Half an hour later

Xu Lejin and Consort Xuan walked side by side on the long street.

"How interesting! Today, Consort Yu and Consort Xuan, in Consort Zhao's palace, were singing and dancing in harmony, like a theatrical performance, putting on one show after another. It was truly admirable!"

"Sister Zhang, Sister Nara, we must learn from Consort Yu and Consort Xuan so that we can be eloquent and get along well with everyone in the palace."

Consort Nara, along with Consort Zhang and Consort Xiao Nara, walked side by side behind Consort Xu Lejin and Consort Xuan, raising their voices and speaking with a light laugh.

Upon hearing this, Consort Xuan's face showed anger.

Xu Lejin pulled Xuan Pin back, shook her head, stopped and looked back at Nara Consort, saying, "Thank you for the praise, Nara Consort. What I and my sister Xuan Pin said today was just the truth."

"Consort Nara, Consort Zhang, and Consort Xiao Nara, you may imitate me and Consort Xuan as you wish, but..."

After a pause, Xu Lejin's expression darkened, and she spoke in a cold voice.

"I must remind Consort Nara that not everyone can imitate me and Consort Xuan. There are many examples in the palace of trying to imitate others but ending up with a poor imitation."

Nara Concubine's face turned pale.

"Your Highness Consort Yu, you..."

Xu Lejin rolled her eyes at Consort Nara, then pulled Consort Xuan along and continued walking forward, leaving Consort Nara, Consort Zhang, and Consort Xiao with unpleasant expressions.

The farce that was taking place on the long street outside Chuxiu Palace somehow reached Kangxi's ears.

After Kangxi pondered for a long time, the head steward of the Imperial Household Department happened to enter the hall with green plaques and asked him to choose one. Kangxi's gaze lingered for a moment on the green plaques of Consort Nara, Consort Zhang, and Consort Xiao Nara.

“The green plaques of Nara, Xiao Nara, and Zhang have been covered in dust and hung up.”

The head steward of the Imperial Household Department looked up in surprise.

With quick reflexes, Liang Jiugong kicked the head eunuch of the Imperial Household Department out of Kangxi's sight. "Your Majesty is absolutely right. With the new arrival of Consort Tong and Consort Xiao Hesheli in the palace, the Imperial Household Department has been so busy that they've forgotten about them."

"I will keep a close eye on the matter of the green plaques for Consort Nara, Consort Xiao Nara, and Consort Zhang."

Kangxi nodded.

"Although Lady Zhaojia is muddle-headed, she did give birth to my seventh daughter. Even if she didn't do anything great, she still deserves credit for her hard work. Considering my seventh daughter, let's bring Lady Zhaojia here tonight!"

Liang Jiugong respectfully replied "Yes," and gave the head steward of the Imperial Household Department a wink.

The phoenix-carriage of spring grace rattled along the long street.

Xu Lejin frowned, looked at Ruhua, and asked softly, "Which concubine's nameplate did His Majesty choose today?"

"Your Majesty, it is Consort Zhaojia of Zhongcui Palace."

Upon hearing this, Xu Lejin nodded slightly.

"Consort Zhaojia has given birth to the seventh princess for over a year now. She has finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel and has been summoned by the emperor. I imagine Consort Zhaojia is very excited."

"yes."

Chuxiu Palace

Consort Zhao was looking through the account books sent by the Imperial Household Department when Lianxing hurried into the hall and respectfully reported to Consort Zhao, "Your Majesty, Eunuch Zhao from the Imperial Household Department has sent word that His Majesty has ordered the Imperial Household Department to hang up the green plaques of Consort Nara, Consort Xiao Nara, and Consort Zhang."

"Yes, I understand."

With a calm and composed expression, Consort Zhao spoke softly, "It was expected. This morning, Consort Nara, Consort Xiao Nara, and Consort Zhang openly discussed Consort Yu and Consort Xuan outside my palace. His Majesty, out of consideration for the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager, only hung up their green plaques, which is already a great act of mercy."

"When the Japanese Imperial Palace extended an olive branch to Consort Yu, Consort Yu pretended to be confused and did not respond. It was not until Consort Xuan entered the palace and became close to Consort Yu that I realized that Consort Yu had climbed the social ladder."

Looking up at the outside of Chuxiu Palace, the bright moonlight shines.

"The moon is bright and the stars are few, and crows fly south, circling the tree three times. On which branch can they perch? Consort Yu is quite capable, catching the eye of the Empress Dowager. Although I hold a high position, I am becoming increasingly lonely in this palace."

"This year, Tong Guowei and Suo'etu petitioned the Emperor to select a concubine. My maternal family also prepared several young and beautiful women, but unfortunately, they were not destined to enter the palace to serve me..."

Near midnight

In her half-awake state, Consort Zhao suddenly heard Lianxing and Yinshuang, who were on night watch outside, whispering to each other.

"Lianxing, what is it?"

A moment later, Lianxing bowed and entered the hall, kneeling on the ground to report to Consort Zhao, "Your Majesty, it was Consort Hesheli of Changchun Palace who had been bedridden for some time, and she passed away tonight."

Startled, Consort Zhao sat up.

Lianxing and Yinshuang quickly stepped forward to carefully support Consort Zhao. After a moment of contemplation, Consort Zhao spoke in a deep voice, "Has someone been sent to report to the Emperor about the passing of Consort Hesheli?"

"Your Majesty,"

Lianxing glanced up at Consort Zhao, then quickly lowered her head.

Consort Zhao smiled gently and said, "Consort Hesheli was the late Empress's cousin. Although she was only a concubine, she came from the Hesheli family. Now that she has passed away, it is only natural that we must report to the Emperor."

"Not only must we report this to the Emperor, but we must also let all the concubines in the palace know. Especially Consort Yu of Yikun Palace..."

Xu Lejin was woken up in the middle of the night.

Upon learning that it was Consort Hesheli of the neighboring Changchun Palace who had passed away, Xu Lejin frowned slightly and instructed Lianzhi and Ruhua in a deep voice to help her wash and change.

As night fell, Xu Lejin arrived at Changchun Palace. Several concubines in Changchun Palace were already dressed in plain clothes and sitting quietly in the west side hall of Changchun Palace.

A moment later, Emperor Kangxi and Consort Zhaojia also arrived.

Emperor Kangxi looked solemn, as if his good time had been interrupted, and remained silent. Consort Zhaojia, on the other hand, was pale and swaying, barely able to stand with the support of her maids.

"The night is deep and the dew is heavy; Consort Yu is so thoughtful!"

Kangxi glanced at Xu Lejin without blinking and spoke in a cold voice.

Consort Zhao covered her mouth, her face showing disdain. She exchanged a glance with Consort Zhao Jia, who was swaying precariously. Consort Zhao Jia looked bitter and finally lowered her head in silence.

Xu Lejin quickly looked up at Kangxi and said respectfully, "I only learned about Consort Hesheli from Consort Zhao's messenger. She went to Changchun Palace tonight."

"Concubine Zhao?"

Emperor Kangxi gave Consort Zhao a sharp look, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Consort Yu is in poor health, so she should go back to Yikun Palace to rest as soon as possible. Empress Hesheli has passed away, so Consort Zhao should handle all the funeral arrangements according to the rules."

"Liang Jiugong, send someone to escort Lady Zhaojia back to Zhongcui Palace..."

Consort Zhao Jia looked up in surprise at Emperor Kangxi, her eyes filled with sorrow.

"emperor,"

Meeting Kangxi's cold gaze, Consort Zhaojia swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue, but in her heart she hated Xu Lejin.

Just after the seventh day after Consort Hesheli's death, rumors of ghosts spreading throughout the palace began. The first place to be haunted was Changchun Palace, specifically the west side hall where Consort Hesheli had lived. Then the haunting spread to the entire Changchun Palace, and later to Xianfu Palace and Yikun Palace, which are adjacent to Changchun Palace.

Finally, the entire palace began to be haunted!

Just then, rumors spread throughout the palace that the haunting was because Consort Hesheli died with her eyes wide open, and that she had not died of natural causes, but had been murdered.

Xu Lejin became the target of public criticism overnight.