the ban on Yanxi Palace and let Her Majesty out. This palace still belongs to Concubine."
Concubine Zhang said coldly: "When the time comes, will you be willing to return it to me?"
Concubine Quan Xian said: "My sister is only serving the emperor and sharing his worries. All I want is to be a woman who is useful to the emperor. I will go wherever the emperor puts me."
Concubine Zhang naturally didn't believe it. "You are a human being, not a chess piece that can be manipulated by others. Don't you have any feelings?"
Concubine Quan sighed and looked at Concubine Zhang with envy, "Your Majesty, not everyone has a good family background like you. Your Majesty does not want to be an emotionless chess piece, but you don't know how many people are scrambling to be this chess piece."
"My sister is a tribute girl from the Kingdom of Joseon. Although her father is a noble, her biological mother was born a commoner and was a concubine. Joseon is different from Ming. In Ming, children are born according to their father's origin. No matter if they are legitimate or illegitimate, their status is the same on the surface and they can take the imperial examination and become officials. In Joseon, however, children are born according to their mother's origin. The origin of the child is the same as the birth mother's, and they cannot cross the line. Children born to the same father may be masters or slaves and can never get ahead in their lives."
"Fortunately, the Ming Dynasty does not care about legitimate and illegitimate children. During the imperial selection, any daughter of a noble family can participate. Because my sister was born better, she was lucky enough to pass the selection and come all the way to the Ming Dynasty Palace."
"Because my sister became the emperor's consort, my biological mother made an exception and gave her the title of Madam. My brother can also go to Sungkyunkwan (similar to the Imperial Academy in North Korea) to study and become a nobleman in the future."
"The Emperor has changed the fate of me and my family, so I must be a good chess piece for him. I came here today to talk things over with you, so that you won't keep guessing. I have no ill will towards you, and everything was arranged by the Emperor. Everything I did was just to help you."
Concubine Zhang still didn't believe it, "You are really good at talking, such a sweet talker. You are in your prime and you are the head of the West Palace. You just want to concentrate on your work and don't want children? Don't you want to be the queen?"
Concubine Quan swore to the heavens, "Really. I just regard the position of Concubine Xian as a job, just like Hu Shanggong is a Shanggong, I don't have any other extravagant thoughts. I do my job well, the emperor will give me brocade clothes, and my family will also be prosperous and wealthy. This is my reward, and I am satisfied. Compared with other women who get married, I think this is very happy. As the emperor's woman, even if I don't have children, there will still be someone to take care of me in my old age, and I will have fewer worries."
In Concubine Quan's view, noble concubines, virtuous concubines, and palace maids all work for the emperor. If they do their jobs well, get due compensation, and don't have any other thoughts, they can live a good life. Look at Palace Maid Hu, her appearance is above average, she has worked as a palace maid for three dynasties, and she has never had any thoughts about three emperors. Her position is so solid, and she looks so respectable when she goes out.
Concubine Quan felt that the remuneration demanded by Concubine Zhang was too high, which made her boss unhappy, so she replaced her subordinates. If you don't do the job, someone else will.
Concubine Zhang loved Emperor Yongle, and she hoped to have a child with the person she loved, and she hoped to become his legal wife, standing shoulder to shoulder with him. These were all very normal and natural thoughts.
Love brings sorrow, love brings fear.
But Concubine Quan did not love Emperor Yongle. She just treated Emperor Yongle as her boss. If she did a good job in this job, her whole family would have a stable job, good benefits, high salary and amazing bonuses. The only drawback was that it was too far from home - there would be no such good job closer to home.
Or make those who are separated from their loved ones free from worries and fears.
The perfect mask of Concubine Quan is to love her job, be dedicated to it and do her job well - that is, she does not love the emperor.
Concubine Quan Xian thought that being a favorite concubine who could play the flute was enough, and she was good at it. But now that Emperor Yongle had handed over the power of the harem to her, she felt that the pressure was too great, and that the responsibility and ability were not equal. She was afraid that something would go wrong, and she did not have a strong family like the Duke of Ying to rely on. If things went wrong, her life and the wealth of her family would be ruined here.
Concubine Quan hoped that Concubine Zhang would come to her senses sooner, pull herself together and regain power in the harem. She would hand over the burden to her and play her flute with peace of mind.
Concubine Zhang glanced at Concubine Quan Xian's flat belly and said, "When you hold great power, your thoughts will not be so simple."
Seeing that Concubine Zhang still didn't believe her, Concubine Quan became anxious and said, "The Emperor always cares about you. As a concubine of a vassal state, I dare not think about having children."
The issue of having children was a concern for Concubine Zhang. When she heard Concubine Quan Xian's words, she pulled Concubine Quan Xian over and whispered in her ear, "When you were sleeping with the emperor, did the emperor... really touch you?"
This question was finally asked!
Concubine Quan froze. She vaguely guessed the reason why Concubine Zhang was imprisoned. It was a confidential matter. Even if there were no one else around, Concubine Quan whispered in her ear, "From the time I entered the palace until now, my sister... is still a virgin."
Concubine Zhang shuddered in disbelief, "You... Impossible."
Everyone knows that in the harem, the Imperial Concubine is the most respected, the Virtuous Concubine is the most favored, and the Quanxian Concubine is the favorite concubine in the emperor's heart.
Concubine Quan Xian loosened the belt on her skirt, and the horse-faced skirt fell to the ground, revealing the ponytail braided skirt inside. Concubine Quan Xian untied the belt of the skirt, and with a clang, the wide skirt fell to the ground, revealing only a pair of gauze pants underneath, and her silver-like jade legs were faintly visible.
"If you don't believe it, you will know once you test it."
No matter how much Hu Shanwei tried to persuade her with all his heart, it would not be as effective as Concubine Quan taking off her clothes for a body examination on the spot.
She won't give up until she sees the Yellow River, and she won't cry until she sees the coffin. This Concubine Quan is a human-shaped "Yellow River" and "coffin".
Concubine Zhang murmured, "Your Majesty... How can Your Majesty be so cruel and heartless?"
Concubine Quan Xian said: "The emperor is a great ruler. He loves the river more than beauties. The little love he has for his wife has already been given to Empress Renxiao. Winter is coming soon. He is afraid that the Oirat Mongols will invade the border and affect the Ming Dynasty's relocation of the capital to Beijing. The emperor will go north again in a few days to fight in person. He will be gone for at least a year and will not stay in the palace for many days. Which woman in the palace can hold the emperor back? My sister can't, and the queen can't. The emperor only has his country in his heart."
What Hu Shanwei failed to do, Concubine Quan did.
Concubine Zhang was heartbroken, but was reborn from the ashes.
Concubine Quan put on her crinoline and her skirt, "When the Emperor returns from the expedition, and sees that the Imperial Concubine has reformed and has come to her senses, then the power of the harem will naturally return to the Imperial Concubine."
Concubine Quan left the Yanx Palace. Concubine Zhang looked at her from behind. She was wearing Ming Dynasty clothes and looked no different from other Ming Dynasty women, except for the ponytail crinoline that bulged out from under her skirt, which hinted at where she came from.
With the help of the crinoline, Concubine Quan's body was narrow at the top and wide at the bottom, like a beautiful, fragile, walking vase.
The emperor wanted a seemingly normal harem. He needed a concubine who was just a vase, such as Concubine Quan; he also needed a concubine with a respected status, such as Concubine Zhang.
The women in the harem are all pawns. The emperor only wants obedient pawns. He does not love them or want them to have children.
It’s not that the emperor doesn’t love his children, he just only loves the children between him and Empress Renxiao.
As affectionate as the emperor is to Empress Renxiao, he is as heartless to other women in the harem.
In the past, Concubine Zhang felt that based on her family background, status and contributions to the harem, in the eyes of the emperor, she should not be included in the category of "other women in the harem" and she should be different.
But after she showed her true colors last night and failed to show her love, the emperor imprisoned her without hesitation and took back the power of the harem, which shows a cruel truth:
She has always been self-indulgent. In fact, in the eyes of the emperor, she is just one of the "other women in the harem" and there is no difference.
Concubine Quan played the role of a vase conscientiously, and the emperor appreciated her and asked her to temporarily take on the role of Concubine Zhang.
Concubine Zhang realized that she could either be a chess piece like Concubine Quan, or stick to her own opinion and fall out of favor like she is now, becoming a useless chess piece. There was actually no third way for her to choose.
Should I be a living chess piece that "life is sloppy and I am bending over", or should I put aside my pride and love and be a useless chess piece? This is the question.
Concubine Zhang still has more than a year to answer this question.
How does it feel to change your boss overnight
Hu Shanwei replied: I have a sentence xxx but I don’t know whether I should say it or not.
After a lot of earnest persuasion last night, with facts and reasoning, Hu Shanwei thought he had acted normally. Concubine Zhang was so smart that she should be able to listen, let go of her obsession, become a Buddha on the spot, love was boundless, and it would not be too late to turn back.
But when she woke up the next day, Emperor Yongle, chairman of the Ming Venture Capital Group, told her: he had replaced the company's CEO, and Concubine Quan was the new CEO. As the chief assistant, you must assist the new boss well. I have high hopes for you!
Then, Emperor Yongle patted his butt and ran away, gathered his army, and led his precious grandson to the north to lead the army in person, and prepared various matters regarding the change of registered place of Ming Venture Capital Group.
This is simply not a human thing to do. I’m not going to do this anymore.
But Emperor Yongle was a very wicked old fox. He anticipated that Hu Shanwei would be dissatisfied, so he quickly ran to Beijing.
Hu Shanwei had no choice but to clean up the mess and start working with Concubine Quan from scratch.
Concubine Quan Xian was born in a humble family and was the daughter of a vassal state. She lacked confidence and was far inferior to Concubine Zhang. She would first look for Hu Shanwei on all matters, no matter how big or small. Her catchphrases were "What does Concubine Hu think?", "What does Concubine Hu think?", "What should Concubine Hu do about this matter?"
Hu Shanwei: I miss Concubine Zhang very much.
However, Concubine Quan also has her own advantages. She is modest and easy-going, never stubborn, speaks gently, and gives people a warm feeling.
The thirty-seven Korean tribute ladies in Chuxiu Palace completed their etiquette training, passed the palace rules examination, and graduated collectively.
As the CEO who holds power in the harem, Concubine Quan gave a speech at the graduation ceremony, emphasizing the core values of the feudal harem: "civilized and harmonious, patriotic and dedicated, virtuous, chaste, and friendly."
Consort Quan on the stage was outstanding in appearance, dignified, elegant in conversation, and her dress and demeanor were even superior to those of the Queen of Korea. The eyes of the Korean concubines below the stage lit up as they watched her, for this was a woman from their homeland.
She has done so well and became the mistress of the Ming Dynasty's harem. If we work hard, we can climb to the same height as her.
If she can do it, so can we. I heard that Quan was just a lowly concubine's daughter.
Pairs of eyes filled with desire and ambition stared at Concubine Quan.
One Concubine Zhang fell down, and countless Concubine Zhang stood up.
Human desire for power and lust, as well as jealousy and unwillingness, are like uncontrollable whirlpools, and the harem is about to be baptized by a bloody storm.
The author has something to say: Hu Shanwei: Adhere to the scientific and sustainable development concept. The emperor does not sleep to ensure safety.
Concubine Quan: I’ll take it off for you to see.
Concubine Zhang: Life is sloppy, should I bend down
North Korean girl group: I want to climb up step by step. There can only be one favorite concubine in the harem, and that is me. Thank you to the little angels who voted for me or irrigated me with nutrient solution~
Thanks to the little angel who irrigated [nutrient solution]:
30 bottles of Cross Rainbow; 20 bottles of Luoluo; 10 bottles of Absolut, Jesling, and Murong Feiyi; 5 bottles of Circle Thinking, Summer Breeze, and Little Spoon; 1 bottle of 17438403, 20487360, Xixi in the Book Chase, Ai Meng, Qiongju, Honghuang Tree Demon, Na Tiao Xiao Xiaoyu, Yang Yanxi Da Da Penyu, and Timmy;
Thank you very much for your support, I will continue to work hard!