No longer paying much attention to others, as a newly promoted consort, both her daily treatnt and the number of palace servants under her command were now incomparable to before.
As she had requested earlier, the Palace of Eternal Spring had long ago added a small kitchen. For this, An Ning had specifically asked Chief Steward Liang to help select an old matron from the palace with excellent pastry-making skills.
Oh, and the woman's wontons were also quite good.
As well as those responsible for massage, dressing, needlework, and so on...
In short, over the next few days, aside from receiving and selecting palace servants, An Ning focused all her efforts on improving her living environnt, striving to make herself more comfortable—though she only gave verbal instructions...
anwhile, at the Qianqing Palace, the next morning, Kangxi stared at the still empty soft couch before him. Having so rare leisure ti after court dismissal and originally intending to play a ga of chess, he couldn't help but pause montarily for a mont.
After sitting down, his gaze drifted seemingly casually toward Liang Jiugong standing in attendance nearby:
Only after a while did he raise his hand to sip the clear tea in his grasp:
"Your Consort Chen left quite early today. Has sothing happened in the palace?"
Ah! Liang Jiugong couldn't help but start, thinking to himself that given Consort Chen's temperant, even after being enfeoffed as a consort she hadn't been seen going out to stroll around—what possible matters could she have? Subconsciously, Liang Jiugong replied:
"Replying to Your Majesty, perhaps this slave's ears and eyes aren't sharp enough—currently I haven't heard any rumors."
Then, as if rembering sothing, he secretly glanced at his master's expression before cautiously saying:
"Actually, these past few days, Consort Chen has been leaving quite early. Perhaps... perhaps she's still feeling curious about her new residence!"
"Curious, she..."
Playing with the prayer beads in his hand, Emperor Kangxi emitted an unreadable snort from above:
"It seems the craftsn you found for her last ti were quite satisfactory. You've been rather diligent in your service, slave!"
Ah no, eting his master's sidelong glance, Liang Jiugong felt sweat beading on his forehead.
Wasn't it you, Master, who said that regarding whatever Consort Chen recently requested, we should generally accommodate her?
Now he's being blad for diligently carrying out his duties?
And my Consort Chen ah—she's clearly quite intelligent, so how co sotis the way she handles matters can only be described as utterly baffling?
Even with his extensive experience, Chief Steward Liang was completely dumbfounded by her approach this ti.
Even if you're going to burn bridges after crossing the river, at least have the decency to be discreet about it!
When you found your residence cramped with poor views, you coaxed His Majesty into keeping you here against regulations. Then once you felt your own place was comfortable and the food suited your taste, you left without even looking back.
Sigh, he'd truly seen it all now. This proved that being clever and being socially adept were really two different things.
All this ti he'd thought she was reluctant to leave His Majesty!
Stealing another glance at his master's expression, Chief Steward Liang quietly wiped sweat from his brow again.
Oh, this Consort Chen!
Despite this, the next day, as the Imperial Noble Consort approached childbirth, to the astonishnt of all the harem consorts, that long-coveted harem authority ultimately fell into the hands of this newly promoted Consort Chen.
Even the four consorts who had been waiting eagerly only received minor, peripheral responsibilities.
Although she had ntally prepared herself, only after formally taking over this harem authority did An Ning realize how extensive the interconnected network ford by these bondservant families within the harem truly was.
Though this wasn't particularly surprising—the Manchu population wasn't large to begin with, and hadn't she observed that major nobles and imperial relatives were basically all interconnected?
Executing nine generations of families? Wishful thinking!
Similarly, the major bondservant families were the sa. And this was only during Kangxi's reign...
No wonder, from beginning to end, apart from readily available options like herself, this lord had never considered cultivating a favorite consort himself to break this situation.
But so what?
As the newly appointed manager, with the proverbial "new official launching three fires," she had no intention of doing such thankless work.
After checking the Imperial Household Departnt's account books and registers from previous years, An Ning simply organized and processed this information before directly presenting it to Kangxi.
Over the past year, aside from her chess skills, An Ning's mathematical talent had also beco evident to all.
In short, through her work, the relationships among various Imperial Household Departnt personnel, the matters they had handled, and the people involved could all be seen with crystal clarity.
She had even thoughtfully marked problematic areas in the account books from the past six months.
Who could know what thoughts would arise in this extrely power-hungry, exceptionally suspicious emperor's mind when he saw all this?
After completing this task, An Ning leisurely resud her relaxed lifestyle.
Managing palace affairs? Countless facts proved that bosses who don't know how to delegate will only work themselves to death!
The palace maids and matrons specially assigned by Emperor Kangxi to assist her: "..."
"This Consort Chen is truly an impressive person!"
Glancing at their new mistress leisurely reading storybooks inside the room, a veteran matron couldn't help but sigh in admiration.
"Though she appears to have delegated authority smoothly, in reality, whether it's you, , or that chief steward in the Imperial Household Departnt, we can only operate according to her design."
She seed to have only established a few rules and reassigned responsibilities, but in fact, with this system, it beca nearly impossible for anyone to manipulate matters or deceive superiors and subordinates.
"Yes, there were so oversights initially, but look how quickly..."
Considering how the Imperial Noble Consort previously spent most of her day just handling routine palace affairs, compared to now how easily everything was managed—not even requiring one hour daily...
Sotis she even listened to reports while reading storybooks, yet still accurately identified errors and avoided traps set by several senior consorts.
Raising their eyes to look at their mistress leisurely lying in the courtyard feeding koi, the two servants sighed, completely extinguishing any remaining sches in their hearts.
Kangxi listening to his subordinate's report: "..."
Unfortunately, An Ning's leisurely days didn't last long.
One day, news suddenly erged from the Cining Palace that the Grand Empress Dowager had recovered from her illness.
As expected, in the front hall of the Palace of Eternal Spring, looking at the elderly matron dressed in light brown qipao with a solemn, respectful expression, and hearing the other's delivery of the Grand Empress Dowager's summons, An Ning simply nodded to acknowledge receipt and politely saw the ssenger off.
Then she allowed the palace servants to help her change clothes. While applying makeup, looking at her mistress's face that already radiated splendor even without costics—so beautiful it seed almost otherworldly—the matron combing her hair couldn't help but sigh with concern:
"Master, the Grand Empress Dowager has always been dignified and proper. Shouldn't your makeup avoid being too eye-catching..."
What she didn't say aloud was that the Grand Empress Dowager particularly disliked consorts who beca excessively favored.
But their mistress?
Hadn't she noticed how many consorts had been secretly lodging complaints under the guise of visiting since the Cining Palace officially ended its seclusion?
"That's right, Master..."
The more they thought about it, the more worried Xiangzhu and the other servants beca.
Yet unexpectedly, before the bronze mirror, not only did An Ning not accept their suggestions, but she happily admired her reflection in the mirror. Only after a while did she naturally smile and say:
"Matron, what are you saying? Everyone loves beauty. Since this is my first audience with the Grand Empress Dowager, naturally the more beautiful I am, the more pleased Her Majesty will be, don't you think?"
"Wouldn't you all agree?"
Matron Fang: "..."
Xiangzhu and others: "???"
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