Consort Xitala, who had previously been out of favor, has now had her luck change, spending three consecutive days serving the emperor in the side hall of the Qianqing Palace.

The phrases "spoiled by favor" and "overconfident" are perfectly suited to describe Consort Xitala.

As Consort Xitala gained favor, some concubines who were not usually favored, as well as some nameless and unranked palace maids who had served Emperor Kangxi in bed and some pretty palace maids, were all eager to try their luck.

After paying their respects that day, the concubines returned to their respective palaces, but Consort Zhao kept Xu Lejin behind to speak with her in Chuxiu Palace.

“Sister Yu Pin, our Emperor really dotes on Consort Xitala. He has summoned Consort Xitala to handle matters in the side hall of the Qing Palace for three consecutive days. The day before yesterday, he summoned Consort Xitala to accompany him in the Qing Palace, and yesterday he went to the east side hall of the Yongshou Palace where Consort Xitala resides.”

"In my opinion, if this continues, Consort Xitala will soon become pregnant and give birth to the imperial heir. After that, she will be able to sit on equal footing with Consort Yu."

With a smile on her face, Consort Zhao changed the subject and said softly, "Sister Yu, when you promoted Consort Xitala back then, you probably never imagined things would turn out this way!"

"Today, when the concubines pay their respects, I noticed that Consort Xitala was very disrespectful to Consort Yu."

Xu Lejin remained calm and her smile did not diminish.

"Your Highness, the harem has never been just one concubine. The Emperor is the Son of Heaven, and the Son of Heaven must bestow his favor upon all the concubines in the harem so that the family line may flourish."

"Consort Xitala is gentle and considerate, so it's only natural that the Emperor likes her. As for whether Consort Xitala is respectful to the concubines, that's not really important. The Emperor likes her, so she naturally has the confidence to be arrogant because of his favor."

After a slight pause, Xu Lejin said softly, "Your Highness, Consort Zhao, I only hope that my sixth son, eighth daughter, and ninth daughter will grow up healthy and safe."

"I greatly admire Consort Yu's magnanimity. I hope she can always maintain her original intentions."

Consort Zhao's eyes were sinister as she gritted her teeth and forced out these words.

June 20th, afternoon

After Xu Lejin took a nap, Ru Xian bowed solemnly as she entered the palace and reported, "Your Majesty, Aunt Su Ma from the Empress Dowager's palace came this afternoon to request that Your Majesty go to Cining Palace at 5 PM."

"Yes, I understand."

Xu Lejin gave a faint reply, then immediately instructed Ruhua, "The Empress Dowager has not seen Baoshou, Wuxiha, and Unaxi for several days."

"Ruhua, go to the Prince's Residence immediately to receive Bao Shou, Wuxiha, and Unaxi. Later, you will go with me to Cining Palace to pay our respects to the Empress Dowager."

Ru Hua respectfully acknowledged and withdrew.

Xu Lejin was to go to Cining Palace with the sixth prince, the eighth princess, and the ninth princess to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager. The news quickly spread throughout the six palaces of the east and west.

The concubines who had no children felt nothing but bitterness.

Meanwhile, Consorts Nara, Zhaojia, and Zhang, who had children, felt a deep sense of pent-up frustration, stuck in their chests, unable to move forward or backward, and extremely uncomfortable.

In Yanxi Palace, Consort Nara had a gloomy face.

"You wretched woman, you wretched woman, the birth mother of the princes and princesses in the palace, can only see the princes and princesses once or twice a year, and suffers the pain of longing. Meanwhile, Consort Yu takes a chicken feather as an arrow, and with the permission of the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager, she takes the sixth prince, the eighth princess and the ninth princess to Cining Palace to pay her respects every three to five days."

"In terms of seniority and background, how can I, a concubine, be inferior to Consort Yu? However, my Baoqing is raised in the Prince's quarters and can only be seen once a year, while Consort Yu can see the Sixth Prince, the Eighth Princess, and the Ninth Princess every three to five days, taking the opportunity of paying respects to the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager."

"Cunxin, my heart is filled with bitterness!"

As Consort Nara spoke, tears began to stream down her face.

The palace maid Cunxin, with a sorrowful expression, softly comforted her, "Your Highness, the Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and the Empress Dowager are only bewitched by Consort Yu. Your Highness is gentle and virtuous, and the Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and the Empress Dowager will one day see your goodness."

"emperor,"

Consort Nara's voice choked with emotion, her eyes red, and she sighed softly, "Your Majesty, you have made this humble servant suffer."

"I entered the palace at the age of thirteen. I fell in love with Your Majesty at first sight in the Imperial Garden. Later, Your Majesty favored me, and I was overjoyed."

“When I had my first child, I would wake up laughing in the middle of the night. My son Chengqing was born healthy and chubby, and I was so happy. But he died young.”

"When Chengqing died young, my heart was broken, but with Your Majesty's company, I overcame the pain of losing my child, and later I had Baoqing. Although there were many twists and turns when I was pregnant with Baoqing, he was born safely."

“After Baoqing was born, there were new concubines in the harem. I felt that Your Majesty no longer liked me. Every night, I hoped that Your Majesty would come to Yanxi Palace. But as I waited and waited, there were more and more concubines in the palace. Your Majesty almost forgot about me.”

"Your Majesty, I miss you so much!"

Consort Nara stared blankly at the east side hall of Yanxi Palace with sorrowful eyes, tears streaming down her face. Her makeup was ruined, her eyes were red from crying, and her clothes were stained with tears.

Xu Lejin held her youngest daughter, Unaxi, in her arms, while behind her were her wet nurses, Bao Shou and Ushiha.

The mother and her three children arrived at Cining Palace precisely at 5:15 PM.

Xu Lejin knelt down with a respectful expression and said in a respectful voice, "This concubine greets the Empress Dowager and Her Majesty the Empress Dowager. May the Empress Dowager and Her Majesty the Empress Dowager live a thousand years."

Following closely behind were the wet nurses of Bao Shou, Wu Xiha, and Una Xi, who, leading them, also bowed and knelt down to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager and the Empress. Bao Shou, Wu Xiha, and Una Xi were about to turn one year old, and with their wet nurses' help, they could already take a few shaky steps, but they still couldn't speak.

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