The most beautiful lady in the harem

Chapter 106 Divide and Conquer

Today Qin Liuse wore a dark palace dress. Because the color was darker than the clothes she usually wore, it weakened her age a little and made her look more stable than usual.

She had chosen her outfit for today on purpose. Otherwise, when facing Concubine Li Xian and Concubine Xin Shu, she would always feel that she was too young and was afraid of being looked down upon by them.

It was still early, and Qin Liuse and Qingqing walked slowly towards the Cining Palace.

It was a sunny day at the end of June, but this Feng Shui treasure land of the capital was not as hot as the summer in Yangzhou.

Large patches of sunlight flowed on the blue bricks and white tiles of the palace, and also slid down on the lush trees, making the colors of the imperial city appear brighter than in usual seasons.

Despite such a beautiful scene, Qingqing couldn't help but ask Qin Liuse, "Zhaoyi, why do you look like you're in a bad mood?"

"It will take some time to fully recover." Qin Liuse said to Qingqing without hiding anything.

Although Emperor Yongjia asked her to help Concubine Li, which seemed to be a leadership job, God knows how difficult this job is.

It's easy to be disliked, easy to take the blame, and easy to offend people.

If Concubine Li pushed all the things she didn't want to do onto her, she would be like a shield.

If this was a good job, Concubine Xin would not have given it to others.

None of the women in the harem are stupid. Without a legitimate position to manage the harem, they always feel a little lacking.

Unless she can be as virtuous as the previous Concubine Dong, who was impeccable, honest, and not favored, she will be beyond reproach.

But Qin Liuse knows herself and she is not that kind of person.

She often pretends to be virtuous, but she is not actually virtuous.

But even though he complained in his heart, Qin Liuse still thought that he had to do his job well and not let others find fault with him.

That's why I went out so early today.

When Qin Liuse walked into the Cining Palace, someone informed her and she entered the main hall, where two rows of people were sitting, all of them were the masters of various palaces.

Now that she is Zhaoyi, holding the second rank, most people have to stand up and pay their respects to her.

After receiving the greeting, Qin Liuse nodded, and said with an air of being able to hold up the occasion, "Sisters, there is no need to be polite. Please sit down."

As Qin Liuse spoke, she walked to the front and paid her respects to the Queen Mother Dong and the concubines who were above her in rank.

However, there are not many people with higher positions than her in the palace nowadays, so the etiquette of this salute is becoming simpler and simpler.

Although Qin Liuse felt a little uncomfortable in her heart, she did not show it on her face. She just smiled and looked very harmonious, and spoke politely to the sisters present.

Only after sitting down did he look around with subtle movements.

Originally, one thought that only she, Concubine Li, and Concubine Xin would come today to report to the Empress Dowager Dong, but unexpectedly, there were a lot of people sitting there.

It goes without saying that it must have been summoned by the Queen Mother Dong.

The Empress Dowager Dong seemed to enjoy the feeling of being surrounded by people. She sat condescendingly. When the old aunt came to report, she started talking and invited all the women in the room to eat dessert, drink tea and chat.

Seeing that everyone was seated, he ordered, "Now that everyone is here, quickly have someone bring in the food. My small kitchen has added some new dishes, and it's a good opportunity for you to try them together."

Qin Liuse smiled and chatted with the concubines sitting around her.

At this moment, a little maid came in with cakes. She picked up the mung bean cake and placed it on the high table next to her.

Kuan Kuan said, "Jieyu Qin, this is the mung bean cake made by the Queen Mother's kitchen. You like it the most."

Unexpectedly, before he could finish his words, the Empress Dowager Dong, who was sitting on top of Qin Liuse, scolded him, "You are a fool, you bastard, you can't call people properly, do you have any manners?"

The little maid seemed confused and frightened. She quickly knelt down and begged for mercy, but she didn't know what she had done wrong.

The old aunt next to the Empress Dowager Dong then side-eyed and reminded her, "You disrespectful slave, this is Qin Zhaoyi, not some lowly concubine who can't be on the stage."

After the old woman finished speaking, she put on a smiling face and said to Qin Liuse, "Qin Zhaoyi, don't take it to heart. This girl is new and doesn't know much. When you came here before, she called you out because she was used to it. She was deaf and didn't know the direction of the wind in the palace. She neglected Qin Zhaoyi."

Qin Liuse was unhappy. The Queen Mother Dong and this old aunt were not speaking up for him. They were simply making enemies for her.

What does it mean to be a concubine who is not presentable?

There were a lot of sisters in this room, most of whom were of lower status than her, and some of them probably thought they were the Empress Dowager Dong’s people, and they put on airs and said contemptuous words behind her back.

Qin Liuse smiled gently, bent down, and went forward to help the little maid up, "Don't scare the new little girl, get up quickly."

When the little maid saw Qin Liuse coming to help him personally, she still begged for mercy.

He looked up at the Empress Dowager Dong, and after getting the signals from his old aunt and the Empress Dowager Dong, he retreated.

All the cakes were served in a short while, and the sisters each made mung bean cakes and other desserts, tasting them while praising the cook in the Empress Dowager Dong's palace in various ways.

The Queen Mother Dong smiled with an exceptionally kind heart, as if she truly loved enjoying these family joys.

"I just heard the emperor say two days ago that he wanted the three of you to manage the harem together. I didn't expect that now there are only these two left." The Empress Dowager Dong smiled and cast her eyes on the three people sitting in the front.

Upon hearing this, Xin Zhaoyuan quickly stood up and supported herself, and replied, "I am not feeling well. The imperial physician told me to take good care of myself and not sit or stand for long periods of time, nor can I handle so many things. I really have no choice, so I am declining this."

Concubine Xin Shu spoke respectfully, and Empress Dowager Dong also said in a friendly manner, "It's not easy for you, child. You have been with the emperor in the northwest for so long. Now that you are back, it's time for you to have a good rest and enjoy yourself. There are so many concubines here who can take care of the affairs of the harem for you. Your health is more important."

"Since the emperor asked the three of you to take charge of the affairs, he naturally thought of this step."

As Empress Dowager Dong spoke, her eyes passed across Qin Liuse's face, but quickly turned back to Concubine Xin Shu's face.

Concubine Xin Shu smiled and said, "Thank you for your kindness and understanding, Your Majesty. You are right. Your Majesty is very considerate, so he let my two sisters and I manage the harem together. We are all ignorant, so it is always better to have more people."

The Queen Mother exchanged a few words with her, then asked her to sit down, "Since you are not feeling well, don't stand all the time."

The Empress Dowager Dong was particularly considerate, and then smiled and said, "Li Xianfei and Qin Zhaoyi both worked with Xiao Defei for a period of time before, so I think they can get the hang of it."

Qin Liuse said modestly, "There are still many things I don't understand. I will just help Sister Xianfei."

After hearing this, Li Xianfei also smiled and excused herself, saying that she lacked experience and needed to learn more.

The Empress Dowager Dong's eyes were filled with smiles of care and concern for the younger generation.

"I used to manage the harem, but now I am old and can't help you. Since the emperor has assigned you a task, it means he trusts you. Just do your best."

"Didn't Concubine Dong Xian do a good job before?"

As Empress Dowager Dong spoke, she talked to the old aunt next to her.

After a while, the old aunt came out from the inner room carrying a rosewood tray with a gilded wooden box on it.

The Empress Dowager Dong opened the wooden box and saw something inside that should be a paper contract.

"Back then, I was picky about words, and the late emperor favored me, so he hired many people from the common people to serve me. These people are now working in various departments in the palace."

"It doesn't matter to me now that I'm old, and I can't take care of so many trivial matters. These things on hand will have to be taken care of by Concubine Xin Shu from now on." The Empress Dowager Dong said with a smile.

"Concubine Xin Shu can't take care of those chores, but holding these things in your hands, taking a look at them and taking care of them on weekdays can also help pass the time. You can use your brain less, but you can't not use it. The more you use it, the smarter it will be."

It's said that the Queen Mother Dong is an old hand and is very good at controlling people and leaving them no room for refusal.

"Your Majesty the Queen Mother is very thoughtful. I will definitely keep an eye on these people for you."

However, Concubine Xin Shu had no way to refuse, so she accepted the task given to her by the Empress Dowager Dong.

Qin Liuse lowered her eyes and listened to them quietly, thinking again in her mind.

Concubine Xin Shu had made it so clear that she would no longer be involved in the affairs of the six palaces, and the Empress Dowager Dong gave all the things she had to her.

Qin Liuse didn't know whether she was trying to win over Concubine Xin Shu or deliberately causing trouble for them.

Because the work that was originally assigned to three people fell to Concubine Li and her, but the Empress Dowager Dong obviously did not want to see them well, so she gave Concubine Xin Shu a new task.

That's great now. With the separate governance, it has become a situation where both ends are in charge. Each side gets a little bit, and each person has a little power and manages it differently. It will be really exciting in the future.

And she, Qin Liuse, can probably only survive in the cracks.

The Empress Dowager Dong smiled very kindly, "Seeing you two working together to share the emperor's worries, I am very satisfied."