In June, the nights come a little late.

Xu Lejin personally escorted Bao Shou, Wu Xiha, and Wu Naxi back to the Prince's residence. With a serious expression, she instructed the wet nurse and palace servants to take good care of them. Afterwards, with the gentle persuasion of Lianzhi and Ruhua, she reluctantly returned to Yikun Palace.

Candles have already been lit in the main hall of Yikun Palace.

Upon entering the main hall, Xu Lejin saw Emperor Kangxi smiling and looking at her with affection. After a moment of surprise, Xu Lejin quickly stepped forward to pay her respects and said with a joyful expression, "When did Your Majesty come to my palace? Why didn't you send someone to Cining Palace or the Princes' quarters to inform me?"

"Has Your Majesty been waiting for a long time?"

Kangxi held Xu Lejin's fair and jade-like hand and said loudly, "I just arrived and heard from the palace servants that you took Bao Shou, Wuxiha and Wunaxi to Cining Palace this afternoon to pay your respects to the Empress Dowager and the Empress Mother."

"My beloved consort, you must be tired today. Haven't you had dinner yet? I've had the imperial kitchen prepare dinner. Please join me for some."

After speaking, Kangxi clapped his hands outside the palace.

Xu Lejin blushed shyly, letting Kangxi hold her hands as he spoke softly. "Your Majesty's presence in my palace is a great joy. I enjoy dining with Your Majesty, but..."

Raising her head, Xu Lejin looked at Kangxi with eyes pounding like a deer.

"Your Majesty, I've gained weight recently. Please don't let me eat any more meat and fish, and please don't let me drink papaya stewed with snow frog."

"Hahaha,"

Emperor Kangxi laughed heartily and pulled Xu Lejin into his lap. "My beloved concubine is becoming more and more interesting."

Xu Lejin gave Kangxi a coquettish glare, then buried her head in his chest.

Kangxi's throat bobbed, his eyes burning as he gazed at Xu Lejin. In the end, reason prevailed over lust, and he changed the subject in a deep voice, saying, "My beloved consort, you went to the Empress Dowager's palace today. Did the Empress Dowager say anything?"

Xu Lejin paused for a moment, then lowered her head and pondered.

After a long while, Xu Lejin parted her lips slightly.

"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager knows that Consort Xitala has served the Emperor for three consecutive days. She praised me for being sensible and doing a good job. The Empress Dowager said that the Emperor's favor should be distributed equally so that Your Majesty's offspring will flourish and the Qing Dynasty will last for thousands of years."

As she continued speaking, Xu Lejin's voice grew softer and softer.

Emperor Kangxi frowned in thought. At this moment, Liang Jiugong led the palace servants into the hall, and a sumptuous dinner was quickly laid out on the table. The food was delicious and appetizing.

The next day

Inside the Chuxiu Palace, Consort Xitala looked extremely unpleasant, her gaze towards Xu Lejin filled with resentment.

"I heard that the Emperor went to Consort Yu's palace last night? Sister Xitala had served the Emperor for three consecutive days before, and we all thought that Sister Xitala would continue to be favored, but we didn't expect to be proven wrong yesterday."

Consort Zhang scrutinized Consort Xitala with a critical gaze, then said, "Sister Xitala, did you not sleep at all last night? Why do I see that you look haggard, and the dark circles under your eyes are so obvious?"

"Sister Xitala, I've been there, so let me give you some advice. There's only one Emperor, but there are many sisters in the harem, all of whom are eagerly waiting for the Emperor's favor. Sister Xitala, you've already been very fortunate to have served the Emperor for three consecutive days."

“Sister Xitala, you must learn to be content and happy.”

The sarcastic remarks caused Consort Zhao and Xu Lejin to frown slightly, while Consort Xitala's almond-shaped eyes blazed with fury.

Suppressing her anger, Consort Xitala spoke slowly and deliberately, "Thank you for your guidance, Sister Zhang. Although I am incompetent and unable to keep the Emperor, I at least served him for three consecutive days, unlike you, Sister Zhang..."

"I remember that Sister Zhang has not served the emperor since the birth of the fourth princess. The nights are long and lonely, and I don't know how Sister Zhang got through them."

"you……"

Consort Zhang glared hatefully at Consort Xitala, nearly grinding her teeth to powder.

With a 'smack', Consort Zhao slammed her hand on the table. "Alright, Consort Zhang, you are a senior member of the palace and the birth mother of the fourth princess. Consort Xitala is young and ignorant, but are you ignorant too?"

"The harem belongs to the emperor. It is the emperor's freedom to like whomever he wants to favor. As concubines in the harem, you and I only need to serve the emperor wholeheartedly and continue his lineage, not to be jealous of who gets to sleep with us."

Consort Zhao gave a stern and harsh reprimand.

Consort Zhang and Consort Xitala swallowed their resentment and lowered their heads, staring at their toes.

A moment later, Lianxing entered the hall in a flustered manner and respectfully reported, "Your Majesty, Consort Yu, and all the concubines, news has come from Zhongcui Palace that Concubine Ma Jia has launched her attack."

"Yes, I understand."

Consort Zhao frowned, looked at Xu Lejin and the other concubines, and said in a deep voice, "My sisters, Concubine Ma Jia has given birth, and I need to go to Zhongcui Palace to see her."

"This concludes today's greetings. My sisters, please return to your respective palaces!"

With the help of Lianzhi and Ruhua, Xu Lejin rose from her seat and led the other concubines to curtsy, saying, "Yes, we concubines take our leave."

Consort Zhao hurriedly led the palace servants towards Zhongcui Palace, while Xu Lejin got into the sedan chair and returned to Yikun Palace.

Outside Chuxiu Palace, the other concubines returned to their respective palaces, each with their own thoughts. Only Concubine Zhang and Concubine Xitala remained, each with her own maid, their eyes filled with intense hatred, neither willing to yield to the other.

Consort Xitala's eyes burned with hatred. "Sister Zhang, you are old and faded, and you also suffer from menstrual bleeding. It is only natural that the Emperor does not summon you to his bedchamber."

"Sister Zhang, you have to accept that you're getting old."

"you,"

With a ferocious expression, Consort Zhang pointed at Consort Xitala and said coldly, "Young sister, you are young, but you still can't keep the Emperor? Although I am not favored now, I have at least borne two princesses for the Emperor."

“Sister Xitala has been serving the Emperor for over a year, but her belly remains empty. Could she be a barren hen?”

With a livid face, Consort Xitala waved her hand, intending to hit Consort Zhang, but Consort Zhang dodged with a spin, while Consort Xitala lost her balance and fell to the ground.

Consort Zhang looked down at Consort Xitala with disdain.

"Oh dear, little sister Xitala, you must be careful when you walk! What if you bump into something, twist your waist, break your leg, or ruin your beautiful little face?"

"There are countless beauties in the palace, and the emperor would never favor an ugly woman."

After saying that, Consort Zhang swayed her slender waist and left gracefully.

After walking ten meters, Consort Zhang turned back and smiled, looking at Consort Xitala with a mocking expression, and said softly, "Sister Xitala, let's see how things unfold."