Chapter 33: Too Late to Win Over (Update at Midnight Tonight…)

Chapter 33: Too Late to Win Over (There will be another update at midnight tonight...

Kunning Palace, Eastern Warm Chamber.

Niohuru Yuwan was slowly sewing small clothes for her child. Although there were embroiderers in the palace, making it unnecessary for her to do it herself, this was a mother's heartfelt gesture—she wanted her child to wear clothes she had sewn with her own hands.

"Your Majesty, Attendant Yin requests an audience," a servant announced as they entered.

"Let her in."

Attendant Yin, who had just entered the palace through the selection process, walked in and immediately knelt to pay respects: "Greetings to the Empress. I wish the Empress good fortune."

Niohuru Yuwan only glanced briefly at Yin Shi without asking her to rise or stopping her needlework.

Attendant Yin did not dare to make a sound and could only remain kneeling.

After a long while, Niohuru Yuwan finally allowed Yin Shi to rise. Yin Shi had already paid her respects on her first day in the palace. The sixteen-year-old Yin Shi had delicate features; though not stunningly beautiful, she possessed a refreshing elegance that made her pleasant to behold.

"Do you know why you were able to enter the palace?"

Attendant Yin replied respectfully, "I was able to enter the palace thanks to Your Majesty's grace and benevolence. I am forever grateful for Your Majesty's kindness and will follow Your Majesty's commands from now on."

The Yin family had marital ties to the Niohuru Family. Her mother's younger sister—her aunt—had married Yin Shi's uncle, uniting the families. Her mother had written to her, asking her to help Yin Shi enter the palace.

Since she was pregnant, she thought it would be good to have Yin Shi in the palace. She needed one or two people by her side to help secure the emperor's favor and be of use to her, so she secretly ensured Yin Shi was selected.

"Since you are under my wing, I will not treat you poorly. Although you are only a mere Attendant now, I guarantee you will want for nothing in the palace, and the servants will not mistreat you. In the coming days, I will have the emperor choose your green plaque. I hope you can win the emperor's affection. To secure lasting favor, the emperor's liking for you is what matters most."

"Thank you for Your Majesty's guidance. I will remember your words."

Niohuru Yuwan waved her hand, indicating that Yin Shi could leave.

After Yin Shi left, Nanny Gui spoke up: "Your Majesty, if Attendant Yin proves disloyal, wouldn't elevating her be like nurturing a tiger that could turn on you?"

Niohuru Yuwan chuckled lightly: "Nanny, Yin Shi is merely an Attendant—hardly a tiger. Since I can elevate her, I can also make her life difficult in the harem. If she proves disloyal and dares to betray me, I will make her suffer. Moreover, the Yin family relies on our Niohuru Family. Unless she abandons her family, she must obey me without question."

As the empress, if she couldn't handle a disloyal Attendant, she would be unworthy of her title. One Yin Shi couldn't cause much trouble—not everyone was like Lady Uya.

In fact, she somewhat regretted not trying to win over Lady Uya earlier. Now, Lady Uya had become a Noble Lady and enjoyed the emperor's favor, already securing a place in the harem. It was too late to win her over now.

She didn't dwell on it and continued sewing.

Two days later, the emperor came to Kunning Palace to see her. Niohuru Yuwan first updated him on her physical condition. Now five months pregnant, she had experienced frequent morning sickness during the first three months, but it had improved, and she rarely vomited anymore.

The emperor touched her belly, and Niohuru Yuwan's expression softened instantly. She said gently, "Your Majesty, the five new ladies who entered the palace through the selection haven't yet served you, and you haven't met them. All five sisters have good temperaments and are well-behaved. Your Majesty could select their plaques."

"Who does the empress think I should choose?"

Niohuru Yuwan pretended to think for a moment before replying, "Hesheli Shi is gentle, Luo Shi is serene, Daijia Shi is dignified, Borjigin Shi is generous, and Yin Shi..." She paused before continuing, "Yin Shi is charmingly naive. Each has her own merits. Your Majesty may choose whomever you wish."

"Understood."

The emperor had state affairs to attend to and only stayed briefly at Kunning Palace before leaving.

By evening, a servant came to inform her that the emperor had flipped Yin Shi's green plaque. Niohuru Yuwan smiled.

Among the newly selected ladies, aside from Daijia Shi, who came from an ordinary background as the daughter of an eighth-rank official from the Han Army Banner, the other four had impressive family backgrounds. Borjigin Shi was the sister of the Empress Dowager and the daughter of the Darhan Khan of Khorchin. Hesheli Shi was a clan sister of the deceased Empress Renxiao. Luo Shi was the wife's younger sister of the Governor of Zhejiang. It could be said that each came from a prominent background and was not to be underestimated—though whether they would gain favor in the future remained to be seen.

The following evening, the emperor flipped Borjigin Shi's plaque. On the third day, it was Luo Shi's turn. Everyone expected the emperor to choose Hesheli Shi on the fourth day, but instead, he flipped Lady Uya's plaque.

Lady Uya still remained in favor. Even after nearly two years, the emperor's affection for her remained undiminished.

Niohuru Yuwan didn't dwell on it too much. She could help Yin Shi once or twice, but she couldn't assist her every time. Yin Shi would have to rely on herself to win the emperor's affection. For now, Niohuru Yuwan's priority was to focus on her pregnancy and safely give birth to a prince.

Fearful of accidents, she rarely left Kunning Palace these days. She paid extra attention to her daily meals. Several imperial physicians had assured her that her pregnancy was stable and the fetus was growing well. In four more months, her child would be born.

In the blink of an eye, it was July 5th of the fifteenth year of Kang Xi's reign—the Grand Empress Dowager's birthday. As empress, Niohuru Yuwan could not miss the occasion. She attended the Grand Empress Dowager's birthday banquet with her seven-month pregnant belly.

Afraid of falling from a sedan chair—what if the carriers stumbled, causing the chair to tilt and her to lose balance, injuring the child in her womb?—she chose to walk to Cining Palace. She brought six servants with her: two supporting her and four walking alongside for protection.

She made the journey from Kunning Palace to Cining Palace without incident. Upon arrival, she took her seat and glanced around at the attendees.

The emperor would certainly come to offer birthday greetings to the Grand Empress Dowager. The women were dressed extravagantly, adorned with scented ointments or sachets. The main hall of Cining Palace was filled with a noticeable fragrance, a mix of several scents that inevitably became somewhat pungent.

Pregnant women have sensitive noses, and Niohuru Yuwan found the smell unbearable. She subtly covered her nose with a handkerchief.

"Your Majesty, is the smell unpleasant?"

She nodded.

Nanny Gui quickly fetched a round fan to gently waft the scent away. Pregnant women must avoid catching a chill, but as it was July, ice mountains were placed throughout Cining Palace.

Nanny Gui instructed palace maid Qiao Yue to drape a thin blanket over the empress's belly to prevent it from getting cold.

"Your Majesty, it might be best not to eat anything later. We don't know who prepared the food—it wasn't made in our kitchen. Your Majesty should try to avoid eating it," Nanny Gui reminded.

Niohuru Yuwan nodded. She had already eaten before coming, precisely to avoid any potential tampering with the banquet food.