Changsheng: Peak at the Beginning

Chapter 1167 Zhen Huan Enlarged to 91

Big Fat Orange really didn't think that highly of the newly appointed Concubine Ning. After all, the impression of stupidity that Concubine Ning had left on him was too deep. If it weren't for the Shen family's repeated achievements, he really didn't want to let Concubine Ning out.

However, Ningpin did deserve a reward for being pregnant, so Dapangju gave her a title. As for Jiang Xinxin's request to add two points to the reward, Dapangju would not listen. At most, he asked Gao Wuyong to carefully select it.

Gao Wuyong, the chief steward, is more capable than his predecessor Su Peisheng. In the harem, he only truly respects the queen Jiang Xinxin. Although he has a good face for other concubines, he is the same to everyone. He is really fair and can also make sure that the emperor does not have excessive selfish intentions. Big Fat Ju really thinks he is better than Su Peisheng.

He didn't have to worry about choosing rewards for the new Concubine Ning. He just needed to select a few sets of rich and elegant jewelry, and a few pieces of fabric that Concubine Ning liked, and also some fabric suitable for children. He could prepare other things as usual. In this way, he could ensure that there would be no mistakes.

When Gao Wuyong went to announce the decree and present the rewards, Concubine Ning saw that the jewelry, cloth and other items were all rich yet elegant, and she really liked them. She repeatedly asked Gao Wuyong to convey a message to Dapangju to express her love. Gao Wuyong flattered Concubine Ning and couldn't help praising himself in his heart.

Jiang Xinxin's reward was more substantial than Dapangju's, and included jewelry and other auspicious ornaments, but it was mainly for Concubine Ning herself.

As soon as Concubine Ning was released from the cold palace, she was reinstated as a concubine. Although Dapangju did not receive any other rewards at that time, almost all of the dowry that had been taken away by the Ministry of Internal Affairs was returned to her. However, before she was sent to the cold palace, she only had time to put away the cash at the reminder of Concubine Rou, and she had almost spent it all in the cold palace.

Fortunately, she soon gained the power to assist in the management of palace affairs. The Ministry of Internal Affairs always gave her a sufficient share, and even gave her some filial piety in secret. The Shen family also sent some silver and money into the palace, so her life was still prosperous.

But that was all. Ever since Ningpin was released from the cold palace, she had no shortage of small money, but the only big money she had was the two thousand taels that the Shen family gave her later. It wasn't that the Shen family didn't want to give more, but ever since Big Fat Ju seized the Imperial Household Department's bondservant, they had strictly restricted the exchanges between the palace and the outside world. The Shen family was taking an open approach, so naturally they didn't dare to give more.

So Jiang Xinxin bought a box of golden melon seeds for Ningpin, which was worth one thousand taels of silver. It was really generous. Ningpin herself couldn't help but feel her heart beating faster when she saw it. However, because Jiang Xinxin had long been known to be wealthy, and Jiang Xinxin had given generous gifts to the princes and princesses in the palace during the New Year and other festivals, Ningpin and several maids around her didn't think it was a big deal.

The two great Buddhas had given gifts, and the other high-ranking concubines had to follow suit. The rest, whether they were in the same concubine rank or lower than Ning Concubine, had to give gifts. Now there were only two concubines above the rank of Concubine Qi and Concubine Jing. Concubine Qi had become increasingly weak over the years, and she didn't have many good things in her hands. She also had to subsidize the Third Prince, so the gifts she sent looked simple.

It was different for Concubine Jing. She had a princess by her knees and real power in the palace. The rewards she gave to Concubine Ning were mainly to please her.

Concubine Shen, who came from Mongolia, had no shortage of gold and jewelry, and these two things were not easy to tamper with, so she also gave her some gold, silver and jewelry. Concubine Ning found the list funny when she saw it.

Shunpin, Qipin and Chunpin were all worried that Ningpin would give birth to a prince. After all, Ningpin's family background was not bad, so the gifts they gave would naturally not be very good, just acceptable.

Concubine Rou and Concubine Ning have always had a good relationship. She personally brought a lot of practical things to congratulate Concubine Ning. In particular, Concubine Rou also copied a book of precautions during pregnancy, which made Concubine Ning so precious that she was reluctant to put it down after receiving it.

After the excitement subsided, Ningpin felt a little embarrassed, "I made a fool of myself, sister. Last time I... Anyway, this is my first time getting pregnant, and I did lose my composure."

However, Roupin didn't think there was anything to say about Ningpin's excitement. She smiled and comforted Ningpin, saying, "Sister Mei's excitement now is not as good as my excitement back then."

Ningpin's belly was only about one month old, but her abdomen felt a little hard, which naturally showed the difference. Faced with the teasing of her good sister, Ningpin could only respond with a teasing tone.

There was no one else in the room. Concubine Ning was very happy because of the baby in her belly, but she became depressed in the blink of an eye, and even her eyes were red. "I was really stupid in the past, and I caused the daughter of the Shen family to be ashamed because of me..."

Of course, Roupin didn't think there was anything wrong with Ningpin's request for a child, so she quickly comforted her, "Sister Mei is wrong. At that time, we only saw Nian overestimating her own abilities and confronting the Empress. Who would have known that Cao, who was by her side, could come up with such a sinister idea?"

"Besides, if the incident had not involved the reputation of the royal family, the emperor would have thought that my sister suffered innocently."

The last two sentences were something that Roupin, who had not yet become a concubine, could not have said. Now that she is supporting the Eighth Prince, she knows what the royal family's face and the prince's dignity are. So she doesn't think that it's a big deal that Ningpin was tricked into getting fakely pregnant, nor does she think that Ningpin is stupid or anything.

After all, they had not been in the palace for long at that time, and Cao and Nian were scheming intentionally or not, so it was really hard to guard against them.

Besides, in the harem, people were competing for favor, so it was normal for everyone to try to find fault with each other, and even to frame someone out of thin air. But no one had ever seen anyone framing someone for a fake pregnancy and using their innocence to make a fuss.

Therefore, Concubine Rou looked down upon Nian and Cao.

Ningpin shed tears for a while, and when she came to her senses, she felt a little embarrassed. Roupin stood up and said goodbye. Before leaving, she comforted Ningpin again, saying, "Now that the harem is peaceful and clear, no one dares to cause trouble in secret. Sister Mei can rest assured."

Ningpin was also very moved when she heard this, and she was even more grateful to the queen Jiang Xinxin: "Yes, thanks to the queen's good leadership, now the emperor is watching..."

Ningpin stopped talking in time, but Roupin knew what Ningpin wanted to say was that the emperor seemed to have become more clear-headed and no longer treated him as he did in the past when he sent the concubines in the harem to Nian Shilan for training just because Nian Gengyao had made great contributions in the previous dynasty.

Shunpin, Qipin and Chunpin had some ideas about Ningpin's pregnancy, but Shunpin and Qipin did not dare to act rashly because they saw Dapangju and Jiang Xinxin's control over the harem, and knew that if their methods were not secretive enough, they would be exposed, thus benefiting their old rivals, so even though they were anxious, they had to hold back.

Concubine Chun was different. She had never been favored in the harem, and she was smarter than Concubine Shun and Concubine Qi. Seeing that the princess she gave birth to was not favored by Dapangju and Jiang Xinxin, she naturally had a lot of thoughts in her mind.

Even though Concubine Chun also wanted to plot against Concubine Ning's pregnancy, she couldn't hold back anymore when she saw that Concubine Shun and Concubine Qi hadn't made any move, so she secretly had someone tamper with Concubine Ning's carriage as it returned to the palace.