Xu Lejin and the palace maid Lianzhi were talking quietly about the concubine Xiao Nara.

On Consort Xiao Nara's side, alerted by a palace maid, she also discovered Xu Lejin.

After a moment's hesitation, Consort Xiao Nara, accompanied by her maids, walked gracefully towards Xu Lejin with small, swaying steps.

"This humble servant, a minor concubine of Yanxi Palace, greets Consort Yu. May Consort Yu be blessed."

Xiao Nara, the concubine, slightly bent her knees and bowed to Xu Lejin.

The beauty nodded slightly, her bright eyes and white teeth revealing her charming and lovely appearance. Her slender, fair neck came into Xu Lejin's view, exuding allure.

Xu Lejin smiled warmly and gently, and asked Consort Xiao Nara to stand up.

After a moment of contemplation, Xu Lejin said softly, "In spring, the peach blossoms in the Imperial Garden are in full bloom. I just saw Consort Xiao Nara from afar, and she looked like a fairy who had wandered into the flower garden, so graceful and charming."

The young concubine, Xiao Nara, looked shy.

Her eyes darted around like a deer's, and she glanced at Xu Lejin. The young concubine lowered her head and respectfully said, "Your Majesty, you are so elegant and dignified. This humble servant…"

"How dare my humble servant's light, like that of a firefly, compete with Your Majesty's radiant pearl?"

Xu Lejin had a beaming smile on her face.

"Xiao Nara Concubine is too modest. In terms of youth and beauty in the palace, Xiao Nara Concubine and Guo Luoluo Concubine are the best among them."

"I am merely of delicate appearance, and I am fortunate that His Majesty has not disliked me and has bestowed upon me the title of Consort."

Looking up at the sky, Xu Lejin said softly, "It's getting late, I'll head back to Yikun Palace now."

"Although the Imperial Garden is beautiful and enchanting in spring, the spring chill is still in the air. Little Concubine, please be careful not to catch a cold."

"Lotus and Ganoderma,"

Lianzhi bowed and stepped forward to help Xu Lejin.

Consort Xiao Nara was taken aback for a moment, then curtsied and said, "Respectfully seeing off Consort Yu."

Xu Lejin's figure slowly disappeared from Xiao Nara Concubine's sight.

With the help of a palace maid, Consort Xiao Nara stood up, her smile replaced by intense jealousy, contempt, and disdain.

With a gloomy face, the concubine Xiao Nara gritted her teeth and said, "A mere concubine, not a royal consort, dares to act so arrogantly in front of me. It is utterly despicable."

"I've taken so many fertility-enhancing medicines, why am I still not pregnant?"

The young concubine's eyes were gloomy as she looked down at her flat stomach, her heart filled with resentment.

Since she was favored by the emperor and made a concubine, she would serve the emperor once or twice a month. After each time, she would drink a bowl of bitter medicine to help her conceive. Why has she not become pregnant yet?

Could it be that someone has tampered with my body?

I'm young, beautiful, and healthy; there's absolutely no way I couldn't have children...

The palace maid frowned and pondered for a moment.

"My lady, I remember your period is seven or eight days late this month. Could it be that you are pregnant?"

Upon hearing this, the young concubine Nara fell into deep thought.

In the afternoon, around 5 PM.

Li Dequan, who served the emperor, arrived at Yikun Palace with a joyful expression and respectfully said to Xu Lejin, "Congratulations, Consort Yu! The Emperor will be visiting your palace tonight."

Xu Lejin smiled and nodded slightly.

"Thank you for making this trip in person, Eunuch Li. The Emperor rewarded me with some golden melon seeds during the first month of the lunar year."

"Ruhua, grab some for Eunuch Li, consider it my treat to Eunuch Li for a drink."

Ru Hua respectfully replied, "Yes."

Li Dequan was overjoyed and flattered.

"Thank you for the reward, Your Majesty."

The golden melon seeds gleamed dimly in the afterglow of the setting sun. Li Dequan's gaze was fixed on them as he carefully took the golden melon seeds from Ru Hua's hand.

After a slight hesitation, Li Dequan lowered his voice and softly reminded her, "Your Majesty, His Majesty has been preoccupied with the matter of the Three Feudatories these past few days and is not in a good mood."

"Thank you, Eunuch Li. I know what to do."

Xu Lejin smiled gently and had Ruhua personally escort Li Dequan out of Yikun Palace.

As night fell, Emperor Kangxi strode confidently to Yikun Palace.

Xu Lejin, dressed in a pink palace gown and without any makeup, with a natural beauty, personally greeted them outside the main hall of Yikun Palace.

Holding Xu Lejin's slightly cold hand, Kangxi said affectionately, "In spring, the wind is strong at night. My beloved concubine is weak, so be careful not to catch a cold."

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. It is my duty as a concubine in the harem to welcome Your Majesty. It is nothing for me."

With her brows slightly lowered, Xu Lejin's eyes were filled with tenderness.

Kangxi led Xu Lejin into the main hall of Yikun Palace, where Lianzhi and Ruhua immediately served fruits and snacks.

One of the dishes was a plate of peach blossom cakes, shaped like peach blossoms, with a faint peach blossom fragrance that filled the hall.

Emperor Kangxi laughed heartily, “The peach blossom cakes in my beloved concubine’s palace look more novel than those in the imperial kitchen.”

"Your Majesty, this was made by my own hands. It was made by boiling fresh, unfallen peach blossom petals into a juice, and then adding flour, sesame seeds, and other ingredients."

Xu Lejin slightly raised her eyes, her cherry lips moving slightly.

"This concubine spent the entire afternoon preparing this small dish. Your Majesty, would you please taste it?"

After speaking, Xu Lejin picked up a piece with her slender hand and held it to Kangxi's lips.

Kangxi's gaze fell on Xu Lejin's fair and tender arms, which were as smooth as lotus roots. His eyes were burning with desire, and he took a bite of the peach blossom cake in Xu Lejin's hand.

Immediately, a sweet and mild peach blossom fragrance spread in my mouth.

The fragrance lingers on the lips and teeth.

Emperor Kangxi squinted as he savored the peach blossom cake. After a long while, he opened his eyes and looked at Xu Lejin with shining eyes. "The peach blossom cake made by my beloved consort is indeed delicious. Just now, I felt as if I was in a peach blossom garden, and the fragrance of the flowers was refreshing."

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