Xu Lejin had a gentle, warm smile on her face.

The words stung the young palace maid Huanxi. Huanxi's alluring phoenix eyes darted around furtively, and she put her hands on her hips, tilted her head back, and continued to press her point aggressively.

“Consort Xu, my mistress comes from the Ma Jia clan. She is the concubine who has served the Emperor the longest, has the most children, and is the Emperor’s favorite. Consort Xu, you come from a humble background. If it weren’t for the fact that you served the late Empress, the Emperor would never have made you a concubine.”

"My mistress said that once she gives birth to the imperial heir, the Emperor will definitely make her a concubine. At that time, you, a lowly person, won't even be worthy to carry my mistress's shoes..."

Huanxi became more and more excited as she spoke, completely unaware that beneath Xu Lejin's angry and ashamed expression lay a cunning glint in her eyes.

Not far away, Emperor Kangxi clearly heard the young palace maid Huanxi's boastful words. Behind his back, he kept turning the jade thumb ring on his thumb.

Liang Jiugong bowed deeply, not daring to utter a sound.

Having served Emperor Kangxi for many years, Liang Jiugong knew best that Kangxi would only have a solemn expression and constantly turn the jade thumb ring on his finger when he was extremely angry.

"emperor?"

After considering for a long time, Liang Jiugong spoke respectfully.

Kangxi shook his head, signaling Liang Jiugong to calm down.

Standing there, Kangxi frowned as he continued to listen to the palace maid Huanxi's wild and unrestrained words. The more she talked, the sharper and more arrogant Huanxi's voice became, and the more gloomy and domineering her words became. Kangxi's face grew increasingly gloomy.

Even now, the words of the young palace maid Huanxi, hurling insults at Xu Lejin, kept echoing in Kangxi's ears: "You're just a concubine, you're just a concubine."

"Xu Muer was just a concubine, so what is your status?"

Kangxi spoke in a cold voice, his mind drifting back to the three chubby, porcelain-doll-like children he had seen yesterday at the Prince's Residence, cared for by Chunhua and Qiuyan: Baoshou, Wuxiha, and Wunaxi.

He thought of the mother of his three favorite children, the concubine in the harem who gave birth to auspicious twins for the Qing Dynasty, who was so humiliated by a palace maid from Lady Magiya's side.

Huanxi turned around and saw that the person who came was Kangxi. She immediately knelt down.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me, Your Majesty, please forgive me! I didn't mean it. I just..."

Kangxi asked in a deep voice, "But what?"

"Just now, I saw you looking so arrogant. Anyone who didn't know the situation would think you were a high and mighty mistress in the harem, while Consort Xu was just a servant."

"Is this how Lady Ma Jia disciplines the palace servants?"

The young palace maid, her face filled with fear, kowtowed repeatedly, begging for mercy.

"Your Majesty, this servant... this servant..."

Kangxi glanced at Xu Lejin, who was sitting with her head down like a quail, her body swaying precariously, without even a servant by her side, all alone and desolate, and felt a pang of pity.

Even though Xu Muershi was not good at vying for favor and was not his favorite concubine, she was fortunate enough to conceive and give birth to triplets, a boy and a girl.

She was the first imperial concubine to achieve this since the founding of the Qing Dynasty.

How could the birth mother of Bao Shou, Ushiha, and Unashi allow a palace maid to humiliate her like this?

When Xu Muer gave birth, he extended his favor to her maternal family, elevating them to a higher social class and bestowing upon them a new surname. He had hoped that by changing Xu Muer's social status, the concubines in the palace would look upon her with more respect.

I never imagined that the servants in the palace would be so servile and opportunistic.

After pondering for a long time, Kangxi said, "Xu Muershi, you are the birth mother of Bao Shou, Wuxiha and Wunaxi, and I personally conferred upon you the title of concubine. I have also elevated your maternal family to the Manchu Bordered Yellow Banner and bestowed upon you the surname Xu Muershi."

"How dare a mere palace maid from Lady Ma Jia's household humiliate you like this!"

Xu Lejin's face flushed red. She timidly looked up at Kangxi, then lowered her head and whispered, "Your Majesty, I come from a humble background. It is already a great blessing that I have the good fortune to give birth to an imperial heir."

"Sister Ma Jia is pregnant with the emperor's child, so it's inevitable that her emotions will fluctuate. I think I can just bear it and it will pass, after all, the imperial heir is the most important thing."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Kangxi laughed heartily.

“Ma Jiashi never learned her lesson. Relying on her pregnancy with the emperor’s child, she became arrogant and domineering, ordering palace servants to wantonly humiliate Consort Xu of Yikun Palace.”

"Liang Jiugong?"

Liang Jiugong bowed and stepped forward.

"Your servant is here."

Emperor Kangxi glanced at the young palace maid Huanxi with displeasure and said in a deep voice, "Remember, Consort Ma Jia of Zhongcui Palace is hereby confined to Zhongcui Palace from this day forward until she gives birth."

“This palace maid who was with Lady Ma was sent to the Department of Strict Punishment for a thorough interrogation.”

The young palace maid was overjoyed, her body went limp, and she collapsed to the ground.

Liang Jiugong respectfully replied "Yes," and waved to the eunuch behind him to gag the little palace maid Huanxi and drag her away.

Immediately afterwards, Kangxi looked at Xu Lejin with doting eyes, and after a moment of consideration, said: "Xu Muer, a concubine of Yikun Palace, has made meritorious contributions in bearing the imperial heir and serving me. She should have been promoted when the sixth prince, the eighth princess, and the ninth princess were one month old. However, I think that Xu Muer has just given birth and is in her postpartum period, so it is not advisable for her to work hard."

"Liang Jiugong, immediately inform the six palaces that Xu Muershi is promoted to the rank of Consort, bestowed the title 'Yu', and will reside in the main hall of Yikun Palace, as the head of the palace. The Imperial Astronomical Bureau is instructed to select an auspicious day to hold the investiture ceremony for Consort Yu."

"The Imperial Household Department was ordered to make four sets of gold and silver jewelry for Consort Yu, and to bestow upon her sixteen bolts of brocade of various colors and four bolts of warm satin from Jiangnan."

Liang Jiugong was taken aback for a moment, then respectfully agreed.

Xu Lejin was overjoyed, but on the surface she pretended to be extremely surprised, staring at Kangxi in astonishment.

Emperor Kangxi personally helped Xu Lejin up and said with a smile, "What's wrong, my beloved consort? Are you too happy? You've even forgotten to express your gratitude."

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